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Former Ferrari and Bugatti executive admits to dodging taxes, taking $2.8 million in bribes to misallocate supercars

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ferrari laferrari red top front
  • Maurizio Parlato admitted to receiving about $2.8 million in kickback payments, otherwise known as bribes, from selling sports cars.
  • Parlato is the former CEO of Ferrari North America and COO of Bugatti of the Americas.
  • He also admitted to avoiding paying more than $1.1 million in taxes.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The former CEO of Ferrari North America and COO of Bugatti of the Americas admitted to a $2.8 million kickback payment scheme he ran while selling supercars.

Maurizio Parlato, 58, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to one count of subscribing to a false tax return and one count of not filing a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, the US Attorney's Office District of New Jersey announced on Wednesday. The news was first reported by Jalopnik.

Parlato's scheme, according to the announcement, included assisting dealers and buyers in misallocating supercars "to customers who were not on the list of approved purchasers" via kickbacks, otherwise known as bribes. But that wasn't all. 

"Parlato admitted that he failed to report the $2.8 million in kickback payments he received as income on his federal individual income tax returns," the announcement said. "Parlato also admitted that he attempted to hide some of these funds from the IRS by depositing them in a bank account in Spain and failing to disclose the existence of that bank account. Parlato admitted that he avoided paying more than $1.1 million in taxes."

The announcement, as well as court documents, said Parlato was a Florida resident while serving as the CEO an unnamed "Company B" that was based in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, from 2002 to 2009. Company B was in charge of distributing cars made by Company A, "a luxury automobile manufacturer" based in Maranello, Italy. 

Company A, the release went on, makes very limited-run cars, and Parlato "had some measure of authority over the allocations of those limited edition automobiles." Company A said it was launching a "supercar" in 2013 and that it would only make 500 examples. Each would be priced at $1.4 million MSRP, and buyers had to be on an approved list in order to buy said car.

Though neither the release nor the court documents specifically name Company A or Company B, Maranello, Italy, is famously the home of luxury Italian automaker Ferrari. Ferrari North America is based in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. The unnamed "supercar" certainly matches the description of the Ferrari LaFerrari, which was launched in 2013 and only 500 were made. Having an approved list of buyers is certainly something Ferrari is known to do.

The scheme happened between 2015 and 2017, the announcement said, after Parlato resigned as CEO at Ferrari North America. But he still had a high position in the industry while taking the kickbacks.

In 2014, Parlato was appointed the COO of Bugatti in America. Jalopnik pointed out that in January, Bugatti announced Parlato had resigned from his position after six years "for personal reasons" and to "focus on new endeavors." 

maurizio_parlato
Maurizio Parlato.

The DOJ's statement noted that submitting a false tax return can carry a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Failing to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts can carry a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

Bugatti did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment, but a Ferrari spokesperson did. 

"Ferrari was made aware of the situation and condemns such behavior, in any form," the spokesperson said. "We have cooperated fully with the appropriate authorities and are satisfied to see that justice has been served."

Parlato is scheduled for sentencing on January 12, 2021. 

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Britney Spears' lawyer just argued that the #FreeBritney movement isn't a conspiracy — look inside the 12-year conservatorship that prevents the pop star from controlling her life and $59 million fortune

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Britney Spears has been under a conservatorship for 12 years.
  • Britney Spears' conservatorship, also known as a legal guardianship, was implemented in 2008 after Spears experienced several mental breakdowns.
  • Under the arrangement, Spears has no legal control over her estate or financial and personal assets — those rights were granted to her father and a lawyer.
  • While supporters of the #FreeBritney movement say Spears is being manipulated, those involved in the conservatorship say she's very involved in decision-making.
  • The conservatorship was recently extended through February 1, 2021, and a recent court filing revealed that Spears wants to make her future court hearings public.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Britney Spears hasn't legally controlled her life and fortune in 12 years.

The conservatorship — a legal guardianship typically enacted for those incapable of making their own decisions — was approved by the court in 2008 after Spears had several public mental breakdowns. The arrangement put her estate, financial assets, and some personal assets under the control of her father and a lawyer. 

Earlier in August, Spears asked for her father to be removed as sole conservator of her estate, according to court documents. However, after a hearing on August 19, the judge opted to extend the conservatorship in its current form through February 1 of next year.

Since its implementation, the conservatorship has generated a lot of controversy among Spears' fans. Some think she's being controlled and manipulated, which has fueled the #FreeBritney movement. But those close to Spears have told several media outlets over the years that the conservatorship is meant to help the pop icon and that she is very involved in business decisions.

But a new court filing revealed that Spears wants her future court hearings open to the public, reported Natalie Morin for Refinery29. Her lawyer wrote that the #FreeBritney movement is "far from being a conspiracy theory."

A representative for Spears didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on this story.

Here's a look inside the complex arrangement that is Spears' conservatorship.

In the late 2000s, Britney Spears had several highly publicized mental breakdowns.
Britney Spears

During this time, Spears was spotted driving her SUV with her son Sean on her lap and not strapped in a car seat. She also famously shaved her head and was seen hitting a photographer's car with an umbrella.

In 2008, Spears made several trips to rehab and was committed twice to a psychiatric hospital — also known as a 5150 hold in California, where Spears lives, Laura Newberry reported for the Los Angeles Times. Newberry spent three months examining Spears' conservatorship.

This tumultuous period led to Spears' court-approved conservatorship, which was implemented at the end of 2008.
britney spears court

Her father, Jamie Spears, petitioned for an emergency "temporary conservatorship" after Britney's second psychiatric hold, Newberry reported. 

A conservatorship is also known as a legal guardianship. It's granted to those who are incapable of making decisions, such as people with mental disabilities and those with dementia. Law experts told Newberry a conservatorship was "unusual for someone as young and productive as Spears."

Under the conservatorship, Spears has no control over financial or personal decisions. That power was granted to her father and her attorney.
britney spears shopping

Jamie Spears was granted oversight of her estate and health, which involves everything from negotiating business opportunities to restricting visitors, while attorney Andrew Wallet was assigned to help manage her financial assets.

Wallet once called the arrangement a "hybrid business model." Newberry said this could mean that the conservatorship has helped Britney Spears seal business deals she wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

In 2019, Jamie Spears requested to extend his daughter's conservatorship to more than 10 states, including Hawaii, Florida, and Louisiana, Newberry reported.

The exact details of the arrangement aren't known, but all of Spears' financial decisions must be documented in court reports.
britney spears target

Britney Spears' most recent financial documents showed that as of 2018, she had a net worth of $59 million. That year, she spent $400,000 on living expenses and $66,000 on household supplies.

She also spent $1.1 million on her legal and conservator fees that year. Her father took home $128,000 of that, according to the documents cited by ET.

The conservatorship is intended not only to prevent Spears from making poor financial and business decisions but also to protect her from potentially toxic people.
Britney Spears Saam Lufti
Britney Spears and Sam Lutfi.

Spears was granted a restraining order against Sam Lutfi in 2009 and 2019. He was accused of saying he was her former manager and being a bad influence during her mental breakdowns, CNN reported, citing a court filing.

The pop star's lawyers accused Lutfi of attempting to "insinuate himself into Ms. Spears' life with disastrous results for her," Lisa Respers France reported for CNN, citing court filings. He was also accused of sending her mom disparaging texts to disrupt the conservatorship.

The most recent restraining order says Lutfi must stay at least 200 yards away from Spears and can't make "disparaging public statements" about her, her family, her conservator, or her current manager, according to CNN.

But not everyone feels the conservatorship is a good thing. Some fans think Spears is being controlled and have pushed the conservatorship in and out of the spotlight with the #FreeBritney movement.
Britney Spears

A fan site began the #FreeBritney campaign in 2009 as a response to the conservatorship, Julia Jacobs reported for The New York Times. Even celebrities like Taryn Manning and Miley Cyrus have publicly expressed concern for Spears.

Sources close to Spears have insisted she hasn't been manipulated, saying fans don't grasp the mental-health and legal specifics behind the conservatorship.
britney spears

Newberry said she found no "independent evidence" that the conservatorship was harming Spears. The singer's attorney Stanton Stein told Newberry that Spears was involved in all career and business decisions. Two anonymous sources also told Chloe Melas of CNN that Spears had more control over her life than it appears.

"The conservatorship is not a jail," Larry Rudolph, Spears' manager, told Emily Yahr of The Washington Post. "It helps Britney make business decisions and manage her life in ways she can't do on her own right now."

And Spears has remained incredibly active in her career since her conservatorship was implemented.
Britney Spears

Until 2019, Spears dropped an album every two to three years. She also had a four-year Las Vegas residency; her final performance grossed $1.1 million, the highest ever reported for a single theater Las Vegas residency show, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. That's not to mention her "Piece of Me Tour" in 2018 grossed an estimated $54.6 million, according to Touring Data.

During this time, Spears also launched clothing and perfume lines, landed a luxury fashion campaign, and served as a judge on "The X Factor."

But in the beginning of 2019, Spears took a step back from her career to check into a mental-health facility, which prompted the #FreeBritney supporters to express concern yet again.
Britney spears

Spears had put her new Las Vegas residency, "Domination," on hold to focus on her mental health.

In April, a fan podcast called "Britney's Gram" released a voicemail from an anonymous source who said he was a former paralegal involved with the conservatorship. He said Spears was forced to go to the mental-health facility. The podcast hosts told Yahr they verified the source's employment but didn't give specifics.

But a source close to Spears told Melas that she checked in to the mental-health facility voluntarily to deal with the serious health issues her father was facing and because her medication stopped working. And Newberry reported that three weeks after she checked in, Spears wrote on Instagram, "Don't believe everything you read and hear."

Around this time, Spears' lawyer resigned as co-conservator but didn't give a reason for his resignation. This left Jamie Spears as the sole conservator.
Britney Spears

Wallet wrote in court filings the "conservatorship is engaged in numerous ongoing business activities requiring immediate attention" and that it was best he resign immediately, Newberry reported. Otherwise, Britney Spears would suffer "substantial detriment, irreparable harm, and immediate danger," he wrote.

Wallet has said he has prevented "the many hundreds" of people working with Spears from giving her drugs, saving her from a financial crisis. The resignation might be a sign that he disagreed with Spears' father on the conservatorship terms, a lawyer whom Spears once spoke with about contesting the conservatorship told Newberry.

During a status hearing in May 2019, Spears reportedly asked the judge to consider ending the conservatorship.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears at the 2016 VMAs

A source close to Spears told Melas this was nothing new: "Of course she wants it to end, because she's not of the right mental state to understand her issues."

A lawyer who said he represented Spears tried to end her conservatorship in 2009 but was denied by the judge, Yahr reported, adding that Spears' conservatorship terms wouldn't have allowed her to hire him.

After the May hearing, Rudolph, Spears' manager, said he wasn't "sure if or when she will ever want to work again."

In a second hearing in September 2019, Jamie Spears asked to be temporarily removed as a conservator. The role was temporarily appointed to Britney Spears' care manager.
britney spears jamie spears
Britney and Jamie.

TMZ reported that Jamie Spears filed paperwork to temporarily step down as conservator so he could focus on his health.

However, the move came after Jamie Spears was accused of having an altercation with Spears' son Sean, Kat Tenbarge reported for Insider. The singer's ex-husband and the father of her two children, Kevin Federline, filed a police report that led to a child-abuse investigation. Charges weren't filed, but the children were granted a restraining order against Jamie Spears, according to People.

The judge allowed Jamie Spears to step down from his conservator role over his daughter's personal life but not her financial life. Jodi Montgomery, Britney Spears' "care manager," was appointed as temporary conservator of Britney's personal life at Jamie's request, according to People.

Jamie Spears received another court win that year after suing the Absolute Britney blogger Anthony Elia, a source of the #FreeBritney movement, accusing him of spreading false and defamatory information.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears performs at the third annual Jingle Ball in 2003.

Jamie Spears alleged that Elia falsely suggested that Jamie and his team were using social media to hurt his daughter's image and making it seem that Britney was unstable and needed a conservatorship, Cori Robinson reported for Above The Law. Jamie Spears said the suggestions sparked several death threats against those involved in the conservatorship, Above The Law reported.

In December, the court ordered Elia to stop the allegations against the conservatorship, particularly those suggesting the conservatorship is harming Britney Spears.

Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, made attempts in 2019 to get involved in the conservatorship. She's also reportedly engaged with the #FreeBritney movement.
britney spears bodyguard
Lynne and Britney Spears.

Lynne Spears, who is divorced from Jamie, filed a legal motion in 2019 to be involved in the conservatorship process — she wanted to stay informed and have a say in her daughter's medical issues, Melas reported, citing court filings. She was present at Britney's court hearings that year, TMZ reported.

Lynne Spears was also spotted "liking" comments on Instagram about the #FreeBritney movement, Yahr wrote. And when fans noticed that positive comments were being deleted from Britney Spears' social-media accounts, Lynne responded to an Instagram post and said she also noticed the comments had disappeared, Guy reported.

Spears' conservatorship has already been extended twice in 2020.
britney spears

In February, an LA county judge extended Spears' conservatorship until April 30. Montgomery will also remain temporary conservator until that date, the International Business Times' Sarah Guy reported.

According to The Blast, which obtained new legal documents, the judge extended the conservatorship while those involved "figure out what is best" for Spears.

They decided to extend the conservatorship again until at least August 22, Entertainment Tonight's Liz Calvario reported. According to court documents obtained by ET, a hearing on the matter never took place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The news comes around the same time Spears posted a video to her Instagram revealing that she accidentally burned down her home gym after leaving candles lit.

And the #FreeBritney movement was in the limelight yet again in July. It prompted Spears' former photographer Andrew Gallery to read a letter on TikTok that he says Spears wrote about her conservatorship.
free britney protesters
Supporters of Britney Spears gather outside a courthouse in downtown for a #FreeBritney protest as a hearing regarding Spears' conservatorship is in session on July 22, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

Gallery said Spears wrote the letter at the beginning of her conservatorship, according to US Weekly. Gallery claims Spears gave him the letter at the time, which was "destroyed" by her conservators, but that he made a copy of it.

Spears wrote the letter from a third-person point of view.

"As for Kevin saying Britney divorced him, she was forced to by her lawyers because she went to visit him in NY and he wouldn't see her and the children and her lawyers said if she doesn't divorce him he's going to do it himself," reads the singer's alleged letter, in part.

Referring to the 2008 incident that resulted in her hospitalization, she allegedly wrote, "No one knows the truth. Her behavior when her children got taken away b/c of her locking herself in the bathroom is understandable considering her friend at the door kept telling her the cops are leaving don't worry stay in the bathroom."

"She was lied to and set up," the letter reads. "Her children were taken away and she did spin out of control which any mother would in those circumstances."

The Daily Mail published images of the handwritten letter in 2019.

In August, Spears asked the courts for the removal of her father as sole conservator of her estate. Instead, the judge extended the conservatorship through February 1, 2021.
britney spears

Spears wants Montgomery, the temporary conservator who took over in September 2019, to take over as conservator permanently, TMZ reported, citing court documents filed by Spears' attorney.

Her current attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, stated in the court filings that Spears wants a "qualified corporate fiduciary" managing the business affairs of her estate.

According to US Weekly, which reviewed the court filings, the pop star "is strongly opposed to having [Jamie] return as the conservator of her person" and "strongly prefers" that Montgomery "continue in that role as [she] has done for nearly a year."

But after a hearing on August 19, Judge Brenda Penny of the Los Angeles County Superior Court in California said she would extend the current version of the conservatorship, not granting any of the changes Spears' lawyer requested in the filings, through February 1, 2021.

The same month, court documents revealed that Spears' sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, was secretly named a trustee. She recently filed for more control over Spears' financial affairs.
Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears

Jamie Lynn was named a trustee on Spears' SJB Revocable Trust in 2018, court documents obtained by The Blast revealed. The trust was made for Spears' children. Jamie Lynn is also in charge of distributing these assets to Spears' children in the event of her death, the Los Angeles Times reported.

According to the LA Times, Jamie Lynn is requesting that the court move the assets into Fidelity Brokerage Services accounts with her as the custodian. A judge would need to approve moving them back out.

In September, Spears' attorney filed a request to open her future court hearings to the public, suggesting that she supports the #FreeBritney movement.
Britney Spears 3

Spears' attorney, Samuel D. Ingham III, filed court documents on September 2, stating that she wants her future court hearings about conservatorship open to the public, reported Natalie Morin for Refinery29.

"Britney herself is vehemently opposed to this effort by her father to keep her legal struggle hidden away in the closet as a family secret," Ingham wrote.

Ingham also said that the #FreeBritney movement is "far from being a conspiracy theory" and that the social media scrutiny over Jamie's attempts to keep court hearings private is "reasonable." 

"Whatever merits his strategy might have had years ago when Britney was trying to restart her career, at this point in her life when she is trying to regain some measure of personal autonomy, Britney welcomes and appreciates the informed support of her many fans," he wrote.

To end the conservatorship, Spears needs to prove she doesn't need it to get through life.
britney spears.JPG

In the court documents filed in August 2020, Ingham broke down Spears' conservatorship into three phases, according to PEOPLE:

  • Stage 1: A "triage" when "conservators rescued her from collapse, exploitation by predatory individuals and financial ruin"
  • Stage 2: Spears' "performing years" as a "world class entertainer"
  • Stage 3: Spears has no desire to currently perform. "We are now at a point where the conservatorship must be changed substantially in order to reflect the major changes in her current lifestyle and her stated wishes," the documents read.

While Spears is seeking changes to the structure of her conservatorship and who is overseeing her life and finances — not asking to dissolve it entirely — some aren't so sure she still needs it at all.

Rudolph, Spears' manager, previously said that Spears' father wanted her to be free of the conservatorship. "He doesn't want this to continue forever," he said. "It's his daughter. He wants to see her happy. A functional life without any intervention like this."

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My son 'wasn't a sucker': Biden demands Trump apologize if he called US troops killed in combat 'losers'

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Democratic presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden speaks on Sept. 4, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware.
  • Former Vice President Joe Biden addressed reports that President Donald Trump called fallen members of the military "suckers" and "losers."
  • The reported statements are "disgusting" and the "president should humbly apologize" if they're true, Biden said on Friday. 
  • The 2020 Democratic presidential nominee also made clear that his late son served in the military and he was not "sucker" for doing so, nor is any other service member.
  • "I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes," Trump told reporters on Thursday evening.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Former Vice President Joe Biden condemned President Donald Trump over reported comments that he called US troops who died in combat "suckers" and "losers."

"Quite frankly, if what is written in The Atlantic is true, it's disgusting," Biden said on Friday, addressing a scathing report published a day earlier that includes statements reportedly made by Trump about those who died fighting for the United States.

Among the slew of insults attributed to four anonymous sources with knowledge of the conversations, the president reportedly said he did not want wounded soldiers featured in a military parade because "no one wants to see that" and that Marines who died in World War I are "suckers" and "losers." The commander-in-chief also questioned those who choose to serve the country, rather than pursue a more lucrative career, asking: "What's in it for them?" 

"Duty, honor, country. These are values that drive our service members," Biden said. "It's an all-voluntary outfit."

The Democratic presidential nominee also pointed to his own son's military service to denounce the reported remarks. 

"He wasn't a sucker," Biden said, referring to his son Beau's service during deployments to Kosovo and Iraq. "And the servicemen and women he served with, particularly those who did not come home, were not losers." Beau Biden, who was a major in the Delaware Army National Guard, died of brain cancer at age 46.

"If these statements are true, the president should humbly apologize to every Gold Star mother and father and every Blue Star family that he's denigrated and insulted," Biden added. "Who the heck does he think he is?"

Trump has fervently denied the reports and attacked the news as a "fake story." 

"I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes," Trump told reporters on Thursday evening.

Biden, along with other Democrats, said that the report falls in line with much of what Trump has previously said toward the military.

If true, the report "affirms what most of us believe to be true," Biden said. "Donald Trump is not fit to do the job of president." 

"I am not shocked to hear yet more instances of Donald Trump belittling the sacrifices of those who have shown more bravery than he is capable of," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, said on Friday during a conference call organized by the Biden campaign. Duckworth, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, lost both of her legs from combat wounds in Iraq.

A recent Military Times poll surveying active-duty troops shows Biden four-percentage points ahead of Trump.

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In a blow to Amazon, the Pentagon has upheld its $10 billion JEDI contract with Microsoft

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Andy Jassy
Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy.
  • The Department of Defense upheld its decision to award its JEDI contract to Microsoft, months after Amazon challenged the decision with a lawsuit.
  • The Pentagon last year chose Microsoft for a $10 billion cloud-computing contract to store and manage sensitive military and defense data.
  • Amazon challenged the decision, alleging political intervention in the US Court of Federal Claims. 
  • A federal judge found that Amazon could likely prove the Department of Defense made at least one error in evaluating an aspect of Microsoft's proposal — and that the mistake affected the outcome, which prompted the Pentagon to request a remand.
  • Still, after reevaluating its decision, the Pentagon announced Friday that "Microsoft's proposal continues to represent the best value to the Government."
  • Click here to read more BI Prime stories.

The Department of Defense is upholding its decision to award Microsoft its $10 billion cloud contract, it said Friday, months after Amazon filed a legal challenge. 

The Department of Defense last year chose Microsoft for its Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) deal, a colossal cloud project around storing and managing sensitive military and defense data. Amazon challenged the decision in court, alleging political interference from President Donald Trump, a frequent critic of the online retailer and its CEO, Jeff Bezos. 

In the course of the dispute, a federal judge found that Amazon could likely prove the Department of Defense made at least one error, related to a storage requirement, in evaluating an aspect of Microsoft's proposal — and that the mistake affected the outcome. The Department of Defense requested to remand the case to reconsider that aspect of the case, which the judge granted and postponed the lawsuit.

But after it completed a "comprehensive re-evaluation of the JEDI Cloud proposals," the Department of Defense "determined that Microsoft's proposal continues to represent the best value to the Government," the Pentagon said in a press release on Friday.

Amazon also filed a complaint directly with the Department of Defense because it said the agency didn't clearly define the new storage requirement and was unresponsive to Amazon's request for clarification. The agency said on Friday that contract performance couldn't begin immediately because of a preliminary injunction order but that it was "eager to begin delivering this capability to our men and women in uniform."

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday about the Pentagon's decision.

Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at astewart@businessinsider.com, message her on Twitter @ashannstew, or send her a secure message through Signal at 425-344-8242.

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Space travel can lead to new motor skills but impaired vision, according to a new study of cosmonaut brains

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astronaut brain
US astronaut Jack Fischer smiles as a NASA medical staff member wipes his face shortly after he landed back on Earth in a Russian Soyuz capsule in Kazakhstan, September 3, 2017.
  • A new study examined the brains of eight Russian cosmonauts seven months after they returned from the International Space Station.
  • Their brains showed signs of new motor skills, but slightly weaker vision. 
  • For some space travelers, those changes could be long-lasting.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Imagine you could throw the perfect bullseye, but you'd have to wear glasses to do it. That's a trade-off some space travelers may unwittingly make when they venture off the planet.

A study published Friday examined the brains of eight male Russian cosmonauts roughly seven months after they returned from lengthy missions to the International Space Station. The researchers discovered minor changes in the cosmonauts' brains that suggested the men were more dexterous but had slightly weaker vision. 

"They actually acquired some kind of new motor skill, like riding a bike," Steven Jillings, the study's lead author, told Business Insider.

The researchers used a type of MRI to produce 3D images of the cosmonauts' brains. The scans showed an increased amount of tissue in the cerebellum: the part of the brain responsible for balance, coordination, and posture (shown in green in the video below). But the scans also showed that people living in space could wind up with trouble seeing up-close. Both of those changes could potentially be long-lasting.

Illustration from Steven Jillings and Ben Jeurissen (University of Antwerp) using MRtrix3.

Changes in motor skills after space travel

Any human brain, whether it has been to space or not, can adapt to new environments and experiences. Many athletes, for instance, acquire specific motor skills directly related to their sport.

"If you were to do an MRI study where you compare normal people to athletes or people who really use motor skills like dart players, for example, you would hypothesize to find changes in the cerebellum," Jillings said. "This is not just because they trained once and then it changes and goes back. It's actually something that lasts in the brain."

On average, the Russian cosmonauts in the study spent six months onboard the space station. Researchers expected to see temporary changes in the cosmonauts' brains, but they were surprised to discover that the improved motor skills were still there several months after they'd returned to Earth.

"The difficulty with studying these cosmonauts is you don't really have a reference — nothing on Earth that it really can be compared to," Jillings said. "It's possible that when they go to their next mission that they actually are able to adapt more quickly."

Brains shift in space, potentially resulting in blurred vision

Many previous studies have revealed that astronauts experience physical changes in microgravity, including muscle and bone loss. Astronauts and cosmonauts on the ISS typically exercise more than two hours a day to combat this process. They can also feel disoriented or motion-sick while their body adjusts to a weightless environment.

One important difference between life in space and on Earth is that our blood and bodily fluids normally move against the downward tug of gravity, whereas in space, astronauts' bodily fluids shift upward.

The new study found that microgravity causes the brain to shift upward as well. This in turn redistributes the fluids in which the brain floats.

astronaut microgravity
Participants in the Parabolic Flight Campaign perform a weightlessness exercise in Bordeaux, France, October 16, 2019.

Jillings said his study found evidence that the fluid may pile up behind the eye, causing swelling. This could impair astronauts' near vision, resulting in a condition called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. 

2012 survey found the same effect among many NASA astronauts — up to 60% of those studied said they were seeing less clearly onboard the ISS. NASA even flies prescription glasses to space just in case an astronaut's vision changes.

But Jillings said there's still more to learn about this phenomenon, especially because not all astronauts or cosmonauts return to Earth with bad vision, and most astronauts studied only developed impaired vision in one eye. Some also recover their vision shortly after returning to Earth. 

What's more, many Russian cosmonauts have extremely sharp sight to begin with, so even after they complete a stint in space, their vision is still normal compared to the average person.

"The fact that we do see the small decrease probably means that there are some common effects across all people who spend six months in space," Jillings said.

Scientists are still trying to determine the degree to which the impaired eyesight could be permanent. An April study from the University of Texas found that swelling in astronauts' brains persisted one year after their return to Earth. But Jillings said there are no long-term follow-up studies to see how long the condition really lasts beyond that.

"There are not many studies looking into the brains of astronauts," he said.

Overall, Jillings added, it's good news that his study didn't pick up on any serious health effects linked to space travel. Previous studies, by contrast, have suggested that radiation in space could lead to neurodegeneration, which might accelerate the development of Alzheimer's disease among astronauts. 

"We did not find any evidence of detrimental changes to the brain," Jillings said. "It's actually more of an adaptation."

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Extreme heat and flooding are wiping out 70% of chili harvests in one of the largest pepper-growing regions in the world

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Chilis
The wholesale chili market in Kunri, Pakistan, is one of the largest in the world.
  • The town of Kunri, Pakistan, is famous for chili farming and is home to one of the largest chili markets in the world.
  • But in recent years, extreme heat and flooding have destroyed much of farmers' harvests, impacting the livelihoods "of about 30,000 people," one trader said.
  • Farmers expect to save just 30% of their chili crops this year — and that's after the coronavirus already set back business by three years.
  • View more episodes of Business Insider Today on Facebook.
Nearly 25,000 sacks of chilis are bought and sold every day at this wholesale market in southern Pakistan, one of the largest chili markets in the world.
Chilis
The wholesale chili market in Kunri, Pakistan, is one of the largest in the world.
But in recent years, harvests in the town of Kunri have gone down. Farmers say climate change is taking a severe toll.
Chilis
Kunri is especially famous for a pepper known as the 'longi' or 'gol' chili.
Chilis
Pakistan is the fourth-largest producer of chilis in the world, but the crop needs the right amount of rain to thrive. Last year's extreme heat led to the harvest falling by 40% compared to 2018.
Chilis_12

Source: The News International

Then, after months of extreme heat, Kunri and other parts of Pakistan saw the worst monsoon rains in 90 years in August.
Chilis

Source: Democracy Now

Chili farmers expect to save only 30% of their crop this year — a devastating blow to their incomes.
chilis
Traders at the wholesale market also suffered losses.
Chilis
"I think about 3,000 people work at this wholesale chili market. And probably each person who works here has 10 family members to support. So that means this market is responsible for the livelihood of about 30,000 people," chili trader Mohammad Saleem told Business Insider Today.
Chilis
Saleem has been working for decades at the wholesale market, where farmers bring in their harvests and workers pack it into sacks by hand. Each bag holds nearly 28 kilograms of peppers and fetches about 15,000 rupees, the equivalent of $90.
Chilis
Business came to a standstill because of the coronavirus, which forced the market to close earlier this year. "It set back our business by three years. We suffered big losses," chili trader Nadeem Kumbar said.
Chilis
When it comes to climate change, things are only expected to get worse. By 2050, annual average temperatures in Pakistan are projected to increase by 2.5 degrees Celsius, which means deadly heat waves and floods could happen every year, giving farmers more cause for concern.
Chilis

Source: The World Bank

It's another example of the changing climate's immediate impact on the planet and people's livelihoods.
Chilis
Read the original article on Business Insider

The top 9 movies on Netflix this week, from 'The Frozen Ground' to 'Quantum of Solace'

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the frozen ground
Nic Cage in "The Frozen Ground"
  • "Quantum of Solace" and "The Frozen Ground" were some of Netflix's most popular movies this week. 
  • Netflix introduced daily top lists of the most popular titles on the streaming service in February.
  • Streaming search engine Reelgood keeps track of the lists and provides Business Insider with a rundown of the week's most popular movies on Netflix every Friday.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A new James Bond movie, "No Time to Die," is set to hit theaters in November, but Netflix users aren't wasting any time getting their 007 fix.

2008's "Quantum of Solace," Daniel Craig's second outing as the character, is a hit on the streaming giant. But it's not as popular as the 2013 Nicolas Cage-starring thriller, "The Frozen Ground," or the Netflix original superhero movie, "Project Power."

Netflix introduced daily top 10 lists of its most viewed movies and TV shows in February (it counts a view if an account watches at least two minutes of a title).

Every week, the streaming search engine Reelgood compiles for Business Insider a list of which movies have been most prominent on Netflix's daily lists that week. On Reelgood, users can browse Netflix's entire movie library and sort by IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

Below are Netflix's 9 most popular movies of the week in the US:

9. "Boss Baby: Get That Baby!" (2020, Netflix original)
boss baby netflix

Description: "Think you've got what it takes to be the boss? This interactive special puts your skills to the test and matches you up with one of 16 jobs at Baby Corp."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: N/A

What critics said: N/A

8. "1BR" (2019)
1br movie

Description: "Seeking her independence, a young woman moves to Los Angeles and settles into a cozy apartment complex with a disturbing sense of community."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 85%

What critics said: "Real-life details culled from ex-members' accounts of life in groups like Scientology and NXIVM give the film an edgy ripped-from-the-headlines quality, as well as reinforcing the sheer L.A. of it all." — AV Club 

7. "Due Date" (2010)
due date

Description: "Days before his pregnant wife's due date, Peter lands on the 'no-fly' list, forcing him to drive across the country with an irritating slacker."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 40%

What critics said: "The most offensive bodily fluid being hurled around in Due Date are the tears that Phillips dishonestly tries to wrest from the audience's eyes." — Slate

6. "The Sleepover" (2020, Netflix original)
the sleepover netflix

Description: "What do you do if your parents are kidnapped by a crew of international thieves? You begin a wild overnight adventure — complete with spy gear."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 70%

What critics said: "The kind of vanilla, disposable product one imagines might've played on the Disney Channel around the turn of the century." — The Hollywood Reporter

5. "Quantum of Solace" (2008)
quantum of solace

Description: "Picking up an hour after the events of 2006's Casino Royale, this James Bond adventure finds 007 tracking a traitor who's infiltrated Britain's MI6."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 65%

What critics said: "Much has been made of the absence of Bond's signature quips, but there's something else that's absent: interest." — Time Out

4. "Drunk Parents" (2019)
drunk parents

Description: "Two desperate parents go to extreme lengths to hide their dire financial straits from their daughter and friends."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 0%

What critics said: "Hey, you sign on to a movie co-written and directed by the guy nominated for a Razzie for the heinous script to 'Grown Ups 2,' you take your chances." — Movie Nation

3. "The Smurfs" (2011)
The Smurfs

Description: "When evil Gargamel tries to capture them, the Smurfs flee their woodland home, pass through a magic portal and find themselves stranded in New York."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 21%

What critics said: "Filmgoers who enjoyed the cartoon (or comic strips) as a kid will very likely be left with the taste of sour Smurfberries." — Screenrant

2. "Project Power" (2020, Netflix original)
Project Power Netflix2

Description: "An ex-soldier, a teen and a cop collide in New Orleans as they hunt for the source behind a dangerous new pill that grants users temporary superpowers."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 60%

What critics said: "The undercooked plot works just well enough to fuel this vehicle for Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, mashing up old movies in a fast-paced package." — CNN

1. "The Frozen Ground" (2013)
the frozen ground

Description: "In this fact-based thriller, an Alaska state trooper pursuing a serial killer teams with a 17-year-old-prostitute who escaped the predator's clutches."

Rotten Tomatoes critic score: 61%

What critics said: "'The Frozen Ground' trucks in cliche, as most serial killer and police procedural films do, but the strength of the acting (from the leads down to people with only one or two lines) helps ground the film." — RogerEbert.com

Read the original article on Business Insider

The best menstrual cups

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  • Menstrual cups are more environmentally friendly than tampons and pads, and often more comfortable and easier to wear, too.
  • Our top pick is DivaCup, because it's easy to find in stores, comes in two sizes, and is made of flexible, healthcare-grade silicone material that holds up well over time. 

As someone who's gotten a period every month for the past 15-plus years, I consider myself a bit of an expert. But truthfully, it's taken quite a while for me to really get my period routine (it's a thing and it usually involves nachos) under control. It's still a work in progress, but at least I've finally stopped being surprised and thinking "Hm, what is this strange discomfort in my lower abdomen and lower back" every month.

One of the more helpful things I've found for making my period suck a little less is finding a receptacle (for lack of a better word) that I actually enjoy using. There are many options, from pads to tampons to absorbent underwear. These days, more and more people are making the switch from disposable options to a reusable menstrual cup. Cups are both better for the environment and lighter on the wallet.

Of course, menstrual cups take a little getting used to, since you literally need to wedge them inside your body for them to work. Once you get used to the idea and find the right one for you, they significantly cut down on leakage and other uncomfortable side effects of your period.

Here are the best menstrual cups:

Updated on 9/4/2020 by Mara Leighton: Checked prices and links and added mention of other menstrual cups we're looking forward to testing.

The best overall
Diva Cup

The DivaCup comes in two sizes, stays put, and can be worn for 12 hours, even when you're active.

If you've been researching menstrual cups you've probably come across the DivaCup, oh, half a dozen times. It's an extremely popular choice, in part because it's easy to find — I ordered one on Amazon but have also seen it at my local drugstore.

DivaCup is available in two sizes. Model 1, "recommended for those under the age of 30 who have never delivered vaginally or by cesarean section" and Model 2, recommended for everyone else. Of course, the size you use will depend more on your own physiology than anything else.

Both are made of BPA-free healthcare-grade silicone and can be worn leak-free for up to 12 hours. Reviewers do note that leakage is possible if the cup is improperly inserted, so it may take a bit of trial-and-error while you're getting used to using it.

This is a bit of a longer model, so if you have a lower cervix you might want to consider trying a brand that offers shorter cups.

Pros: Healthcare-grade silicone, plastic-, BPA- and dye-free, comes in two sizes, cute storage pouch

Cons: Might be long for some, instructions are a bit confusing, takes trial and error

The best disposable menstrual cup
Softcup

Softcup Disposable Menstrual Discs are the perfect way to experiment with menstrual cups without the commitment.

I discovered the Softcup Disposable Menstrual Discs on a recent vacation when my period snuck up on me the same day I planned to hit up some salt baths experience in Big Sur. I've never been into tampons, but I needed something that would keep the blood from ruining my bathing suit and the good time of the 28 strangers I'd be hanging out with in the water.

Softcup Disposable Menstrual Discs feature a silicone ring that secures at the base of the cervix and a flexible, bag-like piece of material that collects the blood. It claims to hold the equivalent of several tampons. Like reusable menstrual cups, it needs to be removed every 12 hours and replaced with a new disc. One package contains 14 Softcups.

These are more comfortable than tampons, and I actually find them much easier to insert and remove. Leakage is definitely possible if you don't get the placement exactly right, so I recommend wearing a backup pad on heavier days, at least the first few times.

Pros: Easy to use, latex-free, holds the equivalent of multiple tampons

Cons: Not reusable, can leak if not inserted properly

The best on a budget
Blossom cup

The Blossom Menstrual Cup is significantly less expensive than your average reusable cup but works just as well.

Menstrual cups save you money in the long-term since they don't need to be replaced often, but they can feel like an investment upfront. If you want to save some cash, the Blossom Menstrual Cup is a cheaper option that many think works just as well (if not better) than some of its pricier counterparts.

It's only a few dollars more than a box of disposable menstrual discs. Like DivaCup, this one comes in two sizes (Small and Large) and is made of pliable silicone for easy insertion.

The Blossom Menstrual Cup has a bit of a longer stem, which might be uncomfortable for some but also makes for easy removal. The stem is solid instead of hollow, so it doesn't collect blood and other debris, making for an easy clean.

The material is also softer and more flexible than some other leading menstrual cups and is made of FDA-approved medical-grade silicone. The brand definitely didn't skimp on quality to achieve that lower price tag.

Pros: Affordable, solid stem makes cleaning easier, flexible material, two sizes

Cons: Longer stem might be uncomfortable for some

The best for sensitive skin
Saalt

If other brands have been uncomfortable for you to use, try the gentler Saalt Menstrual Cup.

If the idea of using a menstrual cup made of super firm silicone freaks you out, consider trying the Saalt Menstrual Cup. Designed to be even gentler than the leading brands, it features a proprietary bulb shape and an indented removal stem made without ridges.

The silicone material is hypoallergenic, BPA-free, and non-toxic. The opening of the cup is rounded for a softer, more comfortable feel. If you have sensitive skin and vaginal walls that are prone to irritation, this is a great pick. Like most menstrual cups it comes in two sizes, small and large. It claims to last up to 10 years.

Pros: No ridges, smooth stem, hypoallergenic, two sizes

Cons: Pricey

The best menstrual cup for beginners
Lena cup

The petal-shaped Lena Menstrual Cup, with its flexible material and wide opening, is the perfect pick for beginners.

First thing's first — the Lena Menstrual Cup is really cute. It's shaped kind of like a tulip and comes in fun, bright colors that telegraph the message that no, you shouldn't be embarrassed about your period.

This is a great option for beginners because of the soft material and the shape and size of the opening. It's a bit wider than some other options on the market, so it's easier to get a proper seal and prevent leaks. Like many of our other picks, Lena offers both a small and a large option. But unlike most others, you don't have to guess which one might work for you. Lena includes both sizes in a two-pack.

The smaller one is easier to insert and will likely be easier for beginners to use, and then you can either graduate to the large if your flow or anatomy calls for it or simply continue to use the small.

There's even a specific sensitive option if you find the regular one uncomfortable.

Pros: Softer and flexible, two-pack available, unique shape forms to body contours, comes in Sensitive

Cons: Pricey

What else we're looking forward to testing
61mmc5sEuqL._AC_SL1024_

Overall, most menstrual cups work as they should, and tweaks to design cater to slightly different preferences, anatomical needs, and comfortability. Here are a few more options we're looking forward to testing for consideration, too.  

Lunette Cup ($35): Lunette menstrual cups claim to be easy for young users to figure out.

Cora Cup ($28): This cup also has the promise of 12-hour usage, and a finger indent that should make it seamless to fold and insert like a tampon. 

Flex Cup ($33): The Flex Menstrual Cup has a pull tab that mimics a tampon string and breaks the suction seal for easy removal.

Check out other related guides
UTK heating pad

The best heating pad

Many people turn to heating pads for fast relief from aches and pains, but no one needs them like a person scorned by period cramps. Check out our guide to the best heating pads you can buy.


The best women's underwear

You have to wear it every day, so you better make sure your underwear is the most comfortable clothing you own. We tested tons of underwear brands to bring you this list of the best places to buy them.


The best pajamas

A comfortable set of pajamas makes downtime even sweeter, and it only gets better when the pajamas look as good as they feel. Here's our list of the best pajamas for women.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Amazon delivery drivers reportedly say their plot to outsmart the company's system to land orders by hanging smartphones in trees has been foiled

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whole foods market amazon austin
Whole Food flagship store in Austin, Texas photographed June 16, 2017
  • Amazon drivers reportedly hung smartphones in trees outside of Whole Foods locations in order to be chosen over competing drivers to make deliveries.
  • That plan has reportedly stopped working, according to Bloomberg, and drivers say they've noticed a change in how the system chooses them for delivery routes.
  • A driver also told the outlet that they've noticed the smartphones disappear from where they were placed in the trees.
  • The reports come as the gig economy and its workers face increasing competition amid a steep drop in business during the pandemic.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

Amazon delivery drivers who had devised a system of hanging phones in trees outside of Whole Foods stores to secure deliveries ahead of competing drivers say the plan has been foiled, according to a new Bloomberg report.

Contract drivers told the outlet that they think Amazon has plugged the hole in its algorithm that allowed the drivers to play its system, a change that a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg would be easy for Amazon to make.

Drivers who had been frequently chosen for online orders since they were closer to pick-up spots, like Whole Foods stores, said they aren't getting the same amount of work, and others, located further from where orders originate say they're being chosen more often.

A driver also told the outlet that the phones are no longer placed in trees outside of a Whole Foods location where they normally were. The system was put in place by a network of drivers who were looking to secure deliveries ahead of competing drivers that weren't in on the scheme, as Bloomberg earlier reported.

Amazon did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on these new developments. A company spokesperson had previously told Business Insider in an email that "Instant Offers are another way for delivery partners to be their own boss and work on their own schedule," referring to the company's fast-delivery options.

"This story isn't an accurate description of how they work, and waiting in the parking lot or using the store Wi-Fi is not an effective way to increase one's chances of seeing an instant offer," the spokesperson added, referring to the Tuesday report.

The reports come as the gig economy and its workers, including those for ride-sharing giants Uber and Lyft, grapple with a steep drop in business during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Bloomberg noted, the drivers involved in the smartphone plot make about $15 for every delivery they are able to snag.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Cara Cara is a deals site that curates discounts on trendy clothing, accessories, and home decor from indie brands

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When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

baggu

  • It's more difficult to find deals on indie brands than the ones everyone knows about.
  • Cara Cara is a new site that focuses specifically on deals from non-mainstream clothing, accessory, and home brands.
  • At Cara Cara, you can get up to 50% off brands like Charlotte Stone, Rachel Antonoff, and Dusen Dusen. Nothing on the site costs more than $200, and there's free standard shipping for orders over $30. 
  • Thanks to Cara Cara, small brands get more exposure and a convenient platform to sell off their excess inventory, and price-minded shoppers can find deals on cool and interesting clothing and accessories.

Simple and versatile basics may form the foundation of your closet, but it's always the offbeat and slightly quirky items that are more exciting to wear. You know the ones — the smaller, indie brands you can find at local boutiques, retailers like Bando and Urban Outfitters, or directly on the brand's site. 

But one frustration shoppers tend to encounter with these smaller brands is that it's hard to know where else to shop them, or how to keep track of when the things they want go on sale. 

Cara Cara, founded by the former buyer at Bando, is a new site devoted to deals from non-mainstream clothing, accessory, and home brands. What Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx are to older generations who like buying name brands, Cara Cara is to younger generations who typically shop at digitally native brands or boutique stores. The desire to save money while doing so, however, doesn't disappear with this demographic.  

tula black

While at Bando, Rachel Gannon built its third-party buying strategy into a multimillion-dollar operation in two years. As she onboarded larger brands like Levi's and Vans, curated unique vendors, and stayed atop the latest product trends, she saw how difficult it was for smaller brands to move through their excess inventory. They often relied on sample sales to get rid of inventory, but still lacked the scale and voice to make it happen efficiently. 

Cara Cara, therefore, is helping out both parties stuck in an inefficient system. Small brands get a larger audience and platform for excess inventory, and price-minded shoppers can find cool and interesting clothing that's not available everywhere. 

At Cara Cara, you can get up to 50% off brands like Charlotte Stone, Rachel Antonoff, and Dusen Dusen. Sometimes, the discounts run deeper. Nothing on the site costs more than $200 and there's free standard shipping for orders over $30. There are also free returns within 30 days. 

Even as Cara Cara grows and adds partner brands, Gannon takes special care to keep the collections focused. "The brands we carry on the site are smaller indie brands, but really well designed," she says. The majority are also women-owned. Seasonality is another important consideration. Gannon says, "The pieces are special and seasonless — things you want to buy no matter what time of year it is." 

Here is a sampling of great deals that are live on Cara Cara now. Inventory can move quickly, so check back to the site often to find the latest deals. 

Shop all deals on indie fashion, accessories, and home at Cara Cara

Read the original article on Business Insider

I tried Factor 75, a service that sends you premade, dietician-designed meals starting at $11

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factor 75 meal delivery review 2

  • Pre-made meal delivery is the ultimate form of convenience: all you have to do is receive your order at your door and heat up the meal in the microwave. 
  • One of our new favorite services for pre-made meal delivery is Factor 75, whose chef- and dietician-designed meals start at $11.
  • I tried four meals, including Pesto Salmon and Cajun Shrimp Jambalaya, and loved them. They were delicious, easy to prepare, and nutritious. 
  • See also: The best pre-made meal delivery services
Table of Contents: Static

While meal kit delivery services help cut down on the time and effort of cooking, there are some of us who don't even want to touch the stove, period. You can't beat the convenience of a pre-made meal, especially when you're having a busy week.

While refrigerated or frozen pre-made meals have a bad reputation for being flavorless or uninspiring, a recent wave of new pre-made meal delivery services is starting to change that. 

Factor 75 is one of them. Not only does it deliver its meals right to your door, but it also works with chefs and dieticians to create a variety of dishes that cater to different nutritional needs, so you can stay healthy, no matter how busy you are. 

How Factor 75 works 

The service's plans range from four meals a week to 18 meals a week, so you can pick one that best fits your schedule and preferences. If you just need a quick and nutritious supplement to your regular meal routine, the four, six, or eight meal-plan will be best. The 12 or 18-meal plans are good if you don't plan on cooking most of the week. The cost per meal goes down as the number of meals goes up — it's $15 per meal for the four-meal plan versus $11 per meal for the 18-meal plan. 

Factor 75 updates its menu every week. There are breakfast, lunch, and dinner options and you can filter by different nutritional needs such as paleo, keto, and plant-based. There are also add-ons under the "Factor+" category, including healthy desserts, soups, and cold-pressed juices for an additional cost. 

factor 75 menu

Meals are always delivered on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday depending on your zip code. They're shipped in insulated boxes with cold gel packs, and you can store them in the fridge for up to seven days. Whenever you're ready to eat, just heat the tray up in the microwave or oven. 

Factor 75 meal review 

The company provided me a code to try four meals, so I created an account and chose some dishes that looked tasty. I'm an omnivore and have no allergies or dietary restrictions, but if you have specific preferences, you can mark them in your profile so the menu is more customized to you. 

Additionally, if you need help choosing meals for your dietary needs and nutritional goals, Factor 75 offers free consultations with its dieticians, who will set you up with a personalized nutrition plan. 

There was a lot to choose from, but I ultimately picked the Pesto Salmon, Keto Poblano Bowl, Peanut Buddha Bowl, and Creole Shrimp Jambalaya. 

I had no problems with delivery. Everything arrived safely and securely together in an insulated box. 

factor 75 meal delivery review

I was impressed by the quality and taste of each dish. They were all fresh and delicious and exceeded my expectations for refrigerated or pre-made meals. The shrimp, for example, were plump and juicy, and the garlic spinach that came with the pesto salmon — probably my favorite side — was creamy and flavorful. 

Most of Factor 75's meals are 500 to 700 calories. They're nutritionally dense and made with natural ingredients, so I felt full and satisfied rather than itching to grab a snack just one hour later.

They also heat up in a few minutes, making them great for a lunchtime meal. During the week I tried Factor 75, I was working from home and packing for a move, so I didn't have much spare time to cook. The Factor 75 meals were easy and convenient and took care of lunch so I could focus on other priorities that week. It helped that they actually tasted good and I looked forward to the next meals. 

Who should order from Factor 75

Factor 75 has various filters for different kinds of diets, but seems to have the most offerings for keto and high protein diets. If those are your priorities, you'll have much to choose from in the Factor 75 menu. However, if you're vegan or plant-based, you'll probably have better luck with a service like Veestro, which is completely catered towards plant-based lifestyles. 

I thought Factor 75 was great for someone like me who doesn't necessarily have specific nutritional goals or adhere to a certain diet but wants to eat healthier in general. All the meals looked interesting and flavorful and the fact that they were high in protein, veggie-packed, or low carb was an added bonus. 

The bottom line 

For delicious and versatile pre-made meals, you can't go wrong with Factor 75. It's the perfect place to order meal delivery when you don't want to deal with cooking and still want to stay healthy. 

 

Read the original article on Business Insider

7 places to buy prescription glasses and sunglasses online using insurance, HSA, or FSA money

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  • Instead of haggling with a store clerk for a pair of generic eyeglasses, take your prescription eyewear shopping online. 
  • EyeBuyDirect, Zenni, Warby Parker, Felix Gray, GlassesUSA.com, and Eyeconic are making it easy and affordable to find a pair of stylish prescription glasses and sunglasses. 
  • Some accept insurance, while all accept FSA and HSA dollars to help bring down the cost of your glasses.
  • A couple also feature virtual try-on options so you really never have to step into a physical store again. 

I remember visiting the optometrist's office as a kid, emerging from my eye exam to peruse the books of gorgeous glasses-donning models with furrowed brows — as if I could afford those frames then or even now as an adult. 

Traditional optometrist offices and glasses retailers tend to overcharge or upsell you on their frames, but it's easier to skirt this awkward and painfully expensive process today. Grab your prescription and go to your laptop or phone instead. There are now many online glasses retailers that can provide a seamless, convenient, and affordable shopping experience. 

As a glasses-wearer, you probably often feel like you're being punished for not having perfect vision, but these retailers will make you enjoy shopping for glasses again. They offer a large variety of frames, from the classic to the quirky; are able to accommodate for all different types of lenses; and even throw in a nice discount now and then. 

Some other things to take into consideration when shopping online for glasses are whether the retailer accepts insurance and FSA/HSA dollars, offers a virtual try-on option (and if not, whether it has a generous return and exchange policy), and has kids' styles if you want to shop for the whole family. 

Learn more about the 7 best places to buy glasses online:

EyeBuyDirect
EyeBuyDirect

Shop glasses at EyeBuyDirect here

Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at EyeBuyDirect:

Why you should shop at EyeBuyDirect: Not only are EyeBuyDirect's frames incredibly affordable, but they're also really stylish, so you never feel like you have to decide between your wallet and your look. They're made from metal and premium acetate and hold up well, and since they're so inexpensive, you can get multiple pairs if you tire of wearing the same frames every day. Lenses start at just $7, and available options include single-vision distance, reading lenses, Transition lenses, progressives, and bifocals.

Virtual try-on option: No. But you can see its guides for how to pick glasses for your face shape and how to take frame measurements. It has a 14-day free exchange and return policy.

Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.

Read our full review on EyeBuyDirect here.

Zenni
zenni optical

Shop glasses at Zenni here

Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Zenni:

Why you should shop at Zenni: Similarly affordable is Zenni Optical, where it's easy to shop by style, face shape, and collection. You can also find specialty frames such as Sports Glasses and Goggles, so the range of options is truly diverse. It's a great place to shop for the whole family because it separates the kids' section further into little kid, pre-teen, and teen categories. Its resource library of guides is robust and demystifies all your questions about the costs of wearing glasses, why you might want to consider progressives, and many more topics. 

Virtual try-on option: Yes. Use Zenni's video capture tool to get a 180-degree view of how the frames will look on you. It has a 30-day return policy where you can get 50% back directly or 100% back in-store credit. 

Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.  

 

Warby Parker
Warby Parker

Shop glasses at Warby Parker here

Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Warby Parker: 

Why you should shop at Warby Parker: Most of Warby Parker's frames cost $95 and include the price of the lens (if you get the classic, non-blue light and non-light responsive ones). This does make them pricier than other online glasses brands, but you do get the benefit of free Home Try-On, a large variety of on-trend styles to choose from, and the opportunity to visit a physical Warby Parker location near you. In addition, the company distributes a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair purchased. 

Virtual try-on option: Yes. Its iOS app, available for iPhone X, features a Virtual Try-On option. It also has a Home Try-On program where you can pick out five frames to have sent to your house for free. You have five days to try them and decide which to keep. Send them all back and Warby will send you a fresh pair. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy. 

Insurance and other programs: Accepts insurance from major providers, including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Anthem, etc. If your provider is not listed, you will need to contact your insurance company directly for reimbursement. Check your vision benefits here

Warby Parker also accepts FSA and HSA dollars for all prescription eyewear purchases. 

Read our full review on Warby Parker here.

YesGlasses
YesGlasses

Shop glasses at YesGlasses here

Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at YesGlasses: 

Why you should shop at YesGlasses: YesGlasses has a great selection of stylish frames, incredibly affordable prices, and many lens options. All prescription glasses from YesGlasses come standard with high-index 1.61 lenses, but you'll find options for "super-thin" 1.67 lenses and "ultra-thin" 1.74 lenses. This is important for people who have a stronger prescription and want a thinner lens.

Virtual try-on option: YesGlasses does have a virtual try-on option. In order to try on glasses virtually, you'll need to upload a photo of yourself without glasses on your face and have your pupillary distance (PD) handy. If you don't have it handy, you can learn how to measure your PD here.

Insurance and other programs: YesGlasses accepts Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts(FSA) for purchasing prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses, as long as your FSA or HSA account is affiliated with a major credit card. For all other insurance, YesGlasses can provide a detailed copy of the invoice so you can request reimbursement through your insurance provider.

Read our full review of YesGlasses here.

Felix Gray
felix gray

Shop glasses at Felix Gray here

Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Felix Gray: 

Why you should shop at Felix Gray: Felix Gray started primarily as a computer glasses company, highlighting the negative effects of our increasingly digital world. All of its glasses contain a blue light filter to provide relief from the harsh light of our computer and phone screens. If you already know you want blue light glasses, Felix Gray is probably the most convenient place to get them since it bundles the feature directly into all its prescription glasses options

Virtual try-on option: No. Check Felix Gray's Fit Guide to see which pair will look best. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy. 

Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.  

GlassesUSA.com
glassesusa deal

Shop glasses at GlassesUSA.com here

Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at GlassesUSA.com: 

Why you should shop at GlassesUSA.com: GlassesUSA.com is the largest online eyewear retailer, operating in over 92 countries, and selling both designer and in-house brands. Though prices can run into the hundreds and even thousands because of the designer leaning, it often runs sales and promotions (and we also have some Business Insider promo codes for you here), which can help you save on a sleek new pair of glasses. There are multiple ways to give your prescription information: You can fill it out online, upload it, have your doctor send it directly to the site, or use previously saved information. 

Virtual try-on option: Yes. You can use its virtual mirror, and see its guides for how to find your frame size and the best glasses for your face shape. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy. 

Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.  

Read our full review on GlassesUSA.com here.

Eyeconic
eyeconic

Shop glasses at Eyeconic here

Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Eyeconic: 

  • Eyeglasses for men ($96-$600+), women ($96-$500+), and kids ($103-$200+)
  • Sunglasses for men ($65-$700+), women ($69-$900+), and kids ($73-$185) 

Why you should shop at Eyeconic: Eyeconic is part of VSP Vision Care and thus accepts insurance. It also helps connect you to 38,000 doctors if you need an optometrist, giving you a more convenient and online-centric version of the traditional eye care experience. Like GlassesUSA, it offers designer brands as well as many discounts and promotions — the difference is that Eyeconic is more closely tied to the eye care professional community and insurance companies, plus it has a couple retail one-stop shops. 

Virtual try-on option: Yes. Use Eyeconic's video capture tool to get a 180-degree view of how the frames will look on you. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy. 

Insurance and other programs: Accepts insurance from VSP, MetLife, and Cigna Vision. If your provider is not listed, you will need to contact your insurance company directly for reimbursement.

Eyeconic also accepts FSA and HSA dollars for all prescription eyewear purchases. 

Read the original article on Business Insider

Gold's rally may have paused, but the world's biggest wealth manager still thinks a 10% allocation to bullion is 'not a bad move right now'

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FILE PHOTO: Gold coins are displayed at the Ginza Tanaka store in Tokyo September 18, 2008. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold coins are displayed at Ginza Tanaka store in Tokyo
  • Gold prices have lost some ground in recent weeks, but the world's largest wealth manager thinks it should still play a key role in investors' portfolios. 
  • Charles Day, private wealth advisor at UBS Wealth Management told Business Insider: "In terms of being diversified with everything that has gone on, having a small allocation, maybe up to 10%, is not a bad move right now."
  • Gold prices surged in August, crossing the $2,000-an-ounce mark for the first time ever.
  • Prices have fallen in recent weeks but some market watchers think the rally isn't over. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Gold has been one of the biggest bull markets of 2020, hitting record highs and attracting record investment. The rally has slowed down in the last month, raising the question of whether investors should hold so much of it.

But UBS, the world's biggest wealth manager, still thinks the precious metal can still form up to 10% of a diversified portfolio. 

Charles Day, private wealth advisor and senior portfolio manager at UBS Wealth Management told Business Insider in an interview: "I do think the rally has paused over here. But in terms of being diversified, with everything that has gone on having a small allocation, maybe up to 10% is not a bad move right now."

He added: "I think there is [still] room for that." Day bought gold for the first time in about ten years towards the end of last year, when the price was below $1,600 an ounce.

The price of gold is currently hovering around $1,929 per ounce. 

Read More: A UBS real estate-investing chief told us 5 ways investors can profit from the pandemic's transformation of how Americans live and work — including the housing markets poised to boom

Last month, gold crossed $2,000 for the first time in history on the back of greater geopolitical tensions and a weaker dollar. It hit an all-time high of $2,063.68 on August 6. 

But the rally has slowed down over the last month. Gold price closed at its lowest level in almost a week on Thursday at $1930.30. 

Day's view reinforces gold is still a good hedge against a weak dollar. 

He added: "It could be a good hedge with interest rates where they are, with the dollar where it is and with the markets where they are."

A weaker dollar is usually supportive for gold prices. This is because it makes it cheaper for non-US investors to buy bullion, which is quoted in US dollars. 

Read More: One of Tesla's biggest bulls on Wall Street breaks down how the company's $5 billion stock sale could benefit retail investors — and explains why the electric-car giant would still be cheap at $1,400 per share in 2024 

The Fed and central banks across the world have poured billions of dollars worth of stimulus to help economies ride out the pandemic. This drives down interest rates and yields and increases gold prices. 

Unlike cash, gold prices do not offer any return. So when interest rates are low, it means investors have to sacrifice less to hold the precious metal. 

"I had not bought gold in over a decade until the end of last year. UBS said it [is beneficial] to have a small allocation to gold. I put in a 5% allocation at the end of last year," Day said. 

His views are in line with Standard Chartered's strategist Manpreet Gill who said last month "We think gold's run ... hasn't quite finished yet."

"It comes back to interest rates. One of the best explanations of why gold has surged the way it has through this year have been bond yields," Gill added. 

But not everyone is convinced that gold has much upside. 

"I own Google, I own Amazon, I own Microsoft, and Facebook," investor Leon Cooperman told CNBC during an interview Monday.  "They're better than gold."

Read the original article on Business Insider

Warren Buffett auctioned off a wallet containing a stock tip for $210,000 in 1999

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warren buffett
Financial investor Warren Buffett is acknowledged during an announcement ceremony at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, January 28, 2015.
  • Warren Buffett raised $210,000 for charity in 1999 by auctioning off a wallet containing a stock tip.
  • The famed investor's 20-year-old wallet also contained a Geico business card and an expired Hooters discount pass, according to The Wall Street Journal.
  • The winning bidder offered to share the stock tip with anyone who donated at least $1,000 to Omaha charity Girls Inc, and around 30 people agreed to his terms.
  • Buffett's stock tip was First Industrial Realty Trust, a real-estate investment trust in which he personally invested $43 million then cashed out within a couple of years.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Warren Buffett auctioned off a wallet containing a stock tip, a Geico business card, and an expired Hooters half-price pass for $210,000 in 1999.

The billionaire investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway — which owns auto-insurer Geico — donated the proceeds to Girls Inc, a charity which helps young girls in his hometown of Omaha, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Read More: A UBS real estate-investing chief told us 5 ways investors can profit from the pandemic's transformation of how Americans live and work — including the housing markets poised to boom

Buffett's 20-year-old wallet was nothing special. Its only claim to fame was surviving almost an hour in a Minnesota lake after Buffett's business partner Charlie Munger accidentally sunk their fishing boat.

However, Buffett's inclusion of a "winning" stock tip attracted lots of interest. His chosen stock turned out to be First Industrial Realty Trust, a real-estate investment trust that owns warehouses and distribution facilities across the US.

The winner of Buffett's wallet, John Morgan, promised to share the tip with anyone who donated at least $1,000 to Girls Inc. About 30 people took him up on his offer including Fred Henry, a 40-year-old well driller at the time, whose family quickly bought some First Industrial shares.

"We kind of tried to keep it quiet a little bit until we got ourselves into position," Henry told The Journal. "It's been a fun little adventure."

Read More: One of Tesla's biggest bulls on Wall Street breaks down how the company's $5 billion stock sale could benefit retail investors — and explains why the electric-car giant would still be cheap at $1,400 per share in 2024

Henry had been hoping for a more exciting stock recommendation such as Level Three Communications, a telecoms group that was eventually acquired by CenturyLink in 2017. "I guess I'm not as conservative as Mr Buffett," he said.

Indeed, Buffett liked First Industrial enough to personally shell out $43 million for a 4% stake in the company. Yet he didn't hold it for long, as Berkshire told The Journal in August 2001 that he was no longer an investor.

As for the Hooters pass, Buffett received that in exchange for letting the restaurant chain feature his birthday on their calendars, The Journal said. The investor was upgraded to a Hooters VIP card in 2006, allowing him to eat for free at any of their locations.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Volkswagen just unveiled the airy, minimalist interior for its first American EV — check out the upcoming ID.4

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ID.4_Interior 12176
Volkswagen ID.4 EV interior.
  • The ID.4 will be Volkswagen’s first all-electric car offered in the US.
  • It’s built on Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix technology platform, otherwise known as "MEB."
  • The ID.4 will officially debut later this month.
  • Interior photos published on Friday show an airy but conservative interior.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Volkswagen already has an all-electric car out in the form of the ID.3 hatchback, but that particular model isn't destined for US shores. Instead, we'll be getting the yet-to-be-unveiled ID.4 fully electric SUV, which you can get a look inside of now.

The German automaker published a series of photos of the EV's interior on Friday ahead of its world debut, set to take place later this month. 

Judging from the photos, the cabin of the ID.4 looks to be an airy place, with big windows and good forward visibility, at least. Volkswagen said the trunk has 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space when the second row seats are upright. That's a bit less than the 2020 Toyota RAV4, which has 37.5 cubic feet of space.

Regardless, it's a pretty conservative interior, which can be a good thing. Buyers are used to their cars looking a certain way and if we want EVs to really catch on in the mainstream like Volkswagen is aiming to do with the ID.4, it can't have a far-out interior that will alienate buyers.

Read on to see more.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is the all-electric SUV that’s coming to the US market. It hasn’t been officially unveiled yet.
ID.4_electric_vehicle_concept 12079
Volkswagen ID.4 EV concept.
Volkswagen has a whole family of electric cars planned that will all use its modular electric drive matrix technology platform, called "MEB" for short.
ID.4_electric_vehicle_concept 12081
Volkswagen ID.4 EV concept.
On Friday, Volkswagen published images of the ID.4’s interior.
ID.4_Interior 12176
Volkswagen ID.4 EV interior.
Volkswagen's head of group design, Klaus Zyciora, described it as "freedom on the outside, free space on the inside."
ID.4_Interior 12177
Volkswagen ID.4 EV interior.
Judging from the pictures, it does look super airy inside.
ID.4_Interior 12178
Volkswagen ID.4 EV interior.
There's an optional fixed panoramic glass roof that will let in lots of light.
ID.4_Interior 12179
Volkswagen ID.4 EV interior.
And there will be 30 different colors of ambient lighting to choose from.
ID.4_Interior 12180
Volkswagen ID.4 EV interior.
The ID.4 looks like a "normal" car on the inside, which is good, because sometimes a too-weird interior will alienate buyers.
ID.4_Interior 12182
Volkswagen ID.4 EV interior.
The ID.4 will officially debut later this month.
ID.4 11068
Volkswagen ID.4 EV.
Read the original article on Business Insider

Pete Davidson isn't the only one — 52% of young adults are living with their parents, according to a new poll

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pete davidson stuck at home
Pete Davidson during the "Stuck in the House" Saturday Night Live sketch on Saturday, April 25, 2020
  • Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, 52% of young adults are living with their parents, according to a new analysis by Pew Research center.
  • That's the higher than any prior measure on record, even surpassing the Great Depression's peak. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Pete Davidson isn't the only one: 52% of young Americans are living with their parents, according to a new poll by Pew Research Center.

The number is now the highest on record, according to Pew, surpassing the 48% peak recorded during the Great Depression.

Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a large portion of 18- to 29-year-olds were living with a parent. A 2016 report said millennial men were more likely to live with a mom or dad than with a significant other. And a 2019 report found that millenials, already behind because of the 2008 financial crisis, are plagued by four main costs: college tuition, housing, healthcare, and childcare. In July of 2019, 47% of young adults lived with a parent.

But the coronavirus pandemic has worsened the economic outlook for this generation struggling financially, pushing 2.6 million more young people to move back home. One quarter of young-adult workers, aged 16 to 24, lost their jobs between February and May, according to Pew, and another study found that 18- to 29-year-olds lost jobs or received pay cuts in greater shares than other age groups. 

Comedian and actor Pete Davidson, who is known to live in the basement of a Long Island home he bought with his mom, put the phenomenon simply on an episode of "Saturday Night Live." "She's not just my mom," he said. "She's also my roommate."

 

Read the original article on Business Insider

Kanye West's spent nearly $6 million of his own money on his presidential campaign in its first month alone

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kanye west.JPG
Kanye West speaks at a campaign event in North Charleston, South Carolina on July 19, 2020.
  • Kanye West has spent nearly $6 million on his presidential bid so far, according to his first filing with the Federal Election Commission. 
  • The filing, which covers fundraising and spending between July 15 and August 30, shows that the rapper has mostly self-funded his long-shot run, loaning the campaign $6.8 million. 
  • The campaign has spent $5.9 million so far, mostly on efforts to get on the ballot in states. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Kanye West is mostly self-funding his presidential bid, and his campaign spent nearly $6 million in the first month alone, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings. 

The rapper kicked off his presidential run in July, and Friday marked the first time that West's campaign had to disclose fundraising and spending to the FEC.

The Friday filing shows that West has loaned his campaign $6.8 million, and that the campaign has received $11,000 in outside contributions, according to Politico

The campaign has spent $5.9 million so far — mostly on efforts to get him on the ballot in several states. 

West is currently on the ballot in 10 states, according to Deadline, but has been rejected from several others and is currently suing to get on some of those contested ballots. 

Many have questioned why West has entered the race, speculating that he's running to drum up attention for a new album or to hurt Democratic nominee Joe Biden's chances of beating President Donald Trump, who West has supported in the past. 

The FEC filing shows that West's campaign has spent $4.4 million getting onto ballots, and owes $1.2 million to political consultants. 

Other line items include $444,000 to Millennial Strategies for polling and $95,000 to a charter jet company. 

West's total wealth is estimated at $1.3 billion.

Read the original article on Business Insider

This luxurious custom Land Rover is for people who want a car and a yacht — see inside the 'Defender Yachting Edition'

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Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
  • Polish car-customization firm Carlex Design just dropped images of its latest offering — a lavish Land Rover Defender catered to the yachting community. 
  • Dubbed the Defender Yachting Edition, the SUV boasts a brushed-silver exterior and a custom interior with wood flooring.
  • Carlex also offers a yacht-themed package for the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen and the Mercedes X-Class pickup, which isn't available in the US. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sometimes when you're on the road, you can't help but wish you were out at sea — traffic and the sound of the pavement miles away. Or at least, that's probably how the owners of luxury yachts feel. 

Luckily, Polish customization company Carlex Design exists. The firm dropped designs for a yacht-themed Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen earlier this year, and now there's a new member of that lineup: the Land Rover Defender. 

The Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition, which Carlex recently shared details and renderings of, is "made for those who prioritise luxury, love sunny, marine style, and need off-road performance and reliability," the company said. On the outside, Carlex's new Defender gets a brushed-silver paint job, bespoke rims, and a spare-tire cover with an extravagant compass design. But it's on the inside where things get truly nautical. 

Keep scrolling to take a look at the luxurious Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition. 

Polish firm Carlex Design customizes both car and boat interiors — and, every so often, it mashes those two parts of its business together to create something wild.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
Carlex recently announced its new Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition, a nautically themed take on Land Rover's latest SUV.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
The Yachting-Edition Defender is "made for those who prioritise luxury, love sunny, marine style, and need off-road performance and reliability," Carlex said.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
The SUV will feature a brushed-silver paint job on its body ...
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
... and on its custom wheels.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
The spare-tire cover comes etched with a compass design ...
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
... and bears the words "Yachting Edition." You know, in case you forgot.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
Inside, however, is where things get even more yacht-y.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
Carlex designed its new Defender with a wood floor in the trunk, like you might find on a yacht's deck.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
And you'd better wear your boat shoes, because there's wood decking in the footwells, too.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
In addition to a cream color scheme, Carlex offers a brown interior.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
Both get wood-covered steering wheels and sporty bucket seats.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
But the Defender Yachting Edition isn't just a one-off build — it's part of Carlex's larger collection of boat-themed custom cars. The firm also designed a Yachting-Edition Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen ...
Carlex Design G Yachting Limited Edition
Carlex Design G Yachting Limited Edition
... with a similarly woody interior.
Carlex Design G Yachting Limited Edition
Carlex Design G Yachting Limited Edition
And the company also created a Yachting version of the X-Class pickup ...
MERCEDES XCLASS YACHTING
Mercedes X-Class Yachting style package.
... complete with teak decking on the bed.
Carlex Design G Yachting Limited Edition
Carlex Design G Yachting Limited Edition
Carlex didn't share pricing for the Defender Yachting Edition just yet. But considering the SUV itself will run you at least $50,000, the whole package won't come cheap.
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition
Land Rover Defender Yachting Edition.
Read the original article on Business Insider

Kanye West claims he's worth $5 billion in new interview after striking 10-year Gap deal

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Kanye West
  • Kanye West now says his net worth is $5 billion, up from $3.3 billion, after inking a decade-long Yeezy deal with Gap.
  • Forbes last estimated his net worth to be $1.3 billion, though the publication noted West had shown them financial documents claiming it was over $3 billion, but it has yet to revise its estimate following the Yeezy-Gap deal.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Kanye West says his deal with Gap nearly doubled his net worth.

West made the claim on a September 1 episode of 'Cannon's Class,' telling podcast host Nick Cannon that his net worth is now $5 billion.

"So look, this year it was simple," said West. "I was on the Bloomberg list... [and] they finally recognized that my net worth at that time was $3.3 billion. And then my net worth almost doubled after I did the Gap deal to $5 billion."

West was absent from the Forbes Billionaires 2020 list earlier this year, but the publication has since estimated his net worth to be $1.3 billion, though the publication noted West showed them financial documents claiming he was worth $3 billion.

Early in the conversation, West said he had been "intentionally snuffed" from the Forbes Billionaires list in the past because he didn't become a billionaire in a traditional way. West has also claimed that Forbes will not include him on the list due to his skin color, a claim he has made in the past. A Forbes spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on West's statements.

Neither Forbes nor Bloomberg appear to have updated their net worth estimates of West yet to reflect the impact of the 10-year Gap deal on his net worth.

Business Insider has reached out to West's representatives for further clarification and details regarding the $5 billion claim.

Although West is best known for his music, most of his wealth comes from his Yeezy brand, which he has sole ownership of. 

The Gap deal marks a new beginning for the retailer, which has struggled in recent years. When the deal was announced, Gap's stock rose by 42%, adding more than $1 billion to its market cap. Since the announcement of the partnership, West has dropped some hints on his Twitter account about the new fashion line.

 

West and Cannon covered other topics in the 45-minute interview, including West's 'Sunday Service' series, mental health, and architecture.

This is the first high-profile interview for the podcast series since Cannon made some controversial statements last month. 

In a July episode of the podcast, Cannon said that Black people are "the true Hebrews" during an interview with rapper and spoken word artist Richard Griffin. The statements led to Cannon being accused of being anti-Semitic, and he was dropped from his longtime deal with ViacomCBS.

You can watch the full interview between West and Cannon below.

 

Read the original article on Business Insider

Photos from 10 countries around the world show why most Americans say they are 'embarrassed' by the US coronavirus response

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new zealand and china under control
Infection rates in China and New Zealand are so low that people can get cheek-to-cheek without risking much. The same can't be said in the US.
  • Countries like China and New Zealand have learned how to dance effectively with the coronavirus, minimizing and controlling their outbreaks.
  • But the US has not, and still carries the unenviable distinction of tallying the most confirmed coronavirus cases of any country, and the most deaths. 
  • Here's a glimpse into 9 other countries around the globe that are dealing with the pandemic far better than America is right now.
  • They include New Zealand, China, Senegal, Ghana, Spain, France, Mexico, India, and South Korea. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

 

No place on Earth has logged more coronavirus infections or more deaths than the United States.

In China — where the outbreak began — people are gathering without masks, because the risk of catching COVID-19 (the disease caused by the virus) is so low.

In India, where cases are spiking, the government is rushing out mobile testing centers — no bigger than a food truck — which deliver results to residents for free, in minutes.

Most Americans, when asked, say their country's response to the virus makes them feel "embarrassed" and an overwhelming majority are angry, expressing frustration that more isn't being done to fight the pandemic on their shores, according to a recent CNN poll

Here's a glimpse at how nine other countries are more effectively tackling the virus's global spread, and how America stacks up: 

In Wuhan, China, more than 1 million children went back to school this week.
china first day of school 2020 wuhan
Students listen to a speech by a doctor in a ceremony kicking off the new semester in Wuhan, China, Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

2,842 kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools reopened on Tuesday, September 1 in the city where the coronavirus outbreak began, China's state news agency reported. 

There are no confirmed coronavirus cases in the city of Wuhan, or surrounding area, so the kids don't always need to wear masks.
wuhan high school
Students take part in the opening ceremony of a new semester at Wuhan High School in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, September 1, 2020.

According to DXY, an online tool run by people in the Chinese medical community, there are currently no confirmed coronavirus infections in the entire Hubei province, where Wuhan is located.

Chinese state media reported the last confirmed case of the virus in the region was released from the hospital on August 31. 

Back in the US, hundreds of students have already contracted the virus, after returning to class mask-free.
North Paulding High School
A photo showing a packed hallway at North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia, on August 3, 2020.

Several schools in US states including Georgia, Tennessee, and Indiana that reopened for classes in recent weeks have had to shutter once again, after battling major virus outbreaks. 

There are at least 70 other, major outbreaks of the coronavirus on college and university campuses nationwide. 

Only a few dozen new cases of the virus are being diagnosed nationwide in China every day.
china beer festival
Residents and tourists drink beer on the first weekend after the opening of the 30th Qingdao International Beer Festival in Shandong Province, China, August 1, 2020.

The World Health Organization said there are "clusters" of cases being diagnosed in the country, as opposed to the widespread community transmission in the US. 

 

Many of the cases being diagnosed in China now are imported by travelers from abroad.
china night market 2020
Women wearing traditional clothing posing for photos as they visit a night market in Wuhan, China on August 27, 2020.

There were 33 new confirmed cases of the virus reported in China in the past 24 hours, according to the WHO on Friday. Shanghai reported five new cases of the virus imported there Friday, all Chinese nationals traveling home from studying or working abroad.

Since March, China has chiefly only opened its borders to allow Chinese people traveling home to return, even making it difficult for foreign nationals living in China to re-enter the country. China also enforced strict quarantining measures on anyone returning from abroad.

But just earlier this week, China started allowing foreign travelers from a very select list of countries back in. For now, they include Canada, Sweden, Australia, and Thailand. Travelers to China must submit proof they've tested negative for the virus, before they fly. 

In contrast, the US had logged more than 42,660 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours on Thursday, according to the WHO. Travel bans in the US are weaker, and community spread is broad.

In South Korea, high-tech thermal camera temperature checks are the new norm. They're not perfect at pinpointing infections, but it's one part of a multi-pronged strategy.
south korea covid monitoring
South Korean actress Eugene walks through a thermal camera system to check her body temperature as she arrives on the red carpet of the 56th annual Daejong Film Awards in Seoul on June 3, 2020 amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Temperature checks don't have a great track record with the coronavirus, in large part because they can miss so many cases of the virus in people who are sick with a low-grade fever, or no fever at all. However, this is just one tool in South Korea's box.

 

South Korea is also using ample testing and contact tracing.
south korea covid testing
A coronavirus testing station in Seoul on August 26, 2020.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the country has a roughly 1.1% test positivity rate, compared to the US's 5.5%.

On Thursday, 195 new cases of the virus were reported nationwide in South Korea.

The country also takes its contact tracing very seriously, helping prevent infections from spreading in a community quickly. 

Contact tracing in the US has been hard to carry out as well as South Korea's, in large part because the country's testing system is also flawed.
contact tracing contact tracer coronavirus covid-19
Medical student Rebecca DeCarlo conducts a follow-up interview with a person being monitored by the Georgia Department of Public Health for infection or exposure to the coronavirus in Savannah, Georgia, on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

One of the biggest barriers to contact tracing in the US has been the country's lagging test results, which delay notification of infected individuals, and thus to those who they've been in contact with, by critical days.

But there are myriad other reasons the US contact tracing system has fallen short too, which include a lack of built-up trust between patients and tracers, a sky high number of infected people, and an inadequate contact tracing workforce

"It is broken because so many parts of our prevention system are broken." Carolyn Cannuscio, a contact tracing expert and associate professor of family medicine and community health at the University of Pennsylvania, recently told the New York Times

In the US, coronavirus cases are still spreading rapidly across many states.
coronavirus testing
Motorists line up at a drive-through site to collect samples for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic testing in Leesburg, Virginia, May 20, 2020.

South Dakota and Iowa are seeing some of the nation's most severe surges, with roughly one in four tests performed in those states returning a positive result.

According to Reuters' coronavirus tracker, both of those states saw their case counts double last week, as more people contracted the virus.

 

South Dakota was recently host to a major motorcycle rally in August, where more than 400,000 bikers mingled.
Sturgis 2020, bikers, South Dakota
Every year up to three quarters of a million bikers ride through the scenic Black Hills to Sturgis, South Dakota for its annual motorcycle rally.

At least one of the rally attendees has since died from COVID-19

In India, where the virus is also spreading fast, the World Health Organization praised one state for its efforts to control the coronavirus.
india covid testing
A health worker takes a swab sample from a man to test for the coronavirus, as cases continue to spike, at a swab collection center in Guwahati, India on August 31, 2020.

The state of Gujarat, which has been battling a recent COVID-19 outbreak, has earned praise from health leaders at the WHO for its use of best practices for both detecting and containing the virus.

"Our recovery rate now stands at almost 79%," Gujarat's Principal Secretary of Health, Jayanti Ravi, told India's Economic Times on August 20. "Over 51,000 beds are available at present across Gujarat for coronavirus patients."

Blow-up clinics are also being used to screen patients, as time is of the essence.
india covid clinic pop up
Medical staff from the Tata Memorial Hospital walk past a temporary health facility, which is being used to screen patients for COVID-19 in Mumbai, India on July 30, 2020.

On Friday, India recorded more than 83,300 new infections, double the number of cases diagnosed that same day in the US. 

According to the Indian government, the case fatality rate in the country, at less than 2%, is improving, in large part because of "timely and effective clinical management of the patients in critical care," but independent experts are still concerned the Indian death rate may be vastly undercounted. 

Mobile testing vans that can deliver results to people on the street (for free, in as little as 15 minutes) are being dispatched by the Indian government.
india mobile covid testing
This mobile COVID-19 testing van takes nasal swab samples from patients for Rapid Antigen Testing at Vijay Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi Marg on August 30, 2020 in New Delhi.

The rapid antigen tests are not quite as accurate as laboratory testing, but the advantage of time is critical as the number of infected people in a population swells. 

In the US, patients have received surprise medical bills for thousands of dollars after going in for tests and treatment that were supposed to be free.
Lindsay Hill
Lindsay Hill's medical bill. She tried to find out whether she had the coronavirus, but was never tested.

Despite new measures signed into law to protect people from paying out of pocket for coronavirus tests and treatment, patients are still getting billed, even when they never get tested at all.

Imad Khachan from New York City told Business Insider's Kimberly Leonard he received a bill for nearly $50,000 after a three-night hospital stay. 

In France, where coronavirus transmission is still a concern, both students and their teachers are required to wear masks at school this year.
france first day of school 2020
A pupil wearing a protective mask holds a wrapped mask in a classroom at Françoise-Giroud middle school in Vincennes, east of Paris, on September 1, 2020, on the first day of the school year.

Masks are required for all French pupils 11 and up, anytime they're not eating or playing outside, France24 reported. Teachers are provided with masks from the government. 

In the US, where masks are not mandatory at school, one 72-year-old cancer survivor is offering extra credit to his students who wear masks.
2020 school
Students wearing face masks arrive at Delaware Valley High School on the first day of school, September 2, 2020.

"I would like to stay around a little longer," Lawrence Lane, a high school government and history teacher in Oklahoma, told NBC News

Not everyone in France is keen on the new mask mandates. This woman is protesting by writing the word "useless" in French on her mask. But, she's still wearing it.
french mask protester
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered to protest against mask wearing in Paris, France on August 29, 2020.

Masks are now required outerwear in Paris. Children under 11 and exercisers jogging and cycling are exempt, but everyone else caught outside maskless may be subject to a 135 Euro fine, France 24 reported

Tour de France riders are likewise required to mask up this year, whenever they're not racing.
tour de france 2020
The Astana pro team adhering to COVID-19 safety measures during the 107th Tour de France on September 1, 2020 in Orcieres, France.

The annual road race was pushed back by two months this year because of the virus, and the tour is only allowing a limited number of spectators to observe the three week course.

No autographs, and no selfies with the athletes are allowed. 

Worried about a growing number of confirmed infections being reported in recent weeks in Spain, health workers in the northern port city of A Coruña have started testing all young adults.
spain testing young people
A nurse holds up a coronavirus test that she performed on a young man on September 1, 2020 in A Coruña, Spain. More than 3,500 young people between 22 and 25 years old have been summoned to be tested for Covid-19 at the CHUAC University Hospital.

El Pais reported everyone in the city from the ages of 18 to 40 will be tested, in an effort to pinpoint potential asymptomatic spreaders. 

Meanwhile in the US, CDC director Robert Redfield recently said "everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test."
refield coronavirus hospitals hhs
Left: Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Right: A healthcare worker gives another a shoulder rub before they go back into the the COVID-19 Unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, July 2, 2020.

The CDC's recent shifts in coronavirus testing recommendations "are frankly not scientifically supportable," a former agency head told Insider.

The CDC, in a surprise move widely criticized by people in public health, changed its own guidance on who should be tested last week, by saying "you do not necessarily need a test," for COVID-19, unless you show symptoms.

It was a strange protocol adjustment, considering that the agency's own current best estimates suggest 40% of COVID-19 cases may be asymptomatic, and those asymptomatic patients are about 75% as infectious as symptomatic patients, so they may certainly get others sick

Many people in the US still wait multiple days to get their test results back. Bill Gates said it makes the nation's testing system "absolutely useless."
chicago testing
People wait in line in their cars to get tested for COVID-19 at Roseland Community Hospital on April 3, 2020.

US coronavirus testing czar Admiral Brett Giroir is promising that millions more rapid, 15 minute tests will become available across the US yet this month (especially for workers and residents in nursing homes). 

In Ghana, drones help deliver test samples to labs from remote health centers.
ghana back to work coronavirus
Steven, a bag seller, poses for a photograph by a wall close to his shop after partial lockdown in parts of Ghana to halt the spread of the coronavirus was lifted in Accra on April 20, 2020.

Ghana, with one of the best testing rates in Africa, often uses the so-called "pooled" testing approach, whereby samples from multiple individuals are combined and tested together, to increase capacity and provide results more quickly too.

 

Scientists in Senegal have been testing out a new kind of rapid coronavirus test this summer, which would cost $1, and could deliver results in 10 minutes.
senegal clinic coronavirus
A hygienist is seen inside a decontamination area in a coronavirus treatment centre that cares for positive patients that show few or no symptoms, in Dakar on June 26, 2020.

Regular coronavirus tests in Senegal (which require more extensive lab work) cost 40,000 West African CFA francs (around $72) the US embassy in Senegal says on its website.

Senegal also promised early-on in the pandemic that it would aim to provide a hospital bed to every coronavirus patient, and offer isolation to their close contacts, too.
senegal clinics for mildly infected
A hygienist rests as he waits outside a decontamination area in a coronavirus treatment centre that cares for positive patients that show mild or no symptoms, in Dakar on June 26, 2020.

Coronavirus treatment centers are open to aid patients with mild symptoms of the virus, or even no symptoms at all.

"We can stop the fire in our country, but the fire is still going in other countries," Dr Abdoulaye Bousso, director of the Senegal Health Emergency Operations Center in Dakar, told NPR in May

It's a stark contrast to the US, where people seeking care for severe infections have often been turned away, told to stay home and rest.
Aria Bendix in hospital

That's what happened to Business Insider science reporter Aria Bendix, when she arrived at a busy ER in New York in March gasping for breath, her ribs burning. 

Ghana is also stepping up manufacturing of PPE for the coronavirus, with factories commissioned by the government to manufacture more protective gear for healthcare workers.
ghana masks for frontline workers
Factory workers check PPE made for coronavirus frontline health workers at a factory commissioned by the government, in Accra, on April 17, 2020.

The government is also helping people pay their water and electric bills during the pandemic: 50% off for all homes and businesses, and 100% off "for the very poor," as the Brookings Institution reported in July.

In the US, many first responders have had to pay for their own protective gear, or resort to trash bags, and defective gowns from the government.
Faulty PPE

"To suggest that they should wear garbage bags — or, perhaps worse, didn't know how to wear garbage bags — is symbolic of the long-standing government marginalization of a workforce that cares for a population that is predominantly Medicaid," Brendan Williams, President & CEO of the New Hampshire Health Care Association, told Insider, after receiving two shipments of unusable PPE from FEMA in May and June

In Senegal, worshippers conduct their prayers outside, where there's plenty of air circulation.
senegal social distancing prayer
Followers of the Layene community wore protective masks as they prayed on the beach in front of the Yoff Layene Mosque on May 24, 2020 in Dakar, Senegal.

Muslims in Senegal ended their holy month of Ramadan in late May this year by celebrating Korité with a bit more distance than usual, as very little travel was permitted between different regions of the country, to stem the spread of the virus.

While in the US, reopened churches have played host to several major coronavirus superspreader events.
churches coronavirus lockdown first amendment
Parishioners wear face masks as they attend an in-person Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas, on May 19, 2020. San Antonio parishes that have been closed during the pandemic have began opening their doors to in-person services.

People who've attended faith services indoors in the US this year, from churches in Arkansas and Chicago to a synagogue in New York, have caught the virus from their fellow parishioners, after huddling inside, in poorly-ventilated spaces, to share the air as they pray, talk, and sing. 

"People congregate, hug each other, exchange stories, and thank you very much, the virus is going to go from me to you," William Schaffner, an infectious-disease expert from Vanderbilt University, previously told Business Insider.

South of the border, in Matamoros, Mexico, roughly 1,500 people are living in tents, awaiting asylum hearings. Very few have gotten the virus.
mexico border coronavirus isolation tents
In Matamoros, Mexico on the US border, 1,500 asylum seekers living in tents await their hearings. These July 13, 2020 photos show a couple wearing face masks waiting outside their isolation tent (right), and a yellow fence demarcating the edge of the isolation area.

The low infection rate is likely helped by the fact that asylum seekers live largely outdoors, wear masks, and are relatively young and healthy too, as Slate recently reported

Just north of them, across the Rio Grande, Texas continues to lead the nation in coronavirus cases, adding more than 33,500 new cases last week (only California had more).
texas coronavirus
Medical staff wearing full PPE push a stretcher with a deceased patient to a car outside of the Covid-19 intensive care unit at the United Memorial Medical Center on June 30, 2020 in Houston, Texas.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner recently blamed a rushed statewide reopening plan for the high case count, and death toll in his state. 

"People thought everything was fine — the wrong signals were sent," Turner recently told Business Insider. "I don't really blame the people because if you start opening up, they just assume everything is fine."

In New Zealand, where reopenings were not as rushed as in Texas, the country had an enviable run of 102 days virus-free starting June 8.
new zealand totally normal
People cheer at the start of a 5K run around Western Springs Park on July 4, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that she "did a little dance" when she heard the news that all coronavirus restrictions could be lifted, as the country's last remaining case was declared symptom-free.

From June 8 to August 11, New Zealanders kissed and hugged blissfully, having eliminated the virus from their shores entirely.
new zealand vulnerable safe
Sue Eng is reunited with her 8 month old grandson Soren Walter on May 14, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand, after two months of lockdown.

Fans also packed into sports stadiums to watch games, without worry

Even when the virus did return in August, New Zealand had a clear plan in place to control it.
new zealand new cases
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wears a mask meeting Auckland Mayor Phil Goff during a visit to Crave Cafe on August 31, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Face coverings are now compulsory for all New Zealanders over the age of 12 on public transport or planes under current Alert Level restrictions in place across the country.

"After 102 days, we have our first cases of COVID-19 outside of a managed isolation or quarantine facility in New Zealand," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the evening of August 11, ending the streak. "While we have all worked incredibly hard to prevent this scenario, we have also planned and prepared for it."

Gatherings in the capital of Auckland (where the August outbreak originated) are still limited to 10 people, and everyone traveling on public transport throughout the country must wear a face covering.

The number of active coronavirus cases in the country (at 112 infections as of Friday afternoon in New Zealand) is on a downward trend, and there's only one cluster of cases, that "Auckland August Cluster." The source of infection for the cluster, which has so far sickened more than 150 people, is still under investigation.

Many Americans still grumble about an action as simple and effective as putting their masks on.
mask wars coronavirus
Left: workers protest a lack of PPE and sick pay in the Bronx, New York, on April 17, 2020. Right: a pro-Trump, anti-mask protester.

Masks or no masks, the coronavirus outbreak could get much worse across the US, in the months to come.

Bill Gates told Business Insider he was baffled by the resistance.

"The sacrifice of wearing a mask is almost so trivial that you almost hate to use the word 'sacrifice,'" he said.

"The fall could be tough, we'll be indoors more, it will be colder — we know those are things that push the disease up," Gates said. All indications so far suggest Americans are probably not ready for it. 

 

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who is recovering from COVID, agrees with Gates: It's time for America to mask up, and for all politicians to start taking this pandemic seriously.
the rock
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is recovering from COVID-19, along with his wife, and two girls.

"Wear your mask,"Johnson reiterated in a recent Instagram video, announcing his entire family was recovering from COVID-19 infections.

"It has nothing to do with politics. Wear your mask. It is a fact. And it is the right thing to do, not only for yourself, but for your family and your loved ones, and also for your fellow human beings."

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