First, we discuss what the damage figures from Ian, now a tropical storm, could entail. Salary ranges in job postings are giving candidates an edge. Walmart will begin offering fertility benefits.
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From the BBC World Service: In her first media appearance since the British pound’s nosedive, the U.K. Prime Minister defended her plans despite widespread criticism and a rare intervention from the Bank of England. The Lebanese central bank revalued its official currency exchange rate, and in Germany, Porsche debuts on the Frankfurt stock exchange.
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Word of the Day : September 29, 2022
ritzy \RIT-see\ adjective
What It Means
Ritzy is used to describe things that are fancy or stylish in ways that one might consider impressive or showy.
// She preferred the simplicity (and affordability) of a rustic cabin to the superfluities of a ritzy resort.
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ritzy in Context
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Heavy hitters on Wall Street admitted to record-keeping violations and now face billions in fines. Susan Schmidt of Exchange Capital Resources discusses the British bond market with us. We tackle the question of whether colleges should be responsible for parts of student debt.
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From the BBC World Service: In a move usually directed towards emerging and developing markets, the International Monetary Fund has openly criticized the British government’s tax strategy unveiled on Friday. Since then, sterling has plummeted and the cost of borrowing increased, but the Treasury insists on going ahead with the plan. And in Germany there’s been muffled reactions to what is now thought to be an act of sabotage on the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
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We try to explain why some Medicare premiums are actually going down. Explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline have some suspecting sabotage. We check in on the state of the SNAP program as the White House talks hunger and nutrition today.
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Word of the Day : September 28, 2022
kerfuffle \ker-FUFF-ul\ noun
What It Means
Kerfuffle is an informal word that means “a disturbance or fuss typically caused by a dispute or conflict.”
// The reclassification of Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet caused quite a kerfuffle among astronomy lovers.
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kerfuffle in Context
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Today’s Case-Shiller national home price index shows a decline in home prices from June into July. Fed leaders get up front about their message about raising interest rates. After the British pound’s not-so-great day, we check in with the BBC’s Victoria Craig.
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The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 1 percent, which puts it in bear territory with other big indexes. In the home buying world, more people appear to be backing out of deals. And in Georgia, embryos can be claimed as dependents.
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From the BBC World Service: The Bank of England will face questions on its response to yesterday’s decline in the value of sterling. The pound came back slightly after reaching record lows on Monday. And Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks to the BBC’s Zoe Kleinman about the lack of women in the tech sector – he’s at a forum dedicated to getting more women into the industry.
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Word of the Day : September 27, 2022
fructify \FRUK-tuh-fye\ verb
What It Means
Fructify means “to make fruitful or productive” or “to bear fruit or profit.”
// Her parents are in a comfortable financial position, thanks to some investments that have recently begun to fructify.
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fructify in Context
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Doubts about Britain’s fiscal policy hang over the fall of its currency, the pound. On the side of the U.S., markets experienced a bit of a turnaround after a rugged week. Then, we check in on how the world of social media is trying to catch up to TikTok.
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The British government unveils a tax cut plan as its currency drops in value. We then look into what happens when you send hundreds of millions of dollars to the wrong people by accident.
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From the BBC World Service: Sterling bottoms out at a low not seen since the U.S. dollar was created 230 years ago. The markets saw a continued sell off of the British currency after huge tax cuts were unveiled by the U.K. treasury last week. And in Italy, Giorgia Meloni seals victory for the far right after touting tax cuts, immigration restrictions and Euroskeptic economic reforms.
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Word of the Day : September 26, 2022
sporadic \spuh-RAD-ik\ adjective
What It Means
Something described as sporadic occurs occasionally, irregularly, or randomly across time or space.
// The team’s regular meetings became sporadic over the summer months, when at some points up to half of its members were on vacation.
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sporadic in Context
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Word of the Day : September 25, 2022
caucus \KAW-kus\ noun
What It Means
A caucus is “a meeting of members of a political party for the purpose of choosing candidates for an election.” It also refers to “a group of people who meet to discuss a particular issue or to work together for a shared, usually political goal.”
// Members of the caucus debated long and hard to come to a unified position on the issue.
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caucus in Context
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Word of the Day : September 24, 2022
anthropomorphic \an-thruh-puh-MOR-fik\ adjective
What It Means
Anthropomorphic means “described or thought of as being like human beings in appearance, behavior, etc.”
// The story chronicles the adventures of a group of anthropomorphic forest critters.
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anthropomorphic in Context
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The Labor Department also notes what kind of fraud, and where. The SEC has charged Boeing with misleading investors after two deadly crashes. The worlds of commercial and residential construction carry differing experiences within the economy.
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The SEC has charged Boeing and its ex-CEO for misleading investors in the wake of two deadly crashes. The Fed paints a harsher unemployment picture. Puerto Rico’s water system is reeling in the wake of Hurricane Fiona.
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Word of the Day : September 23, 2022
misnomer \miss-NOH-mer\ noun
What It Means
Misnomer means “an incorrect name or designation.” It can also be used to refer to the act of wrongly naming or designating, as in “calling complicated and varied climatic changes ‘global warming’ is something of a misnomer.”
// Peanut is one of the most famous misnomers, because peanuts are legumes, not true nuts.
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misnomer in Context
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