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Former Barclays CEO is fighting FCA ban over allegedly playing down ties to the dead paedophileView the full article

MP who criticised leader Nigel Farage is accused of bullying View the full article

A project budget makes sure you keep spending on your project in check, helps keep stakeholders happy, and helps you deliver the project successfully. Here's how to create a project budget that details exactly how much you can spend on project resources and other project expenses. The post How To Create A Project Budget: 6 Key Steps appeared first on The Digital Project Manager. View the full article

Chair says US central bank in no ‘hurry’ to cut interest rates at end of turbulent week for Wall StreetView the full article

There’s something magical about having a pool you can just dip into any time you want. That’s why it’s estimated there are nearly 11 million pools in the U.S., most of them residential. But pools are expensive. Aside from the price of installing one, it can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 annually to own and maintain a pool, which is why it’s often advisable not to add a pool to your home if you’re thinking of selling it someday. If your house already has a pool, or you want those summertime pool parties more than you want your money, you can at least cut down on those pool maintenance costs with a few simple steps. Use a pool coverOne of the easiest ways to lower your pool maintenance costs is to use a pool cover. Covering your pool when you’re not using it has several distinct benefits: It slows evaporation, which saves you money because you won’t have to refill your pool as often. It keeps the pool cleaner by keeping debris out of the pool, which can help your pool filtering system last longer because it won’t be under as much stress. It reduces the amount of chemicals you’ll need to put into the water—these chemicals break down easily in sunlight, so the more the pool is covered, the longer they will last. It will keep the water warmer, reducing the need to run a heater. Filter at nightMany people run their pool filters 24 hours a day. That’s understandable, because no one likes to dive under the water and discover dead bugs, rotting leaves, and other gross stuff floating around. But most pools only need to be filtered about eight hours a day to get a full “turnover” of the water, depending on the volume of your pool and the gallons per minute (GPM) your filter can handle. Running the filter for those eight hours at night has another benefit: Chances are electricity is cheaper then, so you’ll pay less overall to keep your pool clean. Clean the filterWhile the rule of thumb for cleaning out your pool’s filter is to do it every few months, the more often you clean it the more efficiently your filter will run, and the less wear and tear you’ll put on it. You can see physical evidence of this by checking your filter’s pressure (measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI). If it’s above the normal range (typically anywhere between 10-25 PSI depending on the size of your filter and pool), it’s working harder than it should be. Cleaning out your filter twice a month is probably ideal, especially if your pool is located in a spot that causes it to fill up with debris regularly. It’ll save you money in the long run because your pool systems will last longer. Keep the chemicals and water level in balanceA pool is a system, and that system has to be kept in balance: Chemicals. A large standing body of water will quickly turn into a swampy mosquito farm if you don’t treat it with a cocktail of chemicals, including sanitizer (usually stabilized chlorine). Checking the pH level, chlorine, alkalinity, and other factors on a regular basis will reduce your maintenance costs because it will reduce the frequency of bacterial and algae blooms, and keeping the acidity level of your water low will protect your equipment from damage. Water. One of the simplest things you can do to keep your pool maintenance costs low is not overfill your pool. If you fill it to the brim, every time someone steps (or dives) into it a large volume of water will be wasted as it sloshes over the rim. Over time you’ll be paying to refill the pool more than you should be. Add a dark-colored pool linerIf you’re paying to keep your pool warm, you should consider putting in a dark-colored liner. This can be a DIY job—you’ll need to drain the pool, remove the old liner if you have one, and install the new one—though you’ll be better off hiring professionals. A darker pool liner will keep the water naturally warmer because it will absorb more of the sun’s energy. You could also install a solar-powered heating system, of course, but that will cost a lot more than a liner. View the full article

Shares of Costco (COST) fell over 7% in midday trading on Friday after the wholesale retailer reported mixed second-quarter earnings results, missing profit estimates but beating on revenue, as the company braces for the impact of tariffs and inflation on consumer spending. “The tariffs are very fluid right now, so it’s hard to give any predictions about what we can do, but our people are well equipped to deal with anything coming our way and we have great partnerships with our suppliers,” CEO Ron Vachris said during the company’s earnings call. “Our people are nimble and ready to go.” Costco’s Q2 revenue came in at $63.72 billion, slightly beating analyst estimates for $63.11 billion. Meanwhile, same-store sales jumped slightly from 6.38% to 6.8%, beating forecasts for an increase of 6.4%, and e-commerce came in at an increase of 20.9%. However, adjusted earnings per share came in at $4.02, missing estimates of $4.11. And while overall same-store sales were up, the company missed estimates in Canada and other international markets. One advantage Costco has over some other retailers is its popular membership, whose fees make up more than 70% of its operating profits. Costco raised those fees last year for the first time since 2017; a basic Gold Star individual membership now costs $65, while an Executive membership is $120 to $130. Another good sign: Costco announced it expects to open 12 new stores across the nation in 2025, including seven locations this spring in March and April. Here’s a list of those seven locations: Brentwood, CA Genesee County, MI Highland, CA Prosper, TX Sharon, MA Weatherford, TX Stuart, FL In addition, Vachris said the company plans to open two locations in Canada and four other international locations in the coming six months. According to Costco’s website, two of those international stores will be in Minami Alps, Japan and Ardeer, Australia. Costco currently operates 897 warehouses, with a majority of those in the U.S. and Puerto Rico (617). Other locations include Canada (109), Mexico (41), Japan (36 ), UK (29), Korea (19), Australia (15), Taiwan (14), China (7), Spain (5), France (2), and one each in Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. View the full article

Project management planning is made up of many parts. There’s the schedule, the stakeholder matrix, the managing of resources. Speaking of the latter, there’s the matter of how you’re going to procure resources that require vendors of goods and services. That’s procurement management. The procurement plan is part of the overall project management plan. Over the life cycle of a project there are likely to be many points where it will intersect with vendors. This process needs to be managed. To manage these relationships and keep the flow of those goods and services moving without interruption requires a procurement management plan. If it seems like we’re going too fast, it’s because we are. The act of procurement, its management and planning are all deeply embedded in the methodology of project management. Let’s slow down and take a moment to unpack these terms. What Is a Procurement Plan? A procurement plan, also known as a procurement management plan, is a document that outlines the process of finding and selecting vendors for goods or services required by an organization. It serves as a blueprint for the entire project procurement process, detailing how products or services will be acquired and how vendors will be managed during a project. /wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Procurement-plan-example.png Get your free Procurement Plan Example Use this free Procurement Plan Example for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File The primary goals of a procurement plan are to increase efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of the procurement process. It also justifies the need for external suppliers and describes the steps for identifying and selecting vendors. Finally, the procurement plan outline contract types, delivery schedules and performance metrics. When to Make a Procurement Plan A procurement plan should be made at the initiation phase of a project or before the start of any procurement activities. Typically, it is developed during the project planning phase to outline the procurement process and ensure that everything needed for the project is acquired on time and within budget. Here are key times to create a procurement plan. At the Start of a Project: Before executing any procurement activities, having a procurement plan helps identify what goods, services, or works need to be acquired, the timing, and the procurement method. When Budgeting for a Project: Having a procurement plan helps ensure that the costs of the procurement are included in the overall project budget. When Scaling Up or Expanding: If you’re expanding a project or business and need additional resources, a procurement plan helps you strategically manage increased needs. When Introducing New Suppliers or Contracts: A procurement plan helps establish a clear process for introducing new suppliers, contractors, or partnerships, ensuring alignment with project goals. When Contracting With Vendors: If you’re negotiating long-term contracts or one-time purchases, it’s important to have a procurement plan that ensures consistency, compliance, and strategic sourcing. For Risk Management: It helps identify procurement risks and prepares mitigation strategies, ensuring smooth delivery of the required materials or services. Before Project Execution: Before any procurement activities are launched, the plan must be in place to ensure you’re procuring the right materials and services at the right time. Overall, a procurement plan is best developed early in the process to guide purchasing decisions and ensure successful project completion. However, a procurement plan is only one of many tools that project managers need to oversee procurement and manage the costs related to project resources. The best tool to manage these and other areas or projects is a project management software like ProjectManager. ProjectManager is an award-winning project management solution equipped with multiple project management views to plan, schedule and track projects from start to finish such as Gantt charts, project dashboards, timesheets, workload management charts and many other features designed to schedule work, allocate resources, make budgets and track costs, which greatly helps with project procurement management. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025-1600x868.jpgProjectManager’s Gantt charts help allocate resources and track procurement costs. Learn more Who Makes the Procurement Plan A procurement plan is typically made by the procurement team, project managers or supply chain managers, depending on the organization’s structure and the complexity of the procurement needs. The key stakeholders involved in creating a procurement plan include the following. Procurement Officer/Manager: Responsible for overseeing the entire procurement process, ensuring compliance with policies and managing supplier relationships. Project Manager: Ensures that procurement aligns with project timelines, budget and deliverables. Finance Team: Helps in budgeting, cost analysis and ensuring financial approvals for procurement activities. Department Heads/End Users: Those who need the goods or services provide input on specifications and quality requirements. Legal and Compliance Teams: Ensures that procurement follows legal and regulatory requirements, including contracts and supplier agreements. Supply Chain or Logistics Team: Assists in managing the delivery, transportation, and inventory aspects of procurement. Executive Management (For Large Projects): Provides strategic direction, approvals and ensures procurement aligns with organizational goals. The procurement plan is usually developed collaboratively, with the procurement manager leading the process while gathering input from various stakeholders to ensure smooth execution. What Should Be Included in a Procurement Plan? A procurement plan is a strategic document used to guide the acquisition of goods, services or works required for a project. It outlines the process, methodologies and goals of procurement to ensure timely, cost-effective and quality purchases. Here’s what should be included in a procurement plan. Procurement Objectives The procurement objectives define the goals of the procurement process, such as securing the required resources on time, within budget and according to quality standards. These objectives help align procurement with the overall project or organizational goals. Scope of Procurement The scope of procurement outlines what will be procured, including the types of goods, services or works. It details the specifications, quantities and the expected deliverables, ensuring a clear understanding of what is to be acquired. Procurement Methodology The procurement methodology describes the approach to acquiring goods and services, such as competitive bidding, direct purchasing or sole sourcing. It ensures the process is fair, transparent, and meets organizational standards and legal requirements. Supplier Selection Criteria Supplier selection criteria set the standards for evaluating potential suppliers or vendors. It may include factors like cost, quality, experience, delivery time and reputation. This ensures that the best-suited suppliers are chosen based on predefined requirements. Cost Estimates and Budget Cost estimates and budget provide an overview of the expected costs for the procurement process. This includes estimating the cost of materials, labor and overheads, helping to ensure procurement stays within the allocated budget. Procurement Schedule A procurement schedule outlines the timeline for the procurement process, including key milestones such as issuing tenders, receiving bids and finalizing contracts. It ensures that procurement activities are completed on time, keeping the project on track. Risk Management Plan The risk management plan identifies potential risks in the procurement process (such as supplier delays or cost overruns) and outlines strategies to mitigate them. This helps ensure smooth procurement and prevents disruptions. Roles and Responsibilities Roles and responsibilities define who is responsible for each aspect of the procurement process. It ensures clear accountability, coordination, and communication between stakeholders involved in procurement, such as project managers, procurement officers and legal teams. Contract Management Plan The contract management plan details how contracts will be managed, monitored, and enforced throughout the procurement process. This includes performance evaluations, dispute resolution processes and ensuring that suppliers meet contractual obligations. Project Budget Template This free project budget template allows you to estimate all the costs related to resources such as labor, equipment and any capital assets that you might need to procure for your organization. Making a budget is a very important of a procurement plan as it defines clear limits for spending. /wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Project-Budget-Screenshot.jpg How to Write a Procurement Plan The project manager is the project team member responsible for overseeing the procurement management plan, but it’s not a one-person job. Since the procurements will be project-wide, it’s important that everyone is on board with the process. Everyone should have some involvement in approving and even managing contracts. The procurement management plan can be broken down into these eight steps. 1. Define Terms To begin, start by defining the procurement terms. This means listing what you need to procure in detail: how many, what size, for how long, etc. Then you want to know what service is provided to the project and why this is important. Now add a date of use to each of these procurements and who on the project team is authorized to make these purchases. This information will be necessary when you’re ready to make a purchase order which specifies the price, quantity, delivery window and terms of payment of the goods/services you purchase. It’s a legally binding document that makes sure that you and your vendor are on the same page. Our purchase order template can help you create one that fits your project. 2. Outline Type of Agreement The contract is how everyone agrees on the terms of service. There are different types of contracts, for instance, a fixed price and cost reimbursement are two. Therefore, the type of agreement must be decided on and how it will be managed. 3. Identify and Mitigate Risks Risks are inherent in every part of a project process, and so they lie dormant in procurement until they show themselves. It is now time to figure out what those risks might be and list them. Once a thorough list has been collected, each must have a way to resolve them. It’s also good to assign a team member with the task of mitigating those risks, so they have the ownership to follow through on closing them. A risk register template can help. 4. Estimate Costs & Make a Budget What are the costs involved with the project procurements? Once those have been figured out, it is likely that a request for proposal will be issued, with the needs outlined and requesting bids from suppliers. Be thorough and note everything required. The suppliers will come back with their costs for products or services. Then, once you estimate the costs of project resources, you can make a budget. 5. Identify Constraints It helps to try and identify any project constraints before starting the project to avoid getting blindsided by unforeseen limitations during execution. Once this list is complete it can be looked at throughout the project phases. Constraints related to procurements include cost, scope, limited resources and technical specifications. 6. Get the Contract Approved Review the bids and do a service and cost analysis. Then have a list of who the decision-makers are in the project group and pass the bids on to them for review (a DACI framework can help identify decision-makers). This process makes sure that everyone who needs to oversee the contract approval is involved and can provide input. 7. Make a Decision Criteria You have a workflow, but now you need criteria by which to decide on which bid to go into contract with. Every person who reviews the bid should have these criteria at hand to measure their response. 8. Create a Vendor Management Plan Once a contract is signed, the procurement management plan will segue into a vendor management plan. The terms of the contract must be met. And, to make sure that happens, a management plan surrounding the suppliers will help ensure that goods and services are delivered as specified and on time. It is a good idea to add a performance metric to rate how well each supplier does their job, so you can improve relations on the next project and know who is worth contracting with again. ProjectManager Helps with Procurement Management Each procurement is a project or a subset of the larger project. Therefore, each procurement can be planned, tracked and reported on just as you would the larger project. ProjectManager is an online project management software that can make that process easy and effective. Procurement management can feel overwhelming. ProjectManager helps with executing your procurement plan with its kanban boards, Gantt charts, dashboards and other project management features. Using Kanban for Procurement Management By making each supplier a project on a kanban board, you can then track what stage their inventory is in and not get any unpleasant surprises. ProjectManager has customizable columns, so you can name them ordered, shipped, stocked and need to reorder. This way you’re always on top of your resources. Plus, you can add tags and priority levels to make sure everything is well-organized and tracked. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kanban-MOVING-COLUMN-CAR.jpg Gantt Can Link Tasks and Make Timelines Sometimes procurement is dependent on other tasks. Maybe the visual kanban doesn’t give you the control you need. No problem, switch over to the Gantt view. Now you can link dependencies and see timelines. Timing is important of course. If your resource isn’t here on time, then the whole project can be delayed! /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Gantt_Marketing_Wide_Zoom-175_WBS.jpg They say, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” But in project management software you want to have all your tools in one place. ProjectManager keeps you organized, so you can work better. ProjectManager is a cloud-based project management software that helps control procurement throughout the project phases. Workload and resource management features keep track of supplies and calculate planned versus actual costs. ProjectManager assists project managers with planning, monitoring and reporting projects. Team members get a collaborative platform to work together more productively. Try it today with this free 30-day trial. The post How to Make a Procurement Plan (Example Included) appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple just casually announced the new M4 MacBook Air with sales beginning on March 12. While that may be exciting news for anyone looking to get the latest and greatest devices, it can also be a boon for anyone hunting for deals. After new products launch, there tend to be some great discounts on earlier models to help clear inventory. Apple unfortunately has a pretty controlled sales market, so finding new units of earlier models may be difficult. But if you’re familiar and comfortable with the wide world of refurbished products, you can find some excellent deals on slightly older MacBooks. To help you start your search, I’ve rounded up a few exciting options from the refurbished market. M1 Pro MacBook ProThis refurbished M1 Pro MacBook Pro comes in under the new $999 MacBook Air, but offers some upgrades. It has more storage than a base MacBook Air, matches its memory, features a large 16-inch display, and comes with extra ports. This model also runs an M1 Pro chip, which is a more powerful version of the M1 chip that dazzled so many in the tech community. 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) $949.00 at Amazon $1,040.00 Save $91.00 Get Deal Get Deal $949.00 at Amazon $1,040.00 Save $91.00 M3 MacBook AirIf you don’t need the latest processor, the M3 MacBook Air could serve you well. This discount from Amazon offers a new M3 MacBook Air for $200 less than the newer model. This one is thankfully upgraded to 16GB of memory, which improves both the device's ability to run multiple tasks at once, as well as its overall longevity. 13-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 256GB storage) $799.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,099.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $799.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $1,099.00 Save $300.00 M2 MacBook AirYou can go yet another generation back and save even more on a Mac. This M2 MacBook Air from Amazon is still in new condition, and costs just $699. It’s not a base model either, shipping with the all-too-important 16GB memory upgrade for future-proofing. 13-inch M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 256GB storage $699.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $999.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Get Deal $699.00 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $999.00 Save $300.00 M1 Pro MacBook ProFor less than the price of a new M4 MacBook Air, you can grab this beefed up M1 Pro MacBook Pro. It, too, comes with 16GB of memory, ensuring better longevity, and it even includes 512GB of storage. This unit is in "Excellent - Refurbished" condition, so it should still look and work like new, and it gets a one-year Allstate warranty. The same configuration is also available from Amazon for $899. 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro (16GB RAM, 512GB storage) $889.72 at Amazon $978.00 Save $88.28 Get Deal Get Deal $889.72 at Amazon $978.00 Save $88.28 M3 Pro MacBook ProThis 16-inch MacBook Pro is a sizable discount next to the M4 Pro models Apple now offers. eBay is currently offering it for $1,679.95, down from $2,099.99. The 18GB of memory and powerful M3 Pro processor offer a big edge on heavy computing workloads, and comes with a fantastic display. This model is eBay Certified Refurbished, so you can expect a like-new machine and enjoy a two-year warranty backed by Allstate. View the full article

Google discontinues the Page Annotations feature, which diverted traffic from websites back to Google's search results. The post Google Discontinues Controversial “Page Annotations” On iOS appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Microsoft is bringing more transparency to its search advertising with a new feature that explains ad placement decisions directly in Bing results. Details: The feature appears as a dropdown option next to ad URLs in Bing search results Currently shows varying levels of detail depending on the user or region How it works. When users click the dropdown arrow next to a search ad’s URL, they can access a dialog box that explains why that particular advertisement was selected for display. Barry Schwartz reports seeing only a generic “Learn how your ads are chosen” message on Search Engine Roundtable. Others, like Digital Marketer, Khushal Bherwani, report seeing detailed information including: Specific reasons for ad selection Complete advertiser details User-specific targeting factors Why we care. As digital ad platforms face growing scrutiny over transparency and user privacy, Microsoft is following Google’s lead by giving users more visibility into how and why they’re seeing specific ads. Between the lines. The inconsistent rollout suggests Microsoft is testing the feature before a wider release, possibly in response to similar transparency features Google has implemented in its search results. What they’re saying. While Microsoft hasn’t made an official announcement about the feature, social media discussions indicate users are noticing the change and comparing it to Google’s existing ad transparency tools. View the full article

As the US-Canada tariff war continues, the Ontario premier faces the defining challenge of his careerView the full article

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment's February drop is looking like a precursor for what might be a difficult 2025 Spring homebuying season. View the full article

Earlier this week, I proclaimed the brand new M4 MacBook Air the best MacBook for most people. In short, that's because Apple packages everything that's already great about modern MacBook Airs with its latest M4 chip, all for a fantastic MSRP of $999. The thing is, the M4 chip itself isn't brand new: Apple first rolled it out with the iPad Pro last May, before introducing the M4 MacBook Pro in October. Before this week, Apple had cemented the MacBook Air as the previous generation brand: If you want an entry-level Apple computer, you could buy the M2 MacBook Air for $999, or the M3 MacBook Air for a little more. If you wanted M4, well, that's "Pro" territory. M4 vs. M4No longer: Whether you buy a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, you're getting the M4 chip. These chips are almost identical between Air and Pro, but with one caveat. The SoC (System on Chip) comes with a 10-core CPU (four performance cores and six efficiency cores) and a 16-core Neural Engine on all models, and a 10-core GPU on the Pro. You can get a 10-core GPU on the Air, but only if you pay extra. If you buy the entry-level $999 machine, you get an eight-core GPU. Those additional two GPU cores will cost you $100. It's a small difference, but a difference that, on paper, suggests better performance from the M4 MacBook Pro—especially for graphics-intensive tasks. If you work with animation or high-resolution video, or play AAA games, those two GPU cores on the Pro could come in handy. However, paper specs mean very little for real-world use: It's when you see how these machines actually perform when put to the test do you know how big (or small) these differences really are. We'll need to wait for Apple to release the M4 MacBook Air before we see those real-world tests in action. But in the meantime, we do have some evidence that goes beyond the spec sheet. As reported by Wccftech, testers have uploaded Geekbench Metal benchmarks for the M4 MacBook Air to the internet—and the results are illuminating. This test examines a chip's GPU performance via Apple's Metal API. The eight-core M4 MacBook Air scored 54,864 on the test, while the 10-core M4 MacBook Pro scored 57,788. That's a 5% gain for the MacBook Pro, which, while certainly nice to have, is not the huge jump you might expect from an additional two GPU cores—especially when you consider the Pro starts at $1,599. Again, benchmarks don't necessarily reflect real-world usage. Those two cores might push the Pro more than these results imply. Plus, the Pro has internal fans to keep the M4 chip cool under pressure. The Air doesn't have fans, which means it may slow down performance if things get too hot sooner than the Pro would. We'll simply need to see how these two machines stack up side-by-side when review units arrive. Power and priceRegardless, the M4 MacBook Air is shaping up to be a powerhouse of a machine—especially for the price. The M4 MacBook Pro, for example, costs $600 more, and while you gain additional perks like a brighter, higher-quality display, double the storage, an HDMI port, and SDXC card slot, you might find you prefer the extra $600 in your wallet. Ignoring these perks, if you're someone who is buying a Mac with power in mind, you no longer need to count out the Air. In fact, it should probably be your first choice, only ruled out if the work you do requires the extra "oomph" the Pro can offer. To be clear, this comparison is between the M4 chip, not the M4 Pro chip. You can only get the M4 Pro in the MacBook Pro, and that model starts at $1,999. At that point, it's a very different discussion. View the full article

A London espionage trial has provided rare insight into the activities of Jan Marsalek, the former payments executive, and how Moscow is outsourcing its spyingView the full article

Prime minister also open to exploring how French atomic weapons can protect whole continentView the full article

Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman, one of the central bank's more inflation-wary officials, said the balance of risks for monetary policymaking could soon shift. View the full article

AI isn’t just changing how brands communicate—it’s redefining what brands are. When 73% of marketing teams use generative AI, brand identity becomes a negotiation between human intent and machine interpretation. View the full article

With tax season in full swing, smart filers are looking to maximize every deduction available to them. We're all familiar with common tax deductions like mortgage interest, charitable donations, and retirement contributions. However, there are plenty of unexpected deductions and other little-known uses for pre-tax money. Andy Phillips, Vice President of H&R Block’s Tax Institute, shares some more unexpected facts about deductions. For instance, people who are wrongfully incarcerated may be able to exclude settlement money they receive to compensate them. And if you’re just starting to repay your student loans for the first time, you might not know that most taxpayers can deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest payments each year. Here are some more of the strangest tax deductions people have claimed and actually gotten away with. Gambling lossesWhile gambling winnings are taxable income, the IRS allows taxpayers to deduct their gambling losses up to the amount of their winnings. This deduction is often claimed by professional gamblers and those who frequent casinos. Your pool or hot tubIf you are self-employed and use your backyard pool or hot tub to entertain clients or employees, you may be able to deduct a portion of your operating costs and even the initial installation. Just make sure to carefully document the business uses. SnacksDaycares can deduct set amounts for the breakfast, lunch, and snacks provided to children in their care. TamponsMenstrual care products like tampons and pads are qualified expenses you can pay with your health savings account. Pet care for service animalsFor the most part, deducting medical expenses for pets is not allowed as a medical expense on your tax return. The only exception is when an animal is a certified service animal, like a guide dog, to assist you. Service animals generally aren’t considered pets though. If you have a physical disability or are hearing or visually impaired, you can deduct medical expenses for your pets if they are certified service animals. Expenses that may be covered include purchasing, training, and maintenance of the animal which includes food, grooming, and medical care. Some cosmetic surgeriesA taxpayer can deduct medical expenses for cosmetic surgery necessary to improve a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease. Breast reconstruction after cancer and vision correction surgery are examples of a deductible surgery. Clarinet lessonsBelieve it or not, the IRS has allowed deductions for clarinet lessons as a medical expense in certain circumstances where the lessons were recommended by a doctor to help treat a health condition like stammering or neurological issues. You'll need a physician's letter to claim this one. EV chargersIf you install an electric vehicle charger in your home, you may be eligible for a tax credit. Similarly, while you can’t just run an extension cord out the window and make bank letting people charge their EVs, there are other ways to monetize a home EV charger. Construction expensesIf you build a house, construction expenses you can include are the land, materials, architect fees, building inspection fees, and building permit fees. The bottom lineRemember to keep accurate records and consult with a tax professional if you have any questions or concerns. While the above deductions might not apply to you, there are still plenty of deductions to make sure you're taking advantage of—like home office perks or retirement contributions. And if you want to avoid the April 15 scramble, be sure to check out the best filing services for 2025. View the full article

Your current cloud use plays a role. By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Beth Bellor. View the full article

Your current cloud use plays a role. By Hitendra Patil Client Accounting Services: The Definitive Success Guide Go PRO for members-only access to more Beth Bellor. View the full article

By now, most people know not to trust everything they see on TikTok. But scams on the platform are becoming increasingly sophisticated, thanks to deepfake technology. A new report from Media Matters for America, published this week, identified multiple TikTok accounts using deepfake influencers and fake storytimes to promote wellness products to unsuspecting users. These accounts appear to be part of an affiliated network, using the same content format and often promoting exactly the same products with little to no scientific backing. One now-deleted TikTok account, which had over 245,000 followers, amassed more than 4.1 million likes promoting its “secret to perfect hair.” Hawking a batana oil to increase hair growth (link in bio), the account featured a number of videos of an influencer claiming to be the wife of Korea’s highest paid plastic surgeon, a former Victoria’s Secret model, and a gynecologist. She claimed this batana oil was the secret to her long luscious hair, despite there being no research to back this up. The secret, in fact, is deepfake technology. A reverse image search by Media Matters strongly suggests that the women in these videos were AI-generated. The same influencer—posed identically, in the same outfit—appeared in multiple videos promoting different brands and products. Fake influencers are not the only trick scammers are adopting. Wellness trends travel fast on TikTok, often gaining momentum through word of mouth and personal anecdotes. Scammers have caught on to this and are now exploiting popular formats like the #storytime trend, which has 36.9 million posts on TikTok, to market their products. “My wife and I have spent three years trying to conceive after getting married without success,” reads a slide from one account that was spotlighted in the Media Matters report. “I felt guilty, helpless and ashamed for not giving her the family we dreamed of.” The slides that follow detail the couples struggle and eventual polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis. These videos likely resonated with many viewers. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the leading causes of infertility, affecting approximately one in 10 women of childbearing age, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Determined to help her I found this supplement on Amazon that thousands swear by,” the final slide reads. “She started taking it, and for the first time in years, her cycle became regular—we’re finally hopeful again.” Of course, the supplement in question is conveniently linked in bio. Women with PCOS are often the prey of scams promising miracle cures via dubious supplements. But they are not the only ones. “Whoever or whatever created these accounts is trying to capitalize on the internet’s obsession with wellness,” writes Media Matters’s senior investigative researcher Olivia Little. “Nearly every username contains some combination of wellness buzzwords, and the accounts exclusively hawk health and beauty products.” As deepfake technology becomes ever more sophisticated, consumers must remain ever more skeptical of what is being sold to them online. View the full article

Trading could soon be very different on the Nasdaq stock market if the stock exchange gets its way. That’s because Nasdaq president Tal Cohen has announced the exchange’s plans to introduce 24-hour trading to the platform in the near future. The move to 24-hour trading would represent a seismic shift for the Nasdaq—and present opportunities and challenges to investors, businesses, and the media who cover them. Here’s what you need to know. Nasdaq proposes 24/5 trading In a blog post published today, Nasdaq president Tal Cohen has proposed what is colloquially called “24/5 trading”—the ability to trade stocks and other securities on exchange 24 hours a day for 5 days a week. In the blog post announcing Nasdaq’s intention, Cohen calls the potential move a “pivotal moment” of modernization for the exchange. “We are excited to share that Nasdaq has begun engaging with regulators, market participants and other key stakeholders, with a view of enabling 24-hour trading five days a week on the Nasdaq Stock Market,” he wrote, noting that 24-hour trading could “expand wealth-building opportunities” and “broaden investor access.” However, the Nasdaq operates in a highly regulated industry, so it cannot unilaterally decide to offer 24-hour trading. Not only does it need to get regulatory approval, but it must also ensure that it and its technology and financial partners that enable millions to trade securities on its platform have it within their means to facilitate a switch to 24-hour trading. “The U.S. equities markets process millions of messages per second, and every incremental change—whether in trading rules or the guardrails that protect investors—requires seamless industry-wide coordination, thoughtful planning, testing, and coordinated implementation,” Cohen noted. “A harmonized and aligned approach across all markets is key to avoiding operational complexity and ensuring a seamless customer experience.” While Cohen didn’t explicitly state the company’s new proposed 24-hour trading hours, given that they would be five days a week, the new trading period would likely run from 12:01 a.m. on Monday to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Eastern Time (ET). Currently, the Nasdaq trades from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET Monday to Friday, like other major U.S. markets. The Nasdaq also currently offers extended trading hours. Pre-market trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET, and post-market trading runs from 4:00 p.m. to 4:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday. If the Nasdaq gets approval for its new 24/5 trading schedule, it will add an additional eight hours to every trading day. Who does 24/5 trading benefit? Well, one of the biggest beneficiaries, of course, is Nasdaq. The exchange makes its money by charging fees for the services it provides with each trade. The more trades being made, the more money Nasdaq stands to make. But Nasdaq would argue that a move to 24/5 trading will benefit investors in general, who would be able to trade any time they want during the five-day workweek. However, another big benefit would be to a specific type of investor: those who live internationally, especially those in Asia. Due to time differences, many investors in Asia—at least retail investors—are typically off work or sleeping for the night when American exchange activity is at its height. For example, there is a 14-hour time difference between Japan and New York. By switching to a 24/5 trading schedule, investors in Asia would have more access to U.S. markets during their normal waking hours. “Attracting more investment to our markets presents a compelling opportunity for both the U.S. and global economy,” Cohen wrote. “It is therefore incumbent on us to enhance access for those operating across different time zones.” Companies and the media may find 24/5 trading challenging Of course, while Nasdaq and international traders might find 24/5 trading beneficial, other entities—including the companies whose shares trade on the Nasdaq and the media who report on them—could find the move challenging. Companies, especially the ones found on the tech-heavy Nasdaq, like Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Nvidia, and more, like to control when investors receive news about them, as much as they can, anyway. The reason for this is that news, especially when it’s first disseminated, can make a stock’s price swing wildly in one direction or another. This is why many companies report their earnings before or after regular market hours. Retail investors typically don’t trade in those hours, which helps mitigate any large-scale fear- or greed-based selling or buying when news hits. If stocks are traded 24/5, companies lose this buffer—which could lead to increased trading volatility. If this change happens, every CEO or CFO will have to be extra careful what they say during earnings calls, as any statement—correctly interpreted or not—could lead to instant trading volatility. And for the media covering Nasdaq companies—and the markets in general—well, they will no longer be able to call it a night after 4 p.m. If the Nasdaq is trading 24/5, that means U.S. financial news is now happening 24/5, and investors are going to want real-time analysis and updates. When does Nasdaq’s new trading begin? Currently, there’s no definitive date for Nasdaq’s 24/5 trading sessions to begin because the change needs to be approved by regulators—and Nasdaq needs to get the buy-in from its partners and the companies that trade on its exchange. However, if everything goes as Nasdaq would like, Cohen says the company anticipates 24/5 trading to begin “in the second half of 2026.” Nasdaq, Inc. shares (Nasdaq: NDAQ) are currently down less than 1% to around $75.56 in early morning trading after the news was announced. View the full article

It turns out 2025 isn’t the year for legalized sports betting in Georgia. Efforts to send a state constitutional amendment to voters failed Thursday in the state legislature, as neither the amendment nor a bill laying out details ever came to a vote in the House. Voters in Missouri narrowly approved sports betting in a 2024 referendum, making it the 39th state to legalize the practice. But like in Georgia, legalization faces high hurdles in the 10 remaining states that bar sports gambling. Thursday was the deadline for each Georgia chamber to pass its own legislation to the opposite chamber. The measures still could be revived in the last month of the session, but it much less likely. Lawmakers could still consider the measures in the 2026 half of Georgia’s two-year session. “It came in late and I guess people just weren’t there yet,” said House Higher Education Committee Chairman Chuck Martin, an Alpharetta Republican, referring to a bill and constitutional amendment that were introduced only last week. “We’ll keep working with people and trying to do what’s in the best interest of the state,” Martin said, saying a referendum was still possible in on the November 2026 ballot. Sports wagering is backed by Atlanta’s professional sports teams, business groups and Republican Lt. Gov Burt Jones. But those powerful proponents have struggled to pass a law in the seven legislative sessions since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a federal law that banned commercial sports betting in most states. In Minnesota, a proposal failed on a 6-6- tie vote in a Senate committee on Feb. 13, even though the sponsor said his bill was supported by the state’s 11 Native American tribes, which operate casinos, the state’s two horse racing tracks, charitable gambling operations and local sports teams. California voters rejected wagering in 2022. A proposal to legalize sports betting passed the Texas House in 2023, but the state Senate spurned the proposal. One state where the issue is making progress is Hawaii, where the state House on Tuesday passed a bill that would legalize online sports betting. Missouri is currently making rules and taking applications from sportsbooks, with the launch of legal betting delayed until late summer or early fall. Without Democratic votes in Georgia, a constitutional amendment couldn’t achieve the two-thirds majorities needs to pass the state House and Senate. Republicans in the state are far from unified. Some GOP lawmakers oppose sports betting, warning that legalizing sports betting will provide a pathway to addiction, especially for younger gamblers. House Minority Whip Sam Park, a Lawrenceville Democrat, said Wednesday that his party wants to prioritize use of any tax money for prekindergarten. That was part of the constitutional amendment proposed by Martin’s committee. Supporters have argued that Georgians should get a chance to vote, arguing many already bet on sports illegally. “I believe strongly — and Georgians by wide margins agree with me — that this change will not only bring in much needed revenue to educate our youngest learners but also provide consumer protections that don’t exist in today’s black market,” State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, the Watkinsville Republican who sponsored the measure, said in a statement. Of the 38 states that currently allow sports betting, some allow only in-person bets, although most allow electronic betting from anywhere. —Jeff Amy, Associated Press View the full article

Four satellite operators in talks with Brussels and other capitals on providing back-up connectivity for KyivView the full article

Apple has unveiled its most powerful Mac to date, introducing the new Mac Studio, powered by the M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips. The latest iteration of Apple’s high-performance desktop features Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, up to 512GB of unified memory, and up to 16TB of SSD storage, all within a compact design. The new Mac Studio is now available for pre-order, with official availability beginning March 12. “The new Mac Studio is the most powerful Mac we’ve ever made,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering. “A complete game-changer for pros around the world — powering both home and pro studios — Mac Studio sits in a class of its own, offering a staggering amount of performance in a compact, quiet design that fits beautifully on your desk. With this new Mac Studio, we’re delivering even more extreme performance with M4 Max and M3 Ultra, support for half a terabyte of unified memory, up to 16TB of superfast storage, and Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. Mac Studio truly is the ultimate pro desktop.” Performance Upgrades with M4 Max and M3 Ultra The Mac Studio with M4 Max is designed for professionals in video editing, software development, photography, and other creative fields. Apple claims that M4 Max offers “phenomenal single-threaded CPU performance with the world’s fastest CPU core.” The chip features an up to 16-core CPU, an up to 40-core GPU, and a Neural Engine that is over three times faster than the M1 Max. Apple states that the M4 Max variant of the Mac Studio is “up to 3.5x faster than Mac Studio with M1 Max and up to 6.1x faster than the most powerful Intel-based 27-inch iMac.” The device supports up to 128GB of unified memory and boasts a powerful Media Engine for video processing, featuring two ProRes accelerators. For even more intensive workflows, the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra offers a significant leap in performance. It features an up to 32-core CPU, an up to 80-core GPU, and a 32-core Neural Engine. According to Apple, this version delivers “nearly 2x faster performance than M4 Max in workloads that take advantage of high CPU and GPU core counts.” It also supports up to 512GB of unified memory and up to 16TB of SSD storage. Thunderbolt 5 and Expanded Connectivity The Mac Studio now features Thunderbolt 5, which enables transfer speeds of up to 120 Gb/s—three times faster than the previous generation. This enhancement allows for improved external storage performance, expansion chassis connectivity, and support for professional hub solutions. The M3 Ultra-powered Mac Studio can drive up to eight Pro Display XDRs at full 6K resolution. Other connectivity options include a 10Gb Ethernet port, an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot on the front for quick media import, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Designed for AI and Apple Intelligence The new Mac Studio is built to handle artificial intelligence workloads, capable of running large language models (LLMs) with over 600 billion parameters entirely in memory. Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI-powered personal assistant, is integrated into the Mac Studio experience. This feature supports advanced AI-driven tasks such as live transcription, writing assistance, and enhanced Siri functionality. Apple Intelligence processes many of its features on-device for enhanced privacy, while more complex requests are handled through Private Cloud Compute. Apple states that “users’ data is never stored or shared with Apple; it is used only to fulfill their request.” Environmental Commitment Apple emphasized its commitment to sustainability, stating that the new Mac Studio features “over 30 percent recycled content overall, including 100 percent recycled aluminum in the enclosure and 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets.” The company aims to be carbon neutral across its entire supply chain by 2030. Pricing and Availability Mac Studio is available for pre-order starting today on apple.com/store, with in-store availability beginning March 12. The base model starts at $1,999, with an education discount price of $1,799. Configure-to-order options are available for expanded memory and storage capacities. Customers who purchase Mac Studio directly from Apple can access Personal Setup services for guided assistance with their new device. Additionally, AppleCare+ offers extended service and support, including coverage for accidental damage and battery service. Image: Apple This article, "Apple Introduces New Mac Studio with M4 Max and M3 Ultra Chips" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article