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☆ From hunter to guardian: How the ‘Snakeman of India’ found his way into wildlife conservation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Michelle Cohan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Whitaker would go on to earn the nickname “Snakeman of India,” and spend more than six decades dedicated to reptile research and conservation. His field work with snakes and crocodiles ultimately led his conservation efforts to help save India’s rainforests. We tell people when they’re working in the field, when they’re doing agriculture, use a stick. Romulus Whitaker teaches the next generation about reptiles at his conservation organization, Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, in southern India. And it’s wonderful to realize that dozens, if not hundreds, of young people have continued to do wonderful work with reptiles.

Persons: Romulus Whitaker, ”, Whitaker, Doris Norden Whitaker, Rama Chattopadhyay, Bill Haast, Heyward Clamp Whitaker, I’ve, cobras, we’ve, Arun Sankar, there’s, Cedric Bregnard, You’re Organizations: CNN, Miami Serpentarium, Miami, cobras, Cooperative, Getty Images CNN, Global Health Research, University of Toronto, Research, Cedric Bregnard CNN Locations: America, India, cobras, Mysore, Hoosick , New York, New York, Bombay, Western Ghats, Madras, South India, An, Chennai

☆ The US Secretary of State gave a war-time rock performance at a bar in Kyiv, leaving some Ukrainians scratching their heads
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Slinging a crimson electric guitar onto his shoulder, Blinken told the crowd he knew they were facing a "really, really difficult time." So much of the world is with you and they're fighting not just for a free Ukraine, but for the free world. "For ten years, we've been explaining to the free world that we are defending it too," he wrote. Residents self-evacuate from a multi-story residential building hit by a Russian UMPB D-30 glide bomb on May 14, 2024 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The lyrics of "Rockin' in the Free World" are often seen as a criticism of American patriotism and George H.W.

Persons: —, Antony Blinken, Neil Young's, Blinken, Ukraine, Antony, Muddy Waters, Bohdan Yaremenko, Trump, he's, we've, Oleg Simoroz, Valeriy, it's, Matviyenko, Yevhen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Illia Ponomarenko, George H.W, Bush, Donald Trump, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Biden Organizations: Service, Business, U.S, US State Department, Blinken, Music Diplomacy Initiative, Facebook, AFP, Ukrainian NGO Agency, Getty Images, Ukrainian, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Kyiv, Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Soviet Union, State Department Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russian, Kharkiv, United States, Muddy, Ukrainian, Russia, KABs, Sumy, Getty Images Russia, Polina, Soviet

☆ Many Indian stocks are in a 'bubble,' investor says, revealing the stock he just sold
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

India's mid-cap stocks are in a "bubble" despite the country's promising economic prospects, according to contrarian fund manager Jonathan Pines. Pines added that he's unable to justify current stock prices, even when accounting for "aggressive assumptions" about future growth in India's mid-cap stocks. The mid-cap 'bubble' Pines revealed that his fund recently held two Indian stocks, one of which was SJVN . SJVN, a mid-cap stock in the hydropower energy sector, has experienced a "vertical price" movement, which Pines attributed to a potential bubble in the Indian mid-cap market. The only 'reasonable' Indian stock On the other hand, GAIL India , a natural gas distribution company, remains the sole Indian stock in Pines' portfolio.

Persons: Jonathan Pines, it's, Pines, Rohit Natarajan, SJVN, Sudhanshu Bansal, GAIL India, GAIL Organizations: Federated, Antique, JM Financial, Federated Hermes Asia Locations: Pines, Japan, India, India's, U.S

☆ Dollar sags as slower U.S. inflation boosts rate cut expectations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The dollar skidded to multi-month lows on Thursday after U.S. core inflation hit its slowest in three years and retail sales turned flat, which pulled forward expectations for rate cuts in the world's biggest economy. The dollar skidded to multi-month lows on Thursday after U.S. core inflation hit its slowest in three years and retail sales turned flat, which pulled forward expectations for rate cuts in the world's biggest economy. Stocks and other risk-sensitive assets such as the Australian dollar led gains in the wake of the data release. The New Zealand dollar hit a two-month high at $0.6131. Softer-than-expected retail sales figures, which were flat last month instead of the 0.4% gain that economists had forecast, reinforced the newfound confidence in rate cuts.

Persons: Sterling, Bart Wakabayashi, China's, Bitcoin Organizations: Australian, New Zealand, U.S, State, European Central Bank Locations: Asia, Tokyo, Treasuries

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Wall Street hits record highs as rate cut bets rise on soft inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A trader works during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 17, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Wall Street hits record highThe S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose to record highs after inflation data came in lower than expected. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 350 points as investors bet the Federal Reserve may cut rates in September. Inflation easesApril's consumer price index rose 0.3%, slightly less than expected, while on a 12-month basis, inflation increased 3.4% in line with economists' forecasts.

Persons: JPMorgan Chase Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Anton Peraire, James Peraire, Biden, Morgan Stanley Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Wall, CNBC, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, Federal, Tech, Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, JPMorgan, Sky News, U.S . Treasury Department, GameStop, AMC, Justice, MIT, U.S Locations: New York City, America, cryptocurrency, China

☆ U.S. inflation data fuels bets of Fed rate cuts as early as September — but analysts aren’t convinced
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Traders appear increasingly confident that the U.S. Federal Reserve could start cutting interest rates as early as September, after inflation data cooled more than expected in April. Traders are currently pricing in a roughly 70% chance of a U.S. rate cut in September, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. Jerome Schneider, head of short-term portfolio management at PIMCO, said on Thursday that the latest U.S. inflation data confirmed to investors that the potential for a near-term rate hike was now "off the table." "I think more contextually, we have to really understand that we have celebrated a lower inflation rate, the market has. But, in context, at PIMCO we're specifically thinking about the longer-term trajectory of how the Fed is going to react to this data," Schneider told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe."

Persons: Dow Jones, Jerome Schneider, we're, Schneider, CNBC's Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, Traders, U.S . Federal, Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S, PIMCO

☆ How Google CEO Sundar Pichai shook up his leadership team for the AI era
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

It came almost 12 months after Google combined two key AI groups, DeepMind and Google Brain. Google's AI MVPGoogle DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis GoogleDemis Hassabis might be the most important person at Google right now. Then, in April last year, Pichai announced he would merge DeepMind with Google's in-house AI unit, known as Brain, into a supergroup named Google DeepMind. Reid reports directly to Raghavan, the ads and search senior vice president, and is shepherding a dramatic transition of Google Search. Fears of chatbots eating into Google's search dominance have yet to be realized, giving Google time to reinvent its most hallowed product.

Persons: —, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Susan Wojcicki, Demis, Hassabis, Larry Page, DeepMind, OpenAI, it's, accrues, ED JONES, Rick Osterloh, Sameer Samat, he'll, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Osterloh, Prabhakar Raghavan, Siri, Tim Cook, Hiroshi, SAJJAD HUSSAIN, Liz Reid, Reid, Raghavan, Pandu Nayak, Venkatachary, It's, chatbots, Bernstein, Mark Shmulik Organizations: Service, Google, Business, Google's, BI, Research, Hassabis, Android, Apple, Apple's Vision, CNBC, Google Local Locations: Raxium

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Wall Street hits record, 'Thee rate cuts'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Charging Bull is seen on an empty Wall Street on April 20, 2020 in New York City. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Wall Street hits record highThe S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose to record highs after inflation data came in lower than expected. All three major indexes closed at record highs. Asia up, Japan's GDP shrinksAsia-Pacific markets rose on Thursday after Wall Street hit record highs.

Persons: Buffett, Chubb, Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, Seng, Biden, Morgan Stanley Organizations: CNBC, Nasdaq, Dow Jones Industrial, Federal, Tech, Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, GameStop, AMC, Berkshire, Wall, Nikkei, U.S Locations: New York City, Zurich, Asia, Pacific, China

☆ Elon Musk axed the entire Tesla Supercharger team after their division chief defied orders and said no to more layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTesla CEO Elon Musk made the snap decision to fire the entire Supercharger team after its division chief refused to make further layoffs happen, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The billionaire said in an email to staff on April 29 that he was dissolving the entire team behind Tesla's charging infrastructure, per The Information. AdvertisementRepresentatives for Tesla, Musk, and Tinucci didn't respond to Reuters' request for comment. The Tesla chief moved quickly to assuage concerns, and assured investors that Tesla's Supercharger network isn't going anywhere. A slowdown in the rollout of Tesla's charging infrastructure would thus be a setback for Biden's clean-energy agenda.

Persons: —, Elon Musk, Musk, Rebecca Tinucci, Tinucci, Tesla's, Tesla, Mercedes Benz, haven't, Aaron Luque, Joe Organizations: Service, Reuters, Bloomberg, Business, Tesla, The, Motors, Ford, Politico, BI

☆ R.F.K. Jr. Draws Another $8 Million From His Running Mate, Nicole Shanahan
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Rebecca Davis O Brien | Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate, the Silicon Valley investor Nicole Shanahan, said on Wednesday night that she had given another $8 million to their independent presidential campaign as it carries out the expensive endeavor of gaining ballot access across the country and tries to propel Mr. Kennedy onto debate stages. Ms. Shanahan, a lawyer who was formerly married to the Google co-founder Sergey Brin, gave the campaign $2 million shortly after Mr. Kennedy named her as his running mate in March. After a nod to the media, Ms. Shanahan said, “I think I know what they’re going to say — they’re going to say Bobby only picked me for my money,” a remark that drew laughter from the crowd. She followed performances by comedians including Russell Brand, Rob Schneider and Jim Breuer, a former “Saturday Night Live” cast member. Many of the performers praised Mr. Kennedy, but they also used their time onstage to rail against Covid vaccinations, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the mainstream news media and President Biden.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Nicole Shanahan, Kennedy, Shanahan’s, Shanahan, Sergey Brin, “, Bobby, ”, Russell Brand, Rob Schneider, Jim Breuer, Mr, Anthony S, Biden Organizations: Mr, PAC, Google Locations: Nashville, Ryman

☆ Neither Russia nor China wants the Ukraine war to end, but for different reasons
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussian President Vladimir Putin is on a two-day visit to China, and he's bringing along a large trade delegation. But Russia has also become increasingly reliant on China since it started the war in Ukraine. For instance, Russia is now "exporting raw materials to China while China sends finished goods, especially cars, to Russia — the latter at the expense of Russia's indigenous auto industry," she added. However, some analysts say China has more to gain from a continuing war. China and Russia are forging a partnership increasingly reminiscent of a great power alliance," wrote Michta.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, It's, Putin, Xi —, Michta, Russia —, Europe —, China's Organizations: Service, Business, Center for, Bilateral, West, Center, Global Energy, Columbia University, Kyiv —, US Army Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Siberia, Europe, Beijing

☆ Robert Fico: Slovakia’s prime minister out of ‘life-threatening situation’ following assassination attempt
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, is out of danger after being shot five times and undergoing surgery, officials say, following an assassination attempt that rocked the central European country and sparked global condemnation. Footage from the scene showed the injured prime minister being bundled into a vehicle by his staff, before it speeds away with him inside. undefined — Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico walks during the European Council summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, on April 18, 2024. Unlike the president, whose role has limited scope, the prime minister holds rank as the decision-making head of government. Fico previously served as Slovakia’s prime minister for more than a decade, first between 2006 and 2010 and then again from 2012 to 2018.

Persons: CNN —, Robert Fico, Fico, Tomáš Taraba, “, Zuzana Čaputová, Kenzo Tribouillard, Šutaj Eštok, ” Fico Organizations: CNN, EU, Getty, Ukraine, Kyiv, NATO, Reuters Locations: Handlova, Banská Bystrica, Brussels, AFP, Slovakia

☆ BofA banker whose death shook Wall Street was looking for new job and willing to take a lower salary for better hours, recruiter says: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Related storiesA new report from Reuters released Wednesday raised more questions about the hours Lukenas may have been logging leading up to his untimely death. Walters said Lukenas told him he was putting in more than 100 hours a week at Bank of America. "He made a comment saying like, 'Hey, I'll trade hours of sleep for a 10% (pay) cut,'" Walters told Reuters. Walters said he told Lukenas that was excessive, even by Wall Street's standards. Prior to Lukenas' death, he had been participating on deal work related to UMB's $2 billion all-stock acquisition of Heartland Financial USA — a transaction that was announced in late April.

Persons: —, Wall, Leo Lukenas III, Lukenas, Douglas Walters, Walters, GrayFox Organizations: Service, of America, Army, Bank of America, Business, Reuters, New, Office, GrayFox, BI, Heartland Financial, Vets Locations: New York

☆ I'm an American mom living in Germany. Here schools days are shorter and there are more vacations throughout the year.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Naomi Kaye Honova | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewI'm an American living in Germany with my family, and it's been fascinating to observe the differences in elementary school between the US and Germany. German elementary school is 4 yearsIn Germany, kids go straight from preschool (which is called Kindergarten in Germany) to elementary school; there is no year of Kindergarten as Americans know it. German elementary school ends in fourth grade. AdvertisementThere are many more short-term vacationsFor many kids in Germany, the elementary school day is very short compared to an American school day. When I drop my younger kids off at preschool, I see hordes of elementary school kids en route to school sans grownups.

Persons: —, I've, you'll, doesn't Organizations: Service, Business, School, — Locations: Germany, Bavaria

☆ ‘They have crossed a line’: Australian university orders pro-Palestinian protesters to vacate building
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Brisbane, Australia CNN —Pro-Palestinian protesters occupying a building at the University of Melbourne have been told to leave by university officials, who say they’ve “crossed a line” by entering the building and disrupting class for thousands of students. Martin Keep/AFP/Getty ImagesOn the video, protesters said they wouldn’t leave until the university responded to their demands, which include divesting from weapons companies and condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza. The University of Melbourne says student protesters "crossed a line" by occupying the building. Meanwhile, at least seven student protesters at Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra have received letters from the university telling them to leave the site by the end of Friday. In his video message distributed by the University of Melbourne, Wesley called on protesters to “peacefully end the occupation.”“Red lines have been crossed,” he said.

Persons: ”, Michael Wesley, “, Dana Alshaer, Mahmoud Alnaouq, Pip Nicholson, Martin, hadn’t, Alshaer, they’d, Jasmine Duff, for Palestine Victoria, Nick Reich, Wesley Organizations: Australia CNN — Pro, University of Melbourne, “, Arts West, ”, of Melbourne, Victoria Police, Hamas, Getty, Protesters, Deakin University, CNN, for Palestine, Australian National University, ANU, University Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Israel, UniMelb, Palestine, Gaza, Melbourne, Canberra, “

☆ China’s Shenzhen metropolis sees fastest growth in millionaires globally
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China's Shenzhen has recorded the fastest growth in millionaires over the past decade, and is poised to see a further influx in the coming years, according to a recent report. Shenzhen recorded 140% growth in millionaire count, according to the report from New World Wealth and investment migration advisors Henley & Partners. In 2023 alone, Shenzhen saw a 10% growth in millionaires, while Beijing and Shanghai recorded a decline of around 5% amid an exodus of high-net-worth individuals from China. Shenzhen, also known as China's Silicon Valley, is expected to continue growing "very strongly" all through to 2040, compared with Beijing and Shanghai, which are likely to see moderate growth, Amoils added. China's Hangzhou city was second in terms of millionaire growth at 125%, while India's Bengaluru and Austin city in the U.S. placed third and fourth, respectively; China's Guangzhou ranked fifth, Amoils told CNBC.

Persons: Andrew Amoils, Amoils Organizations: Wealth, Henley & Partners, CNBC, China's Guangzhou Locations: Shenzhen, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, China's Hangzhou, Bengaluru, Austin, U.S

☆ Oil prices rise on moderate U.S. inflation data, strong demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices extended gains from the previous session on Thursday on signs of stronger demand in the U.S. where data showed slower inflation than markets expected, strengthening the argument for an interest rate cut which could result in even stronger demand. U.S. crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories fell, reflecting a rise in both refining activity and fuel demand, showed data from the Energy Information Administration, or EIA. Crude inventories fell 2.5 million barrels to 457 million barrels in the week ended May 10, the EIA said, versus the 543,000 barrel consensus analyst forecast in a Reuters poll. Signs of slowing inflation and stronger demand were supporting prices, ANZ Research said in a client note, as is geopolitical risk which it said remains elevated. Gains were constrained after the IEA trimmed its forecast for 2024 oil demand growth, widening the gap between its view and that of producer group OPEC.

Persons: Brent Organizations: U.S, West Texas Intermediate, Federal Reserve, Energy Information Administration, EIA, ANZ Research, OPEC, Global, Organization for Economic Co Locations: Nolan , Texas, U.S, East, Gaza, Rafah, Qatar, Egypt, Israel

☆ As Putin and Xi meet, the power dynamics between Russia and China keep the West guessing
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Pedro Pardo | Afp | Getty ImagesRussia's close relationship with superpower China is under close scrutiny as Russian President Vladimir Putin meets his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday. "Neither Putin nor Xi can achieve what they want to achieve, both domestically and internationally, without the support of the other. Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping leave after a reception following their talks at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Oct. 17, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a welcome ceremony before Russia-China talks in Moscow, Russia, on March 21, 2023.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Pedro Pardo, Putin, Sam Greene, they've, " Greene, Xi, It's, Pavel Byrkin, it's, —, Natasha Kuhrt, Russia's, Kuhrt, Sergei Savostyanov, Greene, Liu Pengyu, Mikhail Tereshchenko Organizations: Forum, International Cooperation, of, People, Afp, Getty, Xinhua, Democratic, Center for, CNBC, Analysts, Kremlin, Putin, King's College London, Russia, U.S, Reuters, Sputnik Locations: Beijing, China, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Central Asia, Russian, U.S, Washington

☆ David Petraeus discusses barriers to Saudi-Israel normalization
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe biggest barrier to Saudi-Israel normalization is an 'intractable' one, says former CIA directorDavid Petraeus, partner and chairman of KKR Global Institute and a former CIA director, says "that's a solid path, a solid commitment to a two-state solution from Israel."

Persons: David Petraeus Organizations: KKR Global Institute, CIA Locations: Saudi, Israel

☆ Cohen cross-examination resumes at the most critical point of Trump’s trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Donald Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen goes back on the stand Thursday braced for another bruising day of cross-examination that is shaping up as the most crucial chapter in the first criminal trial of a former president. A suddenly compressed political calendarEvery criminal trial is a grave process since a defendant’s reputation and even liberty is on the line. The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its decision on Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution. That would almost certainly delay Trump’s trial in his federal election interference case until after the election, meaning he wouldn’t be brought to account for the worst attack on democracy in modern times before a subsequent election. In that case, the hush money trial may be the only one held before the election.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Trump, Trump’s, ”, Todd Blanche, CNN’s Paula Reid, Blanche –, Blanche, Reid, —, he’d, It’s, there’d, Joe Biden, Biden, they’d, he’s, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, Trump, “, ABC, GOP, Republican Locations: New York, Manhattan, Georgia, Florida

☆ Incident at TSMC’s Semiconductor Plant in Arizona Injures One
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Meaghan Tobin | More About Meaghan Tobin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The driver of a waste disposal truck was rushed to a hospital on Wednesday following an incident at the Phoenix campus of the Taiwanese chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which is under construction. Local media reported that an explosion had occurred that, the company said in a statement, did not damage the facility. The truck driver is a contractor, and no TSMC employees or construction workers were injured, the statement said. TSMC has long dominated the global chip supply chain from its home base in Taiwan. TSMC over the past four years has committed to build new factories in Japan, Germany and Arizona.

Persons: TSMC, Biden Organizations: Phoenix, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Locations: United States, Taiwan, Beijing, TSMC, Japan, Germany, Arizona

☆ At Last, Detroit Sees Population Grow, New Estimates Show
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Julie Bosman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After decades of painful decline, Detroit’s population grew in 2023, according to new estimates released on Thursday by the Census Bureau. The increase — to 633,218 from 631,366 residents — was slight, lifting Detroit to slightly below levels of 2021. City leaders have long promised to reverse Detroit’s long decline in residents brought on by the shrinking of the auto industry, flight to the suburbs and municipal bankruptcy. The new census estimates showed similar, moderate population rebounds for many big cities in the Midwest and Northeast after previous pandemic-era declines. In the Midwest, cities of that size grew 0.1 percent in 2023 after declining an average of 0.2 percent the year before.

Persons: — Organizations: Census, Detroit Locations: Midwest

☆ Budget-minded homebuyers should look in these 23 cities where down payments are plummeting, even in an unaffordable housing market
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Affordability remains a headacheHome affordability has taken a huge hit since the pandemic as mortgage rates, property prices, and — by extension — down payments have surged. Mortgage rates have since more than doubled at over 7%, and houses cost over $70,000 more at $332,000. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is now roughly triple the 2.7% rate it was at in early 2021. The savings rate in the late 2010s was around 6.5% of disposable income, and it spiked early in the pandemic due to a surge of government stimulus. 23 cities where down payments are down meaningfullyAlthough affordability is limited as mortgage rates, home prices, and down payments have risen, there are still dozens of cities where the cost of buying a house is headed lower.

Persons: —, Hannah Jones, Realtor.com, Freddie Mac, they'd, Jones Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Realtor.com

☆ European stocks set to react positively to soft U.S. inflation data, following global markets higher
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

European stocks are set to open in positive territory Thursday, buoyed by a relief rally for global markets following softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data. The U.S. consumer price index rose 0.3% in April, below the 0.4% rise predicted by the Dow Jones, data released Wednesday showed. Consumer prices still grew 3.4% from a year ago, in line with market estimates, but the data has encouraged traders to believe that the U.S. Federal Reserve could begin to cut rates in the near future. Asia-Pacific markets rose Thursday after Wall Street benchmarks closed at record highs overnight following the inflation data. U.S. stock futures were near flat overnight.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: U.S . Federal Reserve Locations: U.S, Asia, Pacific

☆ After 3 years in Thailand, I moved back to New York. It didn't feel like home anymore, so I took off again.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Elizabeth Lavis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewAs I tucked into a bowl of wisp-thin Thai rice noodles studded with bok choy and sprinkled with fried garlic, all I could do was wax poetic about Buffalo wings. My favorite basket always came from a local dive bar in Western New York, 15 miles from Niagara Falls. I missed reliable transportation, manageable bugs, the change of seasons, my friends and family, and the Great Lakes comfort food I'd been pining for. I even realized that my definition of comfort food had changed. AdvertisementWhen I left for Thailand almost a decade ago, I imagined that I'd be going back to my "real life" after six months.

Persons: —, bok choy, Chang, Garth Brooks, Reuben, Koh Samui, I'd, who's, Uber, Costa Rica Elizabeth Lavis, gallo pinto Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Western New York, Niagara Falls, Thailand, Buffalo, Gulf, Thai, Laos, Costa Rica, Coast, Linzano, Bangkok

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