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☆ Banana auction billionaire's $30 million investment in Trump's crypto token highlights new ways to enrich president-elect
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-25 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Justin Sun, founder of blockchain platform Tron, poses for a photograph in Hong Kong, China, on Friday, May 8, 2020. Tron blockchain founder Justin Sun has invested $30 million into Donald Trump's crypto project, World Liberty Financial, he announced Monday. "We are thrilled to invest $30 million in World Liberty Financial @worldlibertyfi as its largest investor," Sun wrote in a post on X. In exchange, Trump's LLC received billions of tokens and the right to 75% of revenues above a $30 million threshold. Sales now appear to have crossed the $30 million threshold to trigger revenue distribution to Trump's LLC.

Persons: Justin Sun, Tron blockchain, Donald Trump's, Sun, Trump, Bitcoin, TRON, WLFI, Zachary Folkman, Folkman Organizations: Liberty Financial, Liberty, Trump, Trump's, America, Etherscan Locations: Hong Kong, China

Grocery inflation just hit its peak after a single banana was sold for $6.2 million on Wednesday. Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun dropped over $6 million on the piece of produce — because it was duct-taped to a wall. The banana is part of a piece of artwork called "Comedian," created by the Italian artist and satirist Maurizio Cattelan. People view Maurizio Cattelan's "Comedian" on Oct. 25, 2024, in New York City. But the value of the artwork is not in the banana itself — it's derived from the certificate accompanying the purchase.

Persons: Justin Sun, Maurizio Cattelan, Maurizio Cattelan's, John Nacion, Sun, —, Sun's, ’, ” David Galperin Organizations: Getty, CNBC, Associated Press, Art Basel Miami Locations: Italian, New York City, John

☆ Disney is turning record parks profits — even before its big expansions
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Gary Hershorn | Corbis News | Getty ImagesAll is well in the Magic Kingdom. Experiences, which includes parks, resorts, cruises and consumer products, was the second-highest revenue driver behind Disney's entertainment division, which tallied $41.18 billion in fiscal 2024. "It's small things adding up to big things," said David Lightbody, senior vice president of Disney Live Entertainment. Limited time holiday merchandise available at Disney parks. A stunning firework show is held at the Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World Resort on July 1, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Persons: Gary Hershorn, King Thanos, it'll, Gavin Doyle, Doyle, Mouse, Helene, Milton, David Lightbody, Lightbody, Lindsay Brookshier, Disney hasn't, Liao Pan Organizations: Magic, Walt Disney World, Corbis, Getty, Magic Kingdom, Disney, Big, Marvel, Epcot, Guardians, Falcon, Disney Live Entertainment, Walt Disney, Disneyland's, Pixar Fest, Medianews, Orange, China News Service Locations: Orlando , Florida, Magic, Florida, California, Hong Kong, Anaheim, Walt, Lake Buena Vista , Florida

☆ Hollywood's franchise frenzy: More than half of top studios' 2025 movies are existing IP
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The 2024 box office has been inundated with sequels, prequels and remakes, with the top 10 titles of the year all coming from existing intellectual property. Looking at the current 2025 calendar, between 50% and 70% of the movies from the six major studios — Universal , Disney , Warner Bros. , Paramount , Sony and Lionsgate — will be related to existing IP. Craig T Fruchtman | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty ImagesEven before Hollywood was disrupted by the pandemic and the meteoric rise of streaming content, the domestic box office was heavily reliant on franchise titles. While that's a 11.3% drop from last year and lags 25% behind pre-pandemic levels, the haul is better than box office analysts had expected. "Some of the most well-received box office hits in recent memory have been sequels or films based on existing brands and there is still a variety of original content out there."

Persons: There's, Paul Dergarabedian, Guy, Bob Marley, Craig T Fruchtman, Kung, Dergarabedian, Kraven, Hunter, King, Shawn Robbins, Bridget Jones, MEGAN, Downton, Michael, John Wick Organizations: Marvel, Disney, — Universal, Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate, Comscore, Getty, Hollywood, Universal, Century Fox, Warner Locations: Shanghai, China, Kingdom, New York City, Peru

☆ Paris Fashion Week: Highlights from the Spring-Summer 2025 shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Alice Pfeiffer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Editor’s Note: CNN Style is one of the official media partners of Paris Fashion Week. Fashion house Coperni took over Disneyland Paris on Tuesday evening and staged their show in front of the iconic Sleeping Beauty castle. Brand history was similarly front and center at Alexander McQueen, where Seán McGirr showed his second collection for the label. River Callaway/WWD/Getty ImagesBirds were a recurring motif in the Stella McCartney collection shown during Paris Fashion Week and chosen by the designer to protest their use in the fashion industry. Jerome Domine/Abaca Press/Sipa USA"I’ve been thinking of the billions of birds that get killed for the fashion industry," said McCartney.

Persons: Coperni, Lyvans Boolaky, Chemena Kamali, Pascal Le Segretain, Valentino, Alessandro Michele, Gucci, Michele, Alexander McQueen, Seán McGirr, ”, Johanna Geron, Ann Demeulemeester, Stefano Gallici, ” Gallici, Francois Durand, Alphonse Maitrepierre’s, Donald Duck, Miyake, Julien De Rosa, Kristy Sparow, Issey Miyake, Wool, knitwear, Mickey, Sébastien Meyer, Arnaud Vaillant, “, Chanel, Van Noten, Sarah Meyssonnier, Stella McCartney, I’ve, McCartney, Jerome Domine, Jerome, Andreas Kronthaler, Vivienne Westwood’s, Paul Watson, Dame Vivienne, Vivienne Westwood, Louis Sullivan, Junya Watanabe, Dior, —, Sagg Napoli, Sofia Ginevra Giannì, Jonathan Anderson's, Loewe, Ik, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Miuccia Prada, Goshka Macuga, Saint Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent, Demna Gvasalia, Giovanni Giannoni, Dykes, Williams, Harri Shanahan, Thatcher, Antonin Tron, Gigi Hadid, McGirr, Donald, Justin Shin, Mary Jane, Victor Virgile Organizations: CNN, Paris, Paris CNN, Paris Fashion, Disneyland Paris, Getty, Pompidou, Disney, Balmain, Reuters, Callaway, Fashion, Abaca, Louis, Art, femmes, Lingerie Locations: France, Europe, Chloé, AFP, Paris, Bermuda, Greenland, Stockholm, London, Balenciaga, Siân

☆ I spent an extra $44 on Disney World's new Lightning Lane system. I don't know how you can visit without it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Twenty-five years and multiple incarnations later, Disney introduced the Lightning Lane Multi-Pass in July 2024. What is Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, and how much does it cost? A Lightning Lane Multi-Pass allows you to choose three Disney rides that you want to prioritize. Well, some rides have been deemed even more exclusive than those rides, and you can only purchase a Lightning Lane for those separately. Those are the best attractions in the park, and you could waste hours trying to get on them without a Lightning Lane.

Persons: —, FlashPass, Gabbi Shaw, Lightcycle, I'm, FastPass, Leonard Ortiz, I'd Organizations: Service, Disney, Lightning, Business, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal, Media, Register Locations: Orlando, Animal Kingdom, Orange

☆ I traveled from New York City to Disney World and back in 24 hours. It was exhausting, but I saved hundreds of dollars.
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

But FastPass has been a thing of the past since 2014, and visitors can instead buy a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass, which I decided to opt for. After tax, my $232 park-hopper ticket was $247 (yes, that means the park ticket cost more than my airfare). But after adding the $24 Lightning Lane Multi-Pass in Hollywood Studios and the $20 Single Lane Pass for the TRON ride, the final cost was $291. A single park ticket would have been cheaper, but since I was there for just one day, I wanted to see as much of Disney as possible. At first, I was pretty confused by the way the Lightning Lane passes work.

Persons: Gabbi Shaw, FastPass, — Organizations: Business, Hollywood Studios, Disney, Magic Kingdom Locations: Magic

☆ Disney showcases sequels at D23 as Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan present ‘Freakier Friday’
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Megan Thomas | Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That was the obvious crowd sentiment at the D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase on Friday, where the company previewed its upcoming lineup of film and streaming comfort content. D23, for those unfamiliar with the biennial pilgrimage of Disney fans to Anaheim, California, is part cosplay convention, part promotional pep fest. It was as if Disney, borrowing a line from Russell Crowe in “Gladiator,” asked, “Are you not entertained?”Hard not to be. Walt Disney Studios and AnimationAuli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson appear at the Disney Entertainment Showcase on August 9. He previewed “Dream Productions,” an “Inside Out” spinoff series, set in Riley’s mind in a time period between the two films, due to release on Disney+ next year.

Persons: ”, King ”, David Blaine, Lin Manuel Miranda, Russell Crowe, “, Dwayne Johnson, Jesse Grant, Disney Dwayne Jonnson, “ Maui’s, ” Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, ” Lohan, ” Curtis, Oscar, Barry Jenkins, Miranda, Lin, Manuel Miranda, Braelyn Rankins, Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Theo Somolu, Anika Noni Rose, Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Jim Cameron, ” Cameron, “ It’s, Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Ginnifer Goodwin, ” Rachel Zegler, Gal Godot, Jeff Bridges, Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Ares, Disney Pixar Pete Docter, Docter, “ Elio, Marvel, America, Kevin Feige –, Ryan Reynolds, Marvel Jesus ”, –, Feige, Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus ‘ Thunderbolt ’ Ross –, William Hurt –, Agatha All, Kathryn Hahn, Agatha Harkness, ” Hahn, Aubrey, Patti LuPone, Joe Locke, Okwui Okpokwasili, Ali Ahn, Agatha, Charlie Cox, Lucasfilm Grogu, Din Djarin, Pedro Pascal, Jude Law, Diego Luna, wunderkinds Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Yoda Organizations: CNN, Disney, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Entertainment, Pixar, Disney Pixar, Marvel Marvel, Marvel, “, Aubrey Plaza, Lucasfilm, Star Locations: Anaheim , California, “, Moana, New Zealand, “ WandaVision

☆ Disney is hoping for a box office rebound built on sequels, prequels and pixie dust
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Yet, the company's post-pandemic box office was also beset by executive decisions to increase content production to pad its fledgling streaming service Disney+. As the company seeks to rebuild its reputation and recapture magic at the box office, it is relying heavily on existing, and beloved, franchises. Revisiting old favoritesHeading into D23, Disney had two major box office successes under its belt from two major franchises. Its latest Pixar film, "Inside Out 2," is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time, topping $1.5 billion at the global box office. Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024.

Persons: Bob Iger, Araya Doheny, Iger, —, Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Disney, Elio, Adrian Molina, Zoe Saldana, Jon Hamm, Bobby Moynihan, Mando, Grogu, Cassian Andor, Jude Law, jettison, Thanos, Kevin Feige, San Diego Comic Con, Robert Downey Jr, Doom, Jesse Grant Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Disney Entertainment, Getty, Honda Center, Disney, Disney's, Pixar, Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm, stormtroopers, ATs, Galactic, Star, Marvel, Marvel Studios, San Diego Comic Locations: Anaheim , California, Hollywood, SDCC, San Diego , California

☆ Three Disney films could top $1 billion this year after box office rut
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Sarah Whitten | Whitten Is A Social Media Writer For Cnbc. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

After years of starts and stops at the box office, Disney appears to have hit a groove in 2024. Its latest Pixar film, “Inside Out 2,” is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time, topping $1.5 billion at the global box office. And the box office hits aren’t expected to stop there. Disney has long been a box office champion, driving significant ticket sales domestically and globally. In the year before the pandemic, Disney had seven theatrical releases top $1 billion at the box office.

Persons: Disney, ” —, ”, Paul Dergarabedian, bemoaned, Shawn Robbins, We’re, Bob Iger, Covid lockdowns, Iger, Disney’s, Riley, ” Iger, Wednesday’s, ‘, ’, America, we’re, Romulus ” “, King, Moana, Robbins, “ Organizations: Pixar, Disney, Comscore, Star, Marvel, Century Fox, Sony, Star Wars, Lucasfilm Locations: ”, Comscore, Anaheim , California

☆ Volkswagen shares slip as it considers Brussels plant closure on weak EV demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen at the New York International Auto Show Press Preview, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., March 27, 2024. Volkswagen shares dipped Wednesday after the company issued an overnight profit warning and announced it was considering the potential closure of an Audi plant in Brussels. It noted that is also considering the restructuring or potential shutdown of its Audi plant in Brussels, where it employs 3,000 people, on the back of weak demand for the Audi Q8 e-tron line — a fully electric offering from the brand, launched in 2019. Automakers have contended with waning EV demand, with European brands facing the compounded challenge of a wave of discounted, state-subsidized rival vehicles produced in China. If it presses ahead, this would mark Volkswagen's first factory shutdown in nearly four decades, since the 1988 closure of its plant in the Westmoreland site in Alabama.

Organizations: New York, Auto, Volkswagen, Audi, EU Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Brussels, China, Westmoreland, Alabama

Moreover, the partnership will enable Rivian to cut operating costs by leveraging volumes of supplies including chips and components, he said. It will also help Rivian, known for its flagship R1S SUVs and R1T pickups, turn cashflow positive. Volkswagen will immediately invest $1 billion in Rivian through a note that will convert to stock on Dec. 1, subject to regulatory approvals. The German automaker will also invest $2 billion in Rivian stock - $1 billion each in 2025 and 2026 - subject to the startup hitting certain milestones, and provide a $1 billion loan in 2026. Rivian stock has halved so far this year.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, RJ Scaringe, Vitaly Golomb, Herbert Diess, Diess, Rivian, Scaringe, Sam Fiorani, Mavka Capital's Golomb, VW's Cariad, Abhirup Roy, Ben Klayman, Noel Randewich, Christina Amann, Harshita Varghese, Sayantani Ghosh, Rod Nickel, Matthew Lewis, Leslie Adler Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Reuters, JV, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley, Volkswagen Group, Mavka, VW, AutoForecast Solutions, Traders, S3 Partners, Rivian, Thomson Locations: Reze, Nantes, France, Europe, Asia, North America, U.S, German, South Carolina, San Francisco, Detroit, Oakland , California, Berlin, Bengaluru

☆ 15 little-known secrets you probably didn't know about Magic Kingdom
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Jenna Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Here are some little-known secrets even the biggest Disney fans might not know about Magic Kingdom. There's a hidden homage to Walt Disney at the front of the parkWalt Disney Was born in 1901. Kim Renfro/INSIDERAlthough Space Mountain is an iconic attraction that has become synonymous with the park, it was not an opening-day attraction at Magic Kingdom in 1971. There are locations in both Disneyland and Disney World, and the Magic Kingdom Club 33 is located at the entrance to Adventureland near the Adventureland Bazaar. The Walt Disney World Railroad spans 1.5 miles across the parkMagic Kingdom's 20-minute train ride stops on Main Street, in Frontierland, and in Fantasyland.

Persons: —, Walt Disney, Jenna Clark, Walt, isn't, Roberto Machado Noa, it's, Jenna Clark Gaston's, It's, Kim Renfro, Mickey Mouse's, Mickey, Mickey Mouse, ROBERT SULLIVAN, who've, Walter E, Lilly Belle, Walt's, Lillian, Roy O, Roger E, Jenna Clark Just Organizations: Service, Disney, Magic, Business, Walt, Kingdom, Barber, Getty, Magic Kingdom, Kingdom's, Adventureland, Cinderella, Walt Disney World Railroad, Liberty, Hollywood Studios Locations: aren't, Frotierland, USA, New Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Magic, Pinocchio's, Adventureland, There's, AFP, Frontierland, Fantasyland

☆ I drove the 2024 Tesla Model 3. It's a big improvement from older versions, but the Model Y is still the better buy.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Andrew Lambrecht | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Andrew Lambrecht, who owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3, test drove the new 2024 Model 3. He says the more spacious Model Y, which is still eligible for a tax credit, is the better buy. Given the Model 3's relatively long lifecycle without any significant updates, the refreshed 2024 Model 3 has been long-awaited. The Model 3's new lookThe nose of the 2024 Tesla Model 3. Andrew LambrechtThe 2024 Tesla Model 3 is a massive improvement over the outgoing one.

Persons: Andrew Lambrecht, —, Tesla Charlotte, you've, Tesla Organizations: Tesla, Service, Audi

☆ Disney's parks are its top money maker — and it plans to spend $60 billion to keep it that way
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

It had been more than a year since the Covid pandemic had forced Disney's domestic parks to shutter, but D'Amaro, chair of Disney's experiences division, was confident guests would flood back in when the gates reopened. Revenues fell 35% in 2020, a nearly $10 billion decrease from the $26.2 billion the experiences division had tallied in the year before the pandemic. The experiences division posted record revenue of $32.5 billion in fiscal 2023, a 16% increase from the prior year. Its innovations, from ride mechanics and animatronics to creature design and immersive architecture, have made Disney's parks a standout in the industry. Storytelling is at the heart of everything across Disney's experiences division.

Persons: Mickey Mouse, Ian Langsdon, Josh D'Amaro, D'Amaro, Bob Chapek, D'Amaro —, Walt Disney, King Arthur Carousel, Christian Thompson, you've, it's, Bob Iger, Nelson, Walt Disney Imagineering, Rey, Kylo Ren, Judy Hopps, Imagineers, CNBC —, Lewis, Disney, Imagineering, Matt Stroshane, Alan Bergman Organizations: Paris, Afp, Getty, Gibson, Disney, Walt Disney Imagineering, Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney, Guardians, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Star Wars, California Disneyland's, Walt Disney Imagineering's, Disney Engineers, Force, Southwest, CNBC, Galactic, Marvel Locations: California, Burbank, Disneyland, Hong Kong, Shanghai Disneyland, Florida, Epcot, Magic, Wharf, Disneyland's, Disney's, Edge

☆ 'Mandalorian & Grogu,' 'Toy Story 5,' and another 'Tron' coming to theaters from Disney
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Mandalorian and the Child (Grogu) on Disney+'s "The Mandalorian." The Walt Disney Company on Friday revealed its new theatrical schedule, which will feature a film about the Mandalorian and Grogu, a fifth "Toy Story" film, and another "Tron" flick before the end of 2026. The company's theatrical business has struggled in the wake of pandemic shutdowns and dual Hollywood labor strikes, as productions stalled and moviegoers' box-office habits shifted. Disney teased that one of its 2026 Star Wars films would feature the iconic duo from its Disney+ series "The Mandalorian" and revealed its title will be "The Mandalorian & Grogu." A fifth "Toy Story" film is set to hit theaters on June 19, 2026, and "Tron: Ares" is slated for Oct. 10, 2025.

Persons: Disney, Bob Iger, He's, Iger, Oscar, Rami Malek, Amy Adams Organizations: Disney, Walt Disney Company, Marvel

☆ Audi reveals new all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV, its first next-generation EV
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Audi on Monday revealed its new all-electric Q6 e-tron SUV, the first production vehicle on its next-generation electric vehicle architecture. The Volkswagen -owned luxury carmaker says the new "Premium Platform Electric" opens up new levels of technology for Audi, including a rapid EV recharge time of 158 miles in 10 minutes. The vehicle ushers in the next generation of EVs for Audi, which continues to offer more all-electric and plug-in hybrid EVs despite growth slowing recently for EVs. Audi confirmed it plans to introduce about 20 new or significantly redesigned models and derivatives globally through 2025, more than half of which will be electric.

Organizations: Audi, Volkswagen, EVs

☆ Longtime Disney Movie Executive Steps Down
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Brooks Barnes | More About Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Sean Bailey, the longtime president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, has decided to step down, amid investor pressure to reverse Disney’s box office cold streak. Instead, at least in the near term, he will produce a new “Tron” movie for Disney. Mr. Greenbaum has been running the Searchlight division with Matthew Greenfield since 2021. Over that time, Disney has been roiled by executive firings, restructuring efforts and shifting strategies for film distribution. The steady-handed Mr. Bailey, who is popular with stars and their agents, has helped provide stability.

Persons: Sean Bailey, Bailey’s, David Greenbaum, Bailey, Mr, Greenbaum, Matthew Greenfield, Oscar Organizations: Walt Disney Studios, Disney, Netflix, Searchlight Pictures, Mr, Searchlight Locations: Hollywood

☆ Disney to take $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games, work with Fortnite maker on new content
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Sarah Whitten | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Disney is investing $1.5 billion for a stake in Epic Games, CEO Bob Iger said Wednesday, in its biggest bet yet on the gaming space. "Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney's beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular Fortnite in a transformational new games and entertainment universe," said Iger in a statement. Disney did not say what the valuation of Epic, a private company, would be after the Disney funding. "Now we're collaborating on something entirely new to build a persistent, open and interoperable ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities." Aside from Fortnite, Epic Games is well-known for challenging Apple and Google in court to force them to lower their app store fees.

Persons: Bob Iger, Disney, Iger, Fortnite, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney, Kif Leswing Organizations: Disney, Epic Games, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Star, Lego, Harmonix, Apple, Google, CNBC PRO Locations: Fortnite

☆ Honda teases new EVs with futuristic 'Space-Hub' and 'Saloon' concept cars
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The concept models are called the "Space-Hub" and "Saloon," which the first production "Honda 0 Series" EV will be based on, according to the Japanese automaker. Honda plans to introduce the first model of the Honda 0 Series based on the Saloon concept in North America, followed by model introductions in Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and South America. Honda Space-Hub concept electric vehicle Courtesy HondaThe Saloon is a sleek, futuristic-looking vehicle that seems fit for "Tron" movies, with a large open-mouthed front-end light in neon lighting with a redesigned Honda "H" in the center. Inside, the Saloon features a minimalistic digital cockpit with a yoke steering wheel, which is similar to concept cars from other companies that have debuted at CES. Honda Saloon concept electric vehicle Courtesy HondaBoth concepts appear to be designed to feature autonomous driving capabilities: the steering yoke is able to retract into the dashboard of each.

Persons: Toshihiro Mibe, Honda Organizations: Honda, CES Locations: North America, Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa, South America

☆ Donations to Hamas-linked charities spike 70% since Oct. 7 attack, Israeli officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jason Gewirtz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

"We saw a 70% increase in money given to Hamas-linked charities," said Uzi Shaya, a former high-ranking officer in Mossad, Israel's intelligence service. Charities suspected of funneling money to Hamas often change their names, too, making them all the more difficult to monitor. Israel's National Bureau of Counter Terror Financing maintains a list of charitable organizations that it accuses of directly aiding Hamas' military. Hard lessonsEnsuring that individual Gazans have economic opportunity without simultaneously funding Hamas militants has proven to be a difficult challenge for Israel. Beyond direct funding, Israel also allowed 18,000 Gazans to enter Israel to work, again hoping that a stable economy would pacify Hamas.

Persons: John Macdougall, Uzi Shaya, Shaya, Din, Akin, Hawala, Israel, Karim Jaafar, Israel haven't, Binance, —, Al, Adel Hana, Fadel Senna Organizations: Hamas, West Bank, AFP, Getty, Israeli Defense and Foreign Ministry, CNBC, Foreign Ministry, Islamic, Bureau of, Qatari Red Crescent, Gaza, Qatar Emiri Air Force, International Airport, Palestinian, Treasury Department Locations: Ramallah, Israel, Gaza, Islamic Jihad, Lebanon, Iran, Hawala, North Sinai, Egypt, U.S, Gaza City, Adel Hana An Israeli, Sderot

Six people listed on Israel's previous Tron seizure notices who responded to Reuters questions denied connections to militant groups. Iran has previously used Tron to skirt U.S. sanctions. 'BLINDSPOT'Since its 2008 birth, the Bitcoin blockchain, and since then crypto more widely, have been magnets for criminals drawn by liquidity and a reputation for anonymity. In 2021, the first year NBCTF published seizure notices, it froze 30 Bitcoin wallets. No Bitcoin wallets appear in notices in the subsequent years.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mriganka Pattnaik, Merkle, Hayward Wong, Tron, Wong, Israel, NBCTF, Weeks, Justin Sun, Sun, Binbin Deng, Shlomit Wagman, VanEck, Wagman, Tom Wilson, Elizabeth Howcroft, Nidal al, Gebeily, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: REUTERS, Hezbollah, Reuters, Israel's, Bureau for, British Virgin Islands, Dubai Co, Israel, Hamas, Islamic, West Bank, Tron, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Sun, Force, Harvard University, Authority, Militant, Thomson Locations: Iran, Israel, United States, New York, Britain, Singapore, Gaza, British Virgin, Jihad, Dubai, Venezuela, Jenin, Tehran, Paris, U.S, London, Beirut

As token prices plummeted last year, the sector saw other stunning meltdowns that put several industry moguls into authorities' crosshairs. Changpeng "CZ" ZhaoThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Binance and its CEO Zhao in June for allegedly operating "a web of deception." Kwon faces multiple charges of fraud in the U.S. and was arrested in Montenegro earlier this year for allegedly forging documents, authorities said. He has pleaded not guilty to U.S. fraud charges that he misled customers and artificially inflated the value of his company's proprietary crypto token. Barry SilbertSilbert is the boss of crypto group Digital Currency Group whose subsidiary Genesis Global Capital filed for bankruptcy in January.

Persons: Zhao Changpeng, Binance, Costas Baltas, Sam Bankman, Fried, he's, Zhao, Kwon, Luna, Terraform, Alex Mashinsky, Mashinsky, Barry Silbert Silbert, Letitia James, Silbert, Stephen Ehrlich Stephen Ehrlich's, Ehrlich, Justin Sun, Sun, Niket Nishant, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Zhao, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, U.S . Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Korean, Terraform Labs, Montenegrin, Mashinsky, CFTC, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Digital Currency Group, Genesis Global Capital, New York, FTC, Tron Foundation, Thomson Locations: Athens, Greece, China, Canada, U.S, Montenegro, New York

☆ The sad, lonely secret behind America's never-ending wave of Marvel movies and Disney reboots
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Walt Hickey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. Next, participants took Batcho's Nostalgia Inventory, a psychological test developed by Krystine Batcho in 1995 to quantify how deeply people feel nostalgia at a given time. If the key driver of reboots is nostalgia — then the key driver of nostalgia is loneliness. American health insurer Cigna has conducted a large loneliness survey since 2018, with over ten thousand respondents in the sample annually. In 2020, 61% of those surveyed were lonely, up 7 percentage points since the survey was first conducted in 2018.

Persons: Harry Potter, Krystine Batcho, lonelier, Cigna, reboots, Indiana Jones, Heather Jones, Walt Hickey, Zelda, backlist, SpongeBob, Percy Jackson, Workman Organizations: Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Sony, Fox, Southampton University, UCLA, Research Center, Pew Research, Gallup, Netflix, Recreation Locations: Wonderland, Orlando, England, Hogwarts, Kingdom, America, Hollywood

☆ Consumers can now find huge discounts on electric cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Thanks to growing competition in the market, and some reticence from consumers, automakers and car dealers are offering huge discounts on electric vehicles, particularly luxury models. In September 2022, the average electric vehicle purchased in the United States, excluding Teslas, went for about $1,500 over sticker price. (Remember, for most new vehicles, the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or sticker price, is just a suggestion, with the final selling price usually higher or lower.) In sheer dollars, the average price paid for a non-Tesla electric vehicle actually went up slightly over the past year. A couple looks at a Volkswagen ID.4 electric vehicle while shopping at a new car dealership.

Persons: Joseph Yoon, Pat Ryan, ” Ryan, Michael Nagle, Tesla, It’s, Yoon, Alison Flores, “, Edmunds, Charles Krupa Organizations: CNN, Edmunds, Nissan, New York, Bloomberg, Getty, Tesla, Teslas, Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Volvo, Tax, H, AP Locations: Edmunds, United States, That’s

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