Gold prices slumped more than 14% this month, creating a test of faith for gold bulls that has left some questioning the precious metal’s safe-haven credentials as the Iran war threatens to upend the global economy.
Gold prices slumped more than 14% this month, creating a test of faith for gold bulls that has left some questioning the precious metal’s safe-haven credentials as the Iran war threatens to upend the global economy.
The Late Show host is co-writing a new JRR Tolkien adaptation to be produced by Peter Jackson Typically, when a famous comedian ventures into writing, it’s in service of a book of humorous essays or a screenplay for a starring vehicle. Stephen Colbert , the comic actor turned beloved talkshow host, is preparing a more unusual pivot: he’ll be working on the screenplay for a new Lord of the Rings mo...
The Late Show host is co-writing a new JRR Tolkien adaptation to be produced by Peter Jackson Typically, when a famous comedian ventures into writing, it’s in service of a book of humorous essays or a screenplay for a starring vehicle. Stephen Colbert , the comic actor turned beloved talkshow host, is preparing a more unusual pivot: he’ll be working on the screenplay for a new Lord of the Rings movie, to be produced by franchise impresario Peter Jackson , who directed the original trilogy of films based on the JRR Tolkien fantasy novels, as well as a trilogy based on Tolkien’s book The Hobbit. To casual viewers of his about-to-end Late Show on CBS, or those who remember his years as a contributor to Comedy Central’s irreverent The Daily Show, this might seem like an odd fit; Tolkien isn’t known for his satirical edge. Colbert, however, is known for his love of Tolkien – among other things. Befitting his eventual gig as a political satirist, Colbert was born in Washington DC, the youngest of 11 children in a Catholic family that subsequently lived in Maryland and South Carolina. The family suffered a major loss in 1974 when two of Colbert’s brothers and their father were killed in a plane crash. Colbert was only 10 and became withdrawn after the tragedy, retreating into books – especially fantasy books like the works of Tolkien – and games like Dungeons & Dragons, which he played heavily for four years. This provided some early training in acting and improvisation without him entirely realizing it. “For somebody who eventually became an actor, it was interesting to have done that for so many years, because acting is role-playing,” he told the AV Club in 2006. “You assume a character, and you have to stay in them over years, and you create histories, and you apply your powers. It’s good improvisation with agreed rules before you go in.” Continue reading...
More than 850 public demonstrations of support held since start of war and at least 1,400 arrests, research reveals Iran’s regime has organised more than 850 public demonstrations of support of the government since the beginning of the war and launched a continuing crackdown on unrest that has led to at least 1,400 detentions, research reveals. The high number of pro-regime gatherings and the incr...
More than 850 public demonstrations of support held since start of war and at least 1,400 arrests, research reveals Iran’s regime has organised more than 850 public demonstrations of support of the government since the beginning of the war and launched a continuing crackdown on unrest that has led to at least 1,400 detentions, research reveals. The high number of pro-regime gatherings and the increasing number of detentions underlines the resilience of the Islamic Republic despite a month-long campaign of intensive airstrikes by the US and Israel, experts said. Continue reading...
As a player, Mauricio Pochettino suffered under World Cup pressure. As a manager, he hopes to help the USMNT’s belief in the face of it US men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino probably understands the pressure of playing for your national team in a way few of his players can. Pochettino was not involved in Argentina’s World Cup plans in 1994 and 1998. He finally made the squad as a v...
As a player, Mauricio Pochettino suffered under World Cup pressure. As a manager, he hopes to help the USMNT’s belief in the face of it US men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino probably understands the pressure of playing for your national team in a way few of his players can. Pochettino was not involved in Argentina’s World Cup plans in 1994 and 1998. He finally made the squad as a veteran in 2002, part of a stacked team favored by many to win the entire tournament. The country itself was in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis and an entire nation turned to La Albiceleste for a bit of hope. Continue reading...
Amanda Smith was reunited with her mother, Michele Hundley Smith, on Thursday after decades-long search Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A North Carolina woman whose mother was missing without a word for 24 years before authorities managed to locate her – alive and well – has reunited with her and says she forgives her. “I know everything is not black a...
Amanda Smith was reunited with her mother, Michele Hundley Smith, on Thursday after decades-long search Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A North Carolina woman whose mother was missing without a word for 24 years before authorities managed to locate her – alive and well – has reunited with her and says she forgives her. “I know everything is not black and white – there’s a whole gray area,” Amanda Smith said of her mother, 62-year-old Michele Hundley Smith, after they embraced in front of a courthouse on Thursday. “And so I mean, look – life’s too short for me to hold a grudge against her because she’s my mom.” Continue reading...
As a child, Brown was underestimated, infantilised and dismissed by specialists and teachers. Now 28, he has written an acclaimed debut novel set in an adult day care centre that gives people like him a voice ‘May I say that I’m very glad to meet you,” Woody Brown taps on his word board. Brown is formal, funny and strikingly eloquent. He has a formidable ability to tell stories that reach into the...
As a child, Brown was underestimated, infantilised and dismissed by specialists and teachers. Now 28, he has written an acclaimed debut novel set in an adult day care centre that gives people like him a voice ‘May I say that I’m very glad to meet you,” Woody Brown taps on his word board. Brown is formal, funny and strikingly eloquent. He has a formidable ability to tell stories that reach into the mind of his characters and express what they are thinking, and what they think others are thinking about them. Brown is also autistic and non-speaking. His first novel, Upward Bound, tells the story of everyday life at the eponymous adult day care centre in southern California. The title is ironic – the young adults, referred to as clients, are anything but upward bound. By and large, they are stifled, patronised, unheard and unseen. Despite their shortcomings, the staff are portrayed with a surprising tenderness. Continue reading...
Shops and restaurants once bustling with tourists now struggle for survival as Canadians think twice about crossing the border On a warm March weekend in the American border town of Lewiston, New York, bakery owner Aimee Loughran is putting the finishing touches on a special order: a state trooper badge-shaped cake for a local officer’s retirement party. It should be the last task of a busy Saturd...
Shops and restaurants once bustling with tourists now struggle for survival as Canadians think twice about crossing the border On a warm March weekend in the American border town of Lewiston, New York, bakery owner Aimee Loughran is putting the finishing touches on a special order: a state trooper badge-shaped cake for a local officer’s retirement party. It should be the last task of a busy Saturday at her Just Desserts shop, which sits just 20 minutes north of the rushing waters of Niagara Falls. Dotted with cafes, restaurants and historic buildings from the 1800s, the Lewiston strip is usually catnip for tourists, including the Canadians whose homes can be seen from the banks of the nearby Niagara River. Continue reading...
IFS analysis also finds male-managed companies were more likely to have victim of abuse leave company Companies who employ more women in senior roles are much more likely to dismiss men accused of sexually or physically abusing their colleagues, according to analysis of international and UK data. Men were more likely to get sacked for abusing a male colleague rather than a female colleague, accord...
IFS analysis also finds male-managed companies were more likely to have victim of abuse leave company Companies who employ more women in senior roles are much more likely to dismiss men accused of sexually or physically abusing their colleagues, according to analysis of international and UK data. Men were more likely to get sacked for abusing a male colleague rather than a female colleague, according to a recent Finnish study , cited in research about the economic impact of violence against women and girls gathered by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Continue reading...
Organizers behind No Kings, a network of progressive groups, says protesters will stage demonstrations across the country and abroad to speak out against the Trump administration's actions. (Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Organizers behind No Kings, a network of progressive groups, says protesters will stage demonstrations across the country and abroad to speak out against the Trump administration's actions. (Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
State lawmakers have been stepping in to regulate artificial intelligence, clashing with the federal government's inaction as concerns about oversight and safety grow. (Image credit: MANDEL NGAN)
State lawmakers have been stepping in to regulate artificial intelligence, clashing with the federal government's inaction as concerns about oversight and safety grow. (Image credit: MANDEL NGAN)
The U.S. has gone unbeaten in its past five international matches. But now the team is upping the ante with games against Belgium and Portugal that could show fans whether a deep run is in the cards. (Image credit: Russell Lewis)
The U.S. has gone unbeaten in its past five international matches. But now the team is upping the ante with games against Belgium and Portugal that could show fans whether a deep run is in the cards. (Image credit: Russell Lewis)
TOPSHOT - Supporters of Yemen's Huthi rebels attend a gathering to mark annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day commemorations in Sanaa on March 28, 2025 (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Supporters of Yemen's Huthi rebels attend a gathering to mark annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day commemorations in Sanaa on March 28, 2025 (Photo by Mohammed HUWAIS / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Esteban Alejandro/iStock via Getty Images Mach Natural Resources LP ( MNR ) is an upstream partnership that issues a K-1. Typically, this combination does not work well throughout the business cycle. Back when I first began writing for Seeking Alpha, there were various income models that several upstream companies had set up (including K-1s). None of those models are around now. The reason for thi...
Esteban Alejandro/iStock via Getty Images Mach Natural Resources LP ( MNR ) is an upstream partnership that issues a K-1. Typically, this combination does not work well throughout the business cycle. Back when I first began writing for Seeking Alpha, there were various income models that several upstream companies had set up (including K-1s). None of those models are around now. The reason for this seems to be the big oil price decline that occurred in 2015 followed by the COVID challenges in 2020. The two of those events seem to have proven that the idea did not work. It should also be pointed out that 2008 was no picnic for this type of setup either. Upstream is very dependent upon commodity prices. Low commodity prices do offer the potential of reported income on a K-1 without getting a distribution. That means that you have to pay taxes without getting the cash to do so. K-1 partnerships do much better with a midstream setup where the income is much steadier (and reliable) with some downside protection. The other issue is the calculation of disposable cash is fixed. This often allows for a generous distribution during a time when commodity prices are elevated (such as oil prices right now). But the company is reporting a debt ratio of 1.4 currently. There is a target of a debt ratio of 1.0. The problem with this in the past has been that a significant downturn turned a comfortable debt ratio into something nearly impossible to service. This is where a lot of these kinds of K-1s vanished for any number of reasons. This company, on the other hand, went public in 2023. Mach Natural Resources LP Common Unit History And Key Valuation Measures (Seeking Alpha Website March 27, 2026) Since going public, the stock has clearly dropped about 50% from its high point and rebounded a bit on the Iranian situation that has raised commodity prices. However, most K-1s are buying considerations at market bottoms when commodity prices are weak. The current situation is the polar op...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Investment Thesis Qualcomm Incorporated ( QCOM ) is significantly underappreciated. Most people view Qualcomm as a mature smartphone chip company at risk from Apple’s modem in-house production. Based on its price relative to future earnings (12-13x), the stock is priced for permanent decline. While this perception may be correct regarding the risks assoc...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Investment Thesis Qualcomm Incorporated ( QCOM ) is significantly underappreciated. Most people view Qualcomm as a mature smartphone chip company at risk from Apple’s modem in-house production. Based on its price relative to future earnings (12-13x), the stock is priced for permanent decline. While this perception may be correct regarding the risks associated with Apple, the reality is the marketplace has completely missed what Qualcomm is evolving into. Beneath Qualcomm’s established handsets, a fundamental shift in structure is occurring; automotive silicon sales have been growing at a 40% + CAGR, Qualcomm has developed a proprietary Edge AI software ecosystem that has locked up 3B devices, and Qualcomm has a $4 Bn patent licensing engine that produces profits based upon whatever modem design is used. Company Overview Qualcomm Inc. ( QCOM ), a global leader in mobile and Internet of Things ( IOT ) technologies based in San Diego, California, was founded in 1985. The business has developed into two major divisions: one that develops and markets Snapdragon branded chips for PC's, smartphones, automobiles, and other IoT devices called Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. ( QTI ), and another division called Qualcomm Technology Licensing, Inc. (QTL), which allows the licensing of their patents used by 300-plus OEMs across the globe. In FY25, Qualcomm posted $44.3 billion in revenue with $12.9 billion in free cash flow and a market cap of about $146 billion. Q1 2026 Result and Q2 Outlook QCOMM Q1 FY 2026 earnings were better than expected on all counts -- $12.3 billion in revenues vs. $12.6 billion (high-end), 3.50 EPS vs. 3.50 (high-end), and 31 percent margins for QCT, which had a ceiling of 32 percent. All aspects of execution were clean. However, it's the second-quarter fiscal year 2026 earnings guidance that will be an important development. Guidance for Q2 was set as follows: revenues are projected to come in between $10.2-11.0 ...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Investment Thesis Qualcomm Incorporated ( QCOM ) is significantly underappreciated. Most people view Qualcomm as a mature smartphone chip company at risk from Apple’s modem in-house production. Based on its price relative to future earnings (12-13x), the stock is priced for permanent decline. While this perception may be correct regarding the risks assoc...
JHVEPhoto/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Investment Thesis Qualcomm Incorporated ( QCOM ) is significantly underappreciated. Most people view Qualcomm as a mature smartphone chip company at risk from Apple’s modem in-house production. Based on its price relative to future earnings (12-13x), the stock is priced for permanent decline. While this perception may be correct regarding the risks associated with Apple, the reality is the marketplace has completely missed what Qualcomm is evolving into. Beneath Qualcomm’s established handsets, a fundamental shift in structure is occurring; automotive silicon sales have been growing at a 40% + CAGR, Qualcomm has developed a proprietary Edge AI software ecosystem that has locked up 3B devices, and Qualcomm has a $4 Bn patent licensing engine that produces profits based upon whatever modem design is used. Company Overview Qualcomm Inc. ( QCOM ), a global leader in mobile and Internet of Things ( IOT ) technologies based in San Diego, California, was founded in 1985. The business has developed into two major divisions: one that develops and markets Snapdragon branded chips for PC's, smartphones, automobiles, and other IoT devices called Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. ( QTI ), and another division called Qualcomm Technology Licensing, Inc. (QTL), which allows the licensing of their patents used by 300-plus OEMs across the globe. In FY25, Qualcomm posted $44.3 billion in revenue with $12.9 billion in free cash flow and a market cap of about $146 billion. Q1 2026 Result and Q2 Outlook QCOMM Q1 FY 2026 earnings were better than expected on all counts -- $12.3 billion in revenues vs. $12.6 billion (high-end), 3.50 EPS vs. 3.50 (high-end), and 31 percent margins for QCT, which had a ceiling of 32 percent. All aspects of execution were clean. However, it's the second-quarter fiscal year 2026 earnings guidance that will be an important development. Guidance for Q2 was set as follows: revenues are projected to come in between $10.2-11.0 ...