Blog

  • US Consumer Health Resilient Amid Low Leverage, Stable Labor Market – Fitch Ratings

    1. US Consumer Health Resilient Amid Low Leverage, Stable Labor Market  Fitch Ratings
    2. Consumption: Strong Start to Cooldown  Morgan Stanley
    3. US consumers are cautious but still spending: Visa economist  iHeart
    4. Bracing for a Fed Pivot: How to Play the Consumer Spending Slump and Tariffflation  AInvest
    5. U.S. consumer is going to be squeezed by looming real-income shock, economist says  MarketWatch

    Continue Reading

  • Wolfspeed Takes Next Step to Implement Restructuring Support Agreement and Proactively Strengthen Capital Structure – Business Wire

    1. Wolfspeed Takes Next Step to Implement Restructuring Support Agreement and Proactively Strengthen Capital Structure  Business Wire
    2. Chip Supplier Wolfspeed Agrees to Cut $4.6 Billion Debt in Bankruptcy  WSJ
    3. Struggling EV semiconductor company files for bankruptcy  TheStreet
    4. Wolfspeed plans US bankruptcy filing in deal reached with creditors  Reuters
    5. Struggling Semiconductor Firm Wolfspeed Files for Bankruptcy  Mint

    Continue Reading

  • Royal train to end 156 years of service as King Charles III seeks to economize – San Francisco Chronicle

    1. Royal train to end 156 years of service as King Charles III seeks to economize  San Francisco Chronicle
    2. Royal train to be decommissioned following review, reveal royal accounts  EDP24
    3. King Charles to Retire Royal Train Beloved by Queen Elizabeth After Cost Concerns  People.com
    4. UK Royal Train to be decommissioned by 2027  RailTech.com
    5. Royal train to be decommissioned following decades of service  The Independent

    Continue Reading

  • Trump to host Netanyahu at the White House on July 7, US official says – Reuters

    1. Trump to host Netanyahu at the White House on July 7, US official says  Reuters
    2. Trump reiterates call for ceasefire deal in Gaza  Dawn
    3. PM set to visit White House next week as US pushes for end to Gaza war, Israel-Syria deal  The Times of Israel
    4. Trump says Gaza ceasefire is possible within a week  Ptv.com.pk
    5. Updates: Israel, Gaza ceasefire possible ‘within next week’, Trump claims  Al Jazeera

    Continue Reading

  • China, Pakistan, Bangladesh Meet To Explore Regional Bloc That Could Replace SAARC: Report | World News

    China, Pakistan, Bangladesh Meet To Explore Regional Bloc That Could Replace SAARC: Report | World News

    Last Updated:

    Pakistan and China are reportedly in advanced talks to form a new regional organisation aimed at boosting connectivity and trade across South Asia.

    China’s Premier Li Qiang, left, walks Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (File photo/AP)

    Pakistan is working with China on a proposal to establish a new regional organisation that could potentially replace the now-defunct South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

    The report quoted diplomatic sources familiar with the development and claimed that talks between Islamabad and Beijing are now at an advanced stage as both sides are convinced that a new organisation is essential for regional integration and connectivity.

    The paper also cited sources and claimed that the new organisation could potentially replace the regional bloc SAARC, which comprises India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

    A recent trilateral meeting between Pakistan, China and Bangladesh in Kunming, China, was part of those diplomatic manoeuvres, the report claimed, adding that its goal was to invite other South Asian countries, which were part of SAARC, to join the new grouping.

    However, according to news agency PTI, Bangladesh’s interim government had dismissed the idea of any emerging alliance between Dhaka, Beijing and Islamabad, saying the meeting was not “political”.

    “We are not forming any alliance,” foreign affairs adviser M Touhid Hossain had said.

    The main purpose of the new organisation is to seek greater regional engagement through enhanced trade and connectivity, the newspaper said.

    It added that if the proposal is materialised, it would replace the SAARC, which has been suspended for a long time due to the India-Pakistan conflict.

    The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. However, after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to “prevailing circumstances”.

    ALSO READ | 3,000 Cartridges, Dubai-Pakistan Links & Wildlife Trafficking: Decoding Malihabad Arms Seizure Case

    authorimg

    Vani Mehrotra

    Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

    Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

    News world China, Pakistan, Bangladesh Meet To Explore Regional Bloc That Could Replace SAARC: Report

    Continue Reading

  • Nintendo’s restock updates from Walmart, Best Buy and more

    Nintendo’s restock updates from Walmart, Best Buy and more

    The Nintendo Switch 2 has been available in the US for more than three weeks — and we finally saw a second wave of availability at retail as June was coming to an end. While it’s too early to declare the Switch 2 to be easy to obtain, the fact that Best Buy and Walmart had units to sell online on June 23 and June 25, respectively, is a good sign that attentive shoppers may be able to take advantage of a Switch 2 restock this summer without paying a ridiculous markup.

    That said, if you’re looking to join one of the millions of people who have already snagged the $450 console since it officially went up for sale on June 5, you may need to include in-store pickup or joining a rewards program as an option. The former (with online reservations) seems to be the methodology that Best Buy and Target currently prefer, while Walmart’s latest Switch 2 drop offered early access to those with Walmart+ (its membership program).

    In the meantime, one place not worth checking for the Switch 2 is Amazon. A report today confirmed that its absence from Amazon’s online store was the result of an ongoing dispute between the retailer and Nintendo — though there have been signs of a thaw on games and accessories. All that said, if you’re still on the hunt, we’ve rounded up all of the latest information we could find on how to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 and where you can pick one up.

    Walmart most recently offered the Switch 2 online on June 25, with Walmart+ members getting an hour’s head start. Currently, both the Mario Kart World bundle and the standalone console are “available” via third-party retailers, but listed for much higher than their standard $500 and $450 price tags — with limited quantities available. We wouldn’t recommend buying these; instead, wait for the console to be listed at its regular MSRP. Naturally, the world’s largest retailer is also selling the console at its brick-and-mortar locations, though the company has noted that quantities are limited and inventory will vary by location.

    Best Buy made additional consoles available on June 11 around 12PM ET, and again on June 23 after selling out quickly on launch day (June 5). Those restocks lasted for the better part of an hour and required in-store pickup, but the device is now sold out again.

    Target had the Switch 2 in stores on June 5 and restocked its online inventory for at least a couple of hours starting around 3:30AM ET on June 6. It then had another restock on June 12 around 2:30PM ET, but that appears to have died out in less than an hour. We also noted it showing up in stock in at least one Philadelphia location on June 24.

    GameStop has advertised in-store availability, though exactly how much stock your local store may have will vary by location. Online, the device has been unavailable for the past week, with the listings for the base console and Mario Kart bundle now pointing to a “Find a Store” page. We saw a $625 bundle that includes Mario Kart World, a microSD Express card and a few other accessories pop up a bit more frequently than the standard SKUs, but it’s no longer listed (and it was kind of a raw deal anyway).

    You may still have some luck at certain membership-based retailers. A Mario Kart World bundle at Costco that includes a 12-month Switch Online subscription has gone in and out of stock since launch day. Sam’s Club has had a bundle without the Switch Online sub as well, though it’s out of stock now. We also saw the console at BJ’s early on June 5, but it’s no longer live there.

    Verizon briefly had the Switch 2 available on launch day, but that’s dried up. Only those with Verizon service were able to order, and the process was apparently somewhat rocky.

    Amazon hasn’t had any form of Switch 2 listing on its website, nor has it listed Mario Kart World. A June 30 Bloomberg report confirmed what had been widely rumored for weeks: Nintendo was apparently punishing Amazon for continuing to surface third-party retailers selling trans-shipped games. However, some Switch 2 games have started popping up, so it’s possible the console may appear at some point, too.

    Newegg has listed the Switch 2 on its site for several weeks, but it’s given no indication as to when it’ll begin sales. While some listings are available via a third-party seller, they’re at massively inflated prices.

    With all of these stores, we’ve seen the Mario Kart World bundle available in greater quantities online than the base console, which costs $50 less. But given that Mario Kart is the Switch 2’s biggest launch game and retails for $80 on its own, that may not be the worst thing.

    Nintendo, meanwhile, is only offering the Switch 2 via an invite system. This requires you to have been a Switch Online member for at least 12 months and logged at least 50 hours of Switch 1 playtime as of April 2. It can’t hurt to sign up if you meet the criteria, but don’t expect it to bear fruit immediately — it’s taken weeks for many people who registered in April to receive their invite.

    You can find a list of every Switch 2 retail listing we could find below. Just be aware that this is meant to be a reference, not a rundown of everywhere the device is available right this second.

    Where to buy Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle:

    Where to buy Switch 2:

    Nintendo is selling a number of Switch 2 accessories alongside the console, from its (pricey) Pro Controller to cases to cameras for the new GameChat feature. Most of these became available on June 5. The same goes for games like Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Another big Switch 2 release, Donkey Kong Bananza, won’t be available until mid-July but is still up for pre-order now.

    As of this publication, just about all Switch 2 games are broadly available. Stock for the accessories remains a little spottier, but most devices are still available at multiple retailers. Nintendo’s official Switch 2 carrying cases have been the main exceptions, so you may need to look to third-party alternatives if you want some protection for your console right away.

    Mario Kart World ($80)

    Donkey Kong Bananza ($70)

    Additional Switch 2 games

    Samsung microSD Express Card (256GB) for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60)

    Joy-Con 2 bundle ($95)

    Switch 2 Pro Controller ($85)

    Switch 2 Camera ($55)

    Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera ($60)

    Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip ($40)

    Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2) ($25)

    Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case ($85)

    Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector ($40)

    Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set ($120)

    Nintendo GameCube Controller for Switch 2 ($65)

    Continue Reading

  • Giant Magellan Telescope enters final design phase

    Giant Magellan Telescope enters final design phase

    The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), an enormous ground-based telescope currently under construction in Chile’s Atacama Desert, is one vital step closer toward completion.

    Earlier this month, the National Science Foundation (NSF) confirmed the massive observatory will advance to its Major Facilities Design Phase, one of the final steps before becoming eligible for federal construction funding. Announced in December, Northwestern University is a founding partner of the GMT. Now, this critical milestone affirms the GMT’s scientific merit, construction progress and alignment with U.S. priorities in science and technology.

    “This milestone reflects not just national recognition, but a shared global commitment to advancing discovery,” said Northwestern’s Vicky Kalogera, a key scientific leader of Northwestern’s GMT initiative. “With this visionary facility, Northwestern researchers will be at the forefront of unlocking the universe’s deepest mysteries.”

    Kalogera is the Daniel I. Linzer Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. She also is director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) and the NSF-Simons Foundation AI Institute for the Sky (SkAI, pronounced “sky”).

    Launching in the 2030s, GMT will be the world’s most powerful optical telescope. By producing images 10 times clearer than the Hubble Space Telescope, GMT will explore the distant universe, including the search for signs of life. Unique among the new class of “extremely large telescopes,” GMT will feature the widest field of view with adaptive optics to correct for blur caused by Earth’s atmosphere. 

    As a partner, Northwestern will contribute its expertise in astrophysics, artificial intelligence (AI) and engineering. Specifically, Northwestern scientists will develop and apply AI tools to enhance GMT’s abilities to search for Earth-like planets across the Milky Way, probe the universe’s most energetic explosions and explore the relationship between galaxies and black holes.

    Backed by nearly $1 billion in private funding — the largest private investment ever made in ground-based astronomy — the Giant Magellan is built by an international consortium of 15 universities and research institutions. Along with Northwestern, other partners include the University of Arizona, Carnegie Institution for Science, The University of Texas at Austin, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, University of Chicago, São Paulo Research Foundation, Texas A&M University, Harvard University, Astronomy Australia Ltd., Australian National University, Smithsonian Institution, Weizmann Institute of Science, Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Arizona State University.

    About 40% of the Giant Magellan is already under construction, with major components manufactured and tested in facilities across 36 states in the U.S., including advanced optics and primary mirrors in Arizona, science instruments in multiple states including Texas and the telescope mount structure in Illinois. At the observatory’s privately owned site in Chile, major infrastructure progress includes utilities, roads, support structures and a fully excavated foundation for the enclosure.

    “The Giant Magellan Telescope represents a bold vision for the future of astrophysics,” Kalogera said. “Northwestern is proud to help shape this vision and to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers who will use this telescope to answer some of the universe’s biggest questions.”

    Continue Reading

  • TikTok attracts ‘very wealthy’ potential buyers, Trump says

    TikTok attracts ‘very wealthy’ potential buyers, Trump says

    The news: President Donald Trump said that he has found “very wealthy people” to buy TikTok and would reveal more in the coming weeks, further chipping away at fears that the app will be banned in the US after he extended the forced sale deadline multiple times.

    Meanwhile, TikTok’s swath of new features and presence at Cannes Lions signaled that the platform isn’t overly worried about the potential of a US ban. TikTok is currently testing “bulletins,” an Instagram Channels-like feature that lets creators and brands directly message their followers. Chatter about the ban was muted at Cannes, overshadowed in part by high profile AI feature announcements.

    The damage: After much anxiety at the start of the year, TikTok’s looming ban still hasn’t gone away—but concern that the app could be permanently blocked is beginning to fade. While that’s obviously good news for TikTok, the uncertainty has still left an impact on its business.

    TikTok CPMs fell by as much as 80% in January 2025 as the first ban took hold, per AdRoll estimates. Its two biggest short-form video competitors, YouTube and Meta, stood to gain as much as 50% of ad dollars reallocated from TikTok. While advertisers are unlikely to abandon TikTok entirely, uncertainty has driven spending and user activity to its competitors.

    Continue Reading

  • ‘Wess Roley loved firefighters, wanted to be one’: Idaho shooter's grandfather reveals shocking details – Hindustan Times – Hindustan Times

    1. ‘Wess Roley loved firefighters, wanted to be one’: Idaho shooter’s grandfather reveals shocking details – Hindustan Times  Hindustan Times
    2. Man shot Idaho firefighters who had asked him to move his vehicle, killing 2, sheriff says  AP News
    3. Wess Roley: Suspect identified in the Idaho firefighter shooting  NBC News
    4. Wess Roley: Idaho gunman in deadly ambush of fire crews had ‘idolised’ firefighters  BBC
    5. 2 firefighters killed, 1 critically hurt in Coeur d’Alene ambush; Shooter dead  KBOI

    Continue Reading

  • Beat the Heat With These Celebrity-Approved Summer Outfits

    Beat the Heat With These Celebrity-Approved Summer Outfits

    We’re creeping toward triple-digit temperatures, and getting dressed is just as burdensome as it is on frigid winter days. It’s fair to look into one’s own closet and feel that there’s nothing to wear—or at least nothing worth sweating in all day. Luckily, though, celebrities are modeling summer heatwave dressing with aplomb.

    Shorts are taking all lengths this summer, from Olivia Rodrigo’s hotpants to Hailey Bieber’s knee-length capris (both, however, embracing this season’s preeminent polka-dot trend). Elsewhere, Emily Ratajkowski embraced the Adam Sandler look in a pair of oversized Nike basketball shorts, while Lorde opted for the boxer trend in Deiji Studios.

    A go-to sun deflector, white clothing is also in heavy rotation. During a scorching week in New York, Jennifer Lawrence layered a pair of white lace-trimmed slips with an oversized graphic tee. Gigi Hadid, Laura Harrier, and Dakota Johnson took different approaches to the LWD—Hadid in an embellished ultra-mini, Harrier donning a ruffled Jacquemus maxi for the designer’s spring 2026 show, and Johnson opting for a simple sleeveless midi with matching pumps.

    Here, take a gander at some celebrity style inspiration for hot summer days, from Rihanna’s diaphanous dressing at the Smurfs premiere to Bella Hadid’s jorts.

    Continue Reading