Kohl's ended the talks late Thursday, though it said in a release that it is still open to other opportunities to create value for shareholders. John Raoux / AP Images Kohl's shares sank 20% after the retailer announced it ended talks with Franchise Group to be acquired.  The company also lowered its sales forecasts for the second quarter.  Kohl's said in a press release that it is still open to talks with other potential buyers.  Kohl's stock sank 20% on Friday after the company announced it ended talks to sell itself to Franchise Group.Shares were trading at $28.24 as of 10:25 a.m. ET, down from yesterday's close of $35.71."Despite a concerted effort on both sides, the current financing and retail environment created significant obstacles to reaching an acceptable and fully executable agreement," Kohl's Board Chair Peter Boneparth said in a statement. The company also said it was lowering sales forecasts for the second quarter, as it becomes the latest big retailer to struggle with high inflation and ebbing customer demand. Consumers slowed their spending for the first time this year in May, and the US Consumer Confidence Index tumbled 4.5 points in June. The scuttled deal comes nearly a month after negotiations with Franchise Group, which considered lowering its offer for Kohl's from $60 a share to $50 last week, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC. Kohl's also rejected Starboard Value Group's offer earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported, with the retailer stating that Starboard's bid of $64 a share was too low.The end of talks with Franchise Group, whose initial offer would have resulted in a buyout of $8 billion, is a blow to Kohl's investors, who have been pressuring the retailer to sell for months. In January, activist firm Macellum Advisors demanded the company to either make significant adjustments or sell itself."Macellum suspects that there are a number of well-capitalized financial sponsors interested in Kohl's. We have also heard that the board and its representatives have been approached and rebuffed overtures from credible buyers," the firm stated in a letter to shareholders. "This is unacceptable and, if true, would seem to constitute a meaningful breach of the Board's fiduciary responsibilities." Even after the latest talks ended without a deal, Kohl's said in a press release Friday that it is open to other potential buyers, adding it would consider other opportunities that could "maximize value for shareholders".Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A new Spotify feature lets you make a "Stranger Things"-themed "Upside Down Playlist," which could help you escape the show's villain Vecna. Music plays a major role in "Stranger Things" season four — perfect for a Spotify playlist.Netflix A new Spotify feature lets you make a "Stranger Things"-themed "Upside Down Playlist." Like in the show, Spotify's "Stranger Things" playlist puts together all your favorite songs that would help you escape Vecna and the Upside Down. This article contains minor spoilers for the fourth season of "Stranger Things." Spotify is the most popular music streaming app in the world, and the Netflix show "Stranger Things" has an undeniably iconic soundtrack. So it only makes sense to mix the two together — and with Spotify's new Upside Down Playlist feature, it's finally happened.Here's how the Upside Down playlist works, and a quick guide on how to make your own.Spotify's 'Stranger Things' playlist helps you escape the Upside DownIn the fourth season of "Stranger Things," the town of Hawkins is ravaged by a murderous monster from the Upside Down called Vecna. Once Vecna has you trapped, the only way to escape his slimy clutches to hear your favorite song — for the character Max Mayfield, that song was Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill."If you ever wondered what song could break you out of the Upside Down, Spotify can help. They've made every user a personalized Upside Down playlist, filled with all your favorite songs. It'll also include songs you haven't heard before but might like, and select tracks from the "Stranger Things" soundtrack. Every playlist is 50 tracks long, or about two to three hours — more than long enough to run away from Vecna in dramatic slow-motion.How to make your Upside Down playlist on SpotifyBefore anything, make sure you're logged into Spotify, either in the app or on the website. The feature is available to all users, whether you're signed up for Spotify Premium or not.Once you're logged in, head to this link. It'll open up in your Spotify app and give you the 50 songs that will save you from the Upside Down.Your Upside Down playlist has songs you like, songs Spotify thinks you might like, and songs from "Stranger Things."SpotifyTo save the playlist so you can find it again later, click or tap the big heart icon. This will "Like" the playlist and add it to your Spotify Library.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Several Conservative MPs had called for Chris Pincher, who was deputy chief whip, to be suspended amid the allegations. Chris Pincher in Downing Street.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images Chris Pincher was suspended from the Conservative Party, pending an investigation into groping claims. The former deputy chief whip resigned Thursday night but had not been removed from the party. On Friday, Boris Johnson agreed to suspend him following mounting pressure from MPs. Chris Pincher has been suspended from the Conservative Party as an investigation takes place into claims he drunkenly groped two men this week. The former deputy chief whip apologised and resigned on Wednesday, but had retained the whip, meaning he was able to continue sitting as a Tory MP. But following widespread pressure from colleagues Chris Heaton-Harris, the Tory chief whip, on Friday suspended Pincher pending the investigation. A spokesperson for Heaton-Harris said: "Having heard that a formal complaint has been made to the ICGS, the PM has agreed with the Chief Whip that the whip should be suspended from Chris Pincher while the investigation is ongoing. "We will not pre-judge that investigation. We urge colleagues and the media to respect that process."Earlier on Friday,two female Tory MPs wrote to Heaton-Harris calling for a zero-tolerance approach to claims of sexual misconduct, including that against Pincher, and asking for MPs to be suspended if they are awaiting sexual-misconduct investigations.Karen Bradley, a former Cabinet minister and chair of the procedure committee, and Caroline Nokes, a former Home Office minister, called for "a thorough investigation is carried out in each and every case". They added: "Once an investigation has been completed, a decision should be taken about returning the whip, but in the meantime, anyone subject to such an investigation should not be allowed to sit as a Conservative MP and represent the party in any capacity."Separately, another male Conservative MP was arrested on suspicion of "indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust, and misconduct in public office," in mid-May.Pincher has been replaced in the whips' office by Kelly Tolhurst, a former housing minister and junior whip.Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, said: "Boris Johnson has been dragged kicking and screaming into taking any action at all. "He just can't be trusted to do the right thing. This whole scandal is yet more evidence of his appalling judgement. "It's time for Conservative MPs to show this chaotic Prime Minister the door before he can do any more damage."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The president will award the nation's highest civilian honor to a mix of business luminaries, celebrities, and athletes both living and deceased. President Joe BidenPhoto by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Biden will award the nation's highest civilian honor to the likes of Steve Jobs and John McCain. He will present 17 Presidential Medals of Freedom to both living and deceased luminaries next week. Among the other notable names are: Olympian Simone Biles, actor Denzel Washington, and civil rights icon Diane Nash. The White House announced that President Joe Biden will award 17 Medals of Freedom next week, among the notable names are Olympian Simone Biles, Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, and former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.This will be Biden's first time awarding the nation's highest civilian honor.Three of the medals will be awarded posthumously, including to Sen. John McCain and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.McCain and Biden were close friends dating back to McCain's time as a military liaison to the Senate in the 1970s. The Republican famously refused to endorse Trump in 2016 and later dealt a decisive blow to Trump's efforts to repeal Obamacare. Trump continued to ridicule McCain even after his death. Cindy McCain, the late-senator's wife, endorsed Biden during the 2020 election. In 2021, Biden named her to an ambassador-level post at the U.N. Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome.One other Trump critic is on the list. Khizr Khan received national attention for his 2016 Democratic National Convention speech blasting Trump for pushing anti-Muslim rhetoric. Khan's son, Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in action in Iraq. Trump spent days attacking Khan after the speech, leading Republicans to bemoan his barbs against a Gold Star family.Seven presidents have received the medal: Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George H.W. Bush all received the honor in their respective lifetimes. While LBJ and JFK received it posthumously. Biden himself is a past Medal of Freedom recipient. President Barack Obama awarded him the medal with distinction, an added element to the honor, in 2017 just before Trump took office. Obama awarded 123 medals over his two terms, the most in history. Trump bestowed 24 medals, most of which went to athletes like golf phenom Tiger Woods, basketball legend Jerry West, and even Babe Ruth. Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who has won the most Super Bowls of any coach, turned down a Trump Medal of Freedom after the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.Here is the full list of Biden's first class of Medal of Freedom recipients:Olympian gymnast Simone BilesSister Simone CampbellFormer University of Texas at Brownsville President Dr. Julieta GarcíaFormer Congresswoman Gabrielle GiffordsFormer Alabama state Rep. and civil rights icon Fred GrayApple CEO Steve JobsFormer Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Alexander KarloutsosGold Star father and activist Khizr KhanNurse Sandra LindsayFormer Senator John McCainCivil rights leader Diane NashOlympian and World Cup champion Megan RapinoeFormer Senator Alan SimpsonFormer AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (Trumka's medal will be presented posthumously.) Ret. Brig. Gen. Wilma VaughtActor Denzel WashingtonFormer National Council of La Raza CEO Raúl YzaguirreRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Amazon Prime Day runs from July 12 to July 13, with huge deals on outdoor gear like sleeping bags, headlamps, hiking socks, and more. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.AmazonWith Amazon Prime Day taking place on July 12 & 13, there's perhaps no better time to use the sale to stock up on all things outdoors. Be it a new tent or camp stove, a replacement headlamp, or even just a new pair of hiking socks, you can find it on Amazon at a steep discount. Although the exact deals aren't live quite yet, this year's Prime Day sale is shaping up to be yet another huge event for Amazon. And with the amount of quality outdoor gear from reputable brands already available on the site, those looking to freshen up their kit should have no trouble finding plenty of solid discounts. And if you like to shop around, rest-assured Amazon isn't the only one gearing up to run a big sale as other outlets like Target and Walmart are also expected to have competing sales of their own. Prime Day 2022 starts at 3 a.m. EDT on July 12 and runs through the end of July 13, giving you plenty of time to hunt down the absolute best deals on whatever outdoor gear you have your eye on.Ahead of Prime Day's official start time, Amazon does have some early sales going on right now that are sure to satisfy anyone eager to score a few discounts. So far, we've seen anywhere from 10-40% off on things like Coleman sleeping cots, Kelty camp chairs, and LifeStraw water bottles.Here are the best early Prime Day outdoor gear deals available now:Gold Armour Camping BlanketAmazonColeman Airbed Cot with Side TableAmazonColeman Evanston Screened 6 Person TentAmazonKelty Loveseat Camping ChairAmazonEnergizer LED Headlamp Pro260AmazonRTIC Soft Cooler 30AmazonLifeStraw Go Water Filter BottleAmazonDeuter Freerider Pro 28 SLAmazonDarn Tough Tactical Boot Cushion SockAmazonRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Most of the world's açaí comes from Brazil, where it grows deep in the Amazon rainforest. The fruit's expensive, but harvesters don't see big profits. People climb palm trees deep in the Amazon rainforest to harvest açaí. More than 70% of Brazil's açaí exports end up in the US, where açaí bowls can sell for up to $15. Despite the high price for açaí, small farmers still aren't seeing big profits. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Walmart's Deals for Days is a sales event that's usually scheduled around the same time as Prime Day. Buyers can expect deals on tons of products. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images Walmart is expected to hold a competing Deals for Days event during Amazon Prime Day 2022. The dates aren't confirmed yet, but last year, Walmart's sale kicked off a day before and ended a day after Prime Day. This year, Amazon Prime Day is Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13.  Walmart hasn't released the dates for their Deals for Days shopping event, but it traditionally takes place around the same time as Amazon Prime Day and has typically started earlier and lasted longer. The Deals for Days event is one of the best times to save on tech, home goods, tools, outdoor gear, and fashion. This year Amazon Prime Day is set for July 12 and 13. Historically, Walmart's competing sale offers comparable discounts to Amazon Prime Day and matches many of Amazon's deals. These big deal events often ultimately come down to where you want to shop, since nearly every retailer has the same prices on major items.As the day gets closer, we'll add the best early Walmart deals. For more chances to save, check out the competing sales from Target, Best Buy, and several other major retailers.Related: See Insider's picks for the best credit cards to use on Amazon purchases.Best early Walmart deals available nowWalmart's Deals for Days event has yet to kick off, but you can shop thousands of rollbacks ahead of Prime Day. This weekend you can save extra on Fourth of July rollbacks on home products, tech, and more.Meanwhile, Amazon is already offering plenty of early Prime Day deals, with more to come as we get closer to the event. We'll update this post with more deals as they become live. When is Amazon Prime Day 2022?Amazon announced that Prime Day 2022 will take place Tuesday, July 12 and Wednesday, July 13.Will Walmart hold a sale during Amazon Prime Day 2022?Walmart typically holds its Deals for Days event around the same time as Amazon Prime Day, but it usually starts a day earlier and lasts a day longer. Walmart hasn't officially announced this year's event, but if the 2022 sale follows a similar schedule as last year's, Walmart's Deals for Days will run from July 11 to 14.What deals should I expect from Walmart during Prime Day 2022?Walmart often has comparable deals to those found on Amazon. Last year, we saw deals on robot vacuums, Roku TVs, phones, laptops, and more. How will a Walmart Plus membership play into Amazon Prime Day 2022?It's unclear if Walmart will offer any benefits to Walmart Plus members during its competing Prime Day sale, but early deal access is one of the advertised perks of Walmart Plus. Whether or not that will actually manifest for Deals for Days is unknown as of writing.Walmart Plus' year-round perks include free same-day delivery and shipping, gas discounts, and prescription discounts with Rx for less.If you're interested in sampling the membership, you can try it out free for 15 days. However, we recommend you wait until the exact dates for Walmart's sale are announced. That way, you can time your trial to take advantage of Walmart Plus perks during the event.Are there benefits to shopping from Walmart during Amazon Prime Day 2022?The first major benefit to shopping from Walmart during Prime Day is accessibility: You usually don't need a membership to get the deals. If you do happen to be a member of Walmart Plus, you can cash in on free two-day shipping for any of your orders. Walmart also offers physical locations where you can pick up your order in-store if you're in a rush — a major advantage over Amazon. Amazon Prime Day, on the other hand, is a Prime-member exclusive. It's one of the biggest selling points for a membership if you're a deals-minded shopper. Prime membership comes with other great benefits and is free to try for 30 days if you're tempted. Wait until closer to Prime Day to make sure you don't miss it if you plan to cancel. Read more about how the Insider Reviews team evaluates deals and why you should trust us.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The pilots union said Delta was scheduling more routes than it could handle, and that pilots are flying record overtime this year. Delta Air Lines pilots picket at Los Angeles International Airport.Mario Tama/Getty Images Hundreds of off-duty pilots picketed Delta Airlines at hubs across the US on Thursday. Even with pilots flying record amounts of overtime this year, cancellations remain high. "The perfect storm is occurring," union chair Jason Ambrosi said ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. Hundreds of off-duty Delta pilots picketed the airline at hubs across the country, with more than 400 demonstrating in shifts outside the carrier's home base in Atlanta, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.The picketing occurred as air travel has rebounded so strongly that Delta pilots are on track to fly more overtime this year than they did in their two previous busiest years combined.If trends continue, the overtime hours in 2022 will exceed those of 2018 and 2019 as early as this fall.Even with the extra shifts, the airline has still had to cancel thousands of flights since Memorial Day weekend."We're now going into the Independence Day Holiday weekend and are concerned that our customers' plans have already been disrupted once again," Delta pilots union chair, Capt. Jason Ambrosi, said in a statement. "The perfect storm is occurring."Rough as these disruptions are for passengers, the union says they're taking a serious toll on pilots' quality of life.The union is currently trying to negotiate new terms with Delta to amend the current contract that was last negotiated back in 2016 — a discussion that has been delayed more than two years past schedule.Delta pilots' last contracted pay raise was over three years ago, and air travel has only gotten busier in that time.Delta told Insider that the pilots' "informational exercise" would not affect its schedule, and said it was aimed at both providing an "industry-leading overall contract" and keeping a strong balance sheet.Although Thursday's action was not a strike, many pilots carried signs indicating their readiness to stop work if progress wasn't made. US airline pilots' ability to strike is bound by a century-old railroad law that puts several additional steps to avert work stoppages.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"She ought to tell the people of Wyoming the truth," said Cheney in her first debate against Hageman, who has the support of Trump and GOP leadership. Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Republican candidate Harriet HagemanHans Gutknecht/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News and Natalie Behring/Getty Images Rep. Liz Cheney and her primary opponent, Harriet Hageman, debated for the first time on Thursday. Cheney took on Hageman's stolen 2020 election claims using her expertise from the January 6 committee. Cheney cited testimony from members of Trump's inner circle, including Ivanka Trump. In her first debate against a raft of Republican primary opponents on Thursday night, Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming took on her challengers' false claims that the 2020 election was stolen largely by drawing on findings she's helped uncover as a member of the House January 6 committee.In a debate segment on election integrity, Cheney's main rival — former RNC committeewoman Harriet Hageman, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump and most of the House Republican conference that Cheney once led — cited Dinesh D'Souza's widely-debunked "2000 Mules movie."Hageman went on to say that "Zuckerberg money" had allowed a "private individual to capture our county clerks" which was "devastating in our swing states."Responding to Hageman's claims, Cheney touted her own support for voter ID laws while going on the attack."I also know that the truth matters, and the claims that Mrs. Hageman is making about the 2020 election are the same claims for which the President's lead lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, was disbarred," said Cheney. "They're the same claims for which Sidney Powell has had her law license suspended."While it is true that both Giuliani and Powell have faced sanctions for their involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 elections, Giuliani has only had his law license suspended, and Powell has faced court sanctions for filing frivolous lawsuits."It is not true that there was sufficient fraud to change the results of the 2020 election," said Cheney. "The President's own Attorney General has said that, the President's own Deputy Attorney General has said that — and I mean President Trump.""President Trump's campaign manager said that, President Trump's White House counsel said that, President Trump's own family said that," she continued. "There was not sufficient fraud to overturn the results of the 2020 election."In a series of public hearings in June, the January 6 committee showed testimony from former Attorney General Bill Barr stating that Trump's election claims are "bullshit," testimony from former campaign manager Bill Stepien that he "didn't think what was happening was honest or professional," and testimony from Ivanka Trump that she accepted Barr's conclusion that the election wasn't stolen."Now if Mrs. Hageman is standing up here claiming that the election was stolen, or that there was fraud that was sufficient to overturn the election, she ought to say it," said Cheney. "Otherwise, she needs to stop making claims that are not true, and she ought to tell the people of Wyoming the truth."Cheney, the January 6 committee's vice chair, faces a high-stakes primary election on August 16. Recent polling has shown Hageman with a comfortable lead over Cheney.—Acyn (@Acyn) July 1, 2022 Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The nearly $130,000 Tesla model has not previously been reported to have run faster than 200 miles per hour. Tesla Model S Plaid.Tesla Ingenext bypassed Tesla software to help the Model S plaid hit 216 miles per hour, Electrek reported. The CEO of the tech company is the first on record to hit speeds over 200 miles per hour with the car. When Tesla initially released the EV its top speed was about 163 miles per hour. A Tesla Model S Plaid hit its fastest speed on record Thursday after a software company hacked into the vehicle's software restrictions.Guillaume André, the CEO of Ingenext, took his Model S Plaid out for a spin at the Trois-Rivières airport in Québec, Canada on Thursday morning. André was able to get the vehicle up to a top speed of 216 miles per hour, Electrek reported.A spokesperson from Ingenext did not respond to a request for comment from Insider ahead of publication.The Ingenext CEO posted a short clip of the run on his personal Facebook account, confirming that the vehicle hit 216 miles per hour.The nearly $130,000 Tesla model has not previously been reported to have run faster than 200 miles per hour. Though, Ingenext has attempted to hit 200 miles per hour in previous tests, the publication said. Electrek reported that the Quebec track had a longer 1.8 mile runway which helped the car hit the new top speed.The EV publication posted a video from the track on YouTube that showed the 216 miles per hour run from both inside and outside the four-door sedan. As the vehicle neared 200 miles per hour the speedometer on the car's dashboard turned red.Electrek reporter Fred Lambert compared the sound of the vehicle racing down the runway to a "jet taking off" and recorded the sound of the Tesla's cooling system attempting to cool off the motors and battery pack after the run. André is not the first company to test the limits of the Model S Plaid. Last summer, Brooks Weisblat, the host of DragTimes, tested the vehicle in a series of videos by racing the Tesla against a Porsche Taycan Turbo S, as well as testing out its top speed at low battery levels.MotorTrend said in 2021 that the Model S Plaid hit the highest 0 to 60 acceleration speed the publication has ever seen from a production car. When Tesla initially announced the vehicle they said it would be able to hit a top speed of 200 miles per hour, but upon release the vehicle was shown to have a speed limited to about 163 miles per hour. In January, Tesla released Track Mode for the Plaid which allowed the vehicle to go slightly faster.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

FEC officials told Yang's old presidential campaign that its negative balance of $190,861 "suggests that you have overdrawn your account, made a mathematical error, or incurred a debt." Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Andrew Yang's 2020 presidential campaign committee still owes money. A Federal Election Commission letter put the tab at more than $190,000. Since running unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City, Yang started a third party. Andrew Yang's 2020 presidential committee often summed its campaign up in a single word: "MATH."But the Federal Election Commission, which regulates and enforces the nation's campaign finance laws, is questioning Yang's addition skills."Your report discloses a negative ending cash balance of $190,861.62," a June 30 letter to the Yang campaign states. "This suggests that you have overdrawn your account, made a mathematical error, or incurred a debt."The Yang campaign, which did not return Insider's request for comment, has until August 4 to respond to the agency.A letter from the Federal Election Commission to Andrew Yang's 2020 presidential campaign committee.Federal Election CommissionAnother FEC letter warned the Yang campaign that their beginning cash balance in the latest financial report does not match the ending balance from July 2020, which could result in an audit.Yang's presidential committee still operates a merchandise page, selling T-shirts with a picture of him from 1992 and the classic "MATH" hats, which stands for "Make America Think Harder" and served as a pointy-headed counterpoint to Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan. (Yang's "Forward Chopsticks," however, were sold out as of Friday morning.)A supporter wearing a "Yang 2020" t-shirt and 'MATH' hat campaign merchandise uses his phone after Democratic presidential candidate, businessman Andrew Yang spoke during a rally at Eagle Point Park Lodge during a rally on January 23, 2020, in Clinton, Iowa.Mark Makela/Getty ImagesYang, who ran for president as a Democrat but is now leading a third party supporting ranked choice voting and open primaries, followed his longshot presidential bid with a failed mayoral run in New York City, where he finished in fourth place in the Democratic primary despite starting out as the frontrunner.His "Forward Party" has taken a different approach than other attempts at a national third party.Instead of trying to get on the ballot across all 50 states and establish a caucus in Congress, Yang's primary goals with the outfit have been to promote ranked choice voting and open primaries to break up what he describes as the "duopoly" of Republicans and Democrats.Specifically, Yang argues that the current "closed" primary system in most states — with the exception of some he sees as better models, such as Alaska — leaves voters with more ideologically extreme options from the two parties because only registered Democrats and Republicans get to pick who goes on the ballot.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Copper prices in London fell as much as 3.6% to $7,959 a ton on Friday, diving deeper into a bear market. Molten copper flows into molds at a smelting plant at Wuzhou Jinsheng Copper Company in China.He Huawen/VCG via Getty Images Copper prices in London fell as much as 3.6% to $7,959 a ton on Friday, diving deeper into a bear market. The metal, which is seen an a bellwether for the global economy, hit its lowest point since early 2021. For the second quarter that ended on Thursday, copper fell nearly 20%, the worst quarterly decline since 2011. Copper prices in London fell as much as 3.6% to $7,959 a ton on Friday, diving deeper into a bear market after suffering the worst quarterly loss in a decade.The commodity, an often seen as a barometer to gauge the global economy, fell to its lowest point since February 2021, as recession fears also hit prices for other key industrial metals, such as aluminum, nickel, iron and zinc.While copper prices edged back above $8,000 later on Friday, the intraday low marked a decline of 25.6% from a peak above $10,700 a ton in May 2021. For the second quarter that ended on Thursday, copper fell nearly 20%, the worst quarterly decline since 2011.A copper bear market has happened before each recession in the last 30 years, which could indicate another economic downturn may be underway. It's used in everything from electrics and electronics to construction, meaning it's intertwined with the underlying global economy. Copper's lackluster performance is a sharp reversal from the early months of 2022, when a surge in demand for goods and production sent prices higher.The picture has since changed as the Federal Reserve alongside global central banks tighten monetary policy to combat skyrocketing inflation and attempt to slow the economy down.  But metals could reverse course this year as China resurfaces from stringent Covid-19 lockdowns that slowed demand. Activity related to manufacturing ticked up in June, while its property market recovered from previous losses. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In a purported phone call between a Russian-backed separatist and his wife, the fighter describes chaos and war crimes among Russian soldiers. Russian soldiers walks along a street in Mariupol on April 12, 2022.Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images) A Russian-backed separatist fighter reportedly trashed Putin's troops in a call with his wife.  Ukraine's military intelligence released on Thursday what it said was a phone call between the two.  Russian troops have been accused of war crimes and other atrocities since the war's early days. A Russian-backed separatist fighter reportedly told his wife that President Vladimir Putin's troops are war criminals and used a slur for disabled people to call them imbeciles. Ukraine's military intelligence uploaded a video to YouTube on Thursday of what it alleged was a phone conversation between a soldier from the Moscow-backed and self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and his wife. During the phone call, the soldier describes disorganization and chaos among the Russian soldiers, using a slur to call Putin's forces morons and comparing soldier infighting to those who mutinied during World War I. "Like during the war on Potemkin, in the night, they had support come in to help them, and they started firing on themselves, Russians firing on Russians, destroying themselves," he says. The separatist also purportedly blasts Russian military generals for not understanding the situation on the ground."In short, they fucked us for everything," the fighter reportedly says.The separatist fighter also complains that Russian forces aren't allowing them to rotate off the front lines. "I just want them to get us out of here," he said, adding that he thinks the Russians aren't allowing soldiers off the front lines because they're afraid they'll desert and never return."Nobody is going home, because they won't fucking come back," he said. "And mostly, they are right, because even the guy from the 33rd regiment said, 'this is a one-way ticket, I will leave and not come back.' "Russian troops have been accused by Ukrainian officials and Western states of committing war crimes and other atrocities against civilians since the war's early days. Throughout the four-month-long conflict, civilians, journalists, and officials have documented and reported instances where Russian troops have directly targeted Ukrainian civilians with their brutality.Among the horrors are summary executions and raping of civilians, as well as the indiscriminate bombing of residential areas and hospitals. Ukraine and the West have vowed to prosecute any alleged war crimes.  The soldier's wife is heard in the phone call saying, "the rapes and everything happened there in Ukraine was done by the Russians," but explains that some people say the Russians aren't capable of such a thing. "They are capable of anything," the soldier replies. Translations by Nikita Angarski.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Dr. Oz won a key endorsement from Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. Years earlier, staffers say they were disturbed by Oz's softball treatment of Trump. Mehmet Oz on the campaign trail with former President Donald Trump, six years after his infamous interview.Jeff Swensen/Getty Images Long before he ran for Senate, Dr. Mehmet Oz interviewed Donald Trump on his talk show. Oz discussed Trump's fitness and "allowed the man to lie about his weight and height," said one former producer. Oz's staffers were disheartened by the "lap dog" interview, the former producer added. Before Dr. Mehmet Oz became a Senate candidate in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, he was a fixture of daytime TV. There, those who worked on "The Dr. Oz Show" told Insider, Oz's perfectionism was on display, as were early signs of his political ambition. "I think part of the reason he came on TV was to ramp up his profile so at some point he could go into politics," a person involved in the inception of "The Dr. Oz Show" told Insider. "He's definitely the kind of person who will do what he has to do to get what he wants."Read more: 'I'm Machiavellian': How Dr. Oz's obsession with power led him to Washington's doorstepOz's 2016 Trump interview caused disillusionment among the staffInitially, "The Dr. Oz Show" was carefully apolitical, featuring everybody from then-first lady Michelle Obama (multiple times) to former Vice President Dick Cheney, as well as a slew of celebrities. But that began to shift in 2016 with the appearance on the show of then-candidate Donald Trump.Oz interviewed Trump in September 2016. Among other things, the interview touched on Trump's medical records. The interview disturbed Oz's staff, according to two producers who worked on the show at the time.Oz "allowed the man to lie about his weight and height, and those are pretty basic things," one of the former producers said. "It felt like a lap-dog interview." (On the campaign trail, Trump's mischaracterizations of his height and weight became emblematic of his tendency to tell bald-faced lies, and raised questions about his physical fitness.) The bump from the Trump interview wasn't enough to sustain ratings for "The Dr. Oz Show," which declined steadily after its third season, losing out to rival "Dr. Phil." It did, however, affect the attitude among Oz's staff. "It really did have an impact on morale because we felt we had made him more palatable to Middle America and given him a seal of approval," the former producer added of Trump.From talk show guest to game-changing endorsementNow, Trump is Oz's most prominent endorser. Last August, he tapped the doctor over fellow Republican David McCormick, whose wife, Dina Powell, served in the Trump administration. Oz's choice to pursue politics caught many of his employees off guard. "This was somebody who had acquired a great deal of success and financial gain and had already been under public scrutiny — why would someone pursue that on top of the level they had already achieved?" the first former producer asked. Once Oz unveiled his campaign platform, taking a hard line on immigration, abortion, and gun control, and lamenting elites being "all too happy to tell you how to live your life," their questions intensified.The second former producer wondered if Oz really believes in what she called this "kooky, crazy" platform. "He's saying this stuff about elites," the producer said. "I'm like, 'Dude, you've got a basketball court in your house.'" Click here to read the full story on how Dr. Oz's insatiable desire for power led him to a Republican win in Pennsylvania.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Americans have less disposable income after taxes and inflation. It's a damning sign for Democrats this fall, Goldman Sachs said. Real disposable income is dropping for Americans. That means negative attitudes toward the Democrat party heading into midterm elections.Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Real disposable income — what people can spend after taxes and inflation — has steeply declined. The measure is the "strongest predictor" of midterm results, according to Goldman Sachs. That's a bad sign for Democrats, who already faced an uphill battle to keep control of Congress. The first hints of an inflation cooldown have emerged, but it's likely arriving too late to save Democrats' election hopes.Data published Thursday shows surging prices continuing to eat away at Americans' finances. Real disposable income per capita, which tracks what people can spend after adjusting for inflation and taxes, slid through May to $45,490, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The drop extends the steep decline that started early last year and brings the measure further below the 2021 peak of $57,597.The drop reflects the grim reality facing most households and, by extension, the Democratic party. The midterms were already expected to be an uphill battle for the party, as holding control of the White House and the legislature tends to mean at least one chamber of Congress will flip in the next set of elections. Yet the new economic data suggests the party's losses will be even larger than previously anticipated.The fiscal stimulus deployed by the government earlier in the pandemic has largely dried up. At the same time, inflation is running at the fastest pace in 41 years, forcing Americans to pay much more just to maintain their living standards.Other data suggests the decline in disposable income is the nail in the coffin for the reopening spending spree. Retail sales unexpectedly dipped in May, snapping the rally seen throughout 2022. After vaccine rollouts and the reversal of lockdown measures sparked extraordinarily strong spending, shoppers seem to have finally had enough of soaring prices. They're upset, too; consumer sentiment hasn't been this bad since the University of Michigan started tracking it in the late 1970s.Real disposable income growth has long been "the strongest predictor of midterm election results," Goldman Sachs analysts led by Jan Hatzius said in a note published Monday, adding the measure even trumps gas prices and overall inflation. Disposable income has fallen more over the past year than in any midterm election year since data collection began in 1959, dragged lower by dwindling stimulus aid and sky-high inflation.Even if prices start to drop and the economy improves, it's probably too late to buoy Democrats' election hopes, the analysts said."Voters' views regarding the economy are largely set," the team added. "Policies to incrementally lower inflation ahead of the election, for example, might not have much of an effect on the outcome."To be sure, the economic backdrop isn't all bad for Democrats' chances. Payroll growth is the second most relevant economic variable for midterm election outcomes, the analysts said. That bodes well for President Joe Biden's party. Job growth continued to surpass expectations through May, with the US adding 390,000 nonfarm payrolls and the unemployment rate holding at a historically low 3.6%. The US is on track to return to its pre-pandemic job count by the end of July, making the labor market's recovery one of the fastest in history.Still, most economic indicators signal the GOP will take control of the House, Goldman said. Other measures like gas prices, food inflation, and headline price growth have a long ways to go before returning to sustainable levels. The past year of skyrocketing prices, dwindling optimism, and crumbling finances are set to take their toll on Democrats' influence.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Amazon Prime Day is set for July 12 and 13, and Target will compete with its own sale called "Deal Days" from July 11 to 13. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.Shopping carts sit inside a Target store on May 23, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois.Scott Olson/Getty Images Target's Deal Days event will take place on July 11-13 to compete with Prime Day on July 12-13.  You can expect tons of great deals which often match those offered by Amazon. Below, we'll answer questions about the event and highlight what type of deals you can expect. Amazon Prime Day, the retail giant's annual sales event, takes place July 12 through 13 — but it won't be alone. Amazon will be competing against sales from several other retailers, including Target. This year's Target Deal Days sales event will run online for three days from July 11-13, one day longer than Prime Day.Based on what we saw last year, we expect tons of great deals on pretty much everything, from smart home speakers to air fryers. We'll be highlighting the best deals you can shop from Target as they become available, as well as answering some frequently asked questions about Target's sales and Prime Day 2022. You can also check out our coverage of competing deals as they become available. We'll even be tracking Walmart's alternative Prime Day deals with comparative pricing information from other retailers.Related: See Insider's picks for the best credit cards to use on Amazon purchases.The best early Target Prime Day dealsAhead of Target's Deal Days, we're seeing a lot of deals across the site that are likely to remain discounted throughout the Deal Days event. You can also snag a handful of early Amazon Prime Day deals now that will likely continue to be on sale through the big day.Current discounts at Target are mostly part of its Fourth of July sale, with live deals on tech, home goods, and more. We gathered some of the best deals you can shop now below. When is Target's competing Amazon Prime Day 2022 sale?The 2022 Target Deal Days event will take place from July 11 to 13. Amazon announced that Prime Day 2022 will run from July 12 to 13, so Target's sale will start one day earlier.What deals will Target have during Amazon Prime Day?Target's competing Prime Day sale will feature deals on a ton of product categories, including up to $70 off Apple products, up to 50% off top tech products, and deep discounts on personal care products, clothing, robot vacuums, upright vacuums, and more. There will also be a sale on Target gift cards; if you buy one online during Target Deal Days, you'll get 5% off.Target will also be running a promotion for shoppers who use their same-day services, including in-store pickup and drive-up; if you spend $50 on food and beverage products, you'll receive a $10 Target gift card to use at a later date.What are the benefits of shopping at Target during Amazon Prime Day?The main draw for shopping at Target during Prime Day is that the deals are accessible to everyone, not just Prime members. Prime Day is one of the many benefits to being an Amazon Prime member, meaning that those without a membership are out of luck. Shopping Target's Prime Day deals are also a good idea if you're in a rush to get your order, since in-store pickup is often available for many items.When is Amazon Prime Day 2022?Amazon Prime Day 2022 will run from July 12 to 13.Will RedCard members get extra discounts during Target Deal Days?Target has not announced any exclusive deals or promotions for RedCard holders. Regardless, Target RedCard members will enjoy the same benefits during the competing sale they enjoy year-round, including free shipping with no order minimums and an extra 5% off at checkout.Will the Target Circle program offer exclusive deals during Target's competing sale?Target Circle, the namesake's rewards program, will likely be full of coupons and offers during Target's competing Amazon Prime Day 2022. It's free to join and unlocks discounts for Target shoppers year-round. Can anyone shop from Target's competing Amazon Prime Day deals?Unlike Amazon Prime Day, which is famously an exclusive event for Amazon Prime subscribers, anyone can take advantage of Target's competing sale. From what we've seen in the past, Target tends to price match many of Amazon's doorbuster-style offers. Of course, Target can't replicate the breadth of Amazon's deals, but it's a worthy alternative for those who don't want to pay for an Amazon Prime subscription.If you have yet to become an Amazon Prime member, it's free to try it out. The 30-day trial also grants you access to Prime Day. You'll want to wait until you have the exact dates of Prime Day to make sure you don't miss it if you plan to cancel. How do I prepare for Target's sale?To get the best prices, download the Target App and enroll in the company's free loyalty program, Target Circle, to reap extra discounts. Having these handy will not only save you money during Target's Prime Day sale but also year-round.Read more about how the Insider Reviews team evaluates deals and why you should trust us.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Amtrak is suing MS Contracting after a train struck one of its dump trucks in a collision that killed the truck's driver and three passengers. Law enforcement personnel inspect the scene of an Amtrak train which derailed after striking a dump truck Monday, June 27, 2022, near Mendon, Missouri.Charlie Riedel/Associated Press Amtrak is suing the company that owned the dump truck involved in a June 27 fatal derailment. The train operator alleges that the truck driver recklessly crossed the tracks when it was unsafe.  The collision killed the driver of the dump truck and three train passengers.  Amtrak is demanding $75,000 from a Missouri contracting company after a train struck one of the company's dump trucks in a fatal derailment on June 27. In the lawsuit filed on Thursday against MS Contracting, Amtrak alleges that the dump truck driver, Billy Dean Barton II, could see the train coming but decided to cross anyway."Despite the fact that it was unsafe, careless and reckless to do so because of the clearly visible approaching Amtrak Train 4, Barton failed to yield the right of way to the approaching Amtrak Southwest Chief Train 4," the lawsuit, seen by Insider, says. The collision killed three train passengers and the dump truck driver, Amtrak said in a press release earlier this week.A lawyer representing Amtrak, Sean Hamer, referred Insider to Amtrak's Chicago office, which didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. In the lawsuit, Amtrak alleges that MS Contracting is to blame for the crash, saying the company failed to train Barton properly.Amtrak alleges that MS Contracting "negligently, carelessly and recklessly failed to properly train and supervise its employees, including Bill Barton, causing the collision and derailment of Amtrak Train 4."MS Contracting did not answer calls from Insider. Over 240 passengers were on board the train headed from Los Angeles to Chicago when it struck the dump truck near Mendon, Missouri, at around 12:24 p.m. local time, flipping several train cars on their sides.Photos and video from social media showed passengers climbing out of the windows to escape the sideways train cars. At least 50 people were injured. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

In April 2022, passengers made 3,173 complaints against US airlines, mostly due to refunds, cancellations, delays, and mishandled baggage. Travelers queue up move through the north security checkpoint in the main terminal of Denver International Airport, Thursday, May 26, 2022, in Denver.David Zalubowski/AP In April, the US Department of Transportation received 5,079 complaints about airline service. The number is up 14.8% from complaints received in March, and up 321.5% from pre-pandemic April 2019. Of the complaints, 62.5% were against US carriers and 27.7% were against foreign air carriers. Flight delays and cancellations are continuing to plague travelers in the US, and more customers are lodging formal complaints.According to the US Department of Transportation's latest Air Travel Consumer Report for April 2022, the DOT received 5,079 complaints about airline service from travelers. This number is up from March 2022, which saw 4,423 complaints, and up 321.5% from before the pandemic, which saw 1,205 complaints in April 2019.US carriers saw the most complaints, receiving 3,173 of the 5,079 complaints. Foreign air carriers saw 1,409 complaints, and travel companies had 479 complaints.The complaints against airlines mostly concern refunds, cancellations, delays, and mishandled baggage.Around 32% of the 5,079 complaints were about refunds. The DOT said its Office of Aviation Consumer Protection is communicating with airlines and travel companies to give passengers previously denied refunds. The Department also said it has taken and will continue to take action against airlines and ticket agents who don't comply with refund requirements.Flight problems made up 30.5% of complaints, including cancellations, delays, or other schedule complications. In April 2022, the report said 1o airlines reported 580,290 scheduled domestic flights — 13,397, or 2.3%, of which were cancelled. This number was higher than March 2022, which saw 9,108 of 590,542 flights get cancelled. Pre-pandemic April 2019 saw a higher percentage of cancellations than April 2022, with 15,726 out of 668,259 flights getting cancelled, or 2.4% of flights.The report said airlines are required to have a customer service plan to help passengers who have cancelled flights or misconnections.The rate of mishandled baggage in April 2022 was 0.55% of 40 million bags, which was lower than 0.57% in March 2022, and even pre-pandemic April 2019 which saw 0.56% of bags being mishandled.In response to the travel chaos, Senator Bernie Sanders recently wrote a letter to US Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, saying airlines should face a $27,500 fine per passenger for delays over two hours for domestic flights, and delays over three hours for international flights.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

According to a transcript of the video, seen by Insider, the offer could collectively increase pilots' pay by $2 billion by 2024. The pay offer from American Airlines could bring annual earnings for captains to about $425,000.Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images American Airlines has offered to raise the pay and improve work-life balance of its 14,000 pilots. CEO Robert Isom proposed the 16% increase in an internal video seen by CNBC.  The offer matches that made by rival United Airlines to its pilots' unions last week.  American Airlines has offered pilots pay rises of up to $64,0000, or 16.9%, and vowed to improve scheduling and work-life balance in a bid to end crippling shortages, reports say.Robert Isom, the chief executive, outlined the proposal in an internal video sent to pilots on Thursday and seen by CNBC and the Dallas Morning News. According to a transcript of the video, seen by Insider, the offer could increase pay for the airline's nearly 14,000 pilots by $2 billion by 2024. American is the latest airline to heed union calls for higher pay and better working conditions as a global shortage of pilots increases the burden on those still working. Isom promised to raise pilots' pay in a video sent to staff in June. However, American was waiting for the outcome of pay talks between United Airlines and its pilots' union before making an offer.Last week United offered pilots a 14% pay rise within 18 months, CNBC reported, but staff are yet to accept it.Isom said in the video that American's proposal matches United's "industry-leading" offer.As well as a 6% increase and 5% rises at the beginning of 2023 and 2024, American's offer includes "significant improvements" to flight scheduling and quality of life offering, the Dallas Morning News reported. Under the offer, captains of planes such as the Boeing 737 could get a pay rise of about $45,000, bringing their annual earning to as much as $340,000. Those flying widebody jets such as the Dreamliner Boeing could make an additional $65,000, bringing their annual earnings to about $425,000, Isom told pilots. Dennis Tajer of the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, told CNBC the union is reviewing the proposal. The Allied Pilots Association did not immediately respond to Insider's request for further comment. A shortage of pilots has been one factor behind the spate of cancellations, flight delays and hours-long airport queues as airlines struggle to cope with post-pandemic demand for travel. American Airlines is one of a number of carriers, alongside United, to have nixed flights of late because it doesn't have enough pilots to fly them. Regional airlines have felt the shortage acutely. In June, American canned routes to Islip and Ithaca in New York, and Toledo, Ohio, flown by wholly-owned regional airlines Envoy and Piedont, because of the shortage.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The first volume of "Stranger Things" season four quickly became Netflix's biggest English-language TV premiere. Volume two dropped Friday. "Stranger Things" season four, volume two.Netflix Netflix briefly crashed for some early Friday, users reported on Downdetector.com and Twitter. New episodes of "Stranger Things" dropped the same day. Reports spiked on Downdetector.com around the time the episodes dropped. Netflix briefly crashed for some early Friday morning, users reported on Downdetector.com and Twitter, as new episodes of "Stranger Things" premiered.Reports spiked on the outage-tracking site Downdetector.com around 3 am ET Friday morning, the same time the episodes dropped. Nearly 15,000 outages were reported on the website at that time.Some users also took to Twitter to voice their confusion and displeasure. One tweeted, "Y'all I didn't wait 3 years for this finale for netflix to crash on me."Another tweeted, "stayed up for hours just for netflix to crash."The total number of outages was likely a small sliver of Netflix's 220 million subscribers. But it further shows how popular, and vital, "Stranger Things" is for Netflix at a time when the streaming giant is losing subscribers and facing slowing revenue growth.The first volume of season four, which was released in May, quickly became the streamer's biggest English-language TV premiere, with 930 million hours viewed globally in its first 28 days of release.The viewership for volume two, which is what debuted Friday and includes the final two supersized episodes of the season, will be added to volume one's total for Netflix's all-time ranking.But "Stranger Things" season four still has a ways to go to top Netflix's overall biggest show of all time: the Korean-language series "Squid Game," which was watched for 1.65 billion hours in its first month.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»