Feed aggregator

Levi's, the iconic 153-year-old denim brand, is going viral over a bizarre incident at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA rules forced a cover-up the Levi's logo, which is part of the name and signage of a California stadium, before a World Cup match.

And now Levi's is covering up its logo on its Instagram profile, too. 

Levi's is going all in on the coverup and has covered its logo on its Instagram profile too. Credit: Mashable screenshot

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, hosted its first World Cup match between Switzerland and Qatar this past Saturday. However, during the World Cup, it's not known as Levi's Stadium. It's temporarily called the "San Francisco Bay Area Stadium." As part of FIFA's requirements for stadiums hosting the 2026 World Cup matches, Levi's was forced to cover the logo on the 68,000-person venue. FIFA required any brands found in the stadiums to be covered up if they aren't official sponsors of the World Cup.

However, unlike the other 11 NFL stadiums that were required to do the same, Levi's got creative with its forced cover-up.

Unlike, say, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which just put up banners over the MetLife logo, Levi's instead wrapped a tight-fitting white tarp over its logo, which is still recognizable even though the name is obscured.

The brand also poked fun at the move in an Instagram Reel.

View this post on Instagram

"Welcoming the world to the beautiful [redacted] stadium!" Levi's said in a Reel posted to their Instagram account on Sunday. The video shows the covered-up Levi's Stadium logo using the viral TikTok audio, "Nobody's Gonna Know."

But Levi's just took it a step further, too. The company has now also digitally covered the Levi's logo in its Instagram profile picture with a white tarp.

So for now, whether it's on Instagram or at the World Cup stadium in Santa Clara, Levi's will go by [redacted], the iconic denim jeans brand that everyone knows.

"Staid." That’s how the Washington Post recently described the job market — not specifically in crisis, but the labor force is shrinking, and hiring is relatively anemic compared to the incredible growth seen after the ebbing of COVID. The unemployment rate in the U.S. ticked up from the 3-4 percent range in 2022-2024 and settled at around 4-5 percent in the last few years, with outside shocks like tariffs, wars, and the AI revolution hammering many industries. Silicon Valley has seen over 123,000 layoffs this year, according to Forbes, with generative AI cited as the main reason behind the cuts.

If AI is one of the problems bedeviling the job market, it's also seen by some as a solution. More than half of jobseekers utilize AI to write their resumes and cover letters, according to a LinkedIn survey. Employers are even more keen on using AI to screen candidates, with nearly 90 percent using it to rank or filter resumes, according to the World Economic Forum.

Making your resume and cover letter attractive to AI is much simpler than trying to slip in hidden words or prompts as some jobseekers have done (many employers now have software that catches those tricks, reports the New York Times).

Mashable connected with a handful of career experts on how to (ethically) get your resume to the top of the algorithms' piles. Our first expert, Jasmine Escalera, PhD, is a career coach who advises recruitment companies like Zety and Bold. Escalera said to keep it simple when it comes to your resume — and don't forget that human eyes will eventually be looking at your CV and cover letter.

SEE ALSO: Survey says 99% of executives are 'prepared' for AI layoffs in next two years So many people assume AI is doing the first pass on resumes. Is that true?

It's likely the case. We know the job market is very flooded. We know it’s a very challenging job market. We’ve seen jobs posted on LinkedIn, and within hours, they have hundreds of applicants.

AI, if it’s used by a company, is a first-round filter — to essentially be able to say, out of these hundreds of applicants, which no HR human could really go through on their own, how can we find the applicants that match the position the best?

So, in the second round, humans, individual eyes, can come onto the best talent within this pool and really see who can move forward with the interview process.

So, yes, and I know that can be very frustrating for job seekers, but we also want to understand the recruitment process. Because of the job market and how challenging it’s become, HR and recruiters are using [AI] to really filter through a very large applicant pool.

Is there an argument to be made that AI levels the playing field? Instead of a human sifting through a pile of resumes and seeing someone who went to their alma mater, it’s a computer without those biases.

Well, I remember when I was a jobseeker back in the day, when these kinds of AI tools didn’t necessarily exist — there were applicant tracking systems, but they didn’t work the way they do now. We were told, “Apply for a job on a Monday morning or even a Sunday night, so your application is at the top of the list." Or, "Don’t apply on these particular days." We were trying to come up with workarounds to get ourselves seen.

Now, the inherent bias sort of gets taken out of the occasion. Because every jobseeker now knows they have to get through the [Applicant Tracking System] and is using AI to help support them in resume building, it’s made it that much more complicated because now everybody knows what a keyword is, everyone knows what skills they need to put on a resume, everybody can use AI to help generate the most stellar bullets to stand out with quantifiable metrics. It’s made it much more challenging, and that’s why AI can be most helpful in filtering through this [for HR professionals].

But, ultimately, it is a filter. When you get to that human who’s looking at your resume, they’re likely going to be looking for something completely different than what the AI was looking for. Baseline, [at that point] they know the applicant pool is going to be stellar, that these applicants likely have all of the experience and skillsets they set [the AI to look] for. Now, what they’re looking for is differentiators. What differentiates resumes A, B, C, D, E, F, and G? And those differentiators are typically the things AI can’t create for you.

SEE ALSO: Top tech jobs 2026: 5 of the fastest-growing tech, AI careers Does AI have a bias against resumes created with AI?

It’s very dependent on whatever system the employer is using, and I don’t have enough knowledge to know if these AI systems these employers use have triggers for AI-created resumes. However, there are AI tells.

There are specific ways AI creates resumes that tell whether AI just completely generated this. It’s a lot of amplification of the experience. They have so much jargon there; [the job descriptions make] you sound like you went to the moon. There’s a lot of extra words and verbiage.

So we want to make sure that if you are using AI, and I believe every jobseeker should use AI to support them in resume building — support is the key word — you have to go through and make sure this sounds like a human created it, there’s that human element to it, there’s storytelling involved in it. You can’t create a story-based resume that focuses on why you’re specifically perfect for this mission because, at the age of 10, you were baking cookies and selling them, and now you want to work for the Girl Scouts and sell and market their cookies.

There are so many sites that claim to help jobseekers optimize their resumes for AI. Can those websites be trusted?

It’s really about the research and looking into the different platforms you’re interested in and making sure other jobseekers have used it and had success with it. Just like if you were to purchase any kind of product, you’re going to want to know if that product is going to give you the best bang for your buck. A jobseeker should do the same due diligence when it comes to the platforms that help them build their resumes.

The great things about Claude, ChatGPT, and AI in general, outside of the AI resume builders, are that they can help you create these bullets of experiences and skill sets. Some of these other AI resume builders are really built to help you create the layout, the architecture, the design of the resume. That’s one thing to consider.

Cover letters are even more important now because that’s the opportunity to tell a story. Any tips for making resumes stand out to the algorithms?

The number one thing is to make sure you’re using the job description as the template for your resume. You want to make sure the job description in your resume matches very closely, meaning the term they’re using, you’re using.

If you’re applying for a client success manager position, but you’re using "customer success manager," even that small keyword switch is going to make a difference. Follow the job description to a T. Typically, whatever bullets they have at the beginning of the job description are usually the most high priority items for this position, in terms of experience, knowledge, and showing you’re capable of doing those tasks.

A great thing to do is to take that job description and put it through a Claude or a ChatGPT and ask it specifically, "What are the key words I should make sure are in the resume? What are the top experiences or work tasks this job is asking me to focus on?"

We’re talking about resumes, but one of the biggest things that people often ask me is, “Do you really need a cover letter?” People hate cover letters. And now, because resumes can be so well-crafted and so well-generated with AI, I believe cover letters are even more important because that’s the opportunity to tell a story. That's the opportunity to say why this organization matters to you so much.

You also want to think about those differentiators — what’s going to make me stand out in the resume? Where can I add specific elements that will really connect with this organization’s mission, and how can I use my cover letter to tell my story as well?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Blurry restaurant photos, Amazon case listings, and leaked specs are providing an early look at Samsung’s next foldable phone. While nothing is official yet, the available information is starting to paint a clearer picture of what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide could bring when it launches.

Prime Day 2026 is nearly upon us — and so is one of the best times to get a deal on a MacBook. I've covered Amazon's flagship summer sale for seven years straight now, and I've noticed that Apple's laptops always fall to extra-low prices as part of the festivities. (If they don't hit record-lows, they at least get close.)

Every current MacBook is already on sale ahead of Prime Day, which runs from June 23 to 26, but I wouldn't recommend grabbing one just yet. Amazon likes to save its best deals for Prime Day proper, meaning their discounts will likely increase once the sale starts next week. We could even get our first big discount on the new budget MacBook Neo; this is its first Prime Day ever.

SEE ALSO: Prime Day is less than 2 weeks away: Here are 20+ early deals to start shopping now

Read on for my predictions for the best Prime Day MacBook deals, from the Neo to the M5 MacBook Air and the M5 MacBook Pros. Now is also a good time to check out my separate MacBook buying guide if you're not sure which model is right for you.

Prime Day MacBook Neo deals to look for

Amazon hasn't been totally resistant to putting the Neo on sale — it's been $9 off for several weeks now — but it doesn't get the same big price cuts as Apple's other laptops. (This is probably because it's already a bargain at full price.) With that in mind, I wouldn't count on Amazon matching Apple's $100 student discount on Prime Day; it's still the best way to buy the Neo if you're eligible. But I could see Amazon dropping the base model to $549, or $50 off, luring back-to-school shoppers who don't quality for Apple's education pricing.

Read our review of the MacBook Neo.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Neo deals for now: Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $589.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $689.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Air deals to look for

Last year's 13- and 15-inch M4 MacBook Airs got $150 discounts for Prime Day 2025, but we've already seen the newer M5 models go on sale for $200 off this spring. While those deals weren't still live at the time of writing. I expect Amazon to revive them once Prime Day begins next week. Look for records low of $899 for the 13-inch configuration and $1,099 for its 15-inch sibling.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Air.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Air deals for now: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,149.99 (save $149.01) Get Deal Prime Day MacBook Pro deals to look for

The base 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a terabyte of storage. Amazon is currently selling it for $1,549, or $150 off, but I wouldn't add it to my cart just yet. It fell to $1,499 earlier this month, and that all-time low will likely return come Prime Day. You might have to be a little patient, though: Last year, an identically configured M4 MacBook Pro didn't get a $200 discount until the fourth (last) day of the sale.

If you need even more power for professional creative or AI work, there's also a 16-inch MacBook Pro that's configurable with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip. If anything, the starting M5 Max model is a relatively safe buy right now: It's currently on sale at its record-low price of $3,349, or $250 off. (The M5 Pro base model is still $60-ish away from its own record low of $1,983.94, which would save you about $215.) However, its M4 Max counterpart also got much cheaper as Prime Day progressed last year — to the tune of over $400 off. When you're dropping this much cash on a new laptop, I think it's wise to wait and see if prices drop even further.

Read our review of the M5 MacBook Pro.

The best early Prime Day MacBook Pro deals for now: Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,549 (save $150) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $2,045 (save $154) Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $3,349 (save $250) Get Deal

The RTX Spark laptop platform is a big deal for AI developers and power users working with giant models on Windows, but its impact on the PC market will be longer-term. PCMag's John Burek explains.

Best Early Prime Day Amazon Device Deals Best Amazon Fire TV Deals Toshiba 43-inch Class C350 LED 4K Smart TV $139.98 (Save $160.01) Get Deal Best Amazon Home Security Deal Blink Outdoor 4 XR 6-Camera System $146.99 (Save $273) Get Deal Best Amazon Smart Home Deal Amazon Eero Pro 6E Mesh WiFi System $329.99 (Save $120) Get Deal

The countdown is on for Prime Day. Amazon's annual flagship sale runs June 23 to 26, but deals are here already. We always expect some of the best deals during Prime Day to be on Amazon's very own devices, and that's certainly the case ahead of the sale. Prices have been slashed on Amazon devices with discounts up to 65% off.

Some of the biggest savings are on Amazon Fire TVs. Every size and a variety of brands are all on sale, saving you hundreds of dollars on 4K TVs. But there are also some big savings on home security and smart home devices, too.

So what's not on sale right now? Unfortunately, Kindles. That's not to say they won't be, we just expect those deals to drop once Prime Day actually starts. Echo devices are also not on sale at the moment (besides the Echo Glow) so we're patiently waiting for more.

Here are all the early Prime Day deals on Amazon devices to start shopping now.

Best early Prime Day Amazon Fire TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Toshiba Toshiba 43-inch Class C350 LED 4K Smart TV $139.98 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $160.01   Get Deal

There's nothing better than a smart TV that provides access to all your favorite streaming services, no extraneous streaming sticks or devices needed. Ahead of Prime Day, the Fire TV sales are plentiful. The best deal is on the Toshiba 43-inch Class C350 LED 4K Smart TV, which is down to $139.98, saving you over $160 off. This 4K TV comes equipped with Dolby Vision Atmos for clearer sound and picture for the best possible viewing experience.

TV deals move fast during big sales so if this deal looks good to you, buy it quick before it sells out.

More Amazon Fire TV deals

• Insignia 24-inch F40 Series LED Smart Fire TV — $59.99 $79.99 (save $20)

• Insignia 32-inch F20 Series LED Smart Fire TV — $69.99 $129.99 (save $60)

• Insignia 40-inch FE Series LED Smart Fire TV — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)

• Amazon 40-inch 2-Series Smart Fire TV — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K Smart Fire TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)

• Amazon Ember 55-inch 4-Series Ultra HD Smart Fire TV — $279.95 $459.99 (save $180.04)

• Amazon Fire 55-inch Omni QLED 4K Smart Fire TV — $279.99 $499.99 (save $220)

• Insignia 65-inch QF Series LED 4K Smart Fire TV — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200)

• TCL Amazon Exclusive 85-inch QM64L Series QLED Smart Fire TV — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)

Remote and soundbar deals

• Amazon Fire TV Voice Remote Pro — $22.99 $34.99 (save $12)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $79.99 $119.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus — $144.99 $249.99 (save $105)

Streaming stick deals

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $15.99 $34.99 (save $19)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22)

Best early Prime Day home security deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Blink Outdoor 4 XR 6-Camera System $146.99 at Amazon
$419.99 Save $273   Get Deal

Looking to boost your home's security? Well ahead of Prime Day, find major savings on Amazon's Blink security cameras. Right now the Blink Outdoor 4 XR is down to $146.99. That saves you $273 off the six camera system. The XR cameras in this bundle provides a 70% more reliable wireless connection with fewer disconnections to WiFi so you can feel more secure in your security system. Plus, the cameras have a two-year battery life.

More Amazon home security deals

• Blink Wired Floodlight — $29.99 $99.99 (save $70)

• Blink Outdoor 4 5-Camera System — $104.99 $299.99 (save $195)

• Blink Outdoor 2K+ Wireless Security Camera — $156.99 $349.99 (save $193.99)

Best early Prime Day smart home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Eero Pro 6E Mesh WiFi System $329.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $120   Get Deal

If your WiFi isn't cutting it, it might be time to optimize with Amazon Eero system. Ahead of Prime Day the Eero Pro 6E Mesh WiFi system is down to $329.99, saving you $120 off its $449.99 price tag. It supports over 100 devices over 6,000+ square feet. Even if you're not the most technologically savvy, set-up will be a breeze thanks to the step by step guide in Eero's app.

More early Prime Day smart home deals

• Amazon Smart Plug — $12.99 $24.99 (save $12)

• Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Smart Thermostat — $57.99 $79.99 (save $22)

More early Prime Day Amazon device deals

Fire tablets

• Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55)

Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Glow — $19.99 $29.99 (save $10)

Kindle deals

• Amazon Wireless Charging Dock for Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition — $29.99 $44.99 (save $15)

• Amazon Kindle Scribe Premium Pen — $51.99 $79.99 (save $28)

Keeping a close eye on the players of the 2026 FIFA World Cup means you get to watch some excellent soccer, but lately, it also means getting tuned into the latest audio release ahead of everyone else.

As reported by AppleInsider, three players have been spotted wearing a mystery pair of over-ear Beats headphones. The headphones appear different from everything Beats has released before, featuring new colorways, ultra-thick ear cushions, and a slim outer speaker section.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

The new headphones didn't come entirely out of left field, with an FCC filing from March showing that Apple had an unreleased pair of Bluetooth over-ear headphones in the works, as reported by MacRumors.

Who's been spotted with the new Beats headphones?

So far, we've seen three World Cup players don the headphones. The first tease came from Spanish player Lamine Yamal, who was spotted stepping off the plane in Tennessee on June 5 with not one, but two pairs of the Beats headphones — one that was entirely light pink, and one that was entirely cream.

The Spanish soccer star stepped out with two pairs of the unreleased Beats headphones. Credit: Getty Images / Coral Scoles-Coburn

He later posted the light pink pair of headphones on June 11, with the cans slung around the handle of his bag once more. This time, the picture was buried deep in an Instagram carousel.

U.S. player Antonee Robinson was the next to post the headphones, posting a picture on June 14 of him wearing a two-toned pair of cans with a white exterior and dark blue ear cups. Zooming into the picture also shows what looks like a glint of metal on the adjustable part of the headband.

Robinson wore the Beats headphones ahead of the June 12 match up between the US and Paraguay. Credit: Getty Images / Credit: John Dorton/USSF

Finally, South Korean player Kang-in Lee also included two photos of himself wearing the headphones around his neck in a June 14 Instagram post. This time, the headphones had the same white exterior as Robinson's pair but featured neon yellow-green ear cushions. Once again, zooming in on the photo shows a glint of a metal-like adjustable arm of the headband.

Discerning eyes can spot the bright ear cushions of Lee's headphones under his hood as he heads to the June 11 match up of South Korea and Czechia. Credit: Getty Images / Credit: Julian Finney/ FIFA Everything we know about the headphones so far

It's unclear so far whether these headphones are an updated design or limited-edition of an existing Beats product, or entirely new headphones. What we do know is that the brand's only pair of over-ear headphones, the Beats Studio Pro, were released in 2023, so an update isn't out of the question.

That said, it remains possible that Beats expands its lineup, possibly with a more premium pair of cans. It's a move Sony just pulled with their Collexion headphones. Plus, with the Studio Pros being $349.99, Beats has the room to grow — noise cancelling flagships from Sony, Bose, and Apple all sit in the $450 and up range.

SEE ALSO: I tested the best Beats headphones for sound quality, portability, style, and value

As for the design of these headphones, there's some speculation as to whether the two-tone colorways spotted on Lee and Robinson indicate some kind of customizability for the headphones (which we have seen before). The headphones also feature USB-C charging and at least one on-ear tactile button. The possible metal section of the headband might suggest these headphones aren't foldable, which would be a deviation from the design of the Beats Studio Pro.

Beats loves to cater to a more athletic crowd (hence the venue for the tease out of these headphones), so it's also possible we'll see some built-in health features like the heart-rate monitoring included on last year's Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.

We've reached out to a Beats representative for comment and will update this article if we recieve more information.

SAVE $60: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE) is on sale at Amazon for $369.99, down from the list price of $429.99. That's a 14% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE) $369.99 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $60   Get Deal

A smartwatch has become part of our daily tech arsenal. We use them to track fitness, sleep, keep an eye on the time, and write quick replies to text messages. Apple Watches have become a standard among iPhone users, but for those who have Android devices, there's the lineup of Samsung Galaxy Watches. Before the Galaxy Watch 9 launches, the Galaxy 8 is seeing significant discounts.

As of June 15, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE) is on sale at Amazon for $369.99, marked down from the list price of $429.99. That takes $60 off the price thanks to the 14% discount.

Mashable's review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 praised its bright display, attractive looks, and smart health features. Reviewer Adam Doud mentioned one of the only negatives is its battery life, which lands somewhere in the 33 to 35 hour range.

SEE ALSO: The CMF Watch 3 Pro is the cheapest it's ever been pre-Prime Day — get it for under $65

Otherwise, Doud left impressed by the watch and wrote, "I really like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, despite the battery life. I love the classy look, the software is really tight, and the Google Gemini integration is a big perk."

The Galaxy Watch 8 has a slimmer profile compared to previous models, meaning it'll lie flatter on your wrist. This is the first Samsung Watch to have Google Gemini on the watch face. It also runs Samsung Health which can help out with fitness goals, sleep, energy, BMI, and more.

For those hoping to have an active summer, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 has a built-in running coach that can give you real-time feedback and help with analyzing performance.

For anyone looking for a new smartwatch, consider today's sale price on the worthwhile Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE). It's down to under $370 at Amazon in both silver and graphite colorways.

TL;DR: Pop Mart's Labubu World Cup 2026 collection is available on Amazon and through select retailers. You can grab the "Catch the Win" plush and keychains right now with Prime shipping.

Where to buy Labubu World Cup 2026 collectibles: Pop Mart The Monsters × FIFA Series "Catch the Win" Vinyl Plush Doll $149.99 Shop Now Pop Mart The Monsters × FIFA Series Vinyl Plush Keychain $32.99 Shop Now Pop Mart The Monsters X FIFA Series Bottle Opener Fridge Magnet $15.99 Shop Now

If you tuned into the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony in Mexico City last week, you probably noticed giant, pointy-eared plush figures running around and stealing the spotlight. That's Labubu — the mischievous, cult-favorite character from Pop Mart's "The Monsters" series. Pop Mart and FIFA collaborated on a limited-edition "The Monsters x FIFA Series" to celebrate the tournament.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free

Between the viral World Cup cameo and making history as the very first Chinese IP to make an appearance at the event, fans and collectors are currently clearing out inventory wherever they can find it.

If you want to get your hands on one before they sell out, your best bet right now is Amazon. Pop Mart recently opened an official storefront on the site, so you can grab the "Catch the Win" Vinyl Plush Doll for $149.99, plus a handful of themed World Cup keychains.

Word of caution: If Amazon sells out and you end up buying from an authorized third-party retailer (like BoxLunch, Hot Topic, or Walmart), make sure to check the box when it arrives. Every legit Labubu comes with a holographic security sticker and a QR code that links directly to Pop Mart's database for verification. You can also just count the teeth — a real Labubu has nine.

President Donald Trump is threatening to impose 100 percent tariffs on French wines and champagne unless France eliminates its digital services tax on American tech companies, according to an exclusive interview published Sunday by the New York Post, a conservative-leaning outlet.

Trump told the Post he delivered the ultimatum personally to outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron, giving him a straightforward choice: scrap the tech tax or lose access to the U.S. market, which the Post reports accounts for roughly a fifth of the French wine industry's global sales.

France's digital services tax — known as the GAFAM tax — has been in place since 2019, applying a 3 percent levy on local revenues generated by companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Apple. According to the French finance ministry, it generated roughly $700 million last year.

SEE ALSO: Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs 6-3. Tech stocks rally, but will prices drop?

The threat lands ahead of Monday's G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, and directly contradicts claims from Macron's office last week that the dispute had been quietly resolved. A U.S. official reportedly dismissed that characterization as inaccurate, according to the Post.

France appears increasingly isolated on the issue. Canada dropped its own digital tax in 2025 under U.S. pressure, and Italy is reportedly weighing a similar retreat with the Italian digital services tax.

SAVE $550.02: The Aiper Scuba V3 robot pool cleaner is on sale at Amazon for $849.97, down from the normal price of $1,399.99. That's a 39% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Aiper Aiper Scuba V3 $849.97 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $550.02   Get Deal

It's time to enjoy pool season. A morning dip, an afternoon cool-off, or an all-day pool party are all on the schedule for the summer. There's just one thing sitting in the way — cleaning the pool. If you dread the wind that bring leaves, sand, and dirt into the pool because it means extra cleaning, check out this deal.

For a limited time only on June 15, the Aiper Scuba V3 robot pool cleaner is on sale at Amazon for $849.97, marked down from the normal price of $1,399.99. That's a 39% discount and the lowest we've seen at Amazon. Plus, it comes with free Aiper micron ultra-fine replacement filters which usually sell for $59.99.

The Aiper Scuba V3 would like to take over the chore of cleaning the pool this summer. It uses AI vision to navigate the pool while scrubbing and filtering. The multi-layer filtration is designed to capture large items like leaves, twigs, and insects. But it's also capable of ridding your pool of sand, hair, algae, and even microorganisms.

SEE ALSO: These 9 early Prime Day outdoor deals will get you prepped for summer

From the Aiper app, you'll be able to schedule a cleaning calendar for the Scuba V3. Tell it to clean the floor every other day and tackle the walls twice a week. There's also the option for it to clean up the waterline. After its cleaning session, the Aiper will park on the waterline, making for easy retrieval. Place it on the included wireless charging dock, and it'll be ready for the next cleaning session.

Aiper equipped the Scuba V3 with dual LED lights so the AI vision system can clean at any time, even in the dark of night. That same AI vision is designed with obstacle avoidance, so the robot pool cleaner will navigate around toys, bricks, and even frogs.

Plus, the Aiper is designed to clean all pool shapes, from rectangular to customized. It's capable of cleaning pools made of concrete, fiberglass, tiles, and vinyl liners.

While it's still at the lowest price we've seen, upgrade the summer with the Aiper Scuba V3. But move quickly because the sale price is set to expire today.

Between the New York Knicks winning the NBA championship to FIFA World Cup fever currently running rampant in New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been all over the place lately. It's hard to imagine that there's someone who doesn't know who he is.

Well, apparently, there is at least one person who wouldn't recognize Mayor Mamdani if he was, say, sitting right next to him at a World Cup game.

YouTube megastar IShowSpeed attended the first World Cup 2026 game at NYNJ stadium, aka MetLife Stadium, between Brazil and Morocco on Saturday. Naturally, Speed livestreamed from the match for 2 and a half hours.

At around the 2-hour and 11-minute mark, Speed moves to a new section and takes a seat. His viewers in the livestream chat immediately erupt as they realize that Mayor Mamdani could be seen in the background, sitting just two seats away in the same aisle as Speed.

"Mayor? Who da Mayor?" Speed says as he checks his livestream chat two minutes after taking his new seat.

In a now viral video clipped from the livestream, Speed turns to Mamdani and asks if he's the Mayor. Mamdani confirms that he is indeed the Mayor of New York City and Speed shakes his hand.

This wasn't a case of Speed not realizing he was sitting next to Mamdani. Incredibly, Speed did not seem to know who Mamdani even was once he saw him.

But it did make for yet another amazing moment at the 2026 World Cup.

SAVE $350: As of June 15, the ASUS 34-inch ROG Strix Ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor is on sale for just $649 instead of $999 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That's 35% in savings and its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS 34-inch ROG Strix Ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor (XG34WCDG) $649 at Amazon
$999 Save $350   Get Deal

Upgrading your gaming monitor to an OLED model can completely transform your experience. With extremely high contrast, true blacks, and a wide color gamut, an OLED monitor is basically like eye candy. The market is wide and varied, but we're here to offer a little advice: grab this ASUS 34-inch ultrawide OLED monitor while it's the cheapest it's ever been.

As of June 15, the ASUS 34-inch ROG Strix Ultrawide QD-OLED gaming monitor (XG34WCDG) is only $649 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That's a massive $350 or 35% discount and beats its previous record-low price by about $50. If you want to upgrade without emptying your wallet, this is a hard deal to pass up.

This monitor features a 3440x1440 OLED display with a subtle 1800R curvature and 21:9 aspect ratio. Unlike a more aggressive curved display, it won't take a lot of time to get used to. It will subtly wrap the action around you and make your games feel more immersive while actually increasing your eye comfort.

Other perks are a 175Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro compatibility, and ROG gaming AI tech, all of which enhance your gaming experience. Plus, as I mentioned, the OLED panel has an extremely high contrast ratio that'll make your gaming visuals pop.

If your gaming setup is feeling a little lackluster, the ASUS XG34WCDG monitor will give you the ol' razzle-dazzle. And if you snag it ahead of Prime Day, it'll cost you significantly less than usual.

The world of streaming just got a big corporate makeover.

In a press release on Monday, Roku, a major streaming company, announced it would be acquired by Fox for $22 billion. The idea, per the press release, is to combine Fox's extensive media empire (which includes lots of live sports and news content) with Roku's enormous reach as a streaming platform and hardware provider.

Fox and Roku said that Roku's streaming platform, whether it's through built-in operating systems on smart TVs or external hardware, reaches 100 million households globally.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (June 12, 2026)

This deal will give Fox the third-largest share of the U.S. television market, per the release.

This acquisition makes a lot of sense for Fox, as the media giant has a huge audience across live sports and news, but aside from Tubi (which it acquired in 2020), Fox's streaming footprint hasn't been especially large to this point. Many people use Roku's operating system and devices, and Fox might be able to drive viewership to things like baseball games, NASCAR races, or live news coverage using its newfound streaming reach.

However, between this deal and the still-in-flux merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, it does increasingly feel like everything is owned by a total of three or four companies.

Let's face it: Season 2 of House of the Dragon promised fire and blood, but its baffling finale felt more like a puff of smoke.

The season fizzled to an ending with zero catharsis, forced Game of Thrones references, and a highlight reel of what was to come. In some ways, that structure mirrored the season's core conflict. For all of Season 2, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) tried everything they could to prevent all-out war. But while their stalling to prevent the inevitable was rooted deeply in the story, the show's own reluctance to leap into the next phase of George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood felt more like it was spinning its wheels until Season 3.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3 teaser is one Targaryen battle after another

Now, the third season of House of the Dragon is finally here, and its first four episodes manage to make up for Season 2's finale and then some, delivering jaw-dropping spectacle and somber truths about the cost of war.

House of the Dragon's Battle of the Gullet is spectacular. Steve Toussaint in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Remember how barely an episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 went by without a mention of Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) naval blockade in the Gullet? We finally get the payoff for that blockade at the top of Season 3, as the Triarchy's fleet bears down on the Sea Snake's forces. The ensuing clash, known as the Battle of the Gullet, is one of the defining fights of the Dance of the Dragons — the royal succession civil war between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).

Given that so much of Season 2 was building to this point — hence the fan frustration that it wasn't included — the pressure on House of the Dragon to pull off this battle is immense. Thankfully, the series more than delivers, with a sequence that had me yelling and pacing around my living room while also thinking, "We're so back."

SEE ALSO: Watch 'House of the Dragon' stars recap Season 2

A dazzling set piece involving ships, human soldiers, and multiple dragons, the Battle of the Gullet sets a new bar for Westerosi action. Every element is honed for maximum impact, from long takes of sailors boarding enemy ships to sweeping shots of dragons dive bombing the fleet. The battle, directed by Loni Peristere, wrings epic terror and awe from those big moments, but it also strikes gold in quieter moments, like a suspenseful boat chase that quickly becomes a stealth highlight of the episode.

Oh, and did I mention that this all takes place during the day, so you can make out every ounce of action taking place onscreen? For a franchise whose biggest battles have often been marred by darkness (looking at you, Battle of Winterfell), the Battle of the Gullet is a welcome adjustment. And, based on the first four episodes sent to critics for review, it's only the beginning for House of the Dragon Season 3's big action sequences.

House of the Dragon Season 3 pushes Rhaenyra to the brink. Emma D'Arcy in "House of the Dragon." Credit: HBO

The Battle of the Gullet isn't just an emphatic statement to open Season 3. It's also a major turning point for the Dance of the Dragons, and for Rhaenyra in particular. All throughout House of the Dragon, she has balked at violence, worried at the havoc dragon warfare would wreak on the wider realm. By Season 3, though, Rhaenyra has lost so much to this conflict that she needs to do whatever she can to see it through. Only by taking the Iron Throne can she justify the pain she's experienced. That means making impossible choices and committing to violence she once would have shunned, sometimes carrying it out with her own hands. As she does, House of the Dragon asks, even after all this, will victory be worth it?

It's a haunting question, one that House of the Dragon teases out with tinges of psychological horror in the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet. D'Arcy has always been magnificent as Rhaenyra, but here, they reach new heights with their raw portrayal of the queen's grief and rage. Their trembling hands and wracking sobs were just as wrenching as some of the Battle of the Gullet's most devastating moments, proving that House of the Dragon can match its biggest set pieces with pure human drama.

While the first half of House of the Dragon Season 3 manages to atone for Season 2's ending, it still commits its share of familiar sins. Threats of sexual violence towards women abound unnecessarily in these episodes, a trend that harkens back to Game of Thrones' worst moments. (Although thankfully nothing here is nearly as graphic.) Elsewhere, several plot threads feel stagnant, with once major players like Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) getting so little to do they may as well be set dressing. Their decreased roles may wind up paying off down the road, though, just like the many, many changes the show makes from Fire and Blood. While the latter reportedly strained the relationship between Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal, these changes do muddy the Targaryens' already very complicated relationships in intriguing ways, to the point that I'm more fascinated at how the writers came to these new arcs than mad at not getting a precise adaptation.

Despite the occasional low point and my misgivings following Season 2, House of the Dragon Season 3 flies high. Instead of spinning its wheels, it roars into the Targaryens' bloody future with action and creeping dread to spare, and that assurance and forward momentum turns out to be exactly what the show needs.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

SAVE 34%: As of June 15, you can get the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) series curved gaming monitor for $664.99, down from $999.99, at Amazon. That's a 34% discount or $335 savings.

Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) series curved gaming monitor $664.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $335   Get Deal at Amazon

Prime Day is still a week away, but Amazon's been discounting random tech since the beginning of June. (We're definitely excited to see just how low they're willing to go once the sale begins.) And, if you're looking for a new gaming monitor, now might be the time to get one.

SEE ALSO: Why did Amazon Prime Day shift to June? Here's what the company has said (and not said).

As of June 15, you can get the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey G9 (G95C) curved gaming monitor at Amazon for $664.99, down from $999.99. That's a 34% discount or $335 savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked on this model to date.

If you've never used a 49-inch monitor before, it essentially replaces a dual-screen setup without the plastic bezel cutting down the middle. This model has a 32:9 aspect ratio and a 1000R curve, which means the screen curves to match your field of view so you don't have to crane your neck to look at the edges.

Spec-wise, it offers a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time to reduce lag, and it uses AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to help prevent screen tearing. Just make sure you already have an HDMI cable lying around; this specific discounted listing only includes a DisplayPort cable. (If you select the bundle that includes both the DP and HDMI cables, the price jumps to $1,234.99.)

SAVE $37.25: As of June 15, the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro is on sale for just $61.75 at Amazon ahead of Prime Day. That's a savings of 38% and its lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $61.75 at Amazon
$99 Save $37.25   Get Deal

It's hard to believe there's a smartwatch on the market that costs less than $100, let alone one that performs as well as the CMF Watch 3 Pro. It's the best smartwatch you've probably never heard of and one of Mashable's favorites from last year. And now it's down to its lowest price ever ahead of Prime Day, making it an absolute steal.

As of June 15, Nothing's CMF Watch 3 Pro is just $61.75 in every color. That's a 38% or $37.25 discount and the first time every color option has dropped to a price this low. To put that in perspective, you could buy 3.5 of these CMF smartwatches for the cost of one Apple Watch SE 3 (Apple's cheapest smartwatch).

Mashable's reviewer Lauren Allain said the CMF Watch 3 Pro "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." She tested the watch last fall and still wears it daily. It offers a surprising amount of features for the price, including stress tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, precise heart-rate monitoring, dual-band GPS tracing, and in-depth sleep tracking. But where it really beats its competitors is in battery life. As Allain writes, "it just would not die." She had to toggle on some extra features just to wear it down in testing; it finally died after 16 days. Thats 15 more days than the Apple Watch lasts per charge.

If you're in the market for a new smartwatch and don't want to empty your bank account, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is a revelation. And ahead of Prime Day, you can get it for under $65. No need to wait.

SAVE $815.99: The Sunseeker S4 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $984, down from the list price of $1,799.99. That's a 45% discount and the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sunseeker Sunseeker S4 robot lawn mower $984 at Amazon
$1,799.99 Save $815.99   Get Deal

Prime Day is over a week away, but that doesn't mean the deals are dry this week. We're spotting record-low prices on some excellent options at Amazon, and that includes some ideas that could be great for Father's Day. If you're considering a robot lawn mower, check out today's deal.

As of June 15, the Sunseeker S4 robot lawn mower is on sale at Amazon for $984, marked down from the list price of $1,799.99. That's a 45% discount that shaves $815.99 off the price. It's also the lowest price we've ever seen at Amazon.

Early Amazon Prime Day deals include some great options if you're looking for a last-minute Father's Day gift. If the Dad in your life doesn't love mowing the lawn but enjoys a well-manicured yard, a robot lawn mower could be fantastic. The Sunseeker S4 is designed to mow lawns that measure up to 0.25 acres and can handle slopes of up to 42%.

Using LiDAR navigation, the Sunseeker robot will take off to mow the grass to your preferred height between 1.6 and 3.2 inches. It also uses a floating cut deck, so it'll keep the cut even when the ground isn't. You can also customize yard zones, setting up to 100 zones and five maps.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's early Prime Day deals include some great options for Father's Day

A robot lawn mower might also be much quieter compared to a traditional mower. Sunseeker says the S4 robot lawn mower operates at about 60 decibels. At that level, you should be able to have a conversation nearby without needing to speak louder than normal.

For those who don't enjoy mowing, deal with allergies, or have to beg the neighbor to come mow, considering upgrading to a robot lawn mower. The Sunseeker S4 is on sale at Amazon for the lowest price we've ever seen which means this is a great time to make the move.

TL;DR: Stay powered up with a GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable, on sale now for just $21.97 (reg. $49.99) now through June 28.

Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $21.97
$49.99 Save $28.02   Get Deal

Want to make your bag a little lighter? The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable replaces eight different gadgets, so you have a whole lot less to toss in your bag. Right now, this handy tool is even on sale for only $21.97 until June 28.

Whether you’re jetting off on an exotic vacation or just heading to work, you likely need multiple chargers to keep your go-to gadgets powered up. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable lets you keep a Type-C, a Type-C+, and an Apple Lightning connector handy at all times.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

The GoCable fits right on your keyring, so you never have to leave home without it. Magnetic cables make sure you aren’t left with a mess of cords in your bag, and all you need to do is add a power bank or wall adapter and power up your devices.

Not only are these cords organized, but they also offer 100W ultra-fast charging and high-speed file transfers. You’ll also be able to see the real-time charging status thanks to an LED power display.

This gadget doesn’t just keep your devices powered up; it’s also equipped with some other handy tools. You’ll have a bottle opener and a safe-proofed hidden cutter to open packages. A carabiner clip can attach to anything to make sure it’s always within arm’s length.

Snag this GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable for only $21.97 until June 28.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

After notching big gains on its debut on Friday, the company’s shares jumped again on Monday.