Core Points - Starbucks is facing pressure from lawmakers and union representatives to negotiate a fair contract with its workers, highlighting the company's financial capability to do so, as evidenced by CEO Brian Niccol's $95 million compensation package [1][2][3] - Workers United, representing Starbucks baristas, has received overwhelming support for a potential strike, with a 92% approval from its members, demanding better wages, hours, and resolution of unfair labor practices [4][6] - Current negotiations between Starbucks and Workers United have stalled, with both parties blaming each other for the lack of progress, despite previous mediation efforts [5][9] Company Financials - CEO Brian Niccol's compensation includes $90 million in stock awards, indicating significant financial resources available to the company [1] - Starbucks claims to offer competitive pay and benefits, averaging over $30 per hour for hourly partners, and asserts that Workers United represents only 4% of its workforce [8] Union Activities - Workers United has organized since 2021 and now claims to represent over 12,000 workers across more than 650 stores, although Starbucks disputes this, stating the union represents 9,500 workers at 550 cafes [6] - The union is threatening a strike coinciding with Starbucks' Red Cup Day, a major sales event, which could impact the company's holiday season performance [2][4] Negotiation Status - Negotiations have not been active since discussions broke down late last year, with both sides expressing readiness to negotiate but failing to reach an agreement [5][9] - Starbucks has indicated a willingness to return to the bargaining table, emphasizing its commitment to reaching a reasonable deal [8][9]

A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar electric vehicle sits parked at an EVgo charging station in Los Angeles, California, on May 15, 2024.Waymo has tapped Google executive Steve Fieler as its new chief financial officer, the self-driving company announced on Monday.The new CFO comes as the Alphabet-owned company has been bringing its robotaxi service to more markets in the past year, with plans for further expansion in 2026. Fieler's appointment also comes as Waymo looks toward its next phase, which could ...

watch nowIn another attempt to make homebuying more affordable, President Donald Trump floated the idea of a 50-year mortgage in a social media post. In response, Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte, who oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, posted that they are "working on it," and that it would be, "a complete game-changer."The purpose of a longer-term mortgage would be to lower the monthly payment for homeowners. The longer the term of the loan, the smaller the principal needed each month t ...

Warren Buffett laid out a plan to "step up" the pace of giving away his $149 billion estate to his children's foundations, while still allowing for a short period that lets Berkshire Hathaway shareholders gain confidence in incoming CEO Greg Abel.Buffett, in a Thanksgiving letter that will become an annual tradition, said he needs to accelerate the disbursement of his Berkshire stock to his three children's foundations because of their own advanced ages and that by doing so it will "improve the probability ...

Core Insights - Kia is introducing the next-generation Telluride SUV, positioning it as a new benchmark for the brand's design and ambition [1] - The first-generation Telluride has been a significant success since its launch in 2019, often ranking as one of the most in-demand vehicles in the U.S. [1] Design and Features - The 2027 Telluride will feature a larger, boxier, and more modern design compared to the current model, expected to arrive in U.S. showrooms in the first quarter [2] - The new front end includes a large grille surrounded by vertical headlamps, while the rear design is sleek and reminiscent of a Range Rover [2]

Funding and Investment - Valar Atomics raised $130 million in its latest funding round, bringing its total fundraising to over $150 million [1][2] - The funding was backed by notable figures including Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey and Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar, along with venture capital firms Snowpoint Ventures, Day One Ventures, and Dream Ventures [1] Leadership and Governance - Doug Philippone, co-founder of Snowpoint and former head of global defense at Palantir, will join Valar's board of directors [2] Regulatory Environment - Valar is among several nuclear startups suing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) over its licensing process for small reactor designs, seeking a resolution following President Trump's executive order aimed at overhauling the regulator [3] - The lawsuit has been temporarily paused due to the government shutdown [3] Technology and Development - The Department of Energy selected Valar to participate in a pilot program to deploy at least three advanced test reactors by July 2026 [4] - Valar is developing reactor technology that utilizes helium as a coolant and operates at much higher temperatures than traditional plants, with plans for deploying hundreds of small reactors at a single site [4] - Valar broke ground on a site for a test reactor in September at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab [5]

Core Insights - Disney is expanding its cruise fleet with the launch of the Disney Destiny, marking the seventh ship in its lineup [2][6] - The Disney Destiny will offer themed experiences and entertainment, leveraging Disney's extensive intellectual property [4][5] - The experiences division of Disney is experiencing significant growth, with record revenue and profit reported for fiscal 2024 [7][8] Fleet Expansion - The Disney Destiny is 221 feet tall, 1,119 feet long, and can accommodate 4,000 passengers and 1,555 crew members [3] - The ship will offer four- and five-night cruises to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean, including visits to Disney's private islands [3][6] - Disney plans to have 13 vessels in operation by 2031, following the recent addition of the Disney Treasure [6][25] Financial Performance - In fiscal 2024, Disney's experiences division generated $34.15 billion in revenue, a 5% increase year-over-year, and $9.27 billion in operating income, up 4% [7][8] - The experiences segment is the second-highest revenue driver for Disney, following the entertainment division, which reported $41.19 billion in revenue [8] Competitive Position - Disney has established itself as a leader in the family cruising market, despite having a smaller fleet compared to competitors like Carnival and Royal Caribbean [9] - The base pricing for Disney cruises is slightly higher than that of Carnival and Royal Caribbean, but overall costs can be comparable when considering upgrades and additional packages [10][11] Themed Experiences - The Disney Destiny features a heroes and villains theme, with interactive character experiences and themed dining options [5][12] - Dining experiences include themed restaurants such as Pride Lands, Worlds of Marvel, and 1923, each offering unique menus and entertainment [14][15][16] - The ship will host live performances, including a Broadway-style production of "Hercules" and other family-friendly shows [20][21] Adult Amenities - The ship includes adult-only areas such as Quiet Cove, Senses Spa, and themed lounges inspired by Marvel and Disney properties [22][24] - The Cask & Cannon pub, inspired by "Pirates of the Caribbean," offers themed drinks and decor for adult guests [25] Future Developments - Following the Disney Destiny, the Disney Adventure will launch in March 2026, with additional ships planned through 2031 [25] - Disney is also expanding its theme parks and resorts globally, with significant projects underway at various locations [28][29]

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran on Monday advocated for further interest rate cuts as a way stave off a potential economic softening ahead.In a CNBC interview, the central bank official held to his belief that the Fed should be moving at an even more rapid pace than its traditional quarter percentage point reductions. He advocated, as he has at the previous two Federal Open Market Committee meetings, for a 50 basis point, or half percentage point, reduction, though he said there at least should be a ...

It's no secret that buying a home is expensive. The average sales price for U.S. homes has hovered around $400,000 since the end of 2021, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.  Most homebuyers looking to cover that cost turn to mortgage lenders, who pore over financial details like salaries, bank balances and retirement accounts to determine how risky it is to lend the money.That review process has typically excluded crypto assets. But for the roughly 15% of Americans who invest in digital ass ...

Core Insights - The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has led to significant disruptions in air travel, with air traffic controller shortages exacerbating the situation [1][2][3] - Flight cancellations reached 2,631 on a recent Sunday, accounting for 10% of the scheduled flights, marking one of the worst days for cancellations since January 2024 [2] - The Senate is making progress on a potential deal to end the shutdown, but a funding bill has not yet been approved [3] Flight Cancellations and Delays - On a recent Monday, 1,432 out of 25,733 scheduled flights were canceled, representing approximately 5.5% of the total flights [3] - Over the weekend, there were 18,576 flight delays and 4,519 cancellations, indicating a growing trend of disruptions [3] - Cancellations have affected both regional and mainline flights, with major airlines like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines offering extra pay to flight attendants to cover flights [4] Impact on Air Traffic Controllers - Air traffic controllers missed their second paycheck during the shutdown but are still required to work, leading some to seek additional employment [2] - The situation highlights the severity of air travel disruptions caused by the ongoing government shutdown [2]