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Federal Reserve officials hint rate increase may be necessary
Multiple Federal Reserve officials indicated the central bank may need to raise interest rates later this year, according to newly released minutes of the Fed’s July meeting. While most participants at the joint meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and the Fed’s Board of Governors “anticipated that inflation would step down over the…
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Centrelink cash boost for millions of Aussie pensioners and JobSeeker recipients: What you need to know
More than 5.3 million Australians receiving social security payments will see increased rates from Thursday 20 September, as part of a scheduled indexation adjustment. Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek said the change will deliver an extra $4 billion in cost-of-living relief, helping recipients cover rent, food and everyday bills, with the government also lifting…
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Mail-Order Media Giant Columbia House Shutting Down After 71 Years
Columbia House, the mail-order media company famous for its penny-per-record membership offers, is closing down after 71 years in business. The company confirmed to CNN that it will cease operations on 15 September 2026, following a since-removed closure notice that briefly appeared on its official website, bringing an end to a business that once symbolised…
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Trump administration plans crackdown on some immigrants’ alleged tax refund ‘abuse’
The Treasury Department and the IRS on Wednesday proposed stronger restrictions on certain immigrants’ ability to claim refundable tax credits — the latest in the Trump administration’s efforts to curb access from non-U.S. citizens to federal benefits. The department suggested the refunded portion of four tax credits be classified as “federal public benefits,” potentially disqualifying…
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Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney focus of alleged sexual assault probe – as drug claims emerge about team’s night at hotel with dancers
Sydney Swans forward Isaac Heeney has reportedly become the focus of a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault, with the case linked to claims that the AFL club’s players spent a night at a hotel involving dancers and alleged drug use. The report ties a prominent player from one of the AFL’s leading clubs…
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Facial recognition at matches, Baltimore crime, US wage study, Watkins bid, Weezer’s Gold Album
The Premier League has approved £3.42 million for the Metropolitan Police to test live facial-recognition technology around Premier League matchdays in London. The stated aim is to help officers identify people wanted by police or subject to football banning orders, with the scheme intended as a trial rather than a permanent stadium system. Separately, Baltimore…
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National debt marks new milestone
Welcome to The Hill’s Business & Economy newsletter {beacon} Business & Economy Business & Economy The Big Story National debt marks new milestone The U.S. national debt crossed $40 trillion on Tuesday, according to newly released data from the Treasury Department. © AP Photo/Mary Altaffer It marks a key milestone for the U.S.,…
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Thousands of North Korean IT workers are infiltrating corporate America
North Korean operatives are posing as remote IT workers to secure jobs at US companies, using stolen American identities, domestic “laptop farms” and artificial intelligence to build convincing résumés and pass job interviews. The scheme allows Kim Jong Un’s regime to funnel earnings back to Pyongyang while embedding operatives inside legitimate corporate networks, raising concerns…
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Drew Brees calls Hurricane Katrina ‘defining moment’ of career, credits faith and community for perseverance
Former NFL quarterback Drew Brees has described joining the New Orleans Saints in 2006, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as the defining moment of his Hall of Fame career. Speaking after his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Brees said the shared hardship forged an unbreakable bond between…