Author: admin

  • Do women need a change in dose of prescription drugs with onset of menopause? Time to find out | BMC Medicine

    Do women need a change in dose of prescription drugs with onset of menopause? Time to find out | BMC Medicine

    Literature search identified only very few studies investigating the effects of menopause on pharmacokinetics of different drugs. We here provide some examples to showcase potential effects of menopause.

    Clearance of alfentanil (a short-acting anesthetic) metabolized largely by CYP3A4, was studied in 21 women and found to be more than double as high at premenopausal age compared to menopausal age, with no such effect in age-matched men [3]. Clearance of tirilazad, a neuroprotective steroid, metabolized by CYP3A4, was one third higher in 10 premenopausal women compared to 10 menopausal women [4]. The same study showed a similar difference in the clearance of midazolam (a short acting tranquilizer), which is considered a marker of CYP3A4 activity [4]. Zijp et al. [5] analyzed the effect of menopausal status on metabolism of tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant metabolized by CYP3A4 in 818 patients. Metabolism in women of premenopausal age was 43% higher than in women of menopausal age, while there was a non-significantly (12%) higher metabolism in men of comparable age groups.

    Castberg et al. [6] analyzed age and sex effects in 7626 users of quetiapine, an antipsychotic, metabolized by CYP3A4. They found a sex-by-age interaction and showed that male and female serum concentrations are similar until age 50, after which women develop significantly higher values than men, inducing a 33% sex difference.

    Rosuvastatin, a competitive hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A inhibitor, partly metabolized by CYP2C9, was studied in 40 women [7]. Three hours after administration of a single dose of 40 mg, more than fourfold higher plasma levels were found in premenopausal women, compared to menopausal women.

    Olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug metabolized by CYP1A2, was studied in 248 patients, finding a sex-by-age interaction, with higher blood levels in young women and lower blood levels in older women [8]. While the dose-corrected concentration (C:D ratio) of olanzapine increased with age in men, it decreased in women; an effect that may be attributable to menopause. Finally, a study including over 3000 men and women using lamotrigine (an anti-epileptic drug metabolized by UGT) demonstrated a significant drop in clearance in women aged 51–55 [9], but not in male peers, again suggesting interaction between menopausal status and pharmacokinetics.

    Continue Reading

  • Multi-dimensional sleep health and dementia risk: a prospective study in the UK Biobank | BMC Medicine

    Multi-dimensional sleep health and dementia risk: a prospective study in the UK Biobank | BMC Medicine

  • Shi L, Chen SJ, Ma MY, Bao YP, Han Y, Wang YM, et al. Sleep disturbances increase the risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep Med Rev. 2018;40:4–16.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu W, Tan CC, Zou JJ, Cao XP, Tan L. Sleep problems and risk of all-cause cognitive decline or dementia: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020;91(3):236–44.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Guay-Gagnon M, Vat S, Forget MF, Tremblay-Gravel M, Ducharme S, Nguyen QD, et al. Sleep apnea and the risk of dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sleep Res. 2022;31(5): e13589.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo C, Harshfield EL, Markus HS. Sleep characteristics and risk of stroke and dementia: an observational and Mendelian randomization study. Neurology. 2024;102(5): e209141.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Andrews S, Daghlas I, Brenowitz WD, Raji CA, Yaffe K, et al. Snoring and risk of dementia: a prospective cohort and Mendelian randomization study. Sleep. 2024.

  • Huang SY, Li YZ, Zhang YR, Huang YY, Wu BS, Zhang W, et al. Sleep, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and risk of incident dementia: a prospective cohort study of 431,924 UK Biobank participants. Mol Psychiatry. 2022;27(10):4343–54.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong ATY, Reeves GK, Floud S. Total sleep duration and daytime napping in relation to dementia detection risk: results from the Million Women Study. Alzheimers Dement. 2023;19(11):4978–86.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Himali JJ, Baril AA, Cavuoto MG, Yiallourou S, Wiedner CD, Himali D, et al. Association between slow-wave sleep loss and incident dementia. JAMA Neurol. 2023;80(12):1326–33.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Buysse DJ. Sleep health: can we define it? Does it matter? Sleep. 2014;37(1):9–17.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung J, Goodman M, Huang T, Bertisch S, Redline S. Multidimensional sleep health in a diverse, aging adult cohort: concepts, advances, and implications for research and intervention. Sleep Health. 2021;7(6):699–707.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyhuis CC, Fernandez-Mendoza J. Insomnia nosology: a systematic review and critical appraisal of historical diagnostic categories and current phenotypes. J Sleep Res. 2023;32(6): e13910.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Keenan BT, Kim J, Singh B, Bittencourt L, Chen NH, Cistulli PA, et al. Recognizable clinical subtypes of obstructive sleep apnea across international sleep centers: a cluster analysis. Sleep. 2018;41(3).

  • Vgontzas AN, Fernandez-Mendoza J, Liao D, Bixler EO. Insomnia with objective short sleep duration: the most biologically severe phenotype of the disorder. Sleep Med Rev. 2013;17(4):241–54.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Mendoza J. The insomnia with short sleep duration phenotype: an update on it’s importance for health and prevention. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2017;30(1):56–63.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweetman A, Lack L, Bastien C. Co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA): prevalence, consequences, methodological considerations, and recent randomized controlled trials. Brain Sci. 2019;9(12).

  • Luyster FS, Baniak LM, Imes CC, Jeon B, Morris JL, Orbell S, et al. Association of comorbid obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia with risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in sleep medicine center patients. Sleep Health. 2024;10(3):335–41.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans MA, Buysse DJ, Marsland AL, Wright AGC, Foust J, Carroll LW, et al. Meta-analysis of age and actigraphy-assessed sleep characteristics across the lifespan. Sleep. 2021;44(9).

  • Zhang B, Wing YK. Sex differences in insomnia: a meta-analysis. Sleep. 2006;29(1):85–93.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang T, Lin BM, Markt SC, Stampfer MJ, Laden F, Hu FB, et al. Sex differences in the associations of obstructive sleep apnoea with epidemiological factors. Eur Respir J. 2018;51(3).

  • Wilkinson T, Schnier C, Bush K, Rannikmäe K, Henshall DE, Lerpiniere C, et al. Identifying dementia outcomes in UK Biobank: a validation study of primary care, hospital admissions and mortality data. Eur J Epidemiol. 2019;34(6):557–65.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Linzer DA, Lewis JB. poLCA: an R package for polytomous variable latent class analysis. J Stat Softw. 2011;42:1–29.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Weller BE, Bowen NK, Faubert SJ. Latent class analysis: a guide to best practice. J Black Psychol. 2020;46(4):287–311.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojas-Saunero LP, Young JG, Didelez V, Ikram MA, Swanson SA. Considering questions before methods in dementia research with competing events and causal goals. Am J Epidemiol. 2023;192(8):1415–23.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Fine JP, Gray RJ. A proportional hazards model for the subdistribution of a competing risk. J Am Stat Assoc. 1999;94(446):496–509.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ju YE, Lucey BP, Holtzman DM. Sleep and Alzheimer disease pathology–a bidirectional relationship. Nat Rev Neurol. 2014;10(2):115–9.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Leng Y, McEvoy CT, Allen IE, Yaffe K. Association of sleep-disordered breathing with cognitive function and risk of cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Neurol. 2017;74(10):1237–45.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin MR, Vitiello MV. Implications of sleep disturbance and inflammation for Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Lancet Neurol. 2019;18(3):296–306.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. Lancet. 2024;404(10452):572–628.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzotti DR, Keenan BT, Lim DC, Gottlieb DJ, Kim J, Pack AI. Symptom subtypes of obstructive sleep apnea predict incidence of cardiovascular outcomes. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;200(4):493–506.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen AJH, Jen R, Mazzotti DR, Keenan BT, Goodfellow SD, Taylor CM, et al. Symptom subtypes and risk of incident cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in a clinic-based obstructive sleep apnea cohort. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(9):2093–102.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Redline S, Azarbarzin A, Peker Y. Obstructive sleep apnoea heterogeneity and cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2023;20(8):560–73.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang T, Goodman M, Li X, Sands SA, Li J, Stampfer MJ, et al. C-reactive protein and risk of OSA in four US cohorts. Chest. 2021;159(6):2439–48.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang T, Sands SA, Stampfer MJ, Tworoger SS, Hu FB, Redline S. Insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea in men and women in the United States. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2022;19(10):1740–9.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown J, Yazdi F, Jodari-Karimi M, Owen JG, Reisin E. Obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension: updates to a critical relationship. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2022;24(6):173–84.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang T, Goodman M, Wang H, Sofer T, Tworoger SS, Stampfer MJ, et al. Genetic predisposition to elevated C-reactive protein and risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024;209(3):329–31.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor BJ, Hasler BP. Chronotype and mental health: recent advances. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2018;20(8):59.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Hood S, Amir S. The aging clock: circadian rhythms and later life. J Clin Invest. 2017;127(2):437–46.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottesman RF, Lutsey PL, Benveniste H, Brown DL, Full KM, Lee JM, et al. Impact of sleep disorders and disturbed sleep on brain health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Stroke. 2024;55(3):e61–76.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenmenger LB, Peret A, Famakin BM, Spahic A, Roberts GS, Bockholt JH, et al. Vascular contributions to Alzheimer’s disease. Transl Res. 2023;254:41–53.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kianersi S, Wang H, Sofer T, Noordam R, Phillips A, Rutter MK, et al. Association between accelerometer-measured irregular sleep duration and type 2 diabetes risk: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(9):1647–55.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang T, Mariani S, Redline S. Sleep irregularity and risk of cardiovascular events: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020;75(9):991–9.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Yiallourou SR, Cribb L, Cavuoto MG, Rowsthorn E, Nicolazzo J, Gibson M, et al. Association of the sleep regularity index with incident dementia and brain volume. Neurology. 2024;102(2): e208029.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kianersi S, Redline S, Mongraw-Chaffin M, Huang T. Associations of slow-wave sleep with prevalent and incident type 2 diabetes in the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2023;108(10):e1044–55.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Azarbarzin A, Sands SA, Stone KL, Taranto-Montemurro L, Messineo L, Terrill PI, et al. The hypoxic burden of sleep apnoea predicts cardiovascular disease-related mortality: the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study and the Sleep Heart Health Study. Eur Heart J. 2019;40(14):1149–57.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Yaffe K, Laffan AM, Harrison SL, Redline S, Spira AP, Ensrud KE, et al. Sleep-disordered breathing, hypoxia, and risk of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in older women. JAMA. 2011;306(6):613–9.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang X, Zhang Z, Lan X, Song X, Dong Y, Jia S, et al. The association between hypoxic burden and the risk of cognitive impairment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 2024.

  • Baden MY, Hu FB, Vetter C, Schernhammer E, Redline S, Huang T. Sleep duration patterns in early to middle adulthood and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Diabetes Care. 2020;43(6):1219–26.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabia S, Fayosse A, Dumurgier J, van Hees VT, Paquet C, Sommerlad A, et al. Association of sleep duration in middle and old age with incidence of dementia. Nat Commun. 2021;12(1):2289.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson EL, Richmond RC, Jones SE, Hemani G, Wade KH, Dashti HS, et al. Is disrupted sleep a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease? Evidence from a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. Int J Epidemiol. 2021;50(3):817–28.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavaillès C, Andrews SJ, Leng Y, Chatterjee A, Daghlas I, Yaffe K. Causal associations of sleep apnea with Alzheimer disease and cardiovascular disease: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024;13(18): e033850.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • van Alten S, Domingue BW, Faul J, Galama T, Marees AT. Reweighting UK Biobank corrects for pervasive selection bias due to volunteering. Int J Epidemiol. 2024;53(3).

  • Huang J, Zuber V, Matthews PM, Elliott P, Tzoulaki J, Dehghan A. Sleep, major depressive disorder, and Alzheimer disease: a Mendelian randomization study. Neurology. 2020;95(14):e1963–70.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Cribb L, Moreno-Betancur M, Wu Z, Wolfe R, Pasé M, Ryan J. Moving beyond the prevalent exposure design for causal inference in dementia research. Lancet Healthy Longev. 2025;6(2): 100675.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

Continue Reading

  • The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

    The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio

    A.J. Foyt holds the record for most race victories in INDYCAR SERIES history – he has eight more wins than second-place Scott Dixon’s 59 – but Dixon has a record that might stand forever.

    Dixon’s victory in Sunday’s The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio presented by the All-New 2026 Passport gave him 23 seasons with at least one NTT INDYCAR SERIES race win.

    Here’s the kicker: The six-time series champion is still two weeks from celebrating his 45th birthday, which means he has won a race in the series that’s considered the most competitive in global motorsports in more than half the years of his life.

    Friends, that is a nearly incomprehensible fact, and it’s worth noting that Foyt, who was still driving these cars at age 58, had five fewer winning INDYCAR SERIES seasons than Dixon has. It’s also worth noting that Dixon’s run of success spans more than the life of Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Kyffin Simpson, who turns 21 in October.

    Additionally, Dixon extended his streak of consecutive seasons with at least one victory to 21.

    Dixon won a series race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a record-extending seventh time, finishing ahead of the driver who is on the verge of winning his third consecutive series championship and fourth title in five years. Yes, Alex Palou made a colossal mistake in Turn 9 that allowed Dixon to grab the lead with five-plus laps remaining, but the driver of the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda had put himself in position yet again to win a series race, and he did when the opportunity presented itself.

    “On the approach to (Turn) 9, I saw the dust and I was like, ‘Oh, maybe that’s a lap car or something’ because there’s been times in these sessions where the dust has actually been lingering in the air,” Dixon said. “You come through (Turn) 1, there’s a load of dust, and then you don’t even see the car that’s in front.

    “I didn’t know if it was (Palou), and then obviously I see it’s a black car. He’s had multiple (car) colors this year, so it’s always hard to figure out, and I saw that he was kind of struggling to get going. Hate to say it, but pleasantly surprised when I saw that he was rejoining the track.”

    Dixon then held off Palou, who was charging in those waning laps with an advantage in fuel and push-to-pass opportunities. Dixon’s margin of victory was .4201 of a second, the track’s closest series finish in six years.

    Dixon executed this victory as he has so many others, by perfectly managing the balance between fuel preservation and speed production. While some considered making the 90-lap race a two-stop affair but didn’t opt for it, Dixon did pulled it off, stopping on Laps 30 and 61, leaving enough in the tank and with the Firestone Firehawk tires to capitalize when Palou, who was using a three-stop pit strategy, made his big mistake in Turn 9 in the No. 10 Open AI Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

    The result was Chip Ganassi Racing’s second 1-2 finish of the season, with Palou overtaking Dixon late in the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. Palou also held off his teammate in the 2023 race at Mid-Ohio.

    “I think a lot of the best INDYCAR races is when you can have a flat-out three-stopper and a two-stopper that converge at the end, and that always creates a lot of suspense and a lot of craziness,” Dixon said.

    Dixon said he was surprised it wasn’t a 1-2-3 finish for Chip Ganassi’s team, which last had one 12 years ago today at Pocono Raceway (Dixon won that race, too). Simpson had qualified third, spent much of the race in the top five and led a lap in the No. 8 Journie Rewards Chip Ganassi Racing Honda before settling for a 10th-place finish after serving a drive-through penalty for clipping the foot of Dale Coyne Racing crew member Nico Don.

    Dixon’s win gave Honda its 10th consecutive victory to open the season. There hasn’t been engine domination like this since 2016 when Chevrolet won the first five races and 12 of the first 13.

    Palou didn’t win the race, but he had a winning day as he gained 20 additional points on his nearest title challenger, Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood, who finished eighth. Palou has combined to win four races at two of the six remaining tracks on the schedule – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Portland International Raceway – and he has a commanding 113-point lead over Kirkwood with seven races to go.

    But Palou’s coronation is a moment for another day. Sunday, Mid-Ohio again crowned its king of this series.


    Continue Reading

  • Autoimmune Diseases Almost Double Mental Health Disorder Risk

    Autoimmune Diseases Almost Double Mental Health Disorder Risk

    Twenty-nine percent of autoimmune disease patients also report a mental health condition, compared to 18% of the general population who do not have an autoimmune disorder, according to the results of a recent study published in BMJ Mental Health.

    Specifically, lifetime prevalence rates of autoimmune patients with mental health disorders compared to the general population were 26% vs. 15% for depression, 21% vs. 13% for anxiety and 1% vs. 0.5% for bipolar disorder. These findings are consistent with a previous separate study that found a prevalence of depression (22%), anxiety (13%) and bipolar disorder (7%) in lupus patients, the current study shows.

    A team of researchers, including corresponding author Arish Mudra Rakshasa-Loots, Ph.D., from the Center for Clinical Brain Sciences at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, studied the data of more than 1.5 million UK residents who participated in Our Future Health survey, a British health research project that collects social, demographic, health and lifestyle information. Results were collected from October 2022 to September 2024, and the study was published June 9, 2025. Approximately 37,808 participants reported autoimmune conditions and 1,525,347 did not. Women were more likely to report an autoimmune condition than men (74.5% vs. 56.5%). Additionally, the average age of participants was 53, 90% identified as white and 57% were women. When the researchers adjusted for sociodemographic factors, the risk of depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder was identical in people with autoimmune conditions.

    Survey participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) to measure their depression and anxiety symptoms.

    Autoimmune diseases are characterized by the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking healthy cells, causing inflammation and damage that may be life-threatening. Symptoms can include fatigue, muscle aches and digestion problems, ranging from mild to severe, and can come and go. Although there are more than 80 autoimmune diseases recognized by scientists, the researchers in this study focused on six: rheumatoid arthritis, Graves’ syndrome (thyroid hormone disorder), inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.

    The study’s findings also support previous knowledge that autoimmune disorders are more common in women than in men—32% vs. 21%, leading researchers to theorize there is a link between sex hormones and antibodies. In the United States, approximately 50 million people have an autoimmune disease, with women accounting for 80% of diagnoses, according to the National Institutes of Health.

    “Women (but not men) with depression exhibit increased concentrations of circulating cytokines and acute phase reactants compared with non-depressed counterparts,” Rakshasa-Loots and his team write. “It is therefore possible that women may experience the compounding challenges of increased occurrence of autoimmunity and stronger effects of immune responses on mental health, resulting in the substantially higher prevalence of affective disorders observed in this study.”

    Researchers suggest individuals diagnosed with autoimmune disorders should be regularly screened for mental health conditions to establish early detection practices and treatment, especially women.

    “Future studies should seek to determine whether putative biological, psychological, and social factors—for example, chronic pain, fatigue, sleep or circadian disruptions and social isolation—may represent potentially modifiable mechanisms linking autoimmune conditions and affective disorders.”

    Continue Reading

  • Prime Day Live Blog: Real-time deal picks by the PC experts

    Prime Day Live Blog: Real-time deal picks by the PC experts

    Prime Day runs this Tuesday to Friday, but the very best tech deals won’t hang around for long, and new deals will pop up throughout the event. PCWorld editors are keeping tabs on the best PC and tech deals at Amazon and alternative retailers, making sure you don’t miss the top Lightning deals or inadvertently purchase a dud.

    Brad Chacos and Alaina Yee — two bargain hunters from our Full Nerd podcast — will be blogging about the juiciest tech deals right here from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Eastern on July 8, drawing on decades of deep hardware and software experience to highlight the products that are actually worth your hard-earned cash. Who knows? Maybe we’ll throw some geeky finds like board games and laser flashlights into the mix too. Let’s have fun!

    Stay tuned to our live blog for real-time updates on the Prime Day deals you need to know about on laptops, computing accessories, smart home deals and more. If you’re looking for category-specific recommendations, be sure to check out the expert-curated roundups below! Do note that you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of the deals, but you can sign up to a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime.

    More Prime Day coverage from PCWorld

    PCWorld Prime Day 2025 Live Deal Tracker

    bchacos

    Welcome to our Prime Day live blog

    Stay tuned for top tips on the best deals found by PCWorld editors. We’ll be live at 9 a.m. Eastern June 8!

    Continue Reading

  • Turn Your Home Into a Theater With a New Low on the 75-Inch Hisense TV, Thanks to Prime Day

    Turn Your Home Into a Theater With a New Low on the 75-Inch Hisense TV, Thanks to Prime Day

    There are many things to think about when picking the right TV for you, such as brand, screen size and, most importantly, price. Especially with tariffs on the rise, looking for a way to save some coin is always a smart idea. Thankfully, Prime Day sales officially start tomorrow, giving shoppers tons of deals on items like TVs. But if you can’t wait, there are some deals available now.

    Right now on Amazon, you can score the Hisense U6 75-inch TV for only $494. This is a savings of almost $100. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for this TV yet. This 75-inch model can work well for a living room or home theater, perfect for all your summer movie marathons. Just note that we don’t know how long this deal will last since Prime Day kicks off tomorrow, so we suggest taking advantage of it now before it’s too late.  

    This Hisense U6 TV delivers a high-quality picture to make anything you watch look its best. The TV also features Hisense’s exclusive ULED display. It boasts up to 600 nits of peak brightness, a 60Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision HDR 10. It runs on Amazon’s Fire TV OS, so you can stream anything you’d like. 

    And with the Alexa voice remote, you can have a completely hands-free experience. For the gamers, the built-in gaming mode helps minimize input lag, so you won’t miss even a moment of your game.

    Not really what you’re looking for? No worries, there are plenty of other Prime Day TV sales you can start shopping right now. 

    Best Prime Day TV Deals

    Prime Day is well known as one of the best times of the year to save big on a new TV. We’ve checked through every deal available, and rounded up the best discounts for you to take advantage of.


    See Now

    TV DEALS OF THE WEEK

    Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

    Why this deal matters

    We’re definitely going to be seeing many TVs on sale for Prime Day, but this Hisense TV is at a record-low price right now. There’s no guarantee it will return to this price, so we suggest taking advantage of it now if this TV meets your needs and budget.

    Impulse Buys Under $25 That Make Surprisingly Great Gifts

    See all photos


    Continue Reading

  • Factors associated with viral load non-suppression among adults with HIV in Sughd region, Tajikistan: a retrospective cohort study | BMC Infectious Diseases

    Factors associated with viral load non-suppression among adults with HIV in Sughd region, Tajikistan: a retrospective cohort study | BMC Infectious Diseases

  • Beyrer C, Tomaras GD, Gelderblom HC, Gray GE, Janes HE, Bekker L-G, Millett G, Pantaleo G, Buchbinder S, Corey L. Is HIV epidemic control by 2030 realistic? Lancet HIV. 2024;11:e489–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00098-5.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chun HM, Dirlikov E, Cox MH, Sherlock MW, Obeng-Aduasare Y, Sato K, Voetsch AC, Ater AD, Romano ER, Tomlinson H, Modi S, Achrekar A, Nkengasong J. Vital signs: progress toward eliminating HIV as a global public health threat through Scale-Up of antiretroviral therapy and health system strengthening supported by the U.S. President’s emergency plan for AIDS Relief – Worldwide, 2004–2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72:317–24. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7212e1.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • The urgency of now: AIDS at a crossroads. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; 2024. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2024/global-aids-update-2024

  • The path that ends AIDS: UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2023. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS; 2023. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. https://thepath.unaids.org/wp-content/themes/unaids2023/assets/files/2023_report.pdf

  • World Health Organization. Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring: recommendations for a public health approach. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMahon JH, Elliott JH, Bertagnolio S, Kubiak R, Jordan MR. Viral suppression after 12 months of antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ. 2013;91:377–E385. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.12.112946.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Trickey A, May MT, Vehreschild J-J, Obel N, Gill MJ, Crane HM, Boesecke C, Patterson S, Grabar S, Cazanave C, Cavassini M, Shepherd L, Monforte A, van d’Arminio A, Saag M, Lampe F, Hernando V, Montero M, Zangerle R, Justice AC, Sterling T, Ingle SM, Sterne JAC. Survival of HIV-positive patients starting antiretroviral therapy between 1996 and 2013: a collaborative analysis of cohort studies. Lancet HIV. 2017;4:e349–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(17)30066-8.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisinger RW, Dieffenbach CW, Fauci AS. HIV viral load and transmissibility of HIV infection: undetectable equals untransmittable. JAMA. 2019;321:451–2. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.21167.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodger AJ, Cambiano V, Bruun T, Vernazza P, Collins S, Degen O, Corbelli GM, Estrada V, Geretti AM, Beloukas A, Raben D, Coll P, Antinori A, Nwokolo N, Rieger A, Prins JM, Blaxhult A, Weber R, Van Eeden A, Brockmeyer NH, Clarke A, Del Romero Guerrero J, Raffi F, Bogner JR, Wandeler G, Gerstoft J, Gutiérrez F, Brinkman K, Kitchen M, Ostergaard L, Leon A, Ristola M, Jessen H, Stellbrink H-J, Phillips AN, Lundgren J. Risk of HIV transmission through condomless sex in serodifferent gay couples with the HIV-positive partner taking suppressive antiretroviral therapy (PARTNER): final results of a multicentre, prospective, observational study. Lancet. 2019;393:2428–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30418-0.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Yombi JC, Mertes H. Treatment as prevention for HIV infection: current data, challenges, and global perspectives. AIDS Rev. 2018;20:131–40. https://doi.org/10.24875/AIDSRev.M18000024.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumi Smith M, Jewell BL, Hallett TB, Cohen MS. Treatment of HIV for the prevention of transmission in discordant couples and at the population level. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018;1075:125–62. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0484-2_6.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Cao Z, Li J, Chen J, Zhu Q, Liang S, Lan G, Xing H, Liao L, Feng Y, Shao Y, Ruan Y, Chen H. HIV transmission and associated factors under the scale-up of HIV antiretroviral therapy: a population-based longitudinal molecular network study. Virol J. 2023;20:289. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-023-02246-1.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Understanding measures of progress towards the 95-95-95 HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression targets. Geneva; 2023. https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/progress-towards-95-95-95_en.pdf

  • Hickey MD, Ayieko J, Kwarisiima D, Opel FJ, Owaraganise A, Balzer LB, Chamie G, Jain V, Peng J, Camlin C, Charlebois ED, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Kamya MR, Petersen ML, Havlir DV. Improved viral suppression with streamlined care in the SEARCH study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2020;85:571–8. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000002508.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakari HM, Alo O, Mbwana MS, Salim SM, Ludeman E, Lascko T, Ramadhani HO. Same-day ART initiation, loss to follow-up and viral load suppression among people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis. Pan Afr Med J. 2023;46:92. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2023.46.92.40848.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Mugavero MJ, Amico KR, Westfall AO, Crane HM, Zinski A, Willig JH, Dombrowski JC, Norton WE, Raper JL, Kitahata MM, Saag MS. Early retention in HIV care and viral load suppression: implications for a test and treat approach to HIV prevention. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2012;59:86–93. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0b013e318236f7d2.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Crepaz N, Song R, Lyss S, Hall HI. Trends in time from HIV diagnosis to first viral suppression following revised US HIV treatment guidelines, 2012–2017. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2020;85:46–50. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000002398.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Country factsheets. Tajikistan; 2023. https://www.unaids.org/en/regionscountries/countries/tajikistan.

  • Deryabina A. HIV epidemic control in central Asia still has a long way to go. 2019. https://www.un.org/en/un-chronicle/hiv-epidemic-control-central-asia-still-has-long-way-go#:~:text=To%20achieve%20HIV%20epidemic%20control,men%2C%20in%20effective%20prevention%20and.

  • Center for Prevention and Control of HIV of Sughd Oblast. Annual HIV report (internal). Tajikistan: Sughd; 2023.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansfeld M, Ristola M, Klinte J, et al. World Health Organization (Europe); Centre for Health & Infectious Disease Research. 2015. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/152646/WHO-EURO-2015-6477-46243-66894-eng.pdf?sequence=3.

  • World Health Organization. WHO case definitions of HIV for surveillance and revised clinical staging and immunological classification of HIV-related disease in adults and children. World Health Organization; 2007. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/43699.

  • International Organization for Migration (IOM). About migration: IOM defintion of migrant. 2025. https://www.iom.int/about-migration.

  • Gökengin D. Outcomes and gaps in HIV care for migrants in Europe. Lancet HIV. 2024;11:e793–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00296-0.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. HIV and migrants: monitoring implementation of the Dublin declaration on partnership to fight HIV/AIDS in Europe and Central Asia: 2017 progress report. 2017. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/HIV%20and%20migrants.pdf.

  • Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). The gap report. Geneva; 2014. https://files.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2014/UNAIDS_Gap_report_en.pdf.

  • Kamenshchikova A, Peters CMM, Nöstlinger C, Rice B, Ford N, Ravasi G, Burns F, Parczewski M, Hoebe CJPA, Dukers N, Seedat F, Mozalevskis A, Bekker L-G, Tugirimana B, Tang J, Marley W, Onyango G, Peynado DT, Noori MC, Hargreaves T. Interventions to ensure access to and continuity of HIV care for international migrants: an evidence synthesis. Lancet HIV. 2024;11:e873–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00175-9.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • International Organization for Migration (IOM). Tajikistan – migration situation report #1 (January – December 2023). 2024. https://dtm.iom.int/es/node/38791?close=true.

  • Segala FV, Di Gennaro F, Frallonardo L, De Vita E, Petralia V, Sapienza V, Di Gregorio S, Cormio M, Novara R, Rizzo G, Barbagallo M, Veronese N, Saracino A. HIV-related outcomes among migrants living in Europe compared with the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet HIV. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(24)00210-8.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Saracino A, Lorenzini P, Lo Caputo S, Girardi E, Castelli F, Bonfanti P, Rusconi S, Caramello P, Abrescia N, Mussini C, Monno L, d’Arminio Monforte A. Increased risk of virologic failure to the first antiretroviral regimen in HIV-infected migrants compared to natives: data from the ICONA cohort. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2016;22:e2881–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2015.10.026.

    Article 

    Google Scholar 

  • Amirkhanian YA, Kuznetsova AV, Kelly JA, Difranceisco WJ, Musatov VB, Avsukevich NA, Chaika NA, McAuliffe TL. Male labor migrants in russia: HIV risk behavior levels, contextual factors, and prevention needs. J Immigr Minor Health. 2011;13:919–28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-010-9376-y.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Weine S, Bahromov M, Mirzoev A. Unprotected Tajik male migrant workers in Moscow at risk for HIV/AIDS. J Immigr Minor Health. 2008;10:461–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-007-9103-5.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Weine S, Bahromov M, Loue S, Owens L. HIV sexual risk behaviors and multilevel determinants among male labor migrants from Tajikistan. J Immigr Minor Health. 2013;15:700–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-012-9718-z.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromberg DJ, Tate MM, Alaei K, Karimov S, Saidi D, Alaei A. Association between time spent in the Russian federation and late presentation for HIV among Tajikistani migrants. BMC Public Health. 2020;20:1379. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09434-6.

    Article 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Chu C, Tao K, Kouamou V, Avalos A, Scott J, Grant PM, Rhee S-Y, McCluskey SM, Jordan MR, Morgan RL, Shafer RW. Prevalence of emergent dolutegravir resistance mutations in people living with HIV: a rapid scoping review. Viruses. 2024;16. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16030399.

  • Akbulut I, Varol ZS, Akca V, Serin BG, Erogul E, Odemiş I, Senbayrak S, Atalay S. Multicenter study in Turkiye of unsuppressed viremia in people living with human immunodeficiency virus: Aegean experience. BMC Infect Dis. 2025;25:587. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12879-025-10988-2.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford N, Ehrenkranz P, Jarvis J. Advanced HIV as a neglected disease. N Engl J Med. 2024;390:487–9. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMP2313777/SUPPL_FILE/NEJMP2313777_DISCLOSURES.PDF.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Kantor R, Gupta RK. We should not stop considering HIV drug resistance testing at failure of first-line antiretroviral therapy. Lancet HIV. 2023;10:e202–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(22)00327-7.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 
    PubMed Central 

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz SR, Kavanagh MM, Sugarman J, Solomon SS, Njindam IM, Rebe K, Quinn TC, Toure-Kane C, Beyrer C, Baral S. HIV viral load monitoring among key populations in low- and middle-income countries: challenges and opportunities. J Int AIDS Soc. 2017;20(7). https://doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25003.

  • Vignier N, Du Lou D, Pannetier A, Ravalihasy J, Gosselin A, Lert A, Lydie F, Bouchaud N, Spira OD, Chauvin R, ed al. Social and structural factors and engagement in HIV care of sub-Saharan African migrants diagnosed with HIV in the Paris region. AIDS Care. 2019;31:897–907. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2019.1576842.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez-Ortiz D, Seitchick J, Polpitiya M, Algarin AB, Sheehan DM, Fennie K, Cyrus E, Trepka MJ. Post-immigration factors affecting retention in HIV care and viral suppression in Latin American and Caribbean immigrant populations in the united states: a systematic review. Ethn Health. 2022;27:1859–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2021.1990217.

    Article 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou C, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Wu H, Zhang T, Chen G, Huang X. Factors associated with post-treatment control of viral load in HIV-infected patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Infect Dis. 2023;129:216–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2023.01.025.

    Article 
    CAS 
    PubMed 

    Google Scholar 

    • Continue Reading

  • ‘Countdown’ Star Jessica Camacho on Jensen Ackles Chemistry

    ‘Countdown’ Star Jessica Camacho on Jensen Ackles Chemistry

    [This story contains spoilers from the fourth episode of Countdown, “Bite ‘Em Down.”]

    When Countdown returned after its three-episode premiere week, the task force made up of different law enforcement agencies suffered its first casualty with the shooting death of Department of Homeland Security Officer Damon Drew (Jonathan Togo).

    As the group closed down on the sleeper cell terrorist and bomb maker Boris Volchek (Bogdan Yasinski) in the third episode of the new Prime Video series, LAPD Detective Mark Meachum (played by star Jensen Ackles) was led to the hideout where his uncle, Mikhail (Daniel Chernish), was harboring Volchek. Meachum called in reinforcements while snooping around the property and was caught by Volchek, who ordered Mikhail to take Meachum out to the back and shoot him. The rest of the unit arrived just in time, but a shootout occurred at the end of the hour and Damon was hit. Viewers found out in the beginning of the July 2 fourth episode that Damon died in the ambulance, with Meachum on board.

    The rest of the episode involved the task force dealing with their grief while searching for Mikhail (he escaped, but his nephew was killed in the shootout). Once Mikhail’s wife was captured by the task force, however, they coerced her into helping them lure in her husband. It worked, and they then forced him to help them find Volchek, with the threat of his closest loved ones being put in danger. Mikhail agreed, but Volchek was two steps ahead and eluded the unit. The episode ended with Volchek sitting in a restaurant while observing various members of the task force from afar, and sending someone else to the rendezvous spot at the airport to meet Mikhail.

    The Hollywood Reporter recently caught up with Countdown creator Derek Haas and star Jessica Camacho, who plays tough-as-nails DEA Agent Amber Oliveras, to talk about how the team must now rethink their plans, and how Camacho and Ackles found their chemistry.

    ***

    Derek, how did you come up the concept or idea of Countdown?

    DEREK HAAS I was talking to Amazon; I worked with Vernon Sanders before he worked there. I was like, “You know what movies I loved growing up? Eighties action movies — Die Hard, Romancing the Stone, Lethal Weapon …”  I loved the vibe of those movies, and I felt like there had been a dearth of those kinds of television shows, because almost every show in the crime genre is a little bit dark and cynical these days. I wanted to get back to that more like loose-cannon, rebel show.

    I heard about task forces from a Chicago intelligence cop, and I was like, “Oh, what’s the task force?” I started reading books about task forces and realized it’s like an all-star team from various agencies, all brought together on a specific investigation to stop what could affect millions of people. I am down for that. So, take the vibe of an ‘80s show, what I learned about task forces, hire the most talented cast and go make a show. That was the inspiration.

    And Jessica, how did you find your way onto to this show with one of the leading roles?

    JESSICA CAMACHO I was doing the actors’ circuit of auditions, I was just getting scripts and putting them on tape, sending the self-tape out into the ether and trying to forget about it. I was in that cycle, and here comes Countdown into my inbox. I was perusing it, and I was shook by the first scene in which we meet [my character] Amber Oliveras — are you kidding me! That is a dream of a scene that was so visually stunning, I could already see it in my head. It says so much about the character, about who she is and how capable she is, the dangerous world that she inhabits on a daily basis, and how she executes and manages herself no matter the situation or circumstances. It was so compelling. I was in, all I had to do was book it!

    Did you do your own stunts for that adrenalized opening scene? [Note: In Camacho’s first scene, she’s hanging from the rafters of a basement that appears to be somewhere in Chinatown, L.A. She’s clearly been tortured, and she escapes with the help of a nearby water pale while her captors sleep upstairs.]

    HAAS Yeah, that was her. She was awesome! And it was a long day.

    CAMACHO (Laughs.) That was me, strung up! We did not phone that in! I used those toes. I am (going) to use the tools available. But yeah, I put it on tape and I hoped for the best. And they liked it.

    I was going to do a chemistry read with Jensen [Ackles], and that is what solidified it, certainly for me. The minute Jensen opened his mouth, it was a lock. He was just so funny and easy and ridiculous and silly, the dad jokes — I’m a dad jokes appreciator. We just had a natural rapport that came so organically. I guess everybody felt the same way.

    You and Jensen have really good comedic timing together.

    CAMACHO They wanted us to have a lot of fun, that was a priority. And so Jensen took that to heart. At every opportunity that he could find, he would be really playful and to open and try things; throw different things at it and find those poppy little chemistry moments. There are so many of those.

    HAAS I was hoping everyone would see that the chemistry that I saw on the very first day when those two were together. We all had lunch, and then we all had dinner. And then you’re shooting a week after, everybody’s hanging out for the first time as an ensemble. I was like, “I hope this chemistry I’m watching translates,” and that it just turns right over to set. That’s the dream when you’re doing a show. So then to not only watch it every single day, but I get to watch six people who didn’t really know each other hang out off set and then see that chemistry translate onto the show? That was awesome.

    So the actor’s personalities in some ways started to mesh easily with the characters?

    HAAS I remember Jessica called me and she’s like, “Hey Derek, I read four books about the Drug Enforcement Agency, would you put me in contact with someone that I could …” I was like, “Oh yeah, this is the character! Now I know who she is even more.” Then you start to develop [the show] and, if you are a smart writer, you start to infuse the character with the actors and actresses that you get to work with.

    ***

    The first four episodes of Countdown are now streaming on Prime Video, with new episodes releasing Wednesdays.

    Continue Reading

  • Lula tells Trump world does not want 'emperor' after US threatens BRICS tariff – Reuters

    1. Lula tells Trump world does not want ’emperor’ after US threatens BRICS tariff  Reuters
    2. Brics summit in Brazil tries to reinvent collective approach to world’s problems | Jonathan Watts  The Guardian
    3. Trump threatens extra 10% tariff on nations that side with Brics  BBC
    4. Asia-Pacific markets mixed after Trump shifts goalposts on tariffs again  CNBC
    5. Trump threatens new tariffs on nations supporting ‘anti-American’ policies of BRICS group  CNN

    Continue Reading

  • Goods from Japan and South Korea hit with 25% levy

    Goods from Japan and South Korea hit with 25% levy

    Natalie Sherman

    Business reporter, BBC News

    Getty Images US President Donald Trump announces tariffs at the White House in AprilGetty Images

    The US has announced a new 25% tax on products entering the country from South Korea and Japan, as President Donald Trump began sharing a batch of letters to leaders of countries around the world outlining his tariff plans.

    The messages come as the 90-day pause the White House placed on some of its most aggressive tariffs was set to expire.

    Trump had suspended higher tariffs to allow for trade talks with various governments after his initial announcement sparked outcry and turmoil on financial markets.

    The higher duties had been set to resume on 9 July, but Trump has said he now plans to implement them on 1 August.

    The latest letters released suggest that Trump remains committed to his initial push for tariffs, with little change from the rates announced in April.

    The president argues introducing tariffs will protect American businesses from foreign competition and also to boost domestic manufacturing and jobs.

    After releasing letters detailing tariffs for on Japanese and South Korean imports, stocks slipped on Monday.

    Further letters issued revealed plans for a 40% tariff on goods from Myanmar and Laos, a 30% tariff on goods from South Africa and a 25% tariff on goods from Malaysia.

    Those rates are tariffs similar to those Trump unveiled in April, when he made his “Liberation Day” announcement, which imposed new taxes on goods from various countries.

    For example, at that time, he said he was looking to hit goods from Japan with duties of 24% and charge a 25% on products made in South Korea.

    White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration planned to send letters to about 12 other countries on Monday and would share the notes on social media, with more letters to follow.

    She disputed the suggestion that the shifting tariff deadlines from 9 July to 1 August might reduce the power of Trump’s threats.

    “The president’s phone, I can tell you, rings off the hook from world leaders all the time who are begging him to come to a deal,” she said.

    After furore erupted when Trump first announced tariffs in April, the president quickly suspended some of the highest import taxes to allow for talks, while keeping in place a 10% levy.

    ‘Busy couple of days’

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he expected “a busy couple of days”.

    “We’ve had a lot of people change their tune in terms of negotiations. So my mailbox was full last night with a lot of new offers, a lot of new proposals,” he told US business broadcaster CNBC.

    Trump had initially described his April tariffs as “reciprocal”, claiming they were required to fight back against other countries’ trade rules he saw as unfair to US exports.

    He has separately announced tariffs for key sectors, such as steel and cars, citing national security concerns, and threatened raise levies on other items, such as pharmaceuticals and lumber.

    The multi-layered policies have complicated trade talks, with car tariffs a key sticking point in negotiations with Japan and South Korea.

    So far, the US has struck agreements with the UK and Vietnam, as well as a partial deal with China. In all three of those cases, the agreements have raised tariffs compared with levels before Trump returned to the White House, while key issues remain unresolved.

    The European Union (EU) is also reportedly in talks that would keep a provisional 10% tax in place for most goods shipped to the US beyond the deadline.

    But it is also looking to reduce Trump’s 25% tariff on cars and parts, and a 50% tax on steel and aluminium.

    A spokesperson said that the European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen had a “good exchange” with Trump. Just a few weeks ago, the US president had threatened the EU with a 50% tax unless it reached an agreement.

    Last week, Trump said Japan could face a “30% or 35%” tariff if the country failed to reach a deal with the US by Wednesday.

    Continue Reading