JPMorgan Asset Management strategist Michael Cembalest had predicted that President Joe Biden would withdraw from the 2024 presidential race for health reasons and be replaced by a candidate named by the Democratic National Committee. Cembalest noted Biden's low approval rating despite significant job creation during his tenure. Recently, Biden announced his withdrawal from the race, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor after testing positive for COVID-19, which garnered significant media attention.

Cembalest's predictions also included a grim outlook for the electric vehicle (EV) sector, foreseeing backlash against driverless cars due to safety and convenience concerns. He highlighted the decline in share prices of companies selling autonomous vehicle sensor technology and didn't foresee a rebound soon. Additionally, he predicted significant power outages in US cities due to the retirement of dispatchable power generation and underinvestment in critical infrastructure, citing the Midwest MISO region as particularly vulnerable.

Cembalest's forecasts extended to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, predicting its continuation without a ceasefire in 2024. Despite Russia's reported losses, the strategist aligned his views with US national security perspectives, suggesting Russia will emerge more hostile towards the West. He also anticipated the approval of an inhaled COVID-19 vaccine to minimize transmission and pointed out a decline in EV demand and production, reflecting broader challenges in the industry. These insights suggest a tumultuous year ahead for global geopolitics, public health, and technology sectors. (Full story)

Austin Russell, who became the world's youngest self-made billionaire at 25 in 2020, is the CEO of Luminar, a company that develops car-sensing technology used by Volvo, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz. On the Masters of Scale podcast, 29-year-old Russell discussed his journey, which began with building a lab in his parents' garage at age 10 and founding Luminar at 17. After leaving Stanford with a $100,000 Thiel Fellowship, he pursued his vision for Luminar, which aims to enhance road safety significantly. A Swiss Re report indicated Luminar's technology reduces car accident severity by up to 40%. Russell credits his success to identifying high-growth opportunities, taking calculated risks, building with a long-term vision, and leveraging the internet for learning, having consumed four years' worth of technical lectures in under a month. (Full story)

Wedbush Securities tech analyst Dan Ives maintains a bullish outlook on the tech industry despite a 2022 slump, predicting significant growth driven by AI and cloud computing. He forecasts that tech stocks will continue to rise, with 2Q earnings acting as a catalyst, and expects a 15% increase in tech stock values by the end of 2024. Ives highlights key companies such as Microsoft, Palantir, and Zscaler. Microsoft reported a 23% YoY increase in cloud revenue, setting a price target of $550 per share. Palantir, recognised for its enterprise AI software, saw a 21% YoY revenue increase, with a target price of $35 per share. Zscaler, specialising in cloud security, recorded a 32% YoY revenue growth and has a price target of $260 per share. Ives believes that the tech sector's growth and earnings, driven by the AI revolution, will continue to surpass Wall Street estimates. (Full story)

Roger Hallam, co-founder of the British environmental activist group Just Stop Oil, was sentenced to five years in prison by Judge Christopher Hehir of Southwark Crown Court for organising a 2022 protest at the M25 that disrupted traffic for over 500,000 vehicles. Four other activists, Daniel Shaw, Louise Lancaster, Lucia Whittaker De Abreu, and Cressida Gethin, were each sentenced to four years in prison. The protests, involving around 45 people climbing gantries, reportedly cost the UK economy between £765,000 and £1.1 million, and led to a police officer sustaining injuries during a traffic incident. Before the protests, the defendants held a Zoom call to plan their actions, which was infiltrated by a reporter from The Sun and recorded for the police. Judge Hehir highlighted the detailed planning and organisation involved in the protests, with prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC stating that each defendant played a significant role. The sentencing has sparked reactions from supporters, including TV naturalist Chris Packham, who criticised the decision as "judicial thuggery." (Full story)

A viral TikTok clip highlighted the challenges faced by customer service representatives, featuring an American remote agent dealing with an irate caller who demanded to speak with someone "truly American" and criticised the representative's accent. Despite the outbursts and stereotyping, the representative remained composed and professional. The user later explained that representatives are trained to maintain composure during nine-hour shifts, even under stress. According to a 2023 National Customer Rage Survey, 43% of consumers yelled or raised their voices when addressing significant customer service issues, up from 35% in 2015, with factors like labour shortages and increased reliance on technology contributing to a perceived decline in service quality. For those interested in remote customer service jobs, FlexJobs recommends companies like LHH Recruitment Solutions, Lincoln Financial Group, Randstad, UnitedHealthcare Group, and Robert Half, offering roles with flexible schedules, reduced commuting costs, and improved work-life balance. (Full story)