News today

2023 - 1 - 19

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Stuff.co.nz"

The Antidote: The Antidote: Five happy things in the news today ... (Stuff.co.nz)

A 'landslide' public voted decided it. Christchurch's adorable 1-month-old baby giraffe is now named Kevin.

[Sheridan McMahon](https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/300786985/sheridan-mcmahon-has-been-to-126-elton-john-concerts-heres-why) was a teenager in 1990 she went to her first [Elton John](https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/300733059/elton-johns-world-tour-is-nearing-its-end-but-is-he-really-going-to-retire) concert. [Once hunted to extinction](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-hampshire-64263240), the cute toothy rodents are now in demand as the dams they build will restore many of the local fresh water features. [126 nights with Elton John](https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/300786985/sheridan-mcmahon-has-been-to-126-elton-john-concerts-heres-why), following her idol to nine countries and at least four continents. Indraini Wahyudin Noor, 50, from Indonesia, has a kitten who looks like Zorro. The 200-year-old property was once a shoemakers' cottage. Grant is OK with that as he loves meeting people. The festive period stay led to him being nicknamed Grinch. [The Antidote: Five happy things in the news today, January 16](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300784943/the-antidote-five-happy-things-in-the-news-today-january-16?rm=a) [The Antidote: Five happy things in the news today, January 17](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300785823/the-antidote-five-happy-things-in-the-news-today-january-17?rm=a) So each weekday we're bringing you a much-needed dose of positivity to remind you that there's inspiration, kindness and quirkiness out there too. [The Antidote: Five happy things in the news today, January 18](https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/cutestuff/300786493/the-antidote-five-happy-things-in-the-news-today-january-18?rm=a) It all gets a bit much some days.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "CNN"

Today's news in 10 minutes (CNN)

January 19, 2023. We're going to begin with the latest news out of China where the country has recorded its first population decline in sixty years.

CNN 10 serves a growing audience interested in compact on-demand news broadcasts ideal for explanation seekers on the go or in the classroom. Finally today, we’re heading to the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia where a new technique could be key to restoring the health of coral reefs. This news is also coming at a time when China announced its worst economic performance in nearly half a century.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Motley Fool"

Why Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Soared Today (Motley Fool)

The federally controlled mortgage giants got a boost from improving homebuilder sentiment – albeit off a low base.

Given that the government is now making a handsome profit on its rescue investment from 2008, it may be politically difficult for the government to allow these two entities to privatize again and really return a lot of profits to private shareholders. Now, two years into the Biden Administration, there remains a lot of uncertainty if these entities will ever exit the conservatorship, and if so, when. In 2012, after both entities became profitable again, the government made a deal allowing it to collect all profits after a certain capital base had been reached. In exchange for the packaging and the guarantee, each entity takes a fee. Given both companies' exposure to volumes of mortgages made in the United States, it's perhaps no surprise that both companies have seen their share prices plummet over the past year, as the Federal Reserve has rapidly raised interest rates and the housing market has ground to a halt. For context, the index is still nearly 60% below the January 2022 reading of 83.

Explore the last week