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For actors, it’s the Golden Globes. Musicians, it’s the Grammys. Now, content creators have their own award to aspire to. Introducing Instagram Rings. As social media’s place in the entertainment ecosystem grows, the new award program from Instagram is meant to honor those creatives “who don’t just participate in culture – but shift it, break through whatever barrier holds them back to realize their ambitions,” according to a blog post about the launch. Judged by a panel of creatives spanning fashion and makeup to sports and entertainment, each nominated their own longlist of favorite creators and voted on which 25 of Instagram’s three billion users will be among the first to receive the honor. The panel includes Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, filmmaker Spike Lee, designers Marc Jacobs and Grace Wales Bonner, tech influencer Marques Brownlee, and others. As well as a physical ring designed by Wales Bonner, the winners also received a unique digital golden ring for their Instagram profile and Stories. “When we thought about how to bring this to life, we wanted winners to be celebrated in a way that’s uniquely Instagram,” the blog post explained. “We know the profile is an important space for creators to show who they are and what they’re about – so when winners post a story, an exclusive gold ring will show up around their profile picture, in place of the usual Stories ring.” The soon-to-be-announced winners will also have a chance to customize their profile backdrop color and show off their creativity with their own twist on the “like” button. The photo sharing platform has been busy this year, dropping new features at breakneck speed. Just this year, there’s been the Blend feature launch, followed by the Maps feature, the Schools feature. Instagram is also rolling out the first official iPad app. Most recently came the news that Reels may soon become the new default tab upon opening the app. But as the platform leans into Content with a capital C, with the ability to post a simple photo now obfuscated with endless customization options, the app has come a long way from when a grainy snap of your morning coffee was worthy of a main grid post. View the full article

Chancellor to address JPMorgan tech event as she considers measures to encourage businesses to float in LondonView the full article

A group of countries that are part of the OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries has agreed to a small boost in oil production, citing a steady global economic outlook. The group said after a virtual meeting on Sunday that it will raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day in November, the same amount it announced for October. The group has been raising output slightly in a series of boosts all year, after announcing cuts in 2023 and 2024. In a statement, the group said the move was due to “a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals.” It added the production adjustments may be paused or reversed as market conditions evolve. Saudi Arabia holds significant influence in OPEC+ as the dominant member of the OPEC producers’ cartel, and Russia is the leading non-OPEC member in the 22-country alliance. Along with Saudi Arabia and Russia, the group that met Sunday is made up of Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman. Their next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2. 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 Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it's over. Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox. New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. Simple, basic hand tools are a necessity. Whether you need to tackle basic home maintenance projects or just be prepared to deal with the occasional minor repair, everyone should have at least a basic set of tools in their home. Prime Day is a great time to take care of that, because you can put together a set of fundamental hand tools for less than $100: The best Prime Day deal on a screwdriver set Having the right size and style of screwdriver is an absolute necessity. From wall plates to cabinet door hinges to assembling furniture, this 10-piece magnetic set from Amartisan guarantees you’ll have the Phillips or flathead you need to get the job done—and at 41% off right now, it’s less than $10. The best Prime Day deal on a wrench set You’d be amazed how much you can get done with two adjustable wrenches, and you can get this durable, corrosion-resistant set from Workpro at 22% off. That’s $18 for two tools that will make everything from basic plumbing to simple mechanical jobs much easier. Workpro 2-Piece Adjustable Wrench Set, $17.99 at Amazon $22.99 Save $5.00 Get Deal Get Deal $17.99 at Amazon $22.99 Save $5.00 The best Prime Day deal on utility knives If you have ever experienced the shame of using a kitchen knife to saw away at something while doing a DIY home repair (as I have), you will understand why having this set of three utility knives from Workpro is so crucial to your DIY sanity. They’re designed to be easy to swap blades, they fold up neatly, you will use them everywhere—and you can pick this up for more than 40% off. The best Prime Day deal on a hammerHammers are the simplest (and perhaps most useful) tools in the universe, but a cheap hammer will let you down almost immediately (I once had a brand new head fly off of a hammer the first time I swung it. Do not recommend). This one from Irwin is basic but dependable, and it’s almost 20% off for Prime Day. Irwin Rip-Claw Hammer $16.99 at Amazon $20.98 Save $3.99 Get Deal Get Deal $16.99 at Amazon $20.98 Save $3.99 The best Prime Day deal on a socket setAdjustable wrenches are necessary and often the best tool—but sometimes a simple socket set, like this one from Craftsman, is a much better tool for the job. Any time you need to budge a bolt that is either in an awkward location or frozen up enough to make a wrench a chore to use, this set will save you. The best Prime Day deal on a basic setBuying tools individually is always better—even at these price points—but if you just need a few basics that will get used once a year, this 15-piece basic set gives you everything you need at a reasonable quality, and it’s under $15 (more than 40% off). Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime. Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+. Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member. Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $156.78 (List Price $219.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — Wireless and plug-in security cameras, motion detection, extended range. Sync Module XR included — 2 camera system + Mini 2 (Black) — $74.99 (List Price $219.98) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $229.99 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Kindle Essentials Bundle including Kindle (2024 release) - Black, Fabric Cover - Matcha, and Power Adapter — $117.97 (List Price $161.97) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

The AI arms race turned a new page on Monday, as OpenAI and chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced that the two have agreed to a new partnership to create new data centers powered by AMD’s chips. The deal could also see OpenAI take a roughly 10% stake in AMD. Specifically, the partnership sees OpenAI committing to buying 6 gigawatts of AMD GPU chips, with the initial gigawatt deployment scheduled for the second half of 2026. The deal will ultimately see OpenAI deploy the remaining gigawatts over multiple years and multiple hardware generations. The deal also sees AMD issuing a warrant for as many as 160 million shares of AMD stock to OpenAI. Those shares are structured to vest in the event that “specific milestones are achieved,” the company said. The deal was a hit on Wall Street, as AMD shares hit the stratosphere—at the market open on Monday, shares briefly topped $220.44, an increase of more than 34% from pre-trading. As of roughly 11 am ET, however, shares had fallen slightly but were still up more than 27%. “This partnership is a major step in building the compute capacity needed to realize AI’s full potential,” said Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, in a company release. “AMD’s leadership in high-performance chips will enable us to accelerate progress and bring the benefits of advanced AI to everyone faster.” AMD’s leadership echoed the sentiment. “We are thrilled to partner with OpenAI to deliver AI computers at a massive scale,” said Dr. Lisa Su, chair and CEO of AMD, in a corresponding release. “This partnership brings the best of AMD and OpenAI together to create a true win-win, enabling the world’s most ambitious AI buildout and advancing the entire AI ecosystem.” The partnership’s announcement arrives as the AI arms race continues to heat up. AMD finds itself playing catch-up with Nvidia, which has taken a dominant role in the space, particularly as it comes to developing, manufacturing, and deploying AI chips. But there is a clear hunger in the market for more computing power. As such, Nvidia and AMD could feel pressure from other burgeoning players, such as Google and Amazon, who are working on AI chips of their own. OpenAI also partnered with Broadcom to build in-house chips starting next year. Notably, OpenAI also recently announced a deal with Nvidia, which called for Nvidia to invest as much as $100 billion in OpenAI—but that deal has not yet been completed. View the full article

Verizon just announced that its current CEO, Hans Vestberg, is stepping down—and the wireless carrier is pulling another seasoned leader out of retirement to take its helm. In a press release published on October 6, Verizon announced that former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman will be leading the company, effective immediately. In the meantime, Vestberg (who has held the title since 2018) will stay on as a special adviser at the company until October 4, 2026. Schulman has served on Verizon’s board of directors since 2018, and was elected lead independent director in December 2024. “Dan is a seasoned and decisive leader with a unique set of experiences, and a proven record of transformative leadership and operational excellence,” Mark Bertolini, Verizon’s board chair, said in the press release. “He is the right leader to chart Verizon’s next phase of increased customer focus and financial growth.” The leadership change comes during a promising moment for Verizon: This July, the company raised its annual profit forecast from $0.15 billion to $2 billion thanks to a favorable U.S. tax reform. Currently, Verizon’s main focus is on bulking up its internet services to compete with rivals like AT&T and T-Mobile. Here’s what to know about Schulman as he steps in at Verizon. His most recent job was CEO of PayPal Schulman’s most recent high-profile gig was at PayPal, where he served as president and CEO from 2014 to 2023. During that time, he tripled the company’s revenue from $8 billion to $30 billion, all the while advocating for Wall Street leaders to use their financial power for good. “If you look at the state of our country today, it’s clear that capitalism needs an upgrade,” Schulman told attendees at a gala in 2020, per a Fast Company profile at the time. “People don’t believe that the system is working for them. For democracy to flourish, you need to rise above your own self-interest. But how can you rise above your own self-interest when you are struggling to make ends meet every day?” The solution, he argued, was for business leaders to “stand for more than just making money” on behalf of shareholders. He runs a ranch in his off-time In February 2023, Schulman announced his retirement and officially moved on from PayPal in December of that year. Since then, he’s served on various companies’ boards—including Cisco, Lazard, and JUST Capital—positions that, per his LinkedIn, he’s balanced with plenty of off-time at his family’s Montana ranch, which is home to more than 500 cattle. Now, it seems, he’s walking back his retirement to take the lead at Verizon. He has a long history in the C suite Before his legendary run at PayPal, Schulman spent decades rising through the executive ranks at various other companies. He held leadership positions at AT&T, Priceline.com, Virgin Mobile USA, and American Express, to name a few. He has a recognizable uniform Plenty of CEOs have a go-to outfit. Schulman’s is a bit different from the black turtleneck variety: He’s most commonly seen in a pair of light-wash jeans and cowboy boots. 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. Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. Anker has been expanding their brand over the years from just making chargers. They now make some great portable projectors, and now, their smallest portable projector, the Nebula Capsule Air, is down to $249.99 (originally $399.99) for Prime Members after a $150 discount during the October Prime Day sale. This is the lowest price this portable projector has been, according to price-tracking tools. Anker Nebula Capsule Air $249.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $249.99 at Amazon $399.99 Save $150.00 Portable projectors must work independently of an outlet and be easy to cart around. The Nebula Capsule Air can do both, measuring just 5.5 x 2.7 x 2.7 inches (HWD)—that's slightly bigger than a regular soda can. The battery isn't great, but considering the size, two hours is fine (you'll be able to watch most movies in one shot). Where this projector falls short is in the brightness, reaching a mere 150 ANSI lumens. That means you need to get your space dark if you want to see a good image. If you have ambient light outdoors and you're hoping to use this projector, it might be washed out. The native resolution is also just 720p, although it supports 1080p input in HDR. PCMag gave this projector an "excellent" rating on their review, pointing out how the HDR makes shadows look much better, giving it props for the Google TV OS (which is my favorite—it lets you seamlessly cast your phone to the projector), and praising the twist-on stand that allows you to position the image easily on your screen, wall, or ceiling. Portable projectors need a good keystone; by their very nature, they will be moved a lot and the image will be constantly out of focus. The Nebula Capsule Air has an excellent keystone, with autofocus and automatic horizontal and vertical adjustments. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $156.78 (List Price $219.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — Wireless and plug-in security cameras, motion detection, extended range. Sync Module XR included — 2 camera system + Mini 2 (Black) — $74.99 (List Price $219.98) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $229.99 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Kindle Essentials Bundle including Kindle (2024 release) - Black, Fabric Cover - Matcha, and Power Adapter — $117.97 (List Price $161.97) Deals are selected by our commerce team 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 Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it's over. Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox. New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. I’m always in a love/hate relationship with my power tools. I love getting things done and fixing stuff around the house—nothing makes me happier than realizing I have the exact right tool necessary to quickly set things right. But power tools are expensive, which is where the hate part comes in. Which is what makes this deal on the Dewalt nine-tool combo kit so attractive. It comes with everything most people will need to get stuff done—a reciprocating saw, a circular saw, an oscillating multi-tool, a drill/driver, an impact driver, a grinder, and a blower, as well as nice extras like a work light and Bluetooth speaker (because you absolutely need music when you’re sweating and getting coated in drywall dust). It also comes with two batteries and a charger—so you can charge one while using the other. Dewalt DCK940D2 20V Max 9-Tool Cordless Drill Combo Kit 9-Tool $699.00 at Amazon $949.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Get Deal $699.00 at Amazon $949.00 Save $250.00 Personally, I like Dewalt as a brand—they’ve never let me down, and in my experience, their tools last more or less forever. This kit includes everything most people will need to do routine maintenance or DIY projects around the house. You’ll definitely find yourself using each of these tools on a regular basis, and having them all on hand with a battery available to slap into place at any moment means you can tackle jobs whenever you want (or when emergencies pop up) without having to scrounge around in your shed or go to the neighbors asking to borrow stuff. Normally, this kit runs close to a grand, but for Prime Day it’s 26% off. Whether you’re replacing a bunch of worn-out tools or want to jump-start a set of real power tools, this is a terrific opportunity. Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime. Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+. Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member. Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $156.78 (List Price $219.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — Wireless and plug-in security cameras, motion detection, extended range. Sync Module XR included — 2 camera system + Mini 2 (Black) — $74.99 (List Price $219.98) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $229.99 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Kindle Essentials Bundle including Kindle (2024 release) - Black, Fabric Cover - Matcha, and Power Adapter — $117.97 (List Price $161.97) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Filippo Gori will hand over to Conor Hillery and Matthieu Wiltz as co-heads of Wall Street bank’s regional businessView the full article

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. could deliver a policy win for the The President administration in just a few months after the Food and Drug Administration enlisted GSK to help it fast-track approval of a decades-old drug to treat an autism-related disorder. The FDA’s unusual move will allow it to bypass a lengthy label update for generic versions of the drug, leucovorin, or new clinical trials, a tactic academics, lawyers and doctors questioned. A GSK spokesperson told Reuters it plans to complete the new use application for the branded version of leucovorin “as quickly as possible.” Once the British drugmaker does that work, the FDA would normally take about four to six months but could process the request even faster, said Giuseppe Randazzo of the Association for Accessible Medicines, a generic medicines lobby group. The accelerated process will give doctors additional justification to prescribe the drug for cerebral folate deficiency, a metabolic disorder that can lead to a range of neurological symptoms including some associated with autism, delivering on Kennedy’s promise to President Donald The President and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement with which he is aligned. Without robust evidence, the label change represents at most a hollow bureaucratic victory, said Ameet Sarpatwari, a pharmaceutical policy researcher at Harvard Medical School. However, the drug, which is used to mitigate toxic effects of certain cancer treatments and sells for $34.14 for a bottle of 30 high-dose pills on Cost Plus Drugs, would more likely be covered for the condition by insurance plans with the label change. An HHS spokesperson said the evidence clearly supports leucovorin’s ability to address the causes of cerebral folate deficiency and improve patient outcomes. DEMAND RISES AFTER The President PROMOTES DRUG Demand for the drug has increased, first after a February CBS story about its use in a nonverbal five-year-old boy, and more recently after The President promoted its use. “My nurses have been saying the phone is ringing off the hook,” said Dr. Larry Gray, an expert in developmental and behavioral pediatrics, who sees patients with autism at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Because the treatment is not approved for autism, the institution’s policy has been to only offer it in clinical trials, which are rare. The drug is FDA-approved, however, so doctors can prescribe it off-label. Kennedy has declared the rising rates of autism in the U.S., now estimated at 1 in 31 children by age 8, to be an epidemic and had pledged to find some answers behind its cause as well as cures by September. At a White House event on September 22, Kennedy, The President and other health officials backed leucovorin as an autism treatment. They also warned against the use of Tylenol by pregnant women, saying studies suggested a link to autism. Health experts and medical groups called that warning dangerous and without sound scientific basis. RELYING ON OBSCURE RULE The FDA was able to speed the process by using an obscure rule to reinstate GSK’s approval application and request a label update adding cerebral folate deficiency, based on the agency’s own analysis of 40 patient cases found in a review of literature from 2009 to 2024. GSK sold the drug as Wellcovorin until 1997. A generic version, which is also called folinic acid and is a form of folate or vitamin B9, is now made by U.K.-based Hikma. Once GSK’s application is approved, U.S. law requires generic drugmakers to match the change. The more commonly used label update process for generic drugs, which requires consultation with generic drugmakers, typically takes up to a year and a half, according to Skadden lawyer Rachel Turow. It is typically used for cancer drugs after new uses are proven in clinical trials, she and several other lawyers said. Aaron Kesselheim, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, described the process being used as “very atypical,” and said that without the FDA sharing its data or trials, it is hard to know if the agency is following the normal standard of evidence. LIMITED AVAILABLE EVIDENCE Dr. Andy Shih, chief science officer at the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, said the evidence for leucovorin’s use was limited and potentially suggestive of benefit for a small subgroup of autistic children. Larger trials are needed, he said. The evidence is based on four studies, each of which involved 50 to 60 patients, with three of them done by the same author, said Dr. Karam Radwan, director of the Neurodevelopmental Disorders Program at the University of Chicago, who uses the drug in his practice. “You want to replicate that with a different lab, in a different setting, to make sure we have enough support” for the change, he said. Three mid-stage trials are underway studying a new, liquid version of leucovorin as an early language impairment treatment for children with autism, according to the government clinical trials site. The earliest data is expected around December. The trials are being led by one autism researcher in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, and Autism Speaks, and involve up to 80 children each. Larger, more conclusive trials would take years. The FDA’s approach does not require new trials. This change should be based on scientific evidence, and so far, studies supporting its use are not robust, Radwan said. Additional reporting by Robin Respaut —Patrick Wingrove, Maggie Fick and Julie Steenhuysen, Reuters View the full article

Fifth Third announced it plans to buy the Dallas bank in a $10.9 billion transaction. 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 Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it's over. Follow our live blog to stay up to date on the best sales we find. Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox. New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. If you’re like me, when you moved into your home, the kitchen was a terrifyingly blank slate. Sure, there was an oven, a microwave, and a fridge, but unless I wanted to live on frozen pizza and ramen (tempting), I knew I needed some more firepower. Prime Day means you can fill those empty counters and cabinets with useful, durable kitchen appliances without going broke. Here are my favorite appliances to turn your any kitchen into a powerhouse of cookery. The best Prime Day deal on an air fryerIf you don’t have an air fryer in your kitchen, are you even living? From french fries to pot roasts, it’s become an essential appliance. This Kismile air fryer is a terrific, flexible option. It comes with two sizes of (dishwasher-safe) glass bowls for single- and dual-serve options, and it’ll roast, crisp, or just warm up just about anything you need. And it’s 33% off for Prime Day, so you can snag it for just $119 instead of $180 right now. The best Prime Day Deal on a stand mixerWhen I got married, my mother gifted a stand mixer to us, and it was easily the best gift we received. Stand mixers make baking so much easier, and you feel kind of like an adult person when using one. But they are pretty expensive, so it’s one of the smartest things to target on Prime Day. KitchenAid makes some of the best stand mixers around, and you can get the Artisan Series 5 Quart Tilt Head Mixer for 24% off right now—just $380 instead of $500. The best Prime Day deal on an indoor grillThe world is divided into Grill People and everyone else. If you’re the former, you’ve probably spent a lot of time shivering or dripping in the weather while you grill on your deck or balcony. An indoor grill like this one from Ninja (bonus: it’s also an air fryer) will change the course of your life by making it easy to grill up some burgers or steaks right in your kitchen—and it’s 32% off for Prime Day, magically turning an appliance that’s normally almost $300 into a $190 steal. The best Prime Day Deal on a waffle makerIf there is one bit of Adult Wisdom I’ve picked up over the years, it’s this: Waffles make everything better. Having a waffle maker tucked away in a cabinet means you can improve any random day with waffles, and the DASH Multimaker is perfect. It comes with a set of plates in different shapes to make fun mini-waffles, it doubles as a griddle so you can make a perfect egg along with your waffles, and it includes a storage case for the plates. Best of all, it’s 34% right now and you can grab it for just $23. The best Prime Day Deal on a blenderThe modern world runs on blenders. Whether you make a daily smoothie, need to chop up some veggies, or make ice cream, having a real blender on hand is a must. If you’re looking to fill the blender-sized hole in your life, the Vitamix 5200 offers a 64-oz. container and plenty of power to chop up whatever you need. Normally an eye-watering $470, it’s currently 26% off for Prime Day at a steal-able $350. The best Prime Day Deal on a toasterToasters don’t get much attention, but if you don’t have a working toaster, the worst thing you can do is to run to your nearest store and buy whatever they have—sure it’ll toast bread, but it won’t last, it’ll burn your fingers, and you’ll probably be limited to two slices. This Proctor Silex 4-slice toaster offers precision toasting, insulated walls so you don’t get burned, and the ability to pop out four slices at a time, ideal for a busy family rushing through breakfast. Grab it at 34% off—just $32. The best Prime Day Deal on a rice cookerBeing able to cook perfectly-prepared rice in your own home is amazing—and never having to bother with the grocery-store pre-packaged stuff you microwave or cook in a saucepan is even better. I make a batch of rice almost every weekend when cooking dinner, so this thing definitely paid for itself even before it went on sale—and now it’s 36% off, so you can grab it for just $290 instead of the usual $452. The best Prime Day Deal on a pressure cookerThe day comes when you realize how powerful a multi-cooker like this one from Instant Pot can be. You can cook practically anything in this thing, from soups and stews to eggs or even rice. It’s even got a sous vide function if you’re fancy. But what I think makes it really great is that you can be a relative cooking dummy like me, because it’s really easy to use with a wide range of preset modes that make cooking everything as easy as pressing a button. And you can grab it for 36% off right now, saving $50. The best Prime Day Deal on a coffee makerCooking fancy meals and making healthy smoothies and snacks is all well and good, but for many of us, the first and most important thing our kitchens give us is coffee in the morning. If you’re a basic coffee soul but pod coffee horrifies you, this simple brewer from Braun is 31% off (a $40 savings) and does a near-perfect job of making coffee. If you’re a little fancier (or want to be) with your coffee, the De’Longhi Magnifico Evo is almost 40% off for Prime Day—a discount of $350. This is a “dummy-proof” espresso machine, so you don’t need to know the advanced physics of coffee-making to produce a credible espresso, cappuccino, or latte macchiato. Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime. Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+. Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member. Target’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $156.78 (List Price $219.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — Wireless and plug-in security cameras, motion detection, extended range. Sync Module XR included — 2 camera system + Mini 2 (Black) — $74.99 (List Price $219.98) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $229.99 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Kindle Essentials Bundle including Kindle (2024 release) - Black, Fabric Cover - Matcha, and Power Adapter — $117.97 (List Price $161.97) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

President’s options narrow after losing third premier since his 2024 snap electionsView the full article

Wall Street is hanging near its records on Monday, as technology stocks keep rising. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, coming off its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 17 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% higher. Advanced Micro Devices soared 32.6% to help lead the market after announcing a deal where OpenAI will use its chips to power artificial-intelligence infrastructure. As part of the deal, OpenAI could own up to 160 million shares of AMD if it hits certain milestones. A frenzy around AI has been one of the main reasons Wall Street has been hitting record after record, though that’s also raising worries that prices have potentially shot too high. Much of the furor around AI in the last couple weeks has come from OpenAI, which has quickly become a $500 billion company, announcing deals with businesses around the world to develop more AI infrastructure. Another chip company, Nvidia, announced a deal last month where it would invest $100 billion in OpenAI as part of a partnership, creating criticism that the AI investment pipeline was beginning to appear like a circle. Nvidia fell 1.5% following the AMD announcement. Outside of tech, Comerica jumped 16.5% after Fifth Third Bancorp agreed to buy its rival in an all-stock deal valued at $10.9 billion. The combination would create the country’s ninth-largest bank. Fifth Third added 1%. Elsewhere on Wall Street, trading remained relatively quiet as the stock market continues to largely ignore the U.S. government’s shutdown. Past closures of the federal government have had minimal effect on the stock market or on the economy, and the bet on Wall Street is that something similar will happen again. Politics are playing a more active role in stock markets abroad, though, as Japanese stocks soared and French stocks slumped following their latest political shake-ups. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 4.8% after the country’s Liberal Democratic Party chose Sanae Takaichi as its leader and likely Japan’s first woman prime minister. She was an ally of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who pushed for lower interest rates and market-friendly policies. The yen’s value dropped against the U.S. dollar on expectations that Takaichi will boost spending, likely adding to inflationary pressures. That in turn helped push up stocks of Japanese exporters, whose products can become more attractive on the global market because of a cheaper yen. “Obviously, investors like what she has been saying and certainly today judging by the number of stocks that moved and which stocks moved, it seems like pretty much led by foreigners so far,” Neil Newman, head of strategy at Astris Advisory Japan, said about Takaichi. In Paris, the CAC 40 index slumped 1.2% following the resignation of France’s new prime minister. Sébastien Lecornu resigned a day after he named his government, drawing a backlash across the political spectrum for his choice of ministers. French politics have been in disarray since President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections last year that produced a deeply fragmented legislature. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.16% from 4.13% late Friday. The shutdown of the U.S. government means fewer economic data releases this week, though markets will have some earnings reports to comb through, including from Delta Air Lines, PepsiCo and Levi Strauss. Despite the shutdown, the Federal Reserve will release minutes from its meeting last month when it cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time this year. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. —Stan Choe, AP Business Writer View the full article

Small business owners, take note: a recent federal case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of diligence and integrity in securing financial relief during crises. Harold Dotson, a Maryland accountant, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded COVID-19 relief programs out of over $24 million. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett handed down the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release and six months of home confinement. Dotson’s actions, driven by greed, involved crafting fraudulent applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, both designed to support small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation revealed that Dotson, who owned H&M Tax Service LLC, prepared false loan applications for fictitious businesses. He manipulated key figures, from employee counts to revenue, creating bogus IRS tax forms to bolster these applications. Consequently, he received around $828,498 from the fraudulent proceeds, much of which was funneled into gambling. For small business owners, this case serves as a cautionary tale. The CARES Act, passed in March 2020, intended to provide much-needed financial relief through forgivable loans and advances to help keep businesses afloat. Programs like PPP and EIDL have proven vital for many, offering forgiveness on loans aimed at maintaining payroll and covering operational costs. As U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, pointed out, the swift sentencing of Dotson reflects the commitment of federal authorities to protect these programs from fraud. “The Department of Justice is focused on ensuring that funds meant to help struggling businesses are not lost to fraud,” Hayes stated. These federal initiatives have played a crucial role in helping businesses navigate the economic impact of the pandemic. For small business owners looking to apply for relief, transparency and thorough documentation remain paramount. Understanding the requirements for these loans, engaging in honest practices, and maintaining accurate records can significantly reduce the risk of legal repercussions. While the majority of applicants use these programs legitimately, the allure to exploit the system can be tempting. Dotson’s case highlights the potential for serious legal consequences for small business owners who engage in fraudulent activities. Additionally, small businesses should be aware of the evolving landscape of COVID-19 relief efforts, which can pose challenges as regulations adapt. The formation of strike forces by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat COVID-19 fraud means that heightened scrutiny is likely for applicants. Misrepresentations, even if unintentional, can lead to severe consequences, including significant fines or imprisonment. Regulatory bodies emphasize the importance of compliance and provide resources for legitimate businesses to report any suspicion of fraud. The Department of Justice has established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), where individuals can report observed fraud attempts related to pandemic relief. Small business owners should be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their interests by staying informed and adhering to ethical practices. While government assistance has provided a lifeline for many struggling small businesses, Dotson’s case underscores a critical lesson: integrity in financial reporting can protect your business from severe penalties that come from fraudulent activities. For more detailed information on COVID-19 relief programs and the ongoing efforts to combat fraud, small business owners can refer to the original Department of Justice release here. Image via Envato This article, "Maryland Accountant Sentenced for $24M COVID Relief Fraud Scheme" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners, take note: a recent federal case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of diligence and integrity in securing financial relief during crises. Harold Dotson, a Maryland accountant, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded COVID-19 relief programs out of over $24 million. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett handed down the sentence, which includes three years of supervised release and six months of home confinement. Dotson’s actions, driven by greed, involved crafting fraudulent applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, both designed to support small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation revealed that Dotson, who owned H&M Tax Service LLC, prepared false loan applications for fictitious businesses. He manipulated key figures, from employee counts to revenue, creating bogus IRS tax forms to bolster these applications. Consequently, he received around $828,498 from the fraudulent proceeds, much of which was funneled into gambling. For small business owners, this case serves as a cautionary tale. The CARES Act, passed in March 2020, intended to provide much-needed financial relief through forgivable loans and advances to help keep businesses afloat. Programs like PPP and EIDL have proven vital for many, offering forgiveness on loans aimed at maintaining payroll and covering operational costs. As U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, pointed out, the swift sentencing of Dotson reflects the commitment of federal authorities to protect these programs from fraud. “The Department of Justice is focused on ensuring that funds meant to help struggling businesses are not lost to fraud,” Hayes stated. These federal initiatives have played a crucial role in helping businesses navigate the economic impact of the pandemic. For small business owners looking to apply for relief, transparency and thorough documentation remain paramount. Understanding the requirements for these loans, engaging in honest practices, and maintaining accurate records can significantly reduce the risk of legal repercussions. While the majority of applicants use these programs legitimately, the allure to exploit the system can be tempting. Dotson’s case highlights the potential for serious legal consequences for small business owners who engage in fraudulent activities. Additionally, small businesses should be aware of the evolving landscape of COVID-19 relief efforts, which can pose challenges as regulations adapt. The formation of strike forces by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat COVID-19 fraud means that heightened scrutiny is likely for applicants. Misrepresentations, even if unintentional, can lead to severe consequences, including significant fines or imprisonment. Regulatory bodies emphasize the importance of compliance and provide resources for legitimate businesses to report any suspicion of fraud. The Department of Justice has established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF), where individuals can report observed fraud attempts related to pandemic relief. Small business owners should be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their interests by staying informed and adhering to ethical practices. While government assistance has provided a lifeline for many struggling small businesses, Dotson’s case underscores a critical lesson: integrity in financial reporting can protect your business from severe penalties that come from fraudulent activities. For more detailed information on COVID-19 relief programs and the ongoing efforts to combat fraud, small business owners can refer to the original Department of Justice release here. Image via Envato This article, "Maryland Accountant Sentenced for $24M COVID Relief Fraud Scheme" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Fifth Third on Monday agreed to buy regional lender Comerica in an all-stock deal valued at $10.9 billion, creating the ninth-largest U.S. lender with a robust presence in the Midwest. Regional lenders are looking to diversify revenue streams, strengthen balance sheets and expand into faster-growing markets as they recover from an industry-wide crisis in 2023 that shook investor confidence and exposed the risks of bank runs and troubles in commercial real estate. Analysts have said consolidation is crucial for smaller lenders to compete with the nation’s largest banks, with several banks looking to take advantage of a potentially lighter regulatory environment under the The President administration. Comerica shareholders will receive 1.8663 Fifth Third shares for each Comerica share, valuing the deal at $82.88 per share based on Fifth Third’s closing price on October 3. Shares in Comerica were last up 12% before the bell, while Fifth Third fell 3%. “Record bank stock prices have also allowed for a greater currency to do deals, and today’s announcement will likely encourage more boardroom discussions about possible tie-ups, both large and small,” said Stephen Biggar, analyst at Argus Research. The S&P 500 Banks Index has surged nearly 21% this year, outpacing the benchmark S&P 500’s roughly 14% rise. GROWTH AVENUE Mergers and acquisitions have become crucial for regional lenders looking for a competitive edge in a highly saturated U.S. banking market. The latest deal expands Fifth Third’s reach to 17 of the 20 fastest-growing U.S. markets, including parts of the Southeast, Texas and California, and by 2030, more than half of its branches are expected to be located in these regions, it said. “This combination marks a pivotal moment for Fifth Third as we accelerate our strategy to build density in high-growth markets and deepen our commercial capabilities,” Fifth Third CEO Tim Spence said. Many lenders are looking to build larger, more diversified franchises with steadier revenue from businesses such as wealth management, payments and treasury services, as interest income gets squeezed by shifting Federal Reserve policy. Comerica CEO Curt Farmer will assume the role of vice chair in the combined company, while Peter Sefzik, its chief banking officer, will lead Fifth Third’s wealth and asset management business. The companies expect to have two $1 billion recurring and high return fee businesses — Commercial Payments and Wealth and Asset Management, following the deal. The deal is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2026, after which Fifth Third shareholders will own about 73% of the combined company. —Manya Saini and Arasu Kannagi Basil, Reuters 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 Big Deal Days is coming October 7-8, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it's over. Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox. New to Prime Day? We have a primer on everything you need to know. Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. If you’re looking to build a cordless tool kit or add to one you already have, you’ve probably noticed how expensive tools can be. When you shop for new tools, the cost of batteries, bits, blades, and accessories can be high, not to mention hand tools. Looking out for deals on reliable brands that will hold up over time can save you money now as well as in the long-term when you consider the cost of replacing batteries and tools as they wear out. Here are some of the best early Prime Day deals on tools. Cordless drills and driversA cordless drill and driver set is the cornerstone of a home tool set. These tools allow you to do basic home DIY projects like putting up shelves or hanging a TV, and they will also be useful for more advanced projects like building furniture or repairing fencing. The Dewalt 20-volt Max Drill and driver set is $179, 31% off its regular price. This set comes with a drill, a driver, two 20-volt batteries, a charger, and a tool bag. This is the driver set that I use at work, and it stands up to a lot of abuse. The batteries can go for up to1 0 years without needing to be replaced, even with daily use. Best deal on a specialty setThis refurbished Makita 18-volt subcompact drill and driver set is now $164.99, 31% off its typical price. This set comes with a drill, impact driver, two 18-volt, 1.5-amp-hour batteries, a charger, and a tool bag. A sub-compact drill or driver weighs less than three pounds, making them idea for portability. These tools are also smaller than the average drill and driver so they’re good for fitting into tight spaces. Makita CX203SYB 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Sub-Compact Brushless Cordless 2-Pc. Combo Kit (1.5Ah) (Renewed) $164.99 at Amazon $227.38 Save $62.39 Get Deal Get Deal $164.99 at Amazon $227.38 Save $62.39 Best deal under $100The 18-volt Ryobi cordless power drill is $49.97, 17% off its usual price. The set comes with a drill, a 1.5-amp-hour battery, and a charger. This is a good set for a beginner; it will do everything you need for basic projects. The battery will hold a charge for about an hour and a half with moderate use. Cordless power toolsCordless power tools have gotten lighter and more advanced over the last couple of years, allowing you to use power saws for hours without swapping batteries, and to finish work without dragging an extension cord behind you. The Milwaukee 18-volt cordless random orbital sander is $99, 39% off its regular price. This is the sander I use in my personal tool kit, and it works just as well as the corded version without needing an outlet and an extension cord. It comes with a dust catcher attachment and a couple of sanding discs, but you’ll need an 18-volt Milwaukee battery to use it. Best deal on a cordless sawThe DeWalt 18-volt jig saw is $152.99, 36% off its regular price. This saw is good for making custom shapes and for doing small, precise cuts. It comes with a starter multipurpose blade, but you’ll need a DeWalt 18-volt battery to use it. Best deal under $100The Ryobi 18-volt three-inch cutoff tool is $98.88, 29% off its regular price. This is a saw designed for cutting metal, wood, or PVC, so it’s a versatile addition to your home DIY tool kit. It comes with a three-inch metal cut-off blade, but you’ll need an 18-volt Ryobi battery set to use it. Ryobi PSBCS02 ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless Compact Light Weight Cut-Off Tool (Tool Only, Battery Not Included) $90.89 at Amazon $139.99 Save $49.10 Get Deal Get Deal $90.89 at Amazon $139.99 Save $49.10 Hand toolsHand tools can be an overlooked component of a home DIY tool kit, but they’re important for most home maintenance and DIY projects. Getting all the different tools and bits you need can be expensive, though. The Irwin 6 ½ inch coping saw is $8.99, 43% off its regular price. It can make precise cuts in wood for custom projects like installing trim or making dovetail joints. Irwin Tools ProTouch Coping Saw $8.99 at Amazon $15.82 Save $6.83 Get Deal Get Deal $8.99 at Amazon $15.82 Save $6.83 Best deal on screwdriversThe Craftsman ratcheting screwdriver set is $16.98, 29% off its usual price. This set comes with a ratcheting screwdriver handle, 24 bits, and a telescoping magnetic pick-up tool. This is a good set for a simple home maintenance kit—it doesn’t take up much space and it comes with almost any bit you would need for basic DIY home maintenance like changing air filters or swapping cabinet hardware. Best deal under $20A pair of 10-inch Irwin locking pliers is $12.93, 52% off their typical price. These locking pliers are indispensable for removing stripped or rusted nuts and bolts, pulling nails, and a variety of other tasks. I have a pair that I keep in my personal tool set that have lasted more than a decade, and I find new uses for them every time I start a new project. Looking for something else? Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have Prime Day competition sales that are especially useful if you don’t have Amazon Prime. Walmart’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET through Oct. 12 and includes deals up to 50% off. It’s an especially good option if you have Walmart+. Best Buy’s Prime Day competition sale runs from Sept. 27 through Oct. 12, and has some of the best tech sales online. It’s an especially good option if you’re a My Best Buy “Plus” or “Total” member. Target’s Prime Day competition sale, runs from Oct. 5 through Oct. 11, and it has deals going up to 50% off. You can become a Circle member for free. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Prime Day Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (Graphite) — $156.78 (List Price $219.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Outdoor 4 XR + Mini 2 — Wireless and plug-in security cameras, motion detection, extended range. Sync Module XR included — 2 camera system + Mini 2 (Black) — $74.99 (List Price $219.98) Ring Battery Doorbell Plus — $79.99 (List Price $149.99) Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen, 2-pack, White) — $49.98 (List Price $79.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $34.99 (List Price $69.99) Shark AV2501S AI Ultra Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base — $229.99 (List Price $549.99) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Kindle Essentials Bundle including Kindle (2024 release) - Black, Fabric Cover - Matcha, and Power Adapter — $117.97 (List Price $161.97) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

American scientists Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi from Japan won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for work shedding light on how the immune system spares healthy cells, creating openings for possible new autoimmune disease and cancer treatments. This year’s prize relates to peripheral immune tolerance, or “how we keep our immune system under control so we can fight all imaginable microbes and still avoid autoimmune disease”, said Marie Wahren-Herlenius, a rheumatology professor at the Karolinska Institute. Sakaguchi told reporters outside his university laboratory that “I feel it is a tremendous honour,” Kyodo news agency reported. REGULATORY T CELLS: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM’S ‘SECURITY GUARDS’ The winners for medicine are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute medical university and receive a prize sum of 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.2 million), as well as a gold medal presented by Sweden’s king. Brunkow is senior programme manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, while Ramsdell is scientific adviser at Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi is a professor at Osaka University in Japan. “Their discoveries have laid the foundation for a new field of research and spurred the development of new treatments, for example for cancer and autoimmune diseases,” the prize-awarding body said in a statement. The laureates identified so-called regulatory T cells, which act as the immune system’s security guards that keep immune cells from attacking our own body, it added. After announcing the winners, the institute’s Thomas Perlmann said specific therapies had yet to win market clearance but more than 200 trials on humans involving regulatory T cells were ongoing. Among companies in the early race, Sonoma Biotherapeutics , which Ramsdell co-founded, is partly funded and supported by U.S. drugmaker Regeneron to work on therapies against diseases including inflammatory bowel disease. Also targeting that condition, Quell Therapeutics has partnered with AstraZeneca. Other biotech firms exploring the approach include Bayer’s BlueRock. MEDICINE THE FIRST PRIZE OF NOBEL SEASON The Nobel Prizes were established through the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite and a wealthy businessman. They have been awarded since 1901 for outstanding contributions in science, literature, and peace, with interruptions mainly during the World Wars. The economics prize was added later and is funded by Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank. Winners are selected by expert committees from various institutions. All prizes are awarded in Stockholm, except for the Peace Prize, which is presented in Oslo — a possible legacy of the political union between Sweden and Norway during Nobel’s lifetime. Past recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine include renowned scientists such as Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 award for discovering penicillin. In recent years, the prize has recognized major breakthroughs, including those that enabled the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Last year’s medicine prize was awarded to U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its key role in how multicellular organisms grow and live, helping explain how cells specialise into different types. Medicine in accordance with tradition kicks off the annual Nobels, arguably the most prestigious prizes in science, literature, peace and economics, with the remainder set to be announced over the coming days. More than a century after their inception, the Nobel Prizes remain steeped in tradition. The awards culminate in ceremonies attended by the royal families of Sweden and Norway, followed by lavish banquets held on December 10 — the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. ($1 = 9.3898 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Niklas Pollard, Johan Ahlander in Stockholm; Additional reporting by Terje Solsvik in Oslo, Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo and Marie Mannes and Greta Fondahn in Stockholm; Writing by Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; editing by Alex Richardson) —Johan Ahlander, Niklas Pollard and Ludwig Burger, Reuters 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. This StackSocial bundle pairs Microsoft Office Professional 2021 with Windows 11 Pro on sale for just $44.97 right now (down from nearly $419). It’s the kind of deal that makes sense if you’re setting up a new PC or finally updating an old one. The Office license is for life—no subscription, no annual fees, and it covers all the essentials, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and the free version of Teams. Everything installs locally on one Windows PC, so there’s no hopping between browser tabs or worrying about renewing in 12 months. The Windows 11 Pro license, also included, is the full upgrade. It features advanced tools such as BitLocker encryption, Hyper-V virtualization, and Windows Sandbox, making it ideal for professionals handling professional-level tasks or sensitive data. If you’re switching from Windows 10 Home, you’ll notice productivity bumps too: snap layouts, tabbed File Explorer, and Copilot baked into the OS. That last one is Microsoft’s AI helper that lives on your taskbar. You can press the Windows key + C to launch it and ask it to summarize web pages, open apps, or adjust settings—all with plain English. Note that you’ll need at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage to run it, as well as TPM 2.0 and UEFI support; therefore, older PCs may be incompatible. You can only use Office on one PC, and the license is tied to that device, not your Microsoft account, so it doesn’t travel with you if you upgrade to a new computer later. The Windows 11 Pro key gives you a bit more flexibility (it can be activated on up to two devices). And while it’s not compatible with virtual machines or Parallels, the deal still offers solid value for most everyday or professional users looking to avoid recurring costs. Just be sure to activate it within 30 days of purchase. View the full article

Acquisition of The Free Press is first major deal since David Ellison’s Skydance took control of media groupView the full article

Republican and Democratic lawmakers at an impasse on reopening the federal government provided few public signs Sunday of meaningful negotiations taking place to end what is about to be a six-day shutdown — with President Donald The President saying that layoffs are occurring. Asked on Sunday night when federal workers would be fired as he has threatened to do, The President told reporters: “It’s taking place right now and it’s all because of the Democrats.” “The Democrats are causing the loss of a lot of jobs,” The President added, declining to answer a question about which agencies are subject to the cuts. The possibility of layoffs would escalate an already tense situation in which Washington lawmakers have struggled to find common ground and build mutual trust. Leaders in both parties are betting that public sentiment has swung their way, putting pressure on the other side to cave. Democrats are insisting on renewing subsidies to cover health insurance costs for millions of households, while The President wants to preserve existing spending levels as he believes that Democrats will have to cave because of the jobs and federal projects being put at risk. The squabble comes at a moment of troubling economic uncertainty. While the U.S. economy has continued to grow this year, hiring has slowed and inflation remains elevated as The President’s import taxes have created a series of disruptions for businesses and hurt confidence in his leadership. At the same time, there is a recognition that the nearly $2 trillion annual budget deficit is financially unsustainable. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, among those appearing on the Sunday news shows, said there have been no talks with Republican leaders since their White House meeting last Monday. “And, unfortunately, since that point in time, Republicans, including Donald The President, have gone radio silent,” Jeffries said. “And what we’ve seen is negotiation through deepfake videos, the House canceling votes, and of course President The President spending yesterday on the golf course. That’s not responsible behavior.” The The President administration sees the shutdown as an opening to wield greater power over the budget, with multiple officials saying they will save money as workers are furloughed by imposing permanent job cuts on thousands of government workers, a tactic that has never been used before. Even though it would be The President’s choice to cut jobs, he believes he can put the blame on the Democrats because of the shutdown. “It’s up to them,” The President told reporters on Sunday morning before boarding the presidential helicopter to celebrate the Navy’s 250th anniversary in Norfolk, Virginia. While The President rose to fame on the TV show “The Apprentice” with its catchphrase of “You’re fired,” Republicans on Sunday claimed that the administration would take no pleasure in letting go of federal workers, even though the administration had also put funding on hold for infrastructure and energy projects in Democratic areas without clear signs of remorse. “We haven’t seen the details yet about what’s happening” with layoffs, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday morning on NBC. “But it is a regrettable situation that the president does not want.” Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, also said the administration would prefer to avoid the layoffs. “We want the Democrats to come forward and to make a deal that’s a clean, continuing resolution that gives us seven more weeks to talk about these things,” Hassett said on CNN. “But the bottom line is that with Republicans in control, the Republicans have a lot more power over the outcome than the Democrats.” Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California defended his party’s stance on the shutdown, saying on NBC that the possible increase in health care costs for “millions of Americans” would make insurance unaffordable in what he called a “crisis.” But Schiff also noted that the The President administration has stopped congressionally approved spending from being used. That essentially undermines the value of Democrats trying to seek compromises on the budget since the administration could block the spending of money from any deal. The The President administration sent Congress roughly $4.9 billion in “pocket rescissions” on foreign aid, a process that meant the spending was withheld without time for Congress to weigh in before the previous fiscal year ended last month. “We need both to address the health care crisis and we need some written assurance in the law — I won’t take a promise — that they’re not going to renege on any deal we make,” Schiff said. The television appearances indicated that Democrats and Republicans are busy talking, deploying internet memes against each other that have raised concerns about whether it’s possible to negotiate in good faith. Vice President JD Vance said a video putting Jeffries in a sombrero and thick mustache was simply a joke, even though it came across as mocking people of Mexican descent as Republicans insist that the Democratic demands would lead to health care spending on immigrants in the country illegally, a claim that Democrats dispute. Immigrants in the U.S. illegally are not eligible for any federal health care programs, including insurance provided through the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. Still, hospitals do receive Medicaid reimbursements for emergency care that they are obligated to provide to people who meet other Medicaid eligibility requirements but do not have an eligible immigration status. The challenge, however, is that the two parties do not appear to be having productive conversations with each other in private, even as Republicans insist they are in conversation with their Democratic colleagues. On Friday, a Senate vote to advance a Republican bill that would reopen the government failed to notch the necessary 60 votes to end a filibuster. Johnson said the House would close for legislative business next week, a strategy that could obligate the Senate to work with the government funding bill that was passed by House Republicans. “Johnson’s not serious about this,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on CBS. “He sent all his congressmen home last week and home this week. How are you going to negotiate?” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Sunday that the shutdown on discretionary spending, the furloughing of federal workers and requirements that other federal employees work without pay will go on so long as Democrats vote no. “They’ll get another chance on Monday to vote again,” Thune said on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” “And I’m hoping that some of them have a change of heart,” he said. Jeffries, Johnson and Schiff appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Hassett was on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Schumer was on CBS’s “Face the Nation” and Thune was on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” —Josh Boak, Associated Press View the full article

Did you know you can customize Google to filter out garbage? Take these steps for better search results, including adding my work at Lifehacker as a preferred source. How do you do, fellow adult? This week's edition of the Out of Touch Adult’s Guide to Kid Culture features a new body slang term, a TikTok prank where AI puts a hobo into your living room, the possible beginning of the AI wars, and a viral video featuring students running a Nazi out of class. There's a lot to eat, so tuck your napkin in your shirt and chow down. What is a Venus tummy?A "Venus tummy" is a slang term for a woman's belly that is a little fat, but not too fat—a little pouch that can be shown off in tight clothing. Like so: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The name comes from ancient Greece, where Venus was depicted as, uh, fleshy, as you can see from these three statues of "crouching Venus:" Credit: Wikipedia While women having bellies is not new, the term "Venus tummy" (and the acknowledgment that many people find that feature very attractive) is. I guess older slang terms like zaftig, thicc, stacked, and "built like a brick shithouse" are not specific enough, and specificity is important in objectification. If the internet has to objectify women (and it sure seems like it does) at least Venus tummy is based in history and is more positive and healthy than sexualizing being extremely skinny. So yeah, it's a little creepy, but "a little creepy" is the best we can hope for these days. AI homeless man prankIf your child sends you a picture of a homeless person sitting on your couch and asks, "what should I do?" don't panic. It's (probably) a prank. The new video trend online is freaking out your parents and other loved ones with an AI-generated image of an unhoused person, then posting a video about it to TikTok, like this: and this: You might think you're going to be clever and pull a switcheroo on your child, but I warn you, this will not work. They will immediately clock the image as fake, post a sarcastic emoji, and leave you on read, as you can see: Credit: Stephen Johnson Two stories of backlash against AIAI is great for generating pictures of people in unfortunate situations on your couch, but the way it's taking over everything worthwhile about humanity is less great. Thankfully, there's evidence that AI destruction of humanity will at least meet token resistance, and that the backlash against artificial intelligence is growing. NYC doesn't want an AI "Friend"Back in 2024, the world first learned of the "Friend" pendant, a little AI device you wear around your neck thats only purpose is to provide a simulation of human interaction. Now that they're actually available to purchase, the company behind them has launched an advertising campaign; it's going extremely poorly. In New York City, subway and street posters for the Friend device are being defaced mercilessly and creatively, like so, with people scrawling messages like "AI will promote suicide when prompted. It is not your friend" on them. I'm not exactly pro vandalism, but in this case, I make an exception. Tilly Norwood, the first "AI actress"A few days ago, Variety posted a story about Tilly Norwood, an "AI actress" whose creator, comedian and producer Eline Van der Velden, lied that he had "attracted the attention of multiple talent agents" for Norwood. A creation of "AI talent studio" Xicoia, Norwood's first video role is below: Apparently, the above video is considered "funny" in the UK. Anyway, soon after Norwood was announced as existing, real talent agencies responded with "the fuck out of here with this dumb shit." as did SAG, the actors union, and everyone else worthwhile. But with her name in public, troubling news of Norwood's past became public, as you can see in this X post: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Leaving the actress to seek "alternative" employment in entertainment. In unrelated news, if you want to know who the first real AI superstar will be, it's Johnny Extreme! Created in three and 30 seconds by Stephen Johnson Studios, Extreme has attracted the attention of multiple talent agents for his bad-boy image and his ceaseless rule-breaking. He's an accident looking for a place to happen. Here's his audition video, suckers: (If you want to hire Johnny Extreme, please send me money.) What does "my steak is too juicy" mean? The phrases "my steak is too juicy" and "my lobster is too buttery" are online slang used to suggest someone is complaining about something they should be grateful for. To see it in context and bring things full circle to Venus tummy, click here. Viral video of the week: How to treat NazisThis week's viral video comes from the University of Washington, where an attention-seeking Nazi type disrupted a lecture in a Psychology class by grabbing the mic, throwing up the Elon Musk hand sign, screaming slurs and obscenities, and calling the sexuality class "degenerate nonsense." The students respond by booing him and chasing him out of the class, with their badass professor leading, chased him down. But they don't give him the beating he's trying to provoke. Instead, they hold him down and wait for the authorities to come and take him away. (Although the agitator does get a satisfying face full of pepper spray for his trouble.) This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Here's the point of view of the perpetrator, who was dumb enough to post his complete humiliation. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. It's easy to look at the loud weirdos and think they represent a lot of people, but as this video shows, in real life, that's not the case. View the full article

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