"We Have No Idea How This Will Be Used" - AI Gun Detection Gaining Popularity In US AI Scanners may become the norm in the United States as Governments, and private companies look to beef up their surveillance options in the wake of rising gun violence. According to a report from the Washington Post, systems like Evolv Technology are becoming increasingly popular. Evolv’s machines are similar to metal detectors but instead use AI and light-emission to detect firearms concealed on a person.  Evolv claims that this system can detect weapons without the need for the traditional “airport” style system. Those looking to enter through a security checkpoint must empty their pockets and then pass through a metal detector. The system is gaining traction throughout the US. Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, suggested using Evolv Technology’s AI weapons detection system on the NYC Subway in the weeks after the Brooklyn subway shooting that saw 23 people injured. Speaking to WaPo about the Evolv system, Jamais Cascio, founder of Open the Future, had this to say: “My concern is what happens when it moves beyond looking for weapons at a concert — when someone decides to add all kinds of inputs on the person being scanned, or if we enter a protest and a government agency can now use the system to track and log us. We know what a metal detector can and can’t tell us. We have no idea how this can be used.” The idea behind AI detecting and logging firearms is not a new one. Omnilert, another company specializing in AI threat detection, has been integrating its technologies into existing security camera systems since 2020. Tech Giants like Google and Facebook also have their versions of AI weapons detection with their Optical Character Recognition system. This system logs and indexes firearm serial numbers, making them easily accessible by google image search.  With 2020 & 2021 seeing record numbers of gun-buying and concealed carry permit applications, it seems that governments and corporate entities are seeking to beef up their surveillance and security in response. Could the upcoming verdict of the Supreme Court’s newest 2nd Amendment case affect the proliferation of AI firearms detection as well? Tyler Durden Sun, 05/22/2022 - 17:35.....»»

As Raleigh-Durham International Airport races to prepare for a full recovery in the travel industry, advertisements for alcohol, gambling, tobacco and CBD products could become a common sight in the airport......»»

On Saturdays we catch up with the non-finance related items that we didn’t get to earlier in the week. You can check... AutosCar dealerships are shrinking. (wired.com)The NHTSA estimates that 2021 was the worst year for traffic fatalities since 2005. (autoblog.com)What can be done to get drivers to slow down? (nytimes.com)How ride-sharing changed America's cities. (slate.com)TransportWatercraft and snowmobiles are getting electrified. (nytimes.com)Drones are turning into personal flying machines. (wired.com)EnergyEurope is reorienting toward LNG imports. (ft.com)Europe is planning more offshore wind projects. (protocol.com)A look at startups that are trying widen access to geothermal energy. (fasterplease.substack.com)Floating solar panels make sense, but there is a catch. (fastcompany.com)The energy transition requires investment today. (thetycoonist.com)DroughtThe Western drought is worse than you think. (hcn.org)How the risk of wildfire is set to increase across much of the U.S. (npr.org)The Colorado River is drying up. (washingtonpost.com)EnvironmentZoonotic spillover is a growing threat to humanity. (bloomberg.com)Why many people don't want to be turned into 'climate refugees.' (bbc.com)The Department of Energy are hoping to kickstart four direct air carbon removal projects. (cnn.com)What to look for in an electric mower. (engadget.com)TravelThe pandemic did a number on the airline pilot pipeline. (cnbc.com)When it comes to airport security there are haves and have nots. (vox.com)Would you sign up for a 'surprise trip'? (wsj.com)SpaceRebecca Heilweil, "A single space launch can disrupt hundreds of flights." (vox.com)Boeing's ($BA) Starliner reached the ISS. (businessinsider.com)NASA is sending female test dummies into space to test the effects of radiation on them. (axios.com)How long term space missions affect the brain. (bigthink.com)ScienceHumpback whales are getting pushed around by human activity. (hakaimagazine.com)Another example, i.e. SIDS, of how science reporting can be misleading. (emilyoster.substack.com)Technology911 is getting an upgrade for the cellphone era. (vox.com)Does Web3 fix Web2? (vox.com)HealthFentanyl-laced pills purchased online are a big source of overdose deaths. (nytimes.com)Clinical trials suffer from a lack of diversity. (statnews.com)Puberty is happening sooner for girls, but no one is really sure why. (nytimes.com)Some old rich guys are pumping themselves up with testosterone. (gq.com)Covid vaccinesThe booster debate has become hopelessly muddled. (nytimes.com)The FDA has approved booster shots for 5-11 year olds. (statnews.com)Another sign that mix-and-matching boosting increases efficacy. (arstechnica.com)What happens if the government stops buying Covid vaccines? (statnews.com)CovidThere are still big geographic disparities in Covid fatality rates. (npr.org)Omicron reinfections seem pretty common. (nytimes.com)The FDA has rejected the use of fluvoxamine as a Covid treatment. (vox.com)Most long Covid cases are not amongst the previously hospitalized. (nytimes.com)Crushing fatigue is the number one complaint of long Covid patients. (wsj.com)We really don't have a good handle on Covid infections. (washingtonpost.com)We aren't doing enough to prevent Covid deaths. (erictopol.substack.com)RestaurantsNo one should be surprised that the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is officially dead. (eater.com)A look at the struggles restaurants are having keeping workers. (qz.com)The best performing restaurants have invested in worker pay. (reasonstobecheerful.world)Restaurants in Canada are also struggling to find workers. (bnnbloomberg.ca)AgricultureBiodigesters require scale to be feasible. (modernfarmer.com)High wind is complicating the Spring planting season. (modernfarmer.com)SportsThe Rugby World Cup is headed to the U.S. (theguardian.com)Half of the EPL will soon be owned by Americans. (bloomberg.com)MLS is ready to displace the NHL as the fourth major U.S. sport. (huddleup.substack.com)Earlier on Abnormal ReturnsWhat you missed in our Friday linkfest. (abnormalreturns.com)Podcast links: identifying talent. (abnormalreturns.com)Things are tough out there. Here is some required bear market reading. (abnormalreturns.com)A Q&A with Brian Feroldi author of “Why Does the Stock Market Go Up.” (abnormalreturns.com)Writing is thinking. (abnormalreturns.com)Are you a financial adviser looking for some out-of-the-box thinking? Then check out our weekly e-mail newsletter. (newsletter.abnormalreturns.com)Mixed mediaA summer book reading list including "How Lucky" by Will Leitch. (whyisthisinteresting.substack.com)Babysitters are making bank these days. (wsj.com).....»»

Delta's new Airbus A321neo includes a sleek new first-class cabin with more privacy and better storage. It lived up to all of my expectations. Jennifer Franklin The Airbus A321neo is a new, more comfortable and sustainable airplane joining Delta's fleet. Not only is the plane new, but it has a completely redesigned first-class seating area. I flew on the A321neo before it debuted to the public. Its storage and comfort impressed me. Delta's adding a new, more comfortable and sustainable airplane in its fleet: The Airbus A321neo, which has 194 seats and 20% better fuel efficiency than Delta's current A321ceos.DeltaSources: Delta, American Airlines"Neo" stands for "new engine option," and Delta plans to purchase a total of 155 Airbus 321neos through 2027.DeltaThe new planes include markedly upgraded domestic first-class seats, featuring memory-foam cushioning, winged seat backs for more privacy, and a smart new storage configuration.DeltaDelta representatives told Insider the sleek new seats were designed over five years of testing and customer input.DeltaA321neo flights began departing from Delta's hub at Boston Logan International, bound for San Francisco, on May 20. They'll debut on existing flights to Seattle on August 11. Other planned transcontinental routes include Boston to San Diego and Denver.DeltaI flew on Delta's new state-of-the-art A321neo in the upgraded first-class cabin before it launched to the general public. Here's what it was like.Jennifer FranklinI checked in for my flight on the Fly Delta app. I wasn't checking a bag for my quick trip from Atlanta to Boston, but the Delta counter usually makes the bag-drop process quick.Jennifer FranklinI used my Fly Delta app to get through security, but printing a physical boarding pass is simple at Delta's automated kiosks. On the Wednesday I flew, the area was practically empty.Jennifer FranklinHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — known as ATL — is the world's busiest airport. The Plane Train is the simplest way to navigate between its seven concourses.Jennifer FranklinSource: WSBTV, iFlyAfter breezing through security thanks to TSA PreCheck, I boarded the Plane Train to take me to the “T” gates, where Delta’s new Airbus 321neo would depart.Jennifer FranklinHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is increasingly busy as passengers ramp up their travel schedules. However, on this Wednesday at noon, the T gates were uncrowded.Jennifer FranklinI had a voucher for access to the Delta Sky Club near my gate. With a few minutes to spare before boarding the plane, I stopped in for a snack.Jennifer FranklinThe Delta Sky Club on Atlanta's T gates featured a variety of original art installations to add to the visual interest.Jennifer FranklinThe day I visited, the Delta Sky Club featured a station with a chef preparing a refreshing smoothie with frozen acai berries, fresh pineapple, orange juice, and cantaloupe.Jennifer FranklinThe Sky Club has multiple self-serve Eversys espresso machines, which I used to make myself a pre-flight cappuccino.Jennifer FranklinI picked up a few complimentary magazines from the Sky Club to read on my journey. The flight I joined was to reposition Delta's new A321neo plane from Atlanta, where Delta's headquarters is, to Boston, where it would depart on its first public flight on Friday.Jennifer FranklinFriendly Delta flight attendants, outfitted in their signature uniforms designed by Zac Posen, welcomed me to the flight.Jennifer FranklinI had 3A and B all to myself for this flight, and the upgrades to the first-class seats were apparent immediately. The roomy seats feature "wings" on the seat back to provide additional privacy from your first-class neighbor.Jennifer FranklinThe bookshelf-style overhead bins are 25% larger, so they had no problem accommodating the luggage I brought onboard.Jennifer FranklinThe smartly designed personal storage for first class accommodates everything you'd want to have at your fingertips for a lengthy domestic flight: laptop, notebook, e-reader, and more.Jennifer FranklinEarlier this year, Delta announced its partnership with Mexico-based company Someone Somewhere, which employs artisans (75% of whom are women) in Oaxaca and Michoacán, to create their first-class amenity kits.Jennifer FranklinSource: DeltaThis one included a Someone Somewhere eye mask, Humble Co. bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste, and Grown Alchemist lip balm and lotion. (These kits aren't available for domestic first class, but they were given to us as samples of what's available for Delta One passengers on international flights.)Jennifer FranklinThe ambient ceiling lighting adds elegance and visual interest to the cabin interior.Jennifer FranklinEach first-class seat back has a 13-inch high-definition monitor for on-demand inflight entertainment.Jennifer FranklinThough the flight from Atlanta to Boston was only approximately two hours and 20 minutes, I had fun perusing Delta Studio's selection of more than 500 movies, as well as live TV, television series episodes, podcasts, and more.Jennifer FranklinWhile I couldn't see it, I learned that all A321s (along with many other Delta aircraft) are equipped with state-of-the-art air-circulation systems.Jennifer FranklinAccording to Delta, they blend "outside air sterilized with a high-temperature compressor and ozone purifier with existing cabin air that has been recirculated through an industrial-grade HEPA filter."DeltaIt's nice for peace of mind for anyone who's nervous about staying healthy while in the air.Jennifer FranklinThe quilted seat backs and headrests in first class are outfitted with memory foam, and I noticed the upgrade immediately. It's firm and plush at the same time. The new first-class seats are 21 inches wide and feature 37 inches of pitch.Jennifer FranklinNo matter how organized I intend to be, it seems I'm always misplacing my phone on a flight. The smart new storage and charging plugs are positioned right beside the first-class seats in the A321neo, so losing track of your device or charging cables won't be an issue.Jennifer FranklinThe new Airbus A321neo is powered by a Pratt & Whitney GTF engine that's noticeably quieter than the A321ceo, making it even easier to hear crew announcements.Jennifer FranklinThe new A321neo also features Delta's fastest wifi connection, ideal for getting some work done in the air.Jennifer FranklinThough the seats in the rest of the plane didn't get the same major overhaul the A321neo's first class did, all of the new plane's seats now feature memory foam.Jennifer FranklinFirst class has a 22- by 10-inch bi-fold tray to comfortably hold my computer. Plus, high-speed wifi is $5 for the entire flight.Jennifer FranklinI managed to knock out some work during the short flight from Atlanta to Boston. The bi-fold tray was big enough to hold my 13-inch MacBook Pro, a drink, and a snack at the same time.Jennifer FranklinThe miniature drink tray in between seats and the seat-adjacent water bottle holder made me feel like I had plenty of room to spread out and create a true workspace.Jennifer FranklinThe seat backs have a small ledge (covered in leather, for extra grip) that's perfect for setting a phone or other item. I was struck by how it seemed no space, no matter how small, was wasted in the new first class design.Jennifer FranklinFlight attendants offered a selection of snacks before meal service.Jennifer FranklinSnack offerings included Italian Cubetti dark-chocolate wafer cookies, Albanese gourmet gummy bears, Miss Vickie's kettle chips, and honey-roasted pistachios by Wonderful.Jennifer FranklinFor in-flight snack and meal service, a cloth napkin covered the bi-fold tray table.Jennifer FranklinFor lunch, I chose an Impossible burger topped with manchego cheese and caramelized onions, served with a spiced butternut squash salad and lemon-blueberry cheesecake. The meal was one of three options available.Jennifer FranklinThe plant-based burger turned out to be just the right blend of somewhat healthy and decadent. The airline brought back food service, much of which was paused during the pandemic, to first class two months ago.Jennifer FranklinSource: DeltaRather than focusing on celebrity-chef partnerships, Managing Director of Brand Experience Mauricio Parise told me that the airline is working with local caterers in their markets who have a high attention to detail for ingredients and finished dishes.Jennifer FranklinDelta serves canned cocktails, such as margaritas, by Atlanta-based Tip Top Proper. Each can is just 100 milliliters, but they pack a powerful punch thanks to 26% ABV.Jennifer FranklinThe new first-class recliners have 5 inches of recline and a height-adjustable headrest that folds in to cradle your head. I managed to close my eyes for a few minutes.Jennifer FranklinThe one disappointing thing is that the footrest doesn't move, so for a transcontinental flight such as the six-hour one from Boston to San Francisco, it might be hard to truly sleep.Jennifer FranklinI appreciated the conveniently positioned ports — right next to my seat — so I never had to fumble to charge my phone. The charging stations have both plugs and USB ports.Jennifer FranklinThe oversize monitors also angle so that if the person in front of you reclines, you can still comfortably view your show or movie.Jennifer FranklinThe flight passed quickly. Before I knew it, we were descending into Boston's Logan International Airport. Overall, I was impressed with the thoughtful upgrades to first class on Delta's new A321neo planes.DeltaThough it’s initially intended for longer flights than the one I took, I can envision being quite comfortable in one of these roomy seats flying across the United States.Jennifer FranklinRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Wayne Newton, a three-decade veteran at Alaska, has led the company's 3,200-person airport and air cargo team for the past five years......»»

The airline had more than 30,000 passengers out of DIA in 2019......»»

ABM Industries (ABM) closed at $45.15 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.01% move from the prior day. In the latest trading session, ABM Industries (ABM) closed at $45.15, marking a -1.01% move from the previous day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 0.58% loss on the day. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.75%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.56%.Prior to today's trading, shares of the provider of cleaning and other maintenance services for commercial buildings, hospitals and airports had lost 13.59% over the past month. This has lagged the Business Services sector's loss of 11.73% and the S&P 500's loss of 10.53% in that time.Investors will be hoping for strength from ABM Industries as it approaches its next earnings release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.84, up 2.44% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $1.92 billion, up 27.98% from the year-ago period.For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $3.60 per share and revenue of $7.84 billion, which would represent changes of +0.56% and +25.86%, respectively, from the prior year.Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for ABM Industries. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the company's business outlook.Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. ABM Industries is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.In terms of valuation, ABM Industries is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 12.69. This valuation marks a no noticeable deviation compared to its industry's average Forward P/E of 12.69.The Building Products - Maintenance Service industry is part of the Business Services sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 242, putting it in the bottom 4% of all 250+ industries.The Zacks Industry Rank includes is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.To follow ABM in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com. 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Just released: Experts distill 7 elite stocks from the current list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. They deem these tickers "Most Likely for Early Price Pops." Since 1988, the full list has beaten the market more than 2X over with an average gain of +25.4% per year. So be sure to give these hand-picked 7 your immediate attention. See them now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

The U.S. housing sector scenario seems tough due to persistent supply-chain constraints and rising borrowing costs. The U.S. housing sector is feeling the heat of rising interest rates and mounting material costs amid supply-chain disruptions of lumber and building materials. These factors are affecting the affordability of houses and increasing their prices. Consequently, a drop in the homebuilder sentiment for the fifth straight month was witnessed in May. The metric has also slipped to its lowest level since June 2020.According to the monthly National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), builder sentiment for the newly-built single-family homes slipped eight points to 69 in May from 77 in April, 79 in March, 81 in February and 83 in January. However, the reading looks strong as any number above 50 signals improving confidence.The disappointing data can weigh on ETFs like iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB), SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB), Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF (PKB) and Hoya Capital Housing ETF (HOMZ), which have high exposure to companies belonging to the housing space.The current sales conditions index declined eight points to 78 in May. The metric measuring traffic of prospective buyers saw a nine-point fall to 52. Sales expectations for the next six months slipped 10 points to 63, per the NAHB press release. The three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores in the Northeast was steady at 72. However, the South and Midwest Index declined two and seven points, respectively, to 80 and 62 each. Moreover, the West lost six points to 83, per the release.Going by the press release, NAHB chairman Jerry Konter reportedly said: “Housing leads the business cycle and housing is slowing. The White House is finally getting the message and yesterday released an action plan to address rising housing costs that emphasizes a very important element long-advocated by NAHB – the need to build more homes to ease the nation’s housing affordability crisis.”How’s the U.S. Housing Market Looking?The U.S. housing sector is persistently grappling with the rising softwood lumber, material and labor costs. Moreover, there was a sharp spike in plywood prices. Scarcity in copper supplies and tariffs on steel imports are bumping up the building costs. These factors are affecting the affordability as prices of the existing and new homes are soaring.The rising costs and increasing interest rates will dampen the favorable demand scenario, led by low housing inventory and favorable demographics. Rising home prices and interest rates are weighing on housing affordability. To control hot inflation readings, the Fed hiked rates twice by 0.25% and 0.50% in 2022. The central bank plans to start reducing its balance sheet in June this year.Commenting on the housing market conditions, NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz reportedly said that “the housing market is facing growing challenges. Building material costs are up 19% from a year ago, in less than three months mortgage rates have surged to a 12-year high and based on current affordability conditions, less than 50% of new and existing home sales are affordable for a typical family. Entry-level and first-time home buyers are especially bearing the brunt of this rapid rise in mortgage rates.”Housing ETFs to TrackAgainst such a backdrop, here are a few housing ETFs that might feel the pinch from the volatile housing sector scenario:iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF ITBiShares U.S. Home Construction ETF provides exposure to U.S. companies that manufacture residential homes by tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index.With an AUM of $1.40 billion, iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF holds a basket of 47 stocks, heavily focused on the top two firms. ITB charges 41 basis points (bps) as annual fees. iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy), with a High-risk outlook (read: 5 Beaten-Down ETFs to Buy at Attractive Prices).SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF XHBA popular choice in the homebuilding space, SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF follows the S&P Homebuilders Select Industry Index. SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF holds about 35 securities in its basket.XHB has an AUM of $1.18 billion. SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF charges 35 bps of annual fees. SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2, with a High-risk outlook.Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF PKB  Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF follows the Dynamic Building & Construction Intellidex Index, holding a basket of well-diversified 31 stocks, each accounting for less than 5.6% share. The index comprises companies, primarily engaged in providing construction and related engineering services for building and remodeling residential properties, commercial or industrial buildings or working on large-scale infrastructure projects, such as highways, tunnels, bridges, dams, power lines and airports.Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF amassed assets worth $140.5 million. The total expense ratio is 0.60%. Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold), with a High-risk outlook.Hoya Capital Housing ETF HOMZHoya Capital Housing ETF seeks to provide investment results that before fees and expenses generally correspond to the total return performance of the Hoya Capital Housing 100 Index, a rules-based Index designed to track the 100 companies that collectively represent the performance of the U.S. housing industry.Hoya Capital Housing ETFhas an AUM of $45 million. HOMZ charges 30 bps as annual fees. HOMZ carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (see all the Materials ETFs here). Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF (XHB): ETF Research Reports iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB): ETF Research Reports Invesco Dynamic Building & Construction ETF (PKB): ETF Research Reports Hoya Capital Housing ETF (HOMZ): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research.....»»

Solid demand in its markets, savings from cost-reduction actions and positive movement in earnings estimates make Caterpillar (CAT) stock worth retaining in the portfolio. Caterpillar Inc. CAT is well-poised for growth in its earnings in the forthcoming quarters, backed by improving demand in most of its end markets and cost-control efforts. A strong liquidity position, ongoing investments in expanded offerings, and services and digital initiatives are expected to contribute to growth as well.Caterpillar currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and a VGM Score of A. Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 offer the best investment opportunities. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Let’s delve deeper and analyze the factors that make this stock worth holding on to.Solid Q1 Results & Robust Backlog Levels: Caterpillar reported first-quarter 2022 revenues of $13.6 billion, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.5 billion. The top line improved 14% from the year-ago quarter. All of its segments witnessed strong end-market demand, which drove its top line. Higher pricing helped offset the impacts of unfavorable manufacturing costs (mainly higher material and freight costs) on its earnings in the quarter.Adjusted earnings per share were $2.88 in first-quarter 2022, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.66. The company reported earnings per share of $2.87 in the year-ago quarter.The company has been witnessing higher end-user demand, which is contributing to growth in earnings and revenues over the five straight quarters. Caterpillar’s backlog at the end of the first quarter of 2022 was an impressive $26.4 billion. This bodes well for the company’s top-line performance in the days ahead.Rise in Estimates: Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Caterpillar’s fiscal 2022 earnings has increased 2%. The consensus mark for fiscal 2022 has also moved up 1% over the same time frame.Positive Earnings Surprise History: Caterpillar beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 14%.Healthy Growth Prospects: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings for fiscal 2022 for Caterpillar is currently pegged at $12.58, suggesting year-over-year growth of 16.4%. The same for fiscal 2022 is pegged at $14.78, indicating an improvement of 17.5% on a year-over-year basis.Caterpillar has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12%.Growth Drivers in PlaceIn North America, the demand in both residential and non-residential construction sectors is likely to boost the demand for Caterpillar’s construction equipment. The perked-up investment in roads, bridges, airports and waterways due to the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act represents a huge opportunity for Caterpillar.In the Asia Pacific (barring China), higher commodity prices, housing strength and increased government spending on infrastructure will support construction equipment sales. Increased construction activity will support machine demand in EAME and Latin America.In Resource Industries, mining orders are on an uptrend, courtesy of improving metal prices. Miners are increasingly relying on autonomous systems to increase productivity, and reduce costs and emissions. Hence, the company is enhancing its autonomous capabilities and bringing innovative products into markets.In the Energy & Transportation segment, strong order rates in most applications are expected to support revenues in 2022. Industrial is expected to witness growth, with activity strengthening across most applications.Its cash and liquidity position remains strong, with the company ending the first quarter of 2022 with cash and short-term investments of $6.5 billion. ME&T debt at the end of first-quarter 2022 stood at $9.76 billion. Caterpillar’s current ratio is at 1.44, while the times interest earned ratio is currently at 10.2.Caterpillar continues to focus on customers and the future by continuing to invest in digital capabilities, connecting assets and job sites, and developing the next-generation productive and efficient products. The company plans to fund efforts focused on areas of expanded offerings and services, and digital initiatives like e-commerce and drive long-term growth.Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Shares of Caterpillar have gained 12.2% in three months compared with the industry’s growth of 6.1%.Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks in the Industrial Products sector are Graphic Packaging Holding Company GPK, Myers Industries MYE and Packaging Corporation PKG.  All of these stocks currently flaunt a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).Graphic Packaging has an estimated earnings growth rate of 86.8% for the current year. In the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings has been revised upward by 7.6%.Graphic Packaging pulled off a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.2%, on average. The company’s shares have appreciated 1% in the past three monthsMyers Industries has an expected earnings growth rate of 67% for 2022. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has moved up 27% in the past 60 days.MYE has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 20.1%, on average. Myers Industries’ shares have gained 31% over the past three months.Packaging Corporation has an expected earnings growth rate of 16.2% for 2022. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year’s earnings has moved up 4.2% in the past 60 days.PKG has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.6%, on average. Packaging Corporation’s shares have gained 1% in the past three months. Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double" From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all. It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time. This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Caterpillar Inc. (CAT): Free Stock Analysis Report Packaging Corporation of America (PKG): Free Stock Analysis Report Graphic Packaging Holding Company (GPK): Free Stock Analysis Report Myers Industries, Inc. (MYE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here......»»

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"We could give a rat's rear end about his sexuality. It was about the absolute hypocrisy," David Wheeler, a Democrat and the American Muckrakers PAC's co-founder told Insider. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images American Muckrakers PAC posted a sexually explicit video of a nude Madison Cawthorn with another man. Some saw the video as an appeal to homophobia, but the cofounder said that's not true. "We could give a rat's rear end about his sexuality. It was about the absolute hypocrisy," the cofounder said. To take down Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn, the American Muckrakers PAC went where no one else would — posting a sexually explicit video of a nude Cawthorn with another man in bed.The video had been shopped around to multiple media organizations, David Wheeler, a Democrat and the PAC's co-founder told Insider. Wheeler said he hoped someone else would have posted it, "but it was clear that nobody was going to.""In the public interest, we just couldn't sit on it," he said. "We just felt that this video and his hypocrisy needed to be pointed out."The group, also known as FireMadison.com, played a key role in exposing damaging information about Cawthorn ahead of his North Carolina primary, which he lost to state Sen. Chuck Edwards on Tuesday.Led by Wheeler and co-founder, retired Air Force Col. Moe Davis, who ran against Cawthorn in 2020, the group revealed Cawthorn's attempt to take a gun through the Asheville Regional Airport last year. They also filed a complaint accusing Cawthorn of violating US House ethics rules by allegedly providing free housing and gifts to a staff member.Some thought exposing the video, which showed a naked Cawthorn in bed thrusting his pelvis at the other man's head, went too far.Clay Aiken, the former American Idol star and North Carolina Democrat, told BuzzFeed News that he was "pissed." "The idea that anybody would gay-shame someone in order to try to embarrass him in that district and then call themselves a Democrat, I think is ridiculous," said Aiken, whose bid to become the first openly-LGBTQ member of Congress from the South ended with his primary loss on Tuesday.What "Fire Madison" released "definitely caused a lot of people to think … that they were gay-baiting and that they were playing on tropes of homophobia," said Christopher Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University.  "Whether they did that or not, I think people can decide for themselves but it was definitely that accusation."Wheeler said their decision to expose the video "had nothing to do" with Cawthorn's sexuality."We could give a rat's rear end about his sexuality," Wheeler said. "It was about the absolute hypocrisy of somebody that holds himself to be above everybody and then has somebody film him in a hotel room."A Cawthorn spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.Cawthorn came under fire for claiming he was invited to orgies in Washington and he attacked "radical expressions of sexuality" in a House floor speech about gender issues. He was called out for hypocrisy after POLITICO published photos of him in women's lingerie. "He looks down on gay and lesbian folks and criticizes their lifestyle, criticizes who they are, criticize who they love," Wheeler said.Cawthorn called the lingerie photos "goofy vacation photos" from a cruise game. He responded to the nude video released by the PAC, saying "I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny. We were acting foolish, and joking. That's it.""That put us on the map"Wheeler, a former state Senate candidate, and Davis both ran for office as Democrats and lost in 2020. Cawthorn defeated Davis in the general election by 12 percentage points, and Davis has since changed his registration to "unaffiliated," Wheeler said. The group counts some Republicans among its advisors.Wheeler said he received the nude video from an anonymous source – a former supporter and donor of Cawthorn's – but he said he would never reveal the person's name.The PAC sat on the recording for the better part of a week, taking time to consider whether they were being duped, whether any minors were in the video and whether they would break any North Carolina laws by posting it.The PAC's email host ultimately asked them to take it down, which they did, Wheeler said, and the ActBlue fundraising site removed the group from its website. Wheeler thinks the PAC may file a lawsuit.They have heard criticism of their decisions, Wheeler said, and they get "a little defensive" about it. He noted that they were both endorsed in their 2020 bids by Equality North Carolina, the country's oldest statewide LGBTQ rights organization, and they have "no track record of homophobia." "It's the antithesis of what we were trying to do," he said. "I don't know why people would see that versus the hypocrisy."Their April 27 ethics complaint highlighted a video of the Cawthorn staffer appearing to reach for Cawthorn's crotch from the backseat of a car. It also includes a Venmo history of suggestive messages between the two men."That's against House rules, to have a relationship with a member of the US House staff," Wheeler said. "That's all we were pointing out."Equality North Carolina declined to comment when Insider reached out.Rather than the nude video, Wheeler said their more effective hit against Cawthorn was the Asheville airport gun incident."I think that put us on the map" as a credible source, he said. Next up: "Fire Boebert"With Cawthorn's primary behind them, the group is turning next to an attempt to oust Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert in her June 28 primary. Wheeler said they already have information against her dealing with financial matters, though he declined to provide more details.On Thursday, they launched fireboebert.com, seeking tips on information, pictures, videos, or documents on Boebert or her associates. The first tweet by @FireBoebert reads, "Hi @RepBoebert - Ask @RepCawthorn about us. We look forwarding to getting to know you."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) has become the first airport in the country to utilize technology that helps blind and visually-impaired users navigate indoors. The airport is working with GoodMaps, a Louisville-based startup, to enable travelers with low vision to safely, efficiently and independently move through the Jerry E. Abramson Terminal, according to a news release. “This is about providing a best-in-class experience for all our travelers, including those who….....»»

A joint investigation by two news outlets gives insight into the lives of Vladimir Putin's family members, which he has fought hard to keep secret. Kateryna Tikhonova, center, is a former acrobatic dancer who is now said to run a startup incubator worth $1.7 billion.Contributor/Getty Images, Jakub Dabrowsk/Reuters, TOBIAS HASE/DPA/AFP via Getty Images Vladimir Putin's daughter traveled frequently to Munich between 2017 and 2019, per a joint report. An investigation found she had a long-term relationship with a former ballet director in the city. The report provides insight into the lives of Putin's family, which he's fought hard to keep secret. Russian President Vladimir Putin has long sought to shield his family and children from the public eye, shrouding their identities and whereabouts in secrecy even before the West began seeking to sanction them.Now, new details have emerged about the personal life of one of his two identified daughters thanks to a joint investigation published Thursday by the Russian news outlet Important Stories and the German news site Der Spiegel.The outlets reported that they obtained flight records showing that Katerina Tikhonova, 35, flew more than 50 times to Munich from 2017 to 2019.Their findings also suggest that Tikhonova, thought to be Putin's youngest daughter, is in a serious, long-term relationship with Igor Zelensky, a 52-year-old Russian former ballet star who stepped down as Munich's state ballet director in April.Tikhonova would travel between Moscow and Munich on chartered flights paid for by the state, and with members of Putin's presidential security service, Important Stories reported, citing flight logs and a passenger list.The same list and several passport scans also indicated that Tikhonova and Zelensky had a daughter born in 2017 — at about the time when Tikhonova split from her husband, the Russian businessman Kirill Shamalov.Important Stories said it obtained the passport scans through an email sent between Tikhonova's bodyguard, who booked the tickets, and Russia's presidential security agency.The outlets did not name the couple's daughter but wrote that part of her name is Igorevna, indicating it was derived from Zelensky's first name.The passenger list, which was for a flight on December 9, 2019, showed that Tikhonova and Zelensky landed in Moscow's Vnukovo airport with an entourage of nannies and presidential security, along with their apparent 2-year-old daughter and a piano teacher, Important Stories reported.At about this time, Tikhonova seemingly decided to move to Munich, according to a letter in her bodyguard's archives, per the outlet. According to Important Stories, an officer in Russia's presidential security services also received an email in October 2019 titled "Moving to Germany."Der Spiegel reported that when it approached Zelensky's residential address in Munich, it found only his ex-wife, the former ballet dancer Yana Serebriakova, who refused to answer its questions.Zelensky became the artistic director of Munich's Bavarian State Ballet in 2016 but stepped down April 4, citing private family circumstances. According to Serge Dorny, the managing director of the Bavarian State Opera, Zelensky was asked to leave for failing to condemn the war in Ukraine publicly.The new details surrounding Tikhonova's penchant for travel to Germany may raise awkward questions for Putin, who has condemned members of the Russian elite who have remained in the West as "scum and traitors."Tikhonova, a former acrobatic dancer, now runs a startup incubator worth $1.7 billion at Moscow State University. In April, the US Treasury Department identified her as one of Putin's daughters as part of the West's sanctions on Russia.Another of Putin's daughters identified by the US is Maria Vorontsova, a 37-year-old pediatric endocrinologist and genetics researcher. She is listed as a leading researcher at the Endocrinology Research Center in Moscow. Its website says she is also the deputy chairman of the Russian Society of Young Endocrinologists.Der Spiegel and Important Stories reported that the whereabouts of Tikhonova, Zelensky, and their purported daughter were unknown.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Russian president Vladimir Putin has tried to keep his personal life out of the spotlight, rarely if ever discussing his children. Russian President Vladimir and his now ex-wife Lyudmila Shkrebneva.Sergey Ponomarev/AP Russian president Vladimir Putin has at least two, possibly three, daughters he rarely talks about. He has two adult daughters with his ex-wife Lyudmila Shkrebneva: Maria, 36, and Katerina, 35. On April 6, 2022, the US and the UK put both on its sanctions list because of the war in Ukraine. See more stories on Insider's business page. President Vladimir Putin is famously secretive of his personal life, and has fought hard to prevent the media and the world from knowing much about his family.His carefully curated macho image — he's often photographed riding horses, lifting weights, and posing shirtless — has colored much of the public's understanding of him.He has also made a concerted effort to shield his children from the spotlight.Putin has never publicly acknowledged his children, though media outlets have for years speculated and reported about the two daughters Putin had with his ex-wife, and even that a girlfriend may have had another daughter in 2015.One daughter, Katerina Tikhonova, herself appears to have had a clandestine relationship and a child with German ballet director Igor Zelensky, according to a joint investigation by Der Spiegel and Important Stories.She appears to be building a public profile, although in media appearances such as last year's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia, nobody explicitly linked her with Putin.Here is what we know about the lives of Putin's secret kids.Pat Ralph contributed reporting to previous versions of this article.Putin had two daughters in his first marriage to former flight attendant Lyudmila Shkrebneva, to whom he was married for three decades until their divorce in 2013.APSources: Vladimir Putin, Reuters, Business InsiderTheir daughter's names are Maria and Katerina. Maria was born in Leningrad in 1985, and Katerina was born in Germany in 1986 when the family lived there during her father's time in the KGB.Maria and Katerina Putin, from their father's personal archive.ReutersSources: Vladimir Putin, Reuters, NewsweekBoth girls are named after their grandmothers. Maria's nickname is Masha and Katerina's nickname is Katya.Putin's father, Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, and his mother, Maria Ivanovna Shelomova.KremlinMasha and Katya are common Russian shortenings for Maria and Katerina.Sources: Vladimir Putin, Reuters, NewsweekWhen the family moved to Moscow in 1996, the girls attended a German-language school. The children were reportedly removed from school when Putin became acting president, and teachers educated them at home.Then-acting President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila applaud during a concert after an award ceremony in Gudermes on January 1, 2000.REUTERSSource: Newsweek"Not all fathers are as loving with their children as he is," Lyudmila said in a quote on Putin's government website. "And he has always spoiled them, while I was the one who had to discipline them."Vesti.ru screengrabSource: Vladimir PutinMaria studied biology in college and went to medical school in Moscow, while Katerina majored in Asian Studies in college. Both girls attended university under false identities.Putin and wife Ludmila arrive at the airport in Rostock-Laage, Germany on June 6, 2007.Alexander Hassenstein/Getty ImagesSources: Reuters, NewsweekMaria, now 36, is a medical researcher and lives in Moscow with her Dutch husband, Jorrit Faassen.APSources: Reuters, Newsweek, BloombergMaria and Faassen reportedly have a child — Putin told filmmaker Oliver Stone in 2017 that he was a grandfather. When Stone asked if he played with his grandchild, Putin replied, "Very seldom, unfortunately.""The Putin Interviews" was a four-part series that premiered on Showtime in May 2017.ShowtimeSources: Reuters, The Independent, Bloomberg, Daily MailMeanwhile, Katerina reportedly lives a high-flying life, living in lavish apartments and acquiring a fortune.Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a toast during an award ceremony in the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia on Dec. 28, 2017.Kirill Kudryavtsev/Pool Photo via APSources: Reuters, The Independent, Bloomberg, Daily MailKaterina, now 35, is an accomplished acrobatic dancer and has a senior position at her alma mater, Moscow State University, heading a $1.7 billion startup incubator.Katerina Tikhonovna, daughter of Vladimir Putin, dancing.Jakub Dabrowski/ReutersSources: Reuters, BloombergKaterina married Russian billionaire Kirill Shamalov in 2013. But the couple divorced in 2018, and the divorce case revealed they were worth $2 billion.Kirill Shamalov, the former husband of Putin's daughter KaterinaReuters/Kommersant Photo/Dmitry DukhaninSources: Bloomberg, Reuters, The Guardian   But flight records suggest that in 2017, Katerina had begun a clandestine relationship with German ballet star Igor Zelensky. She had a daughter with him.Igor Zelensky the father of Katerina's child pictured, in 2014. In 2016 he became director of the Bavarian State Ballet.Tobias Hase/picture alliance via Getty ImagesZelensky has served as the director of the Bavarian State Ballet and the Munich State Ballet. Source: Important Stories and Der SpiegelKaterina secretly flew to Munich more than 50 times to see Zelensky between 2017 and 2019, with their daughter in tow.Igor Zelensky on stage in 2018 in Munich, Germany.Gisela Schober/Getty ImagesThe relationship was revealed by a 2022 investigation that examined Katerina's flight records, showing that she traveled with members of Putin's presidential secret service. Source: Important Stories and Der SpiegelThere are no official current photos of the girls. For Katerina, we found the slightly varying first names "Katerina", "Katya", and "Yekaterina," and the last names "Putina," "Tikhonova," and "Shamalov."Katerina Tikhonova (L), daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, dances with Ivan Klimov during the World Cup Rock'n'Roll Acrobatic Competition in Krakow, Poland, on April 12, 2014.REUTERS/Jakub DabrowskiSources: Reuters, NewsweekFinally, there are rumors that Putin has a third daughter with girlfriend and former Russian rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabaeva.Putin greets rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva during a meeting with candidates to the Russian Olympic team for Summer Olympics 2004 at the presidential residence in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow on March 10, 2004.REUTERS/Pool ASSource: New York PostBut neither the child nor the relationship with Kabaeva have been confirmed.Putin smiles next to Russian gymnast Alina Kabaeva during a meeting with the Russian Olympic team at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on November 4, 2004.REUTERS/ITAR-TASS/PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICESource: Business InsiderPutin has tried to shelter his children from the media, attempting to keep them out of politics so they can live normal lives.Dennis Grombkowski/Getty ImagesSources: Reuters, Business InsiderDespite this, Katerina made her debut on Russian state TV as a biotechnology expert in December 2018.Katerina Tikhonova (R) on Rossiya 1 on December 7, 2018.Rossiya 1Source: Business InsiderHer appearance did not include comment on her being related to Putin. The link was briefly made public in the course of a dance competition, but later retracted.Katerina Tikhonova (L) and Vladimir PutinREUTERSSource: ReutersIn June 2021, Katerina addressed a conference that is Russia's equivalent of Davos — but nobody called her Putin's daughter, apparently out of fear of reprisal from the Kremlin.Katerina Tikhonova, deputy director of the Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex Systems at Moscow State University, on screen taking part in a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Russia, on June 4, 2021.Evgenia Novozhenina/ReutersSource: The Washington PostIn late 2020, Putin announced Russia had completed its COVID-19 vaccine, although it had yet to complete clinical assessments. Putin said he gave the shot to one of his two daughters, but wouldn't specify which one.Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, on August 11, 2020.Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via REUTERSSources: Business Insider, BBC, PoliticoPutin said his daughter's temperature decreased after getting two shots. "She has taken part in the experiment," he said, adding, "She's feeling well and has a high number of antibodies."Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo / AP ImagesSources: Business Insider, BBC, PoliticoIt was a rare acknowledgment for Putin, but one still shrouded in mystery.Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting of the Russian Security Council at Moscow's Kremlin.Alexei NikolskybackslashTASS via Getty ImagesIn February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, prompting condemnation from around the world. Three weeks later an activist filmed himself inside what he said was a Biarritz apartment owned by Katerina's ex-husband, saying he wanted to host Ukrainian refugees there.An image showing an activist flying a Ukrainian flag from the balcony of a villa linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Biarritz, France.Russia TodaySource: Insider, The Insider.In April, the US sanctioned Maria and Katerina, saying that they had "enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people." A statement said "This action cuts them off from the US financial system and freezes any assets they hold in the United States."Getty/ReutersThe Wall Street Journal said that the EU could also sanction the two women.An EU spokesperson said the bloc is "currently discussing the proposals for further sanctions, including new listings of individuals and entities," but could not comment on who would be targeted by them. Source: The Wall Street Journal, The White HouseThe US announcement also contained more details about their work. saying that it has close ties to the Kremlin. Tikhonova's work supports Russia's government and defense industry, while Vorontsova's genetics research programs are personally overseen by Putin, the White House said.The main building of the Moscow State University. As of 2021, Tikhonova was Deputy Director of its Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex SystemsAlexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: ABC News.The US said it believed the women are hiding assets for Putin, which was its rationale for sanctioning them. The Kremlin expressed confusion over the decision, suggesting it was anti-Russian.Mikhail Svetlov/Getty ImagesA senior official at the Biden administration said: "We believe that many of Putin's assets are hidden with family members and that's why we're targeting them."Putin's top spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin found the decision "difficult to understand" and framed it as part of a "rabid" western animosity towards Russia. Source: ABC News, Reuters.The UK quickly followed suit with a raft of sanctions on Maria and Katerina, among others in Putin's inner circle, aimed at hitting their "lavish lifestyles."The villa registered in the name of Kirill Shamalov, Katerina Tikhonova's ex-husband, in Biarritz, France.Gaizka Iroz/AFP via Getty ImagesSource: The Press Association.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

The new report provides some insight into the lives of Putin's family members, which he has fought hard to keep secret. Kateryna Tikhonova (center) is a former acrobatic dancer who now reportedly runs a startup incubator worth $1.7 billion.Contributor/Getty Images, Jakub Dabrowsk/Reuters, TOBIAS HASE/DPA/AFP via Getty Images Vladimir Putin's daughter traveled frequently to Munich between 2017 and 2019, per a joint report. She had a long-term relationship with a former ballet director in the city, per the report. The report provides insight into the lives of Putin's family, which he's fought hard to keep secret. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has long sought to shield his family and children from the public eye, shrouding their identities and whereabouts in secrecy as the West aims to sanction them.Now, new details have emerged about the personal life of one of his two identified daughters thanks to a joint investigation published Thursday by Russian news outlet Important Stories and German news site Der Spiegel.The outlets reported that they obtained flight records showing that Katerina Tikhonova, 35, flew more than 50 times to Munich, Germany, between 2017 and 2019.Their findings also suggest that Tikhonova, thought to be Putin's youngest daughter, is in a serious, long-term relationship with Igor Zelensky, a 52-year-old Russian former ballet star who stepped down as Munich's state ballet director in April.Tikhonova would travel between Moscow and Munich on chartered flights paid for by the state, and with members of Putin's presidential security service, Important Stories reported, citing flight logs and a passenger list.The same list and several passport scans also indicated that Tikhonova and Zelensky had a daughter born in 2017 — around the same time that Tikhonova split from her former husband, Russian businessman Kirill Shamalov.Important Stories said it obtained the passport scans through an email sent between Tikhonova's bodyguard, who booked the tickets, and Russia's presidential security agency. The outlets did not name the couple's daughter but wrote that part of her name is Igorevna, indicating it was derived from Zelensky's first name.The passenger list, which was for a flight on December 9, 2019, showed that Tikhonova and Zelensky landed in Moscow's Vnukovo airport with an entourage of nannies and presidential security, along with their apparent two-year-old daughter and a piano teacher, Important Stories reported.Around this time, Tikhonova seemingly decided to move to Munich, according to a letter in her bodyguard's archives, per the outlet. According to Important Stories, an officer in Russia's presidential security services also received an email in October 2019 titled "Moving to Germany."Der Spiegel reported that when it approached Zelensky's residential address in Munich, they found only his ex-wife, former ballet dancer Yana Serebriakova, who refused to answer their questions.Zelensky became the artistic director of Munich's Bavarian State Ballet in 2016 but stepped down on April 4 citing private family circumstances. According to Serge Dorny, the managing director of the Bavarian State Opera, Zelensky was asked to leave for failing to condemn the war in Ukraine publicly.The new details surrounding Tikhonova's penchant for travel to Germany may raise awkward questions for Putin, who's condemned members of the Russian elite who have remained in the West for being "scum and traitors."Tikhonova, a former acrobatic dancer, now runs a startup incubator worth $1.7 billion at Moscow State University. In April, the US Treasury Department identified her as one of Putin's daughters as part of the West's sanctions on Russia.Another of Putin's daughters identified by the US is Maria Vorontsova, a 37-year-old pediatric endocrinologist and genetics researcher. She is listed as a leading researcher at the Endocrinology Research Center in Moscow. Its website states that she is also the deputy chairman of the Russian Society of Young Endocrinologists.The whereabouts of Tikhonova, Zelensky, and their purported daughter are currently unknown, Der Spiegel and Important Stories reported.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

"We could give a rat's rear end about his sexuality. It was about the absolute hypocrisy," David Wheeler, a Democrat and the American Muckrakers PAC's co-founder told Insider. Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images American Muckrakers PAC posted a sexually explicit video of a nude Madison Cawthorn with another man. Some saw the video as an appeal to homophobia, but the cofounder said that's not true. "We could give a rat's rear end about his sexuality. It was about the absolute hypocrisy," the cofounder said. The group that posted a sexually explicit video of a nude Madison Cawthorn with another man in bed is denying it tried to evoke homophobia to oust the North Carolina member of Congress.Members of the American Muckrakers PAC, also known as FireMadison.com, sat on the recording for the better part of a week, taking time to consider whether they were being duped, whether any minors were in the video and whether they would break any North Carolina laws by posting it, its cofounder told Insider. Whether the video would spark a homophobic response wasn't part of their discussions, he said."It had nothing to do with his sexuality," David Wheeler, a Democrat and the PAC's co-founder told Insider. "We could give a rat's rear end about his sexuality. It was about the absolute hypocrisy of somebody that holds himself to be above everybody and then has somebody film him in a hotel room."Some people didn't take it that way.Clay Aiken, the former American Idol star and North Carolina Democrat, told BuzzFeed News that he was "pissed" about the viral video, which showed a naked Cawthorn in bed thrusting his pelvis at the other man's head. "The idea that anybody would gay-shame someone in order to try to embarrass him in that district and then call themselves a Democrat, I think is ridiculous," said Aiken, whose bid to become the first openly-LGBTQ member of Congress from the South ended with his primary loss on Tuesday.Fire Madison played a key role in exposing damaging information about Cawthorn, who lost his Republican primary in North Carolina to state Sen. Chuck Edwards on Tuesday. The group led by Wheeler and co-founder, retired Air Force Col. Moe Davis, who ran against Cawthorn in 2020, revealed Cawthorn's attempt to take a gun through the Asheville Regional Airport last year. They also filed a complaint accusing Cawthorn of violating US House ethics rules by allegedly providing free housing and gifts to a staff member.'We just couldn't sit on it'"Fire Madison made it clear that they would put anything out and they did," said Christopher Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. The video "definitely caused a lot of people to think … that they were gay-baiting and that they were playing on tropes of homophobia. Whether they did that or not, I think people can decide for themselves but it was definitely that accusation."A Cawthorn spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.Wheeler, a former state Senate candidate, and Davis both ran for office as Democrats and lost in 2020. Cawthorn defeated Davis in the general election by 12 percentage points, and Davis has since changed his registration to "unaffiliated," Wheeler said. The group counts some Republicans among its advisors.They have heard criticism of their decisions, Wheeler said, and they get "a little defensive" about it. He noted that they were both endorsed in their 2020 bids by Equality North Carolina, the country's oldest statewide LGBTQ rights organization, and they have "no track record of homophobia." "It's the antithesis of what we were trying to do," he said. "I don't know why people would see that versus the hypocrisy."Their April 27 ethics complaint highlighted a video of the Cawthorn staffer appearing to reach for Cawthorn's crotch from the backseat of a car. It also includes a Venmo history of suggestive messages between the two men."That's against House rules, to have a relationship with a member of the US House staff," Wheeler said. "That's all we were pointing out."Equality North Carolina declined to comment when Insider reached out.Cawthorn came under fire for claiming he was invited to orgies in Washington and he attacked "radical expressions of sexuality" in a House floor speech about gender issues. He was called out for hypocrisy after POLITICO published photos of him in women's lingerie. "He looks down on gay and lesbian folks and criticizes their lifestyle, criticizes who they are, criticize who they love," Wheeler said.Cawthorn called the lingerie photos "goofy vacation photos" from a cruise game. He responded to the nude video released by the PAC, saying "I was being crass with a friend, trying to be funny. We were acting foolish, and joking. That's it."Wheeler said he received the nude video from an anonymous source – a former supporter and donor of Cawthorn's – but he said he would never reveal the person's name.The video had been shopped around to "dozens" of media organizations and he hoped someone else would have posted it, he said."In the public interest, we just couldn't sit on it," he said. "We just felt that this video and his hypocrisy needed to be pointed out."Fire Madison's email host asked them to take it down, which they did. Wheeler said the ActBlue fundraising site removed the group from its website and he thinks the PAC may file a lawsuit.Rather than the video, Wheeler said their more effective hit against Cawthorn was the Asheville airport gun incident."I think that put us on the map" as a credible source, he said. With Cawthorn's primary behind them, the group is turning next to an attempt to oust Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert in her June 28 primary. Wheeler said they already have information against her dealing with financial matters, though he declined to provide more details.On Thursday, they launched fireboebert.com, seeking tips on information, pictures, videos, or documents on Boebert or her associates. The first tweet by @FireBoebert reads, "Hi @RepBoebert - Ask @RepCawthorn about us. We look forwarding to getting to know you."Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Cisco sees Q4 sales falling by 1% to 5%, confounding expectations for nearly 6% growth. COVID lockdowns in China also hit its revenue in Q3. Miquel Benitez/Getty Images Cisco stock slumped Thursday on the tech company's guidance for sales to fall in the current quarter.  The networking equipment maker said China's COVID lockdowns have hurt its supply chain.  It forecast a fiscal Q4 revenue decline of 1% to 5% vs. expectations of 5.9% growth year over year.  Cisco stock tumbled Thursday after the tech heavyweight warned its current-quarter sales will fall as COVID lockdowns in China have disrupted supply chains. The networking equipment maker and services provider late Wednesday said it expects fiscal fourth-quarter sales to decline between 1% and 5% from the same period a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet had been looking for a 5.9% expansion to $13.9 billion. The stock dropped by as much as 14% to $41.36, the lowest price since November 2020, and the 24 million shares exchanged outstripped average daily volume of about 22 million shares within the first hour of trade. Cisco said it saw "solid demand" during its fiscal third quarter but sales were hurt by coronavirus lockdowns in China and the war in Ukraine launched by Russia in late February. The situation in China remains a pressure point in its current fiscal fourth quarter. "Shanghai now is saying they're going to open up June 1. We don't know exactly what that means," and what impact that will have on securing parts that it needs for production, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said on the company's conference call, according to a transcript."And correspondingly we believe when they open up and when they do allow transportation logistics to start up, we believe there is going to be a high degree of congestion," with sharp competition for access ports and airports, he said. Robbins said Cisco had "experienced an entire quarter of the China lockdowns," with work seizing up primarily in Shanghai. Officials in the country's most populous city ordered millions of people in late March to stay at home from work to slow the spread of the respiratory disease.Cisco's "inability to get power supplies out of China" led to a $300 million reduction in third-quarter revenue and sales were hurt by $200 million because of Russia's war in Ukraine, said Robbins who also serves as chairman. The company said it sees constraints on about 350 critical components out of 41,000 in the fourth quarter. "Our supply chain team is aggressively pursuing multiple options to close those shortages," Scott Herren, Cisco's chief financial officer, said in late Wednesday's conference call.Third-quarter adjusted earnings were 87 cents a share on flat revenue of $12.8 billion. Analysts had expected 86 cents a share in adjusted earnings on $13.3 billion in revenue. Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

While JetBlue may be The Wall Street Journal's lowest ranking airline, it's the top pick among customers, according to a new study. JetBlue and Southwest.AlessandraRC/Shutterstock Analytics firm J.D. Power revealed its annual rankings for the best and worst airlines for customer satisfaction. JetBlue Airways took the top spot for its Mint business class and Even More Space seats. Southwest Airlines has the best economy product, while American Airlines ranked low in all categories. A new study says JetBlue Airways and Southwest Airlines are the best carriers for customer satisfaction.Analytics firm J.D. Power, which has tracked airline performance since 1993, published its annual North America Airline Passenger Satisfaction study in May, revealing how airlines rank based on passenger feedback.The company surveyed 7,004 people from March 2021 to March 2022 and analyzed carriers based on eight metrics: aircraft, baggage, boarding, check-in, cost and fees, flight crew, inflight services, and reservation.Unlike previous years, J.D. Power took the study a step further and broke down the data by fare class, including first/business, premium economy, and economy/basic economy, to better gauge passenger expectations."We did it to align with the way that consumers purchase tickets," J.D. Power travel intelligence lead Michael Taylor told Forbes. "Each seat class comes with certain expectations about service and price and J.D. Power wanted to gather insights on what's important to passengers in each seat class."The results show that JetBlue Airways is the top carrier. The company took first for both its Mint business class product and premium economy, counting its extra legroom seats as a premium cabin. Bringing up the rear for first/business is American Airlines, while Air Canada took last for premium economy.With 11 carriers ranked for the economy/basic economy category, Southwest Airlines beat out JetBlue for the top title. Southwest recently announced a $2 billion investment in the customer experience, including adding in-seat power to its planes.Ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air scored high for its economy product, coming in fourth behind Southwest, JetBlue, and Delta. The airline beat out mainline carriers like Alaska and United.On the tail end of the economy list is Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet, Frontier Airlines, and American. Spirit Airlines ranked eight out of 11, but its slim seats and a la carte business model still beat out legacy carrier American.While the study is good news for JetBlue and Southwest, which were both named the worst US airlines by The Wall Street Journal and WalletHub, respectively, J.D. Power says overall customer satisfaction is over 20 points lower than last year.According to Taylor, the change can be attributed to COVID-19 when passenger satisfaction rose due to pandemic-era policies that made travel easier, like no middle seats and empty airports. However, he said in a press release "that business model was simply not sustainable."Nevertheless, he said the data is "not really bad news" because people are willing to face the frustration and challenges imposed by surging demand if it means taking a vacation, and the decline indicates travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels, which is good for airlines."The reasons why last year satisfaction was up was for all the wrong reasons," Taylor told Business Travel News. "This year, [the score] is down for the right reasons."According to the study, the main areas of dissatisfaction were the inflight food and beverage service and airfare. J.D. Power found that the suspension of alcohol in premium classes caused satisfaction to decrease; however, economy cabins were happy with their offerings, with satisfaction actually increasing this year.Rising ticket costs proved to be a driving factor in the decreasing satisfaction scores this year as well, the data showed. Through March 2022, J.D. Power said airfare rose 20%, causing customer satisfaction in costs and fees to fall in every cabin.Despite the decrease, Taylor said in the press release that "if airlines can find ways to manage these growing volumes while making some small adjustments to help passengers feel more valued, they should be able to manage this return to 'normal.'"Here are the airlines with the best and worst customer satisfaction.First/BusinessJetBlue AirwaysAlaska AirlinesDelta Air LinesAir CanadaUnited AirlinesAmerican AirlinesPremium EconomyJetBlue AirwaysDelta Air LinesAlaska AirlinesAmerican AirlinesUnited AirlinesAir CanadaEconomy/Basic EconomySouthwest AirlinesJetBlue AirwaysDelta Air LinesAllegiant AirAlaska AirlinesAir CanadaUnited AirlinesSpirit AirlinesAmerican AirlinesFrontier AirlinesWestJetRead the original article on Business Insider.....»»

A majority of business travelers surveyed said they wanted their companies to take steps to reduce the impact that work trips have on the environment. Business travelers who go by train can reduce their carbon footprints.Westend61/Getty Images Business travelers want to cut their carbon footprints, even if that means changing how they travel. Companies are implementing sustainable-travel programs to meet employees' demands for changes. A lack of standardized carbon-footprint calculators and disparate reporting makes it hard. So long, free pretzels: Many business travelers say that much of the flying and driving they do for work just isn't worth the cost to the climate.For most business travelers, pandemic lockdowns meant spending more time working from a couch at home than in an airport lounge. Now, as travel continues to pick up, many workers are taking another look at the effects of scooping up all those frequent-flyer miles and car-rental points. But it's not always easy to get a clear picture. A recent survey of 1,000 business travelers from SAP Concur found that 88% of respondents were willing to take steps to reduce their environmental impact while traveling for work, even if doing so could mean opting for a less-fancy hotel or going by bus instead of car.About four in 10 respondents said they would take fewer but longer business trips, 40% said they would stay in a "less preferred but greener hotel," and about one in three said they would take public transportation. Overall, younger generations were most keen to adapt their travel plans, with 93% of Gen Z and 89% of millennial respondents saying they were willing to make changes.Above all, employees want more information about their business trip's climate impact — almost nine in 10 respondents — along with the opportunity to compare sustainability measures for accommodation and transport options."More comprehensive sustainability reporting will not only help guide organizations down a more eco-conscious path but establish worldwide industry standards that can make a real impact on global travel emissions," Brian Hace, the head of travel products and travel-management company services at SAP, said, adding that he was heartened by the data."Making business-travel programs more sustainable can be a game-changer in enabling companies to meet net-zero goals," he said. "We're in the midst of a fundamental shift in how businesses respond to climate change."Business travel's sustainable face-liftIn the past 12 months, 76% of US travel managers surveyed by SAP in a companion survey said their companies had updated travel guidelines or policies to have a greater sustainability focus. They're not alone: About 13,000 companies disclosed data on climate change, water security, and deforestation in 2021, a jump of 37% year over year. And 1,000 companies have set targets that align with the Paris climate accord, which aims to limit global warming to just 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. It feels like the ground is starting to move. Organizations are increasingly taking sustainability into account. As part of this, many issue reports on how they're doing when it comes to their environmental, social, and governance goals.James Dent, the ESG and sustainability lead at the business-travel specialist TravelPerk, said more companies were setting science-based targets for cutting emissions."We've seen a huge recent increase in corporate climate disclosures," he said.And according to Dent, employee demands are just one factor.Other incentives include pressure from customers and investors, many of whom want to see companies glove up in the fight against the climate crisis. Plus, making these steps toward sustainability can make a company eligible for inclusion in ESG investment funds, which are growing in popularity.Companies are responding to these incentives in numerous ways, including by prioritizing direct flights, focusing travel on essential trips, choosing rail over air travel, and using defined budgets instead of corporate cards."We've also seen businesses compensate for avoidable emissions through offset programs," Hace said.More is needed But we are not out of the woods — even if those woods have sprung from plant-a-seed offsetting programs. Because, as Hace put it, both a lack of standardized carbon-footprint calculators and disparate sustainability-reporting criteria can result in a misreporting of emissions.  Dent said some necessary changes weren't happening as quickly as they should."The aviation industry isn't decarbonizing anywhere near fast enough," he said. "Electric planes are still a good couple of years away but would completely revolutionize the way we travel short-haul, not only for business but more generally, too."Plus, sustainable travel options are often pricey. Sustainable aviation fuel is typically three to four times as expensive as conventional jet fuel, Hace said, and eco-friendlier direct flights often cost more than those that are indirect.This might not matter as much for big companies that can adjust budgets to make up for climate-conscious spending. But small companies with limited funding are likely to have a harder time affording the sustainable route. "It's a problem of accessibility," Hace said, one that needs addressing fast. Employees want their employers to take action.Read the original article on Business Insider.....»»

Work on that key phase of the project is expected to begin by 2024.....»»