Latest news with #DavidWilliams
BBC News
20 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Cornish Pirates finish fourth after thrilling Nottingham win
Cornish Pirates overcame a 13-point half-time deficit to beat Nottingham 35-34 and finish fourth in the were helped by some wayward kicking from the visitors, who missed four conversions and three penalties in the clash at the Mennaye. Nottingham had a bonus point secured within 22 minutes as David Williams went over twice alongside tries from Harry Graham and Ryan Olowofela to put them 20-7 ahead as Matt Pritchard replied for the hosts. Chester Ribbons' try reduced the gap only for Jay Ecclesfield to go over soon after as Nottingham led 27-14 at the extended their advantage to 34-14 soon after the restart thanks to a try from a driving maul before the hosts came back. Milo Hallam, Harry Yates and Harry Hocking all crossed in a seven-minute spell to put Pirates ahead before a scoreless final 20 minutes. "We probably didn't deserve that one," Pirates joint-head coach Gavin Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall. "I think the rugby gods were on our side a little bit and they left a lot of kicking points out there. "But then you look at first half and second half and it was night and day."We had a bit more energy about us, we looked a bit too pretty in that first half by playing a bit of structured stuff, rather than going back to the fundamental of winning collisions, winning the one on ones and that was the message at half time - we were looking for the perfect picture, let's take somebody on one on one and things will happen."
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Bill would ease Louisiana's strict window tint regulations if passed
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A change could be coming to how dark your car windows can legally be in Louisiana. House Bill 119 could ease regulations for the Louisiana auto window tinting industry, but law enforcement has a few reminders for those who choose to make the switch. If enacted, this would move Louisiana from a state with some of the strictest laws on window tint. 'The legal tent is 25 at the front two windows and 40 for the back two windows and the back windshield, the back glass is at 40% as well.' Said Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Lt. Breck Scott. 'Typically in this area, Louisiana is one of the strictest states when it comes to window tint, especially on the front two windows,' said the owner of Daves Window Tint, David Williams. Bill attempting to ban flouride from Louisiana drinking water fails HB 119 would lower the legal limit from 40 percent light transmission to 25 percent, allowing for a darker tint for tint professionals like David Williams, who says it's a win for business and his customers. 'So it means a lot for us in the window tinting industry because most people want to go darker on those front two windows, and we get the opportunity to give our customers what they want,' said Williams. While visibility from inside remains nearly the same, it increases privacy and peace of mind, and the interior is cooler. 'It does give the driver a little bit more privacy…But as far as being able to look out of the windows, the visibility should be about the same,' said Williams However, law enforcement says they are prepared if HB 119 becomes law. 'It's gonna affect the officer safety by going up to the vehicle if the tint is lower…So what we'll do is probably have the driver get out of the vehicle for officer safety,' said Lt. Scott. Deputies say they have tint meters to test legality, but also want drivers to stay alert. 'Be aware of your surroundings, especially at nighttime…You're not gonna see that person or a bicycler when you make that turn on the street,' said Lt. Scott. The governor has not yet signed the bill, but if he does, the new law will go into effect on August 1st Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Rigetti and IonQ: David Williams Selects the Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy
What's the next big thing? That question defines so many aspects of our world, from fashion to automobiles to high technology. It's rare that the answer is obvious, but one emerging trend is beginning to stand out: quantum computing. Once the stuff of science fiction, it's quickly becoming the next great leap in technology. Confident Investing Starts Here: Quantum computing promises to bring faster, more capable supercomputers from the drawing board to the real world – machines capable of performing multiple complex calculations simultaneously by leveraging the principles of superposition and entanglement inherent in quantum physics. The expected result: computers that can solve in minutes problems that today's most advanced machines couldn't crack in a century. According to ResearchAndMarkets, the quantum computing market was worth $1.85 billion globally last year, and is expected to hit $7.48 billion by 2030. That translates to a CAGR of nearly 29%. Unsurprisingly for a new field of computing tech, the hardware makes up the largest segment, 61%, of quantum's current market. This is the field that Benchmark's David Williams, a 5-star analyst ranked in the top 3% of Street experts, is looking at. He sees the opportunity, and he's digging into the current crop of companies to identify two top investment opportunities: Rigetti (NASDAQ:RGTI) and IonQ (NYSE:IONQ). Using the TipRanks platform, we checked out his picks and found that Williams isn't alone in his bullish stance – both stocks carry a Strong Buy consensus from Wall Street. Let's take a closer look. Rigetti Computing First on our short list today is Rigetti Computing, a Berkeley, California-based quantum hardware developer and provider. Rigetti has given itself a clear mission – to develop the hardware that will support and power quantum computing and move the supercomputer field into its next generation. The company has already developed a basic architecture, based on a dilution refrigeration system that cools the quantum computer to a mere one-hundredth of a Kelvin – far colder than even the depths of space. This system is designed to support Rigetti's quantum processor units, QPUs, the superconducting quantum integrated circuits that form the 'brain' of the quantum computer. Rigetti is intimately involved with every aspect of quantum computer design and construction, from the cooling systems to the QPUs to the quantum integrated circuits (QuICs) that provide control capabilities for the finished device. This involvement allows Rigetti to design and build quantum computers at the customer's desired scale. Recognizing that not every customer needs or wants a whole quantum computer in-house, Rigetti is also leading the way as a provider of quantum cloud services (QCS), or hybrid quantum-classical computing. The company can support ultra-low latency connectivity to link high-performance classical computing systems to its QCS. This past December, Rigetti launched its most advanced quantum computer, the Ankaa-3 system. This system can handle up to 84 qubits, the two-state quantum-mechanical bits that make quantum computing possible. More recently, Rigetti has released Novera, a smaller 9-qubit quantum computer based on the Ankaa-3's architecture. This new, smaller, QPU is designed to bring high performance to a smaller machine, and to make quantum computing accessible even in these early stages. Looking ahead, Rigetti's CEO has charted out a somewhat conservative course for new product and system development. He sees the company deploying, by the middle of this year, a 36-qubit system based on four linked 9-qubit chiplets, and believes that the company can deploy 100-plus qubits by year's end. Also this month, Rigetti released its 1Q25 financial results – and the top line came in well below expectations. Rigetti's revenue in the quarter was just $1.5 million, more than $1 million below the forecast, and the company's quarterly operating loss came to $21.6 million. Rigetti finished the quarter, on March 31, with $209.1 million in cash and other liquid assets available – but that was boosted before April was out when Quanta Computer purchased $35 million worth of the company's common stock. As of April 30, Rigetti had $237.7 million in liquid assets on hand. For Benchmark's Williams, the key point here is Rigetti's ability to keep moving forward with its technology. He sees the company's modular approach as an important benefit, and writes, 'We remain confident in RGTI's technology roadmap and its steady progress toward meeting internal fidelity goals. In our view, the company's superconducting methodology and modular architecture give it an inherent edge in solving the scalability issue faced by gate-based systems. Although RGTI projects a slower timeline for mass adoption than some peers, growing interest in QPU hardware sales offers near-term revenue potential ahead of wider quantum uptake. We are encouraged by consistent execution across every element of the technology platform, with fidelity standing as the key remaining obstacle to realizing quantum advantage.' Going forward from here, Williams believes that Rigetti has a sound foundation, adding: 'Despite the firm's cautious outlook, we believe RGTI is strategically positioned with a compelling architecture, substantial IP moat, and healthy balance sheet to support these efforts.' Overall, analysts are all in on Rigetti. The stock holds a Strong Buy consensus based on 5 unanimous ratings. With shares at $13.89 and an average price target of $15, the forecast calls for a 9% gain over the next 12 months. (See RGTI stock forecast) IonQ The second stock we'll look at is IonQ, which gets its name from the approach the company takes toward quantum computing. IonQ is developing trapped ion quantum computers, using electromagnetic fields to trap electrically charged atomic particles, ions, and to then use the stable electric states of those ions to store qubit information. The advantage of IonQ's approach lies in the nature of atomic particles – being closer to their subatomic building blocks than other material particles, atoms are described by the company as 'naturally quantum,' and more amenable to storing qubit data. IonQ was founded in 2015, and in the decade of its existence, the Maryland-based company has matured into the first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing firm. IonQ has brought its atomic approach into the real world through its commercially available quantum computers, Aria, and Forte. The flagship system, Aria, is a 25-qubit system that was designed to bring IonQ's approach to life; Forte, the company's second commercial system, expanded the capacity to 36 qubits. This combination of scientific credibility and commercial traction is fueling excitement on Wall Street. IonQ's stock is soaring ~37% today after CEO Niccolo de Masi told Barron's that the company aims to become the 'Nvidia of quantum computing.' Investors are responding positively to this vision, viewing it as a strong commitment to industry leadership. That rally isn't just based on words. In the first quarter, IonQ landed a $22 million deal to deliver its Forte Enterprise system to EPB in Chattanooga, where it will power the first commercially available quantum computing and networking hub. Looking ahead, IonQ is preparing to launch Tempo, a 64-qubit system designed to achieve quantum advantage in practical applications, marking another major step in the company's effort to make quantum computing commercially viable. On the financial side, IonQ generated $7.57 million in revenue during 1Q25, roughly flat year-over-year, and saw a quarterly net EPS loss of 14 cents. The EPS loss beat the forecast by 15 cents per share. IonQ is guiding for Q2 revenue in the range of $16 million to $18 million, and sees full-year 2025 revenue landing between $75 million and $95 million. At the midpoint, both targets are roughly aligned with Wall Street's expectations of $16.93 million for Q2 and $85.42 million for the full year. David Williams, in his coverage of IonQ, notes that the company is still at a very early stage – but that it has a high potential to beat analyst expectations. 'While IonQ is an early-stage tech company, the firm is executing well against targets and hitting key milestones ahead of schedule, giving us confidence that the progress toward the long-term roadmap will continue. We have increased conviction in the firm achieving Commercial Advantage later this year, likely solidifying the company's first mover advantage, which we believe will be a significant milestone and major catalyst to drive shares meaningfully above our price target. However, recognizing the risks, inherent challenges in timing, and lacking qualitative, industry accepted benchmarking techniques, we prefer to maintain a conservative valuation approach. We also note, the cadence of technology advances and expected reauthorization of the NQIA in addition to Quantinuum's potential IPO may provide a catalyst near-term,' Williams. While this top-rated analyst is cautious in his outlook, he believes that IonQ can deliver, as he explains, 'Despite tempered competitor forecasts for the industry not reaching sufficiently capable systems to generate commercial value until later this decade, our view is IONQ is likely nearer than the broader market is anticipating. With the strongest balance sheet among public peers and consistent execution, we remain confident in the company's roadmap and growth potential.' Williams clearly sees IonQ as a standout in the quantum space, rating the stock a Buy. Overall, the Street's take on Moderna presents something of a conundrum. The stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 4 Buys and 1 Hold. However, the $40 average price target implies shares will drop ~12% in the year ahead. It will be interesting to see if analysts make changes to their IONQ models shortly. (See ) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks' Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks' equity insights.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- NZ Herald
Best things to do, see, eat and smell in Adelaide Hills, South Australia
On the hike from Chambers Gully to Mount Lofty, we all saw five kangaroos and an extraordinary 17 koalas, most relaxing on the tops of the trees. Photo / Ashley Swallow Kiwis love heading to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. However, far from these hot spots, the Adelaide Hills offers off-grid adventures accompanied by incredible food and wine, writes David Williams. Despite being only a three-hour flight away, I'm actually nervous about visiting our closest neighbours for the first
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Sticky Bandit burglar ordered to pay back £1 after West Midlands spree
A member of a prolific gang of burglars behind a multimillion-pound crime spree has been ordered to pay back just £1, a court has Shakespeare, 31, and four others stole tonnes of metal and vehicles from across the West Midlands, leaving a lewd image with the message "Merry Christmas" on the floor at one men, who called themselves The Sticky Bandits - a reference to the Home Alone 2 film - were jailed in November at Wolverhampton Crown the same court on Tuesday, Shakespeare, from Wolverhampton, was said to have benefited from the crimes to the extent of more than £1.15m, but was said to have no funds to pay anything back and was ordered to pay a nominal £1. David Williams, 44, and of Willenhall Road in the city, was said to have benefited from more than £1m and had an available amount of £332, which he was ordered to pay within 56 days.A third defendant, David Smith, 36 and of Cannock Road in Wolverhampton, was also said to have benefited from more than £1m and had a total of £1,057 available to pay it off, but £1,047 had been confiscated by the police. The two other gang members - Royston Hallard, 30 and of Coronation Road, and Lee Fletcher, 33 and of Bunkers Hill Lane, both in Wolverhampton - had their cases adjourned until next Midlands Police said the gang chose quieter sites and struck at Christmas, like their namesakes in the Home Alone stole and used vehicles to take the material to an industrial unit in Wolverhampton before likely selling on to scrap total loss of materials and vehicles was £1.6m, with the damage caused estimated at £200,000, and loss of sales, the cost of improving security and increased insurance premiums amounting to more than £800,000, the force recovered from some of the many phones used by the gang showed how they "relished what they were doing and would laugh and joke with each other", detectives gang members were jailed for between six and three years after admitting conspiracy to burgle commercial premises. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
