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☆ ATP finds 'insufficient evidence' on abuse allegations against Zverev
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 31 (Reuters) - The ATP will not take any action against former world number two Alexander Zverev following allegations of domestic abuse against the German, the men's tennis governing body said on Tuesday. "A major independent investigation into Alexander Zverev has found insufficient evidence to substantiate published allegations of abuse. "LFG conducted extensive interviews with both Sharypova and Zverev, and 24 other individuals including family and friends, tennis players, and other parties involved with the ATP Tour." After the 15-month investigation, which involved going through material on Zverev's electronic devices, the ATP said they were unable to substantiate allegations of abuse or determine that any player offences took place. "Zverev has consistently denied all allegations and supported ATP's investigation."

☆ Why US home prices could fall 20% this year — and which cities and regions will see the largest declines, according to KPMG
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

KPMG economist Yelena Maleyev said home prices could fall 20% in 2023. Maleyev, who focuses on the housing market, told Insider last week that she believes home prices around the US could fall as much as 20%. Underpinning Maleyev's call is the destabilization in the market that has occurred thanks to rising mortgage rates. Mortgage rates have more than doubled in the last year while home prices hit record highs, resulting in a significant drop in demand. And that means an even more activist Fed, that means even more monetary tightening, that means even higher mortgage rates."

☆ With tiny EV, City Transformer takes aim at Europe's urban markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] An urban electric vehicle with range of 180 kilometres designed by Israeli startup City Transformer, is shown in this undated photo provided by City Transformer and obtained by Reuters on January 27, 2023. The additional funds the startup is raising should help speed up series production, Formoza added. The EV can fit two people sitting in tandem, or could be used for last-mile delivery or other businesses, the company said. The CT-2 will cost 16,000 euros ($17,400) before taxes and Formoza said major carmakers have created space for startups like City Transformer by shifting away from smaller cars. City Transformer is lobbying the EU for subsidies for smaller EVs like the CT-2 that are currently available for larger models, Formoza added.

☆ How Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president, went from perceived pro-West reformer to virulent warmonger since the invasion of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Russia's former president has become one of its most vitriolic figures amid the Ukraine invasion. When Dmitry Medvedev was elected, some saw him representing a more liberal future for Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, in December 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev during the United Russia party congress in Moscow, Russia, in December 2017. Putin became president again once Medvedev's first term was up, and Medvedev duly became his prime minister, serving until 2020.

☆ Bill Gates just invested in a startup that's trying to stop cows from burping and farting so much
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy Ventures led a $12 million seed funding round into Rumin8. The Perth-based startup is developing a seaweed-based feed aiming to cut methane from livestock emissions — like the burps and farts of cows. As livestock accounts for about 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions, there are now global efforts to farm such animals more sustainably. "There are companies making 'beef' in new ways and people working to still use cows but reduce the methane emissions," Gates wrote in the thread. Last week, French food giant Danone pledged to slash methane emissions from its milk-supplying farms by about one-third by the end of this decade.

☆ Anyone but Djokovic: Rublev targets first Grand Slam semi-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In a moment of disarming honesty after his five-set win over Holger Rune, Rublev conceded he was not relishing the opportunity to face 21-times Grand Slam champion Djokovic on his favourite court. "No one wants to face Novak," Rublev blurted out with a laugh on Rod Laver Arena, albeit prematurely as Djokovic had yet to play his own fourth-round match. "He's an established top-five, top-10 player already for a few years," Djokovic said of Rublev, who has now reached a Grand Slam quarter-final seven times but never cracked the final four. The other men's match on Wednesday features unseeded Americans Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul, with both reaching their first Grand Slam quarter-final to continue the success of the U.S. men this year. Fifth seed Aryna Sabalenka has yet to drop a set in 2023 and will aim to reach her first Australian Open semi-final when she faces unseeded Croatian Donna Vekic.

Bought from McLaren by private equity firm Greybull Capital in 2021, McLaren Applied has adapted an efficient inverter developed for F1 racing for EVs. Fry says McLaren Applied is working with around 20 carmakers and suppliers, and the inverter will appear in high-volume luxury EV models starting January 2025. NO TIME TO LOSESome suppliers like Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Actnano have had long relationships with EV pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O). Coakley said CelLink was working with U.S. and European carmakers, and with a European battery maker on battery wiring. But it has now also developed battery packs, electric powertrains, e-axles and is working with around 20 customers, including carmakers and an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft maker.

☆ Norway detains former Wagner commander, denies any plan to deport him to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Summary Former Wagner Group commander seeking asylum in NorwayPolice detained him amid disagreement on security measuresRussian rights group says he fears being deported to RussiaPolice, lawyer deny any plan to deport MedvedevOSLO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Norwegian police have detained a former commander of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who recently fled to Norway, but denied suggestions that he might be deported to Russia. Medvedev said he had been detained and handcuffed on Sunday at a hotel where he was staying and taken to a detention centre. Gulagu.net said Medvedev would face "brutal murder and death" for speaking out against Wagner if he was returned to Russia. He has done many bad things in his life," the rights group said. He has said he crossed the snowy Arctic Circle border into Norway, a NATO member, from Russia after climbing through barbed-wire fences and evading a border patrol with dogs.

☆ Rublev edges wunderkind Rune with lucky net cord on match point
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He slipped 5-0 behind in the breaker but roared back to lead 9-7 before ninth seed Rune saved two match points in another late twist. It took the net cord to separate them, with Rublev's final return clipping the net and popping over to leave the Danish 19-year-old no chance. After winning the second set to level the match, Rune was unable to run away with it. Rublev hung tough, saved two match points when serving to stay in the match at 6-5 and showed huge grit to stay alive in the tiebreak. "(The net cord) was probably the luckiest moment of my life."

☆ A spat over whether Russian troops can grow beards is a telling clue about the state of Putin's forces at a critical moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Reports suggest Russia's defense ministry is trying to enforce rules on facial hair and smartphones. The spat is a telling clue about the dysfunction in Russian ranks as a new general tries to regain the momentum. It's unclear if that played a role, but Ukraine has geolocated the cellphones of Russian troops and used that information in attacks. Prigozhin at times has promoted Wagner's efforts against Ukraine while ripping into Moscow's inability to secure any notable achievements. It also exposes a consistent dysfunction and communication issue that has plagued Russia's war efforts since launching the large-scale invasion nearly a year ago.

☆ 5 questions to ask before buying your first electric car
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Today's electric car buyers have a lot of questions. Potential EV drivers have plenty of questions, and there's plenty you need to know before buying an electric car. Regardless, here are some tips on what to ask your dealer or sales advisor if you're considering buying an EV. It's important for car-buyers considering an EV to ask about how it fits into an average driver's lifestyle. But given how much this market depends on improvements in battery tech, dealers should still be ready to talk about what separates their EV's battery from competitors.

☆ Kadyrov, Prigozhin slam prohibition on Russian soldiers' beards
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Jan 19 (Reuters) - Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Thursday criticised a prohibition on Russian soldiers wearing beards, joining Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in the two men's latest outburst against the Russian military leadership. Kadyrov called Sobolev's comments "a clear provocation", saying that his mostly Muslim soldiers wore beards as part of their religious duty. Wagner boss Prigozhin, whose rift with the defence establishment has become more public in the past week, called Sobolev's comments "absurd" and "archaisms from the 1960s". Kadyrov and Prigozhin, whose forces in Ukraine operate largely autonomously of the high command, have become more outspoken in their criticism of the Russian military leadership since Moscow's armies suffered a string of cascading defeats in the autumn. Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Trevelyan and Vin ShahrestaniOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Former Wagner commander seeks asylum in Norway after fleeing Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Yevgeny Prigozhin, who founded Wagner, said that Medvedev had worked in a Norwegian unit of Wagner but had "mistreated prisoners". In interviews with Gulagu, Medvedev said he grew disaffected after his contract was repeatedly extended by Wagner without his consent. He said he had witnessed the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners who were brought to the front by Wagner. Medvedev said losses were very high after Wagner began sending large numbers of prisoners to the front in the second half of 2022. The Wagner statement did not address Medvedev's accounts of punishment and of battlefield losses, or that his contract was repeatedly extended.

☆ Former Russian mercenary commander fled to Norway and is willing to give evidence of its worst crimes in Ukraine, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A former commander for the notorious Wagner Group fled Russia and is now seeking asylum in Norway. Andrey Medvedev left Russia fearful for his life after leaving the group, his lawyer told Insider. Risnes told Insider that Medvedev enlisted with the Wagner Group last summer. The Wagner Group, which is increasingly recruiting from Russian prisons, is alleged by a variety of organizations to have committed actions in Ukraine that would constitute war crimes. The Wagner Group has previously been deployed in Libya, Syria, and in other destinations across the world.

☆ Here are Thursday's biggest analyst calls: Meta, Apple, Tesla, Netflix, Roku, Disney, Exxon & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Here are the Thursday's biggest calls Wall Street: Credit Suisse upgrades AECOM to outperform from neutral Credit Suisse said the company is a key beneficiary of infrastructure stimulus. UBS reiterates Apple as buy UBS said it's sticking with its buy rating on the stock but is concerned about App Store revenue declines. Credit Suisse upgrades Boeing to neutral from underperform Credit Suisse said in its upgrade of Boeing that it sees "stronger aircraft deliveries." RBC names Meta a top 2023 pick RBC said it sees "multiple expansion" on the horizon for Meta shares. " Rosenblatt reiterates Disney as buy Rosenblatt said activist investor Nelson Peltz's push for a Disney board seat could help shares.

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☆ UBS downgrades Anheuser-Busch InBev to sell as drinkers continue to pick spirits over beer
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Covid-19 trend of drinkers flocking to spirits instead of beer is continuing to pressure brewers, making now a good time to sell shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev , according to UBS. The firm on Thursday downgraded shares of the beverage company to sell from neutral and slashed its price target to €53 from €57. "Our analysis suggests the beer category is unlikely to benefit from deceleration in premium and above spirits," said Oliver. Overall, UBS expects that Anheuser-Busch InBev will struggle to grow in 2023 and 2024 and face an additional currency exchange headwind in the latter year. Deutsche Bank on Thursday also downgraded shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev to hold from buy, saying that the company is still well-placed but is not "broadly fairly valued."

Circuit Court of Appeals that two jurors had lied about whether they discussed the case on social media before being seated for his 2015 trial, an argument the U.S. Supreme Court did not address when it reinstated Tsarnaev's death sentence last year. Circuit Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson said it was "hard to understand" how the facts did not raise a potential claim of juror misconduct, and U.S. Circuit Judge William Kayatta questioned why the judge did not probe further. The Justice Department is defending Tsarnaev's death sentence despite President Joe Biden's opposition to capital punishment and a moratorium on federal executions issued by Attorney General Merrick Garland in July 2021. The case then returned to the 1st Circuit to address other grounds for appeal that neither court had yet to resolve.

☆ Putin ally Patrushev says Russia is now fighting NATO in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Guy Faulconbridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev (L) looks at President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with the BRICS countries' senior officials in charge of security matters at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 26, 2015. "The Westerners' plans are to continue to pull Russia apart, and eventually just erase it from the political map of the world," Patrushev said. The United States has denied Russian claims that it wants to destroy Russia, the world's biggest producer of natural resources, while President Joe Biden has cautioned that a conflict between Russia and NATO could trigger World War Three. "The American state is just a shell for a conglomerate of huge corporations that rule the country and try to dominate the world," Patrushev said. The United States, Patrushev said, had sown chaos in Afghanistan, Vietnam and the Middle East, and had been trying for years to undermine Russia's "unique" culture and language.

☆ Russia backs banning of maps disputing official 'territorial integrity'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A woman walks past a building with Russian flags placed on its wall in Saint Petersburg, Russia April 24, 2022. REUTERS/Anton VaganovJan 8 (Reuters) - Russia's government extended support to a legislative amendment that would classify maps that dispute the country's official "territorial integrity" as punishable extremist materials, the state-owned TASS news agency reported on Sunday. The amendment to Russia's anti-extremism legislation stipulates that "cartographic and other documents and images that dispute the territorial integrity of Russia" will be classified as extremist materials, the agency reported. The new amendment, TASS reports without citing sources, emerged after its authors pointed out that some maps distributed in Russia dispute the "territorial affiliation" of the Crimean Peninsula and the Kuril Islands. Ukrainians and their government have since often objected to world maps showing Crimea as part of Russia's territory.

☆ Only 2 customers have abandoned Tesla since Elon Musk bought Twitter, says EV leasing firm CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk's Twitter troubles have had minimal impact on Tesla sales at Octopus EV, its CEO said. Just two of Octopus EV's Tesla customers — out of "well over 1,000" — switched to another make last year over Musk's decisions at Twitter, its CEO Fiona Howarth told the Financial Times. While small, she said the dip was still worth noting, given how loyal Tesla customers have usually been. Three longtime Tesla owners recently told Insider that they're ditching their cars over Musk's actions at Twitter. Octopus EV, Tesla, and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.

☆ Factbox: What is the Bradley Fighting Vehicle?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday that it will send Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine to bolster Kiev's fight against Russia's invasion. What is a Bradley Fighting Vehicle? The Bradley is a tracked, medium-armored vehicle armed with a 25-mm gun. France has pledged a similar armored vehicle called the AMX-10 RC. Germany will send about 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine before the end of March.

☆ Russia's Medvedev snaps back after U.S. appeal over Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered one of the most deadly wars in Europe since World War Two and the deepest crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Medvedev said the missiles could be placed 100 miles (160 km) off the U.S. coast, adding: "So rejoice! He was speaking after the U.S. embassy to Russia released a video that it called an "an appeal to the people of Russia". The 50-second video included images of the impact of bombing in Ukraine, saying what was happening there "is not worthy of you". Since the war began, Medvedev's rhetoric has become increasingly vitriolic though his published views sometimes chime with thinking at the top levels of the Kremlin elite.

☆ The race to make electric cars cheaper is making electric cars more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Electric cars aren't exactly the most affordable right now. The world of batteries influences your EV's price tagAutomakers are pouring more than $515 billion into all-electric lineups over the next several years. Mercedes is only making newly launched cars electric starting in 2025. Scaling up will inherently make electric cars less expensive over time. But, driving costs back down, he says: "The lithium prices will trigger more supply to enter the market."

☆ Star rising in Kremlin, Russia's Medvedev predicts war in West
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Medvedev, deputy head of Putin's advisory security council, served as president during a four-year spell when Putin held the office of prime minister. ", although he also criticised some of Medvedev's predictions. Medvedev has praised Musk in the past for proposing Ukraine cede territory to Russia in a peace deal. Since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Medvedev has reinvented himself as an arch-hawk, framing the conflict in apocalyptic, religious terms and referring to Ukrainians as "cockroaches" in language Kyiv says is openly genocidal. Political scientist Vladimir Pastukhov said Medvedev's newly outspoken public persona appeared to have found favour with his boss.

☆ EV battery startup QuantumScape starts shipping prototypes to automakers, a key milestone
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( John Rosevear | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Electric vehicle battery startup QuantumScape said Tuesday that it has begun shipping prototypes of its batteries to automotive customers, a key milestone that it had aimed to hit by year-end. The news that QuantumScape is shipping prototypes is an important milestone for the startup, but actual commercial production is still at least a few years away. QuantumScape has been working for several years to develop a viable "solid-state" battery for electric vehicles. Solid-state batteries are so called because they don't need the liquid or gel electrolyte found inside existing batteries. A solid-state battery pack can be smaller and lighter than a lithium-ion pack of similar capacity, with much less risk of catching fire.

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