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☆ Biden administration bolsters protections for federal workers, getting ahead of potential Trump moves
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Betsy Klein | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —The Biden administration has finalized a new rule bolstering protections for career federal workers, marking a move to preemptively halt or significantly slow any efforts by former President Donald Trump, should he win in November, to reduce or alter the federal workforce. Critics warned that the order would allow the president to fill the federal workforce with his loyalists. Trump’s executive order created a new classification of federal employees titled “Schedule F” for employees serving in “confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating positions” that typically do not change during a presidential transition. It strengthens and clarifies existing rights for career civil servants by making clear that civil service protections cannot be taken away from employees unless they give them up voluntarily. “The threat of a politicized civil service is too great, and too real, for this to be the end of our efforts,” he said in a statement.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, ”, Bitsy, ” Skerry, “, Skerry, Gerry Connolly, Connolly, Brian Fitzpatrick, Biden’s, ” Everett Kelley, Doreen Greenwald, CNN’s Veronica Stracqualursi, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Washington CNN, “, Public Citizen, Customs, US Postal Service, Biden, CNN, Trump, Management, Virginia Democrat, Technology, Government Innovation, Republican, American Federation of Government Employees, District of Columbia, National Treasury Employees Union Locations: Washington ,, Virginia, Pennsylvania

☆ China and Hong Kong stocks lost nearly $5 trillion in 3 years — more than India's market cap
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Stocks in China and Hong Kong sold off a massive $4.8 trillion in market capitalization since 2021, which according to HSBC, is more than the value of the Indian stock market. The statistic does not bode well for either China or Hong Kong, especially when the National Stock Exchange of India has only grown during the same period. The NSE overtook Hong Kong Stock Exchanges and Clearing to become the fourth largest in the world in January, according to data from the World Federation of Exchanges, and is worth $4.63 trillion, making it the third largest in Asia. This is indicative of how much traction Indian stocks have gained in the last few years, in contrast to declines in both China and Hong Kong. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index performed even worse, with 2023 as its fourth consecutive decline ending the year 13.8% lower.

Persons: bode Organizations: Bombay Stock Exchange, HSBC, National Stock Exchange of, Hong Kong Stock Exchanges, World Federation of Exchanges, Hong Kong . Mainland China's CSI Locations: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA, Bombay, Mumbai, Stocks, China, Hong Kong, National Stock Exchange of India, Asia, Hong Kong . Mainland

☆ The Long, Strange Decline of One of America's Most Influential Brands
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Amanda Chicago Lewis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

What followed was hundreds of sequels and spinoffs, everything from "Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul" to "Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul" to the bestseller I read cover to cover, several times, in sixth grade: "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul." By 2003, research found that more young readers seeking solace turned to the Chicken Soup series than to the Bible. What began as Chicken Soup for the Soul board games and calendars turned into Chicken Soup for the Soul chocolates and Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food. He pointed out that the cover of the original Chicken Soup book "ripped off" Campbell's Soup, to trigger "nourishing and comforting and warming" feelings. He started suggesting outrageous directions Chicken Soup could go in next: "The Chicken Soup pistol!

Persons: I'd, I've, who'd, John Wayne, Jack Canfield, Canfield, Oprah Winfrey, Tony Soprano's, Russ Kamalski, Laurel, Hardy, Tyler Le, Americus Reed, hadn't, he'd, Johnny Nunez, Getty, Clement Stone, Stone, Napoleon Hill's, Norman Vincent Peale's, Mark Victor Hansen, Hansen, Bennett Raglin, let's, Mark Twain, They're, they'd, Kamalski, Preteen's, Christian Woman's, Mother's, —, Wayne Booth, Booth, Barbara Ehrenreich, David Gray, Amy Poehler, Kenan Thompson's, Patty Aubery, I'm, I, blurbing, Bill Rouhana, Amy Newmark, Newmark, Rouhana, Winstar, Ashton Kutcher, Isaac Brekken, Kevin, Reddit, Chicken, Redbox, You've, We're, Kevin fumed, hicken, orth, ince, eason, rance, ike, osses, ives, ake Organizations: John, Hyatt Regency, Soul Entertainment, Nasdaq, Americus, Wharton, Hyatt, Harvard, Triple, Beverly, Hotel, Canfield, University of Chicago, Oklahoma State, Washington Post, Wall, Company, Connecticut —, NASCAR, Hollywood, Consumer Federation of America, CSSE, Hindenburg Research, Sony Pictures Television, GameStop, YouTube, Soup, ust, anfield Locations: Newport Beach , California, Indonesian, Crackle, Canfield, Nigeria, Japan, France, Ohio, West Virginia, Mali, New York, Anaheim, Florida, ,, Teacher's, Baltimore, China, Australian, Darfur, Southern California, Greenwich , Connecticut, Connecticut, Zillow, Canadian, Wells Fargo's, Redbox, ife

☆ The Long, Strange Decline of Iconic Chicken Soup for the Soul Brand
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Amanda Chicago Lewis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

What followed was hundreds of sequels and spinoffs, everything from "Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul" to "Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul" to the bestseller I read cover to cover, several times, in sixth grade: "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul." What began as Chicken Soup for the Soul board games and calendars turned into Chicken Soup for the Soul chocolates and Chicken Soup for the Soul pet food. What began as Chicken Soup for the Soul board games and calendars turned into pet food, barbecue sauce, and — yes — soup. He pointed out that the cover of the original Chicken Soup book "ripped off" Campbell's Soup, to trigger "nourishing and comforting and warming" feelings. He started suggesting outrageous directions Chicken Soup could go in next: "The Chicken Soup pistol!

☆ A 32-year market vet warns the S&P 500 is set to fall 50%-70% in the years ahead with valuations at historic highs — and says that an imminently weakening labor market will be the catalyst for the cra
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

According to Bank of America, valuation levels explain 80% of the market's return over a 10-year period. Bank of AmericaThere are many ways to measure valuation levels in the overall market. Hussman says it's the most accurate indicator of future market returns that he's found. AdvertisementThe Conference BoardThird, the number of US states with a rising unemployment rate is spiking, meaning that the overall unemployment rate should see further upside. BullAndBearProfits.comThe US unemployment rate is already on a slight uptrend, having climbed from 3.4% in April 2023 to 3.9% as of February.

Persons: —, Jon Wolfenbarger, Merrill Lynch, John Hussman's, he's, Warren Buffett, Wolfenbarger, Stocks, Woflenbarger, Cam Harvey, Claudia Sahm, Louis Fed, Jeremy Grantham, John Hussman, David Rosenberg, Goldman Sachs, David Kostin, America's Savita Subramanian, Ian Shepherdson, Shepherdson Organizations: Service, Bank of America, Business, JPMorgan, National Federation of Independent Business, Board, Treasury, Bank, America's

☆ The home insurance market is crumbling. These owners are paying the price
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Courtesy Victoria ZangaraIn the past, acquiring or keeping homeowners’ insurance didn’t present much of a problem. There was roughly a 10% to 12% increase in homeowners’ insurance costs last year in the United States, said Mark Friedlander, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, a nonprofit industry association. Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesHomeowners who have a mortgage are not able to go without homeowners insurance as their mortgage servicer will require an escrow account for insurance. Some 6 million homeowners chose to forgo homeowners insurance, according to a report from the Consumer Federation of America. They have lived in their home for 19 years and had a policy with Foremost Insurance, paying about $1,910 a year.

Persons: Alfredo Herrera, Herrera, Zangara, “, ”, ” Herrera, policyholders, Mark Friedlander, Neil Fernandes, Fernandes, David Swanson, Matthew Carletti, Jim Watson, Diana Troxell, Diana Wright Troxell, Bruce, ” CNN’s Ella Nilsen Organizations: New, New York CNN, Louisiana Citizens, ”, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Louisiana State University, Insurance Information Institute, Farmers Insurance, Farmers, AAA, CNN, Firefighters, Reuters, State, Citizens Property Insurance, JMP Securities, Getty, Homeowners, Consumer Federation of America, CFA, Social Security, Foremost Insurance, California FAIR, FAIR Locations: New York, New Orleans, City, Louisiana, New Orleans , Louisiana, America, United States, Santa Clarita , California, California, Florida, Sycamore, Whittier , California, AFP, Cottonwood , California, ‘

☆ I was charged $150 for missing a doctor's appointment. Turns out these fees are on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Eric Audras | Onoky | Getty ImagesIf you miss a doctor's appointment these days, you could get hit with a "no-show" fee of up to $100 — or more. But, she said, "to solve this problem is not to charge patients more fees, which many can't afford." For my appointment, I did get a call the day before from the doctor's office. Fees shouldn't hurt credit, still may be worth disputingWhen you make a doctor's appointment, ask about the office's policy around late cancellations and missed appointments, Donovan said. "Ultimately, these fees are discretionary and I would be reluctant to work with any office that inflexibly charged them," Donovan said.

Persons: Eric Audras, Caitlin Donovan, Janna, didn't, I'd, Adam Rust, Rust, Isabel Pavia, Donovan, you'll, inflexibly Organizations: Onoky, Patient Advocate Foundation, Consumer Federation of America Locations: Camden , New Jersey

☆ Janja Garnbret: Olympic champion warns that climbing has a ‘cultural’ problem with eating disorders
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As an Olympic gold medalist and an eight-time world champion, almost no one knows the world of competitive climbing like Janja Garnbret. Having risen to the summit of the sport, the Slovenian now wants to use her platform to raise awareness of “cultural” pitfalls in climbing that she says are contributing to a widespread issue with eating disorders. “I’m a strong believer that you can do climbing, or any sport, in a healthy way.”Garnbret competes during the women's lead climbing finals of the IFSC Climbing World Cup at Kletterzentrum Innsbruck on June 18, 2023 in Innsbruck, Austria. I was trying hard for, let’s say, two years to help them get out of it, but I couldn’t help. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesWith one Olympic medal in her pocket – Garnbret secured the combined gold at Tokyo 2020 – the Slovenian is hungry for more.

Persons: Garnbret, “, ” Garnbret, Marco Kost, ”, Sasha DiGiulian, Marco Scolaris, wasn’t, Mohd Rasfan Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Kletterzentrum, Kyodo, REDs, International Federation of, Paris, Olympic, Getty, Games Locations: Slovenian, Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria, Tokyo, AFP, Paris

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow this millennial is living on $17,000 in New York CityMax Gallo, 28, lives in New York City and earns around $17,000 a year. He splits a two-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn with a roommate. Max's income comes from acting gigs, working at an exotic car dealership, unemployment benefits and a grant from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. 09:43 7 minutes ago

Persons: New York City Max Gallo Organizations: New York City, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists Locations: New York, New York City, Brooklyn

Soon after leaving his job, Gallo took an acting class in New York City — which wasn't too far from his home in New Jersey — and fell in love with the craft. He decided he wanted to be an actor and moved to the Big Apple to chase his dreams. His car insurance is also fairly cheap because he's on his parents' plan and reimburses them for the cost. His only other insurance cost is renters insurance for his apartment, since he receives free health insurance through the state. "I am happier now than when I was working for the insurance company," he says.

Persons: Max Gallo, didn't, Gallo, Mickey Todiwala, he's, He's, it's, Sylvester Stallone, Stallone, —, hasn't, steadier Organizations: CNBC, New Jersey —, Apple, Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, BMW, Citi, Facebook, Netflix, LinkedIn, Spotify, Hulu, Adobe, Citi Bikes, Insurance, Honda, BMW Roadster, New York City Marathon Locations: New York, New Jersey, Brooklyn

The BOJ will now look to utilize its short-term interest rate as its primary policy tool. It will employ an interest rate of 0.1% to current account balances held by financial institutions at the central bank from March 21, while encouraging the uncollateralized overnight call rate (another interest rate used as a policy lever by the bank) to remain at around 0 to 0.1% — effectively raising interest rates from -0.1% previously. It would resort to "nimble responses" in the form of increased Japan government bond purchases and fixed-rate purchases of JGBs, among other things, if there is a rapid rise in long-term interest rates. Japanese investors have looked elsewhere for better returns given years of artificially depressed interest rates in their home market. The Fed is due to announce its own interest rate decision on Wednesday.

Persons: Japan Alexander Spatari, Kazuo Ueda, Rob Carnell, BOJ, Ueda, Michael Brown, —, JGBs, Vishnu Varathan, Hayden Briscoe, Briscoe Organizations: Japan's, Japan Inc, Asia, ING, CNBC, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mizuho Financial Group, Bank of America, Barclays, U.S . Federal, UBS Asset Management Locations: Dotonbori, Japan, Japan's, U.S, Mizuho's, Asia

☆ Bank of Japan hikes rates for the first time in 17 years in a historic shift, abolishes yield curve control
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Clement Tan | In Clemtan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's central bank raised interest rates on Tuesday for the first time since 2007, ending the world's last negative rates regime on early signs of robust wage gains this year. The BOJ raised its short-term interest rates to around 0% to 0.1% from -0.1%, according to its statement at the end of its two-day March policy meeting. Japan's negative rates regime had been in place since 2016. The BOJ also announced the abolition of its radical yield curve control policy for 10-year Japanese government bonds, which the central bank has employed to target longer-term interest rates by buying and selling bonds as necessary. The Bank of Japan expects higher salaries to lead to a virtuous spiral with domestic demand fueling inflation.

Persons: BOJ, Kazuo Ueda Organizations: Japan Inc, Bank of Japan Locations: Japan, Japan's

☆ Premarket stocks: Why Zillow is worried about America’s housing market shakeup
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Zillow reported that it outperformed the residential real estate industry by 12 percentage points in 2023. That’s because one of the main ways Zillow makes money is through lead generation for real estate agents. “This shift in the structure of real estate transaction costs is too new to understand how it will impact housing market dynamics,” a spokesperson said. Zillow could make even more money if real estate agents offer their services piecemeal, he said. The takeawayThere’s a lot of disagreement between analysts about the future of Zillow and the real estate industry at large.

Persons: Zillow, ”, Dan Kurnos, it’s, Zillow’s, they’ll, who’s, Kurnos, ” Stephen Brobeck, “, It’s, Homes.com, William Blair Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, New York CNN, National Association of Realtors, Realtors, Benchmark Company, NAR, Zillow, Consumer Federation of America, CNN, Bank of America Locations: New York

☆ The way Americans buy and sell homes is about to get turned on its head
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The way Americans buy and sell homes is about to get turned on its head. And other broker tactics that critics say are anticompetitive, such as a rule that made sellers’ agents set compensation for buyers’ agents, will be prohibited. Goodbye, 6% commissionsFor decades, Americans have paid a standard commission of around 6% when selling a home, split between the seller’s broker and the buyer’s broker. A separate new rule will require buyers’ brokers to enter into written agreements with their buyers. Second, it led buyers’ brokers to push more expensive homes on buyers, so their payout would be higher.

Persons: Cowen, Stephen Brobeck, Norm Miller, Miller Organizations: CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Industry, Consumer Federation of America, University of San Locations: America, University of San Diego

☆ The NAR settlement could slash home prices for many Americans
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The settlement, which is still subject to a judge’s approval, will eliminate the long-standing standard 6% commission paid by the seller. The NAR, which represents more than 1 million agents, declined to comment on whether home prices will fall as a result of the settlement. For instance, listing agents will likely continue to tell sellers that their homes will be sold faster if they pay for the buyer’s agent’s fee. That would increase how much they’re compensated since the total fee ends up getting split between listing agents and the buyer’s agents. NAR settlement or not, factors such as housing inventory, mortgage rates and consumer savings rates will “play much larger roles,” said Brobeck.

Persons: won’t, Kevin Sears, ”, Stephen Brobeck, ” Brobeck, “, ” Tomasz Piskorski, Piskorski Organizations: New, New York CNN, National Association of Realtors, NAR, Consumer Federation of America, CNN, Columbia University Locations: New York, Missouri

☆ Real-Estate Agents Use 'Steering' to Hide Cheap Houses From Homebuyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Technically, the seller can promise as little as $0 to the buyer's agent; after all, why pay for someone you didn't hire? But multiple agents told me there are all kinds of ways shady practitioners try to skirt the rules. Critics say the stickiness of the going commission rate is evidence of steering's ubiquity. He said buyers' agents might call and say, "'Why is there no buyer's commission?" There are lots of willing brokers out there; if you suspect steering, agents told me, you've got plenty of options for a second opinion.

Persons: should've, Redfin, Julie —, Julie, Wendy Gilch, Gilch, they're, Doug Miller, Real, Rex, Keller Williams, I'm, Brendon Bowers, we're, Stephen Brobeck, Brobeck, they'll, you've, Rich, they've Organizations: Department of Justice, National Association of Realtors, Business, Facebook, Realtors, NAR, Consumer Federation of America, DOJ Locations: America, Minnesota, Austin, Houston, Kansas City , Missouri, Phoenix

☆ Nearly everyone has given up on their recession call, and that makes the outlook 'dangerously reminiscent' of 2007, SocGen says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Recession views are dangerously similar to those in 2007, SocGen's Albert Edwards said. Soft landing or no landing outlooks are growing on Wall Street as the US appears on solid economic footing. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Those signs appear lost on many other market commentators, who have dialed back their recession views in the last few months. "All this is (dangerously) reminiscent of 2007, when all around were telling me I was wrong and should give up calling that much-delayed recession," he later added.

Persons: SocGen's Albert Edwards, Edwards, —, Société, Albert Edwards, That's, Doom, Nouriel Roubini Organizations: Service, Chicago, York Fed's Survey, Consumer, National Federation of Independent Business, National Association of Business, Fed, Investor Locations: York

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's vice chancellor on Tuesday launched a program initially worth up to 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) to help heavy industry shift to more climate-friendly production over a 15-year period. Support will be capped at 1 billion euros per bidder in an effort to accommodate medium-sized companies. He said it is “super cost-efficient” because companies will be bidding to make carbon-neutral production as economically as possible. Habeck's Economy Ministry hopes that a second round of bidding for support totaling up to 19 billion euros will take place at the end of the year. But if “designed wrong, carbon contracts for difference stand completely in the way of this transition” by chaining the country to old, climate-damaging technology, he argued in a statement.

Persons: — Germany's, Robert Habeck, ”, Martin Kaiser, “, Habeck Organizations: BERLIN, European Union, ”, Ministry, of German Industries, Greenpeace, Green Locations: Germany, Greenpeace Germany

☆ Nuclear War: The Rising Risk, and How We Stop It - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( W.J. Hennigan | W.J. Hennigan Writes About National Security For Opinion. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The United States estimates Russia has a stockpile of up to 2,000 tactical nuclear warheads, some small enough they fit in an artillery shell. But the detonation of any tactical nuclear weapon would be an unprecedented test of the dogma of deterrence, a theory that has underwritten America’s military policy for the past 70 years. Possessing nuclear weapons isn’t about winning a nuclear war, the theory goes; it’s about preventing one. If Mr. Putin dropped a nuclear weapon on Ukraine — a nonnuclear nation that’s not covered by anyone’s nuclear umbrella — what then? Many in the administration believed the Kremlin’s dirty bomb ploy posed the greatest risk of nuclear war since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

Persons: Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Lloyd Austin, Russia Sergei Shoigu, Britain Ben Wallace, Defense Turkey Hulusi Akar, Sebastien Lecornu, General Austin, Mark Milley, Biden, Putin’s, William J, Burns Organizations: United, of American, NATO, Defense, State, Defense Turkey, National Defense, Defense Minister American, Russian, Biden, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Moscow, White House, State Department, The Energy Department, Strategic Command, ’, Pentagon, Unmute Defense, Central Intelligence Agency Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russia, United States, Kharkiv, Kherson, Russian, U.S, Crimean, Moscow, Poland, China, India, Turkey

☆ The US economy is so strong that there might not be any rate cuts in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Now, some economists think the Fed won’t cut interest rates at all this year. “The Fed will not cut rates this year and rates are going to stay higher for longer,” he added. Richmond Federal Reserve President Tom Barkin echoed the idea that the central bank may not cut interest rates this year. In some ways, the expectations of interest rate cuts by the Fed undermined their efforts to actually cut the rates. Still, about half of investors are expecting an interest rate cut at the Fed’s June meeting, according to the CME FedWatch tool.

Persons: —, that’s, Jerome Powell, Torsten Slok, “, Tom Barkin, ” Barkin, “ I’m, ” Robert Frick, ”, Powell Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal, Apollo Global Management, Richmond Federal, CNBC, Navy Federal Credit Union, CNN, Fed, National Federation of Independent, Investors, Financial Services, Senate Locations: New York, Richmond

☆ Home Equity Loan Alternative Could Revolutionize the Housing Market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Like a lot of homeowners, Schummer was keen to convert some of his theoretical wealth into real cash. These kinds of deals, often referred to as home-equity-sharing agreements or home-equity investments, have existed on the fringes of housing finance for decades. The success or failure of home-equity investments could shape the future of homeownership in America. If the home's value has gone up, everyone wins; sell it for a loss, and the investor might share in that downside. "Over time for us, the customer becomes everybody," Eoin Matthews, the chief business officer and a cofounder of Point, told me recently.

Persons: Kennis Schummer, Schummer, Laurie Goodman, Goodman, he'd, Eoin Matthews, —, Hometap, Jim Riccitelli, Riccitelli, Adam Rust, Rust, Rust wasn't, I'm, Jordan Gilberti, Holly Bunting, Mayer Brown, Edwin Remsberg, Matthews, they'd, Jeffrey Glass, Glass, I've, he's Organizations: Consumer, Urban Institute, Federal Reserve, Bain Capital, Palisades Group, Redwood Trust, Getty, Consumer Federation of America Locations: Pensacola , Florida, California, homeownership, America, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida

☆ 3 top Democratic lawmakers are calling for an investigation into a major student-loan company, accusing it of 'loan forgiveness mismanagement' for millions of borrowers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThree top Democratic lawmakers want federal and state officials to investigate a major student-loan company. AdvertisementThey called on the CFPB and attorneys general to "investigate MOHELA and pursue action to the fullest extent possible under the law. We’re standing with @theSBPC and @AFTunion in expressing outrage at MOHELA’s student loan mismanagement. Since student-loan payments resumed in October after an over three-year pause, federal servicers have been under scrutiny over their handling of the return to repayment. AdvertisementIn January, the Education Department withheld varying amounts of pay from the other three federal servicers for the same reason.

Persons: —, Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, MOHELA, they're, Biden, — Chuck Schumer, Warren Organizations: Service, Democratic, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Business, Protection, American Federation of Teachers, Sunshine Law, AGs, Education Department Locations: Sens, Missouri

☆ Inflation is cooling, but small businesses in the U.S. say customers just aren’t spending like they used to
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

While cooling inflation and a robust GDP reading that smashed economists’ expectations are reasons to be optimistic about the US economy, one key economic engine seems to still be sputtering: small businesses. Small business owners say they’re still grappling with the hangover effects of inflation and a labor shortage, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’s most recent monthly survey, which was conducted in January. Dougherty said small businesses may be delayed in feeling the effect of easing inflation, but once businesses experience more prolonged stable prices, that may help their sentiment turn around. A recent survey of American Express small business customers indicated that some small business owners see strength in 2024. Half of the 557 US small businesses surveyed said they plan to grow or expand their businesses in the upcoming year.

Persons: Kevin Meehan, , he’s, ” Meehan, “, hasn’t, Kevin Meehan RJacobsonPhoto, we’d, that’s, Everything’s, ”, Charles Dougherty, Sarah Cash, Cash, Sarah Cash Elise Kutt, “ I’ve, ” Cash, it’s, they’re, doesn’t, Sunny, Dougherty, Meehan, I’m Organizations: CNN, Kali, National Federation of Independent, “, US Chamber of Commerce, American Express, Valentine’s Locations: Los Angeles, Wells Fargo, United States, Grand Rapids , Michigan

LONDON (AP) — The Associated Press won the best documentary prize at the British Academy Film Awards for Ukraine war documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” produced with PBS’ “Frontline.”Filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov admitted the accolade made him feel conflicted. It’s a huge responsibility,” the Ukrainian journalist said after winning the trophy Sunday at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Chernov arrived in Mariupol one hour before Russia began its bombardment, along with photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko. It is nominated in the best documentary category at the March 10 Academy Awards, the first-ever Oscar nomination for the 178-year-old AP. “Cities get occupied and destroyed and our work represents what is happening to Ukraine now,” Chernov said.

Persons: ”, Mstyslav Chernov, “, It’s, ” Chernov, Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka, Vasilisa Stepanenko, — unflinchingly, Stepanenko, Lori Hinnant, let’s, Derl McCrudden Organizations: Associated Press, British Academy, Ukraine, PBS, London’s Royal, Hall, AP, Russia, Hamas, International Federation of Journalists Locations: Mariupol, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Avdiivka, Israel

As video game worlds get more expansive, some game studios are experimenting with AI tools to give voice to a potentially unlimited number of characters and conversations. Some fear that AI voices could replace all but the most famous human actors if big studios have their way. SAG-AFTRA has already made a deal with one AI voice company, Replica Studios, announced last month at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas. It sets terms that also allow performers to opt out of having their voices used in perpetuity. We’re not replacing actors.”It was Replica Studios that first reached out to Magee about a voice-over audio clip he had created demonstrating a Scottish accent.

Persons: Andy Magee, Magee, aren't, ”, they've, Joe Biden, Anthony Bourdain —, —, Sarah Elmaleh, “ We’ve, Elmaleh, ” Elmaleh, AFTRA, Fran Drescher, Shreyas Nivas, Nivas, “, Zeke Alton, hasn't, Alton, ” Alton Organizations: Screen, American Federation of Television, Radio Artists, SAG, Studios, CES Locations: Scottish, Northern Ireland, British, U.S, Fortnite, Las Vegas, Vancouver , British Columbia

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