Personal finance

To hold his Senate seat against his challenger, Beto O’Rourke, in 2018, Ted Cruz spent nearly $40 million. O’Rourke’s campaign spent double that amount. The day before the vote in Texas, Cruz lent his campaign $260,000. This was a curious—and seemingly unnecessary—gesture: The campaign’s final report showed it ended with $263,000 cash in hand. Yet Cruz was not acting irrationally. He was preparing the ground for a challenge of his own, an assault on the tottering remains of the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law of 2002. That law, more formally known as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, or BCRA, limited how campaigns could repay loans from candidates. A campaign has 20 days in which it can repay such loans in full. After that deadline, it can repay no more than $250,000. When Cruz’s campaign finished repaying him, the deadline had elapsed. So his campaign committee settled only $250,000 of the loan, leaving $10,000 outstanding—which Cruz then sued in federal court to … [Read more...] about What Ted Cruz’s Supreme Court Win Means

Today, our resident horoscope expert Russell Grant tells one star sign they should stop telling themselves they aren't good enough, while another should have confidence that important matters can be dealt with swiftly and efficiently. Russell has plenty more to say after analysing the stars, and below you will find exactly what the universe has in store for you today, Wednesday, May 18 ARIES Limiting beliefs about yourself are preventing you from finding true happiness. Don’t keep telling yourself you aren’t good enough, smart enough or experienced enough to take up an offer or opportunity. Change the pattern by acting opposite to what you would normally do and push past these mental obstacles. TAURUS Accept the chance to play a leading role in a team event or community venture. Your determination to get results will inspire others, too, to make some worthwhile achievements. Work you are doing on behalf of a charity will be highly rewarding. Keep up the good work. GEMINI … [Read more...] about Horoscopes today: Serious obligations, appreciating support and a hectic schedule

STUFF Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta speaks on the Russia sanctions bill. An unintended consequence of sanctions on Russia’s financial institutions has meant more than 400 Kiwis have been unable to access a portion of their pension payments since the penalties were introduced. Without a social security arrangement with Russia or a law change, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) says its hands are tied until sanctions lift – a move that will be reviewed in 2025 , but in reality may never happen. On Monday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) released new guidance to New Zealand banks , essentially saying it never meant for these pensioners to become collateral damage. The guidance said banks could accept transfers from Russian financial institutions in order to pay out what’s owed to those pensioners living in New Zealand. This comes after 30 of the 420 people affected contacted MSD, with four laying formal complaints over … [Read more...] about More than 400 NZ pensioners fail to receive payments due to Russian sanctions