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☆ Britain’s royal family wish Prince Harry happy 40th despite strained ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Britain’s royal family has publicly wished Prince Harry a happy birthday, their first such message since 2021 to mark the milestone of him turning 40. A post was shared on X and Instagram with the message: “Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!”It was accompanied by an image of Harry smiling, and a birthday cake emoji. Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have been living in California since 2020 after stepping down as working members of the British monarchy. Interactions between Harry and other senior royals have been scant: Harry visited Charles following the King’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year but spent just 45 minutes in his company. Harry is thought to be spending his 40th with the Duchess of Sussex and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Persons: CNN —, Prince Harry a, Duke, Sussex, Harry, Prince William, Catherine , Princess of Wales, King Charles III, Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of, William, ”, Charles, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Archie, Princess Lilibet Organizations: CNN, CNN’s Royal, BBC Locations: Sussex, Duchess of Sussex, California, British, London

CNN —At least eight people have died after some of the heaviest rain in years hit central and eastern Europe, causing flooding and widespread disruption. Rescuers have been working hard to rescue hundreds of people left stranded by heavy rainfall there. Garages and a house flooded in the town of Kłodzko, in Poland's southwest, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, after days of unusually heavy rain. Krzysztof Zatycki/APRising water along the Wien River during heavy rain on September 15, 2024, in Vienna, Austria. Many municipalities in Lower Austria have declared a state of emergency as heavy rainfall continued into Sunday.

Persons: Boris, Prudnicka, Cătălin Predoiu, Predoiu, Sofia Basalic, “, Gica Stan, Storm Boris, Krzysztof Zatycki, Christian Bruna, Donald Tusk, Tusk, Petr Pavel, Vlček, Miroslav Binar, Gabriel Kuchta, Tomas Benedikovic, Sergei Gapon, Ursula von der Leyen Organizations: CNN, Residents, AFP, Storm, Poland’s, ”, European Union, CNN Prima, Fire, Getty, European Commission Locations: Europe, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Klodzko county, Moszczanka, Romania, Galati, Kłodzko, Poland's, Sunday, Wien, Klodzko, Klodzko County, Czech, ”, Krnov, Jesenik, AFP, Glucholazy, Benešově nad Černou, Saxony, Lower Austria

☆ Germany opens its doors to 250,000 Kenyan workers in controlled migration deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Germany has struck a controlled migration deal with Kenya, which will see Berlin open its doors to skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers. The deal was signed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kenya’s president William Ruto on Friday. Migration is a major flashpoint in Germany, and has fueled the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. As well as deterring irregular migration, the deal is intended to address labor market needs in both countries, providing opportunities for Kenyan workers while supplementing an ageing Gemany’s shortage of skilled laborers. According to the German government, there are currently around 14,800 Kenyan citizens living in Germany.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, William Ruto, Ruto, Nancy Faeser, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, German, Ministry, ISIS Locations: Germany, Kenya, Berlin, Solingen

Rescue services have been launched in hard-hit counties as authorities warn that they have recorded the heaviest rainfall in 100 years over the past 24 hours. Sadly four people have been found dead in their houses or yards.”Rivers burst their banks in Poland and the Czech Republic. Firefighters fill sand bags in Glucholazy, southern Poland. Gabriel Kuchta/Getty ImagesThe swollen Biala River in Glucholazy, southern Poland. Red alerts, the highest level of warning, have been issued for portions of Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia.

Persons: Boris, Manfred Fesl, Cătălin Predoiu, Rivers, Tomasz Siemoniak, TVN24, Sergei Gapon, Gabriel Kuchta Organizations: CNN, Romanian Emergency, AP, AFP, Getty, Rescue Service Locations: Europe, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Romania, Pechea, Galati, Braunau, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Glucholazy, Czech, Černou, AFP, Mikulovice, Germany, Saxony, Slovakia

CNN —At least seven people have died after some of the heaviest rain in years hit central and eastern Europe, causing flooding and widespread disruption. The heavy rainfall continued to pummel the region into Sunday. Rescuers have been working hard to rescue hundreds of people left stranded by heavy rainfall there. In neighboring Austria, heavy rainfall has caused water levels to rise in several rivers and rescue services have been called out to parts of the country. Red alerts, the highest level of warning, have been issued for portions of Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia.

Persons: Boris, Cătălin Predoiu, Predoiu, Manfred Fesl, Donald Tusk, Sergei Gapon, Gabriel Kuchta Organizations: CNN, Romanian Emergency, AP, AFP, Getty, Poland’s, Rescue Service Locations: Europe, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Klodzko county, Poland, Austria, Romania, Galati, Pechea, Braunau, Czech Republic, Klodzko, Klodzko County, Czech, Černou, Glucholazy, AFP, Mikulovice, Germany, Saxony, Lower Austria, Slovakia

☆ 2-year Treasury yield slides as investors assess interest rate outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was down by over four basis points to 3.6364%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last more than six basis points lower to 3.5824%. Attention began to turn to the Federal Reserve meeting next week at which the central bank is widely expected to cut interest rates. Traders were last pricing in a 59% chance of a 12-basis-point rate cut and a 41% probability of a 50-basis-point reduction, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. The Fed's meeting is set to begin Tuesday before concluding Wednesday, with the interest rate decision and a post-meeting press conference.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Treasury, U.S, Federal Reserve, Traders, PPI, Dow

☆ Kursk: Russia counterattacks against Ukraine in border region
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Sophie Tanno | Gul Tuysuz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Russia has launched a counter-attack in the Kursk border region where Ukrainian forces last month launched a surprise cross-border incursion. Ukraine has been anticipating a Russian reaction and a counteroffensive is in line with the ‘Ukrainian plan,’ Zelensky said. Zelensky has previously said that the surprise attack on Russia’s Kursk region was the initial step in a four-part “victory plan.”The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement Thursday that Russian forces had “penetrated” into the Kursk region, capturing 10 settlements. On August 6, Ukrainian forces stormed into the Kursk region in a shock, lightning strike that caught even American officials by surprise. Last week, Zelensky said Ukraine had captured around 100 settlements in the Kursk region, and around 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of territory.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, ’ Zelensky, Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, –, Bill Burns, Richard Moore, Ukraine’s, Moore, Burns, Cross, Pat Griffith, Dmytro Lubinets, ” Zelensky, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Russian Ministry of Defense, CIA, Red Cross, International Committee, ICRC, ” ICRC Ukraine Locations: Russia, Kursk, Ukraine, Russia’s Kursk, ”, Russian, Snagost, Moscow, Ukrainian, Donetsk region, Donetsk

The European Central Bank on Thursday delivered a quarter-point interest rate cut, marking its second reduction to the deposit rate this year. The widely anticipated move comes after a period of sluggish economic growth across the euro zone and cooling inflation, which fell back toward the central bank's 2% target in August. The ECB lowered its 2024 growth forecast to 0.8%, down slightly from an earlier projection of 0.9%, citing "weaker contribution from domestic demand over the next few quarters." For many market participants, the big question was not whether the ECB would cut rates in September — but whether the central bank will provide any clues as to what will follow. The ECB's meeting comes just days before the Federal Reserve appears poised to start its own rate-cutting cycle.

Organizations: European Central Bank, ECB, Federal

Netflix has just announced the next leading lady for “Bridgerton”: Korean Australian actor Yerin Ha. Ha, 29, who is known for her work in “Halo” and “Dune: Prophecy,” will star as Sophie Baek, the love interest of Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) in season 4 of the hit period series. “What drew me to Sophie was that she immediately has obstacles — something that she constantly has to overcome,” Ha told Tudum. “It wasn’t until I started seeing the monitors and the shots of me and Charithra [Chandran, who played Edwina] on screen and it was two dark-skinned Indian women, two Tamil women on screen,” Ashley told NBC News in 2022. Ha will be the second Asian love interest on the show, and after Ashley’s season broke Netflix weekly streaming records, fans in the comments say they’re more than excited.

Persons: Yerin Ha, ”, Sophie Baek, Benedict Bridgerton, Luke Thompson, Sophie, Benedict, ” Ha, Tudum, Benedict . ”, Sophie Beckett, showrunners, “, Ha, Baek, Daphne, Phoebe Dynevor, Colin, Luke Newton, Anthony, Jonathan Bailey, Kate Sharma, Simone Ashley, Chandran, Edwina, ” Ashley, Ashley, Sharma, Harleen Singh Organizations: Netflix, NBC News, Brandeis University Locations: Korean, Bridgeton

A Florida judge has declared Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner divorced and single, signing off on a confidential agreement reached between the two. Judge Gina Beovides declared that the marriage was “irretrievably broken,” and that the couple’s agreement, especially their parenting plan, was in the best interest of the family. After-hours emails seeking comment from representatives of both Turner and Jonas were not immediately returned. But the split turned into a serious dispute within weeks when Turner sued to force Jonas to turn over the girls’ passports so they could join her in her native England. Turner said she learned of Jonas’ divorce filing through the media, while Jonas said the two had had multiple conversations about it.

Persons: Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner, Jonas Brothers, Willa, Delphine, Gina Beovides, Turner, Jonas, Dan, Shay, Jonas ’, Sansa Stark, ”, Jean Grey, Nick, Kevin Organizations: Billboard, Disney Locations: Florida, Miami, Dade County, Vegas, England, U.S, New York, Northampton, The Arizona

German automotive giant Volkswagen on Tuesday said it was scrapping six labor agreements as the company's standoff with unions and its works council intensified. "The company sees itself forced to do so because of the current economic challenges," Volkswagen said in a statement translated by CNBC. That applies to the company as well as the wage agreement levels," Volkswagen human resources chief Gunnar Kilian said in the statement. In a statement released Tuesday, VW Works Council head Daniela Cavallo reiterated that there would be pushback to Volkswagen's plans. We will not accept this silently and without action," he said in a statement translated by CNBC.

Persons: Gunnar Kilian, Daniela Cavallo, Thorsten Gröger Organizations: Volkswagen, VW, CNBC, VW Works, IG Metall Locations: Zwickau, Germany

☆ Taylor Swift used a familiar PR move to signal her support of Brittany Mahomes. This time, it backfired.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Although Swift has been photographed with this group quite a lot during her WAG era, the timing of this particular link-up was notable, thanks to the controversy surrounding Brittany Mahomes' political ties. "I want to thank beautiful Brittany Mahomes for so strongly defending me," he wrote. Related storiesTaylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes celebrate a touchdown at Arrowhead Stadium last year. Indeed, Swift has repeatedly used public appearances, paparazzi walks, and collaborations to signal her support for other women. AdvertisementTaylor Swift, Brittany Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes at the US Open.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Brittany Mahomes, Swift, Donald Trump, Mahomes, Trump, David Eulitt, Swifties, WAG, Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas, Matty Healy, Healy, Spice, Swift's, Al Bello, Jackson Mahomes, Kamala Harris, Mahomes —, Trump's, that's, who've, Harris, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, We'll Organizations: Service, Kansas City Chiefs, Business, Arrowhead, Trump, Chiefs, Spice, Time, Democratic, NFL, New York Post, The Daily, Social Locations: Queens , New York, Brittany, New York City

☆ Many pickup trucks must be redesigned to reduce pedestrian deaths under proposed regulation
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-09 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The U.S. government’s road safety agency wants the auto industry to design new vehicles including increasingly large SUVs and pickup trucks so they reduce pedestrian deaths and injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that it’s proposing a new rule setting testing and performance requirements to minimize the risk of pedestrian head injuries. The rule is aimed largely at SUVs and pickup trucks, which have grown in size and hood height over the years, causing blind spots for drivers. NHTSA said pedestrian deaths increased 57% from 2013 to 2022, from 4,779 to 7,522. Data show that pedestrian deaths when hit by the front of a vehicle are most common for SUVs and trucks.

Persons: it’s, Sophie Shulman Organizations: CNN, Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, Congress, Infrastructure Law

“A shark came up and started attacking us and aggressively bumping us and ramming us from underneath,” Truwit recalled in an interview. Truwit was eventually airlifted to a Miami hospital, where she underwent multiple lifesaving operations before her leg was surgically amputated. She has never once missed a day of practice.”Truwit’s resiliency catapulted her to some of her best performances in the pool. By the end of last year, she had successfully competed in swimming nationals and the Paralympic swimming trials, qualifying with a time of 1:08.98. “I’m unique in that I was attacked by a shark, but I’m not unique in that we all go through hardship and trauma and tough times in life,” Truwit said.

Persons: Ali Truwit, Sophie Pilkinton, ” Truwit, “, Pilkinton, Truwit, ”, Paralympians, Kate Douglass, I’ve, Jamie Barone, ‘ I’m, ” Truwit’s resiliency, Jody Truwit Organizations: U.S, Yale University, Truwit, Paralympic Locations: Turks, Caicos, Miami, “, Paris

☆ British fintech Revolut valued at $45 billion in secondary share sale
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-16 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British fintech startup Revolut on Friday said it was valued at $45 billion in a secondary share sale with existing and new investors. The $45 billion transaction sharply increases the company's valuation from the $33 billion notched in July 2021. The valuation comes just weeks after Revolut was granted a banking license with restrictions in the U.K., ending a three-year wait after first applying for the license in 2021. The license allows Revolut to take customer deposits and issue products such as loans and credit cards. The company is now set to build up banking infrastructure in the U.K. before the official launch.

Persons: Revolut, We're, Nik Storonsky Organizations: Coatue, D1 Capital Partners, Tiger Global, U.K, Prudential, Authority Locations: Krakow, Poland, British

☆ UK inflation rose to 2.2% in July, after two months at the Bank of England's 2% target
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.K. inflation rose to 2.2% in July, coming in slightly below expectations but inching back above the Bank of England's 2% target, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday. The headline inflation had come in at 2% in both May and June, in line with the Bank of England's target rate. So-called core-CPI — which excludes food, energy, alcohol and tobacco prices — came in at 3.3% in July, down from the 3.5% print of July, the statistics office said. The data comes after the Bank of England earlier this month cut interest rates for the first time in over four years, taking the key bank rate to 5%. Uncertainty remains about when the central bank will cut rates again, and whether another cut will even take place this year.

Persons: BOE Organizations: Bank of England's, Office, National Statistics, Reuters, Bank of, Bank of England

☆ Treasury yields slip ahead of consumer inflation figures
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The 2-year Treasury yield was last at 3.929% after rising by 1 basis point. U.S. Treasury yields fell slightly on Wednesday as investors considered the latest inflation data and what it could mean for the economy and monetary policy. Treasury yields had tumbled on Tuesday after the producer price index increased 0.1% on a monthly bass in July, less than the forecast 0.2% rise. The wholesale inflation figure was released ahead of Wednesday's consumer price index. Investors will also be scanning the inflation figures for hints the outlook for interest rates.

Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Treasury, CPI, Federal, Traders, Fed

☆ Auctions of early King Charles bank notes raise $1.17 billion for charity
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A person holds some of the newly released banknotes, featuring the King's portrait, outside the Bank of England, London. LONDON — Auctions of King Charles III bank notes with low serial numbers have raised £914,127 ($1.17 million) for charity, according to the Bank of England. Four auctions took place over the summer — for £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes — with the proceeds set to go to a range of charities. This includes the Bank of England's three 'charities of the year' as well as seven others that have not benefitted from charity auctions of banknotes since 2016. Each charity received just over £91,400 of the proceeds, the BOE said.

Persons: King Charles III, BOE Organizations: Bank of England, Bank of Locations: London

☆ Treasury yields hold steady as investors await inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was up by less than one basis point to 3.9150%. The 2-year Treasury yield was last less than one basis point higher to 4.0188%. Treasury yields were little changed on Tuesday as investors looked to the release of key inflation data amid uncertainty about the state of the U.S. economy. The data could also provide hints about whether the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates when it meets in September. Following recent market turmoil and economic uncertainty, questions have also emerged about whether the Fed should have already started cutting rates to avoid a hard landing.

Persons: Dow Organizations: Treasury, PPI, Dow Jones, Federal Reserve Locations: U.S

☆ Treasury yields rise as attention turns to inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

ET, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was up by more than two basis points to 3.9647%. U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Monday as investors looked ahead to the latest inflation prints and other key economic data slated for the week. Amid continued uncertainty about the state of the U.S. economy, investors looked ahead to fresh inflation data due this week. When the Fed met last month, it left rates unchanged, but hinted that a September rate cut was on the table, depending on signals from economic data, both on the inflation and labor market front. Markets are pricing in a 100% chance of a rate cut from the Fed in September, but traders were last split on the size of the cut, CME Group's FedWatch tool showed.

Organizations: Treasury, U.S, Federal, Fed Locations: U.S

☆ Online disinformation sparked a wave of far-right violence in the UK — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

This escalated into days of riots in the U.K. that saw attacks on mosques, immigration centers and hotels that house asylum seekers. The disinformation circulated online tapped into pre-existing biases and prejudice, Ondrak explained, adding that incorrect reports often thrive at times of heightened emotions. Many of the right-wing protestors claim the high number of migrants in the U.K. fuels crime and violence. Ondrak also noted that many groups that had previously circulated false information about the attack had started walking it back, saying it was a hoax. On Wednesday, the U.K. media regulator Ofcom issued a letter to social media platforms saying they shouldn't wait for the new law to come into force.

Persons: Christopher Furlong, Ali, Hannah Rose, Joe Ondrak, It's, Ondrak, it's, ISD's Rose, Rose, Thabo Jaiyesimi, Elon Musk, pushback, Benjamin Cremel Organizations: Riot, Getty, LinkedIn, Institute for Strategic, CNBC, Police, Telegram, Ofcom, Afp Locations: Rotherham, United Kingdom, Southport, Britain, U.K, Walthamstow, London

LONDON — European stocks closed higher on Friday as global equity markets looked to rebuild from the recent sell-off. Global markets have been volatile this week as they have tried to shake off Monday's rout. The initial sell-off was in part triggered by separate U.S. jobs data last week coming in weaker than expected. Both moves have led analysts to caution that markets may have outsize reactions to data releases and central bank commentary through August — typically a volatile month for stocks. Asia-Pacific markets were mostly higher on Friday.

Persons: — Organizations: City of, LONDON Locations: City, City of London, U.S, Asia, Pacific

☆ Siemens earnings beat estimates on strong demand for electrification, software
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

15 November 2023, Bavaria, Munich: Flags with the word "Siemens" in front of the company's headquarters. Comparable orders meanwhile declined 15% from the same quarter a year ago, hitting 19.8 billion, Siemens said. Siemens CEO Roland Busch told CNBC on Thursday that the company's performance during the quarter was "very, very strong." The company attributed its growth in the third quarter to strong demand in its electrification and industrial software businesses, but noted the automation business remained "challenging." There was an "exceptionally high order growth in the software business driven by a number of large contract wins for licensed software," the company said, with profitability growth more than offsetting a profit decline in automation.

Persons: Karl, Josef Hildenbrand, Roland Busch Organizations: Siemens, Getty Images, CNBC, Smart Infrastructure Locations: Bavaria, Munich, London

☆ Novo Nordisk shares dip as Wegovy maker posts earnings miss, cuts operating profit outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-07 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Novo Nordisk Wegovy manufactured by Novo Nordisk packaging is seen in this illustration photo taken in a pharmacy in Krakow, Poland on April 8, 2024. EBIT — earnings before interest and tax — came in at 25.93 billion Danish kroner in the second quarter, which was also below the LSEG forecast of 26.86 billion Danish kroner. Novo Nordisk on Wednesday posted weaker-than-expected net profit in the second quarter and trimmed its operating profit outlook. Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen on Wednesday said that the company was expecting "attractive growth" in the coming months. The drug was approved in China in the second quarter, opening it for sale in the world's second largest economy.

Persons: Jakub Porzycki, —, Wegovy, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, CNBC's, Roche, Jørgensen Organizations: Novo Nordisk Wegovy, Novo Nordisk, Getty, Nordisk Locations: Krakow, Poland, London, China

"That, of course, requires more capacity, more ships in order to move global trade around the world, and that has created some shortages here in the second quarter and in the third quarter that we're dealing with at the moment," Clerc told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe." Maersk on Wednesday reported lower year-on-year revenue in the second quarter and across the first half of the year. It also posted second-quarter underlying profit of $623 million, a drop compared to the $1.35 billion reported in the same period last year. Container demand has been more robust than expected but is expected to cool in the coming quarters, Clerc said. Maersk shares were 1.8% lower at 11:33 a.m. in London.

Persons: Vincent Clerc, Clerc, CNBC's Organizations: Maersk Locations: Africa, Good, Europe, U.S, Asia, London

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