Author: Elon Mark

As the birthplace of prestige TV shows like The Sopranos and The Wire, HBO—and, by extension, HBO Max—is best known for its impressive lineup of original series. The network has also been upping the ante with feature-length content that is the stuff of Oscar dreams.Below is a list of some of our favorite films streaming on HBO Max—from Oscar-winning epics to dystopian sci-fi classics. If you decide you’re in more of a TV mood, head over to our picks for the best shows on HBO Max. If you’re looking for even more recommendations, check out our lists of the best movies on Netflix, the best movies…

If you have ever walked into a bank or sat down with an insurance agent only to feel pressured, confused, or outright deceived, you are not alone. Consider the recent experience of a close acquaintance who, in trying to invest his savings in banks, was persuaded to invest in “the best plan”, a product that included crippling hidden charges and a strict, undisclosed lock-in period. This is the dark reality of financial mis-selling, an all-too-common epidemic in India. According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) Annual Report 2023-24, a staggering 2,15,569 insurance-related complaints were filed. Of…

Every successful platform creates its own vulnerability. The better you connect users, the more likely they are to transact directly—avoiding your fees and services. This threat, known as disintermediation, can undermine even the most established platforms, making it harder to scale and sustain long-term growth and profitability. Harvard Business School Professor Feng Zhu breaks down the risk in the online course Winning with Digital Platforms, featured in the Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy program. As he explains, “After using a platform to connect with, say, a pet sitter, sometimes users will hire the pet sitter directly rather than continue…

The bottom line is that, unlike the US, China is not a country of immigrants. In 2020, only about .1 percent of the mainland population was made up of foreigners, according to one estimate by researchers from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. That’s roughly 1.4 million people in a country of more than 1.4 billion. In the United States, by contrast, 15 percent of the population is made up of immigrants. Even other East Asian nations, like Japan and South Korea, are home to far more foreigners than China in terms of their relative population size.Because the US…

Innovation drives modern business success, but improving a product—whether your own, a competitor’s, or the industry standard—can be easier said than done. One powerful way to increase the likelihood of successful innovation is to understand the aspirations, expectations, and pain points that drive purchasing decisions. This is where the voice of the customer (VoC) comes in. What Is Voice of the Customer (VoC)? In design thinking, the voice of the customer (VoC) represents the persona of your target consumers, built from what you know about them, including: Demographics: Age, gender, geographic location, marital status, education level, occupation, income, ethnicity Aspirations:…

Hi. it turns out Prime Day is only really a suggestion on the calendar. A lot of brands like to kick out early Prime Day deals before getting lost in the big din of Prime Big Deal Days on October 7-8. (See here for early Prime Day deals on laptops, earbuds, and more.)The two most popular espresso machines on Earth—as judged by Amazon sales, anyway–are both on sale for $100 off this week, ahead of Amazon Prime Day’s October reprise. These are a couple of the best early Prime Day Deals.$100 off Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Before Prime DayPhotograph: Tyler…

A recent review of the Insurance Regulator (IRDAI) and company disclosures revealed that up to 100% of the insurance commissions earned by banks may be derived from selling products of their own affiliated insurance companies. This raises concerns about the potential for mis-selling and conflicts of interest within the sector. Why do banks in India aggressively push insurance? According to 1 Finance Magazine’s report, India’s top 15 banks by market capitalisation collectively earned ₹21,773 crore in commissions from the sale and marketing of insurance, mutual funds and other financial products in FY24. Commissions made from sale/marketing of insurance, MFs and…

At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, employees were instructed to set an out-of-office message that reads, “The federal government’s spending authority expired at 11:59 on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, therefore, most HUD programs have been temporarily interrupted, and most HUD employees have been told they cannot work…We regret any inconvenience the government lapse of appropriations may cause.”On the agency’s website however, a pop up window announces, “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government. HUD will use available resources to help Americans in need.” The same language appears on a red banner at the top of the…

It’s that time of year again, and Prime Day deals are back. The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event—also known as Amazon Prime Day 2—is officially arriving on October 7 and 8, but early deals have already started. The WIRED Reviews team has hundreds of years of collective experience covering shopping holidays such as this. What sets us apart is that we only write about actual deals on the gear and gadgets that we’ve hand-tested. We’re getting ready to cover the whole sale with a variety of stories and even a liveblog (and, hopefully, lots of caffeine.) Below, you’ll find…

Last year, 1 Finance Magazine surveyed 1,655 bank relationship managers (RMs) from 20 scheduled commercial banks across 15 states to examine the workplace pressures faced by these professionals and assess their understanding of the financial products they were selling. Banks have access to detailed financial profiles of crores of customers, giving them an advantageous position compared to other financial advisors or product distributors. As the primary link between the bank and its customers, RMs are entrusted with the responsibility of building trust and providing sound financial advice. However, our survey uncovered a concerning trend where RMs are compelled to meet…