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Reform party’s rout in local elections poses huge challenges for Conservatives and Labour View the full article

Budget blueprint proposes slashing environmental and aid programmes, while boosting support for defenceView the full article

Only 50% of employed people in the U.S. describe themselves as “extremely satisfied” with their job, so it’s safe to say that everyone at some point in their lives has dreaded going to work on Monday and dreamed of the sort of career you see on television: Fun, exciting, and with a high enough salary to be comfortable. If you think that “fun” and “pays enough” are polar opposites, the good news is that’s not true. If you want to have a good time while earning a salary, there are some surprising options out there. These jobs may not make you rich, but they will pay your bills while you get to have a blast. LEGO master builderIf you thought your days of playing with LEGO ended when you became an adult, it’s time to revise your concept of adulthood because the LEGO master builder profession exists. This—and I cannot stress this enough—is a real job. LEGO hires people at its stores and facilities to build, maintain, and repair massive, complex installations. Master builders also perform a PR role for the company, doing interviews and creating social media content. Getting the job doesn’t require any formal education or certification—a high school diploma is the basic requirement—but a background in art and design won’t hurt. The main qualification is creativity, so having a portfolio of impressive LEGO creations is essential. The company holds regional competitions called Brick Factors where you compete against other LEGO enthusiasts to be named an assistant master builder, putting you on the career track of your childhood dreams, so you’ll have to check at your local Discovery Center for the next opportunity. A LEGO master builder earns an average of about $46,000, with New York being the highest-paying area at about $50,000 annually. RoadieThe role of the roadie has evolved quite a bit from the classic image of the grungy dude hauling amplifiers around backstage. Bands and other traveling music performances still need roadies, but the modern incarnations are more specialized, including lighting and sound engineers and instrument technicians. While that might sound intimidating, most roadies learn their skills on the job—they start off with a low-level job at a local music venue, network with artists and managers who come through the space, and often have to work for free for a while in order to establish themselves. Once you do that, however, you can earn anywhere from $45,000 to $60,000 a year—although it’s all freelance work, so your income will vary tremendously depending on whether you’re touring with a national act or a band that’s just getting started. It can be hard work—long hours and months spent on the road in uncomfortable accommodations—but if you love music and want the rush of setting up a concert for thousands of people, this career could be a blast. Water slide testerYes, this is an actual job you can get. Also called a ride verification technician, a water slide tester is exactly what it sounds like: You test water slides for safety, operation, and any other issues. Some of these jobs are permanent in a specific amusement park, and sometimes they travel around the country testing and inspecting slides everywhere, but it still equates to slapping on some swimwear and taking multiple splashdowns every day for a living. The main prerequisite is first aid and lifeguard certifications, which can often be obtained from the hiring company itself. You’ll also need to become very familiar with the specifications and operating guidelines for the specific slides, as manufacturers have very strict rules on how frequently people can enter and other stats. The average annual salary for a water slide tester is about $60,000 annually, although a few years ago someone on Reddit claimed to be making closer to $100,000. Ice sculptingIf you’ve ever been to a fancy party (or a party that wants desperately to be fancy), you’ve probably seen an ice sculpture or two in your time. If you have an artistic mind and a related skill in carving, this could be a fun career that lets you make money by being creative (and bringing a little joy to people, too). There are different routes into the career: You can take a class from someplace like the Academy of Ice Carving and Design in Tennessee or from established ice sculptors who offer them, or you can contact local sculptors and see if you can get a job or an unpaid internship with them. There’s no certification process, however, so you can also just start carving some ice and then enter an ice sculpting competition like Ice Alaska or the Québec Winter Carnival. A few awards will be all you need to start getting gigs. You can make an average of about $50,000 annually as an ice sculptor in the U.S.—but income can be as much as twice as high depending on your location and the opportunities available. Candle or perfume 'nose'If your idea of a good time is being paid to smell things, being a nose is the ideal career. A nose is a professional who works for a perfumery, a candle company, or any other place where smell is a key component of the business. Becoming a nose (sometimes called a perfumer, especially in the fragrance business) isn’t something you just decide to do, however. While you don’t need to be born with a freakish sense of smell, you do need a lot of training. It starts with getting a degree in a field like chemistry or cosmetic science in order to have the fundamental training necessary. From there it’s possible to find apprenticeship positions in fragrance houses or at candle companies, but your best bet will likely be certification at a perfumery school, which will take years and won’t be cheap. But if your passions run through your sense of smell, this could be the perfect career for you. And it’ll pay your rent, too, depending on where you live: A nose can make about $70,000 a year on average. View the full article

As if there wasn’t enough to worry about already between the economic pressure of President The President’s tariffs and an escalating trade war with China, not mention the overhaul of our federal government, you can add this to the list: Next week is the deadline before updated identification requirements for domestic travel will kick in. Starting May 7, Americans will need to have the new Real ID in place of a regular driver’s license to board a domestic flight. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Real ID requirements. What is a Real ID? So you’re probably wondering: What is the Real ID, anyway? It’s an enhanced form of identification, either a federally compliant state-issued driver’s license, learner’s permit, or another form of approved identification. Real IDs are marked with a gold or black star in the upper right-hand corner, to indicate it meets the federal security standards set by the REAL ID Act. Those stars vary from state to state. For example, a Massachusetts Real ID driver’s license or identification card displays a simple gold star, while a California Real ID will be marked with a golden bear in the same place. Why is it necessary to get a Real ID? Starting May 7, people in the U.S. will need a Real ID for domestic air travel, access to secure federal facilities, and to enter nuclear power plants. (The majority of Americans will need a Real ID for the purpose of boarding a plane.) Why is the government requiring Real IDs? In the years following the deadly plane crashes on September 11th, most notably into the World Trade Center, Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005. (The hijackers responsible for those attacks were reportedly carrying U.S. driver’s licenses and state IDs.) Recommended by the 9/11 Commission, it required the government to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” which established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. After a number of delays, Real ID requirements will finally go into effect after 20 years in the making. What’s the deadline to obtain a Real ID for travel? Starting May 7, 2025, travelers 18 years of age and older will need a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or identification to fly within the United States. How can I get a Real ID? In many states, people can obtain a Real ID by visiting their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office and providing required an assortment of documentation, including state-issued driver’s licenses, otherwise approved ID cards, or a passport. This will likely require making an in-person appointment. There are recent reports of long lines in many states including Pennsylvania and Kentucky, with New York extending service hours at select offices, according to the New York Times. Check your state’s driver’s licensing agency website to find out exactly what documentation is required, as it may vary from state to state. At a minimum, most documentation requirements include: your full legal name, date of birth, social security number, proofs of address, and lawful status. Are all states issuing Real ID compliant cards? Yes. All states, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories are Real ID compliant and issuing Real ID compliant driver’s licenses and IDs. What if I can’t get a Real ID by May 7 but still need to fly? If you are traveling domestically, you will only need one valid form of identification, either your Real ID or another acceptable alternative such as a passport, not both. So if you don’t get your Real ID and need to fly after the May 7 deadline, you can still board a plane for domestic travel using your passport. Just make sure it’s up to date. If you are traveling internationally you will still need your passport. View the full article

Rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK threatens the Labour-Conservative duopolyView the full article

First foreign trip for prime minister since this week’s election will focus on ‘trade pressures’View the full article

Need to quickly edit a photo? MiNi PhotoEditor is a free and open source web application that lets you do basic image editing tasks in your browser, without having to upload your photos to a server somewhere. The application offers quick tools for cropping, lighting, and other adjustments, alongside Instagram-style filters. This is perfect if you ever need to quickly edit an image on a computer where you can't install photo editing software, such as a Chromebook or a work computer. To get started, simply open the MiNi PhotoEditor website and drag an image onto it. In my tests, all images—even large ones—opened instantly, which makes sense, given that all editing happens locally on your computer. No need to wait for it to upload. The editing interface is simple—your image is on the left, and the editing tools are arranged in boxes to the right (or below, if your window isn't wide enough to display them to the side). The top box allows you to rotate the image, crop it (by hand or to a given ratio) and even do some basic perspective shifting. Below that are boxes for adjusting the lighting levels and the color balance, which can be useful if the lighting wasn't quite right when you took the photo. There are also a few Instagram-style filters that can be applied with a click. Credit: Justin Pot Feel free to make as many edits as you want—the original file isn't affected. You can click the Split button in the top-right corner to see the difference between the original image and the edited version. When you're done, click the Download button to save the image as either a JPEG or PNG file. MiNi PhotoEditor is never going to replace a full-blown photo editor like Photoshop, granted, but it's completely free, it gives you a lot of the basics, and it's available on any device with a web browser. View the full article

Britain does not have a populist problem. It has an unpopularist problemView the full article

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has long encouraged people to use their phones, whether through the forsaken Poke on Facebook or uploading Reels on Instagram. But the company’s newest idea for how and when to take out your phone might be too big an ask for some cinema lovers: Meta wants people to use their phones in movie theaters, specifically for its chatbot Movie Mate. The chatbot, which Meta has reportedly claimed will “get audiences back in theaters,” works by sending moviegoers trivia, quips, and questions about the movie, according to the New York Times. The catch? All of this happens while the film plays in front of them. Fast Company has reached out to Meta for comment and more details, but we did not immediately hear back. On Wednesday, Movie Mate was tested in select theaters through a partnership with Blumhouse, a production company. Blumhouse screened the horror movie M3GAN as part of its Halfway to Halloween event, and Movie Mate took on the title character’s persona. This might be a good time to remind everyone that M3GAN centers on an AI-powered robot that turns hostile. As reported by NYT, about 70 people attended a screening at an AMC theater in Los Angeles. Before the movie began, a Blumhouse representative told the crowd, “I know this sounds weird, but please take out your phones.” She briefed the crowd on how to use Movie Mate, and then the movie began alongside the glow of screens—imagine describing that to horror’s own Alfred Hitchcock. Blumhouse wasn’t immediately available to comment. Mixed reactions Regal Cineworld joined AMC Entertainment as a testing ground for Movie Mate, though both were adamant that customers had to know what they were getting into before they bought tickets. Other chains, like Alamo Drafthouse, participated in the M3GAN rerelease but kept screens limited to the one in front, as Variety reported. Hollywood could definitely use help in getting people back into theaters. As Box Office Mojo data shows, domestic grosses still haven’t come close to returning to pre-pandemic levels. U.S. ticket sales hit $8.6 billion last year, compared to more than $11 billion in 2019. However, moviegoers apparently have mixed feelings about using their phones during showings. The New York Times noted that one woman initially thought, “This is really cool,” but soon felt uncomfortable taking her phone out, reading most of the messages after the movie ended. A Variety editor who attended a screening found the chatbot unable to converse, out of sync with the movie, and mostly ignored by others in the theater. He summed Movie Mate up in two words: “epic fail.” View the full article

Japan’s massive holdings of U.S. Treasurys can be “a card on the table” in negotiations over tariffs with the The President administration, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said Friday. “It does exist as a card, but I think whether we choose to use it or not would be a separate decision,” Kato said during a news show on national broadcaster TV Tokyo. Kato did not elaborate and he did not say Japan would step up sales of its holdings of U.S. government bonds as part of its talks over President Donald The President’s tariffs on exports from Japan. Earlier, Japanese officials including Kato had ruled out such an option. Japan is the largest foreign holder of U.S. government debt, at $1.13 trillion as of late February. China, also at odds with the The President administration over trade and tariffs, is the second largest foreign investor in Treasurys. Kato stressed that various factors would be on the negotiating table with The President, implying that a promise not to sell Treasurys could help coax Washington into an agreement favorable for Japan. The President has disrupted decades of American trade policies, including with key security allies like Japan, by imposing big import taxes, or tariffs, on a wide range of products. A team of Japanese officials was in Washington this week for talks on the tariffs. The U.S. is due to soon begin imposing a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and auto parts, as well as an overall 10% baseline tariff. The bigger tariffs will hurt at a time when Japanese economic growth is weakening. Asian holdings of Treasurys have remained relatively steady in recent years, according to the most recent figures. But some analysts worry China or other governments could liquidate their U.S. Treasury holdings as trade tensions escalate. U.S. government bonds are traditionally viewed as a safe financial asset, and recent spikes in yields of those bonds have raised worries that they might be losing that status due to The President’s tariff policies. —Yuri Kageyama, AP business writer View the full article

The tool's launch comes as various sources report growth in both serious borrower delinquencies and foreclosure activity over the first few months of 2025. View the full article

If you're a Switch fan, you might know that Nintendo dropped a pretty significant update this week. Version 20.0.0 introduced a number of new features and changes for Nintendo's consoles, including virtual game cards and GameShare, and set the stage for the launch of the Switch 2. However, the update brought with it something Nintendo did not intend: instability. It turns out that after updating to version 20.0.0, some Switch users ran into error codes when booting up their consoles—specifically, Error Code: 2206-1015, which caused some Switches to crash. While it doesn't appear to be affecting most Switches, the problem was bad enough for Nintendo to acknowledge it via their customer support page on X. In the post, the company apologizes for the issue, and reports they are looking into the problem. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. It didn't take long for them to find a solution: Nintendo acknowledged the issue on Thursday, May 1, before rolling out a new update on Friday, May 2. According to the release notes, this update, version 20.0.1, fixes one problem: the issue with Error Code: 2206-1015. If you're installing this update, don't expect to see anything new from version 20.0.0—minus, of course, any error codes. How to update your Switch if it is unresponsiveThe issue, however, is if you have an affected Switch, you might not be able to update it normally. (That's the tricky thing about bugs that cause your system to crash.) Luckily, Nintendo has a solution: update your Switch in Maintenance Mode. To do so, follow these steps: Make sure the Switch is totally powered off by pressing down on the power button for 12 seconds. Hold the volume up and volume down buttons, then press the power button to turn the system on. Do not let go of the volume buttons until your see the Maintenance Mode menu. Once you see the Maintenance Mode menu, choose Update System, then follow the on-screen instructions to update. View the full article

Wix has announced a partnership with ActiveCampaign, a leading marketing automation platform, to offer an integrated solution for businesses of all sizes, including franchises and multi-location brands. The collaboration aims to streamline customer engagement, marketing automation, and website management through a unified platform. According to Wix, the partnership combines its website management capabilities with ActiveCampaign’s advanced marketing tools, enabling businesses to oversee customer journeys from front-end website interactions to back-office operations. The integration allows for seamless data synchronization between Wix websites and ActiveCampaign accounts, simplifying operations and enhancing customer engagement. Key Features of the Integration The newly introduced solution offers several core features: Streamlined Data Integration: Data is seamlessly synced across both platforms, allowing businesses to better manage customer interactions and marketing efforts. Scalable Marketing Automation: Businesses can create, distribute, and automate highly personalized marketing campaigns by leveraging customer insights, such as form submissions, product purchases, and other behaviors tracked on Wix sites and landing pages. Comprehensive Centralized Reporting: Businesses gain a holistic view of performance across their networks, with insights into customer engagement, sales conversions, and marketing campaign effectiveness. Enhanced Multi-Location Management: Franchises and multi-location businesses can manage marketing automation, customer engagement, and website operations across multiple brands and locations using ActiveCampaign HQ, maintaining brand consistency at both corporate and local levels. “Whether managing a single site or hundreds of locations, Wix and ActiveCampaign provide an intuitive, scalable solution that simplifies workflows and businesses to focus on growth,” said David Schwartz, VP of Product at Wix. “With this partnership, businesses can qualify and nurture leads seamlessly, personalize sales and marketing efforts using engagement metrics, and enhance operational efficiency by automating repetitive tasks. This solution will ultimately empower businesses of all sizes to manage their brand holistically—driving growth, profitability, and customer loyalty.” Shay Howe, Chief Strategy Officer at ActiveCampaign, added, “Today’s businesses need streamlined solutions that enable them to scale without adding complexity. By combining Wix’s powerful website platform with ActiveCampaign’s marketing automation, we’re giving businesses of all sizes—especially franchises and multi-location brands—the tools they need to personalize customer experiences, automate engagement, and drive measurable growth.” The integration is now available for Wix users who have an ActiveCampaign account. This article, "Wix Partners with ActiveCampaign to Expand Customer Engagement and Marketing Automation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Wix has announced a partnership with ActiveCampaign, a leading marketing automation platform, to offer an integrated solution for businesses of all sizes, including franchises and multi-location brands. The collaboration aims to streamline customer engagement, marketing automation, and website management through a unified platform. According to Wix, the partnership combines its website management capabilities with ActiveCampaign’s advanced marketing tools, enabling businesses to oversee customer journeys from front-end website interactions to back-office operations. The integration allows for seamless data synchronization between Wix websites and ActiveCampaign accounts, simplifying operations and enhancing customer engagement. Key Features of the Integration The newly introduced solution offers several core features: Streamlined Data Integration: Data is seamlessly synced across both platforms, allowing businesses to better manage customer interactions and marketing efforts. Scalable Marketing Automation: Businesses can create, distribute, and automate highly personalized marketing campaigns by leveraging customer insights, such as form submissions, product purchases, and other behaviors tracked on Wix sites and landing pages. Comprehensive Centralized Reporting: Businesses gain a holistic view of performance across their networks, with insights into customer engagement, sales conversions, and marketing campaign effectiveness. Enhanced Multi-Location Management: Franchises and multi-location businesses can manage marketing automation, customer engagement, and website operations across multiple brands and locations using ActiveCampaign HQ, maintaining brand consistency at both corporate and local levels. “Whether managing a single site or hundreds of locations, Wix and ActiveCampaign provide an intuitive, scalable solution that simplifies workflows and businesses to focus on growth,” said David Schwartz, VP of Product at Wix. “With this partnership, businesses can qualify and nurture leads seamlessly, personalize sales and marketing efforts using engagement metrics, and enhance operational efficiency by automating repetitive tasks. This solution will ultimately empower businesses of all sizes to manage their brand holistically—driving growth, profitability, and customer loyalty.” Shay Howe, Chief Strategy Officer at ActiveCampaign, added, “Today’s businesses need streamlined solutions that enable them to scale without adding complexity. By combining Wix’s powerful website platform with ActiveCampaign’s marketing automation, we’re giving businesses of all sizes—especially franchises and multi-location brands—the tools they need to personalize customer experiences, automate engagement, and drive measurable growth.” The integration is now available for Wix users who have an ActiveCampaign account. This article, "Wix Partners with ActiveCampaign to Expand Customer Engagement and Marketing Automation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Are you guilty of overusing the monkey covering its eyes emoji? Do you find it impossible to send a text without tacking on a laughing-crying face? Much like choosing between a full stop or an “x” at the end of a message, emojis have become their own form of language—complete with unspoken rules and hidden meanings (we all know exactly what we’re implying with the eyes emoji or the eggplant). But beyond adding subtext or flirtatious nuance, your go-to emojis might reveal more about you than you realize. According to a new study published in Current Psychology by researchers at Oklahoma State University, your emoji habits could offer surprising insight into your underlying personality traits. The study surveyed 285 undergraduates, all around the age of 20, about their use of 40 different emojis. Participants also completed questionnaires designed to assess their personality traits. The researchers were particularly focused on what’s known as the Dark Triad: psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism. The results showed that among men, frequent emoji use was associated with Machiavellian traits and higher levels of neuroticism. Women weren’t off the hook either: Heavy emoji use among female participants was linked to narcissistic tendencies. The researchers speculated that this connection between emoji use and the Dark Triad could be due to the way emojis are often used for self-promotion and image management—behaviors commonly tied to narcissism. Overall, women used both positive and negative emojis more frequently than men, whether in text messages, social media posts, or replies and comments. However, six emojis stood out as being used more often by men. You can probably guess a few of them (hint: yes, the pile of poo made the list). While previous studies have suggested that emojis are most often used by introverts, the Current Psychology says otherwise. For both men and women, extroverts emerged as the most frequent emoji users. So the next time you’re about to send a string of fire emojis, just be sure you’re not accidentally outing yourself as a Machiavellian narcissist in the process. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Pixel 9 is the latest series of the Google Pixel phone lineup. They were released late last summer along with the 9 Pro and Pro XL, while the budget Pixel 9a came out this April. If you're looking for the best value Pixel and arguably the best Google phone yet, according to Assistant Tech Editor Michelle Ehrhardt's review, get the 128 GB unlocked Pixel 9a for $499 with a $100 Amazon Gift Card. It's a great perk that comes along with a new Pixel already at a solid price. Google Pixel 9a $499.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $599.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Get Deal $499.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $599.00 Save $100.00 The Pixel 9a comes with 8GB of RAM (which limits its AI features, but Gemini is still usable), starts with 128GB of memory storage, a maximum 120 HZ refresh rate, and the Android 14 operating system. There is no camera bar on its design anymore, which makes it look different from the other Pixels. The battery can go about 30 hours, depending on use, but keep in mind Google will reduce the battery life. It feels light, and the screen gets an upgrade compared to older budget models. Like the other budget a-series Pixels, you'll get a slightly weaker camera and chip, but they're still good enough for most people. Considering the price is $150 cheaper than the Pixel 9, it can make it a much better value for people who don't care about certain specs (especially with the extra $100 gift card from Amazon). You can see how it stacks up against the iPhone 16e here. One of my favorite things about Pixel phones is the ongoing support for many years. My Pixel 6A still gets all of the updates and tons of AI features that make the phone feel fresh many years later, with the latest ones dropping this March and other cool ones like controlling your GoPro with the Pixel. With the Pixel 9a, you'll be getting a quality phone with software updates for quite a while—as long as seven years. View the full article

It’s a little past 10 a.m. and the heat is already blazing on the outskirts of the Western Indian city of Ahmedabad. Sapnaben Chunara, a 30-year-old mother of three, has just finished her morning chores. She seeks respite from the heat in the shade of a neem tree, a species that can withstand high temperatures and drought. Chunara spends most of the day outdoors in Vanzara Vas, a low-income neighborhood of about 800 families, because her tin-roofed house is even hotter. Indoor temperatures can be even higher, especially when outside they climb above 40 degrees Celsius (104 F). That was once rare but now happens regularly. And this year, high heat started three weeks earlier than in previous years, touching 43 degrees Celsius (109.40 F) in early April. “Sometimes it gets so hot, I can’t think straight,” said Chunara, sporting a black smartwatch that contrasts sharply with her colorful bangles and sari. Chunara is one of 204 residents of Vanzara Vas given the smartwatches for a year-long study to find out how heat affects vulnerable communities around the world. The watches measure heart rate and pulse and track sleep, and participants get weekly blood pressure checks. Researchers also painted some roofs with reflective paint to reduce indoor heat and will compare them to homes without so-called cool roofs using indoor heat sensors. Along with the smartwatches, this will help them understand how much cool roofs can help poor households deal with India’s scorching summers. Chunara, whose home didn’t get a cool roof, said she’s happy to participate by wearing the watch, confident the results will help her family, too. “They might paint my roof as well and they might be able to do something that helps all of us in this area cope with the heat better,” Chunara said. Killer heat is the new normal Cities like Ahmedabad have always had hot summers, but now they’re nearing the threshold beyond which exposure for more than a few hours can be fatal. In the summer of 2010, the city witnessed nearly 1,300 excess deaths — how many more people died than would be expected — which experts found were most likely due to high temperatures. An increasingly hot planet, due largely to burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas that release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, means already hot regions are getting even worse. A 2023 study estimated that if the global mean temperature continues to rise to just under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), there would be a 370% rise in heat-related deaths around the world and most would happen in South and Southeast Asia and Africa. “This is a big concern, and it also shows the heat divide” between the poor and wealthy, said Abhiyant Tiwari, a climate expert with NRDC India and part of the group conducting the research in Ahmedabad. Following the 2010 tragedy, city officials, with help from public health and heat experts, devised an action plan to warn citizens when the heat is at dangerous levels and prepare city hospitals to respond rapidly to heat-related illness. The plan has been replicated across India and other parts of South Asia. The last two years have been the world’s hottest ever, and researchers hope their work can provide an additional line of defense for those who bear the brunt of increasing heat. Finding solutions to deal with heat The Ahmedabad study is only one part of a global research project examining how heat is affecting poor, vulnerable communities in four cities across the world. Researchers also are measuring heat impacts using smartwatches and other devices in Africa’s Burkina Faso, the Pacific island of Niue near New Zealand and in the Sonoran desert region in Mexico. More than 1.1 billion people — about one-eighth of the world’s population — live in informal settlements and poor neighborhoods that are particularly vulnerable, said Aditi Bunker, environmental health researcher associated with the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and Heidelberg University, Germany, who is leading the global project. “Climate change and heat are ravaging populations. And now the question comes, what are we doing to address this?” she said, referring to the motivation behind the research. In Ahmedabad, Bunker, along with researchers at the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, is constantly collecting relevant health data. If they find that cool roofs effectively reduce indoor heat, they plan to paint the roofs of all the homes. Researchers hope their study leads to more use of solutions like cool roofs for poor, vulnerable populations around the world — and that policymakers will factor in such solutions when deciding how their countries and communities can adapt to increasing heat exposure. For now, Vanzara Vas residents like Chunara and her neighbor, Shantaben Vanzara, said they will take any help they can get. Shantaben Vanzara said the heat has made her diabetes worse, but being part of the study has provided her family some respite. “We don’t get to sleep because of the heat,” she said. “After the roof got painted, we can sleep for a few hours a night at least.” Chunara said temperatures used to be predictable. “Now we don’t know when or what will happen,” she said. “The only thing that we know for sure is that the heat is getting worse every year.” This report has been edited to correct the name of NRDC India, previously incorrectly given as the Natural Resources Defense Council. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Sibi Arasu, Associated Press View the full article

Shares in video game giant Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO) are plummeting in early morning trading today after the company’s subsidiary, Rockstar Games, announced that it is delaying the release of its next flagship title, Grand Theft Auto VI, from fall 2025 until May 2026. Here’s what you need to know about the delay and how investors are reacting. Grand Theft Auto VI delayed until May 2026 In December 2023, Rockstar announced that GTA6—perhaps the most anticipated game of all time—would launch in the fall of 2025. Now, the studio has announced the game’s release is being pushed back until May 26, 2026. Rockstar’s announcement was brief. In a short statement posted on its website, Rockstar apologized for the delay, suggesting that quality issues with GTA6 were the main driver for the later-than-planned release. “With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and Grand Theft Auto VI is no exception,” the company said. “We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.” It’s hard to understate the impact Rockstar Games and, in particular, its Grand Theft Auto franchise have had on the video game industry—especially the open-world genre, which allows players to roam nearly anywhere they want in a game’s virtual world. The Grand Theft Auto series began in 1997 as a 2D game, but the release of Grand Theft Auto III in 2001 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002, with their 3D worlds, catapulted the franchise to its iconic status in the industry. Rockstar released the most recent version of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, Grand Theft Auto V, in 2013. It has since sold over 200 million copies and is the second-best-selling video game ever after Microsoft’s Minecraft. Rockstar has not released a video game since 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2, an open-world game set in the Wild West. So when the studio announced another sequel to the Grand Theft Auto franchise in late 2023, investors in Rockstar’s owner, Take-Two Interactive Software, saw the game as a major driver of profits in 2025. That’s why it’s unsurprising that Take-Two Interactive Software’s stock price is now falling. TTWO shares take a GTA6 beating As of this writing, the price of shares in Take-Two Interactive Software is down around 7% to $218.49 per share. However, that 7% dip signifies a bit of a recovery since markets opened this morning. Shares had been trading down around 9% earlier in the day. Despite Rockstar Games issuing a public announcement about GTA6’s delay, Take-Two Interactive Software decided to as well. In a press release, Take-Two Interactive’s CEO Strauss Zelnick, said, “We support fully Rockstar Games taking additional time to realize their creative vision for Grand Theft Auto VI, which promises to be a groundbreaking, blockbuster entertainment experience that exceeds audience expectations.” He continued: “While we take the movement of our titles seriously and appreciate the vast and deep global anticipation for Grand Theft Auto VI, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence. As we continue to release our phenomenal pipeline, we expect to deliver a multi-year period of growth in our business and enhanced value for our shareholders.” Take-Two Interactive also said that it was reiterating that it would still “achieve sequential increases in, and record levels of, Net Bookings in Fiscal 2026 and 2027.” Grand Theft Auto VI was originally set to be released during Take-Two Interactive’s fiscal year 2026. Now with the game’s delay to late May 2026, Grand Theft Auto VI won’t impact Take-Two Interactive’s numbers until the company’s fiscal year 2027, and it appears investors are punishing the company for that in early morning trading today. Despite today’s GTA6-fueled drop, TTWO shares are still up a respectable amount since the year began—they’ve climbed by about 17.5% since January. Shares in the company are also up a very healthy 51% over the past 12 months. Take-Two Interactive Software also confirmed today that it will announce its Q4 results for fiscal year 2025 on May 15. View the full article

Nearly four months after wildfires reduced thousands of Los Angeles-area homes to rubble and ash, some residents are starting to rebuild. In the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, construction workers recently began placing wooden beams to frame a house on a lot where only a charred fireplace remains standing. In the seaside city of Malibu and foothills neighborhood of Altadena, many land parcels where homes once stood are being cleared of debris. Hundreds of homeowners have sought city or county approval for new home designs and other permits to eventually rebuild or repair damaged homes, though few have gotten the green light to break ground. Some 17,000 homes, businesses and other structures burned to the ground in the Jan. 7 fires. It’s uncertain how much will be rebuilt. Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with insurance. Some are still trying to figure out whether it’s safe to return to their properties, given limited data on the degree to which toxins from the fires, including lead and asbestos, may have permeated their land. Roughly 400 land parcels are already for sale in the fire-ravaged areas. Facing overwhelming loss and the chaos that comes with sudden displacement, those looking to rebuild must navigate an often confusing and time-consuming process. In most cases, it will take years for them to rebuild. LA issued its first building permit nearly two months after the fires started. It took more than seven months before the first building permit was issued following the Woolsey Fire in 2018. “Putting this in context of other disasters, the speed is actually probably faster than expected,” said Sara McTarnaghan, a researcher at the Urban Institute who studied the aftermath of urban wildfires in recent years in Colorado, Hawaii and California. Resolving to rebuild in Altadena Kathryn Frazier, a music publicist and life coach, had lived in her four-bedroom, three-bath house in Altadena for 10 years and raised her two children there. After her home burned to the ground, she was in shock and questioned whether it made sense to come back. But after conversations with neighbors, she became determined to rebuild. “I’m not leaving,” Frazier said. “That’s what kept coming up for everybody, and the more we all talked to each other the more we were all like ‘hell yes.'” She is making progress. Frazier hired a crew to clear the property of debris and she is nearly through the first phase of permitting, which involves getting county review and approval for her new home’s design. The next phase before receiving approval to begin construction includes reviews of electrical, plumbing and other aspects of the design. Frazier, 55, is rebuilding her home without major changes to its size or location in order to qualify for an expedited building permit approval process. “We are hoping to be building by June or July, latest,” she said. “I’ve been told that maybe by February or March of 2026 we could be back in our home.” For now, Frazier is getting quotes on windows, skylights and other home fixtures in hopes of locking in prices before they go up as more construction projects ramp up, or in response to the The President administration’s ongoing trade war. “I’m doing things like scouring Home Depot, finding slate tiles that look modern and beautiful, but they’re actually really cheap,” she said. Recreating a home in the Palisades DeAnn Heline, a TV showrunner, knows what it’s like to build her dream house from the ground up. She waited more than two years for construction to be completed on the five-bedroom, eight-bath home with ocean views. Once the project was done, her husband vowed to never build another house. The family lived there for six years before it was destroyed in the Palisades Fire. “It was ash. There was nothing,” Heline said. The couple, who have two daughters, have lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years. They couldn’t imagine giving up and not rebuilding. “Not only are we building another house, we’re building the exact same house again,” Heline said, noting the new home will have some upgrades including fire-resistant materials and sprinklers for the exterior of the house. Recently, they cleared debris from the land where the house once stood, a particularly onerous task because the home featured a large basement into which much of the structure collapsed as it burned. Heline isn’t sure when construction will begin, but figures it could be two or three years. She wonders, however, what the neighborhood will look like by then. “What are you going back to? You’re going back to a moonscape? Are you there and no one else is on your block, or are you going back to a construction zone for many more years?” she said. Banding together as a community The Eaton wildfire destroyed many of the more than 270 historic Janes Cottages in Altadena, including the three-bedroom home Tim Vordtriede shared with his wife and two young children. The family had only lived in the roughly 100-year-old house for three years. “We just loved the storybook cottage and the vibe, and of course the grander vibe of Altadena,” he said. “It was perfect.” Vordtriede, 44, has decided to rebuild, but not just yet. For now, he is using his experience as a construction project manager to help others who also lost their homes. He co-founded Altadena Collective, a group providing assistance with home designs and guidance on how to navigate the complex and lengthy approval process for rebuilding permits. Of the roughly two dozen clients that the group is serving, at reduced cost, three are in the early stages of the permitting process. Even after projects reach shovel-ready status, homeowners will have to wait perhaps more than a year before they can move in, he said. “My first statement when anyone walks in the door is: We’re not here to help you design your dream home,” Vordtriede said. “This isn’t a dream time. This is a nightmare, and our job is to get you out of the nightmare as soon as possible.” —Alex Veiga, AP Business Writer View the full article

After adding a Voice Assistant feature to the iPhone app, Perplexity is now available in WhatsApp. Working just like any other chat, you can use the Perplexity chatbot without an account or any setup. Simply send it your questions, and the Perplexity AI model will reply to you. It has access to the internet, too, so it can provide the latest information, generate images, and more. How chatting Perplexity on WhatsApp worksUsing Perplexity on WhatsApp doesn't require a Perplexity account, and as it stands, there isn't even a way to link your Perplexity account to WhatsApp. This is nice for easy setup, but also, your chats won't sync to your account. To start talking to Perplexity, start a new chat with the following number: +1 (833) 436-3285. Tap the Plus button to start a new chat, search for this number, and tap the Chat button next to Perplexity to get started. Perplexity's WhatsApp replies are quite fast, but they are short and to the point. Don't expect full functionality, with tools like Deep Research, here. How to chat with Perplexity and generate images on WhatsApp Credit: Khamosh Pathak Once you've started your chat with Perplexity, it's as simple as typing out your questions and waiting for a response. Perplexity's AI is quite fast, coming back with responses in just a couple of seconds. And it supports voice notes too, so you can record a voice note as a question, it will transcribe it, and then promptly get back to you. You can even ask it to generate images, or to edit an image. Perplexity is really trying to make the whole "make this person bald" thing happen. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. A nice touch here is that Perplexity includes links and sources in its responses, and shares generated images directly in the chat, making them easy to save and forward (ChatGPT, for some weird reason, shares a link to the image instead). Credit: Khamosh Pathak Perplexity can also accept forwarded messages as input, so you can use Perplexity AI to fact-check that weird forward from your uncle that you already know is a scam. How Perplexity's WhatsApp integration compares with ChatGPT's Credit: Khamosh Pathak ChatGPT is also available on WhatsApp, for free, and just like Perplexity, it uses the latest available models and is connected to the web. Unlike Perplexity, though, it has an option to link your phone number to your account, so all your chats from WhatsApp can show up in your ChatGPT app as well (something Perplexity doesn't offer). Its responses can also be a bit more detailed than Perplexity's, in my experience, including tables and other added context. Still, it's a shame that you have to click a link to see your images. Good for quick questionsIn my testing, I found Perplexity's WhatsApp bot to be best at short queries. As it stands right now, Perplexity AI's responses on WhatsApp are limited to just a couple of sentences, even if you ask a detailed question, so if you want anything deeper, it's best to switch to the Perplexity app or try texting ChatGPT instead. Although, these might just be growing pains for Perplexity, which had to take its WhatApp bot down for a couple of hours around launch thanks to unexpected demand. View the full article

Many industry insiders and cinephiles alike predicted that Joel Souza’s Rust would simply remain unfinished, that its only legacies would be the tragic death of 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, which occurred on set, and the complicated legal proceedings that followed. However, despite Souza’s own misgivings, he completed the project. The Western film will see a limited U. S. release on roughly 150 screens beginning today (Friday, May 2) thanks to Falling Forward Films. Souza has been making the press rounds to explain this decision, which he says the Hutchins family supports, despite her mother making comments to the contrary. Here’s a recap of the tragic events and a look at why filmmakers have decided to release it now. What happened on the set of ‘Rust’? According to Vanity Fair, Souza—who both wrote and directed Rust—first got the idea for the film in 2019 when driving around with his two sons. He worried about what would happen to them if he weren’t around to raise them. He could not have known how close that would be to coming true. When speaking to the Guardian, he mused, “I wish I never wrote the damn movie.” Souza’s regret stems from a series of “bad decisions” that led to a prop gun—held by actor Alec Baldwin—discharging a live round on, October 19, 2021, outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. Baldwin maintains that he did not pull the trigger, while a forensic report found otherwise. The bullet that killed Hutchins went through her chest and lodged in Souza’s shoulder, inches away from his spine. He recovered, but has said that the joint still acts up, a physical reminder of the trauma of that day. How did the legal fallout impact the film? There were many debates over who exactly was responsible for the loss of life. Assistant director Dave Halls took a plea deal after failing to check the prop, resulting in six months of probation. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who served as the film’s prop armorer, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison in 2024. The same year, charges against Baldwin for involuntary manslaughter were dismissed due to evidence being mishandled, as Reuters reported. Souza was never prosecuted. Why is ‘Rust’ being released now? At the time of the tragic events, only half of the movie was completed. Even Souza had doubts about finishing it but says he ultimately wanted to share Hutchins’s final work with the world. “We worked very closely together,” Souza explained to Vanity Fair. “The work she was doing was her best work, and for it to just vanish . . .” After initially speaking out against the producers of the project, Hutchins’s husband, Matthew, reached a settlement and joined as an executive producer in 2022. Another reason Souza wanted to complete the film was so Hutchins’s son Andros could see his mom’s work. Filming resumed on April 20, 2023. Bianca Cline stepped in as cinematographer to help finish Hutchins’s vision. Souza not only dedicated the movie to Hutchins but also gave her second billing, which is not a standard industry practice. Souza maintains that the family wanted the film finished. However, Hutchins’s mother, Olga Solovey, has taken issue with Baldwin’s actions after her daughter’s death. She reportedly refused to attend the film’s 2024 premiere at the Camerimage Film Festival. “Alec Baldwin continues to increase my pain with his refusal to apologize to me and his refusal to take responsibility for her death,” Solovey revealed in a statement to Deadline last year. Given that Rust is only getting a limited release in a reported 150 theaters, it is unlikely that ticket sales will amount to a big profit. (A typical movie opens in around 2,000 to 4,000 theaters.) It is also being simultaneously released on streaming services Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango at Home thanks to Decal Releasing. According to reporting from the New York Times, this is to maximize profits, which are going to Hutchins’s husband and son as part of the settlement. What is ‘Rust’ about? In a bitterly ironic turn of events, the plot of the film centers on an accidental shooting. Lucas Hollister, played by Patrick Scott McDermott, believes he is shooting a wolf that is threatening his home, but the bullet from his rifle instead kills a neighboring rancher. Because Lucas and the rancher had a disagreement, no one believes it was not intentional. The young boy is imprisoned until his grandfather, Harland Rust, played by Baldwin breaks him out. The parallels to real life are not lost on Souza. “The movie is about what it’s about: the consequences of violence,” he explained to the Guardian. “There’s a real anti-gun aspect to it.” While Rust might not be a commercial success, the larger conversation it continues to spark about safety and accountability could be its greatest legacy. View the full article

You might be used to AI chatbots answering your questions with a few sentences or even paragraphs, but how about multipage reports? With Deep Research, that's exactly what the likes of ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity are doing, utilizing their large language models alongside web searches and reasoning capabilities to become research assistants of sorts. A Deep Research query takes time (anything between five minutes to 30 minutes, depending on what you ask), but comes back to you with a detailed report on any subject you can ask about, including complex things like niche market research or scientific mysteries. Even better, all three major Deep Research AI providers now have free tiers. Though, let's be honest, most of us aren't performing scientific research on a day to day basis. So, how can these Deep Research tools help you? How Deep Research worksDeep Research combines the power of the open web, large language models, and new reasoning models. When you type in your prompt, it will first use a reasoning model to figure out what you're really asking. At this point, the AI chatbot might even come back to you with clarifying questions and prepare a research plan all on its own. You are free to reply with answers and edit the research plan, but this is usually optional. Once the research begins, you can follow along with what the AI is up to using a sidebar (or separate tab, if you're using Perplexity). Here, you can see the searches the AI is making, documents it's scanning, and information it's collating. As I mentioned above, detailed reports take up to 30 minutes, but that's only true if you're asking something really complicated. In my testing, I found that all three tools generate results in 5-10 minutes, spinning out reports that are still detailed and a couple of pages long. When should you use Deep Research?The best way to use Deep Research tools is when you can't find something on Google yourself, or you don't want to spend the time going through five different articles to distill the basics about a topic. I've personally used these Deep Research tools to find a spare part code for my car that Google just wouldn't tell me. I've also used them to research a company's share price outlook, and to learn new things about the handpan, a musical instrument I can't stop obsessing over. If you want quick answers, a regular Search in a AI chatbot is, of course, going to be better. And if you're working on a client pitch and you need a market research for five different competitors, you might want to spring for the paid version of whatever Deep Research tool you're using. But for anything in between, it's worth knowing how to use their lightweight alternatives. How to use Deep Research tools in ChatGPT, Gemini, and PerplexityAll three competing major AI chatbots have their own Deep Research tools that work in roughly the same fashion. I'll go into detail below, but in general, you start with a prompt, as detailed as you can make it, click the Deep Research button below the prompt, and then send out your query. You can also upload documents, spreadsheets, and images as added context. Credit: Khamosh Pathak The limits of free Deep Research Credit: Khamosh Pathak The free versions of Deep Research tools are limited. Perplexity and Gemini provide the same quality of Deep Research reports to free users as they do paid plans, but they limit the usage. Perplexity is the most generous, though, with a daily limit system. Perplexity doesn't specify its limits exactly, but it will show you how many Deep Research queries you have left in a day. In my testing, I've been able to make three Deep Research queries per day. You can upgrade to the $20 per month plan to remove all limits. Gemini limits free users to 5 searches a month, and Gemini Advanced users can generate up to 20 reports a month on the $20 per month plan. ChatGPT has the most complex structure. Free users get access to five monthly searches using ChatGPT's lightweight model, which doesn't generate full-length reports. Still, in my experience, this free model is enough for regular day-to-day searches. ChatGPT's $20/month Plus plan increases the limits to 10 queries a month using the full-fledged Deep Research model and 15 using the lightweight one. How I tested ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity's Deep Research toolsI tested the Deep Research features on all three platforms using the same three prompts. The first was to create a beginner-friendly guide on learning the handpan, the second was to research a company's stock outlook in the market, and the third was to find a part number for a spare wheel screw cover for my car. The last one was something that I just couldn't figure out myself using Google. ChatGPT Deep Research: To the point and robustI found ChatGPT's Deep Research to be the most direct and robust. The reports that ChatGPT generates are easy to read, and importantly, contain the information you asked for and nothing else. ChatGPT always asks follow up questions whenever you make a Deep Research query. This can feel tiresome (it did for me), but it clearly works, and you can tell ChatGPT to proceed without follow up answers from you, if you want. Credit: Khamosh Pathak I saw this in both the report for the handpan and the stock research. However, ChatGPT is perhaps not the best at finding shopping links yet. While it did find me the right car part and highlighted it right at the top, it failed to find a link for buying the part in India, where I'm based (but it did find sellers in the US and Europe). Credit: Khamosh Pathak Gemini Deep Research: Contextual, but wordyWhen it comes to Deep Research, Gemini has two strengths: The ability to edit planned research, and access to other Google products. When you give Gemini a Deep Research prompt, it first goes out and creates a research plan. It will then show you a glimpse of this plan, and you can then edit it if you need to (just approve it if you don't need to make any edits). Unlike ChatGPT, Gemini doesn't ask you clarifying questions, instead focusing on using its integrations with your Google account for wide-level thinking. This being Google, it will include researching relevant information from around your hometown, for instance. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Gemini's Deep Research feature integrates with Google Search, too. Basically, when you use Deep Research, you're essentially asking the AI to perform multiple Google Searches for you. It can even take into account your browsing history (though, only if you want it to). Credit: Khamosh Pathak But Gemini's downside is that it's a bit too wordy, and its default research plan is often too broad in scope. It might be best to edit a research plan to make it more specific. I saw this in my test about finding a a number for my car part, where it spent multiple paragraphs talking about spare wheel covers instead of directly pointing out the part number I asked for (something that both ChatGPT and Perplexity do better). The upside is that Gemini integrates Deep Research directly into its Audio Overviews feature, though, so you can easily generate a short podcast episode based on your report. Perplexity: Fast and made for web searchPerplexity's Deep Research tool is fast. It's the fastest at coming back with a Deep Research report, sometimes giving me answers in just two minutes or so. It does quite well with shopping links, and shopping research. And it's a one-click affair. Perplexity doesn't ask any follow up questions, nor does it ask you to approve its research plan like Gemini does. It just goes and does its thing. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Currently, Perplexity is adept at integrating web searches into its research, perhaps even better than Gemini is. But its speed comes at a cost. In my testing, I found Perplexity's Deep Research reports to be lacking in detail, even though there were a lot of sources attached to the report. Credit: Khamosh Pathak Which Deep Research tool is right for you?All three free Deep Research tools have their uses, but some are better suited to certain tasks than others. Based on my research and testing, this is what I've found: ChatGPT's Deep Research documents are the most robust while staying concise, although they suffer a bit when it comes to finding specific links online. Gemini's Deep Research reports are the most detail-oriented, although they tend to be too verbose, and sometimes unnecessarily long. Perplexity's Deep Research tool is the fastest, giving me results in mere minutes. While the research it generates is not often factually wrong, it is lacking in detail or depth when compared to ChatGPT or Gemini. View the full article

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Vacation rental platform Airbnb on Thursday forecast second-quarter revenue largely below Wall Street estimates and signaled softening demand in the U.S. as an erratic trade policy hammers consumer sentiment and sparks worries over growth. Shares of the company fell more than 6% after the bell, set to add to the year-to-date decline of about 7%. The company expects second-quarter revenue between $2.99 billion and $3.05 billion, the midpoint of which is below analysts’ estimates of $3.04 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Over the last two months, Delta Airlines warned travel demand has “largely stalled”, while hotel operator Hilton indicated travelers were in a “wait-and see” mode, as President Donald The President’s on-again off-again tariffs take a toll. Airbnb Chief Financial Officer Ellie Mertz said on an earnings call that guests were booking trips closer to the check-in date, indicating that the booking window was growing shorter. Booking window refers to the number of days between the reservation date and actual arrival and a shorter booking window points towards increased consumer uncertainty and caution in travel spending. Nights and experiences booked during the first quarter rose 8% to 143.1 million on a global basis. Excluding North America, bookings were up 11% from a year earlier. The U.S. comprises a vast majority of the San Francisco-based company’s North America business, which contributes about 30% to nights booked on its platform. Airbnb said it expects average daily rate, or the rental revenue earned for an occupied room per day, to remain flat in the second quarter and core profit margin to be slightly down from a year earlier. It also expects moderation in the year-over-year growth rate of the nights booked in the current quarter from the first. Total revenue for the first quarter rose 6% to $2.27 billion, compared to analysts’ estimates of $2.26 billion. However, net income slumped 41.7% to $154 million due to higher headcount, write-downs of certain historical investments in privately held companies and lower interest income. —Aishwarya Jain, Reuters View the full article