UFC President Dana White (Photo By Thomas King/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Sportsfile via Getty ImagesOne of the mysteries of the UFCs 2025 fight calendar has centered around Dustin Poiriers retirement fight. Poirier has teased it multiple times online, and UFC President Dana White has confirmed that the organization is working on something special for the Lafayette, Louisiana, natives final fight in the UFC.Beneil Dariush, the No. 9-ranked lightweight in the promotion, was recently a guest on Submission Radio. Dariush may have spilled the beans on Poiriers next fight while answering a question about his own future.Dariush was asked if he would be the man to welcome former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway permanently to the lightweight division. Dariush said he prefers to fight someone ahead of him in the rankings as he aims to move toward fighting for the 155-pound title.The problem is right now, my understanding is that Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway are going to fight. At least thats what Im hearing. I dont know if its 100 percent sealed and done, but thats what Im hearing.Poirier and Holloway would be meeting for the third time if this comes to pass. Poirier has beaten Holloway both times. They initially met at UFC 143 in February 2012, where Poirier won that fight at featherweight via triangle armbar.The two future Hall of Famers met again in April 2019 at lightweight, with Poirier taking a unanimous decision victory at UFC 236 for the interim title. If the two men meet for a third time, it could be a battle for the BMF belt that Holloway took from Justin Gaethje with an epic knockout at UFC 300.If Holloway were to win the third meeting, it would seemingly set him up for another rematch with Gaethje, who is coming off a thrilling unanimous decision win over Rafael Fiziev in the co-main event of UFC 313 on March 8.All of this potential movement and matchmaking somewhat underscores what could be the biggest story in the division: the inevitable arrival of reigning featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.After scoring knockout wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Holloway, Topuria has decided to vacate the 145-pound title to move up to lightweight. He plans to challenge current 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev for the title. However, that fight has yet to be announced.If things fall into place, the UFCs lightweight division could be littered with marquee matchups in 2025 and early 2026.Up Next - UFC Vegas 104Saturdays card isnt a star-packed show. In the main event, Marvin Vettori returns to the Octagon to face Roman Dolidze. Here is a look at the entire card:Marvin Vettori vs. Roman Dolidze Middleweight (185 lbs)Elizeu Zaleski vs. Chidi Njokuani Welterweight (170 lbs)Kevin Vallejos vs. Seung Woo Choi Featherweight (145 lbs)Alexander Hernandez vs. Kurt Holobaugh Lightweight (155 lbs)DaMon Blackshear vs. Cody Gibson Bantamweight (135 lbs)Su Young You vs. AJ Cunningham Bantamweight (135 lbs)Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Ryan Spann Heavyweight (265 lbs)Sam Hughes vs. Stephanie Luciano Strawweight (115 lbs)Diyar Nurgozhay vs. Brendson Ribeiro Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)Josias Musasa vs. Carlos Vera Bantamweight (135 lbs)Andr Lima vs. Daniel Barez Flyweight (125 lbs)Josiane Nunes vs. Priscila Cachoeira Bantamweight (135 lbs)Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice Flyweight (125 lbs)Ill have post-event coverage, including results and bonus winners.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: A Southwest Airlines airplane taxies from a gate at Baltimore ... [+] Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on October 11, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. Southwest Airlines is working to catch up on a backlog after canceling hundreds of flights over the weekend, blaming air traffic control issues and weather. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)Getty ImagesHaving a distinct differentiator for your business is critically important. For many years, the biggest differentiator for Southwest Airlines has been free checked bags.Loyal fans have posted on social media about the perk, even blasting other airlines for their constantly evolving bag policies and seating fees.I can relate to that: On a recent trip, I found that even my carry-on was slightly too big and had to be checked as paid baggage.Ive known about the Southwest perks for a long time, including the one where you can pick any seat without an upcharge. (Sadly, that ended in January.)Southwest recently announced the free baggage perk was going the way of the dodo bird -- that is, it will be extinct. Instead, there will be a fee attached -- although the airline didnt actually announce what the charges will be. Anyone booking flights on or after May 28 would be charged for bags.Predictably, social media followers went a little ballistic.Southwest, you lied to us, said one poster. Another suggested the new CEO tanked the company. A tweet claiming the COO of Southwest said we need more revenue to cover the costs seemed a little unbelievable until I looked it up on CNBC.How Southwest Airlines is stirring their own potIn case you havent followed the airline industry and all the changes weve seen over the last few years, this is just one more example of how the industry is in trouble.People are fighting on planes, camping in the wrong seats, and disrupting air travel. Airlines keep nickel-and-diming us to death with extra charges.Meanwhile, Southwest has retained a high degree of loyalty. They even used the slogan two bags fly free for many years as a way to draw in new customers and differentiate themselves from all of the airbus drama.Theres a lesson here for all of us. As I mentioned, differentiators are good. At my local cafe, theres a booth at the front of the store thats meant for people to ask questions, find out about the Wi-Fi password, and just check in with the owners. It makes the experience feel less sterile. Customers like to feel like theyre getting extra service.The change at Southwest is causing an uproar with social media followers mainly because it seems so abrupt -- this was always a differentiator and now it isnt.The whole saga reminds me of when Netflix decided that some movies and shows were not available unless you upgrade to the ad-free subscription plan. Netflix was always a one-fee shop. When theres a gotcha like that, the masses revolt.How this will all land with Southwest AirlinesSouthwest has a bit of a problem on its hands now.Judging from the posts Ive seen on X (and they keep pouring in as I write this), even diehard Southwest fans are upset.I suspect they will reverse the decision. What was once a perk of flying Southwest Airlines has now turned them into just another revenue-obsessed company.

In brief: Global shipments of smartwatches dropped seven percent in 2024, marking the first annual decline for the wearables category. Apple maintained its position as the leading manufacturer, but shipped 19 percent fewer devices than it did a year earlier. According to Counterpoint senior research analyst Anshika Jain, Apple Watch experienced a decline in its 10th year on the market thanks in part to minimal feature upgrades in the Series 10 lineup, the lack of an Ultra 3 model, and the fact that there hasn't been a new SE model introduced since 2022. Most assume Apple passed on an Ultra 3 due to price concerns; a third-gen Apple Watch SE is expected sometime this year.Another contributing factor that slowed smartwatch shipments in 2024, Jain noted, was patent disputes. Earlier this week, Apple got an appeals court to side with it in a patent dispute against medical device maker AliveCor.Apple captured 22 percent of the smartwatch market last year, followed by Huawei with a 13 percent share. Samsung was responsible for nine percent of all smartwatches shipped in 2024, Xiaomi grabbed eight percent, and Imoo nabbed six percent. All other manufacturers combined to make up the remaining 42 percent of the market.Despite the slowdowns, smartwatches are gaining traction around the world. One in four models shipped last year went to China, which narrowly edged out India's 23 percent share for first place. North American trailed slightly with a 22 percent share, followed by Europe at 15 percent.The data comes from Counterpoint's most recent smartwatch shipments tracker.Research analyst Balbir Singh said the kids' smartwatch segment, which was the only category to experience growth last year, has been gaining traction as concerned parents are worried about their children's safety. A connected smartwatch, like those that Imoo specializes in, allows them to constantly track their location. // Related StoriesGiven the success of kid-focused smartwatches, it's no surprise that other brands including Fitbit, boAt, and Noise are expanding their product lines to include devices for children.Image credit: Daniel Romero

If youre an Xfinity customer, your Internet speeds might have just gotten as much as two times faster. Today, Comcast announced an internet upgrade for over 20 million customers that could increase speeds anywhere from 50 to 100 percent. In addition, anyone who subscribes to a 400Mbps or faster plan can get a year of Unlimited Xfinity Mobile for free. Depending on what your monthly phone bill is, that could result in tremendous savings.Thats one heck of a deal, especially when it comes at no added cost. Comcast says these speed boosts are possible because of its fiber network and more than $80 billion spent in research over the last decade. Either way, customers benefit. With upgraded speeds, Xfinity customers can download files a lot more quickly than before and upload everything from work documents to TikTok videos in a blink.Comcast XfinityOur faster download and upload speeds, combined with our world-class WiFi equipment, ultra-low-lag Internet experience, and WiFi PowerBoost that delivers speeds up to a gig, are providing customers with a converged connectivity experience that we believe is unmatched in the industry, said Emily Waldorf, senior vice president of Consumer Products, Comcast Connectivity and Platforms.Because 90 percent of Xfinity Mobile Internet traffic travels over WiFi, not cellular, this combination of products delivers a faster Internet and mobile experience and hundreds of dollars of savings to customers.Recommended VideosThe benefits of this are obvious. Faster download speeds mean you can take full advantage of streaming services, and you can play games through cloud streaming without spending hours waiting for something to install. Just make sure you have a router that takes full advantage of your improved speeds. If youre still using an older Xfinity router, you might be due an upgrade to one with higher bandwidth.Editors Recommendations

The biggest TVs on the market are made by companies we all know and love. Were talking titans of AV like Samsung, LG, and Sony, and the focus of todays deal is TCL. We look for the latest and greatest TV deals around the clock, and weve yet to come across a 98-inch TV sale thats going to beat this one:For a limited time, when you order the TCL 98-inch Q6 Series (2024) at Amazon, Best Buy, and PC Richard, youll only pay $1,500. The full MSRP on this TV is $3,000.When youre investing in a TV thats close to 100 inches in screen size, you should extra-carefully consider the kind of picture the sets going to give you. Fortunately, the 98-inch TCL Q6 Series is the kind of 4K QLED that enhances every source its fed, resulting in brightness, colors, contrast, and motion clarity that is simply out of this world. While some of this excellent picture comes to us courtesy of TCLs AIPQ Pro Processor with Deep Learning AI, there are also quantum dots and class-leading HDR performance to thank for this TVs big wins.RelatedNot only does the TCL Q6 support up to a 144Hz refresh rate, but TCLs Motion Rate 480 with MEMC Frame Insertion also kicks in to optimize motion clarity. The Q6 even features HDMI 2.1 connectivity on two ports, along with VRR and ALLM support. This makes it an excellent TV for gaming!Other noteworthy features include an Onkyo 2.1 60W speaker system and Google TV for all things apps and casting. Connect to Wi-Fi to enjoy Netflix, Hulu, and hundreds of live free TV stations. Its hard to say how long this discount is going to stick around, so our advice is to buy as soon as you can!Take $1,500 off the TCL 98-inch Q6 Series (2024) when you purchase today. We also suggest taking a look at our roundups of the best QLED TV deals and best TCL TV deals for even more discounts and promos on top TCL models!Editors Recommendations

The artificial intelligence startup released a platform that lets companies create their own AI bots for completing tasks such as customer service and financial analysis.

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c'mon, you knew we'd prefer the EV BEVs are better than combustion: The 2025 BMW i4 xDrive40 review We spend a week with BMW's regular all-wheel drive electric sedan. Jonathan M. Gitlin Mar 11, 2025 1:47 pm | 15 BMW EVs always look good in stormtrooper white, helped here by the black M Sport accents. Credit: Jonathan Gitlin BMW EVs always look good in stormtrooper white, helped here by the black M Sport accents. Credit: Jonathan Gitlin Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWhen Ars finally drove the single-motor BMW i4 eDrive40 last year, we came away very impressed. Until then we'd only sampled the powerful twin-motor i4 M50, which is fast and fun but a bit too expensive, and it gives away a little too much range in the process. But neither of those is the model most people will buy. All-wheel drive is non-negotiable to car buyers in many parts of the country, and that means they want this one: the i4 xDrive40 Gran Coupe.If the pictures are giving you a bit of deja vu, that's perfectly normal. Yes, it looks a lot like the BMW 430i Gran Coupe we reviewed yesterday, and the two cars share a lot more than just the CLAR platform that underpins much of BMW's current lineup.All things being equal, designing a vehicle to be an electric vehicle from the ground up involves many fewer compromises than using a platform that has to cater not just to batteries and electric motors but also internal combustion engines and transmissions and gas tanks.Indeed, BMW is taking just that approach with the soon-to-debut Neue Klasse. But in the past, it concluded a powertrain-agnostic architecturethe aforementioned CLARwas the best way to spend the resources available to what is still a smaller OEM. Plus, after the unusual-looking i3, BMW's board wanted its next EV to be something a bit more familiar to your average BMW customer, and what better way to do that than sell what look like gas and BEV versions of the same car? If you disliked the kidney grille on the 430i you'll probably hate it even more here because so much of it is blanked off. Jonathan Gitlin If you disliked the kidney grille on the 430i you'll probably hate it even more here because so much of it is blanked off. Jonathan Gitlin The i4 was an enjoyable car to spend a week with. I might start tracking used prices, if we ever get chargers installed here. Jonathan Gitlin The i4 was an enjoyable car to spend a week with. I might start tracking used prices, if we ever get chargers installed here. Jonathan Gitlin If you disliked the kidney grille on the 430i you'll probably hate it even more here because so much of it is blanked off. Jonathan Gitlin The i4 was an enjoyable car to spend a week with. I might start tracking used prices, if we ever get chargers installed here. Jonathan Gitlin Running on batteries and a couple of electric motors instead of a turbocharged engine and all the bits and bobs that requires does quite a lot to improve the driving experience of the i4 over the gasoline 4 series: The throttle response is instantaneous, and the brakes aren't grabby. It's quiet and smooth and rides well over bumps and potholesa consequence of having to damp a 5,000 lb (2,200 kg) curb weight.But it's not really fair to compare yesterday's 430i with this i4 xDrive40; with 395 hp (295 kW) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) on tap and a $62,300 MSRP, this EV is another rung up the price and power ladders.The i4 uses BMW's fifth-generation electric motors, and unlike most other OEMs, BMW uses electrically excited synchronous motors instead of permanent magnets. The front is rated at 255 hp (190 kW) and 243 lb-ft (330 Nm), and the rear maxes out at 308 hp (230 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm). They're powered by an 84 kWh battery pack (81 kWh usable), which on 18-inch wheels is good for an EPA range of 287 miles (462 km).Our test car was fitted with 19-inch wheels, though, which cuts the EPA range to 269 miles (432 km). If you want a long-distance i4, the single-motor eDrive40 on 18-inch wheels can travel 318 miles (511 km) between charges, according to the EPA, which offers an interesting demonstration of the effect of wheel size and single versus dual motors on range efficiency. There's a new design for the 19-inch M Aero wheels, but they're part of a $2,200 package. Credit: Jonathan Gitlin It's very easy to switch between having the car regeneratively brake when you lift the throttle (in B) or just coast (in D), thanks to the little lever on the center console. (Either way, the car will regeneratively brake when you use the brake pedal, up to 0.3 G, at which point the friction brakes take over.) If you needed to, you could hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.1 seconds from a standstill, which makes it quick by normal standards if not by bench racers. In practice, it's more than fast enough to merge into a gap or overtake someone if necessary.During our time with the i4, I averaged a little worse than the EPA numbers. The winter has been relatively mild as a result of climate change, but the weather remained around or below freezing during our week with the i4, and we averaged 3.1 miles/kWh (20 kWh/100 km). Interestingly, I didn't notice much of a drop when using Sport mode, or much of a gain using Eco mode, on the same 24-mile mix of city streets, suburban arteries, and highways.The i4 was fast-charged from 28 percent state of charge and after its battery had been preconditioned. This will happen automatically if you put a fast charger in as your destination in the native navigation app, but you can also manually precondition the pack, which you'll want to do if you know where you're going or are using CarPlay or Android Auto.Charging to 90 percent took 40 minutes, delivering 54.5 kWh with a peak of 139 kW from a 150 kW Electrify America charger. A more powerful charger might charge a little fasterBMW quotes 30 minutes from 1080 percent SoC with a peak at 205 kW. But the less-powerful EA site is also right next to the best Chinese food in the region, illustrating the power of incentives. Plus: multiple control methods for the infotainment. Minus: touchscreen for the climate controls. Jonathan Gitlin Plus: multiple control methods for the infotainment. Minus: touchscreen for the climate controls. Jonathan Gitlin The i4 has started becoming a more common sight, at least in my neck of the woods. Jonathan Gitlin The i4 has started becoming a more common sight, at least in my neck of the woods. Jonathan Gitlin Plus: multiple control methods for the infotainment. Minus: touchscreen for the climate controls. Jonathan Gitlin The i4 has started becoming a more common sight, at least in my neck of the woods. Jonathan Gitlin Top-down parking cameras are part of a $700 add-on. Jonathan Gitlin Top-down parking cameras are part of a $700 add-on. Jonathan Gitlin Hatchback goals. Jonathan Gitlin Hatchback goals. Jonathan Gitlin Top-down parking cameras are part of a $700 add-on. Jonathan Gitlin Hatchback goals. Jonathan Gitlin My main annoyance with the i4and this probably should have gone into yesterday's review as wellis that the doors are far too easy to slam. Blame the weight saving, I guessthey feel lighter than your average car door, and, when you're sitting inside and someone closes one from the outside, it sounds loud and unpleasant.Having now tried almost all the versions of i4 out theretime to put an eDrive35 on the press fleet please, BMWI think the eDrive40 remains my personal favorite, as it's a little lighter, a little more efficient, and a little cheaper. And I don't live on a hill or somewhere that gets a lot of winters, so rear-wheel drive is not a deal-breaker. But I'm even more excited by the fact that it's almost time for the Neue Klasse's debutcan't wait to see how they can improve on this car once there are no more compromises necessary for combustion.Jonathan M. GitlinAutomotive EditorJonathan M. GitlinAutomotive Editor Jonathan is the Automotive Editor at Ars Technica. He has a BSc and PhD in Pharmacology. In 2014 he decided to indulge his lifelong passion for the car by leaving the National Human Genome Research Institute and launching Ars Technica's automotive coverage. He lives in Washington, DC. 15 Comments

No office, no bonus Telecom tells employees they wont get bonuses if they dont follow RTO policy Report: Strict enforcement comes as Vodafone is reducing domestic office space. Scharon Harding Mar 11, 2025 12:44 pm | 51 Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreVodafone, a British telecommunications firm, will withhold bonuses from employees who fail to comply with its return-to-office (RTO) policy, The Register reported this week.Last week, Vodafone reminded employees of its RTO policy requiring workers to be in-office 23 times a week, or at least eight days a month," according to a memo viewed by The Register. The memo also reportedly detailed the consequences of failing to adhere to the policy, which sets a guideline for compliance by the end of the company's first fiscal quarter in July:Employees who are not fully compliant with our hybrid working policy by the end of Q1 may be subject to disciplinary action in line with policy. Continued non-compliance with attendance expectations could result in a final written warning, which would mean individuals are not meeting the minimum performance standards and therefore would not be eligible for a bonus in 2026 or in subsequent years in which a final warning is given.The strict policy comes as tech and other firms struggle to get employees to voluntarily return to offices. In desperation, some companies have resorted to tactics like tracking employee badge swipes and VPNs. Vodafone is looking to lure employees into the office by threatening their income, similar to Dells approach of making remote workers ineligible for promotions.Vodafone told The Register that its hybrid work policies remain the same as they were in 2021, when the company first started allowing remote work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, anonymous insiders told The Register that Vodafone started heightening efforts to get people to work in the office eight days a month during the last nine months, and, according to one of the people who The Register spoke with, it is now a mandate.Adding to the complexity and uncertainty around Vodafones newly strict RTO enforcement are claims of there being limited office space for employees. Vodafone is reducing office space at their offices in Newbury and Paddington, offshoring roles to Mlaga, [Spain], Romania, India, and other countries, and having some colleagues on legacy contracts based at home in the UK, an anonymous worker told The Register.The concerns echo those of employees from other large firms who say they were ushered back to in-person work before their employers procured sufficient office space. Amazon, for example, started requiring all corporate employees to work in-office five days a week as of January. But in December, Amazon reportedly had to delay RTO dates in some US cities due to a lack of properly prepared office space.When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Vodafone didn't respond to questions about the telecom reportedly withholding bonuses or about available office space. The company rep shared a statement saying: "Vodafones hybrid working policy has been in place since 2021, with all employees expected to be in the office 2-3 times a week, or at least 8 days a month. This allows flexibility for staff and for them to benefit from in-office collaboration."For years, including before it started allowing remote work internally in 2021, Vodafone has promoted remote work in marketing materials. For example, a January blog post targeting small businesses detailed the benefits of remote work for employers as including improved recruitment potential and cost savings, better employee retention, and improved productivity.Vodafones RTO push also follows numerous reports concluding that RTO mandates put employers at risk of losing senior-level talent and hurt employee retention.This article was updated with comment from Vodafone.Scharon HardingSenior Technology ReporterScharon HardingSenior Technology Reporter Scharon is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer gadgets and services. She's been reporting on technology for over 10 years, with bylines at Toms Hardware, Channelnomics, and CRN UK. 51 Comments

HumansLinguists, psychologists and experts in cultural evolution are discovering why we tell stories, how ancient the oldest ones are and why some tales run and run 11 March 2025 Charles FrgerOnce upon a time, a strong, attractive hero lost one or both of his parents. He then overcame a series of obstacles and faced off against a monster that had terrorised his community. The hero vanquished the monster and was celebrated.If this story sounds familiar, thats because it is the road travelled by Superman, Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker and countless other fictional heroes stretching back centuries. Its enduring appeal has puzzled researchers for nearly as long. However, in recent years, the study of storytelling has been revitalised, as linguists, psychologists and experts in cultural evolution have begun probing the subject using large databases of myths and folktales, powerful algorithms and an evolutionary mindset. We are finally starting to get answers to key questions, including what makes a good story, why some are more enduring than others and exactly how far back we can trace the roots of the most popular ones as well as how stories have traversed time and space.It is an epic quest, but there has never been a better time to undertake it. Unlike the Brothers Grimm and other early folktale collectors, modern surveyors of storytelling neednt do painstaking fieldwork they dont even have to stray from their computer screens to chart the emergence and evolution of stories. Social media is almost a natural experiment in storytelling that, through its very platform, does the collection, says folklorist and ethnographer Timothy Tangherlini at the University of California, Berkeley. Whats more, this new scientific approach can illuminate some phenomena that appear to be modern,