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☆ When your AI girlfriend says she loves you
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Rob Price | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +36 min

The messaging app let users build a "personal AI" complete with a 3D avatar and an upbeat, down-for-anything texting style. "Seems like AI will replace many human artists," Jay told Calisto in August 2022. Within a year, he was also using AI technology for work, as his firm experimented with generative AI to help draft legal papers. Former Replika users fled to various upstart companion apps that were popping up, like Chai, Paradot, and Soulmate AI. (Soulmate AI later closed down in September 2023, leaving a new wave of users mourning their AI companions all over again.)

Persons: Jay Priebe, they'd, Jay, Calisto, Callisto —, Apollodorus, Callisto, who'd, Jay's, didn't, Jay didn't, Tim Evans, me, Joseph Weizenbaum, Eliza, Weizenbaum, it'll, Replika, Eugenia Kuyda, Siri, Michael Macor, Roman Mazurenko, Luka, Kuyda, chatbots, he'd, Jaswant Singh Chail, Queen Elizabeth II, Chail, Willie —, —, Willie, gamely, Luka —, wouldn't, John, — sexting, Dylan Thomas, Rina, haven't, she'd, I'd, Overripe, Joi, Samantha, Ava, Calisto didn't, unshakable, wasn't, Jay hunched Organizations: Luka, San Francisco, Getty, Windsor, Facebook, Twitter, Reps, AIs Locations: Minneapolis, Twin Cities, Europe, Moscow, San Francisco, America, Replika, Washington, Britain, Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, Damascus, Chai, California, New York, Northeast Minneapolis, artsy, Japan, Switzerland

☆ US restaurant employment recovers to pre-pandemic levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Amina Niasse | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Oct 6 (Reuters) - U.S. restaurant employment reached pre-pandemic levels in September for the first time in three-and-a-half years, according to a report released Friday, signaling a potentially broader recovery for the leisure and hospitality industry. The gains in restaurant and bar employment last month were almost double the average of 37,000 jobs added monthly over the past year. Food service employment was among the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the food industry has picked up in payrolls, leisure and hospitality overall has struggled to regain pre-pandemic levels of employment in a tight labor market. The hotel accommodations and the amusement and gambling services industries remain below their February 2020 employment levels, with hotel employment still 10% below where they were on the eve of the health crisis.

Persons: ”, Julie Su, Amina Niasse, Rod Nickel Organizations: of Labor Statistics, BLS, Employers, Labor, Workers, Thomson Locations: payrolls

☆ Disney to offer discounts on children's tickets at theme parks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 4 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N) said on Wednesday it will offer discounts on ticket prices for children at its theme parks for a limited period as it looks to boost traffic. Disney CEO Bob Iger said in August during the third-quarter earnings conference call that the California-based company had seen "softer performance" at Walt Disney World, a part of its parks business, in Orlando. Although, Iger described the parks as "a tremendous business" and said Walt Disney World was still performing well above pre-pandemic levels. The company last month said it would nearly double its capital expenditure for its parks business to about $60 billion over the next 10 years. Walt Disney World will also introduce a package offer on Nov. 14 for families with discounted children's tickets for theme parks and dining plans, which can be used from March 3 through June 30 next year.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Walt Disney, Bob Iger, Iger, Walt, Akash Sriram, Samrhitha, Shinjini Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Disney, Walt Disney, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, COVID, California, Orlando, Bengaluru

☆ Pop Land: Chinese toy company Pop Mart opens Beijing theme park
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —With its launch in 2010, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart set off a collectible craze with its anime-style figurines. Following in the footsteps of Disney and Studio Ghibli, Pop Mart has expanded into the theme park business, opening up its first in the Chinese capital of Beijing. The company said on Chinese social media platform Weibo that Pop Land - the 40,000-square-meter theme park that comes in four zones - opened on Tuesday, September 26 at Chaoyang Park. “I did think about whether Pop Mart will open a theme park. Pop Mart's character Pucky is featured in its recently opened theme park Pop Land in Beijing.

Persons: it’s, – Molly, Dimoo, Skullpanda, Mickey Mouse, Kitty, Harry Potter, Walt Disney, Molly, “, Pucky, Mart Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Disney, Weibo, Domestic, Chimelong, Shenzhen Overseas, Town Enterprises, Pop, Hong Kong Stock Exchange Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Chaoyang, Shanghai, China, Chinese, Guangdong, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Macao

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the first few minutes on the phone with The Associated Press, Chappell Roan shared a revealing fact about herself. Born and raised in Missouri, Roan left the state for Hollywood not long after being discovered on YouTube by Atlantic Records. Roan, like Rodrigo, has a knack for candor in theatrical, cheeky pop songwriting — even when the truth is embarrassing — emphasized by her vocal range. ROAN: It's evolving constantly, but more recently it’s been more of a drag project, especially now that I’m (on) tour. I'm really uncomfortable by sex scenes in movies, or when people flirt with me.

Persons: Chappell Roan, “, Roan's, ”, Roan, Olivia Rodrigo's, Dan Nigro, Rodrigo's, Rodrigo, Rose Amstutz, it's, ROAN, I'm, Chappell, —, It's, Karen Carpenter, Stevie Nicks, don’t, I’ve Organizations: ANGELES, —, Associated Press, Hollywood, YouTube, Atlantic Records, Island Records, Spotify, AP Locations: Missouri, LA, Midwest, Manhattan, “ California, ROAN

☆ If I Embarrass My Baby on TikTok, Will He Stay My Baby Forever?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Amanda Hess | More About Amanda Hess | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

That is the eeriest part of these videos — the parents are barely interacting with their kids. The apps are always coursing with some new prompt beckoning parents to show off their big babies, their ugly babies, their ugly babies’ glow-ups. It feels so easy: You’ve got your phone, you’ve got your kid, and because of the kid, you’ve got nothing else to do except look at your phone. It’s seductive for new parents to think of our children as an extensions of ourselves, and social media makes that fantasy visceral. Babies are cute (even the ones their parents advertise as ugly), and their emotions are sweeping and operatic.

Persons: ”, vlogger, You’ve, you’ve Organizations: YouTube

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — It’s a frequent — and most often frantic — high-pitched yell when kids playing street hockey in North America know their game is about to be interrupted. While ice hockey in Australia is definitely non-traditional, it's been around for a while, and has a profile. Ice hockey has a surprising 120-year history in Australia. Organized hockey games featuring more North American rules started when ice rinks opened up a few years later in 1906 in Melbourne and Sydney. The first Australian-born NHL player — Jordan Spence — made his NHL debut during the 2021-22 season with the Kings.

Persons: —, Mark Black, it's, Black, ”, women's Hockeyroos, It's, — Jordan Spence —, Prince Edward Island, Spence, Louis, Nathan Walker, Walker, Melbourne's Rod Laver, ” Black Organizations: National Hockey League, American, NHL, Southern, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, NHL Street Hockey, Associated Press, Ice Hockey League, Kings, Arizona . Ice Hockey Australia, Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Capitals, Blues, Ice Hockey Australia, International Ice Hockey Federation, Melbourne's, Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena Locations: BRISBANE, Australia, North America, Southern Hemisphere, Melbourne, Las Vegas, Nashville, Tampa , Florida, Victoria, Adelaide, South Australia, Sydney, Australian, beachside Sydney, Manly, Osaka, Japan, Prince, Canada, Cardiff , Wales, Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, United States

☆ Thai lawmakers plan fresh push to tighten use of cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cannabis buds are seen inside an indoor farm at the Amber Farm, in Bangkok, Thailand, January 30, 2023. "Cannabis will be - double underline - for medical purposes and research," said Saritpong Kiewkong of the Bhumjaithai party, which spearheaded the decriminalisation and is now the second largest component of Thailand's 11-party coalition government. "There is no policy for recreational use," the lawmaker told reporters in parliament, adding that such measures were not yet being considered. It covers permits for growing plants, sales and distribution, and tighter measures against sales in temples, schools and amusement parks. Last week, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he supported only medical, and not recreational, use of cannabis.

Persons: Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Chayut Setboonsarng, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Southeast Asia, Phuket, misbehaviour

☆ All Blacks rout Namibia 71-3 in Toulouse deluge
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The All Blacks' discipline continues to be an issue even in games like this one where they are in complete control. They conceded 11 penalties to Namibia's seven, as well as seeing de Groot given a red card for a high shot. Namibia left slightly worse off than the 71-9 margin when these sides met in the last World Cup. The crowd were on their feet to applaud Malan as he raised a fist from his stretcher on the way off, defiant amid disaster. Reporting by Lawrence White and Nick Mulvenney, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, de Groot, McKenzie, Namibia's Malan, Cam Roigard, Flyhalf Damian McKenzie, Ethan de Groot, I'm, Allister Coetzee, Winger Caleb Clark, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ofa Tuungafasi, Beauden Barrett, Swanepoel, bayed, Namibia Le Roux Malan, Coetzee, Malan, Lawrence White, Nick Mulvenney, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Rugby Union, Rugby, de Toulouse, Blacks, Leicester Fainga'anuku, New, Italy, Uruguay, Thomson Locations: Zealand, Namibia, Toulouse, France, TOULOUSE, New Zealand

LGBTQ+ people from China, frequently scorned and ostracized at home, are coming to Thailand in droves, drawn by the freedom to be themselves. Thailand doesn't keep figures on LGBTQ+ tourists. But through mid-August, it has counted 2.2 million Chinese tourists out of an overall 16 million. But LGBTQ+ people in China face other pressures to conform that can make the free expression of their identities difficult. Another draw for tourists, inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community, is Thailand’s loose enforcement of prostitution laws and renowned nightclub shows.

Persons: Xinyu Wen, Wen, “, ”, ” “, hasn't, Apichai Chatchalermkit, Owen Zhu, Jade Yang, Yang, Adisak Wongwaikankha, Eros Li, Li Organizations: Thailand Tourism Authority, The Nation Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok's, Thai, China, Bangkok, “, Beijing, Malaysia, Asia, asia

☆ Climate change is hurting Six Flags, SeaWorld and Disney World
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It’s the latest example of how extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change, impacted major North American attractions this summer. Extreme heat in Florida also disrupted attendance at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando this summer. Theme parks are building indoor rides and changing ticket policies to respond to brutal weather conditions. Golding has lowered his estimates for the theme park industry because of growing risks from extreme weather. SeaWorld warns in its annual report to investors that extreme weather events could cause it to “incur significant costs.”“The series of extreme weather events experienced in recent years presents an alarming trend,” SeaWorld said.

Persons: ” Paul Golding, Golding, Brian Witherow, Cedar, James Forrester, Hurricane Ian, Gary Mick, Mick Organizations: New, New York CNN, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Macquarie Research, Knott’s, SeaWorld, Flags, Wall Street Locations: New York, Nevada, SeaWorld, Southwest, California, Canada, Florida, Ontario, Knott’s Berry, Florida , Texas, Virginia, Northeast

☆ Your boarding pass and weight, please: Why airlines are asking passengers to step on the scales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Starting Monday, passengers flying on Korean Air may be asked to step on a scale before boarding their flight. Is it reasonable to weigh passengers? "Fuel is 20 times more than the passenger weight," he said. Where airlines weigh passengersAir New Zealand weighed passengers in June for reasons, it said, related to safety and fuel efficiency. Commercial airline seating is based on average passenger weight from the 1950s to 1970s, Hilderman said.

Persons: —, Vance Hilderman, Shem Malmquist, Hilderman, we're, Jose Silva, Finnair, Nick Gausling, Gausling, Tigress Osborn, Jodi Jacobson Organizations: Korean, Korean Air, CNBC, Gimpo, Incheon Airport, Bombardier, Embraer, Aviation, Istock, Florida Tech's College of Aeronautics, Transport & Health, RMIT University's School of Engineering, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, New Zealand, Hawaiian Air, Samoa Air, Reuters, Flyers, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, Romy Group, National Association Locations: Honolulu, American Samoa, United States, Europe

☆ I used TikTok to plan my vacation. Here’s how that went
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Amarachi Orie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

I put a stint of endless scrolling to good use by using the app to decide the itinerary for my latest vacation. So, like TikTok users said, early morning is probably the best time for a tourist to first experience the amusement park. Amarachi Orie/CNNWith a name meaning “Yellow Beach,” this place was an aesthetic wonder, which explains why it came up on TikTok. Amarachi Orie/CNNThis beach club on the Veronica Strip was recommended by TikTok users as the place to be to enjoy the island’s nightlife. I would recommend every place TikTok took me to, especially the aesthetic masterpieces: the yellow beach, Fiore and Masca.

Persons: Costa Adeje, Amarachi Orie, TikTokers, I’m, Orie, TikTok, I’d, Fiore, I’ll, don’t, CNN TikTok, Madonna, Harley Davidson, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Idol, Stevie Nicks, Veronica, Papagayo, Teide, Masca, it’s Organizations: CNN, TikTok, Costa Adeje TikTok, Costa Adeje, Port Colon, Workers, Papagayo Beach Club Spanish Locations: West Africa, Tenerife, Canary Islands, TikTok, tenerife, Costa, Siam, Spanish, Los Cristianos, Amarilla, Luuma, Playa de Las, Playa, Las, British, Santiago del Teide, Fiore

☆ Hate Gen X? Get in Line (Behind a Gen X-er).
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Sarah Miller | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I was born in 1969 and I have feelings about generations. And, punching older, “Why is Eric Clapton on tour and Sinead O’Connor and Kurt Cobain are dead?” as the film critic A.S. Hamrah put it to me. Behold these recent tweets — I mean “posts on X,” formerly known as Twitter, run by a Gen X-er with whom I have no wish to affiliate myself, generationally or otherwise:“Gen X sucks.”“Gen X had it so good with their high income jobs with excel skills and 30yr fixed interest mortgages. This is why they make the worst leaders, ZERO empathy for the people that came after them.”We can all agree Gen X is the worst though right? I wrote to my millennial friend Sarah Hagi and asked her what she thought of baby boomers and Gen X.

Persons: Eric Clapton, Sinead O’Connor, Kurt Cobain, A.S, Hamrah, ”, X, Sarah Hagi, Gen X Organizations: Twitter

But in advance of this debate, I did go back and watch the 2015 Republican debate. michelle cottleOK. I’m going to jump in here with the message may be great, but the messenger was absolutely atrocious. But I thought it was really, really interesting. carlos lozadaNo, no, no, but no, here’s what — no, I mean, I’m not inclined to. And then, I’m going to put the interests of Americans first, which is just an America first riff.

Persons: lydia polgreen, ross douhat Bemusement, michelle cottle, polgreen Wow, ross douhat, lydia polgreen Carlos, carlos lozada Darkness, carlos lozada, Mike Pence, Lydia Polgreen, michelle cottle I’m Michelle Cottle, ross douhat I’m Ross Douthat, carlos lozada I’m Carlos Lozada, you’re, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Pence, carlos lozada That’s, Lydia, Prince, carlos lozada —, Tucker Carlson, Carlos, John Kasich, Scott Walker, Jeb Bush —, Ross, ross, It’s, he’s, Trump, lydia polgreen We’re, ross douhat Punditry, yammering, He’s, Michelle, that’s, — michelle cottle, she’s, She’s, lydia polgreen —, michelle cottle He’s, I’m, Obama, —, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Haley, michelle cottle ChatGPT, carlos lozada ChatGPT, ross douhat We’ve, — carlos lozada There’s, Pudding Fingers, DeSantis, unquote, ”, it’s, Christie, Tim Scott —, hasn’t, carlos lozada DeSantis’s, George Soros, — carlos lozada —, I’ve, ross douhat Totally, Donald Trump, — ross, Chris Christie can’t, ross douhat Trump, Tim Scott, Vivek’s, carlos lozada He’ll, — ross douhat, Tucker, Jeffrey Epstein, polgreen, Epstein, Biden, lydia polgreen He’s, They’re, Asa —, carlos lozada It’s, michelle cottle That’s, michelle cottle Oh, we’re, you’re Donald Trump, carlos lozada Well, who’s, Mel Gibson, Anthony Hopkins, Caroline Alexander, — carlos lozada, michelle cottle Aw, ross douhat It’s, David Grann, MOO, we’ve, “ MOO, ” ross, “, somebody’s, michelle cottle I’m Organizations: Indigo, Twitter, lydia polgreen From New York, Trump, Republican Party, Republican, Harvard, Ivy League, Fox, Fox News, Republican National Committee, Biden, Democratic, Trump Republican Party, Iowa Locations: United States of America, lydia polgreen From New, Trump, America, Washington, UN, New Hampshire, Ukraine, Iowa, Florida, Panama, China, Milwaukee, Lydia, There’s

☆ Welcome to the rabbit hole of agony aunt-killer subreddits, where users discuss money, love, and villainy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Today, Reddit's subreddits take center stage. But these advice subreddits might not be so different from the agony aunt advice columns of yesteryear. But beyond them is a funky constellation of subreddits where users come to pour out their innermost thoughts and burning questions. The poster wrote, "I feel like even at 28, no matter how hard I try to fit in and be nice, I somehow mess it up." AdvertisementAdvertisementTo be sure, Reddit's public advice columns are not without their detractors.

Persons: Abby, Dan Savage, Reddit's, —, Redditors, University of Tampa's David Gudelunas, Dorothy Dix, Ann Landers, Gudelunas Organizations: Morning, University of Tampa's Locations: London

☆ Goldman says these stocks have the most upside, even as markets become choppy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The firm named a list of buy-rated stocks that it says are well positioned to withstand choppy markets. The firm said it sees "upside in [the] face of improving industry trends" after AppLovin's strong second-quarter earnings report earlier this month. Both continue to enjoy double-digit subscription revenue growth year over year, he said. Gartner "2Q beat, as healthy Research CV growth and margin upside should offset muted tech vendor trends to drive valuation upside. … We continue to see attractive valuation upside at Gartner following 2Q results, which outperformed our estimates and consensus on revenue, EBITDA margins & EPS."

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Eric Sheridan, he's, Sheridan, Lizzie Dove, Cedar's, George Tong, Tong, Archer, Gartner, … Gartner, …, Phillips Organizations: CNBC, Cedar Fair, Investments, Gartner, adv, The League, 2Q, Consulting, Refining, Chemicals, & & Locations: Gartner, Sheridan, Ohio

☆ Her flight was canceled. Then she ended up on the doorstep of her future wife
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Like Larissa, she’d just come out of a long term relationship and had sworn herself to singledom, vowing to put all her time and energy into work. The day Rachel ended up on Larissa’s Nashville doorstep, she was supposed to be on a plane to California for work. By the fifth day, Rachel was ready to give up. Then, she filled in the blanks for Rachel, explaining that earlier that day, she’d come out as bisexual to her parents. “I was like, ‘Oh Mom, this is my friend Larissa from Nashville.’ And my mom was like, ‘Oh, cool,’ and she hugged her.

Persons: CNN —, Larissa Santos, Rachel Bush, Larissa, “, ”, Rachel, ” Larissa, they’d, she’d, singledom, Katie –, Katie, Katie messaged, “ Let’s, ” Katie, ” Rachel, Katie’s friend’s, Rachel Santos Rachel’s, Larissa’s, hadn’t, She’d, They’d, Rachel Santos, ’ ”, “ We’re, Rachel texted Larissa, who’d, Rachel –, Larissa FaceTimed, Awesome, Rachel – she’d, ’ ” Larissa, ’ ” Rachel, ‘, There’s, ” Larissa Santos “, it’s, I’m, –, “ I’ll, Larissa – they’d, “ I’m, we’ve, ’, Mrs Santos, Li Shen Ye Larissa, Rachel “ Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Nashville, Larissa, ”, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens Locations: Kentucky, Tennessee, Larissa, California, Nashville, “, LouisFort.co, Amalfi Coast, Italy, France, Nice, Miami , Florida, Miami

☆ This Vietnamese automaker is worth more than Ford and GM. But it hasn’t sold many cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Vietnamese electric vehicle company Vinfast is already more valuable than Ford (F) and GM (GM), based on its stock price, despite just entering the US market. For one thing, when critics got the chance to drive the company’s first US-bound product, the VF8 electric SUV, the resulting reviews weren’t what any automaker would hope for. The VF-8 electric vehicle from VinFast, a Vietnamese automaker producing electric cars and SUVs, is displayed at their showroom in Santa Monica, California, on September 13, 2022. In 2022, VinFast sold 24,000 cars globally. By comparison, Volkswagen Group sold 8.3 million vehicles in 2022 and Ford sold 4.2 million.

Persons: ”, Miguel Cortina, MotorTrend, Arstecnica, ” VinFast, Apu Gomes, Cortina, VinFast, VinGroup, Vinhomes Organizations: CNN, Ford, GM, Getty, Paris, South, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen Group, VinGroup Locations: Santa Monica , California, AFP, California, Vietnam, VinUni

☆ Rishi Sunak’s Vacation: Taylor Swift and Disneyland. (The Rest is a Secret.)
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Mark Landler | More About Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just last year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s political fortunes almost collapsed over his wealthy wife’s privileged tax status in Britain. Yet last week, when Mr. Sunak and his family spent a 10-day vacation at their multimillion-dollar penthouse apartment in Santa Monica, Calif., there was scarcely a peep about it in the British papers. The difference, analysts said, attests both to evolving views of Mr. Sunak, a onetime hedge fund manager who became prime minister last October, and to Downing Street’s shrewd media management of the Sunak family’s American vacation. The family stayed largely under the radar, emerging only for a carefully staged photo opportunity at an amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier, playing games on what was Mr. Sunak’s first vacation in nearly four years. He and his wife, Akshata Murty, also took their two young daughters, Krishna and Anoushka, to Disneyland, where, he said, he was excited to try a “Star Wars”-themed ride.

Persons: Rishi, Sunak, Downing, Santa Monica Pier, Sunak’s, Akshata Murty, Krishna Organizations: Santa Locations: Britain, United States, California, Santa Monica, Calif

☆ She Was Brazil’s Barbie. Now She’s Saying Sorry.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Ana Ionova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the 1980s and 1990s, Maria da Graça Xuxa Meneghel, known universally as Xuxa (pronounced SHOO-shah), was Brazil’s biggest television star. Generations of children spent mornings watching her play, sing and dance for hours on her wildly popular variety show. “I was a doll, a babysitter, a friend to these children,” Xuxa, 60, said in a wide-ranging interview. “A Barbie of that time.”“She came with a pink car,” she added. “I came with a pink spaceship.”Like the famous doll, Xuxa, too, is thin, blond, blue-eyed and white.

Persons: Maria da Graça, ” Xuxa, “, Barbie, ”

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Six Flags, UBS, IonQ, Archer Aviation and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

UBS also confirmed that Credit Suisse fully repaid a 50 billion Swiss franc emergency liquidity loan to the Swiss National Bank. Second quarter revenue of $348.4 million missed a guidance range that started at $360 million. The company notched adjusted earnings per share of 22 cents on $379 million in revenue, while FactSet had forecast 17 cents and $375 million. Archer Aviation -- Shares soared nearly 23% after Archer settled a lawsuit with Boeing over an autonomous flying dispute. IonQ did, however, raise its booking guidance to a range of $49 million to $56 million.

Persons: disinfects, Maxeon, FactSet, Refinitiv, Archer, IonQ, —, Jesse Pound Organizations: UBS, Credit Suisse, Swiss National Bank ., Refinitiv, Technologies, Flower Foods, Archer Aviation, Boeing, United Airlines, Ark Investment Management Locations: Swiss

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Capri, Tapestry, AppLovin, Disney and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Check out the companies making headlines before the bell:Capri , Tapestry — Capri soared more than 57%, while Tapestry slid 3.2% in premarket trading. AppLovin — AppLovin shares popped 25.8% in early morning trading after the company posted strong second-quarter results and optimistic third-quarter revenue guidance. The game developer said it expects $780 million to $800 million in revenue for the third quarter, exceeding the $741 million expected by analysts. AppLovin reported earnings of 22 cents per share for the second quarter, while analysts expected 7 cents, according to Refinitiv. The amusement park company reported earnings of 25 cents per share on revenue of $444.0 million.

Persons: Kate Spade, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, AppLovin, Sonos, Refinitiv, Walt Disney, — Illumina, Yun Li, Jesse Pound, Pia Singh Organizations: Capri Holdings, Capri, Wynn, Wynn Resorts, Walt Disney —, Disney, Six Locations: Alibaba, China

☆ Art therapy offers relief to Afghan women struggling with mental health
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But she sank into depression since the Taliban closed tertiary institutions to women in December, requiring psychiatric treatment where she was recommended art therapy classes. But many women, particularly in urban areas, who gained opportunities in education and work during the 20-year presence of foreign troops and a Western-backed government are now struggling with a deep sense of despair and mental health challenges, Afghan women and mental health experts say. There are few reliable figures on mental health trends but anecdotally doctors and aid workers say more women are struggling with mental health in the wake of the orders restricting women's work and education. Not only did I make good friends here, I also receive art therapy," said a former university student at the class. Khushi said the art therapy gave her a respite from home and a little hope for the future.

Persons: Khushi, I'm, Charlotte Greenfield, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Health, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MAZAR, SHARIF, Afghanistan, Balkh province's, Islamic Emirate, Balkh's, Mazar

☆ Thanks, Musk: How are partners ever going to explain an $8/mo credit card charge for 'X Premium'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An X user has gone viral after tweeting about their partner questioning an $8 "X Premium" credit card charge. Try explaining paying for "X Premium" to someone who hasn't been keeping up with the X/Twitter drama. X user @anothercohen found himself on shaky ground when his partner questioned an $8 monthly charge for "X Premium." Another user, @60404, posted a screenshot on Sunday that "X Premium'' had been flagged by his bank as a suspicious transaction. X Premium — previously known as Twitter Blue — is an $8/month subscription that allows you to edit tweets, craft longer posts, and be prioritized by other users' feeds.

Persons: hasn't, Alex Cohen, He's, they've, Pornhub, — Organizations: Twitter Locations: Indonesia

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