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The world’s best pro laptop raises the bar again with blazing-fast CPU and GPU performance, plus up to 2x faster SSD speeds and 1TB of starting storage

Apple® today announced the latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro ® with the all-new M5 Pro and M5 Max, bringing game-changing performance and AI capabilities to the world’s best pro laptop. With M5 Pro and M5 Max, MacBook Pro features a new CPU with the world’s fastest CPU core, 1 a next-generation GPU with a Neural Accelerator in each core, and higher unified memory bandwidth, altogether delivering up to 4x AI performance compared to the previous generation, and up to 8x AI performance compared to M1 models. 2 This allows developers, researchers, business professionals, and creatives to unlock new AI-enabled workflows right on MacBook Pro. It now comes with up to 2x faster SSD performance 2 and starts at 1TB of storage for M5 Pro and 2TB for M5 Max. The new MacBook Pro includes N1, an Apple-designed wireless networking chip that enables Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, bringing improved performance and reliability to wireless connections. It also offers up to 24 hours of battery life; a gorgeous Liquid Retina XDR® display with a nano-texture option; a wide array of connectivity, including Thunderbolt 5; a 12MP Center Stage® camera; studio-quality mics; an immersive six-speaker sound system; Apple Intelligence™ features; and the power of macOS® Tahoe. The new MacBook Pro comes in space black and silver, and is available to pre-order starting tomorrow, March 4, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 11.

‘MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max redefines what’s possible on a pro laptop, now up to 4x faster than the previous generation,’ said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. ‘With Neural Accelerators in the GPU, the new MacBook Pro enables professionals to run advanced LLMs on device and unlock capabilities that no other laptop can do — all while maintaining exceptional battery life. Combined with even faster unified memory and storage, it empowers users to take their work even further, unleashing new possibilities and pushing the boundaries of what they can do.’

Blazing Performance with M5 Pro and M5 Max

M5 Pro and M5 Max are built using the new Apple-designed Fusion Architecture and engineered from the ground up for AI. This innovative design combines two dies into a single system on a chip, providing tremendous performance boosts. M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a new up-to-18-core CPU with 6 super cores, the world’s fastest CPU core, 1 and 12 all-new performance cores, optimized for power-efficient, multithreaded pro workloads — altogether delivering up to 30 percent faster performance. 3 M5 Pro is designed for users running complex workflows, like coders optimizing algorithms and photographers processing massive image libraries, while M5 Max is for those pushing the absolute limits, such as engineers running rigorous simulations.

Scaling up performance from M5 and offering the same breakthrough GPU architecture with a Neural Accelerator in each core, M5 Pro and M5 Max deliver up to 4x faster LLM prompt processing than M4 Pro and M4 Max, and up to 8x AI image generation than M1 Pro and M1 Max. 2 This enables AI researchers and developers to train custom models locally, and creative professionals to leverage AI-powered tools for video editing, music production, and design work. Both chips also bring up to a 50 percent increase in graphics performance compared to M4 Pro and M4 Max, 3,4 enabling motion designers to work with complex 3D scenes in real time and VFX artists to preview effects instantly. And with a faster and more power-efficient Neural Engine and higher unified memory bandwidth, the new MacBook Pro delivers incredible on-device AI capabilities. The increase in unified memory bandwidth enables complex workflows like intensive AI model training and massive video projects. M5 Pro supports up to 64GB of unified memory with up to 307GB/s of memory bandwidth, while M5 Max supports up to 128GB of unified memory with up to 614GB/s of memory bandwidth.

14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro deliver: 2

— Up to 7.8x faster AI image generation performance when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 3.7x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Pro.
— Up to 6.9x faster LLM prompt processing when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 3.9x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Pro.
— Up to 5.2x faster 3D rendering in Maxon Redshift when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 1.4x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Pro.
— Up to 1.6x faster gaming performance with ray tracing in games like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition when compared to MacBook Pro with M4 Pro.

14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max deliver: 2

— Up to 8x faster AI image generation performance when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Max, and up to 3.8x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Max.
— Up to 6.7x faster LLM prompt processing when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Max, and up to 4x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Max.
— Up to 5.4x faster video effects rendering performance in Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve Studio when compared to MacBook Pro with M1 Max, and up to 3x faster than MacBook Pro with M4 Max.
— Up to 3.5x faster AI video-enhancing performance in Topaz Video when compared to MacBook Pro with M4 Max.

Faster Storage Performance and Increased Starting Storage

The new MacBook Pro delivers up to 2x faster read/write performance compared to the previous generation, 4 reaching speeds of up to 14.5GB/s 5 and accelerating workflows for professionals working across 4K and 8K video projects, LLMs, and complex datasets. MacBook Pro with M5 Pro now comes standard with 1TB of storage, while MacBook Pro with M5 Max now comes standard with 2TB. And the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 now comes standard with 1TB of storage.

Even More Value for Upgraders

The new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max mark a major leap for pro users. There’s never been a better time for customers to upgrade from a previous generation of MacBook Pro with Apple silicon or an Intel-based Mac®.

  • Enhanced AI performance with Neural Accelerators in the GPU: Users upgrading from M1 models will experience up to 8x faster AI performance. 2
  • Exceptional battery life: The new MacBook Pro gets up to 24 hours of battery life, giving Intel-based upgraders up to 13 additional hours, and users coming from M1 models will get up to three more hours, so they can get more done on a single charge. 2 And unlike many PC laptops, MacBook Pro delivers the same incredible performance whether plugged in or on battery. Users will be able to fast-charge up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes using a 96W or higher USB-C power adapter. 2
  • Best display in a pro laptop: Upgraders will enjoy the Liquid Retina XDR display, which features 1600 nits peak HDR brightness and up to 1000 nits for SDR content, and offers a nano-texture option.
  • Comprehensive connectivity: The new MacBook Pro has a wide array of connectivity options, including three Thunderbolt 5 ports for high-speed data transfer, HDMI that supports up to 8K resolution, an SDXC card slot for quick media import, and MagSafe® 3 with fast-charge capability. Upgraders can also drive up to two high-resolution external displays with M5 Pro, and up to four high-resolution displays with M5 Max, providing the flexibility to create expansive workspaces.
  • Advanced camera, mics, and speakers: Featuring a 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View support and studio-quality mics, the new MacBook Pro will allow users to look and sound their best while taking calls. They will also experience an immersive six-speaker sound system with support for Spatial Audio.

An Unrivaled Experience with macOS Tahoe

macOS Tahoe transforms the MacBook Pro experience with powerful capabilities that turbocharge productivity. 6 Major updates to Spotlight® make it easier to find relevant apps and files and immediately take action right from the search bar. Apple Intelligence is even more capable while protecting users’ privacy at every step. 7 Shortcuts get even more powerful with intelligent actions and the ability to tap directly in to Apple Intelligence models. Integrated into Messages, FaceTime®, and the Phone app, Live Translation helps users easily communicate across languages, translating text and audio. 7 Additionally, developers can bring Apple Intelligence capabilities into their applications or tap in to the Foundation Models framework for specialized on-device intelligence tasks. Continuity features include the Phone app on Mac, which lets users relay cellular calls from their nearby iPhone®, and with Live Activities® from iPhone, they can stay on top of things happening in real time. 6 macOS Tahoe also features a beautiful new design with Liquid Glass, and users can personalize their Mac in even more ways with an updated Control Center, in addition to new color options for folders, app icons, and widgets.

MacBook Pro and the Environment

MacBook Pro was built with the environment in mind, and brings Apple even closer to reaching its ambitious plan to be carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030. It is made with 45 percent recycled content, 8 including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery. It is manufactured with 50 percent renewable electricity, such as wind and solar, across the supply chain. The new MacBook Pro is designed to be durable and repairable, and also offers industry-leading software support, while meeting Apple’s high standards for energy efficiency and safer chemistry. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled. 9

Pricing and Availability

  • The 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at $2,199 (U.S.) and $2,049 (U.S.) for education; and the 16‑inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro starts at $2,699 (U.S.) and $2,499 (U.S.) for education.
  • The 14‑inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at $3,599 (U.S.) and $3,299 (U.S.) for education; and the 16‑inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max starts at $3,899 (U.S.) and $3,599 (U.S.) for education. All models are available in space black and silver.
  • The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 now comes standard with 1TB of storage, and is available in space black and silver, starting at $1,699 (U.S.) and $1,599 (U.S.) for education.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

1 Testing was conducted by Apple in February 2026 using shipping competitive systems and select industry-standard benchmarks.

2 Testing was conducted by Apple in January and February 2026. See apple.com/macbook-pro for more information.

3 Results are compared to previous-generation 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple M4 Pro, 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU, 48GB of unified memory, and a 4TB SSD.

4 Results are compared to previous-generation 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple M4 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128GB of unified memory, and an 8TB SSD.

5 Testing was conducted by Apple in January and February 2026 using preproduction 16-inch MacBook Pro systems with Apple M5 Max, 18-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128GB of unified memory, and an 8TB SSD. Tested with FIO 3.41, 1024KB request size, 10GB test file and IO depth=8. Performance tests are conducted using specific computer systems and reflect the approximate performance of MacBook Pro.

6 macOS Tahoe is available as a free software update. Some features may not be available in all regions or in all languages. See requirements at apple.com/os/macos .

7 Apple Intelligence is available in beta with support for these languages: English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), Japanese, and Korean. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For feature and language availability and system requirements, see support.apple.com/en-us/121115 .

8 Product recycled or renewable content is the mass of certified recycled material relative to the overall mass of the device, not including packaging or in-box accessories.

9 Breakdown of U.S. retail packaging by weight. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from calculations.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit Apple Newsroom ( www.apple.com/newsroom ), or email Apple’s Media Helpline at media.help@apple.com .

© 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, MacBook Pro, Liquid Retina XDR, Center Stage, Apple Intelligence, macOS, Mac, MagSafe, Spotlight, FaceTime, iPhone, Live Activities, Apple Store, Apple Trade In, AppleCare, AppleCare+, AppleCare One, Today at Apple, Apple Card, and Daily Cash are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260303763269/en/

Press Contacts:

Lizette Viviana Du Pond
Apple
ldupond@apple.com

Starlayne Meza
Apple
starlayne_meza@apple.com

News Provided by Business Wire via QuoteMedia

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Minnesota filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration, accusing federal health officials of illegally withholding $243 million in Medicaid payments from the state.

Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Minnesota Department of Human Services sued the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), arguing the funding freeze violates federal law.

The state is seeking a temporary restraining order to immediately block the action.

The dispute stems from a January notice in which the Trump administration said it would withhold more than $2 billion annually from Minnesota’s Medicaid program over what it described as ‘noncompliance’ with federal regulations, specifically, alleged failures to ‘adequately identify, prevent, and address fraud in its Medicaid program.’

State officials say they have not been told specifically how Minnesota is out of compliance or what changes the administration wants to see.

The lawsuit follows a Feb. 25 announcement from CMS that it was deferring roughly $260 million in quarterly federal Medicaid funding to Minnesota, including about $243 million tied to ‘unsupported or potentially fraudulent’ claims. 

CMS said the deferral is part of a broader fraud crackdown and cited unusually high spending and rapid growth in personal care services, home- and community-based services, and other practitioner services.

‘For decades, Medicare fraud has drained billions from American taxpayers — that ends now,’ HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. ‘We are replacing the old ‘pay and chase’ model with a real-time ‘detect and deploy’ strategy, using advanced AI tools to identify fraud instantly and stop improper payments before they go out the door.’

Minnesota officials contend the move improperly uses a funding ‘deferral’ mechanism and amounts to denying the state due process before any formal finding of noncompliance.

Minnesota mayors blast alleged fraud-plagued state programs as Walz denies responsibility

The threatened cuts represent about 7% of Minnesota’s quarterly Medicaid funding and could force reductions in healthcare services for low-income residents, according to Ellison’s office.

‘Trump’s M.O. is to cut first, no matter what the law says or who gets hurt, and ask questions later, if at all,’ the attorney general said. ‘These cuts are the latest in a long series of efforts to go around the law to punish Minnesotans — but just as we fought back and won when they illegally tried to cut funding for childcare, hungry families and our schools, we are suing them again today to make them follow the law.’

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The findings of two new national polls conducted in the hours after President Donald Trump launched strikes on Iran are clear — only a minority of Americans approve of the operation and Democrats and Republicans don’t see eye to eye over the attacks.

Twenty-seven percent of those questioned in a Reuters/Ipsos national survey conducted Saturday and Sunday after the start of ‘Operation Epic Fury’ by American and Israeli forces on Iran that resulted in the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said they approved of the strikes. 

A plurality, 43%, said they disapproved, with nearly three in 10 not sure.

There were similar findings in a CNN poll conducted by SSRS that was also in the field this past weekend.

Fifty-nine percent of Americans surveyed in the poll said they disapproved of the initial decision to strike Iran, with 41% giving a thumbs up.

As expected, there’s a wide divide between Democrats and Republicans.

Republicans questioned in the Reuters/Ipsos poll, by a 55%-32% margin, were supportive of the military action. The vast majority of Democrats, 73%, disapproved of the strikes, with only 7% saying they approved. A plurality of independents, 44%, disapproved of the military attack, with 19% supportive and nearly four in 10 unsure.

The partisan gap was even wider in the CNN poll.

More than three-quarters of Republican respondents, 77%, approved, compared to 32% of independents and 18% of Democrats.

According to the CNN poll, 83% of Republicans said Trump has a clear plan for handling the attacks on Iran, while 70% of independents and 88% of Democrats disagreed.

Overall, six in 10 said they don’t think the president has a clear plan for dealing with the situation, and 62% said Trump should get congressional approval before any further military action.

Both polls were conducted before the U.S. military announced on Sunday the first U.S. casualties in the operation — six service members killed.

The joint U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran is now in its fourth day as of Tuesday, with Trump saying the plan is ahead of schedule thanks to the early elimination of Iran’s top leaders.

Trump admin to brief Congress on Iran mission amid questions surrounding Trump

Trump has said Iran is seeking talks with the U.S. as the military operations continue, but the president indicated he believes the opportunity for negotiations has passed.

The U.S. has urged Americans to leave 14 countries across the Middle East as Iran’s counterattacks intensify. The U.S. State Department has also closed embassies in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council warned Iran it will take ‘all necessary measures,’ including possible military action, in response to Tehran’s missile and drone attacks.


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Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley slammed Democrats who claim that the Iranian regime was not a threat to the U.S., calling the notion ‘absurd.’

‘It’s absurd for Democrats to say the Iranian regime was no threat to America. For decades, they targeted American troops, made the spread of terrorism a priority, relentlessly pursued nuclear weapons, built missiles aimed at our bases, and plotted assassinations against President Trump and other U.S. leaders — myself included — on American soil,’ Haley said on X.

‘When they chanted ‘Death to America,’ they meant all of us, at any cost,’ she added.

Haley told Fox News’ Martha MacCallum that the U.S. and Israel’s joint military offensive, Operation Epic Fury, was a ‘history-defining moment.’ She added that for President Donald Trump, her former boss-turned-political rival, it was a ‘legacy defining moment.’

‘They attempted to do diplomacy, and the Iranian Regime did what they always do. They lie, they cheat, they never tell the truth, and they always want to make sure in the back of their minds they want to harm people,’ Haley told MacCallum. ‘And we saw this when we got out of the Iranian deal, you know, years ago, that they were cheating then. I think that they were trying to get away with cheating now, and I think the Trump administration saw through that.’

The launch of Operation Epic Fury caused a sharp divide within the Democratic Party, with major players praising and criticizing the attacks.

Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., both of whom called the launch of Operation Epic Fury ‘illegal,’ are among the most vocal critics. Additionally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., claimed that the operation lacked ‘strategic clarity’ and called for a vote on a war powers resolution.

‘Confronting Iran’s malign regional activities, nuclear ambitions, and harsh oppression of the Iranian people demands American strength, resolve, regional coordination, and strategic clarity. Unfortunately, President Trump’s fitful cycles of lashing out and risking wider conflict are not a viable strategy,’ Schumer said in a statement.

‘The Senate should quickly return to session and reassert its constitutional duty by passing our resolution to enforce the War Powers Act,’ Schumer added.

On Feb. 28, when the strikes began, Kaine said that Trump ‘launched an unnecessary, idiotic, and illegal war against Iran that puts America’s servicemembers and embassy personnel at risk.’ Kaine, as well as some other Democrats, called for Congress to return to Washington to vote on his war powers resolution. The resolution, which focused on Iran, was filed in January.

Sanders also issued a statement on Saturday criticizing the operation in which he slammed both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Vermont senator said Trump and Netanyahu had started an ‘illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war’ against Iran. Sanders, like Kaine, called for a vote on a war powers resolution.

‘This attack against Iran is a clear violation of international law and will create increased instability in an already dangerous world. If the United States and Israel can launch an attack against a sovereign nation, so can any other country. Might does not make right. It creates international anarchy, death, destruction and human misery,’ Sanders’ statement read.

‘We must not allow Trump to force us into another senseless war. No war with Iran,’ he added.

There are Democrats who have praised the operation, including Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who has said that he would be a ‘hard no’ if Democrats forced a war powers resolution vote.

‘President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region. God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel,’ Fetterman wrote on X as Operation Epic Fury began.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., also praised the operation, saying that ‘confronting the Iranian threat is essential to national security and to global stability.’

He also called on the president to comply with the War Powers Act and said that he ‘requested an immediate classified briefing’ on the operation.

‘Today, the United States, with our key democratic ally Israel, took decisive action to defend our national security, fight terror, protect our allies, and stand with the Iranian people who have been massacred in the streets for demanding freedom from the murderous Iranian regime,’ Gottheimer said.

‘I applaud the extraordinary bravery and professionalism of our servicemembers and pray for their safety as Iran and its terrorist proxies retaliate against American bases and our partners in the region,’ he added.

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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., is warning Democrats not to play politics with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) funding, particularly as the country is on high alert for any fallout from the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

‘Put the safety and security of the American people first and stop playing political games to appease the far-left base, especially at a time like this,’ Scalise said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

The ongoing partial government shutdown centered on DHS, now in its 18th day, has taken on new significance in the wake of President Donald Trump’s military action in Iran.

Bipartisan deals have funded 97% of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, but divisions between Democrats and Republicans over Trump’s immigration crackdown have prevented any such compromise on DHS.

House GOP leaders announced over the weekend that the chamber would vote this Thursday on a bipartisan DHS funding bill that passed in January in a bid to pressure Democrats to end the shutdown. 

That bill failed to advance in the Senate multiple times, with Democrats demanding new guardrails on immigration enforcement that Republicans have deemed nonstarters.

‘We are on a higher level of alert, and this is not the time for Democrats to be playing games and shutting down the department that is focused on keeping Americans safe here at home,’ Scalise said. ‘So we’re bringing this bill back up again to try to get them to come to their senses and open the Department of Homeland Security.’

The bill passed in a 220-207 vote in late January, with just seven Democrats crossing the aisle in support. All but one House Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., voted in favor.

However, Scalise said ‘any responsible member of Congress’ should vote for the legislation this time.

‘The country is watching and expects members of Congress to take the safety of the American people at heart. And so I hope we get a much larger vote this time,’ he said.

DHS is a wide-ranging department that was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

While it’s most recently grabbed headlines for actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), DHS is also responsible for a variety of national security-focused offices like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the U.S. Secret Service.

Scalise pointed out that it’s also critical to keeping the U.S. safe during global events being hosted within its borders.

‘We had a hearing last week on the World Cup, the people in charge of security for the World Cup were saying that they may have to start canceling some events,’ he said. ‘And that was before Iran.’

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Millions of Americans are channeling the classic Eagles tune Hotel California in their experience with student loan debt: “you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” 

Two emergent trends encapsulate the inescapable trap of student debt repayment. First, the rate of serious delinquencies on student loans is approaching an all-time high. Second, student loan debts are intentionally made nearly impossible to discharge, even in bankruptcy.

The Federal Reserve’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit has just been released, and it’s not a pretty picture. Alongside debt on student loans spiking, seriously delinquent (90+ days late) credit cards have reached levels not seen since the financial crisis. About one in eight credit card accounts is now three months behind. This trend has been rising since 2022, and seems to indicate that households were already beginning to fall behind on their debts, setting the stage for serious delinquencies. 

Not to be outdone, auto loan serious delinquencies have also been on the rise since the beginning of 2023. Put these factors together, and it seems that the temporary COVID-era relief on student loan repayment didn’t make it any easier for borrowers to pay down their credit cards or car loans. In the meantime, serious delinquencies for mortgages are very low, but this is easily explained. With the ultra-low interest rates that many homeowners have on their mortgages, they stay put longer, overall saleable inventory declines, and home prices remain high despite the relative increase in interest rates since their pandemic-era nadir. 

Combine all those factors, higher home and rent prices, greater reliance on credit cards, and increased reliance on longer term car loans (over 20 percent are now of the 84-month variety), and you wind up with a perfect storm to place additional pressure on student loan repayments. The backlash was waiting to be unleashed after a long period of genuine forbearance, along with an administrative shell-game that hid the seriousness of the fragility of the student loan market. 

With the passage of the CARES Act in March of 2020, most federal student loan repayment was suspended, with no additional interest paid. Further, collections on defaulted loans were halted. These were supposed to have been temporary measures. Instead, they lasted until October of 2023. And even then, policymakers created a so-called “on-ramp”. 

Amazingly, during that timeframe, missed payments were simply not reported. So, by the end of Q4 in 2024, only a paltry 0.7 percent of student loans (both federal and private) were sliding into serious delinquency. A year later, the real state of affairs became evident. The share of student loan balances that moved into serious delinquency shot up to 16.19 percent.

(Source: newyorkfed.org)

Of course, no trend lasts forever nor maintains the same pace, but new serious delinquencies in student loans have surged to levels not seen since the Fed began tracking this category in the early 2000s. With both credit card and car loan serious delinquencies on the rise at the same time, increased bankruptcy filings might be anticipated in the months ahead. 

In fact, we don’t have to prognosticate on the future regarding bankruptcy filings. The American Bankruptcy Institute tracks all filing types, and every month of 2025 saw higher numbers of bankruptcies when compared with 2024. Last year saw a 12 percent increase in individual filing, coming in at 533,949 compared to 478,752 in 2024. And even within that window, each month of 2025 saw more bankruptcies than the year before. 

If the same trend unfolds for 2026, it’s clear that the surging student loan crisis will have something to do with it. But here’s the problem for these borrowers: unlike many other forms of debt, student loans are the financial equivalent of Hotel California. Once you’re in, you can (almost) never get out. 

Those inclined to look deeper can consult US Bankruptcy Code (Section 523(a)(8)) and the special privileges it gives to the student loan industry. In brief, this provision says that “student loans are not dischargeable unless it would impose ‘Undue hardship’ on the debtor.” How does one prove that they’re under undue hardship? In most US Circuit Courts, debtors have to prove to the court that their situation meets the infamous “Brunner Test”. 

According to this legal standard, the debtor has to prove that:

  • Repayment creates a hardship that would prevent a minimal standard of living
  • The hardship is likely to continue
  • The borrower has acted in “good faith” to try to repay

It doesn’t take a legal eagle to understand that each of these proof points relies on the subjective decision of a judge. Out of the 13 federal circuit courts, only two (the first and eighth) use what is called the “totality of the circumstances” standard, giving the court much greater latitude to discharge student loan debt. A year after those two courts adopted that standard, nearly every case went in favor of the borrower with some or all of their student loans being wiped away. But those wins were a tiny fraction of the nearly 43 million student loan debtors, who now owe a collective $1.66 trillion. 

What may come as a great surprise to some is the age of borrowers falling farthest behind. For student loans (unlike car or credit cards), older borrowers led the surge in new serious delinquencies. More than 21 percent of borrowers over age 50 had their loans go 90+ days late at the end of 2025. 

After all, it’s mainly Gen Xers — who could sing every lyric of Hotel California by heart — now discovering that, despite their best efforts, government intervention has made student loans nearly impossible to escape.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Execution of a non-binding commercial LOI with Jundu, Brazil’s most established industrial silica sand producer for extraction, processing and sale of high-purity silica sands from Santa Maria Eterna (SME) Silica Sand District in Belmonte, Bahia, Brazil.
  • Jundu and Homerun are developing a formal industrial partnership at SME, with responsibilities allocated across supply, extraction and processing, and an option to construct new silica processing plant inside Homerun’s industrial complex to accelerate scale and reduce capital intensity.
  • The LOI supports rapid scaling of supply using Jundu’s existing infrastructure and upgrade capabilities, further delivering on the milestones enunciated under Phase 1 and Phase 2 of Homerun’s Business Plan – supply, extraction, processing and logistics to revenues.

Homerun Resources Inc. (TSXV: HMR,OTC:HMRFF) (OTCQB: HMRFF) (‘Homerun’ or the ‘Company’) is pleased to announce that the Company has executed a non-binding Letter of Intent (‘LOI’) with Jundu Ltda. (‘Jundu’) for the extraction, processing and sale of high-purity silica sands from Santa Maria Eterna (SME) Silica Sand District in Belmonte, Bahia, Brazil. Jundu, is Brazil’s most established industrial silica sand producer.

Both Homerun and Jundu hold CBPM Lease assets in the SME District, and Jundu currently operates silica processing infrastructure with the capacity to invest quickly in upgraded processing capacity in support of large-scale silica sales brought forth by Homerun. Under the LOI, Homerun has invited Jundu to become a contributing partner for the supply of high-purity silica sand from their leases in the SME Silica Sand District, in particular for Homerun’s planned solar glass plant and associated secondary processing operations. Homerun’s forecast demand for the SME industrial complex is approximately 365,000 tonnes per year, and the LOI envisages that Jundu will be responsible for:

  • Extraction and Processing (initially washing and sizing) of the silica sand, with the possibility of installing an updated facility within Homerun’s industrial complex to maximize capital efficiency and market competitiveness.
  • Annual silica sand supply from Jundu’s own SME leases of a minimum of 50,000 tonnes per year (up to the 365,000 tonnes per year projected total), with the balance extracted at Homerun’s discretion from Homerun’s SME leases.

Across these initiatives, the LOI contemplates a projected volume of around 365,000 tonnes per year, across silica sales to third parties, silica for advanced purification by Homerun and silica for Homerun’s solar glass plant.

This Jundu LOI is a key deliverable under both Phase 1 (commercial SME District Control) and Phase 2 (development of logistics and production to revenues) of Homerun’s Business Plan Roadmap and aligns with the Company’s commitments under its 40-year lease agreement with Companhia Baiana de Pesquisa Mineral (‘CBPM’). By defining commercial structures, price ranges and volume ramps with a large, existing industrial partner with processing capability, the LOI is intended to support the development of the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) for Homerun’s planned solar glass manufacturing facility at Santa Maria Eterna.

Cannot view this image? Visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4082/286093_cc2fd796d45729f8_001.jpg

The above diagram shows how this LOI fits into Homerun’s Corporate Strategy Structure and completes the first Industrial silica sales channel.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4082/286093_cc2fd796d45729f8_001full.jpg

Brian Leeners, CEO of Homerun, commented, ‘Advancing from an MOU to a structured commercial LOI with Jundu is a major de-risking event for Homerun. It gives us a clear, scalable path to secure and process the high-purity silica we need, with a partner that already understands this district and this product and has an extensive business in the Brazilian silica market. These commercial terms are designed to feed directly into our Bankable Feasibility Study for the Santa Maria Eterna solar glass plant and, just as importantly, they facilitate a rapid move from the BFS to construction and then to meaningful cash flow. For our shareholders, this LOI is about converting potential into an executable, large-scale industrial plan in partnership with one of the most credible silica players in Brazil.’

About Jundu Ltda. (https://jundu.com.br/)

Jundu Ltda. is a leading Brazilian producer of industrial minerals, with a primary focus on high-purity quartz sand and other non-metallic minerals used in glass, foundry, chemical, ceramic, construction and energy markets. Jundu is jointly owned by Sibelco, a global material solutions company specializing in industrial minerals, and Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials and construction-solutions groups. Through this ownership structure, Jundu combines local operational depth with the technical, commercial and ESG standards of two industry-leading multinationals, positioning the company as a highly respected, large-scale partner for demanding silica applications such as premium solar glass.

About Homerun

Homerun is building the silica-powered backbone of the energy transition across four focused verticals: Silica, Solar, Energy Storage, and Energy Solutions. Anchored by a unique high-purity low-iron silica resource in Bahia, Brazil, Homerun transforms raw silica into essential products and technologies that accelerate clean power adoption and deliver durable shareholder value.

  • Silica: Secure supply and processing of high-purity low-iron silica for mission-critical applications, enabling premium solar glass and advanced energy materials.
  • Solar: Development of Latin America’s first dedicated 1,000 tonne per day high-efficiency solar glass plant and the commercialization of antimony-free solar glass designed for next-generation photovoltaic performance.
  • Energy Storage: Advancement of long-duration, silica-based thermal storage systems and related technologies to decarbonize industrial heat and unlock grid flexibility.
  • Energy Solutions: AI-enabled energy management, control systems, and turnkey electrification solutions that reduce costs and optimize renewable generation for commercial and industrial customers.

With disciplined execution, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to best-in-class ESG practices, Homerun is focused on converting milestones into markets – creating a scalable, vertically integrated platform for clean energy manufacturing in the Americas.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of
Homerun Resources Inc.

‘Brian Leeners’

Brian Leeners, CEO & Director
brianleeners@gmail.com / +1 604-862-4184 (WhatsApp)

Tyler Muir, Investor Relations
info@homerunresources.com / +1 306-690-8886 (WhatsApp)

FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

The information contained herein contains ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be ‘forward-looking statements’.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accthe adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described what he believes is the ‘best option’ for Americans looking to flee Israel amid the ongoing unrest across the Middle East. 

Huckabee said overnight, ‘We are getting a lot of requests regarding evacuating from Israel from American citizens who are currently in Israel or who have family here,’ and that there are ‘very limited’ options available. 

‘As of now, the best is utilizing Israel’s Ministry of Tourism shuttle bus to Taba, Egypt and getting flights from there or going on to Cairo for flights back to the U.S.,’ Huckabee said on X. ‘Not sure when Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv will reopen.  Hopefully soon, but even when it does, there will be VERY limited flights with priorities to those who already were ticketed by El Al. Doubtful that other airlines will fly in/out for a while.’ 

‘The Ministry of Tourism is operating buses to Taba. That crossing is further away, but it’s open 24/7. There are some flights from Taba, but there are also options to get to Cairo, and it’s operating normally except to Middle Eastern countries. To get out, it’s the best option for now,’ Huckabee added. 

Huckabee also said he does not recommend Americans exit via Jordan at this time, as ‘Flights are not consistent and access across the Allenby crossing has limited hours.’ 

‘All of our personnel from [the] embassy are sheltering in place, but I realize you may need to get people out and back home and not continue to incur hotel costs,’ the ambassador wrote. 

U.S. Embassy Jerusalem said in a statement early Tuesday morning that it is ‘not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.’ It also mentioned the Israeli Ministry of Tourism’s buses to Taba.

‘To be added to the passenger list for a shuttle, you must register via the Ministry’s evacuation form,’ it said.  

‘The U.S. Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism’s shuttle. If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety,’ it added. 


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Virtual Investor Conferences, the leading proprietary investor conference series, announced the agenda for the Clean Energy & Renewables Virtual Investor Conference to be held March 5th.

Individual investors, institutional investors, advisors, and analysts are invited to attend.

REGISTER HERE

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. There is no cost to log-in, attend live presentations, or schedule 1×1 meetings with management.

Please Schedule 1×1 Meetings here.

‘We’re excited to host the Clean Energy & Renewables Virtual Investor Conference and showcase a diverse group of companies driving meaningful innovation across the sector,’ said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. ‘This event provides a unique opportunity for these companies to share their strategies and connect directly with investors.’

March 5th

Eastern
Time (ET)
Presentation Ticker(s)
10:30 AM Bimergen Energy Corporation (NYSE American: BESS) 
11:00 AM Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd. (OTCQB: HLRTF | CSE: HEAT) 
11:30 AM P2 Solar, Inc. (OTCID: PTOS)
12:00 PM EverGen Infrastructure Corp. (OTCQB: EVGIF | TSXV: EVGN) 
12:30 PM Cielo Waste Solutions Corp. (OTCQB: CWSFF| TSXV: CMC)
1:00 PM Rzolv Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: RZOLF | TSXV: RZL,OTC:RZOLF)
1:30 PM Stardust Solar Energy Inc. (OTCQB: SUNXF | TSXV: SUN)
2:00 PM Waste Energy Corp. (OTCQB: WAST)

To facilitate investor relations scheduling and to view a complete calendar of Virtual Investor Conferences, please visit www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About Virtual Investor Conferences®

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

Media Contact: 
OTC Markets Group Inc. +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

Virtual Investor Conferences Contact:
John M. Viglotti
SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
OTC Markets Group 
(212) 220-2221
johnv@otcmarkets.com

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Locksley Resources Limited (ASX: LKY,OTC:LKYRF; OTCQX: LKYRFADR: LKYLY announced high-grade antimony (Sb) assays received from surface exposure grab sampling, with a peak value of 16.90% Sb confirm continuity of high-grade stibnite mineralization along strike and above the historical undergro8und workings at the company’s Desert Antimony Mine located within the Company’s Mojave Project in California.

These samples were collected from earthworks conducted during preparation for the maiden drilling program currently underway. The work identified extensions of stibnite-bearing mineralized veins at surface, further validating the system’s high-grade continuity and strike potential. Additional information can be found here: https://cdn-api.markitdigital.com/apiman-gateway/ASX/asx-research/1.0/file/2924-03063849-6A1314564&v=undefined.

The results continue to reflect the company’s strong technical foundation and focus on high-confidence targets. Ongoing diamond drilling at DAM is expected to further refine geometry and evaluate resource potential.

Locksley Resources (https://www.locksleyresources.com.au) is focused on critical minerals in the U.S. The company is actively advancing the Mojave Project in California, targeting rare earth elements (REEs) and antimony. Locksley is executing a mine-to-market strategy for antimony, aimed at reestablishing domestic supply chains for critical materials, underpinned by strategic downstream technology partnerships with leading U.S. research institutions and industry partners. This targeted approach, combined with resource development with innovative processing and separation technologies, positions Locksley to play a role in advancing U.S. critical materials independence.

Contact: Beverly Jedynak, beverly.jedynak@viriathus.com, 312-943-1123; 773-350-5793 (cell)

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/locksley-announces-high-grade-antimony-assays-at-desert-antimony-mine-confirm-surface-continuity-302701977.html

SOURCE Locksley Resources

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