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☆ Former Trump adviser Michael Flynn is launching an online community for 'COVID-19 unvaccinated people,' where you can find blood donors, surrogates, and 'unvaccinated singles.' A founding membership c
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn was a national security adviser during the Trump Administration. He pled guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his contact with a Russian ambassador. The community is called 4thePURE, and members can connect with blood donors, sperm donors, breastmilk donors, surrogates, and unvaccinated singles, according to the website. It will also have a directory of "COVID-19 unvaccinated patriot businesses." He pled guilty to lying to the FBI in 2017.

☆ FTSE 100 edges higher as NatWest, StanChart shares rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Domestic house prices rise in MayUK lowers stake in NatWest, shares climbDechra Pharma down after profit warningUS debt ceiling talks to resume after impasseFTSE 100 0.3%, FTSE 250 flatMay 22 (Reuters) - UK's blue-chip index edged higher on Monday, with NatWest shares rising after it agreed to buy 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) worth of its shares back from the government, although lingering uncertainty over the U.S. debt ceiling impasse weighed on overall mood. The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) rose 0.3%, with bank stocks in the lead. Standard Chartered (STAN.L) rose 2.4% after Bank of America upgraded the stock to "buy" from "neutral". UK-listed stocks have traded in tight bands since late April as investors digested mixed corporate earnings, weakening outlook for commodity-linked stocks and standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling deal. ($1 = 0.7923 pounds)Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-PhillipsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

May 12 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's appointment of a new Twitter chief may free up the billionaire from a major distraction and allow him to focus more on Tesla Inc (TSLA.O), analysts said on Friday. Tesla shares, which have gained 40% this year, reversed course to trade down about 2% as broader markets fell. The stock had its worst year in 2022, losing 65%, amid Musk's on-again, off-again offer for Twitter. Although Twitter has taken much of Musk's time since its takeover, he still actively manages several other businesses such as SpaceX and Neuralink. Musk recently formed an AI company called TruthGPT to take on OpenAI's ChatGPT and Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Bard.

☆ Fact Check- Image does not show ‘last Neanderthal giant’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A fabricated image of a giant man towering above a crowd of people is being shared alongside false claims that it shows the “last Neanderthal giant”, but the image was likely generated using artificial intelligence, experts said. A Facebook post sharing the image states: “This is the last know human Giant Neanderthal!” and adds that Neanderthals “died out” thousands of years ago, so “no Neanderthal's DNA is found in modern times” (here). Contrary to the online claims, Neanderthal DNA has been extracted from these skeletal remains and analysed extensively. The earliest version of the image of a purported “Neanderthal giant” that Reuters could find appears on the official subreddit for Midjourney, an AI-based system that generates images based on text prompts entered by users (bit.ly/423OozQ). The image does not show the last Neanderthal giant, it is likely AI-generated.

☆ MLB roundup: AJ Pollock's HR ends no-no as Mariners edge A's
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

Mariners starter Bryce Miller, in his major league debut, gave up a run on two hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts. The Reds snapped a run of seven straight losses to the Padres and a streak of nine straight losses in San Diego. Jon Gray allowed four runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander lasted five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Keegan Thompson (1-2) was charged with three runs on four hits in one-third of an inning to take the loss.

☆ The top 10 buzziest companies Gen Z wants to work for—none of them are in Big Tech, says new report
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jennifer Liu | In Jljenniferliu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The graduating class of 2023's desire for stability in an uncertain economy is dictating where they want to work most after college. It's hard to escape unrelenting news of tech layoffs in recent months, including major staff cuts from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft and many others. "They're gravitating toward companies that offer solid benefits, career pathing and a level of stability they've been looking for." Most young professionals plan to pick up new tech skills for their careersThough search interest for major tech companies dropped, Cruzvergara says today's grads are more likely than their predecessors to be interested in jobs that require tech skills. New college grads feel confident they have the skills they need to get the job they want but also plan to develop new tech skills on the job or after hours.

☆ London’s Coronation Countdown: Travelers Arrive, Others Flee
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. travelers — Britain’s biggest inbound market — are expected to lead next week’s swell of arrivals. Flight bookings from the United States to Britain are about 10 percent higher in May compared to in May 2019, before the pandemic, according to VisitBritain. According to Hopper, the booking app, they are also more expensive — round-trip airfares from the United States to London over coronation weekend averaged $733 in mid-April, 21 percent higher than a year earlier. After the coronation dates were announced, searches for Airbnb rentals in London during the coronation weekend surged, according to the company, which reported U.S. travelers among the top guests in London around the coronation dates, along with travelers from Britain, France, Australia and Germany (the company declined to share booking numbers). By late March, hotel bookings in London on the booking platform Expedia were 60 percent higher for the coronation weekend compared to the same time last year.

☆ Markets are relieved by Meta's refocus on traditional business segments, says Sophie Lund-Yates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMarkets are relieved by Meta's refocus on traditional business segments, says Sophie Lund-YatesSophie Lund-Yates, Senior Equity Analyst at Hargreaves Landsdown, discusses earnings from Meta and Amazon.

"At this point, we are no longer behind in building out our AI infrastructure," Zuckerberg said on a conference call. AI recommendations increased time spent on Instagram by 24% in the January-March quarter, Meta said. Reuters GraphicsCOST CONTROLSpending on the AI retooling has spiked the company's capital expenditures, which came in slightly under expectations at $7.1 billion for the quarter. "We've been focusing on both AI and the metaverse for years now, and we will continue to focus on both." Revenue for the first quarter rose 3% to $28.65 billion, beating an average estimate of $27.66 billion.

☆ A 17th-century mansion that once housed JP Morgan and Napoleon Bonaparte's brothers is on sale for $93 million. Take a look inside.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

It's being sold by Mike Jatania, a multimillionaire cosmetics tycoon who made about $200 million when he sold Lornamead a decade ago. Mel Yates PhotographySource: Bloomberg"In central London, the likes of Ken Griffin and other hedge fund managers have bought properties, so I'm sure the Americans will look at it," Jatania told Bloomberg. "There's also been a lot of wealth created in the Middle East recently, and we know families there have a tradition of owning London homes."

☆ I'm a car dealer. Here are the things customers get dead wrong about our business.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I grew up in a family dealership and did everything from marketing to customer service to a little bit of sales. From a customer service perspective, it became very difficult during COVID and it's still difficult now with parts. Whitney Yates-WoodsMy most challenging thing right now would be that customer service pieceThose parts taking a long time to get in is still really very prevalent. I think sometimes people think that that 1950's car salesperson persona still existsIt's evolving from the stereotypical car sales guy. I especially want women coming in by themselves to not feel like they're going to get taken advantage of.

☆ McIlroy takes $3 mln hit for skipping second designated event
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

That total represents 25% of the $12 million bonus he was awarded for finishing second behind Tiger Woods on last year's PIP list which rewards the golfers who have the biggest positive impact on the PGA Tour. Golfers can skip one designated event and still collect their full bonus but McIlroy has now missed two of them, which the PGA Tour created to get the top players competing against each other more often amid a threat posed by LIV Golf. To miss a second designated event without penalty, players need an excused absence, like an injury, or risk losing part of their PIP payout from the previous year. World number three McIlroy announced his decision to withdraw from the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina on the heels of his missed cut at the Masters, which was his sixth PGA Tour start in nine weeks. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ MLB roundup: Rays make it 12 straight wins to open season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

In his third start of the season, Boston's Chris Sale (1-1) was hit hard, yielding six runs (five earned) on seven hits. Detroit left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez allowed one run, seven hits and one walk in six innings, striking out three. Cincinnati's Hunter Greene worked six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits to go along with a season-high 10 strikeouts. Marlins starter Edward Cabrera allowed seven hits and two runs with four strikeouts and one walk in five innings. Eovaldi (1-2) allowed six runs on 10 hits with no walks and seven strikeouts over five innings.

☆ Cineworld shareholders: Shares in Regal Cinemas' owner hit all-time low
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Cineworld’s stock plummeted 36% Tuesday afternoon to an all-time low after the company said it had filed a plan to reorganize its business and shareholders would not recover any of their funds. The embattled owner of Regal Cinemas said it had submitted a final version of the plan to a US bankruptcy court in Texas. Under the plan, Cineworld’s lenders will cut its debt by $4.5 billion in exchange for equity in the reorganized company. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States in September. Cineworld shares have lost 98% of their value since the company listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2007.

☆ Andy Robertson: Assistant referee stood down while Football Association investigates apparent elbow incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The assistant referee who appeared to elbow Liverpool’s Andy Robertson during an English Premier League game on Sunday will not be involved in any matches while English football’s governing body investigates the incident, the body responsible for Premier League referees said in a statement. The Football Association (FA) is investigating the incident which happened at the end of the first half match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield. Video replays appeared to show Robertson brushing past Hatzidakis who responded by lifting his elbow, which hit the player. Robertson was visibly furious and had to be pulled away by his teammates after receiving a yellow card for his subsequent reaction. The incident during the break was one of many flashpoints in a chaotic game at Anfield which eventually finished in a 2-2 draw.

☆ Cheap new cars are going extinct while $60,000 SUVs and trucks flood the market
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The $60,000 car is having a moment — and may be here to stayIn 2018, 44% of new vehicles sold were under $30,000, per an Edmunds release. Some of this has been going on since before COVID, especially as many automakers discontinued sedans several years earlier. Profit, as Jominy pointed out, is also a key factor — and automakers are even willing to sacrifice market share for it. "There is definitely a void happening in the market for those vehicles," Kunes added. "If they focus purely on luxury cars and high-end SUVs that cost $100,000, there are only so many people that can afford those."

☆ Car dealers reveal the 9 questions you should always ask before buying
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Many of the car brands with more inventory on lots than others might also have higher loan payments. "The role of a dealer isn't just to sell them a car, it's to help them find the lowest interest rate possible, and that's both new car dealers and used car dealers. "Even based on the specific car, one bank may provide a lower interest rate on a specific sort of make and model." The used car market might be even more complicated for car shoppers than the new market right now. As a result, far fewer car shoppers have opted to lease a car in recent years.

☆ Tesla shares slip as margin worries overshadow record deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 3 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) shares fell 5% on Monday, dragged down by growing worries about the electric-vehicle maker's profit margins after aggressive price cuts led to only a modest increase in quarterly deliveries. After slashing prices on its vehicles by as much as 20% in January, Tesla posted record deliveries of 422,875 vehicles in the first quarter but they were up just 4% on the prior quarter. Bernstein analysts said Tesla "will need to further lower prices this year and/or next year to achieve its volume targets, incrementally pressuring margins." "We maintain that price cuts have and will undermine industry profitability (including Tesla's), but that incumbents are deep pocketed and not likely to back down," they added. Tesla shares were trading at $197, having gained 9% last week in the run-up to the deliveries report.

Hong Kong/Atlanta/London CNN —Oil prices spiked Monday after OPEC+ producers unexpectedly announced that they would cut output. Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped 5.31% to $84.13 a barrel, while WTI, the US benchmark, rose 5.48% to $79.83. With oil prices now rising, inflation could remain higher for longer, adding pressure to a hot-button issue for consumers around the world. Saudi Arabia now says it will cut oil production by another half a million barrels a day. “We’re focused on prices for American consumers, not barrels.”In October, OPEC+’s decision to cut production had already rankled the White House.

☆ Car dealers fight the threat of extinction as the Teslafication of their industry intensifies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The modern car shopping experience, from initial research to final purchase, can now be done online — and the pandemic accelerated that shift. Others are emulating firms like Carvana and moving some parts of the buying process online. We don't exactly know how the car business is going to look going forward with this EV shift, and how much the EV shift is actually going to take place." Ford has set stringent requirements for its dealers to sell EVs — though some dealers have called its EV certification program unfair and dropped out. Some dealers are having a hard time committing to changes when the return on investment — especially with EVs — isn't yet clear.

☆ Gen Zers are basing their travel plans on where TV shows like 'The White Lotus' are set
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Gen Zers and millennials are turning to movies and TV shows for travel inspiration in a trend dubbed set-jetting. This includes a boom in bookings for the hotels in Hawaii and Italy "The White Lotus" was filmed at. In particular, travelers have been scrambling to visit the resorts where the first two seasons of HBO's hit "The White Lotus" were set. When season one was broadcast, web traffic to the Four Seasons Maui resort increased 425% year-over-year, Four Seasons told Bloomberg. To visit the Taormina hotel for a week in July, many of the lower-priced options have already sold out and two-person rooms start at around $3,500 per night.

☆ Adidas event shut down by protestors as factory wages become hot-button issue for the sneaker and garment industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Protestors on Thursday disrupted an event featuring Rupert Campbell, Adidas' top US executiveThe protestors allege Adidas has not paid Asian contract factory workers and demanded payment. A speaker rose roughly 40 minutes into the one-hour event and demanded Adidas pay wages he alleged are owed to contract factory workers in countries including Cambodia and Indonesia. The $11.7 million allegedly owed to Adidas workers comes from a report produced by trade unions and other industry groups. Before protestors disrupted the event, Adidas North American President Rupert spoke about his childhood and his career path. Ballinger noted several recent instances of factory workers getting restitution for unpaid wages, including at a Nike contract factory in Cambodia.

☆ A lot of money is on the line for women's pro soccer in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Restore faith in women's soccer and grow the business. The league averaged 37 sponsorship deals per team, which is more than any other women's sport, according to sports data and intelligence platform Sponsor United. Women's pro soccer valuations are also soaring. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman speaks during the 2023 NWSL Draft at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on January 12, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Culture changeOL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe (15) scores on a penalty kick during the second half of the National Womens Soccer League game between NJ/NY Gotham FC and OL Reign on September 21, 2022 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.

☆ Your car probably isn't worth as much as you think. Here's how to know what it's really worth.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

During the peak of car inventory problems, drivers could have traded in used cars for thousands. Meanwhile, the average transaction price for a used vehicle peaked at $31,300 in April 2022, J.D. But, "These used car values have been dropping over the last year. Car buying won't ever revert to normal, but that's all to say, it's no longer the best environment to get thousands of dollars for your used car that's probably worth a lot less (no offense). "While we've seen some cooling since their peak, used prices remain extremely elevated still," Paris said.

☆ Lund-Yates: Weakness in bond yields is pushing investors toward tech and other growth avenues
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLund-Yates: Weakness in bond yields is pushing investors toward tech and other growth avenuesSophie Lund-Yates, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, discusses how mega-cap tech and growth stocks have managed to stay resilient amid the recent turmoil in the banking and global financial system.

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