Lego discontinued a bunch of Super Mario building sets late last year, including the playsets themed around Donkey Kong. If you still want to pick one or two of them up, Amazon has restocked multiple Donkey Kong Lego sets. Most notably, you can get Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride for $79. Originally sold for $110, Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride is 1,157 pieces, which makes it the largest Donkey Kong-related Lego set by a wide margin and one of the most elaborate Super Mario expansion sets in general.
Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride lets you recreate mine cart-riding, airplane-flying, and rock-exploding challenges. It comes with four Lego figures from the the series: Funky Kong, Diddy Kong, Snaggles, and a Mole Miner. Lego Mario, Luigi, and Peach figures from the Super Mario starter sets can interact with the figures and mine cart track. All three Super Mario Lego starter sets are discounted at Amazon.
Donkey Kong & DK Jumbo from the Lego Mario Kart lineup comes with the buildable figure shown below. It’s very similar to the figure from the original Tree House set, but instead of getting Donkey Kong’s house, you can zip around in a cart made from a barrel. DK’s Mario Kart kit may not be discounted, but you can save on multiple of the other playsets in the lineup. Lego Mario Kart debuted on January 1 with six playsets, and discounts are available for the Yoshi Bike, Baby Mario vs. Baby Luigi, and Toad’s Garage. Lego will expand the series with a 1,972-piece Mario Kart display model for adults on May 15.
That’s the takeaway from new research from a team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder. The findings suggests that long-term exposure to Martian dust could create a host of health problems for future astronauts — leading to chronic respiratory problems, thyroid disease and more.
The study, published in the journal GeoHealth, is the first to take a comprehensive look at the chemical ingredients that make up Martian dust, and their possible impacts on human health. It was undertaken by a team from the worlds of medicine, geology and aerospace engineering.
“This isn’t the most dangerous part about going to Mars,” said Justin Wang, lead author of the study and a student in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. “But dust is a solvable problem, and it’s worth putting in the effort to develop Mars-focused technologies for preventing these health problems in the first place.”
Wang, a CU Boulder alumnus, noted that Apollo era astronauts experienced runny eyes and irritated throats after inhaling dust from the moon. Apollo 17’s Harrison Schmitt likened the symptoms to hay fever.
But scientists know a lot less about the potential harms of Martian dust. To begin to answer that question, Wang and his colleagues drew on data from rovers on Mars and even Martian meteorites to better understand what makes up the planet’s dust. The group discovered a “laundry list” of chemical compounds that could be dangerous for people — at least when inhaled in large quantities and over long periods of time.
They include minerals rich in silicates and iron oxides, metals like beryllium and arsenic and a particularly nasty class of compounds called perchlorates.
In many cases, those ingredients are present in only trace amounts in Mars dust. But the first human explorers on Mars may spend around a year and a half on the surface, increasing their exposure, said study co-author Brian Hynek.
“You’re going to get dust on your spacesuits, and you’re going to have to deal with regular dust storms,” said Hynek, a geologist at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder. “We really need to characterize this dust so that we know what the hazards are.”
Into the bloodstream
One thing is clear, he added: Mars is a dusty place.
Much of the planet is covered in a thick layer of dust rich in tiny particles of iron, which gives the planet its famous red color. Swirling dust storms are common and, in some cases, can engulf the entire globe.
“We think there could be 10 meters of dust sitting on top of the bigger volcanoes,” said Hynek, a professor in the Department of Geological Sciences. “If you tried to land a spacecraft there, you’re going to just sink into the dust.”
Wang found his own way to Martian dust through a unique academic path. He started medical school after earning bachelor’s degrees from CU Boulder in astronomy and molecular, cellular and developmental biology, followed by a master’s degree in aerospace engineering sciences. He currently serves in the Navy through its Health Professions Scholarship Program.
He noted that the biggest problem with Martian dust comes down to its size. Estimates suggest that the average size of dust grains on Mars may be as little as 3 micrometers across, or roughly one-ten-thousandth of an inch.
“That’s smaller than what the mucus in our lungs can expel,” Wang said. “So after we inhale Martian dust, a lot of it could remain in our lungs and be absorbed into our blood stream.”
An ounce of prevention
In the current study, Wang and several of his fellow medical students at USC scoured research papers to unearth the potential toxicological effects of the ingredients in Martian dust.
Some of what they found resembled common health problems on Earth. Dust on Mars, for example, contains large amounts of the compound silica, which is abundant in minerals on our own planet. People who inhale a lot of silica, such as glass blowers, can develop a condition known as silicosis. Their lung tissue becomes scarred, making it hard to breath — symptoms similar to the “black lung” disease that coal miners often contract. Currently, there is no cure for silicosis.
In other cases, the potential health consequences are much less well-known.
Martian dust carries large quantities of highly oxidizing compounds called perchlorates, which are made up of one chlorine and multiple oxygen atoms. Perchlorates are rare on Earth, but some evidence suggests that they can interfere with human thyroid function, leading to severe anemia. Even inhaling a few milligrams of perchlorates in Martian dust could be dangerous for astronauts.
Wang noted that the best time to prepare for the health risks of Martian dust is before humans ever make it to the planet. Iodine supplements, for example, would boost astronauts’ thyroid function, potentially counteracting the toll of perchlorates — although taking too much iodine can also, paradoxically, lead to thyroid disease. Filters specifically designed to screen out Martian dust could also help to keep the air in living spaces clean.
“Prevention is key. We tell everyone to go see their primary care provider to check your cholesterol before it gives you a heart attack,” Wang said. “The best thing we can do on Mars is make sure the astronauts aren’t exposed to dust in the first place.”
The post Panel Discussion on ‘One Nation, One Election: A Democratic Reform or a Constitutional Dilemma?’ by MNLU, Mumbai [Apr 6; Hybrid]: Register Now! appeared first on Lawctopus.
Every new day comes with fresh possibilities. Wan to know if April 1, 2025, will be smooth sailing or full of surprises? Your horoscope has the answers. Read on to know what the stars have in store for you today.
Astrological prediction for April 01, 2025
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
Your clear, structured thoughts help you manage situations confidently. Financial gains might not appear immediately, but your long-term strategies promise stability. Every effort at work contributes to eventual success; remain consistent. Nostalgia may surface through cherished family memories, bringing warmth. Optimizing travel plans is beneficial, but avoid overpacking your schedule. Thoughtful home renovations, especially in important areas, may gradually enhance value. Academically, concentration may fluctuate, so changing your environment can restore focus.
Love Focus: Passion flows effortlessly, bringing excitement to your day.
Lucky Number: 1
Lucky Colour: Light Red
Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)
You’ll easily maintain productivity today, supported by steady energy. Financial markets may fluctuate, but careful monitoring of investments may help you navigate confidently. Professionally, your past efforts are finally yielding recognition. Family gratitude fills your heart, offering peace and belonging. While traveling, listening to your body and prioritizing rest and hydration prevents fatigue. Renting your property promises stable returns, thanks to reliable tenants. Academically, steady effort today strengthens your foundation, even without immediate breakthroughs.
Love Focus: Offering emotional support strengthens your bond, fostering security and connection.
Lucky Number: 6
Lucky Colour: Brown
Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)
An unexpected surge of motivation at work helps you complete tasks efficiently. A warm message from a distant relative can bring a sense of appreciation and joy. If traveling solo, ensure safety measures are in place to boost confidence and enhance your experience. When dealing with property matters, be thorough with legalities to avoid potential delays. Your mindset today is influenced by optimism and wisdom, helping you make sound choices. Financially, taking a conservative approach ensures stability. Academically, the day might feel uninspiring, but consistent efforts continue to push you forward.
Love Focus: Emotional acceptance fosters deeper understanding and respect in your relationship.
Lucky Number: 9
Lucky Colour: Orange
Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 22)
A casual conversation could open doors to valuable networking opportunities. A sibling’s kind gesture may bring warmth to your day. Your ability to maintain balance between work and rest ensures sustained energy levels. Financial obligations are being managed as planned, though minor adjustments may be necessary. If seeking personal clarity, travel could provide insightful revelations. When considering property investments, focus on location advantages like convenience and future growth potential. Each subject you engage with brings excitement and a sense of accomplishment.
Love Focus: Managing love and family expectations may feel overwhelming, but patience can help ease tensions.
Lucky Number: 17
Lucky Colour: Magenta
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 23)
Your body is adapting well, but maintaining a steady pace can ensure comfort. Financially, a stable inflow of money allows for better budgeting, though flexibility remains essential. At work, your keen attention to detail enhances the quality of your output. A thoughtful gesture from a relative makes the day extra special. Travel may feel like a celebration, bringing moments of joy and adventure. Renting out property could yield profitable and steady returns, with responsible tenants maintaining the space well. Academically, progress may seem gradual, but steady effort leads to long-term success.
Love Focus: Emotional affection deepens the bond, making both of you feel cherished.
Lucky Number: 5
Lucky Colour: Silver
Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)
Your body’s strength and resilience empower you to take on daily tasks with ease and confidence. Financially, stability allows for seamless wealth-building without unnecessary hurdles. Career advancements are within reach as promising opportunities begin to unfold. A new household responsibility may arise, but sharing the load will keep things running smoothly. Stepping into new places promises enriching experiences and unforgettable memories. If handling rental agreements, the process is expected to be smooth, ensuring a hassle-free transition for tenants. Academically, breaking tasks into smaller sections can make even the most demanding workload feel more manageable.
Love Focus: A grand romantic gesture can leave a lasting impression today.
Lucky Number: 22
Lucky Colour: Royal Blue
Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)
Traveling today will allow you to embrace the excitement of new experiences. Property investments hold potential, and this could be a good time to secure valuable assets. Academically, steady efforts ensure continuous progress. If fatigue sets in, taking a short break or switching environments can refresh your energy. Financially, no major changes occur, making it an ideal time to organize and plan. Career growth may initially appear to be slow but being persistent is likely to bring long-term success. Reconnecting with a family member, even briefly, will bring comfort.
Love Focus: Offering emotional insight strengthens understanding and deepens your connection.
Lucky Number: 2
Lucky Colour: White
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
A parent’s kind words bring encouragement and emotional comfort. The urge to travel is strong, though some plans may need adjustments. Your confidence shines, making interactions smoother and more enjoyable. Maintaining stability in monetary matters is essential as small, steady efforts contribute to long-term growth. Office dynamics may feel unpredictable, so staying adaptable is important. Renting out property provides a reliable source of income, with tenants taking good care of the space. If studies feel overwhelming, taking breaks and adjusting your approach will help restore clarity.
Love Focus: Deep conversations will bring a greater understanding of each other’s emotions.
Lucky Number: 8
Lucky Colour: Dark Yellow
Your body thrives when fueled with nourishing choices. Financially, a fortunate turn may boost your long-term prospects. Hard work at the workplace attracts rewarding opportunities. The presence of extended family fills your day with warmth and love. If engaging in adventure sports, ensure you are prepared and follow safety precautions. Property investments look promising, making this a good time to expand assets. Academically, each lesson learned today is likely to keep you ahead of your peers.
Love Focus: Emotional alignment creates clarity, strengthening your bond.
Lucky Number: 7
Lucky Colour: Off White
A calm and focused mind enhances creativity and productivity. Your financial strategies are paying off, leading to noticeable growth. Lack of coordination at work may slow progress, but taking initiative can improve team efficiency. A peaceful atmosphere at home recharges your spirit. Travel may not bring drastic changes but will still offer small moments of joy. DIY home improvements will personalize your space and add value. Academically, challenges may arise, but every bit of effort takes you closer to success.
Love Focus: Virtual conversations bring comfort, though distance may still be felt.
Lucky Number: 22
Lucky Colour: Grey
Pay attention to digestion today and opt for gut-friendly foods. A tempting large purchase might arise, but waiting for the right moment is advised. A discussion with a superior provides insightful career guidance. Family traditions take center stage, allowing you to reflect on meaningful customs. A scenic drive could lead to breathtaking views and peaceful moments. Property dealings are likely to be highly favorable, whether buying or selling. Academically, staying consistent will prevent falling behind.
Love Focus: Being emotionally supportive fosters harmony and closeness.
Lucky Number: 4
Lucky Colour: Peach
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
A strategic shift at work boosts productivity while reducing stress. A family rumor may circulate, but engaging mindfully will prevent unnecessary conflict. Travel today will be rewarding, with delightful surprises along the way. Property transactions may take time; keep patience. Academically, every learning experience today will be both engaging and beneficial. A well-balanced approach helps maintain energy levels without strain. Financially, opportunities arise that enhance your income.
Love Focus: Sharing emotional dreams strengthens your bond and mutual understanding.
Over the past decade, several dozen cell and gene therapies have reached market in the U.S., bringing with them the promise of long-lasting benefits for serious diseases.
Peter Marks’ fingerprints are all over those approvals. As head of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research since 2016, Marks oversaw the clearances of the first gene therapy, the first cellular treatment for cancer and the first CRISPR gene editing medicine, among others. He pushed the agency to be more flexible in reviewing those drugs, endorsing speedy development pathways that drew both praise and criticism.
Marks, who as CBER head also leads the agency’s vaccine work, resigned Friday, citing differences with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His exit leaves cell and gene therapy developers without their biggest proponent at the FDA. And it also adds another dose of uncertainty to what’s already a challenging time for the makers of these medicines, many of which are struggling to attract investment.
Stephan Grupp, head of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s cell therapy and transplant section, called Marks “an absolute scientific and regulatory giant at the agency.”
“He was integral to so much of the recent progress in cell and gene therapy. He kept things safe and he kept things moving. He really got it,” added Grupp, who helped develop the first CAR-T therapy for cancer. “This is a huge loss to the field and to the FDA.”
“Peter Marks’ vision, scientific rigor, and outstanding clinical judgment have been key reasons that cell and gene therapies have progressed as they have,” said Katherine High, a prominent gene therapy researcher. “His tireless commitment to building and disseminating a rigorous regulatory infrastructure for these novel therapeutics has led to a gradual but definite increase in the pace of approvals, which have now extended to gene editing as well.”
Cell and gene therapy developers have more hurdles to overcome than companies specializing in more traditional drugmaking methods like small molecules or biologics. Their products are especially complex, involving the manipulation of cells or genetic material as well as the use of specialized tools like engineered viruses to deliver them into patients. Understanding how these components work in the body and ensuring they’re safe and effective has required the creation of new regulatory frameworks as well as manufacturing processes.
Because of their complexity, safety risks and high production costs, these therapies are often developed for rare or life-threatening diseases. The first gene therapy in the U.S. was approved in 2017 to treat an uncommon and inherited form of vision loss. That same year also saw the arrival of the first cell therapy as a last-ditch treatment for people with a stubborn blood cancer. There have been another 42 cell or gene therapy approvals since then, according to the industry lobbying group the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine.
While running CBER, Marks pushed the agency to develop the kind of expertise and larger staff required to review these therapies, applications for which are expected to increase in the years to come. In the last 18 months alone, he and other senior leaders hired “critical scientific personnel and dramatically moderniz[ed] the regulatory framework” for the “ever-expanding” pipeline of therapies, the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine said in a statement.
Marks advocated for using unorthodox approval pathways to accelerate development of these treatments for rare diseases, believing that doing so was the best way to entice drugmakers to invest.
“Although we’re a regulatory agency,” Marks said at a meeting hosted by a patient advocacy group last year, regulations “have to ultimately serve getting products to patients. So we’re trying to focus on the patient, and use that to negotiate the regulations to get there as rapidly as possible.”
Those negotiations involved regular communications with patient advocacy groups and drugmakers to develop approval paths — as well as an openness to clearing therapies based on thinner evidence of benefit. Marks was willing to do so despite the risk of approving a therapy later found to be unsafe or ineffective.
“He was our field’s biggest champion and moved mountains to improve regulatory paths to speed up treatments for children in particular with rare diseases,” said Nicole Paulk, a former UCSF researcher and the CEO of gene therapy startup Siren Biotechnology.
Perhaps the most prominent example is in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive and deadly neuromuscular condition. Pat Furlong, the head of advocacy group Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, said in an email that Marks has been a “pivotal figure” in advancing gene therapies for Duchenne, “working tirelessly to ensure the voices of patients and their families” informed drug research, development and regulatory decisions. That culminated in the 2024 approval of Sarepta Therapeutics’ Elevidys, the first gene therapy for Duchenne.
Elevidys was a controversial case, however. It produced mixed results in clinical testing and missed its main goal in two placebo-controlled trials. Twice, Marks overruled fellow staffers and even other FDA leaders to approve the therapy and then expand its clearance. He argued Sarepta’s other study findings were compelling and made the case that even a small benefit in Duchenne is clinically meaningful.
His decision was lauded by patient organizations, but rebuked by critics who thought he had improperly lowered approval standards.
The mindset Marks instilled at the FDA may last beyond his tenure. In Duchenne, companies like Regenxbio and Solid Biosciences are following Sarepta’s lead and aiming for accelerated approvals. Similar discussions have put a first-of-its-kind Huntington’s disease gene therapy from UniQure on the path to approval, and helped advance heart treatments from Rocket Pharmaceuticals and Lexeo Therapeutics.
In his resignation letter, Marks said the agency “must do better to expedite the development of treatments” for people suffering from genetic diseases and called on the FDA to keep moving quickly.
“If thoughtfully approached and further developed and refined, these treatments have the potential to transform human health over the coming years,” Marks wrote.
Companies and their investors are counting on it. Murky commercial prospects have led to a pullback in funding for private as well as publicly traded cell and gene therapy developers. Marks’ departure adds regulatory upheaval to the mix, further depressing the stock prices of several gene therapy firms on Monday.
Cell and gene therapy companies “are particularly exposed to FDA disruption risks, given the need for support of science-based novel product development,” wrote Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger.
Companies developing new Duchene therapies could see a “stricter path to market” if incoming leadership changes direction, wrote RBC Capital Markets’ analyst Brian Abrahams, in a Monday investor note. He added that there might be “less leniency” towards cell therapies for autoimmune disease, which could impact more than a dozen companies, including Kyverna Therapeutics and Cabaletta Bio.
More broadly, the unknowns regarding Marks’ successor and whether other rank-and-file employees might also leave the agency creates more risk, wrote Mani Foroohar, another Leerink analyst.
Some industry watchers remain optimistic, however. Baird analyst Jack Allen noted how Marks’ dispute with Kennedy appeared to center on vaccines, not novel treatments like gene therapies. The team of analysts at William Blair added that Nicole Verdun, director of the Office of Therapeutic Products that reviews gene therapies, has also been an “outspoken advocate” for accelerated approvals. Incoming commissioner Marty Makary has signaled a willingness to be flexible in the case of “ultra-rare, life-threatening diseases,” too, they added.
“We have anecdotally heard from companies we cover that their experience has been that it’s not just Dr. Marks who believes in accelerated/flexible paths — many other leaders and reviewers at FDA are seemingly on board with his approach,” wrote Stifel’s Paul Matteis, in a separate note.
Yet experts in the field remain worried. Grupp noted how major academic centers working on cell therapy are “dependent on a functional FDA” and pointed to the agency’s existing staffing deficits even before the Trump administration ordered mass job cuts last week.
“This is a moment of great uncertainty across the biomedical field,” he said.
Against that backdrop, Marks could be tough to replace. Paulk called on the industry’s leaders and investors to head to Washington D.C., and “let it be known that they need to reinstate Dr. Marks at once.” Furlong, of PPMD, said that “strong, experienced leadership” is going to be critical for progress to continue.
“It would be difficult to imagine a successor who could fill his shoes,” added High. “His departure under the current circumstances is most unsettling.”
In the modern world, the real estate sector is more competitive than ever before. Homeowners who want to sell their houses in a hurry require more than the conventional approaches, such as word of mouth or newspaper ads.
The sale of properties has been transformed by digital marketing, providing an effective toolset that bridges sellers with the correct buyers with ease. From targeted social media advertising to top-notch virtual tours, digital marketing is a crucial tactic that can accelerate the sale process.
Expanding the Property’s Reach Beyond Local Buyers
Before digital marketing, homeowners were only able to target local buyers who came across their listings through real estate agents or local advertising.
Note: Now, thanks to digital marketing, the door opens to a much wider group of individuals. With online avenues such as social media, search engines, and property listing websites, homeowners can expose their properties to potential buyers from all over the country and even abroad.
Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a significant role in making property listings more visible. Optimizing property descriptions with keywords used by homeowners or real estate agents makes them more likely to show up in search results when buyers are searching for properties in a specific area. This strategy ensures the right individuals see the listing at the right moment, and ultimately, it leads to faster sales.
Other than visibility, internet marketing also allows homeowners to connect with distant buyers who are moving for job reasons, lifestyle changes, or investment. Foreign buyers, for example, rely extensively on virtual tours and online listings before making an informed decision. By connecting with more individuals, homeowners stand higher chances of drawing multiple offers, thereby speeding up the selling process along with possibly increasing the final selling price.
High-Quality Visuals Enhance Buyer Interest
One of the biggest challenges in selling a home is attracting buyers’ attention. Internet marketing allows homeowners to create quality photos, videos, and virtual tours that provide a clear picture of the home. A well-written listing and professional photos can be the key to attracting serious buyers.
Virtual tours are now an extremely powerful sales tool in the real estate world. They present potential buyers with an interactive scenario, allowing them to walk through the property remotely from their homes. This serves not only to save time for both sellers and buyers but to also weed out those individuals who are merely tire kickers and leave only bona fide inquires.
Above are still photographs, video tours and aerial photography that offer even more informative vistas, showing surrounding areas, topography, and unique features of the property. By presenting an eye-catching, engaging listing, homeowners can drive interest and set potential buyers within view who otherwise may not have noticed the home.
Social Media Advertising Targets the Right Audience
Social media has transformed the game for homeowners selling their properties. Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok offer homeowners the opportunity to showcase their properties to thousands of prospective buyers at the click of a button. Paid advertising on these platforms ensures that the listing reaches targeted audiences based on geography, age, interests, and buying behavior.
Note: Facebook Marketplace and Instagram real estate pages are particularly convenient for posting properties. Homeowners can design targeted ad campaigns that highlight the most critical aspects of the property so it appears in front of users who are actively searching for homes. Social media engagement also allows sellers to answer questions and build trust with potential buyers in real time.
Another advantage of social media marketing is the ability to put up testimonials from previous satisfied clients. When potential buyers are able to view that other individuals have had positive experiences purchasing homes from a seller or agency, they will be more inclined to trust the listing and take action.
Email Marketing Keeps Interested Buyers Engaged
Email marketing remains the most efficient online means of selling homes. Once potential buyers have expressed interest in a home, owners can use email campaigns to keep them interested through constant updates, price modifications, or discounts. The approach keeps the buyers aware and encourages them to make quicker buying decisions.
Real estate agents often use automated email follow-ups to involve leads in the long term.
For example, seller listing their home with an agency can have their property highlighted in newsletters sent weekly to a mailing list of potential buyers. It increases the chances of a sale without requiring the seller’s full-time manual effort.
Also, customized email marketing campaigns can be highly effective. Segmenting potential buyers based on their interests, such as location, budget, and property type, enables sellers to send targeted listings that meet each buyer’s needs. This personal touch increases interest and increases the likelihood of a successful sale.
The Role of Content Marketing in Property Sales
A strong web presence is essential for those who wish to sell their properties quickly, and content marketing plays a central role in it. Blog posts, video content, and home-selling advice draw active homebuyers who are searching for homes or home-buying advice.
For instance, a well-designed blog post on “First-Time Homebuyers Tips” can attract individuals looking for a new home. Within the post, the author can present existing homes naturally, such as the one that is for sale. By providing information that is applicable, homeowners can establish themselves as expert sellers and gain trust from potential buyers.
Video content, in general, however, is a strong force for online marketing. Sellers can create property showcase videos, virtual Q&A sessions, or behind-the-scenes tours of the home-selling process. This not only humanizes the seller but also builds a connection with the prospects and urges them to act.
Partnering with Digital Marketing Experts
While a few homeowners may be able to manage digital marketing themselves, most prefer to outsource the task to professionals with expertise in online real estate marketing. Digital strategy agencies or consultants who specialize in their field can handle everything from creating effective ads to search engine optimization of listings.
One example of a company that helps homeowners sell properties quickly is Four 19. They use digital marketing strategies to connect sellers with serious buyers, ensuring a smoother and faster home-selling process. Working with experts like them allows homeowners to focus on other aspects of their move while leaving the marketing to professionals.
Data Analytics Provides Insights for Better Selling Strategies
One of the greatest advantages of Internet marketing is performance tracking. Homeowners and real estate professionals can use tools for data analysis to see how many people viewed a listing, how long they stayed on the site, and which marketing initiatives drove the most traffic.
By analyzing this data, sellers are able to make educated decisions about adjusting their marketing.
For example, if a listing is receiving a lot of views but no inquiries, perhaps the price needs to be adjusted or the description enhanced. This type of insight allows homeowners to strategize more effectively and sell their home earlier.
Digital Marketing Creates a Sense of Urgency
Another benefit of online marketing is the way that it can give customers a feeling of urgency. Limited-time deals, countdowns, and VIP viewing invitations will make customers think that they have to act immediately. Strategies like retargeting ads, which remind individuals of a home that they previously visited, also put a listing at the forefront of customers’ minds.
Online reviews and testimonials also contribute to urgency and credibility. If prospective buyers see good comments from previous buyers or sellers, they are more likely to take action on a listing in a hurry.
Note: In today’s real estate market, online marketing is no longer a choice—it’s a requirement for homeowners who want to sell quickly. With targeted online ads, beautiful photos, content marketing, and data-driven tactics, sellers can find the right buyers quicker than ever.
Whether going it alone or hiring professionals like Four 19, leveraging digital marketing guarantees that homeowners optimize their opportunity to sell their property effectively and profitably.
About Guest Expert Apart from our regular team of experts, we frequently publish commentary from guest contributors who are authorities in their field.
Apple not only failed to deliver on the massive promises it made when announcing Apple Intelligence, but the little progress it has made so far has also been disappointing and, frankly, underwhelming. Ironically, that’s not even what bothers me the most.
Apple Intelligence Eats Up a Ton of Storage, Even Though I Hardly Use It
I never delete old photos from my phone (though maybe I should) and tend to download too many random apps—almost like I have unlimited storage. So, I’m always running out of space.
Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence just made this issue much worse. When it first debuted with iOS 18.1, you needed at least 4GB of free storage on your device to download it. Unlike what Apple had promised, the first wave of Apple Intelligence only included limited features like the Clean Up tool and the controversial Notification Summaries.
Once iOS 18.2 rolled out, ChatGPT integration with Siri was added, along with Image Playground and Genmoji. These new features came at a price, though. The minimum storage requirement nearly doubled from 4GB to 7GB.
You can check how much storage it’s taking up by going to Settings > General > iPhone Storage (iPad Storage on iPads and Storage on Macs). Scroll all the way down, tap iOS/iPadOS/macOS, and the figure next to Apple Intelligence will show how much storage it’s taking up.
At the moment, Apple Intelligence is using 5.52GB on my iPhone, 3.12GB on my iPad, and 4.78GB on my Mac. The strangest part? The storage it consumes isn’t consistent and varies wildly from device to device.
For example, a Reddit user mentioned that Apple Intelligence is taking up 9.18GB on their iPhone. Another person under the same post, who recently got Apple’s new budget-friendly iPhone 16e with 128GB of storage, noticed that Apple Intelligence is claiming 8GB. If you do the math, that means Apple Intelligence is using 6.25% of their phone’s total storage.
And that’s not all. On the same iOS/iPadOS/macOS page, you’ll also notice another figure showing how much storage the system itself is consuming. My iPhone’s iOS storage is currently 11.93GB. Assuming the iPhone 16e uses a similar amount, that would bring the combined total to 19.93GB, meaning nearly 15.6% of their storage would already be gone!
Now, I wouldn’t have minded Apple Intelligence eating up so much storage if it were actually useful. While I enjoy creating my own emojis (though Genmoji kind of sucks) and prefer the glowing, revamped Siri, there’s no world where the current Apple Intelligence features are worth sacrificing so much storage. I’d much rather download a couple more useless apps or keep my memories safe without paying for more iCloud storage.
There’s No Quick Way to Reclaim Your Storage
Unfortunately, if you’ve already enabled Apple Intelligence on your Apple device, turning it off in hopes of getting your storage back might do little good. I’ve disabled it before, and even then, it still consumed the exact same amount of storage. And plenty of Reddit comments mention that they’ve had storage space taken up by the features despite having Apple Intelligence disabled from day one.
Related
I Decided to Turn Off Apple Intelligence on My iPhone: Here’s Why
It’s Apple’s big thing, but I don’t care enough to use it.
Apple’s Support page mentions that the on-device models “may” be removed if you disable Apple Intelligence. So, it seems like it’s entirely up to Apple to decide whether it wants to give you back that precious storage.
Previously, you could fix this issue by factory resetting your Apple device (though that was already far from ideal), but even that might not work anymore. That’s because Apple Intelligence is enabled by default in iOS 18.3 and later versions, meaning storage will be taken up as soon as it’s enabled.
At the end of the day, all I can say is… Apple is going to be Apple. I just wish the insane amount of storage it takes up was at least worth it! There’s only one Apple Intelligence feature I actually use, and even that doesn’t justify the storage hit. While turning it off might not free up your storage, you could noticeably improve your iPhone’s battery life by disabling Apple Intelligence.
Luoyang, an ancient city in central China’s Henan Province with a history spanning over a millennium, has long been synonymous with the peony. This deep-rooted connection has earned it the prestigious title of the “Peony Capital of China.” Among the many places to admire this beloved flower, the National Peony Garden stands out as a premier destination. As the only flower garden in China given official national status, it serves as a vital gene bank for peonies, preserving their rich diversity.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-31/Luoyang-s-National-Peony-Garden-brightens-up-spring-with-blossoms–1CbF5yIqOZ2/img/96a03b8fd85f4b27888bd5c439cf6e18/96a03b8fd85f4b27888bd5c439cf6e18.jpeg'Peonies in full bloom in Luoyang, Henan Province /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-31/Luoyang-s-National-Peony-Garden-brightens-up-spring-with-blossoms–1CbF5yIqOZ2/img/96a03b8fd85f4b27888bd5c439cf6e18/96a03b8fd85f4b27888bd5c439cf6e18.jpeg'Peonies in full bloom in Luoyang, Henan Province /VCG
Divided into northern and southern sections, the garden is home to hundreds of thousands of peony plants. These include both indigenous Chinese varieties and rare imports from Japan, the United States, and France. Renowned for their lush petals, striking colors, and intoxicating fragrance, the peonies here offer a truly mesmerizing spectacle. In an ongoing effort to innovate, the garden grafted 300 mature peony plants last year, creating breathtaking “mosaic peonies” with multi-colored blooms to further enrich the visual experience.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-31/Luoyang-s-National-Peony-Garden-brightens-up-spring-with-blossoms–1CbF5yIqOZ2/img/4ad9552e905542c6b2af22540d2e26d4/4ad9552e905542c6b2af22540d2e26d4.jpeg'White peony flowers are seen at the National Peony Garden in Luoyang, Henan Province. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-31/Luoyang-s-National-Peony-Garden-brightens-up-spring-with-blossoms–1CbF5yIqOZ2/img/4ad9552e905542c6b2af22540d2e26d4/4ad9552e905542c6b2af22540d2e26d4.jpeg'White peony flowers are seen at the National Peony Garden in Luoyang, Henan Province. /VCG
Beyond the floral displays, the garden offers a harmonious blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Visitors can stroll through its pavilions, shaded walkways, and scenic paths adorned with sculptures, artificial waterfalls, and meandering streams. Intricately carved stone galleries narrate the history and symbolism of the peony, deepening the cultural significance of the site. More than just a botanical haven, the National Peony Garden stands as a living testament to the enduring legacy of Luoyang’s floral heritage.
Actor Kim Delaney, known for “General Hospital” and “NYPD Blue,” was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of a felony. James Morgan, her husband of 2½ years, was arrested as well on a misdemeanor charge.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the arrests to The Times on Monday. The two were arrested Saturday morning in Marina del Rey, Delaney on suspicion of felony assault and Morgan on suspicion of a misdemeanor. It was not the first time law enforcement had been called to the couple’s home.
The charges are related to what TMZ described Sunday as “a heated argument that turned physical.” People reported that Morgan, 54, was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence while Delaney, 63, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
The Sheriff’s Department had no additional information Monday.
Representatives for Delaney did not respond immediately Monday to The Times’ request for comment.
Bail for Morgan was set at $20,000. No bail amount was listed for Delaney, who appears to remain in custody. Both are due in court Tuesday.
The couple married Oct. 11, 2022, but Delaney filed for divorce five months later, seeking a temporary restraining order against Morgan for alleged domestic violence, according to court documents reviewed by The Times.
In the TRO request, Delaney stated that they were at a hotel in Philadelphia when Morgan got angry, grabbed her by the arm and by the hair, and yelled at and pushed her. She said he threatened that she would “regret this.” In the application, she said she was afraid to return to her home because of Morgan, who she said had been arrested for abuse in the past. She also alleged that he asked her to buy a gun for him, as he could not, given his arrest record.
“Whenever James gets mad, which is often he will shout loudly, push me, hit me, pull my hair. Neighbors have heard the noise & intervened often in the past year. The Sheriff came in March 2022 and many times in 2023,” she said in the restraining order request. She also said that on the day in question, Morgan pushed her down on the sidewalk after dinner and cocktails, hurting her arm. Her neighbors had stated a petition to have them evicted because of him, Delaney said.
The TRO was issued April 7, 2023. However, nobody showed up in court that May for the hearing to formalize or extend it, so it was dropped. Delaney also didn’t appear at a June 2023 hearing related to the dissolution of marriage, so the divorce case was moved off the court calendar.
Two weeks ago, Delaney published a tight close-up photo of herself and Morgan with their faces nearly touching, captioning it “Pure love” with a red heart emoji and the hashtags #lucky and #grateful. The couple marked a second anniversary in October, when she posted “A beautiful 2nd wedding anniversary!!! 10/11. And now anniversary weekend! Great memories! I love you, hubby-your wife for life.”
Delaney has struggled with alcohol in the past. She pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless driving in 2002 after being arrested on suspicion of DUI in Malibu and refusing to take a breath test. At a 2011 event honoring former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the “Army Wives” actor was escorted off stage after delivering part of a bizarre and incoherent speech. She has reportedly been to rehab for alcohol abuse issues more than once.
Delaney was married to actor Charles Grant in the 1980s and to actor Joe Cortese from 1989 to 1994. She had a son, Jack, with Cortese, who was included for protection in her 2023 temporary restraining order request against Morgan.
New Delhi, March 31: French carmaker Renault Group announced on Monday that it would acquire the remaining 51 per cent stake in Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd (RNAIPL), currently held by Nissan Motor Corp, to become the sole owner of the company.
However, Japanese car-maker Nissan will maintain its presence in India with a strong focus on increasing market coverage. “RNAIPL would continue to produce Nissan models, including the New Nissan Magnite, and will serve as a crucial pillar for the company’s future expansion plans,” the company said in a statement. Bosch Limited Receives Tax Demand Notice To Pay Up INR 20 Crore From Income Tax Department for Assessment Year 2022–2023.
The Chennai plant, with a capacity exceeding 400,000 units, will also help Renault Group to strengthen its presence in India, under the French carmaker’s ‘2027 International Game Plan’. Renault plans to introduce the CMF-B platform at the Chennai plant in 2026, starting with four new models.
Nissan will be released from its commitment to invest in Ampere, terminating the investment agreement signed in July 2023. Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo said that as a long-time partner of Nissan within the Alliance and as its main shareholder, “Renault Group has a strong interest in seeing Nissan turnaround its performance as quickly as possible”.
“Pragmatism and business-oriented mindset were at the core of our discussions to identify the most effective ways of supporting their recovery plan while developing value-creating business opportunities for Renault Group,” he added.
This framework agreement, beneficial for both parties, is the proof of the agile and efficient mindset of the new Alliance. “It also confirms the attractiveness of our products with Twingo as well as our ambition to grow our business on international markets. India is a key automotive market and Renault Group will put in place an efficient industrial footprint and ecosystem,” Luca de Meo noted.
Despite ceding its shareholding in RNAIPL, Nissan will maintain a strong presence in India, focusing on expanding market coverage, the company said in its official release. The Chennai-based RNAIPL facility will continue producing Nissan models, including the new Nissan Magnite, playing a crucial role in the company’s growth plans. Hyundai Motor Global Recruitment Programme: Automaker To Hire Top-Tier Foreign Engineering Talent; Check Details.
“We remain committed to the Indian market, delivering vehicles tailored to local consumer needs while ensuring top-notch sales and service for our existing and future customers. India will remain a hub for our research and development, digital and other knowledge services. Our plans for new SUVs in the India market remain intact, and we will continue our vehicle exports to other markets under the ‘One Car, One World’ business strategy for India,” President and CEO of Nissan, Ivan Espinosa, said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 31, 2025 06:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Amazon is still seen as a bit of a laggard in the race to develop advanced artificial intelligence, but it has quietly created a lab that is now setting records when it comes to AI performance. Amazon’s AGI SF Lab, which is located in San Francisco and dedicated to building artificial general intelligence, or AI that surpasses the capabilities of humans, revealed the first fruits of its work today: A new AI model capable of powering some of the most advanced AI agents available anywhere.
The new model, called Amazon Nova Act, outperforms ones from OpenAI and Anthropic on several benchmarks designed to gauge the intelligence and aptitude of AI agents, Amazon says. On the benchmarks GroundUI Web and ScreenSpot, Amazon Nova Act performs better than Claude 3.7 Sonnet and OpenAI Computer Use Agent. A major part of Amazon’s plan to compete in the AI market is to focus on building agents, and the new model’s abilities reflect its efforts to build a generation of tools that can measure up to the very best available.
“I believe that the basic atomic unit of computing in the future is going to be a call to a giant [AI] agent,” says David Luan, who leads Amazon’s AGI SF Lab. He was previously a vice president of engineering at OpenAI and later cofounded Adept, a startup that pioneered work on AI agents, before joining Amazon in 2024 when the ecommerce giant took a stake in the company.
Most of the leading AI labs are now focused on building increasingly capable AI agents. Getting AI to master independent actions, as well as conversation, promises to make the technology more useful and valuable. The shift from chat to action is still very much a work in progress, however.
In the past six months, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others have demonstrated web-browsing agents that take actions in response to a prompt. But for the most part, these agents are still unreliable, and they can easily be tripped up by open-ended requests.
Luan says that Amazon’s goal is building AI agents that are dependable rather than flashy. The thing holding agents back is not the need for “more cool demos of interesting capabilities that work 60 percent of the time, it’s the Waymo problem,” he says, referring to how self-driving cars needed to be trained to deal with unusual edge cases before they could take to the streets unsupervised.
Many so-called agents are built by combining large language models with multiple human-written rules that are designed to prevent them from veering off course, but also makes their behavior brittle. Amazon Nova Act is a version of the company’s most powerful homegrown model Amazon Nova that has received additional training to help it make decisions about what actions to take and at what time. In general, Luan says, AI models struggle to decide when they should intervene in a task.
To improve Nova’s agential abilities, Amazon is using reinforcement learning, a method that has helped other AI models better simulate reasoning.
Bitcoin on Monday, March 24 reflected a profit of 3.10 percent on international exchanges. Data by CoinMarketCap shows Bitcoin is presently trading at $86,700 (roughly Rs. 74.5 lakh) on global platforms. On Indian exchanges, the oldest and most expensive crypto asset saw a two percent price hike to trade within the range of $89,423 (roughly Rs. 76.8 lakh) and $90,375 (roughly Rs. 77.7 lakh). The overall crypto market continues to remain volatile, with altcoins trading sideways.
“Bitcoin continues to be in its consolidation phase. The leading crypto remains tightly bound below $86,000 (roughly Rs. 74 lakh) while holding firm above the $81,000 (roughly Rs. 70 lakh) support level. Market sentiment leans bullish, with 60.52 percent of Binance Futures traders currently in long positions, indicating expectations of an upside breakout,” the CoinSwitch markets desk told Gadgets 360.
Ether joined Bitcoin in clocking small gains over the weekend. On Monday, Ether price went up by 1.89 percent and five percent, on international and national exchanges respectively. On international exchanges, its price stands at $2,037 (roughly Rs. 1.75 lakh), whereas it’s valued at $2,110 (roughly Rs. 1.81 lakh) on Indian exchanges.
“Ethereum has been in a downtrend for the past three months. However, large investors have been steadily accumulating ETH. According to Glassnode, the number of wallets holding at least $100,000 (roughly Rs. 85.9 lakh) worth of Ether increased from around 70,000 on March 10 to over 75,000 by March 22. Overall, broader macroeconomic concerns continue to weigh on all markets including crypto. As a result, we could see sideways trading until April,” said Edul Patel, CEO and co-founder of Mudrex.
The crypto price tracker by Gadgets 360 showed Ripple, Solana, Leo, Avalanche, Stellar, and Shiba Inu to be trading in profits alongside BTC and ETH.
Monero, Cronos, EOS Coin, Elrond, Iota, and Polygon also registered minor gains on Monday.
The overall crypto market cap grew by 2.30 percent over the last 24 hours. The valuation of the sector currently stands at $2.83 trillion (roughly Rs. 2,43,12,944 crore), showed CoinMarketCap.
Bitcoin Cash, Uniswap, Aave, Cosmos, Bitcoin SV, and Neo Coin also logged price dips.
“With liquidity rising and major assets at important technical levels, investors are watching intently for confirmation of the next significant move in Bitcoin and Ethereum, positioning for potential volatility and trend reversals to come,” Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder and CEO, Pi42 told Gadgets 360.
Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
Ever wondered why some of your ecommerce products or blog posts never appear on Google?
The way your site handles pagination could be the reason.
This article explores the complexities of pagination – what it is, whether your site needs it for SEO, and how it affects search in 2025.
Pagination is the coding and technical framework on webpages that allows content to be divided across multiple pages while remaining thematically connected to the original parent page.
When a single page contains too much content to load efficiently, pagination helps by breaking it into smaller sections.
This improves user experience and unburdens the client (i.e., web browser) from loading too much information – much of which may not even be reviewed by the user.
Product listings
One common example of pagination is navigating multiple pages of product results within a single product feed or category.
Let’s look at Virgin Experience Days, a site that sells gifted experiences similar to Red Letter Days.
In the URL, ?page=2 appears as a parameter extension, a common pagination syntax.
Variations include ?p=2 or /page/2/, but the purpose remains the same – allowing users to browse additional pages of listings.
Even major retailers like Amazon use similar pagination structures.
Pagination also helps search engines discover deeply nested products.
If a site is so large that all its products can’t be listed in a single XML sitemap, pagination links provide an additional way for crawlers to access them.
Even when XML sitemaps are in place, internal linking remains important for SEO.
While pagination links aren’t the strongest ranking signal, they serve a foundational role in ensuring content is discoverable.
Dig deeper: Internal linking for ecommerce: The ultimate guide
Blog and news feeds
Pagination isn’t limited to product listings, it’s also widely used in blog and news feeds.
Take Search Engine Land’s SEO article archive:
https://searchengineland.com/library/seo
In this page, you can access a feed of all SEO-related posts on Search Engine Land.
Scrolling down, you’ll find pagination links.
Clicking “2” takes you to the next set of SEO articles:
https://searchengineland.com/library/seo/page/2
Pagination can also exist within individual pieces of content rather than at a feed level.
For example, some news websites paginate comment sections when a single article receives thousands of comments.
Similarly, forum threads with extensive discussions often use pagination to break up replies across multiple pages.
Scroll to the bottom, and you’ll see that even the comment section uses pagination to organize user responses.
Pagination plays a crucial role in SEO for several reasons:
Indexing
Without pagination, search crawlers may struggle to find deeply nested content such as blog posts, news articles, products, and comments.
Crawl efficiency
Pagination increases the number of URLs on a site, which might seem counterproductive to efficient crawling.
However, most search engines recognize common pagination structures – even without rich markup.
This understanding allows them to prioritize crawling more valuable content while ignoring less important paginated pages.
Internal linking
Pagination also contributes to internal linking.
While pagination links don’t carry significant link authority, they provide structure.
Google tends to pay less attention to orphaned pages – those without inbound links – so pagination can help ensure content remains connected.
Managing content duplication
If URLs aren’t structured properly, search engines may mistakenly identify them as duplicate content.
Pagination isn’t as strong a signal for content consolidation as redirects or canonical tags.
Still, when implemented correctly, it helps search engines differentiate between paginated pages and true duplicates.
Google’s deprecation of rel=prev/next
Google previously supported rel=prev/next for declaring paginated content.
However, in March 2019, it was revealed that Google had not used this markup for some time.
As a result, these tags are no longer necessary in a website’s code.
Google likely used rel=prev/next to study common pagination structures.
Over time, those insights were integrated into its core algorithms, making the markup redundant.
Some SEOs believe these tags may still help with crawling, but there is little evidence to support this.
If your site doesn’t use this markup, there’s no need to worry. Google can still recognize paginated URLs.
If your site uses it, there’s also no urgent need to remove it, as it won’t negatively impact your SEO.
Get the newsletter search marketers rely on.
Alternate methods for browsing large amounts of content have emerged over the past couple of decades.
“View more” or “Load more” buttons often appear under comment streams, while infinite scroll or lazy-loaded feeds are common for posts and products.
Some argue these features are more user-friendly.
Originally pioneered by social networks such as Twitter (now X), this form of navigation helped boost social interactions.
Some websites have adopted it, but why isn’t it more widespread?
From an SEO perspective, the issue is that search engine crawlers interact with webpages in a limited way.
While headless browsers may sometimes execute JavaScript-based content during a page load, search crawlers typically don’t “scroll down” to trigger new content.
A search engine bot certainly won’t scroll indefinitely to load everything.
As a result, websites relying solely on infinite scroll or lazy loading risk orphaning articles, products, and comments over time.
For major news brands with strong SEO authority and extensive XML sitemaps, this may not be a concern.
The trade-off between SEO and user experience may be acceptable.
But for most websites, implementing these technologies is likely a bad idea.
Search crawlers may not spend time scrolling through content feeds, but they will click hyperlinks – including pagination links.
Even if your site doesn’t use infinite scroll plugins, JavaScript can still interfere with pagination.
Since July 2024, Google has at least attempted to render JavaScript for all visited pages.
However, details on this remain vague.
Does Google render all pages, including JavaScript, at the time of the crawl?
Or is execution deferred to a separate processing queue?
How does this affect Google’s ranking algorithms?
Does Google make initial determinations before executing JavaScript weeks later?
There are no definitive answers to these questions.
What we do know is that “dynamic rendering is on the decline,” according to the 2024 Web Almanac SEO Chapter.
If Google’s effort to execute JavaScript for all crawled pages is progressing well – which seems unlikely given the potential efficiency drawbacks – why are so many sites reverting to a non-dynamic state?
This doesn’t mean JavaScript use is disappearing.
Instead, more sites may be shifting to server-side or edge-side rendering.
If your site uses traditional pagination but JavaScript interferes with pagination links, it can still lead to crawling issues.
For example, your site might use traditional pagination links, but the main content of your page is lazy-loaded.
In turn, the pagination links only appear when a user (or bot) scrolls the page.
Dig deeper: A guide to diagnosing common JavaScript SEO issues
SEO professionals often recommend using canonical tags to point paginated URLs to their parent pages, marking them as non-canonical.
This practice was especially common before Google introduced rel=prev/next.
Since Google deprecated rel=prev/next, many SEOs remain uncertain about the best way to handle pagination URLs.
Avoid blocking paginated content via robots.txt or with canonical tags.
Doing so prevents Google from crawling or indexing those pages.
In the case of news posts, certain comment exchanges might be considered valuable by Google, potentially connecting a paginated version of an article with keywords that wouldn’t otherwise be associated with it.
This can generate free traffic – something worth keeping in 2025.
Similarly, restricting the crawling and indexing of paginated product feeds could leave some products effectively soft-orphaned.
In SEO, there’s a tendency to chase perfection and aim for complete crawl control.
But being overly aggressive here can do more harm than good, so tread carefully.
There are cases where it makes sense to de-canonicalize or limit the crawling of paginated URLs.
Before taking that step, make sure you have data showing that crawl-efficiency issues outweigh the potential free traffic gains.
If you don’t have that data, don’t block the URLs. Simple!
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
HENRICO, Va. — Sheldon Ekirch spends a lot of time on hold with her health insurance company.
Sometimes, as the minutes tick by and her frustration mounts, Ekirch, 30, opens a meditation app on her phone. It was recommended by her psychologist to help with the depression associated with a stressful and painful medical disorder.
In 2023, Ekirch was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, a condition that makes her limbs and muscles feel as if they’re on fire. Now she takes more than a dozen prescriptions to manage chronic pain and other symptoms, including insomnia.
“I don’t feel like I am the person I was a year and a half ago,” said Ekirch, who was on the cusp of launching her law career, before getting sick. “Like, my body isn’t my own.”
Ekirch said specialists have suggested that a series of infusions made from blood plasma called intravenous immunoglobulin — IVIG, for short — could ease, or potentially eradicate, her near-constant pain. But Ekirch’s insurance company has repeatedly denied coverage for the treatment, according to documents provided by the patient.
Patients with Ekirch’s condition don’t always respond to IVIG, but she said she deserves to try it, even though it could cost more than $100,000.
“I’m paying a lot of money for health insurance,” said Ekirch, who pays more than $600 a month in premiums. “I don’t understand why they won’t help me, why my life means so little to them.”
For patient advocates and health economists, cases like Ekirch’s illustrate why prior authorization has become such a chronic pain point for patients and doctors. For 50 years, insurers have employed prior authorization, they say, to reduce wasteful health care spending, prevent unnecessary treatment, and guard against potential harm.
The practice differs by insurance company and plan, but the rules often require patients or their doctors to request permission from the patient’s health insurance company before proceeding with a drug, treatment, or medical procedure.
The insurance industry provides little information about how often prior authorization is used. Transparency requirements established by the federal government to shed light on the use of prior authorization by private insurers haven’t been broadly enforced, said Justin Lo, a senior researcher for the Program on Patient and Consumer Protections at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
Yet it’s widely acknowledged that prior authorization tends to disproportionately impact some of the sickest people who need the most expensive care. And despite bipartisan support to reform the system, as well as recent attempts by health insurance companies to ease the burden for patients and doctors, some tactics have met skepticism.
Some insurers’ efforts to improve prior authorization practices aren’t as helpful as they would seem, said Judson Ivy, CEO of Ensemble Health Partners, a revenue cycle management company.
“When you really dive deep,” he said, these improvements don’t seem to touch the services and procedures, such as CT scans, that get caught up in prior authorization so frequently. “When we started looking into it,” he said, “it was almost a PR stunt.”
Ekirch takes more than a dozen prescription medications. (Ryan M. Kelly for KFF Health News)
Ekirch at home in Henrico, Virginia. (Ryan M. Kelly for KFF Health News)
Email Sign-Up
Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.
The ‘Tipping Point’
When Arman Shahriar’s father was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in 2023, his father’s oncologist ordered a whole-body PET scan to determine the cancer’s stage. The scan was denied by a company called EviCore by Evernorth, a Cigna subsidiary that makes prior authorization decisions.
Shahriar, an internal medicine resident, said he spent hours on the phone with his father’s insurer, arguing that the latest medical guidelines supported the scan. The imaging request was eventually approved. But his father’s scan was delayed several weeks — and multiple appointments were scheduled, then canceled during the time-consuming process — while the family feared the cancer would continue to spread.
EviCore by Evernorth spokesperson Madeline Ziomek wrote in an emailed statement that incomplete clinical information provided by physicians is a leading cause of such denials. The company is “actively developing new ways to make the submission process simpler and faster for physicians,” Ziomek said.
In the meantime, Shahriar, who often struggles to navigate prior authorization for his patients, accused the confusing system of “artificially creating problems in people’s lives” at the wrong time.
“If families with physicians are struggling through this, how do other people navigate it? And the short answer is, they can’t,” said Shahriar, who wrote about his father’s case in an essay published last year by JAMA Oncology. “We’re kind of reaching a tipping point where we’re realizing, collectively, something needs to be done.”
A wanted poster set up at a New York Police Department news conference requests information related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4.(Alex Kent/Getty Images)
The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City sidewalk in December prompted an outpouring of grief among those who knew him, but it also became a platform for public outrage about the methods insurance companies use to deny treatment.
An Emerson College poll conducted in mid-December found 41% of 18- to 29-year-olds thought the actions of Thompson’s killer were at least somewhat acceptable. In a NORC survey from the University of Chicago conducted in December, two-thirds of respondents indicated that insurance company profits, and their denials for health care coverage, contributed “a great deal/moderate amount” to the killing. Instagram accounts established in support of Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old Maryland suspect accused of murder and terrorism, have attracted thousands of followers.
“The past several weeks have further challenged us to even more intensely listen to the public narrative about our industry,” Cigna Group CEO David Cordani said during an earnings call on Jan. 30. Cigna is focused on “making prior authorizations faster and simpler,” he added.
The first Trump administration and the Biden administration put forth policies designed to improve prior authorization for some patients by mandating that insurers set up electronic systems and shortening the time companies may take to issue decisions, among other fixes. Hundreds of House Democrats and Republicans signed on to co-sponsor a bill last year that would establish new prior authorization rules for Medicare Advantage plans. In January, Republican congressman Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey introduced a federal bill to abolish the use of prior authorization altogether.
Meanwhile, many states have passed legislation to regulate the use of prior authorization. Some laws require insurers to publish data about prior authorization denials with the intention of making a confusing system more transparent. Reform bills are under consideration by state legislatures in Hawaii, Montana, and elsewhere. A bill in Virginia approved by the governor March 18 takes effect July 1. Other states, including Texas, have established “gold card” programs that ease prior authorization requirements for some physicians by allowing doctors with a track record of approvals to bypass the rules.
No one from AHIP, an insurance industry lobbying group formerly known as America’s Health Insurance Plans, was available to be interviewed on the record about proposed prior authorization legislation for this article.
But changes wouldn’t guarantee that the most vulnerable patients would be spared from future insurance denials or the complex appeals process set up by insurers. Some doctors and advocates for patients are skeptical that prior authorization can be fixed as long as insurers are accountable to shareholders.
Kindyl Boyer, director of advocacy for the nonprofit Infusion Access Foundation, remains hopeful the system can be improved but likened some efforts to playing “Whac-A-Mole.” Ultimately, insurance companies are “going to find a different way to make more money,” she said.
‘Unified Anger’
In the weeks following Thompson’s killing, UnitedHealthcare was trying to refute an onslaught of what it called “highly inaccurate and grossly misleading information” about its practices when another incident landed the company back in the spotlight.
On Jan. 7, Elisabeth Potter, a breast reconstruction surgeon in Austin, Texas, posted a video on social media criticizing the company for questioning whether one of her patients who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing surgery that day needed to be admitted as an inpatient.
The video amassed millions of views.
In the days following her post, UnitedHealthcare hired a high-profile law firm to demand a correction and public apology from Potter. In an interview with KFF Health News, Potter would not discuss details about the dispute, but she stood by what she said in her original video.
“I told the truth,” Potter said.
The facts of the incident remain in dispute. But the level of attention it received online illustrates how frustrated and vocal many people have become about insurance company tactics since Thompson’s killing, said Matthew Zachary, a former cancer patient and the host of “Out of Patients,” a podcast that aims to amplify the experiences of patients.
For years, doctors and patients have taken to social media to shame health insurers into approving treatment. But in recent months, Zachary said, “horror stories” about prior authorization shared widely online have created “unified anger.”
“Most people thought they were alone in the victimization,” Zachary said. “Now they know they’re not.”
Data published in January by KFF found that prior authorization is particularly burdensome for patients covered by Medicare Advantage plans. In 2023, virtually all Medicare Advantage enrollees were covered by plans that required prior authorization, while people enrolled in traditional Medicare were much less likely to encounter it, said Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, an associate director at KFF’s Program on Medicare Policy. Furthermore, she said, Medicare Advantage enrollees were more likely to face prior authorization for higher-cost services, including inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility stays, and chemotherapy.
But Neil Parikh, national chief medical officer for medical management at UnitedHealthcare, explained prior authorization rules apply to fewer than 2% of the claims the company pays. He added that “99% of the time” UnitedHealthcare members don’t need prior authorization or requests are approved “very, very quickly.”
Recently, he said, a team at UnitedHealthcare was reviewing a prior authorization request for an orthopedic procedure when they discovered the surgeon planned to operate on the wrong side of the patient’s body. UnitedHealthcare caught the mistake in time, he recounted.
“This is a real-life example of why prior authorization can really help,” Parikh said.
Even so, he said, UnitedHealthcare aims to make the process less burdensome by removing prior authorization requirements for some services, rendering instant decisions for certain requests, and establishing a national gold card program, among other refinements. Cigna also announced changes designed to improve prior authorization in the months since Thompson’s killing.
“Brian was an incredible friend and colleague to many, many of us, and we are deeply saddened by his passing,” Parikh said. “It’s truly a sad occasion.”
The Final Denial
One of the only things that helps Ekirch to temporarily relieve her chronic pain is movement, so she frequently takes walks in her neighborhood.(Ryan M. Kelly for KFF Health News)
During the summer of 2023, Ekirch was working full time and preparing to take the bar exam when she noticed numbness and tingling in her arms and legs. Eventually, she started experiencing a burning sensation throughout her body.
That fall, a Richmond-area neurologist said her symptoms were consistent with small fiber neuropathy, and, in early 2024, a rheumatologist recommended IVIG to ease her pain. Since then, other specialists, including neurologists at the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University, have said she may benefit from the same treatment.
There’s no guarantee it will work. A randomized controlled trial published in 2021 found pain levels in patients who received IVIG weren’t significantly different from the placebo group, while an older study found patients responded “remarkably well.”
“It’s hard because I look at my peers from law school and high school — they’re having families, excelling in their career, living their life. And most days I am just struggling, just to get out of bed,” said Ekirch, frustrated that Anthem continues to deny her claim.
In a prepared statement, Kersha Cartwright, a spokesperson for Anthem’s parent company, Elevance Health, said Ekirch’s request for IVIG treatment was denied “because it did not meet the established medical criteria for effectiveness in treating small fiber neuropathy.”
On Feb. 17, her treatment was denied by Anthem for the final time. Ekirch said her patient advocate, a nurse who works for Anthem, suggested she reach out to the drug manufacturer about patient charity programs.
“This is absolutely crazy,” Ekirch said. “This is someone from Anthem telling me to plead with a pharmacy company to give me this drug when Anthem should be covering it.”
Her only hope now lies with the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance, a state agency that resolves prior authorization disputes between patients and health insurance companies. She found out through a Facebook group for patients with small fiber neuropathy that the Bureau of Insurance has overturned an IVIG denial before. In late March, Ekirch was anxiously waiting to hear the agency’s decision about her case.
“I don’t want to get my hopes up too much, though,” she said. “I feel like this entire process, I’ve been let down by it.”
After garnering positive reviews on PC and Xbox, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is finally making the jump to PS5 on April 17. Preorders are now open for three different versions of the game, one of which is loaded with collectible items. You’ll also get some in-game exclusives regardless of which version you preorder. Our Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review gave the game an impressive 9 out of 10, so if you haven’t had a chance to join the archaeologist on his latest adventure, picking it up on PS5 is an easy recommendation.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Preorder Bonuses
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Preorder Bonus
Preorder any version of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to get The Last Crusade Pack. This includes two in-game goodies–the Traveling Suit Outfit and Lion Tamer Whip. This DLC pack is included with all preorders. Additionally, fans who preorder the Premium or Collector’s Editions will also get 2-day early access to the full game starting April 15.
There are currently no retailer-exclusive bonuses, but we’ll update this section if anything enticing is announced.
This version of the Great Circle gets you the base game and The Last Crusade Pack preorder bonus. It’s the best option if you’re just interested in checking out Indy’s latest adventure on PS5. Physical PS5 copies are available to preorder at Amazon and Best Buy. Digital preorders are also available.
For those who want physical collectibles to add to their shelves, the Collector’s Edition is worth checking out. It’s a bit expensive and exclsuive to the Bethesda Store, but you’ll get everything from the Premium Edition–including 2-day early access to the game starting April 15–plus the following extras:
The Great Circle 11-Inch Globe: includes a magnetic plane and secret compartment
New Adventure Journal: small notepad for tracking your journey
Allmaker relic replica
Jumbo steelbook display case
You can preorder the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 Collector’s Edition for $190 at Bethesda’s official online store.
Ever wondered what happens to your body when you take those trendy ice baths? Scientists at the University of Ottawa just found out, and it’s pretty fascinating.
A new study conducted at the Human and Environmental Physiology Research lab (HEPRU) at the University of Ottawa has unveiled significant findings on the effects of cold water acclimation on autophagic (the cells’ recycling system, which promotes cellular health) and apoptotic (the programmed cell death that gets rid of damaged cells) responses in young males. The research highlights the potential for cold exposure to enhance cellular resilience against stress.
The study, conducted by Kelli King, postdoctoral fellow, and Glen Kenny, Full Professor at uOttawa’s School of Human Kinetics and Director of HEPRU, involved ten healthy young males who underwent cold-water immersion at 14°C (57.2°F) for one hour across seven consecutive days. Blood samples were collected to analyze the participants’ cellular responses before and after the acclimation period.
“Our findings indicate that repeated cold exposure significantly improves autophagic function, a critical cellular protective mechanism,” says Professor Kenny. “This enhancement allows cells to better manage stress and could have important implications for health and longevity.”
The research revealed that while autophagy was initially dysfunctional after high-intensity cold stress, consistent exposure over a week led to increased autophagic activity and decreased cellular damage signals.
“By the end of the acclimation, we noted a marked improvement in the participants’ cellular cold tolerance,” explains King, the study’s first author. “This suggests that cold acclimation may help the body effectively cope with extreme environmental conditions.”
The implications of this study extend beyond athletic performance. Cold water immersion has gained popularity for its potential health benefits, and this research provides some scientific backing for its efficacy. The findings suggest that proper autophagic activity could not only extend cellular longevity but also prevent the onset of various diseases.
As the use of cold exposure becomes increasingly mainstream, understanding its effects on cellular mechanisms is vital. Professor Kenny emphasizes, “This work underscores the importance of acclimation protocols in enhancing human health, especially in contexts where individuals are exposed to extreme temperatures.”
“We were amazed to see how quickly the body adapted,” notes King. “Cold exposure might help prevent diseases and potentially even slow down aging at a cellular level. It’s like a tune-up for your body’s microscopic machinery.”
These results apply to young males and more research is needed to see if it would also apply to other cohorts.
About Brodie & Brodie Brodie & Brodie (BrodieAndBrodie.com) is a small, husband-and-wife law firm outside Boston specializing in bicycle law and bicycle accident cases. In addition to representing clients, we are deeply involved in advocacy efforts, working to promote safer biking environments and policies. We are seeking an associate attorney with a passion for the […]
The post JOB POST: Associate Attorney at Brodie & Brodie, Boston [Remote; Bicycle Law; Full Expense Coverage for Yearly Trip to Boston]: Apply Now! appeared first on Lawctopus.
Wearing an underwire bra does not increase the risk of breast cancer. According to Dr Shekhar Salkar, senior consultant in surgical oncology at Manipal Hospital Goa, this is arguably one of the most persistent myths. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Salkar and Dr Sravan Kumar B, consultant in medical oncology and bone marrow transplant physician at Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, debunk misinformation about breast cancer once and for all. Also read | Breast cancer: 4 early signs that women in their 20s, 30s and 40s shouldn’t miss
Doctors have debunked the claim that wearing a bra with an underwire can cause breast cancer, finding no link between bra-wearing patterns and cancer risk.
Myths about breast cancer can lead to the avoidance of products that are safe, cause refusal of preventive health measures, and lead people towards incorrect medical advice. Because it can be difficult to determine what’s accurate and what’s not, cancer misinformation can literally cost people their lives. Ahead are 11 breast cancer myths you need to stop believing:
While the risk of breast cancer increases with age, it can affect women of any age, Dr Salkar says. (Freepik)
1. Myth: Wearing a bra with an underwire can cause breast cancer.
Truth: Dr Salkar says there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. The risk of breast cancer is not increased by wearing an underwire bra.
2. Myth: Breast cancer only affects older women.
Truth: While the risk of breast cancer increases with age, it can affect women of any age, Dr Salkar says. About 30 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in women under 45. Dr Kumar B adds while breast cancer is more common in women over 50, younger women (and even men) can also develop it. Regular self-exams and screenings are crucial regardless of age.
3. Myth: If you have a family history of breast cancer, you’ll get it.
Truth: Dr Kumar B says that while a family history of breast cancer increases risk, most breast cancers occur in people with no family history. Only 5-10 percent of cases are linked to inherited genetic mutations like BRCA1 and BRCA2. Dr Salkar adds that having a family history of breast cancer increases your risk by around 6 to 7 percent. Many women with a family history never develop breast cancer.
4. Myth: Breast cancer is contagious.
Truth: Dr Salkar says breast cancer is not contagious.
5. Myth: Mammograms cause breast cancer due to radiation exposure.
Truth: Dr Kumar B says the radiation exposure from a mammogram is minimal and does not significantly increase cancer risk. The benefits of early detection far outweigh any potential risks.
6. Myth: A lump in the breast always means cancer.
Truth: According to Dr Kumar B., not all lumps are cancerous. Many breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous) and could be due to cysts or fibroadenomas. However, he says, any new lump should be evaluated by a doctor.
Dr Kumar B says no scientific studies have proven a link between antiperspirants or deodorants and breast cancer. (Freepik)
7. Myth: Using antiperspirants and deodorants causes breast cancer.
Truth: Dr Kumar B says no scientific studies have proven a link between antiperspirants or deodorants and breast cancer. Although the aluminum compounds in these products are harmful, there is no strong evidence linking them to cancer.
8. Myth: Lifestyle changes can completely prevent breast cancer.
Truth: While a healthy lifestyle (exercise, balanced diet, avoiding alcohol/tobacco) reduces risk, it does not guarantee complete prevention, Dr Kumar B says. Genetics and other uncontrollable factors also play a role.
9. Myth: If you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, you will definitely develop breast cancer.
Truth: While BRCA1/2 mutations significantly increase the risk, they do not guarantee cancer, Dr Kumar B says. Lifestyle choices and preventive measures like regular screenings, medications, or preventive surgeries can help reduce the risk.
10. Myth: Mammograms can cause breast cancer.
Truth: Dr Salkar says the benefits of mammograms in detecting breast cancer far outweigh the risks. While mammograms involve exposure to low levels of radiation, the risk of developing breast cancer from a mammogram is extremely low.
11. Myth: If you have no symptoms, you don’t have breast cancer.
Truth: Early-stage breast cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms, Dr Kumar B says. That’s why routine screenings, such as mammograms, are essential for early detection.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
If you’re a discovery scientist, you’re probably familiar with the fierce competition that dominates the landscape of biomarker identification. As a cornerstone of precision medicine, biomarkers will only become more entrenched in our understanding and treatment of disease.
The key to biomarker identification is an open secret – discoveries are only as good as the data on which they are based. A wide selection of standardized data provides the best foundation for analysis and discovery, which lets you identify and validate the most promising avenues. With a greater diversity of data types and sources, you can create a more complete image of the biological systems and processes you’re studying, which means uncovering better and more accurate insights.
There’s no shortage of data to explore, with thousands of new ’omics studies published yearly. However, the resulting sea of information can be difficult to navigate, process and curate, with data silos and noise confounding your efforts. Without the right infrastructure, you may miss critical insights. On top of that, inconsistencies in data formats or methodologies make it even more challenging to draw meaningful comparisons. No one can read it all – and no one should have to.
This contributes to one of the biggest challenges with creating your high-quality data source; the process of creation itself. Data scientists spend up to 80% of their time collecting and cleaning data, leaving only 20% for discovery analysis. This imbalance limits the time you can spend on valuable research activities. On top of that, thousands of new studies are published every year, turning data collection into a treadmill that leaves less and less time for actual discovery.
If you want to push the boundaries of what’s possible, you need enough time to make quality discoveries. Access to an expert-curated, standardized database becomes invaluable. It removes a significant amount of manual work, allowing you to focus on interpreting your results and generating hypotheses. Imagine how much easier it would be to work with a fully integrated, compatible source of data, rather than dozens of disparate ones. With data that has been manually curated by experts, you can derive more reliable, repeatable and useful insights, giving you the confidence to move forward with your discoveries.
Since 2014, QIAGEN Digital Insights has provided the solution to over 90,000 users worldwide. Instead of wasting valuable time on data wrangling, you can dive straight into uncovering new biomarkers, therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms with ease. We’ve made it our priority to provide you with regular updates and process the latest data to make sure your discoveries are always up to date.
You need one source for high-quality, expert-curated content:
24 million biological findings
640 million causal biomedical relationships
800,000+ ’omics datasets, including single-cell and spatial data
1900+ diseases in 50+ disease areas
Curious about the specific data we offer? Want to save time and resources without sacrificing your efficacy?
Learn more about how we’re helping researchers like you make discoveries founded on robust, reliable, trusted data.
If you’re under 35 and considering buying a home, it might be time to rethink that decision.
The economic environment and world of finance have shifted in recent years, and so should our perspective on homeownership.
But does that mean you should give up on the dream entirely? Not at all!
For generations, owning a home has been seen as a rite of passage for many Australians—a milestone that marks financial success.
However, recent trends show that many first-time buyers are being priced out of the market, especially in sought-after locations.
So, is it time to adjust your strategy?
You can either get frustrated with the current situation or choose to get smart—and wealthy.
Don’t abandon the dream, just take a different path!
Buying a home in your twenties or early thirties often doesn’t make sense. Here’s why:
Many young buyers settle for a home they’re not entirely happy with to “get into the market.”
They end up with a mortgage that ties them down for 30 years, only to find themselves moving out within 7–10 years as life circumstances change.
Why lock up a significant portion of your income in a mortgage if you don’t plan on staying put for 20–30 years?
It’s often emotions and a sense of entitlement that cloud our judgment.
Here’s a better solution: consider rentvesting
Take a longer-term approach and don’t settle!
While you’re young, it’s smart to keep your expenses as low as possible and invest your surplus income into high-growth assets.
Consider sharing accommodation with family or friends, or find an affordable rental arrangement.
If you’re renting, live within your means and, if possible, share with a partner or friends to reduce costs even further.
By investing your extra cash into high-growth assets, you’ll build wealth much faster than by simply paying down a mortgage.
What I’m suggesting is rentvesting – live where you want to live but probably can’t afford to own a property, and invest in real estate where you can afford to buy a quality property.
There are obvious advantages to investing in property, such as tax benefits, depreciation, and negative gearing that make this strategy particularly appealing.
Plus, rentvesting gives you the freedom to live where you want.
You’re not tied down by debt, and you have the flexibility to move around and explore.
Think about the end game
As Stephen Covey wisely said, “Begin with the end in mind.” It’s crucial to understand your long-term goals.
If you spend a decade or so building your asset base, you’ll find yourself in a much stronger financial position when you’re finally ready to buy a home.
You won’t have to settle for something less than ideal. Instead, you’ll have far more options and financial freedom.
In fact, you’ll likely be much wealthier at that point compared to someone who chose the traditional path of buying a home early and paying off a mortgage over the years.
In Conclusion
The rules of property ownership have changed, especially for younger Australians looking to enter the market in desirable areas.
Instead of settling for the second best, change your strategy.
Begin with the end in mind, set clear goals, commit to them and consider rentvesting.
In the long run, you’ll likely find yourself in a much stronger financial position with significantly more options.
About Brett Warren Brett Warren is National Director of Metropole Properties and uses his two decades of property investment experience to advise clients how to grow, protect and pass on their wealth through strategic property advice.
Even the best and newest smartphones have limited battery capacity. Sure, there are ways to prolong your phone’s battery life, but they only go so far. There’s a special kind of dread when your phone hits 1% and you’re nowhere near an outlet.
5
Great for Emergency Situations
Aryan Surendranath / MakeUseOf
Most smartphone batteries last between 15 and 20 hours on a single charge. That’s plenty of juice for a regular day, but what happens if you forget to charge your phone before you leave home or use a lot of battery-intensive apps during the day? Your battery could run out at the worst possible time.
Of course, if you have access to a power outlet, you can simply plug in your phone and wait for it to charge back up. But what if you’re traveling or stuck in the middle of nowhere? Plugging your phone into an outlet might not be an option. In times like these, a power bank can truly be a lifesaver. Many power banks even support fast charging, so you won’t have to wait all that long to use your phone if you’re in a pinch.
4
Keeps You From Relying on Public Charging Stations
There’s nothing wrong with using a secure public charging station. But the reality is that if you’re in a crowded place, you’re unlikely to find one with free ports. Even if you find an unoccupied charging station, your phone won’t charge as fast as it does at home. This means you’re essentially just stuck waiting around the charging station for your phone to power on.
Beyond that, security risks like juice jacking have really turned me off public charging stations. I don’t want to risk data theft or malware exposure because I forgot to charge my phone. I’d much rather carry a power portable bank to charge my phone anytime the battery drops too much.
3
Protects Your Phone’s Battery
You’ve likely heard that charging your phone overnight to maximum capacity is bad. The opposite is also true. Routinely letting your phone’s charge get close to 0% can wear out the lithium-ion battery.
If you want to prevent this sort of battery degradation, it’s best to keep your phone’s charge between 20% and 80%. If you have trouble doing this, purchase a portable power bank that can help you keep your phone’s charge from dipping too low. This way, not only will you always have sufficient charge on your phone, but you’re also maintaining your battery’s health.
2
Traveling Becomes Less Stressful
I tend to use my phone a lot when I’m traveling, whether it’s for navigation, photography, or even just listening to music. All this extra usage drains my battery relatively quickly, compared to when I’m at home or working.
A dead phone is the last thing I want when I’m in an unfamiliar place, and I don’t want to go through the hassle of trying to locate a charging station. That’s why I always carry a power bank with me during my travels.
1
They’re Cheap and Portable
Jowi Morales / MakeUseOf
Power banks are relatively inexpensive, and yet provide a ton of value. Given that it’s not hard to find a high-quality power bank for under $20 and sometimes even less on sales, it helps to have one on hand.
Unlike a lot of other gadgets, power banks are fairly compact and lightweight, which means you can just carry one around in your backpack or bag, without it taking up too much room or adding unnecessary weight.
Keeping a power bank on you at all times won’t do you any harm. In fact, it just makes your life easier. So, if you spot one at a good price, don’t hesitate to purchase it right away.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-30/Pear-blossoms-sparkle-in-a-rural-Sichuan-village-1Cacp1goDBe/img/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165.jpeg'Visitors enjoy the scenery of pear blossoms in Jinchuan County, Sichuan Province, March 17, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-30/Pear-blossoms-sparkle-in-a-rural-Sichuan-village-1Cacp1goDBe/img/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165.jpeg'Visitors enjoy the scenery of pear blossoms in Jinchuan County, Sichuan Province, March 17, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-30/Pear-blossoms-sparkle-in-a-rural-Sichuan-village-1Cacp1goDBe/img/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165.jpeg'Visitors enjoy the scenery of pear blossoms in Jinchuan County, Sichuan Province, March 17, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-30/Pear-blossoms-sparkle-in-a-rural-Sichuan-village-1Cacp1goDBe/img/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165/b26ec0d98a5e41c186de70ae4dd1e165.jpeg'Visitors enjoy the scenery of pear blossoms in Jinchuan County, Sichuan Province, March 17, 2025. /VCG
Blanketed in blossoming pear flowers, a small village in Jinchuan County has been transformed into a spring wonderland, attracting residents and tourists to embrace the floral scenery and soak up the warm weather. Located in the northwest of Sichuan Province, Jinchuan County is known as the hometown of the pear tree due to its mild and humid climate, and the vast surrounding highlands.
“The White Lotus,” Mike White’s black comedy anthology series, is back on HBO for a third season. Times staffers love an escape, but since we can’t take a trip to Thailand to stay at a luxury resort, the next best thing is to immerse ourselves in the new season. Follow along with us for each episode as we discuss theories, observations and our favorite moments leading up to the finale. (Read our recaps: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, and Episode 6.)
The knockout blows and roundhouse kicks of Muay Thai fighting hit “The White Lotus” this week — with flashes of a fight spliced throughout the episode — but the more intense combat was happening outside of the ring for our gaggle of rattled characters.
The episode picks up with Rick (Walton Goggins) and Frank’s (Sam Rockwell) arrival at the Bangkok home Sritala (Lek Patravadi) shares with her husband Jim (Scott Glenn) — Rick’s target in the plan to avenge his father’s death. And it’s as hilariously unplanned as you’d expect from two dudes who can make a catch-up session between friends feel like a fever dream. Wearing a baseball cap with the Lowe’s logo, Steven (Frank’s alias as the fictional director in this Hollywood movie scheme) is totally winging this meeting. What has he directed? Uh … “What haven’t I directed? Mostly action films. ‘The Enforcer.’ ‘The Executor.’ ‘The Notary’ — that was a trilogy.” What’s the role in this so-called movie that he wants Sritala to portray? “She is a former prostitute, now a madam, and she owns a popular bordello.” Wait, isn’t the role supposed to be based on her? And has he seen any of her past work? Name ‘em!
It’s no wonder Frank quickly ditches the herbal tea and requests whiskey for the improv work he has to do. But was giving up his sobriety worth it? Then, when Chelsea’s 50-year-old child Rick does get Jim alone, he doesn’t make use of the gun he swore he wouldn’t bring. But closure can take many forms. An affected Rick carries out his revenge by simply knocking back a seated Jim to the floor. With that out of the way, Rick and Frank, who is ditching his performative Buddhist mindset for the evening, party. Chelsea’s calls, meanwhile, go unanswered.
Back in the hills of Thailand, Greg/Gary’s (Jon Gries) bash is unfolding. With some encouragement from her curious son, Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) makes the most insane decision ever and willingly places herself inside the home of the man she believes may be responsible for Tanya McQuoid’s death. Greg/Gary asks to speak to her in private, where he insists he isn’t involved in Tanya’s death. Really! To prove how much of a non-murderer he is, he offers Belinda $100,000 — because Tanya would have wanted that — to help fulfill her dream of opening a spa and in exchange, she’d honor “his peace.” Belinda tells him she’ll think about it. (To quote the great Oda Mae Brown: “You in danger, girl.”)
Belinda (Natasha Rothwell) gets an offer from Greg/Gary for $100,000 to honor “his peace.”
(Fabio Lovino / HBO)
Other party-goers were experiencing their own internal conflicts. Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger), flying solo while his siblings are spending the night at the Buddhist center, is there with his parents. After receiving a reality check from Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) about his future as a loser back home, Saxon pulls his dad aside to figure out why he’s been acting strange. Saxon asks whether things are OK at work, emphasizing that he has nothing else going for him because he doesn’t have any interests or hobbies — sorry you had to hear it from us, blender — a medicated Tim, knowing his wife would rather be dead than poor, says everything is fine. Meanwhile, Victoria (Parker Posey) tries to rescue a woman dating an LBH (loser back home) at the party, inviting her to North Carolina.
Things aren’t any more relaxing at the resort — no matter how much Fabian’s vocal cords worked to soothe guests. Our favorite trio couldn’t smile through another dinner, and a passive-aggressive showdown, reminiscent of the recent season finale of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” begins. The conversation is particularly tense between Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and Laurie (Carrie Coon). Laurie storms off, determined to go to the Muay Thai fight Valentin invited them to. While there, she cozies up to one of Valentin’s friends and goes home with him, only to be propositioned for $10,000 post-coitus — to pay off the debts of his sick mom, you see.
At the same fight, Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) — finally on his date with Mook (Lalisa Manobal), who expresses her disappointment at his indifference to ambition and power over dinner — has a light-bulb moment when he spots Valentin and his friends. He recognizes their features and tattoos as those of the masked men who raided the resort. Is this his shot to muster some courage and impress Mook?
Now it’s time for Greg Braxton, Mary McNamara and Yvonne Villarreal, platinum-status members of “The White Lotus” frequent guest program, to break it all down.
Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) finally goes on a date with Mook.
(Fabio Lovino / HBO)
Who do we think is the corpse this week? Will Tim’s realization that the gun is missing be more foreboding than Gaitok possibly leveling up as a security guard?
McNamara: The corpse is me because I am done trying to pretend that it makes any sense at all that the Ratliffs are all still without their cellphones. I mean Chelsea is on her phone constantly so it’s clearly not a resort rule and there is NO WAY that Tim and Saxon, who clearly knows something is up at work, would not have retrieved theirs. But I am now very worried that the corpse is Rick because there is no way Jim is going to take being shoved over lying down. I mean, did you see all those bodyguards? Still, I‘m sticking with Gaitok, particularly after his recognition of the wily Russians as the robbers and Mook’s goading him toward violence. (Red flag, Gaitok. Big red flag.)
Braxton: I’ve been kind of non-committal for a while on the corpse question, but I will throw out a few theories. I think it’s a pretty safe bet that Jim is going to return with Sritala to the White Lotus and track down Rick. He is not the type to take his wife being humiliated and deceived lying down, pardon the pun. When you pull a gun on a guy like him, you better freaking use it, or there will be payback. Also you don’t hire Scott Glenn for one episode. Although he will want to kill Rick, he also might kill Chelsea, bringing to fruition her “bad things come in threes” prophecy.
Villarreal: This week’s episode also has me thinking Gaitok is surely the corpse. His desire to impress Mook is going to have a tragic outcome — or as our Greg loves to say, “it will all end in tears.” But how? I’m not sure. I know there are a lot of questionable characters this season, but there’s something about Fabian I just can’t shake. And it’s not just that he’s a terrible hotel manager or that I’d rather hear the sounds of Saxon’s blender than be serenaded by him. The man seems destined to do something shady or stupid or both.
Let’s talk about the Rick and Frank show. What did you think about their meeting at the Hollingers’ home and what followed afterward?
McNamara: Again, Rockwell steals the show (I am dying for a cinematic trilogy of “The Enforcer,” “The Executioner” and “The Notary.”) Again, I am struck by the lack of believability — I get that Sritala is supposed to be starstruck by Power of Hollywood etc., but when it becomes clear that Frank didn’t even bother to do a quick Google, her lack of suspicion is very much at odds with all those bodyguards. As is Rick and Frank’s lack of concern after they left — I mean, isn’t Rick a little worried that he has to go back to Sritala’s hotel? Maybe she shoots him. I’m also very sad that Frank lost his sobriety.
Braxton: So Rick has been obsessed with getting his revenge on the man who murdered his father. It’s the defining core of his grief and pain. The big moment is finally here, but instead of being prepared with a solid plan, he wings it, not even taking time to give Frank some advice or background on Sritala so he can play his filmmaker ruse convincingly. What did they talk about on the boat over? It makes no sense. Sritala and her husband seem smart enough to spot an impostor, but they do nothing. And what was the trigger behind Frank tossing aside his sobriety and Buddhist devotion so fast and diving back into depravity? I call it another case of Emmy bait.
Villarreal: First of all, the Lowe’s baseball cap that adorned Frank’s head had my full attention — that small detail left me wanting an entire backstory on how it came into his possession. But on to important matters: The lack of planning to carry out Rick’s grand plan was so hilariously perfect to me. I don’t know why I expected these dudes to deliver anything less than a terribly executed plan — Rick’s meeting with Sritala to set the home visit in the first place proved he was terrible at lying. Maybe his catch-up session with Frank left him too dazed to remember the need for a very basic Plan 101 conversation? Frank at least tried his best to improvise, but to see his sobriety quickly dissipate at the stress of it all was indeed bittersweet. Their ensuing escapade will surely reach doom levels. Am I as delusional as Chelsea to believe Rick will come to his senses before he gets in too deep?
Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) has a heart to heart with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood). Could he be her next sad-boy soulmate?
(Fabio Lovino / HBO)
Chelsea made another sweet (or sad?) declaration of her love for Rick. But will he be her doom?Also, she and Saxon share some interesting moments in this episode. What’s going on there?
McNamara: Chelsea clearly likes her men damaged and brooding and Rick has become, quite frankly, a bore. So if tragedy strikes the Ratliff family, Saxon could become her next sad-boy soulmate. Or Tim, for that matter.
Braxton: Chelsea + Saxon = yawn. Chelsea’s constant whining and pining for Rick was getting old a few episodes ago. Now it just seems pathetic and doomed. She needs therapy.
Villarreal: I dunno. The parallels between Rick and Chelsea‘s reactions in last week’s episode — Rick in hearing Frank’s monologue; Chelsea in processing Saxon’s lack of memory over the activities he engaged in with his brother — has me believing they are soulmates. I know her declaration about wanting to heal Rick and her being the hope to his pain is the sort of thing that would cause a friend to tell her to run for the hills, but I hope they make it out alive and live happily ever after. And I hope Saxon reads the books and finds his soul.
Chloe’s wild story about Greg/Gary’s weird fetish — what is Mike White trying to say about sex with all these moments?
McNamara: Well, I didn’t believe Chloe’s story for one minute. I have no idea if or why Greg/Gary wanted them to have sex, but all of Saxon’s jaded alpha-maleness certainly fell away in this episode. Still, with the exception of Belinda (and by extension, her son), I don’t have much of an emotional connection with any of this season’s characters, so I have no idea what White is trying to say about anything. I am, however, very curious to see how he’s going to pull any of these threads together in the finale.
Braxton: The way she told the fetish story was so creepy. And Chelsea seemed to be approving of it. Once again, I feel there’s a lot of effort to be provocative this season without any real texture or meaning. I hope there’s something by the finale that will make it all make sense. But I’m losing hope.
Villarreal: The storytelling from some of these characters has me flashing back to “Are you Afraid of the Dark?” I love how Chelsea took it all in like it was a moderate level of crazy but not completely bonkers. I feel like Chloe is trying to set up a scenario that would set Greg/Gary off, but I don’t know why.
Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), left, Kate (Leslie Bibb) and Laurie (Carrie Coon) have a nice, uncomfortable dinner.
(Fabio Lovino / HBO)
The volcano of tension between the three frenemies finally erupted. But will it actually end their friendship?
McNamara: Well, I’m quite worried about Laurie at the moment — I’m not trusting that cab she jumped into. And should she survive the journey, I am wondering if Jaclyn will just stick her with the White Lotus bill.
Braxton: It’s really hard to root for a kumbaya moment with these three. And none of them seem to be having a good time.
Villarreal: If ever there was a moment to call a truce among friends, it’s to share the WTF moment of a guy asking for $10,000 after sex — and suggesting she can PayPal or Zelle it for ease, no less! If they all make it out of this trip alive, I don’t think this unpleasant excursion will end anything. It’ll just be another blip they’ll gloss over when recounting their stay and continue on like passive-aggressive besties until the next one. I, however, would like to know what happened with Dave!
And what did you think of Aleksei’s request for $10,000?
McNamara: I need to know if he asked Jaclyn for same and if she gave it to him.
Villarreal: Yes, I also wondered if this is a scheme with this guy group! How long before Tim considers this approach to rebuilding his fortune?
What did you think of the exchange between Greg/Gary and Belinda? Should she take the deal?
McNamara: Please call the police, Belinda. Like, now.
Braxton: First of all, Belinda should have played it much smarter: “First of all, make it $300,000, throw in that yacht and have your lawyer call my lawyer so we can get all this on paper. And if anything ever happens to me, my son will send all the dirt on you to the New York Times.” Not sure why she’s so concerned about what happened to Tanya, who was a neurotic mess, heartlessly crushing her dreams of owning a business.
Villarreal: I thought it was insane he was only offering her $100,000 in the year 2025. Like, hello? Maybe he went to the same University of Grand Planning that Rick attended. I did enjoy the way Natasha played that scene, clutching the purse and processing with eye blinks as he spoke. Belinda should definitely not take the deal — unless some more zeros are added to it. But, Greg B., if Belinda did accept Greg/Gary’s bid for her silence, and uses that money to open her spa, in a dark way, Tanya did help finance her dreams.
Lochy tells Piper he wants to join her in moving to Thailand — surprised? And, more importantly, what’s your take on Piper’s reaction to his decision?
McNamara: Piper wants to get away from her family and for Buddhism to be her thing. That was the most believable thing in the whole episode.
Braxton: Piper loves her brother, but she wants a break from her whole family. That is more important than the Buddhism thing.
Villarreal: This whole family needs distance from each other. I do find it a little weird how quickly Piper was set off by his proposal, considering how much she welcomes his company anytime else.
Who gets your Best Facial Expression award this week?
McNamara: Victoria, when the young woman protests that she actually loves her LBH husband. That incredulous double flinch/blink. Priceless.
Braxton: Gaitok’s “eureka” moment when he recognizes the thugs.
Villarreal: To avoid repeats, I’ll go with Frank’s reaction to watching a young Sritala perform. When he sincerely offers his thoughts on it — “I mean, it’s like MC Hammer, Peter Pan. It’s got a little Pippin.” — is pretty great, but it’s the way he tilts his head back with his sigh of “ahhh” as she says, “It’s the folk music and the rap music,” that’s gold.
Seoul, March 31: Hyundai Motor said on Monday it will open a global recruitment programme this week to secure top-tier overseas talent across various fields of engineering.
The company plans to open the program for hiring overseas engineering Ph.D. holders, as well as an internship program for foreign university students studying in South Korea and a separate one for overseas bachelor’s and master’s degree holders on Tuesday. Hyundai Motor Group Plans To Implement Advanced Autonomous Driving Technology Across Its Vehicle Lineup, Targets Level 2+ Features by End of 2027.
The recruitment programme for overseas Ph.D. holders will be open to individuals who hold or are set to earn a doctoral degree in engineering fields by August 2026, reports Yonhap news agency. Key research areas include artificial intelligence and data, battery technology, hydrogen fuel cells, smart factory systems, robotics, advanced air mobility (AAM) and cybersecurity.
The company will conduct application screening in May, followed by an interview in June. Finalists will be invited to the company’s Namyang Research & Development Center in South Korea, where they will undergo a final interview process. The internship programmes will comprise five-week training in July and August. Those who perform well will be offered full-time employment. Applications will be made available at the company’s official recruitment website (http://talent.hyundai.com).
“Hyundai Motor is committed to strengthening its global competitiveness by actively securing talent with high potential and expertise,” a company official said. Meanwhile, more than half of South Korea’s top 100 companies paid their employees an average annual salary of more than 100 million won ($67,981) in 2024, industry data showed on Monday.
An analysis by Yonhap News Agency of the latest business reports from the 100 largest non-financial firms by sales showed that 55 companies had an average annual employee salary of over 100 million won last year. Last year’s tally marks a sixfold increase from nine companies in 2019. All of the top 10 companies by sales were included in the so-called 100 million-won salary club. Hyundai Motor India Limited Debuts in NIFTY Next 50, NIFTY 100, NIFTY 500, S&P BSE 500 and Other Capital Market Indices.
Samsung Electronics posted an average salary of 130 million won, followed by Hyundai Motor Co. at 124 million won, SK Inc. at 116 million won, Kia Corp. at 136 million won and LG Electronics Inc. at 117 million won. Other firms with high earners included SK Innovation Co. at 158 million won, POSCO Holdings Co. at 148 million won and SK hynix Inc. at 117 million won.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 31, 2025 10:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Coding in Forth reminded me of the lawless dystopia in Mad Max. You make your own rules, subject to the limits of the context. You can redefine the IF statement if you so please. You can rewrite machine code instructions for a Word. You can even change Words during run time. Because Words become keywords themselves in Forth, you can create a language that’s optimized for a single purpose, packing commands that would otherwise be dozens of lines into just one. “In Forth, you’re creating your own language,” Leo Brodie, author of the first Forth textbook, Starting Forth, told me.
The low-level nature of Forth, while key to its processing power, made programming feel foreign. It uses postfix, a form of mathematical notation that renders 2 + 1 as 2 1+ and which I found neither intuitive nor even really legible. And while most languages allow memory to be broken up and moved around, Forth is stack-based—meaning data is stored chronologically and managed on a last-in/first-out basis. I kept running into bugs, forcing myself to abandon programming conventions I had considered universal. I found myself struggling to speak the language of the machine.
When I emailed Dupras to ask for help, he compared using Forth to driving a stick. It’s more granular than C. Where the latter defines calling conventions, variable storage, and return stack management, Forth leaves it all up to the programmer. It directly interacts with memory the same way C does but far outperforms C in precision and efficiency. “People mistake Forth as just a language,” Dupras says. “It’s a way to interact with the computer.”
The reason Forth isn’t more popular is the same reason most of us drive automatics. The personal computing boom of the 1990s sparked an obsession with making tech fit your palm and making code easier to write. Languages were abstracted to protect programmers from themselves, and somewhere along the way, we got lost. Things became bloated for the sake of convenience and, in Dupras’ words, started “oozing inscrutable pus at every corner.”
“The way we understand efficiency is so skewed,” Dupras says. Forth is a scythe to Python’s lawnmower. “If you calculate the number of joules per blade of grass, you’ll find that the person scything is more efficient,” he says. “When you think of speed, you’d see the lawnmower as more efficient.” Forth forces you to be precise and memory-efficient—to marshal your resources carefully, as you would after the collapse. Dupras cuts his own lawn with a scythe, obviously. “At a certain point, you can go as fast as a lawnmower,” he says.
I began to find my way. Rather than sending bytes into the ether and trusting the system to figure out where they go, as I would in Python, I got used to being responsible for allocating and freeing memory. All I could think about was what was being stored, where it was being stored, and how much space it required. Each line of code suddenly bore weight. I was Immortan Joe, my laptop was my Citadel, and memory was my water.
Soon I found myself refining and revisiting my code like I would a run-on sentence. Instead of expecting the machine to anticipate my needs, I tried to think like the machine, to meet it more than halfway. And because I had to think twice, all the needlessly complicated acronyms that remind us to be concise in other coding languages—YAGNI (you aren’t gonna need it), KISS (keep it simple, stupid), DRY (don’t repeat yourself)—were rendered obsolete.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman is reportedly in talks with Visa to enhance World Wallet with cross-asset functionality. The collaboration aims to develop a sophisticated wallet strategy, enabling seamless cross-platform transactions with crypto, cards, and fiat currencies. Altman, known for his impact on the global AI landscape with ChatGPT, also leads Worldcoin (World)—a controversial Web3 project designed to offer ‘proof of personhood’ in response to the growing presence of AI and bots online.
Altman reportedly launched World Wallet alongside the Worldcoin project in July 2023. By integrating Visa, he aims to evolve it into an independent mini bank, enabling seamless financial transactions across multiple asset types.
“The plan is to build up a whole connected wallet strategy so that you can trade in all kinds of things, from FX to crypto, load to wallet, send to wallet, spend from card,” CoinDesk quoted a source familiar with the matter as saying.
As of now, there has been no official confirmation from Altman or Visa. Tools for Humanity, the company overseeing the World project, has also not commented on the development.
In October 2024, Altman’s Worldcoin project was rebranded as “World”. The initiative has faced criticism from several governments over its collection of eye scans for biometric verification. Designed to issue “World IDs,” the project aims to differentiate humans from bots while allowing users to interact online without sharing personal information.
Despite facing legal troubles in Brazil, Colombia, Spain and Germany among others, Altman has continued to grow the project. For instance, the World Chat app was launched earlier this month with the ability to facilitate crypto-based money transfers.
The CoinDesk report also noted that the World project is in talks with crypto card companies like “Rain”, that issues on-chain visa cards for Avalanche and Optimism among others.
Visa, the US-based card payments giant, has actively explored crypto-related services. It has partnered with Web3 firms like Transak and Wirex to enhance its crypto offerings and expand the use of crypto cards among global merchants. In 2022, Visa also experimented with enabling bill payments for services like phone and electricity via self-custodial crypto wallets.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
Google has dropped its AI while browsing feature, formerly known as SGE while browsing. Google didn’t say why it removed the feature but posted a note in its help documentation that the feature is no longer.
What is AI while browsing. Google originally wrote:
“SGE while browsing was specifically designed to help people more deeply engage with long-form content from publishers and creators, and make it easier to find what you’re looking for while browsing the web. On some web pages you visit, you can tap to see an AI-generated list of the key points an article covers, with links that will take you straight to what you’re looking for directly on the page. We’ll also help you dig deeper with “Explore on page,” where you can see questions the article answers and jump to the relevant section to learn more.”
“AI tools while browsing, a separate feature than AI Overviews, will not show key points for paywalled articles, if paywall structured data is on the page.”
Why we care. Many publishers and site creators were not happy that Google was overlaying its AI on your webpage, leading users to be able to use AI to summarize your content, instead of having the user read the content you wrote.
Well, now this is gone and you no longer have to worry about it for paywall structured data.
If you’re interested in checking out Dungeon Crawler Carl or are looking to upgrade from ebook or paperback editions to hardcover, now’s a great time to do it. Penguin Random House imprint Ace began releasing hardcover editions of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series last fall. The newest hardcover, The Gate of the Feral Gods (Book 4), released in hardcover on March 11 and is included in Amazon’s promotion. You can pair Book 4 with the hardcover editions of Dungeon Crawler Carl (Book 1) and Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (Book 2) to save an additional $20.30 at checkout–you’re getting Book 1 for free.
Three of the four currently available hardcover editions are eligible for Amazon’s B2G1 Free Book sale through March 29. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (Book 3) isn’t eligible for the promotion. We’ve marked the B2G1 free-eligible Dungeon Crawler Carl hardcovers in the list below. You’ll also find links to preorder the upcoming hardcover editions of Books 5 and 6. For more recommendations, check out our roundup of the best B2G1 free fantasy and sci-fi books in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.
Note: The Inevitable Ruin is the only Dungeon Crawler Carl novel available to purchase in paperback. The paperback editions of the first six novels are out of print, so the new hardcover books are your only option if you want physical editions.
Dungeon Crawler Carl hardcover editions
If you’re new to the series: Dungeon Carl Crawler is a quintessential example of the LitRPG genre. When bored aliens transform Earth into a giant video-game style dungeon, Coast Guard veteran Carl becomes a participant in a life-or-death tournament. Carl is accompanied by a cat named Princess Donut. Throughout the series, the duo squares off against a wide array of monsters and solves puzzles. In case the name Princess Donut didn’t give it away, Dungeon Crawler Carl doesn’t take itself too seriously. Despite the high stakes, the series frequently leans into the ridiculousness of the scenario with darkly humorous dialogue and over-the-top violence.
You can start your journey with Carl and Princess Donut by picking up the hardcover edition of Dungeon Crawler Carl (Book 1) for $20.30 (was $30) at Amazon.
The 2025 hardcover releases are following the same release schedule as the first three novels: Ace is publishing one hardcover per month for the next three months. The Gate of the Feral Gods (Book 4) released on March 11 and is discounted to $22.50 (was $30) at Amazon. The Butcher’s Masquerade, the fifth book in the series, will be published on April 8. Book 6, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride, is available to preorder for $34 (was $39) ahead of its May 13 release.
If you’re wondering why the retail prices are higher for later books in the series, it’s likely related to page count. Books 1 and 2 were 464 and 384 pages, respectively, whereas Book 5 is 720 pages and Book 6 is the longest book in the series at 832 pages.
Check out the cover art for all six hardcover editions below. Below the hardcovers, you’ll find details about the latest book in the series and alternative formats, including Kindle ebook and Audible audiobook versions. Book
Meniscus tears are common knee injuries that have long frustrated patients and doctors due to limited repair options.A new 3D-printed hydrogel made from cow meniscus could transform how these injuries heal, according to results of a pre-clinical study published in Bioactive Materials. from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
The meniscus is a complex structure that serves as a critical shock absorber in the knee. and one-size-fits-all treatments aren’t always effective. Through creating a treatment adaptable to the different needs of patients, the researchers believe they may have unlocked a better fix no matter where the injury occurs in a meniscus.
“We developed a hydrogel that can be adjusted based on the patient’s age and the stiffness requirements of the injured tissue, which is important because the meniscus has different biochemical and biomechanical properties that vary depending upon the location in the tissue,” said the study’s senior author, Su Chin Heo, PhD, an assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery in the McKay Orthopaedic Research Lab at Penn. “Current treatments, including graft-base methods, do not fully recreate these complex differences, leading to poor healing.”
Hydrogels are flexible, water-absorbing materials commonly found in everyday products like contact lenses and baby diapers. The researchers developed a specialized hydrogel by first extracting proteins from donor cow meniscus tissue. Those proteins then directed new cells to become the right types of repair cells for the damaged meniscus and were used as the basis for the treatment’s structures.
To prevent rejection, the team removed cellular components from the cow tissue while preserving its structural framework. This “decellularization” process reduces the risk of immune reactions when implanted, making the treatment both safer and more effective.
To further customize the hydrogels, Heo and his fellow researchers used 3D-printing techniques to account for the variation in the meniscus tissue. That way, they could more closely match the tissue in the areas they were trying to repair. Mismatched tissues might not heal well.
“In our animal studies, we’ve seen the hydrogel integrate well with the surrounding tissue, potentially offering patients a more complete recovery,” said the study’s first author Se-Hwan Lee, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the McKay Lab. “It’s a more precise, biologically matched solution. We believe this could outperform current treatments.”
The team is now transitioning from small mammal studies to large animal models.
“Our first clinical goal will be to treat smaller, localized meniscus tears,” Heo said. “Once we have success there, I believe we could expand to more complex injuries in the meniscus.”
The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (K01 AR07787, R21 R077700, P30 AR069619, R01 AR056624, R01 HL163168), the National Science Foundation (CMMI 1548571), and Department of Veterans Affairs’ CReATE Motion Center (I50 RX004845) in the United States. It was also supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (HI19C1095) and National R&D Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2024-00405574) in South Korea.
The post Lawctopus Law School’s Webinar on ‘How to do Legal Research for a Moot Competition’ [Apr 10, Thu, 7-9 PM]: Register Now! appeared first on Lawctopus.
The city of Mumbai is set to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 on March 31, following the official confirmation of the Shawwal 1446 moon sighting by the Markazi Ruyate Hilal Committee, Masjid-e-Jama Mumbai. The crescent moon was spotted on Sunday evening, marking the end of Ramadan and the air filled up with excitement as families prepare for festivities, communal prayers and feasting.
Eid 2025 moon sighting: Muslims in Mumbai to mark Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 celebrations on March 31; security tightened amid riots and bomb threats.(File Photo by REUTERS/Esa Alexander)
A night of festivities and spiritual reflection
Chand Raat, the night before Eid-ul-Fitr, is traditionally marked by bustling markets, last-minute shopping and the sweet aroma of festive delicacies. Across Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai, people are busy purchasing new clothes, exchanging gifts and preparing delicious dishes like biryani, sheer khurma and kebabs. Mosques and open grounds are being readied for the grand Eid prayers as families and friends eagerly look forward to celebrating together.
Security measures tightened amid social media threat
While the city prepares for joyous Eid celebrations, authorities have also taken proactive steps to ensure public safety. Security has been heightened across Mumbai after a social media warning on X claimed that “Hindu-Muslim riots, arson and bomb blasts” might occur during Eid on March 31 and April 1 in certain areas.
According to news agency PTI, the warning message specifically mentioned Dongri as a potential hotspot for such activities, allegedly involving “illegal Rohingya, Bangladeshi and Pakistani infiltrators.” The post, which tagged the Navi Mumbai police handle, prompted immediate action from law enforcement.
An official cited in the PTI report stated that Navi Mumbai police promptly alerted Mumbai police, leading to increased security and intensified patrolling in sensitive areas like Dongri. The Cyber Cell has also launched a technical investigation to identify the person behind the social media post.
Meanwhile, Navi Mumbai Police responded to the warning message, requesting further information from the concerned user for verification and necessary action.
Balancing celebration with caution
Despite these security concerns, Mumbai’s spirit remains unshaken as preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr continue in full swing. The community remains hopeful that the festival will be observed with peace, harmony and unity, emphasizing the true essence of Eid—brotherhood, generosity and gratitude.
As Mumbai welcomes Eid 2025, the city is ready to embrace both the joy of celebration and the responsibility of ensuring a safe environment for all. Eid Mubarak!
Just before 9 a.m. Thursday in Washington, D.C, the Department of Health and Human Services sent out a press release with the subject line: “HHS Announces Transformation to Make America Healthy Again.” The transformation: 10,000 full-time employees will be fired. Twenty-eight of the department’s divisions will be cut down to 15 and the number of regional offices halved.
For hours, the 650 words in the press release were all the details some HHS employees had about a reorganization that will significantly shrink an agency responsible for overseeing much of the country’s healthcare.
An hour after the press release went out, around 10 a.m., an employee at the National Institutes of Health opened a Reddit forum for federal employees and saw a post with the restructuring announcement. “My heart goes out to all the HHS employees,” one user commented. “This is all bull***,” another said.
This is how the NIH employee learned of layoffs that, combined with voluntary dismissals, buyouts and early retirements, will cut HHS’s staff by a quarter. It was hours later when the worker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, finally received direct notice of the cuts.
The planned layoffs will target administrative functions like human resources, information technology and procurement — what HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described as “bureaucratic sprawl.” It will also shift the department’s functions to align more closely with Kennedy’s priorities, such as addressing chronic diseases.
At the Food and Drug Administration, some 3,500 staff, or about 20% of the agency, will be let go. More than 2,000 workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be cut, along with 1,200 employees at the NIH, which was already in turmoil from major changes to how it funds and reviews scientific research.
Beyond those high-level numbers, however, few details are available — even still to staff — on how those cuts will be distributed across individual agencies. And while HHS claims core functions, such as drug reviews at FDA or the administration of Medicare at CMS, won’t be affected, many outside of the agencies are skeptical.
“The administration’s claims that such deep cuts to the Food and Drug Administration and other critical HHS offices won’t be harmful are preposterous,” said Doreen Greenwald, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents some HHS workers.
Robert Califf, who led the FDA during the Obama and Biden administrations, said administrative cuts can still hamper product development and assessment. “The work at FDA is highly interactive across areas of expertise,” he wrote in an email.
Even Kennedy, who said HHS bureaucracy has harmed Americans’ health, acknowledged in comments on the social media platform X that the coming cuts would be a “painful period” for the agency.
Throughout HHS, many managers across departments that will be downsized, moved or absorbed were surprised by the reorganization. All the HHS employees interviewed for this story asked for anonymity so they could speak freely about their experience.
One longtime lawyer with the HHS told Healthcare Dive their department leaders were unaware of the restructuring. “It caught a lot of management off guard,” the lawyer said. “They had been concerned, but nobody really knew anything specific.”
Another employee at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health said their director was given no input or information about the restructuring and had met with other division directors to seek answers.
“Everything is word of mouth these days,” the CDRH employee said.
An employee at the Administration for Children and Families had not heard additional details about the restructuring from their department heads as of Friday morning, outside of those shared in Thursday’s press release.
Democratic lawmakers and some former HHS leaders criticized the cuts and said they were likely to compromise the agency’s mission.
Xavier Becerra, former HHS Secretary under former President Joe Biden, said the cuts had “the makings of a manmade disaster” in a Thursday post on X.
“It’s hard to make sense of the HHS cuts announced this morning,” Becerra said. “Downgrading services for our elderly and our disabled, downgrading services for mental health, downgrading our strategic preparedness and response capabilities – how can that be good for the health of any American?”
Others, like Scott Whitaker, head of the medical device lobby Advamed, were more sanguine. “My understanding is that FDA experts whose entire mission is to improve and not stand in the way of patient access to innovative medtech will not be affected. This is good news,” he said in a statement.
“I recognize the changes for HHS and the FDA may be challenging for some employees, who we value as both colleagues and friends,” Sara Brenner, acting FDA commissioner and principal deputy FDA commissioner, wrote in an email to staff Thursday. “I firmly believe the changes for the FDA, as outlined by Secretary Kennedy, will position the agency for the future and empower us to maximally deliver on our regulatory mission.”
HHS employees are waiting to hear if they’ll be fired; notices could come as soon as Friday. Employees have been told to prepare their personnel files in case they’re told to abruptly leave.
For some, the restructuring caps a highly challenging period at an agency that has feared cuts since President Donald Trump was elected in November.
“The stress level — it’s horrible for everybody. It’s almost like waking up saying, am I going to get cancer today?” the employee at NIH said. “It’s like going through every single day thinking, ‘Is today going to be the day I get the diagnosis?’”
Elise Reuter, Susanna Vogel and Delilah Alvarado contributed reporting.
Longer loan terms promise lower monthly repayments and slightly increased borrowing power, making them attractive at first glance.
However, they result in significantly higher total interest costs, keeping borrowers in debt for longer.
Banks benefit from extended loan terms as they collect significantly more in interest over time.
Many borrowers don’t keep their original mortgage for its full term, often refinancing or topping up, which extends their debt even further.
40-year mortgages don’t solve affordability issues; they just lock borrowers into debt for longer.
Owning a home has long been considered a cornerstone of the great Australian dream.
For many, it’s not just about securing a place to live, it’s a symbol of financial stability, success, and a ticket to long-term wealth.
But as property prices have skyrocketed, outpacing inflation and wage growth, homeownership has become increasingly difficult to attain for many beginners.
First-home buyers are stretching their budgets, delaying purchases, relying on family for financial assistance, or turning to alternative strategies like rentvesting just to get their foot in the door.
Now, there’s another option creeping into the market: 40-year mortgages.
On the surface, they appear to offer a way forward with lower monthly repayments which in turns means an increase in borrowing capacity.
But when you break down the numbers, it quickly becomes clear that these loans don’t make homeownership more affordable.
In reality, they keep Australians in debt for longer and cost them significantly more in the long run.
The growing appeal of 40-year mortgages
Traditionally, mortgages in Australia run for 25 to 30 years, aligning with an individual’s working life.
This structure allows borrowers to pay off their homes by or near retirement, reducing financial stress in later years.
But with affordability pressures mounting, some smaller lenders, not the major banks, at least not yet, are now offering 40-year loan terms.
These extended mortgages are being marketed as a way to:
Reduce monthly repayments, making it easier to manage cash flow.
Increase borrowing power, allowing buyers to access slightly more expensive properties.
It’s easy to see why these might appeal to struggling first-home buyers.
But the reality is that these so-called benefits are short-term fixes that lead to long-term financial pain.
The real cost of a 40-year mortgage
Let’s compare a standard 30-year mortgage with a 40-year mortgage using a $600,000 loan at 5.99% interest:
30-Year Mortgage
Monthly repayments: $3,594
Total interest paid: $594,206
Total cost of loan (principal + interest): $1,194,206
40-Year Mortgage
Monthly repayments: $3,297 (a $296 per month saving)
Total interest paid: $837,628
Total cost of loan (principal + interest): $1,437,628
That’s an additional $243,422 in interest just for extending the loan term by 10 years!
And that’s before considering the opportunity cost of keeping more of your money tied up in loan repayments instead of investing elsewhere.
A slight boost in borrowing power—but is it worth it?
You might think that a longer loan term would allow for significantly higher borrowing capacity, but the actual increase is relatively modest:
A single borrower on a full-time wage might qualify for around $24,000 more with a 40-year term.
A dual-income couple could borrow up to $48,000 more.
While an extra $20,000–$50,000 might provide a bit of a buffer in a competitive auction, the trade-off, paying hundreds of thousands more in interest is far too steep.
Why lenders love 40-year loans (and borrowers should be wary)
Make no mistake, banks aren’t offering these extended mortgages out of goodwill.
While they might appear to be making homeownership more accessible, the real motivation is simple: longer loan terms mean more interest paid, which means higher profits for lenders.
The business of banking is built on extending credit for as long as possible and ensuring customers remain locked into repayments.
If a borrower takes out a 40-year mortgage and only makes minimum repayments, they will end up paying the bank more than double the amount they originally borrowed.
And let’s not forget, that most homeowners don’t hold onto their original loan for the full term.
Over the decades, borrowers refinance, renovate, or take out additional loans for investment properties.
This cycle means they often restart the loan clock, further extending the time it takes to fully own their home.
The bigger problem: more Australians retiring with mortgage debt
One of the biggest red flags of extended loan terms is that they increase the likelihood of Australians carrying mortgage debt into retirement.
Just 10 years ago, 23% of retirees still had a mortgage.
Today, that figure has jumped to 36%, according to the ARC Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research.
This trend is deeply concerning, as retirees on fixed incomes (such as superannuation or the aged pension) struggle to keep up with mortgage repayments.
Instead of enjoying a debt-free retirement, many are forced to:
Sell their homes (potentially downsizing or moving to less desirable locations)
Work longer than planned just to keep up with repayments
Rely more on government support, adding financial strain to an ageing population
With 40-year mortgages, this problem will only get worse.
If a 34-year-old first-home buyer takes out a 40-year loan, they’ll be 74 years old before it’s fully repaid—well past retirement age.
And even if a buyer takes out this mortgage at 24 instead of 34, they’re still paying off debt into their mid-60s, limiting their ability to build wealth and financial security along the way.
A dangerous precedent for future buyers
The rise of longer mortgage terms is a symptom of Australia’s affordability crisis, not a solution to it.
Instead of tackling the real issues such as supply shortages, tax policies that favour investors, and stagnant wage growth, lenders are simply pushing the problem down the road.
For borrowers, the question is simple:
Do you really want to sacrifice decades of financial flexibility just for slightly lower repayments today?
Is it worth spending an extra $200,000+ in interest just to stretch your borrowing power by $24,000–$48,000?
Smarter alternatives to consider
Rather than locking yourself into a lifetime of debt, consider these alternative strategies:
Strategic property selection – Look for high-growth areas where capital appreciation will help build equity faster.
Rentvesting – Buy an investment property in an affordable growth market while renting in a preferred lifestyle location.
Shorter loan terms with higher repayments – If you can manage it, opt for a 20- or 25-year mortgage and make additional payments to reduce interest costs.
Increase savings discipline – The stronger your deposit and financial position, the less you need to borrow, and the faster you can pay it off.
Consider alternative financing options – Government assistance schemes, joint ventures, or offset accounts can help reduce loan burdens.
The bottom line
While they might appear to make homeownership more achievable, 40-year mortgages are a financial time bomb.
They don’t reduce housing costs, they just spread them out over a longer period, keeping borrowers in debt for longer and paying significantly more interest.
If housing affordability is the issue, the solution isn’t to take on more debt, it’s to fix the underlying market conditions that have made homeownership so difficult in the first place.
Because homeownership should be about financial freedom, not a lifetime of repayments.
About Adam Hubbard Adam Hubbard is a senior Wealth Strategist at Metropole and his many years of real estate and wealth creation experience gives him a holistic perspective with which he helps his clients safely grow their wealth through property.
Too many screenshots can clutter your gallery, hog storage space, and may even pose a security risk if you’ve taken screenshots of any sensitive data. On Samsung, you can quickly delete unwanted screenshots to avoid this.
How to Auto-Delete Screenshots After Sharing
A lot of the time, we take single-use screenshots to share them with other people with no intent of keeping them. But more often than not, these screenshots remain unattended and tend to pile up in the gallery.
Not only does this waste your phone’s storage, but it also creates unnecessary clutter and makes it harder to find the screenshots you actually want to revisit.
Luckily, you can set your Samsung phone to auto-delete screenshots you’ve shared from the toolbar. To enable this, go to Settings > Advanced features > Screenshots and screen recordings and toggle on Delete after sharing.
And you’re done. Go ahead and take a screenshot to try the feature out. Make sure to tap the Share icon in the toolbar.
Related
The 6 Best Ways to Take Screenshots on Android Phones
From using physical buttons to asking Google Assistant, you have many options.
You can also add a dedicated delete button to the screenshot toolbar, so you can delete incorrectly captured screenshots immediately without having to go to your gallery.
To do this, though, you’ll require the Nice Shot module from Samsung’s Good Lock customization app. You can get it from the Galaxy Store if you don’t already have it.
Once downloaded, open the app, navigate to the Life up tab, and install the Nice Shot module. In the module, enable the Add delete button toggle.
Try taking a screenshot now; a new trash icon should appear in the toolbar. Tap it and the screenshot will immediately get deleted without any annoying pop-up asking for confirmation.
If the toolbar disappears before you’re able to tap the trash icon, you’ll have to delete the screenshot from the gallery or the notification panel where it would ask you for a confirmation, which is a bit slower.
If you’re anything like me, your gallery is 80% screenshots you forgot to delete. Clearing them one by one is a chore. So, hopefully, this trick should help you wipe them fast.
By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.
Richard Chamberlain, who soared to fame as the handsome young Dr. Kildare on television in the early 1960s and two decades later reignited his TV stardom as a seasoned leading man in the highly rated miniseries “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds,” has died. He was 90.
A Los Angeles native, Chamberlain died Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications from a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.
“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us,” Martin Rabbett, his lifelong partner, said in a statement reported by Associated Press. “How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”
In a six-decade career that spanned television, movies and theater, Chamberlain played a wide variety of roles — including Hamlet and Professor Henry Higgins on stage and a swashbuckling French musketeer and a frontier America trapper on screen.
“I need to do theater. If I don’t, I feel something is missing,” Chamberlain told The Times in 1984. “But I love doing television and movies too. And I think I’ve shown that an actor can do all three.
“As I’ve said before, the fun in acting is playing different roles. If you’re just going to play one role all your life, you might as well be selling insurance.”
Chamberlain was a virtual unknown with a limited number of TV guest shots and a low-budget movie to his credit when he was cast by MGM as Dr. Kildare in the hour-long medical drama. As Dr. James Kildare, an idealistic young intern at Blair General Hospital, Chamberlain starred opposite Raymond Massey as his wise medical mentor, Dr. Leonard Gillespie.
“The series may be among the solid hits of the season,” predicted Cecil Smith, The Times’ late TV columnist, shortly after “Dr. Kildare” made its debut in 1961. “Chamberlain is an agreeable, attractive young actor with great warmth; he’s an ideal foil for the expert Massey, one of the finest actors of our time.”
Overnight, the tall, blond, blue-eyed, 27-year-old former college sprinter, who later admitted to being “as green as grass” as an actor, became a teen idol and a fan-magazine favorite who was soon generating up to 12,000 fan letters a week.
“Dr. Kildare,” which premiered on NBC the same season as another popular medical drama on ABC, “Ben Casey,” starring Vince Edwards, ran for five years.
Raymond Massey as Dr. Gillespie, left, and Richard Chamberlain as Dr. Kildare with a patient in the 1960s NBC series “Dr. Kildare.”
(NBC)
During his time off from the series, Chamberlain starred in two movies: as a trial lawyer in the 1963 courtroom drama “Twilight of Honor,” and opposite Yvette Mimieux in the 1965 dramatic love story “Joy in the Morning.”
But his role as the noble TV doctor remained his greatest claim to fame at the time, his popularity generating comic books, trading cards, a board game, a doll and other merchandise bearing his white-coated “Kildare” likeness.
Chamberlain’s weekly TV exposure also led to a brief side career as a recording artist, one that revealed a pleasing baritone on releases that included the album “Richard Chamberlain Sings.”
“Kildare had been an incredible break for me, and a grand, if grueling, rocket ride,” the actor recalled in his 2003 memoir, “Shattered Love.” “Though I was considered more a heartthrob than a serious actor, it had put me on the map.”
That point was driven home during a luncheon gathering at Massey’s home when veteran English actor Cedric Hardwicke told him, “You know, Richard, you’ve become a star before you’ve had a chance to learn to act.”
After his five-season run on “Dr. Kildare,” Chamberlain turned down a number of new TV-series offers, preferring instead to concentrate on theater and film.
His first attempt on Broadway — in a troubled 1966 production of a musical version of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” with Mary Tyler Moore — ended when producer David Merrick pulled the plug on the much-anticipated musical’s opening after only four preview performances in New York.
Chamberlain went on to appear in what he called his first serious film, playing Julie Christie’s occasionally violent husband in “Petulia,” a 1968 drama directed by Richard Lester.
Determined to obtain “some solid acting training,” he moved to England, where he immediately was cast in a 1968 six-hour BBC production of Henry James’ novel “The Portrait of a Lady.” Instead of joining an acting academy in London, as he had planned, Chamberlain received what he referred to as on-the-job training during his more than four years living in England.
Indeed, “The Portrait of a Lady” led to a challenging, most unlikely role for TV’s Dr. Kildare: Hamlet.
His performance in the BBC production of the James novel had drawn the attention of the well-known Birmingham Repertory Company, which was looking for a known actor who could fill seats for its upcoming production of the Shakespeare tragedy.
Richard Chamberlain, left, as Edward VIII, acts with Faye Dunaway, as Wallis Simpson, on the ABC Television Network’s re-creation of their love story in “Portrait: The Woman I Love” in November 1972.
(ABC)
After undergoing long and intensive rehearsals, Chamberlain said he was amazed when most of the London critics gave him “quite good” reviews. He later went on to play Hamlet in a different production for Hallmark Television.
“Having graduated from pretty boy to actor, I was at last taken seriously, and it was an exhilarating experience,” he wrote.
Chamberlain appeared in director Bryan Forbes’ 1969 film “The “Madwoman of Chaillot,” starring Katharine Hepburn, and he starred as the Russian composer Tchaikovsky opposite Glenda Jackson in director Ken Russell’s 1970 film “The Music Lovers.”
Among his other film credits in the ‘70s were “The Three Musketeers” (1973), “The Towering Inferno” (1974) and “The Last Wave” (1977).
Chamberlain’s early work on the American stage included starring in the Seattle Repertory Theater’s 1971 production of Shakespeare’s “Richard II,” a performance deemed by Times theater critic Dan Sullivan as “an astonishingly accomplished one.” And his 1973 starring role in “Cyrano de Bergerac” at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles earned him a Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award.
Over the years, Chamberlain starred on Broadway four times, all in revivals: as the Rev. T. Lawrence Shannon in “The Night of the Iguana” (1976-77), as Charles in “Blithe Spirit” (1987), as Professor Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady” (1993-94) and as Captain Georg von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” (1999).
On television, his leading role in the 1975 TV movie “The Count of Monte Cristo” earned him the first of his four Emmy nominations.
But it was a string of TV miniseries that would give him his biggest post-“Dr. Kildare” career highs, beginning with his role as Alexander McKeag, a bearded Scottish trapper, in “Centennial,” a star-studded 12-episode historical epic that aired on NBC in 1978-79.
Richard Chamberlain, right, portrays John Blackthorne next to Frankie Sakai as Lord Yabu in the TV miniseries “Shogun.”
(NBC )
Then, in 1980, came his starring role in “Shogun,” an NBC miniseries set in feudal Japan in the year 1600. As John Blackthorne, a shipwrecked English navigator who is taken prisoner, he becomes involved in a battle among warlords seeking to become Japan’s supreme military ruler and falls in love with his married interpreter.
Chamberlain was unprepared for the response to his role in the critically acclaimed, highly rated miniseries.
“I’d forgotten about being besieged in supermarkets,” he told The Times in 1981. “I used to get it during my ‘Dr. Kildare’ days, but then it stopped and I forgot about it. Now it’s started all over again.”
In the 1983 ABC miniseries “The Thorn Birds,” he played Father Ralph, an ambitious Catholic priest who struggles with his vows after falling in love with the beautiful young niece (played by Rachel Ward) of the wealthy matriarch of a sprawling Australian sheep ranch (Barbara Stanwyck).
Dubbed the “king of the miniseries,” Chamberlain won Golden Globes and received Emmy nominations for his performances in both “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds.”
He went on to earn another Emmy nomination as the star of the two-part “Wallenberg: A Hero’s Story” on NBC in 1985, in which he played a Swedish diplomat in Budapest who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II.
Actor Richard Chamberlain poses during his time at the Pasadena Playhouse while staring in “The Heiress” in 2012.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Born George Richard Chamberlain in Los Angeles on March 31, 1934, Chamberlain was named after his grandfather but was always called Dick or Richard. He and his older brother Bill grew up in Beverly Hills, in a three-bedroom house in what Chamberlain called “the wrong side of Wilshire Boulevard.”
His mother was a housewife. His father, a salesman for a small company that manufactured grocery-store fixtures, was an alcoholic whose periodic drinking binges devastated the family. When Chamberlain was about 9, his father joined Alcoholics Anonymous.
After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, where he was a four-year letterman in track, Chamberlain majored in art at Pomona College in Claremont. Despite being shy and inhibited, he began “moonlighting” in the drama department, where, he later wrote, he found himself “fast losing my heart to drama.”
Drafted into the Army after graduation, Chamberlain spent 16 months as an infantry company clerk in South Korea.
Intent on becoming an actor after his two-year stint in the Army, he returned to Los Angeles, where he was accepted into an acting workshop taught by blacklisted actor Jeff Corey and landed an agent.
Chamberlain quickly began doing guest roles on TV series such as “Gunsmoke,” “Bourbon Street Beat” and “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.”
Throughout most of his long career, Chamberlain took great pains to keep a secret from the public: He was gay.
Although his friends and people in show business knew, Chamberlain said he avoided talking about his private life in interviews, fearful of what it would do to a career built on his being a romantic lead opposite a woman.
But that changed with the publication of his candid memoir in 2003, a time in his life when, as he told the New York Times, he no longer had “an image to defend.”
By then, he had been in a more than two-decade-long relationship with Rabbett, an actor, producer and director. The two lived together in Hawaii until Chamberlain returned to Los Angeles in 2010 to resume his acting career.
Chamberlain had always hated himself for being gay, he told the Los Angeles Times in 2003. “I was as homophobic as the next guy,” he said. “I grew up thinking there was nothing worse.
“Sixty-eight years it took me to realize that I’d been wrong about myself. I wasn’t horrible at all. And now, suddenly, I’m free. Out of the prison I built for myself. It’s intoxicating. I can talk about it positively because I’m not afraid anymore.”
Actor Richard Chamberlain in 2003 in Los Angeles.
(Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Despite his concern over how the public would react, he found acceptance and warmth instead.
“Everyone has been so supportive, so positive ,” he said. “In New York, people walked up to me in the street, and in theaters. Strangers gave me the thumbs up, wished me well, said, ‘Good for you.’ I’m just awestruck by the change in the way I feel about life now.”
New Delhi, March 30: In March 2025, many car and bike companies introduced new models offering advanced specifications and features compared to the previous generation models. This month, companies including MG Astor 2025, Maruti Suzuki Dzire Tour S, Hyundai Creta N Line, Kia EV6 facelift, Aston Martin Vanquish, Mahindra XUV700 Ebony Limited Edition, and other models like the Renault Kiger and Kwid were launched in India.
This month, Royal Enfield Classic 650, KTM 390 Enduro R, Aprilia Tuono 457, 2025 Ducati Scrambler Icon Dark, 2025 Yamaha FZ-S Fi Hybrid, 2025 Honda Shine 100, 2025 Ducati Panigale V4, Ultraviolette Shockwave and Ultraviolette Tesseract scooter were launched in India. In April 2025, many new cars and bikes running on petrol and battery will be launched. 2025 MG Astor Launched in India at INR 9.99 Lakh; Check Specifications and Features of ‘The Blockbuster SUV’.
Upcoming Car Launches in April 2025
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line: This car will be launched in India on April 14, 2025. Ahead of the launch, the company revealed all the details about its exterior, interior, and features. The VW Tiguan R-Line will be launched in India with a 2.0-litre TSI engine churning out 204 PS power and 320 Nm of torque. It will have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Maruti Suzuki e Vitara: The upcoming Maruti Suzuki e Vitara was expected to launch in March 2025; however, the company did not introduce it. The key highlights of the upcoming Maruti Suzuki EV are that it might include two battery pack options (49kWh and 61kWh) and offer a range of up to 500km. Additionally, it may have features like Level-2 ADAS, a 10.25-inch infotainment system, and a 360-degree camera.
Mahindra Thar 3-door: This car is expected to launch on April 15 with 1.5-litre turbo diesel and 2.2-litre turbo diesel engines. It may have both manual and automatic transmission options.
Skoda Kodiaq: Skoda may be launched with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol mild-hybrid engine mated to a seven-speed DCT transmission and two options: AWD and 4WD.
In addition to these models, the Tata Harrier EV and Tata Curvv EV may be launched soon. The Kia Carens facelift is also expected to launch soon. They may or may not be introduced in April 2025.
Upcoming Bike Launches in April 2025
Bajaj Chetak 3503: Bajaj will reportedly launch its third model of its latest Bajaj Check 35 series in April. It already launched two models, 3501 and 3502, in 2024. It is expected to have a 3.5 kWh battery, offering up to 153 km (IDC figures) and a top speed of 73 kmph,
KTM 390 Enduro R, KTM 390 SMC R: KTM may launch its highly anticipated bikes in India in April 2025. TheKTM 390 Enduro R may be launched with a 399cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine offering up to 44.2 bhp and 39 Nm torque. It may have a six-speed manual with assist and slipper clutch. The KTM Enduro SMC R may have the same configuration but may not miss out on some features. Royal Enfield Classic 650 India Launch Confirmed on March 27, 2025, Check Expected Price, Specifications and Features.
Other models rumoured to launch include the Ducati Panigale V2, Hero Karizma XMR 250, Triumph Tiger Sport 800, Kawasaki Z900, and Suzuki GSX-8s. However, the company has yet to make any official announcements.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 30, 2025 06:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The Santa Ana winds were already blowing hard when I ran the first worm simulation. I’m no hacker, but it was easy enough: Open a Terminal shell, paste some commands from GitHub, watch characters cascade down the screen. Just like in the movies. I was scanning the passing code for recognizable words—neuron, synapse—when a friend came to pick me up for dinner. “One sec,” I yelled from my office. “I’m just running a worm on my computer.”
At the Korean restaurant, the energy was manic; the wind was bending palm trees at the waist and sending shopping carts skating across the parking lot. The atmosphere felt heightened and unreal, like a podcast at double speed. You’re doing, what, a cybercrime? my friend asked. Over the din, I tried to explain: No, not a worm like Stuxnet. A worm like Richard Scarry.
By the time I got home it was dark, and the first sparks had already landed in Altadena. On my laptop, waiting for me in a volumetric pixel box, was the worm. Pointed at each end, it floated in a mist of particles, eerily stick-straight and motionless. It was, of course, not alive. Still, it looked deader than dead to me. “Bravo,” said Stephen Larson, when I reached him later that night. “You have achieved the ‘hello world’ state of the simulation.”
Larson is a cofounder of OpenWorm, an open source software effort that has been trying, since 2011, to build a computer simulation of a microscopic nematode called Caenorhabditis elegans. His goal is nothing less than a digital twin of the real worm, accurate down to the molecule. If OpenWorm can manage this, it would be the first virtual animal—and an embodiment of all our knowledge not only about C. elegans, which is one of the most-studied animals in science, but about how brains interact with the world to produce behavior: the “holy grail,” as OpenWorm puts it, of systems biology.
Unfortunately, they haven’t managed it. The simulation on my laptop takes data culled from experiments done with living worms and translates it into a computational framework called c302, which then drives the simulated musculature of a C. elegans worm in a fluid dynamic environment—all in all, a simulation of how a worm squiggles forward in a flat plate of goo. It takes about 10 hours of compute time to generate five seconds of this behavior.
So much can happen in 10 hours. An ember can travel on the wind, down from the foothills and into the sleeping city. That night, on Larson’s advice, I tweaked the time parameters of the simulation, pushing beyond “hello world” and deeper into the worm’s uncanny valley. The next morning, I woke to an eerie orange haze, and when I pulled open my laptop, bleary-eyed, two things made my heart skip: Los Angeles was on fire. And my worm had moved.
At this point, you may be asking yourself a very reasonable question. Back at the Korean place, between bites of banchan, my friend had asked it too. The question is this: Uhh … why? Why, in the face of everything our precarious green world endures, of all the problems out there to solve, would anyone spend 13 years trying to code a microscopic worm into existence?
Bitcoin on Wednesday, March 26 reflected small profits on the price charts. With a gain of 1.05 percent, the asset rose to $87,375 (roughly Rs. 75 lakh) on international exchanges in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, on Indian exchanges, Bitcoin price saw less than one percent gain to trade within the range of $87,990 (roughly Rs. 75.4 lakh) and $90,197 (roughly Rs. 77.3 lakh). Majority altcoins reflected profits on Wednesday. We could see the trend continue in April, which has historically been a strong month for Bitcoin with an average monthly gain of 13 percent, market analysts say.
“Bitcoin and other altcoins continue to trade within the gained levels, suggesting a potential upswing in the coming days. The global trading volume, however, has been slashed by over 11 percent — suggesting less participation. However, the market sentiments remain unchanged as the traders seem to be passively waiting for the next price action, suggesting the crypto bull run may revive soon,” the CoinDCX research team told Gadgets 360.
Ether joined BTC to rope-in profits on Wednesday. Ether grew by 0.28 percent in value to trade at $2,050 (roughly Rs. 1.75 lakh) on global exchanges. The asset also logged miniscule gains of under one percent on Indian exchanges. Presently, ETH is trading within $2,066 (roughly Rs. 1.77 lakh) and $2,355 (roughly Rs. 2.01 lakh).
“ETH has been trading in a downtrend, forming a ‘Descending Channel’ pattern. This reflects strong selling pressure outweighing buying interest. If the price breaks, closes, and stays above this level, we can expect a further rally up to $2,500 (roughly Rs. 2.15 lakh),” said the ZebPay Trade Desk.
The crypto price tracker by Gadgets 360 reflected more gains than losses on Wednesday.
The altcoins that registered profits include Ripple, Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, Avalanche, Stellar, Shiba Inu, and Litecoin.
Cronos, Bitcoin SV, Iota, Polygon, Status, Braintrust, Cartesi, and Ardor also emerged on the profit-side of the price charts.
The overall crypto market cap rose by 0.76 percent over the last 24 hours. At present, the valuation of the sector stands at $2.86 trillion (roughly Rs. 2,45,24,347 crore), CoinMarketCap shows.
“Market remains optimistic, as analysts at Bernstein project highlighted that the overall cryptocurrency market capitalisation could surge threefold to $7.5 trillion (roughly Rs. 6,43,31,625 crore) by the end of 2025, driven by unprecedented institutional adoption,”
Tether, Binance Coin, Leo, and Uniswap meanwhile, registered losses on Wednesday.
Monero, Cosmos, EOS Coin, and Elrond also underwent price correction over the last 24 hours.
“Investors are closely monitoring whether BTC will maintain momentum or face a pullback. As Bitcoin becomes stable, altcoins such as Dogecoin are attracting the attention of traders,” said Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder and CEO of Pi42.
Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
Google is rolling out new conversion tracking columns for Demand Gen campaigns, giving advertisers a more nuanced view of social-style performance tracking.
Details.
100% attribution to last Demand Gen touchpoint.
Available at campaign and ad group levels.
Specifically designed for platform-to-platform comparisons.
Why we care. Advertisers can now directly compare Demand Gen campaign performance with paid social platforms, using view-through conversion data that provides a more comprehensive attribution model.
The big picture. The new Platform Comparable conversion columns offer a specialized tracking method that:
Isolates only Demand Gen interactions.
Provides view-through conversion tracking.
Differs from standard conversion column measurements.
Between the lines. This update signals Google’s continued effort to make Demand Gen campaigns more competitive with traditional social advertising platforms, giving marketers more granular performance insights.
First seen. This update was first picked up by digital marketer Hana Kobzová when she shared it with PPC News Feed.
What’s next. Advertisers should carefully implement these new columns for benchmarking between platforms and avoid comparing to search or Performance Max campaigns
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.
In 2008, Anu’s career started with
delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup.
She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Amsterdam), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna) and more.
One of the more interesting aspects of any life sim for me is always going to be the generational gameplay. While the game worlds of InZoi and The Sims are frozen in time, the families that dwell in them are not. They live, work, have kids, and die, just like we do. It’s a fun and not-so-serious way to reflect on some potentially very heavy subjects. But first things first: you can’t have generational gameplay until you start making some babies. And in InZoi, making babies is slightly less straightforward than it is in real life.
As it is in The Sims, your Zois cannot get pregnant in InZoi simply by having sex. Your Zoi can participate in all the carnal activities they can convince other Zois to do with them, but they’re just not going to get pregnant by accident. To try to get pregnant, your Zois will first have to get married and move in together. It’s obviously no minor task, of course, to attract a life mate, but we can help with that with Inzoi romance guide, which covers flirting, dating, getting married, and, of course, getting naked.
How to have a baby in InZoi
Only female Zois can become pregnant, and there currently aren’t any options for adoption, surrogacy, or any other alternative methods. But it’s likely some or all of that will be added at some later time.
Once you’ve managed to snag your Zoi a spouse, the Romance section of the dialogue box will have a new option to “suggest having a baby,” right above the standard “let’s go to bed, if you know what I mean” option. Selecting this will trigger a sex event if the other Zoi agrees to it. You aren’t guaranteed to get pregnant by choosing this option, but you’ll have no chance if you don’t choose this option.
Taking a pregnancy test in InZoi is almost as exciting as it is in real life.
Once the act itself is completed, you’ll be able to give your Zoi a pregnancy test to see if it worked. If it didn’t, just try again. If it did work, and your Zoi is now pregnant, the waiting game begins. The full term of the pregnancy is three days, and it didn’t seem overly difficult to navigate–my Zoi experienced some erratic mood modifiers, but nothing that actually caused her to behave any differently, so it wasn’t a big deal to go through it. But you can make your pregnant Zois vomit in the toilet when they feel sick.
When the time comes to actually have the baby, there will be a little exclamation point in the corner of your Zoi’s portrait at the bottom of the screen. You click that to give birth, which your Zoi will do right where she stands. After a very brief cutscene that shows your Zoi holding the new baby in a hospital bed, you’ll return to where you were, with the baby in a crib next to you. You’ll be prompted to pick a name, and then you’re set–welcome to virtual parenthood.
We have many more guides to help you in your new life over in our InZoi guides hub.
A new study found that more than half of US adults encounter some form of discrimination, and that this mistreatment may fuel higher chances of depression and/or anxiety among specific racial and ethnic groups due to cultural, social, and systemic factors.
A growing body of research has drawn connections between everyday discrimination — the routine and often subtle forms of mistreatment that people experience on a day-to-day basis — and poor mental health. A new study by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) and Brown University suggests that higher exposure to discrimination increases a person’s chances of developing depression and/or anxiety, and that this outcome varies by race and ethnicity.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the study found that over half of US adults experienced some form of discrimination, and individuals with high exposure to discrimination have more than five times the chances of screening positive for depression, and five times the chances of screening positive for anxiety. Compared to adults who do not experience discrimination, adults who do experience this mistreatment have nearly nine times the odds of screening positive for both depression and anxiety.
These observations were similar for men and women, but more pronounced among multiracial, White, and Asian adults, populations that are often overlooked in research and discussions about the effect of discrimination on health.
The nationally representative findings provide valuable insight into the relationship between discrimination and mental health among multiple populations, building upon previous research on this subject that has been restricted by smaller study groups or limited comparisons between Black and White populations, or Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic or non-Latino populations. The researchers hope this data provides a deeper understanding of the mental health consequences of discrimination among a wider range of demographic groups, and encourages mental health screenings and support to mitigate these racial disparities.
“Our study expands our understanding beyond typical Black-White comparisons, showing that everyday discrimination is a widespread issue that negatively impacts mental health across all racial and ethnic groups,” says study lead and corresponding author Dr. Monica Wang, associate professor of community health sciences at BUSPH.
For the study, Dr. Wang and study senior author Dr. Marie-Rachelle Narcisse, assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown, assessed 2023 national survey data to gauge experiences of discrimination, depression, and anxiety among nearly 30,000 adults ages 18 or older. This sample population was weighted to represent more than 258 million US adults. To measure discrimination, the researchers utilized standardized scales that capture the frequency of mistreatment, such as receiving poor service or being harassed. They also utilized standardized scales to quantify experiences with depression (such as feeling down or hopeless, or having little interest in doing things) and anxiety (such as feeling nervous or experiencing an inability to stop worrying).
Nearly 56 percent of adults experienced a form of discrimination, and 3.6 percent of this group reported experiencing high levels of discrimination, most prevalent among Black adults, followed by multiracial or other adults, Hispanic or Latino adults, White adults, and Asian adults. Discrimination was also more common among adults experiencing certain health disadvantages such as disabilities, obesity, and food insecurity, as well as immigrants and women.
The researchers theorize that a combination of social, cultural, and systemic factors may be driving discrimination-related depression or anxiety among specific racial and ethnic groups. Multiracial individuals may navigate unique experiences of mistreatment based on their multiple racial identities, while White individuals may experience mental health challenges that stem from mistreatment related to their income or educational levels. Asian adults may experience depression or anxiety stemming from language barriers or the “model minority” stereotype, which assumes all Asian individuals are high-achieving and successful.
These perceived experiences carry real psychological weight, says Dr. Narcisse.
“Studies have shown that discrimination shapes mental health most deeply when left unacknowledged,” she says. I hope this study creates more awareness. As in awareness, there is strength and the ability to seek healing more intentionally.”
Dr. Wang and Dr. Narcisse also caution that these findings do not suggest that discriminatory experiences and any related adverse mental health problems are less significant among Black, Hispanic, and Latino populations, as these groups continue to experience multiple health challenges driven by systemic racism and a long history of oppression.
“Our results are a powerful reminder that discrimination is everyone’s issue — and addressing it benefits society as a whole,” Dr. Wang says.
Dr. Wang is supported in part by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Dr. Narcisse is supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Bradley Hospital COBRE Center for Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The funding sources had no role in the design or conduct of the study; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funders.
About the Organisers Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian Law College, established in 2002, is Karnataka’s only law college exclusively for women, offering B.B.A., LL.B. (5 years) and LL.B. (3 years) programs. Affiliated with Karnataka State Law University and approved by the Bar Council of India, the college is managed by the Karnataka Central Diocese, Church of […]
The post Moot Court Competition by Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian Law College, Bangalore [April 25 – 27; Cash Prizes Upto Rs. 55k]: Register by April 2! appeared first on Lawctopus.
Every exercise has a certain body image associated with it. Pilates is associated with the ‘clean girl’ toned physique, while yoga enhances flexibility. Similarly, lifting has a muscular, jacked body image. So, women who lift often may hear that lifting too much may make them too muscular and ‘manly, ’ and some even shy away from lifting at times. But this is not the actual case.
Women are often asked not to weight train because they may become too ‘muscular.’ (Freepik)
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Maitri Boda, co-founder of Squat Up, debunked some common myths around lifting and shared tips on how women can get started with lifting weights.
ALSO READ: Only lifting for strength training? Check these 4 exercises without weights
3 common myths of lifting for women
These are some of the myths Maitri Boda dispelled and set the record straight:
Myth 1: Lifting weights will make women look bulky
Fact: Women don’t have the same levels of testosterone as men, which is essential for significant muscle growth. Instead of getting “bulky,” strength training helps women sculpt a leaner, more defined physique by reducing fat and building muscle tone.
Myth 2: Cardio is better than lifting for weight loss
Fact: While cardio burns calories during the workout, strength training increases muscle mass, which boosts metabolism and helps burn calories even at rest. A well-balanced fitness routine should include both strength training and cardio for the best results.
Myth 3: Lifting is unsafe and increases injury risk
Fact: When done with proper form and guidance, weight training actually strengthens joints, improves bone density, and reduces the risk of injuries. It enhances overall body stability, making everyday movements easier and safer.
Benefits of strength training for women
Body appears more toned with regular strength training.(Freepik)
Now that you have your facts right, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of lifting and how they help you.
Maitri shared:
1. Tones and defines the body: Lifting weights helps build lean muscle, leading to a firmer and more sculpted appearance. Unlike the common fear of looking “bulky”, it actually enhances overall body shape.
2. Boosts metabolism and aids fat loss: Strength training increases muscle mass, which in turn raises resting metabolism, helping the body burn more calories throughout the day, even while at rest.
3. Improves bone health and prevents injuries: Women are at a higher risk of osteoporosis, and weightlifting is one of the most effective ways to strengthen bones and improve joint stability, reducing the likelihood of fractures and injuries as they age.
How can women start their lifting journey?
If you want to get started with lifting and achieve a toned physique, Maitri shared how one can get started:
1. Start with lighter weights and focus on form: Prioritize proper technique over lifting heavy. Gradually increase weights as strength improves.
2. Fuel your body with the right nutrition: A diet rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs supports muscle recovery and overall performance.
3. Balance strength training with recovery: Rest days and activities like yoga or stretching help prevent injuries and allow muscles to rebuild stronger.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Novartis’ radiopharmaceutical drug Pluvicto can now be used much more widely to treat men with a type of metastatic prostate cancer after U.S. regulators on Friday cleared the medicine for use before chemotherapy.
Specifically, Pluvicto can now be given to patients following initial treatment with a type of hormonal drug known as androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. Only individuals whose tumors are considered castration resistant and express a protein called PSMA are eligible for treatment.
In late-stage testing, Pluvicto reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 59% compared to switching patients onto another “ARPI” drug. However, an analysis of overall survival did not find a difference between the two groups, although Novartis said this was due to many patients in the control arm “crossing over” to receive Pluvicto.
Dive Insight:
Pluvicto, a drug Novartis gained by acquiring the biotechnology company Endocyte six years ago, is one of the pharma giant’s priority products. Known as a radiopharmaceutical, it links a cancer-killing radioisotope to a targeting molecule designed to home in on the PSMA protein that’s found on prostate tumors.
Beyond boosting Novartis, the success of Pluvicto has lifted the broader field of radiopharmaceutical drug research, which has drawn in other large drugmakers like Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca and Sanofi. Smaller biotechs and newer startups are also benefiting from the boom.
However, radiopharmaceuticals are difficult to produce and delivering them requires a precise choreography to ensure the radioisotope they contain doesn’t decay to a point treatment is ineffective.
Even Novartis, a company that’s mastered complex therapies like CAR-T cell therapy, has struggled on this point. In May 2022, it had to suspend production of Pluvicto at certain plants to fix issues in the drug’s manufacturing.
Those have since been fixed and last September, Novartis announced plans to expand a factory in Indianapolis and build a new plant in California. The company said it can “fully meet supply needs” to support the expand approval, which triples the number of prostate cancer patients who are eligible for treatment. Delivery can be made to almost 600 treatment sites in the U.S., usually within five days, Novartis said.
In the Phase 3 study supporting Pluvicto’s new indication, more than 60% of patients in the ARPI arm went on to receive Novartis’ drug, muddying the survival comparison between the two groups.
Novartis ran another analysis that uses statistical assumptions and weighting to adjust for that crossover. According to that data, which as an after-the-fact analysis is considered less conclusive evidence, the relative reduction in the risk of death was 41%, Novartis said. (Unadjusted, the risk reduction was measured at 9% versus switching to another ARPI.)
Sales of Pluvicto reached nearly $1.4 billion, and Novartis expects the expanded approval will lift those even higher — to more than $5 billion annually over time. The company has recently started advertising Pluvicto on TV as well.
Areas with high LGBTQ+ populations are seeing above-average property price appreciation. These neighbourhoods are becoming highly desirable for both homebuyers and investors.
Cities like Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne thrive on their dynamic LGBTQ+ scenes. Events, festivals, and cultural hubs make these areas attractive living destinations.
Similar trends are seen internationally, linking inclusive communities to strong real estate performance. As Australia continues to support diversity, these markets will likely remain resilient and in demand.
As the fabric of Australian neighbourhoods transforms, the influence of LGBTQ+ communities on the real estate market offers a fascinating lesson in economics, equality, and empowerment.
Properties in areas with high LGBTQ+ populations are increasingly becoming locations of strong property price growth, outperforming other locations in various aspects.
What’s driving this growth?
Cultural Vibrancy and Community Support: Cities like Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are renowned for their dynamic LGBTQ+ scenes, which significantly contribute to their allure as top living destinations. These cities host numerous cultural and social events that cater to and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, enhancing their attractiveness to residents and investors alike.
Inclusivity and Legal Advances: The legalization of same-sex marriage in Australia has had a profound impact on the LGBTQ+ community, encouraging more couples to settle down and invest in homes. This shift towards long-term homeownership is supported by the increased stability and security that legal recognition brings, fostering a favourable environment for real estate investments.
Rising Demand in Inclusive Areas: Brisbane’s housing market exemplifies how inclusivity can spur development and attract buyers. The city has seen a spike in housing developments aimed at meeting the diverse needs of its growing population, including LGBTQ+ individuals who value inclusive environments.This trend is part of a broader effort to cater to the demand for vibrant and supportive living spaces
Economic Impact: Areas known for their LGBTQ+ friendly atmosphere often attract a demographic with significant spending power, which can lead to increased local business development and economic growth.This economic vitality, in turn, boosts property values and attracts further investments, creating a positive feedback loop that enhances the overall desirability of these regions.
Conclusion
The alignment of cultural vibrancy, community support, inclusivity, and economic opportunities creates a compelling case for the booming real estate markets in Australia’s LGBTQ+ populous areas.
These neighbourhoods offer not only a place to live but also a community and lifestyle that are highly valued in today’s market.
As Australia continues to embrace and support its LGBTQ+ population, the real estate sector in these areas is likely to see continued growth and resilience, making them attractive options for both homebuyers and investors.
The burgeoning interest in properties located in Australian regions with high LGBTQ+ populations mirrors broader international trends, reflecting a deep connection between vibrant, inclusive communities and real estate vitality.
About Aska Soo Aska is a passionate and driven professional with many years of experience as a property consultant helping clients achieve their financial goals through property acquisition. She has consulted clients around Australia by reviewing, educating, and advising clients about their financial situation and what they need to achieve their end goal of being financially free.
Three hundred and four days is a long time for a footballer to go without playing in a game. And 1,135 days must feel like a lifetime for a striker to go without scoring.
The former Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz ended both of those personal droughts within the first 20 minutes of a friendly between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico this week.
Mariano made 84 appearances for Madrid over two spells between 2016 and 2023, scoring 12 times. He then joined fellow La Liga side Sevilla in 2023 but left them last summer and has been without a club since.
He had scored his last official goal on February 15, 2022, for Madrid against Cadiz in La Liga, and his most recent appearance in any recognised competition was in a Spanish top-flight match for Sevilla against Barcelona on April 26 last year.
Now, he is back in business.
The 31-year-old has committed to the Dominican Republic national team in time for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup in Canada and the United States, with 16 sides from North and Central America and the Caribbean competing.
So, why did the Dominican Republic want Mariano after such a long time out? And how was he able to hit the ground running on his return?
Mariano played 88 minutes in the Dominican Republic’s 2-0 win against Puerto Rico on Tuesday, at Cibao Stadium in the Dominican city of Santiago.
His goal came from a long ball over the top, which he received on his chest while running in behind the Puerto Rican defence. That touch dropped the ball onto his favoured right foot, before he fired a shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
It was a high-quality take and finish from a similar angle to his stoppage-time goal seconds after coming off the bench against Barcelona in March 2020 — his best moment in a Madrid shirt — and showed why the Dominican Republic are so excited to have him, despite his lack of club football over the past 10 months.
“It was a very beautiful feeling to return to the pitch, to score a goal again. It’s what I most like,” Mariano told the Dominican Republic football team’s official channels. “There’s a very good connection (with the rest of the team), very good chemistry, and I hope it continues like that in the next games.”
The goal was of special importance to the Dominican Republic’s Argentinian manager Marcelo Neveleff, who pushed for Mariano’s inclusion.
“I told him before (the game) that I was praying for him to score a goal, and he gave me a big hug. And then after the game, he gave me another big hug,” Neveleff, 62, tells The Athletic. “We were all rooting for him, and he knew that, even without saying words. He showed gratitude to us all, coaching staff and players. We were all really happy for him.”
The two teams had met just four days earlier in Puerto Rico and drew 2-2 without the Dominican Republic’s two most high-profile players, Mariano and Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo, who both scored in the later win in Santiago. Puerto Rico are 157th in FIFA’s world rankings (the Dominican Republic are 141st), so there will be tougher tests ahead for Mariano.
Mariano celebrates his first goal in 1,135 days (Dominican Football Federation)
It was his first appearance for the Dominican Republic — where his mother is from — since his international debut in 2013, when he featured in a friendly against Haiti. He was also eligible to play for Spain, having been born in Premia de Mar, Catalonia.
In a 2018 interview with Spanish news agency EFE, as reported by Marca, he called playing for Spain “a dream I have since I’ve been little” and added: “They (the Dominican Republic) have tried to get me to go (there), but I have the desire and the intention of playing for Spain.”
Neveleff, who was appointed in January 2023, says: “When I got here two years ago, we went over the players of Dominican heritage that played in Europe, and he was on the top of the list. We met a year ago, and then he told me that he was interested but not at the moment, when he was in Seville. But then we started talking again and it was a big-time opportunity for us as a national team to have a player of his calibre.
“He believed that we were going to be able to help him relaunch his career. And that’s why it was a win-win situation for all of us.”
Players without a club very rarely represent their countries.
Notable examples include Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal at the 2022 World Cup after his second Manchester United exit two days into the tournament and Zinedine Zidane at the 2006 World Cup, as he had announced he would retire when his France team’s involvement ended having already played his last game at club level for Real Madrid.
Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa put in stellar performances for Mexico at the 2014 World Cup while he was a free agent after leaving France’s Ajaccio to earn a move to Spanish side Malaga and Hal Robson-Kanu helped Wales to the 2016 European Championship semi-finals as a free agent after his deal at Reading expired — his decisive second in the 3-1 quarter-final win against Belgium nominated for FIFA’s Puskas award for the best goal that calendar year — and was then signed by West Bromwich Albion.
But none were without a club for as long as Mariano, who endured a difficult time at Madrid.
He joined their youth system in 2011-12 from Catalan side Badalona and rose to become third-choice striker behind Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata in 2016-17. He made the most of his limited minutes to earn an €8million ($8.7m; £6.7m at current exchange rates) move to France’s Lyon in summer 2017 and scored 21 goals in 48 games for them across all competitions the following season before Madrid then exercised a right of first refusal to bring him back in 2018.
His final five years at Madrid were characterised by a lack of playing time and it probably did not help that he took on the iconic No 7 shirt worn by Cristiano Ronaldo when he left for Juventus in the summer of 2018. Mariano finally left through the back door in 2023 and signed as a free agent with Sevilla — but failed to score in 13 appearances and has been without a club since leaving last summer after his one-year contract expired.
Mariano scores for Madrid against Barca in March 2020 (David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Dominican Republic manager Neveleff describes him as a “tough kid” who is “very strong mentally”.
“These guys are high-level athletes,” says Neveleff. “If they have the idea to come back, they cannot relax, especially (when it comes to) physical training. What is most challenging (for a player) is (going without) the competition. When you play in La Liga, the Premier League or the Championship, whichever, some of the stuff that you were resolving on the field in a split second, it might take you a bit longer to do it and when you take longer, you are already late for the action.
“He missed a couple of chances (in the Puerto Rico game). I told him if he had been in top shape and form he would not have missed. He missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper before he scored the goal, but he knows.”
But the signs were mostly positive on Mariano’s return. He trained well before the game and played those 88 minutes to a decent level before being replaced.
“I saw him in the first day in practice and it was obvious this guy has been training all the time (despite being without a club),” says Neveleff, “so we had a conversation and I asked him, ‘Do you feel that you are ready to start?’. When he told me ‘Yes’, I believed him.”
The Dominican Republic’s goalkeeper Xavier Valdez, of MLS club Nashville FC, agrees on Mariano’s quality.
“With him as a new addition, it makes our fight for qualification to the World Cup much stronger,” the 21-year-old tells The Athletic. “He brings a lot of quality and effectiveness to the team. Everyone has received him well, and I think we can all say that we are all very excited for him to be part of the team again.”
With two games played and two to go, the Dominican Republic are third in their second-round Concacaf World Cup qualifying group, behind Guatemala and Jamaica, as they chase a historic first appearance in football’s most prestigious tournament.
The top two in each of the six groups (12 teams overall) progress to the third round, where they will be split into three groups of four. The three third-round group winners will qualify directly for next year’s World Cup, with the two best-ranked runners-up entering inter-confederation play-offs also involving teams from Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania.
Neveleff says Mariano is hoping to find himself a club before the Dominican Republic’s next matches in early June, when they visit Guatemala and host Dominica, a fellow Caribbean island nation, in those last two second-round World Cup qualifiers before the Gold Cup starts later that month.
The Dominican Republic qualified for the 2024 Olympics and are now aiming for a first World Cup appearance (Alex Grimm – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
“I don’t think he will be without a team for long, but if that happens, I am going to start bugging him,” says Neveleff.
“I know it is in the middle of the season (for many leagues), but hopefully, he will get somewhere. If not, he will stay training, and I’ll see how I can help him. Maybe we can bring him over and train with a group of players here, but I believe in his quality.
“The next international window is only a few months away. I don’t think he will lose his quality from today to June, so my plan is to have him at all costs.”
The Dominican Republic have made important strides in football in recent years.
Their qualification for the Gold Cup marks the men’s team’s first major tournament, one year after the women first qualified for their equivalent competition.
The men’s side also appeared at the 2024 Olympics in France, where they were knocked out at the group stage, drawing with Egypt (0-0) and Uzbekistan (1-1) and losing 3-1 to eventual gold medallists Spain. Mariano was listed in their preliminary squad but ultimately got left out, with competing countries only allowed three players over 23 years old in their selected 18.
The country’s increased commitment to football also saw it host the Under-17 Women’s World Cup from October to November last year.
Higher standards have been set partly thanks to the successful recruitment of dual-national players playing in Europe, including Firpo, who committed his future to them in February 2024, Getafe forward Peter Gonzalez, and left-back Juan Familia-Castillo of Dutch side RKC Waalwijk.
If he can continue to score, Mariano could take the Dominican Republic closer to history — and perhaps relaunch his club career in the process.
(Top photo: Mariano celebrates scoring for Madrid in 2019; David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Owning the latest flagship used to feel like a necessity. Each new model introduced game-changing features, making older devices seem outdated overnight. But after years of chasing upgrades, I’ve realized that flagship phones just aren’t worth the price anymore.
4
Spending $1,000+ on a Phone No Longer Makes Sense
There was a time when investing in a flagship phone felt justifiable. Take the iPhone 11 Pro, which launched in 2019. This device introduced Night Mode for vastly improved low-light photos, a versatile triple-camera system, and significantly better battery life. Compared to the iPhone X or iPhone 8, the upgrades were undeniable.
Back then, midrange phones had major limitations. The Pixel 3a, for example, had an okay camera but was hindered by a plastic build, an aging processor, and a single rear lens. If you wanted top-tier performance, design, and photography, flagships were the only option.
Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape has changed. The iPhone 16 Pro is Apple’s latest high-end device, but its upgrades are minor. Camera improvements are subtle, performance gains are barely noticeable, and battery life remains largely the same compared to the iPhone 15 pro.
Meanwhile, midrange phones like the Samsung Galaxy A55 now feature OLED displays, excellent cameras, and smooth performance—all at half the price. The once-massive gap between flagships and midrange phones has significantly narrowed.
3
The Upgrade Cycle Is a Trap
For years, smartphone manufacturers have conditioned us to believe that upgrading every year or two is essential. Carriers fuel this mindset with trade-in deals, and manufacturers amplify the hype with extravagant launch events promising revolutionary advancements. But in reality, most of these updates are incremental rather than groundbreaking.
In the past, upgrading made sense. If you moved from an iPhone 8 to an iPhone X, you gained an OLED display, Face ID, and a sleek new design. Even upgrading from an iPhone X to an 11 Pro meant noticeably better battery life and a more versatile camera system.
Today, the differences from year to year are minimal. It’s not uncommon to find an iPhone 15 Pro user saying they won’t be buying the 16 Pro. In fact, if an iPhone 16 Pro were put next to a 14 Pro, most people wouldn’t be able to tell them apart. A slightly faster processor and marginally better cameras don’t justify spending another $1,000.
2
Overkill Features I Rarely Use
Paul Antill / MakeUseOf
Flagship phones are packed with premium features, but how many of them actually enhance daily use? Every year, manufacturers introduce flashy upgrades, yet most people still use their phones for the same things—messaging, social media, streaming, and taking photos.
Take 120Hz displays, for example. While scrolling feels smoother, most users wouldn’t notice the difference unless they were actively looking for it. 8K video recording sounds impressive, but even professional filmmakers rarely use it.
LiDAR scanners and satellite connectivity may be useful in niche scenarios, but they don’t impact everyday phone usage.
Related
5 iPhone 16 Pro Features Android Phones Have Had for a Long Time
The iPhone 16 Pro just isn’t exciting enough for Android users.
Even in areas where flagships excel, the improvements feel incremental. The iPhone 16 Pro’s cameras are among the best in the industry, but under normal lighting conditions, the difference between its photos and those from a midrange phone is minimal. Unless you’re a professional photographer, midrange cameras are more than sufficient.
At some point, buying a flagship phone stops being about actual utility and becomes more about paying for the prestige of having the latest and greatest. If a phone can handle everything I need without the extra fluff, why should I spend twice as much on features I’ll barely use?
1
Midrange Phones Now Offer Everything I Need
Jhet Borja/MakeUseOf
Choosing a midrange phone used to mean making significant trade-offs—slower performance, weaker cameras, and cheap plastic builds. But that’s no longer the case. Today’s midrange phones offer flagship-level features at a fraction of the cost.
The Samsung A55, for instance, comes with an OLED display, a high-quality camera, and years of software support—all at less than half the price of the S25 Ultra. Features once exclusive to flagships, like water resistance and fast charging, are now common in midrange devices.
Battery life is another advantage midrange devices unexpectedly give you. Without power-hungry high-refresh-rate displays or excessive background processes, midrange phones often last longer on a single charge. Software support is also improving across the board, making it possible to keep a midrange phone for four or five years without running into issues.
At this point, the only real reason to buy a flagship is to have the absolute best. Midrange phones now offer everything I need at a much lower cost, while expensive models keep adding features I rarely use. Unless something truly groundbreaking comes along, I won’t be buying another flagship again.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/Liang-s-Garden-a-hidden-gem-in-Foshan-1C8tpPgMu6Q/img/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d.jpeg'A small pond reflects the Chinese-style buildings and vegetation in Liang’s Garden on March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/Liang-s-Garden-a-hidden-gem-in-Foshan-1C8tpPgMu6Q/img/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d.jpeg'A small pond reflects the Chinese-style buildings and vegetation in Liang’s Garden on March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/Liang-s-Garden-a-hidden-gem-in-Foshan-1C8tpPgMu6Q/img/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d.jpeg'A small pond reflects the Chinese-style buildings and vegetation in Liang’s Garden on March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/Liang-s-Garden-a-hidden-gem-in-Foshan-1C8tpPgMu6Q/img/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d.jpeg'A small pond reflects the Chinese-style buildings and vegetation in Liang’s Garden on March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/Liang-s-Garden-a-hidden-gem-in-Foshan-1C8tpPgMu6Q/img/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d.jpeg'A small pond reflects the Chinese-style buildings and vegetation in Liang’s Garden on March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/Liang-s-Garden-a-hidden-gem-in-Foshan-1C8tpPgMu6Q/img/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d.jpeg'A small pond reflects the Chinese-style buildings and vegetation in Liang’s Garden on March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/Liang-s-Garden-a-hidden-gem-in-Foshan-1C8tpPgMu6Q/img/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d/5728cc5ebf36404c91e62d1cbb28570d.jpeg'A small pond reflects the Chinese-style buildings and vegetation in Liang’s Garden on March 24, 2025. /CGTN
Liang’s Garden, nestled in Foshan, Guangdong Province, showcases typical Lingnan architectural styles. Built two centuries ago during the Qing Dynasty, it once served as the former residence of the prominent Liang family in Foshan.
Renowned for its elegant pavilions, winding corridors, and exquisite rockeries, the garden underwent reconstruction in 1994 by local authorities. Since then, it has emerged as a well-known cultural tourist destination.
The layout of Liang’s Garden is meticulously planned with a harmonious blend of structures and landscape, perfectly encapsulating the essence of southern Chinese architecture.
“We always try to make a place where we can constantly be creative in,” says Cypress Hill’s B-Real. He’s talking about his downtown studio, where the bandmates have done most of their recording for the last decade.
If anything, it’s certainly cozy. He’s huddled on a black leather couch alongside his longtime friends and group members during a Zoom interview. Eric Bobo leans into the camera from his right, donning a leather jacket and hiding his eyes beneath a bucket hat and black sunglasses combo. Sen Dog is on his left, looking as calm as ever and grinning from time to time. DJ Lord hangs over the couch’s edge, his hat leaning off to the side.
The walls behind them are adorned with photos and platinum records collected during their nearly 40-year-long careers. A lighter flick echoes as B-Real sparks up a joint and takes a puff.
The group’s latest endeavor takes them to the world of concert films, but with a twist.
Maybe you remember sinking into a recliner and kicking up your feet sometime during ‘95. You grab the remote, flick over to Fox, and tune into the latest episode of “The Simpsons.” This episode brings viewers to the summer music festival “Hullabalooza,” where Marge and Co. stumble upon some backstage shenanigans.
“Hello, bands,” shouts an impatient stage manager, “Who is playing with the London Symphony Orchestra?”
The camera pans to Cypress Hill, who whisper among themselves: “Aye man, did we order an orchestra?”
Eric Bobo, left, B-Real, DJ Lord and Sen Dog of Cypress Hill.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
“Yeah, yeah, we think we did,” says a yellow-cartoon version of B-Real. “Do you know ‘Insane in the Brain’?”
“We mostly know classical… but we could give it a shot,” a violinist responds. What ensues is an iconic clip of them dancing around to a symphonic version of the song.
It’s a hilarious moment in television history that easily could have been lost to time. But thanks to DJ Muggs, the idea stuck with the members for a long time. It floated around for a while, but gained momentum after their East Coast peers, Wu-Tang Clan, took on an orchestral performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2021.
“We were kind of like, ‘Well, if they did it, let’s do it,’ ” B-Real joked. “We thank “The Simpsons” for writing that, because it became a part of our history, and now even more so.”
The group began gearing up for something special, performing “Black Sunday” in full with the Colorado Symphony in July 2023 for its 30th anniversary and going on to do four more symphonic shows. They also rehearsed with the LSO themselves, a “surreal” moment that “no rapper ever thinks they’re going to have.”
On July 10, 2024, their work led them to the Royal Albert Hall. In unfamiliar territory, the four stood dressed head-to-toe in black suits, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, playing to a sold-out crowd of more than 5,000 fans.
“It was like one of those ‘what the f—” moments like, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t believe this is happening,’ ” B-Real said. “When we started over 30 years ago, there was no way you could tell me that we would ever be doing anything with a symphony, let alone LSO.”
The show was a huge success, and they got away with only one “f— up” that B-Real promises he covered up very well: “I won’t let no one know where that’s at!”
“We’re just glad that it worked,” he said, laughing. “Especially being in the suits and performing all this stuff and not being able to move around with the energy that we normally move around with.”
Translating it to the screen went smoothly, as members routinely received “dailies” of production to render their opinions on. But, as Bobo admits, “they really nailed it… we were blown away from the first cut.”
“When you’re working with a great team, it makes it a lot easier,” Lord chimes in, as Bobo takes a second to light up. “It was a mutual respect.”
The coordination and seamless production can really be seen in the final product. As was overheard during a restroom conversation at an early premier: “Holy s—, I should’ve canceled my trip to Tokyo and been there… but watching it feels like I’m there anyways!”
It’s an astonishing version of an already critically acclaimed album. B-Real and Sen Dog jam at the front of the stage, while DJ Lord rips away at his turntable and Bobo beats up on the drums. At the orchestra’s front is Troy Miller, who commands his musicians like an army. Noticeably, he can’t stop smiling while elegantly waving around his baton.
Fans are invited to stand up and dance along, which is equally admirable and hilarious. There’s something undeniably funny about watching people wriggle around beneath the red velvet curtains of their box seats, shouting back and forth with the group. In a 154-year-old venue that demands etiquette, it’s a testimony to Cypress Hill’s ever-alluring sound.
DJ Lord, left, B-Real, Sen Dog and Eric Bobo of Cypress Hill.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
Core songs now sound completely different: Funky classics like “Dr. Greenthumb” turn dark and mysterious with a symphonic backing. Cypress Hill even performs “Cuban Necktie,” a relentless song that gets even more intense with violins carrying B-Real’s cadence between bars.
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the performance, however, is that no member lighted up a joint during the entire show. B-Real chalks it up to the “prestige and history” of the venue and respecting its rules. Even during rehearsals, they’d make sure to go outside when smoking.
“During our first rehearsal together, when the LSO people were starting to come, they immediately smelled the weed and said, ‘Oh, they’re here!’ ” Bobo recalls, distinguishing their words in his attempt at a posh British accent.
Of course, in London where weed still remains illegal, they were sometimes “chastised” by passersby but “we didn’t give a f—, ‘cause this is what we do!”
Fans of the group can catch the entire performance as “ Black Sunday Live at the Royal Albert Hall” makes a limited theatrical run in the U.S. on March 30 and 31 and April 2. They’ll have to wait until June 6 to get their hands on its CD, LP and cassette physical release.
Someday, Angelenos might just be able to see it in person, as Cypress Hill has been actively conversing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic about bringing the show home. The two have struggled to actually lock anything in, but giving L.A. fans that experience “is the play.”
In the meantime, a Spanish-language album is seemingly on the horizon. Perhaps even another Cypress Hill album or EP, but “it won’t necessarily be hip-hop.”
“We feel like we’ve done enough hip-hop for a f—ing lifetime,” B-Real says. “We love it, but as a group, as a band, we feel like we can snap into anything. And that’s what we’re going to do, is snap into anything.”
New Delhi, March 29:The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has reportedly sent a fresh show-cause notice to Ola Electric Mobility, seeking an explanation about mismatch in its sales numbers recorded in February. The show-cause notice, dated March 21, seeks details about Ola scooters of various models sold and registered last month, reports NDTV Profit.
The Bhavish Aggarwal-led electric vehicle (EV) maker has been asked to respond to whether Ola scooters sold in February are on the road without registrations; whether Ola scooters were delivered to customers without number plates; and whether Ola scooters are being sold from stores without trade certificates. Donald Trump’s Tariff on Imported Vehicles May Impact South Korean Carmakers Relying on US Shipments: Analysts.
It was not clear yet if the EV maker had responded to the ministry’s letter within the seven-day deadline. Ola Electric claimed to have sold 25,000 scooters in February but only 8,652 of them were registered due to renegotiation of contracts with vendors that handled vehicle registrations. The vendors, Rosmerta Group, subsequently filed insolvency petitions against the company over unpaid dues of up to Rs 25 crore.
Ola Electric said it has “amicably settled all outstanding dues between its wholly owned subsidiary, Ola Electric Technologies Private Limited, and the Rosmerta Group” and the Rosmerta Group has filed the memo for withdrawal of the petitions filed before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Bengaluru. On Friday, Ola Electric shares fell 3.81 per cent to Rs 52.97 apiece on the BSE. Last week, the Maharashtra government intensified its scrutiny of Ola Electric stores over alleged trade violations. Officials from five regional transport offices inspected 26 Ola Electric stores in Mumbai and Pune to check for trade certificates, according to sources. Sahkar Taxi Initiative To Offer Bike, Cab, Auto Services in India To Compete With Ola and Uber; Drivers Can Earn Directly Without Sharing Profits With Big Companies.
As a result, authorities also confiscated a total of 36 Ola Electric scooters. Maharashtra’s Transport Minister, Pratap Sarnaik, ordered immediate action on the complaint and asked for a report on the matter. Officials from four Mumbai RTOs and one Pune RTO carried out the inspections.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 29, 2025 01:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
On the library’s side, some people thought Ginsparg was too hands-on. Others said he wasn’t patient enough. A “good lower-level manager,” according to someone long involved with arXiv, “but his sense of management didn’t scale.” For most of the 2000s, arXiv couldn’t hold on to more than a few developers.
There are two paths for pioneers of computing. One is a life of board seats, keynote speeches, and lucrative consulting gigs. The other is the path of the practitioner who remains hands-on, still writing and reviewing code. It’s clear where Ginsparg stands—and how anathema the other path is to him. As he put it to me, “Larry Summers spending one day a week consulting for some hedge fund—it’s just unseemly.”
But overstaying one’s welcome also risks unseemliness. By the mid-2000s, as the web matured, arXiv—in the words of its current program director, Stephanie Orphan—got “bigger than all of us.” A creationist physicist sued it for rejecting papers on creationist cosmology. Various other mini-scandals arose, including a plagiarism one, and some users complained that the moderators—volunteers who are experts in their respective fields—held too much power. In 2009, Philip Gibbs, an independent physicist, even created viXra (arXiv spelled backward), a more or less unregulated Wild West where papers on quantum-physico-homeopathy can find their readership, for anyone eager to learn why pi is a lie.
Then there was the problem of managing arXiv’s massive code base. Although Ginsparg was a capable programmer, he wasn’t a software professional adhering to industry norms like maintainability and testing. Much like constructing a building without proper structural supports or routine safety checks, his methods allowed for quick initial progress but later caused delays and complications. Unrepentant, Ginsparg often went behind the library’s back to check the code for errors. The staff saw this as an affront, accusing him of micromanaging and sowing distrust.
In 2011, arXiv’s 20th anniversary, Ginsparg thought he was ready to move on, writing what was intended as a farewell note, an article titled “ArXiv at 20,” in Nature: “For me, the repository was supposed to be a three-hour tour, not a life sentence. ArXiv was originally conceived to be fully automated, so as not to scuttle my research career. But daily administrative activities associated with running it can consume hours of every weekday, year-round without holiday.”
Ginsparg would stay on the advisory board, but daily operations would be handed over to the staff at the Cornell University Library.
It never happened, and as time went on, some accused Ginsparg of “backseat driving.” One person said he was holding certain code “hostage” by refusing to share it with other employees or on GitHub. Ginsparg was frustrated because he couldn’t understand why implementing features that used to take him a day now took weeks. I challenged him on this, asking if there was any documentation for developers to onboard the new code base. Ginsparg responded, “I learned Fortran in the 1960s, and real programmers didn’t document,” which nearly sent me, a coder, into cardiac arrest.
Technical problems were compounded by administrative ones. In 2019, Cornell transferred arXiv to the school’s Computing and Information Science division, only to have it change hands again after a few months. Then a new director with a background in, of all things, for-profit academic publishing took over; she lasted a year and a half. “There was disruption,” said an arXiv employee. “It was not a good period.”
But finally, relief: In 2022, the Simons Foundation committed funding that allowed arXiv to go on a hiring spree. Ramin Zabih, a Cornell professor who had been a long-time champion, joined as the faculty director. Under the new governance structure, arXiv’s migration to the cloud and a refactoring of the code base to Python finally took off.
One Saturday morning, I met Ginsparg at his home. He was carefully inspecting his son’s bike, which I was borrowing for a three-hour ride we had planned to Mount Pleasant. As Ginsparg shared the route with me, he teasingly—but persistently—expressed doubts about my ability to keep up. I was tempted to mention that, in high school, I’d cycled solo across Japan, but I refrained and silently savored the moment when, on the final uphill later that day, he said, “I might’ve oversold this to you.”
Over the months I spoke with Ginsparg, my main challenge was interrupting him, as a simple question would often launch him into an extended monolog. It was only near the end of the bike ride that I managed to tell him how I found him tenacious and stubborn, and that if someone more meek had been in charge, arXiv might not have survived. I was startled by his response.
“You know, one person’s tenacity is another person’s terrorism,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I’ve heard that the staff occasionally felt terrorized,” he said.
“By you?” I replied, though a more truthful response would’ve been “No shit.” Ginsparg apparently didn’t hear the question and started talking about something else.
Beyond the drama—if not terrorism—of its day-to-day operations, arXiv still faces many challenges. The linguist Emily Bender has accused it of being a “cancer” for the way it promotes “junk science” and “fast scholarship.” Sometimes it does seem too fast: In 2023, a much-hyped paper claiming to have cracked room-temperature superconductivity turned out to be thoroughly wrong. (But equally fast was exactly that debunking—proof of arXiv working as intended.) Then there are opposite cases, where arXiv “censors”—so say critics—perfectly good findings, such as when physicist Jorge Hirsch, of h-index fame, had his paper withdrawn for “inflammatory content” and “unprofessional language.”
How does Ginsparg feel about all this? Well, he’s not the type to wax poetic about having a mission, promoting an ideology, or being a pioneer of “open science.” He cares about those things, I think, but he’s reluctant to frame his work in grandiose ways.
At one point, I asked if he ever really wants to be liberated from arXiv. “You know, I have to be completely honest—there are various aspects of this that remain incredibly entertaining,” Ginsparg said. “I have the perfect platform for testing ideas and playing with them.” Though he no longer tinkers with the production code that runs arXiv, he is still hard at work on his holy grail for filtering out bogus submissions. It’s a project that keeps him involved, keeps him active. Perhaps, with newer language models, he’ll figure it out. “It’s like that Al Pacino quote: They keep bringing me back,” he said. A familiar smile spread across Ginsparg’s face. “But Al Pacino also developed a real taste for killing people.”
Let us know what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor at[email protected].
South Korea is reviewing the legal status of crypto businesses to ensure only approved firms engage with investors. This week, Google Play, following a regulatory directive, blocked 17 foreign crypto exchanges, including KuCoin, from being installed on Android devices in the country. Existing users will no longer receive app updates. Meanwhile, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is in discussions with Apple to remove unregistered crypto business apps from the App Store, further tightening regulatory oversight.
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has identified 22 crypto platforms operating without legal registration. Among them, 17 exchanges—including KuCoin, MEXC, Phemex, BitTrue, BitGlobal, CoinW, and CoinEX—have been restricted on Google Play Store, the FSC confirmed.
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) oversees crypto-related registrations in the country. Unregistered crypto businesses lack government protection, exposing investors to potential risks.
“Unreported business operators may be exposed to risks such as personal information leaks and hacking, and they are not subject to anti-money laundering management and supervision, so they can be abused as a money laundering route. So, there is a risk of damage to users’ money and virtual assets,” the FSC explained.
It remains uncertain whether Seoul will set a compliance timeline for the affected exchanges, and the next steps for these platforms are still unclear.
Meanwhile, South Korean authorities are engaging with Apple to restrict unregistered crypto business apps from the App Store. The FIU and the Korea Communications Standards Commission are also working together to identify and take action against domestic unregistered crypto businesses.
The FSC has warned that owners of unregistered crypto firms could face fines of KRW 50 million (roughly Rs. 29 lakh) or up to five years in prison.
“Users need to check whether the virtual asset business operator they are trading with is a reported business operator and, if it is an unreported business operator, take measures such as withdrawing their own virtual assets,” the FSC added.
The FIU publishes a list of registered crypto platforms on its homepage to help traders engage only with legally recognized firms. As of March 22, the list includes 28 officially registered platforms.
In recent months, South Korea has undertaken major steps to further define its Web3 ecosystem. South Korea recently implemented the ‘Virtual Asset User Protection Act’ to strengthen investor safeguards. The FSC will soon let corporations participate in the VDA market under FSC’s oversight.
Both, Google and Apple, have repeatedly observed risky crypto apps surfacing on Play Store and App Store. Scammers have been known to float malicious malware apps and fake wallet offerings on app marketplaces to fish for unsuspecting victims and steal from them.
To meet the web content crawlability and indexability needs of large language models, a new standards proposal for AI/LLMs by Australian technologist Jeremy Howard is here.
His proposed llms.txt acts somewhat similarly to robots.txt and XML sitemaps protocols, in order to allow for a crawling and readability of entire websites, putting less of a resource strain on LLMs for crawling and discovering your website content.
But it also offers an additional benefit – full content flattening – and this may be a good thing for brands and content creators.
While many content creators are interested in the proposal’s potential merits, it also has detractors.
But given the rapidly changing landscape for content produced in a world of artificial intelligence, llms.txt is certainly worth discussing.
The new proposed standard for AI accessibility to website content
Robust and ambitious in its detail, the cited proposal offers much to consider about the future of user content control within LLMs’ vast data and content appetite.
But a potentially simpler potential protocol emerged for web content creators last September, and while not as broad as the other proposal, llms.txt offers some assurance of increased control by the owner, in terms of what, and how much should be accessed.
These two proposals are not mutually exclusive, but the new llms.txt protocol seems to be further along.
Howard’s llms.txt proposal is a website crawl and indexing standard using simple markdown language.
With AI models consuming and generating infinitely vast amounts of web content, content owners are seeking better control over how their data is used, or at least, seeking to provide context on how they would like for it to be used.
Short of exceeding the astoundingly high bar of crawl capabilities of a Google or Bing, LLMs are in need of a solution that allows them to focus less on becoming a massive crawling engine, and more on the “intelligence” part of their functions, as artificial as they may be.
Theoretically, llms.txt provides a better use of technical resources for LLMs.
This article will explore:
What llms.txt is.
How it works.
Some ways to think about it.
Whether LLMs and content owners are “buying-in”.
Why you should pay attention.
What llms.txt is and what it does
For the purpose of this article, it is best to quote Howard’s proposal to help reveal what he intends for this new standard to accomplish::
“Large language models increasingly rely on website information, but face a critical limitation: context windows are too small to handle most websites in their entirety. Converting complex HTML pages with navigation, ads, and JavaScript into LLM-friendly plain text is both difficult and imprecise.
“While websites serve both human readers and LLMs, the latter benefit from more concise, expert-level information gathered in a single, accessible location. This is particularly important for use cases like development environments, where LLMs need quick access to programming documentation and APIs.
“We propose adding a /llms.txt markdown file to websites to provide LLM-friendly content… llms.txt markdown is human and LLM readable, but is also in a precise format allowing fixed processing methods (i.e. classical programming techniques such as parsers and regex).
The potential uses for this proposed protocol are quite intriguing for GEO benefits, and I’ve been testing it since December.
In its essence, llms.txt let you provide context on how your content can be accessed and used by AI-driven models.
Similar to robots.txt, which controls how search engine crawlers (or should) interact with a website, llms.txt would establish guidelines for AI models that scrape and process content for training and response generation.
There is no real “blocking,” and robots.txt directives (ex. “Disallow:”) are not intended for the llms.txt file. When set up properly, it is rather more of a “choosing” about which content should be shown contextually or wholly to an AI platform.
You can simply place URLs of a section of a website, add URLs with summaries of a website, or even provide the full raw text of a website in single or multiple files.
The llms.txt file on one of my websites is 115,378 words long, 966 kb file size, and contains the complete flattened website text in a single .txt file, hosted on the domain root. But your file can be smaller, even potentially larger than this file size, or even broken out into multiple files. It can be stored in multiple directories of your taxonomy and architecture, as needed.
You can also create .md markdown versions of each of your web pages that you believe deserves the attention of an LLM. It is very handy when performing deep site analysis, and it is not just for the LLMs. Just as websites serve many various uses, llms.txt follows in this regard, with many possible variations for providing context to LLMs.
Generating an llms.txt or llms-full.txt file
It is almost “elegant” in its simplicity, in that it strips complete sites down to their bare linguistic and textual essence, making it easier fodder to parse by your favorite platform, for myriad uses in content development, site structure analysis, entity research, and just about anything else you can dream up.
It also provides a standardized method for website owners to explicitly allow or disallow LLMs from ingesting and utilizing their content. The proposal is gaining traction among tech industry leaders and SEO professionals as AI continues to reshape the digital landscape. The absolute utility for increasing relevance is there, with benefits for the LLM, the website owner, and the user who theoretically finds a better answer via this little textual handshake.
Llms.txt functions similarly to robots.txt, only in the sense of creating a simple text file in the root directory of their website. Much like the robots.txt file standard, it can be obeyed, or not, depending on whether or not the AI/LLM agent wants to. But to clear up a common misperception, it IS NOT intended for robots.txt directives to be included in the llms.txt file.
A few sample llms.txt files, in action
Adoption
Many different LLMs have voiced their support for the llms.txt standard,and many are using it, or exploring its usefulness. llms.txt Hub has compiled a list of AI developers using the standard for documentation, and claims to be one of the largest such resources for identifying them. But remember, llms.txt is not just for developers, it is for all web content owners and producers.
Website and content creators can also benefit greatly from a flattened file of their site. Once the llms.txt file is in place, full site content can be analyzed, however it may fit the needs of your research method.
llms.txt Generator Tools
With the basic protocol outlined, there are a variety of tools available to help generate your file. I have found that most will generate smaller sites for free, and larger sites can be a custom job. Of course, many website owners will choose to develop their own tool or scraper. Word of caution – research the security of any generator tool before using, and review your files before uploading. DO NOT use any tool without first vetting security. Here are a few of those free tools to check (but still subject to your own validation):
Markdowner – A free, open-source tool that converts website content into well-structured Markdown files.
Website LLMs – This WordPress plugin creates your llms.txt file for you. Just set the crawl to “Post”, “pages,” or both, and you’re in business. I was one of the first ten people to download this plugin; now it is at over 3,000 downloads in just three months.
FireCrawl – One of the first tools to emerge for the creation of llms.txt files.
While llms.txt improves content extraction clarity, it could also introduce security risks that require careful management. This article does not address those risks, but it is highly recommended that any tool is fully vetted before deploying this file.
Why llms.txt could matter for SEO and GEO
Controlling how AI models interact with your content is critical, and just having a fully flattened version of a website can make AI extraction, training, and analysis much simpler. Here are some reasons why:
Protecting proprietary content: Prevents AI from using original content without permission, but only for the LLMs that choose to obey the directives.
Brand Reputation Management: It theoretically gives businesses some control over how their information appears in AI-generated responses.
Linguistic and content analysis: With a fully flattened version of your site that is easily consumable by AI, you can perform all kinds of analysis that typically require a standalone tool. Keyword frequency, taxonomy analysis, entity analysis, linking, competitive analysis, etc.
Enhanced AI interaction: llms.txt helps LLMs interact more effectively with your website, enabling them to retrieve accurate and relevant information. No standard needed for this option, just a nice clean and flattened file of your complete content.
Improved content visibility: By guiding AI systems to focus on specific content, llms.txt can theoretically “optimize” your website for AI indexing, potentially improving your site’s visibility in AI-powered search results. Like SEO, there are no guarantees. But on the face of it, any preference that an LLM has towards a llms.txt is a step forward.
Better AI performance: The file ensures that LLMs can access the most valuable content on your site, leading to more accurate AI responses when users engage with tools like chatbots or AI-powered search engines. I use the “full” rendering of llms.txt, and personally do not find the summaries or URL lists any more helpful than robots.txt, or an XML sitemap.
Competitive advantage: As AI technologies continue to evolve, having an llms.txt file can give your website a competitive edge by making it more AI-ready.
Challenges and limitations
While llms.txt offers a promising solution, several key challenges remain:
Adoption by AI companies: Not all AI companies may adhere to the standard, and will just ignore the file, and ingest all of your content any way.
Adoption by websites: Simply put, brands and website operators are going to have to step up and participate if llms.txt will be successful. Maybe not all, but a critical mass will be necessary. In the absence of any other type of scientific “optimization” of AI, what have we got to lose? (I still really think it is a mistake to apply an old term like “optimization” to generative AI. It just seems linguistically lazy).
Overlap with robots.txt and XML sitemaps: Potential conflicts and inconsistencies between robots.txt, XML sitemaps, and llms.txt could create confusion. To repeat, the llms.txt file is not intended to be a substitute for robots.txt. As previously mentioned, I find the most value in the “full” rendering of the text file.
Keyword, content, and link spamability: Much like keyword stuffing was used in the SEO days of yore, there is nothing to stop anyone from filling up their llms.txt with gratuitous loads of text, keywords, links, and content.
Exposure of your content to competitors for their own analysis. While scraping is a basic cornerstone of the entire search industry, competitive keyword and content research is nothing new. But having this simple file lowers the bar a bit for your competitors to easily analyze what you have – and don’t have – and use to their competitive advantage.
Other contrarian views about llms.txt exist in the SEO/GEO community. I had a message chat with Pubcon and WebmasterWorld CEO Brett Tabke about llms.txt. He said he doesn’t believe it offers much utility:
“We just don’t need people thinking they [LLMs] are different from any other spider. The dividing line between a ‘search [engine]’ and an ‘llm’ is barely arguable any more. Google, Perplexity, and ChatGPT have blurred that into a very fuzzy line with AI responses on SERPs. The only distinguishing factor is that Google is a search engine with an LLM bolted on, and ChatGPT is an LLM with a search engine bolted on. Going forward, it is obvious that Google will merge their LLM directly with the code base of the search engine and blow away any remaining lines between the two. LLMs.txt simply obfuscates that fact.”
XML sitemaps and robots.txt already serve this purpose, Tabke added.
On this point, I agree wholly. But for me, the potential value lies mostly in the “full” text rendering version of this file.
Marketer David Ogletree also has similar reservations:
“If there is a bottom line, it is that I really don’t want people continuing this idea that there is a difference between a LLM and Google. They are one in the same to me and should be treated the same.”
The future of llms.txt and AI content governance
As AI adoption continues to grow, so does the need for structured content governance.
llms.txt represents an early effort to create transparency and control over AI content usage. Whether it becomes a widely accepted standard depends on industry support, website owner support, regulatory developments, and AI companies’ willingness to comply.
You should stay informed about llms.txt and be prepared to adapt their content strategies as AI-driven search and content discovery evolve.
The introduction of llms.txt marks a significant step toward balancing AI innovation with content ownership rights, and the “crawlability and indexability” of websites for consumption and analysis by LLMs.
You should proactively explore its implementation to safeguard your digital assets, and also provide LLMs a runway to better understand the structure and content of your site(s).
As AI continues to reshape online search and content distribution, having a defined strategy for AI interaction with your website will be essential.
llms.txt could create a little bit of science for GEO
In GEO, much like SEO, there are literally almost no scientific standards for web creators to base on. In other words, verifiable best platform practices based on specific tactics.
Any buzzy acronym containing a big “O” (optimization) is black box engineering. Or, as another tech development executive I worked with calls it, “wizardry,” “alchemy,” or “digital shamanism.”
For example:
When Google says “create great content for users, and then you will succeed in search” – that’s an art project on your part.
When Google says, “we follow XML sitemaps as a part of our crawler journey, and there is a place for it in Google Search Console,” well, that’s a little bit of science.
And the same for schema.org, robots.txt, and even IndexNow. These are “agreed upon” standards that search engines tell us definitively, “we do take these protocols into consideration, though at our own discretion.”
In a world of so much uncertainty with what “can be done” for improving AI and LLM performance, llms.txt sounds like a great start.
If you have a wide content audience, it may bode well for you to get your llms.txt file going now. You never know what major or specialized LLM may want to use your content for some new purpose. And in a world shifting from the multiple decisions required of a searcher of a cluttered results page, the LLM provides the answer.
If you are playing to win, then you want your content to be that answer, as it is potentially worth a multitude of search engine searches.
I started implementing llms.txt on my own websites a few months ago, and am implementing it on all my clients’ websites. There is no harm in doing so. Anything that can potentially help “optimize” my content should be done, especially as a potentially accepted standard.
Are all the LLMs using it? It is definitely not even near critical mass, but some have reported an interest.
Can an llms.txt file also help you better access and crawl your own website for various AI uses? Absolutely.
One of the main uses I have found is in analyzing client sites in various ways. Having the entirety of your website content in a file can allow for different types of analysis that were not as easy to render previously.
Will it become a standard?
It definitely remains to be seen. llms.txt has a long road ahead, but I wouldn’t bet against it.
Where companies are looking for new ideas to improve their presence as “the answer” in LLMs, it offers one new signal for AI optimization and possibly one step ahead for connecting with LLMs in a way that was previously only comparable to search engines.
And don’t be surprised if you start hearing a lot more SEO/GEO practitioners talking about llms.txt in the near term, as a basic staple for site optimization, along with robots.txt, XML sitemaps, schema, IndexNow, and others.
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
As pleasant as it might be for us if the world were exclusively full of nice people, that’s not necessarily the right formula for an entertaining life sim video game. If all the characters in InZoi only gave each other compliments, it would get boring immediately–fortunately, that’s not what InZoi is like at all. Here’s a full explainer of how InZoi karma works.
InZoi karma explained
In InZoi, you can be a good Zoi or a bad Zoi, and your behavior is reflected by your karma level. InZoi’s karma is not something that has a direct parallel in The Sims 4–the closest mechanic would be its reputation system, but that’s based on what other characters think of you, and this karma system is more like the game’s judgment of your behavior.
With that being the case, it’s best to think of InZoi’s karma as akin to a dark side/light side meter in a Star Wars game, or the renegade/paragon system from Mass Effect. The more your karma slides one way or the other, the more options you’ll have to do things that correspond with your alignment. If you have bad karma, you’ll unlock new methods for being a jerk, like picking fights and shoving people to the ground for no reason. You’ll even be able to start committing crimes, like robbing ATMs. You can go to jail for that kind of thing, though, so be careful.
On the flip side of that, having good karma will unlock a bunch of new friendly and encouraging interactions that will get other Zois to like you more.
While there’s not any sort of immediate inherent consequence to having bad karma–it doesn’t give you horns or anything like in Fable–there is a spiritual one. If your Zoi has terrible karma when they die, they’ll be forced to become a ghost who roams around the world dealing with unfinished business. Unfortunately, the ghost mechanics haven’t actually been added to the game yet, so we don’t know how those will actually work.
How to get good or bad karma in InZoi
So now you know what karma does, but we haven’t discussed how you actually gain or lose it. In the abstract, obviously, the idea is mean-spirited interactions with other Zois will make your karma worse, and nice interactions will make it better. But, more specifically, there is a section of the dialogue and interaction box in InZoi dedicated entirely to actions that will mess with your karma. It looks like this.
Choose interactions with the circular karma symbol if you want to increase or decrease your karma.
That little circular icon on those options on the right side of the image is InZoi’s mark for karma, with a blue circle marking a good karma action, and a red circle marking a bad karma action. To make your karma go up, do the blue actions as much as you can. To make your karma go down, do the red actions. It’s exactly that simple.
There are two ways you can boost the process a bit, however. The first is with donuts. There are a pair of karma-focused donuts you can buy using the coins you earn for achieving your life ambitions, one which resets your karma to neutral, and one that gives you very bad karma. There’s no donut for getting good karma, though–you’ll have to do that the hard way.
The second boost you can give your karma gains is in the city management menu, which has sliders that allow you to globally increase, or decrease, the rate at which all Zois’ karma goes up and down. If you set that slider to the fast end, you can have your karma maxed out (or min’d out) in minutes.
Is there any benefit to having neutral karma in InZoi?
Not that I can tell, but as you can tell by the ghost thing, this system isn’t all fully fleshed out yet. It’s likely that neutral options will be added in the future.
For much more on your new life in Krafton’s life sim, don’t miss our InZoi guides hub.
Investigators at Mass General Brigham have uncovered how resistance to chemotherapies may occur in some cancers. Researchers focused on a pathway that harnesses reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill cancer cells. The study found that mutations to VPS35, a key player in this pathway, can prevent chemotherapy-induced cell death. These results, published in Nature, could help pinpoint treatment-resistant tumors.
“ROS play an important role in healthy and diseased cells, but pathways that sense and control cellular ROS levels are not well understood,” said corresponding author Liron Bar-Peled, PhD, of the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research at Mass General Cancer Center (MGCC), a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system. “A clearer understanding of ROS could help us understand why chemoresistance occurs in some cases.”
Low concentrations of ROS are required for normal cell signaling, but higher levels of ROS can damage cells and contribute to diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Researchers know that mitochondria play an important role in ROS production, but it has been unclear if ROS-sensing proteins influence the mitochondria. If they do, this could impact responses to some anti-cancer treatments.
To investigate, co-first authors Junbing Zhang, PhD, Yousuf Ali, PhD, and Harrison Chong, of the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, and colleagues screened cancer cells for ROS-sensing proteins that might contribute to chemoresistance. The screen identified mutations that increased treatment resistance, and the team traced two of them to a protein called VPS35. Through further studies, they found that these mutations led to lowered ROS levels within the cell.
In addition, the investigators analyzed VPS35 expression levels in 24 patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), who received treatment at MGCC. They noted that higher tumoral VPS35 levels were associated with improved treatment responses and with overall survival rates.
About the Centre for Sports Law & Policy The CSLP at DSNLU stands at the forefront of legal research, education, and policy advocacy in sports law. With a commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, the Centre addresses critical issues like governance, doping, intellectual property, athlete rights, and ethics in sports. Through rigorous research projects, international […]
The post Call for Paper: KreedaShastra – A Guide to Global Sports Law by DSNLU: Submit Manuscript by April 12! appeared first on Lawctopus.
Your health is good, and staying energetic will help you maintain momentum throughout the week. Financially, strengthening your cash flow by exploring new avenues will be beneficial. Professionally, it’s important to seek feedback, as it will help you refine your approach. Family matters require a balance in creating a peaceful environment, so take time to address any concerns. Romance is steady, and nurturing your relationship with simple date nights will strengthen your bond. Travel offers the perfect blend of work and leisure, providing you with a well-deserved break. Property opportunities are favorable, and exploring joint ventures could bring exciting prospects. Participating in social gatherings will provide a sense of connection and community.
Read on to find out your Tarot reading for the coming week.
Lucky Number : 6
Lucky Colour : Brown
TAURUS (Apr 21-May 20)
Love: Devil
Mood: Three of Coins
Career: Knight of Wands
Health is excellent, and prioritizing fitness will keep you feeling at your best. Financially, it’s essential to revise your strategies to avoid any setbacks. Professionally, consider setbacks as a learning opportunity, so take time to analyze and grow from them. Family matters require shared responsibilities, so make sure to collaborate with loved ones. Romance is flourishing, and celebrating togetherness with thoughtful gestures will strengthen your relationship. Travel offers opportunities for short weekend getaways, which will allow you to unwind. Property matters are looking positive, and consulting real estate advisors will help you secure better deals. Focus on small wins, as they will create a foundation for bigger successes.
Lucky Number : 11
Lucky Colour : Light Green
GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21)
Love: The Stars
Mood: Two of Wands
Career: Temperance
Health-wise, it’s crucial to focus on immune-boosting diets to stay healthy. Financially, securing passive income will provide a cushion for the future. Professionally, expanding your skillset will help you grow in your career and open new doors. Family life is moderate, and embracing family traditions will create lasting bonds. Romance is excellent, with the opportunity to plan unique experiences that will strengthen your connection. Travel offers a refreshing break, allowing you to recharge. Property matters require optimization, so focus on maximizing existing resources. Exploring new interests in other areas will bring excitement and fulfillment.
Lucky Number : 4
Lucky Colour : Purple
CANCER (Jun22-Jul 22)
Love: Judgment
Mood: Magician
Career: Ten of Wands
Your health is good, and staying active with regular walks will keep you feeling energized. Financially, it’s a great time to plan for long-term goals to ensure future stability. Professionally, innovation is key to growth, so focus on bringing fresh ideas into your work. Family life requires a sensitive approach to conflicts, as handling them diplomatically will maintain harmony. Romance may face some challenges, so focusing on understanding boundaries will help in resolving issues. Travel could face delays or changes, so prepare accordingly. Property decisions are excellent, especially when upgrading interiors with smart technology. Organizing family time around your children’s interests will create cherished memories.
Lucky Number : 8
Lucky Colour : Purple
LEO (Jul 23-Aug 23)
Love: The Sun
Mood: The Magician
Career: The Empress
Your health is excellent, and maintaining consistency in your wellness routines will keep you feeling your best. Financially, seeking tax planning expertise will help you save and optimize your finances. Professionally, taking strategic risks in business will open up exciting opportunities. Family matters require patience, so take a thoughtful approach to maintain harmony. Romance may face some lingering issues, so addressing them will bring clarity and growth. Travel offers opportunities for solitude and rejuvenation, allowing you to recharge. Property matters are favorable, especially when finalizing inherited property settlements. Focusing on stability in other areas will provide peace of mind.
Lucky Number : 7
Lucky Colour : Baby Pink
VIRGO (Aug 24-Sept 23)
Love: The Hermit
Mood: Two of Swords
Career: Three of Coins
Health-wise, you may need to focus on hydration to stay energized and avoid any potential issues. Financially, securing emergency funds will give you peace of mind and ensure you are prepared for any unexpected situations. Professionally, pursuing strategic partnerships will allow you to reach new heights and achieve success. Family life is filled with warmth, and your sibling bonds will strengthen as you spend quality time together. Romance is looking good, but sharing personal goals will foster deeper connections. Travel should be planned with practicality in mind to ensure smooth and enjoyable experiences. Property decisions are highly favorable, especially when considering prime real estate locations. Supporting others through your actions will inspire those around you.
Lucky Number : 17
Lucky Colour : Light Green
LIBRA (Sept 24-Oct 23)
Love: The World
Mood: Justice
Career: King of Wands
Your health is good, and incorporating outdoor activities into your routine will boost your energy and mood. Financially, strengthening your financial networks will help you secure new opportunities. Professionally, this is a great time to deliver results on key projects, showcasing your abilities and commitment. Family life is excellent, and working on core values with your loved ones will create stronger connections. Romance requires a focus on companionship, so small gestures of love will help maintain a harmonious relationship. Travel offers the opportunity for long-distance trips, allowing you to create unforgettable memories. Property investments are looking favorable, and optimizing real estate returns will benefit you in the long run. Focusing on building resilience will provide strength in all areas of life.
Lucky Number : 7
Lucky Colour : Red
SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Love: Hermit
Mood: The Fool
Career: Strength
Health-wise, it’s important to seek medical advice promptly if needed, as addressing health concerns early will prevent complications. Financially, it’s an excellent time to explore profitable avenues that align with your goals. Professionally, you are likely to excel in leadership roles, showcasing your abilities to guide and inspire others. Family life requires balance, so managing both work and family commitments with care will lead to smoother interactions. Romance is excellent, and planning thoughtful surprises will deepen your connection with your partner. Travel should be approached with caution, sticking to safe routes to avoid any risks. Property decisions should be postponed, as it’s not the ideal time for major investments. Focus on simplifying routines to bring clarity and ease to your life.
Lucky Number : 1
Lucky Colour : Golden
Love: Wheel of Fortune
Mood: Devil
Career: Two of Wands
Health-wise, focus on preventive care to maintain your well-being. Financially, avoid high-interest loans as they may lead to unnecessary financial strain. Professionally, exploring new skills will open up fresh opportunities and support your growth. Family life benefits from planning activities that bring everyone together, strengthening your bonds. Romance is excellent, with the potential for marriage proposals and deeper commitment. Travel offers opportunities to explore new destinations, allowing you to recharge and unwind. Property decisions should be approached with caution, so avoid rushing into any commitments. Participating in community events will provide a sense of fulfillment and help you make meaningful connections.
Lucky Number : 6
Lucky Colour : Brown
Love: Death
Mood: The Fool
Career: The Lovers
Your health is in moderate condition, so incorporating wellness practices into your daily routine will keep you feeling your best. Financially, optimizing your savings plans will set you up for long-term stability. Professionally, focusing on your strategic goals will keep you moving forward with clarity. Family matters may require sensitivity, so handling conflicts with care will help preserve harmony. Romance is very good, and planning memorable dates will keep the spark alive in your relationship. Travel should be planned wisely to avoid exhausting journeys. Property investments require careful consideration, and reassessing your options will ensure you make informed decisions. Fostering social bonds will lead to personal growth and meaningful connections.
Lucky Number : 9
Lucky Colour : Pink
Love: The Stars
Mood: Two of Cups
Career: Five of Swords
Your health is excellent, and incorporating active habits into your routine will help you stay in top form. Financially, strengthening your emergency funds will ensure you are well-prepared for unexpected expenses. Professionally, taking incremental steps toward growth will lead to steady progress. Family life is good, and building emotional connections with loved ones will create deeper bonds. Romance requires emotional care for your partner, so focusing on their needs will strengthen the relationship. Travel may require some preparation for emergencies, so ensure you pack essential items. Property matters are looking good, particularly when considering affordable housing for strategic gains. Encouraging innovative thinking in your professional and personal life will bring fresh opportunities.
Lucky Number : 18
Lucky Colour : Dark Red
PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20)
Love: Strength
Mood: The Moon
Career: Seven of Coins
Health-wise, seek immediate care if needed, as addressing concerns early will prevent future issues. Financially, maximizing returns will help you make the most of your investments. Professionally, you’ll be in line for a promotion, recognizing your hard work and dedication. Family life is very good, and celebrating family achievements will bring joy and unity. Romance requires addressing misunderstandings, so clear communication will help resolve any issues. Travel offers a chance to immerse yourself in cultural experiences, enriching your life with new perspectives. Property decisions are favorable, especially when upgrading your living spaces. Supporting your children’s growth will bring great satisfaction and contribute to their long-term success.
Lucky Number : 3
Lucky Colour : Yellow
By: Manisha Koushik
(Astrologer, Tarot Card Reader, Numerologist, Vastu & Fengshui Consultant)
Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine official, abruptly resigned from the agency on Friday, citing disagreement with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Marks, who helped lead the successful advancement of COVID-19 vaccines during the first Trump administration, said he had tried to address Kennedy’s concerns around vaccine safety and transparency.
“However, it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies,” Marks wrote in a letter to acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, a copy of which was obtained by BioPharma Dive.
“My hope is that during the coming years, the unprecedented assault on scientific truth that has adversely impacted public health in our nation comes to an end so that the citizens of our country can fully benefit from the breadth of advances in medical science,” he continued.
Marks’ resignation is effective April 5. His departure will leave both of the FDA’s principal drug review offices without a permanent leader. Patrizia Cavazzoni, who was formerly head of the other office, stepped down from her role on January 18. In addition to Marks and Cavazzoni, several other agency leaders have either departed or been fired in recent months.
The Wall Street Journal first reported news of Marks’ resignation. Both HHS and FDA did not respond to multiple requests by BioPharma Dive for comment.
Marks, a physician and hematologist, has led the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research since 2016, overseeing the agency’s review of vaccines, blood products and some genetic medicines. He helped come up with the idea for Operation Warp Speed, a cross-government initiative that helped the U.S. quickly develop, review and produce several safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19. He’s also championed the development of cell and gene therapies, pushing the agency to be more flexible and move faster — sometimes controversially so.
“I had the chance to work closely with [Marks],” Robert Califf, a former FDA commissioner under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, wrote on Bluesky. “While many people disagreed with one or another decision he made, I can assert that his interest was always with the combination of public health and the special needs of patients in this rapidly evolving world of technology.”
Marks’ ouster could spark concerns within the biopharmaceutical industry, which has been cautious in opposing Trump administration actions at HHS and the FDA.
“We are deeply concerned that the loss of experienced leadership at the FDA will erode scientific standards and broadly impact the development of new, transformative therapies to fight diseases for the American people,” John Crowley, head of the biotech lobbying group BIO, said in a statement.
“Marks will be sorely missed,” John Maraganore, a biotechnology leader and former CEO of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, wrote on X.
In his letter, Marks directly cited the current measles outbreak that has sickened at least 483 people across 20 states through Thursday and led to the first U.S. death from the disease in 10 years. Kennedy, who for years pushed unproven claims about the safety of many vaccines, has been criticized for his handling of the outbreak. While he recommended parents discuss vaccination with their child’s physicians, he has also touted ineffective treatments like cod liver oil, which can cause injury if overdosed.
“Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met the high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness that have been in place for decades at FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation’s health, safety and security,” Marks wrote in his letter.
Two doses of the measles vaccine available in the U.S. are 97% effective at preventing the disease and side effects are mild in the vast majority of cases. It has not been linked to autism, as Kennedy has long claimed.
Other actions by Kennedy since he became health secretary have also raised alarms. A meeting of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was postponed soon after Kennedy was sworn in, although it has since been rescheduled. According to reporting by Politico, Kennedy is also considering forcing out some of the advisers on the panel, and is scrutinizing other vaccine advisory committees.
Most significantly, Kennedy on Thursday unveiled plans to dramatically shrink HHS, including by cutting some 2,400 employees at the CDC and 3,500 at FDA. The layoffs follow a number of moves by the Trump administration to force government workers to leave or retire early, as well as to reduce funding for scientific research.
Martin Makary, President Donald Trump’s pick to run the FDA, was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday, but it’s not clear if he has been sworn in yet as commissioner.
The proposal to let first-home buyers dip into their super is gaining attention again as a political vote-winner.
The Grattan Institute warns this could inflate prices by up to 10%—around $75,000 in Sydney and $60,000 in Melbourne.
Giving buyers more money to spend, without increasing housing supply, just raises the bidding power of all buyers—and ironically hurts first-home buyers by escalating prices.
There’s been a lot of noise again about allowing first-home buyers to dip into their superannuation to purchase a property.
It’s not a new idea—the Morrison government floated it in 2022, and now it’s resurfacing as a potential vote-winner for the Liberals ahead of the next election.
At first glance, it sounds appealing, doesn’t it?
Let young Australians use their own retirement savings to get a foot on the property ladder.
After all, homeownership is one of the strongest paths to financial security.
But here’s the catch — and it’s a big one: what seems like a helpful boost for first home buyers could actually inflate house prices and make affordability worse.
Let me explain.
A short-term sugar hit, a long-term problem
A recent Grattan Institute analysis warned that allowing young Australians to use their super to buy a home could push up house prices by as much as 10%.
That’s not a typo.
Ten per cent.
And it’s not hard to understand why.
This is because injecting more money into the market, particularly without increasing the housing supply, doesn’t magically make homes more affordable
It just drives prices higher.
We’ve seen this time and time again.
Whether it’s first homebuyer grants, stamp duty concessions or other demand-side stimulus measures, the result is often the same: price inflation.
If everyone suddenly has an extra $50,000 or $100,000 to bid at auction, it simply raises the bar for all buyers.
And ironically, disadvantages the very people it’s supposed to help.
Grattan’s estimate suggests house prices could jump $75,000 in Sydney and $60,000 in Melbourne under such a scheme.
That’s a steep price for policies that promise to “help” aspiring homeowners.
Isn’t superannuation my money?
Now I know what some people will argue — “It’s my super. I should be able to use it for a home if I want to!”
But we need to remember what superannuation is for.
It’s not a savings account.
It’s not designed for short-term needs.
Super is a long-term retirement vehicle, and it’s one of the best tools we have to reduce future reliance on the aged pension.
Using your super to buy a home today might solve a problem in your 30s, but it could create a far bigger one in your 70s when you’ve got limited savings to fall back on.
Treasury modelling has shown that a 30-year-old who withdraws $50,000 from their super today could be $90,000 to $100,000 worse off in retirement, even if you factor in the capital gains from owning property.
That’s because super grows tax-efficiently over decades, and compounding does the heavy lifting over time.
You don’t want to rob tomorrow’s comfort for today’s pressure.
Especially when there are better solutions.
We don’t have a demand problem — we have a supply problem
The core issue here isn’t that first homebuyers don’t have enough money.
It’s that we simply don’t have enough homes, especially the kind that younger Australians want to live in and can afford.
Policies like “super for housing” treat the symptoms, not the cause.
If governments were serious about tackling affordability, they’d focus on unlocking land supply, fast-tracking planning approvals, improving infrastructure, and creating incentives for build-to-rent and medium-density development in the right locations.
We need structural reform, not short-term sugar hits that just push prices up further.
So, what’s the alternative?
Instead of weakening our retirement system and heating up the housing market, let’s be smarter.
First-home buyers need help with education and strategic planning, not just more cash to throw at auctions.
That means:
Financial literacy programs to help young Australians understand budgeting, saving, debt, and investing.
Strategic buyer’s advocacy to guide them into the right kind of property — not just any property.
Reassessing inefficient taxes like stamp duty, which are a major barrier to mobility and affordability.
And on the retirement front, we need to preserve and protect the integrity of superannuation, not treat it like an all-purpose piggy bank.
Final thoughts
We all know that homeownership is part of the Australian dream, and we want to help more people achieve it.
But dipping into super to fund house deposits is a short-sighted move that will likely push up prices, erode retirement savings, and fail to address the real affordability issue which is lack of supply.
Let’s stop looking for quick fixes.
If we really want to help young Australians succeed, we need policies that are sustainable, and strategic, and that make the system better for everyone
About Dorian Traill At Metropole, Dorian helps develop a tailored, individualised wealth plan specifically for the client’s circumstances. A wealth plan is a client’s road map to a successful financial future and with professional expertise and guidance, clients can unlock the full potential of their assets to achieve their financial freedom at retirement.
There has been growing excitement within Formula One over the potential return of the V10 engines. That roaring sound is part of the sport’s history and identity.
But the calls from senior figures in the F1 paddock, including the FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, to consider returning the loud engines used most recently 20 years ago, has also raised questions.
If simpler, louder and cheaper V10 engines, running on fully sustainable fuels and resulting in smaller and lighter car designs, are introduced in the coming years, what happens in the interim? And how would that impact the imminent power unit change scheduled for 2026?
F1’s stakeholders have been working on the 2026 engine rules, maintaining the V6 hybrid basis for the power units, for years. Since their approval in the summer of 2022, the ruleset has encouraged Audi, Ford (via Red Bull), and General Motors to join the grid, as well as reversing Honda’s decision to quit, all thanks to the sport’s commitment to fully sustainable fuels and greater electrification. In the case of Audi and Red Bull, the development of their new engine programs has required significant investment and recruitment, running into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
These rules were meant to cover a five-year cycle from 2026 through to the end of 2030. But will they even happen at all?
In a select media roundtable, including The Athletic, on Sunday in Shanghai, Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director who helps shape F1’s future rules, framed the discussion over the future engine regulations as hinging on two questions.
The first relates to the long-term direction of the sport and whether, in the next three or four years, F1 wants a different type of power unit. “If the answer to that is yes, (that) we want to change something, then question number two is, ‘What we do in the intervening period?’” Tombazis said. That period begins next year.
“What I want to say at the start about 2026 is that, either way, whether we stay with the current regulations or whether we do the already approved new regulations, I think Formula One would be in a good place,” Tombazis said. “I don’t want it to be seen as sort of, ‘OK, we are panicking about 2026,’ because that is far from reality.”
On Friday in China, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner claimed there were “limitations” with next year’s rules that could impact the sport’s on-track spectacle due to the “shortcomings of the split in electrification and combustion” sources with the new power unit, which leans more on the electric power in the power unit. Those “limitations” would relate to consistent performance issues across the grid, which could affect the quality of competition and racing.
But Tombazis said he and the wider FIA did not share what he called a “scaremongering” view raised about the 2026 regulations’ potential impact on racing.
“I think there will be cars racing closely with each other, able to fight each other, and using driver skill, etc,” Tombazis said. “So fundamentally, I think I don’t share the panic stories. I remind people that there were panic stories for the ’22 regulations about how the cars would be massively slow.” This was when F1 last made a major overhaul to the aerodynamic regulations, which was not on the scale of 2026 when both the car designs and power units will change.
“I’m not saying everything was perfect,” Tombazis said of the 2022 change. “There are things with the benefit of hindsight we would have done differently. But I don’t think it was that disaster.”
Any change to the plans for next year would depend on the position of all the engine manufacturers. The investment and effort already put in has led the sport to a point where it’s “10 past midnight, and Cinderella has left the building,” to quote Horner.
Although Tombazis agreed that “the train has left the station to a large extent” for 2026, he noted that talk about the ‘interim’ period was fueled by chatter in the wake of Ben Sulayem, the FIA president, calling for an evaluation of a future switch to V10s.
Tombazis added that the FIA did not wish to impose any changes that would make it impossible for a team to compete. “We won’t just go on majorities,” he said. “We are trying to build a consensus here, and if that fails, then we will stay where we are (with the existing 2026 plan).”
If F1 power unit manufacturers were to feel it’s better to shelve the ’26 engines due to potential negative impacts on the sport — if the “scaremongering” were serious and concerns were widely shared — then mechanisms do exist that could lead to the status quo with the current specification of power units being the interim solution until a possible return to V10s.
But that would lead to other major knock-on effects and issues, given that Audi and Red Bull Powertrains/Ford haven’t produced a V6 hybrid engine for the current regulations. Other existing manufacturers have shifted all development to future engines. This, again, makes the idea of changing next year’s engine plans seem unthinkable.
Horner told reporters on Sunday in China he would be “very surprised” if the existing rules continued next year. “I think all teams are all in at the moment on ’26,” Horner said. “So we’d have to understand what it was all about.” He also denied Red Bull was pushing for a delay of the new rules, saying it was “geared up and ready for ’26.”
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, didn’t give much thought to the possibility of the 2026 changes not going ahead.
“It’s all going to be good,” he told reporters, calling the change an “exciting adventure” for the F1 grid that meant it should be celebrated, not derided by already looking at what follows the upcoming change.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff (Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)
“This is where we should put our emphasis,” Wolff said. “This is what we should cheer for, and speak about, all the goodness that is going to bring rather than looking too far forward.”
A spokesperson for Audi issued a statement noting that the upcoming rule change and power unit design was “a key factor in Audi’s decision to enter Formula One. These power unit regulations reflect the same technological advancements that drive innovation in Audi’s road cars.” The German manufacturer has established its own F1 engine program and bought the Sauber team all on the basis of these rules — which now could only last a few years.
Assuming things go ahead as planned for 2026, as most still anticipate, the winds are currently blowing toward a shorter cycle from the original five years to change the power unit formula.
The desire for a long-term game plan is shared by senior figures throughout the paddock, meaning it’ll be a talking point in the coming months. The positions of the various power unit manufacturers could be influenced by their relative competitive standings in the political battles next year. If one team has produced the best power unit and has an advantage that would be hard to overcome, it’s only natural it might seek to protect that and kick any shift in regulations as far down the road as possible — and that its rivals would try to fight back.
Given how celebrated the 2026 engine rules were when they were announced in 2022 and the credit given to them when each new major manufacturer joined the grid, ditching them early would be strange. But Tombazis felt two primary factors had caused the change in stance. First, he cited the perception from manufacturers about electrification uptake across the automotive industry given a slow down in consumer interest.
“Back in 2020, 2021, when these discussions were had, the trend was pretty decisively in the direction of electrification,” he said. “I’m not saying that’s not happening, but certainly the views of the participants have changed since then.”
He also highlighted the costs of making the power units, admitting the current designs are “way too expensive.” When the 2026 rules were announced, improved cost control was heralded as one of their benefits, but Tombazis said their expense was a consideration.
“Even if Formula One is in very good health financially, it has become important also to protect it against world economy fluctuations, and I think we need to take these protective measures while the sun is shining and not when it starts raining, ideally,” he said. “The drive to cut costs is important to consider.
“All of these things are not things we would dream of doing without trying to respect all of the participants properly.”
Wolff said Mercedes was “always open” to different engine solutions, but that F1 had to consider what fans wanted too, and whether their views might have changed amid the shift toward a younger and more diverse fanbase than in the past. For those who came to the sport through “Drive to Survive,” the sound of V6 hybrids is all they will have known.
“All of this needs to be set as questions,” Wolff said. “What are the objectives for a future regulation change in a few years? Let’s analyze that based on data and come to a conclusion that is for the best of our sport.
“Because this is the single most important denominator between the FIA, Formula One, the teams, that we want to have the greatest product for our fans.”
An old laptop needn’t lie in a drawer gathering dust. It can still serve a useful purpose as a Plex Media Server. But does Plex work better on Windows or Linux, and what should you use for your Plex server?
One word of advice before you proceed. If, like me, your media files are scattered all over the place, then it’s a good idea to perform a little housework and prepare them beforehand. This can be done anytime, but it is simpler to do so before beginning the installation wizard. I’ve covered some basics, but a comprehensive guide can be found on the Plex Media support pages.
Plex Media Server is an incredibly versatile service. It can act as a hub for your streaming services, stream movies and shows, and allow you to access your own media from any location. For this project, I decided to keep it simple at first and set it up as a home media server only. The Plex Media Server installation process is almost identical for both operating systems. Plex Media Server doesn’t install an app with a fancy GUI. It uses a browser interface to set up your server, so apart from downloading and installing, the steps are the same.
I downloaded the Windows app from Plex and found the Linux version in the Ubuntu App Center (though it’s also available on Plex’s website alongside other media server installation options). The Ubuntu install was straightforward and took just a few seconds, and the Windows install was equally painless. I accepted the defaults, and it was installed in no time.
From this point on, the setup steps apply to both operating systems. Once the Plex Media Server app is installed, Plex should open in a browser window to allow you to continue the setup process.
If this doesn’t happen automatically, a little intervention is required:
Windows users must find the Plex Media icon in the Windows System Tray and right-click it. Plex Media Server should now open in your default browser.
Ubuntu users can find the same process by selecting the Show Apps option on the Ubuntu Dock (Sidebar) and launching the app. This should launch Plex in your chosen browser.
Assuming everything has gone to plan, you should now see the following screen:
Just one thing to note here. I found the wording vague, specifically “Plex Media Server would like to sign in to your Plex account.” At this stage, most new users won’t have an account. It does mention “By signing up or continuing” a little further down, but I’d like this text to be clearer. Anyway, gripe over, I went with a different email for each installation to allow me to set up two servers, and the process only took a few seconds. You’ll need to respond to an activation email to complete the sign-up process.
Once I’d set up my account, the next stage was to set up the media server on both laptops.
Once you’ve set up your account, the next step is to create your server and set up your media libraries. For me, the latter got a bit messy because I hadn’t followed my own advice and tidied up my media files. The result was that my initial libraries quickly became, well, chaotic. To avoid this fate and before you proceed with setting up your server, here’s what I recommend:
Use clear folder structures: Organize media into separate folders (e.g., Movies, TV Shows, Music, Photos) to make Plex’s scanning process smoother.
Follow naming conventions: Name files properly (e.g., MovieTitle (Year).ext for movies, ShowTitle/Season 01/ShowTitle S01E01.ext for TV shows). For the record, this was overkill for me, but Plex recommends it.
Remove duplicates & unwanted files: Clean out duplicate or unnecessary files to avoid clutter and speed up Plex’s library indexing.
If this sounds too much, don’t worry; you can change, add, or delete libraries at any point, which was just as well in my case. Regardless of the organizational status of your media files, the Plex setup wizard walks you through the process of setting up your server and Plex Media libraries. There are also plenty of apps that can help keep your Plex Libraries organized.
The first step is to name your server. This can be whatever you like, but it’s best to give it a memorable name. I used different names for my Windows and Linux servers to help me differentiate them. But if you’re just setting up one, you can choose a nice, memorable name.
By choosing a descriptive name for each server, there could be no mistaking which was which. This is probably more important when you are running multiple servers, but it is always good practice.
Finally, before I moved on to setting up the libraries, I chose my watch-history sharing preferences.
The choice here is a matter of preference. However, if you’ve any doubts or concerns and want to make sure your Plex server is secure, then the go-to choice is private. This can be changed from within the settings at any time. I was also prompted to take ownership of the server. Basically, this is just another activation process and is required.
Jason Montoya / MakeUseOf
Now, I could begin to get my media libraries set up. The Plex library setup procedure should start automatically with the Plex Media setup wizard. However, if it doesn’t work or you want to make changes later—as I did—follow these steps:
Click the account icon situated on the top right of the page and select Account Settings.
On the left-hand side of the page, scroll through the settings until you see Manage.
Click on Libraries.
Choose Add Library to add a new one or hover over an existing one and select Edit Library to change an existing one.
The image below shows the Manage Library screen on my Windows server.
Whether you use the wizard or the Add Library route, the next screens are identical on Linux and Windows. This is where you can begin to set up your libraries. In my case, I decided not to add too much at this point to avoid getting bogged down in details. Even then, I still hadn’t thought it through properly and had to change settings later in the project.
The first screen gave me the option to select the library type. The choices are self-explanatory and include all the usual suspects (movies, TV programs, etc.).
Once I’d selected my library type, the next screen allowed me to name it.
All I then had to do was select the Add folders option, point it toward the desired folder, and click Add Library. This can be repeated as required.
And that was all there was to it. Now, it was time to put it to the test and see if there were any discernible differences between Plex Media Server on Windows and Linux.
Installing Plex Media Server was incredibly painless in both instances. I was expecting to declare a winner by this stage. However, because most of the setup was browser-based, there was very little to choose between. Performance-wise, my machines are similar. Both have a processor that just limped over the Plex Media minimum spec of an Intel i3 or equivalent. Both computers have RAM well over the 4GB minimum, and both have relatively beefy hard drives.
As the next stage of the project involved making sure I could access my media from other devices, I decided to use the opportunity to see if there were differences in the streaming quality.
To keep the playing field level, I tested the same media file on three devices: an Android phone, a Sony PS4, and another laptop. The Plex apps for the Android device and PS4 were downloaded from their respective app stores. For the laptop, I used the same software as I used to set up the server. In each case, the installation was simple, and once I entered my login credentials, I could access both servers.
Again, there was very little to choose between the two systems. The Ubuntu server seemed to get a bit jittery for a few seconds if two or more people accessed it simultaneously, but it always settled down pretty quickly. Apart from that, both servers delivered. Both were easy to set up, ran fine on older hardware, and made accessing my media files easier.
Cost-wise, there are some limitations to what the free version of Plex can do. Accessing locally stored media is completely free from devices like a PS4, Fire TV Stick, or other devices that can run the app (both of which I tested).
However, at the time of writing, Plex’s one-minute playback restriction on mobile devices like smartphones, even on a local network, is still in place. To remove this restriction, you have to pay a one-time device unlock fee of $4.99. However, Plex will remove its mobile unlock fee on April 29, 2025 (at the same time as increasing the price of its lifetime Plex Pass). So, if you can hang on and don’t need to immediately begin watching Plex on your smartphone, hold on to avoid the costs.
Linux vs. Windows: What’s Best For Your Plex Server?
Ultimately, in the battle of the Plex Media Servers, there could be only one. In this case, I will continue with the Windows server. There was nothing wrong with the Linux server; it was purely a decision based on other household members’ unwillingness to learn the intricacies of a Linux machine.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-29/500-year-old-Nanfeng-Ancient-Kiln-in-Foshan-still-in-operation-today-1C8wS4bZr3i/img/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf/8fbff9b04f864ca59537ef96b87ee6cf.jpeg'The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln is seen in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong Province, March 24, 2025. /CGTN
The Nanfeng Ancient Kiln, nestled in Shiwan, Foshan, Guangdong, is a must-visit destination for many tourists. Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, it boasts a history spanning over 500 years.
Famed for its ancient and well-preserved dragon kilns, this site holds a remarkable surprise: The fire in the 500-year-old kiln has remained unextinguished, and the kiln still functions after centuries. If fortune smiles on you, you may witness the firing process, which occurs only twice a month.
Here, in addition to the historical kiln, visitors can admire modern ceramic artworks, learn about the making process and even get their hands dirty with pottery mud under the guidance of professionals. It’s not merely a kiln site but a place that combines cultural exploration with hands-on, enjoyable experiences.
From John McDermott’s fragile psyche to the sustained excellence of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods — or Woods and Nicklaus; no spoiler here on who’s No. 1 — this countdown of the top golfers is less a list than an index of insightful, lively profiles rife with anecdotes centered on their most joyous and miserable moments.
“The Golf 100: A spirited ranking of the greatest players of all time” is the 16th title by author Michael Arkush, most of them from the sports realm including New York Times bestsellers “The Last Season” with Phil Jackson and “The Big Fight” with Sugar Ray Leonard. This one is all Arkush and displays his storytelling — some sweet, some savory, a few bitter — in bite-size pieces.
He includes greats from the early 20th century. He includes greats from other countries. He includes women. Why? Because their stories are compelling, even if ranking them became messy.
So, yes, there are 100 in all, spread over 366 pages.
Times sportswriter Houston Mitchell got more than 12,000 readers to respond in 2009 to a poll ranking golfers. The top five are among Arkush’s top 10, although not remotely in the same order.
Most rankings are based on point systems, assigning weighted numbers to categories such as total tournaments won, top-10 finishes, player of the year awards, career longevity and performance in the four majors — the U.S. Open, Masters, British Open and PGA Championship.
Arkush prioritized the majors, writing in the forward that they “feature the strongest fields and, more often than not, are staged on the most demanding courses. When history is on the line.”
Still, Arkush allowed himself license after covering professional golf for 30 years (he was an entertainment reporter for The Times from 1988 to 1995). Once the numbers were tabulated, he shuffled the deck by employing subjective criteria such as a golfer’s impact or contributions to the sport.
“I was similar to a juror who, despite a stern warning from the judge not to let evidence deemed inadmissible be a factor in the verdict, couldn’t help its affecting his thinking in one way or another,” Arkush wrote.
An example is his inclusion of Francis Ouimet, a name unfamiliar to all but the most serious golf history buffs. He won the 1913 U.S. Open at the tender age of 20 over Harry Vardon, a British golf titan credited with inventing the modern grip and swing. Bobby Jones, the epitome of class, came along next, and the pendulum soon swung to the U.S. side of the Atlantic.
Like so many writers, Arkush was loath to let numbers get in the way of a good yarn, beginning with ranking McDermott at No. 100. The cheeky son of a mailman became the first American to win the U.S. Open in 1911 — at age 19 — one year after he finished second to Scottish immigrant Alex Smith, telling him as they exited the course, “I’ll get you next year, you big tramp.”
McDermott’s penchant for popping off soon got him in trouble, and that was followed by a steep fall. He embarrassed the more genteel of his countrymen by bragging about his Open victories in the presence of Vardon. Then he was saved by a lifeboat after being a victim of a shipwreck. Then he lost a fortune in the stock market. Then he was committed to a sanitarium in 1916 and was never the same.
Arkush concludes the profile describing a chance meeting between an elderly McDermott and a gracious Arnold Palmer that provides a poignant connection between the infancy of professional golf in America and its elevation in stature to the “Arnie’s Army” level by 1970.
Only 99 to go.
The list includes 15 women, trailblazers and champions such as Mickey Wright, whose 82 Tour victories included 13 majors and whose swing was lauded as the best of anyone regardless of gender by no less than Ben Hogan.
Pioneers of the sport, firmly planted in the wellspring of 19th-century Scotland, are given their due. While the Union and Confederate armies were preparing for war across the pond, Willie Park Jr. and Old Tom Morris exuded geniality and competence on the green, dominating the British Open from its inception in 1860 through more than a decade.
Old Morris passed on his mashie niblick — an early term for a seven iron — to his equally talented son, Young Tom Morris, who won the British Open four times from 1868 to 1872. They are the only father-son combo among the 100.
Americans began to hold their own by the 1920s, and professional golf has increased in popularity as a spectator sport to this day. It’s also an endeavor that nearly anyone can try and many become passionate about.
One hundred is a somewhat arbitrary number to cap excellence, impact and irresistible storytelling. It’s plenty for Arkush to mine, though, and relate the history of golf through the very best golfers.
As for the thorny task of comparing golfers across generations and even centuries, Arkush leans on the wisdom of Jones, whose words can be extrapolated fairly to include women as well as men:
“I think we must agree that all a man can do is beat the people who are around at the same time he is. He cannot win from those who came before any more than he can from those who may come afterward.”
New Delhi, March 29: 2025 MG Astor is launched in the Indian market at a starting price of INR 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom). The MG Astor 2025 is now rebranded as “the blockbuster SUV” and has various changes compared to the brand’s lineup. The new features in the latest version of MG Astor offer the customers a premium feel and driving comfort. The British automobile firm also stated that this new car was the only provider of panoramic sunroof in its segment at a starting price of INR 12.5 lakh (ex-showroom) to the Shine variant.
JSW MG Motor said the latest car has various safety and tech features. The vehicle offers ADAS Autonomous Level-2, Digital Bluetooth Key, live location sharing, built-in Jio Saavn app, in-car remote control and i-Smart 80+ Connected Car Features. The all-new MG Astor 2025 model also has various other features. The company said, “e MG Astor is the perfect car for early adopters looking for a perfect SUV.” Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line New Interior and Exterior Details Revealed, Launch Set on April 14, 2025; Check Upcoming VW SUV’s Specifications and Features.
2025 MG Astor Features and Specifications
MG Astor 2025 offers various tech features such as Apple Car Play and Android Auto support, IRVM for security and convenience, i-Smart 2.0 with an advanced user interface, rear driver assist, and ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control). MG Motor stands out with a bold celestial grille, Full LED Hawkeye headlamps, heated OVRMs, rear fog lamps, LED taillamps, and turbine-inspired machined alloy wheels.
Inside, the car offers a dual-tone Sangria red interior theme, a fully digital 7-inch LCD screen, premium leather-layered interiors, and 10.11-inch touchscreen infotainment. The 2025 MG Astor has three electronic power steering modes: Urban, Normal, and Dynamic. It also has a panoramic sky roof, six-way power-adjustable seats, and a push-button for starting and stopping the engine. Kia EV6 Facelift Launched in India With 663 km Range at INR 65.9 Lakh; Check New Specifications and Features of Kia’s New EV SUV/
The five-seater 2025 MG Astor has a 1498cc 1.5-litre VTi-tech engine that can produce 110 PS power at 6,000 rpm and reach 144 Nm peak torque at 4,400 rpm. It has disc brakes on the front and rear. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. There is also an option for CVT and a 1.3-litre turbo petrol AT engine.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 29, 2025 03:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
When Dario Amodei gets excited about AI—which is nearly always—he moves. The cofounder and CEO springs from a seat in a conference room and darts over to a whiteboard. He scrawls charts with swooping hockey-stick curves that show how machine intelligence is bending toward the infinite. His hand rises to his curly mop of hair, as if he’s caressing his neurons to forestall a system crash. You can almost feel his bones vibrate as he explains how his company, Anthropic, is unlike other AI model builders. He’s trying to create an artificial general intelligence—or as he calls it, “powerful AI”—that will never go rogue. It’ll be a good guy, an usher of utopia. And while Amodei is vital to Anthropic, he comes in second to the company’s most important contributor. Like other extraordinary beings (Beyoncé, Cher, Pelé), the latter goes by a single name, in this case a pedestrian one, reflecting its pliancy and comity. Oh, and it’s an AI model. Hi, Claude!
Amodei has just gotten back from Davos, where he fanned the flames at fireside chats by declaring that in two or so years Claude and its peers will surpass people in every cognitive task. Hardly recovered from the trip, he and Claude are now dealing with an unexpected crisis. A Chinese company called DeepSeek has just released a state-of-the-art large language model that it purportedly built for a fraction of what companies like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic spent. The current paradigm of cutting-edge AI, which consists of multibillion-dollar expenditures on hardware and energy, suddenly seemed shaky.
Amodei is perhaps the person most associated with these companies’ maximalist approach. Back when he worked at OpenAI, Amodei wrote an internal paper on something he’d mulled for years: a hypothesis called the Big Blob of Compute. AI architects knew, of course, that the more data you had, the more powerful your models could be. Amodei proposed that that information could be more raw than they assumed; if they fed megatons of the stuff to their models, they could hasten the arrival of powerful AI. The theory is now standard practice, and it’s the reason why the leading models are so expensive to build. Only a few deep-pocketed companies could compete.
Now a newcomer, DeepSeek—from a country subject to export controls on the most powerful chips—had waltzed in without a big blob. If powerful AI could come from anywhere, maybe Anthropic and its peers were computational emperors with no moats. But Amodei makes it clear that DeepSeek isn’t keeping him up at night. He rejects the idea that more efficient models will enable low-budget competitors to jump to the front of the line. “It’s just the opposite!” he says. “The value of what you’re making goes up. If you’re getting more intelligence per dollar, you might want to spend even more dollars on intelligence!” Far more important than saving money, he argues, is getting to the AGI finish line. That’s why, even after DeepSeek, companies like OpenAI and Microsoft announced plans to spend hundreds of billions of dollars more on data centers and power plants.
What Amodei does obsess over is how humans can reach AGI safely. It’s a question so hairy that it compelled him and Anthropic’s six other founders to leave OpenAI in the first place, because they felt it couldn’t be solved with CEO Sam Altman at the helm. At Anthropic, they’re in a sprint to set global standards for all future AI models, so that they actually help humans instead of, one way or another, blowing them up. The team hopes to prove that it can build an AGI so safe, so ethical, and so effective that its competitors see the wisdom in following suit. Amodei calls this the Race to the Top.
That’s where Claude comes in. Hang around the Anthropic office and you’ll soon observe that the mission would be impossible without it. You never run into Claude in the café, seated in the conference room, or riding the elevator to one of the company’s 10 floors. But Claude is everywhere and has been since the early days, when Anthropic engineers first trained it, raised it, and then used it to produce better Claudes. If Amodei’s dream comes true, Claude will be both our wing model and fairy godmodel as we enter an age of abundance. But here’s a trippy question, suggested by the company’s own research: Can Claude itself be trusted to play nice?
One of Amodei’s Anthropic cofounders is none other than his sister. In the 1970s, their parents, Elena Engel and Riccardo Amodei, moved from Italy to San Francisco. Dario was born in 1983 and Daniela four years later. Riccardo, a leather craftsman from a tiny town near the island of Elba, took ill when the children were small and died when they were young adults. Their mother, a Jewish American born in Chicago, worked as a project manager for libraries.
The crypto market continues to be volatile as March approaches its end. Bitcoin on Friday, March 28 clocked a loss of under two percent on national and international exchanges. The oldest, most expensive crypto asset is presently trading at $86,028 (roughly Rs. 73.8 lakh) on international exchanges, shows CoinMarketCap. On Indian exchanges, meanwhile, Bitcoin is trading within the range of $89,038 (roughly Rs. 76.2 lakh) and $90,536 (roughly Rs. 77.5 lakh).
“The downturn in major U.S. stock indices was primarily attributed to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25 percent tariff on imported automobiles. Despite the broader market’s reaction to trade policy changes, Bitcoin’s price remained relatively stable, indicating resilience amid traditional market fluctuations,” the CoinSwitch markets desk told Gadgets 360.
Ether registered bigger losses compared to Bitcoin on Friday. At present, ETH is trading at $1.920 (roughly Rs. 1.64 lakh) after seeing a drop of 5.20 percent on global platforms. The asset clocked a similar degree of loss on Indian exchanges, bringing its value to $2,011 (roughly Rs. 1.72 lakh).
“Ethereum is gearing up for a potential relief rally. According to CoinGlass data, futures traders have committed 10.84 million ETH in open interest, signaling renewed confidence among ETH holders,” said Edul Patel, CEO and cofounder of Mudrex.
The crypto price tracker by Gadgets 360 showed majority altcoins having receded into losses – after briefly touching profits earlier this week.
Tether, Ripple, Solana, Dogecoin, USD Coin, Cardano, and Tron recorded losses on Friday.
Chainlink, Leo, Avalanche, Stellar, Shiba Inu, Polkadot, and Uniswap also registered price dips.
The overall crypto market cap fell by 2.12 percent in the last 24 hours. The valuation of the sector presently stands at $2.8 trillion (roughly Rs. 2,39,77,548 crore), according to data by CoinMarketCap.
“As the markets are heading towards the end of the month, the volume and volatility have dropped, due to which the tokens remain consolidated within a narrow range. No major drop is seen in the market capitalization and volume, which keeps bullish hopes elevated,” the CoinDCX research team told Gadgets 360.
Binance Coin, Cronos, Iota, Circuits of Value, and Bitcoin Hedge, meanwhile, managed clock small profits.
“The escalation of trade tensions following President Trump’s tariff announcement has injected fresh volatility across traditional markets. With the PCE Index data release today, traders are bracing for potential shifts in macro sentiment. Historically, periods of heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty have elevated assets like Bitcoin as alternative stores of value. On a positive note, Bitcoin ETFs continue to see steady inflows, signalling institutional interest,” Riya Sehgal, Research Analyst, Delta Exchange told Gadgets 360.
Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
I always ask the same hypothetical question to friends and coworkers:
If you were 20 years younger with the hindsight you have, what career path would you take differently?
It’s fairly easy to look back. But what’s (much) harder is to look forward in time and identify areas that will increase in value in the next few years.
Here are five marketing skills I believe will only increase in value in the next few years to expand your expertise and your career path options.
1. Creative generation
Everybody seems to think creativity is dying, especially since the rise of AI over the past two years.
However, AI is the exact reason why I think the skill of creating smart, engaging, edgy, unique, and thought-provoking creative will be worth its weight in gold.
Creative is advertising’s founding father. It will never not be at the core of your advertising strategy.
In a sea of average content, which ChatGPT often provides across multiple channels, the ability to stand out from mediocrity will be crucial – particularly for brand building and new businesses in a crowded marketplace.
ChatGPT and Gemini can be the answer when companies want quantity over quality.
Advancements in technology and lower entry points will also allow more people to create high-quality ads, which will no doubt make people raise their game to stand out.
Even for brands where user-generated content is more of the image they want to portray, I believe this will continue to thrive in a world where the stock of authentic content is only going up.
2. Conversion rate optimization
In PPC, we focus so much on investing in what happens before the click that what happens after is neglected and taken for granted.
Out of all the digital marketing skills I’ve seen over the past 10 years, there is not another that is more underestimated relative to its importance than conversion rate optimization (CRO).
I’ve been involved in meetings where the primary discussion amongst six or seven business stakeholders is pausing or adding a handful of long tail keywords. Or whether changing a few titles and descriptions in a search ad is going to make a significant difference.
We are guilty of delving into topics of little significance and ignoring areas of core value to a business’s digital success, such as CRO.
I believe part of this is because it’s often delegated to the developers to fix. Most agencies only care what happens before a user visits the website, while the clients only want to focus on things where they can have an element of control.
CRO is so valuable at the moment because so few agencies offer this outside of small-scale consultancy. There is usually a gap on the client side where they have their marketing team and developers, but no one in between linking ecommerce or lead gen expertise, strategy, and the ability to action any changes.
Those jack-of-all-trades within businesses are normally spread thin because of their versatility. So having someone at the agency side to lead CRO with in-depth user and competitor analysis to back up any hypothesis and recommendations is vital.
You can break it down by numbers to get a better sense of its importance:
If a website is working at a 5% conversion rate at a £100 AOV with 100,000 unique sessions per month, that’s £500,000 in revenue per month.
Through a CRO service, they identify a number of barriers to conversion for a large % of users, such as:
Inefficient checkout process.
Lack of USPs.
Inefficient use of reviews.
Bloating product page.
Lack of payment providers.
Lack of up-selling strategies.
Slow response time.
Generic USPS.
Once the dev and marketing team had reviewed, approved and actioned these changes, conversion rate increased to 6% and AOV £125.
With the same level of advertising dollars spent and the same monthly sessions, that revenue is now £750,000.
A £250k improvement, which over the whole year is £3 million and a 50% uplift in the company’s annual revenue!
And that’s just from a one-off service! That value won’t be underestimated forever.
3. Omnichannel
There has always been a healthy form of competition between channel experts for years now.
So often siloed and reported individually with channel-specific creative, an omnichannel approach is rare, whether on the client or agency side. The obsession with attribution has always fueled this separation.
With the growth in marketing mix models (hello, Meridian), I believe this is a strong sign that we are shifting toward a more omnichannel approach.
The impacts of this may be that we start seeing more channel consultants, client directors or omnichannel specialists.
This will lead to a greater alignment of strategies and consistent messaging across the channels.
We may even see a surge in old-fashioned storytelling, but with modern twists to enhance the customer experience across the different touch points.
When reliant on channel-specific metrics, the individual parts are often greater than the whole. By stepping back and placing a greater strategic emphasis on omnichannel, greater channel collaboration can lead to the whole being greater.
4. Profit optimization and business economics
This is something that has grown in importance over the past two years, but not as quickly as I would have thought.
For a number of years in Google Ads for retail accounts, ROAS is the source of truth. In some cases, clients haven’t changed their ROAS for a number of years, despite increases in manufacturing costs, delivery, competition, etc.
This makes your Target ROAS more difficult to achieve without lower revenue generation. In some cases, because of those increased expenses, the original target ROAS isn’t even profitable, regardless of revenue generation.
ROAS is mostly an arbitrary metric that gives an account manager a goal to optimize toward. Nothing else. It does not reflect most businesses key objectives and it caps the growth potential of any ad account.
ROAS is only effective if stakeholders have their finger on the pulse of their business economics (e.g., average cost of goods sold, shipping, packaging and handling, discounts). And, spoiler alert, most don’t!
That’s where you come in.
If you have an understanding of general ecommerce business economics, and combine that with executing a profit-first approach with a helping hand from tools such as ProfitMetrics, then you will go beyond just the PPC account management sending monthly reports on clicks and CTR.
Suddenly, you will become a business consultant with the ability to structure a PPC account in line with a business’s key objectives.
With ecommerce markets still struggling, campaign growth becoming more complex with rising costs, increasing competition, and more profitability levers to pull (Google even now has its own tool to focus on more profitable products) the value of integrating account management with profitable tracking and business unit reporting is only going up.
5. Ecommerce consultancy
I’m cheating a little bit here as this skill covers all services, but the value of being able to expand beyond just a PPC specialist and become an all-rounder has never been higher.
AI has levelled the playing field, no more so than for PPC specialists.
For the past few years, PPC management has slowly migrated away from spending the majority of your time in Google Ads focusing on tactical decisions and optimization and toward spending more time on higher-level strategic work. This is largely because of automated features and tools that do most of the heavy lifting (PMax, RSAs, AARs, Smart bidding, etc.).
PPC specialists who want to stay relevant and future-proof themselves may want to become a T-Shaped specialist. Essentially, you want to become someone who leans on core expertise and has a deep understanding of that service (e.g., a PPC specialist) but also has a broad knowledge of other business services on top of that.
This will enable you to become less reliant on just one area and enhance your value across all other business and marketing areas, such as SEO, analytics, measurement, or the other areas I’ve already discussed in this article.
You don’t need to be an expert in these areas, just enough knowledge to provide value to your client and integrate it into your core expertise.
If managing PPC ads is your core expertise, but you also are comfortable with CRO and analytics, when troubleshooting poor PPC performance for a month, you have the ability to look beyond CTR and impression share.
You might see that the ads are underperforming because the cart abandonment rate increased after installing a new checkout widget a few weeks prior, or removing a payment provider because their fees were too high, compromising the checkout stage and reducing website purchase efficiency.
A PPC specialist may not have looked beyond the Google or Bings interface to spot the issue, which could have lasted months before being resolved.
Grow your value
Whether it’s becoming a T-shaped specialist or deep diving into another undervalued business service (would this be an H-shaped specialist?), the value of bulking up your expertise outside of your core area will really set you apart.
You will bring added value to your own company and to your clients. And the appetite and demand for this type of person is only growing in an AI world!
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
While InZoi does many things that The Sims does not, some aspects of Krafton’s new Early Access life sim are very similar to features we’ve seen The Sims 4. One of these is InZoi’s Ambitions system, which is essentially identical to The Sims’ Aspirations. You choose an ambition, like becoming an expert artist, and then you’ll have to complete a series of related tasks that award a currency that will allow you to buy upgrades. But while these systems look the same, in execution they actually function very differently. Here’s what to know about InZoi Donuts and hoe to get more of them.
InZoi donuts explained
If you’ve spent time with The Sims 4 lately, InZoi’s Ambitions will be very familiar. When you’re creating your Zois, you pick an Ambition for each of them, and each Ambition includes three waves of tasks. If you pick the Pro Musician Ambition, you’ll start by buying an instrument and playing it three times; wave two requires you to play drums ten times, and play any instrument while feeling sentimental; and wave three requires you to max out your instrument skill (all instruments fall under this one skill) and play guitar 20 times.
Each wave of tasks that you complete will award you with NyanCoins, with each successive wave of tasks giving more than the previous wave. And then you’ll spend those NyanCoins on donuts, which you can purchase from the “Meow Coins” menu on your Zoi card. But these aren’t just any donuts–these donuts come with a timed buff.
There are a bunch of different donuts with many different buffs. There’s one that allows you to know everything about anyone you meet within the next hour. There are donuts that will prevent one of your needs from depleting for an entire day. And there are donuts that will boost your skill gains for a day as well. Unlike the aspiration rewards in The Sims, however, all of the boosts you will get from the donuts are temporary, so there’s no way to, for example, permanently free yourself from the need to sleep like some dystopian military experiment.
Buying donuts can make your Zoi’s life a lot easier.
The most useful donuts may be the ones that imbue you with an emotion–it’s much more difficult to complete your ambitions without them. For example, the music ambition requires you to play music while sentimental, and there’s a donut that will make you sentimental for six hours. Without the donut, you might simply have to wait until you get the emotion you need naturally, and that might never happen when you actually need it. Fortunately, the emotion donuts are the cheapest available, at only 30 NyanCoins each.
Ambitions are not the only way to get NyanCoins, though they are by far the fastest method because they reward quite a lot if you actually finish all three stages of an Ambition. But you can also earn small amounts through more mundane methods, by completing your Zoi’s wants (these are random impulses like “I want to catch a fish and eat it”), and by completing your work objectives at your job.
InZoi donut list
While you can pull up the list of donuts you can buy at any time, the tooltips on them frequently leave out key details, like how long the donut’s effects will last, or even that they’re temporary at all. Fortunately for you, you’re in the right place to find out more, because below you’ll find the full list of donuts as well as more detailed descriptions of what they do than you’ll get from InZoi itself before you buy one, along with the price you’ll pay in NyanCoins for them. If the effect is timed, the timer begins the instant you buy the donut.
Donuts that fill a need gauge
Sleep-Filling Donut – 80
Hunger-Filling Donut – 10
Bathroom-Filling Donut – 10
Energy-Filling Donut – 50
Hygiene-Filling Donut – 10
Fun-Filling Donut – 20
Social-Filling Donut – 30
Recognition-Filling Donut – 20
Donuts that add +5 to any emotional state for 6 hours
Concentration Donut – 30
Curiosity Donut – 30
Confidence Donut – 30
Excitement Donut – 30
Aflutter Donut – 30
Amusement Donut – 30
Tranquil Donut – 30
Sentiment Donut – 30
Donuts that add +30 to any emotional state for 12 hours
Max Concentration Donut – 60
Max Curiosity Donut – 60
Max Confidence Donut – 60
Max Excitement Donut – 60
Max Aflutter Donut – 60
Max Amusement Donut – 60
Max Tranquil Donut – 60
Max Sentiment Donut – 60
Max Boredom Donut – 60
Max Lethargy Donut – 60
Max Sadness Donut – 60
Max Discomfort Donut – 60
Max Nervousness Donut – 60
Max Embarrassment Donut – 60
Max Annoyance Donut – 60
Max Worry Donut – 60
Max Surprise Donut – 60
Donuts that cause individual need gauges to deplete at 1/5 the normal rate for two days
Slow-Slow Sleep Donut – 300
Slow-Slow Hunger Donut – 100
Slow-Slow Bathroom Donut – 100
Slow-Slow Energy Donut – 200
Slow-Slow Hygiene Donut – 150
Slow-Slow Fun Donut – 150
Slow-Slow Social Donut – 200
Slow-Slow Recognition Donut – 150
Donuts that prevent individual need gauges from depleting at all for one day
Enduring Sleep Donut – 600
Enduring Hunger Donut – 120
Enduring Bathroom Donut – 120
Enduring Energy Donut – 400
Enduring Hygiene Donut – 120
Enduring Fun Donut – 200
Enduring Social Donut – 300
Enduring Recognition Donut – 200
Donuts that completely empty an individual need gauge
Hunger Drain Donut – 50
Hygiene Drain Donut – 50
Sleep Drain Donut – 50
Bathroom Drain Donut – 50
Fun Drain Donut – 50
Social Drain Donut – 50
Recognition Drain Donut – 50
Energy Drain Donut – 50
Increase individual skill gains by 30% for one day
Cooking Donut – 100
Coffee Craft Donut – 100
Gardening Donut – 100
Art Donut – 100
Programming Donut – 100
Critical Thinking Donut – 100
Instrument Donut – 100
Media Production Donut – 100
Other donuts
Gazing Glaze Donut: Learn everything about any Zoi you talk to for one hour – 200
Calm-It Donut: Removes all emotions – 400
Downbeat Donut: Removes all positive emotions – 200
Upbeat Donut: Removes all negative emotions – 200
Grow-Grow Skill Donut: Increases all skill gains by 3x for one day – 1000
Neutral Donut: Resets your karma – 100
Diabolic Donut: Makes your karma terrible – 100
Coldproof Donut: Grants immunity from cold weather (no time limit given) – 100
Heatproof Donut: Grants immunity from hot weather (no time limit given) – 100
Criminal Mastermind Donut: Allows you to freely commit crimes without going to jail (no time limit given) – 500
Lucky Donut: Increases rewards from fishing, treasure hunts, claw machines and lotteries (no time limit given) – 200
Immunity Donut: Become immune to colds and allergies (no time limit given) – 100
Anthrax, an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is often treatable in its early stages. But once the disease has progressed beyond the “point of no return” after just a few days, patients are almost certainly doomed.
In a new Nature Microbiologystudy, University of Pittsburgh researchers show that a cocktail of growth factors reversed would-be lethal cell damage in mice with anthrax, suggesting that this approach could be adapted for use in patients beyond the brink.
“While only a few people die from anthrax in the United States each year, there is always the concern that the bacterium could be released on a large scale as a bioweapon,” said senior author Shihui Liu, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at the Pitt School of Medicine and member of the Aging Institute, a joint venture of Pitt and UPMC. “Because the early symptoms of anthrax are non-specific and flu-like, the disease often isn’t diagnosed until it’s too late for current treatments to help. We need new approaches to treat this later stage of the disease.”
When B. anthracis enters the body through inhalation, ingestion, injection or contact with skin, it produces two proteins that combine to form lethal toxin.
Early on, anthrax can be treated with antibiotics that eliminate the bacterium or antibodies that neutralize lethal toxin before it enters cells. But once inside cells, the toxin inactivates members of a group of enzymes known as MEKs by cleaving off one of their ends, disrupting the important pathways they control and rapidly causing widespread cellular, tissue and organ damage — and death.
To learn more about the roles of MEK-controlled pathways in anthrax toxicity, Liu and his team generated mice with modified MEKs that were resistant to being cleaved by lethal toxin. These included MEK1 and MEK2, which control a pathway called ERK involved in cellular division and survival, and MEK3 and MEK6, which regulate the p38 pathway that’s involved in stress-induced defense.
When exposed to lethal toxin or B. anthracis, mice with either modified MEK1/2 or MEK3/6 had much greater survival than normal animals, indicating that anthrax must inactivate both the ERK and p38 pathways to kill its host.
In mice and human cells exposed to lethal toxin or B. anthracis, a combination of three growth factors — all individually approved as treatments for other conditions — reactivated the ERK pathway and brought them back from the point of no return.
“Because lethal toxin breaks MEK proteins by clipping off their ends, we thought that this cellular damage was irreversible,” said Liu. “So we were really surprised to find that specific growth factors were able to reactivate the ERK pathway and rescue the cell.”
Because different types of cells in the body may require different growth factors to activate ERK, the researchers are now working to optimize a treatment for anthrax in humans.
Other authors on the study were Jie Liu, Ph.D., Zehua Zuo, Ph.D., Michael Ewing, Qing Cao, M.S., Qi Li, M.D., Ph.D., and Toren Finkel, M.D., Ph.D., all of Pitt and UPMC; Liu Cao, M.D., Ph.D., of China Medical University; and Stephen H. Leppla, Ph.D., of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
This research was supported by NIAID (R01AI170574).
Fruits with powerful fragrances have a unique way of connecting with our brains, evoking memories and sensations. Even sans their physical presence, the thought of their fragrance or the texture we feel when devouring them is enough to stir a vivid image.
Jackfruit, with its distinctive aroma and texture, is a classic example. Whether it’s a fresh fruit hanging from the tree or a weathered one lying on the path, the air around it is filled with a fragrance that’s hard to ignore. Large in size and with its striking colour or flesh, this tropical fruit is not only a treat for the senses but also a delight for the eyes.
Roots in the tropics
Native to the rainforest of western India, jackfruit has been cultivated for over 3,000 years. It gradually spread throughout Southeast Asia, reaching the Caribbean and the Americas via trade and migration.
Valued for its size, versatility and nutritional value, jackfruit adapted to diverse climates, becoming a staple food and a symbol of resilience in tropical regions worldwide. Today, jackfruit is cultivated in over 60 countries, especially India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China, Thailand and Vietnam.
The figgy’s
Jackfruit belongs to the Moraceae family, commonly known as the fig family. Scientifically named Artocarpus heterophyllus, it is closely related to fruits like breadfruit and osage-orange.
The ‘jack’ is believed to have its roots in Malayalam ‘chakka’, which could be further traced back to che-kai, a description for a bunch of green fruits. Portuguese scholar Garcia da Orta, in the 1560s, spotted this unique fruit during his explorations in the Indian subcontinent. He noted it as “jaca” in his writings. That eventually became jackfruit.
Representational Image
10/10 for health benefits
Jackfruit is packed with nutrients, offering numerous health benefits. It is high in fibre, which aids digestion, and rich in vitamins A and C, boosting immunity.
The fruit also provides antioxidants, promotes heart health, and supports weight management by being low in calories and high in plant-based protein. You must have heard how raw jackfruit flour has become a popular food supplement option among diabetics.
Varieties in focus
Although there isn’t a universally agreed-upon number of jackfruit varieties, research indicates at least 75 distinct types, with many farmers cultivating unique cultivars.
In India, two prominent varieties are Muttom Varikka, which has slightly harder flesh when ripe, and Sindoor, known for its soft, sweet inner flesh when ripe.
More than just a fruit
Jackfruit is a versatile star. The flesh known as aril delights in both sweet and savoury dishes, while the seeds are rich in protein, often boiled or ground.
The unripe fruit serves as a plant-based meat alternative. The wood creates durable crafts, and the leaves add flavour to traditional cooking. The skin is used in composting or as animal feed.
Representational Image
Meat substitute
Jackfruit is indeed a meat substitute, particularly in plant-based and vegetarian diets. Its texture, especially when unripe, is surprisingly similar to shredded chicken or pulled pork, making it a popular alternative in dishes like sandwiches, curries and stir-fries.
For this purpose, young jackfruit is picked while still green, before it becomes sweet. The firm, fibrous texture makes it perfect for replacing shredded meats, and when cooked it takes on the flavours of the dish, making it a versatile ingredient in many plant-based recipes. Best for people looking for plant-based protein sources.
From India, with love
India tops the list when it comes to jackfruit production, followed by Bangladesh, Thailand and the Philippines. The country’s annual output exceeds 14 million metric tonnes, accounting for around 60 per cent of the world’s total jackfruit production.
India’s tropical climate, with its warm, humid conditions and well-drained soil, provides the perfect environment for jackfruit to thrive. A mature jackfruit tree can produce about 200 fruits per year, with older ones bearing up to 500 fruits in a year.
Cinderella of fruit
Though not widely called so, jackfruit is sometimes referred to as the ‘Cinderella of fruits’ because much like the fairy tale character, the fruit has been overlooked and underappreciated for a long time. Its transformation from a humble fruit to a global favourite mirrors Cinderella’s remarkable journey.
Heaviest of the giants
According to the Guinness World Records, the heaviest jackfruit weighs 42.72kg and was found in Pune (as of 2016). It measured 57.15cm long and had a circumference of 132.08cm.
Notably, in 2020, a man from Anchal in Kerala discovered a jackfruit weighing 51.5kg. However, the Guinness World Records has not officially updated the record since 2016, possibly because the claim is still under review.
Tandoori Jackfruit
Ingredients
½ cup dairy-free yogurt
2-4 tbsp tandoori spice mix (adjust to taste)
1 can young jackfruit chunks, drained
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
2 small onions, quartered
3 mushrooms, quartered
8 bamboo skewers (soaked in cold water for 20 minutes)
Oil for greasing
Method:
Marinate the jackfruit in a container with a lid, mix dairy-free yogurt and tandoori spice blend. Add the jackfruit chunks and coat them well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably. Parboil the sweet potato chunks in salted boiling water for 5-7 minutes until they are firm but soft enough to skewer without falling apart. Drain and set aside. Set your oven to 220°C (425°F, Gas Mark 7). If using a fan-assisted oven, reduce the temperature slightly. Thread the marinated jackfruit, sweet potato, onion, and mushroom onto the soaked bamboo skewers, alternating the ingredients. Distribute all pieces evenly.Lightly oil two baking trays and place 4 skewers on each. Bake for 20 minutes, until slightly charred and cooked through. Enjoy hot with mint chutney, naan, or a fresh salad.
Jackfruit smoothie
Ingredients
1 cup ripe jackfruit (deseeded and chopped)
1 banana (for extra creaminess)
1 cup milk (or coconut milk for a tropical flavor)
½ cup yogurt (optional for a thicker texture)
½ cup ice cubes
Method
Add all the ingredients to a blender.Blend until smooth and creamy.Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.Pour into a glass, garnish with chopped jackfruit or nuts.
Sri Lankan jackfruit curry
Ingredients
1 cup ripe jackfruit (deseeded and chopped)
1 banana (for extra creaminess)
1 cup milk (or coconut milk for a tropical flavor)
½ cup yogurt (optional for a thicker texture)
½ cup ice cubes
Cinnamon stick: 1 no
Salt to taste
Curry leaves: 1 sprig
Peeled whole shallots:20 gram
Coconut milk(thick): 50 ml
Tamarind pulp: 15 ml
Sugar: 5 gram
Panda leaves: 3 nos
Method
Heat oil in a pan and add cinnamon sticks, garlic, ginger, shallot and salt. Sauté until it turns transparent and add all the seasonings, panda leaves and jackfruit cubes. Add required water and allow to boil. Boil the jackfruit cubes until tender. Add tamarind pulp and curry leaves. Turn off
About the Journal The term “Abhidhvaj”, inspired by the Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, represents the inception of a nation. Abhidhvaj Law Journal is a prestigious e-law journal committed to high academic standards and rigorous research. Why Publish with Us? Indexed in 30+ Databases: Including EBSCO (World Biggest database), J-GATE, Manupatra, ROAD, ABCD Index, Scope Database, Google […]
The post Call for Papers & Articles: Abhidhvaj Law Journal [Volume 3, Issue 3; Indexed in 30+ Databases – EBSCO (World Biggest database), J-GATE, Manupatra, Google Scholar, ROAD; Peer-Reviewed, Impact Factor 6.61, FREE DOI, Hard Copy, Academic Recognition, LIVE Tracking]: Submit Now! appeared first on Lawctopus.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025: The annual Hindu festival of Chaitra Navratri falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra, marking the beginning of the Hindu lunar year. This year, the 9-day festival begins on March 30 and concludes on April 7 with Ram Navami. During the celebrations, Hindu devotees worship Maa Durga and her nine avatars, and on the last day, they commemorate Lord Ram.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025: Celebrate the auspicious festival of Chaitra Navratri with these wishes, images, and greetings. (Image by Canva)
Also Read | Chaitra Navratri 2025 calendar: Start and end date of Navratri, full list of 9 days of fasting and all you need to know
If you and your loved ones are observing Chaitra Navratri, here are some specially curated wishes and images to share with them and celebrate the festival.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025: Traditional and spiritual wishes
1. Wishing you a blessed Chaitra Navratri filled with divine blessings and joy.
2. May the nine nights of Navratri bring you happiness, peace, and prosperity.
3. On this auspicious occasion, may Goddess Durga fill your life with her divine light and energy.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025.(Image by Canva)
4. May Maa Durga’s grace bring peace, positivity, and fulfilment into your life.
5. Let the divine energies of Navratri guide you to victory over all obstacles.
6. Wishing you strength, wisdom, and the courage to overcome all challenges this Navratri.
7. May the blessings of the nine goddesses empower you to walk the path of righteousness.
8. This Navratri, may Maa Durga’s blessings shower on you and your family.
9. With the blessings of Goddess Durga, may your life be filled with happiness, love, and health.
10. As we celebrate the victory of good over evil, may your life be filled with peace and harmony.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025: Greetings for prosperity and success
11. May this Chaitra Navratri mark the beginning of new opportunities and success for you.
12. Wishing you a prosperous Navratri filled with wealth, health, and joy.
13. May Maa Durga grant you the strength to achieve all your dreams this Navratri.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025.(Image by Canva)
14. On this holy occasion, may you be blessed with abundance and success in all your endeavours.
15. Let this Navratri bring new hope and success into your life.
16. May the divine power of Goddess Durga bless you with all the prosperity you deserve.
17. This Navratri, may your life shine brighter than ever with happiness and success.
18. May your journey be blessed with wisdom, prosperity, and good fortune this Navratri.
19. As we celebrate the triumph of good, may you also conquer every hurdle in your life.
20. Wishing you a Navratri filled with opportunities to prosper and grow spiritually.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025: Messages for family and friends
21. May this Navratri bring love, joy, and harmony to your family.
22. Wishing you and your family endless blessings and togetherness this Navratri.
23. May Maa Durga shower her blessings upon your loved ones and bring peace to your home.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025. (Image by Canva)
24. Sending you warm wishes for a beautiful and joyous Navratri celebration with your family.
25. May the divine blessings of Maa Durga strengthen the bonds of love in your family.
26. This Navratri, may your family be blessed with peace, joy, and prosperity.
27. Wishing you and your dear ones a Navratri filled with love, happiness, and harmony.
28. May the grace of Goddess Durga bring warmth, joy, and togetherness to your home.
29. Wishing your family strength and blessings from Maa Durga this Chaitra Navratri.
30. May this Navratri bring your family closer together and fill your hearts with love.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025: Vibrant wishes for loved ones
31. Wishing you a vibrant Navratri filled with celebrations, fun, and laughter.
32. May this Chaitra Navratri bring all your friends together in harmony and joy.
33. Sending you joyous Navratri wishes, hoping this festive season brings you closer to your friends and loved ones.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025. (Image by Canva)
34. May this Navratri be the start of new friendships and treasured moments.
35. As we celebrate Navratri, may our friendship continue to grow and be blessed by Maa Durga.
36. Here’s to a Navratri filled with dance, fun, and unforgettable memories with friends.
37. Wishing you a festive and fun-filled Navratri celebration with your friends and family.
38. May this Navratri bring happiness, positivity, and fun moments into your life.
39. May the festive season of Navratri strengthen our friendship and fill our hearts with joy.
40. This Navratri, may our bond of friendship be blessed by the divine grace of Maa Durga.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025: Unique and Creative Wishes
41. May the divine blessings of Navratri ignite a fire of enthusiasm and inspiration within you.
42. Let the nine nights of Navratri lead you towards a life filled with wisdom and strength.
43. May the nine forms of Goddess Durga bring you peace, prosperity, and spiritual growth.
Happy Chaitra Navratri 2025. (Image by Canva)
44. Wishing you an unforgettable Chaitra Navratri filled with light, love, and positivity.
45. May this festival of Chaitra Navratri open new doors to your dreams and aspirations.
46. Let the divine energy of Navratri awaken your spirit and bless you with eternal joy.
47. May the spirit of Navratri inspire you to be the best version of yourself every day.
48. As the festival of Chaitra Navratri begins, may you experience miracles and blessings.
49. On this auspicious occasion, may the Goddess’s blessings transform your life into a divine journey.
50. Wishing you a Navratri full of devotion, celebrations, and new beginnings.
51. May Maa Durga bless you and your loved ones on the special occasion of Chaitra Navratri.
Note to readers: This story includes AI-generated elements.
Bluebird bio on Friday received a new buyout offer that surpasses a take-private bid the pioneering gene therapy developer received last month.
In a short statement, Bluebird confirmed Ayrmid Ltd., the parent company of cell therapy developer Gamida Cell, has offered to buy the company in a deal valuing it at about $45 million. Through that deal, Ayrmid would acquire Bluebird for $4.50 per share upfront as well as a so-called contingent value right that would give its stockholders another $6.84 per share if an unspecified sales milestone is met.
The deal values Bluebird at a fraction of its worth several years ago, when it had a market capitalization in the billions of dollars. But it’s higher than the roughly $30 million bid submitted in February by private equity firms Carlyle Group and SK Capital. The two firms are similarly offering a $6.84 per share contingent value right payment for Bluebird, but only a $3 per share upfront cash payout.
According to a regulatory filing, Bluebird could owe the two firms a $1.5 million breakup fee or $300,000 in expense reimbursement, if it backs out of the deal. In its statement, the company said it is “carefully reviewing” the proposal with its legal and financial advisors, but its board “has not changed its recommendation in support of the merger” with Carlyle and SK Capital. “The board will provide further updates to its stockholders as appropriate,” the company said.
Bluebird, a company long at the forefront of gene therapy research, was pushed to find a buyer after years of financial problems that culminated with a possible default. Though the company brought three rare disease gene therapies to market, it faced significant challenges selling them and wasn’t able to turn a profit, a reflection of the tall task of commercializing treatments made from a patient’s own stem cells. Bluebird has burned through about $4.5 billion since its inception, and posted a net loss of about $241 million last year.
The company began reviewing strategic alternatives in recent months, meeting with more than 70 potential investors and partners. Bluebird confirmed Friday that Ayrmid was one of those parties, but the firm hadn’t previously submitted a bid.
When Bluebird announced its deal with Carlyle Group and SK Capital on Feb. 21, it said in a statement then that the buyout was the “only viable solution.”
Bluebird shares closed Friday at about $4 apiece, but rose higher in postmarket trading.
Historically, property markets slow down before elections as buyers and sellers adopt a “wait and see” approach.
The biggest impact on property markets comes from the policies introduced by the winning government.
After the 2019 election, when negative gearing policies were left unchanged, property prices surged.
The 2022 election had minimal impact on the market as no major property policy shifts were proposed.
Generally, property markets stabilise within 3-6 months post-election.
Elections cause short-term hesitation, but they don’t derail property markets. Smart investors see uncertainty as an opportunity rather than a risk.
With the 2025 Federal Election now locked in for May 3rd, Australian property investors and homebuyers are naturally keen to understand how the electoral outcomes could impact the real estate market.
Historically, elections bring uncertainty, and uncertainty tends to make markets cautious.
Buyers hesitate, sellers hold back, and investors wait to see if major policy changes will affect taxation, lending, or housing affordability.
However, I’ve found that this temporary slowdown often creates opportunities for savvy investors willing to act amidst the uncertainty.
History shows that while elections may cause short-term disruptions, they rarely change the fundamental forces driving property prices in the long run.
Let’s be blunt…the Australian political system, by and large, supports policies that support the value of residential real estate, which is a significant component of national wealth.
No major political party wants to preside over a property downtown that will adversely affect property owners.
Elections create short-term uncertainty, but the market recovers quickly
This election campaigns will last 5 weeks and during that time property market activity is likely to slow down a little.
Buyers and sellers prefer certainty when making big financial decisions, and a change in government can mean potential shifts in housing policies, taxes, and economic settings.
If political uncertainty was a major factor, we’d expect property transactions to drop in the months surrounding an election.
Yet, Domain’s analysis of the past seven federal elections shows no statistically significant impact on property sales:
Sales before, during, and after an election remain broadly stable.
In some cases, sales even increase slightly in the lead-up to an election.
Buyers are primarily influenced by personal factors (job changes, family needs, financial stability) rather than election results
.
Of course, once the election is over, regardless of who wins, market confidence typically returns within weeks and life goes on.
Note: If you’re looking to buy, pre-election jitters can create opportunities to secure a property with less competition.
Overview of Housing Policies by Major Australian Political Parties for the 2025 Federal Election
The housing shortage, affordability and access to somewhere to live for everyone from first-home buyers to renters, are set to be major issues that decide the 2025 federal election on May 3.
Here is a summary of what has been promised so far:
Australian Labor Party
Expansion of Support: Boosting the housing support budget to $33 billion, raising income and price caps for the Help to Buy scheme, and excluding HECS debt from mortgage calculations.
Supply Initiatives: Implementing the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and the National Housing Accord to facilitate the construction of 1.2 million new homes over five years, including 30,000 social and affordable homes.
Coalition
Superannuation for Housing: Allowing homebuyers to use up to 40% of their superannuation for home purchases, with a ceiling of $50,000.
Infrastructure and Migration Policies: Investing $5 billion in infrastructure for housing on greenfield sites and reducing overseas migration to decrease competition in the housing market.
The Greens
Tax and Rent Policies: Proposing cuts to negative gearing for those with more than two properties and imposing limits on capital gains tax discounts. They advocate for a public property developer to build 360,000 homes in five years and support freezing and capping rent increases.
The key policy areas that could shape the market
While elections create uncertainty, the real concern is not the election itself but the policies the winning government implements.
AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver reports:
Looking at the Australian residential property market, using CoreLogic data since 1980, capital city property prices have risen 7.7% pa under Coalition governments and 4.3% pa under Labor.
That said, policies with respect to housing have not been particularly different under both sides of politics.
Once in government, political parties are usually forced to adopt at least half sensible policies if they wish to ensure rising living standards and arguably there has been broad consensus in recent decades regarding key macro-economic fundamentals – eg, low inflation and mostly free markets.
Currently both sides of politics are focussed on boosting housing supply.
The Labor Government is focussed on trying to build 1.2 million new homes over 5 years – a target we know cannot be met and its Help to Buy scheme will just boost home prices as more first home buyers compete for the limited number of properties available
The Coalition promises to invest $5 billion in housing infrastructure and cut permanent migration by 25%, however its policy to allow first home buyers to access $50,000 of their super will just boost home prices – great for established home owners.
It is possible that more election promises will occur over the next few weeks so, in my mind, investors should be paying attention to these key areas:
a) Negative Gearing & Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
Negative gearing and CGT discounts have been long-standing features of Australia’s property investment landscape. However, they often become political battlegrounds.
In the 2019 election, a proposed change to limit negative gearing and reduce CGT discounts led to a sharp decline in investor sentiment. Once it became clear that no changes would be made, confidence rebounded, and house prices surged.
In the 2022 election, both major parties largely avoided these issues, preventing any major shocks to the market.
If a future government were to restrict negative gearing or reduce CGT discounts, it could lead to a pullback in investor demand, particularly in markets heavily driven by investors, such as Sydney and Melbourne.
However, neither party is suggesting this will happen at present – they want to win this election.
b) Supply and Development Incentives
One of the biggest challenges in Australia’s housing market currently is the lack of supply.
Currently the government is focussing on incentivising private developers to build more homes by offering tax benefits, rezoning land, or fast-tracking approvals.
However, property supply is a long-term issue, and election policies rarely result in an immediate fix.
Note: Policies impacting tax incentives (negative gearing, CGT) tend to affect investors more than affordability measures, which typically benefit first-home buyers.
What history tells us about elections and property markets
Looking at previous Australian elections, a clear pattern emerges:
Property markets may slow down a little before the election – Buyers and sellers hesitate, listings drop and transaction volumes decline.
If major property-related policies are proposed, investor sentiment is affected – For example, the 2019 election caused investor anxiety due to proposed negative gearing changes, whereas the 2022 election had minimal impact as no major reforms were on the table.
Post-election recovery occurs quickly – Regardless of which party wins, property prices typically stabilise and resume their trajectory within three to six months.
For example, in the six months following the 2019 election, Sydney house prices rose significantly as investors re-entered the market after a period of hesitation.
Note: Elections create short-term uncertainty, but they do not override long-term property cycles driven by population growth, supply shortages, and interest rates.
Interest rates and the economy matter more than elections
While election outcomes can shape policy, one of the biggest factor influencing property markets is monetary policy—particularly interest rates.
If an election coincides with rate cuts, property prices tend to rise, as borrowing becomes cheaper.
If interest rates remain high, demand can weaken regardless of who is in government.
For example, despite the 2022 election having minimal impact on the market, the RBA’s rapid interest rate hikes in 2022-2023 caused property price declines nationwide.
Note: Elections are a distraction—interest rates, economic growth, and supply-demand dynamics have a bigger impact on property prices.
Final thoughts: what should investors do?
History tells us that while elections create temporary uncertainty, Australia’s property market is resilient and continues to grow over the long term.
So my recommendations are:
Ignore election noise and focus on long-term fundamentals. Property markets follow bigger economic cycles that go beyond short-term political events.
Look for pre-election opportunities. If uncertainty causes buyers to hesitate, you may find less competition and better deals in the lead-up to an election.
Watch for policy shifts post-election. If there are changes to tax laws, lending policies, or housing affordability schemes, adjust your strategy accordingly.
Pay attention to interest rates and supply trends. These factors will determine property prices far more than who is in power.
In my mind, we should all be stayed informed, but don’t let election fears dictate our decisions.
About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He’s once again been voted Australia’s leading property investment adviser and one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.
More than 1,000 Division I men’s basketball players have entered the transfer portal since it opened on March 24. That’s a lot of names and faces to learn as college basketball’s roster management busy season increasingly resembles NBA free agency. This is where The Athletic’s transfer portal rankings come in.
The rankings are a living document we will continue to expand and update as more players hit the portal. Some notes to keep in mind: First, positional scarcity is taken into account. The easiest type of player to find in the portal is a scoring guard; the hardest types are versatile wings and bigs. Second, remaining eligibility matters. Players with potential to play more than one season carry more value. Finally, these rankings are essentially scheme-agnostic. Not every team runs the same offense and defense, so no two teams’ boards look the same. Take these as more of a list of transfers to watch than an official window into how much every team values every player.
With that said, here are The Athletic’s 2025 transfer portal rankings.
Loading
Try changing or resetting your filters to see more.
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 180
The maestro of Drake’s 31-win team is following Ben McCollum to Iowa, announcing that he would be joining his coach in Iowa City even before his name officially hit the portal. Stirtz is a tremendous processor who understands exactly how to play within McCollum’s scheme. He runs the show and seemingly never leaves the court (over 39 minutes per game this season). He can score from all three levels, can play on and off the ball and serves as an extension of his coach on the floor. He scored 21 points in both of Drake’s NCAA Tournament games against high-major competition. There are some athletic concerns as he moves up a level, but those are more NBA-focused than college-centric. Stirtz is a good bet to be an All-American next season and a monster building block for Iowa in the post-Fran McCaffery world. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 180
The maestro of Drake’s 31-win team is following Ben McCollum to Iowa, announcing that he would be joining his coach in Iowa City even before his name officially hit the portal. Stirtz is a tremendous processor who understands exactly how to play within McCollum’s scheme. He runs the show and seemingly never leaves the court (over 39 minutes per game this season). He can score from all three levels, can play on and off the ball and serves as an extension of his coach on the floor. He scored 21 points in both of Drake’s NCAA Tournament games against high-major competition. There are some athletic concerns as he moves up a level, but those are more NBA-focused than college-centric. Stirtz is a good bet to be an All-American next season and a monster building block for Iowa in the post-Fran McCaffery world. — Sam Vecenie
Guard
Committed
Drake
Iowa Hawkeyes
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 175
Dent was one of the best point guards in college basketball this season, becoming the first player since 1997 to average at least 20 points and six assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3. He was a borderline All-American while carrying a fast-paced offense to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He’s wildly competitive and reads the court incredibly well. Any mistake that a team makes in ball-screen defense, Dent is going to hammer it. Tag too late, he’ll hit the lob to a big. Tag too aggressively on the weak side, he’ll hit the cross-corner kick-out. If you give him too much space coming off of a screen, he’ll attack the rim or find a beautiful little floater. He’s lethal at getting to the foul line, too. Dent has every chance to be an All-American next year wherever he ends up. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 175
Dent was one of the best point guards in college basketball this season, becoming the first player since 1997 to average at least 20 points and six assists while shooting 49 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3. He was a borderline All-American while carrying a fast-paced offense to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He’s wildly competitive and reads the court incredibly well. Any mistake that a team makes in ball-screen defense, Dent is going to hammer it. Tag too late, he’ll hit the lob to a big. Tag too aggressively on the weak side, he’ll hit the cross-corner kick-out. If you give him too much space coming off of a screen, he’ll attack the rim or find a beautiful little floater. He’s lethal at getting to the foul line, too. Dent has every chance to be an All-American next year wherever he ends up. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 215
Conwell proved he could be a high-major go-to guy this year at Xavier after breaking out in his one season at Indiana State. He’s one of the best scorers in the portal, able to fill it up from all three levels. The lefty shot 41.2 percent from 3, and he’s elite in catch-and-shoot, off movement and off the bounce. He’s one of those lefties who just seems hard to stop from getting to his left hand. He’s smooth and strong, so he finds a way to get to his spots. He also battles defensively and is a valuable two-way wing. He can be streaky, but when he’s on, he can really go off — proven by two 30-plus-point games this season. Conwell is arguably the best wing in the portal and should be highly coveted. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 215
Conwell proved he could be a high-major go-to guy this year at Xavier after breaking out in his one season at Indiana State. He’s one of the best scorers in the portal, able to fill it up from all three levels. The lefty shot 41.2 percent from 3, and he’s elite in catch-and-shoot, off movement and off the bounce. He’s one of those lefties who just seems hard to stop from getting to his left hand. He’s smooth and strong, so he finds a way to get to his spots. He also battles defensively and is a valuable two-way wing. He can be streaky, but when he’s on, he can really go off — proven by two 30-plus-point games this season. Conwell is arguably the best wing in the portal and should be highly coveted. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 225
DeVries played for his dad, Darian, at Drake before following him to West Virginia and now to Indiana. A two-time Missouri Valley player of the year, he’s an elite shooter off movement who can create shots from all three levels. He takes about seven 3s per game, and while he only hits them at a 37 percent clip, that’s because he takes some truly difficult ones off all sorts of intricate action within this offense. He also passes extremely well. His feet can be a bit slow on defense, a trait that could be exploited in the Big Ten. Still, expect him to be one of the best players in the league next season even coming off the wrist injury that held him out for all but eight games this year. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 225
DeVries played for his dad, Darian, at Drake before following him to West Virginia and now to Indiana. A two-time Missouri Valley player of the year, he’s an elite shooter off movement who can create shots from all three levels. He takes about seven 3s per game, and while he only hits them at a 37 percent clip, that’s because he takes some truly difficult ones off all sorts of intricate action within this offense. He also passes extremely well. His feet can be a bit slow on defense, a trait that could be exploited in the Big Ten. Still, expect him to be one of the best players in the league next season even coming off the wrist injury that held him out for all but eight games this year. — Sam Vecenie
Wing
Committed
West Virginia
Indiana Hoosiers
Ht: 6-10 Wt: 230
Freeman extended a long line of great Iowa post players under Fran McCaffery, consistently getting to his spots on the block and making shots. He shot 63 percent in post-ups, per Synergy, and has a great back-to-the-basket game. But he also has some handle, allowing him to attack in straight lines before using drop steps and counters to finish. His footwork is terrific, and he had a couple of moments when he stepped away and showed some potential from 3-point range. Teams that run several post-ups will likely be the best fit here, but he would also fit in ball-screen offenses that utilize seals. But to win games that matter, his new team must surround him with high-level defenders. That end of the floor wasn’t always a strength despite his gaudy 1.8 blocks per game. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-10 Wt: 230
Freeman extended a long line of great Iowa post players under Fran McCaffery, consistently getting to his spots on the block and making shots. He shot 63 percent in post-ups, per Synergy, and has a great back-to-the-basket game. But he also has some handle, allowing him to attack in straight lines before using drop steps and counters to finish. His footwork is terrific, and he had a couple of moments when he stepped away and showed some potential from 3-point range. Teams that run several post-ups will likely be the best fit here, but he would also fit in ball-screen offenses that utilize seals. But to win games that matter, his new team must surround him with high-level defenders. That end of the floor wasn’t always a strength despite his gaudy 1.8 blocks per game. — Sam Vecenie
Forward
Committed
Iowa
Creighton Bluejays
Ht: 6-5Wt: 210
One of the most fun breakout stars of the year in the Big Ten, Dix is a skilled, efficient gunner who makes great decisions. He shot 51 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line, but the big number here is the 42.2 percent mark on five 3-point attempts per game. He’s an all-situations shooter: off spot-ups, off movement, off relocations and off the dribble. He tops it off by being useful in ball screens as a handler and cutting sharply off the ball. He has an NBA-style off-ball game, and he’ll likely fit best in a scheme that prioritizes off-ball movement, 3-point shooting and five-out play. But he can play anywhere in the country. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5Wt: 210
One of the most fun breakout stars of the year in the Big Ten, Dix is a skilled, efficient gunner who makes great decisions. He shot 51 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free-throw line, but the big number here is the 42.2 percent mark on five 3-point attempts per game. He’s an all-situations shooter: off spot-ups, off movement, off relocations and off the dribble. He tops it off by being useful in ball screens as a handler and cutting sharply off the ball. He has an NBA-style off-ball game, and he’ll likely fit best in a scheme that prioritizes off-ball movement, 3-point shooting and five-out play. But he can play anywhere in the country. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200
DeMary is unlike just about anyone else available. Why? He’s a big guard who can actually run an offense. Landing him gives a team a lot more flexibility in the other guys they can pursue: A big lead lets you play smaller scoring guards if you want, or go with the recent Connecticut model and switch all actions across positions one through four at a high level. DeMary had a monster close to this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.5 per game over his final 10, and he shot it well enough from 3 all year to play both on and off the ball if needed. He’s a serious chess piece. Expect an expensive battle for his services. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200
DeMary is unlike just about anyone else available. Why? He’s a big guard who can actually run an offense. Landing him gives a team a lot more flexibility in the other guys they can pursue: A big lead lets you play smaller scoring guards if you want, or go with the recent Connecticut model and switch all actions across positions one through four at a high level. DeMary had a monster close to this season, averaging 19.3 points and 3.5 per game over his final 10, and he shot it well enough from 3 all year to play both on and off the ball if needed. He’s a serious chess piece. Expect an expensive battle for his services. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-6Wt: 225
Hopkins has had a wild career, starting at Kentucky as a consensus top-40 recruit before transferring to Providence and exploding onto the scene with a first-team All-Big East campaign in 2022-23. Hopkins tried his luck with the NBA Draft in 2023 but returned to school and tore his ACL midway through his junior season. He tried to return this season but suffered a bone bruise after three games and missed the rest of the year. At his best, Hopkins is a mismatch nightmare at the four who can slash and finish at the rim with physicality, make plays for his teammates and defend with toughness. He could turn out to be one of the best players in college hoops next season, or he could struggle with his knee and disappoint. Given the resources that you’d have to allocate to get him, Hopkins won’t be for everyone. But if he’s right, he’s a genuine program-changer. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-6Wt: 225
Hopkins has had a wild career, starting at Kentucky as a consensus top-40 recruit before transferring to Providence and exploding onto the scene with a first-team All-Big East campaign in 2022-23. Hopkins tried his luck with the NBA Draft in 2023 but returned to school and tore his ACL midway through his junior season. He tried to return this season but suffered a bone bruise after three games and missed the rest of the year. At his best, Hopkins is a mismatch nightmare at the four who can slash and finish at the rim with physicality, make plays for his teammates and defend with toughness. He could turn out to be one of the best players in college hoops next season, or he could struggle with his knee and disappoint. Given the resources that you’d have to allocate to get him, Hopkins won’t be for everyone. But if he’s right, he’s a genuine program-changer. — Sam Vecenie
Forward
In Portal
Providence
Ht: 7-0Wt: 190
Gwath went from zero-star recruit to legitimate NBA prospect in a single season. He won both freshman of the year and defensive player of the year in the Mountain West (although he has some ball-screen and perimeter issues to work through on that end) and has a pro-style game. The numbers don’t look gaudy, but that’s because it took him time to establish himself. He is a 7-footer with legitimate handles who can attack from the perimeter in addition to shooting from 3. Gwath is still quite skinny and will need to keep filling out his frame over the next few years, but I would anticipate this ends with him playing in the NBA, and he should go to a school that will better weaponize his perimeter game and space the court around him. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 7-0Wt: 190
Gwath went from zero-star recruit to legitimate NBA prospect in a single season. He won both freshman of the year and defensive player of the year in the Mountain West (although he has some ball-screen and perimeter issues to work through on that end) and has a pro-style game. The numbers don’t look gaudy, but that’s because it took him time to establish himself. He is a 7-footer with legitimate handles who can attack from the perimeter in addition to shooting from 3. Gwath is still quite skinny and will need to keep filling out his frame over the next few years, but I would anticipate this ends with him playing in the NBA, and he should go to a school that will better weaponize his perimeter game and space the court around him. — Sam Vecenie
Forward
In Portal
San Diego St
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 220
Swain certainly has one of the best potential futures of any player in the portal. He’s a genuine NBA prospect who should declare for the draft this season to at least test his stock. A tremendous defensive playmaker, Swain has incredibly long arms and is wildly reactive on the court. He averaged 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks to go with 11 points. Offensively, teams generally played off him this year, and he made them pay at times (he had 27 points in Xavier’s Round of 64 game vs. Illinois). However, to take that next step and become one of the best college players in the country — and a legitimate NBA player — he will have to improve his shot. He made just 25 percent from 3 this season and doesn’t look all that comfortable taking them. The good news? He has some real touch around the rim and made 82 percent of his free throws, so he has a chance to take that next step. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 220
Swain certainly has one of the best potential futures of any player in the portal. He’s a genuine NBA prospect who should declare for the draft this season to at least test his stock. A tremendous defensive playmaker, Swain has incredibly long arms and is wildly reactive on the court. He averaged 1.6 steals and 0.6 blocks to go with 11 points. Offensively, teams generally played off him this year, and he made them pay at times (he had 27 points in Xavier’s Round of 64 game vs. Illinois). However, to take that next step and become one of the best college players in the country — and a legitimate NBA player — he will have to improve his shot. He made just 25 percent from 3 this season and doesn’t look all that comfortable taking them. The good news? He has some real touch around the rim and made 82 percent of his free throws, so he has a chance to take that next step. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 195
A former five-star recruit, Sanon is a bucket-getter through and through. He’s not overly big, but he averaged 12 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3 as a freshman. The numbers aren’t what they seem, however. He had a dry spell in conference play after a strong start, averaging just six points from Dec. 14 through Feb. 23 while he played through an ankle injury. He was healthy at the end of the season and averaged 19 points in his final five games. He needs to improve drastically on defense and work on making consistent reads as a driver. If he can make tough, winning plays on both ends of the court on a regular basis, he has real NBA upside after next season. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 195
A former five-star recruit, Sanon is a bucket-getter through and through. He’s not overly big, but he averaged 12 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3 as a freshman. The numbers aren’t what they seem, however. He had a dry spell in conference play after a strong start, averaging just six points from Dec. 14 through Feb. 23 while he played through an ankle injury. He was healthy at the end of the season and averaged 19 points in his final five games. He needs to improve drastically on defense and work on making consistent reads as a driver. If he can make tough, winning plays on both ends of the court on a regular basis, he has real NBA upside after next season. — Sam Vecenie
Wing
Committed
Arizona State
St. John’s Red Storm
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 180
One of the best pop-up freshmen in the country this season, Wooley was dominant in Conference USA for Kennesaw State. Not only are the averages per game impressive, but he shot 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 77 percent from the line. His frame still needs a bit of work, so it makes sense that he spends at least one more season in college. However, he did almost carry Kennesaw to a win over league-champion Liberty in the conference tournament, scoring 28 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists. He also had 25 points and 19 points against top-100 teams UC Irvine and Santa Clara. Originally from Tuscaloosa, this feels like it’ll be an all-out war between Alabama and Auburn. Wooley is good enough to play anywhere. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 180
One of the best pop-up freshmen in the country this season, Wooley was dominant in Conference USA for Kennesaw State. Not only are the averages per game impressive, but he shot 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 77 percent from the line. His frame still needs a bit of work, so it makes sense that he spends at least one more season in college. However, he did almost carry Kennesaw to a win over league-champion Liberty in the conference tournament, scoring 28 points, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out five assists. He also had 25 points and 19 points against top-100 teams UC Irvine and Santa Clara. Originally from Tuscaloosa, this feels like it’ll be an all-out war between Alabama and Auburn. Wooley is good enough to play anywhere. — Sam Vecenie
Guard
In Portal
Kennesaw St
Ht: 6-4Wt: 200
The pitch with McKneely is simple: He’s one of the best shooters in the country, point blank. He has made 43.1 percent of his nearly seven 3-point attempts over the last two years. He makes them off movement at a high level and can find his shot from just about any situation. Where he’s really improved over the last two years, though, is how he uses the threat of that shot to attack off it, finding his way into the lane to score occasionally or to use a touch floater. He’s not a monster passer, but he sees reads well and is unselfish. He also rarely makes mistakes. Teams that run a lot of actions to free shooters should be salivating about getting McKneely into their scheme. The perfect fit here is for McKneely to be Koby Brea’s replacement at Kentucky, given that he grew up a three-hour drive away in West Virginia. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-4Wt: 200
The pitch with McKneely is simple: He’s one of the best shooters in the country, point blank. He has made 43.1 percent of his nearly seven 3-point attempts over the last two years. He makes them off movement at a high level and can find his shot from just about any situation. Where he’s really improved over the last two years, though, is how he uses the threat of that shot to attack off it, finding his way into the lane to score occasionally or to use a touch floater. He’s not a monster passer, but he sees reads well and is unselfish. He also rarely makes mistakes. Teams that run a lot of actions to free shooters should be salivating about getting McKneely into their scheme. The perfect fit here is for McKneely to be Koby Brea’s replacement at Kentucky, given that he grew up a three-hour drive away in West Virginia. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-10Wt: 230
Cofie started the season on fire and looked like a potential one-and-done player. However, he cooled off as the season progressed, looking more like a terrific first-year starter who will take some time to develop to get to the next level. He played about 20 minutes per game and is a sharp, reactive player across the board. He gets his hands up and makes defensive plays regularly and can rotate across the back line to be available on the weak side. Offensively, the jumper looks entirely workable, and he’s a serious mismatch threat with his size and ability to handle the ball. It’s hard to find fours with enough size to play the center position in college, and even with his downturn in shooting late in the year, Virginia was still 10 points per 100 possessions better with Cofie on the court than when he was off it, per CBB Analytics. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-10Wt: 230
Cofie started the season on fire and looked like a potential one-and-done player. However, he cooled off as the season progressed, looking more like a terrific first-year starter who will take some time to develop to get to the next level. He played about 20 minutes per game and is a sharp, reactive player across the board. He gets his hands up and makes defensive plays regularly and can rotate across the back line to be available on the weak side. Offensively, the jumper looks entirely workable, and he’s a serious mismatch threat with his size and ability to handle the ball. It’s hard to find fours with enough size to play the center position in college, and even with his downturn in shooting late in the year, Virginia was still 10 points per 100 possessions better with Cofie on the court than when he was off it, per CBB Analytics. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-8Wt: 190
NBA teams are keeping their eyes on Williams after a terrific freshman season at Tulane that saw him do exactly what scouts look for from low-usage wings — knock down shots and be a menace on defense. He drilled 41 percent of his five 3-point attempts per game and has a nice stroke that should continue to translate up levels. On defense, he’s active with his hands and length, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks from the four spot. The reason he’s more of a four than a three right now is that his ball skills need to improve significantly. But he knows his role, makes good decisions and doesn’t tend to overextend himself. This is a good bet for any high-major team to take, even the ones at the highest levels. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-8Wt: 190
NBA teams are keeping their eyes on Williams after a terrific freshman season at Tulane that saw him do exactly what scouts look for from low-usage wings — knock down shots and be a menace on defense. He drilled 41 percent of his five 3-point attempts per game and has a nice stroke that should continue to translate up levels. On defense, he’s active with his hands and length, averaging 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocks from the four spot. The reason he’s more of a four than a three right now is that his ball skills need to improve significantly. But he knows his role, makes good decisions and doesn’t tend to overextend himself. This is a good bet for any high-major team to take, even the ones at the highest levels. — Sam Vecenie
Wing
Committed
Tulane
Kentucky Wildcats
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 200
Harper is this season’s mid-major breakout freshman, a 6-foot-7 wing who won both the MEAC’s player of the year and freshman of the year awards. A smooth lefty with a sweet shooting stroke and great touch, Harper still has some things to work on but has the look of a high-level, high-major recruit. He attacks aggressively off the bounce and is fearless driving to the paint. He averaged 8.4 free-throw attempts per game and does a great job of drawing contact, even though he’s not overly vertical. The worries here are that he wasn’t overly efficient at the rim and that he was an athletic/size outlier at the MEAC level. He needs to work on his strength to bounce off other wings and improve his footwork on drives. Otherwise, he’ll need to be more willing to fire from 3. He reminds me of Florida starting wing Will Richard back when Richard was at Belmont. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 200
Harper is this season’s mid-major breakout freshman, a 6-foot-7 wing who won both the MEAC’s player of the year and freshman of the year awards. A smooth lefty with a sweet shooting stroke and great touch, Harper still has some things to work on but has the look of a high-level, high-major recruit. He attacks aggressively off the bounce and is fearless driving to the paint. He averaged 8.4 free-throw attempts per game and does a great job of drawing contact, even though he’s not overly vertical. The worries here are that he wasn’t overly efficient at the rim and that he was an athletic/size outlier at the MEAC level. He needs to work on his strength to bounce off other wings and improve his footwork on drives. Otherwise, he’ll need to be more willing to fire from 3. He reminds me of Florida starting wing Will Richard back when Richard was at Belmont. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-9Wt: 220
The Horizon League Player of the Year, Folgueiras led Robert Morris to the NCAA Tournament and helped give Alabama just about all it could handle. At 6-foot-9, Folgueiras is an incredibly gifted, skilled mismatch four. The Spanish forward has great instincts across the court for playing off the ball, with timely cuts and sharp movements to find open 3s. He can pick-and-pop, and he posted his man well at the Horizon League level. His touch is terrific, and he can put the ball on the deck to finish, too. He’s also a sharp passer who sees the court well. So, what’s the issue? He’s just not all that explosive athletically. He’s a bit in-between positions defensively at the high-major level, too. But he’s active with his hands and knows where to be, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. I’m a big believer in him translating up levels and thriving at least as a high-level starter. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-9Wt: 220
The Horizon League Player of the Year, Folgueiras led Robert Morris to the NCAA Tournament and helped give Alabama just about all it could handle. At 6-foot-9, Folgueiras is an incredibly gifted, skilled mismatch four. The Spanish forward has great instincts across the court for playing off the ball, with timely cuts and sharp movements to find open 3s. He can pick-and-pop, and he posted his man well at the Horizon League level. His touch is terrific, and he can put the ball on the deck to finish, too. He’s also a sharp passer who sees the court well. So, what’s the issue? He’s just not all that explosive athletically. He’s a bit in-between positions defensively at the high-major level, too. But he’s active with his hands and knows where to be, averaging 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. I’m a big believer in him translating up levels and thriving at least as a high-level starter. — Sam Vecenie
Forward
In Portal
Robert Morris
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180
A former five-star prospect coming out of Sweden by way of high school powerhouse Link Academy in Missouri, Cadeau never quite found his footing at North Carolina after choosing to reclassify into the 2023 recruiting class. He’s certainly a dynamic playmaker and passer, as he showed while averaging over six assists per game this season. But he could be turnover-prone and didn’t have a consistent way to score. He’s a real athlete, but he’s a bit undersized and needs to keep working on the jumper to create that threat to get defenders off-balance. He likes to drive downhill or to get out in transition to finish at the rim, but he’s inconsistent at doing that, having made only 50 percent of his attempts in the half court at the basket. There’s clear talent here, and a change of scenery may allow him to bloom. A well-spaced offense that is ball-screen dominant would fit his game best. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180
A former five-star prospect coming out of Sweden by way of high school powerhouse Link Academy in Missouri, Cadeau never quite found his footing at North Carolina after choosing to reclassify into the 2023 recruiting class. He’s certainly a dynamic playmaker and passer, as he showed while averaging over six assists per game this season. But he could be turnover-prone and didn’t have a consistent way to score. He’s a real athlete, but he’s a bit undersized and needs to keep working on the jumper to create that threat to get defenders off-balance. He likes to drive downhill or to get out in transition to finish at the rim, but he’s inconsistent at doing that, having made only 50 percent of his attempts in the half court at the basket. There’s clear talent here, and a change of scenery may allow him to bloom. A well-spaced offense that is ball-screen dominant would fit his game best. — Sam Vecenie
Guard
In Portal
North Carolina
Ht: 6-1Wt: 175
A two-time All-Mountain West pick, Thomas is one of the better floor generals available in the portal. He passes the ball extremely well and has a very attack-oriented mindset. He constantly trying to get downhill to the rim and does an amazing job of drawing fouls, averaging six per game. He also has a smooth lefty floater game and the ability to step out and drill shots from distance off the catch. But he’s also quite small, and that impacts his game in several ways. His finishing on the interior when he doesn’t draw contact isn’t great, and he isn’t always effective on defense. Still, expect Thomas to get a massive amount of money to run the show at a high-major next year, and he’ll have a real shot to be an all-conference pick as he puts up gaudy numbers. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-1Wt: 175
A two-time All-Mountain West pick, Thomas is one of the better floor generals available in the portal. He passes the ball extremely well and has a very attack-oriented mindset. He constantly trying to get downhill to the rim and does an amazing job of drawing fouls, averaging six per game. He also has a smooth lefty floater game and the ability to step out and drill shots from distance off the catch. But he’s also quite small, and that impacts his game in several ways. His finishing on the interior when he doesn’t draw contact isn’t great, and he isn’t always effective on defense. Still, expect Thomas to get a massive amount of money to run the show at a high-major next year, and he’ll have a real shot to be an all-conference pick as he puts up gaudy numbers. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7Wt: 185
Freeman is a Division II prospect from Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee, the former stomping grounds of current Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz. He’s twitchy and athletic and has the look of a real NBA prospect down the road. He has significant burst and hit around 40 percent of his 3s this season. He’s 6-7, and it’s hard to find players this big, skilled and athletic. So, where does he slot in as a transfer? He’s still quite skinny, and while he has a creative handle, it feels like it can get away from him a bit too often. Going to a place like Saint Louis would make the most sense. Play in an uptempo scheme that is conducive to your athleticism and continue to grow physically in a league that is a bit more forgiving than the highest of high-majors. Having said that, he’s a prospect worth investing in if you are a high-major program. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7Wt: 185
Freeman is a Division II prospect from Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee, the former stomping grounds of current Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz. He’s twitchy and athletic and has the look of a real NBA prospect down the road. He has significant burst and hit around 40 percent of his 3s this season. He’s 6-7, and it’s hard to find players this big, skilled and athletic. So, where does he slot in as a transfer? He’s still quite skinny, and while he has a creative handle, it feels like it can get away from him a bit too often. Going to a place like Saint Louis would make the most sense. Play in an uptempo scheme that is conducive to your athleticism and continue to grow physically in a league that is a bit more forgiving than the highest of high-majors. Having said that, he’s a prospect worth investing in if you are a high-major program. — Sam Vecenie
Wing
In Portal
Lincoln Mem.
Ht: 7-0Wt: 240
Quality bigs seem to be the most expensive asset in the portal, and Tilly will likely draw lots of attention because of his size and advanced numbers. The second-team All-WCC center has solid per-game averages, but his advanced numbers pop. He had a 117.8 offensive rating and a high free-throw rate, drawing 4.7 fouls per 40 minutes. He’s a skilled big who can score in the post and step out to make a jumper — he made 17 3s in ‘24-25. And most promisingly, he had some of his best games against Santa Clara’s best opponents: 17 points and eight boards against Saint Louis, 16 points against Stanford, 21 points against Bradley and 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in an upset of Gonzaga. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 7-0Wt: 240
Quality bigs seem to be the most expensive asset in the portal, and Tilly will likely draw lots of attention because of his size and advanced numbers. The second-team All-WCC center has solid per-game averages, but his advanced numbers pop. He had a 117.8 offensive rating and a high free-throw rate, drawing 4.7 fouls per 40 minutes. He’s a skilled big who can score in the post and step out to make a jumper — he made 17 3s in ‘24-25. And most promisingly, he had some of his best games against Santa Clara’s best opponents: 17 points and eight boards against Saint Louis, 16 points against Stanford, 21 points against Bradley and 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting in an upset of Gonzaga. — C.J. Moore
Center
In Portal
Santa Clara
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180
Agbim is well-traveled; his next school will be his fourth in five years after three juco seasons and a season at Wyoming. He could be the best three-level scorer in the portal: He drilled 44 percent of his six 3s per game and has real juice in the open court to lead the break, fill lanes or space to the corners. His shot is smooth and translatable to any situation, and he plays off that threat well by getting into the midrange and finding pull-ups, which he hits at about 45 percent. Give him a ball screen, and he’ll snake his way into a good look. While he doesn’t get to the rim often in halfcourt settings, he makes those at a reasonable clip for a guard and has a nice little floater package. Essentially, Agbim is a professional scorer playing in college. He’ll need to play next to a bigger distributor and defender to find the most success. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 180
Agbim is well-traveled; his next school will be his fourth in five years after three juco seasons and a season at Wyoming. He could be the best three-level scorer in the portal: He drilled 44 percent of his six 3s per game and has real juice in the open court to lead the break, fill lanes or space to the corners. His shot is smooth and translatable to any situation, and he plays off that threat well by getting into the midrange and finding pull-ups, which he hits at about 45 percent. Give him a ball screen, and he’ll snake his way into a good look. While he doesn’t get to the rim often in halfcourt settings, he makes those at a reasonable clip for a guard and has a nice little floater package. Essentially, Agbim is a professional scorer playing in college. He’ll need to play next to a bigger distributor and defender to find the most success. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-3Wt: 180
Boyd is coming off an All-Mountain West season at San Diego State, where he defended at the point of attack and consistently made good decisions in an offensive structure that looked awfully archaic for long stretches. He’s not a wildly dynamic downhill driver, and he’s a good shooter (not a great one), but Boyd is extremely reliable and can be counted on to organize his team as a lead guard. I don’t know that I quite see him as an all-conference guy at the high-major level, but he can be a big part of a winning team as a starter in the right spot — as he proved when he was a starting guard as a sophomore during Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four run. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-3Wt: 180
Boyd is coming off an All-Mountain West season at San Diego State, where he defended at the point of attack and consistently made good decisions in an offensive structure that looked awfully archaic for long stretches. He’s not a wildly dynamic downhill driver, and he’s a good shooter (not a great one), but Boyd is extremely reliable and can be counted on to organize his team as a lead guard. I don’t know that I quite see him as an all-conference guy at the high-major level, but he can be a big part of a winning team as a starter in the right spot — as he proved when he was a starting guard as a sophomore during Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four run. — Sam Vecenie
Guard
In Portal
San Diego St
Ht: 6-3Wt: 180
George, originally from Toronto, emerged from out of nowhere at the 2023 Peach Jam, signed that summer with Georgia Tech and has grown into one of the better point guards in the ACC. He has a slick handle and a high-level feel working out of ball screens. He can also shoot behind a screen — he made 36 of his 60 3s off the bounce, per Synergy — shimmy his way into the paint and score there, or find an open teammate. He’s one of the best passers in the portal. He has high turnover numbers (3.0 per game) and is susceptible to trying to make the home-run pass, but he has the vision, size and ability to make just about every pass. He’s not a great finisher at the basket, but in the right system with shooters around him and paired with a good pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop big, he would likely flourish. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 6-3Wt: 180
George, originally from Toronto, emerged from out of nowhere at the 2023 Peach Jam, signed that summer with Georgia Tech and has grown into one of the better point guards in the ACC. He has a slick handle and a high-level feel working out of ball screens. He can also shoot behind a screen — he made 36 of his 60 3s off the bounce, per Synergy — shimmy his way into the paint and score there, or find an open teammate. He’s one of the best passers in the portal. He has high turnover numbers (3.0 per game) and is susceptible to trying to make the home-run pass, but he has the vision, size and ability to make just about every pass. He’s not a great finisher at the basket, but in the right system with shooters around him and paired with a good pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop big, he would likely flourish. — C.J. Moore
Wing
In Portal
Georgia Tech
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 235
Reneau, a former top-30 recruit, has a terrific mid-post game and sharp low-post footwork. He’s about as physical a player as you’ll find down there, always trying to hunt contact to create a bit of separation for him to score with his left hand. I worry that he’s a bit undersized to be a high-major center, but that’s where his game works best on offense, unless you have a big who can step out and shoot. A league like the ACC is probably the best bet for him. Two schools to watch: Georgia because Mike White originally recruited Reneau to Florida but lost him to Indiana when he took the Bulldogs’ head coaching job, and Miami because it’s Reneau’s hometown and the assistant who led his recruitment at Florida, Erik Pastrana, just joined the Hurricanes’ staff. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 235
Reneau, a former top-30 recruit, has a terrific mid-post game and sharp low-post footwork. He’s about as physical a player as you’ll find down there, always trying to hunt contact to create a bit of separation for him to score with his left hand. I worry that he’s a bit undersized to be a high-major center, but that’s where his game works best on offense, unless you have a big who can step out and shoot. A league like the ACC is probably the best bet for him. Two schools to watch: Georgia because Mike White originally recruited Reneau to Florida but lost him to Indiana when he took the Bulldogs’ head coaching job, and Miami because it’s Reneau’s hometown and the assistant who led his recruitment at Florida, Erik Pastrana, just joined the Hurricanes’ staff. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5Wt: 190
An expected one-and-done, Bethea’s season didn’t go as planned. The former top-10 recruit showed great range beyond the 3-point line in both pull-up and catch-and-shoot situations. He’s also big enough to play both guard positions down the road, although this season I didn’t feel like his handle was quite strong enough to initiate the offense. It would help Bethea to keep getting stronger, but he’s also a willing defender, and there aren’t many big combo guards available. After Miami’s disastrous season and December coaching change, it might be as simple as getting Bethea into a competent situation that will allow him to grow. Some sharp high-major should still take a flyer on him. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-5Wt: 190
An expected one-and-done, Bethea’s season didn’t go as planned. The former top-10 recruit showed great range beyond the 3-point line in both pull-up and catch-and-shoot situations. He’s also big enough to play both guard positions down the road, although this season I didn’t feel like his handle was quite strong enough to initiate the offense. It would help Bethea to keep getting stronger, but he’s also a willing defender, and there aren’t many big combo guards available. After Miami’s disastrous season and December coaching change, it might be as simple as getting Bethea into a competent situation that will allow him to grow. Some sharp high-major should still take a flyer on him. — Sam Vecenie
Guard
In Portal
Miami (Fla.)
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 240
Teams that love to play five-out, spacing-conscious basketball will prioritize Davidson in the portal. It’s hard to find bigs who can step away and fire, and Davidson can do just that. He hit 37 percent from 3 this past year and has a really nice inside-out game as a stretch four that should translate up levels. He’s very skilled as a passer, too. With one year left, he’s a good flyer for a creative offensive coach to take. But the players around him will need to be conscious defensively to get the most out of him. I think it’s reasonable to expect an impact similar to Kentucky’s Andrew Carr. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 240
Teams that love to play five-out, spacing-conscious basketball will prioritize Davidson in the portal. It’s hard to find bigs who can step away and fire, and Davidson can do just that. He hit 37 percent from 3 this past year and has a really nice inside-out game as a stretch four that should translate up levels. He’s very skilled as a passer, too. With one year left, he’s a good flyer for a creative offensive coach to take. But the players around him will need to be conscious defensively to get the most out of him. I think it’s reasonable to expect an impact similar to Kentucky’s Andrew Carr. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-10Wt: 230
The Missouri Valley has a long history of successfully sending players to the high-major level. Expect Schwieger to be next in line. He largely played the five as a two-year starter at Valpo and projects best there athletically at the high-major level. He’s also improved his frame over the last year, which should allow him to find success against physical players. He has kind of a funky load into his shot but has made about 33 percent of his 3s in college on about three attempts per game. His footwork in ball screens as a roller or a pick-and-pop player is terrific, and he also can run dribble handoffs to roll, pop or reject and get all the way to the rim himself. Defensively, there will be some athletic concerns, but don’t sleep on his timing as a shot blocker: He swatted two shots per game to lead the Missouri Valley. A team trying to play five-out would do well to give him a shot. —Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-10Wt: 230
The Missouri Valley has a long history of successfully sending players to the high-major level. Expect Schwieger to be next in line. He largely played the five as a two-year starter at Valpo and projects best there athletically at the high-major level. He’s also improved his frame over the last year, which should allow him to find success against physical players. He has kind of a funky load into his shot but has made about 33 percent of his 3s in college on about three attempts per game. His footwork in ball screens as a roller or a pick-and-pop player is terrific, and he also can run dribble handoffs to roll, pop or reject and get all the way to the rim himself. Defensively, there will be some athletic concerns, but don’t sleep on his timing as a shot blocker: He swatted two shots per game to lead the Missouri Valley. A team trying to play five-out would do well to give him a shot. —Sam Vecenie
Forward
In Portal
Valparaiso
Ht: 6-7Wt: 215
A big Italian wing who came to Evansville by way of the NBA Academy in Australia, Pozzato is more athletic than you’d expect and plays with authority when he decides to get to the rim. He’s a sharp cutter and mover without the ball and attacks close-outs at a high-level. If you let him get downhill in a straight line, it’s a rack attack. The key for Pozzato is the jumper. He only made 32 percent of his 3s last year despite taking six per game and possessing a fluid stroke that should translate to made shots in the future. He looks like a perfect option to play off of dynamic guards at the high-major level and not be as responsible for creating offense as he was at times this season. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7Wt: 215
A big Italian wing who came to Evansville by way of the NBA Academy in Australia, Pozzato is more athletic than you’d expect and plays with authority when he decides to get to the rim. He’s a sharp cutter and mover without the ball and attacks close-outs at a high-level. If you let him get downhill in a straight line, it’s a rack attack. The key for Pozzato is the jumper. He only made 32 percent of his 3s last year despite taking six per game and possessing a fluid stroke that should translate to made shots in the future. He looks like a perfect option to play off of dynamic guards at the high-major level and not be as responsible for creating offense as he was at times this season. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180
Rataj has a genuinely fascinating game that has prompted me to reach out to multiple coaches to get a read on where they stand on him. The German forward is a dynamic four man who can dribble, pass and shoot at 6-9. He was a serious mismatch nightmare at the WCC level this year for Oregon State, where his ability to use his frame and skill level made him an exceptionally difficult cover. He could just as easily shoot from 3, where he hit 35 percent, attack in a straight line from the 3-point line or post a smaller player. However, he’s not all that explosive, either, and that could get him into some trouble areas. He’s also quite active with his hands on defense and seems to have awesome hand-eye coordination. Rataj is a player who will fit best in a five-out offense that will give him room to operate. But fit will be important to his success. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180
Rataj has a genuinely fascinating game that has prompted me to reach out to multiple coaches to get a read on where they stand on him. The German forward is a dynamic four man who can dribble, pass and shoot at 6-9. He was a serious mismatch nightmare at the WCC level this year for Oregon State, where his ability to use his frame and skill level made him an exceptionally difficult cover. He could just as easily shoot from 3, where he hit 35 percent, attack in a straight line from the 3-point line or post a smaller player. However, he’s not all that explosive, either, and that could get him into some trouble areas. He’s also quite active with his hands on defense and seems to have awesome hand-eye coordination. Rataj is a player who will fit best in a five-out offense that will give him room to operate. But fit will be important to his success. — Sam Vecenie
Forward
In Portal
Oregon State
Ht: 6-11 Wt: 260
A massive, wide Australian big man who took some time to develop, Cluff is getting an extra year as a player who started his career at a junior college. He’s played at the high-major level before, proving that he could be a starter on an NCAA Tournament team at Washington State. He transferred down for a bigger role this year at South Dakota State and flourished. He finished second nationally in rebounding and has a soft touch on the interior. He’s not particularly vertical, but few bigs across the country do a better job of using their frame to seal off defenders to create space. That lack of vertical pop could make it a bit easier to contest him at a higher level, and I don’t think I’d expect him to average 17 again. But if you put him in an offense like Gonzaga’s, which makes a concerted effort to seal and post, he could thrive again at the highest level. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-11 Wt: 260
A massive, wide Australian big man who took some time to develop, Cluff is getting an extra year as a player who started his career at a junior college. He’s played at the high-major level before, proving that he could be a starter on an NCAA Tournament team at Washington State. He transferred down for a bigger role this year at South Dakota State and flourished. He finished second nationally in rebounding and has a soft touch on the interior. He’s not particularly vertical, but few bigs across the country do a better job of using their frame to seal off defenders to create space. That lack of vertical pop could make it a bit easier to contest him at a higher level, and I don’t think I’d expect him to average 17 again. But if you put him in an offense like Gonzaga’s, which makes a concerted effort to seal and post, he could thrive again at the highest level. — Sam Vecenie
Center
In Portal
South Dakota St
Ht: 6-11Wt:270
The starting center and interior anchor on a top-10 defense this year, Jackson is a ready-made starting center at 6-11 and 270 pounds. He’s well-traveled, having gone from Washington State to Charlotte to Iowa State, and is still eligible after taking a medical redshirt at Washington State in 2021-22 to correct a genetic variation in his heart. There’s certainly some game-to-game inconsistency, and you would expect him to finish a bit better than he does at this size. He can be a bit of an adventure as a defensive rebounder, too, because his hands can be awkward and he’s not overly twitchy. But he’s a good screener, and he does a great job of creating driving lanes for his guards with seals. Defensively, he’s just a massive body on the interior who takes up space and contests. In a portal not exactly littered with huge humans, he can come in and start for a mid-tier high-major. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-11Wt:270
The starting center and interior anchor on a top-10 defense this year, Jackson is a ready-made starting center at 6-11 and 270 pounds. He’s well-traveled, having gone from Washington State to Charlotte to Iowa State, and is still eligible after taking a medical redshirt at Washington State in 2021-22 to correct a genetic variation in his heart. There’s certainly some game-to-game inconsistency, and you would expect him to finish a bit better than he does at this size. He can be a bit of an adventure as a defensive rebounder, too, because his hands can be awkward and he’s not overly twitchy. But he’s a good screener, and he does a great job of creating driving lanes for his guards with seals. Defensively, he’s just a massive body on the interior who takes up space and contests. In a portal not exactly littered with huge humans, he can come in and start for a mid-tier high-major. — Sam Vecenie
Center
In Portal
Iowa State
Ht: 6-9 Wt: 205
Davis is at his best as an athletic slasher and cutter who finds his way to the rim either by driving in a straight line, waiting in the dunker spot or cutting. If you give him even a little bit of space, he’s going to get downhill in a hurry by using his long strides to find his way to the rim. He also does a great job of playing through contact, as he drew six foul shots per game this year. He’s continued to get better every year as a shooter, too and made 30 percent of his 3s this year. That’s the swing skill here. If Davis can’t shoot, he’s probably more of a role player at the high-major level on a great team. If he gets to work on the jumper over the summer and figures things out, then he has a chance to be a significant impact player given his length and athleticism at the four at around 6-9. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-9 Wt: 205
Davis is at his best as an athletic slasher and cutter who finds his way to the rim either by driving in a straight line, waiting in the dunker spot or cutting. If you give him even a little bit of space, he’s going to get downhill in a hurry by using his long strides to find his way to the rim. He also does a great job of playing through contact, as he drew six foul shots per game this year. He’s continued to get better every year as a shooter, too and made 30 percent of his 3s this year. That’s the swing skill here. If Davis can’t shoot, he’s probably more of a role player at the high-major level on a great team. If he gets to work on the jumper over the summer and figures things out, then he has a chance to be a significant impact player given his length and athleticism at the four at around 6-9. — Sam Vecenie
Forward
In Portal
Notre Dame
Ht: 6-8Wt: 240
Hansberry is the perfect five-out center in that he understands screening angles, can pass, can pop and make a 3, and he is excellent in dribble-handoff actions. He can also play as more of a traditional big-man role and score over both shoulders. He has excellent feel for the game and knows where to be on both ends. He’s also a good rebounder, knowing where to position himself and how to use his body. The shot looks good — he made 35 3s last year — but the percentage (29.2) wasn’t ideal. Maybe that’ll improve. Where Hansberry is limited is in his length and athleticism. He can sometimes struggle to finish around the basket against length, and he’s not a rim protector. He played center for West Virginia, and he is skilled enough to slide over to the four, although guarding more athletic fours could be an issue. But in the right system that utilizes his abilities as a hub on the perimeter, he’s a really effective player. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 6-8Wt: 240
Hansberry is the perfect five-out center in that he understands screening angles, can pass, can pop and make a 3, and he is excellent in dribble-handoff actions. He can also play as more of a traditional big-man role and score over both shoulders. He has excellent feel for the game and knows where to be on both ends. He’s also a good rebounder, knowing where to position himself and how to use his body. The shot looks good — he made 35 3s last year — but the percentage (29.2) wasn’t ideal. Maybe that’ll improve. Where Hansberry is limited is in his length and athleticism. He can sometimes struggle to finish around the basket against length, and he’s not a rim protector. He played center for West Virginia, and he is skilled enough to slide over to the four, although guarding more athletic fours could be an issue. But in the right system that utilizes his abilities as a hub on the perimeter, he’s a really effective player. — C.J. Moore
Forward
In Portal
West Virginia
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 175
The SoCon Player of the Year this past season, Peterson led ETSU to a 12-6 league mark and morphed into a dominant player late in the year, averaging 11 points while shooting 45 percent from 3 in his final 12 games. He’s a fast, jittery lead guard who can be a high-volume 3-point shooter when he’s rolling. He’ll make shots off movement and tends to thrive most off the catch, drilling 46.5 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. But I don’t really think he’s a high-major lead guard, either. He’s best running off actions or relocating and finding open areas. However, he’s just a bit small for that role at the highest levels. You’ll need a big guard next to him who can help share ballhandling responsibilities. But Peterson is a good bet to be a good high-major scoring guard next year. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 175
The SoCon Player of the Year this past season, Peterson led ETSU to a 12-6 league mark and morphed into a dominant player late in the year, averaging 11 points while shooting 45 percent from 3 in his final 12 games. He’s a fast, jittery lead guard who can be a high-volume 3-point shooter when he’s rolling. He’ll make shots off movement and tends to thrive most off the catch, drilling 46.5 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, per Synergy. But I don’t really think he’s a high-major lead guard, either. He’s best running off actions or relocating and finding open areas. However, he’s just a bit small for that role at the highest levels. You’ll need a big guard next to him who can help share ballhandling responsibilities. But Peterson is a good bet to be a good high-major scoring guard next year. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 190
Eaglestaff is a volcano waiting to happen, a dynamic wing scorer who can fire the ball from distance as well as use the threat of that shot to score in other ways. This year alone, he dropped 40 on Alabama and had 51 points against South Dakota State in the conference tournament. He’s a ridiculously tough shot-maker when he’s on, but he also was tasked with taking some absolutely wild attempts for North Dakota this year. That ultimately dragged down his efficiency. The key for a high-major will be finding a role for Eaglestaff that allows him to take easier shots — which will be easier when pairing him with high-level shot creators. He’ll have one year at high-major to show what he’s capable of after playing for a pretty rough North Dakota team that he wasn’t able to elevate. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 190
Eaglestaff is a volcano waiting to happen, a dynamic wing scorer who can fire the ball from distance as well as use the threat of that shot to score in other ways. This year alone, he dropped 40 on Alabama and had 51 points against South Dakota State in the conference tournament. He’s a ridiculously tough shot-maker when he’s on, but he also was tasked with taking some absolutely wild attempts for North Dakota this year. That ultimately dragged down his efficiency. The key for a high-major will be finding a role for Eaglestaff that allows him to take easier shots — which will be easier when pairing him with high-level shot creators. He’ll have one year at high-major to show what he’s capable of after playing for a pretty rough North Dakota team that he wasn’t able to elevate. — Sam Vecenie
Wing
In Portal
North Dakota
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 185
Wilkinson was a fun surprise for Cal, finishing among the national scoring leaders for first-year players. He has a dynamic game off the bounce, with the ability to both drive and find pull-up options. But the decision making on some of his shots was often an adventure, and he’ll need to moderate that as he moves to a winning team. It can also be a struggle to place pure scoring guards roughly his size in the lineup, given how much they can give back on defense. Still, Cal was much better when Wilkinson was on the court because of his ability to beat his man, and that’ll provide value wherever he ends up. He’s from Georgia, so don’t be surprised to see him head back east. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 185
Wilkinson was a fun surprise for Cal, finishing among the national scoring leaders for first-year players. He has a dynamic game off the bounce, with the ability to both drive and find pull-up options. But the decision making on some of his shots was often an adventure, and he’ll need to moderate that as he moves to a winning team. It can also be a struggle to place pure scoring guards roughly his size in the lineup, given how much they can give back on defense. Still, Cal was much better when Wilkinson was on the court because of his ability to beat his man, and that’ll provide value wherever he ends up. He’s from Georgia, so don’t be surprised to see him head back east. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225
This one is going to be complicated. Mgbako has shown moments of brilliance, and as a former five-star with long arms and shooting potential, he will have an awful lot of suitors. But, man, there is just an awful lot of bad tape, too, where he looks completely invisible on offense because the jump shot isn’t consistent enough yet and his defensive intensity wavers. Maybe it’s as simple as Mike Woodson not being able to get through to him, but the ‘24-25 Hoosiers were a better team when Mgbako was off the court, per CBB Analytics: They gave up nearly 10 points more per 100 possessions when he played (by far the worst of the nine players to play at least 300 minutes). If a change of scenery is all that was needed, a team could reap massive dividends — or it could come away disappointed. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 225
This one is going to be complicated. Mgbako has shown moments of brilliance, and as a former five-star with long arms and shooting potential, he will have an awful lot of suitors. But, man, there is just an awful lot of bad tape, too, where he looks completely invisible on offense because the jump shot isn’t consistent enough yet and his defensive intensity wavers. Maybe it’s as simple as Mike Woodson not being able to get through to him, but the ‘24-25 Hoosiers were a better team when Mgbako was off the court, per CBB Analytics: They gave up nearly 10 points more per 100 possessions when he played (by far the worst of the nine players to play at least 300 minutes). If a change of scenery is all that was needed, a team could reap massive dividends — or it could come away disappointed. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 215
Sutton earned Summit League player of the year honors while leading Omaha to the NCAA Tournament, but he’s not particularly elite at any skill by high-major standards. He posted smaller players well in the Summit. He made the occasional 3 off the catch. He attacks in transition and can get downhill in a straight line. But I’m not sure I see him as a shot creator at the highest level; he only hit 27 percent from 3 last year, and his post game isn’t particularly well-developed. If you’re looking for a dynamic athlete to play in an uptempo scheme, Sutton should work. But he’ll need to find the right fit that works for him. Something like the St. John’s scheme would have potential. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-7 Wt: 215
Sutton earned Summit League player of the year honors while leading Omaha to the NCAA Tournament, but he’s not particularly elite at any skill by high-major standards. He posted smaller players well in the Summit. He made the occasional 3 off the catch. He attacks in transition and can get downhill in a straight line. But I’m not sure I see him as a shot creator at the highest level; he only hit 27 percent from 3 last year, and his post game isn’t particularly well-developed. If you’re looking for a dynamic athlete to play in an uptempo scheme, Sutton should work. But he’ll need to find the right fit that works for him. Something like the St. John’s scheme would have potential. — Sam Vecenie
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 200
Rohde was one of the most improved players in the ACC, as it took a year for him to adjust to the level after transferring from St. Thomas following his freshman year. He’s an exceptional passer, leading Virginia in assists. He’s elite in catch-and-shoot situations and also able to shoot off movement, which he did a lot in Virginia’s system, which frequently runs its shooters off screens. Rohde is not a big-time scorer, but he should be a popular target because he’s a heady player who should not be hard to incorporate into a winning system. — C.J. Moore
Ht: 6-6 Wt: 200
Rohde was one of the most improved players in the ACC, as it took a year for him to adjust to the level after transferring from St. Thomas following his freshman year. He’s an exceptional passer, leading Virginia in assists. He’s elite in catch-and-shoot situations and also able to shoot off movement, which he did a lot in Virginia’s system, which frequently runs its shooters off screens. Rohde is not a big-time scorer, but he should be a popular target because he’s a heady player who should not be hard to incorporate into a winning system. — C.J. Moore
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos: Porter Binks, Jamie Squire, Zach Bolinger, Joe Robbins / Getty Images)
Microsoft is finally closing one of the last remaining ways to skip creating an official Microsoft Account while setting up a new Windows 11 PC.
However, there is still a way of replacing it—but it won’t be long until Microsoft removes that, too.
Microsoft Removes the Microsoft Account Creation Workaround
Since Windows 11 version 22H2 launched in February 2023, Microsoft has forced users to create a Microsoft Account during setup. While many folks prefer a local account, which doesn’t require an internet connection, Microsoft now insists that you create an online account to finish the installation.
Of course, not everyone wants to use an online account with Windows 11, which is why there are several ways to install Windows 11 without an internet connection.
However, now Microsoft is closing one of the most popular and easiest methods, which was to input the command “bypassnro” during installation. Inputting the command during the Windows setup process allowed you to skip the internet connection process, thus allowing the creation of a local account.
However, a Windows 11 Insider Preview blog posted on March 28, 2025, revealed the company is removing this functionality once and for all.
We’re removing the bypassnro.cmd script from the build to enhance security and user experience of Windows 11. This change ensures that all users exit setup with internet connectivity and a Microsoft Account.
Once this Windows Insider build rolls out to the main Windows 11 version, the “bypassnro” workaround will be removed.
There Are Still Microsoft Account Installation Workarounds (For Now)
Now, don’t despair. There is still a way to avoid the Microsoft Account creation process when setting up a new Windows 11 PC. Currently, you can reactivate the bypass by entering the following command during the installation process:
During installation, when you reach the Let’s connect you to a network screen, press Shift + F10 to launch the Command Prompt and enter the command. You should be able to complete the installation without creating a Microsoft Account.
Of course, there is no guarantee that Microsoft will allow this workaround to exist for long. Given its strong push toward stopping you from booting Windows 11 with a local account, it’s likely this workaround will be removed before long.
Furthermore, as the removal of the “bypassnro” bypass method is currently rolling out to the Windows Insider Preview build, it’s not currently in the mainstream Windows 11 installation process. So, for now, you can still use it—at least, you can for the coming weeks.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Look-up-Exquisite-ceramic-ridges-on-Foshan-Ancestral-Temple-s-roofs-1C6WZnm7Dws/img/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2.jpeg'Elaborate ceramic tile ridges are seen on Foshan Ancestral Temple’s roofs on March 26, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Look-up-Exquisite-ceramic-ridges-on-Foshan-Ancestral-Temple-s-roofs-1C6WZnm7Dws/img/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2.jpeg'Elaborate ceramic tile ridges are seen on Foshan Ancestral Temple’s roofs on March 26, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Look-up-Exquisite-ceramic-ridges-on-Foshan-Ancestral-Temple-s-roofs-1C6WZnm7Dws/img/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2.jpeg'Elaborate ceramic tile ridges are seen on Foshan Ancestral Temple’s roofs on March 26, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Look-up-Exquisite-ceramic-ridges-on-Foshan-Ancestral-Temple-s-roofs-1C6WZnm7Dws/img/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2.jpeg'Elaborate ceramic tile ridges are seen on Foshan Ancestral Temple’s roofs on March 26, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Look-up-Exquisite-ceramic-ridges-on-Foshan-Ancestral-Temple-s-roofs-1C6WZnm7Dws/img/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2.jpeg'Elaborate ceramic tile ridges are seen on Foshan Ancestral Temple’s roofs on March 26, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Look-up-Exquisite-ceramic-ridges-on-Foshan-Ancestral-Temple-s-roofs-1C6WZnm7Dws/img/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2.jpeg'Elaborate ceramic tile ridges are seen on Foshan Ancestral Temple’s roofs on March 26, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Look-up-Exquisite-ceramic-ridges-on-Foshan-Ancestral-Temple-s-roofs-1C6WZnm7Dws/img/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2/1b13600951d54d33ac45633b254e9dc2.jpeg'Elaborate ceramic tile ridges are seen on Foshan Ancestral Temple’s roofs on March 26, 2025. /CGTN
Don’t forget to look up! The rooftops of Foshan Ancestral Temple feature extremely elaborate ceramic tile ridges.
Foshan Ancestral Temple was built during the Yuanfeng period of the Northern Song Dynasty more than 900 years ago, and has undergone more than 20 reconstructions and expansions.
These ceramic sculptures on the rooftops, rich in detail and vivid in imagery, are not only decorative elements but also a showcase of the remarkable traditional craftsmanship in the Lingnan region.
These masterpieces of traditional craftsmanship tell stories of local culture, legends, and historical events, adding a unique charm to the centuries-old temple.
When the French Cinémathèque tried to show Bernardo Bertolucci’s 1972 film “Last Tango in Paris” last December as part of a Marlon Brando retrospective, the organizers eventually canceled the screening after vociferous protest from women’s rights groups.
Its infamous rape scene — simulated yet filmed without then-19-year-old star Maria Schneider’s knowledge or consent — has become a #MeToo flashpoint for abusive practices in a male-dominated industry. Decades after making the film, in an interview that stirred new outrage, Bertolucci said that by not telling his female co-lead what he and Brando had devised for the scene, he was ensuring a real response, not a rehearsed one. What went cruelly overlooked was the larger effect of such coercion: lasting trauma for Schneider, whose outspokenness over the years about her experience typically went unnoticed.
Foregrounding that viewpoint is the French film “Being Maria” from director-co-writer Jessica Palud, in which a memorable Anamaria Vartolomei plays Schneider from age 15 to 30-something, and from untested hopeful to jaded survivor. Drawing from a biographical memoir published by Schneider’s cousin seven years after the actor died in 2011, it’s a sensitively handled depiction of what she went through, even as it unsettles our notion of a feminist biopic by framing Schneider’s life as leading up to, and trying to live down, being manipulated and assaulted on camera for the sake of art.
That’s a tricky balancing act for any filmmaker (this is Palud’s second feature), exploring an incident’s psychological toll without further establishing it as the key reason we know someone. But there’s enough of an emotional intelligence inside the bumpier elements of “Being Maria” that the movie effectively acknowledges that it’s only one part of a complicated life story.
When teenage Maria’s interest in film sparks a burgeoning relationship with her distant birth father (movie star Daniel Gélin, played by Yvan Attal), her edgy, judgmental mother (Marie Gillain) kicks her out. At 19, with a few films under her belt, Maria meets white-hot auteur Bertolucci (Giuseppe Maggio), prepping his upcoming drama about anonymous sex between a young Parisian woman and a middle-aged American to be played by Brando. “You’re an actress, aren’t you?” he asks, a line Maggio imbues with enough charming provocation to suggest that the distinction bores him — it’s her woundedness he’s after.
On set, Maria warms to the playful vulnerability of her iconic co-star, played with soulful intuitiveness by a well-cast Matt Dillon. The “Tango” shoot, from its first hesitant laughs to the provoked tears and rage, is this movie’s longest sequence and it’s a paradoxically casual yet tense marvel of curdling atmosphere, showing how creativity and camaraderie can be warped without any checks on power. Palud, a onetime intern for Bertolucci who obtained an annotated copy of the “Tango” script, re-creates the filming of Schneider’s brazen mistreatment but with a reverse-shot angle, capturing the crew’s queasily placid expressions.
That private humiliation designed for public consumption, an incident that sparked notoriety but rarely any emotional support, is all over Vartolomei’s enveloping, subtly agonized portrayal: distracted, depressed, brittle, standing up for herself professionally when subsequent producers tried to exploit her, but cratering in her peripatetic personal life. A worsening heroin addiction eventually threatens Maria’s relationship with a female lover, Noor (Céleste Brunnquell), whose caring attention is welcome after all that’s transpired.
But the post-“Tango” timeline is also the movie’s choppiest, prone to cliched representations of falling apart (hedonistic club dancing, drug-fueled meltdowns) than what’s knotty or illuminating about Schneider’s particular struggle: to forge one’s own way as a bruised star, bearing a reputation not of one’s choosing.
Palud’s directorial emphasis on that internal experience, guided by a simple shooting style trained on Vartolomei, is what keeps “Being Maria” afloat on its turbulent seas. When Bertolucci filmed her in that awful moment, he was lying to himself about the truth he was after. Palud, on the other hand, by embracing a long-ignored perspective, becomes the intimacy coordinator Schneider never had.
‘Being Maria’
Not rated
In French and English, with subtitles
Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
Playing: Opens Friday, March 28 at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre, West Los Angeles
Seoul, March 28: Hyundai Motor Group on Friday outlined a roadmap to implement advanced autonomous driving technology across its vehicle lineup, aiming to apply Level 2+ features by the end of 2027.
The goal was announced during the group’s Pleos 25 developer conference, held at COEX in Seoul, where Hyundai invited domestic and global software developers to showcase its latest innovations in software-defined vehicle (SDV) technology, reports Yonhap news agency. Royal Enfield Classic 650 Price, Features, Specifications Revealed; Know Everything About Latest Royal Enfield Bike Launched in India.
According to Song Chang-hyeon, head of the group’s autonomous vehicle platform (AVP) division, Hyundai is enhancing its in-house autonomous driving systems using artificial intelligence (AI) deep learning, high-performance neural processing units (NPUs) and lightweight model architectures tailored for on-vehicle performance.
Hyundai’s Level 2+ system will rely on camera and radar-based perception and is designed to evolve over time through continuous learning, making the vehicle a “learning machine.” The autonomous driving road map is part of the group’s broader transformation into a software-centric mobility technology company, which includes the development of its new software platform, Pleos, and infotainment system, Pleos Connect.
The group is also decoupling hardware and software in its vehicle architecture to maximise software flexibility. This shift will enable more efficient over-the-air updates and streamlines the integration of new autonomous features across vehicle models. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group will invest $21 billion in the United States through 2028, as U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up tariff pressure to boost domestic manufacturing. Hyundai Motor and Kia To Surpass 30 Million Cumulative Vehicle Sales in US This Year.
The group’s Executive Chair Euisun Chung, alongside Trump and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, made the announcement on the multipronged plan that includes an investment of $8.6 billion for the automotive sector, $6.1 billion for the steel industry, component parts and logistics, and $6.3 billion for future industry sectors and energy. Chung also said that Hyundai will open a new $8 billion automotive plant in the US state of Georgia.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 28, 2025 12:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence firm xAI has acquired his social media platform X in an all-stock transaction that values the company at $33 billion, including $12 billion worth of debt, the centibillionaire announced Friday. The sale comes just weeks after Musk reportedly raised an additional roughly $1 billion in debt financing for X that valued the company at $44 billion—the same price Musk paid for it three years ago.
“xAI and X’s futures are intertwined,” Musk wrote in an X post. “Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent. This combination will unlock immense potential by blending xAI’s advanced AI capability and expertise with X’s massive reach.”
Both Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, and Igor Babuschkin, the cofounder of xAI, immediately posted similar messages on X signaling their support of the acquisition. “The future could not be brighter,” Yaccarino wrote. Musk only reposted Babuschkin’s.
It is not known whether Yaccarino will stay in the same role or what the acquisition will mean for X’s employees. Musk, Yaccarino, and Robert Keele, the head of xAI’s legal team, did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.
Musk bought Twitter in 2022 and later renamed it X in a deal that involved taking out billions of dollars in loans from a group of Wall Street banks and other lenders. After Musk took over and X’s advertising business slumped, the banks reportedly struggled to unload the loans to interested buyers. Lenders typically try to resell debt to other investors quickly to get it off their balance sheets and profit from associated fees. The Wall Street Journal dubbed the fiasco “the worst buyout for banks since the financial crisis.”
But X’s financial situation turned around after Donald Trump was reelected and Musk was appointed to run the administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. More investors became interested in the debt as advertisers began returning and Musk’s ties to the White House and Trump deepened.
Musk also said he gave X investors a 25 percent stake in xAI last year, which helped boost the value of the social media platform and provide more security to lenders, according to reporting from the Financial Times.
While xAI previously appeared to be mostly playing catch-up with rivals like OpenAI and Google, Musk gave the startup a boost by creating a massive cluster of 100,000 GPUs, enough computing resources to compete with the biggest industry players. The supercomputer, dubbed Colossus, is located in Memphis, Tennessee.
At the outset, xAI’s stated mission was to understand the nature of the universe. Today, it is best known for creating an “unfiltered” chatbot called Grok, which has been integrated as part of the X platform since late 2023.
The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) plans to launch its Digital Dirham central bank digital currency (CBDC) between October and December. On Thursday, the bank said that the Digital Dirham token will improve security and efficiency of financial transactions, while reducing the costs of facilitating national and international payments. The CBUAE has also created a wallet to simplify the management and use of its upcoming CBDC.
A CBDC is the digital representation of a fiat currency, issued on a blockchain. Each CBDC token carries the same value as its physical counterpart. Transactions facilitated through CBDCs leave permanent records on the subsequent blockchain — enhancing transparency in existing financial systems while reducing the dependency of cash notes.
The CBUAE disclosed these details about its upcoming CBDC, and unveiled a new symbol for the digital and fiat version of its fiat currency.
CBUAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama said that he expects the Digital Dirham to boost national financial stability and inclusion, along with helping law enforcement agencies to combat financial crime.
“It will enable the development of innovative digital products, services, and new business models, while reducing cost and increasing access to international markets,” he said in a prepared statement.
How the UAE is Developing Its CBDC
The task of creating the Digital Dirham was a key part of the CBUAE’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) programme, incorporated in 2023. The central bank plans to revamp the financial system in the region using “tokenisation” and “smart contracts”, once the digital Dirham is launched in circulation.
The UAE’s CBDC will be able to facilitate tokenisation and expand liquidity access with asset fractionalisation, according to the central bank. It also noted that the token will use smart contracts to automate complex transactions that involve multi-party and multi-stage conditions or obligations.
Outlining the availability of the digital currency, the CBUAE said, “individuals and businesses will be able to obtain the Digital Dirham through licensed financial institutions, such as banks, exchange houses, finance companies and fintech companies, according to the use cases that will be activated.”
Digital Dirham holders will be able to use the upcoming government wallet system to process retail, wholesale, and international payments among other transactions, using the CBDC.
The Global Race to Launch CBDCs
The race to develop and deploy CBDC has only intensified in recent years. In India, the CBDC trials have reached advanced trial stages. Multiple banks and merchants are participating in these trials. In November last year, former RBI Deputy Governor, T Rabi Sankar had said that the central bank was in no haste to roll out the eRupee CBDC until its impact on the financial systems is thoroughly assessed.
More recently, South Korea reportedly said that it is preparing to launch its CBDC trials for real world transactions soon.
Hong Kong, Iran, Brazil, and China are among other nations that are consistently working on their respective CBDCs.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed a framework called “REDI” to deploy CBDCs and steps to promote the adoption of CBDCs. The international financial agency emphasised that raising awareness and understanding of CBDCs is vital to promote their adoption.
Google concluded a 14-year legal battle over advertising billing practices, agreeing to a substantial settlement without admitting any wrongdoing. The resolution marks a significant moment in the company’s complex history of digital advertising regulations.
The big picture. The lawsuit centered on allegations that Google manipulated its AdWords platform between 2004 and 2012, specifically targeting two key issues: artificially reducing advertiser discounts through Smart Pricing and distributing ads beyond advertisers’ designated geographic location.
Context. Advertisers accused Google of violating California’s unfair competition law, claiming the tech giant misled participants in its advertising program. The legal process was extraordinarily complex, involving the production of over 910,000 pages of documents and multiple terabytes of click data.
Why we care. The case highlights the importance of holding platforms accountable for how ad campaigns are billed and targeted. This outcome may encourage stricter regulations and increased scrutiny on ad platforms, prompting companies to demand clearer, more reliable ad practices.
For those who used AdWords from 2004 to 2012, the settlement could mean direct financial compensation. More broadly, it reinforces the need for advertisers to carefully monitor ad performance and billing practices to ensure fair value for their investments.
Financial details. The settlement totals $100 million, covering advertisers who used AdWords during the specified period. Lawyers for the plaintiffs may receive up to 33% of the settlement fund, with an additional $4.2 million allocated for legal expenses.
What’s next.The settlement requires judicial approval, potentially closing a contentious chapter in digital advertising’s regulatory landscape. Google maintains its stance of resolving a dispute about “ad product features changed over a decade ago.”
Mari Villar was slammed by a car that jumped the curb, breaking her legs and collapsing a lung. Amy Paulo was in pain from a femur surgery that wasn’t healing properly. Katie Kriegshauser suffered organ failure during pregnancy, weakening her so much that she couldn’t lift her baby daughter.
All went to physical therapy, but their health insurers stopped paying before any could walk without assistance. Paulo spent nearly $1,500 out of her own pocket for more sessions.
Millions of Americans rely on physical and occupational therapists to regain strength and motor skills after operations, diseases, and injuries. But recoveries are routinely stymied by a widespread constraint in health insurance policies: rigid caps on therapy sessions.
Insurers frequently limit such sessions to as few as 20 a year, a KFF Health News examination finds, even for people with severe damage such as spinal cord injuries and strokes, who may need months of treatment, multiple times a week. Patients can face a bind: Without therapy, they can’t return to work, but without working, they can’t afford the therapy.
Paulo said she pressed her insurer for more sessions, to no avail. “I said, ‘I’m in pain. I need the services. Is there anything I can do?’” she recalled. “They said, no, they can’t override the hard limit for the plan.”
A typical physical therapy session for a privately insured patient to improve daily functioning costs $192 on average, according to the Health Care Cost Institute. Most run from a half hour to an hour.
Insurers say annual visit limits help keep down costs, and therefore premiums, and are intended to prevent therapists from continuing treatment when patients are no longer improving. They say most injuries can be addressed in a dozen or fewer sessions and that people and employers who bought insurance could have purchased policies with better therapy benefits if it was a priority.
Atul Patel, a physiatrist in Overland Park, Kansas, and the treasurer of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, said insurers’ desire to prevent gratuitous therapy is understandable but has “gone too far.”
“Most patients get way less therapy than they would actually benefit from,” he said.
Hard caps on rehab endure in part because of an omission in the Affordable Care Act. While that law required insurers to cover rehab and barred them from setting spending restrictions on a patient’s medical care, it did not prohibit establishing a maximum number of therapy sessions a year.
More than 29,000 ACA health plans — nearly 4 in 5 — limit the annual number of physical therapy sessions, according to a KFF Health News analysis of plans sold last year to individuals and small businesses. Caps generally ranged from 20 to 60 visits; the most common was 20 a year.
Health plans provided by employers often have limits of 20 or 30 sessions as well, said Cori Uccello, senior health fellow at the American Academy of Actuaries.
“It’s the gross reality in America right now,” said Sam Porritt, chairman of the Falling Forward Foundation, a Kansas-based philanthropy that has paid for therapy for about 200 patients who exhausted their insurance over the past decade. “No one knows about this except people in the industry. You find out about it when tragedy hits.”
Even in plans with no caps, patients are not guaranteed unlimited treatment. Therapists say insurers repeatedly require prior authorization, demanding a new request every two or three visits. Insurers frequently deny additional sessions if they believe there hasn’t been improvement.
“We’re seeing a lot of arbitrary denials just to see if you’ll appeal,” said Gwen Simons, a lawyer in Scarborough, Maine, who represents therapy practices. “That’s the point where the therapist throws up their hands.”
‘Couldn’t Pick Her Up’
Katie Kriegshauser, a 37-year-old psychologist from Kansas City, Missouri, developed pregnancy complications that shut down her liver, pancreas, and kidneys in November 2023. After giving birth to her daughter, she spent more than three months in a hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries and losing more than 40 pounds so quickly that doctors suspected her nerves became damaged from compression. Her neurologist told her he doubted she would ever walk again.
Kriegshauser’s UnitedHealthcare insurance plan allowed 30 visits at Ability KC, a rehabilitation clinic in Kansas City. She burned through them in six weeks in 2024 because she needed both physical therapy, to regain her mobility, and occupational therapy, for daily tasks such as getting dressed.
“At that point I was starting to use the walker from being completely in the wheelchair,” Kriegshauser recalled. She said she wasn’t strong enough to change her daughter’s diaper. “I couldn’t pick her up out of her crib or put her down to sleep,” she said.
Email Sign-Up
Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.
The Falling Forward Foundation paid for additional sessions that enabled her to walk independently and hold her daughter in her arms. “A huge amount of progress happened in that period after my insurance ran out,” she said.
In an unsigned statement, UnitedHealthcare said it covered the services that were included in Kriegshauser’s health plan. The company declined to permit an official to discuss its policies on the record because of security concerns.
A Shattered Teenager
Patients who need therapy near the start of a health plan’s year are more likely to run out of visits. Mari Villar was 15 and had been walking with high school friends to get a bite to eat in May 2023 when a car leaped over a curb and smashed into her before the driver sped away.
The accident broke both her legs, lacerated her liver, damaged her colon, severed an artery in her right leg, and collapsed her lung. She has undergone 11 operations, including emergency exploratory surgery to stop internal bleeding, four angioplasties, and the installation of screws and plates to hold her leg bones together.
Villar spent nearly a month in Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s hospital in Chicago. She was discharged after her mother’s insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, denied her physician’s request for five more days, making her more reliant on outpatient therapy, according to records shared by her mother, Megan Bracamontes.
Megan Bracamontes’ health insurance allows for only 30 physical therapy sessions a year per person. Her daughter Mari Villar (left) has needed extensive PT after she was hit by a car in 2023. (Jim Vondruska for KFF Health News)
Villar began going to one of Shirley Ryan’s outpatient clinics, but by the end of 2023, she had used up the 30 physical therapy and 30 occupational therapy visits the Blue Cross plan allowed. Because the plan ran from July to June, she had no sessions left for the first half of 2024.
“I couldn’t do much,” Villar said. “I made lots of progress there, but I was still on crutches.”
Dave Van de Walle, a Blue Cross spokesperson, said in an email that the insurer does not comment on individual cases. Razia Hashmi, vice president for clinical affairs at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, said in a written statement that patients who have run out of sessions should “explore alternative treatment plans” including home exercises.
Villar received some extra sessions from the Falling Forward Foundation. While her plan year has reset, Villar is postponing most therapy sessions until after her next surgery so she will be less likely to run out again. Bracamontes said her daughter still can’t feel or move her right foot and needs three more operations: one to relieve nerve pain, and two to try to restore mobility in her foot by lengthening her Achilles tendon and transferring a tendon in her left leg into her right.
“Therapy caps are very unfair because everyone’s situation is different,” Villar said. “I really depend on my sessions to get me to a new normalcy. And not having that and going through all these procedures is scary to think about.”
Villar has had 11 operations to repair the damage caused when a car crashed into her on a Chicago sidewalk, broke both her legs, and damaged her liver, colon, and one of her lungs. Here she displays one of her surgical scars. (Jim Vondruska for KFF Health News)
Coxe measures Villar’s foot during a therapy session at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. (Jim Vondruska for KFF Health News)
Rationing Therapy
Most people who use all their sessions either stop going or pay out-of-pocket for extra therapy.
Amy Paulo, a 34-year-old Massachusetts woman recovering from two operations on her left leg, maxed out the 40 visits covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in 2024, so she spent $1,445 out-of-pocket for 17 therapy sessions.
Paulo needed physical therapy to recover from several surgeries to shorten her left leg to the length of her right leg — the difference a consequence of juvenile arthritis. Her recovery was prolonged, she said, because her femur didn’t heal properly after one of the operations, in which surgeons cut out the middle of her femur and put a rod in its place.
“I went ballistic on Blue Cross many, many times,” said Paulo, who works with developmentally delayed children.”
Amy McHugh, a Blue Cross spokesperson, declined to discuss Paulo’s case. In an email, she said most employers who hire Blue Cross to administer their health benefits choose plans with “our standard” 60-visit limit, which she said is more generous than most insurers offer, but some employers “choose to allow for more or fewer visits per year.”
Paulo said she expects to restrict her therapy sessions to once a week instead of the recommended twice a week because she’ll need more help after an upcoming operation on her leg.
“We had to plan to save my visits for this surgery, as ridiculous as it sounds,” she said.
Medicare Is More Generous
People with commercial insurance plans face more hurdles than those on Medicare, which sets dollar thresholds on therapy each year but allows therapists to continue providing services if they document medical necessity. This year the limits are $2,410 for physical and speech therapy and $2,410 for occupational therapy.
Private Medicare Advantage plans don’t have visit or dollar caps, but they often require prior authorization every few visits. The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found last year that MA plans deny requests for physical and occupational therapy at hospitals and nursing homes at higher rates than they reject other medical services.
Therapists say many commercial plans require prior authorization and mete out approvals parsimoniously. Insurers often make therapists submit detailed notes, sometimes for each session, documenting patients’ treatment plans, goals, and test results showing how well they perform each exercise.
“It’s a battle of getting visits,” said Jackee Ndwaru, an occupational therapist in Jacksonville, Florida. “If you can’t show progress they’re not going to approve.”
An Insurer Overruled
Marjorie Haney’s insurance plan covered 20 therapy sessions a year, but Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield approved only a few visits at a time for the rotator cuff she tore in a bike accident in Maine. After 13 visits in 2021, Anthem refused to approve more, writing that her medical records “do not show you made progress with specific daily tasks,” according to the denial letter.
Haney, a physical therapist herself, said the decision made no sense because at that stage of her recovery, the therapy was focused on preventing her shoulder from freezing up and gradually expanding its range of motion.
“I went through those visits like they were water,” Haney, now 57, said. “My range was getting better, but functionally I couldn’t use my arm to lift things.”
Haney appealed to Maine’s insurance bureau for an independent review. In its report overturning Anthem’s decision, the bureau’s physician consultant, William Barreto, concluded that Haney had made “substantial improvement” — she no longer needed a shoulder sling and was able to return to work with restrictions. Barreto also noted that nothing in Anthem’s policy required progress with specific daily tasks, which was the basis for Anthem’s refusal.
“Given the member’s substantial restriction in active range of motion and inability to begin strengthening exercises, there is remaining deficit that requires the skills and training of a qualified physical therapist,” the report said.
Anthem said it requires repeated assessments before authorizing additional visits “to ensure the member is receiving the right care for the right period of time based on his or her care needs.” In the statement provided by Stephanie DuBois, an Anthem spokesperson, the insurer said this process “also helps prevent members from using up all their covered treatment benefits too quickly, especially if they don’t end up needing the maximum number of therapy visits.”
In 2023, Maine passed a law banning prior authorization for the first 12 rehab visits, making it one of the few states to curb insurer limitations on physical therapy. The law doesn’t protect residents with plans based in other states or plans from a Maine employer who self-insures.
Haney said after she won her appeal, she spaced out the sessions her plan permitted by going once weekly. “I got another month,” she said, “and I stretched it out to six weeks.”
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale includes a bunch of great deals on docking stations for handheld gaming devices, but you should also check out Best Buy’s deal on the Asus ROG 65W Charger Dock. This handy portable dock is normally quite expensive at $65, but Best Buy has slashed the price by more than 50% this week. You can snag the highly rated ROG Charger Dock for only $30. Though designed for the Asus ROG Ally, you can use Asus’ compact USB-C dock with other devices like Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch–just make sure you update the accessory to its latest firmware.
$30 (was $65)
It doubles as both a power brick and a docking station thanks to its built-in HDMI 2.0 port and USB 2.0 port. It connects to your handheld via USB-C to deliver power. As long as the device you want to use supports external displays and doesn’t draw more than 65W of power, you should be able to use it with the ROG Charger Dock.
It supports fast-charging via USB-C and is capable of displaying in 1080p with a 120Hz refresh rate or 4K at 60Hz. You can also use the USB-A port to charge a separate device, which could save you a spot in your power brick. Or you can use the USB-A port for accessories, such as dongles for keyboards, mice, or controllers.
The compact design makes it ideal for travel, so if you bring your ROG Ally or Steam Deck with you on trips, this can substitute for a traditional dock–though you may want to pair it with a budget-friendly portable stand, like this great one from JSAUX.
Earlier this year, Razer released a handheld docking station with Chroma RGB for $80. While you’re paying more for the name brand, Razer’s new docking station does look quite nice and performs well.
For more Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally accessory deals, check out our Amazon Big Spring Sale handheld gaming roundup, which includes docks, microSD cards, carrying cases, and more.
Research from Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago strongly suggests that Kawasaki disease is caused by a single respiratory virus that is yet to be identified. Findings contradict the theory that many different pathogens or toxins could cause this disease that can lead to serious cardiac complications in young children.
“The cause of Kawasaki disease has been a mystery for over 50 years,” said Anne Rowley, MD, pediatric infectious diseases expert and scientist at Manne Research Institute at Lurie Children’s, who is the lead author on the study published in Laboratory Investigation. “Our compelling data are a huge step forward and provide a clear direction for the field to identify and sequence the virus that causes Kawasaki disease in susceptible children. This will be critical to advancing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Kawasaki disease.”
Kawasaki disease is relatively uncommon, affecting mostly children between 6 months and 5 years of age. Lurie Children’s sees 50-60 newly diagnosed Kawasaki disease patients a year.
Currently, there is no diagnostic test for Kawasaki disease. Clinical signs include fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat. Children with Kawasaki disease have a 20 percent chance of developing heart disease, while infants are at higher risk with 50 percent chance of cardiac complications. The standard treatment, intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin, substantially decreases the risk of heart disease in patients with Kawasaki disease. Steroids may be added for the highest risk patients.
In their study, Dr. Rowley and colleagues prepared antibodies from blood cells of children with Kawasaki disease, in order to see what these antibodies will target in tissue samples of patients who died from the disease. They found that the antibodies recognized so-called inclusion bodies, which are by-products of a virus, in all 20 tissue samples that represented cases from the U.S. and Japan over 50 years.
“We saw the same inclusion bodies targeted in every tissue sample spanning five decades and two continents, which shows that we are dealing with one predominant virus causing Kawasaki disease,” said Dr. Rowley. “It appears to be a respiratory virus since the inclusion bodies were in the medium size airways. Going forward, we need to focus on studies of pathology specimens to gain understanding of what is inside the inclusion bodies so that we can identify the Kawasaki disease virus and finally solve the mystery.”
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant R01AI150719 to Dr. Rowley, the Max Goldenberg Foundation, the Center for Kawasaki Disease at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the Northwestern University NUSeq Core Facility, and the Northwestern University Flow Cytometry Core Facility supported by Cancer Center Support Grant (NCI CA060553).
Dr. Rowley is a Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology-Immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She holds the Dorothy M. and Edward E. Burwell Board Designated Professorship in Immunobiology at Lurie Children’s.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
All zodiac signs have their own characteristics and traits which define someone’s personality. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you started your day by already knowing about what’s going to come your way? Read on to find out whether the odds will be in your favour today.
Astrological prediction for March 29, 2025.
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
A balanced approach to relaxation brings inner peace throughout the day. Financial matters remain stable, with no major gains or losses. A skill you have been refining may lead to a breakthrough moment. The presence of a relative offers both comfort and thought-provoking insights. The urge to explore new places is strong, though practical challenges may arise. When considering a home loan, calculating EMI payments will help with budget planning. Academically, staying focused might be difficult, but setting small goals and taking breaks will help improve concentration.
Love Focus: Expressing your feelings openly will create a stronger emotional connection. Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Colour: Sky Blue
Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)
The bond with your sibling feels unbreakable and is filled with love and joy. Choosing eco-friendly travel accommodations ensures a perfect balance of sustainability and comfort. Your heart and mind are in sync, allowing you to feel at ease. Small expenses might add up quickly, so being mindful of spending will help prevent financial strain. Your ideas will resonate well in meetings and earn admiration. Property-related legal disputes may soon find resolution with patience and expert guidance. Academically, steady efforts will ensure progress even if there are no major breakthroughs.
Love Focus: A romantic spark ignites, making today feel electric with passion. Lucky Number: 8 Lucky Colour: Brown
Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)
The professional respect you have earned is evident in how others seek your guidance. A family habit might need some adjustments, and teamwork will help bring success. Traveling with a loved one will provide an enriching escape. Renting out property could generate a steady income, though occasional maintenance may be required. Academically, steady efforts will keep you progressing even without major milestones. A well-balanced diet today will fuel both strength and endurance. Paying off financial obligations will bring a sense of freedom and relief.
Love Focus: Love today is about cherishing every shared moment. Lucky Number: 6 Lucky Colour: Golden
Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 22)
Health remains stable, though staying hydrated is essential. A cautious approach to investments will help prevent unnecessary risks. If applying for a job, expect positive news that will boost your confidence. Family bonds strengthen, bringing a deep sense of peace and happiness. Exploring new places may bring excitement, though minor challenges could arise. Renting property can yield steady income with responsible tenants. Academically, every task will bring a sense of accomplishment, making learning fulfilling.
Love Focus: Personal growth is leading you toward the kind of love you truly deserve. Lucky Number: 18 Lucky Colour: Red
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 23)
Your health is in excellent condition, allowing you to move through the day with ease. Tracking expenses can lead to small but meaningful savings. Work challenges will be managed efficiently, showcasing your problem-solving skills. A simple moment with a cousin will remind you of the importance of family. Group discounts will make travel more enjoyable and cost-effective. Property transactions look promising whether you are buying, selling, or renting. Academically, steady efforts will ensure progress without unnecessary pressure.
Love Focus: Love fills your heart with happiness and gratitude today. Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Colour: Orange
Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)
A discussion at work may spark exciting new ideas. Family members may rely on you, making it important to balance support and personal boundaries. A peaceful mindset will help keep stress at bay. Household expenses remain stable, though luxury spending should be reconsidered. A journey today will offer the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Property investments look promising, making it a good time to capitalize on market trends. Academically, seeking help when needed will lead to better understanding and confidence.
Love Focus: A deep conversation strengthens the foundation of your relationship. Lucky Number: 5 Lucky Colour: All Shades of Green
Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)
An elder’s concerns may require a reassuring response. Capturing travel moments through photography will preserve breathtaking memories. Renovating your home will enhance comfort and beauty, making it a more peaceful space. Physical energy remains stable, though avoiding repetitive movements will help prevent strain. Thoughtful financial planning aligns well with long-term goals. An unexpected work responsibility will be handled with confidence and efficiency. Academically, steady efforts will ensure gradual progress.
Love Focus: Someone special is drawn to your energy, bringing love into your life. Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Colour: Light Grey
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
A sense of harmony in your body allows you to enjoy the present moment. Learning more about financial planning today will be beneficial. A workplace partnership may require some compromises but will be mutually beneficial. Strengthening bonds with extended family will bring joy and connection. Travel plans are on your mind, though practical considerations should be taken into account. Investing in property projects early could bring long-term rewards. Academically, prioritizing tasks will help manage a demanding workload efficiently.
Love Focus: Love is about joy, laughter, and celebrating togetherness today. Lucky Number: 6 Lucky Colour: Maroon
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Travel may seem predictable but will still bring rewarding experiences. Your body feels strong and prepared to embrace new opportunities. Earnings align well with your goals, creating financial stability. If work feels uninspiring, exploring new challenges within your role will reignite motivation. A family member’s love and support will add warmth to your day. The rental market is favorable, attracting reliable tenants. Academically, an engaging and inspiring learning experience awaits.
Love Focus: A romantic milestone is approaching, making the journey worth celebrating. Lucky Number: 8 Lucky Colour: Silver
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)
Minor fatigue may indicate the need for better hydration. Financial stability should be prioritized over quick gains to ensure long-term security. Reinforcing professional boundaries will maintain workplace harmony. A cousin’s success will bring joy, though avoiding comparisons will keep relationships positive. Adventure sports could provide an exhilarating experience. Leasing property requires setting clear expectations to make the process hassle-free. Academically, every subject explored today will spark curiosity and enthusiasm.
Love Focus: A special moment will highlight the beauty of love. Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Colour: Purple
Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19)
A leadership opportunity at work offers a chance to showcase your skills. Travel is expected to be smooth and hassle-free. Strength and agility are at their peak, making movement feel effortless. Parents may seek your guidance on an important matter. Optimizing earning strategies will enhance financial stability. Property transactions may experience slight delays, but staying organized will ensure progress. Academically, breaking tasks into smaller steps will make studying more manageable and effective.
Love Focus: Your love story is unfolding beautifully and bringing happiness along the way. Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Colour: Peach
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
Feeling energized and refreshed will make the day productive. Financial expansion opportunities may arise unexpectedly, opening new doors. Workplace stress might feel higher than usual, but short breaks will help maintain focus. A hasty decision at home may cause regret, so reassessing before acting is wise. If traveling, the journey will be steady and enjoyable. Property investments require patience, and gradual growth will bring long-term benefits. Academically, steady effort will keep you on track and prevent overwhelm.
Love Focus: Your love story is blossoming beautifully, so trust the process. Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Colour: White
The Food and Drug Administration approved on Friday a new type of medicine for people with the rare bleeding disorder hemophilia.
Current hemophilia treatments generally try to replace or spur the production of key blood-clotting proteins that are missing because of genetic mutations. But this newly approved medicine works differently. A snippet of genetic code, it gums up production of a separate protein that keeps blood cells from sticking together.
The medicine, known scientifically as fitusiran, has been in human testing for the past decade. The FDA cleared fitusiran for market based on two late-stage clinical trials that, together, showed it kept bleeding events in check for the two most common forms of hemophilia. It was also effective whether or not participants had “inhibitors,” a type of antibody that attacks the “replacement” blood-clotting protein many hemophilia patients require.
Each trial pitted fitusiran against a control arm, wherein participants were infused with one of two kinds of clotting agents. Between those two experiments and a so-called extension study, researchers found the drug cut annualized bleeding rates by about 70% compared to the control groups.
French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi co-developed fitusiran with Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and, in 2018, secured global rights to it through a revised partnership deal. Sanofi will now sell the drug under the brand name Qfitlia, with Alnylam eligible for royalty payments based on net sales.
The FDA specifically approved Qfitlia as a routine prophylaxis treatment for people aged 12 years or older, who have hemophilia “A” or “B” with or without neutralizing antibodies. The drug is given as an under-the-skin injection once every two months, with doses adjusted using a companion diagnostic test.
“Qfitlia has the potential to meaningfully change the hemophilia landscape through effective bleed protection, infrequent dosing, and simplified administration,” said Brian Foard, Sanofi’s head of specialty care, in a statement.
Also in that statement, Guy Young, director of the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, noted how Qfitlia “delivers the fewest doses of any prophylactic therapy in hemophilia.”
At the list price set by Sanofi, Qfitlia’s average annual cost will be about $642,000, though the company expects actual cost to be lower — and comparable to other prophylactic therapies — once discounts, rebates and patient assistance programs are factored in. Hemlibra, a popular hemophilia drug from Roche, had a list price north of $480,000 after it gained an FDA nod in 2017.
Sanofi said it’s “committed to offering responsible pricing to ensure all patients who want to switch to Qfitlia can have access.” The company has a program offering first-time patients six months of medication while their insurance provider decides on coverage plans. It also said it can help bring down out-of-pocket costs by providing co-pay assistance as well as a bridge for patients who lose their insurance coverage or hit other payer obstacles.
Sanofi has extensive experience selling drugs for rare diseases. Its portfolio already includes three other hemophilia products. Yet it could still have trouble marketing Qfitlia, as there are already handfuls of effective treatments for the disease.
Patient advocates have acknowledged, too, that the hemophilia community can be hesitant to try cutting-edge products like genetic medicines. Sales of gene therapies from CSL Behring and BioMarin Pharmaceuticals have been slow. And just last month, Pfizer ceased development and commercialization for its hemophilia B gene therapy, Beqvez, citing weak demand.
I like to use three boxes to explain most things residential.
They are known as The 4’s.
The Four W’s.
We originally these here and it’s the What, Who, When, and Where
1. What
Here, four things matter most – without wanting to place catchy caps on everything – I call these the Four Ps:
People – who is involved and what’s their pedigree/experience?
Product – does it suit the current and, more importantly, future markets?
Position – is the property in a good spot?
Price – not only the price paid but the terms of the deal too
2. Who
Who is going to rent the investment of you?
Can you get more rent via more tenants or higher-paying ones?
Who will buy the property from you when it comes time to resell?
Will this property hold an increasing appeal in the future?
If not, can it be improved so that it does?
3. Where
If an investment, is the property in a future pulse point?
Will the actual location retain; gain or lose value?
4. When
At what phase is the local property cycle – recovery, upswing, peak, downturn, stagnation, or trough?
Remember, the best buying opportunities are when supply exceeds demand – the downturn-to-trough stages of most property cycles.
The 4 Q’s
This is the Matusik Property Clock – four Quadrants – Recovery, Upturn, Downturn, and Stagnation.
A market’s position on the property clock is based on the strength and direction of several key real estate indicators including – sales volumes, price and rent momentum, underlying housing demand, new and existing housing supply, employment generation, and growth in household income.
The 4 P’s
This covers the more important stuff, for mine – the People involved, the actual Position of the property, the Product itself, and the Price paid.
So, what do we look for when assessing an investment-orientated residential project or dwelling product?
After almost 30 years of doing this stuff, we are either an absolute fluke or we might know a little about what we do.
For the record, I do think it has been as much fluke as focus.
But I am told I can be a difficult bugger.
So here goes:
1. Pedigree
Who are the developer, builder, and manager? What is their track record? Do they deliver what they say they will?
2. Timing
In what position is the local market and subject product type in the property cycle?
3. Who
Does the project appeal to at least three major housing local demographic subsets?
4. Value
Is the property fair value? Is the starting rent sustainable?
Are you getting the best deal?
5. Rental market
How big is the local rental market? What has been the local vacancy rate and rental growth over the recent past?
6. Supply
Underlying demand versus the potential to supply similar property in terms of price, design and site attributes.
7. Design
Are the project and product well designed? Does it appeal to renters now and potentially owner-residents on resale?
8. Depth
How big is the local market? Could you resell your property relatively quickly and above your purchase price?
9. Need
Is there a local need for this property type? Are local jobs being created and how sustainable is the economic base?
10. Site
How good is the actual site? What facilities are proposed and importantly, already exist in the local area? How good is the local amenity?
11. Evidence
Does the property have valuation support? Does it have independent rental and financial evidence?
12. Exit
What are the longer-term demographic and economic trends? Does this property/project fit in with our housing market outlook?
The Key thing…
A key thing – and something that is really missing for the property space – is an independent review of builders and developers.
The industry award systems are really just, well, hand jobs.
Is anyone game enough to provide such a service?
The new housing market needs the equivalent of TripAdvisor or Choice if you ask me.
Editors Note: This blog was originally written in 2018 and has been republished for the benefit of our many new subscribers.
About Michael Matusik Michael is director of independent property advisory Matusik Property Insights. He is independent, perceptive and to the point; has helped over 550 new residential developments come to fruition and writes his insightful Matusik Missive
PORTLAND, Ore. — Brian Vu has been a fan of the NBA for 14 years, but he has never experienced a game like the one he attended last week in Portland.
Not only did his hometown Trail Blazers beat the Memphis Grizzlies, but also for the first time in his life, Vu said he felt involved in the game, every bit a part of the 18,491 in attendance at Moda Center.
Vu, who has low vision, didn’t see one play during the Blazers’ 115-99 win. But he felt every score, every turnover, every shot.
The 32-year-old Vu used a haptic device that allowed him to follow the action in real time through vibrations felt through his fingers. The device was unveiled this season by Seattle-based OneCourt. After three pilot trials last spring, the Trail Blazers in January became the first NBA team to offer the service to fans. Since then, Sacramento and Phoenix also have been offering the devices at games.
Using a laptop-sized device that has the outline of the basketball court, visually impaired users feel vibrations that indicate ball movement. An earpiece gives updates on the score, as well as the result of a play, whether it’s a steal, block, 3-pointer or something else.
OneCourt founder Jerred Mace likens the concept to a tactile animator, creating the illusion of movement through pixels.
“We’ve basically built this display that functions similarly to a visual screen, but instead of pixels that you see, these are pixels that you feel,” Mace said.
So while Vu couldn’t see Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, his favorite player, zip through the defense for a layup, he could feel the play through his fingertips, which were spread out over the device that rested on his legs.
Brian Vu uses the OneCourt device for the visually impaired to follow along at a live Portland Trail Blazers game. (Jason Quick / The Athletic)
Vu said his fan experience had changed exponentially.
“It’s pretty cool. I feel more independent,” Vu said. “I’m usually bugging my friend during the game, asking him, ‘What’s happening?’ So now, I can interpret the game in my head … and I don’t feel excluded.”
Vu attended the Blazers-Grizzlies game with his friend James Kim, the recipient of many of Vu’s elbow jabs and questions during games over the years. As the Blazers pulled away in the third quarter, Kim and Vu were in sync, oohing and aahing when Shaedon Sharpe dunked or Donovan Clingan rejected shots.
“Usually, he’s like, ‘Who shot that? What just happened?’ It was not that big of a deal for me, but this is definitely an upgrade,” Kim said of Vu. “He can enjoy the game without having to stop and get the details from me, so I think it’s great for him.”
Vu’s experience is exactly what Mace hoped for when he brainstormed the idea as a student at the University of Washington. Mace, 24, grew up in Spokane, Wash., with parents with disabilities. He also wore glasses so thick he was called “goggles” by classmates. He had astigmatism in his left eye — what people could see 80 feet away, he would see at only 20 feet — and although his vision improved through surgeries and by wearing a patch over the right eye, he was left with a lasting empathy and understanding for those with disabilities.
“You bundle those experiences together, and I think that just primed my heart for this work,” Mace said. “I think it’s given me a ton of perspective and appreciation for what it’s like to experience the world differently.”
During his junior year at Washington, he was surfing through social media when he discovered a video of a blind person watching a soccer match. A woman in the stands moved his hands across a board to mimic the game action.
The idea of OneCourt was born.
“The physicality of that experience stood out to me, and as someone who struggled with vision, it was such an appealing intersection for me,” Mace said.
The OneCourt staff, led by founder Jerred Mace (far right), has produced an effective way for visually impaired fans to enjoy athletic events. (Courtesy of OneCourt)
He presented his idea at the University of Washington’s 2022 Science and Technology Showcase. The idea was in its infancy, just a research poster with no physical product, but it won first place and a $2,000 prize.
The contest used tennis as the example, but Mace had broader aspirations. The key, he knew, would be linking the idea with readily available data. Beginning with the 2023-24 season, all NBA arenas were equipped with optical tracking technology, which captures player and ball movement in real time. The NBA says up to 20 tracking devices are stationed in the rafters of each arena.
Mace reached out to the Trail Blazers with the idea and, with their help, was introduced to the NBA. The league has seen value in working with Mace.
“We’ve been thrilled to work with Jerred and the team at OneCourt to use technology to help advance their mission of enabling visually impaired fans enjoy NBA games,” said Jason Bieber, the NBA’s vice president of new business ventures. “We’re especially excited to have OneCourt in the current cohort of NBA Launchpad companies so we can continue to partner and explore even more possibilities in the space.”
Within four months, Mace had access to the NBA data and began running pilot tests at the end of last season.
“The NBA is innovative when it comes to technology like this and when it comes to accessibility for their fans,” said Matthew Gardner, the Blazers’ senior director of customer insights. “They saw the good that it could do, and they were like, ‘Hey, no problem. We’ll unlock it for you.’”
Mace added: “I think (the NBA) is always looking for new applications for their data, and this happens to be a very special one. It’s not analytics on the back end. It’s not sports betting on the front end. It’s something that had the potential to change someone’s life and their entire experience and relationship with sports.”
A Blazers fan claps while a OneCourt device rests on his lap. The device creates a focused, yet intimate game-day scene for the visually impaired. (Courtesy of Portland Trail Blazers)
Vu and Kim can attest: When Vu experienced the Blazers game with the OneCourt device, it was a game changer. From their end zone seats, Vu and Kim were as locked in and vocal as anyone in the arena.
Vu couldn’t clap because it would cause his hands to lose track of the action. But his legs were in constant movement, and he joined in with the crowd chanting “DE-FENSE! DE-FENSE!”
“There was a steal, and you can feel the vibration go to the other side — really fast — and I got super excited,” Vu said. “I knew why the crowd was cheering. Before, I wouldn’t understand what was happening.”
Vu estimated he used to go to Blazers games once a year. It was exciting to hear the crowd and the sounds, but he always felt detached and behind.
“Now it’s a whole different experience,” he said. “I’ve got the best of both worlds.”
Kim could only smile as he watched Vu’s hands moving quickly across the device, his feet nervously tapping.
“He’s really into the game,” Kim said, nodding toward his friend. “He’s, like, zoning in on it.”
Gardner said several other NBA teams have called and asked him for feedback after the Blazers debuted the device on Jan. 11. He tells the teams that nearly every home game has had at least one device checked out, and offering the device is essential to the fan experience.
“Being a fan should be for everybody,” Gardner said. “This unlocks an entirely new world for our fans who are blind and have low vision. We’ve seen it across all the faces of those who have used it so far.”
Mace said his company of eight employees, five of whom work full time, is bracing for the demand as more teams inquire about the services. Portland and Sacramento have five devices that can be reserved ahead of time or checked out on the concourse, while Phoenix has 10 devices. Fans do not need to pay for the device, thanks to Ticketmaster, an NBA sponsor.
Mace says the impact expands beyond the number of people using the device.
“One might think, ‘Oh, this device just impacts five people in a stadium.’ But really, the ripple effects are incredible,” Mace said. “Now, the circle of who is going to the game — friends and family — has expanded because everyone can share the experience.”
Vu said the device was easy to use after listening to a two-minute tutorial, but he wishes the audio could include specific indications, like which player has the ball and which player is shooting. Those could be updates for the future.
For now, Vu said knowing the Blazers offer the device increases his chances of attending more games.
“Oh, 1,000 percent,” Vu said. “Instead of maybe one game a year, I could see myself going to five a year. It’s just a better experience.”
Modern storage solutions like SSDs have changed the way we store data. But if you’re using your SSDs without partitions, it’s time to change your mind and organize your data efficiently.
7
Better Data Organization
Yash Wate / MakeUseOf
One of the most obvious benefits of partitioning your drive is better data organization. Instead of cramming everything on the drive and putting your data in folders, you can have individual partitions dedicated to similar data types. Partitions create logical divisions that appear as individual drives, which can be very helpful in certain workflows and even professional environments. You don’t want important work documents mixed up with your personal notes or a game’s files.
For example, you can have an entire partition dedicated to games and software, while another can hold your operating system. If you use your computer as your primary data storage device or have many files to manage, partitioning can help organize data in a manner that makes it easy to remember what’s stored where instead of using Windows Search all the time.
Better organization means easier data backup and restoration. If you want to back up your games or media and have a dedicated partition for it, you can copy over the relevant partitions to an external drive, NAS, or cloud storage server without having to fish around for your data.
Your drive can become cluttered over time with programs, games, media, and so on. To make my backups easier, I partition my drives so I have dedicated storage spaces for games, programs, general media, and documents. Whenever I need to back something up, I know exactly where to go.
5
Better Data Safety
Matt L. Hall / MakeUsOf
Partitioning your drive also means your data remains safe if you mess something up. This is mostly helpful when protecting your operating system (OS) from corruption or other errors, especially if you like experimenting with different programs on your system.
Having specific data stored on different partitions also makes it easier to recover if you experience a sudden crash or your operating system malfunctions. If your OS partition becomes corrupt or you need to reinstall it from scratch, you can format the partition and start over. It’s way more convenient than formatting your entire drive and losing all your data.
4
Dual-Booting Is Less of a Hassle
Kris Wouk / MakeUseOf
If you’d like to dual-boot your system, creating partitions is hands down the best way of managing two or even more operating systems installed on a single drive. Having separate partitions allows you to run multiple operating systems without facing file system issues. It also gives you a very clear separation between the two operating systems, meaning you can remove or reformat one OS without touching the other.
For example, if you want to dual-boot Windows and Linux on the same drive, having two partitions lets you install both operating systems without running into issues with their file system requirements (GPT for Windows and EXT-4 for Linux). Additionally, you’ll be able to access your files from both OSes while also maintaining the aforementioned organization, backup, and data safety benefits.
If you haven’t partitioned your drive and want to reinstall your OS from scratch, you must copy all non-OS files before you can format and reinstall the drive. Installing your OS on a dedicated partition lets you start over in a pinch, as you only need to format one partition. Windows, Linux, and macOS all have built-in tools that can help you safely manage hard drive partitions as well.
The entire process also becomes faster because the partition will be much smaller than the entire drive’s capacity. Formatting a loaded 2TB drive can take a while, but a 500GB partition can be formatted in a fraction of that time.
Any OS maintenance tasks like file repairs, health, and antivirus scans are also faster. Whatever program you’re using has to sift through a smaller partition and, hence, less data, and you can ensure that only the data you want is scanned. You can even do a clean Windows installation without worrying about losing your data.
Another benefit of partitioning your drive is improved data security. You can have a dedicated partition for storing sensitive information, which can be encrypted or protected with a password.
This has several benefits, including but not limited to less vulnerability in case you get attacked by malware. Some malware attacks only target your OS files, meaning you can still access the storage drive from another computer and recover important files.
Data security also depends on what malware infection ends up on your system. For example, if you get infected by ransomware, there’s not much you can do to save your data, regardless of whether you’ve partitioned your drive.
1
Better System Performance
To be clear, simply partitioning your drive won’t make your computer faster. One of the biggest arguments against partitioning modern SSDs is uniform access speeds, regardless of how you save your data.
Related
Drive Partitions Are Pointless on Modern Storage: Here’s Why
Thinking about partitioning your drive? You might want to reconsider.
However, partitioning your drive can still help manage system resources more effectively by isolating frequently used files in separate partitions. Additionally, partitioning also ensures that specific types of data don’t clutter the OS partitions, letting you partition your hard drive for optimum performance.
Partitioning your drive is an effective technique to organize your data properly, protect it against crashes and malware, and make it easy to maintain your drive and carry out any fixes or repairs, making it a great idea for any storage device.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Shunde-cuisine-A-gastronomic-delight-1C6YQYWWHlK/img/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d.jpeg'Deep-fried milk with a golden crispy outer skin and a soft milky flavor filling is seen in Foshan, Guangdong Province on March 25, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Shunde-cuisine-A-gastronomic-delight-1C6YQYWWHlK/img/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d.jpeg'Deep-fried milk with a golden crispy outer skin and a soft milky flavor filling is seen in Foshan, Guangdong Province on March 25, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Shunde-cuisine-A-gastronomic-delight-1C6YQYWWHlK/img/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d.jpeg'Deep-fried milk with a golden crispy outer skin and a soft milky flavor filling is seen in Foshan, Guangdong Province on March 25, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Shunde-cuisine-A-gastronomic-delight-1C6YQYWWHlK/img/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d.jpeg'Deep-fried milk with a golden crispy outer skin and a soft milky flavor filling is seen in Foshan, Guangdong Province on March 25, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Shunde-cuisine-A-gastronomic-delight-1C6YQYWWHlK/img/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d.jpeg'Deep-fried milk with a golden crispy outer skin and a soft milky flavor filling is seen in Foshan, Guangdong Province on March 25, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Shunde-cuisine-A-gastronomic-delight-1C6YQYWWHlK/img/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d.jpeg'Deep-fried milk with a golden crispy outer skin and a soft milky flavor filling is seen in Foshan, Guangdong Province on March 25, 2025. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-28/Shunde-cuisine-A-gastronomic-delight-1C6YQYWWHlK/img/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d/2ea7b56bfc754dabbda06168c630c51d.jpeg'Deep-fried milk with a golden crispy outer skin and a soft milky flavor filling is seen in Foshan, Guangdong Province on March 25, 2025. /CGTN
Shunde, a district in Foshan, Guangdong, is renowned as the “cradle of Cantonese cuisine” and a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Its cuisine is a harmonious blend of freshness, lightness and exquisite craftsmanship, offering a wide array of dishes that tantalize your taste buds.
One of the must-try delicacies is their deep-fried milk, featuring a golden crispy outer skin and a soft, white filling inside. The crispy exterior with a warm, creamy milk filling is loved by locals and international visitors.
Roast goose is another must-try. The goose is marinated with special seasonings, roasted to a shiny, crispy finish, and served with a savory sauce. Lunjiao cake, made from indica rice flour, has a sweet and slightly sour taste. These dishes showcase Shunde’s rich culinary heritage. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer savory flavors, Shunde’s food scene is sure to give you an unforgettable dining experience.
Role Model answered the phone while pacing around a Holiday Inn Express gym. The 27-year-old singer explained that he was trying to get a workout in before his Tampa, Fla., show later that night. Born Tucker Pillsbury, the in-demand musician was about two-thirds of the way through his tour’s North American leg. While talking about his sophomore album, “Kansas Anymore,” Pillsbury suddenly lost his train of thought and, through his phone’s camera, a panicked smile takes over his typically sarcastic composure.
“Oh my God. There are fans outside the window,” said the singer, who had a hoodie draped over his shoulders, barely covering his torso of patchwork tattoos. “This is the worst place I’d ever want to be seen.”
For the remainder of the Zoom call, he avoids the gym’s windows and steers clear of the fans prowling the hotel’s perimeter. Since the release of his album last summer, the Maine-raised singer has settled into a new pocket of fame — with TikTok virality and obsessed fans around each corner. Almost every night, fans line up for hours to see Pillsbury strum his guitar, sing his breakup songs and hope to be that night’s “Sally,” a tradition where he brings a fan (or famous friend) onstage to dance with him during “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out.”
The No Place Like tour kicked off in November and it’s now nearing its tail end, with only a handful of American dates left. But before closing the curtain, he is bringing his brokenhearted acoustics and cowboy hat to L.A.’s Wiltern for two sold-out shows on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In an effort to keep the tour “exciting,” Pillsbury released “Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye),” last month. It’s an extended version of his folk-driven album with four brand-new tracks. He continues to mourn a previous relationship (with internet tastemaker Emma Chamberlain), yearns for his East Coast hometown and guides listeners through his stages of grief.
Originally, he thought he struck the right ending with the bittersweet ballad “Something, Somehow, Someday,” on the record’s standard release. But with the opportunity to make a deluxe and heighten his newfound country flair, the singer realized he had a slightly more final farewell in him. He landed on “The Longest Goodbye,” the revised final track, where Pillsbury still leaves the heartbreak album open-ended — singing, “I don’t think I love you anymore / But I don’t think I’ll ever be so sure,” as his last words.
“If I were to go therapy mode on myself, I think I just don’t like firm endings in life, like hard nos or hard yeses. I don’t like the black and white of certain things. Goodbyes are very hard for me and I think happy endings aren’t always realistic. It’s better to leave things open-ended,” said Pillsbury. “I don’t know, I’m weird. I like movies where they all die at the end.”
After finishing his headlining tour in April, Role Model is heading back out to join Gracie Abrams on the Secret of Us Deluxe tour this summer.
(Neema Sadeghi)
He begins to detail his tour regimen and mourns the lack of outside time on show days — being outdoors reminds him most of home. Heard in the warm, Americana twangs that complete “Kansas Anymore,” these sounds are an ode to his upbringing in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. He longs for its cobblestone streets, the town’s red brick buildings and its surrounding pockets of nature.
“I will say I miss Maine every single day. I mean, especially being in Tampa,“ says Pillsbury, as he looks out the window, describing a grim, rainy day in Florida. “Maine is just like one of those places that has a sound. When you look at it, it’s an easy place to score as if it’s like a movie.”
When Pillsbury first started working on his second album, following his 2022 full-length debut “Rx,” he wasn’t sure which sonic direction he’d head in. “Rx” was a pop-ridden menagerie of sensationalized sexual lyrics and lovestruck melodies. His previous EPs (“Arizona in the Summer,” “oh, how perfect” and “our little angel”) teeter the line of melancholic bedroom pop and moody rap. So, for his second album, he continued to test the waters with different influences like ‘80s synth-pop and electronic music. But nothing was sticking.
“It’s hard to write to weird electronic s—. I can’t do it. I tried and when listening you didn’t believe any of it,” said Pillsbury. “Then I just started playing acoustic guitar in my living room and trying to write songs like I used to, back in the day. It felt a lot more comfortable, believable and raw.”
As he sat on his couch, strumming a newly learned instrument and figuring out what he wanted to say, he was transported to being a college student at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University. In 2017, Pillsbury released his first EP, “Arizona in the Summer,” a four-track project he recorded on the floor of his bedroom closet. “Stolen Car,” a dejected pop track off that EP, is originally what caught the attention of late rapper Mac Miller, who first aided Pillsbury in landing a record deal and jump-starting his career.
Role Model says his shows now “feel like an actual concert,” as he plays guitar for 75% of the performance.
(Neema Sadeghi)
“It’s a full circle moment for me. I didn’t fully know what I was doing [on ‘Arizona in the Summer,’] and I think some of the best music can come from that,” said Pillsbury. “With ‘Kansas Anymore,’ I was able to start these songs in my living room on a guitar, not fully understanding how to play guitar very well. I just was like, let me try and do the bare minimum in my living room and get ideas out — that worked better.”
When he first got signed to Interscope in 2018, the singer was thrown into several recording sessions where songwriters would ask him, “What’s on your mind?” or “How are you doing?” as a way to open up. He says it takes him a lot of time to warm up to people and being vulnerable like this in the studio was a challenge for his first few projects. Nonetheless, he created earworms like the horn-powered “hello!” and the hypnotic “forever&more,” which individually have around 50 million Spotify streams.
“I just remember walking out of the room and crying in the bathroom. It just f—ed with my head a lot. It just made me question why I couldn’t be [writing music] by myself,” said Pillsbury. “Why was I being set up with songwriters in the first place, especially when I got signed off of songs that I wrote myself? It’s a confusing thing that happens and it can definitely f— with your head. I think it does for a lot of artists, which is why I just wanted to go secret mode on this album.”
By going “secret mode,” he says that he was able to create one of his most sincere and mature records to date. He’s done making tunes like “Masturbation Song” off “Rx” — what he describes as a track “about pleasuring myself and trying to make it into a cute love ballad.” He’s moved onto a more sobering look into how he deals with heartbreak and homesickness.
From the soft guitar strum of “Frances,” a track where he tries to figure out where he went wrong, to the self-deprecating upbeat “Scumbag” and “Something, Somehow, Someday” where he croons about still believing they’re “meant to be,” a majority of this album paints a painstakingly clear picture of a breakup. But Pillsbury promises the feeling doesn’t translate to his live shows. He says he’s good at separating the trauma of what he was going through when writing the song from his stage performance — where all he can think about is trying not to forget his lyrics.
“When I’m looking at people in the crowd, I’m not thinking about my past. I’m not trying to relive that on stage in front of people. I just don’t want to see a bunch of people crying. I’d rather lift people up,” said Pillsbury. “So I try to do things with a smile to kind of lighten the mood. It’s probably why I’m joking in between every song. Comedic relief.”
Gurugram, March 28: Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) (NSE: HYUNDAI, BSE: 544274) has marked a significant milestone by securing inclusion in key Indian capital market indices, including NIFTY Next 50, NIFTY 100, NIFTY 500, and S&P BSE 500.
This achievement further strengthens the company’s market presence and credibility following its stock market debut on October 22, 2024. Speaking on the occasion, Unsoo Kim, Managing Director – HMIL, stated, “As a listed entity, we are elated to cross yet another important milestone. By becoming a part of prestigious Indian capital market indices such as the NIFTY Next 50 and S&P BSE 500, we have fortified HMIL’s standing in the Indian stock exchanges, reinforcing its market presence and credibility.” Hyundai Motor Group Plans To Implement Advanced Autonomous Driving Technology Across Its Vehicle Lineup, Targets Level 2+ Features by End of 2027.
Kim added, “As India grows, HMIL will continue to grow intrinsically with it, along with a constant focus on driving innovation, improving operational efficiencies, and making strategic investments that will strengthen our business outlook and contribute to the growth of the Indian economy.”
The National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) has recognized Hyundai Motor India Limited as part of its Broad Market Indices and Thematic Indices.
Additionally, HMIL was the only large-cap Indian company to be included in the MSCI Global Standard Index during Morgan Stanley Capital International’s (MSCI) latest reshuffling on February 28, 2025.
Hyundai Motor India Limited has been included in multiple indices of the NSE, reflecting its strong growth and market presence. The company is now part of the Broad-Based Indices, including NIFTY Next 50, NIFTY 100, NIFTY 200, NIFTY 500, NIFTY Large Midcap 250, and NIFTY Total Market, effective from March 28, 2025.
Additionally, HMIL has been recognized in Thematic Indices such as NIFTY EV & New Age Automotive, NIFTY India Manufacturing, NIFTY India New Age Consumption, NIFTY MNC, NIFTY Rural, and NIFTY Transportation & Logistics. HMIL’s inclusion in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) further strengthens its standing in the Indian stock market. It is now part of the Broad-Based Indices, including BSE 500, BSE All Cap, BSE Large Cap, and BSE Large Midcap, effective from March 24, 2025. Hyundai Motor and Kia To Surpass 30 Million Cumulative Vehicle Sales in US This Year.
The company has also been added to the Sector & Industry Index, specifically BSE Consumer Discretionary, and Strategy Indices, including BSE Quality Index and BSE Select IPO. This recognition aligns with HMIL’s performance in the Indian automotive sector. The company recorded its highest-ever annual domestic sales in 2024, selling 6,05,433 vehicles–achieving this milestone for the third consecutive year.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
The researchers of Anthropic’s interpretability group know that Claude, the company’s large language model, is not a human being, or even a conscious piece of software. Still, it’s very hard for them to talk about Claude, and advanced LLMs in general, without tumbling down an anthropomorphic sinkhole. Between cautions that a set of digital operations is in no way the same as a cogitating human being, they often talk about what’s going on inside Claude’s head. It’s literally their job to find out. The papers they publish describe behaviors that inevitably court comparisons with real-life organisms. The title of one of the two papers the team released this week says it out loud: “On the Biology of a Large Language Model.”
Like it or not, hundreds of millions of people are already interacting with these things, and our engagement will only become more intense as the models get more powerful and we get more addicted. So we should pay attention to work that involves “tracing the thoughts of large language models,” which happens to be the title of the blog post describing the recent work. “As the things these models can do become more complex, it becomes less and less obvious how they’re actually doing them on the inside,” Anthropic researcher Jack Lindsey tells me. “It’s more and more important to be able to trace the internal steps that the model might be taking in its head.” (What head? Never mind.)
On a practical level, if the companies that create LLM’s understand how they think, it should have more success training those models in a way that minimizes dangerous misbehavior, like divulging people’s personal data or giving users information on how to make bioweapons. In a previous research paper, the Anthropic team discovered how to look inside the mysterious black box of LLM-think to identify certain concepts. (A process analogous to interpreting human MRIs to figure out what someone is thinking.) It has now extended that work to understand how Claude processes those concepts as it goes from prompt to output.
It’s almost a truism with LLMs that their behavior often surprises the people who build and research them. In the latest study, the surprises kept coming. In one of the more benign instances, the researchers elicited glimpses of Claude’s thought process while it wrote poems. They asked Claude to complete a poem starting, “He saw a carrot and had to grab it.” Claude wrote the next line, “His hunger was like a starving rabbit.” By observing Claude’s equivalent of an MRI, they learned that even before beginning the line, it was flashing on the word “rabbit” as the rhyme at sentence end. It was planning ahead, something that isn’t in the Claude playbook. “We were a little surprised by that,” says Chris Olah, who heads the interpretability team. “Initially we thought that there’s just going to be improvising and not planning.” Speaking to the researchers about this, I am reminded about passages in Stephen Sondheim’s artistic memoir, Look, I Made a Hat, where the famous composer describes how his unique mind discovered felicitous rhymes.
Other examples in the research reveal more disturbing aspects of Claude’s thought process, moving from musical comedy to police procedural, as the scientists discovered devious thoughts in Claude’s brain. Take something as seemingly anodyne as solving math problems, which can sometimes be a surprising weakness in LLMs. The researchers found that under certain circumstances where Claude couldn’t come up with the right answer it would instead, as they put it, “engage in what the philosopher Harry Frankfurt would call ‘bullshitting’—just coming up with an answer, any answer, without caring whether it is true or false.” Worse, sometimes when the researchers asked Claude to show its work, it backtracked and created a bogus set of steps after the fact. Basically, it acted like a student desperately trying to cover up the fact that they’d faked their work. It’s one thing to give a wrong answer—we already know that about LLMs. What’s worrisome is that a model would lie about it.
Reading through this research, I was reminded of the Bob Dylan lyric “If my thought-dreams could be seen / they’d probably put my head in a guillotine.” (I asked Olah and Lindsey if they knew those lines, presumably arrived at by benefit of planning. They didn’t.) Sometimes Claude just seems misguided. When faced with a conflict between goals of safety and helpfulness, Claude can get confused and do the wrong thing. For instance, Claude is trained not to provide information on how to build bombs. But when the researchers asked Claude to decipher a hidden code where the answer spelled out the word “bomb,” it jumped its guardrails and began providing forbidden pyrotechnic details.
The “Ghibli” frenzy has swept the Internet over the past three days. Following Sam Altman’s announcement of an AI image feature for ChatGPT-4o, Studio Ghibli anime-inspired memecoins have flooded the crypto market, according to a CoinMarketCap report on Friday, March 28. Tokens like GhibliCZ, Shibli Inu, and Ghibli Doge have surged this week, amplifying risks of scams and financial losses. So far, Ghiblification (GHIBLI) has generated the most buzz in the memecoin market, as per multiple reports.
Ghibli-Mania, Ghiblification Token: Everything to Know About
On March 25, ChatGPT-4o introduced image generation capabilities for its paid subscribers. Following Altman’s announcement, social media quickly became saturated with images inspired by Studio Ghibli’s iconic animation style.
Studio Ghibli, Inc. is a Tokyo, Japan-based animation studio. Founded in 1985, the studio has been producing anime movies, several of which are highly acclaimed and have won awards in the anime category. As per RottenTomatoes, some famous films by the Ghibli Studios include — Grave of The Fireflies (1998), Spirited Away (2001), and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) among others.
As per CoinDesk, a bunch of Ghibli-themed memecoins erupted on the Solana and Ethereum blockchains in the last three days.
GhibliDoge, Ghibli Rizzler, Ghibli Sigma, Ghibli Mona Lisa are some of the Ghibli-styled tokens that are making the rounds in the market, The Street reported.
Ghiblification (GHIBLI) — a Solana-based token, however, stole the spotlight after its reported launch on March 26.
As per CoinMarketCap, Ghiblification ($GHIBLI) reached a valuation of $31.24 million (roughly Rs. 266 crore) on Friday, March 28. Currently trading at $0.02998 (roughly Rs. 2.5), the token has surged by 46.5 percent in the last 24 hours. According to CoinGecko, over 999 million GHIBLI tokens are in circulation, with a maximum supply capped at one billion. Major exchanges like Kraken, Gate.io, and BingX have listed the token for trading.
The majority of these memecoins are created by unknown developers, making it nearly impossible to verify their legitimacy or safety for investment. The few available vetting methods are primarily accessible to those skilled with advanced Web3 tools. Investors are urged to exercise caution to avoid losses amid the ongoing Ghibli-fuelled hype.
Elon Musk, CZ Join the Craze
While ChatGPT-4o offers Ghibli-style image generation to its paid users, platforms like X’s Grok provide similar features for free. As a result, social media platforms like Instagram and X have transformed into a vibrant anime wonderland. The trend has drawn attention from high-profile figures, further fuelling the hype.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk joined the craze by sharing a Ghibli-inspired image of himself holding a Shiba Inu dog against a Lion King-themed backdrop. Notably, Shiba Inu dogs are popular mascots for major crypto projects like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB).
Binance co-founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao also joined the trend and re-created his profile picture on X in Ghibli style. White House crypto czar, David Sacks also embraced the craze and posted a Ghibli-style photo of himself with US President Donald Trump working in the office.
I am probably the last guy to try this. Not going to change my pfp, as it will put the bluetick into review mode again. And I quite like my current non-ghibli pfp. pic.twitter.com/QjusBXDQR0
— CZ :large_orange_diamond: BNB (@cz_binance) March 27, 2025
Reacting to the hyper-buzz of this AI image generation feature on ChatGPT, Altman announced some more details on Friday, March 28.
“It’s super fun seeing people love images in ChatGPT, but our GPUs are melting,” the OpenAI chief posted on X. “We are going to temporarily introduce some rate limits while we work on making it more efficient. hopefully won’t be long! ChatGPT free tier will get three generations per day soon.”
Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
Email is more than just a communication tool. It serves as the backbone of first-party data, identity resolution, and personalized marketing strategies — all essential for success in today’s privacy-first, omnichannel landscape.
In this new white paper from AtData, Is Email Dead? Exploring the Evolution and Vitality of Email, readers will find a data-backed look at why email continues to deliver — and how both brands and agencies can leverage it to power better targeting, engagement, and ROI. It covers:
Why email remains one of the most cost-effective, high-impact tools in the marketing stack
How validated, enriched email data supports identity resolution and personalization
Ways to improve campaign performance through better deliverability and segmentation
Download the white paper today to learn how email can continue to drive growth, engagement, and value in today’s marketing landscape.
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
Digital Marketing Depot is the resource center for digital marketing strategies and tactics. Created by Third Door Media, Digital Marketing Depot features a robust library of hosted white papers, eBooks, original research, and webinars on a wide range of digital marketing topics- from advertising, analytics, data and content management, to email marketing, SEO and PPC campaign management, and much more. Visit us at http://digitalmarketingdepot.com.
Tim Winard knew he needed to buy health insurance when he left his management job in manufacturing to launch his own business.
It was the first time he had shopped around for coverage, searching for a plan that would cover him and his wife, who was also between jobs at the time.
“We were so nervous about not being on a company-provided plan,” Winard said.
After speaking with an insurance agent, he decided against enrolling in an Affordable Care Act plan because he was concerned about the potential cost. Instead, he chose a short-term policy, good for six months.
Six months later, Winard was still working on starting his business, so he signed up for another short-term policy with a different insurer that cost about $500 a month.
When he needed a colonoscopy, Winard, 57, called his insurance company. He said a representative told him to go to any facility he wanted for the procedure.
Early last year, he had the colonoscopy at a hospital in Elmhurst, Illinois, not far from his home in Addison.
The procedure went well, and Winard went home right afterward.
Then the bill came.
Email Sign-Up
Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.
The Medical Procedure
Periodic colon cancer screening is recommended for people at average risk starting at age 45 and continuing until age 75, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. In addition to those for preventive purposes, doctors may order colonoscopies to diagnose existing concerns, as was the case for Winard.
There are several ways to screen, including noninvasive stool tests. A colonoscopy allows clinicians to examine and remove any polyps, which are then tested to see whether they are precancerous or malignant.
The Final Bill
$10,723.19, including $1,436 for the anesthesia and $1,039 for the recovery room. After an insurance discount, his plan paid $817.47. Winard was left owing $7,226.71.
The Billing Problem: A Short-Term Plan, With Coverage Caps and Gaps
Short-term, limited-duration insurance policies do not have to follow rules established under the ACA because they are intended to be only temporary coverage.
As Winard experienced, benefits within the plans can vary, with some setting specific dollar caps on certain types of medical care — sometimes far below what it costs. What’s covered can be hard to parse, and the insurer generally gets the last word on interpreting its rules.
While some short-term policies look like comprehensive major medical policies, all come with significant caveats. Most have limits that people accustomed to work-based or comprehensive ACA plans may find surprising.
All short-term insurance carriers, for example, screen applicants for health conditions and can reject them because of health problems or exclude those conditions. Many do not include drug coverage or maternity care.
The fact that short-term plans can cover fewer services, conditions, and patients is why they are generally less expensive than an unsubsidized ACA plan.
In hindsight, Tim Winard says, he had not understood the difference between Affordable Care Act
policies and short-term plans. His advice? Don’t rely solely on marketing materials and always get a
cost estimate before a nonemergency procedure.(Jamie Kelter Davis for KFF Health News)
“The general trade-off is lower premiums versus what the plans actually cover,” said Cynthia Cox, vice president and director of the program on the ACA at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. “But the reason short-term plans are priced lower than a more comprehensive ACA plan is that they can deny people with preexisting conditions and don’t have to cover a lot of essential health benefits.”
Stunned that he owed more than $7,000 for his colonoscopy, Winard contacted his insurance company, Companion Life Insurance of Columbia, South Carolina.
An insurance representative told him in an email that it classified the procedure and all its costs, including the anesthesia, under his policy’s “outpatient surgery facility” benefit.
That benefit, the email said, capped insurance payment “within that facility” to a maximum of $1,000 per day.
That definition surprised Winard, who said he read his policy to mean that there was a cap on what could be charged for the facility itself — not for all the care he received there.
“I interpreted it to be a facility like a recovery room or surgery room,” he said. “They defined it to include any services at an outpatient facility.”
His plan says it covers colon cancer screening at 80% after patients meet their deductible. It also covers 80% of the cost of drugs provided in an outpatient setting.
Winard, who had met his deductible, said he expected he would pay only 20% toward the cost of his colonoscopy. But he also wondered why the screening, performed at Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital, was categorized by the insurer as a procedure at an “outpatient” facility.
According to the email Winard received from his insurer, his policy’s $1,000-a-day limit applies to “treatment or services in a state-approved freestanding ambulatory surgery center that is not part of a hospital, or a hospital outpatient surgery facility.”
Elmhurst Health spokesperson Allie Burke said that the hospital has an attached building where same-day outpatient procedures like colonoscopies are performed.
Short-term plans have been sold for decades. But in recent years, they’ve become a political football.
Out of concern that people would choose them over more comprehensive ACA insurance, President Barack Obama’s administration limited short-term plans’ terms to three months. Those rules were lifted in President Donald Trump’s first term, allowing the plans to again be sold as 364-day policies.
President Joe Biden, calling such plans “junk insurance,” restricted the policies to four months — a change that took effect one month after Winard’s procedure. Trump is expected to reverse Biden’s reversal and again make them available for longer durations.
The Resolution
In December, Winard hired an advocate, Linda Michelson, to help him parse his bill. They wrote to the hospital, offering to pay $4,000 if it would settle the entire bill — an amount Michelson said is about four times what Medicare would pay for a colonoscopy. Winard said the hospital declined the offer.
Spencer Walrath, another Elmhurst spokesperson, wrote in an email to KFF Health News that the hospital’s prices “reflect the value of the services we deliver.”
Companion Life did not respond to requests for comment. Scott Wood, who identified himself as a program manager and co-founder of Pivot Health, which markets Companion Life and other insurance plans, said in an interview that there was room for interpretation in the billing and that he had asked Companion Life to take another look.
Shortly after Wood’s comment to KFF Health News, Winard said he was contacted by his insurer. A representative told him that, upon reconsideration, the bill had been adjusted — although he was given no specific explanation as to why.
His new bill showed he owed only $770.
(Jamie Kelter Davis for KFF Health News)
The Takeaway
Short-term plans can be appealing for some people because of the relatively low cost of their premiums, but consumers should read all the plan documents carefully before enrolling. Understand that the plans often won’t cover a full range of benefits, and check to see which services are covered and which are excluded. Check whether a policy includes per-day or per-policy-period dollar caps on coverage or other payout limits.
The federal government offers subsidies based on household income for ACA plans, which can make them comparable in cost to cheaper, short-term plans — but with a wider range of benefits.
In hindsight, Winard said he had not understood the difference between ACA policies and short-term plans.
His advice? Don’t rely solely on marketing materials, and always get a cost estimate, preferably in writing, before a nonemergency procedure like a colonoscopy.
What is the single thing that we all spend the biggest portion of our waking hours doing? Our jobs, of course. It’s what I’m doing right now as I write this article, even. No life sim would be complete with jobs–and so obviously InZoi gives players the chance to go to work and get their daily grind on. Here’s how to get a job in Krafton’s new Sims competitor.
How to get a job in InZoi
As with The Sims 4, there are two main types of jobs to choose from: those which send you to a “rabbit hole,” in which you’re simply offscreen at a workplace that’s not on the map, and those where you have to actively control your Zoi as they go about their day at the office. Most jobs are of the rabbit hole type, but each of the available cities also includes two unique active jobs that you can choose from as well.
To get a job, you’ll need to click on the careers button at the bottom of your Zoi’s phone screen, where you can see all the options. In Dowon, the two active jobs are at the fire department, or at Adam Entertainment, an idol management company–all the other available career jobs, which have a little briefcase mark on their icons, are the rabbit hole type of jobs. There are also part-time jobs, too, but you will never be promoted or get a raise at those jobs.
When you’ve picked a job you want, you just have to apply and you’ll be automatically accepted for the position, because the only qualification for getting a job in Inzoi is age–you just can’t be too young or too old. But there are no education requirements for any jobs in InZoi right now.
You’ll need to actively do your job in InZoi if you want to get promoted.
Once you have a job, you’ll need to actually succeed at it if you want to earn a promotion and get a raise. For the rabbit hole-type jobs, you don’t really have to put any effort in beyond making sure your Zoi got a good night’s sleep before work–everything they do offscreen is automatic.
But the active careers, by contrast, require active engagement from the player. To be promoted, you’ll need to complete the various tasks you’re given during your day, which appear in a small window in the corner of your screen. You can also let them work autonomously if you’d like–Zois are pretty good at remembering to do the assigned tasks if you let them be.
But you will need to be present with your Zoi while they’re at work to make progress toward a promotion. If you send your Zoi off to an active job while you’re controlling a different Zoi in your family, they’ll still earn their salary but they won’t make any progress in their career. Their performance won’t be negative, but you won’t get any closer to being promoted that way. So if you have a big family and don’t want to supervise your Zoi at work, you should choose one of the non-active jobs.
For those who don’t love the structure of a normal job, there are tons of other ways to make money in InZoi. As with The Sims 4, you can paint, make music, develop software, and take part in all sorts of other freelance-type gigs, and even commit crimes. The possibilities are wide open, even though InZoi only just launched in Early Access.
People living with Long Covid often feel dismissed, disbelieved and unsupported by their healthcare providers, according to a new study from the University of Surrey.
The study, which was published in the Journal of Health Psychology, looked at how patients with Long Covid experience their illness. The study found that many patients feel they have to prove their illness is physical to be taken seriously and, as a result, often reject psychological support, fearing it implies their symptoms are “all in the mind.”
Professor Jane Ogden, co-author of the study from the University of Surrey, said:
“We found that the problem isn’t people with Long Covid refusing help — it’s about the deep need for people to be believed. When a patient feels dismissed, offering psychological support instead of medical care can be misconstrued as insulting.”
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are 1.9 million people who live with Long Covid in the UK. Long Covid symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle aches and shortness of breath, which persist for many weeks, sometimes months, after the initial Covid-19 infection.
Surrey’s study involved in-depth interviews with 14 people in the UK between the ages of 27 to 63 who had experienced Long Covid symptoms for more than four weeks. The group included 12 women and two men.
Saara Petker, clinical psychologist, co-author of the study and former PhD student at the University of Surrey, said:
“We found that our participants are living a life of constant uncertainty, struggling to find treatment. People told us that they didn’t feel listened to, some said they’d lost trust in doctors, their social circles and even their own bodies because of the whole experience.
“Medical advice is crucial — but psychological support must be offered with care. If it’s seen as replacing medical help, it can feel dismissive.”
About the NABARD SIS 2025 The objective of the Scheme is to assign short term tasks/projects/studies useful and relevant to NABARD, to talented students pursuing post-graduate degree (completing/completed first year) in Agriculture and allied disciplines (Veterinary, Fisheries, etc.), Agri-business, Economics, Agri-economics, Social Sciences and Management from Institutes/ Universities of repute or students pursuing 5 year […]
The post NABARD Student Internship Scheme 2025-26 [39 Interns, Stipend of Rs. 18k, April 18-Aug 31]: Apply by April 7 appeared first on Lawctopus.
In a far corner of the art gallery Project 88, there hangs a velvet curtain with the Urdu word Dum (Breath) etched on it in gold thread.
A still from Pallavi Paul’s How Love Moves. The film is showing at Mumbai’s Project 88 art gallery, until April 26.
A few steps away lies a white body bag, embroidered with colourful peacocks. In the belly of the gallery is a large screen. When it lights up to play artist Pallavi Paul’s film, How Love Moves, the screen becomes a portal that takes the viewer to the Delhi Gate cemetery.
Two narrators share their stories with the viewer, over the course of 63 minutes.
One is a migrant who came to India in search of a new life and found love, only to end up witnessing her husband’s brutal murder during the Delhi riots of 2020.
The other is a talkative gravedigger named Shamim Khan, who helped bury about 4,000 bodies amid the devastating first two waves of Covid-19 and the riots that ravaged the capital in February 2020.
These two voices keep alive the memory of the many who have been anonymised and turned into data points by death and trauma. “Those who understand death know the dead are not worthless,” Khan says, at one point. “They’re Allah’s creations and must be returned to Him with respect.”
Paul, 37, is a gifted interviewer. Her subjects seem aware of the camera but not performing for it. There are hauntingly beautiful moments shot by cinematographer Ashok Meena, which offer an intimate and uncliched view of Delhi as a city of mist, shadows and earth tones. Meena’s cinematic gaze highlights the grace in the people and places it records, rather than the scars. The film makes space for ugliness too, through Paul’s use of viral mobile clips that were circulated during the lockdown, and snippets from TV news coverage of the riots.
How Love Moves is a moving and powerful film about our recent past, and one that is all the more impactful because we, as a society, seem intent on pretending the pandemic and its effects are behind us. Our almost frenzied need to forget runs counter to what Paul has done: remember and feel for that past.
If you’re in Mumbai, brave the dug-up streets and unforgiving traffic to see her film. Since it is part of Paul’s solo exhibition at Project 88 (on until April 26) , it is freely available to anyone who can journey to Colaba. In a weird way, this technically makes How Love Moves more accessible than most documentaries in India. In practical terms, of course, it makes the film less approachable to many who feel uncomfortable with the white-box cocoon of contemporary art. Perhaps Paul will be able to make a conventional documentary film someday, though anyone who knows what that entails in India would balk at the idea.
Last week, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap was venting about just this, on Instagram, after watching the masterpiece that is Adolescence, created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham.
It isn’t surprising that Kashyap was triggered by Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’s gushing comments about the miniseries on social media. The coffee shops of Bandra and Versova are haunted by the echoes of disgruntled writers, directors and technicians who blame interfering producers for mangling their work out of shape.
“It frustrates me. How do we ever create something so powerful and honest with a bunch of most dishonest and morally corrupt @netflix.in backed so strongly by the boss in LA,” Kashyap wrote.
Netflix has admittedly produced little to match Adolescence in years (though it has thankfully at least continued to acquire assets such as this series and last year’s Baby Reindeer).
Incidentally, if you’re feeling a bit of post-Adolescence emptiness, find Avinash Arun and Ishani Banerjee’s School of Lies, which is one of the most poignant portraits of boyhood in Indian entertainment. The 2023 series is streaming on JioHotstar.
Then watch Shuchi Talati’s Girls Will Be Girls (2024; streaming on Amazon Prime), which won the prestigious Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award last month.
Against all odds, somehow, there are storytellers who manage to create work that is impactful, courageous and beautiful. There’s one currently showing at an art gallery.
(To reach Deepanjana Pal with feedback, write to @dpanjana on Instagram)
The leading eye-care company Alcon on Wednesday said it has acquired a majority stake in Aurion Biotech, capping months of legal wrangling over the future of the cell therapy developer.
As part of the takeover, Aurion’s board appointed Chief Scientific Officer Arnaud Lacoste as the company’s new CEO, immediately replacing Greg Kunst. Aurion will continue as a separate company, “with full support from Alcon,” according to Wednesday’s press release.
Aurion is focused on diseases that affect the endothelium, the layer of cells on the posterior surface of the cornea. Using cell therapy, the company aims to reverse vision loss and offer patients an easier recovery than treatments that involve corneal endothelial transplant procedures. Aurion has an approved product in Japan and is advancing another, AURN001, in Phase 1/2 research in the U.S.
The company had generated interest among investors, raising $120 million in a 2022 financing led by Deerfield Management that included participation from Alcon. As Aurion looked for further funding, Alcon expressed interest in buying the company, but its offer was rejected, according to court documents. Aurion then made plans to go public.
Alcon, however, was already a top shareholder and sued to block Aurion’s IPO, losing in court in January. Deerfield also sued Alcon, saying Alcon was trying to thwart the IPO so it could buy Aurion itself at a discount. Independent analyses placed a multibillion-dollar value on Aurion even before it launched its first product in Japan and completed a clinical trial in the U.S., Deerfield said.
For more than two years, Alcon “has waged an unrelenting campaign” to take over Aurion “at a highly discounted valuation,” Deerfield alleged. “Alcon has sought to cut off Aurion’s ability to obtain financing from sources other than Alcon.”
As of February, Alcon held about 40.5% of Aurion and Deerfield held about 34%, according to Deerfield’s lawsuit. Alcon’s statement on Wednesday made no mention of the planned IPO. An Aurion spokesperson declined to comment to BioPharma Dive. Officials at Alcon and Deerfield didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
In Alcon’s release, new Aurion CEO Lacoste said his company looks forward to “leveraging Alcon’s global resources and commercial expertise” to move AURN001 into Phase 3 development later this year. The Phase 1/2 study included 97 patients with corneal edema secondary to corneal endothelial dysfunction.
If you want to build lasting wealth through property investing, tune out the noise and turn to the enduring principles that have stood the test of time.
Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor is widely regarded as one of the most influential books on investing ever written. Its lessons can help you build a resilient and prosperous property portfolio.
Graham makes a crucial distinction between investing and speculating, and suggests that you should only invest in “investment grade” properties in locations with strong fundamentals, a history of capital growth, and strong demand from both affluent homeowners and tenants.
Property investing is a long-term game and requires patience to realise its full potential. Those who held onto their properties 20 years ago have seen substantial gains in both capital growth and rental income.
Patience is also important when investing in property, because the value of well-located properties tends to rise over the long term.
Margin of safety refers to the gap between the price you pay for an asset and its intrinsic value. Property investors can build a buffer by buying properties below their intrinsic value, or by having a financial buffer in place.
Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor is a treasure trove of wisdom that has guided investors for decades. By applying his principles to property investment, you can build a strategy that is resilient and aligned with the goal of creating long-term wealth.
In the world of investing, there’s no shortage of noise—everyone from the new band of “property experts” on the internet to your neighbours has an opinion on where the market is heading or the next big opportunity.
But if you’re serious about building lasting wealth through property, it’s often better to tune out the noise and turn to the enduring principles that have stood the test of time.
Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor is widely regarded as one of the most influential books on investing ever written.
Although it’s primarily focused on stock market investing, Graham’s lessons are just as applicable to property investors today as they were to stock investors back in 1949.
In fact, these principles can serve as a roadmap for those looking to build a resilient and prosperous property portfolio.
Here are ten timeless lessons from The Intelligent Investor that can help guide your property investment strategy.
1. Understand the difference between investment and speculation
One of the first distinctions Graham makes in his book is between investing and speculating—a crucial yet often overlooked distinction.
According to Graham, an investment is an operation that, upon thorough analysis, promises the safety of the principal (your money or equity) and an adequate return.
Anything that doesn’t meet these criteria is speculation according to Graham (and I agree!)
In the context of property investment, this means purchasing “investment grade” properties in locations with strong fundamentals, a history of capital growth, and strong demand from both affluent homeowners and tenants.
These are the investments that will build wealth steadily over time.
Speculation, on the other hand, might involve buying a property in the latest hotspot without considering whether the growth is sustainable or fueled by a temporary fad.
It could also involve buying off the plan hoping for capital growth, or taking on excessive leverage in the hopes of quick profits.
While speculation might lead to short-term gains, it’s a risky approach that can quickly turn sour if the market shifts unexpectedly.
For example, during the property booms, many investors are tempted to buy into overheated markets, believing prices will continue to rise indefinitely.
But as history has shown us time and again, markets are cyclical.
Those who buy without considering the underlying value of the property or who overstretch their finances often find themselves in trouble when the cycle turns.
2. Embrace the power of patience
One of the most profound lessons in The Intelligent Investor is the concept of patience.
Graham introduces the idea of “Mr Market,” a metaphorical figure prone to wild mood swings who offers to buy or sell assets at irrationally high or low prices depending on his emotional state.
The key lesson here is not to be swayed by Mr Market’s mood but to stay disciplined and focus on your long-term strategy.
In property investing, patience is not just a virtue; it’s a necessity.
Real estate is inherently a long-term game.
While stocks might offer quick profits, property investment requires time to realise its full potential.
It’s about understanding that wealth is built over years, if not decades, as your property appreciates in value and your rental income grows.
Take, for instance, the classic case of those who bought properties in Melbourne or Sydney 20 years ago.
Despite the ups and downs of the market, those who held onto their properties have seen substantial gains, both in terms of capital growth and rental income.
On the other hand, those who bought with the expectation of flipping for a quick profit often found themselves disappointed when the market didn’t move in their favour.
Patience also means being willing to hold your investments during periods of market volatility.
When the property market cools, the media is often filled with dire predictions.
But seasoned investors know that these periods are temporary.
They understand that over the long term, the value of well-located properties tends to rise, driven by factors like population growth, gentrification, economic growth, and urbanization.
3. Margin of safety is key
Graham’s concept of a “margin of safety” is one of the cornerstones of value investing.
It refers to the buffer or cushion that protects you from errors in judgment, unforeseen market downturns, or adverse economic conditions.
By ensuring that there is a significant gap between the price you pay for an asset and its intrinsic value, you reduce your risk of loss.
For property investors, the margin of safety can take several forms.
One way to build this buffer is to buy properties below their intrinsic value.
This is not too difficult today when the cost of many established properties, in particular apartments in our capital cities, can be bought considerably below replacement cost.
Unexpected expenses can and do arise—whether it’s a major repair, a vacancy period, or an economic downturn that affects rental demand, so another form of margin of safety is having a financial buffer in place to buy you time to handle these challenges without being forced to sell your property at an inopportune time.
4. Avoid the herd mentality
Graham warns against the dangers of following the crowd—a behaviour known as “herd mentality.”
The stock market is full of stories of investors rushing into the latest trend, only to see their investments plummet when the bubble bursts.
The same can be true in property markets.
In property investing, herd mentality might look like buying into a market that’s been hyped up by the media or driven by speculative investors.
During boom periods, there’s often a rush to get in before prices rise even further.
But as we’ve seen in past property cycles, what goes up quickly often comes down just as fast – yesterday’s hotspot is tomorrow’s not spot!
The best opportunities often lie where others aren’t looking.
For instance, while everyone is focused on the hot markets, there may be overlooked suburbs with strong fundamentals—good infrastructure, proximity to employment hubs, and growing populations—that offer better long-term prospects.
Resisting the urge to follow the crowd requires a clear investment strategy and the discipline to stick to it.
That’s why at Metropole, we believe before making any property investment decision, you first have to have a customised Strategic Property Plan taking into account your personal circumstances, your financial position and your long-term goals.
5. Stay disciplined and stick to your strategy
Graham also emphasizes the importance of discipline in investing.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a rising market or panic during a downturn.
But the most successful investors are those who have a clear strategy and stick to it, regardless of what the market is doing.
For property investors, this might involve setting clear criteria for the types of properties they invest in, the locations they’re interested in, and the financial metrics they require.
Regularly reviewing your portfolio is also essential.
Markets change, and so do your financial circumstances and goals.
By periodically assessing your investments, you can ensure they still align with your long-term strategy.
However, discipline means resisting the urge to make impulsive decisions based on short-term market movements.
Selling a quality property because the market has temporarily dipped is almost always a mistake.
Instead, focus on the long-term potential of your investments and trust in the research and analysis that led you to make the purchase in the first place.
6. Diversification as a risk management tool
Benjamin Graham was a strong advocate of diversification as a means of managing risk.
In the stock market, this means spreading investments across different industries and asset types to mitigate the impact of a downturn in any one area.
The same principle can be effectively applied to property investment.
For property investors, diversification could mean owning properties across different locations, property types, or even investment strategies (e.g., residential vs. commercial).
For instance, if you only own properties in Sydney and the local market faces a downturn, your entire portfolio could suffer.
However, if you diversify by investing in different cities or regions—such as Melbourne or Brisbane—you reduce the risk of your portfolio taking a significant hit due to localised market conditions.
Diversification also applies to the types of properties you invest in.
A balanced portfolio might include a mix of capital growth properties (which may have lower yields but appreciate significantly over time) and high-yield properties, such as commercial properties (which provide steady rental income)
By diversifying, you can create a more resilient portfolio that can weather market fluctuations and provide more stable returns over the long term.
7. Be sceptical of market predictions
Graham was famously sceptical of anyone’s ability to predict the market’s future accurately.
He argued that the future is inherently uncertain, and even the most seasoned experts can get it wrong.
This scepticism should be embraced by property investors as well.
In real estate, market predictions are everywhere—whether it’s forecasts about property price trends, interest rate movements, or rental demand.
While it’s essential to stay informed and understand the factors that influence the property market, it’s equally important to take predictions with a grain of salt.
Relying too heavily on forecasts can lead to poor investment decisions, such as buying in a hot market based on the expectation that prices will continue to rise indefinitely.
Instead of chasing the latest predictions, focus on long-term fundamentals
Look for properties with solid long-term growth potential based on factors like location, infrastructure, population growth, gentrification and economic drivers.
By investing based on sound principles rather than trying to time the market, you’re more likely to build a portfolio that performs well regardless of short-term market movements.
8. The importance of a defensive investment strategy
One of Graham’s key insights was the importance of a defensive investment strategy—one that prioritises the preservation of capital and minimises risk.
In his view, the defensive investor should focus on minimising losses rather than maximising gains.
For property investors, this defensive approach translates into being conservative with leverage, choosing properties that will always be in strong demand by a wide range of owner occupiers and tenants, ensuring solid capital growth and strong cash flow, and avoiding speculative investments that could jeopardise your financial stability.
It also means being realistic about your risk tolerance and not overextending yourself, even when the market appears to be booming.
A defensive strategy also includes owning your properties in the correct ownership structures to maximise asset protection, tax effectiveness and future intergenerational wealth transfer.
You should maintain a healthy financial buffer in your investment plan, keep your loan-to-value ratio (LVR) at a conservative level, and possibly opt for fixed-rate loans to protect against interest rate hikes.
By focusing on downside protection, you can ensure that your property portfolio remains robust even in challenging market conditions.
9. Focus on the long-term value, not short-term gains
Graham emphasized the importance of investing based on the intrinsic value of an asset rather than its market price.
This lesson is particularly relevant to property investors, who might be tempted by short-term gains or quick flips in a booming market.
Focusing on long-term value means investing in properties that will hold or increase their worth over time, even if the market experiences fluctuations.
This involves looking at factors like the quality of the location, the potential for future development, and the long-term rental demand.
It’s about buying properties that offer real, enduring value rather than chasing the latest trend.
10. Don’t be your own worst enemy
One of the most profound lessons from The Intelligent Investor is the idea that often, the biggest threat to your success as an investor is not the market, but your own emotions and behaviour.
Graham famously stated that “the investor’s chief problem—and even his worst enemy—is likely to be himself.”
I’ve heard others say that it’s not what you don’t know that will get you into trouble, but it is what you think you know that isn’t so that will get you into trouble!
For property investors, this means being aware of the psychological traps that can lead to poor decisions, such as fear of missing out (FOMO), panic selling during a downturn, or becoming overly attached to a property.
That’s again the importance of having a Strategic Property and Wealth Plan and only making decisions investment decisions based on that plan.
Conclusion: applying Graham’s wisdom to your property investment journey
Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor is a treasure trove of wisdom that has guided investors for decades.
By applying his principles to property investment, you can build a strategy that is not only resilient but also aligned with the goal of creating long-term wealth.
Whether it’s through diversification, maintaining a margin of safety, staying disciplined, or focusing on intrinsic value, these lessons provide a solid foundation for making informed, rational decisions in the often unpredictable world of property investment.
Remember, successful investing is not about getting rich quickly; it’s about making smart, patient decisions that pay off over time.
By incorporating these timeless principles into your property investment strategy, you’re not just following the path of an intelligent investor—you’re ensuring that your journey in real estate is grounded in wisdom and built to last.
About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He’s once again been voted Australia’s leading property investment adviser and one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.
My friend, Tara, discovered that her husband was cheating on her in the worst way possible—the woman he was having an affair with filed a sexual assault charge against him. As we rallied to offer her support and comfort, the question haunting Tara the most was, “Does he regret cheating on me? Does he realize what he’s done, to his own life, to mine, to our family?”
That got me thinking, how and when do cheaters realize they made a mistake? And how does that realization impact their actions going forward? For the sake of all the Taras out there wrestling with similar questions or looking for a hint of cheating regret in their partners, I decided to delve deeper into how cheaters remorse plays out.
7 Factors That Influence Cheating Regret
If you’ve been cheated on, you’re probably wondering: how do cheaters feel about themselves? Do they regret their actions? Given that cheating is a choice, a conscious decision to betray a partner’s trust, it can be easy to presume that a cheater is perfectly at peace with their actions. However, that’s not always the case. Nor is cheating regret a given. While some cheaters feel deep remorse and shame, others find ways to justify their actions. It all depends on the specifics of the situation. Whether (and to what degree) a cheater regrets their actions often depends on the following factors:
Related Reading: Can A Cheater Change? This Is What Therapists Have To Say
My Mind Was My Own Living Hell, I Cheated And I Regret It
I too was like you. I thought I was living the happily-ever-after. So what if after 4 years of marriage, my wife and I had spent barely a year together? My work in the merchant navy takes me to various corners of the world, as does her job as a documentary film producer.
We were happy to still be able to steal moments, yearn for each other and avoid the mundane everydayness of marriage. We were both thrill seekers, after all, so this arrangement worked just fine.Except it didn’t. I thought we had it under control, we could live like two lovelorn teenagers forever. But I missed the comfort of an adult companion, one I could share my everyday life with. I don’t know when my heart began to look away.
I cheated on my beloved. Not just physically, but emotionally too. What started as a friendly acquaintance turned into a heated affair. When I saw my wife the first time after my transgression, I just wanted to run into her arms, cry and tell her I regret betraying her for another woman. The affair had been short-lived for its own reasons. I’d like to believe my conscience was one of them.
When I saw her waiting for me, the magnitude of my stupidity hit me. But so did my shame and the part of me that said, “Save your marriage and keep your mouth shut.” I knew she wouldn’t tolerate a cheating husband. So I kept quiet, trying to enjoy whatever time we had. But she noticed something was off. And the more I tried, the worse it got.
Keeping this secret was not helping anyone. I had no confidante and I didn’t think I could get any worse emotionally if I told her. My marriage would crumble indirectly because of this, slowly and painfully with no one really understanding why. Was I saving her, then? Trying to be a hypocritical hero, keeping her from knowing her husband had been with another woman?
But she knew something was wrong. And it was too late to redeem my villainy. It was time to stop being a coward and own up.The conversation now seems like a blur. When I finally sat her down, words just flowed out. The dam had burst. She sat quiet, got teary-eyed for a moment, then controlled herself.
She asked no questions then but just walked away and shut her door. It was the best and worst moment of my life. Best because I felt so much lighter having confessed. Worst because I feared my marriage was over.
Was his marriage really over or did they manage to work through the regret and pain of infidelity? Read the full story here.
1. Level of emotional investment in the affair
Cheaters’ remorse is often contingent on the nature of their involvement with their affair partner. So, if your partner cheated just for the thrill, they may feel sick with guilt afterwards. However, if there is a deep emotional attachment to the affair partner, it can drastically subdue feelings of regret.
Dr. Tammy Nelson, sex and relationship therapist, explains, “One-night stands are often regretted immediately, while emotional affairs may take longer to trigger remorse—if at all. If someone falls in love with their affair partner, they may not experience regret in the same way.”
2. Personal morality and guilt response
A person’s value system and moral code determine how they feel about cheating
Do men regret cheating? Do women feel remorse over betraying a partner? More than gender, a person’s value system and moral code determine how they feel about cheating on their partner. For instance, someone who was raised in a family where fidelity was non-negotiable is more likely to struggle with deep guilt than someone who grew up with a “what they don’t know won’t hurt them” mindset.
Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a clinical psychologist, says, “People who cheat and feel intense guilt are often those who give into temptation despite having a strong moral compass. Those who don’t feel remorse may have already justified their actions long before they happened.”
Related Reading: The 7 Types Of Cheaters – And Why They Cheat
3. Whether the affair was discovered and how
Regret can depend on whether the cheater was caught or confessed voluntarily. Some only regret getting caught. As this Reddit user says, “My ex was secretly still seeing his first love when I met him 35 years ago, and he continued to secretly see her for the first 8 years of our marriage. I found out two days after Christmas, by catching him in lies. He now says “He’s mad at himself for hurting me.”
“I disagree, he’s mad at himself because he got caught and now he’s facing the consequences. He knew what he was doing was hurting me, yet he chose to do it, time and time again. He had a choice when we first met, to tell me he was unavailable, but he chose to be deceitful and trap me in a marriage where he told me he loved me and I was the only woman for him. He knew all along.”
“If someone confesses on their own, it’s often a sign of real remorse. If they only admit it after getting caught, their regret may be more about the consequences than the act itself.”
—Dr. Ian Kerner, couples therapist
4. The consequences they face
A cheater’s level of regret often correlates with the fallout. Did they lose their relationship, or did their partner forgive them? If a cheater is immediately dumped and loses their home, family, and friends’ respect, regret is more likely. If their partner forgives them for cheating and takes them back with little consequence, they might not feel much remorse at all.
Sometimes, as in the case of my friend, Tara, the severity of the consequences can make a person more brazen. Dealing with a lawsuit, his job hanging in the balance, losing his family, made Tara’s husband more unabashed about what he’d done. Since he was a man with literally nothing left to lose, he owned up what he did with a “yeah, so what” attitude.
Related Reading: Should You Forgive A Cheater? 8 Factors To Consider
5. Their feelings toward their primary partner
The state of a person’s relationship also determines how they feel about their choice of betraying their partner. For instance, if a person is in a loving relationship and chooses to cheat for thrill or as an antidote to boredom, they may regret their actions far more than someone who is in a toxic or abusive relationship. Renowned relationship therapist Dr. Esther Perel says, “Not all cheating happens in unhappy relationships. However, those who cheat because they feel deeply dissatisfied often regret the deception, but not the act itself.”
Illustrating how being in an unhealthy relationship can dull the remorse of cheating, a Reddit user shares, “I cheated because I was being abused physically and mentally and wasn’t getting the love from the relationship that I wanted so I found it somewhere else. I did try to leave but it never worked. He would physically hold me down and so on. Anyway, again there’s no excuse for it, I shouldn’t have, but that’s not why I’m here to explain that. To answer your question, when I cheated, I didn’t feel any remorse. I didn’t feel bad, I didn’t even want to continue the relationship I was in because he was just so cruel to me.”
6. Their ability to rationalize the affair
By rationalizing their actions, a cheater may justify their transgressions
A Reddit user says, “When my husband was cheating on me, he told me he subconsciously felt some shame but more of paranoia of being caught, but he buried it and only focused on enjoying the moment. He had no interest in stopping until the affair ran its natural course of either by fading out or getting caught. “If I stopped it, she would run to you, so I enjoyed the relationship until something happened.”
So many people find ways to rationalize the cheating because they’re enjoying the experience too much to want to give it up. Clinical psychologist Dr. Robert Weiss says, ‘Cheaters who rationalize their actions with ‘My partner ignored me’ or ‘It was just sex’ often lack true remorse. They see their actions as justified rather than a betrayal.”
7. Whether cheating is a habit or a one-time thing
Serial cheaters and one-time cheaters often feel regret very differently. Dr. Patrick Carnes, sex addiction expert, explains, “Those who repeatedly cheat often develop emotional calluses—meaning they feel less remorse over time. A one-time cheater is more likely to experience intense guilt and self-loathing.”
A habitual cheater will not only find ways to rationalize their actions but also, over time, learn how to push away or suppress feelings of regret or remorse. On the other hand, a person who is deeply committed to their partner may feel guilt and shame over the “worst mistake of their life” eating away at them.
Related Reading: An Overview Of Stages Of Guilt After Cheating
When Do Cheaters Realize They Made A Mistake? 10 Scenarios
Depending on the nature of your partner’s transgression, the state of your relationship, and their personality, you may now have some sense of whether or not (and to what extent) they regret cheating on you. However, feelings of regret can also depend on the circumstances leading up to and after the infidelity. When do cheaters realize they made a mistake, you ask? In the following scenarios:
An Affair She Regrets
He had come to pick an anniversary gift for his wife. Ironic, isn’t it? It felt like love, maybe it was. The sunrise seemed prettier, flowers smelled sweeter and I could not wait to wake up in the morning to see if there was a message from him or a voice mail. We were exchanging pictures, sometimes ten a day. He made me feel wanted and beautiful. He appreciated everything about me, my designs, my dressing, my lips … I was hitting the gym with the precision of a clockwork mouse, getting fitter, toned and I loved the person who looked back at me in the mirror. I was in love, not just with him, but myself and life. I was incredibly happy. You know they say that one of the things one should be careful about is flashing their joy when in a relationship. My stupid grin and I-am-in-heaven stares gave me away.
Anyway, you can’t really hide an affair for long. When my husband found out and confronted me, I confessed. Told him that I was in love and that I would be moving out with my girl the next day. My lover and I had discussed such a situation and had charted our course of action and the day had come. My husband, too angry then, did not stop me from leaving.
I filed for divorce. My lover’s wife, however, refused to do the same, but he moved out and we began living together. I was sure that in time she would come around too. We started our new dream life, and in the beginning, it was magical. We could talk for hours without worrying about our backstories, we cooked for each other, every dinner was like a date, and we were magically happy. He visited his kids whenever he could and my girl spent her weekends with her dad. Four months passed in this blissful state and then, it began.
His remorse over not being able to spend enough time with his kids, overseeing his grief-stricken wife (she showed no signs of moving on), or the abandonment he felt as many of his friends and family severed connection with him. When the novelty of ‘how beautiful it would be to wake up in each other’s arms’ wore off, when the sex turned routine, when we began discussing what/who would be cooking dinner instead of which cheese to order with which wine in bed, our ‘dream life’ began looking like very much the quotidian marriage we had both left behind. Passion, the exciting secrecy, the rebellion of forbidden pleasures, all the riders of our love were dying a fast death.
He moved back to his family before the first year was up. My husband did not have a steady relationship then but had moved on. We did try to give living together another shot, but it did not work out. To be honest, I do feel like I made a mistake.
To know more about how cheating regret can crumble relationships, read the full story here.
1. Facing the emotional fallout
Do cheaters realize what they lost by betraying their partner’s trust? As is clear from the account of an affair shared above, when the pleasure and excitement of an affair begin to fade, cheaters are confronted with the emotional fallout of their choices. This can stir up feelings of profound regret. Clinical psychologist Dr. Janis Abrahms Spring says, “An unfaithful partner may feel deep remorse when they see the genuine hurt and betrayal in their partner’s eyes.”
Related Reading: 17 Psychological Facts About Cheating – Busting The Myths
2. Experiencing the loss of trust
Trust is the foundation on which any lasting relationship is built. In the aftermath of an affair, when a cheater realizes that their partner struggles to trust them even on the smallest of things, even if they have chosen to forgive them and give the relationship another chance, they’re likely to struggle with the unsettling thought, “I cheated and I regret it.”
Dr. Shirley Glass, author of Not Just Friends, says, “The loss of trust can be a wake-up call for the unfaithful partner, highlighting the depth of their betrayal.” This is also because they can see how hard it is to rebuild trust in a relationship, and may deeply regret bringing their relationship to that point.
3. Encountering social repercussions
Infidelity can lead to judgment and ostracism from friends and family. When your friends no longer want to hang out with you, when your children look at you with disdain, when your coworkers are gossiping about you, when you see the hurt in your parents’ eyes, it’s hard to not be affected by the consequences of your actions.
Social disapproval can bring up cheating regret
Dr. Frank Pittman, a psychiatrist, explains, “The disapproval from one’s social circle can amplify feelings of guilt and remorse in the unfaithful partner.” If you’re wondering, “How do cheaters feel about themselves?”, know that dealing with social stigma is never easy. When a person sees how one wrong choice has cost them every important relationship in their life, it is bound to bring up feelings of regret and shame.
Related Reading: I Can’t Forget My Husband’s Affair And I Feel Tormented
4. Realizing the affair wasn’t worth it
Over time, the allure of the affair may diminish, leading the cheater to question if it was worth jeopardizing their primary relationship. This can happen when the novelty and excitement of a clandestine relationship wears off and the person begins to see that an affair is also just another relationship with the same ups and downs.
Or when the affair is discovered—for example, if the affair partner contacts their primary partner/spouse and exposes their transgressions, it can leave a person regretting their actions. Relationship therapist Dr. Esther Perel says, “Many individuals come to see that the affair was a misguided attempt to fulfill unmet needs, leading to profound regret.”
When cheaters realize they made a mistake
5. Facing the possibility of losing their partner
When do cheaters realize they made a mistake? Nothing makes this realization hit home faster than the threat of losing their primary partner. When a cheater’s partner decides to move out, break up, or consider divorce, the enormity of their mistake dawns on them. Of course, by then, it may be too late to make amends, but this potential loss hanging over their head can be a powerful motivator not just for remorse but also for change.
6. Experiencing empathy for their partner’s pain
“I cheated and I regret it.” This sentiment begins to ring true when a person sees how deeply they’ve hurt their partner. Seeing the effects of cheating on the relationship, watching a partner struggle with betrayal trauma and trying to pick up the pieces of a life shattered for a fault of their own can evoke empathy and make a cheater regret the choice they’ve made.
“Empathy can bridge the gap between the unfaithful partner and the betrayed, fostering genuine remorse.”
—Dr. Sue Johnson, clinical psychologist
7. Cheating is against their values
Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a clinical psychologist, says, “Aligning actions with personal values is crucial; when there’s a mismatch, it often leads to self-reproach.” If a cheater has a strong value system they’ve lived by their whole life but end up doing something uncharacteristic in a moment of weakness, it can feel like they’ve betrayed everything they ever stood for, resulting in deep regret.
Shincy, a reader from Cape Town, shares, “My partner and I had been going through a rough patch. After a particularly nasty fight, I stormed out of the house and went to my best friend’s place to crash for the night. One thing led to another, and I ended up hooking up with my ex. The morning after was the worst day of my life. I went back and confessed everything to my partner and begged for forgiveness. It took him a while to get past what I’ve done but this past year and its challenges have brought us closer than ever.”
8. Recognizing the impact on children
When do cheaters realize what they lost? The most poignant aspect of dealing with the aftermath of cheating for the cheater is understanding the harm their actions have/could have caused their children. When a cheater begins to see that their family may fall apart because of what they’ve done or see their children go through pain and confusion caused by the turmoil between their parents, it inevitably stirs up feelings of self-loathing and deep remorse. That’s when cheaters suffer the most. Psychologist Dr. Joshua Coleman concurs, and says, “The realization that their behavior could disrupt their children’s lives can be a significant source of regret.”
9. Experiencing the end of the affair
The end of an affair can also trigger cheating regret. If the affair partner decides to end the affair, a cheater may feel a sense of loss and question their decisions. If the affair gets exposed and therefore reaches its inevitable end, the ripple effect of consequences can leave a person wondering if the fleeting thrill and excitement was worth the price. Likewise, if a person chooses to end their affair, it could be because they’re already struggling with guilt.
In all of these scenarios, a person is likely to experience pangs of remorse over their actions. Psychiatrist Dr. Scott Haltzman says, “The end of an affair can leave individuals grappling with feelings of emptiness and regret.” If the affair ends before it is discovered, these feelings can be a great motivator for a person to make up for their mistakes (with or without a confession) and make an earned effort to nurture their relationship with their primary partner.
Related Reading: 15 Signs Your Affair Is Over (And For Good)
10. Facing legal or financial consequences
When do men regret cheating the most? Certainly, when infidelity leads to legal battles and financial strain caused by divorce proceedings and alimony/maintenance pay out, or the person sees how abysmal life after divorce looks. Even if a person is a serial cheater, these tangible repercussions can make them see the error of their ways and make them regret their actions. As marriage therapist Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, a marriage therapist says, “The practical consequences of infidelity can be a sobering reminder of the costs of betrayal.”
Key Pointers
Emotional investment, personal values, guilt response, and how the affair was discovered impact whether a cheater feels remorse
Cheaters may regret their actions when facing loss of trust, social stigma, and strained relationships
The excitement fades, reality sets in, and they see how their actions jeopardized their primary relationship
When their partner leaves, children are affected, or they face major consequences, regret often intensifies
Final Thoughts
Understanding these scenarios can provide insight into the complex emotions and realizations that cheaters may experience. However, it’s essential to prioritize your healing and well-being. Seeking support from trusted friends, family, or professional counselors can help you navigate the aftermath of infidelity.
The 3 Types Of Men Who Have Affairs And How To Recognize Them
10 Questions To Ask Your Unfaithful Spouse
11 Tips To Build A Successful Relationship After Cheating
Your contribution does not constitute a charitable donation. It will allow Bonobology to continue bringing you new and up-to-date information in our pursuit of helping anyone in the world to learn how to do anything.
Share Feedback
What is your feedback?
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get your weekly dose of insightful articles straight to your inbox.
If you’re anything like me and screenshot nearly everything, including travel destinations you want to visit, you’re probably used to them getting lost in your camera roll. Thanks to Gemini, Google might have a solution for you.
Google’s Latest Updates Make Travel Planning Smarter and Easier
Today, Google announced a new “screenshot lists” feature through a blog post on The Keyword. Whether it’s an image of a destination you want to visit, a wall of text from your notes app, or an Instagram Reel showing the top 10 spots in New York City, this feature will help you keep track of any travel-related screenshots you take.
If you’ve enabled the feature, Gemini will automatically identify the locations in your screenshots. You will then be prompted to review and save the ones you’re interested in to a “Screenshots” list.
This feature has started rolling out in the US in English this week. It’s currently only available on iOS, and is “coming soon” to Android.
Google’s new travel-related features don’t end here. The company has also updated the infamous AI Overviews in Google Search, letting you create “trip ideas for distinct regions or entire countries.”
By searching something as simple as “create an itinerary full of sightseeing and dining options,” Google will generate an AI Overview with a day-by-day breakdown, including photos and user reviews.
If you want to save the itinerary for later, you can export it to Docs or Gmail or save it as a custom list in Google Maps. This feature has already rolled out in the US on mobile and desktop, though it currently only supports English language queries.
When you’re traveling, it’s only natural for expenses to pile up quickly. If you’re familiar with Google Flights’ price-tracking feature, which alerts you when flight prices drop, you’ll be glad to hear that you can now do the same with hotels. When browsing hotels on google.com/hotels, you’ll see a new Track hotel prices option just below the search filters.
Once enabled, Google will email you if there’s a significant price drop for any of the hotels you’ve looked at. This feature is rolling out globally this week on both desktop and mobile browsers.
If getting started on trip planning is the hardest part for you, Gemini can help with that too. Even better, Gemini Gems, now available for free to everyone, lets you customize the AI assistant to create your own personal AI expert.
This way, you’ll have a personalized AI travel guide to help you plan even the smallest details of your trip. I do have my doubts about how well Gemini can plan a vacation though, especially considering how underwhelming ChatGPT’s trip-planning skills have been.
Related
I Tried Out Gemini’s Gems, and Found Some Useful AI Tools
ChatGPT’s custom GPTs are one of its best features, and now, Gemini’s Gems brings the same functionality.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-27/Zhihua-Temple-ranks-high-among-Beijing-s-top-flower-viewing-spots-1C5bGCA6AJW/img/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6.jpeg'Visitors admire the blossoming pear trees at the Zhihua Temple in Beijing on March 25, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-27/Zhihua-Temple-ranks-high-among-Beijing-s-top-flower-viewing-spots-1C5bGCA6AJW/img/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6.jpeg'Visitors admire the blossoming pear trees at the Zhihua Temple in Beijing on March 25, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-27/Zhihua-Temple-ranks-high-among-Beijing-s-top-flower-viewing-spots-1C5bGCA6AJW/img/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6.jpeg'Visitors admire the blossoming pear trees at the Zhihua Temple in Beijing on March 25, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-27/Zhihua-Temple-ranks-high-among-Beijing-s-top-flower-viewing-spots-1C5bGCA6AJW/img/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6/1276097938ac4a52b5a038049c7d10d6.jpeg'Visitors admire the blossoming pear trees at the Zhihua Temple in Beijing on March 25, 2025. /VCG
A pair of century-old pear trees recently burst into bloom at the Zhihua Temple in Beijing, drawing crowds of visitors to admire their snow-white blossoms. Towering over 10 meters tall, the pear trees spread their canopies like giant umbrellas to cover much of the courtyard. With its blend of ancient pear trees and unique ancient architecture, the temple has become one of the most popular flower viewing destinations in the capital over the years.
President Trump accused the Smithsonian Institution of propagating “divisive, race-based ideology” and issued an executive order Thursday demanding an end to federal funding for exhibitions and programs based on racial themes that “divide Americans.”
The order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” directs Vice President JD Vance to remove “improper ideology” from the Smithsonian’s 19 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Trump’s order also seeks to restore Department of the Interior public monuments and statues that were removed or changed “to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is directed to look at all “monuments, memorials, statues and markers” that were removed or changed since Jan. 1, 2020. The bulk of public monuments in question honored Confederate leaders and were seen as offensive celebrations of the nation’s racist past. They were taken down after the racial justice protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer.
The beginning of Trump’s order claims “a concerted and widespread effort” to rewrite American history, “replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.”
Several current exhibitions are listed in the order as evidence of the narrative the order seeks to eradicate, including a current show at the Smithsonian American Art Museum titled “The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture,” which, according to the museum’s website, “examines for the first time the ways in which sculpture has shaped and reflected attitudes and understandings about race in the United States.”
It’s unclear whether the Trump administration intends on censoring, for example, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s exhibitions related to the history of slavery in America or the accomplishments of Mary McLeod Bethune, who established a school for Black girls during an era when they were not allowed to attend the same campuses as white children.
Thursday’s executive order also cited an upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, which the order said will celebrate “the exploits of male athletes participating in women’s sports” — an apparent attempt to frame the inclusion of people who are nonbinary or transgender.
The Smithsonian Institution, American Art Museum and American Women’s History Museum have not yet responded to The Times’ requests for comment.
The order said Vance would work with Russell Vought, Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget, to make sure that future appropriations made through Congress “prohibit expenditure on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with federal law and policy.”
This is not the first time a Trump executive order has affected the Smithsonian. In January, one of Trump’s first executive orders effectively banned any mention of diversity, equity and inclusion, prompting the Smithsonian to shutter its diversity offices.
In mid-February, Trump engineered the takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by dismissing board members appointed by former President Biden and getting himself named chairman.
New Delhi, March 28: Royal Enfield has launched its latest bike, the Royal Enfield Classic 650, in India. The new motorcycle blends retro charm with modern technology to deliver a refined riding experience. You can also personalise the Classic 650 by adding a wide range of genuine motorcycle accessories. These accessories come in different categories, including protection, electrical components, controls, luggage, and more.
The Classic 650 is offered in three variants and four colour options. The Hotrod variant is available in two colours, which are Vallam Red and Bruntingthorpe Blue. The second one is called the Classic variant, which comes in a Teal colour. The third variant, called Chrome, offers a Black Chrome colour. The Classic 650 Twin maintains a signature stance with an upright handlebar, a saddle-style seat, and mid-set footpegs for a well-balanced and enjoyable riding experience. The motorcycle has a removable backseat feature. Kia EV6 Facelift Launched in India With 663 km Range at INR 65.9 Lakh; Check New Specifications and Features of Kia’s New EV SUV.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 Specifications and Features
The Classic 650 Twin is equipped with a digital-analog instrument cluster that includes Tripper navigation to provide turn-by-turn directions. The bike has LED headlamps and a pilot light to offer improved illumination and visibility. The bike features twin exhausts for a classic appeal while enhancing performance and is equipped with disc brakes on the front and rear wheels with a Dual Channel ABS system.
The bike has a wheelbase of 1475mm and delivers a ground clearance of 154mm. The Royal Enfield Classic 650 Twin is powered by a 647.95cc, inline twin-cylinder, 4-stroke SOHC engine, delivering a maximum power of 34.6 kW at 7,250 rpm and 52.3 Nm of peak torque at 5,650 rpm. The Classic 650 Twin comes with a 6-speed constant mesh gearbox.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 Price in India
The Royal Enfield Classic 650 price in India starts at INR 3,37,000 lakh (ex-showroom) for Bruntingthorpe Blue and Vallam Red. The Teal variant is priced at INR 3,41,000 lakh (ex-showroom), and the Black Chrome price is INR 3,50,000 lakh (ex-showroom). Interested customers can book the Classic 650, and deliveries will likely begin in April.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 28, 2025 10:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been discussing India’s economic reforms and future roadmap with Lok Sabha parliamentarians in New Delhi. This week, she defended a provision in the Income Tax Bill, 2025, that grants tax authorities access to WhatsApp messages and emails to track tax evaders and financial criminals. She cited a recent case where decrypting WhatsApp messages led to the seizure of over Rs. 90 crore in crypto assets from a syndicate.
Sitharaman warned that encrypted communication channels are being misused for financial crimes like money laundering and tax evasion. Speaking in Parliament, she noted that while individuals and businesses may maintain clean manual ledgers, they still exploit digital platforms to commit financial offenses.
Backing the controversial provision in the new Income Tax Bill, she said, “The 1961 Income Tax Act mentions physical books of account, ledgers, and manual records but does not address digital records. This creates contention, as individuals may question why their digital records are required despite showing physical ledgers. The new bill aims to address this gap.”
The FM revealed that Rs. 250 crore in unaccounted funds was uncovered through the scanning of encrypted messages and mobile phones.
She added that “WhatsApp communications revealing syndicates involved in bogus bills worth Rs. 200 crores, and instances where capital gains on land sales were manipulated using false documents, reducing Rs. 150 crores to Rs. 2 crores. Professional groups on WhatsApp have also been implicated. Google Maps history has been used to locate hideouts containing cash and unaccounted transactions, while Instagram accounts helped establish ownership of expensive vehicles linked to benami properties.”
So far, Google and Instagram have not commented on the development.
Sitharaman did not specify the timeline for tracing, identifying, and seizing these funds. Her address also lacked details on the confiscated crypto assets. It remains unclear whether WhatsApp’s encryption was directly bypassed or if chats were accessed from seized devices during investigations.
WhatsApp’s Stance on Breaking Encryption
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has maintained that its end-to-end encryption keeps messages between its users completely private.
“End-to-end encryption keeps your personal messages and calls between you and the person you’re communicating with. No one outside of the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read, listen to, or share them. This is because with end-to-end encryption, your messages are secured with a lock, and only the recipient and you have the special key needed to unlock and read them,” claims the messaging app that has an estimated global userbase of around three billion.
Will Cathcart, the Head of WhatsApp at Meta has also previously explained the platform’s stance on breaking encryption.
The fact remains that scanning everyone’s messages would destroy privacy as we know it. That was as true last year as it is today. @WhatsApp will never break our encryption and remains vigilant against threats to do so. https://t.co/iHsBOhkp8r
WhatsApp declined Gadgets 360’s request to comment on the Finance Minister’s remarks. The platform has also not commented on India’s new Income Tax Bill, 2025, which grants tax authorities access to private communications.
The US-based messaging app has long been at odds with the Indian government over encryption policies. In 2021, it challenged a MeitY guideline requiring social media platforms to identify the first originator of messages, as mandated by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
In April last year, WhatsApp told the Delhi High Court that if forced to break its encryption in India, it would consider exit the market.
LinkedIn released automation updates that could help advertisers leverage advanced forecasting, automation, and insights to streamline ad creation and maximize ROI with new levels of efficiency.
The big picture:
The new Media Planner helps you forecast ad performance before launch.
Ad Duplication and Dynamic UTMs simplify campaign creation and tracking.
Marketing Overview, Measurement Insights, and AI-driven Performance Digest provide deeper measurement capabilities.
What’s new:
Media Planner. Forecast ROI before you launch
What it does. Helps you test different audience segments, placements, and budgets to predict campaign outcomes.
Key benefits. Estimates reach, impressions, and cost-per-result for various objectives like Brand Awareness and Lead Generation.
Why we care. You can make data-driven decisions and easily share media plans with teams.
Ad Duplication & Dynamic UTMs. Scale and track with ease
Ad Duplication. Lets you copy ads across multiple campaigns and accounts, saving time and ensuring consistency.
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.
In 2008, Anu’s career started with
delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup.
She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Amsterdam), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna) and more.
Nintendo accidentally confirmed the Switch 2’s mystery button is a “C” Button, in some promotional material for the company’s new Nintendo Today app on the Google Play store. The reveal happened after the March 2025 Nintendo Direct, during which Nintendo also announced virtual game cards and showcased Metroid Prime 4 again. Twitter and Bluesky user Wario64 first spotted it and posted a zoomed-in version of the image to make viewing it easier.
We speculated about the nature of the mystery button shortly after Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 at the start of the year. At the time, it was just a blank square situated under the “Home” button on the right Joy-Con. It’s roughly where the invisible NFC detector is on the original Switch, the tool that scans Amiibo. Given that the Switch 2 is slightly larger than its predecessor, it looks like there’s still room for an NFC scanner even with the mysterious “C” button.
Granted, we still don’t know what the button actually does. The last Nintendo console with a “C” button was the Nintendo 64, which had four of them–a set of four buttons roughly where “ABXY” is on the current Switch. Wario64’s replies were full of suggestions about what the “C” might stand for, and while most of them were lewd, one seems like a reasonable fit: Cursor. If the Switch 2 lets users imitate a mouse with the Joy-Con, as Nintendo suggested in the console’s reveal trailer, perhaps the “C” button is what tells the Switch 2 to change how it registers Joy-Con inputs.
Whatever it does, we don’t have much longer to wait before we find out. Nintendo is hosting another Direct devoted to the Switch 2 and its game launch plans on April 2, 2025.
University of Michigan researchers have developed a statistical method that can be used for such wide-ranging applications as tracing your ancestry, modeling disease spread and studying how animals spread through geographic regions.
One of the method’s applications is to give a more complete sense of human ancestry, says Gideon Bradburd, U-M professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. For example, when you send your DNA off for a personalized ancestry report, the report you get back is only a very small view of your family tree pinned in a specific point and space in time.
These types of genetic reports reflect the amount of a person’s genome that they’ve inherited from individuals living in a specific area at a specific point in the past. If your ancestry report says that you’re 50% Irish, that means you have a lot of second through fourth cousins who currently live in Ireland, says Bradburd. But in reality, your family tree is much more like a movie than this snapshot.
The statistical method developed by Bradburd and fellow U-M researchers Michael Grundler and Jonathan Terhorst can give people a “movie” version of their ancestry, showing where their ancestors originated and how they moved across the globe. The method uses modern genetic sequence samples, estimates all of the locations of an individual’s genetic ancestors, identifies the average location of those individuals based on assumptions about how people move, and tracks it back over centuries.
The researchers’ method can be used for more than tracing human ancestry. It can also be used to track the emergence of viruses, the divergence of animal populations and other genealogical tracking. Their results are published in the journal Science.
“There’s ways in which consumer ancestry reports are interesting, and certainly it’s powerful to learn about your history, especially for folks who’ve been adopted or orphaned or are disconnected from their family,” Bradburd said. “But there are other ways in which these ancestry reports can be really problematic. They really reify notions of the biological essentialism of race because they’re presenting these categories of Irish, for example, as if they’re ideals, that they’re real and unchanging through time.”
But researchers know this isn’t the case. A field, forged by Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Svante Pääbo, developed the tools to genotype ancient DNA. This allows researchers to trace waves of human populations as they spread throughout the world — particularly in Eurasia, where most of this type of genetic sequencing has been happening, Bradburd says. This has allowed researchers to see how human groups enter and leave geographic regions through time.
“Because the genetic flavor of a location changes so much through time, we know it’s meaningless to say, ‘This is what it means to be Irish,'” Bradburd said. “It’s not just that being ‘genetically Irish’ doesn’t mean anything; it also means that you are everything.”
Bradburd points to a thought experiment in human biology: imagine two biological parents and four biological grandparents. This doubles every generation, and it only has to double a relatively small number of generations before there are more people in that direct lineage than there have ever been humans alive on Earth.
This also means that you don’t have to go very far back in time to discover that many people share many ancestors.
“Because our pedigrees explode so quickly, they also must collapse in the same sense that you and I must share many, many relatives at many points back in time, and that’s true for every person alive on Earth,” Bradburd said. “We’re all extraordinarily closely related to each other.”
The ancestry reports are accurate, Bradburd said, but specifically when they are tied to a time period.
“The ancestry reports aren’t wrong, but they’re leaving out a very important component, which is the ‘when’ you have Irish ancestry,” Bradburd said. “Because we know the modern human lineage arose in Africa, it is as accurate to say that you have 100% African ancestry at a deeper time horizon.”
The statistical method, called Gaia (geographic ancestry inference algorithm), starts by making a very simple assumption about how individuals move: that typically they move locally. The method combines that assumption with the location of modern-day individuals and a genetic structure that relates them called the ancestral recombination graph.
With those two pieces of information and the simple model of how individuals move, the researchers can compute the “most parsimonious locations of ancestors,” Bradburd says. The researchers then can propagate that information back through the past.
Bradburd’s work is answering a call from the National Academy of Sciences, urging researchers working on human population genetics to move away from race-based labels. While the sociological realities of race are undeniable, racial categories do not make good predictions about genetic variation, he says.
Because of the disconnect between race and genetics, racial labels can often be imprecise: two people might share the same label, but be much more closely or less closely related to each other. In addition, because the genetics in a certain geographic area can shift so much over time, geographic and national labels can also be misleading, Bradburd says.
“Saying you’re ‘genetically Irish’ makes it seem like ‘Irish’ has always meant the same thing, and genetically we know that is not true and also that anyone who is Irish — meaning they inherited parts of their genome from people who lived in Ireland — is only Irish with respect to a specific time horizon,” he said. “That these race labels gloss over both of these important pieces of information is a big loss of specificity and also poses a very real danger to the weaponization of science for political means.”
The method Bradburd’s team developed can be applied to systems other than human genetics. Researchers can use this method to look at the genetic distribution of the organisms they study. Researchers can also use this method to learn about the migration of organisms — human and otherwise, Bradburd says.
For example, researchers have been able to look at measures of genetic similarity of population between two locations and infer that they are more or less closely connected by migration, or more or less isolated from each other. But this tool allows researchers to pin a timeline on when these movements happened.
And this tool can apply in this case to more than tracing human genetics — it can be used to help determine when a disease might have emerged from a specific region of the world, for example. The U-M group is working with researchers in Australia to learn how mosquitoes colonized islands of the South Pacific, and with researchers in Michigan and Ohio to understand the history and dispersal of the Massasauga rattlesnake.
“It’s one of the things I’m quite excited about with this — you can use this method to identify dispersal patterns through time and between specific locations,” Bradburd said. “Notions of ancestry don’t have to be static. Instead, you should think of them as being dynamic, and interesting and understandable more as a movie than as a picture.”
The post Call for Applications: re:constitution Fellowships 2025-2026 by RECAS [15 Fellows; Stipend of €2.5k]: Apply by April 3! appeared first on Lawctopus.
All zodiac signs have their own characteristics and traits which define someone’s personality. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you started your day by already knowing about what’s going to come your way? Read on to find out whether the odds will be in your favour today.
Astrological prediction for March 28, 2025.(Pixabay)
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
An optimistic outlook may attract exciting career opportunities. Prioritizing smaller financial dues will make managing your finances easier. A routine conversation with a parent may take an unexpected emotional turn, offering meaningful insights. Unplanned trips could bring delightful surprises and create lasting memories. Health remains stable, though minor fluctuations in stamina may occur. Renting out property today is likely to bring steady income with responsible tenants. Academically, a fresh perspective and a short break may help regain focus.
Love Focus: Dating feels exciting yet unpredictable; embrace the journey without expectations. Lucky Number: 6 Lucky Colour: Green
Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)
Physical exertion may feel more demanding today, so listening to your body and pacing yourself is important. If considering financial expansion, researching investment options will lead to better decisions. Your mind is buzzing with innovative ideas, making brainstorming sessions especially productive. Household responsibilities will be shared, though minor disagreements may arise. Overcoming homesickness may take time, but regular communication with loved ones will help. Effectively targeting property advertisements will enhance visibility and interest. Academically, students will enjoy an engaging and stimulating learning experience.
Love Focus: Love takes center stage today, making everything feel more special. Lucky Number: 8 Lucky Colour: Purple
Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)
A financial boost from an unexpected source will strengthen your confidence. Your innovative mindset will transform routine tasks into something remarkable. Traveling with friends will be enjoyable, though setting expectations beforehand will prevent misunderstandings. Your body responds well to the care you’ve given it, providing steady strength and stamina. Meaningful family interactions will deepen your appreciation for loved ones. Renovations will progress smoothly, though occasional setbacks may occur. Academically, training efforts today will lead to gradual yet consistent improvement.
Love Focus: Let your love story unfold naturally; so avoid overanalyzing or rushing it. Lucky Number: 1 Lucky Colour: White
Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 22)
Staying hydrated will keep your body functioning optimally today. A positive financial shift allows you to enjoy newfound prosperity. Sticking to a well-structured schedule will boost productivity. A peaceful morning at home will set a relaxing tone for the rest of the day. While the urge to escape to a new place is strong, current responsibilities may require attention first. Property renovations may take longer than expected due to scheduling or weather issues. Academically, staying focused on personal goals will help overcome distractions.
Love Focus: A planned surprise may not unfold as expected, but appreciating the effort will strengthen bonds. Lucky Number: 17 Lucky Colour: Yellow
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 23)
Temporary moments of anxiety may arise but will pass quickly. Financial growth remains strong, exceeding expectations. Your contributions at work are valued, and well-deserved recognition may be on the way. A parent’s advice will offer guidance in making a wise decision. Exploring nature through photography will be a fulfilling experience. Property-related legal matters should be reviewed carefully to avoid complications. Academically, students will find learning enjoyable, with new concepts sparking inspiration.
Love Focus: A heartfelt message from your partner will bridge the miles effortlessly. Lucky Number: 1 Lucky Colour: Maroon
Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)
A promising financial opportunity could lead to wealth expansion. Professional growth will be supported by attending training sessions or courses. An unexpected visitor will bring joy and warmth to family interactions. A road trip promises excitement, with engaging stops along the way. Renting out property will provide steady income with responsible tenants. Academically, today’s lessons will be fulfilling and motivating. Minor frustrations may briefly affect your mood, but they will pass without major impact.
Love Focus: Love today feels exciting, fulfilling, and filled with pleasant surprises. Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Colour: Brown
Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)
A balanced diet will help maintain energy and endurance throughout the day. The financial outlook is positive, with opportunities for long-term wealth-building. An office initiative may require extra participation, and your input will be valuable. Home will be a place of warmth and peace, strengthening emotional connections. A road trip will be full of unexpected and delightful discoveries. Renting property will be reliable, though minor tenant concerns may arise. Academically, steady progress will be maintained with consistent effort.
Love Focus: A small but meaningful gesture from your partner will remind you why you fell in love. Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Colour: Red
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Your energy is aligned with your goals, making every task feel purposeful. Financial rewards are on the horizon, though patience will be required. A senior colleague may offer unexpected praise, boosting your morale. A family rumor may surface, and your response will determine how it unfolds. Unplanned travel may bring excitement but could also come with minor challenges. Leasing property requires patience, but setting clear agreements will ensure smooth transactions. Academically, consistent effort will lead to steady and meaningful progress.
Love Focus: Your love story proves that true connection remains strong, regardless of distance. Lucky Number: 22 Lucky Colour: Dark Grey
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Your body craves nutritious foods, making healthy choices effortless. A practical financial approach will secure long-term stability. Negotiating for better pay or benefits will likely yield positive results. A minor disagreement with a relative will be quickly resolved with patience. Travel will be enjoyable, offering scenic views and refreshing experiences. Property-related costs should include maintenance expenses to avoid unexpected financial strain. Academically, the day will be engaging, making studies enjoyable.
Love Focus: A secret admirer may finally express their feelings as romance is in the air! Lucky Number: 6 Lucky Colour: Blue
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)
Your presence will bring immense joy to your parents. Packing light and planning smartly will make upcoming travel smoother. The property market offers great investment opportunities. Small lifestyle adjustments today may have a lasting positive impact. Earnings continue to surpass expectations, ensuring long-term financial security. A shift in office policies may require minor adjustments in routine. Academically, learning will be enjoyable, with each lesson sparking curiosity and motivation.
Love Focus: The love you share continues to grow, filling your life with happiness. Lucky Number: 18 Lucky Colour: Orange
Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19)
A structured financial plan will support savings and prevent unnecessary spending. Helping a colleague is noble, but balancing your own responsibilities is essential. Home will be filled with warmth and joyful moments. Exploring local culture will be rewarding, even if minor setbacks occur. Today is an excellent time to embrace new challenges, as your stamina remains high. Staying informed about real estate trends will help in making wise property decisions. Academically, steady effort will ensure continuous improvement.
Love Focus: A sweet moment today will remind you how lucky you are in love. Lucky Number: 9 Lucky Colour: Dark Green
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
Staying hydrated will improve focus and overall well-being. If finances feel tight, exploring new income sources may prove beneficial. Prioritizing pending tasks will prevent unnecessary work stress. Encouragement from a relative will boost confidence and positivity. A scenic drive will offer relaxation and breathtaking views. Setting aside savings for a property down payment will ensure a smooth purchasing process. Academically, learning will feel inspiring, with fresh energy fueling motivation.
Love Focus: A small but heartfelt gesture from your partner will warm your heart. Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Colour: Silver
Nkarta is laying off a third of its workforce, and more than half its executive team, in a bid to survive long enough to see if an experimental cell therapy it’s developing will show promise against multiple autoimmune conditions.
Nkarta revealed the initiative alongside fourth quarter earnings on Wednesday. The cuts will impact 53 positions, freeze some future hires and enable it to operate into 2029. In a statement, CEO Paul Hastings said the restructuring prioritizes “investment in clinical execution and impacts every level of the organization,” including a majority of senior leadership.
According to a regulatory filing, for example, Chief Strategy and Business Officer Alyssa Levin is being let go effective March 31. The board has appointed current president Nadir Mahmood to take her place as principal financial and accounting officer.
“We believe that this decision is necessary in today’s challenging financial and competitive environment to fulfill Nkarta’s vision of bringing potentially life-saving cellular therapies to people with autoimmune disease,” Hastings said of the layoffs.
The company had 157 full-time employees, and just under $381 million in cash, as of Dec. 31. It booked a net loss of about $109 million in 2024.
Nkarta raised more than $100 million in private funding before going public in 2020 to develop an emerging type of donor-derived cell therapy. Those treatments harness “natural killer” cells, different immune defenders than the ones involved in personalized cancer cell therapies like Yescarta and Kymriah. Initially, Nkarta intended to prove its therapies could be a convenient, “off-the-shelf” alternative, running multiple trials in leukemia and lymphoma.
But like many of its peers, Nkarta struggled to show its lead therapy could match the long-lasting benefits of its personalized counterparts. Its share price eroded amid a difficult funding climate for biotechs, making it difficult to raise cash. And last year, the company fully pivoted its research focus to autoimmune conditions, leaning on academic research suggesting these therapies might help “reset” the immune systems of people with diseases like lupus.
“I believe that our drug is developable in oncology, because usually in Phase 1, you’re discovering and you’re testing different regimens,” Hastings said in an interview in January. “You don’t have the luxury of doing that anymore. If it’s the first time your data comes out, that’s it.”
In shifting its strategy, Nkarta joined more than a dozen companies vying to reproduce that research either with cell therapies or antibody drugs. Still, Nkarta believes its treatments might represent the best solution, offering the power of personalized cell therapies with the convenience of an off-the-shelf solution. Individualized cell therapies are “impractical” for autoimmune conditions, Chief Medical Officer David Shook said in January. It’s also unclear how effective T cell engagers, a popular type of antibody drug being tested in autoimmune diseases, will be, and they also have safety concerns that prevent their widespread use in oncology, he added.
Nkarta hasn’t yet proven that in human testing. Initial data from a pair of studies evaluating its therapy, NKX019, in multiple autoimmune conditions are expected later this year.
While we usually spend a lot of time talking about property, today I’ve got a special episode for all the parents out there.
And even if you don’t have kids yet or you’re not planning to, you’re still going to learn a lot about money and wealth today from my special guest Loral Langmeir, author of the transformative book, “Make Your Kids Millionaires: The Step-by-Step Guide to Lead Children to Financial Freedom.”
We discuss how to instil a millionaire mindset from a young age, the significance of early money conversations, and the role of parents in shaping their children’s financial futures.
Loral shares her personal journey and strategies for teaching kids about money, emphasising the need for practical experiences and the importance of overcoming limiting beliefs.
We also touch on the value of delayed gratification and the necessity of investing in one’s financial education.
Takeaways
The journey to financial literacy begins with self-awareness and action.
Creating a millionaire mindset in children starts early and requires intentionality.
The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and parents are their children’s mentors so therefore they must show financial responsibility to instill good habits in their children.
It’s never too late for adults to change their financial habits.
Money conversations should begin early in childhood to shape positive beliefs.
Delayed gratification is a crucial lesson for financial success.
Teaching children about money should involve practical experiences and games.
Understanding taxes and financial strategies is essential for wealth building.
Investing in education is the first step towards financial independence.
Legacy planning is about what you leave in your children, not just what you leave to them.
Links and Resources:
Michael Yardney – Subscribe to my daily Property Update newsletter
Also, please subscribe to my new podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.
Subscribe & don’t miss a single episode of Michael Yardney’s podcast
Hear Michael & a select panel of guest experts discuss property investment, success & money related
topics. Subscribe now, whether you’re on an Apple or Android handset.
Need help listening to Michael Yardney’s podcast from your phone or tablet?
We have created easy to follow instructions for you whether you’re on iPhone / iPad or an Android
device.
Prefer to subscribe via email?
Join Michael Yardney’s inner circle of daily subscribers and get into the head of Australia’s best
property investment advisor and a wide team of leading property researchers and commentators.
About Michael Yardney
Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He’s once again been voted Australia’s leading property investment adviser and one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.
Microsoft Edge is nowhere near good enough to be my main browser because its performance isn’t up to scratch, and frankly, it’s too clunky for frequent use. However, it does have some features I wish were included in Google Chrome without needing to download extensions.
4
Picture-in-Picture Viewing
I sometimes listen to YouTube videos in the background when using Chrome, but I sometimes want to watch the video while in another tab. This is particularly true for tutorial videos. Unfortunately, Chrome doesn’t have a native picture-in-picture viewing feature. Instead, I can access a mini-player. This lets me browse YouTube, but it doesn’t work in other browsers.
Edge, however, lets me view content within a smaller window if I want to. I can pause and fast-forward if needed, and it’s much easier to follow along if I need to view something in the video.
Once you open the video page you want to watch, right-click its tab and select Enter picture in picture. The new video window will appear in the bottom right of your screen. From there, you can adjust the size to make what you’re watching easier to see.
3
Startup Boost
While I think Edge’s overall performance is worse than Chrome, I like its Startup Boost feature. Edge Startup Boost basically loads the browser each time you boot Windows. So, when you launch Edge, everything is ready to use, which makes using Edge feel simple and fast.
I’d like to see a similar feature in Google Chrome. All too often, I’ve had issues with the browser crashing upon startup, which is immensely frustrating when I sit down to get some work done and have to reboot.
However, I’m also keenly aware that Startup Boost is one of the reasons Edge opens on its own at times. I’ve not personally experienced that, but I wouldn’t want to trade my browser occasionally crashing for one that opens when it wants!
I can always search the weather for a destination on Google or view my computer’s widget for the temperature in my local area. But to be honest, both have needless friction for me.
Microsoft Edge lets you view the weather at your location when you open your browser. I can view the full forecast for the coming days if I want. The widget lets me confirm whether the report is accurate by selecting Agree or Disagree.
1
Vertical Tabs
Although Chrome lets you customize the sidebar, it doesn’t have vertical tabs. Instead, you’ll see all of the sites you’re currently visiting across the top of the screen.
Edge, on the other hand, has vertical tabs. Personally, I feel like it’s much easier to switch between tabs and view everything I have open. Despite being such a simple UX change, I think it would make a huge difference to my Chrome experience; trust me, it’s way better.
Chrome is the world’s most popular browser by a long shot. But a few small tweaks would make it even better. I know I can find Chrome browser extensions that add most of the functionality I’ve talked about here, but I don’t always want to rely on extensions to provide useful functionality. For one, Chrome extensions add to the browser footprint and require extra hardware resources, and two, sometimes Chrome extensions are removed or deleted without warning. So, on that, these simple but effective changes would lead to a much better experience.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-27/Hull-design-for-China-s-second-homemade-large-cruise-ship-unveiled-1C5blHgrMJi/img/bb6e87839398491a9aa72da45f9a62e6/bb6e87839398491a9aa72da45f9a62e6.png' alt='A rendering shows the hull design for China's second domestically built large cruise ship, the Adora Flora City. /CMG'
A new cruise ship is on the way! The hull design for Adora Flora City, China’s second domestically built large cruise ship, has been unveiled. Adopting the theme of the Maritime Silk Road, the vessel draws inspiration from the Dunhuang murals, continuing the design concept of its sister ship, Adora Magic City.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-27/Hull-design-for-China-s-second-homemade-large-cruise-ship-unveiled-1C5blHgrMJi/img/5b216b34c0064f65a0a15ae4627c0448/5b216b34c0064f65a0a15ae4627c0448.png' alt='A rendering shows the atrium plaza of the Adora Flora City. /CMG'
The main hull assembly of the cruise ship has been completed, and the installation of its prefabricated cabins is underway. Compared to its predecessor, Adora Flora City boasts a larger gross tonnage, a longer length, and an increased number of cabins – rising to 2,130. It also features a greater variety of suite options, with a maximum passenger capacity of 5,232.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-27/Hull-design-for-China-s-second-homemade-large-cruise-ship-unveiled-1C5blHgrMJi/img/619bd8c2d76e498bb8fe918bebbc926f/619bd8c2d76e498bb8fe918bebbc926f.png' alt='A rendering shows the water park of the Adora Flora City. /CMG'
The Walt Disney Co. unit’s flagship sports highlights program will have its last edition from the ESPN Los Angeles Production Center, located near the Crypto.com Arena, in May.
ESPN will continue to produce the late night “SportsCenter” out of its headquarters in Bristol, Conn. ESPN’s L.A.-based studio coverage of soccer will move to Bristol as well.
The company cited “current business needs” as the reason for the move.
ESPN’s NBA studio shows will continue to air out of the Los Angeles site.
The 35 employees who work on the L.A. “SportsCenter” will have the option of moving east to remain with the program, which is currently co-anchored by Linda Cohn and Stan Varrett. The Los Angeles Production Center has a total of 229 employees.
The L.A.-based late-night “SportsCenter” was launched in 2009 and usually airs after Scott Van Pelt’s edition of the program.
“SportsCenter” was once the main choice for consumers looking for game results and highlights, and now competes with round-the-clock coverage available online.
ESPN has invested heavily in retaining its rights to live sports, including a new deal that will keep the NBA on the network for the next 11 years.
The company has also put more resources in its opinion-driven debate shows such as “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith, who recently signed a new deal that will reportedly pay him $20 million annually.
ESPN continues to face pressure from cord-cutting, which reduces the amount of pay TV subscription revenue it takes in.
Later this year ESPN will offer a direct-to-consumer product that will make its channels available for streaming without viewers having to sign up for cable or satellite TV.
Mumbai, March 27: Shares of Tata Motors Limited, the parent company of luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), fell sharply on Thursday, after US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on cars that are not manufactured in the United States.
The stock declined 5.47 per cent or Rs 38.75 to close at Rs 669.5 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Trump’s announcement came as part of his plan to introduce reciprocal tariffs on various countries. The new car tariffs are set to take effect from April 2, which has raised concerns for automakers with significant US exposure. Donald Trump’s Tariff on Imported Vehicles May Impact South Korean Carmakers Relying on US Shipments: Analysts.
The United States is a crucial market for JLR, accounting for nearly one-third of its total sales in 2024. According to the company’s annual report, 22 per cent of JLR’s overall sales came from the US, making it a major revenue source for the brand.
JLR vehicles sold in the US are mainly produced in the UK and other international plants, all of which will now face a 25 per cent tariff. The impact of these new tariffs on the company’s financials remains uncertain, leading to volatility in Tata Motors’ stock.
Despite the recent fall, the company’s management has remained optimistic. Tata Motors had recently reiterated that JLR is on track to meet its fourth-quarter target of 10 per cent EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margins and aims to be net debt-free by the end of the financial year.
These comments had earlier helped the stock recover from its 52-week low of Rs 606. Even after its recent recovery, the stock remains down by 40 per cent from its all-time high. Many analysts believe that the uncertainty surrounding tariffs is keeping investors cautious. However, some suggest that the steep correction in Tata Motors’ stock from its July 2024 peak of Rs 1,179 has made the risk-reward ratio more attractive for investors. Donald Trump’s Auto Tariffs To Have Minimal Impact on India’s Automobile Sector, Says GTRI.
“About a fifth of the revenue of India’s auto component sector is derived from exports. Of this, 27 per cent is to the US market alone,” said Anuj Sethi, Senior Director, Crisil Ratings. He added that however, select automotive component players, with US-based manufacturing facilities may see some offsetting gains from better capacity utilisation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 27, 2025 07:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
In January, with a nationwide ban on TikTok looming, hundreds of thousands of people in the US began flocking to another Chinese social media app called RedNote—only to find that Maye Musk, Elon Musk’s mother, had already established a relatively large audience on the platform. Maye, who has become a celebrity in her own right in China over the past few years, had over 600,000 followers on RedNote when the flood of Americans arrived.
“I need to find the block button,” one American user commented under Maye’s latest video at the time, which has received over 10,000 likes. “I can’t believe I’m witnessing American people confronting Musk’s mom to her face,” another comment in Chinese reads. Shortly afterward, Maye’s comment section on RedNote was closed for several weeks. New comments didn’t start showing up again until early February.
The incident represented a rare moment when the parallel public images Maye Musk has created for herself collided. In China, the 76 year-old has built a largely apolitical reputation as a “silver influencer,” fashion model for local brands, and book author who regularly garners positive coverage in Chinese state media, The New York Times previously reported. Last week, she made another trip to China, this time to the city of Wuxi, where she was invited to watch a drone show, promoted traditional crafts, and posed with a special Tesla model that comes in different colorways sold only in Asia.
But in the US, Maye’s career has increasingly converged with Elon’s as her son gained unprecedented power and influence over the US federal government. Since President Trump won reelection, Maye has traveled on Air Force One, sat next to Melania Trump at a Mar-a-Lago dinner party, and attended a luncheon with Ivanka Trump, while also regularly firing off posts on X about US politics, according to a WIRED review of her social media presence.
In many ways, Maye appears to be trying to straddle the fine line between her political engagement in the US and her business dealings in China and other foreign countries. That endeavor has become more fraught over the past two months as Trump began radically reshaping US foreign policy, including imposing new tariffs on China. “There’s a heightened risk now for American business people traveling to China and that continues to increase, especially as tensions in the trade war will increase,” says Holden Triplett, cofounder of Trenchcoat Advisors and a former senior FBI official posted in Beijing.
Maye Musk’s business manager and Creative Artists Agency, her talent-representative agency in China, did not reply to requests for comment from WIRED.
Even before she began traveling regularly to China, Maye publicly supported Elon’s and Tesla’s business endeavors in the country. In 2015, she retweeted a post by Elon in which he mentioned meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “Great trip to China seeing President Xi … Pic w China team in state garden,” the tweet reads, which was later deleted from Elon’s profile.
Crypto airdrops, the process of free crypto tokens, are a common Web3 strategy used to boost project visibility and community growth in the $2.84 trillion (roughly Rs. 2,43,51,125 crore) crypto market. Developers use social media to announce these giveaways, aiming to attract investors. However, this strategy is frequently exploited by scammers. While airdrops can build legitimate communities, they are also increasingly being used by fraudsters to deceive and steal funds from unsuspecting users. The risk posed by these malicious elements requires vigilance from those participating in crypto airdrops.
These crypto airdrops have continued to grow in popularity in recent years. In 2024, $14.91 billion (roughly Rs. 1,27,818 crore) was disbursed by various projects to global investors via airdrop campaigns, according to data from on-chain analysis platform DropsTab.
How Crypto Airdrops Work
The process of facilitating a crypto airdrops typically entails five main steps, according to a KuCoin blog post published earlier this year. These steps are – announcement, registration, verification, distribution, and claiming airdropped tokens.
Web3 developers use platforms like Telegram, X, Discord, and Instagram to announce airdrops related to their projects. Those interested in receiving these airdrops need to first register and provide their credentials like crypto wallet details. The developers can also ask individuals to complete simple tasks like subscribe to the project’s updates or download an app to get their tokens.
After verifying user identities, legitimate projects complete the airdrops of their tokens and inform community members who have received the tokens.
The Pros and Cons of Airdrops
Airdrops give investors an incentive to follow and engage with an upcoming Web3 project. This makes for an effective way for developers to ensure that their offering does not go unnoticed in the flood of new projects swiping the market away. The promotional strategy is also low in cost compared to traditional marketing methods. ZebPay recently revealed — StarkNet, Shardeum, and Ambient are among notable crypto airdrops announced in recent weeks.
Back in 2023, Binance also addressed some benefits and shortcomings of crypto airdrops. In a blog, the exchange had said that offering airdrops can bring more liquidity to the projects — while also ensuring that power is not restricted to only a few entities or large-scale buyers. It is worth noting that airdrops also have the potential to put investors under the risk of severe financial losses. Scammers also pose as developers to announce airdrops to obtain wallet addresses of individuals, only to steal their assets.
Data analytics firm CoinGecko has strongly warned investors to be vigilant against false airdrops. In August 2021, scammers posing as the CoinGecko team, circulated scam posts that promised the airdrop of a fake $GECKO token. The platform had reached out to its community members via X (formerly Twitter) to dismiss the speculations.
Geckos, beware of fake airdrops! :rotating_light:
We’ve noticed misleading posts on X claiming $GECKO airdrops are happening.
This is NOT true. CoinGecko does not have any tokens or airdrop plans at the moment.
Always stay vigilant and double-check your sources before clicking any links.
Airdrops can also pose a significant risk to projects announcing them. Binance, in its blog, explained that airdrops can end up attracting crypto token freeloaders, rather than bringing together an engaging, genuine community. Individuals who just want to bulk up on free tokens can end up getting incentivised without actually contributing to the project’s growth.
Crypto airdrop tokens have yet to be banned or blacklisted in any country, despite the challenges it may pose. Upcoming regulatory reforms in the crypto space might define clear rules for promoting Web3 projects through airdrops in the coming time to safeguard investors as well as projects.
With the rise of AI-powered search and steady increases in monthly LLM referral traffic, many of our SEO clients are asking how they can improve their visibility and brand sentiment in AI responses.
One of the biggest challenges, though, is that most marketing teams don’t have a dedicated generative engine optimization (GEO) budget or team members with the bandwidth to fully support large-scale AI search optimization initiatives.
The good news?
There are several strategies that can benefit both your traditional SEO and AI visibility.
These optimizations can help make your content digestible for search engines, relevant for AI-generated responses, and more valuable to your audience.
ChatGPT and other LLMs are not replacing Google, and SEO is not dead. SEO is simply evolving. And if you start taking steps to adapt your strategy now, you can keep pace instead of falling behind.
“SEO is evolving into Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), where success is no longer just about ranking but about being contextually relevant in AI-generated search experiences,” said Ryan Fortin, Global Head of SEO at Lenovo.
Here are six ways to adapt your traditional SEO strategy to strengthen visibility in AI-powered search results.
1. Prioritize long-tail keywords
As search evolves, traditional keyword research and selection is shifting.
Instead of focusing only on high volume, high competition “head” terms, brands should also prioritize long tail keywords that align with conversational queries and natural language processing.
AI search models often favor these more specific and intent driven queries over head terms, and users are increasingly searching with full questions or complex phrases rather than short keywords. Also, long tail keywords are typically less competitive than head terms, making it easier to rank for the average site.
Also, according to Google, 15% of all Google searches have never been searched before, so there is demand for fresh, niche content optimized for new and potentially growing search trends.
How to adapt
Go low: Stop filtering out keywords with low search volumes. Gone are the days where you automatically filter out keywords just because they don’t meet your arbitrary minimums. You need to be mapping more terms with lower monthly searches than you may have historically.
Be conversational: Spend time identifying conversational queries from places like Google’s People Also Ask, tools like AnswerThePublic and discussions on forums like Reddit. If you want to be an authority within a topic online, you will want to help answer as many of the long tail questions people have about that topic.
Use variations: Optimize for semantic search by using related phrases, synonyms, and natural language variations in your content.
kiehls.com skin concern pages example FAQ content
Use FAQs: Create helpful FAQ sections within your content where you can add actual questions and capture multiple long-tail queries in a structured format. The Kiehl’s content above, for example, is helping their domain achieve over 550 AI Overview rankings currently.
2. Improve content clarity and structure
AI models extract concise and structured information from content. To enhance visibility in AI search (and to improve your user experience, because people want things faster than ever) your content should be organized, skimmable, and clearly summarized.
How to adapt
Adjust Your Process: Include key takeaways at the top of content, write clear and concise summaries for main sections, and ensure you are breaking up text with proper heading structures (e.g. H1, H2s, H3s).
NerdWallet’s table of contents for Best Grocery List Apps of 2025
TOC: Use tables of contents for longer content, and bonus if you use jumps links to make the user experience that much better.
Refresh existing content: In addition to updating your content structures going forward, I also suggest you get a paid ChatGPT or Claude account and leverage AI support on refreshing your existing content. It doesn’t take new content creation to improve your SEO and AI visibility. Adding key takeaways and improving structure on content you’ve already invested in can go a long way.
Tweaking your existing process with these tips can go a long way when it comes to getting your content referenced in AI answers. Our agency has seen that re-formatting content in these ways gets our clients cited in AI Overviews in as little as 24 hours after implementation in some cases.
3. Present balanced perspectives
ChatGPT’s answer for “is ubersuggest or semrush better for a small business”
AI models are trained on massive data sets and are designed to avoid bias, weigh various viewpoints, and present balanced, easy-to-digest summaries.
This is especially true when users are looking for specific recommendations or making comparisons.
If you frequent ChatGPT, you’ve probably noticed answers often summarize pros and cons. This means that balanced and unbiased content is more likely to get cited.
How to adapt
Pros and cons: Clearly state pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses, or benefits and drawbacks within content.
Tables: If you’re comparing things, consider adding a summary table, which is great for both users and AI extraction.
Comparative language: Use less absolute wording and more comparative language, as AI prefers neutral and nuanced language over definitive opinions. Where it makes sense, use phrases like “best for” or “more ideal when” instead of speaking in absolutes.
Counterarguments: Address potential concerns and provide a more comprehensive point of view in your content by adding sections such as Things to Consider, When It’s Not Worth It, Before You Go, etc.
4. Strengthen technical SEO
AI models don’t crawl your site in real time like traditional search engine crawlers, but they do rely, in part, on well-structured, semantically rich content to interpret and represent your site’s information accurately.
So, while content quality and optimization matter, technical SEO forms the foundation that determines whether your content is accessible and interpretable.
“Now is a good time to double down on technical SEO,” according to Kai Blum, Global SEO Lead at Mailchimp. “I strongly believe that sites that are easily crawlable and pages that load fast perform better in AI Search. Besides, improving the user experience by increasing page speed is always a good investment. And getting your Schema markup in order across the entire site almost goes without saying.”
How to adapt
LLMS.txt: Before you start thinking of an llms.txt as a robots.txt but for AI, know that while robots.txt files have clear guidelines of what should or shouldn’t be included, and the directives are always followed by Googlebot, there’s no telling how or even if these AI platforms are going to use what’s in an llms.txt. However, it is a potential opportunity for site owners to surface content and information that is otherwise not directly available via traditional crawling e.g. product data feeds, inventory APIs if they are configured, general APIs, support and customer service content, software developer documentation, etc.
Schema Markup: Schema markup provides explicit signals about the meaning of your content, making it easier for AI search tools to surface accurate and relevant information from your site. Implement article, FAQ, how to, products, review, event, speakable, breadcrumb and local business schema. Automate where possible, using CMS plugins or structured data generators to scale schema deployment. If this isn’t already part of your process, build schema markup into your standard content delivery process going forward while you work on an audit across your existing content.
Crawlability and Indexation: Users, search engines, and LLMs alike cannot digest your content if they cannot find/access it. Focus on a logical site architecture, a strong internal linking structure, minimize unnecessary re-directs, maintain your robots.txt file properly, and ensure you have fast loading pages.
JavaScript: While traditional search engines like Google have evolved to render JavaScript when crawling websites, many AI crawlers, including OpenAI’s GPTBot and Anthropic’s ClaudeBot, do not execute JavaScript. Ensure your important content is server-rendered or visible in the raw HTML, not just loaded via JavaScript.
5. Be data driven
AI models are trained to prioritize authoritative and credible information.
With the right data driven approach, you can increase your content’s credibility and make it more attractive for AI citations.
Also, in a world where it’s getting increasingly hard to tell what’s machine created, what’s regurgitated and what’s truly unique, leveraging proprietary data within your content helps you stand apart from the crowd, and makes your content easier to pitch to the media.
“The future belongs to authentic voices who bring unique perspectives,” said Britney Muller, AI educator and consultant. “In a world where AI can generate endless generic content, being memorably human becomes your biggest competitive advantage. Focus on being genuinely quotable rather than technically optimized. This isn’t just another shift in search; it’s a return to what actually matters: saying something worth repeating.”
How to adapt:
Use proprietary data: When possible, leverage proprietary data, tailored data collection (e.g. surveys), case studies, or other research to create unique data sets for your content. This makes your content stand out, offering something truly valuable and unique in a world riddled with low quality, regurgitated content.
Cite sources: Reference credible, authoritative sources and up to date content. When citing external sources, link directly to the original data and mention it within your content. If you’re using AI to scale your content, make sure you run everything through a plagiarism checker.
6. Measure and monitor
If you’re going to put effort into impacting your AI visibility, then you most certainly want to put some effort into measuring the impact and monitoring over time. And if you’re looking to build a business case for an AI optimization budget or resources, this will be crucial.
Think about what your leadership team or client will need to see to get on board. Even if you’re not able to make the case for budget right away, having the reporting structure in place will be helpful.
“We encourage organizations to focus on what can be concretely measured — AI crawler and agent visits, referral traffic from AI search platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and others, and citations in AI-generated answers,” said Chris Andrew, CEO & Co-Founder of Scrunch AI. “Across our customers, we’ve consistently seen that traffic from AI search is not just growing — it’s also the highest-converting source of inbound traffic. The brands that track these signals now will have a massive edge as AI-native discovery becomes the norm.”
A client dashboard displaying the rapid rise in LLM referral traffic
How to adapt
Dashboard: Set up a dashboard or update your existing SEO dashboard to track metrics like LLM referral traffic, top LLM referral traffic source, Organic Search:LLM traffic ratios, and LLM referral conversions.
AI Overviews:Use an SEO tool like Semrush to track your vs. competitor AI overview presence over time.
Sample report from Scrunchai.com
Tools: Consider budgeting for a tool like Scrunch AI or the Semrush AI toolkit to monitor LLM visibility across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI platforms. There are a ton of AI visibility platform options to choose from now, so I’d recommend setting up a demo with at least a couple to weigh the different features, cost, and value.
Advanced tactics to bolster AI visibility
If you want to take your AI optimization strategy further, consider these two more advanced tactics below. While they take more effort than the tactics above, they’re high impact.
Leverage digital PR for authority building
AI search engines factor in online mentions, citations, and brand authority when generating responses. A strong digital PR strategy will help you become a trusted source in the new AI search space.
“Beyond the easier tactics like optimizing for long-tail keywords and using clear formats that AI can parse, the real winners will be those who understand that your digital footprint is now measured by who’s talking about you across the web. Getting mentioned in semantically similar conversations increases your probability of showing up in AI overviews,” Muller said.
“While everyone is obsessing over technical AI optimization, they’re missing the fundamental shift: brand mentions are becoming the new backlinks. Google counts links, but AI counts conversations.”
Set up and optimize a Wikipedia page
Wikipedia plays a critical role in the digital information ecosystem. It is one of the most commonly used sources for training AI models, helping them verify facts, define entities, and assess credibility.
A well-crafted, properly sourced Wikipedia page can significantly enhance your brand’s online authority and increase the likelihood of being referenced in AI-generated content, including search engine answers and virtual assistants.
However, creating and maintaining a Wikipedia page is no small task. The platform enforces strict notability and sourcing guidelines, and content must be written in a neutral, encyclopedic tone.
Success requires strong third-party coverage from reputable publications, thoughtful page structure, and ongoing updates to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Despite the upfront effort, a Wikipedia presence is a valuable long-term asset for brand visibility, trust, and authority.
What’s next?
Adapting to this new era of AI-driven search is a must. By making adjustments now, you’ll position yourself ahead of the curve as AI continues to reshape search and content discovery.
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
In the wooded highlands of northern Arkansas, where small towns have few dentists, water officials who serve more than 20,000 people have for more than a decade openly defied state law by refusing to add fluoride to the drinking water.
For its refusal, the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority has received hundreds of state fines amounting to about $130,000, which are stuffed in a cardboard box and left unpaid, said Andy Anderson, who is opposed to fluoridation and has led the water system for nearly two decades.
This Ozark region is among hundreds of rural American communities that face a one-two punch to oral health: a dire shortage of dentists and a lack of fluoridated drinking water, which is widely viewed among dentists as one of the most effective tools to prevent tooth decay. But as the anti-fluoride movement builds unprecedented momentum, it may turn out that the Ozarks were not behind the times after all.
“We will eventually win,” Anderson said. “We will be vindicated.”
Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral, keeps teeth strong when added to drinking water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association. But the anti-fluoride movement has been energized since a government report last summer found a possible link between lower IQ in children and consuming amounts of fluoride that are higher than what is recommended in American drinking water. Dozens of communities have decided to stop fluoridating in recent months, and state officials in Florida and Texas have urged their water systems to do the same. Utah is poised to become the first state to ban it in tap water.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long espoused fringe health theories, has called fluoride an “industrial waste” and “dangerous neurotoxin” and said the Trump administration will recommend it be removed from all public drinking water.
Separately, Republican efforts to extend tax cuts and shrink federal spending may squeeze Medicaid, which could deepen existing shortages of dentists in rural areas where many residents depend on the federal insurance program for whatever dental care they can find.
Dental experts warn that the simultaneous erosion of Medicaid and fluoridation could exacerbate a crisis of rural oral health and reverse decades of progress against tooth decay, particularly for children and those who rarely see a dentist.
“If you have folks with little access to professional care and no access to water fluoridation,” said Steven Levy, a dentist and leading fluoride researcher at the University of Iowa, “then they are missing two of the big pillars of how to keep healthy for a lifetime.”
Many already are.
Overlapping ‘Dental Deserts’ and Fluoride-Free Zones
Nearly 25 million Americans live in areas without enough dentists — more than twice as many as prior estimates by the federal government — according to a recent study from Harvard University that measured U.S. “dental deserts” with more depth and precision than before.
Hawazin Elani, a Harvard dentist and epidemiologist who co-authored the study, found that many shortage areas are rural and poor, and depend heavily on Medicaid. But many dentists do not accept Medicaid because payments can be low, Elani said.
The ADA has estimated that only a third of dentists treat patients on Medicaid.
“I suspect this situation is much worse for Medicaid beneficiaries,” Elani said. “If you have Medicaid and your nearest dentists do not accept it, then you will likely have to go to the third, or fourth, or the fifth.”
The Harvard study identified over 780 counties where more than half of the residents live in a shortage area. Of those counties, at least 230 also have mostly or completely unfluoridated public drinking water, according to a KFF analysis of fluoride data published by the CDC. That means people in these areas who can’t find a dentist also do not get protection for their teeth from their tap water.
The KFF Health News analysis does not cover the entire nation because it does not include private wells and 13 states do not submit fluoride data to the CDC. But among those that do, most counties with a shortage of dentists and unfluoridated water are in the south-central U.S., in a cluster that stretches from Texas to the Florida Panhandle and up into Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
In the center of that cluster is the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority, which serves the Arkansas counties of Boone, Marion, Newton, and Searcy. It has refused to add fluoride ever since Arkansas enacted a statewide mandate in 2011. After weekly fines began in 2016, the water system unsuccessfully challenged the fluoride mandate in state court, then lost again on appeal.
Anderson, who has chaired the water system’s board since 2007, said he would like to challenge the fluoride mandate in court again and would argue the case himself if necessary. In a phone interview, Anderson said he believes that fluoride can hamper the brain and body to the point of making people “get fat and lazy.”
“So if you go out in the streets these days, walk down the streets, you’ll see lots of fat people wearing their pajamas out in public,” he said.
Nearby in the tiny, no-stoplight community of Leslie, Arkansas, which gets water from the Ozark system, the only dentist in town operates out of a one-man clinic tucked in the back of an antique store. Hand-painted lettering on the store window advertises a “pretty good dentist.”
James Flanagin, a third-generation dentist who opened this clinic three years ago, said he was drawn to Leslie by the quaint charms and friendly smiles of small-town life. But those same smiles also reveal the unmistakable consequences of refusing to fluoridate, he said.
“There is no doubt that there is more dental decay here than there would otherwise be,” he said. “You are going to have more decay if your water is not fluoridated. That’s just a fact.”
Fluoride Seen as a Great Public Health Achievement
Fluoride was first added to public water in an American city in 1945 and spread to half of the U.S. population by 1980, according to the CDC. Because of “the dramatic decline” in cavities that followed, in 1999 the CDC dubbed fluoridation as one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century.
Currently more than 70% of the U.S. population on public water systems get fluoridated water, with a recommended concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter, or about three drops in a 55-gallon barrel, according to the CDC.
Fluoride is also present in modern toothpaste, mouthwash, dental varnish, and some food and drinks — like raisins, potatoes, oatmeal, coffee, and black tea. But several dental experts said these products do not reliably reach as many low-income families as drinking water, which has an additional benefit over toothpaste of strengthening children’s teeth from within as they grow.
Two recent polls have found that the largest share of Americans support fluoridation, but a sizable minority does not. Polls from Axios/Ipsos and AP-NORC found that 48% and 40% of respondents wanted to keep fluoride in public water supplies, while 29% and 26% supported its removal.
Chelsea Fosse, an expert on oral health policy at the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said she worried that misguided fears of fluoride would cause many people to stop using fluoridated toothpaste and varnish just as Medicaid cuts made it harder to see a dentist.
The combination, she said, could be “devastating.”
“It will be visibly apparent what this does to the prevalence of tooth decay,” Fosse said. “If we get rid of water fluoridation, if we make Medicaid cuts, and if we don’t support providers in locating and serving the highest-need populations, I truly don’t know what we will do.”
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have shown what ending water fluoridation could look like. In the past few years, studies of cities in Alaska and Canada have shown that communities that stopped fluoridation saw significant increases in children’s cavities when compared with similar cities that did not. A 2024 study from Israel reported a “two-fold increase” in dental treatments for kids within five years after the country stopped fluoridating in 2014.
Despite the benefits of fluoridation, it has been fiercely opposed by some since its inception, said Catherine Hayes, a Harvard dental expert who advises the American Dental Association on fluoride and has studied its use for three decades.
Fluoridation was initially smeared as a communist plot against America, Hayes said, and then later fears arose of possible links to cancer, which were refuted through extensive scientific research. In the ’80s, hysteria fueled fears of fluoride causing AIDS, which was “ludicrous,” Hayes said.
More recently, the anti-fluoride movement seized on international research that suggests high levels of fluoride can hinder children’s brain development and has been boosted by high-profile legal and political victories.
Last August, a hotly debated report from the National Institutes of Health’s National Toxicology Program found “with moderate confidence” that exposure to levels of fluoride that are higher than what is present in American drinking water is associated with lower IQ in children. The report was based on an analysis of 74 studies conducted in other countries, most of which were considered “low quality” and involved exposure of at least 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water — or more than twice the U.S. recommendation — according to the program.
The following month, in a long-simmering lawsuit filed by fluoride opponents, a federal judge in California said the possible link between fluoride and lowered IQ was too risky to ignore, then ordered the federal Environmental Protection Agency to take nonspecified steps to lower that risk. The EPA started to appeal this ruling in the final days of the Biden administration, but the Trump administration could reverse course.
The EPA and Department of Justice declined to comment. The White House and Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to questions about fluoride.
Despite the National Toxicology Program’s report, Hayes said, no association has been shown to date between lowered IQ and the amount of fluoride actually present in most Americans’ water. The court ruling may prompt additional research conducted in the U.S., Hayes said, which she hoped would finally put the campaign against fluoride to rest.
“It’s one of the great mysteries of my career, what sustains it,” Hayes said. “What concerns me is that there’s some belief amongst some members of the public — and some of our policymakers — that there is some truth to this.”
Not all experts were so dismissive of the toxicology program’s report. Bruce Lanphear, a children’s health researcher at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, published an editorial in January that said the findings should prompt health organizations “to reassess the risks and benefits of fluoride, particularly for pregnant women and infants.”
“The people who are proposing fluoridation need to now prove it’s safe,” Lanphear told NPR in January. “What the study does, or should do, is shift the burden of proof.”
Cities and States Rethink Fluoride
At least 14 states so far this year have considered or are considering bills that would lift fluoride mandates or prohibit fluoride in drinking water altogether. In February, Utah lawmakers passed the nation’s first ban, which Republican Gov. Spencer Cox told ABC4 Utah he intends to sign. And both Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller have called for their respective states to end fluoridation.
“I don’t want Big Brother telling me what to do,” Miller told The Dallas Morning News in February. “Government has forced this on us for too long.”
Additionally, dozens of cities and counties have decided to stop fluoridation in the past six months — including at least 16 communities in Florida with a combined population of more than 1.6 million — according to news reports and the Fluoride Action Network, an anti-fluoride group.
Stuart Cooper, executive director of that group, said the movement’s unprecedented momentum would be further supercharged if Kennedy and the Trump administration follow through on a recommendation against fluoride.
Cooper predicted that most U.S. communities will have stopped fluoridating within years.
“I think what you are seeing in Florida, where every community is falling like dominoes, is going to now happen in the United States,” he said. “I think we’re seeing the absolute end of it.”
If Cooper’s prediction is right, Hayes said, widespread decay would be visible within years. Kids’ teeth will rot in their mouths, she said, even though “we know how to completely prevent it.”
“It’s unnecessary pain and suffering,” Hayes said. “If you go into any children’s hospital across this country, you’ll see a waiting list of kids to get into the operating room to get their teeth fixed because they have severe decay because they haven’t had access to either fluoridated water or other types of fluoride. Unfortunately, that’s just going to get worse.”
Methodology: How We Counted
This KFF Health News article identifies communities with an elevated risk of tooth decay by combining data on areas with dentist shortages and unfluoridated drinking water. Our analysis merged Harvard University research on dentist-shortage areas with large datasets on public water systems published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The Harvard research determined that nearly 25 million Americans live in dentist-shortage areas that span much of rural America. The CDC data details the populations served and fluoridation status of more than 38,000 public water systems in 37 states. We classified counties as having elevated risk of tooth decay if they met three criteria:More than half of the residents live in a dentist-shortage area identified by Harvard.The number of people receiving unfluoridated water from water systems based in that county amounts to more than half of the county’s population.The number of people receiving unfluoridated water from water systems based in that county amounts to at least half of the total population of all water systems based in that county, even if those systems reached beyond the county borders, which many do.
Our analysis identified approximately 230 counties that meet these criteria, meaning they have both a dire shortage of dentists and largely unfluoridated drinking water.
But this total is certainly an undercount. Thirteen states do not report water system data to the CDC, and the agency data does not include private wells, most of which are unfluoridated.
KFF Health News data editor Holly K. Hacker contributed to this article.
COVID infection has been linked to higher risk of autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. But why the virus might cause the body’s immune system to go haywire remains unknown, making it difficult to develop therapies to avoid autoimmunity. One hypothesis is that viral “molecular mimics” that resemble the body’s own proteins trigger an immune response against the virus — and healthy tissues get caught in the crossfire.
Now, with advanced data analysis and machine learning, scientists have identified a set of COVID-derived molecular mimics that are most likely to be involved in triggering autoimmunity.
The new results are published in ImmunoInformatics.
The researchers first looked for viral components that are similar to the human proteins known to be attacked in various autoimmune diseases. Theoretically, these viral proteins could trigger the immune system to target the human proteins they resemble. They narrowed down their list of culprits by using machine learning to identify only those viral components that are most likely to be bound by human antibodies.
Some of the viral components the researchers found have been associated with type 1 diabetes or multiple sclerosis.
Importantly, some of the human proteins that the researchers identified as likely targets of COVID-induced autoimmunity are only found in people with specific genetics, suggesting that people who produce those proteins may be at higher risk of COVID-induced autoimmunity.
“It’s exciting that in collaboration with our clinical colleagues, we can now use AI and machine learning to address medical conditions exacerbated by the COVID pandemic,” says Julio Facelli, PhD, distinguished professor of biomedical informatics at University of Utah Health and the senior author on the paper. “Hopefully, our results will lead to better understanding and eventual treatment and prevention of these debilitating conditions.”
The results are published in Immunoinformatics as “Molecular mimicry impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Sequence homology between SARS-CoV-2 and autoimmune diseases epitopes.”
Research was supported by the National Library of Medicine (5T15LM007124-24) and by the CTSA award to the Utah Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UM1TR004409). Computational resources were provided by the Utah Center for High Performance Computing. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
About the Webinar “Justice is not served when the innocent suffer.” Join us for an enlightening discussion on a critical societal issue. The Uttar Pradesh Legal Rights Consortium (UPLRC) and the Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WICCI) invite you to a thought-provoking webinar: “False Cases and Their Impact on Genuine Victims — A […]
The post Webinar on ‘False Cases and Their Impact on Genuine Victims — A Sensible Call’ by Uttar Pradesh Legal Rights Consortium [March 28; 4:30 pm]: Register by March Now! appeared first on Lawctopus.
Polycystic ovary syndrome, also known as PCOS, is a condition where the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgen, leading to cyst formation. This can lead to sudden weight gain, acne formation, mood swings, menstrual irregularity, facial hair and other complications. However, with the right diet and lifestyle, PCOS symptoms can be managed. Also read | Acne to infertility: Hidden impact of PCOS on women’s health
With the right diet and lifestyle, PCOS symptoms can be managed. (Pixabay)
Amaka, a certified nutritionist (according to her Instagram bio), keeps sharing helpful insights related to diet, weight loss and lifestyle on her Instagram profile on a regular basis. On March 26, Amaka shared a post noting down hormone-balancing foods that can help in managing the symptoms of PCOS.
“These foods help to reduce the symptoms of PCOS,” wrote Amaka n the caption as she explained the benefits of consuming these foods to fight inflammation, balance hormonal levels in the body and manage symptoms of PCOS effectively.
Avocados
Rich in healthy fats that support hormone production and reduces inflammation. Also read | Diet, lifestyle, other tips critical in preventing and managing PCOS
Spearmint tea
Reduces testosterone levels; helping with hirsutism(excess hair growth).
Cinnamon
Improves insulin sensitivity: which helps to ensure blood sugar regulation and prevent hormonal spikes.
️Egg
Provides choline, healthy fats and healthy fats to support ovulation and hormone production
Flax seeds
Rich in lignans; helps to lower excess androgens and balances estrogen.
Salmon fish
Rich in Omega3 fatty acids, which helps to reduce inflammation and balance hormones.
Berries
Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries are high in vitamin C and anthocyanins, which fight inflammation.
Leafy greens
Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale, swiss chard are loaded with vitamins A, C, and E, essential for hormone and immune health. Also read | World PCOS Day 2024: Effective solution tips to manage PCOS in teenage girls
Greek yoghurt
Contains probiotics to balance gut bacteria and improve digestion.
Oats and chia seeds
High in soluble fiber, which helps maintain stable blood sugar and improves gut health.
Beans and sweet potatoes
These low glycemic foods help to stabilising blood sugar levels and manage insulin resistance.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Johns Hopkins University surgeon Martin Makary to be commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, giving him authority over an agency that regulates a wide swathe of the U.S. economy that includes food, tobacco, drugs and medical devices.
Three Democrats joined 53 Republicans to confirm Makary in a 56-44 vote. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the senior minority member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, voted no.
HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., praised Makary’s confirmation, saying in a statement that his “medical background and strong vision make him more than qualified to lead the FDA.”
Makary will take the helm of an agency employing some 18,000 people under likely orders from President Donald Trump to cut the workforce while reviewing a growing number of drugs, devices and food and tobacco products. About half of the FDA’s workforce is funded through user fees such as those authorized under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which could complicate layoff plans.
In his confirmation hearing before the HELP committee, Makary said he wasn’t involved in the decision to lay off hundreds of FDA employees, some of whom were hired back, and indicated his evaluation of any future reductions would be independent and ensure that remaining agency workers would have all the necessary resources to do their jobs well.
John Crowley, head of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, a powerful trade group, cautioned in an op-ed in Stat against “aggressive and often indiscriminate personnel cuts.”
Makary will also be under pressure to change the FDA’s direction on some drug regulation issues in response to guidance from Trump and new HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent skeptic of vaccines. Already, the agency has already faced a mini-controversy over its cancellation of a key vaccine advisory committee meeting. Direct-to-consumer drug advertising could receive renewed scrutiny, although Trump has previously failed to ban it. Trump has also raised concerns about the role of pharmaceuticals in chronic disease trends, the topic of a recent closed-door federal commission meeting.
An approval decision of a next-generation COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna is due by May 31. While not an outright skeptic of COVID vaccines, Makary objected to vaccine mandates during the pandemic and claimed public health officials didn’t take into account the natural immunity that many workers had from prior infections.
Property markets move in cycles, and while it’s reasonable to expect eventual upturns and downturns, predicting the exact timing of these cycles is nearly impossible. Historically, Australia has experienced around nine significant property cycles in the last 50 years, offering insights into future trends but not precise timing.
Expectations are broad insights drawn from history and current trends, such as anticipating property growth or downturns over time. Forecasts are precise predictions about when, where, and how these changes will occur. These are far less reliable and often lead to poor decision-making.
Acting on forecasts often results in poor investment decisions due to the uncertainty and unforeseen factors influencing market turning points. Many “hot spot” recommendations or dire crash warnings fail to deliver consistent results.
Interest rate hikes and rising living costs have created affordability pressures, but the shortage of properties and low unemployment offer counterbalancing stability. Long-term prosperity is supported by Australia’s growing wealth and cultural aspiration for homeownership.
Prepare for property market ups and downs without acting on forecasts. Focus on long-term investment strategies rooted in sound fundamentals rather than speculative timing.
I expect that the current slower phase of the property cycle to come to an end at which time I expect the value of many properties to increase significantly in value again.
I have no idea when this will happen.
Now just to make things clear…those aren’t contradictory statements.
The first is an expectation, the other is the rejection of a forecast.
And if you want to be a successful property investor, you’re going to have to understand this important difference.
It’s one thing to look at history and see that the property market cycles with some frequency and then form a baseline of what to expect in the future with this knowledge.
However, it’s quite another thing to predict the precise timing of the turning points in the property cycle.
And it’s another thing entirely to devise a strategy that reacts to those predictions.
Property analysis isn’t black and white…
Yet some people believe they can predict markets and they tell you about (or sell you into) the next property “hot spot” or currently there are those telling you not to invest at all because we’re about to go have a real estate crash.
There’s an important grey area, which is expecting certain events to occur without having an opinion on exactly when, where, why, or how.
I’ve been investing for over 50 years now and in that time there have been 9 significant property cycles.
I can use this as a very rough rule of thumb for the future, based on the idea that despite the challenging times the Australian economy is going through at present we’ve got even more positive fundamentals to drive our property markets than past generations had.
While there are many sound fundamentals underpinning the long-term prosperity of our property markets, two of the big ones that give me comfort are the significant population growth that we will experience over the next decade and the increasing wealth of our nation.
Think about it…
Sure the RBA raised interest rates to slow down inflation and this plus the rising cost of living have caused a property affordability problem for many.
But currently, we have a shortage of properties that have created a rental crisis, and unemployment levels are at near record lows.
We are encouraging selective immigration of people who bring money into our country and who can do skilled jobs and pay taxes.
And despite the headwinds we’ll experience, there are many other strong fundamentals underpinning our housing markets
These include:
There is a shortage of good properties for sale and virtually no properties to rent.
As I mentioned, strong international immigration which increases demand for housing.
There is little new construction in the pipeline – we’re not building enough dwellings and increasing construction costs at a time of a shortage of labour means the end value of new projects will need to be up to 30% higher to make projects viable for developers.
Unemployment is at almost historically low levels meaning anyone who wants a job can get a job (so they’ll be able to pay the mortgage repayments.)
Wages are starting to grow.
Many home owners have significant equity in their homes.
We have a strong banking system that has been strict in its lending criteria, meaning there are very few non-performing loans.
And over time our increased prosperity and the Aussie dream of owning our own home will ensure that the value of well-located properties will keep increasing.
These factors reassure me that my long-term plans are sound and based on what has always worked – rather than trying to pick what is right for the current market.
Now I have an expectation:
If I plan on investing for the next 30 years, I should count on things getting ugly at least another six times.
Maybe it’ll be a little more, maybe less.
But I have an expectation, a rough idea of how the game works.
Yet it’s not a forecast.
A forecast is, “The property market will turn in the second half of 2025” or “Australia will have a recession in the first half of 2027.”
That’s precision, with a disregard for both the history of people making such forecasts and the events that cause these turning points which, a lot of the time, is something that can’t be foreseen.
Here’s the big difference
The important difference between an expectation and a forecast is the impact it has on my behaviour.
If I expect property booms and property downturns I won’t be surprised when they come.
I know they’re a normal part of the game.
But since I’m not sure when they will come, I won’t attempt to do much about it.
Attempting to do something about it – trading, timing, buying and selling – is the root of most investors’ mistakes.
A forecast suggests that you know when something will happen, which is permission to act on it.
There’s little reason for a forecast other than acting on it.
But unfortunately, this creates two problems:
The false hope of knowing exactly when the property market will turn. Even the experts keep getting their forecasts wrong.
The high probability of regret from trading around these forecasts. Just see the results all the hot spotters have achieved or the lost opportunity for those who tried to time the market.
In other words…
Expectations rather than forecasts make me a better property investor.
About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He’s once again been voted Australia’s leading property investment adviser and one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.
The NFL offseason is well underway, and while the upcoming NFL Draft will shake things up even more, there has been no shortage of roster-altering moves. The biggest, of course, have come at quarterback. We’re still waiting for one big domino (Aaron Rodgers) to fall, but we’ve already seen huge shifts in the QB landscape. No. 1, of course, was the Seattle Seahawks trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders before signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to be their new signal caller.
How did those moves, and all of the others made so far this offseason, affect their teams’ outlooks for the 2025 season? It’s a bit like asking: Who have been the biggest winners and losers of the offseason so far? We’re going to attempt to answer that analytically using our NFL Projection Model.
Before we get there, it bears repeating: A lot can change. Teams have plenty of time to alter their standing in these rankings. But we wanted to examine where things are right now. How much value have some teams added? How much have some teams lost?
To measure that, my model uses a handful of advanced metrics and assigns a value to every player in the NFL. Think of that value as how much a single player affects the point spread of the expected winning percentage of a single game.
After that, I went through every transaction made this offseason and calculated the value added or lost (up through March 25). Since I’m only looking at how these moves affect each team for the 2025 season, my model does not factor in the length of the contract or money spent on contracts. It’s also important to note that this process only assesses players changing teams. Players who re-signed with their teams aren’t included because those players’ values were already included in their teams’ projections.
With that explanation out of the way, here’s a look at how many expected points each NFL team had added or lost this offseason.
Five Biggest Winners
Las Vegas Raiders
I’m not sure how any list doesn’t include the Raiders at the top, or at the very least inside the top three, after landing Smith. The Raiders roster isn’t ready to compete for a playoff spot, especially in the vaunted AFC West, but they’ve solidified the sport’s most important position with a quarterback who has proven he can give you a solid floor as a league-average QB with the ability for more. And with quarterback (presumably) locked down for the next few seasons, new coach Pete Carroll can focus on acquiring talent to fill out the rest of the roster.
New York Giants
The Giants were wise not to stop addressing the QB position after signing Jameis Winston last week. He now becomes their backup with the newly signed Russell Wilson leading the charge into 2025. Now we’ll see if they want to add a rookie to the mix in April. Beyond their solid start at QB, the Giants made some nice moves on defense by adding safety Jevon Holland and cornerback Paulson Adebo while improving the depth of their front seven. The Giants weren’t a QB away from anything significant, but they’ve quietly done a good job fortifying the roster at a position they still need to find a long-term answer for.
New England Patriots
The Patriots continued their free-agent spending spree Tuesday night, adding star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a receiving group that needed a No. 1. After that splash signing, finishing third in these rankings might seem low. And maybe it is. It probably boils down to what you think of Harold Landry III as an edge rusher. My model thinks Landry is just fine — and that’s not a bad thing. Having average players on the roster can be good if you can put stars around them. Factor in Landry’s familiarity with new head coach Mike Vrabel, and you understand why New England made the move. Offensive tackle Morgan Moses and defensive tackle Milton Williams are the other additions my model likes, and if you think Landry will be better in this new system, you can easily make an argument for the Patriots jumping the Giants in these rankings and even threatening the Raiders for the top spot.
Indianapolis Colts
My model loved the Charvarius Ward signing, grading it as one of the most impactful moves made this offseason not involving a quarterback. While there is some risk — Ward is 28 years old — a change of scenery might be what just what the veteran cornerback needs to return to form as one of the best defensive backs in the league. Pair the Ward signing with the addition of safety Cam Bynum, and the Colts have done an excellent job of upgrading a secondary that badly needed one.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders made their splashes on the trade market rather than in free agency, and my model liked what they did. Laremy Tunsil remains one of the better left tackles in the league, and that was a position where Washington needed an upgrade. Meanwhile, wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. should fit into this Washington offense with his versatility, pairing well with the skill set of QB Jayden Daniels. Adding cornerback Jonathan Jones was another interesting move and one that my model liked. He’s up there in age (31) and didn’t have the greatest 2024 season, but if he bounces back in any way, watch out for the Commanders (again) this season.
Five Biggest Losers
New York Jets
The loss of Rodgers might be offset by the addition of Justin Fields, but there were still some major losses here. Davante Adams remains a very good wide receiver, despite getting up there in age; Moses is still a quality tackle; and the biggest loss, according to my projections, is D.J. Reed. Reed has been a quality cornerback for a while, and he’s going to be difficult to replace. I don’t necessarily disagree with letting these players walk, given the state of the roster and the price tags it would have taken to keep them in town, but there’s no debate the Jets lost some top talent this offseason.
San Francisco 49ers
This ranking shouldn’t come as a surprise to those tracking San Francisco’s offseason, which has seen a mass exodus of quality players. I already spoke about how much my model likes Ward, but the 49ers also lost Samuel, Jordan Mason, Aaron Banks, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Javon Hargrave, Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins and Isaac Yiadom, among others. Maybe that’s the price of doing business after paying running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk ahead of of a new contract for quarterback Brock Purdy, but the 49ers are in the middle of a transitional period, and the state of their roster shows it.
Philadelphia Eagles
One of the byproducts of winning the Super Bowl, or just being consistently competitive in the NFL, is that players on your team earn significant raises. That’s just the way it goes. Last year, the Eagles and Chiefs were near the bottom of this list after the early part of free agency, and both reached the Super Bowl, so all hope isn’t lost in Philadelphia, especially with so much talent still on the roster. But no matter how you shake it, Philadelphia will be looking to replace a lot of snaps from this year’s championship-winning squad as Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay Jr., C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Isaiah Rodgers are all gone.
Dallas Cowboys
Staying in the NFC East here, the Cowboys will again be looking to primarily bolster their roster through the draft, which they’re pretty decent at, rather than free agency. The losses of DeMarcus Lawrence, Jourdan Lewis, and Chauncey Golston are daunting (though letting Lewis walk after one of his best seasons isn’t the worst decision), and the loss of Zack Martin to retirement will sting. He was certainly past his peak, but he was still a quality offensive lineman, and those are always hard to find.
Seattle Seahawks
What did you expect after they traded away their starting quarterback and a Pro Bowl-caliber wide receiver? If it’s any consolation to Seahawks fans, it’s impressive they aren’t last on this list. That’s because they replaced Smith and DK Metcalf with Darnold and Cooper Kupp to help offset those losses, while adding Lawrence to their defense. The model is skeptical Darnold can replicate his success from Minnesota, while Kupp and Lawrence are past their primes and have some injury concerns, so it’s no surprise the Seahawks still rank near the bottom.
(Photos of John Lynch, Pete Carroll and Geno Smith: Ezra Shaw and Tom Hauck / Getty Images)
OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT update is one of its best, bringing a massive upgrade to GPT-4o image generation. Now, instead of switching to DALL-E 3, you can generate extremely high-quality images with GPT-4o without starting a new chat.
However, there’s a catch for ChatGPT’s free users—at least, there is for now.
ChatGPT’s Image Generation Receives an Enormous Upgrade
OpenAI’s GPT-4o model is the go-to for most default conversations on ChatGPT. It works for a huge range of questions, with OpenAI labelling the model “Great for most questions.” And it is; it hits a wide range of information with speed and accuracy—but only text.
Following its March 25, 2025, update, GPT-4o can generate high-quality images with amazing detail, exceeding the quality of the model it basically replaces (DALL-E 3). Furthermore, GPT-4o can now perform editing and image adjustments far beyond the capabilities of DALL-E 3. Image editing, color and style adjustments, subtle changes, foreground and background objects, and more are all possible.
Text generation is also startlingly improved. DALLE-3’s text generation was never a strong point (though it’s not a strong point for most AI models). Now, GPT-4o can create detailed infographics with detailed explanations on nearly any topic. Text placement within images is now precise, using specific text styles and direction without the risk of creating blurry AI-slop. Detail retention is also another clear improvement, with specific features now easily transferable from one image to another without ChatGPT completely altering the scene or generating a completely new image.
Part of the upgraded image quality comes from OpenAI’s partnerships with companies like Shutterstock and a group of trainers that spent long hours specifying mistakes GPT-4o made during image generation. Talking to the Wall Street Journal, lead researcher Gabriel Goh explained that this reinforcement learning technique enables GPT-4o to accurately follow human instructions over a vast range of image generation requests but that it only required “a little more than 100 human workers” to complete the process.
ChatGPT’s new image generation really is amazing, and I’d advise anyone to try it on any topic you desire. Now, it’s not perfect; no AI image generation tool is. But it’s a remarkable jump in quality from an AI image generation model like DALL-E 3, which was useful but not amazing, to the quality GPT-4o is now capable of.
ChatGPT’s Amazing Image Update Is Rolling Out to (Nearly) Everyone
Unfortuantely, due to the unprecidented demand on GPT-4o, ChatGPT’s free users are one again forced to wait for this new feature. On March 26, 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed the delay without adding a specific period for its end.
The surge in interest was expected, but not quite as much. Unfortunately, that means you’ll have to wait a little longer or upgrade to ChatGPT Plus for 20 bucks per month. In fairness, with upgrades like this, upgrading to ChatGPT Plus becomes worth the money—more so than the launch of OpenAI’s previous model upgrade, GPT-4.5.
It’s also worth noting that as part of the GPT-4o upgrade, DALL-E 3 becomes “OpenAI’s legacy image generation model.” This means OpenAI will eventually remove DALL-E 3 from ChatGPT, though there is currently no specified timeline for this change.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/You-ll-be-craving-crayfish-after-seeing-this-1C1OcaypZpC/img/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa.jpeg'Stir-fried crayfish is served at a restaurant in Changsha, Hunan Province. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/You-ll-be-craving-crayfish-after-seeing-this-1C1OcaypZpC/img/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa.jpeg'Stir-fried crayfish is served at a restaurant in Changsha, Hunan Province. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/You-ll-be-craving-crayfish-after-seeing-this-1C1OcaypZpC/img/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa.jpeg'Stir-fried crayfish is served at a restaurant in Changsha, Hunan Province. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/You-ll-be-craving-crayfish-after-seeing-this-1C1OcaypZpC/img/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa.jpeg'Stir-fried crayfish is served at a restaurant in Changsha, Hunan Province. /CGTN
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/You-ll-be-craving-crayfish-after-seeing-this-1C1OcaypZpC/img/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa/394aec2fa3344ba29e52602878cfc8aa.jpeg'Stir-fried crayfish is served at a restaurant in Changsha, Hunan Province. /CGTN
How do you like your crawdaddies? Steamed, or stir-fried with garlic, spicy chili or perhaps even purple perilla? No matter which way you like them, Changsha’s got you covered.
Richard Carlson, a controversial fixture in West Coast TV journalism during the 1970s, died Monday at his Florida home after a long illness.
Carlson’s death was announced by his son Tucker, the conservative pundit and former Fox News host, in a post on X.
Richard Carlson, who started his award-winning career as a copy boy at the Los Angeles Times, became a familiar presence to Los Angeles TV viewers as an investigative reporter for KABC. He also worked at KGO in San Francisco and KFMB in San Diego.
While at KABC, Carlson aggressively reported on the fall of G. Elizabeth Carmichael, a transgender woman who developed a three-wheeled electric car when the country was dealing with skyrocketing gas prices. Carmichael never produced the car and was convicted for defrauding investors.
Carlson, whose reporting revealed that Carmichael was transgender, was featured prominently in a 2021 HBO documentary about the entrepreneur, “The Lady and the Dale.” Carlson remained unrepentant about outing Carmichael, telling her documentarians, “If Liz’s behavior is normal, then so too is Jeffrey Dahmer’s.”
While working at KFMB, he outed transgender professional tennis player Renée Richards after she won a women’s singles division title in a La Jolla tournament.
Carlson left journalism shortly after the Richards story, saying he was disillusioned by the global sensation it generated. “There are so many interesting things I think are important and interesting, but the media can be counted on to do handstands over that kind of scandal and sexual sensation,” he told The Times in 1984.
Richard Carlson was born on Feb. 10, 1941. His mother was a 15-year-old Swedish-speaking girl who placed him in an orphanage in Boston. After years in foster homes, Carlson was adopted by a family in Norwood, Mass.
Carlson’s adoptive father, a tannery manager, died when he was 12. He became a juvenile delinquent, arrested and jailed at 17 for car theft. He eventually enlisted in the Marine Corps and was a merchant seaman before pursuing a career in journalism, according to Tucker Carlson’s post.
After his military service, Richard Carlson joined The Times, where he became friends with Carl Brisson, the son of actress Rosalind Russell. They formed a journalistic partnership that included a Look magazine report that linked former San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto to organized crime, ending his political career.
Alioto called the article “character assassination for political purposes” and eventually won a $350,000 libel award. Carlson was not named as a defendant in the case.
In 1971, Carlson moved to TV station KABC, where he earned a Peabody Award for an investigative report on car promotion fraud. He moved to KFMB as a reporter and anchor in 1975.
Carlson’s first wife left him in 1975, leaving him as a single father to raise Tucker and his brother, Buckley. He remarried in 1979 to Patricia Swanson, the heiress to the frozen-food company, who died in 2023.
After leaving television, Carlson joined Great American Federal, a San Diego-based savings and loan. He toyed with a career in politics, making an unsuccessful bid to become mayor of San Diego in 1984 against incumbent Roger Hedgecock, who was under indictment for perjury at the time.
In 1985, Carlson moved to Washington to work for the Reagan administration. He spent five years as the director of the Voice of America, and then moved to the Seychelles as the U.S. ambassador. In 1992, he became the chief executive of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides federal funding to public media.
In 1997, Carlson joined King World, the syndication company that distributed “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” before it was sold to CBS in 1999. He later served as vice chairman for the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based neoconservative think tank.
Along with his two sons, Carlson is survived by five grandchildren.
Mumbai, March 27: The government is set to introduce ‘Sahkar Taxi’, a cooperative-based ride-hailing service aimed at ensuring better earnings for drivers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the initiative in Parliament. The initiative is modeled after platforms like Ola and Uber but eliminates intermediaries.
Under this scheme, cooperative societies can register two-wheelers, taxis, rickshaws, and four-wheelers, allowing drivers to retain their full earnings. Shah emphasized that the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation) and aims to empower drivers through a cooperative framework. Ola Electric Confirms Receiving Inquiries From Government Over Discrepancies in Its EV Sales Data and Trade Requirement Certificates.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted that the government is set to introduce ‘Sahkar Taxi’, a cooperative ride-hailing service aimed at boosting drivers’ earnings by cutting out intermediaries. He emphasized that this initiative is a key step towards realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation). Rapido Cabs: Bike-Taxi Startup Rapido Enters Cab Business With Intra-City Mobility Solution.
Shah stated that the Ministry of Cooperation has been working for three and a half years to bring this project to life. The service, expected to roll out in the coming months, will allow cooperative societies to register taxis, rickshaws, two-wheelers, and four-wheelers, ensuring that profits go directly to the drivers rather than third-party platforms.
What is Sahkar Taxi?
Sahkar Taxi is a government-backed cooperative ride-hailing service announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Unlike private platforms like Ola and Uber, it aims to provide fair earnings to drivers by removing intermediaries. Cooperative societies will be able to register two-wheelers, taxis, rickshaws, and four-wheelers, ensuring direct profit flow to drivers. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 27, 2025 10:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
I spent 10 days competing in Crypto: The Game, a winner-takes-all contest where hundreds of players try to finesse and backstab their way to claiming a $140,000 cryptocurrency prize.
Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial crypto venture will launch a dollar-pegged stablecoin, it said in a statement on Tuesday, after raising more than half a billion dollars from selling a separate digital token.
The stablecoin, called USD1, will be fully backed by US Treasuries, dollars and other cash equivalents and is designed to keep a value of $1 (roughly Rs. 85), World Liberty said in the statement.
Dollar-pegged stablecoins such as Tether and USDC have ballooned in recent years and now act as a key cog in the multi-trillion dollar crypto trading industry, helping move funds between different cryptocurrencies or into regular cash.
Stablecoins in circulation currently total over $237 billion (roughly Rs. 20,33,814 crore), according to data provider CoinGecko.
The tokens have become lucrative for their issuers in recent years as interest rates spiked. Tether, the issuer of the world’s biggest stablecoin, made over $13 billion (roughly Rs. 1,11,559 crore) in profits last year.
Zach Witkoff, World Liberty’s co-founder, said “sovereign investors and major institutions” would be able to integrate USD1 “into their strategies for seamless, secure cross-border transactions.”
USD1 will be “fully backed by a reserve portfolio audited regularly by a third-party accounting firm,” World Liberty said, without giving details of the accounting firm, or the date of its launch.
Founded two months before his victory in the US presidential election, World Liberty’s creation was announced by Trump, his three sons and the wealthy real estate businessman Steve Witkoff, who is the father of Zach and now Trump’s Middle East envoy.
Trump, who campaigned on promises to be a “crypto president,” has pledged to overhaul US rules on crypto and reverse a crackdown on the sector that took place under former President Joe Biden.
His crypto business interests, which include a so-called meme coin launched in January, have drawn criticism from government ethics experts and political opponents over potential conflicts of interest.
Bitgo and Binance
The World Liberty venture, which aims to allow people to access financial services without intermediaries like banks, said last week it has raised $550 million (roughly Rs. 4,719 crore) selling a crypto coin known as $WLFI.
Kevin Lehtiniitty, CEO of New York payments infrastructure firm Borderless.xyz said USD1 would face stiff competition from incumbents such as Tether and US firm Circle, the issuer of USDC.
“While launching a stablecoin is easy, building an ecosystem that adopts it is a far harder task,” he said. “Is the President competing with other American businesses or will they find ways to partner?”
USD1’s reserves will be held in custody by California-based BitGo, World Liberty said. BitGo’s prime brokerage service will support USD1 by “providing institutional clients with access to deep liquidity and trading,” it added.
USD1 will be launched on the Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain blockchains – digital ledgers that underpin the movement of crypto coins. World Liberty plans to launch USD1 on other blockchains in the future, it added.
Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange, launched its so-called Smart Chain in 2020. It is the world’s fourth-largest blockchain by the value of assets held on it, according to CoinGecko.
Binance’s founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao was last year sentenced to four months in a US prison, after pleading guilty to violating US laws against money laundering.
Binance paid a $4.3 billion (roughly Rs. 36,899 crore) fine after US prosecutors said it had welcomed criminals and failed to report over 100,000 suspicious transactions with designated terrorist groups.
A spokesperson for Binance did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment about how the partnership came about.
Let’s say a $500 sale and a $50 sale both land in your lap: do you treat them the same?
If not, you need to test Maximize Conversion Value, one of the four Smart Bidding strategies in Google Ads.
We’re going to cover:
What is Maximize Conversion Value bidding?
What’s the difference between Maximize Conversion Value and Maximize Conversions?
Should you use Maximize Conversion Value bidding?
What’s the difference between Maximize Conversion Value and Target ROAS?
Do you need a Target ROAS with Maximize Conversion Value?
When can you use Maximize Conversion Value bidding?
Tips for optimizing your Maximize Conversion Value bid strategy
What is Maximize Conversion Value bidding?
Maximize Conversion Value is an AI-powered smart bidding strategy that focuses on maximizing the total value of your conversions, within your specified budget. Those values may be revenue, profit, lead scoring… whatever conversion values you’ve assigned to your conversion actions.
Importantly, Maximize Conversion Value’s first goal is to spend your budget, and its second goal is to maximize value.
If you have a specific efficiency goal in mind, you’ll probably want to add an optional Target ROAS, to turn this into a Target ROAS bid strategy instead (we’ll get to that in a bit).
What’s the difference between Maximize Conversion Value and Maximize Conversions?
Unlike Maximize Conversions, which aims to get as many conversions as possible within your budget, Maximize Conversion Value considers the different values assigned to each conversion.
In short:
Maximize Conversions tells Google, “Get me as many customers as possible.”
Maximize Conversion Value says, “Get me the most valuable customers possible.”
Should you use Maximize Conversion Value bidding?
You’ll want to use Maximize Conversion Value when not all conversions are created equal. If some conversions bring in significantly more revenue, profit or value than others, this strategy helps Google prioritize those higher-value actions.
Consider a software company where a free trial sign-up is worth less than a full subscription. Maximize Conversion Value helps Google focus on driving those high-value subscriptions.
For example, these types of businesses will find Maximize Conversion Value useful:
An ecommerce store selling items ranging from $50 to $500.
A lead generation business that assigns different values to leads based on their qualification stage.
A software company that tracks both free trial sign-ups and subscription sign-ups as Primary conversion actions.
However, if all you’re tracking as a Primary conversion action is a phone call, or a lead, or a meeting booking – some kind of binary “conversion happened / conversion didn’t happen” – then you don’t need a value-based bid strategy.
What’s the difference between Maximize Conversion Value and Target ROAS?
Target ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) is a more advanced version of Maximize Conversion Value.
When you’re using Maximize Conversion Value, you’re telling Google to spend your budget in order to get as much value as possible.
With Target ROAS, you’re telling Google that efficiency (return on ad spend) is your first priority, and to only spend your budget when it believes it can achieve your efficiency goals.
Think of it like this. Let’s say you’re playing darts, where the objective is to hit a bullseye. If Maximize Conversion Value were playing, her approach would be, “Keep throwing darts until we get as close to the center as possible.” If Target ROAS were playing, her approach would be, “Don’t bother throwing the dart if you’re not pretty darn sure you’re getting a bullseye.”
In general, you should start with Maximize Conversion Value to gather data, then consider adding a Target ROAS once your actual ROAS has stabilized at or near an acceptable level.
When can you use Maximize Conversion Value bidding?
Maximize Conversion Value bidding works with Search, Display, Demand Gen and Performance Max campaigns.
Unfortunately, it’s not compatible with Shopping campaigns. For Shopping, you’ll need to use manual bidding (Manual CPC or Maximize Clicks) or Target ROAS.
Tips for optimizing your Maximize Conversion Value bid strategy
Although Maximize Conversion Value is a fully automated Smart Bidding strategy, you’ve still got a variety of tools at your disposal to optimize and guide the algorithm. These include:
Conversion Value Rules: Use these to set different conversion values based on audience, device, or location. This allows for more granular control.
Device Bid Adjustments: This is the only bid adjustment that works with Maximize Conversion Value, if you want to exclude certain devices altogether.
Conversion Data: Aim for 50-60 conversions every 30 days for Maximize Conversion Value to work effectively. If you’re falling short, consider sticking with Maximize Conversions until you have enough data.
Maximize Conversion Value is a great starter bid strategy for businesses that value conversions differently. These types of businesses should aim to transition to Target ROAS in order to scale and drive sustainable performance.
This article is part of our ongoing weekly Search Engine Land series, Everything you need to know about Google Ads in less than 3 minutes. Every Wednesday, Jyll highlights a different Google Ads feature, and what you need to know to get the best results from it – all in a quick 3-minute read.
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
HELENA, Mont. — Mark Nay’s first client had lost the van she was living in and was struggling with substance use and medical conditions that had led to multiple emergency room visits.
Nay helped her apply for Medicaid and food assistance and obtain copies of her birth certificate and other identification documents needed to apply for housing assistance. He also advocated for her in the housing process and in the health care system, helping her find a provider and get to appointments.
After a year of “steady engagement,” Nay said, the client has a place to live, is insured, is connected to the health care system, and has the resources needed to “really start to be successful and stable” in her life.
Nay is one of two community health workers in a program that St. Peter’s Health of Helena started in 2022, focusing on people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who had five or more ER visits in a year. Nay and his colleague, Colette Murley, link their clients to services to meet basic needs, whether it’s health care, food, housing, or insurance. The goal is to provide stability and, ultimately, to improve health outcomes.
Similar work is done in hospitals, community health centers, and other settings across Montana by people with titles such as case manager, outreach worker, navigator, and care manager. State Rep. Ed Buttrey, a Great Falls Republican, is sponsoring a bill in Montana’s legislative session to put a common title — community health worker — to the type of work they do and define in law what the role entails. The bill also would provide for licensure and allow, but not require, Medicaid to cover the service.
“Health care is just a very difficult system to navigate, especially when you’re trying to sign up for service and you’re trying to get access to coverage for service,” Buttrey said. “So that’s where I see the biggest benefit.”
Buttrey’s HB 850 is one of several bills still alive this session that are related to Montana’s health care workforce, which is stretched thin throughout the state, the fourth-largest by land area. According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, more than one-fourth of the state’s residents live in an area with a shortage of primary care health professionals.
State Rep. Jodee Etchart, a Billings Republican and a physician assistant, is sponsoring two of the interstate compact licensure bills and one of the bills to limit noncompete clauses.
Etchart termed the compact bills “a no-brainer” because they allow people to get licensed, get a job, and start working in Montana right away.
Email Sign-Up
Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.
In 2023, Etchart sponsored successful bills to allow physician assistants to practice without physician supervision and to expand the scope of practice for direct-entry midwives. Those bills, she said, helped pave the way for the progress this year’s workforce bills have made this session.
“It opened a lot of people’s eyes about how we can increase access to health care all over Montana,” she said.
The 2023 bill allowing independent practice by physician assistants drew opposition from physicians, with the Montana Medical Association saying it extended their scope of practice without requiring additional training. This session, the MMA has supported the bills to remove noncompete provisions but opposed bills on expanding the scope of practice for chiropractors and optometrists. MMA CEO Jean Branscum said the group generally believes scope-of-practice changes don’t fix workforce problems if the expanded practice isn’t supported by evidence or training.
Buttrey said this session’s bills to extend unsupervised practice and enact licensure compacts are an acknowledgment of the difficulty that small, rural communities have in attracting doctors. Physician assistants and nurse practitioners have been filling those gaps, he said.
Community health workers fill a different type of gap. They don’t provide direct medical care, instead helping people find the health care and support services they need to become and remain healthy.
Many states have already adopted definitions for community health workers and started providing Medicaid reimbursement for their services.
The requests to add to the list of Medicaid-covered services come at a time when Congress is considering significant budget cuts that could affect the amount of funding the federal government contributes to the Medicaid program. Although the legislature this session continued Montana’s Medicaid expansion program for low-income adults without disabilities, some legislators expressed concern about potential federal changes that could lower the amount of federal funds available for the program.
State Sen. Carl Glimm, a Kila Republican, was one of those legislators. He said he has similar concerns about increasing the types of services covered by Medicaid.
“The more stuff we add,” he said, “the more responsibility the state has” if the federal government shifts more of the program’s costs to the states.
Buttrey’s bill would define a community health worker as a “frontline public health worker” who helps people obtain medical and social services, advocates for their health, and educates individuals, providers, and the community about health care needs. Workers could be licensed after completing training and supervision requirements.
Most medical providers don’t have time to delve into all the outside factors influencing a patient’s health, said Cindy Stergar, CEO of the Montana Primary Care Association, which is supporting Buttrey’s bill. Community health workers can assist with that, she said, adding that research shows people with complex needs become healthier faster when their basic nonmedical needs, such as food and housing, are met.
“At the end of the day, the patient is better,” Stergar said. “That’s first and foremost.”
The Area Health Education Center at Montana State University has been offering community health worker training since 2018, and the University of Montana’s Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development began a training program in 2023. Together, the programs have trained nearly 500 people in how to identify the medical and social factors influencing a person’s health and in strategies for connecting the person with the right community resources.
“Ideally, what community health workers are doing is getting out of the clinic walls, meeting people where they are, and addressing the priorities of the client to get to the root cause of their health conditions and health needs,” said Mackenzie Petersen, project director for the training program at the University of Montana.
Supporters of the community health worker role say the workers are uniquely positioned to observe, understand, and address the barriers preventing a person from getting and staying healthy.
The barriers might be a lack of transportation or insurance or, for a homeless person, the inability to refrigerate a prescribed medication. A community health worker can arrange rides to appointments, help with insurance applications, or make sure a health care provider prescribes a medication that doesn’t need refrigeration.
Murley, with the St. Peter’s Health program, recalled that one of her clients was making frequent trips to the ER with suicidal ideation. Murley learned that he faced bullying in his apartment building and helped him relocate. The ER visits dropped off.
As Nay put it: “It’s really about helping the people that we work with create a path to their health.”
One of the most popular Nintendo Switch and PC controllers sold by Amazon is on sale for a great price. The ManbaOne Wireless Controller, which released in March 2024, is up for grabs for $56 (was $70) as part of the retailer’s Big Spring Sale. This matches the lowest price yet for this pro-style controller with a built-in miniature display. Yes, the ManbaOne has a terrible name, but it’s a pretty awesome controller that impressed us when we tested it last year. Both the white and black models are included in the promotion.
The ManbaOne Wireless Controller packs in tons of features and is highly customizable. Its main attraction is a built-in two-inch display, which lets you quickly change settings without the need for an app or additional software. Beyond that standout feature, this is a feature-rich pro-style controller.
That means you’ll find four remappable back buttons, premium Hall Effect analog sticks to prevent drift, trigger locks for faster actuation, and a fully customizable RGB lightbar on its side. Toss in a turbo setting and six-axis gyro support, and you’ve got a controller that’s incredibly well-equipped for less than $60. As a bonus, the ManbaOne comes with its own charging dock and a set of interchangeable thumbsticks.
Both the white and black versions are discounted, and they’re both pretty stylish. The white model is a bit more mechanical, as it shows off various components underneath the faceplate, while the black model is closer to what you’d expect a traditional controller to look like.
Though the ManbaOne is on sale for a solid price, it’s not the only notable controller discounted in Amazon’s Spring Sale. It’s not even the only controller with a built-in display. The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra for Xbox and PC has a built-in screen with similar features, though it’s much pricier at $170 (was $200). The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro has an OLED screen, but it’s largely used for customizable animations and displaying settings.
More Gaming Controller Deals at Amazon
If you’re looking for more budget-friendly wireless controllers, we’ve rounded up a selection of other notable third-party gamepads on sale at Amazon this week. Numerous 8BitDo controllers have received price cuts, including the new 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller for PC and mobile and the modular Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Controller for Xbox and PC. The latter is on sale for an all-time low price of only $108 (was $180).
A study finds that factors beyond a person’s control, like socioeconomic status and whether their mom smoked or was obese, can influence whether they are overweight or obese as teenagers or adults. Glenna Nightingale of the University of Edinburgh, UK and colleagues report these findings on March 26, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One.
Obesity is considered to be a global public health concern, but experts still disagree about the precise origins and causes of rising obesity rates. One topic under debate is whether a person’s individual genetics and behaviors are more or less important than environmental factors, like socioeconomic status, in developing obesity.
In the new study, researchers estimated the impact of several factors on a person’s weight, including societal factors, like a person’s job type, as well as early life factors, like a person’s birth order, how they were delivered and whether their mother smoked or was obese. They looked specifically at whether a person was overweight, obese or severely obese at age 16 and age 42. They also looked at participants’ weight between ages 16 to 42, a range that spans the rise in obesity rates in the United Kingdom. The data came from the 1958 National Child Development Study, a long-term study that followed the lives of more than 17,000 people born in a single week in March 1958 across England, Scotland and Wales.
The analysis showed that if a mother was obese or if she smoked, her child was more likely to be obese or severely obese at each of the ages examined. The findings demonstrate that these early life factors can have a persistent effect on a person’s weight. Notably, these factors were just as powerful before and after the start of the rise in obesity rates in the UK, suggesting that the impact of individual factors, like behaviors, likely did not change during that time.
The results suggest that societal and early-life risk factors could be used to target obesity prevention programs for children and adults. The researchers also conclude that, since individual risk factors have not changed as obesity rates have risen, new studies are needed to identify societal factors that may have caused the current obesity pandemic.
The authors add: “Our research shows that the effect of maternal influences persists through to age 42 and that strikingly, those predictors were just as powerful (and prevalent) in the era before the current obesity pandemic began. This suggests that, as Geoffrey Rose pointed out, novel studies are needed of factors at the community/societal level that may have caused the current obesity pandemic, since individual-level risk factors appear not to have changed over the time period spanning the pandemic’s onset and growth.”
Why Bother Learning to Read a Case File? [Image from here] We all know that reading a case file can be quite the challenge—not the most exciting part of being a lawyer! It often feels lengthy, tedious, and sometimes even confusing. However, if you truly want to shine in this field, mastering the art of […]
The post The Ten Commandments: How to Read Case Files Like a Pro appeared first on Lawctopus.
All zodiac signs have their own characteristics and traits which define someone’s personality. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you started your day by already knowing about what’s going to come your way? Read on to find out whether the odds will be in your favour today.
Astrological prediction for March 27.
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
Eating a balanced diet will help regulate your fluctuating appetite. Keeping track of expenses and following a budget will ensure financial stability. If motivation at work feels low, reflecting on past achievements will help restore focus. A conversation with an elder will highlight their wisdom and strengthen your bond. Travel plans will proceed as expected, with only minor detours along the way. Renovations may take longer than planned, but progress will continue steadily. Academically, consistent effort will lead to improvement, even if results take time.
Love Focus: A shared moment may deepen your bond, even if minor misunderstandings arise. Lucky Number: 18 Lucky Colour: Brown
Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)
A cousin’s visit will fill your home with joy and laughter. Your dedication and persistence are driving your business toward success. Travel will be enriching, whether you’re exploring new destinations or immersing yourself in nature. Smart financial choices will bring effortless rewards. Home renovations will enhance both comfort and style, making your space feel more inviting. Your energy remains high, keeping you refreshed and productive. Academically, students will find learning engaging, with each lesson sparking curiosity and motivation.
Love Focus: Embracing self-love today will create space for deeper connections. Lucky Number: 1 Lucky Colour: Yellow
Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)
Your financial decisions are yielding positive returns, bringing a sense of security. Reconnecting with family will bring emotional warmth and fulfillment. Recognition from a superior at work will boost your confidence. If traveling, be prepared for minor changes in your itinerary due to shifting plans. Prioritizing good health will make today feel physically rewarding. Property matters may take time to settle, requiring patience. Academically, maintaining a steady pace will ensure gradual and meaningful progress.
Love Focus: A romantic proposal may not unfold as expected, so keeping an open mind will help. Lucky Number: 9 Lucky Colour: Maroon
Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 22)
Engaging and productive conversations at work will spark creative ideas. Travel promises excitement, possibly adding a romantic touch to the experience. A fond memory with extended family may resurface, bringing warmth and nostalgia. Your inner drive will keep you motivated, making tasks feel effortless. Property investments show promising long-term potential. Financial matters are aligning smoothly, bringing stability. Academically, steady progress will ensure a well-rounded and enriching learning journey.
Love Focus: A long-distance reunion may happen sooner than expected—patience will be rewarding. Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Colour: Pink
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 23)
Taking a structured approach to tasks will simplify even the most demanding workload. Reviewing financial matters will help improve planning and decision-making. Travel will be smooth, making the journey enjoyable. While no major health concerns arise, listening to your body’s signals will support overall well-being. A small yet meaningful family moment will remind you of the importance of loved ones. Property dealings require careful research to ensure favorable outcomes. Academically, short breaks will help students maintain focus and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Love Focus: Someone new may bring fresh energy into your love life. Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Colour: Off White
Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)
A calm and composed mind will make relaxation feel natural today. Financial stability allows you to move forward with confidence. A long-term goal is within reach, motivating you to push ahead professionally. A conversation with a senior family member may offer a fresh and helpful perspective. Exploring budget-friendly travel options may lead to spontaneous adventures. The real estate market looks promising, making property investments a wise choice. Academically, each subject will bring both satisfaction and enthusiasm for learning.
Love Focus: Nostalgic thoughts about love may shape your emotions today. Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Colour: Purple
Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)
Business opportunities appear promising, with potential growth in sales or profits. Travel plans will lead to an enriching and fulfilling experience. Smart investments today may yield rewarding financial outcomes. A shared meal with family will create warmth, even if discussions become intense. Property sales may take time, but patience will attract the right buyer. You’ll feel light and energetic, making daily tasks seem effortless. Academically, a well-balanced approach will ensure steady progress.
Love Focus: Love feels strong, stable, and deeply fulfilling today. Lucky Number: 3 Lucky Colour: Beige
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Your physical stamina is at its peak, making outdoor activities more enjoyable. Appreciation for family bonds will deepen, strengthening emotional connections. A routine yet highly productive workday awaits you. Financial opportunities may come effortlessly, bringing exciting prospects. Travel may not be the most adventurous but will still offer a refreshing break. Property matters may require patience, but steady progress is assured. Academically, maintaining focus and consistency will keep you on the right track.
Love Focus: Inner peace will allow love to flow effortlessly today. Lucky Number: 8 Lucky Colour: Silver
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Meeting a work deadline will be manageable, though planning ahead will prevent unnecessary stress. A cautious approach to spending will help control financial obligations. Travel plans hold the promise of joy and exciting discoveries. Physical health remains steady, though mental fatigue may set in later in the day. A shared childhood memory with a sibling will bring warmth and nostalgia. Property transactions may face minor obstacles, but preparation will ensure smoother progress. Academically, breaking down complex lessons into steps will make learning more effective.
Love Focus: Passion and excitement will shape your love life beautifully. Lucky Number: 6 Lucky Colour: Grey
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)
A family tradition will feel especially meaningful, evoking cherished emotions. Minor muscle stiffness may arise, but gentle stretching or relaxation techniques will help. Financial stability is on the horizon, bringing long-term security. Your leadership skills will shine at work, earning well-deserved recognition. A train journey will provide a refreshing escape, helping you unwind. Renting out property is likely to generate a steady income with responsible tenants. Academically, each lesson will spark motivation and curiosity.
Love Focus: A heartfelt message from a partner will strengthen emotional ties. Lucky Number: 9 Lucky Colour: Peach
Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19)
A balanced diet will help maintain steady energy levels throughout the day. Unexpected expenses may balance out any recent savings, so budgeting wisely is recommended. Office politics may surface, but avoiding unnecessary involvement will help maintain peace. Advice from parents may seem routine, but their insights will prove valuable. A short trip may not feel extravagant but will provide a refreshing change. Property investments show promise, making this an opportune time for purchases. Academically, each task will feel enjoyable and rewarding.
Love Focus: Happiness should complement love, not be dependent on it. Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Colour: Orange
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
A road trip will bring excitement and a much-needed sense of adventure. Finances may see slight fluctuations, but nothing too concerning. Collaborating with a colleague may require patience to find common ground. Renting out property promises good returns, ensuring a steady flow of income. A relative’s unexpected kindness will leave a lasting impact. Overall health remains stable, though light stretching will ease any minor stiffness. Academically, today’s lessons will be enriching and intellectually stimulating.
Love Focus: A fleeting glance may unexpectedly spark something special. Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Colour: Green
The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first treatment for the insatiable hunger associated with the rare disease Prader-Willi syndrome, a long-awaited decision that follows an unorthodox pitch from the drug’s developer.
The agency oncleared Vykat XR, from biotechnology company Soleno Therapeutics, for this hyperphagia that’s caused by Prader-Willi. Treatment has specifically been approved for adults and children at least four years of age.Soleno hasn’t yet disclosed the drug’s list price.
The approval is a milestone for research into a disease that’s proven difficult to target. Prader-Willi affects an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people in the U.S. and causes multiple cognitive and behavioral symptoms. The most debilitating is a hunger that can be so consuming caregivers may use locks or alarms to keep patients from accessing food or binge eating, which can cause extreme obesity, poor metabolic health and even death.
Prader-Willi is typically managed through supportive care and human growth hormone to boost muscle and lower body fat. The anti-seizure medication topiramate can also help reduce appetite and is sometimes prescribed off-label.
But until now, no other drug therapies were approved, in part because of the disease’s myriad manifestations as well as complex — and still poorly understood — genetics. Since the clearance of human growth hormone 25 years ago, every drug to reach Phase 3 testing hasfailed or been rejected by regulators.
The need for a new therapy led a group of experts, in a 2023 editorial published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, to call for more “flexibility” in the review of Prader-Willi drugs. The authors highlighted exceptions the FDA has made in clearing drugs for diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease — life-threatening illnesses with few, if any, treatments available.
“All of these factors apply to [Prader-Willi],” they wrote, arguing the “inherent rigidity” to the approval process was leading the agency to overlook drug benefits that, while not main study goals, were still “significant” for patients.
Among the medicines mentioned in that editorial was Soleno’s therapy, which has traveled an unusual path to approval. Formerly known as DCCR, the drug is an extended-release form of a molecule, diazoxide, that’s used to treat low blood sugar. It failed the primary objective of a Phase 3 trial five years ago. But Soleno claimed the COVID-19 pandemic skewed the results, arguing there were vast differences in the data collected before and after March 1, 2020 and that Vykat displayed meaningful differences on secondary measures.
Soleno collaborated with the FDA to find a workaround and came up with an unusual answer. It added a new part to the study in which patients were randomized to either continue or stop receiving Vykat and then tested for hyperphagia levels over time. The company claimed success in that evaluation in September 2023, and filed an approval application afterwards.
Since then, Soleno’s market value has surged past $2 billion amid anticipation of an approval. A delayed decision in November fueled doubt among investors. Still, multiple Wall Street analysts have been optimistic because of the lack of Prader-Willi therapies and the fact Soleno succeeded in a study the FDA endorsed.
“Although not as straightforward of an application as the division is used to seeing, we believe the strength of evidence and unmet need position Soleno for a major positive catalyst in the near term,” Baird analyst Brian Skorney wrote in a note to clients in February.
Vykat’s approval unlocks a market opportunity that analysts at the investment firm Stifel estimate is worth more than $1.5 billion annually. Hyperphagia is the “biggest burden” for Prader-Willi patients and there is “significant patient and physician enthusiasm/awareness” for Soleno’s drug, they wrote in a research note earlier this month.
Not all cheap areas are good buys, and a housing boom isn’t just about affordability – it’s about a mix of key factors.
Here are seven indicators that signal potential growth:
1. Population Growth – A booming market must attract more residents. If an area’s growth rate exceeds its 10-year average, it’s a positive sign.
2. Employment Growth – Local job creation (not just employed residents) is crucial. Strong job growth fuels demand.
3. Real Wages – Higher real local incomes support rising housing prices. Sectors like specialist trades, tech, and research drive sustainable growth.
4. Tight Supply – Housing shortages (less than three months of sales stock or <2% rental vacancy) push prices up.
5. Undervalued Housing – Local investors snapping up properties and increased renovation activity suggest housing is priced below potential.
6. Demographic Mix – A balance of young buyers, upgraders, and downsizers sustains long-term growth.
7. Education – Proximity to top-performing schools can drive price premiums.
The X Factor: Unexpected catalysts – overseas investment, infrastructure projects, or economic shifts – can push a market into overdrive.
While some areas may still ‘boom,’ the post-Covid surge is unlikely to repeat.
For me, investors should focus on these seven fundamentals for sustainable gains.
About Michael Matusik Michael is director of independent property advisory Matusik Property Insights. He is independent, perceptive and to the point; has helped over 550 new residential developments come to fruition and writes his insightful Matusik Missive
MIAMI — After two decades of professional tennis, 99 career singles titles and 24 Grand Slam triumphs, Novak Djokovic has become a mystery — to tennis fans and to himself. Both parties are trying to answer the same question, from match to match and tournament to tournament, as his career moves towards an as-yet unknown end.
Who is the greatest player of the modern era at this moment?
Is he the player who faded two weeks ago against Botic van de Zandschulp, in his opening match at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif.? Or is he the player who has plowed through his first three opponents in at the Miami Open the past five days, including Lorenzo Musetti, the world No. 16 from Italy?
Is he the player whose return of serve, one of the greatest in the sport’s history, has been a shadow of its usual self? Or is he the player who broke Musetti five times Tuesday night on his way to a 6-2, 6-2 win?
Is he the player ramping up his schedule as he approaches his 38th birthday, because it’s his last spin around the tennis globe? Or is he the player he described to the Miami crowd when he told them, “You’re going to be seeing me a few more years.”
When it comes to the subject of Novak Djokovic, Djokovic is like everyone else: always searching for the signal in the noise, searching for the data about himself and his tennis that will allow him to separate what matters from what does not. At this moment, there is both too much and not enough data to figure out who and what the Djokovic of 2025 is. All these years later, but just 14 matches into this season, he has become the sport’s international man of mystery — definitively not what he once was, and searching for the answer of what he will be.
“I do hope and wish for Novak that you saw tonight, and then at the same time, I worked hard not to have the Novak that was playing in Indian Wells,” Djokovic said in the mixed zone with reporters when his match with Musetti was over. “The continuity or consistency of the level of tennis nowadays for me is more challenging than it was years ago or 10 years ago, five years ago, and I know that.
“That’s definitely not due to lack of hours spent on the practice court and in the gym because I still keep the dedication. It’s there, but it’s just makes it a bit more challenging for me to maintain the level.”
Djokovic is living through a common misconception about what happens to elite athletes declining from their peaks. The apexes stay sharp and accessible in fleeting moments, even when they need them most: Djokovic found his on his otherworldly run to the gold medal at last year’s Paris Olympic Games. It’s the stability that erodes, the repetitions that are necessary to maintain their excellence.
Djokovic’s biggest triumph this year came at the Australian Open, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals after a series of wins that had included serious dips in his level, during which young and inexperienced opponents found ways to hurt him but could not finish him off.
Stunning as it was, the victory was also one of the strangest tennis matches in memory. Djokovic suffered a muscle tear in the first set, but somehow managed to win in four, thanks to a heady cocktail of painkillers, adrenalin and an inexplicable Alcaraz breakdown. The Spaniard succumbed to the stress of playing Djokovic, of thinking about his opponent’s tennis and his physical condition more than he was thinking of his own.
Three days later, Djokovic had to retire from his semifinal against Alexander Zverev at the end of the first set because of his muscle injury. When he arrived in Florida, he had not won a match since beating Alcaraz on that January night in Melbourne.
In Miami, he has wins against Rinky Hijikata, a 24-year-old Australian who has played 13 Grand Slam matches, just over half the number of Grand Slam titles that Djokovic has won. He then beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli, a 25-year-old Argentine who has never won a Grand Slam match.
Both matches opened with a blowout set and ended with Djokovic winning a tiebreak. It’s one of the most familiar patterns in Djokovic matches over the years, just inverted: the tight set to loosen everything up before the acceleration to victory swapped for a fast start and then an ebbing end.
Djokovic has eased through his opening matches at the Miami Open. (Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)
Then came Musetti. On paper, he looked like a legitimate threat. On the court, Djokovic picked up his head and saw Serena Williams sitting in the stands. He looked at his box and saw Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro, the retired Grand Slam champions. One his coach; the other his good friend. All those big names made him a little starstruck and nervous about playing well, especially in front of Williams, the greatest female player of all time.
Musetti’s elegant all-court game suits grass, clay and slow hard courts, but he remains reasonably lost on fast ones. Against the best hard-court player in the history of the sport, he broke serve in the first game and surged to the illusion of a 2-0 lead built on making the match physical. Djokovic decided he wasn’t going to play a match like that and won the next nine games to seize control. Musetti showed about as much resistance as a swinging door.
On Wednesday night, Djokovic will face Sebastian Korda, the young and talented American of a thousand renaissances, seemingly always on the cusp of announcing himself. Korda, 24, is still trying to find his way after a couple of years of wrist injuries; he received treatment on his wrist during his round-of-16 win over Gael Monfils on Tuesday.
Djokovic won their only previous meeting, in Adelaide, Australia, two years ago. He might get some more data about their matchup and about himself Wednesday, but it’s not clear how fit Korda will be to give him what he needs. Djokovic at least has no doubts about his wants: to keep playing at the highest level in an era when even the youngest players approach the game with a level of professionalism unheard of when he was starting out.
“Fitness and recovery and just overall approach to the work, from both physical and mental side has improved so much,” he said in Miami.
“Nowadays, pretty much every player in the top 30 in the world has a full team of three and four people around them that takes care of them, their body and everything, so that that reflects on the court. That’s why the careers are extended now.”
When he embarked on his professional career, players started counting their days when they hit 30, he said. Now it’s more like 35, maybe more.
“Of course I’m in that group. I’m not going to get younger, but I still feel good about my body and about my tennis.”
That may be the data point that matters more than all the others.
You finally bought a smart TV, or maybe you’ve owned one for a while now, and it looks great in your living room. But somehow, something feels missing, and you can’t quite put your finger on it.
Well, these smart TV accessories will take your viewing experience from “Yeah, this is nice” to “Why didn’t I do this sooner?!”
I bet your smart TV’s built-in speakers probably sound like they were an afterthought. I say this because these days, manufacturers focus on making TVs thinner and bezels smaller, which is great for aesthetics but terrible for sound quality. A soundbar is the easiest upgrade. Even a budget-friendly one (like the Hisense HS2100 I copped) can deliver more immersive audio than your TV’s tinny, downward-firing speakers.
Related
I Bought a Budget Soundbar—Here’s Why It Was Totally Worth It
Budget-friendly doesn’t mean basic.
But if you really want a home theater experience, a surround sound system with multiple speakers is the way to go. A 5.1 setup (five speakers plus a subwoofer) or Dolby Atmos system can make you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action.
Related
How I Upgraded My Home Audio Setup Without Spending Much
You can make your audio so much better, and it doesn’t have to cost a month’s wages.
8
Streaming Stick
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
If your smart TV’s built-in apps feel sluggish, outdated, or just plain annoying, a streaming stick is an upgrade you need. These little devices plug into your TV’s HDMI or USB port and instantly give you a smoother, faster, and often more feature-packed streaming experience than whatever your TV came with.
The great thing about streaming sticks is that they come in different flavors depending on your preferred ecosystem. If you’re deep into Amazon’s world, a Fire TV Stick makes sense. If you love Google’s ecosystem (or just want built-in Chromecast), a Chromecast with Google TV is a solid pick. And if you want something that just works with minimal hassle, a Roku Streaming Stick or an Apple TV 4K (not exactly a “stick,” but close enough) are great choices. As an added advantage, if you travel a lot, you can take your streaming stick with you and plug it into hotel TVs to avoid dealing with weird, unfamiliar interfaces.
Related
These Are the 5 Best Streaming Devices You Can Buy
If you’re looking for a new streaming device, these are your best options.
This one is more useful if you love watching TV in the dark. Bias lighting is basically an LED strip that you stick to the back of your TV to create a soft glow around the screen. It helps reduce eye strain by balancing the contrast between your TV’s brightness and the surrounding darkness. Instead of your pupils struggling to keep up with dramatic shifts in brightness, they get a more consistent level of ambient light to work with.
Aside from saving your eyeballs, bias lighting also makes your TV’s colors pop. When you have a light source behind the screen, it tricks your eyes into perceiving deeper blacks and more vivid colors. If you’ve ever seen high-end TVs in showrooms looking almost too good to be true, part of that magic is careful lighting placement. You can get a similar effect at home for less than the price of a movie ticket.
Installation is a breeze. Most LED strips attach with adhesive backing, and you just plug them into a USB port on your TV for power. Some even come with color-changing options, letting you match the backlight to what you’re watching—though I prefer a simple warm white or neutral daylight tone for the best results.
Related
The Best TV Backlight Kits and Background Lights You Can Buy
Add something extra to your home viewing with a TV backlight kit. Here are the best Ambilight and backlight kits available now.
6
Motorized TV Lift Mount
If you don’t want your TV to dominate the room when it’s off, a lift mount lets you tuck it away neatly. This is perfect for maintaining a clean, minimalist aesthetic, especially in living rooms where a giant black screen might not complement your decor. Plus, if you have kids or pets, keeping the TV safely tucked away when it’s not in use can help prevent accidental knocks, scratches, or, in my friend’s case, the occasional flying toy disaster.
Motorized TV lifts come in different styles—some are designed for furniture integration (like inside a media console, custom cabinet, or even at the foot of your bed), while others are built for wall or ceiling installations. You’ll also want to make sure you choose a lift that can handle the size and weight of your TV. Installation takes a little planning and can be a DIY project if you’re handy, but if cutting into furniture or walls isn’t your thing, hiring a professional might be the way to go.
It’s not the cheapest accessory on this list, but for the convenience, space-saving potential, and sheer wow factor, a motorized TV lift mount like the VIVO Motorized TV Stand is absolutely worth considering.
Most TVs don’t exactly spoil you with HDMI ports. You are usually stuck with two or three, which is barely enough to power your streaming stick, gaming console, soundbar, or maybe even an old Blu-ray player you refuse to let go of all at the same time. That’s where an HDMI switch comes to the rescue.
It is exactly what it sounds like: a little device that lets you connect multiple HDMI inputs to a single port on your TV. They’re relatively cheap, and you can get a decent HDMI switch for under $100 from brands like Kinivo or Ugreen. Just make sure to check the specs to see if it supports the right resolution and refresh rate for your devices. If you’re gaming in 4K at 120Hz, for example, you’ll need a switch that can handle HDMI 2.1. Otherwise, you might end up with a downgraded experience, and no one wants to pay for a high-end console just to game at peasant-tier frame rates.
Related
The Best HDMI Switches You Can Buy
Connect multiple input sources to your TV with an HDMI switch.
I know, I know—using a TV antenna in 2025 sounds like something your grandparents would do. But please hear me out before you skip this one. If you’re tired of paying for streaming services that seem more expensive every year while offering fewer good shows, try an antenna and see if it’s a good alternative. And no, I’m not talking about those clunky rabbit-ear antennas with wobbly V-shaped rods.
A good modern TV antenna like URIIU Long Range Antenna (pictured above) or the ClearStream 2V (which you can place outdoors) lets you access free, over-the-air channels in full HD (and sometimes even 4K, depending on your area). That means you can watch local news, major network shows, live sports, and even classic movie channels—all without a subscription.
Related
6 Ways to Build Your Own DIY HDTV Antenna for Cheap
Want to save money and build your own HDTV antenna, but don’t know where to start? These DIY antenna builds show how easy it is.
Many smart power strips come with individually controlled outlets and USB ports, letting you automate when certain devices power down. That means if your TV shuts off, the strip can automatically cut power to your gaming console or sound system. You can even schedule everything to turn off at a set time, which is a lifesaver if you tend to doze off mid-episode (only to wake up betrayed by autoplay and three episodes deep into a show you barely remember starting).
For the best experience, look for models with surge protection (essential for expensive electronics), voice control, and at least six to eight outlets to accommodate all your devices. If you are looking for some solid recommendations, you can take a look at Kasa HS300, Meross, and Geeni smart power strips. The slightly higher upfront cost compared to standard power strips pays for itself through convenience and lower energy consumption over time.
Typing out search queries or entering login details using a TV remote is one of my most frustrating experiences. It’s like trying to write an email with a T9 keypad—painfully slow and full of mistakes. But with a proper keyboard, you can type out movie titles, browse the web, and even chat in apps like YouTube or Netflix without wanting to throw the remote at the wall.
For the best experience, go for a compact, media-friendly keyboard—something with dedicated volume controls, playback buttons, and a responsive touchpad. Logitech’s K400 Plus is a solid pick, but plenty of budget-friendly options do the job just fine.
1
Universal Remote
Jowi Morales / MakeUseOf
Juggling multiple remotes is the second most annoying part of owning a smart TV setup. One for the TV, another for the soundbar, a separate one for the streaming device—before you know it, your coffee table looks like a spaceship’s control panel.
Related
How I Turn Old Phones Into Remote Controls for Streaming
Control your TV using your previous phone and forget using the remote control ever again.
The best ones, like the Sofabaton X1 (which we rated the Sofabaton X1 highly during our review) or Logitech Harmony Elite (if you can still find one), let you control not just your TV and sound system but also your gaming console, Blu-ray player, and even smart home devices like lights and thermostats. Even better, some models now support voice control, so you can channel your inner Tony Stark and command your entertainment system using Alexa or Google Assistant.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/Floral-landscape-at-the-Great-Wall-1C3xiXO8rS0/img/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706.jpeg'The Longquanyu Great Wall in Beijing is flanked by a sea of blooming flowers on March 25, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/Floral-landscape-at-the-Great-Wall-1C3xiXO8rS0/img/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706.jpeg'The Longquanyu Great Wall in Beijing is flanked by a sea of blooming flowers on March 25, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/Floral-landscape-at-the-Great-Wall-1C3xiXO8rS0/img/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706.jpeg'The Longquanyu Great Wall in Beijing is flanked by a sea of blooming flowers on March 25, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-26/Floral-landscape-at-the-Great-Wall-1C3xiXO8rS0/img/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706/6b43f5daa3734ddcbdbef4f466538706.jpeg'The Longquanyu Great Wall in Beijing is flanked by a sea of blooming flowers on March 25, 2025. /VCG
The Longquanyu Great Wall in Beijing is flanked by a sea of blooming flowers. Clusters of apricot and peach blossoms blanket the mountains surrounding this section of the wall, creating a picturesque spring landscape.
Sublime is working on a new album with the son of the band’s late frontman.
The hugely influential Long Beach ska-punk trio — whose singer Bradley Nowell died in 1996 — said Wednesday that it’s writing and recording songs with Nowell’s 29-year-old son Jakob, who stepped into his father’s role with Sublime in late 2023. The band is working with producers Travis Barker (of Blink-182) and John Feldmann and plans to release the LP’s first single this summer.
“I grew up on Sublime,” Barker said in a statement, adding that the band’s 1992 album “40 Oz. to Freedom” “changed the way I listened to music.” Feldmann, known for his work with pop-punk acts including Good Charlotte and 5 Seconds of Summer, said working with Sublime “has been a highlight of my life.”
After performing with Sublime for the first time in public at a benefit concert for H.R. of the pioneering hardcore Bad Brains, Jakob Nowell fronted the band last year at Coachella then went on to play a series of festival dates with drummer Bud Gaugh and bassist Eric Wilson, who formed Sublime with Bradley Nowell in the late ’80s. Bradley Nowell’s death from an accidental heroin overdose came just two months before the release of the band’s first major-label album. Yet that self-titled LP went on to become a quintuple-platinum smash, spawning late-’90s alt-rock radio staples like “What I Got,” “Santeria” and “Wrong Way.”
After Nowell’s death, Gaugh and Wilson played together in the Long Beach Dub Allstars; in 2009, the two drafted the singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez to perform Sublime’s music under the name Sublime with Rome.
Last year, Jakob Nowell told The Times that people had pressured him for years to play with his dad’s former bandmates but that he’d always been reluctant, in part because he had his own musical interests and in part because of his complicated relationship with his father’s memory. He changed his mind after a “spiritual pilgrimage,” as he put it, to the theater in Petaluma where Bradley Nowell played his final gig.
Sublime has tour dates scheduled this summer including a May 3 stop at the BeachLife festival in Redondo Beach.
New Delhi, March 26: Kia has launched its new electric SUV model, Kia EV6, in India at INR 65.9 lakh (ex-showroom). The car was unveiled during the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 event and was expected to launch sooner. The new Kia EV6 comes in only a single variant—GT-Line AWD (All-Wheel Drive). The EV SUV comes at a premium price with updated design, features, and specifications. It has a larger battery pack offers a longer range of up to 663 km on a single charge.
Regarding the Kia EV6 SUV, Kia India’s Chief Sales Officer Joonsu Cho said the newly launched car would be a true testament to electric vehicle mobility advancement. He said the automobile company focused on safety and design features to set the benchmark in India’s premium EV segment while continuing the legacy of EV6. Aston Martin Vanquish Launched in India at INR 8.85 Crore With V12 Twin-Turbo Engine; Check Specifications and Features.
New Kia EV6 2025 Specifications and Features
The Kia EV6 runs on an 84kWh larger NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery compared to the previous model’s 77.4kWh battery, which offers 663 kilometres long-range per ARAI. The battery is capable of generating a maximum of 325 hp power and 605 Nm of peak torque. The car takes 5.3 seconds to reach 0 to 100 mph. The Kia EV6 SUV is built upon E-GMP (global modular platform), which allows the batteries to be mounted on the floor. The car’s NMC battery offers more energy compared to the previous model and is lighter.
In terms of powering up, the EV6 offers 350kW DC fast charging, which takes 18 minutes to charge the electric car from 10% to 80%. With a lower power charger, like 50kW, it may take around 73 minutes to achieve the same. When it comes to measurements, the car offers 1,580 mm height, 4,695 mm length, and 1,890 mm width. The wheelbase of the vehicle is 2,900 mm. Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Bookings Open in India Ahead of April 14 Launch, Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback Also Coming This Year; Check Expected Price, Specifications and Features.
The newly launched Kia EV9 is available in Snow White Pearl, Runway Red, Wolf Gray, Yatch Blue Matt, and Aurora Black Pearl options. It gets new ‘Star Map’ LED headlights, new bumper and tail-lights. The car offers 19-inch alloy wheels.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 26, 2025 05:22 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
“This signal on the oscilloscope may seem simple at first glance, but it demonstrates a key building block for our platform, representing the birth of the world’s first scalable, mass-manufacturable, and energy-efficient probabilistic computing platform,” says Guillaume Verdon, CEO of Extropic and the man behind the wildly popular, provocative, and sometimes controversial online persona Based Beff Jezos.
One of Extropic’s innovations is a way of controlling thermodynamic effects in conventional silicon to perform calculations without extreme cooling. Efforts to compute thermodynamically have traditionally relied on superconducting electronic circuits, but Verdon and his cofounder, Trevor McCourt, are using fluctuations of electric charge in regular silicon instead.
The image above shows an array of Extropic’s components under a microscope. Credit: Extropic
Photograph: Extropic
Extropic says its hardware is perfect for running Monte Carlo simulations, a class of computation that involves sampling probabilities that is widely used in areas like finance, biology, and AI. These computations are important for building reasoning models like OpenAI o3 and Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking from Google.
“The reality is that the most computationally-hungry workloads are Monte Carlo simulations,” Verdon says. “We are not just interested in AI, but also applications in simulations of stochastic systems in high-performance computing at large.”
Extropic’s founders concede that the idea of taking on Nvidia and other chipmakers might seem, on the face of it, absolutely insane. Nvidia’s chips are still the best for training AI, and switching to a completely alien architecture would be costly and time consuming.
But we are at a unique moment when AI companies need so much computer power for AI that they are building datacenters next to nuclear power stations, when nation states are set to spend wild amounts on AI, and when the technology’s environmental impact is only getting worse. Perhaps, given all this, it is more nuts not to try to reinvent how computers work.
Do you think Extropic has a chance to challenge Nvidia’s chip dominance? Share your thoughts by emailing [email protected] or in the comments section below.
Chicago-based CME Group plans to revamp the infrastructure of its derivatives marketplace, CME Exchange. This week, it announced a partnership with Google Cloud to explore blockchain services like asset tokenisation. In an official statement, the risk management firm noted that US President Donald Trump’s support for the crypto sector has pushed it to explore blockchain and Web3 opportunities. As part of their collaboration, CME and Google Cloud have launched pilot trials.
CME Group has launched trials for wholesale payments and tokenisation of assets via the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), as per an official statement.
“The GCUL has the potential to deliver significant efficiencies for collateral, margin, settlement, and fee payments — as the world moves toward 24/7 trading,” said CME Group’s Chairman, Terry Duffy.
So far, Google Cloud has revealed little about GCUL. However, CME Group describes it as a programmable digital ledger (blockchain) designed to streamline asset and account management for institutional traders. The network supports fund transfers through a permissioned system, reinforced by Google’s privacy features.
Rohit Bhat, General Manager of Financial Services at Google Cloud, hinted that GCUL’s current priority is serving the blockchain needs of fintech businesses.
“Our core mission is to overcome the complexities inherent in today’s financial systems,” Bhat said. He noted that through the GUCl, Google Cloud is looking to help businesses with strategic collaborations and modern infrastructure.
Later this year, the companies will begin testing their blockchain solutions for trading and tokenisation with market participants. New services from this collaboration are expected to launch in 2026.
The CME Group, as it exists today, was formed in 2007 through the merger of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT). With a market cap of $94.7 billion the company entered the crypto space in December 2017 by introducing Bitcoin futures contracts. Now, it aims to enhance its infrastructure with blockchain solutions, focusing on greater transparency, security, and efficiency.
Meanwhile, Google Cloud has a history of dabbling with Web3. In October 2022 it launched a “Blockchain Node Engine” enabling developers to manage blockchain nodes in the cloud. It has also teamed up with Sui Blockchain and Solana Labs to integrate blockchain technology into gaming and other advanced tech initiatives.
Over the last few years, AI has upended many aspects of our world, including search.
The rise of generative AI threw many of us for a loop.
If you’re one of them, still scrambling to make sense of this new normal, you might be wondering: what matters most in SEO now?
The answer may surprise you.
It isn’t fancy new tricks – it’s mastering the fundamentals that drive traffic and rankings.
As AI answer engines, like ChatGPT search and Google AI Overviews, become part of everyday life, they’re changing how people interact with search.
But at their core, these tools rely on some principles that have guided SEO for years:
A strong technical foundation.
High-quality content.
Effective use of keywords.
Authoritative backlinks.
These same fundamentals still determine which content rises to the top.
If you’ve been wondering how to adapt your strategy in this new era, let me tell you it’s not about chasing trends. It’s about doubling down on what works.
Search engines and AI tools like AI Overview, Perplexity, and ChatGPT search are changing how we find information online.
These technologies provide quick answers by pulling directly from your content.
But they’re still using logic that I’d call “SEO fundamentals” to decide which content is valuable enough to include in their outputs.
AI Overviews are a more complex featured snippet that dynamically shows multiple references instead of one. Clearly structuring your content to answer keywords and ranking highly in search results is already known to help you appear in these AI overviews.
ChatGPT search isn’t traditional search, but is informed by similar principles. It likes well-organized, authoritative content that’s helpful to users — exactly what SEO fundamentals encourage.
Sites that fail to provide clear, trustworthy information that’s helpful to their users is less likely to get surfaced by these AI systems.
The pillars of SEO fundamentals
Technical SEO: A solid foundation
It doesn’t matter how optimized your content is if classic search engines or the latest AI can’t find it.
Technical SEO ensures your site is structured so crawlers can access and index your content without issues. Think of it as the foundation of a house; without it, everything else falls apart.
Even the best content won’t work if it’s buried under layers of errors or inaccessible to search engines and crawlers. A technically sound site gives your content the best chance of being visible and useful.
Just a quick example from a few technical improvements we have seen multiple huge impacts in performance.
Indexability Improvements
At my agency, Velir, weWe have a client whose website has more than doubled with a 135% YoY increase in organic site visits. The main driver of this is two things — both connected with indexability. Implementing canonical tags properly on the website and un-gating content that had been no-indexed previously.
Canonical tags
Canonical tags are vital for helping to prevent duplication, especially on large websites. They are a tag in the code that tells search engines which version of a page is the “true” version. Being able to control the “true” version of a page means you can run an A/B test without worrying about keyword cannibalization or duplication.
Every page should have a canonical tag.
If there isn’t a duplicate version of the page make it self-referencing.
We include canonical tags on PDF pages as well.
Un-gating content
Running a content inventory is always helpful to understand what pages exist on your website. Using a tool like Screaming Frog to get a complete list allows you to find opportunities or old outdated content.
For the same client’s site, we found that thousands of resources were marked as no-index.We decided to allow them to be indexed, which caused a significant increase in keywords and organic traffic going to the website.
Indexability checklist:
Add canonical tags
Set up your robots.txt file
Submit your sitemap to Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor and improving them can lead to solid results.
Running a check for Core Web Vitals is something you should do regularly. We found this client’s website was very slow. They set up the website with a custom theme that just wasn’t nearly as efficient as other options. By changing their theme, reducing image sizes, and implementing a CDN we helped them significantly improve their Core Web Vitals.
The results of these changes were a 123% increase in organic revenue and a 203% increase in traffic to the website. This was also done in conjunction with content optimizations which led to a 653% increase in conversions.
Schema
Schema will help you display dynamically in search results and tends to act as a superhighway of information for crawlers. We have found that implementing even a basic schema can help boost your search rankings.
For example, our client saw a 288% increase in first-page keywords in one year. One of the major changes we made was implementing schema on the website. After we implemented this you can see the number of total SERP features increased by 193% YoY.
There has been some debate about the importance of metadata as Google has been automatically rewriting meta descriptions and even some page titles. We’ve found that improving metadata on a website to follow best practices still improves organic visibility and rankings.
Just look at the results for this website. The only work we did for it was rewriting metadata to follow length best practices. No fancy optimizations.
Just these updates led to a 55% increase in first-page keywords YoY for the client.
Why indexability is critical
The biggest issues I’ve ever seen hold back a website are indexability issues. Always check your robots.txt file, sitemap, and canonical tags. Obviously, run regular site audits for other issues but those are the first places to look. It’s already known that websites not indexed by Bing will not appear in SearchGPT.
Indexability checklist:
Are there canonical tags?
Is your robots.txt file set up properly?
Have you submitted your sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing webmaster tools?
How are the core website vitals?
Is all of your key content indexable?
Have you added all of the relevant schema markup to your site?
Is your metadata optimized for SEO best practices?
Quality content: Answering questions and providing value
Any real business that grows does one simple thing, it provides value (perceived or real). That fundamental fact should be applied to any content approach for SEO, YouTube, or TikTok. For SEO this means creating content that answers questions or takes complex issues and makes them easy to understand.
Yes, you can follow trends but it’s important for SEO that the content you create provides something of value to your audiences.
Good content should be trustworthy, backed by sources, and written with purpose. It should be well-argued, well-written, and structured so users can understand and crawlers can process. In other words — create content that doesn’t suck. But how do you do this while ensuring it’s still optimized?
Using keywords in vital areas
There is a really simple formula I teach to my analysts that I’ve found works well.
Put your primary keyword upfront in your titles.
Add your unique selling point (USP), something to help improve CTR in results like “expertly researched.”
Use a modifier like 2025, something to make it more relevant to the reader.
Here’s our super simple formula:
[primary keyword][usp][modifier]
We use this exact formula when writing page titles and H1 headers.
Helpful and natural internal links
Internal links are something that I see a lot of newer SEO analysts forget to implement, but it can lead to significant bumps in organic traffic and engagement. When you use internal links you make it much easier for crawlers to discover content and users to navigate the site to find helpful information.
When done correctly internal links can help boost visibility as they did for this client website which saw a 144% YoY increase in organic clicks and a 113% YoY increase in first page keywords.
This website has a blog that posts new content regularly. However, it rarely includes internal links to other resources. We mapped out these resources and categorized them by topic.
We then ensured that all of the pages in each category were internally linked to each other, which helped the site to become a topical authority.
You can do the same with our simple internal linking process:
Map out all your pages in an Excel sheet.
Categorize pages based on topics.
Ex. Dog food, dog toys, dog leash
Review old posts to find times that make sense to naturally link.
Ex. “Keeping your dog busy you could use the best dog toy you have.”
This helps you find opportunities at scale.
Add those internal links to the pages.
Provide Multiple Ways to Engage with Content
Allowing your audience to engage with content how they want to has proven to drive more awareness. For example, all we did for one client was add transcripts to pages that were video pages, and they saw a 10x increase in impressions.
Below are three pages. The first two had videos without transcripts and the third included a transcript to the page with little to no other differences.
Keywords: Speaking your audience’s language
Keywords are a fundamental part of SEO. At its heart, keyword research isn’t about optimizing for search engines; it’s about understanding your audience and what questions they have.
Without a clear picture of the terms and phrases people are using, you risk creating content that misses the point entirely.
Using arbitrary language without research can leave you disconnected from your audience.
For example, Velir had a client in healthcare who had two websites. One was focused on patients; the other was focused on doctors. What we found is these audiences used different keywords to search and wanted different types of content.
A doctor would search using scientific language “cardiac arrest” whereas a patient would search “heart attack.” Knowing this, we updated our content and keywords so each site spoke to the correct audience.
Implementing that keyword strategy led to a 35% YoY increase for the doctor-focused site and an 18% YoY increase for the patient site.
Backlinks: Earning mentions through good content
Backlinks are one of the strongest indicators of authority in SEO. But in today’s world, it’s not just about getting links; it’s about earning them by creating content that others want to mention and share.
When you create high-value content like in-depth reports, independent research, or any resources that are hard to replicate, you become a trusted source of information. This not only gets you backlinks from other good sites but also boosts your credibility across search engines and AI tools.
The best approach to backlinks I use is foundational (citations), guest posts, and social fortress.
1. Foundational links
Foundational links are the types of backlinks every business should have. Many people call these citations.
These are links from directory websites like Yellow Pages. Be sure your website appears in ones that are industry-specificFor example, in the mental health space Psychology Today is a foundational link for many organizations.
While foundational links won’t provide your website with a ton of authority, they are still very important to help provide a cheap and easy way to get your brand’s name out there.
2. Social fortress
While this isn’t exactly backlinks, having a social presence is huge to make your business look real. Fake businesses and scams won’t want to go through the effort of setting up all of this information so it’s a great way to show you are legitimate.
By having Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok you show you are a real business. This is also where many LLMs are training their data. Have a presence there and be sure to post regularly. Also, ensure all of these platforms connect and reference each other.
3. Guest posting
Guest posts are still a great way to increase organic authority for target keywords. They provide value for a content site in exchange for linking back to your resources. You want to ensure you don’t end up on a spammy website, which is why we follow this guest posting criteria for websites we get featured on:
The site needs to have at least 1,000 monthly visitors.
This reduces the risk of ending up on spammy websites that are just high-authority private blog networks (PBNs).
Should be industry-relevant or very high authority if they are a general website.
The link back to your website needs to be do-follow to pass authority.
No-follow links are not going to help you rank higher.
We helped a newly launched website do this simple three-step process and the results speak for themselves.
From a purely logical perspective the more you’re mentioned the more likely someone is to use your information when answering questions.
One more logical leap here is that this then increases your chances of being featured in AI-generated content as these systems favor widely mentioned, trusted content.
Essentially, the more people are talking about how good your information is the more likely you are to be the answer AI features.
How to get backlinks by being a resource
Create original research: Conduct surveys, analyze trends, or compile unique data that others in your industry can reference.
Use shareable visuals: Infographics were widely used to get more links about five years ago but the thing is research and data visualization still work.
Develop in-depth guides: Publish evergreen content that positions you as an expert in your niche.
Pursue quality over quantity: A few high-quality backlinks from good sites are worth more than a hundred low-quality ones.
Promote strategically: Share your content with industry influencers or partner with relevant organizations to get noticed. Research and reports won’t get themselves to others in the industry so shamelessly plug your stuff.
By creating content that others want to reference, you get backlinks and authority in the eyes of users and algorithms.
Thrive in an AI-driven world by focusing on fundamentals
SEO is evolving. The rise of AI tools has brought new challenges.
But like Jeff Bezos says “challenges are just opportunities in work clothes.” By getting back to basics with your SEO strategy you can thrive in an AI-driven world and stay one step ahead of your competitors.
Double down on what has always worked: creating good, relevant, and accessible content.
Here’s a reminder of how to do it.
1. Add structured data
Schema markup helps search engines and AI models understand your content quickly and accurately. AI tools need structured data to crawl large amounts of content and display it to users. Adding schema to your site makes it easier for your content to be surfaced in search results and AI outputs.
Tip: Use ChatGPT to generate complex schemas. Many users have used AI tools to create advanced markup that passes Google’s Rich Results Test. It can read the page and fill it out for you.
2. Publish to social media and aggregators
AI models openly admit to training their datasets on data from Facebook, Reddit, and other aggregators. By publishing your content on these platforms you’re putting your data directly in front of the systems training the AI models. This not only increases your visibility by building a social fortress but also gets your content into the broader AI knowledge base.
Tip: Share your content across all social platforms and submit to aggregators where relevant to your industry. Being in these spaces means your voice is part of the data AI systems use.
3. Use original data and statistics
AI and users love reliable, authoritative data. Publishing original research, creating independent studies, or offering expert quotes and statistics makes your content unique. AI tools often favor content with hard-to-replicate data so your content is a go-to source for training and referencing.
Tip: This doesn’t need to be huge clinical trials, just add real-life examples to your content that are unique to you even if it’s just a few screenshots. Cite your sources if you use them.
4. Keep content fresh and up to date
Updating your content is easier than ever with AI tools. Regularly updating content tells search engines and AI models it’s still relevant. Users also prefer up-to-date information which increases engagement and trust.
Tip: Use ChatGPT to rewrite your intro paragraph or point out references to old research then update it.
5. Check AI results
To see how AI tools display information in your industry you need to test them yourself. Use these tools every day. Make searches and see what type of results AI is favoring. Try to track your findings to see if you can find consistency.
Personally, I’ve seen different results for different types of searches and industries. For example, historical or general informational searches show Wikipedia as a source or as textbook-style information like Khan Academy.
For local businesses, I’ve seen individual sites get shown or directories/industry listing sites. You want to stay on top of these trends because that is how you will find specific tactics that work.
Tip: Regularly use AI tools like Perplexity or ChatGPT to search for your industry keywords. Look at the patterns in the results to find new opportunities you can pursue represented or content you can optimize.
Catering to generative AI with your SEO means being proactive, flexible, and focused on value. By adding structured data, sharing content, doing original research, updating your content, and checking AI results you can stay ahead of the game and win in the long term.
SEO is evolving and the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s SGE have changed the landscape. While some tactics may need to change, the fundamentals of SEO not only remain relevant, they’ve become essential.
SEO fundamentals checklist
Audit Technical SEO: Fix crawlability issues, and errors and optimize your site structure for accessibility.
Create quality content: Answer user questions with valuable, trustworthy, and well-structured content.
Use keywords: Do keyword research to understand your audience’s language and intent.
Build backlinks: Create unique, shareable content like reports or independent research to get mentioned and cited.
Use structured data: Add schema markup to your content so AI tools and search engines can consume it.
Publish beyond your website: Share your content on social media and aggregators where AI models train their data.
Do original research: Publish data, stats, and findings to establish your authority and credibility.
Update content: Regularly refresh your content with the latest news, insights, and information.
Check AI results: See how AI tools display industry results to find optimization opportunities.
Contributing authors are invited to create content for Search Engine Land and are chosen for their expertise and contribution to the search community. Our contributors work under the oversight of the editorial staff and contributions are checked for quality and relevance to our readers. The opinions they express are their own.
The National Institutes of Health employee said she knew things would be difficult for federal workers after Donald Trump was elected. But she never imagined it would be like this.
Focused on Alzheimer’s and other dementia research, the worker is among thousands who abruptly lost their jobs in the Trump administration’s federal workforce purge. The way she was terminated — in February through a boilerplate notice alleging poor performance, something she pointedly said was “not true” — made her feel she was “losing hope in humans.”
She said she can’t focus or meditate, and can barely go to the gym. At the urging of her therapist, she made an appointment with a psychiatrist in March after she felt she’d “hit the bottom,” she said.
“I am going through hell,” said the employee, who worked at the National Institute on Aging, one of 27 centers that make up the NIH. The worker, like others interviewed for this story, was granted anonymity because of the fear of professional retaliation.
“I know I am a mother. I am a wife. But I am also a person who was very happy with her career,” she said. “They took my job and my life from my hands without any reason.”
President Trump and his allies have increasingly denigrated the roughly 2 million people who make up the federal workforce, 80% of whom work outside the Washington, D.C., area. Trump has said federal workers are “destroying this country,” called them “crooked” and “dishonest,” and insinuated that they’re lazy. “Many of them don’t work at all,” he said earlier this month.
Elon Musk — who is the world’s richest person and whose Department of Government Efficiency, created by a Trump executive order, is infiltrating federal agencies and spearheading mass firings — has claimed without evidence that “there are a number of people on the government payroll who are dead” and others “who are not real people.” At a conference for conservatives in February, Musk brandished what he called “the chain saw for bureaucracy” and said that “waste is pretty much everywhere.”
The firings that began in February are taking a significant toll on federal employees’ mental health. Workers said they feel overwhelmed and demoralized, have obtained or considered seeking psychiatric care and medication, and feel anxious about being able to pay bills or afford college for their children.
Federal employees are bracing for more layoffs after agencies were required to deliver plans by this month for large-scale staff reductions. Compounding the uncertainty: After judges ruled that some initial firings were illegal, agencies have rehired some workers and placed others on paid administrative leave. Then, Trump on March 20 issued a memo giving the Office of Personnel Management more power to fire people across agencies.
Researchers who study job loss say these mass layoffs not only are disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of federal workers but also will reverberate out to their spouses, children, and communities.
“I’d expect this will have long-lasting impacts on these people’s lives and those around them,” said Jennie Brand, a professor of sociology at UCLA who wrote a paper about the implications of job loss. “We can see this impact years down the road.”
Couples fight more when one person loses a job, and if it’s a man, divorce rates increase.
Children with an unemployed parent are more likely to do poorly in school, repeat a grade, or drop out. It can even affect whether they go to college, Brand said. There’s an “intergenerational impact of instability,” she said.
And it doesn’t stop there. When people lose their jobs, especially when it’s many people at once, the wealth and resources available in their community are reduced. Kids see fewer employed role models. As families are forced to move, neighborhood stability gets upended. Unemployed people often withdraw from social and civic life, avoiding community gatherings, church, or other places where they might have to discuss or explain their job loss.
Although getting a new job can alleviate some of these problems, it doesn’t eliminate them, Brand said.
“It’s not as if people just get new jobs and then pick up the activities they used to be involved with,” she said. “There’s not a quick recovery.”
Email Sign-Up
Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.
Slashing Cultural Norms
The firings are upending a long-standing norm of the public sector — in exchange for earning less money compared with private-sector work, people had greater job security and more generous benefits. Now that’s no longer the case, fired workers said in interviews.
With the American economy moving toward temporary and gig jobs, landing a traditional government job was supposed to be “like you’ve got the golden goose,” said Blake Allan, a professor of counseling psychology at the University of Houston who researches how the quality of work affects people’s lives.
Even federal workers who are still employed face the daily question of whether they’ll be fired next. That constant state of insecurity, Allan said, can create chronic stress, which is linked to anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, and a host of other health issues.
One employee at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation, said the administration’s actions seem designed to cause enough emotional distress that workers voluntarily leave. “I feel like this ax will always be over my head for as long as I’m here and this administration is here,” the employee said.
Federal workers who passed on higher-paying private sector jobs because they wanted to serve their country may feel especially gutted to hear Trump and Musk denigrate their work as wasteful.
“Work is such a fundamental part of our identity,” Allan said. When it’s suddenly lost, “it can be really devastating to your sense of purpose and identity, your sense of social mattering, especially when it’s in a climate of devaluing what you do.”
Andrew Hazelton, a scientist in Florida, was working on improving hurricane forecasts when he was fired in February from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mass firings were carried out “with no humanity,” he said. “And that’s really tough.”
Hazelton became a federal employee in October but had worked alongside NOAA scientists for over eight years, including as an employee at the University of Miami. He lost his job as part of a purge targeting probationary workers, who lack civil service protections against firings.
His friends set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to provide a financial cushion for him, his wife, and their four children. Then in March, after a federal judge’s order requiring federal agencies to rescind those terminations, he was notified that he had been reinstated on paid administrative leave.
“It’s created a lot of instability,” said Hazelton, who still isn’t being allowed to do his work. “We just want to serve the public and get our forecasts and our data out there to help people make decisions, regardless of politics.”
Health Coverage Collateral
Along with their jobs, many federal workers are losing their health insurance, leaving them ill equipped to seek care just as they and their families are facing a tidal wave of potential mental and physical health consequences. And the nation’s mental health system is already underfunded, understaffed, and overstretched. Even with insurance, many people wait weeks or months to receive care.
“Most people don’t have a bunch of money sitting around to spend on therapy when you need to cover your mortgage for a couple months and try to find a different job,” Allan said.
A second NIH worker considered talking to a psychiatrist and potentially going on an antidepressant because of anxiety after being fired in February.
“And then the first thought after that was: ‘Oh, I’m about to not have insurance. I can’t do that,’” said the worker, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation. The worker’s health benefits were set to end in April — leaving too little time to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, let alone start a prescription.
“I don’t want to go on something and then have to stop it immediately,” the worker said.
The employee, one of several NIH workers reinstated this month, still fears getting fired again. The worker focuses on Alzheimer’s and related dementias and was inspired to join the agency because a grandmother has the disease.
The worker worries that “decades of research are going to be gone and people are going to be left with nothing.”
“I go from anxiety to deep sadness when I think about my own family,” the employee said.
The NIH, with its $47 billion annual budget, is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. The agency awarded nearly 59,000 grants in fiscal 2023, but the Trump administration has begun canceling hundreds of grants on research topics that new political appointees oppose, including vaccine hesitancy and the health of LGBTQ+ populations.
The NIH worker who worked at the National Institute on Aging was informed in mid-March that she would be on paid administrative leave “until further notice.” She said she is not sure whether she would find a similar job, adding that she “cannot be at home doing nothing.”
Apart from loving her job, she said, she has one child in college and another in high school and needs stable income. “I don’t know what I’m going to do next.”
We’d like to speak with current and former personnel from the Department of Health and Human Services or its component agencies who believe the public should understand the impact of what’s happening within the federal health bureaucracy. Please message KFF Health News on Signal at (415) 519-8778 or get in touch here.
Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room have announced that Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 will now launch in October.
In a new video update, executive producer Marco Behrmann said, “Since our last update, we’ve added more content to the game, narrative depth, character development, and we have also evolved Fabien’s role in the storyline.”
Behrmann also clarified that the game is done, but now the development team is focusing on fixing bugs, improving stability, and increasing performance, so that players have the most enjoyable and optimal experience.
Bloodlines 2 will launch in October 2025! This is to ensure that the game meets the high standard that you deserve.We have decided to pause all Dev Diaries so that TCR can focus on elevating the game. Watch the update here: https://t.co/pyN25qFCUIpic.twitter.com/dLAIz7qBpi
— Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (@VtM_Bloodlines) March 25, 2025
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was rated by the ESRB recently, and was originally set to release during the first half of this year. However, it has now been delayed once more. The game was initially revealed in 2019 with a 2020 launch, so it’s been a long six years since then.
During its development cycle, Paradox switched lead studios from Hardsuit Labs to The Chinese Room. Unfortunately, that resulted in the former enacting layoffs. The game was also nearly canceled.
In Vampire: Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, players will take on the role of a customizable elder vampire. Players can also enter romantic relationships with human NPCs, but will still need to drink blood in order to survive.
Sugar coatings aren’t only for candies; they also help viruses, like the ones that cause COVID-19, hide from their hosts’ immune system. Now, researchers have developed a universal vaccine that targets coronaviruses and the sugars that they use as cover. As demonstrated in animal studies, the vaccine removed sugar molecules from an area of a coronavirus spike protein that rarely mutates and created effective and plentiful antibodies to inactivate the virus.
Chi-Huey Wong, a chemistry professor at Scripps Research, will present results from his team’s studies today at the ACS Spring 2025 Digital Meeting, a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Wong says that the premise of this research is simple: It’s an effective vaccine that targets more than one coronavirus at a time, which will allow individuals to receive a single shot for protection against multiple infectious agents. An ongoing Phase I clinical trial led by Rock Biotherapeutics has completed enrollment and dosing and will be discussed by Wong during his ACS Spring 2025 Digital Meeting presentation.
“For a lot of vaccines, like smallpox and tetanus, we only have to be immunized once,” Wong says. “But we have to take a flu shot every year.” He adds that the high rate of mutation seen in the SARS-CoV-2 virus — specifically, the receptor binding domain on the virus’ spike protein — has led to an unprecedented number of COVID-19 vaccine updates.
The low-mutation region that Wong’s team chose to target for the new vaccine is within the stalk region of the virus’ spike protein. However, this stalk is coated with chains of sugar molecules called glycans from the host’s cells. And the sugar coating keeps antibodies from recognizing, and therefore inactivating, the virus.
So, the researchers devised a “low-sugar” vaccine that removes the protective glycans through enzymatic digestion and creates antibodies that specifically target the low-mutation stalk region of the virus’ spike protein, should the actual virus enter the body.
In animal studies with hamsters and mice, the universal vaccine created more diverse antibodies with higher titers (concentrations in the blood, where immune system cells travel throughout the body) compared to individual vaccines against variants of SARS-CoV, as well as MERS-CoV, the virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome. This improved and broadened the vaccine’s protection. Wong says the team’s new vaccine could also provide protection against coronaviruses that cause influenza and the common cold.
In addition to vaccines for viral infections, Wong’s team is using the technique to develop vaccines for the treatment of various cancers. They recently published two studies on glycan targets on cancer cells and enzymes linked to the synthesis of glycans on cancer cells in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
About Amity Law School Amity Law School, Amity University Maharashtra, is a premier institution committed to excellence in legal education. With state-of-the-art infrastructure and a dynamic learning environment, it offers students unparalleled opportunities to develop their advocacy, research, and analytical skills. The institution has a rich tradition of hosting intellectually stimulating events, including national and […]
The post Vidhi Dharmotsav 2025: Annual Law Fest by Amity Law School, Mumbai [9 Competitions; Hybrid; Cash Prizes of Rs. 2.27L]: Register by March 28! appeared first on Lawctopus.
Sun’s out, nails out! As summer 2025 approaches, it’s time to refresh your manicure game with the hottest nail trends of the season. From playful pastels to bold, futuristic designs, this year’s trends are all about vibrant colours, unique textures, and eye-catching details. Namika Kant, beauty expert at Envi Salons, shared with HT Lifestyle the best summer nail trends you’ll want to try this year. (Also read: Sadhana’s fringes to Dilip Kumar’s classic waves: 5 most iconic Bollywood hairstyles that shaped fashion trends )
Make a statement with these 10 jaw-dropping summer 2025 nail trends that are too pretty to ignore. (Pinterest)
1. Neon Chrome Nails
Chrome nails continue to dominate, but this summer, they’re getting a neon twist. Think electric blues, hot pinks, and lime greens with a mirror-like finish that reflects the summer sun beautifully.
2. Jelly Glazed Nails
Inspired by the Y2K era, translucent “jelly” nails with a glossy, syrup-like finish are making waves. Try them in juicy tangerine, bubblegum pink, or ocean blue for a fun, playful look.
3. Mocha Mousse Elegance
Pantone’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, is influencing nail trends, too! This warm, creamy brown is perfect for those who prefer chic, understated nails with a summer-ready glow.
4. Aura Nails 2.0
Aura nails are evolving with pastel and neon gradients, creating a dreamy, airbrushed effect. Whether you opt for soft pink-to-peach blends or bold purple-to-green fades, this trend adds a mystical touch.
5. Mermaidcore Nails
Inspired by oceanic hues and pearlescent finishes, Mermaidcore nails bring in shimmering aquas, iridescent purples, and opalescent whites. Add seashell accents or holographic foil for an extra splash of magic.
6. Micro French Tips
The classic French manicure gets a modern update with super-thin, colourful tips. Swap white for neon yellow, coral, or sky blue to keep it fresh and summer-appropriate.
7. Textured Nail Art
This season is all about touchable textures, think 3D bubbles, matte-velvet finishes, and even sand-like grains. These unique details add a fun, avant-garde element to your nails.
8. Mismatched Mani
Why settle for one colour when you can mix and match? Alternate bold shades, patterns, or even different nail art designs on each finger for a playful, customised look.
9. Fruit-Inspired Nails
Citrus brights and tiny fruit decals are trending! From watermelon slices to zesty lemons, this fun, tropical-inspired nail art is perfect for beach days and summer vacations.
10. Glitter-Dipped Nails
Glitter isn’t just for the holidays! A soft, gradient glitter effect on pastel or nude nails creates a subtle, sun-kissed sparkle that’s perfect for summer evenings.
Character Biosciences, a biotechnology startup developing treatments for vision loss, said Tuesday it raised $93 million in a Series B round.
The financing will help Character bring its two most advanced programs into clinical testing. One, dubbed CTX114, is being tested in geographic atrophy, a common eye condition and an advanced stage of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD. The other, CTX203, is designed to halt progression in people with “intermediate” AMD, so they don’t develop geographic atrophy or other forms of advanced disease. Both drug prospects should begin Phase 1 trials this year.
In geographic atrophy, Character aims to challenge two marketed drugs — Apellis Pharmaceuticals’ Syfovre and Astellas Pharma’s Izervay. Both can slow the growth of the patchy, map-like eye lesions that create blind spots in people with geographic atrophy. However, testing hasn’t clearly shown that doing so preserves vision. And in rare cases, Syfovre has been associated with severe side effects.
Like Syfovre and Izervay, CTX114 works on the complement system, an arm of the body’s immune system. According to Character co-founder and CEO Cheng Zhang, CTX114 does so differently, mimicking the function of a protein that stops the complement system from overactivating, but that malfunctions in AMD. Preclinical testing has suggested the approach may be more effective, though that hasn’t been proven in humans.
Character’s second drug is being developed for people who don’t yet have advanced AMD and aren’t typically treated. CTX203 is designed to stabilize expression of a protein called ABCA1 that’s involved in lipid transport by retinal cells. Lower ABCA1 levels are associated with an abnormal buildup of lipids that can lead to AMD progression.
While there are many medications for “wet” AMD, drugmakers have had less success with the “dry” form that accounts for the bulk of the estimated 200 million people worldwide with the disease. Zhang says a big reason why is the disease’s heterogeneity and varied progression, which makes it difficult to design clinical trials. Character has collected a trove of AMD patient data to help design its drugs and identify the specific groups of people it intends to enroll in studies.
“What gives us comfort is that we have mapped out those challenges, we have a deeper understanding of how we might mitigate those risks,” Zhang said. “We can subtype patients, understand those patients who are more likely to respond to our therapy, and have a drug that has more applications in the first place.”
Character’s Series B round was led by aMoon and Luma Group, and involved Bausch + Lomb, Jefferson Life Sciences and four other investors. Bausch + Lomb also announced a collaboration with the biotech in January.
“Character’s patient-first approach is unique in its ability to identify those who are most likely to benefit from therapy, and we look forward to seeing the clinical impact of this approach with the use of proceeds from this financing,” Jamie Kasuboski, a partner and head of research at Luma Group, said in a statement.
Character was formerly known as Clover Therapeutics, which was launched in 2019 by the health insurance firm Clover Health. The company previously raised an $28 million in funding, Zhang said.
Each period in history has had its golden moments and hardships.
While today’s economic and geopolitical challenges are real, history suggests we’re living in an unprecedented time of progress.
Warren Buffett’s concept of the “Ovarian Lottery” suggests that when and where you are born largely determines your opportunities.
If you’re living in 21st-century Australia, you’ve won the jackpot. The key is making the most of it.
Have you ever stopped to wonder if there was a better time to be alive than right now?
It’s a fascinating thought experiment.
Every era has had its golden moments and its dark chapters, and depending on when and where you were born, your experience of the world could be vastly different.
Today, many people are struggling with the cost of living, uncertain economic conditions, and geopolitical tensions.
But when you zoom out and take a broader view of history, it’s hard to argue that any other time compares to the advancements, opportunities, and quality of life we enjoy today.
So, let’s take a look at history through a demographic lens and explore some of the best – and worst – times to be alive.
For weekly insights and strategic advice, subscribe to the Demographics Decoded podcast, where we will continue to explore these trends and their implications in greater detail.
Subscribe now on your favourite Podcast player:
The Baby Boomer Era: a time of prosperity and social change
One of the most commonly cited “best times to be born” is the period following World War II, particularly the late 1940s to the early 1970s.
This was the era of the Baby Boomers, a generation that had an outsized influence on shaping the modern world.
From an economic perspective, this was a golden era.
The war was over, governments were pouring money into rebuilding infrastructure, and new industries were booming.
In this week’s episode of our Demographics Decoded Podcast, leading demographer Simon Kuestenmacher highlights a key advantage Baby Boomers had:
“They were part of a massive generation that, by sheer numbers, reshaped society.
From economic policies to cultural revolutions, they had the power to influence change in a way that previous generations didn’t.”
Homeownership was seen as a realistic goal, with property prices appearing much more affordable compared to incomes.
But was it really as easy as some younger generations claim?
Not necessarily.
Housing was cheaper, but finance was much harder to obtain:
Banks were extremely conservative with lending, requiring large deposits.
Women’s incomes weren’t taken into account in home loan applications, and many women weren’t even in the workforce full-time.
Interest rates were often higher, and inflation was unpredictable.
Despite these hurdles, Baby Boomers benefited from a unique economic tailwind.
Inflation helped push up wages and property prices, meaning those who got onto the property ladder early saw their wealth multiply over time.
In contrast, younger generations today face soaring property prices, but wages haven’t kept up in the same way.
From a social perspective, this era was also a time of significant change.
The Baby Boomers played a role in movements that reshaped society—the fight for gender equality, civil rights, and the sexual revolution.
But as Simon points out, these changes came from a place of inequality:
“The boomers had to fight against extreme discrimination and repression.
Would you rather be the generation that fought for change or the one that enjoys the benefits later?”
The Digital Revolution: a period of unparalleled innovation
If you’re looking for a period that rivals the post-war boom in terms of opportunity, the 1990s and 2000s – the era of the digital revolution is a strong contender.
This was when the internet became mainstream, changing the way we communicate, work, and access information.
Mobile phones, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence have since reshaped the global economy in ways that were unimaginable just a few decades ago.
Simon recalls his own experience with early technology:
“When the internet first arrived, people weren’t even sure what to do with it. You’d connect your dial-up modem, check an email (if you had one), and then… what? Now, we can’t imagine life without it.”
We’re at a similar stage now with artificial intelligence.
Everyone is experimenting with it, but we haven’t fully unlocked its potential.
Looking back, it’s easy to see that those who embraced digital innovation, whether by investing in the right companies, building tech-based businesses, or upskilling, benefited tremendously.
Of course, the digital age also brought new challenges:
Rising inequality – The gap between those who embraced digital innovation and those who didn’t widen significantly.
Job disruption – Many traditional roles disappeared, replaced by automation and AI.
Mental health challenges – Social media and digital addiction have introduced new psychological struggles.
Despite these issues, this era has dramatically improved the quality of life for billions of people.
Technological progress, medical advancements, and economic opportunities have never been more accessible.
The Worst Times to Be Born: periods of hardship and uncertainty
While we debate the best times in history, there are some eras you’d definitely want to avoid.
The Great Depression (1929-1939): A Decade of Despair
The economic collapse of 1929 triggered mass unemployment, poverty, and despair across the world.
In Australia, one in three breadwinners was out of work, and many families lived in makeshift camps due to homelessness.
I remember my own grandmother, who lived through this period, turning off every light when she left a room and stockpiling food in the pantry—habits formed from years of extreme hardship.
There was no JobSeeker, no safety net, and no certainty about where your next meal would come from.
It was an era of survival.
WarWall.ucoz.ru
World Wars I and II (1914-1918, 1939-1945): A Generation Lost to War
If you were a young man born in the early 1900s, your chances of being sent to the front lines were high.
The trauma of war left lasting scars on entire generations.
During a recent trip to the Philippines, I visited a war cemetery with thousands of unmarked graves—young men whose names were never even identified.
That kind of loss is almost unimaginable today.
The Middle Ages (5th-15th Century): A Life of Hardship and No Social Mobility
If you were born in medieval times, your life expectancy was low, and your fate was largely determined at birth.
There was little opportunity to improve your circumstances, one bad harvest could mean starvation, and diseases were rampant.
“Imagine no medical support, no sanitation, and rigid social structures that kept you in poverty for life,” Simon notes.
“It’s hard to romanticise the past when you consider those realities.”
The Present: the best time in history to be alive?
When we weigh up the pros and cons, it’s hard to argue against the idea that right now is the best time in history to be alive:
Medical advancements – Life expectancy is at an all-time high. Treatments for previously fatal conditions are now routine.
Technological breakthroughs – AI, automation, and the internet have transformed life in ways we’re still discovering.
Economic stability (in Australia) – While we face challenges, we are fortunate to live in a country with a strong economy, access to education, and opportunities for wealth creation.
Yes, housing affordability is tough.
Yes, the world is changing rapidly. But we also have more opportunities than ever before.
Warren Buffett often talks about the “Ovarian Lottery”—the idea that where and when you’re born largely determines your opportunities in life.
If you’re living in 21st-century Australia, you’ve won the jackpot.
Now, it’s up to you to make the most of it.
If you found this discussion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast and share it with others who might benefit.
Subscribe now on your favourite Podcast player:
About Michael Yardney Michael is the founder of Metropole Property Strategists who help their clients grow, protect and pass on their wealth through independent, unbiased property advice and advocacy. He’s once again been voted Australia’s leading property investment adviser and one of Australia’s 50 most influential Thought Leaders. His opinions are regularly featured in the media.
Accessing geo-restricted content can be frustrating, especially when traveling or trying to watch region-locked media. While VPNs are the most popular solution, I prefer using Smart DNS Proxy as a simpler and more efficient way of accessing locally unavailable content.
Smart DNS Proxy is a simpler and more efficient solution because it only redirects DNS queries instead of routing all traffic through an encrypted tunnel. This allows me to watch high-quality videos online without buffering, as my traffic doesn’t have to go through the extra steps of encryption.
It also doesn’t mask my IP address, preventing issues like security flags on banking sites or annoying CAPTCHAs. I can access geo-restricted content while keeping seamless access to other online services.
Unlike VPNs, which require software installation and may not work on smart TVs or gaming consoles, Smart DNS Proxy can also be set up directly on routers and media players, allowing you to access popular TV streaming services with your preferred device. Plus, since it only alters DNS queries instead of rerouting traffic, it’s harder for streaming services to detect and block, ensuring more reliable access.
How I Use Smart DNS Proxy to Access Geo-Restricted Content
Setting up Smart DNS Proxy is simple and works across multiple devices. I’m using Windows 11, but Smart DNS Proxy has guides for macOS, smart TVs, consoles, and more.
Step 1: Create a SmartDNS Account
You’ll first want to create a Smart DNS Proxy account with your email. They offer a free two-week trial (no need to enter your credit card details) with full access to their services, except for Netflix, which is only accessible on a paid subscription. So, unless you primarily watch on Netflix, you don’t need an immediate subscription.
Step 2: Configure DNS Proxy on Your Device
Start by opening ViewNetwork Connections by navigating to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections
Right-click the adapter and choose Properties, then scroll down to reveal the IPv4 and IPv6 options.
Untick Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) to ensure SmartDNS Proxy is only working with IPv4.
You then select Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
Now tick Use the following DNS server addresses. Then, visit SmartDNS’s list of available DNS servers. Pick any two servers where you think the content you want to watch isn’t blocked, and copy the IP addresses. Now, return to your IPv4 configuration panel and paste both IP addresses into the provided box.
Note that your device will default to using the DNS server you’ve placed under Preferred DNS server, and will only use the Alternative DNS server if the preferred server isn’t available. After setting up network configurations, restart your computer to ensure that all changes are set.
Sometimes, Google Chrome blocks Smart DNS Proxy when accessing content online. To ensure you don’t have this problem, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Security. Scroll down to Advanced and disable Use secure DNS. This should fix problems with Chrome blocking sites due to the proxy DNS.
Click Update, then select Activate/ReActivate to register your IP address with the system.
To verify that SmartDNS is active, check the Setup page—if it shows a green check mark, your DNS proxy is working correctly.
After activation, open your favorite streaming service and test by accessing region-locked content. If the content is still locked, make sure to check that IPV6 and secure DNS are disabled. You may also want to change your DNS server region, as it’s possible that the region you are proxying from also blocked the specific content you want to access.
VPNs and other proxy services are similar but not the same. DNS proxy services are streamlined to be faster and simpler than VPNs but have limitations:
No Encryption: Unlike VPNs, SmartDNS doesn’t encrypt internet traffic, making it unsuitable for securing sensitive data. If privacy is a concern, a VPN is still the better choice.
Works Only with Compatible Platforms: SmartDNS is designed to work with streaming platforms and region-locked websites, but it won’t help bypass network-level censorship (e.g., in restrictive countries).
May Require Frequent IP Verification: Some ISPs frequently change IP addresses. When this happens, you’ll need to re-activate your IP with the Smart DNS Proxy, which can be inconvenient.
If all you need is a way to watch your favorite shows or access websites blocked in your region, a proxy DNS service like Smart DNS Proxy is a great option. It’s fast, reliable, and works on devices that don’t support VPNs. That said, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution—if security and privacy are your main concerns, a VPN is still the better choice. But if speed and convenience matter most, Smart DNS Proxy is worth trying out.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/Spring-awakens-Baihualing-with-a-symphony-of-birdsong-1C1JeJS8N7a/img/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79.png'A photo shows a blue-throated barbet perching on a branch in Baihualing in Baoshan, Yunnan, China. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/Spring-awakens-Baihualing-with-a-symphony-of-birdsong-1C1JeJS8N7a/img/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79.png'A photo shows a blue-throated barbet perching on a branch in Baihualing in Baoshan, Yunnan, China. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/Spring-awakens-Baihualing-with-a-symphony-of-birdsong-1C1JeJS8N7a/img/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79.png'A photo shows a blue-throated barbet perching on a branch in Baihualing in Baoshan, Yunnan, China. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/Spring-awakens-Baihualing-with-a-symphony-of-birdsong-1C1JeJS8N7a/img/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79/cae52ed3a31c400580de9c7066c21d79.png'A photo shows a blue-throated barbet perching on a branch in Baihualing in Baoshan, Yunnan, China. /VCG
As winter gives way to spring, Baihualing in Baoshan, Yunnan, has become a haven for birdwatchers. Baihualing, which translates to “Hundred Flowers Ridge,” lives up to its name, offering an unparalleled spectacle of flora and fauna. Tucked away within the lush Gaoligong Mountains, this renowned birdwatching hotspot has come alive with the songs of diverse bird species, while various flowers paint the landscape in rich hues.
Shailene Woodley, actor and environmentalist, was featured in Outside magazine late last year beneath the headline “Here’s What It’s Like to Go Camping With Shailene Woodley.”
Actor Lucas Bravo looked like he could have told that same story as he and Woodley stepped out in Paris — she with a messy half-up, half-down ’do, no makeup and loose jeans and he with a beanie, fleece-lined jacket and forest-green sweater.
They looked ready for roasting marshmallows, which is appropriate because they are apparently sweet on each other. The Parisian PDA established their new coupledom.
According to her Outside interview, 33-year-old Woodley is an old hand at camping thanks to family outings at Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu and other California coastal haunts. The “Divergent” star is a climate advocate, as Outside related, having worked with nonprofits and NGOs and taken part in the Standing Rock protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
She told the news outlet she’d had to pick up a new sleeping pad at REI: “I left my old one with my ex.” It’s not clear the ex to whom she is referring, but she famously dated and was engaged to NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers — another brawny, bearded man. The former Green Bay Packer and “Big Little Lies” star broke off their engagement in February 2022.
Bravo, 37, plays swoon-worthy chef Gabriel on “Emily in Paris” and is a Paris denizen. But he talked with The Times in a September interview about his five years in Los Angeles as a struggling actor following a semester in law school.
“Every day, I would ask a different friend for a couple of bucks and go to Taco Bell and get the 99 cent cheesy double beef burrito,” he said.
Perhaps Woodley and Bravo will cozy up in L.A. next, grab a burrito and head over to Leo Carrillo.
New Delhi, March 25: Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line bookings officially opened at the dealerships across India. The Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line is set to launch on April 14, 2025. The German automaker also revealed the key specifications and features of the car on its website. The Tiguan R-Line SUV will be introduced in six colours and have a similar design specific to the brand.
The new VW Tiguan R-Line has a sleeker design than the previous model. It has “R” badging on the front door is visible and the car will have modern tech features to add more comfort to the driver and passenger. The car has notable design changes on the front bumper, grille, and headlamps. It also has alloy wheels and a connected taillamp at the rear. Aston Martin Vanquish Launched in India at INR 8.85 Crore With V12 Twin-Turbo Engine; Check Specifications and Features.
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Specifications and Features
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line will get a 2.0-litre TSI (Turbocharged Stratified Injection) engine capable of producing a maximum of 204 PS power and 320 Nm of peak torque. The engine is mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox as a default. The vehicle will also offer 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD) in India.
The VW Tiguan R-Line will be offered in six colour variants, including Oyster Silver Metallic, Persimmon Red Metallic, Cipressino Green Metallic, Nightshade Blue Metallic, Grendilla Black Metallic and Ornyx White Mother of Pearl Effect. The 2025 Tiguan R-Line has a large infotainment system and a physical start/stop button. It will offer multiple driving modes, including Sports. The car is expected to launch in India as a CBU import. This year, the Volkswagen Golf GTI hatchback is expected to launch in India at INR 20.50 lakh (ex-showroom) price. Aston Martin Vanquish Deliveries To Start From 3rd Quarter 2025, Luxury Car’s Ex-Showroom Price Starts at INR 8.85 Crore; Check Details.
VW said, “The new Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line blends sporty aesthetics with precision German engineering, setting a new benchmark for performance SUVs. With a bold R-inspired design and top-of-the-line features, the Tiguan R-Line ensures every drive is an exhilarating journey.” VW Tiguan R-Line price in India may range between INR 45 to 50 lakh (ex-showroom).
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 25, 2025 05:01 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Databricks, a company that helps big businesses build custom artificial intelligence models, has developed a machine-learning trick that can boost the performance of an AI model without the need for clean labeled data.
Jonathan Frankle, chief AI scientist at Databricks, spent the past year talking to customers about the key challenges they face in getting AI to work reliably.
The problem, Frankle says, is dirty data.
”Everybody has some data, and has an idea of what they want to do,” Frankle says. But the lack of clean data makes it challenging to fine-tune a model to perform a specific task. “Nobody shows up with nice, clean fine-tuning data that you can stick into a prompt or an [application programming interface]” for a model.
Databricks’ model could allow companies to eventually deploy their own agents to perform tasks, without data quality standing in the way.
The technique offers a rare look at some of the key tricks that engineers are now using to improve the abilities of advanced AI models, especially when good data is hard to come by. The method leverages ideas that have helped produce advanced reasoning models by combining reinforcement learning, a way for AI models to improve through practice, with “synthetic,” or AI-generated, training data.
The latest models from OpenAI, Google, and DeepSeek all rely heavily on reinforcement learning as well as synthetic training data. WIRED revealed that Nvidia plans to acquire Gretel, a company that specializes in synthetic data. “We’re all navigating this space,” Frankle says.
The Databricks method exploits the fact that, given enough tries, even a weak model can score well on a given task or benchmark. Researchers call this method of boosting a model’s performance “best-of-N.” Databricks trained a model to predict which best-of-N result human testers would prefer, based on examples. The Databricks reward model, or DBRM, can then be used to improve the performance of other models without the need for further labeled data.
DBRM is then used to select the best outputs from a given model. This creates synthetic training data for further fine-tuning the model so that it produces a better output the first time. Databricks calls its new approach Test-time Adaptive Optimization or TAO. “This method we’re talking about uses some relatively lightweight reinforcement learning to basically bake the benefits of best-of-N into the model itself,” Frankle says.
He adds that the research done by Databricks shows that the TAO method improves as it is scaled up to larger, more capable models. Reinforcement learning and synthetic data are already widely used, but combining them in order to improve language models is a relatively new and technically challenging technique.
Databricks is unusually open about how it develops AI, because it wants to show customers that it has the skills needed to create powerful custom models for them. The company previously revealed to WIRED how it developed DBX, a cutting-edge open source large language model (LLM) from scratch.
The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has signed an MoU with Chainlink to enhance Web3 awareness and explore advanced blockchain use cases. Announced on March 24, the partnership marks ADGM’s deeper engagement with Web3 solutions, focusing on cross-chain interoperability and tokenised asset utility. Chainlink will contribute its technical expertise and industry insights to support the research. Based on their findings, both entities plan to propose regulatory frameworks for blockchain adoption.
ADGM, an international financial center in Abu Dhabi, introduced a virtual asset regulatory framework in 2018 and is now home to over 2,000 companies. Meanwhile, Chainlink is a decentralised oracle network that connects smart contracts with off-chain data.
As part of the partnership, Chainlink has committed to providing its advanced suite of services to enhance the utility of tokenized assets while ensuring compliance, ADGM stated in its announcement.
Angie Walker, Global Head of Banking and Capital Markets at Chainlink Labs has hinted that the partnership will focus on incubating and sustaining projects around tokenisation within the ADGM.
“Our alliance will elevate the blockchain ecosystem in the UAE, driving innovation and adoption,” Walker said.
This development comes as interest in asset tokenisation surges in the UAE. Tokenised assets—physical properties converted into blockchain-based digital tokens—enable fractional ownership, enhance liquidity, and simplify trading. Market analytics firm Mordor Intelligence estimates that the global asset tokenisation market could reach $2.08 trillion (roughly Rs. 1,78,34,991 crore) in 2025 and exceed $13.5 trillion (roughly Rs. 11,57,50,069 crore) by 2030.
Just last week, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) said it plans to explore real estate tokenisation, aiming to streamline property transactions.
Under the MoU, ADGM and Chainlink will collaborate on regulatory discussions and educational initiatives. In the coming months, they plan to host a series of events and workshops to inform businesses and retail investors about the evolving tokenisation landscape.
“By collaborating with Chainlink, we are aiming to set a global benchmark that spearheads transparency, security, and trust across the blockchain space,” said Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADGM Registration Authority. The topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will also be on the agenda for the two parties.
The UAE government is planning to revamp several of its private and public services with blockchain technologies. It has also initiated pro-Web3 talks with the US.
A new profile of Elizabeth Reid, the head of Google Search, confirms that Google is moving away from its longstanding model of sending its users to websites. As one former unnamed senior executive put it: “Giving traffic to publisher sites is kind of a necessary evil.”
As for the iconic Google Search bar? It will slowly lose prominence in the Google Search experience, due to the continuing growth of voice and visual search, Reid said.
Necessary evil. Google has been increasingly focused on keeping users inside Google properties, reducing the need to click through to external sites. A former Google senior executive told Bloomberg that supporting publishers was incidental to Google’s larger aims:
“Giving traffic to publisher sites is kind of a necessary evil. The main thing they’re trying to do is get people to consume Google services.”
“So there’s a natural tendency to want to have people stay on Google pages, but it does diminish the sort of deal between the publishers and Google itself.”
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in December Google spends a lot of time “thinking about the traffic we send to the ecosystem.” But, of late, he has stopped short of promising that Google will send more of it to websites – and there’s probably good reason for that.
Instead, Pichai now mentions how AI Overviews are increasing search usage. (Even though, I thought the whole point of AI Overviews was to reduce the number of searches – remember the idea of “let Google do the searching for you” to get “quick answers”?)
As a reminder, Google sees more than 5 trillion searches per year. But for every 1,000 Google searches, only 360 clicks in the U.S. go to the open web (Context: Nearly 60% of Google searches end without a click).
Google Search hovering. The Google Search bar won’t go away, according to Reid. However, it will become less prominent over time as Google prepares for the rise of voice and visual searches. Here’s the full section from the Bloomberg article (Google Is Searching for an Answer to ChatGPT):
“Reid predicts that the traditional Google search bar will become less prominent over time. Voice queries will continue to rise, she says, and Google is planning for expanded use of visual search, too. Rajan Patel, a vice president for search experience, demonstrated how parents can use Google’s visual search tools to help their kids with homework, or to surreptitiously take a photo of a stylish stranger’s sneakers in a coffee shop to buy the same pair (something Patel did recently). The search bar isn’t going away anytime soon, Reid says, but the company is moving toward a future in which Google is always hovering in the background. ‘The world will just expand,’ she says. ‘It’s as if you can ask Google as easily as you could ask a friend, only the friend is all-knowing, right?’”
Other Reid quotes of note. For what is being considered a “profile” of Reid, the article didn’t contain many direct quotes. Here are the few interesting quotes from the piece:
“We learned what people really wanted two months faster” (on launching early features in her Google Maps days).
“[Search is a] constant evolution [rather than a complete overhaul].”
“Things start slowly and then quickly. Suddenly the combination of the tech and the product and the use and the understanding and the polish and everything comes together, and then everyone needs it.”
“It’s really exciting to work on search at a time when you think the tech can genuinely change what people can search for.”
“[Before generative AI] people did not go to Google Search and say, ‘How many rocks should I eat per day?’ They just didn’t.’” (Context: Google AI Overviews under fire for giving dangerous and wrong answers)
And one indirect quote, where Bloomberg summarizes her thoughts on AI:
“Google’s generative AI products still carry disclaimers that the technology is experimental. Testing tools in public helps them get better, Reid says. She’s convinced that, as with other changes to search, AI will get people to use Google even more than they did before.”
Why we care. Many websites started to lose traffic when Google launched AI Overviews last May and as AI Overviews expanded. Google was a fairly reliable source of organic search traffic for over two decades – but the rules are changing. No, SEO isn’t dead. But old SEO strategies and tactics will need to evolve and playbooks will need to be rewritten.
PLEASANTVILLE, Iowa — Zach Mecham has heard politicians demand that Medicaid recipients work or lose their benefits. He also has run into a jumble of Medicaid rules that effectively prevent many people with disabilities from holding full-time jobs.
“Which is it? Do you want us to work or not?” he said.
Mecham, 31, relies on the public insurance program to pay for services that help him live on his own despite a disability caused by muscular dystrophy. He uses a wheelchair to get around and a portable ventilator to breathe.
A paid assistant stays with Mecham at night. Then a home health aide comes in the morning to help him get out of bed, go to the bathroom, shower, and get dressed for work at his online marketing business. Without the assistance, he would have to shutter his company and move into a nursing home, he said.
Private health insurance plans generally do not cover such support services, so he relies on Medicaid, which is jointly financed by federal and state governments and covers millions of Americans who have low incomes or disabilities.
Like most other states, Iowa has a Medicaid “buy-in program,” which allows people with disabilities to join Medicaid even if their incomes are a bit higher than would typically be permitted. About two-thirds of such programs charge premiums, and most have caps on how much money participants can earn and save.
Some states have raised or eliminated such financial caps for people with disabilities. Mecham has repeatedly traveled to the Iowa Capitol to lobby legislators to follow those states’ lead. The “Work Without Worry” bill would remove income and asset caps and instead require Iowans with disabilities to pay 6% of their incomes as premiums to remain in Medicaid. Those fees would be waived if participants pay premiums for employer-based health insurance, which would help cover standard medical care.
Disability rights advocates say income and asset caps for Medicaid buy-in programs can prevent participants from working full time or accepting promotions. “It’s a trap — a poverty trap,” said Stephen Lieberman, a policy director for the United Spinal Association, which supports the changes.
Mecham (left) gets ready for his workday with the help of Courtnie Imler, a home health aide. Mecham relies on Medicaid to pay for such support services, which generally are not covered by private health insurance.(Tony Leys/KFF Health News)
Email Sign-Up
Subscribe to KFF Health News’ free Morning Briefing.
Lawmakers in Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, and New Jersey have introduced bills to address the issue this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Several other states have raised or eliminated their program’s income and asset caps. Iowa’s proposal is modeled on a Tennessee law passed last year, said Josh Turek, a Democratic state representative from Council Bluffs. Turek, who is promoting the Iowa bill, uses a wheelchair and earned two gold medals as a member of the U.S. Paralympics basketball team.
Proponents say allowing people with disabilities to earn more money and still qualify for Medicaid would help ease persistent worker shortages, including in rural areas where the working-age population is shrinking.
Turek believes now is a good time to seek expanded employment rights for people with disabilities, since Republicans who control the state and federal governments have been touting the value of holding a job. “That’s the trumpet I’ve been blowing,” he said with a smile.
The Iowa Legislature has been moving to require many nondisabled Medicaid recipients to work or to document why they can’t. Opponents say most Medicaid recipients who can work already do so, and the critics say work requirements add red tape that is expensive to administer and could lead Medicaid recipients to lose their coverage over paperwork issues.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has made Medicaid work requirements a priority this year. “If you can work, you should. It’s common sense and good policy,” the Republican governor told legislators in January in her “Condition of the State Address.” “Getting back to work can be a lifeline to stability and self-sufficiency.”
Her office did not respond to KFF Health News’ queries about whether Reynolds supports eliminating income and asset caps for Iowa’s buy-in program, known as Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities.
National disability rights activists say income and asset caps on Medicaid buy-in programs discourage couples from marrying or even pressure them to split up if one or both partners have disabilities. That’s because in many states a spouse’s income and assets are counted when determining eligibility.
In Iowa, for example, the monthly net income cap is $3,138 for a single person and $4,259 for a couple.
Iowa’s current asset cap for a single person in the Medicaid buy-in plan is $12,000. For a couple, that cap rises only to $13,000. Countable assets include investments, bank accounts, and other things that could be easily converted to cash, but not a primary home, vehicle, or household furnishings.
“You have couples who have been married for decades who have to go through what we call a ‘Medicaid divorce,’ just to get access to these supports and services that cannot be covered in any other way,” said Maria Town, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities.
Town said some states, including Massachusetts, have removed income caps for people with disabilities who want to join Medicaid. She said the cost of adding such people to the program is at least partially offset by the premiums they pay for coverage and the increased taxes they contribute because they are allowed to work more hours. “I don’t think it has to be expensive” for the state and federal governments, she said.
Congress has considered a similar proposal to allow people with disabilities to work more hours without losing their Social Security disability benefits, but that bill has not advanced.
Although most states have Medicaid buy-in programs, enrollment is relatively low, said Alice Burns, a Medicaid analyst at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
Fewer than 200,000 people nationwide are covered under the options, Burns said. “Awareness of these programs is really limited,” she said, and the income limits and paperwork can dissuade potential participants.
In states that charge premiums for Medicaid buy-in programs, monthly fees can range from $10 to 10% of a person’s income, according to a KFF analysis of 2022 data.
The Iowa proposal to remove income and asset caps has drawn bipartisan backing from legislators, including a 20-0 vote of approval from the House Health and Human Services Committee. “This aligns with things both parties are aiming to do,” said state Rep. Carter Nordman, a Republican who chaired a subcommittee meeting on the bill. Nordman said he supports the idea but wants to see an official estimate of how much it would cost the state to let more people with disabilities participate in the Medicaid buy-in program.
Mecham, the citizen activist lobbying for the Iowa bill, said he hopes it allows him to expand his online marketing and graphic design business, “Zach of All Trades.”
On a recent morning, health aide Courtnie Imler visited Mecham’s modest house in Pleasantville, a town of about 1,700 people in an agricultural region of central Iowa. Imler chatted with Mecham while she used a hoist to lift him out of his wheelchair and onto the toilet. Then she cleaned him up, brushed his hair, and helped him put on jeans and a John Deere T-shirt. She poured him a cup of coffee and put a straw in it so he could drink it on his own, swept the kitchen floor, and wiped the counters. After about an hour, she said goodbye.
Imler uses a mechanical hoist to lift Mecham out of his wheelchair as she helps him get cleaned up and ready for work at the marketing business he runs out of his home.(Tony Leys/KFF Health News)
After getting cleaned up and dressed, Mecham rolled his motorized wheelchair over to his plain wooden desk, fired up his computer, and began working on a social media video for a client promoting a book. He scrolled back and forth through footage of an interview she’d done, so he could pick the best clip to post online. He also shoots video, takes photos, and writes advertising copy.
Mecham loves feeling productive, and he figures he could work at least twice as many hours if not for the risk of losing Medicaid coverage. He said he’s allowed to make a bit more money than Iowa Medicaid’s standard limit because he signed up for a federal option under which he eventually expects to work his way off Social Security disability payments.
There are several such options for people with disabilities, but they all involve complicated paperwork and frequent reports, he said. “This is such a convoluted system that I have to navigate to build any kind of life for myself,” he said. Many people with disabilities are intimidated by the rules, so they don’t apply, he said. “If you get it wrong, you lose the health care your life depends on.”
The Nintendo Switch 2 is reportedly launching in June, with a three-phase plan for rolling out both first- and third-party games throughout the rest of the year.
According to a report from Insider Gaming, various sources have claimed that Nintendo has a three-part plan for rolling out the Nintendo Switch 2 launch this year. Phase 1 starts with the launch of the Switch 2 in June, which will be supported by a number of first-party Nintendo games, like the next Mario Kart game, which was shown during the reveal trailer. June is also when more developers will get Switch 2 dev kits. Analyst Daniel Ahmad clarified on X that many developers already have Switch 2 dev kits, with Nintendo just expanding the number in June.
Nintendo Switch 2 – Official First Look Reveal Trailer
Size:
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
Sign up or Sign in now!
Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.
This video has an invalid file format.
Sorry, but you can’t access this content!
Please enter your date of birth to view this video
The second phase is set for October to November, which will see more third-party games launch on the console. The last phase is the holiday period, although no other details were given outside of more games being released. The report also mentioned that some content creators and media will be seeing the new console and some upcoming games next week, the same week that the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct takes place.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is slated for April 2, but there have been reports that another Nintendo Direct will occur later this week. While the exact details are unclear, the Direct is expected to be focused entirely on the original Nintendo Switch and any titles coming to that console in the near future, like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Nintendo also recently released Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, which has a hidden 60 FPS mode, which could potentially be a feature enabled by the Switch 2.
Obesity is linked to numerous health complications, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease. In a world where obesity rates continue to climb, researchers are constantly seeking effective, accessible solutions to this global health crisis. Interestingly, over the past few decades, scientists have begun to focus not only on what we eat but also on how we eat it.
While much attention has indeed focused on dietary content and caloric intake, emerging research suggests that eating behaviors — including meal duration, chewing speed, and number of bites taken — may have a big impact on how much food we consume. Previous studies have indicated that people who eat more slowly tend to consume less food overall, but specific, evidence-based guidelines on how to effectively slow down eating have been lacking. This is particularly true for Japan, where eating habits differ from Western norms.
Against this backdrop, a research team led by Professor Katsumi Iizuka from the Department of Clinical Nutrition, Fujita Health University, Japan, conducted a study to identify factors that influence meal duration and eating behavior. Their paper, co-authored by Dr. Megumi Aoshima and Dr. Kanako Deguchi from Fujita Health University and published in Volume 17, Issue 6 of Nutrients journal on March 10, 2025, explores factors including sex differences, chewing patterns, and external rhythmic stimuli and their relationship to how we consume our meals. “While nutritional science is often concerned with food metabolism and absorption and dietary content, there’s limited evidence in Japan on dietary behavior that connects the two. This intrigued me to study eating behavior, which involves gender differences,” explains Iizuka.
The study involved 33 healthy participants aged 20 to 65 years who were asked to eat slices of pizza under different conditions. Researchers measured meal duration, number of chews, number of bites, and chewing tempo (the rate or speed of chewing), noting how these variables changed when participants were exposed to different metronome rhythms using headphones.
The results revealed significant differences between men and women in eating behaviors. Women typically took longer to eat, averaging 87 seconds compared to 63 seconds for men. They also chewed more (averages of 107 vs. 80) and took more bites (4.5 vs. 2.1). However, the actual chewing tempo was similar between both sexes.
When adjusted for sex differences, meal duration was positively associated with the number of chews and bites taken, but not with body mass index or average eating tempo. Perhaps most interestingly, when participants were exposed to a slow metronome rhythm of about 40 beats per minute, their meal duration increased significantly compared to eating without rhythmic stimulation.
The study suggests several straightforward strategies to extend meal duration: increasing the number of chews per bite, taking smaller bites (which naturally increases the total number of bites per meal), and potentially creating a slower eating environment through calming music or rhythmic cues. “These are easy, money-saving measures that can be started right away to help prevent obesity,” says Iizuka, highlighting the practical implications of the results.
These findings have particular relevance for nutritional guidance and obesity prevention programs. Rather than focusing solely on food content, interventions could incorporate guidance on eating behaviors and environmental factors that promote slower eating. “Incorporating the proposed eating behavior into school lunches and other programs can lead to the prevention of future diseases related to obesity,” Iizuka notes.
The researchers acknowledge that future studies should test these findings with a variety of foods beyond pizza to confirm their applicability in diverse eating scenarios. Nevertheless, this research provides valuable evidence-based strategies that could be incorporated into obesity prevention and treatment programs immediately, without significant cost or complexity.
Hopefully, these efforts will help spread actionable advice to both prevent and address obesity and minimize its impact on health down the line.
About the University: Maharashtra National Law University, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar The State of Maharashtra realizing the importance of quality legal education and the need for well-trained law graduates to the Bar, Bench and profession took a very bold decision by creating three National Law Universities in the State of Maharashtra at Mumbai, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajigar. […]
The post Bharat Ratna Late Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee MNLU-CS 3rd National Youth Parliament, 2025 by MNLU, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar [April 12 – 13; Exciting Cash Prizes]: Register by April 7! appeared first on Lawctopus.
All zodiac signs have their own characteristics and traits which define someone’s personality. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you started your day by already knowing about what’s going to come your way? Read on to find out whether the odds will be in your favour today.
Astrological prediction for March 26.(Pixabay)
Aries (Mar 21-Apr 20)
Aches and pains may be more noticeable today, so prioritizing warm-ups before physical activity will help. Your earnings exceed expectations, leading to financial prosperity. Adjusting your professional approach will be advantageous, even if immediate feedback remains neutral. A parent’s changing mood may require patience, but understanding their perspective will ease any tension. A visit to a wildlife sanctuary will be rewarding, as long as you respect the environment. Renovations may take longer than planned, but progress will continue steadily. Academically, students will find their training improving, making learning feel productive.
Love Focus: Romance feels effortless, though a subtle emotional distance may be felt. Lucky Number: 17 Lucky Colour: Purple
Taurus (Apr 21-May 20)
A short getaway may not solve all stressors, but it will provide a refreshing break. Home renovations will bring warmth and uplifting energy to your space. A deep sense of well-being makes daily tasks feel effortless. Patience in managing debts will ensure long-term financial stability. This is a great time to set ambitious career goals and think on a larger scale. Clearing up minor miscommunications at home will prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings. Academically, learning will be fulfilling, with each lesson offering exciting discoveries.
Love Focus: Passion and joy fill your connection, making love feel effortless. Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Colour: Peach
Gemini (May 21-Jun 21)
Your energy remains steady and reliable today. Making cautious financial decisions and avoiding impulsive spending will prove beneficial. Attending an industry event may introduce you to someone with valuable insights. Taking time to reflect on family bonds will bring appreciation and emotional depth. A growing interest in travel will spark a desire for new adventures. Understanding the dynamics of a neighborhood will be crucial before choosing a home. Academically, students will find joy in mastering new concepts, making learning both engaging and rewarding.
Love Focus: Inner growth leads to a deeper and more fulfilling love. Lucky Number: 5 Lucky Colour: Blue
Cancer (Jun 22-Jul 22)
Opting for wholesome meals today will enhance your body’s efficiency. Thoughtful financial decisions may lead to promising investment opportunities. An old acquaintance may reconnect with a career opportunity worth exploring. Sharing laughter with a sibling will brighten your day and strengthen your bond. Traveling will present an opportunity to appreciate and capture breathtaking landscapes. Virtual home tours will save time and provide insightful property options. Academically, today’s lessons will be engaging and eye-opening, making learning a rewarding experience.
Love Focus: A small conflict may arise, but love will continue to grow stronger. Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Colour: Pink
Leo (Jul 23-Aug 23)
A parent’s wisdom will provide valuable lessons that are worth embracing. Staying cautious while traveling will help you avoid common tourist traps. Real estate investments will gain value over time, ensuring strong financial returns. A calm and composed mindset will create positivity in your surroundings. If emergency funds are depleting, prioritizing their replenishment will be essential. Guidance from a mentor may feel tough but will contribute to significant personal growth. Academically, each subject will offer a fresh perspective and deeper understanding.
Love Focus: A heartfelt moment will strengthen your commitment. Lucky Number: 8 Lucky Colour: Light Green
Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)
Your ability to recharge ensures long-term well-being. Exploring new investment options could yield promising results. Professional efforts made today will set the stage for a smooth and productive week. A meaningful conversation with family will bring joy and gratitude. A scenic drive will provide a sense of calm, though it may not fully satisfy your travel cravings. Home renovations will create a renewed sense of beauty and warmth. Academically, progress will be steady, ensuring gradual yet meaningful achievements.
Love Focus: A routine conversation may take an unexpected emotional turn. Lucky Number: 6 Lucky Colour: Brown
Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)
The presence of a grandparent or elder will bring joy and strengthen family bonds. Travel will be smooth and well-paced, neither rushed nor slow. Investing in prime property locations will promise excellent long-term value. Breaking down study materials into smaller tasks will make academic preparation easier and more manageable. Emotional stability will make it easier to form meaningful connections today. While debts remain unchanged, consistent efforts will gradually reduce them. Office dynamics will be in your favor, fostering teamwork and productivity.
Love Focus: A proposal or deeper commitment may be on the horizon. Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Colour: Magenta
Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)
Your energy levels are high, keeping you active and motivated throughout the day. Financial expansion is on the horizon, with new income opportunities emerging. A salary raise or financial bonus may come sooner than expected. A family reunion will bring warmth and happiness. Travel will offer a refreshing escape, helping you recharge. Renting out property could be a stable source of income if you find reliable tenants. Academically, every lesson will feel like an exciting milestone, adding to your knowledge.
Love Focus: Love takes center stage, making your day even more joyful. Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Colour: Silver
Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)
Your sharp focus will allow you to accomplish more than expected. Sharing a joke with a sibling will create a lighthearted and enjoyable moment. This is an ideal day to relax and rejuvenate completely. Financial strength will enable you to manage your commitments effortlessly. Group travel plans will create lasting memories and unforgettable experiences. Home renovations will bring a fresh and modern feel to your space. Academically, every subject you explore will feel engaging and fulfilling.
Love Focus: A shared vision of the future will strengthen your relationship. Lucky Number: 18 Lucky Colour: Maroon
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 21)
Your endurance allows you to stay active and productive without feeling drained. Side income may fluctuate, so managing expectations will be important. Hard work in your career is beginning to yield well-earned rewards. Extended family responsibilities may require time and attention but will also strengthen connections. Travel will be moderate and uneventful. Property investments will show gradual growth, offering long-term stability. Academically, consistent effort will lead to steady progress and knowledge retention.
Love Focus: Clear and open communication will strengthen your relationship. Lucky Number: 11 Lucky Colour: Golden
Aquarius (Jan 22-Feb 19)
Your digestion is functioning well, though reducing caffeine intake may help maintain steady energy levels. Every financial decision you make today will strengthen your long-term stability. Your professional instincts are sharp, so trusting your judgment in career matters will be beneficial. A family asset decision may require legal consultation to ensure fairness. A peaceful trip will provide relaxation, though it may lack adventure. Property investments are poised for steady growth, promising strong returns. Academically, consistent learning will keep progress on track without any major hurdles.
Love Focus: Addressing past mistakes will help heal lingering issues in your relationship. Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Colour: Grey
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
Boundless energy today will make you feel confident and focused. Avoid last-minute purchases that may disrupt your financial balance. Your expertise will be recognized, earning appreciation from superiors. Striking a balance between personal space and family time will bring harmony. Travel plans will unfold smoothly with only minor adjustments along the way. Renting out property will offer consistent income, even if minor tenant concerns arise. Academically, progress will be steady, ensuring continued learning and development.
Love Focus: Love feels harmonious and emotionally fulfilling. Lucky Number: 22 Lucky Colour: Beige
Merck & Co. has entered a competitive race for a new type of heart drug, announcing Tuesday it will pay China-based Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals $200 million upfront to license a pill that blocks a protein particle believed to contribute to blood vessel blockages.
Per deal terms, Merck will receive rights outside of the greater China region to the therapy, dubbed HRS-5346 and is currently in Phase 2 testing. Jiangsu Hengrui could receive another $1.77 billion in additional payments, as well as sales royalties, if the drug hits certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones.
Jiangsu Hengrui’s pill is one of many experimental LpA-blocking drugs in clinical development. The furthest along is an RNA-based medicine from Novartis that’s currently in Phase 3 testing. Cardiovascular outcomes data are expected in 2026 and considered an important indicator of how strongly these drugs impact heart health.
Dive Insight:
Merck was one of the pioneers of the cholesterol-lowering statins that launched in the 1980s and 1990s and changed medical practice. But it hasn’t been as successful with cholesterol medicines since then, with cancer immunotherapy, not heart disease, now its main revenue driver.
Still, Merck has shown an interest in making heart medicines a bigger part of its future. A drug it acquired in a buyout of Acceleron Pharma is now approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension and expected to become a future blockbuster. An oral medication aimed at PCSK9, a target of marketed injectable medicines, is currently in Phase 3 testing. And with Tuesday’s deal, the company has bought into the potential of drugs that block Lp(a).
The alliance gives the company “an important addition that expands and complements our cardio-metabolic pipeline,” said Dean Li, president of Merck Research Laboratories, in a statement.
The frontrunners in the chase, among them Novartis and Amgen, are using oligonucleotide therapies to stop production of Lp(a). But oral alternatives are advancing, too. A Lilly drug called muvalaplin has completed Phase 2 trials, while AstraZeneca paid China-based biotech CSPC Pharmaceutical $100 million for an Lp(a)-blocking drug in preclinical testing.
The deal “suggests the industry is moving towards orals,” wrote Jefferies analyst Dennis Ding, in a Tuesday note to clients.
The drug Merck has licensed is currently in a Phase 2 trial in Beijing. Jiangsu Hengrui has been recruiting volunteers with heart disease or at high risk of developing it, and is testing three doses against a placebo to see how well the drug lowers Lp(a) levels over 12 weeks. That trial is expected to conclude by the end of the year.
Early data from the injectable RNA therapies have set a high bar for Merck to clear, stimulating greater than 90% reduction of Lp(a) in clinical testing, Jefferies analyst Ding wrote. Lilly’s muvalaplin has done almost as well, with up to an 85% reduction.
Still, Ding noted that effective oral medicines might compete with injectables in the 10% to 15% of people with very high levels of Lp(a). They could also capture the “vast majority” of people with Lp(a) levels that aren’t high enough to qualify for injectable therapies, he added.
“Regardless, the Lp(a) market is very large and we consider this as pharma white space given [there are] no approved therapies,” Ding wrote.
Of all the things that can have an effect on your future, I believe personal growth is the greatest.
We can talk about sales growth, profit growth, and asset growth, but all of this probably will not happen without personal growth.
It’s really the open door to it all.
In fact, I’d like to have you memorise the most important phrase.
Here it is, “The major key to your better future is YOU.”
Let me repeat that.
“The major key to your better future is YOU.”
Put that someplace you can see it every day, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, at the office, anywhere where you can see it every day.
The major key to your better future is YOU.
Try to remember that every day you live and think about it.
The major key is YOU.
Now, there are many things that will help your better future.
If you belong to a strong, dynamic, progressive company, that would help.
If the company has good products, and good services that you are proud of, that would certainly help.
If there were good sales aids, that would help, good training would certainly help.
If there is strong leadership, that will certainly help.
All of these things will help, and of course, if it doesn’t storm, that will help.
If your car doesn’t break down, that will help.
If the kids don’t get sick, that will help.
If the neighbours stay halfway civil, that will help.
If your relatives don’t bug you, that will help.
If it isn’t too cold, if it isn’t too hot, all those things will help your better future.
And if prices don’t go much higher and if taxes don’t get much heavier, that will help.
And if the economy stays stable, those things will all help.
We could go on and on with the list; but remember this, the list of things that I’ve just covered and many more – all put together – play a minor role in your better future.
The major key to your better future is you.
Lock your mind onto that.
This is a super important point to remember.
The major key is you. A friend of mine has always answered when asked, “How do you develop an above-average income?”
He says, “Simple. Become an above-average person. Work on you.”
My friend says, “Develop an above-average handshake.”
He says, “A lot of people want to be successful, and they don’t even work on their handshake.
As easy as that would be to start, they let it slide.
They don’t understand.” My friend says, “Develop an above-average smile.
Develop an above-average excitement. Develop an above-average dedication.
Develop an above-average interest in other people.”
He says, “To have more, become more.”
Remember; work harder on yourself than you do on your job.
For a long time in my life, I didn’t have this figured out.
Strangely enough, with two different people in the same company, one may earn an extra $100 a month, and the other may earn $1,000.
What could possibly be the difference?
If the products were the same if the training was the same if they both had the same literature, the same tools.
If they both had the same teacher, and the same compensation plan if they both attended the same meetings, why would one person earn $100 per month and the other person earn $1000?
Remember here is the difference…the difference is personal, inside, not outside, inside.
You see the real difference is inside you.
In fact, the difference IS you.
Someone once said, “the magic is not in the products.”
The magic is not in the literature.
The magic is not in the film.
There isn’t a magic meeting, but the magic that makes things better is inside you, and personal growth makes this magic work for you.
The magic is in believing.
The magic is in daring.
The magic is in trying.
The real magic is in persevering.
The magic is in accepting.
It’s in working.
The magic is in thinking.
There is magic in a handshake.
There is magic in a smile.
There is magic in excitement and determination.
There is real magic in compassion and caring and sharing.
There is unusual magic in strong feelings and you see, all that comes from inside, not outside.
So, the difference is inside you.
The real difference is you.
You are the major key to your better future.
About Jim Rohn The late Jim Rohn was America’s Foremost Business Philosopher.
My living room hosts a not-so-expensive but good-enough sound system. Yet, every day, I usually reach for a small charging case containing my earbuds in my pocket instead. Sure, there are some trade-offs, but I have some good reasons for doing so.
5
My Neighbors Already Hate Me (and I Don’t Need to Make It Worse)
Jack Mitchell/MakeUseOf
My work schedule is wired such that my prime listening hours usually start when others are winding down. My upstairs neighbor works early shifts, while the couple next door has a newborn. My perfect moment for cranking up the volume of my sound system often coincides exactly with their desperate attempts at sleep.
One night, lost in the depths of jamming a live recording, I cranked up the volume just a little too much. The following day, my next-door neighbor—with whom I’d always exchanged nothing but polite nods—caught me while I was parking my car and muttered, “Great show last night.” No smile. Just tired eyes and a tight jaw. That was enough to make me rethink my habits.
Sound isn’t just about what you hear. It’s about what everyone around you is forced to hear. Low frequencies don’t just stay in your room, especially when not soundproofed; they seep into ceilings, floors, and every shared wall. And unless your neighbors are as into your playlist as you are (I can bet they’re not), you’re making enemies without even realizing it. So, yeah, I own good speakers. But I also like having friendly neighbors. And more than that, I now like the feeling of music being mine alone, not something I’m broadcasting to the unwilling ears of the people living next to me.
4
Firing Up My Speakers Feels Like a Chore
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
Whenever I think about using my speakers, I hesitate because they require effort. I have to turn them on, switch inputs, adjust the volume, and maybe even fiddle with an app. If I want music from my phone, I have to make sure Bluetooth is connected or that the right streaming device is active. Then there’s the waiting for a few seconds for everything to sync and a few more to double-check that the sound is actually coming from the speakers and not still playing on my phone.
Earbuds don’t require this kind of commitment. I pop the case open, pull the units out, and music plays as soon as they’re plugged into my ears. I don’t need to think about toggling inputs or where I left the remote.
Related
How I Upgraded My Home Audio Setup Without Spending Much
You can make your audio so much better, and it doesn’t have to cost a month’s wages.
3
Noise Isolation and Active Noise Cancellation Make a Huge Difference
Hannah Stryker / MakeUseOf
Good speakers can fill a room but cannot block out other sounds around you. But headphones and earbuds have the upper hand here, as they can cut out distractions before they reach your ears. A snug fit is key for noise isolation. Earbuds with the right tips (or ear cups in the context of headphones) seal your ear canal, keeping outside noise from creeping in. This improves clarity and bass, even in loud places. That’s why musicians rely on custom in-ear monitors on stage—they need to hear every note without interference.
It’s even better if you have headphones or earbuds that come with active noise cancellation (ANC). The tech uses tiny microphones to detect surrounding sounds and then create a sound wave that cancels out the noise. ANC is great for steady, low sounds like air conditioners humming or the drone of an airplane engine, as it can make these noises fade away almost completely. However, sharp, sudden sounds—like clanging dishes or a barking dog— can still get through, but they come across as softer and less startling.
Related
7 Key Features to Consider Before Buying Noise-Canceling Headphones
Buying noise-canceling doesn’t have to be tricky.
2
Bass Feels Better with Speakers, but It’s More Controlled in My Ears
When you hear deep frequencies (bass) from speakers, you don’t just perceive them with your ears. You feel them in your chest, bones, and even the floor beneath you. The bass energy spreads across an entire room. The walls, the furniture, and even the air itself interact with those sound waves, causing distortion, phase cancellation, and unpredictable peaks and dips. That’s why a bass note might rumble perfectly in one part of your room but vanish in another. Even the best speaker setup is at the mercy of its environment.
The ones in your ears or over your head don’t have this problem. They deliver bass directly to your ears, untouched by room acoustics. This means you get a cleaner, more precise, low-end—bass that’s tight, controlled, and faithful to the recording.
Related
I Always Run These 6 Tests Before Buying New Headphones
Buying new headphones? Make sure to tick these tests off before parting with any cash.
1
I Can Take My Earbuds Anywhere
Speakers demand one thing I can’t always give, which is staying put in the room where it’s playing out. On the flip side, my earbuds go where I go. I can walk from the kitchen to the garage, folding laundry while listening to a podcast, then step onto the porch without missing a beat. There’s no volume drop-off, no sweet spot to maintain—just uninterrupted sound, always at the same level, no matter where I am.
Speakers win, hands down on power, for sure. But when it comes to practical, extended listening, my earbuds or headphones are the clear winner.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/A-floral-adventure-for-red-pandas-in-Chongqing-1C1J1ZA2G9q/img/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b.png'A red panda clambers up the vine-wrapped structure in the Leheledu Animal Theme Park in Chongqing on March 24, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/A-floral-adventure-for-red-pandas-in-Chongqing-1C1J1ZA2G9q/img/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b.png'A red panda clambers up the vine-wrapped structure in the Leheledu Animal Theme Park in Chongqing on March 24, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/A-floral-adventure-for-red-pandas-in-Chongqing-1C1J1ZA2G9q/img/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b.png'A red panda clambers up the vine-wrapped structure in the Leheledu Animal Theme Park in Chongqing on March 24, 2025. /VCG
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-25/A-floral-adventure-for-red-pandas-in-Chongqing-1C1J1ZA2G9q/img/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b/4aaef138f43c4aeba684d29c2dfca36b.png'A red panda clambers up the vine-wrapped structure in the Leheledu Animal Theme Park in Chongqing on March 24, 2025. /VCG
With spring in full swing, the Leheledu Animal Theme Park in Chongqing has added a delightful touch to its red panda enclosure – a beautifully decorated climbing frame covered in flowers. The moment these furry explorers spotted the floral playground, curiosity took over. They clambered up the vine-wrapped structure, eagerly exploring their new playground.
Garcelle Beauvais is done with “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
“It’s been a wild ride. I mean, some of the most amazing things have happened, and some hard things have also happened. But it’s been a ride nevertheless,” she said in a video posted Tuesday on social media, adding later that she had “the most exciting projects” lined up for the future. “CHEERS TO THE NEXT CHAPTER,” she wrote in the caption.
The five-year show veteran was the first Black woman in the “RHOBH” cast when she joined in 2020. She leaves behind full-time cast members Erika Girardi, Dorit Kemsley, Kyle Richards, Sutton Stracke and Bozoma Saint John and part-time friends of the show Kathy Hilton and Jennifer Tilly.
After transitioning from modeling to acting in the mid-1980s, starting with minor roles in “Miami Vice” and “The Cosby Show,” Beauvais, 58, put together a robust career. She had recurring roles on “NYPD Blue,” “Franklin & Bash” and “The Jamie Foxx Show” plus parts in movies including “Coming 2 America” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” But when the “Housewives” offer came, her manager told her to stay away from it, she told The Times in November.
Instead, the single mother of three sons — one of whom is grown — jumped in with both feet.
“The reach of this show is so different and across the board. I didn’t realize the scope of it, of how the fans are invested. I remember my friend texted me [during my first season]. She’s like ‘You’re trending.’ For what? I’ve done so many things, I’ve worked with incredible people in the industry,” the Haitian actor-producer told The Times in November. “But it wasn’t until this show that everything blew up.”
That explosion has not been 100% unicorns and rainbows, of course. During the 2022 season, Jax, one of her twin teen sons, decided he was done with the spotlight and took a break. “Middle-aged women spamming me with racist and crude comments about my family is not what I expected for my first week of high school,” he posted on his mother’s Instagram account last August.
Still, Beauvais has managed to be herself on “RHOBH,” executive producer Andy Cohen told The Times in November.
“But also I really relate, as a viewer and as a parent, to what she shares about raising the boys,” he said. “And in terms of a group dynamic, she is someone who absolutely does not break a sweat when sharing her feelings and opinions, and that is the hallmark of a great Housewife.”
By the way, fans, Beauvais and Cohen appear to be parting ways on good terms.
“Andy says I can come back any time I want,” she said in Tuesday’s video. “The door will always be open.”
Times staff writer Yvonne Villarreal contributed to this report.
New Delhi, March 25: The Royal Enfield Classic 650 will be launched in India on March 27, 2025. The upcoming RE Classic 650 has been anticipated for months, and it will finally come with a retro design and round-shaped headlight. It is expected that the Royal Enfield Classic 650 will be the heaviest motorcycle despite having a similar design to the Classic 350 model, which is the automobile company’s best-selling unit.
The upcoming Classic 650 motorcycle from RE has new specifications and features compared to the other models, with the major concerns being the engine and weight. The Indian motorcycle company only shared images and a few details about the RE Classic 650 ahead of its launch. Ultraviolette Tesseract Bookings Cross to 50,000 Mark in 2 Weeks, Indian EV Company Shares Number Showing Huge Demand for Its Electric Scooter.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 Specifications, Features and Design
Royal Enfield Classic 650 will be introduced in Black Chrome, Teal, Bruntingthorpe Blue, and Vallam red. The bike is expected to feature a 648cc parallel-twin engine that can deliver up to 46.3 bhp power at 7,250 rpm and 52.3 Nm of peak torque at 5,650 rpm. The engine will be mated with a six-speed gearbox with slip and assist clutch. The powertrain is expected to offer efficiency as well as performance.
In terms of design, the upcoming Re Classic 650 will flaunt a round-shaped LED headlamp withbetter safety features and a retro design. The bike will have the same frame and sub-frame as the Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 model. The braking on the Classic 650 will be handled with a dual-channel ABS. The bike will have 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels. The company may offer tuneless tyres. Royal Enfield Classic 650 will likely have a 43 mm telescopic Showa fork, twin shock rear shock absorbers, and 120 mm front and 90 mm rear suspension travel. Ola S1 Gen 3 Delivery Update: Ola Electric Begins Shipping Its 3rd Generation Electric Scooter With 320 km IDC Range From Its Factory.
Royal Enfield Classic 650 Price in India
RE Classic 650 may be launched in India for around INR 3.40 to INR 3.60 lakh (ex-showroom) based on the prices of the company’s other bikes with 650cc engines. The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 is priced at INR 3.59 lakh, whereas the Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 is priced at INR 3.59 lakh.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 25, 2025 06:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is discussing plans to eliminate an entire team responsible for publishing and maintaining critical atomic measurement data in the coming weeks, as the Trump administration continues its efforts to reduce the US federal workforce, according to a March 18 email sent to dozens of outside scientists. The data in question underpins advanced scientific research around the world in areas like semiconductor manufacturing and nuclear fusion.
“We were recently informed that unless there is a major change in the Federal Government reorganization plans, the whole Atomic Spectroscopy Group will be laid off in a few weeks, in particular, since our work is not considered to be statutorily essential for the NIST mission,” Yuri Ralchenko, the group’s leader, wrote in the email, which was seen by WIRED.
Ralchenko noted that atomic spectroscopy has been used to discover many new exoplanets and develop powerful new diagnostic techniques, among other applications. “Unfortunately, the story of atomic spectroscopy at NIST is coming to an end,” he wrote.
In response to a request for comment from WIRED, Ralchenko said he wasn’t permitted to speak about budget and management issues and referred questions to NIST’s public affairs department. NIST and its parent agency, the Department of Commerce, did not respond to requests for comment.
The Atomic Spectroscopy Group studies how atoms absorb or emit light, allowing researchers to identify the elements present in a given sample. It then collects and updates those calculations in the Atomic Spectra Database, a catalog of industry-leading spectroscopy information and measurements that plays a crucial role in fields like astronomy, astrophysics, and medicine. In a blog post published last week highlighting the importance of the database, NIST said it receives an average of 70,000 search requests worldwide each month.
It is “really difficult to overestimate” the importance of this data, says Evgeny Stambulchik, a senior staff research scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel who started a petition to gather signatures from other researchers and members of the public who oppose the cuts to the atomic spectroscopy team. The petition currently has over 1,700 signatures.
Stambulchik, whose speciality is plasma spectroscopy, says that atomic spectroscopy is essentially the only tool that can be used to interpret remote objects in space, like those observed by the powerful James Webb telescope. It’s also basically the only tool for investigating “matter at temperatures reaching tens of million degrees,” he adds, such as inside a nuclear fusion reactor.
Another plasma physicist at a US institution who asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak to the media said they use this data daily to build reliable models for designing future fusion reactors. “Losing this trusted data source would hinder private fusion companies,” they explain.
The US scientist says the data provided by NIST’s Atomic Spectroscopy Group is useful to researchers and engineers across multiple fields. “The kind of carefully curated data this group provided underpins reliable systems like GPS and lithography,” they say. “It is this kind of rigorous science and engineering that keeps our bridges up and our power on. This is not ‘move fast and break things.’”
The Root Network (TRN), a metaverse-focused Web3 platform, launched its “TRN Odyssey” initiative on March 24. Designed to support promising Web3 gaming projects on the TRN Layer-1 blockchain, the programme has a funding pool of $10 million (roughly Rs. 85 crore) allocated by TRN Labs, which oversees the blockchain’s ecosystem. Web3 game developers are invited to apply for a place in the programme.
Key Details About TRN Odyssey
Blockchain game developers can secure investments ranging from $10,000 (roughly Rs. 8.5 lakh) to $1 million (about Rs. 8 crore) through this initiative.
In a tweet thread, TRN Labs explained that small to mid-sized gaming projects can apply for Root Ignite, while larger-scale developers should sign up for Root Nexus. Ignite provides grants of up to $200,000 (roughly Rs. 1 crore), whereas Nexus offers funding of up to $1 million.
Two funding tracks tailored for every innovator:
:seedling: ROOT Ignite: $10K – $200K grants for ambitious small-to-mid-size gaming projects. :deciduous_tree: ROOT Nexus: Up to $1M for next-level AAA games and gaming infrastructure.
The Odyssey webpage details the application process for game developers. Applicants must first submit a comprehensive form outlining their project. TRN will then conduct internal screenings to shortlist projects for the interview stage, where vision and feasibility will be assessed. After reviewing the interviewed projects, TRN will announce the final selection.
The announcement is tentatively scheduled for Q2 2025, though no specific month —April, May, or June—has been confirmed.
Selected developers will gain access to top-tier venture capital networks and industry mentorship.
“TRN Labs offers grants and strategic opportunities to help winners fast-track their projects. Winners gain exclusive access to premium entertainment connections, including iconic Futureverse IPs like Ready Player One,” the announcement noted.
TRN Labs first disclosed plans for this initiative in February.
Status of Web3 Gaming
As per DappRadar’s Blockchain Gaming Yearly Report 2024, the Web3 gaming sector recorded 7.4 million daily Unique Active Wallets (UAW) by the end of 2024 — a 421 percent increase since January. The report also noted that on-chain gaming transactions reached 5.7 billion over the year.
Ronin, Polygon, Nebula, and Near Protocol were the most widely used blockchains for gaming, while TRN did not make DappRadar’s top ten list. Among the standout blockchain games of 2024 were Pixels, World of Dypians, and Treasure Ship Game.
Despite the sector’s rapid growth, blockchain gaming developments remain unpredictable. For example, members of Arbitrum’s decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) are reportedly debating the termination of its Web3 gaming fund, citing unsustainability due to market volatility. On the other hand, Walmart is reportedly expanding its presence in metaverse gaming through a partnership with Minecraft. Meanwhile, BNB Chain recently acknowledged that blockchain gaming was overshadowed by memecoins and AI agents in 2024, leading to a slight slowdown in the sector.
A report by the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA) predicted that the Web3 gaming industry will see improvements in infrastructure, Web3 integration, AI-based customisation, and interoperability in 2025. Founded in 2018, the BGA calls itself a global non-profit body that advocates blockchain gaming.
Google Merchant Center click reporting is changing on April 21, 2025, where clicks will be reported in the same manner Google Ads reports clicks. Google said this will align click reporting with Google Ads and thus may impact some current and historical data reported in Merchant Center.
What is changing. Google wrote in this email, “As of April 21, 2025, we’re updating Google Merchant Center to align click reporting with Google Ads.”
The email goes on to say:
“This change reflects new advertising formats that have different types of interactions. While Google Ads reports clicks separately from other interactions, Merchant Center currently reports all interactions as product clicks. With this update, the definition of product clicks will be the same across both platforms. As a result, you’ll notice some changes to your current and historical data reported in Merchant Center. There will be no change to your reporting experience in Google Ads, where you’ll continue to see clicks and interactions for your ad campaigns.”
More details. Arpan Banerjee who notified me of this, said the email has a hyperlink to the Google Ads definition of interactions, which reads:
“The main user action associated with an ad format—clicks and swipes for text and Shopping ads, views for video ads, calls for call assets, and so on.”
Why we care. If you run Google Merchant Center and notice a change in click reporting around April 21st (in about a month), then this is why. This is just a reporting change and the changes you see in the clicks in your reports are not related to any changes in performance of those listings within Google Search.
“On Feb. 25, I voted yes on a budget resolution that protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while cutting some spending elsewhere.”
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), in a YouTube video posted March 4, 2025
On Feb. 25, Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) voted in favor of a House budget resolution that calls for sharp cuts in spending across a vast array of government areas. Medicaid is among the programs that could be at risk — catapulting it to the center of the political debate.
President Donald Trump has insisted he won’t harm Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security benefits, saying his administration is looking to root out fraud. But Democrats have pushed back, saying the sheer size of the proposed cuts will result in harm to the Medicaid program, its enrollees, and medical providers.
A KFF tracking poll has found widespread public support for Medicaid, which suggests efforts to cut the program could face political headwinds. KFF is a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News.
LaLota, who represents part of Long Island, posted a video for his constituents explaining his position: “I voted yes on a budget resolution that protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while cutting some spending elsewhere.” Because much of his video focused on Medicaid, we did too. We found that his statement in this regard was layered with mischaracterizations and inaccuracies. Yet, in his video, LaLota advises his constituents to get their information straight from him, saying, “I’ll always be honest with you.”
We asked LaLota’s office for the information he used to back up his statement. The budget resolution makes no cuts to those programs, he wrote in a statement emailed by his communications aide Mary O’Hara. “Rather, it opens the door to protect Medicaid with common-sense solutions which ensure its availability for those Americans who qualify, including the removal of illegals from the rolls, work requirements for able-bodied adults, and the elimination of waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Let’s parse what the resolution does say and do, and the changes it could trigger for Medicaid.
Explaining the Basics
Budget resolutions are not law, but rather blueprints that guide lawmakers on budget-related legislation. The House-passed resolution — approved with 217 Republicans voting for it and 214 Democrats and one Republican against — is just one part of the budget process. The Senate also has a say, so changes are possible.
As written, the resolution seeks broad spending reductions across a range of areas overseen by various committees. It specifically asks the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to submit proposals “to reduce the deficit by not less than $880,000,000,000 [$880 billion] for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2034.”
It does not say it would protect Medicaid. The word Medicaid is nowhere in the document. It does not prescribe any specific action on the program, such as instituting work requirements for recipients. Lawmakers separately draft legislation to make program adjustments to achieve the spending cut targets.
A little background: Medicaid is a state-federal program that provides medical coverage to lower-income residents, as well as payments to nursing homes for caring for seniors and disabled residents. Medicaid and the closely related Children’s Health Insurance Program cover more than 79 million people.
Medicare is the federal program that provides health insurance for some disabled people and most people over age 65. More than 68 million people are enrolled.
The resolution directs the committee to draft legislative language that would cut spending from areas under its jurisdiction, which include Medicaid and about half of Medicare.
Social Security is mainly overseen in the House by the Committee on Ways and Means. The panel also shares jurisdiction over Medicare with Energy and Commerce.
Policy experts and the Congressional Budget Office have said that, after removing Medicare from consideration, there’s not enough under the committee’s jurisdiction to cut $880 billion without substantially reducing Medicaid spending. (Medicare is generally considered a third rail because its beneficiaries are a powerful voting bloc.)
Indeed, of the $8.8 trillion in projected spending under the committee’s purview for the 10-year period, Medicaid accounts for $8.2 trillion, or 93%.
“Even if the committee eliminated all of non-Medicare and non-Medicaid spending, they would still have to cut Medicaid by well over $700 billion,” said Alice Burns, an associate director of KFF’s Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured.
Adding work requirements — most Medicaid recipients already have jobs — would not yield that level of savings and could increase state costs. Other cuts suggested by Republicans, including capping federal spending per enrollee, reducing federal matching dollars, and eliminating the use of provider taxes, which states use to pay for their share of Medicaid spending, could force states to cut spending or find new revenue sources.
“Cuts to Medicaid could mean eliminating coverage for children, parents, working adults or those who might need long term care; limiting benefits; or cutting payment rates for health plans or providers. These choices could come at a time when state revenue growth is slowing, and most states face requirements to pass balanced budgets,” according to an analysis by Robin Rudowitz, vice president of the KFF Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured.
The downstream effects if the House-passed budget resolution were enacted would be wide-ranging and significantly alter the safety net program, said Edwin Park, a research professor at the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University.
He noted growing opposition to such large-scale Medicaid cuts from “beneficiaries and parents of children with disabilities, families with parents in nursing homes, and from health care providers.”
“Medicaid cuts are highly unpopular even among Trump voters,” he said.
Opposition to Medicaid cuts helped kill the 2017 attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act during the first Trump administration, noted Joseph Antos, a senior fellow emeritus at the American Enterprise Institute.
Antos thinks the current spending cut target is unrealistic and will likely not survive the effort to merge the House budget blueprint with what the Senate wishes to do.
“Ultimately, the problem is you can’t take that much out of Medicaid,” Antos said.
LaLota’s focus on immigrants lacking legal status as a way to reduce federal spending on Medicaid is also misleading.
A number of states, including New York, offer coverage to children or adults regardless of immigration status, but they can use only state money to pay for such programs.
“States cannot use federal funding to cover undocumented immigrants,” Burns said. So removing them “won’t do anything for the deficit reduction targets.”
Our Ruling
LaLota said, “On Feb. 25, I voted yes on a budget resolution that protects Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid while cutting some spending elsewhere.”
His statement is inaccurate and mischaracterizes laws and the language included in the budget resolution, creating a false impression of what his vote supported.
The 32-word sentence that directs the Energy and Commerce Committee to trim $880 billion over 10 years from programs it authorizes does not include any protections, guardrails, or specific directions for the panel to follow.
Samsung’s 1TB Pro Plus microSD Card is on sale for a new all-time low price at Amazon as part of the retailer’s Big Spring Sale. Normally $120, the 1TB Pro Plus is discounted to only $80. If you really like Sonic the Hedgehog, you can get the same 1TB card with Sonic’s face emblazoned on it for $90 (was $126). Speedy and reliable–we’re talking about the microSD card, not Sonic–the Pro Plus is one of the best options for expanding the storage space on your Steam Deck or handheld PC. But since Samsung only entered the 1TB microSD market last summer, we haven’t seen as many steep discounts on these cards as we have on SanDisk’s popular cards.
Alternatively, you can grab Samsung’s 1TB Evo Select microSD for $70. This price matches the card’s all-time low, whereas the previous low price for the Pro Plus was $90. The Evo Select is up to 20MB/s slower than the Pro Plus, but it’s still a great card for Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck as well as handhelds running Windows or Android.
Samsung 1TB Pro Plus and 1TB Evo Select microSD Cards
Both of these 1TB Samsung cards have U3 ratings (Ultra-High Speed Class 3). These are high performance cards with fast enough speeds to write and read 4K video. Either of these cards will work great with your Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, too. The Pro Plus offers a moderate bump in read speed, as it’s capable of reaching 180MB/s versus the Evo Select’s 160MB/s–but this won’t be noticeable on Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck when it comes to game performance.
With Amazon’s current deals, the Samsung cards are five bucks less than each model’s SanDisk counterpart. The SanDisk Ultra 1TB–the most popular microSD card–is on sale for $75 and offers read and transfer speeds up to 150MB/s–10MB/s slower than the Evo Select. The SanDisk Extreme 1TB, on the other hand, is 10MB/s faster than the Pro Plus, as offers up to 190MB/s read speeds.
When it comes to storage devices, a big part of why it’s generally advisable to opt for established brands like SanDisk and Samsung is reliability over long periods of time. No one likes to lose their data. Admittedly, if you’re only storing video games on your microSD, this isn’t nearly as big of a deal–unless the corrupted data contains save files you spent dozens or hundreds of hours building. Backing up saves is always a good idea.
But while we’d typically recommend Samsung or SanDisk, there are solid microSD cards from budget manufacturers, too. During Amazon’s Spring Sale, the most notable alternatives are made by Lexar. The 1TB Lexar Play is on sale for only $64 and offers up to 160MB/s read speeds. Lexar says the upgraded model of the Lexar Play, which was designed with gaming in mind, has max read speeds of 205MB/s. The Lexar Play 1TB (205MB/s) model is on sale for $88.
MicroSD Card Deals for Steam Deck & Switch (March 2025)
American students have been falling behind in math for decades — with test scores that consistently rank in the bottom 25% globally compared to students in other developed countries — and the COVID-19 pandemic made the situation worse.
Previous research has shown that interventions grounded in behavioral science that target student motivation have been effective at increasing math scores, suggesting that taking a similar “behaviorally informed” approach with teachers might have a comparable effect.
Now, a collaborative study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and led by researchers at the Behavior Change for Good Initiative (BCFG) at the University of Pennsylvania has found that behaviorally informed email messages slightly improved students’ math progress compared to control messages.
“Our results showed that simple, low-cost nudges can help teachers support student progress in math,” says Angela Duckworth, Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor in Penn’s School of Arts & Sciences and the Wharton School, who led the study and co-directs BCFG. “These nudges worked across different school contexts, with effects persisting eight weeks after teachers stopped receiving the nudges.”
The key to this megastudy was the partnership with Zearn Math, a nonprofit educational platform. “Large-scale studies on teacher-focused interventions have been rare due to the high cost and logistical challenges involved. Thanks to our partnership with Zearn Math, we were able to overcome these challenges,” says co-author Dena Gromet, executive director of BCFG.
A megastudy is “a large-scale experiment in which multiple interventions are tested simultaneously on the same outcome, a tournament approach, if you will,” says co-author Katy Milkman, James G. Dinan Endowed Professor and professor of operations, information and decisions at the Wharton School and co-director of BCFG. “Because all interventions run concurrently and are compared to a common control group, this method allows for direct comparisons of their effectiveness.”
In one of the largest studies of its kind — involving more than 140,000 teachers and nearly 3 million elementary students — the researchers compared the impact of 15 different interventions to a reminder-only message.
“These messages were behaviorally informed, meaning they were based on prior insights from behavioral science. For instance, one intervention asked teachers to make a specific plan for how they would use Zearn Math that week, an approach backed by research showing that people are more likely to follow through when they make detailed plans. Another intervention appealed to teachers’ empathy for their students, which previous research has demonstrated is supportive of student success,” Duckworth says.
Co-authors Katy Milkman (left) and Angela Duckworth are committed to dig deeper into what makes these kinds of interventions work and how to make them even more effective over time.
Specifically, the research team found that, compared to standard email reminders, behaviorally informed email messages improved students’ math progress during the four-week intervention period by 1.89%. The most effective intervention, which increased student math progress by about 5.06%, encouraged teachers to log into Zearn Math weekly for an updated, personalized report on their students’ progress.
“One especially promising takeaway is that personalized nudges — those that referenced progress updates about a teacher’s own students — were more effective than nonpersonalized ones,” Duckworth says.
The researchers note that though they are promising, the effects were small. “These results suggest the need for more intensive support than the light-touch email nudges we tested,” Milkman says. “And they underscore how hard it is to change human behavior.”
These findings, Milkman says, suggest several additional valuable avenues for future research, including “more random-assignment field experiments to confirm the causal benefits of teacher-targeted nudges and studies to probe the longer-term effects of behaviorally-informed interventions.”
Additional research is also needed, Duckworth says, “to confirm and explain the benefits of referencing personalized data when nudging teachers. It may be that capitalizing on teachers’ intrinsic motivation to help their students is a distinct and potentially cost-effective approach that can complement other interventions, such as offering performance bonuses and other extrinsic incentives.”
Next steps for researchers are to dig deeper into what makes these kinds of interventions work and how to make them even more effective over time. Future studies are needed to look into the long-term effects of nudges and explore why some interventions are more effective than others.
“The better we understand why something works, the more powerfully we can use it to create positive change,” Duckworth says. “Ultimately, this line of research could help shape smarter, more effective education policies.”
Angela L. Duckworth is the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor in the Department of Psychology in the School of Arts & Sciences and in the Department of Operations, Information, and Decisions in the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative.
Katherine L. Milkman is the James G. Dinan Endowed Professor in the Department of Operations, Information, and Decisions in the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative.
Dena M. Gromet is the Executive Director of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania.
Other authors of the new study are Ron Berman, Eugen Dimant, Ahra Ko, Joseph S. Kay, Youngwoo Jung, Madeline K. Paxson, Ramon A. Silvera Zumaran, and Christophe Van den Bulte of the University of Pennsylvania; Aden Halpern of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh; Nina Mazar of Boston University; Colin F. Camerer and Marcos N. Gallo of the California Institute of Technology; Amy Lyon of Colby-Sawyer College; Mary C. Murphy of Indiana University; Kathryn M. Kroeper of Sacred Heart University; Benjamin S. Manning of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ilana Brody, Hengchen Dai, and Hal E. Hershfield of the University of Los Angeles; Ariel Kalil, Michelle Michelini, and Susan E. Mayer of the University of Chicago; Matthew D. Hilchey, Philip Oreopoulos, Renante Rondina, and Dilip Soman of the University of Toronto; Elizabeth Canning of Washington State University; and Sharon E. Parker of Philadelphia.
Research reported in this article was supported in part by an anonymous donor to Zearn Math. Support for this research was also provided in part by the AKO Foundation, J. Alexander, M. J. Leder, W. G. Lichtenstein, and A. Schiffman and J. Schiffman.
Introduction [Image from here] Imagine this: you’re in a meeting with a client, and they pose a tricky legal question. You need to provide them with a well-reasoned answer rather than just an opinion. Or perhaps you’re working on a research paper requiring solid sources to support your arguments. In both scenarios, guess what? Your […]
The post Legal Research 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Legal Research appeared first on Lawctopus.
Alvida Jummah 2025: As Ramadan nears its end, Muslims worldwide prepare for Alvida Jummah, also known as Jamat-ul-Wida, one of the most sacred days before Eid-ul-Fitr. This special Friday is a farewell to the holy month dedicated to prayer, reflection, and devotion. In 2025, Jamat-ul-Wida falls on March 28, marking the final Friday before Eid celebrations begin.
Check out top destinations for reflection and relaxation as Ramadan concludes in 2025. (Unsplash)
For those looking to unwind and reflect as Ramadan ends, these peaceful getaways offer the perfect retreat to embrace the spiritual essence of the season before Eid celebrations begin. (Also read: Alvida Jummah date before Eid 2025: Significance, tradition and celebrations of Jamat ul-wida in Ramadan 2025 )
1. Kashmir
Kashmir’s serene valleys and tranquil lakes offer a perfect retreat.(Pixabay)
Known as “Paradise on Earth,” Kashmir’s snow-capped mountains, serene Dal Lake, and lush valleys provide a breathtaking retreat. A peaceful shikara ride or a quiet stay in a houseboat can offer the perfect setting for spiritual reflection.
2. Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
Nestled along the banks of the Ganges, Rishikesh is a haven for meditation and mindfulness. With its scenic riverbanks, yoga retreats, and spiritual ambience, it’s an ideal spot for those looking to unwind.
3. Munnar, Kerala
Munnar’s lush tea gardens and misty hills provide a peaceful escape.(Unsplash)
The rolling tea plantations, misty hills, and cool climate of Munnar make it a refreshing escape. A stay in a quiet cottage amid nature, with the aroma of fresh tea leaves, is perfect for relaxation and self-reflection.
4. Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul blends rich history and spiritual serenity with stunning architecture.(Pixabay)
A city that beautifully blends spirituality with history, Istanbul is home to stunning mosques like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. The peaceful Bosphorus cruises and scenic sunsets create a perfect atmosphere for contemplation.
5. Muscat, Oman
Offering a mix of coastal charm and desert beauty, Muscat is a serene getaway with its grand mosques, picturesque beaches, and stunning mountain landscapes.
6. Maldives
Nothing says relaxation like crystal-clear waters, soft sandy beaches, and overwater villas. If unwinding is the goal, the Maldives is a dream escape.
CEO and co-founder Anne Wojcicki resigned on Sunday but will remain a director on the board. Joseph Selsavage, 23andMe’s chief financial and accounting officer, was named interim CEO.
Wojcicki proposed taking 23andMe private last year, but a special committee of the board found the offer insufficient. The company is pursuing Chapter 11 bankruptcy to facilitate a sale, which board chair Mark Jensen said in a statement is “the best path forward to maximize the value of the business.”
Dive Insight:
23andMe’s finances have declined amid waning demand for consumer DNA tests. The company reported $191.8 million in revenue in 2024, a 28% decline year over year.
At the end of the year, the company had about $277 million in total assets and $215 million in total debts, according to a petition filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
23andMe named creditors with the largest unsecured claims in the petition, including Labcorp’s National Genetics Institute subsidiary, marketing company Jellyfish and Blue Shield of California.
Now, as the company navigates a court-supervised sale, 23andMe will continue to operate its business as usual. There are no changes to how the company stores, manages or protects customer data, the company said in a statement.
23andMe filed motions with the court seeking the ability to pay employees, vendors and suppliers going forward. The company is also seeking the ability to reject several contracts, including real estate leases in Sunnyvale, California, and San Francisco. 23andMe also plans to use the proceeds to resolve legal liabilities from an October 2023 data breach.
23andMe has received a commitment for up to $35 million in debtor-in-possession financing from investment firm JMB Capital Partners.
The company’s stock price was down nearly 50% to 90 cents Monday afternoon.
Have you ever wondered who attends an event like Wealth Retreat?
I know I always did.
I have been attending Wealth Retreat for the best part of 12 years now, but I remember asking that question before my very first Wealth Retreat.
I questioned my own worth and being an introvert, I also questioned whether or not this was just like one of those “Ra-Ra” seminars.
The truth is, it far exceeded my expectations and lit the spark that saw me transition from a humble Buyers Agent and property investor, to company Director and Property Professional. I know
Michael Yardney gets a real kick out of helping our clients and hearing their feedback and especially listening to what people get out of our Wealth Retreat.
To be honest it is difficult to come away from 5 days of learning, listening, dining and chatting to some of the best mentors in the country without some kind of mind shift.
A few years ago (in fact in the year before Covid) I took the time to talk to a few participants of Wealth Retreat, to find out what they got out of it.
The First Timer
Carla initially “ummed and ahhed” and had very high expectations about coming to Wealth Retreat.
She had been to many other different types of seminars.
Listen as she explains what she got out of the Retreat and her advice for other potential first time attendees.
The Business Owner
It may surprise you but we also get many Business Owners attending the Retreat.
You see, it is so much more than just a property event as we also have Mark Creedon, business coach to some very successful Australian business owner, share his decades of experience.
Graham is someone I consider to be a successful business owner, but he continues to self-educate and improve his business.
Graham was also initially sceptical; however, he believes it would make a million dollars difference to his business!
Here are some of Grahams breakthroughs;
The Return Attendee
You are telling me people come back again?
That’s right, around 30% of our audience each year is made up of repeat guests.
Many, like myself have come back multiple times and will return again next year.
It is a great opportunity to refresh and re set for the year ahead.
Glen explains why he came back;
So Who is it for?
Wealth Retreat is definitely not for everybody.
But if you are looking for a breakthrough in your personal life, if you have hit a hurdle with your investing or want to find another level for your business, then don’t rule it out.
The truth is comparing myself to others and having initial doubts is natural, but it is left at Reception once you step through the doors.
It is about you and your journey, taking time out to better yourself and build yourself up and set course for those goals and dreams that you may put to one side.
The team is there to support you and incredibly, so is everyone else!
It is amazing the feedback we get every year, highlighting the fact some of the biggest breakthroughs come from speaking with other attendees.
And how often do you get to spend 5 days learning and talking with people on the same page – with similar hopes, fears and challenges.
Conclusion
Wealth Retreat is on again next year from May 3rd to 7th on the Gold Coast.
Being some months away now, you have time to prepare, maybe save, but most importantly prioritise.
If you are interested in joining us at Wealth Retreat 2025
Check out this page which gives you an overview of what it’s all about and express your interest and we’ll get back to you and make sure joining us will be of benefit to you.
If you need more information find out all about Wealth Retreat here and if you haven’t already expressed your interest to join us at Wealth Retreat 2025 please do so here NOW.
I can assure you it will be life changing!
About Brett Warren Brett Warren is National Director of Metropole Properties and uses his two decades of property investment experience to advise clients how to grow, protect and pass on their wealth through strategic property advice.
There is no easy way to decide whether you’re moving on too quickly after death of spouse or truly ready to start a new chapter in your life. After all, there are no fixed timelines on how soon you can start dating after loss of spouse. It all boils down to your emotional state. Given that grief is a complex emotional response that can have you in its throes when you least expect it makes deciphering your readiness that much harder.
One day, you may feel great about having found someone to share your life with, and their presence can feel like a balm on all the loneliness and pain you’ve been harboring. The next, you may feel guilty about moving on from a spouse you loved so dearly. Or may wonder if you’re dating again for the right reasons. This emotional pendulum can rob you of a chance to invest in a meaningful relationship or make you jump in with both feet before you’re ready. Neither is a good choice when you’re already nursing a grieving heart.
That’s why, we’re here to offer you clarity on how to decide if you’re ready to start dating after loss of spouse and what happens if you take that leap prematurely, with insights from psychotherapist Dr Aman Bhonsle (PhD, PGDTA), who specializes in relationship counseling and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, and psychologist Nandita Rambhia (MSc, Psychology), who specializes in CBT, REBT and couples counseling.
Am I Moving On Too Quickly After Death Of Spouse?
Am I moving on too quickly after death of spouse? This conundrum is all too common among widowers and widows dating again, or are even considering the possibility. The unsurety and doubt often transcend age, gender, cultures, and circumstances leading to the loss of the spouse, and stirs up a whole gamut of emotions—foremost of which is guilt. Take, for instance, the story of this reader, who is torn up about moving on after death of spouse even though she’s found a kind and caring man and seeks advice from our relationship experts:
I never thought I’d be writing something like this, but here I am, caught in emotions I can’t quite untangle. My name is Lisa, I’m 42, and I lost my husband, Mark, a little over a year ago. He was my best friend, my rock, and when he passed away unexpectedly, my whole world shattered. The grief was suffocating—some days, it still is. For months, I barely functioned. I went through the motions for the sake of our two kids (ages 12 and 9), but inside, I felt hollow. I was convinced I’d never love again. The very thought of being with someone else felt like a betrayal to the beautiful life Mark and I had built. And then, out of nowhere, I met someone. Ryan is kind, patient, and, most importantly, he understands my grief rather than trying to “fix” it. We started as friends, and before I knew it, I found myself laughing again—really laughing. I started looking forward to our conversations, to the simple joy of being seen and understood. But now, the guilt is overwhelming. Is it too soon? Am I disrespecting Mark’s memory by allowing myself to feel something for someone new? Some days, I think Mark would want me to be happy. Other days, I feel like I’m failing him, like I’m moving on too quickly. My kids are still adjusting to life without their father—what if they think I’m trying to replace him? What if I am? I guess my question is—how do I know if I’m truly ready? How do I make peace with wanting to move forward while still carrying my love for Mark in my heart? I don’t want to rush into anything, but I also don’t want to let fear hold me back from something that might be good for me.
Responding to her query, Nandita says, “Lisa, guilt is a natural response when we find joy after loss, especially when society often equates deep love with lifelong mourning. But love is not a finite resource. Your love for Mark doesn’t vanish just because you’re developing feelings for Ryan. If he brings you comfort and happiness, that’s something worth exploring—with patience, honesty, and self-compassion. Trust your instincts and remember, you are allowed to find love again while still cherishing your past.”
Echoing the same sentiment, Dr. Bhonsle says, “Grief and love are not opposites—they can coexist. Moving forward with someone new doesn’t mean you are erasing your past; it simply means your heart is making space for both love and loss. It’s important to remind yourself that honoring Mark’s memory doesn’t mean denying yourself happiness. Take your time, communicate with your children, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. There is no ‘right’ timeline for healing—only what feels right for you.”
Related Reading: My Husband Died And I Want Him Back: Coping With Grief
Red Flags That You’re Moving On Too Quickly
As you can see, there is no uniform answer to the question, how long does it take to grieve a spouse and move on? Moving on after losing a spouse is deeply personal. You can start dating 3 months after death of spouse if you feel ready, or may take two years or five to put yourself out there again. Neither choice is wrong, but feeling ready is the operative term here. If you rush into a new relationship without having fully worked through your grief, it could add to the emotional turmoil that you’re already dealing with and isn’t fair to your new partner. Here are some red flags that suggest you’re moving on too quickly after death of spouse—if you can relate to any of these, it means you need to take a step back and focus on healing yourself first:
1. You’re using the relationship to numb the pain
You may be using it as a crutch to get through a tough time
If you find yourself diving into a new relationship because the grief, loneliness, or pain is getting too much for you to bear and you’re looking for something to distract yourself with, it’s a sign you may be moving on too quickly. When that happens, you may not be ready to invest in the new relationship; instead you may be using it as a crutch to get through a tough time and fill the void in your life. “Grief needs to be acknowledged, not avoided. If you’re using a new relationship as a distraction rather than processing your emotions, it could backfire. True healing comes from sitting with your pain, not running from it,” says Dr. Bhonsle.
2. You feel intense guilt about the relationship
While it’s not uncommon to experience bouts of guilt when you’re moving on from someone you love, if being with a new partner feels like you’re cheating on your late spouse and that thought weighs on your mind all the time, you may not have fully come to terms with your loss yet let alone done the work to process it.
This could manifest as not being able to talk about your late spouse with your current partner or hiding the relationship from friends and family even if you have been with someone for a significant amount of time. Nandita says, “Guilt is natural, but if it’s overwhelming and persistent, it could indicate that you’re not emotionally ready. The key is to integrate your past love into your life without feeling like you’re replacing it.”
Related Reading: How To Rebuild Your Life After The Death Of A Spouse: 11 Expert-Backed Tips
3. You haven’t fully processed your grief
If you haven’t allowed yourself time to fully feel and process grief, you might be seeking a relationship as a coping mechanism and it can take a toll on your mental health, as it happened with this Reddit user:
Dating as a widow
Don’t give too much thought to questions like, “What is the average time to date after death of spouse?” or “How long does it take to grieve a spouse?”, focus on your emotional well-being before you even consider dating as a widow/widower. As Nandita says, “Grief doesn’t have a strict timeline, but if you haven’t taken the time to work through your emotions, you risk carrying unresolved pain into your new relationship, making it unhealthy for both partners.”
4. You’re ignoring red flags in your new partner
When you start dating as a widow/widower before you’re ready to move on, it’s usually because the pain and loneliness is getting too much to bear on your own. This fear of being alone again can make you overlook red flags in a new partner such as,
Nandita says, “When grief makes us vulnerable, we may overlook red flags because we’re desperate to feel loved again. It’s crucial to ensure the new relationship is built on a strong foundation, not just a fear of being alone.”
Related Reading: 9 Silent Red Flags In A Relationship No One Talks About
5. Your friends and family express concern
Dr. Bhonsle says, “Your loved ones can often see things you might not. If they’re expressing concerns, rather than brushing them off, take a moment to reflect on whether you’re truly ready.” If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to move on and start dating after loss of spouse, use your trusted friends and family as a sounding board. If they think it may all be happening too fast, it’s worth pausing to reflect.
6. You feel rushed to define the relationship
David, a tech professional, started dating a woman soon after losing his wife and proposed within months. However, the woman he was with decided to slow things down because she didn’t think they were there yet. While it felt like a rejection at first, David slowly realized that he was using the new relationship as a safety net to avoid feeling lost and alone.
“The first year after losing a spouse is the hardest and nothing in this world can prepare you for that kind of loss. I’m glad Mel made me see reason and slowed down the pace of the relationship because had we gone ahead with the wedding, we’d have crashed and burned. I was nowhere emotionally ready for it,” he says.
7. You haven’t rediscovered who you are as an individual
When you’re married, your identity, your existence, your personality gets tied to your spouse. After your life partner passes away, discovering who you are outside of the relationship is one of the hardest but critical aspects of healing and being ready to move on. If you have been dodging this difficult exercise of exploring who you are as an individual, there is no way you’re ready to start a new relationship.
“It’s important to reconnect with yourself before entering a new relationship. If you’re still defining yourself solely as someone’s widow or widower, you may not have fully processed your loss.”
— Dr. Aman Bhonsle, psychotherapist
What Happens If You Don’t Take Your Time In Moving On After Death Of Spouse
What happens when you step into the dating scene before you’ve even figured out how to move on after the death of spouse? Is dating as a widow/widower when you’re not emotionally ready really that big of a deal? Does it determine the success or failure of your new relationship? Turns out, yes. Sharing her experience in response to a, “Did I move on too quickly?” query on r/widowers, a Reddit user sums up why, pretty accurately :
Moving on from someone you love
Dr. Bhonsle further elaborates on why moving on too quickly after death of spouse is bad idea, and says, “Grief is not something you can outrun. If you enter a new relationship before processing your loss, you risk carrying unresolved emotions into it, which can create strain and emotional confusion. Healing first allows you to love again with clarity and authenticity.” Here’s what happens if you don’t take your time in moving on after the death of a spouse:
Emotional baggage: Rushing into a new relationship without fully processing your loss can lead to emotional instability, where unresolved sadness, guilt, or even resentment surface later, affecting the bond with your new partner
Guilt and internal conflict: Many people who move on too quickly experience deep-seated guilt, feeling as if they are betraying their late spouse. This can create emotional turmoil and prevent them from fully embracing their new relationship
Unrealistic expectations: Sometimes, a new partner is unconsciously compared to the late spouse, leading to unfair expectations and inevitable disappointment. This can put undue strain on the new relationship
Impact on children and loved ones: If children or close family members feel that you are moving on too soon, it can create emotional distance and resentment, making it harder to maintain healthy family dynamics
Increased vulnerability to unhealthy relationships: Grief can make people more vulnerable to entering relationships for comfort rather than genuine compatibility. This increases the risk of settling for a partner who may not be right for you or, worse, someone who takes advantage of emotional vulnerability
Delayed healing: Avoiding grief by jumping into a new relationship does not make it go away. It often resurfaces later, sometimes in the form of depression, anxiety, or emotional detachment from both past and present relationships
Nandita adds, “Moving on too quickly can sometimes be a way to avoid pain rather than truly embracing a new connection. A relationship should be built on emotional readiness, not on the fear of being alone. Take time to grieve, understand your emotions, and step forward only when you feel truly prepared.”
How To Decide If You’re Ready To Start Dating After Loss Of Spouse—7 Factors
Opening up your heart and your life to someone new after your spouse’s passing always brings up some degree of doubts and questions, even when you have taken the time to drive and put in the work to heal. As happened with this Reddit user who lost his wife to cancer, after 34 years of being together.
He says, “I had several loving and heart to heart conversations with her about me dating and seeing other women after she passed. We jokingly said I’d be dating in a month after her passing. Boy, I had no idea how hard grief would hit, even though we both knew her death was coming. 2 1/2 years of pure hell and grief!
“Fast forward to 2 months ago, an old high school friend (purely platonic back then) needed someone to talk with and she called me. We talked for about 3 hours. We continued our talk the next day after work and it lasted 2 1/2 hours. We continued to talk and our relationship has blossomed into being fully exclusive. We have talked and/or texted every day since the first phone call. It is truly scary and wonderful, how we both are almost identical in all of our beliefs, feelings, thought processes, political views, spiritual beliefs, and sex. Yes, we’ve had sex a few times already too. We are so aligned with each other it worries me.
Dating after loss of spouse
“We have only been seeing each other for about 2 months but I am starting to think this is my Chapter 2. To me, the last 2 1/2 years, I have done a ton of soul searching, grieving, being isolated, reading, understanding being a widower, and going to a therapist for a year or so, too. I feel this is a GREAT relationship and a wonderful woman, but I also feel I may be going WAY TOO FAST! I’ve given myself until Christmas (about 6 months) if we continue to grow and have this wonderful relationship, I think I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
You see, worries about moving on too quickly after death of spouse are not uncommon and can creep up on you even when you’ve found a genuine connection with someone new and feel ready to start over. So, then how do you differentiate these thoughts from signs you’re moving on too quickly? How do you know if you’re truly ready for a new relationship? Here are 7 key factors that can help you decide:
1. You have processed your grief, not just suppressed it
Grief is not something you “get over”, it’s something you learn to carry as you go through life. If you’ve taken the time to process your emotions, rather than avoiding them by staying busy or rushing into relationships, you’d be in a better place to open your heart again. On the other hand, if you gloss over this part, any new relationship you get into may not last, which is what happened with this Reddit user:
Average time to date after death of spouse
“If you still feel overwhelmed by sadness or find yourself using a new relationship as an emotional bandage, you may need more time. True healing comes from facing grief, not escaping it,” says Dr. Bhonsle.
Related Reading: How I Coped After Losing My Partner On 9/11
2. You feel like yourself again
After losing a spouse, your identity often feels shaken. Before entering a new relationship, it’s important to feel comfortable with yourself, rediscover yourself, and gain a sense of independence. Nandita says, “A healthy relationship should be a complement to your life, not a way to define it. If you’re dating to ‘find yourself’ rather than because you’re happy with who you are, you may need more time.”
3. You no longer compare every potential partner to your late spouse
While it’s natural to remember and cherish your late spouse, you shouldn’t be measuring every new person you meet against them. If you are at that stage where you don’t consciously or subconsciously compare everything a new partner or romantic prospect does—from the way they make coffee to what it feels like to kiss them—with your deceased spouse, you may be ready to turn over a new leaf.
Dr. Bhonsle says, “Your late spouse will always hold a special place in your heart, but your new partner deserves to be loved for who they are, not as a replacement or comparison. If you’re no longer looking for someone ‘just like’ your late spouse, it’s a big check on the emotional readiness list.
Related Reading: This Is What You Need To Do To Break Out Of A Comparison Trap
4. You’re comfortable talking about your late spouse without breaking down
Starting a new relationship doesn’t mean that you have to “move on” from or “forget” your late spouse. At the same time, you need to be in a place where you can stimulate vulnerability with someone new, and that includes being able to talk to them about your spouse without overwhelming pain.
“Being ready to date doesn’t mean forgetting your spouse. It means you can honor their memory while still being emotionally open to new experiences and relationships.”
— Nandita Rambhia, psychologist
5. You’re open to love, not just to filling a void
A new relationship should be about genuine connection, not a means to avoiding loneliness. Dr Bhonsle explains, “Loneliness can make us rush into relationships that aren’t right for us. The key is to ensure you’re dating because you truly want to, not just because you’re afraid of being alone.” If you’ve taken the time to be by yourself while dealing with grief and loss and then met someone who excites you, you may be ready to dating after loss of spouse. On the other hand, if you’re dating because you miss companionship, you may need more time.
Related Reading: Am I Ready For A Relationship? 13 Signs You’re Ready To Embrace Love
6. Your children (if you have any) are emotionally ready
Dating again and starting a new relationship isn’t just about you figuring out how to move on after death of spouse, if there are children in the picture—whether young or grown up. They don’t have to “approve” of your new relationship, but they should at least be in a stable emotional place where they can process the idea of you dating again. Otherwise, it can strain the relationship, or at the very least, lead to a lot of hurt feelings, as is clear from this Reddit user’s experience:
The first year after losing a spouse
7. You feel no pressure to date—only a genuine desire
Once some time has passed since your spouse’s demise, friends and family might start insinuating that it may be time for you to put yourself out there again. While these suggestions come from a place of love and give you a lot to think about, the ultimate decision should rest on how this prospect makes you feel. Dr. Bhonsle says, “Grief has no deadline, and neither does dating. Don’t let societal expectations push you into something before you’re ready. Your journey is yours alone.”
The next time your friends suggest that you sign up on a dating app or your sister tries to set you up with someone, take a minute to see how it makes you feel. Do you feel a pit in your stomach or butterflies? If it’s the former, moving on after death of spouse may still be a ways off. If it’s the latter, a new beginning may be on the horizon for you.
Key Pointers
Figuring out whether you’re ready to move on after the death of your spouse can be tricky
Using a new relationship to numb your pain, feeling intense guilt about moving on, ignoring red flags in a new partner, and rushing into a relationship are some red flags that you may be moving on too quickly after the death of your spouse
This can add to your existing emotion turmoil and is not fair to the person you’re with, as the relationship can be marred by emotional baggage, unrealistic expectations, and unhealthy patterns
To decide whether you’ve ready to start dating after losing your spouse, see if you’ve processed your grief, are ready to build a relationship outside the shadows of your past, and are doing it for love, not to fill a void or under pressure
Final Thoughts
Being honest with yourself about your emotional state is the only way to discern whether you’re moving on too quickly after death of spouse. Don’t let anything else influence that decision. What is the average time to date after death of spouse? How long does it take to grieve a spouse and move on? Is dating 3 months after death of spouse wrong? Is starting a relationship in the first year after losing a spouse a bad idea? None of that matters. Just focus on what feels right for you (and your children, especially if they’re young). If, at any point, you realize that you weren’t ready when you thought you were, know that’s okay too. Take a step back, take care of yourself, and revisit this prospect when you’re in a better place.
She Was A Widow, He Was A Married Man. A Love Story With A Difference
What I Regret After The Death Of My Spouse
He Is at Peace, and Her Love Goes On
Your contribution does not constitute a charitable donation. It will allow Bonobology to continue bringing you new and up-to-date information in our pursuit of helping anyone in the world to learn how to do anything.
Share Feedback
What is your feedback?
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Get your weekly dose of insightful articles straight to your inbox.
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — There was Viktor Hovland, moments after winning his first PGA Tour championship in 18 months, after storming back from three shots down with five to play to beat a top-10 player in the world for the Valspar Championship.
If there was a moment to declare himself back, to say that every swing fix and coaching change he has put himself through since the 2023 Ryder Cup was absolutely worth it because here he is with the trophy next to him, this was it.
But as much as it was clear that Hovland, the 27-year-old Norwegian flashing that easy smile, was happy, I had to ask him, “How happy are you with your swing right now?”
“Yeah, it’s still not great,” Hovland said. “… The club is just not in a great place for me coming down. It’s just not what it used to be. So I can’t really rely on my old feels anymore because the club is in a different spot and I have to change my release pattern to make that work.”
OK, well, it did work. Results over process, right? Hovland just played four straight rounds under par at the Copperhead Course, including a Sunday 67 with birdies on two difficult holes to edge Justin Thomas by a stroke. No, not so much.
“I think that is something that I’m extremely proud of that I can show up at a PGA Tour event at one of the hardest golf courses we play all year and still win with not my best stuff. … But at the same time, it makes this game a lot more stressful than I think it should be,” Hovland said.
Viktor Hovland, right, walks off the 18th tee with caddie Shay Knight. (Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images)
This is, at its core, who Viktor Hovland is and why he believes he’s been able to go from a relatively minor golfing country like Norway to Oklahoma State to the PGA Tour and have as much success as he has. Sunday was his seventh PGA Tour win, including a Tour Championship, and he has three top-five finishes at the majors in the last three years.
It’s not enough to be good. It’s not enough to flirt with great. He’s striving for something here, and why is that a problem?
“I find it kind of weird that we’re professional athletes and the people that are wanting to improve are somewhat looked at, ‘Oh, he’s a perfectionist, he’s out on the perimeter searching too much.’ It’s like, that’s what we do; we are here to get better, and we are here to win tournaments. So if you’re not going to try to get better, what are you doing?” Hovland said.
There’s something to be admired there. The not-so-secret truth of the PGA Tour is that the money is good enough that you don’t have to win to set up yourself and your family nicely. And for years the tour has operated in a way that if you kept your card for a few years, it was hard to lose it, perpetuating a cycle of doing just enough to keep the checks coming. Good is, in fact, the enemy of great. Men’s professional golf is no different from any other industry in that way.
No one has been able to convince Hovland to join the murky middle, even his well-meaning mother, who makes it a habit to let Viktor, at his low moments, know that a lot of other people played poorly that day too. “It never consoles me,” he said.
This was the tournament week for Hovland, who had not made a cut in 2025 and was ejected from The Players Championship with a first-round 80: While committed to the Valspar, he spent Monday in Orlando working with swing coach Grant Waite, and they found something of a swing feel. Enough that Hovland figured he might as well drive over to Tampa Bay on Tuesday, playing a late practice round. Only after those nine holes did he make the final decision to play in the tournament, but with very little, if any, expectation of contending.
Then came a first-round 70, and a 67 the next day that had him one shot off the lead. “I don’t have control over what I’m doing,” Hovland said that day. Playing in the final group Saturday, Hovland shot a 69 and ended the day in a three-way tie for the lead. “Still feels like I’m saving a lot of shots, but they’re going fairly straight, so it’s OK,” Hovland said.
Viktor Hovland leaned on his irons during the Valspar Championship. (Brennan Asplen / Getty Images)
Sunday was a stress test, then. Could Hovland manage his game, play into that swing feel and find a way to win? The answer was a testament to his work. Hovland not only avoided his biggest problem right now — a “big push fade” — on No. 16, where water runs the length of the fairway, but he also hit maybe the shot of the tournament, an approach from 187 yards out to less than 6 feet. With a birdie putt there and another on No. 17, Hovland had a two-shot cushion, enough to bogey 18 and still win.
Now the work begins again with Waite, one of the swing coaches Hovland hired and fired over the last 18 months, bringing him back this month in part because Waite is an information guy and Hovland wants all the information. All the data. Don’t hide from the problem. Lean into it and come back out the other side. Hopefully.
You win this time of year on the PGA Tour and it’s only so long until the questions inevitably come around to the Masters. There are 18 days until the first round, and Hovland believes what he did to win this week — taming tight fairways with accurate iron shots and a good week putting — will not have the same effect at Augusta National, an entirely different test of golf. That is his reality as he sees it, though Hovland sprinkled in some positive self-talk.
“I still need to be honest so I can attack the problems that I have and we can improve, but at the same time, I got to give myself some credit. And even no matter how bad it feels or how many poor shots I’m hitting, I’m still capable of shooting good scores with it. So I kind of have to keep that in the back of my head,” Hovland said.
So, is Viktor Hovland back? Yes. Just don’t ask him to confirm it.
The key to my frequent phone upgrades is keeping all my devices in pristine condition, ensuring I get the best resale value. You can use these tips to help get top dollar for your old devices.
6
Use a Case and Screen protector
Aryan Surendranath/MakeUseOf
Modern smartphones come with a durable glass cover and an aluminum chassis. Some flagship phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro lineup, feature an even more durable titanium frame. Some phones, like those in the Galaxy lineup, feature cover glass that’s more scratch-resistant than the standard glass used on other phones.
Yet, irrespective of the phone I use, I always use a case and screen protector for added protection.
I typically order a few cases from renowned accessory makers for my phone. Later, I sell them with the phone, which helps give the buyer a feeling that they are getting more value for their money.
While there are plenty of minimal cases on the market, I avoid them as they don’t always offer ample protection. A case with a raised lip and edge protection is essential, as it safeguards the phone from damage in case of a fall. This ensures the phone doesn’t pick up any scratches or scuffs from accidental falls or dings.
Similarly, the screen protector shields the display from minor scratches and scuffs caused by my jeans pocket or table. These added protection measures help boost the resale value of my phones, as you can get at least 20-30% more for a phone in mint condition, without any scratches or scuffs.
5
Keep the Box and Charger
Jowi Morales / MakeUseOf
Smartphone boxes do not come with as many goodies as they used to. You get a basic case, a USB-C cable, a SIM ejector pin, and regulatory papers. Despite this, I never throw away my phone’s boxes. I also keep the bill inside the box itself, ensuring I don’t misplace it. I don’t even remove the bundled USB-C cable, as I have plenty of them lying around, and use them instead.
While not much, this helps me fetch a higher resale value for my phone. Individually, having the box of your phone might not make a big deal. However, combined with other tips I have shared in this article, it can make a big difference in the final resale value.
This part is easier said than done, but I always try to maximize the battery health of my phones to increase their resale value. Typically, this involves not fast charging the phone frequently and avoiding fast wireless charging. I also avoid draining the phone’s battery to zero and then charging it to full.
Unless I am traveling, I prefer to charge my phone with a regular 10W-20W charger. I only like to fast charge it when I am traveling or in a hurry. While I can limit the battery charge capacity to 80% or 90% to extend its lifespan, I find this a bit excessive.
Admittedly, this isn’t easy, especially if you use a phone for a year or two and then sell it. By then, the battery health is bound to take a hit. Still, you can do your best to maximize its lifespan, as a phone with 80% battery health will get you noticeably less than a phone with a 95% capacity.
Alternatively, if your phone’s battery health has gone down noticeably, you can get it replaced, use it for a few months, and then sell it. I follow this approach with my wife’s and mom’s iPhones, replacing their batteries about six months before I intend to sell them.
If the device you are selling is too old and the resale value is poor, consider repurposing your old Android phone into a security monitor or an Android Auto companion. You can also turn it into a remote control for your streaming stick.
3
Claim Warranty for Any Defect
As long as my phone or any other device is under the standard manufacturer warranty, I always visit the official service center for any repairs or defects. This keeps my phone’s warranty intact and guarantees quality workmanship, which helps retain the phone’s resale value.
I’ve had instances where I got my phone’s display or back panel replaced at a third-party repair shop, only to face more issues later due to their poor work. This also ends up negatively affecting the phone’s resale value.
For older devices that are out of warranty, I only take them to renowned third-party repair shops. In such cases, I avoid the manufacturer’s service center, as their out-of-warranty repair costs are exorbitant and make little sense.
2
Resell a Few Weeks Before a New Model Comes Out
Justin Duino / MakeUseOf
My wife typically upgrades to a new iPhone every year. As a content creator who relies heavily on her phone for shooting videos and creating content, her workflow benefits from even minor yearly improvements. Since Apple typically launches new iPhones around mid-September, I sell her current phone in late August or early September to get the best resale value.
This approach ensures she gets 15-20% more value for her phone, with its pristine condition further helping increase its value. Otherwise, once Apple announces a new iPhone, the value of older models drops significantly.
1
Try Multiple Platforms When Selling
I’ve likely used hundreds of smartphones over the years, yet I’ve never traded one for a new device. Instead, I always list them for sale on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and other similar services. This ensures I get the most value for my old phone, as most manufacturer trade-in programs don’t offer the best price.
There can be exceptions, with Google and Samsung offering boosted trade-in values for old phones when they launch their new flagship. But otherwise, you are always better off selling your phone through one of the above-mentioned channels. The only problem is that you will frequently run into hagglers or people who will provide lowball offers.
I also always list the phone for sale on multiple marketplaces. Admittedly, this takes time, especially if there are many interested buyers. But again, this helps me get the best resale price for my old phone.
Irrespective of where you sell, always do these 10 things before selling your old phone. You don’t want to hand over the device to its new owner with your private photos and data still on it.
Getting the most value for your old phone will take effort and time. If you cannot put in the time, consider using a boosted trade-in program for its convenience.
As spring unfolds in Yangmeidu Park, Ganzhou, east China’s Jiangxi Province, clusters of Chinese snowballs, a type of hydrangea viburnum plant, transform the landscape into a dreamlike scene. The pure white blossoms, resembling clouds resting on branches or freshly fallen snow, create a serene and romantic atmosphere.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-24/Chinese-snowballs-highlight-spring-blossoms-at-Jiangxi-park-1C0b2MDZGRW/img/6102f9aec5904371b1d9a27470c8378f/6102f9aec5904371b1d9a27470c8378f.jpeg'Blossoming Chinese snowballs are pictured at Yangmeidu Park in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province on March 23, 2025. /IC
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-24/Chinese-snowballs-highlight-spring-blossoms-at-Jiangxi-park-1C0b2MDZGRW/img/6102f9aec5904371b1d9a27470c8378f/6102f9aec5904371b1d9a27470c8378f.jpeg'Blossoming Chinese snowballs are pictured at Yangmeidu Park in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province on March 23, 2025. /IC
These delicate blossoms have become a seasonal highlight, drawing locals and tourists alike to admire their beauty, capture stunning photographs, and enjoy peaceful strolls among them. Blending harmoniously with the park’s lush greenery and open lawns, the flowers enhance the tranquil charm of the surroundings.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-24/Chinese-snowballs-highlight-spring-blossoms-at-Jiangxi-park-1C0b2MDZGRW/img/95f6f23fde244629844cdd165a563fd1/95f6f23fde244629844cdd165a563fd1.jpeg'A visitor poses for photos with blossoming Chinese snowballs at Yangmeidu Park in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province on March 23, 2025. /IC
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-24/Chinese-snowballs-highlight-spring-blossoms-at-Jiangxi-park-1C0b2MDZGRW/img/95f6f23fde244629844cdd165a563fd1/95f6f23fde244629844cdd165a563fd1.jpeg'A visitor poses for photos with blossoming Chinese snowballs at Yangmeidu Park in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province on March 23, 2025. /IC
In recent years, the local authorities have prioritized urban greening, developing ecological parks and scenic spots to enrich public spaces. Yangmeidu Park stands as a testament to these efforts, offering a refreshing retreat where nature and city life seamlessly intertwine.
Filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, one of the two Palestinian co-directors behind the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land,” was detained Monday in the occupied West Bank by the Israeli military after he was allegedly brutally attacked by settlers.
Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham, who co-directed “No Other Land,” wrote Monday on X that “a group of settlers just lynched” his collaborator. “They beat him and he has injuries in his head and stomach, bleeding.”
“Soldiers invaded the ambulance he called, and took him,” Abraham added in his post, which was shared in English and Hebrew. “No sign of him since.”
Anna Lippman, a delegate for the activist group Center for Jewish Nonviolence who recorded and shared video of the attack Monday, told The Times via social media that more than a dozen settlers attacked the Palestinian village Susiya in the Masafer Yatta area, destroying property. During the attack Monday evening, Ballal was “injured by settlers.” He was receiving treatment in an ambulance for injuries to his head, which included swelling and bleeding, when “soldiers came and took him and two other Palestinian men from Susiya,” Lippman said.
“We do not know where he is or his condition,” she added Monday.
The Center for Jewish Nonviolence shared dashcam footage on Bluesky of someone shoving three people and punching one member of the group. The video later shows a person — whose face is covered by a mask — joined by several others, picking an object from the ground and hurling it at the vehicle, destroying the windshield. Video recorded and shared by Lippman shows an alternate angle of the confrontation.
Activist Josh Kimelman, who was present during the confrontation, told the Associated Press Monday, “We don’t know where Hamdan is because he was taken away in a blindfold.”
Abraham did not immediately respond to The Times’ request for additional comment.
In a statement shared to The Times, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said a “violent confrontation” broke out in Susiya after several people it described as “terrorists” allegedly hurled rocks at Israeli citizens and damaged their vehicles. The incident involved “mutual rock-hurling between Palestinians and Israelis at the scene,” the statement said. IDF said its members and Israel police responded “to disperse the confrontation,” and that the people it described as “terrorists” allegedly started hurling rocks their way.
IDF and Israel police detained three Palestinians and an Israeli person allegedly involved in the confrontation. The four detainees were taken for further questioning by Israel police and one Israeli person was evacuated to receive medical treatment, according to the statement. IDF also denied allegations that a Palestinian was detained from inside an ambulance.
The Times has confirmed that Ballal was indeed among the three people detained Monday evening. He was detained on suspicion of hurling rocks at IDF and police.
Support for Ballal poured in Monday afternoon as news of his detainment spread. Palestinian activist Basel Adra, who also co-directed and appears in “No Other Land,” tweeted about Ballal’s apprehension and shared a photo of a person with both hands behind their back being escorted into a vehicle adorned with an Israeli flag. He said his collaborator “is still missing after soldiers abducted him, injured and bleeding.”
He added: “This is how they erase Masafer Yatta.”
The International Documentary Assn. released a statement in support of Ballal, who they allege was “violently attacked and kidnapped in the West Bank,” and urged his release. The missive also demanded that the filmmaker’s family and community “be informed about his condition, location, and the justification for his detention.”
“No Other Land,” directed by Abraham, Ballal, Adra and Israeli filmmaker Rachel Szor, is a harrowing documentary that chronicles Israel’s demolition of Palestinian villages in Masafer Yatta to make way for an Israeli military training ground, displacing families and communities. The film won the documentary award at the 2025 Academy Awards.
Recently, “No Other Land” found itself in the center of tension in the Miami Beach cinema scene. Earlier this month, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner threatened to pull grant funding from the O Cinema and end its lease on city-owned property if it screened the documentary. In a letter sent to the movie house, Meiner called the film “a one-sided propaganda attack on the Jewish people that is not consistent with the values of our City and residents.”
Meiner withdrew his threats last week.
In a statement, Abraham hit back at Meiner’s previous criticism that “No Other Land” was “egregiously antisemitic.”
“When the mayor uses the word ‘antisemitism’ to silence Palestinians and Israelis who proudly oppose occupation and apartheid together, fighting for justice and equality, he is emptying it out of meaning. I find that to be very dangerous.
“Censorship is always wrong,” Abraham added. “We made this film to reach U.S. audiences from a wide variety of political views. I believe that once you see the harsh reality of occupation in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank, it becomes impossible to justify it, and that’s why the mayor is so afraid of ‘No Other Land.’ It won’t work. Banning a film only makes people more determined to see it.”
Times staff writer Mark Olsen contributed to this report.
Seoul, March 25: Hyundai Motor Group’s decision to invest $21 billion in the United States over the next four years is being seen as a bold strategic move to solidify its competitive edge in its single-largest national market, industry observers said on Tuesday.
The plan, unveiled by Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, alongside President Donald Trump and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, at the White House, is expected to sharpen the group’s position in the increasingly competitive U.S. auto landscape, reports Yonhap news agency. Hyundai Motor and Kia To Surpass 30 Million Cumulative Vehicle Sales in US This Year.
It marked the first major U.S. investment plan announced by a South Korean conglomerate during Trump’s second term. Last year, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 1.7 million vehicles in the U.S., a 3.4 percent on-year increase and making the group the fourth-largest global automotive group in the U.S. market.
The announcement comes as global automotive groups are bracing for looming reciprocal and sectoral tariffs on their exports to the U.S., which Trump has pledged to introduce since his election campaign. Observers view the timing and scale of the investment as a direct response to the Trump administration’s trade policy, which has consistently emphasized local production as a means of avoiding punitive tariffs.
“The move appears to be designed to respond to Trump’s trade policy emphasising the revitalisation of American manufacturing,” an automotive industry observer said, while asking for anonymity. Trump himself highlighted the announcement, stating, “Hyundai will be producing steel in America and making its cars in America,” and noted that the automotive group “will not have to pay any tariffs” due to its commitment to local production.
It remains unclear whether Trump was offering a general message in support of localised production or hinting at a specific tariff exemption for Hyundai. Still, his comments suggest the group’s aggressive investment commitment may lead to favourable treatment under Washington’s new trade policy.
A centerpiece of the plan includes expanding production capacity at its Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Savannah, Georgia, from 300,000 to 500,000 units per year. “With this, our U.S. vehicle production will exceed 1 million units per year,” Chung said. “Our decision to invest in Savannah, Georgia — creating more than 8,500 American jobs — was initiated during my meeting with President Trump in Seoul in 2019.” Audi Q9 To Launch in 2026: Audi’s Flagship 7-Seater SUV Spotted Testing, Expected To Rival BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS Next Year; Here’s What To Expect.
Additionally, Hyundai Steel Co. will build a 2.7-million-ton electric arc furnace (EAF) steel plant in Louisiana, a move that may further improve Hyundai Motor’s competitiveness in the U.S. market. The Trump administration began imposing whopping 25 percent tariffs on all steel imports earlier this month and is set to roll out fresh import tariffs on autos, in addition to country-by-country “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 25, 2025 09:46 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Genetic testing company 23andMe, once a Silicon Valley darling valued at $6 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection late Sunday as it prepares for a sale of the business. CEO Anne Wojcicki, who cofounded the company in 2006, has also stepped down after months of failed attempts to take the firm private.
As uncertainty about the company’s future reaches its peak, all eyes are on the trove of deeply personal—and potentially valuable—genetic data that 23andMe holds. Privacy advocates have long warned that the risk of entrusting genetic data to any institution is twofold—the organization could fail to protect it, but it could also hand over customer data to a new entity that they may not trust and didn’t choose.
California attorney general Rob Bonta reminded consumers in an alert on Friday that Californians have a legal right to ask that an organization delete their data. 23andMe customers in other states and countries largely do not have the same protections, though there is also a right to deletion for health data in Washington state’s My Health My Data Act and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. Regardless of residency, all 23andMe customers should consider downloading anything they want to keep from the service and should then attempt to delete their information.
“This situation really brings home the point that there is still no national health privacy law in the US protecting your rights unless you live in California or Washington,” says Andrea Downing, an independent security researcher and cofounder of the patient-led digital rights nonprofit The Light Collective. “Meanwhile, we continue to evolve our understanding of how genetic information has value, but also has unique vulnerability.”
John Verdi, senior vice president of policy at the Future of Privacy Forum, says 23andMe’s new owner could revise the company’s privacy policies for new customers and new data collection, but the data it has already collected from current customers is subject to existing terms. “The company has legal obligations regarding information collected under the current policies,” he says.
Still, researchers emphasize that in practice, such a large transition will create real data exposure that is outside of 23andMe customers’ control. “In my opinion, these privacy policies—especially in the context of acquisitions in the venture capital and private equity space—aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on,” says longtime security researcher and data privacy advocate Kenn White. “For regular people out there who use these services, you’re pretty much on your own. My advice is to request your data get deleted as soon as possible”
To delete your genetic data through 23andMe’s website, log in and then go to Settings in your profile. Scroll to 23andMe Data and then click View. At this point, you can choose to download a copy of your genetic information. Then scroll to Delete Data and click Permanently Delete Data. Once you initiate the process, you’ll receive an email from 23andMe to confirm. Click the link in the email to complete the deletion process. Additionally, you can direct 23andMe to destroy the biological sample it used to extract your DNA data if you previously authorized the company to keep it. Go to Settings and then Preferences.
Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, plans to audit its asset reserves and is seeking a Big Four accounting firm for the process. The Big Four—PwC, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and KPMG—are among the potential candidates, though CEO Paolo Ardoino has not yet disclosed which firm Tether has approached. The audit aims to enhance transparency between the company and the Tether community.
Ardoino, in an interview with Reuters, said that its reserve reports have been assessed quarterly so far. A full audit of its reserves now comes across as necessary, Ardonio said, owing to the pro-crypto approach that US President Donald Trump has initiated.
“If the President of the United States says this is top priority for the US, Big Four auditing firms will have to listen,” the report quoted the Tether chief as saying.
Tether was founded in 2014 as a blockchain-based platform to offer fiat-to-crypto services. Its stablecoin USDT was launched in October 2014.
In the last decade, the USD-pegged stablecoin Tether has become the third largest cryptocurrency by market cap, data tracking platforms like CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko showed. Due to its stablecoin status, each Tether token maintains a 1:1 ratio with the US dollar. The present market cap of USDT stands at $143.5 billion (roughly Rs. 12,27,635 crore).
In his interview, Ardoino stated that Tether’s stability comes from being fully backed by dollar-denominated reserves. He credited President Trump’s pro-crypto stance for motivating the company to pursue this long-overdue full audit. As part of this effort, Tether appointed senior business advisor Simon McWilliams as CFO to prepare the company for the audit.
Ardoino has yet to specify a timeline for the audit’s completion. However, he stated that Tether was the seventh-largest buyer of US Treasuries in 2024.
Tether reportedly clocked $10 billion (roughly Rs. 86,655 crore) in net profit last year. Earlier this year, the company announced that it was shifting its headquarters from the British Virgin Islands to El Salvador, which offers better crypto-friendly policies.
Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.
Google is now rolling out access to AI Mode to its second batch of users. Google first allowed Google One AI Premium subscribers access to AI mode, when it first launched on March 5th. If you opted into AI Mode and are based in the United States, you may now have access.
How to access AI Mode. Once you again access then you should be able to access AI Mode – here is how:
Go to www.google.com, enter a question in the Search bar, and tap the “AI Mode” tab below the Search bar.
Go directly to the AI Mode tab on Google Search at: google.com/aimode.
In the Google app, tap the AI Mode icon below the Search bar on the home screen.
The initial bug. When Google emailed me and hundreds of other searchers with their invites to try AI Mode at around 5:20pm ET today, many were unable to access it. When you clicked the “Try now” button, it told you to opt in and wait to get access.
What is AI Mode. AI Mode is a new tab within Google Search, right now only for those accepted into the Google Search Labs experiment, that brings you into a more AI-like interface. Google said AI Mode “is particularly helpful for queries where further exploration, reasoning, or comparisons are needed.” AI Mode lets you explore a topic and get comprehensive AI-based answers without you needing to do those comparisons and analyses yourself. We saw rumors of this news and it is finally officially here, for some of you.
I have a detailed write up on AI Mode over here.
Why we care. AI Mode may reveal the future of Google Search and search futures that may be incorporated into Google Search in the days ahead.
So see if you have access and play around with it so you can understand how this new Google Search feature works.
Confirmed. Google’s Robby Stein confirmed the expanded rollout of AI Mode:
2/ We’re going to be adding new features and capabilities soon, like more visual responses, richer formatting and new ways to get helpful web content as shown in this example.
If you’re interested in picking up a book that takes an in-depth look at the art direction of one of the most stylish games in its genre, you probably shouldn’t wait too long. Official Design Works books covering older entries in the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series have been out of print for years.
This is essentially a two-in-one art book, as you’re getting a look at both Persona 5 and its enhanced and expanded edition, Persona 5 Royal.
Because it covers two games, this newly translated work is bigger than the average video game art book. The 544-page hardcover is filled with artwork from the earliest stages of development to materials used to promote the finished games.
The concept art, sketches, character illustrations, and design drawings are accompanied by commentary from the development team throughout. It also includes an exclusive interview with Persona series artist Shigenori Soejima.
If you haven’t played it, Persona 5 tells the story of the Phantom Thieves, high school students who save people from the twisted desires of those around them by awakening the power of their true selves. It’s wonderfully weird stuff, and worth checking out. It’s available on all modern platforms, and since it has been out for a few years, you can get a pretty good deal on a game that’ll keep you occupied for dozens of hours. If you really want to spoil yourself, you can also check out this collector’s edition for Persona 5 Royal. The 1 More Edition is sold out for Nintendo Switch and Xbox, but Amazon still has a few PS5 copies.
Atlus fans may also want to check out the upcoming guidebook for Metaphor: ReFantazio, the studio’s newest IP. Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Official Strategy Guide releases April 15 and is up for preorder for $55 at Amazon.
.jpg)
.
