Nissan offers US workers buyouts, halts pay rises: internal emails
Nissan offers US workers buyouts, halts pay rises: internal emails
STORY: Japan’s struggling Nissan has started offering buyouts to U.S. workers and suspended merit-based global pay rises.
That’s according to internal emails seen by Reuters.
It comes weeks after the company announced a sweeping cost-cutting plan…
Which includes closing seven global car plants and slashing a total of 20,000 jobs.
An email sent last week showed the automaker’s offered separation packages to workers at its Mississippi plant.
As well as to salaried workers in HR, planning, IT and finance.
Reuters couldn’t determine how many people had been offered buyouts or accepted.
A separate email showed Nissan has also suspended merit-based global pay increases for the current business year.
Cutting U.S. workforce counters President Donald Trump’s aim of creating jobs and boosting domestic manufacturing.
But Nissan’s operating profit margin in North America including the U.S., its biggest market, worsened in the business year ended March.
That’s even as it sold more cars than the year before.
Analysts said the automaker’s troubles include having an ageing line-up and a lack of hybrid models in the U.S.
On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that Nissan’s considering raising $7 billion in funding from debt and asset sales – including a syndicated loan backed by the *** government.
In response, a representative for Nissan said the company does not comment on speculation.
Nissan’s shares rose more than 4% following Bloomberg’s report but they gave up most of those gains later in the day.
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Waste Management Gets a New Boost—A Tariff Safe Haven?
Waste Management Gets a New Boost—A Tariff Safe Haven?
When investors search for new trade ideas or potential breakout stocks, only a handful of indicators tend to stand out beyond the typical technical patterns. One of the most valuable comes not from price charts, but from the research and positioning of experienced market participants with the insight and track record to spot real opportunities.
By tracking recent Wall Street analyst activity, particularly when it comes to ratings boosts, investors can somewhat steal the homework that has already been done by these analysts, leading them to their conclusions. However, stealing the homework doesn’t just mean buying what analysts are boosting and selling what they are downgrading; rather, it means attempting to reverse-engineer what might have driven the underlying decision.
Today’s case is found in an unlikely stock; shares of Waste Management Inc (NYSE:). NYSE: WM are the latest pick for a Wall Street upgrade for a reason. This stock is described as unlikely because it is part of one of the least exciting sectors of the market, found in the business services area, rather than the more exciting world of technology stocks. However, this lack of action and attention might be a fair tradeoff for investors looking into tariff protection.
Why Waste Management Works (And Will Keep Working)
This business model is as steady as it comes, considering that it churns profits and revenues as long as the underlying economy (in the United States, in this case) keeps running, hot or cool, regardless. With this in mind, investors can expect more stability in the coming months and a relatively immune space to run away from today’s uncertainty.
That safety can be translated into the stock’s low beta measure of only 0.7x, meaning it is roughly 30% less volatile than the broader S&P 500 index. Considering all that is happening now with President Trump’s recent trade tariffs, most investors would want to have that in their portfolio.
By operating mostly within the waste made in the United States, the company can somewhat guarantee investors that they won’t wake up to a massive gap up or down as a result of new tariff announcements. Of course, that can also be measured by the fact that the stock now trades at its 52-week high, which also happens to be the stock’s all-time high level.
Not many other stocks can say the same in today’s market, and this price action is likely to continue into the future, which is why Wall Street decided to take this “low-hanging fruit” for an easy win to boost their ratings.
Sentiment Calls for Higher Stock Prices
While the consensus price target for Waste Management is set at $247 per share, which calls for a 4.2% upside potential from today’s prices, one specific analyst decided to give the stock the recognition it deserves since most others were probably focused on the more exciting names in the market.
Tami Zakaria, an analyst at J.P. Morgan Chase, decided to boost Waste Management’s rating to an Overweight compared to the previously set Neutral view. At the same time, the valuation target also rose to a high of $277 per share, this time calling for a much more fitting implied rally of as much as 17% from today’s prices.
At the same time, those who thought this disconnect in performance versus Waste Management stock performance could create a pullback have also been proven wrong. Short interest in the company declined by as much as 18.7% over the past month alone, showing investors a clear sign of bearish capitulation for the future of this name.
It makes sense; why would anyone bet against a company that has no bear case other than outperforming the S&P 500 during one of the most volatile markets in recorded history? More than that, Wall Street has landed on an actual driver that could justify these double-digit upside calls from today.
Earnings per share (EPS) are expected to come out at $2.10 for the third quarter of 2025, a decent boost of 26% from today’s reported $1.67 in EPS. Now, most investors know that where EPS growth goes, so does the stock price, and this growth in earnings surely justifies the upside being forecasted by this J.P. Morgan analyst.
There is one final check that investors can run when considering Waste Management stock a potential addition to their portfolios: how much the market is willing to pay for it compared to the rest of its peers. By trading at a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 11.5x today, Waste Management stock calls for a steep premium compared to the average 5.4x paid for the rest of the stocks in the business services sector.
Some would call this stock expensive; others will recognize the fact that the market is always willing to overpay for stocks that justify this premium, a justification that will show itself (as it already has) through outperformance relative to peers and the broader S&P 500.
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Elon Musk says Trump’s spending bill undermines the work DOGE has been doing
Elon Musk says Trump’s spending bill undermines the work DOGE has been doing
Tesla CEO Elon Musk attends the Saudi-U.S. Investment Forum, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 13, 2025.
Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters
Elon Musk criticized the Republican spending bill that recently made it through a House vote, saying it counters the work he’s been doing to reduce wasteful government spending.
In an interview to be aired June 1 on “CBS Sunday Morning,” the richest man in the world and the head of the Department of Government Efficiency advisory board said the “big, beautiful bill” will not help the nation’s finances.
“I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk said in a clip the program shared on social media platform X.
DOGE says it has saved $170 billion in taxpayer money since it began in January, targeting areas of government waste and redundancy in sometimes-controversial ways.
For instance, it has gutted the U.S. Agency for International Development and reduced staff elsewhere. DOGE-related moves have been responsible for some 275,000 government layoffs, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, a consultancy firm.
The sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act by contrast, is projected to raise the federal budget deficit by $3.8 trillion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The deficit is on track in 2025 to run close to $2 trillion, with the national debt now at $36.2 trillion.
“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful, but I don’t know if it could be both,” Musk said in the clip.
Trump and congressional Republicans counter that the bill reduces spending in key areas and will generate enough growth to compensate for the tax reductions. The legislation, though, is expected to face strong resistance in the Senate.
For his part, Musk has pulled back his DOGE work, saying he plans to focus on running his companies, which include X, Tesla and SpaceX. Musk had been a frequent presence in the White House since Trump’s election.
In an interview with The Washington Post published Tuesday, Musk said the federal bureaucracy is “much worse than I realized” and that DOGE became “the whipping boy for everything.”
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Get ready for several years of killer heat, top weather forecasters warn – AP News
Get ready for several years of killer heat, top weather forecasters warn – AP News
Get ready for several years of killer heat, top weather forecasters warn AP NewsGlobal temperatures could break heat record in next five years The GuardianEarth is heading for 2.7°C warming this century. We may avoid the worst climate scenarios – but the outlook is still dire The ConversationGlobal temperature rise to reach near 2C in next five years, WMO says Financial TimesThe world could experience a year above 2°C of warming by 2029 New Scientist
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Hollyoaks and reality TV star Paul Danan’s drug use caused death by ‘misadventure’
Hollyoaks and reality TV star Paul Danan’s drug use caused death by ‘misadventure’
Bea ********
BBC News, Bristol
Getty Images
The 46-year-old actor was found unresponsive at his home in Bristol
Actor and reality TV star Paul Danan’s death was by misadventure, after he took a ********* of drugs including ******** and heroin, a coroner has ruled.
The 46-year-old was pronounced dead at 17:20 GMT on 15 January after being found unresponsive, sitting on the sofa in front of the television, at his home in Brislington, Bristol.
Danan played Sol Patrick in Hollyoaks and was known for his appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Love Island.
He had battled with addiction since his early 20s, and admitted spending more than £1m on rehab and recovery over the years.
Following an adjournment in March, the inquest into his death resumed earlier at Avon Coroner’s Court in Flax Bourton before assistant coroner Deborah Rookes.
A postmortem examination concluded that his death was due to combined toxicity of heroin, methadone, codeine, pregabalin, ******** and zopiclone, contributed to by benzodiazepine use.
Emergency services attended the residence and confirmed that he had died. His body was identified at the scene by his partner, Melissa Crooks.
Getty Images
Paul Danan was known for his appearances on Celebrity Love Island and Celebrity Big Brother
Ms Rookes heard written statements from emergency services, doctors, and Danan’s mother Beverley Danan before reaching her conclusion.
The statement from Mrs Danan said: “Paul helped so many people from all walks of life but just couldn’t help himself in the same way.
“His smiling face and love of life will always be remembered.”
Ms Rookes told the hearing there was no evidence that Danan, who suffered an accidental overdose in May 2024, had intended to take his own life.
She added: “Paul Danan was clearly much loved and is very much missed.
“Mr Danan had a long history of drug misuse and struggles with his mental health.
“His death was caused by a combination of drugs, both prescription and illicit.
“I don’t have any evidence before me that Paul intended to take his own life at this time.
“Therefore, the conclusion is misadventure.”
Getty Images
The hearing was told there was no evidence that Danan had intended to take his own life
Danan had been due to appear for a plea hearing at Warrington Magistrates’ Court the following day, after being charged with possession of ******** and cannabis.
He was also accused of driving whilst under the influence of drugs on October 2 last year, in Warrington, Cheshire.
The actor had openly discussed his substance abuse issues on ITV’s The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2019, which he said began when he was a teenager.
He stated he had to “work hard at it every day to keep in recovery”.
Calum Best, who took part in Celebrity Love Island and a reality travel programme alongside Danan, described him as one of the “funniest, kindest, and most authentic people”.
In an Instagram post after Danan’s death, he said: “Life wasn’t always easy for him, but he faced it with such heart and courage, and that inspired so many of us.”
‘Beacon of light’
In 2020, Danan launched drama classes in Bristol for ex-convicts and adults struggling with mental health issues, addiction or trauma.
Following his death, his agents at Independent Creative Management said: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of the passing of Paul Danan.
“Known for his television presence, exceptional talent, and unwavering kindness, Paul was a beacon of light to so many.
“His untimely departure will leave irreplaceable voids in the lives of all who knew him.”
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Lack of access to free ******* radiation prompts debate in WA Parliament
Lack of access to free ******* radiation prompts debate in WA Parliament
Those needing radiation treatment for lung ******* in Mandurah and Rockingham can receive free care through private practices. But this is not an option for patients in the eastern and northern suburbs of Perth.
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Are Kforce Inc.’s (NYSE:KFRC) Fundamentals Good Enough to Warrant Buying Given The Stock’s Recent Weakness?
Are Kforce Inc.’s (NYSE:KFRC) Fundamentals Good Enough to Warrant Buying Given The Stock’s Recent Weakness?
It is hard to get excited after looking at Kforce’s (NYSE:KFRC) recent performance, when its stock has declined 16% over the past three months. But if you pay close attention, you might find that its key financial indicators look quite decent, which could mean that the stock could potentially rise in the long-term given how markets usually reward more resilient long-term fundamentals. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Kforce’s ROE today.
Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. Put another way, it reveals the company’s success at turning shareholder investments into profits.
We’ve found 21 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free.
The formula for return on equity is:
Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders’ Equity
So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Kforce is:
34% = US$48m ÷ US$138m (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2025).
The ‘return’ is the profit over the last twelve months. One way to conceptualize this is that for each $1 of shareholders’ capital it has, the company made $0.34 in profit.
Check out our latest analysis for Kforce
Thus far, we have learned that ROE measures how efficiently a company is generating its profits. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or “retain”, we are then able to evaluate a company’s future ability to generate profits. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don’t share these attributes.
Firstly, we acknowledge that Kforce has a significantly high ROE. Second, a comparison with the average ROE reported by the industry of 20% also doesn’t go unnoticed by us. As you might expect, the 2.5% net income decline reported by Kforce doesn’t bode well with us. We reckon that there could be some other factors at play here that are preventing the company’s growth. For example, it could be that the company has a high payout ratio or the business has allocated capital poorly, for instance.
That being said, we compared Kforce’s performance with the industry and were concerned when we found that while the company has shrunk its earnings, the industry has grown its earnings at a rate of 11% in the same 5-year *******.
Story Continues
NYSE:KFRC Past Earnings Growth May 28th 2025
The basis for attaching value to a company is, to a great extent, tied to its earnings growth. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. Is Kforce fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide.
In spite of a normal three-year median payout ratio of 45% (that is, a retention ratio of 55%), the fact that Kforce’s earnings have shrunk is quite puzzling. So there could be some other explanations in that regard. For instance, the company’s business may be deteriorating.
Additionally, Kforce has paid dividends over a ******* of at least ten years, which means that the company’s management is determined to pay dividends even if it means little to no earnings growth. Upon studying the latest analysts’ consensus data, we found that the company’s future payout ratio is expected to rise to 55% over the next three years. Regardless, the ROE is not expected to change much for the company despite the higher expected payout ratio.
Portfolio Valuation calculation on simply wall st
In total, it does look like Kforce has some positive aspects to its business. Although, we are disappointed to see a lack of growth in earnings even in spite of a high ROE and and a high reinvestment rate. We believe that there might be some outside factors that could be having a negative impact on the business. That being so, the latest industry analyst forecasts show that the analysts are expecting to see a huge improvement in the company’s earnings growth rate. Are these analysts expectations based on the broad expectations for the industry, or on the company’s fundamentals? Click here to be taken to our analyst’s forecasts page for the company.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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Masters of Ceremony Armor Buff Leaves Chemical Agent Fans Salty in Helldivers 2
Masters of Ceremony Armor Buff Leaves Chemical Agent Fans Salty in Helldivers 2
Manners maketh the man, and so do armors in Helldivers 2, as it doesn’t just exist to make players strike looks on the battlefield but also to protect them from incoming threats and lurking dangers. Whether it’s Automatons, or Terminids, or Illuminates, Super Earth’s mightiest heroes need their second skin.
Recently, the spotless and squeaky-clean Masters of Ceremony armors received a much-needed upgrade that made them actually quite useful. However, as is often the case in every fandom, when you try to spread democracy, someone will always oppose, and this time, it’s the Chemical Agent fans.
Chemical Agent fans aren’t taking the Masters of Ceremony Armor buff well in Helldivers 2
A user on Reddit, CosplayBurned, has caused quite the stir in the Helldivers 2 subreddit by posting a meme, and while it may look harmless on the surface, it goes deeper than that. See it for yourself and let all your thoughts prevail, as long as they’re not undemocratic.
The promotion that the Masters of Ceremony armors received wasn’t undeserved in the slightest, as its passive pre-buff was like shooting yourself in the foot and feeling lucky that your pinky toe survived.
But Chemical Agent fans are acting like it killed their **** Terminid. The meme above has been met with a lot of players defending the gas grenades included in the Chemical Agents Premium Warbond and others straight up dunking on the Sterilizer Stratagem.
Feast your eyes on the reactions yourself and then decide if Chemical Agent fans are hating just to hate or if they have a good reason to sprinkle copious amounts of salt on their delicacies:
Comment byu/CosplayBurned from discussion inHelldivers
Comment byu/CosplayBurned from discussion inHelldivers
Comment byu/CosplayBurned from discussion inHelldivers
Comment byu/CosplayBurned from discussion inHelldivers
From the looks of it, OP is ******* that the armor provided in the Chemical Agents Premium Warbond in Helldivers 2 aren’t all that special but the other gear like grenades and stratagems more than make up for it.
Sure, Arrowhead could give the Noxious Ranger drip a little glow-up, but there’s no reason to act like the Masters of Ceremony armor buff was a spawn of the Leviathan itself. But who knows, maybe this discussion will give Arrowhead the extra push to please the Chemical Agent fans, as they’re always listening to the Helldivers 2 community.
The Masters of Ceremony armor is finally ceremonious in Helldivers 2
The Masters of Ceremony armor kicks all kinds of butt now! | Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios
Chemical Agent fans complaining about the Masters of Ceremony armor receiving a buff in Helldivers 2 may give you the impression that the armor didn’t need an upgrade. But honestly, it has been due for a while, and Arrowhead finally took the right step forward.
Previously, the armor’s passive was that it offered a 50% chance to prevent your limbs from suffering breakage, which may sound like a joke, but it wasn’t. It certainly did become a joke in the community until the recent buff.
The new patch for the game turned the armor set into a glorious powerhouse that offered a 30% increase in the reload speed of primary weapons and a 50% increase in melee damage, making it a stylish and meaty fit.
Chemical Agent fans should realise that gassing people around isn’t the only way to greet them and join forces with the Masters of Ceremony armor lovers to spread democracy without any discrepancy or discrimination.
So, what do you think about the beef that Chemical Agent fans have with the Masters of Ceremony armor buff in Helldivers 2? Do you think that’s valid, or are they just blowing it out of proportion? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
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Anthropic’s Claude AI Chatbot Gets Voice Mode Feature, Offers Real-Time Two-Way Conversations
Anthropic’s Claude AI Chatbot Gets Voice Mode Feature, Offers Real-Time Two-Way Conversations
Anthropic is finally adding Voice Mode capability to its Claude chatbot. On Tuesday, the artificial intelligence (AI) firm announced the rollout of the real-time two-way voice conversation feature, which will be available in Claude’s mobile apps. Similar to its recently released web search feature, the company is late to the voice mode party, with major competitors such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Microsoft’s Copilot already offering this feature. Anthropic is currently rolling out the feature to all users of Claude, but some premium features are only available to paid subscribers.
Claude Can Now Speak to You
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the official handle of Anthropic announced the release of the Voice Mode feature. It is currently available in beta and supports only the English language. Claude users will get the feature in the mobile apps in the next few weeks.
We’re rolling out voice mode in beta on mobile.
Try starting a voice conversation and asking Claude to summarize your calendar or search your docs. pic.twitter.com/xVo5VHiCEb
— Anthropic (@AnthropicAI) May 27, 2025
Describing the feature on its support page, the company said, “Voice mode allows you to have complete spoken conversations with Claude on your iOS and Android devices.” It is essentially a real-time two-way voice conversation feature, similar to Gemini Live and ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode. Based on a demo shared by the company, the voice is not expressive, but it is also not a text-to-speech (TTS)-like robotic voice. Claude responds fluently, but in a neutral tone.
One unique aspect of Claude’s Voice Mode is that users can see the key points from the conversation on the screen while conversing with the AI. Users can also switch between text and voice modes within the same conversation, without interrupting the flow. Paid subscribers can also access their Google Docs, Calendar, Gmail, and web searches via voice conversations.
To use the feature, users will have to open the Claude mobile app and tap on the Voice Mode button (sound wave icon next to the microphone icon) located within the text field. Users will then be able to choose from several voice options. Once they have picked their preferred voice, users can begin a voice conversation.
Voice mode controls in Claude Photo Credit: Anthropic
The Voice Mode interface comes with several new buttons. Once a user has spoken the message, they will need to tap the up arrow to send the message to Claude. The stop square interrupts Claude’s response. The plus icon opens the camera, photos, or files, and the X button exits voice mode.
Notably, those on the free tier of Claude will be able to send roughly 20-30 voice messages before hitting a session limit. This limit will refresh daily.
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Hybrid leader Toyota targets major growth in plug-in vehicles
Hybrid leader Toyota targets major growth in plug-in vehicles
2023 Prius Prime on display, April 6, 2023.
Scott Mlyn | CNBC
PLANO, Texas — Twenty-five years after introducing many Americans to hybrid vehicles with the Prius, Toyota Motor is targeting significant growth in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs.
Such vehicles can function as an all-electric vehicle for a certain number of miles before they need a traditional gas-powered engine. Unlike traditional hybrids like the Prius that use a small amount of battery technologies, PHEVs also need to be charged with a plug, like an EV, to use the electric range.
PHEVs aren’t new. Toyota first introduced the Prius as a PHEV in the U.S. in 2016, but such plug-ins are experiencing a renaissance as automakers try to meet federal fuel economy standards and emissions regulations. They’ve also acted as potential steppingstones to all-electric vehicles for consumers who might be hesitant to go fully electric.
“We are going to grow our PHEV volume through the lineup over the next few years,” David Christ, head of the Toyota brand in North America, told CNBC during a visit to the company’s North American headquarters. “We love the PHEV powertrain. We’re working to increase, perpetually increase, the amount of miles you can drive on EV-only range.”
Company sources said Toyota plans to increase PHEVs from 2.4% of its U.S. sales volume last year to roughly 20% by 2030. However, they said that could change based on regulations, customer acceptance of electrified technologies and affordability, among other factors.
That percentage of sales would match the amount of PHEV mix allowed under the California Air Resources Board’s Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which requires automakers to exclusively sell zero emissions vehicles in the state by 2035. President Donald Trump is expected to eliminate that rule.
Toyota’s planned PHEV expansion comes amid the regulatory uncertainty and slower-than-expected adoption of all-electric vehicles, which the company also continues to invest billions of dollars in annually. The performance of PHEVs also continues to improve.
“We’re looking at plug-ins across the lineup, and it’s more a function of where can we build them, and what is the product strength versus the competition,” Christ said.
The EV-only range of PHEVs has increased from a few dozen miles in ideal conditions to 50 miles for vehicles such as the automaker’s redesigned RAV4 that was introduced last week.
Sales estimates and forecasts for PHEVs vary, as their sales are limited and not all companies break out such models when reporting results. Several automotive data and forecasting companies expect modest PHEV growth, to between 4% and 5% of U.S. industry sales by 2030.
“The growth is likely limited due to the expensive dual powertrain cost structure. For those already invested, it may make sense to continue along the path,” said Chris Hopson, principal analyst at S&P Global Mobility. “However, for those who haven’t already made significant investments, it is a large incremental cost that must be balanced.”
S&P has PHEV sales in the U.S. growing from about 2% last year to 5% by the end of the decade. AutoPacific expects PHEVs to grow to about 4.2% by 2030, while AutoForecast Solutions expects such sales to be relatively stable around 3.3% over the coming years.
PHEV sales for Toyota, including its luxury Lexus brand, increased roughly 39% last year, according to company data. That included a 30% increase for the Toyota brand’s Prius and RAV4 PHEVs, as well as an 88.6% jump for Lexus’ three PHEVs, including a new “TX” model.
That compares to the automaker’s more than 20 hybrid models that experienced a combined sales increase of 53% last year, including a 56% increase for the Toyota brand amid several new introductions.
“We’re looking across the lineup and saying, ‘How many power trains can we offer on what products?'” Christ said. “We are going to increase the percentage of hybrids and PHEVs.”
Christ said the Toyota brand expects hybrids, including PHEVs, to account for more than 50% of U.S. sales this year, increasing from roughly 46% in 2024 and nearly 30% in 2023.
Cooper Ericksen, Toyota North America senior vice president of product and battery electric vehicles, or BEVs, compared the automaker’s “electrified” vehicle approach to having the bases loaded in a baseball game with different players.
“We’ve got ICE. We’ve got hybrid. We got plug-in hybrid. We got EV,” he said. “So, our chances of being successful in scoring runs is just a lot better than if you’re really overly committed to any one of those power trains.”
Ericksen, citing Toyota research and studies, said once people understand how PHEVs work and their benefits, there’s a massive swing in customer interest from traditional vehicles, hybrids and even some EVs.
“Once we educate people, by far the biggest swing from all the powertrains is PHEV. It goes up exponentially,” he told CNBC during a separate interview. “PHEV is really important for us. There are people that will consider a PHEV that will not consider a BEV.”
Consumer understanding of PHEVs has been a challenge in the past. It was partially to blame for the slow sales and discontinuation of General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt, which the automaker produced from 2010 to early 2019.
Many consumers also have voiced concern about having to plug the vehicle in. (But the vehicles can still operate as a traditional gas-powered vehicle without ever being plugged in, which has drawn criticism from some EV supporters.)
PHEVs are also costly due to the need for both EV technologies and an engine. Toyota’s PHEVs currently cost thousands of dollars more than traditional or hybrid vehicles.
“There are a lot of negatives in the production side of it, and buyers, unless they’re forced to, don’t really opt for the PHEV models,” said Sam Fiorani, AutoForecast Solutions vice president of global vehicle forecasting.
Toyota’s 2025 RAV4 PHEV carries a roughly $15,000 price premium over the base model and $12,000 over the hybrid version.
“It’s kind of like getting two cars in one,” Ericksen said. “And if it serves a compliance benefit, maybe we sweeten the pot a little bit on the price to get more people to consider it.”
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We’re getting close to recreating the first step in evolution of life
We’re getting close to recreating the first step in evolution of life
RNA is thought to have played a key role in life getting started
Shutterstock/nobeastsofierce
The goal of understanding how inert molecules gave rise to life is one step closer, according to researchers who have created a system of RNA molecules that can partly replicate itself. They say it should one day be possible to achieve complete self-replication for the first time.
RNA is a key molecule when it comes to the origins of life, as it can both store information like DNA and catalyse reactions like proteins. While it isn’t as effective as either of these, the fact that it can do both means many researchers believe life began with RNA molecules that were capable of replicating themselves. “This was the molecule that ran biology,” says James Attwater at University College London.
But creating self-replicating RNA molecules has proved difficult. RNA can form double helices like DNA and can be copied in the same way, by splitting a double helix in two and adding RNA letters to each strand to create two identical helices. The problem is that RNA double helices stick together so strongly that it is hard to keep the strands separate for long enough to allow replication.
Now, Attwater and his colleagues have found that sets of three RNA letters – triplets – bind strongly enough to prevent the strands rezipping. Three is the sweet spot, says Attwater, as longer sets are likely to mispair. So, in the team’s system, an RNA enzyme in double-helix form is mixed with triplets.
The solution is made acidic and warmed to 80°C (176°F) to separate the helix, allowing the triplets to pair up. The solution is then made alkaline and cooled to -7°C (19°F). As the water freezes, the remaining liquid becomes highly concentrated and the RNA enzyme becomes active and joins up the triplets, forming a new strand.
So far, the researchers have only been able to replicate up to 30 letters of the 180-letter-long RNA enzyme, but they think that by improving the efficiency of the enzyme, they can achieve complete replication.
Attwater says this “very simple molecule system” has some intriguing properties. One is the possible link between the triplet RNA letters and the triplet code used to specify the sequence of proteins in cells today. “There might be a relationship between how biology used to copy its RNA and how biology uses RNA today,” he says.
What’s more, the team found the triplets most likely to be involved in replication are those that bind most strongly. The first genetic code is thought to have consisted of this set of triplets – another intriguing link.
The researchers think the kind of conditions needed to drive this process could occur naturally. As it requires freshwater, it is most likely to have happened on land, perhaps in some geothermal system.
“The ingredients can be found on the Earth today – Iceland hot springs can have mixed pHs, including some as acidic as those we use,” says Attwater.
“RNA nucleotide triplets serve very specific informatic functions in translation in all cells,” says Zachary Adam at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “This paper is interesting because it might point to a purely chemical role – a non-informatic function – for RNA nucleotide triplets that they could have served prior to the emergence of a living cell.”
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DSIT tells Ofcom to prepare to expand regulatory remit to include datacentres
DSIT tells Ofcom to prepare to expand regulatory remit to include datacentres
Preparations are underway for Ofcom to expand its regulatory remit to include datacentres, as the government seeks to harden up the “soft points” in the ***’s cyber defences through the enactment of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (CSRB).
The revelation emerged during an oral evidence session, overseen by the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, on 20 May 2025, featuring contributions from Ofcom CEO Dame Melanie Dawes and Natalie ******, the organisation’s networks and communications group director.
The session saw the pair quizzed by the committee members on what risk “foreign actors” pose to the ***’s cyber security, and – based on the areas that Ofcom is involved in helping to protect – where are the weak points in the ***’s cyber security defences?
In response to the latter point, ****** referenced the importance of using two-factor authentication methods and ensuring staff are sufficiently trained to keep company data secure. She also talked about the importance of ensuring infrastructure is designed with security built-in from the start, rather than as an afterthought later on, adding: “I would probably highlight the use of third-party suppliers, which is always challenging.”
The pair were then asked if, in their opinion, the proposed CSRB would “properly address” these “soft points”, to which ****** replied that these points are already addressed through other pieces of legislation.
“The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is an opportunity to make sure that we do not rest on our laurels and that we evolve both how we look at these threats and the powers we have to deal with them,” said ******. “That is a long way of saying we can always be better in this space. That is the challenge cyber security.”
First announced during the King’s Speech in July 2024, the CSRB is intended to strengthen the ***’s cyber defences in recognition of the fact that *** plc is being increasingly attacked by financially motivated cyber criminals and state actors.
During the committee session, Dawes said the bill’s remit is also expected to include datacentres, before confirming that Ofcom has told the government that it would be happy to “do more in some of the spaces” that it already regulates to protect *** plc from cyber attacks.
On this point, she said Chris Bryant, the minister of state for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), had already been in touch to ask if Ofcom would be willing to increase its regulatory remit to cover datacentres.
Computer Weekly understands that Ofcom has been asked to prepare itself for taking on the regulation of the datacentre sector, in line with the contents of the Network and Information Systems Regulations portion of the CSRB.
Computer Weekly contacted DSIT for more information on what form this regulation might take, but was told the department has no further comment to make at this time.
When asked the same question, an Ofcom spokesperson directed Computer Weekly to the original CSRB policy statement that shares further details on how datacentres will be brought into the bill’s scope.
The document states that, in the wake of datacentres being designated as critical national infrastructure (CNI) in the July 2024 King’s Speech, “the government is committed to introducing proportionate regulatory oversight” of the sector.
As detailed in the document, datacentres that are 1MW or above in capacity would be in-scope of the regulation, but enterprise datacentres would only need to comply with regulations if they have a capacity of more than 10MW.
“Bringing datacentres into scope of the regulations would strengthen and level the consistency of protection across the sector, provide a platform for secure growth and investment, and give government and a designated regulator the levers to steward the sector in the face of an evolving threat landscape in line with other CNI utilities,” according to the policy statement.
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You can make fair dice from any shape you like
You can make fair dice from any shape you like
All of these strange-looking dice can produce a desired probability distribution
Keenan Crane
Gamers everywhere, rejoice: researchers have discovered that it is possible to transform any shape – from dragons to kittens – into a fair die, making it suitable for playing games that rely on random outcomes.
“We started from the idea of: ‘If you look at an object, can you tell its resting probabilities?’” says Keenan Crane at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In other words, if you roll a particular shape, what is the probability it lands in a particular orientation?
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Microsoft wants Windows Update to handle all apps – The Verge
Microsoft wants Windows Update to handle all apps – The Verge
Microsoft wants Windows Update to handle all apps The VergeMicrosoft’s New Windows Update — What It Means For Your Apps ForbesMicrosoft wants Windows 11 to handle all updates centrally XDA
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Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ Renders Surface Online, Corroborate Recent Design Leaks
Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ Renders Surface Online, Corroborate Recent Design Leaks
Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ is expected to launch soon with a 5.95mm slim design. An alleged hands-on video revealing the thickness and weight of the phone and comparing it with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge had recently surfaced online. Now, alleged images of the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ have leaked on the Web. The newly leaked renders further emphasise its ultra-slim design. They suggest curved sides and a triple rear camera setup on the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+.
Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ Renders Leaked Again
GsmArena has shared alleged renders of the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ showing the phone from all angles. The new images seem to corroborate previous leaks about the phone’s slim design. They illustrate that the device’s thickness is comparable to stacking four credit cards or three coins. The images also shows a triple camera unit on the rear with slightly protruding lenses.
The renders suggest a curved design for the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+. The SIM tray, speakers, microphone and USB Type-C port appear to be arranged on the bottom edge of the phone. As per the publication, citing a trusted source, the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ will feature a “massive battery.”
Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ is expected to debut with a 5.95mm profile, potentially making it the world’s slimmest curved display phone. Last week, we got some images comparing the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ with the standard iPhone. Another recent leak shared a hands-on video comparing it with the Samsung Galaxy Edge. The video showcased that the Hot 60 Pro+ is lighter at 154.6 grams compared to the Galaxy S25 Edge, which weighs 163.8 grams.
While Infinix hasn’t officially confirmed any details, the Hot 60 Pro+ is rumoured to ship with upgrades over last year’s Infinix Hot 50 Pro+, which is 6.8mm thin and weighs 162 grams. The latter is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G100 SoC and boasts a curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass protection. It carries a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support.
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AFL Mid-season rookie draft 2025: West Coast recruit Jacob Newton overcomes foot injury to become Eagle
AFL Mid-season rookie draft 2025: West Coast recruit Jacob Newton overcomes foot injury to become Eagle
Jacob Newton is keen to prove the recruiters who overlooked him last year wrong as he prepares for life at West Coast after a foot injury derailed his draft year.
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iPhone 17 Air to Launch With Silicon-Carbon Battery and Aluminium Frame, Tipster Claims
iPhone 17 Air to Launch With Silicon-Carbon Battery and Aluminium Frame, Tipster Claims
Apple’s iPhone 17 Air is expected to debut later this year, as the company’s slimmest smartphone. Details of the purported handset’s battery technology and weight have now surfaced online, thanks to a tipster. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to pack a smaller battery than the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, but it is also likely to be thinner and lighter than its Android-based rival. However, it might use a modern battery technology that offers higher energy density than a traditional lithium-ion battery.
iPhone 17 Air Battery and Selfie Camera Specifications
According to details shared by an anonymous tipster (known on X as @MajinBuOfficial) in a blog post, the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a silicon-carbon battery. Previous reports suggest that the slim handset will be equipped with a 2,800mAh battery, which is considerably smaller than the base model. However, the use of a silicon-carbon battery could result in the iPhone 17 Air model offering better battery life than was previously expected.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be Apple’s thinnest-ever smartphone, and it might also be one of the lightest models to debut in 2025. The tipster claims that Apple’s upcoming handset will weigh 146g, which is in line with recent reports that also hint at the arrival of a light and slim handset. It is also expected to offer support for Face ID for biometric authentication.
Apple is said to use 7000 series aluminium alloy for the iPhone 17 Air’s frame, which could weigh up to 30g, instead of using titanium like the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The tipster has also revealed the weight of some other components, and the heaviest among them are the 120Hz OLED display and the battery, and each of these reportedly weighs 35g.
According to the post, the iPhone 17 Air will be equipped with a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a 24-megapixel selfie camera. The smartphone is expected to be powered by Apple’s A19 chip, and could arrive with 8GB of RAM like last year’s iPhone 16 Plus model. The tipster also claims that the handset’s rear panel will be made of glass, and that it will support wireless (MagSafe) charging.
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European businesses have never been this gloomy about China
European businesses have never been this gloomy about China
A L ‘Oreal store near the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street in Shanghai, China on April 1, 2025.
Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images
BEIJING — European business optimism about China has hit its lowest on record – worse than during the pandemic — due to slower growth and geopolitical worries.
A record 73% of respondents in the EU Chamber of Commerce in China’s annual survey said doing business in the Asian country has become more difficult in the past year, marking a new high for a fourth-straight year.
That’s just one of the several record lows in sentiment found in the annual survey, which has been published since 2004. The latest study released Wednesday, covered 503 respondents in January and February.
“Companies are really feeling the squeeze, being pessimistic, but again finding very compelling supply chains in China that necessitate a continued presence [in] the ******** market,” Jens Eskelund, president of the chamber, told reporters this week.
Still, that doesn’t mean business confidence is close to returning.
“We haven’t seen an inflection point yet,” Eskelund said. “A lot of it boils down to uncertainty.”
The survey reflected how challenges for foreign businesses in China have largely increased since the pandemic lockdown in 2022 disrupted supply chains. While local brands have become more competitive, overall consumer demand has remained lackluster amid the real estate slump and uncertainty in the job market.
Cosmetics companies were particularly hit. The industry blamed a drop in local demand and reported a 45% drop in revenue in 2024 from a year before — only the second decline in the past decade, according to the chamber’s report.
On the other hand, aviation and aerospace were the rare industries saying that doing business in China became easier.
Slower growth is diminishing China’s attractiveness relative to other markets.
A record low of only 12% of respondents were optimistic about profitability in China in the coming two years, while the fewest on record ranked the country as a top destination for future investments. Another record low of 38% of respondents said they planned to expand in China over the coming year.
And while Beijing has announced efforts to improve conditions for foreign investment, many challenges remain.
A record 63% of respondents said they missed business opportunities in China last year due to market access restrictions and regulatory barriers. Medical device businesses who responded said European companies experienced discrimination due to public procurement practices favoring domestic players.
The scale of pessimism echoed an annual survey of U.S. companies in China released in late January that showed a record share of American businesses were accelerating plans to relocate manufacturing or sourcing.
Meanwhile, 53% of respondents said they would increase their investments in China if more action was taken to improve local market access.
Supply chain competition
China remains dominant in the global supply chain for its ability to offer quality parts at the lowest price — the only way that businesses are able to stay competitive, Eskelund said, citing conversations over the last three weeks with hundreds of companies across the chamber’s six chapters in China.
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When asked about supply chain diversification, more than a quarter of respondents said they were increasing onshoring to China as a way to meet localization requirements and better reach the domestic market.
A far smaller share at 10% of respondents said they were establishing overseas alternative supply chains while keeping their existing network in China. The survey also found that nearly half of respondents said their ******** suppliers were also moving operations to other markets.
******** and EU leaders are set to hold a summit in Beijing in July as both try to strengthen bilateral ties amid higher U.S. tariffs. The EU is China’s second-largest trading partner on a regional basis.
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Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Review — Become The Oni | Console Creatures
Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Review — Become The Oni | Console Creatures
Travis of Capsule Computers writes:
“When it comes to some of Capcom’s beloved franchises, Onimusha generally isn’t one of the titles that will get mentioned much. This is partially due to the fact that, outside of a remaster of the first game in 2019, the last new Onimusha title was released nearly twenty years ago. Then, the announcement of a brand new entry in the form of Onimusha: Way of the Sword makes all the more sense, ready to arrive next year at that twenty year mark. In an effort to bring more light to the Onimusha name and also make the PlayStation 2 original actually available to audiences to enjoy as a whole, Capcom has now given the remaster treatment to Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny. Bringing with it a number of quality of life improvements and some minor graphical improvements, is this remaster a successful transformation?”
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Samsung Rolls Out First One UI 8 Beta Update for Galaxy S25 Series in Select Countries: Eligibility, Features
Samsung Rolls Out First One UI 8 Beta Update for Galaxy S25 Series in Select Countries: Eligibility, Features
Samsung has commenced the rollout of its Android 16-based One UI 8 beta for the flagship Galaxy S25 series under the beta programme. The update is currently available in select countries including South Korea, Germany, the ***, and the US. The One UI 8 beta updates brings up the OS version to Android 16 and introduces features related to productivity, security, and accessibility. This enables beta testers and developers to test out the firmware before it is publicly released.
One UI 8 Beta Availability, Eligible Models
Samsung shared details about the One UI 8 beta programme in a newsroom post. It has been introduced for all three flagship Galaxy S25 lineup; Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. As per the company, the One UI 8 Beta update has been made available in Germany, the US, the ***, and South Korea. It can be joined by signing up for the beta programme via the Samsung Members app. The company highlights that the update’s features may vary depending on the country or region the user resides in.
The update will also be available out-of-the-box in Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z foldables that are expected to be unveiled later this summer.
Updated Reminder app and Quick Share features in One UI 8 Beta Photo Credit: Samsung
One UI 8 Beta Features
Samsung says One UI 8 Beta bundles key improvements related to artificial intelligence (AI) to improve everyday usage. It targets three key elements — multimodal functionality, optimisation for instrument form factors, and personalised pre-suggestions.
The first enables the AI to recognise the on-screen content in real time for “natural interactions”. Meanwhile, the UX has been tailored to the various form factors of Galaxy products in order to increase productivity and efficiency to deliver interactions that are optimised for the user’s daily routine. The Now Bar and Now Brief features will also provide job management, alongside personalised greetings, and suggestions.
The AI experience in One UI 8 Beta is secured by the Samsung Knox Vault, as per the company.
With One UI 8 Beta, Samsung Galaxy S25 series users can swipe up or down anywhere in the preview area to bring up the camera quick controls. Further, the Secure Folder can be used to hide apps and put a stop to notifications when it is locked. In Samsung DeX, users can choose from optimised display resolution up to WQHD and rotate the screen up to 270 degrees. One UI 8 improves the split-screen view by enabling one of the apps to be pinned at the edge of the screen.
The Reminder app has been improved with preset templates, along with auto-complete suggestions. Users can share files, such as to-do lists, with their loved ones with a single tap, while notifications can be added via voice-based commands too.
For accessibility, Samsung allows users to pair and connect Bluetooth hearing aid devices directly in the Accessibility settings. Additionally, users can make on-screen keyboard keys larger and adjust the zoom settings by pressing the buttons shown on the screen. The release notes mention that Galaxy users can now challenge each other by setting up running distance challenges. They can also set reminders for tracking the food intake in the Samsung Health app.
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Macy’s cuts profit outlook as tariffs, promotions hit its business – CNBC
Macy’s cuts profit outlook as tariffs, promotions hit its business – CNBC
Macy’s cuts profit outlook as tariffs, promotions hit its business CNBCMacy’s (M) Says CEO’s Strategy Sparked Better-Than-Expected Results BloombergMacy’s stock rises as earnings, revenue beats offset a cut to profit outlook MarketWatchMacy’s profit and sales slip and it cuts profit forecast for 2025, but beats Q1 expectations The Seattle TimesHow To Earn $500 A Month From Macy’s Stock Ahead Of Q1 Earnings Yahoo Finance
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PEPPERED Review — Existential Platforming | Console Creatures
PEPPERED Review — Existential Platforming | Console Creatures
“The Berlin-based (Germany) indie games publisher and developer Mostly Games today announced with great excitement and happiness that their narrative-driven 2D platforming game “PEPPERED”, is coming to Kickstarter on October 5th, 2022! (there is a free PC demo for “PEPPERED” which you can download and play right now via Steam!)” – Jonas Ek, TGG.
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Kenya President William Ruto apologies to Tanzania over deportation row
Kenya President William Ruto apologies to Tanzania over deportation row
Kenya’s President William Ruto has publicly apologised to Tanzania following days of tension between the neighbouring countries.
Some Kenyans on social media have been targeting Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the recent detention and deportation of prominent East African activists.
Angry Tanzanian MPs on Monday accused Kenyans of cyberbullying and disrespecting Tanzanian sovereignty and “meddling in domestic affairs”.
Speaking at a national prayer breakfast on Wednesday, Ruto appeared to extend an olive branch to Tanzania.
“To our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us,” he said.
“If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise,” the president added.
Ruto also apologised to young Kenyans, popularly known as Gen-Zs, who have been critical of his administration since the deadly anti-tax protesters last June.
The president made the remarks in response to a call by visiting American preacher Rickey Allen Bolden, who urged leaders to pursue reconciliation.
The diplomatic row was triggered by the deportation of activists who had travelled to Tanzania to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Among them were Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda.
The two said they were held incommunicado for several days and tortured, before they were left at the border by Tanzanian security forces, sparking widespread condemnation across the region and from international rights groups.
Tanzania is yet to comment on the torture claims but President Samia had earlier warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to “meddle” in her country’s affairs and cause “chaos”.
Both Kenya and Ugandan had formally protested against the detention of the activists, accusing the Tanzanian authorities of denying consular access despite repeated requests.
The alleged mistreatment of the activists triggered an online war, with social media users from Kenya and Tanzania clashing over the claims.
In a heated debate on Monday, Tanzanian parliamentarians expressed outrage over the young Kenyans trolling President Samia.
The MPs said Samia had every right to defend Tanzania’s national interests.
The legislators’ comments angered some Kenyans who hit back by sharing lawmakers’ contacts and flooding their phones with messages to express their disapproval.
Tanzania’s Iringa Town MP Jesca Msambatavangu said that most of the messages came via WhatsApp, forcing her to temporarily switch off her phone.
Msambatavangu, however, welcomed the engagement, encouraging Kenyans on social media to “counter ideas with ideas”.
She asked young Kenyans to create a WhatsApp group for further engagement and promised to engage them in a live session on Saturday.
“Kenyans are our neighbours, our brothers, and we cannot ignore each other,” she added.
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