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Richard Stephen | Istock | Getty ImagesSocial Security services during the shutdownLocal offices will remain open, but services will be reduced, according to the Social Security Administration.According to the agency, consumers can still:apply for benefitsrequest an appealchange address or direct deposit informationreport a deathverify or change citizenship statusreplace a lost or missing Social Security paymentobtain an expedited payment in an emergencychange a representative payee,obtain a new or replacement Social Security cardSSI beneficiaries will still be able to make changes to their living arrangements or income.Offices will be open for hearings before administrative law judges.However, certain in-person services will not be…

WASHINGTON (AP) — A week after her decisive win in an Arizona special election, Adelita Grijalva arrived at the U.S. Capitol, where her father had served for decades.But as she roamed the familiar halls, she said she could not help but feel like a tourist. With the House out of session, her swearing in has been delayed. That left her without an office, a desk, staff — something of an unofficial new member of Congress.“It’s very frustrating,” she told The Associated Press after from a late evening meeting of House Democrats. She said it’s unfair to the residents she will…

By B Izzak & KUNAKUWAIT: Kuwait has been upgraded in the US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report from the Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2, reflecting what officials described as the country’s tangible progress and collective efforts to combat human trafficking. Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumait, who also chairs the permanent national committee for combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, said the move highlights Kuwait’s “remarkable improvement” in performance and compliance with international standards.He noted that recent legislative reforms included the issuance of a residence law in late 2024, which tightened penalties for trading…

The federal government shut down on Wednesday after lawmakers failed to agree on a short-term funding measure ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline.  As a result, all “nonessential” government functions will come to a halt, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers finding themselves furloughed or working without pay. Certain essential government services — such as air traffic control and distribution of Social Security checks — will remain online.The Congressional Budget Office estimates about 750,000 workers will be put on furlough, costing the U.S. economy about $400 million each day they’re out of work. In the past, Congress has voted…

Crown Prince, Starmer exchange calls • Coast Guard discusses security with UK official KUWAIT: Kuwait and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their strong bilateral relations in a series of high-level discussions this week, covering diplomacy, regional security, and maritime cooperation. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received a telephone call on Wednesday from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to review the “distinguished and close” relations between the two countries and explore ways to further enhance them.Prime Minister Starmer wished His Highness continued health and wellbeing, and expressed hopes for Kuwait’s ongoing progress and prosperity under the…

KUWAIT: Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Minister of State for Housing Affairs Abdullatif Al-Meshari praised the efforts behind the redevelopment of Shuwaikh Beach, extending special thanks to the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) for its generous contribution that made the project possible.Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, Al-Meshari said the reopening of Shuwaikh Beach in its new form marks the start of wider efforts to upgrade Kuwait’s coastal areas. “This is a genuine step toward humanizing vital and touristic sites and transforming them into safe and enjoyable spaces for citizens and residents alike,” he noted.The minister revealed…

KUWAIT: Kuwait announced the issuance of sovereign bonds worth $11.25 billion, divided into three tranches, marking its first successful return to global debt markets since 2017. The issuance attracted overwhelming investor demand and was priced at “one of the tightest spreads ever for a sovereign issuer in emerging markets”.Kuwait passed a new public debt law in March, after the previous one expired years ago. That raised the borrowing ceiling to KD 30 billion ($98.24bn) from KD 10 billion previously and allowed for the possibility of longer borrowing terms.In a press statement on Wednesday, the ministry of finance said the issuance…

Manchester City’s awayday blues haunted them again as Monaco snatched a late 2-2 draw in their Champions League league phase clash through Eric Dier’s controversial late penalty.City were seemingly heading for a deserved victory in the dying minutes when referee Jesus Gil Manzano was sent to the VAR monitor to review Nico Gonzalez’s high boot on Dier at a free-kick, which he eventually ruled a foul – with a number of visiting backroom staff sent off as tensions boiled over. Even without wanting to directly criticise the decision, Pep Guardiola took clear issue with the referee’s call, later telling TNT…

Arsenal made it two wins out of two in the Champions League as Bukayo Saka’s stoppage-time goal sealed a 2-0 victory over Olympiakos at the Emirates Stadium.Saka, on as a second-half substitute, fired through the legs of Olympiakos goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis from Martin Odegaard’s pass after Gabriel Martinelli had tapped in an early opener when a Viktor Gyokeres shot bounced back off the post. The Gunners looked set for a comfortable evening at the time of Martinelli’s goal but were made to work for the win by Olympiakos, who threatened an equaliser in a sometimes nervy second half. Please use…

Queens Park Rangers were held to a goalless draw by Oxford at Loftus Road as they missed the chance to move into the Championship’s top-six.The hosts are now unbeaten in five league matches since being hammered 7-1 away by Coventry on August 23, during which time three wins and a draw had hoisted Julien Stephan’s side into the top half of the table ahead of kick-off. With just three points separating second from 12th ahead of the match, there was every reason for optimism that an extension of that run could lay the foundations of a play-off push, but if…