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☆ Americans are buying weed more than chocolate, data shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In 2022, Americans spent an estimated $30 billion on legal marijuana products. Legal pot sales could top $33 billion this year – more than chocolate and craft beer combined. Last year's total also exceeds the combined total sales of chocolate and craft beer, which saw $20 billion and $7.9 billion, respectively. If trends continue, MJBizDaily projects cannabis sales could reach as high as $33.6 billion this year and climb to nearly $57 billion by 2028. Robust as the total US sales numbers are, recent years have not been kind to the cannabis industry.

She will warn about "the global impact of this standoff and highlight the need to avoid default," a senior Treasury official said. It will lead to a freeze in global financial markets," said Muehleisen, now a fellow with the Atlantic Council. G7 counterparts will question Yellen "about the financial stability risks in the U.S., the regional banks' exposure to commercial real estate. Real risks that are not manufactured for political posturing," said Stephanie Segal, a former U.S. Treasury official who is a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The far more complicated "Pillar 1" plan to allow countries to tax global technology giants and other highly profitable corporations on their local sales is still under negotiation.

☆ Opinion: Vladimir Putin’s anxious time
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. He imagines a boy sitting “upon the high and giddy mast” of a ship tossed by wind and waves. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown,” concludes the king in Shakespeare’s play. Russia said that President Vladimir Putin was the intended target of a foiled Ukrainian drone attack on the Kremlin, an allegation Ukraine denied. The unfortunate monarch who was the last to own the original St. Edward’s Crown, King Charles I, was convicted of treason and beheaded on January 30, 1649.

☆ See a meteor shower and lunar eclipse this weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —With bright meteors blazing across the sky from the Aquariids meteor shower and a chance to see a lunar eclipse, Friday will be the time to look up to the sky for a day of spectacular celestial events. That alignment will create what is known as a penumbral lunar eclipse, which is when the moon enters Earth’s outer shadow. Get a lawn chair and put the moon at your back,” said Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteor Society. During a penumbral eclipse, the moon stays on this outer ring, appearing as if it is dimming, but not completely darkening like a total lunar eclipse. On October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be viewable in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America and much of South America.

☆ Jon Rahm sets new PGA Tour earnings record with four months still to play
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —It’s been quite the year for Jon Rahm – and he’s got the prize money to prove it. A runner-up finish at the Mexico Open on Sunday took the Spaniard’s PGA Tour season earnings to $14,462,840, setting a new Tour record for money earned in a single season. With $49,486,883 in total earnings since joining the PGA Tour in 2016, Rahm looks set to pass the $50 million mark imminently upon his return. The American had finished joint-second, one shot shy, of Rahm at last year’s event, but improved his total by eight shots to end on 24-under and clinch his sixth PGA Tour title. Orlando Ramirez/Getty ImagesGiven his form, Rahm looks well-placed to add to his two majors and 11 PGA Tour titles this year, but the 28-year-old is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

☆ The search for 100,000 new species in Earth’s oceans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In some ways, Earth’s oceans are as alien to us as distant moons in the solar system. When scientists dived to the twilight zone and the mesophotic zone directly above it in recent years, they found colorful fish and sprawling pristine coral reefs. The global initiative seeks to find 100,000 unknown species over the next 10 years. While scientists believe 2.2 million marine species exist in Earth’s oceans, they estimate that they’ve only found 240,000, according to Ocean Census. Identifying new species also enables conservationists to find ways to protect them as Earth changes due to the climate crisis.

☆ European shares fall as banking sector jitters eclipse upbeat earnings
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Shubham Batra | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The pan-European STOXX 600 index (.STOXX) fell 0.7%, as regional banking stocks (.SX7E) dropped 1.2%. Earnings from Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) and Google's parent Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) beat expectations, but recessionary worries in the world's largest economy kept investor sentiment fragile. Shares of Swiss banking software company Temenos AG (TEMN.S) jumped 10.2% after it reported first-quarter earnings above consensus. Meanwhile, ASM International NV (ASMI.AS) fell 10.0% after the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker reported a drop in first-quarter orders, citing softening market conditions, despite an estimate-beating revenue. Dassault Systemes SE (DAST.PA) slid 7.4% after the French software maker reported first-quarter numbers broadly in line with estimates but with a miss on software licenses.

☆ Commercial lunar lander presumed lost after historic moon landing attempt
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A Japanese lunar lander, carrying a rover developed in the United Arab Emirates, attempted to find its footing on the moon’s surface Tuesday — and potentially mark the world’s first lunar landing for a commercially developed spacecraft. The lunar lander, called Hakuto-R, was carrying the Rashid rover — the first Arab-built lunar spacecraft, which was built by Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai. Israel-based company SpaceIL was the first XPrize contestant to attempt to put its lander on the moon after the program ended. Its Beresheet spacecraft crashed in 2019 after ground teams lost contact with the lander as it approached the surface. That same year, the Indian Space and Research Organisation lost contact with a lunar lander shortly before it was slated to touch down on the moon.

☆ Touching the sky: A rare solar eclipse and a new hotel in the clouds
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Courtesy Amelia Earhart Hangar MuseumAmelia Earhart wasn’t just the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic. Camelot Theme Park (England): Set in the leafy Lancashire countryside, the Magic Kingdom of Camelot resurrected tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Scott Audette/AP Pripyat Amusement Park (Ukraine): This theme park was orphaned in 1986 following the Chernobyl meltdown just five kilometers (three miles) away. Considered the first theme park in Southeast Asia, it featured an artificial lake, huge swimming pool with giant water slides and a Prehistoric Animal Kingdom. Anne Jones/Alamy Stock Photo 10 fascinating theme parks that have closed forever Prev NextThat’s the question posed by these no-longer-in-operation theme parks around the world.

☆ How to see the Lyrids April meteor shower
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —After no major annual meteor showers for months, the Lyrids are here to end the drought. Known as one of the oldest-recorded meteor showers, the Lyrids are expected to produce 10 to 15 meteors per hour for three nights centered around its peak of 9:06 p.m. Lyrids’ history dates back centuriesThe Lyrids were first recorded in 687 BC, according to NASA, making this meteor shower to be one of the oldest recorded. “Only in the 19th century was when we kind of understood that they actually came from space.”Every meteor shower has a parent comet from which comes the debris that makes up the shower. For those in Africa, Asia and Australia, a penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on May 5, and on October 28, a partial lunar eclipse will be viewable in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, parts of North America and much of South America.

☆ In pictures: Rare hybrid solar eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A parking garage collapsed in New York City's lower Manhattan near Pace University on Tuesday, injuring at least three people and leaving others feared trapped in the rubble, emergency officials and local media reported.

☆ Solar eclipse tourism in Exmouth, Western Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Thursday’s hybrid solar eclipse will last for 62 seconds. That’s the hope for Exmouth and the surrounding Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia, which are hoping that April 20th’s once-in-a-decade natural phenomenon could kick off a tourism boom that lasts well beyond the eclipse. “They’re pretty intimidated but also very excited,” Roger Cook, Deputy Premier of Western Australia state, tells CNN about the residents of Exmouth. And there’s some evidence of the region’s growing prominence on the international stage: CNN Travel selected Western Australia for our list of the best places to visit in 2023. Altogether, Western Australia state spent 20 million AUD ($13.5 million) on infrastructure updates for the eclipse, which included everything from water and sanitation services to additional parking.

☆ Rare Hybrid Solar Eclipse Draws Crowds in Australia
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Artists Worry About Survival as AI Changes the Game for Creative WorkThe threat that technology will replace workers is something more people are grappling with due to the introduction of new tools powered by generative artificial intelligence. Creative workers like artists, writers, and filmmakers are among those raising the loudest alarm. But is their concern warranted? And what impact could AI have on the future workforce? Join us for the third episode of our series “Artificially Minded” with host Zoe Thomas.

☆ Hybrid solar eclipse draws thousands to remote Australian town
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, April 20 (Reuters) - A rare hybrid solar eclipse over a remote town on Australia's west coast drew thousands on Thursday to witness the event. Astronomy fans and enthusiasts from around the world travelled to Exmouth, a tiny beachside town roughly 1,200 kilometers from state capital Perth, to witness the total solar eclipse. Thursday's eclipse was a rare "hybrid" type, not seen worldwide since 2013. In a hybrid eclipse, depending on where viewers stand, the moon either blots out the sun, a total eclipse, or obscures the center while leaving a ring of light visible, an annular eclipse. While the total eclipse was only visible from a few parts of Australia, Indonesia and Timor Leste, a partial eclipse was visible across all three countries and parts of southeast Asia.

☆ Artificial intelligence will make Big Tech even bigger. Something needs to be done about the power imbalance, researchers warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Diamond Naga Siu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She asked if the company was selling unregistered securities (which is typically illegal, by the way — here's what it means). Big Tech + AI = even bigger tech. So Big Tech companies are best-positioned to gain even more power as artificial intelligence technology — like ChatGPT — gets further developed. Something needs to be done about this power imbalance, researchers warn. My teammate Emilia David breaks down the AI power imbalance and highlights some proposed solutions in her latest story.

☆ A small Australian town was treated to a rare hybrid solar eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Raphael Sanis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Thousands of people flocked to Australia's western coast to see a rare eclipse, which blocked out the sun for almost a minute. Those who missed it will have to wait until 2031 for the next hybrid eclipse.

☆ How to watch today's hybrid solar eclipse — the rarest type of eclipse — even if you don't live near Australia where it's happening
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Chris Panella | Jessica Orwig | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A rare hybrid solar eclipse will occur over the South Pacific today and won't happen again until 2031. Hybrid solar eclipses are the rarest type of eclipse and look different depending on your location. During a hybrid eclipse observers can see both a total and annular eclipse. kdshutterman / Getty ImagesA hybrid solar eclipse is a rare type of eclipse that changes depending on where you're watching it. The last time a hybrid solar eclipse occured was 2013 over some regions in the northern Atlantic Ocean and Africa.

☆ How to view the rare hybrid eclipse
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A hybrid solar eclipse — the first of its kind in nearly 10 years — is on the way. The hybrid eclipse will begin at 10:37 p.m. What makes a hybrid eclipse uniqueOtherwise known as an annular-total eclipse, a hybrid eclipse is a function of Earth’s curvature and the event’s path. During full eclipse, at the very middle of the eclipse path, the antumbral shadow will create an annular eclipse for some and the umbral shadow will create a total eclipse for others. If you live in North, Central or South America, an annular solar eclipse will take place on October 14.

☆ Legal pot sales eclipse sales of chocolate in the US as Americans reach for joints and berry edibles instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Legal pot sales could top $33 billion this year – more than chocolate and craft beer combined. Last year's total also exceeds the combined total sales of chocolate and craft beer, which saw $20 billion and $7.9 billion, respectively. If trends continue, MJBizDaily projects cannabis sales could reach as high as $33.6 billion this year and climb to nearly $57 billion by 2028. Of course, legal sales are still vastly outweighed by illicit ones – Whitney Economics estimated that legal transactions constituted just 25% of the total cannabis market in the US in 2021. Robust as the total US sales numbers are, recent years have not been kind to the cannabis industry.

☆ NHL roundup: Knights wrap up West's No. 1 seed
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Reilly Smith, Alec Martinez and Chandler Stephenson scored for the Golden Knights (51-22-9, 111 points), who closed the regular season with an eight-game points streak (5-0-3). Liam O'Brien led the Coyotes with a pair of goals and Nick Schmaltz and added a goal and an assist. The Stars, who are looking to win a division title for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign, are atop the division. The Bruins set NHL records for most wins and most points in a single season. Tage Thompson scored his 47th goal of the season for Buffalo, which improved to 8-2-1 over its last 11 games.

☆ Layoffs are up nearly fivefold so far this year with tech companies leading the way
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"With rate hikes continuing and companies' reigning in costs, the large-scale layoffs we are seeing will likely continue." Year to date, job cuts have soared to 270,416, an increase of 396% from the same period a year ago. The main reason cited for job cuts has been market and economic conditions, with cost-cutting the next most-often mentioned factor. Along with the high level of layoffs, job openings have begun to fall. The Federal Reserve has been targeting the ultra-tight labor market as it battles inflation still running near 40-year highs.

☆ Medieval monks' observations of the moon reveal unexpected
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Medieval observations of the moon are helping present-day researchers study a mysterious cluster of volcanic eruptions on Earth. Monks, and other scribes from the era, made detailed descriptions of lunar eclipses, when the moon is fully in Earth’s shadow. Guillet believes medieval manuscripts contain an important source of information about a string of large but little-understood volcanic eruptions on Earth. These dates correspond with five major volcanic eruptions identified from traces of volcanic ash found in polar ice cores — in 1108, 1171, 1230, 1257 and 1276. “These eruptions were significantly more powerful than some of the most well-known volcanic eruptions in recent history,” Guillet said.

☆ NASA map shows how, where, and when to see solar eclipses in the US in 2023 and 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Purple and yellow lines cutting across the map also show where you can see a partial eclipse outside the paths of the moon's full shadow. Download a high-resolution version of the map to follow those lines on NASA's website.

☆ Analysis: French pension standoff causing cracks in Macron's camp, insiders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Elizabeth Pineau | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

With no sign of the protests abating, insiders question whether Borne's government has lost control of the political messaging necessary to appease the street. The situation has deteriorated considerably since Macron decided on March 16 to adopt the reform using special constitutional powers to bypass parliament. When asked about the divisions, the president's office said the majority of Macron's camp remained strong and united. "There are still ministers who are saying 'we should have done this or that', No!," the source lamented. An official in Borne's office said the prime minister had made efforts to preserve unity among ministers and lawmakers.

☆ Wall St Week Ahead Strength in megacap stocks masks broader U.S. market woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Lewis Krauskopf | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A recent pullback in U.S. bond yields, whose ascent punished growth stocks last year, is also buoying their prices in 2023. Megacaps' growing market capitalization means indexes such as the S&P 500 are increasingly driven by a smaller cluster of stocks. The weight of the top five S&P 500 companies has rebounded to 21.7% from 18.8% for the top five stocks at the end of 2022. The S&P 500 energy sector (.SPNY) is down 7.5% since March 8, while the industrials sector (.SPLRCI) is off 5%. In turn, he said, that likely means "the big-cap growth stocks will be the ones who lead from here."

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