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If were to believe recent reports, Kate Middleton hasnt taken Prince Harry and Meghan Markles decision to step back from the royal family lightly.

According to various outlets, the Duchess of Cambridge has been worried about staying close with Harry and concerned that her children wont get to see enough of their cousin, Archie. But if theres one silver lining to all of this, its that Kate is reportedly so happy to have a more prominent voice in royal charity work and the goals of the Royal Foundation, an organization she can play a bigger role in now that Harry and Meghan have moved to Canada.

Insiders spoke to The Sunso take it with a grain of saltand said that the Duchess of Cambridge is jumping into her duties with tons of enthusiasm. Shes been on a tour of the U.K., promoting early childhood development, and even opened up about her experiences as a parent, which give insight into how she might steer other initiatives the Royal Foundation tackles.

Kate is extremely passionate about the work the foundation does, and she has ideas and plans for how she believes it can be used to help some of the causes which she is particularly passionate about, a source told *The Sun.* In recent weeks Kate has visited a lot of organizations and spoke to lots of experts and has soaked a lot of information. She wants to use that to go out and bring about change to many of those who need support.

Previously, the Royal Foundation was a joint effort between William and Harry, and it represented causes they both felt strongly about. Kate joined when she married William, and Meghan became a part of the organization a few years later, which meant there were a lot of interests to balance.

For years the foundations work was a bit of a tug-of-war between what William and Harry wanted, the source said. Harry was very much focused on the military and his work with the Invictus Games. Now it is purely in the shape of how William and Kate want it to be.

Kates expanding work at the Royal Foundation is reflective of how shes come into her own in recent yearssomething even Queen Elizabeth is said to be proud of. It all shows how she is preparing to take the lead in the monarchy one day.

She is an adoring mother, and she is contributing publicly in the way we would want her to, a source told *People* last September. You see it more and more. The young student has turned into our future queen.

Originally Appeared on Glamour

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Kate Middleton Is Reportedly 'So Happy' to Have More Royal Duties - Yahoo Lifestyle

NFL Free Agency kicks off on March 18th, which means we are inching closer to one of the most impactful days on the leagues calendar. Transactions are on the horizon!

Few players are likely going to draw as much attention on the open market as New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. With Drew Brees announcing he will return for another season, it seems likely that Bridgewater will test free agency.

There are definitely some teams that could use his talents.

When Brees went down with a thumb injury during the 2019 NFL regular season, Bridgewater filled in admirably for the 13-time Pro Bowler, leading the Saints to a 5-0 record in the games he started. He finished the season with a 67.9% completion percentage, an impressive 7.1 yards per attempt, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.

So which teams exactly should make a play for the 27-year-old?

T.Y. Hilton would benefit from the addition of Teddy Bridgewater. (Getty Images)

Jacoby Brissett, Frank Reich and the Indianapolis Colts handled the 2019 NFL season about as well as anybody, considering their elite QB Andrew Luck decided to retire weeks before the start of the year, finishing with a 7-9 record.

It was made apparent, however, that Brissett is limited in what he can do as a passer. In Indys seven wins Brissett threw for over 205 yards just twice. In his 15 starts, he surpassed the 205-yard mark just six times a fairly low bar to clear for NFL quarterbacks.

The Colts also have a good defense when healthy which it rarely was in 2019 as players like CB Kenny Moore, CB Quincy Wilson and DB Malik Hooker all missed periods of time with injuries.

Couple that with an offense that has playmakers in WR T.Y. Hilton and RB Marlon Mack, and you get a team that with Bridgewater at the helm could easily compete in a wide-open AFC South if they make good use of their $81 million+ in cap space this off-season.

Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears could use some help at QB. (Getty Images)

Now, remember, this is a list of teams that should try to sign Bridgewater, not teams that are likely going to.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace must dread watching NFL highlights every Sunday. After all, he traded a kings ransom to move up one spot in the draft to select Mitch Trubisky, passing on both Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes.

Yeah.

In 2019, Trubisky took a step back in the following statistical categories from the previous year: Passing yards, touchdown passes, rushing yards, yards per attempt and QB rating. However, the team seems set on having him start in 2020.

The Bears dont need a top-5 player at QB, they have enough talent surrounding the position to be a contender. The team needs someone who can manage a game and make plays when needed and judging him by his first three seasons in the league - its hard to label Trubisky as someone who can do that.

The Los Angeles Chargers aren't known for spending in free agency, but Anthony Lynn is coaching a talented squad in need of a quarterback. (Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Chargers havent built up a reputation of being heavy spenders, but with Philip Rivers departing theres a hole to be filled at quarterback for the first time in 16 years.

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Owners of the sixth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Oregon QB Justin Herbert could be available, but putting your faith in a rookie QB right away on a roster that is seemingly ready to win now may not work.

Sure, Tyrod Taylor is a viable backup option, but with nearly $52-million in cap space to spend this spring, the club can afford to bring in Bridgewater.

The defense, when DB Derwin James is healthy, is a solid unit. The offense has some serious playmakers in the passing game with WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams and TE Hunter Henry leading the way.

With a competent quarterback in his prime like Bridgewater, this club can compete in the AFC West. Will they spend up to make that happen? That is the better question.

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3 NFL teams that should try to sign Teddy Bridgewater - Yahoo Sports

At least prior to the coronavirus outbreak in China midway through January, Walmarts businesses in the country were on fire.

Now that key source of growth for the worlds largest retailer could be poised to completely fall off the map in the first quarter as the countrys economic activity has come to a standstill. Walmart (WMT) which operates 433 locations in China (407 under the Walmart banner, 26 Sams Club) reported Tuesday that fourth quarter (ended Jan. 31) net sales in China rose a solid 3.5%. That outpaced Walmart internationals overall sales growth rate of 2.3% and the U.S. sales gain of 1.9%. E-commerce sales in China surged 100%, way better than the U.S. growth rate of 35%.

People walk past a Walmart store in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Sams Club continuing to benefit from Chinese consumers enjoying the fun of buying bulk goods (see Costco opening last year) saw same-store sales increase double-digit in the quarter. That, too, was the best showing by far of any Walmart segment to cap off the year.

A Walmart spokesperson tells Yahoo Finance the companys stores and warehouse clubs are open in the country.

But the caution on the outlook for China which could also badly hurt a Walmart supply chain that is overly reliant on the country for items such as apparel and toys could be felt in the retailers first crack at guidance for 2020 even if it says otherwise.

Walmart set 2020 earnings per share guidance in the range of $5.00 to $5.15, below Wall Street analyst estimates of $5.22. Shares fell slightly in pre-market trading.

The company continues to monitor the events in Chile and the Coronavirus outbreak and has not included any potential financial effects in its assumptions, the retailer said.

Walmart CFO Brett Biggs, however, said during the companys investor day presentation the situation in China certainly tempers the near-term outlook in the country. Biggs added Walmart hasnt yet seen any impact to its supply chain from the coronavirus.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-anchor of The First Trade at Yahoo Finance. Watch The First Trade each day here at 9:00 a.m. ET or on Verizon FIOS channel 604. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn.

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Coronavirus in China may have severely stunted one of Walmart's hottest businesses - Yahoo Finance

The 10 richest Americans have a combined wealth of well over half a trillion dollars.

And we might only be beginning to feel the influence of all that buying power in the 2020 campaign.

Michael Bloomberg sits at No. 6 on this elite list and of course is running for president himself. Hes already spent hundreds of millions and is promising to spend over a billion before its all over (more on that below).

Oracle (ORCL) co-founder Larry Ellison sits at No. 4 on Forbess list with an estimated fortune of $62.5 billion. He is set to jump into the 2020 fray in a big way with a fundraiser on Wednesday featuring President Donald Trump at the Oracle founders estate in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

According to a copy of the invitation, the golf outing this Wednesday will cost donors either $100,000 or $250,000 with funds being disbursed among Trump's primary and general election accounts, the Republican National Committee, GOP state parties, and the Republican National Convention.

Here are the different ways the 10 members of the 0.000003% are publicly engaging in the 2020 campaign.

Ellison is the first top billionaire (and one of the only tech leaders) to go all in on Trump.

The Oracle co-founder only recently joined the Trump train. During the 2016 campaign, he gave millions to Marco Rubio and to super PACS that supported the Florida senator. Over the years, Ellison has given money to both parties with a focus on Republicans.

In years past, he gave money to Democrats like Joseph Crowley, the New York City Congressman who was unseated in 2018 by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Ellison has also given money to Senators Harry Reid of Nevada and Ron Wyden of Oregon.

Oracle chairman of the board and chief technology officer Larry Ellison delivers a keynote address during the 2019 Oracle OpenWorld on September 16, 2019. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Through the end of 2019, based on Federal Election Commission data, Ellison has never given a cent to Trump.

Charles Koch, CEO of the conglomerate Koch Industries, is another top billionaire in the top 10. His wealth, according to Forbes, is estimated at $50.5 billion. Along with his late brother David, the Kochs have directed hundreds of millions of dollars towards a range of Republican and Libertarian causes over the years.

The Kochs have had a complicated relationship with Trump and clashed with the president over issues like trade.

This time around, Charles Koch has still not directly indicated whether he'll support Trump, and if so, how much money he'll send the president's way. So far in the 2020 race, the Koch largesse has often been directed towards Senate races.

Jim Walton (the youngest son of Walmart [WMT] founder Sam Walton) has a personal fortune of $44.6 billion and is the 10th richest American in the country. He generally stays quiet on political topics but appears to have personally given money to a range of Republican groups over the years, including Trump.

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Two billionaires on the list have been linked to Democratic campaigns.

Mark Zuckerberg (No. 5, $62.3 billion) has reportedly recommended several potential hires to former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigiegs campaign. Zuckerberg visited South Bend in 2017 and appeared in a Facebook Live with then-Mayor Buttigieg.

Zuckerberg has also railed against other Democratic candidates, saying during a leaked meeting last July that an Elizabeth Warren presidency would be an existential threat to Facebook. Zuckberg met with Trump for what Facebook called a constructive conversation last year.

According to the FEC, Zuckerbergs last personal political donation outside of contributions to Facebooks own PAC was $10,000 to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee in 2015. In 2014, he gave money to both Democrat Nancy Pelosi and Republican Paul Ryan.

Google (GOOG, GOOGL) co-founder Sergey Brin (No. 10 on the list, $49.8 billion) has also been linked to the Buttigieg campaign. His wife Nicole Shanahan reportedly hosted a fundraiser for Buttigieg last year. According to FEC data, Shanahan gave $2,800 to Mayor Pete last November and has contributed to a range of other Democratic politicians over the years. Brin himself gave to a get out the vote group in 2016 and to Barack Obama during the 2012 campaign.

Larry Page (L) and Sergey Brin (R), are the co-founders of Google. (Photo by James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images)

The other co-founder of Google, Larry Page, has a fortune of $50.8 billion and hes stayed a bit quieter on the 2020 race. In the past, hes indicated hed rather give his money to people like Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

The richest of the rich among the billionaire class have declined (or are still waiting) to weigh in.

Amazon (AMZN) CEO Jeff Bezos is the richest person in the world. Hes given to Democrats and Republicans over the years but nothing so far in 2020. The Amazon founder reportedly did ask Mike Bloomberg if he would consider running for president. Bezos thanks largely to his ownership of the Washington Post has not been on the friendliest of terms with Trump.

On Monday, Bezos pledged $10 billion to fight climate change.

Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, the second richest person in the world, has also tended to spend his money outside of the electoral process. Hes used his fortune to make the Gates Foundation the largest private foundation in the world.

Gates has offered only limited commentary on the 2020 field: criticizing a proposal for a wealth tax from Warren and saying he wouldnt rule out supporting Donald Trump. In 2016, he told Stat news that he would approach any administration with an open mind but mentioned that Hillary Clinton had more experience with global health.

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B) CEO Warren Buffett (#3) backed Clinton in 2016 and harshly criticized Donald Trump during that race. He hasnt endorsed a candidate in 2020 but has indicated a fondness for Michael Bloomberg in the past.

The multi-billionaire with the biggest 2020 footprint is, of course, Michael Bloomberg.

The sixth richest American has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on his candidacy. Hes said hes open to spending billions whether he wins or loses.

Through an ad campaign that has blanketed the country, he has surged in polls and hell appear for the first time on a presidential debate stage on Wednesday night.

Democratic presidential candidate former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg during a campaign rally in Nashville. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Bloomberg has also repeatedly trolled Trump for not being as rich as him. The president is ranked No. 715 in the Forbes list of the worlds billionaires with a fortune estimated at $3.1 billion. Bloomberg has questioned the president repeatedly about his qualifications and even whether hes actually a billionaire.

A recent speech in Texas was just one example. Do we really want a general election between two New York billionaires? Bloomberg asked the crowd before delivering the punchline: To which I say, whos the other one?!

Ben Werschkul is a producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

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Presidential campaigns are paying millions to Big Tech companies (while also bashing them)

Bloomberg's new plan to crack down on Wall Street includes a financial transaction tax

Trump to attend fundraiser at Oracle chairman Larry Ellison's estate

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The 10 richest Americans are just beginning to take sides in the 2020 presidential race - Yahoo News Canada

This post has been updated as of 10:55 AM E.T. on Feb. 14.

Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, 64,460 people have fallen ill worldwide.

China is the epicenter of the outbreak. On Thursday, the country confirmed 15,152 additional cases of the coronavirus and 254 deaths in a press conference on Thursday. Chinas total number of cases is 63,866 and the death toll has now risen to 1,384.

More than 1,700 medical workers have been infected by the virus, China said, according to CNN. Six have died.

China is facing an unprecedented health crisis, SecretaryofHealthand Human Services Alex Azar told Yahoo Finance in an interview. Some of this may simply be the chaos involved in quarantining over 60 million people and trying to contain a an unknown, rapidly evolving, unknown virus spreading in your country.

Azar added: But we must ensure that the response is transparent and vigorous, and that's something the World Health Organization has got to ensure that China is held to account for transparency and cooperation by the same standards that they would require of the United States or any other country.

Even though the coronavirus outbreak remains contained largely in mainland China and its immediate regions, other parts of the world are also being affected.

There are currently 15 confirmed cases in the U.S. The latest case was discovered in Texas, at the Lackland Air Force Base, according to the CDC. Japan has announced that one person has died due to the virus.

The virus has taken more lives than the deadly Severe Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002, and several industries like travel and hospitality are scaling back operations in China, while others like Boeing sound off on concerns their difficulties operating in China.

Masked people shoot propaganda footage of the fight against Covid-19 in Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang province Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. (Photo: Feature China/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

The outbreak began in Wuhan, which is the capital of Chinas central provide of Hubei. The virus strain was previously unknown and is speculated to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at a market in Wuhan, according to Reuters.

A very similar version of the coronavirus today had actually caused SARS almost a decade ago, and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), The Guardian reported.

Stats from China indicate that around 2% of those infected with the new virus have died, but many of them were elderly or had prior medical conditions, Reuters reported. The mortality rate for SARS was similar when it first began, but peaked at almost 10%.

Over 1,000 people have died from the coronavirus outbreak. (Graphic: David Foster)

While the outbreak has spread globally, Hubei province in China remains the epicenter. On Feb. 6, the whistleblower doctor, who had been punished for revealing the deadly respiratory virus, died.

Chinas senior medical advisor said earlier this week on Tuesday that the number of new infections are slowing, and that the outbreak may be over in April.

But during a press conference on Thursday, it revised the number of new cases and the number of deaths.

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A WHO spokesperson told Yahoo Finance the spike in cases is not abnormal.

"As is normal in a newly emerging infectious disease, case definitions adapt to improved understanding and the 13,332 clinically diagnosed cases are not newly identified in the last 24 hours only, the spokesperson stated. They include retrospectively identified cases from earlier in the epidemic; it is not uncommon for surveillance data to be updated as new definitions are adopted."

In the meantime, several countries have imposed travel restrictions from Singapore (travel ban) to the U.S.(travel restrictions).

Azar added that the U.S. has also launched a surveillance system in five cities Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and New York to monitor people with potential flu-like symptoms.

The uncertainty is worrying health care experts.

I think now that its in more countries even Singapore, which is really good at tracing cases, has found some cases that arent linked to previous known cases its clear that there are probably many cases in countries where we havent yet found them, Marc Lipsitch, professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told theHarvard Gazette earlier this week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) echoed that sentiment on Friday.

How big is the iceberg? Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHOs emergencies program, said at a news conference. The question is how much is happening outside what we see?

Anjalee Khemlani is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter:@AnjKhem

Aarthi Swaminathan is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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Cannabis beverages and aluminum cans have a problematic relationship that could prove costly for licenced producers with drink production lines built for the ubiquitous metal containers. The devil is in the molecular details.

Scientists have determined that liners inside aluminum cans can cause cannabis drinks to lose their potency. That means by the time a pot drink is put in a can, shipped, stored in a warehouse, displayed in a store, and finally consumed, the buzz promised on the label may have diminished or disappeared.

Can manufacturers add the liners to prevent drinks from taking on a metallic taste, to reduce corrosion of the can, and to improve shelf stability. But when pot drinks are under pressure, the liner can attract tiny emulsified droplets of active cannabis ingredients like THC.

Our theory is the cannabis material, the droplets, will stick to the liner and cling on it. When you open the can to take a drink, it will lose its potency, Vertosa founder and chief science officer Harold Han told Yahoo Finance Canada in an interview.

Han holds a Ph.D in chemistry from NYU, and has authored two patents in emulsion chemistry. His California-based company works with cannabis-infused beverage makers to develop emulsion solutions to mitigate the effect of can liners leeching away cannabis compounds.

Oil, cannabis or otherwise, does not mix with water. Nanoemulsion helps solve that problem by breaking down oily compounds to a microscopic level so they can be suspended in a drink.

Cannabis beverages that use the technology have a faster effect compared to edibles. They also have high bioavailability, meaning the body will absorb a higher amount of the THC or CBD. However, pot drinks have yet to emerge as a major category, even though theyve been available in U.S. states with legal recreational cannabis sales for some time.

Last year, Cowen cannabis and alcoholic beverage analyst Viven Azer told Yahoo Finance Canada the U.S. market for cannabis drinks is small, fragmented, and without a clear leader. Thats the case, she said, because early products in the United States got people stoned for too long, and lacked consistent intensity, onset, and offset for the high users feel.

In Canada, drinks were part of the swath of new Cannabis 2.0 products authorized for sale last fall. So far, only a limited selection of items like infused tea bags have hit stores.

Deloitte estimates the Canadian market for cannabis-infused beverages will be worth $529 million annually, with one-in-three consumers viewing the category as an alternative to alcohol.

Han said the problem of aluminum cans draining the potency out of pot drinks first came to his attention early last year when Lagunitas, a craft beer subsidiary of Heineken (HEIA.AS), shifted its Hi-Fi Hops cannabis drinks from cans to glass bottles.

Then we thought, lets get some can liners. Lets test our emulsions. We had two at the time, he said. The loss was horrible.

Vertosa has partnered with can manufactures including Ball (BLL), Ardagh Group (ARD) and Gamer Packaging to test solutions.

Han said its difficult for the can industry to alter linings to accommodate the relatively small cannabis drinks category, and pot drink producers prefer cans over bottles due to lower costs.

Its up to us to find the solution, he said, admitting some active ingredients will always be absorbed by aluminum cans. You will always see some percentage of loss. But as long as you can manage this loss and let it plateau, that is the goal.

Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)(CGC) has been the most active in the drinks category among Canadian licenced producers, previewing an extensive line of THC and CBD drinks in late October, the vast majority packaged in cans.

Canopy Growth's cannabis drinks are expected to be ready for retail in mid-December 2019. (Yahoo Finance)

A number of other cannabis players have struck deals or formed joint ventures to produce beverages, including HEXO (HEXO.TO)(HEXO) and Tilray (TLRY). Canopys 125,000-square-foot beverage facility was constructed with a helping hand from its largest shareholder, beer and wine giant Constellation Brands (STZ).

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The Smiths Falls, Ont.-based company said in December that its first drinks would hit the market in early January. On Jan. 17, it abruptly delayed the launch, offering few details.

In order to deliver products that meet our customers high standards we are electing to revise the launch date while we work through the final details, CEO David Klein stated in a news release.

Klein, a transplanted executive from Constellation, officially began leading the worlds largest cannabis company only days earlier on Jan. 14. The company is expected to provide an update on its beverages when it reports fiscal third quarter 2020 financial results before the markets open on Feb. 14.

Craig Wiggins of the industry research group TheCannalysts told Yahoo Finance Canada that sources tell him the delay was due in part to issues with cans.

We're hearing that there is a problem with the can linings. That THC is leaching into the can linings and making shelf stability drop, and a host of other problems, he said.

Yahoo Finance Canada repeatedly attempted to reach Canopy Growth for comment. Calls and emails were not returned by the company.

Jeff Maser, CEO of the California-based cannabis beverage company Tinley (TNY.CN)(TNYBF), said he was shocked last fall when he saw photos of Canopys hotly anticipated beverage portfolio packaged in cans.

His products are sold in glass bottles.

We tried forever to try to find a solution. We worked with everybody that came along, and we spoke directly to the can manufacturers. We even spoke directly with the Hi-Fi hops guys, Maser told Yahoo Finance Canada in an October interview.

When I say there is less cannabis, there is no cannabis left. It's literally 97 per cent absorption into the can after a few months. Guys are saying they solved that problem. Nobody really has.

Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.

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Cans suck the THC buzz out of pot drinks. Where does that leave Canopy Growth? - Yahoo Sports

Key Point:No fighter is completely invincible. Here's what we know about the F-35's downsides.

Amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, in part resulting from U.S. President Donald Trumps decision unilaterally to withdraw the United States from the 2015 deal limiting Irans nuclear program, the U.S. armed forces have deployed a wide array of ships, planes and other weapons to the Middle East.

The American arsenal in the region includes F-35 stealth fighters. If tensions turn into warfare, the factory-fresh F-35s could face an Iranian air force operating some of the oldest active fighters in the world.

The Iranians with their four-decade-old F-4s, F-5s and F-14s might not seem to have a chance against the Americans flying arguably the worlds most advanced fighter aircraft. But history, and recent testing show how Iranian pilots flying old planes could defeat Americans flying brand-new ones.

For one, the F-35, while new, isnt necessarily a stellar aerial performer. In 2015 someone associated with the F-35 test effort leaked an official report explaining the stealth fighters limitations in air-to-air maneuvers with an F-16.

The F-35 was at a distinct energy disadvantage, an unnamed F-35 test pilot wrote in a scathing five-page brief. Insufficient pitch rate, he added. Energy deficit to the bandit would increase over time.

The complaints continued. The flying qualities in the blended region (20 to 26 degrees [angle of attack]) were not intuitive or favorable, the pilot wrote, adding that theres no point for an F-35 pilot to get into a sustained, close turning battle with an enemy pilot. There were not compelling reasons to fight in this region.

The pilots revelations underscore what many observers long have suspected about the F-35. While its radar-evading qualities and high-end sensors might allow it to gain a favorable position for long-range missile shots, in a close fight the F-35 hardly excels.

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If an Iranian pilot can survive a merge with an F-35 and engage the stealth fighter in a turning dogfight, the Iranian might just bag himself a stealth fighter. Its worth noting that the Iranian air force flies scores of fighters that excel precisely in that regime.

American-made F-5 Tigers, for instance. Former U.S. Navy pilot Francesco Chierici who flew F-5s in the adversary role, sang the planes praise in a 2019 article for The War Zone. The Tiger was clean, just an AIM-9 and a telemetry pod on the wingtips, and occasionally a centerline fuel tank, Chierici wrote. She slipped through the number (Mach 1) easily. The F-5 was a pair of engines and wings. It was so simple

Aerodynamically, the F-5 will always be what we call a category-three fighter, where the F-35 and F-22 are now category-five fighters. Compared to modern jets, it is underpowered, slow and bleeds airspeed badly in a sustained turn, not to mention it has no stealth other than its tiny size.

But with just a few modifications, the F-5 is being turned into a threat plane with a legitimate sting. The newest upgrades include an [electronically-scanned] radar, good [radar-warning] gear, chaff and flares, a jamming pod and a helmet-mounted cueing system for a high off-boresight IR (infrared-guided) missiles.

A Tiger so outfitted can provide Super Hornets and F-35s a legitimate threat, especially in the training environment.

Iran indeed has been upgrading its F-5 fleet, although the modifications likely will not include the latest sensors and helmet sights.

Still, all things being equal the F-5 despite its age might still possesses the agility to gain the advantage over an F-35. Again, provided the F-5 pilot survives the merge to a close-in fight.

Thats a big assumption. F-35 pilots understand the limitations of their aircraft and certainly would do their best to avoid a dogfight. The Iranians might have to ambush the Americans in order to force the fight to close range. Its unclear how the Iranians might do so, given the Americans huge advantage in sensors and situational awareness.

David Axe serves as Defense Editor of the National Interest. He is theauthor of the graphic novelsWar Fix,War Is BoringandMachete Squad.

This article was first published earlier in 2019and is being republished due to reader interest.

Image: Reuters.

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Did Iran Manage to Find a Weak Spot in the F-35's Stealth? - Yahoo News

Olivia Wilde is using her experience in the film industry to change the game of directing, starting with prioritizing the comfort of actors especially during scenes that require vulnerability.

The 35-year-old actress made her directorial debut with the 2019 release of Booksmart, which won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. But during a conversation with Katie Couric on the 2020 MAKERS Conference stage, Wilde said that her work as a director is aimed at changing the environment that actors and crews work within and making it more comfortable and efficient.

I learned that many of the parts of the system that we accept just to be true, the way a film set works, the hierarchy and how it exists are actually something its something we have more control of than we assume, she said. So when I got onto a set, its like, okay, Im finally steering this ship. Do I have to steer it the same way Ive seen guys do it? Or can I do my own thing? I can do my own thing. So Im going to change the way this usually works.

And, although Wilde provided examples of how she set a new standard from day one of filming, her most important lesson came during a Booksmart sex scene. I thought, okay, Ill finally teach everyone what a closed set means. And I said to our actresses that are doing this intimate scene, When youre on your next film set, I want you to demand what Im showing you today.

She went on to explain just how she made sure that only the essential people were on set, and even put in extra measures to ensure that security was maintained throughout filming the scene. It takes a lot of effort, but its one example of providing an example of how things can be and telling these actresses, Now go off and demand this new standard, Wilde said. As a result, people had a better on-set experience.

I loved the opportunity to use what I have learned and to make it a better environment for the actors as well, she said.

Follow the 2020 Makers Conference at Makers.com.

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Olivia Wilde wants to change the way sex scenes are filmed: 'Demand this new standard' - Yahoo Celebrity

The Barbie brand, at 61 years old, is still evolving to attract new customers.

Lisa McKnight, global head of Barbie and dolls portfolio at Mattel (MAT), says her team has spent the last five years trying to make her a better reflection of the world that girls see around them.

The classic blonde Barbie, who was known for her disproportionate body, has grown and reinvented herself into many new versions. Just last month, Mattel introduced an inclusive line ranging from a Barbie without hair to one who has the skin condition vitiligo.

We know that if girls can see themselves in the line, they will find Barbie more relatable and accessible, McKnight told Yahoo Finance at the MAKERS Conference in Los Angeles this week.

28 January 2020, Bavaria, Nuremberg: Barbie dolls from the Fashionistas line of the U.S. toy manufacturer Mattel are on display at the company's stand at the International Toy Fair. (Photo by Daniel Karmann/picture alliance via Getty Images)

This kind of re-invention has helped Barbie, a toy launched in 1959, stay relevant in 2020, according to McKnight. We are so honored to have the privilege to work on a brand that has spanned multiple generations ... This is an industry that is volatile, where the average life cycle for a toy is three to five years, she said.

So for Barbie to stand the test of time, its all about reinvention, evolution and really ensuring shes connecting to culture. So when we look to the future, well be going where culture goes. And well be making sure that Barbie is in lock step with that.

Still, Margot Robbie, who resembles the classic doll, is set to play the live-action version of Barbie in the forthcoming film written by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach. When asked whether shes a good representation for this diverse new world of Barbie, McKnight said, We are thrilled to be working with Margot, although its still early days. The script is still in early stages of development and all I can share is there will definitely be a multidimensional view of beauty in the film and the brand will be conveyed as multifaceted, modern and not what you might not expect.

Mattel is set to report fourth quarter results after the bell on Thursday. This comes as the toymaker closes factories in an attempt to streamline its supply chain. Earlier this week, Hasbro (HAS) reported a blowout holiday quarter, driven by its Frozen 2 and Star Wars toy sales, part of its licensing agreement with Disney.Like other toy manufacturers, Mattel will likely remain concerned over whether the coronavirus in China affects its supply chain.

Melody Hahm is Yahoo Finances west coast correspondent, covering entrepreneurship, technology and culture. Follow her on Twitter@melodyhahm.

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How Barbie has survived for over 60 years in a 'volatile' toy industry - Yahoo Finance

Lululemon (LULU) has become a leader in promoting a healthy workplace culture.

Celeste Burgoyne, the companys EVP of Americas and Global Guest Innovation, made a pledge to promote and support mental wellness on Wednesday at the MAKERS Conference in Los Angeles.

MAKERS an organization that promotes and accelerates womens equality encourages board members to get on stage at its annual conference and commit to a specific goal to support accountability. Burgoyne, who is on the board, reflected on her pledges over the last three years.

We achieved 100% pay equity in 2018, a leading parenthood program offering up to six months paid leave [for both mothers and fathers] in 2019, and our senior leadership team is comprised of 60% women as of today. The next major step in our journey is leading the way in mental wellbeing because we know in order to be 100% authentically you, you need to be well. In 2020, we commit to offering our people leading mental health benefits, and providing training to all people managers so that they are equipped to support mental health conversations, she said.

Amid a relatively tight labor market, these offerings are critical in attracting high caliber talent.

This mental health pledge is really in our journey in... being the number one place that people come to work and develop as leaders, she added.

Sign on facade at Lululemon athleisure clothing store on Santana Row in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, California, December 14, 2019. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Founded in 1998 as a womens yoga pants retailer, Lululemon has morphed into a dual gender brand, catering to both male and female consumers. Still, of the companys 20,000 global employees, 78% are women. And over 320 people, 200 of whom are store employees, have so far taken advantage of a gender neutral policy that gives up to three months of paid parental leave to employees who have been with the company for at least two years.

Lululemons internal focus on being gender neutral, providing both men and women equal opportunity and access to parental leave benefits, mirrors that of its business.

One of our big goals is growing our mens business. We do see doubling our mens business in the next four years, and were really doing that by continuing to connect with communities and connect people. Mens is a huge opportunity for us, Burgoyne said.

In the third quarter, revenue from mens apparel grew 38%. In 2018, the companytold investorsthat 21% of Lululemons $3.3 billion in sales last year came from mens products.

Disclaimer: MAKERS and Yahoo Finance are both part of Verizon Media.

Melody Hahm is Yahoo Finances west coast correspondent, covering entrepreneurship, technology and culture. Follow her on Twitter@melodyhahm.

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Lululemon exec: Mental health is the 'next major step in our journey' - Yahoo Finance