Category Archives: World/National

US hiring stalls with employers reluctant to expand in an economy grown increasingly erratic

US hiring stalls with employers reluctant to expand in an economy grown increasingly erratic

WASHINGTON (AP) — The American job market, a pillar of U.S. economic strength since the pandemic, is crumbling under the weight of President Donald Trump’s erratic economic policies. Uncertain about where things are headed, companies are reluctant to hire, leaving agonized jobseekers unable to find work and worrying the consumers (70% of U.S. economic activity) whose spending has driven impressive growth for the world’s biggest economy since the COVID-19 disruptions of 2020. The Labor Department reported Friday that U.S. employers — companies, government agencies and nonprofits — added just 22,000 jobs last month, down from a 79,000 in July and well below the 80,000 that economists had expected. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3% last month, the highest since 2021.… Continue Reading

Kennedy tries to defend COVID-19 vaccine stance in raucous Senate hearing

Kennedy tries to defend COVID-19 vaccine stance in raucous Senate hearing

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced tough bipartisan questioning about his COVID-19 policies in a Senate committee hearing. On Thursday, Democratic senators clashed with Kennedy over his changes to vaccine recommendations, while some Republican senators also expressed concerns. Kennedy praised President Donald Trump for the Operation Warp Speed initiative but criticized the safety of mRNA vaccines. He defended the firing of the CDC director, claiming she was dishonest. Kennedy’s actions, including replacing a vaccine advisory panel with skeptics, have drawn criticism from medical groups. They warn his policies could increase vaccine-preventable diseases and have called for his resignation.… Continue Reading

Judge reverses Trump administration’s cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University

Judge reverses Trump administration’s cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard University

BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge in Boston has ordered the reversal of over $2.6 billion in federal funding cuts to Harvard University. The ruling, issued Wednesday, marks a significant victory for Harvard in its legal battle with the Trump administration. Judge Allison Burroughs found the cuts were illegal retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to comply with White House demands on governance and policies. The administration had linked the funding freezes to antisemitism issues on campus, but the judge called this a smokescreen. The White House said the administration would appeal the decision, making it unlikely that researchers receive funding any time soon.… Continue Reading

Podcasters and influencers: The unexpected jobs covered under Trump’s ‘no tax on tips’ plan

Podcasters and influencers: The unexpected jobs covered under Trump’s ‘no tax on tips’ plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department has released a preliminary list of jobs exempt from income tax on tips, including food service, concierge, and salon workers. Surprisingly, podcasters and digital content creators are also included. This move fulfills a campaign promise by President Donald Trump, part of a tax and spending law signed in July. The provision is temporary, expiring in 2028, and applies to those earning less than $160,000 in 2025. Only tips reported on a worker’s W-2 qualify. Analysts project the provision could increase the deficit by $40 billion through 2028. Public opinion on the law is mixed.… Continue Reading

Trump says he will order federal intervention in Chicago and Baltimore despite local opposition

Trump says he will order federal intervention in Chicago and Baltimore despite local opposition

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he will direct federal law enforcement intervention to combat crime in Chicago and Baltimore, despite staunch opposition from state and local officials in both cities. Asked Tuesday by reporters in the Oval Office about sending National Guard troops to Chicago, Trump said, “We’re going in,” but added, “I didn’t say when.” He added: “I have an obligation. This isn’t a political thing.” Trump has already sent National Guard troops into Washington and federalized the police force in the nation’s capital. More recently, he has said he plans similar moves in other cities, particularly those run by Democratic officials.… Continue Reading

Rescuers race to find Afghan quake survivors as death toll passes 1,400

Rescuers race to find Afghan quake survivors as death toll passes 1,400

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban say a major earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has killed over 1,400 people and injured more than 3,000. The United Nations warns of a potential rise in casualties. The earthquake struck Sunday night, flattening villages and trapping people under rubble. Rough terrain is hampering rescue efforts, with commandos air-dropped to evacuate the injured. The Taliban have appealed for international assistance, but aid is limited due to global crises and reduced budgets. Many health facilities have closed due to funding cuts, overwhelming the remaining ones. Authorities have set up camps and centers to coordinate aid and rescue efforts.… Continue Reading

US stocks sink under the weight of rising pressure from the bond market

US stocks sink under the weight of rising pressure from the bond market

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street fell under the weight of pressure from the bond market. The S&P 500 slipped 0.7% Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8%. Big Tech stocks that have received criticism after their prices shot higher in recent years were the heaviest weights on the market. Rising yields in the bond market cranked up the pressure for all kinds of stocks. Worries about mounting debt loads for governments worldwide, plus President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Federal Reserve, have pushed yields higher. When bonds pay more interest, investors are less willing to pay high prices for stocks.… Continue Reading

US stocks sink under the weight of rising pressure from the bond market

US stocks sink under the weight of rising pressure from the bond market

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street fell under the weight of pressure from the bond market. The S&P 500 slipped 0.7% Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.5%, and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.8%. Big Tech stocks that have received criticism after their prices shot higher in recent years were the heaviest weights on the market. Rising yields in the bond market cranked up the pressure for all kinds of stocks. Worries about mounting debt loads for governments worldwide, plus President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Federal Reserve, have pushed yields higher. When bonds pay more interest, investors are less willing to pay high prices for stocks.… Continue Reading

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un travels to Beijing to watch military parade alongside Putin and Xi Jinping

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un travels to Beijing to watch military parade alongside Putin and Xi Jinping

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is on his way to Beijing by train to attend a military parade with his Chinese and Russian counterparts, an event that could demonstrate their potential three-way unity against the United States. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported early Tuesday that Kim left Pyongyang for Beijing by his special train on Monday to participate in celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the World War II. Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin are among the 26 world leaders who’ll join Chinese President Xi Jinping to watch Wednesday’s massive military parade in Beijing.… Continue Reading

Trump plans a hefty tax on imported drugs, risking higher prices and shortages

Trump plans a hefty tax on imported drugs, risking higher prices and shortages

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has plastered taxes on products from almost every country on earth. He’s targeted specific imports, too. But he isn’t done yet. Trump has promised another round of hefty import taxes on a category of products he’s so far spared in his trade war with the world: pharmaceuticals. For decades, in fact, imported medicine has mostly been allowed to enter the United States duty free. Now the president is threatening duties of 200% or more on foreign drugs. That could disrupt complex and fragile supply chains, drive cheap foreign-made generic drugs out of the U.S., create drug shortages and raise American drug prices.… Continue Reading

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