New home sales saw the biggest burst of activity in August since 2022, MBA says
The housing market is seeing a fresh burst of activity as mortgage rates edge lower. That’s evident from the wave of buyers who are diving into the market for new homes after being sidelined by waning affordability in recent years. New home sales climbed nearly 15% in August, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers…
A millennial couple who moved to South Korea says $400 a month for full-time childcare is a huge perk
Chris Oberman said he and his wife were pleasantly surprised by South Korea’s “really cheap” childcare costs. About 10 months ago, Chris Oberman and his wife welcomed their first child together. They’re learning how to be parents in an unfamiliar environment, but there’s one thing that could work in their favor: low childcare costs. Since…
Snapchat unveils new features to recruit more creators and land them paid brand deals
Brooke Berry has worked at Snapchat for almost four years and took to the stage on Tuesday to highlight new initiatives. If Brooke Berry had two minutes with you alone in an elevator, she’s “90%” confident she could convince you to start posting on Snapchat every day. The head of Snap creator development’s power of…
The US economy is strong enough that Fed rate cuts aren’t even warranted, JPMorgan strategist says
U.S. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell. This week, the Federal Reserve is expected to decide on the size of its highly-anticipated rate cut. Traders are pricing in a 100% chance of a cut and are merely debating how big it might be. Yet, one strategist says a rate cut isn’t necessary at all given…
Bitcoin is surging on hopes rate cuts will drive a speculative rush
The end-of-summer doldrums may be over for bitcoin. The token’s price climbed as much as 6.4% to $61,337 on Tuesday, its biggest intraday jump since August 8. Investors are anticipating the Federal Reserve’s long-awaited rate cut tomorrow, which will be announced at the end of the central bank’s two-day policy meeting. Markets are still unsure…
North Korea may be Russia’s most dangerous ally, Ukraine spy chief says
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un attend a welcoming ceremony in Pyongyang, North Korea. In the wake of the Ukraine war, Russia has formed a close alliance with China, the world’s second-biggest economy, and boosted trade ties with other major economies, such as India. Yet according to the head…
German warships visit the Philippines amid its South China Sea clashes after angering Beijing by sailing through the Taiwan Strait
German Navy vessels are visiting the Philippines for the first time in over 20 years. Two German warships are visiting the Philippines for the first time in over 20 years after making a notable transit through the Taiwan Strait. The port call, which Germany said is a reaffirmation of its commitment to a free and…
The Houthis painted the word “hypersonic” on the new ballistic missile they fired at Israel, which says it’s actually just a regular missile
The Houthis wrote “hypersonic” on their new Palestine 2 missile. The Houthi rebels painted the word “hypersonic” in English on the missile they launched at Israel over the weekend, emphasizing a new capability. The Israeli military, however, is pouring cold water on the Houthis’ claim that the missile is a hypersonic weapon. The Houthis published…
The US sent Taiwan waterlogged shipments of moldy body armor and machine guns tossed in a cardboard box, DoD watchdog says
Moldy body armor plates were delivered to Taiwan in December, the OIG said. The US sent Taiwan hundreds of pallets containing “unserviceable” equipment and ammo in the last year because the gear got wet while sitting for months at an air base, a government watchdog said. In a report published on Wednesday, the Office of…
