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Housing finance players accused of wronging consumers slammed the lawsuits as politically motivated efforts by former Biden-era bureau director Rohit Chopra. View the full article

Company president Brad Smith warns the new rules will force American allies to buy Chinese products View the full article

On Valentine’s Day 2025, heavy rains started to fall in parts of rural Appalachia. Over the course of a few days, residents in eastern Kentucky watched as river levels rose and surpassed flood levels. Emergency teams conducted over 1,000 water rescues. Hundreds, if not thousands of people were displaced from homes, and entire business districts filled with mud. For some, it was the third time in just four years that their homes had flooded, and the process of disposing of destroyed furniture, cleaning out the muck and starting anew is beginning again. Historic floods wiped out businesses and homes in eastern Kentucky in February 2021, July 2022 and now February 2025. An even greater scale of destruction hit eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina in September 2024, when Hurricane Helene’s rainfall and flooding decimated towns and washed out parts of major highways. Each of these events was considered to be a “thousand-year flood,” with a 1-in-1,000 chance of happening in a given year. Yet they’re happening more often. The floods have highlighted the resilience of local people to work together for collective survival in rural Appalachia. But they have also exposed the deep vulnerability of communities, many of which are located along creeks at the base of hills and mountains with poor emergency warning systems. As short-term cleanup leads to long-term recovery efforts, residents can face daunting barriers that leave many facing the same flood risks over and over again. Exposing a housing crisis For the past nine years, I have been conducting research on rural health and poverty in Appalachia. It’s a complex region often painted in broad brushstrokes that miss the geographic, socioeconomic and ideological diversity it holds. Appalachia is home to a vibrant culture, a fierce sense of pride and a strong sense of love. But it is also marked by the omnipresent backdrop of a declining coal industry. There is considerable local inequality that is often overlooked in a region portrayed as one-dimensional. Poverty levels are indeed high. In Perry County, Kentucky, where one of eastern Kentucky’s larger cities, Hazard, is located, nearly 30% of the population lives under the federal poverty line. But the average income of the top 1% of workers in Perry County is nearly US$470,000 – 17 times more than the average income of the remaining 99%. This income and wealth inequality translates to unequal land ownership – much of eastern Kentucky’s most desirable land remains in the hands of corporations and families with great generational wealth. When I first moved to eastern Kentucky in 2016, I was struck by the grave lack of affordable, quality housing. I met families paying $200-$300 a month for a small plot to put a mobile home. Others lived in “found housing” – often-distressed properties owned by family members. They had no lease, no equity and no insurance. They had a place to lay one’s head but lacked long-term stability in the event of disagreement or disaster. This reality was rarely acknowledged by local and state governments. Eastern Kentucky’s 2021 and 2022 floods turned this into a full-blown housing crisis, with 9,000 homes damaged or destroyed in the 2022 flood alone. “There was no empty housing or empty places for housing,” one resident involved in local flood recovery efforts told me. “It just was complete disaster because people just didn’t have a place to go.” Most homeowners did not have flood insurance to assist with rebuilding costs. While many applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance, the amounts they received often did not go far. The maximum aid for temporary housing assistance and repairs is $42,500, plus up to an additional $42,500 for other needs related to the disaster. The federal government often provides more aid for rebuilding through block grants directed to local and state governments, but that money requires congressional approval and can take months to years to arrive. Local community coalitions and organizations stepped in to fill these gaps, but they did not necessarily have sufficient donations or resources to help such large numbers of displaced people. With a dearth of affordable rentals pre-flood, renters who lost their homes had no place to go. And those living in “found housing” that was destroyed were not eligible for federal support for rebuilding. The sheer level of devastation also posed challenges. One health care professional told me: “In Appalachia, the way it usually works is if you lose your house or something happens, then you go stay with your brother or your mom or your cousin. … But everybody’s mom and brother and cousin also lost their house. There was nowhere to stay.” From her point of view, “our homelessness just skyrocketed.” The cost of land – social and economic After the 2022 flood, the Kentucky Department for Local Government earmarked almost $300 million of federal funding to build new, flood-resilient homes in eastern Kentucky. Yet the question of where to build remained. As another resident involved in local flood recovery efforts told me, “You can give us all the money you want; we don’t have any place to build the house.” It has always been costly and time-intensive to develop land in Appalachia. Available higher ground tends to be located on former strip mines, and these reclaimed lands require careful geotechnical surveying and sometimes structural reinforcements. If these areas are remote, the costs of running electric, water and other infrastructure services can also be prohibitive. For this reason, for-profit developers have largely avoided many counties in the region. The head of a nonprofit agency explained to me that, because of this, “The markets have broken. … We have no [housing] market.” There is also some risk involved in attempting to build homes on new land that has not previously been developed. A local government could pay for undeveloped land to be surveyed and prepared for development, with the prospect of reimbursement by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development if housing is successfully built. But if, after the work to prepare the land, it is still too cost-prohibitive to build a profitable house there, the local government would not receive any reimbursement. Some counties have found success clearing land for large developments on former strip mine sites. But these former coal mining areas can be considerable distances from towns. Without robust public transportation systems, these distances are especially prohibitive for residents who lack reliable personal transportation. Another barrier is the high prices that both individual and corporate landowners are asking for properties on higher ground. The scarcity of desirable land available for sale, combined with increasingly urgent demand, has led to prices unaffordable for most. Another resident involved in local flood recovery efforts explained: “If you paid $5,000 for 30 acres 40 years ago, why won’t you sell that for $100,000? Nope, [they want] $1 million.” That makes it increasingly difficult for both individuals and housing developers to purchase land and build. One reason for this scarcity is the amount of land that is still owned by outside corporate interests. For example, Kentucky River Properties, formerly Kentucky River Coal Corporation, owns over 270,000 acres across seven counties in the region. While this landholding company leases land to coal, timber and gas companies, it and others like it rarely permit residential development. But not all unused land is owned by corporations. Some of this land is owned by families with deep roots in the region. People’s attachment to a place often makes them want to stay in their communities, even after disasters. But it can also limit the amount of land available for rebuilding. People are often hesitant to sell land that holds deep significance for their families, even if they are not living there themselves. One health care professional expressed feeling torn between selling or keeping their own family property after the 2022 flood: “We have a significant amount of property on top of a mountain. I wouldn’t want to sell it because my papa came from nothing. … His generation thought owning land was the greatest thing. … And for him to provide his children and his grandchildren and their great-grandchildren a plot of land that he worked and sweat and ultimately died to give us – people want to hold onto that.” She recognized that land was in great demand but couldn’t bring herself to sell what she owned. In cases like hers, higher grounds are owned locally but still remain unused. Moving toward higher ground, slowly Two years after the 2022 flood, major government funding for rebuilding still has not resulted in a significant number of homes. The state has planned seven communities on higher ground in eastern Kentucky that aim to house 665 new homes. As of early 2025, 14 houses had been completed. Progress on providing housing on higher ground is slow, and the need is great. In the meantime, when I conducted interviews during the summer and fall of 2024, many of the mobile home communities that were decimated in the 2022 flood had begun to fill back up. These were flood-risk areas, but there was simply no other place to go. Last week, I watched on Facebook a friend’s live video footage showing the waters creeping up the sides of the mobile homes in one of those very communities that had flooded in 2022. Another of my friends mused: “I don’t know who constructed all this, but they did an unjustly favor by not thinking how close these towns was to the river. Can’t anyone in Frankfort help us, or has it gone too far?” With hundreds more people now displaced by the most recent flood, the need for homes on higher grounds has only expanded, and the wait continues. Kristina P. Brant is an assistant professor of rural sociology at Penn State. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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. Projectors are a great option for some evening entertainment inside and outdoors (once the weather warms up a bit), but they can be a little bulky. If you're looking for a smaller projector you can take with you to a party or a friend's house, consider the Nebula Capsule 3 GTV projector, currently $379.99 (originally $499.99), the lowest price it has been according to price-tracking tools. Nebula Capsule 3 GTV Projector Resolution: 1080p, Streaming: Google TV, Brightness: 200 lumens, Engine: DLP. $379.99 at Amazon $499.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Get Deal $379.99 at Amazon $499.99 Save $120.00 The Nebula Capsule 3 came out this past September to an "excellent" review from PCMag. It has an 8-watt speaker, which is decent for a portable projector, but it won't fill a room with sound. Luckily, it does have an eARC port for a home theater setup. What sets this projector apart is its small size of 4.7 inches by 2.7 inches (height by diameter), which is about the size of a tall beer can. The image correction is fast, responsive, and works well—an important feature since you're likely going to be moving the projector often. The auto focus will adjust to the distance and angle of whatever surface you're casting it on. The brightness is 200 lumens, which is not a lot. You'll be limited to darker rooms to get a good image. The resolution is just 1080p with a maximum screen size of 120-inches, which is decent. This is enough for casual watching in a bedroom, but you won't get the same picture quality, colors, or blacks that home projectors offer. With Google TV, you'll be able to use Chromecast to mirror your phone on the screen, download apps, and watch free live TV. The battery life is up to two and a half hours, long enough to watch most movies. At its current price, it's even with the weaker Nebula Capsule Air, making it a great deal. View the full article

Some good news for all the tired parents out there: Having and raising kids may unexpectedly boost your brain and protect your mind from aging over the long run, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The research from Rutgers Health and Yale University found parents developed higher brain-wide functional connectivity as they aged, especially in networks associated with movement and sensation, if they had more children. Those same networks typically show lower functional connectivity associated with greater age, meaning parenthood may protect against “functional brain aging.” The study findings apply to both moms and dads, which suggests the benefits come from parenthood caregiving, rather than pregnancy alone. This study looked at data from 37,000 adults including 19,964 females and 17,607 males from the UK Biobank, using the largest population-based neuroimaging data set to date to investigate the link between the number of children a parent had and age of brain function. It sheds new light on how adult human brains develop over the course of a lifespan, and is encouraging news for women who temporarily suffer from “Mommy brain,” or greater forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating during and after pregnancy. Overall, these results suggest that parenthood may be neuroprotective in later life, and are consistent with preliminary findings of previous studies that show “younger-looking” brain structures in animal parents. Check out the full study here. View the full article

Small and medium-sized businesses are often vulnerable to cyber attacks owing to limited infrastructure. For instance, they use free cybersecurity solutions due to financial constraints or are less prepared to respond to a cyber incident. This often leaves them prone to several attacks that advanced solutions may catch. No wonder, nearly half of the cyber incidents impact small businesses. And companies with 100 employees or less receive 350% more social engineering attacks than large enterprises. The financial repercussions of such attacks is huge with 60% of SMEs going out of business within six months of a cyber attack. Threats like phishing, ransomware, and malware compromise sensitive data and disrupt business operations. To mitigate these cyber risks, small businesses must implement robust network security solutions. In this post, we will share all the information you need to choose a fitting network security solution to secure your business from advanced cyber attacks. The Need for Network Security In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important as small businesses are the prime target for cybercriminals. Every customer record, transaction, or confidential information is at risk of being compromised. Despite these risks, small businesses often ignore the significance of investing in robust cybersecurity solutions. The common myth is that small businesses are too small to be targeted. But here’s an alarming fact一a 2024 research report stated that in 2024 94% of small businesses faced cyber attacks. The financial and reputational damage that follows a cyber attack underscores the critical need for robust network security solutions to protect confidential data and uphold business continuity. Network security involves applying the best practices to all system components, namely devices, applications, and protocols to keep business data safe from attackers. How to Choose a Suitable Network Security Solution for Your Business In this section, we will discuss the top factors to consider when choosing an ideal network security solution and then compare the top five network security vendors: Cisco, Check Point, Palo Alto, Fortinet, and CrowdStrike. Advanced Threat Protection Capabilities The network security solution you opt for should offer comprehensive threat protection. It should be equipped with advanced features to autonomously predict and prevent attacks Features like multi-layered security, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), deep packet inspection, web filtering, and intrusion prevention features are necessary to steer clear of ransomware attacks, trojans, and other threats. Choose a platform with advanced threat detection for protection against evolving cyber threats. Ease of Deployment Small businesses often do not have a full-fledged IT team or advanced security setup, making them the top target for cybercriminals. Hence, it is critical to look for a network security solution that has an intuitive interface, cloud-based management, and an automated threat response system. This will streamline the security operations while safeguarding your business from the evolving threats. Scalability A scalable network security solution can effortlessly anticipate changes in the digital landscape and proactively address security risks before they cause damage. As the business grows, so do its security needs. Hence, choose a solution that can seamlessly scale with your business’s security needs without compromising on the network speed and performance. Integration Capabilities A tool possessing exceptional integration capabilities can effectively consolidate data from various security tools, allowing more comprehensive analysis. The unified approach allows security teams to spot patterns and anomalies, thus ensuring faster threat identification. The network security solution you choose must integrate seamlessly with your existing IT infrastructure. It must support cloud applications, remote work setups, and third-party security solutions. Customer Support Small businesses need additional support with implementing security best practices, especially in the absence of a dedicated IT and security team. Look for a network security vendor that offers 24/7 support to guide your team and monitor your security alerts. This will ensure a quick and efficient incident response. The Best Network Security Solutions Compared 1. Cisco Cisco, the American multinational, offers a network security solution that combines multiple layers of defense in the network and at the edge. Each security layer implements policies, allowing only authorized users to gain access to the network resources. Cisco’s network security solution offers visibility and control over encrypted traffic, reducing the risk of attacks. It helps businesses respond to threats across networks, clouds, endpoints, and applications. Key Features Flexible network protection to secure users, networks, workloads, and applications. Improved security resilience through tools like firewalls, multifactor identification, and endpoint protection to help small businesses detect threats quickly. Zero-trust access for controlled access from branch offices to headquarters. Built-for-cloud-security solution to ensure that the entire infrastructure, from the edge to in-house service, is secure. 2. Check Point Check Point is the global leader in cybersecurity solutions, known for its multi-layered approach to threat detection and prevention. Its network security solution caters to businesses of all sizes, offering a comprehensive view of various security threats like ransomware, phishing, and zero-day attacks. The advanced network security solution simplifies security for small businesses without any impact on network performance. Check Point helps small businesses strengthen their security posture without the need for a dedicated IT or security team. Key Features: Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) for deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention, and application control for securing the network. Zero-trust security ensures that only verified users and devices gain access to the network. As such, its network security solution reduces insider threats and unauthorized access. Automated threat intelligence for real-time analytics and AI-powered threat detection. This minimizes response time and prevents attacks. CloudGuard solution offers cloud-based protection to secure SaaS applications and cloud environments. There, this solution is ideal for remote work environments. A User-friendly interface simplifies monitoring and policy enforcement, making it a solid option for SMEs with limited IT infrastructure and teams looking for an advanced network security solution. SandBlast threat emulation technology to detect and prevent malware before it infiltrates the entire network. 3. Palo Alto Palo Alto Networks is known for offering advanced network security solutions that protect businesses from evolving threats in the digital landscape. The platform is powered by next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) that leverage AI for threat detection and deep learning to prevent zero-day attacks, malware, and other threats. Key Features Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) prevent threats and allow deep packet inspection and advanced malware protection. Prisma Cloud ensures comprehensive cloud security for hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Zero trust security for strict identity verification and least-privilege access to reduce the attack surface. Advanced threat intelligence uses machine learning and automation to spot and respond to cyber threats. 4. Fortinet Fortinet is a global cybersecurity company that offers integrated and automated network security services for businesses of various sizes. Their flagship product FortiGate next-generation firewalls provide AI-enabled threat detection, intrusion prevention, and malware protection. Their solutions offer seamless security across networks, endpoints, and cloud environments. Key Features Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) for AI-enabled threat detection, deep packet inspection, and intrusion prevention. Fortinet security fabric for seamless protection across networks, endpoints, and varied environments. Advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) for automated threat mitigation. Zero trust network access (ZTNA) to secure access control and prevent unauthorized entry. 5. CrowdStrike CrowdStrike is a leading name in the cybersecurity industry, specializing in cloud-native endpoint and network security. Its Falcon platform offers AI-powered threat detection, real-time response, and proactive threat hunting to protect businesses from cyber threats and attacks. The platform ensures comprehensive security and rapid breach prevention. It delivers high-performance and scalable security for modern digital environments. Key Features AI-powered threat detection to identify cyber threats in real-time. Next-generation antivirus (NGAV) prevents malware and ransomware with advanced security measures. Zero trust security ensures strict access control and verification for network security. Extended detection and response (XDR) unifies security across multiple endpoints and workloads for enhanced threat visibility. Summing Up Robust network security is crucial to protect sensitive data, prevent cybersecurity attacks, and ensure smooth business operations. With the rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks, businesses need to implement several security measures like firewalls, AI-driven threat detection, and cloud-based protection. A suitable network security solution will offer comprehensive threat prevention, scalability, and ease of integration. Hence, businesses must do their research and choose a solution based on the industry risks, compliance requirements, and infrastructure. We are sure the information shared in this post will help you make an informed security decision to mitigate the risks, safeguard business assets, and ensure long-term business resilience. Image: Envato This article, "5 Network Security Solutions to Protect Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small and medium-sized businesses are often vulnerable to cyber attacks owing to limited infrastructure. For instance, they use free cybersecurity solutions due to financial constraints or are less prepared to respond to a cyber incident. This often leaves them prone to several attacks that advanced solutions may catch. No wonder, nearly half of the cyber incidents impact small businesses. And companies with 100 employees or less receive 350% more social engineering attacks than large enterprises. The financial repercussions of such attacks is huge with 60% of SMEs going out of business within six months of a cyber attack. Threats like phishing, ransomware, and malware compromise sensitive data and disrupt business operations. To mitigate these cyber risks, small businesses must implement robust network security solutions. In this post, we will share all the information you need to choose a fitting network security solution to secure your business from advanced cyber attacks. The Need for Network Security In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important as small businesses are the prime target for cybercriminals. Every customer record, transaction, or confidential information is at risk of being compromised. Despite these risks, small businesses often ignore the significance of investing in robust cybersecurity solutions. The common myth is that small businesses are too small to be targeted. But here’s an alarming fact一a 2024 research report stated that in 2024 94% of small businesses faced cyber attacks. The financial and reputational damage that follows a cyber attack underscores the critical need for robust network security solutions to protect confidential data and uphold business continuity. Network security involves applying the best practices to all system components, namely devices, applications, and protocols to keep business data safe from attackers. How to Choose a Suitable Network Security Solution for Your Business In this section, we will discuss the top factors to consider when choosing an ideal network security solution and then compare the top five network security vendors: Cisco, Check Point, Palo Alto, Fortinet, and CrowdStrike. Advanced Threat Protection Capabilities The network security solution you opt for should offer comprehensive threat protection. It should be equipped with advanced features to autonomously predict and prevent attacks Features like multi-layered security, including firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), deep packet inspection, web filtering, and intrusion prevention features are necessary to steer clear of ransomware attacks, trojans, and other threats. Choose a platform with advanced threat detection for protection against evolving cyber threats. Ease of Deployment Small businesses often do not have a full-fledged IT team or advanced security setup, making them the top target for cybercriminals. Hence, it is critical to look for a network security solution that has an intuitive interface, cloud-based management, and an automated threat response system. This will streamline the security operations while safeguarding your business from the evolving threats. Scalability A scalable network security solution can effortlessly anticipate changes in the digital landscape and proactively address security risks before they cause damage. As the business grows, so do its security needs. Hence, choose a solution that can seamlessly scale with your business’s security needs without compromising on the network speed and performance. Integration Capabilities A tool possessing exceptional integration capabilities can effectively consolidate data from various security tools, allowing more comprehensive analysis. The unified approach allows security teams to spot patterns and anomalies, thus ensuring faster threat identification. The network security solution you choose must integrate seamlessly with your existing IT infrastructure. It must support cloud applications, remote work setups, and third-party security solutions. Customer Support Small businesses need additional support with implementing security best practices, especially in the absence of a dedicated IT and security team. Look for a network security vendor that offers 24/7 support to guide your team and monitor your security alerts. This will ensure a quick and efficient incident response. The Best Network Security Solutions Compared 1. Cisco Cisco, the American multinational, offers a network security solution that combines multiple layers of defense in the network and at the edge. Each security layer implements policies, allowing only authorized users to gain access to the network resources. Cisco’s network security solution offers visibility and control over encrypted traffic, reducing the risk of attacks. It helps businesses respond to threats across networks, clouds, endpoints, and applications. Key Features Flexible network protection to secure users, networks, workloads, and applications. Improved security resilience through tools like firewalls, multifactor identification, and endpoint protection to help small businesses detect threats quickly. Zero-trust access for controlled access from branch offices to headquarters. Built-for-cloud-security solution to ensure that the entire infrastructure, from the edge to in-house service, is secure. 2. Check Point Check Point is the global leader in cybersecurity solutions, known for its multi-layered approach to threat detection and prevention. Its network security solution caters to businesses of all sizes, offering a comprehensive view of various security threats like ransomware, phishing, and zero-day attacks. The advanced network security solution simplifies security for small businesses without any impact on network performance. Check Point helps small businesses strengthen their security posture without the need for a dedicated IT or security team. Key Features: Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) for deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention, and application control for securing the network. Zero-trust security ensures that only verified users and devices gain access to the network. As such, its network security solution reduces insider threats and unauthorized access. Automated threat intelligence for real-time analytics and AI-powered threat detection. This minimizes response time and prevents attacks. CloudGuard solution offers cloud-based protection to secure SaaS applications and cloud environments. There, this solution is ideal for remote work environments. A User-friendly interface simplifies monitoring and policy enforcement, making it a solid option for SMEs with limited IT infrastructure and teams looking for an advanced network security solution. SandBlast threat emulation technology to detect and prevent malware before it infiltrates the entire network. 3. Palo Alto Palo Alto Networks is known for offering advanced network security solutions that protect businesses from evolving threats in the digital landscape. The platform is powered by next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) that leverage AI for threat detection and deep learning to prevent zero-day attacks, malware, and other threats. Key Features Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) prevent threats and allow deep packet inspection and advanced malware protection. Prisma Cloud ensures comprehensive cloud security for hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Zero trust security for strict identity verification and least-privilege access to reduce the attack surface. Advanced threat intelligence uses machine learning and automation to spot and respond to cyber threats. 4. Fortinet Fortinet is a global cybersecurity company that offers integrated and automated network security services for businesses of various sizes. Their flagship product FortiGate next-generation firewalls provide AI-enabled threat detection, intrusion prevention, and malware protection. Their solutions offer seamless security across networks, endpoints, and cloud environments. Key Features Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) for AI-enabled threat detection, deep packet inspection, and intrusion prevention. Fortinet security fabric for seamless protection across networks, endpoints, and varied environments. Advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) for automated threat mitigation. Zero trust network access (ZTNA) to secure access control and prevent unauthorized entry. 5. CrowdStrike CrowdStrike is a leading name in the cybersecurity industry, specializing in cloud-native endpoint and network security. Its Falcon platform offers AI-powered threat detection, real-time response, and proactive threat hunting to protect businesses from cyber threats and attacks. The platform ensures comprehensive security and rapid breach prevention. It delivers high-performance and scalable security for modern digital environments. Key Features AI-powered threat detection to identify cyber threats in real-time. Next-generation antivirus (NGAV) prevents malware and ransomware with advanced security measures. Zero trust security ensures strict access control and verification for network security. Extended detection and response (XDR) unifies security across multiple endpoints and workloads for enhanced threat visibility. Summing Up Robust network security is crucial to protect sensitive data, prevent cybersecurity attacks, and ensure smooth business operations. With the rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks, businesses need to implement several security measures like firewalls, AI-driven threat detection, and cloud-based protection. A suitable network security solution will offer comprehensive threat prevention, scalability, and ease of integration. Hence, businesses must do their research and choose a solution based on the industry risks, compliance requirements, and infrastructure. We are sure the information shared in this post will help you make an informed security decision to mitigate the risks, safeguard business assets, and ensure long-term business resilience. Image: Envato This article, "5 Network Security Solutions to Protect Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Rithm Acquisition Corp. is selling 20 million units of combined stock and warrants for $10 each, with trading expected to begin on Feb. 27 on the NYSE. View the full article

Owners of luxury London development take Laing O’Rourke unit to court for £35mnView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. While I was poking around online shopping this week, I noticed a great deal: Amazon has the Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum marked down to $349.99, a 26% discount off its normal price of $469.99. A little over a quarter off doesn't usually move me, as far as sales go, but on something as expensive as a Dyson that's a solid deal. The spring and summer get dusty and allergen-y, so a strong vacuum is always a smart upgrade to make before the sneezy season hits. Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum (Silver/Nickel) $349.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $469.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Get Deal $349.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $469.99 Save $120.00 I have loved every Dyson vacuum (and, frankly, all Dyson products) I've ever used and everyone I know with one feels the same, but before I recommended this sale confidently, I wanted to check around other parts of the internet to make sure I wasn't missing something about Amazon's markdown. I was missing something: This thing is on sale everywhere, which is great news if you have a membership or general brand loyalty to one store or another. The $349.99 price point on the Dyson V8 Plus is reflected not only on Amazon, but at the following retailers: Best Buy Walmart Williams Sonoma Chewy Wayfair Crate & Barrel Bloomingdale's P.C. Richard & Son Basically, wherever you're most likely to shop, you can find the cordless vac on sale. Take it as a sign you should finally upgrade your hoover. Dyson V8 Plus product detailsWhy upgrade to this one, though, beyond the fact that it's on sale? It runs for up to 40 minutes on a single charge but is still light enough that it's not a hassle to carry around, weighing in at 5.6 pounds. It will run for a shorter amount if you turn on MAX mode, but having access to an even more powerful suction when you're facing a major mess is worth it. Besides being a traditional stick vacuum, it also transforms into a handheld device to reach difficult spots. It docks to your wall to charge and stay out of your way, has attachments to reach high spaces, empties out with the push of a button, and makes quick work of dust, hair, and fur. Dyson really does make a quality vacuum and this one, with its low price, is a solid entry point if you've been looking into getting one. View the full article

Investment properties are the primary properties backing the collateral pool, at 80.3%, while second homes account for 19.7% of the pool. View the full article

Figures are uncertain but suggest men in particular are struggling to enter slowing labour market View the full article

The rapid rise in the cost of both insurance coverage and taxes leaves close to half of homeowners worried about their ability to make payments. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. As we’ve discussed before, there are three ways to hold onto a barbell if you’re worried your grip is going to slip. You can use straps; you can face your palms in different directions (mixed grip); or you can hook your thumb underneath your fingers, a technique known as hook grip. A hook grip is more secure than mixed, and it's essential for lifts like snatches and cleans where mixed grip isn't an option. Yes, it hurts. Yes, you'll get used to it. I am happy to report that, after six years of training and competing in olympic weightlifting (where hook grip is neither feared nor debated, but simply a part of life), I now believe that hook grip is not nearly as painful as it is reputed to be. And yes, I am the person who wrote in an earlier article that hook grip “hurts like hell.” This is partly because I’ve gotten used to it, but it’s also partly because I used to do it wrong. So here are some tips for learning how to get comfortable with hook grip. Use a thinner barThis is a tip for everyone, but especially people with small hands (including most women). You'll find a wide variety of barbells in most gyms, and they aren't all the same diameter at the handle. Some are thick and sturdy; these are hard to grip, and may be reserved for squats or bench press, where that doesn't matter as much. Bars made for deadlifts or for Olympic weightlifting will be thinner, making it easier to wrap your fingers around. So make sure that the bar you're trying to hook grip isn't a super thick one. If you have larger hands, any normal barbell should be fine—that usually means a 28 millimeter handle. Deadlift bars tend to be a little thinner at 27 millimeters, and women's Olympic weightlifting bars are the thinnest common bar, at 25 millimeters. If you've had trouble trying to hook grip on a regular bar, try a women's bar and see if you can get the technique to click. I used to think I "couldn't" hook grip a regular bar, but after I learned to hook grip properly with a women's bar, I found that I was able to hook a men's bar without too much trouble. Lay your thumb so it is parallel to the barA common mistake—and a thing that makes hook grip hurt a lot more than it needs to—is placing your thumb on the bar incorrectly. Don’t think of your thumb as wrapping underneath the bar; it’s not like a pincer opposing your fingers. You also don't want to grip the bar with your thumb, as if your thumb's job were to squeeze the bar. The purpose of the thumb, in a hook grip, is to provide a sort of roadblock to stop things from slipping. I took some photos of myself setting my hook grip on a bar, so you can see exactly how I do it. (I'm sure every lifter has their own idiosyncrasies, but mine should be a solid example to convey the basics.) Here's how I set my grip: First I find my hand placement on the bar (usually by lining up my hand with the knurling or the rings). I press the web of my thumb into the bar, which allows me to reach my thumb away from my body, and bring the side of my thumb into contact with the bar. When I bring the rest of my hand back into place, my middle finger crosses my thumbnail perpendicularly. (If you can only remember one checkpoint for whether you're doing it right, remember this.) I loosely wrap the rest of my fingers around the bar. I don't have to squeeze—the hook locks everything into place. Credit: Beth Skwarecki The exact positions will depend on the size and shape of your hands, and you may find yourself grasping the bar slightly differently for a wide grip (snatch grip) versus a closer grip. But make sure that your thumb goes more or less along the bar, parallel to its length. (It may help to think about pointing your thumb toward your pinky.) You do not want to jam your thumb under as many fingers as possible, nor should you try to wrap it deeply around the bar. If you get a pain in your thumb knuckle, where your thumb meets your palm, this is likely what you’re doing wrong. PracticeWill it still hurt? Your first time going heavy, yeah. But you'll get used to it more quickly than you think. If you commit to making hook grip work, and using it as often as possible, the adaptation process only takes about two weeks. If any pain, bruises, or calluses develop, they should be mild, roughly parallel to the length of your thumb, and on the side of your thumb rather than in the middle of the thumb pad or on the knuckle. During this time, hook grip everything that you can. If that means you're only hook gripping your deadlift warmups, but once there's more than 135 pounds on the bar you can't stand it, that's fine for that day. Next time you do deadlifts, you'll probably be able to hook 135 just fine, and maybe you have to switch back to your old grip at 225. You get the idea. Before long, you'll be hook gripping everything. To get more practice, hook grip every exercise you can (rows, etc) just for the sake of practice. Once you're used to hook grip, the pain won't be an issue, but I'd be lying to say your thumbs will always feel great. If I'm doing an exercise for multiple reps, I'll use straps rather than hook grip 10 heavy reps in a row. Some lifters like to tape their thumbs. This provides a little compression, so the pressure doesn't hurt as much, and it also prevents the knurling from digging into your skin. You can use regular athletic tape if you leave a cutout for your knuckle, but it's more common these days to use a stretchy, grippy thumb tape like this over your whole thumb. Warm Body Cold Mind Premium Lifting Thumb Tape $15.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg Shop Now Shop Now $15.99 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg View the full article

The 30-year conforming fixed-rate mortgage is at its lowest point since the end of December, as Treasury yields are 29 basis points lower since Feb. 19. View the full article

If all you want is a simple, reliable email client, Apple's Mail app is superb choice. And over the years, it's only gotten better. But until now, it's had this one weird quirk that has users running to third-party clients like Gmail or Outlook. It has to do with how the Archive feature works. When you archive an email that you're reading, the Mail app automatically opens the next email in your inbox. Now, that's great if you're just going through newsletters. But when this happens, the next email is marked as read automatically, something you might not want to do in every case (like if the sender is using a tracking service, or if you were saving that email to read later). It's a small thing, but it takes some agency away from you, and that makes it quite annoying to deal with. Luckily, Apple seems to have finally realized this, and in iOS 18.4, which is currently in Developer beta, the company has provided a hidden settings option to change this behavior. Why Apple just doesn't just make the fix the default, and why this has to be an obscure settings item, is beyond me. Either way, if you're running iOS 18.4 use the Mail app regularly, go to the Settings app. Then, go to the Mail section and choose Delete or Move Message Action. Here, switch to the Don't Select a Message option. Boom. You're all set. Now, when you're reading a message in the Mail app and delete, archive, or move it, the app won't automatically open the next message, and instead you'll go back to the Inbox view. What a revolution! Speaking of the Inbox, if your device is running Apple Intelligence, you might have noticed that the Mail app looks a bit different now. It has a bunch of categories up top, and AI summaries, and even Priority emails that never manage to highlight the actually important messages. If you don't like all or some of these AI features, I have some good news—you can turn that all off. Follow this guide to disable all the new AI features in the iPhone mail app and go back to how things used to be. Of course, except for the old archive thing. Because, for once, this change is actually useful. View the full article

Ofwat has ‘limited mechanisms’ to check whether infrastructure investment has been carried outView the full article

The nightmare scenario of Atlantic Ocean currents collapsing, with weather running amok and putting Europe in a deep freeze, looks unlikely this century, a new study concludes. In recent years, studies have raised the alarm about the slowing and potential abrupt shutdown of the Atlantic end of the ocean conveyor belt system. It transports rising warm water north and sinking cool water south and is a key factor in global weather systems. A possible climate change -triggered shutdown of what’s called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC could play havoc with global rain patterns, dramatically cool Europe while warming the rest of the world and goose sea levels on America’s East Coast, scientists predict. It’s the scenario behind the 2004 fictionalized disaster movie “The Day After Tomorrow,” which portrays a world where climate change sparks massive storms, flooding and an ice age. Scientists at the United Kingdom’s Met Office and the University of Exeter used simulations from 34 different computer models of extreme climate change scenarios to see if the AMOC would collapse this century, according to a study in Wednesday’s journal Nature. No simulation showed a total shutdown before 2100, said lead author Jonathan Baker, an oceanographer at the Met Office. It could happen later, though, he said. The currents have collapsed in the distant past. Still, the computer simulations should be “reassuring” to people, Baker said. “But this is no greenlight for complacency,” Baker warned. “The AMOC is very likely to weaken this century and that brings its own major climate impacts.” The Atlantic current flows because warm water cools as it reaches the Arctic, forming sea ice. That leaves salt behind, causing the remaining water to become more dense, sinking and pulled southward. But as climate change warms the world and more fresh water flows into the Arctic from the melting Greenland ice sheet, the Arctic engine behind the ocean conveyor belt slows down. Previous studies predict it stopping altogether with one of them saying it could happen within a few decades. But Baker said the computer models and basic physics predict that a second motor kicks in along the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica. The winds there pull the water back up to the surface, called upwelling, where it warms, Baker said. It’s not as strong, but it will likely keep the current system alive, but weakened, through the year 2100, he said. Baker’s focus on the pulling up of water from the deep instead of just concentrating on the sinking is new and makes sense, providing a counterpoint to the studies saying collapse is imminent, said Oregon State University climate scientist Andreas Schmittner, who wasn’t part of the research. Those Southern Ocean winds pulling the deep water up act “like a powerful pump keeps the AMOC running even in the extreme climate change scenarios,” Baker said. As the AMOC weakens, a weak Pacific version of it will likely develop to compensate a bit, the computer models predicted. If the AMOC weakens but not fully collapses, many of the same impacts — including crop losses and changes in fish stock — likely will still happen, but not the big headline one of Europe going into a deep freeze, Baker said. Scientists measure the AMOC strength in a unit called Sverdrups. The AMOC is now around 17 Sverdrups, down two from about 2004 with a trend of about 0.8 decline per decade, scientists said. One of the debates in the scientific world is the definition of an AMOC shutdown. Baker uses zero, but other scientists who have been warning about the shutdown implications, use about 5 Sverdrups. Three of Baker’s 34 computer models went below 5 Sverdrups, but not to zero. That’s why Levke Caesar and Stefan Rahmstorf, physicists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research and authors of an alarming 2018 study about potential shutdown, said this new work doesn’t contradict theirs. It’s more a matter of definitions. “An AMOC collapse does not have to mean 0 (Sverdrups) overturning and even if you would want to follow that definition one has to say that such a strong AMOC weakening comes with a lot (of) impacts,” Caesar wrote in an email. “The models show a severe AMOC weakening that would come with severe consequences.” The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Seth Borenstein, AP science writer View the full article

Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company’s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI. You can sign up to receive this newsletter every week here. Will native-AI operating systems run our computers in the near future? Samantha, the AI that Theodore falls in love with in the 2013 movie Her is actually an OS. That’s how he meets her: He buys a new OS called OS1 (“it’s not just an operating system, it’s a consciousness”) and “she” is its persona. Samantha becomes his intuitive and personalized companion to all his digital stuff, from email to video games. ChatGPT set off the generative AI boom in part because consumers (not just academics and developers) saw shades of Her. Two years later, the chatbot is a major consumer destination and is the AI interface with which people are most comfortable and familiar. More than 400 million people around the world now use ChatGPT every week, OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap recently told CNBC. For comparison, Apple’s iOS operates on more than 2 billion active devices worldwide, including more than 1.5 billion iPhones. Those are impressive numbers, but iOS is standing relatively still while ChatGPT is steadily moving up the adoption curve. Historically, Apple’s superpower has been its uncanny understanding of the user interface—the technology that acts as the mediator between a human user and their digital tools and content. Apple’s user interfaces rely mainly on older input technologies, such as mouse-clicking and touchscreen-tapping (though Siri remains a problem child). ChatGPT feels more and more like a new generation of user interface, one that’s powered by a very advanced mastery of language and the ability to intuit the intent behind a user’s input. Increasingly, it can act as a personal assistant with the ability to “reason” through problems. It can reason about things a user says with their voice or shows to the AI via their phone cam. Now OpenAI (and Anthropic) are rapidly developing the AI’s ability to control computer functions and apps. At the moment, OpenAI is packaging all this stuff inside ChatGPT. But how long before a chatbot app no longer contains it? Throughout the day, I call up the ChatGPT desktop app (by hitting <Option> and <Space Bar>) to run quick research lookups. For $200 per month, it can conduct deep research projects and control my mouse as it uses the web. It’s not a far leap from there to the AI using an app on my computer or printing something. Soon enough, I’ll likely have a running voice dialog with my AI OS throughout the day. Like Samantha (presumably) did for Theodore, the OS will learn my workflows, habits, and preferences. (In fact, many people in the field of natural language are working hard to build “EI,” or emotional intelligence into these systems, so that your AI operating system can be your friend too—as Sam was to Theodore.) The analyst Ben Thompson said in a recent Stratechery newsletter that OpenAI itself has realized that ChatGPT (and everything contained in it) is taking over the focus of the company. “Consumer tech companies . . . require a completely different culture and value chain than a research organization with an API on the side,” he wrote. “That is the fundamental reality that I suspect has driven much of the OpenAI upheaval over the last two-and-a-half years . . .” In short, OpenAI started out as an AI research lab, then became a provider of one-size-fits-all foundation models to enterprises and developers, then watched as ChatGPT stole the show and became its main source of revenue and fame. The question is, where does ChatGPT go from here? I think it’s the OS. LLMs could help solve the glacial change of government systems Jen Pahlka has a big idea: She says we should use large language models (LLMs) to eat through the government red tape that often stymies badly needed change to bureaucratic systems. She should know. She served as deputy chief technology officer (DCTO) under the Obama administration and helped found the United States Digital Service (USDS). Pahlka says that change agents like the USDS often encounter thousands of pages of policy and regulations that may or may not apply to a proposed change to a government website or system. Those pages pile up administration by administration, often creating overlapping and conflicting rules or a tangle of ambiguities. And agency bureaucrats often use that ambiguity to put new proposals into a state of perpetual review, saying neither yes nor no, effectively freezing attempts at change that they don’t really want anyway. That’s why interagency organizations like USDS need lawyers as much as they need top-notch designers and coders. LLMs could be another tool to cut through the ambiguity and shorten timelines. “You can use an LLM to figure out why there are 7,719 pages [of rules and regulations around a proposed system change] and what of that could get reduced,” Pahlka told Robert Safian in a recent Rapid Response podcast. “You can pretty quickly get to ‘this stuff is conflicting, this stuff is vestigial, this stuff is really controversial but you’ve got to deal with it’.” Pahlka has done work with Stanford’s Regulation, Evaluation, and Governance Lab (RegLab), which is studying the development of LLMs that specialize in swimming through years of policies, guidelines, and regulations. “It’s still pretty early days, but it’s starting to get used that way,” Pahlka says. “I want to see somebody like the labor commissioner in a state saying, ‘Oh yeah, we actually now have a regulatory environment that allows us to serve the needs of our state.’” Nvidia earnings: Good enough to keep the Boom booming Nvidia’s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report on Wednesday marked the company’s first since the Chinese company DeepSeek showed the world that it could train a world-class AI model with far fewer Nvidia GPUs than anyone thought possible. If any big AI companies ran to the phone to cancel their orders of Nvidia’s new Blackwell processors it wasn’t apparent in the numbers the company reported. Revenues came in at $39.3 billion (35.6% from data center sales), up 78% from a year ago and up 12% from the previous quarter. Analysts had expected $38.04 billion. The company also said the good times would continue at least through the current quarter, in which it expects $43 billion in revenues. Analysts on the earnings call did, however zero in on the one weak point in the report: Nvidia’s profit margin, which remained flat for the second quarter in a row. But that metric is indicative of overall demand for GPUs only in an indirect way. Also, the company’s stock sagged somewhat in after-hours trading Wednesday, which is very dependent on the (mysterious) assumptions that institutional investors had already baked into the value of the stock. The bottom line is that the tech companies betting big on AI—think Google, Meta, OpenAI, and Microsoft—are not hedging on their infrastructure spending. Not yet, anyway. “Blackwell generating ‘billions in sales’ validates Nvidia’s top position just as the market is expanding on the agentic and physical AI fronts,” wrote eMarketer’s Jacob Bourne in a research note published Tuesday. “Short-term volatility is still on the horizon, but Nvidia’s market command remains unmatched.” More AI coverage from Fast Company: Anthropic’s new Claude AI model can decide between speed and deep thinking Autonomous AI agents are amazing—and scary People are most worried about AI replacing these 2 jobs This new AI tool helps Walmart’s merchandising team plan what’s in stores Want exclusive reporting and trend analysis on technology, business innovation, future of work, and design? Sign up for Fast Company Premium. View the full article

Whether or not you plan on observing the Christian season of Lent, celebrating Mardi Gras (or Fat Tuesday) is a great excuse to chow down on some desserts. In the past, Lent meant abstaining from indulgent foods like butter, sugar, and eggs. As Christianity spread across different parts of the globe, during a time when food spoiled relatively quickly, there was no hope in preserving these ingredients during the 40-day period of fasting. Instead of tossing it all, there was a massive clear-out feast: Everything had to go. In the wake of this food-liquidation period, many creative and indulgent treats were born. Most of them are fried. All of them are carbs. Here are nine exquisite treats with which to celebrate the fattest days of the week. PaczkiA Polish creation now enjoyed around the world, paczki is a fluffy fried dough that is often filled with fruit jams, much like the American jelly doughnut. Paczki might even be filled and topped with chopped fruit, as fruit would also spoil over the fasting period, along with the other primary ingredients. They are made from a rich, yeast-raised dough that usually includes a splash of alcohol. They’re fried until golden, then filled or left fantastically plain and fluffy, before being finished with powdered sugar or icing. FastnachtThe word “fastnacht” refers to both the celebratory snack and the time for enjoying them–just before Lenten fasting. The German variety of fastnacht are pillowy, yeast-raised, deep-fried doughnuts that you can eat with a dollop of blackstrap molasses (which sounds like a lot of intense flavor for me, but I support your choices). It’s the Pennsylvania Dutch version of fastnacht that has piqued my interest. This doughnut is made from a yeast-raised potato dough with plenty of butter and sugar. This recipe repurposes mashed potatoes. I also appreciate this recipe for the helpful tips on changing out the oil, and advice on definitely not using expired yeast. Semlor buns Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann I hate to present you with something un-fried, but these semlor buns are too wonderful to ignore. Eaten in Sweden during the weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday, the plush buns are cardamom-scented and baked. Carve the center out of the baked and cooled roll, and pipe it full of a sweetened almond filling, followed by a heap of whipped cream. Top it with the small bit of roll you took out of the center. This recipe uses a tangzhong mixture to keep the roll soft. Haitian beignetsThere are beignets, like the flour-based ones popular in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, and then there are beignets, like the ones made in Haiti with a banana-based dough. There’s no need to proof the dough, and they’re shaped by simply dropping the batter into the frying oil. Check out this recipe for a straightforward mixing and frying method. King cake In several regions of the United States (but none as iconic as New Orleans) the days leading up to Mardi Gras must include this behemoth of a bread. The king cake is a sweet, enriched, yeast-raised treat, covered in icing and yellow, purple, and green sprinkles. It’s an explosion of sugar, color, and flavor. King cakes can be left unfilled, highlighting their soft, doughnut-like texture, or the raw dough can be filled and swirled with jams, nuts, or cinnamon and sugar. The dough is then braided, or twisted and shaped into a circle before baking. Tradition requires the baker to tuck a small token, usually a plastic baby, into the bread. Whoever gets the slice with the baby brings the king cake next time. My king cake video includes a recipe and how-to tutorial. Hornazo de jueves larderoGetting rid of all your perishables in one dish never looked more obvious or more enticing than in the hornazo. Hornazo de jueves lardero refers to the foods in your larder being baked together and eaten on Fat Thursday. Usually made and enjoyed in different regions of Spain, the hornazo can be made with a sweet or savory bread depending on the locality. Make the bread of your choosing, proof it, and when you’re ready to bake, tuck a raw egg, some cured sausage, and a slice or two of bacon right on top. Bake as usual. By the time the bread has fully baked, the meats and eggs will have too. You can follow this how-to video to learn how to make it. Fritole and dolci di carnevaleItaly has no shortage of dishes for celebrating the days leading up to Lent. Among them are lasagna and ravioli, but no celebration would be complete without some sweet fried carbs. Dolci di carnevale include such fancies as the zeppole and cicerchiata, and no Venetian carnevale is complete without fritole. Fritole are yeast-raised, fried dough fritters, bolstered with a splash of booze and studded with raisins. Fry until crisp and dust with a heap of powdered sugar. All the pancakes Credit: Natalia Van Doninck/Shutterstock At this point, you might think “doughnut day” makes more sense as a name, but in several countries, including Great Britain and Ireland, you may hear the day before Lent referred to as Shrove Tuesday, or “pancake day.” When you think about it, if everyone’s dumping eggs, butter, sugar and flour into the bowl, then you’re getting pancakes or doughnuts, depending on the leavening agent you have remaining in your pantry. Shrove Tuesday pancakes are a bit thinner than the fluffy disks you may be accustomed to, but slightly bulkier than a French crepe. Try this recipe, which makes the batter easy to prepare with the help of a blender. Alle bellesA traditional indulgence for Pancake Tuesday in the state of Goa, India, alle belles are crepe-like in appearance but contain no eggs. Considering the price of eggs lately, this might be the pancake for you. The filling is a stunner. Alle belles pancakes are wrapped around a filling of chopped coconut, cashews, and jaggery. The filling softens slightly as it sits in the warm pancake, delivering delicate sweetness and a harmony of textures. Try this recipe, which yields about 10 pancakes. View the full article

UK prime minister to reassure Washington that Europe will bolster its own defences but push for US ‘backstop’View the full article

Setting up a free email account has never been easier. You now have many great options that promise lots of storage or convenient features, although there are a few things to keep in mind when picking one. The rule of thumb is that if you're getting a free email service, you're probably paying with your privacy, because the company has to make money at the end of the day. Depending on the company, it could use your emails to serve ads, track you across the web, or even use the text in your emails to train AI. However, there are exceptions to that rule, specifically when it comes to end-to-end encryption. It's a tough balance. In general, you’ll have to pay real money to avoid compromises—services that focus on privacy might suffer elsewhere. But if you're not ready to pay or set up your own private email server yet, here are your best free alternatives. You're not even limited to one option—it’s a good idea to create multiple email accounts and use them for different purposes, so you should mix and match based on your needs. Gmail is the best email provider for most people Credit: Pranay Parab Gmail is the best email service for most people, hands down. It’s reliable, filters spam well, and gives you 15GB of cloud file storage for free. Plus, it's practically unavoidable. It’s hard to be on the internet and avoid Google entirely, and at some point, you’re probably going to need a Google account. From setting up most Android phones to accessing a shared Google Doc, Gmail serves a wide range of audiences pretty well. Your Gmail account also comes with unlimited addresses, which is a great way to check if a service sold your email ID to spammers. The biggest argument against Gmail is that it’s owned by Google, which makes money by tracking you online to help personalize the ads you see elsewhere. If you are privacy conscious, then this isn’t the right email service for you. Pros: Ubiquitous, easy to use, feature-rich, integrates with other Google products Cons: Lots of advertising based on mining your data Outlook is the best Gmail alternative for most people Credit: Pranay Parab For those who don’t want to use Gmail, but are looking for a similar service, Microsoft’s Outlook is the best option. Just like Gmail, Outlook is backed by a tech giant and will almost certainly be around for years to come. Plus, you get up to 15GB of email storage and 5GB of additional OneDrive storage for free. It’s a reliable alternative to Gmail, but once again, it’s not the email service you want to use if privacy is your top priority. Pros: Backed by a major tech company; a feature-rich Gmail alternative Cons: Like Google, Microsoft doesn’t care that much about your privacy Proton Mail is the best email service for privacy Credit: Pranay Parab Proton Mail is the best free email service for privacy-conscious people. It offers 1GB of storage, a limit of 150 emails per day, and up to 10 aliases for free, which is good enough to get started. My Gmail account is over a decade old and it still uses less than 1GB of storage, so it’s possible to manage with that storage limit for quite a while. Proton Mail also gives you a fair bit more than mail, too, even if you aren't spending a dime. You'll get a free VPN for one device and a free password manager as well. Proton Mail’s biggest advantage is end-to-end encryption, which means your messages cannot be intercepted or read by Proton Mail or third parties. This is a great privacy feature as long as you’re communicating with Proton Mail users or people using other end-to-end encrypted email providers, but it’s not as effective if you’re communicating with people on ad-supported email accounts. Everything could be totally private on your end, but your friend’s email service could read the contents of your email pretty easily. If you're ready to pay, Proton Unlimited offers great value with more email addresses, more storage space, and advanced privacy features like dark web monitoring. Pros: Great for privacy; end-to-end encryption Cons: Only 1GB of storage and a daily sending limit Tuta is also a great privacy-focused email provider Credit: Pranay Parab If you need an encrypted email service that offers open-source desktop clients, Tuta could be one to consider. It has a free tier with 1GB storage and no ads, which is also a plus. While Tuta is end-to-end encrypted, your privacy depends on the encryption status of the people you're emailing. Just as with Proton Mail, email encryption needs all parties onboard and if even one person is on an unencrypted service, your privacy is compromised. Tuta comes with one calendar in the free tier, but you'll have to pay if you want to set up multiple calendars. One good thing is that Tuta doesn't restrict how many emails you can send or receive per day. The only limitation is storage. You also get apps for mobile use. Pros: Encryption, privacy, and no sending limits Cons: Just 1GB storage Yahoo Mail is the best free email for free storage Credit: Joel Cunningham If you want the maximum possible storage on your free email account, believe it or not, Yahoo Mail is your best bet. The provider lets you use up to 1TB storage (yes, that’s 1,000GB) for free. The catch is that it still limits you to a maximum of 25MB of attachments per email, so you can’t start attaching 4K movies to your emails. It also comes with other useful features, such as an easy way to unsubscribe from newsletters. However, Yahoo Mail also shows you ads in your inbox and isn’t really the service you want to use if you’re concerned about privacy. Pros: Tons of free storage Cons: As ad-heavy and invasive as other services, plus you have to have an “@yahoo” or, worse, “@aol” email address. (Certain people will judge you, if only subconsciously.) iCloud Mail is easiest to set up for Apple users Credit: Pranay Parab For anyone who already has an Apple Account, setting up an iCloud Mail account is really easy. Go to your device's settings and tap your name. Then, click or tap through to iCloud > Mail, and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up. Since you already have an Apple Account, you don't need to create a new password and you can start using the service for free. iCloud Mail's free tier offers 5GB space and it has no ads. Note that this 5GB is shared with your photos, device backups, and everything else on iCloud, so effectively, it is smaller than you might expect. However, if you're on an Apple device, you have the added advantage of not having to install any apps to use the service, because your iPhone, iPad, and Mac ship with the Mail app pre-installed. iCloud Mail can be accessed on Windows, Android, and the web, too. The easiest way to use iCloud Mail on non-Apple devices is via the iCloud website, although there is an iCloud for Windows app for PC. Note that you'll still need an Apple Account for this, which you can create for free at https://account.apple.com/. For Android, you can also easily add your iCloud Mail to your phone's mail app. Log in to your Apple Account here and select App-specific passwords. Create a new password and save it for later. Add a new account to your favorite email app, select the IMAP option, and type your iCloud email ID and the app-specific password. This will add the email ID to your Android phone. Apple's Mail app gets regular updates, and you can access privacy features such as protection against email tracking even on iCloud Mail's free tier. But while this service is great for many people, it is slightly wonky at times. I've failed to receive some emails on iCloud Mail at times because they got flagged as spam and never landed in my inbox. On the plus side, you can add up to three aliases to iCloud Mail, which is good if you want to protect your actual email address from being compromised. Pros: Easy set up, three aliases for free Cons: Occasionally buggy, just 5GB of free space (shared with iCloud Photos and your device backups) AOL is the best free email for unlimited storage Credit: Daniel Oropeza Another throwback, AOL Mail, offers a lot of the same benefits as Yahoo Mail, with a similar feature set and size limits (they're owned by the same company). AOL is user-friendly, lets you organize and personalize your inbox, and offers a spell-checker, calendar, and a to-do list feature on top of the features most email clients have. It's compatible with Android and iOS apps and you can transfer your contact list from CSV, TXT, or LDIF files. Pros: Unlimited free storage Cons: You're limited to 25 MB for your email attachments Zoho Mail lets you use custom email address domains for free Credit: Pranay Parab The biggest problem with almost every free email provider is you have no control over the domain name associated with your email address. You’ll be stuck with email addresses that end in @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @outlook.com, etc. If you want to use your own domain name with your free email, check out Zoho Mail. Its free plan lets you add up to five users to your account and offers 5GB of free storage per user. There are no ads, but you won’t get IMAP or POP3 sync features for the mobile app, which means there may be delays in receiving mobile notifications for new emails. The service will still work pretty well on your desktop browser. Pros: You can use a custom @ Cons: Only 5GB storage and no IMAP or POP3 syncing Neo is the best free email for small business owners Credit: Daniel Oropeza Small business owners, freelancers, or anyone who wants to see how their emails are performing and how many people are actually reading them can see basic email analytic tools like CTR (click-through rate) and open rates with Neo. It's also a great alternative to Zoho, since it lets you choose a domain for free and has up to 100GB of storage. You can use an AI feature for writing emails, but you don't get five user accounts like on Zoho. However, if you run into trouble, be warned that Neo's support isn't known to be the best. Pros: See CTR and Open rates Cons: The support isn't very responsive View the full article

Vietnam is revising its energy plans to focus more on large solar farms and less on reliance on coal and natural gas. The fast-growing economy now aims to get 16% of its energy from the sun — more than triple its earlier target of just 5%. A draft of the new policy outline, likely to be finalized in coming weeks, scraps plans to build offshore wind turbines, instead building more onshore wind capacity, rooftop solar and energy storage. Offshore wind and new gas projects have proven expensive and difficult. Large solar farms are cheaper and easier to build. But Vietnam also is emphasizing expansion of large solar farms to meet soaring demand for power generation. It forecasts it will need more than 211 gigawatts of energy by 2030 as its economy grows, 40% more than its previous estimate and more than Germany’s current total capacity. “This reflects both an overall increase in potential power demand by 2030 and the fact that LNG (or liquefied natural gas) projects are not on track to be completed by 2030,” said Giles Cooper, a partner at the international law firm Allens based in Hanoi who specializes in energy policy. Solar power expanded rapidly in Vietnam from 2018 to 2020, helped by generous government policies, as it leaped past its neighbors and some richer nations like the United Kingdom. But construction of new solar capacity stalled in 2020 as the Southeast Asian nation realized that its creaky electricity grid was getting overloaded since electricity was only available when the sun shone. “It was like the market almost stopped,” said Dimitri Pescia, of Berlin-based thinktank Agora Energiewende. Use of polluting coal, which releases earth-warming gases into the atmosphere, has surged and Vietnam is set to become of the world’s top five coal importers, displacing Taiwan, according to the International Energy Agency. Like many other countries, Vietnam still needs to upgrade its rickety grid, which has failed to keep up with rapid growth of clean power generation. However, it has made improvements and gained experience dealing with energy sources that aren’t always availables, Cooper said. Last year, authorities allowed electricity-guzzling factories to buy power directly from energy producers, aiming to ease pressure on the overstrained power grid and help big manufacturers like Samsung Electronics meet their climate targets. But that was hindered by a lack of space to build clean energy projects close to factories. Solar energy is “seen as the most promising technology to kick start” those direct purchases, Cooper said. But while it’s building clean power capacity, Vietnam is also ramping up use of coal. That’s partly to make up for lost hydropower capacity due to drought, and also to meet soaring demand as businesses shift factories from China to Vietnam. Vietnam is Southeast Asia’s second-biggest coal producer after Indonesia. It also imported 50 million ton of coal in the first three quarters of 2024 — a 31% increase, according to government data. Pescia noted that Vietnam’s coal-fired power plants aren’t very old and operators have yet to recoup their investments. “Phasing out coal in a country like Vietnam will take more time,” he said. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. —Aniruddha Ghosal, Associated Press 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. The TP-Link Tapo C402 is $19.99 on Woot for the next two days or until it sells out. If you're a Prime member, you get free shipping; otherwise, it’ll cost you an extra $6. TP-Link Tapo C402 $19.99 at Woot $49.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Get Deal $19.99 at Woot $49.99 Save $30.00 This camera is IP65-rated, meaning it can handle rain and dust, and has a bullet-style design that makes it easy to mount. You get a 90-day Woot Limited Warranty, which isn’t long, but at this price, it’s hard to complain. It records in 1080p with a 125-degree field of view, offering sharp, color-rich daytime footage. At night, it switches between full-color video (though the colors reportedly appear a bit washed out) using built-in spotlights and black-and-white infrared video, depending on lighting conditions. For storage, the C402 supports microSD cards up to 512GB, but you’ll need to buy one separately if you want local storage. If you’d rather store footage online, TP-Link offers a Premium Tapo Care ($3.49 monthly or $34.99 annually) plan, which includes 30 days of video history, smart sorting for recorded clips, and rich notifications. Even if you skip the subscription, you still get free intelligent alerts for people, pets, and vehicles, privacy zone controls, two-way audio, and live view through the app, notes this PCMag review. Additional controls in the app include adjusting the spotlight brightness, formatting a microSD card, manually recording a video, and enabling or disabling the built-in 94dB siren, among others. The C402 connects via 2.4GHz wifi and works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT applets to integrate with other compatible smart home devices. It does not support Apple HomeKit. A 6,400mAh rechargeable battery powers the unit, which TP-Link claims can last up to 180 days per charge—though, in reality, that depends on usage. For those wanting a more hands-off power solution, the TP-Link Tapo SolarCam C402 Kit is available for $44.99 (down from $50.98), allowing the camera to run indefinitely on solar energy for a more set-it-and-forget-it experience. View the full article

Mortgage lender Lower accuses New American Funding of stealing a San Antonio branch in early 2025. View the full article