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Dan Sogorka is leaving Rocket to be with his family in San Diego, while Austin Niemiec's title is unchanged but he will no longer be responsible for retail. View the full article

Construction projects are notoriously difficult, and they’re known for encountering delays. They involve many moving parts, teams, equipment and materials, so your construction schedule should be thoroughly planned. Tools that are embedded in construction project management software, such as Gantt charts and resource management, are key features to control the phases of a construction project. But they just facilitate the process. The construction schedule is the backbone of any successful project management for construction. What Is Construction Scheduling? Construction scheduling is the process of identifying all construction activities in a project, estimating the time that they will take and then sequencing and coordinating their execution in a project timeframe, known as a construction schedule, which is usually presented in the form of a Gantt chart diagram or project calendar to successfully deliver a construction project. However, the construction scheduling process doesn’t end there. Once a construction schedule has been created and the construction phase starts, the project manager needs to constantly monitor the construction schedule and adjust it as needed to respond to a variety of construction delay events that may occur, such as adverse weather conditions, changes requested by the project owner, logistical issues, machinery breakdowns, etc. All of these issues will cause the schedule to become inaccurate as tasks are delayed against their original estimated start and end dates, so the project manager will need to adjust the schedule or take actions such as reallocating resources to speed up work. Creating a construction schedule requires thorough planning and the right tools. ProjectManager is construction project management software that offers multiple project planning tools such as Gantt charts, kanban boards and project calendars so you can map out your project activities and create accurate construction schedules. ProjectManager also offers real-time dashboards, workload charts and timesheets so you can keep track of time and costs. Get started for free today. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/construction-gantt-resources-costs-150-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpgLearn more Yes, construction scheduling is time-consuming. You want to take all the steps, avoid shortcuts and work toward creating the most accurate schedule you can. The more time you put into the construction schedule, the fewer issues you’ll have when you execute the project plan, which is key to good construction project management. What Is a Construction Schedule? A construction schedule is a visual timeline that establishes when every task and event in a construction project will occur. It’s a fundamental part of the project planning phase, as it also defines the teams responsible for executing the work and when resources such as materials, machinery and equipment will be needed. Beyond simply sequencing activities, a thorough construction schedule also identifies task dependencies, highlights critical deliverables and milestones and provides a baseline to track progress, manage delays and coordinate subcontractors, suppliers and inspections throughout the lifecycle of a construction project. Why Is Construction Scheduling Important? Far from being a standalone planning artifact, a construction schedule shapes how nearly every other project function operates. The construction scheduling process determines when money is spent, materials are ordered, crews are mobilized and work is coordinated on site. By setting the project’s time framework, the schedule influences financial control, operational efficiency and decision-making throughout the entire construction lifecycle. Here’s a quick overview of how a construction schedule—and therefore the construction scheduling process—impacts other key areas of construction project management. Project budgeting: A construction schedule shows when each project task happens, making it easier to estimate labor, materials and equipment costs, as well as how much money will be spent and when. This helps teams create a realistic construction budget, plan cash flow, prepare for high-cost periods and avoid running out of money mid-project. Procurement management: Construction scheduling defines when materials, equipment and subcontractor services are required, enabling timely purchasing and deliveries. This reduces storage needs, minimizes idle inventory and lowers the risk of work stoppages caused by late or misaligned procurement decisions. Site management: A clear construction schedule coordinates daily site operations by sequencing trades, inspections and work zones. This structure reduces congestion, improves safety, limits trade stacking and helps supervisors manage site activities with greater predictability and control. Cost tracking: When costs are tied to scheduled activities, teams can compare planned costs to actual costs in real time as the job progresses. This makes it easier to spot overruns early and take action before they grow into financial issues that could cause the project to fail. Resource allocation: A construction schedule guides how labor, equipment and materials are assigned to the work. When delays or issues occur, the schedule is adjusted and resources are shifted to recover time, such as adding crews, extending hours or overlapping activities through techniques like crashing or fast tracking. What Should Be Included In a Construction Schedule? Construction schedules are made up of various parts. The next time you’re putting one together, consider including the following sections. Project tasks: A detailed list of all tasks and activities included in each project phase. Project milestones: Key deadlines or noteworthy points in the project that mark the completion of major deliverables. Task dependencies: Logical relationships between activities that establish the order in which work must occur. There are four primary dependency types—finish-to-start, start-to-start, finish-to-finish and start-to-finish—each controlling when tasks can begin or end. Project resources: The labor, materials and equipment required to execute scheduled activities, including crew assignments, machinery usage and material availability, all aligned with the timing and sequencing defined in the construction schedule. Key deliverables: Clearly defined, measurable outputs produced at specific points in the schedule, such as completed structures, approved design documents, inspection sign-offs, compliance records and formal project closeout documentation. Work packages: Structured groupings of related tasks within the construction schedule that define a discrete scope of work, responsibilities and timeframes, making complex projects easier to plan, assign and track. Project timeline: The overall time framework of the construction project, showing phases, major activities and target completion dates, and serving as a reference for sequencing, coordination and progress monitoring. Critical path: The longest sequence of dependent activities that determines the shortest possible project duration. Any delay to critical path activities directly delays overall project completion, as these tasks have no available float or slack. Float or slack time: The amount of scheduling flexibility available for non-critical activities before delays begin to affect the project’s final completion date. Schedule baseline: The approved version of the construction schedule used as a reference point for measuring progress, analyzing delays and evaluating the impact of changes. Since each construction project is unique, the specific parts of a construction schedule may change based on company and stakeholder needs. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Construction.jpg Get your free Construction Schedule Template Use this free Construction Schedule Template to manage your projects better. Get the template Construction Schedule vs. Schedule of Works A construction schedule and a schedule of works share things in common, but they’re different project documents. A schedule of works is a contract, a construction project schedule is not. The schedule of works lists the work that must be completed on a construction project, but a construction schedule is far more than just a list of work. A schedule of works doesn’t have the detail and scope of a construction schedule, which includes the duration and deadline for the work, resources needed to execute those tasks and associated costs. Construction schedules also have milestones, identify dependent tasks and more. How to Create a Construction Schedule Now that we’ve addressed the importance of a construction schedule and its components, let’s go through a detailed list of steps we’ve prepared so you can create a construction schedule. 1. Define the Project Scope of Work Before any dates or durations are assigned, the construction project’s scope of work must be clearly defined. This step establishes what is included in the project and what is not, creating boundaries for the schedule. The most common tool used is a work breakdown structure, which systematically decomposes the overall project into major deliverables and smaller work packages, providing a structured foundation from which scheduling activities can later be developed. 2. Sequence Construction Tasks With the full set of project tasks identified, attention shifts to organizing them in a logical order based on their dependencies. Construction schedules are rarely linear, meaning they aren’t just a task list where you complete one task and then move to the next; instead, they are made up of multiple task sequences progressing at the same time. Some sequences are tightly linked and must align at specific points, while others operate independently. Sequencing tasks reveals how parallel workstreams interact, helping teams understand workflow, coordination requirements and potential scheduling conflicts. For this step, project network diagrams such as a critical path diagram or a PERT chart are commonly used, even though Gantt charts are the usual tool to represent the construction schedule. For example, on a commercial project, concrete curing must finish before steel erection begins, forming one clear sequence. Meanwhile, off-site fabrication of façade panels can proceed independently. Inside the structure, mechanical and electrical rough-ins often run in parallel, only converging later when inspections are required before finishes can start. 3. Estimate the Duration of Tasks Few decisions influence a construction schedule more than how long each task is expected to take. Task durations directly determine the overall project timeline and drive the identification of the critical path. From there, they shape available float, define realistic start and finish dates and influence how delays ripple across the schedule. Inaccurate duration estimates can distort sequencing logic, mask risk and undermine every downstream scheduling decision. Critical Path Method (CPM): CPM estimates task durations using deterministic, single-point values based on expected productivity and known constraints. Each activity is assigned a fixed duration, allowing planners to calculate early and late dates, identify the critical path and determine available float. This approach works best when task durations are relatively predictable and supported by reliable planning assumptions. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT): PERT approaches duration estimation probabilistically by using three values: optimistic, most likely and pessimistic durations. These are combined into a weighted average to reflect uncertainty. This technique is especially useful when tasks involve higher risk or variability, helping project teams account for uncertainty rather than relying on a single fixed estimate. Expert Judgment: This technique relies on the experience and practical knowledge of project managers, superintendents or trade specialists to estimate task durations. Rather than formulas, it draws on firsthand understanding of similar construction work, crew productivity and site conditions. Expert judgment is often used when data is limited or when conditions are too specific for standardized estimating methods. Historical Data and Analogous Estimating: Historical estimating uses data from past construction projects with similar scope and conditions to predict task durations. By analyzing actual performance from previous jobs, planners can develop realistic estimates grounded in evidence. This method improves accuracy over time and is especially effective for repetitive work or standardized construction activities. 4. Identify the Critical Path of the Project Traditionally, the critical path was identified by building a CPM network diagram and manually calculating early start, early finish, late start and late finish dates for each activity using the critical path method algorithm, a series of math calculations. This process could be performed by hand or in Excel, making critical path analysis accessible without specialized software for construction scheduling decisions. Modern project management software has automated critical path identification by recalculating logic, durations and dependencies in real time as schedules change. Instead of manual calculations, the critical path updates dynamically when tasks shift or delays occur. ProjectManager’s Gantt chart helps teams build flexible construction schedules while automatically highlighting the critical path, allowing managers to quickly assess impacts and make informed construction scheduling decisions as projects advance. 5. Identify Project Milestones Project milestones help simplify a construction schedule by highlighting key events without exposing every underlying task. Rather than reviewing hundreds of activities, stakeholders can focus on major approvals, phase completions or handoffs that signal meaningful progress. Milestones provide clear reference points for reporting, coordination and decision-making, making complex schedules easier to communicate to owners, executives and non-technical participants while still supporting detailed planning behind the scenes. 6. Establish a Schedule Baseline Establishing a schedule baseline involves formally approving the initial construction schedule once scope, sequencing and durations have been agreed upon. This baseline captures the original planned start and finish dates, durations and logic relationships at a specific point in time. Later in the project, it serves as a fixed reference for measuring progress, identifying delays and evaluating the impact of changes, allowing teams to distinguish normal execution from schedule drift and support informed corrective action. 7. Visualize the Project Schedule Using a Gantt Chart Gantt charts are the most widely used construction scheduling tools because they combine detailed planning with clear visual communication. They allow project managers to enter scheduling data such as task names, start and end dates, durations and dependencies while simultaneously displaying that information on a visual project timeline. This timeline is presented in a way that’s easy for most people to understand. It’s a stacked bar chart laid over a calendar which facilitates the identification of task sequences, dependencies and milestones, turning complex schedule data into an intuitive, easy-to-read project timeline. While traditional Gantt charts focus on dates and dependencies, ProjectManager’s Gantt chart expands scheduling into a broader project control tool. In addition to task durations and logic, it displays key execution data such as assigned resources, priority levels, WBS hierarchy and percent complete. This added context allows project managers to connect schedule performance with responsibility, progress and structure rather than viewing tasks as isolated timeline entries. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Construction-Gantt-chart-showing-task-lists-and-due-dates-e1752080313539.webp From a construction project tracking perspective, ProjectManager’s Gantt chart enables direct comparisons between planned and actual performance. Estimated start and finish dates can be measured against actual dates, planned durations against real execution time and estimated costs against actual costs at the task level. Visually, milestones appear as diamond symbols, progress is shown within task bars, dependencies are clearly linked and schedule baselines provide a reference point for identifying slippage. 8. Review and Adjust the Construction Schedule as the Project Advances Construction scheduling is highly complex and requires permanent monitoring. No construction schedule is written in stone, at least none that will succeed. Things change, and if you’re not monitoring and reviewing throughout the project, those changes will send you off track—or worse. You’ll need to look over the construction schedule throughout all project phases to make sure your actual progress aligns with your plan. Look at your schedule daily and depending on your time, update frequently. You can use our construction daily report template to keep track of the progress of your construction project. This is a matter of time management. If you find that a daily update takes you away from other project issues and responsibilities, then maybe you need to set aside time each week to respond to the changes you’ve noted daily and apply them to the schedule. Monitoring and adjusting your construction schedule as on- and off-site issues arise is perhaps the most important aspect of keeping your project on schedule. Construction Schedule Example One of the easiest ways to understand the impact of a construction schedule is with an example. Let’s imagine a construction company was contracted to create a new office building. Below, you can see the construction schedule made on ProjectManager’s Gantt chart. The project is broken down into various phases including design and planning, permits, site preparation, foundation, etc. On the left-hand side is a timeline with the task data that are visually represented on the right-hand side. /wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Construction-schedule-example-1.png Each phase is made up of specific tasks with a planned start and planned finish date for the team to reference as they execute their work. Project milestones are included as well, which mark the end of a piece of work, task sequence or project management phase. In the construction schedule example above, foundation inspection is an example of a milestone. The “how” and “why” in this example provide context for the project manager to reference throughout the project. If changes need to be made, such as moving the planned finish date for zoning approvals, the project manager can do so directly on the schedule. Construction Schedule Template If you’re looking for help in creating a construction schedule, check out our free construction schedule template. When you open this template in ProjectManager, you’ll be able to organize your schedule on powerful construction Gantt charts that link all four dependencies, list deliverables, manage resources, identify milestones and costs and even filter for the critical path. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Construction-Schedule-Template-Construction-Gantt-chart-Template-1600x551.webp Construction Scheduling Techniques Construction scheduling techniques are structured methods used to plan, organize and control the sequence, timing and coordination of construction activities. These techniques provide frameworks for managing dependencies, resources and constraints, helping project teams develop realistic schedules and respond effectively to changes throughout the construction lifecycle. Because no two construction projects unfold the same way, construction scheduling techniques are often selected based on project size, complexity and the working style of the project team. Some approaches are better suited for early planning, while others become valuable when conditions change. When delays begin to threaten completion dates, techniques such as schedule crashing or fast tracking can be applied to compress timelines, reallocate resources and regain momentum without completely reworking the entire construction schedule. Line of Balance (LOB): Line of balance is a construction scheduling technique used to plan and control repetitive tasks and processes. It’s ideal for projects with similar activities repeated in sequence, helping ensure work is executed efficiently and stays on schedule. Critical Path Method (CPM): The critical path method is a scheduling technique that identifies the sequence of tasks that determines the shortest possible project duration. It highlights critical activities that directly impact the project finish date if delayed. Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT): The program evaluation review and technique (PERT) is a scheduling technique that analyzes uncertainty in activity durations to create a more flexible and realistic project schedule. It’s especially useful when task durations are difficult to estimate and supports clearer stakeholder communication. Last Planner System (LPS): The last planner system is a collaborative, lean construction scheduling technique that focuses on short-term planning and commitment-based scheduling, where crews plan, promise and execute work in manageable timeframes to improve reliability and workflow. Rolling wave planning: Rolling wave planning is a progressive scheduling technique where near-term work is planned in detail while future activities remain at a higher level, allowing flexibility as project information becomes clearer. Resource leveling: Resource leveling is a technique used to adjust the schedule to address resource constraints by redistributing work without changing the overall project scope, helping prevent overallocated crews or equipment. Fast tracking: Fast tracking is a scheduling approach that shortens project duration by overlapping activities that were originally planned to occur sequentially, increasing speed but also raising coordination and risk considerations. Project crashing: Project crashing is a method for accelerating the schedule by adding extra resources to critical activities, typically increasing costs in exchange for reducing the overall project duration. Critical Chain Method (CCM): The critical chain method is a construction scheduling technique that builds on the critical path by accounting for resource constraints and uncertainty. It protects the project completion date by using strategic time buffers instead of padding individual activities. Commonly Used Construction Scheduling Tools Construction scheduling tools are instruments and visual aids used to create, analyze, communicate and control construction schedules. They support the application of scheduling techniques by translating activities, durations, dependencies and progress data into structured formats that enable planning, monitoring and decision-making throughout a construction project. Different construction scheduling tools serve distinct purposes depending on the stage of the scheduling process. Some tools are most effective during early planning, helping teams structure activities, define sequences and establish timelines. Others are better suited for execution and control, allowing project managers to track progress, compare planned versus actual performance and identify deviations. When delays or changes arise, certain tools support corrective actions by analyzing impacts, testing alternatives and guiding schedule adjustments. Project Network Diagrams: A project network diagram visually represents the sequence of project tasks, highlighting both task dependencies and the overall workflow. Project network diagrams are used in a variety of construction scheduling techniques, including the critical path method (CPM), program evaluation and review technique (PERT), precedence diagramming method, arrow diagramming method, among others. Gantt Charts: A mainstay in project management, Gantt charts are the quintessential construction scheduling tool that showcases a task’s start and end dates, duration and dependencies. They provide a clear and chronological overview to ensure projects are completed within the expected budget and timeframe. Milestone Charts: Milestone charts are another visual construction scheduling tool to highlight key events and project achievements. Significant milestones are displayed on a timeline with a focus on essential deliverables, deadlines and critical achievements. With this tool, the focus is on tracking overall progress instead of task durations. Critical path diagrams: A critical path diagram visually maps the longest sequence of dependent activities that determine the minimum project duration. This tool helps project teams identify tasks with zero float, understand schedule sensitivity and prioritize activities that directly impact the construction completion date. PERT charts: A PERT chart is a scheduling tool used to analyze task sequences and estimate project duration when activity timeframes are uncertain. By incorporating optimistic, pessimistic and most likely durations, it supports more flexible planning and informed decision-making. Lookahead schedules: Lookahead schedules focus on short-term planning, typically covering the next few weeks of work. They help construction teams identify upcoming constraints, coordinate trades and ensure tasks are ready for execution before they enter the active schedule. S-curve charts: S-curve charts plot cumulative progress, cost or labor against time, providing a visual comparison between planned and actual performance. They are commonly used to monitor trends, identify deviations early and communicate schedule status to stakeholders. Time tracking tools: Time tracking tools such as digital timesheets, mobile crew time apps, badge or kiosk clock-in systems and integrated field reporting tools capture actual labor hours spent on scheduled activities. This data allows teams to compare planned versus real performance, supporting accurate progress reporting, productivity analysis and schedule forecasting throughout the construction project. More Construction Project Management Templates The construction schedule template is one of the dozens of free construction templates for Excel and Word that you can download on our site. We have free templates for every phase of your project and many industries as well. Here are a few for construction. Construction Daily Report Template At the end of every day, construction workers have to document what work was performed, whether it was done or delayed, weather conditions on site and much more. Our free construction daily report for Excel outlines everything you need to cover so you can fill in the blanks. Construction Estimate Template Being able to forecast an accurate estimate for construction costs is key to managing the project. Our free construction estimate template for Excel helps you figure out the direct indirect, labor and material costs of your project. Bill of Quantities Template A bill of quantities lists all the materials and labor required for a construction project. If you’re managing a larger construction project, you’ll need our free bill of quantities template for Excel. It’s a crucial document for the bidding process as well as helping make a more accurate estimate of the project’s costs. How to Create a Construction Schedule With ProjectManager We’ve been hinting about how ProjectManager and construction scheduling go hand in glove, so let’s take a moment to go into greater detail about the many features available in our software that can assist you when scheduling your construction project. Gantt Charts for Plans and Schedules Beyond templates to get you started, we have an online Gantt chart that helps you plan your construction schedule. You can import your task list and it instantly populates the timeline. Then add the duration of each task and a bar chart marks the start to end dates. If any tasks are dependent, they can be easily linked. You can also set milestones across the timeline. You can then assign directly from the construction Gantt chart. Any relevant schematics or notes can be added directly to the task where team members can collaborate. They can add as many construction documents as they want with our unlimited file storage and comment on any issues with other team members by simply tagging them. When a change in your construction schedule occurs, adjusting the Gantt chart is simple. Just drag and drop the start and end dates. There are automated notifications, so team members are alerted of any changes to keep everyone on the same page. Resource and Team Management When it comes to tracking time and money throughout your construction project, we have you covered with resource management software. Managing your resources can be complicated in a construction project, but our online software gives you real-time data to better meet that goal. You can categorize teams, supplies, equipment, etc., adding hourly rates that’ll reflect across our software. When those hours are logged, the actual cost is automatically compared to the planned cost. This gives you the tools to manage construction costs. Teams can be managed, too. Our software details working days, holidays and planned hours over the course of the project, whether they’re on-site or even in different time zones. You can block out vacations and holidays, keeping your project schedule on track. With our workload feature, you can easily see who’s assigned to what. The workload is color-coded, so you can catch any imbalances quickly and reassign from the workload page. Filter by project, team or both and get the data you want. These features are essential for creating and managing your construction schedule. Timesheets are designed to automatically update when employees finish their assigned tasks. You can track their logged hours on our real-time dashboard, which also monitors task progress and more. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Timesheet-Light-2554x1372-1-e1709159471615.png That’s not all; there’s in-depth reporting on project workload, availability, timesheets and more. Reports can be filtered to show just what you need to know or offer a more broad overview when presenting to clients and other stakeholders. ProjectManager keeps your construction schedule on track. Related Construction Scheduling Content Construction Project Management Software Best Construction Scheduling Software Rankings Best Construction Estimating Software Rankings How to Make a Material Schedule for Construction Fragnet Schedule in Construction: Use Cases and How-to Guide ¿Cómo Hacer un Cronograma de Obra? Una Guía Rápida Comment créer un calendrier de construction : guide rapide Bauzeitplan erstellen: Bauzeitplanung einfach erklärt ProjectManager is online project management software with the tools you need for construction scheduling. Our features make planning, monitoring and reporting on your project more efficient and effective. Being online means our software is accessible everywhere and at any time. Plus, the data you get is more accurate because it’s updated immediately. Try ProjectManager for free with this 30-day trial offer. The post Making a Construction Schedule: Construction Scheduling Basics appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

A reader writes: I was called in to a last-minute end-of-day meeting yesterday … that ended up being with my boss, his boss, and HR. They told me that I’ve been accused of making sexist and ageist comments at work, and I’m baffled. I’ve been wracking my brain and can’t figure out what they could be referring to, AND THEY REFUSE TO TELL ME. They won’t even give me a hint. They basically said, “Think about what it might have been and don’t do it again or your job is at risk.” I don’t know whether it was one complaint or many, or even if it’s true at all (there is one person at work I think might be trying to get me fired.) How do I defend and/or protect myself? Or, if it’s true and I said something boneheaded, how do I improve if I don’t know what I did wrong? I’m a man in my 50s and have never been accused of anything of the sort – it’s not like I’m new to the work world. I feel so demoralized by this, and mortified if I actually did say something that was perceived as “ist.” How should I respond? If they actually want you to not to do it again, it’s absurd that they’re refusing to tell you what it was. Someone interested in you learning and changing would realize they needed to actually share with you what the issue was. “Think on it and figure it out on your own” is ridiculous feedback. It also means anyone can accuse you of anything at any time, and you can never defend yourself. I’d say this: “I’m mortified that something that landed that way. I’m committed to treating everyone here with respect, and I would never want someone to feel alienated in the way the types of comments you described can do. But I’m also having trouble acting on this feedback because, after racking my brain to think about whether I might have worded something badly or even just said it in a way that left me open to misinterpretation, I can’t for the life of me figure out what happened. Are you able to share the specific concern with me? If there’s something I’m saying that’s landing differently than I realize, I need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” You might also say, “If the concern in sharing specifics with me is that I might hold it against that person or make them uncomfortable in some way, I can assure you I’m committed to not doing that. I know the only way people feel safe reporting these concerns is when they don’t need to worry about it causing tension, and I want to respect that.” That said … “we’re going to threaten your job and refuse to discuss specifics” doesn’t bode well for this place in general. The post I’m in trouble for sexist and ageist remarks — but no one will tell me what I said appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

LinkedIn tested what drives AI search visibility and shared results. Content structure, expert authorship, and timestamps showed the clearest impact. The post LinkedIn Shares What Works For AI Search Visibility appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The Republican National Committee has vastly outpaced Democrats in the crush for cash ahead of the midterm elections, holding a nearly $100 million advantage at the close of 2025, according to year-end filings to the Federal Election Commission. As Democrats have struggled in the The President era, the RNC tallied $172 million raised in 2025, with $95 million cash on hand at year’s end. In contrast, the Democratic National Committee posted $145 million for the year, with $14 million on hand — and $17 million in debt, to start the new year underwater. It’s all pointing to a turbulent election cycle ahead as President Donald The President fights political headwinds that tend to brush back the party in power, in this case Republican control of the White House and both chambers of Congress, and reward challengers during the midterms. In the campaigns for control of Congress, the total hauls are less stark. House Republicans posted one of their stronger years, raising $13 million in the last month of the year, to close with more than $117 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the main campaign arm. House Democrats trailed slightly at $115 million. Both of the House committees started 2026 with about $50 million cash on hand, according to the filings, which were due to the FEC this weekend. A similar dynamic is playing out in the Senate. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday the GOP’s overall fundraising haul left him “bullish” on the party’s chances to not only hold onto their razor-thin majority in the House, but grow it with more members. “We’re going to have a war chest to run on,” Johnson, R-La., said on “Fox News Sunday.” To be sure, the fundraising totals reflect the 2025 calendar year, before the onslaught of actions and events that have scrambled the nation’s politics in the first month of the new year. From the U.S. military attack on Venezuela to the shooting deaths of two Americans protesting the The President administration’s immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis, it’s not at all certain whether voters — and donors — will undergo lasting shifts in their attitudes toward the political parties. “Momentum is on our side,” said Viet Shelton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which supports the House Democrats. He said the Republicans are “running scared” because the Democrats have better candidates and a better message for voters as the party tries to wrest back control of the House. In the Senate, the National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $88 million in 2025, closing out the year with $19.3 million cash on hand. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $79.8 million, but ended up slightly better with $21.7 million cash on hand. —Associated Press View the full article

If you’re considering investing in a franchise, it’s essential to understand which sectors are thriving. Various industries, such as home services, food and beverage, and fitness, offer significant potential for growth. Each of these franchises presents strong consumer demand and established brand recognition, which can lead to successful outcomes for franchisees. To make an informed decision, you’ll want to evaluate the nuances of each sector and their unique advantages. What might surprise you about these options? Key Takeaways Home services franchises offer lower startup costs and resilient revenue streams, making them an attractive investment opportunity. Food and beverage franchises benefit from established brand recognition and strong customer trust, ensuring consistent demand and repeat business. Fitness and recreation franchises cater to growing health awareness, promoting brand loyalty through membership-based revenue models. Pet services franchises capitalize on increasing consumer spending on pet care, providing low operational costs and strong customer loyalty. Automotive services franchises ensure steady revenue through consistent demand for vehicle maintenance, benefiting from the growing complexity of car technologies. Home Services Franchises Home services franchises represent a lucrative investment opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. These franchises, including cleaning, landscaping, and handyman services, meet the ongoing consumer demand for reliable service providers. They often rank among the best franchises to own in California because of lower startup costs, as they typically don’t require physical storefronts. This feature allows for streamlined operations and easier management, making them some of the best non-food franchises to own. Resilient through various economic cycles, home services franchises guarantee consistent revenue, offering franchisees solid returns on investment. In addition, many provide extensive training programs and ongoing support, vital for new owners to thrive. With a growing market, these franchises present ample opportunities for success in the evolving home services sector. Food and Beverage Franchises When considering food and beverage franchises, you’ll find that established brand recognition plays an essential role in attracting customers and ensuring success. Innovative menu offerings likewise keep customers engaged and coming back, as they seek unique dining experiences. With these factors in mind, investing in a food franchise can be a strategic choice for those looking to tap into a resilient market. Established Brand Recognition Established brand recognition plays a pivotal role in the success of food and beverage franchises, often setting them apart in a competitive marketplace. When you invest in a franchise with an established name, you tap into a reservoir of consumer trust and loyalty. This brand recognition not only attracts customers but also aids in retaining them over time. The following factors highlight the benefits of established brand recognition: Strong customer trust drives repeat business and referrals. Comprehensive marketing strategies boost visibility through national and local campaigns. Consistent demand for food ensures a reliable revenue stream. Brand loyalty nurtures long-term success and profitability for franchise owners. Innovative Menu Offerings Innovative menu offerings are vital for food and beverage franchises aiming to attract and retain a diverse customer base. By incorporating health-conscious and environmentally friendly options, franchises can meet the growing demand for sustainable food choices. Brands like Sweetgreen and MOD Pizza thrive by providing customizable menus that cater to individual dietary preferences, enhancing customer satisfaction. Seasonal menu changes and limited-time offerings create excitement, encouraging repeat visits and boosting sales performance. Furthermore, using local ingredients and unique flavors cultivates a strong connection with the community, further enhancing brand loyalty. In the end, investing in innovative menu offerings not just addresses consumer trends but strengthens a franchise’s market presence, giving you a competitive edge in the food and beverage industry. Fitness and Recreation Franchises As health awareness continues to grow, investing in fitness and recreation franchises presents a promising opportunity for franchise owners. With diverse business models, these franchises cater to a wide range of consumer preferences, from traditional gyms to specialized training studios. This industry not only nurtures brand loyalty through membership-based revenue but additionally benefits from strong community engagement, driving local participation and steady income streams. Growing Health Awareness The rise of health consciousness among consumers has particularly impacted the fitness and recreation franchise sector. This growing awareness drives significant growth, with franchises like boutique gyms and personal training studios thriving. Membership-based revenue models promote brand loyalty and guarantee a steady income stream, during which franchises such as PickleRage highlight the broadening opportunities within sports and recreation. Innovative concepts like indoor trampoline parks and pickleball centers attract diverse audiences. Strong community engagement cultivates customer loyalty and repeat business. Families and local communities benefit from year-round recreational activities. The focus on health and fitness encourages franchises to adapt to consumer demands. Investing in these franchises can be a sound decision given the increasing demand for health-focused lifestyles. Diverse Business Models With the rise in health consciousness, diverse business models within the fitness and recreation franchise sector are gaining engagement. This growth, driven by increased consumer focus on wellness, presents a lucrative opportunity for investors. Membership-based revenue models cultivate brand loyalty and provide stable income streams. Franchises like PickleRage showcase the shift toward boutique gyms and specialized facilities, serving niche markets during enhancing community engagement. Established models simplify operational management, reducing the learning curve for new owners and enhancing profitability. Furthermore, year-round demand for recreational activities guarantees consistent foot traffic. Business Model Key Feature Membership-Based Stable income, brand loyalty Boutique Gyms Niche markets, community focus Indoor Trampoline Parks Year-round demand, consistent revenue Sports Centers Diverse activities, family-friendly Pet Services Franchises Investing in pet services franchises presents a compelling opportunity, especially as the pet services industry continues to grow considerably. With consumers spending more on pet care, these franchises can be quite lucrative. You’ll find that many pet services, like dog grooming, boarding, and training, enjoy strong customer loyalty and recurring revenue, which improves profitability. Initial investments range from $120,000 for options like Dog Training Elite to $928,000 for Camp Bow Wow. Low operational costs make these franchises appealing. Flexible business models accommodate both hands-on and semi-absentee owners. The rising trend of pet ownership and focus on wellness boosts demand for PetSmart service franchises, making them a promising investment choice. Education and Tutoring Franchises As parents increasingly prioritize their children’s academic success, education and tutoring franchises present a stable investment opportunity. The demand for tutoring services continues to rise, fueled by a focus on STEM education and personalized learning. These franchises often offer extensive training and ongoing support, ensuring franchisees operate efficiently. Successful education franchises emphasize flexible scheduling and customized programs, catering to diverse student needs. Notable examples include those specializing in test preparation and after-school programs, which have proven resilient in various economic climates. Franchise Type Growth Potential Support Provided Test Preparation High In-depth training After-School Programs Moderate to High Ongoing operational support STEM-focused Tutoring Strong Marketing assistance Language Learning Steady Curriculum development Beauty and Personal Care Franchises Beauty and personal care franchises offer a promising investment opportunity, especially since many consumers prioritize self-care and grooming. This sector boasts a consistent customer base, ensuring steady revenue streams for franchise owners. Here are some key advantages of investing in beauty franchises: Membership models encourage repeat business and improve customer loyalty. The market remains resilient to economic fluctuations, with consumers willing to spend on grooming. Established brands provide strong recognition, helping attract customers easily. Franchise opportunities often include thorough training programs and ongoing support, aiding new franchisees in their success. With these factors in mind, investing in beauty and personal care franchises can lead to a rewarding business venture, driven by consumer demand and proven business models. Automotive Services Franchises Automotive services franchises represent a solid investment option, especially considering the consistent demand for vehicle maintenance. With services like oil changes and tire rotations, brands such as Jiffy Lube and Meineke enjoy a recurring customer base that guarantees steady revenue. The automotive industry continues to grow, driven by increasing vehicle ownership and the complexity of modern car technologies, which require professional servicing. Moreover, many automotive franchises offer lower startup costs compared to other sectors, making them accessible for aspiring franchise owners. Franchisees benefit from extensive training and ongoing support from franchisors, equipping you with the necessary skills to operate successfully. This combination of demand, support, and cost-effectiveness makes automotive services franchises a compelling investment choice. Frequently Asked Questions What Franchise Business Is the Most Profitable? When considering the most profitable franchise business, you’ll find that food and beverage options often lead the way, thanks to high demand and consumer loyalty. Brands like Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’ Donuts consistently report strong revenue returns. Nevertheless, home service franchises, like Mr. Rooter, likewise present lucrative opportunities with low failure rates. Furthermore, health and wellness franchises, alongside emerging pet services, have shown robust growth, reflecting shifting consumer priorities and spending habits. What Franchise Is the Best to Buy Into? When you’re considering which franchise is best to buy into, focus on brands with strong owner satisfaction ratings and proven performance metrics. Established franchises often offer thorough training and ongoing support, which can ease your changeover. Look at industries such as food and beverage or emerging sectors like fitness, as they show robust demand. Furthermore, evaluating financial performance, including revenue growth and low failure rates, is essential for making an informed decision. Why Is It Only $10,000 to Open a Chick-Fil-A? It only costs $10,000 to open a Chick-fil-A since the company retains ownership of the restaurant and its assets, minimizing financial risk for you. This unique model allows for a lower initial investment compared to traditional franchises. Nevertheless, you’ll need to pay a 15% royalty on sales and 50% of pretax profits. Chick-fil-A likewise provides extensive training and support, and limits franchises in each market, helping improve your profitability potential. What Is the Best Franchise for a First Time Owner? For a first-time owner, the best franchise depends on your interests and budget. Consider options like Two Maids & a Mop, which requires a minimum investment of $83,140 and allows for part-time involvement. Property Management offers a lower entry cost of $50,000, ideal for those interested in real estate. On the other hand, Code Ninjas, focusing on child education, requires $100,000 and provides strong support, making it a solid choice for new franchisees. Conclusion In conclusion, exploring these seven franchise sectors—home services, food and beverage, fitness and recreation, pet services, education and tutoring, beauty, and automotive services—offers promising investment opportunities. Each area demonstrates strong consumer demand and established support systems for franchisees. By carefully evaluating market trends and growth potential, you can make informed decisions that align with your goals and resources. Investing in a franchise can be a strategic move, providing both stability and the chance for significant returns. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Best Franchise Businesses to Invest" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re considering investing in a franchise, it’s essential to understand which sectors are thriving. Various industries, such as home services, food and beverage, and fitness, offer significant potential for growth. Each of these franchises presents strong consumer demand and established brand recognition, which can lead to successful outcomes for franchisees. To make an informed decision, you’ll want to evaluate the nuances of each sector and their unique advantages. What might surprise you about these options? Key Takeaways Home services franchises offer lower startup costs and resilient revenue streams, making them an attractive investment opportunity. Food and beverage franchises benefit from established brand recognition and strong customer trust, ensuring consistent demand and repeat business. Fitness and recreation franchises cater to growing health awareness, promoting brand loyalty through membership-based revenue models. Pet services franchises capitalize on increasing consumer spending on pet care, providing low operational costs and strong customer loyalty. Automotive services franchises ensure steady revenue through consistent demand for vehicle maintenance, benefiting from the growing complexity of car technologies. Home Services Franchises Home services franchises represent a lucrative investment opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs. These franchises, including cleaning, landscaping, and handyman services, meet the ongoing consumer demand for reliable service providers. They often rank among the best franchises to own in California because of lower startup costs, as they typically don’t require physical storefronts. This feature allows for streamlined operations and easier management, making them some of the best non-food franchises to own. Resilient through various economic cycles, home services franchises guarantee consistent revenue, offering franchisees solid returns on investment. In addition, many provide extensive training programs and ongoing support, vital for new owners to thrive. With a growing market, these franchises present ample opportunities for success in the evolving home services sector. Food and Beverage Franchises When considering food and beverage franchises, you’ll find that established brand recognition plays an essential role in attracting customers and ensuring success. Innovative menu offerings likewise keep customers engaged and coming back, as they seek unique dining experiences. With these factors in mind, investing in a food franchise can be a strategic choice for those looking to tap into a resilient market. Established Brand Recognition Established brand recognition plays a pivotal role in the success of food and beverage franchises, often setting them apart in a competitive marketplace. When you invest in a franchise with an established name, you tap into a reservoir of consumer trust and loyalty. This brand recognition not only attracts customers but also aids in retaining them over time. The following factors highlight the benefits of established brand recognition: Strong customer trust drives repeat business and referrals. Comprehensive marketing strategies boost visibility through national and local campaigns. Consistent demand for food ensures a reliable revenue stream. Brand loyalty nurtures long-term success and profitability for franchise owners. Innovative Menu Offerings Innovative menu offerings are vital for food and beverage franchises aiming to attract and retain a diverse customer base. By incorporating health-conscious and environmentally friendly options, franchises can meet the growing demand for sustainable food choices. Brands like Sweetgreen and MOD Pizza thrive by providing customizable menus that cater to individual dietary preferences, enhancing customer satisfaction. Seasonal menu changes and limited-time offerings create excitement, encouraging repeat visits and boosting sales performance. Furthermore, using local ingredients and unique flavors cultivates a strong connection with the community, further enhancing brand loyalty. In the end, investing in innovative menu offerings not just addresses consumer trends but strengthens a franchise’s market presence, giving you a competitive edge in the food and beverage industry. Fitness and Recreation Franchises As health awareness continues to grow, investing in fitness and recreation franchises presents a promising opportunity for franchise owners. With diverse business models, these franchises cater to a wide range of consumer preferences, from traditional gyms to specialized training studios. This industry not only nurtures brand loyalty through membership-based revenue but additionally benefits from strong community engagement, driving local participation and steady income streams. Growing Health Awareness The rise of health consciousness among consumers has particularly impacted the fitness and recreation franchise sector. This growing awareness drives significant growth, with franchises like boutique gyms and personal training studios thriving. Membership-based revenue models promote brand loyalty and guarantee a steady income stream, during which franchises such as PickleRage highlight the broadening opportunities within sports and recreation. Innovative concepts like indoor trampoline parks and pickleball centers attract diverse audiences. Strong community engagement cultivates customer loyalty and repeat business. Families and local communities benefit from year-round recreational activities. The focus on health and fitness encourages franchises to adapt to consumer demands. Investing in these franchises can be a sound decision given the increasing demand for health-focused lifestyles. Diverse Business Models With the rise in health consciousness, diverse business models within the fitness and recreation franchise sector are gaining engagement. This growth, driven by increased consumer focus on wellness, presents a lucrative opportunity for investors. Membership-based revenue models cultivate brand loyalty and provide stable income streams. Franchises like PickleRage showcase the shift toward boutique gyms and specialized facilities, serving niche markets during enhancing community engagement. Established models simplify operational management, reducing the learning curve for new owners and enhancing profitability. Furthermore, year-round demand for recreational activities guarantees consistent foot traffic. Business Model Key Feature Membership-Based Stable income, brand loyalty Boutique Gyms Niche markets, community focus Indoor Trampoline Parks Year-round demand, consistent revenue Sports Centers Diverse activities, family-friendly Pet Services Franchises Investing in pet services franchises presents a compelling opportunity, especially as the pet services industry continues to grow considerably. With consumers spending more on pet care, these franchises can be quite lucrative. You’ll find that many pet services, like dog grooming, boarding, and training, enjoy strong customer loyalty and recurring revenue, which improves profitability. Initial investments range from $120,000 for options like Dog Training Elite to $928,000 for Camp Bow Wow. Low operational costs make these franchises appealing. Flexible business models accommodate both hands-on and semi-absentee owners. The rising trend of pet ownership and focus on wellness boosts demand for PetSmart service franchises, making them a promising investment choice. Education and Tutoring Franchises As parents increasingly prioritize their children’s academic success, education and tutoring franchises present a stable investment opportunity. The demand for tutoring services continues to rise, fueled by a focus on STEM education and personalized learning. These franchises often offer extensive training and ongoing support, ensuring franchisees operate efficiently. Successful education franchises emphasize flexible scheduling and customized programs, catering to diverse student needs. Notable examples include those specializing in test preparation and after-school programs, which have proven resilient in various economic climates. Franchise Type Growth Potential Support Provided Test Preparation High In-depth training After-School Programs Moderate to High Ongoing operational support STEM-focused Tutoring Strong Marketing assistance Language Learning Steady Curriculum development Beauty and Personal Care Franchises Beauty and personal care franchises offer a promising investment opportunity, especially since many consumers prioritize self-care and grooming. This sector boasts a consistent customer base, ensuring steady revenue streams for franchise owners. Here are some key advantages of investing in beauty franchises: Membership models encourage repeat business and improve customer loyalty. The market remains resilient to economic fluctuations, with consumers willing to spend on grooming. Established brands provide strong recognition, helping attract customers easily. Franchise opportunities often include thorough training programs and ongoing support, aiding new franchisees in their success. With these factors in mind, investing in beauty and personal care franchises can lead to a rewarding business venture, driven by consumer demand and proven business models. Automotive Services Franchises Automotive services franchises represent a solid investment option, especially considering the consistent demand for vehicle maintenance. With services like oil changes and tire rotations, brands such as Jiffy Lube and Meineke enjoy a recurring customer base that guarantees steady revenue. The automotive industry continues to grow, driven by increasing vehicle ownership and the complexity of modern car technologies, which require professional servicing. Moreover, many automotive franchises offer lower startup costs compared to other sectors, making them accessible for aspiring franchise owners. Franchisees benefit from extensive training and ongoing support from franchisors, equipping you with the necessary skills to operate successfully. This combination of demand, support, and cost-effectiveness makes automotive services franchises a compelling investment choice. Frequently Asked Questions What Franchise Business Is the Most Profitable? When considering the most profitable franchise business, you’ll find that food and beverage options often lead the way, thanks to high demand and consumer loyalty. Brands like Chick-fil-A and Dunkin’ Donuts consistently report strong revenue returns. Nevertheless, home service franchises, like Mr. Rooter, likewise present lucrative opportunities with low failure rates. Furthermore, health and wellness franchises, alongside emerging pet services, have shown robust growth, reflecting shifting consumer priorities and spending habits. What Franchise Is the Best to Buy Into? When you’re considering which franchise is best to buy into, focus on brands with strong owner satisfaction ratings and proven performance metrics. Established franchises often offer thorough training and ongoing support, which can ease your changeover. Look at industries such as food and beverage or emerging sectors like fitness, as they show robust demand. Furthermore, evaluating financial performance, including revenue growth and low failure rates, is essential for making an informed decision. Why Is It Only $10,000 to Open a Chick-Fil-A? It only costs $10,000 to open a Chick-fil-A since the company retains ownership of the restaurant and its assets, minimizing financial risk for you. This unique model allows for a lower initial investment compared to traditional franchises. Nevertheless, you’ll need to pay a 15% royalty on sales and 50% of pretax profits. Chick-fil-A likewise provides extensive training and support, and limits franchises in each market, helping improve your profitability potential. What Is the Best Franchise for a First Time Owner? For a first-time owner, the best franchise depends on your interests and budget. Consider options like Two Maids & a Mop, which requires a minimum investment of $83,140 and allows for part-time involvement. Property Management offers a lower entry cost of $50,000, ideal for those interested in real estate. On the other hand, Code Ninjas, focusing on child education, requires $100,000 and provides strong support, making it a solid choice for new franchisees. Conclusion In conclusion, exploring these seven franchise sectors—home services, food and beverage, fitness and recreation, pet services, education and tutoring, beauty, and automotive services—offers promising investment opportunities. Each area demonstrates strong consumer demand and established support systems for franchisees. By carefully evaluating market trends and growth potential, you can make informed decisions that align with your goals and resources. Investing in a franchise can be a strategic move, providing both stability and the chance for significant returns. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Best Franchise Businesses to Invest" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Every company wants to be innovative. Most approach this by trying to hire highly creative specialists or by spinning up a new “innovation” team. But companies that consistently innovate do something different: They build company-wide systems focused on customer solutions and make innovation part of everyday business. Smart organizations focus on building reliable processes to understand customers, test assumptions, and scale what works. In my experience at Verra Mobility, the difference between companies that talk about innovation and companies that deliver it often comes down to a repeatable process that drives creativity. QUESTION EVERYTHING YOU “KNOW” The biggest innovation killer isn’t resistance to change; it’s the assumption that we already know the answer. When someone says they “know” what customers want, we dig deeper. Who did you talk to? How long ago did you talk to them? In our business reviews, we’ve made it mandatory for every business review to include not only operational performance, but also market updates and competitive intelligence. We want to push people to ask more questions, not just review more slides. This creates a culture where expertise is valued, assumptions are challenged, and customer insight drives decisions. When you force teams to back up their opinions with current data, they start questioning how they’ve worked and look for better solutions. UNDERSTAND WHAT CUSTOMERS WANT TO ACCOMPLISH Most innovation fails because we solve the wrong problems. Teams focus on how customers are using a product instead of understanding what they’re trying to achieve. Take time to sit with customers and understand their complete workflows—which teams they interact with, how they’d be impacted by process changes, and identifying opportunities to improve. Go deeper than marketing personas to understand the decision makers who will ultimately sign off on new programs. A few years ago, a car rental company client told us their biggest issue wasn’t reconciling $100 traffic violations, it was accounting for daily $10 tolls. We created a whole new business line for automated toll management. We started with one state, then expanded based on what worked. MAKE EXPERIMENTATION PART OF THE PROCESS Innovation requires observation, but success requires testing assumptions quickly and cheaply. We’ve built experimentation into our standard improvement process. When teams create solutions, I ask them to identify their biggest assumptions upfront, then look at the probability that assumption is correct. If we’re not sure, we test it quickly with a pilot or single customer trial. Take rough prototypes—even napkin drawings—directly to customers. The less finished it looks, the more honest the feedback you receive. When something looks polished, people don’t want to hurt your feelings. When it’s obviously a sketch, they’ll tell you exactly what’s wrong. Rather than funding only well-developed ideas in annual planning cycles, we create ways to test concepts early and build our business on what succeeds. MAKE INNOVATION EVERYONE’S JOB Innovation isn’t a special team’s responsibility. Everyone needs the mindset that there’s always room for improvement, and that they play an active role in identifying solutions. When innovation is part of everyone’s daily work, it becomes sustainable. This means regular forums where teams share customer insights and have clear processes for moving from hypothesis to experiment to implementation. It means bringing together product management, sales, and customer success to ensure new innovations don’t create support nightmares. Most experiments will fail—but they’ll fail fast and cheap, not slow and expensive. THE INNOVATION DISCIPLINE Here’s what most companies get wrong: They think innovation is about creativity and inspiration. While those are important, real success is driven by discipline and systems. Companies that succeed long-term create processes where good ideas surface, get tested quickly, and spread when they work. Any organization can do that if they’re willing to watch, question, and pilot solutions quickly. David Roberts is CEO of Verra Mobility. View the full article

President Donald The President said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center performing arts center for two years starting in July for construction, his latest proposal to upturn the storied venue since returning to the White House. The President’s announcement on social media follows a wave of cancellations by leading performers, musicians and groups since the president ousted the previous leadership and added his name to the building. The President made no mention in his post of the recent cancellations. His proposal, announced days after the premiere of “Melania,” a documentary of the first lady was shown at the center, he said was subject to approval by the board of the Kennedy Center, which has been stocked with his hand-picked allies. The President himself chairs the center’s board of trustees. “This important decision, based on input from many Highly Respected Experts, will take a tired, broken, and dilapidated Center, one that has been in bad condition, both financially and structurally for many years, and turn it into a World Class Bastion of Arts, Music, and Entertainment,” The President wrote in his post. Neither The President nor Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, a The President ally, have provided evidence to back up their claims about the building being in disrepair, and last October, The President had pledged the center would remain open during renovations. In Sunday’s announcement, The President said the center will close on July 4th, when he said the construction would begin. “Our goal has always been to not only save and permanently preserve the Center, but to make it the finest Arts Institution in the world,” Grenell said in a post, citing funds Congress approved for repairs. “This will be a brief closure,” Grenell said. “It desperately needs this renovation and temporarily closing the Center just makes sense — it will enable us to better invest our resources, think bigger and make the historic renovations more comprehensive. It also means we will be finished faster.” The sudden decision to shutter and reconstruct the Kennedy Center is sparking blowback as The President disrupts the popular venue, which began as a national cultural center but Congress renamed as a “living memorial” to President John F. Kennedy in 1964, in the aftermath of the slain president’s death. Opened in 1971, it is open year-round as a public showcase for the arts, including the National Symphony Orchestra. Since The President returned to the White House, the Kennedy Center is one of many Washington landmarks that he has sought to overhaul in his second term. He demolished the East Wing of the White House and launched a massive $400 million ballroom project, is actively pursuing building a triumphal arch on the other side the Arlington Bridge from the the Lincoln Memorial, and has plans for Washington Dulles International Airport. Leading performing arts groups have pulled out of appearances at the Kennedy Center, most recently, composer Philip Glass, who announced his decision to withdraw his Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” because he said the values of the center today are in “direct conflict” with the message of the piece. Last month, the Washington National Opera announced that it will move performances away from the Kennedy Center in another high-profile departure following The President’s takeover of the U.S. capital’s leading performing arts venue. The head of artistic programming for the center abruptly left his post last week, less than two weeks after being named to the job. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center could not immediately be reached and did not respond to an emailed request for comment. Late last year, as The President announced his plan to rename the building — erecting his name on the building’s main front ahead of that of Kennedy — he drew sharp opposition from members of Congress, and some Kennedy family members. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of John F. Kennedy, said in a social post on X at the time that she will remove The President’s name herself with a pickax when his term ends. Another family member, Maria Shriver, said at the time that it is “beyond comprehension that this sitting president has sought to rename this great memorial dedicated to President Kennedy,” her uncle. “It is beyond wild that he would think adding his name in front of President Kennedy’s name is acceptable. It is not.” Late Sunday evening, Shriver posted a new comment mimicking The President’s own voice and style, and suggesting the closure of the venue was meant to deflect from the cancellations. She said that “entertainers are canceling left and right” and the president has determined that “since the name change no one wants to perform there any longer.” The President has decided, she said, it’s best “to close this center down and rebuild a new center” that will bear his name. She asked, “right?” One lawmaker, Rep. Joyce Beatty, the Ohio Democrat and ex-officio trustee of the center’s board, sued in December, arguing that “only Congress has the authority to rename the Kennedy Center.” On Sunday, Beatty said that once again The President “has acted with total disregard for Congress,” which allocates funds to the center. She questioned what comes next for the artists — and the building itself. “Let’s be clear: remodeling the premises will not restore the Kennedy Center to what it was. A return to artistic independence will,” she said. “America’s artists are rejecting this attempted takeover, and the administration knows it.” Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report. —Michelle L. Price and Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press View the full article

Small business owners seeking an edge in technology may want to pay attention to recent advancements in quantum computing announced by Microsoft. With the introduction of the latest version of the Quantum Development Kit (QDK), small firms now have access to powerful tools that could redefine their operational efficiencies and problem-solving capabilities. In a landscape where precision and speed can greatly influence business outcomes, the QDK offers developers a versatile arsenal for building and executing quantum applications. Gone are the days of grappling with error-prone qubits; Microsoft’s focus on reliable logical qubits signifies a move towards more stable computational environments. As outlined in their recent press release, this toolkit is designed not just for scientists and large enterprises but also aims to empower small businesses exploring AI and quantum technologies. The QDK is an open-source platform that integrates seamlessly with popular coding tools like Microsoft Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot. These integrations enable quicker coding, testing, and execution processes for quantum algorithms, making it more accessible for developers familiar with programming languages such as Python and Q#. By simplifying the coding workflow, businesses can focus on innovation rather than getting bogged down with technical details. “With GitHub Copilot and the QDK, programming tasks such as code generation, unit tests, and job submissions are faster and easier than ever before,” said Matthias Troyer, Microsoft’s Technical Fellow. Key benefits of the QDK include built-in libraries for specific applications like quantum chemistry and error correction. These tools can significantly reduce the amount of expertise required to tackle complex scientific issues. Small businesses in the tech or research sectors may find that the chemistry toolkit enhances their ability to perform tasks that were previously reserved for larger firms with extensive resources. Notably, the QDK offers advanced methods to optimize complex problems within quantum hardware constraints, enabling companies to derive actionable insights more swiftly. There’s also the matter of scalability. Microsoft’s QDK allows for plug-and-play integration with existing tools, minimizing configuration overhead—a critical factor for smaller enterprises often constrained by time and personnel. This adaptability is important, particularly as marketplaces increasingly demand rapid innovation and responsiveness. However, small business owners should remain aware that while the QDK presents considerable opportunities, challenges could arise. The shift towards quantum computing entails a steep learning curve, particularly for teams not already versed in this new frontier. Investing in training and skill development may be necessary to fully realize the benefits of quantum technologies. Additionally, keeping pace with the fast-evolving nature of quantum algorithms will require ongoing dedication to learning and adaptation in operational practices. Microsoft is not just launching these tools but is building a broader ecosystem. The QDK is part of a comprehensive quantum platform that integrates various elements including hardware, software, and AI, all powered by Azure. Collaborations with industry leaders, such as Atom Computing, highlight the level of investment Microsoft is making into the quantum space. As Troyer notes, “Empowering quantum development with familiar tools enhances capabilities and accelerates time to insight.” For small business owners, the arrival of the QDK represents a powerful opportunity to integrate cutting-edge quantum capabilities into their operations. With the potential for transformative applications in fields like quantum chemistry and error correction, early adopters could find themselves poised at the forefront of an evolving technological landscape. Accessing Microsoft’s resources may just be the catalyst needed for businesses to innovate more efficiently and effectively. For more detailed information on the Microsoft Quantum Development Kit and its features, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Microsoft Unveils Quantum Development Kit to Revolutionize Chemistry and Error Correction" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small business owners seeking an edge in technology may want to pay attention to recent advancements in quantum computing announced by Microsoft. With the introduction of the latest version of the Quantum Development Kit (QDK), small firms now have access to powerful tools that could redefine their operational efficiencies and problem-solving capabilities. In a landscape where precision and speed can greatly influence business outcomes, the QDK offers developers a versatile arsenal for building and executing quantum applications. Gone are the days of grappling with error-prone qubits; Microsoft’s focus on reliable logical qubits signifies a move towards more stable computational environments. As outlined in their recent press release, this toolkit is designed not just for scientists and large enterprises but also aims to empower small businesses exploring AI and quantum technologies. The QDK is an open-source platform that integrates seamlessly with popular coding tools like Microsoft Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot. These integrations enable quicker coding, testing, and execution processes for quantum algorithms, making it more accessible for developers familiar with programming languages such as Python and Q#. By simplifying the coding workflow, businesses can focus on innovation rather than getting bogged down with technical details. “With GitHub Copilot and the QDK, programming tasks such as code generation, unit tests, and job submissions are faster and easier than ever before,” said Matthias Troyer, Microsoft’s Technical Fellow. Key benefits of the QDK include built-in libraries for specific applications like quantum chemistry and error correction. These tools can significantly reduce the amount of expertise required to tackle complex scientific issues. Small businesses in the tech or research sectors may find that the chemistry toolkit enhances their ability to perform tasks that were previously reserved for larger firms with extensive resources. Notably, the QDK offers advanced methods to optimize complex problems within quantum hardware constraints, enabling companies to derive actionable insights more swiftly. There’s also the matter of scalability. Microsoft’s QDK allows for plug-and-play integration with existing tools, minimizing configuration overhead—a critical factor for smaller enterprises often constrained by time and personnel. This adaptability is important, particularly as marketplaces increasingly demand rapid innovation and responsiveness. However, small business owners should remain aware that while the QDK presents considerable opportunities, challenges could arise. The shift towards quantum computing entails a steep learning curve, particularly for teams not already versed in this new frontier. Investing in training and skill development may be necessary to fully realize the benefits of quantum technologies. Additionally, keeping pace with the fast-evolving nature of quantum algorithms will require ongoing dedication to learning and adaptation in operational practices. Microsoft is not just launching these tools but is building a broader ecosystem. The QDK is part of a comprehensive quantum platform that integrates various elements including hardware, software, and AI, all powered by Azure. Collaborations with industry leaders, such as Atom Computing, highlight the level of investment Microsoft is making into the quantum space. As Troyer notes, “Empowering quantum development with familiar tools enhances capabilities and accelerates time to insight.” For small business owners, the arrival of the QDK represents a powerful opportunity to integrate cutting-edge quantum capabilities into their operations. With the potential for transformative applications in fields like quantum chemistry and error correction, early adopters could find themselves poised at the forefront of an evolving technological landscape. Accessing Microsoft’s resources may just be the catalyst needed for businesses to innovate more efficiently and effectively. For more detailed information on the Microsoft Quantum Development Kit and its features, visit the original post here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Microsoft Unveils Quantum Development Kit to Revolutionize Chemistry and Error Correction" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Here is a recap of what happened in the search forums today...View the full article

It's been more than a year since the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra were unveiled, which means we're overdue some new flagship phones from Samsung. While nothing has been officially revealed about the Galaxy S26, a number of leaks and rumors that have appeared online, providing a pretty good idea of what to expect. With the caveat that none of this is confirmed (though this information all comes from well-known tipsters with decent track records when it comes to future Samsung products), here's everything the rumors are telling us right now. We'll know how much of it is spot-on once the devices are announced—perhaps as soon as the end of this month. What rumors say about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series' launch date and pricing Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S25 phones on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, and they then went on sale on Friday, Feb. 7. We're already into February 2026, and there's still no word about the Galaxy S26 series, so for whatever reason, Samsung hasn't been able to stick to the same schedule that it used last year for its flagship phones' launch. Still, we should see these handsets appear before we're too much further into 2026. According to information obtained by the team at Dealabs, Samsung is planning to hold a launch event on Wednesday, Feb. 25—which would align with the day of the week that Samsung usually likes to hold its Unpacked events. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. That date has been repeated by veteran leaker Evan Blass, so it looks as certain as anything can be without any official confirmation. There will then be a short preorder period before the phones actually go on sale, as usual, and the Galaxy S26 series is being tipped to start shipping on Wednesday, March 11. As for pricing, it would seem that these Galaxy S26 handsets are going to cost you as much as their Galaxy S25 counterparts did when they first came out. Several sources, including reports from South Korean media, predict the following starting prices: $799 for the Galaxy S26, $999 for the Galaxy S26 Plus, and $1,299 for the Galaxy S26 Ultra. What rumors say about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series' designThe three models we're expecting—the standard model, the Plus model, and the Ultra model—match up with what Samsung has done in previous years, including 2025. It's possible that we'll see a more affordable FE (Fan Edition) version of the Galaxy S26 later in the year—the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE launched in September 2025. What we're probably not going to see is a Samsung Galaxy S26 Edge. The Galaxy S25 Edge, the thinnest Galaxy phone to date, broke cover in May 2025, measuring just 5.8mm front to back. However, multiple sources (including the well-respected Jukan) suggest that sluggish sales have led to the model being dropped this year. (It seems demand is weak for the iPhone Air as well.) The rear camera design from the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is set to be used on the Galaxy S26. Credit: Samsung When it comes to the designs of these phones, we're not expecting much to change at all. Android Headlines has posted renders for the 6.3-inch Galaxy S26, the 6.7-inch Galaxy S26 Plus, and the 6.9-inch Galaxy S26 Ultra: That's a slight increase in screen size (from 6.2 inches) for the standard model compared to the Galaxy S25, but the other two look like they'll have the same sized displays as their predecessors. The only real change in terms of aesthetics is a pill-shaped camera island on the back. This was missing on the Galaxy S25 series, but did show up on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Multiple colors have been rumored, in part through wallpaper leaks: They include gray, peach, purple, light blue, black, and silver for the standard model, and black, white, silver shadow, sky blue, cobalt violet, and pink gold for the Ultra model. What rumors say about the Samsung Galaxy S26 series' specs and featuresThe Samsung Galaxy S26 phones will come with the standard processor speed bump: As reported by SamMobile, it looks as though the handsets are going to be fitted with a mix of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 from Qualcomm, and Samsung's own Exynos 2600 processor, depending on region. If previous years are any indication, all the handsets sold in the US will have Snapdragon CPUs inside. Don't expect massive leaps forward in terms of cameras: According to The Elec in South Korea, the Galaxy S26 cameras will match those on the Galaxy S25 (50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP 3x telephoto), as Samsung tries to keep costs down. However, the Ultra model may get treated to a new 10MP telephoto camera. The Galaxy S25 series launch. Credit: Samsung There may be better news when it comes to battery capacity, though this is only one of the contributors to battery life. As Wccftech reports, the Galaxy S26 is rumored to be getting a 4,300mAh battery, compared to the 4,000mAh battery of its predecessor—and the other two models are apparently getting similar bumps as well. It seems as though this will be the year that Samsung adds MagSafe-style accessory snapping on top of wireless charging to its flagship Galaxy phones. WinFuture has managed to obtain details of some of the official magnetic cases that are apparently coming our way, together with the phones themselves. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Credit: Lifehacker There is one feature that Samsung has officially teased, and that's a "new layer of privacy" for Galaxy phone screens. When this privacy feature is enabled, it will be much harder for anyone but you to see what's on your display—cutting down the risks of 'shoulder surfers' getting a glance at passwords, PIN codes, or other sensitive information. Overall then, it seems we'll be getting rather modest upgrades from Samsung this time around, in terms of both the hardware design and the internal specs. On the software side there are several new features to look forward to with One UI 8.5, including improved security and sharing tools, and yet more AI functionality. View the full article

SEO has historically been an exercise in reverse-engineering algorithms. Keywords, links, technical compliance, repeat. But that model is being reimagined. Today, visibility is earned through trust, usefulness, and experience, not just relevance signals or crawlability. Search engines no longer evaluate pages in isolation. They observe how people interact with brands over time. That shift has given rise to human experience optimization (HXO): the practice of optimizing how humans experience, trust, and act on your brand across search, content, product, and conversion touchpoints. Rather than replacing SEO, HXO expands its scope to reflect how search now evaluates performance. Experience, engagement, and credibility have become difficult to separate from visibility itself. Below, we’ll look at how HXO shows up in modern search, why it matters now, and how it reshapes the boundaries between SEO, UX, and conversion. Why HXO matters now Modern search engines reward outcomes, not tactics. Ranking signals increasingly reflect what happens after the click, aligning with Google’s emphasis on user satisfaction over isolated page signals. In practice, that means signals tied to questions like: Do users engage or bounce? Do they return? Do they recognize the brand later? Do they trust the information enough to act on it? Visibility today is influenced by three overlapping forces: User behavior signals: Engagement, satisfaction, repeat visits, and downstream actions all indicate whether content actually delivers value. Brand signals: Recognition, authority, and trust – built over time, across channels – shape how search engines interpret credibility. Content authenticity and experience: Pages that feel generic, automated, or disconnected from real expertise increasingly struggle to perform. HXO emerges as a response to two compounding pressures: AI-generated content saturation, which has made “good enough” content abundant and undifferentiated. Declining marginal returns from traditional SEO tactics, especially when they aren’t supported by strong experience and brand coherence. In short, optimization that ignores human experience is no longer competitive. Dig deeper: From searching to delegating: Adapting to AI-first search behavior The convergence: SEO, UX, and CRO are no longer separate For a long time, SEO, UX, and CRO operated as separate disciplines: SEO focused on traffic acquisition. UX focused on usability and design. CRO focused on conversion efficiency. But that separation no longer works. Traffic alone doesn’t mean much if users don’t engage. Engagement without a clear path to action limits impact. And conversion is difficult to scale when trust hasn’t been established. HXO now acts as the unifying layer: SEO still determines how people arrive. UX shapes whether they understand what they have found. CRO influences whether that understanding turns into action. That convergence is increasingly visible in how search-driven experiences perform. Page experience affects both visibility and post-click behavior. Search intent informs page structure and UX decisions alongside keyword targeting. Content clarity and credibility influence whether users engage once or return through search again. In this environment, optimization is less about securing a single click. It’s about supporting attention and trust over time. E-E-A-T is a business system, not content guidelines One of the most persistent misconceptions in search is that E-E-A-T – or, experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness – can just be “added” to content. Add an author bio. Add citations. Add credentials. Those elements do matter. They help provide context and communicate expertise. But treating E-E-A-T primarily as a set of small, on-page additions doesn’t fully capture how search systems evaluate expertise and trust. In practice, E-E-A-T isn’t just about how one page is formatted. It’s a broader, more holistic view of how a business demonstrates credibility to users over time. That tends to be an output of: Real expertise embedded in products and services. Transparent operations and clearly stated values. A consistent brand voice with visible accountability. Clear ownership over ideas, opinions, and outcomes. Search engines aren’t evaluating content in isolation. They’re evaluating the context around it, too. Per Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines, that includes: Who is responsible for creating the content and whether that responsibility is clearly disclosed. The demonstrated experience and reputation of the creator or organization behind it. Consistency in expertise and accuracy across related content on the site. Evidence of ongoing trust, including transparency, content updates, and accountability for accuracy. Viewed this way, E-E-A-T is reinforced through consistent systems and patterns, not isolated page-level changes. First-hand experience signals are the new differentiator Today’s search landscape is flooded with competent, well-structured content that meets a similar baseline of accuracy and readability. “Good” content is no longer a meaningful bar. Because of that, first-hand experience is becoming an increasingly important content differentiator. That can look like: Original data, testing, or research generated by the creator. Lived experience paired with a clear point of view. Named creators with reputational stakes in what they publish. Insight that reflects direct involvement, not secondhand synthesis. There’s a meaningful difference between: Information aggregation (what anyone could compile). Experience-based insight (what only operators, practitioners, and creators can provide). For example, a guide to subscription pricing that summarizes common models may be factually sound. But a piece written by someone who’s priced, tested, and revised subscription tiers over time is more likely to surface tradeoffs, edge cases, and decision logic. That’s something aggregation can’t replicate. This is why we’re seeing creators and operators increasingly outperform faceless brands. Within the world of human experience optimization, the “human” part is key. Dig deeper: 4 SEO tips to elevate the user experience Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. Helpful content is a brand problem, not an SEO problem “Helpful content updates” are often discussed as if performance issues stem from technical gaps or tactical mistakes. In practice, when content fails to be helpful, the underlying causes tend to sit elsewhere. Common patterns include: A brand that lacks clarity about what it stands for or who it serves. A business that avoids taking clear positions or making decisions visible. An experience that feels fragmented across pages, channels, or touchpoints. In contrast, content that users consistently find helpful usually reflects deeper alignment. It tends to emerge from: A clear understanding of audience needs and decision contexts. Real-world problem solving informed by actual experience. Consistent intent across messaging, products, and interactions. SEO can improve discoverability and structure, but it can’t compensate for unclear positioning or disconnected experiences. When helpfulness is missing, the issue is rarely confined to the page itself. That view lines up with how Google described its helpful content system, which looks at broader site-level patterns and long-term value rather than isolated pages or tactics. Closing these gaps requires a broader view of how people experience, trust, and engage with a brand beyond any single page. HXO provides a framework for that shift. How to start practicing human experience optimization Human experience optimization doesn’t begin with keywords. It begins with people and the situations that lead them to search in the first place. In practice, adopting HXO usually involves a few shifts in focus: 1. Move from keyword strategy to audience strategy Keyword research remains useful, but it’s rarely sufficient on its own. Teams need a clearer understanding of motivations, anxieties, and decision contexts, not just what terms people type into a search bar. 2. Audit experience, not just pages Page-level audits often miss the broader experience users actually encounter. A more useful lens looks at: Trust signals and credibility cues. Clarity of message and intent. Friction in user journeys. Consistency across touchpoints and channels. 3. Align teams around experience outcomes HXO tends to surface gaps between functions that operate independently. Addressing those gaps requires coordination across: Marketing. Product. Content. Design. The goal isn’t alignment for its own sake, but shared responsibility for how users experience the brand. 4. Measure what actually matters Traditional metrics still have a place, but they don’t tell the full story. Teams practicing HXO often expand measurement to include: Engagement quality rather than raw volume. Brand recall and recognition. Return users over time. Conversions driven by confidence and trust rather than pressure. Optimize for humans, earn the algorithms HXO isn’t a tactic to deploy or a framework to layer on. It reflects a longer-term advantage rooted in how consistently a brand shows up for users. In modern search, the brands that perform most reliably tend to share a few traits: They’re grounded in real experience. They’re consistently useful. They demonstrate expertise through action, not just explanation. As a result, search visibility can’t be engineered through isolated optimizations. It’s shaped by the cumulative experiences people have with a brand before, during, and after a search interaction. View the full article

Natural language is quickly becoming the default way people interact with online tools. Instead of typing a few keywords, users now ask full questions, give detailed instructions, and are starting to expect clear, conversational answers. So, how can you make sure your content provides the answer to their question? Or better yet, how can you make it possible for them to interact with your website in a similar way? That’s where Microsoft’s NLWeb comes in. Meet NLWeb, Microsoft’s new open project NLWeb, short for Natural Language Web, is an open project recently launched by Microsoft. The aim of this project is to bring conversational interfaces directly to websites, rather than users having to use an external chatbot that’s in control of what’s shown. Instead of relying on traditional navigation or search bars, NLWeb is designed to allow users to ask questions and explore content in a more personal, conversational way. At its core, NLWeb connects website content to AI-powered tools. It enables AI to understand what a website is about, what information it contains, and how that information should be interpreted for the purpose of returning personalized results. With this project, Microsoft is moving toward a more interoperable, standards-based, and open web that allows everyone to prepare their website for the future of search. This project was initiated and realized by R.V. Guha, CVP and Technical Fellow at Microsoft. Guha is one of the creators of widely used web standards such as RSS and Schema.org. How NLWeb works NLWeb works by combining structured data, standardized APIs and AI models capable of understanding natural language. Every NLWeb instance acts as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, which makes your content discoverable for all the agents operating in the MCP ecosystem. This makes it easy for these agents to find your website. Using structured data, website owners then present their content in a machine-readable way. AI applications can then consume this data and answer user questions accurately by matching them to the most relevant information. The result is a conversational experience powered by existing content, either directly on a website or through using an online search tool. A conversational interface for both human users and AI agents collecting information. An important thing to note is that NLWeb is an open project. It’s not a closed ecosystem, meaning that Microsoft wants to make it accessible to everyone. The idea is to make it easy for any website owner to create an intelligent, natural language experience for their site, while also preparing their content to interact with and be discovered by other online agents, such as AI tools and search engines. How does natural language work? Natural language simply refers to the way we speak and write. This means using full sentences that allow room for intent, context and nuance. More than keywords or short commands, natural language reflects how people think and what they are looking for exactly. To give you an example: a focus keyphrase might be running shoes trail. But using natural language, the request would look more like this: What are the best running shoes for trail running in wet conditions? Natural language in AI tools Modern AI tools are designed to understand this kind of input. The large language models behind these tools can analyze intent and context to generate responses that fulfill the given request. This is why conversational interfaces feel more intuitive than traditional search or forms. Tools like AI chat assistants, voice search, and even traditional search engines rely heavily on natural language understanding and users have quickly adapted to it. The current state of search The way people find information online is changing fast. A change that is heavily influenced by the use of AI-powered tools. We now expect personalized answers instead of a list of results to sort through ourselves. AI chatbots also give us the option to follow up on our original search query, which turns search into a conversation instead of a series of clicks. Research from McKinsey & Company shows that AI adoption and natural language interfaces are becoming mainstream, with 50% of consumers already using AI-driven tools for information discovery. The majority even say it’s the top digital source they use to make buying decisions. As these habits continue to grow, websites that aren’t optimized for natural language risk becoming invisible in AI-generated answers. Why this is interesting for you The shift to natural language isn’t just a technical trend. As discussed above, it directly impacts your online visibility and competitive position. If users ask an AI system for information, only a handful of sources will be referenced in the response. This is because, like search engines, AI platforms also need to be able to read the information on your website. Being one of those sources can be the difference between being discovered or being overlooked. NLWeb collaborates with Yoast With NLWeb, you are communicating your website’s content clearly and in a standardized way. That means your brand, products, or expertise can appear in AI-powered answers instead of your competitors. To help as many website owners as possible benefit from this shift, Yoast is collaborating with NLWeb. The best part? If you’re a user of any of our Yoast plans designed for WordPress, you’re well ahead here. Yoast’s integration with NLWeb will roll out in phases, starting with functionality that helps our users using WordPress express their content in ways AI systems can interpret accurately, without any additional setup required. So sit tight and let us help you prepare your website for the new world of search! NLWeb aims to make your content understandable not just for people, but for the AI systems that are increasingly relevant to your website’s discovery. Read more: Yoast collaborates with Microsoft to help AI understand Open Web » The post What is NLWeb (Natural Language Web)? appeared first on Yoast. View the full article

Bad Bunny won album of the year at the 2026 Grammy Awards for his critically-acclaimed “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” closing out a surprising and history-making night. It is the first time a Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize. “Puerto Rico, believe me when I tell you that we are much bigger than 100 by 35,” he said in his acceptance speech in Spanish, referring to a Puerto Rican colloquialism about the island’s small size. “And there is nothing we can’t achieve. Thank God, thank you to the Academy, thank you to all the people who have believed in me throughout my career. “To all the people who worked on this album, thank you mami for giving birth to me in Puerto Rico, I love you,” he continued. Then he switched to English: “I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland to follow their dreams.” Harry Styles presented the award — the English singer previously took home the top prize in 2023 for “Harry’s House.” He beat Bad Bunny that year, who was nominated for “Un Verano Sin Ti” — the first Spanish-language album to be up in the category. Anti-ICE messages from the stage Billie Eilish won song of the year for “Wildflower” and used the moment to add her voice to the chorus of musicians criticizing immigration authorities Sunday. “No one is illegal on stolen land,” she said while accepting the award for the song from her 2024 album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” “(Expletive) ICE is all I want to say.” Immigration was a central theme of the night. The first time Bad Bunny was on stage — after winning the award for música urbana album — he used his speech to share an anti-ICE message, highlighting the humanity of all people. “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say ICE out,” he said, starting out his speech in English to huge applause. “We’re not savage, we’re not animals, we’re not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans.” Before that, Olivia Dean was named best new artist. “I never really imagined that I would be up here,” she said, receiving her first Grammy while wiping away tears. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I wouldn’t be here … I am a product of bravery, and I think that those people deserve to be celebrated.” Those statements all aired live on the CBS telecast. Earlier in the day, at the Premiere Ceremony where 86 Grammys are handed out, artists were equally as pointed about ICE and immigration enforcement. Shaboozey accepted the award for country duo/group performance with tears in his eyes. “I want to thank my mother, who as of today, has retired from her job of 30 years … working as a registered nurse in a psych ward … as an immigrant in this country. Thank you, mom. “Immigrants built this country, literally, actually. So, this for them,” he concluded. “Thank you for bring your culture, your music and your stories.” Kehlani, after winning her first Grammy, ended her acceptance speech with “Imma leave this and say, (expletive) ICE.” “I’m scared,” Gloria Estefan said of the current political moment backstage at the Grammys. “There are hundreds of children in detention centers. … I don’t recognize my country in this moment right now.” Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Jelly Roll and more win big Kendrick Lamar and SZA won record of the year at an electric 2026 Grammy Awards Sunday night for “Luther.” Cher presented the award and mistakenly said it goes to “Luther Vandross” instead of Kendrick Lamar and SZA. One of the song’s producers, Sounwave, began the acceptance speech by saying, “Let’s give a shoutout to the late and great Luther Vandross.” Lamar also won the first televised award of the night, rap album for “GNX,” accepting the trophy from Queen Latifah and Doechii. “It’s an honor to be here,” he said in his acceptance speech. “Hip-hop is always going to be right here … We’re gonna be having the culture with us.” The victory means Lamar broke Jay-Z’s record to become the rapper with the most career Grammys. Jay-Z has 25; after he took home rap album and record of the year, Lamar’s total is 27. Pop vocal album went to Lady Gaga for “Mayhem,” while pop solo performance went to Lola Young for “Messy,” whose speech playfully lived up to the song’s spirit. “I don’t know what to say,” she joked about “obviously” not having a speech prepared. “I’m very, very grateful for this.” The inaugural contemporary country album category went to Jelly Roll for “Beautifully Broken.” This year, the Grammys renamed country album to contemporary country album and added a traditional country album category, a distinction that exists in other genres. But the news arrived right after Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” won best country album, inspiring backlash online. “I believe music had the power to change my life,” Jelly Roll said in his acceptance speech, which he spent the majority of thanking God. Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. “To everyone in this room who believes in the power of Black music,” he said, “thank you so much.” A live concert experience A powerful Grammy Awards in memoriam segment celebrated the legacies of the late D’Angelo and Roberta Flack at the 68th annual ceremony Sunday night. Ms. Lauryn Hill appeared on the Grammy stage for the first time since 1999, when she became the first hip-hop artist to win album of the year for her “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” The D’Angelo tribute was first: A medley of several songs, among them “Brown Sugar” with Lucky Daye, “Lady” with Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton and “Devil’s Pie” with Leon Thomas. Then, Hill focused her attention on Roberta Flack: “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” with Jon Batiste, “Where Is The Love” with John Legend and Chaka Khan, and a mesh of “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Killing Me Softly with His Song” with her Fugees bandmate Wyclef Jean. If there was one set that felt like an avant-garde artistic performance piece on Sunday night, it was Tyler, the Creator’s medley of “Thought I Was Dead,” “Like Him,” (in which he was joined by Regina King) and “Sugar On My Tongue.” It played out like theater: others would be wise to take note. All eight nominees in the best new artist category participated in a medley at the award show across multiple stages, the back halls of the arena and even the venue’s loading dock. It was an interesting and impressive mod-podge of different styles, from the British soul of Young and Dean to Addison Rae and Katseye’s hypnotic pop. The Marías kicked things off with their dreamy indie rock; sombr and Alex Warren offered their radio hits — “12 to 12” and “Ordinary” respectively. Leon Thomas reminded the audience why he’s the only nominee also up for album of the year with his fully formed R&B. The hits arrived fast and furious in the show’s first hour. Rosé and Bruno Mars’ opened Grammys with an electric rendition of their multicultural pop smash, “APT.”; the Blackpink singer channeled a pop-punk Gwen Stefani in her tie and platinum blond hair. Sabrina Carpenter with her “Manchild” kiss-off. Justin Bieber slowed things down with “Yukon” from his comeback record “Swag.” Lady Gaga reimagined her hit “Abracadabra” as an electro-rock song. First-time winners were abundant — even before the show started During the Premiere Ceremony, the Dalai Lama won his first Grammy for audio book, narration and storytelling recording, beating out Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. You read that correctly. “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” won song written for visual media at the Premiere Ceremony, marking the first time a K-pop act has won a Grammy. Songwriters delivered their acceptance speech in both English and Korean, highlighting the song’s bilingual appeal. Music film went to “Music for John Williams,” which means director Steven Spielberg has officially won his first Grammy. That makes him an EGOT winner — an artist with an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar. Associated Press Writer Berenice Bautista contributed to this report. For more coverage of this year’s Grammy Awards, visit: www.apnews.com/GrammyAwards —Maria Sherman, AP Music Writer View the full article

Short staffing and the transition from paper checks to digital refunds are among the biggest challenges facing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this tax season. That’s according to the National Taxpayer Advocate’s expansive Annual Report to Congress, the latest version of which was recently posted online. The annual report aims to “help Congress strengthen taxpayer rights, reduce taxpayer burden, and improve IRS performance.” The Taxpayer Advocate Service, or TAS, is an independent office within the IRS that’s meant to look after the interests of taxpayers. Erin M. Collins, who submitted and signed off on the latest report, has served as the National Taxpayer Advocate since 2020. Here are some highlights of the report: Transition away from paper checks could impact refunds for some Specifically, the report notes that while the majority of refunds were issued electronically last year, “taxpayers who do not provide direct deposit information may experience significant refund delays, as the IRS will generally hold refunds for up to six weeks while requesting banking information or determining whether an exception applies, with paper checks only issued afterward.” As a result, some taxpayers will be disproportionately affected by the agency’s phasing out of paper checks. That includes taxpayers without bank accounts, or who are disabled, elderly, or underbanked, and “other vulnerable taxpayers for whom paper checks have often been the only practical means of receiving refunds needed to cover basic living expenses.” Average refunds last year tallied $3,167, the report says—a significant amount for many households. Filing your tax return online should result in a refund being issued within a few weeks—but, again, the report is warning that may not be the case for some. Only 6% of taxpayers filed their returns last year on paper. And only 7% received their refund via paper check. The IRS is significantly smaller this year Staffing issues at the IRS could be an even bigger issue. The IRS last year had a relatively large workforce, due in part to an influx of funding from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act. Over the past year, however, the IRS has had its workforce reduced by 27%, according to Collins’s report. That’s in addition to “leadership turnover, and the implementation of extensive and complex tax law changes mandated by the [One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025], many of which apply retroactively and require significant IRS programming, guidance, changes to tax forms and instructions, and taxpayer education.” The number of customer service agents was also cut by 22%, meaning it will likely be more difficult to get help if you’re trying to work out any issues with or get an update on your refund. In all, the agency’s manpower stood at around 74,000 in December, down from 102,000 a year ago. That could mean a more turbulent experience for taxpayers trying to keep track of their refunds. Even so, taxpayers expecting a refund can use the Where’s My Refund online tool to check their status 24 hours after filing electronically. They can also try using the IRS2Go app or log in to their IRS Individual Online Account for updates. View the full article

Your social media feed is probably showing you something totally different, but this week, young people are fleeing TikTok (or at least posting about fleeing TikTok), AI and humanity are locked in a high-stakes dance battle, AI food is yelling at everyone, and we're learning a lot about "young hos." TikTok refugees head to UpscrolledSince it was released in 2017, social media platform TikTok has been the way young people communicate, but that could be changing. Alarm over recent changes in the app's privacy policy and accusations that its new, American owners are messing up the algorithm have some users deleting their accounts and leaving. Or at least saying they're leaving. But where will they go? The last time this kind of thing happened, TikTokers headed to another Chinese social media app called RedNote, but this time, a lot of people say they're migrating to Upscrolled. The app, which briefly hit number one on the app store charts, was created by Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian entrepreneur Issam Hijazi. Upscrolled promises an antidote to the "Double standards, algorithmic bias, selective censorship, and profit over principle" of other social media platforms. The app doesn't allow "hate speech" but promises less censorship of ideas, no shadow-banning, no data-sharing, and "No black-box AI" for curation, all delivered in a form-factor that's familiar to users. So, what's the downside? Well, it's a small team and it seems to be having some issues with the number of downloads. More troubling are reports of a flood of antisemitic material appearing on the site. In a statement to The Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Upscrolled spokeperson Gabriella Bord wrote, “Our content moderation hasn’t been able to keep up with the massive rise of users this week,” and “We’re working with digital rights experts to grow our Trust & Safety team and are beefing up our content moderation to prevent this," so maybe the moderation team is just having some growing pains. Viral video of the week: human vs. AI baby dancingThis week's viral video is more of a viral video trend, and it involves a battle of dancing babies. It starts with the post below, from @mindalchemy0236, which I apologize for in advance. An ad for the "Baby Dance" app, this video has been viewed over 100 million times. It became so overplayed on TiKTok that users fought back in the only way they could: Through dance. In a modern re-enactment of the American myth of John Henry vs. the Steam Engine, users on TikTok are locked in dance battle with AI. People responded to the annoying ad with videos of their human children doing the same dance for real, joking that it was to save $1.98, the app's price. Kids got into it, throwing shade at AI at the same time. Then grown-ups got in on it, Grannies started doing it, and celebrities like Lisa Rinna got into the act. So it turned into a whole thing, and according to some users, human users ended up winning because TikTok's algorithm is showing more human remakes than the original ad that annoyed everyone. What does it all mean? Is this how the robot-human war will be decided? How does it relate to the original dancing baby, one of our first internet memes? Is history turning back on itself and should we invest in Ally McBeal reruns? I just don't know, but for what it's worth, John Henry won the battle with the steam shovel, but the effort exhausted him and he died. AI food yelling videos: brain rot that's good for youI'm always trying to find good things about artificial intelligence. So far I got: Helping to cure cancer Finding Waldo But I'm adding videos of food yelling at people. For real though. This growing meme format involves asking AI to make videos of food angrily telling you how to properly and safely prepare and store it. They're entertaining, educational, and if one person remembers to throw away rice that's left out, it could save a life and be worth all that cooling water. Kids need to know all this junk and for some reason they like brain rot. Check out these meaty boys: And these angry fellas: I can't vouch for the accuracy of every food tip on the hashtag, but I watched a bunch of these videos and so far, they're solid. What does "young ho" mean?I'm sure you know what both "ho" and "young" mean, but put them together and it becomes something else, both a reclamation of the word "ho" and an expression of youth-based solidarity. The trend started with mildly insulting, older-people-bag-on-youngins posts on X like this one: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. But over on TikTok, @kensdremgurl went viral by laying down a mini-manifesto for young hos: Summing up the list with, "all a young ho is is someone who's freed themself from being inconvenienced." Other TikTokers started listing which young ho traits they share and making their own observations, adding these traits to the list: Getting up at 7:50 to be at work at 8. Throwing away the containers from Chinese food, even if their mom wants to save them. Airfrying chicken nuggets. Eschewing fitted sheets. Removing snow from car windows with a fork. View the full article

From tech titans to Wall Street power brokers and foreign dignitaries, a who’s who of powerful men make appearances in the huge trove of documents released by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations of Jeffrey Epstein. All have denied having anything to do with his sexual abuse of girls and young women. Yet some of them maintained friendships with Epstein, or developed them anew, even after news stories made him widely known as an alleged abuser of young girls. None have been charged with a crime connected to the investigation. Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. Here’s a primer on some of the notable names in the Epstein files: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor The man formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew has long been dogged by questions about his relationship with Epstein, including allegations from the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre that she was trafficked by Epstein and instructed to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor when she was 17. The former prince has repeatedly denied that it happened, but his brother, King Charles III, still stripped him of his royal titles late last year, including the right to be called a prince and the Duke of York. Mountbatten-Windsor’s name appears at least several hundred times in Friday’s document release, including in Epstein’s private emails. Among the correspondence is an invitation for Epstein to dine at Buckingham Palace, Epstein’s offer to introduce Mountbatten-Windsor to a 26-year-old Russian woman, and photos that appear to show Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over an unidentified woman lying on the floor. Sarah Ferguson In March of 2011, Sarah Ferguson, then the Duchess of York, made a public apology for letting Jeffrey Epstein pay off some of her debts. Both she and her ex-husband, the former Prince Andrew, had come under tremendous public scrutiny for continuing a friendly relationship with Epstein after he pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. She told London’s Evening Standard newspaper she would have “nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.” But just two months later, she emailed Epstein to say she was going on Oprah Winfrey’s TV show and wanted his advice on how she should answer questions about their relationship. “I just want to make sure you are aware of this and seek your advice on how you would like me to answer,” Ferguson wrote. Epstein replied, “Jeffrey was unfairly characterized as a pedophile by the tabloid press. Many years ago jeffrey pleaded guilty to soliciting underage prostitutes. He paid his debt to society and has sought forgiveness. I have nothing more to say.” Elon Musk The billionaire Tesla founder turns up at least a few times in Friday’s document release, notably in email exchanges in 2012 and 2013 in which he discussed visiting Epstein’s infamous Caribbean island compound. But it’s not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk’s companies, Tesla and X, didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday or Saturday. Musk has maintained that he repeatedly turned down the disgraced financier’s overtures. “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” he posted on X in 2025. Richard Branson The billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, a global conglomerate, exchanged numerous emails with Epstein. In a 2013 exchange, Branson invited Epstein to his own private Caribbean island, which regularly hosts large conferences, charity events and business meetings. “Any time you’re in the area would love to see you,” he wrote. “As long as you bring your harem!” In another message that year, he suggested Epstein rehabilitate his image by convincing Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to tell the public how Epstein had “been a brilliant adviser to him” and had “more than learnt your lesson and have done nothing that’s against the law since.” The company stressed in a statement Saturday that there was no wrongdoing on Branson’s part and that any dealings with Epstein were “limited to group or business settings” more than a decade ago. Branson also declined a charitable donation and decided not to meet or speak with him again after his team “uncovered serious allegations,” the company said. “Had they had the full picture and information, there would have been no contact whatsoever,” the statement reads. “Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.” Donald The President It’s long been known that Epstein was friends with The President before the two had a falling out. The new trove of documents contain thousands of references to The President, much of which sheds little additional light on the men’s relationship. They included emails in which Epstein and others shared news articles about The President, commented on his policies or his politics, or gossiped about him and his family. The Justice Department also disclosed a spreadsheet created last August that summarized calls made to law enforcement tip lines from people claiming to have some knowledge of wrongdoing by The President. That document included a range of uncorroborated stories involving many different celebrities, and somewhat fantastical scenarios, occasionally with notations indicating what follow-up, if any, was done by agents. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday that the FBI fielded “hundreds of calls” about prominent individuals that were “quickly determined to not be credible.” Bill Clinton Like The President, Clinton spent time with Epstein more than two decades ago, including flying occasionally on his private jet and seeing him at the White House. Clinton also denied any knowledge of Epstein’s wrongdoing. Clinton’s representatives say the former president broke off relations with Epstein after the first round of criminal charges in 2006. The investigative file includes snapshots of Clinton and other famous people that Epstein kept in his home in New York. It also contains messages investigators received from members of the general public, demanding to know why Clinton wasn’t being investigated. None of Epstein’s victims have publicly accused Clinton of being involved in Epstein’s crimes. Steven Tisch The New York Giants co-owner is mentioned more than 400 times in the files released Friday. Correspondence between the two shows Epstein offered to connect Tisch to numerous women over the years. In one 2013 email exchange with the subject line “Ukrainian girl,” Epstein encouraged Tisch to contact a particular woman, whose physical beauty he praised in crude terms. “Pro or civilian?” Tisch asked in reply. Tisch, a scion of a powerful New York family that founded the Loews Corporation, has acknowledged knowing Epstein but denied ever going to his infamous Caribbean island. “We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments,” said Tisch, who also won an Academy Award in 1994 for producing “Forrest Gump.” “As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.” Brett Ratner The film director who made the recently released Melania The President documentary appears in several photographs included in the government’s files. One, first released in December, shows him with his arms wrapped around the shirtless torso of Jean Luc Brunel, a French modeling agent who killed himself in jail in 2022 while awaiting trial on rape charges. The more recent document release has a sequence of other photos apparently taken around the same time. Some show Ratner sitting on a couch with Epstein, Brunel and at least two young women. In the photos, Rattner has his arms wrapped around one of the women, whose faces are blacked out. Ratner and a spokesperson for his film company didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Casey Wasserman The president of the committee for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles exchanged flirty emails with Epstein confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, Friday’s document release shows. In a 2003 exchange, Wasserman wrote to Maxwell: “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?” In another, Maxwell asks whether it will be foggy enough during an upcoming visit “so that you can float naked down the beach and no one can see you unless they are close up?” Wasserman released a statement Saturday saying he never had a personal or business relationship with Epstein and that he regretted the correspondence with Maxwell, which he said came “long before her horrific crimes came to light.” Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. Ehud Barak The former Israeli prime minister and his wife turn up frequently in the documents released Friday, showing they stayed in regular contact with Epstein for years, including well after his 2008 guilty plea for sex crimes in Florida. Among the correspondence are plans for a 2017 stay at Epstein’s New York residence. Other missives discuss mundane logistics for other visits, meetings and phone calls with Epstein. Barak has acknowledged regularly visiting Epstein on his trips to New York and flying on his private plane, but maintains he never observed any inappropriate behavior or parties. Barak served as Israel’s prime minister from 1999 to 2001 and later served as its defense minister. Larry Summers Clinton’s former Secretary of the Treasury and the onetime president of Harvard University is another of Epstein’s well-known longtime acquaintances. The new documents are full of references to meetings and dinners between the two men. A previously-released trove of documents show Summers emailing Epstein in 2019, after the financier had been charged with sexual abuse of minors, to discuss his interactions with a woman, writing he’d told her “awfully coy u are.” Epstein replied: “you reacted well.” Summers has called his interactions with Epstein “a major error of judgment.” Howard Lutnick President Donald The President’s commerce secretary visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island with his family on at least one occasion, records released Friday show. That appears to contradict prior statements he’s made claiming he cut ties with the disgraced financier, who he’s called “gross,” decades ago. But emails show Lutnick and his wife accepted an invitation to Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands in December 2012 and planned to arrive by yacht with their children. The former chairman of Newmark, a major commercial real estate firm, also had drinks on another occasion in 2011 with Epstein and corresponded with him about the construction of a building across the street from both of their homes. The Commerce Department, in a statement, said Lutnick had “limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.” Sergey Brin The billionaire Google co-founder made plans to meet with Epstein and Maxwell at his townhouse in New York years before he was publicly accused of sexually abusing underage girls, emails show. In one exchange in 2003, Maxwell invited him to join her at a screening of the Renee Zellweger film “Down with Love” in New York. She followed up a few weeks later to invite him to a “happily casual and relaxed” dinner at Epstein’s house. Brin offered to bring along Google’s then-CEO Eric Schmidt. Spokespersons for Google didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday. Steve Bannon The one-time adviser to The President exchanged hundreds of friendly texts with Epstein, some sent months before the financier’s 2019 arrest and jailhouse suicide. The two discussed politics, travel and a documentary Bannon was said to be planning that would help salvage Epstein’s reputation. One 2018 exchange, for example, focused on The President’s threats at the time to oust Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. In a 2019 message, Bannon asked Epstein if he could supply his plane to pick him up in Rome. Epstein and Bannon also exchanged gossipy messages about The President and his politics. Bannon hasn’t responded to emails seeking comment. Miroslav Lajcak A national security adviser to the Slovakian prime minister, Lajcak resigned Saturday after his past communications with Epstein appeared in Friday’s document release. Opposition parties and a nationalist partner in Fico’s governing coalition had called for him to step down. Lajcak, a former Slovak foreign minister and a onetime president of the U.N. General Assembly, has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but was photographed meeting with Epstein in the years between his initial release from jail and his subsequent indictment in 2019 on sex trafficking charges. He said his correspondence with Epstein were part of his diplomatic duties. Associated Press journalists from around the world contributed to this report. The AP is reviewing the documents released by the Justice Department in collaboration with journalists from Versant, CBS and NBC. Journalists from each newsroom are working together to examine the files and share information about what is in them. Each outlet is responsible for its own independent news coverage of the documents. —Philip Marcelo and Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press View the full article

Former Barclays chief has insisted he had no recollection of what Disney character reference was aboutView the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Mini LED tech has finally filtered down to more mainstream big-screen TVs, but the pricing jumps fast once you start looking at premium brands and larger screen sizes—that’s why the current price on Sony’s 85-inch Bravia 5 stands out. It’s selling for $1,698 on Amazon (down from $2,399.99) which is the lowest it’s been so far, according to price trackers. At this size, that discount meaningfully shifts the math, especially if you’re after a large screen from a brand known for dependable processing and a polished smart TV experience, rather than chasing raw specs alone. Sony Bravia 5 $1,698.00 at Amazon $2,399.99 Save $701.99 Get Deal Get Deal $1,698.00 at Amazon $2,399.99 Save $701.99 The Bravia 5 steps is the successor to Sony’s X90L, swapping full-array local dimming for Mini LED backlighting and adding a higher number of dimming zones. It runs Google TV (version 12), supports Dolby Vision, and handles DTS audio passthrough. There’s also a practical perk for Sony soundbar owners: the TV’s built-in speakers can function as a center channel. On the gaming side, two HDMI 2.1 ports support 4K at 120Hz, along with variable refresh rate and G-sync compatibility. That said, Game Mode isn’t flawless. Pixel response times are on the slower side, which can introduce noticeable motion blur, particularly in fast-paced titles. SDR brightness is strong enough for daytime viewing, but HDR output doesn’t deliver the kind of punch you might expect from a Mini LED panel at this size and price. Where the Bravia 5 struggles most is contrast consistency and viewing flexibility. Despite the upgraded backlight, black levels and overall contrast don’t represent a major leap over the older X90L, and reflections can still be distracting in brighter rooms. The narrow viewing angle also limits its appeal for wide seating layouts. If pure picture performance is the priority, competing Mini LED models from TCL or Hisense, or even some OLED options, offer stronger contrast for similar money. Still, for buyers who value Sony’s processing, Google TV’s clean interface, and long-term brand reliability, this price drop makes the 85-inch Bravia 5 a far more compelling option than it usually is. View the full article

Ads are now being tested in ChatGPT in the U.S., appearing for some users across different account types. For the first time, advertising is entering an AI answer environment – and that changes the rules for marketers. We’ve used AI as part of ad creation or planning for years across Google, LinkedIn, and paid social. But placing ads inside an AI system that people trust to help them think, decide, and act is fundamentally different. This is not just another channel to plug into an existing media plan. The biggest question is not targeting. It’s psychology. If advertisers simply replicate what works in search or social, performance will disappoint, and trust may suffer. To succeed, brands need to understand how and why people use ChatGPT in the first place and what that means for attention, relevance, and the customer journey. ChatGPT is a task environment, not a feed People open ChatGPT to do something. That might be: Solving a specific problem. Refining a shortlist. Planning a trip. Writing something. Making sense of a complex decision. This is very different from feed-based platforms, where people expect to scroll, be interrupted, and discover content passively. In task-based environments like ChatGPT, behavior changes: Goal shielding: Attention narrows to completing the task, filtering out anything that does not help progress. Interruption aversion: Unexpected distractions feel more irritating when someone is focused. Tunnel focus: Users prioritize clarity, speed, and momentum over exploration. This is why clicks are likely to be harder to earn than many advertisers expect. If an ad does not help the user move forward with what they are trying to achieve, it will feel irrelevant, even if it is topically related. Add to this the fact that trust in AI environments is still forming, and the tolerance for poor or interruptive advertising becomes even lower. Dig deeper: OpenAI moves on ChatGPT ads with impression-based launch When there are no search volumes, behavior becomes the strategy For years, search volume has shaped how we plan. Keywords told us what people wanted, how often they wanted it, and how competitive demand was. That logic underpinned both SEO and paid media strategy. ChatGPT changes that. People are not searching for keywords. They are outsourcing thinking. They describe situations, ask layered questions, and seek outcomes rather than information alone. There is no query data to optimize against. Instead, success depends on understanding: What job the user is trying to get done. Which part of the journey they are choosing to outsource to AI. What kind of help they need in that moment. This is where behavioral insight replaces keyword demand as the strategic foundation. From keyword intent to behavior mode targeting Rather than planning around queries, advertisers need to plan around behavior modes, the mindset a user is in when they turn to ChatGPT. A useful way to think about this is: Explore mode: The user is shaping a perspective or seeking inspiration. Ads that work here help people start, offering ideas, options, or reframing the problem. Reduce mode: The user is simplifying and narrowing choices. Effective ads reduce effort by clarifying differences and highlighting relevant trade-offs. Confirm mode: The user is looking for reassurance. This is where trust matters most: proof, reviews, guarantees, and credible signals. Act mode: The user wants to complete the task. Ads that remove friction perform best, clear pricing, availability, delivery, and next steps. These modes closely mirror the human drivers we already recognize in search behavior: shaping perspective, informing, reassuring, and simplifying. The difference is that ChatGPT compresses these moments into a single interface. Dig deeper: What AI means for paid media, user behavior, and brand visibility Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. In ChatGPT, relevance is functional, not topical A key shift advertisers need to internalize is that relevance in ChatGPT is not about being related. It is about being useful. An ad can be perfectly aligned to a category and still fail if it does not help the user complete their task. In a task environment, anything that creates extra work or pulls attention away from the goal feels like friction. This means the creative rules change. High-performing ads are likely to behave less like traditional advertising and more like: Tools. Templates. Guides. Checklists. Shortcuts. Decision aids. They fit into the flow of what the user is doing. Generic brand ads, pure awareness messaging, and content that feels like a detour are likely to underperform. Dig deeper: Your ads are dying: How to spot and stop creative fatigue before it tanks performance Helpful content becomes the bridge across channels The same assets that make a strong ChatGPT ad – practical guides, frameworks, calculators, explainers, and reassurance-led content – also do much more than support paid performance. They build authority for SEO and generative optimization, earn coverage and credibility through digital PR, and reinforce brand trust across social and owned channels. This is where silos start to break performance. Paid media teams cannot create “helpful ads” in isolation if SEO teams are working on authority, PR teams are building trust signals, and brand teams are shaping voice independently. In AI-led discovery, these signals converge. The most effective ads may borrow from: Brand voice for clarity and consistency. Trusted voice through reviews, experts, or third-party validation. Amplified voice via media coverage and recognizable authority. The line between advertising, content, and credibility becomes increasingly blurred. Measurement needs a reset Judging ChatGPT ads purely on click-through rate risks missing their real impact. In many cases, these ads may influence decisions without triggering an immediate click. They may help a brand enter a shortlist, feel safer, or be remembered when the user returns later through another channel. More meaningful indicators may include: Shortlist inclusion. Brand recall. Assisted conversions. Branded search uplift. Direct traffic uplift. Downstream conversion lift. This reinforces the need for teams to work more closely together. If performance is distributed across the journey, measurement and accountability must be too. Dig deeper: AI tools for PPC, AI search, and social campaigns: What’s worth using now The brands that win will understand behavior best This is not simply a new ad format. We are looking at a behavioral shift. The brands most likely to succeed will not be the ones that move fastest or spend the most. They will be the ones who understand: What people actually use ChatGPT for. Which moments of the journey are being outsourced to AI. How to support those moments without breaking trust. A practical starting point is returning to jobs-to-be-done thinking. Map the actions that happen before someone buys, inquires, or commits and identify where AI reduces effort, uncertainty, or complexity. From there, the question becomes more powerful than “how do we advertise here?”: How can we be genuinely helpful at the moment it matters? That mindset will not only shape performance in ChatGPT, but across the wider future of AI-led discovery. And in that world, behavioral intent will matter far more than keywords ever did. View the full article

Master project estimation techniques, like parametric, analogous, and bottom-up methods, with examples and tips to help you choose the right approach. The post 6 Proven Project Estimation Techniques, Examples, & Best Practices appeared first on project-management.com. View the full article

Claimants hail ‘a decisive victory’ over corrosion and other faults at exclusive developmentView the full article