MacworldThe iPad is a capable device for both art and productivity, but it becomes a stronger proposition in both areas if you have a good stylus to hand.Whether youre sketching a new building design, taking notes during a work meeting or designing graphics, a stylus is a game-changer. But with so many to choose from in just about every shape and size, which is the best for your needs? Everyone has heard of the Apple Pencil, but there are plenty of great alternatives that cost a fraction of the price.If you want an Apple Pencil and need more information to help you choose, take a look at our Best Apple Pencil guide, which should help you determine which one works with your iPad. If youd prefer to consider all the options alongside Apples, heres what we consider to be the best iPad styluses available right now.Apple Pencil Pro The ultimate stylus for compatible iPadsPrice When Reviewed:149Best Prices Today: RetailerPrice144View Deal148View Deal149View Deal150View Deal139,86 View Deal139,90 View Deal144,00 View Deal148,00 View Deal148,00 View Deal148,96 View Deal149,00 View Deal149,00 View Deal149,00 View Deal149,00 View Deal164.29View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket144 at Computeruniverse148 at notebooksbilliger.de149 at Apple144,00 at amazon.deView more prices from amazon.deAlternatedigitalo.detease-ShopClose Best Prices Today:Apple Pencil Pro The ultimate stylus for compatible iPadsRetailerPrice144View Deal148View Deal149View Deal150View Deal139,86 View Deal139,90 View Deal144,00 View Deal148,00 View Deal148,00 View Deal148,96 View Deal149,00 View Deal149,00 View Deal149,00 View Deal149,00 View Deal164.29View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWorks with: M2 iPad Air; M4 iPad ProThe Apple Pencil Pro is essentially a replacement for the 2nd-generation Apple Pencil (below), made to work only with the new M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro introduced in 2024 (or later iPad Air/Pro models). It works just like the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil, with the same overall shape and size and magnetic pairing and charging. The difference is that Apple added four very welcome new features:A gyroscope that lets you roll the pencil to change the orientation of shaped brushes and tools.A taptic engine for haptic feedback.Find My support.Squeeze sensitivity, to open palettes or change tool options like weights or colors.Those new features are going to make them much more appealing to digital artists, but you cant buy an Apple Pencil Pro and use it with any iPad made before May 2024.Zagg Pro Stylus 2 A good alternative to the Apple PencilPrice When Reviewed:79.99Best Prices Today: RetailerPrice79,00 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket79,00 at Proshop.deWorks with: iPad (from 6th gen); iPad mini (from 5th gen); iPad Air (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 13-inchWe loved the original Zagg Pro Stylus so we were happy to hear that there was a new model. The Pro Stylus 2 is a good alternative to the Apple Pencil with many of the same features including wireless charging, a replaceable tip and attaching magnetically to the iPad Air and iPad Pro. One advantage is that unlike the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil the Zag Pro Stylus 2 can be used with any iPad since 2018. The Zagg Pro Stylus 2 is comfortable to hold, has a matt coating, and comes in a selection of colors.There are two tips: a replaceable stylus tip and a capacitive rubber tip which can be used for scrolling and also functions as the power button. To save power, the Pro Stylus 2 switches off automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity. The battery should last for around 6.5 hours.We tested with a number of creative apps and found the experience akin to the Apple Pencil 2, however, it didnt work well with Adobe Photoshop due to significant delays. If you are using Photoshop then stick with the Pencil 2. Read our full Zagg Pro Stylus 2 review Adonit Note+ 2 A slimline stylus with impressive versatilityBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceAdonit$69.99View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket$69.99 at AdonitWorks with: iPad (from 6th gen); iPad mini (from 5th gen); iPad Air (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 13-inchThe Adonit Note+ 2 is a slimline stylus that features an impressive amount of versatility. Housed in an aluminum body that weighs only 14g, its comfortable to hold and use for longer writing or sketching sessions.On the body there are two buttons, one is for the standard power and pairing features, but once connected to Bluetooth they can both be programmed in a variety of supported apps to execute commands. So, you might set one for Undo and the other for Redo which enables you to quickly fix mistakes in your note or illustration without having to access menus.In the box youll find three different replacement tips soft, medium and hard allowing users to tailor the physical experience to their personal preferences. The Note+ 2 supports palm rejection and pressure sensitivity, so long as the app youre using does too (the list of compatible apps covers pretty much all the big hitters for notes and art). Adonit has also built-in an angle detection technology which means you can have thicker or thinner pen-strokes by simply tilting the stylus.Writing and drawing with the Note+ 2 is smooth and reliable, with the slim profile nestling into the hand. Theres a flat side opposite the buttons which provides a steady grip and is also home to magnets that mean you can attach the stylus to the edge of your iPad when youre taking a break.Battery life tops out at eight hours, which takes one hour of charging through the USB-C port to achieve. But, if you run out of juice while in the midst of a creative frenzy, five minutes of charging will keep you going for another hour.Apple Pencil (USB-C) Good value iPad pencil Best Prices Today: RetailerPrice89View Deal89View Deal89.9View Deal83,55 View Deal89,00 View Deal89,00 View Deal89,00 View Deal89,80 View Deal89,99 View Deal92.47View Deal94,03 View Deal94,95 View Deal94.95View Deal94,95 View Deal96,96 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket89 at Apple89 at Computeruniverse89.9 at AlternateView more prices from digitalo.deMedia Markt Online ShopProshop.deSaturn Online ShopClose Best Prices Today:Apple Pencil (USB-C) Good value iPad pencil RetailerPrice89View Deal89View Deal89.9View Deal83,55 View Deal89,00 View Deal89,00 View Deal89,00 View Deal89,80 View Deal89,99 View Deal92.47View Deal94,03 View Deal94,95 View Deal94.95View Deal94,95 View Deal96,96 View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideView more pricesProductPricePrice comparison from BackmarketWorks with: iPad Pro 13-inch M4; iPad Pro 11-inch M4; iPad (10th gen); iPad Air 13-inch M2; iPad Air 11-inch M2; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd-6th gen); iPad Pro 11-inch (1st-4th gen); iPad Air (4th-5th gen); iPad mini (6th gen)The Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a slightly confusing entry to Apples range of Pencils. It isnt as good as the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil from 2018 and doesnt even have all of the same features of the 1st-gen Apple Pencil from 2015. It includes some of the same features as the prior models (including low latency and tilt sensitivity), but is also missing pressure sensitivity and wireless chargingin fact, it is the only model with a port for charging.It attaches magnetically to the side of the iPad for storage, like the 2nd-gen model. It is also shorter than both the 1st-gen and 2nd-gen models (6.10 inches vs 6.92 inches and 6.53 inches). You cant engrave it.But, at $20/20 less than the 1st-gen Pencil and $50/50 less than the 2nd-gen model, its cheaper than both.Apple Pencil (2nd generation) For older iPads onlyBest Prices Today: NewRefurbishedRetailerPrice$15.29View Deal$124.99View Deal$129View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPriceApple Pencil (2nd gen) 2018$68.10View Deal$109.99View DealPrice comparison from Backmarket$15.29 at Best Buy$124.99 at Adorama$129 at AppleWorks with: iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd-6th gen); iPad Pro 11-inch (1st-4th gen); iPad Air (4th-5th gen); iPad mini (6th gen)The Apple Pencil 2nd gen, which launched in 2018, is shorter than the original Pencil and has a flat edge you can tap to trigger app-specific functions. This makes Apples stylus easier to hold and it stops it rolling off your desk. The 2nd gen Pencil is also magnetically attachable to the iPad, which also helps with the rolling. Unlike the 1st gen Pencil, the 2nd-gen Pencil has no Lightning connector for charging, instead, it charges wirelessly when connected to the iPad, which is much neater. The 2nd-gen Pencil is matt white rather than the glossy white of the original (which could be a bit dazzling). You can also tell the two apart because the original had a metallic ring next to the charging cap. Both the 1st and 2nd generation Apple Pencils are equally responsive and pressure-sensitive. You can tilt the stylus to create different textures, making it a great tool for handwriting, sketching, note-taking and illustration. Read our full Apple Pencil (2nd generation) review Apple Pencil (1st generation) For iPads with Lightning portsBest Prices Today: RetailerPrice$79View Deal$99View Deal$99View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket$79 at Best Buy$99 at Adorama$99 at AppleWorks with: iPad (6th-10th generation); iPad Pro 12.9-inch (1st-2nd gen); iPad Pro 10.5-inch; iPad Pro 9.7-inch; iPad Air (3rd gen); iPad mini (5th gen)The second generation Apple Pencil features earlier this round-up, but we still recommend the first generation Apple Pencil, which launched way back in 2015 but is compatible with the standard iPad from 6th to 10th generation (as well as a number of older iPad models). If those are the iPads you have this is the Apple Pencil for you. We compare the two generations of Apple Pencil inApple Pencil (2018) vs Apple Pencil (2015).One benefit of the older Apple Pencil, assuming it works with your iPad, is that it is cheaper than the second-generation version at $99/99 rather than $129/129. It is still more expensive than the Apple Pencil (USB-C), which costs $79/79, though. The original Apple Pencil is almost entirely white, with just a metallic band at the non-writing end by the charging cap. This cap conceals a Lightning port for charging and syncing. When you want to charge the Pencil you can just plug it into the iPads Lightning port or use an adapter if your iPad has a USB-C port (as is the case with the iPad 10th gen). There is a downside to charging this way: you cant use the Pencil while it is charging and it looks pretty ridiculous. Hereshow to check the Apple Pencils battery percentage. The Pencil feels pretty good in the hand, with a nice weight to it. The Apple Pencil and compatible iPads have sensors that can detect the pressure youre using and the angle youre holding the stylus at, making it effortless to create lines of different thicknesses. In the Pencils tip there are two tilt sensors which the iPads display will keep track of to work out the exact orientation and angle of your hands as you draw. For example, you can use the side of the Pencils tip for realistic shading like you would with a real pencil lead. The Apple Pencil knows to ignore the wrist and palmYou get a spare tip in the box, but its identical to the one that comes attached to the Pencil. Read our full Apple Pencil (1st generation) review Logitech Crayon (USB-C)Works with: iPad (from 6th gen); iPad mini (from 5th gen); iPad Air (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 13-inchThe Logitech Crayon was one of the first quality alternatives to the original Apple Pencil, and since then the company has updated the stylus to an improved second generation. This features a refined design and ditches the Lightning port of the first one, replacing it with the more useful USB-C.Where the first-gen model featured orange plastic coloring at the top and bottom as an option, the new version goes for a sleeker, simpler aesthetic with a silver aluminum and grey plastic combination.Much of the construction remains the same, as the initial version proved so popular, meaning you get a slim, lightweight plastic chassis thats flat on the two longer sides. This gives the Logitech Crayon a similar feel to a carpenters pencil, which brings the added benefit of not rolling off a table when you put it down.Its not magnetized, which seems a shame as the shape lends itself to sitting flush along the side of an iPad, which also means it cant be recharged wirelessly. This makes it akin to the original Apple Pencil and remember that the similarly priced Apple Pencil (USB-C) doesnt support wireless charging either.You get excellent palm rejection, tilt support, instant pairing by simply sliding the power switch, and the Crayon writes smoothly with no noticeable lag. As with the Apple Pencil (USB-C) theres no pressure sensitivity, so this isnt really a stylus for graphic designers or artists, both of whom would be better off with the Apple Pencil Pro.The Logitech Crayon works with all iPads from 2018 or later and will give you around 7 hours of writing time when fully charged which takes just under an hour. It also comes with three indicator lights to let you know how much charge is left in the device, so you dont suddenly find the power goes out mid-sentence.If you want an alternative to the Apple Pencil (USB-C) that offers the same features but with a different take on the design, then the Logitech Crayon (USB-C) is a solid choice. Plus, the original version is still available if you prefer the Lightning connector (youll find it further down on this list).Adonit StarBest Prices Today: RetailerPriceAdonit$49.99View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPricePrice comparison from Backmarket$49.99 at AdonitWorks with: iPad (from 6th gen); iPad mini (from 5th gen); iPad Air (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 13-inchIf you want something that feels more like a real pen, a fountain pen at that, then the Adonit Star will be a breath of fresh air. The classic design is reminiscent of a Mont Blanc, but without some of the bulk and most of the price. Popping off the cap reveals a fountain-pen style nib, replete with the ink feed on the back, but on closer inspection, youll see that the metal cuts off early, with a black rubber 1mm fine tip being what will actually touch the screen.As you might expect, the Star is very much intended for those who want to make notes and generally just write on their iPad. It doesnt have pressure sensitivity, so you cant have thicker or thinner strokes depending on how hard you press, which would rule it out for most artists. Thats fine though, theres the Apple Pencil for that. Instead, you get a balanced and very comfortable writing experience, aided in no small measure by Adonits excellent palm cancellation feature.Pairing is simply a matter of pressing the small button on the Star, then when the blue light comes on you should be good to go. If it starts flashing red, this means it is time for a recharge, so unscrew the bottom of the pen and theres a USB-C port. The Star takes around an hour to charge and will then work happily for around 10 hours or so.Adonit has come up with something genuinely unique in the Star. Classy looking, nice to write with, and it will definitely get some looks when you pull it out in a meeting to make notes. If theres such a thing as a Stylus connoisseur, then you can bet that the Adonit Star would be a prizes part of their collection.Bargains Depot B&D 2-in-1 StylusWorks with: iPad (from 6th gen); iPad mini (from 5th gen); iPad Air (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 13-inchThe B&D Stylus is a bargain at under a tenner. Its made fully of aluminum and comes with twenty extra rubber tips in two different sizes so you can adjust the accuracy of lines. Its dual tipped too, so you can use a different size on either end.There is no need for Bluetooth or charging with this stylus. The B&D Stylus is compatible with all iPads, iPhones, and other touchscreen devices.Meko Capacitive Stylus PenWorks with: iPad (from 6th gen); iPad mini (from 5th gen); iPad Air (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 13-inchThe Meko stylus can be used for note-taking, drawing, writing, and basic selection and navigation and like the B&D option, it is also made of aluminum without any plastic parts. It uses a disc tip like a few other options in this list.For an affordable price, you get two Meko styli, two fibre tips, and four replacement disc tips.Logitech Crayon (Lightning)Best Prices Today: NewRefurbishedRetailerPrice$69.95View Deal$69.99View Deal$69.99View DealPrice comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwideProductPriceLogitech 914-000033 Pen$30View DealPrice comparison from Backmarket$69.95 at Apple$69.99 at Adorama$69.99 at Best BuyWorks with: iPad (from 6th gen); iPad mini (from 5th gen); iPad Air (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 11-inch; iPad Pro 12.9-inch (from 3rd gen); iPad Pro 13-inchWhile the Logitech Crayon (Lightning) was originally framed as an education tool, the cheap Apple Pencil alternative is now available to anybody that wants it.In many ways, the Crayon functions in the same way as the original Apple Pencil, complete with easy pairing, reliable palm rejection and tilt support, but theres one big omission: theres no pressure sensitivity available here. Thats likely to be a dealbreaker for graphic designers, but if youre only looking to use a stylus for note-taking, youre unlikely to notice a difference in performance.Youve also got a seven-hour battery life on offer, which should be more than enough for the majority of consumers, and its charged up via a hidden Lightning port. Thats not quite as premium as the wireless charging from the second-gen Apple Pencil or the second generation Crayon that uses USB-C, but its certainly better than the original Apple Pencil.Want a keyboard for your iPad? Check out our round-up of the Best iPad Keyboards. For more advice about accessories for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks.

Large language models (LLMs) have become pivotal tools in tackling complex reasoning and problem-solving tasks. Among them, o1-like models, inspired by OpenAIs o1 architecture, have shown a unique ability to emulate human-like, step-by-step reasoning. However, a notable inefficiency in these models is overthinking. This refers to the tendency to expend unnecessary computational resources on trivial problems or to repeat reasoning unnecessarily. For example, when solving a simple arithmetic question like 2 + 3, o1-like models can generate excessively detailed reasoning, using significantly more tokens than traditional LLMs. This inefficiency increases computational costs and limits their practicality in resource-constrained applications.A new AI research paper by Tencent AI Lab and Shanghai Jiao Tong University explores the issue of overthinking in o1-like models and focuses on optimizing test-time computational resources. The study provides a detailed analysis of the overthinking phenomenon, showing that excessive computation often adds little value to the accuracy of results. Through experiments on datasets like GSM8K, MATH500, and AIME, the researchers highlight how these models tend to generate redundant solutions for straightforward problems. To address this, they introduce two metricsoutcome efficiency and process efficiencyto evaluate resource usage. These metrics offer a balanced perspective by assessing both the correctness of answers and the relevance of intermediate reasoning steps.Technical Details and BenefitsTo tackle overthinking, the researchers propose a self-training approach that integrates efficiency metrics directly into the model training process. This method reduces redundant reasoning by emphasizing early and accurate responses while preserving reflective capabilities. Strategies such as First-Correct Solutions (FCS) and FCS+Reflection are central to this approach, streamlining computation without sacrificing accuracy. For instance, applying these strategies to the QwQ-32B-Preview model reduced token usage by 48.6% on the MATH500 dataset. Beyond computational savings, these methods enhance the interpretability of reasoning and enable deployment in scenarios where computational resources are limited.Results and InsightsThe results underline the effectiveness of these efficiency-focused strategies. On the MATH500 dataset, the optimized methods significantly reduced token usage while maintaining or improving accuracy on simpler tasks. For example, outcome efficiency increased from 52.3% to 75.8% with the FCS+Reflection strategy. Additionally, higher process efficiency was observed, with less redundancy in reasoning steps. On more challenging datasets like GPQA and AIME, the optimized models maintained robust performance with reduced computational demands. These findings suggest that targeted training strategies can address inefficiencies while preserving model capabilities across a range of tasks.ConclusionThis study by Tencent AI Lab and Shanghai Jiao Tong University highlights the challenge of overthinking in o1-like models and presents practical solutions for efficient resource utilization. By proposing new metrics and training methods, the researchers demonstrate how to balance computational demands with model performance. These insights are crucial for enhancing the scalability and applicability of advanced reasoning models. As AI systems continue to evolve, ensuring efficient use of computational resources will remain a key focus, enabling broader accessibility and sustainable use of these technologies.Check out the Paper. All credit for this research goes to the researchers of this project. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitter and join ourTelegram Channel andLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our60k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences. [Download] Evaluation of Large Language Model Vulnerabilities Report (Promoted)

In brief: Russia's quest to develop homegrown consoles that are made by Russians and enjoyed by Russians doesn't seem to be having a lot of success. According to new reports, two machines are being created: one isn't very powerful, and the other is a $45 device that streams games from the cloud. Back in March, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the government to create Russian stationary and portable game consoles, along with operating systems and cloud-based game delivery systems for the machines.With Russia heavily sanctioned and looking to promote its own products, one of its in-development consoles is powered by the Elbrus processor. Developed by Moscow Center of SPARC Technologies (MCST) and based on the VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) architecture, Elbrus is designed primarily for domestic applications in critical infrastructure, defense, and other sensitive areas.Elbrus processors' performance can't match high-end CPUs from Intel, AMD, and Arm, but they are adequate for enterprise and government work. The CPUs certainly aren't going to power a console that can compete with the PS5 or Xbox Series.The console will also use a domestic OS, though it's still undecided whether this will be Aurora or Alt Linux.The Russian government admits that this device isn't going to be on the same level as current-gen machines. // Related Stories"I hope my colleagues will approach this task with full responsibility and come up with something truly groundbreaking," said Anton Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy. "It is obvious to everyone: Elbrus processors are not yet at the level required to compete equally with the PS5 and Xbox, which means the solution must be unconventional."Gorelkin said that Russian consoles aren't being designed only to play ports of hundreds of old, less-demanding games. He added that they should primarily serve the purpose of promoting and popularizing domestic video game products.Another organization following Putin's instructions is Russian telecommunications firm MTS. Its console (above) will use the company's cloud-based gaming platform, called Fog Play. It allows owners of high-end PCs to rent out their computing power to those with less-powerful equipment, charging an hourly price. Those with more powerful PCs can access games on the service and use their own hardware to play them.MTS' device is expected to cost no more than $45 and come with an Xbox-like controller, suggesting it's unlikely to appeal to those who enjoy current-gen console games.

Pill bottles filled with dollar bills.gettyPharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have garnered significant attention from Congress, the media, and the public. The original 1,547-page Continuing Resolution bill contained numerous provisions to regulate them; The New York Times has been running a series titled The Middlemen to criticize them; and Elon Musk asked, What is a PBM? to his 210 million followers on X on Tuesday.PBMs, hired by insurance plan sponsors to manage prescription drug benefits, compete by lowering premiums to gain business. For instance, the average annual growth rate of Medicare Part D premiums was only 0.7% from 2010 to 2023, far below inflation. This remarkable stability is attributable to PBMs.The PBM business model dictates that they are adversaries to drug manufacturers and pharmacies. PBMs affect the revenues of branded drug manufacturers by controlling the placement of their drugs on formulariesfavorably placed drugs enjoy high sales volumes. PBMs also influence the revenues of pharmacies by determining the reimbursement amounts they receive.For branded drugs, PBMs make money through rebate retention. Congress established safe harbor protections that exempt drug rebates from the federal anti-kickback statute. Holding the net price equal, PBMs would favor high-list-price-high-rebate drugs over low-list-price-low-rebate drugs because PBMs can retain larger rebates. The safe harbor is the root cause of rising list prices and high patient cost sharing (when its tied to the list price).For generic drugs, PBMs profit from spread pricingcharging plan sponsors a high price while paying pharmacies a low price. This is like intermediaries in other industries that charge upstream players more than they pay downstream players. However, due to the administrative complexity inherent in insurance transactions, generic drugs, with their low costs and predictable nature, are not insurable and should be transacted directly between patients and pharmacies, much like how oil changes are paid for.MORE FOR YOUInsurance regulations mandate the coverage of generic drugs, including some over-the-counter drugs, and limit the use of Health Savings Accounts. These regulations invite PBMs to profit from spread pricing, leading to higher spending, premiums and cost sharing, as well as lower reimbursements to pharmacies. Not surprisingly, cash-pay prices at direct-pay platforms are often lower than prices involving insurance and PBMs.PBM-related provisions in the original Continuing Resolution bill, including delinking PBM revenue from drug prices and banning spread pricing, aim to support pharmacies and align incentives between PBMs and plan sponsors. However, they fail to address the root causes of rebate retention and spread pricing: the safe harbor protections and insurance regulations, respectively.Moreover, some provisions would weaken PBMs ability to contain premiums, leading to higher spending for both plan sponsors and patients. As Professors Joey Mattingly, David Hyman, and I discussed in JAMA Health Forum, every player in the drug supply chain seeks to make money, and there is no concrete evidence that weakening PBMs would benefit patients, except in cases where insurance and PBMs are bypassed entirely for certain drug transactions.Questionable behaviors of healthcare players are often driven by bad rules of the gameunintended consequences from well-intentioned laws. Our new Congress, which will assume office on Friday, should focus on removing bad rules to improve the PBM game rather than applying Band-Aid solutions to the players.

Looking for help with today's NYT Mini Crossword puzzle? Here are some hints and answers for the ... [+] puzzle.Credit: NYTIn case you missed Tuesdays NYT Mini Crossword puzzle, you can find the answers here:Happy New Years, puzzle solvers! Im sure everyone is busy with the holidays, so Ill keep the preamble brief. We have a Mini Crossword to solve, so lets solve it!The NYT Mini is a smaller, quicker, more digestible, bite-sized version of the larger and more challenging NYT Crossword, and unlike its larger sibling, its free-to-play without a subscription to The New York Times. You can play it on the web or the app, though youll need the app to tackle the archive.Answers to todays Mini Crossword below . . . .Spoilers ahead!MORE FOR YOUACROSS1 Month that was the first of the new year in early 3-Down calendars MARCH6 Love so much ADORE7 Maker of Ironman Triathlon watches TIMEX8 Stop CEASE9 Searches (for) HUNTSDOWN1 Soccer contest MATCH2 Francophile's farewell ADIEU3 Like Janus, the god of beginnings ROMAN4 Feature of a cockatoo's head CREST5 Not-so-nice magic spells HEXESToday's NYT Mini CrosswordScreenshot: Erik KainTodays puzzle is a lot easier if you know two things: First, that the New Year used to start in MARCH and second if you know that TIMEX makes Ironman Triathlon watches. I knew the first but not the second. Most everything else fills in nicely once you have these two, of course, but if you dont you have to go about it a little differently. I had to get MATCH, ROMAN and HEXES in there before I could guess TIMEX. This one took me 1:33. Happy New Years everyone!How did you do? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.If you also play Wordle, I write guides about that as well. You can find those and all my TV guides, reviews and much more here on my blog. Thanks for reading!

"Missing You" follows Kat Donovan whose fianc, Josh Buchanan, disappears.She starts hunting for answers after she spots him on a dating app 11 years later.Her investigation also forces her to ask who murdered Clint Donovan, her father.Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Missing You."Netflix has kicked 2025 off strong with "Missing You," the latest thriller based on a Harlan Coben book.It follows the hugely successful Coben adaptation "Fool Me Once," which became one of Netflix's most-watched shows of all time in 2024.The new series revolves around Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar), a detective who has never gotten over her fianc, Josh Buchanan (Ashley Walters) disappearing without warning 11 years ago.He left shortly after her father Clint Donovan (Lenny Henry), a police inspector, was murdered. It's another incident that she wants answers for after a hitman confessed to the killing.Who really killed Kat's father? Why did Josh leave? All the answers are revealed by the end of "Missing You."Josh Buchanan was never on the dating app, his profile was created by Titus Monroe's scamming group Steve Pemberton as Titus Monroe in Harlan Coben's "Missing You." Netflix "Missing You" starts with Kat spotting Josh on the Melody Cupid dating app. But it emerges his account was faked as part of an extensive romance scam being run by a man called Titus Monroe (Steve Pemberton), from his remote farm.He and his associates had a room full of laptops, computers, and phones that they used to lure unsuspecting single people into fake online relationships.Once their victims were invested, the scammers invited them on a fake romantic getaway, kidnapped them, and held them at the farm where Titus forced them to transfer him thousands of pounds.That's what happened to Rishi Maghari (Rudi Dharmalingam), the lecturer, who audiences meet in the first episode.Buchanan's dating profile was harvested from a Facebook account made by his secret daughter, Sadie (Amelie Dokubo), whom he had with an unknown woman after leaving Kat.In the final episode, the scam operation is stopped when Titus realizes that the police are closing in and he burns the farm down. He tries to kill Dana Fells (Lisa Faulkner), one of his scam victims, and her son Brendan (Oscar Kennedy) to cover his tracks. But Kat arrives and shoots Titus dead before he can kill anyone.But none of this answers the key mystery behind Josh's disappearance or Clint's death, it just ties up the subplot regarding the various missing people that Kat was investigating.Clint Donovan was blackmailed into working for a gangster to hide that he was gay Lenny Henry as Clint Donovan and Cyril Nri as Parker in "Missing You." Netflix By the end of "Missing You," Kat learns that her father was a corrupt officer working for Calligan (James Nesbitt), a gangster.It's a surprise because Kat had an idealistic view of her father as a hardworking police officer. But that's not the only twist: Calligan points her toward someone called Parker (Cyril Nri), who is revealed to be a man that Clint was having an affair with.Kat learns that her father was secretly gay, and Calligan was using that to blackmail him into working for him. Parker and Clint were in a committed relationship, which they kept secret because of Clint's family and his job.Josh left after accidentally killing Clint, who was trying to cover up his secret relationship Ashley Walters as Josh Buchanan in "Missing You." Netflix When Kat finds Josh in Scotland, she initially thinks he left because he knew Clint was corrupt and, for a moment, it looks like they could rekindle their relationship.But when the tech genius Charlie Pitt (Charlie Hambley) finds Josh's fingerprint on the knife that killed Clint, it all comes crashing down, and Josh tells Kat the truth about why he left.11 years ago, on the night of Clint's death, Kat's friend Aqua Vanech (Mary Malone), saw a heated exchange between the police officer and Parker, which made it clear they were together. In his desperation to keep his secret, Clint attacked Aqua at her home while berating her for being able to live as her true self as a transgender woman.Josh happened to arrive at Aqua's home while Clint threatened her with a knife and stepped in to defend his friend. In the ensuing struggle, Josh accidentally stabbed Clint, killing him.Then DCI Stagger (Richard Armitage) arrived. He covered up Clint's death including paying off hitman Monte Leburne (Marc Warren) to hide Clint's corruption and protect his family. The guilt Josh felt led him to leave Kat."Missing You" ends on an emotional cliffhanger, as it's clear that Kat and Josh aren't sure whether their relationship can continue now that she knows he killed her father.

Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, and Costco plan to open new stores in 2025.New store openings are planned in over 10 states, including California, Texas, and Michigan.Walmart told Business Insider it plans to open six Supercenters and three Neighborhood Markets.Some of America's favorite grocery store chains could open up stores near you in 2025.Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, and Costco have all announced several new stores they expect to open in the new year across more than 10 states.Here's the full list.WalmartWalmart has more than 4,600 locations in the US and plans to open nine new stores in 2025 and one Sam's Club, which Walmart also owns. Walmart told Business Insider it plans to open in the following locations in 2025:Walmart SupercentersMountain View, CaliforniaEastvale, CaliforniaCypress, TexasFrisco, TexasMelissa, TexasCelina, TexasWalmart Neighborhood MarketsTuscaloosa, AlabamaMilton, FloridaPace, FloridaSam's ClubTempe, ArizonaTargetWith 1,963 locations in the US, Target says most American households are located within 10 miles from at least one of its stores. Still, the grocery giant plans to open more than 30 new locations. A Target spokesperson said the company could not confirm when those stores were expected to open, but at least three are expected to open in 2025, according to the hiring page on the company's website. Those three are located in:South Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaSurprise, ArizonaDenton, TexasTrader Joe'sTrader Joe's, which has hundreds of locations around the US, said it expects dozens more to open in 2025. The company's website lists 12 new locations expected to open soon, though it does not specify an exact date. The locations include:Northridge, CaliforniaSherman Oaks, CaliforniaTarzana, CaliforniaSeattle, WashingtonBellingham, WashingtonMurfreesboro, TennesseeBerwyn, PennslyvaniaStaten Island, New YorkHoover, AlabamaTwo locations in Washington, DCRockville, MarylandCostcoAs of November 2024, Costco had 896 locations worldwide, with 616 in the US. The wholesale warehouse giant has said it plans to open about 30 new locations in 2025, with six set to open in March. The locations set to open in March are:Brentwood, CaliforniaGenesee County, MichiganHighland, CaliforniaProsper, TexasSharon, MassachusettsWeatherford, Texas

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08334-8A spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomics map of the mouse brain at different ages reveals signatures of ageing, rejuvenation and disease, including ageing effects associated with T cells and rejuvenation associated with neural stem cells.

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08226-xIntense terahertz pulses are used to induce metastable magnetization with a remarkably long lifetime of more than 2.5 milliseconds in a van der Waals antiferromagnet, FePS3.

Nature, Published online: 18 December 2024; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08360-6A new computational method for design of pseudosymmetric self-assembling protein nanomaterials has resulted in purification of cage-like protein assemblies containing 960 subunits with a diameter of 96nm.