B.C. Begley

Palantir tops estimates on 85% revenue growth, fastest expansion since market debut

Palantir reported strong first-quarter earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations, with revenue rising about 85% to $1.63 billion and adjusted earnings per share of 33 cents. Net income nearly quadrupled from a year earlier, and the company also raised its full-year revenue and cash flow forecasts above analyst estimates. CEO Alex Karp said the company’s results reflect exceptional growth, highlighting high revenue per employee and … Continue reading Palantir tops estimates on 85% revenue growth, fastest expansion since market debut

Oil prices surge as violence flares in Strait of Hormuz

Oil prices surged sharply after renewed violence in the Strait of Hormuz raised fears that the fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire could collapse. Brent crude rose nearly 6% to above $114 a barrel as markets reacted to reports of attacks on commercial shipping and U.S. strikes on Iranian boats, though Iran denied some of the claims. Despite U.S. efforts to secure the waterway, shipping companies remain hesitant … Continue reading Oil prices surge as violence flares in Strait of Hormuz

GameStop shares fall 10% after CEO skirts questions over eBay acquisition details

GameStop’s shares dropped more than 10% after the company announced a surprise $55.5 billion bid for eBay, raising concerns about how the deal would be financed. CEO Ryan Cohen faced repeated questions about funding but gave unclear responses, while the company proposed using cash, stock, and debt financing to structure the offer. Analysts noted a significant gap between GameStop’s valuation and the total value of … Continue reading GameStop shares fall 10% after CEO skirts questions over eBay acquisition details

Europe will not submit to an ‘insular and brutal world’, says Carney

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told a European Political Community summit that Europe could help rebuild a new international order rather than accept a more “brutal” and transactional global system. He suggested shifting global leadership dynamics as tensions rise over conflicts in the Middle East and doubts grow about U.S. commitments to NATO, including troop reductions in Europe. Leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron … Continue reading Europe will not submit to an ‘insular and brutal world’, says Carney

Starmer to host Downing Street summit to address antisemitism

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host a Downing Street summit with business, cultural, and policing leaders to coordinate a “whole of society” response to rising antisemitism. The meetings will involve ministers and representatives from multiple sectors working with Jewish community leaders to identify how antisemitism appears and how to address it more effectively. The initiative follows a series of suspected antisemitic attacks in the … Continue reading Starmer to host Downing Street summit to address antisemitism

Bernie Sanders campaigns with controversial Michigan Senate candidate

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders held a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally in Detroit with Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and House candidate Donavan McKinney. Sanders called for leaders willing to challenge the political and economic establishment and urged support for El-Sayed’s Senate bid. El-Sayed promoted progressive policies such as Medicare for All and abolishing ICE and previously lost the 2018 Michigan gubernatorial primary to Gretchen Whitmer. He is … Continue reading Bernie Sanders campaigns with controversial Michigan Senate candidate

Top Democrat aims for New York redistricting after Supreme Court’s Voting Rights ruling

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he is sending Rep. Joe Morelle to meet with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers to discuss possible mid-decade redistricting in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on voting rights. The Court’s 6-3 decision weakened a key Voting Rights Act provision and could affect majority-minority districts nationwide, prompting Democrats to consider countermeasures. Jeffries argued Democrats must … Continue reading Top Democrat aims for New York redistricting after Supreme Court’s Voting Rights ruling

DeSantis signs Florida’s new GOP-friendly congressional map into law

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a newly redrawn congressional map into law on Monday, a move Republicans say could help them gain up to four additional U.S. House seats. The GOP-controlled Legislature approved the map shortly before DeSantis formally enacted it, prompting immediate legal challenges. A lawsuit filed by civil rights groups and Florida voters argues the map violates anti-gerrymandering protections and constitutes an extreme … Continue reading DeSantis signs Florida’s new GOP-friendly congressional map into law

Judge “very troubled” by accused correspondents’ dinner gunman’s treatment in jail

A federal judge sharply criticized the conditions of detention for Cole Allen, the man accused of attempting to assassinate the president at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and even apologized to him for his treatment in D.C. jail. Allen is charged with attempting to assassinate the president and firearm offenses after allegedly rushing a security checkpoint with a shotgun at the April 25 event. His … Continue reading Judge “very troubled” by accused correspondents’ dinner gunman’s treatment in jail

Man Pleads Guilty to Killing 18-Year-Old College Student Who Was Hit by Stray Bullet

Shaquille Taylor pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2023 stray-bullet death of 18-year-old Belmont University student Jillian Ludwig in Nashville. He was sentenced to 38 years in prison after also pleading guilty to aggravated assault in a separate case. Police said Taylor was firing at a car when a bullet struck Ludwig while she was walking in a nearby park. Ludwig, a music business … Continue reading Man Pleads Guilty to Killing 18-Year-Old College Student Who Was Hit by Stray Bullet

Military-trained fugitive accused of shooting wife eludes manhunt in rural woodlands

A large multi-agency manhunt is underway in rural Tennessee for Craig Berry, a 44-year-old former Special Forces soldier accused of shooting his wife and fleeing into nearby woods. Authorities say Berry is wanted for attempted second-degree murder and is considered armed, highly dangerous, and skilled in survival tactics. The shooting occurred during a domestic incident early Sunday, after which he escaped into dense terrain along … Continue reading Military-trained fugitive accused of shooting wife eludes manhunt in rural woodlands

At least 13 hurt in shooting at Oklahoma campground party

At least 13 people were injured in a mass shooting at a party at Spring Creek Park on Arcadia Lake near Oklahoma City on Sunday night. Police said gunfire broke out during a large gathering of young people, and no arrests have been made as of yet. Several victims were taken to hospitals in various conditions, while others sought help on their own. Investigators are … Continue reading At least 13 hurt in shooting at Oklahoma campground party

1 shot, bystander grazed in Secret Service police shooting near National Mall

A shooting near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., left one man shot by Secret Service officers and a juvenile bystander injured on Monday afternoon. Authorities said officers confronted a suspect they believed was armed near White House perimeter patrol routes, after which he ran, fired at them, and was struck when they returned fire. Officials believe the suspect’s gunfire likely caused the bystander’s non-life-threatening … Continue reading 1 shot, bystander grazed in Secret Service police shooting near National Mall

An explosion at a fireworks plant in China kills at least 21 people, state media says

An explosion at a fireworks plant in Changsha, Hunan province in central China killed at least 21 people and injured 61 others, according to state media. The blast occurred on Monday afternoon and caused significant damage, with aerial footage showing collapsed structures and lingering smoke at the site. Around 500 rescuers were deployed, and nearby residents were evacuated due to risks from stored explosives. Authorities … Continue reading An explosion at a fireworks plant in China kills at least 21 people, state media says

Alberta separatists submit petition for independence referendum

A petition seeking a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada was formally submitted on Monday, with organizers claiming they gathered over 300,000 signatures—well above the required threshold. The proposal reflects long-standing “western alienation,” with supporters arguing Alberta is unfairly treated by federal decision-makers in Ottawa. However, court challenges from Indigenous First Nations have paused verification of signatures, with opponents arguing independence could violate treaty rights … Continue reading Alberta separatists submit petition for independence referendum

Southern Mexico rattled by 5.6-magnitude earthquake

A magnitude-5.6 earthquake struck southern Mexico on Monday morning, according to the country’s National Seismological Institute. The shaking prompted alarm systems to activate in Mexico City, leading to brief evacuations in some areas. Authorities did not immediately report any major damage or significant injuries. The quake was felt across parts of southern Mexico and the capital region, NBC 5 News has reported. Officials continued to … Continue reading Southern Mexico rattled by 5.6-magnitude earthquake

A driver plows into people in a shopping area in Germany, killing 2

A driver in Leipzig, Germany, drove into pedestrians in a central shopping area on Monday, killing two people and seriously injuring two others. About 20 additional people were also affected, according to local fire officials. Police detained the suspect at the scene after he stopped the vehicle himself. Authorities identified him as a 33-year-old German citizen and said the incident is believed to be isolated, … Continue reading A driver plows into people in a shopping area in Germany, killing 2

Iran attacks UAE; U.S. says it sank boats in Strait of Hormuz

A fragile U.S.–Iran ceasefire appeared close to collapse after Iranian drones and missiles struck the United Arab Emirates and U.S. forces reportedly sank Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump warned Iran of severe retaliation if it targets U.S. ships and claimed additional attacks, including on a South Korean vessel, while suggesting allied support for protecting shipping routes. The escalation drove global … Continue reading Iran attacks UAE; U.S. says it sank boats in Strait of Hormuz

Archaeology

Archaeologists Discover 80-Ton Stones Beneath the Sea from the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Archaeologists have recovered 22 massive stone blocks from the seafloor off Alexandria that are linked to the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The stones, some weighing up to 80 tons, include architectural elements believed to have formed part of the lighthouse’s entrance. The structure, built in the 3rd century BCE, collapsed over centuries due to earthquakes, with … Continue reading Archaeologists Discover 80-Ton Stones Beneath the Sea from the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Space

Scientists Say There’s Something Huge Buried Inside Our Galaxy

New research suggests a hidden ancient dwarf galaxy, dubbed “Loki,” may be buried within the Milky Way. Astronomers believe it was absorbed billions of years ago as our galaxy grew, based on chemical traces found in a group of 20 metal-poor stars in the galactic plane. These stars show evidence of early cosmic explosions like supernovas and neutron star mergers, but lack signs of white … Continue reading Scientists Say There’s Something Huge Buried Inside Our Galaxy

Space

Foxconn launches second-generation satellites via SpaceX Falcon 9

Foxconn has launched two second-generation low-Earth orbit satellites, PEARL-1A and PEARL-1B, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California. The satellites successfully reached their intended orbits and are expected to operate for about five years. They will be used mainly to test and validate communication and space science payload technologies. The launch marks an expansion of Foxconn’s efforts beyond electronics manufacturing into space technology, Reuters … Continue reading Foxconn launches second-generation satellites via SpaceX Falcon 9

Technology

Robots are building clay homes in Central Texas using dirt from the ground

A startup called Terran Robotics is building a home south of Austin using clay and soil from the site, with construction largely handled by robots. The company aims to create affordable housing by automating adobe-style building, a method that dates back thousands of years. The robot gathers, places, and compresses the material while using sensors and machine learning to adjust its work in real time. … Continue reading Robots are building clay homes in Central Texas using dirt from the ground

OPEC+ announces 188,000 barrels-per-day output increase

OPEC+ agreed to increase oil production by 188,000 barrels per day starting in June, slightly less than its previous monthly increase, as it continues coordinated output adjustments among major producers. The decision comes during ongoing global supply disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, which has affected key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz and pushed oil prices higher. The meeting was the first since … Continue reading OPEC+ announces 188,000 barrels-per-day output increase