Azzarello succumbed to his injuries on Friday night. Emergency responders received a 911 call at 1:37 p.m, and paramedics rushed the man to a local hospital in critical condition, a New York Police Department spokesperson told Business Insider, where he later died, BBC News reported.
Despite the proximity to Trump's trial, his actions did not appear to align with any specific political agenda but rather stemmed from a web of conspiracy theories and paranoia, per The Times.
Azzarello walked into the center of Collect Pond Park, across from the courthouse. He threw conspiracy pamphlets into the air before pouring an accelerant onto himself and self-immolating, USA Today reports.
The pamphlets were titled "The True History of the World" and linked to a Substack post that reads, "I am an investigative researcher who has set himself on fire outside of the Trump trial in Manhattan."
The post includes conspiratorial ideas about the US government.
"We are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup," reads the post.
When Azzarello lost his mother in 2022, grief consumed him, leading to increasingly erratic behavior, friends told The Times.
Steven Waldman, a high school friend of Azzarello, told The Times his late friend was "heartbroken" when his mother passed."
"That was around the time when he became more outspoken," Waldman said.
Azzarello was described as a caring individual with a penchant for social justice, having pursued degrees in anthropology and public policy.
"He was super curious about social justice and the way things 'could' be," a former classmate of Azzarello told The Times.
"He was a good friend and person and cared about the world," said Waldman.
Larry Altman, the property manager at Azzarello's apartment building, called Azzarello an "extremely nice person."
Azzarello's career trajectory led him through various fields, including marketing and technology, with a brief stint in political campaign work, according to his LinkedIn.
"We've got a secret fascism problem," his bio reads beneath his profile picture, snapped alongside former US president Bill Clinton.
Larry Altman told the Times that Azzarello "had political views that I would not consider mainstream. He called our government and the world government a Ponzi scheme."
Self-immolation is mostly carried out as a form of protest for religious or political reasons.
In February of this year, 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC.
Azzarello commended Bushnell for his final act of protest, posting "Heroes and martyrs, folks," on his Instagram page, Newsweek reports.
Trump's historic hush money trial kicks off
Donald Trump at the defense table in his Manhattan hush money trial with attorney Emil Bove.
Hensley Meulens entered a United Airlines cockpit mid-flight
Reuters
A Colorado Rockies coach was filmed in a United Airlines cockpit mid-flight, reports say.
A video appeared to show Hensley Meulens cracking jokes with others on the flight deck.
The alleged unauthorized cockpit visit breaches federal safety regulations.
Federal aviation officials have launched an investigation after a viral video appeared to show a Colorado Rockies coach making a cockpit visit during a United Airlines charter flight from Denver to Toronto last week, said reports.
It is against federal safety regulations, made more strict following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, for unauthorized people to be in the cockpit during a flight, said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In the video, the Rockies hitting coach, Hensley Meulens, appears to be sitting in one of the two pilot seats while the plane is flying at cruising altitude. He cracks jokes with other people on the flight deck.
"Flying the plane, here to Toronto," Meulens says as he gestures toward a pilot sitting beside him.
"I'm going to land the plane tonight. So relax," he says. Meulens then reaches toward the flight controls and makes as if to take hold of the steering wheel, saying, "I just press this button — and it goes down."
The Colorado Rockies are under investigation by the FAA and United Airlines after a video showed hitting coach Hensley Meulens in the cockpit of the team’s charter mid-flight.pic.twitter.com/raRrpPBJzY
The video was originally posted to Meulens' social media, though it has since been deleted.
"Had some fun in the cockpit on our flight from Denver to Toronto," the post's caption read, according to The Denver Post. "Thanks to the captain and the first officer of our United charter that allowed me this great experience."
United spokesperson Russell Carlton told various news agencies that United was "deeply disturbed" by the content of the video.
The cockpit visit was "a clear violation of our safety and operational policies" and has been reported to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Carlton said that United Airlines removed the pilots from service during the investigation.
FAA spokesperson Chris Mullooly told several news outlets that they were investigating the incident but provided no further details.
"Federal regulations restrict flight deck access to specific individuals," Mullooly said.
The Rockies' manager, Bud Black, told The Denver Post that Meulens had apologized to the team and United Airlines and that the incident would not affect his employment with the club.
"I can't comment really any further because of the investigation of the matter," Black said.
United Airlines and the FAA are yet to respond to Business Insider's request for comment, sent outside of regular working hours.
A United Airlines Boeing 777.
Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The news comes after United suffered a cascade of issues last month. On March 4, United Flight 1118 from Houston to Texas was forced to turn around after one of the plane's engines caught fire after take-off. Three days later, one of the airline's flights from San Francisco to Japan lost a tire during take-off and was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport.
A post-flight inspection revealed that United Flight 433 from San Francisco to Oregon on 15 March had lost an external panel. The aircraft was an older model Boeing 737-800. The plane landed safely without any issues: the external panel had been discovered missing only after the fact.
Elon Musk has called the strike action from Swedish workers "insane."
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
Elon Musk might need to start sleeping at Tesla again as tough times mount, according to top bull Adam Jonas of Morgan Stanley.
The firm may slowly be exiting the EV industry, given rising Chinese competition and dimming outlooks, he said.
Jonas holds a Street-high $310 price target on the firm, but says Musk's compensation deal is also adding uncertainty.
It might be time for Elon Musk to bring back an old corporate habit to reignite Tesla's spark, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas.
"Looking ahead to Tesla's 1Q results … investors are starting to ask: 'Is it time to sleep on the floor again?'" Jonas said in a note published on April 18.
The reference is to when the CEO would spend nights doing so over past years, in an effort to encourage hard work during tough times.
Just a year ago, this would be an unlikely comment from the long-standing Tesla bull. But now, tougher times might indeed be back, as Jonas acknowledged that an electric vehicle recession has engulfed the leading manufacturer.
With conditions deteriorating and competition rising, it may even be that Tesla is starting to eye an exit from the traditional EV-maker industry. Such a shift has been signaled by the company's recent decision to scrap plans for a low-cost Model 2, and instead focus on autonomous driving and robotaxis. Wall Street didn't love the move, sending the stock even lower to fresh year-to-date lows this past week.
"Is Tesla exiting the (traditional) EV auto industry? At the margin, it seems so. This doesn't mean that Tesla won't keep selling cars (including new launches) for many years to come. But this cannot be the end game," Jonas wrote, adding that Tesla's 50% targeted annual growth rate is no longer valid.
Generally, challenges are penetrating the EV market from all sides, whether they be infrastructure, vehicle affordability and repairability, or rising competition from hybrids. It's not only a domestic issue for Tesla, as cheaper Chinese alternatives are cutting deep into crucial offshore demand.
Most recently, this has snapped Tesla's first quarter deliveries — where these increased 40% last year, they plummeted 10% year-to-year in 2024's opening months.
With more industry players popping up, the firm has taken to slashing its pricing, and Musk has hinted for years about a model that would cost under $30,000. Tesla is in fact planning a mass-market vehicle to start producing next year: the ramp up will require workers to sleep at the factory, Musk warned in the last earnings call.
But even if the company succeeds to create a appealing and affordable model, Jonas is skeptical that this is a winning strategy to the Chinese threat:
"How long would it take for a Chinese EV company to make one like it at a lower price? 9 months? 3 months? Less? New models are important for Tesla and we expect half a dozen or so different 'shapes' and form factors launched in the years ahead," he said. "But perhaps Tesla has already learned what most autos analysts have long known about the car industry."
Nor should investors bet solely on Tesla's ambitions in automotive driving. Though other analysts have touted full self-driving technology as a stock price headwind, Jonas sees commercialization at scale of these developments as far out.
Market challenges have already tanked Tesla's stock over 41% year-to-date. Consensus expectations need to stabilize before it can begin to outperform again, Jonas said.
He continues to hold an overweight on Tesla, with a price target of $310. However, aside from earnings strength, the stock's success also hinges on Musk's compensation package, Jonas added.
That's as the CEO has previously threatened to move AI capabilities away from Tesla if he is not given a 25% stake in the company, adding existential uncertainty for investors, the analyst said.
Tesla shares have slid more than 40% so far in 2024.
The author, left, is planning her wedding with her fiancé, right.
Courtesy of Daniel Wilson
Last October, my fiancé was laid off and he has been unemployed ever since, so we are now in debt.
We decided to keep planning our wedding, so I've used my tax refund to pay for deposits.
We are eloping in the mountains and trying to remind ourselves it isn't about the wedding.
When my fiancé, Collin, was unexpectedly laid off last October, he told me it would likely delay his marriage proposal. We had already picked out a ring, and he had bought the center diamond, but he was hoping to save a little more money before buying the ring itself.
The night before Thanksgiving, we were sitting on the couch when I casually said, "You know, you could always borrow one of my fashion rings until we can purchase the real one."
We agreed it felt silly to wait on a major purchase to promise our futures to one another since the ring was just a symbol anyway. I lined up all the rings I owned on the bathroom counter and let him pick one out.
It was around 11:30 p.m. when he said, "Want to go to the beach?"
What I thought would be a promise ring situation ended with him getting down on one knee in the dark on an empty South Carolina beach after midnight and asking me to be his wife. (Spoiler: I said yes.)
He slipped a sapphire ring I had bought on sale from Kohl's onto my finger to a choir of crashing waves.
To me, his proposal was more romantic than any surprise candlelit picnic where my family and friends jumped out from behind the bushes. Instead, it was just us and our shadows in the moonlight because he simply couldn't wait to make me his wife.
But planning the actual wedding while in debt has been anything but romantic.
Planning a wedding while in debt isn't easy
Fast-forward to the present day and Collin is still having trouble finding a new job despite vigorously searching and applying for 40 hours a week. His unemployment eligibility has run out, and we're barely scraping by to cover rent and other bills.
As a result, we spent months feeling on hold with any and all wedding planning efforts, including setting a date. We needed a deposit for our vendors to lock in a date, which we didn't have.
Still, we don't believe our financial situation should delay us starting this next chapter of our lives. We've continued finding creative ways to move forward despite debt.
For example, I used my tax refund money to put a deposit down with a wedding photographer, which allowed us to set a date in September. We also worked with her to negotiate a different payment schedule due to our situation. Instead of her typical deposit of $1,500, she agreed to let us put $500 down to secure the date as long as we paid the rest of the deposit by the end of June.
To help us afford engagement photos, I joined a local photography Facebook group and responded to model calls from photographers looking to add to their portfolios. We found a photographer who heavily discounted our session because he wanted to shoot a couple in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. We couldn't be happier with the photos.
We have planned our elopement for a Monday to help avoid peak fall wedding costs. This also leaves us more time to secure vendors, as many vendors maintain availability for weekday weddings since they're less popular.
Instead of booking vendors like a local hair and makeup artist in advance, I've done the research to know which salon I want to reach out to once I have the required deposit. This will help speed up the process once we have the funds.
Since we wanted a mountain wedding, we planned our elopement location around our upcoming cross-country move so that we could drive instead of needing to purchase advance plane tickets and a rental car. We secured a furnished apartment in our new city so we could sell all of our belongings to help fund our travels. This also helped us avoid spending thousands of dollars on a moving truck.
Focusing on what matters most
The most important part of this process is ensuring we don't postpone our vows because of a temporary, short-term cash flow issue. We are willing to sacrifice the material things and finer details involved in many weddings so we can make our commitment sooner.
This lack of focus on the smaller details has also helped us plan an elopement that's entirely focused on our relationship and our love for one another.
At the end of the day, if I have to choose between marrying the guy of my dreams and having the perfect wedding bouquet, the answer is pretty obvious to me.
Kelsey Herbers is a freelance marketing writer and journalist based in Charleston, South Carolina. Connect on LinkedIn.
Sara Senatore, a restaurant analyst at Bank of America, told Business Insider that fast-food restaurants historically increased prices by about 2% yearly. At some restaurants in 2022 and 2023, they went up by double-digits, she said.
As general inflation, including for groceries, comes down, she's expecting consumers to be even "less tolerant" of the price increases in the restaurant industry.
Experts say it could have a ripple effect on wages across the fast food industry nationwide, meaning that your favorite spots could become even pricier.
Even the more loyal fast-food diners are cutting back
In interviews with BI, more than a dozen consumers from different parts of the US referred to a range of fast-food chains they said had gotten more expensive in recent years — from McDonald's and Dunkin' to Subway and Chipotle.
Warren Colehour, a 40-year-old student in Kentucky, said he used to go to Dunkin' almost every morning for a breakfast sandwich and coffee but has cut it down to about four days a month because of the price. "I can't bring myself to spend $8 on that food," he said.
Chad Frye, a cartoonist and illustrator based in California who said he used to be a "fast-food junkie," said he's cut down his fast-food habit from four or five times a week to just twice.
"You could go into McDonald's and there would be a whole array of choices on a value menu, and they used to call it the dollar menu, and you can't get anything in there for a dollar anymore," he said.
McDonald's USA told BI that pricing is set by local franchisees and varies by restaurant.
"McDonald's always strives to strike the right balance of value for money," a company spokesperson said, noting that customers can also get offers and free items through its app.
Some diners say they're cutting down on how much fast food they eat.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Some diners said that they thought the quality of fast food meant that it just wasn't worth the price anymore.
"I think mentally you maybe don't think it tastes as good anymore because you're paying a lot more for it," Frye said.
For Martin Jennings, a 51-year-old Florida-based truck driver, fast food is often the only meal available on the road, and it's become increasingly hard to find affordable options.
Most truck stops have chain fast-food restaurants, "and you're just stuck with whatever's there," he said.
"It's just so expensive that we try to avoid it," he added. Instead, he uses the freezer and microwave in his truck to store and heat up leftovers he brings from home.
"I pack as much food as I can before I leave the house to avoid eating out," he said.
Dunkin' and Chipotle did not respond to requests for comment from BI. A Subway spokesperson said that "significant changes" have been made to the quality of its menu while "maintaining affordability."
"While pricing guidelines are provided to ensure we are maintaining our value proposition systemwide, pricing is set by our franchisees," the spokesperson noted.
Rising fast-food prices are making sit-down restaurants more attractive to diners.
Shutterstock/James R. Martin
While fast-food restaurants are generally chosen for their price and convenience, sit-down restaurants are usually seen as more expensive places where diners can relax and socialize.
But the closing price gap between full- and limited-service restaurants means some diners are going to sit-down restaurants more often.
Ben Heyworth, an account executive in Florida, is one example. He recently pivoted from dining in at fast-food chains such as Subway, Burger King, and McDonald's in favor of fast-casual and sit-down restaurants.
He's found that the food, service, and atmosphere are better in these chains and that they generally charge a similar price, he said.
Offers the interviewees highlighted included Del Taco's three tacos for $2 deal on Tuesdays, Arby's for their two for $6 deal on sandwiches, and Subway's coupons.
"I'm looking for extreme value when I'm going out," 58-year-old Oregon resident Richard McConnell said.
Others are using fast-food chains' apps to score cheap or free food, too.
Fast food still lures diners in
This isn't to say that sales at fast-food chains are slumping. In 2023, for example, comparable US sales at McDonald's were up 8.7% year-over-year. In 2022, they were up 5.9% in the US. At Burger King, this figure was 7.5% in 2023.
The taste and convenience of fast food is still bringing diners in.
Ricardo Rodriguez, a 60-year-old semi-retired finance worker in California, told BI that he gets "sticker shock" whenever he buys a Double Big Mac.
But he still goes to the chain about three times a month, and said his wife would use the app to get a free sandwich or portion of fries. Their average spend is about $25, he said.
The main reason Rodriguez gets fast food is the taste, he said.
"Even if they were to raise the price on the McGriddle sandwich, I probably would still go and buy it," he added.
Former US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.
ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images
Court proceedings for Donald Trump's various criminal and civil cases are beginning to overlap.
Opening arguments for his first criminal trial are set to begin Monday at 9:30 a.m.
A hearing over the bond in his civil fraud case is set to be held just down the street at 10 a.m.
Donald Trump is juggling so many court proceedings they're beginning to overlap.
Opening arguments will begin on Monday at 9:30 a.m. in Trump's hush-money case, the first-ever criminal trial to be held against a former president — and just the first of four criminal cases facing Trump to be heard in court.
In the hush money trial, prosecutors allege Trump cooked his books to hide a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up an affair the pair had. Trump denies the affair took place and refutes allegations that his financial records were falsified.
Down the street, at 10 a.m. on Monday, Judge Arthur Engoron will hear arguments over Trump's bond in his civil fraud trial after New York Attorney General Letitia James asked for the judge to reject the $175 million bond posted by Knight Specialty Insurance Company and declare the bond to be "without effect," James wrote in a memo filed Friday.
James argued that the company that posted the bond doesn't meet the "requirements of trustworthiness and competence" required for insurers doing this type of business. She added that the insurance group is not licensed to conduct new business in New York and has never before written a surety bond in the state.
The bond has been an area of fierce contention after Trump's lawyers argued he couldn't afford the original $454 million judgment amount initially ordered by the court and should not be made to pay the full amount pending appeal. The appellate court agreed and lowered his amount due to $175 million on March 25, with Trump posting the lower amount on April 1.
It remains unclear which courtroom Trump will be in on Monday. However, The New York Times noted that his court appearances have led to increased traffic on Centre Street in Manhattan and left officials scrambling to increase security around the city.
Representatives for Trump and the Attorney General's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Over the last two years, our family has overhauled our budget to combat inflation.
We were like many Americans who have a budget, but don't stick to it and sometimes overspend.
Here are eight ways my family got our money situation under control.
With inflation still hitting bank accounts hard, our family of four — which includes two teenagers — realized it was time to start taking our household budget more seriously.
Over the last two years, our family has overhauled our budget, created important financial habits, and even involved our daughters. We are now making progress toward our money goals more than ever.
While I had a budget for many years, I suffered from lazy budgeting — treating it more like a suggestion than a rule and often overspending.
It turns out my family was not alone.
Eighty-four percent of Americans with a monthly budget sometimes overspent, according to a survey of more than 2,070 US adults over the age of 18conducted last Aprilby The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet.
When inflation hit, and prices started to soar, we realized our family was not making as much progress towardour financial goals as we would have liked. If we were going to pay off our car loan, permanently stay out of credit card debt, and do a better job of saving for our daughters' college education and our retirements, we needed to start taking our budget more seriously.
Here are some ways we got our money situation under control.
Start simple, be patient, and adjust
Getting serious about a budget can be overwhelming at first, but it gets better. The author's family is not pictured.
Skynesher/Getty Images
We first needed to get a better idea of how we were spending our money. To do this, we started using Mint, a budgeting app.
Mint was great at providing a clear picture of our spending habits. Unfortunately, Mint shut down, but there are alternatives depending on what you need.
Then, we needed to be patient. It took us about six months to get a good picture of our expenses since some categories, like medical costs, can vary greatly from month to month.
Once we had a clear picture of our expenses, we switched to the budgeting app YNAB, which stands for you need a budget. This app has a bit of a learning curve, so it is not ideal if you are just starting to budget. But once you have a good grasp of your finances and what you want to do, this app is great at prioritizing savings, making plans to pay down debts, and giving every dollar a purpose.
Make budgeting a part of the daily routine
Budgeting can be completed in a few minutes if done every day. The author's family is not pictured.
Ezra Bailey/Getty Images
To overcome my lazy budgeting, I knew that I had to hunker down and make better budgeting a habit. So now I make time every morning to review our family's spending.
Doing it every day only takes about five minutes of my time. I find that when I skip more than a couple of days, the log of transactions becomes overwhelming, and there is a greater risk of putting it off and falling behind.
Food savings have become our great equalizer
Food inflation has Americans spending a lot more on groceries. The author's family is not pictured.
Hispanolistic/Getty Images
Food is the one place we found that we have the most control over how much we spend.
The first thing we did was cut down on how much we were eating out or ordering for delivery, especially when we realized just how much those indulgences had increased in price over the years.
Despite inflation, our monthly grocery bill has fallen from at least $800 every month before the pandemic to an average of $650 since we stopped being lazy about our budget.
Review subscriptions with other household members once a month
Subscriptions, such as streaming services, can add up and weigh down your budget. The author's family is not pictured.
Jason Hosking/Getty Images
Once we had a better sense of where our money was going every month, we saw how much we spent monthly on app subscriptions.
As a family, we had about 20 apps and streaming services with subscriptions, making it easy to forget how much we spent each month.
Weweren't alone there either.A 2022 study showed consumers underestimated app subscription costs by $133 a month.
In addition to tracking all of our subscriptions, we followed some rules to get them under control, including avoiding bundles and annual subscriptions. While those may feel like a better deal, they often take away your flexibilityto cancel or adjust anytime.
With the flexibility of going month-to-month on subscriptions, we can take a few minutes each month to go over each one and determine which ones we are no longer using.
Thanks to these changes, we save nearly $200 monthly on apps and streaming services alone.
Make weekly payments on credit cards
It can be easier to stay ahead of credit card bills if paid off weekly. The author's family is not pictured.
PetkoNinovDanov/Getty Images
Like many Americans, our family uses credit cards for most purchases to take advantage of points and rewards.
The downside to using credit cards so frequently is that falling behind on paying down a card one month is easy. And once you do, it can snowball into a problem — especially now, due to sky-high interest rates following the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation.
While we typically paid off our credit cards every month, there were times when we carried a balance, and nothing ruins a budget quite like leftover expenses from the previous month.
Now that we have better control of our spending, we have taken the extra step to pay off our credit card balances every week. Not only does it help us stay permanently out of credit card debt, but it is also less overwhelming mentally to make smaller weekly payments than one large payment at the end of the month.
Constantly shop around for better deals
A little bit of shopping around can save you hundreds. The author's family is not pictured.
Srinophan69/Getty Images
Many companies, either through websites or apps on your phone, have made it easy to sign up for their services and can often grab new customers with just a couple of clicks. The good news is that this also makes it easier than ever to shop around for the best deals.
We have made it a regular habit to check for the best deals from streaming services, phone companies, and car insurance companies.
For example, we had taken our car insurance for granted, letting it renew every six months without question.But with car insurance rates at a 50-year high right now, we shopped around and found another company with the same coverage that saves us about $600 every six months.
Profit-share with children to get them invested
We reward our daughters when the family budget does well. The author's family is not pictured.
Tetra Images/Getty Images
Our daughters are 13 and 14, and are nearing high school. Their needs and wants are constantly changing, so I have to stay on my toes when it comes to budgeting.
There are several ways we have adjusted our budget to include two teenagers, including giving them an allowance that is not tied to chores and addingbonuseslinked to good patterns of helping around the house, being kind, trying hard in school, and getting exercise.
But the most important step for the family budget was getting them involved by giving them a share of the monthly profits if we underspend.
Rewarding our daughters when the entire family spends well encourages them to be more conscious of our monthly spending. In addition, their money habits have improved greatly.
Despite inflation, we are spending less money every month
The author's wife and two teenage daughters at an Austin FC game.
Cork Gaines/Business Insider
Getting over our lazy budgeting has been better than I ever imagined.
We are spending less money now than we were before the pandemic. As a result, we paid offour car loan, eliminated all credit card debt, and tripled our savings each month.
And that means more freedom for experiences like attending the occasional Austin FC soccer game or traveling to California for a Taylor Swift concert.
Have you adjusted your family finances or developed any tips or tricks for budgeting to fight inflation? Reach out to this reporter at cgaines@businessinsider.com.
Kate Boardman, a content creator who has traveled the world, in Guatemala.
Kate Boardman/@wildkat.wanders
Kate Boardman has visited 54 countries around the world and lived in 10, including the US.
She's enjoyed spots like France and Bali but says people should visit underrated places like Oman.
In Ecuador, she climbed an active volcano, and in Guatemala, she swam with hammerhead sharks.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kate Boardman, a 36-year-old former teacher and current content creator from Massachusetts who has lived and traveled all over the world. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I first lived abroad when I was 15, when I participated in an exchange program in Germany. I lived there for a year, attending school and staying with a host family.
That was my first exposure to living overseas and truly immersing myself in other cultures. From there, the travel bug hit me hard. It inspired me to study international business in France while I was at university, and future trips after that.
I've been to 54 countries and lived in 10, including the US. The sense of freedom and self-growth that comes from traveling is unbeatable. I also love being able to see the world in a different way.
Boardman in Tblisi, Georgia.
Kate Boardman/@wildkat.wanders
The most popular destinations are popular for a reason.
Everyone talks about Paris, London, Bali — all travel destinations that are super popular, in part thanks to social media.
I lived in Bali in early 2012 and saw it expand firsthand. There was a lot of construction — with many beach clubs being built — and it became overcrowded by foreigners. It's led to locals being priced out of their homes.
I also think spots like Cancun are super overrated; there are way cooler places to visit in Mexico. Many tourists spend a week in an all-inclusive resort and think that's fun — but that couldn't be more unattractive to me.
Obviously, there's still beauty in places that are oversaturated and famous. But I think that there's an excitement that comes from experiencing places that are off the beaten track.
It's often in those places that you can have the most surprising experiences.
I was treated like family in Iran
I would say my favorite country that I have visited is Iran. I went in 2018 and was there for 10 days.
Normally, when I'm traveling, I backpack alone and stay in hostels as a solo traveler. However, in Iran, if you're American, Canadian, or from the UK, in order to get permission to enter the country, you need a set itinerary and a licensed travel guide.
It was a very coordinated trip and a bit more challenging to visit, but it was so rewarding because I was welcomed with the warmest hospitality.
One of the unique aspects of this trip was how close my guide and I became. He went above and beyond, inviting me over to his family's house for dinner, where I got to meet and hang out with his friends and family. It was truly special.
Boardman at Maharloo Lake in Iran.
Kate Boardman/@wildkat.wanders
Because I had a guide, everything was kind of set for me in Iran. He arranged different accommodations, including a road trip through the country, where we stayed in various cities at different guesthouses.
It only cost me around $1,000.
The nature and landscape of Iran are absolutely beautiful and amazing. The sights, attractions, and history are mind-blowing. You've got these gorgeous mosaics everywhere. All of the architecture had my jaw dropping in awe while walking around.
The food is also delicious, and the markets are incredible, each filled with gorgeous textiles, jewelry, turquoise, and rugs.
I would totally visit there again. I hope the political situation changes because that would definitely be one of my group trip destinations. I think it's just incredible.
Georgia took me by surprise
Georgia is just one of those countries that's not on a lot of people's radar. And then they go there and they're like, 'Whoa, that's awesome. Why didn't I know about this before?'
I knew very little about Georgia before I visited in 2018. I spent only five days in the country, but I was completely blown away.
I stayed in Tbilisi, which is the capital city. It's a really beautiful, trendy, and artsy kind of city. It has amazing wine and incredible food.
Probably one of my favorite things about the trip is that I stayed in this hostel called Fabrika. It was an old Soviet Union sewing factory that they turned into a super cool, industrial, hipster hostel.
In Tbilisi, I also went on a pub crawl throughout the Old Town, which featured a bunch of underground cellars and bunkers that have been turned into trendy nightclubs and bars.
Boardman on top of a mountain in Kazbegi, Georgia.
Kate Boardman/@wildkat.wanders
During my time in the country, I took a trip out to the countryside to an area called Kazbegi, which is absolutely stunning. There were gorgeous and breathtaking mountains, hills, and massive churches.
In the city, I also had a Turkish bath, which is a big thing in Georgia. I got a full scrub down.
Guatemala has something for everyone
When most people from the US think about going to Central America, they're focused on Mexico or Costa Rica. Guatemala seems to be a place that kind of gets overlooked.
But life is great in Guatemala.
You've got beautiful weather all year round, the jungle, rainforests, and the Caribbean's white sand beaches, while the Pacific side has its black sand beaches. It's got a little bit of everything.
Boardman at the Tikal National Park in Guatemala.
Kate Boardman/@wildkat.wanders
I first lived in Guatemala in 2021, where I worked as a teacher at an international school. They provided housing in Guatemala City. However, after I finished working for them, I moved to a beach town on the Pacific coast and lived there for about six months.
I've traveled there on other occasions too, staying for periods of four or five months.
The typical salary for a Guatemalan is about $500 a month, with a good salary being $1,000. I would say that $2,000 a month is more than enough to live there extremely comfortably.
There are a lot of digital nomads moving there, especially to Antigua — an old colonial town with a lot of charm, cobblestone streets, and painted buildings.
Boardman on a hammock in Livingston, Guatemala.
Courtesy of Kate Boardman
There's just so much to do in Guatemala; it's so magical.
The biggest must do is hiking the active volcano called Acatenango. Sometimes, you can see it erupting right from its base camp. There's not many places in the world where you can experience that.
Another good place to visit is El Paredon, a super up-and-coming hippie surf town. The surfing is great, and you've got these black volcanic sand beaches. It's just a really laid-back place.
Lake Atitlan is also an incredible spot. It's surrounded by volcanoes and several Mayan villages, each with its own personality and vibe.
Oman's deserts are magical
Oman is in the Middle East, bordering the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. I've been there three times between 2016 and 2018.
The country is culturally rich, and the capital city, Muscat, is really beautiful. It has old traditional marketplaces and gorgeous architecture — the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is definitely worth checking out.
Boardman sitting on a sand dune in Oman.
Kate Boardman/@wildkat.wanders
The deserts there are incredible, so doing a desert trip is a must. I camped out in the desert with the locals, rode camels, and drove Jeeps over the sand dunes.
Having tea and watching the sunset in the desert was magical too.
Oman also has wadis, which are basically big canyons in the middle of the desert with swimming holes. There, you'll find bright turquoise water contrasting with the orange rock.
The country's islands are also beautiful and incredible for snorkeling. They look like you'd be in the Caribbean, but you're in the Middle East.
The Galapagos Islands are truly like nowhere else in the world
I visited Ecuador last year for about six weeks. I was leading a gap year program with a group of high school students. We split our time between the Galapagos Islands and the mainland, which consisted of cities and the Amazon.
Because Ecuador has incredibly unique biodiversity that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world, The Galapagos Islands are an absolute must. I've never seen such incredible wildlife in my life; so many species exist only on those islands.
While visiting The Galapagos, my group went snorkeling with 50 to 100 hammerhead and Blacktip sharks. We also swam with sea lions and saw giant tortoises.
A giant tortoise at The Galapagos Islands.
Kate Boardman/@wildkat.wanders
Another amazing aspect of Ecuador is learning about the Aztec or Inca culture. My group did a homestay and lived with a family for about 10 days and learned about their way of life.
We experienced how connected they are with Mother Earth, whom they refer to as Pachamama, and learned about their traditional medicine: They grow their own food and seek out plant medicine when they're sick, rather than relying on processed foods.
Learning about and sharing their way of life was truly special.
I want to show people how to travel the world
There are many beliefs people have about different countries and cultures, sometimes considering them too dangerous, expensive, or unattainable.
I want to inspire more people to explore, step out of their comfort zones, and experience more of the world. In the future, I plan on hosting group trips with the goal of bringing people to these countries and showing them why they are so life-changing.
Wall Street's head honchos are wary of economic threats like inflation, recession, and war.
JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon, Goldman's David Solomon, and Citi's Jane Fraser warned against complacency.
BlackRock's Larry Fink and Blackstone's Steve Schwarzman flagged fear and uncertainty in markets.
The bosses of Wall Street's biggest firms struck a cautious tone on the US economy during their first-quarter earnings calls, transcripts provided by AlphaSense show.
They suggested inflation and interest rates could drop, and the economy might keep growing and skirt a recession. But they also warned that stubborn price increases, persistently high borrowing costs, a painful downturn, and overseas conflicts are threats that shouldn't be ignored.
Here are the latest warnings from eight financial titans, lightly edited and condensed for clarity:
1. Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan CEO
"I'm on the more cautious side. We're okay right now. It does not mean we're okay down the road. If the 10-year bond rate goes up 2%, every asset on the planet, including real estate, is worth 20% less. Obviously, that creates a little bit of stress and strain.
"If things stay where they are, we have the soft landing that seems to be embedded in the marketplace, the real estate will muddle through. They won't muddle through under higher rates with a recession. That would be tough for a lot of folks, not just real estate, if that happens."
2. David Solomon, Goldman Sachs CEO
"I'm mindful that US equity markets are hovering near record levels at a time when we continue to see headwinds, including concerns around inflation, the commercial real estate market, and escalating geopolitical tensions around the world. This combination could slow growth.
"While the environment is constructive and markets expect a soft landing, the trajectory is still uncertain."
3. Jane Fraser, Citigroup CEO
Jane Fraser.
Julian Restrepo/Citigroup via AP
"Growth this year looks poised to slow in many markets and conditions are generally disinflationary.
"I couldn't agree with you more about geopolitical risks and fragility. I think the market's too benign in its risk pricing on some of these factors."
4. Larry Fink, BlackRock CEO
"I've spoken before about the fear we see today, some of it stoked by increasingly political polarization in the world.
"There's still a record amount of cash on the sidelines. I think this stems from fear and uncertainty, but it's hard to achieve retirement or long-term objectives by holding cash."
5. Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone CEO
"The market environment will remain complex. The economy is stronger than expected, but it's starting to slow a bit. We believe inflation will trend lower this year, although the pace of decline has slowed recently.
"Geopolitical turbulence, including wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, adds further uncertainty to the business environment. And 2024 is a major election year, as we all know with nearly half of the world's population going to the polls, which injects unpredictability around the future of important policies that impact the global economy."
"It depends on whether rates are higher because they are sustaining continued growth in the US, or if they are higher for a period of time and are followed by a tough landing, in which case we're in recession and clearly then things will slow down."
7. Michael Santomassimo, Wells Fargo CFO
"Weaker loan demand reflected the impact of clients being cautious, given the higher rate environment and the anticipation of lower rates this year as well as some potential uncertainty in an election year.
"Given what's happening in rates, plus what's happening in quantitative tightening, what's happening in sort of the economy overall — it's going to all matter in terms of what happens with deposit levels."
8. Alistair Borthwick, Bank of America CFO
"Higher for longer is probably better for banks as a general statement. An awful lot will depend upon just the 'why' for rates. If it's just because it's taking a little while longer for the inflation to nudge down before the next set of cuts, that's probably a good environment for us.
"It's only been a quarter since we were last here talking about six cuts. Now, it's three. So, we just have to watch this play out and stay patient."
My eight favorite amenities on the new world's largest cruise ship are, for the most part, ones I've yet to see on other ships.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
Royal Caribbean invited me to spend three complimentary nights on its new Icon of the Seas in January.
My eight favorite amenities included the waterpark and jazz bar.
I've yet to see most of the amenities on my list on other cruise ships.
There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings.
The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do. Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer.
If you're a frequent cruiser — especially with Royal Caribbean — amenities like the mini-golf course and water playground may not seem exciting.
But of all the activities the new world's largest cruise ship has to offer, my eight favorites are, for the most part, ones I've yet to see on another vessel.
Take a look at what made the cut.
1. The six-slide waterpark
Royal Caribbean says one of the water slides is the tallest at sea.
Plenty of family-friendly cruise ships have waterslides, but few have six — or even one that requires a multi-person raft.
However, if you don't like the feeling of your stomach dropping, I'd advise skipping the 46-foot-tall drop slide.
2. The adult-only suspended infinity pool
The infinity pool is manned by a DJ who creates a pool club-like ambiance.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
The 7,600-guest Icon of the Seas has seven pools and nine hot tubs. As a kid-fearing adult, I loved the grown-ups-only suspended infinity pool.
I spent my time there perched at one of its in-water loungers, contently splashing my legs around the water, wondering if I actually hated cruises.
While I would've preferred a quieter atmosphere (the DJ did not, in fact, play smooth jazz), the pool's views, day beds, and lack of screaming children were hard to beat.
3. The Crown’s Edge thrill 'ride'
Crown's Edge is not for travelers with a fear of heights.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
There's no need to grab coffee before harnessing up for the part-zipling, part-agility Crown's Edge course. You'll be jolted awake when the floor drops from beneath your feet, leaving you dangling 154 feet above the ocean before the zipline kicks in.
Unfortunately, it comes with two costs: $49 and a spike of anxiety.
4. The 'Wizard of Oz' and 'Aqua Action!' shows
"Aqua Action!" (left) and "Wizard of Oz" (right).
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
If you hate cruise shows, Icon of the Seas could make you change your mind.
The ship's riff on Broadway-approved "Wizard of Oz" — 16-piece live orchestra and flying bed included — delighted me, a hater of most musicals.
For something less traditional, the semi-circle AquaDome theater hosts a compelling multi-disciplinary swim, dive, and aerial show reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil.
It's the first show-at-sea I've seen with a waterfall and nine-foot-tall robotic arms, and so far, it's one of my favorites.
5. The live jazz bar
Lou's Jazz 'n Blues, shown in a render on the left, is one of several live music venues.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider, Royal Caribbean International
Ya like jazz? So do I.
Icon of the Seas has plenty of live music venues — including rowdy karaoke and dueling pianos bars, if that counts. But if you're a jazz fan or looking for a peaceful nightcap, none of these options will top the live music at Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.
6. The customizable Mediterranean-style wrap at the five-stall food hall
The food hall had options like a mac and cheese bar and crepes.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
The mega-ship's food hall wasn't nearly as diverse or exciting as the one on Norwegian Prima.
But compared to the rest of my mediocre meals on Icon of the Seas — including dinner at a specialty restaurant — my complimentary pork pita wrap from the food hall's Mediterranean-inspired stall was admittedly pretty decent.
The Cava-like meal was balanced, succulent, and filling. Ending it with a strawberry nutella crepe from one of the vendors didn't hurt either.
7. The Pearl Café with sweeping ocean views
Pearl Café is located behind the Pearl, a kinetic 3,600-tile structure.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
Everyone takes a picture inside the Pearl. But few people know that the best part about the glittering structure isn't what's inside it — it's what's behind it: the Pearl Café.
Admittedly, the food wasn't standout.
But it's 2024. In this era, we don't dine for food. We dine for vibes. And the Pearl Café was definitely "serving" (even with its mediocre sandwiches).
At first glance, I had snubbed the dining and lounge area as a rip-off of a generic airport coffee shop. But during my three days on Icon, I returned to the centrally located space more often than expected. It turns out it's a great place to get some work done.
8. The lounging pods that tower above passerbys
The moody Overlook Pods glow at night.
Brittany Chang/Business Insider
Speaking of vibes, if you're looking for a secluded place to drink (as in, not the swim-up pool bar), few will top the Overlook Pods, perched just behind the AquaDome.
If you want to feel like you're drinking in a nest atop a tree, bring your coffee-infused cocktail from nearby Rye and Bean to one of the elevated pods. .
Just don't drink too much. What goes up must come down. And to get down from the pods, you'll have to take the stairs.