Looking for the most recent Strands answer?Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Connections puzzles.Todays NYTStrandspuzzle is a fun one. Whether or not you participate in these answers, these are words most people know -- with maybe one exception that's kind of James Bond-y. If you need hints and answers, read on.Also, I go into depth about therules for Strands in this story.If you're looking for today's Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visitCNET's NYT puzzle hints page.Read more:NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So FarHint for today's Strands puzzleToday's Strands theme is:Viva Las Vegas.If that doesn't help you, here's a clue: Roll the dice.Clue words to unlock in-game hintsYour goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle's theme. If you're stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints, but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:SLOP, BRAS, JACK, SLOT, POLO, POST, PART, TEEM, GLUE, TRON, BRIT, JEER, JAMB, BLING, METEAnswers for today's Strands puzzleThese are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you've got all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:CRAPS, SLOTS, POKER, BACCARAT, ROULETTE, BLACKJACKToday's Strands spangramToday's Strands spangram isGAMBLING.To find it, start with the G that's six letters down on the second row to the far left, and wind over (in a pretty cool design). The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Monday Jan. 27, 2025, #330. NYT/Screenshot by CNET

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.Today's Connections puzzlemade me laugh. The blue category is one of those "name all the items that can possibly be in this group" types of answers. The purple group is also fun, for fans of a certain horror movie and book. Read on for clues and today's Connections answers.The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. And players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.Read more:Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every TimeHints for today's Connections groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.Yellow group hint: Like an appetizer.Green group hint: Fur is one.Blue group hint: Culinary ingredient.Purple group hint: Here's Johnny!Answers for today's Connections groupsYellow group: Small amount of food to try.Green group: Protective coverings in nature.Blue group: Extra virgin olive oil.Purple group: Seen in The Shining.Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections answers? The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. NYT/Screenshot by CNETThe yellow words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is small amount of food to try. The four answers are bite, mouthful, sample and taste.The green words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is protective coverings in nature. The four answers are bark, scales, shell and skin.The blue words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is extra virgin olive oil. The four answers are extra, oil, olive and virgin.The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is seen in The Shining. The four answers are axe, hedge maze, twins and typewriter.

In BriefPosted:2:16 PM PST January 26, 2025Image Credits:Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto / Getty ImagesPerplexity submits a new bid for TikTokPerplexity AI has submitted a revised proposal to merge with TikTok, in an arrangement that would give the U.S. government up to 50 percent ownership of the new entity.The Associated Press first reported on the new proposal. A source with knowledge of the bid confirmed to TechCrunch that the APs reporting is accurate.The AI search engine had previously proposed creating a new company by combining Perplexity, TikTok US, and additional equity investors. Under the new bid, the government would receive its stake after an initial public offering of at least $300 million, while TikToks current Chinese owner ByteDance could also retain ownership, according to the AP.Perplexity reportedly revised its bid based on feedback from President Donald Trumps administration.TikTok briefly went down last weekend due to a law forcing ByteDance to sell the app or see it banned in the United States. It sprang back to life after Trump said he would sign an executive order extending the sale deadline. He also said hed like to see the U.S. receive 50% ownership, although it wasnt clear whether he meant the government or U.S. investors.Another report this week suggested that the White House was negotiating a deal that would see Oracle (which already provides the infrastructure for TikToks U.S. traffic) take over; when asked, Trump said hes spoken to many people about TikTok but not with Oracle.Topics

Since Chinese AI company DeepSeek released an open version of its reasoning model R1 at the beginning of this week, many in the tech industry have been making grand pronouncements about what the company achieved, and what it means for the state of AI.Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, for example, posted that DeepSeek is one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs Ive ever seen.R1 seemingly matches or beats OpenAIs o1 model on certain AI benchmarks. And the company claims one of its models only cost $5.6 million to train, compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars that leading American companies pay to train theirs.It also seems to have achieved that in the face of U.S. sanctions that prohibit the sale of advanced chips to Chinese companies. The MIT Technology Review writes that the companys success illustrates how sanctions are driving startups like DeepSeek to innovate in ways that prioritize efficiency, resource-pooling, and collaboration. (On the other hand, the Wall Street Journal reports that DeepSeeks Liang Wenfeng recently told Chinas premier that American export restrictions still pose a bottleneck.)Curai CEO Neal Khosla offered a simpler explanation, claiming that the company is a ccp state psyop thats faking the cost was low to justify setting price low and hoping everyone switches to it [to] damage AI competitiveness in the us. (A Community Note has been attached to his post pointing out that Khosla offers no evidence for this, and that his father Vinod is an OpenAI investor.)Meanwhile, journalist Holger Zschaepitz suggested DeepSeek could represent the biggest threat to US equity markets if a Chinese company can build a cutting-edge model at low cost, without access to advanced chips, it would call into question the utility of the hundreds of billions worth of capex being poured into this industry.In response, Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan argued DeepSeeks success would actually be good for its American competitors. If training models get cheaper faster and easier, he wrote on X, the demand for inference (actual real world use of AI) will grow and accelerate even faster, which assures the supply of compute will be used.And Metas Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun argued against looking at DeepSeeks announcement through the lens of China versus the United States. Instead, he suggested the real lesson is that open source models are surpassing proprietary ones.DeepSeek has profited from open research and open source (e.g. PyTorch and Llama from Meta), LeCun wrote on LinkedIn this week. They came up with new ideas and built them on top of other peoples work. Because their work is published and open source, everyone can profit from it.All of the debate seems to be driving consumers to try the product. As of Sunday afternoon, DeepSeeks AI assistant is the top free app in the Apple App Store, just ahead of ChatGPT.

While the town around him was engulfed by searing pyroclastic flows, one man achieved the impossible ... [+] from a prison cell with a single ventilation shaft. Heres how he did it.gettyNatural disasters test the resilience of all living beings, often leaving behind destruction that rewrites history. Yet, across the spectrum of life, species have developed astonishing adaptations to survive.Ginkgo trees have endured atomic blasts. Fire beetles seek freshly burned forests to lay their eggs, their larvae thriving in charred wood. Desertas petrels, seabirds of the Atlantic, exploit hurricanes to scavenge food in seemingly inhospitable conditions.While humans have adapted to extreme environmentssuch as the Inuit surviving the Arctic cold and the Yakuts enduring Siberian wintersone man defied all odds in the face of total annihilation.Ludger Sylbaris, a troublemaker imprisoned on the Caribbean island of Martinique, not only survived the 1902 eruption of Mount Pele but emerged to tell a truly extraordinary story.It All Started With A Bar FightIn 1902, Martiniquea French colony in the Lesser Antillesboasted a vibrant society centered in Saint-Pierre. Perched at the base of Mount Pele, this bustling port city brimmed with a population of nearly 30,000.MORE FOR YOUYet beneath its picturesque charm loomed a dormant threat.Mount Pele, towering at over 4,400 feet, had exhibited minor activity in the 19th century but remained largely forgotten by its residents.Ludger Sylbarisborn Louis-Auguste Cypariswas a laborer with a reputation for brawling and drinking. On May 7, 1902, his penchant for trouble led him to a heated argumentsome accounts suggest it involved a machete, with injuries to his opponent. Arrested for the fight, he was placed in a solitary cell within Saint-Pierres prison.The timing of his imprisonment, though unfortunate on the surface, would turn out to be the twist of fate that saved his life.That night, as Sylbaris stewed in his cramped, half-underground cell, Mount Pele began to stir. For weeks, the volcano had been grumbling with ominous signs: ash clouds, sulfuric fumes and boiling mudflows.Still, reassurances from local authorities lulled the city into a false sense of security. Residents believed Saint-Pierres position sheltered it from any significant volcanic threat. Little did they know, disaster was hours away.How To Survive A Volcanic EruptionAt 7:52 a.m. on May 8, Mount Pele erupted catastrophically. A pyroclastic surgea deadly mix of superheated gas, ash and rockraced down the volcano at 420 mph, obliterating everything in its path. Temperatures within the surge soared above 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to incinerate flesh and flatten infrastructure in seconds.Saint-Pierre, once the islands crown jewel, was reduced to a burning wasteland in under a minute. Nearly 30,000 residents perished instantly, their lungs scorched by toxic gases or their bodies consumed by the firestorm.Inside his stone cell, Sylbaris experienced an inferno of his own.Superheated air and ash entered through the narrow ventilation grate in the door. Acting on instinct, he urinated on his shirt and stuffed it into the grate to block the fiery intrusions. Despite his efforts, the intense heat burned his limbs, back and hands. Yet, the thick stone walls and underground position of the cell shielded him from the full force of the blast.Sylbaris endured three days in near-total darkness, surviving on rainwater that trickled into his cell. His screams for help went unheard, as no one in the immediate vicinity had survived.Following 1902s eruption that left very few survivors, Mount Pele continues to remain active ... [+] todaythreatening the lives of Martiniques residents.gettyFinally, on May 11, a rescue team searching the ruins discovered his moans.The rescuers, astonished to find anyone alive, dug him out and rushed him to receive medical care. Covered in burns but alive, Ludger Sylbaris had withstood one of historys deadliest volcanic disasters.Ludgers Feat Would Not Be Easy To Match For Most Of UsTo understand the miracle of Sylbaris survival, one must grasp the lethal nature of pyroclastic flows. These surges are among the most devastating forces on Earth, capable of erasing entire cities.Human physiology is ill-equipped to handle such extremes.The threshold for thermal pain begins at 109 degrees Fahrenheit, with severe burns occurring at 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Exposure to temperatures exceeding 248 degrees Fahrenheit causes instant combustion of human tissue.The pyroclastic surge that struck Saint-Pierre was not only several times hotter but carried suffocating volcanic gases like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which could destroy lung tissue within a single breath.Sylbaris survival hinged on a rare combination of factors.His cells stone walls absorbed much of the heat, and its orientationfacing away from the volcanolimited his exposure to direct blasts. Moreover, his quick thinking to block the ventilation grate likely saved him from inhaling lethal amounts of gas.Despite suffering severe burns, his core body temperature likely remained just within survivable limits, a testament to both luck and ingenuity under pressure.His survival remains an anomaly. Thousands outside the prison perished instantly, their bodies frozen in postures of panic or prayer. Even ships anchored offshore were engulfed in the fiery cloud, with sailors leaping into the sea only to succumb to burns or drowning.Sylbaris ordeal earned him a pardon for his crimes and a place in history as the man who lived through doomsday.He toured with the Barnum & Bailey Circus, recounting his story alongside a replica of his cell, captivating audiences worldwide. Yet, the tragedy of Mount Pele serves as a somber reminder of natures unchecked power. While Sylbaris lived to tell his tale, the scars he bore were a permanent testament to the fury of the volcano that nearly claimed him.Volcanoes, often seen as symbols of destruction, also illuminate the resilience and adaptability of nature. How do you feel when you read about people who can adapt to even such challenging environments? Take a 2-minute test to see where you stand on the Connectedness to Nature Scale.

Most people fear conflict because it feels like a threat to the relationship. Youll only see its ... [+] transformative power when you dare to step through it.gettyConflict in marriage is often treated like a problem to solve or, worse, a landmine to avoid. Many couples believe that a healthy relationship means steering clear of arguments or resolving them quickly and painlessly. But what if this common approach to conflict is missing the point entirely? What if, instead of trying to solve or sidestep conflict, we saw it as an essential, even transformative, part of a thriving relationship?Beneath the surface of every argument lies a deeper opportunity: to understand yourself and your partner better, to uncover unspoken needs, and to strengthen the bond you share.Most advice about conflict focuses on communication tips, like "use I statements" or "listen without interrupting." While helpful, these strategies only scratch the surface. What many couples overlook is the profound potential of conflict to teach, heal and grow your relationship in ways no other experience can.Here are three unconventional lessons about conflictinsights that can truly transform your marriage if you dare to embrace them.1. Every Fight Is A MirrorHeres a hard truth: conflicts with your partner often reveal as much about you as they do about the relationship. When something your partner says or does triggers a strong emotional reaction, its worth pausing to ask yourself: Why does this bother me so much?More often than not, our reactions to conflict are shaped by old wounds, unmet needs or insecurities we carry from childhood or past relationships. For instance:If you feel rejected when your partner wants alone time, it might stem from a fear of abandonment that lingers from your past.If you lash out when your partner forgets something important, it could reflect a deeper sensitivity to feeling overlooked or unworthy.Conflict, then, becomes an opportunity for self-discovery. But how do you leverage it? A 2020 study highlights the transformative power of mindfulness in romantic relationships, showing that it can improve both conflict resolution and intimacy. This is how:MORE FOR YOUMindful individuals tend to approach disagreements with constructive problem-solving rather than withdrawing or escalating tensions.They remain emotionally engaged, fostering connection and reducing the risk of unresolved issues.Moreover, mindfulness strengthens closeness, helping couples stay emotionally and physically connectedeven during challenging moments.Together, these habits lead to higher relationship satisfaction, resilience and a deeper sense of partnership.The next time you find yourself in an argument, step back and ask: What is this fight teaching me about myself? By addressing your inner landscape, youll not only grow as an individual but also cultivate a healthier, more resilient marriage.2. The Goal Of Conflict Isnt ResolutionIts UnderstandingWeve been conditioned to think that the purpose of an argument is to find a solution. But have we ever considered what if the deeper purpose of conflict is simply to understand each other better?Its worth considering: not every disagreement has a neat resolution. You and your partner may hold fundamentally different values, habits or priorities. One of you might crave spontaneity, while the other thrives on structure. Fixating on resolving these differences can lead to frustration and disconnection.A 2016 study revealed that conflict in relationships isnt inherently harmful. Instead, it becomes detrimental when individuals feel their thoughts and emotions are not understood by their partners. Across seven studies conducted in diverse settingsfrom daily life to laboratory conversationsperceived understanding emerged as a powerful buffer that protected relationship satisfaction, even during disagreements.Remarkably, this effect wasnt due to factors like mutual understanding, positive perceptions of ones partner, the type of conflict or even pre-conflict relationship satisfaction. Rather, feeling understood strengthened the relationship by signaling that ones partner was invested and committed. These findings thus underscore the transformative role of perceived understanding in minimizing the negative impact of conflict.Let the goal of conflict be understanding, not winning or fixing. Heres how you can shift your mindset:Say it out loud: I want to understand where youre coming from, even if we dont agree.Explore without judgment: Ask open-ended questions like, What does this mean to you? or How does this make you feel?Validate their experience: You dont need to agree to say, I see why this matters to you.When you release the pressure to solve every disagreement, you create space for intimacy. Feeling seen and understood by your partner is often far more meaningfuland powerfulthan finding a perfect solution.3. Conflict Is The Training Ground For Emotional ResilienceHeres a radical idea: conflict isnt just about resolving disagreementsits about building emotional resilience, a skill that strengthens both your marriage and your personal growth.A 2015 study by John Gottman in 2015 revealed that the key to navigating marital conflict isnt about winning or finding instant solutions. The most effective way to repair negativity lies in actions that foster emotional connection early in the disagreementthrough humor, affection, empathy, and shared understanding. These reparative gestures demand emotional resilience: the ability to stay grounded, regulate your reactions, and keep sight of the bigger picture.Emotional resilience in conflict looks like this:Regulating your emotions. Pre-emptive repairs like expressing affection or understanding require you to pause, breathe, and resist reacting impulsively.Holding two truths at once. Repairs that involve taking responsibility or showing empathy reflect the ability to acknowledge your own feelings while honoring your partners perspective.Choosing the long game. Emotional resilience means remembering that your relationship is bigger than this one moment of disagreement.If you look deeper, youll notice that every conflict is a chance to strengthen your emotional muscles. In essence, conflict doesnt have to be the thing that tears you apart. With the right mindset, it can be the thing that brings you closer together. So, the next time you find yourselves arguing, pause and ask: What is this moment trying to teach us? The answers might just save your marriageand transform your life.Take the Belief In Marital Myths Scale to get deeper insights into your conflicts and minimize their impact on your relationship.

Private Internet AccessMSRP$11.95 Score Details Private Internet Access (PIA), offers great deals on long subscriptions and reliable operation at good speeds, and while I'm not a fan of tiny windows, it has plenty of features and great 24/7 live chat support.ProsQuick, reliable server connectionsFast, helpful 24/7 live chat supportThousands of servers worldwideLots of VPN featuresConsRequires tweaks for best speedsSmall user interfaceNo free or trial versionsTable of ContentsTable of ContentsTiers and pricingDesignFeaturesSupportPrivacy and securityIs PIA right for you?Private Internet Access is a VPN service that promises to protect your privacy on all your devices and lets you hide your location to unblock content at very affordable prices. That sounds like a winning combination.Recommended VideosIntrigued by the offer, I decided to test out the speed and reliability of this leading VPN service. For the sake of brevity, Private Internet Access abbreviates its long name to PIA. In my review, Ill cover PIAs subscription pricing, usability, features, customer service, and more.RelatedPrivate Internet Access (PIA) has simple pricing with three subscription terms. Private Internet AccessTheres no trial version of PIA and no free version either. You have to subscribe for at least a month to use it. The good news is that prices are affordable and theres a 30-day money-back guarantee. There are some good free VPNs with minimal restrictions if you dont need a full-time, high-speed solution.Its $12 monthly, $40 annually, or $80 for three years. You get a nice reward if youre ready to make a long commitment. Subscribing for a year cuts the average cost to $3 per month, while the three-year plan cuts that to $2. You also get three bonus months with the longest plan.If you try a month of PIA and keep it for three months, you might as well go for the annual plan. After six months, youve almost paid for a three-year subscription.Every PIA plan supports unlimited connections so you can use it on all your phones, tablets, computers, and other connected devices. Thats why it ranks high on our list of the best VPNs for multiple devices.PIAs UI looks nice and there are plenty of options, but the main window is tiny. Digital TrendsAs PIA was downloading, the webpage gave me instructions to install the app. The process is simple but its never a bad idea to provide help during setup.The same is true of the installer, giving a quick tour along the way. For example, PIA reminded me of all the supported platforms so I could use the VPN on all my devices.The default PIA app docks to the system tray, which could work well for small notebooks. Digital TrendsAfter installation, the app shrinks to a tiny window docked to the system tray at the bottom right of my screen. I opened the settings and found the option to make it a movable window.The main window has an arrow at the bottom to expand and show more options, but its still a small, narrow panel that feels cramped. That said, PIA manages to pack several quick toggles, favorite servers, and information in a small space so it could work well for notebooks with small screens.The settings window takes a more modern approach with tabs in a left sidebar for easy access to various VPN and app options.A nearby PIA server in the United States yielded good download speeds. Digital TrendsA good VPN should offer excellent privacy and security without sacrificing too much internet speed. I found PIA to connect quickly, but performance was quite slow, reaching just 172 Mbps when connected to a nearby U.S. server.Im just across the border in Canada with a 900 Mbps Ethernet connection. Fast, streaming VPNs like ExpressVPN, yield SpeedTest results over 700 Mbps, so I dug into the settings to see if I could improve PIAs download speed.I noticed it defaulted to OpenVPN, so I switched to WireGuard which is usually faster. I also chose a different server. That made a huge difference, increasing download rates to 555 Mbps, about average for my system when using a VPN. Upload speed was also respectable, reaching 51 Mbps with a ping of 36ms.I tried several servers in Canada but the best I could get is 92 Mbps down and 26 Mbps up with a ping of 41ms. Perhaps PIAs Canadian servers are overloaded. Latency was about the same as the U.S. server but the speed lagged far behind.For some locations, PIA performed better on OpenVPN protocol. Digital TrendsDistant connections are always slower but I was disappointed to get just 15 Mbps for France and 19 Mbps for the UK. I switched to OpenVPN and that helped significantly. UK speed increased to 88 Mbps and France skyrocketed to 426 Mbps.That gave me enough hope to try far-flung Australia. The 122 Mbps download rate was reasonable for browsing down under. Germany broke the mold for overseas connections, posting its best download speed of 348 Mbps on WireGuard.PIAs kill switch protected my privacy by blocking the internet when there was a server problem. Digital TrendsDuring testing, my internet stopped working. The trouble was a bad VPN connection, but PIA still protected my privacy thanks to its default kill switch that blocks internet access in case the VPN drops. Thats a fairly common feature among VPNs, but VPN server issues are rare. I switched to a different server and reconnected with no further issues.PIA also includes blockers to prevent malware, ads, and trackers. I tested its malware detection by visiting Wicar, a website that hosts online cybersecurity tests. PIA blocked 10 of the 13 threats, which isnt very impressive.The best antivirus software blocks all dangerous downloads, scans for existing malware, and secures your browser from known exploits, so Id recommend a seperate tool for that duty.PIAs live chat was quick and informative. Digital TrendsWhen I visited PIAs help center, I saw the usual options to search or browse support documents and user forums or contact PIA for assistance. The contact button took me to a web form to open a ticket for email support.I wanted to chat, so I logged in and saw a chat button at the bottom right. I filled in my email address and reason for contacting support, and a live agent arrived in seconds. The replies came quickly yet were quite helpful. I got the sense I was speaking with someone familiar with VPNs who was eager to help.When I asked which protocol was quickest, the agent correctly identified WireGuard. I followed up with a question about why OpenVPN gave better speeds sometimes. The agent clarified that there were many variables, but OpenVPN servers could have less load than WireGuard, resulting in faster downloads even though the protocol isnt as efficient.PIAs privacy policy clearly states the company wont share, sell, rent, or trade your data to third-party advertisers. It uses your account information solely to provide the services you pay for.Going further, PIA collects only whats required for your account: your email address and payment information. The company has regular independent audits to verify that PIAs security is good and user browsing activity is not logged. All data uses end-to-end encryption so even intercepted data would be unreadable.PIA is a low-cost VPN with thousands of servers in 91 countries, providing access to international content that would otherwise be geo-blocked. It also includes dark web scans for your email address to protect your identity, and basic malware and ad blocking.If you want a single-subscription solution, Surfshark is a top-rated VPN that also includes very complete and effective antivirus features.While its not the fastest VPN, I measured good speeds in most locations. In some cases, I had to switch protocols from WireGuard to OpenVPN. Some VPNs, like the fast and popular NordVPN, offer three or more protocols.Overall, PIA is a solid choice for an inexpensive VPN that supports unlimited device connections. The narrow user interface isnt my favorite, but it could be a good solution for a small notebook with limited screen space.Editors Recommendations

Spotifys perfect playlists come at a hidden costfor the fans, for the music scenes that form around bands and, especially, for the musicians.

Ben & Jerry's filed a complaint against its parent company, Unilever, in 2024.At the time, Ben & Jerry's accused Unilever of silencing its views on the war in Gaza.Ben & Jerry's now says Unilever censored a statement about Trump.President Donald Trump is mentioned alongside billionaires Elon Musk and Nelson Peltz in Ben & Jerry's lawsuit against its parent company, Unilever.Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. first took legal action against Unilever and its subsidiary, Conopco, filing a complaint in the US Southern District of New York in November.In the initial complaint, Ben & Jerry's said Unilever blocked it from making statements supporting Palestinians, which the company said breached a settlement agreement and prevented it from pursuing its social mission."Specifically, Unilever has repeatedly failed to recognize and respect the Independent Board's primary responsibility over Ben & Jerry's Social Mission and Brand Integrity, including threatening Ben & Jerry's personnel should the company speak regarding issues which Unilever prefers to censor," the complaint said.Ben & Jerry's said Unilever breached the settlement agreement "by threatening to dismantle the Independent Board, sue Board members, and intimidate Ben & Jerry's personnel."The Vermont-based ice cream company has made political, social justice, and environmental activism part of its public identity. Most recently, Ben & Jerry's official TikTok account promoted the People's March in Washington, DC.On Friday, Ben & Jerry's amended the complaint to include references to Trump, Musk, and Peltz.Ben & Jerry's says Unilever censored a statement it made about Trump Ben & Jerry's said its parent company stopped it from making a post mentioning President Donald Trump. GREG NASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images In the amended complaint, Ben & Jerry's said it intended to publish a post on Inauguration Day "that identified several social issues Ben & Jerry's believed would be challenged during the Trump administration, including minimum wage, universal healthcare, abortion, and climate change."However, Ben & Jerry's said Peter ter Kulve the business group president of Unilever's ice cream division prevented the post from going live."Despite weeks of working on the statement, including feedback from Unilever's Global Head of Litigation, on January 18, 2024, Peter ter Kulve unilaterally barred Ben & Jerry's from issuing the post because it specifically mentioned 'Donald Trump,'" the company said in the complaint.Ben & Jerry's said the decision "ignored" the company's "consistent history of challenging the Trump administration."Unilever's decision 'coincides' with Peltz's support for Trump, the complaint saysThe complaint then mentions Musk and Peltz.Musk has aligned himself with the Trump administration and leads the Department of Government Efficiency. Peltz is a wealthy investor and cofounder of Trian Fund Management whoIn its complaint, Ben & Jerry's said that Unilever's decision to block its post about Trump was related to Peltz's position on the board."Unilever's springing objection to mentioning 'Trump' coincides with its prominent board member, Nelson Peltz, publicly supporting Mr. Trump," Ben & Jerry's said. "Unsurprisingly, within twenty-four hours of Mr. ter Kulve blocking the Inauguration Post based off a hunch rather than evidence, he hosted an Ice Cream Townhall, where he publicly touted that Mr. Peltz had been the one to introduce Elon Musk to Donald Trump." President Donald Trump and Elon Musk were mentioned in Ben & Jerry's amended complaint. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images Ben & Jerry's said Unilever had shown a "pattern and practice" of "usurping" its board's authority while hindering the company's social mission and brand integrity."According to Mr. ter Kulve, despite four decades of progressive social activism and years of challenging the Trump administration's policies specifically criticizing Trump was now too taboo for the brand synonymous with 'Peace, Love, and Ice Cream,'" the company's complaint said.Ben & Jerry's attorney told Business Insider in a statement that the company is trying to protect its values."The heart of this dispute is an American institution protecting the precise values that have made it so beloved over the past four decades: social justice, equality, and free speech," the statement said. "It is a shame that Unilever today has such a difficult time understanding these principles and the unique DNA of our company."Representatives for Unilever, Trump, Musk, and Peltz did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

2025-01-26T21:28:30Z Read in app Some protesters made signs calling to "tax the rich." Hugh Langley/Business Insider This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, took place this week.The event saw world leaders, executives, and celebrities come together for a week of networking and parties.Business Insider has put together some photos from the event.With the curtain drawn on yet another World Economic Forum in Davos, the picturesque Swiss town will once again slink back out of the limelight.But this year's event which coincided with Donald Trump's return to the White House will likely linger in the memory.2025's forum saw a host of world leaders, executives, and celebrities come together in the Alpine town to discuss some of the hottest global topics, including AI, the workplace, DOGE, and social media.It also saw protests, parties, and a virtual address from Trump himself.Business Insider's editor in chief Jamie Heller was on the ground alongside BI's international editor Spriha Srivastava, deputy editor Dan DeFrancesco, and senior correspondent Hugh Langley.Here's a look at the week through their eyes. The Alpine town, which doubles as a ski resort, has hosted the WEF since 1971. Dan DeFrancesco/Business Insider This year's event saw Donald Trump back in the White House. He made a virtual address to a packed out room.The hall was packed for Donald Trump's address at Davos. Spriha Srivastava/Business Insider Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi was among the many execs to make the trip to Switzerland. Hugh Langley/Business Insider Other famous faces included Bill Nye, who spoke with Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. Hugh Langley/Business Insider AI was once again high on the agenda. Business Insider BI's Spriha Srivastava moderated a number of panels at this year's forum. Business Insider Security was tight at the event, which included world leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Business Insider Protesters made their voices heard on issues like the climate crisis. Hugh Langley/Business Insider Some of the latest tech was on display throughout the week, including the Apple Vision Pro. Business Insider Robotic dogs also got a runout. Business Insider