Black Bear, Artists Equity and Zellweger’s Big Picture Co. are teaming on Julia Cox’s film as Ben Affleck calls it “a moving, gripping exploration of a complex family dynamic with something lurking beneath the surface.”
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One Nation gains its first seat in the lower house, in a by-election seen as a key test for the populist party.
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The house created the kind of boredom and stillness that forced me to create worlds out of rocks, sun, and sea—worlds that have stayed in much of my work and consciousness.
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Plus: Meta officially kills encrypted Instagram DMs, the Trump administration targets “violent left wing extremists,” leaked documents reveal Russia’s school for elite hackers, and more.
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General Motors (GM) agreed to pay $12.75m to resolve claims that it illegally sold hundreds of thousands of Californians’ location and driving data to two data brokers, said the state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta, on Friday. He said this came after the Detroit-based automaker had given “numerous statements reassuring drivers that it would not do so”.
“General Motors sold the data of California drivers without their knowledge or consent,” Bonta said in a statement. “This trove of information included precise and personal location data that could identify the everyday habits and movements of Californians.”
The $12.75m settlement, which is subject to court approval, is for civil penalties. The state is also restricting GM’s use of consumer-driving data and instituting a five-year ban on such data being sold to any data broker.
Once the precise location of a vehicle is revealed, all sorts of sensitive information can be gleaned, including where people live, work, go to school or church. When that data makes its way into the data broker industry, it can be nearly impossible for consumers to control how it’s spread.
“Modern cars are rolling data-collection machines,” said Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco’s district attorney. “Californians must have confidence that they know what data is being collected, how it is being used and what their opt-out rights are. Those duties fall on the automobile companies.”
Carmakers have been increasingly scrutinized in recent years over their ability to access driver data and share it with insurance companies and data brokers. The New York Times investigated GM and other automakers in 2024, looking into how consumers’ driving behavior was shared with insurers. The news outlet found that some companies raised their rates based on this data.
California first started investigating GM and other car manufacturers in 2023. The inquiry was done in conjunction with several district attorneys across the state, including Jenkins, and the California privacy protection agency.
The lawmakers found that from 2020 to 2024, GM had sold the names, contact information, geolocation data and driving-behavior data of hundreds of thousands of Californians to the data brokers Verisk Analytics and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The company collected the data through its OnStar technology, which is its in-vehicle security subscription service. GM reportedly made approximately $20m from these sales.
Bonta said California drivers would not see increased insurance premiums from GM’s sales because insurers were prohibited from using driving data to set their rates in the state. But Bonta added that GM misled consumers for saying in its privacy policy that it would not sell driving or location data, and then handed it over to data brokers anyway without consumers’ consent.
GM didn’t immediately return request for a comment.
And just like that, Mother’s Day is tomorrow, May 10th, which is too soon for most online purchases to arrive in time. That said, you aren’t alone if you waited too long to pick up a gift this year, and you definitely aren’t alone in feeling guilty for considering digital gifts instead of something your mom can unwrap. But here’s the thing: digital gifts can still unlock memorable experiences, be it movies, games, or music. They can also let your mom choose exactly what she wants, making them both convenient and versatile.
Below, we’ve curated a list of some of the best digital goodies that folks at The Verge have used or gifted. The list is curated by interests, too, so you can find the perfect present whether your mom is into the arts, exercise, or something else entirely. That way, you’ll at least be able to gift something more thoughtful than an Amazon or Walmart gift card — even if those are still totally viable options in our book.
Whether your mom is a movie buff or an avid sports fan, there are a number of subscriptions that’ll grant her access to a wide range of content. Below are some of the most popular, as well as a few catered toward anime diehards, horror lovers, and those looking for something more niche.
If you’re not sure which type of games your mom prefers, you can gift her an Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo subscription. Not only will these memberships grant them access to free digital games, but they also include perks such as online multiplayer and cloud saves, among other incentives.
Is your mom in dire need of a screen break? Fortunately, the internet is filled with travel-oriented gifts, ranging from the obvious — like airline gift cards — to national park passes.
For health and wellness enthusiasts, many services offer a wealth of streamable fitness classes to help them get fit at home. Other gifts can help your giftee practice self-care and lighten their load with meditation or massage. Below, we’ve listed out a range of options that’ll help your mom take care of both her body and mind.
Whether mom is a diehard foodie, a wine connoisseur, or a caffeine addict, the internet is filled with subscriptions and gift cards for all types. Below are just a few of our favorites.
Whether your mom is a musician or just loves to unwind with music, there are plenty of digital gifts catered toward her interests. We all know about Spotify gift cards (Best Buy), but there are also other streaming services that you can gift as a subscription, some of which we’ve highlighted below.
Obviously, you could just gift a bibliophile a book, and they’d probably be happy. But what if you want to give them more than one option? In that case, a gift card to her favorite bookstore or a subscription to something like Kindle Unlimited — which grants members access to millions of ebooks and select audiobooks — is a good idea. That said, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite alternatives below.
Movie buffs and bibliophiles are easy to shop for, but what do you get the creative mom? It’s actually not that hard — just buy her something to help her create, whether that’s an online course or access to a new tool. Below are a few subscriptions and gift cards that creators will love, all of which you can buy at the last minute.
Chelsea Blackmore saves up every year for an annual vacation with her 58-year-old mother. This year, after landing an especially good deal, they made plans to embark on a Disney cruise from Orlando.
To keep costs low, she bought the least expensive plane tickets she could find: a $500 round trip fare on Spirit Airlines.
Soaring oil prices have left many Americans with higher ticket prices and fewer options for summer travel amid the economic maelstrom brought on by the war in Iran. Typically, budget airlines offer travelers like Blackmore base-fare tickets that can make travel more affordable during financially unstable times.
But last Saturday, Blackmore opened up the airline’s app and was faced with a pop-up message announcing Spirit was shutting down operations and her flight was cancelled.
“I cried for about five hours trying to search for new flights,” said Blackmore, 35, a photographer and travel agent based in Massachusetts.
Travel experts say the demise of Spirit is just a harbinger of the chaos higher energy prices will bring this summer. From drivers to flyers, all travelers are expected to feel the squeeze.
“Spirit is, in many ways, emblematic of what most Americans are feeling right now – which is a real gut punch around increasing energy costs and gas prices in particular,” said Lindsay Owens, the executive director of Groundwork Collaborative, a left-leaning economic thinktank. “We’re all Spirit Airlines, when it comes to feeling really distressed and worried about high gas prices.”
US oil prices have jumped more than 30% since the closing of the strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil and gas products typically pass through, at the start of the war. Prices at the pump have reached highs not seen since 2022, when the Russia-Ukraine war crippled the global supply of oil. The current national average gas price is $4.56 a gallon, more than $1 a gallon more expensive than last year. In some states, average gas prices have breached $6 a gallon.
Though Donald Trump keeps teasing peace deals with Iran, experts warn that it could take months or even years to fully restore the Gulf’s energy production even after the conflict ends.
Airlines, which rely on heavy jet fuel, have been hit particularly hard. While other major carriers like United and Delta can cut routes and increase fees to offset rising costs, budget airlines operate on thin margins that are thrown off by higher fuel prices.
Before its shutdown, Spirit was reportedly in talks over a $500m deal with the White House. Trump even floated the idea of the government buying out the airline, and other struggling budget carriers, including Frontier and Avelo, also asked the Trump administration to consider offering the low-cost industry a $2.5bn government assistance package to help with rising prices. But no deals were made, and Spirit abruptly ceased operations on 2 May.
In the wake of the company’s closure, Spirit specifically cited the shock of increased jet fuel prices as the death knell for the low-budget airline. A company lawyer said higher fuel prices left the company, already beleaguered by other financial issues, with “no remaining way out”.
The impacts of Spirit’s shutdown is expected to last far beyond the latest oil shock. Industry experts say the loss of Spirit will mean passengers will have to pay more for tickets in dozens of routes due to less competition.
“Even if you don’t like Spirit, and even if you never flew on Spirit, if you were flying on routes that Spirit flew … you benefited from their presence,” said William McGee, a senior fellow for aviation and travel at the American Economic Liberties Project.
When she scrambled to rebook on the next cheapest flight she could find, Blackmore ended up spending $800 on a pair of Southwest tickets that, unlike her Spirit tickets, didn’t even include a checked bag.
“I mean, yes, we could drive to Florida, but then that’s taking more time off of work,” Blackmore said
Some passengers are turning to alternate forms of transportation. Flixbus, parent company of Greyhound, said it has seen a more than 30% increase in passengers across 130 routes that mirror Spirit’s and a 20% year-over-year increase in online search activity, the company said in a statement.
Amtrak said that, while it is too early to isolate the impact of rising gas prices on the demand for rail service, it has noticed an uptick in passengers as well.
Despite higher prices affecting nearly every aspect of travel – transportation, eating out and accommodations – travel agents say demand for vacations is still high.
While one of Blackmore’s clients postponed their summer trip to next year, she said most are determined to continue with their plans in some way. They want to escape the stresses of everyday life and are willing to put charges on their credit card to pay back over time.
“I mean, the world is crazy right now, and everybody deserves a vacation,” she said, “So to put it on a credit card, it’s out of sight, out of mind.”
One international travel agency, Intrepid Travel, reported that demand was still “really strong” this summer. Instead of giving up trips altogether, Americans are adjusting how and why they are traveling, said Leigh Barnes, the president of the agency’s Americas division.
“We’re seeing travelers look harder at overall value – asking a lot more hypothetical questions around fuel shortage impacts, future flight cancellations, wanting to know paid-in-full dates, ‘just in case’,” Barnes said.
He added that while some travelers are trimming costs by traveling for fewer days or choosing more budget friendly styles of trip, “they’re still unwilling to compromise on the actual experience”.
Some travelers are also booking more closer to their departure date, with budget-conscious travelers waiting longer to lock in their plans.
But McGee strongly advised against that strategy.
“It seems apparent that fares, which are already increasing, are going to continue to increase,” he said. “And I think it’s anybody’s guess when that will stop.”
Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard” won’t be premiering at Cannes despite speculation that it might be appearing at the film festival. “‘Bucking Fastard’ was invited as an official selection at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival which the filmmakers declined,” a spokesperson for the film said in a statement. The reason that “Bucking Fastard” won’t be playing […]
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Here’s how XRP can skyrocket by at least 1,000%.
Although most of the market saw notable gains over the past few weeks, with BTC surging to a multi-month peak at almost $83,000, Ripple’s cross-border token couldn’t really mimic the rally and was rejected at $1.45.
Since then, the bears have resumed control, pushing it below $1.40, which allowed BNB to retake its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
Yet, popular analyst EGRAG CRYPTO remains highly bullish on XRP’s long-term future and laid out three different scenarios. Interestingly, all of them envision quadruple-digit gains.
The recent X post from EGRAG, titled “which historical EMA ribbon move is most likely,” begins with a brief history lesson, suggesting that XRP has typically exploded “after reclaiming and expanding away from the EMA Ribbon.” In the three past cycles cited by the analyst, the asset rocketed by 2,400%, 1,000%, and 1,250%, respectively.
Although all of these predictions seem quite bullish at the moment, EGRAG believes one stands out as the most probable based on the current macro structure, liquidity conditions, cycle maturity, and realities of market cap expansion.
It’s the middle scenario, which foresees a 1,250% price pump for XRP. According to EGRAG, it has a 50-55% chance of materializing as it “aligns best with current cycle structure and broader market conditions.”
The 1,000% move has a smaller 30-35% probability chance, while the wildcard 2,400% prediction is the least probable, with 10-15% odds.
#XRP – Which Historical EMA Ribbon Move Is Most Likely? 👀
On the Weekly Time Frame, #XRP has historically exploded AFTER reclaiming and expanding away from the EMA Ribbon.
Historical expansions:
⚪ White Move:🚀 ~2,400%
🔵 Blue Move:🚀 ~1,000%
🟢 Green Move: 🚀 ~1,250%Now… pic.twitter.com/L0U9Z5mJTs
— EGRAG CRYPTO (@egragcrypto) May 8, 2026
Although EGRAG mentioned that these scenarios need to be checked, especially in terms of potential market cap expansions, to see whether they sound viable, it’s still worth noting that even the most modest prediction requires a massive rally. If XRP is to skyrocket by just 1,000%, it would still put its price at roughly $15 per token. The ‘most probable’ 1,250% scenario envisions a surge to $19, while the most bullish puts the token at $35.
Let’s just quickly examine the first two targets, as even EGRAG wasn’t too optimistic about the last one. If XRP taps $15, its market capitalization would need to be close to $1 trillion (with a T, yes). Consequently, a surge to $19 would make it a $1.250 trillion asset.
Just to put things into perspective – there’s only one cryptocurrency with a market cap beyond those numbers. And, overall, there are only 13-14 global assets bigger than that. So, we are not saying that XRP at $13 sounds impossible, but it would require nothing short of a miracle, especially given the current market environment.
The landscape of finance is undergoing a radical transformation, with digital assets at the forefront of this revolution. Beyond their volatile trading potential, cryptocurrencies now offer sophisticated avenues for generating consistent passive income. As we navigate 2026, the strategies for earning with these digital assets are maturing, providing more accessible and potentially lucrative opportunities for individuals seeking to grow their wealth beyond traditional savings accounts. This article explores five proven methods to harness the power of cryptocurrency for passive income generation, emphasizing a professional and trustworthy approach to navigating this dynamic market.
Staking is a fundamental process in many blockchain networks, particularly those utilizing a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. By holding and “locking up” a certain amount of a cryptocurrency in a wallet, users can actively participate in the network’s operations, such as validating transactions and securing the blockchain. In return for their contribution, stakers are rewarded with newly minted coins or transaction fees. The rewards earned are a direct result of the staked amount and the network’s performance, offering a predictable income stream for diligent participants.
Several factors influence staking rewards, including the chosen cryptocurrency, the staking duration, and the network’s specific reward structure. Platforms like Binance, Kraken, and Coinbase offer user-friendly interfaces for staking various PoS cryptocurrencies, often simplifying the process and providing estimated annual percentage yields (APYs). For more advanced users, direct staking through a personal wallet or participating in staking pools can offer potentially higher rewards but requires a greater understanding of the technical aspects. It’s crucial to research the specific cryptocurrency and its staking mechanics, including any lock-up periods or potential slashing penalties (where staked assets can be forfeited due to validator misbehavior), before committing funds.
Yield farming, a cornerstone of Decentralized Finance (DeFi), involves lending or staking cryptocurrency assets in various liquidity pools to earn rewards, typically in the form of additional cryptocurrency. Unlike traditional staking, yield farming often involves more complex strategies, moving assets between different DeFi protocols to chase the highest yields. This can include providing liquidity to decentralized exchanges (DEXs), lending assets on decentralized lending platforms, or participating in liquidity mining programs.
The allure of yield farming lies in its potential for high returns, often expressed as APY. However, this increased potential comes with elevated risks. Impermanent loss, a phenomenon where the value of your staked assets decreases compared to simply holding them, is a significant concern, especially in volatile markets. Smart contract vulnerabilities, rug pulls (where developers abandon a project and run off with investors’ funds), and fluctuating interest rates are also risks that yield farmers must carefully consider. Thorough due diligence on the protocols, understanding the mechanics of impermanent loss, and diversifying across different yield farming strategies are essential for mitigating these risks. Platforms like Yearn.finance, Aave, and Compound are popular venues for yield farming, but users should always start with smaller amounts and ensure they understand the underlying smart contracts and associated risks.
Similar to traditional finance, cryptocurrency lending allows you to earn interest by lending your digital assets to borrowers. These borrowers can be individuals seeking to leverage their holdings or institutions requiring short-term liquidity. Lending platforms, both centralized and decentralized, act as intermediaries, connecting lenders with borrowers and facilitating the interest payments.
Centralized lending platforms, such as Nexo or BlockFi (though regulatory scrutiny has impacted some), typically offer a simpler user experience and fixed interest rates. Decentralized lending protocols, like Aave and Compound, operate on blockchain technology, offering greater transparency and potentially higher yields, but with increased complexity and risk related to smart contract security. The interest rates for crypto lending can vary significantly based on the asset’s demand, the platform’s policies, and prevailing market conditions. It’s vital to research the reputation and security measures of any lending platform, understand the collateral requirements for borrowers, and be aware of the potential risks, including platform insolvency or smart contract exploits.
For those seeking a more conservative approach to earning passive income with their digital assets, crypto savings accounts offer an attractive alternative. These accounts function much like traditional savings accounts, allowing you to deposit your cryptocurrency and earn a fixed interest rate over time. The underlying mechanism typically involves the platform lending out your deposited funds to institutional borrowers or using them in other yield-generating activities, similar to lending platforms but often with a more streamlined and less risky user interface.
The interest rates offered by crypto savings accounts can be competitive, especially when compared to traditional fiat savings accounts. However, it’s crucial to understand that these accounts are not insured by government entities like the FDIC. Therefore, the security and solvency of the platform become paramount. Reputable platforms often provide detailed information about their risk management strategies and how your funds are utilized. Always prioritize platforms with a strong track record, robust security measures, and transparent operational practices.
A less common but potentially rewarding method for generating passive income is through cryptocurrencies that distribute dividends to their token holders. These projects are often built around a utility or service where a portion of the revenue generated by the platform is shared among its token holders. For example, some decentralized exchanges or blockchain-based gaming platforms may distribute a percentage of their transaction fees or profits to users who hold their native tokens.
The dividend distribution model can vary significantly between projects. Some may distribute dividends in the native token, while others might use stablecoins or even fiat currency. The yield generated from dividend-paying cryptocurrencies is directly tied to the success and profitability of the underlying project. Therefore, thorough research into the project’s business model, its revenue streams, and its long-term viability is essential. Understanding the tokenomics and the specific dividend distribution policy is also crucial for accurately assessing the potential passive income. While this method requires a deeper dive into specific project fundamentals, it can offer a unique way to benefit from the growth of innovative blockchain ecosystems.
In conclusion, the cryptocurrency space in 2026 offers a diverse array of opportunities for generating passive income. From the foundational security of staking to the innovative frontier of yield farming, and the reliable income streams from lending and savings accounts, to the project-driven dividends, there are avenues for various risk appetites and investment goals. However, it is imperative to approach these opportunities with a well-informed perspective, conducting thorough research, understanding the associated risks, and employing robust security practices. Diversification and a long-term outlook are key to navigating the complexities of digital assets and successfully building a sustainable passive income stream.
For further insights into navigating the evolving digital economy and maximizing productivity, consider exploring our related article on Mastering the Remote Work Revolution.
For more on financial news and market analysis, visit Reuters or CoinDesk.
