unemployment benefits

Despite escalating trade tensions and economic uncertainty, initial jobless claims unexpectedly fell, indicating resilience in the labor market. However, economists remain cautious due to tariff impacts and potential inflation. While employers hesitate to lay off workers, some trade-exposed businesses have initiated modest job cuts, and the median duration of unemployment has increased, signaling potential challenges ahead.

On International Labour Day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge greeted workers and raised concerns about their struggles under the current government. He criticized the reduction in MNREGA funding, opposed the Labour Code for increasing working hours and easing worker dismissals, and highlighted the issue of unemployment and lack of income growth.

Elon Musk's DOGE flagged widespread unemployment benefit fraud, citing claims linked to impossible birth dates. However, these 'fake people' are likely pseudo records created by states to track and protect against fraudulent claims during the pandemic surge. While officials acknowledge past fraud, they clarify that DOGE's findings reflect previously identified issues, not current oversight failures.

Global markets surged following China's consideration of US tariff negotiation overtures, boosting investor confidence. Positive earnings reports from Microsoft and Meta further fueled Wall Street's gains, with the S&P 500 achieving its longest winning streak since August. Concerns remain about the potential economic impact of tariffs and the possibility of stagflation, creating uncertainty despite market optimism.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, after ten months in office, emphasized his administration's commitment to public service, highlighting a high success rate in grievance redressal. Key achievements include fulfilling major promises like opening Jagannath temple doors and launching welfare schemes such as the Subhadra Yojana.

Content moderators in the Global South, employed by subcontractors for companies like Meta, face immense psychological distress due to constant exposure to disturbing content. Lawsuits are mounting against Meta and its subcontractors over inadequate mental health support and unfair labor practices.

Food banks in the US are facing increased demand. Working people are now seeking assistance. This is due to the income stagnation and rising living costs. Federal funding cuts are exacerbating the crisis. Organizations like Campaign Against Hunger are struggling. They are limiting food distributions. Feeding America also faces strain. Potential SNAP cuts could worsen the situation.

After Rajasthan LoP Tikaram Jully visited a Ram temple in Alwar early this month, BJP’s Gyan Dev Ahuja “purified” it with gangajal. Amid the resulting controversy, BJP first suspended Ahuja, and finally expelled him yesterday — on the eve of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘Save the Constitution’ rally in Jaipur. Siddhartha Dutta discusses the episode, entrenched caste divisions, and solutions with Jully

US stocks surged on Thursday, fueled by robust corporate earnings that boosted investor confidence despite ongoing trade tensions. The S&P 500 neared its all-time high, while the Dow and Nasdaq also saw significant gains. ServiceNow and Hasbro stood out with impressive results, while concerns about trade policies and economic uncertainty persist, creating market volatility.

A probe reveals nearly $382 million in fraudulent unemployment payouts since 2020. California, New York, and Massachusetts account for most of it. These states are under Democratic control. California also saw payments to parolees on terror watchlists. The White House blames Democratic mismanagement. Foreign nationals with criminal records also accessed welfare, raising concerns about vetting processes.

AAP leader Sandeep Pathak criticized Chhattisgarh's BJP government for failing to address rising unemployment, which affects over 1.7 million people. He highlighted numerous vacancies in education and healthcare, accusing the government of neglecting local job seekers and implementing ineffective schemes.