Stock Pick

  • Read the internal memo that Meta’s top lawyer behind its FTC victory sent announcing she’s leaving for Apple

    Jennifer Newstead in black
    Jennifer Newstead is leaving Meta for Apple.

    Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

    • Meta's top lawyer, Jennifer Newstead, is leaving to become Apple's next general counsel.
    • Newstead led Meta's legal team through major regulatory battles, including an FTC antitrust win.
    • Apple's leadership reshuffle includes Newstead overseeing legal and government affairs.

    Apple has hired Meta's top lawyer, Jennifer Newstead, as its next general counsel, extending a broader reshuffle of the iPhone maker's senior ranks.

    Newstead will join Apple in January as a senior vice president, reporting to CEO Tim Cook, and is set to become general counsel on March 1, 2026, succeeding longtime legal chief Kate Adams, who plans to retire late next year, Apple said in a press release.

    In the same announcement, Apple said Lisa Jackson, its vice president for Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives, will retire in late January 2026. Her Government Affairs organization will first move under Adams and then to Newstead after Adams departs, while Apple's environment and social initiatives teams will report to Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan — effectively putting both legal and government affairs under Newstead once the transition is complete.

    The move is the latest in the leadership pipeline dance between Apple and Meta. On Wednesday, Meta poached Apple's longtime human interface design chief Alan Dye, who is set to become Meta's chief design officer at the end of the year.

    Newstead's jump to Apple means Meta is losing the lawyer who has overseen its most sensitive legal and regulatory battles for more than six years. She has served as Meta's top lawyer since 2019, overseeing the company's historic win against the FTC in November when a federal judge rejected the agency's bid to force Meta to unwind its Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions.

    At Meta, her remit has also included steering the company through fast-changing privacy rules, including cross-border data transfers in Europe and legal questions tied to content moderation and elections.

    Before joining Meta, Newstead served as the State Department's legal advisor, a Senate-confirmed role in which she led the legal team advising the Secretary of state on US foreign policy.

    Business Insider obtained Newstead's internal memo announcing her departure. Read it here:

    Hi everyone –

    I want to share with you that after six and a half years at this remarkable company, I have made the difficult decision to leave Meta at the end of this year to pursue my next adventure.

    Serving as Meta's Chief Legal Officer has been a privilege. I am deeply grateful to Mark for his visionary leadership, friendship, and trust in me to champion Meta's cause. I'm also grateful to Sheryl Sandberg, for helping to recruit me, for her empathetic leadership and friendship, and to all my colleagues and friends in Mark's leadership team, who guide the teams building the products that billions of people use and love.

    I am proud of the exceptional work of Meta's legal team. It has been an honor to work with colleagues of such talent and integrity. Your expertise and deep belief in the mission will continue to be foundational to Meta's future.

    I joined Meta in 2019 from the State Department after a long career in law, government, and policy because I believed in our mission and wanted to help the company navigate an important set of changes in the legal and regulatory landscape. Over the last seven years, we've hit many milestones, including our recent win in a historic antitrust trial. We have deepened our compliance culture and commitment to responsible innovation as we build for the exciting future ahead.

    As for me, I will be joining Apple next year as Senior Vice President, serving as General Counsel and overseeing the Government Affairs function. This new role is a unique opportunity for me to continue shaping legal and policy issues around the world.

    Thank you all for making this journey so meaningful. I look forward to seeing all that you achieve in the years ahead.

    Jen

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Luigi Mangione stripped naked for a three-minute ‘in-depth search,’ police testimony reveals

    Luigi Mangione speaks with defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo during an evidence-suppression hearing in state court in Manhattan.
    Luigi Mangione speaks with defense attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo during Thursday's evidence-suppression hearing in state court in Manhattan.

    Curtis Means-Pool/Getty Images

    • Thursday was Luigi Mangione's third day of evidence suppression hearings in Manhattan.
    • It was also the anniversary of the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
    • Mangione watched as bodycam video showed his arrest processing, including an "in-depth" search.

    Luigi Mangione spent the one-year anniversary of the shooting of Brian Thompson in a Manhattan courtroom, watching video of his arrest in the UnitedHealthcare CEO's murder — including his disrobing for an "in-depth" strip search.

    "We don't do in-depth searches very often, no," Altoona Pennsylvania Patrolman Tyler Frye testified during a third day of state-level evidence-suppression hearings. He also said he'd never before seen a strip search used for an arrest relating to forgery — Mangione's initial charge, for what police alleged was a false ID.

    Before Mangione was strip-searched, however, a small knife had been recovered from his pocket, according to police bodycam footage aired on the courtroom's five overhead screens.

    Moments later in the footage, an officer searching through Mangione's backpack could be heard saying, "There's a gun." A weapons possession charge would be added to his arrest complaint.

    Mangione's strip search followed five minutes after the gun was found. When asked to describe the rarely conducted search, Frye only said, "He's naked, and they do a more thorough search."

    The search was not recorded on police body cameras, as per protocol, Frye said in court.

    Before the cameras were turned off, however, they recorded Mangione disrobing, a lengthy process given that he was arrested wearing multiple layers of clothing, including two heavy winter jackets, two pairs of jeans, and a pair of what police in the footage called "long johns."

    Large blurry rectangles popped up at times to obscure Mangione's torso, hips, and legs as he removed the multiple layers of clothing, including two pairs of jeans and a pair of long underwear. Prior to being arrested, Mangioni tried to throw police off his scent by claiming to be a homeless man named Mark, earlier testimony revealed.

    As Mangione removed his clothing, an intake officer asked a series of questions.

    "What's your date of birth, Luigi?" the officer asks, recording the answer — May 6, 1998.

    "Are you right or left-handed?"

    "Right," Mangione answers.

    "What are the color of your eyes?"

    "Brown."

    When the officer asks, "Single?" Mangione answered, "Yeah."

    Thompson was fatally shot from behind on a Midtown sidewalk shortly after dawn on December 5, 2024, as the 50-year-old father of two was about to attend an annual investor conference. The assassination-style shooting sparked a nationwide manhunt that captivated the nation.

    Federal and state prosecutors say that the 9 mm ghost gun Mangione had in his backpack when he was arrested five days later in the small Pennsylvania town matches the shell casings and single spent bullet recovered from the sidewalk.

    In hearings set for this week and next, defense lawyers are challenging how Altoona police gathered evidence from Mangione. The lawyers have asked New York State Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro to bar prosecutors from showing the disputed evidence to a jury in the yet-to-be-scheduled 2026 trial.

    Throughout the day on Thursday, Frye sat in the courtroom's witness chair, providing a narration as police bodycam footage showed multiple angles of Mangione's arrest and post-arrest processing.

    Frye, 26, told the judge, the prosecutor, and the crowded courtroom that he was still a probationary officer on the morning of December 9, 2024, when the call came in that a "suspicious male" at the Altoona McDonald's looked like "the New York City shooter."

    The five-day, nationwide manhunt sparked by Thompson's shooting ended when Mangione lowered his face mask for the two cops as they surrounded his seat near the restrooms in the back of the restaurant.

    "I knew it was him immediately," Frye's partner, Patrolman Joseph Detwiler, told the judge in testimony Tuesday.

    Some of the footage screened in court showed police officers rummaging through Mangione's backpack at the McDonald's and later at the police station. Defense attorneys say that the police failed to get the requisite search warrant, and that the contents — including the gun — must be suppressed. Prosecutors counter that Pennsylvania law allows law enforcement to search a suspect and their belongings as part of an arrest.

    New York Supreme Court Justice Gregory Carro has not said when he will make a decision on what evidence can be shown to a jury. No trial date has been set in either Mangione's federal or state murder cases.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Why has this booming ASX tech stock dropped 27% in the last month?

    A woman works on an openface tech wall, indicating share price movement for ASX tech shares

    The share price of this ASX tech stock has taken a notable hit in recent weeks. In the last month, Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) has lost 27% of its value, with a 10.5% decline in the last 5 trading days alone.

    The recent tumble is erasing a significant portion of Megaport’s strong 2025 rally, although the ASX tech stock is still up 74% this year.

    It’s a stark contrast with the performance of ASX 200 tech shares in general. By comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) is down 20% in the past 12 months.

    Streamlining cloud connectivity

    Regardless of the current volatility, the ASX tech stock remains one of the stand-out tech companies this year. Megaport is a network-as-a-service solutions provider that streamlines cloud connectivity for businesses.

    Rather than investing in costly physical infrastructure or committing to lengthy telecommunications contracts, organisations can use Megaport’s software to establish private, secure data connections within minutes.

    Sticky revenue

    Megaport’s platform allows customers to connect to around 860 data centres worldwide. In the first half of FY25 alone, the ASX tech stock added another 82 data centres and four new internet exchange locations. This approach offers greater cost efficiency, speed, and flexibility compared to conventional networking methods.

    The ASX 200 tech stock has been experiencing swift growth. Its customer base is increasing quickly, and it is broadening its presence around the world. This has helped Megaport underpin a strong annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth. For example, in FY25, it reported a 20% increase in ARR to $243.8 million. 

    Fresh scrutiny over acquisition

    Despite a solid underlying business, the ASX stock price has been under pressure in recent weeks. At the centre of recent volatility is the acquisition of Latitude.sh.

    When it announced the takeover, the ASX 200 stock highlighted that Latitude.sh enables the company to extend its offering beyond network connectivity. It would be capable of marrying high-performance computing with Megaport’s existing global private networking.  

    That pitch clearly excited investors at the time. Now, it seems that negative sentiment dominates and puts pressure on the price of the ASX tech stock. Investors don’t seem to be happy that the acquisition was largely financed by a capital raise.

    Megaport completed a fully underwritten $200 million institutional placement issuing roughly 14 million new shares. For many shareholders, that dilution paired with uncertainty over integration and execution has created unease, contributing to the recent sell-off.

    What do analysts think?

    While the long-term potential remains attractive, there are also concerns about Megaport’s near-term growth outlook. Its FY26 guidance appears to have disappointed investors.

    Analysts are divided, and some remain wary of the integration risk of Latitude.sh. They’re also uncertain whether Megaport can deliver on its ambitious growth and margin targets.  

    However, most brokers still view the booming ASX tech stock as a hold or buy. They also see a 22% upside with an average target price of $16.55 over the next 12 months.

    The post Why has this booming ASX tech stock dropped 27% in the last month? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Megaport right now?

    Before you buy Megaport 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 Megaport 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 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Megaport. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Dividend investing opportunities emerging as quality ASX stocks reset

    Man putting in a coin in a coin jar with piles of coins next to it.

    After a strong run in recent years, several blue-chip names that Australians rely on for income, including Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), have eased back from their highs. 

    For many, it’s a reminder that even high-quality companies occasionally reset to more rational price levels.

    For dividend investors, that can open a window. Not necessarily because yields shoot higher overnight, but because the next phase of long-term income growth often begins with buying quality businesses when expectations cool.

    Why falling share prices can improve dividend prospects

    When a share price pulls back, two things happen.

    First, the starting yield often inches higher. We saw the reverse effect earlier this year, when Commonwealth Bank’s yield fell as the share price ran to all-time highs. Second — and more importantly — a valuation reset can give investors a better chance of achieving a margin of safety. 

    Paying less for the same earnings power is one of the quiet levers behind a sustainable income strategy.

    Contrast that with extremely high trailing yields often found in some mining, resources or energy companies. These yields can look enticing, yet they are backward-looking and typically reflect short-term conditions — such as elevated commodity prices — rather than what investors might reasonably expect going forward. Because profits in these sectors can swing sharply from year to year, the dividends that flow from them tend to fluctuate just as much.

    That’s why dividend investing is rarely about what a company paid last year. It’s about what it can sustain.

    Focus on earnings strength, not yield-chasing

    A strong yield is only as durable as the cash flows behind it. The true foundations of long-term income are:

    1. Competitive advantages that protect margins

    Industries with high switching costs, intellectual property, network effects or essential infrastructure tend to exhibit more predictable earnings. That can translate into more stable dividends over time.

    Healthcare leaders, global logistics operators, defensive consumer businesses and financial services with strong moats often fall into this category.

    2. Earnings that grow steadily across cycles

    Dividend growth follows earnings growth. Investors often underestimate how powerful a steady increase in earnings per share can be over a decade or more.

    Some of the strongest long-term dividend stories — both in Australia and globally — were not the highest-yielding companies at the start. They were the ones whose earnings expanded consistently. This mirrors the principle used in passive-income strategies: build the engine first, then let the income flow later.

    3. Valuations that aren’t “priced for perfection”

    Even an outstanding business can become a poor investment if bought at too high a price. As seen with Commonwealth Bank earlier this year, stretched valuations reduce future return potential and compress yields. A pullback improves the equation.

    Buying quality at a reasonable price has always been at the heart of long-term dividend investing.

    What might dividend investors look for now?

    For dividend investors, the recent pullback across parts of the ASX is less a warning sign and more a chance to reassess quality. 

    When long-established franchises with strong track records of compounding earnings reset to more reasonable valuations, the long-term yield on cost often becomes far more compelling than whatever headline yield appears today. The goal isn’t to chase the biggest number — it’s to position yourself in front of dependable earnings power.

    That starts with businesses that generate reliable, recurring cash flow. Sustained dividends tend to come from service-based models, essential infrastructure, global operators and companies with diversified revenue streams that can absorb market shocks. 

    Moderate but consistent dividend growth can outpace high but unstable yields over a decade. Balancing your income across sectors such as banks, healthcare, consumer staples and infrastructure can further smooth the ride.

    The broader takeaway is simple: a reset is an opportunity to upgrade quality, not stretch for yield. Favour robust companies with durable advantages, steady earnings growth and reasonable valuations. Do this consistently and income tends to take care of itself.

    Alternatively, investors who prefer a more hands-off approach can also use income-focused ETFs, such as the Betashares S&P Global High Dividend Aristocrats ETF (ASX: INCM), to gain diversification and remove the active stock-selection component from their process.

    Strong dividend investing has always been simple, not dramatic.

    The post Dividend investing opportunities emerging as quality ASX stocks reset appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Commonwealth Bank of Australia right now?

    Before you buy Commonwealth Bank of Australia 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 Commonwealth Bank of Australia 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 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Leigh Gant has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended CSL. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Analysts expect 4% to 6% dividend yields from these ASX stocks

    Middle age caucasian man smiling confident drinking coffee at home.

    Do you have room for some new additions to your income portfolio in December?

    If you do, then it could be worth considering the two ASX dividend stocks in this article that brokers rate as buys. Here’s what they are recommending as buys:

    Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)

    Analysts at Morgans think that Flight Centre could be an ASX dividend stock to buy in December.

    The broker believes that it is worth holding the travel agent’s shares through the current period because when the tide turns, its earnings growth is expected to accelerate. Morgans believes this could put a rocket under its share price. It said:

    FLT’s FY25 result was broadly in line with its recent update. Corporate was weaker than expected while Leisure and Other were stronger. FLT’s guidance for a flat 1H26 was stronger than we expected however it was weaker than consensus. Earnings growth is expected to accelerate in the 2H26 from an improvement in macro-economic conditions and internal business improvement initiatives. We have made minor upgrades to our forecasts.

    We are buyers of FLT during this period of short-term uncertainty and share price weakness because when operating conditions ultimately improve, both its earnings and share price leverage to the upside will be material.

    With respect to income, Morgans is forecasting fully franked dividends of 51 cents per share in FY 2026 and then 58 cents per share in FY 2027. Based on the current Flight Centre share price of $13.76, this would mean dividend yields of 3.7% and 4.2%, respectively.

    The broker currently has a buy rating and $15.65 price target on its shares.

    Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF)

    Over at Bell Potter, its analysts think that Rural Funds could be an ASX dividend stock to buy this month.

    Rural Funds is an Australian agricultural property company with a total of 63 assets across five sectors

    At the last count, it boasted a weighted average lease expiry of 13.9 years, which gives it significant visibility on its future earnings and distributions.

    Despite this, Bell Potter notes that its shares are trading at a significant discount to net asset value. It said:

    Our Buy rating is unchanged. The -~35% discount to market NAV remain higher than average (~6% premium since listing) and likely reflects the proportion of assets that are underearning as operating farms. With a continued improvement in most counterparty profitability indicators in recent months (i.e. cattle, almond and macadamia nut prices), resilience in farming asset values and the progress made in creating headroom in funding lines to complete the macadamia development we see this as excessive.

    Bell Potter believes the company is positioned to pay dividends per share of 11.7 cents in both FY 2026 and FY 2027. Based on its current share price of $1.97, this would mean dividend yields of almost 6% for both years.

    The broker has a buy rating and $2.45 price target on its shares.

    The post Analysts expect 4% to 6% dividend yields from these ASX stocks appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

    Should you invest $1,000 in Flight Centre Travel Group Limited right now?

    Before you buy Flight Centre Travel Group 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 Flight Centre Travel Group 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 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor James Mickleboro has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Rural Funds Group. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Flight Centre Travel Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Up over 200% in 6 months: Are Pilbara Minerals shares still a buy?

    two people sit side by side on a rollercoaster ride with their hands raised in the air and happy smiles on their faces

    Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) shares are trading in the red on Thursday afternoon. At the time of writing the lithium producer’s share price is down 4.5% to $3.72 a piece. It’s not done much to dent the surging stock’s latest price rally though. Over the past month the shares have jumped 20.62%. They’re now an impressive 209.17% higher than just 6 months ago.

    What’s happened to the Pilbara Minerals share price?

    Pilbara Minerals shares have been on the rise since June, and they’ve been climbing pretty steadily too. Improved lithium market sentiment and demand has primarily been driven by a surge in interest in electric vehicles (EV) and battery energy storage. Global EV sales have been rising faster than carmakers can keep up! And demand for grid-scale energy storage to stabilise renewable energy is also booming.

    It’s not just the lithium demand and strong prices pushing the producer’s share price higher though. Its business has also strengthened substantially over the past year, positioning the company as a major producer in the market. 

    In its September quarter update, Pilbara Minerals posted a 2% increase in spodumene production and a 20% increase in realised pricing. This resulted in an exceptional 30% rise in revenue to $251 million.

    Pilbara Minerals is also the 100% owner-operator of relatively low-cost, long-life spodumene mines. The company has a strong net cash balance sheet, which gives it more flexibility and a competitive edge over some of its peers.

    Is there any more upside ahead?

    The rally for lithium demand has exploded this year, and while there are concerns that some lithium producer’s shares have now peaked, I don’t think this is the case for Pilbara Minerals.

    The stock has made headlines recently for being one of the most-traded shares last week, albeit the majority was selling activity. This also supports claims it is also one of the 10 most-shorted shares on the ASX.

    Data shows that analysts are divided on the stock, with most having hold or buy ratings on the stock. Out of 20 analysts, 9 have a hold rating and 6 have a strong buy rating on Pilbara Minerals shares. The average target price is $3.11, however some think the share price could rise as high as $4.40 over the next 12 months. At the time of writing that represents anything from a potential 16.41% downside to an 18.28% upside. 

    The post Up over 200% in 6 months: Are Pilbara Minerals shares still a buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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

    Before you buy Pilbara Minerals 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 Pilbara Minerals 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 18 November 2025

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    Motley Fool contributor Samantha Menzies has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

  • Elon Musk says Tesla FSD lets you text while being driven. I tried it. Here’s what happened.

    Texting in a Tesla
    Texting in a Tesla

    Alistair Barr/Business Insider

    • The Tesla FSD update now allows drivers to text while the vehicle is in self-driving mode.
    • I tested this out on Thursday, using my 2024 Tesla Model 3 with FSD v14.2.1.
    • I was driven to a local salon, and I typed live updates to my colleagues with my iPhone.

    Elon Musk confirmed on Thursday that Tesla FSD will now let you text while the software drives you around.

    This is part of a recent FSD update, and the CEO said it allows texting in certain situations.

    So, I decided to test this out with my 2024 Tesla Model 3, to see how far the system would go and whether it performed under this new scenario.

    I have a new version of the FSD software, v14.2.1 2025.38.9.6. And I'm using Tesla's free FSD trial, which it rolled out to millions of vehicles in recent days. FSD usually costs $100 a month, but the company is promoting its latest software for free right now.

    I started in my driveway in Silicon Valley and picked a short route to the local salon to get my hair cut. I pressed a new blue button on the screen that says "Start Self-Driving," and off it went.

    To make the test feel more real, I used my iPhone while being driven to send live updates via Slack to my colleagues at Business Insider. Here's the action I shared during the trip:

    "I'm typing this as I'm being driven by FSD."

    "The car hasn't stopped me doing this or alerted me."

    "I'm in Chill Mode, so not an aggressive mode."

    "Ok it just asked me to apply slight pressure to the steering wheel."

    "Then it beeped at me to pay attention to the road."

    "But it kept on driving anyway."

    "Ok I've arrived at my haircut. It's parking for me. I'm still typing."

    "Ok the trip ended."

    The FSD drive lasted about seven minutes, and it took me through my hometown during a clear, sunny afternoon.

    My Tesla went down a tricky road at one point that's just wide enough for two-way traffic, but gets tight because residents park their vehicles on either side.

    While I was typing, my Tesla was pausing and dipping in and out of gaps between these parked cars and oncoming traffic, which included a large trash-hauling truck doing its rounds.

    There were no incidents during the trip. The car maneuvered smoothly and carefully, giving way at the right times and stopping at all stop signs.

    Just because Musk says you can text behind the wheel with the latest FSD, that may not mean you can do this in California. There are well-established rules about distracted driving, and pretty hefty fines. Now, these regulations are based on humans driving cars, not being driven by autonomous vehicles, so we've just entered new territory.

    After my haircut, on the way home, I repeated the FSD test and texted my wife while being driven.

    "I went to get a haircut and I'm texting you while Tesla fsd drives me home."

    No response…

    "You can text while driving now."

    No response…

    "Wdyt? Good idea?"

    No response…

    Smart lady.

    Sign up for BI's Tech Memo newsletter here. Reach out to me via email at abarr@businessinsider.com.

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • How Guantanamo Bay actually works, according to a former detainee

    Mohamedou Ould Slahi was imprisoned without charge at Guantanamo Bay for nearly 15 years.

    Ould Slahi speaks to Business Insider about the prison layout, the facilities, the food, and yard time. He reveals what torture methods were used and how guards interacted with detained people.

    Arrested in 2001 and transferred through various prisons before arriving at Guantanamo, Slahi endured years of torture and harsh interrogation under the US government's post-9/11 counterterrorism efforts. He was detained on suspicion of terrorism, but no charges were ever filed against him.

    His memoir, "Guantánamo Diary," was released in 2015. It was adapted into a feature film, "The Mauritanian," starring Jodie Foster and Tahar Rahim. Slahi now writes and speaks about human rights, justice, and reconciliation.

    For more:

    https://www.instagram.com/mohamedououldsalahi/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamedou-ould-slahi-houbeini-4834a1136/

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Good news: Buying a home might actually be more affordable in 2026

    A young couple embraces each other while looking at a property with a for sale sign displayed.

    Cravetiger/Getty Images

    • Redfin forecasts that 2026 will mark the start of a "Great Housing Reset" in the real estate market.
    • Researchers expect a multiyear stretch of improved affordability, as incomes outpace home price growth.
    • It could set the stage for more Americans to have a better shot at homeownership.

    If you're among the many Americans who lament that the pandemic housing boom passed you by, 2026 might finally be your moment.

    A new Redfin report predicts that next year will usher in what the company calls "The Great Housing Reset." Researchers expect a multi-year stretch of slowly rising home sales and improved affordability, as incomes outpace home prices for the first sustained period since the Great Recession.

    Redfin forecasts that mortgage rates will gradually decline over the course of 2026 and that, by year's end, the median home-sale price will be up just 1% from a year earlier. Existing-home sales — the sale of previously owned homes — are expected to climb 3% from 2025, reaching an annualized pace of 4.2 million.

    Daryl Fairweather, Redfin's chief economist, told Business Insider that home sales will pick up as the "rate-lock" effect fades and more homeowners with low mortgage rates finally decide to sell.

    "A lot of people bought during the pandemic; there was just a huge surge of activity because of how low rates were," Fairweather said. "A typical homebuyer stays in their home for 10 years, and we're five years out from the start of the pandemic. Naturally, we'll start to see more people be ready to sell homes again — it's not going to be a drastic change; it'll just be more of a loosening of the market."

    The market went haywire in the pandemic, but things are finally starting to settle

    Over the last few years, the housing market has been strained. It all stems from the COVID-19 pandemic and its ripple effects on the real estate market.

    In the early stages of the pandemic, the US government rolled out a massive stimulus package to prop up the economy. That, combined with rock-bottom mortgage rates, inadvertently set off one of the most dramatic homebuying frenzies in US history. Between late 2020 and 2021, a surge in demand drove home prices to record highs, exacerbating the nation's long-standing housing shortage.

    Those pandemic-era dynamics have shaped the market ever since.

    Homeownership has felt out of reach for years for many would-be buyers, especially millennials and Gen Zers who have watched mortgage rates climb (and since fall, but not to pandemic lows), starter homes vanish, newly built homes shrink, and the amount of cash needed to buy skyrocket.

    By late 2025, though, there are signs the market is easing up. In many cities — even once-red-hot pandemic boomtowns like Austin and Tampa — softer demand has meant homes sit on the market longer, pushing sellers to cut prices and offer more incentives and concessions as buyers regain leverage.

    Redfin expects that dynamic, along with gradually declining mortgage rates, to lure more would-be buyers back into the market. Still, researchers warn that even as conditions improve, affordability will remain a major barrier to homeownership for many, especially younger buyers.

    "We're not going to see this wave of people rushing into the market again; we'll see more of a normalization — more of a return to what the housing market felt like pre-pandemic," Fairweather said. "It's still going to be more expensive, but wages have increased considerably since 2018 and 2019, so I think more people will feel like, for their own personal circumstances, it's finally the right time to buy."

    Read the original article on Business Insider

  • Fletcher Building updates funding: repays USPP, extends bank facilities

    A senior couple sets at a table looking at documents as a professional looking woman sits alongside them as if giving retirement and investing advice.

    The Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU) share price is on the radar today after the company announced further steps to simplify its funding structure, including fully repaying all US Private Placement notes and securing new debt facilities to strengthen its liquidity.

    What did Fletcher Building report?

    • Prepaid all outstanding US Private Placement (USPP) notes on 10 November 2025, simplifying its funding mix
    • Terminated associated cross-currency swaps and made a make-whole payment, totalling $7.2 million in cash costs
    • Established a new two-year $200 million club facility on 10 September 2025
    • Extended Tranche C ($325 million) of its Syndicated Facility Agreement by four years
    • Extended Senior Interest Cover covenant at 2.25x to 31 December 2026; dividend restrictions remain in place until covenant lifted

    What else do investors need to know?

    Fletcher Building has deferred its next material debt maturity until FY28, giving it more breathing room to manage market uncertainty and operational priorities. The group continues to restrict dividend payments until it meets its standard covenant requirements, prioritising a conservative approach to capital management.

    Banking partners have affirmed their ongoing support as the company works through its strategic reset, with covenant levels carefully managed to provide added balance sheet resilience while debt remains above guidance.

    What did Fletcher Building management say?

    Andrew Reding, Managing Director and CEO said:

    These steps represent another milestone in strengthening our financial foundations. Simplifying our funding structure and extending key facilities gives us greater flexibility, lowers our ongoing cost of capital, and supports the disciplined execution of our strategic reset. We remain committed to reducing leverage and ensuring the business is well positioned to navigate current market conditions and return to sustainable, long-term performance.

    What’s next for Fletcher Building?

    Looking ahead, Fletcher Building’s focus remains on reducing leverage and maintaining investment-grade credit metrics. Management aims to further simplify funding arrangements and prioritise balance sheet flexibility, supporting the company as it navigates tough market conditions.

    The board believes these funding and covenant changes will help safeguard operations and place Fletcher Building on a more resilient footing for a return to long-term, sustainable growth. Investors can expect capital management discipline to remain central to company strategy until balance sheet targets are comfortably met.

    Fletcher Building share price snapshot

    Over the past 12 months, Fletcher Building shares have risen 18%, outperforming the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) which has risen 2% over the same period.

    View Original Announcement

    The post Fletcher Building updates funding: repays USPP, extends bank facilities appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

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    Motley Fool contributor Laura Stewart has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips. This article was prepared with the assistance of Large Language Model (LLM) tools for the initial summary of the company announcement. Any content assisted by AI is subject to our robust human-in-the-loop quality control framework, involving thorough review, substantial editing, and fact-checking by our experienced writers and editors holding appropriate credentials. The Motley Fool Australia stands behind the work of our editorial team and takes ultimate responsibility for the content published by The Motley Fool Australia.