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The nation’s highways and airports are expected to be crowded with people marking the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend. Travel volumes are expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels, according to recent data from the FAA and AAA. Last year, TSA reported passenger volumes that slightly exceeded those of 2019 for the stretch from Thursday before Memorial Day to the Wednesday after. AAA also forecasts a significant surge in air travel, with more than 3.5 million people expected to fly over Memorial Day weekend in 2024, reflecting a 9% increase from 2019. For the more than 38 million travelers AAA projects will drive, gas prices will average around $3.65 per gallon nationally, as of May 23.

Persons: — Organizations: FAA, AAA, TSA Locations: West, California, Mississippi

☆ How Ace Hardware, America’s neighborhood hardware store for 100 years, is beating its big-box rivals
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

A majority of Ace Hardware stores are located in neighborhoods. Courtesy Ace HardwareBarker is owner and operator of five Breed & Co Ace Hardware locations in the Austin, Texas, area. We count on people coming in everyday to buy a gift item from us.”This hybrid hardware-home goods-curio model is setting Ace Hardware stores apart. “They are essentially shareholders, they own the brand and the company,” said Kim Lefko, chief marketing officer of Ace Hardware. It just launched its first Ace-branded food product, a line of BBQ sauces, and a collection of Ace Hardware vintage-inspired clothing.

Persons: New York CNN — Mahin Barker, ”, Sherwin Williams, ” Neil Saunders, Hardware’s, today’s, Michael Brown, It’s, “, Barker, ” Barker, we’ve, ” Brown, “ We’ve, Kim Lefko, Lefko, John Madden, Pat Summerall, Michael Wynn, Vera Bradley, ” Wynn, Wynn Organizations: New, New York CNN, Home Depot, Hardware, Ace Hardware, Globaldata, “, NFL, Acon Investments, Sunshine Locations: New York, West Lake Hills, Austin , Texas, Brook , Illinois, Placer, remodels, Lake Hills, Chicago, Southern Florida, Florida

☆ The West is tapping Russian money to arm Ukraine. Much more could follow
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

London CNN —Money generated by Russian financial assets frozen in Europe will soon start flowing to Ukraine, giving Kyiv a boost as it struggles to counter an advance by Moscow’s troops. The plan “would essentially bring forward that flow of interest proceeds from the assets… (through a loan) given to Ukraine,” Yellen told broadcaster Sky News in an interview this week. “Ukraine has substantial needs, and being able to marshal significant resources to help Ukraine is important,” she said. Most of the frozen Russian money is held in Europe, and the euro is the world’s second-most important currency after the US dollar. This would give Kyiv access to a much larger amount of money than using future or current windfall profits from Russian assets.

Persons: Janet Yellen, ” Yellen, Gabriel Bouys, Joe Biden, ” Lee Buccheit, Trade Valdis Dombrovskis, Yellen, there’s, —, Buchheit, Putin, ” Organizations: London CNN, Union, Sky News, “, US, Getty, University of Edinburgh Law School, CNN, EU, Trade, Reuters, Russia, Ukraine, World Bank Locations: Europe, Ukraine, West, Italy, Russia, Ukraine’s, Kharkiv, Frankfurt, Germany, “ Ukraine, Stresa, AFP, EU, Belgium, Kyiv

☆ China made so many solar panels that even its own grid can't support all the energy produced
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China has made a lot of solar panels, dramatically lowering prices and helping the country's clean-energy transition. The problem is that Chinese manufacturers seem to have made too many solar panels, according to the US, the European Union, and their allies. China's facing its own overproduction problem at home following a breakneck pace of growth in solar energy — one key pillar of the country's "new three" economic drivers. Germany's energy prices are under pressure from too much solar energyIt's not just China getting hit by an excess of solar energy. Germany, too, has been producing so much solar energy that energy prices have fallen into negative territory when output peaks.

Persons: They're, Joe Biden, David Fishman Organizations: Service, European Union, Business, Reuters, Bloomberg, West, Longi Green Energy Technology, China Photovoltaic Industry Association, Lantau Group Locations: China, Beijing, overcapacity, Germany, that's

☆ Putin's favorite NATO member wants to 'redefine' membership so it doesn't have to help Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Hungary's prime minister said officials are working to "redefine" his country's NATO membership. The aim is to not have to "take part in NATO actions outside NATO territory," Viktor Orbán said. The change would likely allow Hungary to avoid being involved in future NATO assistance to Ukraine. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe NATO member most aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to alter its membership in the Western military alliance so that it can avoid aiding Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion.

Persons: Hungary's, Viktor Orbán, —, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine's Organizations: NATO, Service, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Hungary, Ukraine

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia cannot swallow the West whole, Orban says; G7 finance chiefs meet with Ukraine on agenda
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Governor of the Bank of Italy Fabio Panetta (L), Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti (R) and President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde pose on the sidelines of the G7 Finance Ministers meeting in Stresa on May 24, 2024. Earlier this week, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Sky News she saw the "possibility" that G7 nations could assist Ukraine with as much as $50 billion in loans linked to frozen Russian assets. "The Russian assets are not earning interest anymore, but they are generating returns for Euroclear. That alone could be given to Ukraine that would be repaid over several years by that flow of interest," Yellen added. It remains to be seen whether G7 nations can strike consensus on such a loan and what final sum will be extended to support Kyiv's military effort.

Persons: Bank of Italy Fabio Panetta, Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, European Central Bank Christine Lagarde, Janet Yellen, Yellen Organizations: Bank of Italy, Italy's, Economy, Finance, European Central Bank, Ukraine, Treasury, Sky News, Euroclear Locations: Stresa, Italy, Ukraine

☆ The top 10 US beaches for 2024, according to ‘Dr. Beach’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Duke Kahanamoku Beach on the island of Oahu crowns the list of the 10 best US beaches put out annually by “Dr. Coopers Beach, located on Long Island, New York, is “shielded from the cold Labrador currents in the beautiful village of Southampton. As for the Sunshine State’s two entries, both beaches are on the Gulf coast, edging out its Atlantic-facing beaches. Duke Kahanamoku Beach: Oahu, Hawaii2. Caladesi Island State Park: Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida5.

Persons: Brady, Duke Kahanamoku Beach, “ Dr, Stephen Leatherman, ” Leatherman, ”, Leatherman, Coopers, Duke Kahanamoku Organizations: CNN, Duke, Department of Earth, Florida International University, Sunshine, Coopers, Coast Guard, Coronado Locations: Hawaii, Oahu, ”, Waikiki Beach, Duke Kahanamoku, Miami . Hawaii, , New York, Florida, South Carolina , Massachusetts, California, Coopers Beach, Long, Southampton, United States, Southampton , New York, Wailea, Maui, Caladesi, Dunedin, Clearwater , Florida, Beachwalker, Kiawah, South Carolina, East Hampton , New York, Poipu, Kauai, Wiggins, Naples, Cape Cod , Massachusetts, Coronado Beach, San Diego , California

☆ Russian media cited fake rumors of a Mossad agent named 'Eli Copter' being involved in the helicopter crash that killed Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewAn online joke about Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi being killed in a helicopter crash by a Mossad agent named "Eli Copter" has fooled several media outlets — including Russian state TV host Vladimir Solovyov. Raisi, 63, died on Sunday in a helicopter crash alongside several senior officials in northwest Iran, with state media saying the vehicle struck a mountainside. An Israeli official said Tel Aviv was not involved in the crash, which Solovyov challenged. AF - The IDF Mourns The Loss Of Their Undercover Agent, Eli Copter pic.twitter.com/G0tok0TFyV — Associated Fress (@AssociatedFress) May 19, 2024Several people reporting about Raisi's death seemed to have missed the joke. Haik later quoted the Hamas message on i24, saying that the involvement of "Eli Copter" was a rumor that couldn't yet be confirmed.

Persons: —, Ebrahim Raisi, Eli Copter, Vladimir Solovyov, Solovyov, Daniel Haik, Eli Copter pic.twitter.com, Haik Organizations: Service, Business, Tel, Russia Media Monitor, IDF, Hamas, Telegram, i24 France, Kremlin, West, Washington, Observatory, MIT Media Lab, Center for Locations: Iran, Israel, Tel Aviv, Russia, Tehran, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Yellen Warns Israel Against Cutting off Palestinian Banks
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen warned Israel on Thursday against cutting off ties between Palestinian and Israeli banks, arguing that such a move would further destabilize the economy of the West Bank at a time when Palestinians are already facing dire economic conditions. Ms. Yellen’s comments came in the wake of Israel’s decision on Wednesday to withhold tax revenue from the Palestinian Authority in retaliation for three European countries unilaterally agreeing to recognize a Palestinian state. Ms. Yellen and other top economic officials from the Group of 7 nations are expected to discuss the matter and the humanitarian situation in Gaza during their summit in Stresa, Italy, which begins on Thursday. “I’m particularly concerned by Israel’s threats to take action that would lead to Palestinian banks being cut off from their Israeli correspondent banks,” Ms. Yellen said during remarks ahead of a news conference. Ms. Yellen added that the banking channels were critical for processing transactions that allow $8 billion a year of imports of food, fuel and electricity from Israel and $2 billion of Palestinian exports.

Persons: Janet L, Yellen, Israel, Yellen’s, “ I’m, Ms Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian Authority Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, Stresa, Italy, Israel

☆ Microsoft’s UAE deal could reportedly involve transfer of key U.S. chips and AI technology abroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. officials have said that AI systems could pose national security risks, for example by making it easier to engineer chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The Biden administration in October required the makers of the largest AI systems to share details about them with the U.S. government. Microsoft executives said the agreement has safeguards to protect Microsoft's technology and prevent it from being used by Chinese entities to train AI systems. The Commerce Department already requires notifications and, in several regions, export licenses to send AI chips abroad. Microsoft executives said the company welcomes a debate on a new legal framework governing the transfer of AI technology and that the deal with G42 requires the UAE firm to comply with U.S. regulations as they evolve.

Persons: Brad Smith, Smith, Biden, Michael McCaul, we're Organizations: Microsoft, United Arab, Reuters, U.S ., U.S . Department of Commerce, U.S . House, Commerce Department Locations: Madrid, Spain, United Arab Emirates, U.S, UAE

☆ Western fighters in Ukraine are getting killed because they assumed the war would be easy, says a US veteran who fought there
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWestern fighters who joined the war in Ukraine have been killed, in some cases, because they assumed the fight would be easy, a US veteran who fought in Ukraine told Business Insider. Foreign fighters coming to UkraineHe was one of many foreign fighters who fought for Ukraine. There are no proven figures for how many foreign fighters have come to Ukraine or have been killed there. Ukraine founded its International Legion in 2022, allowing foreign fighters to come to Ukraine and help it fight back against Russia. Reasons aside, many foreign fighters have been killed, as Business Insider's Cameron Manley previously reported, with some international survivors saying they were used as a "sacrificial unit."

Persons: —, they're, that's, it's, Jackie, you've, they've, Zavhorodnii, Insider's Cameron Manley Organizations: Service, Business, AP, NATO, REUTERS, International Legion, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, Bakhmut, Iraq, Middle East, Afghanistan

☆ Biden looks to counter China’s influence as he rolls out red carpet for Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Among the goals of his three-day state visit in October: securing another $1 billion in loans from China to help complete infrastructure projects. On Wednesday, when he arrived at Joint Base Andrews to begin another state visit – this time to Washington – he again found a red carpet and troops. Senior administration officials acknowledge a central factor in scheduling a state visit with Kenya was the desire to counter China’s influence and financial leverage on the African continent, which has outpaced the United States in direct investment. One of the goals of Thursday’s state visit is to demonstrate the ability of democracies – like Kenya’s – to deliver for their people. “I plan on going in February,” Biden told reporters.

Persons: Washington CNN —, William Ruto, Joint Base Andrews, Washington –, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, –, Kenya –, ”, “, Biden, Ruto, ” Ruto, he’s, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Jake Sullivan, ” Biden, Xi Jinping, Donald Trump –, ” Sullivan, Ariel Henry Organizations: Washington CNN, Kenyan, Joint Base, East, Kenya, NATO, Africa –, White, Initiative, Loans, Washington, World Bank, Group, European Union, Democratic, White House, Angolan, Advisers, CNN, Haitian Locations: Beijing, China, Africa, Kenya, United States, China’s, Nairobi, Mombasa, Boston, US, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Washington, East, Ukraine, ”, Russia, –, combatting al, Shabab, Somalia, Yemen, Haiti

☆ Buthidaung: Fires rage as Rohingya caught up on the front lines of Myanmar’s civil war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Helen Regan | Avery Schmitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

This satellite image shows Buthidaung, Myanmar, on January 17, 2024. © 2024 Maxar Technologies This satellite image shows Buthidaung, Myanmar, on May 18, 2024. This satellite image shows a damaged bridge in Buthidaung, Myanmar, on May 18, 2024. Warnings of further atrocitiesAn immediate concern is a humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state, with newly displaced residents unable to access food or clean water. The Myanmar military has blocked all access,” said Nay San Lwin.

Persons: Farooq, ”, Young, Volker Türk, Kyaw, –, Buthidaung –, “, John Quinley, Khaing, Lwin, Rohingya, Pan, Matthew Miller Organizations: CNN, Arakan Army, AA, Resource Management, Free Rohingya Coalition, International Court of Justice, Council, Myanmar, UN Human Rights Council, National Unity Government, Free Rohingya Coalition –, Maxar Technologies, “, ” CNN, Bangladesh, Labs, Medecins, Rakhine . State Department, Unity Government Locations: Myanmar’s, Myanmar, Rakhine, Arakan, Bangladesh, Buthidaung, Lwin, Indonesia, San Lwin, Rakhine State

☆ 'Focus is the key, Tesla could use more of it,' says former board member Westly
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | 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 Email'Focus is the key, Tesla could use more of it,' says former board member WestlySteve Westly, managing director of The Westly Group and former Tesla board member, discusses the EV automaker and Elon Musk with CNBC's Karen Tso and Arjun Kharpal at VivaTech in Paris.

Persons: Tesla, Steve Westly, Elon Musk, Karen Tso, Arjun Kharpal Organizations: EV, Elon Locations: VivaTech, Paris

☆ Hedge funds loaded up on financial and tech stocks in the first quarter—Here's what they picked
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hedge funds added more exposure to financial and tech names in the last quarter, according to Morgan Stanley. Castagno highlighted that in the last quarter, hedge funds seemed to shift their portfolio allocations toward the information technology and financials sectors, moving away from health care. However, hedge funds still remain most overweight stocks within the health care, consumer discretionary and industrials industries. Hedge funds have recently increased their ownership shares in retailer Bath & Body Works by 2.5%. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Alaska Air Group to outperform from peer perform last Friday.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Todd Castagno, Castagno, A.J, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Securities and Exchange, Universal Health Services, UBS, Body, JPMorgan, Airline, Alaska Air Group, Wolfe Research, TPG, DXC Technology, Avis Budget Group Locations: Rice, Bath, Coast

☆ Haley will vote for the Trump ‘chaos’ that she once decried
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Before losing her home state’s primary to Trump earlier this year, Haley lashed out at Republicans who backed Trump despite privately despairing over him. They’re just too afraid to say it out loud.”Now Haley is saying out loud she’s voting for Trump. Haley seeks to preserve her futureThere is every sign that Haley wants to run again for president once Trump finally leaves the stage. Trump has made no effort to appeal to Haley voters during the march to the nomination despite his dire need to court suburban voters. “Rightly or wrongly, chaos follows (Trump),” Haley complained at almost every event.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, ”, couldn’t, Joe Biden, “, ” Haley, Haley, Trump, Biden, —, They’re, Ted Cruz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, I’m, Cruz, There’s, Liz Cheney, repudiating, John Bolton, ” Bolton, CNN’s Wolf, Haley –, Ron DeSantis, “ There’s, they’d, Ronald Reagan’s, Bush, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, “ Trump, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Tapper, Putin Organizations: CNN, South, Trump, United Nations, president’s, Harvard Law School, Democrats, Wyoming, GOP, Vermont, Florida Gov, Republicans, Hudson Institute, Republican, freeloading, NATO, Hampshire Locations: South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Florida, Iowa, Georgia, New Hampshire, Russian, North Korean, Europe, Asia, United States, Columbia , South Carolina

☆ Jessica Biel shares why she and Justin Timberlake left LA. They are part of a trend of wealthy families moving out of big US cities.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewJessica Biel said she and Justin Timberlake left Los Angeles in the hope that their children would have a better quality of life. The couple had their first child, Silas Timberlake in 2015 and their second, Phineas Timberlake, in 2020. Since 2018, there have been numerous reports of Biel and Timberlake moving out of LA to properties in Tennessee and Montana. In 2023, realtor.com reported that Timberlake was trying to sell his property outside Nashville, though this has not been confirmed. Justin Timberlake, and Jessica Biel seen out and about for Halloween with their son on October 31, 2018, in New York City.

Persons: —, Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake, Silas Timberlake, Phineas Timberlake, Biel, Timberlake, Kelly Ripa, We're, realtor.com, Biel's, Robert Kamau, Getty Biel Organizations: Service, Business, Forbes, Street Locations: Los Angeles, LA, Tennessee, Montana, Florida, Dallas, Nashville, East Coast, West Coast, New York, Big Sky , Montana, New York City

☆ Elon Musk has lost his focus, former Tesla board member says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X Holdings Corp., speaks at the Milken Institute's Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel,on May 6, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. Tesla could use more of high-profile CEO Elon Musk's divided focus at a critical juncture for the electric vehicle industry, former board member Steve Westly said Thursday. And it appears now that Mr Musk's focus is in too many areas," Westly told CNBC at the annual VivaTech conference in Paris. Tesla could use more of it," said Westly, who is managing director of venture capital firm The Westly Group and an early Tesla investor. Just how much of a liability Musk is for Tesla, however, Westly said was "for the board to decide."

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Elon Musk's, Steve Westly, Westly, Jensen Huang —, he's Organizations: SpaceX, X Holdings Corp, Milken Institute's Global, Beverly Hilton Hotel, CNBC Locations: Beverly Hills , California, Paris

☆ Opinion: Rishi Sunak’s election looks like a final gasp
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Opinion Holly Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

For those outside the Westminster bubble, the announcement felt less like a starting pistol than a final gasp. But unlike Sunak, who with his wife Akshata Murty is worth an estimated £651 million ($828 million), most of us can’t afford it. The British economy never fully recovered from the 2008 recession and, consciously or not, most people still feel the sting every day. As Sam Knight recently noted in the New Yorker, the average British worker is estimated to be £14,000 ($17,800) worse off per year now than they would be if earnings had risen at pre-crisis rates. Her disastrous mini-budget wiped £30 billion off the UK economy that autumn, according to independent think tank Resolution Foundation, and sent interest rates rocketing.

Persons: Holly Thomas, Katie Couric, Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Tony Blair, Akshata Murty, Sam Knight, Brexit, Liz Truss, It’s, there’s, —, Boris Johnson, Johnson, who’d, that’s, Blair Organizations: Katie Couric Media, CNN, London CNN —, Conservative, Westminster, Labour, British Medical Association, BMA, Commission, Yorker, Evening, Office, National Statistics, Tory, Foundation Locations: London, Westminster, England, British, Europe, Rwanda

☆ Opinion | Western Europe Is Starting to Send a Vital Warning to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

More than 140 countries and the Holy See have recognized the right of Palestinians to have a state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. What is noteworthy about this latest move, though, is that major Western European countries, and the United States, had resisted going there, arguing that peace should be worked out between the two parties. My focus is always on the practical: Will these recognitions of a nonexistent Palestinian state with undefined borders lead to the only sustainable solution — a real-life peace between two states for two indigenous communities — Jews and Palestinians? The answer is yes and no. In the short term, these diplomatic recognitions from fellow democracies will not move the Israeli public, Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, told me.

Persons: Yohanan Plesner, ”, “ Organizations: West, Israel Democracy Institute Locations: Spain, Norway, Ireland, Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem, United States, Israel

☆ Opinion: If you opposed the pro-Palestinian protests, here’s why you should reconsider
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Opinion Haroon Moghul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The media line fed to the public about weeks of protests at Columbia — and the administrative crackdown that followed — has been selective at best. Columbia students have made clear that that’s what drives their protests. Why, even as numerous students at Columbia and elsewhere have been doxxed, harassed and bullied, were no congressional hearings called? But if Columbia students didn’t care about their university and the values it claims to uphold, they wouldn’t have risked so much with their protests. By the same token, if students didn’t care about our country, they wouldn’t protest so vocally against its policies.

Persons: Haroon Moghul, I’ve, —, What’s, we’ve, Minouche Shafik, Shafik, aren’t, maters Organizations: The Concordia Forum, CNN, Columbia University’s Department of, Studies, Columbia, Columbia University, Columbia —, UCLA, Israel, Police, Ivy League, America, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Islam, Eastern, Europe, Columbia, Gaza, Washington , DC, America

☆ Home sales slipped unexpectedly in April, despite big gains in supply
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Sales of homes priced below $100,000 fell 7.1% year over year, while sales of those priced over $1 million jumped 40%. The median price of an existing home sold in April was $407,600, an increase of 5.7% year over year. The median price in the Northeast was $458,500, up 8.5% year over year. The median price in the West was $629,600, up 9.3% from April 2023. Correction: The supply of homes priced at more than $1 million was up 34% year over year.

Persons: Lawrence Yun, Yun Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Realtors Locations: Issaquah Highlands, Issaquah , Washington, US, Midwest, West

☆ This unexpected corner of the market offers quality dividend payers, Bank of America says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Investors hunting for income ought to look to small-cap stocks for a few high-quality dividend payers, according to Bank of America. There are names within it that offer quality dividend yields, according to Jill Carey Hall, equity strategist at Bank of America, in a Monday research report. Further, once the Federal Reserve begins cutting rates, yields paid on cash will fall, and that will make these dividend payers even more attractive for income. Finally, Bank of America added Essential Properties Realty Trust to its list of buy-rated dividend payers. The stock has a dividend yield of 4.2%, and shares are up 7.5% in 2024.

Persons: Russell, Jill Carey, Peter Galbo, Utz, Alton Stump, Stump, Nick Joseph Organizations: Bank of America, Nasdaq, Federal Reserve, Brands, Properties Realty Trust, Citi Locations: West, Midwest, Southwest, Hanover , Pennsylvania, comps

☆ Middle East Crisis Spain, Norway and Ireland Recognize a Palestinian State, Adding to Israel’s Isolation Over War
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Emma Bubola | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Spain, Norway and Ireland said on Wednesday that they would recognize an independent Palestinian state, a rebuke to Israel over its war in Gaza and its decades of occupation of Palestinian territories. More than 140 countries and the Holy See have recognized a Palestinian state, but most Western European countries and the United States have not. Israel strongly opposes international attempts to recognize a Palestinian state and maintains that Israel needs to negotiate directly with Palestinian leaders on a permanent solution. Mr. Netanyahu has said that establishing a Palestinian state would be an “existential danger” to Israel. Countries that are moving toward recognizing Palestinian statehood argue that doing so would preserve the possibility of a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.

Persons: ” Jonas Gahr, Spain’s, Pedro Sánchez, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Mr, Sanchez, Simon Harris of, Netanyahu, Israel, ”, Israel Katz, ” Ziad Abu Amr, Aaron Boxerman, Henrik Pryser Libell, Adam Rasgon, Victoria Kim Organizations: Palestinian, West Bank Locations: Spain, Norway, Ireland, Israel, Gaza, Oslo, Palestine, Palestinian, United States

☆ What Does It Mean to Recognize a Palestinian State?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Matthew Mpoke Bigg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The decision by three European countries — Ireland, Norway and Spain — to recognize a Palestinian state fits into a long-term goal of Palestinian leaders to secure diplomatic acceptance, but it appears that the immediate practical impact will be limited. Broadly speaking, recognizing a state means declaring that it meets the conditions of statehood under international law. But the European countries appeared to be mostly concerned with expressing support for Palestinians and sending a message to Israel at a time of deepening international concern about its conduct of the war. He gave no date for this change but said it would enable Norway to enter into bilateral agreements. Recognition would also have some “domestic legal effects in Norway in areas where issues related to the state of Palestine arise,” he said.

Persons: Spain —, Espen Barth Eide, ” Organizations: Palestinian Authority, West Bank Locations: Ireland, Norway, Spain, Israel, Palestine

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