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The U.S. economy looks more likely to have a "soft landing" rather than an economic crash in the wake of Friday's jobs report showing employers hired far more workers than expected in September.The U.S. economy added 254,000 jobs last month, rebounding after several sluggish months in the summer, according to a report released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That burst of job creation dispelled some of the concerns that had been brewing among economists that the economy is grinding into a downturn under the weight of high borrowing costs, the result of the Federal Reserve's campaign of anti-inflation rate hikes.The report highlighted the resilience of an economy that has consistently defied a long-predicted recession. Ever since the Fed began ratcheting up its benchmark interest rate in early 2022 to combat inflation, a significant contingent of experts has predicted the economy would fall into a recession as a result: the hangover from the hot economy and high inflation that took hold as the country emerged from the grip of the pandemic.

Recession fears flared up this summer after an uptick in unemployment triggered the Sahm Rule, a historically reliable indicator of an imminent economic downturn.

But now, with inflation nearly back to the Fed's 2% goal, the central bank is cutting interest rates, and still there is no recession in sight, raising hopes for a soft landing, which would be a historical rarity after a period of high inflation. Friday's data reinforced those soft landing hopes."This report should end any fears that the economy was heading for a recession, as some analysts had feared based on the earlier increase in unemployment,"  Dean Baker, senior economist at the Center for Economic Policy Research think tank, wrote in a commentary.

The report did not completely erase concerns about slower growth ahead, as surveys of consumer confidence show that the public is still relatively glum about the job market, which poses a risk that people could curtail their spending. And the Sahm Rule, which is calculated based on how quickly the unemployment rate has risen over the past year, stayed in "recession alarm" territory although just barely."The labor market’s ongoing rebalancing toward a soft landing remains fragile," Nick Bunker, economic research director for North America for the hiring lab at job site Indeed, wrote in a commentary.

Overall, however, the report showed the economy gathering strength."The economy is doing well in late 2024, with solid growth of jobs and wages, low unemployment, slowing inflation, and falling interest rates," Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank, wrote in a commentary. "The setup for economic growth in 2025 looks favorable as well."

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Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja sentenced Abodurin Gerald Abozo to eight years in prison for land fraud on Wednesday, October 2, 2024.

Abozo was charged on October 15, 2023, with two counts: obtaining money under false pretense and st£aling.

The first charge stated that Abozo, operating under the name S.G.B. & A Property Lines Company, deceived Engineer Samuel Segher in 2013 into paying N62 million for two plots of land in Chevy Estate, claiming to sell them when he had no intention of doing so.

The second charge claimed that he unlawfully used the same amount belonging to Segher.

Abozo pleaded “not guilty,” leading to a full trial where prosecution counsel M.S. Owede presented two witnesses and submitted various documents, including Abozo’s extra-judicial statement, all of which were accepted by the court.

In the judgment, Justice Ijelu sentenced Abozo to seven years for the first count and one year for the second count, without the option of a fine. He was also ordered to repay the N62 million to the victim.

Abozo’s legal troubles began when he was arrested for defrauding Engineer Samuel Segher by taking N62 million under the pretense of selling him land, which he neither delivered nor refunded.

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Parents often wonder: What can we do to keep our children healthy? Are there ways to boost the immune system and ward off illnesses?

The answer is yes — but there are no magic wands or magic supplements. The best way to keep the immune system healthy is, basically, to take necessary steps to keep healthy. As boring as that sounds, it's tried and true.

Here's what you can do to help keep your children healthy this school year.

Give them a healthy diet

By healthy I mean a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables (five servings a day are recommended, and they should take up half of every meal plate), whole grains, and lean protein. A healthy diet also has dairy or another source of calcium, and healthy fats like vegetable oils.

The foods to avoid are processed foods, foods with added sugar, and foods with unhealthy fats, like the saturated fats found in animal products. That doesn't mean your child can't ever eat cookies or ice cream. But if you want to your child to be healthy, they shouldn't eat those foods every day. (The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has suggestions for healthier baked goods and other ways to make your family's diet healthier).

There are many supplements that claim to boost your immune system. While the jury is still out as to whether most of them make a real difference, none of them take the place of a healthy diet. If you have a child who refuses vegetables or otherwise has a limited diet, a multivitamin with iron may make sense; talk to your doctor about whether vitamins or supplements are a good idea for your child.

Make sure they get enough sleep

We all need sleep to refresh and recharge our bodies, and that includes children. The amount of sleep a child needs varies by age (from 12 to 16 hours a day for infants to eight to 10 hours for teens), and also from child to child (some just need more than others). You can encourage healthy sleep by limiting screens — for teens, devices really should be shut off an hour or two before bedtime, and preferably not be in the bedroom at night — and keeping to a regular schedule.

Get them active

Exercise keeps us healthy and less likely to get sick. Children should really be active for an hour a day. "Active" doesn't have to mean playing a sport or going to the gym; it could be playing at the playground or going for a walk. More is not necessarily better; if you have a child who is a serious athlete, exercising several hours a day, make sure that the exercise isn't eating into sleep or causing burnout, both of which could cause problems with the immune system.

Manage stress

Stress makes us less healthy and more prone to infection. Make sure that kids have downtime to play, and access to activities and people that make them happy. Spend time together as a family, and create opportunities for your children to talk about anything that might be worrying them. If you have concerns about your child's moods or emotional health, talk to your doctor.

Make sure they are up to date on important vaccines

Immunizations protect us from all sorts of illnesses. Check with your doctor to see if your child is up to date on immunizations. The flu shot is recommended yearly for all people 6 months of age or older.

Don't forget the simple precautions

Everyone in the family can take simple precautions to help stay healthy. Wash your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow. Stay away from sick people to the extent that you can. Masks can help, too, especially in crowded indoor spaces.

If your child has a health problem that could make it harder to fight off an infection, talk to your doctor about any extra or different precautions you should take.

Source: Harvard Health Publishing

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The Action Peoples Party has secured 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions in the recent local government election in Rivers State.

Justice Adolphus Enebeli, the Chief Election Officer of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, announced the results on Saturday in Port Harcourt.

He noted that the results for Etche Local Government Area are currently on hold due to ongoing collation efforts. Enebeli indicated that the Etche LGA results will be released alongside the outcomes for the 319 councillorship seats at a later date.

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Major U.S. indexes were on the rise at midday Friday after a report showed employers added more jobs than economists expected in September. The S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow were all higher.

Shares of United Airlines (UAL) and other rival airlines advanced following a report discount carrier Spirit Airlines (SAVE) is considering a bankruptcy filing. Spirit shares cratered.

Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) gained as JPMorgan added the apparel retailer to its "Positive Catalyst Watch" list and raised the price target, pointing to strength in the company's Hollister brand.

Albemarle (ALB) shares rose following a report Rio Tinto (RIO) may be looking to make an acquisition in the lithium sector.

Shares of D.R. Horton (DHI), Lennar (LEN), and others in the home building sector tumbled as the yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed following Friday's strong jobs report, raising concerns about mortgage rates.

Shares of Rivian (RIVN) tumbled as the electric vehicle (EV) maker missed third-quarter delivery forecasts and cut its full-year production forecast because of a parts shortage.

Oil futures and gold prices climbed. The U.S. dollar rose versus the euro, pound, and yen. Most major cryptocurrencies traded higher.

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