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The UK flag carrier has called again on the London design studio that created a revolutionary productView the full article

Speech to MPs on Wednesday could be the harbinger of a more difficult full Budget in the autumn, analysts warnView the full article

Time spent switching power supply and rebooting systems raises doubts over resilience of Europe’s largest aviation hubView the full article

Influencers, how many late payments are you waiting on? Odds are, more than one. Influencer marketing is a booming $10 billion industry, but for creators, inconsistent cash flow remains a major pain point. Brand budgets shift, campaign timelines change, and payments can take months to land. For many influencers who rely on brand deals as their main source of income, financial instability is the norm. According to the Wall Street Journal, fewer than 13% of online influencers earned more than $100,000 last year—while nearly half made $15,000 or less. A fintech startup called Alchemy wants to change that. Founded by Isaac Wagschal, the company has launched a $100 million fund to provide creators with upfront payments based on projected future income. Since January, Alchemy has already distributed millions. Growing as a creator takes time, money, and the right opportunities landing in your inbox. But unpredictable income is one of the biggest obstacles to scaling. Some months bring multiple sponsorships; others are completely dry. And while traditional financial institutions are slowly warming to the creator economy, access to capital remains limited—especially for creators still building their brands. (If you’ve ever tried asking a bank for a loan as a freelancer, you get it.) Alchemy’s approach is different. It looks at an influencer’s full income stream—brand deals, Patreon, AdSense, and more—then uses the past six months of earnings to project the next six. Based on that, Alchemy prepurchases a portion of the creator’s expected revenue, providing a lump-sum payment upfront. A flat fee, typically around 1.15 times the amount advanced, is added. Say a creator is projected to earn $100,000 in the next six months. Alchemy might advance $30,000 by purchasing 30% of that income. When the full $100,000 eventually comes in—whether it takes six months or a year—Alchemy collects its 30%, plus a $4,500 fee. There’s no loan, no interest, and no fixed repayment schedule. If a creator underperforms, Alchemy takes the hit. To streamline the process, Alchemy is partnering with top creator agencies, managers, and influencer platforms to embed its financial tools directly into brand deal workflows. The goal: make upfront payments the industry norm. “The creator economy is booming, yet too many influencers are stuck waiting months for sponsorships and delayed payments to clear,” Wagschal said in a press release. “Creators should have financial access that matches the speed of the digital world.” View the full article

PayPal has announced new features that make cryptocurrency more accessible and usable in everyday commerce, aiming to eliminate common barriers and drive broader adoption among consumers and merchants alike. With these enhancements, users can now buy, sell, hold, send, and spend cryptocurrencies through the PayPal platform, integrating digital currencies into routine purchases. The company emphasizes its mission to enable seamless crypto payments at millions of merchants without requiring changes to existing payment systems. PayPal users can select supported cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, during checkout just like a credit or debit card. The transaction is handled by PayPal, providing a familiar and straightforward process. PayPal also offers features like recurring purchases and price alerts, giving users more control over their crypto portfolios. Additionally, the platform now supports transferring crypto to friends and family, whether they use PayPal or external wallets. A newly introduced feature allows users to assign wallet addresses with custom names—such as JohnDoe.eth—and save them to an address book, making transfers easier and more secure. For merchants, PayPal presents an opportunity to tap into the growing crypto economy without the need for new integrations or backend overhauls. By leveraging PayPal’s infrastructure, businesses can access trillions of dollars in crypto holdings without installing new checkout tools. Transactions are settled in USD and automatically converted to the merchant’s local currency, eliminating the complexity of managing cryptocurrency. The company highlighted that these developments allow merchants to increase sales potential and enhance customer loyalty while positioning themselves as forward-thinking. Merchants do not need a crypto wallet, and no direct crypto management is required to benefit from the integration. Security and trust remain central to PayPal’s approach. The company offers buyer and seller protection for eligible purchases funded with crypto. In addition, PayPal is the first payments platform to reimburse users up to $50,000 at no additional cost for unauthorized crypto transfers, adding an extra layer of confidence for customers. As the cryptocurrency market surpasses $3.25 trillion and continues to expand, PayPal is positioning itself as a key player in bridging traditional commerce and digital finance. By integrating crypto into its suite of payment tools, PayPal aims to unlock new opportunities for consumers and businesses navigating the evolving digital economy. Image: PayPal This article, "PayPal Expands Crypto Capabilities to Simplify Everyday Transactions" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

PayPal has announced new features that make cryptocurrency more accessible and usable in everyday commerce, aiming to eliminate common barriers and drive broader adoption among consumers and merchants alike. With these enhancements, users can now buy, sell, hold, send, and spend cryptocurrencies through the PayPal platform, integrating digital currencies into routine purchases. The company emphasizes its mission to enable seamless crypto payments at millions of merchants without requiring changes to existing payment systems. PayPal users can select supported cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, during checkout just like a credit or debit card. The transaction is handled by PayPal, providing a familiar and straightforward process. PayPal also offers features like recurring purchases and price alerts, giving users more control over their crypto portfolios. Additionally, the platform now supports transferring crypto to friends and family, whether they use PayPal or external wallets. A newly introduced feature allows users to assign wallet addresses with custom names—such as JohnDoe.eth—and save them to an address book, making transfers easier and more secure. For merchants, PayPal presents an opportunity to tap into the growing crypto economy without the need for new integrations or backend overhauls. By leveraging PayPal’s infrastructure, businesses can access trillions of dollars in crypto holdings without installing new checkout tools. Transactions are settled in USD and automatically converted to the merchant’s local currency, eliminating the complexity of managing cryptocurrency. The company highlighted that these developments allow merchants to increase sales potential and enhance customer loyalty while positioning themselves as forward-thinking. Merchants do not need a crypto wallet, and no direct crypto management is required to benefit from the integration. Security and trust remain central to PayPal’s approach. The company offers buyer and seller protection for eligible purchases funded with crypto. In addition, PayPal is the first payments platform to reimburse users up to $50,000 at no additional cost for unauthorized crypto transfers, adding an extra layer of confidence for customers. As the cryptocurrency market surpasses $3.25 trillion and continues to expand, PayPal is positioning itself as a key player in bridging traditional commerce and digital finance. By integrating crypto into its suite of payment tools, PayPal aims to unlock new opportunities for consumers and businesses navigating the evolving digital economy. Image: PayPal This article, "PayPal Expands Crypto Capabilities to Simplify Everyday Transactions" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Retailers are increasingly turning to AI agents to stay competitive in a fast-evolving marketplace, according to Salesforce’s sixth Connected Shoppers Report. The report reveals that 75% of retail decision-makers believe AI agents will be essential to beat the competition within the next year. Salesforce’s findings are based on dual surveys of 8,350 shoppers and 1,700 retail industry leaders. The data points to a shifting landscape marked by rising customer acquisition costs, increasing returns, and changing consumer behaviors that require a new approach to retail operations. AI and Unified Commerce Emerge as Strategic Priorities To manage growing complexities across digital and physical retail channels, retailers are prioritizing AI and unified commerce. These approaches are aimed at creating seamless customer experiences while controlling operational costs. “When retailers connect their sales channels, customer data, and operations in one platform, they create seamless shopping experiences both online and in-store,” said Michelle Grant, Director of Retail Strategy and Insights at Salesforce. “This unified approach boosts productivity and drives growth throughout the business.” The report shows that 76% of retailers plan to increase investment in AI within the next year. Customer service is currently the top use case for AI agents, where they are used to respond to inquiries, track orders, and handle returns around the clock. Velia Carboni, CIO of SharkNinja, highlighted the role of Agentforce — Salesforce’s agentic AI layer — in improving customer loyalty. Carboni described Agentforce as “key to helping us build a community that keeps consumers coming back.” Retailers Expand AI Agent Applications Beyond customer service, retailers foresee AI agents playing a broader role in optimizing websites, marketing, inventory management, and employee training. “AI agents represent the next wave of retail AI innovation — digital labor that promises to reshape how retailers scale their workforces, serve and market to customers, and streamline operations,” Grant said. Barriers and Progress Toward Unified Commerce Effective AI implementation requires integration across systems, yet many retailers still operate with disconnected platforms. According to the report, 81% of retailers say inefficient processes and technology reduce store associate productivity. Additionally, 49% of shoppers have abandoned purchases due to friction in the ordering process. To address these challenges, 86% of retailers are pursuing unified commerce initiatives. By linking cross-channel and departmental operations, unified commerce improves efficiency, enhances the shopping experience, and enables AI systems to perform more effectively. Consumers Show Growing Interest in AI Agents The shift toward AI agents is not limited to retailers. The report notes that 39% of all shoppers — and 54% of Gen Z — already use AI for product discovery. Gen Z consumers are 10 times more likely than baby boomers to report frequent AI use in shopping. Shoppers expressed strong interest in using AI agents for managing loyalty points, handling returns, and providing customer service — aligning with retailers’ focus areas. Among Gen Z shoppers, 63% are open to agents making purchases on their behalf. However, shopper trust remains critical. The top factors influencing trust in AI agents include data privacy, on/off controls, approval requirements before purchases, data transparency, and access to human customer service. “The data is clear: retailers and shoppers are both moving toward an AI agent future,” said Grant. “But success depends on addressing both sides of the equation — building the connected technology foundation retailers need while delivering the trust and transparency shoppers demand.” Image: Salesforce This article, "Salesforce Report: 75% of Retailers Say AI Agents Will Be Essential by 2026" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Retailers are increasingly turning to AI agents to stay competitive in a fast-evolving marketplace, according to Salesforce’s sixth Connected Shoppers Report. The report reveals that 75% of retail decision-makers believe AI agents will be essential to beat the competition within the next year. Salesforce’s findings are based on dual surveys of 8,350 shoppers and 1,700 retail industry leaders. The data points to a shifting landscape marked by rising customer acquisition costs, increasing returns, and changing consumer behaviors that require a new approach to retail operations. AI and Unified Commerce Emerge as Strategic Priorities To manage growing complexities across digital and physical retail channels, retailers are prioritizing AI and unified commerce. These approaches are aimed at creating seamless customer experiences while controlling operational costs. “When retailers connect their sales channels, customer data, and operations in one platform, they create seamless shopping experiences both online and in-store,” said Michelle Grant, Director of Retail Strategy and Insights at Salesforce. “This unified approach boosts productivity and drives growth throughout the business.” The report shows that 76% of retailers plan to increase investment in AI within the next year. Customer service is currently the top use case for AI agents, where they are used to respond to inquiries, track orders, and handle returns around the clock. Velia Carboni, CIO of SharkNinja, highlighted the role of Agentforce — Salesforce’s agentic AI layer — in improving customer loyalty. Carboni described Agentforce as “key to helping us build a community that keeps consumers coming back.” Retailers Expand AI Agent Applications Beyond customer service, retailers foresee AI agents playing a broader role in optimizing websites, marketing, inventory management, and employee training. “AI agents represent the next wave of retail AI innovation — digital labor that promises to reshape how retailers scale their workforces, serve and market to customers, and streamline operations,” Grant said. Barriers and Progress Toward Unified Commerce Effective AI implementation requires integration across systems, yet many retailers still operate with disconnected platforms. According to the report, 81% of retailers say inefficient processes and technology reduce store associate productivity. Additionally, 49% of shoppers have abandoned purchases due to friction in the ordering process. To address these challenges, 86% of retailers are pursuing unified commerce initiatives. By linking cross-channel and departmental operations, unified commerce improves efficiency, enhances the shopping experience, and enables AI systems to perform more effectively. Consumers Show Growing Interest in AI Agents The shift toward AI agents is not limited to retailers. The report notes that 39% of all shoppers — and 54% of Gen Z — already use AI for product discovery. Gen Z consumers are 10 times more likely than baby boomers to report frequent AI use in shopping. Shoppers expressed strong interest in using AI agents for managing loyalty points, handling returns, and providing customer service — aligning with retailers’ focus areas. Among Gen Z shoppers, 63% are open to agents making purchases on their behalf. However, shopper trust remains critical. The top factors influencing trust in AI agents include data privacy, on/off controls, approval requirements before purchases, data transparency, and access to human customer service. “The data is clear: retailers and shoppers are both moving toward an AI agent future,” said Grant. “But success depends on addressing both sides of the equation — building the connected technology foundation retailers need while delivering the trust and transparency shoppers demand.” Image: Salesforce This article, "Salesforce Report: 75% of Retailers Say AI Agents Will Be Essential by 2026" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The country’s top groups are re-evaluating their strategies as they race to remain competitiveView the full article

Firefighters in North and South Carolina were battling multiple wind-driven wildfires Monday in rugged terrain that complicated containment efforts, officials said. Millions of trees knocked down by Hurricane Helene last year combined with long stretches of dry weather this spring are making for a long and active fire season in the Carolinas, North Carolina State University forestry and environmental resources professor Robert Scheller said. “Helene just dropped tons of fuel on the ground,” Scheller said. “Then these flash droughts allow that fuel to dry out very fast.” Both South Carolina and North Carolina have issued statewide bans on outdoor burning. North Carolina fires Mandatory evacuations continue for about 165 properties in parts of Polk County in western North Carolina, about 80 miles west of Charlotte, according to county spokesperson Kellie Cannon. Three fires burned at least 7.5 square miles in the county and the two larger blazes were completely un-contained, Cannon said in a social media update Monday morning. The Black Cove Fire, one of the larger ones, was moving toward neighboring Henderson County, Cannon said. Kim Callaway, who lives near one of the evacuated areas in Polk County, has prepared her home, WLOS-TV reported. “We’ve already actually evacuated everything that we thought that was important,” Callaway said. “And now we’re just staying at the house and trying to do what we can to get our house prepared if the firemen need to show up and hold the line.” A downed power line sparked the Black Cove Fire, but the causes of the other two fires in Polk County were under investigation, according to North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Jeremy Waldrop. A number of other wildfires burning across the state including one that damaged 500 vehicles at a salvage yard in Burke County, officials said. South Carolina fires Two fires in the South Carolina mountains have led Gov. Henry McMaster to declare a state of emergency. One fire was in Table Rock State Park in Pickens County and the other was on Persimmon Ridge in Greenville County. Winds and difficult mountainous terrain allowed blazes to grow, the South Carolina Forestry Commission said. The Table Rock Fire expanded to more than 2 square miles, including several hundred acres that firefighters intentionally burned to try to contain the flames, officials said. The Persimmon Ridge Fire, which started Saturday, spread to more than 1.25 square miles despite many dozens of water drops, the commission said. Human activity ignited both the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires. No injuries had been reported, and while no structures were imminently threatened, voluntary evacuations of about 100 homes remained in place. How a September hurricane is creating March fires Scheller, the North Carolina State University professor, predicted this busy fire season if the region saw dry weather following Helene. Scientists saw something similar in 2022 when a fire burned more than 51 square miles of timberland in the Florida Panhandle. The Bertha Swamp Road Fire almost directly followed the eye pattern from 2018’s Hurricane Michael and the fallen pine trees left behind. Pines and their waxy needles dry out and become very flammable, Scheller said. The fallen trunks can also block roads and paths used to fight fires, experts said. The last ingredient to fuel wildfires is dry weather. Despite recent rain, the Carolinas are undergoing an extreme drought, according to federal monitors. The common denominator for many fires on the East Coast is human activity, whether people burn debris, light a campfire that isn’t well watched or toss out cigarette, Scheller said. And more people living next to areas that can burn make fires a bigger threat, he said. New Jersey fire A forest fire burning in New Jersey’s million-acre Pinelands region was 100% contained on Monday morning, the New Jersey Forest Fire Services said in a post on X. The fire was first spotted Saturday and burned through about 3.5 square miles. That blaze led authorities to evacuate two campgrounds in Wharton State Forest, officials said. The cause was under investigation. Fire forecast A front moving off the East Coast brought rain and more humidity to the area, helping firefighters Monday. But not much rain fell and temperatures are expected to get warmer and the air drier as the week goes on, likely meaning another round of wildfires unless people follow burn bans and fire safety. “It is absolutely paramount that folks respect the statewide ban on all open burning,” North Carolina Forest Service spokesperson Philip Jackson said. View the full article

North Sea could produce an extra 2bn to 3bn barrels with ‘right’ levers, forecasts Offshore Energies UKView the full article

Simplification drive comes as the FCA launches its strategy for next five-yearsView the full article

Law enforcement agencies silent on what legal experts say could be a violation of the US espionage actView the full article

Nuuk makes clear it did not extend an invitation to American officials travelling there later in the weekView the full article

Acting Comptroller Rodney Hood discussed using fintech to evaluate self-employed borrowers' creditworthiness, saying alternative credit models could promote financial inclusion. View the full article

Small business owners know that their success doesn’t just happen by chance. It takes years of hard work, dedication, and the know-how to make it prosper. Growing a business takes a strategic approach. In an ideal world, business owners would throw money at every possible idea and see what sticks. But the reality is they don’t have unlimited resources. Instead, they should determine where and how to invest in their business to see the reap the greatest reward. I’ve been a business owner for more than three decades. During that time, I’ve tried different approaches to scaling my business. What’s emerged are some clear patterns of what does and doesn’t drive long-term growth. Following are my top tips for investing in your business, whether you’re a brand-new entrepreneur or an established business owner hoping to take your business to the next level. Customer Experience (CX) Your customers are essential to your business, so it makes sense to invest in the customer experience. A positive customer experience increases retention and builds brand loyalty, so you can be sure your customers will return again and again. It also increases the likelihood that they will share their great experience with others. Understanding your customers and providing personalized service is one of the best ways to improve their experience. Investing in quality customer service training is a good first step, as it ensures every team member is dedicated to a customer-centric workflow. Offering customer loyalty programs is another tried-and-true method. Employee Retention Customer service is only as great as the people providing it, so it’s important to start with a strong team. Investing in your employees is key to growing your business, so consider ongoing professional learning for your team members. Not only does this keep them on top of their game, but it can also improve motivation and build camaraderie. Employee incentive programs, mentorships, and, of course, competitive compensation are also crucial. Great employees are those who truly feel connected to their workplace. It’s important to foster a positive culture, one in which each employee feels valued and heard. Open communication, collaboration, and allowing (and responding to) employee feedback can help build this culture. Technology Infrastructure Sometimes it seems as though technology is changing a mile a minute. The hesitation to invest huge amounts of money to keep up is certainly understandable, but both employees and customers expect (and deserve) modern systems and infrastructure. Plus, they can save you money in the long run. For example, automated processes and cloud-based solutions improve productivity while reducing costs down the road. Depending on the type of industry you’re in, investing in technology can give you a competitive edge. It shows potential customers that you’re a leader in your field, which fosters trust. Old, outdated systems send the message that you don’t take your business seriously. Marketing Strategies Marketing is a key facet to building any business. But successful marketing takes a targeted approach. Investing in marketing that is tailored to your industry and your audience can result in significant rewards. Business owners should view marketing as a necessary cost of owning (and growing) a business. With the advent of digital marketing, there are many affordable options. Connecting with customers on social media is a beneficial, low-cost way to start building a brand, as is content marketing and email marketing. Paid ads on social media or Google are also good choices. And don’t overlook traditional marketing such as print ads or direct mail — they still see great ROI in many markets. Invest in Yourself As the leader of your business, it’s just as critical to invest in yourself as it is to invest in your team. Sure, things get hectic, and it can seem impossible to keep up sometimes. But becoming a better leader naturally leads to becoming a better business owner. Investing in workshops, attending conferences, and participating in networking events can give you new insight into how to approach your business. Other options to consider are coaching or mentorships. Having an experienced professional to help you navigate the ins and outs of business ownership can be a boon to both your personal growth and your business’s growth. They can also help you sharpen your skills in communication, decision-making, time management, goal setting and other skills needed to run a successful business. Invest in Your Business Investing in your business is essential for it to grow. But it takes a strategic approach, one that may not be the same for every business. Focusing on your customers, your team, and yourself are some of the few ways that I’ve found that are most likely to lead to long-term success. CorpNet offers business formations, filings, state tax registrations, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states. Express and 24 hour rush filing services available upon request. Click here to learn more. Image: Envato This article, "The Best Ways to Invest in Your Business Growth" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners know that their success doesn’t just happen by chance. It takes years of hard work, dedication, and the know-how to make it prosper. Growing a business takes a strategic approach. In an ideal world, business owners would throw money at every possible idea and see what sticks. But the reality is they don’t have unlimited resources. Instead, they should determine where and how to invest in their business to see the reap the greatest reward. I’ve been a business owner for more than three decades. During that time, I’ve tried different approaches to scaling my business. What’s emerged are some clear patterns of what does and doesn’t drive long-term growth. Following are my top tips for investing in your business, whether you’re a brand-new entrepreneur or an established business owner hoping to take your business to the next level. Customer Experience (CX) Your customers are essential to your business, so it makes sense to invest in the customer experience. A positive customer experience increases retention and builds brand loyalty, so you can be sure your customers will return again and again. It also increases the likelihood that they will share their great experience with others. Understanding your customers and providing personalized service is one of the best ways to improve their experience. Investing in quality customer service training is a good first step, as it ensures every team member is dedicated to a customer-centric workflow. Offering customer loyalty programs is another tried-and-true method. Employee Retention Customer service is only as great as the people providing it, so it’s important to start with a strong team. Investing in your employees is key to growing your business, so consider ongoing professional learning for your team members. Not only does this keep them on top of their game, but it can also improve motivation and build camaraderie. Employee incentive programs, mentorships, and, of course, competitive compensation are also crucial. Great employees are those who truly feel connected to their workplace. It’s important to foster a positive culture, one in which each employee feels valued and heard. Open communication, collaboration, and allowing (and responding to) employee feedback can help build this culture. Technology Infrastructure Sometimes it seems as though technology is changing a mile a minute. The hesitation to invest huge amounts of money to keep up is certainly understandable, but both employees and customers expect (and deserve) modern systems and infrastructure. Plus, they can save you money in the long run. For example, automated processes and cloud-based solutions improve productivity while reducing costs down the road. Depending on the type of industry you’re in, investing in technology can give you a competitive edge. It shows potential customers that you’re a leader in your field, which fosters trust. Old, outdated systems send the message that you don’t take your business seriously. Marketing Strategies Marketing is a key facet to building any business. But successful marketing takes a targeted approach. Investing in marketing that is tailored to your industry and your audience can result in significant rewards. Business owners should view marketing as a necessary cost of owning (and growing) a business. With the advent of digital marketing, there are many affordable options. Connecting with customers on social media is a beneficial, low-cost way to start building a brand, as is content marketing and email marketing. Paid ads on social media or Google are also good choices. And don’t overlook traditional marketing such as print ads or direct mail — they still see great ROI in many markets. Invest in Yourself As the leader of your business, it’s just as critical to invest in yourself as it is to invest in your team. Sure, things get hectic, and it can seem impossible to keep up sometimes. But becoming a better leader naturally leads to becoming a better business owner. Investing in workshops, attending conferences, and participating in networking events can give you new insight into how to approach your business. Other options to consider are coaching or mentorships. Having an experienced professional to help you navigate the ins and outs of business ownership can be a boon to both your personal growth and your business’s growth. They can also help you sharpen your skills in communication, decision-making, time management, goal setting and other skills needed to run a successful business. Invest in Your Business Investing in your business is essential for it to grow. But it takes a strategic approach, one that may not be the same for every business. Focusing on your customers, your team, and yourself are some of the few ways that I’ve found that are most likely to lead to long-term success. CorpNet offers business formations, filings, state tax registrations, and corporate compliance services in all 50 states. Express and 24 hour rush filing services available upon request. Click here to learn more. Image: Envato This article, "The Best Ways to Invest in Your Business Growth" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. A good VPN works like a bouncer for your internet traffic, keeping snoops out while letting you move freely. AdGuard VPN is one of those solid, no-nonsense choices that does exactly what it promises. Right now, StackSocial is offering a five-year AdGuard VPN subscription for just $39.97, a steep drop from its regular price. That’s five years of private browsing, streaming, and secure connections across most major platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and up to 10 simultaneous connections (making it great for multi-device users without juggling logins). If you like the idea of browsing without trackers and being able to access geo-restricted content without hassle, this deal makes sense. Just a heads-up, though—this offer is only for new users, and you’ll need to redeem it within 30 days of buying. Performance-wise, AdGuard VPN uses AES-256 and its proprietary protocol, which is supposed to be faster and harder to detect than the usual VPN options. That means fewer annoying speed drops, which is a win if you stream a lot or hate buffering. It also offers over 60 server locations, covering key regions without overwhelming you with choices, so finding a decent connection shouldn’t be an issue. More importantly, AdGuard sticks to a strict no-logs policy, meaning it won’t track your browsing or sell your data to advertisers, unlike some other VPNs. AdGuard VPN is best suited for anyone looking for a low-maintenance, long-term privacy solution without monthly bills. It’s easy to set up, has a clean interface, and works well for everyday browsing and security. Five years of coverage for under forty bucks is hard to beat, and if you don’t like it, at least you won’t be locked into another high-priced subscription. View the full article

Support for travel, tourism and sports comes as Beijing doubles funding for goods trade-in scheme to $41bnView the full article

Bostic now sees price growth returning to the Fed's 2% goal at some point in early 2027. View the full article

Tech equities lead rebound as Tesla gains almost 12% View the full article

There are about 85 million single-family homes in the United States, which is a lot of houses. If you own one of them, then you already know what you don’t know—from real estate terms to the actual cost of owning the place. Buying and maintaining a house is a life-long learning process. But no matter how long you’ve owned your home, there are probably aspects of it that you have no clue about. This can be a problem because you’re relying on this structure to protect you and your family from the elements, to be a valuable asset in your financial portfolio, and to be an attractive place you can be proud to show off to friends and family. In order for that to happen, you need to know some fundamental details about your house. If you don’t know these things, find them out ASAP. ShutoffsYour house runs on a few basic resources—water, electricity, and possibly natural gas. Unless you’re totally off the grid with solar power and localized supplies like propane tanks, these resources are piped into your home from outside under consistent pressure. If something goes wrong (e.g., a water pipe bursts, or a pilot light goes out and gas leaks) you need to know how to shut things off—which means you need to know the location of the following: The water shutoff: The main valve that controls the flow of water into your house. It will usually be located outside, but if it’s inside (mine is), it’ll be near the perimeter, and possibly in your basement. Know where it is and how to turn it off. Localized valves. Your sinks, outdoor spigots, and toilets will also have shutoff valves. Knowing where your toilet shutoff is located can be a real lifesaver when it starts to overflow. The gas shut off. Similarly, if you have natural gas piped into your home, know where the shutoff valve is. If you ever smell gas and can’t figure out its source, this could literally save your house—and your life. Appliance shutoffs. Your gas-powered appliances like an oven or a dryer will also have specific shutoffs, usually located in the rear where the hookups are. Know how to access them in case you need to turn them off. Electric panel. Know where your home’s electric panel is located, and familiarize yourself with the circuits and the main in case you need to cut the power to an area of the home—or the whole house. If you smell gas, you should exit your home and call the authorities even if you turn off the main supply. And never touch an electrical panel that’s sparking or smoking. CircuitsSpeaking of your electrical panel, you should know more than just it’s location. Map out which circuits control what in your house by turning them off one by one and checking to see what they’re connected to. Don’t just trust any labeling that’s already in there—these are often not updated properly after renovations and repairs. Having each breaker labeled clearly will save you time and trouble if you need to kill the juice to something that’s malfunctioning. Location of metersYou should know where your water, gas, and electric meters are—and how to read them. If you still have in-person meter readers from your utility company, it’s helpful to know how to guide them to the meters, and being able to read and interpret them will let you audit your utility bills. Doing this once a year will spot any discrepancies that could indicate a billing error, utility theft, or a slow leak. An evacuation routeIf something terrible were to happen unexpectedly, how would you get out of the house? If the front door was blocked somehow, is there an alternate route out? If you’re trapped on an upper floor, how would you escape? Those kinds of emergencies don’t happen often, thank goodness, but now is the time to plan for them. Think about what you would do in a variety of scenarios, so you have a way out even if the obvious exits are blocked. Dryer typeIf your home had a washer and dryer when you moved in, find out what kind of dryer you have. This might sound obvious, but many people don’t realize that there are gas- and electric-powered dryers. If your gas-powered dryer dies and you order an electric one to replace it, you’ve got a huge headache instead of a solution. Type of insulationA good question to ask the builder, previous owners, or home inspector is the type of insulation in the walls and attic space. In older homes that haven’t been significantly renovated, this could be asbestos-based insulation, which isn’t a problem unless you try to remove it. But even if your insulation is more modern, knowing the kind and how long it’s been in there is a good thing. First, it might not be the best insulation in the world, so you might want to upgrade it. And second, insulation doesn’t last forever, so knowing how old it is will be helpful as you plan future maintenance and budgets. Property linesYou (probably) didn’t just buy a structure, you bought property. That probably includes some outdoor space around your home—your lot. The problem with property lots is that they look very clear and obvious on a map, but aren’t so easy to figure out when you’re literally standing on them. This can lead to incursions from neighbors when their fencing strays onto your property, or assumptions about who owns what or whether your neighbors have an easement or a right of access that includes your property. Finding out your exact property lines is, in other words, a very good idea. Water qualityClean, potable water being piped into our homes is an incredible luxury by historical standards—but not all local water supplies are the same. Your local water utility probably has testing results available, but it’s not a bad idea to test your tap water yourself to see what you’re dealing with—and whether you’re comfortable drinking it, or if you need to look into filters. It’s also useful to find out if you have hard water—water with a high mineral content—as it can be damaging to your appliances and other aspects of your house (and isn’t the best water for showering and cleaning, either). You can soften your hard water pretty effectively—but only if you know about it in the first place. Lead pipesIf your house was built some time before 1988, it might still have lead water pipes—which means lead might be leeching into your drinking water, potentially making you sick. You should check to see if your pipes are lead, and if you get a positive result, you should contact your local government and water utility to arrange a replacement. UnderneathDo you know what’s under your house? If you have a full basement, the answer is probably yes. Crawl spaces—especially very shallow ones—can be overlooked, however. They usually contain a lot of vital stuff like water lines, gas lines, and electrical wiring, and can be a source of pest infiltration, air pollution, and bad vibes in general. It’s not unheard of for homeowners to eliminate crawl space access panels in their homes, or for crawl spaces to simply have no convenient access point—but it’s vital that you be able to access your crawl space for a variety of reasons. You will someday need to access those pipes and wires, after all, and you need to be able to monitor the foundation, humidity levels (and potential mold growth), rodent and pest populations, and potential water issues. When it comes to what’s under your house, ignorance is definitely not bliss. Sewer or septicWhen you flush your toilet or wash your dishes, where does that grey and black water go? The answer will inform your maintenance decisions, as plumbing that hooks into a municipal sewer line needs different maintenance than pipes that lead to a septic tank on your property. If you’re on a sewer line, having it inspected for clogs or infiltrating roots every year can save you a lot of trouble, while septic tanks need to be pumped out regularly, and chemical drain cleaners need to be avoided. Your filter schedulesA lot of things in your house have filters (including, possibly, the house itself). These filters all need to be replaced periodically, but each appliance or piece of infrastructure will have its own schedule and specific type of filter. Make sure you know what filters you need and how often it’s recommended they be replaced. Just because something appears to be running just fine doesn’t mean the filter doesn’t need replacing. MaterialsDo you know what kind of flooring you’re walking on? What kind of countertop you’re cooking on? Different materials have different maintenance and cleaning needs. Using the wrong cleaning products—like bleach when you’re cleaning natural stone—can do real damage to the materials, and leave you with ruined stuff and a looming renovation bill. It can be challenging for non-experts to tell the difference between stuff like laminate and hardwood flooring, after all, so you can’t just assume you know what you’re dealing with. If at all possible, it’s best to find out exactly what’s there and what the manufacturer recommends in terms of maintenance, cleaning, and repair. AccessYou own the house—all of it. You should be able to access every bit of it. You might not want to go into the crawl space or up onto the roof, but you should be able to get into those places. If there is any place you can’t get to, it might also be a place a contractor can’t get to, which could be disastrous in case of an emergency repair. And you should be able to inspect your house regularly as a proactive practice to anticipate problems before they become emergencies. Taking some time to make sure you at least know how you can access each part of your home is an essential piece of maintenance planning for what’s probably the largest asset you own. View the full article

Vice-president and defence secretary among those who debate charging Europe for American attack on HouthisView the full article

Google Maps' Timeline feature is a great way to look back on your past travels—if you have the data to look back on. Timeline users over the past couple of weeks have noticed that their data is missing, with no warning or explanation. Redditor srj737 posted on the r/GooglePixel subreddit earlier this month, reporting they lost over a decade of Timeline data, seemingly out of nowhere. Before, they could browse each location they visited with Google Maps over the past ten years; now, they had to start from scratch. What makes the situation especially confusing is the fact that Google had previously warned users they might lose Timeline data. The company announced late last year that it would be transferring Timeline functionality away from the web, and onto individual mobile devices. If you didn't move your Timeline data in time, Google warned you could lose it forever. However, that deadline appears to be June of this year, not March, so it wouldn't have made much sense for that to be the reason behind this deletion. Google did accidentally delete the dataGoogle has since responded to these concerns, however. The company confirmed to The Verge that they had accidentally erased Timeline data for some users: We briefly experienced a technical issue that caused the deletion of Timeline data for some people. Nearly everyone with encrypted Timeline backups will be able to restore their data; unfortunately those who did not have backups enabled will not be able to recover lost data. Google appears to be actively reaching out to affected users, so keep an eye out for an email from the company with instructions on retrieving your data—if you can. Redditor srj737 was able to retrieve their data, once Google acknowledged the situation. They had tried restoring from their backup before to no avail, but following Google's email, the backup worked. It's possible Google made some changes on their end to fix the feature in general, which includes both saved data as well as backup restoring, but that can't be confirmed at this time. It's a crummy situation, but it's a good reminder of the trust we put in tech companies to manage our data. Google is so huge, it makes it seem like anything you share with them will be preserved forever. However, all it takes is a technical issue on the company's end to lose your data forever. Today, it's Timeline data; tomorrow, it could be your photos. It's tricky with dedicated cloud-based features, but whenever you have the option, backing up to a source other than the cloud is the most secure way to preserve your data. How to recover your lost Timeline dataUnfortunately, the only way to restore this deleted Timeline data is if you had previously made a backup of that data through Google Maps. If so, Google's instructions say to update to the latest version of Google Maps, open your Timeline, then tap the cloud icon that appears at the top of the screen. From here, you should be able to select a backup to restore your Timeline data from. If you don't see a backup option here, it likely means you never made a Timeline backup, and, sadly, your data is lost forever. How to export your Google Maps Timeline data If you do still have your Timeline data, or you start building it back up again, and you want to make a more secure backup than relying on Google's services, you can manually export your data, as shared by Redditor saharaci. To do so on Pixel, then go to Settings > Location > Location Services > Timeline > Export timeline data. On iPhone, go through the Google Maps app. Tap your profile, head to Your timeline, then tap the three dots in the top right. Here, tap Location & privacy settings, choose Export Timeline data, then pick a destination for your data. View the full article

Trade groups representing banks and utilities urged lawmakers to reauthorize the CISA law before it expires in September. View the full article