Iran's public sector shuts down in 8 provinces due to heat wave
Tehran's public offices and banks closed, but for many private shopkeepers it was another day of work despite the punishing temperatures.
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Toronto Sun
2 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Trump removes official overseeing jobs data after dismal employment report
Published Aug 01, 2025 • 3 minute read President Donald Trump speaks as Cody Campbell, left, and professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau listen during an event for the signing of an executive order restarting the Presidential Fitness Test in public schools, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Photo by Jacquelyn Martin / AP WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday removed the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs figures after a report showed hiring slowed in July and was much weaker in May and June than previously reported. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Trump, in a post on his social media platform, alleged that the figures were manipulated for political reasons and said that Erika McEntarfer, the director of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, should be fired. He provided no evidence for the charge. 'I have directed my Team to fire this Biden Political Appointee, IMMEDIATELY,' Trump said on Truth Social. 'She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified.' Trump later posted: 'In my opinion, today's Jobs Numbers were RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad.' After his initial post, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said on X that McEntarfer was no longer leading the bureau and that William Wiatrowski, the deputy commissioner, would serve as the acting director. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I support the President's decision to replace Biden's Commissioner and ensure the American People can trust the important and influential data coming from BLS,' Chavez-DeRemer said. Friday's jobs report showed that just 73,000 jobs were added last month and that 258,000 fewer jobs were created in May and June than previously estimated. The report suggested that the economy has sharply weakened during Trump's tenure, a pattern consistent with a slowdown in economic growth during the first half of the year and an increase in inflation during June that appeared to reflect the price pressures created by the president's tariffs. 'What does a bad leader do when they get bad news? Shoot the messenger,' Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a Friday speech. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump has sought to attack institutions that rely on objective data for assessing the economy, including the Federal Reserve and, now, the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The actions are part of a broader mission to bring the totality of the executive branch — including independent agencies designed to objectively measure the nation's wellbeing — under the White House's control. McEntarfer was nominated by Biden in 2023 and became the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics in January 2024. Commissioners typically serve four-year terms but since they are political appointees can be fired. The commissioner is the only political appointee of the agency, which has hundreds of career civil servants. The Senate confirmed McEntarfer to her post 86-8, with now Vice President JD Vance among the yea votes. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump focused much of his ire on the revisions the agency made to previous hiring data. Job gains in May were revised down to just 19,000 from 125,000, and for June they were cut to 14,000 from 147,000. In July, only 73,000 positions were added. The unemployment rate ticked up to a still-low 4.2% from 4.1%. 'No one can be that wrong? We need accurate Jobs Numbers,' Trump wrote. 'She will be replaced with someone much more competent and qualified. Important numbers like this must be fair and accurate, they can't be manipulated for political purposes.' The monthly employment report is one of the most closely-watched pieces of government economic data and can cause sharp swings in financial markets. The disappointing figure sent U.S. market indexes about 1.5% lower Friday. While the jobs numbers are often the subject of political spin, economists and Wall Street investors — with millions of dollars at stake — have always accepted U.S. government economic data as free from political manipulation. Canada Toronto & GTA Celebrity Columnists Toronto Blue Jays
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cubs chairman says team's performance convinced him extending Hoyer's contract was right thing to do
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts came into the season thinking about extending president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer's contract. The team's performance convinced him it was the right thing to do. 'We went into the season thinking about an extension,' Ricketts said Friday. 'I think the team was playing well enough that Jed had really proven he put a good ballclub on the field. I've always been comfortable with Jed. He makes good baseball decisions, and he's really built a good organization.' The Cubs agreed to a multiyear extension with the 51-year-old Hoyer on Monday. His contract was set to expire at the end of this season, his 14th with the Cubs. Hoyer was hired as general manager in 2011 and replaced Theo Epstein as president of baseball operations following the 2020 season. Led by breakout All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago was second in the NL Central and a game behind Milwaukee at 63-45 entering Friday's matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. It lost two of three at Milwaukee this week. The Cubs added depth to their lineup and pitching staff before the trade deadline. They acquired utility player Willi Castro from the rebuilding Minnesota Twins and veteran left-hander Taylor Rogers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. They also got right-handers Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals and Andrew Kittredge from Baltimore. 'I think the way he's methodically gone about developing the right players and bringing them up, looking for the right guys to add, being thoughtful about who he signs,' Ricketts said. 'I think all those things have added up. He's had a good first four years. And then of course going into this season, when we got off to a great start, that just spoke to his decision-making and his judgment, and so we were confident a few weeks ago that an extension was the right thing to do.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons requests trade and says team won't negotiate
OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Micah Parsons requested a trade from the Dallas Cowboys on Friday while suggesting the club has refused to negotiate a new contract for the star edge rusher. Parsons reported to training camp in California with the Cowboys last week and tried to stay upbeat in a meeting with reporters. His tone changed dramatically in a message posted on X. 'I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet,' Parsons wrote in an attachment to a post that said, 'Thank you Dallas.' 'Unfortunately, I no longer want to be here. I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present.' Parsons finished the lengthy note by saying he had told executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones he wanted to be traded. The Cowboys declined to comment on Parsons' request. The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his five-year rookie contract with a salary of $24 million but wants a long-term deal that almost certainly would exceed $40 million in average annual value. Since sacks became an official stat in 1982, Parsons and Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White are the only players to record at least 12 in each of their first four seasons. The 2021 first-round draft pick has 52 1/2 for his career. Parsons and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had a lengthy chat on the field while the team was practicing during mandatory minicamp in June. About three months before that, according to Parsons, Jerry Jones turned another conversation about leadership into what amounted to a negotiation. 'Yes, I engaged in a back and forth in regards to what I wanted from my contract, but at no point did I believe this was supposed to be a formal negotiation and I informed Mr. Jones my agent would reach out thinking this would get things done,' Parsons wrote. Instead, Parsons said, a representative of the Cowboys told agent David Mulugheta that a deal had already been reached. Parsons said the Cowboys then stonewalled his agent and that 'up to today,' the team and Mulugheta haven't discussed a new contract. 'Not one demand has been made by my agent about money, years or anything else,' Parsons wrote. 'Still, I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives, I have made the tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys.' A year ago, 2023 All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb was in the same situation entering the final year of his rookie contract and stayed away from the Cowboys the entire offseason and training camp. The sides agreed on a $136 million, four-year extension about two weeks before the season. The request from Parsons comes two days after Cincinnati edge rusher Trey Hendrickson ended a holdout by reporting to training camp despite no progress on a new contract. In his meeting with reporters when camp started, Parsons expressed frustration over other pass-rushing stars getting deals done. Two weeks ago, Pittsburgh made T.J. Watt the highest-paid defender with a $123 million, three-year extension for an annual average of $41 million. Maxx Crosby of Las Vegas signed a $106.5 million, three-year deal in March. Jerry Jones rarely has let star players get away amid stalled contract talks, and it's been equally as rare for one of them to go public with a trade request. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Parsons took issue with Jerry Jones suggesting in his camp-opening news conference that there was no guarantee Parsons would be available if they did get a deal done. Jones inflated the number of games Parsons missed last season, saying it was six when the two-time All-Pro was sidelined for four games because of a sprained ankle. In the same comment, Jerry Jones also took a swipe at quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed the last nine games last season with a torn hamstring. 'I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization, our fans and my teammates,' Parsons wrote. 'I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me. I had purposely stayed quiet in hopes of getting something done.' ___ AP NFL:
