Viola Davis is pouring $1.2 million into the Rhode Island community that helped raise her. The EGOT winner and her husband, actor Julius Tennon, made the donation through their Davis-Tennon Foundation to build a new community hub in Central Falls—the same city where Davis once faced crushing poverty, hunger, and unstable housing.
According to The Boston Globe, the Mary Alice Davis Family Engagement Center, named for Davis' mother, will put a wide range of services under one roof. The facility will include an expanded food pantry, a parent resource center, workforce development and financial literacy programs, educational workshops, meeting **** e for nonprofits, and the foundation's permanent headquarters. Its current food pantry already serves roughly 3,000 people every month.
"For me, this has always been about possibility," Davis said in a statement. "Every person deserves to be seen. Every family deserves opportunity. Every child deserves to grow up believing their future is larger than their circumstances."
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Those circumstances were once Davis' own. Born in South Carolina in 1965, she moved to Central Falls as a baby and spent much of her childhood in what she has described as "abject poverty."

#davis

US stocks capped a volatile month on Friday, after the 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) jumped to its highest level since January 2025 and Big Tech giants reported continued investments in artificial intelligence.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) rose roughly 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose 0.5%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) also added 0.7%.
All three major averages posted gains for the week, and the Dow also recorded a 0.7% gain for the month of July.
Stocks wavered earlier in the trading day as investors sold 10-year Treasurys, pushing the 10-year yield (^TNX) to 4.73%, its highest in over a year, as investors continued to ***** s the Fed's decision to hold rates steady with a lack of forward guidance.
Amazon (AMZN) stock jumped 15% after the e-commerce giant's earnings beat expectations and its chip business expanded. Apple (AAPL) stock fell 7%, as the iPhone maker's Services and China revenue came up short. The results followed Microsoft's (MSFT) historic 15% stock rally on Thursday.

#month #highest

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Oprah Winfrey says she will close the school for underprivileged girls she set up in South Africa two decades ago at the end of next year.
Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2007 after being inspired by conversations with former South African President Nelson Mandela about the transformative power of educating girls. He was among the guests at the school's opening ceremony.
Winfrey's charitable foundation ran and funded the school, but it was always part of the agreement that the academy campus near Johannesburg be ultimately handed over to the provincial education department, the academy said.
"The dream was never simply to build a school," Winfrey said in a statement issued by the academy on Wednesday. "It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women. That mission doesn't end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education."
The academy said Winfrey's commitment to educating South African girls would continue through an expanded national scholarship program supporting academically talented girls at leading schools across the country.

#winfrey

Our ****** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Achieved record results driven by hyper-growth in data centers and broad-based strength across the diversified portfolio, with non-data center sales growing mid-single-digits.
Leveraged the 'OneWesco' cross-selling strategy to secure a record backlog, which increased 60% year-over-year across all three business units.
Transformed the CSS segment into a double-digit EBITDA margin business through improved project execution and increased pull-through of high-margin services.
Expanded the data center value proposition from 'grid to rack' by integrating power solutions and mission-critical cooling capabilities.

#data #record #center #Margin

Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Exceptional organic revenue growth of 19.6% was driven by mission-critical projects, particularly within the network and communications sector which houses the data center business.
Electrical Construction margins expanded 210 basis points due to superior field execution and a favorable project mix, while Mechanical Construction saw a mix shift toward lower-margin prime contractor and cost-plus roles.
The company achieved significant operating leverage, reducing SG&A margin by 50 basis points even as revenues grew nearly 20%, reflecting the scalability of the current overhead structure.
Management attributes sustained success to 'enduring fundamentals,' specifically prefabrication capabilities, virtual design and construction (VDC) technology, and disciplined labor management.

#construction #Margin #tell #exceptional

Zendaya has become one of Hollywood's most versatile and respected performers, building a career that spans acting, music, fashion, and producing. Long before she was headlining blockbuster films and award-winning television series, she was a child model and dancer with a clear dream of performing. Growing up around theater nurtured her love for the arts, but it was watching Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel that convinced her she wanted to pursue acting professionally. Determined to follow that path, she steadily worked her way through auditions before landing roles that introduced her to a global audience.
Her early success came through Disney Channel productions, where she showcased her talents as both an actress and singer. However, Zendaya was eager to prove she could take on more mature and challenging roles beyond the family-friendly image that accompanied her early career. That opportunity arrived in 2017 when she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Appearing alongside Tom Holland, the film marked a major turning point, allowing her to demonstrate a more understated and confident screen presence while reaching an even wider audience. Zendaya has often described the role as the realization of a lifelong ambition to transition from television to feature films.
The same year, she further expanded her reputation by starring in The Greatest Showman, where she portrayed trapeze artist Anne Wheeler. Her character's romance with Phillip Carlyle, played by Zac Efron, became one of the film's emotional highlights, exploring themes of acceptance, courage, and breaking social barriers. Combined with the movie's hugely successful soundtrack, the performance confirmed that Zendaya possessed the rare ability to excel as both an actress and performer, strengthening her reputation as one of Hollywood's brightest young stars.
Her career has continued to flourish through acclaimed projects across film and television, including subsequent Spider-Man films and other critically praised performances. Throughout her success, Zendaya has remained known for her professionalism, humility, and thoughtful perspective on fame. She has frequently spoken about the importance of patience, encouraging aspiring performers to trust their own journey rather than comparing themselves to others. According to Zendaya, growth comes through experience, persistence, and allowing yourself the time to improve without expecting immediate results.
Today, Zendaya is celebrated not only for her talent but also for her authenticity and influence both on and off the screen. Whether portraying complex dramatic characters, leading blockbuster franchises, or inspiring audiences through her interviews and public appearances, she continues to demonstrate that lasting success is built on dedication, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning. Her journey from an ambitious child performer to one of entertainment's most recognizable stars serves as an

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Taco Bell has consistently been one of the best-performing QSRs in the industry over the past several years. A U.S. public health crisis quickly interrupted that momentum.
The chain's same-store sales declined 2 percent quarter-to-date through July 27 after a cyclospora outbreak sickened thousands across several states. The sharpest impact came over the weekend of July 18, according to Yum! Brands.
The outbreak was linked to iceberg lettuce, some of which was served at certain Taco Bell restaurants. In response, the company swiftly removed the affected lettuce.
The downturn followed a second quarter in which Taco Bell's same-store sales rose 7 percent. The chain outperformed the quick-service restaurant industry for the ninth consecutive quarter and expanded its digital sales mix by 5 percentage points to 47 percent.

#sales #industry #same

Less-than-truckload carrier Saia's shares were off 12% in midday trading on Thursday following a better-than-expected second-quarter report that was muted by management's softer third-quarter margin outlook. The company has made real estate investments totaling over $1 billion in recent years, and its new locations are still working to close the profitability gap to the rest of the network.
Saia (NASDAQ: SAIA) reeled in its full-year margin outlook on a Thursday call with ***** ysts. It now expects to hit the lower end of a guidance range calling for 100 to 200 basis points of year-over-year improvement.
"Our strong second quarter results highlight the continued enhancement of our expanded service offering, disciplined execution and the commitment of our team members," said Saia CEO Fritz Holzgrefe. "We achieved record revenue and tonnage, along with a second-quarter record in shipments, reflecting solid growth across our network."
The Johns Creek, Georgia-based company reported second-quarter earnings per share of $3.51 on Thursday before the market opened. The result was 84 cents higher y/y and 12 cents better than the consensus estimate. A lower tax rate compared to the prior-year quarter was a 2-cent tailwind. A $3 million decline in net interest expense was an 8-cent tailwind.
Revenue was 17% higher y/y at 957 million, largely in line with consensus. Both tonnage and yield increased by 8% y/y. (Yield was down 2% excluding fuel surcharges.)

#quarter #saia #better

Okta on Thursday agreed to acquire AI identity security startup Permiso Security, betting that demand for protecting AI agents and other machine identities will grow as enterprises deploy autonomous software across their operations.
The identity management company did not disclose the terms of the transaction. But TechCrunch has learned that the acquisition is valued at just under $200 million and is structured as an almost all-cash deal, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. A spokesperson for Okta did not dispute the $200 million figure when TechCrunch asked CEO Todd McKinnon for comment about the deal, but the company would not comment on specifics of the deal terms.
The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of its fiscal 2027, Okta said, subject to customary closing conditions.
Okta's move to buy Permiso comes as identity management companies seek to expand beyond verifying users at login to continuously monitoring what users, applications, and AI agents do once gaining authorized access to a network environment. That shift has intensified competition to secure machine identities as enterprises embed AI deeper into everyday operations.
Permiso, which emerged from stealth in 2022, develops software that helps security teams spot suspicious activity in cloud environments after users or applications have been granted access. More recently, the startup has expanded its platform to monitor AI agents and other machine identities.

#identity

The company's guidance method excluded a product it had only just launched, and management said so two months before the run began.
Snowflake (SNOW) stock has gained about 98% over the past three months, from $142.56 to $282.90, while the S&P 500 returned 2.5%. Its largest cloud peers went the other way over the same window: MSFT and AMZN fell 8.8% and 12.7%, and GOOGL slipped 3.7%. Start with what the run was actually about.
The Outlook Went From 27% To 31% In One Report
At the fiscal Q1 2027 report in late May, inside the run, product revenue came in at $1.334 billion, with growth accelerating to 34% year over year, from 30% in fiscal Q4 2026 and 26% a year earlier. Net revenue retention rose to 126%, and non-GAAP operating margin expanded more than 300 basis points year over year to 12%. The bigger item was the outlook: management lifted the fiscal 2027 product revenue guide to $5.84 billion, from 27% to 31% growth, and the full-year non-GAAP operating margin guide from 12.5% to 13.5%. By the company's own explanation, the largest single driver of that raise was Cortex Code, its coding agent.
The February Guide Management Said Could Not Include Cortex Code

#revenue

Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP)'s Big Boy 4014, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, has been touring the country this summer, and grown adults keep tearing up when they see it. CEO Jim Vena said the tour east of the Mississippi wouldn't have been possible without one thing: the railroad operating firm's pending merger with Norfolk Southern, since Union Pacific's own tracks run west of the river. In part, the nostalgia tour is a goodwill campaign for the biggest deal in the company's history.
On the business itself, Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) reported a strong quarter. Revenue rose 12% to $6.86 billion, beating the $6.71 billion expected, and adjusted earnings came in at $3.41 a share versus $3.24 expected. The company raised its full-year guidance to high-single-digit earnings growth, up from mid-single digits. The stock rose about 2% in premarket trading. Costs rose too; operating expenses climbed 13% to $4.1 billion, mostly from a 63% jump in fuel costs linked to the Iran war.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is trying to buy Norfolk Southern in a deal now valued around $71.5 billion, down from an earlier $85 billion price tag as terms have moved with Union Pacific's stock. It would create the first coast-to-coast U.S. railroad. The day before earnings, Union Pacific settled with Canadian National Railway, a major opponent that had been pushing regulators to demand more information. CN will drop its opposition in exchange for expanded Midwest access and a stake in two jointly owned terminal railroads. Vena called it proof the firm is "ready to move forward in the regulatory process." The deal still isn't approved, though. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) paused its review in May and just this week ordered Union Pacific to make employee-impact data public. Rivals BNSF and Canadian Pacific Kansas City are still lobbying against it, and some shippers and state attorneys general remain opposed. The companies still expect to close the deal in the first half of 2027.
That raises a real question. Is this merger clearing its last real hurdles, or did the CN settlement just remove one opponent out of several?
The core business (Union Pacific's actual railroad operations) is performing well on its own, guidance beat and rose, and pricing power held up despite surging fuel costs. The CN settlement removes a credible opponent and comes with political tailwinds too: Trump has publicly backed the merger and replaced a regulator who could have opposed it. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) and Norfolk Southern say the deal would save shippers $3.5 billion a year and remove 2.1 million trucks from the road. Wall Street responded fast: Baird, RBC, and JPMorgan all raised price targets this week, with RBC citing the CN deal directly as strengthening the merger's case.

#union #deal

A little more than a month stands between now and the start of Florida football's 2026 campaign. As a new era dawns in the Swamp with the arrival of Jon Sumrall and his hand-picked staff, the Gator Nation is feeling positive heading into the program's 114th season.
However, once again the Orange and Blue face one of the toughest schedules in the nation — particularly after the SEC expanded its conference slate to nine games — checking in at No. 7 in ESPN's 2026 preseason rankings. The Gators are looking to bounce back from a 4-8 finish last season, but like in recent years, it will not be easy.
Which brings us to the current topic at hand: ranking Florida's opponents for this coming season in order of difficulty from easiest to toughest. Sumrall and Co. will face one FCS team — the Campbell Fighting Camels — in Week 2 and the FAU Owls — an American Athletic Conference member — in Week 1. Otherwise, the schedule is packed with challenging conference opponents, as well as an FSU Seminoles squad that is also seeking to improve from last season.
Below is a look at all 12 opponents that the Gators will face this fall, ranked in order of their Football Power Index ratings; Florida checks in at No. 18 in the FPI with a 13.6 rating. Also included is each team's 2025 record as well as the all-time record between the two competing schools.
Here is how things pan out based on those parameters. Make note that each school's overall FPI ranking is included in parentheses.

#face #opponents #sumrall

CHICAGO — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti offered plenty of flowers to the rest of the conference at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday.
He reserved some of his highest praise for Ohio State.
"They're a goliath," Cignetti said. "There's some goliaths in the Big Ten that have been goliaths for a long time."
Cignetti later expanded on his answer to include the likes of Michigan, USC and Penn State in that same category, while opening the door for a natural follow-up question: Is Indiana on the verge of joining those ranks?
"We were the national champs of 2025 and 27-2 the last two years," Cignetti said. "Longest home win streak in college football. Longest win streak in college football. I don't know. You guys write those stories."

#Football #indiana

CHICAGO — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti offered plenty of flowers to the rest of the conference at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday.
He reserved some of his highest praise for Ohio State.
"They're a goliath," Cignetti said. "There's some goliaths in the Big Ten that have been goliaths for a long time."
More: Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti navigating newfound fame
Cignetti later expanded on his answer to include the likes of Michigan, USC and Penn State in that same category, while opening the door for a natural follow-up question: Is Indiana on the verge of joining those ranks?

#cignetti #Chicago #Media

Ferran Torres' future at Barcelona is becoming increasingly uncertain as interest in the Spanish forward continues to grow across Europe.
What had previously appeared to be a battle between Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid has now expanded, with Tottenham Hotspur and ****** nal also monitoring his situation, according to reports from England, as relayed by SPORT.
With his contract set to expire in 2027, Ferran has become one of the most attractive players on the market.
Barcelona have already informed his representatives that they intend to open renewal talks in September, but there is growing concern within the club that strong offers from abroad could complicate those plans.
Ferran's stock has risen significantly following an impressive season and an outstanding FIFA World Cup campaign, where he received widespread praise for his performances.

#Barcelona #spanish #Europe

The company is broadening its GUTSI™ product portfolio by extending its fulvic and humic mineral platform across beverages, supplements, and functional nutrition products.
Victory Marine Holdings (OTCQB:VMHG) expanded its GUTSI™ mineral-first platform across mineral drops, functional beverages, hydration products, and planned gummy supplements.
The company is preparing a second commercial production run of its Functional Mineral Hydration products while continuing production of its Prebiotic Mineral Soda.
Management aims to build a unified consumer wellness platform centered on fulvic and humic mineral ingredients across multiple product categories.
GUTSI™ Fulvic & Humic Mineral Drops are available through Amazon and the company's direct-to-consumer website.

#mineral #humic #Hydration

Strong top-line growth was driven by virtual technology services and a new AI digital **** et sales business, although higher investment and **** et impairment resulted in a GAAP net loss.
Global Mofy (NASDAQ:GMM) reported revenue growth of 49.4% to $39.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2026.
The company's new AI digital **** et sales business and growing demand for virtual technology services were the primary growth drivers.
R&D spending more than doubled to $14.4 million as Global Mofy expanded its Gauss AI Lab and AI platform capabilities.
Despite strong revenue growth, higher operating costs, **** et impairment, and increased investment led to a GAAP net loss of $50.7 million.

#gaap

Jul. 30— More than 20 middle school and high school coaches came together this summer for the inaugural Austin Coaches Leadership Retreat, a new professional development opportunity centered on one shared belief — Culture Wins: One Department. One Coaching Community. One Standard.
According to a release from the district, the afternoon was dedicated to strengthening leadership, fostering relationships, and building a unified coaching culture with the intent tol positively impact every student-athlete in Austin Public Schools.
The retreat began with a "Coaching Journey Map" activity, where coaches shared the experiences, mentors, and moments that shaped their coaching careers. Common themes emerged across the coaching spectrum including relationships, trust, accountability, service, and a passion for helping young people grow.
Guest presenters expanded those themes throughout the afternoon. Mental performance expert Melissa Hager challenged coaches to think about developing confident, resilient athletes who are prepared to handle both success and adversity. Coaches also heard from the team at ETS Strength and Performance, who shared the philosophy behind Austin's investment in performance training and highlighted how strength and conditioning supports injury prevention, confidence, discipline, and long-term athletic development.
Head and ****** istant coaches from both the middle school and high school connected, exchanged ideas, and began building relationships that are intended to strengthen collaboration across programs for years to come.

#culture

Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Performance was characterized by the successful conversion of a 45-year-old legacy core deposit system to a modern vendor-supported platform, a multi-year effort intended to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
Net interest margin expanded to 3.84% due to the strength of a low-cost deposit base and disciplined loan production, despite significant competitive pricing pressure in core markets.
Credit quality improved meaningfully following the strategic sale of a $73.8 million delinquent mortgage portfolio, which reduced nonperforming ******* ets by 47.3% and lowered the risk profile of the one-to-four family book.
Loan growth was driven by $643 million in new originations and increased C&I line utilization, though net growth was tempered by $652 million in combined CRE prepayments and payoffs.

#year

DETROIT (AP) — Two people who attended a prestigious Michigan fine arts school reported conduct of a **** ual nature by Jeffrey Epstein, a major donor, according to an investigation that also uncovered dozens of allegations spanning decades against nearly 50 other people.
Interlochen Center for the Arts operates a summer camp and performing arts school that draws students from around the world. It hired a law firm in 2024 to investigate reports of **** ual abuse by faculty and staff. Subsequently, it expanded the work to include information about Epstein, the 66-year-old financier who killed himself in jail in 2019.
Interlochen removed Epstein's name from a lodge after he was convicted of **** offenses in Florida in 2008. The building, renamed the Green Lake Lodge, was recently demolished after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages about him that had been compiled over the years.
Sanghavi Law Office says it collected 70 accounts from alumni alleging "physical conduct of a **** ual nature" by 47 faculty and staff members affiliated with Interlochen from the 1950s through the 2010s, most before 2000.
"The information gathered during this investigation is, simply, devastating," the 97-page report says, noting that alumni reported grooming, flirting, **** ual touching and **** .

#sexual #arts #school

Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd (TSX-V:GMG, OTCQX:GMGMF) MD and CEO Craig Nicol joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion to discuss a new distribution agreement with Blackwoods, giving GMG's G LUBRICANT and THERMAL-XR products access to thousands of industrial customers across Australia.
Nicol said Blackwoods' nationwide sales force and distribution network — spanning mining operators, freight businesses and manufacturers — represents a significant commercial step for the company. Customer demand is coming from two directions: some are seeking corrosion resistance and longer equipment life, while others are focused on energy savings. Data centres are a particularly promising market, where even modest efficiency gains translate into meaningful energy reductions. "Once they do try them, we find that they're very happy to repeat purchase," Nicol said.
The Blackwoods partnership is the first step in a broader international distribution strategy, with similar agreements being pursued in Europe and the United States. Production capacity is being expanded through the company's modular Gen2 technology to keep pace with growing demand.
Visit the Proactive YouTube channel for more interviews with leading listed companies, and don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you never miss future updates.
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#blackwoods

Eni raised its 2026 oil and gas production outlook and expanded its share buyback program after reporting significantly stronger second-quarter results, supported by double-digit production growth, higher commodity prices and improved performance across several business segments.
The Italian energy company now expects underlying full-year hydrocarbon production growth of around 5%, up from its previous guidance of 3% to 4%, following 11% year-over-year underlying production growth in the second quarter to 1.79 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, excluding price effects.
The improved outlook prompted Eni to increase its planned 2026 share repurchase program to €3.4 billion, up from the previously revised €2.8 billion, while reaffirming its planned dividend of €1.10 per share. The company also said an extraordinary dividend could be considered later this year if refining margins remain well above budget ****** umptions.
Second-quarter adjusted EBIT more than doubled year over year to €5.38 billion, while adjusted net profit rose to €2.3 billion. The upstream business generated €4.77 billion in adjusted EBIT, benefiting from higher production, favorable oil realizations and continued cost discipline. Cash flow before working capital reached €4.47 billion, comfortably covering €1.84 billion in capital spending and €1.35 billion returned to shareholders through dividends and buybacks during the quarter.
Strategically, Eni continued expanding its upstream portfolio and transition businesses. During the quarter it established the Searah joint venture with Petronas, creating a regional platform spanning Indonesia and Malaysia that will develop major gas discoveries in the Kutei Basin. The company also approved final investment decisions for the Baleine Phase 3 development offshore Côte d'Ivoire, the Greater PAJ project offshore Angola, and the Cronos gas project offshore Cyprus.

#production #second

Scale AI announced Thursday that its board of directors has appointed Francis deSouza as chief executive officer, effective Aug. 10, 2026. At Google Cloud, deSouza held the roles of chief operating officer and president of security products before taking on the CEO position at Scale.
Before joining Google Cloud, deSouza served as president and CEO of Illumina, a publicly traded genomics company, where the company's revenue grew to more than $4.5 billion and its operations expanded across more than 150 countries, Scale said. His earlier career included a stint as president of products and services at Symantec, and he founded two startups that Microsoft and Symantec each went on to acquire. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.
deSouza replaces Jason Droege, who has led Scale as interim CEO since June 2025. Droege will work with deSouza over the coming months to ****** ist with the transition, the company said.
"Scale sits at a rare intersection of frontier model development and real-world deployment, and the opportunity for continued growth and success is enormous," deSouza said in a statement. "My focus will be getting Scale's solutions into more businesses and governments, delivering the best data for AI labs, and showing our value through provable outcomes."
Scale AI founder Alexandr ****** , who now serves as chairman of the board, said in a statement that deSouza "has led and scaled complex, technical businesses, and understands what it takes to serve both enterprises and governments at the highest level of trust and reliability."

#scale

The iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF (NYSEMKT: IGV) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that holds over 100 different software stocks, including industry leaders like Palantir Technologies, Microsoft, and Salesforce. The ETF has suffered a decline of 11% this year amid concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) could disrupt the legacy software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model.
The potential risks are twofold. First, some investors think AI will shrink the global workforce, thus reducing the revenue of SaaS companies that charge customers on a per-user basis. Second, some investors fear AI-powered programming tools like Claude Code will allow businesses to create their own versions of popular software products, rendering legacy vendors obsolete.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
But the AI boom has recently run into trouble. Wall Street is questioning the sustainability of the data center infrastructure spending boom because the sheer cost of chips and other components is making AI models too expensive to deploy at scale in many cases. Here's why that could be good news for the iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF.
Some of America's top suppliers of AI data center chips have lost a substantial amount of value over the last few weeks. Nvidia stock is down 16% from its high, while Advanced Micro Devices stock has declined 21%, and Micron Technology stock has plummeted 33%.

#NVIDIA #Stock #down

The fallout from the messy 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix is far from over. Following the controversial collision between McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Williams driver Carlos Sainz, the blame game has officially expanded to include a third party: Fernando Alonso.
In a classic case of paddock deflection, Williams Team Principal James Vowles has publicly come to his driver's defense, arguing that the Aston Martin veteran is actually the one responsible for instigating the Turn 3 crash.
To understand the latest accusation, you have to rewind to the halfway point of the race at the Hungaroring. Piastri, who was running as the net race leader, approached Sainz and Alonso to lap them. At Turn 3, Sainz moved back onto the racing line, making direct contact with Piastri's McLaren.
The incident cost Piastri crucial time, ultimately causing him to lose the race lead to his teammate Lando Norris (who went on to win the Grand Prix). A furious Piastri blasted the move as "unacceptable," while Sainz deflected the blame onto a blue flag system failure on his dash.
Now, Vowles has offered a completely different narrative, meticulously breaking down the sequence of events to shift the spotlight off his driver.

#sainz #grand #prix #turn

Saudi ‌Arabia will organise the next three ⁠editions ⁠of the Asian Champions League Elite finals after the Asian Football Confederation's ⁠executive committee confirmed the country's provisional hosting rights had been made permanent.
The Saudis have hosted the first two editions of the event, which sees the quarterfinals, semifinals and final played in ‌a centralised venue, since the continent's premier club competition was restructured before the 2024/2025 season.
Jeddah-based outfit Al-Ahli have won the **** le on the two occasions the city has hosted the ⁠finals, defeating **** an's Kawasaki ⁠Frontale in 2025 before beating Machida Zelvia, also from **** an, in May.
The upcoming edition of the tournament, which ⁠features the domestic champions of the leading competitions from ⁠the region, will ⁠see the league phase expanded from 24 to 32 teams.
The qualifying rounds will start on August 11, ‌with the draw for the league phase to be held in Kuala Lumpur ‌on ‌August 18 and play commencing on September 14.

#league #arabia

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) is entering a new phase of growth as two major catalysts—the expansion of its Samsung partnership and its push into AI infrastructure— begin reshaping the company's long-term outlook.
Its expanded collaboration with Samsung paves the way for Snapdragon platforms to power Samsung's latest Galaxy smartphones, smart watches, and future AI-powered smart glasses. The collaboration reinforces Qualcomm's dominance in premium Android smartphones, validates its leadership in on-device AI, and creates opportunities to expand Snapdragon into new categories such as AI PCs, XR devices, and connected technologies.
Securing Snapdragon chips for more Galaxy flagship models will provide Qualcomm with higher premium chipset shipments, stronger QCT segment revenue, and greater visibility into future earnings.
Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr
While smartphones remain Qualcomm's largest business, management is increasingly focused on reducing its dependence on the cyclical handset market by expanding into AI infrastructure.

#Smartphones #qualcomm #infrastructure #premium

RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) on Thursday lifted its sales and profit outlook for 2026, amid sustained demand for commercial aircraft maintenance and military systems, as airlines continue to rely on older fleets and governments restock weapons.
The aerospace and defense company now projects adjusted sales in the range of $95 billion to $96 billion, up from its earlier estimates of $92.5 billion to $93.5 billion. Wall Street has an average forecast of $94.08 billion. The full-year adjusted EPS is expected in the range of $7.10 to $7.25, up from $6.70 to $6.90, and above ******* ysts' forecast of $6.92 per share.
The forecast lift came during the second quarter earnings call on July 23, where RTX beat Wall Street's estimates for both revenue and profit. Quarterly revenue came in at $24.7 billion, growing 14% year-over-year, while adjusted EPS was logged at $1.89, representing a 21% increase from the prior year's period.
The Pratt & Whitney unit, which manufactures engines for Airbus jets and the F-35, saw a 16% increase in sales to $8.89 billion, while demand for air and missile defense systems drove an 18% sales growth in the company's Raytheon defense business. Collins Aerospace, which delivers advanced aviation systems, saw an 8% increase in sales.
The company said its backlog expanded 22% from the prior year's period to $289 billion, which included $170 billion in commercial aerospace and $119 billion in defense-related orders. Operating cash flow during the quarter came in at $3.5 billion, resulting in free cash flow of $2.9 billion.

#sales #forecast

Over the years, legal cannabis companies expanded rapidly across the U.S. as more states opened their markets to medical and recreational marijuana.
That growth created sprawling businesses that extend far beyond dispensary storefronts.
Behind many cannabis retailers are cultivation centers where marijuana plants are grown and harvested.
Additionally, there are facilities that process flower into products ranging from pre-rolls and vapes to edibles and other cannabis products.
Now, one major cannabis operator is significantly reducing that infrastructure in one of its biggest markets.

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Oprah Winfrey is reshaping her nearly two-decade mission in South Africa. After almost 20 years, the media icon is charting a bold new course for one of her proudest endeavors. What began as a single campus is about to grow into something far larger. She says the heart of the mission stays exactly the same.
Oprah Winfrey revealed this week that the school she founded in South Africa nearly two decades ago will wind down. It hands its operations back to local officials, while she pours energy into expanded scholarship efforts for girls.
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will end operations in its current form at the close of 2027, with the provincial government taking over the facility from there. "The dream was never simply to build a school. It was to invest in the limitless potential of young women," Winfrey, 72, said in a statement.
She stressed that her purpose "doesn't end with one campus. It continues in every girl whose future can be transformed through education."
The academy will graduate two more classes before the shift. A rep says remaining students will move to other top-tier schools with tuition fully covered through graduation.

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