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USA vs. Portugal: Will 2023 World Cup end an American soccer dynasty? 2023-08-01 - After its first two games in the group stage, the 2023 U.S. women’s national soccer team is headed into a must-win match Tuesday against Portugal. So far, the women have played, well, fine — but a “fine” squad will not win an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup. So is Team USA simply overmatched, if not by the raw skill level of its rivals, then perhaps by its own sense of confidence and the pressure of inevitability? Is it time, after a surprisingly slow start, for fans to panic? In 2023, the ability to coast on talent alone has never felt like more of a losing approach. These women have historically been brilliant. But skills have covered up deficiencies in coaching and strategy. And in 2023, the ability to coast on talent alone has never felt like more of a losing approach. Like it or not, the U.S. women will always have a specific burden to bear. As women’s soccer’s highest-profile global ambassadors, they have also symbolically transcended the sport with their stances on issues like equal pay and LGBTQ rights. But they still have to win. And after an unimpressive 3-0 victory over struggling Vietnam, followed by a nerve-wracking 1-1 tie against the Netherlands, alarm bells are ringing. Granted, this is not exactly the team it was four years ago, with a new generation of young players taking the spotlight on the pitch. What is particularly distressing is that this is not a question of talent. On that front the U.S. could go toe-to-toe with anyone. It is another problem altogether. As Ryan O’Hanlon wrote in ESPN.com, “The USWNT’s worst enemy is, well, themselves.” This is true. There is so much in soccer that is uncontrollable. But you can control the precision of play. You can control the structure of an offense or defense. And yet, the defensive press and offensive mojo of the USWNT has so far looked confused and uninspired. This made it all the more curious that manager Vlatko Andonovski only cycled in one player off the bench against the Netherlands. An injection of focus and life could have tilted the game, and the U.S. squad is extremely deep. But Andonovski, frustratingly, did not give them the chance. This is part of that same pattern. The team, including its coaches, is making matches harder than they need to be. According to an ESPN analysis, the Americans are ranked just 15th across the tournament in “completed passes.” What a revealing statistic. This is a team with arguably the world’s best player in Lindsay Horan, who plays alongside international superstars like Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Sophia Smith. They simply need to be better. While the U.S. team has, no soccer reference intended, shot itself in the foot thus far, its lackluster play can also be partly explained by its opponents. Professor Brenda Elsey, who studies women’s soccer and development in Latin America, has noted “a deep culture of misogyny and official resistance” that envelopes the sport across the world. This misogyny affects resources, coaching and the quality of the fields. The absence of oversight in many cases has aided cultures of sexual abuse. And yet, paradoxically, the mightiness of the U.S. team — and the rising popularity of women’s soccer globally — has meant that the world is catching up. The Title IX advantage that the U.S. women have enjoyed for decades is starting to dissipate. Due to the landmark 1972 legislation that unlocked educational and particularly athletic opportunity for millions of women, the U.S. women’s operation had a head start on the kind of training necessary for international competition. (Elsey, when researching women’s soccer in Latin America says, “I always am asked, ‘How did you get Title IX and how do we get ours?’”) Going forward, I believe the U.S. women will find that while talent may have made up for bouts of uninspired play and poor coaching in the past, the gap is shrinking. This August, we may find out not just how much that gap has shrunk, but whether the United States can adjust in the face of this new normal, and capture the country’s imagination yet again.
The Atlantic Ocean is warmer than ever — and it's only getting hotter 2023-08-01 - I’ve only been to the beach once this year, despite my best efforts to the contrary. The North Atlantic can be still brisk even in early July. As I approached the water, I braced myself for a potential sting that never came. It turned out the water was almost 4 degrees warmer than it had been on the same day the year before. That tracks when you realize that July was the hottest month ever in recorded history, and we’re likewise seeing oceanic temperatures hit worrying highs around the world. Off the coast of Florida, the water has hit 100ºF multiple times in last week, a temperature more suitable to hot tubs than the open sea. The unavoidable truth is that our oceans are warming faster than predicted, and it is beginning to feel like the hackneyed “frog in a slowly boiling pot” analogy for climate change is more apt than ever. Fittingly, last week also marked the release of a study that warned that the warming Atlantic waters could portend a major meteorological shift in our lifetimes. The danger is centered on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a system of currents that pulls warm water from the Caribbean tropics toward the North Atlantic. When that water releases its heat and cools, it sinks to the ocean floor where it’s drawn back south again. (That’s a different system than the Gulf Stream or the North Atlantic Current, which help control the climate of the southern U.S. and northwestern Europe.) The AMOC has long been considered one of the most delicate potential “tipping elements” on Earth, where we could see sudden shifts or collapses in typical behavior. Its collapse would be a shift “as abrupt and irreversible as turning off a light switch, and it could lead to dramatic changes in weather on either side of the Atlantic,” as The Washington Post framed it. Previous analysis from the United Nations has estimated with “medium confidence” that we won’t see that happen this century. But a more recent paper, published in the journal Nature Communications on Tuesday, estimates the collapse to occur on average in the 2050s. Things seem even more dire when you look at the other side of the Atlantic. The Mediterranean Sea, already in the midst of its hottest July ever, last Monday broke the record for the hottest the sea has ever been, hitting 83.6º F. As Scottish meteorologist Scott Duncan noted, usually the maximum temperature in the area is in August, so the record could still be broken again. Meanwhile, the temperatures we’re seeing off Florida are a problem beyond the utter weirdness of the ocean feeling no more refreshing than standing in the sun. The rising heat is causing havoc on the ocean’s wildlife. Scientists on the Florida Keys are racing to save coral specimens taken from the third-largest coral reef on the planet and the only living barrier reef in the continental U.S. With the hottest part of summer likely still ahead, it’s not clear if the reef can handle that much sustained heat. And more broadly, warm waters are less able to hold onto dissolved oxygen, meaning that the more the sea temperature rises, the greater the chance we begin to see mass die-offs of fish and other sea creatures literally drowning. We’re already seeing the kelp forests that form the base of temperate coastal ecosystems dying off thanks to the temperature increases. And hotter waters in the Arctic and Antarctic will affect the ice melt rate and how much the sea level rises over the next decades. Yes, this is an El Niño year, where the Pacific jet stream’s shifts lead to warmer and more intense weather patterns — but that’s not the full story of what’s happening here. These temperatures wouldn’t be the same absent the effects of human-made climate change, given that the ocean has absorbed 90% of the warming thanks to a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that by September we can expect to see 50% of the world’s oceans experience heat wave conditions. “Without the warming effect” that NOAA has tracked in global oceans since 1991, “the models predict that only 25% of the global ocean will be affected by heat waves in September,” NBC News recently reported. The warming of the waters promises to continue to be a growing threat so long as humans continue to contribute to the heating of our planet. There’s still time to calm the waters before it’s too late. But as things stand, we are coming dangerously close to hitting the “boiling seas” phase of our climate apocalypse.
Bed Bath & Beyond comes back as an online retailer 2023-08-01 - Bed Bath & Beyond's website relaunched Tuesday under its new owner, Overstock.com, breathing new life to the iconic home goods retailer declared bankrupt earlier this year. The goal, said Overstock CEO Jonathan Johnson, is to combine Bed Bath's brand name with Overstock's business model "to create a business that can soar." Johnson said customers visiting the new website would see up to $50 of loyalty reward points reinstated from former Bed Bath & Beyond customer accounts, including a number of additional perks like 20% off initial purchase for signing up for a newly relaunched Welcome Rewards loyalty program; and 25% off initial purchases for anyone who downloads the new Bed Bath & Beyond mobile app. When asked why Overstock is adopting the Bed Bath & Beyond name, Johnson said: “People view Overstock as liquidation, which is what we were 25 years ago when we started, but that’s not what we’ve been for the past two decades.” “We’ve looked at Bed Bath and Beyond jealously for several years," Johnson said; "we really liked their name, and it was an iconic brand people loved.” The relaunch was foreshadowed in June, when Overstock announced it had successfully purchased Bed Bath & Beyond's intellectual property and digital assets out of bankruptcy for $21.5 million in cash. Bed Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 protection in April after years of failed attempts to reboot its long-running home goods business. All remaining Bed Bath & Beyond physical stores were officially slated to close this weekend. Overstock.com, launched in 1999 as a liquidator and gone public in 2002, saw quarterly net revenues decline 20% year-on-year last quarter to $422 million. The company had a net quarterly loss of $73 million in the same three-month period. Its number of active customers for the quarter fell to 4.6 million, down 29% from the same period last year. After seeing demand for its household goods boom during the Covid-19 pandemic, Overstock lost considerable sales momentum, reflected in its share price declining from about $121 in August 2020 to about $36 at the close of trading on Monday. Johnson said an internal customer research survey showed Bed Bath & Beyond was still considered a top-five home goods retail brand among North American consumers. The new website recently went live in Canada and has been well received, he said. But the relaunched Bed Bath website may have to lean heavily on deals and discounts in order to separate itself from the vast marketplace of competing online retailers, said Neil Saunders, managing director for retail at the GlobalData consultancy. "Offers and deals used to be a big part of Bed Bath & Beyond," he said. The new company could also ultimately be hindered by the closure of Bed Bath's stores, Saunders said. "What you don’t want is for Bed Bath & Beyond to drop off the radar," he said. "In two or three years, memories will fade. So you need a strategy to keep the brand alive in consumers' minds." Johnson is confident that his company's strategy will pay off. "Our view is bad management can kill companies, but it doesn’t kill brands," he said. "The Bed Bath brand is still strongly associated with home, and still much loved."
11 dead and 27 missing in flooding around Beijing after days of rain 2023-08-01 - Seasonal flooding hits large parts of China every summer, particularly in the semitropical south. However, some northern regions this year have reported the worst floods in 50 years. In early July, at least 15 people were killed by floods in the southwestern region of Chongqing, and some 5,590 people in the far northwestern province of Liaoning had to be evacuated. In the central province of Hubei, rainstorms have trapped residents in their vehicles and homes. A woman and child pass vehicles pushed aside and stuck in mud in the aftermath of flooding on the outskirts of Beijing on Tuesday. Ng Han Guan / AP Residents walk near a vehicle washed away by flood waters in the Mentougou district on the outskirts of Beijing on Tuesday. Ng Han Guan / AP China’s deadliest and most destructive floods in recent history were in 1998, when 4,150 people died, most of them along the Yangtze River. In 2021, more than 300 people died in flooding in the central province of Henan. Record rainfall inundated the provincial capital of Zhengzhou on July 20 that year, turning streets into rushing rivers and flooding at least part of a subway line.
Child nicotine poisonings rise as e-cig sales surge 2023-08-01 - Hospital toxicologist Dr. Ryan Marino has seen up close the violent reactions of children poisoned by liquid nicotine from electronic cigarettes. One young boy who came to his emergency room experienced intense nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, and needed intravenous fluids to treat his dehydration. Kids can also become dizzy, lose consciousness, and suffer dangerous drops in blood pressure. In the most severe case he’s seen, doctors put another boy on a ventilator in the intensive care unit because he couldn’t breathe, said Marino, of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Thousands of kids a year are exposed to the liquid nicotine in e-cigarettes, also known as vapes. For a toddler, even a few drops can be fatal. Cases of vaping-related nicotine exposure reported to poison centers hit an all-time high in 2022 — despite a 2016 law, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act, that requires child-resistant packaging on bottles of vaping liquid. In what doctors call a major oversight, the law doesn’t require protective packaging on devices themselves. Refillable vapes are designed to hold liquid nicotine in a central reservoir, making them dangerous to kids, Marino said. Even vapes that appear more child-resistant — because their nicotine is sealed inside a removable cartridge — present a risk, because the cartridges can be pried open. And some disposable e-cigarettes, now the top-selling type on the market, allow users to take thousands of “puffs” and contain as much nicotine as multiple packs of cigarettes. Many e-cigarettes and liquids seem designed to appeal to kids, with pastel packages, names such as “Candy King,” and flavors such as bubble gum and blue raspberry. That makes vapes far more tempting — and hazardous — than traditional cigarettes, which have lower doses of nicotine and a bitter taste that often prompts children to quickly spit them out, said Dr. Diane Calello, the executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. “Nicotine liquid is an accident waiting to happen,” Calello said “It smells good and it’s highly concentrated.” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who co-sponsored the 2016 legislation, said he would push to expand the childproof packaging requirement to disposable and pod-based e-cigarettes. “Every day that FDA allows flavored e-cigarette products to remain on the market is another day that children can be enticed by these dangerous, and sometimes deadly, products,” he said. The number of reports to poison control centers about e-cigarettes has more than doubled since 2018, according to an analysis by the FDA. Poison control centers reported more than 7,000 vaping-related exposures in people of all ages from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. According to the FDA, 43 of those exposures resulted in hospitalization and an additional 582 in other medical treatment. About half of poison center reports had no information about whether patients needed medical care. Nearly 90% of exposures involved children under 5. Authors of the report say their numbers likely underestimate the problem, given that poison control centers aren’t contacted in every case. A 1-year-old died from vaping-related nicotine poisoning in 2014. The new FDA report also mentions the apparent suicide of an adult via e-cigarette poisoning. A spokesperson for the vaping industry said companies take safety seriously. “All e-liquid bottles manufactured in the United States conform to U.S. law,” said April Meyers, the president of the board of directors and CEO of the Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association, which represents the vaping industry. “Not only are the caps child-resistant, but the flow of liquid is restricted so that only small amounts can be dispensed.” Yet many vaping products are made outside the U.S., which has recently been flooded with illegal e-cigarettes, mostly from China. The increasing number of nicotine exposures among kids — especially curious toddlers who put virtually everything they can grab into their mouths — likely reflects the sheer volume of e-cigarette sales, said Natalie Rine, the director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. E-cigarette unit sales grew 47% from January 2020 to December 2022, rising from 15.5 million every four weeks to 22.7 million, according to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “This isn’t something that parents see as a really big risk,” Marino said. “But with the popularity of e-cigarettes, the risk isn’t going away any time soon.” One effective strategy to reduce e-cigarette sales has been to ban flavored products. California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C., have banned all flavored e-cigarettes, while Utah and Maryland have banned some flavors. A study showed overall e-cigarette sales dropped 25% to 31% in states after flavor bans, compared with states that didn’t ban them. Some doctors say the country needs to do more to protect children. “If the numbers are rising, then the law ain’t working,” said Dr. Carl Baum, a professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Pediatrician Dr. Gary Smith said the lack of child safety requirements for e-cigarette devices is a major problem. Refillable e-cigarettes are relatively easy for kids to open. Although most poison control center reports don’t include brand information, disposable e-cigarettes — including Elfbar, Puff Bar, and Pop Vape — were some of the most common products mentioned in the FDA analysis. Elfbar is now known as EB Design. Expanding the federal law to include devices would be “an important step,” said Smith, president of the Child Injury Prevention Alliance, an Ohio-based advocacy group that works to prevent injuries in children. In addition, federal officials should limit the nicotine concentration in vape juices to make them less toxic, as well as ban candy-like flavors and colors on packaging, Smith said. “The public health response should be comprehensive,” Smith said. Kids have been known to pick up a vape and begin puffing, in imitation of their parents, Calello said. Even if children don’t inhale the aerosol, sucking on a vape exposes their skin to nicotine, which can be absorbed into the bloodstream, said Dr. Robert Glatter, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Glatter noted that e-cigarette liquids also contain numerous harmful chemicals, including arsenic and lead, which is toxic at any dose; carcinogens such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde; and benzene, a volatile organic compound found in auto exhaust. Fortunately, children who inhale nicotine get a much lower dose than those who ingest it, reducing the risk of serious harm, said Marc Auerbach, a professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Only about 2% of exposures in the FDA study were recorded as having a moderate or major effect. That may be because little kids who get into dangerous liquids — from vape juice to household cleaning products or gasoline — usually spill most of it, Baum said. “They often end up wearing it rather than swallowing it,” Baum said. Although Dr. Stephen Thornton has seen a lot of children with nicotine exposure, he said, the human body has ways of protecting itself from toxins. “Fortunately, when kids do ingest these e-cig nicotine products, they self-decontaminate. They vomit — a lot — and this keeps the mortality rate very low, but these kids still often end up in emergency departments due to all the nausea and vomiting,” said Thornton, an emergency medicine physician and medical director of the Kansas Poison Control Center. The FDA urges parents and guardians of young children to keep e-cigarettes and vaping liquid out of reach and in its original container. For emergency assistance, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 to speak with a poison expert, or visit PoisonHelp.org for support and resources. KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.
Haitians gather to protest kidnapping of American nurse and her daughter 2023-08-01 - PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Chants of “freedom” echoed through the streets outside an aid facility in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on Monday where just days earlier an American nurse and her daughter were kidnapped by armed men. Hundreds of Haitians marched through the gang-ravaged zone, bursting with anger at the abduction, which has become a symbol of the worsening violence plaguing the Caribbean nation. New Hampshire woman Alix Dorsainvil had been working as a community nurse for the religious and humanitarian aid group El Roi Haiti when she and her daughter were taken from its campus on Thursday, the organization said. She is the wife of its founder, Sandro Dorsainvil. Witnesses told the Associated Press that Dorsainvil was working in her organization’s small brick clinic when a group of armed men burst in and seized her. Lormina Louima, a patient waiting for a check-up, said one man pulled out his gun and told her to relax. “When I saw the gun, I was so scared,” Louima said. “I said, ‘I don’t want to see this, let me go.’” Alix Dorsainvil with her husband Sandro. AFP - Getty Images Other members of the community said the unidentified men asked for $1 million in ransom, something that’s become standard as Haiti’s gangs turn to slews of kidnappings to line their pockets and bleed the country dry. Hundreds have been kidnapping in Haiti this year alone, figures from the local nonprofit Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights show. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, gangs have taken over much of Port-au-Prince, killing, raping and sowing terror in communities already suffering endemic poverty. The same day that Dorsainvil and her daughter were taken, the U.S. State Department issued a “do not travel advisory” for Haiti and ordered nonemergency personnel to leave amid growing security concerns. In its advisory, the State Department said that “kidnapping is widespread, and victims regularly include U.S. citizens.” Earlier this month, Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending services in one of its hospitals because some 20 armed men burst into an operating room and snatched a patient. As the protesters walked through the area where Dorsainvil was taken, the streets were eerily quiet. The doors to the clinic where she worked were shut, the small brick building empty. Ronald and others in the area worried the latest kidnapping may mean the clinic won’t reopen. “If they leave, everything (the aid group’s programs) will shut down,” the Haitian worried. “The money they are asking for, we don’t have it.” Shortly after, protests dispersed. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller refused to confirm Monday whether the abductors had made any demands, or to answer other questions.
U.S. women’s soccer live updates: USWNT ties Portugal in final World Cup group match 2023-08-01 - What next for the U.S.? That was close, but the U.S. scrape through their group in second place. That means they face a long old trek to Melbourne in Australia next up where they will play on Sunday, Aug. 6th at 5 a.m. ET. Sweden will almost certainly await the U.S. having won their opening two games in their group. Rafaela Pontes / AP Ranked as the third best team in the world rankings and having won silver at the Olympics in 2021, it certainly will be a much-sterner test than the U.S. would have liked at this stage. Sweden though will be familiar opposition for the U.S. with the two teams facing each other at every single one of the last five World Cup tournaments — the good news is that the U.S. has never lost to Sweden at the World Cup. Share this - Copied Full time: U.S. 0-0 Portugal The United States qualifies for the knockouts, but now faces a tough road ahead after a nervy and disappointing tie. Saeed Khan / AFP - Getty Images That means the Netherlands finishes top of the group with the U.S. 2nd. Share this - Copied Portugal hits the post! The United States' World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread here, with Portugal hitting the post in stoppage time. A goal would've sent the U.S. home, but there's till time for the shock. Share this - Copied U.S. searching for a late goal The U.S. is trying to pile on the pressure late in the game, with just a few minutes remaining to try and get a goal that could see them win the group. Share this - Copied U.S. subs on Megan Rapinoe In need of a goal, the U.S. has turned to a legend. Buda Mendes / Getty Images Megan Rapinoe has taken to the field, substituted on for 22-year-old Sophia Smith with just about 30 minutes remaining. The anticipation has been high for an appearance from the veteran forward, who's playing in her last World Cup. Share this - Copied The U.S. comes close to scoring A break from midfield released Alex Morgan who took it past the Portugal goalkeeper but had to stretch and saw her effort blocked by a defender in front of the net. The resulting corner came to nothing but that was a more positive sign from the U.S. Share this - Copied Women’s World Cup ticket sales surpassed 1.68 million, FIFA says FIFA says ticket sales for the Women’s World Cup have reached 1.678 million over the first 38 matches of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. It said in a statement Tuesday that total attendance across those matches had reached 982,975 and it would surpass the 1 million mark for spectators at Tuesday’s final Group E match between the United States and Portugal at the 50,000-capacity Eden Park stadium at Auckland, New Zealand. A soccer player entertains the crowd during the opening FIFA Women's World Cup in Sydney on July 20, 2023. Lisa Maree Williams / Getty Images The previous record was around 1.35 million who attended a 52-game tournament in Canada in 2015. The 2023 edition has been expanded to 32 teams and will include 64 matches. The opening games on July 20 set records for women’s soccer matches in both co-host countries. The crowd at New Zealand’s upset win over Norway set a new national mark of 42,137. Australia’s 1-0 over Ireland later that day attracted 75,784 at Stadium Australia. A week later, more than 49,000 people attended the Matildas’ upset 3-2 loss to Nigeria in Brisbane. Share this - Copied Second half underway We have kicked off the second half in Auckland, with the U.S. searching for improvement and a goal against Portugal. Share this - Copied Netherlands running riot in other Group E match An outstanding half for the Netherlands has seen the U.S. rival take a 5-0 lead against Vietnam at half time in the other Group E game. Netherlands' midfielder Danielle van de Donk scores her team's fifth goal against Vietnam on Tuesday. Sanka Vidanagama / AFP - Getty Images At this point, the Netherlands is on track to win the group, with the U.S. currently in position to advance in second place and face a tough opponent in the next round. Share this - Copied Parents of Stanford goalkeeper Katie Meyer watching with ‘sadness’ and ‘joy’ The parents of late Stanford goalkeeper Katie Meyer are, like millions of other Americans, passionately cheering on the U.S. women’s soccer team at the World Cup. But few are doing so with the same amount of conflicting joy and sadness as Steve and Gina Meyer. Katie Meyer #19 of the Stanford Cardinal defends the goal against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Avaya Stadium, in San Jose, Calif., in 2019. Jamie Schwaberow / NCAA Photos via Getty Images file It’s been a little more than 16 months since the couple’s daughter died of suicide, so it’s been an emotional roller coaster watching the Americans play on this world stage. “It’s a mix,” father Steve Meyer told NBC News on Monday ahead of the match. “We miss her dearly and there’s a real sadness that she’s not with us, that she’s not there with them cheering them on. She would’ve been there one way or another. But there’s also some happiness and joy, through her former teammates there, we see her spirit living on.” Read the full story here. Share this - Copied U.S. fans show support — and frustration AUCKLAND, New Zealand — U.S. fans at Eden Park showed strong support for the women's team, with many traveling to Auckland, New Zealand, to cheer them on. USA fans during the game against Portugal at Eden Park on Tuesday. Phil Walter / Getty Images But the match has led some to also voice growing frustration, with boos heard ringing out from the stands after the referee showed Rose Lavelle her second yellow card of the tournament. By half time, some in the crowd appeared a bit stunned by the lackluster U.S. performance so far. Share this - Copied Half time: U.S. 0-0 Portugal That's half time after a frustrating first 45 minutes for the U.S. finished with a good effort from Lynn Williams inside the box. Neither side has created very much but Portugal will surely feel better about how things have gone so far. Can the U.S. change things and improve after the break? Share this - Copied Rose Lavelle gets a yellow U.S. midfielder Rose Lavelle has been shown a yellow card after taking out an opponent in midfield. Saeed Khan / AFP - Getty Images It means she'll have to walk a tightrope for the remainder of this game but also that she will now be suspended and will miss the next match assuming the U.S. advances. That could be a big blow for the team. Share this - Copied Netherlands on course to finish above the U.S. The Netherlands is already leading 3-0 against Vietnam in the other Group E game. The Netherlands celebrate during their game against Vietnam in Dunedin on Tuesday. Sanka Vidanagama / AFP - Getty Images With the U.S. still tied against Portugal, that means as it stands the Netherlands would win the group with the U.S. advancing but in second place. That would leave the U.S. facing a tougher opponent in the next round. Share this - Copied Portugal grows into the game Portugal has settled into the game well after a strong start from the U.S. and just came close to scoring. A pass in behind the U.S. defense led to a shot across Alyssa Naeher's goal. The U.S. won't be feeling so great about these opening 20 minutes. Share this - Copied Portugal looking for its first win over Team USA In the 10 times they have faced off, Portugal has never bested Team USA. In fact, Portugal has never scored against the U.S. Portugal players line up for the national anthem prior to the match between Portugal and Vietnam at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, on Thursday. Phil Walter / Getty Images Overall, the U.S. has outscored Portugal 39-0, but two of the last four outings have been decided by only one goal. Their last meeting was in 2021 in Houston, when the U.S. came out on top 1-0, thanks to a 76th-minute goal from Samantha Mewis. Share this - Copied U.S. puts Portugal under early pressure AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The U.S. has started well, winning an early corner off a cut back to Alex Morgan and already having a couple efforts on goal. Share this - Copied Kick off in final U.S. group game We are underway in Eden Park with the USWNT looking to seal a place in the knockouts. Share this - Copied USWNT shares starting lineup Share this - Copied Fans gather at Eden Park for U.S. women's soccer game AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The excitement was growing as fans gathered at Eden Park ahead of kickoff. “Definitely gotta bring these potstickers to U.S. women’s soccer games!” said Kennedy Stomps, center, with Krista Jimenez and Wilson Griffith. Molly Hunter / NBC News Sabrina Justen and Dan Bagnall, who live in Auckland, show their support for the women's national team. Sabrina, a Colorado native, is a former pro footballer. “This is a magical experience to see the sport come so far. I cried!” Molly Hunter / NBC News Share this - Copied Chill is in the air at Eden Park By U.S. summertime standards, it’ll be a cold evening in Auckland when the Americans and Portuguese kick off in their Group E finale at Eden Park. It’s expected to be about 55 degrees with some wind, and gusts up to around 20 mph, that’ll make the air feel closer to 51 degrees. Share this - Copied U.S. makes 2 changes Rose Lavelle will start today after entering as a substitute in the first two games of the tournament, while Lynn Williams also enters the lineup in place of Trinity Rodman. Share this - Copied Portugal defense says it's ready to do its part Portugal could use a swarming defense to try to prevent the United States from scoring the way Vietnam — unsuccessfully — played the Americans in the opener. Portugal defender Ana Borges said her team will be prepared. Ana Borges of Portugal runs with the ball during the match between Netherlands and Portugal at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, on July 23. Lars Baron / Getty Images “This is the stage where we want to be. It’s against these teams that we want to play because we’re going to learn and grow from them,” Borges said. “Not saying anything about the other team, but if we weren’t prepared for this challenge, we wouldn’t be playing football.” Share this - Copied Similiar World Cup resumes Portugal enters the match as a decided underdog against the Americans, despite posting scores similar to the U.S. so far this tournament. Portugal lost, 1-0, to the Netherlands and beat Vietnam, 2-0, in results nearly mirroring the Americans’ 1-1 draw and 3-0 win over those same opponents. Share this - Copied U.S. has never not played on final weekend The U.S. needs to at least draw against Portugal to move on to the knockout stage and perhaps keep alive a streak nearly as remarkable as its back-to-back World Cup titles. The Americans have played into the final weekend of every World Cup since the tournament launched in 1991. When the United States isn’t winning it all (as it did in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019), it's been in up to the end. The United States fell to Japan in penalties in the 2011 title match and lost in the semifinals before bouncing back to win third-place matches in 1995, 2003 and 2007. That 2007 tournament was best known for the Americans’ surprising benching of goalkeeper Hope Solo for the semifinal match vs. Brazil, a move that had drastic ripple effects. Share this - Copied
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi to be pardoned for 5 offenses 2023-08-01 - Myanmar’s former leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be pardoned for five of the numerous offences for which she was jailed for a total of 33 years, state media reported on Tuesday. The Nobel Laureate, who last week moved from prison to house arrest in the capital, Naypyitaw, has been in detention since the military seized power in a coup in early 2021. She is appealing the convictions for the various offences ranging from incitement and election fraud to corruption. She denied all of the charges. Myanmar Radio and Television reported the pardons on Tuesday but an informed source said she would remain in detention. “She won’t be free from house arrest,” said the source who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue. Suu Kyi, 78, the daughter of Myanmar’s independence hero, was first put under house arrest in 1989 after huge protests against decades of military rule. In 1991, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for democracy but was only fully released from house arrest in 2010. She swept a 2015 election, held as part of tentative military reforms that were brought to a halt by the 2021 coup.
Phoenix ends record 31-day streak of above 110-degree weather 2023-08-01 - Phoenix record-breaking hot streak of 31 consecutive days of 110 degrees or higher came to an end Monday, when temperatures at the city’s airport reached just 108, the National Weather Service said. The old streak was 18 back-to-back days of highs above 110 degrees, which was set in 1974. It was broken in June amid a lengthy heat wave that affected large parts of the U.S. The high of 108 degrees recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Monday is not that unusual, coming about 2 degrees above normal, the weather service said. The heat in Arizona has been deadly. Maricopa County, home to the city of 1.6 million, has had 25 confirmed heat-related deaths this season, according a recent county Department of Public Health report. The streak may be over, but the hot weather is not: Highs above 110 degrees are forecast for Wednesday, and the lower deserts will most likely have highs above 115 degrees by this weekend, according to the weather service in Phoenix.
Toyota's profits rise 78% on strong sales as the parts crunch eases 2023-08-01 - FILE - A boy looks at a logo of Toyota Motor Corp. at its gallery in Tokyo on Jan. 15, 2020. Toyota’s profit for the first fiscal quarter jumped to 1.3 trillion yen ($9 billion) — a quarterly record for Japan’s top automaker, as sales grew and parts shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic eased. Toyota Motor Corp.’s April-June, 2023, net profit rose 78% from 736.8 billion yen the previous year, the company reported Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File) FILE - A boy looks at a logo of Toyota Motor Corp. at its gallery in Tokyo on Jan. 15, 2020. Toyota’s profit for the first fiscal quarter jumped to 1.3 trillion yen ($9 billion) — a quarterly record for Japan’s top automaker, as sales grew and parts shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic eased. Toyota Motor Corp.’s April-June, 2023, net profit rose 78% from 736.8 billion yen the previous year, the company reported Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File) FILE - A boy looks at a logo of Toyota Motor Corp. at its gallery in Tokyo on Jan. 15, 2020. Toyota’s profit for the first fiscal quarter jumped to 1.3 trillion yen ($9 billion) — a quarterly record for Japan’s top automaker, as sales grew and parts shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic eased. Toyota Motor Corp.’s April-June, 2023, net profit rose 78% from 736.8 billion yen the previous year, the company reported Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File) FILE - A boy looks at a logo of Toyota Motor Corp. at its gallery in Tokyo on Jan. 15, 2020. Toyota’s profit for the first fiscal quarter jumped to 1.3 trillion yen ($9 billion) — a quarterly record for Japan’s top automaker, as sales grew and parts shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic eased. Toyota Motor Corp.’s April-June, 2023, net profit rose 78% from 736.8 billion yen the previous year, the company reported Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File) Toyota’s profit for the first fiscal quarter jumped to 1.3 trillion yen, or $9 billion, hitting a quarterly record for Japan’s top automaker TOKYO -- Toyota’s profit for the first fiscal quarter jumped to 1.3 trillion yen ($9 billion) — a quarterly record for Japan’s top automaker — as sales grew and parts shortages related to the coronavirus pandemic eased. Toyota Motor Corp.’s April-June net profit rose 78% from 736.8 billion yen the previous year, the company reported Tuesday. Quarterly sales edged up 24% to 10.5 trillion yen ($74 billion) as vehicle sales improved on-year across major markets, including Japan and North America. The difficulty obtaining computer chips that crimped auto production in recent years has eased, although it's unclear when that will get totally fixed, according to Toyota. Quarterly sales totaled 2.3 million vehicles, up from 2 million the previous year. Demand for its hybrid models was especially strong. Toyota has long been a leader in hybrids, which switch back and forth between an electric motor and gas engine to deliver higher mileage. The maker of the Prius hybrid, Camry sedan and Lexus luxury models said it was making good progress on selling battery electric vehicles. During the quarter, Toyota sold 29,000 EVs, up from 4,000 vehicles sold the same period a year ago. Koji Sato, who took over as chief executive from Akio Toyoda earlier this year, is promising an aggressive shift on electrification. He has acknowledged Toyota fell behind in electric vehicles, but he also stressed it’s going to catch up. Toyota maintained its annual forecast to earn 2.58 trillion yen ($18 billion), up 5% from the previous fiscal year, on 38 trillion yen ($267 billion) in sales, up 2%. Toyota shares rose more than 2% in Tokyo trading. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on https://yurikageyama.twitter.com
Teamsters say trucking giant Yellow Corp. is ceasing operations, filing for bankruptcy 2023-08-01 - A sign for Yellow Corp. trucking company stands outside its facility Monday, July 31, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. The troubled trucking company is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday. An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) A sign for Yellow Corp. trucking company stands outside its facility Monday, July 31, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. The troubled trucking company is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday. An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) A sign for Yellow Corp. trucking company stands outside its facility Monday, July 31, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. The troubled trucking company is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday. An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) A sign for Yellow Corp. trucking company stands outside its facility Monday, July 31, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. The troubled trucking company is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday. An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) Troubled trucking company Yellow Corp. is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday NEW YORK -- Troubled trucking company Yellow Corp. is shutting down and headed for a bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday. An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. Its expected liquidation would mark a significant shift for the U.S. transportation industry and shippers nationwide. “Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government," Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said, in an announcement saying the union had been served with legal notice for the bankruptcy filing. “This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry.” Yellow did not have a comment when reached by The Associated Press Monday. As of Monday afternoon, no bankruptcy filings from the company could be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website. The company's collapse arrives just three years after Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide Inc., received $700 million in pandemic-era loans from the federal government. But the company was in financial trouble long before that — with industry analysts pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back decades. Former Yellow customers and shippers will face higher prices as they take their business to competitors, including FedEx or ABF Freight, experts say — noting that Yellow historically offered the cheapest price points in the industry. Yellow is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. The closure of the 99-year-old Nashville, Tennessee-based company risks a loss of 30,000 jobs. Safety vests that appeared to belong to former Yellow workers were zip-tied to the fence of a closed YRC Freight terminal in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday. Names and years worked at the company were written on them. “Ron Fisher 2017-2023 was here,” one vest read. Reports of Yellow preparing for bankruptcy emerged last week — as the Nashville, Tennessee-based trucker saw customers leave in large numbers, per The Wall Street Journal and FreightWaves. And the company reportedly stopped freight pickups earlier in the week. Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to The Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday. The bankruptcy preparation reports arrived just days after Yellow averted a strike from the Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, amid heated contract negotiations. On July 23, a pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, avoiding a planned walkout. The fund gave Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably $50 million that Yellow failed to pay the Central States Health and Welfare Fund earlier in the month. Yellow has racked up hefty bills over the years. As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government. In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 million pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. Last month, a congressional probe concluded that the Treasury and Defense departments “made missteps” in this decision — and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.” The government loan is due in September 2024. As of March, Yellow had made $54.8 million in interest payments and repaid just $230 million of the principal owed, according to government documents. The current financial chaos at Yellow “is probably two decades in the making,” said Stifel research director Bruce Chan, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.” A Wednesday investors note from financial service firm Stephens estimated that Yellow was burning daily amounts of $9 million to $10 million in recent days. Yellow handled an average of 49,000 shipments per day in 2022 according to Satish Jindel, president of transportation and logistics firm SJ Consulting. On Friday, he estimated that number was down to between 10,000 and 15,000 daily shipments. Yellow’s prices have historically been the cheapest compared to other carriers, Jindel said. “That’s why they obviously were not making money,” he added. “And while there is capacity with the other LTL carriers to handle the diversions from Yellow, it will come at a high price for (current shippers and customers) of Yellow.” —- AP Business Writer Matt Ott contributed to this report.
Federal officials are investigating a close call between an airliner and a private jet over Florida 2023-08-01 - Federal officials say they are investigating a recent close call between an airline plane and a private jet that required pilots of both planes to take evasive action WASHINGTON -- Federal officials said Monday they are investigating a recent close call between an Allegiant Air plane and a private jet in which pilots of both aircraft received collision-threat warnings and took evasive action. The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident happened July 23 near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida. It’s the latest in a series of close calls that led the FAA to convene a special safety summit earlier this year. The FAA said an air traffic controller in Miami told the crew of Allegiant flight 485 that had taken off from Fort Lauderdale to turn east at 23,000 feet, and it crossed in front of a Gulfstream business jet that was heading north. Pilots of the Allegiant Airbus A320 took evasive action after getting an automated alert about another aircraft at the same altitude. The pilot of the Gulfstream jet got a similar warning and also took evasive action. The Allegiant plane returned to the Fort Lauderdale airport, and a flight attendant was treated for injuries, the FAA said. The National Transportation Safety Board said Monday that it was gathering information about the incident before deciding whether to open an investigation. The FAA and NTSB are investigating about a half-dozen incidents this year in which planes came closer together than they should. In many cases, one or both planes were still on the ground. The closest occurred in February, when a FedEx cargo plane coming in to land passed over the top of a Southwest Airlines that had been cleared to take off from the same runway. The head of the NTSB said the planes came within about 100 feet of each other. The number of close calls in rapid succession led the then-acting administrator of the FAA to convene a “safety summit” in March. The official, who has since left the FAA, defended the nation’s safety record, but he called for more data about the incidents and cautioned everyone in aviation to pay more attention to safety procedures. The last fatal crash involving a U.S. airline was in 2009.
MLB pays $185 million in settlement of minor leaguers' minimum wage lawsuit 2023-08-01 - NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball has paid its $185 million settlement of a lawsuit by minor leaguers alleging violations of minimum wage laws. Under terms of the settlement agreed to last year, about 24,000 players from 2009-22 were potentially eligible to share the money, with estimated payments to players averaging in the $5,000 to $5,500 range. MLB said Monday it had transferred the money to JND Legal Administration, which is expected to make the payments by Aug. 14. Minor leaguers unionized last September and agreed this spring to a five-year labor contract that more than doubled player salaries. The settlement covers all players with minor league contracts who played in the California League for at least seven straight days starting on Feb. 7, 2010, through the settlement’s preliminary approval last Aug. 26; players who participated in spring training, extended spring training or instructional leagues in Florida from Feb. 7, 2009, through last Aug. 26; and players who participated in spring training, extended spring training or instructional leagues in Arizona from Feb. 7, 2011, through last Aug. 26. The suit was filed in 2014 by first baseman/outfielder Aaron Senne, a 10th-round pick of the then-Florida Marlins in 2009 who retired in 2013, and two other retired players who had been lower-round selections: Kansas City Royals infielder Michael Liberto and San Francisco Giants pitcher Oliver Odle. They claimed violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and state minimum wage and overtime requirements for a work week they estimated at 50 to 60 hours. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
China restricts civilian drone exports, citing Ukraine and concern about military use 2023-08-01 - FILE - A staff member from DJI Technology Co. demonstrates the remote flying with his Phantom 2 Vision+ drone inside his office in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, on Dec. 15, 2014. China imposed restrictions Monday, July 31, 2023 on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia's war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) FILE - A staff member from DJI Technology Co. demonstrates the remote flying with his Phantom 2 Vision+ drone inside his office in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, on Dec. 15, 2014. China imposed restrictions Monday, July 31, 2023 on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia's war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) FILE - A staff member from DJI Technology Co. demonstrates the remote flying with his Phantom 2 Vision+ drone inside his office in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, on Dec. 15, 2014. China imposed restrictions Monday, July 31, 2023 on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia's war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) FILE - A staff member from DJI Technology Co. demonstrates the remote flying with his Phantom 2 Vision+ drone inside his office in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, on Dec. 15, 2014. China imposed restrictions Monday, July 31, 2023 on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia's war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) China has imposed restrictions on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia’s war on Ukraine and concern drones might be converted to military use BEIJING -- China imposed restrictions Monday on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use. Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government is friendly with Moscow but says it is neutral in the 17-month-old war. It has been stung by reports that both sides might be using Chinese-made drones for reconnaissance and possibly attacks. Export controls will take effect Tuesday to prevent use of drones for “non-peaceful purposes,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. It said some drone exports still will be allowed. China is a leading developer and exporter of drones. DJI Technology Co., one of the global industry's top competitors, announced in April 2022 it was pulling out of Russia and Ukraine to prevent its drones from being used in combat. “The risk of some high specification and high-performance civilian unmanned aerial vehicles being converted to military use is constantly increasing,” the Ministry of Commerce said. Restrictions will apply to drones that can fly beyond the natural sight distance of operators or stay aloft more than 30 minutes, have attachments that can throw objects and weigh more than 7 kilograms (15½ pounds), according to the ministry. “Since the crisis in Ukraine, some Chinese civilian drone companies have voluntarily suspended their operations in conflict areas,” the Ministry of Commerce said. It accused the United States and Western media of spreading “false information” about Chinese drone exports. The government on Friday defended its dealings with Russia as “normal economic and trade cooperation” after a U.S. intelligence report said Beijing possibly provided equipment used in Ukraine that might have military applications. The report cited Russian customs data that showed Chinese state-owned military contractors supplied drones, navigation equipment, fighter jet parts and other goods. The Biden administration has warned Beijing of unspecified consequences if it supports the Kremlin’s war effort. Last week's report didn't say whether any of the trade cited might trigger U.S. retaliation. Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared before the February 2022 invasion that their governments had a “no-limits” friendship. Beijing has blocked efforts to censure Moscow in the United Nations and has repeated Russian justifications for the attack. China has “always opposed the use of civilian drones for military purposes,” the Ministry of Commerce said. “The moderate expansion of drone control by China this time is an important measure to demonstrate the responsibility of a responsible major country.” The Ukrainian government appealed to DJI in March 2022 to stop selling drones it said the Russian ministry was using to target missile attacks. DJI rejected claims it leaked data on Ukraine’s military positions to Russia.
Kosovo journalists protest government's suspension of private television station 2023-08-01 - Kosovo’s journalists have protested against the government’s decision to suspend a private television station’s operations PRISTINA, Kosovo -- Kosovo’s journalists on Monday protested against the government’s decision to suspend a private television station's operations. Authorities made the move last week because they said there were irregularities concerning the registration of Klan Kosova's business license that violated the country's constitution. Scores of journalists and members of civil society organizations gathered in downtown Pristina in front of the main government building to protest the suspension of the broadcaster's operations. The demonstrators said it was a “politically motivated” action taken by the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. It was the first closure of a media outlet since the end of Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war, they said, holding a banner that read “Democracy dies in darkness.” Last week, Kosovo’s Ministry of Industry and Trade suspended Klan Kosova’s license, after the documentation of its business registration in neighboring North Macedonia showed that its owners had named Kosovo’s municipalities as if belonging to Serbia, “which is a violation of our constitution,” according to a statement released Monday. The journalist accused the government’s decision as “an open and unprecedented war … against the media,” urging owners of Klan Kosova to continue its legal fight at the court. Klan Kosova’s editor-in-chief, Gazmend, Syla called the suspension “unfair.” "We consider this a kind of pressure to stop us doing of what we are doing," he told The Associated Press, adding they would challenge the government's decision in court. Last month, Kosovo’s Agency of Business Registration found the alleged fault and decided to suspend the operations of the television station, a move supported last week by the ministry. The station has said it had already fixed the problems as requested. Klan Kosova was launched in 2009 to become the country’s biggest private television station. The embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the European Union in Kosovo, expressed “their deep concern” about the suspension of Klan Kosova’s business license considering it “a disproportionate decision that will have repercussions on media plurality in Kosovo.” Kosovo is a former province in Serbia, which doesn't recognize Pristina's 2008 declaration of independence. Kosovo's sovereignty is backed by the U.S. and most EU nations, but not by Russia and China. Serbia pulled out of Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed the country to stop the onslaught against ethnic Albanian separatists. At least 10,000 civilians, most of them ethnic Albanians, were killed in the conflict. ——- Llazar Semini reported from Tirana, Albania.
Kimberly Palmer: How to stay safe from financial scams 2023-08-01 - FILE - A woman types on a keyboard in New York, Oct. 8, 2019. A good strategy to protect yourself from financial scams is to verify the identity of anyone who contacts you and claims to be your bank by hanging up and placing a call to a confirmed number yourself. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) FILE - A woman types on a keyboard in New York, Oct. 8, 2019. A good strategy to protect yourself from financial scams is to verify the identity of anyone who contacts you and claims to be your bank by hanging up and placing a call to a confirmed number yourself. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) FILE - A woman types on a keyboard in New York, Oct. 8, 2019. A good strategy to protect yourself from financial scams is to verify the identity of anyone who contacts you and claims to be your bank by hanging up and placing a call to a confirmed number yourself. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) FILE - A woman types on a keyboard in New York, Oct. 8, 2019. A good strategy to protect yourself from financial scams is to verify the identity of anyone who contacts you and claims to be your bank by hanging up and placing a call to a confirmed number yourself. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) While there’s no way to guarantee you’ll completely avoid financial scams, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances of falling for one One of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to protecting yourself from financial scams is thinking you’re too smart to be duped by one. “We’re all vulnerable — we can all fall for a scam given the right set of circumstances,” says Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that provides advice and assistance related to identity theft. Keeping yourself safe starts with accepting that fact, she adds. “You look at the profiles of victims who filed complaints and it runs the gamut from highly educated, high-income people all the way down to the most vulnerable people in our population,” says John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League, a nonprofit advocacy group that speaks out about consumer concerns. While there isn’t a “foolproof solution to stay safe from all scams,” as Breyault puts it, there are strategies you can employ to reduce your risk. Here are four of the most important ones: HANG UP AND ‘GO TO THE SOURCE’ If you’re contacted by anyone claiming to be your bank or other familiar company, end the conversation and call the institution’s verified number yourself, Velasquez says. “We always say, ‘If you did not initiate the interaction, then you need to go to the source,’” she adds. Otherwise, you don’t actually know who’s on the other end of the line, she says, especially because scammers can spoof the number that shows up on your caller ID so it might look legitimate. In some cases, you might want to pay your bank a visit in person to get clarification. When Thorn Roberts, owner of a small business in Elizabeth, West Virginia, received a payment request he didn’t recognize, he went to his bank to ask about it. “They knew it was a scam,” he says. As a result, he immediately canceled his accounts and created new ones. Thanks to his quick action and the bank’s help, his money was safe. SECURE AND MONITOR YOUR ACCOUNTS Basic online security practices can also help protect you, Velasquez says. She recommends enabling multifactor authentication on your financial accounts, creating unique passwords and not sharing personal details such as your birthdate online. Jason Zirkle, training director at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and former fraud analyst with law enforcement, suggests checking your financial accounts at least once a week and investigating any unidentified charges immediately. Even one small erroneous charge could suggest someone has access to your account, signaling the beginning of a larger problem. GET FAMILIAR WITH COMMON SCAMS The Federal Trade Commission reports that the top scams of 2022 include people impersonating institutions like banks, phony sweepstakes and fake job postings. “You don’t have to become an expert in each one, but you need to understand the hallmarks of most scams: They contact you first, dangle some sort of bait in front of you and create a sense of urgency,” Zirkle says. Then, they ask for either money or personal information, which they use to access your money. That’s what happened to former government executive and security expert Ken Westbrook’s mother earlier this year. A fake tech support window popped up on her computer, which likely came from a malicious ad. It connected her to criminals who persuaded her to call them and send gift cards and cashier’s checks under the guise of protecting her bank accounts from being hacked. “My mom knew gift cards were a red flag, but she did it anyway because they scared her,” says Westbrook, who lives in the Washington, D.C., area. Eventually, Westbrook discovered what was happening and put a stop to it, but only after his mom lost thousands of dollars. These scammers “sound like the nicest tech support people that you’ve ever dealt with,” says Chris Pierson, founder and CEO of BlackCloak, a cybersecurity firm. “They install remote management tools to see what’s on your screen and then can suck out your files and extort you.” REPORT SCAMS AND BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE Reporting fraud to government agencies and private organizations allows for better fraud tracking. While there’s no centralized source for fraud tracking, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission, your state’s attorney general’s office, the FBI, your local police station, your bank’s fraud department, the Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker and the Identity Theft Resource Center, among others. Most people who lose money to scams never see it again. “The first thing you need to do is accept your money is probably gone and you won’t get it back,” Zirkle says. He suggests “being your own advocate” with your bank and police. In some cases, your financial institution or law enforcement might be able to help you recover some or all of it. Still, some losses are harder to quantify. “In addition to a financial crime, it’s an emotional crime,” Westbrook says. “People are affected by this for the rest of their lives. What I tell everyone, and tell my mom, is, ‘It’s not your fault. The thieves work for organized crime gangs who are very good at what they do.’” ________________________________ This column was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Kimberly Palmer is a personal finance expert at NerdWallet and the author of “Smart Mom, Rich Mom.” Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @KimberlyPalmer. RELATED LINK: NerdWallet: How to prevent identity theft https://bit.ly/nerdwallet-how-to-prevent-identity-theft
Two Value Tech Stocks Trading Near a Breakout Level 2023-08-01 - Key Points The technology sector has outperformed the broader market, with the Invesco QQQ up 44% YTD compared to the SPDR S&P 500 ETF's 19.48%. Investors should consider value stocks in the tech sector, with the potential for the tech rally to endure longer than anticipated. Adeia and Diodes, two promising value tech names, offer substantial institutional ownership and positive analyst sentiment. 5 stocks we like better than Diodes In today's ever-evolving investment landscape, technology has emerged as a clear standout, surpassing the broader market with its remarkable performance year-to-date. YTD, popular technology ETF Invesco QQQ NASDAQ: QQQ is up 44%, while the SPDR S&P 500 ETF NYSE: SPY is up 19.48%, respectively. As the digital revolution continues to reshape industries and drive unparalleled innovation, the allure of tech companies' growth potential remains undeniable and rests in the hands of value tech stocks. In this dynamic environment, investors might benefit by gazing upon value stocks within the technology sector that show promise and capture institutional players' attention. By aligning with companies boasting robust fundamentals and a strategic market position, there is a compelling reason to believe that the tech rally may surpass short-term expectations and endure for an extended period. With technology continuing to shape the world, those who can identify and invest in value tech names stand to reap substantial rewards in the long run. Adeia Inc. Adeia Inc. NASDAQ: ADEA is a global media and semiconductor intellectual property licensing company. The company licenses its patent portfolios in various markets, including multichannel video programming distributors (cable, satellite and telecommunications TV providers), video service providers and social media companies, consumer electronics manufacturers (smart TVs, streaming devices, mobile devices, etc.), and semiconductors (sensors, radio frequency components, memory, logic devices, etc.). Institutional ownership in ADEA is currently at 90.91%. Over the last 12 months, there were 117 institutional buyers and only seven institutional sellers. Total institutional inflows have been $602 million and $397 million in outflows. More recently, $600 million of institutional purchasing occurred in the year's first half and $400,000 in outflows. The consensus price target is $15.67, predicting a 30.45% upside. Both analysts have ADEA as a "buy." ADEA, based on its P/E of 11.19, is trading at a fair valuation. The stock is up almost 27% year-to-date, trading near a significant resistance level of $12. Twelve dollars is a multi-year resistance level, making the current setup in ADEA attractive. If the stock can hold above this level of resistance, there might be a shift in momentum and trend. Diodes Inc. Diodes Inc. NASDAQ: DIOD manufactures and supplies application-specific standard products in the global semiconductor markets. Its offerings include discrete semiconductor products like MOSFETs and Schottky rectifiers, analog products like power management devices, operational amplifiers, LED lighting drivers and sensor products like hall-effect sensors and motor drivers. Diodes has a staggering institutional ownership, at 96.95%. Institutional inflows have been $532 million, compared to $344 million in outflows, comprised of 215 institutional buyers and 162 institutional sellers. In the year's first half, institutional inflows have been $165 million versus $138 million outflows. The largest institutional shareholder in DIOD is BlackRock Inc., with a 15.24% ownership. Analysts see an upside in the stock, with a consensus price target predicting a 10.5% upside, based on the consensus analyst price target of $103.83. Based on the five analyst ratings, Diodes has a "moderate buy" rating, with four analysts placing the stock as a "buy" and one as a "hold." Like ADEA, DIOD's P/E of 13.11 indicates that the stock trades in value territory. Year-to-date, DIOD is up 23%, similar to ADEA, trading near a critical resistance and breakout level of $97. A significant momentum shift might occur if the stock can push above $97 and hold firmly higher. Before you consider Diodes, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Diodes wasn't on the list. While Diodes currently has a "Moderate Buy" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. View The Five Stocks Here
10 Best Sugar Stocks to Buy Now 2023-08-01 - Key Points As global demand for sugar climbs toward an estimated annual demand of 196 million tons, investors clamor to invest in sugar stocks. Investors can diversify their holdings with futures-oriented ETFs as well as agriculture-based index funds. Learn more about the best sugar stocks to buy now. 5 stocks we like better than KRFT) One of the most important crops in the world, sugar is one of the most critical exports produced by countries like Brazil, Thailand and India. Currently, the world demands more than 180 million metric tons of sugar annually, both by individual shoppers and corporations that require massive amounts of sugar to create their products. A consumer staple in perpetual demand, investors now have the option to add sugar stocks to their portfolios. But which sugar companies are worth the investment now? Choosing the right sugar stock comes down to individual preferences for risk and international diversification. Read on to learn more about how to invest in sugar stocks, some of the best sugar stocks and a few more details on some key factors to look for when choosing investments. Sugar Stocks: An Overview Sugar as we know it is a processed form of sugarcane, a tall, tropical crop primarily grown in warm regions like South America and Southeastern Asia. Sugar is one of the most important global products in the world, with production and processing making up about 22% of the economic output of Brazil. Global sugar consumption should grow around 1.4% annually, reaching an expected annual demand of 196 million metric tons in 2030. Sugar production heavily depends on weather conditions and agricultural practices, making it vulnerable to crop yields and fluctuations in supply. Changes in climate patterns, natural disasters and diseases can impact sugar production and prices. Sugar is a globally traded commodity, and international trade policies, import-export regulations and changes in demand from major consuming countries can influence its prices. Consider keeping up with domestic and international tariff and tax news, especially in areas where sugarcane is grown. Features to Look for in Sugar Stocks When selecting sugar stocks to add to your portfolio, consider the following major features and characteristics. Type of Stock When it comes to selecting sugar stocks, there are three major options we'll cover: Agricultural companies: Agricultural companies are involved in directly producing, manufacturing or processing sugar. The world's largest agricultural companies dealing in sugar production are outside the United States. Consumer goods companies: Many consumer goods companies can be classified as sugar stocks because they rely on sugar as a primary product ingredient. Changes in sugar prices can influence these stocks, as sugar shortages can cause problems in the overall supply chain. Sugar ETFs: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are "bundles" of stocks that trade together as a single unit and follow a common theme. Sugar ETFs might invest in futures contracts for sugar or agricultural projects that produce or refine sugar. Adding multiple types of sugar stocks to your portfolio will result in more balanced risk across the agricultural sector. Geographic Presence Emerging markets have proven to be an opportunity for products with high sugar content. Companies operating or exploring these markets could show more future potential for growth. Additionally, companies operating in multiple countries may have an advantage in accessing diverse markets and mitigating risks associated with localized events, such as adverse weather or political instability. Diverse Operations Some sugar companies add value to their primary products, such as refining raw sugar into specialty sugars or producing ethanol from sugar byproducts. Value-added products often command higher prices and improve profit margins, making them more stable long-term investments. 10 Best Sugar Stocks to Buy Now Now that you understand how to buy sugar stocks and what to look for in each stock, let's look at the top sugar stocks in today's changing stock market. 1. Cosan S.A. Cosan S.A. NYSE: CZZ is a Brazil-based multinational conglomerate with a diverse range of operations, including sugar and ethanol production, fuel distribution, natural gas pipelines and logistics. One of the largest sugar producers in the world, Cosan is a major component of Brazil's economy. In July 2023, the company boasted a total market capitalization of $6.39 billion. Cosan is known for its sugar and ethanol business, which internally integrates cultivation of sugarcane, sugar milling, refining and ethanol production. It benefits from Brazil's favorable climate for sugarcane cultivation and is a major exporter of sugar and ethanol products. This international presence and domestic dominance can make it an appealing choice for investors looking to add non-U.S. assets to diversify their accounts. 2. Bunge Limited While you can invest in sugar most directly with stocks like Cosan, agricultural companies can add a wider breadth of exposure to international crop sales. Bunge Limited NYSE: BG is a leading global agribusiness and food company that operates in various segments, including sugar. Unlike Cosan, Bunge Limited is not primarily known for its sugar operations; its primary product is consumer oils. While raw and refined sugar makes up a relatively small percentage of Bunge's overall portfolio, it can provide a more diverse choice for conservative-leaning investors. Image text: Bunge Limited is a more diverse choice for sugar investors. 3. The Hershey Company If you're an American, chances are you have a favorite product produced by The Hershey Company NYSE: HSY. Hershey's is one of the world's largest manufacturers of chocolate and confectionery products and is best known for its chocolate-based candy bars and other consumer products. While not primarily a sugar producer, almost all of Hershey's products use or contain sugar in some capacity. Direct communication with sugar producers can help Hershey streamline its supply chain, providing more insight into changing consumer trends. Image text: With a total market capitalization of more than $48 billion, Hershey’s is a blue-chip consumer product option for investors. 4. Tootsie Roll Industries Another option for American consumer discretionary investors, Tootsie Roll Industries NYSE: TR is best known for its eponymous line of Tootsie Roll products. However, the company's offerings go far beyond the chocolate-flavored taffy, with companies like Junior Mints and DOTS complementing its confectionary umbrella. In July 2023, Tootsie Roll Industries boasted a total market capitalization of $2.38 billion, making it a more affordable choice when compared to Hershey's. Image text: Tootsie Roll Industries' July 2023 share price was a little under $35, making it more affordable than Hershey’s. 5. Teucrium Sugar Fund In addition to investing in sugar stocks on the level of individual companies, you can also invest in a sugar futures ETF like the Teucrium Sugar Fund NYSE: CANE. As a sugar-focused ETF, CANE does not invest directly in sugar, sugar-producing companies or companies that use sugar, like the Tootsie Roll Company. Instead, it holds futures contracts of sugar, allowing investors to gain exposure to the price movements of sugar without directly dealing with physical commodities. Investing in the Teucrium Sugar Fund can be an excellent place for beginner investors to learn more about the futures market without taking on the risk of investing directly and identify cane stock prices for your preferred range. Image text: Futures contracts on sugar are the primary holdings in the CANE ETF. 6. Adecoagro Another pick for agricultural investors, Adecoagro S.A. NYSE: ARGO, is a general competitor of Cosan S.A., with operations in many of the same sectors. Also like Cosan S.A., Adecoagro divides its business between energy and agricultural sectors, with a significant portion of operations devoted to sugar and ethanol production. The company also operates cogeneration plants that produce electricity from biomass, a byproduct of sugar and ethanol processing, making it an excellent option to intersect sugar and energy company investments. 7. PepsiCo Inc. While not a sugar company stock directly, PepsiCo Inc. NASDAQ: PEP is another option for investors looking to keep their domestic investments while capitalizing on public sugar consumption. Like Hershey's and the Tootsie Roll Company, PepsiCo requires large amounts of processed sugar to produce its namesake soft drinks. While the company has been expanding its portfolio to include healthier options and low-calorie beverages, traditional sugary drinks remain a significant part of its business. In July 2023, PepsiCo Inc. had a total market capitalization of $261 billion, making it a blue-chip pick for sugar investors. 8. Mondelez International Chicago-based Mondelez International NASDAQ: MDLZ is a global food and beverage company with a diverse portfolio of popular brands, including famous names like Sour Patch Kids and Oreo. Mondelez International was formerly known as "Kraft Inc." before 2012, when a corporate split into Mondelez International and the Kraft Foods Group Inc. Today, Mondelez International maintains a total market capitalization of more than $102 billion and can be another top choice for sugar investors looking for sugar companies in the U.S. 9. Invesco DB Agriculture Fund Investors looking to diversify their agricultural holdings may consider investing in the Invesco DB Agriculture Fund NYSE: DBA. Structured as an ETF like CANE, this fund seeks to track the performance of the DBIQ Diversified Agriculture Index Excess Return. The index reflects the performance of a diversified basket of agricultural commodities, including sugar. In July of 2023, about 8.5% of the fund's assets were held in sugar futures, which rely on global sugar prices and demand changes. 10. iShares MSCI Global Agriculture Producers ETF Our last choice is another agricultural ETF, the iShares MSCI Global Agriculture Producers ETF NYSE: VEGI is another highly diversified agricultural fund. While its primary investment holdings comprise U.S.-based agricultural stocks, it also invests in companies involved in sugar production and refining. Some of the ETF's top holdings in July of 2023 include Deere & Company NYSE: DE, Corteva NYSE: CTVA and Archer-Daniels-Midland NYSE: ADM. Should You Invest in Sugar Stocks? Sugar enters almost every food consumer category, mainly processed foods and confectioneries. It's easy to see why investors would want to take advantage of the increasing demand for sugar. However, it's important to remember that most major sugar production stocks are associated with international assets. Stay up-to-date on international news and track how changing economic and political climates influence sugar demand and production. FAQs Interested in searching for more of the best sugar stocks and the sugar companies in USA and abroad? The following are some last-minute answers to questions about investing in sugar. Which is the best sugar stock? No single stock can be named the "best" sugar stock because the best stock for your needs might vary depending on individual circumstances. For example, if you're a higher-value investor looking for blue-chip sugar companies, The Hershey Company could be the best sugar stock due to its high market capitalization. If you're looking for stocks with more growth potential, international options like Cosan S.A. could be better options. Can I invest in sugar? Yes, as an investor, you can gain exposure to the sugar market in multiple ways. You can invest in sugar-related stocks of companies engaged in sugar production, and you can also invest in sugar or agricultural ETFs for more diverse market exposure. What is the largest sugar company? Südzucker AG is a German company and the largest sugar producer in the world. In July 2023, it had a total market capitalization of more than $3 billion, with an annual production of around 4.8 million tons of sugar.
3 AI Chip Stocks That Still Have a Long Runway 2023-08-01 - Key Points Artificial intelligence (AI) will be a long-term catalyst for chip stocks. Nvidia has been the undisputed winner among AI-related chip stocks, but analysts believe the stock can go even higher. Qualcomm is best known for providing chips for iPhones, but the company is making big strides in the AI space. Teradyne is a significant player in the chip testing market, and it appears that the market is still undervaluing TER stock. 5 stocks we like better than NVIDIA Artificial intelligence (AI) means different things to different industries. For investors, it can be confusing and even a little suspicious, as companies are bending over backward to tout their AI capabilities to investors. That’s why a better way to invest in the growth of AI is to invest in semiconductor stocks. Semiconductor chips are the backbone of AI. From robotics to autonomous driving to data analysis, demand for processing power and speed will be precedented to fuel the growth of AI. And this growth will be measured in years and perhaps decades. So it’s possible that investors are at the beginning of a super cycle for chip stocks. To support that point of view, Grand View Research estimates the AI chip market could grow to $134.64 billion by 2027. That would be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. That’s why now is still a good time to invest in chip stocks. And the three stocks listed below all appear to have long runways for future growth. The Undisputed Leader Still Has Room to Run Nvidia Corporation NASDAQ: NVDA is one of the success stories of 2023. However, with NVDA stock up 219% for the year as of this writing, many analysts are saying the top is in. They could be right, but at this time many analysts disagree. According to the Nvidia analyst ratings on MarketBeat, 10 analysts have boosted their price targets for NVDA stock. And all of those targets are above the stock’s price of $466.96 on July 31. Of course, there are no guarantees for Nvidia or any other chip stock. It’s possible that the economy could weaken sharply. If that occurred, it would likely slow demand for AI-related applications. But slowing is not the same as reversing. The move towards AI is real and will continue. There are simply too many areas of the economy that will drive demand for AI. And Nvidia is well-positioned in many of those sectors. If you’re buying stocks for the long haul, Nvidia is a name that you can safely buy and hold. An Emerging Competitor in a Key Niche Qualcomm, Inc. NASDAQ: QCOM is a chipmaker best known for its role in the mobile device/5G space. The company is perhaps best known to investors as the company that supplies Apple, Inc. NASDAQ: AAPL with the chips for Apple’s iPhone’s. That business has been struggling. However, the growth story for Qualcomm is emerging as the company pushes into AI-driven sectors such as autonomous driving. In January, Qualcomm launched its Snapdragon Ride platform. These chips have the ability to provide anywhere from Level 1 to Level 5 autonomous capabilities. It’s worth noting that Qualcomm has already inked partnerships with several EV manufacturers. Qualcomm also has an appealing fundamental setup. The forward P/E ratio is around 20x and full-year earnings are expected to climb approximately 19%. But the current consensus price target only shows QCOM stock getting a lift of about 11%. This Chip Maker Looks Undervalued Teradyne, Inc. NASDAQ: TER is a peripheral play on the chip sector. Specifically, the company is involved in semiconductor testing, which is essential to ensuring that the end products perform as expected. While the company tests more than semiconductor chips it’s a significant part of the company's business. With that said, the company has been managing through a correction cycle in semiconductor testing over the past four quarters. But expected growth, particularly in areas like automotive, cloud computing, and edge AI applications to be significant drivers of growth in coming quarters. This correction cycle presents investors with an interesting setup. Teradyne reported earnings on July 25, 2023 and beat on both the top and bottom lines. Full-year earnings are expected to rise by over 55%. Yet, the consensus estimate as of this writing is for the stock to fall by over 16%. Something has to give. In the case of Teradyne the consensus target is likely to rise as more analysts weigh in on TER stock. According to the Teradyne analyst ratings on MarketBeat, two analysts have already raised their price targets and both of those targets are well above the consensus target. Before you consider NVIDIA, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and NVIDIA wasn't on the list. While NVIDIA currently has a "Moderate Buy" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. View The Five Stocks Here
Cloud Computing Giant ServiceNow In Buy Zone After AI News 2023-08-01 - Shares of ServiceNow Inc. NYSE: NOW may be down since the company’s July 26 earnings report, but this isn’t a stock to count out. Key Points S&P component ServiceNow reported impressive Q2 results, beating revenue and earnings expectations. The company announced several new AI initiatives, including partnerships with Nvidia, Accenture and KPMG. The stock has shown steady growth above its 50-day moving average and rallied 23.97% in the past three months. For the full year, the company forecasts subscription revenue growth of 24.5% to 25%, better than analysts' expectations. 5 stocks we like better than ServiceNow In fact, the current pullback may offer a buy opportunity, as the company beat revenue and earnings views, boosted its full-year guidance, and is continuing to make inroads when it comes to AI implementation. You may not be familiar with ServiceNow, as it’s not one of the more glamorous AI-related companies, nor is it one of the big-name techs with a big consumer presence, like Apple Inc. NASDAQ: AAPL or Microsoft Corp. NASDAQ: MSFT. ServiceNow is a cloud computing company that provides a comprehensive platform for enterprise workflow management. It helps customers streamline and automate various processes, such as infotech service management, human resources, customer service, and network security operations. New AI Initiatives In the most recent earnings report, the company touted recent developments regarding AI implementation. Those included: In the quarter, ServiceNow delivered new features that will embed generative AI across its platform, to drive further automation. The company announced further generative AI capabilities with case summarization and text‑to‑code, and the introduction of its AI Lighthouse program with Nvidia Corp. NASDAQ: NVDA and tech consulting firm Accenture plc NYSE: ACN to assist customers across industries in the design, development, and implementation of new generative AI use cases. and tech consulting firm to assist customers across industries in the design, development, and implementation of new generative AI use cases. It also announced an expanded partnership with global accounting firm KPMG to develop AI offerings in the areas of finance, supply chain, and procurement operations. ServiceNow has a market capitalization of $116.19 billion, meaning the Santa Clara, California company is easily big enough to be an S&P 500 component. It carries a weighting of 1.37% within the S&P tech sector, which isn’t enough to move the needle on sector performance all by itself. Like pretty much all things tech, the stock began declining in late 2021, and skidded last year. In the past three months, ServiceNow shares rallied 23.97% in the past three months and the stock is up 46.69% year-to-date, outpacing the performance of the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund NYSEARCA: XLK, of which it is a component. Support Above 50-Day Average The ServiceNow chart shows a stock that’s been trending steadily higher above its 50-day moving average. It retreated 2.14% the week ended July 28, but finished 3% above that key indicator, signaling that investors may be taking some profits after a strong run-up, and are not stampeding for the exits. If the current pullback continues getting support at or above the 50-day moving average, it would remain actionable. However, if it skids below that line, or rises more than 5% above the July 19 high of $614.36, then it’s best to wait for another consolidation or base. ServiceNow’s earnings of $2.37 a share marked a year-over-year increase of 46%, while revenue grew 23% to $2.15 billion. The company exceeded Wall Street views on both the top and bottom lines, as you can see using MarketBeat’s ServiceNow earnings data. For the current quarter, the company expects subscription revenue to grow in a range between 25.5% to 26%. It expects current remaining performance obligations, which is contract revenue that will be recognized as revenue in the next 12 months, to grow by 25.5% in the quarter. Better-Than-Expected Growth Forecast For the full year, ServiceNow sees subscription revenue growing by 24.5% to 25%. That was better than analysts had expected. Both earnings and revenue grew at double-digit rates in each of the past eight quarters. If there’s any fly in the ointment, it’s that analysts expect earnings to decline by 14% this year, to $6.50 share, before growth resumes in 2024. The 2023 earnings decline won’t necessarily ding the stock’s price, though, especially if the company beats expectations and offers upbeat guidance. MarketBeat’s ServiceNow analyst ratings show a consensus view of “moderate buy.” In July, starting even before the company’s most recent quarterly report, 14 analysts boosted their price target on the stock. The consensus target is now $589.48, an upside of 3.50%, but every single one of the updated price targets in July is $600 or more, a sign of growing confidence in the stock. Before you consider ServiceNow, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and ServiceNow wasn't on the list. While ServiceNow currently has a "Moderate Buy" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. View The Five Stocks Here