News Syndicates

The New York Federal Reserve Bank said more Americans had their credit applications rejected last month at levels not seen in years. The New York Fed reported on July 16 added that fewer people across the country also sought to borrow. The report was part of the bank’s monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations, which is taken every four months to assess credit access...

Artificial intelligence could come with both advantages and risks in the financial system, cautions the Federal Reserve’s chief banking regulator. Michael S. Barr, the Fed Vice Chair for Supervision, told the National Fair Housing Alliance 2023 National Conference on July 18 that underserved communities could have greater access to housing because AI technology, such as machine learning, might ensure affordable...

TikTok officials have admitted to an Australian government inquiry that China-based employees can change the social media app’s algorithm. This is the first time officials from the company have made the admission, which has raised increasing questions about the reach of the Chinese regime into foreign societies through the app. Appearing before the Select Committee on Foreign Interference Through Social Media...

Parents of parochial school students in Pennsylvania are suing a public school district, alleging officials violated their rights by not allowing their children to participate in the district’s extracurricular programs. Their legal complaint claims the State College Area School District (SCASD) and its board discriminated against Centre County students who attend religiously affiliated institutions by refusing to allow them to...

Commentary The decision by the Victorian Labor government to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games is a major blow to the regional communities—promised world-class sporting events and infrastructure—and an assault on the reputation of the state; indeed the nation. The Games had been scheduled to showcase regional Victoria, with major events in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Shepparton, and the Latrobe Valley. Just...

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Commentary China’s economy is in desperate straits. So desperate that officials in one county in Guangdong Province offered an illegal bribe to U.S. investors. Any U.S. corporate “decision maker” who brings investment, according to The Wall Street Journal, would get 10 percent of the deal’s total value. A $100 million investment by a U.S. company, for example, could yield a...

Commentary The Canadian Consumer Price Index (CPI) dropped to 2.8 percent annualized to the end of June from 3.4 percent in May. The index was expected to drop to 2.9 percent as a result of easing price pressures and the drop off of the June 2022 figure as the CPI rose about 0.6 percent that month. The core index rose...

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said on Monday that the department will continue to extend support for student loan holders and look for ways to provide more relief for existing borrowers, two weeks after the Supreme Court struck down a government attempt to forgive millions of such loans. “The goal is to be able to pay what you can afford. Right...

LONDON—The dollar drifted near a 15-month low against its major peers on Tuesday, as investors awaited fresh catalysts to gauge for downside in the wake of last week’s cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation. The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six currencies, fell as low as 99.587, languishing near Friday’s trough of 99.574, its lowest since April...

With speculation mounting that he will launch a presidential bid instead of seeking another term in Congress, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) declined to announce his future plans during his appearance as the keynote speaker for No Labels’ Common Sense Town Hall on July 17. Former Utah governor and Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman joined Mr. Manchin at the event, which...

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia denied former President Donald J. Trump’s attempt to scuttle a grand jury report in Fulton County on the 2020 presidential election in that state. The July 17 decision follows his repeated attempts to quash that special purpose grand jury report, which could lead to another criminal indictment for...

Lendlease is cutting 10 percent of its global workforce as the real estate giant works to implement a five-year turnaround plan. A Lendlease spokesman on Tuesday confirmed the company will lay off about 740 people. Overseas workers will take the brunt of the job losses, with five percent of the company’s Australian staff receiving redundancies. The spokesman declined to state...

Benchmark U.S. crude oil for August delivery fell $1.27 to $74.15 a barrel Monday. Brent crude for September delivery fell $1.37 to $78.50 a barrel. Wholesale gasoline for August delivery fell 1 cent $2.63 a gallon. August heating oil fell 4 cents to $2.56 a gallon. August natural gas fell 3 cents to $2.51 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gold for...

Commentary In June 2022, Madrid-based Safeguard Defenders revealed the existence of secret Chinese police stations in various countries worldwide. This revelation prompted outrage by human rights advocates that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would dare to do such a thing. But to Chinese dissidents living abroad, it was no surprise at all. In fact, thousands of Chinese living abroad have...

Arizona’s Peoria Unified School District faces possible legal action over two Christian school board members quoting Bible verses at public meetings. “It would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6,” Rebecca Hill said during a May board meeting, according to news outlet KJZZ....

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks to the media at a U.S. House stakeout position on July 17. ...

“The economic growth of China is largely a wealth transfer from the United States,” says Robert Lighthizer. “You’re transferring the wealth of our children and grandchildren and their children overseas.” Mr. Lighthizer served as the U.S. Trade Representative in the Trump administration and also served as deputy trade representative in the Reagan administration. In this episode, we do a deep...

New Zealand’s leader said that while his country has “sizable economic interests” in China, it also sees “high-value markets” through free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom, European Union, and an Asia-Pacific trade group. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins made the remarks at the China Business Summit in Auckland on July 17, in which he reaffirmed his commitment to advancing...

“In the last few years, Jan, there are literally thousands of people who have been victimized by violent crime who otherwise would not have been victimized if the police had not been cowed into not doing their job. … And the people who are now hurt because of this excess crime and excess deaths are the very black and brown...