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Ticket sales for Epic Universe theme park and related hotel bookings are “a little ahead of our expectations,” Comcast Corp. president Mike Cavanagh said during the company’s quarterly earnings call this week. The resort is well-positioned, officials said, despite reports of international travel anxiety.

Comcast is the parent company of Universal Orlando, which is adding Epic to its lineup. The theme park’s grand opening is set for May 22.

“We have seen strong demand since launching Epic ticket sales in the fourth quarter of 2024, and the most recent reaction to early previews has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Cavanagh said.

Epic Universe preview: An early walk (and rides) in the park

Comcast’s theme park revenue was down 5.2% for the first quarter from a year earlier, and operating expenses were up 7.5%.  In the ramp-up to Epic’s opening there were about $100 million in incremental costs, as anticipated, chief financial officer Jason Armstrong said.

“Looking past these pre-opening costs, underlying results in the quarter indicated stable trends in Orlando, giving us confidence that we are entering the Epic launch from a position of strength,” Armstrong said. read more

After a successful test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station last December, the Army on Thursday officially named its long-range hypersonic weapon “Dark Eagle.” The system designed to “disintegrate adversary capabilities” was at it again Friday morning.

Liftoff of the LRHW Dark Eagle this morning https://t.co/lCJhUXxT84 pic.twitter.com/YJXXuSxmJK

— Jerry Pike (@JerryPikePhoto) April 25, 2025

Images posted to social media showed the missile launch from Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 46 while the Eastern Range had posted maritime and airspace keep-out notices, although no details about the mission had been announced.

“A combined team of government, academic and industry partners conducted a test on behalf of the Department of Defense from a test site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station,” according to an emailed statement from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. “We are currently evaluating the results of the test.”

Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle split into two distinct sections, with one appearing to tumble away, and the other continuing to propel itself forward until it disappeared into the sky pic.twitter.com/Fa75Zdenr1 read more

By BERNARD CONDON, Associated Press Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration is loosening rules to help U.S. automakers like Elon Musk’s Tesla develop self-driving cars so they can take on Chinese rivals.

U.S. companies developing self-driving cars will be allowed exemptions from certain federal safety rules for testing purposes, the Transportation Department said Thursday. The department also said it will streamline crash reporting requirements involving self-driving software that Musk has criticized as onerous and will move toward a single set of national rules for the technology to replace a patchwork of state regulations.

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By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet

The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.

Over on Reddit, a user recently asked for budgeting advice. After itemizing their current budget, the user was hoping to make cuts to their monthly spending and find a way to save more money.

The user said they brought in just over $3,300 in a month and spent about $2,600 on fixed costs, such as rent and insurance, along with line items for groceries and entertainment. The rest was for debt payment, leaving nothing for savings.

Applying the 50/30/20 budget — which suggests that 50% of take-home pay should go toward needs, 30% toward wants and 20% toward savings and debt payments beyond the minimums — the user was right on track, except for the savings and debt payments category.

Reddit responders had some good money-saving ideas, including switching to a cheaper cell phone plan and cutting back on extras, like car washes, electronics and fitness classes. read more

By KELVIN CHAN, AP Business Writer

LONDON (AP) — New smartphones aren’t cheap and prices could reach even higher as globe trade tensions fueled by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats throw Asian exports into turmoil.

To save money, consider buying a secondhand device.

The market for used cell phones is booming. It’s now growing faster than the market for new devices, according to CCS Insight, a U.K.-based tech research firm.

As each new model release sends consumers rushing to upgrade, they’ll also be selling or trading in their existing devices, which usually have lots of life left.

If you’re on a budget, a refurbished secondhand phone can be up to 50% cheaper than new, and they now come with warranties, flexible financing and after-sales service, CCS said in a recent report.

Meanwhile, the starting price of a new top of the line iPhone Pro Max could potentially rise 29% from $1,550 to $1,200, according to a UBS estimate.

But buying a secondhand device is less straightforward than buying a new one. Here are some pointers: read more