Walgreens Boots Alliance reported a $265 million loss in its fiscal first quarter ended November ... [+] 30, 2024, despite what the company chief executive said was early progress en route to a company turnaround that will take time, the company said January 10, 2025. In this photo, a sign sits in front of a Walgreens store on November 10, 2023 in Wheeling, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)Getty ImagesWalgreens Boots Alliance Friday reported a $265 million quarterly loss while citing what the drugstore chains chief executive called early progress en route to a company turnaround that will take time.The retail pharmacy giant, which has been closing stores and cutting costs, reported a net loss of $265 million, or 31 cents a share in its fiscal first quarter ended Nov. 30 of last year. That compares to a year-ago loss of $67 million or 8 cents a share.The fiscal first quarter earnings statement comes in the wake of a report a month ago that Walgreens is considering a sale to private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The company has previously discounted that report, saying executives dont comment on rumors or speculation.And on Friday morning, neither Walgreens press release, earnings statement nor CEO comments offered any indication that such a deal was in the works. Rather, Walgreens executives say they are focused on their own turnaround."Our first quarter results reflect our disciplined execution against our 2025 priorities: stabilizing the retail pharmacy by optimizing our footprint, controlling operating costs, improving cash flow and continuing to address reimbursement models, Walgreens Boots Alliance chief executive Tim Wentworth said in comments accompanying the earnings report. While our turnaround will take time, our early progress reinforces our belief in a sustainable, retail pharmacy-led operating model."MORE FOR YOUForbes2024 Forbes Healthcare Summit | The Future Of PharmacyWalgreens said its quarterly loss includes costs related to the footprint optimization program and an after-tax charge for fair value adjustments on variable prepaid forward derivatives related to the monetization of its shares in the big drug distributor Cencora.Walgreens, which holds a minority stake in Cencora, began reducing its stake in the distributor, formerly known as AmerisourceBergen, and other businesses over the last three years to raise money for reducing debt as well as other priorities such as the creation of a new specialty pharmacy business and putting more healthcare services in its stores.In the first quarter, Walgreens sales rose 7.5 percent to $39.5 billion driven largely by improving pharmacy sales and a solid quarter in the companys international segment.In particular, U.S. retail pharmacy sales increased 6.6% to $30.9 billion thanks largely to pharmacy sales that jumped more than 10% in the quarter benefiting from higher branded drug inflation and prescription volume. The pharmacy performance helped to offset the ongoing problems in the front end of the stores with retail sales decreasing more than 6% thanks to a a weaker cough cold flu season and lower sales in discretionary categories.Meanwhile, the companys U.S. Healthcare segment, which includes the primary care business VillageMD and the CareCentrix home care business, had first quarter sales of $2.2 billion compared to $1.9 billion in the year-ago period with growth in all businesses compared to the year-ago quarter. The improvement in U.S. healthcare helped narrow operating losses in the segment to $325 million compared to $436 million in the prior year.

WTF?! PC gamers may have done everything they can with RGB lighting, so some manufacturers are transitioning to a new trend letting users put screens all over and inside their desktop towers. Thermaltake is bringing things to the next level by equipping its new CPU cooler with a curved display that shows diagnostic info or whatever images users upload. Thermaltake exhibited two new CPU coolers with unusual screens at CES, one of which curves around the unit. The displays could help users personalize their PCs or provide crucial information when glancing at towers with glass exteriors.The MAGCurve 360 Ultra ARGB Sync AIO liquid cooler includes an L-shaped 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with an ultrawide 2,400 x 1,080 resolution. It can display a clock, the weather, diagnostic information, photos, GIFS, and videos. Meanwhile, the MAGFloe 360/240 packs similar functionality into a smaller 3.95-inch 480 x 480 LCD screen.Users can control the screens with the TT RGB Plus desktop software or the TT PlayLink mobile app. The mobile app allows users to upload content from their personal galleries and stream live content directly to the water block display.The MAGFloe 360/420 includes three SWAFAN EX fans with MagForce 2.0 connectors and swappable blades for switching airflow between intake and exhaust modes. The Pogo pin contact pads facilitate cable management.Thermaltake isn't the only manufacturer to recently put a screen somewhere on or inside a PC chassis. Last year, MSI exhibited a desktop with a vertical 1080p display covering the front panel. It displays diagnostics, fan controls, voltage sliders, and shortcuts to frequently used apps. Furthermore, it can serve as a traditional monitor, offering users more screen real estate for browsers or Discord windows. Meanwhile, the Asus ROG Thor III power supplies feature detachable magnetic OLED screens that allow users to monitor power draw more easily. // Related StoriesAt CES, Corsair introduced the Xeneon Edge a 14.5-inch 2,560 x 720 LCD touchscreen that can sit on a desk or magnetically mount onto various surfaces. It includes USB-C and HDMI connections. The full extent of its software support is unclear, but the Xeneon Edge can simultaneously display system diagnostics, a music player, the time, and more. It can also act as a secondary screen.Pricing and release details for Thermaltake's coolers are forthcoming, but they will be available in multiple colors. The MAGFloe offers black and snow options, while the MAGCurve adds bumblebee yellow and gravel sand.

What just happened? The sad case of James Howells, the man who has spent the last decade trying to recover a hard drive containing $713 million worth (at the time of writing) of Bitcoin from a local landfill, may have come to an end. He sued his local council for the right to search the site last year, but a judge has thrown out the case before it went to full trial at the High Court. Howells has been unsuccessfully trying to persuade the council of Newport, Wales, to allow him to dig for the 2.5-inch drive for years. He even promised to donate 10%, or around $71 million, of the Bitcoin to the local community if allowed to carry out a successful search.In October, Howells sued the city for the right to search the landfill or pay him 495 million ($607 million) in compensation. He claimed in court that he has a "finely tuned plan" to recover the component, and that its position has been narrowed down to a small area.But the High Court judge in the case was not swayed by Howells' argument. Newport council had asked Judge Keyser KC to strike out the legal action, which he has now done.Judge Keyser KC reasoned that there were no "reasonable grounds" for bringing the case and "no realistic prospect" of succeeding at a full trial."I consider that the particulars of the claim do not show any reasonable grounds for bringing this case. I also consider that the claim would have no realistic prospect of succeeding if it went to trial and that there is no other compelling reason why it should be disposed of at trial," the judge said.Newport council's lawyers previously said that Howells has no legal claim to the drive, and that anything that goes into the landfill goes into the council's ownership. The judge has accepted this argument.Howells said he was "very upset" about the decision, which he called a "kick in the teeth." // Related Stories"The case being struck out at the earliest hearing doesn't even give me the opportunity to explain myself or an opportunity for justice in any shape or form. There was so much more that could have been explained in a full trial and that's what I was expecting," he said.The landfill holds more than 1.4 million tons of waste, writes the BBC. Howells said he has narrowed the drive's area down to a section containing 100,000 tons. He believes the Bitcoin on the drive will be worth 1 billion ($1.2 billion) next year.Howells quit his job to focus on the search full time. He has hired a team of data recovery engineers who, like his lawyers, are working pro bono there are questions over whether the data on the drive would still be accessible after more than a decade of sitting under a pile of rotting garbage.As for why he just doesn't give up, Howells said he could "spend the rest of my life working nine to five and thinking about [the fortune] every day," so he might as well keep trying to recover it.For those who've never heard the full story, Howells had two 2.5-inch hard drives stored in a drawer in 2013, one of which he intended to get rid of and another that had a digital wallet with 7,500 Bitcoin. He put the drive containing the crypto in a black trash bag during an office sort-out and left it in the hall of his house. His partner assumed it was there to be thrown away, so she took the bag to the local landfill, where it's been ever since.

Jason Statham channels his inner Liam Neeson from Taken to find a missing girl in the trailer forA Working Man.After the death of his wife, Levon Cade (Statham) leaves the Royal Marines to settle down, electing to live a peaceful life working in construction. After his boss daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas) is abducted, Levon embarks on a mission to find her and exact his vengeance on the kidnappers. Levon infiltrates the citys criminal underbelly and discovers the abduction is part of a human trafficking network involving gangs, the mob, and corrupt government officials.Recommended VideosYou killed your way into this. Youre gonna have to kill your way out of it, Levons friend Gunny (David Harbour) says in the trailer.Please enable Javascript to view this contentA Working Mans ensemble includes Michael Pea, Jason Flemyng, Merab Ninidze, Maximilian Osinski, Cokey Falkow, Noemi Gonzalez, Arianna Rivas, Emmett J. Scanlan, and Eve Mauro.A Working Man | Official TrailerDavid Ayer directedA Working Manfrom a script he co-wrote with Sylvester Stallone, based on Chuck Dixons 2014 novel Levons Trade. Ayer and Statham teamed up for 2024s The Beekeeper, another action movie involving a revenge-fueled assassin on a quest for vengeance. Released in January 2024, The Beekeeperdid respectable business, grossing $153 million worldwide against a $40 million budget.Statham remains one of Hollywoods most reliable action stars, especially in B-movies. Stathams recent work includes Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Fast X, Meg 2: The Trench, and The Expend4bles.A Working Manwill receive a theatrical release from Amazon MGM Studios. After theaters, Stathams action movie will eventually head to Prime Video.A Working Manopens on March 28, 2025.Editors Recommendations

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd" Table of ContentsTable of ContentsWhat has changed?Sharp design, sharp shapeWhat else is new?Decent camerasIs it a phone to buy?The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus fixes one of the things I didnt really like about its predecessor the camera modules design but has then introduced a different design feature thats far less successful and a backwards step compared with the old phone. Ive spent a few days with the new Redmi phone to see if I can live with the changes.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe Redmi Note 13 Pro Pluss design was too faceless. It was a perfectly decent phone, but it had no identity, meaning I quickly forgot about it once I moved on to another phone. It didnt help that I was using the ordinary black version and not one of the brighter, more exciting colors, a problem repeated with my Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus review model.Recommended VideosHowever, Xiaomi (Redmi is a spinoff of the Xiaomi brand) has really improved the overall design, giving the phone its own unique look on the back. The camera module isnt quite square and not quite a squircle either, and I love the way it looks, especially when you get closer. The edge has a sloped, polished edge leading down to a coin edge design element reminiscent of a watch bezel.Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus (left) and Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe rear Corning Gorilla Glass 7i panel seen here in Midnight Black, but also available in Frost Blue and a vegan leather Lavender Purple color is smooth with a matte finish and is scratch resistant, while the phone has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Its all a step beyond what youd expect, and this combination of finishes and overall design symmetry gives the phone an upmarket style. I really like it right up until I held the phone for any length of time.RelatedAndy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe decision was taken to shun the curved but squared-off edge of the Redmi 13 Pro Plus and adopt a more aggressive curve, leading to a sharper edge for the Redmi 14 Pro Plus. Sadly, it was the wrong decision, as the phone becomes uncomfortable to grip. The taper is just too sharp and a misstep compared to the well-judged side profile of the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus.Is it a deal breaker? No, probably not to most people, but it does bother me. The way around it is to use the silicone case Redmi includes in the box, which softens the edges enough that you dont need to take a rest from holding the phone after a while. The downside is that it covers up the color of the phone (important if you choose one other than black) and hides the great design.Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus in its supplied case Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsUltimately, the decision to give the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus sharp sides means Id recommend buying the Midnight Black version because youre almost certainly going to use the phone in a case. The one Redmi supplies in the box is decent quality, too. This seems like such a shame when the other colors look so good in photos. Lets take a closer look at the phones other features before you rush out and place an order.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe biggest internal change over the previous model is a switch from a MediaTek Dimensity processor to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, which comes with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB or 512GB of storage space. The battery capacity is up a little to 5,110mAh, and it supports Xiaomis 120W HyperCharge wired fast charging, but theres no wireless charging.On the front is a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen covered in Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 with up to 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. I have not had any problem seeing the screen in bright winter sunlight, and viewing angles are excellent with little reflection. Its a shame the HyperOS software interface is based on Android 14 though, putting the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus behind many other phones which come with Android 15 installed out of the box.Disappointingly, the cameras specification appears identical to the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, leading with a 200MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and joined by an 8MP wide-angle camera and a 2MP macro camera. Yes, the two worst additional cameras you can find on a modern smartphone. Ive taken a selection of photos with the Redmi 14 Pro Plus to see how it performs.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsI went into taking photos with the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus not expecting that much from it. Sure, the 8MP wide-angle camera takes poor-quality, hazy photos, but this is not a problem unique to the Redmi phone. The app doesnt bother to provide a macro mode to make use of the pointless 2MP camera, leaving me with the main camera and an in-app optical grade 2x and 4x zoom option.1 of 7Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Wide-angle Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 2x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 4x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The main camera is good. It takes colorful, bright, and properly exposed photos that arent over-saturated. This was especially welcome on a day when the sun was bright but low in the sky, where a lesser camera would have struggled to get the balance right. The 2x zoom takes detailed photos and is perfectly usable, but the 4x mode is pushing the cameras ability a little, as detail gets lost when you look closely.1. 200MP (resized)2. 200MP cropped photoTheres a full 200MP photo mode, too, but youll want to use it carefully, as a single image can take up more than 100MB of space. As youd expect, the resolution is also huge 12240 x 1630 which means its possible to crop images down to zoom in on details without compromising on quality. It works really well in the right environment, as you can see from the two images above, where the center of the 200MP photo has been cropped down to the standard 4080 x 3060 pixels and it looks fine.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIf you own the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, then the Note 14 Pro Plus isnt a significant upgrade, and I prefer the shape of the old phone even if the design isnt as attractive, but for anyone looking for an upgrade to an older model, its a strong option. The price and availability havent been confirmed at the time of writing, but the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus launched for 449 British pounds, or around $550, so its likely to be similar for the sequel.This puts it up against some serious competition, including the Samsung Galaxy A55, the OnePlus Nord 4, the Google Pixel 8a, and the Nothing Phone 2. These are all great purchases, and from my limited time with the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus, it does deserve to be rated alongside them, even if I cant quite get on with the sharp edges. Put it in the supplied case, though, and youll never notice.Editors Recommendations

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsHow to enter55-inch Sansui OLED TV: Vibrant colors in a frameless designSony PlayStation 5 Slim: Disc Edition, but keep it thinIs a major upgrade to your home theater and gaming setup on your New Years wish list? Does that clash with your other New Years resolution to save money? Keep reading for a great opportunity to cross both off your list. The best part: Everything in this giveaway has been reviewed (and praised) by Digital Trends reviewers.From January 10 to February 6, you can enter to win both a Sansui S55VOUG 55-inch OLED TV and a PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition. Thats everything you need to start the new year with a next-gen gaming setup. Good luck!To enter for a chance to win the Samsung S55VOUG OLED TV and a PlayStation 5 Slim, fill out the form below:Enter here to win the 55in Sansui OLED TV and PS5Chris Hagan / Digital TrendsSansui surprised us with new OLED TVs in 2024. Among the new sizes is this 55-inch Sansui S55VOUG OLED. Lets get one selling point out of the way: This TV made our best OLED TVs of 2024 list as the best affordable option. It comes in at only $900 new, a shockingly affordable price for a 55-inch OLED TV. While harping on the affordability of this TV might be redundant in a post about a giveaway, we just have to state how much it impressed us for the price.It comes with Google TV for its smart features, which is one of our favorite options. The remote is nice and slim and has a microphone for communication with Google Assistant. Setup is simple and the build is solid. Small details like a metal baseplate are nice additions you wouldnt expect for this price.The display also holds up. It gets great contrast, as youd expect from an OLED, and motion is crisp. In fact, it uses the same WOLED panels that LGs B-Series TVs use. Its 4K, naturally, with a 120Hz refresh rate. It handles HDR well and has VRR and ALLM support for gaming. When testing it, we did notice a bit more input lag than wed like to see.While affordability is the Sansui S55VOUGs biggest selling point, its a solid TV in its own right. We wouldnt recommend it if price was its only asset.SonyThe days of struggling to find a PlayStation 5 are over, thankfully, but that doesnt mean you want to spend $500 on one. Not to say it isnt worth it we gave the PS5 Slim a 9 out of 10 rating in our recent review. In fact, even though the PS5 Pro was recently released, our gaming editor, Giovanni Colantonio, has remarked that hes found himself sticking with the standard PS5 Slim over the PS5 Pro for all but the most demanding games. Dont write this console off just because its not the cutting edge of gaming anymore.On release, the PlayStation 5 blew expectations out of the water. Load times are faster than ever, especially on PS4 titles that have been rereleased for the PS5, such as Sonys Spider-Man and Miles Morales. Its surprisingly customizable, with the ability to add your own SSD for expanded memory a necessity in the era of 100GB games. And despite memes to the contrary, the exclusives are notable and worth your time.A standout for the PS5 is the haptic feedback controller. The vibrations are more accurate than ever, and resistance in the triggers adjusts based on your gameplay. Sonys free launch exclusive, Astros Playroom, made heavy use of the new controller features, and it was a resounding success. Its full-length follow-up, Astro Bot, also got stellar reviews.If you havent stepped into the current generation of console gaming, the PS5 Slim Disc Edition is worth your time. Check it out for yourself, and dont forget to enter the giveaway above.Editors RecommendationsYou can win the Anker SOLIX F3800, heres how

Serhii Mohylevskyi, QA Practice Leader, NIXJanuary 10, 20254 Min Readsyahrir maulana via Alamy StockArtificial intelligence is already a big deal, but not everyone is using it effectively. Many clients ask us how weve integrated AI into our QA process, but creating a real, usable approach wasnt as easy as it seemed. Today, I want to share how we approached AI in quality assurance and the lessons we learned along the way.The AI Hype and RealityTwo years ago, ChatGPT exploded onto the scene. People rushed to learn about generative AI, large language models and machine learning. Initially, the focus was on AI replacing jobs, but over time, these discussions faded, leaving behind a flood of AI-powered products claiming breakthroughs across every industry.For software development, the main questions were:How can AI benefit our daily processes?Will AI replace QA engineers?What new opportunities can AI bring?Starting the AI InvestigationAt our company, we received an inquiry from sales asking about AI tools we were using. Our response? Well, we were using ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot in some cases, but nothing specifically for QA. So, we set out to explore how AI could genuinely enhance our QA practices.What we found was that AI could increase productivity, save time, and provide additional quality gates, if implemented correctly. We were eager to explore these benefits.Related:Categorizing the AI ToolsOver the next few months, we analyzed numerous AI tools, categorizing them into three main groups:Existing tools with AI features: Many products had added AI features just to ride the hype wave. While some were good, the AI was often just a marketing gimmick, providing basic functionality like test data generation or spell-checking.AI-based products from scratch: These products aimed to be more intelligent but were often rough around the edges. Their user interfaces were lacking, and many ideas didn't work as expected. However, we saw potential for the future.False advertising: These were products promising flawless bug-free applications, usually requiring credit card information upfront. We quickly ignored these as obvious scams.What We LearnedDespite our thorough search, we didnt find any AI tools ready for large-scale commercial use in QA. Some tools had promising features, like auto-generating tests or recommending test plans, but they were either incomplete or posed security risks by requiring excessive access to source code.Yet, we identified realistic uses of AI. By focusing on general-use AI models like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot, we realized that while QA-specific tools werent quite there yet, we could still leverage AI in our process. To make the most of it, we surveyed our 400 QA engineers about their use of AI in their daily work.Related:About half were already using AI, primarily for:Assisting with test automationGenerating test dataProofreading documentsAutomating routine tasksDeveloping a New ApproachWe then created an in-house course on generative AI tailored for QA engineers. This empowered them to use AI for tasks like test case generation, documentation, and automating repetitive tasks. As engineers learned, they discovered even more ways to optimize workflows with AI.How profitable is it? Our measurements showed that AI reduced the time spent on test case generation and documentation by 20%. For coding engineers, AI-enabled them to generate multiple test frameworks in a fraction of the time it wouldve taken manually, speeding up the process. Tasks that used to take weeks could now be done in a day.The DownsidesDespite its benefits, AI isnt perfect. It isnt smart enough to replace jobs, especially for junior engineers. AI may generate test cases, but it often overlooks important checks, or it suggests irrelevant ones. It requires constant oversight and fact-checking.Related:Why Many Companies Get It WrongThe biggest mistake companies make is jumping into AI without understanding its limitations. Many fall for the hype and end up using AI tools that dont work well, only to face frustration. The truth is that AI is a valuable assistive tool, but it needs to be used thoughtfully and alongside human oversight.Key takeaways from our journey with AI in QA:AI is not a magic bullet. It provides incremental improvements but wont radically transform your processes overnight.Implementing AI takes effort. It needs to be tailored to your needs, and blindly following trends wont get you far.AI can assist, but it cant replace human oversight. Its ineffective for junior engineers who may not be able to discern when AI is wrong.Dedicated AI testing tools still need improvement. The market isnt yet ready for specialized AI tools in QA that offer real value.AI is exciting and transforming many industries, but in QA, it remains an assistive tool rather than a game-changer. We at NIX are embracing it, but we're not throwing out the rulebook just yet.About the AuthorSerhii MohylevskyiQA Practice Leader, NIXSerhii Mohylevskyi is a QA Practice Leader at NIX, bringing over 10 years of experience in manual, automated, and performance testing. He focuses on integrating new technologies into QA processes.See more from Serhii MohylevskyiNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports

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Spaghetti cacio e pepe is made with black pepper and pecorino cheesemyViewPoint/AlamyPhysicists have discovered the key to a consistently delicious cacio e pepe pasta, a traditional Italian dish made with black pepper and pecorino cheese.Cooking cacio e pepe involves melting the cheese with some of the water the pasta is cooked in to create a smooth sauce, but achieving this is notoriously tricky. If the mixture becomes too hot or has the incorrect balance of cheese and starch from the pasta water, then the sauce will become unpleasantly lumpy rather than smooth.

Most chocolate comes from cocoaplants taken from Central America to Ghana and Ivory CoastIssouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty ImagesWild ChocolateRowan Jacobsen (Bloomsbury Publishing)I thought I knew the basics about the chocolate industry. Most comes from hundreds of thousands of small cocoa farms in Ghana and Ivory Coast. Many of these use child labour a truth well hidden in the exquisite confections a lot of us are working our way through this January.Rowan Jacobsens new book Wild Chocolate: Across the Americas in search of cacaos soul doesnt tell this story in detail. Instead, Jacobsen, a science writer, spins a narrower tale