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It’s official: Twitter.com is about to bite the dust forever. According to a series of tweets from X’s @Safety account, posted between October 24 and October 25, the social media platform plans to finally retire the Twitter domain on November 10. Currently, searching for Twitter.com still leads directly to X, but soon, that will no longer be an option. The domain’s phase-out comes more than two years after Twitter owner Elon Musk renamed the platform X in July 2023, much to the dismay of many loyal users. At the time, critics argued that the rebrand was destined to fail, with some going so far as to call it “brand suicide.” And while many former users have indeed jumped ship to competing platforms like Threads and Bluesky in the years since Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022, it looks like the new name is here to stay. The announcement that Twitter will soon disappear into the annals of internet history came subtly buried in a message from X’s @Safety account that, due to the domain’s retirement, users who rely on certain two-factor authentication (2FA) methods will need to update their log-ins before November 10. Here’s what you need to know about the notice: How to make sure your X account doesn’t get locked According to an initial post from @Safety, all X accounts that use a security key as their 2FA method will need to re-enroll their key in order to keep accessing X after November 10. Per a second post, a “security key” does not refer to users who rely on an authenticator app to log into X. Instead, this notice only pertains to anyone using a physical security key (like a Yubikey), or a passkey, which is an encrypted, passwordless log-in option that typically requires users to enter a face scan or fingerprint scan. These methods are typically used to keep accounts safer, since they make it more difficult for hackers to access passwords and log into accounts remotely. If you use a security key or passkey to log into X, here’s what you can do before November 10 to avoid locking your account: Open your account and navigate to Settings. Select “Security and account access,” then click “Security” and open the “Two-factor authentication” section. Click the “Add another key” option and follow the steps to create a new security key or passkey that’s linked to the “x.com” domain rather than the former “Twitter.com” domain. Per the @Safety post, “After November 10, if you haven’t re-enrolled a security key, your account will be locked until you: re-enroll; choose a different 2FA method; or elect not to use 2FA (but we always recommend you use 2FA to protect your account!)” X did not immediately respond to Fast Company’s request for comment on what other steps it’s taking to ensure that the Twitter retirement process proceeds smoothly. View the full article

A safety checklist is a practical tool that helps teams maintain consistent safety practices on site. Used before shifts, inspections and audits, a good checklist improves compliance, reduces incidents and creates a clear record of safety actions. By standardizing inspections across crews and sites, a safety checklist makes it easier to spot hazards early and take corrective action quickly. The right safety checklist template saves time by providing ready-made fields for hazards, controls and signatures while remaining easy to customize for specific trades or tasks. Whether printed for toolbox talks or used on a mobile device for real-time reporting, a safety checklist template supports clear communication, faster corrective action and better documentation for managers and auditors. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Safety-Checklist-Screenshot.png Get your free Safety Checklist Template Use this free Safety Checklist Template for Word to manage your projects better. Download Word File What Is a Safety Checklist? A safety checklist is a structured document that outlines the specific steps, equipment and conditions that must be verified to ensure a safe working environment. It provides a systematic approach to inspecting job sites, machinery and procedures so teams can identify hazards before they cause harm. A safety checklist promotes accountability by assigning responsibility for each inspection item, helping to confirm that safety measures are not only in place but consistently followed. Construction teams, facility managers and safety officers use safety checklists to comply with regulations and reduce the risk of accidents. These lists can cover everything from personal protective equipment and fall protection to site housekeeping and equipment maintenance. By using a consistent checklist, teams can ensure that no safety step is overlooked and that compliance standards such as OSHA requirements are met during every phase of a project. Project management software improves the safety checklist process by turning static documents into live, trackable workflows. Teams can create recurring safety tasks, assign responsibilities and track completion in real time. Automated notifications remind crews when inspections are due, while digital recordkeeping eliminates paper logs and simplifies compliance reporting. This helps managers maintain visibility across multiple job sites and ensures accountability through centralized documentation. ProjectManager is ideal for managing the safety checklist process because it combines planning, tracking and reporting tools in one connected platform. Its interactive Gantt chart lets safety managers schedule inspections alongside construction activities so potential conflicts or high-risk phases can be addressed in advance, including linking dependencies. Teams can attach digital checklists, photos and comments directly to tasks, ensuring every safety item is logged and verified. Real-time dashboards and AI-informed reports give instant insight into site compliance. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Gantt-CTA-2025.jpgLearn more When to Use a Safety Checklist A safety checklist should be used whenever workers face physical, environmental or operational risks that could cause injury or damage. These checklists help standardize inspections, verify compliance with safety regulations and prevent hazards before they occur. They’re especially useful in industries where multiple teams, machines and moving parts operate simultaneously, making oversight essential for maintaining a safe workplace. Construction Projects On construction sites, a safety checklist ensures every phase of work—from excavation and framing to finishing—is completed safely. It covers PPE requirements, scaffolding inspections, equipment checks and fall protection systems. Using a checklist during daily site walkthroughs helps supervisors identify unsafe conditions early and confirm that corrective actions are taken before work continues. Related: Corrective Action Plan Template Manufacturing Operations In manufacturing, safety checklists are used to monitor equipment conditions, machine guarding, chemical handling and emergency procedures. They help operators maintain compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards while reducing downtime caused by accidents. Routine use of checklists keeps production lines efficient and ensures that all safety controls are functioning correctly. Warehouses & Logistics Operations Warehouses and logistics centers rely on safety checklists to control hazards related to forklifts, material storage and pedestrian traffic. Regular inspections ensure clear aisles, proper stacking and functioning safety barriers. By integrating checklists into daily routines, managers can prevent injuries, minimize product damage and maintain smooth warehouse operations even during high-demand periods. /wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-construction-ebook-banner-ad.jpg What Should Be In a Safety Checklist? A safety checklist should cover every aspect of a worksite or facility that affects employee safety and compliance. It ensures hazards are identified, control measures are in place and safety procedures are consistently followed. Each section of the checklist focuses on a specific category of workplace safety, helping teams conduct thorough and repeatable inspections. General Information This section records the date, location, inspector name and project or department details. It establishes accountability and ensures all inspections are properly documented. Accurate general information allows managers to track safety performance trends, verify inspection frequency and coordinate follow-up actions across multiple sites or departments. Personal Protective Equipment The PPE section ensures all workers have and use the required protective gear, such as helmets, gloves, safety glasses and high-visibility vests. It also verifies that PPE is clean, functional and properly fitted. Regular checks help prevent injuries caused by worn or missing equipment and promote consistent compliance with safety standards. Tools & Machinery Inspection This section confirms that all tools and equipment are in safe working condition. Inspectors check for damage, leaks and malfunctioning parts. Preventive inspection reduces breakdowns, prevents accidents and extends the life of costly machinery, ensuring safe and efficient performance throughout daily operations. Workplace Environment Inspection Inspecting the work environment includes checking lighting, ventilation, housekeeping and hazard controls. This section ensures pathways are clear, noise and dust levels are controlled and signage is visible. Maintaining a safe environment reduces the likelihood of slips, falls and exposure-related illnesses among workers. Related: Best Construction Estimating Software of 2025 Emergency Preparedness Emergency preparedness covers access to fire extinguishers, first-aid kits and clearly marked exits. It also verifies that emergency procedures and evacuation routes are up to date. Regular checks ensure employees know how to respond quickly in case of fire, medical emergencies or severe weather events. Training & Signage This section ensures all workers receive the required safety training and that warning signs and instructions are posted where needed. It also verifies that certifications are current. Keeping training and signage updated helps maintain awareness of potential hazards and reinforces safe work habits across all personnel. Documentation & Compliance The final section confirms that all safety reports, inspection logs and permits are properly filed. It helps verify compliance with OSHA and other regulatory standards. Complete documentation supports audits, legal protection and continuous improvement in workplace safety management. Safety Checklist Template Download this free safety checklist template for Word to provide a comprehensive framework for daily safety inspections. It organizes essential information, from general site details to personal protective equipment, tools, machinery, workplace conditions, emergency preparedness, training, signage and compliance documentation. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Safety-Checklist-Screenshot-600x686.png Using this template helps safety managers systematically track hazards, enforce policies and maintain regulatory compliance. It streamlines reporting, ensures accountability and makes safety oversight easier across all shifts and locations. Safety Checklist Example A safety checklist helps organizations systematically inspect work areas, equipment and personnel compliance to maintain a safe environment. Using a detailed checklist ensures that potential hazards are identified and corrected quickly, protecting employees and meeting regulatory standards. This example illustrates how a daily safety walkthrough can be organized across multiple categories, including general information, personal protective equipment, tools and machinery, workplace conditions, emergency preparedness, training, signage and documentation. General Information This section records key details about the inspection, such as location, date, supervisor and overall safety status. It ensures accountability and provides context for each safety review, helping organizations track conditions over time and maintain consistency across shifts or departments. Field Example Entry Date 10/08/2025 Location Main Manufacturing Plant – Assembly Line B Department Production & Maintenance Supervisor / Inspector Carla Thompson Shift Morning (6 a.m.–2 p.m.) Inspection Type Daily Safety Walkthrough Weather Conditions (if applicable) Clear, 27 °C Overall Safety Status Satisfactory Personal Protective Equipment This section ensures that all required PPE is available, in good condition and used properly. Regular tracking helps reduce risk, maintain compliance and identify shortages early so the safety team can take corrective action quickly. PPE Item Available In Use Condition Action Required Responsible Person Hard hats Yes Yes Good — Site Foreman Safety gloves Partial (short supply on Size L) Yes Fair Order additional pairs Purchasing Protective eyewear Yes Yes Good — Safety Officer Reflective vests Yes Yes Excellent — Crew Lead Steel-toe boots Yes 80% compliance Good Reinforce PPE policy HR & Safety Tools & Machinery Inspection This section helps verify that all tools and machinery are safe to operate, maintained properly and free of hazards. It records the condition, maintenance schedules and corrective actions to prevent breakdowns and incidents. Equipment / Tool Condition Maintenance Due Date Issue Detected Corrective Action Status Forklift #2 Good 20/10/2025 None — Cleared Hydraulic press Fair 15/10/2025 Minor oil leak Schedule maintenance this week In progress Electric drills Excellent 30/11/2025 None — Cleared Conveyor belt motor Poor Overdue Unusual noise Replace bearing Pending Welding equipment Good 25/10/2025 None — Cleared Workplace Environment Inspection This section ensures the physical workspace meets safety standards, identifies hazards and tracks corrective actions. Observations include lighting, floor conditions, noise, ventilation and aisle clearance to minimize risks for all personnel. Area / Element Standard Met Observation Risk Level Required Action Completion Date Lighting levels Yes Adequate illumination throughout Low — — Floor cleanliness Partial Oil spill near Press Machine 2 Medium Clean area and post warning sign 10/08/2025 Noise levels Yes Within acceptable range Low — — Ventilation system Yes Air filters replaced last week Low — — Aisle clearance No Pallets blocking exit path High Relocate pallets immediately 10/08/2025 Emergency Preparedness This section confirms that all emergency equipment is accessible, functional and regularly inspected. It includes fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, exits, alarms, evacuation maps and emergency contacts, helping staff respond quickly during incidents. Item Condition Accessible Last Checked Action Required Responsible Person Fire extinguishers Good Yes 01/09/2025 Update inspection tags monthly Maintenance First-aid kits Partially stocked Yes 05/10/2025 Restock medical tape and bandages Safety Officer Emergency exits Clear Yes 10/08/2025 — Floor Supervisor Evacuation map Updated Visible 10/08/2025 — Safety Coordinator Alarm systems Functional Yes 07/08/2025 Perform quarterly sound test Electrical Team Emergency contact list Outdated Yes 03/07/2025 Replace with new version HR Department Training & Signage This section tracks employee training, equipment-specific instruction, hazard signage, chemical labels and incident reporting procedures. It ensures personnel are informed and compliant with safety protocols. Item Compliant Observation Action Needed Responsible Person Deadline Safety induction training Yes All new employees trained — HR & Safety — Equipment-specific training Partial Two operators need refresher course Schedule retraining Operations Lead 15/10/2025 Hazard signage Yes Clear and readable — Facilities — Chemical hazard labels No Faded labels on paint storage Replace labels immediately Safety Officer 11/08/2025 Incident reporting procedure Yes Posters visible in break area — HR — Documentation & Compliance This section monitors records, audits and compliance documentation. Proper recordkeeping supports regulatory requirements, internal audits and continuous improvement of safety programs. Document Type Updated Storage Location Compliance Standard Review Date Responsible Person OSHA Form 300 (Injury Log) Yes Digital Safety Folder OSHA 29 CFR 1904 01/01/2026 Compliance Officer Equipment maintenance logs Yes Maintenance Office ISO 45001 Monthly Maintenance Manager Safety meeting minutes No Safety Shared Drive Internal Policy 05/09/2025 Safety Coordinator Audit reports Yes Secure server (Safety\Audits) Local Labor Authority Quarterly QA Manager Corrective action reports Partial Pending upload Company SOP 12/08/2025 Safety Officer Free Related Templates These free templates are designed to streamline construction safety management. Each template addresses a critical aspect of workplace safety and risk oversight, making it easier to plan, document and report safety procedures across your projects. Construction Safety Plan Template This template helps outline safety procedures, assign responsibilities and document preventive measures for construction sites. It ensures all hazards are identified, controls are implemented and compliance with safety regulations is maintained throughout the project. Incident Report Template Use this template to record workplace incidents, track their causes and document corrective actions. It standardizes reporting and ensures timely communication of safety events, helping prevent future accidents and maintain accountability. Risk Assessment Template This template guides users through identifying hazards, evaluating risks and implementing mitigation strategies. It supports proactive safety management by helping teams systematically assess potential threats and maintain a safer work environment. ProjectManager Is Ideal for Manufacturing and Construction Projects ProjectManager is built to handle the complexity of both manufacturing and construction projects, offering tools that keep multiple tasks, teams and deadlines in sync. With multiple project views, managers can switch between Gantt charts, kanban boards and task lists to visualize production schedules, construction timelines and workflow dependencies. This flexibility allows for real-time adjustments, better sequencing of operations, and more accurate forecasting of project milestones. Optimize Resource Management Resource management in ProjectManager allows you to allocate labor, equipment and materials across multiple projects with precision. In manufacturing, this means tracking machine availability, production line capacity and material inventory levels. In construction, it enables assignment of crews, scheduling of heavy machinery and monitoring of on-site materials. Built-in workload views, resource allocation charts, team page and automatic alerts prevent overbooking, reduce downtime and ensure that every resource is used efficiently throughout the project lifecycle. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Streamline Tracking Tracking progress is critical in both manufacturing and construction, and ProjectManager simplifies this with comprehensive dashboards, real-time reports and integrated timesheets. Timesheets allow field operators and shop floor staff to log hours directly from mobile devices, capturing labor costs accurately. Dashboards give managers a visual overview of production output, construction milestones and pending tasks. Customizable reports provide insights into budget adherence, resource utilization and project risks, enabling proactive decision-making and ensuring projects stay on schedule and within budget. /wp-content/uploads/2025/10/AI-Project-Insights-Dashboard-Edited-Lightmode.png Related Content Whether you’re working in construction or manufacturing, a safety checklist helps deliver projects without incidents impacting deliverables. For those who want to expand the lens and learn more, check out the links below on risk management, site management and more. Construction Risk Management: An Introduction Construction Site Management: A Guide to Site Inspection Shop Floor Management: Planning, Scheduling and Control Logistics Management 101: Types, Degrees and How It Works with Supply Chain Management ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams, whether they’re in the office or out in the field. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Safety Checklist: Quick Guide With Example & Template appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Nothing says Halloween quite like an ominous countdown. Right now, subscribers to YouTube TV, the company's live TV service, are waiting to learn if they'll still have access to Disney-operated channels, including ABC and ESPN, come Oct.31. It's the latest conflict in ongoing fee disputes between Google and its various content providers, but even if Disney takes its ball and goes home, you won't be left entirely without options. When could Disney channels go dark on YouTube TV?According to Variety, if Disney and Google are unable to reach a deal by the end of Thursday, all Disney networks will vanish from YouTube TV on Oct. 30 at midnight ET. These include Disney Channel, ESPN, ABC News, Disney Jr., FX, FXX, FRXM, NatGeo, Freefrom, and even local ABC stations. It's not the first time YouTube has been through something like this. Last February, Paramount made a similar threat before eventually reaching an agreement that saw no pause in customer access to its channels. Since then, YouTube has had similar conflicts with Fox Corp., NBC Universal, and Univision, with only the Spanish-language network failing to reach a deal before its channels went dark. It's all about licensing feesWhat's happening here all comes down to licensing fees. To offer channels like the cable providers it's trying to replace, YouTube TV has to continually pay fees to content providers, and occasionally, those providers propose higher fees. That leaves YouTube in a bit of a lurch, as it tries to navigate between paying a fair price to its partners while also avoiding raising prices for its subscribers. Disney told Variety that, "[t]his is the latest example of Google exploiting is position as the expense of their own customers," implying that Google was risking stripping away channels its customers had paid for by refusing to compensate Disney with "fair rates." Google in turn argues that giving into Disney's "costly economic terms" would force the company to "raise prices on YouTube TV," as well as leave the service in a rough spot when compared to Disney's own Live TV offering, Hulu + Live TV. What happens if a deal isn't reachedPersonally, I wouldn't take either company's statement too seriously, at least if the earlier Paramount and NBC Universal conflicts are anything to go by—there's a good chance a deal will be reached before YouTube TV subscribers are affected. But as with those earlier conflicts, YouTube is willing to make it up to its customers if they lose access to Disney content. "If it [Disney content] remains unavailable for an extended period of time, we will offer subscribers a $20 credit," YouTube said. That would be enough to subscribe to a month of the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN bundle with ads, although YouTube hasn't said if the credit will be recurring. Currently, a YouTube TV Base Plan starts at $72.99/month for your first three months, then jumps up to $82.99/month after that, making it slightly less expensive than Hulu + Live TV in the long term ($64.99/month for the first three months, then $89.99/month after that). Whether prices will stay the same if Disney pulls its channels remains to be seen. View the full article

After sky-high inflation, currency crises and failed reform plans, the country was never going to find a quick fixView the full article

San Diego-based chipmaker strikes deal to sell new data centre processor to Saudi group Humain View the full article

Google announced Query groups in Search Console Insights. The AI feature clusters similar search queries, surfaces trends, and shows which topics drive clicks. The post Google Uses AI To Group Queries In Search Console Data appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Small importers for large U.S. retailers rushed in China-made strollers and wares meant for spring and are storing the goods in their own warehouses to avoid the big tariff bills that had been threatened over the next month. Before Sino-American talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur eliminated the threat of U.S. President Donald The President’s 100% tariffs on Chinese imports starting November 1, importers were expecting to shoulder the staggering levies. In response, importers of goods sold at retailers Walmart, Amazon, and Target chose to risk loading their balance sheets with inventory that may take months to move out, and pay more for warehousing costs. They’re also betting consumer spending holds up in the spring as lower-income consumers rein in spending and the economy remains uncertain overall. “We are trying to front-load spring orders,” said Leslie Stiba, CEO of high-end stroller-maker Austlen Baby Co. “We brought in as much as we could manage.” Stiba said she placed orders for 20% to 25% more strollers for spring 2026—her biggest season—compared to the last. Overall, she is holding 50% more inventory than before the start of The President’s trade war, and has held off on hiring due to the new expenses. Front-loading has become the norm for months now, as businesses have tried to get in front of The President’s vacillating levies. Importers bulked up shipments from China during the six-month tariffs truce between the two countries, triggering a surge in shipping rates and port activity. Reuters reporting, in the days before the framework of a tariff truce was hashed out on Sunday, shows the phenomenon continued for spring 2026 shipments. Like many importers of China-made goods, Stiba had to stop shipments earlier this year when The President first imposed tariffs of about 145%. The halt hurt her business because she did not have enough inventory to fill orders. Ahead of schedule Some Chinese suppliers took a more relaxed view, baking tariff-related uncertainty into their business plans. “Whatever happens on November 1 will happen, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t,” said a toymaker in southern China, who did not want to be named for privacy reasons. “I don’t think very many people are assuming that tariffs will rise dramatically. … People might be doing some front-loading deals with the assumption that we will have a three-month extension window, but there wasn’t enough time to move orders forward to meet the November 1 deadline even if you wanted to.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday he anticipates that a tariff truce with China will be extended beyond the November 10 expiration date. Deng Jinling, manager of a Chinese company that exports thermos flasks to the United States, told Reuters before Sunday’s development that her shipments were still going out normally and she wasn’t worried about further levies. “There’s no rush,” she said. “Most of the goods have already been shipped. Only about 20% of the U.S.-bound cargo is left.” Not all U.S. importers ramped up shipments. Spreetail, which distributes large items like trampolines, was waiting to see if the tariffs would stick, said chief merchandising officer Owen Carr. Spring merchandise—from warmer-weather apparel to Easter baskets—usually arrives stateside at the end of the year, with volumes peaking right before China’s Lunar New Year celebration in winter. “Until there is a clear path forward or a resolution (to the trade war), we can expect to see more front-loading,” said Noel Hacegaba, chief operating officer at the Port of Long Beach, the U.S.’s second-busiest. “It has resulted so far this year in a tsunami of cargo.” This year, record volumes including spring goods are far ahead of schedule, he said. Mitigating risks Retailers are ordering more from suppliers’ domestic warehouses, rather than picking up directly from China, executives at toymakers Hasbro and Mattel have said on recent calls. That allows them to mitigate tariff risks and control the pace of stocks on their shelves as shoppers tighten budgets. Holiday toymaker Hey Buddy Hey Pal, which imports Easter-egg decorating kits from China, already has 50% of its goods for the spring ready to be shipped from a warehouse in Dallas, said Curtis Gill, co-founder of the company. Balsam Hill, which supplies artificial Christmas trees and seasonal decor, recently decided to move forward with spring orders of floral wreaths it had been holding back on placing, said CEO Mac Harman. “We did a scaled-back order for spring,” Harman said, adding that he raised prices. —Jessica DiNapoli, Siddharth Cavale, and Arriana McLymore, Reuters Additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein, Casey Hall, and Sophie Yu. View the full article

If you’re considering selling handmade products on Amazon, grasping the process is crucial. First, you’ll need to apply for Amazon Handmade, which requires high-quality images and detailed descriptions of your items. Once approved, you can create your artisan profile to highlight your unique craft story. It’s important to manage your orders efficiently during the time you engage with customers to boost your sales. Next, let’s explore the pros and cons of selling on this platform. Key Takeaways Apply for Amazon Handmade by submitting product descriptions, images, and details about your production process for approval. Create your artisan profile after approval, showcasing your handcrafted items and sharing your story. Utilize Amazon’s tools for marketing and actively communicate with customers to increase visibility. Manage orders efficiently using the Amazon Seller app to track shipping and inventory seamlessly. Keep your profile updated with new items and engaging content to maintain customer interest. Pros and Cons of Handmade at Amazon When considering selling handmade products on Amazon, it’s crucial to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages of the Handmade at Amazon platform. One major advantage is the access to Amazon’s vast customer base of approximately 250 million, greatly boosting your visibility compared to Etsy. Furthermore, Amazon’s shipping services can simplify logistics, and using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) can make your products Prime eligible. On the other hand, you must consider the higher handmade on Amazon fees, which include a flat 15% per sale, exceeding Etsy’s costs. In addition, customer expectations on Amazon may differ from traditional handmade norms, presenting challenges for artisans used to the Etsy marketplace. In the end, you should evaluate if selling handmade items on Amazon aligns with your goals. How to Apply for Handmade at Amazon Applying for Handmade at Amazon requires careful preparation, as you need to clearly demonstrate that you handcraft each product you intend to sell. Start by gathering detailed descriptions, high-quality images, and information about your production processes. The application will ask about your identity, business structure, and whether you work alone or with a team. Once you submit, expect the review process to take up to two weeks. You’ll receive an email notification about your acceptance or denial. If accepted, you may need to shift to a Professional Seller account. If you’re denied, you can reapply after 30 days, allowing you to adjust your application. Consider whether it’s better to sell on Etsy or Amazon for your handmade products. Getting Started on Amazon Handmade Getting started on Amazon Handmade involves several key steps that artisans must follow to successfully set up their shop. First, apply for Amazon Handmade and verify your products meet their criteria; only handcrafted items are allowed. The application requires detailed descriptions, product images, and evidence of your crafting process, which may take up to two weeks for approval. Once approved, you can create your store to sell homemade products. Even though there are no listing fees, be aware of a 15% referral fee per sale. To boost your visibility, actively communicate with customers and utilize Amazon’s marketing tools. This approach will help you effectively sell handmade products online and succeed in selling handmade crafts on the platform. Creating Your Artisan Profile Creating your Artisan Profile on Amazon Handmade is vital for establishing your brand and connecting with potential customers. This profile acts as your storefront, allowing you to showcase your craft and personality. Follow these steps to create an engaging profile: Section Tips for Success Profile Picture Use a clear, friendly image of yourself. Workspace Photos Include images of your workspace and products. Craft Story Share the story behind your creations. Product Updates Regularly update your profile with new items. Concise Information Keep text clear and engaging, as spacing is fixed. Managing Orders and Inventory Managing orders and inventory efficiently is essential for maintaining a successful presence on Amazon Handmade, especially as you strive to meet customer expectations. Use the Amazon Seller app to manage orders, which provides real-time notifications for new orders and updates on shipping statuses. Track shipping deadlines to guarantee timely delivery, and you can print shipping labels directly from the platform. Each listing has a SKU for easy inventory tracking, enabling you to communicate effectively with customers. Monitor inventory levels using Amazon’s system, as it gives you access to detailed information about each listing and associated fees. Regularly check customer service actions, since they’re tracked and visible to customers, helping you maintain a professional seller profile during selling homemade things online. Frequently Asked Questions How to Start Selling on Amazon Handmade? To start selling on Amazon Handmade, you’ll first need to apply for approval. This involves providing detailed product descriptions, high-quality images, and information about your crafting process. You must likewise submit identity verification documents, like a passport or driver’s license. After approval, you can create your storefront and choose your fulfillment method, either Fulfillment by Amazon or Fulfilled by Merchant. How Much Is It to Get Started Selling on Amazon Handmade? To get started selling on Amazon Handmade, you won’t pay any monthly subscription fees, as they’re waived for approved sellers. Instead, you’ll pay a 15% referral fee on each sale. There are no listing fees, allowing you to begin without upfront costs. Nevertheless, you should budget for shipping fees, packaging materials, and potential Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) costs. Furthermore, consider expenses related to currency conversions and cross-border payments for an all-encompassing budget. Do I Need a Business License to Sell on Amazon Handmade? You typically don’t need a specific business license to sell on Amazon Handmade. Nevertheless, local regulations might require one based on your location and the type of products you sell. It’s essential to check with your local government to understand any necessary permits. If you sell items like food or cosmetics, you may need additional permits. Having a business license can additionally boost your credibility and help you manage taxes effectively. How to Start Selling on Amazon for Beginners? To start selling on Amazon as a beginner, you’ll need to create an Amazon Seller account. Begin by selecting the appropriate selling plan, then list your products with clear descriptions and high-quality images. Set competitive prices whilst considering Amazon’s fees. Utilize marketing tools like Sponsored Products to boost visibility. Finally, guarantee you provide excellent customer service by swiftly addressing inquiries and resolving issues, which will help you build a positive reputation and increase sales. Conclusion To sum up, selling handmade products on Amazon can effectively broaden your market reach. By following the application process, setting up your artisan profile, and managing orders through the Amazon Seller app, you can streamline your business operations. Remember to focus on high-quality images and detailed descriptions to attract customers. Engaging with your audience and efficiently handling inventory will further improve your visibility and sales. With diligence, your handmade creations can thrive in the competitive Amazon marketplace. Image via Envanto This article, "Selling Handmade on Amazon: A Comprehensive Guide to Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

If you’re considering selling handmade products on Amazon, grasping the process is crucial. First, you’ll need to apply for Amazon Handmade, which requires high-quality images and detailed descriptions of your items. Once approved, you can create your artisan profile to highlight your unique craft story. It’s important to manage your orders efficiently during the time you engage with customers to boost your sales. Next, let’s explore the pros and cons of selling on this platform. Key Takeaways Apply for Amazon Handmade by submitting product descriptions, images, and details about your production process for approval. Create your artisan profile after approval, showcasing your handcrafted items and sharing your story. Utilize Amazon’s tools for marketing and actively communicate with customers to increase visibility. Manage orders efficiently using the Amazon Seller app to track shipping and inventory seamlessly. Keep your profile updated with new items and engaging content to maintain customer interest. Pros and Cons of Handmade at Amazon When considering selling handmade products on Amazon, it’s crucial to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages of the Handmade at Amazon platform. One major advantage is the access to Amazon’s vast customer base of approximately 250 million, greatly boosting your visibility compared to Etsy. Furthermore, Amazon’s shipping services can simplify logistics, and using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) can make your products Prime eligible. On the other hand, you must consider the higher handmade on Amazon fees, which include a flat 15% per sale, exceeding Etsy’s costs. In addition, customer expectations on Amazon may differ from traditional handmade norms, presenting challenges for artisans used to the Etsy marketplace. In the end, you should evaluate if selling handmade items on Amazon aligns with your goals. How to Apply for Handmade at Amazon Applying for Handmade at Amazon requires careful preparation, as you need to clearly demonstrate that you handcraft each product you intend to sell. Start by gathering detailed descriptions, high-quality images, and information about your production processes. The application will ask about your identity, business structure, and whether you work alone or with a team. Once you submit, expect the review process to take up to two weeks. You’ll receive an email notification about your acceptance or denial. If accepted, you may need to shift to a Professional Seller account. If you’re denied, you can reapply after 30 days, allowing you to adjust your application. Consider whether it’s better to sell on Etsy or Amazon for your handmade products. Getting Started on Amazon Handmade Getting started on Amazon Handmade involves several key steps that artisans must follow to successfully set up their shop. First, apply for Amazon Handmade and verify your products meet their criteria; only handcrafted items are allowed. The application requires detailed descriptions, product images, and evidence of your crafting process, which may take up to two weeks for approval. Once approved, you can create your store to sell homemade products. Even though there are no listing fees, be aware of a 15% referral fee per sale. To boost your visibility, actively communicate with customers and utilize Amazon’s marketing tools. This approach will help you effectively sell handmade products online and succeed in selling handmade crafts on the platform. Creating Your Artisan Profile Creating your Artisan Profile on Amazon Handmade is vital for establishing your brand and connecting with potential customers. This profile acts as your storefront, allowing you to showcase your craft and personality. Follow these steps to create an engaging profile: Section Tips for Success Profile Picture Use a clear, friendly image of yourself. Workspace Photos Include images of your workspace and products. Craft Story Share the story behind your creations. Product Updates Regularly update your profile with new items. Concise Information Keep text clear and engaging, as spacing is fixed. Managing Orders and Inventory Managing orders and inventory efficiently is essential for maintaining a successful presence on Amazon Handmade, especially as you strive to meet customer expectations. Use the Amazon Seller app to manage orders, which provides real-time notifications for new orders and updates on shipping statuses. Track shipping deadlines to guarantee timely delivery, and you can print shipping labels directly from the platform. Each listing has a SKU for easy inventory tracking, enabling you to communicate effectively with customers. Monitor inventory levels using Amazon’s system, as it gives you access to detailed information about each listing and associated fees. Regularly check customer service actions, since they’re tracked and visible to customers, helping you maintain a professional seller profile during selling homemade things online. Frequently Asked Questions How to Start Selling on Amazon Handmade? To start selling on Amazon Handmade, you’ll first need to apply for approval. This involves providing detailed product descriptions, high-quality images, and information about your crafting process. You must likewise submit identity verification documents, like a passport or driver’s license. After approval, you can create your storefront and choose your fulfillment method, either Fulfillment by Amazon or Fulfilled by Merchant. How Much Is It to Get Started Selling on Amazon Handmade? To get started selling on Amazon Handmade, you won’t pay any monthly subscription fees, as they’re waived for approved sellers. Instead, you’ll pay a 15% referral fee on each sale. There are no listing fees, allowing you to begin without upfront costs. Nevertheless, you should budget for shipping fees, packaging materials, and potential Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) costs. Furthermore, consider expenses related to currency conversions and cross-border payments for an all-encompassing budget. Do I Need a Business License to Sell on Amazon Handmade? You typically don’t need a specific business license to sell on Amazon Handmade. Nevertheless, local regulations might require one based on your location and the type of products you sell. It’s essential to check with your local government to understand any necessary permits. If you sell items like food or cosmetics, you may need additional permits. Having a business license can additionally boost your credibility and help you manage taxes effectively. How to Start Selling on Amazon for Beginners? To start selling on Amazon as a beginner, you’ll need to create an Amazon Seller account. Begin by selecting the appropriate selling plan, then list your products with clear descriptions and high-quality images. Set competitive prices whilst considering Amazon’s fees. Utilize marketing tools like Sponsored Products to boost visibility. Finally, guarantee you provide excellent customer service by swiftly addressing inquiries and resolving issues, which will help you build a positive reputation and increase sales. Conclusion To sum up, selling handmade products on Amazon can effectively broaden your market reach. By following the application process, setting up your artisan profile, and managing orders through the Amazon Seller app, you can streamline your business operations. Remember to focus on high-quality images and detailed descriptions to attract customers. Engaging with your audience and efficiently handling inventory will further improve your visibility and sales. With diligence, your handmade creations can thrive in the competitive Amazon marketplace. Image via Envanto This article, "Selling Handmade on Amazon: A Comprehensive Guide to Success" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Government rejects speculation it will water down ‘day one’ protection against unfair dismissal View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Contacts with cat pupils or neon colors can be fun, but are you sure you want to put a piece of plastic from a costume store into your eye? Experts, like those at the American Academy of Ophthalmology, warn against it. These non-prescription contacts are technically illegal in the U.S. (even though plenty of companies sell them anyway). The CDC warns that the risks include "eye sores and vision loss." Why costume contacts often aren't safeCheap Halloween contacts tend to be one-size-fits-all, but the AAO points out that contacts should never be one-size-fits-all. A contact that is too large or too small for your eye can cause corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, and can result in infections like keratitis. Infections can, in severe cases, lead to blindness. A 2017 report from the FDA found bacterial contamination in 27% of costume contacts. If you do wear contacts (Halloween or otherwise), the AAO recommends keeping an eye out for symptoms like redness, swelling, pain, or excessive discharge. Seek care as soon as you suspect an infection. Your eyes are more sensitive to infections than other parts of the body, so be cautious. How to find safe costume contactsLegally, contacts require a prescription, so if those colored contacts you're eyeing can be bought without showing a doctor’s prescription, they’re not legit. The real thing can be expensive, though: I found prices ranging from $40 to $110 per pair from lens.com, Discount Contacts, and Wicked Eyez. These websites all let you order online, but you’ll have to provide your prescription information before you can check out. Fortunately, the Federal Trade Commission has ruled that providers must give you your contact prescription after a fitting so that you can take the prescription elsewhere. And they cannot charge you extra for this. Once you’ve got the lenses, you have to know how to take care of them. If you wear contacts every day, you already know the drill. But if you’re just picking up a pair to use with a costume, here are the basics: Wash your hands before handling the lenses. Store them in contact lens solution, and keep the lenses and their case clean. Don’t sleep or swim with them in. And for Pete’s sake, don’t share them with your friends! After all, the bloodshot look stops being cool after you take your zombie costume off. View the full article

Workplace “wellness” initiatives — like free yoga classes, mindfulness tips, step challenges, diet advice, and other pushes for well-being now common at work — are supposed to be a win-win situation: employees get healthier and happier while employers reap the benefits of lower health care costs. But in practice, these programs frequently miss the mark, and many employees perceive them as intrusive and out of touch. At Slate today, I wrote about workplace “wellness” so often goes wrong (including one wellness advisor who suggested eating goulash as a cure-all). You can read it here. The post workplace wellness initiatives do more harm than good appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The 2025 JBL Charge 6 is currently on sale for $139.99 on StackSocial, about $30 cheaper than Amazon’s $169.95 listing and at its lowest price ever, according to price trackers. It’s for an open-box model, which means the packaging may carry a few extra stickers or scuffs from store handling, but the unit itself is verified as new and comes with a one-year warranty. Free shipping is included, though only within the contiguous U.S. The Charge 6 is a rugged, carry-friendly speaker designed to go anywhere—pool, beach, or backyard. JBL added a looped handle that makes it easier to haul around, and the build itself feels sturdy enough to take some knocks. It’s dust-tight and can be submerged in about five feet of water for up to half an hour thanks to its IP68 rating, so you don’t need to worry if it gets splashed or dropped poolside. Inside, a larger woofer and tweeter produce a combined 45 watts of power, with passive radiators on each end adding more thump. The result is a sound that feels loud and punchy for the size, even if the lowest bass notes don’t come through. This PCMag review notes that its clarity and volume stand out in the compact speaker category. JBL also packed in some useful upgrades. The speaker now supports Auracast, letting you tap into compatible broadcasts, and it delivers lossless audio through the USB-C port if you’re willing to plug in. Bluetooth 5.4 maintains reliability, although codec support is limited to AAC and SBC, which is a disappointment for higher-quality wireless streaming. The JBL companion app also offers a seven-band EQ, several sound presets, and a Playtime Boost option that extends battery life by reducing bass levels. At this price, it’s worth considering if you're looking for a speaker that’s portable, loud, and durable enough to withstand some rough treatment outdoors. Our Best Editor-Vetted Tech Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 2 Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds — $169.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $299.00 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $29.99 (List Price $49.99) Shark AV2501AE AI XL Hepa- Safe Self-Emptying Base Robot Vacuum — $299.99 (List Price $649.99) Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, White with Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), White — $59.99 (List Price $99.99) Blink Video Doorbell Wireless (Newest Model) + Sync Module Core — $29.99 (List Price $69.99) Blink Mini 2 1080p Indoor Security Camera (2-Pack, White) — $27.99 (List Price $69.99) Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 with Ring Chime Pro — $149.99 (List Price $259.99) Introducing Amazon Fire TV 55" Omni Mini-LED Series, QLED 4K UHD smart TV, Dolby Vision IQ, 144hz gaming mode, Ambient Experience, hands-free with Alexa, 2024 release — $699.99 (List Price $819.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p 2-Camera Kit With Sync Module Core — $51.99 (List Price $129.99) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Twilio, a leader in customer engagement technology, recently unveiled a new suite of features designed to enhance data handling for small businesses seeking to improve their customer experiences. As the landscape of customer engagement continues to evolve, maintaining high standards for data integrity is essential for staying competitive. At the heart of these updates is the need for small businesses to harness real-time, trustworthy data to drive customer interactions. According to Inbal Shani, Chief Product Officer at Twilio, “High-impact customer engagement starts with data that is real-time, contextual, and trusted.” This acknowledgment underscores an ongoing challenge faced by businesses: the necessity of operational agility backed by reliable information. The newly introduced tools consist of Granular Observability, a centralized Alerting Hub, expanded APIs, and Auto-Instrumentation. These enhancements are built to assist data teams in identifying and resolving issues proactively, thus ensuring seamless interactions with customers. Data integrity is pivotal for small businesses that rely on accurate and timely information for their marketing campaigns. The Granular Observability feature allows businesses to trace and diagnose problems directly within their data flow. For instance, Failed Delivery Logs provide detailed access to each event, enabling swift issue resolution, which is crucial for minimizing potential downtime and maintaining customer trust. The Alerting Hub, another significant addition, centralizes alert notifications. This means businesses can set up customized alerts for specific metrics, such as audience synchronization or data drop failures, all from a single interface. This centralized system is particularly advantageous for small businesses, which often operate with limited resources. Streamlining alert management can free up valuable time and reduce operational stress. Moreover, the expanded APIs offer considerable flexibility, allowing small business owners to customize and automate data-related tasks without extensive technical knowledge. The introduction of Auto-Instrumentation means that non-technical users can quickly set up event tracking. This feature significantly reduces the dependency on software developers, enabling teams to implement data collection strategies much faster, turning weeks’ worth of work into mere minutes. The implication of these tools extends beyond mere data management; they promise to enhance customer relations by ensuring that every interaction is informed and responsive. As Keith Kirkpatrick, Research Director at Futurum, notes, “Twilio’s focus on data quality, depth of observability, and API extensibility sets a new standard for trusted customer engagement at scale.” For small businesses, this could translate into stronger customer loyalty and improved engagement rates, as the quality of interactions significantly impacts customer satisfaction. However, while the benefits are clear, small business owners should also consider the potential challenges. Deploying new technology can require a period of adjustment and training. Teams may need to familiarize themselves with the new tools, which can take time, particularly for smaller businesses with limited staff. Additionally, while the centralization of alerts and data management sounds advantageous, it could also create initial complexity. Small business owners must ensure that their teams are equipped to manage the new systems effectively to avoid complacency that might arise from overlooking alerts. Despite these challenges, the advantages of implementing Twilio’s new features seem to far outweigh potential drawbacks, especially in an age where customer experience is paramount. Small businesses that successfully leverage these tools may find themselves not only keeping pace with competitors but also setting new standards in customer engagement. For more detailed information on these updates and to understand how they can benefit your business, you can explore the original press release from Twilio here. This article, "Twilio Unveils Advanced Tools for Enhanced Customer Data Management" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Twilio, a leader in customer engagement technology, recently unveiled a new suite of features designed to enhance data handling for small businesses seeking to improve their customer experiences. As the landscape of customer engagement continues to evolve, maintaining high standards for data integrity is essential for staying competitive. At the heart of these updates is the need for small businesses to harness real-time, trustworthy data to drive customer interactions. According to Inbal Shani, Chief Product Officer at Twilio, “High-impact customer engagement starts with data that is real-time, contextual, and trusted.” This acknowledgment underscores an ongoing challenge faced by businesses: the necessity of operational agility backed by reliable information. The newly introduced tools consist of Granular Observability, a centralized Alerting Hub, expanded APIs, and Auto-Instrumentation. These enhancements are built to assist data teams in identifying and resolving issues proactively, thus ensuring seamless interactions with customers. Data integrity is pivotal for small businesses that rely on accurate and timely information for their marketing campaigns. The Granular Observability feature allows businesses to trace and diagnose problems directly within their data flow. For instance, Failed Delivery Logs provide detailed access to each event, enabling swift issue resolution, which is crucial for minimizing potential downtime and maintaining customer trust. The Alerting Hub, another significant addition, centralizes alert notifications. This means businesses can set up customized alerts for specific metrics, such as audience synchronization or data drop failures, all from a single interface. This centralized system is particularly advantageous for small businesses, which often operate with limited resources. Streamlining alert management can free up valuable time and reduce operational stress. Moreover, the expanded APIs offer considerable flexibility, allowing small business owners to customize and automate data-related tasks without extensive technical knowledge. The introduction of Auto-Instrumentation means that non-technical users can quickly set up event tracking. This feature significantly reduces the dependency on software developers, enabling teams to implement data collection strategies much faster, turning weeks’ worth of work into mere minutes. The implication of these tools extends beyond mere data management; they promise to enhance customer relations by ensuring that every interaction is informed and responsive. As Keith Kirkpatrick, Research Director at Futurum, notes, “Twilio’s focus on data quality, depth of observability, and API extensibility sets a new standard for trusted customer engagement at scale.” For small businesses, this could translate into stronger customer loyalty and improved engagement rates, as the quality of interactions significantly impacts customer satisfaction. However, while the benefits are clear, small business owners should also consider the potential challenges. Deploying new technology can require a period of adjustment and training. Teams may need to familiarize themselves with the new tools, which can take time, particularly for smaller businesses with limited staff. Additionally, while the centralization of alerts and data management sounds advantageous, it could also create initial complexity. Small business owners must ensure that their teams are equipped to manage the new systems effectively to avoid complacency that might arise from overlooking alerts. Despite these challenges, the advantages of implementing Twilio’s new features seem to far outweigh potential drawbacks, especially in an age where customer experience is paramount. Small businesses that successfully leverage these tools may find themselves not only keeping pace with competitors but also setting new standards in customer engagement. For more detailed information on these updates and to understand how they can benefit your business, you can explore the original press release from Twilio here. This article, "Twilio Unveils Advanced Tools for Enhanced Customer Data Management" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Ukrainian stronghold of Pokrovsk comes under heavy fire as Russian troops enter cityView the full article

Meta’s Threads app is leaning into impermanence. Starting Monday, the platform is rolling out “ghost posts,” a new post format for sharing fleeting thoughts that automatically disappear after 24 hours. Think Snapchat or Instagram Stories—except, for text. Unlike regular Threads posts, replies to ghost posts go straight to the user’s messaging inbox rather than inline, and only the author will be able to see who liked or responded to them. It’s a subtle but significant shift toward private engagement within a public feed, providing a middle ground of sorts between Twitter’s public discourse model and Instagram’s close-friends Stories. Meta says the feature is aimed at reducing the “pressure of permanence” and sparking more spontaneous conversation. Disappearing posts, reappearing trend If this sounds familiar, it’s because social media has been flirting with ephemerality for years. Snapchat built an empire on vanishing messages, and Instagram Stories borrowed the format and made it mainstream. Even X (formerly Twitter) experimented with “Fleets,” its own 24-hour post format, before quietly shelving the feature in 2021 after low engagement. Threads’ take, however, differs in intent. Rather than mimic Story-style content, ghost posts appear directly in the main feed where conversations actually happen and fade quietly after a day. It’s a move that positions Threads as both reflective of older, text-driven social media, and responsive to users’ increasing desire for less performative spaces. Building a more flexible feed Ghost posts join a growing list of new Threads features designed to broaden the platform’s creative range. Over the past few months, Meta has added support for 10,000-character text attachments, and a Spoilers toggle that hides media or text until tapped. Together, the updates seem to position Threads as a kind of “social sandbox,” one where both the long-form essay and the fleeting thought can coexist. View the full article

Is an Asana Gantt Chart the right project management tool organizations need to schedule, manage and track their projects? It certainly bills itself as such, but we’ll get past the marketing and test drive the product to determine where it succeeds and where it fails. We’ll review this popular software and the foundational scheduling tool to see if the Asana Gantt chart has all the features project managers and their teams expect. Any potential customers need to read this to learn how to make a Gantt chart in Asana and whether that effort is worth it. What Is Asana? Asana is a well-known work management tool and collaborative platform that is designed to help teams organize work, manage tasks and track project progress. It has task management features and plans projects on multiple tools. There are also workload management tools that track and help balance workload. It also offers automation to streamline repetitive tasks, such as assigning tasks or changing their statuses based on triggers. Reports can be generated to track progress, team productivity and task completion. But what about the all-important Gantt chart, which is used across project management to schedule tasks and break projects into more manageable phases? Well, Asana’s Gantt chart is often a topic of debate among project management experts and enthusiasts as it’s mostly known as a lightweight, easy-to-use tool, but it’s questioned as it lacks many project planning and scheduling features that are needed to manage projects, which is why many users look for an Asana alternative. In this blog, we’ll show you how to make a Gantt chart in Asana and we’ll do an in-depth analysis of its features, benefits and limitations. Does Asana Have a Gantt Chart? The main reason we’ve put together this piece is to answer the question of whether Asana has a Gantt chart. As the Gantt chart is one of the most quintessential and widely used project management tools, it’s integral that project management software options have this powerhouse of a feature. On the left, it looks like a spreadsheet where teams can enter tasks, duration, resource costs and more. As data is entered on the left, the visual representation of that data appears on the right. Any project management software that is worth the money will have a Gantt chart with at least some functionality. It likely sits alongside other project views such as a kanban board, task list, calendar and more. When there are more project views, it’s easier for various departments to collaborate and stay organized. Short Answer: Yes, Asana Has Gantt Charts Asana’s Gantt chart is a lightweight alternative to more complex Gantt chart software. It’s an easy-to-use tool that allows you to easily create a project schedule, visualize project tasks, track their due dates and collaborate with your team online. /wp-content/uploads/2024/03/8b4f812cc973f4543d46248c3af59a9be202ab62.jpg Long Answer: The Asana Gantt Chart Lacks Key Features for Project Management Asana’s Gantt chart meets the minimum requirements for making a project timeline, in fact, it’s not a fully functional Gantt chart, but more of a project timeline maker that mimics a Gantt chart. Asana knows this, which is why it calls the tool the “Timeline View”, it doesn’t refer to it as a Gantt chart. If you need Gantt chart software for project management, you should use ProjectManager instead. ProjectManager‘s Gantt charts offer advanced project management features that Asana Gantt charts don’t, such as tracking all four types of project task dependencies, tracking resource utilization and costs for each task, comparing planned versus actual costs, setting project baselines and much more. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. /wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Construction-Gantt-light-mode-task-info-general-CTA-BUTTON-1.jpgLearn more Asana Gantt Chart Pricing Plans Asana’s Gantt chart is only included in the paid versions of the app. It’s not available on the free version. This will impact smaller teams with less financial resources. Personal (Free): Asana Gantt chart is not included in this pricing plan. Starter Plan ($10.99/user/month, billed annually): Asana Gantt chart is included in this pricing plan. Advanced Plan ($24.99/user/month, billed annually): Asana Gantt chart is included in this pricing plan. Enterprise & Enterprise+ (contact sales for a customized quote): Asana Gantt chart is included in this pricing plan. Asana Gantt Chart Features Asana’s Gantt chart—known as its Timeline view—lets teams visualize project schedules in a simple, collaborative way. Users can organize tasks with start and due dates, create basic dependencies, and drag bars to reschedule work. While it lacks advanced scheduling controls, it’s a clear and intuitive way to map projects from start to finish within Asana’s workspace. Display of tasks and their start and end dates on a horizontal bar-chart timeline. Ability to view task dependencies. However this is very limited as it only has one type of task dependency, finish to start. Ability for dependent tasks to auto-shift dates when their predecessor changes. Ability to mark tasks as milestones. Basic critical path analysis features Drag-and-drop scheduling functionality that allows users to drag bars on the timeline to adjust start/due dates. Use of templates that are supported in Asana’s Timeline view. What Project Management Features is Asana Gantt Chart Missing? While Asana Gantt chart tool is useful for basic scheduling, it lacks the depth of traditional project management software. Users can’t manage multi-project portfolios, add complex dependencies, or track resource workloads. Its simplicity suits smaller teams, but those seeking cost tracking, baselines, or comprehensive program management may find Asana’s Gantt chart too limited for advanced project planning needs. Lacks the capability to show multiple projects for program and portfolio management Asana’s Gantt chart is not able to show tasks and subtasks. No customization of Gantt chart columns. Users can’t add columns to show project details such as task costs, resource requirements or work breakdown structure levels. Lacks multiple task dependency types beyond the basic predecessor-successor task dependency. There are no built-in advanced resource management features such as resource utilization monitoring or workload balancing. Advanced critical path method features No built-in cost or budget tracking within the timeline view. Users can’t establish project baselines for baseline comparison or variance tracking against planned dates. Difficult to export or print full Gantt views for stakeholders, can only be exported as a CSV file. How to Make an Asana Gantt Chart Better With ProjectManager If you want a real Gantt chart with powerful features that Asana doesn’t have, make a Gantt chart in ProjectManager, or if you prefer you can also export your Asana Gantt chart as a CSV file and then import it into ProjectManager. /wp-content/uploads/2024/05/asana-pm-integration-1600x627.png To do so, just start a free 30-day trial of ProjectManager so you can easily export your Asana CSV file and import that file into ProjectManager. You’ll retain your Asana data, but now you’ll have the robust project management features you need to better manage your project. Before we dive into the process let’s quickly go over a side-by-side comparison of ProjectManager’s Gantt chart and Asana’s Gantt chart. Asana Gantt Chart ProjectManager Gantt Chart One type of task dependency (finish-to-start) Four types of task dependencies (SF, FS, SS, FF) Basic auto-shift for dependent tasks Full dependency automation and cascading updates Milestones supported Milestones supported with baseline tracking No baselines or variance tracking Baselines and variance tracking for schedule and cost Single-project view only Multi-project and portfolio Gantt charts No cost or budget tracking Planned and actual cost tracking No resource utilization tracking Resource utilization and workload monitoring No percent-complete column Percent complete column with real-time dashboard sync No task priority setting Task priority field for ranking work Sections for grouping tasks Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) hierarchy No customization of columns Fully customizable Gantt chart columns CSV data export only PDF, Excel, and image export options Simple drag-and-drop scheduling Advanced drag-and-drop with real-time updates Lacks planned vs actual duration tracking Planned vs actual duration (hours) tracking Limited to basic templates Multiple project templates with Gantt configuration 1. Export & Import Your Asana Projects Choose the Asana project that you want to import and simply save it as a CSV or Excel file. It is now ready to import into ProjectManager. Open ProjectManager and then click “New” at the bottom left corner of your screen, select “Project” and then click “Import File” once the pop-up appears. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/New-Project-light-mode.png Or you can also toggle to the Gantt chart view, where you will see an import button. Click the icon and the same popup window will appear. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Gantt-import-light-mode-1600x851.png 2. Choose to Add the Data to a New or Existing Project During this step, you’ll be able to decide if you want to add the data to a new or existing project. If you’re adding it to an existing project, decide whether you want to keep the project’s existing data or delete it altogether. 3. Choose What Data to Import Next, decide if you want to import all of the data from your Asana file or only the data from the task list. Select what you want to import and click next. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-configuring-file-import-data-in-ProjectManager.webp 4. Success! When the success popup appears, the process is complete. Your Asana data has been seamlessly imported into ProjectManager, where you can use our full suite of project management features. /wp-content/uploads/2022/10/import-success-prompt.png What Can You Use an Asana Gantt Chart For? If you’re willing to build a Gantt chart in Asana, it allows you to create a simple project schedule and track the due dates, duration and dependencies of your project tasks. It can also be used for identifying the critical path of your project and tracking project milestones. Additionally, an Asana Gantt chart allows you to: Split your project schedule into sections, a feature that allows you to group related tasks Mark project milestones in your Gantt chart timeline See the critical path activities based on their due dates and duration Edit your project schedule by dragging and dropping tasks on the timeline Collaborate with your team members by sharing messages and files for each task Asana Gantt Chart Example The best way to learn what an Asana Gantt chart is and how it works is to look at an example, so we’ve used one to create a construction schedule. On the left side, there’s a list of project tasks and details such as due dates, duration and assignee. On the right side, there’s a stacked bar chart that uses bars to represent project tasks on a timeline. Each of these bars or project tasks is linked by arrows, showing the dependencies among them. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-example-1600x809.webp Now that we have a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of an Asana Gantt chart, let’s learn how to make one. Creating a Gantt chart in Asana is an easy process that’ll allow you to create a project schedule in minutes. Cons of Making an Asana Gantt Chart Asana Gantts track very little information about your project and the software offers the bare minimum project planning, scheduling or tracking features expected from a Gantt chart software. Here are some of the most important features they’re missing. No cost tracking functionality which is essential for monitoring project budgets Missing resource allocation, scheduling or monitoring features Only has two types of task dependencies unlike more advanced Gantt chart software which offers four types of task dependencies, which are important for project planning and scheduling Asana Gantt charts don’t display the percent of completion of your tasks, which affects their ability to track project progress For these and other reasons, Asana Gantt charts can help you create a project schedule, but they’re not ideal for managing projects as they lack many project management features. ProjectManager Has Better Gantt Charts Than Asana Gantt Charts That’s a lot of hurdles to clear. When managing a project you don’t want your hands tied with inferior tools. The features missing from an Asana Gantt chart are going to leave project managers scrambling to deliver their projects on time and within the budget. Asana Gantt charts are only good for visualizing project schedules and assigning tasks to your team members, but they lack scope, resource and cost management features which makes them deficient tools for managing all areas of a project. ProjectManager’s Gantt chart, on the other hand, has all the features you need to track all the aspects of your project. Here are some examples of the project tracking features that make ProjectManager Gantt charts better than Asana Gantt charts. Task Priority: Set a priority level for your project tasks so you and your team members know where to prioritize your efforts. Resource Utilization: Assign tasks to team members, track their work hours and monitor their workload. This information from ProjectManager’s Gantt chart syncs automatically with ProjectManager’s timesheets, which you can then use for the payroll process. Planned & Actual Duration (Hours): Estimate the duration of every task and then track the actual number of hours that a task took to be completed. Planned & Actual Cost: Estimate the costs of each project task and then log the actual costs once the task has been executed. This is very important to monitor and control your spending to make sure you don’t exceed the project budget. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): The WBS column allows you to understand which of your project tasks are related and the order in which they should be completed. This is similar to the “sections” feature in the Asana Gantt chart. Percent Complete: Your team members can update the progress they’ve made on tasks by setting a percentage of completion. The best part is that ProjectManager’s Gantt chart syncs with its real-time dashboard which allows you to track the overall progress of your project. How to Make a Gantt Chart in Asana Most projects need these features. If yours does, then it’s time to consider ProjectManager. But If you still want to see how to make an Asana Gantt chart, we’ll go through the process from beginning to end. All you’ll need to get started is an Asana license or simply a free trial. 1. Create a New Project & Select the Asana Gantt Chart View The first step is to create a new project by clicking the “Create” button at the top left corner of your screen. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-create-new-project-e1708702123852-1600x365.webp Then you can choose to import a file or start creating your Asana Gantt chart from scratch. For this Asana Gantt chart example, we’ll start a project from scratch. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-create-new-project-from-scratch.webp Next, choose a project name and select your starting project management view. As you can see, Gantt charts are not an option by default but don’t worry, pick any view and you’ll be able to switch to the Gantt chart view once you click “Create project.” For this Asana Gantt chart example, we’ll name this project “Construction Schedule” because we’ll use this Gantt chart to represent one. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-choosing-project-view-1600x760.webp Once you create a new project, you’ll land in Asana’s task list view. To switch to the Gantt chart view, click the plus icon and select Gantt as shown in the image below. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-choosing-the-Gantt-chart-view-e1708702165730-1600x408.webp 2. Add Sections and Project Tasks Now it’s time to add your project tasks, their due dates and durations to the Asana Gantt chart. You can also use its “Sections” setting, which allows you to group related tasks and create project phases on your Gantt chart timeline, but it’s not required. We’ve filled out the Asana Gantt chart with project tasks, due dates and duration based on a construction schedule. As you can see on the left side of the image below, there are six different sections in this Asana Gantt chart to reflect various stages of the construction project (contracts, procurement, design, construction, post-construction and closing). /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-sections-1600x815.webp 3. Link Task Dependencies Project tasks need to be executed in a specific order, which is defined by the dependencies among them. For example, some tasks can’t start until the previous task has been completed. This is the type of task dependency that applies to all the tasks in our construction schedule. To link a dependency between tasks using an Asana Gantt chart, you’ll need to hover over a task, left-click the dependency icon and then hold your left mouse button and drag it to the next task. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-linking-task-dependencies-1600x829.webp Repeat this process until all your project tasks dependencies have been linked as shown in the Asana Gantt chart below. This is important for the next step, which is identifying the critical path of your project. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-example-1600x809.webp 4. Highlight Your Project’s Critical Path The critical path of a project refers to the tasks that must be completed on time, or their delay will affect the total duration of your project, unlike other project tasks which can be completed past their planned due date without affecting the project schedule, which have a lower priority level. To find the critical path, you’ll need to consider the start and end dates of your project tasks, their duration and their dependencies. But luckily, Asana’s Gantt chart automates this process. To identify the critical tasks of your project, click Gantt options on the right side of your screen and then turn on the “Highlight critical path” option. This will automatically highlight the critical path of your project as the image below shows. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-critical-path-e1708702224982-1600x533.webp 5. Add Project Milestones to the Asana Gantt Chart Project milestones are important achievements that are often used to summarize the progress of a project schedule. For this example, we’ll mark the final completion task as a project milestone. To do so, simply right-click a task and select “Mark as milestone.” /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-project-milestones-e1708702481468-1600x597.webp This will turn the taskbar into a diamond symbol in your Asana Gantt chart. Congratulations! You have successfully created an Asana Gantt chart and have used its project management features. /wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Asana-Gantt-chart-project-milestone-zoomed-in-1600x840.webp It might be straightforward to put together an Asana Gantt chart, however, it’s missing countless features that you can find in many Asana alternatives with more robust Gantt chart tools. So if you’re looking for a Gantt chart that has more advanced project management features, you should try a fully featured Gantt chart like ProjectManager instead. ProjectManager Is More Than Gantt Charts Now that we’ve learned what an Asana Gantt chart is and how it compares to ProjectManager’s Gantt chart, let’s look at some other benefits of using ProjectManager as a project management software beyond Gantt charts. Multiple Project Management Tools Gantt charts are ideal for project managers when scheduling work, but teams need different tools. That’s why ProjectManager offers a complete set of project management tools that include kanban boards, task lists, project calendars and much more. For example, kanban boards are great for visualizing workflow and allow teams to manage their backlog while collaborating on sprints. There is also a list view that prioritizes tasks, shows progress and is a great place to collaborate. These tools adapt to multiple project management methodologies and work styles so you and your team members can plan, schedule and track projects however you like. /wp-content/uploads/2021/08/agile-sprint-plan-lightmode-kanban-1600x882.jpg Track Progress and Costs With Real-Time Dashboards Once the baseline is set on the Gantt chart, the entire team can use the software to track performance in real-time. All of ProjectManager’s project planning tools like Gantt charts and kanban boards sync with real-time dashboards that track your project progress, costs, resource utilization, budgets and timelines. Managers can get a high-level view of the project as the dashboard collects live data on tasks, progress, overall health, time, workload and cost. Additionally, ProjectManager has timesheets that track labor costs to keep projects on budget. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Dashboard-IT-Light-2554x1372-1-1600x860.png Monitor Resource Utilization and Balance Workload ProjectManager has workload charts that show how your team’s workload is being distributed among your team members so you can identify who’s over or underallocated and reassign project tasks accordingly. Use these charts to track things such as PTO, vacation and global holidays. There’s also a team page that provides a daily or weekly look at everyone on the team. It can be filtered to show priority, progress and more to stay on top of human resources. /wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Team-Light-2554x1372-1.png Related Asana Gantt Chart Content Choosing the right project management software for your team can be a challenging task. That’s why we’ve created content that helps you better understand what you should look for. Here are some blogs that compare Asana to other alternatives. 14 Best Gantt Chart Software of 2024 (Free & Paid) Asana vs. Trello: Side-by-Side Comparison Asana vs. Microsoft Project: In-Depth Comparison Asana vs. Monday: In-Depth Software Comparison Asana vs. ClickUp: In-Depth Software Comparison Asana vs ProjectManager: Which Software is Better? ProjectManager is online project and portfolio management software that connects teams in the office, out in the field and everywhere else. They can share files, comment at the task level and stay updated with email and in-app notifications. Join teams at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who use our software to deliver successful projects. Get started with ProjectManager today for free. The post Asana Gantt Chart: A How-to Guide With Pros, Cons & Alternatives appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

Five steps to implementing a plan. By Domenick J. Esposito 8 Steps to Great Go PRO for members-only access to more Dom Esposito. View the full article

Five steps to implementing a plan. By Domenick J. Esposito 8 Steps to Great Go PRO for members-only access to more Dom Esposito. View the full article

TikTok and the U.S.' "will they, won't they" saga may finally be coming to an end. After nine months of kicking the can down the road, the U.S. has reportedly reached a deal with China to allow TikTok to continue operating in the States, which should come as good news for the estimated one-third of Americans who use the app. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the development in a Face the Nation appearance on Sunday. Bessent told Margaret Brennan that the U.S. "reached a final deal on TikTok. We reached one in Madrid, and I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, and that will be for the two leaders to consummate that transaction on Thursday in Korea." The secretary did not share any additional details of the deal, but we do know what the U.S. had in mind heading into the talks. Last month, President The President signed an executive order outlining what TikTok's future would look like in the U.S., assuming a deal with its parent company ByteDance and the Chinese government went through. Per the law signed by President Biden last year, TikTok has to sell to an American company or face a ban in the U.S. According to The President's executive order, that represents a joint venture of different investors and American companies, namely Oracle, which will now have a majority stake in the company. ByteDance will continue to have a minority stake, controlling less than 20% of the company. We also know from past reporting that it's highly likely that users will need to download a new version of TikTok. This U.S. iteration of the app would look and feel the same, but would eventually ship with a new algorithm "retrained and monitored" by "trusted security partners" of the U.S. Your data would also no longer be collected and stored by companies based in China; rather, your TikTok info will be collected and stored in a cloud environment controlled by an American company. We won't know the specifics until the deal is public, but if the secretary is to be believed, the deal is at least official. Soon enough, TikTok will be allowed to operate in the U.S. with zero risk of being banned—though the privacy risks it poses may have just moved from one country to another. View the full article

Belonging, Not Perks, Is the Deciding Factor in Public Accounting’s Talent Future. By CPA Trendlines As the accounting profession contends with a historic labor shortage, a new report warns that firms pulling back from diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are … Continued Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Belonging, Not Perks, Is the Deciding Factor in Public Accounting’s Talent Future. By CPA Trendlines As the accounting profession contends with a historic labor shortage, a new report warns that firms pulling back from diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are … Continued Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Trust is the essence of collaboration: as Yuval Harari eloquently noted, we as a species would not exist if it weren’t for our superior ability to collaborate so effectively—and it’s largely down to trust. In the days of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, decisions on trust were relatively straightforward, even when it came to appointing leaders. Indeed, our ancestors lived in small groups of closely related individuals and spent all of their time together. Furthermore, the key attributes they were interested in evaluating or judging were easy to observe: courage, practical knowledge, hunting and fishing dexterity, and physical strength. There was no need then for psychometric assessments, AI, or scientific tools to assess either leadership potential or integrity, and mistakes were extremely costly because if they picked the wrong leader the whole group would just vanish at the expense of better led rival groups. But, fast-forward to our modern times, things are uncomfortably complex and hard for everyone. At work we must infer whether we can trust our colleagues, coworkers, and bosses, even when we never met them in person—they are, in physical terms, purely pixels on the screen of our Zoom calls. In politics voters are asked to pick between shrewd politicians who have mastered the art of deceit and manipulation and specialize in telling people what they want to hear, irrespective of their actual leadership capabilities. Unsurprisingly, the world is led by heads of states who enjoy dismal levels of popular approval, even when they rose to power with legitimate voter support. As I illustrate in my latest book, politicians are the ultimate example of the disconnect between our perceptions of leaders’ authenticity, and their actual honesty or genuineness. And yet, there is still reason to be hopeful and no reason to give up. Fortunately, science provides serious lessons for improving our ability to trust the right person and minimize the risk that we end up trusting the wrong person. In fact, the science of trust includes hundreds of robust studies decoding the predictors or determinants of individual differences in trust, as well as practical learnings on how to infer them in the most objective, reliable, and risk-free way. Here are five key lessons to consider: 1) Despite the complexity of trust inferences, people make trust evaluations and decisions in a fraction of a second: As Amos Trervsky and Daniel Kahneman put it, humans may be capable of thinking “slow” or rationally, yet most of the time we think “fast”, which is a euphemism for not thinking at all. Indeed, not only do we make rapid, careless, and furiously fast inferences of other people’s character traits, we are also overconfident about the accuracy of our inferences, and stubbornly wedded to them to the point that no amount of evidence will change our mind. This may be the best explanation for why no amount of facts or evidence may change voters’ preferences even after its blatantly obvious that they chose poorly (not least because they themselves are disadvantaged by their own choices). The solution? Well, we must learn to distrust our instincts and refrain from following our gut feeling. It is only through gathering reliable and predictive data, and following the facts, that we can hope to focus on substance rather than style. This is particularly important when we are assessing potential candidates for leadership roles, whether it’s the president of a country or a senior leader in a firm. 2) Leaders who are “just being themselves” ought not to be trusted: As I illustrate in my latest book, there is a paradoxical relationship between how authentic we feel and how authentic other people think we are. In particular, behaving without any pressures to conform and displaying your uninhibited and uncensored thoughts and feelings to others will feel authentic to you while polarizing, alienating, and annoying others (it is, alas, what powerful and entitled leaders do when they stop caring about how others see them). In contrast, the leaders who are seen as not just trustworthy, but also competent by others, know how to manage their reputation, engage in strategic impression management, and go to great lengths to show only the best version of themselves—that is, the elements of their character and identity that align with the situational demands. In other words, they know where the right to be themselves ends and their obligation to others begins. This is why empathy, self-control, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and EQ are far better predictors of leadership integrity and performance than self-perceived authenticity is. 3) Charisma is a dangerous signal. Although charisma is a clear enabler of effective leadership, not least because it helps people to emerge as leaders, it can also help leaders to mask their incompetence or unethical motives. In that sense, you can think of charisma as an amplifier: when leaders are honest and competent, it will help them in their quest to turn a group of people into a high-performing team; but when they are dishonest or incompetent (or even worse, both), their charisma will turn them into pretty harmful, destructive, and toxic creatures. Since charisma is often conflated with trustworthiness—we like and admire people who seem charismatic and therefore gravitate towards them, including when it comes to trusting them—it would be useful to resist the allure of charisma when we infer integrity or competence in leaders. Quiet, low key, serious, and intelligent people make excellent leaders even if they don’t seem entertaining. Charismatic, charming, entertaining, and attention-seeking leaders may use their social skills to manipulate, influence, and seduce, especially when they have psychopathic, narcissistic, or Machiavellian tendencies. 4) Our ability to trust is significantly reduced under stress, anxiety, or pressure. This is obviously a huge problem, since in these instances it is usually imperative to trust the right person. In other words, the more we need to trust people, the more vulnerable we are to trusting the wrong person. The lesson here is obvious: don’t make trust-related decisions when your emotions are clouding your judgment; first relax, breathe, look for the right moment and the right mental zone, then try to think rationally. 5) Some people are naturally more trusting than others: this depends not just on their personality, but also the culture in which they grew up. Paradoxically, prosocial and healthy cultures are more likely to engender trust, since free riders and imposters are less likely to emerge—but this also makes those cultures more vulnerable and susceptible to such toxic agents. In contrast, corrupt, antisocial, and failed cultures will have low levels of trust, since everybody is rightly paranoid of being cheated or deceived by others. However, this will make it impossible to cooperate and collaborate in such cultures, which further contributes to their downfall. At the individual level, it is helpful to understand whether your bias is too much trust or too much skepticism, so you can always recalibrate or adjust your impressions towards a more objective center point. In the end, trust remains the ultimate leadership currency: hard to earn, easy to lose, and impossible to fake for long. Titles, charisma, or confidence may help leaders gain followers, but only integrity, a reputational accolade that must be gained through long-term actions rather than short-term impressions, keeps them there (unless they decide to keep themselves there through excessive force, power, or unlawful means). In an age where image routinely outpaces substance, the most trustworthy leaders will be those who act as if someone were always watching; not because they fear being caught, but because they don’t need to hide. View the full article

U.S. President Donald The President received a royal welcome on Monday in Japan, the latest leg of a five-day Asia trip which he hopes to cap with an agreement on a trade war truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The President, making his longest journey abroad since taking office in January, announced deals with four Southeast Asian countries during the first stop in Malaysia and is expected to meet Xi in South Korea on Thursday. Negotiators from the world’s top two economies hashed out a framework on Sunday for a deal to pause steeper American tariffs and Chinese rare earths export controls, U.S. officials said. The news sent Asian stocks soaring to record peaks. “I’ve got a lot of respect for President Xi and I think we’re going to come away with a deal,” The President told reporters on Air Force One before landing in the Japanese capital Tokyo. The President MEETS JAPANESE EMPEROR Wearing a gold tie and blue suit, The President shook hands with officials on the tarmac and gave a few fist pumps, before his helicopter whisked him off for a scenic night tour of Tokyo. His motorcade was later seen entering the Imperial Palace grounds, where he met Japanese Emperor Naruhito. The President has already won a $550-billion investment pledge from Tokyo in exchange for respite from punishing import tariffs. Japan’s newly elected prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is hoping to further impress The President with promises to purchase U.S. pickup trucks, soybeans and gas, and announce an agreement on shipbuilding, sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters. Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female premier last week, told The President that strengthening their countries’ alliance was her “top priority” in a telephone call on Saturday. The President said he was looking forward to meeting Takaichi, a close ally of his late friend and golfing partner, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, adding: “I think she’s going to be great.” Thousands of police are guarding Tokyo. A knife-wielding man was arrested on Friday outside the U.S. embassy and an anti-The President protest is planned in downtown Shinjuku. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Japanese counterpart Ryosei Akazawa, architects of the tariff deal agreed in July, are set to hold a working lunch on Monday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, travelling with The President alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is also expected to meet his new counterpart, Satsuki Katayama, for the first time. IMPERIAL WELCOME FOR The President’S RETURN The President was the first foreign leader to meet Naruhito after he came to the throne in 2019, continuing an imperial line that some say is the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy. Naruhito’s role, however, is purely symbolic, and the key diplomacy will take place with Takaichi on Tuesday. The President and Takaichi are set to meet at the nearby Akasaka Palace, where he met Abe six years ago, and will be welcomed by a military honour guard. Among the investment pledges, the two countries will sign a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday on investment in shipbuilding, a source with knowledge of the plans said. Takaichi is also expected to reassure The President that Tokyo is willing to do more on security after telling lawmakers on Friday she plans to accelerate Japan’s biggest defence build-up since World War Two. Japan hosts the largest concentration of U.S. military power abroad. The President has said previously Tokyo is not spending enough to defend its islands from an increasingly assertive China. While Takaichi has said she will speed plans to boost defence spending to 2% of GDP, she may struggle to commit Japan to any further increases that The President seeks, as her ruling coalition does not have a majority in parliament. The President is due to leave on Wednesday for Gyeongju in South Korea, where he will hold talks with President Lee Jae Myung. Bessent told reporters the overall framework of a deal with South Korea was also done but would not be finalised this week. Thursday’s expected meeting with Xi will come after Washington and Beijing have raised tariffs on each other’s exports and threatened to halt trade involving critical minerals and technologies. Neither side expects a breakthrough that would restore the terms of trade that existed before The President’s return to power. Talks to prepare for the meeting have focused on managing disagreements and modest improvements, before a visit by The President to China expected early next year. Additional reporting by Antoni Slodkowski, Laurie Chen, Jihoon Lee and Ju-min Park —Trevor Hunnicutt, John Geddie and Tim Kelly, Reuters View the full article