Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell suggested the U.S. central bank is inclined to hold interest rates steady again at its next meeting while leaving open the possibility of another hike later if policymakers see further signs of resilient economic growth.
“Given the uncertainties and risks, and how far we have come, the committee is proceeding carefully,” Powell said in prepared remarks Thursday to the Economic Club of New York. “We will make decisions about the extent of additional policy firming and how long policy will remain restrictive based on the totality of the incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.”
Powell also pointed to tightening financial conditions, driven by a rise in longer-term bond yields, and said “persistent changes in financial conditions can have implications for the path of monetary policy.”
Powell’s comments will likely affirm market expectations for the Federal Open Market Committee to hold interest rates steady for a second straight meeting when policymakers meet on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. That would be the first consecutive skip in their 19-month campaign to tame inflation.
Yields on 2-year Treasuries declined after Powell spoke, while the dollar fell against a basket of major currencies. The S&P 500 index of stocks rose.
Officials left their policy rate unchanged last month in a range of 5.25% to 5.5% and their forecasts showed 12 of 19 officials wanted one more hike this year. Powell was careful not to rule out the possibility of further tightening in his remarks.
“We are attentive to recent data showing the resilience of economic growth and demand for labor,” he said. “Additional evidence of persistently above-trend growth, or that tightness in the labor market is no longer easing, could put further progress on inflation at risk and could warrant further tightening of monetary policy.”
Speaking during a question and answer session, Powell added, “I think the evidence is not that policy is too tight right now.”
Core inflation, excluding volatile food and energy prices, has decelerated to just below 4% on an annual basis and just below 3% on a three-month annualized measure.
At the same time, recent economic data showed U.S. retail sales exceeded forecasts and industrial production strengthened in September.
WASHINGTON (AP) — As the Israel-Hamas war intensifies, the United States Thursday launched a visa waiver program allowing Israelis wishing to visit the United States for 90 days or less to come without applying for a visa.
The U.S. announced Sept. 27 that it was admitting Israel into the visa waiver program, adding the country to a select group of 40 mostly European and Asian countries whose citizens can travel to the U.S. for three months without visas.
At the time, the U.S. said Israelis could start traveling to America without visas as of November 30. In a news release, the Department of Homeland Security said the program was operational as of Thursday.
Officials gave no reason for the changed timeline in a news release Thursday. But just days after Israel’s admittance to the visa waiver program, Hamas launched attacks against numerous locations in southern Israel. Since then the Israeli military has relentlessly attacked locations in the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a ground invasion.
Under the waiver program, Israelis first register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. That’s an automated system that helps determine whether the person is eligible to travel, Homeland Security said in the news release. The process can take up to 72 hours. Then they can travel to the U.S.
To be eligible, Israelis must have a biometrically enabled passport. Those who don’t have such a passport still must apply for a U.S. visa, the department said.
Countries that want to take part in the visa program have to meet three critical benchmarks. Israel met two of those benchmarks over the past two years: a low percentage of Israelis who applied for visas and were rejected and a low percentage of Israelis who have overstayed their visas. Israel had struggled to meet the third, for reciprocity that essentially means all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans, must be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel.
Many critics said that despite American assertions, Palestinian Americans were still facing discrimination when traveling to Israel.
A very brave police dog, who rushed into action to save his handler at the cost of his own life, will have a second life in bronze outside the Braintree Police Department.
The monument was unveiled Thursday during a ceremony in which the department also rededicated its Officers Memorial.
“I think that we need to thank all the police officers that serve every day, day in, day out, when people are home in their beds. They serve all night long. They’re serving on weekends, holidays,” Braintree Police Chief Timothy Cohoon said during the ceremony. “We’re going to thank today a beloved police dog who if not for Kitt, it could have been a dramatically different day on June 4th, 2021.”
That’s the day the K-9 named Kitt, who according to the department had served for 12 years, was shot dead by a suspect of domestic violence. Her handler, Officer Bill Cushing as well as another officer, Richard Seibert, were also shot by the suspect, Andrew Homan, before a third officer, Matthew Donoghue, was able to take Homan out.
That officer was cleared in a Norfolk DA investigation into the shooting. The investigative summary provided details of the tragic day:
Police had received a call at around 12:45 p.m. that day by the domestic violence victim, who told arriving officers that she had been subjected to physical and verbal assaults over a 24-hour period and that Homan had even pointed one of his pistols at her the day before. Surveillance footage showed police Homan had run off into the abutting woods prior to their arrival and so the three officers and Kitt set off on his trail.
Kitt had located Homan’s scent and they soon found the armed man, who according to the DA did not obey commands to put his weapons down but instead fired, injuring Cushing and ending Kitt’s life.
The department that evening would write a short memorial to Kitt that night: “We will forever miss you buddy.”
Cushing, Donoghue and Seibert were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Award for Bravery ceremony held last November for their actions that night.
“Send special blessings upon those unique officers who are partnered with their K-9 officers. Those K-9s are not only partners with these officers but … come into their homes, they’re part of their family,” Father Sean Connor of Braintree’s Our Lady Queen of Peace said during the convocation. “Our nation, our world is suffering from a lack of peace. So send your blessing on these peace officers, watch over the work they do and help us to support them, not only in word but in deed.”
Matt Stone/Boston Herald
People check out the Braintree Police Department’s memorial for K-9 Kitt. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: A K9 officer and his dog walk past the unveiling of a memorial for K-9 Kitt and a rededication of their Officer Memorial. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: The Braintree Police Department unveiling of a a memorial for K-9 Kitt and a rededication of their Officer Memorial. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: A K9 officer and his dog walk past the unveiling of a memorial for K-9 Kitt and a rededication of their Officer Memorial. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Matt Stone/Boston Herald
A K-9 officer holds his dog during the unveiling of a memorial for K-9 Kitt and a rededication of the Braintree Police Department’s Officer Memorial. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: K9 Kitt’s owner Officer William Cushing Jr. applauds as the children involved in helping raise money for the memorial, unveil the statue for Kitt. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
An onlooker holds a carving during the unveiling of the K-9 Kitt memorial. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: Some of the children involved in help raising money for the memorial, Marina and Sophia Whitelaw along with Ella Wood during the unveiling of the statue for K-9 Kitt. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: Braintree police officers Matthew Donoghue and K9 Kitt’s owner Officer William Cushing Jr. check out a replica of the statue of dog during a memorial unveiling the statue. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: David Methven plays the bagpipes during the unveiling of the K-9 Kitt memorial. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Braintree, MA – October 19: The children involved in helping raise money for the Kitt’s memorial, unveil the statue. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
The New England Revolution on Thursday released the recipients of the team’s multiple MVP Awards and Defender of the Year Award and the choices were obvious.
Revolution captain Carles Gil was voted team MVP by the club’s fanbase for the third time in the last five seasons. He was also named Player of the Year by his teammates. First-year center back Dave Romney was voted Defender of the Year by the local media.
Gil was the winner of the 2021 MLS Landon Donovan MVP Award and his numbers this season were comparable to that historic campaign. Gil is the third three-time MVP winner, tied with Joe-Max Moore and Taylor Twellman for the club record. Gil leads the team with 11 goals and will collect the Gold Boot award at the end of the season. He is tied for third in the league with 14 assists.
Romney was former head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena’s signature offseason acquisition in a cash only deal with Nashville SC. Romney is the second player in club history to play every minute of a 34-game schedule and leads MLS in clearances (154) and blocks (31).
