Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) has one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence (AI) businesses on the planet, and as more clients want a piece of its proprietary data analytics platform, growth has been accelerating. The company just reported outstanding first-quarter performance, trouncing Wall Street's expectations, but Palantir stock remained roughly flat after the report, and it's...
Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) has one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence (AI) businesses on the planet, and as more clients want a piece of its proprietary data analytics platform, growth has been accelerating. The company just reported outstanding first-quarter performance, trouncing Wall Street's expectations, but Palantir stock remained roughly flat after the report, and it's 29% off its all-time high. Let's see what's happening and try to predict where it might be in five years. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
Stories filled with tragic bravery, outrage at heedless officials and horror as loved ones perished were among those shared by 24 residents of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court estate, as they testified at a public hearing investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades. Over multiple sessions that began on March 19, some told the presiding committee how their repeated efforts to raise bid-rigg...
Stories filled with tragic bravery, outrage at heedless officials and horror as loved ones perished were among those shared by 24 residents of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court estate, as they testified at a public hearing investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades. Over multiple sessions that began on March 19, some told the presiding committee how their repeated efforts to raise bid-rigging and safety concerns about the estate’s exterior renovation fell on deaf ears, well before the...
Ambitious plans are being scaled back – but film and TV industry point to big existing investments in British production Hollywood blockbusters including the eagerly anticipated Beatles biopics and big-budget TV series such as Bridgerton have been keeping the UK’s film and TV studio facilities packed. But as the streaming wars recalibrate having passed “peak TV” , a slowdown in the content arms ra...
Ambitious plans are being scaled back – but film and TV industry point to big existing investments in British production Hollywood blockbusters including the eagerly anticipated Beatles biopics and big-budget TV series such as Bridgerton have been keeping the UK’s film and TV studio facilities packed. But as the streaming wars recalibrate having passed “peak TV” , a slowdown in the content arms race is prompting property developers to switch to building datacentres amid the AI boom. Continue reading...
Women’s sport is in its high-growth phase. With surging salaries and new – or even revived – teams, the league has plenty to reflect on and to look forward to Opening night typically pulses with anticipation rather than gushes with nostalgia, but the New York Liberty wore a “court origins” uniform that alludes to their history as one of the WNBA’s eight founding members when they hosted the Connec...
Women’s sport is in its high-growth phase. With surging salaries and new – or even revived – teams, the league has plenty to reflect on and to look forward to Opening night typically pulses with anticipation rather than gushes with nostalgia, but the New York Liberty wore a “court origins” uniform that alludes to their history as one of the WNBA’s eight founding members when they hosted the Connecticut Sun on Friday. Protracted and pugnacious negotiations between the players’ union and the league threatened to delay or even wreck the new season. But an accord that hands the players significant pay rises means the league has much to look forward to, as well as plenty to reflect on, as it celebrates 30 years. Continue reading...
He’s played English titans from William Shakespeare to Gareth Southgate, but what does the actor really think about the country today? We are at a corner table in a breakfast place in Chelsea, Joseph Fiennes opposite me on the banquette with his jack russell, Noa. “Dog duty,” he says, apologetic. Noa looks at me, brown eyes also apologetic. They’ve been in Hyde Park, he says, he lost track, didn’t...
He’s played English titans from William Shakespeare to Gareth Southgate, but what does the actor really think about the country today? We are at a corner table in a breakfast place in Chelsea, Joseph Fiennes opposite me on the banquette with his jack russell, Noa. “Dog duty,” he says, apologetic. Noa looks at me, brown eyes also apologetic. They’ve been in Hyde Park, he says, he lost track, didn’t have time to take her home. Nature is where he’s at his best, where he feels cleansed, connected, observant – his sentences are decorative like this. “It’s when I’m at my happiest, on hours-long, rain-drenched walks. Hot cheeks, freezing hands.” In an ideal world he’d be trekking or wild swimming in the rugged landscape of the Tramuntana in Spain. But if it must be London, “nothing beats Hyde Park”. Fiennes is tidy in a cashmere cardie and thick twill chinos. Noa has a snazzy yellow collar. Anyway, she’s well-behaved, he says: “Aren’t you, Noa?” She curls up to prove it. The scene is a masterclass in unhurried wholesomeness. Until he says Noa will savage me if I’m mean. Fiennes was launched into the national consciousness as the doe-eyed, luscious-lashed 28-year-old star of Shakespeare in Love opposite Gwyneth Paltrow. He’s self-deprecating about his career since, saying to one interviewer that it condemned him to a decade of “flouncy shirts and horses” and to me that he’s been “pretty much a supporting actor for an actress throughout”. While he’s worked alongside impressive women – Cate Blanchett , Helen Mirren , Elisabeth Moss , Rachel Weisz , Eva Green – his own standout roles include the chilling Commander Waterford in The Handmaid’s Tale (whom he describes as “insidious”). Now 55, he jokes, he’s mostly “playing dads”. Not least Young Sherlock’s dad in the Amazon series – young Sherlock being his real-life nephew Hero Fiennes Tiffin – but also a gripping portrayal of Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe , who was held hostage in Iran for six years, i...
A supreme court decision will determine whether the cruel, unconstitutional execution of people with intellectual disability becomes even more prevalent The supreme court will soon rule on Hamm v Smith, an Alabama death penalty case that could significantly increase the number of people with intellectual disability who are executed. In this case, Alabama is fighting to execute a man named Joseph S...
A supreme court decision will determine whether the cruel, unconstitutional execution of people with intellectual disability becomes even more prevalent The supreme court will soon rule on Hamm v Smith, an Alabama death penalty case that could significantly increase the number of people with intellectual disability who are executed. In this case, Alabama is fighting to execute a man named Joseph Smith. Smith’s five IQ scores – 72, 74, 74, 75 and 78 – all fall around the bottom fifth percentile of the population. Based on these IQ tests, which measure learning, reasoning and problem-solving, and Smith’s adaptive behaviors, which include the social and practical skills that Smith uses to navigate everyday life, a federal court determined that Smith is intellectually disabled. Because the supreme court held in its landmark 2002 Atkins ruling that executing anyone with an intellectual disability violates the constitution, Alabama cannot execute Smith. Continue reading...
PM’s wife, accompanying him to the polls, follows a long line of women to mobilise the jacket when stakes are high Not a white flag but a cream blazer was what Victoria Starmer chose to wear to accompany her husband, the prime minister, to vote on Thursday morning. She follows in a long line of women who have mobilised the power blazer at high-stakes moments. Starmer’s, which looks much like a £1,...
PM’s wife, accompanying him to the polls, follows a long line of women to mobilise the jacket when stakes are high Not a white flag but a cream blazer was what Victoria Starmer chose to wear to accompany her husband, the prime minister, to vote on Thursday morning. She follows in a long line of women who have mobilised the power blazer at high-stakes moments. Starmer’s, which looks much like a £1,690 ivory Alexander McQueen crepe design, comes hot on the lapels of another. In episode one of the new series of Amandaland , Amanda wears a beige double-breasted iteration in a high-stakes fictional moment: to give a toe-curling talk about her (not shallow) lifestyle brand Senuous as part of careers week at her kid’s school. Earlier in the week, the Princess of Wales launched the Foundations for Life report wearing a creamy beige high-waisted Roland Mouret suit . Continue reading...
Terry Reed, who had previously been convicted for sexually abusing two other minors, could be imprisoned for 40 years Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A suburban New Orleans religious pastor has been convicted of sexually molesting two minors in what is the third instance of a man called “the worst kind of predator” being found guilty of abusing teen boys. Terry Reed, 66, cited bi...
Terry Reed, who had previously been convicted for sexually abusing two other minors, could be imprisoned for 40 years Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A suburban New Orleans religious pastor has been convicted of sexually molesting two minors in what is the third instance of a man called “the worst kind of predator” being found guilty of abusing teen boys. Terry Reed, 66, cited biblical verses and scripture to “manipulate, normalize and justify his sexual behavior” with the two victims at the center of the newest case against him, according to a statement from Louisiana state prosecutors. Continue reading...
The main antagonist of Toy Story 5 , in theaters this summer, is a green, frog-shaped kids’ tablet named Lilypad, a genius new villain for the beloved Pixar franchise . But if Pixar had its ear to the ground, it might have used an AI kids’ toy instead. AI toys are seemingly everywhere, marketed online as friendly companions to children as young as three, and they're still a largely unregulated cat...
The main antagonist of Toy Story 5 , in theaters this summer, is a green, frog-shaped kids’ tablet named Lilypad, a genius new villain for the beloved Pixar franchise . But if Pixar had its ear to the ground, it might have used an AI kids’ toy instead. AI toys are seemingly everywhere, marketed online as friendly companions to children as young as three, and they're still a largely unregulated category. It’s easier than ever to spin up an AI companion, thanks to model developer programs and vibe coding . In 2026, they’ve become a go-to trend in cheap trinkets, lining the halls of trade shows like CES , MWC , and Hong Kong’s Toys & Games Fair . By October 2025, there were over 1,500 AI toy companies registered in China, and Huawei’s Smart HanHan plush toy sold 10,000 units in China in its first week. Sharp put its PokeTomo talking AI toy on sale in Japan this April. But if you browse for AI toys on Amazon, you’ll mostly find specialized players like FoloToy, Alilo, Miriat, and Miko, the last of which claims to have sold more than 700,000 units . Read full article Comments
Carmen K Sisson/iStock Editorial via Getty Images The open highway American road stop is evolving as more travelers time their stops to take advantage of super-sized gas stations such as Buc-ee's, Wawa, and Wally's that have changed the quick fill-up and a bag of chips fix into a full-scale destination experience catering to families with children and pets. The experience-driven travel stops all f...
Carmen K Sisson/iStock Editorial via Getty Images The open highway American road stop is evolving as more travelers time their stops to take advantage of super-sized gas stations such as Buc-ee's, Wawa, and Wally's that have changed the quick fill-up and a bag of chips fix into a full-scale destination experience catering to families with children and pets. The experience-driven travel stops all feature lots of fresh food, branded merchandise, clean restrooms, EV charging stations, and a strong identity. Buc-ee's, founded in 1982 and largely relegated to the South for decades, has aggressively pushed into new territory, with locations now featuring over 100 gas pumps and stores exceeding 75K square feet. The chain currently operates 54 stores, 36 of which are in Texas, but has announced an expansion to at least 62 locations as it enters seven new states between 2026 and 2027. In 2025 alone, Buc-ee's broke ground in Goodyear, Arizona; San Marcos, Texas; Benton, Arkansas; Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Kansas City, Kansas; and Ruston, Louisiana. Meanwhile, Ohio's first-ever Buc-ee's location is expected to open soon. Wawa is pursuing an equally ambitious trajectory. The Delaware County chain broke ground for its first stores in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana in 2025, committing to open 160 stores across those three states over the next five to eight years with a $1.2B investment. That geographic expansion puts it in direct competition with Kwik Trip. Wawa's broader goal is to reach 1.8K stores by 2030, up from its current base of over 1K locations. The chain also made a notable pivot toward truck traffic by opening its first travel center in Hope Mills, North Carolina, featuring 20 passenger fuel spots and six high-speed diesel lanes for tractor-trailers. Midwest-based Wally's has also generated a lot of buzz with its locations in Pontiac, Illinois, and Fenton, Missouri, and a clear destination feel. Other chains such as Sheetz, QuikTrip, Maverik, and Parker's have tried to co...
China’s trade with the United States has declined this year, official data shows, as US President Donald Trump heads to Beijing next week for a high-stakes visit that could determine the future of economic relations between the two superpowers. China’s merchandise exports to the US fell 10.2 per cent year on year to US$133.4 billion in the first four months of 2026, according to data released on S...
China’s trade with the United States has declined this year, official data shows, as US President Donald Trump heads to Beijing next week for a high-stakes visit that could determine the future of economic relations between the two superpowers. China’s merchandise exports to the US fell 10.2 per cent year on year to US$133.4 billion in the first four months of 2026, according to data released on Saturday by the General Administration of Customs. Imports from the US also declined 10.9 per cent to...
Germany's AfD On Verge Of Absolute Majority In Eastern Saxony-Anhalt Just Months Before Election Via Remix News, With just one more point on election day, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is closing in on producing a political earthquake. According to a recent poll by Infratest dimap, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt is pushing its lead even further, now at 41 percent. The poll also shows that for the CD...
Germany's AfD On Verge Of Absolute Majority In Eastern Saxony-Anhalt Just Months Before Election Via Remix News, With just one more point on election day, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is closing in on producing a political earthquake. According to a recent poll by Infratest dimap, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt is pushing its lead even further, now at 41 percent. The poll also shows that for the CDU, establishing a government is becoming more difficult, especially since any realistic option besides the AfD appears to be a minority government. There are just four months until election day, and much could change until then, but the AfD appears to be only gaining momentum, not only in the state, but also nationwide, where it just hit a record of 28 percent in the latest Insa survey. SACHSEN-ANHALT | Sonntagsfrage Landtagswahl Infratest dimap/MDR, MZ, Volksstimme AfD: 41% (+2) CDU: 26% (-1) LINKE: 12% (-1) SPD: 7% GRÜNE: 4% (+1) BSW: 4% (-2) Sonstige: 6% (+1) Änderungen zur letzten Umfrage vom 04. September 2025 Verlauf: https://t.co/x9wTDqkYqA #ltwst … pic.twitter.com/1T1SnGSDuF — Deutschland Wählt (@Wahlen_DE) May 7, 2026 In the “Sachsen-AnhaltTREND” survey, which was conducted by Infratest dimap on behalf of the Magdeburger Volksstimme, the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, and Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, the AfD hit 41 percent. Meanwhile, its closest rival, the CDU, lost 1 percentage point compared to the previous week and sits at 26 percent. Compared to an Infratest poll from last September, the AfD has increased its support by 2 percentage points. Following the CDU are Die Linke at 12 percent and the SPD at 7 percent. 🇩🇪🎄The German Christmas market in Magdeburg has been suspended over security concerns, sparking a nationwide debate. The question: Why are Christmas markets in Germany being canceled while countries like 🇵🇱Poland and the 🇨🇿Czech Republic have no serious terror threats at their… pic.twitter.com/MUW5fofh5w — Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) November 12, 2025 Both the ...
According to a recent SEC filing , Francis Financial, Inc. increased its position in the TCW Flexible Income ETF (NYSE:FLXR) last quarter, purchasing 198,312 additional shares at an estimated transaction value of $7.8 million -- calculated using the average closing price during the quarter. Post-trade, Francis Financial held 1,124,349 shares of FLXR, valued at $44.2 million, representing 8.2% of i...
According to a recent SEC filing , Francis Financial, Inc. increased its position in the TCW Flexible Income ETF (NYSE:FLXR) last quarter, purchasing 198,312 additional shares at an estimated transaction value of $7.8 million -- calculated using the average closing price during the quarter. Post-trade, Francis Financial held 1,124,349 shares of FLXR, valued at $44.2 million, representing 8.2% of its reportable AUM. The TCW Flexible Income ETF (FLXR) is an actively managed fixed-income ETF. Francis Financial's move to add $7.8 million to its FLXR position -- making it the firm's third-largest holding -- is a potential signal about where this wealth manager sees value right now. For a firm with a portfolio that leans heavily on equity ETFs, a $44 million position in an actively managed bond fund suggests a deliberate tilt toward income and potential downside protection amid an uncertain market environment. Continue reading
Key PointsThe artificial intelligence revolution, among other factors, has helped propel the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite to new heights.
Key PointsThe artificial intelligence revolution, among other factors, has helped propel the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite to new heights.
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images My wife and I purchased the house we're in back in 2018 - closing actually took place on my wife's birthday that year. After a refinance during the pandemic and paying extra principal monthly, we are on track to have the bank paid off in the next 12 months. The prospect of having free and clear ownership of our own home in the near future has had me thinking ba...
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images My wife and I purchased the house we're in back in 2018 - closing actually took place on my wife's birthday that year. After a refinance during the pandemic and paying extra principal monthly, we are on track to have the bank paid off in the next 12 months. The prospect of having free and clear ownership of our own home in the near future has had me thinking back a little to some of the steps we took to make it work. Initially, we didn't have quite enough for a 20% down payment, and so we were looking at the prospect of being required to pay mortgage insurance (or PMI, short for "private mortgage insurance") on top of our mortgage payments. Being frugal sorts of people, we didn't really want to pay for mortgage insurance if we didn't have to, so we scrambled and borrowed from the unrestricted cash we had set aside for our children's college to increase our down payment and did not end up being required to carry PMI. I think it sort of annoyed our loan officer that we kept changing our down payment terms, but it all worked out in the end. We paid back our children's savings funds with interest at a rate modestly higher than our mortgage rate, so I feel we all came out winners, except the mortgage insurer who lost out on getting our premiums. However, in the process, I did start to learn about this industry of insuring mortgages in the United States, a business more or less dominated by a handful of public firms, including Enact Holdings ( ACT ), Radian Group ( RDN ), and MGIC Investment Corp. ( MTG ). For those not familiar with the basic business model, mortgage insurance is a financial product generally required for the benefit of lenders to protect them against bad home loans when a borrower has less than 20% equity in the home. However, unlike some other insurance products, the beneficiaries are not the ones who pay for it. Rather, homeowners pay the premiums (typically bundled into their monthly mortgage payments) until reach...