A worldwide sell-off for stocks is slamming onto Wall Street on Tuesday, and oil prices are leaping even higher as worries rise that the war with Iran is widening and may do more sustained damage to the global economy than feared. The S&P 500 dropped by 1.8 per cent in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 907 points, or 1.9 per cent, as of 9.35am Eastern time, and the Nasdaq co...
A worldwide sell-off for stocks is slamming onto Wall Street on Tuesday, and oil prices are leaping even higher as worries rise that the war with Iran is widening and may do more sustained damage to the global economy than feared. The S&P 500 dropped by 1.8 per cent in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 907 points, or 1.9 per cent, as of 9.35am Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 2.1 per cent lower. It was just a day ago that US stocks opened with sharp losses, only to recover all of them and end the day with slight gains. But that was with the caveat that oil prices did not jump too high, like to more than US$100 per barrel. Advertisement On Tuesday, oil prices got closer to that mark and raised more alarms. The price for a barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, rose by another 8.2 per cent to US$84.14. It was sitting near US$70 less than a week ago. A barrel of benchmark US crude, meanwhile, rose 8 per cent to US$76.92. The US embassy headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Photo: AFP Oil prices made the leap as Iran struck the US embassy in Saudi Arabia, part of a widening of targets that also includes areas critical to the world’s oil and natural gas production. Worries are particularly high about what will happen to the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran, a narrow passageway where roughly a fifth of the world’s oil passes. Advertisement Making things uncertain for markets are rising questions about how long this war may continue.
Earnings Call Insights: James River Group Holdings, Inc. (JRVR) Q4 2025 Management View Frank D’Orazio, CEO, highlighted that James River has maintained a strong position in the E&S marketplace, emphasizing "refined risk appetite and enhanced performance monitoring," a focus on smaller and more profitable accounts, and exiting or reengineering unprofitable classes. D’Orazio stated, "we will benefi...
Earnings Call Insights: James River Group Holdings, Inc. (JRVR) Q4 2025 Management View Frank D’Orazio, CEO, highlighted that James River has maintained a strong position in the E&S marketplace, emphasizing "refined risk appetite and enhanced performance monitoring," a focus on smaller and more profitable accounts, and exiting or reengineering unprofitable classes. D’Orazio stated, "we will benefit from the lasting operational efficiencies and expense management focus achieved through substantial cost-saving initiatives across the business during 2025, including our redomicile to the United States." The CEO also announced a "refreshed and reorganized E&S leadership team fully in place with a compelling game plan for the implementation of our strategic vision." D’Orazio noted a 9.6% decrease in average policy size for Q4 and an 8.4% decrease for the full year, resulting from the smaller account focus. Submission flow grew 4% in 2025, and rate change remained positive at 9% for the year, consistent with 2024. Technology upgrades remain a core initiative, with a "complete multiyear upgrade of our core operating systems to Guidewire that will be completed in 2026 and our recently announced partnership with Kalepa to roll out AI-enabled underwriting workbench capabilities throughout our E&S segment." D’Orazio emphasized, "our fourth quarter E&S combined ratio of 86% reflects that progress and represents our strongest quarterly profitability in several years." The CEO reported gross written premium was down approximately 5% overall for 2025, with property down 27% and manufacturers and contractors down 11% year-over-year. Growth occurred in Allied Health, Professional Liability, and Management Liability. Sarah Doran, CFO, stated, "James River generated very strong financial results for 2025. We reported $47.4 million of net income, $39.6 million of it available to common shareholders, which is a marked improvement from the $81.1 million net loss of 2024. Operating earning...
Amazon.com Inc. ’s Audible is launching a cheaper plan at a time of growing competition with Spotify Technology SA , which bundles audiobooks with music and podcasts. Audible’s new “standard” audiobook offering will cost $8.99 in the US, the company announced Tuesday, versus $14.95 for its existing “premium” plan. Under the less expensive option, which is available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia...
Amazon.com Inc. ’s Audible is launching a cheaper plan at a time of growing competition with Spotify Technology SA , which bundles audiobooks with music and podcasts. Audible’s new “standard” audiobook offering will cost $8.99 in the US, the company announced Tuesday, versus $14.95 for its existing “premium” plan. Under the less expensive option, which is available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and France, subscribers won’t own the audiobooks they consume but can stream the titles for as long as they remain members. Premium customers, by contrast, don’t lose access to the audiobooks they’ve chosen if they close their accounts. “By expanding our membership options, we’re maximizing access for lighter listeners while enabling publishers and creators to reach new audiences — a win-win that grows the entire audiobook category,” said Cynthia Chu, chief financial and growth officer at Audible, in a statement. Bloomberg News previously reported in 2024 that Audible was experimenting with a lower priced plan. The company said Tuesday that testing in Australia and the UK drove “strong double digit percentage” increases in new memberships compared to prior offerings. The company said it expects millions of new consumers to try Audible through the standard plan in the next year. In August, Amazon consolidated some of its Wondery podcast team with Audible. The new plan will give subscribers access to ad-free podcasts that were once behind a paywall on the Wondery+ app. Additionally, certain hit podcasts, such as The Shrink Next Door and Dying for Sex , will become exclusively available for Audible members. Audible’s primary competitor, Spotify, has raised prices globally while expanding its audiobook offering to new territories. In 2025, the Swedish streaming giant said the number of people listening to an audiobook rose 36% in the past year, while the number of hours consumed grew 37%.
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Protestors stood in the snow outside the offices of Ohio’s utility regulator in January to say they were fed up with rising electricity rates. Even a few years ago, the scene would have been hard to imagine, considering the complexity of utility costs and the obscurity of state regulatory agencies. But rate hikes in Ohio and across the country have provoked frustrated consumers to d...
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Protestors stood in the snow outside the offices of Ohio’s utility regulator in January to say they were fed up with rising electricity rates. Even a few years ago, the scene would have been hard to imagine, considering the complexity of utility costs and the obscurity of state regulatory agencies. But rate hikes in Ohio and across the country have provoked frustrated consumers to demand answers. “It’s just getting harder and harder now to live,” said Steve Van Kuiken, a United Church of Christ pastor in Columbus who is part of a community group opposing rate increases. “The working class is really getting squeezed, and everything’s going up.” Read full article Comments
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has called for stricter rules around set-pieces and criticised upcoming opponents Arsenal for time-wasting. Hurzeler, whose side host the Premier League leaders on Wednesday, claimed the Gunners sometimes wait "over one minute" to take their corners in matches. Arsenal's prowess at set-pieces continues to fuel their title charge, with Sunday's victory over Chelsea ...
Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has called for stricter rules around set-pieces and criticised upcoming opponents Arsenal for time-wasting. Hurzeler, whose side host the Premier League leaders on Wednesday, claimed the Gunners sometimes wait "over one minute" to take their corners in matches. Arsenal's prowess at set-pieces continues to fuel their title charge, with Sunday's victory over Chelsea the ninth time the Gunners have scored a match-winning goal from a corner this season. But they have also been at the forefront of recent discussions around grappling and blocking at set-pieces, with Everton boss David Moyes identifying Mikel Arteta's side as the trailblazers for the use of "dark arts". Asked why he believes Arsenal's approach to set-pieces has received the level of attention that it has, Hurzeler said: "There are no clear rules anymore [around] how much time you can spend taking a corner or a throw-in. "Some of the ways teams are blocking, there's no real rule. Sometimes the referee whistles and it's a foul, sometimes it isn't a foul or they don't whistle. "[We need] a clear rule on how much time you can take for a corner, a free-kick, because no one recognises it. When Arsenal have a corner and they are leading, sometimes they spend over one minute just to take a corner." The statistics show that, on average, no Premier League club takes longer to restart from corners than Arsenal.
Looking into the current session, NVIDIA Inc. (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares are trading at $178.37, after a 2.25% decrease. Over the past month, the stock fell by 1.09%, but over the past year, it actually spiked by 52.06%. With questionable short-term performance like this, and great long-term performance, long-term shareholders might want to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. NVIDI...
Looking into the current session, NVIDIA Inc. (NASDAQ:NVDA) shares are trading at $178.37, after a 2.25% decrease. Over the past month, the stock fell by 1.09%, but over the past year, it actually spiked by 52.06%. With questionable short-term performance like this, and great long-term performance, long-term shareholders might want to start looking into the company's price-to-earnings ratio. NVIDIA P/E Ratio Analysis in Relation to Industry Peers The P/E ratio measures the current share price to the company's EPS. It is used by long-term investors to analyze the company's current performance against it's past earnings, historical data and aggregate market data for the industry or the indices, such as S&P 500. A higher P/E indicates that investors expect the company to perform better in the future, and the stock is probably overvalued, but not necessarily. It also could indicate that investors are willing to pay a higher share price currently, because they expect the company to perform better in the upcoming quarters. This leads investors to also remain optimistic about rising dividends in the future. Compared to the aggregate P/E ratio of the 313.05 in the Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment industry, NVIDIA Inc. has a lower P/E ratio of 37.24. Shareholders might be inclined to think that the stock might perform worse than it's industry peers. It's also possible that the stock is undervalued.
fatido/iStock via Getty Images I previously covered Vistra Corp. ( VST ) in January 2026, discussing why I had reiterated my Buy rating then, thanks to the improved margin of safety arising from the prior correction, the rich double-digit upside potential well balancing the deteriorating dividend thesis, and the oversold technical indicators. In this article, I shall discuss why I am reiterating m...
fatido/iStock via Getty Images I previously covered Vistra Corp. ( VST ) in January 2026, discussing why I had reiterated my Buy rating then, thanks to the improved margin of safety arising from the prior correction, the rich double-digit upside potential well balancing the deteriorating dividend thesis, and the oversold technical indicators. In this article, I shall discuss why I am reiterating my Buy rating for the VST stock here, thanks to their ability to capitalize on the multi-year data center/electrification boom as observed in the growing contracts and the expanding margins, thanks to the accretive acquisition trends and the increased energy generation capacity. This is significantly aided by the healthy balance sheet and the consequently robust share repurchase cadence, the cheap valuations, and the bull-case tripling upside potential over the next few years. VST Hints at Multi-year, Profitable Growth Prospects VST 1Y Stock Price ( TradingView ) Since my last Buy rating, VST has indeed bottomed at $142s before rallying by +22% to retest the November/December 2025 resistance levels of $170s by the time of writing. Much of their tailwinds are attributed to the durable data center-related spending trends as numerous hyperscalers offer outsized FY2026 capex guidance in the Q4'25 earnings season, with the consequently robust power demand buoying numerous energy-related stocks. The same has been reported by certain energy-related players, as more hyperscalers bring their own power through on-site power generation and more oil/gas pipeline players report growing multi-year contracted capacity at higher fees . The same has been observed in VST's hyperscaler customers purchasing much of their existing energy capacity, along with the robust " financial support for new megawatts across our PJM nuclear fleet" and the augmentation of their "ERCOT thermal fleet by 500 megawatts of uprates" (the process of increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial nuclear p...
Pla2na/iStock via Getty Images Introduction For years many investors have heard that lower interest rates will allow the REIT ( XLRE ) sector to outperform due to their sensitivity. So far in 2026, this has seemed to play out as many REITs have outperformed the overall market. In the case of Urban Edge Properties ( UE ), an overlooked shopping center REIT I've been bullish on since June of 2024 , ...
Pla2na/iStock via Getty Images Introduction For years many investors have heard that lower interest rates will allow the REIT ( XLRE ) sector to outperform due to their sensitivity. So far in 2026, this has seemed to play out as many REITs have outperformed the overall market. In the case of Urban Edge Properties ( UE ), an overlooked shopping center REIT I've been bullish on since June of 2024 , the stock still appears attractively valued despite being up double digits. Also, they recently announced a 10.5% dividend increase , the second consecutive double-digit raise. As a result, the stock reached a new 52-week high. In this article, I discuss Urban Edge's latest earnings , fundamentals, and why the REIT looks poised for 8% to 10% returns in 2026. Previous Buy Thesis I last covered Urban Edge Properties this past September. The stock has experienced some volatility but is in the green slightly at the time of writing by less than 1%. The S&P ( SP500 ) is up close to 4%. Seeking Alpha Back then, during Q2 '25 earnings, UE reported mixed results with a beat on their bottom line by $0.02. Revenue missed estimates by nearly $2 million, amounting to $114.08 million. Investment activity picked up, with NOI increasing from 4% the year prior to 7.5%. Occupancy also increased, allowing management to raise guidance and increase the dividend nearly 12% to $0.19. Trading below the sector median, UE offered more than 8% upside to their price target of $22.83 a share. Solid Growth in a Challenging Backdrop The shopping center REIT reported their Q4 earnings last month. An AFFO of $0.36 was in line with analysts' estimates and flat from the prior 2 quarters. This grew a penny from Q1 and the previous year's quarter. Revenue of $119.56 million was down slightly from $120.13 million in Q3 and up from $116.37 million the year prior. The decline from the prior quarter could be attributed to the decline in anchor shop occupancy, down 50 basis points from 2024. This was due to the ban...
The Moon has received a lot of attention in recent months, particularly the surface of Earth's cold and dusty companion. This has largely been driven by a decision from SpaceX founder Elon Musk to pivot, at least in the near term, from Mars to lunar surface activities and the potential for using material there to build large satellites. But there has been a notable shift from NASA, too, which has ...
The Moon has received a lot of attention in recent months, particularly the surface of Earth's cold and dusty companion. This has largely been driven by a decision from SpaceX founder Elon Musk to pivot, at least in the near term, from Mars to lunar surface activities and the potential for using material there to build large satellites. But there has been a notable shift from NASA, too, which has started talking a lot more about building up elements of a base on the surface rather than an orbiting space station known as the Gateway. In short, the world's most successful space company and the largest space agency have both increased their lunar ambitions, suggesting a greater frequency of missions to the Moon in the coming years. Read full article Comments
THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE:THO) reported fiscal Q2 2026 diluted EPS of $0.34 against a Yahoo Finance consensus estimate of $0.04, representing a surprise of approximately 750%. Net sales came in at $2.126 billion compared to $2.018 billion in Q2 FY2025, reflecting a 5.3% year-over-year increase. Q2 FY2026 Earnings Scorecard Category Grade Key Insight Revenue Performance ... Thor Industries Delive...
THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE:THO) reported fiscal Q2 2026 diluted EPS of $0.34 against a Yahoo Finance consensus estimate of $0.04, representing a surprise of approximately 750%. Net sales came in at $2.126 billion compared to $2.018 billion in Q2 FY2025, reflecting a 5.3% year-over-year increase. Q2 FY2026 Earnings Scorecard Category Grade Key Insight Revenue Performance ... Thor Industries Delivers 860% EPS Surprise — Stock Still Lags
China is expected to rebalance its ties with Israel as US-Israeli air strikes on Iran reshape the region’s security landscape, but analysts say it is unlikely to abandon its long-standing “balanced diplomacy” in the Middle East. The strikes began on Saturday after nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran reached a stalemate and tensions spiralled. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ...
China is expected to rebalance its ties with Israel as US-Israeli air strikes on Iran reshape the region’s security landscape, but analysts say it is unlikely to abandon its long-standing “balanced diplomacy” in the Middle East. The strikes began on Saturday after nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran reached a stalemate and tensions spiralled. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 86-year-old cleric who had dominated the Islamic Republic’s political system for nearly four decades, was killed in the attacks. Tehran subsequently launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets, US bases and facilities in Gulf states. Advertisement Beijing strongly condemned the killing of Khamenei, calling it a “serious violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security” and warning that the escalation risked further destabilising the region. For China, the upheaval presents diplomatic risk and demands strategic calculation. Advertisement Chen Guangmeng, executive dean of the Academy of International and Regional Studies at Sichuan International Studies University, said China would not – and did not need to – abandon its long-standing “balanced diplomacy” in the Middle East, but must pursue a “strategic rebalancing” to adapt to the shock waves created by US-Israeli military action.
jabkitticha/iStock via Getty Images AOK strategy iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF ( AOK ) was launched on 11/04/2008 and tracks the S&P Target Risk Conservative Index. AOK is a fund of funds with seven holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 3.27%, and a net expense ratio of 0.15%. Distributions are paid quarterly. As described by S&P Dow Jones Indices , the underlying index is composed of 7...
jabkitticha/iStock via Getty Images AOK strategy iShares Core 30/70 Conservative Allocation ETF ( AOK ) was launched on 11/04/2008 and tracks the S&P Target Risk Conservative Index. AOK is a fund of funds with seven holdings, a 30-day SEC yield of 3.27%, and a net expense ratio of 0.15%. Distributions are paid quarterly. As described by S&P Dow Jones Indices , the underlying index is composed of 70% fixed income and 30% equities. It is an index of ETFs whose eligible components are: Three U.S. equity funds: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF ( IVV ) iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF ( IJH ) iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF ( IJR ) Two international equity funds: iShares Core MSCI International Developed Mkt ETF ( IDEV ) iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF ( IEMG ) One U.S. bond fund: iShares Core Universal USD Bond Market ETF ( IUSB ) One international bond fund: iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF ( IAGG ) Funds may be deleted and added in the eligibility list if necessary. Within the 30% equity allocation, the funds are weighted based on the relative market capitalization of their stock universes represented by specific indexes. Within the 70% bond allocation, 85% is allocated to the U.S. bond fund and 15% to the international bond fund. The index is rebalanced twice a year. The portfolio turnover rate was 3% in the most recent fiscal year. AOK portfolio As of writing, 68.8% of asset value is in bonds and 31.1% in equities. Exposure to ex-U.S. securities is 22.7%. Ticker Name Asset Class Weight% IUSB ISHARES CORE UNIV USD BOND ETF Fixed Income 58.63 IVV ISHARES CORE S&P ETF TRUST Equity 17.11 IAGG iShares Core Intl Aggregate Bond ETF Fixed Income 10.15 IDEV ISHARES CORE MSCI INT DEVEL ETF Equity 8.92 IEMG ISHARES CORE MSCI EMERGING MARKETS Equity 3.64 IJH ISHARES CORE S&P MID-CAP ETF Equity 1 IJR ISHARES CORE S&P SMALL-CAP ETF Equity 0.47 Click to enlarge The equity part of AOK has value characteristics compared to the U.S. stock market, represented in the next table ...
Noble Machines deployed its first general-purpose robots to a Fortune Global 500 industrial customer within 18 months of the company’s launch and met its first delivery milestone, made possible by its AI-driven whole-body control and industry-leading end-to-end autonomy. SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 03, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Noble Machines Inc., formerly Under Control Robotics, today announced its em...
Noble Machines deployed its first general-purpose robots to a Fortune Global 500 industrial customer within 18 months of the company’s launch and met its first delivery milestone, made possible by its AI-driven whole-body control and industry-leading end-to-end autonomy. SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 03, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Noble Machines Inc., formerly Under Control Robotics, today announced its emergence from stealth with its first deployment of industrial general-purpose robots shipped to a Fortune Global 500 customer within 18 months of the company's launch. Founded in 2024 by a team of engineers from Apple, SpaceX, NASA, and Caltech, Noble Machines operates on the belief that AI must prove itself in real industrial operations before it scales. The company works alongside customers to validate performance in operational environments, iterate rapidly, and expand deployment only after value and reliability are demonstrated. Noble Machines is set to disrupt how hazardous and physically demanding tasks are performed in the manufacturing, construction, logistics, energy, and semiconductor industries. The fully integrated tech stack combines state-of-the-art AI-driven whole-body control and end-to-end autonomy with cost-effective hardware. This integrated hardware-AI co-design enables Noble Machines’ robots to learn real-world skills in hours, not months, through language-based instructions, demonstrations and gestures, accelerating customers' and partners’ time to value. Noble Machines works with industry leaders such as ADLINK, Schaeffler, and Solomon, with more to be announced. "Noble Machines’ leadership in the field of fully integrated AI-Driven Whole-Body Control and autonomy is undeniable," said Ethan Chen, General Manager of ADLINK’s Edge Computing Platforms Business Unit. "We are committed to providing a long-term, scalable computing architecture for the most challenging applications, accelerating Noble Machines’ entry into high-value, heavy industry markets." ...
Founded by former Google SecOps leaders with firsthand experience of security's silent failures, Fig is backed by Team8, Ten Eleven Ventures, and industry veterans NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / March 3, 2026 / Fig Security, a new platform that finds and fixes broken security flows across your entire SecOps infrastructure, has launched from stealth with $38 million across Seed and Ser...
Founded by former Google SecOps leaders with firsthand experience of security's silent failures, Fig is backed by Team8, Ten Eleven Ventures, and industry veterans NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / March 3, 2026 / Fig Security, a new platform that finds and fixes broken security flows across your entire SecOps infrastructure, has launched from stealth with $38 million across Seed and Series A rounds. It addresses one of the least visible challenges yet most consequential in enterprise security: the quiet breakdown of security operations as environments grow more complex. The round is backed by Team8 and Ten Eleven Ventures, alongside a group of prominent security leaders. Together, these investors bring deep experience building and operating large-scale security operations, backing Fig as it addresses a growing reliability gap in modern security environments. Enterprises pour billions into Security Operations (SecOps), yet the leaders running these teams often operate in the dark. Because the underlying infrastructure is too sensitive to change, defenses often break without warning. This forces SecOps leaders to ask the most terrifying question in cybersecurity: 'If the alarms are silent, are we actually safe, or just blind?'. "The most dangerous failures in security are the ones you do not know about," said Gal Shafir, Co-Founder and CEO of Fig Security. "If a detection has not been triggered in months, teams often cannot tell whether that reflects true safety or a breakdown somewhere in the plumbing. We built Fig to give security teams their confidence back, so they can modernize their SOC, adopt AI, and move fast without shipping blind spots to production". Fig's platform is designed to enable teams to continuously ensure the reliability and efficacy of their security operations across the stack. With a frictionless integration that works on any tech stack, Fig autonomously discovers and maps the organization's complete detection and response flows. The...
Major earnings expected after the bell on Tuesday include: CrowdStrike Holdings ( CRWD ) GitLab ( GTLB ) Ross Stores ( ROST ) Horizon Technology Finance Corporation ( HRZN ) Other earnings slated for release after Tuesday's close include: ARCT , ASMIY , BGS , BOX , CXDO , CYRX , EOLS , FTEK , GTE , HY , IBRX , ORN , QSI , QUIK , RIGL , RYAM , SSTI , STAA For Seeking Alpha's full earnings season ca...
Major earnings expected after the bell on Tuesday include: CrowdStrike Holdings ( CRWD ) GitLab ( GTLB ) Ross Stores ( ROST ) Horizon Technology Finance Corporation ( HRZN ) Other earnings slated for release after Tuesday's close include: ARCT , ASMIY , BGS , BOX , CXDO , CYRX , EOLS , FTEK , GTE , HY , IBRX , ORN , QSI , QUIK , RIGL , RYAM , SSTI , STAA For Seeking Alpha's full earnings season calendar, click here . More on W&T Offshore: Natural Gas Opportunities And Middle East Tension Can Pump Upside Risks To Oil From Iran: The Price Of Uncertainty Flows Through Hormuz NCR Atleos: Brink's Offer - The Pros And Cons Both Financial And Strategic Dividends in demand as Iran conflict sends markets reeling Okta, Check Point, others in focus as Wells Fargo initiates coverage on cybersecurity stocks
In my garden, the celandines are popping, the blackthorn buds are breaking, and the bees are beginning to bumble. These, to my mind, are all solid seasonal omens, and I for one can feel my sap beginning to rise: time to venture outside. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Though undoubtedly there are cold, ...
In my garden, the celandines are popping, the blackthorn buds are breaking, and the bees are beginning to bumble. These, to my mind, are all solid seasonal omens, and I for one can feel my sap beginning to rise: time to venture outside. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Though undoubtedly there are cold, damp and dreary days still to come, the spring starting pistol has been fired and months of good gardening now lie ahead. There are seeds to sow, shrubs to prune and perennials to chop back and divide. In all tasks, however, being well equipped makes every bit of difference to the experience, so here are some dependable, tried and tested – and in many cases beloved – tools recommended by professionals, from head gardeners and growers to producers of vegetables and cut flowers. Snipping, sculpting and securing In line with changing attitudes that favour leaving “dead stuff” standing through winter as habitat for wildlife (namely the browned and brittle stems of herbaceous perennials and grasses), the great “cut back” has been certifiably shifted into the new year. From late January onwards, the likes of aster and anemone, miscanthus and chasmanthium can be strategically snipped and repurposed, whether “chopped and dropped” directly on to the soil as mulch, or shipped off to the compost bin. It is the time, too, for pruning back roses, hydrangeas, dogwoods and elders, and other summer-flowering shrubs; and for trimming hedges in advance of the nesting season (typically March to August in the UK). Burgon & Ball secateurs The obvious place to start is with a reliable pair of secateurs. Last year, I put a range of bypass secateurs to the test for the Filter, and cruising through a set of imposed challenges were Burgon & Ball’s RHS-endorsed bypass secateurs. Affordable, comfortable in the hand and durably constructed, these are built for the everyday rigours of cold-weather pruni...
Asurion Complete Protect Adds Cybersecurity Protection and Enhanced Product Care Services, Giving Amazon Shoppers Greater Post-Purchase Confidence NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Asurion announced significant enhancements to Asurion Complete Protect , its all-in-one protection plan that covers Amazon-eligible purchases across electronics, appliances, furniture, and household catego...
Asurion Complete Protect Adds Cybersecurity Protection and Enhanced Product Care Services, Giving Amazon Shoppers Greater Post-Purchase Confidence NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Asurion announced significant enhancements to Asurion Complete Protect , its all-in-one protection plan that covers Amazon-eligible purchases across electronics, appliances, furniture, and household categories under a single monthly subscription. Asurion Complete Protect now includes Norton 360 Deluxe cybersecurity protection, in-person tech services at nearly 700 uBreakiFix by Asurion locations nationwide, a $100 annual product care credit for select categories, and the ability to file a claim immediately, with no waiting period. Asurion (PRNewsfoto/Asurion) These enhancements transform Asurion Complete Protect from a traditional protection plan into a comprehensive product care service. The offering now supports customers throughout their entire ownership journey — from device setup and everyday tech support to ongoing digital security — delivering value not just when something breaks, but every day. What's Included in Asurion Complete Protect Asurion Complete Protect continues to provide protection for eligible products purchased in Amazon's stores, including coverage for mechanical and electrical failures as well as accidental damage for portable items, while adding new benefits designed to deliver value from day one. Price and core plan features remain the same, including $0 service fees and a $5,000 annual claim limit. Asurion Complete Protect now delivers even more value:
Integrity has been an industry leader for years with significant investments in AI technology, including the creation of Ask Integrity ® , which delivers efficiency gains across Integrity's entire value chain, from strengthening agent support to further developing the proprietary Integrity platform that is transforming the way agents and advisors serve today's consumers. Through this collaboration...
Integrity has been an industry leader for years with significant investments in AI technology, including the creation of Ask Integrity ® , which delivers efficiency gains across Integrity's entire value chain, from strengthening agent support to further developing the proprietary Integrity platform that is transforming the way agents and advisors serve today's consumers. Through this collaboration, all 5,000 Integrity employees will now have a personalized AI Digital Assistant that is fully integrated into the tools they use every day. Adding Copilot's powerful and compliant technology will help employees research, create and learn more efficiently. It offers them assistance with tasks such as creating first drafts of documents and communications, providing meeting and task summaries, and building presentation content. It can also add clarity and precision to specific Integrity projects, streamline tasks and processes, while expanding instant access to relevant information and knowledge. "Embedding AI into our workflows is much more than just a technology investment — it's a crucial part of Integrity's commitment to Putting People First," said Bryan W. Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of Integrity. "We were already at the forefront of the industry with our AI-powered digital assistant that helps agents and advisors better serve their clients. Now, we're excited to bring transformative AI technology to our entire workforce. It's a solution that creates a fundamental shift away from routine processes and toward higher, more strategic levels of work with greater focus on decision making and long-term impact. This integration with Microsoft builds on our foundation of ongoing innovation and ignites our next phase of industry transformation." DALLAS, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrity, LLC ("Integrity"), a leading distributor of life and health insurance, and provider of wealth management and retirement planning solutions, today announced a strategic collaboration with Mic...
is a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years. Pokémon’s 30th anniversary is here and Nintendo (and The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, and Omega Force) are kicking things off with a surprisingly excellent life simulation spinoff game. Pokémon Pokopia arrives on March 5th, and it’s one ...
is a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years. Pokémon’s 30th anniversary is here and Nintendo (and The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, and Omega Force) are kicking things off with a surprisingly excellent life simulation spinoff game. Pokémon Pokopia arrives on March 5th, and it’s one of the first Pokémon titles that will debut exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. Equal parts Animal Crossing, Minecraft, and Dragon Quest Builders, Pokopia reimagines the Pokémon world as a massive, human-free paradise that you can rebuild however you want. Pokopia easily could have been a straightforward game about making friends and crafting neighborhoods. But as our review discusses, Pokopia’s a much bigger adventure than it initially seems, and we want to talk to you about it. For the past week, my colleague Kallie Plagge and I have been playing the game and we’re going to be answering questions from Verge subscribers this afternoon. If you’ve been wondering what kinds of things there are to build, how in-game friendships work, or whether there are more character customization options, we’ve got you covered. We won’t be spoiling anything juicy you should discover for yourselves, but we’re here to share some personal insights. So, start thinking about what you might want to ask, and we’ll be back this afternoon at 2 PM ET with some answers.
It’s been a busy few years for Scott Pilgrim. Following a live-action film and the conclusion of the comics in 2010, the series has slowly been coming back to life. First, in 2021 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game was rereleased on modern consoles after years of being inaccessible. Two years later came an even bigger surprise: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, a Netflix anime that remixed the story wit...
It’s been a busy few years for Scott Pilgrim. Following a live-action film and the conclusion of the comics in 2010, the series has slowly been coming back to life. First, in 2021 Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game was rereleased on modern consoles after years of being inaccessible. Two years later came an even bigger surprise: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, a Netflix anime that remixed the story with an alternate take on Scott’s battle with seven evil exes. This was followed by a giant box set to celebrate the comic’s 20th anniversary, and now the series is back again with a game called Scott Pilgrim EX. According to Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley, there hasn’t been any grand plan for a series resurgence. Instead, each project naturally flowed from the last. “It just so happened that we did the show, and Universal was like, ‘What else do you want to do?’” he explains. Around the same time, O’Malley had been talking to the team at Tribute Games about potentially doing another game, so the choice was easy. “We’ve always wanted to take another run at it.” On the surface, Scott Pilgrim EX is similar to its predecessor. It’s a side-scrolling beat-’em-up like Streets of Rage or River City Ransom set in a pixelated Toronto. But instead of retelling the original Scott Pilgrim, which follows the titular slacker as he battles his new girlfriend Ramona’s seven evil exes, EX builds off of the story from Takes Off, which largely shifted Scott to the background to focus on the rest of the cast. “Where the show ended gave us some room to play with the exes and rearrange the cast,” O’Malley explains. The new game follows Scott and a cast of playable characters as they attempt to rescue Scott’s bandmates. This involves fighting off rival gangs — robots, demons, and vegans — and also traveling across time and space. For fans of the series, one of the more exciting parts of the anime was how it brought back together the same creative team from the live-action film: Takes Off f...