The House is expected to soon vote on a long-awaited aid package including support for Ukraine and Israel. If the stalled aid package is approved, it remains to seen how the rollout of aid will go. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu via Getty ImagesWhile US lawmakers have spent months debating Ukraine aid, Russia has been given a golden opportunity. As the Russian war machine fires up, the army is putting pressure on Ukraine's defenses, seeing where it can potentially break through and seize territory. AdvertisementJohnson's planned foreign aid package comes in at a similar cost and includes about $61 billion for Ukraine.

In today's newsletter, we're looking at the first week of former President Donald Trump's criminal trial and what's at stake. What's on deck:This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump's hush-money trial — the first-ever criminal trial of a former president — got underway this week with jury selection . We did get a preview of Trump's potential defense: " Some accountant " handled the paperwork he's on trial for, Trump told reporters. AdvertisementThe trial is focused on 34 felonies alleging the Trump Organization's business records were falsified to hide other crimes.

Members of this prominent Democratic family, including most of Mr. Kennedy’s siblings, had already signaled their support for Mr. Biden. Just as President Biden does today.”“Nearly every single grandchild of Joe and Rose Kennedy supports Joe Biden,” she said. “That’s right: The Kennedy family endorses Joe Biden for president.”Responding on social media, Mr. Kennedy avoided engaging with his family’s rejection of his candidacy. “I know you’re never supposed to reject a gift,” Mr. Kennedy joked as he held them. He then encouraged the roughly dozen people there to volunteer for the Biden campaign, arguing that their help could decide the election.

The commercially successful ‘Eras’ tourThe Eras tour was massively successful in 2023 and it’ll stretch through the end of this year. John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images Swift performs in Glendale, Arizona, during the opening weekend of "The Eras Tour" in March 2023. John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images Swift performs during the "Evermore" section of the show in Sydney in February 2024. John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images Fans apply jewels on their way to Swift's show in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in May 2023. John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images In pictures: Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Prev NextShe is a generous boss, too, awarding $100,000 bonuses to Eras Tour truck drivers during the summer.

CNN —Israel and Iran have now thrust the Middle East into a dangerous new era by erasing the taboo against overt military strikes on one another’s territory. Most immediately, the ball is in Iran’s court after Israel conducted strikes near the city of Isfahan early Friday. Initial reports suggest that the action was limited and, according to US officials, did not target Iranian nuclear sites in the area. Hours before the Israeli strikes, for instance, Iran had warned that any Israeli attack would be met with a robust response. “I do think it sends a message to Tehran that really they are more vulnerable to Israeli strikes than they would like to admit,” Davis said.

Israel carried out the strike inside Iran Friday morning, a US official told CNN. There were no reports of a missile attack, Iran’s National Cyberspace Center spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said on social platform X. The US “didn’t green light” an Israeli response, another senior US official told CNN. Video Ad Feedback Iranian journalist on how Iranian media reported the Israeli attack 02:19 - Source: CNNWhy is this happening now? Israel last week pledged, however, that it would “exact a price” from Iran in response to that aerial barrage.

Read previewPresident Joe Biden on Wednesday pitched his version of US-China relations to steelworkers in Pennsylvania — that Beijing isn't only failing to catch up, but struggling on its own. "They've got a population that is more people in retirement than working," Biden said of China. Those were some of the harshest comments Biden has ever made about China, though it's unclear how the president calculated his retirement figures. Instead of posturing himself a Mr. Fix-It, or a lone warrior fighting the good fight against a strong Beijing, Biden on Wednesday told blue-collar workers that the competition, as it stands, already favors America by a landslide. AdvertisementThe metals industry provides more than 120,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and some $33 billion in economic output, per an April 2023 report published by the Pennsylvania Steel Alliance.

He has cited Robert F. Kennedy Sr. as a personal inspiration in his political career. And Biden invited Maria Shriver, a niece of John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy, to attend his State of the Union address to highlight her work on women’s health. In public statements, some members of the Kennedy family have already made clear they are backing Biden in November. In a CNN interview last month, another sister of RFK Jr., Rory Kennedy, said she’s concerned he could undermine Biden’s chances of defeating Trump. I don’t know anybody in America who’s got a family who agrees with him on everything.”The Kennedy family members attending Biden’s event Thursday include Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Joe Kennedy II, Beth Kennedy, Joe Kennedy III, Christopher Kennedy, Maxwell Taylor Kennedy, Vicki Strauss Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, Max Meltzer, Ted Kennedy Jr., Stephen Kennedy Smith, Peter McKelvy and Rebeca McKelvy.

Apart from Tesla (TSLA), Musk is also the boss of rocket company SpaceX and X, formerly Twitter. If the investment in India is announced, it would be a boost to Modi’s efforts to make India a major global manufacturing hub. “We will support the growth of the automobile industry and its transition to EV manufacturing,” the manifesto said. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Tesla briefly lost its crown as the leader in global EV sales to Chinese automaker BYD. It recaptured the EV sales title from BYD in the first quarter, despite the drop in sales.

Read previewTwelve of Donald Trump's peers — 7 men, and 5 women — have been chosen to decide the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president. On Thursday afternoon, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan selected the 12th juror in Trump's Manhattan criminal case. AdvertisementTwo men chosen in the afternoon filled seats that had been vacated earlier in the day. One out of six alternate jurors, a woman, was also chosen. AdvertisementThere's a man who says he knows "little" about Trump's criminal cases and gets his news from The New York Times, The Daily Mail, Fox News, and MSNBC.

Asked for proof of his claim that Mr. Biden was personally directing the local cases against him, Mr. Trump pointed to purported ties between prosecutors and “Washington,” but provided no evidence that Mr. Biden had been involved in any of the hiring decisions, conversations or meetings that Mr. Trump cited. The writer E. Jean Carroll filed her first lawsuit against Mr. Trump in November 2019, accusing him of defamation. Faulty and irrelevant comparisonsWhat Mr. Trump Said“I got indicted more than Al Capone.”— in a rally in Ohio in MarchFalse. Mr. Hur described Mr. Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” who had “diminished faculties and faulty memory.” He did not declare Mr. Biden mentally incompetent to stand trial. Inaccurate attacks on judgesWhat Mr. Trump Said“Judge Juan Merchan is totally compromised, and should be removed from this TRUMP Non-Case immediately.

Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever been employed in the accounting or finance field? Have you, a relative, or a close friend ever been accused or convicted of committing a crime? Do you, a relative, or a close friend have a pending criminal case? Are you signed up for or have you ever been signed up for, subscribed to, or followed any newsletter or email lists run by or on behalf of Mr. Trump or the Trump Organization? The United States Constitution provides that a defendant has no burden to introduce any evidence or to testify in a criminal case.

"We are initiating coverage of Samsara (IOT) with a Buy rating and $42 price target." Deutsche Bank adds a catalyst call buy on Estee Lauder Deutsche added a short-term buy rating on shares of the beauty giant. Bernstein reiterates Apple as market perform Bernstein said it's getting more "constructive" on Apple shares but is sticking with its market perform rating for now. "We are initiating coverage of AES with a Buy rating and $21PT. "We are initiating coverage on shares of Beacon Roofing Supply (BECN), a leading roofing products distributor in the United States, with a Buy rating and $135 PT."

But of course, Birkins, Kelly bags, and other Hermès pieces are nothing new. Jasmine Rasco and one of her Birkin bags. Richard Rodriguez/Stringer/Getty ImagesName: Tiffany MoonAdvertisementAge: 39Her first Birkin: Moon's first Birkin bag was a celebratory purchase. "I see these huge, palatial closets filled with lots of different Hermès bags. Why she loves them: The exclusivity factor plays a part in Millen's love for Hermès bags, but for her, it's about the quality.

CNN —House Speaker Mike Johnson is moving forward with a legislative package to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been beating the drums to vote Johnson, who is himself also an extreme right-wing Republican, out of office. When GOP House members adopted this lower threshold in exchange for accepting McCarthy, experts understood that the rule would create extreme instability within the Republican caucus. On July 28, 2015, Tea Party Republican Rep. Mark Meadows from North Carolina filed a motion to vacate but the House never voted on the resolution. The time of Republican speakership keeps shrinking as right-wing ousters have become increasingly common.

Investors had hoped that corporate earnings would help revive the stalled rally, but a strong start to the season hasn’t been enough to excite investors. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.10% in the week ending April 18, up from 6.88% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data released Thursday. Mortgage rates are climbing based on expectations that the Federal Reserve won’t cut interest rates anytime soon. The Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, but its actions do influence them, and persistently hot inflation readings are keeping the Fed on hold. If inflation stalls any further, or even worsens, mortgage rates could climb higher this year.

Qatar hosts Hamas’ political office, but it is also home to a 10,000-troop US military base. Experts say it is unlikely Qatar will end its mediation role. Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani gives a press conference with his Turkish counterpart in Doha on Wednesday. And on Monday, Democratic US Congressman Steny Hoyer accused Qatar of “blocking” progress in the talks. The Gulf state was also a Major Non-NATO Ally, as well as key energy supplier to Western states.

CNN —Bill Maher recently said on his show that the 2024 election was going to be fought over two issues: immigration and abortion. Each party has an advantage, the Democrats on abortion and the Republicans on immigration. Now, it’s abortion rights voters who are energized, fueled by states like Arizona that are putting in place draconian restrictions on abortion. With the margins small in many swing states, abortion could be the issue that brings out suburban women, who could tilt those states blue in November. Joe Biden needs to be caught trying to solve the immigration crisis.

CNN —Iran’s response if Israel takes any further military action against it would be “immediate and at a maximum level,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN Thursday, as fears rise of an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The tit-for-tat strikes have brought a decades long shadow war between Israel and Iran out in the open and sent fear coursing through the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel will make its “own decisions” when responding to Iran’s airstrikes. The details of a potential “maximum response” have been planned by Iran’s armed forces, he added. “Our operations in response were carried out at a minimum because we were not seeking to hit multiple targets,” he said.

Mark Zuckerberg talked about his budding friendship with Jensen Huang in a new podcast. Related stories"He and I, at this point, are the longest-standing tech founders of Big Tech companies," Zuck said. Zuck wrote in a comment: "He's like Taylor Swift, but for tech." Jensen Huang is the clear leader of the tech industry in this regard." Representatives for Zuckerberg at Meta and Huang and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

TIME released its list of the 100 Most Influential People for 2024 on Wednesday. The annual list, which asks cultural and political icons to highlight the changemakers of the past year, features dozens of athletes, entertainers, artists and politicians. Beninese music legend Angélique Kidjo wrote about Nigerian artist Burna Boy, who in turn wrote about rapper 21 Savage. Shawn Fain, UAW PresidentPresident Joe Biden wrote about Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, for TIME. Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty ImagesAt just 25 years of age, Motaz Azaiza is the youngest person on this year’s TIME list.

He was a model to me of artistic labor and discipline, even if those early paintings were painfully amateurish. IT WASN’T MY intention to start an essay about artistic beginnings with a story of artistic death. No one captured the massive cultural and economic disparities of my life in Delhi (and his in Lahore) like Toor. But quite unbeknown to me, Toor’s life in New York had opened up a new vein of material. Not everyone who sees a Michelangelo can go off and paint a Michelangelo.”THERE ARE SO many ways to begin.

Elon Musk apologized Wednesday to laid-off Tesla employees for incorrect severance packages. Some workers previously told Business Insider they were offered two months' pay as severance. AdvertisementElon Musk apologized in an email to some laid-off Tesla employees after their severance packages were found to be "incorrectly low," according to a screenshot of the email viewed by Business Insider. "As we reorganize Tesla it has come to my attention that some severance packages are incorrectly low," Musk said in the brief email sent Wednesday. Other workers told BI that as of Wednesday night, they'd yet to receive any information about severance packages.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is splitting Ukraine and Israel aid into separate votes. AdvertisementHouse Speaker Mike Johnson's unconventional plan to hold separate votes on Israel and Ukraine aid is designed primarily to appease House Republicans who don't want to vote for more aid to Ukraine. But it's also garnering applause from an unusual place: progressive Democrats who don't want to vote for more Israel aid. "I think it is a great plan," said Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, who supports Ukraine aid but won't vote for unconditional Israel aid. Related storiesThat's led some progressives to refuse to get on board with the Senate-passed bill, even if they support Ukraine aid.

CNN —Former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to “overrun” Ukraine, he would then attack a NATO nation, forcing the US to become directly involved. Pence commended Johnson for proceeding with the foreign aid bills despite the potential for right-wing members of their party to attempt to oust Johnson over it. Speaker Mike Johnson has decided to do what he believes is right and trust the American people with the outcome in this moment. As a candidate for president, Pence visited Ukraine last year and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He remained steadfast in his support for Ukraine while other GOP candidates, including his former boss Donald Trump, questioned the amount of US aid.

Explosions were heard in Iran, according to CNN, which cited Iranian state media outlet FARS. There's still a lack of clarity around the reported explosions, but there are multiple reports of an Israeli strike. AdvertisementExplosions were heard near an Iranian military base, and multiple reports, citing US officials, say that Israel struck Iran. CNN, citing the semi-official FARS news outlet, reported the explosions were heard in the city of Ghahjaworstan, which is located near Isfahan, Iran. The Iranian news outlet said that "the city of Ghahjaworstan is located near Isfahan Airport and the eighth hunting base of the Army Air Force."

The Georgia Republican filed an amendment to a $26.38 billion Israel aid bill that would divert some of that funding toward "the development of space laser technology on the southwest border" of the United States. Related storiesIn the case of the "Jewish space lasers," she connected the wildfire to the Rothschild family of Jewish financiers, a favorite target of antisemitic conspiracy theories. The "Jewish space laser" theory has become a staple piece of mockery for those attacking Greene, and is often brought up by reporters. Greene has voted against Israel aid in the past, and she's long been one of the most outspoken opponents of Ukraine aid. She also introduced seven amendments to the Ukraine aid bill, including provisions that would divert money to US disaster zones or force any members of Congress who support the bill to enlist in the Ukrainian military.

Conservatives are fleeing blue states in favor of red states. Conservatives are fed up with the cost of living, and the politics, in blue states. AdvertisementConservatives are flocking en masse from blue states to one Republican stronghold in particular: South Carolina. Chabot said blue states need to take a page out of red states' playbook. "And so if these blue states want to get better, then they need to look at what red states are doing to retain their populations and their businesses."

Read previewManhattan prosecutors in Donald Trump's criminal hush-money case asked the judge presiding over the case to sanction him for attacking prospective jurors in the trial, arguing the former president had repeatedly violated his gag order. Related storiesMerchan issued a gag order in the case forbidding Trump from making statements about trial jurors, witnesses, staff prosecutors, and family members of Merchan and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Prosecutors accused Trump of violating it on Monday with attacks on Daniels and Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer. On Thursday, Conroy said Trump violated the gag order seven more times, with attacks on Cohen on social media and on his campaign website. Merchan previously scheduled a hearing for next Tuesday to determine whether Trump violated his gag order.

Mikhail Markovskiy/ShutterstockCountry: Germany2023 Ranking: 7AdvertisementSkytrax Awards: Best Airport Staff in Europe, Best Airport in Central Europe, Best Airport Hotel in Europe (Hilton Munich Airport)7. Kazzure Gonzalez/Shutterstock.comCountry: JapanAdvertisement2023 Ranking: 9Skytrax Awards: World's Best Airport Staff, Best Airport Staff in Asia, Best Airport: 30-40 million passengers4. Sean Pavone / iStockCountry: Japan2023 Ranking: 3AdvertisementSkytrax Awards: World's Cleanest Airport, World's Best Domestic Airport, Best PRM and Accessible Facilities, Best Airport: 70+ million passengers, The Cleanest Airport in Asia3. Taylor Rains/Business InsiderCountry: Singapore2023 Ranking: 1Skytrax Awards: Best Airport in Asia, Best Airport Immigration Service, Best Airport: 50-60 million passengers, Best Airport Hotel in the World and Asia (Crowne Plaza Changi Airport)1. Thomas Pallini/Business InsiderCountry: QatarAdvertisement2023 Ranking: 2Skytrax Awards: World's Best Airport, Best Airport in the Middle East, World's Best Airport Shopping, Best Airport: 40-50 million passengers, The Cleanest Airport in the Middle East

Read previewHow the US handles its shaky relationship with China will affect the future of the world, says JPMorgan chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon. "It's the thread from Ukraine, oil and gas, food, migration, all our relationships, the most important one being China," Dimon told Bloomberg's Emily Chang in an interview that aired Wednesday. Related storyDimon's fresh remarks on China come as the world's second-largest economy finds itself in a fraught relationship with the US. And in January, CIA chief William J. Burns said China is a far bigger threat to the US than Russia. But while Dimon did single out China as a significant risk to the world, he told Chang that he is optimistic that the US could manage them.

Among the relatives of Mr. Kennedy expected to back Mr. Biden are his siblings Joseph, Kerry, Rory, Kathleen, Maxwell and Christopher. Responding to the move by his family members, Mr. Kennedy refrained from criticizing them. His campaign also fired a consultant who had suggested that supporting Mr. Kennedy would help Mr. Trump defeat Mr. Biden. He posted on social media last month that Mr. Kennedy was more “radical Left” than Mr. Biden, casting him as a liberal Democrat in disguise. Just as President Biden does today.”After Mr. Biden speaks, Kennedy family members will make calls to voters and knock on doors, the Biden campaign said.

Apple (AAPL) has already spent almost $16 billion through its supply chain in the country since 2019, the government quoted Cook as saying. According to the statement, Cook said Apple “stands ready … to enhance cooperation and investment activities” in the Southeast Asian country. Nguyen, whose firm manages $6 billion in assets, told CNN that labor costs in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector are about half those in neighboring China. That’s a big draw for foreign tech companies looking to hire workers for their factories, and find consumers for their products. Still, Vietnam represents a far smaller market than India, which has also been wooing large foreign companies, including Tesla (TSLA), to set up factories in the country.

After traveling solo to all 50 US states, I've found some great places to relax and unwind. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementOver the past decade, I've traveled to all 50 US states and spent time in tons of major cities and small towns. I've also driven solo across the country several times, stopping in some of the most unique and beautiful places the United States has to offer. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

New York CNN —Despite overcoming a crisis in 2023, the pain isn’t over for America’s regional banks. Shares of New York Community Bank have tumbled 71%, Bank OZK shares have slid 16% and Webster Financial shares have lost 11%. Regional banks reported wide losses on their profits during the first quarter. PNC projects that its net interest income will fall between 4% to 5% in 2024 from last year. “I’m worried about a handful of [regional banks],” Bair told CNBC on Tuesday.

A whole lot of people who were anti-union in the past have switched.”The union vote at the Volkswagen plant will mean more than whether the 4,300 hourly workers in Chattanooga are members of the UAW or not. But he said he wants the better pay and benefits he sees workers at unionized auto plants are getting, in order to provide more for his family. Volkswagen staying neutralThe company said it is neutral in the election, only urging workers to vote however they want. That’s relatively rare in union representation elections, where management often lobbies workers to vote no at mandatory meetings, and sometimes takes action against union organizers. Bill Lee and five other Southern governors – from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas – who have nonunion auto plants in their states.

Read previewArtificial intelligence is redefining what it takes to be a software engineer on Wall Street. A typical software developer holds a computer science degree. Goldman Sachs' chief information officer, Marco Argenti, recently encouraged his daughter, a college student, to concentrate her education on philosophy if she wants to pursue a career in engineering. AdvertisementZafar said he's paying more attention to people with "a computer science degree and an English minor," or "a psychology major and a computer science minor." Advertisement"That software engineer might get replaced by a sort of prompt engineer," Vyas said.

Still, the question remains: Can Trump consistently stay awake through the long slog of a criminal trial? Still, it was a striking image that simulcast three individuals in one: a criminal defendant; one of the most powerful people on the planet; and a napping old man. Not everyone is so lucky when those around them fall asleep in court. A defendant whose liberty is on the line would be well advised to find out a way to stay awake. (Some judges might frown upon a defendant chewing gum in court, but sleep specialists have identified plenty of other ways to stay awake, some of them courthouse-friendly.)

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . There is a glimmer of hope for Ukraine, with a congressional vote that could release the aid package expected this weekend. Spurling, the RAND analyst, said that a Russian victory would most likely take the form of Ukraine ceding large amounts of conquered territory to Russia. AdvertisementThis implies that Ukraine, in any scenario, will have to cede territory, either formally or informally.

Within days, millions of TikTok videos using music from Universal artists went mute, and since then guessing which side would blink first has become a media-business parlor game. Backing this up, one study found that TikTok users reported experiencing higher levels of flow than Instagram users. Corey Basch, who analyzed 100 popular TikTok videos with the hashtag mentalhealth for a 2022 study, emerged concerned about the looping effect of the algorithm. Cerave Sales increased by more than 60 percent in 2020 after skin care became a lockdown pastime and TikTok users discovered the drugstore mainstay. Cat Crack Catnip It briefly sold out in 2021 after TikTok users posted videos of their cats going crazy for it.

For the last decade, Singapore’s Changi International Airport and Doha’s Hamad International Airport have been going back and forth, battling over the title of ‘world’s best’. European airports dominateNine of the top 20 best airports are in Europe, including Vienna, Madrid and Istanbul. Kansai International Airport (KIX), which serves the Osaka area, scored the award for the world’s best airport baggage delivery. El Dorado International Airport (BOG), which serves Bogota, Colombia, was voted the best airport in South America, while Panama Tocumen Airport (PTY) won the honor of best airport for Latin America and the Caribbean. The world’s best airports for 20241.

Fearing that its Stryker armored vehicles were outgunned by Russian and Chinese designs, the US Army had an idea for a quick fix: Develop an unmanned Stryker turret with a 30-mm autocannon. The Army obliged in 2018 with the Infantry Carrier Vehicle-Dragoon, which added a remote-controlled 30-mm gun turret — manufactured by Norwegian firm Kongsberg — to 91 flat-bottom-hull versions of the Strykers. This would be enough to upgrade Strykers in three brigades of 83 vehicles each, plus an additional 20 for testing. Instead of a Kongsberg MCT-30 turret, the vehicles would receive a Samson turret made by Israeli firm Rafael. A big red flag should have been the glitches in the turret software that degraded the 30-mm cannon's accuracy.

CNN —After a disastrous year marked by high costs, accusations of environmental harm and project cancellations in 2023, there’s a sense the US offshore wind industry is on a rebound. But offshore wind is increasingly Trump-proof, according to a top White House climate official, wind CEOs and an industry analyst. “This year will be a significant year for offshore wind development,” BOEM director Elizabeth Klein told CNN in a statement. The US supply chain for offshore wind is still being built; therefore, projects are turning to European manufacturers to get blades, gearboxes, and other components. Now, he said, Northeast governors “just want to make sure their states have energy.”New York has been aggressively pursuing offshore wind projects, rebidding previously canceled projects and accepting those projects at higher prices.

Liz Humphreys moved to Europe with her husband and raised her son in Berlin until he was 6. AdvertisementMy family has been back in New York City for a year and a half, and we're still struck by all the "rules" surrounding kids here. JF GrossenBerlin was affordable for raising a family and had great childcareIn 2012, my husband and I moved to Europe from New York City for work. He also had difficulty adjusting to all of the structure around the school day. In the 2024 Safety Index by Global Residence Index, Berlin ranked 46, while New York City was 107.

Curtis Ried, a longtime career foreign service officer who has served under two presidents at the White House, who currently serves as chief of staff and counselor of the White House National Security Council is being nominated for the post, CNN has learned. As Congress grapples with next steps on Ukraine aid, Biden administration officials have warned of the consequences if Ukraine doesn’t receive billions in additional funding, citing losses on the battlefield and ceding ground to Russia. The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization and is made up of 57 members, including Russia. The move to nominate Ried comes as the US seeks to reaffirm leadership on the world stage amid political wrangling in Washington that’s stalled aid to Ukraine. It’s unclear, however, when Ried would assume the post as the nomination still needs to work its way through the Senate.

Dominique Raroha bought a duplex as a first-time homebuyer instead of a traditional house. Over the years stuff was sold off, we built houses, and we were able to subdivide that piece of property. Raroha bought a duplex as her first home. AdvertisementGiven the financial freedom of owning a duplex, buying another makes so much sense. To accomplish buying something like a duplex in this market, it does take years of planning.

My wife and I bought a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe plug-in hybrid in December 2022 for $75,000. As an automotive journalist and the senior editor of vehicle testing at US News and World Report, I test-drive dozens of vehicles every year. I still love the choice we made to purchase this full-size hybrid SUV. AdvertisementThe plug-in hybrid Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xeThe interior of the Jeep. In a perfect world, you never notice the transitions between running on gas, running as a hybrid, or running as electric.

New York CNN —Jury selection in Donald Trump’s hush money business fraud case began Thursday looking like the task of finding 12 jurors had run aground. Juror 11 was seated on the jury after Merchan denied Trump’s challenge to the juror for cause. Trump’s lawyers argued she should be dismissed because she said she does not like Trump’s “persona.”“I don’t like his persona,” she said. The district attorney’s office refused. Trump’s attorneys and the district attorney’s office also will get additional peremptory challenges for the alternate jurors.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle seem like lovely people. Netflix dropped "Pearl," an animated children's series Meghan created through her and Harry's production company, Archewell Productions, before it even premiered. The audio-streaming company signed a deal with Harry and Meghan in 2020 reportedly worth $20 million. As Michael Pachter, a managing director at Wedbush Securities who's covered movies, entertainment, and tech for two decades, explained, it's because they've still got that $100 million deal. A public breakup with Meghan and Harry may also be a mess Netflix doesn't want to deal with.

The next year, Palestine was granted the lesser status of observer at the United Nations, a level shared by the Holy See. With the war raging in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority asked the United Nations to take up its bid a second time. The Vatican has also recognized Palestinian statehood. But as the death toll has climbed in Gaza, the push for Palestinian statehood has intensified. But some have in recent months suggested that they might recognize a Palestinian state sooner.

CNN —Netflix, the dominant player in streaming, is expected to announce its first-quarter results on Thursday after enjoying months as a Wall Street darling. But much of the company’s past growth and success, analysts say, has come from its old, well-established business model. In recent months, Netflix has made moves to expand and even radically reinvent that business. Last year, Netflix made a particularly risky bet by pushing users who share passwords to create their own accounts — but that paid off. Netflix’s reinventionFor Netflix, last month’s Oscars were a disappointment: Though the streaming service led its rivals in nominations, it took home just one award, for best live-action short film.

The rapid spread of disinformation fomented an already volatile situation and days later authorities, faith groups and the bishop are still trying to calm community tension. But regulators are finding it much harder to act against social media platforms for the disinformation that spread online after the attacks – especially after the mass stabbing in the eastern suburb of Bondi. After the church attack, unconfirmed speculation also swirled about the faith of the alleged attacker and his motive. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with terrorism over the alleged stabbing of the bishop, police said Thursday. Video Ad Feedback Police: Australia church stabbing was 'terrorist incident' 04:31 - Source: CNNSystem of self-regulationBut stamping out some of the hateful comments that spread online has not been so easy.

CNN —Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. officially qualified for the ballot in Michigan, a key battleground state that could prove pivotal in deciding the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. Natural Law Party of Michigan chair Doug Dern told CNN the party nominated Kennedy in a convention on Wednesday. The Michigan Secretary of State’s office confirmed to CNN the party’s nomination has been approved and Kennedy will appear on the state’s ballot. In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup between Trump and Biden, Trump earned 48% support from Michigan voters, while Biden earned 45% support. Michigan is the second state where Kennedy has officially qualified for the ballot.

Hong Kong CNN —Oil prices jumped on Friday while Asian markets tumbled, with global investors worrying about an escalation in conflict in the Middle East after explosions were reported near the Iranian city of Isfahan. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month. “Israel’s response could determine whether oil supplies are ultimately under threat.”Elsewhere, ongoing oil disruptions remain high, the analysts added. In Hong Kong, PetroChina, Asia’s largest oil and gas supplier, advanced 2.3%. Sinopec, the world’s largest oil refining company by capacity, rose 1.3%.

Apple just removed WhatsApp, Signal, and other messaging apps from its Chinese app store. But it could happen in the US, too, if a TikTok ban bill becomes law. It's from an unidentified Apple comms person, to The Wall Street Journal, explaining why Apple just took four messaging/social media apps — WhatsApp, Threads, Signal, and Telegram — out of its Chinese app store. If the TikTok bill does become law, it won't make TikTok go away overnight in the US. But if the law jumps enough hurdles to become enforceable, Apple would have to remove TikTok from its US app store, as would Google.

Read previewGoogle issued a warning to any employees considering participating in any future sit-in protests within the company's offices: "Think again." Google fired 28 employees on Wednesday following in-office protests against the company's $1.2 billion contract with Israel. "If you're one of the few who are tempted to think we're going to overlook conduct that violates our policies, think again," Google said in the memo. Read the full memo below:AdvertisementGooglers,You may have seen reports of protests at some of our offices yesterday. If you're one of the few who are tempted to think we're going to overlook conduct that violates our policies, think again.

NASA chief Bill Nelson accused China on Wednesday of secretly working on military projects in space. Nelson told lawmakers that NASA believes Beijing is masking these projects as civilian efforts. "We believe that a lot of their, so-called civilian space programs is a military program," Nelson continued. Related storiesThe NASA chief alluded to the Spratly Islands, an archipelago in the South China Sea claimed by several nations. Meanwhile, China has repeatedly denied that it intends to establish any military presence in outer space.

CNN —This week sees the opening of the Venice Biennale, an 8-month-long festival of art and culture staged every other year. For 2024 — the show’s 60th iteration — Brazilian curator Adriano Pedrosa has chosen the topic of “Foreigners Everywhere,” and announced an intention to spotlight artists from diverse and historically marginalized backgrounds. With the main event running from April 20 to November 24 2024, here’s our pick of what to see if you’re headed to Venice. “Willem de Kooning e l’Italia” — Willem de KooningThe show at Gallerie dell’Accademia will include 75 Willem de Kooning works, including "Screams of Children Come from Seagulls (Untitled XX)," 1975. Yoo Youngkuk Art FoundationThe first exhibition in Europe of one of Korea’s most influential artists, including many works never exhibited before outside Korea.

Right-wing lawmakers are ramping up their threats to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from his role after Johnson’s supporters pushed him to make it harder to oust him from the speakership. The House is finished with floor action for the day, which means that the earliest that Greene could make a motion to oust Johnson would be on Friday. At one point, Johnson was surrounded on the House floor by a number of far-right lawmakers in a heated discussion. Democrats weigh how to proceedThe House Rules Committee is meeting Thursday morning to begin considering the foreign aid bills. One thing that is hanging over discussions is that many Democrats view Johnson as a more honest broker than McCarthy.

CNN —Netflix, the dominant player in streaming, says it grew sales, profits and added more than 9 million subscribers as it revealed first-quarter results on Thursday. In total, Netflix now has 269.6 million subscribers, a record high. In recent months, Netflix has made moves to expand and even radically reinvent its business in an effort to juice profit. In January, Netflix announced it had acquired the exclusive rights to "WWE Raw" live, currently seen on Comcast's USA cable network. In January, Netflix’s president of advertising, Amy Reinhard, shared that Netflix’s ad-tier had more than 23 million users.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was down 0.4% at $86.8 per barrel, having earlier spiked more than 3%. The Israeli military has not commented, and Iran has not identified the source of the attack. Iran launched the attack in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Syria earlier this month. Iran is a big oil producer but exports most of its crude to China because of long-standing international sanctions. Mexico also said earlier this month that it would cut back oil exports because of strong domestic demand.

He is married, likes to do "anything outdoorsy," and gets news from The New York Times, Fox News and MSNBC. He gets news from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Google. Juror 5A young woman who is a Harlem resident and works as a teacher. Juror 6A young woman who lives in Chelsea and works as a software engineer. Juror 10A man who works in commerce, reads The New York Times and listens to podcasts on behavioral psychology.

A 38-year-old mom of two said she lost 140 pounds in two years without restricting her favorite foods by eating more protein and tracking her meals. She lost a total of 140 pounds, got rid of sleep apnea, and boosted her energy enough to exercise daily, Pence told BI. Andrea Pence said she lost more than 100 pounds by eating more protein and tracking calories. If you go heavy on protein, you're going to be full." Being mindful of total calories and finding ways to fit in more protein helped Pence enjoy her food while still meeting her goals.

Ahead of the encroaching Russian forces, Ukrainian volunteers have been evacuating civilians from Ocheretyne and other villages, posting videos on social media showing older residents leaving badly destroyed apartment buildings, along with their pets, and with belongings packed into cardboard boxes. A photograph taken on April 11, 2024, near the town of Chasiv Yar, in Donetsk region, shows smoke rising from fires after bombing. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty ImagesAbout 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Ocheretyne, on another piece of higher ground, the town of Chasiv Yar is also firmly in Russian sights. “The situation around the town of Chasiv Yar is difficult,” Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Ukrainian Ground Forces’ “Khortytsia” operational-strategic group, told CNN. Ukraine’s vulnerability in the face of the FAB threat highlights another huge need for Kyiv – more air defenses.

An earlier version of the TikTok bill sailed through the House in March, but it has become bogged down in the Senate. Opponents, including TikTok and a range of civil society groups, have argued the bill risks violating TikTok users’ First Amendment rights. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the House TikTok bill if it reaches his desk. The latest version of the TikTok bill contains some updates. One key senator who was doubtful of the initial House TikTok bill appeared satisfied.

The ECB opted to hold rates steady in April and next meets to vote on monetary policy on June 6. Christine Lagarde, president of the ECBThe ECB's figurehead delivered a firm message that reflected her statements in recent press conferences: markets should expect an interest rate cut soon, barring major surprises. watch nowGabriel Makhlouf, governor of the Central Bank of IrelandMakhlouf said the most recent data sets had shifted his view on rates. "We don't follow the Fed... and now the ECB will be the central bank to be followed," Šimkus said. One could have cut rates way back in March or even April," he continued, adding that he hoped a majority of Governing Council members would back a June cut.

Meta launched the latest iteration of its chatbot, Llama 3, on Thursday. Mark Zuckerberg said the chatbot is "state-of-the-art" and has improved reasoning. AdvertisementMeta launched the latest iteration of its AI chatbot on Thursday with Llama 3, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg says it's supposed to be really good. The new model boasts "state-of-the-art" performance on various industry-standard benchmarks and comes with "improved reasoning," according to a company blog post. Meta said that it will integrate the model into its AI assistant, Meta AI, which will be available to use across other Meta products, including Instagram.

A man set himself on fire outside the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump stands trial. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA man lit himself on fire Friday outside of the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump's criminal hush-money trial is taking place, witnesses and police sources told Business Insider. "I am an investigative researcher who has set himself on fire outside of the Trump trial in Manhattan," he wrote. AdvertisementThe incident didn't interfere with Trump's ongoing trial, as the court was on a lunch break at the time.

Read previewOil prices jumped while stocks sold off after reports of an escalation in Middle East tensions. International benchmark Brent crude oil futures rose as much as 4.2% before trading 2.8% higher at $89.54 a barrel at 11:15 p.m. EDT. The strike on Friday came days after Iran attacked Israel on Saturday with a barrage of more than 300 missiles and drones. Israel didn't claim responsibility for the strike, but Iran held it accountable and vowed retaliation. Oil markets shrugged off Iran's attack on Israel as the market assessed the conflict would remain contained.

Taylor Swift's latest album features collaborations with Post Malone and Florence and The Machine. Swift has worked with artists as varied as B.o.B, Bon Iver, and Ed Sheeran. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementTaylor Swift's album "The Tortured Poets Department" is here, and it features two heavy-hitting collaborations. Swift's 11th studio album features the rapper Post Malone on the song "Fortnight" and the English indie rock band Florence and The Machine on "Florida!!!."

CNN —Georgia’s government is attempting to force through a controversial “foreign agent” law, despite international condemnation and huge protests from its citizens. Critics of the law say is it is a Kremlin-inspired effort to undermine democracy which will damage Georgia’s bid to join the European Union. The ruling Georgian Dream party first tried to pass the bill 13 months ago, but was forced into an embarrassing climbdown following a week of intense protests. Nearly 80% of Georgians support European integration, according to a poll conducted in December by the National Democratic Institute. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, thousands of Russians – especially men of service age – have fled to Georgia to avoid conscription.

DisparityThanks to its multi-billion-dollar TV deals, the Premier League is often celebrated as a UK Inc. success story. Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC/Getty ImagesBy targeting talents from lower-league academies, Premier League clubs don’t have to pay inflated transfer fees. The mooted introduction of an independent regulator comes against the backdrop of some Premier League clubs falling foul of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Earlier this month, Everton were handed a further two-point deduction for allegedly breaching Premier League financial rules. Relegated from the Premier League in 2023, Leicester denies any wrongdoing and opened legal proceedings against the Premier League and the EFL, but could face a points deduction if found guilty.

House conservatives have organized a crack team to monitor to potential ways to undermine their power. The House Freedom Caucus has formed a Floor Action Response Team. AdvertisementThe far-right House Freedom Caucus has formed a crack team of conservative lawmakers to monitor the House floor lest Speaker Mike Johnson or other Republicans try to limit their power. Massie is also not a member of the Freedom Caucus, whose membership is technically secret, but he does support many of the caucus' broader aims. Gaetz teamed up with seven other House Republicans and House Democrats to boot McCarthy from power.

Apple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese app store following a government order. WhatsApp has been blocked in China since 2017 and its parent company Meta since 2009. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementApple removed WhatsApp and Threads from its app store in China after being told to do so by the Chinese government, according to the Wall Street Journal. "We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree," an Apple spokesperson told The Journal.

Last year, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company reported its first profit decline in four years. The company said engineering wafer production began at the factory in April, an important step toward the eventual chip production. Last July, TSMC announced that chip production for the first factory would be postponed from 2024 to 2025. Barring further setbacks, TSMC's update could mean the first factory will begin production of chips in 2025. This funding could be particularly important for TSMC, given the cost of factory construction and chip manufacturing can differ between the US and Taiwan.

Tesla has laid off 280 workers at its Buffalo, New York facility. Elon Musk told Tesla staff he was cutting more than 10% of the company's workforce. The Buffalo site is used for training Tesla's driver-assist software, and energy storage products. On Sunday night, Tesla CEO Elon Musk told staff the company was cutting more than 10% of its workforce. AdvertisementTesla's Buffalo site is used as a site for the company's data analysis to train its Autopilot and so-called Full Self-Driving software.

A big contributor to that was its limit on password sharing and its cheaper, ad-supported tier. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementNetflix said it grew subscribers by 9.33 million worldwide in Q1 — double what Wall Street had expected. Boosting its performance was the company's crackdown on password sharing, which has led to new signups, as well as its cheaper, ad-supported option. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

On Wednesday, user Nancy Levine Stearns posted screenshots of a paid Hyundai ad above an antisemitic post from a verified “premium” account. X has suspended the antisemitic account that was adjacent to the ad, the head of business operations at X, Joe Benarroch, said in an email to CNN. Benarroch said Hyundai has been running a Corporate level account on X, focused on climate change ads aimed at reaching policy makers. He said the company’s ad agency did not activate Brand Safety settings, and the campaign took place without X’s direct sales team. X’s Brand Safety settings allow advertisers to make sure their ads aren’t running alongside posts that companies might find distasteful.

Russian hackers are suspected of causing a Texas town's water tank to overflow earlier this year. Cybersecurity experts say the likely culprit is Sandworm, a Russian hacking group. AdvertisementIn January, a Texas town's water tank suddenly started overflowing, spewing a torrent of water to the ground below. But it's raising concerns this week, after the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Wednesday that Russian hackers were likely behind it. Mandiant, which is owned by Google, attributed the attack in Muleshoe, Texas to Sandworm, a Russian hacking group.

CNN —The United States on Thursday blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have recognised a Palestinian state. Twelve members of the Security Council had voted in favor of the resolution, the United States vetoed it, and two countries abstained. “The most expeditious path towards statehood for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the support of the United States and other partners who share this goal,” Patel said. Palestinian attempts for recognition as a full member state began in 2011. It will be a Palestine-Nazi state, an entity that achieved statehood despite being committed to terror and Israel’s annihilation,” Erdan added.

A worker fixes a flag of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on a hoarding of their leader and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 15, 2024. The 2024 general elections will pan out in seven phases over the next six weeks, starting April 19. India's meteoric riseUnder Modi's rule, India's economy has scaled to new heights. It is now the world's fifth-largest economy with a GDP of $3.7 trillion and has set its sight on becoming the world's third largest economy by 2027. Home to 1.4 billion people, the world's most populous country is the fastest growing economy in the world.

The United States blocked the U.N. Security Council on Thursday from moving forward on a Palestinian bid to be recognized as a full member state at the United Nations, quashing an effort by Palestinian allies to get the world body to back the effort. The vote was 12 in favor of the resolution and one — the United States — opposed, with abstentions from Britain and Switzerland. The United States, along with the four other permanent members of the Council, can veto any action before it. Full Palestinian membership in the U.N. would be an important if largely symbolic victory for the Palestinian Authority, which has long sought a nation-state. In 2007, the militant group Hamas drove the Palestinian Authority, which President Mahmoud Abbas leads and which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, from power in the Gaza Strip.

The Airbus plane had previously been used by King Charles, Queen Camilla, and other UK officials. AdvertisementA plane used by VIPs like King Charles and Queen Camilla had to make an emergency landing after three windowpanes fell out mid-flight. The lights, used to convey a sunrise, had been aimed at the windows for several hours at a time, the report said. A hole burned through one of the windows while five other windows were deformed after 2,000W lights were used, the report said. If high-intensity lights were used, it suggested keeping use to a minimum and away from windows.

Both Alaska and United Airlines reported quarterly losses this week. But the airlines' bosses said they would've turned profits if it weren't for Boeing's door plug fiasco. AdvertisementThe Boeing door blowout in January tanked Alaska Airlines' first quarter earnings — and it's not the only airline to have been hurt by the incident. Alaska said Thursday its results were "significantly impacted" by the door plug blowout and subsequent grounding of its fleet of 737-9 MAX planes. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

It's not necessarily that I'm spending less money, but I'm way more intentional about how I spend it. But my generation has to choose between these things; having fun in your 20s is harder now. Sandke said she wants to enjoy her 20s and she builds fun activities into her budget. My savings also go toward fun things I'm looking forward to in the near future. I want to look back on my 20s and feel I was responsible with my money and had fun.

Donald Trump's hush-money criminal trial opened April 15 in a Lower Manhattan courtroom. Courtroom sketch artists have captured the former president's many moods during the trial. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump's historic hush-money criminal trial officially got underway inside a Lower Manhattan courtroom on April 15. AdvertisementIt's the first-ever criminal trial of a former president — and the courtroom sketch artists have already captured many moods of Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, during the jury selection process. I will not tolerate that," Merchan told Trump's lead lawyer, Todd BlancheFormer President Donald Trump sat while his lawyer Todd Blanche spoke during the second day of jury selection in his hush-money criminal trial.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mukul Lalchandani, a 44-year-old real-estate agent from New York. I decided to become a real-estate agent so I could prevent other immigrant families from going through the same situation. I've lived in New York for 23 years and have been a real-estate agent for over 15 years. One of the rules is that the seller no longer has to pay a commission to the buyer's agent. Here's what the new commission rules meanThere is a lot of confusion around the commission rule and what it means, especially for buyers.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a "motion to vacate" against Speaker Mike Johnson in March. She argues that Johnson has betrayed the GOP, in part by allowing more Ukraine aid to pass. Since then, more Republicans have signed onto her effort, but Democrats could protect Johnson. AdvertisementRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn't think Mike Johnson deserves his job anymore. The Georgia congresswoman is getting back-up on the so-called "motion to vacate" she filed against the GOP speaker of the House in March: two more Republicans signed on this week.

Read previewWhen my oldest son, Sam, joined his high school baseball team, I began tracking his location through Find My Friends on my iPhone. my husband asked. AdvertisementI finally asked my son what he'd preferI realized I should've asked Sam how he felt about it first. I told Rich that if Sam didn't have a problem with it, neither should he. It's not something I check regularly, and if my son asked me to stop, I would.

The House voted on Thursday to condemn Iran's recent missile and drone attack on Israel. 13 progressive House Democrats — and one Republican — voted against it. AdvertisementThe House of Representatives on Thursday voted to condemn Iran's recent missile and drone attack on Israel. 13 progressive House Democrats voted against the resolution along with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, a non-interventionist libertarian who often opposes these types of resolutions. Here are the 13 House Democrats who voted against the resolution:

Read previewSome laid-off Tesla workers received new severance offers that included more money and longer coverage of benefits on Thursday night. Tesla CEO Elon Musk appeared to acknowledge the company had initially sent out faulty severance packages. Related storyUnlike early severance offers that were sent to some workers on Tuesday night, the new packages appear to vary between employees. Within a few hours, the workers received severance offers with slightly higher pay, those workers said. Another worker said they were offered three months' worth of severance pay and three months of paid COBRA coverage.

An Iranian ship suspected of providing intelligence to the Houthis is sailing home. The MV Behshad spent several months near Yemen as the Houthis launched attacks. Shipping data shows its back near Iran as Tehran braces for a potential Israeli retaliation. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The vessel has been at sea for nearly three years and spent several months earlier this year lingering near Yemen.

Sundar Pichai said in a blog post the office isn't a place to "debate politics." Google fired 28 workers involved in protests against its $1.2 billion contract with Israel. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The CEO's message, which comes only two days after in-office protests, is loud and clear: the office isn't a place for politics. That separate memo had told workers to "think again" before violating company policies with sit-in protests.

Tesla informed some of its recruiters on Friday that they'd been laid off, sources told BI. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Three former Tesla workers confirmed to Business Insider that they had been informed of the layoffs via a call on Friday morning. More former Tesla recruiters have posted on LinkedIn saying they were notified their jobs had been impacted on Friday. The same day Tesla announced its initial round of cuts at least two executives resigned from the company.

Buying a home was a historic challenge last year because of sky-high listing values and the highest mortgage rates since the turn of the century. Heading into 2024, the consensus among real-estate mavens is that affordability will get substantially better, largely due to declining mortgage rates. In turn, mortgage rates are now headed in the wrong direction, steadily rising from 6.6% late last year to nearly 6.9% as of mid-April. AdvertisementHome prices are persistently high — especially in these 27 real-estate marketsAll else equal, higher borrowing costs should translate to lower property prices because of lower demand from buyers. Only a dozen real-estate markets fitting that description saw property prices fall by more than 1%.

An Israeli strike hit Isfahan in Iran, multiple outlets said, citing unnamed senior US officials. It came after Iran fired drones and missiles at Israel in its first-ever direct attack. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementThe relatively restrained nature of an apparent Israeli attack on Iran suggests that both sides are seeking to step back from the brink of a regional war, according to experts. Several explosions caused by an Israeli attack were heard in the central province of Isfahan on Friday, unnamed senior US officials told multiple outlets .

Nine Google employees were arrested after protesting the company's contract with Israel. AdvertisementA small group of Alphabet employees' long-simmering protests against the Google parent company's work with Israel ended with more than two dozen terminations on Wednesday. Google fired 28 employees who participated in office protests in New York and California on Tuesday, the company said on Wednesday. Last month, a Google employee protesting the contract was fired for disrupting a talk in New York by the company's head of Israel. Related storiesMore than 100 people, including Google workers, protested the project outside the company's New York office in 2022.

London CNN —Thousands of Taylor Swift’s UK fans have been duped into buying fake tickets for her upcoming Eras Tour concerts, according to a major British bank. With all UK dates now sold out, desperate fans are more likely to turn to resale sites and social media for tickets. Lloyds said it expects to see “many more fans fall victim to ticket scams in the coming weeks and months,” leading up to the first concert in Edinburgh, Scotland. According to UK Finance, a financial services industry association, Brits lost more than £40 million ($50 million) to “purchase scams,” including sales of fraudulent tickets, in the first half of last year. In November, the bank warned customers over ticket scams relating to Glastonbury, the popular outdoor music festival held annually in England in the summer.

However, if you were a fan of German soccer club Bayer Leverkusen, little changed for you over those 31 years – there was just a lot of disappointment. Since winning the German Cup in 1993, Leverkusen relentlessly explored increasingly agonizing ways of spurning chances to win trophies. The current season has already reaped rewards in the form of the Bundesliga title, with potential domestic and European competition success transforming this into a season for the ages. Everybody was on the pitch this evening, everybody was crying.”After years being the butt of the joke, Leverkusen fans could finally spin the narrative. Leverkusen fans celebrated en masse on the pitch after winning the German league title.

Taylor Swift's impact on the economy is having a positive impact on individual companies. Swift's name has been popping up on Wall Street earnings calls recently, often referencing how she's helped business performance. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementTaylor Swift's impact on the US economy started to become clear last year during the middle of her incredibly popular Era's Tour, and the impact has spilled over to the bottom line for individual companies. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

RELATED: Full 12-person jury set for Trump trial after Thursday proceedings. Even the lawyers in that case weren’t permitted to know the identities of the jurors, a step further than the precautions in place for the Trump trial in New York. In this hyperconnected social media age, anonymity is hard to achieve. Meanwhile, a special hearing on whether Trump has violated a gag order for his continued social media attacks is set for next week. When anonymous juries go wrongMaybe Trump remembers one of the most infamous, anonymous jury incidents, featuring another famous New Yorker, the mob boss John Gotti.

Read previewFederal Reserve officials heaped more doubt on the timing of rate cuts this year, echoing Chair Jerome Powell in stating that the path to 2% inflation looks uncertain. The Fed has projected three rate cuts to come by the end of 2024. Fed Chair Powell suggested earlier in the week that rate cuts could be delayed, causing stocks to slide. Inflation risks haven't been lost on investors, who have been steadily dialing back their expectations for Fed rate cuts over the last few months. Markets are now expecting just one or two rate cuts by the end of the year, according to the CME FedWatch tool, down from six cuts that were anticipated at the start of 2024.

New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, told news outlets to watch how they report on the jurors and forbade the press from reporting where jurors are employed. The ruling came after one juror was dismissed from the trial after expressing concerns that portions of her identity had been made public by the news media. The juror told the judge she had concerns that she could not be impartial after those close to her asked if she was a juror on the case. Christine Cornell“We just lost what probably would’ve been a very good juror,” Merchan added. Former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Toobin told CNN that Merchan could hold news outlets in contempt if they publish identifying information about a juror.

Morgan Stanley reiterates Ford and General Motors at overweight Morgan Stanley remains bullish on both automakers. Loop initiates DoorDash as buy Loop said in its initiation of the stock that it has more earnings potential. We think that years of debate over viability and earnings potential of on-demand gig platforms has been settled." Morgan Stanley upgrades Shopify to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said market share gains are increasing for Shopify. Morgan Stanley reiterates Microsoft at overweight Morgan Stanley said it's bullish heading into earnings next week. "

Hong Kong CNN —Apple has removed WhatAapp and Threads from its app store in China, following an order from the country’s internet watchdog which cited national security concerns. “The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns. Other popular Western social media apps including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and Messenger are still available on Apple’s China app store, according to a check by CNN. Chinese consumers who once would have considered Apple are now turning to the country’s national brands. Its CEO Tim Cook visited Shanghai just last month to open the second biggest Apple store in the world.

Big River sold items like t-shirts, shoes, and beach chairs on competitors' platforms. Its goal was to get information from rivals that Amazon could then use to inform its own business decisions, according to the Journal. Executives viewed printed copies of the Big River team's reports and weren't allowed to keep them, though they were allowed to take notes, the Journal reported. "Benchmarking is a common practice in business," an Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider, using an industry term for comparing itself to rivals. Big River also developed its own brands to sell through rivals' marketplace websites.

A major private student-loan company is leaving the servicing industry. But before that happens, a group of Democratic lawmakers want it to give some borrowers debt relief. On Wednesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren led eight of her Democratic colleagues in sending a letter — first reviewed by Business Insider — to Navient's CEO David Yowan, requesting that the company cancel "decades-old predatory private student loans" using a consumer protection law established by the Federal Trade Commission. AdvertisementBut there might be an avenue to still get those borrowers debt cancellation. "Navient should stop making borrowers apply for relief and instead automatically cancel student debt using information the company already has about whether borrowers attended schools that would entitle them to relief," they wrote.

Tesla sent notices canceling some separation agreements, according to two laid-off employees and a notification seen by Business Insider. The cancellations came after some workers received severance offers for two months of pay. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementSome laid-off Tesla workers received a notification that their separation agreements had been canceled on Thursday and to expect new ones, two laid-off workers told Business Insider. The workers received a notification about a document titled "Your separation agreement," with "status: canceled," according to one of the emails obtained by BI.

Meta gains : Shares of Meta Platforms rose 2% in the session. He navigated the downturn in U.S. department stores," Jim Cramer said Thursday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. 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.

Google is merging more parts of the company in an effort to move faster in AI. Google's DeepMind chief has gained more power, while the head of Pixel will also oversee Android. The changes put more firepower behind some key Google products, and could help it launch faster. CEO Sundar Pichai announced a series of re-orgs in a memo to staff on Thursday, and — surprise, surprise — Google says it's all happening because of artificial intelligence. Pichai said the changes, which include merging different parts of the company, would help Google "simplify decisions" and move faster.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a news conference following the House Republican caucus meeting at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on November 29, 2023. Speaker Mike Johnson, facing intense opposition from right-wing members, received crucial help from Democrats to move forward with the votes. Passing this legislation would send a powerful message about the strength of American leadership at a pivotal moment," the White House budget office said in a statement Friday endorsing the House package. But Johnson, who opposed Ukraine aid last year before he became speaker, now says he believes it is "critically important," based on the intelligence and briefings he has since gotten. Democrats praised the move to proceed to House votes, highlighting their party's key role.

Fans think "ThanK you aIMee" on "The Tortured Poets Department" is a Kim Kardashian diss track. AdvertisementTaylor Swift's fans originally thought her latest album would mostly be about her ex-boyfriends, but the deluxe edition of "The Tortured Poets Department" appears to feature a thinly veiled diss track about Kim Kardashian. In "ThanK you aIMee," Swift never mentions Kardashian by name, but it's easy to see why fans are speculating. This appears to be the first time Swift has written about KardashianKim Kardashian and Taylor Swift have clashed over "Famous." I DID NOT HAVE TAYLOR SWIFT GAGGING KIM KARDASHIAN ON MY 2024 BINGO CARD OMFG?????

Google workers have the right to peacefully protest about terms and conditions of our labor. Last month, Google Cloud engineer Eddie Hatfield interrupted a keynote speech from the managing director of Google's Israel business stating, "I refuse to build technology that powers genocide." That same week, an internal Google employee message board was shut down after staffers posted comments about the company's Israeli military contracts. The Israeli Ministry of Defense reportedly sought consulting services from Google to expand its access to Google Cloud services. "A small number of employee protesters entered and disrupted a few of our locations," a Google spokesperson told CNBC Wednesday evening.

An IndyStar sports columnist apologized for his exchange with Caitlin Clark at a press conference. Gregg Doyel made Clark's hand heart towards her, making what he called a "clumsy and awkward" remark. 1 WNBA draft pick Caitlin Clark, saying in a column that he was "part of the problem." Doyel and Clark interacted at Clark's welcome press conference for the Indiana Fever, where she will play professionally in the WNBA, on Wednesday. Doyel, per NBC News, made a hand heart symbol with Clark, prompting her to ask, "You like that?"

The new movie "Civil War" is controversial — some people love it and others hate it. But some people also say they're upset about "Civil War's" marketing. AdvertisementHave you seen "Civil War," the new movie about, um, a civil war in the US? But here's a supposed controversy about the movie you can most definitely ignore: Its marketing campaign, which has Upset Some People On The Internet. Well, 1) none of them are actually from the movie, and 2) supposedly, A24, the indie movie studio that made "Civil War," used AI to help generate them.

Taylor Swift's new album "The Tortured Poets Department" is almost guaranteed to be a bestseller. But no matter how well it does, it won't be the way Swift earns most of her money this year. In fact, the remaining leg of her Eras tour will add much more to Swift's billion-dollar fortune. Swift's Eras Tour brought in more than $1 billion in ticket sales last year over its 66 dates. Swift's cut is unknown, but based on industry standards, she will surely earn nine figures in 2024 from ticket sales.

Squatters have taken over the former headquarters of 20th Century Fox in central London. It's the latest example of squatters occupying buildings in the city, including a Gordon Ramsay restaurant. AdvertisementThe former London headquarters of 20th Century Fox has been taken over by squatters, The Evening Standard reported. It's the third high-profile London address taken over by squatters in recent weeks. Last week, London's Metropolitan Police was made aware of a group occupying the site of a Gordon Ramsay Restaurant, the York & Albany, in Camden.

Read previewSingaporean Xian Jie Lee, 33, moved to Japan in 2012 to study political science. Xian Jie LeeShu told Lee that he could rent a farmhouse in a village called Ryujinmura. "I removed the tatami (traditional straw floor covering) in the inner room and fell through the floor," Lee said. Xian Jie LeeWhile renovating the guesthouse, Lee turned his own home into a café three days a week to earn extra income. Xian Jie LeeLee has also been able to participate in unique experiences himself.

A deep basin called Sputnik Planitia, which makes up the “left lobe” of the heart, is home to much of Pluto’s nitrogen ice. The New Horizons spacecraft took an image of Pluto's heart on July 14, 2015. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/NASAThrough new research on Sputnik Planitia, an international team of scientists has determined that a cataclysmic event created the heart. The teardrop shape of Sputnik Planitia is a result of the frigidity of Pluto’s core, as well as the relatively low velocity of the impact itself, the team found. The researchers believe that the new theory regarding Pluto’s heart could shed more light on how the mysterious dwarf planet formed.

We learned that Stella has spina bifidaShe couldn't lie on her back and had to be fed through a tube. Katie Spence's daughter Stella was in the NICU after she was born. Leaving and living without my husband full-time would be difficult, but getting Stella comprehensive care took precedence. The Texas Medical Center is a world-class medical destination, and we quickly had an appointment with a top pediatric neurosurgeon. Katie Spence says her daughter has received quality healthcare from the Texas Medical Center.

Analyst Laura Champine also lowered her price target to $80 from $85, implying a 6% increase for the stock. "New York City office is one of the few REIT subsectors seeing improved demand," the analyst wrote. The bank double-upgraded the e-commerce platform to overweight from underweight and hiked its price target to $62 from $35. Feather added that eBay stock is currently trading at a discount versus peers, with Etsy trading around 35% higher. "JetBlue's DNA aligns with our broader preference for loyalty, premium, and international exposure ... albeit with less vigor than the Big 3," the analyst wrote.

A US Navy ship deployed to help build a floating pier in Gaza returned home after an engine fire. USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo deployed to transport equipment to operate the temporary port. AdvertisementAn M1A1 Abrams tank is off-loaded from the USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo off the shore of Pohang, Republic of Korea. AdvertisementUSNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo and USNS Pililaau anchor off the coast of Pohang, Republic of Korea. Australian dock workers secure USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo while members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Australian Defence Force begin offloading.