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Johnny Depp walks into the courtroom after a break at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., May 16, 2022. Image: Reuters/Steve Helber Actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are suing each other for defamation, each claiming they were abused before and during their roughly two-year marriage. A Virginia jury is hearing the case, which is expected to run through late May. Below are key moments in the trial so far: Depp testified that he never hit Heard or any other woman. He said she was the one who became abusive and “bullied” him with “demeaning name calling.” “It seemed like pure hatred for me,” Depp said. “If I stayed to argue, eventually, I was sure it was going to escalate into violence, and oftentimes it did.” During an argument in Australia in early 2015, Depp said Heard threw a vodka bottle that severed the top of his right middle finger. The actor said he went into shock and wrote messages to Heard on the wall using blood from the finger. … [Read more...] about Johnny Depp, Amber Heard trial resumes after week-long break: Key moments from defamation case

Editor's note: Below you'll find the week 87 release of the NYC Recovery Index, originally published May 3, 2022. Visit the NYC Recovery index homepage for the latest data. New York City’s economic recovery index declined in the week ending April 23, 2022, falling just over a point to close at 74 out of 100, with all major components of the index recording a weekly decline. COVID-19 hospitalization rates continued to rise, along with an uptick in unemployment insurance claims. Home sales, rental vacancies, subway ridership, and restaurant reservations all declined compared to the week of April 16. On a positive note, home sales and UI claims remain fully recovered, with pending home sales still considerably above pre-pandemic levels. New York City’s economic recovery stands at a score of 74 out of 100, according to the New York City Recovery Index, a joint project between Investopedia and NY1 . Over two years into the pandemic, New York City’s economic recovery is just … [Read more...] about The New York City Recovery Index: May 2

Ukrainian partners of Azovstal's soldiers of Marioupol, Olha Andrianova, Katerina Prokopenko and Hanna Naumenko pose during a photo session on May 15, 2022 in Paris. Their menfolk are the last pocket of resistance in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, holed up in a warren of underground tunnels and bunkers at the vast Azovstal steelworks under heavy Russian bombardment. But while their partners, all fighters in Ukraine's Azov regiment, make a last stand at Azovstal, Olha Andrianova, Hanna Naumenko and Kateryna Prokopenko are engaged in their own personal battle -- to get the West to intervene to save them. After leaving Kyiv on April 23, they stopped off at the Vatican, where they were granted a five-minute audience with Pope Francis , and also visited Poland and Germany. Now in France, the young women are determined to do whatever is necessary to help save the men's lives. "The more countries we go to, the more chances we have of finding a quick solution," said … [Read more...] about Ukrainian women ask West to save trapped Mariupol defenders

Russia continues its military buildup at the Ukrainian border, NATO said , disputing Russia's claims that it's removing troops. The rally in U.S. stocks stopped, with major indexes slipping after yesterday's surges. Economists will be mining the minutes from the January FOMC meeting—due later today from the Fed—for clues as to how aggressive the central bank will act in its efforts to curb inflation. Key Takeaways Russia continues adding troops at the border, NATO said, disputing Russia's claims that it is removing troops. The rally in U.S. stocks halted, while oil climbed. Stock declines came despite stronger-than-expected January retail sales. Stocks surged yesterday, snapping a three-day losing streak, on indications tensions between Russia and Ukraine were easing. The Dow rose 1.2%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.6%, and the Nasdaq shot up 2.5%. Later today, the Federal Reserve will release minutes from its January policy meeting . Investors will look for … [Read more...] about NATO Disputes Russian Withdrawals, an Alarming Yield Curve, and More Moving Today’s Market

U.S. stock futures are moving higher, led by technology shares on the Nasdaq exchange, after another volatile day of trading ahead of an announcement from Federal Reserve policymakers about the future of monetary policy . Key Takeaways U.S. stock futures are moving sharply higher, led by technology shares on the Nasdaq exchange. Traders are awaiting a 2 p.m. Eastern time announcement from Federal Reserve policymakers about the future of monetary policy. Cryptocurrencies' rally continued. Oil again marched higher, and the dollar strengthened against the euro. Bond yields fell. Microsoft Corporation ( MSFT ) helped lead tech shares higher after reporting fiscal second quarter results that beat expectations while forecasting better-than-expected quarterly sales for the current quarter. Tesla, Inc. ( TSLA ), scheduled to report earnings after markets close today, is also gaining. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was down more than 800 points … [Read more...] about Stocks Gain as Tech Rallies and Investors Await Fed Rate Decision

Electric carmaker Tesla, Inc. ( TSLA ) may have indefinitely postponed production of its Cybertruck. The vehicle, whose prototype was unveiled in November 2019, was due for customer delivery in 2021. Last year, the company announced a delay in its production schedule to August 2022 due to the pandemic shutdown. But the Cybertruck's landing page on the Tesla website now no longer mentions the new date for start of production. The latest change in the vehicle's delivery status was first reported by auto website Edmunds. Tesla CEO Elon Musk had previously tweeted, in November, that he would provide an updated product roadmap in the company's next earnings call on Jan. 26. Key Takeaways Tesla stock fell by nearly 5% after news that its Cybertruck production date will be delayed yet again. The electric carmaker previously delayed production of the vehicle to 2022. Tesla competitors are racing ahead with their plans to release their versions of all-electric pickup trucks. … [Read more...] about Tesla (TSLA) Falls on Cybertruck Production Delays

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Throughout the vast majority of the millennia-long relationship humans have had with cannabis, the plant was cultivated exclusively outdoors in natural sunlight, allowing it to fully express its aroma, flavor and potency. However, beginning in the 1970s and intensifying the following decade, the misguided War on Drugs drove much of the domestic cannabis production indoors and away from the prying eyes of law enforcement. The new breed of underground growers perfected the art and science of cultivating top-shelf cannabis under lights, crossing varieties of the species and carefully selecting for new strains that performed well indoors. Additionally, the control over the environment afforded by indoor cultivation allowed growers to produce cannabis flower unblemished by inclement weather or pests. As a result, the quality and potency of indoor bud increased greatly over time, leading to a widely held belief that it is superior to … [Read more...] about Sungrown Cannabis Takes On Indoor Bud In Head-To-Head Challenge

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin By Renee Fry, Founder and CEO, at Gentreo As Ben Franklin noted, there are two certainties in life—death and taxes. Tax season was just upon us here in the U.S., which many of us are relieved to have just checked off. Preparing for death and emergencies when we need others to make decisions for us is something most of us have not done. A 2021 Gallup poll showed less than 46% of Americans surveyed have a will, a staggering figure given the consequences of not doing estate planning. Whether it is paying thousands of dollars in legal fees to have judges make decisions for your loved ones or witnessing families break up over resulting legal battles, the consequences of not doing estate planning are enormous and costly. According to experts, without estate planning documents, an estate loses anywhere from 3% to 8% of its value to legal costs and fees . Outdated documents can also prove costly as they require court … [Read more...] about How To Take Advantage Of Tax Season To Tackle Estate Planning

When you are stretched thin with plenty on your to-do list, believe it or not, the best thing you can do is to relax (mentally and physically) periodically throughout the workday. By doing so, you’ll refuel your energy level, be more focused and productive as you push past the finish line to reach your short- and long-term goals. advertisement advertisement Below, experts from Fast Company Executive Board describe their most effective productivity hacks during crunch time and how useful they are when you are trying to get the most done. 1. ALWAYS HAVING A BACK-UP PLAN IN PLACE When an eleventh-hour health scare pushes an event online or top-tier talent decides to perform from home instead of in person, success relies on decisions you made months before. At VIVA, we have satellite planning teams in place who are directed to work on scenarios B and C, even while plan A is moving ahead full steam.  In that way, the quality of what we do remains high … [Read more...] about 15 productivity hacks that keep business leaders on track

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin While larger businesses often have the resources to recover from a financial misstep, small businesses may not have that luxury. Certain money mistakes can be devastating for an entrepreneur or small company that is seeking to maintain steady revenue, especially in a challenging economy. From falling prey to escalating bank fees to overusing personal credit accounts for business reasons, the members of Forbes Finance Council have seen various financial missteps among small businesses during their careers. Below, 14 of them share one money mistake entrepreneurs and small-business owners often make that could have serious consequences. 1. Failing To Save For Emergencies Small businesses and entrepreneurs must be prepared with emergency cash flow. Machines require servicing, supply chains get broken and expenses aren’t precisely estimated. Even if a company is unprofitable or breaking even, a rainy-day fund protects … [Read more...] about 14 Financial Mistakes That Could Devastate A Small Business