Latest news with #BL
The Review Geek
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Knock Out – Season 1 Episode 8 Recap & Review
Episode 8 Knock Out Episode 8 returns us to the hospital where Pakorn appeals to Thun. Then in walks Keen, overhearing Pakorn call him his son. After Pakorn leaves, Phuwish tells Petch that he'd like to visit him at the gym this evening to talk about the academy. As the two walk out, Keen is noticeably frosty with Thun, who still hasn't explained himself. Back at the gym, Thun tries to take Keen's hand, but he pulls it away, saying he's tired. When they get to their room, they find it's been ransacked, yet nothing seems to be missing. Everyone comes running but Win notices Ait's absence and checks his room to find his locker empty. READ MORE: Thai and BL drama reviews As the group discusses Ait, they hear noises in the gym. Fight mode snaps on and the team battles the loan shark lackeys who'd come to collect. They continue to rail on Win as he hasn't yet paid his debt. Thun promises to fight to pay off the debt but that's not good enough to deliver the money now. Just in time, Phuwish and his guys arrive. Finding out that they owe money, Phuish says he wants to meet the boss and agrees to pay the debt before hearing it's 1 million Baht. He hands over a check, telling the gang he'll drum out corruption in sports. After the thugs take leave, Phuwish asks the favor he'd come for – he'd wanted to buy the academy from Petch. But now he says he'll call it an even exchange for the debt. Thun suggests they talk it over first. All together, Keen suggests they sell and put it all behind them. Thun notes that White Tiger Gym has made an offer too. He'll buy the academy and pay off all the debts, claiming he'd like to do the right thing as a father. In response, Keen demands a private chat, believing Pakorn may have set everything up to reach this end. Thun explains that he hasn't seen Pakorn as his father in a long time, ever since he abandoned him. As Thun takes Keen's hand, Keen accuses Pakorn of killing his dad. Talking it out, Keen shows him the evidence from Klao, noting that Pakorn wasn't wearing his pin in the hospital. Thun agrees to support Keen no matter who committed the crime. Just as they start to cuddle, Win throws open the door. He suddenly knows who drugged Thun. Could it be Ait? Flashback to the dressing room where Ait does the deed. His mystery caller is the loan shark boss himself, Sia Thep. At the hospital, Ait suggests that Sia Thep may be trying to get to Phuwish. Originally, it was the boss who suggested going to Phuwish for help. Ait takes the blame and apologizes to everyone and Petchak immediately forgives him. Later, Ait thanks Win for cheering him on and returns his confession. Feeling guilty after Phuwish paid the debt, Petch signs over the academy to him. Phuwish instantly hands Keen a promo for another fight. It's tomorrow and he'd love them all to participate. Even though it's last minute, they feel they have to agree. Klao stops by and checks out the Ring Rage event with Keen. She also tells him that she now believes the pin she found may have belonged to Muay. She's also noticed that several bigwigs have that same pin. Could it be a club? As they discuss possibilities, Thun watches from afar. Incensed, Thun visits his father to find out if he killed Keen's father. But he'll only answer if Thun gets in the ring with him. He somehow manages to KO his son, which Typhoon spots from the doorway. At the gym, as the team jumps into a van to head to Ring Rage, Keen receives a message that Thun will meet him there. Meanwhile, Pakorn apologizes for being late, saying he had some trouble with a 'new product.' He shows the other man – it's Phuwish – and calls him Sia Thep (yes, the loan shark). The 'product' is a trussed-up Thun. The Episode Review Nice one, Dad. Well, I figured Phuwish had something to do with the loan shark when he handed over a check so easily. It certainly felt like the jaws were closing when he tried to rush them into a decision. I didn't guess, however, that he and Pakorn were on the same (evil) team. And that Pakorn would hand over his son, presumably shot up with Hulk juice or soon to be. Now that Klao has caught on to the idea of a 'club' of greedy adults, she'll be able to help Keen figure out what's happening. Hopefully, before they do something horrible to the fearless Thun. Anyone else think there's a chance that Typhoon will help? He and Thun were friends once… Wait a minute… this is the second time Keen's home has been searched. What could they be seeking? Likely something from his Dad, no? Who else is getting sucked in? Is anyone watching Knock Out? I'd love to hear your take. Drop-kick those ponderings into the comments below. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes READ MORE: Thai and BL drama reviews
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Insightful Analyst Questions From BlackLine's Q1 Earnings Call
BlackLine's first quarter saw a positive market response following steady revenue growth and a notable margin improvement. Management attributed these results to operational enhancements in sales execution, customer expansion, and the adoption of its Studio360 platform. The leadership team emphasized increased average deal size, especially among enterprise clients, and highlighted the successful rollout of a new pricing model. Co-CEO Owen Ryan pointed to deepening relationships with key partners and customer wins in both North America and international markets as important contributors to quarterly performance. The company also credited faster implementation timelines and improved go-to-market alignment for helping drive customer satisfaction and top-of-funnel activity. Is now the time to buy BL? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $166.9 million vs analyst estimates of $166.7 million (6% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $0.49 vs analyst estimates of $0.38 (28% beat) Adjusted Operating Income: $34.95 million vs analyst estimates of $28.67 million (20.9% margin, 21.9% beat) The company reconfirmed its revenue guidance for the full year of $698.5 million at the midpoint Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $2.17 at the midpoint, a 6.6% increase Operating Margin: 2.1%, up from 1.1% in the same quarter last year Customers: 4,455, up from 4,443 in the previous quarter Annual Recurring Revenue: $656 million at quarter end, up 8.4% year on year Billings: $159 million at quarter end, up 9.2% year on year Market Capitalization: $3.52 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Rob Oliver (Baird) asked about the sustainability of margin expansion amid ongoing growth investments. CFO Patrick Villanova responded that margin gains were achieved without delaying planned investments and that flexibility remains to adjust spending if macro conditions deteriorate. Koji Ikeda (Bank of America) inquired about adoption trends for the new platform pricing model and its impact on user metrics. Villanova clarified that adoption was ahead of plan, especially among large enterprises, and explained how the model shifts user counts to zero for those customers. Patrick Walravens (Citizens) questioned BlackLine's approach to AI compared to competitors. Co-CEO Therese Tucker emphasized the company's focus on delivering 'responsible AI' with strong audit trails and leveraging decades of SaaS data for deeper insights. Pinjalim Bora (JPMorgan) probed the drivers behind changes in renewal rates and potential headwinds. Co-CEO Owen Ryan noted enterprise renewal rates remain strong, with mid-market churn linked to legacy customers and corporate restructuring, while Villanova said the new pricing model supports retention. Dominique Manansala (Truist Securities) asked about public sector traction and expectations for meaningful contribution. Ryan replied that the focus is on building pipelines with partners and SAP, with material impact expected primarily in future periods. Looking forward, our analysts will be watching (1) the pace of AI feature adoption and the impact of expanded Studio360 capabilities on customer engagement, (2) progress on deepening the SAP partnership and the uptake of bundled solutions in cloud ERP migrations, and (3) the effectiveness of the new pricing model in driving renewal rates and reducing churn. Developments in public sector and industry-specific solutions will also be important signposts. BlackLine currently trades at $56.53, up from $46.65 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Dad twice caught driving at over four times legal limit dodges prison
'VERY LUCKY' | Defence barrister Sarah Brennan said the 'very traumatic' murder of his sister in the US had provided the catalyst for the onset of an 'extensive drink problem'. Peter McKenna Judge Raymond Finnegan warned Peter McKenna (56) of the potential consequences that awaited him following both episodes which occurred in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan in April and December last year. McKenna, with addresses at Castle Lodge Guesthouse, Market Square, Monaghan and Cois Locha, Doohamlet, Castleblayney, Monaghan pleaded guilty to two counts of drink driving, alongside those of no insurance and dangerous driving in the south Monaghan town on April 21 and December 16, 2024. Sgt Lisa McEntee relayed the State's evidence in connection to the first incident which took place shortly after 1am. She explained how gardaí, who had been on patrol in the area, came across McKenna behind the wheel of a red Vauxhall van which had been travelling along a stretch of the old Monaghan road and in the direction of Castleblayney town. Sgt McEntee said the vehicle was spotted 'swerving over and back and from side to side', resulting in gardaí turning around their patrol car and going off in pursuit of the offending vehicle. Having carried out that manoeuvre on the town's York Street area, Sgt McEntee said pursuing gardaí proceeded to activate the patrol car's blue lights as the vehicle in question continued onwards with its full beam headlights on while also 'swerving over and back and from side to side'. When McKenna pulled in and was tested for drink driving, Sgt McEntee said his reading returned a result of 223mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. That reading put McKenna at almost four and a half times over the legal limit to drive owing to the fact the State's present day legal limit stands at 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. Less than eight months later, the court was told how McKenna was caught for a second time with an almost identical blood alcohol level, this time as he drove a silver coloured Renault Kangoo van through the town. Sgt McEntee said McKenna was identified by gardaí as they observed him driving at speed along the town's Main Street shortly after midnight on December 16 last year. Like the earlier incident, gardaí took off in pursuit of McKenna before noticing the accused make a left hand turn at a roundabout while proceeding out of town and along the Monaghan Road. Moments later, the van was sighted turning onto the Ballybay Road where McKenna signalled to turn right before turning off his indicator to instead indicate left. Judge Finnegan was told how once McKenna pulled in, gardaí once again took a sample from the accused in a move which returned a reading of 224mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The court heard McKenna had one previous conviction for drink driving to his name, which dated back to 2004. Defence barrister Sarah Brennan, BL, said there was no denying the 'very high' nature of both readings, as she told of McKenna had been cooperative throughout both incidents by providing samples and ultimately tendering guilty pleas before the court. She said McKenna was a separated man who had been labouring under poor health for some time, challenges which had been brought to bear by a diagnosis of Chron's disease some 10 years earlier. Ms Brennan said McKenna had undergone extensive surgery as a result and was now on anti-depressants and reliant on a €240 weekly income from disability allowance. She said the upshot from that diagnosis and the 'very traumatic' murder of his sister in the US had, by his own admission, provided the catalyst for the onset of an 'extensive drink problem'. Peter McKenna News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd In appealing for leniency, Ms Brennan also implored the court to consider the antiquity which was linked to her client's sole previous conviction over two decades earlier. Judge Finnegan disqualified McKenna for two and three years respectively for dangerous and drink driving for the April 21 incident, fining him €250 in the process. A five month jail term, suspended for two years, was similarly imposed for the drink driving summons despite Judge Finnegan's own concession of how he had been 'very tempted' not to suspend any of its duration. A further €500 fine was handed down for no insurance in the latter incident with a six year ban and five month consecutive suspended prison sentence being recorded for what Judge Finnegan said was an 'extraordinary' alcohol intake reading. In handing down those penalties and advising McKenna of his good fortune in avoiding a custodial spell, Judge Finnegan told him: 'You are getting a chance Mr McKenna. It's up to you whether you take it, if you don't you will serve the full sentence.'
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
BTS' V goes bare-faced live: Kim Taehyung flexes muscles, changes outfits, plays music and Counter-Strike as ARMY loses it
There's a reason ARMY - one of the world's largest fandoms - believes that the love they give BTS is always returned. On June 20, not long after waking up, the ever-charming Kim Taehyung, better known as V from BTS, surprised fans by going live on Weverse. He casually told viewers he had just gotten out of bed and decided to start a live - a sweet gesture that instantly made ARMY feel like they were the first people on his mind. But what truly caught fans off guard was the display picture he chose: a mirror selfie in a sleeveless shirt, which immediately sent the fandom into a frenzy. BTS' V shows off bare-faced visuals During the live, Taehyung appeared in a white-and-black tank top but quickly commented that he felt he was showing "too much skin." He also mentioned that his room was messy, with clothes scattered around. 🐻 Hold on... there's clothes everywhere so hold on. Okay, wait a sec!🐻 I'm going to grab a water!#thv @bts_bighit @BTS_twt #TAEHYUNG #KIMTAEHYUNG #BTSARMY #BTS #BTSV #BANGTAN #TYPE1 #TAETAE #WinterAhead #BTSisCOMING So what did V do? He paused the video screen continued to play music, took time to change into a t-shirt, and cleaned up his room - before returning to the live to chat more with ARMY. He turned on the Live as soon as he woke Up,changed his clothes and he's cleaning his room with us nowTAEHYUNG WHAT ARE WE? V's love for gaming makes a comeback While interacting with fans, Taehyung began playing what many believe was Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Listeners could hear the shooting effects and voiceovers, leading fans to excitedly guess the game in real-time. TAEHYUNG IS PLAYING GAMES WE ARE SO BACK YALL !!#TAEHYUNG #BTSV #BTS #V "Kim Taehyung is back," Say ARMY Seeing Taehyung share music and play games on live brought back memories of his pre-enlistment days. Many fans on X (formerly Twitter) couldn't contain their excitement over everything that happened in the short Weverse live -bare-faced visuals, gaming sounds, music, and a surprise chat. MY MANN SHOWING HIS ARMS RIGHT ON MY FACE I'm so sorry Taehyung but you like a character in BL manhwa 😭😭😭 the face card, the body, the sex appeal 💯 Bare face hottie, Kim Taehyung Live 🖤🤍🌟 taehyung and his gay ass music god i love him More about BTS V After serving 18 months in the South Korean military, Kim Taehyung was officially discharged on June 10, marking his return to civilian life. According to Allkpop, V received over 4.5 million messages via Goondori, a military platform that allows civilians to send letters and encouragement to soldiers, including public figures like celebrities, athletes, and influencers. On June 9, just one day before his discharge, V became the first and only celebrity to surpass 3 million messages on the platform - setting a new record and demonstrating the immense love he continued to receive even while serving. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
The Star
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Filipino actor Miko Gallardo opens up about past rape, alleged blackmail
BL (boy love) actor Miko Gallardo has opened up about being raped, blackmailed, which he said has been going on for 10 years. In an eight-minute video statement on his YouTube channel on Tuesday, June 10, Gallardo — addressing himself as Dwayne — pleaded for his 'freedom' while claiming that he was a victim of blackmail and extortion 'for a whole decade of [his] life,' underscoring that he wanted the alleged abuse toward him to end. 'For the past 10 years — a whole decade of my life — I have been blackmailed and extorted, and I just want it to end. I'm sending this message out to the person, you know who you are, I will not be dropping any names. I just want this to go and end smoothly with peace,' he said. 'Let me go. I want my freedom. I will be talking in English for everybody to understand. I will be as straightforward as possible. I am begging — I am not asking — I am begging for things to end. I want it to end. I want my freedom. Ten years of this blackmail, threats, and extortion, I am done. I will do whatever you want me to do for things to end,' he continued. The actor said he is willing to 'end [his] relationship' and settle things through financial means just to achieve his desired freedom, as he stressed that he is already 'done and tired' of what he had been through. 'You want me to end my relationship? I will do it. You want me to pay you back? I will do it. You want whatever, whatever your reason is, whatever your wants are, I will, I will give it. I will do it. 'All I'm asking in return is my freedom and my peace. So I can go about my days and my life without having to worry anymore. I am tired. I'm exhausted. I want to go home. I miss my grandma. Whatever your reasons are for doing this, I'm sorry. But please, I beg you. Please, let me go. Let me have my freedom,' he said. To explain where he was coming from, Gallardo alleged that he was raped by 'two people whom [he] trusted as older sisters' when he was eight years old, and was 'almost raped by older men' around the same age. 'The only reason why they didn't go through with it was because they almost got caught. But I did not speak up. I was a scared little boy who never talked. But this time, I'll say it all. I don't care. I don't give a (expletive) anymore,' he added. 'At 10 years old, all the way up around 16, 17 — I don't even remember anymore — I had a sexual relationship with an older woman — who was way older. Growing up, that really (expletive) up my mind. Filled my head with anger, lust, and bad choices. And that's the reason maybe why I'm here,' he further added. The actor also revealed that he was 'sexually assaulted' by unnamed individuals in the entertainment industry, while seemingly addressing a certain individual as 'Filipino P,' an apparent play on music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs' name. To note, Combs has been on trial for charges of sex trafficking and alleged racketeering. 'When my career started, I got people sexually assaulting me in this industry, in the acting industry. Yeah, Filipino P* did try to get me many, many times. But I never spoke up. They told me to shut up and take it in and just focus on my career. And that messed me up big time. Led me to bad decisions, bad choices, substance abuse, alcohol, you name it,' said Gallardo. 'They never got hold of me because I always try to find a way to reason out or run away. I was never able to fight back. Because if you do, you know what happens when you fight back in this industry. You know what happens. They bury you. I don't want to be buried. Life is about survival. And right now, I am trying to survive,' he further added. Appeal for survival To end his statement, Gallardo said he is 'begging' to be free from the unnamed individual who allegedly 'has control over' his life. 'I'm here now, though. I'm still alive, I'm still kicking, begging for my life back from that person who has control over me right now. You know what I've been through,' he said. 'You know the sh*t that I had to crawl my ass out of. So let's make a deal. Let's end things peacefully. Give me a chance to live again. But if you give me no choice and just tell me to end my life while you laugh about it or celebrate over it, you tell me I deserve it, then you leave me no choice.' The actor also declared that he is the only person who can end the alleged abuse, while reiterating the aforementioned deal to 'end things peacefully.' 'Who gives a sh*t, right? The world keeps spinning anyways. But let me make a deal. I wanna live. I want freedom. If you still have any humanity and sympathy left in you, let me go. Yeah, maybe I can only blame myself for being in this situation, for trusting you. So only I can end it,' he said. Talks of Gallardo's alleged abuse began last June 4 after he made a cryptic post about seemingly wanting to end his life in a now-expired Instagram Story. The actor is best known for his lead role in BL (boys' love) projects such as My Day and Our Story. He also made an appearance on the noontime show It's Showtime as a contestant of its Bidaman segment. has reached out to Gallardo for further comment about his video statement but has yet to respond, as of this writing. Meanwhile, Gallardo's agency, Oxin Entertainment, said it has been coordinating with the 'appropriate authorities' to ensure Gallardo's mental well-being, moments after the actor alleged that he was a victim of sexual harassment, blackmail and extortion for quite some time. Miko Gallardo 'actively working' with agency after dropping abuse claims. Images: Screengrabs from YouTube/ochomiko Miko Gallardo is 'actively working' with his agency after dropping abuse claims. Images: Screengrabs from YouTube/ochomiko Miko Gallardo's agency, Oxin Entertainment, said it has been coordinating with the 'appropriate authorities' to ensure Gallardo's mental well-being, moments after the actor alleged that he was a victim of sexual harassment, blackmail and extortion for quite some time. In a statement on its Facebook page, Oxin said Gallardo was a victim of a 'certain individual ' and that it ha been reaching out to the proper authorities. 'It has come to our attention that Miko Gallardo recently shared a video on YouTube detailing years of suffering from alleged harassment, sexual abuse, extortion, and blackmail at the hands of a certain individual,' it said. 'Mr Gallardo has reached out to us for assistance, and we are actively working to coordinate with him regarding these very serious concerns, which are significantly impacting his mental health and overall well-being,' it continued. Oxin assured Gallardo's safety and said the matter would be handled with 'utmost seriousness.' 'We want to assure everyone that we are taking this matter with the utmost seriousness and will be coordinating closely with the appropriate authorities to address these allegations. We appreciate your understanding and concern during this sensitive time,' it said. – Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935 / 014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999 / 019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim's family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929 /email sam@ centres in malaysia).
