Ever since Elon Musk closed his deal to buy Twitter hes claimed the company, now called X, is in a very dire situation from a revenue standpoint. Now, the Wall Street Journal reports that banks are preparing a coordinated move to sell off some of the $13 billion in debt they loaned Musk to finance the deal. It mentions an email sent to employees this month, also confirmed by The Verge, where the Chief Twit said, ...weve witnessed the power of X in shaping national conversations and outcomes, but also claimed, Our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and were barely breaking even.Part of the reason Bank of America, Barclays, and Morgan Stanley areholding so much of the debtis from trying toavoid selling at a lossafter economic conditions changed, and Musk had an extended court battle attempting to get out of the deal. While equity investors have reportedly slashed the value of their stakes by as much as 78 percent, the Journal reports, banks hope to sell senior debt at 90-95 cents on the dollar, while retaining more-junior holdings.As Musk referenced in his email, the report says the banks hope to use the narrative of Musks link to Donald Trump, as some unnamed investors may be interested in buying based on a belief that its financials are on the way up. However, Musk also said that the company could become cash-flow positive within months nearly two years ago, and it still faces over $1 billion in annual interest payments on the loans. The platform is increasingly turning into a testing ground for his AI ambitions, as we reported earlier this month, and while X has added some features, like job listings and a new video tab, theres little sign of the service hed said would be able to someones entire financial life by the end of 2024.

Nearly a week after it was removed, the TikTok app is still missing from Apple and Googles app stores.The app was pulled from both stores after the US ban-or-divest law went into effect last weekend, which resulted in the service going dark within the United States. While TikTok came back online shortly after the ban, the app didnt return to either mobile store. Apple and Google are at risk of paying billions in fines if they make TikTok available, and its unclear if President Donald Trumps executive order refusing to enforce the ban actually removes that risk.Apple and Google havent replied to multiple requests for comment from The Verge including requests I made today about if or when the app might be available again. Apple and Google do have statements about the removal of TikTok and other ByteDance-owned apps, but otherwise, no comment since. TikTok didnt immediately reply to a request for comment, either.Because these app stores are the primary way many people get software, TikToks absence basically means you cant newly install the app at least, for the time being without jumping through a lot of hoops.If you had TikTok on your phone before the ban kicked in, however, the app should work for you as normal. (As a result, people are trying to sell used phones with the TikTok app still on them.) You can also use TikTok in a browser including on your phone.

This article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Section 31.At the climax of Star Trek: Section 31, Philippa Georgiou has succeeded. She and her newfound teammates in the black ops division Section 31 have returned a massive bomb to the Mirror Universe where it originated, saving the Prime Universe.Never the type to let anything keep them from cackling loudly at a bar, the team reconvenes in a bar in the movies final scene, where they get information about their next mission. What is that mission, you ask? Lets take a look at all of the teases in the ending of Section 31.Georgious Redemption(?)In the climactic battle, Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) faces off against Sen (James Hiroyuki Liao), her rival/best friend from the Mirror Universe. As seen in flashbacks throughout the movie, Georgiou betrayed Sen to gain her position as Empress, which left him badly burned and relegated to the position of slave. After Georgiou left the Mirror Universe, Sen followed her with super bomb in tow, seeking revenge.The two fight a brutal battle at the end of Section 31, with Sen about to shove a sword through Georgious face. In the last section, she kicks the blade back, sending it across his neck. As Sen bleeds out, Georgiou cradles her defeated foe.This is not what I wanted, she says, and the two share words of affirmation before Sen dies. Honestly, its a bit hard to explain this scene. What exactly did Georgiou want when she kicked a blade into his neck? Seems like theres only one kind of outcome for that sort of thing.Of course, whats really happening here is an unearned character moment, the type common to the worst scenes on Star Trek: Discovery, where Section 31 director Olatunde Osunsanmi and screenwriter Craig Sweeny previously worked. The characters fumble for some sort of emotional epiphany and forgiveness, as if they werent just stabbing one another two minutes ago.Even if the redemptive moment doesnt work for viewers, its clear that Section 31 considers Georgiou now forgiven for her sins and able to do more black ops with a clear conscience.The Closing of the Mirror PassagewayThe Mirror Universe first appeared in The Original Series season two episode Mirror, Mirror, where the ISS Enterprise served under the human-centric Terran Empire. Kirk, McCoy, and Uhura made it to the Mirror Universe entirely on accident, after an ion storm disrupted their beaming back to the ship.Section 31 pays homage to this original set up with an ion storm in deep space, which offers a more or less predictable portal to the Mirror Universe. Georgiou and Alok hope to close off that portal in the climax of the movie, detonating the super bomb while right on the edge. The trick works, forcing the passageway to collapse, closing off access to the Mirror Universe and allowing Georgiou to put her checkered past behind her.Honestly, its a bit underwhelming. We dont get much treknobabble to explain the exact effects of the bomb on the ion storm passageway, but we expected much more destruction with the explosion, given that Georgiou previously said that the bomb could wipe out an entire quadrant.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!This explosion might have something to do with the fall of the Terran Empire, which happens sometime between Mirror, Mirror on TOS and the Mirror Universe episodes of Deep Space Nine. By the time that Kira and Bashir visit the Mirror Universe in the season two episode Crossover, the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance has ascended and humanity has been enslaved. According to Intendant Kira, the Terran Empire fell because of Spocks reforms, as suggested at the end of Mirror, Mirror.But it wouldnt be too much of a leap to think that Georgious explosion further weakened the Empire, setting it on a path only accelerated by Spocks reforms.Rachel Garrett and the Final LineupThe promotional cycle for Section 31 teased a team full of Star Trek deep pulls. We have Sam Richardson as the Chameloid Quasi, Humberly Gonzlez as a Deltan called Melle, Kacey Rohl as Rachel Garrett from the Next Generation episode Yesterdays Enterprise, and Sven Ruygrok as Fuzz, a laughing Vulcan with bleached hair. That last part gets explained away pretty quickly in Section 31, as we learn that Fuzz is not Vulcan, but rather a microscopic Nanokin, who gets around in a robotic Vulcan suit.Melle dies almost immediately and Fuzz reveals himself to be a traitor when he kills the mech-suit wearing Zeph (Robert Kazinsky). By the end of the movie, were left with a team that consists of Alok, Georgiou, Quasi, and Rachel Garrett. For those who (like this writer) would rather watch a movie about season one Neelix than spending one more second with the obnoxious Fuzz, things get bad when the flashy Vulcan suit returns. As he explains in an irritating Southern accent to replace his irritating Irish accent, the robot is now piloted by Fuzzs mate, angry at being abandoned with a brood of children.The most interesting of the remaining members is, of course, Garrett. The movie positioned Garrett as the team stick-in-the-mud, a Starfleet true believer who did not approve of Section 31s ways. However, by the end, shes on permanent assignment with the team, more comfortable with the chaos around her, but still holding out for a more prestigious gig. Of course, we know that Garrett will eventually become captain of the Enterprise-C before meeting her end in Yesterdays Enterprise. Section 31 isnt interested in any of that, though, and instead just ends with her smiling along with her rag-tag new pals.Turkana IV and Section 31s Next MissionThe teams celebrations get interrupted by a holographic message from their handler, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis. Has anyone been to Turkana IV? she asks, to which all of the characters respond with self-satisfied grins and all the the viewers roll their eyes and exhale in exasperation.Turkana IV is the home world of Tasha Yar, the ill-fated Security Officer of The Next Generation. Yar famously died in the first season of TNG, which means that we only learned a few things about her planet, and didnt get much more information from her sister Ishara Yar, who appeared in season fours Legacy. However, there is one phrase that gets used often when describing the place: Rape Gangs.Honestly, its a good thing that most of Star Trek forgot about the planet. As the above phrase suggests, Turkana IV was a tone-deaf attempt to build pathos for Tasha, explaining her toughness as an extension of her extremely dangerous upbringing on a world threatened by rape gangs. Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry based Yar on Vasquez from Aliens and Legacy drew inspiration from the John Carpenter movie Escape from New York, which gives us an idea of the dystopias they had in mind when thinking about Turkana IV.Given that Section 31s producers have already excavated the titular black ops organization and the Mirror Universe, they needed a new source of ill-fitting edginess for their extreme approach to Star Trek. A planet full of people battling to survive rape gangs is exactly the sort of empty shock value that pervades Section 31, making it an ideal setting for a sequel, should a sequel ever happen.Star Trek: Section 31 is streaming on Paramount+.

Its not much of a hyperbole to say that Chris Claremont created the modern X-Men as we think of them today. So we get excited any time Claremont returns to Marvels Merry Mutants, especially when hes continuing a storyline from his prime era.Marvel has just announced Wolverine and Kitty Pryde, a five-issue series beginning on April 30. Along with interiors from BOOM! Comics regular Damian Couceiro, the series boasts covers from fellow X-Men legend Alan Davis, whose run on Excalibur with Claremont remains some of the best mutant stories ever told.Claremonts 16-year tenure on Uncanny X-Men, stretching from just after 1975s Giant Size X-Men #1 to shortly after the Jim Lee-driven X-Men #1 in 1991, remains one of the most transformative runs in comic history. Under Claremonts guidance, the X-Men went from also-rans in the Marvel Universe to the most exciting and popular team in all of comics.However, some might point out that Claremont has come back to the X-Men several times since his departure in 1991, often with diminishing returns. While his 2000s series X-Treme X-Men now has some defenders, it was seen at the time as a tone-deaf attempt to keep up with the widescreen storytelling of the era. X-Men: The End (2004-2006), an alternate universe story that told the last days of the heroes, generally gets discussed as a collection of shocking moments more than it does a proper story.Yet, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde deserves a sympathetic ear, if only because it takes place during a high point in Claremonts work, before the central characters became as overused as they are today.The original Wolverine and Kitty Pryde spanned six issues in 1984 and 1985, a few years after Kittys first appearance in Uncanny X-Men #129. Kitty joined the book as a nervous 13-year-old, who survived her first run in the danger room by closing her eyes, activating her phasing powers, and sprinting through it. She took on several different code names and costumes during this period, including a mish-mash monstrosity she wore under the moniker Sprite. All of it worked because Kitty was essentially the X-Mens mascot, a cute kid they let pal around with the main team and didnt boot to the New Mutants (well, not after she called Professor X a jerk for trying to boot her to the New Mutants), but never took too seriously.Wolverine and Kitty Pryde changed all of that. Picking up shortly after the first Wolverine miniseries by Claremont and Frank Miller established Logan as a type of ronin, a man who lost his honor, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde sends the two mutants to Japan on a mission to rescue the latters father. Captured and brainwashed by the ninja Ogun, Kitty gains martial arts abilities to match her phasing powers, which leads to her adopting her most consistent identity, Shadowcat.In the decades since the original mini, both Wolverine and Kitty have undergone multiple changes and rises in popularity, not always for the better. The ronin aspect of Wolverine has washed away after years of oversaturation, to the point that hes too often a generic tough guy who can be plugged into any type of story. While Kitty has survived disastrous near-marriages to Colossus and Star-Lord to finally be canonically bisexual and openly in love with Rachel Summers, shes often still written as an object of the readers affection more than a character who stands on her own.By returning the characters their 80s status quo, at least for a flashback miniseries, Wolverine and Kitty Pryde can give both readers and future creators a chance to take stock of the central characters. Claremont can do what he does best, embracing the soap operatic aspects of mutants and the twisty dramatic possibilities they offer.And even if the new Wolverine and Kitty Pryde doesnt revitalize its heroes, it will at least serve as a reminder of how far the characters have come for better or for worse.Wolverine and Kitty Pryde #1 hits comic book shops on April 30.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!

At the beginning of every year since the 1950s, New York's old guard has scurried dutifully to the Park Avenue Armory for a smattering of some of the finest antiques on this side of the Atlantic. The Winter Shows 70th editionopen to the public today through February 2 welcomed those Upper East Side stalwarts along with a new stream of bright young things as curious about the past as they are active in the present. Through there are some 70 international galleries to check out and thousands of antiquities to peruse, we've done the difficult work for you and highlighted the most interesting, rare, and enchanting objects for sale (and some already spoken for!).A Pair of Dagobert Peche Mirrors from Kunsthandel Nikolaus KolhammerCourtesy of Kunsthandel Nikolaus KolhammerPair of Mirrors designed by Dagobert Pechee and xecuted by Max Welz for the Wiener Werksttte. Gilt, carved, limewood with original lead glass. Circa 1922The work of Dagobert Peche is as likely to appear in your dreams as it is to outfit your nightmares. In his short life, the Austrian multi-hyphenate created furniture, objects, and art following the guiding principles of the Wiener Werksttte, of which he was a member. Peche's work plays with the past while also displaying a singular penchant for the off-kilter through feet, handles, and finishes that vaguely resemble aspects of the natural world. In his cabinets you can see mountain peaks; in his tables, you can make out claws, wings, and hooves. In a hopelessly-chic pair of gilt mirrors offered by Kunsthandel Nikolaus Kolhammer you see the digits of a centipede. The chunky, carved, limewood frames were designed by Peche and executed by Max Welz around 1922, yet over 100 years later they are still searingly modern. Elizabethan Mount Mask in the form of a Lions head from Michael Pashby AntiquesCourtesy of Michael Pashby AntiquesElizabeth I Carved Oak Lion Mask Mount. Circa 1590When it comes to Elizabethan England we see and hear much too much about wide starched ruffs and never enough about the fanciful, bizarre, and wide-ranging decorative elements that lived off the body. Among the split sleeves and ropes of pearls there were also peculiar carvings; exquisite and complicated dishes in the shapes of birds and buildings; and lace plackets with whole narrative scenes sewn into them. This was the English golden age of theater and expression. And like the ancient Greek masks of comedy and tragedy, one carved oak mask of a lion from Michael Pashby Antiques holds a wide range of human emotion in a frozen, inhuman form. His roar seems more like a moan of exhaustion, with his tongue lolling out of his mouth, incongruous besides his more serious eyes. His arched eyebrows mimic that of his monarch, who was known for her heavy makeup. The mask, priced at $7,500, is the kind of object you dont expect to see amidst massive jewels and priceless paintings, but that is what makes it so very special. A Faberg Botanical Study from WartskiCourtesy of WartskiA rare botanical study by Carl Faberg. Circa 1900Every antiques or jewelry aficionado has seen a Faberg egg, but very few of us have beheld a Faberg fruit or flower. Wartski, the nearly 200-year-old British jewelry dealers known for their discretion and exquisite taste, brought to the Winter Show a genuinely rare delight. A study of a barberry sprig, made around 1900 in St. Petersburg (where Faberg was based) for the Lady de Grey, Marchioness of Ripon. De Grey was a patron of the opera and ballet (marked as partially responsible for bringing Serge Diaghilev to London) and one of the pre-eminent society hostesses of the late Victorian age. You can imagine her showing this delicate nod to the natural world to Oscar Wilde or King Edward VII, both of whom she knew personally, exclaiming at its berries of purpurine, leaves of nephrite, and its golden stem. Even the vase in which the sprig is balanced is a jewel with rock crystal simulating water and now for a lucky few days anyone can exclaim at this small, but mighty, masterpiece themselves.Four Portraits of Black Women by Joseph Savart from Zebregs and RoellCourtesy of Zebregs and RellFour portraits of Women from Guadeloupe by Joseph Savart (1735-1801). Circa 1769The Dutch are known for many a dastardly deed, especially when it comes to dealings with their former colonies, but thanks to a new generation of Dutch dealers, the beauty of Europes formerly diverse royal courts has begun to be excavated and displayed with more sensitivity. In their first year with the Winter Show, dealers Zebregs and Rell are showing portraits of several African and Caribbean figures including one Swedish queen's adopted African son along with furniture and objects from the era's in which these fascinating figures lived. Four portraits of Black women with skin tones ranging from blue-black to pale caramel by Joseph Savart from 1769 are not to be missed. There are few versions of this subject matter in New York museums (one notable example being an Agostino Bruniass painting at the Brooklyn museum) and whats more, Savart was adept at expressing these womens distinct features, expressions, personalities, and inner worlds in ways that many artists of his era did not care to. But run fastthis quartet has sold already so who know's when we will see it again! 18th Century Welsh Windsor Armchair from Robert Young AntiquesCourtesy of Robert Young AntiquesRare Welsh Oak Windsor Armchair with Crested Horseshoe Armbow and Turned Spindles. Circa 1780Style never meant rigidity as a wonky, wonderful Welsh chair from Robert Young Antiques proves. The $9,500 chair, like its purveyor (a lovely British man with an effortless air) is sturdy, familiar, and somehow still one-of-a-kind. Its irregular bow-shaped arms are the first to catch your eye, but then those eyes wander down the chairs finely turned spindles that make its wide back, and then to its broad, burnished seat, which over two centuries of sitting has made more comfortable than any contemporary iteration ever could be. Finally, the three simple legs that make its base: wobbly by sight and stable in practice. Its a chair you could imagine in only the most elegant of hobbit holes, brimming with personality, yet stately, with a birth date somewhere around 1780.

Ever since Megan Thee Stallion gave us Hot Girl Summer in 2019, the Internets appetite for -girl aesthetics has been insatiable. While weve cycled through everything from clean girl to that girl, theres one that isnt going away: [insert food] girl.What started with garlic girls (who simply loved adding extra cloves to every recipe) and pickle girls (united by their fermented food obsession) has evolved into a full menu. These playful microtrends are transforming into a legitimate design movement, with Pinterests 2025 color paletteCherry Red, Butter Yellow, Dill Green, and Alpine Oatserving as evidence.For decades, aesthetics have been dictated by traditional gatekeepersdesigners, fashion editors, and executives who decided each seasons in look. Now, through the democratization of social media, young women are reclaiming traditionally feminine interests and transforming them into fun, light-hearted forms of self expression. These trends bubble up organically from TikTok, where creators turn food-inspired moods into viral aesthetics that gather millions of views each. Even major brands and celebrities are taking notesHailey Bieber parlayed the strawberry girl aesthetic into an entire product line before most of us even knew what it meant.View full post on TiktokFood-inspired aesthetics arent a new thing, thoughmoodboards featuring food on 2010s Tumblr dominated the platform long before TikToks hundreds of millions food-inspired views. Foods come pre-loaded with cultural meaning and emotional resonance. According to Bon Appetit, this makes food not only efficient but optimal for eclectic moodboarding.Each food girl represents a distinct lifestyle philosophy and creates an entire world. Think of it as a personality quiz come to life: Instead of Buzzfeed telling you what pizza you are, based on your favorite Taylor Swift era, you get to choose your own food-based destiny. Are you a tomato girl living that slow-life Mediterranean fantasy? Or maybe youre a hard-boiled egg girl treating skincare like its a full-time job? How about a chaotic baked beans girl that keeps emergency snacks in your designer bag? Pull up a chairtheres a seat at this dinner table for everyone.Tomato GirlRichard PowersThis stunning Tuscan villa, designed by Studio Magness, is making us want to avoid our responsibilities and live out our tomato girl dreams.Born from that endless summer in Italy everyone seemed to have in 2023 (everyone except me, apparently), the tomato girl aesthetic is, yes, #slowliving, red linen dresses, and pasta-making videos, but its also sun-baked terracotta tiles, vintage-inspired appliances, and ceramics that would make your nonna proud. Think rustic wooden beams, Mediterranean-inspired textiles, and enough copper cookware to outfit a Tuscan kitchenlike a perfectly ripe heirloom tomato: rich, authentic, and somehow both classic and completely of the moment. Tomato girl speaks to our collective desire for warmth, tradition, and that ineffable Italian spirit of sprezzatura.Cherry GirlTim LenzThis sultry, sophisticated, burgundy dining room designed by Pappas Miron is cherry girl-approved.Cherry girl is tomato girls sophisticated Parisian cousin who studied abroad and never quite came home. While both share an affinity for red, cherry girl leans into darker, more dramatic burgundies. In spaces, this translates to velvet-upholstered everything, vintage movie posters, moody accent walls, brass accents, and, you guessed it, cherries. Theres a certain sultriness to cherry girl that sets her apartsiren eyes, scarlet lips, and the kind of home that hosts fabulous dinner parties where people discuss Proust over some red wine.Lemon GirlStephan JulliardIts impossible to feel sad in this bright dining room in a Portugal villa designed by Jacques Grange.Fresh, bright, and perpetually optimistic, the lemon girl aesthetic brings Amalfi Coast energy. Lemon girl is a sunny counterpoint to the moody, dark academia vibes that dominated previous years. Expect citrus-bright yellows paired with crisp whites, plenty of natural light, and ceramic tiles featuring lemon motifs. Rattan furniture, striped awnings, and botanical prints complete the look. Living la dolce vita!Strawberry GirlHaris KenjarThe feminine flair of this charming bedroom is giving us all the strawberry girl vibes.If cottagecore and balletcore had a baby raised on Hailey Biebers TikTok, youd get strawberry girl. This aesthetic brings together soft pinks, vintage florals, and an almost confrontational level of sweetness. Think scalloped edges (on everything), floral wallpapers, and milk glass collections (fridgescaping, anyone?). Its all about capturing that sweet, romantic energy thats both nostalgic and fresh.Mango GirlTrevor TondroA mango girls dream home office? Casa Torre.Living in perpetual vacation mode, a mango girl would choose a bikini over business casual any day. Mango girl brings the warmth of sunset oranges and golden yellows into spaces through rattan furniture, bold botanical prints, and loads of plants. Their spaces are filled with coconut, mango, and papaya-scented products. The vibe is tropical babe meets wellness gurusmoothie bowls, yoga corners, and perfect golden hour lighting.Baked Beans GirlWilliam WaldronBrown hues and collectors items tie the baked beans girl look together, like in this jewelry designers Manhattan apartment that is full of rare finds.Perhaps the most delightfully chaotic of the food-inspired aesthetics, baked beans girls (see: Crocs filled with baked beans) are independent and adventurous. It manifests through earthy tones, organic textures, and a deliberately undone approach to styling. Shes chaotic but also wellness-orientedlike that friend who does sunrise yoga but also stress-eats cold ravioli straight from the can.Hard-Boiled Egg Girl Stephan JulliardThis classic Parisian apartment, designed by Sarah Dray, is exactly the kind of curated simplicity hard-boiled egg girls adore.The minimalists answer to food-inspired design, the hard-boiled egg aesthetic (which gained traction alongside skincare-obsessed TikTok) celebrates clean lines, ivory tones, and perfectly curated simplicity. Were talking pearl-white walls, curved furniture in eggshell hues, and carefully considered neutral textiles. Were even seeing the aesthetic with Pinterests Alpine Oat predictiona sophisticated take on minimalism that feels warm rather than stark. The bathroom is where the hard-boiled egg aesthetic really shines, with spa-like amenities and marble surfacesbecause every hard-boiled egg girl knows the importance of a proper skincare routine.Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Homeowners insurance isnt just something youre glad to have in a disaster. Its a prerequisite for a mortgage, and getting one of those is the only way most of us can afford a home. So, if your insurance carrier cancels your coverage, youre stuck. Most people wouldnt want toor be able tobuy your house, which sinks your property value. When this happens to whole communities, the entire area declines. Thats the scary predicament a Senate budget committee staff report warned of last month when it sounded the alarm on the sharp increase in non-renewals by insurance carriers over the past several years.This is happening now, and not just in the coastal or wildfire-prone areas you might expect. Landlocked counties in North Carolina, Oklahoma, and New Mexico have taken a surprisingly hard hit. Read on to learn more about the hardest places to get homeowners insurance right now. Related Stories 1. FloridaThe Sunshine State at number one isnt a surprise, given the destruction hurricane season inflicts on both coasts each year. But the report noted that the situation is getting worse: Floridians experienced a 280 percent increase in non-renewals from 2018 to 2023. In fact, the situation in Florida is a big part of what prompted the congressional investigation in the first place. The letter the committee sent to 41 insurance carriers to request data noted three areas of growing concern specific to Florida: the acceleration of the insurance industry exodus from Florida due in part to increased losses from hurricanes; projections that premiums in Florida could increase by 40 percent or more in 2023; and increased premiums and decreased availability beginning to disrupt the Florida real estate market. 2. LouisianaLouisiana ranks just behind Florida in the total number of non-renewals, with a 267 percent increase between 2018 and 2023. The report also cited an investigation by the nonprofit news agency Grist that found nearly 20 companies pulled out of the states market in the past two years.3. North CarolinaGiven that it has such a long coastline, it makes sense that hurricanes would contribute to high non-renewal rates in North Carolina. And yet, the report says, in 2023, 13 inland North Carolina counties ranked in the top 100 nationwide for highest non-renewal rates among counties with at least 10,000 policies in force. They are Cumberland, Mecklenburg, Guilford, Union, Alamance, Nash, Bladen, Lenoir, Duplin, Columbus, Robeson, Sampson, and Martin counties. These high rates of non-renewals for inland North Carolina counties demonstrate that landfalling hurricanes do damage beyond the immediate coast and can destabilize insurance markets even hundreds of miles inland, the report continues. Keep in mind that 2023 data couldnt have anticipated the damage Hurricane Helene would do. With the experience of Hurricane Helene, non-renewal rates in these inland counties will likely continue to rise, the report predicts.Related Story4. CaliforniaThe rates of non-renewals in 2023 were highest in the inland counties where wildfire risk is the highest. But as the devastating wildfires of early 2025 showed, many more areasincluding those previously considered saferare at risk of damage. Related Story5. MassachusettsAs you might expect, the coastal counties of Massachusetts experienced a higher number of non-renewals than those further inland. The report didnt note any unusual findings here.6. MississippiLouisianas neighbor to the east shares a prime Gulf Coast location and annual hurricane risk. The 2023 data reflects the damage Hurricane Ian did to both states in 2021, including major flooding.7. OklahomaThis one is a bit of a surprise. Land-locked Oklahoma has not typically been on the radar of most analyses as a state at high risk of insurance collapsebut it ranked 7 of 10 by non-renewal rate in 2023 and 5th among states with the highest growth in non-renewal rate from 2018 through 2023, the report says. Thats because Oklahoma is in tornado alley. The report blames the sharp increase in non-renewals on convective storms and damage from their wind and hail. It also notes that Oklahoma is experiencing a growing number of high wildfire-risk days each year. Related Story8. Rhode Island This little state has 400 miles of coastline. The report cites coastal Newport County as the prime example of an area where insurance unavailability has skyrocketed rapidly and recently.9. ConnecticutRhode Islands neighbor to the south, with more than 600 miles of coastline, ranks just below it in the number of non-renewals.10. HawaiiPeople say everything is more expensive in Hawaii. That is just as true of homeowners insurance. Now, more people are struggling to find coverage.11. New MexicoNew Mexico is, to put it bluntly, nowhere near any coast. But just like inland states North Carolina and Oklahoma, its seeing an increase in non-renewals driven by wildfires. The report notes that Utah, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, Virginia, and South Carolina have experienced a similar uptick in unprecedented wildfire damage and consequently non-renewals.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Apple Intelligence launched just a few months ago, but a lot more additions are expected soon in iOS 18.4 and beyond. Now, a new memo leak has given us insight into Apples two main internal priorities for its AI efforts this year.Revamping Siri and improving AI models are top prioritiesEarlier today, Mark Gurman reported that Apple was moving a key executiveKim Vorrathinto its AI division and giving her responsibility for whipping artificial intelligence and Siri into shape.That news came from a leaked memo by Apples AI head John Giannandrea. Another interesting blurb from the memo was shared, thoughone that outlines Apples internal priorities for AI this year.Gurman writes at Bloomberg:This year, the artificial intelligence group is focused on revamping the underlying infrastructure of Siri and improving the companys in-house AI models, Giannandrea said in the memo.Apples AI priorities for 2025, it seems, are:Rebuilding the core tech behind Siri, andMaking improvements to existing AI modelsIts nothing revolutionary, but that sort of speaks to Apples general bent toward progressive iteration and improvement.Internal focus aligns with current Apple Intelligence shortcomingsGurman has previously reported that Siri is undergoing a big behind-the-scenes transformation into LLM Siri, which is targeted to ship in spring 2026perhaps in iOS 19.4.That project sounds like exactly what Giannandrea says is Apples big focus for the year.The second area of focus makes sense too.Improving the companys AI models is a clear need when considering the recent issues around notification summaries. While theyre a great feature when they work properly, these summaries can regularly include errors. As a result, Apple is temporarily disabling them in iOS 18.3 for select app categories. Presumably, until the backing AI model can be brought up to par.What do you think of the reported Apple Intelligence focus this year? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

iOS 18.3 is launching next week. Its not particularly feature-packed, but the update will offer a significant moment for Apple Intelligence thanks to a bold Apple choice.Apple Intelligence is enabled by default in iOS 18.3Apple has decided that iOS 18.3 is the right time to enable Apple Intelligence by default on all compatible devices.The companys AI features first rolled out in iOS 18.1 in October, then got big upgrades in December with iOS 18.2.But before now, AI has always been opt-in. You had to explicitly turn it on.Now, Apple is making the bold decision to activate AI for all.The timing is especially significant due to another Apple Intelligence change in iOS 18.3.iOS 18.3 will temporarily disable one AI featureTech companies stirring controversy with AI launches is nothing new, and Apple unfortunately hasnt gone unscathed in that department.Recently, the company has come under fire for AI notification summaries that offer inaccurate news reports.Which is why, perhaps unsurprisingly, while iOS 18.3 is in one way a big show of confidence in Apple Intelligence, it also comes with a key safeguard.At the same time the masses get opted in to AI by default, Apple is turning off notification summaries for two app categories: News & Entertainment.Its not often that an iOS update removes a feature that was previously available. But thats exactly what will happen in iOS 18.3at least temporarily.Apple plans to continue working to improve the accuracy of the feature, and restore it at a later date.In the meantime though, the sole feature that has so far proven a source for controversy for Apple Intelligence will be temporarily scaled back.Apple continues to approach AI with caution per stated principlesThis move reflects Apples continued caution around the area of AI.Throughout the early Apple Intelligence beta testing period, and even after iOS 18.1s public launch, Apple put users on waitlists to ensure its AI tools were working properly.One of Apples Responsible AI principles is to Design with care.We take precautions at every stage of our process, including design, model training, feature development, and quality evaluation to identify how our AI tools may be misused or lead to potential harm. We will continuously and proactively improve our AI tools with the help of user feedback.iOS 18.3 serves as fresh evidence of this principle.Apple used an extended testing period before enabling AI by default for users.But even in making that bold move, Apple is pausing one of its AI features that isnt yet working as intended.Will there be much pushback or controversy that comes from Apple Intelligence being turned on by default?Well have to wait and see. But for now, the time and the method for this move seem right.What do you think of iOS 18.3s Apple Intelligence changes? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

"Our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and were barely breaking even."Cutting LossesBanks, that loaned multi-hyphenate billionaire Elon Musk an appreciable $13 billion for his ill-advised $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in late 2022 are getting ready to offload billions of debt they accrued as a result, the Wall Street Journal reports.The hope is to minimize the hurt as they sell off the debt, a massive scar haunting the mercurial CEO's disastrous social media platform shopping spree.And after a chaotic couple of years, and Musk seemingly doing his best to wipe out what was left of the platform's largely ad-dependant revenue with increasingly erratic behavior, X-formerly-Twitter's finances have yet to recover. The company is still drowning in accumulated debt while loaners are struggling with massive interest payments.In short, the financials are still looking pretty dire as Musk himself admitted in a January email to staff reviewed by the WSJ."Our user growth is stagnant, revenue is unimpressive, and were barely breaking even," he admitted.Scraping ByMusk's own actions, including racist tirades, tantrums, and personal insults, sent advertisers the platform's top source of revenue running for the hills.X has maintained that its financials are improving, with brands coming back to advertise on the platform, the WSJ reports.But as the increasingly hate speech-filled microblogging site continues to embrace what it claims to be "free speech," several key competitors, including Meta's Threads and Twitter alternative Bluesky, have emerged.Both platforms have seen a dramatic influx of new users fleeing Twitter, indicating widespread disillusionment with Musk's disdain for content moderation and embrace of the extreme far right.Now that Musk has catapulted himself onto the political world stage by throwing himself at Trump's feet, banks are seemingly seeing this moment as an opportunity to sell their debt without incurring huge losses.In short, Musk's acquisition of Twitter remains a major blemish on his resume.At the same time, the platform has turned out to be a powerful tool for pumping out a firehose of hate speech, state propaganda, and disinformation. And who knows how much that's worth to Musk or Trump?"Over the last few months, weve witnessed the power of X in shaping national conversations and outcomes," Musk wrote in the email.Share This Article