• I went to an all-inclusive resort 8 months into my sobriety. I stayed sober by drinking mocktails and taking advantage of activities.

    Terri Peters smiling and holding a beverage, with sunglasses on her head. She is outside at a bar at a resort.
    Terri Peters went to an all-inclusive resort eight months into her sobriety.

    • I've been sober for eight months and recently traveled to an all-inclusive resort.
    • I was nervous about the trip but ended up enjoying it so much more without alcohol. 
    • Sipping mocktails, reading sobriety books, and doing resort activities helped me navigate sobriety.

    I recently planned a vacation with my husband to an all-inclusive resort, something I wasn't completely sold on since I've been sober for the last eight months. We'd visited all-inclusive resorts in the past, but my memories of those trips revolve around days spent drinking margaritas poolside and evenings fueled by wine and after-dinner cocktails.

    I stopped drinking cold turkey at the end of last year, desperate to shake hangovers and increased anxiety. I've found a sense of well-being in sobriety that I won't be giving up anytime soon. Still, I wondered what it'd be like to be in a booze-centric environment and abstain from alcohol.

    When we visited Sandals' newest adults-only, all-inclusive resort in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, I found that the beautiful resort and the island it lies on were way more enjoyable without the chaos alcohol brings to a vacation. Here's how I navigated being a sober person in an environment where the booze was always flowing.

    I made sure my room was stocked with alcohol-free drink options

    Mini bar in a hotel room stocked with water bottles, juices, and sodas.
    Terri Peters asked for the mini-bar in her room to be stocked with plenty of alcohol-free options for her.

    Even though I'm sober, my husband still drinks alcohol. I didn't request a completely "dry" room at Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines — though it's not a bad idea for others looking to stay sober — because I didn't want to stop him from enjoying that aspect of the all-inclusive resort.

    Instead, I requested that non-alcoholic drinks be stocked in our room in addition to things like the wine and vodka that were included. With ingredients like club soda, Diet Coke, and grapefruit juice on hand, it was easy to sip a mocktail whenever I wanted.

    "Quit lit" books and sobriety podcasts made me feel less alone in my choice to abstain

    Terri Peters is reading her Kindle while wearing a bathing suit and sunglasses and swimming in the water in a yellow raft.
    Terri Peters brought her Kindle with her so she could read 'quit lit.'

    While I'm sober, I don't consider myself an alcoholic or work with a support group or sponsor to maintain my sobriety. To make sure I didn't feel alone in my choice to be sober at an all-inclusive resort, I listened to sobriety podcasts like "The Sober Mom Life" and read "quit lit" on my Kindle.

    Having books like "Unbottled Potential: Break Up with Alcohol and Break Through to Your Best Life" by Amanda Kuda at the ready was a great way to keep other sober voices in my head throughout the trip.

    The resort offered so many great booze-free drinks that I didn't miss alcohol

    The author sitting at an outdoor bar, wearing a pink dress and sunglasses on her head and holding two drinks.
    Terri Peters found there were plenty of non-alcoholic options while on vacation at an all-inclusive resort.

    Sandals had a great selection of fresh juices and mocktails available across its bars and restaurants, so there was never a time when I felt like everyone else had a fun drink, and I was left sipping water. I used my time at the resort, where everything was included, to try new drinks, and even found a refreshing new summertime favorite: coconut water with ice and a lime.

    I also had fun trying new-to-me treats on excursions

    Terri Peters holding a bag of chips and a lime green beverage. She is wearing sunglasses on her head and a button-up shirt, standing on a beach, and there is a boat behind her
    Terri Peters tried plenty of new snacks and beverages while staying at an all-inclusive resort.

    On days when we went on excursions around St. Vincent, I used the travel time to explore food and drink options I'd never find at home. From sorrel, a hibiscus and ginger drink I ordered at a bar on Mustique, to a line of canned sparkling water from the makers of Angostura bitters, there were many new-to-me drinks to try that kept me from craving alcohol.

    Focusing on the flavors of the food at Sandals — rather than alcohol — made dinners feel special

    Tray with green and white checkered napkin and jerk pork with sauce.
    Terry Peters focused on the flavors of the food she ate instead of drinking alcohol during her trip.

    Sandals has more than 10 restaurants on its St. Vincent property, so there was always some kind of food to try, from coconut macaroons at the coffee shop to jerk pork at our favorite lunch spot.

    During my drinking days, food and wine went hand-in-hand, so it was refreshing to really focus on the flavors in the food at the resort rather than drift through each meal slightly tipsy and be left with little recollection of what was served.

    I filled my downtime at the resort with activities

    Iced latte and two trays of colorful beads sitting on a wooden table
    While at the resort, Terri Peters tried plenty of activities, including a bracelet-making class.

    There were plenty of activities on the schedule at our resort, from poolside movies in the evenings to dance parties with Caribbean performers. I attended a bracelet-making class one morning with an iced latte in hand, and sipped mocktails at the property's rum bar one evening while watching guests do karaoke. Focusing on things to do rather than things to drink was the key to having a really great time in every circumstance.

    My trip only solidified my decision to be sober

    Terri Peters is riding a bike at sunset, wearing a white dress and sunglasses. She is at a resort with palm trees in the background.
    The trip only solidified Terri Peters' decision to be sober.

    I spent many years trying to moderate my drinking and find a happy medium that would allow me to have my nightly wine but not feel like garbage the next day. As a sober person, the burden of worrying about when to switch to water or whether I'm talking too loud because I'm tipsy are now non-issues, and I feel a freedom I wish I could impart to others.

    Visiting an all-inclusive resort as a non-drinker was a great experience for me — something I can't wait to do again. While I worried I'd feel like I was missing out on the value of an all-inclusive being sober, I realized the real benefit was the incredible scenery, delicious food, and relaxing activities. To my surprise, I didn't need a drink in my hand to enjoy everything the resort had to offer.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • I was laid off unexpectedly with a baby at home. As a single parent, I was devastated, but it was a blessing in disguise.

    Angelica holding her baby while standing in a field of sunflowers
    Angelica Miller said she used the layoff as an opportunity to rest and spend some time with family.

    • Angelica Miller, a single mom from Arizona, was laid off unexpectedly from her recruiting job.
    • She was was worried about supporting her son, but used the layoff to reassess her career priorities.
    • She secured a new position that aligns with her values and allows her to prioritize herself.

    This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Angelica Miller, a 31-year-old recruiter from Arizona who was recently laid off. It's been edited for length and clarity.

    I knew that being a single mom would be tough, but I was determined to create a stable home for my son no matter what. It became my biggest priority to financially support him, and I worked tirelessly so he'd never feel my struggle.

    I'd been working as a recruiter for an equipment rental company for only a few months when I found out I was pregnant, and I was grateful that they were so supportive. They gave me four months of maternity leave and allowed me to work remotely.

    But, throughout the next two years, my company turned from supportive to difficult and micromanaging. Eventually, I was laid off. It was scary and unexpected, but in the process, I learned I needed to accept a job that honored my worth.

    My layoff was difficult, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise.

    I hated the job, but I couldn't leave

    Before the layoff, my team started being micromanaged, and I questioned whether I even wanted to be there. But, when they raised my salary, and signs pointed to a promotion, I knew I had to stick it out.

    I couldn't run from a stable job even if I hated it.

    So, I kept working and began actually believing that I was building a lifelong career within the company. I paid the security deposit on a new rental home and honestly looked forward to the next steps. I was blindsided by what came next.

    I was absolutely devastated when I was laid off

    One morning, my boss pinged me to have a quick chat. We were super close and gossiped like friends, so it was nothing out of the ordinary. I clicked onto the call and it was just an HR representative on the other end. At that exact moment, I knew something bad was about to happen.

    My boss joined the call and told me the news that I was being laid off. I was shocked.

    I held it together during the call, but I was absolutely devastated. It felt like I was being broken up with over text. In the back of my head, I knew that I had just paid my security deposit on a new rental and I didn't know if I was going to be able to pay next month's rent. The safety that I had worked to create for my son had gone out the window all at once.

    The company gave me a severance package which I used to pay a month of rent and pay my car off. The lump sum was helpful, but as a single mother, I still needed to be prepared for whatever unexpected costs came next. Wasting time was not an option.

    My lay-off was difficult, but it ended up being a blessing

    The next day, I jumped back into the job hunt. I posted about my layoff to my LinkedIn network and even made TikTok videos about my experience. I applied endlessly to jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed, and got ghosted by several recruiters.

    I was overcome with worry, but I knew I had to push through for my son. I never understood 'why' exactly I was here. I was adopted at 15 years old, and my complex trauma led me to a life of substance abuse and self-harm. But, when I found out I was pregnant, I was given my 'why'.

    He was my 'why' then, and he is my 'why' now.

    When I was working, I lived paycheck to paycheck and felt too bad to take my PTO. I was tired and upset with the direction my company had taken, but I couldn't risk compromising my son and myself by taking time off.

    In the pursuit of creating a secure life for my son, I sacrificed myself. I was mentally exhausted and needed a break.

    I decided to use my layoff as an opportunity to finally rest

    My son and I escaped the Arizona heat and met with my dad at a cabin in the woods. It was actually only their third time seeing each other since my son was born two years ago. My dad bought him a fishing rod and took him fishing. It was so nice to get away and spend time with my family.

    When I returned, I reassessed the kind of job that I needed and deserved. I realized that if I was going to be working so hard, I deserved to find a company that aligned with my values, had growth opportunities, and allowed me time for my family.

    The salary alone doesn't dictate how well I'm supporting my son. I realized that I could create financial security for my son while also prioritizing my needs.

    This layoff taught me the types of jobs I should accept going forward

    After three weeks of applying to jobs, I got a message in my LinkedIn inbox about an unfilled recruiting position. After two interviews, I landed a 90-day temp-to-hire position at a car sales company. The team is kind, and I'm extremely excited about the benefits and room for growth.

    I'm using the 90 days to go inward and really assess if the company is a good fit for me.

    Being laid off was scary, but I now know that I can take care of my son while also making sure that I'm working for a company that takes care of me.

    If you were unexpectedly laid off and want to share your story, please email Tess Martinelli at tmartinelli@gmail.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Dating in Silicon Valley is hard. I want to be married and have kids, but Big Tech is holding me back.

    Overwhelmed worker surrounded by piles of work, with logos of big tech companies (Google, Amazon, Apple, Netflix) overhead, cursors, and broken hearts
    A manager at a FAANG company says he's gotten more attention since he started working in Big Tech.

    • A 35-year-old FAANG manager's career in Big Tech has negatively impacted his dating life.
    • He says work demands, long hours, and his company name make maintaining relationships difficult.
    • Once he finds a partner who likes him for the right reasons, he wants to marry and have kids.

    This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a 35-year-old manager at a FAANG company in Silicon Valley. The source's name and employment history are known to Business Insider but are not named to protect their privacy. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

    I work at a FAANG tech company and have been an employee and manager at three other Big Tech firms over the last 10 years. Working in Big Tech has taken a major toll on my dating and personal life.

    When I first started in the industry, I was focused on work and wasn't looking for a romantic relationship. Now that I'm more interested in dating, I'm finding it very difficult.

    A few years into my career, I ended up in a "situationship"

    I was working for a company known at the time for work-life balance. It was a different time — no recession, no hiring freeze, no layoffs — and I was younger, so I wasn't as interested in climbing the corporate ladder.

    I spent my time outside work in theater groups, writing, acting, and making short films. I met a woman in one of these creative spaces with whom I started a two-to-three-year situationship.

    It ended when I decided to move for a better job, and she felt I didn't consult her. When I asked myself why I was stuck in the same company, salary range, and location while people with me at university were in a much better place from a career standpoint, the answer was that I'd been prioritizing her when I felt I shouldn't.

    A few years later, my dating life halted again

    In my next job, I couldn't date much because I was overworked. We had meetings in different time zones, so my mornings and nights were very busy. I'd get some time off in the afternoons, but it's hard to date at that time.

    I was using dating apps, which I like to some extent because they expose you to people you otherwise wouldn't meet. They also allow you to see a different perspective of the same person. A girl projecting herself to be a certain way in real life or a friend circle can be different on an app.

    In addition to apps, I meet women at conferences, through custom matching services, and through family or friend introductions.

    I worked at that company for just over a year before joining my current company.

    My first year here was a good time for both work and dating

    When the managers who hired me left and new managers took over, my work and personal life were affected. Like most of the biggest tech firms, there was a strict return-to-office mandate.

    Returning to the office meant my dating life was suddenly limited to one geographical area, and my previous dating plans went kaput. I'd been traveling and working remotely sometimes from different locations, even on the East Coast.

    Dating in New York is much different than dating on the West Coast. I don't prefer one place over another, but I feel New York has more variety of people. I've had an equal number of matches here on the West Coast, but they're all of the same personality type.

    I've had to stop chatting with some people I wanted to date just because I know they won't fit in my geographical area restriction.

    While working here, I did meet someone, and it was going smoothly until last year

    I was dating a woman who lived in Boston for a while, but I couldn't visit her often after I had to return to the office. We tried a long-distance relationship, but that wasn't sustainable.

    Eventually, the spark and chemistry died — when you aren't with each other daily, you start drifting. We also had arguments and differences of opinion, which led to a reduction of sexual or romantic tension.

    She knew the relationship would end even though I said it could work out. With layoffs looming, I didn't have the luxury of choosing her over my career, which was a big deal for her.

    I've noticed women care about a company's brand name

    I get much more attention now than before I had my Big Tech job and lived in Silicon Valley, and I can tell it's because I work for a FAANG company. It feels like most girls in the Bay Area are sussing guys out based on their educational background, earning potential, and company brand name.

    It's fair that company status matters to some of them because they themselves are making that kind of money, but it's off-putting to me. Just like a girl wouldn't want someone to be with her just for her looks, a guy wouldn't want someone to be with him just because of his employment tag — at least I wouldn't.

    One girl I was seeing was very impressed with where I work, and I had to explain to her that I could be fired any time and the guy who's at a random company today could be the CEO of Amazon in 10 to 20 years. My instincts told me I should've just shut up and enjoyed my status and what it brought me, but it didn't feel right. No wonder I'm single.

    I haven't yet found a super supportive person who doesn't care about these things and just cares about what kind of human being I am. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places.

    My work has to be my priority

    Finding another job wouldn't be easy right now. I've dealt with being on a performance improvement plan (PIP), which I just completed this spring. I'm still worried about being on shaky ground, particularly because I'm here on a visa, which spills over into my personal life.

    For a new relationship to blossom, you need time for long calls and chats — and with work stress, I just haven't been able to do that. I also feel responsible for not leading someone on when I could move again or soon be unemployed.

    If I were to go somewhere with lower pay but isn't a cutthroat culture, I could still be laid off due to cost cutting or other factors. Even though it hurts my personal life, I'm sticking to my job as long as possible.

    But one day, I want to have kids — that's one of the top three reasons to get married, and it's just as important to me as financial stability and achievement.

    Is your Big Tech job affecting your dating life? Email Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Here’s the who’s who of business moguls descending on Sun Valley in rural Idaho for a weeklong summer camp for billionaires

    A golf cart riding toward Sun Valley Lodge
    The annual Sun Valley conference is attended every year by business leaders across the globe.

    • The Allen & Co. Sun Valley Conference draws the ultrawealthy to Idaho for a weeklong retreat.
    • The event allows business leaders to connect — and potentially strike some deals.
    • Attendees include Open AI CEO Sam Altman,  media heir Shari Redstone, and Disney CEO Bob Iger.

    Investment firm Allen & Co.'s Sun Valley Conference is again drawing in the world's ultra-wealthy for a weeklong retreat in the idyllic Idaho wilderness from July 9 to July 13.

    Often called the summer camp for billionaires, the conference has been held since the 1980s and provides CEOs and business leaders a chance to connect over outdoor activities and presentations on national security and geopolitics.

    Sometimes, these leaders connect and create billion-dollar deals — like Disney's acquisition of ABC or Jeff Bezos' purchase of the Washington Post.

    Although many well-known names have already made their way to the Sun Valley Lodge, some notable power players like Warren Buffett and Elon Musk will not be in attendance, Variety reported.

    Here's who's already shown up.

    Media heir Shari Redstone, who recently reached a deal for a Paramount-Skydance merger, was one of the first to arrive on Tuesday.
    Susan in a red blazer pointing at a camera
    Shari Redstone

    Redstone, who owned a majority stake in Paramount, agreed to sell her controlling shares to allow a merger between the flailing media company and Skydance.

    "We're gonna save the world together!" Redstone said to reporters on Tuesday as she arrived, per Bloomberg's Michelle Davis.

    OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a Sun Valley regular, rolled up in a golf cart.
    Sam Altman
    Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

    Altman has had a whirlwind couple of months at OpenAI, including some high-profile exits of two top AI safety researchers and a hacking scandal.

    Disney CEO Bob Iger, who recently won his proxy war against activist investor Nelson Peltz, was also in attendance.
    Bob Iger
    Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, arrives for the annual Allen and Co. Sun Valley Media and Technology Conference at the Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho.

    Peltz, the 81-year-old billionaire and former Disney investor critical of Iger's leadership, waged a $70 million campaign to place himself on Disney's board. Peltz failed and sold off his shares.

    Apple CEO Tim Cook flashed a peace sign when he arrived for the conference.
    Tim Cook, CEO of Apple.
    Tim Cook, CEO of Apple.

    Tim Cook, who succeeded Apple's founder Steve Jobs as CEO in 2011, said last year that he hopes his successor will "come from within Apple."

    Former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg is attending the conference with her husband Tom Bernthal
    Sheryl Sandberg (right) and her husband, Tom Bernthal. Bernthal was a former NBC News producer.
    Sheryl Sandberg (right) and her husband, Tom Bernthal. Bernthal was a former NBC News producer.

    Sheryl Sandberg stepped down as Meta's COO in June 2022 and left the social media giant's board in January 2024.

    The Harvard alumna tied the knot with former NBC News producer Tom Bernthal in August 2022, seven years after the death of her husband Dave Goldberg.

    Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, who once dated Sandberg, was also in attendance
    Bobby Kotick (center) stepped down as Activision Blizzard's CEO in December 2023.
    Bobby Kotick (center) stepped down as Activision Blizzard's CEO in December 2023.

    Bobby Kotick left Activision Blizzard in December 2023, following Microsoft's acquisition of the company in October 2023. The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Kotick was thinking of buying TikTok.

    In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok unless the social media platform's parent company, ByteDance, sold it.

    Michael Eisner, former Disney CEO, was also in attendance.
    Michael Eisner
    Michael Eisner

    Eisner served as CEO between 1984 and 2005 before Iger stepped in and took over.

    David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, chatted with the press before entering the lodge.
    David Zaslav in a brown corduroy jacket
    David Zaslav, President and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, speaks to reporters as he arrives at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho.

    Zaslav was also photographed chatting with Rob Manfred, Commissioner of Major League Baseball, outside the lodge.

    Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, walks past the press after her arrival Tuesday.
    Mary Barra
    Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors

    The GM CEO recently announced that the company would abandon its plan to be 100% electric and focus on hybrid vehicles.

    Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group, spoke to reporters while clutching bike handles.
    Barry Diller in a white hat and shirt riding a mountain bike
    Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group, arrives at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference.

    Diller, a known Democratic donor, recently joined many business leaders dismayed by President Joe Biden's debate performance. He's expressed that he would no longer support Biden's candidacy for president.

    Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies, steps out of an SUV during his arrival Tuesday.
    Alex Karp in a white jersey walking out of an SUV
    Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies

    The Palantir CEO recently made controversial remarks about Pro-Palestine protesters at Columbia, saying that they should be sent to North Korea.

    Billionaire and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was spotted arriving on Tuesday as well
    Robert Kraft had been spotted at past conferences as well.
    Robert Kraft had been spotted at past conferences as well.

    Robert Kraft, a frequent attendee, was seen in past conferences in 2021, 2022, and 2023.

    The Columbia University alum and megadonor pulled his support for the Ivy League school after it became a hotbed of unrest and protests over Israel's war in Gaza.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Supercentenarians who live past 110 have 9 things in common, according to a scientist who studies them

    Older people smiling and taking a selfie.
    A longevity expert shared some traits that superagers tend to have in common.

    • There's no one secret to living to 110 like supercentenarians.
    • But supercentenarians tend to share nine traits, according to an expert.
    • These include having friends and maintaining a healthy weight. 

    A supercentenarian expert shared with Business Insider the nine things people who live to 110 and beyond have in common.

    Jimmy Lindberg has studied thousands of supercentenarians in her role as a scientific advisor for Longeviquest, an organization that verifies the ages of the world's oldest people.

    She said factors out of our control —such as long-living relatives, being born in the winter months, and being female (95% of supercentenarians are women) — are associated with longevity. Living somewhere warm helps, too.

    It's unsurprising that research also suggests wealth is a factor. According to the Financial Times, the poorest Americans live 50 fewer years than their wealthy counterparts, as they are more likely to be obese, be exposed to opioid use and gun violence, and have less financial security and access to medical care.

    But "lifestyle is of course a contributor" to a long, healthy life, Linberg said. Here are the factors she shared.

    Be resilient

    Being resilient and able to endure hard times is one of the key predictors of longevity in supercentenarians, Lindberg said.

    "You don't have to be a super endurance athlete or anything like that, but you have to keep going," she said.

    A 2023 study by researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid on the traits centenarians tend to share found looking for a silver lining and carrying on in the face of adversity was common.

    Business Insider has previously reported on how to build resilience.

    Be spiritual

    Spirituality, meaning believing in something greater than ourselves versus following a specific religion, is also very common among the supercentenarians that Lindberg has studied.

    This is reflected in research, with one 2016 study by a team at Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health finding that women who attended a religious service more than once a week were 33% less likely to die of any cause, potentially because it provided social support and boosted their optimism.

    Dr. Joseph Maroon, an 83-year-old neurosurgeon and Ironman triathlete, previously told BI that he believes spirituality has contributed to his health and longevity as much as diet and fitness.

    Maintain a healthy weight

    "There haven't really been any obese supercentenarians," Lindberg said. "They tend to maintain a relatively healthy weight throughout their lives."

    Obesity is associated with an increased risk of conditions including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases, and liver disease — all of which increase the risk of early death.

    One 2022 study published in the journal JAMA Network Open on 29,621 people found that those with a BMI of more than 30, which is considered "obese," lived to 77.7 on average, while people with "normal" or "overweight" BMIs (18.5-29.9) lived almost five years longer, to around 82.

    BI has previously reported on how to lose weight healthily.

    Take steps to prevent chronic disease

    Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, are the leading causes of death and disability in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Whether we develop chronic diseases is partly out of our control due to a range of factors from our genes to our environment, but there are certain steps we can take to lower our risk.

    They include not smoking, eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in sodium and saturated fats, being physically active, and reducing how much alcohol you drink, according to the CDC.

    Eating a Mediterranean diet can help reduce the risks of developing chronic disease, BI previously reported.

    Have a strong support network

    Multiple studies have found links between maintaining strong social relationships with living longer, including the Harvard Study of Adult Development, an 85-year-long project that followed three generations to see what kept them healthy and happy.

    Dr. Robert Waldinger, the study's lead researcher, previously told BI that healthy relationships had a surprisingly large impact on people's odds of living longer.

    And, according to professor Rose Anne Kenny, a gerontologist at Trinity College Dublin, having good relationships is just as important to longevity as eating well and exercising.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today

    A woman's hand draws a stylised 'Top Ten' on a projected surface.

    It was a sobering Wednesday session for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and many ASX shares today.

    After recording a strong gain yesterday, investors appear to have gotten cold feet overnight. By the time trading wrapped up, the ASX 200 had fallen by 0.16% to finish at 7,816.8 points.

    This not-so-happy hump day for ASX shares comes after a mixed night of trading over on the US markets last night.

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: DJI) had a miserly time of it, dropping 0.13%.

    It was a little better for the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) though, which inched 0.14% higher.

    But let’s get back to talking about ASX shares and take a look at what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors today.

    Winners and losers

    Despite the market’s drop, quite a few sectors increased in value this Wednesday.

    But more on those in a moment.

    The worst-performing sector today was mining shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) had a shocker, tanking 1.2%.

    Utilities stocks weren’t too far off that, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) plunging 1.17%.

    Energy shares were also on the nose. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) cratered by 0.64% today.

    Tech stocks fared a little better, but the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) still fell 0.17%.

    Healthcare stocks were our last losers of the day. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) retreated by a rather unhealthy 0.14%.

    But, believe it or not, that’s it for the losers.

    Leading the winners today were communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) had a great time, rocketing up 1.44%.

    Gold stocks were also running hot, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) recording a rise of 0.33%.

    Consumer staples shares were in demand as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) ended up gaining 0.25%.

    Financial shares proved to be another bright spot, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)’s 0.21% lift.

    Real estate investment trusts (REITs) were right behind financials, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)’s 0.18% improvement.

    Industrial shares also had a pleasant day. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) ended up enjoying a 0.14% markup.

    Finally, consumer discretionary stocks saw a small increase in value, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) inching 0.08% higher.

    Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

    Today’s best share on the index was none other than gaming stock Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR). Star shares soared by 3.06% today, up to 50.5 cents each.

    That was despite a complete lack of catalysts for such a move out of the company today.

    Here’s how the rest of the top ten pulled up this Wednesday:

    ASX-listed company Share price Price change
    Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) $0.505 3.06%
    Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA) $4.88 2.95%
    Red 5 Ltd (ASX: RED) $0.41 2.50%
    Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) $2.51 2.45%
    Telstra Group Ltd (ASX: TLS) $3.82 2.41%
    Steadfast Group Ltd (ASX: SDF) $6.44 2.38%
    JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) $64.39 2.24%
    Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd (ASX: FPH) $28.02 2.11%
    Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) $11.58 2.03%
    Pinnacle Investment Management Group Ltd (ASX: PNI)
    $15.29 1.87%

    Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary to let you know which companies were making big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

    The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited right now?

    Before you buy Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport and Pinnacle Investment Management Group. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Pinnacle Investment Management Group, Steadfast Group, and Telstra Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Jb Hi-Fi and Megaport. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • A former OpenAI safety employee said he quit because the company’s leaders were ‘building the Titanic’ and wanted ‘newer, shinier’ things to sell

    Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, arrives at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 9, 2024 in Sun Valley, Idaho.
    Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, arrives at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference on July 9, 2024 in Sun Valley, Idaho.

    • An ex-OpenAI employee said the firm is going down the path of the Titanic with its safety decisions.
    • William Saunders warned of the hubris around the safety of the Titanic, which had been deemed "unsinkable."
    • Saunders, who was at OpenAI for 3 years, has been critical of the firm's corporate governance.

    A former safety employee at OpenAI said the company is following in the footsteps of White Star Line, the company that built the Titanic.

    "I really didn't want to end up working for the Titanic of AI, and so that's why I resigned," said William Saunders, who worked for three years as a member of technical staff on OpenAI's superalignment team.

    He was speaking on an episode of tech YouTuber Alex Kantrowitz's podcast, released on July 3.

    "During my three years at OpenAI, I would sometimes ask myself a question. Was the path that OpenAI was on more like the Apollo program or more like the Titanic?" he said.

    The software engineer's concerns stem largely from OpenAI's plan to achieve Artificial General Intelligence — the point where AI can teach itself — while also debuting paid products.

    "They're on this trajectory to change the world, and yet when they release things, their priorities are more like a product company. And I think that is what is most unsettling," Saunders said.

    Apollo vs Titanic

    As Saunders spent more time at OpenAI, he felt leaders were making decisions more akin to "building the Titanic, prioritizing getting out newer, shinier products."

    He would have much preferred a mood like the Apollo space program's, which he characterized as an example of an ambitious project that "was about carefully predicting and assessing risks" while pushing scientific limits.

    "Even when big problems happened, like Apollo 13, they had enough sort of like redundancy, and were able to adapt to the situation in order to bring everyone back safely," he said.

    The Titanic, on the other hand, was built by White Star Line as it competed with its rivals to make bigger cruise liners, Saunders said.

    Saunders fears that, like with the Titanic's safeguards, OpenAI could be relying too heavily on its current measures and research for AI safety.

    "Lots of work went into making the ship safe and building watertight compartments so that they could say that it was unsinkable," he said. "But at the same time, there weren't enough lifeboats for everyone. So when disaster struck, a lot of people died."

    To be sure, the Apollo missions were conducted against the backdrop of a Cold War space race with Russia. They also involved several serious casualties, including three NASA astronauts who died in 1967 due to an electrical fire during a test.

    Explaining his analogy further in an email to Business Insider, Saunders wrote: "Yes, the Apollo program had its own tragedies. It is not possible to develop AGI or any new technology with zero risk. What I would like to see is the company taking all possible reasonable steps to prevent these risks."

    OpenAI needs more 'lifeboats,' Saunders says

    Saunders told BI that a "Titanic disaster" for AI could manifest in a model that can launch a large-scale cyberattack, persuade people en masse in a campaign, or help build biological weapons.

    In the near term, OpenAI should invest in additional "lifeboats," like delaying the release of new language models so teams can research potential harms, he said in his email.

    While in the superalignment team, Saunders led a group of four staff dedicated to understanding how AI language models behave — which he said humans don't know enough about.

    "If in the future we build AI systems as smart or smarter than most humans, we will need techniques to be able to tell if these systems are hiding capabilities or motivations," he wrote in his email.

    Ilya Sutskever, Russian Israeli-Canadian computer scientist and co-founder of OpenAI, speaks at a conference in Tel Aviv.
    Ilya Sutskever, cofounder of OpenAI, left the firm in June after leading its superalignment division.

    In his interview with Kantrowitz, Saunders added that company staff often discussed theories about how the reality of AI becoming a "wildly transformative" force could come in just a few years.

    "I think when the company is talking about this, they have a duty to put in the work to prepare for that," he said.

    But he's been disappointed with OpenAI's actions so far.

    In his email to BI, he said: "While there are employees at OpenAI doing good work on understanding and preventing risks, I did not see a sufficient prioritization of this work."

    Saunders left OpenAI in February. The company then dissolved its superalignment team in May, just days after announcing GPT-4o, its most advanced AI product available to the public.

    OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

    Tech companies like OpenAI, Apple, Google, and Meta have been engaged in an AI arms race, sparking investment furor in what is widely predicted to be the next great industry disruptor akin to the internet.

    The breakneck pace of development has prompted some employees and experts to warn that more corporate governance is needed to avoid future catastrophes.

    In early June, a group of former and current employees at Google's Deepmind and OpenAI — including Saunders — published an open letter warning that current industry oversight standards were insufficient to safeguard against disaster for humanity.

    Meanwhile, OpenAI cofounder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, who led the firm's superalignment division, resigned later that month.

    He founded another startup, Safe Superintelligence Inc., that he said would focus on researching AI while ensuring "safety always remains ahead."

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • A Navy sailor was disciplined after he tried to access Biden’s medical records 3 times ‘out of curiosity’

    President Joe Biden
    President Joe Biden.

    • A Navy sailor got into trouble for trying to access Joe Biden's medical records.
    • But he ended up accessing the records of another person called "Joseph Biden," officials said.
    • The sailor, who was disciplined after a probe, said he only did it "out of curiosity."

    A Navy sailor was disciplined after he tried to access President Joe Biden's medical records.

    The unnamed sailor was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, serving in the Navy's hospital corps, CBS News reported.

    On February 23, he looked up "Joseph Biden" on the military's Genesis Medical Health System three times, an official familiar with the situation told CBS News.

    One of the sailor's coworkers reported the breach on February 26, prompting an investigation into the case.

    But the sailor ended up pulling the record of another man with the same name as the president.

    "He did not pull up the right Joe Biden," the official told CBS News.

    "The MHS Genesis system is a secure health system, and at no time was the President's personal information compromised," Navy Commander Tim Hawkins said to CBS News.

    The official told the outlet that the sailor admitted to the act, and said he had tried to access the records "out of curiosity."

    The Associated Press reported that the sailor received administrative discipline but remained in the Navy after the probe.

    Curiosity about the president's health may have peaked recently, particularly after his poor debate performance with former President Donald Trump left many questioning his fitness to run for a second term.

    On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham said that all presidential candidates should have to take cognitive tests to prove their fitness to run.

    And a Monday White House press briefing turned heated when reporters probed Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for details of a neurologist's visits to the White House.

    She confirmed that Biden had, in fact, seen a neurologist in January as part of his annual physical examination.

    White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor said in a statement on Monday night that the president saw neurologist and Parkinson's expert Kevin Cannard yearly, and the most recent tests showed no sign of Parkinson's.

    For his part, Biden has maintained that he is fit for the job and that he will not step aside.

    Anonymous sources told Politico that during a Zoom call with his staffers on July 3, the president said: "Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can — as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running."

    Biden reiterated this in a letter to House Democrats on Monday, writing: "I wouldn't be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024."

    Representatives for Biden and the Navy didn't immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours.

    Read the original article on Business Insider
  • Forget Westpac and buy these ASX dividend stocks

    A woman relaxes on a yellow couch with a book and cuppa, and looks pensively away as she contemplates the joy of earning passive income.

    If you want some income options outside the status quo of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) or Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC), then it could be worth looking at the two ASX dividend stocks listed below.

    Here’s why brokers think they could be in the buy zone today:

    South32 Ltd (ASX: S32)

    If you don’t mind investing in the mining sector, then South32 could be an ASX dividend stock to buy right now.

    That’s the view of analysts at Goldman Sachs, which believe that the diversified miner is undervalued. This is due largely to the favourable outlook for copper, aluminium, zinc, and met coal prices. It explains:

    GS are bullish copper, aluminium, zinc and met coal (~65% of S32 NTM EBITDA) in CY24. Together with lower capex, working cap unwind and higher production, we forecast ~US$550mn of FCF in the June H. On our forecasts, S32 is trading on a FCF yield of 9% in FY25 (10% at spot). […] Attractive valuation: although trading at ~1xNAV (A$3.77/sh), on near term multiples S32 is trading on an attractive NTM EV/EBITDA multiple of ~4.5x vs. the global sector average of 5.7x.

    Goldman also believes that the South32 dividend is about to jump. It is forecasting fully franked dividends per share of 4 US cents in FY 2024, then 12 US cents in FY 2025 and 18 US cents in FY 2026. Based on its latest share price of $3.64 and current exchange rates, this will mean dividend yields of 1.7%, 4.9%, and 7.3%, respectively.

    Goldman has a buy rating and $4.30 price target on South32’s shares.

    SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)

    Bell Potter thinks that SRG Global could be a top ASX dividend stock to buy this month. It has a buy rating and $1.30 price target on its shares.

    SRG Global is a diversified industrial services group that provides multidisciplinary construction, maintenance, production drilling and geotechnical services.

    Bell Potter is positive on the company due to its belief that SRG Global will be a big winner from construction activity and accelerating growth in iron ore and gold production volumes. It explains:

    SRG’s short-to-medium term outlook is reinforced by Government-stimulated construction activity in the Infrastructure and Non-Residential sectors and increased development and sustaining capital expenditures in the Resources industry. The resulting expansion in infrastructure bases across these sectors will likely support increased demand for asset care and maintenance in the medium to long-term. We anticipate Mining Services will be a beneficiary of accelerating growth in iron ore and gold production volumes over the next five years.

    In respect to income, Bell Potter is forecasting fully franked dividends of 4.7 cents in FY 2024 and then 6.7 cents in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of 89 cents, this will mean dividend yields of 5.3% and 7.5%, respectively.

    The post Forget Westpac and buy these ASX dividend stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in South32 Limited right now?

    Before you buy South32 Limited shares, consider this:

    Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and South32 Limited wasn’t one of them.

    The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…

    See The 5 Stocks
    *Returns as of 10 July 2024

    More reading

    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has positions in Westpac Banking Corporation. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Srg Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Japan’s next big tourist craze: Disney cruises

    A Disney Magic cruise ship is approching the Royal Walter cruise terminal in George Town port, Grand Cayman, on February 12, 2024.
    Disney cruises will start sailing from Tokyo by 2029.

    • Tokyo Disneyland's owner, Oriental Land, will invest $2 billion to bring Disney cruises to Japan.
    • The cruise will operate year-round from Japan starting in early 2029, serving 4,000 guests per sail.
    • Disney's cruise business, including parks, contributed 37% to its revenue last year.

    Tokyo Disneyland's owner is doubling down on the Disney magic with a new investment in cruises.

    Oriental Land, which owns and operates Disney Resorts in Tokyo, said on Tuesday it will invest $2 billion to launch Disney cruises in Japan.

    The Tokyo theme park, which opened in 1983, operates like a franchise. It's the only park not fully or partly owned by the Walt Disney Company.

    The new agreement with the Mickey Mouse and Toy Story producer will bring year-round cruises to Japan, the company said in a release on Tuesday. The cruise will sail from Tokyo by early 2029.

    The 1,250-room cruise will be designed similarly to the Disney Wish, the largest cruise in the Disney fleet. It is expected to carry 4,000 guests.

    The new cruise comes as international tourism to Japan skyrockets. In the first three months of the year, 8.6 million tourists visited the country and spent over $11 billion, with more foreigners booking longer trips and spending more because of a weak yen.

    The ship marks Disney's second cruise in Asia, after the company announced cruises sailing from Singapore in 2025 last month.

    Experiences, which include cruises and parks, made up 37% of Disney's revenue last year — $32.5 billion.

    "The cruise business, frankly, is one that has an enormous number of opportunities for us over time, and that is why we're leaning more heavily into that business," said Hugh Johnston, Disney's chief financial officer, on a May earnings call.

    Johnston also highlighted "global moderation from peak post-COVID travel" and higher wages as challenges for the company this year.

    Disney has five ships in its fleet, which travel to destinations like the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand. A four-night cruise from Florida to the Bahamas starts at about $900 per guest.

    Read the original article on Business Insider