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☆ Diners are shocked to see a 4% 'employee healthcare' fee on their bills at an LA restaurant — but the owner says it's common
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Diners are increasingly noticing restaurant surcharges. A Los Angeles eatery received blowback after a diner tweeted about its 4% healthcare surcharge. Some questioned if the owner would cancel an employee's health insurance on a slow night. If the restaurant has a slow day or u opt-out, do staff not get health insurance that day?" "As most LA diners will know, Alimento's 4% healthcare surcharge is hardly unique," he wrote.

Persons: Dave Anthony, Mr Dave Anthony, Lord, Anthony, Alimento, Zach Pollack, Instagram, Pollack, Condie, surcharges, Vinny's Organizations: Industry, Service, Twitter, Affordable, ACA, California Restaurant Association, Restaurant Association, Jon, Daily Mail, CRA Locations: Los Angeles, Wall, Silicon, Italian, Silver Lake, North America, California, San Francisco, Dallas

Many professional hunters argue that safari hunting promotes conservation because it gives communities a financial interest in protecting animals. But some people living around the park say they protected the animals, and yet see little of the promised revenue. He tried to upgrade his hut to a three-room house, but could afford only enough bricks to get to knee height. He said he does not want to let down his former adversaries the Owenses, and Mr. Owens in particular. “If he hears I’ve gone back to poaching,” Mr. Mutondo said, “he’ll be disappointed.”

Persons: Mulenga, Owens, ”, Bernard Mutondo, wouldn’t, I’ve, Mr, Mutondo, “ he’ll

☆ Retail crime has hit a bustling Kansas metropolis
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Republican Kris Kobach, Kansas’ attorney general, said retail crime is a “spiraling problem” in his state, adding that Kansas and Missouri are among the top 10 states in the nation for volume of retail crime. “There is a link between drug trafficking and organized retail crime,” Kobach told lawmakers in June. “Organized retail crime is a problem that is getting worse, not better. Organized retail crime offers criminals a business model of pure profit, “with no overhead, rent, product cost. In early June, Kobach testified before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on “Organized Retail Crime and the Threat to Public Safety.”“When one thinks about the explosion of organized retail crime in the United States, the State of Kansas may not intuitively jump to mind,” he told lawmakers.

Persons: They’re, it’s, Coleman, “ I’ve, ”, Casey Slaughter, Kris Kobach, Kobach, ” Kobach, Joe Sullivan, Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Joe Sohm, Cabela’s, shoplifters, ” Cabela’s, Slaughter, “, Marc Bennett, There’s, Harold Casey, Casey, She’s, Poor, John Hanna, don’t, “ That’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Wichita Police, Kansas, CNN, “, Wichita, Wichita Skyline, America, Sporting Goods, Academy Sports, National Retail Federation, Centers for Disease Control, of Kansas, Scott, Family Services, ”, Walgreens, Public Safety Locations: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Wichita , Kansas, Kris Kobach , Kansas, Kansas, Missouri, In Kansas, Sedgwick, Wichita, Arkansas Rivers, , Kansas, ”, Kansas . Kansas, Sedgwick County, Ulta, United States, State, But Kansas, “ In Kansas

☆ Pizza Hut tests underground deliveries ahead of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ movie release
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Ashley R. Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —In a nod to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ favorite food, Pizza Hut served up its signature dish to select customers in the subways of New York City, the company announced. The limited-time underground deliveries were part of a promotion for the upcoming film, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” which hits theaters August 2, according to a news release. “Pizza Hut and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have a longstanding history that goes back to the ’90s. A YouTube video from the pizza company showed subway travelers appearing in disbelief at Union Square station as the pizza they ordered via text was hand delivered to them. Pizza Hut has previously been involved with promoting films in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe.

Persons: ”, Pizza, Lindsay Morgan, “, ” Morgan, van Organizations: CNN, San Diego Comic, MTV Locations: New York City, Manhattan, New York

☆ At Attractions About the Titanic, Pondering the Fate of the Titan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Christopher Kuo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“It just felt so eerie to be like we added five more to the tally,” said Sebastian, a 34-year-old musician who lives in New York City, as he took in “Titanic: The Exhibition,” in New York. Ever since the submersible, the Titan, disappeared in the ocean depths last Sunday, its fate had riveted the world. Many were fascinated by the search and rescue efforts, hoping the missing explorers would be found alive. Others wondered why wealthy people would spend so much money on a dangerous tour of a disaster site. And others were drawn by its connection to the Titanic, whose sinking in 1912 remains one of the most famous maritime disasters in history, still the subject of films, exhibits and shows.

Persons: Jo, Sebastian, ”, ” Sebastian, Stefan Hut Locations: New York City, New York

☆ How restaurants such as Panera and Chipotle are dipping into A.I. to streamline food prep and ordering
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Kate Rogers | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

From drive-thru to back-of-house operations to predictive ordering for consumers, restaurant brands are starting to pilot artificial intelligence to streamline food service. McDonald's , for its part, sold McD Tech Labs to IBM in 2021, entering a strategic partnership to help bring AI technology to drive-thru lanes. McD Tech Labs, which was formerly known as Apprente before McDonald's acquired it, used AI to understand drive-thru orders. Del Taco is also using voice-activated AI for orders at its drive-thru, as is Wingstop for orders placed by phone. For Panera, it's a question of, "How do we redeploy our people to higher value, higher quality guest experiences," said Chief Digital Officer George Hanson.

Persons: there's, TD Cowen, Andrew Charles, Cowen, Charles ., Carl's Jr, CKE, Dragontail, McDonald's, George Hanson, Hanson Organizations: National Restaurant Association, Presto, Brands, Tech Labs, IBM, Miso Robotics, CNBC Locations: U.S, Del

☆ How to create with AI, including art, music, and writing, according to people who've written songs, stories, and letters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Jack Sommers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

These five people used the tools to make content including a song and a commercial. A song for EurovisionInsider's Chloe Pantazi was underwhelmed by this year's Eurovision song contest. But ChatGPT gave him the space to experiment with the writing in a way he didn't feel comfortable with before. Insider produced a step-by-step guide of how to use it and Craiyon, another free tool that uses AI to generate images. Read more: I used Lensa, the chart-topping app, to make myself a masterpiece digital work of art — here's how it works

Persons: —, ChatGPT, Chloe Pantazi, Sweden's, Pantazi, Spriha Srivastava, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Matt Huculak, Huculak, Read, Elon Musk, . DALL, OpenAI, Lensa, Bethany Biron, Elizabeth Holmes, Biron Organizations: Service, Eurovision, University of Victoria, University of Cambridge Locations: British Columbia, Canada, Cambridge

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued Coinbase, accusing it of illegally operating without registration with the regulator. That happened a day after the SEC filed a lawsuit against Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao. Coinbase shares were down 13.4% at $50.81 after earlier hitting their lowest level since January. Also, after falling earlier, Bitcoin , the world's biggest cryptocurrency, was up 1.4%. Coinbase had disclosed in March that it received a "Wells notice" from the SEC threatening a potential lawsuit over certain products.

Persons: Coinbase, Changpeng Zhao, Matt Stucky, Shannon Stapleton, Binance's cryptocurrency, Paul Grewal, we'll, Grewal, Manya Saini, Shristi, Sinéad Carew, Paul Simao Organizations: Coinbase, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Binance, Global, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, Coinbase Global Inc, Nasdaq, Times, REUTERS, Mining, Marathon, Thomson Locations: Manhattan, New York, U.S, Bengaluru

That month, it announced five new agreements with multi-unit operators to condense and transfer more than 230 existing restaurants. "There is strong interest in growth opportunities with Subway from multi-unit operators," Subway said in a statement to Reuters for this story. Klein, the franchise attorney, said that since 2022, his firm examined three multi-unit Subway deals on behalf of clients interested in investing in the chain for the first time. Of the 100 largest multi-unit U.S. restaurant franchisees by revenue in 2022, none had a Subway in their portfolio, according to a ranking by Franchise Times magazine. Instead, top franchisees owned hundreds of Wendy's (WEN.O), Yum Brands' (YUM.N) Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, Restaurant Brands' Burger King, Dine Brands' (DIN.N) Applebee's and other chains.

Persons: Justin Klein, John Gordon, Klein, it's, Gordon, Burger, Alicia Miller, Hilary Russ, Matthew Lewis Organizations: YORK, Subway, Reuters, QSR Magazine, Restaurant Brands International Inc, Times, Yum Brands, Bell, Restaurant Brands, Catalyst Insight, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, Miami, Jersey, New York, Nevada, New Mexico

June 5 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrencies and shares in crypto and blockchain-related companies tumbled on Monday after the U.S. securities regulator sued crypto exchange Binance, another blow to the industry. The SEC crackdown has prompted some crypto companies to increase compliance, spike products, and expand overseas, moves that some marketwatchers said would likely be accelerated by this latest action against the world's largest crypto exchange. In April, the SEC charged crypto exchange Bittrex Inc with operating an unregistered securities exchange, broker and clearing agency, and settled with Kraken in February for $30 million over the exchange's U.S. crypto staking service. Shares of Coinbase (COIN.O) were down 9.1% on the news of the SEC's charges against Binance. Both Coinbase and crypto exchange Gemini launched international exchanges for crypto derivatives in May.

Persons: Binance, Changpeng Zhao, Binance's cryptocurrency, Gary Gensler, marketwatchers, John Reed Stark, Kraken, Bittrex, James Angel, Gemini, Rajeev Bamra, Sinéad Carew, John McCrank, Manya Saini, Hannah Lang, Michelle Price, Leslie Adler, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Reuters, SEC, Washington , D.C, Internet, Coinbase Global Inc, Georgetown University, Binance, Inc, Marathon, Mining, Moody’s Investors Service, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, U.S, New York, Bengaluru, Washington

☆ Crypto shares tumble after U.S. SEC charges Binance with securities law violations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 5 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrencies and shares in crypto and blockchain-related companies tumbled on Monday after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued crypto exchange Binance and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, alleging violations of securities laws. The SEC's complaint against the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange listed 13 charges. Bitcoin , the world's biggest cryptocurrency was down 5.3% after falling to its lowest level since mid-March following the news. In a blog post, Binance said: "We intend to defend our platform vigorously," adding that "because Binance is not a U.S. exchange, the SEC's actions are limited in reach." Shares of rival crypto exchange Coinbase Global (COIN.O) were down 11.6%, while Blockchain farm operator Bitfarms Ltd stock was down 5.8%.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, Bitcoin, Binance's cryptocurrency, Binance, Zhao, Sinéad Carew, Manya, Leslie Adler Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Bitfarms, Inc, Marathon, Mining, BTC, MicroStrategy, Ebang, Canaan Inc, U.S . Commodity Futures, Commission, Manya Saini, Thomson Locations: U.S, Binance, New York, Bengaluru

☆ 30-year-old started his business with a website, sewing kit and Pizza Hut salary—now he's a billionaire
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Megan Sauer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Ben Francis didn't become wealthy through a family inheritance or business school connections. Originally, Francis and co-founder Lewis Morgan launched Gymshark as a website selling fitness supplements, he told CNBC Make It in 2021. "CEO was not the right role for me when I was in my early 20s," Francis told CNBC Make It. "Just because I'd started a business that had grown very quickly didn't mean I was the most competent chief exec." "I really think Gymshark can be the U.K.'s answer to those brands," Francis told CNBC Make It.

☆ A 30-year-old university dropout and former Pizza Hut delivery driver is now worth $1.1 billion — 3 times more than Ed Sheeran
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ben Francis is a university dropout and former Pizza Hut delivery driver who founded Gymshark. The 30-year-old is up seven places to 184th on this year's Sunday Times Rich List. He's now worth £900 million, or $1.1 billion, putting him up seven places to 184th on this year's Sunday Times Rich List. After leaving Aston University in Birmingham, England, Francis cofounded the sportswear company Gymshark. The pair were turning over about £300 a day at that time, Francis wrote.

☆ Wood Group shares sink after Apollo abandons 1.7 bln pound bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The shares initially fell by as much as 40% after private equity firm Apollo said it would not go ahead with an offer following an exploratory bid last month. Representatives for Wood and Apollo declined to comment further. Under UK takeover rules, Apollo cannot launch a takeover offer for Wood for the next six months, except with the company's agreement or in the event that a rival bidder swoops in. The news comes just days after British consumer group The Hut Group (THG) (THG.L) ended takeover discussions with Apollo after concluding that a preliminary bid by the fund was based on "inadequate valuations". Last week, Wood released its first-quarter earnings, which saw the group reiterate its 2023 outlook with performance expected to be weighted to the second half of the year.

☆ China's recovery lifts U.S. companies' sales as domestic consumers pull back spending
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. companies are reporting that demand in China is returning, boosting their sales at a time when many U.S. consumers are pulling back their spending. Starbucks reported that its same-store sales in China rose 3% in its latest quarter, reversing their declines. Some Wall Street analysts were still anticipating shrinking same-store sales for the company's second-largest market. That quarter, Starbucks' same-store sales in China sank 23%. Yum China , Yum Brands' master franchisee in China, also said its same-store sales grew 8% in the first quarter.

☆ Bitcoin mining stocks rally as network congestion stirs hopes for higher fees ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Tanaya Macheel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bitcoin's price action has been relatively tame lately, but bitcoin-related stocks are on the rise this week as miners benefit from recent congestion on the network. Transaction fees spiked to at least $40, compared with their normal fees of between $1 and $5. Here's what investors need to know The revenue of bitcoin miners spiked to a one-year high of $41.6 million on Monday, according to CryptoQuant. "The transaction fees that are paid to miners have grown and that's healthy for the long-term viability of security of Bitcoin." On Wednesday, publicly traded bitcoin miners Riot Platform and Marathon Digital gained 6% and 9%, respectively.

☆ Crypto stocks drop after Binance halts bitcoin withdrawals for hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Jaiveer Shekhawat | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 8 (Reuters) - Shares of cryptocurrency- and blockchain-related companies fell in early trading hours on Monday after Binance halted its bitcoin withdrawals for several hours due to heavy volumes and rising processing fees. The halts pushed bitcoin , the world's biggest cryptocurrency, down 2% to a one-week low of $27,900. Crypto miners including Riot Platforms (RIOT.O), Marathon Digital (MARA.O) and U.S.-listed shares of Hut 8 Mining (HUT.TO) declined between 5.3% and 6.6%, tracking lower bitcoin prices. The company said its set fees did not anticipate a recent surge in bitcoin-network gas fees - the payments made to crypto miners whose computing power processes transactions on the blockchain. Binance said in a tweet that the company had adjusted its fees to "prevent a similar recurrence".

All were taken by renowned British photographer Hugo Burnand at Buckingham Palace. In this photo made available by Buckingham Palace on Monday, May 8, 2023, Britain's King Charles III poses for a photo in full regalia in the Throne Room, London. Britain's Queen Camilla poses for a photo in The Green Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace, London. In this photo made available by Buckingham Palace on Monday, May 8, 2023, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are pictured in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, London. Lady Ogilvy and Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, London.

☆ Crypto stocks fall after Binance halts bitcoin withdrawals for hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 8 (Reuters) - Shares of crypto currency- and blockchain-related companies fell in premarket trading on Monday after Binance halted its bitcoin withdrawals for several hours due to heavy volumes and rising processing fees. The halts pushed bitcoin , the world's biggest cryptocurrency, down 2% to a one-week low of $27,900. Crypto exchange Coinbase Inc (COIN.O) fell 4%, while blockchain-farm operator Bitfarms Ltd dropped 4.3%. Crypto miners including Riot Platforms (RIOT.O), Marathon Digital (MARA.O) and Hut 8 Mining (HUT.TO) declined between 4.6% and 7.2%, tracking lower bitcoin prices. The company said its set fees did not anticipate the recent surge in bitcoin-network gas fees - the payments made to crypto miners whose computing power processes transactions on the blockchain.

CNN —Prince Louis, the youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, has undertaken his first royal engagement at the age of five. The Wales family joined the scouts to renovate their scout hut. Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, eight, were seen painting a porch. Prince Louis, dressed in blue shorts and a blue polo shirt, joined his father on a digger and helped fill a wheelbarrow with sand. Prince Louis pushed a loaded wheelbarrow while his mother and sister -- the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte -- watched on.

☆ Inside the Delirious Rise of ‘Superfake’ Handbags
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Amy X. Wang | Grant Cornett | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Once upon a time, the legend goes, Theseus slew the Minotaur and sailed triumphantly home to Athens on a wooden ship. What if, Thomas Hobbes wondered, someone rustled up a second boat out of the discarded planks; would you now have two original vessels? Not long ago, I found myself wandering through Paris with a fake Celine handbag slung over my shoulder. In France, a country that prides itself on originating so much of the world’s fashion, punishments for counterfeiting are severe, to the point that I technically risked three years in prison just by carrying my little knockoff around. My plunge into the world of fantastically realistic counterfeit purses — known as “superfakes” to vexed fashion houses and I.P.

☆ South Africa’s most epic hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Joe Yogerst | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Here are nine of South Africa’s best multiday backpacking trails:Otter TrailThe coastal Otter Trail takes in some of South Africa's most beautiful coastline. South African TourismSouth Africa’s oldest (established in 1968) and most celebrated hiking route, the Otter Trail runs along the Eastern Cape coast between Storms River Mouth and Nature’s Valley in Garden Route National Park. South African TourismSummit the legendary Drakensberg escarpment on a vertiginous route that rises high above Thendele Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal province. Distance: About 25 kilometers (16 miles)Time: 2 daysInfo: hikingsouthafrica.co.za/kgaswane-summit-trail/Tsitsikamma TrailThe Garden Route National Park is an advenure sport paradise. Each traverse takes seven to 10 days during the South African spring (September-November).

☆ Yum Brands earnings miss estimates despite KFC and Pizza Hut's recovery in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Yum Brands on Wednesday reported quarterly earnings that fell short of analysts' expectations, despite a China sales rebound for KFC and Pizza Hut. Yum joins the growing list of companies that includes Procter & Gamble and Starbucks that have reported recovering sales in China. In China, KFC's largest market, system sales climbed 17%, helping lift the chain's international same-store sales growth 11%. Overall, Pizza Hut's same-store sales rose 7%. Next quarter, Yum won't face any comparisons that include its Russian business because the company suspended operations there in early March last year.

☆ Day set for return to action after vertigo derailed Masters plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 3 (Reuters) - A well-rested Jason Day will return to competition this week for the first time since enduring a horror finish to last month's Masters that the Australian revealed on Wednesday was due to another bout of vertigo. "So last round of the Masters I had vertigo, so that was obviously not fun to play in that final round," world number 34 Day told reporters ahead of this week's Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. "We had to finish our third round Sunday morning and then I was sitting in the caddie hut and that's when I got vertigo." Day said he has not had "too many bouts" of vertigo since 2015 and that when it would return it would typically last for about three holes and then gradually get better. The Australian was even considered a contender going into the Masters given a return to form that had produced five top-10 finishes in seven events going into the year's first major.

☆ Pizza Hut-parent Yum Brands profit sliced by promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of the KFC and Pizza Hut owner tumbled more than 4% after the company also warned of a $10 million to $20 million hit to current-quarter operating profit. However, along with higher food and labor costs, foreign exchange pressures and ramped up investments in automation and digital business, the aggressive promotions largely drove a 25% slump in profit. McDonald's Corp (MCD.N), Burger King parent Restaurant Brands (QSR.TO) and Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N) all topped quarterly sales and profit estimates on the back of price hikes and robust demand. Labor challenges were also easing, with the company seeing job application rates increase while staffing levels were either at or near 2019 levels. Excluding special items, it earned $1.06 per share, missing estimates of $1.13, according to Refinitiv data.

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