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These areas, which we've dubbed " jump zones ," span the globe, covering 6% of Earth's land mass. That's 57% more people living in jump zones than two decades earlier, increasing the odds that a deadly bat virus could spill over. The world's jump zones have lost 21% percent of their tree cover in almost two decades' time, double the worldwide rate. Almost one-third of that expansion would be in existing jump zones, where spillover risk is already high. Though those countries require mining companies to assess potential environmental harms that new concessions might cause, none require companies to evaluate spillover risk.

☆ Bat lands worldwide are besieged, seeding risk of a new pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

This collision – bats and humans competing for resources on territory long the domain of the bats – could trigger the next pandemic. As people destroy bat habitats worldwide, they are unwittingly helping bat-borne viruses mutate, multiply, and infect other species, including homo sapiens. For millennia, bat viruses lurked across the forests of West Africa and in other undisturbed parts of the world but posed little threat to humanity. They’re potent proliferators: Some roost tightly together and in close quarters with other bat species. Each of the bat viruses analyzed by Reuters has epidemic potential, according to the World Health Organization.

It was well below expectations for a 10.9% increase in a Reuters poll of analysts although it marked the quickest growth rate since September 2022. Retail sales jumped 18.4%, speeding up sharply from a 10.6% increase in March for their fastest increase since March 2021. The growth target for this year is set at a low level, which leaves room for the government to wait and see." China has set a modest growth target of about 5% in 2023, after badly missing last year's goal. ($1 = 6.9121 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Ellen Zhang, Joe Cash, Albee Zhang and Kevin Yao Editing by Shri NavaratnamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Researchers found a surefire predictor of success — and what separates those who find it from those who keep failing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Susie Allen | Kellogg Insight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Using this insight, the researchers are able to successfully predict an individual's long-term success with just a small amount of information about that person's initial attempts. Indeed, in another recent study, Wang himself found that an early career setback often set up scientists for later success. In all three datasets, an individual's second-to-last attempt did tend have a higher probability of success than their very first effort. Rather, there's a singular learning threshold that separates eventual successes from the rest. "Thomas Edison said, 'people give up because they don't know how close they are to success,'" Wang explains.

☆ Young Cyber Companies Face Uncertain Economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( James Rundle | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Newer cybersecurity companies are grappling with uncertain economic conditions as they find it harder to raise capital, continue to trim their workforces and refocus on profits after long periods of chasing growth. Fed by a glut of venture-capital investment, many private cybersecurity providers hired widely and expanded their operations significantly in recent years. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ Pro Cybersecurity Cybersecurity news, analysis and insights from WSJ's global team of reporters and editors. Cybereason, a Boston-based security company, raised $100 million in Series G financing in early April, led by SoftBank. The company’s chief executive, Lior Div, was replaced by SoftBank executive Eric Gan, with Mr. Div taking on an advisory role.

☆ ‘Ted Lasso,’ Season 3, Episode 9 Recap: Colin’s Moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Christopher Orr | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Speaking of Jack, it appears that particular subplot has already run its highly unnecessary course. But even I’m a little taken aback at how casually the show has discarded a once semi-central story line. Keeley and Jack had one fight, Jack slammed the door like Nora in “A Doll’s House” and now (unlike Nora) she has relocated to Argentina. (Has anyone else noticed that Richmond seems to alternate between long winning and losing streaks without ever being, you know, average?) Later, Isaac refuses Colin’s invitation to get a beer with a curt, angry “No.” Next, before the game with Brighton & Hove Albion — I’m with Ted; sounds like a law firm — Isaac leaves Colin’s attempted fist-bump un-bumped.

BEIJING, May 9 (Reuters) - China's imports contracted sharply in April, while exports grew at a slower pace, reinforcing signs of feeble domestic demand despite the lifting of COVID curbs and heaping pressure on an economy already struggling in the face of cooling global growth. Economists in a Reuters poll had predicted no growth in imports and an 8.0% increase in exports. Analysts say cooling global growth pointed to a longer road to recovery for the Asian giant after Beijing abruptly ended tough COVID curbs in December. South Korean exports to China, a leading indicator of China's imports, were down 26.5% in April, continuing 10 consecutive months of decline. China's economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth.

☆ I want to know if I should quit my new job or wait until it gets better
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Rebecca Knight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Even in your misery, experts say it's important to look for signals that the job might get better. I'm not sure if it's the job, or if it's me, or what, but I need some advice. Late last year, I got laid off late from a job I really liked and was good at. I'm glad my job is remote because I've cried so many times since I started. Years ago, when I was a few months into a new job, a friend asked me how I liked it.

☆ Homemade, Cheap and Lethal, Attack Drones Are Vital to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Andrew E. Kramer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Buzzing like an oversize mosquito, a small drone lifted off from a farm field in eastern Ukraine, hovered for a bit, then raced toward Russian positions near the battle-ravaged city of Bakhmut. With a pair of virtual reality goggles strapped around his head, he used joysticks to steer the craft and its payload of two pounds of explosives. Cobbled together from hobby drones, consumer electronics and computer gaming gear, handmade attack drones like this one have emerged as one of the deadliest and most widespread innovations in more than 14 months of warfare in Ukraine. Along the front line, drones extend the reach of soldiers, who can fly them with pinpoint accuracy to drop hand grenades into enemy trenches or bunkers, or fly into targets to blow up on impact. Self-destructing drones, in particular, are easily constructed, and thousands of soldiers on both sides now have experience building them from commonly available parts — though the Ukrainians say they use such weapons more frequently than their Russian opponents.

☆ Summer movie preview 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Most moviegoers can pinpoint one summer movie – or perhaps, a summer of movies – in their formative years that really and truly cemented their love for going to the cinema, whether it be 1975’s “Jaws,” “E.T. And while streaming has clearly siphoned off part of the audience, particularly for more serious films, what we think of as “summer movies” still have the potential to rake in cash just like the old days. (CNN and DC are both part of the same parent company, Warner Bros. Courtesy Warner Bros. PicturesInitially meant for streaming platforms, this vehicle will herald the cinematic arrival of DC Studios’ first Latino superhero, played by Xolo Maridueña of “Cobra Kai” and “Parenthood” fame. If the fast-paced trailer is any indication, the movie looks sure to whisk those dog days of summer doldrums away quite nicely.

☆ What is the debt ceiling? Why it's important and how it affects you
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

To avoid that outcome, lawmakers are trying to find a path forward to raise or suspend the debt ceiling, which would enable the U.S. to pay its bills on time. What is the debt ceiling? The debt ceiling is the amount of money the U.S. Department of the Treasury is authorized to borrow to pay the nation's bills. The debt ceiling wouldn't be an issue if U.S. revenues — i.e., tax proceeds — exceeded its costs. Congress can raise or temporarily suspend the debt ceiling in the interim to avert a debt-ceiling crisis — something lawmakers have done many times in the past.

☆ Regular internet use may be linked to lower dementia risk in older adults, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

A study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggested that older people who regularly used the internet were less likely to develop dementia. Scientists still don’t know what causes dementia, so the new research can’t pinpoint the exact connection between internet usage and brain health. A 2020 study found an association between cognitively stimulating jobs and a lower risk of dementia, for example. Research also suggests that most older adults most frequently use the internet for basic tasks like email, news or online banking. And learning new skills may be protective against dementia, studies suggest.

☆ Avoid these 6 verbs on your resume, experts say: ‘Pinpoint exactly what you were responsible for’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

When it comes to putting your best foot forward on your resume, the majority of people know to use powerful action verbs like "advanced" and "spearheaded." But not all action verbs are created equal. Here are six action verbs to use sparingly on your resume. ManagedCreatedHelpedAssistedSupportedFacilitatedThe problem with verbs like "helped," "supported" and "assisted" is, even as action verbs, they're a bit passive. Instead of "managed," she suggests trying "directed," "cultivated" and "guided."

☆ China factory activity unexpectedly shrinks in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Ellen Zhang | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJING (Reuters) -China’s manufacturing activity unexpectedly shrank in April, official data showed on Sunday, raising pressure on policymakers seeking to boost an economy struggling for a post-COVID lift-off amid subdued global demand and persistent property weakness. That missed expectations of 51.4 tipped by economists in a Reuters poll and marked the first contraction since December, when the official manufacturing PMI was at 47.0. The world’s second-biggest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth. The manufacturing sector, which employs about 18% of China’s workforce, remains under pressure due to slack global demand. The composite PMI, which includes manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 54.4 from 57.0.

☆ China factory activity unexpectedly cools in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Ellen Zhang | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

☆ China PMI factory activity unexpectedly cools in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) declined to 49.2 last month from 51.9 in March, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, below the 50-point mark that separates expansion and contraction in activity. That missed expectations of 51.4 tipped by economists in a Reuters poll and marked the first contraction since December, when the official manufacturing PMI was at 47.0. The world’s second-biggest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth. China's manufacturing activity unexpectedly shrank in April, according to official data. The composite PMI, which includes manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 54.4 from 57.0.

SBUX mountain 2021-11-01 Starbucks (SBUX) China's reopening from last year's Covid lockdowns has progressed according to plan with no setbacks. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

☆ Technology’s year of efficiency faces it first major test: overcoming declining earnings expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Samantha Subin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Technology's year of efficiency faces its first major test this week as big technology earnings kick into high gear. Across the information technology sector, earnings are expected to decline 15.1% year over year, according to FactSet data. The setup for technology stocks It's hard to pinpoint one specific problem denting earnings expectations this season. Heading into the second quarter, many technology companies already face lowered earnings expectations, with analysts lowering earnings estimates for the information technology sector in the first quarter by 6.5% in aggregate, according to FactSet data. "We plan on being either not in any of these names or hedged or short some of them going into earnings season," Niles said.

☆ Artificial intelligence is a $38 billion revenue opportunity for retailers. Here's how to play the trend
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

Morgan Stanley estimates that in 2022, only 23% of the $4.3 trillion of U.S adjusted retail spending was online. Add in AI, which can drive better shopper experiences or better conversion, it could bump to 9% or possibly 10% CAGR, he said. Eventually, AI can help retailers pitch tailored products to each potential customer based on their prior history. You might see it in the member services experience in having a better opportunity to get customer support," he said. As retailers move ahead in their plans to integrate AI into their business, some will build the capabilities.

☆ SpaceX Starship launch: Was it really a 'success?'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —After the first test launch of a SpaceX Starship rocket — the most powerful launch vehicle ever constructed — ended in an eruption of flames over the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, the company sought to frame the mission as a success. Within the space industry, Thursday’s Starship test mission wasn’t considered an outright failure, Caleb Henry, director of research at the space research firm Quilty Analytics, said. The SpaceX Starship exploded after launch for a flight test on April 20, 2023. There isn’t just one Starship vehicle that’s spent years in the development pipeline. The SpaceX rocket that flew on Thursday “was really just a bare bones,” Reisman added.

☆ Companies Turn to AI to Avoid ‘Cloud Sprawl’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Angus Loten | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

One advantage of third-party cloud systems, such as Amazon.com Inc.’s Amazon Web Services, is that they enable companies to quickly scale up or down computing power as needed. Photo: pau barrena/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesCompanies are turning to artificial intelligence to root out savings in runaway cloud-computing bills, tapping software designed to pinpoint overlapping cloud applications, excess data storage and other inefficiencies across information-technology systems, corporate technology chiefs and industry analysts say. The efforts come as cloud-based tools take over an ever-wider range of operations. That, and the murky economic outlook, is prompting many chief information officers and other enterprise technology leaders to take a closer look at cloud costs—even as they increase overall spending.

Inside these boxes: Approximately $20 million worth of detained solar panels by U.S. Customs & Border Protection over suspected ties to forced labor. Shipments coming directly from China represented about $80 million worth of goods, while Malaysia accounted for $461 million and Vietnam accounted for $370 million. "UFLPA allows us to presume [goods] were produced with forced labor, and therefore they'd be excluded from the United States," said Fox. "The cotton commodity coming out of the Xinjiang region has typically been tied to forced labor," Fox told CNBC. The companies then had 30 days to come back to CBP and prove that the items were produced without forced labor.

GDP growth last year slumped to one of its worst in nearly half a century due to COVID restrictions. "The strong export growth in March also likely helped to boost GDP growth in Q1." China's rebound has so far remained uneven as its investment-fuelled growth of the past to one now reliant on consumption faces challenges. Consumption, services and infrastructure spending have perked up but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth, while slowing prices and surging bank savings are raising doubts about demand. The government has set a modest GDP growth target of around 5% for this year, after badly missing the 2022 goal.

☆ United up to third after Antony, Dalot goals secure win at Forest
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

United have 59 points from 30 games, three points in front of fourth-placed Newcastle United and six ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, who have played 31 matches. Steve Cooper's struggling Forest side, who are now without a win in 10 consecutive league games, are third from bottom, level on 27 points with 17th-placed Everton. Dalot found the net in the 76th minute, scoring his first Premier League goal in his 100th appearance for United, running onto a pinpoint through ball from Antony. UNITED CALM"Inside the dressing room, I think we were calm," added Dalot. Navas ensured the result was not more emphatic with a string of fantastic saves in a game dominated by United.

☆ Ukraine hails GPS-guided Excalibur artillery shells that can hit a target 25 miles away with pinpoint accuracy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US has supplied Ukraine with more than 3,000 of the advanced shells, according to a report. In the video, which was posted to Zaluzhny's Facebook page, a Ukrainian soldier praised the high-precision Excalibur shells, saying they were extremely important for accurately striking Russian forces' equipment. The GPS-guided 155 mm shells offer an accurate, longer-range alternative to conventional artillery shell, capable of hitting within seven feet of their target. The Excalibur has a range of 25 miles, according to Pentagon budget documents from last year that first confirmed the shells had been sent to Ukraine. It is thought that the US has sent around 3,000 Excalibur rounds to Ukraine since Russia invaded last year, Forces.net reported in January.

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