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VFMF

Don&#39;t Overlook This Multi-Factor ETF

Canadian businessman&nbsp;Greg Abel&nbsp;is anticipated to take over the helm of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/brk-a#NYSE">BRK-A</a>) from Warren Buffett and appears to have&nbsp;the full backing of at least one board member ahead of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37193641/warren-buffetts-empire-nears-trillion-dollar-club-as-class-a-shares-hit-above-600-000">firm&#39;s annual shareholders meeting on Saturday</a>.
What Happened: According to a <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/buffett-berkshire-hathaway-greg-abel-b2539545.html">report</a> by The Independent, Berkshire board member Ron Olson expressed confidence in Abel&#39;s capabilities to succeed Buffett.
Olson lauded Abel&#39;s grasp of the core principles that have steered Buffett and his dedication to managing Berkshire conservatively to ensure the company&#39;s financial stability.
Olson also believes that Abel&#39;s leadership will not deter business owners from selling their firms to Berkshire, as reported by the outlet.
He dismissed worries that the public legal dispute with the Haslam family over the final price of the Pilot truck stop chain last year would affect future transactions.
&ldquo;Greg is not somebody who is going to be as likely to create the kind of following in the press that I think Warren has had,&rdquo; Olson told The Independent. &ldquo;On the other hand. I have every reason to believe that he will run the companies that we have the responsibility for in the same way that Warren ran them.&rdquo;
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38476079/warren-buffetts-real-estate-firm-coughs-up-250m-to-avoid-bigger-payout-over-commissions">Warren Buffett&#39;s Real Estate Firm Coughs Up $250M To Avoid Bigger Payout Over Commissions</a>
Abel, known for maintaining a low profile, will field questions alongside Buffett during the shareholders meeting on Saturday. He has supervised all of Berkshire&#39;s non-insurance businesses for several years.
Despite the significant passing&nbsp;of Buffett&#39;s longtime partner Charlie Munger&nbsp;last fall, Olson said he is confident that Abel and Ajit Jain, who oversees the insurance businesses, will continue Buffett&#39;s and&nbsp;Munger&#39;s&nbsp;legacies.
Why It Matters: In May 2023,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32256501/warren-buffett-reaffirms-greg-abel-as-berkshire-hathaway-heir">&nbsp;Buffett confirmed&nbsp;Abel as his successor</a> at Berkshire Hathaway. During the company&#39;s annual shareholder meeting, Buffett stated that he was &quot;100% comfortable&quot; with his decision and suggested that the transition would largely be business as usual.
&quot;Greg understands capital allocation as well as I do. That&#39;s lucky for us,&quot; Buffett said.
Now Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/33936436/here-are-the-eyebrow-raising-moves-warren-buffett-michael-burry-and-bill-ackman-made-recently" target="_blank">Here Are The Eyebrow-Raising Moves Warren Buffett, Michael Burry And Bill Ackman Made Recently</a>
This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" style="box-sizing:inherit; color:rgba(var(--sk_highlight,18,100,163),1); text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://flickr.com/photos/196993421@N03/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1714830062208_12297" rel="author" title="Go to Alpha Photo's photostream">Alpha Photo</a>&nbsp;via flickr

Earnings

BRK-A

Berkshire Board Member Expresses Confidence In Warren Buffett's Successor Greg Abel: 'He Will Run The Companies ... In The Same Way That Warren Ran Them'

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), on Saturday, registered a solid increase in <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240504932623/en/Berkshire-Hathaway-Inc.-First-Quarter-2024-Earnings-Release" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">first-quarter</a> operating earnings, driven by strength in its insurance businesses, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">both in underwriting and investment income.</a>
The Omaha-based company's quarterly operating earnings of $11.22 billion rose over 39% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">from $8.065 billion in the year-ago quarter.</a>
At the end of the quarter, the company said approximately 75% of the aggregate fair value was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/qtrly/1stqtr24.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">concentrated in five companies</a>:
<ul>
<li>American Express Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>) – $34.5 billion</li>
<li>Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) – $135.4 billion</li>
<li>Bank Of America Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) – $39.2 billion</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>): – $24.5 billion</li>
<li>Chevron Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>) – $19.4 billion</li>
</ul>
The company&#8217;s cash and equivalents as of March end stands at $28.891 billion,
Q1 Net Earnings In Detail:&nbsp;In the first quarter of 2024, investment losses totaled approximately $9.7 billion, while gains amounted to around $23.4 billion in the same period of 2023.&nbsp;
These gains and losses were primarily due to changes in unrealized gains in equity security investments.&nbsp;
Additionally, after-tax realized gains from investment sales were $11.2 billion in the quarter under review, compared with $1.7 billion in the year-ago period.&nbsp;
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders decreased to $12.702 billion from<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/guidance"> $35.504 billion a year ago.</a>
Segmental Analysis:&nbsp;In the quarter under review, insurance underwriting generated earnings of $2.59 billion versus $911 million&nbsp;year over year.
Earnings from insurance-investment income totaled $2.598 billion compared with $1.969 billion in the year-ago period.
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company generated first quarter earnings of $717 million, higher than $416 million a year ago.
Other controlled businesses earnings in the first quarter totaled $3.088 billion, which is higher than the $3.065 billion in the first quarter of 2023.
Approximately $2.6 billion was used to purchase shares of Class A and Class B common stock during the first quarter of 2024.
Approximately $2.6 billion was used to purchase shares of Class A and Class B common stock during the first quarter of 2024.&nbsp;
On March 31, there were 1,437,251 Class A equivalent shares outstanding. The insurance float (the net liabilities we assume under insurance contracts) was approximately $168 billion.
Warren Buffett, 93, is one of the best-known fundamental investors in the world. Known as the &#8220;Oracle of Omaha,&#8221; he has a real-time net worth is $131.7 billion. 
Price Action:&nbsp;BRK/B shares closed higher by 0.07% to $400.87 on Friday; shares were up by 0.26% after hours.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/05/38596577/warren-buffetts-annual-secret-ber[%E2%80%A6]hathaway-movie-to-be-shown-publicly-for-first-time-could-thi">Warren Buffett&#8217;s Annual Secret Berkshire Hathaway Movie To Be Shown Publicly For First Time: Could This Be The Ultimate Tribute To Charlie Munger?</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Equities

Markets

Movers

General

AAPL

Berkshire Hathaway's Q1 Operating Earnings Surged 39% — Here's Why

Fans of the Star Wars franchise are likely celebrating today, May 4, unofficially known as "Star Wars Day." The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>) typically marks the occasion with new consumer products and content for fans of the franchise it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/07/33170350/if-you-invested-1-000-in-disney-stock-when-it-acquired-lucasfilm-think-indiana-jones-star-w">acquired in 2012.</a>
History of Star Wars Day: Since its launch in 1977, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/star-wars">the Star Wars franchise</a> has been one of the highest-grossing and most popular film and television brands. The Lucasfilm franchise, which was founded by George Lucas, was later acquired by Disney.
One of the most famous phrases in the Star Wars franchise is &#8220;may the force be with you,&#8221; which has led to the transformation of May 4 into &#8220;May the fourth be with you.&#8221;
Now an unofficial <a href="https://www.starwars.com/news/may-the-4th-be-with-you-cultural-history">holiday</a>, May 4 is used by Disney and Lucasfilm to promote upcoming content and merchandise.
May is a busy month for Lucasfilm as it also commemorates the anniversaries of several Star Wars movie and series releases. May 25, the date that "A New Hope," "Return of the Jedi" and "Solo" were all released in theaters, is celebrated by some as &#8220;Geek Pride Day.&#8221; May 14 is also Lucas&#8217; birthday.
Related Link: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/04/38169087/ubisoft-accidentally-leaks-star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions-and-more">Ubisoft Accidentally Leaks Star Wars Outlaws Release Date, Special Editions And More</a>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">This May the 4th, we celebrate the best fans in the galaxy.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maythe4thBeWithYou?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maythe4thBeWithYou</a> <a href="https://t.co/SgKW03uFBy">pic.twitter.com/SgKW03uFBy</a>
&mdash; Star Wars (@starwars) <a href="https://twitter.com/starwars/status/1786395397604135025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Star Wars Movies and Shows: Disney is releasing six new episodes of "Tales of the Empire" on Disney+ Saturday, continuing a tradition of new content on May 4.
Star Wars fans can also head to movie theaters for a <a href="https://www.starwars.com/news/skywalker-saga-marathon">re-release</a> of the 1999 film "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The film is showing in select theaters.
Some theaters are also showing all nine Star Wars movies in the Skywalker saga in theaters today.
"The Acolyte," a new Star Wars show, will come to Disney+ on June 4. Other upcoming television content for Star Wars includes "Skeleton Crew," expected in 2024, a second season of "Andor" in 2025 and an undated second season of "Ahsoka."
Disney, however, has not released a new Star Wars movie on the big screen since the 2019 film &#8220;Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.&#8221; It&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchise/fr3125251845/?ref_=bo_frs_table_2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">grossed&nbsp;</a>$515.2 million domestically and $1.07 billion worldwide, ranking fourth in franchise history domestically and third among the sequel films.
In fact, after releasing Star Wars films every two years on average, Disney has not released a theatrical film in over four years.
The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/01/36583647/baby-yoda-coming-to-big-screen-can-fan-favorite-star-wars-character-help-disneys-box-office">next Star Wars film</a> on the calendar is "The Mandalorian &amp; Grogu," set for a May 22, 2026 release date.
Several untitled movies, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/23/04/31734634/may-the-force-be-with-disneys-star-wars-future-new-movies-tv-shows-and-the-return-of-daisy-">one featuring Daisy Ridley as Rey</a>, are poised to expand the Star Wars universe with more content in the future.
More Star Wars Day News and Deals: Star Wars returned to the popular game "Fortnite"<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/04/38257897/star-wars-day-arrives-to-fortnite-with-epic-crossover"> with a crossover event</a> on May 3 that includes new skins, content for "LEGO Fortnite" and more.
Toy company LEGO is one of the biggest promoters of Star Wars products during Star Wars Day. The company has <a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/page/star-wars-day-deals">deals</a> from May 1 through May 5 and released its TIE Interceptor for the first time.
Retailers including <a href="https://www.target.com/c/20-off-select-star-wars-toys-apparel-and-more/-/N-jkd07?clkid=27c21ee3N710211edbfe1d5352c979019">Target</a>, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/browse/star-wars-may-the-4th/c2hlbGZfaWQ6ODA3MDMwNwieie?">Walmart </a>and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&amp;node=16914597011">Amazon</a> also have dedicated pages for Star Wars Day deals.
The Disney Store will also have <a href="https://www.disneystore.com/">deals</a> throughout the unofficial holiday.
Additionally, the official Star Wars deal <a href="https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-day-deals">page</a> has new items from Funko, Hallmark and others to celebrate the holiday.
The Meta Quest virtual reality headset from Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) also has several Star Wars games and is <a href="https://www.meta.com/experiences/section/688356013277382/">offering </a>a 66% discount on &#8220;Star Wars Pinball VR&#8221; to celebrate the holiday, taking the price down to $8.49. 
For this unofficial holiday, may the fourth be with you as you shop for deals and enjoy Star Wars content.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/02/36993564/disney-invests-1-5b-in-fortnite-owner-epic-games-in-biggest-ever-gaming-entry-posts-q1-earnings-bea">Disney Invests $1.5B In Fortnite Owner Epic Games In &#8216;Biggest Ever&#8217; Gaming Entry, Posts Q1 Earnings Beat, Revenue Miss</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Entertainment

May The Fourth Be With You: The History Of The Star Wars Holiday, New Shows And Movies Coming Up, And Top Deals For Fans

Benzinga examined the prospects for<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas"> many investors&#8217; favorite stocks</a> over the last week — here&#8217;s a look at some of our top stories.
Stock markets ended the week on a high note following reassuring comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
As the market digested recent inflation surprises, Powell signaled a pause in interest rate hikes, aiming to stabilize inflation around the central bank&#8217;s 2% target. This announcement helped the Dow and Nasdaq climb 1.14% and 1.43% respectively, while the S&amp;P 500 saw a modest gain of 0.55% this week.
In labor market news, signs of cooling were evident as April&#8217;s job growth slowed compared to March, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked higher. This mixed economic data supports the Fed&#8217;s decision to hold rates steady as it <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38624536/federal-reserve-dismisses-rate-hike-fears-labor-market-cools-apple-lures-investors-">monitors economic indicators</a>.
Benzinga provides daily reports on the stocks most popular with investors. Here are a few of this past week&#8217;s most bullish and bearish posts that are worth another look.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Bulls</h3>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38510252/jim-cramer-says-tesla-stock-will-keep-running-until-all-shorts-are-crushed-praises-elon-musks-ch">&#8220;Jim Cramer Says Tesla Stock Will Keep Running Until All Shorts Are Crushed, Praises Elon Musk&#8217;s Charisma,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shanthi-rexaline">Shanthi Rexaline</a>, covers Jim Cramer&#8217;s opinion that Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) will continue to rise as long as short sellers target it, crediting Elon Musk&#8217;s dynamic leadership for bolstering investor confidence.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38564859/are-dogecoin-and-shiba-inu-due-a-bounce-this-trader-sees-bull-flag-forming-for-one-coin">&#8220;Are Dogecoin And Shiba Inu Due A Bounce? This Trader Sees &#8216;Bull Flag&#8217; Forming For One Coin,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/khyathi-dalal">Khyathi Dalal</a>, discusses chart analyst Ali Martinez&#8217;s prediction of a bullish breakout for Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>), despite a turbulent period for both it and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>).
<a>&#8220;Gene Munster&#8217;s Take On Apple&#8217;s Q2 Beat, June Quarter Guidance: &#8216;Things Get Easier For Apple In The Back Half Of Year,'&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shanthi-rexaline">Shanthi Rexaline</a>, details Apple, Inc.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) promising outlook as per Gene Munster, following Q2 financial success and notable shareholder returns.
For additional bullish calls of the past week, check out the following:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38601338/carvana-revs-up-over-1-500-in-a-year-inflicts-heavy-losses-on-short-sellers">Carvana Revs Up Over 1,500% In A Year, Inflicts Heavy Losses On Short Sellers</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cannabis/24/05/38559933/billions-on-the-move-tracking-market-cap-changes-in-top-cannabis-firms-after-dea-rescheduling-an">Billions On The Move: Tracking Market Cap Changes In Top Cannabis Firms After DEA Rescheduling Announcement</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38583155/nvidia-supercharges-ai-chatbot-with-advanced-models-from-google-and-openai">Nvidia Supercharges AI Chatbot with Advanced Models From Google and OpenAI</a>
The Bears
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38494698/amc-entertainment-analyst-cautious-despite-market-share-gains-europe-catalyst-heavy">&#8220;AMC Entertainment Analyst Cautious Despite Market Share Gains, Europe Catalyst: &#8216;Heavy Debt Load, Lack Of Dividends Overshadow These Positive Factors,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/chris-katje">Chris Katje</a>, covers Wedbush analyst Alicia Reese&#8217;s cautious stance on AMC Entertainment Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMC#NYSE">AMC</a>) due to its significant debt and expansion limits despite market share growth.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/05/38616885/bitcoins-clock-is-ticking-why-edward-snowden-issues-final-warning">&#8220;Bitcoin&#8217;s &#8216;Clock Is Ticking&#8217;: Why Edward Snowden Issues &#8216;Final Warning,'&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/murtuza-merchant">Murtuza Merchant</a>, highlights Edward Snowden&#8216;s urgent call for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) to implement privacy protections at the protocol level, especially after Wasabi Wallet&#8217;s CoinJoin service discontinuation.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38597557/starbucks-ceos-dilemma-unfolds-with-stock-performance-falling-sales">&#8220;Starbucks CEO&#8217;s Dilemma Unfolds With Stock Performance, Falling Sales,&#8221;</a> by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/shivani-kumaresan">Shivani Kumaresan</a>, discusses Starbucks Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>) CEO Laxman Narasimhan&#8216;s challenges in boosting the company&#8217;s performance amid declining sales and stock value.
For more bearish takes, be sure to see these posts:
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/04/38535093/april-showers-on-wall-street-miners-utilities-emerge-as-bright-spots-in-gloomy-market">April Showers On Wall Street: Miners, Utilities Emerge As Bright Spots In Gloomy Market</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/05/38554589/manufacturing-activity-gauge-contracts-again-in-april-commodity-costs-hit-produce">Manufacturing Activity Gauge Contracts Again In April: Commodity Costs Hit Producers</a>
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/24/04/38529328/walmart-to-shut-down-all-clinic-locations-amid-rising-costs-what-it-means-for-your-healthcare">Walmart to Shut Down All Clinic Locations Amid Rising Costs – What It Means for Your Healthcare?</a>
Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following<a href="https://twitter.com/Benzinga"> Benzinga</a><a href="http://twitter.com/Benzinga"> on Twitter</a>.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Apple, Tesla, AMC, Bitcoin And Shiba Inu's Chart Forms Powerful Technical Patterns

The yearly shopping extravaganza hosted by Warren Buffett preceding the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) has kicked off this weekend, offering shareholders an array of products from Berkshire's portfolio companies.
What Happened: The event, taking place at the CHI Health Center, features over 20,000 square feet of exhibition space and more than 50,000 items from various Berkshire's holding companies, including Brooks Running, See's Candies, and Jazwares, as <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/03/warren-buffetts-shopping-extravaganza-kicks-off-with-squishmallows-pit.html">reported</a> by CNBC.
The event is exclusive to shareholders, who can avail special discounts on purchases. Jazwares, the American toymaker renowned for its Squishmallows plushie line, was a crowd favorite last year when it debuted at Berkshire Hathaway's conference. This year, the company has tripled its exhibit space in the convention hall.
Highlights of the event include the latest Squishmallows toys modeled after Buffett and his longtime Berkshire partner, Charlie Munger, a vibrant Squishmallows pit, among other displays.
The Bookworm had only one book on offer this year: "Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger." This was at Buffett&#8217;s request to honor his business partner of over six decades, who passed away last November at the age of 99.
Other notable exhibits featured a virtual reality flight simulation training by FlightSafety, a life-sized red truck display by Pilot Travel Centers, and a special edition of running shoes by Brooks Running with "brk" on the side and a cartoon of a running Buffett on the insoles.
Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s 2024 annual meeting will be held on May 4 at 4 pm. 
Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38628798/do-not-put-your-finger-in-youtuber-experiments-with-tesla-cybertruck-frunk-sensing-capabilities">&#8216;Do Not Put Your Finger In&#8230;&#8217;: YouTuber Experiments With Tesla Cybertruck Frunk Sensing Capabilities</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Generated Using Midjourney

Tech

Warren Buffett's Annual Shopping Extravaganza Begins, Showcasing Charlie Munger Squishmallows And 'Poor Charlie's Almanack'

The weekend is almost here and so is the time to buckle up for two days of entertainment. Whether you want to watch a murder mystery or science fiction, we have all the bases covered for you on Hulu and Disney+.
From movies to new shows and long-running ones, Hulu and Disney+ both have a diverse content library for everyone.
Don't want to dive into a lengthy TV show? There's a movie for you. Love binge-watching? There's a long show you can load up on.
Here's a roundup of fresh new TV shows and movies you can watch on Hulu and Disney+ this weekend.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Welcome To Wrexham</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="538" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104352/Welcome-To-Wrexham-1024x538.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-321728" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104352/Welcome-To-Wrexham-1024x538.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104352/Welcome-To-Wrexham-300x158.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104352/Welcome-To-Wrexham-768x403.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104352/Welcome-To-Wrexham.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Welcome To Wrexham &#x7C; Image courtesy: Hulu</figcaption></figure>
Movie star Ryan Reynolds and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Rob McElhenney are back with the third season of the sports documentary Welcome to Wrexham.
Watch Wrexham's rise try to earn a promotion from League Two and find out if the underdog team ends up succeeding.
Where To Watch:&nbsp;Hulu
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Grey's Anatomy</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104415/Greys-Anatomy-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-321729" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104415/Greys-Anatomy-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104415/Greys-Anatomy-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104415/Greys-Anatomy-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104415/Greys-Anatomy.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Grey's Anatomy &#x7C; Image courtesy: Hulu</figcaption></figure>
One of the longest-running medical dramas in history, Grey's Anatomy is back for the 20th season. Watch surgical interns save patients and embark on a journey of a lifetime.
Where To Watch:&nbsp;Hulu
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Prom Dates (2024)</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104436/Prom-Dates-2024-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-321730" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104436/Prom-Dates-2024-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104436/Prom-Dates-2024-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104436/Prom-Dates-2024-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104436/Prom-Dates-2024.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Prom Dates (2024) &#x7C; Image courtesy: Hulu</figcaption></figure>
This Hulu original movie shows two best friends, Jess and Hannah, trying to honor a pact they made when they were 13 years old. Things fall apart when their dates break up 24 hours before the prom – will Jess and Hannah find new dates in a day? There's one way to find out.
Where To Watch:&nbsp;Hulu
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shardlake</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104447/Shardlake-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-321732" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104447/Shardlake-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104447/Shardlake-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104447/Shardlake-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104447/Shardlake.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shardlake &#x7C; Image courtesy: Disney+</figcaption></figure>
Set in the 16th-century reign of Henry VIII, the Shardlake TV series is based on CJ Sansom's novels. The lead, Matthew Shardlake is sent to investigate the death of a commissioner in a remote town. Will he succeed?
Where To Watch:&nbsp;Disney+
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Star Wars: Tales Of The Empire</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104457/Star-Wars-Tales-Of-The-Empire-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-321734" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104457/Star-Wars-Tales-Of-The-Empire-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104457/Star-Wars-Tales-Of-The-Empire-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104457/Star-Wars-Tales-Of-The-Empire-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104457/Star-Wars-Tales-Of-The-Empire.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Star Wars: Tales Of The Empire &#x7C; Image courtesy: Disney+</figcaption></figure>
Keeping with the tradition, Disney has Star Wars: Tales of the Empire that streams on May 4, in celebration of Star Wars Day.
Star Wars: Tales of the Empire is an animated show that chronicles the journey of a fallen Jedi, Barriss Offee, and a young Morgan Elsbeth.
May the Fourth be with you.
Where To Watch:&nbsp;Disney+
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monsters At Work</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104507/Monsters-At-Work-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-321737" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104507/Monsters-At-Work-1024x576.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104507/Monsters-At-Work-300x169.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104507/Monsters-At-Work-768x432.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/03104507/Monsters-At-Work.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Monsters At Work &#x7C; Image courtesy: Disney+</figcaption></figure>
Miss Monsters, Inc.? Monsters at Work is the cure you need. This animated sitcom first premiered in 2021 and it's back for the second season now.
Scare Major graduate Tylor Tuskmon's job as well as friendships are at risk after he gets a job offer from rival firm Fear Co. Will he take the plunge? Watch now to find out.
Where To Watch: Disney+
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

From Welcome To Wrexham On Hulu To Star Wars And Shardlake On Disney+: Here's Your Weekend Watch List

Kevin O&#8217;Leary, the venture capitalist famous for his role on ABC's Shark Tank, believes that students <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38446778/students-demand-universities-sell-off-israel-related-stocks-hundreds-arrested-in-nationwide-protests">protesting against Israel over </a>its attacks on Palestine are ruining their job prospects. 
What Happened: While student protests date back a hundred years, the protests in the 60s and 70s were documented on film and had poor resolution unlike now when all footage is shot in 1080p or 4k resolution, O&#8217;Leary said. 
&#8220;We see you now. All you need is to have your eyes exposed&#8230;and for the rest of your life, you&#8217;re in this pile!&#8221;
These images will be identified by the artificial intelligence employed by employers during their background check, leaving them unemployed, he said. For every person whose picture of burning a flag turns up, employers can find another with a clear record, he added. 
&#8220;These people are screwed,&#8221; O&#8217;Leary said on Fox News&#8216; &#8216;The Five&#8217; chat show on Wednesday. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Kevin O&#39;Leary warns that leftist campus occupiers won&#39;t be able to get a job anywhere because of AI background checks: &quot;We see you now. All you need is to have your eyes exposed&#8230;and for the rest of your life, you&#39;re in THIS pile!&quot; &quot;These people are SCREWED!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/wRhF1rVI7I">pic.twitter.com/wRhF1rVI7I</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1786037712622924184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Leary said in another interview this week that he would continue to hire from universities like UCLA and Columbia where protests are taking place, but these would be on an individual basis, he clarified. 
Why It Matters: As per an Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-campus-student-protests-war-df5f7cf1547a3ca8fb959b992d6ebe1b">report</a>, there have been over 2,400 arrests across 46 campuses in the U.S. since April 17 <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38559867/protests-at-ucla-columbia-and-other-campuses-turn-violent-as-israel-negotiates-truce-terms-with-hama">over anti-war protests.</a> Pro-palestinian students are protesting Israel&#8217;s attacks on Gaza after Oct. 7 when Hamas militants killed about 1200 people in an attack on southern Israel. Since then, however, Israel has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, as per Gaza health authorities. 
Earlier, Tom Gimbel, Founder and CEO of&nbsp;LaSalle Network, shared his concerns on CNBC's Last Call about the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38520941/ivy-league-grads-no-longer-the-apple-of-recruiters-eyes-amid-anti-israel-protests-they-are-going-to">increasing discomfort among recruiters</a> due to the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. Gimbel explained that while earlier recruiters were determined to recruit and interview only Ivy League graduates, historically considered the "smartest," the trend might be changing. "They didn't entertain anybody else for a lot of roles. Now what's going to happen is they are going to open up the bottleneck."&nbsp;
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entertainment/24/05/38628486/heres-how-a-man-got-14-000-earrings-for-14-from-cartier-after-a-website-typo">Here&#8217;s How A Man Got $14,000 Earrings For $14 From Cartier After A Website Typo</a>
Image by Ontario Chamber of Commerce via Flickr

Politics

Kevin O'Leary Says Employers Will Screen Out Ivy League Anti-Israel Student Protestors While Hiring Using AI: 'These People Are Screwed'

Warren Buffett's frugal lifestyle has been a focus of interest and for good reason – the Oracle of Omaha has been prudent with both his investments as well as his life beyond Berkshire Hathaway.
From the good old McDonald's hamburger to cherry Coke to still living in the first home he purchased 66 years ago in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett has lived a rather simple life for someone who is among the top ten richest people in the world.
Buffett's philosophy is also rather simple – from cheap breakfasts to living in the same house and not buying flashy toys or cars, the legendary investor's frugal lifestyle habits are easy to incorporate into your daily lives.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38627546/i-will-teach-you-to-be-rich-author-ramit-sethi-became-a-self-made-millionaire-he-now-shares-his-simp">&#8216;I Will Teach You To Be Rich&#8217; Author, Ramit Sethi, Became A Self-Made Millionaire — He Now Shares His Simple Formula To Grow Your Wealth</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 Practical Warren Buffett Habits That Can Save You Money</h2>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Living In The Same House</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="585" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022821/Buffett-1-1024x585.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-322472" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022821/Buffett-1-1024x585.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022821/Buffett-1-300x171.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022821/Buffett-1-768x439.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022821/Buffett-1-1536x878.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022821/Buffett-1.jpg 1792w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Representational image of Buffett&#8217;s home &#x7C; Image generated using Dall-E</figcaption></figure>
Buffett still lives in his Omaha house that he bought for $31,500 in 1958. The 66-year-old 6,570-square-foot home has five bedrooms and is protected by a fence and security cameras.
Apart from regular maintenance and some renovations, Buffett has not done anything major or converted it into a palatial bungalow. He doesn't have any plans to move out, either.
In a 2010 letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, Buffett called it "the third best investment I ever made."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Sticking To The Basics</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="585" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022850/Buffett-2-1024x585.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-322473" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022850/Buffett-2-1024x585.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022850/Buffett-2-300x171.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022850/Buffett-2-768x439.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022850/Buffett-2-1536x878.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022850/Buffett-2.jpg 1792w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Representational image of Buffett&#8217;s breakfast &#x7C; Image generated using Dall-E</figcaption></figure>
Buffett could afford the best cooking staff and chefs in the world who can cook him fancy meals every day, but he likes sticking to the basics.
In HBO's 2017 documentary, Becoming Warren Buffett, he said he does not like spending more than $3.17 on his breakfast. While prices have since gone up, Buffett explained his routine includes sausage patties and Coke, or a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit when he's feeling "prosperous."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. The Ultimate Luxury</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="585" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022920/Buffett-3-1024x585.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-322474" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022920/Buffett-3-1024x585.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022920/Buffett-3-300x171.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022920/Buffett-3-768x439.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022920/Buffett-3-1536x878.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022920/Buffett-3.jpg 1792w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Do what you love &#x7C; Image generated using Dall-E</figcaption></figure>
The "do what you love" advice is cliched, but it's the "ultimate luxury," says Buffett.
In an interview with CNBC, he said, "Success is really doing what you love and doing it well."
"It&#8217;s as simple as that. Really getting to do what you love to do every day — that&#8217;s really the ultimate luxury."
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. Stay Away From Credit Cards</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="585" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022944/Buffett-4-1024x585.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-322475" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022944/Buffett-4-1024x585.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022944/Buffett-4-300x171.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022944/Buffett-4-768x439.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022944/Buffett-4-1536x878.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04022944/Buffett-4.jpg 1792w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Say no to credit cards &#x7C; Image generated using Dall-E</figcaption></figure>
Buffett does <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/13/warren-buffett-cautions-against-carrying-a-credit-card-balance.html">not</a> believe in using credit cards. He thinks cash is better, even though it might seem a bit old school at a time when contactless and card payments are commonplace.
Paying interest on credit card debt is like throwing away money, according to Buffett. Instead, he suggests buying only those things that you can afford.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. Wants Versus Needs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="585" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04023020/Buffett-5-1024x585.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-322476" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04023020/Buffett-5-1024x585.jpg 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04023020/Buffett-5-300x171.jpg 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04023020/Buffett-5-768x439.jpg 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04023020/Buffett-5-1536x878.jpg 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/04023020/Buffett-5.jpg 1792w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Splashy toys are temporary &#x7C; Image generated using Dall-E</figcaption></figure>
Lastly, it's important to differentiate between wants and needs. Although he can afford the best gadgets out there, he rocked a $20 flip phone as recently as 2020, when he finally upgraded to an iPhone.
He doesn't splurge on materialistic things like cars or yachts, either. "Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving," he once said.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

Success Stories

Warren Buffett's Frugal Lifestyle Hacks Saved Millions — Here Are 5 Tips To Follow Suit In Your Everyday Life

Days after Tesla Inc. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38480139/teslas-cybertruck-finally-getting-its-promised-off-roading-features-watch-it-getting-tested-for-rock">released a software update</a> to make its Cybertruck frunk safer, a YouTuber tested it, only to have his finger painfully trapped. 
What Happened: Earlier this week, Tesla rolled out a new software update for its Cybertrucks. The update was aimed at improving the frunk&#8217;s sensing so it wouldn&#8217;t close on soft objects. 
YouTuber Jeremy Judkins tested it on a video shared on YouTube on May 2. Following the update, Judkins noted that the frunk did not close in on a banana or a zucchini. However, it did snap off the thin tip of a carrot. 
After his experiment with vegetables and fruits, Judkins went on to experiment with this hand. While the frunk did not close on his arm or his hand, it did close on his finger. However, upon detecting resistance, the frunk opened, leaving the finger free but shivering. 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Do NOT put your finger in the Tesla Cybertruck Frunk" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rA55B1kobnw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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Tesla Executive Reacts: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38628243/elon-musk-impressed-by-tesla-cybertrucks-world-war-2-inspired-wrap-cool">Cybertruck lead engineer</a> Wes Morrill noted that the incident happened because the YouTuber tried to close the frunk repeatedly, making the algorithm assume that he was trying to close the frunk. 
&#8220;Imagine there is a big bag inside the frunk it might also trigger the pinch detection. Then you might try closing it again, and again&#8230; exactly as you are doing in this video. The algorithm assumes that if you are repeatedly trying to close the frunk it&#8217;s because you, as the human in loop know better and believe it should close,&#8221; Morrill wrote. 
The algorithm will be reset once the frunk is closed without anything in the way. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Frunk pinch detection is a learning algorithm which will increase the closing force each time it&#39;s cycled back to back without successfully latching. Imagine there is a big bag inside the frunk it might also trigger the pinch detection. Then you might try closing it again, and…
&mdash; Wes (@wmorrill3) <a href="https://twitter.com/wmorrill3/status/1786144691412746639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38628243/elon-musk-impressed-by-tesla-cybertrucks-world-war-2-inspired-wrap-cool">Elon Musk Impressed By Tesla Cybertruck&#8217;s World War 2 Inspired Wrap: &#8216;Cool&#8217;</a>
Image Courtesy: Tesla

'Do Not Put Your Finger In...': YouTuber Experiments With Tesla Cybertruck Frunk Sensing Capabilities

Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38362506/apples-next-big-leap-how-ai-software-and-wwdc-announcements-could-fuel-growth">highly-anticipated AI strategy</a>, set to be announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, has Wedbush's Dan Ives excited.
What Happened: Ives thinks that the "AI revolution" is headed for Cupertino next, given that it is the only company in the "Mag 7" that hasn't had any major AI announcement yet.
In an interview with CNBC, Ives said, "Next six to nine months, it's going to be an AI-driven super cycle with iPhone 16."
Ives implies that Apple's upcoming AI features will entice users to upgrade to newer iPhones. "Look at China – 230 million iPhones, yet 70% of them have not upgraded in the last three years."
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
"AI revolution now coming to Cupertino," he remarked.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">AI Revolution now coming to Cupertino <a href="https://twitter.com/SquawkStreet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SquawkStreet</a> &#x1f34e;&#x1f447; <a href="https://t.co/ORtAerNcqA">https://t.co/ORtAerNcqA</a>
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1786498447647940856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Apple reported an 8.1% decline in iPhone sales in Greater China – this includes mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan – far better than <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38381758/jim-cramer-weighs-in-after-iphone-sales-reportedly-plummet-19-in-china-in-q1-anothe">analyst predictions</a> of up to a 19.1% fall.
Ives explains that this could be due to a pickup in iPhone sales in March and that it bodes well for Apple over the next six to nine months. He expects Apple to register a growth in iPhone sales in China in the September quarter.
"When you look at the next six, nine, twelve months, that renaissance of growth is coming back to Cupertino, combined with the AI story."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38614138/have-you-used-siri-lately-elon-musk-answers-mkbhd-after-tim-cook-teases-exciting-ai-developments-fro">&#8216;Have You Used Siri Lately?&#8217; Elon Musk Answers MKBHD After Tim Cook Teases &#8216;Exciting&#8217; AI Developments From Apple This Year</a>
Why It Matters: Apple's upcoming AI strategy is being watched closely by analysts.
Echoing similar sentiments as Ives, Tesla Inc. investor Ross Gerber thinks that Apple's AI announcements will <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38610873/despite-tim-cooks-scant-details-about-iphone-ai-tesla-investor-ross-gerber-thinks-it-will-trigger-wh">lead to an upgrade cycle</a> for the company.
Apple is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474688/goodbye-google-gemini-apple-in-talks-with-microsoft-backed-openai-for-iphone-ai-features-report">currently in talks with</a> Alphabet Inc.'s Google as well as Microsoft Corp.-backed OpenAI to license either of their AI models for the iPhone. The company is separately developing its own generative AI solution dubbed "Project Graymatter," expected to debut with iOS 18 later this year.
Also helping Apple's case is Tim Cook's recent China visit, which Deepwater Asset Management&#8217;s Gene Munster&nbsp;thinks is a message to the&nbsp;Xi Jinping&nbsp;administration that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37903418/tim-cooks-recent-visit-to-china-was-to-send-out-a-clear-message-to-xi-jinping-says-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8220;Apple is committed to China.&#8221;</a>
Price Action:&nbsp;Apple&#8217;s stock closed 5.98% up at $183.38 on Friday, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38608040/openais-sam-altman-says-were-making-agi-and-it-will-be-worth-it-dont-care-if-we-burn-500m-or-50b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenAI's Sam Altman Says ‘We're Making AGI' And It Will Be ‘Worth It:' ‘Don't Care If We Burn $500M Or $50B'</a>
Photo courtesy: Pexels

'AI Revolution Now Coming To Cupertino:' Tech Bull Says Betting Against Apple's Tim Cook Has Been 'Proven Wrong Again And Again'

Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) CEO Elon Musk on Friday touted the abilities of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/04/38511618/tesla-researcher-thinks-ev-giants-biggest-challenge-in-q2-comes-from-one-of-its-cas">new Model 3 Performance </a>when compared to Ferrari&#8217;s latest 12 Cilindri. 
What Happened: &#8220;The new Model 3 Performance is awesome,&#8221; Musk said in response to a Tesla enthusiast who compared the latest offering from Tesla with Ferrari&#8217;s 12Cilindri GT.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The new Model 3 Performance is awesome
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1786522838427410436?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The 12Cilindri from Ferrari was unveiled to the public on Thursday at Miami Beach. The vehicle, Ferrari says, is inspired by Grand Tourers of the 1950s and &#8217;60s and starts at a whopping €395,000 ($425,553). The vehicle offers a max power of 818 hp, can go from 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) in 2.9 seconds, and has a maximum speed of over 340km/h (211mph). 
In comparison, the Model 3 Performance has a top speed of 163 mph, can go from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds, and can enable over 500 hp on an electric powertrain. Model 3 Performance, however, starts at just $53,990 without including an EV tax credit of $7,500. 
The New Model 3 Performance: In January, Tesla introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36570546/you-can-finally-order-teslas-new-model-3-in-america-heres-its-starting-price" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">updated Model 3</a>&nbsp;in the U.S., initially offering two variants: rear-wheel drive and long-range. The Performance variant was conspicuously absent from the listings. However, a company executive affirmed its forthcoming availability.
Tesla launched its new Model 3 Performance in the U.S. last month. While it was priced at $52,990 at the time of launch, it is now priced at $53,990 after a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474737/tesla-increases-price-of-model-3-performance-by-1k-in-us-days-after-launch"> price hike of $1000.</a> 
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/05/38612023/nhtsa-closes-3-year-old-probe-into-tesla-model-x-s-vehicles-over-failure-of-touchscreen-loss-of-rear">&nbsp;NHTSA Closes 3-Year-Old Probe Into Tesla Model X, S Vehicles Over Failure Of Touchscreen, Loss Of Rearview Camera Display</a>
Photo by Grzegorz Czapski Via Shutterstock

'Model 3 Performance Is Awesome,' Says Elon Musk To Comparison Between Tesla EV Sedan And Ferrari 12Cilindri

EV giant Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) has launched a new long-range rear-wheel drive (RWD) version of its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/01/36840882/its-official-teslas-model-y-rewrites-history-as-first-ev-to-top-global-car-sales-just-as-musk-predic">best-selling Model Y SUV </a>in the U.S.
What Happened: The new Long Range RWD version has an estimated range of 320 miles, a top speed of 135 mph, and can go from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. It starts at $44,990, the same starting price as the rear-wheel drive version of the vehicle it has replaced on the website. 
The replaced RWD variant had a range of just 260 miles. 
Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to social media platform X to state that the older RWD vehicles built by the company over the past several months can get more range for an additional $1500 to $2000 depending on the battery cells employed. This would add 40 to 60 miles of range to the car, he said, while adding that the company is working through regulatory approvals to enable it. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The "260 mile" range Model Y's built over the past several months actually have more range that can be unlocked for $1500 to $2000 (gains 40 to 60 miles of range), depending on which battery cells you have. Working through regulatory approvals to enable this. <a href="https://t.co/6d5Ntekk01">pic.twitter.com/6d5Ntekk01</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1786586974108909815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;We have to pay the bills somehow,&#8221; Musk said as a reason for the extra charge. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We have to pay the bills somehow
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1786587379522027795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: The new variant of the Model Y comes weeks after Tesla launched a new <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38474737/tesla-increases-price-of-model-3-performance-by-1k-in-us-days-after-launch">Model 3 Performance variant </a>in the U.S. The new Model 3 variant has more power as compared to the other two versions of the mass-market electric sedan. 
This came after Tesla reported an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38068997/elon-musk-dwells-on-wokeness-geopolitics-population-crisis-but-mostly-stays-silent-on-teslas-gloomy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">8.5% year-on-year decline in first-quarter deliveries </a>with 386,810 vehicles delivered across the world, marking the first time Tesla has reported a drop in quarterly deliveries in about four years since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The company attributed the decline in volume partially to the production ramp of the refreshed Model 3 at its Fremont factory.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38582801/s-p-dials-down-teslas-governance-score-amid-concerns-over-elon-musks-dominance-but-retains-bbb-credi" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">S&amp;P Dials Down Tesla's Governance Score Amid Concerns Over Elon Musk's Dominance — But Retains ‘BBB' Credit Rating</a>
Image Via Shutterstock

Tesla Launches Model Y RWD Variant That Can Go Upto 320 Miles On A Single Charge: Elon Musk Promises More Range On Discontinued Variant For Additional $1500 To $2000

Jeff Bezos, the founder of&nbsp;Amazon.com Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), faced intense&nbsp;questioning by the Federal Trade Commission or FTC over his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38451439/jeff-bezos-and-amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-accused-of-deleting-chats-amid-antitrust-probe-the-ftcs-content">alleged use of&nbsp;the encrypted messaging</a> app Signal&nbsp;and its auto-delete feature.
What Happened: Last week, FTC accused&nbsp;Bezos and other top Amazon&nbsp;executives including CEO Andy Jassy&nbsp;of intentionally deleting Signal messages that could be relevant to an ongoing antitrust lawsuit against the company. 
Now newly reported transcript from the complaint revealed that Bezos, in his&nbsp;testimony to the FTC in&nbsp;October 2022,&nbsp;mostly denied or refused to&nbsp;answer the agency&#8217;s questions. However,&nbsp;he also indicated that he&nbsp;may have continued to use&nbsp;Signal and the auto-delete function&nbsp;until 2022 for sensitive company issues unrelated to the lawsuit, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-jeff-bezos-encrypted-messaging-auto-delete-ftc-antitrust-2024-5?IR=T">reported</a>&nbsp;Business Insider.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know exactly when I stopped using it,&#8221; Bezos said, according to the transcript. &#8220;But I tried very hard to be careful not to use it, to preserve messages and only use disappearing messages on things that were not, you know, responsive to these document preservation requests.&#8221;
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/05/38552447/insane-night-jim-cramer-praises-amazons-spectacular-q1-says-skyworks-will-hammer-ap?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;Insane Night:&#8217; Jim Cramer Praises Amazon&#8217;s &#8216;Spectacular&#8217; Q1, Says Skyworks Will &#8216;Hammer Apple&#8217; While Supermicro Got &#8216;Whacked&#8217; Despite Good March Quarter</a>
The Amazon founder admitted to receiving a document-preservation notice regarding the FTC&#8217;s investigation but refrained from confirming whether Signal messages were included in the notice. He also stated that he couldn&#8217;t recall the precise timing of receiving the notice or the legal advice from Amazon&#8217;s lawyers regarding Signal (&#8220;a year-ish ago maybe,&#8221; he said).
&#8220;I may have made mistakes in that regard from time to time,&#8221; Bezos said. &#8220;I never would have used Signal under any circumstances with disappearing messages on or off to discuss any complicated business issues. It just doesn&#8217;t make sense.&#8221;
The FTC lawyer highlighted that despite receiving legal advice on document preservation in both 2020 and 2021, Bezos continued to use Signal&#8217;s disappearing messaging feature until 2022.
In response, Bezos stated that he wouldn&#8217;t have taken such action, emphasizing his adherence to the guidance of legal counsel as long as he comprehends it. &#8220;I&#8217;m human. I can make a mistake,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;But my practice would be – when it comes to legal matters, my practice is to have smart counsel and to listen to them.&#8221;
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Amazon had a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38534302/amazon-q1-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-aws-hits-100-billion-annual-run-rate-and-more">strong first quarter in 2024</a>, The company disclosed net sales of $143.3 billion, marking a 13% increase compared to the last year. This figure exceeded the Street consensus estimate of $142.5 billion, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed?gspk=bHVrZWphY29iaTUzNDg&amp;gsxid=tdEE0VrK8Jeg&amp;ref=lukejacobi5348" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro.</a>
Amid the FTC probe, the potential impact on Amazon's various businesses was brought into question. However, Eric Jackson, the founder and president of EMJ Capital, perceives the actions of the federal government as an attempt to &#8220;make a lot of noise&#8221; by singling out companies such as Amazon.
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38605346/dogecoin-co-creator-and-mkbhd-slam-siri-after-apples-q2-earnings-its-such-a-piece-of-garbage?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dogecoin Co-Creator And MKBHD Slam &#8216;Siri&#8217; After Apple&#8217;s Q2 Earnings: &#8216;It&#8217;s Such A Piece Of Garbage&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo via Shutterstock

Legal

Media

AMZN

FTC Grills Jeff Bezos Over Use Of Signal's Auto-Delete Feature Amid Amazon's Antitrust Suit: 'I Can Make A Mistake'

A 27-year-old Rogelio Villarreal has seemingly procured a pair of $14,000<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-invest-in-jewelry"> Cartier earrings</a> for his mother for merely $14, thanks to a listing error on the company website. 
What Happened: Villarreal, a surgery resident from Mexico, stumbled upon an Instagram ad for Cartier in December. Among the high-priced items, he noticed a pair of 18-carat rose-gold earrings with diamonds, listed for 237 Mexican pesos ($14). He purchased two pairs for his mother, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/world/americas/mexico-cartier-sale-consumer-protection.html">reported</a> by The New York Times. 
After the purchase, the price for the earrings was adjusted on the Cartier website to 237,000 pesos, equivalent to about $14,000, sparking a months-long dispute between Villarreal and Cartier, which gained attention on social media and even drew the interest of a Mexican senator.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/04/38308699/slump-in-chinese-hong-kong-demand-sends-swiss-watch-exports-plummeting-negative-trend-is-even-wo">Cartier</a> made several attempts to cancel the order, the report said. When Villarreal would not cancel, company representatives reached out to him offering him a complimentary bottle of Cartier Cuvée champagne and a leather Cartier item as compensation for the canceled order. However, Villarreal filed a complaint with the Matamoros branch of the federal consumer protection agency and the agency has since made several attempts at mediating an agreement on the issue, the report added. 
In late April, Cartier reached out to Villarreal saying that his order would indeed be delivered. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">War is over. Cartier está cumpliendo. No soy moneda para caerle bien a los lambiscones. No sé quién es el empleado ni su status, si quieren saber pueden preguntarle a la marca, a mi no, yo no lo contraté. Ustedes ya solo están debatiendo entre socialismo y capitalismo.
&mdash; dre pute (@LordeDandy) <a href="https://twitter.com/LordeDandy/status/1782598637882692046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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On receiving the earrings, Villarreal also posted a picture of the parcel with the caption, &#8220;Once upon a December.&#8221;
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x2728;Once upon a December&#x2728; <a href="https://t.co/3wMvT7AjLw">pic.twitter.com/3wMvT7AjLw</a>
&mdash; dre pute (@LordeDandy) <a href="https://twitter.com/LordeDandy/status/1783956724350857439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Social Media Reaction: The incident has sparked a debate on social media, with some users supporting Villarreal&#8217;s actions and others criticizing him for taking advantage of the situation. 
Sonora state senator Lilly Tellez is on the latter side of the argument. It is wrong to take advantage of a mistake to the detriment of another person even if the law is on your side, she said. 
&#8220;It is more important to be honorable than to have Cartier earrings,&#8221; she wrote. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Jóvenes: No es correcto lo que hizo el comprador de los aretes de Cartier. Está mal ser gandalla, aprovecharse de un error en perjuicio de otra persona, abusar, aunque la ley te avale, y burlarse de una empresa. Es más importante ser honorable que tener unos aretes de Cartier.
&mdash; Lilly Téllez (@LillyTellez) <a href="https://twitter.com/LillyTellez/status/1782895040727077250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Read More:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38628243/elon-musk-impressed-by-tesla-cybertrucks-world-war-2-inspired-wrap-cool">Elon Musk Impressed By Tesla Cybertruck&#8217;s World War 2 Inspired Wrap: &#8216;Cool&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Here's How A Man Got $14,000 Earrings For $14 From Cartier After A Website Typo

Yvette Wang,&nbsp;the chief of staff to&nbsp;the controversial exiled Chinese businessman&nbsp;Guo Wengui, has pleaded guilty&nbsp;to a fraud conspiracy. 
What Happened: Wang admitted to a fraud conspiracy that swindled over $1 billion from numerous victims across the globe. This plea comes just weeks before Guo, 53, is set to stand trial in Manhattan federal court for related charges, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/03/guo-wengui-chief-of-staff-pleads-guilty-to-1-billion-fraud.html">reported</a> CNBC. 
Guo, also known as&nbsp;Miles Guo, Miles Kwok,&nbsp;Brother Seven, and The Principal. He has been residing&nbsp;in the U.S. since&nbsp;2015, having&nbsp;reportedly fled China to avoid corruption charges.
Wang was initially&nbsp;scheduled to stand trial with&nbsp;Guo in the same case before her plea. She has&nbsp;agreed to pay $1.4 billion in restitution to the U.S. and forfeit the same amount. 
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38583221/mike-johnson-predicts-trumps-return-for-second-term-i-have-big-plans-for-the-congress-and-for-the-co?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mike Johnson Predicts Trump&#8217;s Return For Second Term: &#8216;I Have Big Plans For The Congress And For The Country&#8217;</a>
&#8220;Yvette Wang played a leadership role in a broad and complex scheme to defraud thousands,&#8221; said Manhattan U.S. attorney Damian Williams. &#8220;Through false promises and lies, this scheme collected more than $1 billion from innocent victims located throughout the country and the world.&nbsp;Wang inflicted pain and loss on so many, and she will now be held to account for the harm she and others caused.&#8221;
Wang&nbsp;faces a maximum possible sentence&nbsp;of 10 years in prison&nbsp;for the charges of conspiracy&nbsp;to commit wire fraud and&nbsp;conspiracy to commit money laundering.&nbsp;Her sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Why It Matters: This development comes just weeks before Guo&#8217;s trial. Prosecutors have accused&nbsp;Guo, an associate of former&nbsp;Trump White House aide&nbsp;Steve Bannon, of deceiving&nbsp;his online followers with promises&nbsp;of high&nbsp;investment returns. Guo has pleaded&nbsp;not guilty to these charges.
Guo&#8217;s legal troubles have been ongoing. In September 2022, three&nbsp;companies linked to Guo, including&nbsp;GTV Media,&nbsp;agreed to pay nearly $540&nbsp;million to settle civil allegations&nbsp;by the SEC of making&nbsp;illegal offerings of stock and&nbsp;digital assets, the report noted. 
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38539108/trump-says-if-supreme-court-decides-president-doesnt-get-immunity-then-biden-will-be-prosecuted-for?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump Says If Supreme Court Decides President Doesn&#8217;t Get Immunity Then Biden &#8216;Will Be Prosecuted For All His Crimes&#8217;</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced&nbsp;with the help of&nbsp;AI tools and&nbsp;was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Shutterstock

Chief Of Staff In Trump Aide's Inner Circle Pleads Guilty To $1B Fraud Scheme

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk expressed surprise at the Biden administration's alleged <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31152736/china-says-us-hurting-its-own-credibility-by-rehashing-covid-19-lab-leak-theory-respect-science-and">censorship of the COVID lab leak theory</a> on social media platforms, including Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s YouTube, apart from Amazon.com Inc.
What Happened: The tech billionaire took to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday to share his thoughts on the alleged censorship policies of the Biden administration.
Responding to a House GOP report on the White House's alleged censorship and "pressure" on Big Tech companies, Musk expressed surprise, saying, "Wow."
The report cites internal emails sent at Meta, where executives expressed concerns about underscored "tense conversations" about fact-checking and removing pieces of content posted on Facebook and Instagram.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38554757/sundar-pichais-google-knocks-bidens-door-for-immigration-reform-to-draw-global-ai-talent">Sundar Pichai&#8217;s Google Knocks Biden&#8217;s Door For Immigration Reform To Draw Global AI Talent</a>
"In February 2021, in response to continued public pressure and tense conversations with the new Administration, we started removing the five Covid claims that had been repeatedly debunked…" said an executive in an email to Zuckerberg.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Wow <a href="https://t.co/WhoMQzxImD">https://t.co/WhoMQzxImD</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1786238084511654264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Why It Matters: Musk&#8217;s tweet comes amid concerns about the Biden administration&#8217;s alleged censorship policies.
On Wednesday, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38572315/elon-musk-finds-smoking-gun-constitutional-violation-as-jim-jordan-challenges-mark-zuckerbergs-faceb">tech billionaire reacted</a> to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and his criticism of the Biden administration&#8217;s alleged suppression of the lab leak theory, which suggests that the COVID-19 virus may have originated from a laboratory in Wuhan, China.
China has been <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/03/31152736/china-says-us-hurting-its-own-credibility-by-rehashing-covid-19-lab-leak-theory-respect-science-and">vocal in its opposition</a> to the lab leak theory, with the U.S. intelligence community&#8217;s involvement being cited as evidence of the &#8220;politicization of origin tracing.&#8221; China also warned against pushing the lab leak theory, stating that it would only hurt the U.S.&#8217;s credibility.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38545003/elon-musk-reacts-as-mit-engineer-says-were-at-fraction-of-1-in-ai-investment-imagine-whats-about-to?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Reacts As MIT Engineer Says We&#8217;re At &#8216;Fraction Of 1% In AI Investment. Imagine What&#8217;s About To</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photos courtesy: Flickr and the White House

Social Media

Elon Musk Reacts After House Report Reveals Mark Zuckerberg's Meta And Others Were Pressured By White House To Censor COVID Lab Leak Theory

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has suggested that Ukraine may have to engage in discussions with Russia to bring an end to the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/ukraine-russia-war">ongoing war</a>.
What Happened: Major-General Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy chief of Ukraine&#8217;s HUR military intelligence directorate, stated that negotiations would eventually be necessary to conclude the war, as is the case with any conflict, reported Reuters, citing the Economist magazine.
Skibitsky also noted that he does not see a clear path for Ukraine to win the war on the battlefield alone. He suggested that both sides are currently positioning themselves for potential talks, which he believes could commence no earlier than the second half of 2025.
&#8220;Such wars can only end with treaties, he says. Right now, both sides are jockeying for the &#8216;the most favorable position&#8217; ahead of potential talks. But meaningful negotiations can begin only in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, he guesses.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38573262/cash-strapped-fiskers-ceo-lists-luxurious-hollywood-mansion-for-more-than-companys-worth-as-bankrupt?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cash-Strapped Fisker&#8217;s CEO Lists Luxurious Hollywood Mansion For More Than Company&#8217;s Worth As Bankruptcy</a>
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently rejected the idea of negotiations with Russia. However, Skibitsky&#8217;s comments align with those of other Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who recently hinted at the possibility of future talks with Russia.
Why It Matters: The suggestion of potential negotiations comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West. On Monday, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38607615/russian-troops-enter-us-military-base-in-niger-amid-rising-tensions">Russian troops entered a U.S. military base in Niger</a>, following the junta&#8217;s order to expel U.S. forces. 
The U.S. also recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/05/38575211/us-slams-russia-for-alleged-chemical-weapons-use-in-ukraine-imposes-new-sanctions">accused Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine</a>, leading to the imposition of new sanctions on Russian entities. The U.S. State Department released a statement accusing Russia of breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by using the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces.
Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38522456/russian-defense-systems-intercept-six-us-made-missiles-launched-by-ukraine">Russian air defense systems intercepted six U.S.-made missiles</a> launched by Ukraine. These missiles were part of a $300 million military aid package that U.S. President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37656991/ukraine-to-receive-300-million-in-us-military-aid-as-battle-with-russia-intensifies">approved</a> for Ukraine on Mar. 12, as disclosed by a U.S. official last week.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38572315/elon-musk-finds-smoking-gun-constitutional-violation-as-jim-jordan-challenges-mark-zuckerbergs-faceb?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk Finds &#8216;Smoking Gun&#8217; Constitutional Violation As Jim Jordan Challenges Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Facebook</a>
This content was partially produced with the help of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a> and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photos courtesy: Shutterstock

Global

Ukraine May Need To Negotiate With Russia To End War, Says Top Intel Officer: 'Both Sides Are Jockeying For The The Most Favorable Position'

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, have been charged with accepting approximately $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijani government-owned oil company and a Mexican bank, the Justice Department announced on Friday.
What Happened: The Cuellars were&nbsp;charged with multiple counts of&nbsp;conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, money&nbsp;laundering,&nbsp;and violating a ban on&nbsp;acting as agents of a&nbsp;foreign organization. 
The Justice Department alleged that the&nbsp;bribes were laundered from 2014-21&nbsp;through&nbsp;a series of &#8220;sham consulting contracts&#8221; via&nbsp;middlemen and front companies owned&nbsp;by Imelda Cuellar.&nbsp;
&#8220;According to court documents, beginning in at least December 2014 and continuing through at least November 2021, Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City,&#8221; the department stated. 
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38614771/former-trump-lawyer-was-very-despondent-and-saddened-for-not-getting-top-role-in-administration-hush?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Former Trump Lawyer Was &#8216;Very Despondent And Saddened&#8217; For Not Getting Top Role In Administration, Hush Money Trial Reveals</a>
&#8220;In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan,&#8221; the department said. 
Adding, &#8220;In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank.&#8221;
The Texas Democrat refuted the allegations in a released statement. Following their court appearance in Houston, the couple was granted bail. Should they be convicted, they may potentially endure decades behind bars, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68940479">reported</a> BBC. 
&#8220;I want to be clear that both my wife and I are innocent of these allegations,&#8221; the Congressman said on Friday.
Why It Matters: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/09/34824846/us-senator-robert-menendez-wife-face-bribery-charges-will-it-cast-shadow-on-menendezs-career">faced similar charges</a> last year. He and his wife were indicted on criminal bribery charges for allegedly maintaining a &#8220;corrupt relationship&#8221; with three New Jersey businessmen. 
The indictment alleged that Menendez and his wife received &#8220;hundreds of thousands of dollars&#8221; in bribes and used the senator&#8217;s influence to enrich several businessmen from New Jersey and the Egyptian government.
&#8220;Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe—was discovered in the home, along with over $70,000 in Nadine Menendez&#8217;s safe deposit box,&#8221; the indictment said, at the time. 
Read Next:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38521425/un-confirms-north-korean-ballistic-missile-landed-in-ukraines-kharkiv-in-january-amid-war-with-russi?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UN Confirms North Korean Ballistic Missile Landed In Ukraine&#8217;s Kharkiv In January Amid War With Russia</a>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced&nbsp;with the help of&nbsp;AI tools and&nbsp;was&nbsp;reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image Via Picryl

Democratic Lawmaker Henry Cuellar And Wife Accused of Accepting $600K In Bribes: '...Are Innocent Of These Allegations,' Says Congressman

Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk on Friday expressed his appreciation for a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37329071/tesla-investor-relations-head-thinks-baby-blue-wrap-is-a-brave-choice-on-cybertruck">Cybertruck wrap </a>designed after the P-51 Mustang Bomber. 
What Happened: &#8220;Cool,&#8221; Musk wrote in response to pictures of the new wrap shared by Unplugged Performance, an automotive customizer located near Tesla&#8217;s design center in Hawthorne, California. 
The P-51 Mustang Bomber-inspired wrap was designed for Mexican entrepreneur Alejandro Salomon. Every detail was hand drawn and the vehicle was paired with 20-inch UP-03 Beadlock wheels and BFG KO3 tires to complete the look, the designer said. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Cool
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1786542715993538892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
&#8220;It&#8217;s unreal! Thank you for the hard and incredible work!!,&#8221; Salomon replied. 
About the P51 Mustang: The P-51 Mustang was a fighter bomber originally manufactured by North American Aviation, used during World War 2, and eventually phased out in 1957.
&#8220;Possessing excellent range and maneuverability, the P-51 operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and also as a ground attack fighter-bomber. The Mustang served in nearly every combat zone during WWII, and later fought in the Korean War,&#8221; the National Museum of the United States Air Force says about the fighter. 
Tesla Wraps And Customization: Wraps are also available at Tesla&#8217;s online shop. However, Tesla-provided wraps are<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37907754/cybertruck-to-get-more-color-wrap-options-now-you-can-buy-teslas-truck-in-iridescent-purple-as-well"> either clear or color paint films</a> priced between $5000 to $6500. 
For customers looking for more individualistic wraps, third-party customizers offer more options.
Check out more of Benzinga's Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/partner/commodities/24/04/38487758/why-gold-prices-are-at-record-highs-and-what-it-means-for-miners">NHTSA Closes 3-Year-Old Probe Into Tesla Model X, S Vehicles Over Failure Of Touchscreen, Loss Of Rearview Camera Display</a>
Photo by Mike Mareen on Shutterstock

Elon Musk Impressed By Tesla Cybertruck's World War 2 Inspired Wrap: 'Cool'

Mark Hamill, the iconic actor known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" franchise, made an unexpected appearance at the White House press room on Friday, giving President Joe Biden a Star Wars-inspired nickname.
What Happened: Hamill, during his surprise visit to the White House press room, dubbed Biden &#8220;Joe-B-Wan Kenobi,&#8221; a playful nod to the &#8216;Star Wars&#8217; character Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Hamill, who was sporting sunglasses, began his address by asking the reporters if they had &#8220;Mark Hamill will lead the press briefing&#8221; on their bingo cards.
He then shared his experience of meeting Biden in the Oval Office, where he was given a pair of aviator glasses. When he asked if he could call the president &#8220;Joe-B-Wan Kenobi,&#8221; Biden agreed. Hamill also praised Biden&#8217;s work, calling him the "most legislatively successful president in my lifetime."
Hamill went on to add "I don't have to go through the list — the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the PACT Act, the CHIPS Act, all of that — Inflation. Fifteen million jobs. Look, it's all good."
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38607615/russian-troops-enter-us-military-base-in-niger-amid-rising-tensions?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russian Troops Enter US Military Base In Niger Amid Rising Tensions</a>
This isn&#8217;t Hamill&#8217;s first visit to the White House. He had previously been to the Carter and Obama administrations but had never been invited to the Oval Office. This visit, he said, was particularly special.
Why It Matters: Hamill&#8217;s visit to the White House comes at a crucial time in U.S. politics. The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a tight race, with Biden and former President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/politics/24/05/38598789/trump-vs-biden-2024-election-frontrunners-tied-in-new-poll-which-candidate-gains-in-popularity-a">tied in the latest poll</a>.
This visit, along with Biden&#8217;s recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38475853/joe-biden-reverses-stance-agrees-to-debate-ex-president-ahead-of-2024-rematch-trump-makes-fun-of-me">agreement to debate Trump</a>, could potentially influence public opinion and voter sentiment.
Meanwhile, in a recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38475660/biden-reveals-personal-struggles-after-first-wifes-death-let-me-just-go-to-the-delaware-memorial-and">candid interview</a> with radio host Howard Stern, President Biden revealed his thoughts of suicide following the tragic death of his first wife and daughter. "I used to sit there and just think, ‘I'm going to take out a bottle of scotch,' I'm going to just drink it and get drunk,&#8217;" Biden said.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38612403/biden-makes-first-public-comments-on-pro-palestinian-campus-protests-were-a-civil-society-and-order">Biden Makes First Public Comments On Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests: &#8216;We&#8217;re A Civil Society And Order Must Prevail&#8217;</a>
Photos courtesy: Wikimedia and Shutterstock