National Business

CALGARY — Canada's largest oil and gas industry group says capital spending in the oilpatch will hit $32.8 billion this year, a 22 per cent increase from the year before but still a far cry from the boom-time levels of investment a decade ago.

TORONTO — North American stock markets plunged midafternoon on geopolitical concerns following a report that the U.S. has approved arms shipments from Baltic NATO members to Ukraine to fend off a Russian incursion.

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Trying to defuse large protests by environmentalists, Serbia’s populist government said Thursday that it was canceling all licenses for mining giant Rio Tinto to open a lithium mine in the Balkan country.

Ontario will start lifting public health restrictions at the end of this month. Restrictions will be scaled back every 21 days starting Jan. 31 to allow for health indicators to be assessed.

HALIFAX — The federal government has announced $2.27 million in funding for eight East Coast tech startups and a not-for-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs in the region.

TORONTO — Luz Lopez-Dee was on the brink of eviction years ago, when she missed a government letter that was crucial for her to receive pension payments.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in three months as the fast-spreading omicron variant continued to disrupt the job market.

DALLAS — American Airlines lost $931 million in the fourth quarter and the omicron variant of COVID-19 is delaying its recovery from nearly two years of pandemic.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Long-haul carrier Emirates said Thursday it would resume its Boeing 777 flights to the U.S. after halting its use of the aircraft there over an ongoing dispute over the rollout of new 5G services in America.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Disability rights activists and advocates for Britney Spears backed a California proposal Wednesday to provide more protections for those under court-ordered conservatorships, while promoting less-restrictive alternatives.