Mortgage demand tumbled again last week amid stubbornly high mortgage rates‚ which have depressed the housing market and caused pain for homebuyers. Mortgage loan application volume decreased by 0.7% last week on a seasonally adjusted basis‚ according to a report Wednesday from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The volume of refinances dropped by 2% during that same time‚ according to the group’s weekly survey‚ and has plunged 9% from a year ago. The declining...

U.S. business leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday‚ the latest of Beijing’s efforts to bolster foreign investment in China amid tensions with the U.S. Blackstone founder Stephen Schwarzman‚ Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon‚ Bloomberg Chair Mark Carney and FedEx President Rajesh Subramaniam were among the attendees‚ according to state media. The companies did not immediately respond to CNBC’s requests for comment. Earlier...

The artificial-intelligence boom is sending Silicon Valley’s talent wars to new extremes. Tech companies are serving up million-dollar-a-year compensation packages‚ accelerated stock-vesting schedules and offers to poach entire engineering teams to draw people with expertise and experience in the kind of generative AI that is powering ChatGPT and other humanlike bots. They are competing against each other and against startups vying to be the next big thing to unseat the giants. The offers...

Former President Donald Trump's latest venture selling Bibles has sparked the fury of Christians. Trump‚ who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier in March‚ posted a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging his supporters to buy the "God Bless the USA Bible‚" inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood's patriotic ballad. "Happy Holy Week! Let's Make America Pray Again. As we lead into Good Friday and Easter‚ I encourage you to get a copy of...

Former President Donald Trump is now selling Bibles as he runs to return to the White House. Trump‚ who became the presumptive Republican nominee earlier this month‚ released a video on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday urging his supporters to buy the “God Bless the USA Bible‚” which is inspired by country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic ballad. Trump takes the stage to the song at each of his rallies and has appeared with Greenwood at events. “Happy Holy Week!...

Former President Donald Trump promoted a new leather-bound "God Bless the USA" Bible on Tuesday‚ and warned his supporters that Christians in the U.S. are "under siege." In a video statement posted to Truth Social‚ Trump displayed a version of the Bible that he's promoting with musician Lee Greenwood‚ whose song "God Bless the USA" often features during Trump's rallies. Trump noted that the Bible‚ which is in the King James Version and costs $59.99‚ also features the founding...

Former President Donald Trump lashed out at the judge overseeing his Manhattan criminal hush-money case and his daughter after being hit with a gag order on Tuesday. Trump on Wednesday accused Judge Juan Merchan of issuing an “illegal‚ un-American‚ unConstitutional [sic]” gag order barring him from discussing jurors and potential witnesses in the case as well as court staff‚ the district attorney’s staff‚ and their families. “This Judge‚ by issuing a vicious “Gag Order...

Usually‚ when you read a story about people being confronted in a grocery store parking lot‚ it's bad news. But not this time. Back in November of 2023‚ Portland‚ Oregon-based photographer David Frazier had an uplifting experience in the parking lot of a New Seasons market after being approached by a female admirer.He later told the story on TikTok in a video that received over 3.4 million views.While making a quick run to the store‚ Frazier parked next to a woman driving a Tesla. He noticed she was eating‚ hanging around and “vibing‚” so he flashed her a smile and went into the store‚ where he picked up a bite to eat.Upon returning to his car‚ the woman was still there. She rolled down her window and asked Frazier‚ “Hey‚ are you single?” Frazier was taken aback by the question and replied: “Sadly‚ yes‚ I am. Um‚ also very gay‚ though.” @wowrealneat Dear New Seasons Parking Lot Girl‚ you’re so cool and ily ❤️ #fyp #portland #parkinglot #xoxo He told the woman he was flattered and that asking never hurts. "You're just so handsome‚" she replied. Frazier returned the compliment‚ calling her "pretty‚" and the two shared a laugh and went their separate ways.But the interaction stuck with Frazier. He thought it took real "guts" to tell a stranger you think they're attractive. He also felt that it was "kind" and "flattering" for her to compliment him. "She seemed like such a genuine and kind and earnest" and "cool" person‚ he said in the video.He hoped the TikTok video he made would eventually reach her somehow. “You have uplifted me in a way that I didn’t know I needed‚ and it made me feel amazing‚ and I just wanted to say thank you and I hope you have such an incredible weekend‚” Frazier told the woman through his post.He also invited her to get a “friend coffee.”Five weeks after Frazier posted the video‚ it successfully reached its intended audience of one. It was seen by Tifanie Mayberry‚ the woman driving the Tesla. She shared a reaction video where she watched Frazier’s original post. The video received over 11 million views. @tifaniemayberry #duet with @David #fyp WOW!! Never expected for this to come back around like this. OMG. The internet is internetting and I LOVE it!! Mayberry followed the reaction video up with another‚ explaining that her behavior in the parking lot that day was a perfect example of where she is in life. She’s 35‚ single and ready to settle down and have kids. If that means she has to be a little forward in approaching men‚ so be it."So what you're witnessing is me just being like no BS and being 'like okay if I see me a good one‚ I just like to lasso them‚ and reel 'em in’ and be like 'Hey‚ I'm interested‚' and that's just kind of where I am in life. And apparently‚ this one got back to me in a very unexpected way‚” she said.Mayberry added that she has yet to speak with Frazier but is looking forward to meeting him. She hopes that one day he’ll even make it to her wedding. @tifaniemayberry Well its been a very funny ending to 2023‚ and I have to say it ended things on such a great note for me 🥹❤️✨ Thanks TikTok!! @David - Coffee in the New Year?! This article originally appeared on 1.5.24

Kids are interesting‚ especially between the ages of early toddlerhood and first grade. They can literally fall over laughing because you ripping paper is suddenly hilarious or develop a deep connection with a mixing spoon that they insist on taking everywhere. You really never know what they're going to do and as parents we just learn to go with it. As long as it's not hurting them or anyone else‚ go for it. For nearly two years my daughter dressed up as Snow White every day‚ complete with plastic heels‚ only taking a break for wash days when all three costumes were dirty. So it's not a surprise when one little girl decided she wanted to be a pink chair for Halloween.Recently‚ her parents posted a compilation video on their TikTok page‚ Toy Story Dad‚ partially captioned‚ "This is her world and we are all just living in it‚" giving an explanation on her viral chair costume. The best part of the explanation is that it didn't need to be explained. They just compiled videos of all of the times they asked their daughter‚ Scarlet‚ what she wanted to be for Halloween‚ likely thinking she would change her mind. But she didn't‚ in fact‚ she started to look a bit miffed at them constantly asking. Every time they would ask‚ the little girl who looks to be about three replies‚ "a pink chair." No further explanation is needed. She was a pink chair for Halloween last year simply because she was persistent in her request and she just happened to be the cutest little pink chair out there. Commenters loved her adorable insistence and some included their own interesting costume choices their kids have had."The request‚ the persistence‚ the delivery‚ the execution (chef's hand inserted) this little lady is going places‚" one person writes."HER LEGS BEING THE BACK LEGS OF THE CHAIR IS SO CUTE‚" another commenter writes."My friend has twin girls. One was a princess and the other was a crouton as per their requests‚" someone says. There were some revelations of unique costume choices in the comments. Kids dressed up as an oven‚ air conditioner‚ water bottle and even a recycling bin. Little ones are so creative but so are their parents because I'm going to assume it's unlikely to come across an oven or chair at your local Target. But you can see her adorable costume below: @toystorydad_ This is her world and we are all just living in it. 💕What is the funniest thing your kid has dressed up as? Or wanted to dress up as? This article originally appeared on 10.9.23