General News
US Borrowing Costs Hit Highest Level Since 2007 as Treasury Yields Break Above 5%
By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 16, 2026
WASHINGTON — The cost of borrowing in the United States has climbed to levels not seen since the years preceding the global financial crisis, with the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield briefly rising above 5% this week.
Treasury yields move sharply higher
The 10-year Treasury is closely watched because its yield influences a wide range of borrowing costs throughout the U.S. economy, including mortgages, corporate debt and other long-term loans.
The U.S. Treasury’s official daily yield data showed the 10-year rate at 4.97% on September 14, while the 30-year Treasury stood at 5.34%.
The following day, market trading pushed the 10-year yield above the 5% threshold.
The rise represents a significant change from earlier in the year. Axios reported that the 10-year yield had increased by roughly one percentage point since the end of February, while the 30-year fixed mortgage rate had reached 7.08% by September 11.
30-year borrowing costs remain particularly elevated
The longer-dated Treasury market has already been under pressure for several months.
The 30-year Treasury yield reached 5.34% in August, its highest level since 2007, according to Bloomberg data cited by Advisor Perspectives. It had remained above 5% on dozens of trading days during 2026.
On September 15, the 30-year Treasury yield was around 5.37%, according to market data, before easing slightly the following day.
Why are borrowing costs rising?
Several forces are pushing Treasury yields higher simultaneously.
1. Inflation concerns
Investors have become increasingly concerned that higher energy prices could keep inflation elevated.
Oil prices have risen sharply amid the continuing conflict involving Iran and disruptions to global energy markets. Reuters reported that the global bond sell-off has been driven partly by inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty.
Higher expected inflation can lead investors to demand greater yields on long-term bonds because future interest and principal payments will have less purchasing power.
2. Heavy government borrowing
The United States continues to carry a debt load of roughly $40 trillion, while large budget deficits require the Treasury to issue substantial quantities of government securities.
The combination of heavy issuance and higher yields means the government’s interest bill can rise as existing debt matures and is refinanced at more expensive rates.
Recent analysis from the Peterson Foundation noted that the 30-year Treasury yield had already reached 5.27% at the end of July, its highest closing level since 2007.
3. Investors are demanding more compensation
Treasury bonds have traditionally been regarded as among the world’s most important safe-haven assets. But investors can still demand higher yields when they perceive greater inflation, fiscal or supply risks.
The recent move is part of a much broader international bond sell-off. Reuters reported that 10-year government bond yields in several major economies have also reached multi-year highs.
What does a 5% Treasury yield mean?
A Treasury yield of 5% does not mean that every American borrower suddenly pays 5% interest.
Instead, it is a benchmark that helps determine pricing across financial markets.
For example:
- Mortgages: Long-term Treasury yields influence mortgage rates.
- Corporate borrowing: Companies generally pay a premium above comparable government borrowing rates.
- Consumer loans: Higher market interest rates can feed into the cost of credit.
- Government finances: New Treasury debt and refinanced debt can become more expensive.
- Investment returns: Higher Treasury yields can make government bonds more attractive relative to some riskier assets.
The impact therefore extends well beyond the bond market.
Mortgage rates feel the pressure
The housing market is among the areas most directly affected.
According to Axios, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate reached 7.08% on September 11, moving alongside the rise in Treasury yields.
Higher mortgage rates can reduce the amount prospective buyers can afford to borrow, while increasing financing costs for homeowners refinancing or purchasing property.
For illustration, a $400,000 30-year mortgage at 7% carries a substantially higher monthly principal-and-interest payment than the same loan at 5%.
The Federal Reserve faces a difficult environment
The surge in long-term yields comes as markets focus on the Federal Reserve and its next interest-rate decision.
Investors are balancing two competing forces: economic activity and inflation on one side, and the possibility that elevated borrowing costs could weaken demand on the other.
The rise in energy prices complicates that calculation because expensive oil can simultaneously increase inflation while reducing consumers’ purchasing power.
Reuters reported that investors have been watching the Federal Reserve closely as the bond sell-off continues.
A warning sign for government finances
The rise in long-term Treasury yields is particularly important for Washington because the federal government must continually refinance maturing debt.
When interest rates remain elevated for an extended period, more newly issued debt is priced at higher rates.
That does not mean the entire U.S. debt stock immediately becomes more expensive. Much of the outstanding debt was issued previously at fixed rates. The financial effect builds progressively as older securities mature and are replaced.
The concern is therefore less about a single day’s yield and more about how long elevated yields remain in place.
Global bond markets are also under pressure
The U.S. move is part of a worldwide increase in long-term borrowing costs.
Reuters reported that the average 10-year government bond yield across the G7 had risen to around 4.285%, its highest level since the global financial crisis era. Yields in Japan, Germany, France and the United Kingdom have also risen significantly.
That means the U.S. is not experiencing an isolated Treasury-market event.
Instead, investors are reassessing inflation, government borrowing and interest-rate expectations across major economies.
What happens next?
The immediate direction of Treasury yields will depend on several factors, including:
Inflation: Evidence that price pressures are easing could reduce pressure on long-term yields.
Oil prices: A sustained energy-price shock could keep inflation expectations elevated.
Federal Reserve policy: Changes in expectations for short-term interest rates can affect longer-term bond yields.
Government borrowing: The amount of Treasury debt coming to market will remain important.
Investor demand: Strong demand at Treasury auctions can push yields lower, while weaker demand can have the opposite effect.
Key figures
| Indicator | Recent level |
|---|---|
| U.S. 10-year Treasury yield | About 5.04% intraday Sept. 15 |
| Previous comparable high | July 2007 |
| U.S. 30-year Treasury yield | About 5.37% Sept. 15 |
| 30-year yield high in August | 5.34% |
| 30-year fixed mortgage rate, Sept. 11 | 7.08% |
| U.S. national debt | Around $40 trillion |
The Treasury’s official data recorded the 10-year yield at 4.97% and the 30-year yield at 5.34% on September 14, before the subsequent market move above 5% in the 10-year maturity.
The bigger picture
The jump in Treasury yields is more than a headline about the bond market. It is a signal that the price of money across the U.S. economy is becoming more expensive.
For the federal government, sustained high yields could increase the cost of servicing newly issued debt. For businesses, financing becomes more expensive. For households, mortgage and other borrowing costs can rise.
At the same time, higher Treasury yields can provide savers and investors with greater returns on relatively low-risk government securities.
The key question for markets is therefore not simply whether the 10-year Treasury yield has crossed 5%, but whether it remains at that level or continues rising.
For now, the breach marks the highest 10-year U.S. Treasury yield since 2007 and comes during one of the most significant global bond-market sell-offs in years.
Sources: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Reuters, Financial Times, Axios, Congressional and market-data reporting.
Image note: For commercial publication, use properly licensed editorial photographs or U.S. government images and retain the photographer/agency credit.
By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 16, 2026 | Caracas
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is considering returning to Venezuela, but the timing of her homecoming has become a sensitive issue as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump appears reluctant to see her return immediately, according to opposition sources and political analysts cited by Reuters.
A complicated return
Machado’s possible return comes at a pivotal moment for Venezuela. Former President Nicolás Maduro was removed from power in January, after which the United States backed an interim political arrangement led by Delcy Rodríguez.
Washington has subsequently supported talks intended to reshape Venezuela’s political system ahead of eventual elections. Machado’s political movement, however, has not been included in those negotiations.
The situation has left Machado facing a difficult political calculation: returning could allow her to rebuild a direct presence inside Venezuela, while doing so without U.S. backing could create friction with Washington and the interim authorities.
Reuters reported that U.S. officials have privately encouraged Machado to delay her return, while sources familiar with her plans say she could travel first to the United States before eventually going back to Venezuela.
Machado’s political standing
Machado remains one of the most prominent figures in Venezuela’s opposition. However, Reuters reported that her approval rating among Venezuelan political figures fell from 72% in July to 53% in August, according to polling cited in its report.
The decline comes as some Venezuelans express frustration with the slow pace of political change following Maduro’s removal and uncertainty over the country’s future political arrangements.
Machado’s supporters argue that her return is important to maintaining pressure for competitive elections. Some Venezuelans interviewed by Reuters have also said they believe her presence inside the country would strengthen the opposition’s position.
Washington’s position
The U.S. position has evolved over the course of 2026.
Earlier in the year, Machado publicly said she wanted to return as soon as possible. In March, she announced plans to return within weeks, but the timetable did not materialize.
In July, a senior U.S. State Department official told Congress that Washington would not obstruct Machado’s return, while also saying that work was needed to ensure she would not be arrested when she came back.
The latest reporting indicates that the administration’s immediate concern is the effect Machado’s return could have on the U.S.-backed transition process. Reuters reported that Washington fears her presence could disrupt current efforts to establish a new political framework.
What comes next
Machado has said she wants Venezuelans to have the opportunity to choose their government through elections. The United States and Venezuela’s interim authorities, meanwhile, are pursuing their own negotiations over the country’s political future.
Her return would therefore carry significance beyond the personal decision of an exiled opposition leader. It could affect opposition coordination, negotiations with the interim government and the debate over how and when Venezuela holds elections.
For now, Machado remains outside Venezuela, with her precise timetable for returning still uncertain.
Motorists across Ghana are facing new fuel prices following the latest adjustment in petroleum product prices, with Star Oil announcing revised rates effective Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The new prices took effect from 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday across Star Oil outlets.
Under the latest adjustment, Super petrol is selling at GH¢16.77 per litre, while diesel is priced at GH¢17.77 per litre. The company has also listed RON 95 at GH¢18.97 per litre.
The announcement by Star Oil comes after the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) increased the price floors for petroleum products for the second pricing window of September.
The NPA has raised the minimum price for petrol from GH¢14.53 to GH¢16.00 per litre, representing an increase of GH¢1.47 per litre.
The price floor for diesel has also gone up from GH¢15.60 to GH¢16.77 per litre, reflecting an increase of GH¢1.17 per litre.
For Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the minimum price has been adjusted from GH¢10.85 to GH¢10.97 per kilogramme, an increase of GH¢0.12 per kilogramme.
The NPA sets price floors for deregulated petroleum products during each pricing window. These floors serve as minimum benchmarks, while Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) determine their pump prices based on factors including their operating costs and prevailing market conditions.
Star Oil’s latest notice confirms the prices applicable at its outlets from the stated effective time, although actual pump prices may vary among different fuel stations depending on their pricing arrangements.
The increase is expected to put additional pressure on motorists, transport operators and businesses that depend heavily on fuel. Households and commercial operators using LPG could also experience higher energy costs.
The latest domestic adjustment comes amid movements in international crude oil prices and other developments in the global petroleum market, which can affect the cost of petroleum products imported and sold in Ghana.
By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 16, 2026 | The Hague / Pristina
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after a Kosovo Specialist Chambers trial in The Hague found him guilty of four war crimes committed during the 1998–99 Kosovo conflict.
Court finds Thaçi criminally responsible
According to the verdict reported by Reuters, the court found Thaçi responsible for the murder of 96 people, the illegal detention of 385 people, torture involving 303 people, and cruel treatment of 49 people.
The court’s findings related to what prosecutors described as a joint criminal enterprise targeting people regarded as opponents of the KLA. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 45 years.
However, the court acquitted Thaçi and his co-defendants of several crimes against humanity charges, citing insufficient evidence to establish those allegations to the required legal standard.
Court finds Thaçi criminally responsible
According to the verdict reported by Reuters, the court found Thaçi responsible for the murder of 96 people, the illegal detention of 385 people, torture involving 303 people, and cruel treatment of 49 people.
The court’s findings related to what prosecutors described as a joint criminal enterprise targeting people regarded as opponents of the KLA. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 45 years.
However, the court acquitted Thaçi and his co-defendants of several crimes against humanity charges, citing insufficient evidence to establish those allegations to the required legal standard.
From guerrilla commander to Kosovo president
Thaçi emerged as one of the most prominent figures of the Kosovo independence movement during the 1990s. He was a senior figure in the KLA during the conflict with Serbian forces and later became an important participant in international peace negotiations.
He subsequently entered politics, serving as Kosovo’s prime minister before becoming president. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.
His political career was interrupted in 2020, when he resigned as president after the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office confirmed an indictment against him. He was subsequently transferred to The Hague to face trial.
Four defendants in the case
Thaçi was tried alongside three other former senior KLA figures: Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers says the case concerned alleged crimes committed between at least March 1998 and September 1999 in several locations in Kosovo and in northern Albania. The indictment included allegations involving civilians and people who were not taking part in the conflict.
The trial began in April 2023. The court’s official case record says 134 witnesses testified, while evidentiary proceedings concluded in December 2025. Closing statements were held in February 2026.
Reaction in Kosovo
The verdict has generated strong reactions in Kosovo, where Thaçi remains an important figure in the country’s modern political history.
Supporters gathered in Pristina ahead of the judgment, while demonstrations were also reported following the verdict. Reuters reported that Thaçi supporters briefly clashed with police in The Hague.
For many supporters, Thaçi and other former KLA commanders remain associated with Kosovo’s struggle against Serbian rule. The proceedings have therefore been closely followed in Kosovo and neighboring Serbia, where the legacy of the 1998–99 conflict remains politically sensitive.
Thaçi expected to appeal
Thaçi has consistently denied the allegations against him. Following Wednesday’s judgment, he is expected to appeal the conviction and sentence.
The case was heard by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, a judicial institution based in The Hague that was established to investigate and prosecute allegations of serious crimes connected to the Kosovo conflict.
The court’s judgment represents a major legal development in the long-running effort to establish individual accountability for crimes committed during and after the Kosovo war.
The verdict does not conclude the case if an appeal is filed, meaning the legal proceedings could continue before an appeals panel.
The information in this report reflects the judgment and reporting available on September 16, 2026.
Sources: Reuters, Associated Press, Kosovo Specialist Chambers, Sky News.
By Angel No Lie
September 16, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kennedy Center is facing an uncertain future after its board voted to shut down most of the performing arts complex for renovations, hours after a federal judge again blocked efforts to place President Donald Trump’s name on the building.
Court blocks Trump name
The latest dispute is part of a months-long legal battle over the identity and governance of the Kennedy Center, which was established as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.
Judge Cooper wrote that the board could not install memorials honoring Trump or others without congressional authorization. The ruling also prevents the board from proceeding with plans to rename the plaza surrounding the center after Trump.
Trump’s name had previously been added to the building’s exterior, but workers removed it in June following an earlier court order. The façade has since remained partly covered by scaffolding and a white tarp.
Trump links renovations to naming dispute
Trump has argued that the Kennedy Center requires extensive repairs and has warned that renovation work should not proceed unless the legal dispute over his name is resolved in his favor.
According to Reuters, the proposed renovation project has a congressional allocation of about $257 million. Trump said in a social-media post that he would wait for the appeals process before allowing reconstruction and renovation work to begin.
The president has also said he has contributed $17 million to an endowment intended to support the institution.
Board votes to close
The Kennedy Center board subsequently voted to shut down most of the facility for renovations. Reuters reported that the proposed closure could last up to two years.
The board has warned that the institution is facing serious financial problems and could struggle to meet payroll and maintenance obligations. Its supporters have also pointed to deteriorating infrastructure, including a recent ceiling collapse inside the complex.
Trump has described the condition of the building as dangerous and has argued that major reconstruction is necessary.
However, the dispute over the name has complicated the renovation plans. The board has argued that Trump’s continued involvement and financial support are important to the center’s survival, while opponents of the renaming effort maintain that Congress—not the board—has authority over changes to the memorial’s identity.
A dispute that has divided the institution
The controversy intensified after Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center board and allies on the board voted to place his name on the building.
The center originally opened in 1971 and has served as one of America’s most prominent performing-arts institutions. It hosts major theatrical, musical and dance productions as well as the annual Kennedy Center Honors.
The naming controversy has also coincided with departures and cancellations by some artists and arts organizations. Reuters reported that revenue at the institution has fallen sharply, while the Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra have had to find alternative venues for performances.
Justice Department appeals
The Justice Department has appealed the latest court decision. Under Judge Cooper’s order, any future attempt to install an inscription or acknowledgment of Trump would require advance notice and congressional authorization.
The outcome of the appeal could therefore have significant consequences for both the renovation plans and the ongoing dispute over the Kennedy Center’s name.
For now, the center faces two intertwined challenges: how to finance and carry out major repairs to an aging landmark, and how to resolve the legal fight over whether President Trump’s name can appear on a building legally designated as a memorial to John F. Kennedy.
The situation remains subject to further court proceedings and possible appeals.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, court reporting and publicly reported statements from the Kennedy Center and Trump administration.
The Ghana Police Service has announced that it will commence the full implementation of its automated traffic law enforcement programme, TRAFFITECH-GH, from October 1, 2026.
The programme, being implemented through the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), is part of efforts by the Police Service to address indiscipline on Ghana’s roads and improve compliance with road traffic laws and regulations.
According to a press release issued by the Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, TRAFFITECH-GH will rely on technology to detect traffic offences and support the enforcement of road traffic regulations.
Under the programme, cameras and Personal Data Assistant (PDA) devices will be used to detect traffic offences committed by motorists.
The Police Service said offences detected through the system will subsequently be reviewed before enforcement action is taken.
Once an offence has been confirmed, an Electronic Notice of Violation (ENV) will be issued to the affected vehicle owner or driver through SMS.
The electronic notice will contain details of the traffic offence committed as well as the prescribed fine applicable to the violation.
The Police have also published further operational information indicating that the broader system can use digital traffic-monitoring equipment to detect violations, with captured information subjected to validation before notices are issued.
The Ghana Police Service has urged all motorists, drivers and vehicle owners to comply with road traffic regulations ahead of the full rollout.
It is also calling on road users to support the implementation of TRAFFITECH-GH as part of efforts to promote safer roads.
According to the Service, the programme is intended to help reduce road traffic crashes and casualties while improving adherence to traffic laws.
The September 15 press release was signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Richmond Mensah, Staff Officer at the Public Affairs Directorate.
The Police Service has directed members of the public seeking more information on TRAFFITECH-GH to access the information provided through its official programme link. The Ghana Police Service also has information on TRAFFITECH-GH on its official website.
TRAFFITECH-GH will therefore move into full implementation on October 1, 2026, marking a shift toward greater use of automated technology in the enforcement of traffic regulations in Ghana.
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