USA Update

A big four bank has stunned prospective homebuyers by hiking mortgage rates — just days before the Reserve Bank is expected to deliver a third round of relief for struggling households. 

It was the third-hottest July on earth since records began, according to scientists.

The local bourse is consolidating a day after soaring to new all-time highs, but modest profit-taking indicates there could be further upside ahead.

TRAINING camp injuries continue to roll in as the first preseason games approach.

This time, it was the Dallas Cowboys that had their quarterback room hit.

AP

Cowboys backup quarterback Joe Milton III sustained a training camp injury[/caption]

Reuters

Milton hurt his thumb during a joint practice[/caption]

Backup quarterback Joe Milton III found himself banged up after a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams.

Milton injured his thumb after hitting it on a helmet.

He sat out the remainder of practice only for “precautionary” reasons, according to head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“His thumb got clipped on a helmet,” Schottenheimer said of Milton.

“Trainers think he’s fine. He had pretty good strength in it, but just with the game coming up in a couple days, we just want to be smart with it, so do more testing.

“But I think he’s fine. … They feel really good about it.

“I’ll get more information later today, but he felt like he could go back in.

“It was more of a precautionary thing.”

The Cowboys desperately need a healthy quarterback room in 2025.

After missing Dak Prescott for most of last season due to a torn hamstring, the team is looking to return to playoff contention.

Having competent quarterback play will be essential in that quest.

Prescott is fully healthy this year and looking forward to fighting for a playoff spot once again.

“Just with the experience of this game, having the teammates and the players that I have around me, getting into a new year with a new coach and a new energy with such a youthful team, I see somebody who feels young again,” Prescott said.

“Excited as hell for not only this offense but this team and the direction we’re going and what we can do, and a team that’s not going to have to look in the mirror much as we start this thing, and we’re going to just have to look forward and make sure that we just remind ourselves of our goal and keep that in our mind.”

Prescott feels that this Cowboys team can seriously compete in 2025.

“Energy is contagious,” Prescott said.

“That’s about building and making sure that’s creating a brotherhood that yea, things are going to get hard.

“It’s going to be Week 15 and who knows how it’s looking that week and maybe guys here or there don’t have the energy, but it’s about reminding them and being able to be there and cheering ’em up…”

“That’s the main message of our program, is ‘compete every day.’ But I think when you’re doing it with the right attitude, with the right energy that’s contagious, you’re making sure that guy’s not just checking a box and he’s actually pushing the limits and holding himself accountable to get better one percent each day.”

Central Visayas has so far recorded a total of 141 cases of leptospirosis this year, the Department of Health in the region said.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has reported that wild elephants are straying beyond their forest habitats in eastern Thailand, travelling over 30 kilometres in search of food. Atthapol Charoenchansa, the department’s director-general, stated that elephants are attracted to the taste of local produce such as durians, mangosteens, bananas, and sugarcane, which …

The story Wild elephants roam 40km for Thai produce, sparking concerns as seen on Thaiger News.

Observations from Giants camp on Wednesday.

Leanne Stojmenov has been announced as WA Ballet’s new artistic director in a full circle moment for the Perth-raised dance talent.

A bizarre build-up to Andrew Moloney's world title eliminator in central Mexico has "pissed off" the Australian's mum and played into the underdog's hands.

Police in Suphan Buri seized over 2.4 million methamphetamine tablets and detained two 17 year olds involved in transporting the drugs from northern Thailand. Police Colonel Thaththep Lertlakmiphan, superintendent of Dan Chang Police Station, led the operation to apprehend a major drug trafficking gang from the north. The operation took place on Highway 333 in …

The story Suphan Buri police seize 2.4 million meth tablets, arrest teens as seen on Thaiger News.