Never miss an important update on your stock portfolio and cut through the noise. Over 7 million investors trust Simply Wall St to stay informed where it matters for FREE. Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:BABA) is raising prices on certain AI computing chips and cloud storage products by up to 34% in response to strong demand. The company has introduced Wukong, a new enterprise AI platform aimed at aut...
Never miss an important update on your stock portfolio and cut through the noise. Over 7 million investors trust Simply Wall St to stay informed where it matters for FREE. Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE:BABA) is raising prices on certain AI computing chips and cloud storage products by up to 34% in response to strong demand. The company has introduced Wukong, a new enterprise AI platform aimed at automating and streamlining business workflows. These changes follow the creation of the Token Hub business group, which is focused on monetizing Alibaba's AI capabilities across its ecosystem. Alibaba's push to monetize AI comes as the share price stands at $136.57, with a value score of 6 and mixed long term returns, including a 71.7% gain over three years and a 39.5% decline over five years. For investors watching NYSE:BABA, these moves show how the company is trying to convert its AI investments into clearer revenue streams rather than focusing solely on product launches. The combination of price hikes and the Wukong platform, grouped under the Token Hub unit, could influence how enterprise customers use and budget for Alibaba's AI services. Readers may want to pay attention to how adoption, customer retention, and usage trends of these AI products develop, as they could become important drivers of Alibaba's business mix over time. Stay updated on the most important news stories for Alibaba Group Holding by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on Alibaba Group Holding. NYSE:BABA Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Mar 2026 We've flagged 0 risks for Alibaba Group Holding. See which could impact your investment. Quick Assessment ✅ Price vs Analyst Target : At US$136.57 vs an analyst target of about US$199.09, the price sits roughly 31% below consensus. ✅ Simply Wall St Valuation : Shares are described as trading 48.5% below an estimated fair value, flagged as undervalued. ❌ Recent Momentum: The 30 day return ...
An evil spirit and a police homecoming: photos of the day – Wednesday The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Police officers arrive back in Kenya after a year-long deployment in Haiti.
An evil spirit and a police homecoming: photos of the day – Wednesday The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Police officers arrive back in Kenya after a year-long deployment in Haiti.
It is one of three attacks central to the civil case against the former Sinn Féin leader in London. A victim of that attack and two victims of other bombings in London and Manchester are seeking to hold Adams, 77, personally liable for the injuries they received.
It is one of three attacks central to the civil case against the former Sinn Féin leader in London. A victim of that attack and two victims of other bombings in London and Manchester are seeking to hold Adams, 77, personally liable for the injuries they received.
Monty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images Factory orders rose by 0.1% M/M to $620.1B in January, compared to the 0.4% fall (revised from -0.7%) recorded in the prior month, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday. The January orders are in line with +0.1% consensus. New orders for manufactured goods were up in two of the last three months, according to the Census Burea...
Monty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images Factory orders rose by 0.1% M/M to $620.1B in January, compared to the 0.4% fall (revised from -0.7%) recorded in the prior month, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday. The January orders are in line with +0.1% consensus. New orders for manufactured goods were up in two of the last three months, according to the Census Bureau. Shipments increased by 0.5% month-over-month to $612.9B. Unfilled orders advanced by 0.8% to $1,540.4B in January. The unfilled orders have seen an increase in eighteen of the last nineteen months. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 7.01, unchanged from December. Inventories increased 0.1% to $949.8B, while the inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.55. More on U.S. Economy Fed rate cut odds for June, July meetings dip after hot PPI data Producer Price Index inflation heats up more than expected in February Powell's remarks seen tilting toward credit, tariffs in March briefing
Hi, it’s Ott Ummelas in Oslo. On Norway’s Arctic coast, a European space race is heating up as Germany’s Isar Aerospace prepares for a second attempt to reach orbit with its Spectrum rocket. But first ... Three things you need to know today: • Firefly successfully launches rocket after September explosion. • Satellite firm Iceye targets €1 billion revenue next year. • Space Force general leading G...
Hi, it’s Ott Ummelas in Oslo. On Norway’s Arctic coast, a European space race is heating up as Germany’s Isar Aerospace prepares for a second attempt to reach orbit with its Spectrum rocket. But first ... Three things you need to know today: • Firefly successfully launches rocket after September explosion. • Satellite firm Iceye targets €1 billion revenue next year. • Space Force general leading Golden Dome raises price by $10 million. Norway takes the lead The upcoming launch at the Andøya Spaceport, about 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) from Oslo, highlights the Nordic nation’s lead in the race with neighboring Sweden and the UK to be a European space hub. Andøya has been hosting suborbital launches since 1962, with more than 300 missions for NASA alone. Along with the Svalsat ground station in the Svalbard archipelago, the world’s largest for polar-orbiting satellites, it’s a key asset for the Norwegian space industry. In a testament of its growing importance, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the facility last Friday, as the two nations agreed to establish a working group on issues including space-based intelligence, secure satellite communications and Andøya’s launch capacity. One goal is to reduce reliance on non-European nations, Merz told reporters at the spaceport alongside Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre . “We need autonomy. And to be completely clear: We have leaned far too long on other nations,” Merz said. “From Andøya, we are sending the message that here in Europe, yes, we can do space travel. When we stand together, we make it happen.” With no significant air, land or marine traffic at the location, the spaceport is hoping to grab some of the growing market of launching small satellites and benefit from Europe’s increased focus on strategic autonomy in space. The Norwegian spaceport’s main rivals, Sweden’s Esrange Space Center and Scotland’s SaxaVord , have faced delays in part because they need clearances from the affected neighbors, No...
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Crude oil futures jumped Wednesday after Iran said the U.S. and Israel struck its giant South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf, marking the latest escalation in a conflict that has disrupted global oil supply. If confirmed, such an assault would mark the first time the U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran's upstream oil and gas facilities in the war. Front-mont...
SlavkoSereda/iStock via Getty Images Crude oil futures jumped Wednesday after Iran said the U.S. and Israel struck its giant South Pars gas field in the Persian Gulf, marking the latest escalation in a conflict that has disrupted global oil supply. If confirmed, such an assault would mark the first time the U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran's upstream oil and gas facilities in the war. Front-month Brent crude ( CO1:COM ) for May delivery up 5.2% to $108.78/bbl after adding more than 3% in the previous session, and front-month Nymex crude ( CL1:COM ) for April delivery up 2.7% to $98.83/bbl. Iranian state TV said part of the South Pars gas field and Asaluyeh refinery facilities were hit in an airstrike, and Iran pledged to strike back and hit enemy sites previously thought to be safe. Saudi Aramco reportedly is evacuating the Samref and Jubail facilities as a precautionary measure after Iran issued a list of potential targets. Some other sites identified in Iran's list, including the Al Hosn gas field in the United Arab Emirates and the Mesaieed complex in Qatar, reportedly are also being evacuated. " These centers have become direct and legitimate targets and will be targeted in the coming hours," Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said. President Trump temporarily waived the Jones Act, authorizing foreign-flagged vessels to transport a range of commodities between U.S. ports for the next 60 days, in an attempt to help lower the cost of transporting oil, gas and other commodities. The oil market could lose 11M-16M bbl/day over the next 4-6 weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, which could push Brent prices to $110-$120/bbl, Citi analysts said. In a more severe scenario, the bank said a prolonged outage or broader attacks on energy infrastructure could drive prices to average $130/bbl in Q2 and Q3, with spikes as high as $200. ETFs: ( USO ), ( BNO ), ( UCO ), ( SCO ), ( USL ), ( DBO ), ( DRIP ), ( GUSH ), ( USOI ), ( XLE ) More on crude oil ...
Welcome to the Brussels Edition. I’m Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg’s Brussels bureau chief, bringing you the latest from the EU each weekday. Make sure you’re signed up . The European Union’s competitiveness issues are returning to the forefront this week as the bloc’s leaders gather for a summit in Brussels tomorrow. While the war in Iran and Hungary’s continuing block on a €90 billion loan for Ukrain...
Welcome to the Brussels Edition. I’m Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg’s Brussels bureau chief, bringing you the latest from the EU each weekday. Make sure you’re signed up . The European Union’s competitiveness issues are returning to the forefront this week as the bloc’s leaders gather for a summit in Brussels tomorrow. While the war in Iran and Hungary’s continuing block on a €90 billion loan for Ukraine are likely to feature heavily in discussions, competitiveness — and particularly rising energy costs — are also on the agenda. Ahead of tomorrow’s summit, the European Commission unveiled its proposal to allow firms to incorporate under a single EU-wide regime and operate across the 27-member bloc. The proposal, dubbed EU Inc., “will make it drastically easier to start and to grow a business in Europe,” commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said this lunchtime as she announced the package. “Any entrepreneur will be able to create a company within 48 hours, from anywhere in the European Union, and fully online,” she added. The initiative is the latest effort by the EU to up its game when it comes to the investment climate for companies and integrating its single market. Nonetheless, many in the business community worry about the pace of reform. Malte Lohan, head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Europe, warned of “simplification fatigue” in Brussels at a transatlantic conference this week. The message coming from businesses is that the EU’s rules and regulations are still too burdensome – one example cited was the bloc’s chemicals omnibus package, which is designed to help the continent’s chemicals makers, but still includes onerous reporting obligations on companies, industry players say. The European Commission refuted claims it was taking its foot off the pedal, highlighting the so-called “omnibus” packages last year that reduced regulatory burdens on business, including relaxing rules around sustainability and supply chain reporting. “That shows our ability to ref...
The home of the world’s highest-flying social media companies is considering a measure to clip their wings. A bipartisan bill in California would establish a minimum age requirement for social media accounts, curtailing the access of minors to platforms such as TikTok, Alphabet Inc. ’s YouTube and Meta Platforms Inc. ’s Instagram. The bill’s author, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, says he’s looking...
The home of the world’s highest-flying social media companies is considering a measure to clip their wings. A bipartisan bill in California would establish a minimum age requirement for social media accounts, curtailing the access of minors to platforms such as TikTok, Alphabet Inc. ’s YouTube and Meta Platforms Inc. ’s Instagram. The bill’s author, Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, says he’s looking to bar anyone under 16. The proposed rules — which would rank among the toughest in the world — are setting up a clash between prominent Democrats and some of Silicon Valley’s most powerful companies. Governor Gavin Newsom , a potential presidential contender in 2028, backs the bill. The proposed restrictions have also drawn interest from two of his would-be successors as governor: liberal billionaire Tom Steyer and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan , darling of Silicon Valley’s elite. “The fact that the most moderate and most progressive candidates for governor support delaying social media access proves the policy isn’t ideological,” Lowenthal said. “It’s common sense and long overdue.” The bill’s prospects of passing as is are murky. Meta declined to comment on the legislation, citing a lack of details. Representatives for TikTok, Alphabet, Snap Inc. and Elon Musk ’s X didn’t respond to requests for comment. The California bill is fueling a broader debate with ramifications for politics and privacy. It’s also ramping up pressure just as Meta and Google have been attracting scrutiny during a high-profile trial over social media addiction in Los Angeles. While Meta has a rule to keep children under 13 off Instagram, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg testified last month that enforcing the limit is “very difficult” because children often lie about their ages. In arguing against other bans, social-media companies have pointed to significant technological hurdles. The proposed California restrictions would mirror a policy that was recently implemented in Australia . Similar cu...
NVS/iStock via Getty Images This is my tenth Ligand ( LGND ) article, following my most recent 06/2025's "Ligand Pharmaceuticals: Attractive Royalty Model Powers Forward." In Powers Forward , I rated Ligand as a "Buy". It has since scored an impressive ~58% gain. In this article, I will assess its future investment prospects. Ligand's attractive royalty financing plus business model Overview The e...
NVS/iStock via Getty Images This is my tenth Ligand ( LGND ) article, following my most recent 06/2025's "Ligand Pharmaceuticals: Attractive Royalty Model Powers Forward." In Powers Forward , I rated Ligand as a "Buy". It has since scored an impressive ~58% gain. In this article, I will assess its future investment prospects. Ligand's attractive royalty financing plus business model Overview The excerpt below from Ligand's latest 10-K shows its aggregate revenue profile for the years 2023-2025: Seeking Alpha This excerpt shows its three revenue segments — royalties, captisol and contract revenues. Of these three, its captisol solubilizing agent is the smallest. Back in the bad old pandemic days, captisol was a big deal thanks primarily to a providential contract that Ligand forged with Gilead ( GILD ) to provide captisol for its remdesivir COVID treatment. As the pandemic eased and its remdesivir related revenues began to tail off, Ligand showed admirable ability to recover. As we move into 2026, its royalties are its big kahuna from a revenue standpoint. As shown below these are in a major growth mode. Expected 23% annual growth in core royalties As emphasized by CEO Davis during its Q4/2025 earnings Call, Ligand's expected revenue growth is exceptional. He closed his opening earnings presentation with the following bold prediction: Looking ahead to 2030, I would like to highlight our 5-year royalty receipts outlook, which we shared at our Investor Day in December of 2025. We now expect a 23% compound annual growth rate in royalty receipts from 2025 through 2030. This growth is driven by contributions across the entire portfolio. The commercial programs form the core of the growth profile and contribute to an expected 15% annual growth. These products are already marketed, supported by strong partners and in some cases, have the opportunity for additional label or geographic expansion. Additionally, the Pharm team, which represents significantly risk-adjusted devel...
Fertilizer giant Yara International ASA reduced production in India, a significant importer of gas from the Middle East, as the war curtails supply of the vital feedstock. Yara, which operates a factory at Babrala in the state of Uttar Pradesh, curbed ammonia and urea output, Chief Executive Officer Svein Tore Holsether said by email. Some competitors have also shut plants in the country on a lack...
Fertilizer giant Yara International ASA reduced production in India, a significant importer of gas from the Middle East, as the war curtails supply of the vital feedstock. Yara, which operates a factory at Babrala in the state of Uttar Pradesh, curbed ammonia and urea output, Chief Executive Officer Svein Tore Holsether said by email. Some competitors have also shut plants in the country on a lack of gas. India’s fertilizer sector relies heavily on imports of liquefied natural gas. The war has halted a large chunk of LNG exports from the Persian Gulf, with Qatar — a top three supplier — suspending production of the fuel. Prices for LNG, fertilizers and other commodities have risen sharply since the conflict began. “We are increasingly worried about the stability of global fertilizer supply and farmers’ ability to afford the nutrients they need,” Holsether said. Yara said in a separate statement that its production cuts in India will have only a “minor impact” on financial results and that margins remain stable. The Oslo-based company isn’t yet considering reducing output in Europe, where it has larger operations than in India. Urea price increases on the continent have matched or outpaced the hike in gas costs, the CEO said. Read More: Iran Conflict Sparks Global Rush For Critical Fertilizers Debate has been building in the European Union over how to support the region’s agricultural sector as the war drags on. Hungarian Agriculture Minister Istvan Nagy addressed the issue in a letter to EU commissioners this week, saying imports of Russian and Belarusian fertilizers should be permitted in the bloc, with customs tariffs suspended. The European Commission has said it’s studying the letter. Holsether said such a move would help fund Russia’s war on Ukraine and weaken Europe’s own production capacity at a moment when resilience is essential. The EU has said it will seek views from across the industry before it presents its Fertilizer Action Plan in the next few months....
Key Points EVR Research bought 100,000 shares of Ingevity in the fourth quarter. The quarter-end position value increased by $5.92 million due to the new position in NGVT. The new position in NGVT places it outside the fund's top five holdings by value. 10 stocks we like better than Ingevity › On February 17, 2026, EVR Research disclosed a new position in Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT), acquiring 100,000 sh...
Key Points EVR Research bought 100,000 shares of Ingevity in the fourth quarter. The quarter-end position value increased by $5.92 million due to the new position in NGVT. The new position in NGVT places it outside the fund's top five holdings by value. 10 stocks we like better than Ingevity › On February 17, 2026, EVR Research disclosed a new position in Ingevity (NYSE:NGVT), acquiring 100,000 shares worth $5.92 million. What happened In a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing dated February 17, 2026, EVR Research reported initiating a new position in Ingevity by purchasing 100,000 shares during the fourth quarter. The fund's quarter-end position in NGVT was valued at $5.92 million, reflecting the full size of the new stake. What else to know This was a new position for the fund, representing 3.19% of its $185.31 million in reportable U.S. equity assets as of December 31, 2025. Top holdings after the filing: NYSE:DAN: $17.34 million (9.4% of AUM) NYSE:WKC: $17.34 million (9.4% of AUM) NYSE:CPS: $12.31 million (6.6% of AUM) NYSE:GEF: $11.85 million (6.4% of AUM) NYSE:MEC: $11.33 million (6.1% of AUM) As of Wednesday, Ingevity shares were priced at $68.56, up 56% over the past year and well outperforming the S&P 500’s roughly 19% gain in the same period. Company overview Metric Value Price (as of Monday) $68.56 Market capitalization $2.5 billion Revenue (TTM) $1.17 billion Net income (TTM) ($150.3 million) Company snapshot EVR Research produces specialty chemicals and activated carbon materials, with key products including hardwood-based activated carbon for emissions control and chemicals derived from crude tall oil and lignin. The company operates a dual-segment business model: Performance Materials generates revenue from engineered carbon products for automotive and industrial applications, while Performance Chemicals targets pavement technologies, industrial specialties, and engineered polymers. It serves automotive OEMs, industrial manufacturers, ...
Last week, I spent an hour in a makeshift theatre in the middle of a park, watching Garry Starr’s comedy clown show Classic Penguins. The next day, I spent eight and a half hours in one of Adelaide’s oldest theatres watching Elevator Repair Service’s Gatz – a play where The Great Gatsby is read aloud in full. Both times, there was nowhere I’d rather be. They both adhere to my golden rule: all thea...
Last week, I spent an hour in a makeshift theatre in the middle of a park, watching Garry Starr’s comedy clown show Classic Penguins. The next day, I spent eight and a half hours in one of Adelaide’s oldest theatres watching Elevator Repair Service’s Gatz – a play where The Great Gatsby is read aloud in full. Both times, there was nowhere I’d rather be. They both adhere to my golden rule: all theatre should be less than two hours, or more than five hours. The former is the perfect excursion. If it’s a bad show, you’re not held hostage for long; if it’s a good show, you get to bookend the night with a meal and a drink – or else go home and still have an early night. Is there anything worse than “two hours and 10 minutes including a 20-minute interval”? Just make it 110 minutes and run it straight through. Three and a half hours is the danger zone: the length of many an unabridged classic. The artists, too often, haven’t thought of the way time sits on our bodies and our minds. This is the play you’re most likely to feel restless in, like it has taken up too much of your day, like it has outstayed its welcome. But stretch longer – five hours and beyond – and the entire shape of a work changes. Time is no longer outside of the theatrical space: time becomes an essential artistic element. Our attention spans are confronted; the time exhausts the performers. When the only thing to do with your day is sit in the theatre, you can feel your whole life rearranging itself around the work. Even in intervals or dinner breaks, the play is the most significant thing in your day. An alchemy happens between the audience and the actors in this incredible feat of endurance; between the strangers in the audience who have committed to spend the day together. You are gloriously untethered from time’s demands. View image in fullscreen An onstage timer counts down to the next death in Ivo van Hove’s six-hour Roman Tragedies, a ‘feat of tension’. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/The Guardian I ...
When I heard the surprise news that BTS are releasing a comeback album, it pulled me back into a past version of myself, one that was all-consuming in its obsession, but equally marked by shame. At the ripe old age of 14, I had mastered the art of lowering my screen brightness and switching tabs to hide my shameful secret from any passerby or seat-sharer. While schoolboys huddled around computer s...
When I heard the surprise news that BTS are releasing a comeback album, it pulled me back into a past version of myself, one that was all-consuming in its obsession, but equally marked by shame. At the ripe old age of 14, I had mastered the art of lowering my screen brightness and switching tabs to hide my shameful secret from any passerby or seat-sharer. While schoolboys huddled around computer screens unashamedly watching live cricket matches on full volume, I don’t recall groups of girls gathering openly to watch the new BTS or One Direction music video. Those viewings happened in private – over late-night Skype calls or on the back bench of a classroom with a shared laptop between my best friend and me. To hide an obsession is so common among teenage girls and an attempt to block a clear avenue to ridicule. I didn’t want to be told I was too obsessed or that I liked something too deeply. For as long as I can remember, I’ve softened and minimised my obsessions around others. Even though I stayed up until 3 am waiting for a new BTS music video to drop, I wouldn’t admit it because it would make me sound “crazy”. Why was obsession a sin only girls could commit? Why is displaying genuine emotion so quickly misconstrued as parasocial attachment or unhealthy dependence? When does interest become obsession? What is the threshold? And why don’t young men get measured on the same scale? Now, a little older and no longer immersed in those fandoms, I look back at that version of myself with so much softness. Rather than cringing (as I usually do when reflecting on anything from my past), I feel protective of the girl who found solace, connection and belonging in something others dismissed or felt entitled to mock. When I moved to Melbourne alone at 17 for university, I didn’t know a single person. There were no familiar reference points or easy friendships to fall into. So I distracted myself. BTS had an entire universe of content: variety shows, live performances, intervie...
You would think primary shades would be the easiest colours to wear. Red, yellow, blue: we can name these before we can tie our shoelaces. They are not sophisticated colours, such as Armani greige or Pantone favourite Mocha Mousse. They are not challenging-to-wear colours, like chartreuse or mustard. They are Mr Men colours. So wearing them must be child’s play, surely. The Guardian’s journalism i...
You would think primary shades would be the easiest colours to wear. Red, yellow, blue: we can name these before we can tie our shoelaces. They are not sophisticated colours, such as Armani greige or Pantone favourite Mocha Mousse. They are not challenging-to-wear colours, like chartreuse or mustard. They are Mr Men colours. So wearing them must be child’s play, surely. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. And yet they are weirdly tricky to wear. They can feel shouty and basic: the getting dressed equivalent of speaking loudly without saying anything particularly interesting, which is – to paint it in primary colours – not what any of us are aiming for. Muted colours have dominated fashion for a decade. Navy, grey, black and denim have been the backbone, with highlights of butter, olive green and soft pink the shade of a freshly plastered wall. But over the past year, uncomplicated shades have made a return to the catwalk. At fashion week, I had got used to trying to figure out the best way to capture an unusual shade in words – is that skirt bramble, or mulberry, or perhaps diluted Ribena? – but I’m now seeing colours that need no introduction. This jumper here is just red, no fancy qualifiers. double quotation mark Adding an in-between colour – in the form of the classic work-shirt blue of the sleeves – serves as a bridge At the Celine show at Paris fashion week, there was a rugby shirt in blue and red with a white collar; also, a blue shirt tucked into a yellow miniskirt. At Alaïa – the home of chic, inky black – there was a red skirt-and-top two-piece and a yellow trench. At Prada, there were practical boxy jackets in cheerful yellow and green, the sort of coat shades that would look more at home hanging on animal-themed pegs outside a nursery classroom than on the Milan catwalk. At Loewe, moulded dresses came in pop art splashes of blue, yellow and red. What works on the ...
California prosecutors have filed nearly 20,000 drug possession felony cases under a tough-on-crime measure passed in 2024. But despite promises to get people into services, the vast majority of those arrested have not received drug treatment, state data reveals. Proposition 36, a state ballot measure, enacted harsher penalties for minor theft and drug offenses, with proponents pledging the crackd...
California prosecutors have filed nearly 20,000 drug possession felony cases under a tough-on-crime measure passed in 2024. But despite promises to get people into services, the vast majority of those arrested have not received drug treatment, state data reveals. Proposition 36, a state ballot measure, enacted harsher penalties for minor theft and drug offenses, with proponents pledging the crackdown would lead to “mass treatment to keep people alive, out of jail, and off our streets”. Case records, however, suggest the state is largely failing to meet the central goal of getting people help and instead conducting mass arrests and incarcerating more people with addiction. In Prop 36’s first year, less than 1% of drug felony charges resulted in defendants completing treatment programs, data shows. Prop 36 was overwhelmingly passed by voters amid concerns about public drug use, shoplifting and other non-violent crimes tied to California’s homelessness crisis. The initiative turned certain misdemeanors into felonies that carry prison time, rolling back parts of a landmark 2014 reform that had kept low-level offenses out of prison and reduced dangerous overcrowding behind bars. The new data has revived concerns of civil rights advocates, who warned Prop 36 would expand incarceration without addressing underlying public health challenges. No mass treatment Prop 36 allowed prosecutors to file felony drug possession cases against people with two or more previous drug convictions. Those charges, called “treatment-mandated felonies”, allow defendants to avoid prison if they complete treatment. In 2025, prosecutors filed a total of 19,104 drug possession felonies under Prop 36, according to data from the Judicial Council of California, the government agency that oversees state courts. But courts reported that defendants entered treatment in only 2,853 of those cases (15%). As of the end of 2025, only 57 of those cases (0.3%) completed treatment and had charges dismissed. The ...
It started in 1998, with a pain in Ken Rideout’s ankle. A podiatrist gave him a prescription for seven Percocet, a drug containing the opioid oxycodone. Rideout was a high-flying commodity trader in New York, outwardly successful but racked with impostor syndrome. The Percocet dulled his foot pain – and also his anxiety. Rideout was used to alcohol and cocaine, but this was different. He felt happ...
It started in 1998, with a pain in Ken Rideout’s ankle. A podiatrist gave him a prescription for seven Percocet, a drug containing the opioid oxycodone. Rideout was a high-flying commodity trader in New York, outwardly successful but racked with impostor syndrome. The Percocet dulled his foot pain – and also his anxiety. Rideout was used to alcohol and cocaine, but this was different. He felt happy, confident and optimistic. He returned to the podiatrist for more pills. Then more. Soon he was altering the prescriptions manually, changing a seven into a two and adding a zero, before targeting smaller pharmacies that wouldn’t run verification checks. A year after starting the pills, Rideout moved to London for work. This was an opportunity, he thought, for a clean break. But within a week he was suffering extreme withdrawal: depression, delirium from days of lost sleep, overwhelming flu-like symptoms. He called his younger brother and asked him to FedEx a batch of a new drug he had read about called OxyContin, which, depending on the dose, can contain a significantly higher amount of oxycodone per pill than Percocet. The OxyContin made Rideout feel amazing again. He found a private doctor who would prescribe the pills. “I wasn’t even happiest when I took the drugs,” says Rideout. “I was happiest knowing that they were coming.” View image in fullscreen Rideout with his future wife Shelby in the early 00s. Photograph: Courtesy of Ken Rideout Rideout flirted with sobriety, attending Narcotics Anonymous while in London. He tried Subutex, a medication used to treat opioid addiction by easing withdrawal symptoms, but when it was time to come off that too, he couldn’t do it. No matter how much he tried to wean himself off Subutex, he would eventually relapse. “I’d gotten myself hooked on a drug that had no high,” he writes of opioids in his recently published memoir, Everything You Want Is on the Other Side of Hard. “They kill joy, too. Not just joy and happiness but any sen...
The 23-year-old who went viral last year has plenty of targets for 2026, starting with the World Indoor Championships in Poland Amy Hunt’s mind is flashing back to the moment she unwittingly went viral last September. As untrammelled joy charged through her body, the BBC asked about her unusual journey from an English degree at Cambridge to a shock 200m world championship silver medal . Hunt’s res...
The 23-year-old who went viral last year has plenty of targets for 2026, starting with the World Indoor Championships in Poland Amy Hunt’s mind is flashing back to the moment she unwittingly went viral last September. As untrammelled joy charged through her body, the BBC asked about her unusual journey from an English degree at Cambridge to a shock 200m world championship silver medal . Hunt’s response quickly became a cri du coeur to young girls everywhere: “You can be an academic badass and a track goddess.” As the 23-year-old prepares for the World Indoor Championships in Poland that starts on Friday, she reveals her remark was entirely spontaneous. “As soon as I said it, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m on the BBC, can I even say that? Are they going to bleep that out?’” she says, smiling. “I was so incredibly high with the adrenaline and endorphins that there wasn’t that connection between my brain and my mouth, necessarily, so I didn’t really know what I was saying.” Continue reading...