Raphael Stevens

In this photo illustration, a message saying “COVID-19 PCR test result has been verified, of Travel Pass app mobile application by IATA (International Air Transport Association) seen displayed on a smartphone screen in front of IATA logo.Pavlo Gonchar | LightRocket | Getty ImagesTravel restrictions that require proof of Covid-19 vaccines or negative tests should be lifted once the pandemic is under control, the new head of the International Air Transport Association said Wednesday.”These are measures that may be necessary as temporary arrangements while we go through this crisis, but once we’re through it, we want to see these restrictions permanently removed so people can get back to traveling as they experienced back in 2019,” Willie Walsh, former CEO of British Airways’ parent International Consolidated Airlines Group, said in his first press briefing as IATA’s director general.In the interim, Walsh said travelers need access to digital health certificates to make travel easier.Airlines, hotel companies and others in the tourism industry have urged government authorities to work toward lifting travel restrictions, such as a more than yearlong entry ban on most noncitizens from Europe into the U.S. and vice versa. They also called for government officials to set standards for digital health passports as more people are vaccinated.IATA, which represents close to 300 airlines worldwide, has rolled out its own digital health passport. IATA said Singapore will start accepting it next month so travelers can start uploading their Covid-19 test results to show airlines and immigration officials. Some airlines like JetBlue Airways and United Airlines have announced trials of another digital health passport by The Commons Project Foundation. More

In this articleDAI-DEMercedes-Benz can brag that it gave the world the first production automobile. It has long been an innovator, a relentless pursuer of quality and engineering excellence.Many consumers say owning a Mercedes-Benz is a sign they have finally made it in life. It is considered one of the most aspirational brands among larger automakers — even by luxury car buyers who prefer cars from its competitors, according to research by industry survey firm AutoPacific.But the automotive world is changing. Governments and a few consumers are pushing for electric vehicles, and companies are racing to develop new forms of transportation, including cars that can drive themselves.Some of these new technologies, such as electric power trains, challenge Mercedes-Benz’s traditional strengths. After all, one of the things the three-pointed star was known for was its superior engine technology.Mercedes-Benz, say some industry watchers, has been a bit slower than some to adapt to the electrification challenge. Mercedes-Benz said in early 2021 that it planned to delay the introduction of its EQC electric sport utility vehicle in the United States for the foreseeable future, even though SUVs are the most popular light vehicle in the American market today. The company said it still plans to release its electric sedan.The German luxury brand and its traditional peers, such as BMW and Audi, also face challenges in the growing and extremely important Chinese market from electric upstarts like Tesla and Chinese makers such as Li Auto, according to some analysts. Historically, the three big German brands have controlled 60%of the luxury market in China, but that share is eroding as Tesla continues to open new stores in China, according to a report from Piper Sandler.Mercedes-Benz has heritage, prestige, talent and a lot of experience in its favor. But the automotive industry is making some big pivots. More

In this articleUPSUnited Parcel Service is taking package delivery to new heights, literally, with the purchase of 10 electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft from Beta Technologies.In an announcement Wednesday, Atlanta-based UPS said it will test the eVTOLs for use in its Express Air delivery network, focusing on small and medium markets. The company will operate the eVTOLs under its Flight Forward division, which is also exploring drone delivery.The new type of aircraft, which looks like a cross between a plane and a helicopter, “unlocks new business models that don’t exist today,” Bala Ganesh, vice president of the UPS Advanced Technology Group, told CNBC. “For example, you can see a future where it’s carrying, let’s say 1,000 pounds, 1,500 pounds to rural hospitals,” and landing on a helipad instead of an airport.Vermont-based Beta Technologies will design and build the eVTOLs, which are set to be delivered to UPS in 2024, pending certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. Beta will also provide landing pads and rechargeable batteries. UPS holds an option to purchase up to 150 more eVTOLs. The price of the transaction was not disclosed. The eVTOLs can fly up to 250 miles at 170 mph on a single charge.”We’ve also thought about for some urgent moments, like for example bypass New York traffic, and then move it into directly to our 43rd Street building so that we can get around congestion,” Ganesh said. “It’s not going be a fit for all the packages but for certain use cases: Willingness to pay, and urgency, we could potentially think about going into those areas.”The eVTOLs would be used similarly to small fixed-wing aircraft that have a capacity of 500 to 3,000 pounds. UPS said it initially plans to use them in smaller markets and create a series of short routes or one long route to meet customer needs. The eVTOLs will have an operation advantage over small planes, according to Ganesh, because they’re designed to accommodate shipping containers, which allow for faster movement of packages in many cases.”The smaller aircraft typically are not containerized. They don’t have any kind of container, so it’s loading a package into these aircraft, then its lands, and then has to be unloaded loaded into a truck or another vehicle and then driven to another location, resorted again, reloaded into the package car that delivers it, ” Ganesh said.UPS AircraftSource: UPSBeta Technologies founder Kyle Clark said his team has worked with UPS to help transform how the company handles moving packages.”We’re combining simple, elegant design and advanced technology to create a reliable aircraft with zero operational emissions that will revolutionize how cargo moves,” Clark said in a statement. “By utilizing vertical takeoffs and landings, we can turn relatively small spaces at existing UPS facilities into a micro air feeder network without the noise or operating emissions of traditional aircraft.”Sustainability has become increasingly important since Carol Tome became CEO of UPS last June. In its 2020 annual report, UPS said its goal is to reduce greenhouse gases from its ground business by 12% and source 25% of its electric needs from renewable sources by 2025.UPS announced in January 2020 a commitment to purchase up to 10,000 electric vehicles from Arrival Group, which is headquartered in London and Charlotte, North Carolina. The eVTOL batteries will also be compatible with those vehicles. Even when the batteries’ first life cycle in the aircraft ends, they can still be used in the EVs.”It just creates easier operating models, which just makes things easier to deploy and manage as we move forward,” said Ganesh, “creating newer ways of handling which gives us more flexibility and optimally, reduces our costs.” More

Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans runs the ball as Justin Houston #50 of the Indianapolis Colts attempts the tackle during the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana.Michael Hickey | Getty ImagesNike has suspended its endorsement of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, the company told CNBC on Wednesday.”We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and have suspended Deshaun Watson. We will continue to closely monitor the situation,” Nike said in a statementThe first woman who accused Watson of sexual misconduct while receiving private massages spoke publicly on Tuesday. Ashley Solis said she suffers from “panic attacks, anxiety and depression” due to Watson’s alleged sexual assault in March 2020. She requested that Watson be held accountable for his alleged behavior.Watson and lawyer Rusty Hardin have denied the allegations saying the claims result from a failed blackmail attempt. The National Football League quarterback has been accused of sexual misconduct in lawsuits filed by 22 women, all represented by lawyer Tony Buzbee.And on April 2, the Houston Police Department tweeted it has opened a criminal investigation after a complaint was filed against Watson. With his off-the-field troubles, Watson’s other backers like Apple’s Beats by Dre brand could soon need to respond. A representative for Beats by Dre did not immediately respond to a request for comment.With Nike responding, other brands may soon need to react, even partially, as allegations against the football star intensify.”The brands are in a difficult situation right now,” said Scott Rosner, the academic director of the sports management program at Columbia University. “There clearly will be public pressure as there typically is in these types of cases to disassociate themselves formally from the athlete. And some are likely to do that. Others will make a statement expressing concern but reiterating their belief in the legal process.”Will race play a factor?Rosner, an expert in brand strategies, concurred with comparisons of Watson’s troubles to former NFL star Michael Vick and current Pittsburgh Steelers star Ben Roethlisberger.All top-tier NFL quarterbacks in their prime but hurt by off-the-field legal troubles. But brands reacted differently.In Vick’s case, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of his crimes; hence, endorsers dropped him. But Roethlisberger was twice accused of sexual misconduct in 2009 and 2010. He was never charged in either case and settled with the victim who accused him of a rape allegation.Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes the ball in the first quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field on December 27, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Joe Sargent | Getty ImagesBut brands, including Nike, remained with Roethlisberger despite the allegations. Roethlisberger was suspended four games for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, something Watson could also face even if he avoids criminal charges.”It’s an appropriate and fair question to ask,” Rosner said of race playing a factor in determining Watson’s situation with brands.”It’s hard to know the impact of race in this particular instance or in Roethlisberger’s instance,” Rosner added. “But in general, I think we can say that race is typically a factor whether consciously or unconsciously considered. It’s an obvious difference between the two cases. We’ll see if it leads to different treatment.”Marketability damaged?Watson, 25, is scheduled to make $10 million for the upcoming season. He signed a four-year extension worth $156 million ($73 million guaranteed), starting in 2022, increasing his salary to $35 million that season. He’s represented by agency Athletes First.But whether he’ll be in Houston is the question. Watson requested a trade from the team before his legal issues started. Rosner said brands would also need to take this into account.Like Roethlisberger, if Watson does overcome the bad publicity and he gets traded to a bigger market NFL club with more appeal, brands who walk away could open up doors for competition.”The difficulty with dropping – you score points immediately in the court of public opinion, but if the allegations are proven to be untrue, or if they are not substantiated, then it’s likely a competitor will swoop in and sign the athlete to a deal that you terminated. So there is some risk in that,” Rosner said.But Watson’s marketability has taken a hit. And in a social media climate, Rosner said brands looking to keep endorsements with Watson should be concerned moving forward.”I would have, as a brand, some apprehension about continuing the relationship,” Rosner said. “But at a minimum, you’re suspending any sort of relationship and coming out with a strongly worded commentary – at a bare minimum.”Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Solis alleged Watson’s sexual assault happened in March of 2020. More

Larry ConnorThe Connor GroupLarry Connor, the leader of eponymous Ohio-based real estate firm The Connor Group, earlier this year signed on to fly to the International Space Station. But first, before beginning his astronaut training, Connor will dive to the bottom of the ocean.Connor is partnering with deep sea specialist EYOS Expeditions to next week explore both the Challenger Deep and the Sirena Deep of the Mariana Trench in the DSV Limiting Factor submersible of Triton Submarines. Then, in January 2022, Connor will be the pilot for Axiom Space’s 10-day AX-1 mission to the ISS, flying on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.”I’ve never had the time and never had the money, but I’ve always had a passion about exploration and about trying to do groundbreaking research,” Connor told CNBC about his upcoming missions. “I’m not a scientist, but I believe that the private sector can do unbelievable things to help all people.”Connor said that EYOS Expeditions reached out to him shortly after the AX-1 mission was announced, asking him if he would help cover part of the costs of an upcoming mission – and, in return, join the trip as a co-pilot and mission specialist.”They’ve been doing groundbreaking research in the Mariana Trench over the last couple of years [and] they want to continue that, but it’s very expensive,” Connor said. “Frankly, I didn’t know anything about deep sea exploration … but the more I learned, the more I became convinced that these individuals were absolutely professional, and that it could be done and could be done safely, and that the research would in fact be valuable.”While Connor may not be a scientist, he considers himself “fortunate in that I’ve done a lot of unusual things” due to his passion for exploration.The Connor Group operates in 15 U.S. cities, which the entrepreneur credits to “an immensely talented and experienced group” who will keep the firm running during his trips.Deep ocean submarine DSV Limiting Factor is seen above the deck of the ship DSSV Pressure Drop.Triton SubmarinesNext Monday he will travel to Guam, with the first dive to the Challenger Deep on either Wednesday or Thursday – dropping down more than 35,000 feet to the extreme environment of the deep ocean floor.A few days later Connor will dive again, to the Sirena Deep – “where there’s only ever been two humans there before,” he said.”Our challenge is going to be trying to map some of the bottom, and explore where nobody’s ever been. We anticipate that being a long dive – probably 13 to 15 hours in total,” Connor said.The submarine DSV Limiting Factor features a small cabin, about four and a half feet wide by four and a half feet tall, for its two passengers. “It’s literally a titanium ball that you sit in,” Connor said.While visiting Triton Submarines’ headquarters in Florida last week to check out a simulator and get some basic training, the real estate entrepreneur said that the “short answer is you really don’t” train for this kind of deep sea mission.Connor is aiming to be the first person to travel to both the deepest part of the ocean and outer space within 12 months.He’d be just the third person in history to travel to both, as former NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan became the first – and the first woman – when she dove to Challenger Deep in August 2020, with private astronaut Richard Garriott becoming the second on a dive earlier last month.Flying to space early next yearA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket about to launch the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is seen before the Demo-2 mission with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard.NASA/Joel KowskyWhile the deep sea dive has come together in a matter of months for Connor, he’s been researching flying to space for nearly seven years.The AX-1 mission will be led by former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría, as well as two mission specialists in former Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe and Canadian investor Mark Pathy.”It will be the first private mission to the International Space Station and, in my opinion, we’re going to do it right,” Connor said. “We’re going to do it to professional astronaut standards, we’re going to do the training, because I think we have an opportunity but a real obligation to to get it right.”Connor said he and López-Alegría will undergo two weeks of additional training, beyond the 15 weeks of training the full crew plans to begin in the fall of this year.He said the crew visited the headquarters of Elon Musk’s company once so far to be fitted for their spacesuits, describing the facility as “a beehive of activity” and saying he was “struck by the masses of really talented, committed people who, I got a sense for, were working crazy hours to make groundbreaking things happen.”He credited NASA for its experience in human spaceflight, as well as for turning to private companies to begin flying astronauts frequently and efficiently.”In my experience, if you really want to propel things forward at a rapid rate, you’ve got to get the private sector involved, whether it’s going to the bottom of the ocean or going to outer space,” Connor said.SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour seen docked with the International Space Station on July 1, 2020.NASAConnor also recognized that, while AX-1 may be the first all-private trip to the ISS, it’s still “very expensive.””But hopefully – in making what we believe is an investment upfront – in 20, 30, 40 years, whether it’s going to the bottom of the ocean or outer space, it is far more accessible to people, to go along with the value of the research,” Connor said.Asked for his advice to young entrepreneurs, he delivered a simple response.”Aim high. Never set limits. Never put a ceiling on what you can do. The impossible is only impossible if you think it’s impossible,” Connor said. More

In this articleTGTPeople stand in line at Target in Kips Bay during the coronavirus pandemic on April 14, 2020 in New York City.Noam Galai | Getty ImagesTarget said it will hire more Black-owned companies, launch a program to identify and support promising minority entrepreneurs and add products from more than 500 Black-owned brands to its shelves or website.Altogether, the discounter said Wednesday, it will spend more than $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025.”We have a rich history of working with diverse businesses, but there’s more we can do to spark change across the retail industry, support the Black community and ensure Black guests feel welcomed and represented when they shop at Target,” chief growth officer Christina Hennington said in a news release.The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and protests across the country have ratcheted up pressure on corporate leaders to advance racial equity and do more than simply cut a check — or risk losing business. The uneven death toll of the coronavirus pandemic and financial toll of the recession also spotlighted the country’s sharp racial disparities with health care and economic opportunity. Floyd was killed in Target’s hometown of Minneapolis, now the site of the murder trial for the police officer who kneeled on Floyd’s neck. One Target store, located near the site of Floyd’s death, had to be completely rebuilt and some of its other stores were damaged during rioting.Companies have spoken out about diversity and inclusion as consumers pay attention and some direct their dollars toward businesses that align with their values. Generation Z — the group of teens and early 20-somethings who are aging into shopping and establishing relationships with brands — care more about social justice compared with former generations, according to an annual survey of teens by Piper Sandler released Wednesday. Teens surveyed by the firm ranked racial equity as their most important political and social issue, followed by the environment and Black Lives Matter.Over the past year, major retailers like Nike, Walmart and Ulta Beauty have rolled out their own pledges, such as devoting more shelf space to Black-owned products, evaluating how they hire and promote employees, featuring more Black people in their ads and reducing the number of police or security in stores to prevent racial profiling. A growing number of retailers, including Macy’s, Sephora and Gap, have signed on to the 15 Percent Pledge, which aims to make Black-owned products on store shelves proportional to the country’s Black population.Among Target’s changes, the retailer said it will more actively seek out advertising firms, suppliers, construction companies and other kinds of businesses that are Black-owned. It said it will create a program called Forward Founders for early-stage start-ups led by Black entrepreneurs to help them develop, test and scale products to sell at mass retailers like Target. It will be modeled off of Target Accelerators, a program for start-ups that the retailer uses to foster up-and-coming brands and ultimately, to sell fresh and exclusive products that attract customers and help it differentiate from competitors.In some categories, such as beauty, Target said it already has 50 Black-owned and Black-founded brands — but would like to add more for other kinds of merchandise.Target previously committed to increasing Black representation in its workforce by 20% over the next three years. The company and its foundation are also giving $10 million to nonprofit organizations focused on addressing barriers for Black communities. More

Teamsters Local 848 business agent Reyes Magana is tested for COVID-19 at a testing site provided by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters on July 16, 2020 in Long Beach, California.Mario Tama | Getty ImagesOne in three Covid-19 survivors has suffered a neurological or psychiatric disorder within six months of infection with the virus, an observational study of more than 230,000 patient health records has estimated.The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal on Tuesday, analyzed data from the electronic health records of 236,379 Covid-19 patients from the U.S.-based TriNetX network, which includes more than 81 million people.This group was compared with 105,579 patients diagnosed with influenza and 236,038 patients diagnosed with any respiratory tract infection (including influenza).Overall, the estimated incidence of being diagnosed with a neurological or mental health disorder following Covid-19 infection was 34%, the study led by researchers at the University of Oxford found when looking at 14 neurological and mental health disorders.For 13% of these people, it was their first recorded neurological or psychiatric diagnosis.The most common diagnoses after having the coronavirus were anxiety disorders (occurring in 17% of patients), mood disorders (14%), substance misuse disorders (7%), and insomnia (5%). The incidence of neurological outcomes was lower, including 0.6% for brain hemorrhage, 2.1% for ischemic stroke, and 0.7% for dementia.After taking into account underlying health characteristics, such as age, sex, ethnicity and existing health conditions, there was overall a 44% greater risk of neurological and mental health diagnoses after Covid-19 than after flu, and a 16% greater risk after Covid-19 than with respiratory tract infections.Since the coronavirus first emerged in China in late 2019, there have been over 132 million reported cases of the virus and over 2.8 million deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Professor Paul Harrison, lead author of the study from the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford University, said the latest study highlights the need for health care systems to be equipped to deal with potentially higher numbers of neurological disorders in survivors of the virus.”These are real-world data from a large number of patients. They confirm the high rates of psychiatric diagnoses after Covid-19, and show that serious disorders affecting the nervous system (such as stroke and dementia) occur too. While the latter are much rarer, they are significant, especially in those who had severe Covid-19,” he noted.”Although the individual risks for most disorders are small, the effect across the whole population may be substantial for health and social care systems due to the scale of the pandemic and that many of these conditions are chronic. As a result, health care systems need to be resourced to deal with the anticipated need, both within primary and secondary care services.”Dr. Max Taquet, a co-author of the study from Oxford University, said further research needed to be done to see “what happens beyond six months.””The study cannot reveal the mechanisms involved, but does point to the need for urgent research to identify these, with a view to preventing or treating them.”Since the pandemic emerged and spread throughout the world in spring 2020, there have been a number of investigations into the short and long-term effects of the virus. The University of Oxford’s Psychiatry department noted that there has been growing concern that survivors might be at increased risk of neurological disorders.”A previous observational study by the same research group reported that Covid-19 survivors are at increased risk of mood and anxiety disorders in the first three months after infection. However, until now, there have been no large-scale data examining the risks of neurological as well as psychiatric diagnoses in the six months after Covid-19 infection,” the department said. More