Author: Press Room

The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced a new jumbo hike of interest rates in a bid to bring down record inflation in the eurozone.The bank’s three key interest rates were each bumped by three-quarters of a percentage point, the same as they did in September.The central bank’s interest rates have a cascading effect across the eurozone and directly influence the rates that commercial banks offer to households and businesses.Mortgages, car loans and credit cards will become more expensive and less attractive as a result.Governments will have to make higher payments for their national debt, worsening their public deficits.Average debt…

The Miss Universe Organization has suspended Miss USA President Crystle Stewart and her company, Miss Brand Corporation, pending an independent investigation into allegations that the 2022 Miss USA pageant was rigged. “After thorough deliberation, Miss Universe Organization has decided to suspend Miss Brand immediately,” the Miss Universe Organization said in a statement to CNN. “Miss Universe Organization will be taking over the Miss USA program while a comprehensive, third-party investigation is conducted.” In a statement to CNN Wednesday, Stewart said she is cooperating with the investigation but denied any claims that the pageant was rigged. “The current allegations that the…

Serbia is seeing a sudden tourism boom from countries whose citizens never before had its sightseeing and shopping opportunities on their radar. That’s largely due to the Balkan country’s generous entry rules, which made it a key stop for migrants seeking to reach Europe without risking a perilous sea crossing.A recent flight from Turkey to Belgrade — one of half a dozen scheduled daily — was packed with people from African and Asian nations who don’t need a visa to enter the European country.But this is changing as Serbia faces pressure from the European Union, which it wants to join, to…

Nepalese tourist hotspots have banned TikTok in a bid to disperse disruptive ‘selfie crowds’ and restore some peace at sacred sites.Though videos on the popular app can be as short as 15 seconds, too many visitors have taken to posing and dancing in front of religious attractions like Kathmandu’s magnificent Boudhanath Stupa.‘No TikTok’ signs have also gone up at the Buddhist pilgrimage site Lumbini, Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpur and Gadhimai temple in Bara in recent months.“Making TikTok by playing loud music creates a nuisance for pilgrims from all over the world who come to the birthplace of Gautama Buddha,”…

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Apple reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday that beat Wall Street expectations on revenue and earnings per share. However, Apple came up short versus revenue expectations in core product categories including the company’s iPhone business and services. Apple shares rose over 1% in extended trading.Here is how Apple did versus Refinitiv consensus estimates: EPS $1.29 vs. $1.27 est. Revenue. $90.15 billion vs. $88.90 billion estimated, up 8.1% year-over-year iPhone revenue: $42.63 billion vs. $43.21 billion estimated, up 9.67% year-over-year Mac revenue: $11.51 billion vs. $9.36 billion estimated, up 25.39% year-over-year iPad revenue: $7.17 billion vs. $7.94 billion estimated, down 13.06% year-over-year Other Products revenue: $9.65 billion vs. $9.17 billion estimated, up 9.85% year-over-year Services revenue: $19.19 billion…

Amazon shares plummeted 13% in extended trading on Thursday after the company issued a disappointing fourth-quarter forecast and missed on revenue estimates.Here are the key numbers:Earnings: 28 cents per shareRevenue: $127.10 billion vs. $127.46 billion, according to Refinitiv estimatesHere’s how the other key Amazon segments did during the quarter:Amazon Web Services: $20.5 billion vs. $21.1 billion expected, according to StreetAccountAdvertising: $9.55 billion vs. $9.48 billion expected, according to StreetAccountAmazon said it expects to post fourth-quarter revenue between $140 billion and $148 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 2% to 8%. Analysts were expecting sales to come in at $155.15 billion, according…

One in 10 Americans ages 65 and older is estimated to have dementia. One of the 12 modifiable risk factors for dementia is air pollution. Researchers from the Western University, London, Ontario, Canada found that higher exposure to particulate matter in traffic-related air pollution increases a person’s dementia risk.Scientists say a person’s dementia risk increases by 3% for every one microgram per cubic meter of fine particulate matter they were exposed to.According to recent research, one in 10 Americans ages 65 and older has dementia — a group of diseases that impair the way the brain functions. Although there is…

Upgrade CEO Renaud Laplanche speaks at a conference in Brooklyn, New York, in 2018.Alex Flynn | Bloomberg via Getty ImagesCredit card startup Upgrade is releasing a new savings account with what it says is the country’s top interest rate as competition for deposits heats up, CNBC has learned.The fintech firm’s Premier Savings account is being launched Thursday with a 3.5% annual percentage yield, according to CEO Renaud Laplanche. That is higher than any account currently tracked by Bankrate.com, senior analyst Ted Rossman said in an email.”At 3.5%, we’re by far the best savings account in the country,” Laplanche said during…

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