Warning signs have been flashing for months that the US job market has been losing steam. That became starkly clearer in July, and the early data for August isn't looking much better. New metrics released Thursday showed that first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose to an 11-week high; that private-sector businesses sharply reined in their hiring last month; and that last month was the worst August for layoff announcements since the Great Recession. read more
President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to step into the fray over his emergency tariffs, putting the centerpiece of his economic agenda in the hands of the justices who have mostly backed his sweeping view of executive power, according to a copy of the appeal obtained by CNN. read more
On Monday in Washington, DC, a man was shot dead. Two women were injured in a separate shooting. People reported dozens of other crimes to the police. The next day, in both public remarks and an interview, President Donald Trump claimed that Washington now has "no crime." He said Wednesday that "there is none," making clear that he has been making a literal assertion that crime in the capital has completely vanished. It hasn't. read more
A US federal court has overturned billions in funding cuts by President Donald Trump's administration to Harvard University. Judge Allison Burroughs ruled the government violated the Ivy League college's free speech rights when it revoked around $2bn (1.5bn) in research funding. The ruling is a major legal victory for Harvard, but is likely to be appealed. The Trump administration accused the college of antisemitism, "radical left" ideologies and racial bias when it froze the funding in April.
The watching world saw a significant display of diplomatic unity in Beijing today, as China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin, and North Korea's Kim Jong Un met in public for the first time. Alongside a vast military parade marking 80 years since the country's victory over Japan in World War Two, the meeting formed part of a day of statements for Chinese President Xi Jinping. Crowds of over 50,000 in Tiananmen Square witnessed laser weapons, nuclear ballistic missiles, and even robotic wolves - a display that will now be heavily scrutinized by Western defense officials, our security correspondent writes. read more
The solution seems pretty simple. If you don't trust the mail with your ballot, don't mail it. If others are ok with using the mail for their ballots, mind your own business.