Who's cashing in on the Raptors?, Americans look north for insulin, and more top news

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Sports merchandisers are making a fortune from the Toronto Raptors’ first ever National Basketball Association finals win. Raptors championship gear and memorabilia broke the record for sales after an NBA title, according to Fanatics, which runs the online stores for the NBA, NHL and the Blues. About 60 per cent of Raptors sales have come from Canada. Meanwhile, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the Raptors, may also soon cash in, especially from luxury-suite leases, says the company’s ex-chief. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Approximately 1.9 million Americans will turn to medical tourism this year, according to Patients Without Borders – including one Minnesota mom who's leading caravan trips to Canada in search of insulin, which costs her one tenth of what it would in the U.S. On average, Americans pay more for healthcare than their peers in other developed countries, shelling out roughly $3.65 trillion in medical costs last year. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Huawei Technologies expects to wipe off USD$30 billion to revenue this year and next from U.S. sanctions, said its founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei. The Chinese telecoms giant is bracing for a 40% to 60% drop in global smartphone shipments, reported Bloomberg, citing anonymous people, and last week canceled the launch of its new laptop due to restrictions by the Trump administration, according to The Wall Street Journal. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Airbus has raced to an early lead in sales over Boeing at aviation’s biggest yearly event, the Paris Air Show — offloading at least 100 new planes, including 27 of its new longer-range model as part of an USD$11 billion order. Boeing, meanwhile, is struggling to get regulatory permission to put its 737 MAX jets back in the sky following two deadly crashes. Its executives, who expect the MAX to return to service by next year, say they're considering changing the jet's name in a bid to win back public confidence. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Also: While airlines have unbundled economy airfares for years, Emirates is the first airline to unbundle business class for those who simply want a good seat, minus the frills. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Hot-desking – where employees use different desks as needed – may not be as hot as employers think. A new survey suggests 60% of employees dislike the policy of sharing workstations, and many even say it makes them less productive. A separate study found many workers feel that hot-desking leads to wasted time and added stress as they need to set up new stations daily. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: Never underestimate the power of your influence as a leader, says Sean Gagnon, CEO of The Abs Company.

“The simple act of acknowledgment goes a long way in strengthening culture and letting your team know that they and their work matters.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

—  Jessica Hartogs