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Safaris aren't the only tourist attraction in Africa. From cruises to wine tasting, here's what else you can do 2024-05-28 04:32:00+00:00 - Africa is blessed with some of the rarest and most beautiful animals in the world — a fact that entices tourists to book safaris year-round. But safaris only scratch the surface of what the continent has to offer. From wine tours to vibrant coastal cities, other experiences await those who are willing to go beyond game drives and delve deeper into the core of the continent. Mountains, dunes and rivers For those who love hiking, Africa is blessed with many peaks — from Morocco's Mount Toubkal to the continent's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. But there's also Mount Nyangani in Zimbabwe, which has a skywalk atop the Mutarazi Falls, the country's highest waterfall. South Africa's Table Mountain can be climbed in a matter of hours, but adrenaline junkies may prefer to bungie jump from Johannesburg's Soweto Towers, or the Bloukrans Bridge along the country's famous "Garden Route." Bungy jumping at Soweto Towers, a decommissioned power station in Johannesburg, South Africa. Thomas Janisch | Moment Mobile | Getty Images Africa is ideal for travelers who crave adventure, said Zina Bencheikh, managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Intrepid Travel. She recommends Madagascar's Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, which has two geological zones called the "Small Tsingy" and "Big Tsingy," which in the local language of Malagasy, refers to a place "where one cannot walk barefoot." "Big Tsingy Trek is not your usual hike!" she said, describing it as a "labyrinth of limestone formations that resemble a forest made of rock." The limestone formations of Madagascar's Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. Carlo Morucchio | Reda&co | Universal Images Group | Getty Images In Namibia, travelers can climb the iconic Dune 45 to admire the sand dunes of the Sossusvlei, explore the eerie white clay pan of Deadvlei, or hike through the picturesque Sesriem Canyon. At Victoria Falls, along the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, travelers can whitewater raft, bungee jump or swim at the Devil's Pool, which is on Zambia's side of the falls. Similar adventures can be found in Jinja, Uganda, where the River Nile begins. Hot air balloons are a popular and adventurous way to explore too, with a bird's eye view of the berber villages of Morocco to Kenya's Masai Mara. Explore the beach African beach towns combine beauty and culture, in places like Seychelles, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius, Zanzibar, Ghana, Namibia and Egypt. Mombasa, a coastal city in Kenya, is one example. King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit Mombasa's Fort Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Nov. 03, 2023 Samir Hussein | Wireimage | Getty Images "Here, you'll experience African, Indian and Arab cultures in one place. Fort Jesus is one of Mombasa's notable sites and was built by the Portuguese in 1593. In less than 200 years, the fort changed hands nine times," said Luciemarie Swanepoel, owner of African Sky of Diamonds Tours & Safaris. She recommends visiting Zanzibar to wander the Stone Town's labyrinthine alleys along with Kenya's Swahili Coast, the historical Gede ruins, and the UNESCO-named Mijikenda Kaya Forests. The rooftops of Zanzibar's Stone Town. Jeremy Villasis | Moment | Getty Images "Madagascar … is another island gem, with beaches like Nosy Be and Ile Sainte Marie boasting palm-fringed coasts and vibrant coastal villages," said Swanepoel. Durban and Cape Town are two of the best beach destinations in South Africa, she said, adding that travelers can kitesurf, snorkel, kayak or search for dugongs and whales there. Go on a cruise From budget-friendly houseboats to luxurious all-inclusive boutique lake cruises, Africa has a range of unique boating experiences. Cruises along the Nile, Zambezi and Chobe rivers, as well as a cruise along Rwanda's Lake Kivu, come highly recommended, as water journeys can offer a spectacular viewing platform for wildlife. A boat on Botswana's Chobe river at sunset. Peter Unger | Stone | Getty Images "During a river cruise, you may spot a herd of elephants wading through shimmering water, witness great buffalo gathering along the water's edge, and even observe crocodiles stealthily slicing through pools. Hundreds of hippos also wallow in the river with just their nostrils poking out," says Kate Powell, general manager of the houseboat company Zambezi Queen Collection. Travelers can also cruise between villages, fish, and bask in the tranquil waters. "One can explore the Manambolo River on a pirogue, or wooden dugout canoe, under the shadow of towering rock cliffs [or] stop to explore a cave and the eerie tombs of the Vazimba, said to be the earliest inhabitants of Madagascar," said Intrepid's Bencheikh. In addition to being a popular stop for world cruises, East and South Africa have their own ocean cruise routes which follow the coastlines and visit offshore islands. Silversea, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC have cruises departing from Africa. Maritime journeys in Africa allow visitors to experience the continent's wildlife, cultures and landscapes from a unique vantage point, said Kevin Bubolz, Norwegian's vice president for Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa. "In Port Elizabeth, the Penguin Island Cruise excursion is a standout experience. You'll journey to the world's largest colony of African penguins in their natural habitat," he said. "If you're lucky, you might also catch a glimpse of playful humpback and bottle-nose dolphins." Wine tours Countries like Morocco, Namibia and Ethiopia have established wine regions. But South Africa is the continent's crown jewel. "South Africa is renowned for its world-class wine regions, with the Western Cape being the heart of the industry," said Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro, Cape Town's tourism and trade agency. "The areas around Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl comprise the famous Cape Winelands, where visitors can tour historic estates, taste award-winning wines, and learn about the winemaking process." The wine country of Franschhoek, outside of Cape Town, South Africa. Michele Westmorland | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images

London Moves to Revive Its Reputation as a Financial Hub 2024-05-28 04:02:14.193000+00:00 - Shein, the online retail giant founded in China, had grand ambitions to go public in New York. But as relations between Washington and Beijing soured, the ultrafast fashion company began taking a closer look at a backup plan across the Atlantic. The company is now focusing more on the London Stock Exchange for its initial public offering, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. That may not have been the company’s initial choice — but it would be a big win for Britain, which has been wary of its capital city losing its status as a global financial hub. Jeremy Hunt, Britain’s top finance official, has reportedly courted Shein, anticipating that a major I.P.O. would bolster London’s standing as one of the world’s leading financial centers. A spokeswoman for Shein declined to comment; the British Treasury also declined to comment. By many measures, London is still a crucial financial hub, where prices are fixed each day for precious metals, trillions of dollars of foreign currency are traded and global insurance contracts are written. But the global competition for investors — among cities like New York, Hong Kong, Dubai and Singapore — is intense. Stock listing is a prominent business, and a big I.P.O. like Shein’s could be seen as a prize that bolsters the local financial market and sets the stage for other companies to follow.

Business-First Hong Kong Now Comes With a Catch: Beijing Politics 2024-05-28 04:01:27.992000+00:00 - Doing business in Hong Kong increasingly comes with a new risk: the political cost of upsetting Beijing. Chinese clients recently dropped one big Chicago law firm after it recused itself from a politically sensitive case. A former Wall Street banker was muzzled for writing a “Hong Kong is dead” column. And Google was effectively cornered into enforcing a ban on a popular protest anthem. In all areas of life, Hong Kong is hewing closer to mainland China, blurring distinctions that once cemented the city’s status as mostly free from the politics of Beijing. Legal rulings echo the courts in mainland China. City regulations follow edicts in Beijing. Even government banners recall Chinese Communist Party slogans. The city’s transformation is being driven by a national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020 and additional legislation passed by Hong Kong lawmakers in March. Both have dealt a blow to the partial autonomy promised by China when it took possession of the city from Britain nearly three decades ago.

North Korea said its new liquid oxygen engine caused the downfall of its latest spy satellite and blew it up in midair 2024-05-28 04:00:37+00:00 - By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview North Korea said on Monday that its latest spy satellite launch failed, with its rocket exploding during the first stage of flight that evening. State media Korean Central News Agency cited an unnamed vice director of the country's National Aerospace Technology Administration, who said preliminary analysis pointed to problems with the rocket's new engine. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. The vice director said the mishap was caused by the "reliability of operation of the newly developed liquid oxygen and petroleum engine," per a translation by KCNA Watch, a US- and Seoul-based website that tracks North Korea's state media. The space official said his team would investigate other possible reasons for the failure. Advertisement Pyongyang has attempted three other satellite launches in the last year, though two were confirmed to have failed. All were condemned by the US, Japan, and South Korea as provocations and are signs that North Korea has been able to circumvent sanctions to build its space program. In November, North Korea successfully launched its Malligyong-1 satellite and claims it still functions in orbit. South Korea assessed in February that the satellite is no longer communicating with the ground. However, several international space experts said that they observed signs of activity on the Malligyong-1 days later. Related stories Monday's failed launch was an attempt to put the Malligyong-1-1 in space. Advertisement Seoul said it detected fragments in North Korean waters about two minutes after the rocket was launched toward the Yellow Sea, national broadcaster KBS reported. South Korean officials released a black-and-white video of the scuppered launch showing what appears to be a fireball in the sky. They said the footage was taken from an observation boat. The attempted space launch has been blasted by South Korea, which they said North Korea warned them about. Seoul scrambled 20 jet fighters, including F-35As, as a precaution. Japan also condemned the launch, saying it lodged a strong complaint to North Korea through its embassy in Beijing. Advertisement "A few minutes after launch, it disappeared over the Yellow Sea," Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said of the rocket. "Therefore, we presume that no object was launched into space." Kihara added that North Korea has said it intends to launch three more satellites this year. The US Indo-Pacific Command called the launch "a brazen violation of multiple unanimous UN Security Council resolutions, raises tensions, and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond." It further warned that North Korea appeared to have launched the satellite using technology from its international ballistics missile programs. Advertisement North Korea is sanctioned by the US and its allies, with a focus on limiting its nuclear weapons and space programs. But South Korea has been warning that Pyongyang is still able to pull off satellite launches with Russia's help. The US and Ukraine have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery ammunition and say Pyongyang has been receiving raw materials, food, and assistance from Russian experts. North Korea has denied its participation in any arms exchange with Moscow.

Deepfake scams have robbed companies of millions. Experts warn it could get worse 2024-05-28 03:16:00+00:00 - A growing wave of deepfake scams has looted millions of dollars from companies worldwide, and cybersecurity experts warn it could get worse as criminals exploit generative AI for fraud. A deep fake is a video, sound, or image of a real person that has been digitally altered and manipulated, often through artificial intelligence, to convincingly misrepresent them. In one of the largest known case this year, a Hong Kong finance worker was duped into transferring more than $25 million to fraudsters using deepfake technology who disguised themselves as colleagues on a video call, authorities told local media in February. Last week, UK engineering firm Arup confirmed to CNBC that it was the company involved in that case, but it could not go into details on the matter due to the ongoing investigation. Such threats have been growing as a result of the popularization of Open AI's Chat GPT — launched in 2022 — which quickly shot generative AI technology into the mainstream, said David Fairman, chief information and security officer at cybersecurity company Netskope. "The public accessibility of these services has lowered the barrier of entry for cyber criminals — they no longer need to have special technological skill sets," Fairman said. The volume and sophistication of the scams have expanded as AI technology continues to evolve, he added.

How to set up and customize Google Alerts: Track the search terms and topics you're interested in 2024-05-28 02:43:01+00:00 - By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview When you want the latest updates on a trending news story, to know who won the game you couldn't missed live, or see what new shows are dropping onto Netflix this week, chances are that you turn to a Google search. But what if you didn't even have to spend time searching because Google had already sent the exact information you wanted right to your inbox? This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Google Alerts proactively searches the web for specific terms you've selected and delivers relevant content to you as often as you'd like, be it once a day, once a week, or just as soon as that search term pops up in a new article, blog post, or in the description of some new video content. Google launched Google Alerts in 2003 after one of the company's first engineers, Naga Kataru, brought the idea directly to Google's founders. The very first keywords used to test the alerts were "Google" and "Larry Page." Advertisement Though Google Alerts is still around more than two decades later, the software has drawn criticism from users over time. Users have said the alerts are too limited, inaccurate, or irrelevant. Dozens of media monitoring companies, such as Awari, Meltwater, Talkwalker, Muck Rack, Cision, and Prowly, have cropped up in the last decade to offer alternatives to Google Alerts. One advantage of Google Alerts, however, is that it's completely free to use. And while brands and high-profile figures may need a more sophisticated software to monitor their media mentions, Google Alerts can work just fine for the average everyday user. Here's how to set up, customize, and delete a Google Alert. How to set up Google Alerts To set up a Google Alert, first make sure you are logged into your Google account, then navigate to the Google Alerts page, which is simply www.google.com/alerts. Advertisement 1. Type the search term you want to follow into the bar reading "Create an alert about..." and search for it. For instance, if you're interested in news about job cuts in the tech industry, you might want to create an alert about "Google layoffs." 2. Click the blue box that reads "Create Alert." Google Alerts get delivered right to your email inbox. Michelle Mark/Business Insider That's it! You just created a Google alert. You can access and edit your alerts from the Google Alerts homepage or via the alerts Google sends to your email inbox. Related stories Though Google Alerts doesn't have its own dedicated app, you can still set up alerts for yourself on your iPhone or other smartphone. Simply visit the Google Alerts page using your phone's browser and follow the above steps. Advertisement If you're expecting to pop up in the news anytime soon, you might want to consider setting up a Google Alert for your own name. And though there's no way to find out if anyone in particular is Googling you, you can always run a search for your name on Google Trends to see if there's any significant search interest. But even when you've set up all your Google Alerts, your work isn't quite done. By default, Google will send you updates about your alert (or alerts) once every day. If you'd like your alerts to be sent more or less often, here's how you'll do it. How to customize Google Alerts Go to the Alerts page and find the Google Alert you want to customize. 1. Click on the pencil icon to the right of the alert to open its settings. Advertisement 2. On the next page, you can set how often you get alerts, what language they need to be in, from what region they are sourced (you can geo-fence to a specific country or from "Any Region"), what sources you want your alerts to come from (news, blogs, and web, e.g.), and more. You can decide how often you want to receive Google Alerts. Michelle Mark/Business Insider 3. Hit the blue "Update alert" box. If you want all your alerts delivered at a specific time, hit the gear icon to the right of "My alerts" and choose a delivery time. You can limit your alert updates to once daily or even once weekly. You can also ask that Google send all your alert updates in a single email rather than sending each one individually. Advertisement How to delete a Google Alert Deleting a Google alert is even simpler than creating one. 1. Go to your Google Alerts page. 2. Locate the trash can icon to the right of the alert you want to delete and click it. You can edit or delete Google Alerts right from the alerts homepage. Michelle Mark/Business Insider That's that — the alert is gone. A taskbar at the top of the page will pop up reading "Your alert on 'Google layoffs' has been deleted" and giving you the option to "Undo" that action or "Dismiss" the alert, which permanently deletes it, as does simply closing the Google Alerts page.

Recent South Dakota policy threatens professors who include their pronouns or tribal affiliations over email. It's part of a concerning 'longer-term agenda' overtaking the US. 2024-05-28 02:19:51+00:00 - By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview South Dakota has joined a group of right-leaning states trying to curtail expressions of personal identity in the US. In December, the South Dakota Board of Regents issued a policy prohibiting professors at public universities in the state from including their designated gender pronouns or tribal affiliations in their email signatures, the Associated Press reported on Friday. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. And it didn't take long for the board – which governs the state's six public universities — to take action. Two University of South Dakota professors — Megan Red Shirt-Shaw and Red Shirt-Shaw's husband, John Little — recently told the AP they'd received written warnings to remove those details from their signatures. Advertisement On X, formerly Twitter, the two said they'd received their warnings in mid-March. The consequence, Little told the AP, could be as severe as losing their jobs. "I was told that I had 5 days to remove my tribal affiliation and pronouns," Little wrote in an email to the AP. "I believe the exact wording was that I had '5 days to correct the behavior.'" Little added that if the request wasn't met, administrators would evaluate whether or not to invoke suspension or even termination as punishment. On X, Red Shirt-Shaw said she "made the difficult decision" to comply with the warnings, removing her tribal affiliation and gender pronouns from her email signature, "so I would not miss the remainder of the academic year." Advertisement That said, Red Shirt-Shaw found a workaround: She has continued to place those details "in the body of each email that I send," which she said on X "will not be challenged (for now)." Little has done the same. For Red Shirt-Shaw, including those details is personal. As director of Native Student Services at the university, she wrote, "I feel I have an ethical responsibility to claim the tribal nations that make me who I am." Related stories The American Civil Liberties Union's South Dakota chapter also weighed in on X. The group called the Board of Regents' policy an effort by the state's leadership "to shove queer identities out of public life." Other experts agree that the South Dakota Board of Regents' guidelines are an escalation of a larger movement sweeping the US. Advertisement Larger efforts at play South Dakota's flashpoint over email signatures comes as a national discourse rages about rights for LGBTQ+ Americans and members of diverse and protected groups. "Quite frankly, this is the first time I've heard of a state university choosing to use branding standards to eliminate what obviously has become a practice of including pronouns and tribal affiliations to emails," Paulette Grandberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, told the AP. "But I'm not surprised, given the current climate we're in," she added, calling the decision by the state's Board of Regents a "steady progression" in a broader push. Grandberry Russell told the AP she thinks that such early-stage measures in conservative states could be used as a "testing ground" to determine if more severe laws could take hold. Advertisement Kelly Benjamin, a spokesperson for the American Association of University Professors, an advocacy group for academics in higher education, told the AP that it's the latest step in "a longer-term agenda" aimed at limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion measures to protect LGBTQ+ Americans. Benjamin pointed to recent efforts in states like Florida and Arkansas. Florida lawmakers, for example, have passed bills that have limited or prevented access to services for transgender individuals, including gender-affirming care or even the ability to update their correct gender on their driver's license. Though LGBTQ+ Americans benefited from legal strides in the 2010s like a landmark Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of gay marriage in 2015, more recent actions by some Republican state leaders have raised the specter of threats to similar protections. South Dakota's recent policy is just one example. Meanwhile, violence against members of the LGBTQ+ communities has also increased as these debates have raged in the background. A 2022 Business Insider investigation found that homicides of transgender people, for instance, doubled between 2019 and 2021. Advertisement The University of South Dakota did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of normal working hours.

CNBC Daily Open: Musk's AI start-up raises $6 billion 2024-05-28 02:17:00+00:00 - This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Like what you see? You can subscribe here . Friday recap Wall Street was closed for Memorial Day on Monday, so here's a recap of what happened on Friday. The Nasdaq Composite reached a new record high, fueled by Nvidia's exceptional earnings report. Nvidia's stock rose 2.6% on Friday, contributing to a 15% surge for the week, while the Nasdaq led major indexes with a 1.41% weekly gain. The S&P 500 closed 0.7% higher to end the week up 0.03%. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average clocked its first weekly decline in five weeks even as it rose marginally on Friday. Treasury yields were little changed and oil prices bounced back from three-month lows. Nvidia CEO's net worth soars Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's net worth soared to over $90 billion as better-than-expected earnings sent the company's stock soaring to a record high. Last Thursday, the stock rose more than 9% to close at nearly $1,038 per share. Huang owns about 86.76 million shares of Nvidia, or more than 3.5% of the company's outstanding shares. Five years ago, Huang's stake in Nvidia was worth roughly $3 billion. Investors told to reject Musk deal Glass Lewis, a proxy advisory firm, has suggested Tesla shareholders to reject a $56 billion pay package for CEO Elon Musk, citing its excessive size, potential for stock dilution, and Musk's involvement in multiple time-consuming projects. The package, voided by a judge in January, is tied to Tesla's market value reaching certain targets. The firm also criticized a proposed move to incorporate Tesla in Texas. Tesla's board defends the package, citing Musk's role in the company's growth. Google AI Overview misfires Google's "AI Overview" feature in search is facing criticism for producing incorrect or controversial responses. Users shared examples of errors, such as stating Obama was a Muslim president and suggesting adding glue to pizza. While these issues highlight the challenges of AI-generated content, Google asserted most information was of high quality and the company was addressing the problems. Google's Gemini image-generation tool had faced also faced issues, with users pointing out historical inaccuracies and questionable responses. $5.3 billion weight-loss plant Eli Lilly is investing $5.3 billion to expand a manufacturing plant in Indiana due to high demand for its weight loss and diabetes drugs. This brings Eli Lilly's total investment in the site to $9 billion, the largest in the company's history. The plant, which will manufacture the active ingredient in both the drugs, is expected to be fully operational by 2028. The company is also investing in other manufacturing sites to meet the growing demand for these drugs. [PRO] Overinvested in Nvidia? While Wall Street is pretty bullish on Nvidia, with many analysts raising their price targets following last week's blockbuster earnings, some investors may feel they are overexposed to the artificial intelligence chipmaker. CNBC's Weizhen Tan looks at some stocks that may help diversify your portfolio.

An influx of new residents to GOP-leaning Montana could be the key voting bloc that decides the state's hotly-contested Senate race 2024-05-28 02:03:24+00:00 - By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Montana's US Senate race is shaping up to be one of the marquee races of 2024 as three-term Democrat Jon Tester hopes to fend off an aggressive challenge from his likely GOP opponent, Tim Sheehy. The contest has huge national implications. A win for Tester in Montana would give Democrats a fighting chance to retain control of the Senate, while a GOP victory would be the culmination of a long road to regaining a critical seat in the conservative-leaning state. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. With former President Donald Trump highly likely to win Montana in November, many Republicans believe he'll be able to aid down-ballot candidates like Sheehy. But it's not that simple. Advertisement Tester, a moderate Democrat, has established a political brand that has defied the state's GOP orientation for nearly 20 years. And it's about to be tested even further due to the state's recent population surge, with transplants from Western states like California, Oregon, and Washington poised to be an electoral wild card in a contest that was already set to be competitive. Montana has always drawn people who are attracted to the outdoors. During the coronavirus pandemic, many transplants found refuge in the state as they worked remotely. With many of these new residents possessing higher incomes — coupled with the demand for housing — home prices have gone through the roof in recent years. Related stories The median home price in Montana hit $425,000 in late 2023, a 75% increase from 2018, The New York Times reported. In Bozeman, which has become a hot spot for affluent transplants, the median home price has risen to an astonishing $770,000, according to the newspaper. Advertisement According to the US Census Bureau, Bozeman's population jumped from roughly 37,000 to more than 53,000 from 2010 to 2020. In 2022, the city's population grew even further to 56,000. The rising prices have shined a brighter light on housing affordability, as many native Montanans have been priced out by ever-increasing rents. Outside of Bozeman, some longtime residents are now residing in RVs due to the heightened costs. With strong support from GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte, the Montana legislature passed housing and land-use reform bills that overhauled the construction process — and now permit more housing density. The issue is sure to be a major issue for Tester — as well as the eventual GOP Senate nominee — for a state in transition. Advertisement In 2018, Tester won reelection to a third term by roughly 18,000 votes out of nearly 505,000 ballots cast. National Republicans see Montana as one of their best opportunities to win a "red" seat, especially as many transplants left Democratic-dominated coastal states for a more rustic environment. But the Senate race is projected to be incredibly close. And for Democrats and Republicans, the newest Montanans will likely be an unpredictable voting bloc.

Barack Obama Calls Bill Walton 'One Of The Greatest' After NBA Hall Of Famer Diest At 71: He Was The 'Embodiment Of Unselfish Team Play' 2024-05-28 01:59:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Former President Barack Obama expressed his condolences over the passing of NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton, praising him as a champion and a wonderful spirit. What Happened: On Monday, Obama took to X, formerly Twitter, to pay tribute to Walton, who reportedly died at the age of 71 after a battle with cancer. Obama described Walton as one of the greatest basketball players of all time and a champion at every level. He also highlighted Walton’s unselfish team play and his wonderful spirit full of curiosity, humor, and kindness. See Also: Peter Schiff Says Trump Getting Jeered At Libertarian Convention Made Into A ‘Huge Deal’ — If Biden Had P Walton’s death was announced by the NBA on Monday. The Hall of Fame center and two-time NBA champion had been battling cancer, reported Fox News. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” according to a statement shared in the report. “I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events – always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth,” said the commissioner. Why It Matters: Walton’s passing is a significant loss to the basketball community. His career achievements and his character made him a beloved figure in the sport. Walton was a two-time NBA champion and a Hall of Fame center. Photo: Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock.com Read Next: Trump Vs. Biden: Young Voters Are Leaning Toward One Candidate More Than Other, Citing Concerns Over Israel-Hamas War And More This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal

Trump Faces 'Upwards Of 80 Percent' Chance Of Conviction In Hush Money Case, Says Legal Expert — Defense Looking For 'One Angry Juror' 2024-05-28 01:43:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Norm Eisen, a legal expert, has indicated that former President Donald Trump’s acquittal in his ongoing criminal hush money trial is unlikely. What Happened: Eisen, an expert on CNN, suggested that the probability of Trump’s conviction is “somewhere upwards of 80 percent”. The case is centered around accusations that Trump unlawfully hid hush money payments to an adult film actor before the 2016 election. Trump, who is facing 34 counts of falsifying business documents, has denied these claims, as reported by The Hill via CNN. See Also: Peter Schiff Says Trump Getting Jeered At Libertarian Convention Made Into A ‘Huge Deal’ — If Biden Had P Eisen further explained that the defense is not genuinely seeking an acquittal, but rather relying on “one angry juror”. The case’s emphasis has been on the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer, who alleged that Trump instructed him to make the payments. Despite the odds, former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti suggested that a hung jury could still be a significant victory for Trump. He noted that achieving a unanimous verdict could be challenging given Trump’s controversial public image. Why It Matters: This trial has been in the public eye for some time. A recent poll indicated that the majority believe Trump is guilty as the trial nears its verdict. Trump has been vocal about his views on the trial, going on a rant over the hush-money trial and mocking the charges over ‘legal expense’. He has also criticized the judge in the trial, stating that the charges are based on a ‘bookkeeping error’. These developments add to the complexity and public interest in the case. Read Next: Donald Trump Floats Idea Of Bringing Back Adviser Peter Navarro For Potential Second Term Despite Prison This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal

Trump's Memorial Day Message Takes Aim At 'Human Scum' In Fiery Post Ahead Of Hush Money Trial Verdict 2024-05-28 01:32:00+00:00 - Loading... Loading... Former President Donald Trump’s Memorial Day social media post extends greetings to all, including those he perceives as his adversaries, in a characteristic, controversial style. What Happened: On Monday, Trump took to Truth Social to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day, including those he referred to as “Human Scum” and a “Radical Left, Trump Hating Federal Judge in New York.” He also mentioned a defamation case that resulted in a $91 million award to a woman he claims to have never met, and a $500 million fine imposed by a “N.Y. State Wacko Judge,” both of which are under appeal. See Also: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Motion To Vacate Speaker Mike Johnson’s Position Has Fallen Flat Trump’s tweet also referenced a dropped rape charge and the sale of his Mar-a-Lago property. This is not the first time the former president has used festive occasions to air his grievances. He has previously made similar posts on other holidays, including Christmas. Why It Matters: Trump’s tweet comes in the wake of a recent rant over a hush-money trial, whose verdict is expected imminently. He mocked the charges as a “Crooked Joe Biden Election Interference Hoax.” Trump’s post also reflects his ongoing criticism of the judiciary, a theme that has been a constant throughout his political career. His reference to a defamation case and a hefty fine indicates his continued legal battles and his defiance in the face of these challenges. Trump’s festive greetings have attracted criticism in the past. Former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney criticized former President Donald Trump’s incendiary Truth Social Christmas post, calling it “horrible.” Mulvaney suggested that those offended by such messages have likely already decided not to support Trump. Read Next: Trump’s Niece Says ‘Troubling Rhetoric’ From Republican Campaign ‘Would Be Something Unthinkable Four Years Ago’: ‘We Are At The Doorstep Of…’ This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal

Memorial Day weekend marred by severe weather — and it's not over 2024-05-28 01:29:37+00:00 - Memorial Day weekend was marred by severe storms across the US. More than 20 people died, and tornado warnings are in effect for Maryland, Texas, and other states. Scientists blame the heat and say the severe weather will continue. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Advertisement Memorial weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and this year it was marred by a series of severe weather incidents that scientists say could continue as temperatures rise. Severe weather, including thunderstorms and tornados, swept across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky over the holiday weekend, destroying buildings and killing over 20 people, according to the Associated Press. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in .

Gold, silver and copper rally has just taken a breather — new highs are not that far off, experts say 2024-05-28 01:00:00+00:00 - Gold and silver bars of various sizes lie in a safe on a table at the precious metals dealer Pro Aurum. Gold prices have been rallying to record highs, with spot gold notching a new top of $2,449.89 per ounce on Monday. Silver too hit multi-year highs earlier last week, as did industrial metal copper. While all three are off their perch currently, they are still trading hovering near record highs, with analysts expecting prices to strengthen over the next 12 months. What will drive the rally in precious as well as industrial metals? Spot gold is currently trading at $2,351.3. Prices of the yellow metal have sustained their upward momentum amid a renewed weakness in the U.S. dollar and retreating U.S. Treasury yields, ANZ said in a recent note. But that's not all. "While geopolitical risks continued to bolster haven demand, an impressive rise in China's gold demand in Q1 2024 has largely fueled the price rally," ANZ's strategists wrote. China is currently the leading consumer demand for bullion, after the country overtook India in 2023 to become the world's largest buyer of gold jewelry. Chinese consumers have also been at the forefront of gold purchases, buying 603 tons of gold jewelry last year, a 10% jump from 2022, data from the World Gold Council showed. The WGC expects Chinese jewelry demand to stay at elevated rates this year, or even higher compared to 2023. UBS strategists in a note last week raised their forecasts for gold to $2,500 per ounce by the end of September, and $2,600 by year-end. The bank's bullish outlook is owed to stronger Chinese demand, on top of a series of soft U.S. data in April, which has driven some repricing of expectations for U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts. Higher rates tend to pressure gold as they make Treasuries — also a safe-haven asset — a more attractive option for investors. "We think gold can continue to make new highs," UBS's Precious Metals Strategist Joni Teves told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Monday.

What causes turbulence on flights and which routes around the world are most affected? 2024-05-28 00:53:00+00:00 - A Qatar Airways flight has encountered turbulence above Turkey, injuring 12 passengers and crew. The flight from Doha to Dublin landed safely after the episode, which caused people to “hit the roof” of the plane. The news comes just five days after the death of a British passenger and injuries to 104 others after a Singapore Airlines flight hit sudden turbulence above Myanmar, causing it to dramatically lose altitude. We know turbulence is a common part of flying – but are some routes more prone? And where is it the worst? What is turbulence? Turbulence is felt when a plane flies through relatively disturbed air, which is responsible for “abrupt sideways and vertical jolts”, according to Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Turbulence is the leading cause of in-flight injuries to crew and passengers. The agency defines eight types of turbulence, including thunderstorm, thermal, frontal and “mountain wave”, which fall into six categories of severity. Where is turbulence most common? Generally, turbulence is expected over high mountains, oceans, the equator and when entering jet streams, according to Dr Guido Carim Jr, head of Griffith Aviation at Griffith University. But, clear air turbulence – normally caused by a very sudden change in the wind direction – can occur anywhere and at any time. “Magnificently complex factors interact to create turbulence,” the former pilot says adding that bushfires can cause it. “Radar technology to detect turbulence is improving but, despite all the instruments onboard, we cannot accurately predict where and when turbulence will be.” He has flown international routes over the Andes where it is mandatory to turn on the seatbelt sign when approaching the mountains. The Bay of Bengal during monsoon season is notoriously turbulent, as is flying over the Alps – “but, sometimes you don’t even notice”, he said. High humidity and temperatures tend to make turbulence stronger, so flying from London to New York City in the summer months is likely to be bumpier than flying the same route in December, he says. What are the world’s most turbulent flight routes? The Swedish turbulence forecasting site Turbli uses data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the UK Met Office. Its most turbulent routes in 2023 were: Santiago, Chile to Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Almaty, Kazakhstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Lanzhou to Chengdu, China; Centrair to Sendai, Japan; and Milan, Italy to Geneva, Switzerland. Milan to Zurich, Switzerland was in 10th place. The most turbulent countries to fly above in April, according to the site, were French Polynesia, Fiji, Pakistan, Namibia and Uruguay. The South Pacific ranked as the most turbulent ocean to fly over. None registered above a light turbulence eddy dissipation rate (edr) of 20. Extreme turbulence occurs above 80edr. Australian Transport Safety Bureau figures show that globally in 2023, there were 3,047 commercial aircraft incidents. Of those, 236 were caused by weather. So far in 202, there have been 790 commercial aircraft incidents, of which 52 were caused by weather. 'I was thinking it's going to keep falling': passengers recall turbulence on Qatar flight – video Is there a link between the Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines incidents? If two planes are in the same area when encountering turbulence, they may be influenced by the same meteorology, says Milton Speer, a meteorologist and fellow with the University of Technology Sydney. But QF17 and SQ321 were thousands of kilometres apart when struck by severe turbulence. Carim said he had seen no obvious atmospheric or meteorological occurrences linking the week’s two instances of turbulence. He has spoken with pilots who have flown in both regions in recent days and was told they saw “nothing out of the ordinary”. We do, however, know that incidents of severe turbulence are on the rise – increasing by 55% between 1979 and 2020 – and that the climate crisis is thought to be a responsible factor. How many incidents of turbulence has Australia recorded? Turbulence events need only be reported to the ATSB if they affect aircraft performance. In the 10 years from 2014 to 2023, no incidents involving serious injuries to passengers were reported to the ATSB, a spokesperson confirmed. An Australian Federation of Air Pilots spokesperson said passengers “would be well advised to wear a seatbelt throughout the duration of their flight, regardless of seatbelt signs”. Under civil aviation regulations, seatbelts must be worn by all crew members and passengers in various circumstances, including when the aircraft is flying at less than 1,000 feet.

'Stick to the plan': Readers weigh in on the idea of early retirement 2024-05-28 00:48:00+00:00 - For many people, retiring early is the best decision they ever made. For many others, continuing to work is the engine that keeps them going and gives them purpose. My recent column on the big shift in how people think about their later years sparked a spirited debate. I called out new data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showing that most Americans don’t expect to work beyond their early 60s. The number of workers who plan to work full time beyond age 62 dropped to 46%, down from 55% four years ago. Only 31% of workers expect to work beyond 67, down from 36% in 2020. Nearly two thousand of you jumped in to discuss when you retired or hope to do so. A few common threads emerged. Some of you worked in a job you hated, so retiring early was your ticket to freedom. Others had a traditional pension that provided the guaranteed income needed to make early retirement possible. Or you started saving early and lived within your means, so retiring in your late 50s or early 60s was a reasonable choice for you. I’m a huge fan of working for as long as you can for the fulfillment and sense of purpose it brings to your life. Reading your testimonials for stepping away from the grind of a job early challenged my thinking and widened my perspective. The following is an edited sample of some of those comments and my take on them. Feel free to share your insights in the comments section at the end to keep the conversation going. We can all learn from each other. The power of saving from an early age If you haven’t been working on this since your early 30s, [early retirement] probably won’t happen. We decided in our early 30s that we were retiring in our 50s. So we made A LOT of sacrifices to make it happen. A modest house, driving cars until they drop, modest vacations … If early retirement is your plan, check your numbers and then check them again and again. If you stick to the plan, it can happen. A reader chimed in with hearty congratulations. Good for you! Holding off "I want it now" and sticking with your plan has rewards! Kerry: The beauty of time. Saving enough to be able to retire in your early 60s often does come down to the fact that you played the long game and saved consistently in your retirement accounts from an early age. A good example: The average savings tenure of Fidelity’s 401(k) account millionaires is 26 years. What that means is that steadily investing over the long term adds up. The average age of a retirement account millionaire is 59. The majority of these savers, however, were power savers. They socked away 17.5% of their pay on average. Their employers contribute an additional 9% to their retirement accounts for a total savings rate of 26.6%. Story continues The average age of a retirement account millionaire at Fildeity is 59. The majority of these savers, however, were consistent power savers. (Getty Creative) (kupicoo via Getty Images) 'No regrets whatsoever' I retired at 53 in 2021, I convinced my husband to retire a year later at 60. No regrets whatsoever. We don't feel deprived at all. It really doesn't take much in retirement. Life and health are much more important. Another reader’s take: While working, time seemed to move slowly as I waited for the first company holiday of the year which was not until May. Then the rest of the year went by fast. After being retired for 9 years, I can look back and see all the travels I was able to have, especially with my siblings, one of whom passed away last year. If you can support financially your lifestyle, why keep working? Enjoy life while you are physically able to. And then this thought: For some of us health actually improves [in retirement] and less medical care is needed. For instance, blood pressure goes down, more time to walk and take exercise classes so weight goes down, and muscles and balance improve. Retirement meant no stress, so better sleep and plenty of time to prepare and eat healthier meals. Kerry: I agree that you need to savor life. It’s personal for me. My younger brother died suddenly in his 50s. He ran his own business and worked hours upon hours to make sure his customers were happy. He worried about making ends meet constantly and didn’t take vacations. His death was a clear reminder to me of the importance of finding ways to spend time doing things that bring you joy with those you love. But in order to have that luxury, you need a plan. Most workers haven't spent much time figuring out what their expenses in retirement are likely to be, and retiring early might be a crap shoot. Half of retirees say their overall expenses in retirement are higher than they originally expected, and over a third of retirees say their travel, entertainment, or leisure expenses, in particular, are higher than they expected. "I'm at the top of my game. Why would I want to step away from this?" (Getty Creative) (Yuri_Arcurs via Getty Images) A different kind of regret Like a lot of folks commenting here, my wife and I were financially able to retire early, so we did. Unlike a lot of folks commenting here, I likely wouldn't do it that way again if I had it to do over. The old saying, 'find something that you enjoy and you'll never work a day in your life,' that was me. And I regret giving that up. I didn't go in every day because I needed a paycheck or benefits, I went in every day because I loved what I did. If you're fortunate enough to be in that boat, consider your options carefully. And this one made me smile: My dad turns 98 this year and he still works. So if my health allows me I’ll also be working past 70 years old. If you have a purpose in life, you’ll live a long life. If you want to stay home and rot away in a rocking chair, do it. But don’t complain about aches and pains or when a Dr. says you only have 3, 6 , or 12 months to live because you decided to remain sedentary. Among other factors, that can cause a person to die early.. Then this one: I strongly suggest to keep working, if possible. I am 76 and still working full-time, still providing foster care for the past 28 years with my wife, still teaching parent education classes and still very active volunteering in my church. Gives me purpose every morning, despite two total knee replacement surgeries and three corneal transplants. Keep the faith! Another reader responded to him: God bless you but I retired at 66 and haven't been bored for one second. I'm 71 now and am as healthy and active as I was at 40. Life is very, very short. But each of us has a different path. Whatever makes you happy and fulfilled. Kerry: As many of you know, I am a strong believer in work of some kind as a positive force in our lives, particularly as we age. It doesn’t have to be about the money. In a Yahoo Finance interview I did with Chip Conley, author of the new book “Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better With Age,” he summed the sentiment up nicely: “Today we have more and more knowledge workers who feel like, ‘My gosh, I’m in my early 60s, I'm at my best. I feel like I'm at the top of my game. Why would I want to step away from this? Retirement as a word is very triggering for some people. It's not the thing that they're aspiring to because they have seen other people, or maybe they've even tried it themselves to retire, and they got bored and they felt like they lost community. They lost purpose. They lost wellness. Those are the three things that are foundational for living a longer, better life.” Study after study shows millions of Americans are undersaved for retirement and fear outliving their money. (Getty Creative) (Peter Cade via Getty Images) Traditional pensions can make or break the early retirement decision I pity the generations who will never know what pensions are. I live very comfortably with a pension and Social Security at the age of 60. Another wrote; I retired at 56, union pension and benefits … Never looked back. This reader added: I retired at 63 with not much money saved. Living on a very small pension and Social Security payments. The idea of retiring and doing all this world traveling is all make believe. I live in a retirement community and none of my senior neighbors travel the world. Daily excitement consists of doing the morning crossword and then walking the dog a few times. Day after day. That is it and we are all happy. Kerry: More than two decades ago, employers began to quit offering traditional defined-benefit pensions and substituted 401(k) retirement plans that employees contributed to themselves with a small match in funds from the employer. Today, just 11% of private employers offer pensions. For many workers who rely entirely on an individual or employer-provided retirement plan, it's often difficult to save. Study after study shows millions of Americans are undersaved for retirement and fear outliving their money. One solution for some workers: investment options that provide guaranteed retirement income in their employer-provided retirement plan. Fidelity Investments, which administers accounts for more than 43 million participants and 24,000 employers, now offers a Guaranteed Income Direct option, which allows employees to convert all or a portion of their retirement savings — from a 401(k), 403(b), or 457(b) account — into an immediate income annuity to provide pension-like payments throughout retirement. Retiring at 62 might be reasonable or sustainable for you. I promise, no eyeroll. But take to heart that the bulk of your thoughtful comments offer this wisdom: It generally requires saving consistently and living within your means for decades, hand in hand with an open mind about what truly brings you happiness. Hint: It’s often the intangibles like spending time with friends and family. Priceless. Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon. Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

Nvidia and more: Citi names global stocks to play the semiconductor boom 2024-05-28 00:25:00+00:00 - The global semiconductor industry is set to experience "groundbreaking changes," Citi said, naming stocks to play the theme. "We believe semiconductor architecture will evolve towards the direction of memory and logic integration for AI computing," the investment bank's analysts wrote in a May 17 research note. Here are six stocks from Citi's list, which stand out for having substantial upside potential, according to FactSet's consensus price targets. Nvidia Among Citi's list of top stocks is investor darling Nvidia . The company's shares crossed $1,000 for the first time following its earnings announcement last Wednesday. The stock has had an extraordinary journey of late, gaining nearly 13.5% over the last week and close to 174% over the past year. Of the 62 analysts covering Nvidia, 56 have an overweight or buy call. Analysts' target price on the stock is $1,174.4, representing 10.3% potential upside, according to FactSet data. Citi remains bullish on the stock and expects Nvidia to "represent 90 - 95% of the AI GPUs [graphic processing unit] market in C24 and C25." That will be "backed by an accelerated roadmap and a technology leadership going from the chip level to software level," analyst Atif Malik wrote. ASMPT and Ibiden Among the under-the-radar stocks on Citi's list is the Hong Kong-listed ASMPT and Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Ibiden . "We are positive on ASMPT as we expect the company to benefit from increasing AI-driven demand for its advanced packaging solutions, notably for its TCB (thermocompression bonder)," the bank's analyst Kevin Chen wrote. He noted that ASMPT is a leading supplier of TCB, adding that the company is expected to have more "meaningful AI-related contribution" in 2024 and 2025. The stock is included in the Franklin FTSE Hong Kong ETF (1.1% weight). Meanwhile, Citi's optimism on Ibiden follows its "large market shares in high-end ABF [Ajinomoto Build-Up Film] substrates including for AI GPUs." "We remain confident of medium-term earnings growth on strong sales of generative AI-related packages and a recovery in general-purpose server ABF substrates toward FY3/26," analyst Takayuki Naito added. Ibiden has a 0.5% weighting in the BlackRock Future Tech ETF . Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix also made Citi's list. The investment bank's optimism on Samsung Electronics follows expectations of a two-fold and three-fold increase in its high bandwidth memory (HBM) shipments in 2024 and 2025. Citi also noted that SK Hynix is looking forward to stronger supplies of HBM3E chips through to 2025, "in line with the customer's roadmap." "Despite market concerns on potential HBM oversupply, Hynix noted that HBM demand visibility is continuously improving amid CSP [cloud solution provider] clients' AI investment growth," analyst Peter Lee wrote. Both stocks are traded in the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (Samsung Electronics has a 23.6% weighting and SK Hynix has a 8.4% weighting) and Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (Samsung Electronics 16.4% and SK Hynix 8.3%). — CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.

Disengaged voters could be the key to Biden winning a second term. But they need to be convinced on the economy. 2024-05-28 00:24:57+00:00 - A new poll shows Trump's polling gains have been powered by voters who didn't cast a ballot in 2020. The Times says these voters could stay home or return to Biden. Many of these voters actually lean Democratic, but they've drifted away from Biden over the economy. Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Advertisement President Joe Biden's reelection chances could rest on the support of irregular and disengaged voters — a segment of the population who sat out the hotly-contested 2020 presidential race. But Biden would have to convince these voters that his vision for the economy would ultimately work for them, as their lagging support for his campaign has given former President Donald Trump a major opening ahead of November. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in .

Inflation in UK shops falls amid price cuts on furniture and TVs 2024-05-28 00:02:00+00:00 - Shop price inflation has eased to the lowest level since November 2021 after retailers cut the price of big purchases such as furniture and TVs as households keep a tight rein on spending amid cost of living pressures and poor weather. Prices rose at an annual rate of 0.6% in May, down from 0.8% in April – the slowest pace since November 2021 – according to the latest monitor from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) trade body and the market research firm NielsenIQ. The decrease was led by non-food prices, which fell by an annual rate of 0.8% in May, the second consecutive month of deflation, marking the biggest drop at the shelf-edge since 2021. Food prices rose by 3.2% compared with 3.4% a month before, led by an easing of price increases on fresh food despite concerns about production during the cold wet spring. Mike Watkins, the head of business insight at NielsenIQ, said: “After a number of months of falling input prices, we are now seeing food inflation stabilise and retailers continue to pass on price cuts to shoppers.” After wage rises and tax cuts for many in April, Watkins said consumer sentiment was improving but “unseasonable weather” had put an additional dampener on demand so that promotional activity was likely to continue in an attempt to drive up spending. Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the BRC, said: “Shop price inflation has returned to normal levels, at just 0.6%. This was helped by slowing food inflation, with fresh food inflation falling to its lowest level since November 2021. Meanwhile, ambient food inflation remained stickier, especially for sugary products which continued to feel the effects of high global sugar prices. “In non-food, retailers cut furniture prices in an attempt to revive subdued consumer demand for big-ticket items, and football fans have been able to grab some bargains on TVs and other audio-visual equipment ahead of this summer’s Euros.” She called on the government to do more to help bring down inflation amid an increased burden on businesses from business rates and other levies. “With an election in a matter of weeks, it is vital that parties detail their support for customers and retailers in their upcoming manifestos,” Dickinson said. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Business Today Free daily newsletter Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Enter your email address Sign up Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy . We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion The shop inflation figures will feed hopes that the biggest bump in inflation for 40 years has passed, which could prompt the Bank of England to begin cutting interest rates within months to help ease pressure on households. The number of visitors to shopping destinations was down almost 1% year on year in the week to 19 May according to the advisory firm BDO’s regular survey of mid-sized retailers, many of which are fashion chains, showing a 0.5% year on year dip in sales at established stores in the week to 19 May. That was offset by a big jump in online sales to drive a near-4% rise in total sales.

Cockroaches wouldn't exist without humans. We helped them become one of the world's worst pests, according to a new study. 2024-05-27 23:57:17+00:00 - By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview If you ever saw a cockroach scuttling across your kitchen floor or a restaurant wall, chances are it was a German cockroach. The German roach is the most common of the 70 different cockroach species in the US. For 250 years, scientists didn't know where it came from and how it managed to spread to every continent on Earth except Antarctica. Now that mystery has been solved, and the answer is that it's largely our fault. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. The German cockroach is "a creation of human-made environments," Edward Vargo, an entomology professor at Texas A&M University and co-author of a new study identifying the roach's origins, told The Washington Post. The German cockroach can't survive in "temperate winters outdoors" and all species of cockroaches "prefer warm, moist places where they can feed on human and pet foods, decaying and fermenting matter, and a variety of other items," according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Advertisement That's why it's pretty safe to say that if human-built establishments like houses, stores, restaurants, and other buildings didn't exist, neither would these pesky pests. The researchers published their results last week in the peer-reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Where did the German roach come from? Scientists have long understood that the species thrive indoors, but their origins remained a mystery. Related stories Through DNA analysis, Vargo and his colleagues found that the species' closest relative is the Asian cockroach. Advertisement The German roach evolved from its Asian cousin about 2,100 years ago to adapt to "human settlements in India or Myanmar," the researchers reported in their paper. With advancements in transportation and "temperature-controlled housing," the German cockroach made its relatively recent global spread, the researchers said in their report. How the German cockroach took over The German cockroach's adaption to warm environments, ability to rapidly breed, and unique resistance to insecticides make them a frustratingly common presence in households. For example, in a lifetime, one adult female German roach can produce four to eight egg capsules containing up to 48 eggs each, according to Penn State's Department of Entomology. Do the math and that's between 192 to 384 roaches, if every egg survives to adulthood. Advertisement But German roaches didn't migrate thousands of miles across oceans and continents on their tiny insect legs. Their global spread coincides with advancements in human travel and housing, according to the study. In particular, the researchers determined that the German cockroach's spread began along two routes, west and east of its origin in India or Myanmar. The roach's westward spread likely occurred during times of increasing "commercial and military activities of the Islamic Umayyad or Abbasid Caliphates" about 1,200 years ago, the researchers reported. Meanwhile, the pest's eastward spread about 390 years ago was likely caused by "European colonial commercial activities between South and Southeast Asia." Understanding the German cockroaches' origins could help other scientists understand how the species evolved to become so resilient against common insecticides. One study found that they're resistant to five types of common household insecticides. Advertisement "If we can know the origin of the species, we can try to identify the mechanism of this rapid evolution of insecticide resistance," Qian Tang, a research associate at Rowland Institute at Harvard who led the new study told the Post.