Exclusive: Google on Thursday announced a new initiative to partner with veterans groups to help 25,000 veterans, service members and military spouses enter the skilled trades, according to an announcement viewed by FOX Business.

Google’s announcement will feature a partnership with several prominent organizations that serve veterans around the nation, including Hiring Our Heroes, Student Veterans of America and the Home Builders Institute.

The move comes against the backdrop of a shortage of workers in the skilled trades amid surging demand driven in part by the artificial intelligence (AI) buildout.

Tim Chadwick, Google’s data center operations area lead for Ohio and Indiana who served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years, said in the company’s announcement that the initiative is “making it easier for veterans to make career transitions to high-growth careers like mine.”

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Google is partnering with veterans groups to help veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses access pathways to careers in the skilled trades. (Noah Berger)

“As a leader for Google’s data centers in Ohio and Indiana, I know there’s a major need for these types of professionals,” Chadwick said.

“Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of skilled trade roles open across the U.S. just waiting to be filled. These are jobs like master electrician, lead pipefitter, and project manager – high-growth careers that offer long-term financial stability.”

“But beyond just the growing need, these roles also make the most of the kinds of skills veterans and military families know better than anyone – skills like problem-solving under pressure, teamwork, and getting a job done right,” Chadwick wrote.

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The skilled trades are seeing a surge in demand for workers amid the AI buildout. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images)

Cory Boatwright, president and CEO of Student Veterans of America (SVA), said in a statement to FOX Business that the group’s “work with Google took us to 11 states to host 22 roundtables, and one lesson that stood out was that veterans want more pathways to meaningful careers.”

“We’re broadening what ‘student veteran’ means to anyone continuing their education in pursuit of something more: a degree, a certificate, a skilled trade. The student decides the path and what is meaningful to them,” he said.

“Our job is to make sure their pursuit is successful and leads somewhere great – skilled trades are an important part of that equation, particularly as states and employers look for talent to fill critical workforce needs,” Boatwright added. “If we weren’t thinking about skilled trades, then we’d be left behind.”

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Google’s new initiative comes after previous moves to boost veterans in the workforce, grow the skilled trades and advance access to AI. (Marlena Sloss/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Google’s announcement follows a move to co-found the Alliance for America’s Skilled Trades with BlackRock, Ford and Carhartt to train 1 million workers in the skilled trades by 2030.

It also comes in addition to prior investments such as a $15 million partnership with the electrical training Alliance (etA) to put AI-powered learning tools on the trade floor, and a $4 million grant to Student Veterans of America to bring career certificates and AI courses to veterans nationwide.

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The North East firm has now completed 18 acquisitions in the last seven years

North East estate agency group My Property Box has expanded into the North West after acquiring the residential sales and lettings arm of H&H Land & Estates.

The undisclosed deal establishes the firm as one of Cumbria’s largest estate agencies, with a presence in Carlisle, Penrith, Cockermouth, and Kendal. It also represents a significant geographical expansion beyond the company’s current North East and North Yorkshire heartland.

The deal is My Property Box’s 18th acquisition in seven years, backed by a multi-million-pound investment secured in 2024 from growth capital investor BGF.

H&H Land & Estates will continue to operate its specialist land agency and rural property business across the North of England and southern Scotland. Its operations includes the sale and management of farms, estates, land, smallholdings and rural property, alongside its land management, valuation and professional consultancy services. Director of sales and lettings Pauline Carrera-Silva and the existing H&H team, including branch manager Paul Doyle, will transfer to My Property Box, providing continuity for clients.

Ben Quaintrell, founder and CEO of My Property Box, which has offices in Darlington, Newcastle and Northallerton, said: “This is a significant acquisition for My Property Box. It takes us into the North West for the first time, gives us an immediate presence across Cumbria and makes us one of the county’s largest estate agencies.

“We’re acquiring an established business with an experienced team and considerable local knowledge. For H&H clients, it will very much be business as usual. They’ll continue dealing with the same local team, backed by the additional resources and expertise of My Property Box, and we’re committed to maintaining the high standard of service they have come to expect.”

Richard Rankin, chief executive of H&H Group plc, said: “This sale is an important part of the continuing growth and realignment of H&H Group as we bring our businesses together and deliver on Rural Matters: our increased focus on agriculture and the rural economy.

“My Property Box is a successful, ambitious and growing regional business with specialist expertise in residential property sales and lettings. We believe it is the right home for the business and will provide the team with an excellent platform from which to develop and flourish. The continuity offered by the existing team moving across to My Property Box will also ensure that clients continue to receive the personal and professional service they know and value.

“I would like to thank the whole residential sales and lettings team for everything they have contributed to H&H Land & Estates. We are delighted to have found such a positive way forward and wish them every success as part of My Property Box.”

Burnetts Solicitors provided legal advice to H&H Group, with Weightmans acting for My Property Box.

FRESNO, CALIF. — Sun-Maid Growers of California is introducing a line of charcuterie pairings.

The pairings are available in four varieties: dried apricots, blueberries and cranberries; dried apricots, dried blueberries and vanilla yogurt-covered raisins; dried cherries, banana chips and chocolate yogurt-covered raisins; and dried cranberries, dried cherries and chocolate yogurt-covered raisins.

The 4.5-oz charcuterie pairings may be purchased at select Walmart and Target stores.

Reports of violent incidents and harassment on rail services “rose substantially” last year, figures from the rail regulator show.

Reported assaults, including physical and verbal, were up 36% in the year to March 2026 compared with the previous year, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).

In total 13,464 assaults against passengers and members of the public were recorded on Britain’s mainline railway, the highest number recorded since the series began in 2004.

The ORR said the figures were “concerning” and that it was working with the industry to address the problem.

According to the figures, harassment increased by 52% compared with the previous year and common assaults rose by 30%.

The increase comes against a backdrop of five years of rising reports of incidents and industry campaigns to raise awareness.

Assaults on the mainline railway are recorded according to their type. As a result each incident can lead to reports in more than one category, for example if someone is harassed and then physically assaulted.

There were also 11,289 reported assaults against members of the workforce on the mainline railway, up 12% compared with the previous year.

Of those 2,487 were physical assaults, while more than half (6,390 incidents) involved verbal abuse. The rest were threats.

“We’re working with industry and our trade union colleagues to address work-related violence and harassment,” said Richard Hines, the ORR’s chief inspector of railways.

“This includes understanding where the risks are, putting effective controls in place, encouraging staff to report incidents and providing appropriate support afterwards,” he said.

The statistics include mainline rail services in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland. The data release also covers the London Underground, trams, metros and other light rail services.

On the London Underground, recorded assaults increased 20% to 5,534 in the latest year, but reported workforce assaults fell 3% to 3,525.

Transport for London does not record multiple aspects of each incident. Instead it records the most severe aspect reported.

A spokesperson responding on behalf of Network Rail and the train companies said all operators were working to reduce risk and prevent harm by sharing information, improving reporting processes and deploying body-worn cameras.

“Keeping passengers and colleagues safe is at the heart of everything we do,” the spokesperson said.

“Violence, abuse and intimidation directed at passengers or staff are completely unacceptable. The rail industry works closely with British Transport Police to investigate incidents, support victims and bring offenders to justice.”

The RMT union, representing rail industry workers, said the figures corresponded with the union’s own figures indicating two-thirds of its members had experienced violence at work.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey called for an increase in staffing on public transport, including an end to lone working, to combat the problem.

“We also clearly need stronger legal protections for public transport workers against assaults at work,” he said.

He said cuts to British Transport Police funding had been “disastrous” and called for outsourced security and enforcement staff to be brought in-house “as a matter of urgency”.

Other notable figures from the statistical release include that 11 members of the public died at mainline level crossings in the latest year, six more than the previous year. Eight were pedestrians and the others were road vehicle users.

SYDNEY — Australia’s benchmark share index fell 0.76% to 8,699.1 points by mid-afternoon Thursday, down 66.2 points, as a sharp overnight surge in oil prices tied to doubts over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal outweighed encouraging domestic employment data that had briefly lifted investor sentiment earlier in the session.

The S&P/ASX 200 opened sharply lower Thursday, dropping 1.3% to 8,650 points at the market open, before recovering some ground through the morning and early afternoon to trade closer to flat by 2:58 p.m. local time. The decline followed losses on Wall Street overnight and came alongside a broad-based pullback across the local market, with 148 of the index’s 200 constituent stocks trading lower and all but two of the market’s major sectors posting losses for the session. The metals sector weighed particularly heavily on the broader index, with copper prices retreating from near-record highs.

The primary catalyst behind Thursday’s weakness traced back to a sharp jump in global oil prices. According to Bloomberg data, West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 2.4% to $92.70 a barrel, while Brent crude surged 4.1% to $103.35 a barrel, with the moves attributed to growing doubts over the prospects for a U.S.-Iran peace deal. That renewed uncertainty marked a reversal from the more optimistic tone that had prevailed in markets earlier in the week, following reports that Iran had offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States eased military pressure and lifted its blockade on Iranian ports.

The rise in oil prices provided a clear tailwind for Australia’s energy sector, with Woodside Energy Group and Santos both positioned to benefit from higher crude prices heading into Thursday’s session, even as the broader index struggled under the weight of losses elsewhere in the market.

Thursday’s session also carried significant domestic economic news, with Australia’s August labour market data released during the trading day. Betashares chief economist David Bassanese offered a generally reassuring interpretation of the figures despite some mixed underlying signals. “While the August labour market report was somewhat mixed, the overall strength in employment will likely be the final nail in the coffin for a Reserve Bank interest rate increase next week,” Bassanese wrote, noting that the jobless rate had risen alongside stronger workforce participation, a combination he characterized as reflecting genuine underlying employment strength rather than economic weakness.

That reading suggested reduced pressure on the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates at its upcoming policy meeting, a notable shift from earlier in the week, when the central bank had flagged concerns about inflation risks potentially building amid elevated energy costs and firm domestic demand. Thursday’s employment data appeared to ease at least some of that pressure, even as the day’s broader market action was ultimately dominated by the oil price shock tied to the Middle East.

Thursday also brought a wave of dividend payments across several major ASX 200 constituents. PLS Group, Telstra Group, ResMed, Ramsay Health Care and Rio Tinto were all among the companies distributing dividends to shareholders during the session, with Rio Tinto paying a fully franked interim dividend of $2.96 per share.

Elsewhere on the market, Bell Potter reiterated its Buy rating on agricultural chemicals company Nufarm, raising its price target to $3.90 from $3.75, citing an improved outlook for the stock.

Thursday’s pullback followed a choppy but ultimately mixed stretch of trading earlier in the week. The ASX 200 closed essentially unchanged Wednesday, edging up 0.086% to 8,765.3 points according to one tracking service, though a separate data source measured a slight decline to 8,751 points, a discrepancy reflecting differences in how various providers calculate end-of-day closing levels. That indecisive session followed a stronger performance Tuesday, when the index added 26 points, or 0.3%, to close at 8,758, supported by a rally in U.S. chip stocks tied to optimism around Meta’s newly unveiled artificial intelligence agent, along with hopes for progress in Middle East diplomatic talks held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and anticipation ahead of a bilateral summit between the United States and China.

That U.S.-China summit was scheduled to take place Thursday, with tariffs, critical minerals and broader economic ties between the two countries expected to be discussed, adding a further source of potential market-moving news for investors to monitor as the session progressed.

Gold mining stocks had been standout performers earlier in the week, with Catalyst Metals surging 6.57% Wednesday to close at $6.16 despite no specific company news, part of a broader rally across gold-related shares that also lifted Northern Star Resources, Evolution Mining, PLS Group and Sandfire Resources.

The ASX 200 remains down roughly 3.87% over the trailing month and has retreated significantly from the all-time high of 9,198.6 points it touched in February, before settling closer to the 8,800 level by July. With the Reserve Bank’s interest rate decision now just over a week away, and the outcome of Thursday’s U.S.-China summit still unfolding, investors are likely to continue weighing the competing signals from domestic employment strength, elevated oil prices tied to Middle East uncertainty, and the broader path of global monetary policy in the sessions ahead.

The Newcastle firm saw a small rise in revenues and profits during 2025 but says it is seeing record spending on its park this year

North East holiday park operator Parkdean Resorts has hailed a “resilient” year which saw a small rise in revenues and profits.

The Gosforth-based firm, which operates 65 caravan parks around the UK, said its revenues for 2025 rose 3.3% to £527.7m. Over the same period, gross profit edged up by £1m to stand at £380.9m

Parkdean said its 2025 performance had come despite “significant inflationary and operating cost pressures”, and that it was seeing performance so far this year. It said that spending on its parks had reached record levels in 2026, with particularly strong performances in its food and drink, activities and leisure divisions.

It also pointed to the success of TV and social media campaigns in increasing its engagement with customers. The company is now planning a £70m capital investment programme for next year to enhance parks, including rolling out its “parks of the future” concept to its Thorness Bay park on the Isle of Wight and Skipsea Sands, at Bridlington.

A spokesperson for Parkdean Resorts, said: “Following a resilient 2025, we have seen trading performance accelerate throughout 2026 and the business has delivered double-digit profit growth. Demand for our quality, affordable UK holidays remains strong and we also delivered record on-park spend during the peak season, including all-time highs across food & beverage, and activities, as guests continue to make the most of our parks.

“Our 2025 results demonstrate the resilience of the business. Maintaining growth and stable profitability was no small achievement given the significant inflationary and operating cost pressures facing the sector. Against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty and subdued consumer confidence, we delivered a solid performance, underpinned by the strength of our brand, the quality of our parks and the commitment of our teams.

“The momentum we’re seeing in 2026 is the result of a clear long-term strategy. This year we invested £55m across our parks, accommodation, facilities and guest experiences, as well as our technology and digital capabilities, to improve the experience for guests and holiday homeowners. That investment is delivering results, with growing demand, increasing brand awareness, stronger social media engagement and record levels of guest spending across our parks.

“We continue to see opportunities for growth in the UK holiday market. With a portfolio of 65 parks in some of the UK’s most sought-after coastal, lakeside and countryside locations, a highly engaged team and the ongoing support of our shareholders, we are well positioned for the future.”

Parkdean Resorts operates sites around the UK, with locations in the North East including Crimdon Dene, Cresswell Towers, Whitley Bay, Church Point and Sandy Bay.

Starbucks announced plans to close roughly 250 stores across North America this week, company COO Mike Grams revealed Thursday.

Grams announced the closure in a public statement, saying that while most of its 18,000 North American stores were profitable, a small portion has been struggling.

“We have carefully reviewed our North America coffeehouse portfolio and identified locations where we do not believe we can consistently deliver the experience we want for customers and partners or where we don’t see a path to acceptable financial performance,” Grams said in the announcement, which was in the form of a letter to “Partners.”

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People pass by a Starbucks coffee shop in Manhattan, New York, on Jan. 15, 2025.  (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“As a result, we will close approximately 250 coffeehouses later this week. This represents approximately 1% of our more than 18,000 North America coffeehouses,” he added.

“Closing any coffeehouse is a difficult decision, and we know today’s news will be hard for the partners, customers and communities affected,” the statement said.

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The announcement comes just days after Starbucks resolved a DEI lawsuit in Florida last week. The coffee giant will pay Florida $1 million and will not use race- and sex-based goals, quotas and preferences in employment practices companywide under a sweeping settlement.

The new class action lawsuit claims Starbucks is discriminating against lactose-intolerant customers by charging extra for nondairy options. (Photos by Stephen Chernin/Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agreement applies to all Starbucks operations nationwide, not just the company’s locations in Florida.

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“Every Floridian deserves to be hired, promoted and compensated based on merit, qualifications and character — not race or sex,” Uthmeier told Fox News Digital. “This resolution ensures that Starbucks’ policies and practices fully comply with Florida’s civil rights laws. DEI can never be an excuse to violate civil rights.”

The negotiated resolution ends the lawsuit Uthmeier filed in December 2025 accusing Starbucks of violating the Florida Civil Rights Act through racial and sex-based goals, quotas and preferences in its workplace policies.

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A sign embellished with the Starbucks logo hangs near the entrance to the Starbucks coffee shop in Aspen, Colorado. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images / Getty Images)

Under the agreement, Starbucks committed to complying with the state civil rights law, which prohibits race- and sex-based preferences in hiring, promotions, pay, executive compensation, mentorship programs, supplier selection and board composition.

The company also agreed it will not participate in organizations that require it to increase the racial diversity of its board of directors.

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Starbucks’ chief legal officer will be required to submit annual certifications of the company’s continued compliance for four years. The company will also pay $1 million to the Florida Department of Legal Affairs to reimburse the office for the time, expenses and costs of bringing the case.

Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

Deal supports AO World’s expansion into new categories

AO World has sealed a deal with Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones to snap up ailing camera retailer Jessops.

The online retailer kept the acquisition price under wraps but confirmed the purchase was funded from its “existing cash resources.”

AO World said the deal “supports our strategy of expanding into adjacent categories, giving customers and members more reasons to shop with AO and increase our share of wallet. Jessops brings a trusted brand and specialist expertise in cameras and optical technology.”

Established in 1935, the camera retailer was salvaged by Peter Jones following its collapse into administration in 2013.

Jones reopened scores of stores that had been closed down, but by 2019 the business tumbled into administration for a second time, followed by a third collapse in 2021, as reported by City AM.

The business now trades from merely eight stores, having previously operated more than 300 across the country, following a dramatic withdrawal from the high street.

Jessops generated just under £20m in revenues for the year ending September 2025, its latest accounts reveal, marking a 6.5 per cent rise on the previous year, driven by growing online sales.

The firm recorded a loss of £1.1m for the year, marginally down on 2025.

“I am delighted to welcome Jessops into the AO family and look forward to growing the existing business as well as integrating the category into the wider AO business,” said AO World founder and chief executive John Roberts.

The transaction represents the latest purchase by AO after it acquired Music Magpie in December 2024.

AO World announced on Thursday that it anticipated reporting a 5.5 per cent increase in sales and a rise in profit exceeding 20 per cent for the six months ending in September, attributing the growth to enhanced performance in its mobile and handset division.

“There continues to be a lot of uncertainty in the world but we look forward to heading into peak trading with confidence and momentum behind us,” Mr Roberts said.