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Trump is planning a rare Republican campaign stop in the Bronx to court minority voters. Will it make any difference?

2024-05-19T21:21:49Z

Former President Donald Trump.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Trump plans to headline a campaign event in the Bronx on Thursday.
Trump has little chance to win the NYC borough but saw a jump in support there from 2016 to 2020.
His campaign is working to attract more minority support by leaning into the economy.

Former President Donald Trump is set to make an unusual pit stop for a Republican candidate later this week.

On Thursday, the native New Yorker will headline a campaign event in the Bronx, one of New York City's five boroughs and one of the bluest jurisdictions in the country.

The Bronx is so thoroughly Democratic that the borough is generally an afterthought for Republican presidential candidates and even most statewide GOP candidates.

So why bother?

While it might not help him win the Bronx, it will serve as an opportunity for the former president to further pursue his national strategy to win over minority voters.

Trump makes inroads with Black and Latino voters

There's virtually no chance that Trump will actually win the Bronx in November. The borough has backed every Democratic presidential nominee since 1928.

In 2020, Trump managed to improve his standing with Bronx voters, if only slightly, winning nearly 30,000 more votes in the Bronx than he did in 2016. Meanwhile, the Democratic presidential vote share went up by only 2,000 votes.

While Biden ultimately clobbered Trump in the Bronx (355,374 votes to 67,740 votes) in 2020, the boost for the ex-president was similar to gains he made with working-class minority voters — especially Latino voters — across the country that year.

It's a political shift that in 2020 allowed Trump to easily win Florida, including the pivotal Miami-Dade County, a Latino-heavy jurisdiction that Democrats have to carry by a substantial margin in order to win statewide elections.

While New York City isn't Florida, Trump's campaign event in the Bronx is part of a larger strategy to win over minority voters who have drifted away from the Democrats in recent years.

Trump's pitch to minority voters

Trump's expected appearance in the South Bronx will attempt to reinforce his polling edge on the economy.

He will likely also, perhaps ironically, make a pitch that he's the right candidate to reduce crime. Trump's hush-money trial is unfolding in neighboring Manhattan, but New York City itself has seen a series of high-profile crimes recently.

"President Trump will ease the financial pressures placed on households and re-establish law and order in New York!" the Trump campaign said when it announced the Bronx event.

With millions of Americans concerned about inflation and the cost of living, Trump wants to position himself as the candidate who can better address those issues, especially for minority voters.

The Trump campaign is especially targeting Latino voters, who will be key in battleground states like Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. The former president is also looking to make inroads with Black voters, especially Black men.

It's a strategy that the Biden campaign is working to counter. The president is also wooing Black and Latino voters across the country, pointing to low unemployment under his tenure, as well as the administration's work on issues like housing affordability and infrastructure.

So even though Trump won't win the Bronx anytime soon, his appearance in a place voters wouldn't normally expect to see him could be an effective showcase for his larger national strategy.

And even though the former president is also unlikely to win New York State this fall, he still hopes that his positions on fiscal matters and immigration can give him an opening.

"We're going to come into New York, we're making a big play for New York," he said during an appearance in Manhattan last month.

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Longevity fanatic Bryan Johnson says 'sleep is the new coffee'

2024-05-19T21:07:46Z

Bryan Johnson doesn't think you should drink coffee.

Josh DeAngelis

There's a new mantra in the corporate world: sleep > caffeine.
"Sleep is the new coffee," longevity enthusiast Bryan Johnson told the Journal.
Experts say workers who sleep more are likely to be more productive and focused.

Some tech execs aren't starting their days anymore with a jolt of caffeine — they're betting on sleep instead.

"I think sleep is the new coffee," Bryan Johnson told The Wall Street Journal.

Johnson, who built his fortune founding companies like payments platform Braintree and neuroscience startup Kernel, is best known these days for his antiaging regimen. His doctors say it has helped him achieve the heart of a 37-year-old and the lung capacity of an 18-year-old — even though he's 46.

A good night's rest is a crucial component of his routine. Johnson has said that he is usually in bed by 8:30 p.m. and up before 6 a.m. He has his last meal by 11 a.m., so his resting heart rate is between 46 and 50 beats per minute when he goes to bed.

The notion that sleep can replace your morning coffee speaks to a growing focus on self-care in the corporate world. Workers are pushing back on the idea that they must get by on just a few hours of rest and work long, grueling days to climb the ladder.

"Now the pendulum is swinging the other way," Shane Health, the founder of Mud/Wtr, told the Journal. "How much are you taking care of yourself? Do you feel energized? Do you feel full of vitality?"

Mud/Wtr makes coffee alternatives from Ayurvedic herbs and adaptogenic mushrooms and recently opened its first non-coffee cafe in Santa Monica, where it sells smoothies and elixirs and offers yoga, breathwork classes, and cold plunge parties, the Journal reported.

And workers who prioritize their sleep and well-being are likely to be more productive, focused, and more articulate in their speech, experts say.

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Iran's president is missing as rescuers search for 'crashed' helicopter

2024-05-19T19:07:39Z

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi meets the governors and deputies of the East and West Azerbaijan provinces in Tehran, Iran on October 21, 2021.

Getty Images

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi "crashed upon landing," state media reported.
An Iranian official said Raisi's life was "at risk."
Harsh weather conditions and heavy fog are complicating rescue missions.

An Iranian official told state-run media that the lives of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian are "at risk" following a crash of the president's helicopter on Sunday.

"We are still hopeful, but information coming from the crash site is very concerning," the official said.

Iranian state media reported that the helicopter had "crashed upon landing," without providing further details.

The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said Raisi was returning from a ceremony to open a dam on Iran's border with Azerbaijan when his helicopter was forced to make a "hard landing."

The incident is believed to have occurred near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, some 375 miles northwest of Tehran, Iran's capital.

In addition to the president and the foreign minister, the governor of Iran's East Azerbaijan province, Malik Rahmati, and other officials were also on board the helicopter, IRNA reported.

If Raisi is not found alive, Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will take his place, and new elections will be held within the next 50 days, according to state media reports.

State TV abandoned its regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across Iran, Reuters reported.

One local government official used the word "crash" to describe the incident, but he told an Iranian newspaper that he had yet visited the site himself, the Associated Press reported.

State media did not provide any information on Raisi's condition or the other officials on board the helicopter.

The harsh weather conditions and heavy fog have complicated the efforts of rescue teams, who arrived at the crash site an hour after the incident occurred, IRNA reports.

Video footage from the crash site reveals the state of the weather conditions.

UPDATE - First images of #Iran president's helicopter's area of crash landing, weather conditions unfavourable for flying, search and rescue efforts underway. https://t.co/UMQ1tVZzw0 pic.twitter.com/uCJZyQsH78
— Nagorno Karabakh Observer (@NKobserver) May 19, 2024

Raisi, 63, had been traveling in Iran's East Azerbaijan province for the inauguration of the Qizqalaasi dam on the Aras river, which runs along Iran's border with Azerbaijan.

The hardline president is seen as a favorite of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Many see Raisi as a strong contender to succeed his 85-year-old mentor, Reuters reported.

He is sanctioned by the US, in part because of his role in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988 at the end of the Iran-Iraq war.

Last month, Iran launched more than 300 drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles at Israel.

This is a breaking news story.

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From IV treatments to cold plunges here are the biggest anti-aging trends sweeping the nation

2024-05-19T18:56:31Z

Cold plunges can boost the production of neurotransmitters with rejuvenizing effects.

mihtiander/Getty Images

The quest for longevity has gone mainstream as more people seek ways to reverse the aging process.
People are resorting to IV treatments, saunas, and luxury longevity clinics to extend their lifespan.
Here are some of the top longevity trends right now, according to industry experts.

The quest to live longer has long been a focus of the world's wealthiest entrepreneurs. But now it's gone mainstream.

People across the country are taking prescription pills, getting specialized injections, and implementing a range of behavioral practices in the hopes of reversing aging. Research shows that these trends can slow down cellular aging, increase cognitive function, and even delay the onset of chronic diseases.

Still, it's important to view these practices simply as tools, similar to "hammers or screwdrivers," said longevity specialist Dr. Anant Vinjamoori. Their value ultimately depends on the context in which they're implemented, and it's worth tailoring your approach to suit your individual needs, he said.

Whether you prefer the luxe atmosphere of a longevity clinic or the rush of a cold plunge, take a look at some of the most popular longevity trends sweeping the country.

There is a growing body of scientific evidence that supports cold exposure as an anti-aging hack.

Exposure to extreme cold could help us cope better with stress.

Getty

Whether you plunge into a pool of ice-cold water or try cryotherapy — which involves spending a few minutes in a below-freezing chamber — cold exposure has benefits that may help slow down the clock.

Anant Vinjamoori, chief medical officer of longevity-focused healthcare company Modern Age, told Insider that cold exposure produces effective results in the short and long term.

A plunge into an ice-cold bath results in "a surge in the production of neurotransmitters such as epinephrine and dopamine," which have immediate rejuvenating and energizing effects, he said.

"Over the medium to long term, there is some evidence that cold exposure may reduce systemic inflammation, which is known to be a driver of many chronic diseases," Vinjamoori added.

High-end longevity clinics that offer everything from genetic testing to cocktails of supplements are growing in popularity — especially among high-income groups.

Clinique La Prairie's seven-day premium revitalization package claims to stimulate cell regeneration, fight the signs of aging, and reinforce the immune system, for more than $50K a week.

Clinique La Prairie

Many of these longevity centers offer packages or retreats that can be pretty pricey — sometimes upwards of tens of thousands of dollars a week — but longevity experts contend that they are some of the best places to get practical longevity guidance.

"The truth is that most people are probably wasting time and money on products that will never materially help them," Matt Fellowes, an advisory council member at the Stanford Center on Longevity and cofounder of health insights platform BellSant, told Business Insider by email. "One exception are some of the clinics that cater to high-income adults, which are actually science-based and, most importantly, create highly personalized assessments and guidance for people – meaning, they only focus on what their specific bodies need."

At Clinique La Prairie — a more than 90-year-old longevity center in Switzerland — the seven-day, six-night "premium revitalization" package includes longevity consultations, sleep quality assessments, DNA tests, personalized nutrition guidance, and personal training sessions, alongside luxury accommodation and limousine service for about $53,000. The program "stimulates cell regeneration, fights the signs and causes of aging, and reinforces the immune system through a four-pillared approach of medicine, nutrition, wellbeing, and movement," a spokesperson for Clinique La Prairie previously told BI.

There are less expensive options, however.

Time-restricted eating has been shown to have a host of health benefits.

Time-restricted eating can help regulate the body's Circadian rhythms, doctors say.

Creatus/Shutterstock

Research suggests that time-restricted eating patterns can result in health benefits for those with diabetes and obesity or even enhance the body's defenses against oxidative stress.

"For me, the primary benefit of time-restricted eating is regulating circadian rhythms. Sleep quality almost always improves by limiting the consumption of calories in the evening hours," said Modern Age's Vinjamoori.

Try skipping the meat and adopting a plant-based diet, instead.

Cutting out animal protein and adopting a plant-based diet is another key to longevity, and has been adopted in many of the world's Blue Zones.

Getty Images

Those who cut out animal protein— and stick to a relatively plant-based diet— are likely to live longer and healthier lives, according to studies.

David Sinclair, a Harvard Medical School professor and longevity researcher, said that high animal protein diets really only help people feel better in the short term.

"I'm convinced, and the data shows it from population studies, that a carnivorous diet is not a longevity-producing diet in the long run," he said on an episode of "The Knowledge Project Podcast."

In many of the world's Blue Zones— areas where people tend to reach the age of 100— people are likely to have a relatively plant-focused diet.

Red light therapy uses LED lights or lasers to expose the body to red light— the longest wavelength of light on the visible spectrum.

Studies show that exposing yourself to red light for somewhere between five to twenty minutes may help increase the production of a compound that provides and stores cellular energy.

Westend61/Getty Images

There is research to suggest that exposing oneself to red light for five to 20 minutes may increase production of adenosine triphosphate, which is a compound that provides and stores energy for the cells.

"While more research is needed to understand the full benefits and mechanisms of red light therapy, there is evidence to suggest it may be beneficial in improving certain skin conditions including acne, aging, hair loss, wound care, and sun damage," dermatologist Laura Buford previously told Insider.

Supplements like NMN can help boost critical enzymes in the body to improve cellular function.

Harvard Medical School professor David Sinclair recommends taking NMN, a supplement that can help increase the body's levels of NAD+.

Iryna Veklich, Getty Images

NMN, or Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, is a supplement that can help boost levels of a critical coenzyme in the body called NAD+.

NAD+ is vital in facilitating metabolic processes and maintaining healthy cellular function.

Harvard Medical School professor Sinclair — who has studied the relationship between NAD+ and aging — said in an interview with the YouTube channel Reverse Aging Revolution that the human body uses NAD+ as "a measure of adversity." As humans get older, NAD+ levels decrease, which means the body's defense enzymes and repair enzymes take a hit, and humans "succumb to aging," Sinclair said.

Since NAD+ is a large molecule, it's difficult to take it directly. Sinclair recommends taking its building blocks like B3, Nicotinamide riboside (NR), or NMN.

"What we've discovered in people, in clinical trials, is that the closer you get to the NAD itself, the better the boost in NAD that you get," Sinclair said, which is why he recommends NMN.

Or try Ashwagandha, an herb that's long been used for anti-aging in Ayurveda, an ancient system of holistic medicine originating in India.

Ashwagandha, often classified as an adaptogen, comes with several health benefits that range from easing anxiety to boosting cognitive function to reducing cortisol.

eskymaks/Getty Images

The herb, often classified as an adaptogen, has a host of health benefits that range from easing anxiety and stress to soothing arthritis to boosting cognitive function. Modern Age's Vinjamoori said that ashwagandha has been shown in research studies to reduce cortisol, a hormone associated with stress, and improve sleep in people with insomnia.

Recent research has also shown that ashwagandha could be a promising agent in anti-aging treatments. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine in 2020 found that ashwagandha may help maintain the length of the key proteins at end of chromosomes known as telomeres. Telomeres are often shortened in the process of DNA replication which has been pointed to as the main factor that "speeds up cell ageing and promotes degeneration processes" the study noted.

People that are serious about aging are also turning to prescription pills like Metformin.

Metformin has become popular with biohackers for its potential to delay the onset of age-related diseases.

Corbis News via Getty Images

Metformin, a pill prescribed for diabetes, is increasingly being used by biohackers as a way to improve how humans age and slow the onset of diseases like cancer, cognitive decline, and vision loss.

The drug helps regulate blood sugar and decrease appetite, essentially giving the metabolism a boost and stimulating a cellular clean-up process known as autophagy, Insider reported.

In his book Lifespan, Harvard professor Sinclair said he takes a gram of metformin every morning along with his yogurt in the hope that it will regulate his metabolism and help his organs remain younger and healthier, Insider reported.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also said his personal antiaging regimen includes metformin.

And Rapamycin, an immunosuppressive drug used to help treat some cancers.

Rapamycin can slow down cellular growth and reproduction which means it might be a way for "aging bodies turn down troublesome age-related inflammation."

Getty Images

It's also used in kidney transplants to help an organ recipient's body accept new kidneys, Insider reported.

The pill can slow down cellular growth and reproduction which means it might be a way to "turn down troublesome age-related inflammation," which can contribute to age-related diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, Business Insider reported.

Business Insider also previously reported that researchers have already seen rapamycin slow aging in flies, crustaceans, yeast, and mice. In humans, studies have shown that it may help improve immune function, especially in older adults.

Despite its potential to be a "fountain of youth," no one has really nailed down the right way to regulate the drug for aging.

Matt Kaeberlein, a longevity researcher studying rapamycin's effects on humans, previously told Insider that "the doses that people are taking off-label are all over the place," adding that, "it's the wild west."

Treatments like hormone therapy, in the form of pills or injections, have also surged in popularity.

The body's hormone balance shifts with age so hormone therapy can be a great way to combat age-related conditions like weight gain, mood swings, and fatigue.

angelp/Getty Images

The body's balance of hormones can shift with age and spur a variety of age-related conditions like weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, and lower sex drive, two longevity-focused doctors told Insider. As a result, they've seen an increasing patient interest in hormone therapy.

Modern Age's Vinjamoori told Business Insider that testosterone replacement has gained popularity among men and women as it has become clear that optimal testosterone levels can impact mood, libido, and even metabolism.

"The importance of testosterone for women, in particular, is underappreciated — testosterone is actually the most abundant hormone in a woman's body and is the first hormone to decline with age," Vinjamoori told Business Insider.

It's not just testosterone, but also sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone that are being sought out by patients. Vinjamoori said the options for hormone therapy range from pills to creams to patches to pellets.

Peptides are another buzzy anti-aging treatment these days.

Peptide treatments that help release human growth hormone have surged in popularity as a longevity trend.

NurPhoto/ Contributor/ Getty Images

Peptides, a broad class of anti-aging and performance-enhancing treatments, have taken off in recent years among bodybuilders, athletes, and biohackers.

They're essentially short chains of amino acids that neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has described as a "new kind of wedge in between supplements and prescription pills." Some of the most popular peptide treatments are ones that release human growth hormone and can improve fat loss and muscle repair.

"Indeed, biohackers are very excited about it because you can practically make your body do certain things," Christian Angermayer, a major investor in the longevity sector, previously told Insider.

Intravenous treatments have surged in popularity for their immediate and long-term benefits.

IV infusions are among the most popular treatments at the luxury longevity clinic RoseBar.

RoseBar at Six Senses Ibiza

Intravenous treatments have long been used in hospitals to administer drugs to patients. In recent years, they've become a fixture at spas, longevity clinics, and even luxury residential buildings as a way for clients to hydrate or get a boost of minerals or supplements.

At Six Senses, a luxury resort in Ibiza, intravenous infusions are among the most popular treatments. "The direct delivery of certain nutrients via the bloodstream serves to have an instant impact on vitality whilst forming part of a broader approach to living well for longer," Dr. Tamsin Lewis, RoseBar's medical advisor, previously Business Insider.

Saunas could be a way to improve depression.

The sauna could be the next frontier in depression treatments.

PictureItSold

A happy and healthy mind is essential for a long life. And a new study finds that spending time in a sauna can help those battling depression.

The study involved a clinical trial of 12 adults with major depressive disorder. Over a period of eight weeks, researchers treated them with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and sessions in a sauna heated to about 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 140 minutes. After the trial, 11 out of the 12 participants no longer met the criteria for major depressive disorder.

Individuals with depression often have a higher-than-average body temperature. When someone's symptoms improve, their body temperature normalizes, too. The study analyzed the question: If you drive up body temperatures, can you get the body's cooling systems to work faster and mitigate the symptoms of depression?

It's a little early to make definitive claims, but the study's lead researcher, Ashley Mason, eventually wants to gather enough clinical evidence for insurance companies to cover saunas as a depression treatment.

Read the original article on Business Insider

If you want to fight depression, head to a sauna

2024-05-19T17:50:33Z

The sauna could be the next big depression treatment.

Robert Rieger

Regular sauna sessions may help alleviate depression, a new study shows.
The study followed 12 adults over eight weeks.
11 out of 12 no longer met depression criteria after the study.

The next time you need to boost your mood: Head to the sauna.

According to a new study conducted by Ashley Mason, a clinical psychologist at the UC San Francisco Osher Center for Integrative Health, regular sauna sessions might benefit individuals with depression.

Mason and her team conducted a clinical trial on 12 adults with major depressive disorder over eight weeks. They treated them with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and sessions in a sauna heated to about 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 140 minutes. By the end of the trial, 11 out of the 12 participants no longer met the criteria for major depressive disorder.

One of the study's key ideas concerns body temperature. Research shows that individuals with depression often have a higher-than-average body temperature. When someone's symptoms improve, their body temperature normalizes, too.

That raises the hypothesis: If you drive up body temperatures, can you get the body's cooling systems to work faster and mitigate the symptoms of depression?

This idea has long been circulating among researchers.

A paper published in 2016 found that people with major depressive disorder who went through "infrared hyperthermia"— increasing their body temperatures in an infrared chamber— saw an improvement in depression symptoms.

Mason told Wired she was "bewitched" by those findings, so as part of her work, she and her team analyzed daily temperature readings and depression symptoms from over 20,000 people to confirm the link between the two. All participants in Mason's study also saw their body temperature increase by 1.5 degrees above the average human temperature during their sauna sessions.

Mason said there's still more research that needs to be done before she can confirm that sauna therapy can combat depression. But "a mind and body treatment with that kind of outcome is surely worthy of further study," she told Wired.

She eventually wants to gather enough clinical evidence for insurance companies to cover saunas "so that when a person with depression is considering a menu of treatment options, this is on the menu."

Some therapists are already recommending sauna therapy to their clients. "My clients have reported positive mood-enhancing benefits, including some alleviation of their depression symptoms during and in the time after using saunas," Annie Wright, a licensed psychotherapist who's been practicing for over 14 years in the Bay Area, told Business Insider.

If possible, she recommends her clients combine sauna therapy with cold plunges, which can also increase the production of mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like norepinephrine. "I love partaking in both of these experiences because of the profound mental health benefits I experience."

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Trump sought $1 billion from oil execs for his 2024 campaign in a deal worth $110 billion to energy giants, reports say

2024-05-19T17:38:07Z

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks to guests at the annual Lincoln Reagan Dinner hosted by the Minnesota Republican Party on May 17, 2024, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Scott Olson/ Getty Images

Trump is alleged to have sought $1 billion from oil executives at Mar-a-Lago for his 2024 campaign.
He promised to lift drilling barriers, gas export moratoriums, and pollution regulations.
Oil companies risk losing $110 billion in tax breaks if Biden's budget is enacted, said The Guardian.

Donald Trump is alleged to have made a $1 billion fundraising pitch to oil executives in a closed meeting, The Washington Post reported earlier this month, in exchange for $110 billion in savings, according to The Guardian

Trump's forward approach came as reports suggested the size of his reelection campaign war chest lags behind his Democratic opponent. Meanwhile, the former president, who is facing 88 criminal counts, indicted in four separate prosecutions, has been spending millions on legal fees and drawing on campaign funds to pay his lawyers.

A billion dollars would dramatically exceed Biden's fundraising. In March, the president's campaign said it had $192 million in the bank.

The Guardian reports that Trump assured these executives that in return for the campaign cash he would eliminate barriers to drilling, lift the moratorium on gas exports, and overturn regulations designed to reduce automotive pollution in exchange for substantial campaign donations.

The alleged offer could save the oil industry $110 billion, The Guardian said. The exclusive dinner, held at the Mar-a-Lago last month, hosted more than 20 executives from leading oil companies, including Chevron, Exxon, and Occidental Petroleum was the scene of the transactional deal, Per The Washington Post..

The primary incentive for the oil and gas companies to back Trump lies in preserving about $110 billion in tax breaks, which would be at risk if President Joe Biden is re-elected, reported The Guardian.

Trump was on a quest to woo oil and gas tycoons

A depot used to store pipes for Transcanada Corp's planned Keystone XL oil pipeline in Gascoyne, North Dakota

Terray Sylvester/Reuters

Since taking office, Biden has placed a high priority on climate issues as he's touted tax credits for Americans to purchase electric vehicles and promoted rebates to make homes more energy efficient.

On his first day in White House, Biden rejoined the Paris climate accord, bringing the United States back into fold among nearly 200 countries that have pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Biden, in also canceling the Keystone XL oil pipeline and also canceling oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in northeastern Alaska, that Trump says have weakened the United States on energy policy.

Lukas Ross, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth Action, who conducted the analysis shared with The Guardian, emphasized the stakes: "Big oil executives are anxious about losing $110 billion in tax benefits under Biden's policies in 2025. Trump's promise to safeguard these subsidies during tax negotiations could make his $1 billion fundraising effort seem like a minimal investment for the industry."

Trump's 2017 tax cuts significantly benefited the oil and gas sector. With some of these cuts set to expire next year, intense lobbying efforts are underway. Records show that major oil companies and the American Petroleum Institute (API) have actively engaged lawmakers to oppose Biden's tax proposals.

The high-stakes Mar-a-Lago event featured executives from smaller firms specializing in areas like fracking and gas exporting, which are particularly vulnerable to regulatory changes.

Trump is continuing to court oil industry donors, holding high-cost fundraisers with figures like John Catsimatidis, whose refinery has a poor safety record, said The Guardian.

In November, BI's John L. Dorman reported that Trump was on a quest to woo oil and gas tycoons into backing his presidential campaign.

"Trump 2024 is actively courting the right people and trying to get them on board, but specifically the oil industry," Canary LLC chief executive Dan Eberhart told the Washington Post last year.

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In response to a string of deaths, Airbnb CEO says it's 'really hard' to make hosts install carbon monoxide detectors

2024-05-19T17:25:36Z

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.

Mike Segar/Reuters

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky spoke to NBC News in an interview set to air on Sunday.
Chesky said it is "hard" to enforce a carbon monoxide mandate across 220 countries and regions.
NBC News reported that at least 19 deaths at Airbnbs involved carbon monoxide poisoning.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said enforcing certain safety measures, like carbon monoxide detectors, across all listings worldwide is "very hard."

Chesky's comments came during an interview on NBC Nightly News, which is scheduled to air on Sunday. NBC said Chesky will discuss a range of challenges facing his multibillion-dollar company.

NBC reported in November 2023 that there had been 19 deaths on Airbnb properties related to carbon monoxide poisoning. Airbnb responded to the initial deaths in 2014 by asserting it would mandate carbon monoxide detectors in all its listings but that's yet to happen, the outlet said.

While Airbnb has tackled issues like indoor security cameras with outright bans, Chesky said during Sunday's interview that addressing carbon monoxide poisoning has been a tougher obstacle.

"It is very hard to verify whether or not a property has a carbon monoxide detector, but we're working really, really hard to make sure that every single property has a verified address," he said.

Airbnb does not have a carbon monoxide detector mandate.

SOPA Images/Getty Images

He added: "It's really hard to mandate things in 220 countries and regions and cities all over the world, and then if you mandate something, you have to have a mechanism to verify that it happens."

Airbnb has 7.7 million listings worldwide and 5 million hosts. The company says that — as of December last year — it has hosted some 1.5 billion guests. Since Airbnb is a global company, it must adhere to various carbon monoxide laws and regulations.

When asked if Airbnb is "walking away" from that mandate because it may not be "realistic," Chesky said tackling carbon monoxide poisoning and enforcing detectors is still a priority.

"There's a really good question about, 'Is a mandate the right approach?'" Chesky said. "But what is absolutely the right approach is to make sure that every single listing is safe. Every single person is safe."

Airbnb began offering free combination carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms to hosts in 2014. Chesky also said Airbnb provides travel information to guests visiting "high-risk" areas.

Representatives for Airbnb did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs responds to footage of him physically assaulting Cassie Ventura: 'I'm disgusted'

2024-05-19T17:16:50Z

Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Sean "Diddy" Combs apologized in an Instagram video on Sunday.
Video footage showed Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in 2016.
Combs called his behavior "inexcusable."

Sean "Diddy" Combs broke his silence after video footage showed him physically assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at a California hotel in 2016.

Combs posted an Instagram video on Sunday, writing in the caption, "I'm truly sorry."

"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that," Combs said. "I was fucked up. I mean, I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses."

Combs called his behavior in the video "inexcusable."

Cassie Ventura in October 2023.

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

"I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I'm disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I'm disgusted now," he said.

Combs said he began therapy and rehab following the events of that video.

"I'm committed to be a better man each and every day," he added.

Representatives for Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Combs' statement comes after CNN published video footage from March 2016 that showed him physically assaulting Ventura at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. The footage appeared to match an incident Ventura described in a 2023 lawsuit against Combs. The lawsuit said Combs got intoxicated before punching Ventura and giving her a black eye.

The footage, compiled from several camera angles, shows Ventura leaving a hotel room and approaching a set of elevators.

Combs, dressed with only a towel around his waist, then exits the hotel room and runs toward Ventura, whom he grabs by the neck and throws to the ground. The footage showed Combs shoving, dragging, kicking, and throwing an object toward Ventura.

Ventura's attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, called the footage "gut-wrenching" in a statement to CNN.

"The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light," Wigdor said.

Representatives for Combs declined to comment on the video footage at the time, CNN reported.

Sean "Diddy" Combs has been hit by a series of lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault.

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Ventura's lawsuit against Combs accused him of rape and abuse during their decadelong relationship. Combs denied the allegations at the time.

The two reached a settlement just one day after the lawsuit was filed, according to The New York Times.

Although Ventura and Combs' legal battle was cut short, he's still embroiled in other legal troubles after several other women accused him of sexual misconduct.

The fallout has begun to affect Combs' business ventures, which span a range of industries. Revolt, a cable TV network, announced on Instagram that Combs would step down as a chairman.

According to Rolling Stone, more than 20 brands cut ties with Combs' marketplace for Black-owned businesses, Empower Global, following the accusations. The outlet also reported that Hulu canceled a planned reality TV show based on his family called "Diddy+7."

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Trump teases idea of 3-term presidency at NRA convention

2024-05-19T16:52:39Z

Trump speaking the NRA meeting on Saturday

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Donald Trump hinted at extending his presidency for a third term at an National Rifle Association meeting.
It was the former president's ninth time addressing the US's top gun lobby.
The speech ended with a pessimistic monologue from Trump set against dramatic music.

Donald Trump hinted at extending his stay in the White House to a third term if he wins in November.

Speaking to a crowd at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual meeting in Dallas on Saturday, he said: "You know, FDR 16 years — almost 16 years — he was four terms. I don't know, are we going to be considered three-term? Or two-term?"

Some members of the crowd cried back: "Three!"

It was the former president's ninth time addressing the US's top gun lobby, which contains some of Trump's most fervent supporters and donors.

HOLLY SHIZZLES!

He did it again… Trump teases that maybe he’s in his 3rd Term… 👀

“I don’t know, are we gonna be considered three term or two term?”

CIC 😎 https://t.co/09INm5CVBS https://t.co/KGIRqJw9Pf pic.twitter.com/EkshxD17Vp
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) May 18, 2024

It isn't the first time Trump has hinted at going for a third term.

On the campaign trail in 2020, he told a rally in Oshkosh, Wisconsin: "We are going to win four more years. And then after that, we'll go for another four years because they spied on my campaign. We should get a redo of four years."

But last month, in an interview with Time magazine. he seemed to dial back on his desire for a third term.

"I intend to serve four years and do a great job. And I want to bring our country back. I want to put it back on the right track. Our country is going down. We're a failing nation right now. We're a nation in turmoil," he said.

Trump also used the event on Saturday to slam President Joe Biden for increasing restrictions on gun ownership, promising the crowd that he would reverse any gun safety provisions that Biden had implemented, per Politico.

"Crooked Joe Biden has a 40-year record of trying to rip firearms out of the hands of law-abiding citizens," he said.

The speech ended with a pessimistic monologue from Trump set against dramatic music.

"Now we are a nation in decline," Trump said. "We are a failing nation. We are a nation that has the highest inflation in 58 years, where banks are collapsing, and interest rates are skyrocketing."

"We are a nation that is begging Venezuela and others for oil," he went on. "We are a nation whose leaders are demanding all-electric cars, despite the fact that they don't go far…"

Trump starts playing QAnon music during his bizarre slur-filled NRA speech pic.twitter.com/tprP3rRxMR
— Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) May 18, 2024

The music was compared to the QAnon anthem — the conspiracy-theory-led movement that baselessly claims Trump is fighting a deep-state cabal of pedophiles.

Trump has leant hard into his support of QAnon in recent years.

The New York Times reported in September 2022 that music sounding like a QAnon song had been played at a Trump rally in Youngstown, Ohio. During the rally, the former president's supporters were also seen pointing their fingers to the sky in a one-finger salute, which experts said might have been a nod to the movement's slogan, "Where we go one, we go all."

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Biden appears to clap after Morehouse grad calls for 'immediate and permanent cease-fire' in Gaza during commencement

2024-05-19T16:16:24Z

President Joe Biden speaks to graduating students at the Morehouse College commencement in Atlanta.

AP Photo/John Bazemore

Biden appeared to applaud after a Morehouse graduate called for a "permanent" cease-fire in Gaza.
The invitation for the president to speak at Morehouse was criticized by many students.
Many young people are unhappy with the Biden administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

President Joe Biden on Sunday appeared to clap after the valedictorian of Morehouse College called for an "immediate and permanent cease-fire" in Gaza during the school's commencement ceremony.

In the lead-up to graduation at Morehouse, a prestigious historically Black men's college in Atlanta, many students opposed Biden speaking at the ceremony, frustrated by his administration's handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

DeAngelo Fletcher, the Morehouse valedictorian, gave an impassioned speech during the commencement, where he didn't shy away from his stance regarding the conflict.

"From the comforts of our homes, we watched unprecedented numbers of civilians mourn the loss of men, women, and children, while calling for the release of all hostages," he said. "For the first time in our lives, we've heard the global community sing one harmonious song that transcends language and culture. It is my stance as a Morehouse man — nay, as a human being — to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza strip."

#Morehouse valedictorian, Deangelo Fletcher, calls for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip” — met with applause from crowd and @POTUS behind him. pic.twitter.com/jlckIGES8C
— Garrison Hayes (@garrison_hayes) May 19, 2024

Biden appeared to applaud Fletcher's comments, which also attracted cheers from many of the graduates.

"Hear the people of this world. Sing the song of righteous justice," Fletcher concluded in his remarks.

The graduation ceremony revealed a stark generational divide. Many young alumni questioned the Biden invitation while older alumni and top university figures were largely supportive of Biden coming to Morehouse.

Morehouse College President David Thomas indicated during a recent NPR interview that he was prepared to end the ceremony if disruptions became so severe that they could warrant police intervention.

"The last thing that we want to do is create a moment where someone is taken out of commencement by law enforcement because they are being disruptive," he told the outlet last week. "Faced with the choice of having police take people out of the Morehouse commencement in zip ties, we would essentially cancel or discontinue the commencement services on the spot."

During the interview, Thomas said that "silent non-disruptive protests" would be permitted during Biden's speech.

Some graduates turned their backs on the president as he spoke, The Atlanta Voice reported. Several Morehouse graduates also wore keffiyeh scarves, a symbol of Palestinians, around their shoulders as part of their graduation regalia.

Biden, during his speech, said he "heard" the voices of the graduates regarding Gaza.

"I promise you, I hear them. It's a humanitarian crisis in Gaza," he said. "That's why I've called for an immediate cease-fire to stop the fighting. Bring the hostages home."

The widespread destruction and loss of life in Gaza have diminished Biden's standing among young voters, as many oppose his administration's initial support of the Israeli government in the conflict.

Georgia is a key swing state that Biden won in 2020, but the issue could go a long way in impacting enthusiasm for his campaign, especially among young and Black voters — two groups that he needs to turn out for him if he wants to win the state this time around.

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Trump is unlikely to testify in his hush-money trial as he could risk committing perjury, reports say

2024-05-19T16:01:18Z

Donald Trump at the defense table during his hush-money trial in Manhattan.

Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images

Trump is unlikely to testify in his Manhattan hush-money trial, sources told The Washington Post.
New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan said the presentation of evidence could end Monday.
Experts believe Trump would not benefit from testifying and would likely open himself up to perjury.

Donald Trump is unlikely to testify in his hush-money trial in Manhattan, despite previously saying he would, sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.

Four unnamed people close to the former president told the paper that they were not expecting him to take the witness stand next week. The jury is, therefore, expected to begin deliberations later in the week after the defense calls on a small number of witnesses.

John Coffee, a professor at Columbia Law School, told The Telegraph that the former president would be "mad" to take the stand, saying "he would open himself to a perjury indictment, even if he won in this case."

"An early question on cross [examination] if Trump testified would be whether he ever had sex with Stormy Daniels," he added.

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, the judge overseeing the case, said on Thursday that the presentation of evidence could be wrapped up on Monday, per The Post.

Lawyers often advise defendants not to testify in their own defense.

"In almost every case, the risk of what could come out on cross-examination outweighs any benefit that could be gained from hearing directly from the defendant," according to the criminal defense firm Elmen Legal.

Despite this, Trump has previously insisted that he would "absolutely" testify in the trial.

"I'm testifying. I tell the truth. All I can do is tell the truth and the truth is they have no case," he said at a press conference in April.

On Friday, a centrist Washington DC-based think tank, Third Way, released an ad dubbed "Coward," daring Trump to take the stand.

"Donald Trump would never plead the Fifth Amendment," the narrator says in the ad.

The former president is then heard saying, "The mob takes the Fifth. If you are innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?

"Now he's on trial for hiding hush money payments to a porn star, but he won't take the stand," the narrator adds. "Donald, why won't you testify? After all, you believe only guilty cowards take the fifth."

But Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor, told The Post that Trump had "little to gain" by testifying, especially given that the defense has attempted to undermine the prosecution's case by poking holes in the credibility of Michael Cohen, Trump's former "fixer."

Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche sought to characterize Cohen as a liar when he questioned him earlier this week.

Nevertheless, Trump has a legal right to defend himself, Coffee told The Telegraph, and either way, Blanche "would have to respect his decision," he added.

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Ukraine said it destroyed a Russian minesweeper. 'Another bad day for the Black Sea fleet' — ministry.

2024-05-19T15:59:05Z

Russian Navy's minesweeper Kovrovets fires missiles during the Navy Day parade in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol, Crimea, July 30, 2017.

REUTERS/Pavel Rebrov

Ukraine says it has destroyed a Russian minesweeper in the Black Sea.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine celebrated the loss of the Kovrovets minesweeper on X.
Ukraine claims to have destroyed or disabled a third of Russian ships in the Black Sea during the war.

Ukrainian forces destroyed Russia's Kovrovets sea minesweeper, the Ukrainian Navy reported on Telegram.

"The Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, together with their comrades, continue to bring us closer to victory," the Ukrainian Navy wrote on its Telegram channel.

No information on where the attack took place or what weapons were used to target the Kovrovets, but Ukraine has had notable success in tormenting the Russian fleet with exploding drone boats.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the Russian Navy's latest loss.

Another bad day for the russian Black Sea Fleet.

Overnight, Ukrainian defenders destroyed a russian minesweeper Project 266M "Kovrovets".
Great job, warriors! pic.twitter.com/ol4reKtuN6
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 19, 2024

The Kovrovets, a Project 266M Natya class minesweeper, was used for mine-sweeping operations, reconnaissance, and control sweeping, Euromaidan Press reports. It had also been deployed off the coast of in Syria.

The Soviet-era minesweepers were built in the 1970s and 1980s and carried a crew of 68.

In March, the Ukrainian Navy told AP News that Ukraine had destroyed or disabled one-third of all Russian warships that had been stationed in the Black Sea before the war.

The latest sinking of a Russian warship follows attacks on Novorossiysk on Friday. The Russian port has become an important base for the Black Sea Fleet after repeated attacks on its traditional base in Crimea.

It appears the attack on Novorossiysk was part of Ukraine's biggest drone attack ever.

Satellite images from April indicate that Russia was beefing up its defenses for its Black Sea Fleet naval base in Novorossiysk.

However, Novorossiysk was struck by Ukrainian missiles and drones this weekend.

As Ukraine maintains pressure on Russia in Crimea and the Black Sea region, its troops have struggled to fend off Russian advances along the eastern front, particularly near Kharkiv.

Despite progress made by Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was not experiencing a shortage of artillery shells for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

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Trump's hush money verdict hinges on a single piece of paper. See the most important evidence in the case.

2024-05-19T19:13:17Z

Brandon Bell/Getty Images; Rebecca Zisser/BI

People's Exhibit 35 is key evidence in the Donald Trump hush-money trial.
It documents the hush-money payment and an alleged conspiracy to falsify its reimbursement.
But whether Exhibit 35 will clinch or crash the DA's case depends on Michael Cohen.

Welcome to People's Exhibit 35, the single most important piece of evidence in the Donald Trump hush-money trial.

You'll see this one-page document in its succinct entirety just a few paragraphs down. Then, I'll walk you through it, section by section.

People's 35 is the fulcrum for the entire case. As they make their closing arguments this week, prosecutors are sure to say it proves Trump is guilty, while the defense will say it proves he's innocent.

And which side wins will depend in large part on whether jurors believe key prosecution witness Michael Cohen, who testified last week that Trump personally saw — and approved — the document's contents.

People's 35 looks a little complicated, but I promise this won't hurt a bit. Go ahead, scroll through it, just to see what it looks like, and I'll meet you on the other side, where we'll take it apart.

People's Exhibit 35

Manhattan District Attorney's Office/BI

As you can see, People's 35 is a one-page bank statement from October 2016 for something called "Essential Consultants," an LLC controlled by Cohen.

The highlights, but not the handwriting, are mine.

It may not look like a lot, but I bet you when prosecutors found this hardcopy sheet of paper among hundreds of thousands of pages of subpoenaed Trump Organization documents, somebody shouted, "Holy @#$%!!!!"

People's 35 encapsulates almost the entirety of the alleged hush-money-conspiracy. It has almost everything, and all on one page.

The block I've colored turquoise shows Cohen wired $130,000 of his own money to a lawyer for porn star Stormy Daniels on October 27, 2016, just 11 days before the election.

That, for anyone who's sleeping through the trial, is the hush money.

The green block? That's where Cohen scribbled that Trump owes him $180,000, which is the hush money plus a $50,000 outlay Cohen previously made. (That "TECH SERVICES" outlay is a funny story of its own, which we'll get to.)

And the yellow block shows where Trump's former top money man, ex-CFO Allen Weisselberg, scratched out how much Cohen was owed. Weisselberg then worked out how that total would be (allegedly illegally) doubled to account for income taxes and how that grand total would then be (allegedly illegally) reimbursed.

No fingerprints, though

Yes, People's 35 has almost everything — the $130,000 hush-money payment itself and the actual chicken-scratched math behind what prosecutors call a conspiracy to falsify the business records for Cohen's reimbursement.

What People's 35 does not have is Trump's fingerprints, a point that the defense is sure to press during closing arguments.

To connect Trump to the alleged scheme, jurors will need to believe Cohen — who told them last week that when all the calculating and scribbling was done, he and Weisselberg marched this very page into Trump's office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower in Manhattan.

It was mid-January 2017, and Trump was days away from his inauguration.

Prosecutors say that Trump's schedule was packed at the time with teleprompter training sessions and meetings with future chief of staff Reince Priebus.

But Trump carved out a moment nonetheless to sit with Weisselberg, his loyal CFO, and with Cohen, his attorney, who prosecutors say had just fronted $130,000 of his own cash to pay off a porn actor and was eager for repayment.

The defense counters that this meeting never happened and that Cohen and Weisselberg are solely responsible for any falsified documents.

They are expected to argue that Trump was too busy running the country in 2017 to have had a hand in the year's worth of bogus monthly "retainer" checks that reimbursed Cohen — including nine checks he signed personally.

Prosecutors allege that Trump's payments to Cohen were falsified to conceal hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Jon Elswick/AP

'He approved it'

"Did he show this document to Mr. Trump?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Cohen during direct testimony on Monday, the "he" being Weisselberg.

"Yes," Cohen answered, as Trump watched from the defense table

"And what, if anything, did Mr. Trump say at the time?" the prosecutor asked.

"He approved it," Cohen answered, referring to Trump. "And he also said, 'This is going to be one heck of a ride in DC.'"

Ready? Here's a closer look, starting with the purple-highlighted section at the top.

Manhattan District Attorney's Office/BI

Prosecutors allege that less than two weeks before the 2016 election, Cohen tapped his own home equity line of credit in order to purchase Daniels' silence.

But Cohen obscured his role as a hush-money bag man. Instead of sending the money directly, he first wired the $130,000 into the bank account for a newly created shell company called Essential Consultants, LLC.

The LLC's sole purpose was to handle the hush-money payment, Cohen testified.

"Can we put up People's Exhibit 35, please, in evidence?" Hoffinger, the prosecutor, asked just after Monday's lunch break.

The document was displayed on personal screens for each of the jurors, and on four large overhead screens for the audience.

"Do you recognize this document?" Hoffinger asked.

"I do," Cohen answered. "This is the bank statement for Essential Consultants for the period of October 26th of 2016 through the 31st of October of 2016," Cohen explained.

Next, let's turn to the pink-highlighted section.

Manhattan District Attorney's Office/BI

Here, we see the $130,000 hush-money payment moving in, and then out, of the Essential Consultants bank account.

Cohen testified last week that he took the money from his HELOC, or home-equity line of credit, so he could hide the big outlay from his wife.

Her name was on the HELOC, but the billing was paperless, Cohen explained.

"You decided to do it this way, it was quick, you could move the money quickly, because you wanted to conceal it from your wife, correct?" defense lawyer Todd Blanche asked Cohen during cross-examination on Thursday.

"Correct," Cohen answered.

Let's move to the turquoise section, highlighting where the money went.

Manhattan District Attorney's Office/BI

So long, hush money.

People's Exhibit 35 shows that on October 27 — only 11 days before the election — Cohen wired the $130,000 from Essential Consultants to Keith Davidson, who was Daniels' lawyer at the time.

Davidson also repped Karen McDougal, the former Playboy Bunny who had been paid $150,000 just weeks prior to keep her silent about a nearly yearlong affair she said she had with Trump.

Both the porn star and the pinup model say they slept with Trump at the same Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament in 2006. Trump's son with Melania Trump was then four months old.

Trump has consistently denied having sex with the two women.

Davidson's testimony in early May was noteworthy for its name-dropping. The attorney told jurors he peddled salacious celebrity stories to the National Enquirer, including stories targeting Charlie Sheen, Hulk Hogan, Lindsay Lohan, and Tila Tequila.

The defense used its cross-examination of Davidson to imply that Trump was no mastermind and was instead a helpless victim of something akin to celebrity extortion.

Next: Cohen's handwriting, highlighted in green, from the bottom right corner.

Manhattan District Attorney's Office/BI

Here is where Cohen testified he made a jotted note of another personal outlay Trump owed him for, on top of the $130,000 and the wiring fee of $35.

This was a reimbursement for $50,000 paid to the Virginia tech company RedFinch Solutions LLC.

RedFinch did polling for the Trump campaign and set up the Twitter account @WomenForCohen, touting him as a so-called "pit bull" and "sex symbol."

"He told me to add up the 130 with the 50,000 for RedFinch — total it to 180,000," Cohen testified Monday, referring to a talk he said he had with Weisselberg before the two men marched People's 35 into Trump's office.

Cohen never reimbursed RedFinch for the whole $50,000, he testified.

Finally, let's look at the bottom left section, highlighted in yellow.

Manhattan District Attorney's Office/BI

"And whose handwriting is at the bottom left and middle?" Hoffinger, the prosecutor, asked Cohen as People's 35 was displayed.

"That's Allen Weisselberg's," Cohen answered.

Weisselberg has been unavailable to testify. He is currently serving a five-month perjury sentence for lying on Trump's behalf at last year's civil fraud trial.

"And how were you able to recognize Allen Weisselberg's handwriting?" the prosecutor asked.

"Well, I recognize the handwriting, but I was also there in the room when he was writing it," Cohen answered.

Weisselberg, in his handwritten note, started with the $180,000 Cohen said Trump owed him.

The CFO underlined the amount. Below that, he wrote, "Grossed up to $360,000."

"He told me what he was going to do was to — it's called 'gross it up,'" Cohen explained to the jury.

Weisselberg's idea — approved by Trump — was to falsely process Cohen's $180,000 reimbursement as legal fees, paid in monthly installments throughout 2017, Trump's first year in office, prosecutors say.

But because Cohen faced a 50% tax penalty on that income, Weisselberg doubled — or "grossed up" — the $180,000, Cohen testified.

Michael Cohen, center, is surrounded by reporters as he arrives for grand jury testimony last year.

AP Photo/Mary Altaffer

"So in order to get back the 180, what he did was, he then wrote down 360,000," Cohen testified. Cohen could then take his 50% tax hit, paying the IRS $180,000 and still pocketing the $180,000 he was due.

Weisselberg tacked on an extra $60,000 year-end bonus, arriving at a grand total of $420,000, Cohen testified, continuing to translate the CFO's handwriting to jurors.

Cohen said he was told the $420,000 should be divided into monthly "retainer" checks of $35,000.

That was bad news for Cohen, who had walked into the meeting with Weisselberg and Trump assuming he'd be reimbursed in one lump sum.

But Trump and Weisselberg had figured it all out in advance, Cohen said he soon realized.

"Did Mr. Weisselberg say in front of Mr. Trump that those monthly payments would be, you know, like a retainer for legal services?" Hoffinger asked Cohen.

"Yes," Cohen answered.

"Did you say something to the effect of, that you had the sense that they had spoken about this previously?" Hoffinger asked.

"Yes," Cohen answered.

"Why do you say that?" the prosecutor asked.

"Because they always played that sort of game — a 'frick and frack' type game," Cohen said.

People's 35 was still displayed on the courtroom's screens, both large and small, as Hoffinger asked what happened when Weisselberg "showed Mr. Trump this document."

"Did Mr. Trump try to renegotiate?" Hoffinger asked.

"No," Cohen answered.

"So he approved it at that point?" the prosecutor asked.

"Yes," Cohen answered.

Closing arguments could come as soon as Tuesday, with jury deliberations starting as early as Thursday. Trump faces anywhere from no jail to four years in prison if convicted of felony falsification of business records.

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Woman claims Atlantic City casino is refusing to pay out a more than $1.2 million jackpot win, reports say

2024-05-19T16:29:05Z

Atlantic City.

Alex Potemkin/Getty Images

A woman claimed that an Atlantic City casino refused to pay her a seven-figure jackpot win.
The woman, who is from New Jersey, said she was told the slot machine had malfunctioned.
It is not the first time a casino has disputed such a claim.

A woman from New Jersey claimed that an Atlantic City casino refused to pay her a more than $1.2 million jackpot win, 6abc Philadelphia reported.

Roney Beal, 72, claims she won the jackpot in February while playing a "Wheel of Fortune" slot machine at Bally's Casino.

"It went off, says, 'you're a winner,' and gold coins popped out," she told the outlet. "This very nice guy says, 'Oh my God, you hit, you hit!' He said, 'Lady you're a millionaire.'"

But after using a button to call for help, a "tilt" message appeared, suggesting that the machine had experienced an issue.

Beal said that an employee of the casino quickly appeared on the scene and told her that she had "won nothing" as the machine had suffered a malfunction known as a "reel tilt," which she said she was told voided the win.

Beal and her attorney Mike Di Croce say the total jackpot figure would have come to $2.56 million, as Beal hit the multiplier, the New York Post reported.

They are preparing a legal complaint against Bally's Casino and its gaming company International Game Technology (IGT) over the disputed win, per the Post.

Di Croce said he also planned to file a more than $1 million emotional distress claim, the report said.

An IGT spokesperson told Business Insider that IGT "is cooperating with the investigation of this matter."

Business Insider has contacted Bally's Casino for comment.

In a statement to the New York Post, a Bally's spokesperson said: "Bally's has no comment on this incident as we're only the casino who houses the machine. IGT handles the payouts and would be best to get a comment from at this time."

Complaints against casinos run into the thousands each year. Gambling complaints service AskGamblers said it received 8,044 complaints regarding disputes between gamblers and casinos in 2023. It said 2,267 of the complaints were resolved, with just over $9 million returned to the "rightful owners."

However, more than 100 million people visited US casinos in 2023.

It's not the first time IGT has been at the center of such a claim.

In 2000, a man claimed he had won a $1.3 million jackpot at Harrah's Casino in New Orleans but that the Wheel of Fortune machine he had been playing also indicated a reel tilt malfunction, the Las Vegas Sun reported at the time.

The IGT website says that its Wheel of Fortune slot machines, which it calls "the millionaire maker," have created more than 1,180 millionaires, with over $3.5 billion in jackpot prizes awarded on the machines.

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Indian authorities seize over $1 billion worth of illegal vote inducements, including drugs and cash, in country's elections

2024-05-19T13:22:38Z

Election duty staff cast their votes on May 13, 2024, in Mumbai, India.

Hindustan Times/ Getty Images

Indian authorities have seized over $1 billion in cash, drugs, and goods in the country's elections.
The amount has surpassed the total seized during the whole of the last general election in 2019.
The winner of the election is due to be announced on June 4.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) said it has seized 88.9 billion rupees, or around $1.1 billion, in drugs, cash, and other goods like precious metals and liquor as part of its efforts to stamp out illegal vote inducements in the country's general election.

The Indian government's Press Information Bureau said in a press release on Saturday that the "Election Commission's determined and concerted assault on money power and inducements in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections has resulted in staggering seizures worth Rs 8889 crores by the agencies."

The commission said it took a "'zero-tolerance' approach to any form of inducements which may influence the voters," adding that the haul had already surpassed the total seized during the whole of the last general election in 2019.

The press release adds that drugs have made up 45% of the value of the seizures so far.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images

The winner of India's general election, which began on April 19 and ends on June 1, will be announced on June 4.

The governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to come out on top once again, which would see Narendra Modi, 73, return for a third term as prime minister.

It is the world's largest democratic election, with almost 970 million people eligible to vote.

During Modi's tenure, India has become an increasingly important global power, overtaking Britain to become the world's fifth-largest economy and forging ever-stronger relations with the US, which wants India as a key ally against China.

But critics of the prime minister and his party say he is a divisive figure that has attempted to demonize minorities in the country.

The Economist Intelligence Unit said in a report in May that it believed the BJP's reelection had "the potential to deepen communal rifts within the country," noting "the party's Hindu-nationalist agenda" and previous instances of unrest.

It added that "although multinationals will remain wary about India's domestic track record on communal relations, its large market and growing economy will overshadow these considerations."

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Ukraine bombs the port where Russia's Black Sea fleet moved to after Crimea got too risky for its warships, reports say

2024-05-19T15:20:14Z

Russia's Black Sea Fleet warships taking part in the Navy Day celebrations in the port city of Novorossiysk in July 2023.

Stringer/AFP via Getty Images

Ukrainian drones hit Novorossiysk port, causing a fire and power outages, reports say.
The attack follows heightened defenses at the port after previous Ukrainian strikes on Crimea.
Novorossiysk is vital for Russia's oil exports and naval operations in the Black Sea.

The Russian port of Novorossiysk, which has become an important base for the Black Sea Fleet after repeated attacks on its traditional base in Crimea, has been targeted by Ukrainian drones.

This attacks follows previous reports by the UK Ministry of Defence indicating that Russia has been bolstering defenses at the Novorossiysk port to protect its Black Sea Fleet from potential Ukrainian attacks.

The Novorossiysk Fuel oil terminal and Transneft terminal were attacked on May 17 in yet another wartime hit to Russia's oil industry, the Kyiv Independent reported.

The Kirillovskaya substation caught fire, and more than 20 thousand city residents were left without electricity, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported.

Satellite images taken on May 18 show traces of a fire on the territory of the sea trade port.

Astra reported there were no casualties.

Footage emerged on social media on May 19 that appeared to show two Ukrainian drones being blasted by machine gun fire as they flew over the port. Business Insider was unable to verify the video.

Residents of Novorossiysk told Astra that they heard more than 35 explosions in the city. The governor officially announced an "unsuccessful attempt to attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces" and the downing of 10 UAVs.

The deputy mayor barred residents from leaving their homes early in the morning. Traffic was also blocked in the city, and public transport was suspended.

Russia's Ministry of Defense later said that 44 UAVs were shot down over the region overnight.

It appears the attack on Novorossiysk was part of Ukraine's biggest drone attack ever.

In 2023, Russia relocated most of its Black Sea Fleet vessels from occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk after a series of Ukrainian strikes, including a significant missile attack on the fleet's headquarters in Sevastopol on September 22.

A general view shows the Novorossiysk Fuel Oil Terminal in Novorossiisk

Thomson Reuters

The Novorossiysk port on Russia's Black Sea coast in Krasnodar Krai is a strategic hub for oil exports and naval operations.

The recent spate of attacks targeting Russia's oil industry includes a confirmed drone strike by Ukrainian forces on an oil base in Rostov Oblast on May 15.

As Ukraine maintains pressure on Russia in Crimea and the Black Sea region, its troops have struggled to fend off Russian advances along the eastern front, particularly near Kharkiv.

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Airbnb hosts are bracing for an unpredictable summer

2024-05-19T12:17:32Z

Airbnb hosts must compete against other properties in their area to lure guests over the summer.

Maskot/Getty Images

Short-term rental hosts are facing more competition from listings on Airbnb and other sites.
Some hosts with large-scale operations turn to direct bookings to avoid fees and pocket more money.
Others hire or give free stays to content creators to post about their listings with links to book.

Last summer ushered in a new normal for hosts on Airbnb and other short-term rental booking websites.

Travelers are still choosing short-term rentals in large numbers, but there is a glut of places to stay left over from the Airbnb gold rush of recent years.

Ahead of summer 2024, hosts face pressure to stand out from all the other listings in their areas. Adding additional stress is the increased unpredictability of travelers themselves — hosts say guests are booking trips more last-minute than the advance-planning of years past.

As recently as March, listings across Airbnb and Vrbo stood at 1.57 million across the country, a 12.3% increase even from the same time last year, according to analytics site AirDNA. Average occupancy for hosts, or the number of nights they're booked each month, improved slightly by 2% compared to last year, though March 2023 represented a 4% drop from 2022.

To protect their margins, hosts are turning to different strategies to bring in returns.

Some hosts are turning to social media to lure summer guests, hiring local influencers to create video reviews of their properties and trading free getaways for promotional photos. Meanwhile, professional hosts, which AirDNA defines as anyone with more than 20 listings, look to leverage their brands and manpower into booking directly with guests — bypassing the fees associated with the major platforms.

"If I could, I would want them all to be direct bookings," said Emily Burke, a host who manages 40 listings in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Big-time hosts turn to direct booking, but it comes with risks

Direct booking is when a guest reserves their stay on a property's personal website instead of through a major platform like Airbnb, Vrbo, and others.

Arizona host Rick Kenworthy, who manages 91 listings in the Scottsdale area near Phoenix, said he's made direct booking a priority.

Kenworthy said he increased the percentage of direct bookings to 25% in the first quarter of 2024, up from 10% during the same period last year — which he said translates to $500,000 more in revenue. Kenworthy offers a 5% discount if guests book direct, bringing a $350-a-night stay down to $330.

The proposition in direct bookings is that both parties save on fees, creating a lower price per night for guests and allowing hosts to keep the entirety of the earnings.

Kenworthy's strategy has been twofold. First, he tripled his property-management company's email distribution list by using Wi-Fi capture technology that stores emails when guests log in during their stays. He then emails out special offers with links to the direct-booking site. Second, he's invested in branded items like coffee cups and pens that fill each of his properties, hoping to build familiarity with customers.

"We're not force-feeding anybody," he told Business Insider. "But at the end of the day, it comes down to dollars and cents."

For some hosts, though, the prospect of striking out on their own is too daunting. They may be wary of stepping away from Airbnb, Vrbo, Expedia, and others, both for the insurance protection offered through those sites and the exposure that comes from their massive pool of travel-hungry users.

Missouri host Ryan Villines, who volunteers for Airbnb as a community leader for his region, believes the risk of direct booking is greater than the reward.

With direct bookings, hosts are responsible for collecting the proper paperwork for background checks and payment information, and they don't have the additional insurance offered by the major platforms.

"If something goes sour or someone lights your house on fire, there's some protection," said Villines, who manages four properties near the popular vacation destination Lake of the Ozarks. "If you're doing direct booking, that's super risky."

Hosts turn to influencers to tour their properties on social media

Burke, the host with 40 listings in Tulsa, said guests have been shifting toward last-minute stays — which is stressful for hosts relying on their business.

Burke predicts she'll end May with around 58% occupancy, but just weeks ago she was only booked for 30% of the nights in May.

In an effort to attract more bookings overall, she's begun working with a local influencer with 50,000 followers. So far, they've already filmed one of Burke's short-term-rental properties near the popular Tulsa park known as the Gathering Place and have plans to film another near a "hip shopping district" known as Cherry Street.

"Both of those are location, location, location. So people know they can stay in really cool areas and at beautiful properties with our business," Burke said.

Burke declined to disclose how much she is paying the influencer to feature her properties but said comparable digital marketing services cost $1,000 a month and still require Burke to do much of the editing, posting, and content strategy.

"That's not my jam," Burke said. "I'm not a video editor. I don't have a big following."

Villines, the host with four Lake of the Ozarks properties, said he has struck deals with influencers, trading free stays at his listings for packages of content.

Villines said that even though he expects his 2024 summer bookings to drop by about 10% from last year, he's able to use those unbooked nights for content swaps to improve his marketing.

He's given content creators who've reached out to him through Airbnb two- or three-night stays in exchange for up to 50 professional photos he can use for the property's Airbnb profile or a well-composed marketing video that might otherwise cost $500 to $1,500.

"Because I'm down in numbers, I have more availability for nights that I could swap services," he said.

Influencers can also help promote direct booking, Burke said.

When the influencer eventually posts a link to one of her properties, Burke asks that it direct viewers to her business website instead of the Airbnb listing.

Burke said she hopes Tulsans following the influencer are inspired to book through her and save on fees.

"My approach is that she's really focused on bringing guests to our houses that are booking directly," she said.

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Inside 2 Texas cities where home prices are dropping, sellers are slashing asks, and buyers can get lowball offers accepted

2024-05-19T12:13:58Z

Homebuyers in Austin and New Braunfels are finding more success as sellers lower their prices.

Maskot/Getty Images

Since last year, home prices fell 0.3% in and around Austin, and 4.6% in and around San Antonio.
Real-estate agents in those Texas spots said home sellers are slashing prices to attract buyers.
One house in Austin listed for $1.25 million and was sold for $850,000, Nicole Marburger said.

After years of sellers calling the shots in the real-estate market, the balance may finally be tipping towards homebuyers in some US cities.

Since 2022, high mortgage rates and expensive home prices have created a potent cocktail of unaffordability, sidelining many would-be buyers in some of the country's most popular cities.

But with fewer prospective buyers in the market for homes, home prices are now declining in several cities across the US.

The National Association of Realtors found that home prices dropped in 15 of 221 markets across the United States in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year, including two in the Lone Star State: Austin-Round Rock (-0.3%) and San Antonio-New Braunfels (-4.6%).

The Austin-Round Rock area had a median home price of $466,700 in the first quarter of 2024, down from $467,900 in 2023. The median home price in the San Antonio-New Braunfels area — New Braunfels is a satellite city of San Antonio between it and Austin, and one of the fastest-growing cities in the US — was $320,500 in the first quarter of 2023, and has now fallen to $305,800 in 2024.

The reason homes are getting a bit cheaper is because demand has slowed, real-estate agents in Austin and New Braunfels told Business Insider.

Over the past few years, Texas has lured hundreds of thousands of transplants with its relatively affordable housing and abundant job opportunities. Cities including Austin and New Braunfels have attracted many Californians and tech professionals enticed by remote work and the state's lower cost of living.

Demand from movers and other buyers, buoyed by record-low interest rates from 2020 to 2022, fueled a surge in home prices, driven by heightened competition.

But the higher prices and higher mortgage rates diminished affordability for many locals, leading to lower home-buying demand. Without eager buyers lined up at open houses, homes listed for sale are lingering on the market longer than they have in the recent past.

In April, the average time for homes to sell in Austin increased to 40 days from 38 days the previous year, according to Realtor.com. Similarly, in New Braunfels, homes are now staying on the market for an average of 53 days, compared to 49 days in April 2023.

The trend, has led many sellers to lower their prices — though prices still remain significantly higher than a decade ago.

Some Texas home sellers are slashing prices and offering concessions

Austin real-estate broker Nicole Marburger told Business Insider that the city's real estate market is finally coming down to earth.

From 2020 to 2022, Austin saw a huge boom in its real-estate market, marked by intense competition, bidding wars, and quick sales. But now, the market has changed.

"Most homes are no longer selling within a matter of hours or days," said Marburger, the founder and owner of Austin-based Legacy Real Estate Group at Compass. "Some might sell in two to three weeks, while for others, it could take two to three months — it just depends what area a home is listed."

As homes linger on the market, sellers are reducing their prices to draw buyers, she added.

Marburger said she recently worked with a client who purchased a home initially listed for $1.25 million for just $850,000 — it even came with a concession, which is when a home seller offers a buyer additional incentives such as money for home repairs or mortgage-rate buydowns.

As homebuyers become more choosy, she said more sellers have to adjust their expectations.

"Sellers who are holding out for peak market prices may unfortunately find that, unless their property truly stands out, today's reality does not align with their aspirations," she said.

Some Texas cities have become buyers' markets

New Braunfels — an up-and-coming area located about 47 miles from Austin and 35 miles from San Antonio — is experiencing a similar shift in its housing market.

Broker Mercy Boatright, the owner and founder of real-estate agency House Hunters, told Business Insider that New Braunfels' homebuyers now have the upper hand.

"It's definitely a buyers' market right now," Boatright said. "Prices are going back to the norm. Homes are no longer being appraised at sky-high prices."

Boatright said that homes in New Braunfels with higher price tags are struggling to attract offers. Sellers who resist reducing their listing prices are learning their lesson, she added.

"Homes aren't selling unless the seller's price goes down," Boatright said.

On the other side of the closing table, Boatright said she encourages her buyer clients to consider submitting offers on homes even if they're beyond their budget — a seemingly modest bid could still potentially secure a sale.

"I'm like, 'Hey, if it's the house you want, let's make an offer. I don't care if it's $30,000 off,'" she said. "We try it, and I've been getting them every time."

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POV video of Ukrainian special forces in armored car making perilous dash as Russian shells appears to try to take them out

2024-05-19T13:45:29Z

Kraken unit transporting soldiers to the frontline in Chasiv Yar

Kraken Telegram

A new video shows Ukraine's special forces navigating enemy fire to transport reinforcements to Chasiv Yar.
The Kraken unit, formed by Azov Brigade veterans, has become one of the country's best-known units.
Russia has stepped up its attacks on Chasiv Yar, a strategic hilltop town in the east of Ukraine.

One of Ukraine's special forces units has revealed what it takes to replenish frontline troops under constant enemy shelling.

In a new video posted on Telegram by the Kraken regiment, a special forces unit in the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, appear to be driving a light tactical vehicle along dirt tracks, navigating enemy fire and mortar attacks as they go.

A caption accompanying the video reads: "Maneuvering in difficult conditions under constant enemy artillery fire, [the Kraken regiment is] responsible for the personnel and fire support for the units in Chasiv Yar."

Kraken unit navigates enemy shelling as it transports troops to the front in Chasiv Yar

Kraken Telegram

Business Insider was unable to independently verify the video's content, though Ukraine's Defense Ministry confirmed that it was taken in Chasiv Yar, a strategic town on elevated ground that has been relentlessly attacked by Russian forces in recent months.

The Kraken unit is showing how they are getting to their positions in Chasiv Yar.
Ukrainian warriors are risking their lives to defend a free Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/jyseoW39oH
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 17, 2024

According to The Washington Post, the Kraken Regiment, which has become one of Ukraine's better-known volunteer forces, was formed by Azov Brigade veterans on the day Russia invaded Ukraine. The Azov unit became known worldwide in 2022 for its heroic stand inside the Azovstal steel complex in the port city of Mariupol.

Like the Azov fighters, whose name comes from the Sea of Azov, the regiment's name and insignia evoke the mythical sea monster, the Kraken, which resembles a giant squid.

Militarnyi reports that the vehicle in the video is a Turkish-made Cobra II.

The manufacturer, Otokar, describes the Cobra II as a "4×4 Tactical Wheeled Armored Vehicle."

Its modular platform has superior technical and tactical characteristics, allowing the vehicle to maneuver easily across difficult terrain.

"COBRA II provides higher ballistic and mine protection, increased payload capacity and internal volume," the description reads.

Kraken unit navigates enemy mortar attacks as it transports reinforcements to the front line in Chasiv Yar

Kraken Telegram

Chasiv Yar and surrounding areas have become highly contested in recent weeks as Russia steps up its offensive in the east, as well as launching a second front in the northern Kharkiv region.

The Washington DC-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said in its latest update that Russian forces had "intensified their effort" to seize Chasiv Yar, seeking to "exploit how Russian offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast and ongoing offensive operations throughout eastern Ukraine have generated greater theater-wide pressure on Ukrainian forces."

In response to Russia's increased attacks, Ukrainian forces have transferred elements of a Ukrainian brigade defending in the Chasiv Yar area to the Vovchansk area, which has also come under increased fire, the ISW reports.

As a result, "Russian forces have likely intensified offensive operations near Chasiv Yar to quickly take advantage of weakened Ukrainian defenses."

A breakthrough in the frontline is most likely to come in Chasiv Yar, "where Russian forces have the most immediate prospects for an operationally significant advance." The front west of Avdiivka, the town that fell to Russia in February, is also a possibility.

One of Ukraine's top intelligence officials said earlier this month that Chasiv Yar was very likely to fall to Russian forces.

"Not today or tomorrow, of course, but all depending on our reserves and supplies," said Major-General Vadym Skibitsky, the deputy head of military intelligence.

In his nightly address on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked soldiers who successfully repelled a Russian assault on Chasiv Yar.

"Our warriors destroyed more than twenty armored vehicles of the occupier. Well done, guys!" he said.

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An African kingdom famed for its bustling souks and immense desert dunes is revving up to build electric vehicles

2024-05-19T11:41:23Z

Marrakech, Morocco, and an EV production line.

shomos uddin/Getty Images and SweetBunFactory/Getty Images

Morocco has spent the last two decades transforming into Africa's auto-manufacturing hub.
The country produced 535,825 vehicles in 2023, per data company CEIC.
The kingdom is now looking to make the transition to electric vehicles.

In the labyrinthine streets of Marrakech's bustling medina, it is hard to imagine that you are standing in one of the world's biggest car-producing countries.

The sun-baked Kingdom of Morocco is renowned as a tourist destination, with its vibrant souks, iconic Moorish architecture, and surreal Saharan desert dunes.

But the country is now also making a name for itself in the automotive industry, having spent roughly the last two decades transforming into Africa's auto-manufacturing hub.

According to data company CEIC, Morocco produced 535,825 motor vehicles in 2023, up from 464,864 in 2022, and it has the capacity to see that number jump to 700,000, the Associated Press reported.

The country has even overtaken China, India, and Japan, as the main automotive supplier to the European Union (EU), according to the Spanish outlet Atalayar.

Morocco is now looking to consolidate its position as a major player in the industry and stay ahead of major regulatory changes — such as the EU's plan to phase out petrol and diesel cars by 2035 — by preparing to transition to electric vehicles.

Morocco's minister of industry and trade, Ryad Mezzour, told Reuters that by 2030, the Moroccan government hopes that up to 60% of its exported cars will be domestically produced EVs.

And the kingdom seems to be in a good position to make the transition, according to Rafiq Raji, a non-resident senior associate with the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.

"Quite literally in Europe's backyard, Morocco's tariff-free trade access to the United States and European Union, relatively better infrastructure, battery minerals endowment, a relatively robust automotive industrial base, as well as currently being the only African country eligible under America's Inflation Reduction Act, has made it quite attractive for EV-related investment, especially from China," Raji told Business Insider.

Morocco has also spent on infrastructure and training skilled workers, which means it could be in a favorable position to attract investment from car makers looking to expand their electric vehicle supply chains, Abdelmonim Amachraa, a Moroccan supply chain expert, told AP.

And it appears the kingdom is already making moves in the EV space.

This week, Moroccan officials revealed that Chinese auto battery manufacturers Hailiang and Shinzoom would build two separate battery plants in the country's Tanger Tech industrial zone.

Another Chinese battery maker, BTR New Material Group, will also build a factory near Tangier — a coastal city with strong links to a host of American writers — to produce key component cathodes, it was announced in April.

CNGR Advanced Material is also expected to set up a cathode plant in the country.

"BTR and CNGR or other plants will be able to supply gigafactories in Morocco and abroad," Mezzour told Reuters.

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