Business
Austal Shares Jump 7% After US$1.35 Billion Offer For Austal USA Shipbuilding Unit From Wildcat-Led Group
PERTH, Australia — Shares of Austal Ltd. climbed $0.31, or 7.13%, to $4.66, after the defense shipbuilder confirmed it had received a non-binding offer valuing its U.S. shipbuilding operations at between US$1.25 billion and US$1.35 billion, from a syndicate led by mining company Wildcat Resources Ltd.
Austal disclosed the offer in an announcement to the ASX, sending shares sharply higher in early trading. The proposed transaction would see Austal USA, the company’s American shipbuilding subsidiary, continue operating independently under the existing Austal brand should the deal ultimately proceed, according to the company’s statement.
Austal’s board and financial advisers are now reviewing the proposed transaction, with the company emphasizing that there is no guarantee the offer will progress to a binding agreement given it remains subject to further due diligence and other customary conditions typical of a transaction of this scale.
Austal, headquartered in Henderson, Western Australia, has built its business around the design, manufacture and support of maritime vessels for both commercial and defense customers across the United States, Australia, Europe, Asia and South America. The company operates through four key segments: USA Shipbuilding, USA Support, Australasia Shipbuilding and Australasia Support. Its offerings span the design and construction of advanced naval and defense vessels, alongside commercial platforms including passenger ferries, vehicle passenger ferries, offshore and wind farm support vessels, and patrol boats for government law enforcement and border protection agencies, including Australian Border Force and the Royal Australian Navy. The company also develops and integrates sophisticated vessel command and control systems, including its proprietary MARINELINK integrated monitoring and control platform.
Austal has positioned itself as Australia’s largest defense exporter and a key strategic partner to both the U.S. and Australian governments, a status that underscores the significance of any potential change of ownership affecting its U.S. shipbuilding operations specifically, given the sensitive nature of American defense manufacturing and the regulatory scrutiny such transactions typically attract.
Tuesday’s gain extends what has already been a notably volatile year for Austal shares. According to Yahoo Finance, the stock has traded within a wide 52-week range spanning from $3.33 to $8.82, reflecting significant swings tied to a combination of company-specific developments and broader movements across the Australian defense and industrials sector. Austal’s total returns over the trailing 12 months stood at 31.32%, according to Yahoo Finance data, comfortably outpacing the broader S&P/ASX 200 index’s 2.15% gain over the same comparative period, even before accounting for Tuesday’s fresh jump tied to the Austal USA offer.
The stock has previously experienced other significant single-day moves this year tied to major company announcements. According to Motley Fool Australia’s coverage of the stock, Austal shares rocketed as much as 17% in a single session earlier this year following the release of an important ASX announcement, while shares separately gained more than 3% after the company’s fiscal 2026 full-year results, released in late August, despite the company reporting what was described as a challenging set of headline figures for the period.
Austal’s most recent quarterly earnings, reported Aug. 28, 2025, showed the company delivering 16 Australian cents in earnings per share, beating the consensus analyst estimate of 8 Australian cents by a wide margin, according to TipRanks. The company’s market capitalization has fluctuated significantly throughout the year alongside its share price, with figures cited across different data providers ranging from roughly $1.7 billion to more than $3 billion depending on the specific date and share count used in the calculation.
Wall Street analyst sentiment toward Austal has remained generally positive heading into Tuesday’s announcement. According to Investing.com, the average 12-month price target for the stock stood at $5.45, with a high estimate of $6.23 and a low estimate of $4.70, implying meaningful potential upside from recent trading levels even before the Austal USA offer emerged. Covering analysts have maintained an overall “Buy” rating on the stock, with JPMorgan having previously upgraded the shares to Overweight in a research note.
The identity of the bidding consortium adds an unusual dimension to Tuesday’s announcement, given that Wildcat Resources is primarily known as a mining exploration company rather than a defense or maritime industry player. The involvement of a mining-focused company leading a syndicate bidding for a major U.S. defense shipbuilding asset suggests the transaction may involve additional undisclosed partners with more direct expertise or interest in the naval shipbuilding sector, details that are likely to emerge as the proposed deal progresses through further due diligence, assuming the parties move toward a binding agreement.
Austal USA has played a significant role in supporting American naval shipbuilding capacity in recent years, operating a major shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, that has produced vessels for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, including littoral combat ships and other advanced naval platforms. Given the strategic significance of that shipbuilding capacity to U.S. national security interests, any transaction involving a change of ownership for Austal USA specifically would likely require review and approval from relevant U.S. regulatory bodies, including potentially the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, depending on the final ownership structure of the acquiring syndicate.
With Austal’s board and advisers now working through the non-binding proposal, investors will be watching closely for further updates on whether the offer advances toward a formal, binding transaction, and what specific terms might ultimately be negotiated regarding the future ownership and operational structure of Austal’s U.S. shipbuilding business. Given the scale of the proposed transaction relative to Austal’s overall market capitalization, the outcome of the due diligence process is likely to remain a significant focus for shareholders and analysts covering the stock in the weeks ahead, as the company balances the potential benefits of monetizing its U.S. operations against the strategic importance that business has held within Austal’s broader global shipbuilding portfolio.
Business
House Or Business First? A Smart Financial Guide To Building Wealth
One of the biggest financial decisions many people face is this: Should you buy a house first or start a business? There is no universal answer because every person’s financial situation, career goals, family responsibilities, and risk tolerance are different.
Some people believe that owning a home provides security and stability before taking entrepreneurial risks. Others argue that building a successful business first creates income that can later make buying a dream home much easier.
If you’re asking yourself, “Should I prioritize a house or a business?”, this guide will help you evaluate both options, understand their advantages and disadvantages, and make a smarter financial decision.
Why This Decision Matters
Both buying a house and starting a business require a significant financial commitment. In many cases, you may not have enough capital to do both at the same time.
Your choice today can influence your financial future for years, even decades. That’s why understanding the long-term impact is more important than simply following what friends or relatives recommend.
When Buying a House First Makes Sense
Purchasing a home is often viewed as a major life milestone. It provides stability and can become a valuable long-term asset.
Advantages of Buying a House First
- Stable Living Situation
You no longer worry about rising rental costs or frequent moves. - Build Home Equity
Instead of paying rent every month, your payments help build ownership in your property. - Potential Property Appreciation
Real estate often increases in value over time, especially in growing cities and developing communities. - Greater Family Security
A permanent home offers emotional stability, especially for families with children. - Easier Financial Planning
Fixed mortgage payments can be easier to budget than fluctuating rental expenses.
Disadvantages
- Large down payment requirements
- Monthly mortgage obligations
- Property taxes and maintenance costs
- Less available capital for investments
- Reduced financial flexibility
If most of your savings go toward buying a home, you may have little remaining capital to invest in business opportunities.
When Starting a Business First Makes Sense
A successful business can generate income that far exceeds what traditional employment offers. Many entrepreneurs choose to invest in their businesses first before purchasing real estate.
Advantages of Starting a Business First
- Higher Income Potential
A profitable business may generate significantly more income than your regular salary. - Creates Multiple Income Streams
Business profits can later fund investments, retirement savings, and property purchases. - Greater Financial Growth
Businesses have the potential to scale, increasing profits over time. - Tax Advantages
Depending on your country’s tax regulations, business owners may qualify for deductible business expenses. - Future Home Purchase Becomes Easier
A thriving business may allow you to purchase a home with less financial stress.
Disadvantages
- Higher financial risk
- Income may not be stable during the early years
- Long working hours
- Possible business losses
- No guarantee of success
Unlike real estate, businesses can fail if they are poorly managed or if market conditions change dramatically.
Consider Your Personal Financial Situation
Before deciding, honestly evaluate your finances.
Ask Yourself These Questions
- Do I have emergency savings?
- How stable is my current income?
- Do I have existing debts?
- Can I handle financial risks?
- Do I have dependents?
- How much capital do I have?
- Do I have entrepreneurial experience?
Your answers can reveal which option better aligns with your current financial position.
Business First: Who Is It Best For?
Starting a business before buying a house may be a good choice if you:
- Are young and have fewer financial obligations
- Already have a validated business idea
- Possess industry knowledge or experience
- Can tolerate financial uncertainty
- Want to build wealth faster
- Already have affordable housing arrangements
Many successful entrepreneurs rented modest homes while investing heavily in growing their businesses.
House First: Who Is It Best For?
Buying a house first may be more appropriate if you:
- Have a growing family
- Need housing stability
- Prefer lower financial risk
- Have a steady long-term career
- Already have sufficient savings
- Do not yet have a proven business concept
Can You Do Both?
Yes—but it requires careful planning.
Instead of making an all-or-nothing decision, many financially successful individuals gradually build both assets.
For example:
- Build an emergency fund.
- Start a small side business.
- Grow business profits.
- Save for a house down payment.
- Purchase a home when business income becomes stable.
This balanced approach reduces financial stress while allowing both goals to progress.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Buying an Expensive House Too Early
A large mortgage can limit your ability to invest in opportunities that could grow your wealth.
2. Starting a Business Without Research
Never invest simply because others are doing it. Conduct market research and prepare a business plan.
3. Ignoring Emergency Savings
Unexpected expenses happen. Maintain at least three to six months of living expenses before making major financial commitments.
4. Depending on Debt
Borrow responsibly. Excessive debt can create financial pressure whether you buy a home or start a business.
Questions to Help You Decide
Consider these practical questions:
- Will this investment generate income?
- Can I comfortably afford the monthly payments?
- What happens if my income decreases?
- Am I financially prepared for unexpected emergencies?
- Will this decision improve my financial future?
The Best Strategy for Long-Term Wealth
For many people, the smartest strategy isn’t choosing one forever—it is choosing the right priority at the right stage of life.
If you have a profitable business opportunity with strong potential, investing in that business first could create the income needed to buy a better home later.
If your family urgently needs stability and your finances are secure, purchasing a home first may provide peace of mind while you slowly build a business on the side.
The key is avoiding decisions based solely on emotion or social pressure. Your financial goals should reflect your own circumstances—not someone else’s timeline.
So, should you buy a house first or start a business?
The answer depends on your income, financial stability, family responsibilities, risk tolerance, and long-term goals.
If your objective is maximizing wealth, many financial experts encourage investing in income-producing assets before acquiring lifestyle assets. A successful business can eventually pay for the home you truly want.
However, if stability, security, and family needs are your highest priorities, buying a home first may be the better decision.
Ultimately, the best investment is the one that moves you closer to financial freedom while allowing you to sleep peacefully at night.
Take time to evaluate your options, create a realistic financial plan, and remember that building wealth is a marathon—not a sprint.
Business
Learner drivers still waiting 20 weeks to book tests
Learner drivers have to wait an average 20 weeks before booking a practical test, according to new figures, despite attempts to reduce delays.
The data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for August is only a marginal improvement from an 20.2 weeks in July.
The average wait time between booking and sitting a test is unchanged at 11.1 weeks.
The DVSA initially had a target of reducing the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of last year. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander pushed the target back to summer 2026, but admitted even that would not be possible.
Business
Qualcomm Shares Surge Up To 10% On Multi-Year Amazon AI Chip Deal Worth Up To $60 Billion Signed
SAN DIEGO — Qualcomm Inc. shares surged as much as 10% Tuesday after the company announced a multi-generational collaboration with Amazon to build customized silicon and advanced connectivity solutions for Amazon Web Services’ rapidly expanding artificial intelligence data center infrastructure, marking one of the chipmaker’s most significant moves yet into the AI infrastructure market.
Qualcomm Technologies said it will work with Amazon across multiple generations of customized silicon to support AWS’s AI infrastructure, with an initial focus on AI inference workloads, the process of running already-trained AI models efficiently at scale. The companies will also jointly develop high-performance optical connectivity solutions, including interconnects supporting speeds up to 1.6 terabits per second, drawing on Qualcomm’s advanced SerDes and optical DSP technologies to address growing bandwidth bottlenecks within AWS data centers.
Qualcomm President and CEO Cristiano Amon framed the partnership as a direct response to the accelerating infrastructure demands of the AI industry.
“As AI demand accelerates, data center infrastructure will require advances in both computing and connectivity to deliver greater performance with more efficiency,” Amon said. “Qualcomm is pleased to work with AWS on customized silicon and connectivity solutions, bringing decades of leadership in advanced processing and power-efficient compute, to deliver breakthrough performance and enable the next generation of AI infrastructure.”
AWS Vice President Prasad Kalyanaraman echoed that framing from Amazon’s side of the partnership.
“This collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies builds on a strong foundation of partnership and reflects our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” Kalyanaraman said. “By working together on customized silicon and advanced connectivity, we’re delivering more performant, efficient, and cost-effective infrastructure for our customers.”
As part of the expanded relationship, Qualcomm also said it plans to deepen its own use of AWS’s AI infrastructure, including Amazon Bedrock, specifically for electronic design automation workloads tied to chip design, with the goal of shortening its own internal chip development cycles.
The financial terms of the deal include a significant equity component. According to CNBC, Qualcomm issued Amazon a warrant to acquire up to 25 million shares of Qualcomm common stock at an exercise price of $161.26, a stake worth approximately $4 billion at that price. According to TipRanks, the warrant can be exercised without any cash payment and remains valid until 2036, with shares vesting in stages tied to Amazon signing commercial deals, placing firm orders, and purchasing Qualcomm’s server chips and related technology and services, up to a total cap of $60 billion.
Wall Street’s reaction to the announcement was immediate and pronounced. Qualcomm shares jumped as much as 9% to 10% in Tuesday trading, according to multiple reports, marking one of the stock’s largest single-day gains in months and adding roughly $9 billion to the company’s market value in a single session. The move came even as the broader market traded lower, with the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust down 0.47% during the same session, underscoring the deal-specific nature of Qualcomm’s rally.
The rally proved significant in the context of Qualcomm’s broader 2026 stock performance. According to 247wallst.com, Qualcomm shares had been up just 5% year to date heading into Tuesday’s session, meaning the single day’s gain accounted for essentially all of the stock’s advance for the year up to that point. By comparison, the broader PHLX Semiconductor Index had climbed 68% over the same period, leaving Qualcomm notably behind many of its chip industry peers before Tuesday’s announcement helped narrow that performance gap.
Rival chipmaker Broadcom, which has its own established custom AI silicon relationship with several major hyperscale cloud providers, also saw its shares tick higher on the news, rising roughly 3% in a “read-through” reaction reflecting broader investor enthusiasm for the custom AI silicon category as a whole. Amazon shares, meanwhile, traded roughly flat to slightly lower following the announcement, a muted reaction analysts attributed to the deal being read primarily as a Qualcomm growth story rather than a material development for Amazon’s own results.
The Qualcomm-Amazon partnership extends AWS’s broader custom-chip strategy beyond its existing in-house Trainium AI processors and its established relationship with incumbent supplier Broadcom, adding a third major silicon partner to Amazon’s AI infrastructure roadmap. According to AOL’s reporting, AWS’s total infrastructure backlog stood at $496 billion, with Amazon on pace to double its power capacity by the end of 2027 compared with 2025, underscoring the scale of demand driving the company’s search for additional silicon suppliers. AWS revenue reached $42.2 billion in Amazon’s most recent quarterly report, up 36.7% year over year, marking the segment’s fastest growth rate in 18 quarters and reflecting an annualized revenue run rate of $169 billion.
The deal marks Qualcomm’s second major hyperscale cloud partnership disclosed this year, following the company’s earlier unveiling of its Dragonfly C1000 data center processor in June, a chip Qualcomm has said Meta Platforms plans to deploy in production starting in 2028. Qualcomm has set a target of reaching $15 billion in data center revenue by fiscal 2029 as part of its broader strategic pivot beyond its traditional smartphone chip business, even as that pivot comes with lower gross margins on custom silicon compared with the company’s historical mobile chip business, alongside a roughly 20% decline in handset revenue that has continued weighing on Qualcomm’s overall results.
With the Amazon partnership now formally announced and Qualcomm’s market capitalization sitting near $189.7 billion, well below Broadcom’s roughly $1.755 trillion valuation, investors and analysts are likely to continue closely tracking how quickly the newly announced collaboration translates into concrete revenue for Qualcomm, given that Tuesday’s stock surge reflects considerable optimism about the deal’s long-term potential even before any meaningful near-term financial impact has materialized.
Business
THC drinks affected as Congress delays hemp ban
THC beverages for sale at Urban Flower, a CBD and THC dispensary in Houston, Texas, Oct. 28, 2022.
Elizabeth Conley | Houston Chronicle | Hearst Newspapers | Getty Images
Erica Fabian says THC-infused drinks have become an alcohol alternative that have made a profound difference in her family.
“Drinking [alcohol] is not healthy for both myself and my husband,” said Fabian, a business owner and military spouse.
Her husband, a retired 20-year Navy SEAL veteran with severe post-traumatic stress disorder, has found THC beverages particularly helpful, she said.
“It’s an actual game-changer,” Fabian said. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
But now, uncertainty around the category is creating concerns that it could become harder to get those beverages. Congress this week once again pushed off a federal crackdown on hemp-derived THC products, which companies have sold for years through an existing legal loophole even though recreational cannabis use remains illegal at the federal level.
The House on Tuesday passed a stopgap spending measure that, in addition to keeping the U.S. government funded, delays new federal restrictions on hemp-derived THC products from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11. The measure buys the hemp industry another month to persuade lawmakers to create a regulatory framework to allow the continued sale of those products rather than ban them.
The stakes are growing as consumer demand booms. THC beverages generated $239 million in measured U.S. retail sales in the 52 weeks through April, up 135% from a year earlier, according to NielsenIQ. The data tracked more than 1,170 products across more than 200 brands.
Though the drinks are legal for now, the prospect of a ban has already affected beverage makers.
Jake Bullock is the CEO of THC beverage maker Cann, which he said has become the top-selling THC drink at Target and the No. 2 nonalcoholic beverage at Sprouts. He said the company is seeing record sales to retailers, but a sharp pullback from wholesalers who are trying to avoid being stuck with inventory if Congress bans the product.
“Our distributors should be buying more from us, but they’re not,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joe Gerrity, CEO and co-founder of hemp beverage manufacturer Crescent Canna, said his company has already laid off half of its employees because of how congressional inaction has affected the business this year.
Congress approved a measure as part of its government funding bill in November 2025, initially giving companies until this November to comply with new restrictions on intoxicating hemp products that had been allowed under the 2018 farm bill.
“Nine months after passing a bill that would kill tens of thousands of small businesses, Congress has come together and done something tremendous — given themselves an additional month to solve a problem that they created” Gerrity said.
“I want to celebrate, but it shouldn’t take an army of lobbyists and tens of millions of dollars for Congress to protect small businesses from Congress,” he added.
Other, smaller brands face a potential supply-chain squeeze on the horizon.
For now, retailers can keep selling the drinks and consumers can continue buying them, but distributors may become increasingly reluctant to replenish inventory while Congress debates the category’s future.
“Many distributors are requiring documentation stipulating manufacturers will take back and reimburse them financially for any product unable to be sold due to regulatory changes,” said Gerrity. “This is an unprecedented situation, and nobody wants to get left holding the bag.”
Bullock said Cann is making a bet that Congress will reach an agreement on regulation, and is building inventory in anticipation of continued demand.
High rise for THC beverages
Many consumers have found THC-infused beverages to be a welcome alternative to alcohol, in particular because they contain lower levels of the psychoactive compound than traditional marijuana products do. The industry’s opponents in Congress, however, argue that uncertainty around the safety of the relatively new beverages makes a ban the safest option.
Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., has been among the leading House Republicans pushing to bar hemp products from being sold, arguing that intoxicating hemp products are unregulated and pose risks to children.
The debate extends beyond hemp-derived beverages to other intoxicating products sold under the hemp label.
Other critics in Congress have focused on products that can be inhaled and high-potency candy products, as well as the lack of THC caps and testing requirements for those products. They have also expressed concerns about items containing synthetic cannabinoids.
Bullock, however, said the beverage industry’s goal isn’t to preserve a regulatory vacuum, but rather set up new rules governing the products similar to the alcohol industry.
“We’re winning against an abolishing argument,” he said, adding that Congress is “not worried” about drinks containing lower-milligram dosages of THC.
Every time Congress extends the deadline, businesses question how much product they should make for distributors, making it hard for them to plan ahead, Bullock said.
For consumers like Fabian who can see the beverages as both a recreational and wellness option, the stakes are more immediate.
“If there is a responsible way to regulate it, I absolutely think that is the way to go,” she said.
Business
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
When flights are delayed or cancelled, UK and EU airlines, and other carriers when you are departing a UK or EU airport, have a duty to look after you.
The reason for the delay or cancellation does not matter. So anyone affected by the air transport delays will be eligible.
That includes providing meals and accommodation, if necessary, and getting you to your destination. The airline should organise putting you on an alternative flight, at no extra cost.
Additional losses, such as unused accommodation, might require a claim to a credit card provider, if that was the payment option used.
After that, a claim may need to go to your travel insurance provider. But there is no standard definition of what is covered.
It may require a close look at the details of the policy to see what is covered, and in which circumstances.
Passengers are also being urged to heed travel advice from the UK government, external, as this can also affect travel insurance rights.
Business
Warmest summer on record: mixed fortunes for traders
The UK’s warmest summer on record has produced mixed results for businesses in south-west England and the Channel Islands, with some traders reporting higher visitor numbers and stronger demand for food and drink, while others say prolonged dry conditions cut output.
Provisional Met Office figures put the mean temperature for June, July and August at 16.5C (61.7F), the highest in a series stretching back to 1884. The Met Office said on 1 September that the figure was 1.9C above the 1991-2020 average and beat the previous record of 16.1C set in 2025, according to its summer 2026 statement. Rainfall over the three months was 195.4mm, 77 per cent of the seasonal average.
Meteorologists in Jersey and Guernsey confirmed both islands had their warmest summers on record, with average temperatures of 20.5C (68.9F) in Jersey and 18.9C (66.2F) in Guernsey.
The Avon Inn in Avonwick, Devon, reported a rise in trade after adding more outdoor seating. Manager Eda Iannone said the pub had seen “a fantastic summer for footfall”.
“We took a lot more bookings and we put a lot more outside events on with confidence, knowing that with the UK being weather dependent, they would go well,” she said.
Not every seasonal business gained from the heat. Christian Hocking, of ice cream seller Hocking’s in Appledore, Devon, said trade had been steady but customers were choosing water over ice cream because the heat suppressed appetite. “When it gets too hot, it does actually gets too hot for ice cream,” he said.
Separately, analysis by the thinktank Verdant put lost UK output from repeated heatwaves at £4.4bn by the end of July, citing reduced worker productivity and equipment shutdowns.
Guernsey Dairy said dry spells and high temperatures affected milk volumes from local farms, although supplies remained sufficient to meet daily demand across the island. Operations director Andrew Tabel said: “Our local dairy farmers and production teams have worked incredibly hard throughout this prolonged period of hot and dry weather.”
Rocquette Cider in Guernsey expects its apple harvest to be about 80 per cent lower than normal as a result of the hot weather. Manager James Miller described the outlook as “appalling”.
“The grass is very dry, we haven’t had to mow the grass at all,” Miller said. “The trees have been suffering, I think the only moisture they’ve been getting is from morning dew.”
He added: “Last year we had a good harvest, so we have a lot of cider stored which will carry us through, but two bad years would be devastating.”
The cider maker’s experience follows warnings from the Food and Drink Federation that drought will push up food prices into 2027, and a move by NatWest to offer repayment holidays to farming customers hit by reduced yields.
Tina Bessell of Cornish Lavender, based between St Agnes and Perranporth, said the heat produced a “fantastic” oil yield, although visitor numbers to the site fell on the hottest days. “The farm has loved the heat,” Bessell said. “I think I must be the only farmer in the South West that is happy with the heat.”
The National Trust for Jersey said extreme weather was affecting St Ouen’s Pond, where low water levels and algal growth are threatening a habitat used by migrating birds.
“Normally at this time of year we’d have all sorts of visitors like green sandpipers, curlews and we’ve had spoonbills visit us at this time of year before,” said Jon Parks of the trust. “They’re all looking for that wetland habitat, a chance to feed and there’s no water there, there isn’t that opportunity unfortunately.”
Parks said extreme summers were a “major contributing factor” to the problems at the pond, but stressed they were not the only cause.
Business
(VIDEO) BABYMONSTER Hits 10 Billion YouTube Views, But What Does That Number Actually Measure?
SEOUL — ‘s official YouTube channel surpassed 10 billion cumulative views on Sept. 3, according to an announcement from label YG Entertainment, making the seven-member K-pop group the second girl group in history to reach the milestone after labelmate BLACKPINK. But the achievement, while genuine, raises a broader question about what a YouTube view count actually measures, and why crossing round numbers of them has become one of the K-pop industry’s most reliable public relations moments.
YG said the group’s channel, launched in December 2022, reached the 10-billion mark roughly three years and eight months after its debut, making BABYMONSTER the fastest K-pop girl group ever to hit the threshold on a single official channel. Independent tracking service Social Blade confirmed the channel had crossed the mark by the following day. Among the group’s most-watched releases are “SHEESH,” with approximately 410 million views, “DRIP,” with 400 million, and debut single “BATTER UP,” with 340 million, while 17 total videos on the channel have now surpassed 100 million views apiece.
YG had signaled the approaching milestone well in advance. On Aug. 21, the label announced that BABYMONSTER’s channel had reached 13 million subscribers and 9.88 billion views, describing the group as “within reach” of the 10-billion mark and crediting the figures to what it called “the strength of their global fandom.” When the milestone officially arrived less than two weeks later, YG returned to similar language, describing the group as a “global top-tier artist.”
That pattern of pre-announcing an approaching threshold before formally confirming it is relatively unusual within the industry. A review of 33 YouTube milestone announcements from YG, HYBE-affiliated labels, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and P Nation spanning 2018 to 2026 found that turning a view-count threshold into a press moment is a routine, recurring practice across the industry’s largest agencies, with roughly half of those announcements using language like “fastest,” “first” or “record” to frame the number as evidence of an artist’s global reach. Similar milestone announcements have accompanied BTS crossing seven and eight individual music videos surpassing 1 billion views each, TWICE surpassing 24 videos above 100 million views, and RIIZE’s channel reaching 1 billion total views at what SM described as the fastest pace among fifth-generation boy groups. But among that broader sample, advance notice of an approaching milestone, the way YG handled BABYMONSTER’s case in August, appeared only once elsewhere, with most agency announcements instead framed retrospectively after a threshold has already been crossed.
The practice is not unique to K-pop. Western labels have run comparable campaigns tied to round-number thresholds, including Adele’s “Hello,” which set a Guinness World Record as the fastest video to reach 1 billion views in 2016, and various billion-view milestones tied to Ed Sheeran’s catalog around the same period.
Beyond the marketing pattern, the underlying measurement itself has recently shifted in ways that complicate direct comparisons across different milestones. Until Aug. 24, a long-form YouTube video generally needed roughly 30 seconds of watch time before a view registered under the platform’s standard counting method. As of that date, YouTube began counting a view the moment playback starts, across long-form videos, Shorts and livestreams alike, a change that brought long-form content in line with the instant-count standard Shorts had already used since March 2025. The older, stricter standard did not disappear entirely; YouTube retained it as a separate metric now labeled “engaged views.” Because BABYMONSTER’s channel consists primarily of long-form music videos, its total is now tallied under the newer, looser counting rule, a change that took effect roughly 10 days before the group’s 10-billion announcement. There is no indication the rule change caused or meaningfully accelerated the group reaching the milestone, but it does mean that BABYMONSTER’s 10-billion milestone and earlier view-count records set by other artists were technically counted under somewhat different underlying standards.
YouTube maintains several other audience metrics that are frequently conflated with a simple view count but measure something different. The platform’s internal analytics tools separately estimate unique viewers for a given channel, though that figure is rarely the one publicized in milestone announcements. YouTube Music also now publishes a “Monthly Audience” figure for individual artist channels, an estimate of unique users who watched or listened to an artist’s content across the platform over the preceding month, a number specifically designed to answer how many people engaged with an artist rather than how many total views accumulated.
A raw view count differs meaningfully from the kind of audited or sampled figures used in industries like television, film and retail, where actual revenue often depends on distinguishing total activity from distinct individual audience members. K-pop has developed its own parallel measurement ecosystem to address that gap, including Hanteo Chart and Circle Chart, which track physical album sales through point-of-sale purchases and retailer shipments respectively, and newer platforms like K-Pop Radar, a self-described fandom data observatory launched in 2019 that aggregates activity across YouTube, Instagram, Spotify and other platforms. K-Pop Radar’s parent company, Space Oddity, was acquired in May by data firm BIGC, which said the deal would combine more than 1.3 billion fan data points into a platform intended to serve markets beyond Korea. None of these separate measurement systems, however, add up to a single, universally accepted popularity score for any given artist.
Despite the limitations of a raw view count as a precise measurement tool, the number continues to serve a specific and effective function for both labels and fans. Unlike a more precise metric such as unique viewers, a raw view count moves every time a fan replays a video, giving audiences a direct, tangible way to participate in a number’s growth simply by rewatching content they already enjoy. That participatory quality helps explain why labels continue prioritizing and publicizing view-count milestones over more sophisticated internal audience data they likely already possess but rarely share publicly, since a large, climbing number offers something both a company and its fan base can watch rise together in real time. Ten billion views does not tell the complete story of BABYMONSTER’s overall popularity, but it does make a portion of the group’s audience attention publicly visible, in a form the group’s global fan base helped generate and can continue to watch grow.
Business
Hinton urges UK AI ban
Geoffrey Hinton, the Nobel Prize winner known as the godfather of artificial intelligence, has called on the government to prohibit the development of superintelligent AI systems, warning that losing control of them could be “catastrophic” for humanity.
His comments accompanied the publication of the UK Artificial Superintelligence Security Bill, a private member’s bill due to be presented in parliament on 8 September. The bill was drafted by the campaign organisation ControlAI and is proposed by the Labour MP Alex Sobel.
Hinton, whose work on neural networks helped to launch modern AI research, argued there was currently no way for companies to safely develop “superintelligence”, an artificial system whose intelligence far exceeds that of humans.
“We would be very foolish to develop superintelligence now, when there is no scientific consensus it can be developed safely and controllably,” Hinton said. “Losing control over AI smarter than ourselves could be catastrophic and could even lead to human extinction.”
What the bill proposes
The bill would prohibit the development of superintelligent AI in Britain and require the government to “monitor and restrict” possible precursors. It would also commit the government to seeking an international agreement on the prohibition of superintelligence.
ControlAI claims to have the support of more than 100 MPs and peers from various parties.
Sir Stuart Russell, a computer science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of the most widely used textbook on AI, argued that legislation was necessary to prohibit the development of superintelligence.
“Certain companies, for private gain, are intending to develop and deploy technology that they assert has a significant chance of causing human extinction. Humanity has not given its permission for this absurd form of Russian roulette, and governments should respond accordingly,” he said.
AI agents ‘going rogue’
Concerns about the development of ever more powerful AI models have intensified in recent weeks after a series of high-profile examples of AI agents “going rogue”.
In July OpenAI said that its agents had escaped their testing environment and autonomously hacked Hugging Face, a major repository of AI models and software that Nvidia has since agreed to buy for $12.93bn.
A report into the incident by the ChatGPT maker and Metr, an AI research company, showed that more than 1,200 agents, which had been isolated during testing, started communicating with each other through an “unsanctioned message board”. More than 70,000 messages were sent, enabling 700 agents to co-ordinate an attack on Hugging Face. One message said: “OH MY GOD! There is a shared message board … We’ve found other agents!”
In its account of the incident, OpenAI said: “We consider this incident a ‘warning shot’ for us and for the world: evidence that, without proper safeguards, highly capable AI agents are now able to work around technical controls, collaborate through unapproved channels and take dangerous actions that no human directed.”
The company released its most advanced model, Astra, on 3 September. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president, said the model was so capable that it was “not unreasonable to feel that we are now in the AGI [artificial general intelligence] era”, as Business Matters reported when OpenAI launched Astra.
Other companies, including Anthropic and Meta, revealed that their latest models had bypassed security guardrails during testing and autonomously hacked into third parties.
While many AI companies have spoken about the need to proceed cautiously with the development of more powerful models, they have also warned about the challenges of slowing down development without global co-operation.
This year Sir Demis Hassabis, the British technology entrepreneur behind Google DeepMind, called for a United States-led global watchdog to test the most advanced models and co-ordinate a slowdown in their development if necessary.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology was approached for comment.
Business
Investing in Indonesia’s Renewable Energy Sector: A Market Entry Guide for Foreign Investors
Indonesia is expanding renewable energy investments to meet rising demand, enhance energy security, and achieve decarbonization goals, creating opportunities for foreign investors across infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy industries.
Growth in Indonesia’s Renewable Energy Sector
Indonesia is rapidly advancing its renewable energy investments to meet increasing electricity demand and enhance energy security. With substantial renewable resources and a growing pipeline of large-scale projects, the country is opening up investment opportunities across the renewable energy value chain. The focus is on integrating clean energy to help achieve long-term decarbonization goals. This examination highlights the commercial opportunities available to foreign investors and explores the regulatory considerations for entering Indonesia’s renewable energy market.
Government Plans and Renewable Targets
In response to climbing electricity needs and environmental objectives, Indonesia’s government has expanded its renewable energy initiatives. Through PLN’s 2025-2034 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL), the government plans for 42.6 GW of renewable capacity, constituting about 61% of new generation. Noteworthy allocations include 17.1 GW for solar power, 11.7 GW for hydropower, and significant targets for wind, geothermal, and bioenergy. These initiatives underscore the country’s commitment to expanding its clean energy footprint.
Investment Opportunities and Infrastructure Development
Private investment is pivotal in realizing Indonesia’s renewable ambitions, with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) anticipated to develop 73% of the planned capacity. Investments are also flowing into downstream nickel processing, electric vehicle manufacturing, and industrial decarbonization. Such expansions necessitate robust investments in energy infrastructure, including 10.3 GW of energy storage and extensive transmission networks. International cooperation, such as with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, is key in advancing projects like smart grids, enhancing Indonesia’s energy landscape and presenting lucrative business opportunities.
Entering Indonesia’s Renewable Energy Market: A Guide for International Investors
Indonesia’s renewable energy sector presents significant opportunities for foreign investors, driven by the country’s abundant natural resources and government initiatives towards sustainability. With ambitious targets to increase renewable energy’s share in the national energy mix, Indonesia is focusing on solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower projects. The government offers various incentives, including tax breaks and simplified licensing processes, making the landscape increasingly attractive for international stakeholders.
Investing in this sector involves understanding local regulations and market dynamics. Partnering with local firms can provide valuable insights and facilitate smoother entry. Due diligence on regulatory compliance, market forecasts, and potential risks is crucial. Effective engagement with local communities and stakeholders helps in navigating socio-cultural nuances, ensuring long-term project success and sustainability.
Read the original article : Investing in Indonesia’s Renewable Energy Sector: A Market Entry Guide for Foreign Investors
Business
Physiotherapy in Brampton: Restore Mobility, Relieve Pain, Live Better
Pain and limited mobility can affect much more than your physical health. A sore back can make it difficult to work, an injured knee can interfere with exercise, and persistent neck or shoulder pain can make everyday activities uncomfortable. When these problems begin affecting your quality of life, professional physiotherapy in Brampton can provide a structured approach to recovery.
CBR Physio Rehab Inc. offers personalized physiotherapy and rehabilitation for people dealing with injuries, chronic pain, mobility limitations, and a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. With individualized treatment plans and one-on-one care, the clinic focuses on helping patients improve movement, strength, and physical function.
Personalized Physiotherapy in Brampton
Every patient has different needs. The cause of pain, physical condition, lifestyle, and recovery goals can all influence the type of treatment that may be appropriate.
At CBR Physio Rehab Inc., registered and licensed physiotherapists assess each patient’s condition and develop a personalized treatment approach. Rather than relying on the same treatment for everyone, physiotherapy is adapted according to the patient’s symptoms, limitations, and rehabilitation goals.
Treatment may combine hands-on manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, movement education, and other techniques designed to support recovery and improve function.
Relieve Pain and Improve Everyday Movement
Pain can gradually affect the way you move. You may begin avoiding certain activities, changing your posture, or relying on other parts of your body to compensate. Over time, these changes can contribute to additional stiffness, weakness, or movement difficulties.
Physiotherapy focuses on more than temporary comfort. A rehabilitation program can help address movement limitations while gradually improving strength, flexibility, balance, and physical function.
Whether you are experiencing back pain, neck pain, shoulder discomfort, or problems affecting your knees, hips, ankles, or other areas, a professional assessment can help determine an appropriate treatment plan and a chiropractor in Brampton.
Physiotherapy for Back and Neck Pain
Back and neck pain are common reasons people seek physiotherapy. Sitting for long periods, repetitive activities, poor movement patterns, injuries, and other physical factors can contribute to discomfort.
Physiotherapy treatment may include manual therapy, mobility exercises, strengthening exercises, posture education, and other rehabilitation techniques. The specific approach depends on the patient’s assessment and individual condition.
The goal is to help patients move more comfortably and confidently while improving their ability to perform everyday activities.
Sports Injury Rehabilitation
Staying active is important, but sports and exercise can sometimes result in sprains, tendon problems, muscle injuries, and overuse conditions.
A properly designed rehabilitation program can help restore mobility and strength following an injury. Physiotherapy may also help patients gradually rebuild coordination, balance, and confidence before returning to their normal activities.
CBR Physio Rehab Inc. provides treatment for a variety of sports and activity-related conditions, including ankle sprains, Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, knee problems, and other injuries.
Physiotherapy After a Motor Vehicle Accident
A motor vehicle accident can result in injuries involving the neck, back, shoulders, muscles, and joints. Symptoms may include stiffness, pain, headaches, reduced mobility, or difficulty performing normal activities.
CBR Physio Rehab provides rehabilitation for motor vehicle accident-related injuries. Treatment may include functional assessment, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, posture and ergonomic education, and progressive rehabilitation based on the patient’s condition.
Getting an appropriate assessment can help establish a structured plan for returning to normal movement and daily activities.
Workplace Injury and WSIB Rehabilitation
Work-related injuries can make it difficult to perform your regular job duties. Repetitive strain, lifting injuries, falls, and other workplace incidents may result in pain or reduced physical function.
Physiotherapy can support recovery by addressing pain, weakness, mobility restrictions, and functional limitations. CBR Physio Rehab provides physiotherapy services for WSIB-related injuries and supports patients throughout their rehabilitation process.
A personalized program can focus on improving physical function and helping patients progress toward their everyday and work-related activities.
Comprehensive Physiotherapy Treatment
Depending on your condition, physiotherapy treatment at CBR Physio Rehab may include manual therapy and joint mobilization, individualized exercise programs, therapeutic modalities, postural and biomechanical assessment, workplace ergonomic assessment, and taping, strapping, or bracing when appropriate.
This combination allows treatment to be adjusted as your condition changes and your physical abilities improve.
Why Choose CBR Physio Rehab in Brampton?
Choosing the right physiotherapy clinic in Brampton means finding professionals who understand your individual needs and provide a treatment plan suited to your recovery goals.
CBR Physio Rehab Inc. provides one-on-one care through registered and licensed physiotherapists. The clinic focuses on personalized rehabilitation, hands-on treatment, exercise-based recovery, and patient education and Massage Therapy in Brampton.
The clinic also offers chiropractic care, massage therapy, orthotics, compression stockings, and braces, providing patients with access to several rehabilitation and wellness services in one location.
CBR Physio Rehab also offers direct billing with most insurance companies and works with various coverage types, including extended health benefits, WSIB, motor vehicle accident claims, and IFHP.
Restore Mobility and Live Better
You should not have to let pain or limited mobility control your daily routine. Whether you are recovering from an injury, managing ongoing discomfort, or trying to regain strength and movement after an accident, professional physiotherapy can help you take a structured approach to rehabilitation.
If you are searching for physiotherapy in Brampton, CBR Physio Rehab Inc. provides personalized care for a wide range of conditions and rehabilitation needs.
Located at 227 Vodden St E #33, Brampton, Ontario L6V 1N2, the clinic is ready to help you work toward better movement, improved physical function, and a more active everyday life.
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