Author: David Donovan

Vladimir Putin has cautioned that the U.S. and NATO would be ‘at war’ with Russia if the West allows Ukraine to utilize long-range rockets.  U.S. and British foreign ministers met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Wednesday with the conflict at a pivotal point as Russia and China strengthen their ties. “Change the Very Nature of the Conflict” Source: Kremlin.ru American authorities have likewise been talking about easing restrictions on the utilization of weapons that could strike deep inside Russia as the U.S. continues to provide resources to Ukraine.  Putin said the move from the West would ‘change the very…

Parts of Southern California were shaken by a 4.7-magnitude earthquake early Thursday morning following weeks of seismic activity. The quake was centered in the Malibu area at 7:28 am. Malibu, Hermosa Beach, La Mirada, Anaheim, the Hollywood Hills, and parts of the San Fernando Valley reported shaking from the earthquake. Newsom’s Cooperation Source: Government of California/gov.ca.gov “To monitor the earthquake in the Los Angeles area and [evaluate] any potential damage,” California Governor Gavin Newsom stated on X that he was cooperating with the state’s Office of Emergency Services and local authorities. On X, Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles stated…

McDonald’s newest technological addition may help people to make it to work on time as the company continues to put the “fast” in fast food thanks to its customer service innovations. Customers have long been frustrated that self-serve kiosks only take credit card payments meaning that those looking to pay with cash need to wait in line to order at the counter. Origin of Kiosks Source: Dirk Tussing/Flickr Customers were able to place orders and obtain Happy Meals faster than ever before when McDonald’s introduced its self-ordering kiosks in U.S. locations in 2015. The benefits of not having to wait…

After Donald Trump repeated a false and derogatory claim about immigrants during this week’s presidential debate in Ohio, Haitian Americans stated that they are concerned for their safety. Haitian community leaders across the U.S. said the former president’s comments regarding immigrants eating family pets during his discussion with Democrat VP Kamala Harris could seriously jeopardize people’s safety.  Fanning the Flames Source: Rob Hat/springfieldohio.gov There are concerns that Trump’s remarks will fan the tensions in the small city of Springfield, Ohio, where huge number of new Haitian arrivals have supported the local economy yet additionally put a strain on the safety…

Southern California plant-based fast food chain Hart House shut down every one of the four locations on September 10, 2024.  The eatery opened in 2022 with actor and comedian Kevin Hart spearheading the project which was focused on promoting a vegan lifestyle through plant-based meat alternatives in a fast-casual setting. “Unwavering Support” Source: myharthouse/X Hart House CEO Andy Hooper affirmed the news to Eater in a released statement. Hooper stated,  “The response to the product has been incredible, and we thank our committed team, our customers, and our community partners for helping make the change we all craved, and for…

Russia said on Wednesday that its partnership with China was not aimed against third nations but rather that the two powers could “combine potential” if confronted with a threat from the US. When asked about a potential deployment of U.S. missiles in Japan, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated, “I would like to remind you that Moscow and Beijing will respond to ‘double containment’ by the United States with ‘double counteraction” “Far From Being Political” Source: U.S. Department of State/Flickr The Japan Times stated on Sept. 7 that the US had communicated an interest in sending a Typhon mid-range missile…

From Applebee’s having to close dozens of locations this year to Red Lobster declaring bankruptcy — big American chain restaurants are floundering under inflation and declining foot traffic since the Coronavirus pandemic, says “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary. He wrote in a column for the Daily Mail that “the U.S. restaurant industry finds itself on the menu.” Not Fully Recovered Source: kevinolearytv/X O’Leary went on to state, “Seemingly every day, there’s a headline announcing a bankruptcy, layoff or store closure impacting one of the country’s most beloved brands.” He asserts that many restaurants have not fully recovered from the pandemic’s…

As Bank of America raises its hourly minimum wage to $24, outperforming California’s recently approved $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, questions are surfacing about how these increments could worsen previously rising inflation.  With inflation currently a critical worry for consumers and policymakers, such significant pay climbs across businesses might add to additional cost increases, extending the impact to the overall economy. Aggressive Strategy Source: Coolcaesar/Wikipedia The minimum wage at Bank of America will go up from $23 to $24 per hour in October, affecting thousands of the bank’s 212,000 employees, particularly those in customer-facing positions like tellers and call…

A Democratic proposal that would have let illegal immigrants in California participate in the state’s first-time homebuyer assistance program has been vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. With an estimated tens of billions of dollars in a budget deficit, the program is being analyzed closely in an effort to keep spending down. “Carefully Considered” Source: GavinNewsom/X According to Knewz, Newsom wrote, “This bill seeks to prohibit the disqualification of applicants from one of CalHFA’s home purchase assistance programs based solely on their immigration status.”  “Given the finite funding available for CalHFA programs, expanding program eligibility must be carefully considered within the…

According to the 2024 Retirement Confidence survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), worker and retiree confidence levels have dropped considerably in 2023 and it hasn’t recovered in 2024. Inflation is cited by approximately 31% of workers and 40% of retirees as the cause of their lack of confidence but there are several states where the lack of tax on pensions may help to combat this problem.  Inflation Concerns Source: Harli Marten/Unsplash In 2024, 78% of workers and 72% of retirees are concerned about inflation having an impact on their retirement plans. 39% of laborers and 27% of retired…