Latest News
- US inflation rate drops to lowest level in over two years
- Lebanon becomes unsafe for former Syrian regime officials amid extradition risks
- Trump suspends tariffs on Canada, cites pending trade agreement
- Florida Senate race between Ashley Moody and Angie Nixon confirmed after primary victories
- Sisters, aged 14 and 15, go missing days apart in northern Germany
- French film producer Nicolas Altmayer and partner Mathilde Favier die in crash
- Trump Administration Moves to Open Millions of Acres for Logging in Forests
- Trump calls for reduction of US-South Korea military drills
Hunt for Tube hero who gave blind man his shoes after he lost one through the gap The hunt is on find an ‘absolute hero’
US inflation rate drops to lowest level in over two years
The Federal Reserve is set to meet next week, with speculation mounting over potential interest rate adjustments. Recent inflation data has prompted discussions among policymakers, indicating a tense balance between economic growth and controlling rising prices. Analysts anticipate that the Fed may signal its stance on the rates as officials assess the economic landscape, influencing Congress and the broader market in the process.
In business news, financial markets have shown volatility in anticipation of the Fed’s decisions, reflecting investors’ concerns about inflation and rate hikes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 200 points in the last trading session, heightening the stakes before the Federal Open Market Committee’s policy announcement scheduled for next Wednesday. Investors will be keeping a close watch on the Fed’s announcements for cues on future monetary policy adjustments.
Key developments across the United States
US police agencies were key in pandemic-era crime surge
US SECURITY — Law enforcement agencies played a significant role in the increase of crime during the pandemic.
The article discusses how various police departments across the country faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic that may have contributed to rising crime rates. Factors such as officer shortages, community disengagement, and shifts in crimes trends were highlighted, stressing the need for reform and support within these agencies.
Fed raises interest rates amid persistent inflation
US ECONOMY — The Federal Reserve has increased interest rates as a measure to combat ongoing inflation.
This decision comes amidst concerns that inflation is not subsiding as expected. The Fed aims to steer the economy toward stability by recalibrating rates, impacting consumers and businesses alike and making loans more expensive, which could slow down spending.
Retail industry adapts to new shopping trends
US BUSINESS — The retail industry is evolving in response to changing shopping habits due to technological advancements.
Businesses are increasingly leveraging e-commerce platforms and enhancing customer experience through personalized services. This shift reflects broader consumer preferences and the need for retail strategies that focus on digital integrations and convenience to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Biden administration reviews infrastructure funding
US POLITICS — The Biden administration is critically assessing the distribution of infrastructure funding.
This review aims to address disparities in how funds are allocated and ensure equitable development across various states. By re-evaluating current strategies, the administration seeks to enhance infrastructure resilience and meet the growing demands of urban and rural areas.
New law expands benefits for veterans
US LAW — A new law has been enacted to enhance benefits for veterans.
This legislation aims to provide more comprehensive support and resources for veterans, addressing long-standing issues regarding healthcare and financial assistance. The law reflects a commitment to improving conditions for those who have served, ensuring they receive the benefits they deserve.
What to watch — Future announcements from the Federal Reserve will indicate their stance on inflation and interest rates.
Further reading from US News sources
Politico
Tom Beghich, Alaskans love never-ending struggles
Associated Press
In brief: Beghich is no stranger to struggle
Reuters
Tom Beghich: A view of the Alaskan terrain
Bloomberg
A new approach to Alaskan business
The New York Times
Alaska’s business landscape shifts under Beghich
October 12, 2024
6:18 am
‘Cheer up, you caught the bad guy,’ says killer Virginia McCullough as she is arrested for murdering her parents
A woman who murdered her parents “in cold blood” before hiding them in makeshift tombs for four years told officers to “cheer up, you caught the bad guy” as she was arrested in her home.
Virginia McCullough, 36, poisoned her father John McCullough, 70, with prescription medication and fatally stabbed her mother Lois McCullough, 71, shortly afterwards in 2019.
She ran up large debts on credit cards in her parents’ names and after their deaths, she continued to spend their pensions until she was finally caught in 2023.
In body-worn video footage released by police, a handcuffed – and eerily calm – McCullough told officers: “I did know that this would kind of come eventually.
“It’s proper that I serve my punishment.”
She said she had slipped something into her father’s drink then put his body under a bed on the ground floor, and put her mother’s body in an upstairs wardrobe.
McCullough, having been arrested on suspicion of double murder, told an officer: “Cheer up, at least you’ve caught the bad guy.”
She added: “I know I don’t seem 100% evil.”
At the police station, she told officers where a kitchen knife was, which she described as a “murder weapon”, and a hammer which she said “will still have blood on it”.
McCullough, of Pump Hill, Chelmsford, Essex, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday with a minimum term of 36 years at Chelmsford Crown Court, after she admitted to their murders between 17 and 20 June 2019 at an earlier hearing at the same court.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard how she hid their bodies in makeshift tombs at the family home in Great Baddow in Essex, then told persistent lies to cover her tracks.
The court heard she cancelled family arrangements and frequently told doctors and relatives her parents were unwell, on holiday or away on lengthy trips.
But concerns over Mr and Mrs McCullough’s welfare were raised in September 2023 by a GP at their registered practice, and Essex County Council’s safeguarding team referred these to police.
The GP had not seen the couple for some time and said Mr McCullough had failed to collect medication and attend scheduled appointments. It was found McCullough had frequently cancelled appointments, using a range of excuses to explain her father’s absence.
Police said a missing persons investigation was initially launched and McCullough lied to officers, claiming her parents were travelling and would be returning in October.
It became a murder investigation, and when officers forced entry to the house in Pump Hill on September 15 2023, McCullough confessed that her parents’ bodies were in the house and that she had killed them.
Nicola Rice, a specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “McCullough callously and viciously killed both of her parents before concealing their bodies in makeshift tombs within their home address.
“She spent the next four years manipulating and lying to family members, medical staff, financial institutions, and the police, spending her parents’ money and accruing large debts in their name.”
She added: “This was a truly disturbing case, which has left behind it a trail of devastation, and I can only hope that the sentence passed today will help those who loved and cared for Lois and John begin to heal.”
To downplay the genocide, the israelis claim there’s only 20,000 people left in north Gaza, says
@MahaGaza
: the real number exceeds 400,000
Man of the right wing Nigel Farage taking more second jobs and freebie helicopter rides
Gosh he’ll soon be a true blue Tory at this rate
Or far far worse
The cost-of-living crisis is far from over, yet the government’s 50% increase to the bus fare cap is a political choice, adding hundreds to annual costs.
To address hardship & the climate crisis, the government must keep the £2 cap & make public transport accessible for all.
G20 waters down support for Ukraine amid pressure for peace talks
The Tech Titan Who Led His Company From a 68-Square-Foot Jail Cell
November 23, 2024
8:25 am
Defense alliance NATO chief Mark Rutte has met US President-elect Donald Trump to discuss global security issues, according to a NATO spokesperson.
The meeting took place in Palm Beach, Florida.
During his first term as US president, 2017-2020, Trump pushed for European NATO countries to spend more on defense and described the alliance’s cost-sharing as unfair to the US.
Rutte took over as NATO chief from Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg in November.
Before taking office in January, Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth for the post of defense secretary, which has raised eyebrows among many allies.
Hegseth, 44, has served as an infantry captain in Iraq and Afghanistan, but has no senior military or government officer experience.
November 23, 2024
8:25 am
November 23, 2024
8:17 am
Multiple missiles were fired in an airstrike towards a densely populated part of Lebanon’s capital early on Saturday.
The huge airstrike targeted Beirut’s Basta neighbourhood, and no prior warnings were given by the Israeli military. The largely residential area was struck last month.
At least one violent explosion was heard across the city, Reuters witnesses said, and plumes of smoke could be seen. Scenes of massive destruction at the site were shared online, including a massive crater in the ground.
“Beirut, the capital, woke up to a horrific massacre, as the Israeli enemy’s air force completely destroyed an eight-story residential building with five missiles on Al-Mamoun Street in Basta,” the state-run National News Agency reported.
The health ministry put the initial death toll at four, with 23 wounded. The number is expected to climb in the coming hours as search and rescue efforts continue.
It came after a long day of Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, which have been non-stop since last week.
The cross-border fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group escalated into a full-blown war in mid-September.
Israel has bombed southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs and the eastern Beqaa region, and has sent ground troops across the border. Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets deeper into Israel.
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