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☆ Slovakian PM Fico in ‘life-threatening’ condition after being shot; EU leaders decry 'brutal attack'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico attends a press conference during a Special European Council Meeting on April 18, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium. Slovakia's populist Prime Minister Robert Fico on Wednesday was shot multiple times in an assassination attempt that has sent shockwaves across the continent. The 59-year-old has been transported by helicopter to hospital in the central Slovakian city of Banska Bystrica to receive treatment. A post on Fico's official Facebook page said the prime minister was "shot multiple times and is in a life-threatening state" after an "attempted assassination." Slovakian President Zuzana Čaputová "strongly" condemned the "brutal and ruthless attack" in a Google-translated Facebook post, without supplying further details of the nature of the attack.

Persons: Slovakia Robert Fico, Robert Fico, Fico, Zuzana Čaputová Organizations: NBC, Reuters, CNBC Locations: Slovakia, Brussels, Belgium, Slovakian, Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Handlova

☆ Jamie Dimon urges the U.S. to deal with its deficit sooner rather than later
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Wednesday urged the U.S. to reduce its fiscal deficit sooner rather than later, warning the issue will likely become "far more uncomfortable" if it continues to be overlooked. That's a lot, but obviously that drives growth," Dimon said in an interview with Sky News. So, I think America should be quite aware that we have got to focus on our fiscal deficit issues a little bit more, and that is important for the world," he added. The federal government has so far spent $855 billion more than it has collected in the 2024 fiscal year, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, resulting in a national deficit. Dimon said he hoped the U.S. government "really focuses" on reducing the deficit while still enjoying a period of robust economic growth.

Persons: Jamie, JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Joe Biden Organizations: JPMorgan Chase, U.S . Senate Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Wall, Capitol, Washington , D.C, JPMorgan, Wednesday, Sky News, U.S . Treasury Department, . Locations: Washington ,, America, U.S

☆ Georgia president holds talks on 'how to save' the country as U.S., EU and NATO decry 'Russian law'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili delivers a speech during an gathering celebrating Europe Day outside her residence in Tbilisi on May 9, 2024. (Photo by Vano SHLAMOV / AFP) (Photo by VANO SHLAMOV/AFP via Getty Images)Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Wednesday held talks with European ministers to urgently discuss "how to save" the country, shortly after lawmakers adopted a deeply divisive Russia-style foreign influence bill. The U.S., European Union, NATO and the United Nations have all issued statements expressing concern about Georgia's new legislation, which opposition lawmakers have denounced as the "Russian law." Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday approved the legislation, with 84 members of the country's 150-member law-making body voting in favor. "On the agenda today is the following issue: how to save Georgia," Zourabichvili said, according to a translation.

Persons: Salome Zurabishvili, Vano SHLAMOV, VANO SHLAMOV, Salome Zourabichvili, Zourabichvili Organizations: Getty Images, Wednesday, Union, NATO, United Nations, EU Locations: Europe, Tbilisi, AFP, Russia, U.S, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Georgia

☆ GameStop, AMC shares jump another 40% in premarket trading as meme stock craze returns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shares of GameStop and AMC jumped around 40% in premarket trading on Tuesday, on track to extend gains after "Roaring Kitty," the man at the center of the meme stock craze, posted online for the first time in roughly three years. Shares of video game retailer GameStop traded 40% higher at 4:50 a.m. GameStop on Monday climbed a whopping 74.4%, while AMC soared 78.4% in the previous trading session. Roaring Kitty, whose legal name is Keith Gill, is a former marketer for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance. Also known as DeepF------Value on Reddit, Gill drew an army of day traders who cheered each other on and piled into the brick-and-mortar video game stock and in GameStop call options between 2020 and 2021.

Persons: Kitty, Keith Gill, Gill, Yun Li, Fred Imbert Organizations: GameStop, AMC, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Locations: New York

☆ Georgia passes 'Russia-style' law on foreign influence despite U.S. warnings and mass protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Georgian demonstrators protesting the controversial "foreign influence" bill stand in front of law enforcement officers blocking an area near the parliament building in Tbilisi on May 14, 2024. Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday passed a highly controversial "Kremlin-style" law on foreign influence, despite massive protests in the country and repeated warnings from the U.S. and European Union. Members of the Georgian Parliament physically came to blows as lawmakers held the third and final reading of the so-called "foreign agents" bill, before ultimately approving the legislation. The foreign influence bill calls for media outlets, nonprofits and other nongovernmental organizations to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has previously vowed to veto the bill.

Persons: Salome Zourabichvili Organizations: Union, Georgian Locations: Tbilisi, U.S, Georgian, Soviet Union

☆ I tried fried-chicken recipes from Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, and Alton Brown, and the best called for pickle juice and hot sauce
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Meredith Schneider | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

I tried fried-chicken recipes from chefs Alton Brown, Ina Garten, and Guy Fieri. Garten's recipe took the longest to prep, and Brown's added a bit of paprika for a kick. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . To start, I tried three fried-chicken recipes from Ina Garten, Alton Brown, and Guy Fieri to see which would be my new go-to.

Persons: Alton Brown, Ina Garten, Guy Fieri, Brown's, —, I've Organizations: Service

☆ In the battle of Telegram vs Signal, Elon Musk casts doubt on the security of the app he once championed
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Elon Musk once championed encrypted messaging app Signal, promoting its user privacy protections. Signal has been sharply criticized recently by a conservative activist and a rival app, Telegram. AdvertisementThe encryption wars brewing between the messaging apps Telegram and Signal have attracted the commentary of a high-profile critic: Elon Musk. In response to Rufo's post, Musk wrote cryptically, "There are known vulnerabilities with Signal that are not being addressed. Green, as well as Musk, Signal, and Telegram representatives, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, —, Elon, Pavel Durov, Durov, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Jeff Bezos, Christopher Rufo —, Katherine Maher, Rufo, Maher, Edward Snowden, Meredith Whittaker, Whittaker, haven’t, IbXREWVaPL — Meredith Whittaker, @mer__edith, Jack Dorsey, — Elon, Johns Hopkins, Matthew Green, Green Organizations: Service, Fox News, NSA, Amazon, Elon, Telegram, Business Locations: Moscow

☆ Meredith Whitney Advisory Group CEO: Proposed mortgage reform is a 'massive game changer'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | 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 EmailMeredith Whitney Advisory Group CEO: Proposed mortgage reform is a 'massive game changer'Meredith Whitney, founder and CEO of Meredith Whitney Advisory Group, joins CNBC's 'Money Movers' to discuss mortgage reform, home equity, and more.

Persons: Meredith, Meredith Whitney Organizations: Advisory, Meredith Whitney Advisory

☆ U.S. sounds alarm as thousands in Georgia's capital protest 'Kremlin-style' foreign influence bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Police Force attend a protest against the foreign agents law as two Americans and one Russian citizen are among 20 detained on May 13, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Thousands of people took to the streets of Georgia's capital on Monday as part of a last-ditch attempt to prevent the country's government from passing a controversial "Kremlin-style" law on foreign influence. Georgia's Interior Ministry said Monday that two American citizens and one Russian national were among 20 people detained at the rally. Separately, Georgia's Special Investigation Service said it had launched a probe into the alleged used of "excessive force" by law enforcement officers against protesters. Russia, which occupies about 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, has used similar legislation to crack down on independent news media and activists critical of the Kremlin.

Organizations: Police Force, Investigation Service, Security, Kremlin Locations: Tbilisi , Georgia, Georgia's, Tbilisi, Russia

☆ Beethoven’s hair reveals lead poisoning
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” is one of the first songs I learned to play on the violin. While his doctor’s notes were lost to time, scientists sequenced Beethoven’s genome from locks of his hair last year. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesA new analysis of Beethoven’s hair has shown the composer experienced lead poisoning toward the end of his life. Tests revealed incredibly elevated levels of lead, as well as arsenic and mercury, in two of his locks, likely from drinking wine that was sweetened with lead. Researchers don’t believe lead poisoning would have been enough to kill him, but it could have contributed to the composer’s well-known gastrointestinal issues and deafness.

Persons: CNN — Ludwig van Beethoven’s, Joy ”, I’ll, Beethoven, Ludwig van Beethoven, don’t, ”, William Meredith, Umm Jirsan, Lady Elliot, Rebecca Wright, Kate Quigley, “ We’re, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Symphony, Hulton, “, Arabia, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Minderoo, Energy, CNN Space, Science Locations: Alabama, Saudi Arabia, Umm Jirsan, Lady, Australia

☆ Ukraine drone attack sparks fire at Russian oil refinery; two injured as houses burnt in Kharkiv
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Ukraine attacked an oil refinery in Russia's Kaluga region in the early hours of Friday, setting the facility on fire, according to Russian media reports. Several explosions were heard in the Dzerzhinsky district of the Kaluga region, which borders the broader Moscow region, The Moscow Times reported, citing Russian Telegram channel SHOT. CNBC could not independently verify the reports. Vladislav Shapsha, governor of the Kaluga region, said in a Google-translated post via Telegram that the fire was promptly extinguished, and the extent of the damage was still being assessed. He did not say at what facility the incident took place.

Persons: Vladislav Shapsha Organizations: Moscow Times, Russian Telegram, CNBC Locations: Ukraine, Russia's Kaluga, Dzerzhinsky, Kaluga, Moscow

☆ Beethoven’s hair reveals evidence of lead poisoning, scientists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Beethoven’s genome was made publicly available, inviting researchers around the world to investigate lingering questions about Beethoven’s health. Meanwhile, scientists continue to figuratively go over the authenticated locks of Beethoven’s hair with a fine-tooth comb, teasing out surprising insights. But at the time the researchers did not test Beethoven’s newly authenticated hair samples for lead. Because the researchers don’t have hair samples from earlier in Beethoven’s life, it’s impossible to understand when the lead poisoning started, Meredith said. But Rifai said he saw comparable lead levels when he conducted research in two villages in Ecuador where the main trade is to glaze tiles with lead from batteries.

Persons: Ludwig van Beethoven’s, Beethoven, ”, Christian Reiter, Hiller, Thayer, Anton Halm, William Meredith, Nader Rifai, Meredith, Rifai, Paul Jannetto, he’d, Johann Adam Schmidt, Beethoven’s, “, ” Meredith, Friedrich Schiller’s, Joy, it’s Organizations: CNN —, Center of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Beethoven, Symphony, Ninth, Ninth Symphony Locations: United States, Ecuador, Vienna

☆ A rare hostile takeover bid in Europe's banking sector has shocked markets
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A logo outside the Banco Sabadell SA offices at the Banc Sabadell Tower in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Spanish bank BBVA caught markets by surprise on Thursday after it announced a rare hostile takeover bid for domestic rival Banco Sabadell, with one investment firm describing the situation as "very strange." The move comes shortly after a separate 12 billion euro ($12.87 billion) takeover offer from BBVA to Sabadell's board was rejected earlier in the week. BBVA said its takeover offer has the same financial terms as the merger offered to Sabadell's board. Shares of BBVA fell 6% at around midday London time on Thursday, while Sabadell's stock price rose more than 3%.

Persons: Carlos Torres Vila Organizations: Banco Sabadell SA, BBVA, Banco Sabadell, Banco Locations: Banc, Barcelona, Spain, Spanish

☆ Giant Batteries Are Transforming the Way the U.S. Uses Electricity
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Brad Plumer | Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +17 min

Uses Electricity They’re delivering solar power after dark in California and helping to stabilize grids in other states. Peak demand average daily generation, by fuel type Peak demand 25k 25k megawatts megawatts Imports 20k 20k 15k 15k Gas Solar power Batteries Solar power 10k 10k Wind 5k 5k Hydro Nuclear 0 0 12a.m. Peak demand average daily generation, by fuel type Peak demand 25k 25k megawatts megawatts Imports 20k 20k 15k 15k Gas Solar power Batteries Solar power 10k 10k Wind 5k 5k Hydro Nuclear 0 0 12a.m. Ga. Ga. Texas Texas La. By The New York TimesMost grid batteries use lithium-ion technology, similar to batteries in smartphones or electric cars.

Persons: …, ”, Helen Kou, Conn ., Mo ., R.I, Conn . Conn ., . Kan ., “, Andrés Gluski, Mike Blake, John Phipps, Phipps, Stephanie Smith, Aaron Mitchell, Natalie McIntire, Tamir Kalifa, Emma Konet, Max Kanter, BloombergNEF, you’ve, Meredith Fowlie, Nate Blair, “ We’re, Ross D Organizations: Hydro Nuclear, Hydro, The New York Times, “, United States U.S, Conn . Pa . Iowa Neb, N.J . Ohio Nev, Del . Utah Ill, Texas, Fla ., Vt, Wis ., Wis . Idaho Idaho S.D, Pa . Iowa Iowa Neb, Neb . N.J . N.J . Ohio Ohio Nev, Del . Utah Utah Ill, . Energy, AES Corporation, Reuters, California, Georgia Power, Natural Resources Defense Council, Nationwide, The New York Times Grid, University of California, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Franklin, Associated Locations: California, The New York Times California, China, Texas , California, Arizona, Wash . Maine, Minn, Ore, N.H, N.Y, Mass, Wis . Idaho S.D, Mich, Wyo, R.I, Conn, Conn . Pa . Iowa, N.J . Ohio, Del . Utah, Calif, Md, Colo, W.Va . Va, Mo, Mo . Kan, Ky, N.C, Tenn, Ariz, ., S.C . California, Ala, Miss ., Fla, Alaska Texas, Hawaii, Wash . Maine Maine Mont, Mont, Vt, Wis, Wis . Idaho Idaho, S.D . Mich, Conn . Conn, Conn . Conn . Pa, Pa . Iowa, Neb . N.J . N.J . Ohio, Nev . Ind, Ind, Del, W.Va, W.Va . Va . Va, . Kan . Kan, S.C . Ala . Ala . Miss, . Texas Texas, La, Fla . Alaska Alaska Hawaii Hawaii California, Texas, Menifee, . California, ” In Texas, Fort Worth, West Texas, Georgia, Sweetwater , Texas, Tierra, Berkeley, Sacramento

☆ Berkshire first quarter earnings price target correction
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

UBS analyst Brian Meredith's price target is nearly 22% above where the shares closed Friday. An earlier version misstated the percentage.

Persons: Brian Organizations: UBS

☆ Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway gains as insurance lifts first-quarter profit and cash nears $200 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Those moves come after Berkshire posted first-quarter operating profit of $11.22 billion, up 39% from the year-ago period, mainly driven by an increase in insurance underwriting earnings. Insurance underwriting earnings rose to $2.598 billion, a 185% increase from $911 million in the year-earlier quarter. Geico earnings swelled 174% to $1.928 billion from $703 million a year prior. Cash soared to a record $188.99 billion in the first quarter, up from $167.6 billion in the fourth quarter. "We had much-improved earnings in insurance underwriting.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Martin, Cash, Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, Brian Meredith, Edward Jones, James Shanahan Organizations: Berkshire Hathaway, Berkshire, UBS Locations: Omaha , Nebraska, Berkshire

☆ 'Twist' in Warren Buffett's succession plan raises eyebrows among Berkshire's Omaha faithful
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

OMAHA, Nebraska — Many Berkshire Hathaway shareholders left last weekend's annual meeting pondering Warren Buffett's big revelation about succession. Others think Abel will be more likely to delegate the responsibility of stock selection. Buffett's investment lieutenants, Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, have independently managed about $15 billion each for Berkshire over the past decade. In addition to Berkshire's enormous equity portfolio, its pile of cash grew to nearly $189 billion at the end of March. The new forecast would translate into more than 20% upside and push Berkshire's total market value above $1 trillion.

Persons: Warren Buffett's, Greg Abel, Buffett, Greg, Abel, Todd Combs, Ted Weschler, Buffett hasn't, Combs, Bill Stone, Charlie Munger, who's, he's, Bueffett's, Cathy Seifert, Brian Meredith, Meredith, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: OMAHA , Nebraska —, Berkshire Hathaway, Saturday, Madison Investments, CNBC, Geico, Glenview Trust, Berkshire Hathaway Energy, UBS Locations: OMAHA , Nebraska, Omaha, Berkshire, Toyama, UBS Berkshire

☆ Young Democrats face Gaza blowback as they try to mobilize students for Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Gregory Krieg | Michelle Shen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

But the College Democrats insist their worries are also rooted in what they see as the Biden campaign’s unwillingness to grasp the scope of how difficult it is becoming to engage young voters. A mixed picturePolling of young voters on the Israel-Hamas War, specifically about its effect on Biden’s campaign, presents a mixed picture. Only 18% of young voters approved of Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Harvard/IOP poll. Seth Schuster, a spokesman for the Biden campaign, touted its investment in engaging young voters. It is even hard for young people to talk to other young people about how to do this,” the Democratic strategist said.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, ”, Hasan Pyarali, ’ ”, Biden, “, Benjamin ) Netanyahu, Nicho Fernandez, hasn’t, haven’t, ” Fernandez, ” John Della Volpe, men’s, ” Biden, Santiago Mayer, ” Mayer, Joe Biden, Carolyn Salvador Avila, Biden’s, it’s, ” Salvador Avila, Allyson Bell, Bell, ” Bell, Seth Schuster, ” Schuster, “ It’s, Aidan DiMarco, It’s, DiMarco, they’re, we’re, Evelyn Schmidt, ” Schmidt, ’ ” Schmidt Organizations: CNN, Democratic, College Democrats, Wake Forest University, Muslim, Facebook, Biden, Democratic National Committee, Democrats, Harvard, Institute of Politics, Georgetown University, Harvard Institute of Politics, Trump, ”, University of Nevada, Meredith College, national College Democrats ’ Jewish, College Democrats ’, Democratic National, College Democrats of America, White, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater College Democrats, House Locations: Gaza, North Carolina, Israel, Washington , DC, “, Las Vegas, Biden’s Israel, Wisconsin

☆ 'A lot of money on the sidelines': Calamos Investments thinks ETFs should target CD, money market customers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Meredith Mutter | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

According to Calamos investments' Matt Kaufman, there are trillions of dollars across CD and money market accounts, and it is a market ETFs should look to capture. "That's larger than almost the ETF space itself," the firm's head of ETFs told CNBC's "ETF Edge" earlier this week. Kaufman, who is in the interest rates will stay higher for longer camp, thinks structured and options ETFs designed for risk management and income can provide stability. "We saw it being difficult to get risk management and income from bonds when rates were so low," he said. Kaufman's firm Calamos just started launching a suite of 12 structured protection ETFs.

Persons: Matt Kaufman, Kaufman, Calamos

☆ Fed and ECB divergence on rate cuts could spell trouble for the euro, economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The prospect of the European Central Bank diverging from the Federal Reserve on interest rate cuts is likely to be "particularly negative" for the 20-nation euro zone, according to one economist. The ECB appears on course to cut interest rates in June, barring any major surprises, and recent inflation data has since bolstered the case for an imminent reduction in borrowing costs. It leaves the ECB firmly on track to cut interest rates before the Fed. "The problem of cutting rates right now is that the ECB takes for granted the strength of the euro . Lacalle said a June rate cut from the ECB was not going to make German, French or Spanish businesses take more credit "because a small rate cut is not the driver of credit demand."

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Daniel Lacalle, Gestion, CNBC's, Lacalle Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, Federal Reserve, CNBC Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, U.S

☆ The US could give homeowners a $980 billion stimulus at no additional cost, 'Oracle of Wall Street' says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. That's if Freddie Mac secures approval from its regulator to operate in the market for secondary mortgages, also commonly known as home equity loans. If greenlighted, the scheme would be equivalent to a huge stimulus injection, but without a cent added to the national deficit, the "Oracle of Wall Street" explained. As Freddie Mac is a massive provider of mortgage market liquidity, the move could encourage more banks to extend this financing to customers. The proposal noted that options are limited for homeowners who want to tap their equity, meaning that few are benefiting from the housing market's appreciation.

Persons: —, Meredith Whitney, Whitney, Freddie Mac, Freddie Mac's, Freddie, Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae Organizations: Service, Business

☆ World's largest olive oil producer says the industry faces one of its toughest moments ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Spain's Deoleo, the world's largest olive oil producer, says the industry needs to undergo a "profound transformation" as it grapples with one of the most challenging moments in its history. A perfect storm of climate change, soaring prices, high interest rates and robust inflation has taken its toll throughout the olive oil value chain in recent months. Spain accounts for more than 40% of the world's olive oil production, making it a global reference for prices. Extra virgin olive oil prices in Spain's Andalusia hit a record high of 9.2 euros ($9.84) per kilogram in January. Olive oil prices have cooled due in part to an uptick in production estimates and beneficial rains in March and April.

Persons: Spain's Deoleo, Miguel Angel Guzman, Guzman Organizations: CNBC Locations: Europe, Spain, Andalusia, Olive

☆ The world's happiest countries are targeting net-negative emissions — despite a growing 'greenlash'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

It is aiming to be the first high-income country to reach net zero emissions in 2035 and net negative by 2040. Denmark, which the World Happiness Report recognized as the world's second-happiest country, is targeting net zero by 2045 — and net negative by 2050. Thierry Monasse | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesDanish Climate Minister Lars Aagaard said the need for negative emissions was clear. He added that Denmark's ability to achieve net negative emissions would hinge upon policies implemented over the next five to seven years. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Persons: Sergei Gapon, Thierry Monasse, Lars Aagaard, Denmark's Aagaard, —, Stefano Guidi, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Kai Mykkänen, Mykkänen, Moscow … Organizations: Afp, Getty, Atlantic ., Agriculture Ministers, CNBC, Lars Aagaard Danish Climate, United Arab Emirates, Union, Nationalist, Former U.S, Finnish Climate Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, Atlantic, Atlantic . Finland, Finland, Brussels, Belgium, Lars Aagaard Danish, Panama, Europe, Germany, France, Turin, Italy, U.S, November's, Paris, Finnish, Helsinki, Montreal, Beijing, Moscow, of Finland, Neva Guba

☆ The Fed would only cut rates to help the U.S. service its soaring debt, fund manager says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The only reason the Federal Reserve might be tempted to cut rates would be to help the U.S. cover interest payments for the national debt, according to fund manager Freddie Lait. The Fed is widely expected to keep its benchmark overnight borrowing rate in a range between 5.25%-5.5%. Traders are currently only pricing in about a 50% chance of a Fed rate cut taking place as early as September and expect just one quarter-percentage-point reduction by the end of the year, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The reason they might cut is because the U.S. government can't afford [them not doing] it — and that's a much scarier reason to have to cut," he added. A spokesperson for the Federal Reserve declined to comment.

Persons: Freddie Lait, Lait Organizations: Federal Reserve, Federal, U.S, Traders Locations: U.S

☆ Opinion: Harvey Weinstein’s prosecutors made a huge mistake. Trump’s prosecutors risk repeating it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Opinion Jim Walden | Deanna Paul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Jim Walden Courtesy of Jim WaldenA few days later, New York’s highest court overturned the sex crimes conviction of Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. And the recent dramatic developments in the Weinstein case demonstrate why the presiding judge in the Trump trial, Judge Juan Merchan, needs to reverse his ruling allowing Trump to be questioned about proven misconduct from other cases. If he doesn’t, Trump could have an easy path to having a conviction in the case tossed out. This is essentially what happened in the Weinstein case. If he does not, Trump could get a conviction overturned while the ink hasn’t yet dried on the jury’s verdict.

Persons: Jim Walden, Deanna Paul, Walden, Donald Trump’s Manhattan, Harvey Weinstein, Weinstein, Trump, Juan Merchan, Deanna Paul Meredith Eves Flynn Trump, —, Karen McDougal, Stormy Daniels, David Pecker, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Daniels, Maggie Haberman, Merchan, Letitia James, E, Jean Carroll, Merchan’s, James Burke, Burke’s Organizations: New, CNN, Republican, Hollywood, Trump, Prosecutors, National Enquirer, New York Times, New York, Manhattan, Appeals Locations: New York

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