Fintech 50: Aven and Valon Thrive Amidst Real Estate Downturn
In 2024, despite record-high home prices and near two-decade-high mortgage rates leading to the lowest existing home sales since 1995, two real estate companies, Aven and Valon, thrived in the Fintech 50 list, demonstrating innovative solutions and impressive growth—Aven with its rapid HELOC approva...
Fintech 50: Aven and Valon Thrive Amidst Real Estate Downturn
In 2024, despite record-high home prices and near two-decade-high mortgage rates leading to the lowest existing home sales since 1995, two real estate companies, Aven and Valon, thrived in the Fintech 50 list, demonstrating innovative solutions and impressive growth—Aven with its rapid HELOC approva...
Progress
44% Bias Score
Victorian Private School Fees Soar to National High
Victorian private school fees are the highest in Australia, exceeding \$11,200 statewide and nearly \$41,000 in Melbourne's inner south-east, driven partly by a state government payroll tax increase implemented in July 2024 impacting schools charging over \$15,000 annually.
Victorian Private School Fees Soar to National High
Victorian private school fees are the highest in Australia, exceeding \$11,200 statewide and nearly \$41,000 in Melbourne's inner south-east, driven partly by a state government payroll tax increase implemented in July 2024 impacting schools charging over \$15,000 annually.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Lubrizol Strike in France: 169 Job Cuts Protested Amidst Plant Profitability
A strike at Lubrizol's Rouen and Le Havre plants, starting February 18th, is protesting a restructuring plan eliminating 169 jobs, including 145 in Rouen, despite the plant's reported profitability and high production output. The union claims the restructuring is linked to the 2019 chemical fire.
Lubrizol Strike in France: 169 Job Cuts Protested Amidst Plant Profitability
A strike at Lubrizol's Rouen and Le Havre plants, starting February 18th, is protesting a restructuring plan eliminating 169 jobs, including 145 in Rouen, despite the plant's reported profitability and high production output. The union claims the restructuring is linked to the 2019 chemical fire.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Swedish Court Sentences Four to Prison for ISIS Involvement in Somalia
A Swedish court sentenced four Swedish citizens to prison for ISIS-related activities in Somalia, including recruitment, propaganda, weapons training, and advising, between 2023 and 2024; charges of planning attacks in Sweden were dropped.
Swedish Court Sentences Four to Prison for ISIS Involvement in Somalia
A Swedish court sentenced four Swedish citizens to prison for ISIS-related activities in Somalia, including recruitment, propaganda, weapons training, and advising, between 2023 and 2024; charges of planning attacks in Sweden were dropped.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Frankfurter Volksbank surpasses Berliner Volksbank after merger
The Frankfurter Volksbank finalized its merger with Raiffeisen-Volksbank Aschaffenburg in 2024, becoming Germany's largest Volksbank with €19 billion in assets and 800,000 customers, despite a slightly lower annual profit due to higher taxes and increased regulatory scrutiny.
Frankfurter Volksbank surpasses Berliner Volksbank after merger
The Frankfurter Volksbank finalized its merger with Raiffeisen-Volksbank Aschaffenburg in 2024, becoming Germany's largest Volksbank with €19 billion in assets and 800,000 customers, despite a slightly lower annual profit due to higher taxes and increased regulatory scrutiny.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Political Turmoil Fails to Shake Massive Bond Markets
In early January, Justin Trudeau resigned as Canadian Prime Minister, and Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th U.S. President; despite this, the massive global bond market (over $220 trillion) remains largely unaffected by political headlines, primarily driven by central bank actions and long-te...
Political Turmoil Fails to Shake Massive Bond Markets
In early January, Justin Trudeau resigned as Canadian Prime Minister, and Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th U.S. President; despite this, the massive global bond market (over $220 trillion) remains largely unaffected by political headlines, primarily driven by central bank actions and long-te...
Progress
36% Bias Score
Chinese Commercial Real Estate Poised for 5-10% Growth in 2025
A CBRE survey reveals that 60% of investors expect a Chinese commercial real estate market rebound by 2025, projecting 5-10% growth in en bloc transactions, driven by policy support and a focus on high-quality assets like industrial logistics and rental housing.
Chinese Commercial Real Estate Poised for 5-10% Growth in 2025
A CBRE survey reveals that 60% of investors expect a Chinese commercial real estate market rebound by 2025, projecting 5-10% growth in en bloc transactions, driven by policy support and a focus on high-quality assets like industrial logistics and rental housing.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Trump's Swift Bureaucracy Overhaul After First-Term Obstruction
President Trump's administration swiftly removed numerous senior federal bureaucrats deemed resistant to White House policies, contrasting with his first term's struggles against bureaucratic sabotage and obstruction, exemplified by the Crossfire Hurricane scandal and various agency-level actions.
Trump's Swift Bureaucracy Overhaul After First-Term Obstruction
President Trump's administration swiftly removed numerous senior federal bureaucrats deemed resistant to White House policies, contrasting with his first term's struggles against bureaucratic sabotage and obstruction, exemplified by the Crossfire Hurricane scandal and various agency-level actions.
Progress
60% Bias Score
Cyprus Internment Camps' 76th Anniversary Commemorated
In February 1949, the British closed Cypriot internment camps that held approximately 52,000 Holocaust survivors after World War II; a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary highlighted the camps' harsh conditions, the aid provided by Cypriots, and the approximately 2,200 babies born there.
Cyprus Internment Camps' 76th Anniversary Commemorated
In February 1949, the British closed Cypriot internment camps that held approximately 52,000 Holocaust survivors after World War II; a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary highlighted the camps' harsh conditions, the aid provided by Cypriots, and the approximately 2,200 babies born there.
Progress
16% Bias Score
EU Remote Work Decreases Despite High Employee Preference
Major companies are mandating office returns, causing a decline in fully remote work in the EU, while hybrid work remains the most common model (44%). However, employee preference for remote work remains high (74%), with the desire for fully remote work increasing from 13% in 2020 to 24% in 2024.
EU Remote Work Decreases Despite High Employee Preference
Major companies are mandating office returns, causing a decline in fully remote work in the EU, while hybrid work remains the most common model (44%). However, employee preference for remote work remains high (74%), with the desire for fully remote work increasing from 13% in 2020 to 24% in 2024.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Stuttgart Trial: Attempted Murder After Break-in
In Stuttgart, Germany, a 24-year-old man is on trial for attempted murder and robbery after allegedly stabbing a 15-year-old girl eight times during a break-in last August; the prosecution seeks preventative detention due to his extensive criminal record.
Stuttgart Trial: Attempted Murder After Break-in
In Stuttgart, Germany, a 24-year-old man is on trial for attempted murder and robbery after allegedly stabbing a 15-year-old girl eight times during a break-in last August; the prosecution seeks preventative detention due to his extensive criminal record.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Bavaria Reduces Administrative Regulations by 10 Percent, Enacts Moratorium
The Bavarian cabinet has reduced administrative regulations by enacting a moratorium on new regulations and aiming to reduce existing ones by at least 10 percent by the end of 2024, resulting in 2867 regulations remaining as of January 1, 2025. A third modernization act further simplifies grant proc...
Bavaria Reduces Administrative Regulations by 10 Percent, Enacts Moratorium
The Bavarian cabinet has reduced administrative regulations by enacting a moratorium on new regulations and aiming to reduce existing ones by at least 10 percent by the end of 2024, resulting in 2867 regulations remaining as of January 1, 2025. A third modernization act further simplifies grant proc...
Progress
44% Bias Score