A large range of American companies stow their intellectual property in Ireland. To illustrate this, let's pretend to set up our own multinational tech firm, Big Comp. Big Comp's assets are entirely controlled by a holding company that's based in the US. It's called Big Comp Holding Company, and it has a subsidiary, Big Comp International.The subsidiary is based in Ireland, where tax rates are relatively low. Big Comp is working on a new smart device. The Irish subsidiary buys licenses for its hardware, sof ...

Innovation & Technology - On introduces LightSpray, a new automated manufacturing technique for sneaker uppers, reducing production time significantly [1][2] - The LightSpray technology uses a polymer sprayed onto a foot mold by a robot, creating a seamless shoe without glue or laces [4] - LightSpray significantly reduces labor needed, enabling production closer to consumers [3] Sustainability & Efficiency - On claims LightSpray reduces carbon emissions by approximately 75% compared to conventional shoe making [7] - Traditional shoe production involves around 200 steps, while On aims to reduce this to a handful with LightSpray [4] Market & Production - On's net sales have grown in 11 out of the past 13 quarters since going public in 2021, gaining ground on competitors [2] - The Cloud Boom Strike LZ, On's first shoe featuring LightSpray, weighs 170g (approximately a third of a pound) [5] - On aims to scale LightSpray production from thousands to millions of pairs and expand its application to other wearables [8] Business Expansion - On opened its first LightSpray factory in Zurich and is considering expanding production to countries like the US [3][7][8] - Early LightSpray models have been worn by athletes like Helen Obree, who won the Boston Marathon in 2020 [6]

Autonomous Driving Development - Tesla is using a depot in Austin, Texas to roll out its robo taxi service [1] - The depot houses various vehicles, including those labeled as robo taxis and potential test vehicles [1] - Tesla is aiming to demonstrate its cars' full self-driving capabilities and offer a robo taxi service [3] Robo Taxi Trial and Competition - Tesla's robo taxis were undergoing trial runs in a small geo-fenced area in Austin [2] - The geo-fenced area is considered smaller than those used by companies like Waymo [2] - Waymo is already operating in Austin with Uber [2] - The industry anticipates that autonomous vehicles could potentially replace most Uber and Lyft services [2]

U.S. Fiscal Situation & Debt Concerns - The U.S federal budget is on an unsustainable path, potentially leading to rapid financial instability if spending issues are not addressed [1] - America's borrowing levels are currently the same size as the entire economy and are expected to skyrocket [2] - There is a greater than 50% chance of experiencing a financial trauma related to the deficit or debt levels within three years if the issues are not addressed [11] - The U.S is expected to spend nearly $1 trillion on interest payments this year due to soaring debt and higher rates [24] - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) expects net interest costs in 2025 to surpass spending on Medicare, Medicaid, and national defense [24] - The cost to service the U.S debt is expected to be 18% of total tax revenue this year, compared to less than 10% in 2022 [25] Potential Consequences & Risks - Unsustainable fiscal policy could lead to a collapse in fixed income and bond markets within 20 years [8][9] - The U.S may resort to printing money to cover its debt, potentially leading to inflation [10] - Rising borrowing costs could negatively affect the health and growth of the U.S economy [23][24] - Unchecked debt levels risk leaving a weaker economy to future generations [30] International Implications - International holdings of U.S treasuries were near a record $9 trillion in April [40] - China, while one of the largest foreign holders of U.S treasuries, has been steadily reducing its holdings [39][40] - Japan holds more than $1 trillion worth of U.S debt, the most of any foreign country [42]

Turnaround Strategy - Gap needed to improve its financial health before pursuing growth, including store closures and style rationalization [1] - Cost reduction was crucial for business health and set the stage for a creative renaissance [2] - The Gap renaissance included a revamped marketing strategy [2] Marketing and Creative Direction - Viral marketing campaigns featured pop stars and celebrities [3] - Zach Posen was appointed as creative director, primarily leading creative direction for Old Navy [3] - Gap is re-entering the red carpet with a new designer line, Gap Studios [4] Challenges and Risks - Athleta and Banana Republic are underperforming compared to Gap and Old Navy [4] - Tariffs could cost the company an additional $100 million to $150 million [4]

Hidden among the majestic canyons of the Utah desert, about seven miles from the nearest town, along a long dirt road, is a small research facility meant to prepare humans for life on Mars. MDRS is the best analog astronaut environment. The terrain is extremely similar to the Mars terrain and the protocols, research, science and engineering that occurs here is very similar to what we would do if we were to travel to Mars.CNBC was invited by the Mars Society, the nonprofit organization that runs the Mars Des ...

Market Trend - Dubai chocolate's popularity is exploding across the country, with more retailers joining the trend [1] - Copycat bars and desserts are popping up due to the original bars being exclusively available in Dubai [1] Product Analysis - The original Fixed Chocolate Dubai bar was subjected to a blind taste test against grocery store and nuts factory versions [2] - The taste test involved evaluating the appearance and flavor of the different bars [2][3] - All three bars cost approximately $20 [3] Consumer Preference - One taster favored the original Dubai chocolate bar, praising its chocolate and filling [3][4] - The taster expressed a strong preference for one version, stating they could eat a whole bar of it [4]

Hi, Bloo. Nice to meet you, Zach. This is Bloo, an AI generated YouTuber with millions of fans and a growing media empire.I'm a virtual influencer with a big and fun personality. I'm all about good vibes and engaging content. And I'm built by humans, but boosted by AI.And here to keep my millions of viewers worldwide entertained and keeping. And keeping on coming back for more. Since launching, Bloo has pulled in over 700 million views, and Blue's creator says he's earned more than $1 million through YouTub ...

Coach purses were a staple in the early 2000s, worn by teens at the mall and celebrities on the red carpet. The monogram design with a double C logo was everywhere. But by the 2010s, the brand fell out of favor.Its luxury reputation suffered and sales plummeted. The company wiped out about 60% from its market cap between its 2012 peak to mid 2014. But Coach is back.The girls came through. Coach is back. mainly among Jenzi consumers who are driving a lot of its growth.Fashion always looks to the youngest gen ...

Company Growth & Performance - Raising Cane's jumped from 33rd to 18th in restaurant rankings between 2021 and 2024, surpassing KFC, and is larger than Wingstop [1] - The company's U S sales have grown to nearly $5 billion [8] - Raising Cane's Times Square location generated $25 million in sales last year [4] - The chain has experienced nearly a fourfold increase in store count over the past decade [5] - In 2024, Raising Cane's reported an almost 11% increase in foot traffic at existing locations [7] - The chain has posted 64 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth [14] Business Strategy - Raising Cane's focuses on a simple menu: chicken, fries, Texas toast, and coleslaw [2] - The company does not engage in value plays or limited-time offers, maintaining consistency for customers [2] - Raising Cane's strategically selects locations, sometimes waiting for the ideal spot [6] - The company self-funds its expansion and maintains company-owned restaurants, with only 3% franchised [15] - Raising Cane's has no interest in going public or taking private investments [12][13] Market & Industry Dynamics - The chicken category has been driving growth in the quick-service and fast-casual sectors [18] - McDonald's reported $25 billion in annual systemwide sales from chicken, matching its beef sales [19] - Quick-service chicken is a competitive market with many fast-food chains vying for market share [21] Future Ambitions - Raising Cane's aims to become a top 10 U S restaurant brand with $10 billion in systemwide sales and average sales of $8 million per restaurant, projected around 2029-2030 [23]