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What Types of Planning Permission Do I Need for a Conservatory Roof

Applying for arranging consent frequently brings a feeling of premonition. Heaps of desk work, unwanted administrator, managing specialized language and formality – is it even worth the effort?

It’s no big surprise then that quite possibly of the most often posed inquiry and concerns we hear from individuals considering a conservatory rooftop transformation is whether they need arranging consent.

The straightforward, short response is no – the length of they stay inside the rules. Yet, to respond to this inquiry completely, we want to ask what precisely arranging consent is, and what it involves while changing over your conservatory.

What is Arranging Authorization

While considering a conservatory rooftop substitution, one thing you need to be guaranteed of is that your new construction adjusts to arranging guidelines.

The last thing mortgage holders need while arranging any structure deals with their property is the neighborhood authority requesting that it be pulled down or fixed after it’s done. Also the possible fines and additional costs that might bring about.

That is the reason getting arranging authorization before development is frequently looked for. Not exclusively to ensure the construction is sound and worked to an elevated expectation, yet in addition to stay away from inconvenience later down the line.

Notwithstanding, one thing we can all settle on is that arranging consents can be confusing,especially with regards to centers, sunrooms and orangeries. Fortunately, there’s various manners by which a conservatory can be worked without the need of full arranging consents.

The rules above have facilitated a little lately with the presentation of “Earlier Notice”. Earlier Notice is a lot less complex type of arranging consent and the structures are clear and simple to finish.

This is on the grounds that dissimilar to with full arranging consent, there is no necessity for full structural plans. A framework plan will do the trick and can be downloaded from the web here.

Earlier Warning permits a mortgage holder to extend 4-8 meters into the nursery with a disconnected property, and 3-6 meters for any remaining property types.

In this way, full arranging authorization is presently just expected on single-story augmentations north of 8 meters’ projection for disconnected properties, and more than 6 meters for any remaining properties.

Remember the Structure Guidelines Endorsement While arranging authorizations may not be important for your conservatory rooftop change, one thing is certain — building guidelines endorsement certainly is!

Building guidelines endorsement is a different endorsement process from arranging consents and this can’t be skipped.

Some exploitative conservatory material organizations might let you know that Building Guidelines Endorsement isn’t required for a conservatory rooftop transformation — with the expectation that their sub-par material isn’t found by the LABC.

We are here to let you know that ALL conservatory rooftop transformation projects — regardless of how little or enormous your conservatory material task.

The Gatekeeper Warm Rooftop

Each of the rooftops made by Watchman are completely LABC endorsed. So the cycle for applying for building guidelines endorsement is quick and simple. As a matter of fact, as a mindful conservatory rooftop installer, Ventures 4 Material does the pertinent applications for you.

That removes the pressure and administrator from you, the mortgage holder. Since we have such a lot of involvement managing nearby specialists and working with building guidelines, it’s a good idea for us to deal with it for your benefit.

That passes on you to partake in your new strong rooftop conservatory without stress.

Furthermore, the room under a Watchman Warm Rooftop will feel like an expansion however with much better regular sunshine as you’ll have the option to keep your conservatory windows and entryways.

Introducing ‘Shareholder-Oriented Financial Accounting’

Last December, I reported that I have begun to compose a book that would propose an altogether different reason for monetary bookkeeping by open organizations. I’m calling it ‘Investor Arranged Monetary Training Link Bookkeeping’ (S-OFA), and this is the initial passage I have as a main priority:

Public organization budget reports are sacks of mush. U.S. GAAP and IFRS depend on a typical and consistently defective reasonable system. Their standards are different in certain regards, yet they share the qualities of being erratic, inside conflicting and unnecessarily complicated. They are additionally overflowing with flashy wording and naming that distorts their pertinence to financial backers and monetary arrangement creators.

The reason for this book is twofold: (1) to help the above judgment with nitty gritty examinations; (2) and more significant, to indicate a definite starting point for creating budget summaries that is considerably less expensive, substantially less confounded, more important, more justifiable and more solid.

Regarding the first of those reasons, the techniques for examination I will utilize are transcendently “regularizing,” rather than “observational.” The approach of figuring power and huge data sets have made conceivable numerous experimental examinations of bookkeeping numbers throughout recent years. Huge number of observational examinations on the connection between detailed income (or parts of revealed profit) and share costs have been distributed, and frequently totaled. Taken together, they extensively demonstrate some level of pertinence of U.S. GAAP and IFRS to financial backers, for the most part by detailing different “genuinely huge” connections. In any case, some would limit quite a bit of this proof, either because of sketchy suspicions with respect to the scientists, innate restrictions of the factual techniques, or that the levels of the measurements detailed are themselves disappointing. Some would likewise say, that the measurable connections have been debilitating over the long run – notwithstanding (or maybe due to) the “upgrades” to U.S. GAAP that the FASB has made throughout the long term.

I have proactively composed a huge number of words in blog entries testing U.S. GAAP on standardizing grounds, and have proposed in different levels of explicitness answers for every one of the dangerous regions I have recognized. The book will be an augmentation of my blog in that I will refine my examinations and adding association, detail and models.

The association of the book will mirror its twofold reason. Every section will start with a scrutinize of surviving monetary bookkeeping ideas or guidelines as declared by the FASB or IASB. In the primary area, this will be trailed by Articulations of Core values. The following segments will give Articulations of Utilization (of the core values) for explicit points. Models will be given all through to make sense of by outline the Assertions of Use. The following is my draft list of chapters:

Presentation and Core values

Where monetary bookkeeping at present is, and where it needs to go
Imagining a future job for reviewers and the SEC
Acknowledgment and Estimation of Resources and Liabilities

Non-monetary resources
Monetary resources and liabilities
Executory contracts
Show

Balancing resource and liabilities
Detailing changes in investors’ value
Revealing changes in real money
Intercorporate speculations
Exposures
Similar budget summaries and keeping a consistent unit of measure
To provide you with a kind of the Assertions of Utilization, this is a rundown of things that you won’t find in S-OFA — in light of the fact that they will not be required:

Resource disability or stock expense stream suppositions
Remittances for misfortunes on credits and receivables
Other complete pay
Conceded charges
Generosity and non-controlling interest
Unique unfamiliar cash interpretation or fence bookkeeping rules
Various estimation targets for resources and liabilities
The value strategy for representing speculations
Income acknowledgment
Complex principles for recognizing liabilities and values
Contingent increases/misfortunes
Roundabout strategy for the assertion of incomes
Industry-explicit norms
That should diminish my work by a couple thousand pages, at any rate. However, I will likewise offer a few critical augmentations that are predictable with the possibility of investor situated monetary revealing:

A solitary estimation objective for resources and liabilities, and a solitary unit of measure
Note revelations comprising of nitty gritty compromises of starting and finishing asset report sums, and other even data. With the exception of an expected MD&A, stories will be kept to a base.
Costs will be introduced by source and by capability.
Proportionate combination will be the prevalent type of representing critical intercorporate value ventures.
Relative data and streams of resources/liabilities will be adapted to changes overall cost levels through the latest asset report date.
I trust that financial backers will come to perceive that the fiscal reports created as per S-OFA will furnish them with preferred data over U.S. GAAP or IFRS, without commotion from things revealed as “resources” or “liabilities” that are not, by any sensible monetary view, really resources or liabilities.

I likewise trust that capital business sectors controllers will perceive that S-OFA’s core values improve at of giving where that monetary bookkeeping should take assuming it is to serve the public premium — rather than the interests of backers controlling revealed profit and jumbling monetary wellbeing.

THE MANY USES OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS

‘What’s to come is plastics’ is a popular line from a film that was made in the 1960’s. This is valid for the overwhelming majority money managers and purchasers who are placing more plastic storage boxes into their lives than any other time in recent memory.

One of the significant reasons that plastic remaining parts a sturdy piece of the stockpiling business is that new innovation permits plastic to be greener while as yet keeping up with the positive highlights that the vast majority have come to appreciate.

Here are a few unique ways that plastic can assist you with having an effect for your capacity needs in your home or business:

KITCHEN Capacity

Most eateries and business kitchens are exacting about keeping their workspaces clean. By changing to plastic, you might not just protect your perishables and dry products from the components, you at any point can likewise guarantee that the holder that they are put away in won’t debase or rot. One organization tried an olive oil for kitchen use more than a long term period. Following one and a half long periods of capacity, the moistness from the kitchen made rot in the tins that the oil was put away in, causing a flavor contortion. The oil that was put away in plastic holders held its new preference for plunging with breads for the whole long term test cycle, which was the way lengthy it should remain new.

Portable Toolboxes

In spite of the fact that there are a few unique frameworks accessible for laborers that utilization devices, one of the most well-known backups for private companies is to coordinate their apparatuses into various plastic compartments so they stay separate yet accessible for use.

PC PARTS

Tablets and cell phones have made advances into the run of the mill organization or shopper PC arrangement. Simultaneously, what home or office has very little additional link and extras that accompanies their IT gear? Putting together these parts into plastic receptacles seems OK for most firms. They can likewise be a piece of ensured quality for processes in the event that an organization is looking for ISO or other acknowledgment to meet client necessities.

Documenting Records

Whether you maintain a business or a family, your desk work will generally pile up over the long run. Getting a huge plastic container that is stackable and can be covered can have a ton of effect with regards to dealing with the additional desk work that is not generally required. One method for getting everything rolling at your business is to decide a particular time limit by division and afterward eliminate all records that are more established than that date and document them. That way you downplay your ongoing documentation while your records that are more seasoned are as yet accessible elsewhere in your office.

Slow time of year Dress Capacity

In different nations like Japan, property holders keep their slow time of year garments in covered plastic receptacles that can be stacked. At the point when summer shows up, they then take off their mid year clothing and supplant it with winter and spring clothing. The outcome is a protected, clean framework that gets their garments far from moistness, bugs, and the impacts of temperature changes until they are fit to be utilized. In American homes, many rooms have more capacity accessible yet the pattern towards more modest residing quarters in additional metropolitan regions makes this sort of capacity framework a magnificent choice for customers.

Plastic compartments keep on being one of the most depended upon method for putting away, arranging, and moving things that you own or make. Utilizing their abilities in your home or business ought to wind up setting aside you time and cash.

Adobe (ADBE) Q1 earnings report 2024


Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen speaks during an interview with CNBC on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., February 20, 2024. 

Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters

Adobe shares tumbled as much as 11% in extended trading on Thursday after the design software maker issued strong fiscal first-quarter results but came up slightly short on quarterly revenue guidance.

Here’s how the company did, compared with estimates from analysts polled by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $4.48, adjusted, vs. $4.38 expected
  • Revenue: $5.18 billion, vs. $5.14 billion expected

Adobe’s revenue grew 11% year over year in the quarter, which ended on March 1, according to a statement. Net income decreased to $620 million, or $1.36 per share, from $1.25 billion, or $2.71 per share, in the same quarter a year ago.

During the quarter, Adobe abandoned its $20 billion acquisition of design software startup Figma after United Kingdom regulators found competitive concerns. The company paid Figma a $1 billion termination fee. And Adobe announced an early version of an artificial intelligence assistant for its Reader and Acrobat apps.

Adobe sees fiscal second-quarter earnings of 4.35 to $4.40 per share on an adjusted basis, with $5.25 billion to $5.30 billion in revenue. The middle of the range implies 9% growth. Analysts polled by LSEG had been looking for $4.38 per share and $5.31 billion in revenue.

The company said it was setting aside $25 billion for share buybacks.

Leaving out the after-hours movement, Adobe shares have fallen 4% so far this year, while the S&P 500 index has gained 8% over the same time period.

Executives will discuss the results with analysts on a conference call starting at 5 p.m. ET.

This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

WATCH: Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen on new AI tools: For us, it’s about driving ‘responsible’ innovation



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Texture innovation: ‘Air is the ingredient of the future’

CHICAGO — Texture is something one does not think about when eating, unless it’s off. It’s an attribute that is more than mouthfeel and incorporates how food dissolves in the mouth and how it’s tasted. It’s the third dimension and is mostly about nothing. But nothing is something.  

Ice cream manufacturers have long understood the role air plays in texture development. They refer to the amount of air incorporated into mix prior to freezing as overrun. The less overrun, the more dense the ice cream; and often the more expensive. After all, air is free.

“Texture is the next thing,” said Morgaine Gaye, a global food futurologist based in the UK. “It’s not just the surface anymore.”

Consumers often think they taste texture but in reality texture is a flavorless attribute. It is, however, the backbone of food product development because it has an impact on the other attributes.

“We believe texture plays an underappreciated but critical role in how consumers like or don’t like the food they eat,” said James P. Zallie, president and chief executive officer, Ingredion Inc., Westchester, Ill., during a Feb. 21 presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference.

So why texture now? As a food futurologist, Gaye is in tune with general pop culture, everything from fashion to geopolitics.

“And right now, with everything going on in the world, consumers do not want to be tied down,” she said. “People are off-loading. They want less. They crave a feeling of lightness, and that’s what you get with air.”

Think lattice cookies, marshmallows and cream cheese. With the latter, note how the texture varies between a block and whipped tub. Crevices and pockets create unique textures and thus, eating experiences. Manufacturing processes may assist with incorporating air and water.

Ingredients also play a role. Think how gluten entraps air in a leavened baked food and how gelatin turns water into a slick, melt-in-your-mouth encounter.

Gaye believes 3D-printing will play an important role in developing new textures in foods.

“Air creates interest,” she said. “Air is the ingredient of the future.”

Texture is something ingredient companies have been trying to emphasize as a way of creating a point of differentiation in the marketplace. Texturants are a category of ingredients that assist with incorporating air or binding water in a food matrix.

Usually carbohydrate or protein based, texturants vary in function and by application. For example, maltodextrins and polydextrose add body and build total solids, while starches add viscosity and body. Gums tend to build viscosity and prevent phase separation, while emulsifiers bind fat and aqueous phases.

Zallie said the market for texturizing ingredients is “a large addressable market that is growing steadily.”

He said the Ingredion’s market insights group found superior texture for taste is foundational for consumer preference. In fact, 70% of consumers agreed texture gave foods and beverages a more interesting eating experience, according to consumer research conducted by the company.  

“Think for a moment about boba tea, which has gained popularity and contains tapioca pearls, which is basically tapioca starch and some hydrocolloids to keep the product to have its integrity in a beverage,” Zallie said. “And 84% of consumers associated a lighter texture with healthier options. Think rice cakes or rice crisps, for example.”

Product developers should address texture needs first in order to make sure the ingredients used in the formulation stand up to the manufacturing process and storage requirement conditions. Once that is confirmed, then flavor, color and the other attributes may be addressed.



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Sunrun stock could double in value as company shifts to solar energy storage, Jeffries says




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DIY Audio Mastering Software for Your PC

In the era of the internet, mastering a recording has become a topic surrounded by numerous myths. While tutorials, online resources, and London audio mastering software are readily available, they do not guarantee expert-level results. Contrary to popular belief, merely possessing a mastering app on your PC does not transform you into a mastering expert. The patient and detail-oriented approach of a skilled professional working from a studio remains the “secret sauce” for achieving successful music mastering and is the preferred route to ensure optimal results.

However, for those with determination, a properly equipped computer with online access, and a commitment to self-training, accomplishing much on their own is indeed possible. A key distinction for those on the right path is shedding the notion that a computer program is the primary driver of the mastering process. In reality, the central processor in any mastering project is the human brain, particularly the ears engaged in critical listening. The ability to make real-time decisions about what sounds good and what does not is the hallmark of effective mastering.

While technology and tools play a role, they are merely instruments guided by the discerning judgment of a skilled mastering engineer. A genuine understanding of the art and science of mastering involves cultivating one’s ability to perceive nuances in sound, make informed decisions, and apply techniques that enhance the overall quality of the audio. In essence, while self-training and technology can empower individuals to a certain extent, the irreplaceable expertise of a seasoned professional remains the cornerstone of achieving top-tier results in music mastering.

Navigating DIY Mastering: Tools and Tips

For the aspiring DIY engineer, the key lies in adopting the mindset of a professional mastering engineer – objectively evaluating sound and implementing changes to enhance the master. Once this foundation is set, the utilization of tools and audio mastering software becomes a constructive endeavor. Here are some tips for selecting and using such tools effectively:

1. Explore Various Products:

Research and explore different audio mastering software available online. Consider trying out free or trial versions initially to understand the features and interface that align best with your projects.

2. Start with Free or Trial Versions:

Begin with free or trial versions to gain a feel for the software’s capabilities. This allows you to assess which features are most helpful for your projects and determine the software’s navigability and intuitiveness.

3. Functionality for Pro-Level Work:

Look for software with sufficient functionality to handle tasks at a professional level. It should strike a balance between versatility and user-friendliness, ensuring that it supports your mastering goals without hindering the workflow.

4. Flexible and Distortion-Free Mixing:

Ensure that the software offers flexible mixing capabilities that are distortion-free. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the audio and allows for adjustments that align with professional standards.

5. Backup Capabilities:

Choose software that supports backup features to protect your work. This is essential in case re-mastering becomes necessary, ensuring that your progress is safeguarded.

6. Real-Time Mastering and Integration:

Opt for software that enables real-time mastering within the sequencer. It should seamlessly integrate both digital and traditional analog sound elements, providing a comprehensive platform for mastering.

7. Plug-In Support:

Look for software that accommodates plug-ins, allowing for the incorporation of a variety of effects. This ensures a broad range of creative possibilities and enhances the overall flexibility of your mastering process.

8. Consultation with Professionals:

When in doubt, seek consultation with a real mastering professional for a project. This not only ensures a high-quality result but also provides an opportunity to learn from an expert. Understanding the intricacies of a professional’s approach can empower you to tackle subsequent projects independently.

The Rise of Online Mastering Services

In the digital age, online mastering services have gained popularity, offering a convenient and affordable solution for musicians. Here are some benefits of opting for online mastering:

1. Remote Submission:

Musicians can submit their tracks remotely, eliminating the need for physical presence. This flexibility caters to artists worldwide, allowing them to access professional mastering services from the comfort of their location.

2. State-of-the-Art Equipment:

Many online mastering engineers utilize state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring that your music receives top-notch treatment. The use of advanced technology and techniques mirrors the standards upheld in traditional mastering studios.

3. Affordable Pricing:

Online mastering services often provide cost-effective options, making professional mastering more accessible to a broader range of musicians. This democratization of mastering services allows independent artists to achieve high-quality results without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

In summary, the DIY mastering journey involves a blend of exploration, experimentation, and continuous learning. By carefully selecting tools and software that align with your needs, and seeking guidance when necessary, you can embark on a rewarding path to mastering your music with skill and confidence.

Innophos develops specialty blend for upcycled cheese

CRANBURY, NJ.  — Innophos has developed a specialty blend of emulsifier salts that provide consistent textural and melt characteristics to mimic traditional processed cheese, according to the company. The blend also helps ensure a moist final product and helps

manufacturers improve the texture of upcycled cheese, the company said.

“With our deep understanding of how to optimize the physical, chemical, and sensorial properties of cheese, Innophos is uniquely positioned to help manufacturers develop upcycled cheese that is both delicious and authentic to traditional processed cheese,” said Amr Shaheed, technical service manager, Innophos. “We have developed a new solution that results in less than a 10% difference in meltability between an upcycled and a traditional processed cheese. Our knowledgeable team is dedicated to creating science-backed solutions that help our customers deliver the highest quality products to their consumers.”



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Bank of England’s Bailey hints markets could be getting it right on rate hikes


Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England (BOE), during the Monetary Policy Report news conference at the bank’s headquarters in the City of London, UK, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

Bloomberg | Getty Images

LONDON — Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey on Thursday signaled that financial markets may be correct in their expectations for the future path of rate cuts.

Speaking to CNBC, Bailey said he was “not going to commit” to a specific timeline for rate cuts, but added that he did not object to the market consensus.

“I’m not going to give a view on how many cuts there’ll be and when they will be. But I think that view that the market is taking is not one I object to,” he told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick.

Investors priced in four rate cuts by the end of this year after the central bank voted to hold interest rates steady at 5.25% earlier Thursday. Markets now see rates falling to 4.25% by year-end.

The vote, which split the Monetary Policy Committee 6-3, pointed to a difference in opinion among board members as inflation shows signs of easing.

Two dissenters favored a further 25 basis point hike while one voted for a quarter-point cut, marking the first time since 2008 that the committee has been split in both directions. It also marks the first time since 2020 that a BOE policy maker has voted for a reduction in borrowing costs.

U.K. headline inflation unexpectedly nudged upward to an annual 4% in December on the back of a rise in alcohol and tobacco prices, while the closely watched core consumer price index figure was unchanged at 5.1%. However, it has remained on a general downward trajectory toward the Bank’s 2% target.

Bailey said he was “not going to predict” how many cuts there would be, but he indicated that the bank was “on a path” toward lowering rates.

“We’ve moved importantly on from a debate which was around how tight does policy need to be, how high do rates need to be, to how long do we need to retain this stance to achieve sustained inflation,” he said.

“The way I read the market, I think the market is of the same frame of mind as well. The market has to, of course, reach a view on when they think cuts are going to happen,” he continued.

“We are not going to commit to ‘it’s going to be here and not there or then and not then’. But I very much hope that we’re on a path which will allow us to conclude the answer to that question … and we’ll get to a point where we say ‘yes, we can.'”



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Imagindairy scales animal-free dairy manufacturing capabilities


HAIFA, ISRAEL — Israel-based animal-free dairy protein food tech startup Imagindairy has acquired and is operating its own industrial-scale precision fermentation production lines that are focused on the production of dairy ingredients.

With the facility, the company will now be able to produce more than 100,000 liters of fermentation capacity. It is currently producing industrial-scale batches. The company said it also is planning to expand its capacity to triple its current volume in the next one to two years.

“Having just entered the landscape three years ago, this achievement is a big step forward for us,” said Eyal Afergan, PhD, co-founder and chief executive officer, Imagindairy. “We’ve overcome industry-wide hurdles that have previously been holding precision fermentation dairy back, including the production capacity bottleneck and ensuring that unit economics make sense across the supply chain. This will enable our customers to put animal-free dairy products on-shelf at cost parity to traditional dairy, without compromising on quality. It’s a substantial breakthrough and important step that will allow us to support mass-market adoption, transition to an industrial company, and speed up the development of other milk proteins.”

In November 2021, the company raised $13 million in funding to expand its facilities, grow its team, and boost its R&D capacity. In May 2022, the company achieved $28 million total in investment capital upon securing an additional $15 million in an extended seed round. The company used this investment to accelerate its research and development efforts, to launch animal-free dairy products as well as hire new employees.

The company also recently received a “no questions” response letter from the US Food and Drug Administration for the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notice, which was submitted by the company. The GRAS notice means the company’s ingredient is safe for food and beverage use and manufacturing use, the company said.

Imagindairy is planning to launch products using its animal-free dairy protein in the United States in the coming year. 

Enjoying this content? Learn about more disruptive startups on the Food Entrepreneur page.



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High housing costs have kept 31% of Gen Z adults living at home


These days, housing affordability is a struggle for nearly everyone.

But for young adults just starting out, soaring home prices and sky-high rents have become one of the greatest obstacles to making it on their own.

Nearly one third, or 31%, of Generation Z adults live at home with parents because they can’t afford to buy or rent their own space, according to a recent report by Intuit Credit Karma that polled 1,249 people ages 18 and up. (Gen Z is generally defined as those born between 1996 and 2012, including a cohort of teens and tweens.)

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“The current housing market has many Americans making adjustments to their living situations, including relocating to less expensive cities and even moving back in with their families,” said Courtney Alev, Intuit Credit Karma’s consumer financial advocate.

Overall, the number of households with two or more adult generations has been on the rise for years, according to a Pew Research Center report. Now, 25% of young adults live in a multigenerational household, up from just 9% five decades ago.  

Finances are the No. 1 reason families are doubling up, Pew also found, due in part to ballooning student debt and housing costs.

It’s the least affordable housing market in years

Between home prices and mortgage rates, 2023 was the least affordable homebuying year in at least 11 years, according to a separate report from real estate company Redfin.

Now, the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage is hovering near 6.6%, down from recent highs but still twice what it was three years ago.

“Given the expectation of rate cuts this year from the Federal Reserve, as well as receding inflationary pressures, we expect mortgage rates will continue to drift downward as the year unfolds,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

“While lower mortgage rates are welcome news, potential homebuyers are still dealing with the dual challenges of low inventory and high home prices that continue to rise.”

Of course, housing isn’t the only issue. Millennials and Gen Z face financial challenges their parents did not as young adults: On top of carrying larger student loan balances, their wages are lower than their parents’ earnings when they were in their 20s and 30s.

“At the end of all that, you are not left with a whole lot of money to spend on a down payment,” said Laurence Kotlikoff, economics professor at Boston University and president of MaxiFi, which offers financial planning software.

For parents, supporting grown children can be a drain

Even if they don’t live at home, more than half of Gen Z adults and millennials are financially dependent on their parents, according to a separate survey by Experian.

For parents, however, supporting grown children can be a substantial drain at a time when their own financial security is in jeopardy. 

Not surprisingly, parents are more likely to pay for most of the expenses when two or more generations share a home. The typical 25- to 34-year-old in a multigenerational household contributes 22% of the total household income, Pew found. 

From buying groceries to paying for cellphone plans or covering health and auto insurance, parents are spending more than $1,400 a month, on average, helping their adult children make ends meet, another report by Savings.com found.

“It has to go both ways,” Kotlikoff said.

Overall, there can be an economic benefit to these living arrangements, Pew found, and Americans living in multigenerational households are less likely to be financially vulnerable. “If you are in financial union, make the best of it,” Kotlikoff said.

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Upcycled Certified program acquired by Where Food Comes From

CASTLE ROCK, COLO. — Where Food Comes From, Inc., (WFCF) a company that owns and operates third-party verification services, has acquired the Upcycled Certified program from the Upcycled Food Association (UFA), Denver. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“The upcycled food movement is closely aligned with broader sustainability trends in the United States and around the world,” said John Saunders, chairman and chief executive officer of Where Food Comes From. “This acquisition enables Where Food Comes From to meet growing consumer demand for products that contain upcycled food ingredients. As the exclusive certification body for the standard since early 2021 — and as the most diverse food verification body in the country with more than 17,000 customers — we are ideally suited to take Upcycled Certified to the next level of growth.

“Our first order of business following the ownership transition will be to make it easier and more cost effective for brands, grocery retailers and foodservice operators to engage with the standard, ultimately expanding the offering of upcycled products and making it easier for consumers to eat well and be a part of the food waste solution. Our long-term objective is to make Upcycled Certified a ubiquitous standard and a meaningful component of our overall revenue mix.”

The Upcycled Food Association was founded in 2019 to develop a formal definition of upcycling and advocate for policies that will inform consumers and accelerate marketplace acceptance of ingredient and products formulated with upcycled components. The Upcycled Certified program and logo were introduced in 2021.

“UFA is thrilled that Upcycled Certified has become part of the Where Food Comes From family of certifications,” said Angie Crone, CEO of the UFA. “Given the scale of the food waste crisis, growing demands on our natural resources, and increasing food insecurity, we need to work collaboratively and as quickly as possible to transform our food system into one where food is valued and never wasted. Due to its high profile in the food verification industry, we believe WFCF is the ideal partner to help further our mission to accelerate the upcycled food movement for impact at scale.”

Verification services owned by WFCF include IMI Global, Postelsia, SureHarvest, Validus and WFCF Organic. Claims verified by the services include American Humane, CARE Certified, The Non-GMO Project, The Paleo Diet, Prop-12 AKA Animal Care, Safe Quality Food and USDA Organic.



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Houthi attacks on Red Sea likely won’t end anytime soon


Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released on Nov. 20, 2023.

Houthi Military Media | Via Reuters

Drone and missile attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants have upended shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, a narrow waterway through which some 10% of the world’s trade sails.

U.S. Central Command over the weekend said it shot down “14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.” A day later, oil major BP announced it would “temporarily pause” all transits through the Red Sea, following similar decisions by shipping giants Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM.

The Pentagon said Monday it was forming a maritime security coalition with allies to counter the threat and provide protection for shippers, who as of Tuesday had diverted more than $80 billion worth of cargo away from the Red Sea.

Many tankers and cargo ships that would normally transit via the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean are instead being rerouted around the continent of Africa, which adds 14 to 15 days on average to sea voyages. International logistics firm DHL warned that “the diversion will significantly increase transit times between Asia and Europe and require shipping lines to increase planned capacity.”

The changes have already spiked insurance premiums on ships and contributed to a bump in oil prices. And U.S. military might in the area may not be enough to quell the disruptions.

“A dedicated naval task force will be able to more effectively intercept drone and missile attacks and prevent boarding operations, but the task force won’t be able to be everywhere all at once,” Ryan Bohl, senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at Rane, told CNBC.

“So long as there are significant numbers of civilian ships moving through this area, the Houthis will have plenty of targets to choose from.”

But who are the militants attacking the ships, and why are they doing it? And will a U.S.-led naval security coalition be effective enough to make the Red Sea trade routes safe for trade again?

Who are the Houthis?

The Houthis are a Shiite sect of Islam called Zaydi Muslims, a minority in mostly-Sunni Yemen whose roots there go back hundreds of years. They emerged as a political and militant organization in the 1990s, opposing the Yemeni government over issues like corruption, U.S. influence and perceived mistreatment of their group.

After carrying out insurgencies against the state from the early 2000s onward, the Houthis capitalized on the instability that followed the 2011 Arab Spring to increase their following. In 2003, influenced by the Lebanese Shiite militant organization Hezbollah, they adopted the official slogan: “God is the greatest, death to America, death to Israel, a curse upon the Jews, victory to Islam.”

Supporters of the Houthi movement shout slogans as they attend a rally to mark the 4th anniversary of the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen’s war, in Sanaa, Yemen March 26, 2019.

Khaled Abdullah | Reuters

In 2014, Houthi rebels took over the capital Sanaa, setting off a war with the Saudi and Western-backed Yemeni government. A Saudi-led Arab coalition in 2015 launched an offensive against Yemen which went on to create what the U.N. called one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

The war continues to this day with limited cease-fires, and the Houthis have launched hundreds of drone and projectile attacks on Saudi Arabia since it began, with many of the weapons allegedly provided by Iran.

The Houthis now control most of Yemen, including Sanaa and the important Red Sea port of Hodeida, and their ranks have massively expanded along with their military capabilities, aided significantly by Iran.

Some call the group an Iranian proxy, but many Yemen experts say it is not a direct proxy of the Islamic Republic. Rather, the two have a mutually beneficial relationship but the Houthis pursue their own interests, which often align with Iran’s, and they enjoy Tehran’s military and financial support.

Why are they attacking cargo ships?

Yemen’s Houthis have made clear their intention of targeting Israeli ships and any ships headed to or from Israel, in retaliation for the country’s war in Gaza that has so far killed more than 20,000 people there and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe. Israel launched its offensive on Oct. 7, after the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out a brutal terrorist attack that killed some 1,200 people in Israel’s south and took another 240 hostage.

Mock drones and missiles are displayed at a square on December 07, 2023 in Sana’a, Yemen.

Mohammed Hamoud | Getty Images

So far, the Houthis have deployed direct-attack drones, anti-ship missiles, and even physically seized a merchant ship via helicopter landing. And they don’t plan on stopping.

Mohammed al-Bukaiti, a senior Houthi political official, said during a news conference Tuesday: “Even if America succeeds in mobilizing the entire world, our military operations will not stop unless the genocide crimes in Gaza stop and allow food, medicine, and fuel to enter its besieged population, no matter the sacrifices it costs us.”

What happens next?

The U.S.-led naval coalition, which is still being formed, “is collectively capable of deploying a considerable maritime force in the Red Sea,” said Sidharth Kaushal, sea power research fellow at ​​​​the London-based Royal United Services Institute. Other members of the multinational initiative include the U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain.

“As we have seen with the USS Carney’s recent activity in the region, modern vessels can provide considerable protection to both themselves and other ships in a theatre against air and missile threats,” Kaushal said, referencing the American guided-missile destroyer that shot down 14 drones on Saturday.

The Galaxy Leader, recently seized by Yemen, shown in close-up satellite imagery near Hodeida, Yemen.

Maxar | Getty Images

But the challenge remains, Kaushal said, because of the “relatively low cost of the drones and missiles” targeting shipping and the fact that naval ships still have to return to friendly ports to reload their air defense interceptors.

Another major risk is the threat of escalation. The most effective way to take out the Houthi threat is to attack their launch sites — which “would not automatically result in a regional conflagration, but could raise the risks of one,” Kaushal said, adding that “I don’t think that either the Houthis and Iran or the U.S. wants a wider escalation at this point in time.”

Corey Ranslem, CEO of maritime security firm Dryad Global, expects the threat to shipping “to continue for the foreseeable future as long as the conflict continues in Gaza,” he told CNBC.

“Depending on how the U.S.-led coalition comes together, we could also see the threat level against commercial shipping decline if their efforts are effective,” he said.  

U.S. response in Red Sea provides deterrence but risks widening of war: Harvard's Meghan O’Sullivan

Ranslem predicts minimal economic impact in the short term. But each year there are “approximately 35,000 vessel movements … primarily trading between Europe, the Middle East and Asia” in the Red Sea region, accounting for roughly 10% of global GDP, he said.

That means that if the threats continue, countries in those regions could see significant economic impacts. Israel’s economy could be seriously affected as well if more shipping companies decline to take on cargo destined there; two companies have already done just that.

“For the Houthis, the challenge will be to present enough of a threat to deter shipping companies from passing through the Bab al-Mandab while avoiding actions that could trigger an overwhelming military response from the U.S.-led coalition,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal MENA analyst at Verisk Maplecroft. 

“The Houthis don’t need to physically prevent ships from passing through the Red Sea; they only need to cause enough disruption to make maritime insurance premiums prohibitive or compel most shipping liners to suspend activities there.”



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