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☆ AI voice-cloning scams could target millions of people, Starling Bank warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —“Millions” of people could fall victim to scams using artificial intelligence to clone their voices, a UK bank has warned. Starling Bank, an online-only lender, said fraudsters are capable of using AI to replicate a person’s voice from just three seconds of audio found in, for example, a video the person has posted online. These types of scams have the potential to “catch millions out,” Starling Bank said in a press release Wednesday. “People regularly post content online which has recordings of their voice, without ever imagining it’s making them more vulnerable to fraudsters,” Lisa Grahame, chief information security officer at Starling Bank, said in the press release. As AI becomes increasingly adept at mimicking human voices, concerns are mounting about its potential to harm people by, for example, helping criminals access their bank accounts, and spread misinformation.

Persons: London CNN —, Scammers, ” Lisa Grahame, OpenAI Organizations: London CNN, Starling Bank, ”, Bank, Research Locations: Starling

☆ Mortgage rates plunge to lowest level in more than a year
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —US mortgage rates plummeted this week after weaker-than-expected employment data raised the odds of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates next month. The standard 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.47% this week, mortgage financing giant Freddie Mac said Thursday. Mortgage rates have steadily fallen over the past several weeks since reaching a 2024 peak of 7.22% in early May. Mortgage rates track the benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield, which moves in anticipation of the Fed’s decision on interest rates. Lower mortgage rates and a bigger housing stock will eventually entice more buyers to eventually enter the market.

Persons: Freddie Mac, That’s, ”, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, “ Homebuyers, ” Lawrence Yun, Lisa Sturtevant, “ Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Las, P Global, Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, CNN, Treasury, National Association of Realtors, Fed, NAR, “, Bright MLS Locations: New York, San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, Denver, Minneapolis, United States

☆ Fashion week to return to Kyiv for the first time since 2022
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The organizers of Ukrainian Fashion Week have announced the event’s 55th season in September will take place in Kyiv — the first time since Russia invaded the country on February 24, 2022. “We still have war in the whole country, and we feel the war in the whole country,” Lisa Ushcheka, head of international communications for Ukrainian Fashion Week, told CNN in a video call. From left to right: Ksenia Schnaider, Ivan Frolov and Julie Paskal backstage ahead of the Ukrainian Fashion Week show during London Fashion Week in February 2023. “Because it’s a historical event, a fashion week taking place in a country where there is a war going on.”For Frolov, the prospect of staging a return show in Kyiv is emotionally overwhelming. I was born in Kyiv and Kyiv is everything to me.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, ” Lisa Ushcheka, ” Ushcheka, Schnaider, Ivan Frolov, Julie Paskal, Jeff Spicer, influencers, Ushcheka, ”, Frolov, Ksenia, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, Kyiv —, Arsenal, and Culture, UK Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Fashion, London, BFC, Getty, Foreign, Commonwealth, Development, US Department of State, Culture, Kyiv Locations: Kyiv, Russia, “, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian, Berlin, London, Copenhagen, Paskal

Reached by phone, Lisa’s live-in partner Maria Tazbaz said she sold the Easter baskets at her hardware store. By 2009 Lisa was on supervised parole, but couldn’t stop committing crimes, according to her parole officer, who asked a judge to consider putting her back in prison. In a letter to the judge, the parole officer outlined Lisa’s infractions: She faked cancer to get sympathy from a court on a charge for bogus checks. After spending much of 2010 and 2011 imprisoned in Oklahoma, Lisa was released. At a hearing for the revocation of her release, the parole officer testified she had “noticed, and attempted to stop, a pattern by the defendant of defrauding her boyfriends.” A judge locked her back up.

Persons: Carloyn Naussany, Lisa, Maria Tazbaz, Carolyn, ” Tazbaz, Girl’s, Tazbaz, Linda, It’s, ” Lisa’s, Steven Sullins, Leonardo DiCaprio, “ That’s, ” Sullins, Sullins, Lisa Sullins, ’ ” Lisa, Steve, Lisa wasn’t, Dodge, Kurt Naussany, ”, Kurt Howell, “ I’ve, I’ve, ” Steve, Howell, “, ” Lisa, Lisa’s, couldn’t Organizations: Facebook, King Food Saver, Branson Buzz, Google, Oakley Auto, Chrysler, Kimberling City, NBC, Oklahoma State Department of Health, South Pointe Chrysler, Dodge Ram, Prosecutors, KMart, Ramada Oasis Convention Center Locations: Branson West, Kimberling City, Kimberling, Rock, South, Tulsa, Las Vegas, Nevada, Clark County, California, Cleveland , Oklahoma, Vietnam, Osage County, Sapulpa , Oklahoma, Springfield , Missouri, Oklahoma

☆ From the boardwalk to the altar: T-shirt, shorts, bikinis and boot sellers are now dressing brides
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Parija Bhatnagar | Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“The move into wedding wear makes sense so long as it’s not a distraction from their core business,” Stichter said. “For these bridal collections to land with Gen Z, It’s important that these brands tap into the way that Gen Z shops. Gen Z is always online, but 97% of US Gen Z still shop in-store,” Rees said. With wedding dresses in particular, one trend that emerged during the pandemic was the popularity of black wedding gowns. Boot Barn has a new western-themed wedding collection of bridal dresses, cowboy boots, hats and accessories priced mostly at $400 and below.

Persons: Gen Zers, Taylor Swift, ”, Janine Stichter, Millennials, ” Stichter, ” Carey Collins Krug, “, won’t, Allyson Rees, Gen Z, ” Rees, Gen, they’re, Rees, it’s, ” Lisa Zlotnick, “ There’s, Isha Nicole, ” Nicole Organizations: New, New York CNN, Abercrombie, Fitch, Abercrombie & Fitch Co, CNN, “ Locations: New York, California, Los Angeles, Las Vegas

☆ EPA designates two ‘forever chemicals’ as hazardous substances
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Mira Cheng | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US Environmental Protection Agency designated two widely used “forever chemicals” as hazardous substances under the United States’ Superfund law on Friday. This ruling will allow the EPA to investigate and clean up leaks and spills of these harmful chemicals, according to the official news release. Exposure to “forever chemicals” has been linked to cancers, heart and liver disease and immune and developmental damage to infants and children, according to the news release. There are more than 12,000 forms of PFAS chemicals in the environment. The designation comes just weeks after the EPA announced new limits for “forever chemicals” in drinking water in the United States.

Persons: Michael S, Regan, Dr, David Andrews, ”, Sanjay Gupta, ” Lisa Frank, Harris, CNN’s Jen Christensen Organizations: CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, United, EPA, Environmental, CNN Health, PIRG, Fund, Environment America Research, Policy, Biden Locations: United States, U.S, Washington

☆ Boeing’s problems could soon become your problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Boeing’s problems aren’t just Boeing’s. One of America’s biggest manufacturers is dealing with some serious production, quality and safety problems that worsened this week after a 787 Dreamliner plunged suddenly mid-flight, injuring dozens of passengers. Southwest and United earlier this week said they expect Boeing to ship them fewer planes than they planned on receiving, so they’ll hire fewer pilots. (Boeing continued to build the 737 Max throughout the crisis). And Boeing’s years of problems have led to success for its French rival Airbus, which has overtaken Boeing as the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer.

Persons: Washington CNN —, aren’t, ” Kathy Bostjancic, “, ”, ” José Torres, Max, ” Lisa Simon Organizations: Washington CNN, America’s, Boeing, Airbus, Alaska Airlines, Nationwide, CNN, Interactive Brokers, New York Fed, The New, Fed, Boeing hasn’t, Federal Aviation Administration, Revelio Labs Locations: Southwest, ”

☆ High spirits in Hollywood: What’s behind the boom of celebrity liquor brands?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Why does actor Aaron Paul co-own a mezcal brand? Rob Kim/Getty Images for NYCWFFIt’s an “opportunity, to be honest,” Cranston told CNN. Celebrities are attractive to the spirits space because of their clout and connections, so the industry has “the door open. Four years later they sold the tequila brand to liquor giant Diageo for $1 billion, and the industry gold rush was on. The side of a Casamigos delivery truck promoting George Clooney and Rande Gerber's tequila brand in a 2015 photo.

Persons: Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston, —, Niro, Issa Rae, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Matthew, Camila McConaughey, Eva Longoria, Casa Del, Kendall Jenner, Shirley Temple, Warren Beatty, Rob Kim, ” Cranston, George Clooney, Rande Gerber, George Rose, Ryan Reynolds, Conor McGregor, Jose Cuervo, Michael Yanover, Yanover, Jeff Spicer, ” Lisa Hawkins, , Drizly, Dwayne Johnson, Mike Segar, ” Andrew Chrisomalis, Tequila, Ed Mundy, ” Mundy, Sean “ Diddy ” Combs, Combs, Jennifer Lopez’s Delola, Lopez, she’s, Delola, Paul, Cranston, Dos, ” Applebee’s, ” Aaron Paul, CAA’s Yanover, “, There’s, Kylie Jenner, Kendall, It’s, I’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, Hombres, Hollywood, Dos Hombres, Food Network New York, Food Network New York City Wine, Food Festival, CNN, Diageo, Aviation, UFC, Creative Artists Agency, ”, Reuters, Jefferies, Diddy, New York, New York City Wine, Applebee’s Locations: New York, Casa Del Sol, Food Network New York City, Hollywood, New York City, Iowa, Applebee’s

☆ Renters are being hit harder by inflation than homeowners are
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington, DC CNN —Renters and homeowners experience inflation differently; and right now, renters are taking a much more painful hit. While shelter inflation has come down over the past few months, in December, the shelter index was still 6.2% higher year over year. Inflation divide between renters and homeownersTwo things are driving the divide between how homeowners and renters experience inflation. And 64% of homeowners have a mortgage rate of 4% or lower — more than two and a half percentage points lower than prevailing rates. Even if the typical mortgage payment is higher than a typical monthly rent payment, renters’ incomes tend to be lower than homeowners.

Persons: “, Lisa Sturtevant, Danielle Hale, Realtor.com, ”, Hale Organizations: DC CNN, Bright MLS, Bank of America Institute, BLS, “ Locations: Washington

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The watchdog office overseeing the National Science Foundation is sending investigators to Antarctica's McMurdo Station after hearing concerns about the prevalence of sexual violence at the U.S. research base. It announced Friday it is appointing Renée Ferranti as a special assistant to the NSF director to focus on sexual assault and harassment prevention and response. The NSF told the AP the alcohol changes were related to morale and welfare, and were not aimed at preventing sexual harassment or assault. On Friday, NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said he was delighted to welcome Ferranti, who had more than 25 years of experience in sexual assault prevention. Ferranti said in the release she hopes “to make a meaningful impact to advance NSF's progress in addressing sexual violence.”

Persons: Renée, Lisa Vonder Haar, Vonder Haar, they’d, Sethuraman Panchanathan, ” Panchanathan, Ferranti, “, ” Organizations: National Science Foundation, NSF, Renée Ferranti, Associated Press, McMurdo, AP, Ferranti Locations: WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Antarctica

☆ Why Has This 258-Year-Old Mansion Been Left to Fall Apart?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Ginia Bellafante | More About Ginia Bellafante | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Since then, millions more have been needed from elected officials to complete the work. The notion that “the board has been lax in passion is the farthest thing from the truth,” Lisa Koenigsberg, an architectural historian and the board’s chair told me. I understand the frustration and the sadness over the building,” she said. The building is the city’s responsibility.” This is a curious response in a place where public-private partnerships make most of our cultural life possible. When the preservation movement took hold in New York in the early 1960s, the goal was to prevent beautiful buildings from being destroyed.

Persons: ” Lisa Koenigsberg, Camilla Huey, Aaron Burr, Theodosia, “, ” Organizations: Parks Department Locations: New York

☆ Menopause symptoms: How to prepare for effects on your brain
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Andrea Kane | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Each episode will focus on one of those states — the distracted brain, the frightened brain, the nourished brain, etc. (While her paper was published in 2021 in Nature Scientific Reports, Mosconi has kept adding women’s brain scans to her database.) She adds that what happens during menopause can have implications for brain health in later years. “Active smoking is a huge ‘no’ for both menopause but also for brain health,” she said. “Physical activity is really supportive of hormonal health and brain health,” she noted.

Persons: Sanjay Gupta, —, ” Lisa Mosconi, ” Mosconi, Mosconi, Lisa Mosconi, That’s, ”, “, they’re, I’m Organizations: CNN, Weill Cornell Medicine, Nature Locations: New York City

☆ Angus Cloud's mother reveals his last words to her and final days
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Angus Cloud’s final words to his mother were filled with love. You’re the best,” Lisa Cloud, the late actor’s mother, told People magazine her son said to her on the night he died. Cloud died in July of an accidental overdose. Despite attempting to resuscitate her son, Lisa Cloud said she was unable to get him to respond. “It started to slow his heart and slow his breathing,” Lisa Cloud explained to People.

Persons: Angus Cloud’s, “, Lisa Cloud, Cloud, Conor ”, ”, ” Cloud, Sam Levinson, I’ve, ‘, we’ve, Daniel Aguilera, ” Aguilera, Conor Organizations: CNN, People, Cloud Locations: Northern California, Alameda County

☆ Mattel 'Weird Barbie' doll for sale for limited time
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Some might say Weird Barbies are made, not sold. Mattel, however, begs to differ. The toy company behind the iconic Barbie brand has announced a signature doll modeled after Kate McKinnon’s character from Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster “Barbie.” In the movie, McKinnon’s character helps send Margot Robbie’s Barbie on her journey. “Barbie” is produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, which is owned by CNN’s parent company Warner Bros. The doll is one of seven products in an expanded collection stemming from the billion-dollar hit movie, including various Barbie and Ken dolls modeling outfits they wore on-screen and a Hot Wheels corvette set.

Persons: Barbie, Kate McKinnon’s, Greta Gerwig’s, ”, Margot Robbie’s Barbie, “ Barbie ”, McKinnon, ” Mattel, Ken, ” Lisa McKnight, “ Barbie Organizations: CNN, Mattel, Warner Bros . Pictures, Warner Bros .

☆ Angus Cloud 'did not intend to end his life,' his mom says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

“I also want you to know that although my son was in deep grief about his father’s untimely death from mesothelioma, his last day was a joyful one. He was reorganizing his room and placing items around the house with intent to stay a while in the home he loved. “He did not intend to end his life. When we hugged goodnight we said how much we loved each other and he said he would see me in the morning. “To honor his memory, please make random acts of kindness part of your daily life.

Persons: Angus Cloud, hasn’t, “, ”, ” Lisa Cloud, Michael Hunt, goodnight, ” Lisa Cloud’s, overdosed Organizations: CNN, Oakland Fire Department Locations: California, Alameda County

☆ How will the Federal Reserve’s rate hike pause affect the dollar?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

A strong dollar affects prices, tourism and tradeThe ripple effect of a robust dollar permeates various parts of the economic picture, from international trade to tourism. “One of the underappreciated dimensions of a strong dollar is that it weighs on inflation,” she said. While Americans may find trips abroad relatively cheaper during times of dollar strength, tourism to the United States may take a hit. Relative weakness in European and Asian economies has also added investors’ appetite for the dollar, according to Gagnon. “I don’t see anything on the horizon that would weaken the dollar,” Gagnon said.

Persons: … that’s, Lisa Shalett, Shalett, Joseph Gagnon, ”, That’s, Gagnon, ” Gagnon, Goldman Sachs, “ Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Products, Walmart, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Deutsche Bank, eventual Locations: United, United States

☆ Apple’s new challenge: making VR headsets look cool
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But behind this speculation is a more serious potential problem: even Apple may struggle to make VR headsets look cool. The new headset, which blends both virtual reality and augmented reality, is Apple’s most ambitious – and riskiest – new hardware product in years. In one early marketing image, a woman is shown wearing the headset while dressed in very chic clothing and lounging in an upscale living room. Apple’s silhouette ads in the early 2000s somehow managed to make not just iPods look cool, but also wired headphones. People use phones as Apple's Vision Pro headsets are on display at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference at the company's headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S. June 5, 2023.

Persons: Tim Cook, Palmer Luckey, Oculus, memed, It’s, Robert Scoble, Larry Page, “ Robert, “ They’re, ” Lisa Peyton, “, Loren Elliott Loren Elliott, Reuters “, ” Marcus Collins, Collins, “ you’re, Alan Dye, it’s, ”, ” Peyton, “ It’s, they’ll Organizations: New, New York CNN, Apple, Facebook, Google, University of Oregon, CNN, Developers, REUTERS, Reuters, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan Locations: New York, —, Cupertino , California, U.S

☆ Wind energy has a massive waste problem. New technologies may be a step closer to solving it
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

It’s a problem that’s vexed the wind energy industry and provided fodder for those who seek to discredit wind power. But in February, Danish wind company Vestas said it had cracked the problem. It announced a “breakthrough solution” that would allow wind turbine blades to be recycled without needing to change their design or materials. Wind energy has been growing at a fast pace. It is the world’s leading renewable energy technology behind hydropower, and plays a vital role in helping countries move away from fossil fuel energy, which pumps out planet-heating pollution.

☆ Mattel introduces first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Mattel on Tuesday introduced its first-ever version of the Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. The new doll is part of Mattel Barbie Fashionistas line, which aims to offer kids more diverse representations of beauty and fight the stigma around physical disabilities. Mattel introduced its first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. The new Barbie is part of Mattel's Barbie Fashionista line of dolls which champions diverse representations of beauty and appearance. We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play,” she said.

☆ American offices are half-empty. That could be the next big risk for banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Julia Horowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“I’m more concerned than I’ve been in a long time,” said Matt Anderson, managing director at Trepp, which provides data on commercial real estate. About $270 billion in commercial real estate loans held by banks will come due in 2023, according to Trepp. Questions about the health of banks with sizable exposures to commercial real estate loans cause customers to pull deposits. That forces lenders to demand repayment — exacerbating the sector’s downturn and further damaging the banks’ financial position. The likeliest outcome is thought to be an uptick in defaults and reduced access to funding for the commercial real estate industry.

☆ U.S., European Police Shut Down Hacker Marketplace, Make 119 Arrests
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Kim S. Nash | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

The international action conducted Tuesday and Wednesday against Genesis Market, one of the largest so-called initial access brokers in the world, resulted in 119 arrests. The dismantling of Genesis Market follows the arrest last month of a man U.S. prosecutors say ran BreachForums, a site for buying and selling stolen data. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ Pro Cybersecurity Cybersecurity news, analysis and insights from WSJ's global team of reporters and editors. The Treasury Department on Wednesday sanctioned Genesis Market, a so-called initial access broker in operation since 2018. Genesis Market data was provided to the website Have I Been Pwned, so individuals can check whether their credentials have been compromised.

☆ Why American whiskey is the real winner of St. Patrick’s Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —On St. Patrick’s Day, it might seem appropriate to knock back a shot of Jameson Irish Whiskey. “Spirits consumers appreciate the rich heritage, tradition and authenticity of American whiskey,” Lisa Hawkins, senior vice president for public affairs for DISCUS, told CNN. Another factor in the growth of the American whiskey market is small distilleries that are becoming attractions themselves, where people can sample the whiskey and see how it is made. “These unique experiences have helped to introduce more consumers to American whiskey and build excitement for both legacy and newer brands in the category,” Hawkins said. American whiskey is the most popular top spirit to be exported, with the European Union being its biggest market.

The SEC in 2016 warned companies that non-GAAP measures that replace GAAP-based methods with individually tailored disclosure could violate its rules. That is up from 11 companies in letters released in January and February 2022. The SEC has long expressed concerns about companies placing too much emphasis on their non-GAAP disclosures compared with GAAP disclosures. Changing how certain non-GAAP measures are calculated can be embarrassing and even costly for companies, accountants said. Graham Holdings said it isn’t violating SEC guidance because it didn’t substitute an alternative recognition or measurement method for the related adjustments.

☆ Premarket stocks: The bear market could make a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Investors who believe the bear market is over are “ignorant,” Lisa Shalett, chief investment officer of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, told CNN. She believes a bigger drop is on its way as the Fed’s rapid interest rate hikes reduce economic growth down the road. Investors, she said, haven’t yet priced that hit to the economy into stock prices. They do, however, see increased interest rates as a long-term positive. How do you grow when you already have such a large percentage of the market share?

☆ Premarket stocks: Will the Fed end the 2023 market rally?
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

So will Fed Chair Jerome Powell dampen expectations and reiterate that the fight against inflation still has a way to go, or will the Fed show signs that they’re ready to ease up on rate hikes? Wall Street analysts also expect the Fed will stop hiking altogether by the spring. This will leave the market hanging on the future of how many rate hikes we will see.”He’s preparing for a volatile market reaction. But now, investors may be a bit too eager to end treatment, even as Fed officials warn that doing so would be premature. Stocks close out a jubilant JanuaryThe greatest comebacks of all time: Rocky Balboa, JNCO jeans, Apple and now… the US stock market.

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