Rising mortgage rates did not slow down rising home prices in March. Nationally, home prices were 20.6% higher than they were in March 2021, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index. That is higher than the 20% gain in February. The index is a three-month running average ending in March. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage …

Battery electric vehicles accounted for about 1.5% of U.S. new vehicle sales last year, a small and growing number that will grow over the next decade as automakers bring out more offerings and more consumers discover some of the advantages over gas cars. Already there are enough different models for Consumer Reports and J.D. Power to create electric vehicle categories in their …

Despite this year’s return to in-person learning, districts throughout the state are seeing major declines in both enrollment and average daily attendance, and fear the reductions could result in significant funding cuts next school year. Without state intervention, many districts face substantial cuts in state funding and could be forced to make significant budget cuts in the 2022-23 school year, …

AUSTIN — The state-run Texas tourism department has handed MMGY NJF its North American PR business, which was most recently handled by Edelman. As Travel Texas’ North American PR and social media agency of record, MMGY NJF will be responsible for developing earned media and social strategies targeting domestic tourists, who make up 90% of Texas visitors. Out-of-state visitors were …

The Kentucky State Police started using a new DNA test in February that law enforcement officials say could completely revolutionize criminal investigations, analyzing the data in under two hours instead of days or weeks. Colorado-based ANDE Rapid DNA is offering its quick DNA testing to Kentucky state police for free as part of an ongoing pilot program. Kentucky is the …

Edelweiss Securities has initiated coverage on AU Small Finance Bank with a buy rating and target price of Rs 880 apiece, implying 24 percent potential upside from current levels. At 0916 hours IST, it was quoting at Rs 712, up Rs 3.85, or 0.54 percent on the BSE. The non-banking finance company continues to deliver high loan growth without any asset quality …

With insurers shouldering a record $160 billion in climate-related losses from last year alone, a group, including 30 central banks, called for measures to spur green finance and better assessment of the risks from higher global temperatures. The move, led by the Bank of France, Bank of England and People’s Bank of China, draws the group deeper into a controversial …

As Attorney General K. K. Venugopal resumed his submissions on the constitutionality of the passage as a Money Bill of the Finance Act of 2017 on Monday, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked for a copy of the Supreme Court’s order in Rajiv Garg, where the court had considered whether different conditions of service could be prescribed for different tribunals. In …

Beijing railway station. Local governments and agencies have been piloting aspects of the system. Photograph: Roman Pilipey/EPA China has blocked millions of “discredited” travellers from buying plane or train tickets as part of the country’s controversial “social credit” system aimed at improving the behaviour of citizens. According to the National Public Credit Information Centre, Chinese courts banned would-be travellers from buying …

There are hundreds of NGOs in India that are striving to make a measurable impact for the greater good. But running an NGO comes with a number of challenges – of which raising funds is a major one. Other issues linked to this are getting volunteers on board and maintaining a long-term relationship with them. Unfortunately, this sector has lacked …