U.S. long-term mortgage rates fell this week following a sharp rise the week before, making September the most volatile month for the key 30-year loan since March.
Mortgage rates have been running near historic lows, spurring prospective homebuyers, amid an uncertain economic outlook.
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The flu forecast is cloudy and it’s too soon to know if the U.S. is in for a third miserable season in a row, but health officials said Thursday not to delay vaccination.
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The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of an Air Force general to become the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, largely dismissing an aide’s allegations that he had subjected her to unwanted sexual advances.
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Just before Rosh Hashanah, famed Saudi Arabian blogger and Twitter influencer Muhammad Saud has posted two videos of himself singing two famous Jewish songs.
His first song is Jewish piyyut known as Agadlecha, that is sung by Sephardim, and was composed by the Ibin Ezra in the 11th Century.

Hundreds more Americans have been reported to have a vaping-related breathing illness, and the death toll has risen to 13, health officials said Thursday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 805 confirmed and probable cases have been reported, up 52% from the 530 reported a week ago.

New York is relaxing party enrollment deadlines to make it easier to cast a ballot in primary elections under a bill signed Thursday by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The new law gives voters until Feb.
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One Republican hadn’t read the whistleblower’s complaint. Another called President Donald Trump’s conversation with the Ukraine leader “thin gruel” for any impeachment effort. A third said the whole thing was “blown way out of proportion.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged the United States on Thursday to “cease this policy of maximum pressure” on his nation, saying it was driving the possibility of negotiations even further away.
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Users of Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant can now request that recordings of their voice commands delete automatically.
Amazon says it saves such commands to improve the service. But the practice has raised concerns with privacy experts who say the recordings could get into the wrong hands, especially as Amazon and other companies use human reviewers rather than just machines.

For over a year now, Klal Yisroel as one has been waiting with bated breath for the 13th Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi. The word “historic” is an often overused cliché, but the upcoming Siyum of Daf Yomi is precisely that in every sense.