Consumer Confidence Rises In U.s., Falls In China And Russia, Survey Says

WayTools’ TextBlade brilliantly compressed a comfy typing experience into a pocket-sized device. Too bad it never actually reached the market. Even as the latest phones and wearables tout speech recognition with unprecedented accuracy and spatial computing products flirt with replacing tablets and laptops, physical keyboards remain beloved for their efficiency. Earlier this year, for example, sci-fi novelist Robert J.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that his country's natural gas transit deal with Ukraine will not be renewed. Sergei Guneyev/Pool/AFP via Getty ImagesRussia's natural gas transit deal with Ukraine is set to expire soon, which would cut billions in revenue. The deal's possible end affects European countries relying on Russian gas via Ukraine.

Honda and Nissan said on Monday that they are starting merger talks. Josh Lefkowitz via Getty ImagesHonda's shares soared by as much as 17% when local markets opened on Tuesday. The automaker said on Monday that it was starting merger discussions with struggling rival Nissan. Honda also announced a $7 billion stock buyback program.

Telegram's CEO says the company is now profitable. Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images; AOP. Press/Corbis via Getty ImagesTelegram is profitable after 11 years, thanks to ads and premium subscriptions, its CEO said. The platform's revenue exceeded $1 billion, with $500 million in cash reserves. Telegram faces global scrutiny over misinformation and its lack of content moderation.

The UK Defense Ministry said the RFDEW was live-tested in West Wales about seven months after it announced the development of the weapon. UK Defense MinistryThe UK said it has live-fired its new anti-drone radio weapon that costs only about 10 pence to fire. It's been heralding such weapons as a cheap alternative to missile-based systems for killing drones.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game. Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns.