This category contains political and general news, latest updates and analysis on breaking political stories, politicians and other public figures, as well as popular policy-related blogs
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. ticked up this week to slightly above 7%, the highest level in eight months. The rate rose to 7.04% from 6.93% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.6%. It has risen for five straight weeks. Borrowing costs on […]
Average rate on 30-year mortgage hits 7%, its fifth straight increase Read More »
A Toyota division that manufactures trucks will pay more than $1.6 billion and plead guilty to violations related to the submission of false and fraudulent engine emission testing and fuel consumption data to regulators and the illicit smuggling of engines into the United States. Hino Motors, a subsidiary of the Toyota, first acknowledged in 2022
Toyota's truck division Hino to pay $1.6 billion as part of emissions scandal Read More »
COLUMBUS, Ohio — U.S. defense contractor Anduril Industries is preparing to build a massive advanced manufacturing facility in central Ohio, adding a planned 4,000 jobs to the area’s burgeoning high-tech sector, state officials announced Thursday. The Cosa Mesa, California-based defense technology company plans to begin construction of what it’s calling “Arsenal 1” as soon as
US defense contractor to build 4,000-worker advanced manufacturing facility in Ohio Read More »
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week, but layoffs remain historically low and the job market broadly healthy. Applications for jobless benefits rose by 14,000 for the week ending January 11, the Labor Department said Thursday, up from the previous week’s 203,000. The previous week’s figure was the lowest since February
More Americans file for unemployment benefits, but layoffs remain historically low Read More »
Americans stepped up their spending at retail stores and restaurants last month in a clear sign that consumers are still able and willing to shop. Retail sales rose 0.4% in December from the previous month, the Commerce Department said Thursday, though down from November’s upwardly revised 0.8% gain. The figures suggest that even as many
US retail sales rose modestly last month amid solid holiday shopping Read More »
LONDON — U.K.-based oil company BP is cutting 4,700 jobs worldwide and a further 3,000 contractor roles as part of a cost-saving drive. In an email to staff on Thursday that has been seen by The Associated Press, CEO Murray Auchincloss said the job losses “account for much of the anticipated reduction this year.” The
BP cutting 4,700 jobs worldwide as part of cost-saving drive Read More »
UnitedHealth posted a better-than-expected profit in the final quarter of 2024, but revenue fell short as challenges like Medicare funding cuts and a Medicaid enrollment drop hurt. Shares of the health care giant slid early Thursday after it released its first financial report since the brazen shooting of one of its executives outside a New
UnitedHealth books better-than-expected fourth-quarter profit Read More »
COLUMBIA, S.C. — It turns out that $1.8 billion in South Carolina state funds weren’t just sitting in a bank account waiting to be spent. Instead, it was an accounting error compounded over years instead of being reconciled, an independent forensic audit determined. The announcement Wednesday dashed ideas like returning the money to taxpayers or
$1.8 billion isn't missing after all in South Carolina, questions remain about error Read More »
La June Montgomery Tabron believes many Americans have a desire for racial healing. They just don’t know how to start. “It may sound mysterious or challenging,” said Montgomery Tabron, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s first woman and first Black CEO. “But it’s actually quite simple.” It starts, she says, with a conversation — with the sharing
The Kellogg Foundation CEO shares her own life story to foster more racial healing Read More »
BANGKOK — Nate Anderson, the founder of the muckraking financial information firm Hindenburg Research, says he is disbanding the organization after it finished the pipeline of work it set out to do. Hindenburg, founded in 2017, has a track record of sending the stock prices of its targets tumbling by disclosing fraud and other abuses
Founder of muckraking financial information firm Hindenburg Research calls it quits Read More »
