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☆ Eagle-eyed buyer made over $120,000 after discovering old Range Rover probably belonged to Queen Elizabeth II
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Range Rover was sold for $165,000 after evidence emerged that it probably belonged to Queen Elizabeth II. AdvertisementA 2004 Range Rover with suspected ties to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has shattered auction records, selling for $165,000. The auction's outcome was more than double the pre-sale estimate of £60,000, or $75,000 — 10 times the usual price for a second-hand Range Rover that old. AdvertisementBefore the video's discovery, the only original ownership information was a letter from Jaguar Land Rover, which builds the Ranger Rover, identifying warranty recalls in July 2004 at a Land Rover dealer in London's high-end Mayfair district and one in Aberdeen, Scotland. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, spent 16 years designing his own hearse: a modified Land Rover.

Persons: Queen Elizabeth II, Historics Auctioneers, —, HRH Prince Phillip, The Duke, Edinburgh, Tim Graham, Historics, Historics Auctioneers Rob Hubbard, Duke, Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh Organizations: Service, Rover, Jaguar, Land Rover, Scottish Highlands, Windsor Horse, Royal Windsor Horse, Getty, Vehicle, Epsom, Rovers Locations: Birmingham, Mayfair, Aberdeen, Scotland, Balmoral, Scottish, Windsor , England, Epsom Green, Windsor

☆ Mars is buying Britain’s Hotel Chocolat in £534 million deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Mars is buying Hotel Chocolat in a deal that values Britain’s largest independent chocolate maker at £534 million ($661 million) and could boost its growth prospects outside of the United Kingdom. Hotel Chocolat was founded in 1993 by entrepreneurs Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris who “were on a mission to make chocolate exciting again,” according to its website. In the most recent financial year, Hotel Chocolat posted what it described as “disappointing” financial results. The company’s revenue declined 10% to £205 million ($254 million) and it reported a loss of £6.2 million ($7.7 million). “Hotel Chocolat, whilst expensive, is proper chocolate.

Persons: London CNN —, Jonathan De Mello, Angus Thirlwell, Peter Harris, “, Chocolat, Thirlwell, ”, Kraft, ” Susannah Streeter, Hargreaves Lansdown, Mars Organizations: London CNN, United Kingdom ., Chocolat’s, JDM Retail, Twitter, Kraft Foods, Mondelez, Mars, Hargreaves Locations: United Kingdom, Chocolat, London, Japan, Caribbean, American, Birmingham

Sunak said he was working on a new treaty with Rwanda that would address the points made by the court, would pass an emergency law to designate Rwanda a safe country, and was "prepared to do what is necessary" to stop any foreign court blocking deportation flights. 10 Downing Street ahead of Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, November 15, 2023. The Bar Council, which represents barristers, said it had "grave concern" about the prospect of parliament passing legislation intended to deem Rwanda a safe country and therefore upend the Supreme Court's finding. That meant Sunak needed to go further and faster, right-wing critics in his party said. However, another Conservative politician in the moderate wing of the faction-ridden party was pessimistic about the plan's future.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Neil O'Brien, James, Gavin Phillipson, Alan Greene, Peter Nicholls, Nick Vineall, Phillipson, Sam Tobin, Sachin Ravikumar, Alex Richardson Organizations: LONDON, British, Sunak's Conservative Party, University of Bristol, Constitutional, Rights, Birmingham Law School, Britain's, REUTERS, of Human Rights, Bar Council, Conservative Party, Labour Party, New Conservatives, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, Britain, London, Downing

The revamped Congressional District 2, which was designed to boost the voting power of Black residents, has a voting-age population that is 48.7% Black, giving the district a decidedly Democratic tilt. State Republicans, however, say they are not ceding the seat without a fight. A federal judge ordered Georgia to draw an additional Black-majority congressional district, although the state plans to appeal. The Alabama district is an open seat in the 2024 election after the current representative, Republican Rep. Barry Moore, was drawn out of the district. Moore has decided to challenge Republican Rep. Jerry Carl in Congressional District 1.

Persons: —, Zac McCrary, Viet Shelton, Shelton, John Wahl, Wahl, ” Wahl, Barry Moore, Moore, Jerry Carl, Marine James Averhart, Napoleon Bracy, Jr, Sen, Merika Coleman, Anthony Daniels, Vivian, Brian Gary, Juandalynn, Jeremy Gray, Phyllis Harvey, Willie J, Lenard, Vimal Patel, Larry Darnell Simpson, Darryl Sinkfield, Greg Albritton, Dick Brewbaker, Caroleene Dobson, Karla M, Wallace Gilberry, Hampton Harris, Stacey T, Belinda Thomas Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Representatives, Republicans, Alabama, U.S . House, Congressional, Democratic Congressional, Committee, Democrats, Associated Press, State Republicans, Alabama Republican, Democratic Party, Republican Rep, Marine, Hall, Alabama Education Association, NFL, University of Alabama, Newton City Locations: Ala, Alabama, Georgia , Louisiana, Viet, ”, Florida, Georgia, Prichard, Pleasant Grove, Huntsville, Birmingham, Opelika, Newton

☆ Eating a lot of ultraprocessed food linked to developing multiple health issues, including cancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Eating higher amounts of ultraprocessed food raises the risk of being diagnosed with multimorbidity, or having multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, a new study found. “This paper reports a 9% increase in risk of multimorbidity to be associated with higher intake of ultraprocessed food,” Sanders said in a statement. In the United States, a 2019 study estimated some 71% of the food supply may be ultraprocessed. Sugary and artificially-flavored drinks and ultraprocessed meats like hot dogs were significantly linked to the development of ccancer and other disease. When ultraprocessed foods were examined by subgroups, not all appeared to be associated with developing multiple chronic conditions, said lead author Reynalda Córdova, a postdoctoral student in pharmaceutical, nutritional and sport sciences at the University of Vienna.

Persons: ”, Helen Croker, Tom Sanders, ” Sanders, Ian Johnson, ” Johnson, Heinz Freisling, Duane Mellor, Mellor, ” Mellor, Reynalda Córdova, ” Córdova, Freisling Organizations: CNN, Cancer Research Fund, King’s College London, Quadram Institute Bioscience, International Agency for Research, Cancer, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations, NOVA, Aston Medical School, University of Vienna Locations: Norwich, United Kingdom, Europe, United States, Birmingham, “

☆ Major Study Confirms Salt's Deadly Effect on Blood Pressure
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Investigators said theirs is one of the largest studies ever to include people taking high blood pressure meds in a look at the effect of reducing dietary intake of sodium. She said researchers previously didn't know if people already on blood pressure meds could lower their blood pressure even more by reducing their sodium intake. High blood pressure is a leading cause of illness and death worldwide. Before each study visit, participants wore blood pressure monitors and collected their urine for 24 hours. "The effect of reduction in dietary sodium on blood pressure-lowering was consistent across nearly all individuals, including those with normal blood pressure, high blood pressure, treated blood pressure and untreated blood pressure," Gupta said in a Northwestern news release.

Persons: Carole Tanzer Miller, ”, Norrina Allen, Deepak Gupta, Allen, Gupta, Dr, Cora Lewis, Johns Organizations: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of Alabama, American Medical Association, American Heart Association, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Northwestern University Locations: Chicago, Nashville, Tenn, Northwestern, Birmingham, Philadelphia

☆ For Joan Armatrading, Classical Music Is Just Another Genre
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Hugh Morris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

ARMATRADING WAS BORN on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts in 1950, and moved to Birmingham, England, at age 7. I didn’t really ask anybody’s opinion, which is how I am still.”Some of Armatrading’s earliest experiences with classical music came through movies. “If you have 18 strings or something, and they’re doing that thing, you’re gonna cry,” she said. Armatrading is adamant that, in her Symphony, she just wanted to sound “like Joan,” but she’s also happy for listeners to bring their own associations. This symphony is by no means the first case of a pop artist to engage in classical composition.

Persons: ARMATRADING, “, ”, It’s, Rachmaninoff, Purcell, Tchaikovsky, Armatrading, Joan, she’s, Vaughan Williams, Paul McCartney’s, ” — Organizations: Decca Locations: St, Kitts, Birmingham, England

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A confrontation over an allegedly stolen car in Birmingham, Alabama, ended Friday in a shootout on a busy interstate that wounded four people, including two who had life-threatening injuries, police said. The shooting took place shortly after 4:30 p.m. on southbound Interstate 59 near the 20th Street Ensley exit, police said. “We believe that a group of individuals saw their stolen vehicle, or alleged stolen vehicle, and they began following that vehicle,” Officer Truman Fitzgerald said at a news conference. “This party sees their possible stolen vehicle and they took it upon themselves to confront this group. Two men who were inside the allegedly stolen car were taken to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries while two other men had non-life-threatening injuries and went to the hospital on their own, Fitzgerald said.

Persons: “, Truman Fitzgerald, ” Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald Locations: BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Birmingham , Alabama

More than 3,700 babies were born with congenital syphilis in 2022 — 10 times more than a decade ago and a 32% increase from 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. The 2022 count was the most in more than 30 years, CDC officials said, and in more than half of the congenital syphilis cases, the mothers tested positive during pregnancy but did not get properly treated. The rise in congenital syphilis comes despite repeated warnings by public health agencies and it’s tied to the surge in primary and secondary cases of syphilis in adults, CDC officials said. It’s also been increasingly difficult for medical providers to get benzathine penicillin injections — the main medical weapon against congenital syphilis — because of supply shortages. Nearly 40% of last year’s congenital syphilis cases involved mothers who didn't have prenatal care, the CDC said.

Persons: it’s, It’s, Laura Bachmann, “, Mike Saag, ”, Nina Ragunanthan, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Federal, Associated, University of Alabama, OB, Delta Health Center, Pfizer, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: U.S, Illinois, Birmingham, Mound Bayou , Mississippi, Atlanta

☆ Siemens loses London lawsuit over 2 bln stg HS2 contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A HS2 high-speed rail logo is displayed on a fence surrounding a construction site at Euston in London, Britain, July 30, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie Adams/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Siemens (SIEGn.DE) on Monday lost a legal challenge over a 2 billion pound ($2.48 billion) contract to build a fleet of new trains for Britain's beleaguered HS2 high-speed rail project. HS2 said the contract, which includes a 12-year maintenance and services deal, was worth around 2 billion pounds when it was awarded. But Judge Finola O'Farrell dismissed Siemens' case on Monday, saying in a written ruling that Siemens had not established the contract was awarded unlawfully and the company was therefore "not entitled to any damages". Monday's ruling is a rare piece of good news for the controversial HS2 project, which was originally planned to link London to the north of England from 2026.

Persons: Hollie Adams, HS2, Finola O'Farrell, Rishi Sunak, Sam Tobin, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Siemens, Siemens Mobility, HS2, Bombardier Transportation, France's Alstom, Hitachi, Alstom, British, Thomson Locations: Euston, London, Britain, England, Manchester, Birmingham

☆ Slow Pizza Hut sales in the U.S. weigh on Yum Brands' revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

(photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)Yum Brands on Wednesday reported third-quarter revenue that fell short of analysts' expectations, hurt by weak same-store sales growth at Pizza Hut. Yum China CFO Andy Yeung said that sales had softened in late September through October, hurting its fourth-quarter results. But in the U.S., its second-largest market, KFC saw flat same-store sales growth. The pizza chain reported 2% same-store sales growth for international restaurants and flat same-store sales in the U.S.Pizza Hut isn't the only pizza chain that has struggled to win over U.S. consumers. Rival Domino's Pizza reported a 0.6% drop in same-store sales during its third quarter.

Persons: Mike Kemp, Andy Yeung, Yum, David Gibbs, Gibbs, Chick, Taco Bell Organizations: Getty, Brands, Refinitiv, Indian, Taco, KFC, U.S Locations: Birmingham, United Kingdom, China, Taco Bell's U.S, U.S

☆ How the Putin family's 'blood sacrifice' may be driving the high Russian casualty rate in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | Julian Kossoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

People who study Russia say war and a glorious death are ingrained in the national psyche. The willingness of President Vladimir Putin and his generals to sacrifice thousands of soldiers in often-reckless assaults has become a blood-drenched hallmark of the war. "So in his own family, they've already paid that blood sacrifice, and he did his duty during the Cold War. "The official mantra of the Russian military is John 15:13, from the Bible," Carleton said. In Putin recruiting soldiers from villages in remote parts of Russia and among its non-Russian ethnic groups, Putin can avoid the perception of high casualty rates.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Gregory Carleton, Carleton, they've, Jaroslava Barbieri, Kremlin, Barbieri, Ben Soodavar, Kirill Organizations: Service, Avdiivka, UK Ministry of Defence, Tufts University, Birmingham University, Ukraine's Military Intelligence, King's College London, Nazi, Reuters, Russian Orthodox Church Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Russian, Germans, Kyiv, Nazi Germany, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Moscow, Donbas

☆ Universal basic income is working — even in red states
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Michael Venutolo-Mantovani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

He encourages skeptical taxpayers to look at universal basic income from the same "selfish point of view." Among those who received a basic income in Stockton, California, the unemployment rate dropped by nearly 50%. With more data at hand than theoretical projection, the evidence is overwhelming: Universal basic income is working nearly universally. Promising as these pilot programs are, the chances of a truly universal basic income in America remain remote. As for Tydricka Lewis, basic income afforded her the latitude to start her own nonprofit.

Persons: Tydricka Lewis, she'd, Lewis, North Carolina's, Jack Dorsey, Durham, Dorsey, Mark, Anthony Middleton, Middleton's, it's, Thomas Paine, Huey Long, George McGovern, Andrew Yang, Anna Jefferson, Nick Otto, Jefferson, Middleton, StepUp, UBI, we've, Michael Venutolo, Condé Organizations: North Carolina Central University , Durham, Abt Associates, University of Pennsylvania, Durham's, Excel, KFC, Generation Movement, Durham Bulls, The New York Times, National Geographic, Wired Locations: Durham, North, America, Black, New York City, Denver, Stockton , California, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Columbia, South Carolina, Birmingham , Alabama, Gainesville , Florida, Florida, Gainesville, AFP, Durham County, Washington, Chapel Hill , North Carolina

☆ Soccer’s LeBron James Has Arrived
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When Birmingham City said goodbye to its best player in recent memory, the club took a page straight out of the American sports playbook. Midfielder Jude Bellingham had been more than a star for the Blues. They viewed him as an era-defining, homegrown talent, who represented the very best that the team and English soccer had to offer. So Birmingham City decided to retire his jersey. “Jude has become an iconic figure,” the club said.

Persons: Jude Bellingham, “ Jude Organizations: Birmingham City, Blues, Bellingham Locations: Birmingham

NEW YORK (AP) — A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot. The data also indicated that nearly 40% of adults said they probably or definitely will not get the shot. In the late summer, government health officials made the nation's COVID-19 vaccination campaign more like the annual flu campaign. Even so, health officials say about 18,000 hospitalization and 1,200 deaths are still being reported each week. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: didn't, hospitalizations, Camille Kotton, David Kimberlin, “ Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Harvard Medical School, University of Alabama, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Birmingham

☆ Massive cosmic explosion creates rare elements in space
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories witnessed a massive explosion in space that created rare chemical elements, some of which are necessary for life. Tracking stellar explosionsAstronomers have long believed that neutron star mergers are the celestial factories that create rare elements heavier than iron. What was unusual about this burst is that it lasted for 200 seconds, making it a long gamma-ray burst. One of the pair exploded as a supernova, leaving behind a neutron star, and then the same thing happened to the other star. Finding cosmic elementsAstronomers have been trying to determine how chemical elements are created in the universe for decades.

Persons: James Webb, ”, Andrew Levan, Levan, Webb, Fermi, Neil Gehrels, “, Dmitri Mendeleev, ” Levan, it’s, supernovas, Eric Burns, Om Sharan Salafia, Nancy Grace, “ Webb, Ben Gompertz, ” Gompertz Organizations: CNN, James Webb Space Telescope, Way Galaxy, Telescope, Radboud University, Observatory, Royal Society of Chemistry, Astronomers, Louisiana State University, National Institute for Astrophysics, Institute, Gravitational, School of Physics, University of Birmingham Locations: Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Nvidia, Amazon, Tesla, DraftKings, Meta, Monster & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Tuesday: Bank of America reiterates Apple as neutral Bank of America said China remains a risk for Apple . UBS downgrades Regions to neutral from buy UBS said the Birmingham, Alabama-based regional bank is going into the "penalty box." DA Davidson upgrades Braze to buy from neutral DA said shares of the cloud-based software company will benefit from "resilient growth." Piper Sandler downgrades Monster to neutral from overweight Piper said in its downgrade of Monster that it had previously been just "wrong." Seaport initiates Amazon, Meta and Alphabet as buy Seaport initiated Amazon , Meta and Alphabet on Tuesday, saying it sees further upside for all three.

Persons: Bernstein, Tesla, underperform Bernstein, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, it's bullish, Ingersoll Rand, Stifel, Davidson, Needham, Moffett, Piper Sandler, Piper, MNST, Redburn, Morgan Stanley, Wells, it's, Baird, KeyBanc, –, Tommy Hilfiger, Larsson, Calvin Klein Organizations: Bank of America, Apple, of America, Nvidia, Reuters, AMD, Microsoft, UBS, Regions, Lattice Semiconductor, PSA, Fitness, Retail Media, Barclays, Rio Tinto, FMC Corp, FMC, JPMorgan, PVH, Energy Locations: China, wearables, Birmingham , Alabama, Rio

☆ Dollar General took back job offers from applicants with high blood pressure and poor eyesight, a federal agency lawsuit claimed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Dollar General rescinded job offers to applicants with high blood pressure or poor eyesight, an EEOC lawsuit claims. AdvertisementAdvertisementDollar General violated disability-discrimination laws by rescinding job offers to some applicants with high blood pressure or poor eyesight, a federal agency said in a lawsuit. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe retailer rescinded job offers for some qualified individuals with disabilities, even when these wouldn't affect their ability to safely carry out the job, the EEOC's suit claimed. "Any alleged discriminatory or otherwise unlawful behavior imputed to Dollar General was neither intentional, knowing, reckless, nor malicious," the retailer said. Insider contacted Dollar General for comment, but did not immediately receive a response, outside regular US business hours.

Persons: —, EEOC, GINA, Madeline Hughes Haikala, Bradley Anderson Organizations: Service, Commission, Dollar, Court, Northern, Northern District of, Disabilities Locations: Bessemer , Alabama, Bessemer, Alabama, Northern District, Northern District of Alabama, Birmingham , Alabama

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (AP) — As Jadarrius Rose drove his 18-wheeler through rural Ohio, a simple missing mudflap caught the highway patrol’s eye. The trip ended with a police dog’s powerful jaws clamping down on Rose even as he tried to surrender. For some, the scenes harken back to the Civil Rights Movement, when authorities often turned dogs and firehoses on peaceful Black protesters marching for equality. A TROUBLED HISTORYCircleville, located about 25 miles (40 km) south of Columbus, Ohio, resembles many rural towns across the country. For those working to improve race relations in Ohio, the roadside attack was a reminder of all that is still left to do.

Persons: Jadarrius Rose, Rose, “, Walter Gadsden ., Derrick Holmes, ” Holmes, Holmes, ”, ’, David Haynes, Haynes, Circleville’s, Shawn Baer, —, Madalyn Wasilczuk, ” Wasilczuk, Wasilczuk, It’s, Michael Gould, ” Gould, Ryan Speakman, Councilwoman Caryn Koch, Esterline, “ I’m, Nana Jones, Rhonda Shafner, Aaron Morrison, Mike Schneider, Samantha Hendrickson Organizations: Investigations, Civil Rights Movement, Associated Press, U.S . Records, Highway Patrol, FBI, Baptist Church, ”, . Police, University of South, Police Canine Force, Circleville Police, Ohio Patrolman’s Benevolent, AP, Columbus, NAACP Locations: CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio, Belgian, Birmingham , Alabama, Salt Lake City, Woodson Terrace , Missouri, Lafayette , Indiana, Columbus , Ohio, Americas, Southern U.S, University of South Carolina, New York City, Rose, Circleville, New York, Orlando , Florida

BIIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The mother of a woman killed near the University of Alabama has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against current Charlotte Hornets rookie Brandon Miller and two other men. Decarla Raietta Heard filed the suit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Western Division against Miller, former Crimson Tide player Darius Miles and another man, Michael Davis. Both Miles and Davis are charged with capital murder while Miller was described as a cooperating witness. Miller and fellow freshman Jaden Bradley, who has since transferred to Arizona, were also placed at the scene. According to police testimony, Miller brought Miles his gun.

Persons: Brandon Miller, Decarla Raietta Heard, Miller, Darius Miles, Michael Davis, Heard's, Jonae Harris, Miles, Davis, Kirby D, Farris, Malia D, Tartt, “, ” They're, Jaden Bradley, Miles texted, Jim Standridge Organizations: University of Alabama, Charlotte Hornets, Northern, Northern District of Alabama Western Division, Crimson Tide, Alabama, Birmingham Locations: Ala, U.S, Northern District, Arizona

☆ Regional bank shares slump as lenders warn of more pain from higher interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Regional banks suffered a steep sell-off Friday after a number of weak quarterly earnings reports highlighting the negative impact from higher interest rates soured investor sentiment toward the industry. Regions Financial, a Birmingham, Alabama-based lender, posted a 6.5% decline in net interest income compared with the previous quarter. NII is the difference between interest banks earn on loans and what they pay out on deposits. As interest rates rise, lenders are pressured to pay more to keep depositors. Higher rates could lead to more losses on banks' bond portfolios and contribute to funding pressures as institutions are forced to pay higher rates for deposits.

Organizations: Comerica Bank, Regions, Federal, Comerica, Third Bancorp, CNBC Locations: Torrance , California, Birmingham , Alabama, NII, Dallas, Cincinnati

☆ As mortgage rates hit 8%, home 'affordability is incredibly difficult,' economist says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lifestylevisuals | E+ | Getty ImagesHow home affordability has changedIn August 2020, the typical monthly mortgage payment was $1,581, based on an average interest rate of 2.94%, Redfin found. Nowadays, the typical U.S. homebuyer's monthly mortgage payment is $2,866, according to Redfin — an all-time high. "In the next year or two years, interest rates will be lower, and people will have the ability to refinance." That said, competition for homes on the market is likely to be worse in a few years as interest rates cool, she said. "When interest rates come down, everyone's going to come back to the marketplace," said Cohn.

Persons: Redfin, homebuyers, Mark Hamrick, Alicia Huey, Melissa Cohn, William Raveis, Cohn Organizations: Bankrate.com, Istock, Federal Reserve, CNBC, William Raveis Mortgage Locations: U.S, Birmingham , Alabama, New York

☆ She got a gun to keep her children safe. This is what happened next
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Thomas Lake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

LaGrange, Georgia CNN —My little Spider-Man, his mother called him. He was holding on out there, in the open space, until his mother pulled her little Spider-Man back onto the balcony. Read other profiles of children who have died from gunfireThe next few minutes are jumbled in her memory. Most accidental shooting deaths among children involve guns left loaded and unlocked, study findsIn a recent interview, as she struggled with her emotions, Williams said she wished she hadn’t gotten the gun. His mother looked at her little Spider-Man, and wished she could take his place.

Persons: Ayden King, Chepial Williams, “, ”, Williams, Ayden, ” Williams, don’t, King, Chris Pritchett, they’re, ” Ayden, they’d, Za’Niyah Organizations: LaGrange , Georgia CNN, CNN, Firearms, Authorities Locations: LaGrange , Georgia, LaGrange, Atlanta, Birmingham, America

☆ Another Local Vote, and Another Setback, for Rishi Sunak
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Stephen Castle | More About Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Britain’s governing Conservative Party on Friday lost two of its safest parliamentary seats in a significant and ominous setback for the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who must call a general election that will decide his fate within the next 15 months. Voting in the Conservative strongholds of Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth took place on Thursday to replace two of the party’s lawmakers — one of whom quit after an allegation of sexual assault — and came as Britain’s health care system faces acute strain and its economy stagnates amid high inflation. While that was always likely to put the Conservatives under pressure, the double defeat in the party’s heartlands was a stunning blow to Mr. Sunak and a striking success for the opposition Labour Party and its leader, Keir Starmer. In Tamworth, northeast of Birmingham, Labour overturned a majority of almost 20,000 in the last general election to win narrowly, while in Mid Bedfordshire, around 50 miles north of London, the main opposition party overcame an even bigger deficit to seize the seat.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, —, Sunak, Keir Starmer . Organizations: Conservative Party, Conservative, Tamworth, Labour Party, Labour Locations: Mid Bedfordshire, Tamworth, Birmingham, London

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Beth Holloway was after one thing for 18 years: answers about what happened to her missing daughter. Van der Sloot said the teen was already unconscious, or even dead, when he picked up a nearby cinderblock and brought it down on her face. “I smash her head in with it completely," van der Sloot said, according to an Oct. 3 transcript of the meeting. She stood her ground.”Dave Holloway, Natalee’s father, called van der Sloot “evil personified" in a statement issued after the sentencing hearing. Peru agreed to temporarily extradite van der Sloot to the U.S. to face proceedings on the extortion charge.

Persons: — Beth Holloway, Joran van der Sloot, Natalee Holloway, Van der Sloot, Beth Holloway, van der Sloot, “, van der, Natalee, “ It’s, van, ‘ That’s, ’, Dave Holloway, Natalee’s, Sloot, Natalee Ann Holloway, ” Beth Holloway, ”, Holloway, ” Mark White, Ann Angela, Van der Sloot’s Organizations: Associated Press, Prosecutors, Aruba — Locations: BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Aruba, Dutch, Peru

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