Good morning readers. Ever found yourself in the endless loop of checking flight prices, waiting for a drop, and then watching in horror as they skyrocket instead? Well, Google's got your back. The tech giant recently rolled out an update to Google Flights, and it's about to become your new best travel buddy. With its new feature, it'll tell you if the current prices are above or below the average. Not just that, it'll also advise you on the best time to book to snag that sweet deal.

So the next time you're itching to jet off, remember: Google's got your ticket to the best ticket prices. Safe travels and happy savings!

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Bump in pay if you make less than $55K

• Headline Hustle: Visa and Mastercard increase their fees, Mark Thompson takes on new challenge at CNN, Professors sue Vassar college over pay

• Late night talk show hosts start a podcast

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

ECONOMY

Biden wants to boost your paycheck

Hey there, hard-working professionals. Ever felt like those extra hours you're putting in at the office should come with a little extra something in your paycheck? Well, the Biden administration seems to think so too.

Here’s the scoop

If you're a restaurant manager, store supervisor, or any other salaried worker pulling in around $55,000 or less annually, you might soon be eligible for time-and-a-half pay for any hours you work beyond the standard 40-hour week. That's right, the Labor Department is proposing to raise the annual salary threshold for overtime eligibility from the current $35,568 to a more generous $55,000, a change that could potentially benefit an additional 3.6 million workers in the US of A.

Let's put things into perspective. The median full-time worker in the U.S. earns roughly $57,000 a year. And another interesting tidbit: The Labor Department is also considering adjusting the overtime salary threshold every three years based on current earnings data. This move aims to account for inflation, which, as we all know, has been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride in recent times.

But here's the catch. While many businesses do pay overtime to their hourly workers, they often don't extend the same courtesy to managers and other salaried employees. The Labor Department's proposed rule could shake things up, but it won't come cheap. The estimated cost to employers? A cool $1.2 billion in the first year alone. And while it might raise the cost of doing business, it's also projected to boost wages by an equivalent $1.2 billion.

Of course, not everyone's on board

Some critics argue that the proposed threshold, while higher than the current one, still falls short of what's truly needed. Others believe the rule doesn't align with the modern work environment, where flexibility and remote work are increasingly valued.

So, what's the bottom line? The workplace is evolving, and so are the rules that govern it. Whether you're an employer or an employee, it's essential to stay informed and adapt. After all, change is the only constant.

WORLD

Headline Hustle

💳 Visa and Mastercard raise their fees. Visa and Mastercard have announced plans to adjust the fees associated with credit card transactions for merchants. These changes are slated to commence in two phases: October and April, as per sources familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Notably, a significant portion of these fee increases will be directed towards online transactions.

📰 Mark Thompson becomes CEO at CNN. In 2012, Mark Thompson took the helm at the New York Times during a challenging period of declining print subscriptions and digital uncertainty. By 2020, under his leadership, the company's stock price had increased fivefold and digital subscribers surged from 600,000 to over six million. Now, Thompson faces a new challenge. He's been appointed to lead CNN, a once-dominant cable news network grappling with competition from Fox News and MSNBC, and the shift to streaming. Starting his role as CNN's CEO on Oct. 9, Thompson stated, “In these times, the world needs reliable news. Where many see challenges, I see potential.”

🏫 Female professors sue Vassar College. On Wednesday, five female professors from Vassar College took a bold step. They're suing the college, one of America's oldest institutions for women's higher education, claiming it's sidelining female faculty. These professors say they're getting paid less than their male colleagues and their promotions are dragging. After trying for over ten years to sort things out with the school, they've now taken their fight to a New York federal court. And they're not just fighting for themselves. They want back pay for all women who've been full professors at Vassar since 2015. Plus, they're pushing for a revamped system to handle evaluations and promotions.

ENTERTAINMENT

Late night show hosts turned podcasters

In a move that's got Hollywood buzzing, late-night talk show giants, including the likes of Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and John Oliver, have teamed up for a noble cause. Dubbing themselves the "Strike Force Five," these TV personalities have launched a Spotify podcast series to support their writers and crew who've been on strike since May.

But it's not just about raising funds. The podcast promises to offer listeners an "inside look at late-night television," with each episode moderated by a different member of the star-studded lineup. While the exact amount being donated to the writers and crew remains under wraps, Jimmy Kimmel expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their generous contributions.

The Hollywood strike, which began over disputes related to streaming-era pay and the use of artificial intelligence, has caused significant disruptions in the US TV and film industry. And with no end in sight, the industry's biggest names are taking to the picket lines, showing their solidarity.

Pulse Points

Baidu releases rival to ChatGPT. On Thursday, Chinese tech powerhouse Baidu unveiled Ernie, a ChatGPT-like bot, making it accessible to the general public.

SEC investigates Elon Musk over secret house. The SEC and DOJ have launched their own investigations into Elon Musk for the improper use of company funds to build himself a house.