The latest in our series of writers paying tribute to their most rewatched comfort films is an unusual journey back to the 1980s through the lens of the early 2000s If the stereotypical feelgood movie is a cashmere comfort blanket – the kind of film that leaves viewers blissed out on the sofa as the credits roll and Bridget Jones finally gets to snog Mark Darcy – I should probably notify a qualifi...
The latest in our series of writers paying tribute to their most rewatched comfort films is an unusual journey back to the 1980s through the lens of the early 2000s If the stereotypical feelgood movie is a cashmere comfort blanket – the kind of film that leaves viewers blissed out on the sofa as the credits roll and Bridget Jones finally gets to snog Mark Darcy – I should probably notify a qualified team of specialists that my own is a tale of teenage alienation, suburban hypocrisy, apocalyptic dread and a man in a monstrous rabbit suit issuing stern instructions about death. Then again, it does have a considerably better soundtrack. Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko explored alternate realities decades before the Marvel films and Everything Everywhere All at Once made the multiverse a pop-cultural touchstone. Its tree-lined streets, Halloween skies and teenagers pedalling through suburbia were like a weirder, sadder blueprint for Stranger Things long before Hawkins existed. It’s a suburban fever dream about fate, madness and collapsing timelines, a nightmarish physics puzzle steeped in existential dread. But beneath all the cult-film weirdness, it is also the oddly uplifting story of a lonely, damaged kid who finally understands his place in the world – and sacrifices himself to save it against the backdrop of some of the most luminous 80s alt-pop atmospherics ever recorded. Continue reading...
Louisiana’s cultural hotspot could be surrounded by Gulf of Mexico before end of this century, authors say The process of relocating people from New Orleans should start immediately as the city has reached a “point of no return” that will see it surrounded by the ocean within decades due to the climate crisis , a stark new study has concluded. Ongoing sea level rise and the rampant erosion of wetl...
Louisiana’s cultural hotspot could be surrounded by Gulf of Mexico before end of this century, authors say The process of relocating people from New Orleans should start immediately as the city has reached a “point of no return” that will see it surrounded by the ocean within decades due to the climate crisis , a stark new study has concluded. Ongoing sea level rise and the rampant erosion of wetlands in southern Louisiana will swallow up the New Orleans area within a few generations, with the new paper estimating the city “may well be surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico before the end of this century”. Continue reading...
Mayfair Gold ( MINE ) has named Drew Anwyll, formerly chief operating officer of the company, as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Anwyll is a seasoned mining executive and professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale gold assets across Canada. Nick Campbell, current chief executive officer, will be steppin...
Mayfair Gold ( MINE ) has named Drew Anwyll, formerly chief operating officer of the company, as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Anwyll is a seasoned mining executive and professional engineer with more than 30 years of experience in the development, construction, and operation of large-scale gold assets across Canada. Nick Campbell, current chief executive officer, will be stepping down and departing the company. More on Mayfair Gold Corp. Historical earnings data for Mayfair Gold Corp. Financial information for Mayfair Gold Corp.
For years we have been told the best way to get fitter and stronger is to lift something heavy, whether that’s a barbell or our own bodyweight. What if how we put it down was just as important? We all love a power move, such as running, jumping, throwing balls, swinging kettlebells or scaling walls. In comparison, deliberate, controlled movement can seem a bit boring. But this slower side of exerc...
For years we have been told the best way to get fitter and stronger is to lift something heavy, whether that’s a barbell or our own bodyweight. What if how we put it down was just as important? We all love a power move, such as running, jumping, throwing balls, swinging kettlebells or scaling walls. In comparison, deliberate, controlled movement can seem a bit boring. But this slower side of exercise is frequently safer and less physically demanding than its more showy rival. And according to the latest research, one form of it is more effective than it has traditionally been given credit for. “Eccentric exercise training provides numerous benefits for physical fitness and overall health, making it suitable for a wide range of individuals,” Prof Kazunori Nosaka writes in a new paper published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science. It “offers unique advantages over concentric or isometric exercise, particularly in promoting neuromuscular adaptations”. Continue reading...
Taiyou Nomachi/DigitalVision via Getty Images The tech trade has taken flight in the past five weeks. Since March 30, the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLK ) has returned more than 25%, handily outperforming the 10 other S&P 500 sector funds. But today I'm digging into a niche AI ETF, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF ( BOTZ ). Primarily composed of information...
Taiyou Nomachi/DigitalVision via Getty Images The tech trade has taken flight in the past five weeks. Since March 30, the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF ( XLK ) has returned more than 25%, handily outperforming the 10 other S&P 500 sector funds. But today I'm digging into a niche AI ETF, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF ( BOTZ ). Primarily composed of information technology and industrials, I had a 'Hold' rating on the product back in late 2023. Shares have returned 37% since my December 2023 assessment , but that lags the S&P 500 by about 15 percentage points (even more when dividends are included). Today, I reiterate a 'Hold' rating. I find that the ETF's price-to-earnings ratio is elevated, while the technical situation leaves something to be desired from both an absolute and relative perspective. BOTZ: Lags the Tech Sector YoY Seeking Alpha According to the issuer , BOTZ seeks to invest in companies that could benefit from increased adoption and use of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), including those involved in industrial robotics and automation, non-industrial robots, and autonomous vehicles. The global robotics market was valued at an estimated $108 billion in 2025, with forecasts suggesting it could nearly quadruple to $416 billion by 2035. BOTZ is a medium-sized ETF, now with total assets under management of $3.5 billion. That's up from $2.5 billion at the time of my previous analysis. Its annual expense ratio is elevated at 68 basis points, while the trailing 12-month dividend yield is low at only 0.61%. Share-price momentum has been decent lately, but not as powerful as the broader market (something I will detail later in the article). From a risk perspective , BTOZ has a weak D ETF Grade in that category by Seeking Alpha's quantitative scoring system. Its concentration and historical realized volatility readings buttress that weak score. Finally, liquidity is solid. BOTZ carries an average daily volume of near...
The European Central Bank must be both cautious and ready to act on interest rates should inflation spread beyond a surge in oil prices, outgoing Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau said. Before any tightening of monetary policy, the Bank of France chief said a “critical mass” of data is required regarding core inflation, wages and business and consumer expectations of price incre...
The European Central Bank must be both cautious and ready to act on interest rates should inflation spread beyond a surge in oil prices, outgoing Governing Council member Francois Villeroy de Galhau said. Before any tightening of monetary policy, the Bank of France chief said a “critical mass” of data is required regarding core inflation, wages and business and consumer expectations of price increases. He also said the ECB should consider the possibility that weaker demand and economic growth will ease inflation pressure. “Vigilant monetary policy, that’s ready to act without hesitation, is necessary today,” Villeroy said in an annual letter to President Emmanuel Macron . “Yet, monetary policy should also be cautious.” At Villeroy’s final policy meeting last week, the ECB kept borrowing costs unchanged, though President Christine Lagarde signaled a hike will be considered at next time. Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said Friday that it would be appropriate to act in June if the outlook doesn’t improve markedly. When policymakers next decide on rates, they’ll be reexamining their scenarios for inflation and growth. The war in the Middle East is now in its third month and there’s no indication an end is imminent. Villeroy won’t be present at that meeting due to his retirement at the end of May as Bank of France governor. In his final annual letter to Macron in that role, he also said government aid to help businesses and households with energy costs must be extremely targeted and temporary, particularly as France has limited fiscal space. French bond markets have seen selloffs in the last two years after elections fractured parliament and fragile governments missed targets to tackle rising public debt. Villeroy warned that if the state fails to meet its goal for deficits of 5% of economic output this year and 3% by 2029, the country would “very clearly” expose itself to a further increase in borrowing costs that would hurt households, businesses and growth. The yi...
Hazelview Investments Inc. , a private money manager that specializes in commercial real estate, is combining its listed real estate business with that of Presima Securities ULC in a move to bulk up its global platform. Under the transaction, Toronto-based Hazelview will assume Montreal-based Presima’s investment management contracts, the companies said in a joint statement Monday. Key portfolio m...
Hazelview Investments Inc. , a private money manager that specializes in commercial real estate, is combining its listed real estate business with that of Presima Securities ULC in a move to bulk up its global platform. Under the transaction, Toronto-based Hazelview will assume Montreal-based Presima’s investment management contracts, the companies said in a joint statement Monday. Key portfolio managers, such as Marc-Andre Flageole , head of Presima’s REIT team, will be joining and continuing to run their existing strategies, according to Hazelview Managing Partner Samuel Sahn . The deal will add more than C$500 million ($368 million) in listed real estate assets to Hazelview’s platform, Sahn said in an interview. That compares with roughly C$1.7 billion the firm already oversees in public real estate securities, within a broader organization managing more than C$10 billion, he said. The tie-up will expand research coverage and scale across offices in Toronto, New York, Hamburg and Hong Kong, according to the statement. The combination comes as investor appetite for real estate investment trusts strengthens, according to Sahn, who said the move isn’t a response to weak flows. “We’re seeing significantly renewed investor demand,” he said, citing outperformance for REITs versus broader equity benchmarks in the US. The firm sees the most compelling opportunities in the US REIT market, particularly in sectors such as data centers, senior housing, industrial and hotels, where improving fundamentals are supporting rental growth and occupancy, Sahn said. Read More: Top US Apartment Owners Said to Weigh Real Estate Megamerger Hazelview will adopt its own branding for the combined platform, and there will be no immediate changes to portfolio management or investment processes for Presima mandates, Sahn said.
President Trump has thrown his support behind challengers to Republican state senators who opposed his redistricting push. (Image credit: Tamara Keith)
President Trump has thrown his support behind challengers to Republican state senators who opposed his redistricting push. (Image credit: Tamara Keith)
The oldest millennials are turning 45 this year. The oldest Gen Xers are now 60. So how prepared will they be to thrive in the decades ahead? A new tool helps people assess beyond just savings. (Image credit: Mar Hernández for NPR)
The oldest millennials are turning 45 this year. The oldest Gen Xers are now 60. So how prepared will they be to thrive in the decades ahead? A new tool helps people assess beyond just savings. (Image credit: Mar Hernández for NPR)
In 23 states, including five presidential swing states, candidates who've denied election results are running for offices that have a direct role in certifying future elections, a new report finds. (Image credit: Ross D. Franklin)
In 23 states, including five presidential swing states, candidates who've denied election results are running for offices that have a direct role in certifying future elections, a new report finds. (Image credit: Ross D. Franklin)
The bipartisan bill would block companies from using auto-dialers to harvest private information about disabled veterans. The firms charge vets for a service lawmakers say is supposed to be free.
The bipartisan bill would block companies from using auto-dialers to harvest private information about disabled veterans. The firms charge vets for a service lawmakers say is supposed to be free.
It’s highly likely that the European Central Bank will have to raise interest rates at its next meeting in June, Governing Council member Peter Kazimir said. While officials aren’t pre-committed to any fixed path and more data are needed to assess the fallout from the Iran war, “we remain firm in our approach,” the Slovak official said Monday. “On this basis, policy tightening in June is all but i...
It’s highly likely that the European Central Bank will have to raise interest rates at its next meeting in June, Governing Council member Peter Kazimir said. While officials aren’t pre-committed to any fixed path and more data are needed to assess the fallout from the Iran war, “we remain firm in our approach,” the Slovak official said Monday. “On this basis, policy tightening in June is all but inevitable,” he said in an op-ed. “It is becoming increasingly likely that we must prepare for a prolonged period of broad-based price increases coupled with visibly weaker growth across the euro zone.” The ECB last Thursday kept borrowing costs unchanged while signaling that a rate increase will be considered at the June 10-11 gathering. Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel said Friday that such a move will be needed if there’s no significant improvement in the outlook for inflation and economic growth. While some of his colleagues echoed such comments, others struck a more cautious tone. “Obviously we’re talking about a possible increase in interest rates in June,” Lithuania’s Gediminas Simkus said Monday. “But whether the decision will actually be taken will depend on the situation and data.” Should the conflict in the Middle East get resolved, “then it would be a factor that would allow us to think about some other decision,” he added. Most economists and investors expect a quarter-point hike next month. Markets see two moves beyond that before the year is out. Muller: ECB Rate at More-Less Neutral Level Allows Time to Wait Rehn Says Fast ECB Action Needed If Second-Round Inflation Seen Nagel Favors ECB June Hike Unless Outlook Improves Markedly While there’s little the ECB can do to offset the direct surge in inflation due to the energy shock, Kazimir said higher oil and gas prices are also “bound to spread to the rest of the economy.” The ECB is facing current challenges from a “position of stability,” he said. “The memory of the high inflation years is fresh but so is o...
Iran Outraged After Assassination Of Top Shia Cleric In Damascus Via The Cradle Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Sunday strongly condemned the assassination of a Syrian Shia religious cleric, describing it as a terrorist attack and "heinous crime." On Friday, Sayyid Farhan al-Mansour, Imam of the Sayyeda Zainab Shrine in the southern suburbs of Damascus, was assassinated after a...
Iran Outraged After Assassination Of Top Shia Cleric In Damascus Via The Cradle Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Sunday strongly condemned the assassination of a Syrian Shia religious cleric, describing it as a terrorist attack and "heinous crime." On Friday, Sayyid Farhan al-Mansour, Imam of the Sayyeda Zainab Shrine in the southern suburbs of Damascus, was assassinated after a hand grenade was thrown at his vehicle . Mansour was targeted by unknown assailants shortly after he finished leading Friday prayers and was leaving the shrine. Slain Shia cleric Sayyid Farhan al-Mansour Baghaei said that acts of terrorism targeting religious sites and scholars in Syria and across West Asia are part of a broader plot by Israel and the US to create sectarian division and chaos in the region . Baghaei called on all parties to remain vigilant, confront terrorism and extremism, and stressed the need to hold those responsible for the attack accountable. He further emphasized that Syria's transitional authorities are responsible for ensuring the safety of all citizens, including scholars and members of various ethnic and religious groups. The Syrian Interior Ministry has said the assassination of a Shia cleric marks a "dangerous escalation," adding it is following with "great concern" what it described as "systematic" attempts in recent days to create instability, spread chaos, and undermine civil peace. A source told Asharq al-Awsat that the cleric killed on Friday was "considered a partner of the government in reshaping the landscape of stability within the Shia community" in Syria, going as far as to claim that this role made him a target for cells linked to the "Iran axis," which, according to circles close to the Syrian government, are allegedly exploiting instability by recruiting local agents. Since coming to power in December 2024, Syria's new government has established a religious state based on the extremist teachings of the medieval Sunni religious sc...
Not long ago, the thought of a stock surpassing $1 trillion seemed unfathomable. Today, there are several stocks with market caps of more than $1 trillion, some of which have surpassed $4 trillion. This is largely due to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the belief that the technology will change life as we know it. The large tech companies best positioned to take advantage of this...
Not long ago, the thought of a stock surpassing $1 trillion seemed unfathomable. Today, there are several stocks with market caps of more than $1 trillion, some of which have surpassed $4 trillion. This is largely due to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the belief that the technology will change life as we know it. The large tech companies best positioned to take advantage of this trend have seen their stocks melt up. Furthermore, private companies are expected to go public at stratospheric valuations. Here are three upcoming monster initial public offering (IPOs) that could soon join Meta Platforms , Tesla , and Broadcom in the $1 trillion club. Continue reading
Jordan Siemens/DigitalVision via Getty Images I have covered Australian coal mining firm Yancoal ( YACAF ) several times in the past and have been a happy shareholder for many years. The recent purchase of the Kestrel coal mine has been hailed as a transformative move for the company, significantly increasing its exposure to hard coking coal. The time has come for me to review this transaction and...
Jordan Siemens/DigitalVision via Getty Images I have covered Australian coal mining firm Yancoal ( YACAF ) several times in the past and have been a happy shareholder for many years. The recent purchase of the Kestrel coal mine has been hailed as a transformative move for the company, significantly increasing its exposure to hard coking coal. The time has come for me to review this transaction and explain why you should be extremely cautious with this ticker at the current price level. Ready? Let’s dive in! Kestrel coal mine: what did Yancoal actually purchase? First of all, it is important to remember here that Yancoal did not literally purchase the Kestrel coal mine but 100% of a company called Kestrel Coal Group Pty Ltd, which possesses an 80% stake in the Kestrel coal mine. The other 20% remains the ownership of Mitsui Resources Pty Ltd., a subsidiary of Japanese trading giant Mitsui Co., Ltd. Yancoal acquired Kestrel Coal Group Pty Ltd from a group of investors for a cash sum of $1.85 billion and future contingent payments potentially totaling $550 million over five years . For these contingent payments to occur, the annual average index price for Low Vol Hard Coking Coal should remain above $225 per metric ton. In other words, unless prices for metallurgical coal crash, Yancoal will end up paying $2.35 billion for this majority stake. Interestingly, the company will fund this acquisition with its pile of cash and a couple of credit facilities. Hence, this purchase is not expected to significantly degrade the debt profile of Yancoal and this is a point I particularly appreciate. Kestrel coal mine: what is produced there? Each year, the Kestrel coal mine produces about 6 million metric tons (i.e., about 6.6 short tons for U.S. readers) of saleable coal. 80% of this total is low-vol hard coking coal and the rest is made of high calorific value thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal, grades that are generally sold slightly above the gCNEW6000 index price. Kestrel’...
International Energy Agency analysis shows methane leaks remained at near-record highs in 2025 Methane emissions from the energy sector remained at near record levels in 2025, the International Energy Agency concluded in a report. Tackling the emissions could make billions of cubic metres of gas available to international markets, a top priority as the war in the Middle East squeezes energy suppli...
International Energy Agency analysis shows methane leaks remained at near-record highs in 2025 Methane emissions from the energy sector remained at near record levels in 2025, the International Energy Agency concluded in a report. Tackling the emissions could make billions of cubic metres of gas available to international markets, a top priority as the war in the Middle East squeezes energy supplies , according to the report. Continue reading...