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Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Netflix profits surge off ads, higher subscription prices
Netflix highlighted strong performance from its content offers in the quarter Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. SAN FRANCISCO — Netflix reported stronger than expected second-quarter results Thursday, with profit jumping 45% year-over-year as the streaming giant benefited from subscription price increases and a growing advertising business. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Revenue climbed 16% to $11.1 billion in the quarter ended June 30, beating analyst estimates and the company's own guidance, while net profit surged to $3.1 billion. The company raised its full-year revenue forecast, noting that it expects revenue to be between $44.8 billion and $45.2 billion in 2025, up from a range of $43.5 billion to $44.5 billion. Netflix highlighted strong performance from its content offers in the quarter, with major hits including the third season of 'Squid Game,' which drew 122 million views. It 'has already become our sixth biggest season of any series in our history, with just a few weeks of viewing so far,' the company said in a statement. Other standout titles included the third season of 'Ginny & Georgia' with 53 million views and 'Sirens' with 56 million views. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There was also the animated film 'KPop Demon Hunters' with 80 million views, which became 'one of our biggest animated films ever' and generated a soundtrack that topped music charts globally. 'Korean content continues to be popular with our audience,' the company said, pointing to the continued success of international programming that has become a hallmark of Netflix's global strategy. Netflix expressed optimism about the second half of 2025, highlighting an upcoming slate that includes the highly anticipated second season of 'Wednesday,' the final season of 'Stranger Things' and new films from major directors including Kathryn Bigelow and Guillermo del Toro. The company has also announced plans to expand live programming with marquee boxing matches and NFL games, as it continues to diversify its content offerings beyond traditional on-demand entertainment. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Netflix shares have surged more than 40% year-to-date as investors have responded positively to the company's shift toward profitability, which saw it crack down on password sharing and turn to ads for more revenue. The company counted over 300 million subscribers last December, at the end of a particularly successful holiday season, when it gained almost 19 million new subscriptions. But the company no longer discloses these figures, in order to focus on audience 'engagement' metrics (time spent watching content). In the quarter, Netflix continued to build out its advertising capabilities, saying that it expects to roughly double ads revenue in 2025, though it did not provide specific figures. The service is forecasting $9 billion in revenues from its ad-based subscriptions by 2030. 'With another robust earnings showing in Q2, Netflix continues a winning streak going back several quarters and cements its place as the leader among streaming services,' said Emarketer analyst Paul Verna. Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA MMA Tennis Toronto Maple Leafs
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Health, Not Handcuffs, Are the Path to Ending Opioid Crisis
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. There's reason to be optimistic about America's drug overdose crisis. Recent CDC data show that drug overdose deaths declined by 27 percent last year. This dramatic drop in overdose deaths offers hope, but it must be a catalyst, not a conclusion. To keep making progress, we must expand what is working: increasing access to harm reduction tools and investing in proper treatment. We cannot afford to fall back on punitive policies that have consistently failed to address the underlying causes of addiction. While it's impossible to say exactly what caused the significant decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2024, we do know that punitive methods are demonstrably ineffective at combating drug use. The criminal justice system has been the federal government's main avenue for tackling drug addiction since President Richard Nixon effectively launched the "War on Drugs" in 1971. But drug overdose deaths have rapidly increased since the 1970s—precisely because we have been punishing drug use instead of treating it. Drug addiction does not exist in a vacuum. It stems from underlying trauma and mental health issues, which require proper treatment to manage. Unfortunately, while the majority of people in jail and prison have a substance use disorder, few receive clinical treatment. In fact, incarceration tends to make substance use disorders worse. It is often traumatic and can isolate people from health and social support systems, along with resources like naloxone and medication-assisted treatment. Drug overdose is the third leading cause of death in American jails, and the leading cause of death among those recently released from prison. A recent study from Minnesota found that the rate of overdose deaths for people released from prison was more than 28 times that of the state's general population. These results mirror those of studies from Washington state and North Carolina. On the other hand, data show that health-centered programming and harm reduction tools, such as naloxone and fentanyl testing strips, are effective at saving lives. A person holds a foil in an alleyway while smoking following the decriminalization of all drugs including fentanyl and meth in downtown Portland, Oregon, on January 25, 2024. A person holds a foil in an alleyway while smoking following the decriminalization of all drugs including fentanyl and meth in downtown Portland, Oregon, on January 25, 2024. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP/Getty Images Despite concerns that access to naloxone would contribute to riskier drug use, no recent studies have found that expanding naloxone access has actually increased overdose deaths. Multiple studies have shown, on the contrary, that naloxone reduces overdose mortality. A 2025 meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness of community-based naloxone distribution programs in Chicago, Massachusetts, San Francisco, North Carolina, and Scotland found reductions in overdose mortality—sometimes as high as 46 percent. Another recent study found that distributing naloxone among the general community and people leaving jail could reduce opioid-related deaths by 11 to 25 percent. Fentanyl testing strips are newer to the market, but early evidence also suggests that legalizing fentanyl test strips decreases overdose mortality and can lead to positive behavior changes. One recent analysis found that fentanyl test strip legalization corresponded with a 7 percent decrease in overdose deaths. Community-based, health-focused treatment centers have long been considered much more effective for managing drug addiction than incarceration, and they have been growing in recent years. Community treatment centers should continue to act as major distributors of naloxone and fentanyl test strips, so more people can access them without fear of punishment or financial barriers. Alternative crisis response programs, which send mental health specialists to people suffering from mental health distress and substance use disorders instead of law enforcement, are also offering promising results. These types of interventions should become the national norm for fighting substance use disorders. Every overdose death is preventable. It's time to end the war on drugs and begin a new chapter grounded in the unwavering belief that recovery is possible when people are met with help instead of handcuffs. Christina Dent is the author of Curious, the founder of End It For Good, and is passionate about health-centered solutions to drugs and addiction. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Los Angeles tunnel collapse: What happened in Wilmington, California? Latest details
On Wednesday, thirty-one workers were rescued following the collapse of one industrial tunnel in Wilmington, said the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) firefighters are seen at the site of an industrial tunnel collapse in the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles on July 9, 2025. 31 workers were safely removed from the tunnel without visible injuries, the LAFD said on July 9. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)(AFP) The LAFD mobilized a major emergency operation, sending more than 100 responders, including all of its elite Urban Search and Rescue teams, to the site on the 1700 block of South Figueroa Street. The collapse took place deep within the Los Angeles Effluent Outfall Tunnel, which is currently under construction as part of the $630.5 million Clearwater Project. ALSO READ| Pasadena car chase: LAPD involved in two dramatic crashes; Mercedes G-Wagon stolen - Video 31 workers rescued from Los Angeles tunnel collapse L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn assured that every worker was brought to safety, and there were no visible injuries among the 31 workers. The workers had to scale a heap of soil approximately 12-15 feet high so that they could scurry out of the tunnel's collapsing part. 'I just spoke with many of the workers who were trapped,' Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared in a post on X. 'Thank you to all of our brave first responders who acted immediately. You are L.A.'s true heroes.' 'The City of Los Angeles has mobilized resources to the tunnel collapse in Wilmington. More than 100 LAFD responders have been deployed, including Urban Search and Rescue teams. Thank you to all of those who are acting immediately to respond to this emergency,' Bass said in another post. The accident took place almost 6 miles into the tunnel, making rescue very difficult. This was the only source of entry miles away in the collapse point, miles underground, at about 450 feet beneath the ground. Flatiron Dragados is building a 7-mile-long and 18-foot-wide tunnel as part of L.A. County's work to modernise the old wastewater system. The Clearwater Project will replace the tunnels that were constructed in 1937 and 1958 and have been in use. ALSO READ| Wilmington tunnel collapse update: At least 31 workers rescued in Los Angeles The L.A. County Sanitation District documents from July 2024 noted the work on the tunnel was to be completed by April 2025, and the entire project completion was estimated by 2027. The new tunnel was to open up by January 2028.y January 2028.
Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Store Closures On Track to Far Exceed 2024 Levels
Produced [by our journalists] with financial support from an organization or individual that did not approve or review the work. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Store closures across the U.S. continue to rise, and remain on track to far significantly surpass both new openings and the figures seen in 2024. According to a new report from research and advisory firm Coresight Research, cited by CoStar News, 5,822 store closures were recorded as of June 27, compared to 3,496 closures announced during the same period of 2024. The 2025 closures have also far outstripped the 3,960 announced openings this year. Why It Matters The stark increase in closures reflects long-term challenges to the retail sector, which has for years battled declining foot traffic and the rise of e-commerce - particularly since the COVID Pandemic - Coresight reported. Persistent inflation and tariff hikes on goods from other countries - heralded by the Trump administration as a measure to boost American manufacturing and protect jobs - have also taken tolls on consumer confidence and spending, analysis from US banking giant JP Morgan suggests. What To Know Early in the year, Coresight Research predicted that around 15,000 stores would close in 2025, more than double the 7,325 that shuttered last year. Those were the highest number of annual closures since 2020, when there were 9,698. Store openings, meanwhile, were predicted to fall to 5,800 from 5,970 in 2025. Since it made the prediction in late January, several major brands have announced or embarked upon reductions in their nationwide footprints. Macy's and Kohl's are among the household names to announce widespread closures, fueled in part by declining sales and a desire to optimize operations to accommodate shifting consumer behaviors. A store closing sign is displayed as customers shop during the last day of a store closing sale at a JOANN Fabric and Crafts location in a shopping mall following the company's bankruptcy in Torrance,... A store closing sign is displayed as customers shop during the last day of a store closing sale at a JOANN Fabric and Crafts location in a shopping mall following the company's bankruptcy in Torrance, California on May 27, 2025. More Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images Pharmacies have also seen mass closures. Chains such as CVS and Walgreens have already announced plans to permanently shutter hundreds of locations across the country. Rite Aid, which filed for bankruptcy in early May, recently saw the number of locations marked for closure surpass 1,000, though many of these have been sold off to competitors as it attempts to exit the Chapter 11 process. The widespread shuttering of pharmacies has exacerbated fears over Americans' access to essential medications, as many face the prospect of living in what have been referred to as "pharmacy deserts." What People Are Saying John Mercer, Coresight's head of global research, told CoStar News: "U.S. retail is in a period of unusually high real-estate churn as cyclical impacts confront structural shifts." "U.S. store closures are up by two-thirds compared to one year earlier, while openings are flat," he added. "That closures total is compounding closure numbers that were already up, year over year, in week 27 of 2024." Miranda Rochol, Senior Vice President of Provider Solutions at healthcare technology firm Prescryptive Health, told Newsweek that the reasons for mass pharmacy closures "are complex, but it's not an overstatement to say pharmacies are facing unprecedented economic strain, with shrinking margins and reimbursement rates." "Many small pharmacies now operate at a loss on common prescriptions, and large chains are restructuring in response to reduced revenues, declining foot traffic, and other outdated models that no longer align with the needs of modern consumers," she added. What Happens Next? It remains to be seen whether the number of closures will ultimately match the 15,000 originally forecast by Coresight back in January. Last week, Coresight estimated that the level of store closures could result in over 120 million square feet of closed retail space in 2025.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
FBI warns of threats to July 4 events in NYC and SF. Here's all you need to know
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security have indicated that lone wolf attacks are the greatest threats to this year's July 4 celebrations in New York City and San Francisco. FBI and DHS warn that lone wolf attacks pose the greatest threat to July 4 celebrations in NYC and San Francisco. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)(AFP) ABC News reported that intelligence bulletins were sent out ahead of the holiday. 'We are concerned about the potential threat of copycat attacks inspired by the 2025 New Year's Day vehicle-ramming attack in New Orleans and continued messaging [from foreign terrorist organisations (FTOs)] calling for attacks against Western targets,' two of the bulletins warn. Law enforcement agencies are especially focused on individuals acting alone, noting that these so-called 'lone offenders' can often operate under the radar and strike without warning. 'Lone offenders, in particular, remain a concern due to their ability to often avoid detection until operational and to inflict significant casualties,' the bulletins say. ASLO READ| The Soham Parekh saga is one for the history books: All you need to know about it US braces for potential attacks during July 4 Officials say these potential attackers may be motivated by a wide variety of grievances, but one area of heightened concern is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which they fear could trigger acts of violence on U.S. soil. 'Of these actors, U.S.-based violent extremists supporting FTOs and [domestic violent extremists] not linked to FTOs represent two of the most persistent threats,' according to the intelligence alerts. There are also concerns about physical threats in and around event spaces, including the potential use of weapons, drones, or even more unconventional means of harm. The bulletins specifically mention 'malicious actors and violent extremists' possibly entering July 4 gatherings or even peaceful protests with 'weapons, chemical irritants, bodily fluids or other hazardous materials.' Notably, authorities are still haunted by past holiday attacks, including the 2022 Highland Park shooting, where a lone gunman opened fire during a 4 July parade, killing seven people and injuring many more. ALSO READ| Silver prices in US today: Holding above $36 per ounce, may go higher soon The New Year's Day vehicle attack in New Orleans earlier this year was even deadlier, claiming 14 lives.
