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India has backed away from its plan to force smartphone makers to pre-install a government app on all devices, following backlash and mounting concerns that the mandate would expand state access to users’ devices and weaken privacy protections. On Wednesday, the Indian telecom ministry said Sanchar Saathi, an anti-theft and cybersecurity protection app, would remain voluntary, and that smartphone makers would no longer be required to preload it on devices they sell. The new notice effectively reverses a directive issued to manufacturers last week (and circulated online on Monday) that had instructed manufacturers to bake the app into all devices…
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile has passed a bill outlawing the use of mobile phones and other smart devices during classes at elementary and middle schools.The new law will take effect next year, making Chile the latest country to restrict smartphone use among young students to reduce its harmful effects and curb classroom distractions. Other nations with various levels of restrictions on smartphone use at schools include France, Brazil, Hungary, the Netherlands and China.“We are advancing a cultural change for children and adolescents who today, more than ever, need to see each other’s faces again, socialize during recess, and regain…
Cooking with wine always feels elegant and elevated. This Vegetable Bourguignon, from my cookbook “I Love You: Recipes from the Heart” is hearty and satisfying for family dinners or for curling up by a fire on dark, moody days. And it’s always good for leftovers.Serve it with a mashed vegetable — potatoes, parsnips or celery root (also known as celeriac). In this recipe, I call for celeriac because I enjoy sneaking in new things for my family to try. My dad had no idea he was eating mashed celery root instead of his regular potatoes at a Sunday meal… and…
Macy’s on Wednesday beat Wall Street’s sales expectations for the third quarter in a row and posted its strongest growth in more than three years as the company’s turnaround strategy showed signs of momentum.The department store operator raised its full-year sales and earnings outlook after its better-than-expected fiscal third quarter. The retailer now expects adjusted earnings per share of between $2 and $2.20, up from its previous expectation of $1.70 to $2.05, and net sales of $21.48 billion to $21.63 billion, compared with its prior outlook of $21.15 billion and $21.45 billion.Macy’s said it expects flat to roughly 0.5% comparable…
by Sarah Kuta Last updated: 1:40 PM ET, Tue December 2, 2025 This Travel Tuesday, Norwegian Cruise Line is offering 50 percent off all cruises and free prepaid gratuities for sailings three nights and longer. The promotion can be combined with the company’s Free at Sea program, which includes more than $2,000 in savings on amenities like specialty dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and shore excursions. Kids can also sail free on more than 650 select sailings. “As the year winds down, travelers are telling us they’re ready to step away from the pressure and pace of everyday life,” says Harry Sommer, president…
Hardware maker Nothing is letting its user base buy its stock as part of a new community investment round of $5 million. The new round, which opens on December 10, will enable consumers to buy the company’s shares at its Series C valuation of $1.3 billion. The company said it has so far raised $8 million in total from over 8,000 people across two previous community investment rounds. It held its first community funding event in 2021, aiming to raise $1.5 million. “This isn’t about raising capital, it’s about giving our community/fans a chance to invest while we’re private and…
NEW YORK (AP) — The end of 2025 is almost upon us. And it’s time to unpack Spotify Wrapped.On Wednesday, the music streaming giant delivered its annual recap — giving its hundreds of millions of users worldwide a look at the top songs, artists, podcasts and other audio that filled their ears over the past year (give or take a month and some change).Spotify isn’t the only platform — or music streamer — to roll out a yearly glimpse of data collected from consumers’ online lives. But since its launch about a decade ago, Wrapped has become one of the…
Levi Strauss CEO Michelle Gass was out for a run in San Francisco last March when she first heard the song “Levii’s Jeans” from Beyonce’s latest album, “Cowboy Carter.” “Literally, I got chills,” Gass recounted to CNBC, adding the name check represented a “once in a lifetime” marketing opportunity she couldn’t afford to squander. “She is one of the most celebrated and influential artists of our time … We asked the question, ‘Could there be something more?'” Six months later, Levi announced Beyonce would star in a new global marketing campaign. Then, a pattern that’s repeated itself since Levi invented blue jeans…
Spotify Wrapped is back. After last year’s widely criticized flop that included an AI podcast as its highlight, the streamer’s highly anticipated annual review feature has returned to its roots. This year, Spotify is doubling down on what it knows works best: deep dives into your streaming data, creative experiences, messages from favorite artists, and other social features. The company claims that Wrapped 2025 is its biggest, as it’s introducing nearly a dozen new features in addition to its old standbys, like top songs and artists. Plus, it’s offering more visibility into users’ data than in years past. For the…
One-stop flights from the United States to Europe are about to get more seamless—and affordable—thanks to a new partnership between Southwest Airlines and Condor.The U.S. budget carrier is teaming up with the German airline to connect their schedules with same-ticket journeys at six U.S. airports starting in January 2026. Condor is based in Frankfurt and has a route network that expands to 70 destinations across some of Europe’s most popular cities, as well as to locales in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.The partnership will connect passengers in the U.S. to new transatlantic flight options at key airports both airlines serve…