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Messages show timings of military strikes in Yemen after White House denies they contained classified materialView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. You know that I love a good running watch, but there’s a soft spot in my heart for the more lifestyle-y Garmin Vivoactive 5. It’s a sleek touchscreen watch with plenty of fitness features, and it’s going for as little as $209 today in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. The original price of the Vivoactive 5 is $299, and depending on the color you want, you can get it for somewhere between $209 and $219 in today’s sale. It’s available in black, white, navy blue, and orchid purple. Garmin Vivoactive 5 GPS Smartwatch With AMOLED Display (Black) $209.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $299.99 Save $90.99 Get Deal Get Deal $209.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $299.99 Save $90.99 This watch is one of the most underrated out there, in my opinion. It beat out the Pixel Watch 3 in my comparison of the two watches, due to its week-long battery life and built-in fitness features. Its GPS accuracy is great, and while its heart rate accuracy is only OK, it can connect to a chest strap for the best possible data. (Pixels and Fitbits cannot.) The Vivoactive 5 uses a touchscreen for most of its functions, but still has two buttons that you can use to start and lap an activity—essential for when you’re fumbling around at the end of a hard interval. During everyday use, it’s sleek and simple, with fitness features and stats only a swipe or button press away. The aesthetic is a bit more fashionable than something like a Forerunner; where the Forerunner is chunky and sporty, the Vivoactive 5 will blend in nicely with a regular (i.e., non-sweatpants-based) outfit. Heck, get the black or white model, and pair it with a fancier-looking strap for a further visual upgrade. The Vivoactive 5 takes standard 20-millimeter watch bands. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something with more running-specific features, consider the Garmin Forerunner 165, which is a similar price right now at $225 (normally $249). Or lean into the smartwatch features with a Venu 3, which is slightly larger and has some extra features, like the ability to take calls from your wrist if your phone is nearby. The Venu 3 is $410 today, normally $449. Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including: The Best Over-Ear Headphones The Best Wireless Earbuds The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets The Best Projectors View the full article

Nearly all respondents to the NextGen survey, Gen Z and millennial, said they want to achieve homeownership, but only about 60% considered it possible. View the full article

OBR forecasts 305,000 more new homes a year by 2029 as a result of changesView the full article

April brings the highly anticipated return of some of Netflix's most popular series, including Season 7 of Black Mirror (April 10) and Season 5 of You (April 24). The former—Charlie Brooker's dystopian sci-fi anthology series—is getting six new episodes, including a sequel to "USS Callister" from season 4. The new season includes appearances from Paul Giamatti, Issa Rae, Will Poulter, Chris O'Dowd, Rashida Jones, Awkwafina, and Tracee Ellis Ross. And in the final 10-episode season of psychological thriller You, serial killer Joe Goldberg (played by Penn Badgley) returns to New York to live peacefully but is haunted by his past. Also debuting in April is Western romance Ransom Canyon (April 17) starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly. An adaptation of the Jodi Thomas books, the Yellowstone-esque series follows ranching families in Texas Hill Country. And medical drama Pulse (April 3), set in a Miami trauma center, may capture fans of Max's hit show The Pitt. On the film side, Tom Hardy plays a detective navigating the criminal underworld on a rescue mission in the gritty thriller Havoc (April 25). Finally, Netflix's documentary lineup includes sports series Carlos Alcaraz: My Way (April 23) and The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox (April 8); another installment of Turning Point, this one focused on the Vietnam War (April 30); and Chef's Table: Legends (April 28), a new season of the Emmy-nominated culinary series with episodes following Jamie Oliver, José Andrés, Alice Waters, and Thomas Keller. Here's everything coming to Netflix in April, and everything that's leaving. What's coming to Netflix in April 2025Available soonJewel Thief - The Heist Begins—Netflix Film Weak Hero Class 2—Netflix Series Available April 1The Age of Innocence Big Daddy Bonnie & Clyde The Breakfast Club Conan the Destroyer Couples Retreat The Croods Draft Day Field of Dreams For Love of the Game Geostorm Get Him to the Greek Heat Insidious: Chapter 2 K-9 Lucy Matilda The Mauritanian The Place Beyond the Pines Psycho Rise of the Guardians Rooster Cogburn (...and the Lady) Rudy Sicario: Day of the Soldado Smokey and the Bandit Smokey and the Bandit II Uncle Buck Available April 2Banger—Netflix Film Garnachas: Glorious Street Food!—Netflix Documentary Love on the Spectrum: Season 3—Netflix Series Available April 3Devil May Cry—Netflix Series Jurassic World: Chaos Theory: Season 3—Netflix Family PULSE—Netflix Series Available April 4Karma—Netflix Series TEST—Netflix Film Available April 7Blippi's Job Show—Netflix Family Kill Tony: Kill or Be Killed—Netflix Comedy Special Available April 8The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox—Netflix Sports Series How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast): Season 4—Netflix Series Kian’s Bizarre B&B—Netflix Series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 5 Part 2—Netflix Series Available April 9The Addams Family Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing—Netflix Documentary The Dad Quest—Netflix Film The Hating Game Unicorn Academy: Chapter 3—Netflix Family Available April 10Black Mirror: Season 7—Netflix Series Frozen Hot Boys—Netflix Film Moonrise—Netflix Anime North of North—Netflix Series Available April 11The Gardener—Netflix Series Meet the Khumalos—Netflix Film Available April 12Resident Playbook—Netflix Series Available April 13Life or Something Like It Available April 15The Glass Dome—Netflix Series Young Sheldon: Season 7 Available April 16Baby Mama The Diamond Heist—Netflix Documentary I Am Not Mendoza—Netflix Series Project UFO—Netflix Series Available April 17Istanbul Encyclopedia—Netflix Series Ransom Canyon—Netflix Series Available April 18iHostage—Netflix Film Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror—Netflix Documentary Available April 19Heavenly Ever After Available April 21Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey—Netflix Documentary Available April 23A Tragedy Foretold: Flight 3054—Netflix Documentary Battle Camp—Netflix Series Bullet Train Explosion—Netflix Film Carlos Alcaraz: My Way—Netflix Sports Series UnBroken Available April 24A Dog's Way Home You: Season 5—Netflix Series Available April 25Havoc—Netflix Film Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua Part 2—Netflix Family Available April 28Chef's Table: Legends—Netflix Documentary Available April 30Asterix & Obelix: The Big Fight—Netflix Family The Eternaut—Netflix Series Exterritorial—Netflix Film Turning Point: The Vietnam War—Netflix Documentary What's leaving Netflix in April 2025Leaving April 1Baby Driver Boyz n the Hood Bruce Almighty Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss' The Lorax Elysium Happy Feet Happy Feet Two How to Train Your Dragon How to Train Your Dragon 2 Interstellar It The Karate Kid The Karate Kid Part II The Karate Kid Part III Legion Miss Congeniality Molly's Game The Nice Guys Richie Rich Rush Hour Rush Hour 2 Rush Hour 3 Rust and Bone Space Jam When in Rome Leaving April 4Serena Leaving April 8Megan Leavey Leaving April 11Pixels Scream Leaving April 12A Quiet Place Part II Leaving April 15Hereditary Leaving April 16The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Leaving April 21No Hard Feelings Leaving April 24Minions Leaving April 29Patriots Day View the full article

Changes will see 800,000 lose disability payments by 2029-30 View the full article

The chief-executive-to-be at money-losing Japanese automaker Nissan is determined to speed up decision-making to come up with models that say Nissan—and really sell. Ivan Espinosa, 46, chief planning officer and a Mexican with two decades of experience at Nissan Motor Corp., told reporters in embargoed comments for Wednesday that the company’s corporate culture is “lacking empathy” and has to change. “We need to work together as one single team,” he said at the Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi city on the outskirts of Tokyo. “We need to work together hand in hand.” Nissan recently appointed Espinosa to take its helm, effective April 1, replacing Makoto Uchida. Espinosa has his work cut out for him as the maker of the Sentra sedan and Infiniti luxury cars faces yet another crisis, which began decades ago when Carlos Ghosn was sent in by French alliance partner Renault to save it from the brink of bankruptcy. Ghosn was arrested by Japanese authorities in 2018 on financial misconduct allegations but jumped bail and is now in Lebanon. Uchida, chief since 2019 when Ghosn’s successor Hiroto Saikawa resigned over a separate money scandal, stepped down after the company projected a loss for the fiscal year through March. Espinosa expressed an openness to partnerships, including with parties outside the auto industry, although he declined to give specifics. Nissan recently ditched talks with Japanese rival Honda Motor Co. to set up a joint holding company. They will continue to cooperate on technology development. Espinosa repeatedly came back to the importance of being nimble. New cars will be developed in 37 months, and offshoot models within 30 months, he said. Auto production, starting with design and culminating in product tests, takes several years. Bringing a product to market in 30 months would be relatively quick for the industry. To showcase its turnaround plans, Nissan showed an array of models rolling out in the next two years for the U.S., Europe, Japan, and other markets, some of them as mockup models. Espinosa and other officials promised a lineup that highlights Nissan’s legacy, like the Leaf electric car, and models that sell in greater volumes. It’s also bringing out various ecological models, like hybrids, plug-ins and electric vehicles, and cutting-edge technology like self-driving cars. When announcing his replacement, Uchida called Espinosa “a car guy.” Espinosa, who drives a Z sportscar, Nissan’s flagship nameplate, said he saw himself as “a car lover.” He loves the stories behind each car, he said, like how it’s developed and becomes loved by customers. Analysts have so far taken a cautious approach to Espinosa’s appointment. As an insider, he takes up where Uchida left off, meaning the verdict is still out. “We view it as unlikely that Nissan would be open to becoming a subsidiary of Honda at this time, at least until the board has time to assess the effectiveness of Espinosa’s strategy, once it is unveiled and put into action,” CreditSights analysts Todd Duvick and Will Lee wrote in a recent commentary. Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama —Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writer 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. If you're in the market for a sleek wireless speaker, the Sonos Era 100 is currently $50 off during Amazon's Big Spring Sale. Normally priced at $249, the current discount brings the speaker down to just $199. This is as low a price as this speaker has ever been, according to price-tracking tools. The Sonos Era 100 is a smart speaker that can work as stereo with a pair or as rear speakers in a Sonos surround sound system. It is an updated version of the Sonos One smart speaker, offering better bass and other improvements. The speaker is a favorite among anyone looking for high-quality sound in a smart-system package. It has an "excellent" review from PCMag for its ability to play stereo with a single device (it has a dual tweeter setup), its balanced audio, and the well-developed companion app that allows you to adjust the EQ. Sonos Era 100 $198.00 at Walmart $807.42 Save $609.42 Get Deal Get Deal $198.00 at Walmart $807.42 Save $609.42 As Lifehacker's deals expert Daniel Oropeza explains, Sonos takes their user-friendliness seriously. When people complained about an update on their companion app that got rid of many cool features, Sonos listened and put them back. It's no wonder they've been so popular in the audio market. Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including: The Best Over-Ear Headphones The Best Wireless Earbuds The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets The Best Projectors View the full article

You may have seen a headline this week imply that OneNote, the extremely popular note-taking application from Microsoft, is shutting down. That's not the case—only a specific version of OneNote, named "OneNote for Windows 10," is shutting down. What's this mean? If you don't use Windows, this news doesn't affect you. If you do use Windows, and your version of OneNote does not say "OneNote for Windows 10" at the top of the window, this news doesn't affect you. If your version of OneNote does say "OneNote for Windows 10" at the top of the window, then this news is relevant: The version of OneNote you're currently using will be discontinued on Oct. 14. You can download the desktop version of OneNote for free, though, and all of your notes will sync over. It's worth noting that the desktop version of OneNote offers features that OneNote for Windows 10 never did—it can save your notebooks offline, for example, meaning you don't need a OneDrive account to use the application. And the shutdown isn't a surprise by any means—Microsoft announced this transition would happen years ago. Still, not everyone is happy about this. OneNote for Windows 10 was built to work well on mobile devices and, to this day, some users prefer it for touch screen Windows devices. I tested both versions while writing and regularly updating the OneNote review for PCMag and I personally find the desktop version more complete, but I understand why some might prefer the "for Windows 10" version—it's clean, fast, and does what most people want. You can still, as of this writing, download OneNote for Windows 10 at this link. Microsoft advises you not to, and plans to show pop-ups and even intentionally slow down syncing speed in order to persuade people to switch. Support ends completely in October, after which there will be no security updates and, if history is any guide, functionality will likely slowly break. So, if you're using OneNote for Windows 10, it's time to figure out what you want to use for note-taking going forward. I'd recommend downloading and trying the desktop version of OneNote first. If you're not a fan, there are other note-taking applications out there: Obsidian, which I've written about, can even import your notes from OneNote. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. As we appear to be living in an age of perpetually rising grocery prices, we're all looking for ways to lower our food bills. Considering the average spend on groceriesis over $500 every month, I'm all open to suggestions. Extreme couponing? Tell me more. Intermittent fasting? Sounds doable. Ugly produce? Bring it on! Spending money to save money? How does that work? Kitchen tools like bread makers or chest freezers tend to pay for themselves over time, but often come with a hefty upfront cost. Yet there are some inexpensive gadgets that don’t require a big investment but which can trim your grocery bills significantly. Here are eight of them. Bottle connectorsThere’s nothing more frustrating than paying for a bottle of something and leaving a bunch of it in the bottle because physics refuses to release it. But if you throw away bottles of stuff—whether it’s condiments, shampoo, or anything else you pick up at the grocery store—with product still trapped in there, you’re throwing away money. Instead, pick up a bottle connector (which will let you transfer the dregs of an old bottle to a new one), a zero-waste cap (which will use gravity to help you use every drop of something in the bottle), or a bottle scraper of some kind to get every bit out of the bottle. It’s difficult to quantify how much money you can save by doing all these things, but it’s not nothing. A food vacuum sealerA food vacuum sealer isn’t the cheapest option; while you can find sealers for about $10, that could definitely be a penny-wise, pound-foolish kind of decision. But an initial investment of anywhere from $40 to $100 will save you money in several ways: Reduce waste. Vacuum-sealing your leftovers and overflow ingredients will keep them fresher far longer. Make bulk buying pay. Buying in bulk usually reduces your per-unit costs—but only if you can actually use what you buy. Vacuum-sealing makes it easier to buy something like meat or fish in bulk and keep it fresh long enough to actually eat. Additionally, if you happen upon a terrific sale on something perishable, you can make an unusually large purchase work economically by sealing and freezing most of it. Herb keepersIf you cook with a lot of fresh herbs, a herb keeper can help keep them fresh for more than a week longer than if you just stick them in the crisper (or in a plastic bag, where all herbs go to wilt). That means you can actually use them in multiple meals and buy less of them overall. Produce saversBuying fresh produce is often an exercise in expensive frustration. You pay for a bunch of apples, and some of them are already rotting seemingly before you even get them home from the store, and the rest don’t fare well no matter where you store them. You might be one of those folks who thrills at turning black bananas into banana bread and soft apples into pies, but it would be better if everything just lasted longer. That’s where products like GreenBags and the BlueApple Produce Saver come in. Both extend the life of fresh produce by days, giving you extra time to use up what you buy and improving the taste and overall experience of the produce you’re eating. Over time they’ll pay for themselves in fresher fruits and veg, and lower grocery bills. A cheese graterYou might not think of a cheese grater as a gadget, but tell that to the people who lived before its invention. Buying your cheese pre-grated will definitely save you money (and give you a better cheese experience, as pre-grated cheese usually is coated with a bunch of stabilizers and preservatives in it to keep it from clumping). Block cheese will almost always be cheaper than pre-grated cheese, so aside from the better eating and cooking experience, grating your own cheese will pay for the grater over time, and then some. Silicone stretch lidsIf you use foil or plastic wrap on a regular basis to cover bowls, old plastic storage tubs that have lost their lids, or pots straight off the stove (smash cut to your eating directly from the saucepan with a spoon later that night), you’re paying money every time you tear off a sheet. Instead, use these stretchy silicone lids. They’ll fit just about any bowl or tub you’ve got and will keep their contents nice and fresh, with an airtight seal that’s almost certainly better than that mangled lump of aluminum foil you were going to use. One note: You shouldn’t use these to leave extra canned goods in the can. Yes, the lid will cover and seal the can effectively, but once opened, your food will start reacting to the metal of the can, which can degrade the flavor and kickstart bacteria growth. Reusable paper towelsIf you’re using a lot of disposable stuff from the grocery store, a great way to save money is to switch to reusable, washable versions. Makeup removal pads and paper towels (which can also be used as casual napkins) are two easy switches. Rayon paper towels made from bamboo are sustainable and can be used about 50 times. In the meantime, not buying a new supply every week or so will definitely save you some cash—have you seen what Target wants for a thing of paper towels these days? Dryer ballsIf you use dryer sheets when you do laundry, you can probably reduce your shopping bills by switching to wool dryer balls. Dryer sheets range in price from about four cents per sheet on the low end to about ten cents a sheet (mainly for specialty sheets, like the ones intended for homes with a lot of pet fur). Wool dryer balls help reduce drying time, wrinkles, and static cling and are reusable (up to about 1,000 times). So a six-pack of dryer balls will get you at least 6,000 loads of laundry for about $10, as opposed to $240 for dryer sheets. Even if you wash large loads and use 2-3 balls per load, you’ll still seeing significant savings over dryer sheets. View the full article

Featuring Gene Eidelman, Cofounder, Azure Printed Homes; Kate McLeod, Cofounder and Formulator, Kate McLeod and Nicole Richards, CEO, Allonnia. Moderated by Rebecca Barker, Editorial Event Producer, Fast Company. It’s not enough for companies to declare their commitment to the environment. As the federal government rolls back environmental programs and policies at a head-spinning pace, businesses are on their own to maintain momentum in the push toward sustainability. Hear from leaders who are spearheading climate-positive practices by tackling forever chemicals, reimagining what’s possible with recycled plastic and packaging, and more. View the full article

UK chancellor makes long-awaited announcement ahead of £24bn in tax rises from next monthView the full article

Rise funded largely through borrowing will pay for biggest rearmament since cold war, says prime ministerView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. If you like to do your own home repairs and improvements, you know that a good tool set is a game changer. Having the right bits, blades, and other miscellaneous tools can save you time and effort, not to mention cutting down on the trips to the hardware store you’ll need to make while working on a project. But these smaller things can add up quickly, exhausting your DIY budget. Here are some good deals on bits, blades, measuring tools, and accessories for all your DIY projects. BitsWith so many different sizes and types of hardware, having the right drill or driver bit can be tricky. If you’re doing more than one specific project, a variety of bits is your best bet in order to handle the broadest possible array of fastener types. But all those bits can add up quickly. Here are some good deals on bits for almost any type of hardware you’ll encounter in your DIY adventures. A set of 21 Bosch drill bits ranging in size from 1/16 inch to ½ inch is on sale for $26.46, 48% off its regular price. These are multi-material bits that can drill through wood, plastic, and aluminum. They will fit a drill with a standard chuck as well as an impact driver. A 20-piece set of DeWalt bits is on sale for $15.29, 43% off its typical price. This set includes a small range of drill bits, a variety of driver bits, a magnetic bit extension, and a drywall bit holder that are compatible with a drill or an impact driver. BOSCH BL21A 21-Piece Assorted Set Black Oxide Metal Drill Bits with Included Case for Applications in Light-Gauge Metal, Wood, Plastic $26.46 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $50.49 Save $24.03 Get Deal Get Deal $26.46 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $50.49 Save $24.03 BladesSaw blades can be expensive, but not having a few extras on hand can mean extra trips to the hardware store when you’re working on a project. Here are some deals on saw blades to keep you going on your DIY projects. A set of 30 Bosch t-shank jigsaw blades are on sale for $34.78, 46% off their regular price. The set comes with a range of wood and metal blades that will fit a jigsaw with a t-shank blade receptacle. A set of 12 DeWalt reciprocating saw blades is on sale for $24.80, 53% off their usual price. This set includes a range of wood and metal blades. A 10-pack of 7 ¼ inch Makita general purpose wood circular saw blades is on sale for $55.12, 34% off their typical price. These blades will fit a 7 ¼ inch circular saw. Makita D-45989-10 7-1/4" 24T Carbide-Tipped Circular Saw Blade, Framing/General Purpose, 10/pk $54.46 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $83.98 Save $29.52 Get Deal Get Deal $54.46 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $83.98 Save $29.52 Measuring toolsHaving the right measuring tools can make or break your DIY project, but these tools can be expensive. Here are some deals on measuring tools to get the right cut the first time. The Crescent Lufkin 25-foot tape measure is on sale for $8.90, 44% off its regular price. This tape has a locking mechanism to keep it extended hands-free and a stiff metal tape to reach longer distances without buckling. The Bosch 50-foot laser level is on sale for $66.44, 44% off its regular price. This tool will project a plumb line as well as a horizontal level line that’s helpful for projects like hanging shelves or cabinets. The Crescent Lufkin 100-foot tape measure is on sale for $16.99, 36% off its typical price. This tape is useful for larger areas, landscaping, and grading. BOSCH GLL50-20G 50 Ft Green-Beam Self-Leveling Cross-Line Laser, Includes Integrated Magnetic Mount, 2 AA Batteries, & Soft Pouch $66.44 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $119.00 Save $52.56 Get Deal Get Deal $66.44 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $119.00 Save $52.56 AccessoriesAttachments for your tools can make them more versatile, and setting up a jig to make a repetitive task faster and more precise will simplify your DIY projects. A right-angle drill adapter is on sale for $12.99, 46% off its regular price. This adapter allows you to use your drill in tight spaces, and it comes with nut driver attachments. A Milescraft pocket hole jig is on sale for $20.99, 36% off its usual price. This jig allows you to drive screws at an angle and conceal your fastener for a strong, clean joint on woodworking projects. A DeWalt magnetic bit guide set is on sale for $12.99, 35% off its regular price. This set includes a magnetic bit sleeve, a bit extension, and three driver bits that will fit an impact driver or standard drill. Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including: The Best Over-Ear Headphones The Best Wireless Earbuds The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets The Best Projectors View the full article

A quick guide to the UK chancellor’s main policy announcements and official forecastsView the full article

After years of struggling with the complexities of a merger that saw the combination of two major discount retailers a decade ago, Dollar Tree has decided to cut ties with Family Dollar. The company has announced an agreement to divest its Family Dollar business to private equity firms Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management for $1 billion, a strategic move that aims to streamline operations and enhance focus on its core Dollar Tree segment. Following the announcement, Dollar Tree’s shares surged nearly 7% in premarket trading on Wednesday. The deal is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to improve performance, with CEO Rick Dreiling emphasizing that the divestiture “enables us to better allocate capital and resources to support our long-term growth strategy.” The transaction is expected to be completed later this year. Writing on the wall The 2015 merger of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, initially viewed as a strategic move to expand market reach, ultimately highlighted the complexities of integrating large retail operations. The decision to divest Family Dollar reflects a reassessment of strategic priorities and a focus on core business operations.​ During Q4 of fiscal 2023, the company announced that it had initiated a “comprehensive store portfolio optimization review.” This review focused on, among other things, identifying underperforming stores for closure. Following Dollar Tree’s Q1 results for 2024, there were hints that the company might spin off Family Dollar to focus on its core business after it announced it would close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of fiscal year 2024 and 370 more over a period of a few years as their lease terms expire. Dollar Tree said in its earnings report on Wednesday that it closed 695 stores in fiscal 2024 as part of its review. Dollar Tree has not yet responded to Fast Company‘s inquiry regarding whether additional store closures are now anticipated. A new chapter With Brigade and Macellum’s backing, Family Dollar is poised for future success, according to Mike Creedon, CEO of Dollar Tree, as the discount retailer transitions into a new phase of growth. “Under the experienced, dynamic leadership of Family Dollar President Jason Nordin, and with the financial support of Brigade and Macellum, Family Dollar will be well-positioned for growth as a private company,” said Creedon in a statement. “With the support of a dedicated team, Family Dollar will be able to strengthen its commitment to providing affordable and essential goods to customers so they can do more with less.” Fast Company also reached out to Brigade Capital Management to ask if it planned to make any additional reductions to Family Dollar’s physical footprint View the full article

Kremlin says agreement is dependent on dropping measures imposed on agricultural bankView the full article

The deadline to file your taxes is less than a month away, and if you’re doing them for the first time, you might be feeling added pressure. “It’s an incredibly daunting and stressful experience for many of them,” said Miklos Ringbauer, a certified public accountant based California. Planning ahead, doing your research and talking with experts can help first-time filers feel better about their taxes, Ringbauer said. The deadline to file your 2024 taxes is April 15. If you run out of time, you can file for an extension until Oct. 15. The extension is only to file your taxes, not to pay them. If you think you will owe taxes, you should pay an estimated amount before the deadline to avoid paying penalties and interest. If you expect to receive a refund, you will still get your money when you file your taxes. Here are some expert recommendations if you are filing taxes for the first time: Gather your documents The first step is to gather all the relevant documentation, said Eva Simpson, vice president of Member Value, Tax & Advisory Services for the American Institute of CPAs. “Tracking down documentation is key, especially if they may be in college and have correspondence sent to their parents house,” Simpson said. Ringbauer also recommends that you make a folder, either physical or electronic, with all of the documents you need so it’s easier to file your taxes. While the required documents might depend on your individual case, here is a general list of what everyone needs: — Social Security number — W-2 forms, if you are employed — 1099-G, if you are unemployed — 1099 forms, if you are self-employed — Savings and investment records — Any eligible deduction, such as educational expenses, medical bills, charitable donations, etc. — Tax credits, such as child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc. Talk to your parents Many young adults are still receiving some financial help from their parents when they’re ready to file their taxes for the first time. It’s important that first-time filers communicate with their parents in case they are being claimed as dependents, Simpson said. “Being claimed as a dependent affects their standard deduction and eligibility for certain credits,” said Simpson. Having a conversation with your parents will prevent you from claiming tax credits that you might not qualify for if they claim you as a dependent. If your parents claim you as a dependent, you will add this information to your tax return. Know about tax credits and deductions Knowing if you are eligible for any tax credits and deductions is a crucial step when filing your taxes, Simpson said. Tax credits can lower the amount of taxes you owe or increase the amount of your refund. Some relevant tax credits for first-time filers include the American Opportunity tax credit and the Earned Income credit. When it comes to deductions, you can either opt for a standard deduction or itemize. Itemizing generally only makes sense if your itemized deductions add up to more than the current standard deduction of $14,600 for a single filer and $29,200 for a married couple. “In many cases, first-time filers won’t need to be itemizing their expenses,” said Simpson. Doing research or asking a professional for the types of deductions and tax credits you qualify for can save you money. Include investments and gig economy income If you freelance, work in rideshare or sell your clothes online in addition to your part- or full-time job, you must add this income to your tax returns, said Tim McGrath, a certified financial planner based in Chicago. Forgetting to add tax income from freelance work in your tax documents is a common mistake by young filers, Ringbauer said. Some gig workers receive 1099 forms from their employers while others don’t, but both must document their income and expenses so they can be added to their tax returns. Know the resources available Simpson recommends that first-time filers look into the multiple resources available to file taxes for free or at a low cost. One of the is the new Direct File program, which allows people in 25 states who have very simple W-2s to calculate and submit their returns directly to the IRS for free. Aside from Direct File, IRS offers free guided tax preparation that does the math for you. This is available for people who make $79,000 or less per year. If you have questions while working on your tax forms, the IRS also offers an interactive tax assistant tool that can provide answers based on your information. The AARP also offers a tax-aid locator where you can search for tax assistance near you. Double check to avoid mistakes Mistakes can happen to everybody, but deliberately ignoring income can have more consequences, Ringbauer said. In general, if you make a mistake our you’re missing something in your tax return, the IRS will audit you, which means they will ask you for more documentation. A common mistake is failing to declare a source of income such as gig work or selling products online, said Ringbauer. This, he said, should be taken very seriously. “One of the biggest challenges is not taking it seriously, not caring about the nuances,” Ringbauer said. “It has to be accurate and exact information whether you self prepare or you’re doing it with a professional, because life is exact.” If you need to correct an error in a tax return you already filed, you can file an amended return. Keep your records It’s always good practice to keep a record of your tax returns, just in case the IRS audits you for an item you reported years ago, Ringbauer said. The IRS recommends that you keep your documents for at least three years and up to seven depending on your situation. Ringbauer recommends that his clients keep records of their tax documents in a digital folder on a cloud platform of their choosing. Password-protecting your tax folders can also add an extra layer of protection against scammers. The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. —Adriana Morga, Associated Press 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. I love soundbars. I'm still traumatized by having to rig speakers all over my living room to get decent audio back in the day—not to mention finding a place for a damn subwoofer—so enjoying high quality audio from an easy-to-set-up, compact soundbar like the Sonos Arc is a great relief. It's on sale now for Amazon's Big Spring Sale for $649.00, 28% off the list price. The Arc is a slick-looking piece of kit—a 45-inch oval cylinder that's only 4.3 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall and is available in black or white—but more importantly, the Arc's sound quality is top-notch, whether you're watching movies or listening to music. Sonos Arc $620.43 at Amazon $899.00 Save $278.57 Get Deal Get Deal $620.43 at Amazon $899.00 Save $278.57 The Sonos Arc is powered by Dolby's Atmos system that creates a three-dimensional "sound globe" that lets you hear anything from any direction—jets sounds like they're overhead and whispers sound like they're right in your ear. There's even a dialogue enhancer so you don't miss any lines. As for music, just put on Hawkwind's "Master of the Universe" and tell me it doesn't change your life. Our pals over at PC Mag put a Sonos Arc through its paces and were impressed enough to give it four stars and name it an Editor's Choice. Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including: The Best Over-Ear Headphones The Best Wireless Earbuds The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets The Best Projectors 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. Amazon's Big Spring Sale is back for only the second time, and while it’s not quite Prime Day levels of excitement, it still has a few solid gems tucked in. The event runs from March 25 to March 31, giving you a full week to poke around for deals. You don’t need to be a Prime member to participate, though Amazon claims Prime users will see deeper discounts. If you’re not already subscribed but are eyeing a few things, it might be worth signing up for a free 30-day trial, loading up your cart, and then dipping out before the billing cycle kicks in. One of the better under-$50 finds from this week’s sale is the Anker Soundcore Space A40. Down to $44.99 from $79.99, these earbuds are a solid buy if you’re looking for great audio and noise-canceling without spending a lot. Named the "Best Budget Earphones of the Year 2022" by PCMag, they offer adaptive noise cancelling, which works surprisingly well for the price (enough to drown out background chatter or the low hum of traffic). The sound quality leans warm and bass-forward, which makes them great for EDM or hip-hop but not as sharp for podcasts or acoustic music. They also support LDAC for hi-res audio, which is rare in this price range. You’ll notice better depth and clarity if you're into lossless formats or streaming on higher-tier music subscriptions. Battery life is solid, too, with 10 hours with ANC off. You can stretch it to 50 hours with the charging case—plenty for long commutes or a weekend trip without a charger. Anker Soundcore Space A40 $44.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $79.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Get Deal $44.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $79.99 Save $35.00 The app support is good—you can tweak the EQ, toggle ANC, and find lost earbuds through Soundcore’s app, according to this PCMag review. That said, a few things might be worth keeping in mind. The touch controls of these earbuds can be finicky, especially if you’re the kind of person who frequently adjusts fit while listening. And while the noise-cancelling works well for most day-to-day use, it’s not going to beat out the big names like Sony or Bose. Also, the fit is snug but not super secure for workouts—something to consider if you’re buying these for the gym. But at $45, they punch way above their weight and are a steal for anyone who wants clean sound, long battery life, and decent ANC for less than $50. Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including: The Best Over-Ear Headphones The Best Wireless Earbuds The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets The Best Projectors View the full article

Lender seeks to alleviate concerns that its size could pose risk to country’s economyView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is back for a second year and runs through March 31. It’s not quite the frenzy of Prime Day, but there are still plenty of decent tech deals worth checking out. You don’t need a Prime membership to shop the sale either, though Prime members do get access to a few better prices. If you’re curious, you can always sign up for the free 30-day trial and cancel later. Either way, this week’s a solid time to pull the trigger on those bigger purchases you’ve been eyeing. Like, say, a giant new TV. Right now, the 65-inch Sony Bravia 7 QLED TV is on sale for $1,198, down from its usual $1,999.99. That’s not just a steep $800 discount—it’s the lowest price it’s ever hit, according to price-trackers. Sony’s new QLED series—essentially the brand's answer to Samsung’s dominance in the space—brings in Mini LED backlighting for better contrast, and the Bravia 7 delivers deep blacks without washing out highlights. It runs on Sony’s XR Processor, supports Dolby Vision and Atmos, and has a native 120Hz panel, which means smoother gaming and sports watching. Google TV is baked in, and for gamers, there’s HDMI 2.1, VRR, and ALLM support, making it a solid match for a PS5 or Xbox Series X setup. It checks a lot of boxes. But it’s not OLED, and you might notice the difference if you’re picky about contrast in dark rooms. 65" Sony Bravia 7 4K Mini LED QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) $1,198.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,999.99 Save $801.99 Get Deal Get Deal $1,198.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,999.99 Save $801.99 From a practical standpoint, this feels like a solid buy if you want something premium but don’t want to pay OLED prices. The local dimming is decent, though not as perfect or as precise as Sony’s higher-end models, which means you might catch some blooming around bright objects on dark backgrounds. And while it gets bright enough for most rooms, it’s not the brightest in its class—Samsung’s QN90C reportedly edges it out there. Also, if you're planning to set it up in a bright living room for group viewing, it might not be the best fit. The screen’s glare handling isn’t strong enough to fight off reflections in well-lit spaces, and the picture quality drops off unless you’re sitting right in front of the TV. Still, if you’re upgrading from an older LED or mid-tier TV, you’ll notice a big jump in picture quality and color accuracy. Shopping for tech? Lifehacker can help you make the right decision. Browse our tech reviews and head-to-head comparisons for everything from laptops and smartwatches to e-bikes and home gyms. Subscribe to our deals newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox, or browse our best-of lists directly on Amazon, including: The Best Over-Ear Headphones The Best Wireless Earbuds The Best Adjustable Dumbbell Sets The Best Projectors View the full article

OpenAI has significantly leveled up the image generating capabilities of ChatGPT, adding the update as part of the GPT-4o model introduced last May. The new and improved AI generator is rolling out now for all ChatGPT users, across paid plans and the free tier (though free users are more restricted in how much they can use it). It's been possible to generate images through the ChatGPT interface for a while now, though behind the scenes the work was farmed out to the DALL-E 3 image model. Now, everything will be handled by GPT-4o, for a more consistent and native experience. There are lots of improvements here, which cover some of the areas that AI image creator tools have typically struggled with: rendering text, keeping characters consistent across pictures, and drawing diagrams. OpenAI says you can now expect more "precise, accurate, [and] photorealistic" results from your prompts. More realistic and accurate images Generated images aren't perfect every time, but they're getting very close. Credit: Lifehacker via ChatGPT Images made with AI often come with an artificial sheen that tells you they've been dreamt up by algorithms, and that should be less obvious with GPT-4o images. One of the demo pictures shown off by OpenAI has a woman writing on a whiteboard, with a view reflected in it—all pretty life-like, though note the small caption at the bottom that tells you this was the best of eight attempts ChatGPT had at the prompt. The AI art users create should also stick more closely to the prompts given, OpenAI says. So, if you want specific objects in specific places, or you need people in certain positions, then these instructions will apparently be carried out more faithfully. One of the more impressive example images shows a four-panel comic strip rendered by ChatGPT, without any obvious errors or inconsistencies. I tried to get ChatGPT to turn an Austen novel into a comic strip, and produce a photorealistic image of a stately home with a garden, and the results were impressive—if not quite perfect. They're certainly significantly better than the images ChatGPT was previously producing, although the rendering takes longer to complete (typically minutes rather than seconds). Text and diagrams are vastly improved Text is no longer a major problem—so fake book covers can be made with ease. Credit: Lifehacker via ChatGPT Trying to get AI to render text and diagrams accurately has long been a challenge: The way these tools are built means they're much better at inventing and remixing the images they've been trained on, rather than reproducing an exact copy of the alphabet or a series of rectangles and arrows. The new GPT-4o model can render text and diagrams to a high level of detail and accuracy, so you shouldn't see as many strange mistakes and inconsistencies. OpenAI's showreel included a menu, an invitation, a boarding pass, and a diagram explaining Newton's prism experiment, all generated from a single text prompt. When I asked ChatGPT to produce an infographic explaining DNA in simple terms, and a book cover with a specified title and author, it followed the brief pretty exactly—the graphic was basic but accurate (as per the prompt), and the book cover looked like something you might see in a store. Just as importantly, there were no weird artifacts or inconsistencies in the images. Consistency and editing Professor, is that you? Character and image consistency still need some work. Credit: Lifehacker via ChatGPT I've written before about the limitations of ChatGPT image editing, and this is another area that's been upgraded. It's now easier to keep characters and scenes consistent between images, to only tweak parts of a picture and leave the rest untouched, and to build up different layers of an image. You can even create transparent backgrounds, if needed, or specify colors using hex codes. Other improvements come in the way ChatGPT can accept and remix your own images, and incorporate other information (from the web and its training data): So one of the demo OpenAI pictures was built from the prompt "make a visual infographic describing why SF is so foggy" and ChatGPT did just that (well, best of three). In my own tests, I found ChatGPT much better at editing images, and pretty competent at remixing pictures in different styles. It still struggles to some extent keeping consistency between images—especially with complex objects and characters. It's definitely better than it was at this, but there's still a tendency to overdo the edits, making the AI less useful for tweaking images or making a series of several images that need to match. Copyright and safety issues Diagrams are now much less nonsensical and more accurate. Credit: OpenAI As with any generative AI announcement, issues around copyright, misuse, and energy demands are once again brought to mind. OpenAI is on record as saying it's impossible to build these tools without training on copyrighted images, though it has recently started signing content deals with providers such as Shutterstock. Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief operating officer, told the Wall Street Journal that the GPT-4o image generator will reject requests to mimic the work of any living artist. When it comes to safety, OpenAI says generated images all come with C2PA metadata to identify them as AI-generated—though this metadata can be easily removed with something as simple as a screenshot. The AI generator is also built to rebuff any attempts to create "child sexual abuse materials and sexual deepfakes" OpenAI says, as well as other prompts that violate its content policies. This is clearly a major step forward for AI images: The upgraded technology is genuinely jaw-dropping at times, and a lot of the tell-tale signs of AI and the errors made by the tech are vanishing. It does raise some big questions about the future we're all barreling towards though, one where fakes are so easily made, where creative work is done by robots rather than people—and where we collectively lose our ability to sketch a picture, craft a sentence, or write a line of code. And then how will generative AI find more training data? View the full article

Order comes after underestimations of building costs caused a multimillion pound overspend View the full article

Wind-driven wildfires that were among South Korea’s worst ever have ravaged the country’s southern regions, killing 24 people, destroying more than 200 structures and forcing 27,000 residents to evacuate, officials said Wednesday. The death toll included a pilot who died after a helicopter crashed during efforts to contain a blaze in the southeastern town of Uiseong, one of the hardest-hit areas. The aircraft had no other crew members. Police said that most of the dead are those in their 60s and 70s. The National Fire Agency said at least 26 people sustained varying degrees of injuries. An ancient Buddhist temple, houses, factories and vehicles were destroyed in the wildfires that have burned 43,330 acres (17,535 hectares), the government’s emergency response center said. In a televised address, South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo said the wildfires that began last Friday were worse than many previous ones. “Damages are snowballing,” Han said. “There are concerns that we’ll have wildfire damages that we’ve never experienced, so we have to concentrate all our capabilities to put out the wildfires in the rest of this week.” Han said crews struggled to extinguish the wildfires because strong winds swept the areas overnight. He also said about 4,650 firefighters, soldiers and other personnel were working Wednesday with the help of about 130 helicopters, adding that “a small amount” of 5-10 millimeters (0.1-0.3 inches) of rain was expected Thursday. As of Wednesday evening, firefighters were tackling at least four active wildfires, including in the southeastern coastal town of Yeongdeok, which alerted residents of the nearest village to evacuate to an indoor gymnasium. Strong winds and smoke-filled skies forced authorities in the southeastern city of Andong to order evacuations in two villages, including Puncheon, home to the Hahoe folk village — a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded around the 14th-15th century. Hikers were advised to leave the scenic Jiri Mountain, one of the country’s largest national parks, as another fire spread closer. Observers say the ongoing wildfires are the third biggest in South Korea’s history in terms of land burned. The largest fires were in Andong, the neighboring counties of Uiseong and Sancheong, and the city of Ulsan. On Tuesday, officials said firefighters had extinguished most of the flames from the largest wildfires in those areas, but wind and dry conditions allowed them to spread again. The blaze in Uiseong destroyed about 20 of the 30 buildings and structures at Gounsa, a temple said to be originally built in the 7th century. Among the burned structures were two state-designated “treasures” — a pavilion-shaped building erected overlooking a stream in 1668, and a Joseon dynasty structure built in 1904 to mark the longevity of a king. Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry said it protectively removed 500 inmates from a detention center in Cheongsong, another southern town, but no damages were reported to the facility. The Korea Forest Service said it had raised its wildfire warning to the highest level nationwide, requiring local governments to assign more workers to emergency response, tighten entry restrictions for forests and parks, and recommend that military units withhold live-fire exercises. Among the dead were four firefighters and government workers who died in Sancheong on Saturday after being trapped by fast-moving flames driven by strong winds, according to officials. Government officials suspect human error caused several of the fires, possibly due to the use of fire while clearing overgrown grass in family tombs or sparks from welding work. —Kim Tong-Hyung and Hyung-Jin Kim, Associated Press View the full article