Fortune

Between stocks causing panic about financial security, disease outbreaks looming in the background, and return-to-work mandates pushing people back into the office, Americans are more stressed than ever—something particularly evident earlier this year when the U.S. dropped to its lowest position on the annual World Happiness Report for the first time in the list’s history. And what do we do in times of stress? Mindlessly nibble on salty and sugary snacks, of course. A recent report from the Mondelēz International snack manufacturer, in fact, found that 81% of consumers surveyed snack to escape stress and find quiet moments to themselves—a nearly 10% increase from 2023. Millennials and Gen Zers are the most common snackers of the bunch, according to the report, and nearly 75% would rather snack all day than eat three full meals. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gjk4E2z3

Thailand, along with the rest of Southeast Asia, got some temporary relief when the U.S. President Donald Trump chose to delay his “Liberation Day” tariffs by 90 days. Now, the country’s U.S.-bound exports only have a 10% tariff, as opposed to the 36% threatened by Trump. Asian markets have gone on a wild ride since Trump first unveiled his reciprocal tariffs on April 2, falling and rising according to the president’s statements. Thailand’s benchmark SET index fell by 9% between April 2 and April 9, only to rally after Trump announced his tariff pause. Still, the index has yet to recover from the “Liberation Day” hit. “Reciprocal tariffs, we thought, were excessively high,” said Victor Cheng, the CEO of Delta Electronics Thailand, last week before Trump announced his tariff pause. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ejWM_agN

Rory McIlroy won the Masters for the first time Sunday, cementing his name in golf history and netting him a $4.2 million payday, but his advice for getting to the top has more to do with life than sports. The 35-year-old McIlroy clinched his first Masters Sunday since going pro in 2007, and after a nerve-wracking sudden-death win, he is now only the sixth pro golfer ever to complete a career grand slam by winning all four major golf championships: the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open, and the Open Championship. Among the other five are golf legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Thanks to his golf success, McIlroy has made more than $100 million in prize money over his career, and reportedly has a net worth of about $200 million. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5hCCSSE

Apple has created a loyal fan base of customers willing to pay premium prices for their products, like iPhones. The company’s strategy has long revolved around product differentiation, brand equity, and perception of value—but one long-time observer warns that a sudden jolt from large tariff-fueled price increases would deter even the most staunch Apple loyalist. “If someone charged you $7 for a slice of pizza, even the best slice of pizza, you wouldn’t buy it,” Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities managing director, told Fortune on Monday. “So everything has a price.” The Trump administration announced late Friday that some electronics, such as smartphones, chips, and computers, were temporarily exempted from the 145% import tariffs on goods from China. The exemptions also offer relief for companies like Apple that assemble and import devices in China. The iPhone maker’s shares have suffered since Trump ramped up tariffs on China. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eJGQZBKc

Starbucks is continuing its push to refresh its brand by introducing a streamlined dress code across its North American stores. The coffee chain will require baristas to wear solid black tops, it announced Monday, and it will provide two branded black shirts to workers for free. Baristas will also be required to don khaki, black, or blue denim pants. The new dress code will go into effect on May 12. The more neutral clothing palette will help emphasize the chain’s iconic green apron, Starbucks said in the announcement, a fixture of the company’s brand since 1987. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eAykFdkS

Gen Z has been branded a “lazy” generation of workers, marked by their TikTok addiction and work-from-home allegiance. But millionaire podcast personality Mel Robbins hit back at critics who slam the next generation of workers—and even encouraged them to step into their shoes and see if they’d like it. “We sit here and we look at 20-somethings and we’re like, ‘Oh they’re weak or addicted to social media, or all anxious,’” Robbins said in a video posted to her TikTok. “Have you stopped to consider what it’s like to be a 20-something today?” Robbins’ empathy for older Gen Z and young millennials is in stark contrast to the negativity clogging the feeds of young people. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eYgrGsZ9

Harvard University announced Monday that it won’t comply with a list of demands from the Trump administration as part of its campaign against antisemitism, which could put almost $9 billion in funding at risk. In a letter to Harvard Friday, the administration called for broad government and leadership reforms, a requirement that Harvard institute what it calls “merit-based” admissions and hiring policies as well as conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity. The demands, which are an update from an earlier letter, also call for a ban on face masks — which appeared to target pro-Palestinian protesters. They also pressure the university to stop recognizing or funding “any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eXxNyJtp

Harvard University announced Monday that it won’t comply with a list of demands from the Trump administration as part of its campaign against antisemitism, which could put almost $9 billion in funding at risk. In a letter to Harvard Friday, the administration called for broad government and leadership reforms, a requirement that Harvard institute what it calls “merit-based” admissions and hiring policies as well as conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eXxNyJtp

Harvard University announced Monday that it won’t comply with a list of demands from the Trump administration as part of its campaign against antisemitism, which could put almost $9 billion in funding at risk. In a letter to Harvard Friday, the administration called for broad government and leadership reforms, a requirement that Harvard institute what it calls “merit-based” admissions and hiring policies as well as conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eXxNyJtp

Anthony Scaramucci knows a thing or two about getting knocked down. The baby boomer financier is perhaps best known for his 11-day stint as Donald Trump’s White House communications director, but that was far from the lowest point of his career. The biggest punch to the gut came when Scaramucci learned the news about Sam Bankman-Fried. “I think the worst day I had professionally was discovering that Sam Bankman-Fried was a fraud,” Scaramucci told Fortune. “I mean, getting fired from the White House, okay—it’s politics. I’m a big boy, you know, get over it, it’ll be fine. But when he got exposed as a fraud, that was a blow to me because I trusted the guy. I liked him.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/e-amkETp