Consumer confidence fell to a six-month low in August, as COVID-19 infections soared nationwide amid an outbreak driven by the highly infectious delta variant. The Conference Board released figures on Tuesday showing that its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 113.8 this month, down from 125.1 recorded in July. The Present Situation Index, which focuses on consumers’ […]
Read MoreThe Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday posted new leases for oil and gas drilling on 16,500 acres in five states, one week after the Interior Department announced that leasing in the areas would resume. The proposed lease sales posted Tuesday include 9,200 acres in Montana, 80 acres in Alabama, 14 acres in Oklahoma and […]
Read MoreIdaho Gov. Brad Little (R) on Tuesday said he would be deploying additional National Guard personnel to assist state hospitals overwhelmed by recent surges in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated communities. The move comes just two months after the Republican governor announced a timeline for drawing down the state National Guard’s COVID-19 Task Force as the […]
Read MoreA former passenger on a cruise ship allowed to dock in Cambodia after four other governments turned it away for fear of the coronavirus has been diagnosed with the virus after flying from Cambodia to Malaysia. The woman, an 83-year-old American national, was one of several hundred passengers on the M.S. Westerdam that were flown […]
Read MoreUnited Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday warned of a looming “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan, calling on member countries to contribute aid to support Afghans in “their darkest hour of need.” The UN head said in a statement that Afghans face a “deepening humanitarian and economic crisis in the country” following the Taliban’s consolidation of […]
Read MoreThe U.S. and Taliban will sign a peace deal by the end of the month, the Taliban reportedly said Monday. Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, a senior Taliban leader, said in a video shared with journalists that “both sides have initiated the final draft of the peace agreement. Now talks are concluded,” according to The Washington […]
Read MoreThe Tokyo Marathon will limit its number of participants due to concerns over coronavirus, organizers said Monday. The March 1 marathon will now be held only for “marathon elites” and “wheelchair elites,” according to the update. “We have been preparing for the Tokyo Marathon 2020 (Sunday, March 1) while implementing preventive safety measures, however, now that case […]
Read MoreToday is Tuesday. Welcome to Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup. Headed into the upcoming Labor Day weekend, two key federal agencies warned Tuesday that hackers may use the extended weekend to go after U.S. companies, in particular following […]
Read MoreThe IRS has removed guidance from its website that said in-game virtual currency in video games such as Fortnite could be subject to a new reporting requirement on federal tax returns. IRS Chief Counsel Michael Desmond said the video game currencies should not have been included in the guidance alongside bitcoin, according to a report by Bloomberg Tax. He […]
Read MoreHappy Thursday and welcome back to On The Money, where we would like to congratulate any devoted gamers who read this newsletter. I’m Sylvan Lane, and here’s your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line. See something I missed? Let me know at slane@thehill.com or tweet me @SylvanLane. And if you like your […]
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