Personal Loan Interest Rates Today | Your Best Rate
If you're looking for a personal loan with the best rate, Business Insider has done the research for you and found the lowest personal loan interest rates. The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate personal loans to write unbiased product reviews.Personal loan rates depend a lot on the borrower: The rates for the best personal loans tend to be around 6%, and right now, people with good or excellent credit may be eligible for an even better deal.We monitor rates from lenders daily to help you feel confident before you apply for a loan. Here are the leading rates for personal loans on Monday, March 18.Leading Personal Loan RatesPersonal loan rates vary depending on the lender and on the credit profile of the person applying to borrow money, but many lenders are advertising strong rates right now for the right borrower. Here are the lenders offering the lowest rates today:Reach Financial Personal Loan — Lowest rate: 5.99%LightStream Personal Loan — Lowest rate: 7.49% Wells Fargo Personal Loan — Lowest rate: 7.49%Safeguard your credit score, and check for your personalized loan rates before you apply. Get your prequalified loans offers online in minutes.About Personal LoansPersonal loans are a flexible way to borrow money, because they can be used for most needs: to consolidate debt, to finance home projects — even to pay taxes. Their appeal is in their availability, and the ease of being approved (especially with a good or excellent credit score). They are not always the cheapest option, though, and your rate will depend on your credit and the lender you choose.Debt Consolidation LoansThe best debt consolidation loans are good options to turn multiple loans into a single loan, to clean up your record-keeping and (hopefully) improve your APR or lower your payments. You can use these loans to consolidate different types of consumer debt, like credit card debt, into a single monthly payment. However, consolidating your debt may extend your loan term and mean you ultimately pay more over time. Many personal loans allow debt consolidation, but not all of them — so be sure you know going in.Emergency LoansThe best emergency loans can be used to get money quickly, when you need it. To make that happen, these loans tend to require lower credit credit scores than other options, and provide quick funding to get money in your hands sooner. There is a huge range available in emergency loans: Some lenders offer a few hundred dollars to tide you over, while others will lend you hundreds of thousands for larger-scale crises.Personal Loans for Bad CreditThe best personal loans for bad credit will typically have a higher APR than loans for people with higher credit scores, simply because lenders see your credit score as a representation of your history with borrowing money, and therefore, their likelihood of getting theirs back. In fact, terms offered to lenders with bad credit can be so unfavorable that you may also want to consider other options that are often cautioned against, like credit cards for bad credit.Personal Loans With No Origination FeeThe best personal loans with no origination fee operate like any other loan, minus one thing: The upfront fee that can add 1% to 7% of your loan amount onto your bill. Typically, a given lender will make this choice across its loan products, rather than charging an origination fee for one loan and not another. That said, it may be possible to negotiate a waived origination fee with your lender — but choosing one you already know doesn't charge origination fees is a safer bet.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Wall Street is betting big on a soft landing for the economy
Wall Street is feeling bullish as hopes persist for swift rate cuts and FOMO takes hold, but experts warn that bold investors risk being caught out. The bulls are charging on Wall Street.NurPhoto/Getty ImagesInvestors are taking more risks as the economy improves and rate cuts are widely expected.Skeptics warn that asset valuations are dangerously high and a correction may be coming.It's unclear whether optimism will be rewarded — or FOMO and speculation will be punished.Risk is back in fashion on Wall Street as investors shed their fears and become more adventurous with their cash.Gone are the concerns about inflation, which spiked to a 40-year high of more than 9% less than two years ago, and interest rates, which the Federal Reserve hiked from almost zero to above 5%.Worries have faded about bank failures, commercial real estate pain, and financial pressures on consumers and businesses triggering a recession.Anxiety about two major foreign conflicts, global economic malaise, a frozen housing market, political strife, and a bubble in AI stocks has been crowded out by excitement about potential gains.There are still investors who remain wary, but the overall market sentiment has turned bullish in recent months, fueled by robust growth and employment plus the prospect of the Fed cutting rates later this year.Wall Street is betting big on a soft landing, where the Fed succeeds in bringing inflation down without unemployment surging or a recession taking hold.Investors also expect risky assets such as stocks to benefit from falling interest rates, as returns from safer rivals such as Treasury bonds and savings accounts will drop."The environment for risk-taking is supportive for now," BlackRock Investment Institute said in a recent commentary.The asset manager's research arm suggested the excitement around AI-linked stocks like Nvidia, which has powered the market higher this year, could expand to include a wider range of names."We went overweight US stocks this year because we think the upbeat risk appetite can persist and broaden out beyond artificial intelligence," BII said. However, it flagged that inflation could rear up again later this year.Similarly, Goldman Sachs analysts said in a recent outlook that "risk appetite is poised to grow" this year as recession relief and rate cuts embolden investors.When the music stopsThe outlook for stocks and the economy might seem brighter, but it's worth being at least a little skeptical of the current enthusiasm.After all, it's in Wall Street's interest to sound positive, as striking a bullish tone invariably attracts more client funds than urging people to stay out of markets.The renewed appetite for risk could also represent a fresh wave of greed and speculation destined to end badly."Nobody seems to care about valuations, and now you have Wall Street strategists laying claim that we are in a brand new era," veteran economist David Rosenberg said in a recent note.Similarly, bubble expert Jeremy Grantham warned there's never been a sustained rally from today's lofty valuations or full employment in the history of the US stock market.Grantham underscored that high valuations erode future returns, meaning the long-term outlook for stocks is "as poor as almost any other time in history."Even market bulls are worried that excessive euphoria could pave the way for a painful correction."The problem with meltups is that they do need to meltdown," top analyst Ed Yardeni said earlier this year.FOMO versus riskA sunnier economic outlook, the promise of rate cuts soon, and the potential for AI to supercharge productivity and boost corporate profits are just some of the reasons to feel positive as an investor now.Yet there's also cause for concern when stocks, bitcoin, gold, and house prices are all near record highs, inflation seems stuck at almost double the Fed's target rate, unemployment climbed to a 2-year high in February, and a raft of global growth headwinds remain.For now, investors appear to be more worried about losing out on further gains than they are about losing money in a crash, which helps explain why markets are in a risk-on mood."The bullish trend is too strong to let go of and fear of missing out on the AI rally is the major driver of the big-cap stocks right now," Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said in a recent note.Whether investors will be rewarded for being optimistic about markets and the economy, or punished for succumbing to FOMO and mass speculation, is far from clear. For now, those embracing risk can enjoy the adrenaline rush.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
A passenger forced an emergency landing after yelling, banging on the cockpit door, and knocking a man"s glasses off
Witnesses recounted how a woman on a Jetstar flight to Bali spat at other passengers and banged on the cockpit door. A Jetstar Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Bali.BAY ISMOYO/AFP via Getty ImagesA Monday flight from Melbourne to Bali, Indonesia turned back after two hours.One passenger was roaming through the aisles and screaming at other customers, a video shows.Witnesses told a local radio station the woman spat at others and hit a man's glasses off his face.A flight to tourist hot spot Bali had to make an emergency landing after a disruptive passenger shouted at other customers and banged on the cockpit door.Monday's flight from Melbourne to the Indonesian island, on Australian budget airline Jetstar, turned back around two hours into the journey, data from Flightradar24 shows.The Boeing 787 Dreamliner with over 300 passengers on board landed back in Melbourne four hours after taking off.One person on the flight described the woman as a "passenger from hell," according to News.com.au.The outlet also reported that she was banging on the cockpit door and said she believed somebody had stolen her phone.In a video obtained by 9News Sydney, the passenger swears at other customers before being restrained by another flyer.A Jetstar flight from Melbourne to Bali has had to turn back mid-flight due to an unruly passenger. #9News pic.twitter.com/7V2yigjqrm— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) March 18, 2024Emma, a passenger on the flight, told Australian radio station 3AW that the woman was roaming through the aisle and spitting at others on the flight.She added that after one man made a comment to the unruly passenger, "She got right up in his face and abused the absolute hell out of him and smashed his glasses off his face. ""She was just constantly swearing and yelling the whole time," Adrianne, another witness, told 3AW. "There was no way of calming her down."In a statement, Jetstar said: "We know this was a difficult experience for other customers and our team members, and we thank those who assisted with the situation."It said a replacement flight was scheduled for Tuesday morning, and the carrier would provide overnight accommodation and pay for passengers' meal expenses."The safety of our customers and crew is our priority," Jetstar added.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
We left our boxes in storage for a year when our move was interrupted. Minimalism worked out well for us.
We left all our moving boxes in storage for a year when our move was interrupted. Minimalism worked out well, and we realized how much we didn't need. Fern Reiss (not pictured) put all her belongings into a storage unit when she sold her apartment. But when the buyer fell through, she decided to keep them there.Getty ImagesWe put our stuff in storage when our apartment sold before moving into a temporary rental.Then, our buyer backed out, and we kept our stuff in storage rather than unpack and pack it again.When the market took a turn, we decided not to sell, and lived without our things for a year. It all began when we thought we were selling our apartment. We packed everything into boxes, neatly labeled and stacked. They were moved straight to our shiny new storage unit, and the plan was to move them into our temporary rental a few weeks later. We only kept out the things we absolutely required for daily living: some basic clothing, a few plates and implements, and just a few pages of paperwork. We could live without everything else for the two weeks it would take between abodes.But then, the day before we were supposed to pass papers, our putative buyers got cold feet. They mentioned that they hadn't looked around sufficiently, it was a lot of money, and the market might be going down.We kept the purchase and sale money, but the sale was canceled. And in turn, we canceled our rental for the time being.We decided to keep our things in storageAt that point, we could also have called movers and had all our boxes returned. But we had to start the whole apartment-showing thing all over again. Wouldn't it be better to show our apartment if we didn't have boxes in the way and there was less clutter everywhere? And it certainly didn't seem to make sense to haul our boxes back and unpack again, only to have to repack all over again as soon as we sold.It just seemed like a lot of back and forth, a lot of wasted effort. There wasn't anything in those boxes that we needed immediately, anyway. We decided to leave the boxes in the storage unit for the moment.At first, there were items I missed. I would go looking for something — the cake frosting spreader, my Daniel Kahneman book, the canister of mosaic tiles. Then I would remember: that was one of the things in storage. I couldn't have it.The market turned, and we decided to hold off on selling for the time beingI probably would have continued missing my things, except the market turned on us. If the market hadn't turned, we would likely have entered into an agreement with someone else, I would have lived without the frosting spreader for another few weeks, and then we would have moved it all into our new digs.We decided that, like our almost-buyers, it made more sense for us to hold off on a real estate change for now. We would wait for a bit and try again in the spring.But that meant that unless we wanted to go through the whole annoying process of unpacking and repacking again, we were stuck without our boxes for six to eight more months. While we missed our stuff, we decided to suck it up.At first, we weren't good at sucking it up. But then a funny thing happened.We stopped missing our stuff.Over the weeks we did without, we noticed little enjoyments. Everything took less time with less stuff. Dressing in the mornings became easier because there were fewer choices. Even when my full wardrobe was intact, I only wore the things I really liked anyway, which meant I was putting on the same five or six outfits again and again. Now, those outfits were all that was in my closet. It felt nicer to look at the curated selection. And there weren't endless scarves and shoes; just the few that worked with everything. I had accidentally stumbled into a capsule wardrobe.Working also became easier, because there were only a few projects left littering my office shelves, and so they were less distracting, more compelling. My work called to me because all the other stuff had disappeared.We enjoyed minimalist living — and it also saved us moneyPlus, after a few weeks, we noticed something else. We were saving money. Lots of money.Part of it was just that we weren't shopping. It seemed pointless — we had just packed up all our belongings and were waiting to move. It felt curiously freeing not to have our things, and if we bought things now, they would just have to be packed up and moved, too.Yet another part was that we weren't letting our stuff beget stuff, because we didn't have the stuff in the first place. For example, one of my business outfits had been calling for a pair of matching shoes; I had all the books in a series except the new one that just came out; I was planning a party, and the ladle that matched my favorite punch bowl was being advertised.We didn't collect any of those new things in our newly pared-down apartment. So we didn't have to buy them. Ka-ching!We also started to spend our date nights evaluating what was in our packed boxes, getting rid of what we didn't need. All of a sudden, week by week, we were making pilgrimages to the storage unit, tossing out boxes we could live without.Over time, we weeded our very large house down to a very small number of boxes and a few favorite pieces of furniture. It still wasn't good timing for real estate, so we moved the lot of it into a smaller storage unit and immediately lopped hundreds of dollars a month from our budget. Ka-ching!By the time the real estate market improved, we had tossed a considerable pile of stuff that it turned out we didn't actually need.Not everyone has to fail at selling their apartment and put their belongings into storage to downsize to a manageable number of possessions. (We're over-achievers that way.)But everyone can squirrel away their unused clothing into duffel bags under their bed and then toss out or donate whatever they haven't gone frantically searching for after six months have passed, and everyone can weed down their paperwork and bookshelves by discarding anything they can scan onto their computer or won't read again.And I bet everyone would, like us, find themselves calmer and more financially secure as a result.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Russia ordered new defenses meant to stop its navy getting humiliated by Ukrainian drones
The Kremlin appears desperate to stop the Ukrainian drone attacks that Kyiv says have helped disable a third of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on February 23, 2024.ALEXANDER KAZAKOV via Getty ImagesRussia's defense minister visited the HQ of Russia's troubled Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine has scored a series of striking victories, sinking powerful warships with sea drones.The Russian minister, Sergei Shoigu, announced plans meant to stop that happening again. Russia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, issued new orders on Monday meant to stop so many Russian ships from being sunk by Ukraine.Russia's Defence Ministry on Sunday announced that Shoigu had visited the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in occupied Crimea.There, Shoigu was updated on Ukrainian attacks on the fleet and ordered the fleet to conduct "training for personnel every day," the update said.It was to cover "how to repel attacks from the air and by uncrewed boats," reported the AFP newswire.He also ordered vessels to be fitted with extra weaponry, including large-caliber machine guns, to help repel attacks.The visit comes in the wake of a series of audacious sea-drone and missile attacks by Ukraine that devastated the fleet.It is unclear whether the new measures will help — footage of a previous sea-drone attack showed Russians attempting to counter them without much success.Ukraine claims to have sunk or disabled around a third of Russia's fleet, which was once the Black Sea's dominant naval power.It has been an unusual bright spot for Ukraine, which is heavily outmatched by Russia on land and in the air.The latest success came on March 6, when Ukraine said it used sea drones to sink the Sergei Kotov, a Russian patrol ship.The sinking provoked the fury of Russian nationalist bloggers who accused the Kremlin of incompetence.Mounting losses forced Russia to relocate vessels from Sevastopol to other, smaller ports on the Russian coast, such as Novorossiysk, which are further from the reach of Ukrainian drones and missiles.The Kremlin is said to have fired the fleet's commanding officer in response to the defeats, in keeping with other times it has removed senior figures without announcing it formally.Shoigu's visit appeared to be an attempt to shore up morale.The Institute for the Study of War, a US think tank, assessed that Shoigu was setting himself up to either claim credit if the new measures prove successful or "blame other commanders" should they fail.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
As a financial planner, I always say you don"t have to buy real estate to build wealth — a better strategy is much easier
Real estate can boost your balance sheet and play a part in growing your wealth, but you don't have to buy property to get rich, writes Eric Roberge. The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate investing products to write unbiased product reviews.The author, Eric Roberge.Beyond Your Hammock Buying a home may be the "American Dream," but it's certainly not a prerequisite for building wealth. Owning a home is expensive, even if you rent it out, and you're never guaranteed a profit. Consider REITs instead, and maximize your investments in the market to build long-term wealth. We're often told that buying a home is one of the greatest investments we can make. But just because it's the "American Dream" and a tangible sign of success for many, it doesn't mean it's your best option if your goal is building wealth.While real property can boost your balance sheet and play a part in growing your wealth, it's critical to understand that you don't have to buy property to get rich.Let's break down some of the myths around real estate as an investment that can mislead you — and in the process, show why real estate isn't a prerequisite for building assets.Real estate isn't always a good investment (or an investment at all)"Always" and "never" don't have a place in a savvy investor's vocabulary. There are no sure bets or guarantees, especially when it comes to real estate, because there are so many variables that fall both within and outside of your control. Factors outside of your control include:Overall economic conditions, including the current interest rate environmentHow the housing market in your area performsYour specific location in a communityThe timing of buying and sellingIf you're interested in becoming a landlord or flipping properties, you may have a bit more influence even amid these variables. You may be able to hold onto a property until the market is more favorable, for example — but then questions of liquidity and expenses come into play.Homes are expensive, illiquid assets that come with expenses every step of the way, from upkeep and maintenance to the transaction to buy and sell. Every dollar that goes towards cost is a dollar that eats away at your potential profit.When you're talking about a single-family home that you live in as your primary residence and don't pull rental income from, the idea of an "investment" falls away entirely. At that point, a home is more of a utility than anything else.For many people, making money, breaking even, or losing out on a real estate deal comes down to timing and luck — which is a big reason banking on property as a way to grow wealth isn't the ideal strategy.Renting isn't throwing money away, and buying might be riskierMaybe you understand that homes are expensive to buy and maintain, but you still feel compelled to put your money into real estate because the alternative seems worse. After all, you get the opportunity to build equity in a house you own. Meanwhile, you throw your money away every month you remain a renter.Right?Not so fast. For one, so much depends on your location and the prices of rents and homes in your specific area.When I rented in Boston from 2015 to 2020, renting was actually considerably cheaper than owning — and I took the money I saved in housing expenses and invested in the stock market for a bigger return than I would have gotten from buying and selling a property in the same timeframe.Renting poses less financial risk than buying a home. The most you pay for your housing each month when you rent is the cost of that rent (and a small amount for renters insurance). When you own a home, the least you're likely to pay each month is the mortgage.But you're likely to spend far more between all the associated expenses of homeownership, from property taxes and homeowners insurance to upkeep and maintenance (which you can estimate will cost you around 4% to 5% of a home's value a year).Renting also gives you its own kind of leverage: By renting, you're more flexible and agile with your finances than you would likely be if you were saddled with a large, illiquid asset that may or may not be easy to offload when you want. When you rent, you purchase convenience and choice.You can build wealth while you rent by directing some of your available cash flow to savings, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, or even other investments like education or a business startup.You don't have to purchase a property to invest in real estate, anywayNone of this is to say that buying real estate is a bad move or won't work out in your favor. The point here is that you don't have to in order to grow wealth.And you can even buy real estate without actually buying physical property. You can invest in REITs, or real estate investment trusts. By investing in an REIT, you invest in a company that professionally buys, sells, and manages real estate properties for profit.As an investor in an REIT, you receive some of that profit back to you. There are still no guarantees here, and REITs can and do lose value. But they give you an opportunity for exposure to real estate without directly taking on the risk and expense of owning and managing a specific property.Consider this path to wealth instead: systematically investing in financial marketsBuying a home can be part of your financial plan — but it doesn't need to be your main investment vehicle. If your goal is to build wealth, then you need a systematic, reliable, tested, and repeatable process to use over and over again for the long term. This is where real estate often falls short for the majority of people. It's hard to replicate because you need large upfront sums of capital for every purchase, and you're limited to the physical inventory that is available in a particular location at any given time.You're also taking on much more financial risk than you actually need to secure a reasonable rate of return (given that houses are expensive to maintain, tenants are unpredictable, and you're subject to market conditions in your specific location if you want to liquidate).Plus, it's just hard! There are much easier ways to grow wealth, especially if you start early. Namely, that's using a globally diversified investment portfolio to buy into financial markets.If you want what might be the simplest, most reliable, easily repeatable process to build wealth? Try this: Take advantage of any qualified retirement accounts available to you. These can provide tax benefits (by deferring taxes, or helping your wealth grow tax-free). These may include 401(k)s, a variety of IRAs, and HSAs. Aim to contribute the maximum allowable amount each year to the accounts you can access. Once you max out those accounts, open a taxable investment account. This is also known as a brokerage account. Contribute a set amount to that each year, as well. (We recommend our wealth management clients save 25% of their gross income each year to a mix of retirement and brokerage accounts.) Invest in a low-cost, globally diversified portfolio. Once you start using investment accounts, set up your portfolio using low-cost investment options (like mutual funds and ETFs). These are baskets of securities that can give you exposure to a range of asset classes and types, but spread your investment risk across a variety of sectors and locations. Contribute systematically. Consider using a dollar-cost averaging strategy to help you stay consistent. That means investing the same amount on a regular schedule, rather than investing a lump sum. Commit to leaving this money invested for the long-term. Compounding only works if you give it the time to do so. Once you set up your investment system and strategy, stick with it. That means not stopping and starting contributions depending on how you feel that month, or what current events happen, or what the market did recently. You don't need to invest in real estate, use complicated plans, buy expensive products, or know some financial secret that no one else does to grow wealth. You just need to set up a simple system that you can stick to over time, and then get to work.Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three fiduciary financial advisors that serve your area in minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Start your search now.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Ukrainians in occupied territory were rounded up at gunpoint to vote in Putin"s election, reports say
Russia's presidential election involved forced voting in occupied Ukraine, with armed men going door to door, reports say. A Russian serviceman casts his ballot during early voting in the Russian presidential elections in a Russian-controlled region in eastern Ukraine, March 13, 2024.Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP PhotoRussia's presidential elections included forced voting in occupied regions of Ukraine, reports say.Armed guards coerced locals, both on their doorsteps and at polling stations, according to reports.This mirrors previous attempts by Russia to legitimize its occupation via referendums.Armed guards took part in door-to-door voting operations in occupied regions of Ukraine as part of Russia's recent presidential elections, according to multiple reports.Russians went to the polls over the weekend in an election widely seen as a sham and foregone conclusion, with incumbent President Vladimir Putin winning 87% of the vote.Part of that vote was secured in Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporozhzhia, occupied regions of Ukraine that were at least partially captured since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022 — as well as Crimea, occupied since 2014.In the Kherson village of Novomykolaivka, local official Yevheniia Hliebova told The Washington Post that election officials would walk around "in a brigade accompanied by an armed soldier.""He was carrying a weapon, so it was a threat, not verbal, but in fact it was a threat of violence," she said, describing it as an "election at gunpoint." Those who refused were threatened, she said.Ukraine's National Resistance Center said in a recent report that "voting at gunpoint is another Russian crime against civilians."The group, citing unnamed sources, said that thousands of Russian National Guardsmen, police, as well as privately contracted security personnel, were sent to protect election sites and "mobile electoral commissions."A former resident of the Kherson region told the Post that her niece, who is still there, was approached by a woman conducting a door-to-door operation accompanied by two Russian soldiers.The "preliminary voting," as it was called, was being carried out ostensibly because of Ukrainian shelling in the area, the outlet reported.Sources in occupied areas, speaking anonymously for fear of retribution, told the Kyiv Independent that Russian troops had been rounding up Ukrainians and forcing them to vote.One former resident of Mariupol, in Donetsk, told Al Jazeera that people who remain there "must submit to the regime and pretend they support everything that's going on because they're afraid for their lives."There was no secrecy to the vote, she added.Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Representative to the United Nations, called the process in occupied Ukraine a "sham election" that shows "manifest disregard for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.Ivan Fedorov, the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, likened the election mobilization efforts to an episode in a TV drama — essentially a fiction.But at the same time, Russian forces are terrorizing people in the occupied territories into believing that Russia's presence there is forever, he wrote on Telegram.Elections have been a key part of Russia's efforts to legitimize its occupation of Ukraine, including sham referendums in 2022 meant to formalize its annexation of four regions.During those polls, armed soldiers were also reported going door-to-door to collect votes.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
A Frontier passenger was jailed for charging at a flight attendant with a box cutter he got through security — even though the TSA found it in his bag
TSA officers had confiscated William Allen Liebisch's box cutter but gave it back to him mistakenly thinking they'd disabled it. A Frontier Airbus A320.Kevin Carter/Getty ImagesA Frontier Airlines passenger charged at a flight attendant with a box cutter.TSA officers found the tool but gave it back to him after wrongly believing they'd disabled it.William Allen Liebisch was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison on Thursday.A Frontier Airlines passenger was jailed for two-and-a-half years on Thursday due to an altercation involving a box cutter on a 2022 flight.William Allen Liebisch pleaded guilty last December to one count of interference with a flight crew, following a November 2022 incident on a flight from Ohio to Florida.The 43-year-old from Cincinnati arrived at the city's airport for his flight to Tampa with a box cutter in his possession.According to a news release from the US Attorney for Georgia's Northern District, officers from the Transportation Security Administration confiscated the tool. But they gave it back to Liebisch after wrongly believing they had disabled it by removing the blade.The box cutter had a spare blade stored in the handle, which Liebsich inserted after the Frontier flight took off.One passenger saw Liebsich cleaning his nails with the box cutter, while another told a flight attendant that Liebsich said he was going to stab somebody, the news release added.A flight attendant asked two passengers to help keep Liebsich in his seat, while the captain made an emergency landing in Atlanta, the release said.Passengers were then told to deplane while police waited at the gate for Liebsich to exit.As the last few passengers were leaving the aircraft, Liesbich charged at a flight attendant while wielding the box cutter. He was tackled from behind by another passenger as police rushed onto the plane.The flight to Tampa was subsequently delayed until the morning after, partly due to limits on the flight crew's hours.Frontier Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside US working hours.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
As a financial planner, I recommend pet insurance to most pet owners
The majority of pets aren't insured, but the cost of medical treatment for pets is high — as a financial planner, I encourage getting insured. The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate insurance products to write unbiased product reviews.The author, Hanna Horvath.Courtesy Hanna Horvath It's easy to see pet insurance as optional for most pets, but the cost of pet care can be high. While pet insurance doesn't cover everything, it's essential for paying some of the big costs. Make sure to take time to compare the costs and policies of all the providers available to you. Your pet is a part of your family — so when it comes to insurance, you may want to treat them like one.Pet insurance can help you manage financial risk and prepare for the unexpected. And when it comes to pet care costs, vet bills can really take a bite.The average annual cost of owning a dog is around $2,500, according to the American Kennel Club. That includes routine expenses, like food or supplies, and vet care. Emergency procedures, medications, surgeries, or hospitalizations can increase that cost. A single accident or illness could easily exceed thousands in treatment, especially for more complex conditions.And yet less than 2% of the 151 million cats and dogs in the US are insured, according to a North American Pet Health Insurance Association report.As a financial planner, I know the importance of strategically using tools like insurance to protect your finances — and your health — if something happens. Here's why I think pet insurance is a non-negotiable for owners.Weighing the risksA frequent pushback I hear about pet insurance is that it seems unnecessary for a young, healthy animal without chronic conditions. Why not just self-insure and cover bills yourself if something comes up?I always respond by asking: How much are you prepared to spend if the treatment totals $5,000? Or $10,000? At what point is cost no longer a consideration versus saving your companion?Cats and dogs rapidly become members of the family. When our furry friends get sick, we often scrape together anything for their care.Accidents happen, as much as we don't like to think about it. Even if your pet is healthy, there's always a risk of an unfortunate incident — and a medical bill worth thousands. Pet insurance can ease that financial pain.Knowing in advance what health risks your particular breed faces is helpful. Some are prone to joint issues, heart conditions, and cancer, among other conditions. Knowing this information ahead of time can help you accurately estimate future costs and find the right insurance plan.Most pet insurance plans cover the big costsMany people also believe that pet insurance doesn't cover that much. Though some exclusions exist, pet insurance covers treatments for unexpected accidents, injuries, and illnesses.Most policies cover costs for things like surgery and emergency care.For example, a common claim would be a leg fracture or torn ligament from an injury. Or an overnight stay at an animal hospital, plus procedures due to an acute illness like pancreatitis. These expenses often reach thousands per incident, yet they're covered for most pets.There are, however, things to be aware of. Pet insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions or vet visits that the owner could have prevented. They also won't cover preventive care like teeth cleaning, vaccines, or nail trimming.While pre-existing conditions may not be covered, older pets can still benefit in case of new accidents or diagnoses.There are two types of pet insurance — illness and accident insurance and accident-only insurance. Illness and accident insurance is more robust but more costly. It's important to read the policy's fine print to know what's covered.Make sure the math works in your favorLike with human health insurance, pet insurance has a monthly premium you'll need to pay to maintain coverage. The average accident and illness premium for dogs and cats in 2022 was $53 a month and $32 a month, respectively.Your premium will depend on where you live, your pet's age and breed, and the type of policy you pick. Pet insurance also has an annual deductible you'll have to meet before coverage kicks in — typically below $1,000 a year.When shopping for pet insurance, you should compare different providers and find the policy that fits your needs for the best possible price.It's also important to be aware of reimbursement rates. When you receive a vet bill, you're responsible for paying it and then filing a claim with your insurer. Most pet insurers have high reimbursement rates — between 70% to 90%.Looking to the futureWhile it's not always pleasant, thinking through all the scenarios can help you pick the best pet insurance policy for you.While pet insurance isn't right for everyone, my advice boils down to one key question — can you comfortably cover a multi-thousand dollar vet bill? If that gives you pause, it may be worthwhile to get a policy.The idea of your pet falling ill or getting hurt is emotional — but so is the idea of not being able to afford their medical care. That's why I recommend getting insurance to gain peace of mind with your pet.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Dr. Dre said he ignored the symptoms of a brain aneurysm that almost killed him, and called high blood pressure a "silent killer"
Dr. Dre was hospitalized with an aneurysm in 2021, and had three strokes in two weeks. Dr. Dre on SiriusXM's "This Life of Mine with James Corden."Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXMDr. Dre said he ignored the symptoms of a brain aneurysm that nearly killed him.The rapper had three strokes after being hospitalized.He said he didn't know he had high blood pressure, and called it a "silent killer."Dr. Dre said he ignored the symptoms of the brain aneurysm that almost killed him in 2021.The "N.W.A." rapper was hospitalized with an aneurysm in January 2021 in Los Angeles, at the height of the COVID pandemic. He was 55 at the time.Speaking to SiriusXM's "This Life of Mine with James Corden" (via The Hollywood Reporter), he recalled having three strokes during his two-week stay.Dre said: "It's just something that you can't control that just happens and during those two weeks, I had three strokes."The star told Corden that he had "the worst pain" behind his right ear — one of the symptoms of an aneurysm — soon after waking up, and he tried to ignore it."I got up and I went on about my day, and I thought that I could just lay down and take a nap," he said. "My son had a female friend that was there and was like, 'No, we need to take you to the hospital.' So they took me to urgent care."He added: "Next thing you know, I'm blacking out. I'm in and out of consciousness, and I ended up in the ICU. I was there for two weeks. I'm hearing the doctors coming in and saying, 'You don't know how lucky you are.'"Dre went on: "I had no idea that I had high blood pressure or anything like that because I'm on my health shit. I'm lifting weights, I'm running, I'm doing everything I can to keep myself healthy."Untreated high blood pressure can increase the risk of strokesAccording to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, untreated high blood pressure is a risk factor for the condition because it can damage and weaken arteries, which can then lead to a cerebral aneurysm.Per the CDC, high blood pressure costs the US economy between $131 to $198 billion annually.Dre also pointed out that Black men are more likely to have high blood pressure, and encouraged people to be aware of their health.He said: "High blood pressure in Black men, that's just what it is. They call it the silent killer. You just have no idea, so you know, you have to keep your shit checked."According to the American Heart Association, Black people are more likely to experience more severe high blood pressure and have it earlier in life. Around 55% of Black adults have high blood pressure, it states.Dre said that he appreciates being alive after his ordeal, especially knowing that it was something he couldn't control."It's crazy, so now knowing that I had no control over that. It's just something that could happen out of the blue. You wake up and you go, 'Shit. OK, I'm here,'" he said.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
An exploding star nova is due to show up in our skies soon. Here"s how to spot it.
Our neighborhood nova T Coronae Borealis is due to release a "hydrogen-bomb" worth of energy this year, a once-in-80-years event visible from Earth. An artist's impression of a nova, an exploding star.NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterA nova 3,000 light-years from Earth is due to become visible from Earth.T Coronae Borealis should outshine the North Star for up to a week at some point in coming months. A few tips can help you see this event, which for many will be once-a-lifetime. A nearby exploding star is due to offer a spectacular show that could outshine our North Star this year.The star, which is 3,000 light-years from Earth, is expected to burst in a gigantic explosion — known as a nova — in the coming months.NASA said in a statement that the once-a-lifetime event could be so big that it can be seen by the naked eye. It should be visible for up to a week.It will be "fun and exciting upcoming cataclysm," Bradley Schaefer, an astrophysicist at Louisiana State University, told The New York Times.It adds to an already-packed agenda for skygazers this year.This includes a full solar eclipse for those in the US or Canada in April, plus the rare, huge green comet which is already starting to be visible.A 'hydrogen bomb' in the sky safely seen from light-years awayIt all comes down to a nova called T Coronae Borealis. This cosmic blast happens when a tiny white dwarf — the core of a dead star — is locked in the orbit of a giant red star.An artist's impression of a white dwarf exploding near a red giant.NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterAs the red giant tears apart nearby stars, the dense white giant absorbs the shrapnel, a mixture of hydrogen-rich materials that come its way. The tiny dead star then gradually becomes hotter until it reaches a breaking point when all that energy is released in a huge cosmic explosion — a so-called nova."These novae are basically hydrogen bombs," Schaefer told The Times.No need to worry, however. T Coronae Borealis is much too far for that energy to harm us on Earth.Humans have seen this nova lots of times before. It was first identified by astronomers in the late 1800s, and it bursts about every 80 years.Indeed, the explosion heading our way would have taken place thousands of years ago, but requires all that time for the light to reach us.Still, it's worth checking it out — T Coronae Borealis last shone in 1946 and this will be the last viewing opportunity before the early 2100s.How to see itTo make sure you don't miss the nova, keep an eye out for updates from NASA. A surefire way to do this is to sign up to the @NASAUniverse channel on X.In the meantime, get used to seeing the "before" shot of this cosmic event.Look out for the shining stars Vega and Acturus to locate the Hercules constellation. Nearby is an arc of four visible stars called the Corona Borealis. That's where you'll spot the nova when it bursts.A map of the stars shows the road from the Hercules constellation to the Corona Borealis, where the nova is due to be visible from Earth.NASAWhen you get the alert from NASA, check out the weather and moon forecast. The closer you can get to a cloudless and moon-less night, the better.As with any stargazing opportunity, it's best to head away from city lights and find a quiet field in the countryside where you can lay back and look straight up to the sky.Plan to go out in the last hours before sunrise to get the best view of the nova.You can use a star map app on your phone to find the constellation. But be wary — looking at your phone will mean you will need to give your eyes about 30 minutes to fully adjust to the darkness and let the stars shine through.If you're lucky, you may be able to combine this stargazing trip with other viewing opportunities.NASA predicts a total solar eclipse will sweep Canada and the US on April 8.At the same time, the green comet 12P/Pons-Brooks has started coming into view from Earth. It should become just about bright enough to see with the naked eye within the next month or so.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Elizabeth Hurley felt safe filming sex scene directed by her son
Hurley defended her decision to perform in a sex scene in her latest movie, "Strictly Confidential," which was directed by her son, Damian Hurley. Elizabeth Hurley and Damian Hurley attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.Karwai Tang / WireImageElizabeth Hurley said she felt safe filming a sex scene directed by her son in "Strictly Confidential."Hurley defended the decision, which shocked some fans, on "Access Hollywood."She said that she preferred filming intimate scenes with someone she trusted would look after her.Elizabeth Hurley said she felt "liberated" while filming a sex scene in a new movie directed by her son, Damian Hurley."Strictly Confidential," the 21-year-old's directorial debut, is a thriller about a woman whose best friend kills herself.Some X users were shocked when they discovered Elizabeth Hurley would appear in a sex scene in her son's movie.The closeness of the 58-year-old and her son previously caused controversy when she told "Watch What Happens Live" in 2018 that her son took her bikini photos.On "Access Hollywood" on Sunday, the pair defended the bikini photography and the erotic movie."People find this really controversial," Damian Hurley said of the bikini pictures. "Show business has been a fundamental part of my life my entire life, so to us, it's just it's not a thing."He added: "It's just part of business. She takes my photos. I take her photos."Elizabeth Hurley said her son looked after her, which is why she felt comfortable shooting a sex scene in the upcoming movie and letting her son take her bikini pictures."It's relaxing knowing someone's behind the camera who looks out for you, which was the same on this movie in a way," she said, later adding: "I knew he'd look after me, so, actually, it's kind of liberating to work with your family. I may do it again."Over the past few years, major productions have started to employ intimacy coordinators to create a safe environment for when actors perform nude or other intimate scenes. There are 79 professionally trained intimacy coordinators in the film and TV industry worldwide, according to SAG-AFTRA.It is unclear whether an intimacy coordinator was used for Damian Hurley's movie because it's independent, so it may not have had the budget or time to afford a coordinator.He told "Access Hollywood" that the crew had only 18 days to shoot the film, which is the norm for a low-budget independent movie."Every single second counts, you know," he said. "You can't sit around mulling over scenes, thinking, 'Oh, what if? Maybe.' You just have to go for it and do as much as you physically can as fast as — as fast as you physically can.""Strictly Confidential" premieres in theaters on April 5.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Bribing kids doesn"t work in the long run. This is what parents should do instead.
Bribing children to do something they don't want to in the first place won't work in the long rung. A parenting coach suggests parents ask why and communicate instead. The author would offer Mc Donald's to here child so he would go to school without a fight.ljubaphoto/Getty ImagesI would offer McDonald's to my kid to get him to do things he didn't want to. Bribes might get you out of the house faster, but they don't work long term. A parenting coach suggests parents ask a lot of whys to get to the root of big feelings. "I don't want to go to school," my son would whine at a pitch much too high for a Monday morning. "What if I get you a McDonald's after?" I would plea in a bid to make it stop.And there it was. The moaning would stop, and I could secure some silence. I doubt the long-term cost of this suggestion would be just a few dollars, though. I knew it was wrong, even as I said it, but I wanted the easy way out. This was an opportunity to explore my son's feelings of discomfort, and instead, I dismissed it with the convenient offer of fries and a shake.But there's a catch, bribes don't work long term. Bribes are a quick fixParenting coach Megan Crowe explains how easy it is for parents to "get lost in our priorities." In moments of high stress, when we are trying to juggle, we often lose sight of the big picture. While I viewed this admission from my child as an inconvenience to my morning — or worse, just an attention-seeking behavior — I failed to see, as Crowe puts it, the big picture: that my son "didn't want to disconnect from" me.Offering rewards provides parents with a quick fix, which in a busy modern world, feels like a win. The problem is the underlying message that this practice sends to our child — that we should repress our feelings and that we are rewarded for it. "When it seems as though this approach works, it depends on what your true goals for your child are," Crowe said. Is it compliance to have an easier day or a child who feels confident to share their feelings?If we consider the really big picture, it is understandable how the link between bribery and false compliance has the potential to lead to unhealthy adult behaviors such as people-pleasing and an inability to communicate and cope with our feelings.Ask 'why' a lotCrowe proposes that most of the time, when a parent is at the point of wanting to use bribery to solve a problem, "it is because that parent feels out of control." She recommends making an internal reminder to ourselves during these moments that "every behavior is communication for a need" — be it tantrums, tears, or as I perceived, "attention-seeking." She recommends we get inquisitive with our kids and explore the "why" behind the behavior. The alternative narrative of "I hear you buddy, you really don't want to go to school today. What is it about school that makes you not want to go?" offers the child a safe space to offload their feelings, knowing you are there to respond — as opposed to the offer of a happy meal."Reflect back on what they are saying," Crowe said. "Give them your undivided time, make eye contact, and provide reassurance." If the issue is with our own mental load, we need to acknowledge this. No parent is perfectThere is no such thing as the perfect parent — perhaps what is more important is a learning parent. There are always opportunities to grow from past experiences, and Crowe believes this is key to our success. "The more you learn about your personal triggers and how to disempower them, the more you will be able to stay regulated in these moments," she said. Some parents might use tactics such as bribery simply because "they don't have time for tantrums," or others might be attempting to fix a problem because they don't know how to manage those big emotions. I look to my own parenting and often see both of these themes. Bribes of McDonald's serve the dual purpose of saving time and the sense that I'm offering a "happy" solution to my children when they're in discomfort. Instead with my love and guidance I'll be helping them learn to express their emotions appropriately, which will better equip them in becoming healthy adults able to cope with stress as opposed to running from it.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks on Russia as voting for Putin was underway
Russia's defense ministry said on Sunday that 35 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight. Voting in Russia's presidential election finished on Sunday. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks after polling stations closed in Moscow, Russia.REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovUkraine launched a major drone attack on Russia over the weekend, Russia's defense ministry said.The attacks took place as Russia's presidential elections were in full swing.Vladimir Putin was re-elected in a vote largely seen as a sham, with no real opposition on the ballot.Ukraine launched a wave of drone attacks against Russia during its recent presidential election, Russia's defense ministry said.The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation said on Sunday that 35 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight, including four in the Moscow region.Moscow's mayor said that a fifth drone was downed near an airport on Sunday morning, the Associated Press reported.The country also reported attacks on other regions, including four drones in Yaroslavl — which the AP said would be some of the furthest attacks on Russian territory that Ukraine has launched to date.Authorities said a drone also fell on an oil refinery in Russia's southwestern Krasnodar region, creating a fire that took hours to put out.The attacks occurred during Russia's presidential elections, which took place over three days, starting on Friday.Russian President Vladimir Putin was re-elected in a vote widely seen as a sham. No real criticism or opposition to Putin is allowed in Russia, and Ukrainians in occupied territories said they were made to vote at gunpoint.Ukraine has not commented on the recent strikes and generally does not comment on attacks on Russian soil. It typically only hints at an involvement or does not make any statement at all.Some attacks within Russia have been claimed by Russian groups that oppose Putin, including assaults within the past week.Ukraine has told its allies that it will not use long-range weapons given by them to launch attacks within Russia's borders.But it has used drones, which it can manufacture itself.These attacks have generally targeted military installations and oil refineries.Drones have been used more in the conflict in Ukraine than in any other war in history, with both sides using them for surveillance and attacks.Over the weekend, Russia also launched its own attacks on multiple parts of Ukraine, including some far from the frontline fighting.On Friday, Ukrainian authorities said a ballistic missile attack on the southern city of Odesa killed at least 20 people and injured more than 70.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Stock market today: US stocks rally ahead of Nvidia"s big AI event and as traders prep for Fed meeting
Nvidia's GTC, the annual conference centered on artificial intelligence, will kick off on Monday with a keynote from CEO Jensen Huang. Traders on the floor react before the opening bell on the New York Stock Exchange on March 9, 2020 in New York.Timothy Clary/AFP/Getty ImagesTechnology led the stock market higher on Monday as investors await Nvidia's big AI event.Nvidia is set to unveil its new GPU products like the B100 at its annual conference.The Fed will kick off its two-day policy meeting Tuesday, with markets expecting rates to be unchanged.US stocks jumped on Monday, led by the technology sector, as investors await Nvidia's big AI conference.Nvidia's GTC, the annual conference centered on artificial intelligence, will kick off on Monday with a keynote presentation from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang.Huang is expected to give an update on the future of AI technologies, as well as unveil some of the company's new GPU products like the B100, its successor to the wildly popular H100. Shares of Nvidia jumped about 3% in early Monday trades.Following the AI-fueled excitement, investors will be turning their attention to the Federal Reserve's two-day policy meeting set to begin on Tuesday. While central bankers are expected to leave the benchmark rate unchanged, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's speech will be closely listened to by investors to gauge when the Fed may begin to cut interest rates.Recent economic data, including two hotter-than-expected inflation reports last week, have brought the odds of a June rate cutdown to about 55%.Here's where US indexes stood shortly after the 9:30 a.m. opening bell on Monday: S&P 500: 5,165.95, up 0.95% Dow Jones Industrial Average: 38,849.45, up 0.35% (+134.68 points)Nasdaq Composite: 16,202.36, up 1.43% Here's what else is going on today: Millennial women are taking over the economy as female participation in the prime-age workforce surges, according to Ned Davis Research. Wall Street is ramping up its bets that the US economy will experience a soft landing, meaning no recession ahead. A trade war between the US and China is likely regardless of who wins the Presidency in 2024, according to Capital Economics.In commodities, bonds, and crypto: West Texas Intermediate crude oil jumped 1.05% to $81.43 a barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, climbed by 0.91% to $86.12 a barrel. Gold declined by 0.02% to $2,161.10 per ounce. The 10-year Treasury yield was flat at 4.32%.Bitcoin dropped by 0.65% to $67,918. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
It"s tax season. Here"s what to do if you get a rebate.
If you do snag a rebate, what should you do with it? It's a question plenty of Americans contemplate every year. And with so much turmoil in the economy currently, it's even more pressing. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesThis post originally appeared in the Insider Today newsletter.You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.Welcome back! Turns out the dogfighting and flying in the "Top Gun" movies is spot-on, according to an actual TOPGUN instructor.In today's big story, the top habits of financially free people could serve as inspiration for what to do with your tax rebate.What's on deck:Markets: These market experts see a bubble forming as valuations outpace earnings.Tech: What to expect from the "Woodstock of AI" event hosted this week by Nvidia.Business: How to post on LinkedIn and not be ashamed of it.But first, what to do with that money from Uncle Sam.If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.The big storyTax timeljubaphoto/Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BISpring has nearly sprung. The blooming flowers and warmer weather probably have you thinking of one thing: Filing your taxes.In reality, tax season can be a pain, but at least there's new free software to do it, thanks to the IRS.For many filers, there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a rebate.(Of course, that's not the case for everyone. But as my grandfather used to say, better to owe the government money than ask for some of yours back. To be fair, he was not an accountant, so don't take that as financial advice.)If you do snag a rebate, what should you do with it? It's a question plenty of Americans contemplate every year. And with so much turmoil in the economy currently, it's even more pressing.Business Insider's Kathleen Elkins has interviewed dozens of financially independent people who don't need to work thanks to passive income or their investments.To get inspiration on what to do with your rebate, I asked Kathleen about some of the themes she constantly hears from these financial wizards.Ricardo Tomás for Business InsiderPay off your high-interest debt first. The top priority often cited by the financially independent is tackling debt with high interest rates. The rationale is the longer you wait, the more it will snowball. And with no definitive timeline on when rates will be lowered, that snowball could quickly become an avalanche.Establish an emergency fund. Saving up a safety net is something else those on the path to financial freedom look to do before they even consider investing. Kathleen told me the standard amount was typically three to six months of living expenses.Keep it simple. Investing doesn't have to be complicated, according to these experts. Many often opt for index funds over individual stocks or, dare I say, crypto. They're also not worried about timing the market since they almost always take a long-term approach.The power of an HSA. Health savings accounts are a favorite among this group thanks to their triple tax advantage: contribute pretax dollars that grow tax-free over time until you withdraw your money tax-free to cover qualified medical expenses. The case for HSAs was so compelling Kathleen even opened one up for herself.Don't forget yourself. People looking to achieve financial freedom are known to cut costs wherever possible. But Nischa Shah, an accountant and former investment banker, preached the value of spending money on yourself. That could be building a new skill, attending a conference, or hiring a coach.News briefYour Monday headline catchupA quick recap of the top news from over the weekend:Why the scale of Putin's landslide win matters so much.Ukraine drones attack multiple oil refineries in the campaign against Russia's strategic energy industry.Trump couldn't bring himself to condemn Putin for Alexey Navalny's death.Sacramento will soon give low-income Black and Native American families $725 a month, no strings attached.Dell workers can stay remote — but they're not going to get promoted.The end of the Realtor monopoly.3 things in marketsAlain Grosclaude/Getty ImagesMarket gurus are getting worried about a bubble. Experts like former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers are worried about stocks' lofty valuations. With stocks outpacing earnings, these six market watchers detail how things could turn ugly.What part of the stock market will get the AI lift next? Nvidia, which makes AI-enabling GPU chips, was the initial benefactor of the AI boom. But Goldman Sachs sees three more broad stages of the "AI trade." That includes infrastructure players behind the tech and software and IT services with tools that will help companies utilize AI.Bitcoin's looming halving feels like a big deal. The token's fourth halving, which is expected to take place in April, is unlike others before it, crypto market experts told BI. It's unlikely to be a "sell the news" event as the excitement surrounding spot ETFs continues to build, they said.3 things in techNoah Berger/Getty Images; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BIAll eyes are on Nvidia's Jensen Huang. The Nvidia CEO is set to host his GPU Technology Conference (GTC) this week. Nvidia employees are already referring to it as the "Woodstock of AI" and Huang is anticipated to lift the lid on B100, the next-generation version of H100 GPU — which will be a big deal if so.AI's hottest new job. Demand for prompt engineer roles has skyrocketed amid the ChatGPT hype. That's probably because you don't need a formal tech background to do the work, and companies are offering salaries that echo the buzz. But some are warning that the job is merely a fad.Advance could win big from Reddit's upcoming IPO. The Condé Nast owner's stake in Reddit will be worth $1.7 billion if the social news company's listing this week pans out the way bankers are expecting. It's a rare case of a big media company investing in a digital property and not living to regret it, BI's Peter Kafka writes.3 things in businessDora Tsui; Jenny Chang-Rodriguez/BIQuince vs. Quince. There's "Quince," the three-Michelin-starred restaurant founded in San Francisco in 2003, and then there's "Quince," the e-commerce startup known for affordable cashmere that launched in 2020. The restaurant is suing the startup, which now sells cookware, for encroaching on its territory. The startup says it's done nothing wrong. Which Quince will come out on top?The shame of LinkedIn. As much as it is a professional platform, something about posting on LinkedIn feels really personal. But that's not a dunk on the platform. It's actually pretty helpful. You just have to get over the cringe part — here's how.Some DINKs want kids — but can't afford them. In the current economic climate, more people are deciding that having children is too expensive. That's the dark side of the "Dual Income, No Kids" lifestyle, BI's Juliana Kaplan writes.In other newsChina says moves to ban TikTok will 'eventually backfire on US.'I'm a junior in high school. Here's the real reason my generation is falling behind.Target is taking a chunk of its ad business in-house to compete with Amazon and Walmart.Anthropic-backer Menlo Ventures is preparing for a 'gold rush' of infrastructure startups. Here's why.Solving the looming retirement crisis means thinking differently about aging, economist says.We asked ChatGPT and Claude to analyze Biden's cognitive abilities based on the Joe Biden-Robert Hur transcript. Their verdict: the president is doing fine.What's happening todayDon Lemon will release his interview with Elon Musk.The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, editor, in London. Jordan Parker Erb, editor, in New York. George Glover, reporter, in London. Grace Lett, associate editor, in Chicago.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Lauren Boebert has to tie herself in knots to win her new Colorado seat
Rep. Lauren Boebert will try to convince voters to choose a "caretaker" in the special election while rejecting them in her favor for the GOP primary. Rep. Lauren Boebert leaves the US Capitol on March 13, 2024.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesRep. Lauren Boebert faces yet another election hurdle in Colorado's 4th district.Rep. Ken Buck's resignation has led to a special election coinciding with the GOP primary.Boebert must persuade voters to support her and another candidate on the same ballot, for the same seat.Amid family drama and negative media coverage, Rep. Lauren Boebert faces yet another hurdle to being elected in November.She must now persuade voters to support her while backing another candidate for a special election on the same ballot.Boebert, who represents Colorado's 3rd congressional district, has relocated to the 4th district, where she is seeking election.However, the unexpected announcement by Rep. Ken Buck, who represents the 4th district, that he would leave Congress earlier than expected has put a spanner in the works for Boebert's campaign.His announcement triggered a special election to find someone to serve the rest of his term, which Colorado Gov. Jared Polis scheduled for June 25 — the same day as the primary Boebert is competing in.Boebert ultimately decided not to run in the special election, which would require her to leave her current seat early, citing concerns that it would "imperil the already very slim House Republican majority."But this has created a political headache for Boebert and her primary selection chances.By not resigning her seat, she will effectively have to convince voters to choose a "caretaker" in the special election and, on the same ballot, reject them in her favor for the GOP primary itself."That's definitely a heavier lift," Republican strategist Ryan Lynch told The Hill.Lynch also told Colorado Public Radio that he thinks that if a GOP candidate is nominated for the special election vacancy, they'll then have a strong advantage going into the primary.Republican political analyst Kelly Maher told The Hill that it's like asking people to split the ticket "but on steroids."Maher added that Boebert "needs to be making the case that you should vote for an entirely different person down ballot while the same name is listed twice. That's going to be wild." In a statement shared on her X account, Boebert said that "the establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election I'm winning by 25 points."She said that forcing a special election on the same day would "confuse voters, result in a lame-duck Congressman on day one, and leave the 4th district with no representation for more than three months."Ken Buck’s announcement yesterday was a gift to the uniparty. The establishment concocted a swampy backroom deal to try to rig an election I’m winning by 25 points. Forcing an unnecessary Special Election on the same day as the Primary Election will confuse voters, result in…— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 13, 2024 Though Boebert has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump and a cash advantage, her campaign has recently been marred with negative publicity.Recent events include the arrest of her son Tyler Boebert, the double arrest of her ex-husband, and her divorce, coupled with her getting thrown out of a Denver theatre after vaping and apparently getting fondled.In 2022, Boebert won a narrow victory in the 3rd congressional district, beating Democrat Adam Frisch by just 546 votes.The 4th congressional district is considered safer and is ranked as "solidly Republican" by The Cook Political Report.Boebert's representatives did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
An Alaska Airlines passenger shared new photos of the 737 Max blowout — including one of his bare feet after his shoes and socks were sucked out of the plane
The force of the blowout was so strong that Cuong Tran had his shoes and socks sucked off his feet, his attorneys said. The hole on Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, and Cuong Tran's feet.NTSB; Courtesy of Wisner BaumCuong Tran's shoes and socks were sucked out of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.His foot was injured, and his iPhone was later recovered on the side of a road.Tran is one of seven plaintiffs in the latest class-action lawsuit related to the Boeing 737 blowout.A passenger on the Alaska Airlines blowout flight has shared new pictures of the aftermath as part of a lawsuit filed last Tuesday.Cuong Tran was sitting in the row just behind the door plug — a part of the fuselage that covers a deactivated emergency exit — when it detached from the Boeing 737 Max in midair on January 5.His life was saved because he was wearing his seatbelt, Tran's attorneys, Timothy Loranger and Ari Friedman from Wisner Baum, said in a news release.Tran's shoes and socks were sucked out of the plane due to the uncontrolled decompression at an altitude of 16,000 feet.The attorneys added that the force moved Tran so violently that his foot was cut when it got trapped in the seat in front of him."There is a big scar in my leg," Tran told the BBC in an interview.A video taken from Tran's row and shared by the law firm shows the closest angle of the plane's gaping hole.Tran's iPhone was also sucked out of the 737 Max, and was later found still intact on the side of a road.He's one of seven plaintiffs in the latest class-action lawsuit related to the incident. The defendants are Alaska Airlines, Boeing, its supplier Spirit AeroSystems, and 10 unknown people who worked on the plane.The complaint cites the National Transportation Safety Board's finding in its preliminary report that the jet left Boeing's factory missing key bolts designed to secure the door plug. The 737 Max 9 was delivered to the carrier 66 days before the incident."This lawsuit isn't only about the unimaginable fear and suffering of the passengers on that plane, it is about a failure that should have never occurred," Friedman said in the news release."We're talking about a gaping hole ripping open mid-flight in the side of a commercial jet," he added. "Properly installed bolts are the difference between safety and disaster, so there is no excuse for why those would be left out, or why quality control checks and routine inspections would miss them."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
3 signs and symptoms of an unhealthy gut and how to fix it, according to a gastroenterologist
Signs of an unhealthy gut include bloating and a lack of energy. To fix it, a gastroenterologist recommends eating a varied diet filled with fiber. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz shared three signs of an unhealthy gut, and how to fix it.Dr. Will Busiewicz/ GettyGut health is a buzzy topic right now.Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a gastroenterologist, shared three signs of an unhealthy gut with Business Insider.He also shared three ways to improve gut health and fix those symptoms.Gut health is a buzzy topic, with the digestive health supplement market projected to grow by 8.68% each year to reach $21.41 billion by 2030. And with the rate of colorectal cancer cases in under 50s increasing, maintaining good gut health is more important than ever. But there's no miracle pill to improve gut health, despite what the greens powder or probiotic supplement brands might have you think. The kitchen can, however, be one gateway to good gut health, according to Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a gastroenterologist and the US Medical Director of the nutrition company ZOE. He told Business Insider the three potential signs of an unhealthy gut and three approaches that could fix it.3 signs of an unhealthy gutBloating"I don't mean a little bit of bloating, I mean chronic issues with it," Bulsiewicz said. "That is indicative of your gut struggling to process and digest your food."People often misinterpret bloating as an intolerance to certain foods and so cut them out. But Bulsiewicz said often it's actually a sign a person needs to eat more of those foods, such as beans and lentils, because it could suggest the gut isn't used to digesting them.Poop that' aren't "Bristol 4"Bulsiewicz said that poops are mostly microbes, so "the state of your poop gives you some insight into what's happening with those gut bugs."If yours doesn't fit the criteria for healthy poop — a soft, snake-like stool, otherwise known as number four on the Bristol stool chart — it might be "indicative of a microbiome that's unhappy and unsettled," he said.When a person heals their gut, Bulsiewicz said their stool tends to move back toward the middle of the chart, rather than being liquid or solid pellets.Lacking energyGut health is connected to the functioning of all the different systems in the body, so having an unhealthy gut can contribute to other health issues, such as autoimmune conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis, which lead to a lack of energy."When you change your diet to something which empowers your gut microbes, your energy levels can improve very quickly and your sleep improves," if you have an autoimmune condition or chronic inflammation, Bulsiewicz said.3 ways to heal your gutFocus on fiber"Fiber is the food that feeds gut microbes. It's their preferred food and energizes them. Fiber comes from plant-based foods, so fruits and vegetables but also whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes," Bulsiewicz said.BI previously reported on Bulsiewicz's F-GOALS method that he uses to incorporate fiber into his diet, which includes Greens, Omega-3, and Seaweed.Eat a varied dietBulsiewicz says to eat 30 plants a week, whether that's fruits, vegetables, spices, or coffee. 30 isn't "some magical threshold," he said, but it's a helpful way to think about maximizing the variety of foods, nutrients, and fiber in your diet.Trying new foods at restaurants is another good way to add more variety to your diet, he said.Eat fermented foods"By increasing our fermented food intake, we can enhance the health of our microbiome and reduce inflammation," Bulsiewicz said, because such foods have been associated with a more diverse gut microbiome.Fermented foods include pickles, kombucha, kimchi — and even dark chocolate, he said.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»
Surging immigration will boost the US labor force and send GDP higher, Goldman says
"Elevated immigration has boosted labor force growth and, by extension, potential GDP growth," Goldman Sachs said. People walk past a "now hiring" sign posted outside of a restaurant in Arlington, Virginia on June 3, 2022.Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images The US economy is set to grow faster because of a surge in immigration, according to Goldman Sachs. The bank raised its 2024 GDP forecasts because of the increased labor supply due to immigration. "Elevated immigration has boosted labor force growth and, by extension, potential GDP growth," Goldman Sachs said. Economic growth in America is set to accelerate amid a period of surging immigration, according to Goldman Sachs.The bank boosted its 2024 GDP forecast in a note on Sunday, arguing that a jump in labor force growth via elevated immigration will drive the US economy higher."Elevated immigration has boosted labor force growth and, by extension, potential GDP growth," Goldman Sachs said.The bank highlighted recent studies that suggest immigration was 1.5 million above the trend of about one million in 2023. The jump in immigration should continue in 2024, according to Goldman Sachs economist Ronnie Walker."We expect immigration to be about 1mn higher than usual this year, implying breakeven job growth of around 125k and a 0.3pp boost to potential GDP growth in 2024 from faster labor force growth," Walker said.The sharp increase in immigration should lead to higher monthly payroll reports, with Goldman Sachs increasing its average monthly job gains in 2024 to 175,000 from 150,000. And as more people hold jobs in America, consumption trends should continue to rise, further driving economic growth.The bank boosted its 2024 real GDP growth estimate to 2.4% on a fourth-quarter over fourth-quarter basis, and to 2.7% for the full year, according to the note. "Our estimates imply that above-trend immigration will boost potential GDP growth by 0.3pp in 2024. Together with economywide productivity growth of 1.5% and a 0.3pp contribution from labor force growth implied by demographic trends and historically average net migration, we estimate that potential GDP growth will be roughly 2.1% in 2024," Walker explained.Goldman Sachs' bullish forecast on the US economy, driven in part by immigration trends, follows a report from the CBO in February that said the US economy will grow by an extra $7 trillion over the next decade due to elevated immigration trends. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»