The jury had been directed that it could reach a majority verdict, but jurors were discharged earlier after failing to do so after nearly 20 hours of deliberating.
The jury had been directed that it could reach a majority verdict, but jurors were discharged earlier after failing to do so after nearly 20 hours of deliberating.
Share "The Storm-Proof State: How the Bahamas Built a Sovereign Cloud Against the Odds" on Twitter Share "The Storm-Proof State: How the Bahamas Built a Sovereign Cloud Against the Odds" on Facebook Share "The Storm-Proof State: How the Bahamas Built a Sovereign Cloud Against the Odds" on LinkedIn For the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, a "bad day at the office" isn't just a technical glitch—it’s a C...
Share "The Storm-Proof State: How the Bahamas Built a Sovereign Cloud Against the Odds" on Twitter Share "The Storm-Proof State: How the Bahamas Built a Sovereign Cloud Against the Odds" on Facebook Share "The Storm-Proof State: How the Bahamas Built a Sovereign Cloud Against the Odds" on LinkedIn For the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, a "bad day at the office" isn't just a technical glitch—it’s a Category 5 hurricane. In a region where emerald waters can turn into a destructive force of nature within hours, the government faced a recurring nightmare: how do you keep a nation running when the physical world is underwater? The challenge wasn't just the wind and rain. It was the digital aftermath. For years, the government’s digital infrastructure was a patchwork of fragmented systems scattered across various departments. During storm seasons, physical server rooms were sitting ducks for power outages and structural damage. When the power went out and the towers leaned, critical services—from revenue collection to emergency security systems—often went dark exactly when citizens needed them most. The Sovereign Dilemma Beyond the weather, there was the issue of data sovereignty. While global hyperscalers offered a quick fix, the Bahamian government needed to ensure that mission-critical national data stayed within its own borders. They needed a solution that was world-class in capability but local in control. The goal was clear: Build a "sovereign, hurricane-proof private cloud" that could withstand the most extreme conditions the Atlantic could throw at it. The Solution: A Unified Front To turn this vision into reality, the government partnered with Cloud Carib and Broadcom to implement a high-availability private cloud powered by VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF). Instead of fragile, disparate stacks, they moved to a consolidated infrastructure, integrating storage, networking, and compute into a single, streamlined management platform. To ensure the system was truly "storm...
Phiwath Jittamas/iStock via Getty Images This is my second coverage of Root ( ROOT ). I published my previous article in July 2025, when I suggested that the company’s reliance on artificial intelligence and telematics will create a strategic advantage due to better risk assessment. I argued that these technological advances would translate directly into low loss ratios. Additionally, I suggested ...
Phiwath Jittamas/iStock via Getty Images This is my second coverage of Root ( ROOT ). I published my previous article in July 2025, when I suggested that the company’s reliance on artificial intelligence and telematics will create a strategic advantage due to better risk assessment. I argued that these technological advances would translate directly into low loss ratios. Additionally, I suggested that this pivot from direct-to-consumer digital advertising toward an embedded business model through Carvana would significantly lower customer acquisition costs. I believed this would eventually lead to better profitability. Although this did materialize as Q1 2026 was the most profitable quarter with a record net income of approximately $36 million, the growth slowed down. This led to a severe drop in the stock price, and the company underperformed the overall market. In this analysis, I will examine their latest quarter, provide an update on the embedded business model and partnership with Carvana. Finally, based on these facts I will provide my updated valuation model and try to justify my continued ''Buy'' rating. AI and Data Advantage For Q1 2026 Root reported a net combined ratio of 91.4% which was an improvement from a net combined ratio of 95.6% in Q1 2025. This was, I believe, due to a lower loss ratio that relied on the data advantage. While traditional insurers rely heavily on the car owner's stats like credit score, age, past traffic accidents, and whether the insuree was at fault, Root utilizes sensors in smartphones to collect additional behavioral data like speed, driving hours and hard braking. The company, thus, has hard data and is able to better price policies for the safest drivers. This in turn impacts margins. In the Q1 Shareholder letter management noted that ''we are driving toward a fully automated, AI-based, closed-loop insurance platform spanning acquisition, underwriting, pricing, and claims. This integrated system compounds in value: improveme...
Tim Robberts Stock index futures edged higher Wednesday as investors await the highly anticipated earnings data from tech giant Nvidia ( NVDA ). Now, here are 5 news stories that broke in the morning to watch out for: SpaceX prepares for record-breaking IPO: SpaceX ( SPACE ) is preparing for a stock market debut that could dwarf every major initial public offering in history, with the Elon Musk-le...
Tim Robberts Stock index futures edged higher Wednesday as investors await the highly anticipated earnings data from tech giant Nvidia ( NVDA ). Now, here are 5 news stories that broke in the morning to watch out for: SpaceX prepares for record-breaking IPO: SpaceX ( SPACE ) is preparing for a stock market debut that could dwarf every major initial public offering in history, with the Elon Musk-led rocket and satellite company said to be aiming to raise as much as $80 billion or more. If the company reaches an estimated valuation of roughly $1.71 trillion at the time of its offering, it would surpass the previous record for the world’s most valuable newly public company, set by Saudi Aramco ( ARMCO ) during its 2019 IPO, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. China signals rare earth cooperation with U.S.: China’s government said Wednesday its export controls on certain rare earths and other minerals are legitimate and legal but will work with the U.S. on “reasonable” concerns while also planning to speed up construction of strategic mineral reserve sites. Following President Trump’s meeting in Beijing last week with China’s President Xi, the Trump administration said China agreed to address concerns around shortages of rare earths such as yttrium and scandium as well as other critical minerals. Visa warns AI-enabled scams becoming top consumer threat: Criminals have shifted their focus to scams targeting individuals rather than exploiting vulnerabilities in payment networks to steal, Visa ( V ) said in its Spring 2026 Biannual Threats Report on Wednesday. Scams have become the fastest-growing source of consumer harm as criminals harness artificial intelligence and social engineering to manipulate people to authorize payments to them. UK retailers reject government grocery price cap proposal: British retailers are pushing back against a government proposal to introduce voluntary price caps on essential groceries, with Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Mach...
With Treasury yields sliding and the broader market trading near record highs, retail investors hunting for reliable passive income are getting squeezed. That makes brand-name dividend payers trading under $40 a share unusually interesting right now: you get household-name stability, room to compound shares, and yields that comfortably top what a savings account is paying. ... Want Super Safe Divi...
With Treasury yields sliding and the broader market trading near record highs, retail investors hunting for reliable passive income are getting squeezed. That makes brand-name dividend payers trading under $40 a share unusually interesting right now: you get household-name stability, room to compound shares, and yields that comfortably top what a savings account is paying. ... Want Super Safe Dividend Income? Invest $5k Into These 3 Under $40 Stocks
To make that shift tangible, HKIC has invested in hands on training and project management programmes that equip students with future-proofing skills to read data, operate AI agents and integrate digital workflows on site. “Just look at the Centre for Future Construction (CFC) at HKIC,” notes Chairman of CIC, Ir Prof. Thomas Ho. “Where most advanced technologies are in one integrated facility: a D...
To make that shift tangible, HKIC has invested in hands on training and project management programmes that equip students with future-proofing skills to read data, operate AI agents and integrate digital workflows on site. “Just look at the Centre for Future Construction (CFC) at HKIC,” notes Chairman of CIC, Ir Prof. Thomas Ho. “Where most advanced technologies are in one integrated facility: a Digital Twin Hub, an AI Hub, a 4S Hub, an Immersive Hub and a Robotic Hub — all applied directly to an increasing number of projects by the Government and private companies.” The HKIC, formerly known as the Construction Industry Training Authority, has had more than 50 years of expertise in providing construction training in Hong Kong. HKIC, established by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) in 2018 and embedded in the Vocational Professional Education and Training (VPET) system, has positioned itself at the centre of this technological renaissance. Rather than displacing practitioners, HKIC frames AI and robotics as collaborators that relieve workers of repetitive or hazardous tasks and free skilled professionals to concentrate on complex, artisanal work and rigorous quality control. Hong Kong’s construction sector stands at a decisive inflection point. A wave of public investment—anchored by the Northern Metropolis, major transport, healthcare and education projects and flagship initiatives such as Skytopia—has sustained demand even as skilled labour shortages and rising input costs squeeze schedules and margins. Those pressures are accelerating a structural shift toward sector specific digitalisation under the “AI+” agenda in the National 15th Five Year Plan, where integrated BIM and digital engineering, AI safety monitoring, predictive maintenance, robotic construction and remote operations are moving from pilots into mainstream deployment. HKIC continually updates its curriculum to fuse cutting edge AI with practical training—turning classrooms into laboratories whe...
Edward Chaidez/iStock Editorial via Getty Images In the months that followed my previous coverage , Lowe's Companies, Inc. ( LOW ) stock had been on a roller coaster ride. It rose to its one-year high of $289 before dropping continuously to $215, which justifies my cautious stance. With the current market dynamics and macroeconomic environment, LOW's growth prospects may remain wobbly this year de...
Edward Chaidez/iStock Editorial via Getty Images In the months that followed my previous coverage , Lowe's Companies, Inc. ( LOW ) stock had been on a roller coaster ride. It rose to its one-year high of $289 before dropping continuously to $215, which justifies my cautious stance. With the current market dynamics and macroeconomic environment, LOW's growth prospects may remain wobbly this year despite its solid performance. Meanwhile, valuation appears more reasonable, but upside still appears limited and constrained. Technicals reflect new buying opportunities, but bearish signals are still evident. LOW Q1 2026: Challenges Intensified But Resilience Remained In the midst of accelerating inflation and softer housing market conditions, property builders and home furnishing businesses have felt their impact. Even established brands like Lowe's Companies, Inc. are not entirely shielded as the mounting headwinds catch up with their operational strategies. But with its strong branding and pricing power, its operations remain resilient. We have seen this in its most recent performance. In Q1 2026, its net sales amounted to $23.1B , up by 10.2% YoY from $20.9B. This shows its sustained strength, which I initially found impressive in the current market environment. Indeed, its growth really expanded at first glance. But if you look more closely, the huge portion of the revenue increase was due to its acquisition of Artisan Design Group and Foundation Building Materials. With that, LOW also acquired their respective customers or clients. If you will only consider the actual sales from LOW's stores or outlets without the impact of the M&A, the comparable sales growth was 0.6%. Using this, we can estimate that the actual sales, excluding the M&A, were $21.1B. This YoY growth was slower than in my previous coverage at 1.6%. Even so, we can say that its sales remained stable with its strong and resilient pricing power. This was supported by its e-commerce space, as online sales...
What makes the report timely is the consistency of its findings. 14 senior leaders across different sectors and markets described a remarkably similar set of pressures, not as isolated trends, but as forces converging at once: the tension between short-term ROI and long-term brand value; the friction created by fragmented measurement and ownership across the business; the role of AI, which leaders...
What makes the report timely is the consistency of its findings. 14 senior leaders across different sectors and markets described a remarkably similar set of pressures, not as isolated trends, but as forces converging at once: the tension between short-term ROI and long-term brand value; the friction created by fragmented measurement and ownership across the business; the role of AI, which leaders broadly acknowledge improves efficiency but does not resolve how decisions are made or who is accountable for them. Fragmented structures, misaligned KPIs, and unclear ownership across functions are making it increasingly difficult for senior marketers to make confident, cohesive decisions. CMOs have more data and tools at their disposal than ever before, but the challenge now is clarity. This gap in clarity widens the distance between what businesses are ambitious to achieve and what marketing leaders can realistically deliver. The report surfaces something that many marketing leaders are already living but rarely see reflected clearly: that the complexity facing CMOs today is not simply external. It is organisational and, at its core, a decision problem. That tension plays out across multiple dimensions simultaneously - AI, creativity, measurement, ownership, short-term versus long-term - and in a region as vast and varied as APAC, every one of those dimensions is amplified. Olivier Kuziner, Managing Partner APAC at Ekimetrics, said “At Ekimetrics, we believe the defining leadership challenge for modern marketing is orchestrating short-term and long-term performance together through better decision making. That belief is what drew us to this research, and what the report confirms. The CMOs we spoke to across APAC are operating in an environment where data abundance, channel fragmentation, and performance culture have accelerated decision cycles, while shrinking patience for long-term returns. The risk, and we see it consistently, is organisations mistaking efficiency for...
The RAF's RC-135W Rivet Joint is operated by No 51 Squadron and typically flies out of a base in Lincolnshire. The aircraft use advanced sensors to "intercept and analyse signals across the electromagnetic spectrum, providing real-time strategic and tactical intelligence", according to the RAF website.
The RAF's RC-135W Rivet Joint is operated by No 51 Squadron and typically flies out of a base in Lincolnshire. The aircraft use advanced sensors to "intercept and analyse signals across the electromagnetic spectrum, providing real-time strategic and tactical intelligence", according to the RAF website.
A U.S. passport featuring an image and signature of U.S. President Donald Trump is seen in this rendering released by the State Department, in Washington, April 28, 2026. U.S. State Department | Via Reuters President Donald Trump 's face should not be printed on a special edition U.S. passport, a group led by Democratic senators said in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. The ...
A U.S. passport featuring an image and signature of U.S. President Donald Trump is seen in this rendering released by the State Department, in Washington, April 28, 2026. U.S. State Department | Via Reuters President Donald Trump 's face should not be printed on a special edition U.S. passport, a group led by Democratic senators said in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. The group, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley , D-Ore., in the letter shared first with CNBC, called on Rubio to halt plans to issue a limited number of passports featuring Trump to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary. "The U.S. passport has never — and should not now — feature an image of a sitting U.S. president. We ask you to halt these plans given the anti-democratic impact this decision will have," the group wrote. The letter was signed by Sens. Chris Van Hollen , D-Md., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Tim Kaine , D-Va., and Angus King , I-Vt., who caucuses with Democrats. Read more CNBC politics coverage Gas tax holiday as Trump promises? Not so fast, trucking, construction industries say Trump doesn't need Congress to restart Iran strikes: Hegseth Analysis: Iran war hangs over Trump's China trip — and his presidency Congress members push Chinese auto parts ban before Trump China trip The State Department announced via X in April that it would release the limited edition passports and included a " sneak peak ," which featured Trump's likeness superimposed over the Declaration of Independence. Trump, with support from his congressional allies, has made a point of putting his name and likeness on a variety of things in his second term. His image appears on the 2026 America the Beautiful National Parks annual pass and will appear on a 250th anniversary gold coin, while another effort is afoot to get his face on a special edition $1 coin. Also in honor of America's 250th, Trump's signature will appear on dollar bills, the first time a sitting president will leave such an imprint on paper c...
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is as he arrives at the airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 8, 2026. Alastair Grant | Afp | Getty Images The U.K. on Wednesday hailed a "historic" trade deal with the Gulf states that marks the first such agreement among Group of Seven (G7) nations. The trade deal could boost the U.K. economy by an estimated £3.7 billion ($4.9 billion) every year and inc...
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer is as he arrives at the airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 8, 2026. Alastair Grant | Afp | Getty Images The U.K. on Wednesday hailed a "historic" trade deal with the Gulf states that marks the first such agreement among Group of Seven (G7) nations. The trade deal could boost the U.K. economy by an estimated £3.7 billion ($4.9 billion) every year and increase wages by £1.9 billion annually in the long run, the U.K.'s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said as the agreement was announced. "The U.K. could see a boost to growth and higher wages for decades to come after becoming the first G7 country to secure a trade deal with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) today — strengthening our economic partnership with the region, supporting jobs in the long term, and bolstering domestic resilience," the DBT said in a statement. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) is welcomed by Emirati Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak as he arrives for a visit on April 9, 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Wpa Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images The deal with the GCC, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, reflected the U.K.'s "solidarity and long-term cooperation with its Gulf partners," according to the British government. It said the deal will remove an estimated £580 million in duties a year, based on current U.K. exports to the GCC, once the agreement is fully implemented, with £360 million of this amount "to be removed on day one of the agreement entering into force." British exports of cereals, cheddar cheese, chocolate and butter are just a few of the goods expected to become tariff-free under the terms of the deal. Cheddar could be one of the British food products set to benefit from the trade deal with Gulf states. Reda | Universal Images Group | Getty Images It marks a fifth major trade agreement made under the current U.K. governm...
Iran said it would take the war beyond the Middle East if the US and Israel resume attacks, after President Donald Trump threatened new strikes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has gained influence in Iran since the conflict started in late February, vowed “crushing blows in places you do not expect,” according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The threat hints at a possible es...
Iran said it would take the war beyond the Middle East if the US and Israel resume attacks, after President Donald Trump threatened new strikes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has gained influence in Iran since the conflict started in late February, vowed “crushing blows in places you do not expect,” according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The threat hints at a possible escalation should Trump follow through on his comments yesterday that he might order a new round of strikes in coming days. Iran fired drones and missiles at several countries, including Israel and Gulf Arab states , after the war began. Trump said today the US is in the “final stages” of negotiations with Iran, according to a White House pool report. “We’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won’t happen,” he said according to the report. Chinese President Xi Jinping, meeting with Vladimir Putin in Beijing today, added urgency to his calls for peace , state news agency Xinhua reported. “A comprehensive ceasefire is imperative,” Xi said. — Philip Lagerkranser What You Need to Know Today AI fears are rattling bank workers after Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters pledged sweeping job cuts as it adopts the technology. His counterpart at HSBC, Georges Elhedery, said today that AI will “destroy” some jobs while crating others, urging employees to adapt. The two leaders joined a growing chorus of bank CEOs extolling the cost-cutting benefits of AI. It’s not all smooth sailing for CEOs, though. Winters moved to calm staff today after his comments on replacing “lower-value human capital” caused a social-media backlash. And some regulators are pushing to ensure humans are providing oversight of bank processes increasingly handled by AI. David Zahn Called the Gilt Rout. Now He’s Set to Buy at 6% David Zahn is looking vindicated. He’s been shunning UK bonds for more than a year, when other fund managers were piling in after selloffs. Read more Emman...
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Google’s AI-powered Search era apparently also extends to its ads. Now, when you search for a product, Google’s Gemini AI chatbot will surface relevant items and ge...
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Google’s AI-powered Search era apparently also extends to its ads. Now, when you search for a product, Google’s Gemini AI chatbot will surface relevant items and generate a “custom explainer” about why you should purchase a specific one. The update comes just one day after Google revealed a new Search box for larger, more conversational queries, along with a focus on AI-generated results. In an example shared by Google, someone searching for a “compact espresso pod machine” might see a Nespresso Vertuo Up under a “Sponsored Product” label, alongside an AI-generated description saying: For a quality machine, look for capsule compatibility and flavor diversity, the ability to produce rich crema, a fast heat up, and one-touch options for custom cup sizes and iced coffee. Slim, fast-starting machine using Vertuo capsules with rich flavor extraction and customization brew concentrations (e.g. for iced coffee). Heats up in 3s and makes 6 cup sizes. Search will also surface ads with a built-in chatbot. These ads will show an “Ask a question” button, which you can press to start a conversation with Gemini. The AI chatbot will then use the information from a product or service’s website to answer your questions, and can also prompt you to fill out a form to put you in touch with the business. Google is testing new kinds of ads within AI Mode — its chatbot-style Search experience — as well. The company first introduced a “sponsored” result for some queries in AI Mode last year, but these ad formats seem even more in your face. One of these options could surface a sponsored product that answers a specific question, like, “What are some low-maintenance ways to make my home smell amazing?” AI Mode could present a “sponsored” result for an air fres...