Ascend Elements said on Friday it has started Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the U.S., a heavy blow to investors who had sunk nearly $900 million into the company. 

Linh Austin, Ascend’s CEO, announced the decision in a post on LinkedIn late Thursday night. He said the company faced “insurmountable” financial challenges.

Ascend’s filing comes amid a softening market for electric vehicles in the U.S. and was likely compounded by the Trump administration’s decision to cancel a $316 million grant intended for a Kentucky facility that was under construction. At the time, $204 million was disbursed, but Ascend had to look for additional capital to make up the shortfall.

The market for EVs in the U.S. has hit a rough patch recently. Though sales surged prior to the end of tax credits in September last year, they haven’t quite recovered. Analysts predicted that customers who might have bought this year pulled their purchases forward to take advantage of the credit, but it didn’t help assuage automakers’ fears.

Since then, several automakers have dialed back their plans for new EVs in the U.S. For example, Volkswagen said yesterday that it was ending production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, factory in favor of the gas-powered Atlas. 

Ascend has developed a process to extract valuable critical minerals from scrap and end-of-life batteries. It says its process limits the number of steps needed to transform shredded waste into precursor materials for new cathodes.

The company has been building a 1 million-square-foot facility in Kentucky that has been beset by lawsuits and delays, according to local reports.

Like many battery-related startups, Ascend was entering a challenging and cutthroat industry. The largest market for battery materials is cells for EVs, but automakers have long lead times, and their specifications are known to change over time. Chinese manufacturers, which benefit from steady and generous state support, have been dominating the market and driving down costs.

Other recycling startups like Redwood Materials have pivoted to reusing some of the packs that flow through their sourcing network. The startup developed a way to incorporate a range of different pack types into larger, grid-scale batteries capable of powering data centers. The market for stationary storage has exploded in recent years, allowing Redwood to draw near-term revenue while continuing to build its recycling business.

Microsoft is lining up two very different Teams updates, and one of them targets a meeting problem almost everyone knows too well. The company is preparing a pre-join mic and speaker test that lets users record a short sample and play it back before entering a call.

That rollout is expected to begin in May 2026 on desktop and Mac, which makes it the more immediate change for most people.

The second update matters for a different reason. Microsoft is also preparing privacy-first Copilot recaps that let organizations generate AI meeting summaries without storing recordings or transcripts. That rollout is set to begin next month, with broader availability expected in June 2026.

Before the call gets awkward

The upcoming mic test sounds simple. From the pre-join screen, users will be able to test microphone and speaker output, record a short clip, and play it back immediately. That should help catch the wrong input, muted hardware, or a bad output route before the meeting gets dragged into an avoidable audio check.

Microsoft also appears to be shipping it broadly. The roadmap entry says the feature is planned across standard worldwide deployments as well as GCC High and DoD, and it is tagged for general availability.

After the meeting, more control

The Copilot recap feature is aimed at organizations with stricter compliance and retention needs. Microsoft says recordings and transcripts will still be on by default, but admins can disable them at the tenant level, while organizers can turn them off during scheduling or in live meetings through AI Mode controls.

There is a real limit here. The feature still requires a commercial Microsoft 365 Copilot license that costs $30 per user per month, so it is clearly aimed at customers already paying into Microsoft’s AI stack.

Who will notice first

For most users, the mic test will be the part that feels instantly useful because it fixes a problem that shows up in nearly every kind of call. For enterprises, the bigger signal is the recap update, especially where storing meeting data creates legal or security headaches.

If both rollouts land on time, Microsoft will have improved the start of the meeting and tightened control over what happens after it ends.

Smart locks are on the increase, with a growing number of devices of all different types.

While there’s some obvious, ingrained concern about them, security isn’t the issue you might think it is, and smart locks are a good upgrade for any home.

What you should worry about is the hardware and features; here are both the features that I absolutely avoid and absolutely insist on.

Make sure there’s a proper manual override with a key

Unless it’s on a door that I can either bypass (say a back door) or can work around (say a shed door), then don’t buy a smart lock that you can’t operate from the outside with a proper manual override.

The Yale Conexis L2 is a good example of this. I had the original Conexis L1, which is a very sleek-looking smart lock designed for lift-to-lock doors. In many ways, it’s great, but the issue with the L1 and the L2 is that there’s no manual keylock on the outside.

Twice during my time with the Conexis L1, the lock failed completely, and I had to bend the security covers off my office door’s hinges to unscrew them and gain entry; the other option would have been to have the expensive lock drilled out, breaking it in the process.

If there had been an old-fashioned key lock on the outside, I could have used a key to unlock the door and regain entry, which would have been much easier. While I didn’t have any problems with the Conexis L2 during review, the lack of a manual override means that I would never install it.

I do use a Yale Keyless Connected on my shed door. This has a keypad for entry, but the only manual override option is to use a 12V to try and power the lock in the event of an issue. However, if the lock did fail, then there’s also no manual override. So, why do I use this one?

The shed isn’t as important as my office, and it has standard hinges on the outside, so I could knock out the pins and gain entry that way. Overall, the convenience of the smart lock outweighs any risk in this situation.

Likewise, the Conexis lock might work for you if you have a backdoor that you could use in an emergency, manually unlocking the front door when you get in.

Get a lock that doesn’t just rely on a phone for entry

Operating a lock from your phone is useful. I can open my smart lock from anywhere in the world, letting people in when I’m not there. Or I can give people remote access via the app if needed. It’s brilliant, but don’t rely only on a phone app.

You can lose your phone, the app can stop working, or you can simply run out of charge. Then, what do you do when you get home? As discussed above, you can have a spare key, but it’s much more useful to have a lock with an optional keypad you can install outside, such as the SwitchBot Lock Ultra or the Ultion Nuki 2025.

A keypad (whether it’s operated by PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition) gives a simple override at the door. I often unlock my office (secured with an Ultion Nuki 2025) using a fingerprint, as it’s often more convenient.

And, keypads tend to have lock buttons, so you can go out, shut your door and then press the lock button without having to fish out a phone.

Of course, if you do use your smart lock’s auto lock feature, the keypad means you can get back in if you accidentally get locked out.

Be wary of retrofit locks that operate with a key

Many retrofit locks are designed to stick on the inside of the door, operating an unlock mechanism. In some cases, this means inserting a key in the lock and then having the smart lock turn that to lock/unlock.

Sounds simple, right? In one way, yes, but the problem with this setup is that locks can’t have a key used in both sides at the same time. That’s important. Say you come home from work, try to unlock your door, but find that the smart lock has stopped responding or has run out of power. You insert a key from the outside, only to find you can’t turn the lock to unlock it.

I use a Yale Linus on my second office door, which turns a key. From the outside, inserting a key and giving it a bash will just about pop the internal key out far enough for me to turn the lock. However, since it’s a secondary door, it’s not a real issue: if there’s a problem, I can unlock the main door, get in, and fix the lock.

For main doors, if your original lock had a thumb turn, you should be alright with a retrofit lock: the smart lock controls the thumb turn, but the key option remains available from outside.

To improve security, you should get a lock with a new cylinder: the Ultion Nuki 2025 comes with Brisant Secure’s 3 Star Lock cylinder that can be operated with a key from outside.

Forbes estimates he’s worth roughly $110 billion, “placing him ahead of Bill Gates.”

And now Changpeng Zhao, the 49-year-old billionaire founder of Binance, “has written a memoir…”

It arrives with the unmistakable timing of a man determined to tell the world his version of his meteoric crypto rise and fall, and foreshadow his comeback. The book, Freedom of Money: A Memoir of Protecting Users, Resilience, and the Founding of Binance, runs 364 pages, self-published in English and Chinese…. Zhao also recounts Binance’s long battle with U.S. regulators, the company’s record $4.3 billion settlement for fostering unscrupulous money launderers, his four-month prison sentence in California, where he says he began writing the book, and his recent pardon by President Trump…

In Zhao’s telling, the case brought by multiple U.S. agencies was less about what Binance had done than about what it had become… “It didn’t make sense to me, or any of my lawyers. Other than the fact that we were the biggest in the industry.” The U.S. government alleged something more specific: that Binance failed to implement programs to prevent or report suspicious transactions — including those tied to Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades, Al Qaeda, and ISIS — while also processing trades between U.S. users and those in sanctioned jurisdictions like Iran, North Korea, and Syria. In total, regulators alleged the exchange willfully failed to report more than 100,000 suspicious transactions, including those involving terrorist organizations, ransomware attackers, child sexual exploitation material, frauds and scams… The final settlement amount — $4.3 billion, split across the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission — was the largest corporate penalty in the history of nearly each agency involved. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said at the time of the announcement: “Binance became the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange in part because of the crimes it committed.”

The prison passages are among the most vivid in the book. Zhao says he was worried about extortion because the media had reported he was the richest person in U.S. prison history, but then realized no one read the WSJ or Bloomberg or recognized him. Zhao also writes about the food, the routines and the specific indignity of confinement, including sharing a cell with a man serving 30 years for killing two people… Writes Zhao of his cellmate, “Soon, I discovered that the most lethal thing about him wasn’t his murder conviction, it was his snoring. He snored more loudly than thunder strikes, the sound of which rose even above the constant toilet flushings.”
Binance at one point held a roughly 20% stake in Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX and about $580 million in FTT tokens, the article points out. “As FTX neared collapse in late 2022, Zhao writes, Sam Bankman-Fried called to ask for a couple of billion dollars ‘nonchalantly, as if he was asking for a bologna sandwich.’

“Some believe that Binance’s brief show of interest in acquiring FTX, followed by its abrupt withdrawal from the deal, hastened FTX’s spiral into bankruptcy…”

Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader destinyland for sharing the article.

If you own fitness gear to work out at home, chances are you’ve invested in a large piece of cardio equipment, such as a treadmill or even an exercise bike. These types of machines are expensive, so it’s important to take care of them to help them last longer.

Depending on the machine you own, there are different ways to care for it. Knowing how to maintain and what to look out for will make this easier. Whether you own a treadmill or a rowing machine, there are ways to keep them functioning like new at no extra cost.

We spoke to a gym owner and personal trainer about maintaining gym equipment to take the guesswork out for you. If you own any of these machines, make sure you’re doing this to maintain them throughout the year. 

Treadmills: Don’t neglect the belt

If you own a treadmill, you know that for it to run well, you want the belt to remain smooth whether you run, jog or walk on it. Marshall Weber, a certified personal trainer and owner of Functional Idaho Gym, recommends maintaining your treadmill on a monthly basis. This also depends on how often you and anyone else in your household use the treadmill during the week. Some signs a treadmill needs TLC include a belt that sounds or feels off.

“If you begin to notice that your belt from the machine is squeaky or you feel it slipping under your feet, that is a strong sign you need to do a little bit of upkeep, because a properly maintained belt should feel smooth,” Weber says. 

The good news is you don’t need to hire a professional to service your treadmill. To learn how to lubricate your treadmill, you can do it yourself by following a YouTube tutorial — just make sure it aligns with your manufacturer’s instructions. Peloton, for instance, offers its own treadmill maintenance tips. 

Keep it clean and dust-free

When cleaning your belt, don’t neglect the area underneath it. “Dust builds up under it, which people forget,” says Cara D’Orazio, a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and specialist in sports conditioning. Weber agrees, saying, “I recommend taking the incline all the way up, sliding a light towel under the belt and letting the machine run for a few seconds.” This will help remove the dirt hiding under the belt. 

Weber also advises keeping the treadmill clean after each use, especially if you use the same shoes outdoors as you do indoors, as they get dirty quickly.

Center the belt

If you maintain your treadmill regularly, you shouldn’t need to replace its parts often. You may, however, need to adjust your treadmill’s belt from time to time. “You need to check the belt tension and make sure it’s centered,” says Weber, because over time the belt may shift to the left or right side. D’Orazio adds, “Some parts like the belt might need replacing every few years, especially if it looks worn down or frayed on the edges.” 

If you notice any issues with the motor or other electrical parts of your treadmill, you may need to call the manufacturer to see if they offer repairs or replacements under your warranty.

Exercise bikes: Check your bolts

If you own a Peloton Bike or a similar exercise bike, you should be maintaining it. Weber says air bikes like Watt bikes, which use a fan to create resistance, require a different type of attention than a spin bike that uses a weighted flywheel. 

“Generally, checking on bolts monthly and a good wipe down after use should suffice,” Weber recommends.

Ensure bike pedals are secure

You should also be testing and making sure your bike pedals are still secure and not coming loose. This is important if you wear clip-in shoes that latch onto the bike pedal cages. 

“If the bottom cleats look really worn down, you have trouble clipping in and out or if the pedal feels loose or doesn’t ‘grab’ the cleat good anymore, that could mean the pedal needs replacing,” warns D’Orazio. 

Don’t neglect the resistance knob

The resistance function or knob on a bike should be tested periodically to make sure it’s functioning correctly. “Once in awhile also check the resistance to make sure it still feels smooth,” D’Orazio advises. Signs an exercise bike needs repair or tuning include clicking sounds, resistance that doesn’t adjust properly or wobbling pedals.

“That usually means something needs tightening or replacing,” explains D’Orazio. If you notice anything unusual with the motor, contact your manufacturer. 

Rowing machines: Listen for odd noises

If you own a rowing machine, you probably appreciate that this machine doesn’t take up as much space as an exercise bike or treadmill. Some designs even let you fold it up to save space. 

“Of all of the machines one can have, this one is the best because it requires the least amount of upkeep,” says Weber. He recommends giving your rowing machine monthly checks and wiping it down after each use. “If you hear any odd noises coming from the rail [the part where you sit] or the spin wheel [the internal mechanism], then it may need some attention.”

What may require replacing

If a rowing machine needs a part replaced, it could be one of a few things. “On a rower, you might have to replace the strap, handle or bungee cord after a few years,” D’Orazio says, adding, “If the seat doesn’t roll smoothly anymore, the rollers might need replacing too.” 

As always, check with the manufacturer first to see how they can help with these repairs, as they may be covered under your warranty.

Know your equipment’s warranty policy

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If you own any of these machines, it’s important to know your warranty in case you need a replacement part or a new machine altogether. It’s helpful to know what parts the manufacturer will replace for you and for how long. 

Based on CNET’s fitness equipment testing, below is an estimate of what a warranty can look like for an exercise bike, treadmill or rowing machine. 

Treadmills

Some treadmills have a lifetime warranty, but the warranty for parts, the frame, the screen (if applicable) and labor may vary. For example, NordicTrack offers a lifetime warranty, but limits it to 10 years for the frame, 2 years for parts and 1 year for the tablet. Other brands, such as Aviron, offer a 10-year or 20-year warranty (depending on a monthly or annual membership), and Peloton provides a 5-year warranty on the frame and motor, but only 1 year on the touchscreen and certain components. Peloton maintains the same policy across all its fitness equipment. 

You can also purchase additional coverage to extend your warranty with some manufacturers. The warranty will depend on the brand and manufacturer, so before purchasing, make sure you’re clear on its policy. 

Exercise bikes

The warranty length for exercise bikes also varies per manufacturer. Some, such as BowFlex, offer 10-year coverage for the frame and 3 years for the mechanical parts and electronics. Others, like Speediance, offer 2-year coverage for the screen and similar components, but 1 year for wear and tear on the seat or pedal replacement. You can purchase additional coverage to extend your warranty.

Rowing machines

Most rowing machine brands offer similar warranties but there may be some differences depending on the brand. Coverage for brands like Peloton and Hydrow only lasts 1 year but if it’s the least high-maintenance machine, as experts say it is, you may not need to worry about its longevity as much. 

Like treadmills and exercise bikes, most companies offer extended warranties for extra protection. 

Sunday’s Chelsea vs Man City live streams feature a monster battle at Stamford Bridge between two of the Premier League’s richest clubs. The Blues need a win to put their Champions League hopes back on track, while Pep Guardiola’s City want to keep pace with Arsenal at the summit.

After a solid start to his Chelsea tenure, manager Liam Rosenior is starting to struggle. Overwhelmed in the Champions League by PSG, the Blues have won just one of their past six Premier League games and fell to catastrophic 3-0 defeat by Everton last time out. They will also be without captain Reece James (injured) and vice-captain Enzo Fernández, whose eye fluttering towards Real Madrid during the international break has earned him a two-game ban from Rosenior. Cole Palmer & Co impressed in hammering Port Vale in the FA Cup and must attack from the off to return to the Champions League spots.