Business
Meghan Markle Faces New ‘Bullying’ Claims Ahead of MasterChef Australia Episode Amid Denials of Tension
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is facing a fresh round of criticism from some social media users after Australian tabloid reports suggested behind-the-scenes friction with a “MasterChef Australia” judge during the filming of her upcoming guest appearance, even as multiple sources close to the production have publicly denied any serious conflict occurred.
The duchess is set to appear as a guest judge on “MasterChef Australia” this Sunday, July 26, at 7 p.m. local time on Channel 10. Her segment was filmed in April during a visit to Australia with her husband, Prince Harry, and will feature Meghan emphasizing seasonal ingredients and personal storytelling as she challenges contestants to prepare a “dish fit for a duchess” using a selection of produce and pantry items she curated herself.
What the reports allege
Australian magazine New Idea reported that tension developed on set when several contestants reportedly gravitated toward series judge Poh Ling Yeow for feedback and reassurance rather than directing their attention to Meghan as the episode’s headline guest. According to one unnamed source cited by the outlet, “It was a bit awkward at times. You could tell Meghan was wondering what was going on.”
A separate point of friction reportedly involved Yeow introducing Meghan as “royalty” during the segment, despite Meghan and her team having asked producers beforehand not to use that word, according to Sky News reporting cited by multiple outlets. In a promotional clip for the episode, Yeow can be heard saying, “We’ve had royalty in the MasterChef kitchen before, but no one like this. All the way from sunny California, please welcome to MasterChef Australia, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.” Sky News reported that the introduction left Meghan “very frustrated,” which in turn reportedly left Yeow feeling upset about the moment.
Sources close to production push back on the characterization
Despite those reported moments of friction, several unnamed sources cited across multiple outlets have downplayed any suggestion of a serious rift. One insider told reporters that the issue had little to do with Meghan personally, saying Yeow “felt she had been unintentionally drawn into a royal protocol issue she never intended to be part of” and had wanted to reach out and apologize directly, but was advised by producers to let the matter be handled through standard production channels.
Another source explicitly rejected the idea that real tension existed on set, telling outlets, “There was no tension whatsoever, but it did feel like everyone was working hard to create those picture-perfect TV moments.” A third source offered a lighter take on the dynamic between the two women, describing Yeow’s high-energy, joke-filled personality as not always landing as intended when paired with Meghan, but characterizing any friction as minor. “It wasn’t major drama, just a few awkward moments during filming that were adjusted in the final edit,” the source said, adding, “Meghan was a great guest, and we feel very lucky she agreed to appear on the show.”
Public reaction has been more pointed
Despite those efforts to downplay the situation, the story has generated notable pushback from some viewers on social media, many of whom referenced past allegations involving Meghan’s treatment of staff during her time as a working royal. One Instagram commenter wrote that the “bullying allegations” pattern had become repetitive, adding that “she can’t even go on a show without trying to create issues about random things.” Other social media users echoed similar sentiments across platforms including X, with some questioning why the story kept recurring around Meghan’s public appearances.
It’s worth noting that the characterization of the on-set moments as “bullying” originates largely from social media commentary and headline framing rather than from any on-the-record accusation of mistreatment made by Yeow, her fellow judges or MasterChef Australia producers.
What the judges themselves have said
Speaking separately about Meghan’s approach to the episode, Yeow described the duchess as having been clear and intentional about what she wanted from the segment. “This was actually quite clear about wanting to get to know the contestants better,” Yeow said, describing Meghan’s interest in hearing personal stories from the competitors. “And she said, you know, you know these guys, but I don’t, so I really would like to see some stories and, yeah, food that’s gonna show us their personalities.”
Fellow judge Sofia Levin offered a positive reflection on Meghan’s connection to food as a home cook and gardener. “She’s a home cook and she’s a gardener herself,” Levin said. “So, when you think about it, you know, we’re getting more and more connected to our food.”
What to expect from the episode
Meghan will appear alongside judges Poh Ling Yeow, Sofia Levin and Jean-Christophe Novelli for the episode, with judge Andy Allen absent due to the birth of his son. During filming, Meghan reportedly told contestants that “there is a lot of pressure in that kitchen,” adding that she prefers cooking in “a really relaxed fashion” and encouraging competitors to “keep a sense of humour about it, and to cook from the heart.” She also spoke about cooking as an expression of care for the people in her life, saying that food is “how I show my nurturing and love for my friends, family and my kids.”
Context around the visit
Meghan and Harry’s April trip to Australia marked their first joint visit to the country since their 2018 royal tour, and included humanitarian and mental health-focused engagements alongside Meghan’s MasterChef appearance. The guest judging segment, recorded in Melbourne, was teased extensively in the show’s promotional material ahead of Sunday’s broadcast.
With the episode set to air this weekend, it remains to be seen how the final edited version portrays the interactions between Meghan and the judging panel, and whether that broadcast will do anything to settle the competing narratives that have circulated in Australian and international tabloid coverage in the days leading up to its release.
Business
Two decades of mass protests in India

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Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) Discusses Evolution Into Omnichannel Distribution and Fulfillment Platform for Media and Collectibles Transcript
Craig Brelsford
This is Craig Brelsford with RedChip Companies. Thank you for joining today’s event with Alliance Entertainment, which trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker AENT. With us today, we have Bruce Ogilvie, Executive Chairman of Alliance Entertainment; Jeff Walker, the CEO; and Amanda Gnecco, the CFO. We will begin with a brief presentation in a moment, and then we will answer your questions. [Operator Instructions].
Before we begin, please allow me to read the safe harbor statement. This call may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical facts should also be considered forward-looking statements. Of course, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Alliance team, please go right ahead.
Bruce Ogilvie
Executive Chairman of the Board
Craig, thank you very much. Thank you, everybody, for joining us today and taking the time to learn about our company. Some of you may be new to us, I’ll give you, like, a little brief background where we are. I’m trying to explain everything, and then we’re going to have a Q&A session after about 22 minutes.
On my screen here, hopefully, you can see it. This is a picture of all the different types of products we carry, which consist of movies, music, video games, toys and collectibles. Music consists of LPs, CDs and yes, and cassettes. As far as movies go, it’s 4K Blue-ray
Business
Rita Saffioti, Alannah MacTiernan subpoenaed to attend defamation trial
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US stocks today: Nasdaq plunges 2% as tech earnings spark AI spending worries
Losses were broad-based after investors were unimpressed by second-quarter results from Alphabet and Tesla , the first of the heavyweight “Magnificent Seven” companies to report results this season.
Stocks also came under additional pressure as Brent crude oil futures settled above$100 a barrelfor the first time since May, and U.S. oil futures rose above $90.
Middle East hostilities fanned worries about global oil supplies. The U.S. military launched another round of air strikes on Iran, and Iran fired at neighboring Arab countries that house U.S. bases. U.S. President Donald Trump vowed “major military punishment” for Iran and Houthis, after the Yemeni fighters struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The resulting surge in oil prices prompted worries about inflation days before the next Federal Reserve policy meeting.
“Oil prices rising at this clip pose a meaningful macro and market risk,” said Matt Miskin, co-chief investment strategist at Manulife John Hancock Investments. He added that low unemployment data would pressure the Fed to focus on fighting inflation.
And he also pointed to the lack of enthusiasm, even for strong earnings reports as investors struggle to justify high valuations.”The numbers in aggregate are great but many companies have had a story that’s caused the stock to fall,” said Miskin, pointing to worries about capital spending as one example. “Any chink in the armor and the stocks are being sold off.”
According to preliminary data, the S&P 500 lost 92.62 points, or 1.24%, to end at 7,408.53 points, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 552.33 points, or 2.15%, to 25,138.57. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 523.01 points, or 1.00%, to 51,695.57.
The S&P 500’s 11 major industry sectors were a mixed bag with strength in industrials where big gainers included Lockheed Martin. Shares in the defense giant rallied after it lifted 2026 sales and profit forecasts.
Shares of Google’s parent, Alphabet, sank after it reported higher spending plans while it also burned cash.
The stock’s fall dragged the communication services sector down. Consumer discretionary was another big sector loser, with a hefty weight from Tesla, whose shares tumbled after it reported negative free cash flow in the second quarter for the first time in more than two years.
Wall Street’s fear gauge, the CBOE Volatility Index hit its highest level in nearly a month during the session.
With oil prices rising, inflation worries pushed U.S. 10-year yields to their highest levels since early 2025. However traders were still betting on a roughly 64% probability that the Fed would keep interest rates unchanged next week, according to CME Group’s FedWatch tool.
The volatile Philadelphia semiconductor index was down during the session with results due after the bell from chip giant Intel. Shares in analog chip company Texas Instruments fell sharply despite forecasting quarterly revenue above estimates.
However, shares in Thermo Fisher Scientific rallied after the medical equipment maker raised its annual profit forecast and beat estimates for second-quarter results.
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Five Star Bancorp (FSBC) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript
Operator
Welcome to the Five Star Bancorp Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Webcast. Please note, this is a closed conference call and you are encouraged to listen via the webcast. Before we get started, we would like to remind you that today’s meeting will include some forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, current plans, expectations, events, and industry trends that may affect the company’s future operating results and financial position. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and future activities and results may differ materially from these expectations.
For a more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the company’s forward-looking statements, please see the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the 3 months ended March 31, 2026, and in particular, the information set forth in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in those reports. Please refer to Slide 2 of the presentation, which includes disclaimers regarding forward-looking statements, industry data, unaudited financial data, and non-GAAP financial information included in this presentation. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP figures are included in the appendix to the presentation. The presentation will be referenced during this call but not followed exactly and is available for close review on the company’s website under the Investor Relations tab.
Please note this event is also being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to James Beckwith, Five Star Bancorp President and CEO. Please go ahead.
Business
Harley-Davidson, Inc. 2026 Q2 – Results – Earnings Call Presentation (NYSE:HOG) 2026-07-23
Seeking Alpha’s transcripts team is responsible for the development of all of our transcript-related projects. We currently publish thousands of quarterly earnings calls per quarter on our site and are continuing to grow and expand our coverage. The purpose of this profile is to allow us to share with our readers new transcript-related developments. Thanks, SA Transcripts Team
Business
FENI: Developed Markets ETF With A Fundamental Edge (NYSEARCA:FENI)
Fred Piard, PhD. is a quantitative analyst and IT professional with over 30 years of experience working in technology. He is the author of three books and has been investing in data-driven systematic strategies since 2010. Fred runs the investing group Quantitative Risk & Value where he shares a portfolio invested in quality dividend stocks, and companies at the forefront of tech innovation. Fred also supplies market risk indicators, a real estate strategy, a bond strategy, and an income strategy in closed-end funds. Learn more.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Business
AppFolio, Inc. (APPF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript
Operator
Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the AppFolio, Inc. Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. Please be advised that today’s conference is being recorded, and a replay will be available on AppFolio’s Investor Relations website.
I would now like to hand the conference over to Lori Barker, Investor Relations.
Lori Barker
The Blueshirt Group, LLC
Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. I’m Lori Barker, Investor Relations for AppFolio, and I’d like to thank you for joining us today as we report AppFolio’s Second Quarter 2026 financial results. With me on the call today are Shane Trigg, AppFolio’s Chairman and CEO; and Tim Eaton, AppFolio’s CFO. This call is simultaneously being webcast on the Investor Relations section of our website at appfolioinc.com. Additionally, an audio replay of the call and a transcript of the prepared comments will be posted to the website.
Before we get started, I would like to remind everyone of AppFolio’s safe harbor policy. Comments made during this conference call and webcast contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any statement that refers to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events, including financial projections, future market conditions, business performance or future product enhancements or development is a forward-looking statement. AppFolio’s actual future results could differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements for any reason, including those listed in our SEC filings.
AppFolio assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, except as
Business
Alleged First Ransom Note in Nancy Guthrie Case Addressed Directly to Daughter Savannah Guthrie Revealed
The text of what is believed to be the first ransom note sent in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been read publicly for the first time by a journalist who reviewed the document, offering new detail nearly six months into one of the country’s most closely watched missing-persons investigations.
Briana Whitney, a former Arizona television reporter now covering breaking news for the Crime Junkie podcast, described the alleged note’s contents during an appearance on the podcast, saying she had personally reviewed the document while covering the case earlier this year.
What the alleged note said
According to Whitney’s account, the note opened by addressing Savannah Guthrie directly, stating that the sender was holding Nancy Guthrie and that she was “safe but scared.” The message went on to describe a ransom demand, stating that Nancy would be released within 12 hours of payment being sent to a specified Bitcoin address, with a maximum holding period of seven days.
The note reportedly included a deadline, warning that if payment was not received by a specific date, the consequences would be fatal, and stated that Nancy Guthrie was aware of the threat. The message also warned that there would be no further contact or negotiation, and cautioned against involving law enforcement, according to Whitney’s reading of the document.
Whitney said the note additionally included specific, seemingly personal details about the scene at Nancy Guthrie’s home, describing a white smartwatch found on the floor near her bed and a floodlight that had been destroyed in the backyard, details Whitney suggested lent the note an added layer of unsettling specificity.
Part of a series of disputed communications
The note described by Whitney is understood to be the first in a series of alleged ransom communications connected to the case. According to earlier reporting from TMZ and other outlets, subsequent notes were later sent to media organizations, including at least one that reportedly described Nancy Guthrie as having “perished” and being “buried in nature,” and others that offered information about a possible suspect in exchange for cryptocurrency payment.
Investigators familiar with the case have said they believe it is likely that at least two of the ransom notes sent to Nancy Guthrie’s family were written by the same person or group responsible for her disappearance, according to CBS News. However, the authenticity and origin of the various notes that have surfaced throughout the case have remained a subject of ongoing scrutiny and skepticism among investigators and outside experts, given inconsistencies between different messages and questions about why a sender seeking a reward would request payment in Bitcoin rather than the six-figure reward already publicly offered through official channels.
Background on the case
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on Feb. 1 from her home in Tucson, Arizona, after she failed to appear for a scheduled virtual gathering and a friend alerted the Guthrie family. She was last seen alive the night before, when she was dropped off at her home by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. Investigators later recovered previously lost surveillance footage from Nancy’s home that showed she had been taken from the property against her will, confirming law enforcement’s belief that she had been abducted rather than gone missing voluntarily.
Physical evidence recovered from the scene, including blood found on the porch and just inside the front door, has reinforced investigators’ assessment that the abduction involved violence. Doorbell camera footage reviewed by investigators reportedly captured a single armed individual on the porch at the time of the incident, though authorities have not publicly confirmed a suspect’s identity nearly six months into the investigation.
The family’s continued search
Savannah Guthrie has remained a visible public presence throughout the investigation, giving an emotional interview earlier this year that revealed previously undisclosed details about the crime scene before returning to co-anchor the “Today” show. The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s safe return, while the FBI has separately offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, encouraging anyone with relevant information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Search efforts connected to the case have extended beyond Arizona’s borders in recent months, including volunteer searches conducted in Sonora, Mexico, after unconfirmed tips suggested Nancy’s remains might be located there. Those searches have not resulted in her discovery, though volunteer groups involved in the effort have uncovered other unrelated unmarked graves during their search operations.
An investigation still without answers
Nearly six months after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, the case remains unsolved, with no publicly confirmed suspect and no resolution to the competing claims made across the various ransom notes and tips that have surfaced throughout the investigation. Some retired law enforcement figures who have followed the case closely have described it in recent weeks as having effectively gone cold, even as the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department continue to say the investigation remains open and active.
The newly detailed contents of the alleged first ransom note add another layer of documented detail to a case that has drawn sustained national attention, both for its unresolved nature and for the disturbing specificity of the communications investigators have received throughout its course. Whether the note reviewed by Whitney can be authenticated as coming from whoever was responsible for Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance remains an open question, one that investigators have not publicly resolved as the search for answers continues.
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