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☆ The 9 Elements of a Trump Rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Ian Prasad Philbrick | Ashley Wu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +89 min

We have some voters, they’re for us, but they’ve never voted and they’re going to want to vote. There’s something wrong with Kamala and I just don’t know what it is, but there is definitely something missing. They’re going to get him in Florida.” It was always… That seemed to be the documents case. That’s great. They’re great.

Persons: there’s, I’m, It’s, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, “, Trump, we’re, would’ve, Tim Walz, Biden, I’d, Rasmussen, We’re, David, they’re, they’ve, They’ll, You’re, “ You’ll, haven’t, she’s, everyone, David McCormick, Bob Casey, David’s, everybody’s, ”, we’d, Kamala, Oprah, doesn’t, I’ve, we’ve, Joe, Rachel Morin, who’s, that’s, Kamala let, … She’s, can’t, it’s, he’s, He’s, Wall, must’ve, ’ Kamala, Lyin, She’s, Donald Trump, “ I’m, Barack Hussein Obama, …, Obama, Hunter, Uncle Sam, Crooked Joe Biden, document’s, Sam, bah, what’s, David Muir, “ We’re, They’re, won’t, Mike Kelly, Kelly, Mike, Lyin ’ Kamala Harris, El Salvador, you’ve, he’ll, “ You’re, Donald, don’t, Don’t, Crazy Nancy Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi, Billy Graham, Franklin, “ Gee, Lyin ’ Kamala, Elon, Tesla, you’re, God, Sean O’Brien, I’ll, That’s, “ Donald Trump, Alphonse Capone, Alphonse, “ They’re, they’ll, Let’s, should’ve, Emerson, ” David, Dave McCormick, Dave, He’ll, Nick Langworthy, Nick, JD Longo, JD, we’ll, Corey, “ I’ve, Butler, Nobody, Tom, didn’t, Cory, Trumper, There’s, We’ve, “ Kamala, Go, San Francisco Kamala, Ronald Reagan couldn’t, Shawn Fain, It’ll, anybody’s, We’ll, Crooked Joe Organizations: Trump Republicans, Alabama, NFL, United, Democrat, Commonwealth, CPA, Border Patrol, Covid, ISIS, Space Force, Visa, Justice Department, National Guard, Green, Deal, Teamsters, of Police, New York Times, …, Nassau Coliseum, Slippery Rock, ICE, California, we’ll, Trump Reciprocal Trade, teamsters, US Steel, of Education, Black Colleges, Universities, Trump, Washington DC, America Locations: Pennsylvania, Commonwealth, Florida , Georgia, Alabama , Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Delaware, San Francisco, Erie , Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, Wisconsin, United Nations, Iran, Erie County, Mexico, Tijuana, America, South America, Congo, Africa, United States, Asia, Yemen, California, Hollywood, Let’s, North Carolina, Russia, McDonald’s, New York, Ohio, Michigan, . Pennsylvania, Charleroi, Charleroi , Pennsylvania, … Charleroi, Harris, El, West Virginia, ”, China, Iowa, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, Florida, United States of America, Pennsylvania , Arizona , Wisconsin, Arizona, Slippery, Butler, That’s, San, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Ukraine, Washington

☆ Red Lobster is a mess. Here’s why the new 35-year-old CEO wanted the job anyway
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Red Lobster's new chief executive Damola Adamolekun during an interview with CNN at a Red Lobster in Long Island, New York, last week. CNNIn Springfield, he first ate at a Red Lobster with his parents and two siblings after church one Sunday. Red Lobster was where he, like millions of Americans, experienced eating lobster and cracking crab legs for the first time. Beyoncé sang about taking a romantic partner to Red Lobster in her 2016 hit song “Formation.”After Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy, Flava Flav ordered the whole menu to try to save the company. Red Lobster closed more than 100 restaurants this year, including a location in Orlando, Florida, shown this year.

Persons: Damola Adamolekun, “, ” Adamolekun, It’s, ”, Adamolekun, Bill Darden, Mills, Chris Rock, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Flav, “ Mr, ” —, Kevin Lamarque, Clarence Otis Jr, RJ Hottovy, Hottovy, Adamolekun’s, ” Hottovy, ’, Red, Phelan M, can’t, John Paulson, Paulson, P.F, Chang’s, Morgan McClure, Fortress, ” McClure, Brandon Bell, isn’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Fortress Investment, Fortress, Red, Boomers, Darden, Thai Union Group, Former Red Lobster, Thai Union, As Thai Union, Thai, Brown University, Harvard Business School, Paulson & Co Locations: New York, Long, , New York, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Netherlands, Springfield , Illinois, United States, Long Island , New York, Springfield, America, Alexandria , Virginia, Olive, Thai Union, Thai, Orlando , Florida, P.F, Chang’s, Columbia , Maryland, New York City, Scottsdale , Arizona, Austin , Texas

☆ Starbucks' new CEO wants people to hang out in stores, but some workers say his plan has a big problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Workers say they're struggling with mobile ordersEven former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said in a May LinkedIn post that current Starbucks leadership should "reinvent the mobile ordering and payment platform." "We believe a visit to Starbucks should be effortless and delightful, whether ordering through the Starbucks app or at our stores." Still, some workers — whom the company calls "partners" — have pointed to issues with the mobile ordering system in interviews with BI. Starbucks' rewards program is a big driver of all those digital orders, a partner at a Starbucks store in South Dakota told BI. "They deserve to have that moment where things are corrected and they're leaving happy, but we can't deliver on it always," the partner told BI.

Persons: Brian Niccol, —, Hottovy, Howard Schultz, Niccol Organizations: Starbucks, Business, Service, Workers, LinkedIn, BI Locations: North Carolina, South Dakota, Florida

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Persons: You'll, Chase Travel ℠, Chase, Uber, Wiley, Julie Mehretu, Peacock, Uber Cash, Miles, Marriott, Regis, Cash, stow, HBO Max, Insider’s, Read, Cardholders, it's, IHG, you'll, cardholders, It's, General Delta, they're, there's, Jasmin Baron, Angela Fung Organizations: Business Insider, Citi, Mastercard, American, TSA, Trusted, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Business, Chase, American Express, CBP, Chase Sapphire, Chase Travel, Sapphire, FDIC, Express, Hilton, Marriott, Saks, Entertainment, Disney, ESPN, The New York Times, Street, Walmart, Global, Saks Fifth, Capital, One, Elite, Marriott Bonvoy, Ritz, Carlton, TSA PreCheck, Cell, New Hampshire Insurance Company, AIG Company, Hotels, Resorts, United, InterContinental ®, Crowne Plaza, United ®, United Club, ℠, Delta, Delta SkyMiles, U.S, Card, Delta SkyMiles ®, Delta Sky Clubs, ®, SkyMiles ®, Delta Sky Club, Delta Sky, EV, Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Apple Music, HBO, Bank, US Bank, cardholder, Samsung, Delta Airlines, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Wyndham, One Venture, NEXUS, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Citi ®, American Airlines, Admirals Club, AA itineraries, Citi AAdvantage, Express Card, American Express Card, Delta SkyClub, Apple, Free, Credit, Delta Diamond Medallion, Finance Locations: U.S, Hulu, Caribbean, delta.com, Canadian, Delta, AmexTravel.com, Chevron, Canada

☆ Consumers have crowned Wawa the nation's No. 1 convenience store chain
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Nicolas Vega | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The popular Philadelphia chain topped the American Consumer Satisfaction Index's first ever convenience store study, which ranked Americans' favorite spots to refill their gas tanks and their stomachs. The most popular convenience stores, the study found, are the ones that have focused on making food — and making it well — as consumers focus more on the in-store experience when deciding where to fill up. "The companies that are ultimately going to succeed are the ones that offer the most satisfying experience to consumers," he says. "The ones that keep consumers coming in and even going out of their way to visit those locations." Use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off, now extended through September 30, 2024, for the back-to-school season.

Persons: Wawa's, Forrest Morgeson, Murphy USA, Morgeson Organizations: CNBC, Casey's, Cumberland Locations: Philadelphia, Wawa

☆ Starbucks customers say wait times have gotten really long, so I went to check it out
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Wait times at Starbucks have gotten long, with some customers waiting nearly 30 minutes. I visited three Washington, DC-area Starbucks stores to see how bad the waits were. Wait times at the coffee chains' stores have gotten close to half an hour, Business Insider previously reported. It's a problem that Brian Niccol, who joined Starbucks as CEO earlier this month, will have to deal with. I also wanted to try different ways of ordering: Multiple Starbucks employees — or "partners," as the chain calls them — have told me that drive-thru wait times are one of the most important metrics their managers track.

Persons: Brian Niccol, —, Niccol Organizations: Starbucks, Service Locations: Washington, DC

☆ Here's our counter to analyst negativity about iPhone 16 demand — plus, Nvidia jumps again
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-25 | by ( Matthew J. Belvedere | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. The Club stock kicked into high gear Tuesday on a Barron's report that CEO Jensen Huang completed a predetermined stock trading plan. 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.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Jensen Huang, Wednesday's, Jeff Marks, it's, Jim Cramer's, Jim Organizations: CNBC, Treasury, Nvidia, Club, Micron, Apple, Wall Street, Apple Intelligence

☆ Starbucks' system to make ordering better isn't the solution the company hoped for, an employee says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But one employee — or "partner," as Starbucks calls them — at a store that adopted the Siren Craft System earlier this year told Business Insider that the system isn't as effective as Starbucks has portrayed. The Siren Craft System is supposed to free up time that partners can devote to customer service and improving their coffee-making skills, Starbucks said in July. "Unless it's insanely slow, there's no time at any time of day to practice latte art or make samples for customers," the employee who has used the Siren Craft System said. The Siren Craft System is just Starbucks' latest effort to shorten wait times and improve operations at its stores. But now, the Siren System reserves one blender for frappuccinos and the other for Refreshers.

Persons: —, baristas, Laxman Narasimhan, Brian Niccol, Niccol, we've, Thomas Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Business, BI, Siren, System, Siren System Locations: Plano , Texas

☆ Apple iPhones aren't coming with AI software. Here's why it doesn't matter.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Lloyd Lee | Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Apple Intelligence, the AI feature analysts believe will spark a consumer rush to update their iPhones, Business Insider previously reported, was not installed in the new iPhones straight out of the box. AdvertisementDespite the lines, the data shows that preorder sales took a hit this year — possibly due to the absence of Apple Intelligence. The average global shipping time for the iPhone 16 was 7 days compared to 9 days for the iPhone 15. Shipping times for the 16 Pro Max were 11 days compared to 19 days for the 15 Pro Max. The level of draw Apple Intelligence will have on customers is also in question.

Persons: —, Siri, Ron Witt, Witt, It's, Saul Campos, Campos, Tim Cook, it's, Mark Gurman, Chi Kuo, Kuo, Max, Gil Luria, Davidson, Techradar, Apple Organizations: Service, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Business, Apple's, CNBC, Reuters, Shipping, D.A, Consumer Intelligence Research Partners Locations: San Francisco, New York, Manhattan

☆ Apple iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4 debut around the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Todd Haselton | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In this article AAPL Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTwatch nowApple on Friday greeted customers at its stores around the world for the debuts of the iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10 and AirPods 4. The software advancements will only be available on iPhone 16 and last year's iPhone 15 Pro devices. A view of Apple's new iPhone 16 at an Apple Store on the Regent Street in London, United Kingdom on September 20, 2024. Last year, UBS wrote, customers had a 41-day wait time for some iPhone 15 Pro Max preorders compared to a 26-day wait time for the iPhone 16 Pro Max this year. Devices of the new Apple Watch Series 10 model are on display after the presentation at Apple headquarters.

Persons: Siri, Rasid, Chi Kuo, shouldn't overreact, Max preorders, Max, Andrej Sokolow Organizations: Apple, Apple Intelligence, Anadolu, Getty, TF Securities Analyst Ming, Barclays, JPMorgan, Bank of America, UBS, Pro Locations: New York City, London, United Kingdom, China

☆ Up to $400 to change a lightbulb? Appliance repair costs are no joke
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Stephanie Dhue | Stephanie-Dhue | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

It sounds like the setup to a lightbulb joke: How much does it cost to change a microwave bulb? While my lightbulb situation may be somewhat unique, experts say it is not uncommon to learn the cost of repairs is more than the cost to replace an appliance. Figuring out the cost for a repairMy first call to repair our microwave was to the appliance store where I made the purchase. Several states — including California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota and New York — have implemented so-called "right to repair" laws. Some products designed 'with a hostility to repair'Consumer advocates say state laws and the FTC actions help, but haven't solved the problem.

Persons: Stephanie Dhue's, Stephanie Dhue, Gay Gordon, Byrne, Gordon, they're, Nathan Proctor, we've, Alex Reinauer, Proctor Organizations: GE, GE Appliances, U.S ., Getty Images, Federal Trade Commission, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Consumer, FTC Locations: California , Maine , Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Colorado, Oregon, South Dakota, France

☆ The Stretch Limo, Once a Luxury Transportation Option, Is Dead
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Emily Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

It used to be that you saw a stretch limousine and excitedly wondered who was inside — maybe a corporate executive or a celebrity or some other classy, mysterious type. The limo industry isn't dead; it's just leaving the classic black stretch version of itself behind. Trade shows and expos for limousines and luxury transportation no longer have many, if any, actual classic stretch limos on their floors. He said they keep a stretch limo around for nostalgia's sake more than anything. A CEO gallivanting around in his or her fancy stretch limousine is gross.

Persons: They've, Joe Reinhardt, He's, they're, Brett Barenholtz, Michael Douglas, Richard Gere, Mercedes, van, Scott Michael, Robert Alexander, Alexander, promgoers, Barenholtz, It's, Reinhardt, Chris Weiss, hasn't, crouch, Weiss, " Weiss, Emily Stewart Organizations: We're, Carolina Limousine, CLC Worldwide, National Limousine Association, Consumers, Benz Sprinter, United Motorcoach Association, RMA, Trade, expos, Cadillac, Lincoln, Facebook, Mercedes, ABC, NLA, Business Locations: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Maine, Boston, —, Washington , DC, California, New York, limos, Franken, It's

☆ Here are Wednesday's biggest analyst calls: Nvidia, Apple, Meta, Marriott, Starbucks, Roku & more
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Wednesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Stifel initiates Penumbra as buy Stifel said it's bullish on shares of the medical device company. Bank of America reiterates FedEx as buy Bank of America lowered its price target to $345 per share from $347 but said it's bullish heading into earnings next week. " Bank of America reiterates TJX Companies, Burlington and Ross as buy Bank of America said the off-price retailers are best positioned for younger generations. Bank of America reiterates Starbucks as buy The firm said it's standing by shares of the coffee giant. Bank of America reiterates Alphabet, Meta, Amazon and Uber as buy Bank of America said the internet tech companies are the best way for "more defensive positioning."

Persons: Stifel, it's, Bernstein, Apple, Morgan Stanley, Tesla, BTIG, JPMorgan, Wells, Wolfe, Ross, ROST, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Needham, Uber, William Blair Organizations: PEN, HSBC, KKR, Co, Apple, Bank of America, FedEx, GE Healthcare, UBS, Talen Energy, JPMorgan, Civitas Resources, Micron, MU, Barclays, TJX Companies, BURL, Marriott, Computer, Guggenheim, Sirius XM, " Bank of America, Google, Nvidia, Broadcom Locations: China, Burlington, InfiniBand

Women come here desperate, says Dr. Warren Hern, who has run the Boulder Abortion Clinic since 1975. Dr. Warren Hern speaks with Willow in one of the procedure rooms at the Boulder Abortion Clinic. A procedure room in the Boulder Abortion Clinic, one of only five clinics in the U.S. providing abortion services at or after 28 weeks of pregnancy. “Abortion is essential health care.”“I think the second takeaway is to say that abortion bans, exceptions to abortion bans, don’t work in practice. Some are pushed too late into unwanted pregnancies due to abortion bans or long wait times at clinics in the post-Roe era.

Persons: Warren Hern, ”, Hern, Willow, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, “, didn’t, ” Hern, Emma, Stewart —, —, ” Emma, ” Stewart, ‘, we’ve, we’re, Stewart, Louie, Roe, Wade Organizations: Boulder Abortion Clinic, NBC, Fox News, Trump, NBC News, Guttmacher Institute Locations: BOULDER, Colo, Boulder, U.S, Texas, Colorado

☆ Engaged Capital might have the recipe to build value for shareholders at Portillo's
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-24 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The company was acquired by private equity firm Berkshire Partners in 2014 from the founder for approximately $1 billion. The non-Chicago locations have achieved AUVs of $6 million to $7 million, more than double quick service restaurants and fast casual industry averages. While Portillo's has much larger AUV than its peers, the company has an even larger average footprint than peers. Closing this gap will take significant capital allocation improvements, technology initiatives, marketing plans, real estate restructurings and operational advancements. Engaged is supportive of management and expects they will recruit a strong operator into the presently vacant COO role.

Persons: Portillo's, –, Ken Squire Organizations: Berkshire Partners, Berkshire, Management, NFL, Del, Shake, 13D Locations: Berkshire, Chicago, Portillo's, That's, Del Frisco's

☆ Traveling to die: The latest form of medical tourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Debwaldman | Kff Health News | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

At that point, she would have had to travel to Switzerland — or live in the District of Columbia or one of the 10 states where medical aid in dying was legal. (Montana effectively allows aid in dying through a 2009 court decision, but that ruling doesn’t spell out rules around residency. In Oregon, 23 out-of-state residents died using medical assistance in 2023, just over 6% of the state total, according to the Oregon Health Authority. She would’ve preferred to travel from her home in Pennsylvania to neighboring New Jersey for medical aid in dying, but it is allowed there only for state residents. Instead she has arranged to die in Vermont, one of two states that explicitly allow medical aid in dying for nonresidents.

Persons: Francine Milano, she’d, ”, “, Milano, Oncologist Charles Blanke, he’s, ” Blanke, Peg Sandeen, Kris Brackin, would’ve, nonresidents, Eric Harkleroad, Diana Barnard, there’s rescheduling, “ It’s, Anita Hannig, Sandeen, Barnard, Blanke, Airbnbs, Milano hasn’t, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, That’s, she’ll, it’s Organizations: Health, District of Columbia, Vermont Department of Health, Oregon Health Authority, KFF, Craigslist, CNN, CNN Health, KFF Health Locations: Pennsylvania, Vermont, Lancaster, Switzerland, District, Oregon, Montana, New York, California, Portland, U.S, Carolinas, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, America, . Delaware, Burlington, When Oregon

☆ Private jet flights are down 15% in two years as Covid-era demand wanes
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-16 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Private jet flights fell 15% in the first half of the year compared with their peak in 2022, as the industry grapples with waning demand and a new competitive landscape for high-end travel. Despite a short boost from the Summer Olympics, with a record 713 private jet flights to Paris the last week of July, the private jet industry continues to lose altitude this travel season. Jet It, a large U.S. private jet operator, shut down last year after grounding its fleet of Phenom 300s, Gulfstream G150s and HondaJets. Private jet passengers who paid six figures for flights started facing delays and cancellations as operators couldn’t buy or lease planes fast enough. “Prices are about 20% higher than they were in 2019,” Private Jet Card Comparisons' Gollan said.

Persons: Washington's, J, David Ake, Robert Frank, Covid, Rob Wiesenthal, George Mattson, VistaJet, Thomas Flohr, Doug Gollan, ”, Jay Duckson, —, ‘, I’m, Gollan, Travis Kuhn, “ It’s, ” Gollan, Berkshire Hathaway, ” Kuhn, “ Organizations: Gulfstream, Washington's Reagan National Airport, Getty, Private, Summer, Argus International, Blade Air Mobility, Delta Air Lines, CNBC, Industry, Central Business Jets, Companies, Jefferies, Argus, Berkshire Locations: Arlington , Virginia, Paris, U.S, Covid, Argus, “

☆ Starbucks shares get a lift on one-two punch of activist moves. More upside should be ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Paulina Likos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Activist involvement is heating up at Starbucks , increasing the likelihood that the coffee chain makes changes necessary to boost its languishing stock price. This one-two punch of activist news is sending shares of Starbucks higher by more than 2% Monday, to nearly $77 each. We upgraded our rating on Starbucks' stock to a buy-equivalent rating last month on hopes that Elliott's presence would lead to positive changes inside the company. Board seats aside, Elliott's exact plan to lift Starbucks' stock is not known. This is not the first time Elliott and Starboard have been in a Club stock at the same time.

Persons: Jeff Smith's, It's, John's, Elliott Management —, Jesse Cohn, Cohn, Satya Nadella, Elliott, Jim Cramer, Jim, That's, Laxman Narasimhan, Wells Fargo, Jim Cramer's, Beata Zawrzel Organizations: Street Journal, Olive Garden, Darden, CNBC, Microsoft, Starbucks, Club, Constellation Brands, Nurphoto, Getty Locations: China, North America, Salesforce, Krakow, Poland

☆ Singapore launches passport-free immigration processing at Changi Airport
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-05 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSingapore launches passport-free immigration processing at Changi AirportThe new program, called "token-less clearance," will be rolled out across all terminals at Changi Airport by September and is expected to reduce immigration wait times by 40%.

Organizations: Email Singapore, Changi Airport

Under the new passport-less immigration program, Singapore residents will not need to show their passports to arrive and depart at air and sea checkpoints. Foreign travelers must also enroll their iris, facial and fingerprint biometrics at manual immigration counters, according to Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. However, children under six years old cannot use biometric clearance, or automated lanes at all, to clear immigration, according to authorities. By early 2026, Singapore immigration officials expect 95% of travelers will be able to clear immigration via automated lanes. Biometric processing is expected to reduce immigration wait times by 40%, according to immigration officials.

Persons: Sumesh Patel, SITA Organizations: Changi Airport, Seletar, Bay, Centre Locations: Singapore's, Singapore, Asia, Pacific

☆ Starbucks Reinvented How It Runs Its Cafés to Cut Down on Wait Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Called the "Siren Craft System," it overhauls the workflow at some 10,000 of its coffeehouses in an effort to reduce inefficiency, speed up orders, and boost customer satisfaction. Every fast-food outlet, Starbucks cafés included, is a little factory. The new system instructs baristas to push cold drinks down in the queue in favor of hot ones. But the fact is, the cold drinks also take longer to make. The higher-grossing cold drinks take so long to make, in fact, that they're actually pretty low-margin.

Persons: you've, overachievers, Siren Craft, cranking, Michelle Eisen, baristas, they're, Craft, it's, They'll, It's, Eisen, Adam Rogers Organizations: —, Dutch Bros, Starbucks, Boeing, Google, Business Locations: America, Wells Fargo

☆ Taco Bell to roll out AI drive-thru ordering in hundreds of locations by end of year
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Yum Brands hopes to use artificial intelligence to take down drive-thru orders at hundreds of Taco Bell restaurants by the end of this year. In May, executives said Taco Bell would expand its pilot of voice AI from five locations to 30 restaurants in California. Currently, more than 100 Taco Bell restaurants in the U.S. use voice AI. Taco Bell had nearly 7,700 U.S. locations at the end of 2023, according to company filings. Five KFC restaurants in Australia are also testing voice AI tech in drive-thrus, Yum Brands said.

Persons: McDonald's, Taco, Taco Bell, Lawrence Kim Organizations: Yum Brands, Taco Bell, IBM, Brands, Yum, KFC Locations: U.S, White, Chicago, California, Australia

☆ A major change is coming to Taco Bell drive-thrus
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Taco Bell is set to expand the use of artificial intelligence voice technology in its drive-thrus to hundreds of US locations by the end of this year, parent company Yum! The move means that when users pull up to place their order at a Taco Bell, there’s a good chance they will be talking to a computer, rather than a human employee, on the other end. McDonald’s said last month it was pulling the plug on the AI ordering technology that it was testing at more than 100 US drive-thrus, after customers complained about the system getting their orders wrong. Brands, told CNN he’s confident that his company’s technology — which is already in use at 100 Taco Bell locations across 13 states — won’t have the same issues. Kim also denied that AI ordering technology would replace human jobs, a growing concern around all manner of new AI tools.

Persons: Taco Bell, there’s, McDonald’s, Lawrence Kim, — won’t, we’ve, ” Kim, it’s, Kim, Yum, Kay, quesadilla ”, kay, “ kay, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Brands, Taco Bell, ! Brands, CNN, KFC Locations: New York, Taco, Pizza

☆ Alzheimer’s blood test catches 90% of early dementia cases, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A combined blood test for cognitive decline has a 90% accuracy rate in determining whether memory loss is due to Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found. “The p-tau217 blood test is turning out to be the most specific for Alzheimer’s and the one with the most validity. “These are absolutely transformational times.”How does a p-tau217 blood test work? The results of the blood tests were then measured against patient diagnoses provided by Swedish primary care doctors and specialists. “There’s no one more bullish on these tests than I am, but Alzheimer’s blood tests aren’t fully definitive yet,” he said.

Persons: CNN —, Sebastian Palmqvist, ” Palmqvist, ”, Maria Carrillo, Carrillo, “ You’re, that’s, ” Carrillo, “, ” Tau tangles, Richard Isaacson, Oskar Hansson, ” Hansson, Hansson, Isaacson, ” Isaacson Organizations: CNN, Lund University, “, Alzheimer’s Association, International Conference Locations: Sweden, Alzheimer’s, Florida, United States, Philadelphia

☆ What Delta passengers are entitled to in terms of compensation
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Marnie Hunter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And some weary, frustrated passengers were still trying to reconstruct travel plans or abandon them for compensation. Here’s what we know about what they’re entitled to and how passengers can make claims with the airline. What are Delta passengers entitled to? Delta lists a “right to a refund upon request” in a Monday afternoon update on what it’s doing to serve affected customers. Some passengers reported six-hour waits, and many affected passengers had trouble securing food and lodging over the weekend.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, “, ” Buttigieg, Buttigieg, ”, ” Delta, CNN’s Chris Isidore, Isabel Rosales, Amanda Musa Organizations: CNN, Delta Air Lines, Department of Transportation, Delta, of Transportation, Transportation, Delta’s, Atlanta’s Hartsfield, Jackson, “, ”, USDOT, Baggage Service, Service, Command Locations: Delta, Atlanta

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