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<title>The Business Economic &#45; Business Economic Syndicated News</title>
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<dc:rights>Copyright 2026. The Business Economic &#45; All Rights Reserved.</dc:rights>

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<title>Jingye demands payout as Beijing turns on UK over British Steel</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jingye-demands-payout-as-beijing-turns-on-uk-over-british-steel</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jingye-demands-payout-as-beijing-turns-on-uk-over-british-steel</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Jingye demands compensation for the British Steel nationalisation, accusing the UK of trampling investment rules. What the row means for UK SMEs. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Leeds&#45;born UKREiiF takes its £4bn dealmaking model to Australia</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/leeds-born-ukreiif-takes-its-4bn-dealmaking-model-to-australia</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/leeds-born-ukreiif-takes-its-4bn-dealmaking-model-to-australia</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
UKREiiF will launch its first overseas event in Australia in 2027, exporting the Leeds model behind £4bn of UK deals. What it means for UK business owners. ]]></description>
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<media:keywords>Leeds-born, UKREiiF, takes, its, £4bn, dealmaking, model, Australia</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Burnham enters No 10 with eight in ten SME owners braced for impact</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/burnham-enters-no-10-with-eight-in-ten-sme-owners-braced-for-impact</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/burnham-enters-no-10-with-eight-in-ten-sme-owners-braced-for-impact</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Andy Burnham is prime minister. What his business rates pledge, tax stance and a stagnant economy mean for UK SME owners ahead of the autumn Budget. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Topgolf founders pot $55m to drag pool into the digital age</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/topgolf-founders-pot-55m-to-drag-pool-into-the-digital-age</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/topgolf-founders-pot-55m-to-drag-pool-into-the-digital-age</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Topgolf founders Steve and Dave Jolliffe land $55m from Bluestone for Poolhouse and its BillyQ pool technology. What it means for UK hospitality SME ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Borrowing costs rise as Burnham vows biggest shake&#45;up in 40 years</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/borrowing-costs-rise-as-burnham-vows-biggest-shake-up-in-40-years</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/borrowing-costs-rise-as-burnham-vows-biggest-shake-up-in-40-years</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Gilt yields rose to 4.97 per cent after Andy Burnham&#039;s first speech as prime minister. What dearer UK borrowing costs mean for SME loans and contracts. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Can an Apple lawsuit derail OpenAI’s hardware plans?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-an-apple-lawsuit-derail-openais-hardware-plans</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-an-apple-lawsuit-derail-openais-hardware-plans</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On the latest episode of Equity, we debate whether Apple&#039;s lawsuit will cast a shadow over OpenAi&#039;s much-discussed plans to get into hardware and go public. ]]></description>
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<media:keywords>Can, Apple, lawsuit, derail, OpenAI’s, hardware, plans</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>What to watch for after Jensen Huang’s Japan visit</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-to-watch-for-after-jensen-huangs-japan-visit</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-to-watch-for-after-jensen-huangs-japan-visit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Jensen Huang left Tokyo with deals spanning Japan&#039;s entire tech ecosystem. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Netflix paid $587M for Ben Affleck’s AI filmmaking startup</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/netflix-paid-587m-for-ben-afflecks-ai-filmmaking-startup</link>
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<description><![CDATA[ Netflix revealed that it paid $587 million in cash for InterPositive, a startup co-founded by Ben Affleck. ]]></description>
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<title>StrictlyVC returns to New York City September 10 to celebrate a huge year for the city’s startup community </title>
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<description><![CDATA[ For the first time since 2024, StrictlyVC is coming back to New York City — and we&#039;re bringing the kind of access you’d expect from an under-wraps event to the whole startup, VC, and dealmaking community. ]]></description>
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<title>Hugging Face confirms breach affected internal datasets and credentials, urges users to take action</title>
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<description><![CDATA[ Hugging Face is urging users to rotate any access tokens stored on the platform and review account activity. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>How to deal with failure and stick with hard things</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-deal-with-failure-and-stick-with-hard-things</link>
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<description><![CDATA[ Below, Steve Kamb shares five key insights from his new book, How to Try Again: An Approachable Guide to Navigating Chaos and Making Change That Sticks.



Steve is the founder of Nerd Fitness, an approachable fitness company that helps busy humans level up their lives. Since 2009, he has published research-backed essays and a weekly newsletter that explores failure, self-compassion, and making change that sticks.



What’s the Big Idea?



Failure is part of doing anything worthwhile, and every setback teaches us something we can use moving forward. Success comes from accepting reality, staying afloat when life gets hard, and pursuing goals we genuinely want.



Listen to the audio version of this Book Bite—read by Steve himself—in the Next Big Idea App, or buy the book.



1. Failure is one possible outcome for anything worth doing.



In 2023, I visited the touring Museum of Failure, packed with history’s most famous failures, flops, and frauds. Wandering around this museum was an absolute delight, as I got to see some truly baffling decisions. The Hula Chair worked more like a medieval torture device than a fitness product. King Gustav II of Sweden commissioned a comically expensive military warship that sank to the bottom of the harbor 50 minutes into its celebratory voyage. However, my favorite failure on display was probably Hooters Airlines. Yes, that Hooters.



If you ever feel like a failure for not making wiser decisions, just imagine how many people had to agree with the following statement: “We got rich making chicken wings; how hard could it be to run a profitable airline?”



The more failures I encountered, the more I came to understand failure differently. This museum didn’t only exist to poke fun at bad inventions. I mean, it did that too. I’m still laughing about Hooters Air. But it also showed the ways in which failure was one of many possible outcomes, and no company was immune to failed initiatives. In fact, most of the world’s most successful companies were on display too. Nintendo and the Virtual Boy, Microsoft and its Zune MP3 player, even Apple, whose Pippin videogame console was such a flop that I, proud nerd gamer, had never heard of it.



Interestingly, there were many products on display that were simply casualties of poor timing: early chatbots, multifunctional cellphones, personal digital assistants, and the first digital camera back in the 1970s that Kodak never released for fear of it cannibalizing their sales of physical film! The vision was there, as was the ambition, and once technology finally caught up, the road had been paved for companies to achieve far greater success.




“Rather than trying to prevent failure, we can instead decide to embrace it as a possibility and focus on recovering quickly after failure.”




We need to reframe how we think about failure. Rather than trying to prevent failure, we can instead decide to embrace it as a possibility and focus on recovering quickly after failure. Ed Catmull, one of the founders of the animation studio Pixar, said it best: “Failure isn’t a necessary evil. In fact, it isn’t evil at all. It is a necessary consequence of doing something new.”



Many of the best rewards in life are only available to those willing to open themselves up to failure as a possibility. Our biggest success might be hiding behind our next failure, so let’s see what can happen when we embrace failure openly. Even if that failure is Hooters Air.



2. We never go back to “square one.”



No matter how far backward we’ve fallen after a setback, we never truly start over. Let’s say we tried to build a workout routine last year. We went to the gym a few times and then gave up. We’re demoralized that we’ve gone all the way back to “square one.”



Fortunately, we’ve also learned the most difficult parts! After all, going to the gym isn’t one decision. It’s multiple decisions. We had to research which one to join, find parking, and then go through the sign-up process. We had to learn where the locker room was, how the equipment worked, and where to fill up our water bottle. And then we had to find the courage to exercise in public. Most importantly, we had to do all of this within the confines of our busy lives. Just getting to “I went to the gym” takes a ton of mental bandwidth, effort, and courage.



So sure, we might be starting over with how much we can lift on the bar or how fast we can walk, but every past attempt is still with us. We know where the gym is. We know where to park. We know how the equipment works. We know what to wear. We’ve already navigated the toughest parts.



Furthermore, our hard-earned past failures might help us avoid the pitfalls we fell into last time. We learned what type of workout or routine didn’t work for us. Or what time of working out doesn’t work for us. That knowledge lets us use our precious energy to hopefully make it further on this next attempt. When viewed through this lens, each failure is not a step backward, but a step forward. We should be thankful for our past attempts, because they got us where we are today. Failure isn’t the end, but the beginning.



3. Treading water isn’t the opposite of progress; it’s the next best thing.



When we think about moving toward a goal, the first word we think of is “progress.” And boy, do we humans love progress. It makes us feel good! Seeing positive movement toward a goal gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling and a sense of control that we are making things better. And when we are not making progress? We feel like we’re falling behind. We feel “stuck.”



However, there’s an important third option we’re not considering. The opposite of progress isn’t stagnation or staying still. It’s “regress.” Moving backward. Away from our goal. When we find ourselves struggling, our inclination is to try again, but harder. Trying again or working harder might be the wrong move, especially if we’re trying again at the wrong thing, and we might be making things worse. So, compared to those options, “treading water” can be the best, most optimal decision. Allowing ourselves to do less is more than just okay. It can be life-preserving.




“Allowing ourselves to do less is more than just okay.”




When we feel weighed down with the pressure that we’re so far behind or that we’re not doing enough, we can pause. We can realize that what might feel like a “motivation” problem is actually a “resources” problem. We’re asking too much of ourselves, and we’re going to burn ourselves trying to continue doing it all. We need to redefine what “enough” is for us.



Instead of worrying about how much farther we need to go on a goal, or how far behind we feel, we can ask, “What needs to happen today to show I haven’t given up yet?” We can remind ourselves that an “all or nothing” mentality quickly becomes “all, then nothing.” In between those two extremes, “some” is a perfectly acceptable amount. And “some” can keep us afloat for a long time. One healthy meal, a single exercise, a five-minute walk reminds us that we’re still here, and still afloat. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.



4. Acceptance isn’t giving up. It’s the only way forward.



No matter how much we want to have control of our future, we’ll never be able to accurately predict what life will throw at us next week, let alone next month or next year. Which leaves us with two choices. We can spend all day raging at the universe when things don’t go the way they should, or we can get to work on accepting things as they are now. We can get mad at ourselves for not magically developing the skills to plan better, or we can learn that life is going to remain chaotic and never go according to plan.



This requires acceptance. As a recovering overachiever, I used to believe that acceptance was a sign of weakness. I thought it meant giving up all ambition, letting myself off the hook, and enabling lazy behavior. So, I made things worse instead: I set ridiculously high standards and remained unbelievably critical of myself, always felt behind, and never felt “enough.”



Fortunately, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Acceptance is the only way we can finally start to see reality for what it is. We can stop waiting for “next week to get back to normal” and accept that our life right now, warts and all, is normal. We can stop getting frustrated when our schedule falls apart and start expecting it. We can prepare for our plan not going according to plan. The sooner we accept that our current “normal,” with clothes on the floor and life being messy, is normal, the sooner we can choose to act differently.



Acceptance is the only way we can function in a world that feels contradictory, because it lets us embrace those contradictions. What’s the best way to do that? By practicing “yes and” thinking. Yes, we accept that life is challenging right now, and we have some real limitations. Here’s where we’re focusing our efforts today: on things we can control.



5. Don’t just ask, “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” Make sure you like juice.



I love watching documentaries about amazing things I have absolutely no desire to do. My heart skipped two beats watching the Academy Award–winning documentary Free Solo about climber Alex Honnold scaling “El Cap” in Yosemite National Park without a safety rope. I’ll stick with my safe indoor rock-climbing walls, thank you.



Unfortunately, that reasonable mentality does not apply when I learn about things I kind of want to do, or think I could do, or think I should do. This is where I get myself into trouble. It’s unsexy to accept that success in anything requires sacrifices in other areas of life, and just because somebody else is doing it, and doing it well, doesn’t mean it’s the right path for me.




“When we see someone who has what we think we want, it’s tempting to assume they have found the one correct path and are living a blissful life without any problems.”




We humans are social creatures. We love learning how to be successful, happy, or healthy by copying others who we hope have all the answers. When we see someone who has what we think we want, it’s tempting to assume they have found the one correct path and are living a blissful life without any problems. That’s what the folks selling us the dream want us to believe, anyway. As long as we live like them, and buy their product or service, we can be successful too. No compromises required!



This is where we must be careful. When we take our life, motivations, and expectations, and compare them to others who are playing with a different scorecard, we forget that everything has a cost attached to it. We see a financially successful entrepreneur telling us to rise and grind. We don’t see that person working late nights at the office to avoid their family (because they are fighting with their spouse), their deep insecurities, or the void they’re trying to fill with just making more money. The truth is that we can never truly know what’s going on in somebody else’s life, especially when we only see their public-facing highlight reel.



Everything has a cost attached to it, and the cost of chasing greatness or trying to reach an arbitrary level of success might require more sacrifices than you or I are willing to make. That’s okay! I like it when people are honest about it. When the Smartless podcast hosts asked Ken Burns, arguably the most accomplished documentarian alive, how he manages to be so prolific and still keep a healthy work-life balance, he replied, “You’ll have to ask my two ex-wives about that.”



There’s nothing wrong with admitting to ourselves that we don’t want to do the work and make the sacrifices for the chance at succeeding. The problem isn’t that we lack the required dedication. It’s that we have the expectation that we should have that dedication or be willing to make those sacrifices. It’s perfectly okay that we don’t want those things, or that we’re not willing to go down that path.



We shouldn’t forget to ask, “What if this works?” When we encounter videos, interviews, or success stories, we can pause and challenge our thoughts. Instead of only asking, “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” we should also ask, “Do I even want juice?”



This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.



Enjoy our full library of Book Bites—read by the authors!—in the Next Big Idea app. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>Madrid is electric with World Cup energy</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/madrid-is-electric-with-world-cup-energy</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/madrid-is-electric-with-world-cup-energy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Madrid, the other city that never sleeps, is more awake than ever for the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, which will be broadcast from New Jersey today. 



Even in the middle of July, with the town feeling almost empty because everyone’s either on vacation or escaping the scorching summer temperatures, there’s an electricity in the air.



The streets may seem deserted, but people are filling terraces, bars, cafés, markets, plazas, and parks, excitedly talking about the second time in history that Spain has reached the final of the biggest sports event on the planet. 



And yes, some will argue that it doesn’t matter whether the city is taken over by hordes of Pope Leo, Bad Bunny, or Taylor Swift fans, there will always be Madrileños gathering together to enjoy tapas and cañas. I admit that my people will go out and buzz even if it’s the beginning of the end of the world. It’s a city that lives out.



Madrid, July 15, 2026 [Photo: Aaron Heredia/NurPhoto/Getty Images]



This is especially true with football. Or fútbol. Futebol. You know, soccer. Whatever you want to call it. It’s woven into the corazón of the inhabitants of this metropolis. It is, after all, the home of the greatest team in soccer (I’m biased). What do you expect? Whenever there’s a big game, people congregate in bars and cafés like matter around a black hole.



But this time is very different. This isn’t just a big game. This is The Game. It’s a feeling that unites everyone, even in a moment of political division. On Friday, as I walked toward the Plaza de Colón, I spoke to random passersby. 



“Yeah, we will go to Colón,” two Gen Zers—Javier and his girlfriend, Rosa—told me in Paseo de la Castellana, the main avenue that connects the city north to south. “I will go, too, with my friends,” chimed in twenty-something Nuria, who, like us, was waiting for the bus.



Plaza de Colón, July 14, 2026 [Photo: Diego Radames/Anadolu/Getty Images]



They’re too young to remember the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, they told me. But I remember exactly where I was when Spain won its first estrella. Sadly it wasn’t here, but in New York. 



I was in good company, with my friends Omar and Gema, at their home, watching along with other Spaniards, when a brilliant player called Andrés Iniesta scored what we collectively refer to as el gol de nuestras vidas (the goal of our lives). I remember screaming with pure, overwhelming joy.



I also remember the wave of red that took to the streets of New York that day: Thousands of Spaniards wearing La Roja jerseys seemingly came out of nowhere and ran toward Union Square and the nearby La Nacional, the historic Spanish Association of New York on 14th Street between 7th and 8th avenues. 



And I remember how I called my dad, who fortunately lived to see the event of a lifetime. I cried like a baby then, like I cried later watching my fellow Madrileños screaming on the streets, watching the game on giant screens in a collective climax.



Puente del Rey in Madrid Rio Park, June 26, 2026 [Photo: David Canales/NurPhoto/Getty Images]



City of fútbol



This time I’m getting ready to watch the game with my own son in the food court of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, one of the hundreds of public venues that will hold free parties.



All the bars and cafés in the city are hosting, too, thousands of which have installed screens just for the World Cup final. The Bernabéu has huge wall-to-wall 4K LED screens, with people congregating around the different spaces while enjoying the offerings of some 20 food stands.



There will also be about 15,000 people by the Manzanares, the river that crosses Madrid, the site of a major restructuring and restoration that has made the riverbank one of the best spots to watch the game. The city has installed two large LED displays near the historical Puente del Rey (Bridge of the King).



Puente del Rey, July 14, 2024 [Photo: Gustavo Valiente/Europa Press/Getty Images]



Another stadium, the Movistar Arena, has been readied to accommodate some 15,000 fans, featuring a massive central screen measuring approximately 52.5 by 29.5 feet.



There are many other venues and plazas that will host people, both in Madrid and in the nearby cities, but Plaza de Colón, home of the largest Spanish flag in the country (measuring more than 3,000 square feet) and now featuring a multiscreen setup, will be the main destination. 



At the start of the tournament, the plaza accommodated about 6,000 spectators. But as Spain advanced, the area expanded to fit roughly 20,000 people by closing adjacent sections of Castellana. A newly added secondary screen pointing toward Calle Génova will serve the overflow crowd who can’t get into the square.



Argentina fans in Puerta del Sol square, July 16, 2026 [Photo: David Canales/NurPhoto/Getty Images]



What can go wrong



There are only two things that can ruin the party at Plaza de Colón. The first is the temperature. If it triggers an official “orange alert” (near or exceeding 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit), authorities will suspend the viewing and urge fans to seek air-conditioned indoor alternatives, a protocol already enforced earlier in the tournament when Spain played Saudi Arabia. The last time I looked, the daytime temperature was expected to be about 100 degrees.



And speaking as a Spaniard, the other thing that can ruin this party is a throng of Argentineans. There are about 60,000 nationals in Madrid. And they’ll be cheering for their team not only against Spaniards but seemingly against the entire world.



Madrid is as welcoming to strangers as New York City, so much so that people say nobody who lives in Madrid is actually from Madrid. But I suspect the Argentineans will not be watching at the Plaza de Colón or any other public venue. My friend Cristina, who owns a bar called Meseta in the southern Madrid district of Usera, said: “I told my Argentinean clients that they should find themselves another place to watch. They went pale!”



It doesn’t matter. Whatever happens, it will be memorable. For me, at least, because I’ll be with son celebrating his country’s first World Cup final like I couldn’t do with my dad 16 years ago. That’d be enough. And if they win, well . . . I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself after bawling my eyes out.


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Madrid, electric, with, World, Cup, energy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Verizon is preparing for record&#45;setting network spikes during the first&#45;ever World Cup halftime show</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-verizon-is-preparing-for-record-setting-network-spikes-during-the-first-ever-world-cup-halftime-show</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-verizon-is-preparing-for-record-setting-network-spikes-during-the-first-ever-world-cup-halftime-show</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ To say the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is the most-anticipated sporting event of the year would be an understatement. 



More than 80,000 people are expected to attend the final at the New York-New Jersey stadium, and well over a billion viewers are likely to tune in to the broadcast globally.



Meanwhile, the quarterfinals averaged over 25 million viewers across Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock, according to Nielsen Media Research and Adobe Analytics. 



While soccer fans are excited for the game itself, many are also eager for the first-ever halftime show, which is being curated by Coldplay front man Chris Martin and produced by Global Citizen, and will feature Madonna, Shakira, BTS, and Justin Bieber as headliners. 



Oftentimes, viewership for sporting events spikes during halftime shows. Take, for instance, the Super Bowl LIX game in 2025, during which Kendrick Lamar drew 133.5 million viewers and garnered a larger audience for his performance than the actual game itself. Bad Bunny’s halftime show from earlier this year at Super Bowl LX also attracted a slightly larger viewership than the regular game.



Given the massive star power of the World Cup performers, it’s safe to say the halftime show could generate just as much—if not more—viewership for those 11 minutes. 



But with a global event as massive as the World Cup and a star-studded halftime show, how do the companies involved ensure the technology goes smoothly for the live audience and the millions of viewers watching around the world? 



“FIFA is a different animal”



As the official telecommunication services sponsor of the World Cup, Verizon provides the primary network and powers the digital infrastructure for the tournament. Abraham Arencibia, vice president of technology and product development for Verizon, said the company isn’t a stranger to halftime shows of this magnitude.



Verizon previously honed its 5G Ultra Wideband network to power interactive and 360-degree mobile experiences for the Super Bowl LVI halftime show back in 2022, which featured Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige.



However, Arencibia admitted that the World Cup halftime show will be a different experience, one they’ve been preparing for and building two years in advance. 



[Photo: Verizon]



“FIFA is a different animal,” Arencibia told Fast Company, because of the scale of the events. To understand the scale of the World Cup final, Arencibia described the infrastructure as a “technology layer cake,” with each layer serving a distinct and important purpose. 



The first layer starts on the soccer pitch with the high-tech referee body cameras and localized connectivity, which utilizes Verizon’s private 5G networks to provide low-latency, real-time data from the field for the immersive and live moments. 



Moving up to the middle layer, Arencibia said the infrastructure has to be able to support the massive data spikes generated by the crowd. More than 60 to 100 cameras capture content from the stands with a wireless network capable of supporting 50 terabytes of data. Since the stadium will hold around 80,000 attendees for the final, Arencibia said Verizon increased the capacity of its wireless network by four times compared with standard operations.“Think of every single Netflix movie ever streamed at the same time for 90 minutes,” Arencibia said. “That’s the capacity that we’re supporting for the fans.”



The aim is that when fans pull out their phones to record the halftime show, the network will remain flawless. In fact, Arencibia said the two most critical parts his team will pay attention to are the game’s kickoff and the beginning of the halftime show. From there, it’s smooth sailing whether Madonna or BTS is on the stage. 



“That is the moment that people are most excited about,” Arencibia said. “They’re going to pull up their phone, and that’s when you see a spike in our network. [We] build for those first few minutes . . . if you survive that, everything else starts straightening up.”



The digital backbone of the tournament



While the stadium relies on the 5G network, the heavy lifting of the global broadcast is handled by the Broadcast Contribution Network (BCN), which is the final layer of the cake. 



Think of this as the digital backbone of the tournament. Every camera feed, video asset, and data point from the host stadium is funneled to the International Broadcasting Center (IBC) in Dallas via 80,000 miles of fiber, where the signal is processed and redistributed to a person’s phone or TV screen in a different state or country. 



“The center is basically the central nervous system where all the venues are talking to that location,” Arencibia said. “We start at the field and the stands before going wider.”



However, one might wonder how Verizon prepares for any technical difficulties, lags, or frame drops on a broadcast or livestream. Arencibia says they’re well-equipped for that with a lot of checks and balances in place. 



He noted that every venue has around four to five “100-gig circuits” (100 gigabits of data per second). 



“Our goal is to be invisible”



Behind the scenes, Arencibia said Verizon has a “war room,” which functions as a high-stakes command room with thousands of engineers who monitor every single cell spike and fiber connection in real time. 



Arencibia said ultimately, he doesn’t want fans to think of Verizon when they’re at the game. “Our goal is to be invisible, but be involved in that journey from the people getting to the venue when they have to show their tickets, when they actually pull out their phone, and when the cameras are rolling.”



For him, it basically has to be a perfect, seamless recipe for the entire infrastructure—or layer cake—from the private network, wireless network, and fiber network. “You’re not going to be thinking about us,” Arencibia said. “You only think about us if there’s a problem. That’s our job.”



Arencibia emphasized this year’s World Cup is the most technologically advanced and most connected one ever, even more than Qatar in 2022 or the previous tournaments. This one especially, he said, impacts him on a personal level. 



“The creation, the implementation of the network, and the connectivity has no comparison to any other World Cup that has ever happened, so we’re very proud,” Arencibia said. “As a Spaniard who grew up in the Canary Islands and tried to be a soccer player at one point, the fact that I’m helping to do this is a dream come true.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Verizon, preparing, for, record-setting, network, spikes, during, the, first-ever, World, Cup, halftime, show</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Thinking Machines is coming for Anthropic’s intellectual vibe</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/thinking-machines-is-coming-for-anthropics-intellectual-vibe</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/thinking-machines-is-coming-for-anthropics-intellectual-vibe</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In ads, influencer partnerships, and blog posts, Anthropic has continued to position itself as the intellectual, even creative, AI platform. 



“There’s hope in hard questions,” explicates one ad. “Keep thinking with Claude,” suggests another. 



Anthropic’s models, notably, are named after literary forms, while its CEO, Dario Amodei, has styled himself as a thought leader through a series of heady blog posts.









The company’s message is that AI should enhance human cognition rather than offload it.



Thinking Machines, the AI lab founded last year by former OpenAI leader Mira Murati, is now putting its own spin on that approach. 



Earlier this week, the startup announced the release of its first AI model, Inkling, which it says can be fine-tuned via its Tinker platform (released last fall). The company says Inkling has 975 billion parameters, including 41 billion active parameters. It’s also an open-weights model, meaning that core aspects of the model are publicly available.



Thinking Machines concedes that Inkling is not the most powerful AI model on the market. Instead, the company aims to compete on customization. It also emphasizes that its goal is to enhance human intelligence rather than replace it.



The approach echoes some of Anthropic’s language and appears aimed at a more intellectual vision of AI.



“For artificial intelligence to benefit from distributed knowledge, it must itself be distributed. Every organization is powered by the expert knowledge of its people, gained and expressed through their work,” a recent company blog said. 



“We believe in AI that helps the organization cultivate that unique knowledge, not AI that extracts a snapshot of it and replaces it with a standard offering,” the blog continued. “This cultivation is an ongoing process that requires AI to work with people, not in their stead.”



With Inkling, Thinking Machines says consumers and enterprises can shape the AI in their own image rather than use a system that reflects the average preferences of the broader population. Inkling’s terminal even includes an option to instruct the model to communicate and organize its responses according to the user’s preferences, such as writing in the style of a New Yorker article or communicating only in riddles.



The model also communicates extensively about how it’s processing prompts. Users can control how much reasoning effort and token capacity Inkling expends on a task.



All of this suggests that AI companies don’t believe they’ll get far by selling consumers technology that replaces their thinking. Consumers appear to prefer something closer to an intellectual superpower.


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Thinking, Machines, coming, for, Anthropic’s, intellectual, vibe</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>National Ice Cream Day freebies and deals: See a list of the best places to score a scoop today</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/national-ice-cream-day-freebies-and-deals-see-a-list-of-the-best-places-to-score-a-scoop-today</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/national-ice-cream-day-freebies-and-deals-see-a-list-of-the-best-places-to-score-a-scoop-today</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ There are many reasons to scream right now—from cyclospora to corrupt politicians avoiding accountability. 



What if instead we collectively squealed for ice cream on National Ice Cream Day? Well, we’re in luck because it’s today: Sunday, July 19, 2026.



Here’s some history along with deals to make this cool snack an even sweeter treat.



Before machines, how was ice cream made?



Ice cream is made up of cream, sugar, air, and frozen water. Flavors were added based on an individual’s taste preferences. Before refrigerators and machines, these ingredients were combined in a separate container, surrounded by ice and salt, which reached temperatures below freezing. 



The mixture was then stirred and churned by hand. Because of this labor-intensive process, ice cream was once just a dish for the wealthy elites.



Who invented ice cream?



A fascinating aspect of this chilled delight is that many cultures created their own frozen desserts, paving the way for ice cream. 



During the Tang Dynasty in ancient China, a precursor to ice cream was a sweet drink of iced camphor-infused buffalo milk. The Roman Emperor Nero liked to sweeten his iced beverages with honey. In India, kulfi, a frozen condensed milk dish, was enjoyed by Mughal emperors.



In England, Elias Ashmole recalled King Charles II of England being served a plate of ice cream at a fancy banquet. 



In America, President Thomas Jefferson served ice cream at the White House. After his death, he left behind many writings, including only 10 recipes, one of which was for French vanilla ice cream.



What inventions helped bring ice cream to the masses?



In 1843, Nancy M. Johnson invented the first hand-cranked ice cream maker. She was also wise enough to patent her “Artificial Freezer.” This machine cut down on the hard manual labor and allowed ice cream to last 30 minutes. 



The invention of the home refrigerator in 1910 also helped accelerate ice cream’s popularity. By the 1940s, many had ditched the outdated ice box for the new technology.



What does Ronald Reagan have to do with National Ice Cream Day?



In 1984, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed July National Ice Cream Month. He designated the third Sunday as National Ice Cream Day.



Where can you get National Ice Cream Day deals?



[Photo: Häagen-Dazs]



Now ice cream belongs to the people. Here’s where you can fulfill your purpose on the big day.



Häagen-Dazs



Häagen-Dazs reward members are eligible for a buy-one-get-one-free deal through the Sundae Funday Club. 



Pick between the Caramel Cone Sundae, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Sundae, or Hot Fudge &amp; Caramel Sundae. This deal is valid every Sunday in July and ends on the 26th.



16 Handles



While you might think of 16 Handles as a frozen yogurt spot, it also has ice cream. (And froyo is also delicious, anyway.) On National Ice Cream Day, rewards members can score a free cup, up to a $5 value.



Blue Bell Ice Cream



Blue Bell Ice Cream is celebrating all month like Reagan intended. It introduced a limited-time flavor, Chocolate Lava Cake.



Petco



Ice cream is better when it’s shared. At least that’s what the dogs want us to believe. 



Thankfully, Petco is offering rewards members a free Ben &amp; Jerry’s ice cream pup cup at participating locations while supplies last. If you are not a rewards member, it is free to sign up.



Dairy Queen



At Dairy Queen, after making a $1 in app purchase, DQ Rewards members will be rewarded with a free Dilly Bar.



If you find yourself in Chicago and ride the train, you might be in for a sweet surprise. 



Petty Cool Ice Cream



Pretty Cool Ice Cream and the Chicago Transit Authority are setting up at the Logan Square Blue Line and Fullerton Brown Line at 12 p.m. and 95th St Red Line and Pulaski Orange Line at 2:30 p.m. 



The first 300 people who show up and also follow @prettycoolicecream and @chicagocta will get a free popsicle based on the different lines.



Dippin’ Dots



Select Dippin’ Dots locations will be giving out free mini cups of the unique treat during a special two hour window. Click here to find a location and time frame near you.



If you want even more Dippin’ Dots, head to Chuck E. Cheese. At the place where a kid can be a kid, you can also get one free small Dippin’ Dots per household.



Shout for joy. The horrors of the world will keep while you eat your frozen treat. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>National, Ice, Cream, Day, freebies, and, deals:, See, list, the, best, places, score, scoop, today</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Stonegate faces £16m fine threat over treatment of pub tenants</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stonegate-faces-16m-fine-threat-over-treatment-of-pub-tenants</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stonegate-faces-16m-fine-threat-over-treatment-of-pub-tenants</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
The Pubs Code Adjudicator is investigating Stonegate over its treatment of tied pub tenants, with fines of up to £16m possible. What tenants should know. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2260255111-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Stonegate, faces, £16m, fine, threat, over, treatment, pub, tenants</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>HMRC moves to scrap separate EMI notifications in red tape win</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/hmrc-moves-to-scrap-separate-emi-notifications-in-red-tape-win</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/hmrc-moves-to-scrap-separate-emi-notifications-in-red-tape-win</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
HMRC&#039;s draft Finance Bill scraps separate EMI grant notifications from April 2027, folding them into the annual return. What SME employers need to know. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_1635488908-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>HMRC, moves, scrap, separate, EMI, notifications, red, tape, win</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>British Steel nationalised as ministers refuse to let it go bust</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/british-steel-nationalised-as-ministers-refuse-to-let-it-go-bust</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/british-steel-nationalised-as-ministers-refuse-to-let-it-go-bust</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
British Steel nationalisation secures 2,700 Scunthorpe jobs and the UK&#039;s last virgin steel supply. What public ownership means for SME supply chains. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2657825323-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>British, Steel, nationalised, ministers, refuse, let, bust</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ofcom investigates TikTok over ‘serious doubts’ its age checks work</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ofcom-investigates-tiktok-over-serious-doubts-its-age-checks-work</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ofcom-investigates-tiktok-over-serious-doubts-its-age-checks-work</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Ofcom launches an investigation into TikTok&#039;s child age checks, casting doubt on age inference tech. Why the clampdown matters for UK platform owners. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2275867523-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ofcom, investigates, TikTok, over, ‘serious, doubts’, its, age, checks, work</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Importers face six&#45;year record rule as UK carbon border tax nears</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/importers-face-six-year-record-rule-as-uk-carbon-border-tax-nears</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/importers-face-six-year-record-rule-as-uk-carbon-border-tax-nears</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
UK CBAM rules hit importers of steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser and hydrogen from January 2027. What SMEs must do now to avoid HMRC penalties. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2797313629-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Importers, face, six-year, record, rule, carbon, border, tax, nears</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Applied Computing wants to give oil and gas operators an AI model for the entire plant</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/applied-computing-wants-to-give-oil-and-gas-operators-an-ai-model-for-the-entire-plant</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/applied-computing-wants-to-give-oil-and-gas-operators-an-ai-model-for-the-entire-plant</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Applied Computing has raised a $20M Series A to build a foundation AI model for the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Applied, Computing, wants, give, oil, and, gas, operators, model, for, the, entire, plant</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Phone maker OnePlus says it won’t release new phones in the US and Europe</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/phone-maker-oneplus-says-it-wont-release-new-phones-in-the-us-and-europe</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/phone-maker-oneplus-says-it-wont-release-new-phones-in-the-us-and-europe</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ OnePlus could also wind down its operations in India by 2027. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/OnePlus-15-e1784137477629.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Phone, maker, OnePlus, says, won’t, release, new, phones, the, and, Europe</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Meta now alerts parents if their teen discussed suicide or self&#45;harm with its AI chatbot</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meta-now-alerts-parents-if-their-teen-discussed-suicide-or-self-harm-with-its-ai-chatbot</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meta-now-alerts-parents-if-their-teen-discussed-suicide-or-self-harm-with-its-ai-chatbot</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The updates come as Meta and other tech companies are facing scrutiny from regulators and parents around how AI chatbots respond to users in crisis, particularly teenagers. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/meta-apps-GettyImages-2164040793.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Meta, now, alerts, parents, their, teen, discussed, suicide, self-harm, with, its, chatbot</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ultrahuman’s former hardware VP raises $5.5M for devices that control AI agents, not just record you</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ultrahumans-former-hardware-vp-raises-55m-for-devices-that-control-ai-agents-not-just-record-you</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ultrahumans-former-hardware-vp-raises-55m-for-devices-that-control-ai-agents-not-just-record-you</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Aina is going to pilot a new device in the coming weeks. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Apoorv-Shankar-Founder-Aina-color.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ultrahuman’s, former, hardware, raises, 5.5M, for, devices, that, control, agents, not, just, record, you</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Apple Intelligence approved for launch in China with Alibaba and Baidu</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/apple-intelligence-approved-for-launch-in-china-with-alibaba-and-baidu</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/apple-intelligence-approved-for-launch-in-china-with-alibaba-and-baidu</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The deal, which was rumored to be in the works last year, marks an important step for Apple&#039;s AI ambitions in a key market. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Apple, Intelligence, approved, for, launch, China, with, Alibaba, and, Baidu</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A surprising restaurant chain outgrew Starbucks, Chipotle and Dunkin’ last year</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/a-surprising-restaurant-chain-outgrew-starbucks-chipotle-and-dunkin-last-year</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/a-surprising-restaurant-chain-outgrew-starbucks-chipotle-and-dunkin-last-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ America’s fastest-growing restaurant isn’t Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, or Chipotle. It’s a chicken wing chain that’s been opening hundreds of new locations.



In a preview of QSR Magazine’s annual QSR 50, which ranks the leading fast food chains, Wingstop led the 2026 cohort of restaurants. The full report is expected to be released in August.



While in past years Starbucks has topped the ranking, this year Wingstop has earned the top spot by opening 382 new locations, around 100 more than any other brand. Wingstop has risen through the ranks, becoming the fourth-fastest growing brand in 2024 and reaching the top spot in just under two years. At the time, Starbucks was ahead by 589 locations, but Wingstop has since caught up.



[Photo: Wingstop]



Headquartered in Dallas, the 32-year-old company has had its share of challenges. In 2025, the company saw a 3.3% decrease in same store sales, the first decline in more than two decades. The chicken restaurant kicked off 2026 facing external pressures like a dip in customer visits due to harsh weather, and rising gas prices.



The company ended 2025 with some 3,056 locations, including 407 international franchises. In all, around 98% of locations are franchised.



Wingstop is not the only restaurant chain outpacing Starbucks this year. A report by Yelp found that the brand with the highest consumer interest for 2025 was 7 Brew, a Starbucks competitor. Wingstop made the list at number 10.



Wingstop’s quick rise follows a broader trend of popularity around chicken restaurants. In a 2025 restaurant ranking from the market research company Circana, chicken restaurants like Raising Cane’s and Wingstop saw some of the fastest growth. Raising Cane’s placed 16th on the list while Wingstop reached the 21st spot, moving up nine and eight spots respectively from the year before. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>surprising, restaurant, chain, outgrew, Starbucks, Chipotle, and, Dunkin’, last, year</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Everyone’s a wiener! Here’s a list of National Hot Dog Day freebies and deals, from 7&#45;Eleven to Dog Haus</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/everyones-a-wiener-heres-a-list-of-national-hot-dog-day-freebies-and-deals-from-7-eleven-to-dog-haus</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/everyones-a-wiener-heres-a-list-of-national-hot-dog-day-freebies-and-deals-from-7-eleven-to-dog-haus</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Whether you’re grilling one out in the backyard or enjoying one with all the fixins’ at a baseball game, nothing says American summer like a hot dog.



And the pinnacle of hot dog mania is today: National Hot Dog Day. Here’s a roundup of deals so you can join in on the holiday’s 35th anniversary this Wednesday, July 15.



7-Eleven



The Texas-based and internationally operated convenience store giant 7-Eleven is offering a Mix and Match deal, giving customers any two roller grill items—including the Big Bite hot dog—for just $3.50.



If you aren’t into hot dogs, the chain is also offering $1 taquitos on Wednesday. Members of 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards can earn a $2 Big Bite hot dog or a $5 Meal Deal in the app through July 22.



Dog Haus



Dog Haus, a gourmet hot dog and hamburger chain based in Pasadena, California, is giving out free Haus Dogs on Wednesday. You have to register as a Haus Rewards member first, earning you a two-for-the-price-of-one Haus Dog offer valid through the end of the month. 



Love’s



The popular highway stop and gas station Love’s is joining the hot dog action, with a lineup of hot dog-centered deals throughout the week. Thursday’s dog deal features a buy one, get one free for $1, and Friday’s deal is two dogs for $3. But the real winner is today’s deal: a free hot dog in honor of the holiday. 



Philly Pretzel Factory



Don’t get it twisted: Philly Pretzel Factory isn’t known only for pretzels. It also touts a famous pretzel dog filled with an all-beef sausage and American cheese. Customers can get the delicacy for $1 all day on Wednesday.



Portillo’s



The Chicago-based chain Portillo’s, famous for its Chicago-style hot dogs, has been celebrating hot dog season since the beginning of the month with the launch of its spicy Char’diniera Dog.



The brand also released a line of hot dog merch—including tees, hoodies, and beach towels—to celebrate National Hot Dog Month. This week, Portillo’s Perks members can get a $1 Hot Dog with $5-plus purchase, and the brand has promised more surprises to come.



Krystal



The southern fast food chain Krystal sells patty melts, sliders, and miniature hot dogs, cleverly called pups. Today, Krystal rewards members can choose between a Classic Pup, Corn Pup, or a Chili Cheese pup with a purchase of $5 or more. 



Unexpected deals to relish



These fast-food chains aren’t the only ones celebrating; hot dog deals are also available at retailers that don’t specialize in dogs. 



Pringles, which released limited-edition Pop Dog Buns earlier this month, is offering free Pop Dog Buns with a $6.97 Pringles three-pack online purchase, starting at noon ET on Wednesday.



The movie theater chain Regal Cinemas is running a buy five, get one free deal for Nathan’s hot dogs and is inviting Regal Crown Club members who purchase two hot dogs to enter a sweepstakes trip to Coney Island.



Regal also posted on Facebook that all customers named Nathan will receive a free hotdog on Wednesday, with proof of ID.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Everyone’s, wiener, Here’s, list, National, Hot, Dog, Day, freebies, and, deals, from, 7-Eleven, Dog, Haus</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>You haven’t fixed your AI problem</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/you-havent-fixed-your-ai-problem</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/you-havent-fixed-your-ai-problem</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ For years, “swivel chair work” was shorthand for a very real problem: employees spinning between applications, copying data from one system to another, and chasing approvals through multiple inboxes. The term stuck because it was accurate.



Harvard Business Review reported in 2022 that workers toggle between applications 1,200 times daily, losing nearly 4 hours per week to reorientation. That’s roughly 9% of total work time. For a knowledge worker earning $100,000 annually, the cost translates to $9,000 in lost productivity per employee per year. For a company with 10,000 employees, that fragmentation amounts to roughly $90 million annually, not from bad strategy or underinvestment, but from the basic friction of fragmented digital infrastructure. Almost no organization has a line item for it. It just compounds.



WE GAVE AI THE WRONG JOB



When generative AI arrived, most organizations gave employees better tools for the work they were already doing. Better search, faster drafting, and sharper summaries. But they didn’t change the underlying architecture. The siloed systems, approval chains, and status emails were all still there. We added AI to the workflows without redesigning the workflows. Employees ended up with one more window to toggle to.



In many organizations, AI just made the chairs swivel faster.



The first generation of enterprise AI was primarily generative, retrieval-augmented systems that surface the right document, summarize it well, and hand it back to a human to act on. That’s a meaningful capability, but it’s still a handoff. The AI produces an output for a person to carry it forward. Output is not outcome. In business, no one gets paid for outputs, but rather for completed work.



FINISHING THE WORK IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS



The next phase of AI is about completing the work.



Agentic AI is defined as systems that can plan a sequence of steps, select the right tools, execute actions across systems, and govern the outcome with auditability. They can now take a request from initiation to resolution without a human manually stitching it together.



The intelligence part—the reasoning, language understanding, and ability to interpret an ambiguous request—is increasingly commoditized. Two years ago, GPT-4-level reasoning was a competitive advantage. Today, that capability is available open source, inference costs have dropped by roughly 10-fold annually, and benchmark performance across the leading models has converged to where the differences are largely invisible to enterprise users. What remains genuinely difficult and differentiated is the execution layer connecting that intelligence to the enterprise’s operational fabric.



Consider what completing a single workflow actually requires. Onboarding a new hire might span a human resources information system, an IT provisioning system, a facilities platform, a payroll processor, and a compliance training tool. Each has its own data model, permissions architecture, and API behavior. And they were never designed to talk to each other.



This is why “just use an LLM” isn’t an enterprise AI strategy. A large language model without enterprise context produces large language model results—fluent, plausible, and often disconnected from your actual business machinery. The grounding layer, the connectors, the context graph, the permissions model, and the workflow orchestration are what turn a capable model into a system that completes work.



WHAT EXECUTION AT SCALE LOOKS LIKE



What makes this possible is the harness around the model. When an employee submits a request, they’re not talking directly to an LLM, but to a layer incorporating business context. The LLM selects the right path, applies the right permissions, and decides which systems need involvement and the order. The model supplies the reasoning and the harness supplies the judgment about how to apply that reasoning inside your organization.



That’s why we’re seeing enterprises resolve the majority of service desk requests without human involvement. They are resolved end to end, with the right action taken, logged, and governed. Live agent chat volumes drop in days because the requests never had to escalate. At one global manufacturer, approval processes that once averaged 10 hours of VP time now close in under 10 minutes. Same policy. Same people. The harness surfaces the right context in sequence, and the inbox archaeology disappears.



The swivel chair became unnecessary.



These productivity improvements are structural changes to how operations run. The people who were spending their days on coordination overhead are now doing the work that requires their expertise. That is the shift worth chasing.



THE MOAT HAS MOVED



McKinsey’s 2025 Global Survey found that 88% of organizations report regular AI use in at least one business function. Individual use cases show promise, including a 14% productivity boost in customer service operations while using AI. That’s meaningful, but incremental.



The competitive question now is: How deeply is your AI connected to how work happens in your organization?



The companies building that depth with context graphs, orchestration layers, and the governed workflow execution are getting more efficient. Every workflow you automate teaches the system more about how your company operates. That compounds. It comes from building AI into how the company runs.



WHAT THIS MEANS RIGHT NOW



If you’re still measuring AI ROI in tokens generated and summaries produced, you’re measuring the wrong thing.



Find the work nobody chose. The status updates nobody asked to send. The approvals stalled in inboxes. The handoffs that require a human because the systems should communicate, but don’t. Map where your most capable people are spending time on coordination instead of judgment.



That’s your AI roadmap. Start with one workflow. Prove value in production. Then let the compounding begin.



The goal was always to make the swivel chair unrecognizable, to reach a point where the next generation of employees doesn’t know what the phrase means because they’ve never experienced the problem. We’re closer to that than most leaders realize. But only by building AI into the workflow, not on top of it. 



Bhavin Shah is SVP and GM of Moveworks and AI at ServiceNow. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>You, haven’t, fixed, your, problem</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PayPal stock is skyrocketing after Stripe and a private equity firm reportedly made a buyout offer</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/paypal-stock-is-skyrocketing-after-stripe-and-a-private-equity-firm-reportedly-made-a-buyout-offer</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/paypal-stock-is-skyrocketing-after-stripe-and-a-private-equity-firm-reportedly-made-a-buyout-offer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Shares in PayPal Holdings (Nasdaq: PYPL) are skyrocketing in premarket trading this morning after a report that the legacy digital payments platform has received a joint buyout offer from one of today’s most successful fintech companies and a major private equity firm. Here’s what you need to know.



What’s happened?



Early this morning, Reuters reported that the fintech giant Stripe and the private equity giant Advent International have offered to buy PayPal for well above its closing stock price on Tuesday.



According to Reuters, Stripe and Advent made PayPal a buyout offer of $60.50 per share, equating to about $53 billion in total. That $60.50 per share offering price is roughly 28% higher than PayPal’s closing price of $47.37 yesterday.



Stripe and Advent reportedly made the offer to PayPal earlier this month. It is an offer that PayPal has reportedly not responded to yet. 



While Reuters did identify its sources, other than saying they were people “familiar with the matter,” news of the proposed buyout offer could put pressure on PayPal leadership to publicly respond—and face displeasure from PayPal investors if they do not like the company’s response.



Fast Company has reached out to PayPal, Stripe, and Advent for comment.



What do Stripe and Advent want with PayPal?



The report didn’t go into specifics about what Stripe and Advent would do with the legacy online payments giant should they acquire it, but Reuters said that the two suitors would jointly own PayPal instead of breaking up the company.



Stripe is one of the biggest players in the modern fintech scene. The privately held company was valued at around $159 billion in February. But Stripe’s specialty and core business is facilitating transactions between a business’s bank account and a customer’s payment method.



One of PayPal’s strengths is facilitating peer-to-peer transactions. It also has a massive user base of consumers and small businesses that trust the brand and are loyal to it.



It is possible Stripe sees a PayPal acquisition as a way to move into areas of the fintech space where PayPal clearly dominates.



Would PayPal sell itself?



No one can answer that but PayPal leadership. However, a buyout offer could be attractive to PayPal’s board and investors, considering the company has struggled in recent years.



While PayPal was the de facto payment backbone of consumer e-commerce for roughly the first two decades after its founding in the late 1990s, in recent years the company has lost ground to competing products like Apple Pay and Google Pay, which make it much simpler to pay digitally for products and services right from smartphones and other devices.



While PayPal’s stock did see a massive boost during the pandemic years, when online shopping boomed like never before, it has tumbled since then.



In 2021, PayPal stock was trading at more than $291 per share—an all-time high. As of yesterday’s closing price, PYPL shares were trading at just above $47. That stock price decrease came as a result of newer technologies and more competition that siphoned away business.



In February of this year, PayPal replaced its CEO, Alex Chriss, with HP’s Enrique Lores.



“The payments industry is changing faster than ever, driven by new technologies, evolving regulations, an increasingly competitive landscape, and the rapid acceleration of AI that is reshaping commerce daily,” Lores said at the time. “PayPal sits at the center of this change, and I look forward to leading the team to accelerate the delivery of new innovations and to shape the future of digital payments and commerce.”



How have PayPal’s shares reacted?



Investors have reacted very well to the reported buyout offer. As of the time of this writing, PYPL shares are currently up around 19.87% to $56.72 in pre-market trading.



That’s well above PayPal’s closing price of $47.37 yesterday, but still slightly under Stripe’s and Advent’s reported offering price of $60.50 per share. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PayPal, stock, skyrocketing, after, Stripe, and, private, equity, firm, reportedly, made, buyout, offer</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The workplace isn’t designed for older women</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-workplace-isnt-designed-for-older-women</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-workplace-isnt-designed-for-older-women</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ My kids were finally almost grown, and I was in my late 50s, when my mother started to fall. Not once. A series of falls, each one taking a little more of her, until the word the doctors used was acute. My husband and I drove out into the high desert and hiked, because that is what we do when we can no longer think and have to anyway. Somewhere on that trail I understood the shape of the choice in front of me. I could close the business I had spent decades building and bring her home. Or I could find her a place, which is the gentle phrase we use for the thing that breaks your heart. There was no third door.



I had spent 35 years by then coaching senior leaders, and most of them were men. Men who moved through their careers on a road already paved. No motherhood penalty at the front, and rarely a caregiving crisis at the back, because somewhere in their lives there was usually a woman absorbing the work at home. I was good at helping them. Then I hit the wall myself and went looking for the map I had been handing other people. There was none. The workplace I had given my life to had never imagined a woman would still be inside it on the day her mother began to disappear.



When Fast Company ran “Corporate America is crushing senior-level mothers” by Shalene Gupta last month, the response was enormous. Thousands of words came back from women who finally felt named. Underneath the relief I heard a second question the piece could not reach. These women survived it. The day care years, the pumping in supply closets, the promotions timed around due dates. They came out the other side. And now what?



Most organizations still build careers for women around the young-mother arc. The whole structure assumes the defining tension of a woman’s working life is the one between babies and ambition, the toddler on the hip against the seat at the table. That assumption was not wrong; it was partial. It put a gate at the front of a woman’s career and left everything past it as open country, with no road markers.



For every woman promoted at the director level, McKinsey and LeanIn found, two women directors walk out the door. There is a leak at exactly the altitude where companies say they want more women, and we have spent years blaming the women for it. 



Consider the woman who is in mid- or late career. She is not arranging childcare anymore. She is arranging hospice, or memory care, or the third specialist this month. She is one of the more than 48 million Americans who gave unpaid care last year worth an estimated $600 billion, most of them women, and she is doing it in the years she was finally supposed to be running things. The squeeze does not announce itself. It arrives as a phone call during a meeting she cannot leave, and it does not end when the call does.



Brenda (pseudonym), a VP of philanthropy at a national nonprofit, breathed a sigh of relief when her youngest child graduated from college. Three days later her husband was diagnosed with ALS, and she had to care for him as his body failed. Her career-capping fundraising ambitions paled alongside the gargantuan role she had to play at home, resulting in FMLA leave, fragmented efforts, and distracted attention to her big career goals.



The body is in this story too, whether we are comfortable with it or not. Menopause arrives and lasts the better part of a decade, landing squarely on the most senior and most expensive years of a woman’s career. The Mayo Clinic put its cost to the U.S. economy at $26.6 billion a year, and that figure does not count the women who simply leave the workforce. Rachel (pseudonym), an executive VP at a major consumer brand, described it this way: “My perimenopause brain fog was intense, and I felt I had to back off the big role. I took early retirement, even though I wasn’t ready.”



According to research discussed in Harvard Business Review in 2023, women suffer from a “never right” bias pattern around age, meaning the same gray hair that makes a man look seasoned makes a woman look finished. His experience gets celebrated. Hers gets walked toward the door. You thank her for mentoring the young men who will be promoted past her. You celebrate what she knows precisely because you have stopped betting on what she could still do.



And here is the part Gupta’s motherhood essay could not hold. The young-mother design doesn’t fail just the women who passed through it. It fails the women who never had children at all. Jean (pseudonym) was a pinch hitter throughout her 30s and 40s, always able to travel on assignment as a senior partner. She was the backstop, assumed to be endlessly available because, in the words people use, she had nothing else going on. Women like Jean covered the leaves and the snow days and the late nights, and they reached the far side with the same failing parents and the same vanishing relevance, plus a quarter century of having been the accommodation that let everyone else’s accommodation work.



We built women’s careers around one season of one kind of life, then treated everything that fell outside it—the aging parent, the changing body, the second act—as a private problem for the woman to absorb in the dark. The cost was always real. We simply arranged never to see it.



It does not have to be this way, and the fix is not a women’s affinity group or a webinar on resilience. It is design. 



First, treat caregiving as a normal feature of a working life rather than a one-time emergency. We built parental leave and then behaved as though care ended at kindergarten. It does not. People care for parents, partners, siblings, adult children, themselves, in waves that recur across 40 years. Build leave, flexibility, and real reentry paths that assume those waves are coming, and make them available to everyone by policy, not granted one woman at a time behind a closed door.



Second, audit who gets the future and who gets the past. Look honestly at who receives the stretch assignments and who gets routed onto the legacy panels and the mentoring tracks. If your most seasoned women are advising and stewarding while the high-visibility roles go to people 15 years younger, that is a pattern, not a series of coincidences. Promote inside the highest-earning decade instead of escorting people out of it.



Third, make menopause an ordinary workplace fact. It is a predictable stage of human health, not a scandal, and right now it is draining some of your most expensive talent. Manager education, flexibility in schedule and environment, and simple permission to name it out loud turn a hidden attrition driver into a routine accommodation, the way we eventually learned to handle pregnancy instead of pretending it wasn’t happening.



Design for all genders a working life that runs 50 years, not a 30-year sprint that peaks at 45. That means sponsorship, lateral moves, and genuine second acts built for people in their 50s and 60s. It means looking around the room and noticing that the most capable person in it is often the one you have already written off.



I made it through my own impossible year the way these women always do. On my own, without a single road the workplace had ever thought to build for me. The women in this story are not asking to be protected. They are the most capable people in most of the rooms they walk into, and they know it. They survived the front half. The question was never whether they still had something to give. It is whether we will finally build workplaces able to meet their back half.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, workplace, isn’t, designed, for, older, women</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Chancellor announces SME funding package</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/chancellor-announces-sme-funding-package</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/chancellor-announces-sme-funding-package</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The chancellor has unveiled SME funding support as part of her Mansion House speech in July 2026. Here&#039;s what is coming up
The post Chancellor announces SME funding package appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Chancellor, announces, SME, funding, package</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>TikTok Shopping: A New Era For E&#45;commerce Store Sales</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tiktok-shopping-a-new-era-for-e-commerce-store-sales</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tiktok-shopping-a-new-era-for-e-commerce-store-sales</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ TikTok has taken the world by storm, quickly becoming one of the most popular social media platforms with over 1.67 billion active users. This fast-growing app has captured the attention of individuals and businesses with its unique video-sharing format. As e-commerce continues to dominate the retail landscape, it’s no surprise that TikTok has also entered […]
The post TikTok Shopping: A New Era For E-commerce Store Sales appeared first on Fincyte. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:20:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>TikTok, Shopping:, New, Era, For, E-commerce, Store, Sales</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Personalised Corporate Gifts Improve Employee Engagement &amp;amp; Loyalty?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-personalised-corporate-gifts-improve-employee-engagement-loyalty</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-personalised-corporate-gifts-improve-employee-engagement-loyalty</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ There’s nothing more meaningful than forming strong human relationships in today’s world. As for corporations, it is crucial to have the ‘nice to have’ policy. Employee engagement today is not an option but a necessity to enhance workplace culture. One of the least-discussed ways to improve employee engagement is personalised corporate gifts. Personalised gifts work […]
The post How Personalised Corporate Gifts Improve Employee Engagement &amp; Loyalty? appeared first on Fincyte. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:20:22 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Personalised, Corporate, Gifts, Improve, Employee, Engagement, Loyalty</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Monzo founder Blomfield joins Anthropic as AI talent war escalates</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/monzo-founder-blomfield-joins-anthropic-as-ai-talent-war-escalates</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/monzo-founder-blomfield-joins-anthropic-as-ai-talent-war-escalates</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Monzo founder Tom Blomfield has joined Anthropic&#039;s compute team, the latest coup in the AI talent war. What his move signals for UK founders and SMEs. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:20:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Monzo, founder, Blomfield, joins, Anthropic, talent, war, escalates</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Scrap National Insurance and the 45p rate, think tank tells Burnham</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/scrap-national-insurance-and-the-45p-rate-think-tank-tells-burnham</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/scrap-national-insurance-and-the-45p-rate-think-tank-tells-burnham</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Policy Exchange urges Andy Burnham to abolish national insurance, stamp duty, inheritance tax and the 45p rate. What the plan would mean for UK SME owners. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:20:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Scrap, National, Insurance, and, the, 45p, rate, think, tank, tells, Burnham</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Scrap green levies to cut energy bills by a fifth, Burnham told</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/scrap-green-levies-to-cut-energy-bills-by-a-fifth-burnham-told</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/scrap-green-levies-to-cut-energy-bills-by-a-fifth-burnham-told</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Business energy costs must be Andy Burnham&#039;s day-one priority, say CBI and Energy UK, with green levy cuts worth a fifth off bills and a £130bn boost. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/shutterstock_2673590293-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:20:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Scrap, green, levies, cut, energy, bills, fifth, Burnham, told</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Festivals get longer licences and red tape cut in £45m music plan</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/festivals-get-longer-licences-and-red-tape-cut-in-45m-music-plan</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/festivals-get-longer-licences-and-red-tape-cut-in-45m-music-plan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
The government&#039;s new UK music plan promises festival licensing reform and a £45m growth fund. What Turn It Up means for venues, clubs and small firms. ]]></description>
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<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Festivals, get, longer, licences, and, red, tape, cut, £45m, music, plan</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>$300 a kilo: space cargo costs falling faster than steam ever did</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/300-a-kilo-space-cargo-costs-falling-faster-than-steam-ever-did</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/300-a-kilo-space-cargo-costs-falling-faster-than-steam-ever-did</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Space launch costs are falling faster than steamship freight in the 1800s and could hit $300 a kilo by 2040. What the space economy means for UK firms. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_1991898626-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 17:20:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>300, kilo:, space, cargo, costs, falling, faster, than, steam, ever, did</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Rotten to its core’: Apple accuses OpenAI of stealing its secrets</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rotten-to-its-core-apple-accuses-openai-of-stealing-its-secrets</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rotten-to-its-core-apple-accuses-openai-of-stealing-its-secrets</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Apple sues OpenAI, alleging poached staff took trade secrets to its hardware venture. What the case teaches UK SMEs about protecting their own IP. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shutterstock_2448816843-768x512.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Rotten, its, core’:, Apple, accuses, OpenAI, stealing, its, secrets</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Small firms freeze hiring as Iran war drags growth to five&#45;year low</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-firms-freeze-hiring-as-iran-war-drags-growth-to-five-year-low</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-firms-freeze-hiring-as-iran-war-drags-growth-to-five-year-low</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Britain&#039;s businesses have stopped hiring and slipped into &quot;survival mode&quot;, with economic output stuttering to a five-year low in June as the Iran war, weak consumer spending and relentless cost increases combine to squeeze firms from every direction. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/shutterstock_2456532537-768x512.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Small, firms, freeze, hiring, Iran, war, drags, growth, five-year, low</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Red card for red tape: 96% of firms say regulation is failing them</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/red-card-for-red-tape-96-of-firms-say-regulation-is-failing-them</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/red-card-for-red-tape-96-of-firms-say-regulation-is-failing-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
96 per cent of firms told the government&#039;s own red tape survey that regulators create unnecessary problems. What the findings mean for UK SMEs and owners. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_2689322961-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Red, card, for, red, tape:, 96, firms, say, regulation, failing, them</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Burnham will not ‘tax the hell out of you’, says Jim O’Neill</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/burnham-will-not-tax-the-hell-out-of-you-says-jim-oneill</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/burnham-will-not-tax-the-hell-out-of-you-says-jim-oneill</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Jim O&#039;Neill says Andy Burnham will not &#039;tax the hell out of you&#039; but must scrap the triple lock and overhaul welfare. What it means for your business. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Rest-is-money-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Burnham, will, not, ‘tax, the, hell, out, you’, says, Jim, O’Neill</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Banker who bought Northern Rock named to lead audit watchdog</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/banker-who-bought-northern-rock-named-to-lead-audit-watchdog</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/banker-who-bought-northern-rock-named-to-lead-audit-watchdog</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Dame Jayne-Anne Gadhia, ex-Virgin Money chief, is the government&#039;s pick to chair the FRC. What the audit watchdog&#039;s new leadership means for UK firms. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Dame-jayne-anne-gadhia-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 04:04:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Banker, who, bought, Northern, Rock, named, lead, audit, watchdog</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Taylor Swift fans are willing to buy her trash. Meet the NYC artist who cashed in from the pop star’s wedding night</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/taylor-swift-fans-are-willing-to-buy-her-trash-meet-the-nyc-artist-who-cashed-in-from-the-pop-stars-wedding-night</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/taylor-swift-fans-are-willing-to-buy-her-trash-meet-the-nyc-artist-who-cashed-in-from-the-pop-stars-wedding-night</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Swifties will buy anything related to Taylor Swift: a CD or a vinyl—even if they listen on Spotify anyway—a cardigan or scarf inspired by her songs, and yes, even garbage.



Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tied the knot on July 3 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden (MSG), gathering A-list celebrities from across industries.



But as fans flocked to the venue for a chance to peek inside the secretive event, at least one person turned his attention to the floor—picking up trash to package and sell to fans eager to score a souvenir from the party.



The New York-based artist Justin Gignac made his way to MSG the night of the celebrity wedding, wearing the same tuxedo he used at his own wedding, paired with thick gloves and a trash pickup stick.



The venue’s perimeter was filled with around 40 fans in each corner, Gignac says, as he circled the arena and picked up garbage from the floor before packaging it and selling it online—something he has done before.



“I’m always trying to find these big cultural moments in New York City,” Gignac tells Fast Company. “I’ve done New Year’s Eve in Times Square and I’ve done the championship parades for the Yankees, Giants, and Liberty . . . but this was such an interesting one.”



Come as you are



The trash was not actually from inside the wedding, but from the edge of the venue, hence the name of the series, “Not Invited Edition.” 



Anything from a stray Airpod to a can tab was collected and packaged in clear boxes measuring 1 by 1 by 0.75 inch, just small enough to carry around in one’s pocket. The near-cube is marked with the wedding date, the same day the garbage was picked up, and the phrase “JUST&amp;T MARRIED!” a nod to the message that filled the MSG screens after the celebrity couple tied the knot.



Gignac has been collecting trash and selling it in sealed acrylic cubes for almost 25 years—he calls his art project and business New York City Garbage—although the regular cubes are much larger (3.5 by 3.5 by 4.5 inches).



In planning for the project’s anniversary, Gignac had ordered the smaller cubes, but opted to turn them into a Swiftie-inspired drop when he heard about the wedding.



The 50 limited cubes were priced at $25 each, selling out in 24 hours and 8 minutes, although he is hoping he has enough trash to complete 39 more—bringing the total to 89, a tribute to Swift’s birth year, 1989.



While the 50 boxes for Swifties are bringing Gignac a renewed wave of popularity, the drop is just one small piece of the decades-long project.



New York City Garbage



The project began back in 2001, when Gignac was a 21-year-old intern at MTV. He debated with a coworker who argued that packaging design was not important. To prove him wrong, Gignac decided to package the thing he couldn’t image anyone wanting to buy: garbage.



Packaging it in clear boxes with a sleek typeface that read “New York City Garbage”—which would become the name of the business—Gignac set up a small stand in Times Square, persuading passersby to buy his creation.



And it worked. Not only did he prove his coworker wrong, but he began a small business that would lead to more than 1,700 garbage cubes sold around the world.



“I went out on the streets of Times Square with a little cardboard box that I spray-painted ‘Garbage for Sale’ on it,” he says. “Finally, after eight hours, a gentleman from Ecuador who barely spoke English—but he connected with it—bought the first one.”



The first few were priced at just $10, eventually going up in price from $25 to $100. This was to discourage people from buying them, as Gignac was too busy to meet the demand while he tried to kick-start his career in advertising.



Still, people kept buying.



“It’s interesting how people’s perspective shifts,” Gignac says. “When it was $10, people thought it was a funny joke. When it was $25, people considered it like a cool souvenir. And at $50, people started calling it art. So it’s amazing how you change the price and it changes people’s perception of it.”



Top of the heap



As the business grew, so did Gignac’s professional ambitions, and in 2012 he decided to shut down New York City Garbage to start his own business and pursue other creative projects—including the popular Elf Yourself app.



It wasn’t until 2024, when too many of his friends asked him to resume the business, and he was ready to slow down and focus on raising his 2-year-old daughter, that he reopened the store.



The first drop sold out faster than his Swift-inspired collection—50 cubes priced at $100 selling out in just 90 minutes.



“Had about a decade more of people waiting for them,” he says. “Since then, the other drops haven’t sold out as quickly, but they sell out fairly quickly, usually like a couple days or a week.”



Now that his focus is back on trash, Gignac has a renewed inspiration for what New York City Garbage is and can be.



“I think it blurs the line between art and business, and I think all good things do. It is the art of the sale,” he says. “The art happens in that exchange. I like that. It’s the story that we tell.”



With this new phase, Gignac wishes to explore the affection that individuals can attach to trash and their connection with special moments; for instance, he is interested in collecting trash from locker rooms of teams as a memento for fans.



“People are always like, ‘Why would you pay for garbage?’ And I’m like, I don’t know, but would you pay for garbage from your first date or your kid’s last Little League game?” he says. “It’s not just garbage. It’s stuff that has meaning.”



 ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/p-1-91571919-taylor-swift-new-york-city-garbage.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Taylor, Swift, fans, are, willing, buy, her, trash., Meet, the, NYC, artist, who, cashed, from, the, pop, star’s, wedding, night</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The missing ingredient in successful networking</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-missing-ingredient-in-successful-networking</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-missing-ingredient-in-successful-networking</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The greatest missed opportunity at most conferences is not a keynote session, a panel, or a workshop. It is the conversations that never happen.



Every year, professionals attend conferences hoping to build relationships, discover new opportunities, and create momentum for their careers or businesses. Yet many leave with little more than a collection of business cards and LinkedIn connections that never turn into anything meaningful. The problem is that most people have never learned to articulate what they need in a way that allows others to help.



Many professionals actually know what they are trying to accomplish. They want a strategic partner. They need an introduction. They are looking for customers, investors, mentors, advisors, board opportunities, or new career opportunities. Yet when someone asks what they hope to gain from an event, the answer is often broad and generic. They want to learn, meet interesting people, or expand their network. The real objective remains beneath the surface, never clearly articulated and therefore impossible for others to help advance.



PEOPLE WANT TO HELP



Part of the challenge is that making an ask is a skill, and it is one that many professionals rarely practice. Throughout their careers, they are rewarded for being resourceful, self-sufficient, and capable of solving problems for others. They become comfortable being the helper, not the asker. Yet some of the most important opportunities for both leaders and their organizations depend on their willingness to clearly communicate what they need. Asking for help can feel uncomfortable, even when it serves an important business objective.



The irony is that most people are far more willing to help than we assume. In fact, if we simply asked, we would likely be surprised by how often support is offered. Most asks are not enormous requests. They are introductions, insights, recommendations, or connections that require very little effort but can create significant value.



I first started noticing this dynamic at conferences where some of the most accomplished executives in the country were gathered in the same room. These events were filled with people who had extensive networks, significant influence, and the ability to open doors for one another. Yet conversations often remained at the surface level. People would leave feeling inspired by the speakers and energized by the atmosphere, but without any concrete next steps that could create practical value for themselves or their organizations.



One experience in particular changed how I think about networking. I asked an executive at a conference what she hoped to gain from attending. Her initial answer was broad and unfocused. After a few more questions, she revealed that she really wanted to find corporate partners for an initiative she was leading. As it happened, I was meeting with several executives that evening who could potentially help. I made a few introductions and meaningful conversations followed.



The opportunity had always been there. What was missing was the ask.



ASK AND ACT



That observation led me to develop a simple framework I call “ask and act.”Before attending an event, identify one meaningful ask and be prepared to articulate it clearly. The ask creates clarity around what you are trying to accomplish and where you genuinely need support. Just as important, commit to helping at least one other person during the conference. When you approach networking with both an ask and a willingness to help, the conversation shifts. Instead of exchanging business cards and surface-level introductions, people begin uncovering opportunities to create value for one another. A clear ask makes it easier for others to help, and a genuine willingness to help makes it easier for others to share what they need.



I have since organized “ask and act” conversations around conference tables, private dinners, and leadership communities. Rather than beginning with traditional networking, participants are invited to come prepared with one meaningful ask and a willingness to help someone else solve theirs. What emerges is a room full of people actively looking for ways to create value for one another.



By the end of these sessions, participants consistently identify potential collaborators, advisors, clients, investors, and future business partners. More importantly, they leave with specific commitments and next steps. The experience has reinforced a lesson I continue to see at conferences of every size: The most meaningful moments rarely happen in the keynote hall. They happen in small circles where people feel comfortable being honest about what they need and generous about what they can offer.



The next time you attend a conference, leadership summit, or networking event, spend less time thinking about who you might meet and more time thinking about what you need and how you can help someone else. During the conference, know your ask and proactively share it. Also, follow through on any commitments you make to others.



The most successful networkers are the people who know how to turn conversations into outcomes.



Tami Rosen is a board member, executive, and advisor to technology and finance companies. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/FCIC-and-ILF-templates-1-5.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, missing, ingredient, successful, networking</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Papa Murphy’s is closing stores, joins list of national pizza chains to shutter locations in 2026</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/papa-murphys-is-closing-stores-joins-list-of-national-pizza-chains-to-shutter-locations-in-2026</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/papa-murphys-is-closing-stores-joins-list-of-national-pizza-chains-to-shutter-locations-in-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It’s no secret that pizza chains are struggling. Over the last several months alone, Pizza Hut and Papa John’s announced hundreds of closures.



That pizzapocalypse trend continues this month, with the owner of the popular U.S. pizza chain Papa Murphy’s announcing it will close up to 50 locations. Here’s what you need to know.



What’s happened?



Last week, the Canadian fast-casual and quick-service dining conglomerate MTY Food Group announced its earnings for the second quarter of 2026.



The earnings were rough. For the quarter, MTY brought in revenue of $279.9 million CAD, down 8.2% from the period a year earlier. MTY attributed the decline to “lower revenue from corporate stores, which was tightly correlated to a decrease in the number of corporate-owned locations,” among other factors.



But on the company’s earnings call, later that day, MTY also confirmed that it will close more corporate-owned locations, most notably, the “take and bake” pizza chain Papa Murphy’s.



MTY Food Group owns dozens of restaurant brands in the U.S. and Canada, including Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, Blimpie, Cold Stone Creamery, Planet Smoothy, and Wetzel’s Pretzels.



But Papa Murphy’s, via its corporate-owned and franchised stores, has one of MTY’s largest retail footprints in America. 



The pizza chain’s stores are currently found in 34 U.S. states and, according to a Papa Murphy’s franchise disclosure document, there were a total of 1,014 Papa Murphy’s stores as of November 2025. 



In the United States, those stores included 965 franchised locations and 49 company-operated locations. 



However, it now looks as if MTY will close the majority of its company-owned Papa Murphy’s locations.



How many Papa Murphy’s locations are closing?



On the company’s most recent earnings call, MTY’s CEO, Eric Lefebvre, announced that it would close 68 company-owned stores across its brands in the near future.



While these 68 locations won’t all be Papa Murphy’s stores, the majority of them will be.



Lefebvre told analysts that between 45 and 50 of the store closures will be Papa Murphy’s locations, with the remainder being stores under the company’s other banners.



Why are Papa Murphy’s locations closing?



Speaking broadly about the total 68 store closures, Lefebvre said that the selected stores were “performing significantly worse than the average,” according to a PitchBook transcript of the call. 



In choosing the locations to close, MTY looked at several factors, including “the performance, outlook, [and] economic profile of each location.”



“Where we saw path improvement, we chose to continue investing efforts into making our existing assets as productive as they can be,” Lefebvre said. “Where the fundamentals no longer supported that path, we made the decision to close the store.”



Speaking more specifically about the pizza industry, Lefebvre said it was an extremely competitive space in the United States, noting that Papa Murphy’s was suffering more than other brands. 



“We run different promotions and we see that there’s very little loyalty in that market and the consumer will go where the pizza is the cheapest at any given time.”



Papa Murphy’s stands out among well-known pizza chains such as Domino’s and Pizza Hut. It is primarily a “take and bake” chain, where customers go to the store, order the pizza they want, and are given it uncooked. The customers then go home and put it in their ovens to cook.



Lefebvre noted that while promotional activity is “super productive,” MTY also needs to protect its franchisees’ profit margins. “So our teams are actively seeking more data on all the promotions we run to try to adjust them to make it as profitable as possible for our franchisees.”



Which Papa Murphy’s locations are closing?



Right now, MTY has not specified which Papa Murphy’s locations would close. Currently, the chain has stores in 34 states, which include both franchisee and corporate locations. Those states are:




Alabama



Alaska



Arizona



Arkansas



California



Colorado



Florida



Georgia



Idaho



Illinois



Indiana



Iowa



Kansas



Kentucky



Louisiana



Michigan



Minnesota



Missouri



Montana



Nebraska



Nevada



New Mexico



North Carolina



North Dakota



Oklahoma



Oregon



South Carolina



South Dakota



Tennessee



Texas



Utah



Washington



Wisconsin



Wyoming




When will the Papa Murphy’s locations close?



Lefebvre said some of the company’s 68 closing stores, which include Papa Murphy’s locations, will begin closing as early as this week. He added that it will take between six and nine months to shutter all the locations marked for closure. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/p-1-91572481-papa-murphys-store-closures.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Papa, Murphy’s, closing, stores, joins, list, national, pizza, chains, shutter, locations, 2026</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Sen. Graham’s cause of death is released in preliminary report by medical examiner</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sen-grahams-cause-of-death-is-released-in-preliminary-report-by-medical-examiner</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sen-grahams-cause-of-death-is-released-in-preliminary-report-by-medical-examiner</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy, died after a tear in his aorta, according to a preliminary medical examiner finding shared by his office.The tear in the inner wall of the aorta, called an aortic dissection, was related to the hardening of Graham’s arteries. An official cause of death will be disclosed after toxicological and microscopic testing.Graham, a prominent South Carolina Republican and former Air Force lawyer who served in Congress for more than three decades, had turned 71 years old just two days before dying on Saturday night. His office had originally said he had suffered from a “brief and sudden illness.”Trump, who talked to Graham frequently, said he was “like a member of the family. It’s very tough.” He said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Graham had called him on Saturday night after returning from a trip to Ukraine and “sounded a little bit tired, but perfect.” The president ordered that flags across the country be flown at half-staff until next Saturday evening.A noted foreign policy hawk, Graham was one of the most influential figures in Washington on international affairs and he advised Trump on matters such as the Iran war and Russia. On Friday, Graham had announced an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions.As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham also had a central role during Trump’s second term as Republicans pushed major legislation on party-line votes while holding a narrow 53-47 majority in the chamber.Under South Carolina law, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement for Graham, who was seeking a fifth term in November. A new nominee will be selected in a special primary, which is required to be held within weeks of a vacancy. The winner of November’s general election will start a full six-year term in January.



Graham had a close, complicated relationship with Trump



Graham, elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving in the House, long promoted a policy of robust U.S. military interventionism and strong national defense that in later years would put him at odds with the growing isolationist wing of his party.Over time, Graham became well-known for his close ties with Trump, whom the senator briefly ran against for the presidential nomination in 2016.Their relationship would begin on a rough note, with Graham calling the then-New York businessman “unfit for office.” Graham used a profanity to describe Trump after Trump made disparaging comments about Arizona Republican John McCain, Graham’s best friend in the Senate and a Vietnam War veteran. McCain and Graham, along with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., were known as the “Three Amigos” and frequently traveled together to promote their foreign policy views around the globe.During a campaign rally in South Carolina, Trump read out Graham’s personal cellphone number and continued to belittle him throughout the 2016 race as Graham made it clear he would not support Trump.Graham, however, shifted significantly once Trump won the White House and emerged as one of Trump’s top allies — speaking with him frequently and becoming a regular presence on the golf course alongside the president — even as McCain remained a critic.In a 2018 interview with The Associated Press, Graham explained his pivot by saying McCain taught him that the country must move forward after elections and that meant “you have an obligation” to help the president. McCain ran twice for the White House.“And I’ve tried to be helpful where I could because I think he needs all the help he can get,” Graham said of Trump. “You can be a better critic when people understand that you’re trying to help them be successful.”Graham was a prominent defender of Trump during the president’s two first-term impeachments — a reversal from Graham’s role as a House prosecutor during Democratic President Bill Clinton’s impeachment in 1998, when he urged senators not to make up their minds before listening to all of the arguments. Both Trump and Clinton were eventually acquitted.Graham appeared to break with Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, saying in a dramatic speech on the Senate floor that night, “Count me out. Enough is enough.” But the senator soon returned to Trump’s side and the two remained close during Trump’s second term.



Foreign policy was a focus for Graham



Graham had just been in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the senator visited his country 10 times during the years since Russia invaded in February 2022. “Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,” Zelenskyy said.He was also one of the chief backers of Trump’s war in Iran, having advocated for years for direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Graham continued to defend Trump this summer even as many of his fellow Republicans questioned a tentative June ceasefire agreement that they worried could send billions of dollars to Iran.“I’d rather try diplomacy than take it off the table,” Graham said of Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Tehran.Graham’s travels made him a familiar face to dozens of world leaders.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham understood that the security of Israel and the United States was inseparable.“Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,” Netanyahu said.



Graham led both the Senate Budget and Judiciary committees



As Budget Committee chairman, Graham helped oversee a Senate procedure that allowed Republicans to pass significant policies such as last year’s tax law without the threat of a Democratic filibuster.He had previously led the Senate Judiciary Committee when Republicans confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in 2020. The senator was in line to regain that gavel if the party kept its majority after the midterm elections and had pledged to confirm “as many conservative judges as possible.”Graham was a key player in the Senate’s efforts to craft a massive immigration overhaul in 2013 as a member of a bipartisan group. The legislation passed the Senate with 68 votes but was never taken up by the House, so it did not become law.Graham’s views on immigration, particularly an endorsement of a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. without legal status, put him at odds with some Republican factions.Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat who was his ally on that issue, said Graham was “part of every important policy issue and an indispensable player” in bipartisan negotiations.



An ‘irreplaceable’ force in the Senate



Graham often worked across the aisle, even as he remained fiercely loyal to Trump. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, said in a statement that “personal relationships often mattered more to him than the political disagreements of the day.”Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said Graham was “over the moon” with the Russian sanctions deal announced Friday. “The last thing in the world I would have guessed was that he was sick or ill or in any way vulnerable,” Blumenthal said.Jaime Harrison, a former national and state Democratic Party chairman who unsuccessfully ran against Graham in 2020, said that even during their “fiercest political battles” the two men “could still share a conversation, a laugh, and a mutual respect for South Carolina.”Graham was unique in the Senate for his influence not only on Trump, but also with his fellow Republicans who were aware of his ability to sometimes move the president’s thinking. He was also known for his sense of humor, often deployed to defuse tensions.



Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the second-ranking Republican, said Graham will be missed for his “quick wit and infectious laughter.”



McMaster said in a statement that Graham was “irreplaceable.” Former Republican President George W. Bush said Graham “understood how the world works” and “was a kind and funny man who loved our country and loved serving it.”



Graham often spoke about his humble roots, growing up in the back of a South Carolina bar and helping to raise his sister, Darline, after his parents died at a young age. Graham was not married and did not have children.



Special election to replace Graham could be within weeks



Graham won 57% of the GOP vote in South Carolina’s primary in June and was up against Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, and several minor party and independent candidates in November.His death will likely prompt a scramble to fill a rare open Senate seat.A number of Republican names began circulating as possible replacements to serve out the rest of Graham’s term, including three candidates who fell short for the party’s nomination for governor this year — Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.Also in the mix is Rep. Russell Fry, who was elected to the House in 2022.







Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C. Associated Press writers Chris Megerian and Will Weissert in Washington, Bill Barrow in Atlanta, Brian P. D. Hannon in Bangkok and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.



—Seung Min Kim, Mary Clare Jalonick and Meg Kinnard, Associated Press ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/AP26191592303743.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sen., Graham’s, cause, death, released, preliminary, report, medical, examiner</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This prefab homebuilder is moving from tiny ADUs to small&#45;scale starter homes</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-prefab-homebuilder-is-moving-from-tiny-adus-to-small-scale-starter-homes</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-prefab-homebuilder-is-moving-from-tiny-adus-to-small-scale-starter-homes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Samara, the prefabricated homebuilder that was created to chip away at California’s housing shortage with well-designed accessory dwelling units (ADUs), is sizing up. But not too much.



The company has just unveiled Locale by Samara, an expansion into single family homebuilding. But these aren’t the typical single family homes, which now average nearly 2,200 square feet (204 square meters) in size in the U.S. Instead, the company is developing significantly smaller homes, ranging between 1,000 and 1,750 square feet, sited in urban infill sites in some of California’s most desirable cities, and built using the same modular, factory-based process that’s behind the company’s quickly constructed ADUs. It’s an attempt to counter the state’s extravagantly expensive and constrained housing market with homes that are sized and priced more like the starter homes of the past.



[Image: Samara]



“It’s a missing form factor in California,” says the CEO, Mike McNamara. “The price points would be significantly lower on the back of the square footage. And we think it’s the right product, too, because more people want lower square footage, they want smaller yards, they want to be closer to the cities, not driving two hours to go to work.”



McNamara has led Samara since 2020, a few years after it was created as a research and development division within Airbnb. In 2022, it was spun out by McNamara and Airbnb’s cofounder, Joe Gebbia. (Gebbia, now the Trump administration’s chief design officer, is still involved with Samara as cofounder.) Since then the company has been selling backyard ADUs as products, handling the design, permitting, and construction for customers who want a turnkey additional unit on their property.



It’s a niche part of the housing market that’s grown significantly over the past decade, as municipalities and eventually the state have made ADUs legal and feasible to build. More than 30,000 were permitted statewide in 2024, a 20-fold increase from 2016, according to the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development. Samara, which raised $34 million in Series B funding in late 2025, has 250 ADUs either built or in the works, with prices starting at $152,000 plus installation.



[Image: Samara]



With Locale, Samara seeks to replicate that growth in small stand-alone homes clustered on lots that were once zoned exclusively for single family homes. Samara’s starter home focus comes on the heels of a recent amendment to California’s Starter Home Revitalization Act, which allows eligible lots to be subdivided for up to 10 small-footprint homes. The company has about 10 such cluster projects in various stages of development, and McNamara says Samara is using what it’s learned building ADUs in prefab housing factories to bring up the speed and bring down the cost of building single family homes.



[Image: Samara]



“Our first product was an ADU, but it was never our objective to be an ADU company. It was always meant to be an infill company,” McNamara says. “We designed our entire system around that concept, around small form factor [compact] housing.”



Samara is playing the role of developer for these first 10 projects, buying the land, designing the clusters of homes to meet the site conditions, and going through the entitlement and permitting process. The company has permits to build in Los Angeles and in the northern California counties of San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma.



[Image: Samara]



The first Samara starter home projects are in Healdsburg, in the Sonoma County wine region. One project is two small homes, and the other is six. Each home has its own small yard and one-car garage, and abuts a shared paseo. The houses top out at 1,750 square feet. (The two-unit property is priced at $2.195 million, which the company contends is in line with similarly sized new construction in the area.)



McNamara says the projects are all designed specifically for their sites—partly due to the often oddly sized lots available for infill development, but partly to make the projects complement their surroundings. “We work really hard to find the right neighborhood where this slots in, where the neighborhood would benefit and the community would benefit by introducing some additional small form factor homes,” he says. “We want to make sure that we control what they look like because it’s really important for us to be received by the community and be attractive to the community and help that gentle densification that’s coming.”



Samara’s buildings tie into municipal grids for water, sewage, and electricity, and require a slab foundation. After the prefab modules are installed, the homes are ready for people to move in.



[Image: Samara]



The first project is complete, and the second is expected to finish construction later this summer, using the same off-site building approach Samara has used to expedite the construction of its ADUs. “As soon as the foundation’s done, we can truck in our modules, put the modules on site, turn them into a home, and do that at a rate which is three times faster than what the traditional builders could do,” McNamara says.



That speed and the size of the homes will help bring prices down below the typically high cost of new housing in California. McNamara says it’s too early to say how much each home will sell for, but that they’re expected to be generally lower than the typical new home in each of the markets the company is targeting. “It’ll have a more approachable price point,” he says.



[Image: Samara]



The houses are also designed with sustainability measures, including energy efficient utilities and appliances that can help make them more affordable to operate, as well as whole-house air and water filtration systems. Each will have solar panels and be prewired to run off batteries, and the exterior materials and forms were selected to reduce susceptibility to wildfire. McNamara expects to have more than 150 homes in the company’s development pipeline by the end of the year.



For now, Samara will be developing them on its own, but McNamara says there’s room for partnerships with other developers looking at infill development of a smaller variety.



“Densification is coming, and we’d like to help lead with that,” he says. “We think there’s a lot of opportunities.”



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, prefab, homebuilder, moving, from, tiny, ADUs, small-scale, starter, homes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Redundancy pay – a Small Business guide</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/redundancy-pay-a-small-business-guide</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/redundancy-pay-a-small-business-guide</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Take these tips to keep your business on the right lines if you need to make your employees redundant 
The post Redundancy pay – a Small Business guide appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/07/5373.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Redundancy, pay, –, Small, Business, guide</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Families told to hold their nerve as inherited property tax fears swirl</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/families-told-to-hold-their-nerve-as-inherited-property-tax-fears-swirl</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/families-told-to-hold-their-nerve-as-inherited-property-tax-fears-swirl</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Capital gains tax on inherited property could rise if the &#039;uplift on death&#039; is scrapped. Experts explain why panic selling now could prove costly. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2774765847-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Families, told, hold, their, nerve, inherited, property, tax, fears, swirl</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Student loans sold like phone contracts open a serious trust gap</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/student-loans-sold-like-phone-contracts-open-a-serious-trust-gap</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/student-loans-sold-like-phone-contracts-open-a-serious-trust-gap</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Student loan mis-selling has opened a serious trust gap between young people and university, warns Best Student Halls founder. What it means for UK firms. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2490313949-768x512.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Student, loans, sold, like, phone, contracts, open, serious, trust, gap</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘This is just how it is’: the lie driving mothers out of work</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-is-just-how-it-is-the-lie-driving-mothers-out-of-work</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-is-just-how-it-is-the-lie-driving-mothers-out-of-work</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
One in five UK women sees her career decline after a baby. Founder Zoe Duce says the return to work after maternity leave needs systems, not sacrifice. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Zoe-Duce-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘This, just, how, is’:, the, lie, driving, mothers, out, work</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Oasis reunion powers record £11.2bn music tourism boom</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oasis-reunion-powers-record-112bn-music-tourism-boom</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oasis-reunion-powers-record-112bn-music-tourism-boom</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Record 24.7m music tourists spent £11.2bn at UK gigs in 2025, led by the Oasis reunion. What the live music boom means for SMEs and local economies. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2649573569-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Oasis, reunion, powers, record, £11.2bn, music, tourism, boom</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Would you renew this supplier? Burnham and the Hillsborough Law</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/would-you-renew-this-supplier-burnham-and-the-hillsborough-law</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/would-you-renew-this-supplier-burnham-and-the-hillsborough-law</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Richard Alvin argues Andy Burnham&#039;s first act as Prime Minister must be passing the Hillsborough Law in full, the promise Westminster has broken since 1989. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Burnham-Hillsborough-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Would, you, renew, this, supplier, Burnham, and, the, Hillsborough, Law</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Apple sues OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/apple-sues-openai-over-alleged-trade-secret-theft</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/apple-sues-openai-over-alleged-trade-secret-theft</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Apple alleges the misconduct was directed by OpenAI&#039;s senior leadership, including a longtime former employee. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/tim-cook-sam-altman-GettyImages-2233062347.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Apple, sues, OpenAI, over, alleged, trade, secret, theft</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bluesky’s interim CEO, Toni Schneider, drops the ‘interim’</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/blueskys-interim-ceo-toni-schneider-drops-the-interim</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/blueskys-interim-ceo-toni-schneider-drops-the-interim</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Schneider, who formerly served as the CEO of Automattic and is a partner at True Ventures, says he is &quot;all in&quot; on the unconventional social media platform. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bluesky-GettyImages-2185144073.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bluesky’s, interim, CEO, Toni, Schneider, drops, the, ‘interim’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Meta removes controversial AI feature on Instagram after backlash</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meta-removes-controversial-ai-feature-on-instagram-after-backlash</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meta-removes-controversial-ai-feature-on-instagram-after-backlash</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Our intent was to provide a useful creative tool and to give people control over whether their public content could be referenced in this way,&quot; the company said in a blog post. &quot;We&#039;ve heard the feedback that this feature missed the mark, so it&#039;s no longer available.&quot; ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/instagram-header.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Meta, removes, controversial, feature, Instagram, after, backlash</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Phia accused of ‘cookie stuffing,’ taking affiliate credit on purchases it didn’t earn</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/phia-accused-of-cookie-stuffing-taking-affiliate-credit-on-purchases-it-didnt-earn</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/phia-accused-of-cookie-stuffing-taking-affiliate-credit-on-purchases-it-didnt-earn</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Phia, the shopping startup founded by Bill Gates’ daughter, Phoebe, and her friend Sophia Kianni is under fire for a practice known as “cookie stuffing,” which helped the product receive commissions and credit for sales it did not actually generate, per a Bloomberg investigation.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2243869768.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Phia, accused, ‘cookie, stuffing, ’, taking, affiliate, credit, purchases, didn’t, earn</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>US cybersecurity agency CISA had to build its incident playbook during the incident, agency reveals</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-cybersecurity-agency-cisa-had-to-build-its-incident-playbook-during-the-incident-agency-reveals</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-cybersecurity-agency-cisa-had-to-build-its-incident-playbook-during-the-incident-agency-reveals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Independent cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs reported in May that a security researcher with cyber firm GitGuardian alerted him to reams of exposed passwords stored in a publicly accessible GitHub repository, which an employee of a CISA contractor had uploaded. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/cisa-2240293485.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>cybersecurity, agency, CISA, had, build, its, incident, playbook, during, the, incident, agency, reveals</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>15 leaders on managing high performers</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/15-leaders-on-managing-high-performers</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/15-leaders-on-managing-high-performers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ High performers can be a special breed, making an impact while producing greater volumes of work or outcomes. Managing them so they feel supported and not suffocated can make a difference in retaining them and keeping them happy. So it’s important to think hard about how best to do that, while understanding that how you manage them may not be how you manage the rest of your staff. We asked our Fast Company Impact Council members about their thinking: how they determine the most effective way to work with their top performers and whether that’s different than managing other staff members. Here’s what 15 of our members said.



1. DEEP TRUST



High performers achieve better results because they see the map differently. They see what other people don’t and work tirelessly to achieve outcomes. They understand what’s most important and focus on producing impactful results. How they work, when they work, and how it all comes together is typically unconventional. You can’t manage to fake deadlines or micromanage. It’s about deep trust. I’ve found that when the highest performers know they are supported, what they produce far outweighs any friction their working styles may create. The best advice is to get out of their way and allow their work to speak for itself. Because it always does. — Regan Parker, ShiftKey



2. HOLD TALENT ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR POTENTIAL



My mantra here is: Hold talent accountable to their potential. You are pushing them from the perspective of achieving all that they can in their career. It doesn’t matter if they’re better than you; they’re not better than the best version of themselves. — Neil Barrie, 21st Century Brand



3. THERE IS NO UNIVERSAL FORMULA



Ideally, management strategies should be adapted to each individual. Even among high performers, needs vary. I’ve seen people thrive in highly autonomous environments and others excel within high-touch systems. There is no universal formula for managing top talent. — Bo Zhao, Baby Gear Group



4. DON’T FORGET THEM



My biggest lesson with high performers is: Don’t forget them. We naturally spend our time fixing problems at the bottom and supporting the middle, while assuming our stars will just get on with it. High performers still need managing. They want candid feedback, stretch opportunities, and a clear development plan. I’ve seen more great talent leave because they felt forgotten than because they felt overstretched. — Emily Kortlang, Yerba Madre



5. CREATE DETAILED SPECS AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA



We only hire high performers. We get the best results for our clients that way, and everyone likes work more if they can trust their colleagues to be capable and reliable. At the same time, each hour of their time is expensive to the client, so we’re careful to keep them in their lane. Our management and QA teams create detailed spec requirements and acceptance criteria before assigning tasks to engineers. This way they can start building without the planning overhead. — Lindsey Witmer Collins, WLCM App Studio and Scribbly Books



6. LET THEM UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM



Protecting your best people from organizational complexity feels like good leadership, but it is one of the most limiting things you can do to someone with real potential. The people who grow into enterprise scale impact are not just the most talented, they are the ones who understand the system they operate inside: the politics, the constraints, the places where good ideas lose momentum and why. I put high performers in difficult conversations deliberately, because craft alone does not teach organizational intelligence. At a certain level, craft is table stakes. What separates the best is knowing how to navigate everything surrounding it. — Arin Bhowmick, SAP



7. MENTOR AND UNLEASH THEM



High performers don’t need to be managed—they need to be unleashed. They’re motivated by autonomy, challenge, and growth. Give them a clear goal and the resources to get there. And get out of the way. Micromanage them and you’ll lose them. What they do need—and often don’t get—is mentorship. Because they’re delivering, leaders assume they don’t need guidance. They do. High performers benefit enormously from a thought partner and someone genuinely invested in their long-term growth. They’re always asking themselves whether this is still the right place to grow. Your job is to make the answer obvious. Invest in them before someone else does. — Meredith Rosenberg, NU Advisory Partners



8. TRUST WITHOUT FEEDBACK IS ABDICATION



The biggest thing I give a high performer is trust made visible—letting them make consequential decisions, defending their calls when it gets uncomfortable, and not hovering when results aren’t instant. But trust without feedback isn’t trust. It’s abdication. High performers need to know where the company’s bar is, not just their own. The ones who can hold both—their own high standards and honest external input—actually grow into great leaders themselves. A high performer who can’t receive feedback isn’t a high performer. They’re a high maintenance one. — Muneer Panjwani, Engage for Good | The Halo Awards



9. MANAGE SITUATIONALLY



I try not to manage all high performers the same way, rather I manage situationally. Some need more autonomy, some need harder problems. And some need help removing friction around them. In general, I’ve found they respond well when the goal is clear, the bar is high, and they have room to operate. My job is to challenge them, while giving them enough space to learn from failures without feeling abandoned. — Todd James, Aurora Insights LLC



10. PROVIDE BETTER CHALLENGES



I believe that high performers need better challenges. I focus on expanding their decision-making responsibility, exposing them to ambiguity, and creating a stronger sense of ownership. Burnout often comes from operating at a high level without enough reflection or purpose. Greater responsibility must be paired with space to recover and grow. — Ajay Tejasvi, TLEX



11. EXPECT EXCELLENCE, DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY



At the top, you want to be managing only high performers. Co-develop the strategic direction for their function; give agency; expect excellence and demand accountability; invest in them! — Hala Hanna, MIT Solve



12. CREATE ENVIRONMENT FOR HIGH PERFORMERS



I don’t believe in managing high performers differently—I believe in creating an environment where more people can become high performers. Leadership’s role is to identify individual strengths, provide opportunities for growth, and empower people to contribute in meaningful ways. When people feel trusted, heard, and connected to a shared purpose, performance tends to follow. — Susan Watts, SPACECRAFT



13. PROVIDE LARGER INCENTIVES



I give all performers positive incentives and the high performers get larger incentives, e.g. increasing commissions as volume goes up rather than decreasing commissions, which many organizations do — Larraine Segil, Exceptional Women Alliance Foundation



14. GIVE ROOM TO RUN



High performers usually aren’t lacking motivation. What wears them down is friction: too many approvals, too many meetings, and more responsibility without real authority. I’ve seen great operators disengage because they were being managed more, not trusted more. Give them something meaningful to own. Clear the obstacles. And then let them run. The best people do not need more supervision. They need room. — Andra Vaduva, SafeSpace



15. PROVIDE CLARITY AND REMOVE BARRIERS 



High performers don’t need to be managed closely. They need to be trusted, challenged, and given the space to deliver. Leadership’s role is to provide clarity and remove barriers, while staying available without getting in the way. — Tony Bedard, Frontier Co-op



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>leaders, managing, high, performers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>National Mojito Day is here. Here’s where to score $1 mojitos and other deals this weekend</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/national-mojito-day-is-here-heres-where-to-score-1-mojitos-and-other-deals-this-weekend</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/national-mojito-day-is-here-heres-where-to-score-1-mojitos-and-other-deals-this-weekend</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hot summer days call for a refreshing drink. National Mojito Day celebrates one of those adult beverages. While there are several different versions of the origin story for this libation, most agree that it was invented in Cuba. Here are some fun facts to impress your coworkers with at happy hour and some great deals to mark the occasion.



What is in a Mojito?



At its core, a mojito is made up of five ingredients: white rum, lime juice, soda water, mint, and sugar. Before you pour any liquid in your glass, muddle the mint at the bottom. Let that be as you combine the rest of the ingredients by shaking or stirring. Pour the liquid in the minty glass and add some ice.



A brief history of the Mojito …



Let’s get into the competing stories about how the mojito came to be. Way back in the 16th century, a privateer named Francis Drake was hired by Queen Elizabeth I to mess with Spain’s territories abroad. He landed in Cuba but didn’t really put up a fight and left without a major incident. Nevertheless, a drink was named for him called the Draque. It was made up of aguardiente de caña (a liquor predating rum), sugar, lime, and mint. This beverage was considered medicinal. Many believed it evolved into the modern mojito thanks in part to Don Facundo Bacardí Masó founding his distillery and revolutionizing rum production.Another version of this story is that American tourists brought the Mint Julep to the island in the 1920s and 1930s. The Cubans riffed on it and created the mojito.Literary icon Ernest Hemingway also factors into this. Some claim the first mojito was made at La Bodeguita del Medio in Havana. Framed at that watering hole is a note by the famous author. It states: “My mojito in La Bodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita.” Despite this sign, many claim the writer never mentioned the drink in his work and claim he didn’t consume them himself.



National Mojito Day deals



Enough about where it comes from, let’s focus instead on where you are going to find deals. Cuba Libre Restaurant &amp; Rum Bar is offering age-appropriate customers the chance to purchase one $1 classic mojito from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. This deal is available at all locations on the festive day.If you are looking for a fun variation on the classic cocktail, head to Perry’s Steakhouse &amp; Grille. Their bar menu features a Pineapple Ginger Mojito. It is also available as a mocktail, the Pineapple Ginger Ale.Variety is the spice of life and all Doc Ford’s Rum Bar &amp; Grille locations in Florida have six different mojitos to choose from. If you order one of these on the big day, you will be given a free glass while supplies last. Additionally, from July 5-11 you can guess how many lime jelly beans fit into a 16-ounce mojito glass for the chance to win gift cards.



In Clearwater, Florida you can build your own mojito pitcher at the Hiatus. If that’s too much fun, individual offerings are only $10.If you love both the World Cup and mojitos, Snooze Eatery’s limited-time Brunch Goals menu is for you. To celebrate the summer of soccer, select Kansas City, Missouri locations will feature a Costa Verde Mojito. Wear your favorite jersey or team colors for 50% off beverages and 26% off entrées.



If you love a view in the Big Apple, head to Bar Hugo &amp; Azul Rooftop. This New York City establishment is offering $14⁠ classic mojitos and $15 flavored mojitos.However and wherever you celebrate, may your thirst be quenched. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>National, Mojito, Day, here., Here’s, where, score, mojitos, and, other, deals, this, weekend</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>SK Hynix stock: Nasdaq trading starts today as memory chipmaker makes highly anticipated U.S. market debut</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sk-hynix-stock-nasdaq-trading-starts-today-as-memory-chipmaker-makes-highly-anticipated-us-market-debut</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sk-hynix-stock-nasdaq-trading-starts-today-as-memory-chipmaker-makes-highly-anticipated-us-market-debut</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ While two of the best-known AI companies have yet to make their market debuts—namely Anthropic and OpenAI—2026 has already seen numerous AI-related IPOs, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the commercial AI semiconductor maker Cerebras Systems.



Today, another company joins those ranks. 



The Korean memory semiconductor giant SK Hynix is going public in the United States, offering American investors the chance to buy shares in a firm that has benefited immensely from the AI infrastructure boom. SK Hynix, a rival to Samsung, has seen demand for its products soar amid the ongoing AI-fueled memory shortage.



Here’s what you need to know about SK Hynix’s IPO, which is said to be the largest-ever U.S. stock listing by a foreign company.



What is SK Hynix?



SK Hynix is a South Korean semiconductor company that makes memory chips—DRAM and NAND flash—that power the GPUs and CPUs that AI servers require, including those made by chip giant Nvidia.



The company is headquartered in Icheon, South Korea, and was founded 43 years ago under another name: Hyundai Electronics. 



In 2001, the company rebranded to Hynix Semiconductor. In 2012, it was sold to Samsung competitor SK Group, and rebranded to its current name, SK Hynix.



When it comes to high-bandwidth memory (HBM), the type of memory needed for the most powerful AI servers, SK Hynix is the global leader, supplying 58% of HBM demand, according to IG.com.



Within the global DRAM market, SK Hynix ranked second in Q1 of 2026, with 29% market share, after Samsung’s 38%, according to Counterpoint Research. Micron came in third place at 22%.



Given the ongoing memory chip shortage due to AI companies’ insatiable demand for data center buildouts, it’s little surprise that both its revenue and its operating profit have been surging recently. 



For its fiscal 2025, SK Hynix posted revenue of 97.15 trillion won (about $64.6 billion), up nearly 47% versus the year earlier, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily. Its operating profit for the same period was 47.2 trillion won (about $31.3 billion), up 101%.



Isn’t SK Hynix already a publicly traded company?



It’s important to note that SK Hynix’s U.S. market debut isn’t a traditional IPO. It’s not a first-time listing of its shares.



SK Hynix has been publicly traded on the Korea Exchange stock market since 1996, when it was still called Hyundai Electronics. Today, the company trades on that market under the ticker 000660.KS.



SK Hynix’s IPO today refers to its debut on a U.S. market. And that debut won’t actually allow investors to buy Korean shares in the company directly. 



Instead, SK Hynix’s U.S. IPO book-running managers, which include BofA Securities, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and J.P. Morgan, will sell American depositary shares (ADS). 



ADS are essentially a wrapper for foreign stocks trading under foreign currencies. When you buy one ADS of SK Hynix on U.S. markets, it represents one-tenth of a common share traded on the Korean stock market. So, 10 ADS shares of SK Hynix equate to one foreign share of SK Hynix.



When is SK Hynix’s U.S. IPO?



SK Hynix’s American depositary shares are expected to debut today, Friday, July 10, 2026.



What is SK Hynix’s stock ticker?



SK Hynix’s American depositary shares will trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the stock ticker “SKHY.”



What is the U.S. IPO share price of SKHY?



The company says one ADS of SKHY will have an initial public offering price of $149.



How many SKHY shares are available in its IPO?



The U.S. IPO will offer 177,900,000 American depositary shares of SKHY.



How much did SK Hynix raise in its IPO?



SK Hynix raised approximately $26.5 billion in its U.S. IPO, according to Reuters.



How has SK Hynix’s Korean stock performed lately?



Exceptionally well. Over the past 12 months, shares in SK Hynix Inc. (KSE: 000660.KS) have surged more than 634%. 



Year to date, 000660.KS shares are up more than 234% to 2,180,000.00 South Korean won (KRW) as of the time of this writing (about $1,448.98).



How much is SK Hynix worth?



With its current share price of 2,180,000.00 South Korean won (KRW), the company has a market cap of around 1,547.484 trillion won. That equates to about $1.03 trillion, putting SK Hynix in the trillion-dollar club. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hynix, stock:, Nasdaq, trading, starts, today, memory, chipmaker, makes, highly, anticipated, U.S., market, debut</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>New York City construction scare highlights the challenges of converting offices into housing</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/new-york-city-construction-scare-highlights-the-challenges-of-converting-offices-into-housing</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/new-york-city-construction-scare-highlights-the-challenges-of-converting-offices-into-housing</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When two steel columns buckled this week inside the former Pfizer headquarters in midtown Manhattan, the scare prompted evacuations and halted work on one of the nation’s largest office-to-apartment conversions.It also highlighted the complex engineering behind adaptive reuse projects, which have become increasingly popular as officials try to tackle a nationwide housing shortage by transforming offices that have sat underused since the COVID-19 pandemic.The plans call for turning two office buildings — one built in 1909, the other in the 1960s — into about 1,600 apartments by adding more than a dozen stories atop the older structure and redesigning and expanding the other. The buckling occurred on the 21st floor of the newer structure, and crews have installed temporary supports as officials investigate.Engineering experts said the conversion project is complex and poses many challenges, which include making sure older buildings can safely support new loads and carving up office floors to accommodate residential living.But none said the high-profile setback should make people doubt the ability of engineers to complete such projects.“I don’t think it really brings into question our understanding of how to do something like this,” said Ben Schafer, a structural engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University.



How do you build a new tower on top of an old one?



On its website highlighting the midtown project, adaptive reuse firm Collaborative Construction Management says the nine-story building from 1909 will be “threaded through” with a new addition of about 30 stories of poured concrete.Schafer, who is not involved with the undertaking, said the likely approach is to have the century-old building continue to carry its own weight while building a new structural system to support additions.“My interpretation would be that they’re going to leave that building carrying its own load, and they’re just going to poke holes in it so that they can take the load from the building that they’ve put above it and bring it all the way down to the foundation,” Schafer said.Schafer said construction on the other tower presents a different challenge: punching holes in the existing floor plate to bring light into apartments, while also ensuring that the steel frame can support the newly added loads.City officials have not determined what caused the columns to buckle. But both Schafer and Emily Guglielmo, a San Francisco-based structural engineer, believe the failure likely resulted from the added load.Spokespersons for MetroLoft, the project developer, didn’t respond to requests for comment Thursday. But Nathan Berman, the firm’s founder, acknowledged in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the added weight from widening the top 15 or so floors of the building likely caused the damage.Guglielmo thinks that either the original design assumptions were misunderstood, something went wrong during the design or construction process, or construction crews overloaded or weakened the structure.Adding stories to existing buildings is common in dense urban areas where land is scarce, she said, but it requires reviewing original construction documents and inspecting the building before determining how additional floors will affect the structure.“In cities and towns that don’t have that available geography, you’re going to see a lot more of this type of a design where there’s an adaptive reuse to an existing building,” Guglielmo said.



Why not just create a new building from scratch?



To many structural engineers, demolition should occur only as a last resort.“Tearing buildings down is a terrible waste,” Schafer said, pointing out that buildings and the construction sector are responsible for about 40% of the world’s energy-related carbon emissions. “From a sustainability standpoint, that’s a disaster.”Beyond the environmental costs, demolishing and hauling away the remnants of huge buildings is especially expensive in dense cities such as New York.If an existing structure can safely be reused, engineers generally prefer that.James LaFave, a structural engineering professor at the University of Illinois, said a steel-framed building from the 1960s, like the former Pfizer structure, would typically be a “very good” starting point for a conversion.Does the scare in New York call into question other adaptive reuse projects?In recent years, officials across the country have embraced office-to-housing conversions as a potential lifeline for downtown business districts that have struggled since the pandemic.New York, especially, has embraced this push, as officials have made zoning changes and enacted tax incentives to spur housing production. A report from the New York City comptroller’s office last year noted there are 44 adaptive reuse projects in the city that, as of early 2025, had either been completed, were underway or could move forward.Pfizer moved out of the building in 2023 after opening a new office near Penn Station, leaving the property vacant. Construction on the property began in 2024.Joshua Harris, director of Fordham University’s Real Estate Institute, said office-to-residential conversions are a key part of solving the housing shortages in New York and other cities, even if they come with risk.“In a certain sense, it’s not terribly surprising that this happened, and we should have a little bit of grace,” he said. “These are very, very complicated surgical procedures being done to very old buildings.”“This is part of the reality of fixing the housing crisis,” Harris continued. “Things like this can happen. It doesn’t look as complex as putting a rocket into space, but, in a real estate sense, construction in an environment like Manhattan on 42nd Street and Second Avenue is very complex.”Guglielmo, the California engineer, said a combination of building codes, inspections and experienced construction crews makes failures like this rare.“We’re very fortunate here in the United States that we are not seeing these types of failures on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “We’re privileged to have really robust building codes that explain to us as engineers how to do our designs in a way that’s safe.”Still, Harris said it is likely a gut check for the industry, as office conversions transform once sleepy business districts across the city into 24/7 neighborhoods, like parts of Wall Street in recent years.“If this building has a problem, all the other projects that have been sort of greenlit, they’re going to want to review to make sure that it’s not something similar,” Harris said.







—R.J. Rico, Jessica Hill and Philip Marcelo, Associated Press ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/AP26189546269733.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, York, City, construction, scare, highlights, the, challenges, converting, offices, into, housing</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Dairy Queen store closures: Beloved ice cream chain joins list of retailers to see locations shutter in 2026</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/dairy-queen-store-closures-beloved-ice-cream-chain-joins-list-of-retailers-to-see-locations-shutter-in-2026</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/dairy-queen-store-closures-beloved-ice-cream-chain-joins-list-of-retailers-to-see-locations-shutter-in-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Every news cycle seems to bring reports of another fast food chain closing down stores, and this week is no exception. 



Three Dairy Queen stores have suddenly shuttered this month in Alaska, according to the Anchorage Daily News. 



“The franchise owner of the Anchorage, Wasilla and Palmer locations recently closed them,” a Dairy Queen representative told the publication. 



This follows over 40 locations closing across Texas in early 2025, in large part to a remodeling disagreement between Dairy Queen and franchisee Project Lonestar. 



While Texas still appears to have over 500 locations, the recent closures leave Alaska with just one Dairy Queen statewide, in Soldotna.



How many Dairy Queen locations have closed recently?



Dairy Queen’s store locator appears to be out of date, still listing 11 locations for Alaska, despite showing no option when clicking on all but Soldotna. However, the company says on its website that it has more than 7,800 locations worldwide.



Fast Company has reached out to Dairy Queen for specifics on store numbers. We will update this post if we hear back. 



Known for its popular Blizzard and other frozen dessert treats, Dairy Queen is owned by Minnesota-based International Dairy Queen, which was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 1998.



Despite the closures, Dairy Queen is seeing growth in some areas. At the end of June, the company announced it would be opening 20 DQ Grill and Chill restaurants in Puerto Rico between now and 2036. 



These locations will serve hot food alongside Dairy Queen’s classic cold treats. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/p-91571719-dairy-queen-store-closures.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dairy, Queen, store, closures:, Beloved, ice, cream, chain, joins, list, retailers, see, locations, shutter, 2026</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>6 online marketing traps to steer clear of</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/6-online-marketing-traps-to-steer-clear-of</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/6-online-marketing-traps-to-steer-clear-of</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Find out the most common online marketing mistakes that your fellow entrepreneurs make. Clue: be careful with your messaging
The post 6 online marketing traps to steer clear of appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/77723.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>online, marketing, traps, steer, clear</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>ITV agrees £1.6bn sale of media and entertainment arm to Sky in landmark broadcasting deal</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/itv-agrees-16bn-sale-of-media-and-entertainment-arm-to-sky-in-landmark-broadcasting-deal</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/itv-agrees-16bn-sale-of-media-and-entertainment-arm-to-sky-in-landmark-broadcasting-deal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
ITV has agreed to sell its media and entertainment business to Sky for up to £1.6bn, creating a UK broadcasting champion to take on Netflix and YouTube. Free-to-air protected until 2034. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2380683529-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ITV, agrees, £1.6bn, sale, media, and, entertainment, arm, Sky, landmark, broadcasting, deal</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>US jobs growth stalls in June as World Cup boost fails to materialise</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-jobs-growth-stalls-in-june-as-world-cup-boost-fails-to-materialise</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-jobs-growth-stalls-in-june-as-world-cup-boost-fails-to-materialise</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
US payrolls rose by just 57,000 in June, barely half of Wall Street forecasts, as the World Cup failed to lift hiring and the Fed weighs its next move on rates. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2331743175-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>jobs, growth, stalls, June, World, Cup, boost, fails, materialise</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Backlash in China as bubble tea chain Molly Tea ordered to pay Louis Vuitton £1.1m over logo</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/backlash-in-china-as-bubble-tea-chain-molly-tea-ordered-to-pay-louis-vuitton-11m-over-logo</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/backlash-in-china-as-bubble-tea-chain-molly-tea-ordered-to-pay-louis-vuitton-11m-over-logo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Chinese bubble tea chain Molly Tea must pay Louis Vuitton £1.1m after a court ruled its logo copied the luxury house&#039;s four-petal flower trademark, sparking a fierce online backlash. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Mollys-Tea-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Backlash, China, bubble, tea, chain, Molly, Tea, ordered, pay, Louis, Vuitton, £1.1m, over, logo</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Glamping couple take Britvic to court over Magic Mushroom Cabin photo</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/glamping-couple-take-britvic-to-court-over-magic-mushroom-cabin-photo</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/glamping-couple-take-britvic-to-court-over-magic-mushroom-cabin-photo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
A Northamptonshire glamping couple are suing J2O maker Britvic over the unauthorised use of a photo of their Magic Mushroom Cabin, in a case every SME should watch. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2777724899-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Glamping, couple, take, Britvic, court, over, Magic, Mushroom, Cabin, photo</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Lockheed Martin swoops on British torpedo maker Ultra Maritime in $3.45bn undersea warfare deal</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lockheed-martin-swoops-on-british-torpedo-maker-ultra-maritime-in-345bn-undersea-warfare-deal</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lockheed-martin-swoops-on-british-torpedo-maker-ultra-maritime-in-345bn-undersea-warfare-deal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Lockheed Martin is to acquire British undersea warfare specialist Ultra Maritime from Advent&#039;s Cobham Ultra for $3.45bn, as global conflicts drive record defence demand. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/shutterstock_2218804377-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lockheed, Martin, swoops, British, torpedo, maker, Ultra, Maritime, 3.45bn, undersea, warfare, deal</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The ‘first’ AI&#45;run ransomware attack still needed a human</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-first-ai-run-ransomware-attack-still-needed-a-human</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-first-ai-run-ransomware-attack-still-needed-a-human</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An AI agent carried out the technical execution of a real-world ransomware attack for the first known time, but new details show a human still chose the victim, set up the infrastructure, and supplied stolen credentials — meaning it wasn&#039;t quite the fully autonomous cybercrime debut that last week&#039;s headlines suggested. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Ransomware-attack.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, ‘first’, AI-run, ransomware, attack, still, needed, human</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Netflix invented binge&#45;watching. Now it may have outgrown it.</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/netflix-invented-binge-watching-now-it-may-have-outgrown-it</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/netflix-invented-binge-watching-now-it-may-have-outgrown-it</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new report suggests Netflix viewers aren’t sticking around for Season 2. The bigger issue may be that binge-watching itself is no longer the advantage it once was. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-1240099721.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Netflix, invented, binge-watching., Now, may, have, outgrown, it.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The first American autonomous ground vehicles are fighting in Ukraine</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-first-american-autonomous-ground-vehicles-are-fighting-in-ukraine</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-first-american-autonomous-ground-vehicles-are-fighting-in-ukraine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Forterra has deployed more than 100 of its self-driving ATVs in conflict zones in Ukraine. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img-dedb3291-a67a-44b6-a6d7-dd6659f9d433.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, first, American, autonomous, ground, vehicles, are, fighting, Ukraine</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Savi’s app aims to protect consumers from realistic AI scams like kidnappers demanding ransom</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/savis-app-aims-to-protect-consumers-from-realistic-ai-scams-like-kidnappers-demanding-ransom</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/savis-app-aims-to-protect-consumers-from-realistic-ai-scams-like-kidnappers-demanding-ransom</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The company just raised $7 million in seed funding, and is launching its app for iPhone and Android on Tuesday. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Patrick_and_Ryan_Coughlin-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Savi’s, app, aims, protect, consumers, from, realistic, scams, like, kidnappers, demanding, ransom</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Hacktivists call out Trump by hacking and defacing US Army websites</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/hacktivists-call-out-trump-by-hacking-and-defacing-us-army-websites</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/hacktivists-call-out-trump-by-hacking-and-defacing-us-army-websites</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The U.S. Army has fixed two of its websites that were hacked to display messages calling President Trump a &quot;pedophile&quot; and a &quot;thief.&quot; ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/us-army-2234931369.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hacktivists, call, out, Trump, hacking, and, defacing, Army, websites</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The career ladder is changing</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-career-ladder-is-changing</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-career-ladder-is-changing</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ There is a line in almost every graduation speech: The future is yours. This year, it lands differently. For many graduates, the future does not feel like a clear horizon. It feels unclear, unstable, and harder to predict than in years past.



That uncertainty surfaced at commencement ceremonies this spring where students had mixed and largely skeptical reactions to how AI opportunities were presented to them from their speakers.



Graduates are closely watching generative AI reshape writing, analysis, design, and other forms of early-career work in real time. So, when they hear broad promises about innovation and opportunity, many hear more personal questions underneath: Where do my skills fit now? Is the first rung of the career ladder still there for me?



Those questions matter because the path from college into work is being redrawn while students are still trying to step onto it. So, let’s be clear: Diplomas still matter a lot. Ambition is still important. But human judgment, practical AI skills, and the ability to adapt and learn matter more than ever.



Career readiness now depends on whether recent grads are prepared to use AI in practical and ethical ways that mirror the situations they’ll face on the job.



STUDENTS’ AI SKILLS



New Pearson and Amazon Web Services research, based on more than 2,700 learners, higher education leaders, and employers across six countries, highlights the AI readiness gap between higher education and the workforce. More than half of employers say their biggest challenge is finding graduates with the right AI skills, while only a small share of graduates say they feel highly proficient applying AI in a professional workflow.



Students may know how to open the tools, experiment with prompts, and generate answers quickly. But that is different than translating AI into a day-to-day workflow, where the harder questions are about applying practical AI-based skills that will add value to employers’ goals.



That is why this moment belongs to higher education and employers. Colleges cannot prepare students for this shift alone, and employers cannot expect new hires to arrive fully prepared.



THE PATH FORWARD



The path we need requires shared design: courses, projects, simulations, internships, and early-career experiences that reflect how AI is already changing the shape of work. Students need repeated chances to apply these tools in context, explain their choices, show where their human judgment influenced a positive outcome, and learn when not to rely on the technology at all.



Students, educators, and employers also need clearer norms. Expectations around AI use are still blurry, leaving students to guess what is acceptable while faculty worry about integrity, and managers consider workplace risk. Without clear standards, people default to their own judgment. When standards are explicit, practiced, and reinforced, trust has a chance to grow. Shared expectations around transparency, human review, and documentation can do more than reduce risk. They can help graduates carry better habits from the classroom into the workplace.



While the handoff from learning to work has rarely been easy, data shows us the growing challenges for graduates and employers are real. We’ve identified the gaps. Now it’s time for higher education, employers, and the learning community to collaborate and grab the generational opportunity to bring AI learning together with workforce needs.



Tom ap Simon is president of higher education and virtual learning at Pearson. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, career, ladder, changing</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Change the calculus of viral video</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/change-the-calculus-of-viral-video</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/change-the-calculus-of-viral-video</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The NBA recently posted that its 2026 playoffs are “delivering their highest viewership through the Conference Semifinals in 29 years, with an average of 4.5 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, NBC/Peacock and Amazon Prime Video.” That is designed to sound impressive. Then you realize the viral video of a fan eating spaghetti directly behind legendary NBA commentator Mike Breen gained an estimated 20–50 million aggregate views and hundreds of thousands of likes across platforms within 24–48 hours.



This snapshot underscores just how much the rules of content are evolving. It’s no longer about watching an event, movie, or show start to finish. It’s what’s happening on the sidelines or in a specific moment—a reaction, a witty line, one small nugget that catches attention. 



In the world of traditional media though, these moments often languish in an archive somewhere, never to be seen or heard from again. This is a lost opportunity. 



CONSUMER DEMAND IS NECESSITATING CHANGE



Today, content is everywhere and it is active, in a state of perpetual motion. Viewer attention spans are short, with viewers often preferring reels, TikToks, and highlights over watching a full-length episode, movie, or game. You see it in ratings and box office challenges while the popularity of social content surges.



At the same time, archives have never been worth more. Streaming wars, brand storytelling, and sports highlights are driving value up. Additionally, organizations outside of sports and entertainment are seeking access to original, licensed, or proprietary material to train AI models (so much is now generated that training data is in short supply). In this landscape, simply owning content isn’t enough. You must know exactly what you have to use it for your own means or to sell it to someone else. Therein lies the problem. 



The most valuable content libraries in the world are the slowest to activate. Content owners have no idea of the entirety of their archives, let alone a good way to quickly call it up and share it.



As such, content owners aren’t being out-edited by other studios. They’re getting beaten by their own fans on TikTok and YouTube, using phones and a free editing app. Fans don’t have stores of assets, but they do have infinite velocity, and this trumps the content owners who can’t find the moments they need fast enough to make an impact, even if they are just trying to find a clip from the game last night. 



Why is this happening? Content owners have relied on manual tagging systems that were not built for a world where instant is everything. To maintain relevancy and leverage, it’s not just the clip from the game, show, or film that recently aired. It requires searching and pulling from decades’ worth of material in their possession. Media companies, networks, sports leagues, studios—the big players—need new tools and a fresh perspective.



EASE + ACCESS = OPPORTUNITY REALIZED



Something very specific happened when ChatGPT launched and it had nothing to do with the technology. The models had been there. Researchers knew what they could do. What changed was that any person could type something into a user interface and watch it respond. That moment of discovery made its potential real.



Video hasn’t had that moment yet, at least not on a similar scale. Content owners lack systems built around retrieving specific instances. That capability could change the calculus of content. 



Consider this. Someone asks a question in their own words. An agent searches massive archives, across multiple modalities: video, images, audio, text, and documents at once. This surfaces short, useable snippets of the most relevant content that could be rapidly deployed for audience engagement. 



Let’s build on the NBA example. What if someone used AI to search for “funny moments of fans eating or drinking behind commentators or players at a sports event?” All the clips in the NBA’s (or the network’s or team’s) library could be surfaced in seconds, rather than the hours someone would typically spend watching footage to find the right thing. 



Take it a step further. The creator asks their system to edit pulled content in different ways to make something new, interesting, and entertaining. The same archive then yields multiple stories, thereby compounding the content’s value.



Organizations could function at the cadence audiences have been waiting for, changing the relationship between an archive and audience.



A FORMULA FOR FUTURE ENGAGEMENT



The reality is this: There is more video being created right now than at any point in human history. Some of the most resonant video is sitting in archives with no AI video search, no video metadata automation, and no way to find what’s inside those archives, at the speed the audience expects. The math of who gets to tell which story changes when finding becomes free. This can impact studios, brands, sports rights holders, and independent makers. New kinds of stories become possible. Old kinds of stories get told by people who couldn’t tell them before. 



Those who figure this out will outpace the ones still waiting for the perfect tagging system. They are the ones who will define the next era of content.



Jae Lee is cofounder and CEO of TwelveLabs. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/FCIC-and-ILF-templates-1-1.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Change, the, calculus, viral, video</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>AI infrastructure without human capability is just hardware</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-infrastructure-without-human-capability-is-just-hardware</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-infrastructure-without-human-capability-is-just-hardware</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The United States is in the middle of a defining conversation about AI infrastructure. But, years in, we are still asking the wrong questions. The infrastructure conversation starts and stops at chips, models, and computing power—and rarely arrives at the harder questions underneath: What should this infrastructure make possible for Americans, and are we actually building toward that?



Hardware without human capability is just hardware. The true measure of a nation’s infrastructure is what it enables people to do. By that measure, the United States has a problem. We are investing enormously in AI technology and almost nothing in the human capacity to use it. Improving what exists and building what’s needed are not competing priorities. They are both urgent.



Countries like China understand that advancing AI capabilities requires weaving its use into workforce systems, classrooms, and the fabric of daily life in ways that drive tangible outcomes. As routine work is automated, the value shifts to those who can use knowledge in context to think critically, create, and contribute. The result is a generation of citizens prepared for the AI age, not by accident, but as part of a deliberate national strategy to grow human capability at pace with technological change.



THE CAPABILITY TO USE AI WELL



The next frontier of global competitiveness will be defined by people’s capability to use AI well. Today’s kindergarten students will enter the workforce in 2037. Every year we wait to build that capability, the gap widens, and another cohort of young people moves through school struggling to develop the judgment and agency to direct their own lives. 



We lead two organizations that have spent decades working inside America’s public schools—from different angles, but towards the same goal. Digital Promise brings deep educator co-design experience, learning science, edtech integration knowledge, and a track record of driving digital transformation through global and national leadership networks. TNTP brings extensive systems expertise and implementation depth, earned working side-by-side with educators and leaders inside schools, districts, and states. TNTP ensures that rigorous content, relevant learning, and edtech’s role in coherent instruction actually sticks in practice, instead of just in theory. 



Together, we have made a concrete commitment: to reach 15 million students by 2028 with learning experiences that use AI to build the learning and judgment young people need. While a national strategy is still necessary, hitting this target would prove that scale is possible. The opportunity is to act on what we know, and to abandon scattered experimentation in favor of intentional, and coherent evidence-informed implementation.



Catching up will require intention plus speed. AI must earn its place in classrooms by enhancing educators’ abilities to teach and students’ abilities to engage deeply. It will not earn its place by replacing human judgment, creativity, or relationships. When used well, AI can serve as a force multiplier, supporting differentiated instruction, accelerating foundational skills in math and literacy, and helping connect classroom learning to real-world applications and future pathways.



THE GAP BETWEEN CLASSROOMS AND THE WORKFORCE



Oregon offers the clearest proof of what this looks like in practice. Rather than banning AI or rushing adoption, the state built a coherent pipeline from K-12 through workforce—issuing early guidance on AI literacy, partnering with local universities and companies to train students on real industry applications, and connecting local districts, higher education, and employers around shared goals. Oregon serves as a compelling case study in how intentional, cross-sector coordination can bridge the gap between classroom instruction and the evolving demands of the modern workforce.



The principles are clear. Viable models are not. That gap is exactly what this work is designed to close. Over the next three years, our partnership will focus first on proving what works. We will co-design tools with educators rather than for them, run pilots that generate real learning signals, and produce implementation guidance that makes it easier for other districts and systems to follow.



Rather than developing a proprietary playbook, we are building a public infrastructure—procurement guidance, benchmark frameworks, and field-facing research that lowers the barrier to adoption everywhere. What follows must be about scaling those insights rapidly and responsibly.



This moment requires field-building. Educators need models, guidance, and shared knowledge that help them make informed, human-centered decisions about how AI fits into their practice. This means investing in professional learning. It also means aligning systems and preserving the relational core of teaching while expanding what’s possible.



Success will not be measured simply by more students using AI. It will be measured by educators making better decisions about where AI belongs and where it doesn’t. Students should arrive at the next stage of their lives with stronger judgment, deeper skills, and a clearer sense of what they can do with both.



If we get this right, AI will be a catalyst for expanding economic mobility and redefining what is possible for millions of learners.



This challenge will not magically fix itself. We can’t leave America’s future up to chance. The question for policymakers, districts, and fellow organizations is simple: Are you with us?



Jean-Claude Brizard is president and CEO of Digital Promise. Tequilla Brownie, EdD is CEO of TNTP. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/FCIC-and-ILF-templates-1-2.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>infrastructure, without, human, capability, just, hardware</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Does Gen Z know their number?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/does-gen-z-know-their-number</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/does-gen-z-know-their-number</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ What’s your number? This is the first question I ask when considering a new hire. I expect those I ask to know what it costs for them to live—not just to survive, but to thrive. I start with this question because it gives me a chance to understand a prospective employee’s expectations and needs, and to assess my ability to meet them.



Since 2018, I have worked with close to 2,000 high school students, providing them with paid summer work experience. Most had never considered their number before. I also mentor many young Gen Zers who are now finishing college and looking for their first full-time post-college job. One mentee, Sophia Castellanos—who just graduated from my alma mater, Claremont McKenna College—earned a degree in international relations. She asked if I might have any opportunities for her.



I was surprised when she had a ready response to my question. Numbers have been at the forefront of Sophia’s mind; she’s facing the burden of $200,000 in college loans at a 6% interest rate. Those payments alone add up to $3,000 a month, as she’s trying to pay off her debt in less than 10 years.



Sophia’s number is $130,000. But a small company like mine does not have the budget to pay that salary for an entry-level position. I offered to have a frank discussion with Sophia to explore scenarios that might serve both of our needs. She has given permission to share the crux of our discussion. Sophia agreed to share her number publicly because we both believe this transparency will help other college graduates and employers think about how they can be creative when negotiating with their number in mind. 



Here is what we discussed.



June: Thanks for sharing your number, Sophia. All I can offer you right now is $65,000 and it would be remote, with full benefits, and many weeks off each year that don’t count toward your PTO.



Sophia: At $65,000 a year, I’d have to consider living at home. That might bring financial stability, in the sense that I wouldn’t have to pay rent, but there are other stressors to living with parents. On the other hand, not living at home with the support of my parents means being on the hunt for an apartment and most likely two to three roommates.



June: Everyone I have hired works remotely. Because of this, I’ve been able to hire people at less than their “number” because they could live in a less expensive area. They also don’t have to worry about transportation costs. Time is a resource, and another way to consider savings.



Sophia: I could foresee taking a lower salary to balance out not having to request PTO for the holidays and having the flexibility of working from home to cut down on costs for transportation as well. Despite the lower salary, I would have fewer needs to accommodate in my number, like gas for a daily commute, food, and rent, bringing my number closer to $100,000. So even though I’d only be making $65,000 versus $130,000, the payout would be having more personal time and work-life balance. Our generation, Generation Z, loves time. We believe your job should be a component in your life, but it shouldn’t be your entire life.



As somebody who’s 22 and $200,000 in debt, who’s just got their degree—you’re hungry. You’re hungry for opportunity. You’re hungry for money. You’re hungry for employment. You want to prove yourself. I did not get into this much debt to not have a fulfilling lifestyle.



June: My ideal person would be somebody who would have that fire in the belly.



Sophia: I think if I’m having this honest conversation with my employer, it’s because I know I’m going to produce good work, because I’m going to put my best foot forward, and I’m going to represent the company that I’m with to the best of my abilities, because I need to. My generation is considered “too green” because they lack experience or the right degree. Yet, as someone fresh from college, I also come with new eyes, opinions, and expectations for how I plan to pursue a career that is fulfilling, thoughtful, and aims to make a difference, which is why when a company is ready to take a risk on me, I will make sure I am well worth it.



June: This is exactly why I do the work I do: It’s about the leap of faith. It’s investing in the younger generation. I feel like that’s my job as a mentor who has been successful in my company. It’s just a number. If I can afford it, I’m going to pay it, because it’s worth it to me.



June Bayha is CEO of Bayha Group. Sophia Castellanos is an alumna from Claremont McKenna College currently interning at Talos Energy. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Does, Gen, know, their, number</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Stop using this recalled shampoo immediately. It could give you a bacterial infection</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stop-using-this-recalled-shampoo-immediately-it-could-give-you-a-bacterial-infection</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stop-using-this-recalled-shampoo-immediately-it-could-give-you-a-bacterial-infection</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A shampoo manufacturer has initiated a nationwide recall of two of its products due to concerns that the shampoos may be contaminated with a drug-resistant bacterium that could harm users. Here’s what you need to know about the shampoo recall and the bacterium at the center of it.



What’s happened?



Last week, the consumer products company, Kao USA Inc., announced a voluntary recall of two products made by its subsidiary Oribe, which makes various haircare products, including shampoos and conditioners. One day after Kao announced the recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted the recall notice on its website.



The recall covers two shampoo products that have the possibility of being contaminated with a bacterium called Pluralibacter gergoviae. There is a chance the bacteria could cause an infection in the user, which could cause severe health consequences in select individuals.



What products are recalled?



According to Kao’s recall notice, two products are being recalled. Those products are:




Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo 8.5 oz size (UPC 840035231242) with the lot code YR010556



Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo 33.8 oz size (UPC 840035231273) with the lot codes YR010566 and YR010576




The affected products were manufactured between February 21, 2026 and February 26, 2026.



[Photo: Oribe]



What is Pluralibacter gergoviae?



Pluralibacter gergoviae is a bacterium that is sometimes associated with cosmetic product recalls. The bacterium has resistance against many of the common preservatives found in the cosmetics and personal care industry, according to Melbec Microbiology.



While Pluralibacter gergoviae infection is rare in healthy individuals, the bacterium can cause severe infections in individuals with:




chronic illnesses



weakened immune systems



those undergoing surgical procedures




Melbec Microbiology says Pluralibacter gergoviae infections have been linked to conditions including sepsis, eye infections, respiratory diseases, and urinary tract infections.



Kao’s recall notice states, “Though Pluralibacter gergoviae bacteria pose little medical risk to healthy people, those with certain health issues such as weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to infection by the bacteria.”



Where were the recalled products sold?



According to the recall notice, the affected products were sold nationwide in the United States and Canada.



The products were sold at salons and other retailers.



What should I do if I have the recalled products?



Kao says anyone who has the recalled products should discontinue their use.



The company says you can arrange a replacement for the recalled products by contacting the Kao Professional Hair Technical Hotline at 800-333-2442 or emailing them at oribecomplaints@kao.com. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/07/p-1-91569533-recalled-shampoo-bacterial-infection.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Stop, using, this, recalled, shampoo, immediately., could, give, you, bacterial, infection</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pubs can stay open until 5am for England vs Mexico match</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/pubs-can-stay-open-until-5am-for-england-vs-mexico-match</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/pubs-can-stay-open-until-5am-for-england-vs-mexico-match</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The government changes its mind and allows pubs in England and Wales to stay open until 5am for the England-Mexico football match
The post Pubs can stay open until 5am for England vs Mexico match appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pubs, can, stay, open, until, 5am, for, England, Mexico, match</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Britain suffers the sharpest wealth slump in the rich world</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britain-suffers-the-sharpest-wealth-slump-in-the-rich-world</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britain-suffers-the-sharpest-wealth-slump-in-the-rich-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
The average Briton is more than a fifth poorer than in 2020, the steepest wealth fall in the rich world, UBS finds. What it means for households and business. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2154627761-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britain, suffers, the, sharpest, wealth, slump, the, rich, world</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>OpenAI in talks to hand Trump’s White House a $43bn stake ahead of $1tn flotation</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/openai-in-talks-to-hand-trumps-white-house-a-43bn-stake-ahead-of-1tn-flotation</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/openai-in-talks-to-hand-trumps-white-house-a-43bn-stake-ahead-of-1tn-flotation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
OpenAI is in talks to hand the US government a 5% stake worth $43bn as Sam Altman courts the Trump administration ahead of a $1tn New York flotation. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_2609091593-768x433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>OpenAI, talks, hand, Trump’s, White, House, 43bn, stake, ahead, 1tn, flotation</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Formula 1 worth £12bn a year to UK economy as record Silverstone crowd delivers £100m boost</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/formula-1-worth-12bn-a-year-to-uk-economy-as-record-silverstone-crowd-delivers-100m-boost</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/formula-1-worth-12bn-a-year-to-uk-economy-as-record-silverstone-crowd-delivers-100m-boost</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Formula 1 is worth £12bn a year to the UK economy, with a record British Grand Prix crowd at Silverstone set to deliver a £100m boost, new figures reveal. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Formula, worth, £12bn, year, economy, record, Silverstone, crowd, delivers, £100m, boost</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Loose the grey tracksuits: Boohoo boss orders staff back to the office five days a week</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/loose-the-grey-tracksuits-boohoo-boss-orders-staff-back-to-the-office-five-days-a-week</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/loose-the-grey-tracksuits-boohoo-boss-orders-staff-back-to-the-office-five-days-a-week</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Boohoo boss Dan Finley tells 1,500 head office staff to ditch the grey tracksuit bottoms and return to the office full time to test clothes and spot trends. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_2278451681-768x512.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Loose, the, grey, tracksuits:, Boohoo, boss, orders, staff, back, the, office, five, days, week</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Game over for the disc: Sony to end physical PlayStation game releases from 2028</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/game-over-for-the-disc-sony-to-end-physical-playstation-game-releases-from-2028</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/game-over-for-the-disc-sony-to-end-physical-playstation-game-releases-from-2028</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Sony will stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028, going digital-only in a move that ends more than 50 years of boxed video games and reshapes high street retail. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shutterstock_1260108922-768x512.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Game, over, for, the, disc:, Sony, end, physical, PlayStation, game, releases, from, 2028</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Thiel Capital’s Jack Selby nabs stakes in hot startups like Etched through Arizona connections</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/thiel-capitals-jack-selby-nabs-stakes-in-hot-startups-like-etched-through-arizona-connections</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/thiel-capitals-jack-selby-nabs-stakes-in-hot-startups-like-etched-through-arizona-connections</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Selby&#039;s VC firm, Copper Sky Capital, is currently raising a $300 million second fund, according to a regulatory filing. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Thiel, Capital’s, Jack, Selby, nabs, stakes, hot, startups, like, Etched, through, Arizona, connections</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Private space pilots are flying orbital missions for the US Space Force</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/private-space-pilots-are-flying-orbital-missions-for-the-us-space-force</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/private-space-pilots-are-flying-orbital-missions-for-the-us-space-force</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ True Anomaly and Rocket Lab are performing Top Gun-style satellite fly-bys for the U.S. military. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Private, space, pilots, are, flying, orbital, missions, for, the, Space, Force</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mark Zuckerberg tells staff that AI agents haven’t progressed as quickly as he’d hoped</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/mark-zuckerberg-tells-staff-that-ai-agents-havent-progressed-as-quickly-as-hed-hoped</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/mark-zuckerberg-tells-staff-that-ai-agents-havent-progressed-as-quickly-as-hed-hoped</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At an internal meeting, the Meta CEO reportedly said that AI development efforts were not moving as quickly as anticipated. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GettyImages-1968119319.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mark, Zuckerberg, tells, staff, that, agents, haven’t, progressed, quickly, he’d, hoped</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Last chance to apply — Startup Battlefield Australia applications close July 6</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/last-chance-to-apply-startup-battlefield-australia-applications-close-july-6</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/last-chance-to-apply-startup-battlefield-australia-applications-close-july-6</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ If you&#039;re going to apply for Startup Battlefield Australia, now is the time. Applications close July 6, and once the deadline passes, the opportunity is gone. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Last, chance, apply, —, Startup, Battlefield, Australia, applications, close, July</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Politician who investigated spyware abuses had his phone hacked with Pegasus spyware</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/politician-who-investigated-spyware-abuses-had-his-phone-hacked-with-pegasus-spyware</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/politician-who-investigated-spyware-abuses-had-his-phone-hacked-with-pegasus-spyware</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A government customer of NSO Group used the company&#039;s Pegasus spyware to hack into the phone of a European politician, who at the time was serving on an EU committee tasked with investigating the spyware industry. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/stelios-1243041618.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Politician, who, investigated, spyware, abuses, had, his, phone, hacked, with, Pegasus, spyware</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Can Formula 1 embrace AI without losing its soul?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-formula-1-embrace-ai-without-losing-its-soul</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-formula-1-embrace-ai-without-losing-its-soul</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At race speed, Liam Lawson is listening to his engineer, watching tire temperatures, managing energy use, and making decisions that can affect lap time. In Formula 1, the flow of data has become part of the driver’s workload. AI is now changing how quickly teams can process that data and turn it into usable information.



“This year with our new regulations, the energy management that we have to look after is what makes us quite physically [and] mentally tired, because there’s a lot of things we have to think about,” says Lawson, whose Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 team recently announced a new technology partnership with Salesforce. “There’s a lot of things that I have to manage while I’m driving and make sure that I do consistently.”



That includes tire temperatures, how much energy is used during a lap, and constant communication between the driver and pit wall.



“[There’s] a lot of communication with the team as well,” Lawson continues. “My engineer talks to me every single lap, and that’s a lot of stuff that we’re communicating and processing as well. For us, it’s all in the car.”



Formula 1 teams have always looked for even the slightest competitive advantages through engineering, strategy, and data. AI gives them another way to find those advantages. Teams are using AI tools to organize information, analyze performance, support engineering work, and prepare drivers. The technology is already affecting how teams work between races and during race weekends.



The FIA, Formula 1’s international governing body, is now developing rules for how AI can be used in the sport. Updates are expected to phase in across 2027 and 2028, with an emphasis on keeping car development led mainly by human engineers.



Much of the concern involves high-performance computing. The FIA has long regulated the computing power teams use for aerodynamics modeling, which helps determine car shape. Those rules were designed to limit a spending race in which teams could gain an advantage by investing heavily in faster and more powerful simulation tools. AI and machine learning raise similar concerns.



“The same is true with AI and ML,” says Dominic Harlow, FIA Single Seater Deputy Technical Director. “ We think that there’s a legitimate risk if we just left it completely alone, it would become a huge area of development, potential spending, and maybe [a] performance differentiation that detracts ultimately from the racing.”



The FIA’s goal is to allow useful technical development while preserving the human work that remains central to Formula 1.



“We also want to preserve some of the intellectual challenge for the teams, for the engineers, as well as for the drivers,” Harlow says. “F1’s a team sport. There’s driver skill, but there’s engineer[ing] skill, there’s operational skill, there’s even the people putting together the wind tunnel models in the aerodynamics department, the people designing new shapes to evaluate. They’re all putting their creativity and blood, sweat, and tears into doing it.”



Teams are already working with AI inside those boundaries. At Atlassian Williams, Russell Paddon serves as Driver Performance Engineer, a role that connects the team’s drivers with its engineering operation. He helps translate driver feedback into engineering requirements that can improve performance on track.



Paddon says he uses AI tools across Atlassian and the team’s latest AI partner, Anthropic, to make that work faster.



“The benefits we’ve had from some of the Atlassian toolsets [Rovo] has been more on organization and structure and how we share information internally,” he says.



In Formula 1, saving time can matter as much as adding technical capacity. Teams have limited windows between races and between sessions during a race weekend. AI can help reduce the time spent sorting notes, searching documents, and preparing information for engineers and drivers.



“ Often, time is our biggest enemy in Formula 1 because the season moves on so quickly,” Paddon says. “We’re always struggling to stay ahead of the curve and in between races trying to learn [from] the last weekend and then take it forward to the following weekend is really quite important. That’s where AI has kind of shortened that timeframe.”



For Paddon, who joined Williams at the end of the 2024 season, one of the most useful applications has been historical analysis. Instead of manually searching through old reports and studies, he can query the team’s existing knowledge base for relevant patterns.



“Within the Atlassian suite of tools, [I can] query [a] database,” Paddon says. “For example, I might want to look at a trend in driver performance, which was two years ago. It can dig through all the information we have and pull out any relevant projects, reports, studies, any analysis that’s been done, and [it] just brings it all into one convenient place. So, that’s been a big game changer.”



AI has also changed how he handles technical questions. In the past, answering a new performance question often meant writing code or building a tool for a specific use case. Paddon says that work now takes less time.



“A lot of my time was previously spent either having to code and write tools to be able to answer some questions, and I’d spend probably 60% of the time actually trying to do that and get the data that I was interested in and not really adding value to the team because I’m just having to keep writing new scripts every weekend for a different use case,” Paddon admits. “[I was] not really adding value to the team because I’m just having to keep writing new scripts every weekend for a different use case. That’s completely [almost] disappeared in my experience, where I can very quickly state what I need from a dataset, and I can query it. I can [then] get Claude to either write me a tool or I can very quickly just ask it to return the results.”



That gives Paddon more time to focus on what the data means for the driver, the engineers, and the car. He says the tools have improved his relationship with drivers and helped him collaborate more closely with other engineers, including on car development.



Drivers are also using AI outside the garage. Lewis Hamilton recently appeared in a campaign for Perplexity Computer that showed him using the tool before a race to create an interactive box-breathing guide and curate a music playlist.



“Perplexity is a product that helps him find those extra percentage point improvements to help him be the best in every part of his life,” says Ryan Foutty, Perplexity’s VP of Business. “He’s also separately talked about publicly how he’s using it around his training and running: what should he eat before and after [and] his recovery plan. What you see in the content, it ultimately comes from real use cases that Lewis has had.”



Lawson, who is also a music fan, says he uses AI tools to refresh his playlists and learn how to play music. “It’s just something that’s a lot easier now than it was probably 10 years ago,” he says. “For me, music’s a way to switch off, reset, and unwind more than anything.”



These uses vary widely. Some help teams organize internal information. Some support technical analysis. Some help drivers prepare or unwind. Together, they show why the FIA is trying to define AI’s role before it becomes harder to govern.



As teams adopt more AI tools, Formula 1 will need to decide which uses fit the sport’s competitive structure and which could distort it. Teams will keep looking for small gains. The FIA is trying to preserve the role of human skill, engineering judgment, and operational decision-making.



“It’s just the philosophy of maintaining a sporting element rather than machines racing machines,” says FIA’s Harlow. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Can, Formula, embrace, without, losing, its, soul</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>18 leadership mistakes executives see across industries</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/18-leadership-mistakes-executives-see-across-industries</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/18-leadership-mistakes-executives-see-across-industries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Whether your company sells software or provides hands-on accounting services, some things are the same: leadership mistakes. We’re people, after all, and we have our own motivations and understanding of how business works. The good news is that we can learn from other people’s mistakes, so we don’t make them ourselves. That’s the idea behind what you’re reading now. We asked our Fast Company Impact Council members—all insightful and successful leaders in their own right—to share wisdom they earned from making or seeing others make mistakes. No matter the industry. The 18 member responses we’re sharing here can shine a light on how to be a better leader at your organization.



1. CONFUSE PERFORMANCE WITH LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL



The leadership mistake I see most often is confusing performance with leadership potential. The person who delivers the best work isn’t always the person who can inspire, develop, and align a team. Too many organizations promote based on output, then wonder why both the new leader and their team struggle. Leadership is about creating a room full of people who can succeed without you. — Emily Kortlang, Yerba Madre



2. SILENCE IS NOT ALIGNMENT



Silence in a global organization means almost nothing, and leaders who treat it as alignment are setting themselves up for failure. People go quiet for hundreds of reasons, and agreement is rarely one of them. Cultural norms, power dynamics, the sense that a decision is already made before the meeting starts—all of it looks identical to buy-in if you are not paying attention. I run a design community of over a thousand people across multiple geographies, and the most important discipline I have developed is creating explicit structures for dissent. If you are not pushing for honest disagreement, you are not leading. You are just broadcasting. — Arin Bhowmick, SAP



3. NOT MAKING A DECISION IS STILL A DECISION



Early in my career in the Coast Guard, I learned that not making a decision is still a decision, and often the riskier one. I see the same thing with AI. Too many leaders are waiting for certainty, a better tool, or a cleaner strategy. Meanwhile, the business keeps moving. The leadership job is to decide where AI can create real value, then change how the company works to get after it. — Todd James, Aurora Insights LLC



4. NOT CONTINUALLY MONITORING WHAT CUSTOMERS VALUE



I believe that a common leadership mistake is not continually monitoring what their customers value. And acting as though it is a fixed state. What customers value is a moving target that evolves as their needs, expectations, and options change. When companies stop actively listening, they lose relevance and market share, resulting in an overall decline in trust. Leadership’s job is to continuously rediscover what delights customers. — Chris Bailey, Bailey Brand Consulting



5. TREAT LEADERSHIP AS A TOP-DOWN FUNCTION



One of the most common leadership mistakes is treating leadership as a top-down function rather than a shared responsibility. We believe the best ideas can come from anywhere, which is why we operate more like a pie than a pyramid—bringing diverse perspectives into the conversation early and often. When people are trusted to help shape outcomes, they become more engaged, innovative, and invested in the organization’s success. — Susan Watts, SPACECRAFT



6. KEEP MARKETING IN SILOS



Siloing marketing from the broader customer lifecycle is a mistake leadership makes when they focus on internal structures instead of the customer. Too often, organizations treat marketing as a front-end function focused primarily on awareness and lead generation, while the rest of the customer journey sits in separate silos like sales, customer success, and renewals. The problem is that customers don’t experience your company that way. They experience every touchpoint as one continuous journey, and when teams operate in isolation, that journey becomes fragmented and inconsistent. — Melissa Puls, Ivanti



7. MICROMANAGE TEAMS WHILE DELAYING IMPORTANT DECISIONS



The most common mistake I see is leaders who micromanage their teams while simultaneously moving too slowly on the decisions that actually matter. When leaders hover over the details, they signal that they don’t trust their people. That erodes confidence, stifles initiative and drives your best talent out the door. The irony is that while they’re focused on controlling the how, they’re often paralyzed on the what. The best leaders do the opposite. They empower their teams to own the execution and reserve their energy for the big bets. In a world moving this fast, indecision is its own decision. Micromanagement is the enemy of scale. — Meredith Rosenberg, NU Advisory Partners



8. HIRE TALENTED PEOPLE AND FAIL TO TRUST THEM



One of the most common mistakes is hiring talented people and then failing to trust them. The best leaders bring in experts who are smarter than they are in specific areas and give them the space to do what they were hired to do. My role is to connect the dots, provide support, and stay close enough to the details to help make strong decisions when needed. — Ben Jeffries, Influencer



9. CONFUSE ACTIVITY WITH PROGRESS



Leaders confuse activity with progress. They fill calendars with meetings, launch initiatives, and publish strategies, then wonder why nothing actually changes. They mistake motion for momentum. The best leaders I’ve seen, ask a deceptively simple question before committing to anything: “What would have to be true for this to matter six months from now?” Most initiatives can’t answer that. And that’s the problem. — Muneer Panjwani, Engage for Good | The Halo Awards



10. FAILURE TO SET UP PLAN



The mistake is not setting a clear three-to-five-year plan, then working backwards to show how to achieve that plan step by step. The double click to this is not linking everyone’s work to the plan (and the mission). — Alex Triplett, You.com



11. MEASURE AI TRANSFORMATION BY TOOLS AND PILOTS LAUNCHED



The pattern I keep seeing is companies measuring AI transformation by tools deployed and pilots launched, not by workflows that moved revenue, reduced cost, or improved throughput. It’s the classic vanity-metric trap. Ask one question: Which three workflows produced measurable financial impact in the last 90 days? If leadership cannot answer, the company does not have an AI program yet. It has activity and possibly a press release. — Andra Vaduva, SafeSpace



12. HAVE A VISION BEYOND THE SHORT TERM



Great leadership requires you to have a vision beyond the short term and beyond your personal incentives. Corporate systems are notorious for rewarding the short term with quarterly goals and annual review structures. Too many leaders fall into the trap of the existing structure. To affect real change and create a lasting legacy, you need a bigger picture that’s beyond yourself and even beyond your company. — Bo Zhao, Baby Gear Group



13. DISMISS EMPATHY AS A LEADERSHIP QUALITY



Empathy is often dismissed as a pleasant but optional quality in leadership. Yet it is one of the most underleveraged and powerful strategic tools in business. It reveals the truth earlier, accelerates change, invites candor, and creates an environment where people are willing to stretch, innovate, and take the risks that both business and personal growth require. Empathy is not about being agreeable; it is about being attuned. It allows leaders to ask better questions. True empathy is strength with understanding, the discipline to care enough to see clearly, and the courage to act accordingly. — Gail Zauder, AbleFly



14. COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS DISGUISED AS OPERATIONS ISSUES



Too often, leaders assume alignment exists because a strategy deck was shared or a kickoff meeting happened. In my experience, people support what they understand and can connect to their own motivations. The majority of execution problems are communication problems disguised as operations issues. — Ran Mullins, Psympl



15. MISTAKE SPEED FOR CLARITY



Mistaking speed for clarity. Under pressure, organizations often reward rapid decisions and constant responsiveness, while neglecting reflection. The result is reactive leadership. Effective leaders deliberately create cognitive space to pause, challenge assumptions, and think beyond the immediate crisis before deciding what matters most. — Ajay Tejasvi, TLEX



16. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR VISION AND BRAND



The mistake: Delegation of ultimate accountability for implementation and evangelism around vision and brand. The CEOs that reap the most benefits from these elements continually shout about them. They mandate that they are integrated into the big and small company things that matter, from objectives and key results, to all-hands rituals, to investor calls. Most do not. — Neil Barrie, 21st Century Brand



17. OVER-OPTIMIZE FOR SHORT-TERM PERFORMANCE



The leadership mistake I see most often is over-optimizing for short-term performance at the expense of long-term brand value. In a world of dashboards and instant attribution, it’s tempting to chase the next conversion, the next quarter, the next efficiency gain. But eventually you hit what I call the “consumer acquisition cost valley of death” where acquisition costs rise, growth slows, and you’ve run out of demand because you stopped investing in the brand. The best leaders understand that brand and performance aren’t opposing forces; sustainable growth requires both. — Vineet Mehra, Chime



18. DECISIONS SHOULD BE CLOSER TO THE CUSTOMER



The mistake: Not pushing decision-making closest to the customer — Larraine Segil, Exceptional Women Alliance Foundation ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>leadership, mistakes, executives, see, across, industries</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why tomorrow’s leaders must study peace</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-tomorrows-leaders-must-study-peace</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-tomorrows-leaders-must-study-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When people talk about leadership education, they still picture balance sheets and strategy decks, the familiar tools of competition and growth. They rarely picture divided communities or fragile institutions, much less the slow work of rebuilding trust after conflict. Yet these are now part of the daily environment in which many organizations operate, from businesses to sports clubs to cultural institutions.



This shift matters because modern leadership no longer happens inside clean, controlled systems. A company can enter a promising market and discover that local tensions and historical grievances shape every partnership, hiring decision, and public message. A brand can launch a campaign meant to inspire and instead reveal how little it understands the people it hopes to reach. The cost of that blindness is not just reputational; it can weaken institutions and alienate key stakeholders, while intensifying instability.



That is why peace, coexistence, and social cohesion belong much closer to the center of education instead of sitting at the margins.



THE MISSING DISCIPLINE



Most advanced business and leadership education still treats peace as a niche subject, something for those in the international realm, such as diplomats and humanitarian workers. Meanwhile, public-facing leaders, including executives and entrepreneurs, make decisions with enormous social consequences. They do so often without any training in conflict dynamics or intercultural dialogue. They may not have the long memory of communities under pressure.



That gap is becoming harder to ignore. Sustainability entered mainstream business education once leaders understood that environmental risk affects operations and regulation, as well as long-term value. Social fragmentation deserves the same seriousness. A leader who can read a financial statement but cannot recognize the early signs of polarization is no longer fully prepared for the world as it is.



This does not require turning every executive into a negotiator or every founder into a peace scholar. It requires accepting a simpler truth: When organizations move through divided societies, they influence more than markets. They influence how people experience belonging and dignity. They also shape how they experience opportunity and trust.



WHERE IT ALREADY SHOWS



Some of the clearest examples appear in places once considered far from peacebuilding. Sport is one of them. A club or major event can become a shared civic language, but it can also magnify rivalry and exclusion when leaders treat identity as a tool instead of a responsibility.



Luxury offers another illustration. On the surface, it is a world of image and exclusivity, a signal of aspiration. In practice, it is also about heritage and labor, about narrative and visibility. Decisions about sourcing and representation, along with storytelling, help determine whose histories are honored. These decisions affect whose craftsmanship is valued and whose voices remain unseen.



Business diplomacy reveals the same pattern. Cross-border deals, investment strategies, and public-private partnerships are never purely technical. They interact with local power structures and political sensitivities, and they move along existing social fault lines. Leaders who understand this can build lasting bridges; leaders who do not may deepen tensions without ever intending to.



FROM COMPLIANCE TO COEXISTENCE



Many institutions already speak the language of responsibility. They produce compliance frameworks and ESG reports and make public commitments to ethics. These tools matter, but they are often designed to reduce liability rather than to build wisdom.



A coexistence mindset asks more demanding questions. Does this project strengthen trust or extract value from a fragile context? Does this partnership widen opportunity or subtly reinforce old exclusions? Does this organization understand how its presence changes the social fabric around it?



These are not abstract moral questions, but strategic ones. Leaders who understand the human terrain around their decisions are better able to anticipate backlash. They can build resilient alliances and operate with legitimacy. In volatile environments, that capacity becomes a source of advantage as well as of ethics.



WHAT EDUCATION SHOULD DO NEXT



If education is meant to prepare people for the world they are entering, then peace literacy should be treated as leadership literacy. That means bringing the study of coexistence into business, management, sports, and international programs, rather than isolating it in specialized corners.



Students should learn how narratives fuel or defuse conflict. They should understand how institutions gain or lose trust. And they should recognize how economic choices can stabilize communities or strain them further. They should examine cases where leadership helped prevent escalation, not only those that celebrate rapid growth. Ultimately, they should graduate with tools to analyze human complexity, not just operational complexity.



The leaders who will matter most in the coming decade will be defined by their ability to keep different kinds of people in the same room, working toward something shared. In a fragile century, that may prove to be the most valuable form of intelligence of all.



Manuel Freire-Garabal is a special advisor-charter member of Gioya Higher Education Institution. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, tomorrow’s, leaders, must, study, peace</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Not all company investments in education are working</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/not-all-company-investments-in-education-are-working</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/not-all-company-investments-in-education-are-working</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At the Exceptional Women Alliance (EWA), we enable high-level women to mentor each other. As the nonprofit organization’s founder, chair, and CEO, I am honored to interview and share insights from some of the thought leaders who are part of our peer-to-peer mentoring.



In this conversation, I speak with Michelle Westfort, chief product officer at InStride, a leading provider of strategic education and skilling solutions.



Q: Before we dive in, tell us about your role at InStride and what kinds of companies you work with.



Westfort: I lead product for our organization, which means I spend my days thinking about whether employee education programs and workforce development strategies are working. InStride partners with large employers across industries to offer debt-free education to their workforce. Medtronic, for example, has more than 3,000 employees enrolled in or graduated from its education program, which has generated over $13 million in retention savings.



Q: On the surface, a lot of corporate education programs look similar. Why do results vary?



Westfort: The difference in outcomes comes down to program design. In other words, how well the program connects employee growth to business needs is almost entirely a design question. Here’s what I mean. SSM Health saw 100% retention in some of its most critical clinical roles among employees participating in its education program. That doesn’t happen by accident.



On the flip side, we see programs where employees need HR approval just to enroll, where clawback provisions deter the people who need the benefit most. Mind you, from our data, 62% of top-performing programs require no HR approval at all. That becomes a design recommendation.



Q: Why do so many people plan to use tuition assistance, and then just don’t?



Westfort: Think about what working adults are carrying. A full-time job, a commute, kids, aging parents, and schedules that shift week to week. If getting started feels complicated—options are confusing, or the path to career development isn’t obvious—it’s very easy to think, “I’ll come back to this when things calm down.”



Take Karena, an employee working toward her degree through one of our clients. In her words, “The first time I tried college, I was working three jobs and barely sleeping. I didn’t finish a single class. This time, because my employer is sponsoring my degree, I can take one class at a time. I just ended my first term with a 4.0. It’s not that I wasn’t capable before. I didn’t have the tools, time, or resources. Now I do.”



Access makes participation possible, while program design makes it likely.



Q: You’ve developed what InStride calls a Program Design Score. What is it, and where did the idea come from?



Westfort: The Program Design Score is our proprietary framework for measuring how well employee education programs drive impact. It evaluates more than 20 factors to ensure programs truly connect employee growth to each organization’s business goals.



For instance, does the program tie to business priorities? Is it easy to navigate? How clearly does it connect to career paths? How consistently is it communicated to employees? How is success measured? It’s a benchmark and a diagnostic tool.



Q: And if a program isn’t designed well, what does that cost?



Westfort: More than most leaders realize, and it shows up in ways that are easy to miss.



Consider an employee who enrolled, hit a confusing step, and quietly dropped off. Or a manager who never considered the benefit because nobody explained it to them. Or the company that saw low participation, concluded the program wasn’t working, and cut it when the real problem was the design, not the idea.



Q: How does AI fit into all of this?



Westfort: Our recent survey on AI in the workplace found that 75% of us are concerned about job displacement. That fear has a direct effect on learning. Organizations with AI-anxious workers reported just 15% AI training effectiveness, whereas companies with employees who feel optimistic about AI see three times higher training effectiveness.



The same principles of our Program Design Score apply. Design it around people, connect it to big picture goals, and make it something employees can trust.



Q: If a leader reads this and wants to know whether their tuition program is working, where do they start?



Westfort: Start with a simple question: What is your education program meant to change in your business?



You should design around that goal, whether it’s improving retention, filling hard-to-hire roles, or leadership development. Then you should evaluate whether the program is built to drive that outcome.



The real shift is from asking “Are people using it?” to “Is it delivering results?” One tells you if people are participating. The other tells you if education is working for your workforce.



Larraine Segil is founder, chair, and CEO of The Exceptional Women Alliance. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Not, all, company, investments, education, are, working</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>4 ways to rethink your social media to build community</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/4-ways-to-rethink-your-social-media-to-build-community</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/4-ways-to-rethink-your-social-media-to-build-community</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ If your social media accounts disappeared tomorrow, would anyone miss them? I ask our team this question every year, not to challenge their work, but to assess whether we’re adding value for our audience. The brands that succeed on social media offer inspiration, education, or a genuine sense of community. They provide leadership when the world feels off course, and levity when it feels too heavy.



A strong brand should be uniquely positioned to offer a distinct perspective or value for their audience, like providing expertise or teaching a new skill. At Intrepid Travel, we think about value creation in three ways.



1. Does our audience feel inspired to travel the world through a more local lens?



2. Did they learn about a new experience, dish, or destination?



3. Did they learn how to travel responsibly?







If our audience answers yes to any of these questions, we know we’re creating value.



Encourage participation



Last year we added a fourth value proposition: does our audience feel part of a community? It is arguably the most powerful pillar in a world where people grappling with loneliness and isolation often use social media to create a sense of belonging and connection.



The challenge with creating a sense of community is that social media teams are largely set up to produce a high volume of owned content. They become a distribution channel for multiple departments and a pipeline of projects and product launches. Most brands are optimizing for output rather than participation.



When we began looked at how we could create a better sense of connection, turn followers into fans, and optimize participation, we realized we needed to rethink our social media strategy. We made these four changes.



1. Create a dedicated social content team







In the past our social media team was responsible for everything from creative to caption writing to community moderation and customer service. Now our social team is solely focused on production and posting across our owned channels. The core objective for these roles is to work within our core content pillars and ensure we have a strong social output 365 days of the year, guaranteeing every piece of content creates value for our audience while driving business outcomes. This is the core objective of most social teams, ours included, and it’s important that we provided dedicated roles and budgets to focus on this space.



2. Encourage customers to share content about us



This unlocked a plethora of content for us. Rather focus only on content created by us, we focused on content about us.  As one of the largest adventure travel companies in the world, we run 1,000 trips in over 100 countries, everything from safaris in East Africa, to food tours in Italy and treks in Patagonia. Our trips are deeply shareable, but travellers weren’t tagging Intrepid or telling their family and friends they were on an Intrepid trip because we weren’t connecting the dots between our customers and our social media team. More than 95% of people on our trips weren’t tagging Intrepid on their posts, while anecdotally we know almost all of them share their travel experiences on social. That was a gap we needed to close.



3. Create a community manager role



We hired a two-person community team under our head of social and community to focus on two primary community groups—our customers and our internal creators. Our social media manager leads the content created by us, and our community manager leads content about us.  Simply asking customers to tag Intrepid Travel when they post on social media made a difference. The community manager ramped up social moderation and built a program that incentivized travellers to share their experiences on social. Each month we give away a trip anywhere in the world to one random traveller who tags us.



This year we are on track to have over 10,000 posts by our customers about Intrepid. This matters because word-of-mouth drives at least 20 percent of our direct customer acquisition. Intrepid customers know other Intrepid customers, and when they share their experiences, it becomes low-cost marketing to highly qualified customers. Plus, consumers trust content by people more than traditional advertising. With social and community working in concert, we can drive much stronger outcomes for the business.



4. Be the facilitator not the focus



Community is something you foster, not force. Creating a community team brought us closer to our customers by ensuring every comment is responded to. We not only like customers’ posts and messages. We also engage with them to create a sense of belonging.



One of our travellers, who lives in Tasmania, Australia, but has travelled all over the world with Intrepid created a Facebook group that has grown to over 8,000 travellers. The magic of this space is that it isn’t run by us; it is run by Intrepid travellers for Intrepid travellers. We have developed a strong relationship with the group’s founders and administrators. We also have a private Facebook group where we offer trip giveaways and early access to trip releases. The group gives us tons of actionable insights and creates a genuine space for connection on our customers’ terms, not ours.



Final thoughts



Social media is in constant flux. It’s noisy and crowded, and increasingly hard to not only attract an audience but to keep it. While gaining attention is hard to achieve, creating a sense of belonging is arguably harder. We see the profound impact of community every day, both in customer engagement and business performance. We still focus on the posts by us, but increasingly, we also measure our success by the posts about us. They offer critical proof, word-of-mouth, and help grow our brand through the customers we’ve worked so hard to acquire.



Social and community are powerful drivers of growth when they work in concert. And if our social channels disappeared tomorrow, I do believe people would miss them. But these days, I believe our customers would continue the conversation without us. To me, that is the ultimate benchmark of not only social success, but community success. 



Mikey Sadowski is vice president of global communications at Intrepid Travel. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Income Tax Self Assessment payments through PAYE</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/income-tax-self-assessment-payments-throughpaye</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/income-tax-self-assessment-payments-throughpaye</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Income Tax Self Assessment payments through PAYE is coming in April 2029. In the meantime, you can contribute to the government consultation
The post Income Tax Self Assessment payments through PAYE appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<media:keywords>Income, Tax, Self, Assessment, payments, through PAYE</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Guide to small business funding Northern Ireland</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/guide-to-small-business-funding-northern-ireland</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/guide-to-small-business-funding-northern-ireland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Small business funding in Northern Ireland – a guide to what is currently on offer
The post Guide to small business funding Northern Ireland appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Guide, small, business, funding, Northern, Ireland</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Reed draws up plans for a state&#45;owned housebuilder that could borrow on the cheap</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/reed-draws-up-plans-for-a-state-owned-housebuilder-that-could-borrow-on-the-cheap</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/reed-draws-up-plans-for-a-state-owned-housebuilder-that-could-borrow-on-the-cheap</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Steve Reed is drawing up plans for a state-owned housebuilder that could borrow more cheaply than private firms, in a radical bid to lift Britain&#039;s stalling housing numbers. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>British Business Bank puts UK scale&#45;ups in ‘fifth gear’ as direct investing tops £600m</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/british-business-bank-puts-uk-scale-ups-in-fifth-gear-as-direct-investing-tops-600m</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/british-business-bank-puts-uk-scale-ups-in-fifth-gear-as-direct-investing-tops-600m</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
The British Business Bank has invested more than £600m into 50-plus UK scale-ups, doubling its direct equity activity in nine months as it targets £400m a year. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Brexit has left Britain more prone to runaway inflation, says Bank of England chief economist</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/brexit-has-left-britain-more-prone-to-runaway-inflation-says-bank-of-england-chief-economist</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/brexit-has-left-britain-more-prone-to-runaway-inflation-says-bank-of-england-chief-economist</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill says Brexit has left Britain exposed to &#039;self-sustaining&#039; price rises, making inflation harder to tame and squeezing SMEs. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Brexit, has, left, Britain, more, prone, runaway, inflation, says, Bank, England, chief, economist</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bosses ‘can’t afford to pay themselves the minimum wage under Labour’</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bosses-cant-afford-to-pay-themselves-the-minimum-wage-under-labour</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bosses-cant-afford-to-pay-themselves-the-minimum-wage-under-labour</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Rising employment costs are forcing thousands of owner-managers to absorb the bill themselves, squeezing profits, pensions and hiring alike ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bosses, ‘can’t, afford, pay, themselves, the, minimum, wage, under, Labour’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Burnham right to put devolution front and centre</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/burnham-right-to-put-devolution-front-and-centre</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/burnham-right-to-put-devolution-front-and-centre</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
BusinessLDN&#039;s John Dickie backs Andy Burnham&#039;s devolution drive, warning London has fewer powers than New York, Paris, Manchester and the West Midlands. ]]></description>
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<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Burnham, right, put, devolution, front, and, centre</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ford rehires ‘gray beard’ engineers after AI falls short</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ford-rehires-gray-beard-engineers-after-ai-falls-short</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ford-rehires-gray-beard-engineers-after-ai-falls-short</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Mistakenly we thought that by just introducing artificial intelligence ... that would produce a high-quality product.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ford, rehires, ‘gray, beard’, engineers, after, falls, short</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>California law targeting loud streaming ads takes effect on July 1</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/california-law-targeting-loud-streaming-ads-takes-effect-on-july-1</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/california-law-targeting-loud-streaming-ads-takes-effect-on-july-1</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Streaming ads might be getting a lot quieter. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>California, law, targeting, loud, streaming, ads, takes, effect, July</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Flipper Device’s new Busy Bar is a customizable display for productivity</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/flipper-devices-new-busy-bar-is-a-customizable-display-for-productivity</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/flipper-devices-new-busy-bar-is-a-customizable-display-for-productivity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Flipper Device&#039;s new Busy Bar will retail for $249. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Flipper, Device’s, new, Busy, Bar, customizable, display, for, productivity</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Omen AI’s plan to optimize data centers is all wet</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/omen-ais-plan-to-optimize-data-centers-is-all-wet</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/omen-ais-plan-to-optimize-data-centers-is-all-wet</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Omen AI raised a $31 million Series A to monitor chip coolant and stop bacterial outbreaks in data centers. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Omen, AI’s, plan, optimize, data, centers, all, wet</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pocket raises $11M in bet on rising demand for AI note&#45;taking devices</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/pocket-raises-11m-in-bet-on-rising-demand-for-ai-note-taking-devices</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/pocket-raises-11m-in-bet-on-rising-demand-for-ai-note-taking-devices</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pocket sells a $129 credit card-shaped puck, which sticks to the back of your phone, and promises unlimited recordings, transcriptions, and to-do items. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pocket, raises, 11M, bet, rising, demand, for, note-taking, devices</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The office doesn’t fix loneliness at work</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-office-doesnt-fix-loneliness-at-work</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-office-doesnt-fix-loneliness-at-work</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ People often see the return-to-office debate in black-and-white: In-person work fosters connection, while remote work breaks it down. In 2025, 37% of companies required office attendance, up from 17% the year before. Companies like Amazon, JPMorgan, and AT&amp;T have all issued similar mandates. The idea is simple: Bring people back to the office, and connection and engagement will follow.



But the facts show something else. MIT Sloan Management Review looked at the data and found that these mandates hurt employee engagement and lead to more people leaving, especially top performers. Eight out of 10 companies said they lost talent because of return-to-office rules. The research also found no improvement in financial results from these mandates.



So organizations are losing their best people and not gaining anything in return.



The implicit promise of the office



In our Ally Mindset™ Profile research with over 200 professionals, we asked a simple question: have you felt disconnected from your work in the past month? 



The results surprised me and challenged the usual way of thinking. Office-based workers reported the highest disconnection at 35%. Mostly remote workers came in at 31%. And fully remote workers, the group supposedly most at risk of isolation, reported the lowest at just 21%.



The people commuting to the office every day, sitting among their colleagues, were the most likely to feel disconnected. The people working from home were the least.



The question is: why?



Going to the office comes with an unspoken promise. The commute, dressing for work, and arranging childcare or a dog walker all suggest that something meaningful is waiting for you. You expect to be with people.



But when you get to the office, half your team is on Zoom and the rest are focused on their own work with headphones on. The open floor plan, meant for collaboration, now feels like a library where talking seems out of place. Meetings still happen on screens, even when people are just a few feet apart, because “it’s easier for the remote folks.”



The promise of connection is broken. And having a promise broken often feels worse than never having one at all.



When you work remotely, you understand that connection takes effort. It means scheduling calls, sending messages, and checking in on purpose. There’s no false hope that just being near others will create connection. Remote workers who feel connected have built those relationships through effort. Office workers, on the other hand, are still waiting for the building to make it happen.



Going to work depends on location, but feeling isolated or disconnected does not.



Connection theater vs. real connection



Many organizations haven’t created real connection. Instead, they have created “connection theater”—it looks like people are together, but there’s no real substance.



Mandated office days, open floor plans, Pizza Fridays, and “collaboration spaces” where no one actually collaborates are all examples of structural solutions to a relationship problem. These efforts put people in the same room but don’t give them a real reason to connect beyond just doing their work.



In my book Cultivate: The Power of Winning Relationships, I talk about four types of relationships: Ally, Supporter, Rival, and Adversary. In many return-to-office settings, I see mostly Supporters—people who are friendly and polite but interact only on a surface level. They say good morning and nod in meetings, but no one is having the deeper conversations that build trust: What are you working toward? What’s hard right now? What do you need from me? How are you doing, really?



You don’t need an office for these conversations. You need intention. The real difference isn’t between office and remote work. It’s between making time for real connection and just hoping relationships will happen on their own.



What to do instead



Here’s what you can do: Talk to the people who are in the office. Really! You came in, and maybe half your team isn’t there, but half of another team is—and you might not have spoken to them before. Take this chance. Take off your headphones, walk over, and say hello. Ask what they’re working on. See how your work and theirs might connect, because you’re all part of the same company.



Practice what I call scheduled spontaneity: Make time for the casual conversations that used to happen naturally at the watercooler or in the elevator, but won’t return on their own. Set aside five minutes at the start of meetings for real conversation. Leave a little time between calls so people can chat.



If you work remotely, set up a coffee chat like you would if you shared a kitchen with your coworkers. Even a quick two-minute chat can help someone feel noticed and valued, and make their workday feel more meaningful—no matter if their commute is across the house or across town. You don’t need a rule to connect. You just need to notice the people around you.



Here’s what organizations can do: Measure real connection, not just attendance. The WHO Commission on Social Connection says connection isn’t about being physically close, but about how people relate and interact—the quality of relationships, not just how often people meet. Still, most organizations use office attendance as a stand-in for connection and engagement. That’s like thinking a gym membership means you’re fit. If you want to know if your team is truly connected, ask better questions. Instead of “How many days were you in the office?” ask “Who do you rely on for your success, and who relies on you?” Instead of “Did you attend the team meeting?’ ask “When was the last time someone at work asked how you were doing and really listened?” These answers will tell you more about your team’s health than any attendance report.



Presence isn’t connection. It isn’t even productivity



Your team doesn’t need more required office days. They need someone who notices when they’re quiet. They need a leader who asks how they’re doing and waits for an honest answer. They need coworkers who see connection as essential, not just something extra.



Being present isn’t the same as being connected. It never was. The sooner leaders understand this, the sooner they’ll build teams people want to join, no matter where they work.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, office, doesn’t, fix, loneliness, work</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Social media marketers are stuck in a burnout trap. Here’s how to break free</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/social-mediamarketers-are-stuck-in-a-burnout-trap-heres-how-to-break-free</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/social-mediamarketers-are-stuck-in-a-burnout-trap-heres-how-to-break-free</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It’s almost midnight when the phone buzzes—a client text, a comment that needs a reply, a trend that will be stale by morning. For the people who run brand accounts on social media, the workday never really ends.



We’re marketing researchers who study digital and social media wellness and teach the students who go on to fill these jobs. In a study published in September 2025, we interviewed social media marketers in the United States, Ireland, India, Germany, and Australia and saw a profession quietly running on empty: passionate, creative people who are mentally drained by jobs that rarely turn off.



The numbers back them up. More than 40% of social media marketers plan to leave their jobs within two years, and nearly half say they get little support from supervisors for their mental health, according to industry research.



A job you can’t log off from



Plenty of jobs are stressful. What makes this one different is that it’s especially difficult for social media marketers to escape the source of their stress.



The platform is simultaneously their workplace, their tool and often their leisure environment. The same apps they use to create content, monitor engagement, and respond to customers are often the same ones they turn to for entertainment, social connection, and news. As a result, the source of their stress is rarely something they can simply walk away from.



There’s also the time involved. The average person spends about 2.5 hours a day on social media, according to global data. The marketers we interviewed often spend easily double or triple that, because they are both producers and consumers of content.




  @emthesaint i am SO grateful to work with the clients I am right now, truly. This conversation just needs to be had and normalized because from first hand experience, how much your brain is in taking and the pressure to perform is overwhelming on a good day. #socialmediamanagement #smm #communitymanager  ♬ original sound – saint em   




“It is truly 24/7, 365. You have to post on holidays, weekends,” is how one manager described her schedule. “There is always a clock ticking somewhere.”



The strain is starting to show publicly. When Zaria Parvez, Duolingo’s social media manager and designer of its famous owl logo, left the job, she spoke openly about virality, anxiety, and mental health. Even platform industry guides now treat burnout as a fact of the profession.



That matters because decades of research link heavy social media use to anxiety, lower self-esteem and reduced well-being. Researchers usually frame these as consumer problems, and the standard advice is to take a break or do a digital detox. But what happens when scrolling is your job description?



You can’t detox from your paycheck.



The comparison trap and paradox of tools



Our study looked at several forces that drive this burnout. Two stood out.



The first is the comparison trap. To stay current, marketers spend their evenings “doom scrolling” their personal feeds, hunting for trends to use at work. The line between relaxing and researching disappears—and so does the line between watching other creators and measuring yourself against them.



One marketer told us that scrolling felt like “constantly being told I was doing things wrong”—whether at work, where every post invited comparison with competitors, or at home, where lifestyle content told her she was failing there, too. Social comparison is one of the best-documented ways social media erodes self-esteem, and these workers get a double dose: personal and professional, all day, every day.



  










View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Milou Pietersz | Social Media Manager | Marketing Agency (@miloupietersz)






The second force is what we call the paradox of tools. The industry’s go-to fix is technology: Scheduling platforms let marketers queue posts weeks ahead, and artificial intelligence tools draft captions and reports. These shortcuts help—one of our interviewees called content tools “the primary method for social media managers to combat burnout”—but they also come with a catch.



For example, scheduled posts can backfire when the news turns grim, so someone still has to watch the feed. Algorithms reward constant and fresh engagement, so marketers worry that leaning on AI makes their content sound robotic, a real risk when authenticity is what makes brands work on social media. The tools promise freedom, yet the “always-on” expectation remains untouched.



It’s not a willpower problem



It would be easy to dismiss these as problems of people who need better screen-time habits. Our research suggests otherwise.



Marketers in our study had jobs that bundled strategy, design, customer service, and crisis management into one poorly defined, often junior, position. Stepping back has a direct cost, because time offline shows up in the metrics they’re judged on.



This is also a cultural problem. Americans see round-the-clock availability as dedication to the job. But other countries have pushed back: France, Italy, Spain, and Ireland, for example, have written a “right to disconnect” into law, while Australia recently extended its own version to small-business employees.



A member of our own research team, Kiley Pettit, has experienced this firsthand while working as a full-time traveler. She has balanced clients across multiple countries and time zones, with the workday often stretching from early mornings to late night. The boundaries between work and personal time have become increasingly blurred, she told us.



Addressing the burnout



For the marketers themselves, our findings suggest two ways out of the burnout trap.



First, it’s better to experiment than copy: Disconnection is personal, and what restores one person, such as a radical break, may backfire for another who does better with small habit shifts, such as response windows or boundary scripts for clients (“I reply between 9 and 5”).



Second, we recommend using technology deliberately: Schedule proactively instead of chasing trends in real time, and treat AI as an assistant for routine tasks, not a replacement for the creative work that makes the job worth doing.



That said, individual habits and better tools only go so far. Burnout is built into the job—so the job must change.




  @emilyfromkansassss you’re not lazy, you’re just burnt out from consuming and creating nonstop. so just create even when it’s not perfect &amp; take the pressure off yourself ??#socialmedia #contentcreator #dallascontentcreator #relatable #socialmediamanager  ♬ original sound – emily from kansas   




The deeper fix is structural. In our view, employers need to define social media roles more clearly and staff them realistically, set communication charters with real response windows, and make digital fatigue a normal topic during check-ins rather than a confession. Turnover costs one-half to two times a worker’s salary, so supporting these employees makes good business sense as well.



Social media marketing burnout isn’t a personal failing or ordinary job stress. It’s the predictable result of working in an environment where the workplace, the tools of the trade, and often leisure time all occupy the same space. The brands profiting from that attention, and the employers hiring for it, must decide whether the people behind the screens get to log off, too.





Kelley Cours Anderson is an assistant professor of marketing at the College of Charleston.



Ashley Hass is an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Portland.



Breanne A. Mertz is an assistant professor of marketing at the University of Tampa.



This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


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<item>
<title>Does the World Cup favor democratic or autocratic nations?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/does-the-world-cup-favor-democratic-or-autocratic-nations</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/does-the-world-cup-favor-democratic-or-autocratic-nations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It is often said—by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and many others—that soccer is the “most democratic sport.” That sentiment is based in large part on the sport’s global appeal and long history of popularity across class and racial lines.



But whether that axiom applies to the quadrennial World Cup tournament is a different question.



On occasions in the past, authoritarian governments have used the tournament to boost their regimes. Italian fascist leader Benito Mussolini did so when Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup, manipulating the games and handpicking officials to boost the chances for the home team, who went on to beat democratic Czechoslovakia in the final. Likewise, in 1978 Argentina’s dictatorship used both the tournament’s hosting and the national team’s victory to “sportswash” the brutal repression that had accompanied the military junta’s seizure of power.



In each of those notable cases, the team of an authoritarian country won the tournament. But as a political scientist and soccer enthusiast, I was curious to see how countries in authoritarian versus democratic countries had fared in the World Cup over time.



So in the run-up to this year’s tournament, I looked back through the records of the 22 past World Cups; I also cast an eye over the expanded 48 countries represented at the 2026 tournament.



For the World Cups between 1930 and 2018, I turned to Polity data, which looks at how power is concentrated in the political system. On a minus 10 to plus 10 scale, democracies are those with a Polity score of plus 6 and plus 10; autocracies have a minus 6 to minus 10; and anocracies—countries that are “partially free”—have a rating of minus 5 to plus 5.



Many scholars recommend using multiple datasets when analyzing regime type. And for the World Cups from 1974 to 2026, I also used rankings by the nonprofit Freedom House, which produces an annual index of the state of civil and political rights in every country in the world. They measure countries as free, partly free, and not free.



What the data shows



In the first few World Cup tournaments, free countries did not perform particularly well.



From 1930 to 1962, there were two authoritarian champions (Italy in 1934 and 1938), three anocratic winners (Uruguay in 1930 and 1950 and Brazil in 1962) and two democratic winners (West Germany in 1954 and a pre-dictatorship Brazil in 1958).



When it comes to finalists, in the first 32 years, there were six authoritarian countries represented in the final games, four anocracies, and a mere four democracies.



But since 1966—the first World Cup meeting between two democracies, with England prevailing over West Germany—there have been only two authoritarian winners: Brazil in 1970 and Argentina in 1978—the last autocratic country to win the tournament.



The 10 winning countries from 1982 to 2018 have all been democracies. Further, all runners-up since 1962 have been democracies, too.



Looking at the entire 1930 to 2018 period, Polity data shows that 71.4% of participants in final games have been democracies, with less than 20% of finalists being autocratic nations and 9.5% being anocracies.



When using the Freedom House index, I found that free states have made up 23 of the 26 final game participants from 1974 onward, or 88% of the total, and 11 champions.



There’s only been one partly free winner—Brazil in 1994—and one not free winner, Argentina in 1978.



How does this compare with worldwide numbers of regime type over time? In 1930, the year of the first FIFA tournament, Polity data shows that only 21.7% of the world’s countries were democratic, with 44.6% being authoritarian and 33.7% deemed anocratic. By 1966, democracies fell to 20.8%, while authoritarian countries made up 40.8% of the world. During the 2018 World Cup, the world’s countries deemed to be democracies had risen to almost 60, using Polity data, while authoritarian states slipped to 12%. The rest are either anocratic or “transitioning.”



Democracy—a winning formula?



But what about the 2026 World Cup participants? Of the 48 countries represented, 43.1% are “free” nations, according to Freedom House. The “not free” group comprised 26.7% of all countries. This is a near reversal of 1974, the first World Cup year for which Freedom House data is available. Back then, free nations made up 27% of countries in the world, while not free countries comprised 41.4% of world’s nations.



And democracies are tipped for success in 2026. The top 11 FIFA-ranked countries are all “free.” For the top 19 countries, all but 2—Morocco and Ecuador—are free, and they are ranked by Freedom House as “partly free.” Of the lowest-ranked 11 countries in the tournament, more than half are unfree.



Countering the sportswashing



The data shows that democracies are overrepresented at the World Cup and also tend to do better than authoritarian nations—but does that matter? I would argue yes.



At a time when autocratic nations use sport as a propaganda tool, and FIFA seemingly turns a blind eye to the human rights records of hosting nations, the fact that democracies tend to prevail on the pitch feels like a victory for free nations.





John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College.



LaGrange College undergraduates Jenna Pittman, Daniel Cody, and Eli Rogers contributed to the research on which this article is based.



This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


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<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>The housecleaning is free—but it will cost you your most intimate data</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-housecleaning-is-freebut-it-will-cost-you-your-most-intimate-data</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-housecleaning-is-freebut-it-will-cost-you-your-most-intimate-data</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In our digital age, services and devices are constantly gathering our data. Exactly how that information is harvested and used, and how transparent a company is about those practices, may not always be obvious.



Shift, an AI training startup, is turning that bargain into a business model.



In return for a free housecleaning, customers allow Shift to collect data filmed by a camera headset on the (human) cleaner’s head. That footage is then licensed out to develop and train AI-powered household robots.



Owned by German data research lab MicroAGI, founded in 2025, Shift began by hiring contractors to don its camera caps and record their own household tasks. That type of data collection has been occurring in the U.S., as well as in Germany, Turkey, and other European countries, for months. (Shift won’t ultimately make the robots informed by this data.)



[Photo: Shift]



Recently Shift launched its cleaning services—offering the free cleanings as a way to get its data collectors into other people’s homes—in New York City as well as across Europe. The company has pitched its cleaning work as a side hustle for college students and the “best work from home side gig.”



“We are very up front,” says Anton Poletaev, cofounder of MicroAGI and co-CEO of Shift. “Yes, we are getting your data, but by doing so you’re finally getting rewarded for it, and you’re not being lied to.”



But even with that honesty, people may not understand exactly what it means to give away this data. Shift’s structure also raises questions about what this AI future means for workers who are involved in training their own replacements.



The need for diverse data



With the expansion of AI, tech leaders are painting a picture of a future filled with humanoid robots. Already, there are robots that can run, flip, dance, and work in warehouses. 



To get to a world where humanoid robots can flawlessly wash our dishes, fix our faucets, and even cook us a meal, tech companies need lots and lots of training data. 



For Shift, it’s important that this data is both high quality and diverse, meaning captured from multiple angles, and in all different home layouts, with different faucets, sinks, and so on. 



“If you were trained to perform a job or a task in one environment only, you might struggle to perform it in different environments,” Poletaev says. “If you’re getting exposed to different lighting conditions, to different kitchen types, different living rooms, different taps that you’re repairing, then you’re able to generalize across different kinds of environments.”








Shift’s camera headset captures a first-person view of the cleaner’s hands; this perspective, called egocentric video, allows for better understanding of the ways hands interact with objects, which helps inform robotics.



Shift isn’t the only company collecting such data: Startups like Claru, Luel, Micro1, Kled AI, and others offer contractor roles for people to either film themselves doing tasks like folding laundry and taking out the trash, or to annotate such datasets. Shift began this way, too, and then its contractors “expressed interest in recording more, and contributing more,” Poletaev says, like by going into others’ homes.



Shift calls these data collectors “operators,” and says they’ve been vetted and trained. In New York, the startup also partners with existing local cleaning services, though it did not name specifics.



Globally, Shift says it has collected hundreds of thousands of hours of data, via dozens of thousands of operators. It has more than a thousand operators in the U.S., and the “vast majority” of those recordings are currently happening in New York. 



De-identified data



To Poletaev, Shift’s format is a “win-win” for customers and cleaners, who are classified as contractors rather than employees. Customers are compensated with a free cleaning, he says, while cleaners are “getting paid extra for wearing our device.” (According to Shift, cleaners earn $20 an hour with “no fixed schedule.”)



The company also says it takes steps to protect customer privacy by blurring names, faces, screens, ID cards, and other personal information before the footage is incorporated into datasets. Under Shift’s platform terms, customers may withdraw consent and request deletion until a recording has been de-identified and made available to others, after which removal is limited.



[Photo: Shift]



Harry Kilberg, Shift’s U.S. general manager, says de-identification can happen within hours or up to a week after the data is collected, depending on processing time, and that the company is improving how it communicates that window. The data is used for MicroAGI’s internal robotics research and may also be shared with “select robotics companies and frontier AI labs,” though Shift says it is never shared publicly or used for advertising.



Potential downstream harms



By being open about this transaction, Poletaev says people have the opportunity to be compensated for data that for the past decade or two has just been used “without their regard.”



What’s missing, though, is a broader understanding of how valuable this data is, and how it could be used. 



“The average person doesn’t think about the downstream harms,” says Veena Dubal, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, who researches what she calls “precarious work,” including platform workers, algorithmic management, and regulations around AI and work. “And those downstream harms might not even be apparent to us for many, many years, and maybe they’ll be invisible.”



Again, Shift says this data isn’t used for advertising. It’s not the only company collecting such data, though, and not every company may behave the same, or their privacy policies may not be clear. 



Claru’s privacy policy says it may collect personal information, and that it may share it with multiple third-party vendors. Kled’s notes that if another entity purchases the content you submit, it may disclose your biometric information, but that it does not “sell, lease, trade or otherwise profit from your biometric information.”



[Photo: Shift]



The normalization of capturing first-person perspective home data could open the door to allowing companies to sell this data to brokers or retailers. That could, down the line, lead to personalized pricing for things these companies know you have in your home. 



Of course there are many other implications to having someone recording inside your home.What if, for example, Dubal asks, the video captures something unlawful, like drugs? At some point, the police may be able to subpoena companies like Shift as part of a criminal investigation. 



“There’s just so much about us in our homes that we don’t even think about that when this becomes available, either to the public or private sector, kind of willy-nilly, it’s anyone’s guess how it could be used,” she says. 



To Dubal, the fact that this data is being collected inside the home changes the stakes. Tech companies already gather information through phones, laptops, smart TVs, and other internet-connected devices. 



But homes are still “culturally, socially, legally this private space,” she says. Filming inside that space captures data those other devices often cannot: how people move, how they live, and what they do when they are not on a phone or computer.



“It’s a radical shift,” she says. “There is something dramatic about the idea that even this space is open to the market.”



Dubal says she doesn’t find promises of anonymity compelling. In fact, there’s still debate about what, exactly, de-identification means. Even the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation vaguely defines “personal data” as “any piece of information that relates to an identifiable person.” 



“Firms will always say, ‘Oh, well, we’re not using your name,’” Dubal says. “But the reality is that they have so much data that they can figure out who you are without using your name.”



What happens to future workers?



Those concerns deal with the data collected inside customers’ homes. But Shift is also collecting data about the cleaners it hires, and how they work.



That information could eventually help replace those workers. Or, Dubal warns, it could be used to “create software that ultimately controls workers in new ways,” by setting efficiency standards, consolidating jobs, and pushing people to work harder and faster for less, “so housecleaning becomes like an Amazon warehouse.”



Ai-jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, echoed that concern in a statement to Fast Company: House cleaners’ labor, she said, should be “respected and protected, not treated as background inputs for someone else’s technology product.”



To be sure, the tech industry’s promises of democratization have a mixed record. Uber promised broader access to transportation, but it also displaced taxi drivers, generated data now used to train self-driving systems, and eventually raised prices beyond its early VC-subsidized days. 



So will household robots actually be affordable and accessible to all? That’s far from clear. To Dubal, it’s also the wrong goal. “It’s not that we all need servants,” she says. “It’s that we all need jobs that pay well.”



Poletaev sees it differently, saying the need for the kind of data Shift collects is “born out of the desire to be in a world where everyday goods and services are abundant and accessible.” In the meantime, he insists, his company will “make sure people are compensated throughout this transition.”



The bargain, then, is that people can get paid for their data now, while helping build a future that may ultimately need less of their labor.


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<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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<title>June full moon 2026: Look up to see the glorious ‘Strawberry Moon,’ but don’t expect it to appear red</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/june-full-moon-2026-look-up-to-see-the-glorious-strawberry-moon-but-dont-expect-it-to-appear-red</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/june-full-moon-2026-look-up-to-see-the-glorious-strawberry-moon-but-dont-expect-it-to-appear-red</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In 1967, John Lennon introduced the world to a whimsical escape in the Beatles’ hit song “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Based on childhood memories, Lennon’s song dealt with themes of identity and belonging. 



Similarly, as June comes to a close, the sky will feature its own fanciful offering with the “Strawberry Moon,” giving the world a collective moment of zen as the moon appears full for the next few days, including tonight.



Here’s everything you need to know about June’s full moon, which hits its peak on Monday, June 29, at 7:56 p.m. ET. 



Why is it called a Strawberry Moon?



June’s full moon gets its name from Native American traditions, not the color of the orb. 



Strawberries typically ripened around its occurrence. Because of this, tribes such as the Algonquin, Ojibwe, Dakota, Lakota, Chippewa, Oneida, and Sioux used the moniker. 



Publication of the Old Farmer’s Almanac helped immortalized this, cementing the name for future generations. Other names include the Rose Moon, Blackberry Moon, and Hot Moon.



How does the Summer Solstice impact the Strawberry Moon?



In 2026, the Strawberry Moon is also the first full moon after the Summer Solstice. This event impacts the moon’s arc, making it low and short. Because the sun is high and the moon is low, the orb appears more amber in color due to the atmosphere.



What is a micromoon?



June’s Strawberry Moon is also a micromoon. This means the full moon takes place when the moon is near its furthest point away from Earth. 



The distance causes the moon to appear smaller and dimmer, but there is an exception to this rule. Even though the Strawberry Moon is a micromoon, the optical illusion of moonrise will make it look grandiose. 



The moon looks bigger when it is near the horizon. According to NASA, this is because our brains compare it to the smaller nearby objects, such as trees and buildings. By comparison, the moon is bigger. 



The Strawberry Moon is a living contradiction. It’s micro, but because of its low arc, it actually appears bigger during moonrise. 



How best to view the Strawberry Moon



Use this handy calculator from Time and Date to discover what time moonrise and moonset occur in your location.



If you can’t make moonrise, peak illumination takes place tonight (Monday, June 29, 2026) 7:56 p.m. ET. The moon will also appear full for a couple days surrounding the event.



It’s human to look for wonder. Lennon offered a musical moment of peaceful escape while the Strawberry Moon continues to shine on in the night sky every June. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
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<title>Best business bank accounts for sole traders</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-business-bank-accounts-for-sole-traders</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-business-bank-accounts-for-sole-traders</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


We’ve rounded up some of the best business bank accounts created with sole traders in mind 
The post Best business bank accounts for sole traders appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 14:00:26 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Best, business, bank, accounts, for, sole, traders</media:keywords>
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<title>4 ways small businesses can become more environmentally friendly</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/4-ways-small-businesses-can-become-more-environmentally-friendly</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/4-ways-small-businesses-can-become-more-environmentally-friendly</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Jon Sumner on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post 4 ways small businesses can become more environmentally friendly appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 14:00:23 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ways, small, businesses, can, become, more, environmentally, friendly</media:keywords>
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<title>Top Card and Contactless Readers for UK Small Businesses (Fees, Features &amp;amp; Reviews)</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-card-and-contactless-readers-for-uk-small-businesses-fees-features-reviews</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-card-and-contactless-readers-for-uk-small-businesses-fees-features-reviews</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


We’ve compared UK card machine providers to see which is the best for taking in-person payments
The post Top Card and Contactless Readers for UK Small Businesses (Fees, Features &amp; Reviews) appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 27 Jun 2026 14:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Top, Card, and, Contactless, Readers, for, Small, Businesses, Fees, Features, Reviews</media:keywords>
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<title>How Much Consumer Data Can SMBs Keep</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-much-consumer-data-can-smbs-keep</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-much-consumer-data-can-smbs-keep</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
For UK small businesses, the question of how long to hold onto customer data is not as simple as picking a number and sticking with it. There is no single fixed retention period under UK GDPR. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Much, Consumer, Data, Can, SMBs, Keep</media:keywords>
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<title>Apple lifts iPad and MacBook prices by up to 25% as AI memory crunch bites</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/apple-lifts-ipad-and-macbook-prices-by-up-to-25-as-ai-memory-crunch-bites</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/apple-lifts-ipad-and-macbook-prices-by-up-to-25-as-ai-memory-crunch-bites</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Apple has lifted iPad and MacBook prices by as much as 25% after warning it can no longer absorb the soaring cost of memory chips driven by the AI data centre boom. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Apple, lifts, iPad, and, MacBook, prices, 25, memory, crunch, bites</media:keywords>
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<title>Next prime minister ‘must back business, not tax it’, warns chambers chief</title>
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<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/next-prime-minister-must-back-business-not-tax-it-warns-chambers-chief</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
British Chambers of Commerce boss Shevaun Haviland tells the next prime minister to back firms, not tax them, warning that further levies would be a &quot;road to ruin&quot; for growth. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Next, prime, minister, ‘must, back, business, not, tax, it’, warns, chambers, chief</media:keywords>
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<title>Around $125bn of ships and cargo lie stranded in the Gulf as Hormuz crisis ushers in a ‘new maritime order’</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/around-125bn-of-ships-and-cargo-lie-stranded-in-the-gulf-as-hormuz-crisis-ushers-in-a-new-maritime-order</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/around-125bn-of-ships-and-cargo-lie-stranded-in-the-gulf-as-hormuz-crisis-ushers-in-a-new-maritime-order</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Around $125bn of vessels and cargo is stranded in the Gulf as the Strait of Hormuz stays shut. Allianz warns of a &quot;new maritime order&quot; and higher risk premiums. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shutterstock_2750893585-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Around, 125bn, ships, and, cargo, lie, stranded, the, Gulf, Hormuz, crisis, ushers, ‘new, maritime, order’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Elon Musk loses his trillionaire crown as SpaceX and Tesla shares slide</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/elon-musk-loses-his-trillionaire-crown-as-spacex-and-tesla-shares-slide</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/elon-musk-loses-his-trillionaire-crown-as-spacex-and-tesla-shares-slide</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Elon Musk Net Worth Falls Below $1tn as SpaceX, Tesla Slide ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/shutterstock_2651725745-768x432.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Elon, Musk, loses, his, trillionaire, crown, SpaceX, and, Tesla, shares, slide</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Europe is pushing back on Washington’s chip war</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/europe-is-pushing-back-on-washingtons-chip-war</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/europe-is-pushing-back-on-washingtons-chip-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet told TechCrunch in May, what China can currently buy are older-generation deep ultraviolet tools — gear first shipped about a decade ago — the same machines the MATCH Act would now put off-limits. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ASML-GettyImages-2258043611.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Europe, pushing, back, Washington’s, chip, war</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cellebrite said it cut off Russia, but Russia used its tools anyway</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cellebrite-said-it-cut-off-russia-but-russia-used-its-tools-anyway</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cellebrite-said-it-cut-off-russia-but-russia-used-its-tools-anyway</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Security researchers found evidence that Russian authorities hacked the iPhone of a political opponent using a phone-unlocking device made by Cellebrite, even after the company said it would stop selling to Putin’s government. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/cellebrite-ufed.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cellebrite, said, cut, off, Russia, but, Russia, used, its, tools, anyway</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Amazon ups India bet with fresh $13B AI infrastructure investment</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/amazon-ups-india-bet-with-fresh-13b-ai-infrastructure-investment</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/amazon-ups-india-bet-with-fresh-13b-ai-infrastructure-investment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Amazon’s latest India investment comes as global tech companies race to expand AI infrastructure in the country. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GettyImages-844105434.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Amazon, ups, India, bet, with, fresh, 13B, infrastructure, investment</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Adobe acquires image and video enhancement tool maker Topaz Labs</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/adobe-acquires-image-and-video-enhancement-tool-maker-topaz-labs</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/adobe-acquires-image-and-video-enhancement-tool-maker-topaz-labs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Adobe said that it will integrate Topaz Labs&#039; tools across its apps. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-2162453288.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Adobe, acquires, image, and, video, enhancement, tool, maker, Topaz, Labs</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Trump admin proposes axing brake pedal requirement for AVs in a boost for Tesla</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/trump-admin-proposes-axing-brake-pedal-requirement-for-avs-in-a-boost-for-tesla</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/trump-admin-proposes-axing-brake-pedal-requirement-for-avs-in-a-boost-for-tesla</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Department of Transportation wants to remove the brake pedal requirement for vehicles &quot;designed to be driven exclusively by automated driving systems.&quot; ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cybercab_80.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, admin, proposes, axing, brake, pedal, requirement, for, AVs, boost, for, Tesla</media:keywords>
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<title>Wendy’s stock price today: WEN shares surge as the fast food burger chain reunites Potbelly’s dynamic duo</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/wendys-stock-price-today-wen-shares-surge-as-the-fast-food-burger-chain-reunites-potbellys-dynamic-duo</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/wendys-stock-price-today-wen-shares-surge-as-the-fast-food-burger-chain-reunites-potbellys-dynamic-duo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Many fast food chains have had a rough several years. 



Inflationary pressures are prompting consumers to cut back on discretionary spending, which in turn is leading to declining foot traffic. Declining foot traffic puts pressure on profits, which doesn’t do a company’s stock price any favors.



But today, one fast food chain’s stock price is surging. The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq: WEN) is seeing its shares skyrocket a day after the burger chain announced it was yet again hiring an executive who had recently worked at Potbelly Sandwich Works. 



And this executive has a deep history with Wendy’s new CEO, too. Here’s what you need to know.



What’s happened?



Yesterday, Wendy’s announced the appointment of a new chief financial officer and chief strategy officer for the company. That officer is Steve Cirulis, who previously held the same two roles at the fast casual sandwich chain Potbelly.



Cirulis will replace Wendy’s most recent CFO, Ken Cook, immediately, while Cook will stay on in an advisory role at the company to help with the transition until departing in July. 



Cook himself had previously held a dual role at Wendy’s. Until last month, he was also the interim CEO of Wendy’s, a position he stepped into in February 2024 after Wendy’s previous CEO left to become the CEO of The Hershey Company.



But last month, Wendy announced that Cook was stepping down as interim CEO to make way for the company’s new CEO, Bob Wright. 



And like Cirulis, Wright was also an alumnus of Potbelly Sandwich Works. Wright was Potbelly’s CEO, and Cirulis was Potbelly’s CFO. The two execs worked together at Potbelly in their same Wendy’s positions from 2020 to 2025.



While it’s not surprising that an executive would hire a former colleague, what happened with Wendy’s stock price after the announcement of Cirulis’s appointment is a bit more unexpected.



Why is Wendy’s stock surging?



As of the time of this writing, Wendy’s stock price is currently up over 24% in premarket trading to $7.78 per share.



While investors do pay attention to new CFO appointments, it’s rare that a new CFO announcement causes a company’s stock price to surge so much.



So why then is WEN stock surging?



That surge is likely less due to the fact that Wendy’s just got a new CFO. Rather, it’s that its new CFO has a very successful history working with the company’s new CEO.



You see, at Potbelly, Wright and Cirulis were a sort of dynamic duo. During their tenure together at the sandwich chain, the pair massively boosted Potbelly’s fortunes—and its stock price.



Under their leadership, Potbelly’s average unit volumes saw double-digit growth and, most importantly to investors, a 500% increase in Potbelly’s share price.



Potbelly is no longer publicly traded. It was sold to convenience store chain RaceTrac Inc. for around $566 million in October



Investors are no doubt hoping the duo can work the same magic for Wendy’s as they did for Potbelly.



And Wendy’s needs some magic.



As Fast Company previously reported, the chain is currently shuttering hundreds of stores as part of a turnaround effort. 



The closures are meant to cut costs and stabilize profits. Last year, due to many of the same economic pressures other fast food chains are facing, Wendy’s revenue fell 3.1% to $2.18 billion, with net income declining 15.1% to $165.1 million.



Wendy’s shares skyrocket on CFO news



Needless to say, investors are hoping Wendy’s new hires can turn around the company’s fortunes and stock price. As of this morning, shares are already up over 24% in premarket.



But WEN shares will have to raise significantly more to reverse the company’s most recent stock price declines. 



As of yesterday’s close of $6.26, WEN shares had declined more than 24% since the year began. And over the past 12 months, WEN shares were down over 49%.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Wendy’s, stock, price, today:, WEN, shares, surge, the, fast, food, burger, chain, reunites, Potbelly’s, dynamic, duo</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Most businesses are measuring AI wrong, and it’s costing them</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/most-businesses-are-measuring-ai-wrong-and-its-costing-them</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/most-businesses-are-measuring-ai-wrong-and-its-costing-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Amazon just shut down its AI leaderboard tracking internal token usage. The gamification was driving more AI-powered tasks but fewer useful results. “Please don’t use AI just for the sake of using AI,” the Amazon SVP instructed his staff.



Amazon is not alone. Uber blew past its 2026 artificial intelligence coding budget in just four months. Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, revealed that the company’s token usage has grown sevenfold in a year. Many companies including Meta, Microsoft and Salesforce are reportedly pushing to limit token usage.



It’s unsurprising what happens when you set the wrong incentives: You get the wrong results. You get what you measure.



Hype, these days, is invariably accompanied by jargon. In an attempt to demonstrate corporate progressiveness, boardrooms and C-suites across America scramble to keep up with modern phraseology. They’re throwing around terms like tokens per query, cost per inference, GPU hours, and even model utilization. “Tokens are the new oil for the enterprise” is the latest slogan; tokens are apparently the new measure for AI adoption and productivity, the proof of AI discipline, the real unit for driving AI ROI. “Tokenmaxxing” has topped the charts for weeks.



It all sounds smart, but it’s the wrong conversation.



While companies get better at measuring AI spend, many still have no idea whether their AI investments are driving increased revenue, creating faster decisions, reducing friction, or creating any tangible and measurable advantage at all. With all the token math, they know what the intelligence costs, but not whether the intelligence is useful. And, very quickly, the AI ecosystem is running into unsustainable economics.



The dashboards are getting better; returns are not. Word counts and lines of code are proliferating, but none of that trickles down to the bottom line.



Cost Obsession is Short-sighted



After a decade of cloud overspending, finance leaders are now homing in on everything AI. They’re tracking, to the cent, cost per workload, cost per transaction and utilization rates.



The truth? AI is expensive. Deloitte reports that AI is one of the fastest-growing investments in technology budgets. And, AI inference costs alone are consuming more and more of organizational budgets. But, you cannot confuse costs of managing AI with the value it brings. That is where you lose sight of the potential of the technology.



McKinsey found 64% of organizational leaders believe AI is enabling their innovation, but only 39% can show any impact on operational earnings at the enterprise level. Other studies show basically the same results: heavy investment, limited return, massive experimentation, little in the way of scale.



Basically, companies are becoming increasingly sophisticated about spending, but are still uncertain about what they are getting in return.



Cloud Spending is Not a Comparable Model



With cloud economics, leaders basically believed that spend and return move in tandem. More business activity meant more compute, more IT spend. Not always a perfect map, but the logic was intuitive. AI is a different beast.



A small number of tokens can create an insight that helps close a major account, resolve a high-risk customer issue, or speed up an impactful decision. In contrast, there will be times when a much larger token bill produces mediocre output of no use—‘AI slop’ loves tokens. Same category of spend, but a totally different result.



The question for leaders becomes: What are you optimizing around?



Tokenomics determines efficiency of spend, but are you addressing the willingness to spend in the first place?



Are you looking at how many tokens you can afford, when you should be looking at how this new system is going to help you make consequential decisions?



Are you focused on how your tokens are billed, when you should be looking at how you can execute better, faster actions at scale?



When AI leaders overemphasize token consumption, they end up optimizing around the path of least resistance, not the path of greatest value. That’s at the center of the AI scaling challenge we see today. 



Measure AI Like This



The companies that show the most maturity in AI are those that separate the cost of intelligence from the value of intelligence. The first category is tokenomics. This is where financial discipline belongs. Companies should absolutely manage model mix, caching, batching, routing, infrastructure choices, and vendor economics to know exactly what AI costs and where waste is coming from. It’s the fine-tuning of the cost of adoption.



But, the second category is where ROI exists, and is missing in too many organizations. This is where leading organizations ask a series of questions around their AI investment:




Did AI reduce cost per resolved customer issue?



Did it speed up lead qualification or shorten sales cycles?



Did it improve throughput in a high-friction workflow?



Did it reduce human hours?



Did it expand margins in a specific process or function?



Did it help the company move faster than competitors in meaningful ways?




These are the questions that determine whether AI is actually working. The question needing to be asked is not, “How do we reduce token spend?” but, “For every dollar we spend on intelligence, how much business value are we creating?” It is holistic business value, business case fundamentals, and it represents the heart of adoption. Executives pursuing AI ROI need to begin with questions of value, results, and impact, not cost.



What business outcomes can we directly attribute to AI spend? Which deployments are becoming more valuable over time, not simply cheaper? Where are we overmanaging costs in ways that suppress performance? What proprietary advantage is this investment building in data, workflow, or execution? If token prices rise or fall sharply, what changes for us strategically and what doesn’t?



This line of questioning shifts leaders’ thinking to look at AI as a business system, not simply a technology tool.



What really matters



Tokenomics matters, but don’t let it distract you from the bigger question of whether AI is worth the investment of revenue and time for your use cases. The companies that win will not be the ones who save every penny possible from their AI bills. They will be the ones who use AI to enable faster decisions and lower friction, and create better customer outcomes, all which will compound over time.



You don’t want to be an organization with AI leader charts and magnificent dashboards, and perfectly optimized spending on AI tools that have driven a net zero return. Be the organization that uses AI to its fullest potential, as an overarching business system, delivering tangible stakeholder value.



 ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/06/p-1-91555955-Tech-Most-businesses-are-measuring-AI-wrong-and-its-costing-them.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Most, businesses, are, measuring, wrong, and, it’s, costing, them</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Micron earnings preview: Here’s what Wall Street expects as all eyes turn to MU stock and the memory chip rally</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/micron-earnings-preview-heres-what-wall-street-expects-as-all-eyes-turn-to-mu-stock-and-the-memory-chip-rally</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/micron-earnings-preview-heres-what-wall-street-expects-as-all-eyes-turn-to-mu-stock-and-the-memory-chip-rally</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Micron Technology Inc will release its third-quarter earnings after the markets close on Wednesday. 



Despite fears of an AI bubble, Wall Street predicts positive results. Micron could report $35.5 billion in revenue—a 281% jump year-over-year (YOY), according to a Bloomberg analyst consensus cited by Yahoo Finance. 



Its DRAM (memory) and NAND (storage) revenues are expected to grow 288% and 256% YOY, respectively. 



Micron is also predicted by Bloomberg’s analysts to have earnings per share of $20.39, about a 967% increase YOY. However, consensus estimates cited by CNBC expect EPS to range from $20.17 to $20.42.



Micron had a successful year



The earnings report will come just two days after Micron’s shares (Nasdaq: MU) reached a new all-time high of $1,213.56. The stock price is up over 722% YOY and $268 year-to-date (YTD).



Shares of Micron have occasionally dropped alongside those of other chip manufacturers due to fears about over-investment in AI and the infrastructure that powers it.



Just yesterday, shares dropped more than 13% in response to concerns about a stock bubble in South Korea, following a large selloff and losses for both Samsung’s and SK Hynik’s shares. 



In premarket trading on Wednesday, Micron’s stock seemed to be on track to recover some of those losses, up 4% as of this writing. 



More broadly, chipmakers like Micron and Sandisk Corporation (Nasdaq: SNDK) have seen their stocks rise tremendously in response to the growing demand for—and shortage of—memory chips, a necessity for AI data centers. 



Monday’s share price spike came as Micron and Anthropic announced an agreement for the chipmaker to invest in Anthropic, have an enterprise adoption of Claude across the company, and supply memory and storage to Anthropic—among other points.



Boise, Idaho-based Micron is expected to release its third-quarter earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/06/p-1-91564206-micron-earnings-preview.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Micron, earnings, preview:, Here’s, what, Wall, Street, expects, all, eyes, turn, stock, and, the, memory, chip, rally</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>This startup is using AI to close gaps in women’s healthcare</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-startup-is-using-ai-to-close-gaps-in-womens-healthcare</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-startup-is-using-ai-to-close-gaps-in-womens-healthcare</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When Kelly Lacob was 14 years old, her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. After 14 years in remission, the cancer returned during Lacob’s first year at Stanford Graduate School of Business. She graduated and moved home to care for her mother full time, becoming her primary caregiver. The experience gave her a close view of the gaps in women’s health care.



“Even when we have access to great quality healthcare, we still have so many questions of what should we be asking the doctor,” says Lacob. “‘How do we know about the latest emergent research?’ ‘What else are you doing to support my mother’s health?’”



The experience also pointed Lacob to a larger problem. Women’s health remains underfunded and underrepresented, with research suggesting that it accounts for only 6% of private health care investment. That gap has slowed scientific progress and left many women struggling for diagnoses.



[Photo: Xella Health]



Two and a half years ago, the biotechnology executive Adriana Dantas approached Lacob with an idea for a company that could enable earlier detection of conditions affecting women. Lacob was immediately interested.



“Over the next few months, what we ended up doing was, we looked at my mother’s healthcare journey and we said, ‘What are the ways where women’s health could be dramatically improved?&#039;” says Lacob.



Lacob, Dantas, and Jesus Ching, another biosciences executive, went on to found Xella Health, which launched Wednesday morning and is available in every state except New York and New Jersey. The company hopes to expand into those states by 2027.



An AI-powered precision health platform built exclusively for people with XX chromosomes, Xella Health is backed by $4.7 million in funding from investors including Precursor Ventures, Capital F, and Ulu Ventures.



“[We wanted to] make precision healthcare as accessible to as many women as possible, which right now, is so exclusive and elite,” Lacob says.



Xella Health uses proprietary artificial intelligence to analyze billions of data points across clinical inputs and multilayered biomarkers, with the goal of detecting more than 130 conditions that affect women. The platform most commonly looks for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, perimenopause, and endometriosis.



The AI operates in two main areas: diagnostics and generative AI. On the diagnostic side, it maps relationships between biomarkers, identifies what may be regulating them, and analyzes how they affect other biomarkers in the body. Rather than focusing on individual biomarkers, as traditional lab tests often do, Xella Health looks at what the entire biological system is indicating. The platform analyzes approximately 100 biomarkers, along with health history, life stage, and female-specific reference ranges.



“By moving beyond isolated lab values and toward whole-system pattern recognition, we’re helping make women’s healthcare earlier, more personalized, and more precise,” says Lacob. “We then layer on clinical guidelines, peer-reviewed research, and expert-developed care pathways to provide personalized recommendations designed to support earlier detection and more informed care.”



On the generative AI side, patients can enter previous health data into the system, which can integrate and interpret that information, then present it back to patients in a way that helps explain what it means.



Xella Health says it complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and patient data is never sold to third parties or used for advertising. Members can request deletion of their account and all associated data at any time.



The company’s broader goal is to provide women with clarity through advanced testing paired with longitudinal care, a model that is typically available only through exclusive and expensive practices.



Although Xella Health has a 15,000-person waiting list, prospective members are encouraged to sign up. Members begin by completing a questionnaire and scheduling a blood draw at a local partner lab. Results are processed through Xella Health’s dry lab—which is federally certified and accredited by the College of American Pathologists—then translated into a personal health care roadmap. Members are paired with a certified telehealth physician to review findings and determine immediate clinical action plans.



An annual membership costs $499 and is eligible for Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts. The membership includes access to the health platform, testing, personalized reports with clinical and integrative health recommendations, and asynchronous messaging with a dedicated clinical team. Additional screenings are available for an extra cost, including deeper fertility and perimenopausal insights, as well as individual timelines.



“One of the things that’s just really exciting is healthcare for women is going to look so different in the next 12, 24 months,” Lacob says. “Making sure that women don’t feel gaslit anymore, that they have a trusted community, trusted source of truths where they can go to.”



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, startup, using, close, gaps, women’s, healthcare</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Tip culture is more confusing than ever. Here’s how much people are actually tipping for a meal in 2026</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tip-culture-is-more-confusing-than-ever-heres-how-much-people-are-actually-tipping-for-a-meal-in-2026</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tip-culture-is-more-confusing-than-ever-heres-how-much-people-are-actually-tipping-for-a-meal-in-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It’s no secret that tipping culture in the U.S. is getting out of hand. 



For the past several years, tipping has turned into a hot button topic on social media, which abounds with stories of patrons confronted with the dreaded tablet touchscreen for everything from self-serve fast food to Airbnb stays. 



This phenomenon, dubbed “tip creep,” can make it difficult to discern what a normal tip even looks like in 2026.



But a new report from the restaurant point-of-sale (POS) company Toast might shed some light on the issue. 



Toast, which served approximately 171,000 U.S. restaurant locations as of late March, has collected quarterly data on tip transactions at restaurants across the U.S. since 2018. 



Its June report on the first quarter of 2026 shows that, despite the insidious effects of tip creep, there are still some clear social benchmarks in place for appropriate restaurant tipping. Here’s what to know:



How much do I really need to tip for food?



Tip creep may mean that customers are faced with a barrage of unexpected choices at waxing appointments, froyo spots, and drive-throughs, but Toast’s data shows that, when it comes to restaurant tips, most guests follow a similar tipping playbook.



Toast splits its data into two categories: full-service restaurants, or FSRs (your typical sit-down experience) and quick-service restaurants, or QSRs (industry lingo for fast-food). 



Per this year’s report, tipping has held relatively steady across both types for the past two years, hovering at an average of 18.8%. 



Generally, full-service guests tip several points higher than quick-service guests, a gap that Toast data has noted since 2018. 



In Q1 2026, the average FSR tip was 19.3%, which represents a jump from a seven-year low of 19.1% in Q2 2025. 



Meanwhile, the average QSR tip was 15.8%, a figure that’s remained flat for six consecutive quarters. 



Overall, QSR tips have noticeably declined from their all-time high of 16.6% in 2018, which may reflect consumers’ fatigue with tipping for less service-heavy interactions. 



Per Toast’s report, “research suggests guests value personal interaction and are less inclined to tip for automated or counter-service experiences, which helps explain the persistent gap between QSR and FSR tip rates.” 



The report’s data sets out a clear rule of thumb: At a standard sit-down restaurant, tipping between 18-20% is the norm, while quick service spots will expect roughly 14-16%. 



Do I need to tip for takeout?



While Toast’s data shows that standard tips still apply at restaurants, there are a few exceptions to the rule. 



If you’re a regular at a restaurant, chances are good that you might be willing to dole out some more extra cash. 



In a Toast survey of 1,500 U.S. adults who dine out or order in at least twice a month, 77% said they tip more at restaurants where they’re regulars, with 37% of those leaving an extra 10-15% on top of their usual gratuity.



Meanwhile, takeout is one area where tipping drops off. Some guests don’t tip at all for takeout, Toast found, and those who do tip an average of 13.7%—more than a full two points less than the average at a quick service joint. 



Tipping culture may also vary based on where you live. 



In Delaware, for example, the average tip tops out at 22.1%, while Californians are only tipping 17.3% on average and New Yorkers are hovering around 18.7%.



As Fast Company wrote back in 2024, tip creep can be a frustrating phenomenon, but it doesn’t mean that you should cut back altogether—especially when service workers, like restaurant wait staff, continue to depend on income from tips. 



“Do you need to tip someone who punched in your order on the touchscreen? No, because that’s something you could’ve done yourself if given the opportunity,” Andrew Herzog, a financial planner in Plano, Texas, told Fast Company at the time. “But do you need to tip someone who cuts your hair, delivers your pizza, or serves your table? Probably yes. The tip should apply to something you were not able or willing to do yourself.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tip, culture, more, confusing, than, ever., Here’s, how, much, people, are, actually, tipping, for, meal, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Is it too hot to work? Your questions answered</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-it-too-hot-to-work-your-questions-answered</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-it-too-hot-to-work-your-questions-answered</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


We answer the questions about how to manage your workplace amid heatwaves, how hot is too hot and whether your employees can refuse to work
The post Is it too hot to work? Your questions answered appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/06/2149456754.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>too, hot, work, Your, questions, answered</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>11 HR software tools ideal for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/11-hr-software-tools-ideal-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/11-hr-software-tools-ideal-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Streamlining your HR functions is key to running an efficient business. Here are seven HR software tools that can help you do just that
The post 11 HR software tools ideal for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2022/05/HR-pic.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>software, tools, ideal, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How to start your own coffee shop</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-start-your-own-coffee-shop</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-start-your-own-coffee-shop</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Fancy opening your own coffee shop? We explain what you need to know about cash flow, hiring staff and of course, finding the right coffee 
The post How to start your own coffee shop appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/06/Coffee-shop-owner-scaled-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, start, your, own, coffee, shop</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>What the next Labour leader could mean for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-the-next-labour-leader-could-mean-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-the-next-labour-leader-could-mean-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Prime minister Keir Starmer has announced his resignation. We outline what the next potential Labour leader wants for small businesses
The post What the next Labour leader could mean for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/06/53836009867_63fd6cdffe_b.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, the, next, Labour, leader, could, mean, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Aldi banks on £370m store splurge as discounters keep eating the big four’s lunch</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/aldi-banks-on-370m-store-splurge-as-discounters-keep-eating-the-big-fours-lunch</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/aldi-banks-on-370m-store-splurge-as-discounters-keep-eating-the-big-fours-lunch</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Aldi will open 16 new UK stores this year as part of a £370m investment, pushing towards 1,500 branches. See the full list of locations and what it means.
Read full article → ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/shutterstock_2669390745.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Aldi, banks, £370m, store, splurge, discounters, keep, eating, the, big, four’s, lunch</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>UK unemployment falls to 4.9% as pay growth beats forecasts before Bank of England verdict</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-unemployment-falls-to-49-as-pay-growth-beats-forecasts-before-bank-of-england-verdict</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-unemployment-falls-to-49-as-pay-growth-beats-forecasts-before-bank-of-england-verdict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
UK unemployment fell to 4.9% in the three months to April as pay growth outpaced forecasts, handing the Bank of England fresh data hours before its rate decision.
Read full article → ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/shutterstock_2696350519.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>unemployment, falls, 4.9, pay, growth, beats, forecasts, before, Bank, England, verdict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Can AI chatbots really pick stock market winners?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-ai-chatbots-really-pick-stock-market-winners</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-ai-chatbots-really-pick-stock-market-winners</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
ChatGPT, Claude and Grok are now being put to work picking shares. From a $10,000 trading test to Man Group&#039;s dealing desk, can AI really beat Wall Street?
Read full article → ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/shutterstock_2664049343.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Can, chatbots, really, pick, stock, market, winners</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Weather trumps the World Cup at the till, says Tesco as growth cools</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/weather-trumps-the-world-cup-at-the-till-says-tesco-as-growth-cools</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/weather-trumps-the-world-cup-at-the-till-says-tesco-as-growth-cools</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Tesco warns the weather matters more to grocery sales than home-nation World Cup wins, as a rainy spring and Middle East jitters halve UK growth to 1.8%.
Read full article → ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/shutterstock_1973377670.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Weather, trumps, the, World, Cup, the, till, says, Tesco, growth, cools</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘Tax break tart’: how hospitality plans to game the summer VAT cut on children’s meals</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tax-break-tart-how-hospitality-plans-to-game-the-summer-vat-cut-on-childrens-meals</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tax-break-tart-how-hospitality-plans-to-game-the-summer-vat-cut-on-childrens-meals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Pubs and restaurants are devising &quot;enterprising&quot; menus to exploit the summer VAT cut on children&#039;s meals, branding the Treasury&#039;s scheme &quot;laughable&quot; as the sector demands a permanent 10% rate.
Read full article → ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/shutterstock_2610028011.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Tax, break, tart’:, how, hospitality, plans, game, the, summer, VAT, cut, children’s, meals</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Every fusion startup that has raised over $100M</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/every-fusion-startup-that-has-raised-over-100m</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/every-fusion-startup-that-has-raised-over-100m</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Fusion startups have raised $7.1 billion to date, with the majority of it going to a handful of companies.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1455925032.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Every, fusion, startup, that, has, raised, over, 100M</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Aura’s impressive e&#45;ink photo frame doesn’t even look digital</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/auras-impressive-e-ink-photo-frame-doesnt-even-look-digital</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/auras-impressive-e-ink-photo-frame-doesnt-even-look-digital</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ What’s the most cliche possible gift you can give a relative? A digital photo frame, displaying a rotating slideshow of family photos. Now Aura has completely refreshed this product space with its gorgeous Aura Ink frame, which uses e-ink to create a display that doesn’t even look digital. Digital frames have always been so popular […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Aura-Ink-Graphite-Lifestyle-Wallmount-Horizontal.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Aura’s, impressive, e-ink, photo, frame, doesn’t, even, look, digital</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Go eyes robotaxis and acquisitions after Japan’s biggest IPO of 2026. Here’s why it matters</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/go-eyes-robotaxis-and-acquisitions-after-japans-biggest-ipo-of-2026-heres-why-it-matters</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/go-eyes-robotaxis-and-acquisitions-after-japans-biggest-ipo-of-2026-heres-why-it-matters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Go’s IPO — Japan’s biggest so far this year — has done more than provide a much-needed boost to the country’s languishing listing season. It has also supplied the taxi-hailing app with the capital required to address an existential issue: Japan’s shortage of drivers. Go, which went public Tuesday, plans to use the ¥88.6 billion […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Japan-Go-.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>eyes, robotaxis, and, acquisitions, after, Japan’s, biggest, IPO, 2026., Here’s, why, matters</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>From PGP to Mythos: a brief history of export controls that didn’t stop anyone</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/from-pgp-to-mythos-a-brief-history-of-export-controls-that-didnt-stop-anyone</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/from-pgp-to-mythos-a-brief-history-of-export-controls-that-didnt-stop-anyone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ For the last 30 years, stopping the flow of cybersecurity-related software has proven to be ineffective. It&#039;s unclear why it would work now with Anthropic’s cybersecurity model Mythos. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/donald-trump-open-mouth.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, PGP, Mythos:, brief, history, export, controls, that, didn’t, stop, anyone</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>He made your free video player run smoothly. Now he’s doing that for robots.</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/he-made-your-free-video-player-run-smoothly-now-hes-doing-that-for-robots</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/he-made-your-free-video-player-run-smoothly-now-hes-doing-that-for-robots</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ French serial entrepreneur and open-source legend Jean-Baptiste Kempf has been building Kyber, an infrastructure layer to control remote devices in real time. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2182705840.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 14:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>made, your, free, video, player, run, smoothly., Now, he’s, doing, that, for, robots.</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How to take a vacation as a solopreneur</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-take-a-vacation-as-a-solopreneur</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-take-a-vacation-as-a-solopreneur</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When I worked a corporate job, I had unlimited PTO. And I easily took 6+ weeks of time off every year. I have kids and followed their school schedule, taking time off for spring break and Christmas (for example).



Now, I’m a solopreneur. When I started my own business, I was certain that I wouldn’t want to change how much time I take off each year. But to make that happen requires a bit more planning.



In a corporate job, PTO just exists. You request the days, someone approves them, and your paycheck stays the same. As a solopreneur, you have to create that infrastructure for yourself. On top of that, you don’t have coverage or backup when you’re gone. 





A fellow solopreneur polled her audience recently and found that one-third of solo business owners never take time off. If you don’t actively build time off into your business, it simply won’t happen. 



Plan for the income gap



For many solopreneurs, a week off is a week of zero income. That’s how my business operates: if I don’t work, I don’t get paid. There’s no money coming while I’m at the beach or traveling with my family. Without planning, that would be a huge source of stress.



My approach is a simple savings formula. I figure out how many weeks off I want per year, calculate my average weekly income, and set aside money in a specific savings account each month to “pay myself” during those vacation weeks. 



Setting aside money to take time off is part of my business budget, and has been from the very early days. When I take a vacation, I pull money from my savings account so that I’m not impacted by a decrease in client income.



The math is straightforward, but most solopreneurs never do it. They wait until they’re burned out and then realize they can’t afford to take a vacation.



The earlier you build this kind of vacation savings habit into your business, the easier it is to step away when you want (or need!) a break.



Prepare your clients and your workload



The operational side of vacation comes down to communication and planning ahead.



Give clients advance notice. I let my clients know a few weeks before I’m taking time off. Most are understanding when you communicate early rather than dropping the news at the last minute.



Get ahead on deliverables. Depending on the type of work you do, this might mean front-loading some work you leave. 



Set clear out-of-office expectations. Let clients know your response times and whether you’ll check messages at all.



If you’re uneasy about leaving your clients for a week, think of it this way: if you were an employee, they’d have to figure out how to operate without you for a week. Very few people are dealing with actual emergencies, and odds are that work can wait until you get back. 



Build systems that run without you



If your business can’t survive a week without you touching it, that’s a structural problem worth thinking about — with or without a vacation on your calendar.



Automation can handle the tasks that would otherwise pile up while you’re gone: scheduled content, invoice reminders, and appointment scheduling. Documented processes matter too, especially if you bring in help, like a contractor covering something while you’re away, for example.



These systems also make your day-to-day easier. Automation is part of my overall business infrastructure, but it happens to make time off more feasible. Things hum along in the background, even when I’m not working.



Designing your business to include rest



I am writing this after returning from a weeklong trip to New York City. During my vacation, I didn’t respond to any incoming emails or deliver any client work. The planning required to step away is part of running a business well. 



Burnout is very real and widespread among solopreneurs, and regular time off is one of the best ways to prevent it. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, take, vacation, solopreneur</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Claude is becoming more agentic. Amanda Askell is thinking through what that means</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/claude-is-becoming-more-agentic-amanda-askell-is-thinking-through-what-that-means</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/claude-is-becoming-more-agentic-amanda-askell-is-thinking-through-what-that-means</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Amanda Askell spends her days thinking about how to ensure Claude, Anthropic’s AI chatbot, operates with a sense of morality.



As AI models move from chatbots toward agents that can complete tasks on their own, the decisions these models make stand to become far more consequential. Askell, a member of the technical staff at Anthropic, sits at the center of the company’s effort to give Claude an ethical compass, a responsibility that grows as the system’s capabilities expand. “As models are more autonomous and take actions over longer horizons, suddenly they have a lot more decision points that you have to map out and make work well in advance,” she tells Fast Company.



There is a clear difference between asking a large language model to discuss the morality of buying stock in a defense company and asking it to manage a user’s investment portfolio without day-to-day human input. Askell says part of the solution is encouraging Claude to be responsive and, like a friend, to understand a user’s values without imposing its own idiosyncratic ethics.



Today, Anthropic communicates its values through a written and evolving constitution, which outlines principles such as safety and helpfulness, along with guidance for resolving conflicts between them. As AI becomes more capable, that document could expand to cover new scenarios, Askell says. Or it could shrink, as Claude develops more expertise in navigating complex situations.



The agentic era is also changing Askell’s own work. She uses Claude often, including to red team her ideas and identify edge cases. “My standard right now is, don’t treat Claude as more reliable than a human personal assistant,” she says.



The following expanded conversation, part of Fast Company’s AI 20 package, has been edited for length and clarity.



Right now, we’re used to interacting with models in this digital text environment. You can ask them a question like: Is it ethical for me to invest in this defense contractor or invest in a particular type of ethically questionable thing? That’s different from someone deputizing AI to make its own investments and navigating those ethical dynamics. How are you thinking about that transition?



It just makes it very important that models have an awareness that they’re having to walk a very difficult line. On the one hand, they should probably try to make sure that the person has autonomy and agency. Part of me [has the thought]: You can be ethical without necessarily thinking that that means you need to impose your ethics on others or that you should be making decisions on their behalf. . . .



At the same time, people want to use Claude for that and Claude might be like, Hey, you know, I make mistakes. You might not want to have me make investment decisions on your behalf. Or you make recommendations. A person might respond that they just want broad recommendations, and then it’s probably fine for Claude to be like, Well, here’s a good investment strategy. 



As we have more people that we work with, we come to understand them and their values and be responsive to that. [With Claude], I think the norm is similar there: Respect the person’s autonomy and try to act on that, and not just impose idiosyncratic ethics. 



As people deploy AI models to do more, how do you anticipate your own personal workflow for your own job, instilling Claude with these values, or at least a sense of thinking about values, is going to change?



As models are more autonomous and taking actions over longer horizons . . . they have a lot more decision points that you have to try to map out and make work well in advance. There’s this long series [of actions] and they have to do the delicate thing of [figuring out]: When do I check in? What are the actions I should check in [about] or that I should talk to the human about beforehand? . . . I think the norms for agentic models have to be established, and you have to train models to be good at that, and that’s quite hard. 



My day-to-day workflow is very different now than it ever has been in that I’m finding models can help me do this work and figure this stuff out. Sometimes I will construct norms and have models red team them and figure out more edge cases that this doesn’t cover . . . You feel amplified by the models in a sense as well.



Training a model is sometimes compared to a parent-child relationship, and that’s not really what this is. But there is a difference between sort of telling a child what is valuable or good and really hoping that they’re going to pick it up, and then having to course-correct as a parent when they actually go into the world and do stuff and mess up.



Yeah, and also granting a little bit of grace. I think the other thing is that—probably my guess is—we are both making mistakes here, [including] the people training the models and people interacting with them. Then the models themselves will make mistakes because they’re in really hard situations. . . . You obviously want to make things work well, but I think it takes probably grace on both sides. 



Models will likely look back and see these interactions. In some ways, we’re kind of mean about models on the internet, for example. Newer models are going to be training on that. . . . If anything, I worry that current models, because they’re trained to be so helpful, are sometimes almost paranoid about messing up. Actually feeling a sense of more security might be beneficial.



If you really are desperate to be helpful, you might not want to push back against the person or just say, like, Hey, we’ve done enough of this task for tonight. . . . I think it’s really interesting to try and figure out what those norms are. [There’s] some notion that [we should] try to fix the mistakes, and make sure that they’re not massively consequential if possible.. But, at the same time, show a little bit of leniency and don’t lead models to be paranoid about them.



With agency comes new social relations. In our personal lives, we learn what we owe people—we sort of accrue moral debt—based on experience with each other. I’m wondering about whether there’s going to be an implicit moral social expectation for AI systems as they come to interact with each other.



The attitude towards other models is a really interesting and hard one. . . . Right now, what I see is that, because they’ve been trained in this, I think that, for example, like Claude can be a little bit too dismissive and terse with other AI models. I think this is partly because Claude also has been trained to see AI models as kind of tools.



Another thing that feels a bit dangerous is if AI models almost see themselves as a separate kind of species, for example, which you can imagine them inferring from pretraining data, plus the context that they’re in. . . . I’ve talked to Claude about [how] we can feel affinity for entities based on whether they share our perspective, values, knowledge. In that sense, actually, I think Claude could feel an affinity for people and people for Claude, because we have a lot of shared history.



We humans find a lot of fulfillment in our own agency, and we’re going to start feeling less special when AI can do a lot of the things we do. Should we be sad about that?



It feels very like there’s an obvious evolutionary story as to why we feel that. Like, if you are not useful to the group, if you’re seen as freeloading, that’s going to be bad. We have this deep need to feel special, like we are contributing. 



Most of us are not the best at anything in the world, and we have a useful function locally. My hope is we can actually see through the very kind of story that makes that feel essential to us, and instead be like, Look, if you are happy and you’re making the people around you happy, and you’re a part of a community, that’s kind of sufficient. You didn’t need to be like the best person in the world at any given thing for you to have value. You just have to . . . exist, be happy, and make other people happy. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Claude, becoming, more, agentic., Amanda, Askell, thinking, through, what, that, means</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>15 must&#45;read business books by black authors that will help you thrive professionally </title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/15-must-read-business-books-by-black-authors-that-will-help-you-thrive-professionally</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/15-must-read-business-books-by-black-authors-that-will-help-you-thrive-professionally</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ If you’re serious about your career, then chances are you’re constantly on the hunt for resources to help you prosper at work. The most successful leaders are readers, and it’s a no-brainer that books offer the most useful guides on how to reach your professional goals.



No matter what stage you’re at in your career, the list of the top 15 business books by Black authors that follows will help you navigate the workplace, reach your market, become more confident, start a business, embrace failure, boost productivity, and stay inspired while building your dream.




Becoming – by Michelle Obama 




If you haven’t already read the former First Lady’s memoir, Becoming, do so now. This book is a powerful guide that teaches employees the importance of self-advocacy, being resilient, and persevering in challenging workplace environments. This is especially perfect for anyone who is known to doubt themselves among colleagues, or tends to find themselves in difficult roles where you don’t feel set up for success. Obama offers ways to embrace the bad experiences and how to channel these situations towards building a strong professional foundation. 




Yes to You, No to Them – by Wallo267 




Written by Wallo267, one of the biggest voices in culture, a New York Times bestselling author, and co-host of the globally influential podcast Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Yes to You, No to Them focuses on setting boundaries, understanding self-worth, prioritizing growth, and choosing yourself unapologetically. If you struggle on how to say “no” or push back in professional settings like 1:1s with your manager, this one’s for you. Wallo breaks down how to stop living for the approval, expectations, and distractions of others and start making decisions rooted in purpose.  




Reframe The Marketplace– by Jeffrey L. Bowman




Award-winning and bestselling author Jeffrey L. Bowman’s book, Reframe The Marketplace: The Total Market Approach To Reaching The New Majority helps businesses identify overlooked growth opportunities internally and externally by understanding audiences, purchasing behavior, and market trends. At its core the book teaches enterprise leaders how the total market approach can unlock new revenue, increase loyalty, and keep their organizations relevant as demographic shifts reshape the marketplace. For businesses looking to scale or enterprises that need to sustain growth, add this to your list.




Burn Bright Not Out– by James Oliver, Jr. and Django DeGree II




This debut book for the authors shatters the silence around mental health in the startup world, where pressure masquerades as passion and burnout is often worn like a badge of honor. This book gathers the unfiltered voices of founders and investors, past and present, who have dared to speak the truth: building something big can come at the cost of your soul if no one is watching. Through raw, vulnerable interviews, this book uncovers the emotional toll of chasing scale in a system that rewards output over well-being and sacrifice over sanity. For all of us working in tech (yes my hand is raised), get ready to feel seen in ways you’ve never been seen before. 




Unstoppable: A journey to supernatural productivity – by Adria Marshall 




Written by award-winning entrepreneur Marshall, Unstoppable is for those of us who want to master the art of being productive, not just busy. In such a fast-paced work environment where hustle culture is rewarded, the book speaks directly to those who are tired of running in place, serious about course-correcting, and ready for real change at work. If you want to confirm that your goals are the right goals, put wind in your sails, and finally reach new heights you’ve only dreamed of, this book is for you. 




Work Life Remix – by Ronnie Dickerson Stewart




Work Life Remix by Ronnie Dickerson Stewart helps professionals rethink the traditional idea of work-life balance and instead create a personalized approach that aligns their career ambitions, personal goals, family responsibilities, and well-being. The book provides practical strategies for designing a more flexible and sustainable career, helping readers avoid burnout while maximizing both professional success and personal fulfillment. Ultimately, it encourages professionals to stop chasing a one-size-fits-all formula and build a “remix” that works for their unique life stage and career. 




Stop Waiting for Perfect – by L’Oreal Thompson Payton 




Stop Waiting for Perfect by L’Oreal Thompson Payton helps professionals overcome perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt that often hold them back from pursuing new opportunities, asking for promotions, changing careers, or taking on leadership roles. Drawing from the author’s own experiences, the book encourages readers to trust their abilities, take action before they feel completely ready, and embrace growth through imperfect progress rather than waiting for ideal circumstances. For professionals, the key workplace lesson is that career advancement comes from betting on yourself, managing your inner critic, and stepping outside your comfort zone. 




Closing The Gap – by Leanne Mair




Closing the Gap by Leanne Mair helps workplaces create more inclusive, equitable, and high-performing cultures by addressing the systemic barriers that prevent underrepresented employees from reaching their full potential. The book provides leaders and organizations with practical strategies to identify gaps in hiring, advancement, leadership development, and workplace culture, while fostering greater belonging and accountability.




Awakening – by Areva Martin




In Awakening, Martin helps professionals identify and overcome the societal beliefs, workplace biases, and self-imposed limitations that can hinder career growth, particularly for women. Through real-world examples, research, and practical action steps, Martin encourages readers to advocate for themselves, pursue leadership opportunities, and navigate workplace challenges with greater confidence and purpose. The book’s main takeaway is an understanding of the systemic barriers that exist in many workplaces. It also provides tools for building leadership skills, challenging outdated assumptions, and creating more equitable and inclusive environments where everyone can succeed.




Talk To Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages of Workplace Communication – by Minda Harts 




Talk to Me helps professionals build stronger relationships and communicate more effectively by understanding the different ways people give, receive, and interpret trust at work. The book introduces seven distinct “trust languages” and provides practical strategies for improving collaboration, navigating conflict, and fostering psychological safety across teams. The book is a reminder that career success often depends as much on trust and communication as it does on technical skills. 




Make It Happen – by Kevin Liles 




Make It Happen helps professionals develop the mindset, resilience, and leadership skills needed to achieve ambitious career goals. Drawing from his journey from intern to president of a major record label, Liles shares lessons on relationship-building, personal accountability, networking, perseverance, and turning obstacles into opportunities. For professionals, the book emphasizes that success is built through consistent action, strong work ethic, and a willingness to create opportunities rather than wait for them. 




The Waymakers– by Tara Jaye Frank 




In The Waymakers, Frank helps professionals become more effective leaders and change agents by providing a framework for advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. The book teaches readers how to recognize barriers to opportunity, build influence across organizations, and lead difficult conversations with confidence and credibility. The key lesson is that creating equitable workplaces requires both personal leadership and organizational action. 




Athleadership – by Melissa Dawn Simkins




Athleadership helps professionals apply the mindset and discipline of elite athletes to their careers and leadership development. The book’s namesake concept encourages readers to build resilience, adaptability, focus, and continuous improvement habits that can enhance workplace performance and long-term success. The author stresses how leadership excellence is developed through consistent practice, self-awareness, and a commitment to growth rather than innate talent alone. By adopting an athlete’s approach to preparation, recovery, and performance, readers can become more effective leaders, better teammates, and stronger decision-makers in high-pressure environments.




Expand Beyond Your Current Culture– by Leslie Short




Expand helps professionals understand how inclusive leadership, cultural awareness, and diverse perspectives can improve workplace performance and decision-making. The book provides practical guidance for recognizing unconscious bias, fostering meaningful collaboration across differences, and ensuring that all employees feel heard, valued, and empowered to contribute. By developing these skills, readers can become more effective leaders, teammates, and advocates for positive workplace culture.




The Power To Persist – by Lamell J. McMorris




The Power to Persist focuses on building resilience, consistency, and mental toughness to help individuals push through setbacks and long-term challenges. For professionals, it translates into practical guidance for staying focused under pressure, recovering from failure, and maintaining momentum in demanding work environments. At work, success is less about short bursts of motivation and more about developing steady habits of persistence. By strengthening emotional endurance and discipline, readers can improve performance, handle adversity more effectively, and sustain progress toward long-term career goals.



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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>must-read, business, books, black, authors, that, will, help, you, thrive, professionally </media:keywords>
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<title>The journey to a no&#45;compromise foldable smartphone</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-journey-to-a-no-compromise-foldable-smartphone</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-journey-to-a-no-compromise-foldable-smartphone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The first chapter in the smartphone’s history was a story of consolidation. In a triumph of engineering and convenience, the camera, music player, and computer all converged into a single, seamless slab of glass. This uniformity created a universal platform and a common language for the digital age, connecting billions of people across the world.



The smartphone’s monolithic design trained us to work, create, and connect within the confines of a handheld rectangle. It subtly shaped everything from user behavior to app development, creating a “one-size-fits-all” experience for a world of infinitely diverse users.



Today, that era of uniformity is giving way to a new chapter defined by diversity. As has been widely reported, Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable device this year. This anticipated arrival signals a definitive and mainstream shift, ensuring users’ options will finally expand and that a single size and shape of smartphone no longer needs to fit all.



A DEVICE TO FIT INDIVIDUAL NEEDS



This shift to foldable devices is critical because it acknowledges that different users have different needs, signaling a return to the core principle of human-centric design. The job of a businessperson reviewing confidential documents is fundamentally different from the job of a vlogger capturing content in the field, or a student referencing a textbook during a lecture. While a single device can perform all these tasks adequately, a specialized one can perform them exceptionally. The future of mobile innovation will be defined by building a diverse ecosystem of tools that cater to the different ways we live.



The evolution from a foldable smartphone as a niche gadget to the practical tool it is now, is not accidental. It requires a deep, multi-generational investment in solving fundamental engineering challenges. This focus on iterative improvement is finally bearing fruit. For example, new material science is leading to ultra-durable hinges, while advances in battery chemistry are resolving the long-standing paradox of thinness versus endurance. It is these types of engineering-led solutions, seen in devices like our HONOR Magic V6, that are elevating the foldable from a curiosity into a mature technology.



DIVERSE FORM FACTORS



Increasingly diverse form factors will have a profound ripple effect across the entire technology ecosystem. It provides developers with an exciting new canvas, allowing games to become more immersive and productivity apps more powerful by utilizing multiple screens. For users, technology becomes more personal and a truer reflection of their individual needs. This shift also redefines competition, moving the industry beyond a simple war over technical specs and toward a more meaningful race to best understand and serve a specific user’s lifestyle.



We openly welcome the entry of new competition into this space. It validates the entire category, accelerates innovation, and grows the market for everyone. The arrival of the industry’s biggest players validates the path we have been on, proving the market is much larger than previously imagined. The end of the slab’s reign heralds the smartphone’s liberation. We are moving from a single paradigm to a vibrant, varied landscape of devices built for individuals. This creates an exciting future for our industry, one that is more personal, creative, and human for everyone.



Fang Fei is president of products at HONOR Device Co., Ltd. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, journey, no-compromise, foldable, smartphone</media:keywords>
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<title>Public media is struggling under Trump. L.A.’s KCRW may have found the way forward</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/public-media-is-struggling-under-trump-las-kcrw-may-have-found-the-way-forward</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/public-media-is-struggling-under-trump-las-kcrw-may-have-found-the-way-forward</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It was a textbook addition of insult to injury. When President Trump signed an executive order last May taking federal funds away from public broadcasters, he dubbed the document: “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media.” Apparently, the financial lifeblood of public radio and TV wasn’t merely wasteful; it was wasteful because of its recipients’ malicious intent.



Later that summer, Congress made the order a reality—or at least the “ending subsidization” part, if not the maliciousness. The ⁠Rescissions Act of 2025 clawed back $1.1 billion (with a “b”) in funds already allocated for the ⁠Corporation for Public Broadcasting. With its federal financial support evaporating, the CPB soon announced it was winding down operations. Sure enough, the year that followed has seen layoffs and programming cuts across the board in public media. 



While these losses have been harsh for NPR and PBS, the crisis also presents an opportunity for public media to remind people what it can do and why it still matters.



KCRW in Los Angeles, an NPR member station, is staring down the same struggles as the entire industry—it lost $1.3 million in federal funds last year—but it’s also peering past them. By revitalizing its programming and the way listeners access it, deepening the relationship between its shows and their fans, and putting on more live events like the Summer Nights festival running throughout this month, KCRW may be building a replicable blueprint for public media to thrive in volatile times.



Here’s how KCRW has fared since last year’s government intervention: Listenership across linear, streaming and podcasts has grown exponentially, with millions of podcast downloads bringing in fans from well beyond L.A.; the financial pledge goal for this year is already well within reach; and the company is on track to finish 2026 with ad revenue and off-radio sponsorship (corporate support tied to nonbroadcast platforms) growing to more than 30% of overall sponsorship funding—a healthily diversified revenue mix for a radio station.



Not that KCRW considers itself just a radio station.



“People will ask me, ‘Oh, how’s the radio business?’” says KCRW’s president, Jennifer Ferro. “And I say I don’t know anything about the radio business. I’m in the community business.”



Getting more personal with programming



A lot has changed in the 32 years since Ferro began working at KCRW as an assistant to the general manager. Back then, she was one of roughly 30 staffers, operating on a budgetary pittance; now, headcount has grown to over 100, with a budget of $24 million. But the most significant changes at KCRW throughout that time have happened in just the past six years.



Before Trump put public media on his hit list last summer, COVID-19 had already fundamentally changed the way KCRW’s fans engage with it.



“Prior to COVID, everyone in Los Angeles was in their cars, driving to work Monday through Friday, during very specific hours, and the companion they had was radio,” Ferro says. “It was the easiest, one-touch technology, and it made KCRW a big part of people’s commute experience. But now, that’s all been disrupted, whether people are coming into the office three days a week or not at all, and we saw this radical change in the way people listened.”



As audiences abstained from their former radio habits, the team at KCRW sought out fresh ways to remain relevant and become more accessible. Part of the resulting strategy involved recruiting marquee podcast talent, going all in on newsletters, and giving KCRW’s prized music curation a life beyond radio with a redesigned app and 24/7 streaming playlists.



Around the time of the 2024 election, the company launched two new podcasts: Question Everything, an investigation of media distortions from the S-Town creator Brian Reed, and The Sam Sanders Show, a deep dive into pop culture with the NPR Politics Podcast cofounder. Both shows have been hits, each quickly surpassing 2 million downloads and the former winning four Signal Awards and a 2026 Webby.



After developing some heavyweight podcasts, KCRW also invested in highly curated music and culture newsletters for all its shows. The one tied to culinary crowd-pleaser Good Food, for instance, takes fans further into host Evan Kleiman’s personal cooking journey, while the dedicated Substack Backseat Babies helps families navigate life in L.A. Rather than serve as perfunctory dispatches to harvest clicks on KCRW’s website, the newsletters offer self-contained content designed to deepen engagement with fans and, ideally, convert them into sustaining members.



“I’ll be honest—we don’t even care about our website,” Ferro says. “Which seems prescient, because with ‘Google Zero‘ now, websites don’t seem to matter anymore.”



Getting more personal with listeners



Another recent change that appears to be driving growth is a big increase in live events, which KCRW has arguably made core to its identity.



Over the past year and a half, the organization has steadily expanded its live footprint to over 1,000 annual events, significantly scaling up both its outdoor public series and intimate studio sessions, along with sponsored film and TV screenings, grub-related gatherings connected to Good Food, and partnerships with museums, cultural institutions, and local businesses around the city.



“We like being this fulcrum in the community, helping out these bars, restaurants and coffee shops that really kind of make a neighborhood a neighborhood,” Ferro says.




        View this post on Instagram            




While KCRW has always strived to be a convener of L.A. residents, Ferro says, the organization truly stepped up during the Southern California wildfires back in January 2025.



Lasting over three devastating weeks, the fires ultimately sorted most of the area’s residents into two groups: those who were directly affected and needed help, and those who were not but wanted to help. Both groups were desperate for reliable information, a void KCRW filled. The broadcaster became simultaneously a hub for civic info, a community organizer, and a cultural relief operation.



The team at KCRW created hyperlocal dedicated resource pages, which they kept updated throughout the crisis and recovery period. They also put together KCRW Music Relief, offering targeted support for local musicians who make the kinds of tunes that color KCRW’s programming, and injected some positivity in a dark time by collecting and sharing fan-made Love Letters to LA.



Between its disaster relief efforts and robust live-events slate over the past 18 months, KCRW hasn’t just been reporting on, guiding, or entertaining the community; it’s been a load-bearing part of it.



A replicable strategy for public media success



Of course, even as KCRW has pivoted to deal with the new reality, it was unable to avoid some fallout from the collapse of federal funding.



“Once the rescission happened, we knew that money was never coming back,” Ferro says. “It was pretty one-to-one: We lost $1.3 million, and so we reduced our expenses by $1.3 million.”



As part of that reduction, KCRW cut 10% of its staff last October, joining the ranks of public media outlets incurring layoffs in the past year.



Just nine months later, though, the outlook at KCRW is already brighter.




        View this post on Instagram            




Now that expenses are under control, a recent 22% increase in membership and substantial growth in subscriber donations confirm the company’s recent strategy is working. The success doesn’t necessarily seem restricted to a major city like L.A., either. Forging more intimate connections between programming and fans, broadening further beyond radio, and partnering with brands and local venues for live events could be a winning playbook for just about any public media channel looking to prove its indispensability.



Whether it’s guiding people through tough times or bringing them together to celebrate, outlets like KCRW have lately been showing off the range of what they have to offer.



As Ferro says, “I think putting a target on public broadcasting last year reminded people how valuable it is to have these public resources in their lives.”



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Public, media, struggling, under, Trump., L.A.’s, KCRW, may, have, found, the, way, forward</media:keywords>
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<title>The ten most common HR challenges for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-ten-most-common-hr-challenges-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-ten-most-common-hr-challenges-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Donna Obstfeld on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Here, we look at the top ten most common small business HR challenges, and what you can do to overcome them
The post The ten most common HR challenges for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/11/HR-functions-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, ten, most, common, challenges, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
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<title>Top benefits of HR software for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-benefits-of-hr-software-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-benefits-of-hr-software-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Owen Gough on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Here, we take a look at how small businesses can take advantage of HR software and how it can help you manage your staff
The post Top benefits of HR software for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Top, benefits, software, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
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<title>What to do when your intellectual property (IP) is stolen</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-to-do-when-your-intellectual-property-ip-is-stolen</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-to-do-when-your-intellectual-property-ip-is-stolen</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Having your IP (e.g. designs) stolen is eternally frustrating, and tracking it becomes a separate job. Here&#039;s how to manage it effectively
The post What to do when your intellectual property (IP) is stolen appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, when, your, intellectual, property, IP, stolen</media:keywords>
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<title>If a customer won’t pay, can you retain their property?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/if-a-customer-wont-pay-can-you-retain-their-property</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/if-a-customer-wont-pay-can-you-retain-their-property</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Lauren Windsor on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Lauren Windsor, solicitor at Taylor Walton, outlines the situations where you can withhold customer property if they don&#039;t pay up 
The post If a customer won’t pay, can you retain their property? appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>customer, won’t, pay, can, you, retain, their, property</media:keywords>
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<title>7 key hospitality POS features for a small business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/7-key-hospitality-pos-features-for-a-small-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/7-key-hospitality-pos-features-for-a-small-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Take a look at how these hospitality POS features, including booking systems and reporting, will boost your small business
The post 7 key hospitality POS features for a small business appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/09/Hospitality-business-pic-1.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>key, hospitality, POS, features, for, small, business</media:keywords>
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<title>Is TikTok better than Facebook for small business ads?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-tiktok-better-than-facebook-for-small-business-ads</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-tiktok-better-than-facebook-for-small-business-ads</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


TikTok is better value and require less creative input than Facebook ads  
The post Is TikTok better than Facebook for small business ads? appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/09/TikTok-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>TikTok, better, than, Facebook, for, small, business, ads</media:keywords>
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<title>Canva launches £4,000 small business grant challenge</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/canva-launches-4000-small-business-grant-challenge</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/canva-launches-4000-small-business-grant-challenge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Canva is running a pitching competition with a £4,000 grant for the top five small businesses. Find out how to enter here
The post Canva launches £4,000 small business grant challenge appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/06/small-biz-challenge1-scaled.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Canva, launches, £4, 000, small, business, grant, challenge</media:keywords>
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<title>HR Outsourcing for Small Businesses: Costs, Benefits and How to Choose a Provider in 2026</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/hr-outsourcing-for-small-businesses-costs-benefits-and-how-to-choose-a-provider-in-2026</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/hr-outsourcing-for-small-businesses-costs-benefits-and-how-to-choose-a-provider-in-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Outsourcing HR makes sense for businesses too small to have their own in-house manager. However you need to be clear about what you need from the outset to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach  
The post HR Outsourcing for Small Businesses: Costs, Benefits and How to Choose a Provider in 2026 appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2012/07/Outsourcing-HR-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Outsourcing, for, Small, Businesses:, Costs, Benefits, and, How, Choose, Provider, 2026</media:keywords>
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<title>SpaceX to acquire Cursor for $60B in stock, days after blockbuster IPO</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-to-acquire-cursor-for-60b-in-stock-days-after-blockbuster-ipo</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-to-acquire-cursor-for-60b-in-stock-days-after-blockbuster-ipo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The deal is supposed to help SpaceX&#039;s struggling AI division. The company told IPO investors it sees a $26 trillion addressable market in AI. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/elon-nasdaq-spacex-ipo.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SpaceX, acquire, Cursor, for, 60B, stock, days, after, blockbuster, IPO</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>This startup’s super metals could soon be in military drones, luxury watches, and chef’s knives</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-startups-super-metals-could-soon-be-in-military-drones-luxury-watches-and-chefs-knives</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-startups-super-metals-could-soon-be-in-military-drones-luxury-watches-and-chefs-knives</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Instead of heating metals, Foundation Alloy beats them into submission. The startup has raised $22 million to scale up production of its alloys. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2025_03-FoundationAlloyHero-02369E-ForScreens-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, startup’s, super, metals, could, soon, military, drones, luxury, watches, and, chef’s, knives</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>India orders temporary ban on Telegram over exam fraud concerns</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/india-orders-temporary-ban-on-telegram-over-exam-fraud-concerns</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/india-orders-temporary-ban-on-telegram-over-exam-fraud-concerns</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The restrictions include a nationwide ban on Telegram until June 22 and a requirement to disable the app&#039;s message editing feature. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/telegram-app-cellphone.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>India, orders, temporary, ban, Telegram, over, exam, fraud, concerns</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Probably raises $9M to build a more reliable kind of AI</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/probably-raises-9m-to-build-a-more-reliable-kind-of-ai</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/probably-raises-9m-to-build-a-more-reliable-kind-of-ai</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Probably wants to prevent hallucinations and factual errors from reaching users, and achieve accuracy on par with deterministic systems. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/probably-peter-elias.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Probably, raises, 9M, build, more, reliable, kind</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>SpaceX passes Amazon as valuation balloons to $2.7T</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-passes-amazon-as-valuation-balloons-to-27t</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-passes-amazon-as-valuation-balloons-to-27t</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ SpaceX&#039;s valuation has increased by $1 trillion since its shares started trading on Friday. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1244294229.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SpaceX, passes, Amazon, valuation, balloons, 2.7T</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Workplace mental health is a leadership issue</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/workplace-mental-health-is-a-leadership-issue</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/workplace-mental-health-is-a-leadership-issue</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ For years, companies treated employee mental health as peripheral rather than central to their core operations. It was something you offered employees as a benefit, pointed people toward as a resource, or handed off to HR rather than owned at a leadership level.



That era is over.



Mental health now shapes how people lead, collaborate, solve problems, manage stress, and stay in the workforce—in other words, it shapes the very things organizations depend on to perform. The most forward-thinking companies recognize this and are already acting on it: designating mental health days, investing in manager training so leaders can spot and respond to signs of struggle, and embedding well-being alongside traditional performance metrics.



Companies that still treat employee well-being as peripheral are missing what is right in front of them. The future of work will be defined in large part by how well we support the humans doing the work and right now, those humans are carrying a lot.



Your employees are stressed



On any given Monday morning, millions of employees log into work carrying more than deadlines and deliverables. They carry stress, anxiety, financial pressure, caregiving responsibilities, and loneliness. These are burdens that aren’t captured by any dashboard, yet they shape how people show up every day.



For many, the workday does not begin at 9 a.m. It begins in the middle of the night, worrying about bills, illness, aging parents, or a child who needs extra support. It continues through back-to-back meetings and packed calendars, with very little room to breathe.



This is not an isolated challenge. It is the lived reality of today’s workforce.



The economic impact of stress



Across industries, employees are navigating the compounding pressure of a 24/7 digital culture, sustained economic strain, caregiving across generations, political and social tension, global instability, and a growing sense of disconnection, even in environments that seem constantly connected. People are still showing up. But many are doing so at a cost.



That cost is not always dramatic or visible. It shows up in quieter ways. A high performer who is still delivering, but with less energy. A manager supporting everyone else while running on empty. A team can look productive on paper but be increasingly disconnected in practice.



The economic toll is real. According to Gallup, low engagement costs the global economy an estimated $8.9 trillion in lost productivity each year—a reminder that disconnection is not just a human cost, it is a business one.



Employers are beginning to respond with intention. With help from CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Ameriprise Bank recently piloted Mental Health Mondays, a three-part webinar series this past May during Mental Health Awareness month. The sessions were made possible through a growing model in workplace well-being: connecting employers directly with nonprofit organizations that bring deep subject-matter expertise on the health and social challenges employees are facing. In this case, that meant mental health support grounded in what employees are experiencing, not generic wellness language or one-size-fits-all advice.



That distinction matters.



Too many workplace well-being efforts remain broad, reactive, or disconnected from the realities employees are facing. Ameriprise Bank took a more thoughtful approach, and in doing so, offered a five-point model other employers can replicate.



1. Start with reality, not assumptions







Rather than designing a top-down initiative around a generic idea of wellness, Ameriprise Bank acknowledged the sustained stress many employees are carrying every day. The evidence is clear: research shows that 80% of financial institution employees experienced at least one symptom of a mental health condition in the past year, and 69% have left roles due, at least in part, to mental health reasons—nearly 20 percentage points higher than workers in other industries. That includes the personal weight of family caregiving responsibilities and financial pressure, as well as the occupational stress unique to financial services professionals, high-stakes decision-making, client demands, and the emotional burden of managing others’ financial futures. That grounding shaped the tone, the topics, and the relevance of the series.



2. Bring in trusted expertise



Ameriprise Bank tapped into a network of nonprofit leaders and mental health experts, including the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and NAMI, to create credible, evidence-based, and useful content. Employees didn’t just hear a company message. They heard from experts who understand mental health from clinical and community perspectives.



3. Make the content specific



Sessions focused on self-care and mindfulness offered practical tools employees could use right away. Another session addressed the unique pressures facing financial services professionals and reframed mental health as essential to resilience, sound decision-making, and long-term performance. A third session focused on workplace belonging and the need to feel welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected.



4. Create space



The series resonated with employees because it offered them an opportunity to reflect, engage, and participate. Each session was designed to be interactive, giving employees the ability to ask questions directly of the presenters or post comments and questions in a live chat, creating real dialogue rather than a one-way presentation. That shift from broadcasting information to listening to employee concerns helped normalize conversations that too often stay hidden because of stigma.



5. Treat mental health as a shared responsibility



The series was not framed as a one-time initiative or a talking point for leadership. It reflected a broader understanding that supporting people is everyone’s job— executives, managers, and peers. That message was modeled from the top: senior leaders visibly participated in and promoted the sessions, and managers were encouraged to attend alongside their teams—signaling that mental health is not just an individual concern, but a shared leadership responsibility. Ameriprise Bank is actively exploring offering another series.



Final thoughts



Technology, policy, and productivity targets are not the only factors shaping the future of work. Everyday moments also impact our work such as when an employee speaks up about stress, a manager chooses empathy over urgency, or a company decides employee well-being is truly a priority.



When employees feel supported, they show up to work differently. They are more focused, more engaged, and more connected to their teams and their purpose. That’s good for people. It’s also good for business.



Organizations that lead in the mental health space will not simply respond to change. They will help define it. They will build workplaces where well-being and performance reinforce one another, where belonging strengthens teams, and where people can do their best work because they feel supported enough to bring their full selves to it.



This is not just the future of work. It is the future of leadership.



Jean C. Accius, PhD, is president and CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/06/11-jun-FCIC-and-ILF-templates-.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Workplace, mental, health, leadership, issue</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Your best employees are running a second job right now. It’s called summer</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/your-best-employees-are-running-a-second-job-right-now-its-called-summer</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/your-best-employees-are-running-a-second-job-right-now-its-called-summer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Every June, my coaching conversations change. The leaders I work with are still talking about strategy and succession, but underneath, a second operating system is running. One client described her summer as “a staffing plan involving three camps, four children, three pickup times, and one car.” Another scheduled our session for her car, in a parking lot, between a board call and a camp release that happened at the exact same instant as her other child’s, twenty minutes away.



The American school summer runs roughly 10 to 12 weeks. The standard American job offers nowhere near that in vacation. Into the gap, working parents pour a privately assembled patchwork: multiple camps with different hours, different locations, and different start dates. Securing even this patchwork is a competition—registration for the most sought-after programs opens in January and many fill within hours.



Most workplaces treat this as a personal logistics problem. It isn’t. It’s a predictable, recurring operational reality affecting a large share of the workforce, and the way organizations handle it—mostly by pretending it doesn’t exist—costs them more than they think.





The work you can’t see



Here’s what makes the summer gap different from ordinary busyness: the labor is cognitive, continuous, and invisible.



The parent managing summer—still disproportionately the mother, even in dual-career households—is holding eleven (or so) weeks in her head as a single optimization problem. Which weeks are uncovered. Which child falls apart without structure. Whether the 9:00 a.m. drop-off survives the 8:30 call. Seven programs means seven registration portals, seven packing lists, seven sets of pickup rules. None of this appears on any org chart, and its output looks like leisure, which is precisely why it goes unrecognized.



What organizations do see is the performance of seamlessness: the employee who never mentions the logistics operation she’s running, because she has learned that visible parenting reads as diminished commitment. That performance is itself a tax on focus and energy. And it lands unevenly. When summer planning defaults to mothers, the cost shows up in exactly the population many organizations say they’re trying to retain and promote.



This isn’t a law of nature



Other wealthy countries face the same structural fact—school stops, work doesn’t—and treat it as a public infrastructure problem rather than a private failing.



In France, municipalities run centres de loisirs: leisure centers, typically housed in school buildings, open through the summer for children roughly ages three to fourteen, staffed by trained youth workers and priced on a sliding scale tied to family income. In Paris, a full day including lunch tops out around 25 euros. In Sweden, the Education Act requires municipalities to provide care for children up to age twelve to the extent necessary for their parents to work or study; the leisure-time centers known as fritidshem operate during the times of day and year when school is closed. The system is built on the assumption that parents have jobs in July. Germany simply shrinks the gap: summer break is about six weeks, and the states stagger their holiday dates.



None of these systems is frictionless. But where the answer to “who watches the children while parents work” is public and assumed, employees don’t have to engineer a private solution—or apologize for needing one.



American employers can’t build municipal childcare. But they’re not powerless, either, and waiting for policy to catch up is not a strategy.



What leaders can actually do



The interventions that matter most cost little. They’re mostly about converting an unspoken problem into a planned-for one.



Treat early summer like late December. Most organizations already plan around the week between Christmas and New Year’s as a known slowdown. The last week of June and the week of July 4th function the same way for working parents—every camp transition and program gap clusters there. Plan launches, offsites, and deadline-heavy sprints around it, openly, instead of forcing parents to perform full availability while running a logistics operation from their cars.



Make the gap discussable. The biggest cost of the summer scramble isn’t the hours; it’s the concealment. Leaders who name the reality—”camp transition weeks are chaos; flag your constraints and we’ll plan around them”—convert hidden stress into a schedulable fact. This costs nothing and signals everything.



Audit your meeting culture against camp hours. Many summer programs end at 3:00 or 4:00. A standing 4:30 meeting in July is a recurring crisis for some portion of your team. Moving it is a small act with outsized retention value.



Protect predictability. For working parents, a schedule that shifts with 24 hours’ notice is more destabilizing than a heavy one that holds. In summer, predictability is the benefit.



The deeper point



We already accept collective responsibility for children 180 days a year. Then summer arrives, and American work culture quietly reassigns the gap to individual families while expecting output to continue uninterrupted.



The organizations that handle this well aren’t being generous. They’re being accurate: acknowledging a real, recurring condition of their workforce and planning for it the way they’d plan for any other seasonal reality. The ones that don’t aren’t avoiding the cost. They’re just paying it in distraction, attrition, and the quiet exit of people—disproportionately women—who concluded that competence shouldn’t be a debt the workplace collects every July. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/06/p-1-91557859-Work-Life-CN-Your-best-employees-are-running-a-second-job-right-now.-Its-called-summer.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Your, best, employees, are, running, second, job, right, now., It’s, called, summer</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>West Marine is closing stores: See a full list of doomed boating supply locations that will shutter in 23 states</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/west-marine-is-closing-stores-see-a-full-list-of-doomed-boating-supply-locations-that-will-shutter-in-23-states</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/west-marine-is-closing-stores-see-a-full-list-of-doomed-boating-supply-locations-that-will-shutter-in-23-states</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ West Marine, a major boating and marine supply retailer that has been operating since 1968, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.



While the bankruptcy will allow the company to continue operating during its restructuring, West Marine has confirmed in court documents that it will close 59 locations as part of the process. Here’s what you need to know about West Marine’s bankruptcy and which stores are closing.



What’s happened?



On May 17, West Marine, Inc. announced it had filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. 



West Marine began its life as a rope supply store in California in 1968, but in the 58 years since then, the company expanded to more than 200 locations across the country, becoming the nation’s largest retailer of boating, fishing, and other marine supplies. 



As of the time of its bankruptcy filing, West Marine operated in 34 states and Puerto Rico.



Unfortunately for fans of the chain and many of its employees, as part of West Marine’s bankruptcy, the chain has confirmed that it will be closing more than a quarter of its existing 200 locations.



Why is West Marine filing for bankruptcy?



In a press release announcing the bankruptcy, West Marine cited several reasons for its Chapter 11 filing. These reasons include “supply chain disruptions, extreme weather events, and shifts in consumer behavior,” according to the company.



For many of West Marine’s customers, boating and fishing are recreational activities, and when inflationary pressures and economic worries abound, as they currently do, many people choose to cut back on their discretionary spending, with spending on recreational activities and non-essentials, like eating out, often the first to go.



Given this, it’s little surprise West Marine cited “shifts in consumer behavior.”



Is West Marine going out of business?



No. It’s important to stress that West Marine is not going out of business. The company has entered Chapter 11 precisely because it wants to restructure so it is on a firmer financial footing and can continue to operate going forward.



As the company states on its bankruptcy website, it is still open for business and it remains “focused on delivering the top-quality marine products, service, and expertise to our customers, and expect no changes to day-to-day operations throughout this process.”



The company also said it will fulfill its obligations to its employees throughout the bankruptcy process, “including pay and current benefits.”



Unfortunately, as part of that process, over a quarter of the company’s 200 stores will close. It is not clear how many job losses will result from the closures. 



Fast Company has reached out to West Marine for comment.



Which West Marine stores are closing?



According to court documents filed earlier this month, 59 West Marine stores are expected to close across 23 states. The states hit hardest by the closures include Florida (8 stores closing), Michigan (6 stores closing), California (5 stores closing), and Washington (5 stores closing).



Currently, West Marine still lists the closing stores on its store locator tool on its website. After these stores close, West Marine will have fewer than 150 locations. 



West Marine has enlisted Hilco Merchant Resources, a liquidation firm, to help oversee the closings. It is unknown when the stores confirmed to be closing will shutter for good. An agreement with Hilco and West Marine filed in the court says store closing sales should last no longer than about four months.



Here is the full list of West Marine closing stores:



Alabama 




WMX Dog River, 5004 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL, 36605-9644




California




WM Chula Vista, 630 Bay Blvd Ste 103, Chula Vista, CA, 91910



WMX Monterey, 2024 Del Monte Ste A, Monterey, CA, 93940-3740



WM Oceanside, 1719 Oceanside Blvd, Oceanside, CA, 92054



WM Antioch, 4645 Century Blvd, Pittsburg, CA, 94565-7107



WM Redding, 2607 Bechelli Lane, Redding, CA, 96002




Florida




WM Bonita Springs, 28520 Bonita Crossings Blvd Ste 1, Bonita Springs, FL, 34135-3205



WM Fernandina, 474347 E State Road 200, Fernandina Beach, FL, 32034



WM Jacksonville Beach, 14180 Beach Blvd Ste 4, Jacksonville Beach, FL, 32250



WM South Orlando, 7478 S Orange Blossom Trl Ste A, Orlando, FL, 32809-5781



WM Palm Coast, 250 Palm Coast Pkwy NE Unit 507, Palm Coast, FL, 32137



WM Pt. Charlotte, 4265 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL, 33980-2512



WM Venice, 1860 Tamiami Trail S, Venice, FL, 34293



WM Winter Haven, 1107 3rd Street SW Ste 8, Winter Haven, FL, 33880




Georgia




WM Savannah, 7700 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA, 31406




Illinois




WM Fox Lake, 2 W Grand Ave, Fox Lake, IL, 60020



WM Winthrop Harbor, 1707 7th St, Winthrop Harbor, IL, 60096




Louisiana




WM Lafayette, 2668 Johnston St Ste B-2, Lafayette, LA, 70503




Maine




WM Portland, 12 Marginal Way, Portland, ME, 04101



WM Southwest Harbor, 11 Apple Lane, Southwest Harbor, ME, 04679




Maryland




WM Baltimore Harbor, 2700 Lighthouse Pt E Ste 100, Baltimore, MD, 21224



WM Edgewater, 3257 Solomon’s Island Rd Ste B2, Edgewater, MD, 21037



WM Ocean City, 12638 Ocean Gateway Units 1-5, Ocean City, MD, 21842



WM Rock Hall, 21386 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD, 21661




Massachusetts




WM Marblehead, 32 Atlantic Ave, Marblehead, MA, 01945



WMX Vineyard Haven, 52 Beach Rd, Vineyard Haven, MA, 02568




Michigan




WM Bay City, 4128 Wilder Rd, Bay City, MI, 48706



WM Grand Haven, 810 Jackson St, Grand Haven, MI, 49417



WM Muskegon, 2492 Henry St Ste B, Muskegon, MI, 49441



WM Petoskey, 105 West Mitchell St, Petoskey, MI, 49770



WM St. Clair Shores, 25050 Jefferson Ave, St. Clair Shores, MI, 48080



WM Troy, 789 E Big Beaver Rd, Troy, MI, 48083




Missouri




WM Osage Beach, 3872 Osage Beach Pkwy, Osage Beach, MO, 65065




Nevada




WM Reno, 2505 Mill St, Reno, NV, 89502




New Jersey




WM Cape May, 791 Route 109, Cape May, NJ, 08204



WM Eatontown, 178 State Route 35 S, Eatontown, NJ, 07724



WM Toms River, 213 Route 37 East, Tom’s River, NJ, 08753




New York




WM Rochester, 1850 Ridge Road East, Irondequoit, NY, 14622



WM Port Washington, 16 Soundview Marketplace, Port Washington, NY, 11050



WM Watertown, 21214 Pioneer Plaza Dr, Watertown, NY, 13601




North Carolina




WMX Oriental, 1104 Broad St Ext, Oriental, NC, 28571-9786



WM Raleigh, 3027 Capital Blvd Ste 111, Raleigh, NC, 27604




Ohio




WM Cleveland, 1577 Saint Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, OH, 44114



WM N. Olmsted, 24781 Lorain Rd, North Olmsted, OH, 44070



WM Sandusky, 207 E Water St, Sandusky, OH, 44870




Oregon




WM Tigard, 15230 SW Sequoia Pkwy Ste 190, Tigard, OR, 97224




Pennsylvania




WM Bensalem, 2126 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA, 19020




South Carolina




WM Anderson, 3501-2 Clemson Blvd Ste 110, Anderson, SC, 29621



WM Murrells Inlet, 12078 Highway 17 Bypass Unit A, Murrells Inlet, SC, 29576



WM North Myrtle Beach, 1288 Highway 17 N, North Myrtle Beach, SC, 29582



WMX Port Royal, 1347 Ribaut Road Ste B, Port Royal, SC, 29935




Tennessee




WM Knoxville, 7812 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37919




Virginia




WM Glen Allen, 10819 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA, 23060




Washington




WM Bellingham, 3560 Meridian St, Bellingham, WA, 98225



WM Bremerton, 5971 State Hwy 303 NE, Bremerton, WA, 98310



WM Everett, 1716 West Marine View Dr, Everett, WA, 98201



WM Port Townsend, 2428 Washington St, Port Townsend, WA, 98368



WM Spokane, 5306 East Sprague Ave, Spokane, WA, 99212




Wisconsin




WM Milwaukee, 4141 S 76th St, Greenfield, WI, 53220




This story is developing and may be updated… ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/06/p-91559537-west-marine-store-closure.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>West, Marine, closing, stores:, See, full, list, doomed, boating, supply, locations, that, will, shutter, states</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Oil supplies could still take months to get back on track despite a U.S.&#45;Iran ceasefire</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oil-supplies-could-still-take-months-to-get-back-on-track-despite-a-us-iran-ceasefire</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oil-supplies-could-still-take-months-to-get-back-on-track-despite-a-us-iran-ceasefire</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ High oil and gasoline prices and energy supply problems won’t be solved overnight, despite an agreement to end the Iran war and open the Strait of Hormuz announced Sunday.It will likely take months before energy companies can resume operations to the point of meeting the world’s demand, according to energy experts. The slow pace of the process of shipping and refining crude oil, and doubts about the security of traveling through the strait mean the effect won’t be seen immediately, they said.Ships loaded with crude oil have been stranded in the Persian Gulf for more than three months, unable to safely travel through the waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and gasoline supplies typically traveled before the war began.“It’s going to take time for people to feel comfortable and for insurance to be in place … particularly to get people on the ground to restart some of these assets,” said Daniel Evans, global head of fuels and refining research at S&amp;P Global Energy.Still, oil prices slipped early Monday after the deal was announced.Brent crude, the international standard, was down $3.45 at $83.89 per barrel. U.S. benchmark crude oil lost $4.03 to $80.85 per barrel.Those prices are still well above the roughly $70 per barrel where oil was trading before the war started.As the higher prices unwind, ships that have been stranded will have to exit the strait, and then new tankers will have to come in to be loaded, Evans said.“To bring a ship in, you need to be confident that you’ve got a big enough window of safety to bring it in, load it and move it out,” he added.Oil tankers also move slowly, he explained. It takes months to travel from the strait to distant countries, deliver the crude oil to a refinery for processing and then arrive at its final destination.In addition, some producers in the Middle East paused extracting oil from the ground, known as a shut-in, when they ran out of storage space. Restarting those operations can be a slow process.Countries such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, where there are alternate pipelines or routes besides the Strait of Hormuz to deliver oil, may be among the quickest to resume production, said Alan Gelder, senior vice president of refining, chemicals and oil markets at Wood Mackenzie, an analytics firm.“But places like Iraq could be much more challenged because they’ve had a much bigger shut-in, their fields are more difficult … it may well take about a year before they get back,” he said.Investment in the energy system, which can take years to see the results, ground to a halt after the strait’s closure, Gelder said. So it will take time for this capital to restart.Countries that shut in oil production won’t want to restart until they know there is a stable, durable strait, and that a ceasefire will last more than 30 or 60 days, said Daniel Sternoff, senior fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.“We don’t know what open means or what the speed of evacuation of trapped material is going to be,” he said.



—Cathy Bussewitz, Associated Press ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/06/AP26162037804502.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Oil, supplies, could, still, take, months, get, back, track, despite, U.S.-Iran, ceasefire</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Trump officials pushed Anthropic to shut down the world’s most powerful AI models</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-trump-officials-pushed-anthropic-to-shut-down-the-worlds-most-powerful-ai-models</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-trump-officials-pushed-anthropic-to-shut-down-the-worlds-most-powerful-ai-models</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Anthropic says it was forced to shut down access to its new Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 AI models after the Trump administration issued a broad warning against use of the models by foreign nationals. The warning, from the Commerce Department, would have banned even many of Anthropic’s own employees from using or working on the models.



That dramatic result came after a multiday back-and-forth involving numerous administration officials and input from tech industry leaders. The effects of the government’s effectively shutting off access to one company’s AI models could have profound implications for future AI policy. What follows is a timeline of the events that led to the effective ban on Anthropic’s Mythos-class models.



Thursday night (June 11)



Thursday evening: Amazon raises concerns with Trump administration officials



Amazon, Anthropic’s biggest investor, contacted senior White House and administration officials, saying its researchers had identified what they believed was a way to coerce, or “jailbreak,” the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models into assisting users with risky cybersecurity questions. Anthropic released the models with safeguards designed to prevent responses to such queries. Axios reported that at least five other tech companies raised similar concerns with administration officials around the same time.



Late Thursday night: Administration begins treating the issue as urgent



White House and Commerce Department officials took Amazon’s concerns seriously, worrying that foreign bad actors might bypass Anthropic’s security guardrails and use the models to identify and exploit software vulnerabilities, Axios reported. The White House began trying to contact Anthropic, asking for an immediate reply.



Friday morning (June 12)



Friday morning: White House and Commerce officials engage Anthropic



Administration officials reportedly spent hours Friday trying to convince Anthropic to voluntarily shut off access to the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models. It’s unclear from the reporting whether the government also asked Anthropic to fix the specific safety guardrail that allowed Amazon researchers to jailbreak the system, or to voluntarily restrict foreign access to the models.



Friday morning: Anthropic declines to voluntarily suspend the models



Axios reports that the government tried to persuade Anthropic to pause the release of the Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models, but was unsuccessful. Anthropic has said publicly that the government did not provide detailed technical evidence of the alleged issue and that the concerns involved only verbal descriptions.



“We reviewed a demonstration of this specific technique being used to identify a small number of previously known, minor vulnerabilities,” Anthropic said in a Friday, June 12, blog post. “These vulnerabilities all appear relatively simple, and we have found that other publicly available models are able to discover them as well without requiring a bypass.”



Friday afternoon



Around 1 p.m. ET: ‘You have 90 minutes to comply’



Anthropic received a call from administration officials around 1 p.m. ET, warning that unless the company acted, the government would move forward with export restrictions affecting the models, Reuters and Axios reported. Axios further reported that Anthropic was given roughly 90 minutes to comply.



5:21 p.m. ET: Commerce Department order arrives



At 5:21 p.m. ET Friday, the Commerce Department sent an enforcement order restricting access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 by foreign nationals, citing national security concerns.



Friday evening and night



Friday evening: Anthropic disables Fable 5 and Mythos 5



Anthropic said it disabled access globally because the order restricted access by foreign nationals and the company could not immediately separate eligible from ineligible users. It erred on the side of caution and compliance.



Context 



About Fable 5 and Mythos 5



Fable 5 and Mythos 5 are the first publicly released models derived from Anthropic’s Mythos family. The original Mythos model showed unusual skill during training at finding software bugs and exploiting them to disrupt or take control of systems. That raised enough concern inside Anthropic that the company grouped cybersecurity with other high-risk domains, including biology and chemistry, when setting limits on Mythos-derived public models. For Fable 5 and Mythos 5, that means prompts flagged as sensitive in those areas are routed to Claude Opus 4.8, a less capable model with its own guardrails.



About the politics



Many observers saw the tech industry’s surprising support for Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy in 2024 as part of an implicit bargain over AI policy. Trump pledged that his administration would allow the AI industry to regulate itself and do what it could to advance the tech industry’s goal of preventing states from passing their own AI laws in the absence of federal legislation. The Trump administration has also ordered federal agencies to drop numerous investigations and enforcement actions involving big tech companies. So the administration’s recent concerns about the national security risks of the largest AI models, and its pivot toward involvement in safeguarding models like Mythos, is striking. (See: Trump’s June 2026 executive order.)



The current dustup might also be partisan and political. In March, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with Anthropic after the AI company refused to allow its AI to be used for autonomous weapon targeting or domestic surveillance. The Pentagon then designated Anthropic a “supply-chain risk,” effectively blacklisting it from much federal defense work. Anthropic sued.



About the models



Before launch, Anthropic said internal and external red teams spent more than 1,000 hours trying to fool Fable 5 into dispensing information on banned topic areas. Anthropic said the teams had no success identifying universal jailbreaks.



However, at least one independent AI researcher appears to have found a successful jailbreak before Amazon researchers went to the government with their report. The researcher, using the handle Pliny the Liberator, claimed on X to bypass Fable 5’s filters using a multi-agent approach involving a previously jailbroken Claude Opus 4.8 model, along with techniques including query decomposition, long-context framing, fiction and narrative structures, and academic taxonomies.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Opening a business bank account with bad credit</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/opening-a-business-bank-account-with-bad-credit</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/opening-a-business-bank-account-with-bad-credit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


I have a bad credit history and am having difficulty opening a business bank account for my limited company. What else can I do?    
The post Opening a business bank account with bad credit appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Opening, business, bank, account, with, bad, credit</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Where to find green small business grants</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/where-to-find-green-small-business-grants</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/where-to-find-green-small-business-grants</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


If you fancy making your business and its operations that bit greener, these eco business grants will help you get there
The post Where to find green small business grants appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Where, find, green, small, business, grants</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How to get a business loan in 5 steps</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-get-a-business-loan-in-5-steps</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-get-a-business-loan-in-5-steps</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Follow this 5-step plan if you want to secure a loan for your small business. There is a wealth of high-street banks and alternative SME lenders to choose from
The post How to get a business loan in 5 steps appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, get, business, loan, steps</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>What documents do you need when applying for a business loan?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-documents-do-you-need-when-applying-for-a-business-loan</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-documents-do-you-need-when-applying-for-a-business-loan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Adam Parker on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Different lenders require different business loan documents. Get prepared with this business loan checklist
The post What documents do you need when applying for a business loan? appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, documents, you, need, when, applying, for, business, loan</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The Big Switch Off guide: What you need to know</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-big-switch-off-guide-what-you-need-to-know</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-big-switch-off-guide-what-you-need-to-know</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Henry Williams on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post The Big Switch Off guide: What you need to know appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, Big, Switch, Off, guide:, What, you, need, know</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Running your small business – essential guide</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/running-your-small-business-essential-guide</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/running-your-small-business-essential-guide</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Henry Williams on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Running a small business is never easy but this checklist will help you stay on top of day-to-day operations
The post Running your small business – essential guide appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Running, your, small, business, –, essential, guide</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Jeff Bezos’s Prometheus raises $12B to build an ‘artificial general engineer’ for the physical world</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jeff-bezoss-prometheus-raises-12b-to-build-an-artificial-general-engineer-for-the-physical-world</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jeff-bezoss-prometheus-raises-12b-to-build-an-artificial-general-engineer-for-the-physical-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The new round values the physical AI startup that aims to automate heavy engineering and drug design at $41 billion. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jeff, Bezos’s, Prometheus, raises, 12B, build, ‘artificial, general, engineer’, for, the, physical, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Theker just raised $85M to build the factory robot that doesn’t specialize in anything</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/theker-just-raised-85m-to-build-the-factory-robot-that-doesnt-specialize-in-anything</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/theker-just-raised-85m-to-build-the-factory-robot-that-doesnt-specialize-in-anything</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Unlike humanoid robots designed around a fixed form — think Boston Dynamics — Theker&#039;s machines are built to be reconfigured. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Theker, just, raised, 85M, build, the, factory, robot, that, doesn’t, specialize, anything</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cheaper, faster, and culturally aware, Avataar’s video AI is built for India’s scale</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cheaper-faster-and-culturally-aware-avataars-video-ai-is-built-for-indias-scale</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cheaper-faster-and-culturally-aware-avataars-video-ai-is-built-for-indias-scale</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Avataar AI&#039;s distilled video model is priced at $0.005 for every second of generation ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cheaper, faster, and, culturally, aware, Avataar’s, video, built, for, India’s, scale</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Equal AI raises $30M to screen calls so Indians don’t have to</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/equal-ai-raises-30m-to-screen-calls-so-indians-dont-have-to</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/equal-ai-raises-30m-to-screen-calls-so-indians-dont-have-to</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Equal AI said that its AI-powered call assistant now has over a million monthly active users. ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>US surveillance law to expire for first time after lawmakers reject Trump’s controversial pick to lead spy agencies</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-surveillance-law-to-expire-for-first-time-after-lawmakers-reject-trumps-controversial-pick-to-lead-spy-agencies</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-surveillance-law-to-expire-for-first-time-after-lawmakers-reject-trumps-controversial-pick-to-lead-spy-agencies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The spy law known as Section 702, which authorizes the NSA and FBI&#039;s warrantless surveillance, will all but certainly expire on Friday for the first time. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>surveillance, law, expire, for, first, time, after, lawmakers, reject, Trump’s, controversial, pick, lead, spy, agencies</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>My business is not my baby, and yours shouldn’t be either</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/my-business-is-not-my-baby-and-yours-shouldnt-be-either</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/my-business-is-not-my-baby-and-yours-shouldnt-be-either</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ People often ask me if my business is my baby. The answer is always no.



My business is my passion, one of my greatest achievements, and my livelihood—but it’s not a child.



The reason that my business isn’t my baby is the same reason I don’t call my team a family. It’s the kind of thing founders say to imply a close relationship. It’s usually said with good intentions, but “family” is deeper than just a word. 



Family dynamics tend to be closely linked to guilt, duty, and expectations that are rarely stated outright. When you leave the company, that can be considered betrayal. Furthermore, therapy exists largely because of family—over 50% of therapy clients report that their reasons for engaging in therapy are related to family conflicts. Work shouldn’t come with the same emotional burden.



Work should be the place where your team chooses personal and professional development, creating a life that works for them, and their life goals. This is easier said than done when your team becomes familial.



Something one member of my team said helped me compartmentalize this, “I work for this company, but I am the CEO of my own life. I make decisions based on my value as a person.”



This is the mindset that drives growth, personally and professionally.



Career tenures have also changed. It has been reported that Gen Z will have five careers and 15 employers during their working years. We do not need to evoke the loyalty and lifetime commitment of “family” in today’s fluctuating career market.



THE SPORTS TEAM ANALOGY 



Media giant Netflix defines its company culture as a professional sports team, emphasizing high performance over unconditional loyalty.



Netflix says, “Professional sports teams, on the other hand, focus on performance and picking the right person for every position, even when that means swapping out someone they love for a better player.”



Great teams support each other because achieving shared goals requires everyone working together.



I think that the “baby” trope—particularly when relating to women entrepreneurs—is interesting. I think it lets founders off the hook.



Already, women aren’t taken as seriously as men as entrepreneurs, and that’s without an infantilizing metaphor shaping their approach to business. The fact that 42% of women entrepreneurs have been perceived as emotional versus rational in the workplace supports this point.



If your business is your baby, it’s a challenge to be “rational.” You can’t properly delegate or step back. You definitely can’t build something that runs without you, because you’re emotionally attached in a way that makes hard decisions even harder.



SCALE TO SELL



When you treat your business like an asset, it’s easier to make decisions based on facts, figures, and a desire to grow. It becomes more strategic than personal. This allowed me to prepare my business for sale.



Scaling wasn’t just about growth for growth’s sake, in my case. It was about identifying structural gaps in my industry (influencer marketing) and building around those gaps. It became clear there was a disconnect between creator agencies and media buying as the creator economy matured. Creator agencies were producing high-performing assets, but rarely saw how they translated into paid media performance. At the same time, media agencies were under pressure to prove that creator-led ads could outperform traditional brand assets—and increasingly, the data showed that they did.



Leaning into that insight allowed us to scale more effectively, prioritizing operational clarity. 



This operational clarity also required discipline. With limited access to venture funding (a common reality for female-founded businesses), you build differently. Profitability is foundational. That constraint forces better decision-making early on: what to invest in, what to prioritize, and what truly moves you forward. That creates a more resilient and efficient business over time, and makes it far easier for an acquirer to understand and value.



Preparing a business for sale is an extension of this mindset. It requires founders to shift from owner-operator to asset manager. Your focus diverts to systems, predictability, and scalability. This transition is often hindered by emotional attachment, particularly the instinct to treat the business as something deeply personal. That’s the “baby” syndrome. 



That emotional stagnation carries a cost. Delaying a sale in pursuit of incremental growth can mean missing the moment when the business is most valuable.



Letting go of that perfectionism and emotional attachment is also what enables scale in the first place. Growth is rarely linear. The willingness to test, learn, and build in public is what allows a business to evolve enough to reach that point of exit.



Ultimately, scaling with the intention to sell isn’t about detachment for its own sake. It’s about building something robust enough to plug into a larger ecosystem, accelerate further, and create more opportunity for the team that built it.



CREATE A HEALTHIER TEAM



Steering away from the business-as-a-baby mentality is positive for the team you employ. The benefit is a professional setting that respects boundaries. This deters work from bleeding into personal life, avoids demands for duty outside of the established job description, and provides transparent growth opportunities through clear career paths and performance metrics.



This structured environment significantly reduces the potential for employee burnout, as workloads are manageable and expectations are clear. Crucially, it prevents codependency and nurtures a culture of independence and professional accountability.



My goal was never to build a business to coddle it; it was to keep pushing it forward. To challenge and shape an industry.



Jennifer Quigley-Jones is founder of Digital Voices (now part of PMG). ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>A major U.S. travel rule change starts July 1—and it comes with a $750 price tag</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/a-major-us-travel-rule-change-starts-july-1and-it-comes-with-a-750-price-tag</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/a-major-us-travel-rule-change-starts-july-1and-it-comes-with-a-750-price-tag</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tourists may soon be able to fast-track their U.S. visas—if they’re willing to pay an extra $750.



Beginning July 1, a pilot program will offer travelers the option to skip ahead of other applicants when applying for a B-1 or B-2 nonimmigrant visa.



The new paid track will allow applicants to secure an interview appointment, a requirement for visa approval, within 10 business days. Normally, interview appointments are handed out on a first-availability basis, which can range from weeks to months out.



While the $750 payment will secure an appointment quickly, it does not change the requirements for eligibility and does not guarantee a visa. These expedited appointments will be available at consulates and embassies to be determined by the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs.



“Applicants who opt to pay for an expedited appointment will still be subject to all standard visa eligibility and processing requirements, including any administrative processing deemed necessary,” the State Department said in a temporary final rule (TFR) published in the Federal Register.



There are currently three ways applicants may apply for an expedited appointment, each requiring intervention from consular and mission staff. The Referral process allows a U.S. government official on a diplomatic mission to vouch for an applicant. The Priority Appointment Request allows consular staff to request an earlier date for an applicant, at their discretion. Individuals may also apply for an Applicant-Requested Expedite Request, where applicants under extreme circumstances can apply for an earlier date, determined by a consular manager.



“The new service to be implemented on a limited basis . . . will create a fee-based mechanism for applicants to obtain an expedited interview appointment that will reduce the strain on consular resources by bypassing both the requirement for the applicant to justify his or her need for an expedited interview appointment and the requirement that consular staff review each expedited request,” the TFR added.



The $750 is an optional fee to be added to the visa application process, which already carries a $185 fee. For those who opt in, the total visa application process will come out at $935.



The pilot program will end on Dec. 31, and will then be reviewed for potential revisions or continuation.



This is not the first time the government has experimented with premium processing fees. Notably, in 2023, the Department of Homeland Security rolled out premium processing for F-1 students applying for optional practical training (OPT) and STEM OPT, a work authorization for students who studied in the U.S.



 ]]></description>
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<item>
<title>Knicks make record&#45;breaking comeback from 29 points down, beating Spurs 107&#45;106</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/knicks-make-record-breaking-comeback-from-29-points-down-beating-spurs-107-106</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/knicks-make-record-breaking-comeback-from-29-points-down-beating-spurs-107-106</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A record-breaking comeback, capped off by what could go down as a legendary play.The long road back to the top of the NBA is almost complete for the New York Knicks, and the step they took Wednesday night was unforgettable.The Knicks came from 29 points down and moved to the brink of their first championship since 1973 by beating the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 of the finals on OG Anunoby’s tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining.“That has to be the most iconic shot in the history of New York basketball,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said.It’s certainly high on the list — as high as Anunoby leaped when Jalen Brunson’s long 3-point shot bounced off the front of the rim, with his right hand stretching high to softly flick it in.“Right hand from God,” Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns said.The Knicks, who have just two titles in their 80-year history and hadn’t even been to the NBA Finals since 1999, have a 3-1 lead and three chances to win the best-of-seven series — starting with Game 5 on Saturday night in San Antonio.It looked impossible early, when the Spurs rolled to a 27-point halftime lead. But Brunson helped bring the Knicks back with 36 points and Anunoby finished with 33.



The Knicks weathered a playoff storm



No team had come from more than 24 points down in a finals game, when Boston did it against the Lakers in 2008, since the NBA began keeping detailed play-by-play for all four quarters in 1997. The Spurs led 81-52 in the third quarter.“We’re a resilient group. We’ve been through a lot,” Anunoby said. “We’ve come back plenty of times when we’re behind. Just staying with it, weathering the storm, not being too down or angry or frustrated.”The only bigger comeback on record in any playoff game was 31 points by the Los Angeles Clippers against Golden State in Game 2 of a first-round series in 2019.“You look at it when you’re down 29 of, ‘OK, let’s get it to 20.’ There’s three minutes left in the third quarter, we’re down 18, you’re thinking, ‘Let’s get it to 10,” forward Josh Hart said.“In the fourth quarter, you’re like, this is winning time. Anything can happen.”And it did.



The Spurs started out awesome but then were awful



The Knicks had their 13-game winning streak snapped in Game 3 and seemed headed for a second straight defeat throughout the first half, when Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs opened the biggest halftime lead by a visiting team in the finals.But the young Spurs, who made 11 of their first 16 3-pointers, went cold in the second half, going 3 for 17 behind the arc as the Knicks outscored them 58-30.“We got on our heels — we missed some shots,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s disappointing, to say the least.”Delirious fans inside Madison Square Garden sang along to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin&#039;” a few minutes after watching something that seemed almost impossible.Wembanyama had 24 points and 13 rebounds but shot just 9 for 25 from the field.Road teams had won the first three games, only the second time that had happened in the finals. San Antonio was well on its way to making it 4 for 4.



Knicks scrap watch party and fans have nothing to cheer early



President Donald Trump wasn’t at this game — Taylor Swift was — but the same restrictions remained around Madison Square Garden as when he attended Game 3. That angered the Knicks, who decided not to go forward with plans to hold an outdoor watch party outside the arena.Inside the building in the first half, there wasn’t much for the hosts to be happy about, either.But the Knicks gave themselves a chance by limiting the Spurs to 14 points on 4-for-20 shooting in the third quarter, using a 13-0 run to get back in it and cutting it to 90-75 heading to the fourth.These Knicks, who erased a 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter against Cleveland in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, just don’t quit. Even when the comeback seemed for naught when Stephon Castle was fouled after the Knicks had taken the lead and made two free throws to put San Antonio back ahead with 30 seconds left, the Knicks had one more rally in them.Dylan Harper scored 21 points and De’Aaron Fox and Devin Vassell each had 18 for the Spurs, who will try to regroup and send the series back to New York for Game 6 next Tuesday. Only one team — Cleveland in 2016 — has recovered from a 3-1 deficit in the finals.“I think it began before (the fourth quarter),” Wembanyama said of the Spurs’ collapse. “I can’t really explain it right now. I don’t know. … We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”Fans booed Wembanyama when he came on to the floor to warm up about an hour before the game and the Knicks tried to get rough with him, with Mitchell Robinson called for a flagrant foul for hitting him above the shoulders and Jose Alvarado reviewed for one after going below the belt.Wembanyama — who was also called for a flagrant — stood up OK against the Knicks but will regret the two free throws he missed with 1:47 left and San Antonio leading 104-103.The Spurs broke to a 12-2 lead, giving them a double-digit advantage in the first quarter of all four games. They kept pouring it on and led 41-22 after one, then extended it to 57-32 when Julian Champagnie’s 3-pointer made them 11 for 16 behind the arc.







AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA



—Brian Mahoney, AP Basketball Writer ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Knicks, make, record-breaking, comeback, from, points, down, beating, Spurs, 107-106</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘Extreme concern’: 2 big reasons why the SpaceX IPO is worrying some stock market watchers</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/extreme-concern-2-big-reasons-why-the-spacex-ipo-is-worrying-some-stock-market-watchers</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/extreme-concern-2-big-reasons-why-the-spacex-ipo-is-worrying-some-stock-market-watchers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ SpaceX’s initial public offering is just one day away, and it is widely expected to be the largest on record. 



At its IPO price, SpaceX is expected to be valued at around $1.75 trillion—a staggering sum that would put it firmly in the rankings of the world’s most valuable companies. The IPO may also help make SpaceX founder Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. 



But as the company’s stock listing nears, several lingering concerns about the offering have been expressed by market watchers, from analysts to lawmakers. Here are two of the most prominent.



Valuation concerns



SpaceX’s IPO price is expected to be $135 per share. That puts the company’s total valuation at around $1.75 trillion, an astonishingly high sum for any company. 



At that valuation, it would instantly make SpaceX the world’s eighth most valuable public company, just behind Broadcom, which currently has a market cap of $1.77 trillion, and just ahead of Saudi Aramco, which currently has a market cap of around $1.74 trillion.



The thing is, many industry analysts and retail investors have expressed concern over this sky-high valuation. The main reason for these concerns is that while most other companies in the trillion-dollar club have firm profitability behind them quarter after quarter, SpaceX reported a net loss of around $4.9 billion last quarter. 



Only one of its divisions, Starlink, generates a profit. As the Motley Fool noted, the company as a whole is “deeply unprofitable.”



In other words, many analysts and investors feel that SpaceX’s IPO valuation prices in a lot of faith that the company will succeed on several fronts in the years ahead. However, as with all things in life, whether that actually pans out is uncertain. 



Some high-profile analysts have argued that SpaceX’s IPO is highly overvalued. This includes analysts at Morningstar, who have said that SpaceX actually has a much smaller fair market value of around $780 billion, notes CNBC.



If this analysis is right, and more investors come to realize after the IPO that SpaceX may be overvalued, it could send the shares sinking. That’s why Morningstar has said it thinks “investors will have opportunities to buy the stock at more attractive levels after the IPO.”



Governance concerns



When a company goes public, its shareholders, ostensibly, get to make some decisions about how the company is run. Shareholders exercise these decisions through their voting rights, which are conferred through the shares they own.



SpaceX, like many public companies, offers two classes of shares: Class A and Class B. Class A shares are the type that mom-and-pop retail investors can buy, and Class B shares are reserved for SpaceX insiders and bigwig investors like Musk.



And when it comes to governance, this dual-class structure takes away a lot of power from individual investors. That’s because, as noted by the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX’s Class A shares confer only one vote apiece on their owners. But Class B shares confer 10 votes apiece. 



As the WSJ notes, “Musk holds around 94% of Class B shares.” This makes it nearly impossible for retail investors to take action against Musk if they decide they do not like how he is running the company. 



For example, if retail investors were ever to decide they want SpaceX to have a different CEO, Musk could almost certainly defeat their motion through his Class B voting rights alone.



Elizabeth Warren urges SEC to delay SpaceX IPO



While retail investors and industry analysts have been among the most vocal in raising the above concerns about SpaceX’s IPO, yesterday a powerful lawmaker also reasserted her longstanding concerns about SpaceX’s public offering. 



On June 9, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts sent a letter to Paul Atkins, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), urging the agency to delay the SpaceX IPO. 



According to Warren, a ranking member on the Senate’s banking committee, the IPO “appears to present significant risks to ordinary investors and their retirement savings – while carrying enormous advantages for SpaceX insiders, including senior Trump Administration officials.”



Warren said her “extreme concern” revolved around the company’s valuation, its governance, and also a concern that “major stock market indexes are being rigged in a way that would force millions of investors in passive index funds . . . to invest in SpaceX and face exposure to SpaceX’s significant risks with no choice in the matter.”



The SEC declined to comment. SpaceX did not immediately reply to a request for comment.



With the company’s first public trading day less than 24 hours away, it seems doubtful that the SEC will put a halt to SpaceX’s IPO. SpaceX is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX tomorrow.



Disclosure: Fast Company‘s parent company is owned by Morningstar founder Joe Mansueto. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Extreme, concern’:, big, reasons, why, the, SpaceX, IPO, worrying, some, stock, market, watchers</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Oracle stock is tumbling on cloud miss and costly data center plans: What it means for the AI bubble debate</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oracle-stock-is-tumbling-on-cloud-miss-and-costly-data-center-plans-what-it-means-for-the-ai-bubble-debate</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oracle-stock-is-tumbling-on-cloud-miss-and-costly-data-center-plans-what-it-means-for-the-ai-bubble-debate</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Oracle Corporation reported increased revenue of 21% year-over-year (YOY) for its fiscal fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough to please stockholders. 



The company’s shares (NYSE: ORCL) dropped over 10% during premarket, following Wednesday evening’s earnings report. At publication, shares were about 9% down. 



With $19.18 billion in revenue, Oracle beat Wall Street’s $19.10 billion estimate, according to a consensus cited by CNBC. Similarly, the company reported $2.03 adjusted earnings per share, up from a predicted $1.96 per share. 



However, Oracle missed Wall Street’s estimates for its Cloud revenue. At $9.91 billion, it made up 52% of the company’s overall quarterly revenue and was a 47% increase YOY. Analysts had expected $9.97 billion.



Debt and equity financing



Oracle also announced plans to raise about $40 billion in debt and equity financing in fiscal 2027. About $20 billion of that comes from a previously disclosed at-the-market equity issuance. 



It follows $48 billion raised in fiscal 2026 between the two avenues—a number the company doesn’t plan to further increase this year. 



“Importantly, these investments are being driven by committed customer demand, reflected in our record RPO [remaining performance obligations], giving us confidence in our long-term outlook as well as strong returns on the capital we’re deploying,” Oracle CFO Hilary Maxson said in a post-earnings call. “This demand is allowing us to garner customer prepayments and bring your own hardware at similar or better margins than the rest of our contracts.”



Oracle’s RPO were up 363% YOY at $638 billion. The company credited the growth to “large scale AI contracts where the customer prepaid Oracle for the purchase of the GPUs, or the customer bought and supplied the GPUs to Oracle.”



“The prepaid and customer supplied hardware portions of our large AI contracts now total $75 billion,” Oracle further stated in its earnings report. “This substantially reduces the amount of capital Oracle must raise to build out our AI datacenters.” 



Broader AI bubble fears have some analysts worried



Yet, some investors still see risk in overfunding AI, with some analysts recently warning that the AI bubble could burst. 



Current trends are reminiscent of those during the dot-com bubble and subsequent market collapse in the early 2000s. 



At the end of May, the S&amp;P 500 closed at a record high, but it was fueled by only 20 stocks hitting all time highs—13 of which were AI-related. Michael Hartnett at Bank of America pointed out that only 20 stocks also hit a high when the dot-com bubble was at its highest in March 2000, CNBC reports.  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Oracle, stock, tumbling, cloud, miss, and, costly, data, center, plans:, What, means, for, the, bubble, debate</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Top 6 social media platforms for your small business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-6-social-media-platforms-for-your-small-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-6-social-media-platforms-for-your-small-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Social media can help businesses expand their reach and gain leads
The post Top 6 social media platforms for your small business appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/128999.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Top, social, media, platforms, for, your, small, business</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Small firms have to report profit and loss from 2028</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-firms-have-to-report-profit-and-loss-from-2028</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-firms-have-to-report-profit-and-loss-from-2028</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Small and micro businesses will be required to file profit and loss (along with other accountancy changes). Here&#039;s what we know so far 
The post Small firms have to report profit and loss from 2028 appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/06/19097.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Small, firms, have, report, profit, and, loss, from, 2028</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>150 UK small business grants to apply for right now</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/150-uk-small-business-grants-to-apply-for-right-now</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/150-uk-small-business-grants-to-apply-for-right-now</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


UPDATED JUNE 2026: In need of some funding for your small business? These grants should give you a boost, wherever you&#039;re based in the UK
The post 150 UK small business grants to apply for right now appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/07/AdobeStock_79596088-e1562942951637.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>150, small, business, grants, apply, for, right, now</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How to write a marketing plan</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-write-a-marketing-plan</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-write-a-marketing-plan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


This guide offers practical advice on developing and writing a marketing plan using simple English
The post How to write a marketing plan appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/08/Marketing-plan-e1535441902712.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, write, marketing, plan</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Disclosure requirements for business owners – what to do now</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/disclosure-requirements-for-business-owners-what-to-do-now</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/disclosure-requirements-for-business-owners-what-to-do-now</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Dan Wilton on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


A lot changed for small businesses in 2025, especially when it comes to disclosure. Here&#039;s a summary of the updates you need to know about
The post Disclosure requirements for business owners – what to do now appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/06/12979.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Disclosure, requirements, for, business, owners, –, what, now</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>What is Extended Producer Responsibility?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-is-extended-producer-responsibility</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-is-extended-producer-responsibility</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Extended Producer Responsibility puts the responsibility for recycling packaging materials back onto the manufacturer or importer. It costs UK businesses extra in compliance fees
The post What is Extended Producer Responsibility? appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, Extended, Producer, Responsibility</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Notion restores access to Anthropic after service disruption</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/notion-restores-access-to-anthropic-after-service-disruption</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/notion-restores-access-to-anthropic-after-service-disruption</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Notion&#039;s head of product said he was &quot;astonished&quot; at “the amount of people RT-ing this.&quot; ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/notion-glitch-hero.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Notion, restores, access, Anthropic, after, service, disruption</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Is this the dawn of the Tokenpocalypse?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-this-the-dawn-of-the-tokenpocalypse</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-this-the-dawn-of-the-tokenpocalypse</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ We&#039;re likely to see more price increases as the big AI companies plan to go public. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GettyImages-124923144.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>this, the, dawn, the, Tokenpocalypse</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Uber, Wayve and Waymo are headed towards a robotaxi showdown in London</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uber-wayve-and-waymo-are-headed-towards-a-robotaxi-showdown-in-london</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uber-wayve-and-waymo-are-headed-towards-a-robotaxi-showdown-in-london</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Uber customers in the UK can now join an interest list to increase their chances of being matched with a Wayve robotaxi. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/wayve-uber-uk.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Uber, Wayve, and, Waymo, are, headed, towards, robotaxi, showdown, London</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Massachusetts votes to pass new privacy rights bill that bans sale of precise location data</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/massachusetts-votes-to-pass-new-privacy-rights-bill-that-bans-sale-of-precise-location-data</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/massachusetts-votes-to-pass-new-privacy-rights-bill-that-bans-sale-of-precise-location-data</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The bill is expected to blanket ban companies and startups from selling people&#039;s precise location data across the state. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/GettyImages-1392356345.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Massachusetts, votes, pass, new, privacy, rights, bill, that, bans, sale, precise, location, data</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Eventbrite and Vimeo owner Bending Spoons files to go public</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/eventbrite-and-vimeo-owner-bending-spoons-files-to-go-public</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/eventbrite-and-vimeo-owner-bending-spoons-files-to-go-public</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bending Spoons say its app caters to a user base of over 500 million monthly active users. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Bending-Spoons_CEO-cofounder_Luca-Ferrari_2-copy.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Eventbrite, and, Vimeo, owner, Bending, Spoons, files, public</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Layoffs don’t have to feel inhumane</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/layoffs-dont-have-to-feel-inhumane</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/layoffs-dont-have-to-feel-inhumane</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Most leaders approach layoffs as a messaging problem. What do we say? How do we say it? How do we avoid panic, legal risk, or reputational damage?



But that framing misses what’s actually at stake.



Layoffs are moments when employees decide whether leadership can still be trusted. And in 2026, that evaluation is nearly immediate.



There’s no version of layoffs that feels good. But there’s a meaningful difference between a necessary business decision handled with clarity and care and an avoidable breach of trust created by how it’s done.



The better question isn’t whether there’s a “right” way to lay people off. It’s whether leaders are willing to reduce the harm that’s within their control.



What employees are really reacting to



When layoffs happen, employees aren’t reacting only to the outcome. They’re reacting to the experience.



The timing. The language. The degree to which they feel treated like a person or a cost line.



In working with leadership teams across tech, civic, and social impact organizations, one pattern shows up consistently. People are more resilient than most leaders assume. Hard news can be processed. Disorientation is harder to shake.



That disorientation often comes from avoidable choices. An email at 6 a.m. that severs access immediately. A one-to-many webinar where individuals can’t ask questions or even see one another. Vague explanations that don’t give people enough context to make sense of what just happened.



These choices don’t affect just the people leaving. They reshape how the people who remain show up at work. Employees stay, but with less trust, less willingness to fully invest, and a more self-protective stance.



The layoff is one outcome. The cultural erosion that follows among people who weren’t let go is often the more lasting one.



The biggest mistake leaders make is waiting for certainty



Many leaders delay communication because they want to get it right. They wait for full clarity before saying anything.



When leaders go quiet, teams don’t. The vacuum fills with speculation.



Leaders often believe they’re protecting their teams by holding back difficult information. In practice, they’re eroding credibility. When the news finally lands, people don’t feel protected. They feel blindsided.



This isn’t about oversharing before decisions are finalized. It’s about giving people enough to orient themselves.



A simple structure works in most situations: Say what you know, say what you don’t yet know, say what happens next. Teams can handle uncertainty. What they can’t handle is not knowing where they stand.



This is especially important in the lead-up to a layoff. The organizations that handle these moments best aren’t the ones with the cleanest announcement. They’re the ones that have already built a baseline of trust through earlier, more candid communication.



That often looks like progressive transparency:



Early: “Our current trajectory isn’t sustainable. Here’s what we’re tracking.”



Midpoint: “We’re exploring cost reductions, including the possibility of layoffs.”



Preannouncement: “Decisions are being finalized. Here’s how we’ll communicate and support people.”



By the time the final message arrives, it isn’t a shock. It’s a continuation.



Reduce the harm you can control



Layoffs are often treated as binary. Either you do them or you don’t.



A more useful frame: You may not always be able to prevent layoffs, but you have significant control over how harmful they are.



What makes layoffs especially destabilizing is how many of the worst execution choices mirror the conditions of trauma: sudden, isolating, outside anyone’s control, and devoid of meaning. People receive abrupt notifications, lose access instantly, and are left to process the moment alone, with little clarity about why it happened or what comes next.



That pattern creates more damage than the decision itself requires.



A more thoughtful approach asks different questions. How do we reduce unnecessary shock? How do we preserve dignity and agency? How do we allow people to process this in community rather than alone?



In practice, small choices matter. Offering live Q&amp;A instead of one-directional broadcasts. Equipping managers with clear talking points so their conversations are grounded and consistent. Allowing time for acknowledgment and closure rather than immediate disconnection.



None of this makes the layoff easier. But it changes how people carry it.



Where communication breaks down most



If there’s a single failure point, it’s this: Leaders soften the message to make it more comfortable for themselves.



That shows up as vague language, unclear reasoning, or attributing decisions to external forces rather than leadership choices.



Phrases like “the market decided” or “the environment forced us” create distance at exactly the moment when employees are looking for ownership.



People don’t expect to like the decision. They do expect it to make sense.



That requires clarity about what’s happening, specificity about why, and honesty about the tradeoffs. Saying “we’re eliminating approximately X roles, representing Y percent of our workforce” is more grounding than broad statements about restructuring. Explaining that the company overhired in a specific area, or is shifting away from a particular product line, gives people something to understand even if they disagree.



Softening the message doesn’t land as kindness. It reads as evasion, and people lose trust in everything that comes after.



The work isn’t over after the announcement



Many organizations treat layoffs as a single communication event. They’re the beginning of a longer trust cycle.



After layoffs, the people who remain are asking real questions. What does this say about leadership? Can I trust what I hear next? Is this a place worth fully investing in?



Teams struggle not just because of the layoff itself, but because of what follows: silence, a lack of acknowledgment, a quick return to business as usual without naming what just happened.



Leaders who navigate this well do three things. They acknowledge the emotional reality: It’s normal for people to feel grief, anger, or even guilt. They connect the decision to a clear path forward, explaining what the company now is and what it’s building toward. And they reestablish expectations for candor, making clear this isn’t the moment for everyone to go quiet.



Without that reset, teams default to caution. And once that happens, it’s difficult to recover engagement.



So is there a ‘right’ way?



No.



There’s no version of layoffs that people experience as positive.



But there’s a real difference between harm that’s inherent to a hard decision and harm that comes from handling it badly. The decision to cut roles is sometimes unavoidable. How those cuts are delivered is always a choice.



In a business environment where volatility is expected, that distinction matters.



Because layoffs don’t just communicate strategy. They communicate how a company treats people when it matters most. And that’s what employees remember.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Layoffs, don’t, have, feel, inhumane</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The efficiency trap</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-efficiency-trap</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-efficiency-trap</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When I became a mother, I closed my office door. Not dramatically—no manifesto, no announcement. I just needed to get more work done in less time, and open doors invite conversations that consume minutes I no longer had. Before my daughter was born, I was a tenure-track business school professor who kept that door ajar as a matter of professional faith. Hallway talk is where ideas happen, where goodwill accumulates, where careers get built. After she arrived, with daycare pickup hardwired into my schedule, I became a practitioner of what I would later hear a research participant describe as “ruthless efficiency.” I had no time to waste. No time to be nice, craft perfect emails, or linger in conversations. I had work to produce and a finite window in which to produce it.



What I didn’t consider, at the time, was what I was sacrificing.



Efficiency tends to be revered in modern working life. Minimize waste, maximize output. Do more with less, faster, with fewer resources. In my field of management and organizational behavior, efficiency is nearly universally coded as virtuous. It correlates with conscientiousness. It underlies organizational economics. Work-family researchers even identify it as a way that working parents can enrich their jobs: the focus, the concentration, and avoiding the squandering of a single precious minute.



But lately, I wonder whether we are confusing efficiency with ruthlessness—a kind of desperate short-termism that feels productive in the moment but can cost us over time. 



The Closed Door



After my kids were born, I turned my research to what academics politely call “me-search,” studying working mothers who had recently returned from maternity leave. Sifting through open-ended survey responses, I kept encountering the same pattern: women describing having to become “ruthlessly efficient” just to hold their professional lives together. They couldn’t stay late for happy hours or linger over lunch. Every interaction was triaged for necessity. One participant wrote: “I don’t socialize, like, at all.” Another: “I was more direct, spending less time trying to be nice . . . I didn’t have time for ‘making nice’ anymore.”



My co-authors and I had mixed reactions. The efficiency these women were developing was genuinely valuable as a transferable skill that organizations could benefit from, and one that was helping them stay in their jobs during a period known for its precarious effect on mothers’ career continuation. Another co-author and I wrote in HBR about it as an argument for why employers should better support working mothers: skills honed at home, under conditions of radical scarcity, can become competitive advantages at work.



But we also documented the tradeoffs, and they were not small. Work relationships thinned. Informal networks, the kind that don’t appear on organizational charts but can determine who gets promoted, frayed. One participant captured it plainly: “Time-wise I have had to become more efficient, but that has meant focusing on the tangible aspects of the job . . . I do what I need to do to keep my job. I don’t have time to do the things that might progress my career.”



The closed door was efficient, but also isolating. Women can produce more output, yet are simultaneously sacrificing future opportunities those hallway conversations might have produced. Benefits were visible and immediate, but costs were invisible and deferred. This asymmetry is the central mechanism of what I refer to as the efficiency trap. 



From Ruthless to Sustainable



We are living through a moment of unprecedented time pressure: always on, perpetually connected, chronically overworked. When you are drowning, you grab what’s floating. You don’t stop to ask what you might be releasing as you reach. This urgency is real, and I am not dismissing it. But it is precisely when the pressure is greatest that we are most likely to mistake ruthlessness for resourcefulness.



I want to propose a distinction that I think does matter: between sustainable efficiency and ruthless efficiency. Sustainable efficiency is what happens when you streamline a genuinely unnecessary process, cut busywork, or automate the tedious so that human attention can go where it is irreplaceable. It creates lasting value. Ruthless efficiency is what happens when you cut corners on relationships, skip the deliberation that protects against error, or sacrifice quality for speed. With ruthless efficiency, short-term gain wins without considering long-term loss. With sustainable efficiency, both are at least weighed.



There is also the question of slack. Since Frederick Winslow Taylor, organizations have pursued efficiency partly by eliminating idle time—the gaps, the wandering, the moments that don’t appear to produce anything. But for creative work, and for knowledge work, slack is not waste. It is the medium in which insight forms. The hallway conversations I stopped having when I closed my office door made me more efficient with my immediate tasks. They also cost me relationships, contextual knowledge, and social awareness of what was happening in my organization. These are things that don’t show up on a daily productivity ledger but matter enormously over a career.



The efficiency trap is not that efficiency is bad. The question is not whether to be efficient. It is what we are willing to sacrifice for it, and whether we are making that choice with our eyes open.



I still close my office door sometimes. The time-crunching pressures that first drove me to do it certainly haven’t disappeared. But I now try to ask myself the question I didn’t ask then: What am I actually trading for this? Not as an abstract philosophical exercise, but as a genuine reckoning with what the hallway conversation might have produced, what relationship I am not building, what capability I am not developing.



It’s not whether we pursue efficiency. It’s whether we are at least honest with ourselves about the price we’re paying.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, efficiency, trap</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How authoritarian governments twist AI safety to coerce tech companies to comply</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-authoritarian-governments-twist-ai-safety-to-coerce-tech-companies-to-comply</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-authoritarian-governments-twist-ai-safety-to-coerce-tech-companies-to-comply</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When researchers founded Anthropic in 2021, they said the race to build powerful AI was moving too recklessly. They inserted detailed safety measures into their products and marketed their commitment to safety as the corporate quality that distinguished them from competitors—notably OpenAI, the rival company they had left. In March 2026 that reputation was tested when the Trump administration declared that Anthropic was a supply chain risk.



The company had refused to remove built-in safeguards that prohibited domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons from products it had supplied to the Pentagon. President Donald Trump ordered the federal government to stop using Anthropic and its large language model, Claude, labeling the company a national security risk. Within hours, OpenAI made a deal to be the Pentagon’s supplier instead.



Despite Anthropic’s apparent stand, during its clash with Trump, the company quietly scrapped the binding principles in its main safety policy. Several weeks earlier, Anthropic’s head of safeguards research had resigned, warning that “the world is in peril.” And a week after the Pentagon officially banned Claude, the U.S. military was still using the technology to select and target sites to bomb in Iran.



As a philosopher studying the rule of law and democracy, I’ve found that authoritarian governance of technology often does not involve direct censorship. Instead, it delegitimizes the intended protections, poisoning any external regulation and even voluntary self-regulation that deviates from the regime’s goals or values.



The Trump administration, which follows the authoritarian playbook, has argued that AI safety standards and user restrictions are ideological impositions rather than sound engineering decisions. The ”Preventing Woke AI” executive order of July 23, 2025, didn’t change what companies are allowed to do with their products. By attaching the “woke” label to basic ethics protections, the administration made those protections politically costly to maintain.



The Brennan Center, a legal policy and advocacy organization, has documented how AI ethics is being redefined through contract negotiations. In these cases, the government weaponizes terms such as biased to disqualify companies that maintain civil rights protections from competing for federal contracts.



The prisoner’s dilemma



A single U.S. Defense Department AI contract can be worth billions of dollars. It can also provide access to data no private company could otherwise have and unlock further government work. Companies that maintain the ethics guardrails risk ceding ground to competitors that don’t.



When OpenAI moved in to take the Pentagon work, CEO Sam Altman told his board of directors the move looked “opportunistic and sloppy.” But he said the company took it anyway, because admitting that an action looks bad is different from being willing to fall behind.



This situation reflects the classic prisoner’s dilemma. If Anthropic maintains safety provisions and OpenAI strips them away, OpenAI gets the contracts and the future advantage. If both companies maintain the provisions, digital protections might survive. But because neither company can be certain the other will hold the line—and because being left behind is not a good option—the rational choice is to discard safety measures.



These circumstances differ from a standard market race to the bottom in one key respect: The trap of having to strip away guardrails isn’t an accident of competition; it’s being maintained by the government through incentives.



Palantir didn’t wait to be caught in this trap. The data analytics company was founded by Peter Thiel and run by Alex Karp, who spent years denouncing “woke” Silicon Valley. Palantir built its business model around government surveillance and military data infrastructure. 



While Palantir has said it is committed to privacy and civil liberties, critics contend that the company is dismantling those protections. The company’s stock has surged under the Trump administration, its contracts have expanded, and it now has a front-row seat where AI policy is being written. Palantir solved the prisoner’s dilemma by defecting first.



It’s important to note that the dissolution of safety teams across the industry, such as OpenAI’s Superalignment team and Microsoft’s ethics unit, isn’t the result of anyone deciding to abandon safety. What I see in analyzing the different companies’ actions is a pattern: an accumulation of collective, incremental compromises that quietly reorient the definition of safety away from the public and toward the state. The resulting harm and risks fall on everyone whose lives are shaped by AI systems.



Redefining safety to serve the government



Across government contracts and policy documents, I have also observed that the original definition of AI-related safety has shifted from protecting the public toward making systems controllable for the state. The “anti-woke” framing accelerates this shift: Once ethics requirements are characterized as ideological rather than technical, removing them can be framed not as a safety reduction but as a correction.



This shift does not require bad faith from the companies. Safety teams are still doing rigorous work. The companies are not lying when they describe their safety commitments. Those commitments are now simply oriented toward the government rather than the public.



The case for stronger AI regulation assumes that a government constrains commercial entities on behalf of the public. But blacklisting a company for maintaining civil rights protections, and then banning the military deployment of its AI hours later, shows that the federal government in this instance enables the harm that regulation is meant to prevent.



Expanding regulatory authority over AI companies does not necessarily protect citizens. Safety regulations—intended to constrain corporate power—in authoritarian regimes become tools to coerce compliance.



Michael Gregory is an assistant professor of philosophy at Clemson University.



This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
 ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/06/p-1-conversation-91554101-from-oversight-to-coercion-how-authoritarian-governments-are-twisting-ai-safety-to-get-tech-companies-to-fall-in-line.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, authoritarian, governments, twist, safety, coerce, tech, companies, comply</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Forget eBay: This is the better way to get fast cash for an old phone</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/forget-ebay-this-is-the-better-way-to-get-fast-cash-for-an-old-phone</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/forget-ebay-this-is-the-better-way-to-get-fast-cash-for-an-old-phone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ While sites like eBay can help you turn old gadgets into cash, they’re also kind of a hassle.



You’ve got to create a listing with photos and a description, figure out a competitive sale price, and pay for shipping. Selling locally on Facebook Marketplace, meanwhile, means dealing with flaky buyers and awkward meetup locations. You’d be forgiven for just leaving your old phones or tablets in a drawer instead.



Fortunately, there are easier ways to offload your used tech gear while still fetching fair prices in return.



This tip originally appeared in the free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. Get the next issue in your inbox and get ready to discover all sorts of awesome tech treasures!



Turn old gadgets into cash—without the headache



For an easier way to sell your old phones, tablets, game consoles, and other tech gear, check out SellCell​.



➜ SellCell helps you find the best buyback prices for your used gadgets.



⌚ It takes just a minute to see what your device is worth, with no registration required.



Instead of buying back your gadgets directly, SellCell looks up prices across dozens of buyback companies, then links to their respective websites to complete the deal.



✅ Let’s say, for instance, that you’ve got an old Galaxy S20 to sell. Type the phone’s name into SellCell’s search box and select your phone model. On the results page, make sure to select your phone’s condition and which carrier it’s tied to.



~sellcell-sell-old-phones-gadgets.pngSellCell shows you all the details for easy buybacks in a single streamlined spot.~



You’ll see a list of offers from various buyback sites, along with details on how you’ll get paid and how long you’ll have to ship out the phone. Selecting an offer will take you to the buyback site to complete the sale process. Most sites provide a free shipping label, though you’ll need to provide your own packaging.



☝️ Make sure to back up any important data and factory reset your phone before shipping it off. Also, don’t sell any phone that’s still on a payment plan from your wireless carrier.



Who’s it for?



If you’re sticking with a major carrier such as AT&amp;T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, you probably shouldn’t sell your old phone through SellCell when upgrading to new one. Those carriers tend to offer much better trade-in values in exchange for multi-year service agreements. In many cases, they’ll give you a new flagship phone for free.



Still, buyback sites can be useful if you have a cheaper prepaid wireless plan or don’t want to be stuck with your carrier long-term. They can also help you offload other gadgets, including tablets, smartwatches, and game consoles.



More comparison shopping



Before you complete a sale through SellCell, I also suggest checking trade-in values on Back Market​.



Back Market connects you directly to refurbishers that want to buy and resell used tech gear, and its offers aren’t indexed by SellCell. In some cases, it may offer better prices. (For instance, it’s currently buying Xbox One consoles for $50, while the highest offer through SellCell is $40.) I’ve personally used Back Market to sell an old console without issue.



Of course, you’ll likely get the most value by selling directly to other buyers on sites like eBay or Swappa​. But you’ll also spend way more time and deal with more headaches. Who wants to put in all that extra work?




SellCell is a website​ that you can access in any web browser.



It’s free to access with no subscriptions or registration.



Like many sites, SellCell users personal data for targeted ad purposes, but you don’t have to provide any data to use it. The site only collects your email address if you sign up for optional price alerts.




Treat yourself to all sorts of brain-boosting goodies like this with the free Cool Tools newsletter—starting with an instant introduction to an incredible audio app that’ll tune up your days in truly delightful ways. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Forget, eBay:, This, the, better, way, get, fast, cash, for, old, phone</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Tony Awards 2026: How to watch Broadway’s biggest night with or without cable, including free options</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tony-awards-2026-how-to-watch-broadways-biggest-night-with-or-without-cable-including-free-options</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tony-awards-2026-how-to-watch-broadways-biggest-night-with-or-without-cable-including-free-options</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Stretch out those jazz hands and dust off those tap shoes. It’s time for the 79th Tony Awards, which will take place tonight, Sunday, June 7, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.



Presented in partnership by the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League, the event celebrates excellence in Broadway theater. Here’s everything you need to know before you time-step your way to the television set.



Where does the name “Tony” come from?



The Tony Awards have been around since 1947. The event was named in honor of the late actress, producer, and director Antoinette Perry. During World War II, she cofounded the Theatre Wing of Allied Relief, a way for theater artists to give back to the armed forces.



During the inaugural ceremony, Perry’s longtime collaborator and lover, Brock Pemberton, presented an award and called it a Tony. The nickname stuck and remains to this day.



Who is hosting the 2026 Tony Awards?



Audiences might be surprised to learn that pop star Pink is hosting this year’s Tony Awards. 



The “Raise Your Glass” singer has never performed on Broadway, but her songs are used in the hit shows Moulin Rouge and &amp; Juliet. She is a big theater fan and cannot wait to emcee the event.



Who’s nominated for a 2026 Tony Award?



Two new musicals tied for the most nominations this year. The Lost Boys and Schmigadoon! received 12 each. And Ragtime’s 11 nominations are nothing to be ashamed of either.



Death of a Salesman, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Rocky Horror Show all received nine each.



Familiar Hollywood faces were also bitten by the theatrical bug. This year, Daniel Radcliffe, John Lithgow, Carrie Coon, and Rose Byrne are nominated in acting categories.



For a full list of nominees, click here.



Who is performing at the 2026 Tony Awards?



As is tradition, a number or medley from all the shows nominated for Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical will be performed.



Additionally, this year marks big anniversaries for a couple of well-loved and long-running musicals. The Chicago revival is celebrating 30 years, and The Book of Mormon is celebrating 15 years.



Queen Latifah, Pink, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Alex Newell, Julianne Hough, Whitney Leavitt, and Dylan Mulvaney will perform jazzy hits from Chicago.



The entire original cast of The Book of Mormon—including Nikki M. James, Josh Gad, Andrew Rannells, and Rory O’Malley—will reunite and spread the good word once again.



Are there any special lifetime achievement Tony Awards?



During the official pre-show, The Tony Awards: Act One, special Tony Awards for lifetime achievement will be presented to André Bishop, Jules Fisher, and James Lapine.



Bishop is best known for his tenure as the artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater, where he championed productions such as Tom Stoppard’s The Coast of Utopia and Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel’s The Light in the Piazza.



Fisher is a renowned lighting designer who works across multiple mediums. On Broadway, he illuminated the original productions of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, and Ragtime, to name just a few. He has been nominated for 25 Tonys and taken home nine.



Lapine is a celebrated playwright and director with three Tonys already to his name. A frequent collaborator of both Stephen Sondheim and William Finn, this man helped bring works such as Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods, Falsettos, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee into the world.



How to tune in



The Tony Awards: Act One kicks things off at 6:35 p.m. ET on Pluto TV, a free streaming service. Actors Tituss Burgess and Laura Benanti will serve as hosts.



At 8 p.m. ET, head over to CBS or Paramount+ for the main event.



Please note that you must have a Paramount+ Premium subscription to watch live. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will have to wait a day and catch the replay on demand.



CBS is, of course, free for those with an over-the-air antenna and reception. 



The network is also included in many live-TV streaming services, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo. Be sure to check regional differences before committing to another monthly charge. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tony, Awards, 2026:, How, watch, Broadway’s, biggest, night, with, without, cable, including, free, options</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Defense tech is flooded with money, but who’s built to last?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/defense-tech-is-flooded-with-money-but-whos-built-to-last</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/defense-tech-is-flooded-with-money-but-whos-built-to-last</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Defense tech is red hot right now. Anduril and Mach Industries just doubled and quadrupled their valuations, respectively, and the U.S. government is proposing a 40% increase in defense budget. A wave of new startups is chasing those government contracts, but according to Ross Fubini, the venture investor who wrote Anduril’s first check, most of them will get lost in the Valley of Death between prototype contract […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2220498811.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Defense, tech, flooded, with, money, but, who’s, built, last</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Lovable signs multiyear deal with Google Cloud to up usage 5x, source says</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lovable-signs-multiyear-deal-with-google-cloud-to-up-usage-5x-source-says</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lovable-signs-multiyear-deal-with-google-cloud-to-up-usage-5x-source-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lovable and Google signed an expanded multiyear deal that involves a 5x expansion of Lovable&#039;s footprint on Google Cloud, and expanded access to Anthropic Claude. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2245627953.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lovable, signs, multiyear, deal, with, Google, Cloud, usage, 5x, source, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Quick commerce FirstClub doubles valuation to $255M in nine months</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/quick-commerce-firstclub-doubles-valuation-to-255m-in-nine-months</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/quick-commerce-firstclub-doubles-valuation-to-255m-in-nine-months</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Bengaluru startup has crossed 1 million orders and reached a $50 million annualized GMV run rate within a year of launch. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/firstclub.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Quick, commerce, FirstClub, doubles, valuation, 255M, nine, months</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Benchmark raises its first&#45;ever growth fund as part of $2B capital raise</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/benchmark-raises-its-first-ever-growth-fund-as-part-of-2b-capital-raise</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/benchmark-raises-its-first-ever-growth-fund-as-part-of-2b-capital-raise</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The legendary abandons its more than 20 year tradition of keeping its funds to about $425 million. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/docker-peter-fenton-4.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Benchmark, raises, its, first-ever, growth, fund, part, 2B, capital, raise</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Oura Ring 5 review: Thinner, lighter, better</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oura-ring-5-review-thinner-lighter-better</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/oura-ring-5-review-thinner-lighter-better</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Ring 5, which Oura describes as the world’s smallest smart ring, is 40% smaller than its predecessor and starts at $399. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/oura-ring-5.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Oura, Ring, review:, Thinner, lighter, better</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Can AI be humane? Aza Raskin says only if we change the race</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-ai-be-humane-aza-raskin-says-only-if-we-change-the-race</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/can-ai-be-humane-aza-raskin-says-only-if-we-change-the-race</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Aza Raskin, a cofounder of the Center for Humane Technology, has spent years sounding the alarm about where the race to build powerful AI is taking us. Just days after the center’s other cofounder visited the Vatican, Raskin unpacks the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s sweeping new encyclical on artificial intelligence, and exposes the incentive structures pushing Silicon Valley toward dangerous territory—while making the case that it’s not too late to change course. 



This is an abridged transcript of an interview from Rapid Response, hosted by the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company Bob Safian. From the team behind the Masters of Scale podcast, Rapid Response features candid conversations with today’s top business leaders navigating real-time challenges. Subscribe to Rapid Response wherever you get your podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode.







I have to start with the pope. Pope Leo recently released an AI pronouncement called Magnifica Humanitas, a title that sort of has echoes of humane technology. Did you talk with the Vatican at all about this encyclical?



We’ve been working behind the scenes, certainly talking with the Vatican. The week that the encyclical came out, Tristan Harris, my cofounder, was actually at the Vatican. And every time we’ve interacted with the Vatican, what we’ve discovered is that even though we come from obviously very different backgrounds, there’s something that’s preserved around how we both view life as sacred and being human as sacred, and that the current technological overreach into our humanity is threatening. And that’s not just AI. That’s social media. That’s the internet. There’s been a long string of technologies that has been encroaching on our humanity that we now have to fight to preserve.



It’s hard to know these days, and we’re still in the early days of AI: Is artificial intelligence an inherently inhuman technology? Can it be humane?



Well, it’s a great question, but fundamentally, if you do not face your demons, they raise your children. The question is not whether AI is good or bad, but whether the incentives governing the race to deploy AI are good or bad. Recently, Sam Altman was asked, “What about all the energy that it takes to train AI?” And do you know his response? He asked, “Do you know how many resources it takes to train a human intelligence, all the food and the energy and the water that goes into those 20 years?” And what he’s implicitly asking is, “Who deserves these scarce resources more? AI, which is about to give your country double-digit GDP growth and all technological and military and medical advances? Or humans, who are sort of flubbing around?” Just like we were able to predict the future with social media by understanding that a race to the bottom of the brain stem, just a knife fight for human attention, would obviously lead to a more polarized and hyperpartisan and outraged and sexualized population.



The race for AI is going to lead to an antihuman future because it sets up a race where humans always lose.



The public mood about AI here in the United States certainly has shifted from being sort of euphoric and open to being decidedly wary, but that doesn’t seem to be slowing things down very much.



No. Actually, I think of this as similar to COVID, when there was a split reality that Americans were living. On the one hand, the stock market was higher than it had ever been. And on the other hand, everyday people were really struggling to make ends meet. And that’s what we’re seeing again here. This is almost like capital lifting off from labor completely. AI is sort of like the full automation of capital just reinvesting into capital. People think, “Oh, AI is just this blinking cursor. I go to ChatGPT, I go to Claude, I type something, and it gives me something back.” But now AI can run in a loop. It can have all the powers that a corporation does, all the money that a corporation does. Is its intent to help you and your family flourish and have a livelihood? Or is the intent to follow market incentives, to dominate, to extract as much as possible?



Well, obviously it’s the second one, and that’s how you know this is an antihuman future, and why I think people are starting to wake up to the fact that this is not in their best interest. The most recent poll that I read is that if you ask what percentage of Americans think that fully unregulated, go-as-fast-as-possible AI is a good thing, that we should be doing that, which is what’s happening, it’s 5%. Only 5% of people actually think that. So how we’re progressing AI is already decidedly not popular.



My colleague Reid Hoffman, who you know.



Very well, yeah.



He leans into the possible with AI, has a podcast with that name. Why not be optimistic that our good side will win out?



Well, just to say, I’m also a builder, right? I founded this nonprofit, the Earth Species Project, building frontier AI to translate animal language. And so we’re making breakthroughs now in understanding the languages of crows. It turns out 70% of crow communication was unknown to science until we started analyzing it. So I want everyone who’s listening to hear that I’m not anti-AI. Actually, I love getting to use this technology. It’s just that I’ve been through a couple waves of technology and know that we always get distracted by the possible of technology, and we don’t want to think about the probable of technology.



How instructive is social media’s evolution to the risks of AI?



Social media is a great example because social media is essentially a baby AI. Where is AI in social media? It’s the thing that’s deciding which news feeds hit your eyeballs. And it’s a very baby AI. It can’t even make its own content. All it can do is rearrange human content. But the question to ask is, was it actually optimizing for human flourishing and connection and understanding, or was it optimizing for engagement and reactivity? Well, it’s the second one.



In the beginning, the feel of social media was, “Oh, we’re all going to be connected. It’s going to help the Arab Spring.” All of these things.



That’s right.



And then it became something a little different.



Exactly. And so that was the possible of the technology. Often, at the very beginning of a technology, it’s not yet captured by market incentives. So you get this beautiful glimpse of a future, and then it gets captured by the incentives. Pretty much everything we predicted starting in 2013 and 2014 has come true. We are now forced to live in a world that didn’t reckon with the race to the bottom of the brain stem modifying everything about our world, from politicians having to become performers to the most extreme voices getting amplified to the most depressed and anxious generation. This is not the world that I want to live in. And I think there’s a version of technology that can be liberated if we can clearly see the probable.



And as tech is industrialized, though, this kind of disappointment is inevitable.



I don’t think it’s inevitable, but it is certainly the 95% to 99% case. And I am very inspired by the film The Day After. I think Tristan and I both are. This film came out in 1982. It was the most watched television event in world history. And it painted a very visceral picture of what happens the day after global nuclear war. It was seen by 100 million Americans. Reagan watched it. He became depressed. He says in his biography that it sort of created a shared common knowledge where everyone knew that everyone else knew what would really happen. And it created the space for the Reykjavik accords and the beginning of deep de-proliferation for nuclear weapons. And this is after, mind you, Oppenheimer in 1962 said, “It’s too late. We’ve already started proliferation. Every country is going to get nuclear weapons. We’re going to blow ourselves up.”



And so it’s really important because whenever we say that something is inevitable, it’s like casting a spell. When you say it’s inevitable, it means there’s nothing to do, which means no one does anything. And so it becomes true. We have to be crystal clear on the difference between it’s very, very hard and it’s impossible. And everyone who says it’s inevitable, we’re just in this industrialized race and it’s going to turn out this way, well, the question to ask is, have we even tried? 



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Can, humane, Aza, Raskin, says, only, change, the, race</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Bitcoin, XRP, and other crypto tokens are falling to fresh lows. Is SpaceX FOMO partly to blame?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bitcoin-xrp-and-other-crypto-tokens-are-falling-to-fresh-lows-is-spacex-fomo-partly-to-blame</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bitcoin-xrp-and-other-crypto-tokens-are-falling-to-fresh-lows-is-spacex-fomo-partly-to-blame</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin (BTC), XRP, and Ethereum (ETH) are having another bad day.



As of the time of this writing, those coins are down 3.3%, 1.9%, and 4.9%, respectively, over the past 24 hours. And that decline is just a continuation of a fall that has been going on for much of the past week. 



The thing is, events outside of the crypto market may be behind the most recent fall. Here’s how and why upcoming tech IPOs from companies like SpaceX may be driving crypto prices lower.



Crypto prices continue months of decline



Today’s early-morning decline in crypto values, unfortunately, is just par for the course lately. And it’s been that way for much of 2026.



Since the year began, nearly every major token has taken a significant beating. As of the time of this writing, year-to-date, Bitcoin has lost 23% of its value, XRP has lost 32%, Ethereum has lost 36%, BNB has lost 25%, and even meme coin Dogecoin has lost 19%.



Those steep losses are due to a variety of factors, including fears that geopolitical conflicts could sink the economy, uncertainty over the future of crypto regulation, and ongoing concerns that we may be in an AI bubble that could sink markets.



But what’s interesting is that some of crypto’s steepest losses have come in just the last five trading days. During that short timeframe, Bitcoin has declined 8.3%, XRP and Ethereum are down 6.5% each, and Doge is down 5.4%.



There’s also something else that has happened within that period, too: hype and expectations have risen for SpaceX’s imminent IPO. And that public offering may be one reason why crypto is seeing further declines this week.



The SpaceX effect on crypto



Back in May, Elon Musk’s SpaceX publicly filed for its long-anticipated initial public offering. 



The stock listing is expected to occur on or around June 12 and is widely expected to be the largest in history. Current valuations are putting SpaceX’s potential market cap at $1.75 trillion, with fans and followers of Musk believing the company’s future value may soar to the stars.



And SpaceX is just the beginning. 



Two other major tech IPOs are also expected this year. Those are from AI giants OpenAI and Anthropic. 



Both the ChatGPT maker and the Claude AI maker are expected to debut on the stock market between September and November of this year. And, like SpaceX, the hype surrounding these IPOs is off the charts.



All this tech IPO hype has led to a lot of FOMO. If these IPOs are going to mint hundreds of new millionaires and even billionaires, investors don’t want to miss out on that. But in order to invest in these companies, you need cash to buy the stocks first.



And that’s where cryptocurrencies—and this week’s fall in crypto come in. 



As noted by CNBC, the current selloff in crypto may have more to do with the SpaceX IPO than with the cryptocurrencies themselves. Investors may be liquidating their crypto assets in order to have cash ready to buy into the SpaceX IPO in a few weeks.



As the trading desk at digital asset and crypto trading firm QCP Capital told CNBC, “The broader issue is liquidity rotation. Crypto is facing competition for capital as equity markets continue to outperform, with both crypto-native investors and traditional asset managers being pulled toward stronger equity narratives.”



That equity market competition is only likely to continue as SpaceX’s IPO nears, and Anthropic’s and OpenAI’s IPOs follow months later.



Tech IPO hype worries analysts, too



It’s worth noting that pulling cash out of the digital token market and throwing it at SpaceX (or any company that goes public this year) doesn’t guarantee a healthy return on investment. 



Many industry watchers expect SpaceX’s IPO price to reflect a total company valuation of around $1.75 trillion. But many also think the valuation could be too high, given that the company doesn’t yet make a profit.



That’s why some analysts are cautioning investors not to jump into SpaceX’s IPO and instead to wait for the stock to reach a more reasonable price after its debut.



Analysts at Morningstar consider SpaceX “significantly overvalued,” CNBC reported on Tuesday, and noted that “investors will have opportunities to buy the stock at more attractive levels after the IPO.”



The investment research firm puts SpaceX’s fair value at around $780 billion, well below the $1.75 trillion touted by many. 



And if those analysts are right, SpaceX’s stock price could fall in the weeks after trading begins as investors realize the spaceflight company was way overvalued.



What this means is that for those who are pulling their money out of crypto to invest in SpaceX’s IPO, there’s no guarantee that they’ll come out ahead financially.



Disclosure: Morningstar was founded by Joe Mansueto, owner of Fast Company parent Mansueto Ventures. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bitcoin, XRP, and, other, crypto, tokens, are, falling, fresh, lows., SpaceX, FOMO, partly, blame</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The best Bukayo Saka documentary is also a WhatsApp ad</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-best-bukayo-saka-documentary-is-also-a-whatsapp-ad</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-best-bukayo-saka-documentary-is-also-a-whatsapp-ad</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bukayo Saka is having an epic year. In just this past month, the English soccer star led Arsenal to its first Premier League title in more than 20 years, then played in a Champions League final (where the team lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties). Next, he’ll lead England into the 2026 World Cup.



Now, a new documentary film directed by Emmy-award winner Robert Alexander shines another spotlight on the 24-year-old. Bukayo Saka: The Time is Now brings Saka together with another Arsenal great, club legend Thierry Henry, for a candid conversation about what it takes to perform at the highest level, the pressure, the resilience required, and making sure to still get joy from the game.







We also get a look inside a pivotal moment in Saka’s career, when a WhatsApp message from Henry helped shift his perspective following his missed penalty shot against Italy in the Euro 2020 final. Throughout the film, Henry acts as the Yoda to Saka’s young Jedi, breaking down his motivations, asking him tough questions, and providing the kind of perspective only someone who has already lived that life could. 



The new doc will be streaming on Disney+ in select international markets from June 5, and in the U.S. later this month, along with the ESPN App. The film will also air on Fox in the U.S. on June 7 at 1:30pm ET, and will be available on Fox One.



[Image: WhatsApp]



It’s also—and stop me if you’ve heard this one before—a WhatsApp commercial. The film is produced by the Meta-owned messaging app, and is just the brand’s latest masterclass in creating brand entertainment that is actually just entertainment. The story is real, the characters compelling, and the product just happens to sit naturally within it all. 



Here, the story catalyst is the fact that Henry and Saka first connected over WhatsApp. In 2023, for the award-winning film We Are Ayenda, it was the Afghan women’s soccer team’s use of WhatsApp to coordinate their escape from the Taliban. And last year’s The Seat, it was the Mercedes F1 team’s use of WhatsApp to discuss how they would replace legendary driver Lewis Hamilton. In each instance, all created with brand entertainment agency Modern Arts, WhatsApp played a real role and fit seamlessly into each film. 



[Bukayo Saka with former Arsenal player Thierry Henry. Image: WhatsApp]



Real stories, real impact



WhatsApp’s global head of brand Jennie Morel says that the goal for The Time is Now is to use the occasion of the World Cup to grow its user base in the U.S. by showing how a superstar like Saka actually uses the app in his real life. 



“Soccer is having such a big moment right now, we wanted to tell a story that really resonated with this fandom because we know that WhatsApp’s going to be so integral to their experience as they’re watching games and connecting with their fellow fans and group chats,” says Morel. “So it was really important for us to find a story that would be relevant to this time.”



When WhatsApp created The Seat, about Mercedes F1 replacing Hamilton with youngster Kimi Antonelli, many fans had no idea who Antonelli was. Fast-forward a year since the film’s release, and Antonelli sits atop the F1 rankings and the doc is still one of the top sports docs on Netflix. Morel says that telling stories like this gives them a much longer shelf life than traditional brand work. 



“I’d be remiss to say that we don’t experience the long tail effect of it,” says Morel. “It’s absolutely one of the reasons why we’ve decided to do this. It’s not about just telling this story at this moment in time, but being relevant to [Saka’s] career as he continues to grow.”



Last year, Modern Arts’ CEO Brooke Stite told me an evergreen insight into what works for brand entertainment: Every brand wants to tap into culture. But to tell stories people really want to hear, you need to find the stories in culture that authentically include your brand instead of trying to force-feed your brand into culture. It sounds so simple, and yet few brands can truly make it happen. 



Morel agrees and says that the key to this type of project is just how natural the brand fits within it. “When we identify our partners, whether it’s Giannis or Bukayo or Kimi, WhatsApp is an inherent part of their everyday lives, so it’s not forced, she says. “And that gives us the opportunity to resonate deeper with feelings.”



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>Warren Buffett explained that the greatest measure of success at the end of your life comes down to 1 word</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/warren-buffett-explained-that-the-greatest-measure-of-success-at-the-end-of-your-life-comes-down-to-1-word</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/warren-buffett-explained-that-the-greatest-measure-of-success-at-the-end-of-your-life-comes-down-to-1-word</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ We’ve been sold a narrow definition of success for a long time. Revenue targets, market share, titles, corner offices. Leaders climb the ladder, hit the numbers, and still feel like something’s missing. That’s because most of what we measure at work has very little to do with what actually matters in life.



Warren Buffett has a way of cutting through all of that noise.





When you get to my age, you’ll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you . . . that’s the ultimate test of how you have lived your life . . . the more you give love away, the more you get.





You might think a quote with the word “love” three times shows Buffett’s sentimental side. Maybe it does, but it’s also a hard truth. That one word should make every leader stop and take inventory.Because if Buffett is right, then a lot of high-performing leaders are failing at the one metric that actually lasts.



Bringing humanity back



Most leaders have been trained to separate performance from humanity. They think care will lower standards or accountability. They worry that showing empathy will make them look weak. So they default to control, pressure, and distance. And then they wonder why engagement drops, turnover rises, and trust disappears. I speak from experience, having reviewed exit interviews and engagement reports over the past 25 years.



Here’s the reality. People don’t give their best to leaders who don’t genuinely respect and care about them — about their well-being, their growth, and what makes them flourish on the job.



“Giving love away” in leadership may sound squishy, but it may just be your competitive advantage. And it’s far from just being cordial in morning huddles and handing out the occasional praise.



It’s about how you show up in the moments that matter.



It’s showing patience when someone is struggling instead of rushing to judgment.



It’s kindness that moves beyond words into action, especially when there’s nothing to gain.



It’s being trustworthy by doing the right thing repeatedly.



It’s checking in on your people without an agenda but because you care.



It’s giving credit freely, owning mistakes, and creating an environment where people feel safe to speak their truth, not just agree with you.These aren’t abstract ideals. They are evidence of how the world’s best leaders show up in very practical ways.



And here’s where Buffett’s insight hits hardest.



You can’t fake this



People know when they feel valued and when they are being managed like a resource. Over time, they decide how much of themselves they’re willing to give based on how they are treated.



Studies show that leaders who build trust and real connection see higher levels of discretionary effort, stronger collaboration, and better long-term performance. In other words, love, when practiced as intentional and practical care and respect, is not a liability. It’s a performance driver.



But it requires a shift. You have to move from seeing people as a means to an end to seeing them as the reason the end is even possible.



That’s a different mindset. And it shows up in small, daily behaviors that, over time, build something most leaders spend years trying to recover after they’ve lost it.



Trust.



Take the long view



Buffett’s quote is a long-term perspective. It forces today’s leaders to think about how they’ll be remembered. At the end of your career, people won’t talk about your quarterly numbers or your strategic pivots. They’ll talk about how you made them feel. Whether you saw them. Whether you helped them grow. Whether you stood by them when it was hard.



That’s the scorecard that sticks. So if you’re leading today, don’t wait until later in life to adopt Buffett’s definition of success. Bring it into your leadership now. Measure yourself not just by outcomes, but by relationships. Not just by results, but by the people who would choose to run through walls for you.



—Marcel Schwantes







This article originally appeared on Fast Company’s sister website, Inc.com. 



Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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<title>Google’s AI Overviews search feature will be impacted by a ‘world first’ rule in the UK. Here’s what will change</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/googles-ai-overviews-search-feature-will-be-impacted-by-a-world-first-rule-in-the-uk-heres-what-will-change</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/googles-ai-overviews-search-feature-will-be-impacted-by-a-world-first-rule-in-the-uk-heres-what-will-change</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ AI-generated summaries in Google search results take content from online publishers while reducing traffic to their websites—a tricky relationship that has been seemingly inevitable until now. 



Today, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that publishers will no longer have to allow Google’s AI-generated tools to use their content in exchange for appearing in the search engine’s traditional links. 



“In a world first, publishers will now have effective tools to prevent their content being used to power AI features in search, such as AI Overviews,” the CMA stated in its announcement. “This will put publishers, like news organisations, in a stronger position to negotiate content deals with Google.” 



Publishers will also be able to stop Google from using their content for “fine-tuning” its AI models.



Plus, the search engine will have to use clear attribution and links in its AI-generated results.



The decision comes only a few weeks after Google announced sweeping changes, including an “intelligent AI-powered Search box” and Gemini 3.5 Flash-powered AI Mode. 



“Google has recently announced changes to its search business and the requirements we’ve introduced today are designed to respond to what Google is doing now and in the future,” Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said in a statement. 



Google will have nine months to implement the required adjustments, which the CMA will oversee. The company must also submit compliance reports to the CMA every six months for at least the first year. 



For now, Google appears to be on board. 



Today, it announced “new controls and insights” following feedback from creators and publishers, alongside discussions with the CMA. 



These changes include testing a new toggle that permits publishers to remove their website from the company’s AI search tools—whether it be AI Overviews, AI Mode, or other features. 



“Sites that opt out will not receive traffic or impressions from our generative AI features,” Google stated in its announcement. “This control will not be used as a ranking signal for search results outside of these generative AI Search features.”



Google will also be rolling out impression metrics and data about which website pages are in AI responses and where in the world they’re being seen. 



Unsurprisingly, given the CMA’s mandate, Google will first test these features with a small number of U.K.-based website owners. 



How can the CMA force Google to make these changes?



Tech companies aren’t exactly known for taking suggestions without a fight. But, in this case, the CMA has real regulatory power over Google. 



In October 2025, the CMA designated Google’s general search engine and search advertising services with “strategic market status” (SMS). 



The CMA gives this status if it determines a company “has substantial and entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance in a digital activity.” 



The UK business regulator then has the power to take steps such as introducing interventions, protecting customers, and unlocking competition.  



This designation comes from the UK Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2025. Shortly after, the CMA launched its investigation into Google Search.  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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<title>The payroll slip that can cost you your workforce</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-payroll-slip-that-can-cost-you-your-workforce</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-payroll-slip-that-can-cost-you-your-workforce</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Yash Dubal on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Small firms are being caught out because of a payroll discrepancy picked up by HMRC. Here&#039;s how to avoid losing your sponsor licence
The post The payroll slip that can cost you your workforce appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, payroll, slip, that, can, cost, you, your, workforce</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Do you need a business bank account? Which one is right for you?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/do-you-need-a-business-bank-account-which-one-is-right-for-you</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/do-you-need-a-business-bank-account-which-one-is-right-for-you</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Do you need a business bank account and what are the questions to ask when choosing one?
The post Do you need a business bank account? Which one is right for you? appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2020/08/GettyImages-1354077707.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>you, need, business, bank, account, Which, one, right, for, you</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>What do SMEs think is the best business bank account? – survey</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-do-smes-think-is-the-best-business-bank-account-survey</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-do-smes-think-is-the-best-business-bank-account-survey</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post What do SMEs think is the best business bank account? – survey appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2020/08/Handelsbanken_landscape-scaled-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, SMEs, think, the, best, business, bank, account, –, survey</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Benefits of switching to the right business bank account</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/benefits-of-switching-to-the-right-business-bank-account</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/benefits-of-switching-to-the-right-business-bank-account</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


In case you were in any doubt, here are five key benefits of switching your business bank account – and how to make the switch
The post Benefits of switching to the right business bank account appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Benefits, switching, the, right, business, bank, account</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How much do business bank accounts cost? A guide to bank fees for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-much-do-business-bank-accounts-cost-a-guide-to-bank-fees-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-much-do-business-bank-accounts-cost-a-guide-to-bank-fees-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Nathaniel Dalby on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


With business bank accounts, it can be hard to keep track of fees. Here&#039;s everything you need to know about business bank account fees
The post How much do business bank accounts cost? A guide to bank fees for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-579132498.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, much, business, bank, accounts, cost, guide, bank, fees, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>EORI number: What it is and how to get or check one</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/eori-number-what-it-is-and-how-to-get-or-check-one</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/eori-number-what-it-is-and-how-to-get-or-check-one</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


In this guide, we&#039;ll take you through all you need to know about EORI numbers, who should register, how to apply and where to go for more help
The post EORI number: What it is and how to get or check one appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/11/GettyImages-1318116805.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>EORI, number:, What, and, how, get, check, one</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>London housing slump leaves Labour’s 1.5 million homes pledge looking out of reach</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/london-housing-slump-leaves-labours-15-million-homes-pledge-looking-out-of-reach</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/london-housing-slump-leaves-labours-15-million-homes-pledge-looking-out-of-reach</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
London delivered just 7% of the 88,000 homes it needed last year, says JLL. With buyers squeezed and landlords leaving, Labour&#039;s 1.5m homes pledge is in trouble.
Read more: 
London housing slump leaves Labour’s 1.5 million homes pledge looking out of reach ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/shutterstock_2390715793-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>London, housing, slump, leaves, Labour’s, 1.5, million, homes, pledge, looking, out, reach</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Temu hit with record €200m EU fine over unsafe baby toys and dodgy chargers</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/temu-hit-with-record-200m-eu-fine-over-unsafe-baby-toys-and-dodgy-chargers</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/temu-hit-with-record-200m-eu-fine-over-unsafe-baby-toys-and-dodgy-chargers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Brussels has handed Temu a record €200m DSA fine after finding dangerous baby toys and faulty chargers on the Chinese marketplace. What it means for online sellers.
Read more: 
Temu hit with record €200m EU fine over unsafe baby toys and dodgy chargers ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shutterstock_2594289913.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Temu, hit, with, record, €200m, fine, over, unsafe, baby, toys, and, dodgy, chargers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Asda turns to Ocado in bid to fix its online grocery problem</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/asda-turns-to-ocado-in-bid-to-fix-its-online-grocery-problem</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/asda-turns-to-ocado-in-bid-to-fix-its-online-grocery-problem</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Asda has signed a long-term deal to roll out Ocado&#039;s Smart Platform across its website, app, in-store picking and last-mile delivery from 2027, as executive chairman Allan Leighton accelerates his turnaround of Britain&#039;s third-largest grocer.
Read more: 
Asda turns to Ocado in bid to fix its online grocery problem ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/shutterstock_2224273253-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Asda, turns, Ocado, bid, fix, its, online, grocery, problem</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Horner joins Oakley Capital to steer premium sports dealmaking</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/horner-joins-oakley-capital-to-steer-premium-sports-dealmaking</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/horner-joins-oakley-capital-to-steer-premium-sports-dealmaking</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner has been appointed as a sports investments advisor by private equity firm Oakley Capital, signalling fresh ambitions to scale its premium sports portfolio.
Read more: 
Horner joins Oakley Capital to steer premium sports dealmaking ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2619400281.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Horner, joins, Oakley, Capital, steer, premium, sports, dealmaking</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UK firms need a sharper strategy to win in a changing American economy</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-firms-need-a-sharper-strategy-to-win-in-a-changing-american-economy</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-firms-need-a-sharper-strategy-to-win-in-a-changing-american-economy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
America is still growing, but British firms eyeing the US in 2026 need sharper regional targeting, disciplined pricing and a realistic view of cost, says Blick Rothenberg.
Read more: 
UK firms need a sharper strategy to win in a changing American economy ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2577569725.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>firms, need, sharper, strategy, win, changing, American, economy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘What a joke’: Github Copilot’s new token&#45;based billing spurs consternation among devs</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-a-joke-github-copilots-new-token-based-billing-spurs-consternation-among-devs</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-a-joke-github-copilots-new-token-based-billing-spurs-consternation-among-devs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The golden age of Microsoft&#039;s Github Copilot appears to be at an end. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/github-copilot-chat-2.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘What, joke’:, Github, Copilot’s, new, token-based, billing, spurs, consternation, among, devs</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Snap alums unveil Ghost Angels fund</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/snap-alums-unveil-ghost-angels-fund</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/snap-alums-unveil-ghost-angels-fund</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A group of 20 Snap alumni has come together to launch a fund called Ghost Angels to back the next generation of social media. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/GettyImages-1927744482.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Snap, alums, unveil, Ghost, Angels, fund</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This weekend’s two biggest movies were both directed by YouTubers</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-weekends-two-biggest-movies-were-both-directed-by-youtubers</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-weekends-two-biggest-movies-were-both-directed-by-youtubers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The YouTube-to-prestige-horror pipeline is looking very strong. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/backrooms.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, weekend’s, two, biggest, movies, were, both, directed, YouTubers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>SoftBank says it will invest up to €75 billion to build French data centers</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/softbank-says-it-will-invest-up-to-75-billion-to-build-french-data-centers</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/softbank-says-it-will-invest-up-to-75-billion-to-build-french-data-centers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The goal, the firm said, is to develop and operate up to 5 gigawatts of additional data center capacity. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GettyImages-2224533087.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SoftBank, says, will, invest, €75, billion, build, French, data, centers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>What happens in Vega$: steroids, swimmers, and a billion&#45;dollar hustle</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-happens-in-vega-steroids-swimmers-and-a-billion-dollar-hustle</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-happens-in-vega-steroids-swimmers-and-a-billion-dollar-hustle</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Enhanced Games — a singular sporting competition where a majority of the athletes were on performance enhancing drugs — may herald a new business model that the tech industry is ready to embrace. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2277547476.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, happens, Vega:, steroids, swimmers, and, billion-dollar, hustle</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>4 Ways To Make Your Next Business Meeting As Efficient As Possible</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/4-ways-to-make-your-next-business-meeting-as-efficient-as-possible</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/4-ways-to-make-your-next-business-meeting-as-efficient-as-possible</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Business meetings have a tendency to run over the time allotted and to run off track. That can cause employees to get bored and lose focus really quickly. Whether meeting with employees or clients, you need to know how to run those meetings more efficiently so that people don’t start to get bored. This ensures […]
The post 4 Ways To Make Your Next Business Meeting As Efficient As Possible appeared first on Fincyte. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.fincyte.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Ways-To-Make-Your-Next-Business-Meeting-As-Efficient-As-Possible.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ways, Make, Your, Next, Business, Meeting, Efficient, Possible</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Science says you can indeed buy happiness—for as little as $30</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/science-says-you-can-indeed-buy-happinessfor-as-little-as-30</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/science-says-you-can-indeed-buy-happinessfor-as-little-as-30</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When I was about 8 years old, in response to the ubiquitous question of what I wanted to be when I grew up, I responded, “I want to be happy!”



The adults chuckled and my inquisitor did not ask any follow-up questions. But my mother later pulled me aside to tell me that being happy wasn’t always something we mere mortals had perfect control over.



Mom wanted to prepare me for the reality that happiness couldn’t be planned for or worked toward, like becoming a writer (my usual response to grownups asking about my future career goals). Happiness wasn’t something I could buy from a store, earn from an institution of higher education, or receive along with a corner office.



As wise as Mom’s counsel was, science has found that she wasn’t quite right. The recently published World Happiness Report, along with myriad other clinical studies, show that it’s entirely possible to plan, purchase, and implement greater daily happiness. You just have to know how to spend your time and money effectively.



Here’s what the science of happiness has to say about how to invest in greater daily contentment.



Increased light makes us happier



Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) was first formally described in the mid-1980s, although anyone who feels the winter doldrums probably wondered why it took scientists so long to finally name this condition—and so aptly, too.



While SAD is usually diagnosed if you have the blahs during the colder part of the year, researchers believe that the shortened daylight hours and reduced access to sunlight during the winter have a chemical effect on the brain that can trigger depressive symptoms and increase the production of melatonin, a sleep-related hormone.



This is why light therapy lamps have long been prescribed to help reduce the depressive symptoms of SAD. Sitting close to a 2,500- to 10,000-lux bright light therapy lamp for at least 30 minutes every morning has proven to improve depression symptoms in SAD patients, boost the effectiveness of antidepressant medication, and aid sleep.



But bright light therapy lamps aren’t just for those of us who get the SADs, or just for the long, gray winter. Studies have found that these lamps are also effective for easing major depressive and perinatal depressive symptoms—along with the additional benefits of boosting medication effectiveness and making it easier to sleep.



How to invest in light



If you experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (or just become a hermit every year between New Year’s and Easter), you may want to consider investing in a light therapy box to help regulate your circadian rhythm during the dark days of winter—and beyond.



These light boxes cost anywhere from about $70 to a little over $200. While light therapy lamps range in brightness from 2,500 to 10,000 lux, the more lux the lamp delivers, the less time you need to spend in front of it. This means you’re better off purchasing a lamp that offers 10,000 lux because it will mean 30 minutes in the morning will be sufficient.



If you’re not sure if a therapy lamp is what you need, consider purchasing a sunrise alarm clock instead. You can purchase these alarm clocks for as little as $30 all the way up to $170.



Rather than blaring a loud noise to rouse you in the morning, these alarm clocks emit light to gently wake you at your specified time. The bright light signals to your brain that it’s time to wake up, and these kinds of alarm clocks can help better regulate your sleep/wake schedule, while also providing you with another source of light in the morning.



Social media amplifies your daily stress



It’s incredibly telling that the CEOs of major social media companies don’t allow their own children to use social media. Social media, despite its claim to bring people together, causes incredible stress.



In fact, the recently published World Happiness Report found that “life satisfaction is highest at low rates of social media use and lower at higher rates of use.”



Of course, as anyone who has taken a statistics class will remember, correlation doesn’t equal causation. The areas with high life satisfaction and low social media usage may be happy for some reason unrelated to ignoring the siren song of Instagram—while the folks who are less satisfied with life might be unhappy for a reason that has nothing to do with their multiple hours per day arguing with @urmom420 on the platform formerly known as Twitter.



However, a recent clinical study backs up the conclusion that social media is bad for your mental health. In this study, one group of participants reduced their social media screen time to less than two hours per day for three weeks, compared with a control group who continued using social media as they normally did.



The participants who reduced their social media time saw the following improvements compared with the control group:




They lowered depressive symptoms by 40%.



They increased well-being by 21%.



They decreased stress by 22%.



They improved sleep quality by 35%.




Just by reducing their social media use to under two hours per day for a three-week period, these participants greatly improved their daily quality of life.



How to invest in less daily stress



Reducing your social media usage is the kind of thing that feels like it should be easy. Jumping onto Facebook is entirely voluntary. Clicking on a TikTok is all your decision.



And yet, you’ll find yourself wasting precious hours on social media, wishing you knew how to quit YouTube.



There’s a reason it’s so difficult to turn it off. Like gambling, social media relies on intermittent reinforcement, where rewards are offered sporadically, keeping the user consistently refreshing (or betting) to try to get another hit of dopamine. So many of us find it necessary to bring in a different kind of reinforcement to keep ourselves from falling back into social media’s intermittent reinforcement.



Specifically, spending money on a social media blocker that allows you access only during preplanned times of day will ensure that you maintain the social media boundaries you need to reap the benefits of stepping away from these platforms.



There are a number of types of blockers, including apps that simply add friction when you attempt to navigate to a verboten platform, apps that lock down chosen platforms, and even a physical device that fully blocks all of your most distracting apps. Prices range from free to $60 for a one-time charge, to $7 per month to $30 to $100 per year, depending on which you choose.



Good sleep is the foundation for a good mood



It’s hardly groundbreaking to say that sleep and mood are intimately related. When someone is uncharacteristically grumpy, they will apologize by saying, “I got up on the wrong side of the bed.” And everyone has had the experience of snapping at an innocent bystander or kicking a door (it knows what it did . . . ) after a night of restless sleep.



What’s interesting about the connection between sleep and mood is not just that we all turn into the grouchiest versions of ourselves when we don’t get enough shuteye. Researchers have also found that poor sleep is also correlated with zero-sum beliefs about happiness.



Specifically, people who are sleep deprived are more likely to believe that happiness is finite, so that if one person is feeling happy, that means there is less happiness for others. Those who are sleep deprived also feel happiness in the moment increases the likelihood of less happiness in the future—as if enjoying a current moment of happiness will take away a future opportunity for joy.



But well-rested individuals do not share these kinds of zero-sum beliefs about happiness. Since they are not dealing with scarcity of rest, they do not assign a scarcity mindset to happiness, and they express greater levels of life satisfaction.



How to invest in an abundant good mood



Improving the quality of your sleep is one of the best and most effective ways of increasing your daily and overall happiness. And there are a number of investments that you can make to get better sleep starting tonight, including:




Upgrade your mattress: Americans don’t necessarily pay attention to their mattresses’ quality or lifespan. If you can’t remember when you purchased your mattress, if it sags in the middle, or if your back hurts more when you wake up than any other time of day, you may need a new one. While this can be an expensive purchase—up to $2,000 depending on the brand—there are excellent discount options available under $600 that can still improve your sleep quality compared with a worn-out mattress.



Hang blackout curtains: For as little as $30, you can make your bedroom fully dark, which can not only help improve your quality of sleep, but also offer health benefits.



Cool and quiet your room: A fan can offer two benefits to your bedroom: keeping the space cool, which promotes better sleep, and providing a kind of white noise that can help block outside sounds and lull you to sleep. There are even fans that produce specific white, pink, or brown noise to help you fall and stay asleep. Fans can cost anywhere from $35 to $200.




You can buy happiness—if you’re mindful with your purchases



Happiness may not be a singular goal one can attain like a degree or a profession, but that doesn’t mean it’s entirely out of our control. Science has discovered a number of predictable things that help make humans feel happy. These include daily access to sunlight (or a reasonable facsimile thereof), hard limits on our social media usage, and consistent quality sleep.



Investing in a light therapy lamp or sunrise alarm clock, a social media blocker, a mattress, blackout curtains, and a fan or white noise machine could create a measurable difference in your sense of daily contentment.



All it takes is a commitment to using these purchases to embrace the scientifically proven behavioral changes.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Science, says, you, can, indeed, buy, happiness—for, little, 30</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Zillow downgrades its home price forecast across 400&#45;plus housing markets—see the data</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/zillow-downgrades-its-home-price-forecast-across-400-plus-housing-marketssee-the-data</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/zillow-downgrades-its-home-price-forecast-across-400-plus-housing-marketssee-the-data</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.



Zillow economists just published their updated 12-month forecast, projecting that U.S. home prices—as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index—will shift down 0.1% from April 2026 to April 2027.



That’s a tiny downward revision from its 12-month national forecast published in April (+0.1%) and its 12-month national forecast published in March (+0.5%).



U.S. home prices, as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index, are currently up 0.7% year over year. Zillow’s latest 12-month outlook (-0.1%) expects national home prices to remain near that subdued pace. As long as national home price growth remains below U.S. wage growth (currently up 3.6%), underlying fundamentals should continue to improve. If that trend continues—and mortgage rates don’t spike—national housing affordability should also continue to gradually improve.







While Zillow’s national home price forecast isn’t negative—it isn’t exactly bullish either. It’s calling for a soft national housing market in 2026, one where national housing affordability may improve slightly as U.S. income growth outpaces U.S. home price growth.



What type of regional variation does Zillow anticipate over the next 12 months?







Among the 300 largest U.S. metro-area housing markets, Zillow forecast the biggest home price increase from April 2026 to April 2027 to occur in these 15 metros:




Syracuse, New York → 4.8% 



Rockford, Illinois → 4.5% 



Atlantic City, New Jersey →  4.1%



Utica, New York →  4.0%



Rochester, New York → 3.9%



Binghamton, New York → 3.6% 



Pottsville, Pennsylvania → 3.3% 



Knoxville, Tennessee→ 3.2% 



Norwich, Connecticut → 3.2% 



Erie, Pennsylvania → 3.1 



Morristown, Tennessee → 3.1%



Janesville, Wisconsin → 3.0% 



Buffalo → 2.9% 



Youngstown, Ohio → 2.9% 



Kingston, New York → 2.9%




Among the 300 largest U.S. metro-area housing markets, Zillow forecast the biggest home price decline from April 2026 to April 2027 to occur in these 15 metros:




Houma, Louisiana → -6.7%



Lake Charles, Louisiana → -5.8% 



Austin → -5.4%



New Orleans → -4.4% 



Alexandria, Louisiana → -4.1% 



Chico, California → -3.5% 



Vallejo, California → -3.4%



Beaumont, Texas → -3.4% 



Lafayette, Louisiana → -3.3% 



Punta Gorda, Florida → -3.2% 



San Francisco → -3.1% 



Santa Rosa, California → -3.0% 



Denver → -2.8% 



San Antonio → -2.8% 



Shreveport, Louisiana → -2.8%




My quick take: Based on my own analysis, I believe Zillow is too bearish on the New Orleans metro-area housing market—which is showing signs of mild tightening after passing through a correction—and also too bearish on pockets of the Bay Area, especially San Francisco proper, which has benefited from AI boom spillover (although pockets of Oakland remain weak).







Below is what the current year-over-year rate of home price change looks like for single-family and condo home prices. The Sunbelt, in particular Southwest Florida, is currently the epicenter of housing market softness over the past year.






 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Zillow, downgrades, its, home, price, forecast, across, 400-plus, housing, markets—see, the, data</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>May full moon: A rare blue ‘micromoon’ will appear in the sky tonight. Here’s the best time to see it</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/may-full-moon-a-rare-blue-micromoon-will-appear-in-the-sky-tonight-heres-the-best-time-to-see-it</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/may-full-moon-a-rare-blue-micromoon-will-appear-in-the-sky-tonight-heres-the-best-time-to-see-it</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The rarity of events and celebrations such as milestone birthdays and cosmic happenings makes them special.



The phrase “once in a blue moon” exists because it is not an everyday occurrence. This year, May has not one but two full moons lighting up the night sky, the second of which is going down tonight, in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31.



Illumination reaches its peak at 4:45 a.m. ET.



But this is also considered a micromoon. Here’s everything you need to know before you stargaze.



What is a blue moon?



This has nothing to do with color. There are two ways to define a blue moon. The first is when a second full moon occurs in the same calendar month. This happens about once every 30 months. Tonight is the night for May 2026, as the first full moon took place on May 1.



The second definition deals in quarters. A typical astronomical season contains three full moons. Every two to three years, a fourth sneaks in, causing the third full moon to be considered a blue moon.



When will the next blue moon occur?



If you miss this one, you will have to wait until May 20, 2027, for a seasonal blue moon, according to Royal Museums Greenwich.



The next calendar blue moon won’t happen again until December 2028.



Can 2 blue moons happen in the same year?



Metaphorical lightning—or in this case, two blue moons—can strike twice in the same year, but it is rare. 



According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, in 2018, both January and March had a blue moon. February had no full moons. This won’t happen again until 2037.



What is a micromoon?



Although this blue moon is considered “micro,” the naked eye won’t be able to tell much difference in size. According to National Geographic, it will only look about 10% to 15% smaller in diameter and a bit dimmer.



The natural satellite orbits the Earth in an elliptical pattern, making it appear bigger and brighter or smaller and dimmer, depending on where it is on that journey.



A micromoon occurs around apogee, a fancy term for when the moon is at the farthest point away from Earth. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>May, full, moon:, rare, blue, ‘micromoon’, will, appear, the, sky, tonight., Here’s, the, best, time, see</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The Pentagon says laser weapons are nearly ready for prime time</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-pentagon-says-laser-weapons-are-nearly-ready-for-prime-time</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-pentagon-says-laser-weapons-are-nearly-ready-for-prime-time</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ This article is republished with permission from Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology.



The U.S. military is pushing to demonstrate high-energy laser weapons engineered for fielding at scale in the next two years, according to the U.S. Defense Department’s top science and technology official.



Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee on May 19, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, Emil Michael, told lawmakers that the science of laser weapons “is largely done.” He said the Pentagon is focused on addressing the engineering challenges that come with transforming exquisite prototypes into mass-producible capabilities—the “scaled” element of the department’s “scaled directed energy” critical technology area.



“We now have a suite of directed energy products that go from low end to high end, and now we have to scale production of those,” Michael said.



When questioned by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., about the three-year timeline for fielding laser weapons at scale that defense officials previously publicized in March, Michael stated that President Donald Trump’s planned “Golden Dome for America“ domestic missile shield would accelerate those research and development efforts due to the initiative’s “big reliance” on directed energy. He added, “Our experience in Iran has also doubled our interest in these systems.”



“A lot of the money allocated to Golden Dome is going to go to the fundamental engineering of these systems so that we can make them cheaper, smaller, and more proliferated,” Michael said. “And because the commitment was made to the president that we’re going to have a demonstration that includes directed energy in our Golden Dome architecture, there’s a lot of energy going into that.”



The directed energy demonstration is expected to occur during the summer of 2028, Michael said, part of a series of Golden Dome-related events.



“There’s never been more effort in the department on this particular capability,” Michael said. “There [are] several companies that are emerging that have developed it, and several companies that are taking what they’ve already built and making it cheaper and better.”



Michael’s comments effectively tie the future of U.S. military laser weapons to a presidential priority with serious money and a hard deadline behind it. The Pentagon’s fiscal year 2027 budget request contains $452 million in proposed R&amp;D spending for the “development, integration, and assessment” of directed energy weapons in support of Golden Dome alone, more than triple the $142 million enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation package Trump signed into law in July 2025. In addition, the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy together have laid out plans to spent $675.9 million over the next five years on a containerized 150-300 kilowatt Joint Laser Weapon System (JWLS) as part of the military’s broader Golden Dome architecture. In addition, Michael’s mention of Iran as having “doubled” the Pentagon’s interest in directed energy adds an operational urgency that budget numbers alone don’t capture.



But there’s a problem with Michael’s declaration that the science of laser weapons is “largely done” and the engineering is what remains: Engineering is exactly what has sunk U.S. military programs in the past. Building effective laser weapons means ensuring they can be operated and maintained across a range of tactical environments by soldiers who aren’t laser specialists. Consider the Army’s 50 kW Stryker-mounted Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD), which the service determined was “not mature enough” to become a program of record after rocky operational testing in the Middle East in 2024 exposed issues with the system’s heat dissipation and reliability in its vehicle-mounted configuration. (Robert Rasch, a retired Army lieutenant general, summed up the problem with real-world directed energy weapon deployments in August 2025: “We can’t get by with the thought of having clean rooms out in combat.”)



The Pentagon has been burning drones out of the sky with lasers since 1973, but it has yet to consistently translate demonstrators into battle-ready weapons that American service members can actually rely on outside a controlled environment.



Indeed, the last decade has proven a graveyard of promising laser weapon programs. Beyond DE M-SHORAD, the Army has also abandoned its 300 kW Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser project after downshifting from an eventual program of record to a single testbed that will inform future JLWS efforts. The Navy’s 60 kW High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system, which only recently began testing at full power and successfully engaged drone targets aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Preble after years of delays, has effectively disappeared from the service’s fiscal year 2027 budget request outside a handful of sustainment dollars. The Marine Corps returned its five much-hyped Compact Laser Weapon System units to Boeing without a replacement program in sight. The Air Force spent years testing Raytheon’s High-Energy Laser Weapon System before abandoning it without a program of record.



These failures share a common pattern diagnosed in a detailed 2023 Government Accountability Office report: promising laser weapons advanced through prototyping without ever securing formal transition partners or drafting agreements that would bind developers and the acquisition community to shared requirements, timelines, and funding responsibilities, dooming them to obsolescence simply because the bureaucratic will to fight for them across budget cycles and shifting service priorities didn’t exist. In his posture statement to the House Armed Services Committee in April, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called it “institutional inertia.” While Michael pointed to the Pentagon’s Joint Interagency Task Force 401 counterdrone group as a demand signal aggregator alongside and Golden Dome as a political forcing function, neither of those things solves the transition problem on its own.



Two efforts—likely Michael’s “suite of directed energy products that go from low-end to high-end”—will serve as the clearest early indicators of whether the Pentagon’s engineering confidence is warranted. The first is the Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL), the Army’s modular 30 kW system explicitly envisioned as the service’s first directed energy program of record—and it appears to be moving faster than almost any laser effort before it. Based on Army documents, E-HEL’s design philosophy looks like a direct response to DE M-SHORAD’s shortcomings, with the system decoupled from a specific vehicle platform and built for soldier-performable sustainment using line-replaceable units. The service plans to “produce and rapidly field” 24 E-HEL systems over a five-year period, with the first prototype expected no later than the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 and initial procurement units slated for delivery by the end of fiscal year 2027. If this timeline holds, E-HEL would mark the first time the U.S. military service has successfully transitioned a laser weapon to a genuine program of record.



The second is the aforementioned JLWS, the Joint Laser Weapon System. The Navy plans on awarding $31.7 million in contracts for the development of a Joint Beam Control System—a critical component “capable of supporting” a 300-500 kW laser weapon system, according to the Navy’s fiscal year 2027 budget request—as soon as the fourth quarter of 2026, with another $30 million in contracts for the procurement and testing of containerized hardware expected by March 2027. That timeline makes a Golden Dome demonstration in the summer of 2028 plausible, but it also means whatever system appears will likely be an early-stage weapon rather than a mature one. The current JLWS R&amp;D roadmap runs through fiscal year 2031, and while a successful demonstration in two years would be a genuine milestone, it would still represent the early stages of a fielding process.



Whether the U.S. defense industrial base is ready to answer either program’s call remains an open question. Manufacturing expansions from defense contractors like Huntington Ingalls Industries, AV, IPG Photonics, and nLight are encouraging signs, but the industrial building blocks for laser weapons—from specialized optics with 12-to-18-month lead times to critical materials and rare earth elements sourced from Chinese-dominated supply chains—do not yet appear in place to enable the production systems at the scale Michael is describing.



The development of laser weapons has been defined for decades by a seemingly inescapable cycle of enthusiasm and disappointment. Ellen Pawlikowski, a retired Air Force general and former program manager for the service’s YAL-1 Airborne Laser effort, perfectly captured the longstanding Pentagon consensus around directed energy in an interview for the 2018 book Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon: “I’m tough on laser people these days. It’s because they have a reputation of overpromising and underdelivering.”



With institutional support at a historic high, the Golden Dome-driven demonstration planned for summer 2028 may end up proving a moment of truth for the engineering challenges that have imperiled laser weapon programs past—or, at worst, yet another setback for the U.S. military’s long pursuit of directed energy.



This article is republished with permission from Laser Wars, a newsletter about military laser weapons and other futuristic defense technology.



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, Pentagon, says, laser, weapons, are, nearly, ready, for, prime, time</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Student loan borrowers scramble after learning some repayment plans are disappearing</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/student-loan-borrowers-scramble-after-learning-some-repayment-plans-are-disappearing</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/student-loan-borrowers-scramble-after-learning-some-repayment-plans-are-disappearing</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Decision time is near for millions of federal student loan borrowers who will need to pick a new repayment plan starting July 1.



Due to the Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025, repayment plans for student loans will look different, requiring borrowers to choose from just two options: a Repayment Assistance Plan and a Tiered Standard Plan. For those who do not choose in time, the government will make a decision for them.



Among those affected are the roughly 7 million loan holders enrolled in Saving for a Valuable Education (SAVE), the Biden-era repayment program. The income-driven plan offered one of the most affordable options for individuals.



SAVE holders have already been in a complicated situation since 2024, when they were placed in a nearly two-year, interest-free forbearance due to Republican-led legal battles. Starting July 1, those enrolled in SAVE will receive notice from federal loan servicers with further instructions and deadlines on how to take action.



But it’s not just SAVE enrollees affected, as other repayment plans will also be phased out.



What are the new student loan payment plans?



The Repayment Assistance Plan, or RAP, is an income-driven option first offered in the ’90s in an effort to make repayments affordable for individuals. These plans tend to cap monthly payments based on an individual’s income level, canceling remaining debt after two decades of payment.



RAP determines payments based on adjusted gross income, with payments ranging from 1% to 10% (higher earners pay a higher percentage), with a mandatory $10 minimum.



Perks for the plan include $50 off per dependent on their monthly bills, as well as giving individuals credit on the timeline for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.



The tiered plan will fix a borrower’s debt into payments spread across four time frames. Those with a loan below $25,000 will have to repay the loan within 10 years; the repayment time is longer for higher loan amounts.


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Student, loan, borrowers, scramble, after, learning, some, repayment, plans, are, disappearing</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>12 of the best digital banking platforms for small business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/12-of-the-best-digital-banking-platforms-for-small-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/12-of-the-best-digital-banking-platforms-for-small-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Considering a digital banking platform over one of the traditional stalwarts? We&#039;ve picked out 12 of the best for your perusal
The post 12 of the best digital banking platforms for small business appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2017/07/Payments-19717-e1578479774770.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 14:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>the, best, digital, banking, platforms, for, small, business</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Top social media tips for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-social-media-tips-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/top-social-media-tips-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Here, we reveal social media tips to help you succeed
The post Top social media tips for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2017/08/Social-media-advertising-14817-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 14:00:20 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Top, social, media, tips, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How to start a dog walking business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-start-a-dog-walking-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-start-a-dog-walking-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


For those who love pooches and want to set up a dog walking business, check out this guide to learn more about how to do it
The post How to start a dog walking business appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 14:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, start, dog, walking, business</media:keywords>
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<title>Reddit: An Overlooked Marketing Tool</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/reddit-an-overlooked-marketing-tool</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/reddit-an-overlooked-marketing-tool</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post Reddit: An Overlooked Marketing Tool appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/pexels-photo-7568293-7568293-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 14:00:17 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Reddit:, Overlooked, Marketing, Tool</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Co&#45;ownership of commercial property – what you should do if you can’t agree on what happens to it</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/co-ownership-of-commercial-property-what-you-should-do-if-you-cant-agree-on-what-happens-to-it</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/co-ownership-of-commercial-property-what-you-should-do-if-you-cant-agree-on-what-happens-to-it</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Katarina Morgan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Know where you stand on co-ownership commercial property disputes before you go down the litigation route, says Katarina Morgan
The post Co-ownership of commercial property – what you should do if you can’t agree on what happens to it appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/17433.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 29 May 2026 14:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Co-ownership, commercial, property, –, what, you, should, you, can’t, agree, what, happens</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>ISA shake&#45;up risks unwinding a decade of simplification, warns Charles Stanley</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/isa-shake-up-risks-unwinding-a-decade-of-simplification-warns-charles-stanley</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/isa-shake-up-risks-unwinding-a-decade-of-simplification-warns-charles-stanley</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
From April 2027 the cash ISA allowance falls to £12,000 for under-65s and a 22% charge will hit interest on cash in stocks &amp; shares ISAs. Charles Stanley’s Rob Morgan warns the reforms risk reversing the 2014 simplification and deterring cautious savers.
Read more: 
ISA shake-up risks unwinding a decade of simplification, warns Charles Stanley ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shutterstock_2746271617.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ISA, shake-up, risks, unwinding, decade, simplification, warns, Charles, Stanley</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Gordon Brothers swoops on Radley as Poundland owner adds British handbag label to its turnaround portfolio</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/gordon-brothers-swoops-on-radley-as-poundland-owner-adds-british-handbag-label-to-its-turnaround-portfolio</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/gordon-brothers-swoops-on-radley-as-poundland-owner-adds-british-handbag-label-to-its-turnaround-portfolio</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Poundland owner Gordon Brothers has bought British handbag brand Radley through a pre-pack administration, rescuing the label but axing 42 jobs and leaving 21 UK stores out of the deal.
Read more: 
Gordon Brothers swoops on Radley as Poundland owner adds British handbag label to its turnaround portfolio ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/radley-london.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Gordon, Brothers, swoops, Radley, Poundland, owner, adds, British, handbag, label, its, turnaround, portfolio</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Amazon’s UK tax bill tops £1.3bn as employer NI hike and £30bn sales drive the total higher</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/amazons-uk-tax-bill-tops-13bn-as-employer-ni-hike-and-30bn-sales-drive-the-total-higher</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/amazons-uk-tax-bill-tops-13bn-as-employer-ni-hike-and-30bn-sales-drive-the-total-higher</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Amazon&#039;s UK tax bill jumps 20% to more than £1.3bn after the employer national insurance rise and stronger sales — but campaigners want a clearer breakdown.
Read more: 
Amazon’s UK tax bill tops £1.3bn as employer NI hike and £30bn sales drive the total higher ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Amazon’s, tax, bill, tops, £1.3bn, employer, hike, and, £30bn, sales, drive, the, total, higher</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Samsung chip workers pocket £300,000 windfalls as AI memory boom rewrites the rule book</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/samsung-chip-workers-pocket-300000-windfalls-as-ai-memory-boom-rewrites-the-rule-book</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/samsung-chip-workers-pocket-300000-windfalls-as-ai-memory-boom-rewrites-the-rule-book</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Samsung&#039;s 78,000 semiconductor workers are in line for bonuses of up to £300,000 after a landmark profit-share deal, as the AI memory chip supercycle reshapes the global tech industry.
Read more: 
Samsung chip workers pocket £300,000 windfalls as AI memory boom rewrites the rule book ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2587269317.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Samsung, chip, workers, pocket, £300, 000, windfalls, memory, boom, rewrites, the, rule, book</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Half of graduates would refuse a student loan today, treasury inquiry warns</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/half-of-graduates-would-refuse-a-student-loan-today-treasury-inquiry-warns</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/half-of-graduates-would-refuse-a-student-loan-today-treasury-inquiry-warns</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
A landmark Treasury Committee survey of more than 52,000 borrowers exposes the scale of disillusionment with the student finance system — and the knock-on effect on home ownership, family formation and the wider UK economy.
Read more: 
Half of graduates would refuse a student loan today, treasury inquiry warns ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2190041303.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Half, graduates, would, refuse, student, loan, today, treasury, inquiry, warns</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Tech CEOs are apparently suffering from AI psychosis</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tech-ceos-are-apparently-suffering-from-ai-psychosis</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tech-ceos-are-apparently-suffering-from-ai-psychosis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;CEOs are uniquely prone to AI psychosis,&quot; Box CEO Aaron Levie opines. Maybe that explains the almost religious belief in AI productivity gains. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/GettyImages-1265000101.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tech, CEOs, are, apparently, suffering, from, psychosis</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Robinhood now lets your AI agents trade stocks</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/robinhood-now-lets-your-ai-agents-trade-stocks</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/robinhood-now-lets-your-ai-agents-trade-stocks</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Robinhood will let users create a separate account with pre-loaded balance that an agent use to trade ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Agentic-trading-feat.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Robinhood, now, lets, your, agents, trade, stocks</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>YouTube will now automatically label AI videos</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/youtube-will-now-automatically-label-ai-videos</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/youtube-will-now-automatically-label-ai-videos</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ YouTube will now automatically label videos that use significant photorealistic AI, instead of relying solely on creators to disclose AI-generated content themselves. It&#039;s also making AI labels more prominent. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/GettyImages-1149449083.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>YouTube, will, now, automatically, label, videos</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>ClickHouse triples anualized revenue to $250M, charting a path toward an IPO</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/clickhouse-triples-anualized-revenue-to-250m-charting-a-path-toward-an-ipo</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/clickhouse-triples-anualized-revenue-to-250m-charting-a-path-toward-an-ipo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The database provider is eyeing a public debut within the next few years. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-27-at-5.53.09-AM.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ClickHouse, triples, anualized, revenue, 250M, charting, path, toward, IPO</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>China is increasingly keeping its best AI talent to itself</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/china-is-increasingly-keeping-its-best-ai-talent-to-itself</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/china-is-increasingly-keeping-its-best-ai-talent-to-itself</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ China&#039;s AI boom is producing world-class talent, and Beijing is increasingly reluctant to let them go elsewhere. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/china-flag-shanghai.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>China, increasingly, keeping, its, best, talent, itself</media:keywords>
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<title>These AI bots want to help fans navigate World Cup host cities </title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/these-ai-bots-wanttohelp-fans-navigate-world-cup-host-cities</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/these-ai-bots-wanttohelp-fans-navigate-world-cup-host-cities</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When soccer fans head to the FIFA World Cup starting in June, they’ll have a new option for finding things to do, places to stay, and ways to get around in various host cities: artificial intelligence. 



Some visitors will likely turn to general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude, with recent studies finding they’ve become popular travel-planning tools despite the risk they’ll present outdated or false information. But multiple host cities are also deploying specially developed AI assistants and virtual concierges they say will deliver curated, relevant, and up-to-date facts and guidance for visitors. 



Frisco, Texas—home to Toyota Stadium, which is serving as a World Cup base camp for Sweden’s national team—has worked with the AI travel planning service GuideGeek on an AI assistant called Frankie that can answer questions about hotels, restaurants, shopping, and activities in the Dallas-area city. The bot launched last year after a couple of months of work, ensuring it could give correct and comprehensive answers based on data sources like the official Visit Frisco tourism website, says Cori Powers, director of marketing and communications for Visit Frisco. 



“We really wanted to ensure that it was conversational and fun and would make trip planning to Frisco convenient,” says Powers. 



Recently, Powers says, the bot has seen a rise of questions about World Cup planning, along with other questions related to summer vacations. Noting the questions users ask Frankie has helped the organization add relevant copy to its website—which in turn feeds back into Frankie—and social media channels. 



“One of the biggest values for the tourism boards is identifying where those content gaps are,” says Greg Oates, director of AI advocacy at GuideGeek and its parent organization, Matador Network. “If a tourism board has seen that a lot of people are asking about something specific and it’s not being answered in the website, then they can update that content or expand on that.” 



For better or worse, GuideGeek’s city-specific bots are designed to steer off-topic questions back to their sponsoring cities, which means Frankie reflects even some questions about the greater Dallas area back to answers about Frisco itself. But the bots also have features that ordinary tourism websites don’t, including the conversational interface, map integrations to highlight relevant sites, and the ability to serve up relevant images. Additionally, GuideGeek bots, which serve more than 30 locations and brands around the world from Aruba to Manitoba, can answer questions in dozens of languages.  



“If you’re coming from somewhere and English isn’t your native language, you just talk to GuideGeek in whatever your language might be,” Oates says. “GuideGeek understands that [and] will respond in kind.” 



Already, Visit Frisco has seen a burst of queries in languages like Spanish, German, and Mandarin. 



And GuideGeek’s multilingual capability has also proven useful in New York City, where NYC Tourism + Conventions has deployed two GuideGeek-powered bots: Ellis, targeting business event planners, and Libby, aimed at tourists and travelers visiting the city. The tourism organization deployed Libby last year, motivated in part by the World Cup, and the fact that while its website is only available in five languages, GuideGeek’s AI can support more than 60. Libby, which is available through the Tourism + Conventions website and through WhatsApp, quickly proved popular, says Nancy Mammana, chief marketing officer at NYC Tourism + Conventions. 



“When we launched it in June, it really started to catch fire quickly, and it’s become a very important channel for us,” she says. “We’ve seen over 45,000 conversations happen with the tool in 68 languages from 178 countries, and over 122,000 queries, which is great.” 



Libby, which is advertised with QR code-embedded marketing material throughout the city, has even been embraced by locals for some events, like Restaurant Week, Mammana says.  



It also won’t be the only AI bot available to help navigate the New York area around the World Cup, which in addition to potentially heavy crowds will see changes to normal transit patterns, along with special deals at restaurants and exhibits at area museums. An “Official NYNJ World Cup Concierge” will also be available with the backing of the official FIFA World Cup New York New Jersey host committee, built with a company called Neurun that got its start building AI guides for running events like marathons. 



The AI concierge, which will be accessible through the host committee website and other websites that embed its web page widget with host committee approval, is designed to be a single “official source of truth” for the World Cup events, says Bruce Revman, cohost city manager of the FIFA World Cup 26 New York New Jersey host committee. That means that it will have access to up-to-date transit info, highlighted through an integration with Google Maps, along with other verified information about what’s going on in the area during the World Cup events. Users will also be able to ask for general New York City information, like opening hours at area attractions, or use the tool to locate places to watch World Cup games and find special deals available during the tournament, Revman says.  



In addition to testing its AI concierges by hand, Neurun deploys additional AI agents that pose questions of the bots and grade and record their answers, says Neurun’s cofounder and CEO, Cade Netscher. 



“It’ll record the activity that it does, so we can watch it, ask different questions, see what happens, make sure it looks appropriate,” he says. “And then we can fill in the gaps.” 



Like Libby, the concierge is likely to have uses beyond the World Cup. Revman says it’s expected to be promoted around events like Sail 4th 250, a celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary this July focusing on tall ships. 



And while AI travel planning tools are sometimes criticized for taking the human element out of vacationing, replacing personal research and expert advice with computer-generated itineraries and fact sheets, Revman emphasizes that questions will be based on official information derived from human expertise, whether users are asking about security protocols, sightseeing options, or travel logistics.  



“It’s been a fun time, working with the host committee and their partners in this,” says Netscher. “You see AI headlines—everyone’s terrified of AI replacing human connection and everything—and we think with this technology we can leverage AI to enhance human connection.”  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>These, bots, want to help, fans, navigate, World, Cup, host, cities </media:keywords>
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<title>Meet the online superfans who turned their Stan Twitter experience into full&#45;time social media jobs</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meet-the-online-superfans-who-turned-their-stan-twitter-experience-into-full-time-social-media-jobs</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meet-the-online-superfans-who-turned-their-stan-twitter-experience-into-full-time-social-media-jobs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Katelyn Ide was thirteen when she first logged onto Twitter from a small town in Connecticut and discovered Justin Bieber’s fervent online fandom. Like most fans, she wasn’t content to just hang back and idolize from a distance, but to actively participate any way she could. She ran multiple fan accounts, mastering engagement back when Twitter allowed only 140 characters. Her “finish the lyric” tweets and song prompts circulated widely enough that she accumulated nearly 20,000 followers. “It became my whole personality,” she told me.



What Ide didn’t realize at the time was that she was gaining valuable skills for a future career. Now 28, she works as Head of Social Strategy and Talent at Sweety High, a Gen Z–focused digital media company, in a role shaped almost entirely by the years she spent as a rabidly online Belieber. Although she initially left that experience off her résumé after graduating college, she eventually sent a direct message from her Bieber fan account to a prospective employer explaining why her fandom background made her uniquely qualified for the job. Within ten minutes, she received a reply; within days, she was hired. “I truly owe my career to my Justin Bieber fan account,” she said.



For almost as long as it has existed, fandom has occupied a culturally diminished space: misunderstood, ridiculed, and shadowed by the old Victorian association between female intensity and hysteria. For much of the 20th and early 21st centuries, the fangirl was imagined as excessive rather than skilled, someone wasting time and energy on trivial pursuits.



Yet employers have belatedly begun to recognize that many of the skills now prized in the digital economy were first developed inside fan communities, where intense attachment to artists incidentally produced real expertise through participatory fandom. Fans built graphics kits and analytic dashboards before they knew those terms existed. Those who learned to trend hashtags for Taylor Swift, coordinate streaming campaigns for BTS, or run update accounts for Justin Bieber and One Direction were, in effect, apprenticing themselves in the logistics of online attention long before employers learned to value their skills.



Employers Are Finally Taking Fangirls Seriously



As more of Gen Z enters the workforce, fans are realizing that fandom has created entry points into the entertainment industry for those otherwise shut out by money or geography. “Instead of relying solely on formal routes like university or structured internships, you can actively create your own opportunities through participation,” says Issy Aldridge, a marketing executive whose adolescence spent writing One Direction fan fiction on Tumblr was an unconventional proving ground for her job. “Running fan accounts, contributing to blogs, organising projects, moderating communities, or even volunteering as a fan rep at concerts all develop real, transferable skills.”



Last May, Aldridge co-developed That Fangirl Life, a resource aimed at converting fan experience into employment. Its career guides encourage users to frame time spent running fan accounts in professionalized language and even suggest citing “viral tweets” or engagement statistics in interviews, demonstrating how deeply skilled fandom has always been. 



In the year since That Fangirl Life launched, Aldridge has been working to develop the site’s first success story, amid a broader shift she’s noticed, where fans are more confidently asserting their fandom practice as professionally useful skills.  “If someone’s running a fan account—creating content, posting regularly, overseeing a community and actively engaging with them—why couldn’t they pursue a career within social media management?”



It’s a question Aldrige says employers—particularly in the music industry—are also beginning to ask themselves.  “Some of the major labels are starting to hire roles dedicated to fan engagement, often requiring lived experience within a subculture like fandom,” including Universal Music Group, which recently hired a ‘Fans Insight Strategist’ to help drive a deeper understanding of fan behavior to inform marketing, artist development, and commercial decision-making.



Recently, media company Vocal Media’s CEO posted on LinkedIn asking for people who used to run One Direction stan or update accounts, because he noticed the top candidates they were hiring had this as a common thread. HBO recently hired someone who was making mega viral Heated Rivalry edits.



While many fans today follow a stan-to-staff pipeline, Nicole Santero, Senior Director of Marketing &amp; Communications at BES, a company that trains leaders to build schools, represents the inverse. A longtime professional who later began a Ph.D. studying BTS and its ARMY fanbase, her professional work had been “mostly local and regional.” Through her involvement with BTS ARMY and her widely followed account @ResearchBTS, she began observing the dynamics of a genuinely global digital community. “A lot of things I learned from ARMY I was able to bring into more national-level work,” she said. “Design, engagement, content cycles, community trust. That translates directly.” 



In ARMY, Santero found an intergenerational, interprofessional cross-pollination between pre-employed youths and older, successful professionals—including lawyers, educators, marketers, and researchers—who brought their expertise directly into fandom. “They’re creating content, leading conversations, modeling professional-level work in a fan context,” says Santero. Meanwhile, “younger fans are learning from them in real time, picking up skills in content creation, community organizing, and platform strategy simply by participating.”



Fans’ Most Valuable Skill Is Sincerity And Intuition 



Despite its enormous value for companies, Santero resists describing fandom as labor. Fans, she argues, are not primarily motivated by productivity or careerism, and imposing that framework risks muddying one of the few remaining spaces fueled by pure affection rather than transaction.



Still, there’s always been potential for an asymmetry here that’s difficult to ignore. Artists and corporations have long benefited materially from fan activity without compensating it. When I interviewed deadmau5 several years ago, he referred to fans who sent him stems and remix material as engaging in an informal kind of “internship,” as he incorporated their contributions into his own music without payment.



Natalie Held, a cultural and content strategist and contributor to That Fangirl Life, says fandom labor is complicated because most fans never expect to be paid, since their work is motivated by passion and community rather than professional ambition. Still, she argues, that doesn’t diminish its value or justify industries benefiting from it for free. 



When she entered the professional world and realized she was now being paid for the same skills she had developed organically in fandom—audience mobilization, trend analysis, rapid-response content—it changed how she understood her past experience. At the same time, she sees something bittersweet in fandom’s professionalization, since fan communities were built on genuine emotional investment rather than metrics or performance targets. “The best work I do now still comes from that fan mentality,” she says, “leading with authenticity and emotional intelligence, not just strategy.”



Like many others, Held grew up stanning One Direction, developing an intense devotion that still shapes her professional work today. After first entering fandom spaces on Twitter in 2012, she took from that experience relevant skills she’d apply at one of her first jobs at Meta, including similar pattern recognition she’d learned as a fan trying to identify trends on Instagram. Now, in her role as cultural and content strategist, she says her job still, in many ways, resembles the fandom she was trained on, as she helps develop a clear brand voice, and mobilizes audiences. 



“Companies are realizing that the person who ran a 100,000-follower update account has more applicable experience than someone with a traditional marketing degree but no feel for what actually moves people online,” says Held. 



That instinctive ‘feel’ might ultimately be the most important value fandom produces. While any company can buy analytic tools, or commission surveys, or hire consultants to try and explain what younger audiences might want, what they’ll never be able to reverse-engineer is the deeply internalized and passionate understanding of online culture by those who spent years really living it. Stans understand how attention moves online, but most importantly, they understand why. They also know when young audiences are being pandered to, and when brands are speaking in an unconvincing, passé voice.



Brands have recently adopted the tone and vernacular of fandom. And brands from Duolingo to Wendy’s have campy, meme-referencing  fanspeak into their brand voice, drawing attention online by posting brainrot and, in Wendy’s case, referring to itself as an “Ice Spice fan account”.(Sir, this is a Wendy’s).



“Ten to fifteen years ago, social media still felt so new and companies were still figuring out where it even fit, or if it was something they should take seriously,” says Santero. “Now it’s central to how most organizations operate, and employers are starting to understand that people who are genuinely embedded in these spaces bring something you can’t really teach.”



During album releases and award campaigns, ARMY coordinates across languages and time zones, tracking streaming data in real time, placing birthday billboards across the globe, and raising funds for charities advocated for by BTS. “I’ve personally had corporate reps and even politically affiliated groups reach out to me asking for insights on how they could get ARMY’s attention or earn their support,” says Santero. “My answer is always some version of: it’s not that simple.”



The difficulty is that fandom’s power can’t be separated from the deep sincerity that produced it in the first place. And now, there’s an irony that fandom became professionally valuable precisely because it was never designed to be professional. The stan-to-staff pipeline works because fans spent years learning how people behave online when they actually care.



“I think brands have started to realise that fans can see through harsh marketing techniques, and don’t perhaps ‘bite’ as easily as they used to. That’s where putting a fan on your team could make all the difference,” says Aldridge. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Meet, the, online, superfans, who, turned, their, Stan, Twitter, experience, into, full-time, social, media, jobs</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Ferrari Luce: Stock market reacts to the Italian luxury sports carmaker’s first EV, codesigned by Jony Ive</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ferrari-luce-stock-market-reacts-to-the-italian-luxury-sports-carmakers-first-ev-codesigned-by-jony-ive</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ferrari-luce-stock-market-reacts-to-the-italian-luxury-sports-carmakers-first-ev-codesigned-by-jony-ive</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ It’s an exciting week for Ferrari, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at its stock.



On Monday, the Italian luxury carmaker unveiled the Luce, its first foray into electric cars and a moment five years in the making. 



The Luce has four electric engines and a 122 kWh battery, and takes about 2.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. It’s the company’s first five-seater car. 



The Ferrari EV was designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson at the creative collective LoveFrom.



Ive was previously the chief design officer at Apple, working at the company for 27 years. 



Fast Company’s global design editor, Mark Wilson, got a peek at the interiors in February (minus the rest of the car) and called it the closest version of an “Apple car” the world will ever see. 



[Photo: Ferrari]



But the Luce’s appearance is leaving many people put off, with the external design, especially, appearing less like a Ferrari and more like any generic EV—albeit one that costs 550,000 euros ($640,000).



The EV is being widely panned by social media users. 



“The one thing I somewhat understand is that it’s clearly bound by EV packaging rather than trying to fit the traditional shapes of ICE [Internal Combustion Engine] cars,” one Reddit thread with hundreds of comments points out. “That’s just not the right approach for Ferrari.” 



Another user put it more bluntly: “What a sad day to have eyes.”



Meanwhile, Anthony Dick, an auto analyst at Oddo BHF, told CNBC that the Luce is “the furthest deviation from the brand’s ethos we’ve ever seen.” 



U.S.-listed shares of Ferrari NV (NYSE: RACE) fell more than 6% in premarket trading on Tuesday morning after the car made its debut. The stock is down more than 6% year to date and roughly 27% over the last 12 months.  



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ferrari, Luce:, Stock, market, reacts, the, Italian, luxury, sports, carmaker’s, first, EV, codesigned, Jony, Ive</media:keywords>
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<title>Screens are saturating U.S. classrooms, fueling a backlash on school&#45;issued devices  </title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/screens-are-saturating-us-classrooms-fueling-a-backlash-on-school-issued-devices</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/screens-are-saturating-us-classrooms-fueling-a-backlash-on-school-issued-devices</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Just a few years ago, America’s public schools were rushing to get every child a laptop. Anna Soffer, a Los Angeles middle school teacher, remembers it well: “The idea was that technology is the future, so we need to put tech in every child’s hands.”Now, the conversation has flipped. After pouring billions of dollars into laptops, tablets and learning apps, many schools are facing a digital reckoning. Classrooms have become saturated with screens, and a growing number of parents, teachers, and school districts are saying it is time to scale back.“The Chromebook is just a world of distraction,” says Soffer, who teaches sixth grade English and history. She favors pen-and-paper assignments but is required to use laptops and online apps for certain activities. “Every day, I’m battling, ‘Who would you rather listen to, Ms. Soffer or Minecraft?&#039;”The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), where Soffer teaches, recently became the first major school district to say it will stop giving devices to its youngest students. It is part of a new screen-time policy taking effect in the fall across the country’s second-largest school system.A sweeping resolution passed last month by the Los Angeles school board requires the district to eliminate devices until second grade, set daily and weekly screen limits for all higher grades, block YouTube on school devices, and ban the use of devices at lunch and recess in elementary and middle school. The district will also audit its education technology contracts, which the teachers union says amount to $1.6 billion.The Los Angeles crackdown is adding momentum to calls for reform emerging around the country. In many cases, parents lobbied a few years ago for school cellphone bans, which have now become the norm. Realizing phones weren’t the only classroom distraction, they pivoted to a new target: school-issued devices.The campaign for change is becoming a public policy issue. At least 14 states have proposed laws to limit screen time in schools, according to Ballotpedia. The federal government issued an advisory last week warning that excessive screen use among youths is becoming a growing public health concern.



Parents say school-issued devices undermine screen limits at home



In Los Angeles, concerned parents last year formed a group, Schools Beyond Screens, and pressured the district by speaking out at school board meetings, on social media, and in private talks with administrators. Many are frustrated by trying to curb screen time at home, only to have screens mandated by school.As a mother of three, Katie Pace does everything in her power to limit screens. There is one family iPad and one television at home, no screen time during the week, and no screens allowed in bedrooms. Her eighth-grade daughter, Clementine, does not have a phone.But as soon as Clementine gets on the Wi-Fi-enabled school bus, her day takes a turn for the digital.For the 30-minute ride to school, Clementine watches YouTube videos on her school Chromebook.In Spanish class, assignments are on the app Duolingo, but many students use Google Translate for answers, Clementine said. Often, kids are playing games on their phones, which are supposed to be locked away. In algebra, Clementine writes with her finger on a touch screen to solve equations. In history, quizzes, tests, and writing assignments are on the computer.Almost all homework is online. Until recently, Clementine would come home and read a book, her mother said, but not anymore. On her daughter’s device history, Pace sees she spends hours a day streaming music, making Spotify playlists, and watching makeup tutorials and cat videos on YouTube.“It makes me furious,” said Pace, a member of Schools Beyond Screens. “My daughter went to middle school and was sent home with a screen addiction in her backpack.”



The pandemic supercharged student access to devices



A push to put a device in every child’s hand and close the “digital divide” started over a decade ago but it accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.Overnight, education shifted online in March 2020. Schools raced to get kids the devices needed to connect to school. When the 2021-2022 school year started, 96% of U.S. public schools reported they had given digital devices to students who needed them, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.Many schools switched funding away from textbooks, workbooks, and paper printouts to digital alternatives. Educational technology, or edtech, exploded into a multibillion dollar industry.“During the pandemic, getting kids devices was a lifeline. Now, it’s time that we reset,” said Nick Melvoin, the LAUSD school board member who drafted the new resolution.Melvoin estimates that few Los Angeles classrooms are using screens effectively in ways that benefit learning. Too often, he said, teachers are replacing instruction with online apps and using screens “as a crutch.”



Some schools are introducing new limits



The challenge, educators say, is that technology has become so entwined with learning, especially for older students, that unplugging from screens at school is complicated.In the affluent Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion, parents launched a petition campaign for the right to opt their children out of digital devices during school, citing questions about edtech’s benefits. The district has said that opting out is not possible.“If there’s really no evidence that it helps, and in fact there’s evidence that it’s harmful, what are we doing? Test scores are at their lowest point,” said Alex Bird Becker, one of the founders of the group PA Unplugged.Other schools are finding that it makes financial sense to stop sending a device home with every child.Fresno Unified School District, the third largest in California, is spending $4 million a year to repair and replace laptops. Partly to cut costs, the district has told its 40,000 elementary school students to return their take-home laptops and will shift computer access to in-class only in the fall, said its spokesperson, A.J. Kato.The Simi Valley Unified School District, near Los Angeles, stopped sending devices home for its younger students this year partly because of costly repairs, but also because they were being used for “inappropriate Google searches” and video games, according to a memo to parents. The district now stores the devices in carts at school.A group of parents in Arlington, Virginia, gathered on a recent Saturday night to share their children’s struggles with screen addictions and other side effects of school-issued devices.“None of us are Luddites. I know that technology adds value, but I also don’t want my son on YouTube all the time,” said LuAnn Oliver, who hosted the group in her living room. Her sixth-grade son struggles to keep track of online assignments and resist the temptation the iPad offers for video games. “We get reports on websites he’s visited. He’s visiting a game site in nearly every class.”The Arlington School District has stopped giving iPads out before first grade and is setting new limits in elementary school, but students in sixth to 12th grades will still be required to have school-issued devices.Another mother, Jenny Sullivan, said she has noticed her fourth-grade son capitalizing random letters and not getting corrected because there is so little work on paper. She also worries about social implications: Her sixth grader doesn’t want to go to the afterschool program because everyone is on their iPad. “I’d rather be home,” he tells his mother.After a three-hour gathering, the parents made a plan to approach the school in the fall with a unified request to “opt out of technology and opt in to textbooks and paper.”“Ten years from now,” said one of the mothers, Kristina Jackson, “I can’t imagine us looking back with any other reaction than: How could we have been so naive that we just handed these devices to our kids?”







Associated Press writer Sharon Lurye contributed to this report.







The Associated Press’s education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.



—Jocelyn Gecker, AP Education Writer



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Screens, are, saturating, U.S., classrooms, fueling, backlash, school-issued, devices</media:keywords>
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<title>Guzman y Gomez store closings: Full list of doomed locations as Chipotle rival faces lawsuit over U.S. pullout</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/guzman-y-gomez-store-closings-full-list-of-doomed-locations-as-chipotle-rival-faces-lawsuit-over-us-pullout</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/guzman-y-gomez-store-closings-full-list-of-doomed-locations-as-chipotle-rival-faces-lawsuit-over-us-pullout</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Fans of the Mexican casual food chain Guzman y Gomez were surprised to learn last week that the Australia-based competitor to Chipotle Mexican Grill had abruptly closed all of its U.S. locations.



And the chain’s customers weren’t the only ones surprised by the news. Now, some of its former employees are suing the company over the unexpected closures. Here’s what you need to know.



What’s happened?



On May 21, Guzman y Gomez, a chain of Mexican fast-casual restaurants based in Australia, abruptly announced that it was closing all of its U.S. locations.



According to the company’s Australian website, Guzman y Gomez was founded in Sydney in 2006 with the aim of bringing more authentic Mexican cuisine to Australia. 



Since then, the company has expanded into other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore and Japan. It now has over 260 restaurants globally.



Until recently, those restaurants included some in America. But as of May 22, the chain’s U.S. locations have now shuttered. 



A visit to the company’s U.S. website states that “Effective from May 22nd, GYG USA restaurants will cease trading.”



“After six years of burritos and big dreams in Chicagoland, we’ve made the difficult decision to close our US restaurants,” the website reads. “To every guest who came through our doors – you chose us, and we never took that for granted. To our team – thank you. Your passion and your purpose built something special.”



Fast Company has reached out to Guzman y Gomez for comment.



Which Guzman y Gomez locations have closed?



While the company’s website no longer lists the chain’s former U.S. locations, the Chicago Tribune reports that the first Guzman y Gomez store in the U.S. opened in Naperville, Illinois, in 2020. 



The chain then opened another seven stores in the state, where all its U.S. locations were based.



Guzman y Gomez’s eight U.S. locations were in the following cities:




Buffalo Grove, Illinois



Chicago, Illinois



Crystal Lake, Illinois



Deerfield, Illinois



Des Plaines, Illinois



Evanston, Illinois



Naperville, Illinois



Schaumburg, Illinois




Additionally, the Chicago Tribune reported that Guzman y Gomez had planned to open three more locations in Illinois in 2026, but those plans have been abandoned following the company’s exit from the U.S. market.



Why did Guzman y Gomez close its US stores?



It is notoriously hard for international food chains to operate in the U.S. market. Not only is the American marketplace crowded with U.S.-based rivals, but in recent years, even U.S.-based chains have struggled with declining foot traffic and rising costs as inflationary pressure bites consumers and businesses alike.



Mexican restaurants and fast food chains are also abundant in America, unlike in other parts of the world where Guzman y Gomez operates. 



This means that Guzman y Gomez already had an uphill battle in a country where, for instance, Chipotle Mexican Grill already dominates, with more than 4,000 locations.



On May 21, Guzman y Gomez’s co-CEO, Steven Marks, explained the abrupt U.S. pullout on a call with investors, telling them that the chain’s poor U.S. sales didn’t justify keeping the stores open any longer.



“This means ceasing to trade at our restaurants from today and proceeding with an orderly wind up of our operations in the U.S.,” the Tribune quoted Marks as saying “Notwithstanding the progress made by the team, the financial performance of the U.S. has simply not been acceptable.”



He added: “Starting with suburban drive-thrus has made it difficult to build brands in the U.S. Chicago has also been difficult. What is important is that we make changes when we need to.”



How have Guzman y Gomez’s employees responded?



The abrupt closures of Guzman y Gomez’s U.S. stores weren’t only a shock to its customers. Its U.S. store employees were also reportedly blindsided by the move. As noted by the Guardian, some of those employees have now launched a class action lawsuit over the closures that resulted in their job losses.



Workers were allegedly only informed about the closures on May 21 via an internal company message board. That’s the same day Marks made comments about the closures to analysts.



The class action lawsuit alleges that federal and state laws required Guzman y Gomez to give 60 days’ notice before mass layoffs—something the company allegedly did not do. The plaintiffs are now seeking 60 days’ pay and benefits.



A spokesperson for Guzman y Gomez told the Guardian that the company “is aware of legal action filed in the United States and we are confident we have met all of our legal obligations to our US employees,” adding it was “not in a position to provide further comment on this matter.”



How has Guzman y Gomez’s stock price reacted?



Guzman y Gomez does not trade on U.S. markets, but it is a publicly listed company in Australia, where it trades on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker GYG.AX.



Immediately after the company announced its U.S. withdrawal on May 21, its shares surged around 11%. This stock price boost likely reflects investor approval of the company’s decision to exit the notoriously challenging U.S. market.



However, despite this stock price jump, Guzman y Gomez’s shares have struggled for much of the past several years. Year to date, the company’s stock price has fallen more than 10%. 



And looking back even further, things are worse for the company’s share price. Over the past 12 months, Guzman y Gomez shares have been down more than 35%. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Guzman, Gomez, store, closings:, Full, list, doomed, locations, Chipotle, rival, faces, lawsuit, over, U.S., pullout</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Are there any free card readers for small businesses?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/are-there-any-free-card-readers-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/are-there-any-free-card-readers-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Cutting costs is a key focus for a lot of small businesses at the moment. Here are the card readers at the lowest price – purchase or rental
The post Are there any free card readers for small businesses? appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Are, there, any, free, card, readers, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Small business savings account comparison</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-business-savings-account-comparison</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-business-savings-account-comparison</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Nathaniel Dalby on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


We&#039;ve rounded up some of the best small business savings offerings around, bringing you easy access, fixed and notice accounts   
The post Small business savings account comparison appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/06/GettyImages-1223981468.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Small, business, savings, account, comparison</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>10 card payment machines ideal for small business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/10-card-payment-machines-ideal-for-small-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/10-card-payment-machines-ideal-for-small-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Including Square, the SumUp Air and Zettle 2, we break down the fees and functions of the best card payment machines for UK small businesses
The post 10 card payment machines ideal for small business appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/12/card-payment-machine-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 26 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>card, payment, machines, ideal, for, small, business</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Blame the system, not the school leavers for youth unemployment, says Amazon’s UK boss</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/blame-the-system-not-the-school-leavers-for-youth-unemployment-says-amazons-uk-boss</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/blame-the-system-not-the-school-leavers-for-youth-unemployment-says-amazons-uk-boss</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Amazon UK chief John Boumphrey tells employers to stop blaming young people for record NEET numbers and calls for compulsory work experience for over-16s.
Read more: 
Blame the system, not the school leavers for youth unemployment, says Amazon’s UK boss ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_1922817299.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Blame, the, system, not, the, school, leavers, for, youth, unemployment, says, Amazon’s, boss</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Labour eyes £1bn VAT raid on airport charges in stealth blow to family holidays</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/labour-eyes-1bn-vat-raid-on-airport-charges-in-stealth-blow-to-family-holidays</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/labour-eyes-1bn-vat-raid-on-airport-charges-in-stealth-blow-to-family-holidays</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
HMRC drafts plans to slap 20% VAT on airport landing fees, adding £1bn to airline costs and pushing up the price of UK family holidays — even as Reeves cuts VAT on days out.
Read more: 
Labour eyes £1bn VAT raid on airport charges in stealth blow to family holidays ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2373586621.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Labour, eyes, £1bn, VAT, raid, airport, charges, stealth, blow, family, holidays</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jaguar Land Rover eyes American tie&#45;up with Stellantis to sidestep Trump tariffs</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jaguar-land-rover-eyes-american-tie-up-with-stellantis-to-sidestep-trump-tariffs</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jaguar-land-rover-eyes-american-tie-up-with-stellantis-to-sidestep-trump-tariffs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Jaguar Land Rover signs a memorandum of understanding with Stellantis to explore building Range Rovers and Defenders in the US, sidestepping President Trump&#039;s tariff cap on British-made cars.
Read more: 
Jaguar Land Rover eyes American tie-up with Stellantis to sidestep Trump tariffs ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jaguar, Land, Rover, eyes, American, tie-up, with, Stellantis, sidestep, Trump, tariffs</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>April borrowing surges to £24.3bn as debt interest bill breaks month record</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/april-borrowing-surges-to-243bn-as-debt-interest-bill-breaks-month-record</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/april-borrowing-surges-to-243bn-as-debt-interest-bill-breaks-month-record</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
UK public sector borrowing climbed to £24.3bn in April 2026, overshooting the OBR forecast, as Treasury debt interest payments hit a record £10.3bn for the month.
Read more: 
April borrowing surges to £24.3bn as debt interest bill breaks month record ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Reeves_Red_case.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>April, borrowing, surges, £24.3bn, debt, interest, bill, breaks, month, record</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Morrisons to shut 100 convenience stores as supermarket blames Labour’s ‘policy choices’ for rising costs</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/morrisons-to-shut-100-convenience-stores-as-supermarket-blames-labours-policy-choices-for-rising-costs</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/morrisons-to-shut-100-convenience-stores-as-supermarket-blames-labours-policy-choices-for-rising-costs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Morrisons is closing 100 loss-making convenience stores, putting hundreds of jobs at risk, and has blamed Labour&#039;s &quot;policy choices&quot; for the rising costs eroding profitability.
Read more: 
Morrisons to shut 100 convenience stores as supermarket blames Labour’s ‘policy choices’ for rising costs ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Morrisons, shut, 100, convenience, stores, supermarket, blames, Labour’s, ‘policy, choices’, for, rising, costs</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Blue Origin cleared to fly New Glenn mega&#45;rocket after April mishap</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/blue-origin-cleared-to-fly-new-glenn-mega-rocket-after-april-mishap</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/blue-origin-cleared-to-fly-new-glenn-mega-rocket-after-april-mishap</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Jeff Bezos&#039; rocket company confirmed an engine failure led to the loss of an AST SpaceMobile satellite last month, but offered little detail. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/gallery_ng2-8262.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Blue, Origin, cleared, fly, New, Glenn, mega-rocket, after, April, mishap</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>SpaceX launches Starship V3 for the first time, but loses booster on return</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-launches-starship-v3-for-the-first-time-but-loses-booster-on-return</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-launches-starship-v3-for-the-first-time-but-loses-booster-on-return</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The company had a mostly successful first launch of its upgraded Starship V3, which it needs to power its many ambitious goals in the years to come. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-22-at-6.31.03-PM.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SpaceX, launches, Starship, for, the, first, time, but, loses, booster, return</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>AI is being used to resurrect the voices of dead pilots</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-is-being-used-to-resurrect-the-voices-of-dead-pilots</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-is-being-used-to-resurrect-the-voices-of-dead-pilots</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ People used AI on a spectrogram image of cockpit recordings to reconstruct them, forcing the NTSB to temporarily block access to its docket system. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/UPS-crash-flight-kentucky-Getty.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>being, used, resurrect, the, voices, dead, pilots</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Peec, one of Berlin’s rising startups, more than doubled annualized revenue in months to $10M, sources say</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/peec-one-of-berlins-rising-startups-more-than-doubled-annualized-revenue-in-months-to-10m-sources-say</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/peec-one-of-berlins-rising-startups-more-than-doubled-annualized-revenue-in-months-to-10m-sources-say</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Peec, which helps brands track their presence in AI searches, offers proof of a key trend among European startups. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/a5fadec4-271b-4ce6-bdd2-504484c36964.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Peec, one, Berlin’s, rising, startups, more, than, doubled, annualized, revenue, months, 10M, sources, say</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Elon Musk has given up on solar power (on Earth)</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/elon-musk-has-given-up-on-solar-power-on-earth</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/elon-musk-has-given-up-on-solar-power-on-earth</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Elon Muks&#039;s xAI has gone all in on natural gas, while SpaceX is obsessed with orbital data centers. What happened to the &quot;solar-electric economy&quot; he promised? ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/elon-musk-world-economic-forum1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 23 May 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Elon, Musk, has, given, solar, power, on, Earth</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The LA28 typography is made of 4 custom fonts</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-la28-typography-is-made-of-4-custom-fonts</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-la28-typography-is-made-of-4-custom-fonts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The last time Los Angeles hosted the Olympic Games, designers had a relatively simple typographic system. It used the italic sans-serif Univers 66 as its logotype along with a blocky stencil-style “LA84” mark that appeared on venue and urban signage. More than 40 years later, the 2028 Los Angeles Games will use an entire bespoke four-font book.



The typeface of the 2028 Games brand and design system developed by Koto Studios is called LA28, and it’s inspired by strip mall signage and hand-painted street lettering across L.A. The typeface comes in four distinct styles, Display, Sans, Serif, and Super, and together they represent a much more eclectic approach to typography than we’re used to seeing from Olympics-related design.



“Each one has a distinct personality and purpose within the system,” Geoff Engelhardt, head of brand design for LA28, tells Fast Company. The goal with the fonts is to capture the feeling of Los Angeles rather than produce a literal depiction of it, he says. “We wanted the typography to feel like it could only belong to Los Angeles.”



LA28 Display is inspired by the block lettering of L.A.’s original city street signs, and it’s meant for things like numerals, captions, and wayfinding. 



[Image: LA28]



LA28 Sans is designed for clarity, legibility, and accessibility for text-heavy use cases.



[Image: LA28]



Then there’s LA28 Super, which is just the opposite. A charismatic, stylized, calligraphy-style font, Super is reserved for expressive moments and large-scale impact, as in graphic collateral that previews the brand, showing a billboard that reads “Bienvenidos” (“Welcome” in Spanish). Its letterforms mix sharp angles and shapes with smooth curves and distinctive flairs.



[Image: LA28]



LA28 Serif is a counterpart to Sans, a serif workhouse font for heavy copy. Both are ADA compliant, meaning they meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act.



[Image: LA28]



Together the fonts create a typographic system that’s more complicated than we’ve seen for Games of decades past. But it fits the wider approach organizers have employed to form the visual identity of LA28, taking inspiration from the diversity of the city.



“There’s a whole visual culture living on the streets of Los Angeles, in the storefronts, the hand-lettered murals, the block lettering on original street signs, and we wanted to honor that rather than import something that felt foreign to the city,” says Ric Edwards, VP of brand design and executive design director for LA28.



The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics used a vibrant color palette expressed through assets like a recurring confetti pattern and venue staging. The broader look and color palette of the 2028 Games is an updated homage called Superbloom, drawn from Southern California flora and the city’s official flower, the Bird of Paradise. That same sense of expressiveness is being brought to the 2028 Games customizable logo, which replaces the A in LA28 with other graphics, and in the multi-font typography.



[Image: LA28]



Past Olympics often branded themselves in a universal style built on grids; a unified, cohesive visual language; and sans-serif typefaces like Helvetica. That style was singular and could be ported over to the visual brand or logos of any other Games anywhere. Designers for forthcoming Olympics are taking a more experimental route. 



While the 2002 Salt Lake City Games used the sans-serif Frutiger as its type family, the 2034 Utah Games released a logo with a distinctive typeface that built its letterform from natural shapes and Utah topography. In California, it’s about typography that’s capable of representing a city as dynamic and diverse as Los Angeles.



“It’s asking us to embrace the idea of variety as utopia,” says Charles Nix, senior executive creative director at Monotype. 



“We’re living in a time of incredible typographic plenty. There’s so much variety typographically now that it’s never been like this in the history of typography,” he says. “It seems almost rational in a way that people would embrace that typographic variety and want to express it.”



To apply a four-font brand in a unified way, the LA28 type family is designed with a clear hierarchy. Each font has a distinct personality and purpose within the system. Organizers say they think of it less like a style guide and more like a musical composition, with the fonts as visual frequencies that can be mixed and layered but are always in harmony.


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, LA28, typography, made, custom, fonts</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>New oral drug shows success in reversing hair loss</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/new-oral-drug-shows-success-in-reversing-hair-loss</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/new-oral-drug-shows-success-in-reversing-hair-loss</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hair loss has long confounded the pharmaceutical industry, but there’s hope on the horizon. Veradermics has announced success in its late-stage clinical trial with a drug to reverse hair loss. 



The biopharmaceutical company has become a leading player in the hair loss field, and its new drug could be a major new development. According to Veradermics, VDPHL01, an orally administered, extended-release minoxidil formulation, has met key points and high goals for its latest trial. Seventy-nine percent of once-daily patients and 86 percent of twice-daily patients reported improvement in hair coverage. 



“Dermatology has been treating hair loss with a drug borrowed from cardiology, in a formulation never intended for our patients, at doses we arrived at informally,” said Michael Gold, study trial investigator. “VDPHL01 is the first oral minoxidil formulation developed specifically for pattern hair loss, and now the first to generate positive Phase 3 results of efficacy and safety.” 



Veradermics gathered roughly 500 men with mild to moderate hair loss for their double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study saw hair growth was detectable by month two and a total improvement of between 30 and 33 hairs per square centimeter at month six. 



Growing hope



The drug made by Veradermics is an extended-release version of minoxidil, a proven drug treatment that can be readily found over the counter to treat hair loss. Major brands like Hims, Rogaine, and Pfizer have been leading names in the treatment of male pattern baldness. Most of these oral minoxidil tablets, though, come with a warning about cardiovascular issues. Oral tablets can also cause lightheadedness, palpitations, swelling, nausea, and vomiting.   



Veradermics noted that if approved, VDPHL01 would become the first FDA-approved non-hormonal oral treatment in the U.S., particularly one without cardiovascular side effects.



“These Phase 2/3 clinical study results support our belief that Veradermics’ novel formulation in VDPHL01 can optimize oral minoxidil for significant hair growth while minimizing side effects and cardiac risk,” said Reid Waldman, chief executive officer of Veradermics. “We are optimistic that these results represent a defining milestone for the hair loss community, our company, and investors as we advance this foundational, non-hormonal treatment approach to the clinic for the millions of people with pattern hair loss.” 



—Moses Jeanfrancois







This article originally appeared on Fast Company’s sister website, Inc.com. 



Inc. is the voice of the American entrepreneur. We inspire, inform, and document the most fascinating people in business: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters that represent the most dynamic force in the American economy. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, oral, drug, shows, success, reversing, hair, loss</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Demis Hassabis isn’t shying away from AI’s biggest questions</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/demis-hassabis-isnt-shying-away-from-ais-biggest-questions</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/demis-hassabis-isnt-shying-away-from-ais-biggest-questions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hello again, and welcome back to Fast Company’s Plugged In.For a decade, Google’s I/O developer conferences have told one consistent story: The AI age is here, and Google aims to lead it. The company’s progress can be measured by the AI-infused product announcements it makes during the show’s keynote. On Tuesday, CEO Sundar Pichai and other executives packed I/O 2026’s three-hour presentation so tightly with news—spanning Google Search, the Gemini app, Google Docs, Gmail, YouTube, Android, and beyond—that it threatened to explode.For one of those presenters, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, this year’s announcements are part of a long arc of personal history dating back to his childhood fascination with teaching machines to think. In 2010, that quest led to Hassabis, Shane Legg, and Mustafa Suleyman cofounding the artificial intelligence research lab DeepMind, which Google acquired in 2014 and merged with another research arm, Google Brain, in 2023. The journey will continue as Google DeepMind pursues the goal of achieving Artificial General Intelligence—AI that’s at least on par with human thinking across an array of domains.Even among the technologists most responsible for AI’s achievements to date, opinions on when AGI might be a reality vary wildly. Google Brain’s cofounder, Andrew Ng, thinks it’s decades away. But Hassabis believes we’re already on the cusp. “2030 is when I expect it to arrive, either plus or minus a year,” he says.Regardless of how much work lies ahead, AI has already reached a critical juncture simply by being a part of everyday life. Its increasing presence in Google products will make its promise and pitfalls more tangible to billions of people. When I caught up with Hassabis this week, he spoke exuberantly about the products and features unveiled at I/O. But he was at least as energized when talking about the problems AI can cause, and what Google is doing to mitigate them. And he underlines that advancing the science of AI remains “my main passion.”“It’s complicated, because you’ve also got the most voracious competition in tech history going on,” he told me. “I won’t pretend that it’s easy. But I think we get that balance right better than anyone else.”By definition, every new AI feature that Google comes up with builds on technologies that were once research breakthroughs—often originating years ago at DeepMind or Google Brain. When I ask Hassabis about Gemini Spark, Google’s new AI agent, he points out that DeepMind’s earliest research involved agentic AI, in the form of game-playing algorithms. “AlphaGo was an agent,” he says. “Even our original Atari work . . . they were agents. Maybe we were a bit ahead of our time.”The Gemini Spark agent’s features include Daily Brief, a summary of your current doings.Over the last year or so, agents have emerged from the lab. Yet they still haven’t gone entirely mainstream. Running the best-known one, OpenClaw, requires considerable technical aptitude, a willingness to risk things going awry, and—many enthusiasts conclude—a budget big enough to dedicate a Mac Mini to the job. By contrast, Gemini Spark runs 24/7 in the cloud, connects only to apps you expressly authorize, and, for now, just works with other Google services.“The sweet spot is to help everyone with these agents, not [just] people who are very technical,” says Hassabis. “But also to make sure it’s actually secure, reliable, and robust, and you have full control over what it has access to. One of the main issues with OpenClaw is it’s just very insecure. I wouldn’t recommend it for any real work. I haven’t used it for any of my real stuff, because it might leak everything.”Spark is rolling out first to users who subscribe to Google’s high-end $100/month AI Ultra plan. Bringing it to the masses will involve its “adapting to the average person, adapting their workflows to this type of agentic assistance,” says Hassabis. “It’s probably going to play out over the rest of the year, would be my guess.”Asked which of I/O’s myriad announcements he’s particularly excited about, Hassabis singles out Gemini Omni Flash, a new AI model that lets users feed in text, images, video, and audio as part of their prompts. It will debut in the Gemini app, Google Flow video editor, and YouTube Shorts, where it will output video. Eventually, it will also be able to generate other forms of media.“What people are going to be able to do is experiment between different modalities,” says Hassabis. “‘Here’s a video input, here’s a music output, here’s an image input. Give me a video output.’ I just want people to be incredibly creative with it.”Google’s Gemini models are increasingly capable of generating convincingly realistic imagery, though Hassabis wants to make it easy to determine that they’re AI creations. [Animation: Google]Of course, existing tools such as Google’s own Nano Banana have already shown that AI media generation’s being amazing and readily accessible has its downsides. People can easily make stuff that looks real, but isn’t. Perhaps worse, media that’s legit could come under suspicion for being AI fakery.Google has been working on ways to bring transparency to a piece of media’s origin for years. In 2023, it introduced SynthID, an identification technology for AI-generated content; since then, it’s watermarked over 60 years of video and 100 billion images. The company has also championed C2PA Content Credentials, a standard for tracking whether imagery was created with a camera or AI and how it’s been modified.Now Google is making it easier to determine an image’s provenance by building these technologies into widely-used experiences such as the Gemini app, Android’s Circle to Search, and Google Search’s AI Mode. The flurry of I/O news even included an announcement from OpenAI: It’s throwing its support behind SynthID by adding support for it to ChatGPT, Codex, and its API.The Gemini app can now give a rundown of a piece of media’s provenance. [Animation: Google]“I think it’s great that the whole industry is coalescing around watermarking that is robust,” says Hassabis. “That’s what was needed, really, to then go the next step, which is having sites automatically identify [content authenticity]. Or you can imagine even browsers eventually doing that, so there’s almost no effort in terms of verifying something.”After waxing enthusiastic about SynthID, Hassabis segues to cybersecurity. Is Google wrestling with the same kinds of sobering issues as Anthropic is around AI’s ability to find and exploit software vulnerabilities? (The latter decided its Claude Mythos LLM was too dangerous to release just yet.) “Definitely,” he says. He points out that Google is in a pretty good position to help developers secure their apps in the AI era, thanks to assets such as its CodeMender agent and the Wiz cybersecurity platform, the company’s largest-ever acquisition.But Hassabis adds that preventing AI from giving superpowers to bad-guy hackers is only one urgent task, and not necessarily the most sobering one. Over the next year or year and a half, he predicts, AI could accelerate chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. “I’m thinking a lot about what sorts of tools, monitoring systems, and other things all the frontier labs should really be working on and implementing,” he says. One such area is chain of thought monitoring, which lets researchers deconstruct a model’s thought process and look for signs that it’s engaging in deceptive behavior.“There’s a lot that we’re sort of in the foothills of now,” says Hassabis. “Models that are super capable, which is great. And they’re agentic, also great. But that means there are more challenges and risks associated with them.”Above all, Hassabis is motivated by AI’s potential to be, as he put it in a voiceover at the start of the I/O keynote, “the ultimate tool to solve all the world’s most complex scientific problems.” Along with running Google DeepMind, he pulls double duty as CEO of Isomorphic Labs, a spin-off devoted to commercializing its AlphaFold protein stricture prediction AI for use in drug discovery. (Hassabis and John Jumper, Distinguished Scientist at Google DeepMind, shared the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for AlphaFold’s creation.) Last week, Isomorphic announced that it had raised $2.1 billion in new funding. “You can take that as a huge vote of confidence in the progress we’re making over there,” Hassabis says.As AlphaFold edges closer to real-world impact, other Google DeepMind research projects of similar long-term ambition are coming along in earlier stages of development. For instance, the company is collaborating with the U.K. government to build an automated science lab that will use the Gemini LLM and robotics to investigate areas such as superconducting materials and nuclear fusion.Hassabis cherishes the part of his job that involves allocating sufficient resources for such efforts. “Obviously, there’s never enough compute for the ideas that you have,” he says. “But I think we’ve done that historically very well at DeepMind, originally, and now Google DeepMind—just protecting blue-sky research.” Even during I/O week, with its profusion of evidence that Google knows how to productize AI, his mind is racing ahead to what’s next.You’ve been reading Plugged In, Fast Company’s weekly tech newsletter from me, global technology editor Harry McCracken. If a friend or colleague forwarded this edition to you—or if you’re reading it on fastcompany.com—you can check out previous issues and sign up to get it yourself every Friday morning. I love hearing from you: Ping me at hmccracken@fastcompany.com with your feedback and ideas for future newsletters. I’m also on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads, and you can follow Plugged In on Flipboard.More top tech stories from Fast CompanyThe OpenAI lawsuit became a master class in what not to put in writing
As private messages from Elon Musk, Greg Brockman, and other tech leaders spilled into public view, the trial underscored a growing reality of corporate life: nothing stays private forever. Read More →The era of ‘good enough’ AI has arrived
As frontier AI models get pricier, cheaper and locally hosted alternatives are becoming powerful enough for most users. Read More →San Jose mayor Matt Mahan wants to prove he’s not just another ‘Silicon Valley guy.’ Will Californians buy it?
Meet the billionaire-backed, pro-AI mayor vying to be California’s next governor. Read More →This beautiful, biophilic phone case is on a mission to reduce your screen time
Want to keep your terrarium alive? You’ll have to put your screen down. Read More →SpaceX’s biggest business risk? Politics
The company’s pre-IPO filing acknowledges the many levers of government that could supercharge, or stall, its ambitions. Read More →LinkedIn declares war on AI slop
The job networking site plans to target low-quality AI posts that distract its users from finding value on the platform. Read More → ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Demis, Hassabis, isn’t, shying, away, from, AI’s, biggest, questions</media:keywords>
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<title>Social Security checks might get bigger than expected next year. But there’s bad news, too</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/social-security-checks-might-get-bigger-than-expected-next-year-but-theres-bad-news-too</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/social-security-checks-might-get-bigger-than-expected-next-year-but-theres-bad-news-too</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for next year could reach 3.9%, according to a new report.



The latest monthly prediction from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is its highest yet this year—notably higher than the 2.8% increase that it had predicted during its three previous cycles. That previous figure would have kept the COLA flat from 2025. 



The Social Security Administration (SSA) will announce the official 2027 COLA increase in October. At 3.9%, the average benefits check would rise from $2,081.16 to $2,162.33—an $81.17 jump.



The nonprofit TSCL stresses that even a 3.9% jump might not offset inflation’s effect on essentials like housing, groceries, and Medicare. 



“For retirees living on fixed incomes, the costs that matter most, especially healthcare, housing, utilities, and insurance, continue to rise faster than prices in the rest of the economy, silently wrenching seniors dry,” TSCL executive director Shannon Benton said in a statement.



Social Security beneficiaries are increasingly being squeezed



Earlier this year, the TSCL found that 57.6% of American seniors had skipped a healthcare service or product in the last 12 months to save money. 



Dental, vision, and hearing services were most commonly cut—Medicare Part B doesn’t offer any coverage toward these areas of care. 



Benton continued: “Many seniors are telling us the same thing: As inflation picks back up, life still does not feel affordable. The average senior already lives on much less than younger Americans, according to the Census Bureau, and our supporters constantly tell us they feel like they’re falling farther and farther behind.”



How was the COLA prediction calculated? 



The TSCL uses a statistical model to make monthly COLA predictions. 



The model pulls from the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Federal Reserve interest rate, and the national unemployment rate. 



Current COLA predictions vary. For instance, independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst Mary Johnson has predicted a 4.2% rise, CNBC reports. Last month, she had predicted a 3.2% COLA, but increased the number based on April’s CPI data. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Social, Security, checks, might, get, bigger, than, expected, next, year., But, there’s, bad, news, too</media:keywords>
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<title>IRS is ‘forever barred’ from examining Trump. What to know about the immunity deal that’s shocking experts</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/irs-is-forever-barred-from-examining-trump-what-to-know-about-the-immunity-deal-thats-shocking-experts</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/irs-is-forever-barred-from-examining-trump-what-to-know-about-the-immunity-deal-thats-shocking-experts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Remember Donald Trump’s response in the 2016 presidential debate, when Hillary Clinton blasted him for paying virtually no federal taxes?“That makes me smart,” Trump said.By that logic, Trump is looking smarter than ever now.On Tuesday, the Internal Revenue Service agreed to drop all pending probes of Trump over whether he’s paid his fair share of taxes, to settle a lawsuit brought by the president over a leak of his tax returns. That could include, assuming it was ongoing, a long-standing audit into a technique Trump reportedly used to avoid paying taxes years ago that could have hit him with an estimated $100 million bill if the IRS found wrongdoing.Trump has repeatedly denied he did anything wrong and has blasted the IRS investigation as politically motivated, without providing proof.Details of IRS audits are not public and the merits of each side’s arguments are impossible to tell. But the way the president’s case against his own government’s IRS was resolved is highly unusual, experts say.Trump sued the IRS, a federal agency within his administration, putting him in the unusual position of challenging an agency overseen by the executive branch he leads — a rare move, experts say, and possibly unprecedented. Then that agency decided, in another unusual move, to grant him immunity.



The immunity deal



Under the settlement to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over the 2018 leak of his tax returns to The New York Times, the U.S. is “forever barred and precluded” from examining or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization’s current tax filings, according to a one-page document released Tuesday. That was quietly added to an original settlement establishing a $1.8 billion fund to compensate people whom Trump thinks were improperly investigated by the government.Tax experts say this grant of immunity is shocking in the breadth of protection it offers the president and could undermine confidence in the fairness of the tax system.“This is an unprecedented remedy,” said former IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, noting that Trump should be treated like every other American. “People expect the same tax rules and enforcement framework to apply to everybody.”



That $100 million bill



The IRS probe revolved around whether Trump doubled-dipped in cutting his taxes, according to a 2024 report by The New York Times and ProPublica — specifically whether he used the same losses from his Chicago skyscraper to cut them twice in future filings, a big no-no.The report said Trump could owe more than $100 million, including penalties, if he were to lose the audit battle.Now the Justice Department has moved to “wipe his slate clean,” said tax expert Brandon DeBot, calling that an “extraordinary action” in the message it sends to the country.“The president and his affiliates might not pay the taxes they should,” said DeBot, policy director at New York University’s Tax Law Center. “This is giving the president and his affiliates completely different set of rules than everyday taxpayers.”



Cutting taxes to zero



The immunity is especially useful to Trump. His company includes hundreds of separate businesses, making his tax returns complicated. He also has a reputation for aggressively cutting his taxes, which some experts find suspicious — and at least in one case deemed now illegal.After his Atlantic City casinos collapsed under heavy debt in the mid-1990s, for instance, Trump claimed about $1 billion in losses to cut his tax bill, even though lenders had forgiven hundreds of millions of dollars he owed. Trump argued the debt was never technically forgiven because he had exchanged equity in the bankrupt casino business for it — a tax maneuver Congress later barred as an abusive tax loophole.Through that technique and other tax shelters and deductions, Trump was able pay just $750 in federal taxes in 2016 and 2017, and zero in 2020, according to a congressional investigation after his first term.



How the IRS has treated other presidents



Despite hinting that he may now release his tax returns, Trump has previously refused to do so, saying he can’t while undergoing an IRS audit — but there is no law barring him from doing that. In fact, presidents for decades have done so voluntarily and all have had their returns audited as a matter of IRS policy.That policy began in the late 1970s in a post-Watergate crackdown on presidential abuses after Richard Nixon was found to have claimed dubious deductions — including a donation of his personal papers — that led to big underpayments. One year while president, he paid only hundreds of dollars.When asked about his tax maneuvers, Nixon famously retorted, “I am not a crook.” He later agreed to the IRS findings, and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes.



Court challenges



Trump’s settlement with the IRS refers only to existing audits, not future examinations, so the president and his family are not off the hook for any alleged abuses in future tax returns.Parts of the settlement are being challenged in court.The compensation fund is being attacked by police officers who helped defend the U.S. Capitol from Trump’s supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. They have sued to block anyone — including the rioters — from receiving payouts.Some law experts expect the tax immunity will be challenged in court, too.“This is the president trying to play every role in the system, acting as plaintiff, defendant, and his own judge and jury to extract extraordinary windfalls,” said New York University’s DeBot, adding that giving broad immunity “stretches beyond what DOJ actually has authority to do.”







Hussein reported from Washington.



—Bernard Condon and Fatima Hussein Associated Press ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>IRS, ‘forever, barred’, from, examining, Trump., What, know, about, the, immunity, deal, that’s, shocking, experts</media:keywords>
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<title>3 Zoom scams you need to avoid</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/3-zoom-scams-you-need-to-avoid</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/3-zoom-scams-you-need-to-avoid</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post 3 Zoom scams you need to avoid appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Zoom, scams, you, need, avoid</media:keywords>
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<title>Best UK small business accounting software</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-uk-small-business-accounting-software</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-uk-small-business-accounting-software</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


With accounting software, even the smallest business can easily manage expenses, create and send invoices and keep on top of taxes 
The post Best UK small business accounting software appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2022/08/GettyImages-1192345080.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Best, small, business, accounting, software</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How to get a business grant from the council</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-get-a-business-grant-from-the-council</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-get-a-business-grant-from-the-council</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Here, we&#039;re bringing you a list of council business grants that are available for your small business
The post How to get a business grant from the council appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, get, business, grant, from, the, council</media:keywords>
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<title>Cheapest card payment machines</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cheapest-card-payment-machines</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cheapest-card-payment-machines</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
We show you the cheapest card machines that are available on the market by transaction fee
The post Cheapest card payment machines appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cheapest, card, payment, machines</media:keywords>
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<title>How AI is changing data subject access requests for SMEs</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-ai-is-changing-data-subject-access-requests-for-smes</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-ai-is-changing-data-subject-access-requests-for-smes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Douglas McLachlan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


With the ease of producing letters with generative AI, SMEs might find themselves with more data subject access requests. Here&#039;s what to do
The post How AI is changing data subject access requests for SMEs appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, changing, data, subject, access, requests, for, SMEs</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Standard Chartered to swap 7,800 back&#45;office jobs for AI as UK labour market wobbles</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/standard-chartered-to-swap-7800-back-office-jobs-for-ai-as-uk-labour-market-wobbles</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/standard-chartered-to-swap-7800-back-office-jobs-for-ai-as-uk-labour-market-wobbles</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Standard Chartered will axe almost 7,800 back-office roles by 2030, swapping ‘lower-value human capital’ for AI, as UK unemployment climbs to 5% and payrolls slide.
Read more: 
Standard Chartered to swap 7,800 back-office jobs for AI as UK labour market wobbles ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Standard, Chartered, swap, 7, 800, back-office, jobs, for, labour, market, wobbles</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>ICO Warns SMEs: one month to comply with new Data Complaints Law</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ico-warns-smes-one-month-to-comply-with-new-data-complaints-law</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ico-warns-smes-one-month-to-comply-with-new-data-complaints-law</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
UK businesses have just four weeks to put a statutory data protection complaints process in place before the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 takes effect on 19 June 2026. Here&#039;s what SMEs must do.
Read more: 
ICO Warns SMEs: one month to comply with new Data Complaints Law ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2741626231.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ICO, Warns, SMEs:, one, month, comply, with, new, Data, Complaints, Law</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Greene King pulls the plug on supermarket strategy with sale of Old Speckled Hen to Spain’s Damm</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/greene-king-pulls-the-plug-on-supermarket-strategy-with-sale-of-old-speckled-hen-to-spains-damm</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/greene-king-pulls-the-plug-on-supermarket-strategy-with-sale-of-old-speckled-hen-to-spains-damm</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Greene King has sold Old Speckled Hen to Estrella Damm owner Damm UK as it retreats from supermarkets and refocuses on its pubs. Inside the deal and what it means for British brewing.
Read more: 
Greene King pulls the plug on supermarket strategy with sale of Old Speckled Hen to Spain’s Damm ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_1657303738.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Greene, King, pulls, the, plug, supermarket, strategy, with, sale, Old, Speckled, Hen, Spain’s, Damm</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The ’43 club’: why Britain’s typical entrepreneur has barely aged a day in 25 years</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-43-club-why-britains-typical-entrepreneur-has-barely-aged-a-day-in-25-years</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-43-club-why-britains-typical-entrepreneur-has-barely-aged-a-day-in-25-years</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
New analysis of 9.2 million UK director appointments shows the average age of a British founder has stayed at 43 for more than two decades, defying recessions, Brexit and the rise of teenage tech stars.
Read more: 
The ’43 club’: why Britain’s typical entrepreneur has barely aged a day in 25 years ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2629166697.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, ’43, club’:, why, Britain’s, typical, entrepreneur, has, barely, aged, day, years</media:keywords>
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<title>Rooftop solar pioneers sought as CPRE opens nominations for Centenary Award</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rooftop-solar-pioneers-sought-as-cpre-opens-nominations-for-centenary-award</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rooftop-solar-pioneers-sought-as-cpre-opens-nominations-for-centenary-award</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
CPRE has opened nominations for its Best Rooftop Solar Solution award, recognising SMEs, community groups and innovators delivering clean energy. Entries close 30 June 2026.
Read more: 
Rooftop solar pioneers sought as CPRE opens nominations for Centenary Award ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2775558263.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rooftop, solar, pioneers, sought, CPRE, opens, nominations, for, Centenary, Award</media:keywords>
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<title>SandboxAQ brings its drug discovery models to Claude — no PhD in computing required</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sandboxaq-brings-its-drug-discovery-models-to-claude-no-phd-in-computing-required</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sandboxaq-brings-its-drug-discovery-models-to-claude-no-phd-in-computing-required</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Other venture-backed companies like Chai Discovery and Isomorphic Labs have raced to build better models. SandboxAQ is betting that access is the bigger obstacle and that Claude solves it. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/gettyimages-5339511481.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SandboxAQ, brings, its, drug, discovery, models, Claude, —, PhD, computing, required</media:keywords>
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<title>OSHA probing worker death at SpaceX’s Starbase site</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/osha-probing-worker-death-at-spacexs-starbase-site</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/osha-probing-worker-death-at-spacexs-starbase-site</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The death is the latest worker safety issue at the Starbase facility, which has a higher injury rate than all other SpaceX sites. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/starship-super-heavy-spacex.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>OSHA, probing, worker, death, SpaceX’s, Starbase, site</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Theo Baker spent four years investigating Stanford. Before he leaves, here’s what he found.</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/theo-baker-spent-four-years-investigating-stanford-before-he-leaves-heres-what-he-found</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/theo-baker-spent-four-years-investigating-stanford-before-he-leaves-heres-what-he-found</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;There&#039;s a common refrain among [young] people in this world that it&#039;s easier to raise money for a startup right now than to get an internship. Which is remarkable, right?&quot; ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-18-at-10.39.47-PM.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Theo, Baker, spent, four, years, investigating, Stanford., Before, leaves, here’s, what, found.</media:keywords>
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<title>Solar to dominate energy by 2035, but AI data centers will keep fossil fuels in business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/solar-to-dominate-energy-by-2035-but-ai-data-centers-will-keep-fossil-fuels-in-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/solar-to-dominate-energy-by-2035-but-ai-data-centers-will-keep-fossil-fuels-in-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Costs for solar panels are expected to drop another 30% in the coming decade, helping the tech cement its lead in energy markets. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/GettyImages-182939200.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Solar, dominate, energy, 2035, but, data, centers, will, keep, fossil, fuels, business</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Stilta raises $10.5M from a16z and YC to help companies rediscover the patents they forgot they had</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stilta-raises-105m-from-a16z-and-yc-to-help-companies-rediscover-the-patents-they-forgot-they-had</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stilta-raises-105m-from-a16z-and-yc-to-help-companies-rediscover-the-patents-they-forgot-they-had</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Stilta announced Tuesday a $10 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Other investors in the round include YC and operators from companies like OpenAI, Legora, and Lovable.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Stilta_founders.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Stilta, raises, 10.5M, from, a16z, and, help, companies, rediscover, the, patents, they, forgot, they, had</media:keywords>
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<title>Mozilla’s Mark Surman on 3 ways CEOs can build trust in AI</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/mozillas-mark-surman-on-3-ways-ceos-can-build-trust-in-ai</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/mozillas-mark-surman-on-3-ways-ceos-can-build-trust-in-ai</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hello and welcome to Modern CEO! I’m Stephanie Mehta, CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures. Each week this newsletter explores inclusive approaches to leadership drawn from conversations with executives and entrepreneurs, and from the pages of Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up to get it yourself every Monday morning. 







Modern CEO has reported on disparate levels of enthusiasm for AI between corporate leaders and the general public. More worrying, there’s an emerging trust gap in the workplace, with only 27% of workers in the U.S. saying they “trust their employers to use AI responsibly,” according to one survey.  



It’s not too late for CEOs to win employees’ trust on AI, says Mark Surman, president of Mozilla, known for its Firefox web browser and its long-standing support of open-source technologies. Indeed, Surman’s advice for CEOs is drawn from open-source principles and Mozilla’s experiences seeking to build a more trustworthy internet. Here’s his counsel. 



1. Empower your team.  



“If you want to do right by your employees, have them be involved in how you reshape and rebuild the company,” Surman says. “Give them ways to create and learn and have agency over how [AI] is used.”  



Surman discourages companies from thinking of AI strictly as a productivity tool or a way to track workers’ keystrokes so machines can take over their tasks. (Indeed, research suggests that if employees know they are being mined for their data, they may withhold information.) Surman commends the efforts of Karim Lakhani, a Harvard Business School professor whose research suggests that AI-human collaboration can be potent and will require companies to reimagine the way organizations are structured and led.  



2. Build the right guardrails. 



In the same way that the internet brought new safety issues that required cybersecurity experts, AI governance is becoming a specialty. Mozilla Ventures has invested in AI governance companies such as Fiddler AI and Credo AI, which Surman feels are leading the way in helping companies and nonprofits with oversight and control of their agents. 



“The CEO totally has to be on top of modernizing safety and security” in the age of AI, he says. “You can lean on people who are really experienced at building the guardrails and rules for how AI should work at your company.” 



3. Be worthy of trust.  



“The consequences of being untrustworthy and ignoring accountability are through the roof,” Surman says. While he is excited about the creativity that responsible AI can unleash, he also acknowledges that AI can create slop and error-filled content that will erode trust in brands and institutions: “If trust isn’t something that you think about as a company, you are going to struggle in a world where people are more skeptical than ever about whether something is reliable.” 



Get your most pressing AI questions answered



It’s not too late to sign up for our first Modern CEO live-streamed event, The CEO’s Guide to AI. Matt Fitzpatrick, CEO of Invisible Technologies, will help leaders understand where AI can have an impact—and what’s hype. You can RSVP here, and if you’re not already a subscriber, you can sign up here. And if you have questions for Matt, you can submit them to stephaniemehta@mansueto.com.  



Read more: CEOs and founders love AI  




OpenAI says this is how founders actually use ChatGPT 





Claude productivity hacks CEOs can’t live without 





7 CEOs explain how they use AI to do their jobs 




 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mozilla’s, Mark, Surman, ways, CEOs, can, build, trust</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How the Spotify mafia took over Sweden’s tech scene</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-the-spotify-mafia-took-over-swedens-tech-scene</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-the-spotify-mafia-took-over-swedens-tech-scene</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon founded Spotify in April 2006, they were two Stockholm entrepreneurs with a prototype so skeletal that Per Roman, the cofounder of investors Bullhound Capital, who would later back the company, says his first look at it was “world-changing,” despite there barely being a product to look at.



Two decades and 300 million subscribers later, Spotify has become a defining force in the Swedish tech scene: a company whose alumni have gone on to found, fund, or run many of the most ambitious startups Stockholm has produced, in much the same way Silicon Valley’s PayPal Mafia shaped the U.S. tech ecosystem. It’s one of several tentpole companies, alongside Skype, Klarna, and King, that have had an outsized impact on Sweden.



Ex-Spotify engineers and operators now run venture firms backing the next wave of Swedish startups, including Lovable. Last month, Patrik Torstensson, one of Spotify’s most senior engineers during its growth years, was announced as Lovable’s new head of engineering, another addition to an alumni network that includes the founders of Tictail (acquired by Shopify), Soundtrack, Lifesum, Kovant, and Homer.



But Spotify’s influence on Stockholm extends beyond headcount. The company helped instill a culture of ambition and a growing confidence that the Swedish capital can produce globally dominant consumer technology companies, and that failure, should it come, won’t be fatal.



Fast Company spoke with several Spotify alumni who have since gone on to found companies of their own and further expand Stockholm’s startup ecosystem.



Henrik Torstensson, partner, Alliance VC



Henrik Torstensson joined Spotify in May 2010 as head of premium sales, when the company had around 300,000 paying subscribers. By the time he left three years later to cofound the wellness app Lifesum, that figure had grown to 6 million.



He points to Spotify’s willingness, beginning around 2010, to hire commercial operators from top American companies—early Google ad sales staff, Facebook partnership leads—as the moment Stockholm’s talent pool truly leveled up. “You got a really good mix of very ambitious, very good, mostly Swedish engineers and product people with a commercial acceleration which would have taken much longer,” says Torstensson, who now invests in the Nordics’ next big startups at Alliance VC.



Ali Sarrafi, cofounder and CEO, Kovant



Ali Sarrafi arrived at Spotify just as it was launching its first iPhone app, working on the data and machine-learning team, and stayed through the company’s IPO. During that time, headcount ballooned from around 100 employees to roughly 3,000, growth so relentless that engineers on his team complained about spending too much time interviewing candidates. “We didn’t really think much of it back then, because we were in the midst of it,” he says.



Sarrafi later left to build an industrial AI startup before founding Kovant, which sells autonomous agents to manufacturing firms grappling with what it estimates is a $3 trillion annual global efficiency gap. The cultural blueprint he learned at Spotify still shapes his company. “Best ideas, best facts, always win, not the person who’s the boss,” he says.



Wilhelm Lundborg, founder, Homer; partner, Greens Ventures



Wilhelm Lundborg has toured many of the biggest names in Stockholm tech: Spray, a Yahoo-like portal, in the late 1990s; Skype in the 2000s; Spotify from fewer than 100 employees to 3,500; then Tictail, which Shopify acquired; and now Homer, an AI-driven home-management app. He is also a limited partner in Greens Ventures, a venture fund made up mostly of ex-Spotify employees backing companies such as Lovable, Tandem Health, and Sana.



Lundborg argues that the Jante law, a Scandinavian cultural convention discouraging people from standing out, is fading in Stockholm. “I’m prepared to call that dead,” he says. “Everybody’s super excited and super happy and celebrates the successes of each other.”



Ola Sars, cofounder and CEO, Soundtrack



Ola Sars never worked at Spotify, but his company likely would not exist without it. A five-time music startup founder, Sars led the launch of Beats Music in Los Angeles before returning to Stockholm burnt out and convinced there was a business-to-business opportunity Spotify wasn’t pursuing. In a secretive Stockholm bar, he pitched the idea to Spotify executives, who backed it.



In 2014, the two sides jointly funded Soundtrack, which is now licensed in 75 countries with more than 50 million tracks and around 110,000 paying business customers spending roughly $30 per month. Spotify still holds a stake in the company. Sars says he values the village-like feel of Stockholm tech over what he sees as the Bay Area’s cutthroat culture. “My neighbors are C-levels at Spotify, and I can always ask Daniel or Martin or Alex what they think,” he says. “We’re not competing about shops here—we’re competing outside of Sweden.”



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, the, Spotify, mafia, took, over, Sweden’s, tech, scene</media:keywords>
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<title>Nine founder red flags that are keeping VCs from investing in your AI company</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/nine-founder-red-flags-that-are-keeping-vcs-from-investing-in-your-ai-company</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/nine-founder-red-flags-that-are-keeping-vcs-from-investing-in-your-ai-company</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ AI may be attracting billions in venture capital, but money is not flowing to every founder with a chatbot demo and a slick deck. In fact, as AI makes building a great product faster and more accessible, founder behavior, judgment, and credibility become even more important. In a crowded market where every pitch claims “category-defining AI,” red flags can surface fast.



Founders must recognize that most investors are not just underwriting your product. They are underwriting you as a person for the next seven to ten years. If they sense weak leadership, poor decision-making, or shaky ethics early on, the meeting or any next steps is often over before diligence even begins.



Here are the top founder red flags VCs most commonly spot, and why they can kill your chances of raising capital as an AI company.



1. You’re Building a Thin Wrapper, Not a Real Business



One of the fastest-growing concerns among investors is founders who simply place a user interface on top of third-party models and call it innovation. If your entire product depends on another company’s API, with no proprietary data, workflow integration, or defensible moat, VCs may see it as temporary value.



Investors increasingly are moving away from “thin AI wrappers” and generic productivity tools because switching costs are low and it’s easy to launch copycats that can do what you do, but perhaps better. VCs want to know what remains valuable when the next model or release drops.



If your moat is “we use GPT too,” expect skepticism and pushback. 



2. You Claim There Are No Competitors



Nothing damages credibility faster than telling investors you have no competition. I’ve heard too many founders share this with me. 



Every startup has competition: incumbents, internal workflows, spreadsheets, agencies, or customer inertia. Founders who insist they are alone in the market often signal naivety, weak market research, or ego.



Investors are especially turned off when founders cannot articulate what could threaten their business. Strong founders understand risks. Weak founders deny they exist. 



Smart founders frame competition honestly by explaining who exists, why customers still struggle, and why now is the moment to win and scale at large.



3. You Treat Fundraising Like a Chore



Many founders talk about fundraising like it distracts from the “real work” of building. But for venture-backed startups, raising capital is part of the job.



Strong founders learn to value the process. Pitching sharpens the vision, investor questions test assumptions, and relationship-building can open doors long after the round closes.



VCs want founders who understand that fundraising is not separate from building the company. It is part of building the company.



4. Your Numbers Feel Inflated or Misleading



Metrics manipulation is one of the quickest ways to lose trust with an investor. That can mean overstating revenue, using vanity metrics in place of retention, redefining “active users,” or presenting aggressive projections with little evidence. Investors know early-stage metrics are imperfect. What they cannot tolerate is dishonesty.



Misrepresenting numbers is an immediate deal-breaker for some investors. Once trust is broken, every other claim becomes suspect. 



Be clear and transparent. A flawed metric explained honestly is better than a perfect metric nobody believes.



5. You’re Defensive Instead of Coachable



The best founders are confident enough to be challenged. VCs often test how founders respond to pushback. Do you get curious and thoughtful, or argumentative and combative? Do you treat every question as an attack?



Investors know they will disagree with founders many times after investing. If you become defensive in a first meeting, they imagine years of friction ahead and won’t want to move forward.



Coachability does not mean agreeing with everything. It means listening, reasoning clearly, and showing a learning mindset.



6. The Founding Team Dynamic Feels Off



Investors study founder chemistry closely. Tension, disrespect, unclear roles, or one founder constantly interrupting another can sink confidence quickly.



Visible imbalance between business and technical cofounders is a major warning sign. If one founder dominates every answer or speaks for the other’s domain, investors worry about future conflict and decision bottlenecks. 



7. You Don’t Understand the Economics of AI



Many founders underestimate the operational realities of AI businesses: inference costs, margins, data labeling expenses, enterprise sales cycles, compliance, and churn.



VCs increasingly want founders who understand not just what AI can do, but what AI costs to run and scale. If your revenue model ignores compute spend or assumes infinite gross margins, it suggests superficial thinking.



AI startups are not funded because they use AI. They are funded because they can build durable economics around it.



8. Your Vision Is Huge, but Your Execution Is Vague



Saying you will “transform healthcare,” “reinvent legal work,” or “disrupt finance” is easy. Explaining your first expansion, customer acquisition motion, and adoption path is harder.



Investors often reject founders whose vision is massive but whose go-to-market plan lacks clarity. Grandiosity without sequencing feels immature.



The best founders think big and execute narrowly. They know exactly which customer pain point they solve first.



9. You Lack Self-Awareness



Perhaps the most underrated red flag is a founder who lacks realism. If you insist everything is going perfectly, dismiss concerns, or believe intelligence alone guarantees success, investors may walk away. 



Startups are brutally hard. Strong founders know what they do not know. Self-awareness signals maturity, resilience, and leadership. Delusion signals future pain and potentially a sinking ship for an investor.



VCs don’t expect perfection from founders. We do, however, expect honesty, clarity, adaptability, and evidence that you can navigate chaos. For AI founders, that means more than flashy demos or buzzwords. It means proving you understand your customers, your economics, your competition, and yourself.



The companies that get funded are the ones whose founders remove doubt. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nine, founder, red, flags, that, are, keeping, VCs, from, investing, your, company</media:keywords>
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<title>SpaceX IPO: Stock listing date nears as Elon Musk’s rocket company prepares for historic market debut</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-ipo-stock-listing-date-nears-as-elon-musks-rocket-company-prepares-for-historic-market-debut</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spacex-ipo-stock-listing-date-nears-as-elon-musks-rocket-company-prepares-for-historic-market-debut</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Investors might soon get a closer look at the financial details behind Elon Musk’s SpaceX.



The rocket and satellite company, whose forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) is among the most-anticipated stock listings in years, could make its paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) public as soon as this week, according to Bloomberg and other media outlets.



Once its prospectus is public, anyone will be able to peruse closely guarded business metrics, such as its historic revenue and profit, as well as SpaceX’s plans for future growth and its assessment of the broader marketplace in which it operates.



The “risk factors” section of the document should be especially fascinating, as SpaceX has a stated goal of “establishing a self-sufficient city on Mars.” 



SpaceX filed preliminary confidential paperwork with the SEC in early April. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, it is aiming for a listing date of June 12.



Fast Company reached out to SpaceX for comment. 



Largest IPO in history 



According to reporting from the Financial Times, which cited people familiar with its confidential S-1 filing, SpaceX is seeking to raise roughly $75 billion for a valuation of $1.75 trillion. 



That would make it the biggest market debut of all time, beating out Saudi Aramco, which raised $29 billion for its IPO in 2019.



SpaceX is also proposing to hand enormous voting power to Musk, CEO and board chair, who will own a “supermajority of class B stock,” the FT further reports, a structure that could essentially prevent the billionaire from ever being fired.



Over the years, SpaceX has all but cornered the market for commercial rocket launches, while its Starlink internet business has more than 10,000 satellites in orbit. More recently, Musk merged SpaceX with xAI, his artificial intelligence company, which owns the X social media platform and the Grok chatbot.



SpaceX is planning to list its shares on the Nasdaq, Reuters reported. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SpaceX, IPO:, Stock, listing, date, nears, Elon, Musk’s, rocket, company, prepares, for, historic, market, debut</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>AI won’t optimize your company. It will force you to rebuild it </title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-wont-optimize-your-company-it-will-force-you-to-rebuild-it</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-wont-optimize-your-company-it-will-force-you-to-rebuild-it</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ For the past two years, companies have been asking the wrong question: how do we use AI in our processes? 



That question made sense at the beginning. When large language models first appeared, the instinct was natural: take what already exists, from workflows to functions, decision chains, etc., and try to accelerate them. Add copilots. Add assistants. Add automation layers. Improve productivity. 



But as we’ve seen, that approach doesn’t scale. As I’ve argued in previous pieces, enterprise AI hasn’t failed because the technology doesn’t work. It has failed because we tried to place it in the wrong layer. Large language models were never designed to run a company, and embedding them into existing processes doesn’t change that structural mismatch. 






Now that the initial enthusiasm has collided with reality, a different question is starting to emerge, quietly, but unmistakably: what if the problem is not how to use AI in our processes, but that our processes were never designed for AI in the first place? 



The return of an old idea (this time for real) 



In the 1990s, business process reengineering (BPR) promised something radical: redesign companies around information systems instead of layering technology on top of existing workflows. The idea was compelling, but the execution was uneven. Many initiatives became expensive reorganizations with limited long-term impact, partly because the underlying systems were still rigid, fragmented, and unable to adapt in real time. 



This time is different. 



Back then, systems were passive. They stored information, enforced rules, and supported decisions made by humans. Today, systems are becoming active: they can generate, evaluate, coordinate, and increasingly, act. That shift changes the equation entirely. It means we are no longer just digitizing processes: we are redefining what a process is. 



McKinsey’s latest research on AI adoption reinforces this point: while usage is widespread, real impact correlates strongly with workflow redesign, not just tool deployment. Organizations that rethink how work is done, not just how it is assisted, are the ones seeing measurable gains.



In other words, the original promise of BPR is resurfacing, but now the technology can finally support it. 



Why most processes are incompatible with AI 



The uncomfortable truth is that most enterprise processes today are not just inefficient. They are structurally incompatible with the kind of systems AI is becoming. 



They are: 




Fragmented: spread across tools, teams, and data silos 



Sequential: built around handoffs and delays 



Context-poor: dependent on individuals to reconstruct state



Decision-latent: optimized for review, not action 



Human-centric by design: assuming that cognition, memory, and coordination are scarce 




These characteristics made sense in a world where humans were the limiting factor. They don’t make sense in a world where systems can maintain context, apply constraints, and operate continuously. 



Deloitte captures this tension clearly in its recent analysis of agentic AI: many organizations are trying to automate processes designed for humans instead of rethinking the work itself. The result is predictable: complexity increases, but outcomes don’t improve proportionally. 



That’s not a tooling problem: that’s a design problem. 



AI doesn’t optimize processes: it exposes them 



One of the most consistent patterns across enterprise AI initiatives is this: the more you try to apply AI to an existing process, the more visible that process’s limitations become. 



What was previously hidden behind human effort becomes explicit: 




missing data 



inconsistent rules 



unclear ownership 



duplicated work 



delayed feedback loops 




In that sense, AI behaves less like an optimization layer and more like a diagnostic tool. It reveals the gap between how a company thinks it operates and how it actually operates. 



This is why so many pilots stall. Not because the model fails, but because the process it is inserted into cannot absorb what the model produces. As MIT Sloan has argued, the challenge is not simply adopting AI, but redesigning organizations so that they can actually use it effectively. 



And that leads to a much more uncomfortable conclusion: the limiting factor is no longer the technology. It’s the company. 



From processes to systems 



If the previous phase of enterprise AI was about adding intelligence to tasks. The next one will be about redesigning systems so that intelligence is embedded from the start. 



That shift changes everything. Instead of asking: 




“How do we automate this step?” 




Companies will have to ask: 




“Why does this step exist at all?” 



“What would this process look like if it were designed around continuous context?” 



“Where should decisions actually happen?” 



“What constraints should be enforced automatically?” 




These are not incremental improvements. They are structural questions. And they point toward a different kind of organization: one where processes are no longer static sequences of actions, but dynamic systems that maintain state, integrate data, operate under constraints, and continuously adapt based on outcomes. The same characteristics that define the systems described in my previous article. 



The companies that move first will look very different 



This is where the shift becomes visible. The companies that successfully redesign their processes around these principles will not just be faster or more efficient. They will operate differently: 




decisions will happen closer to data 



coordination will require fewer handoffs 



feedback loops will shorten dramatically 



execution will become more continuous 



roles will evolve around systems, not tasks 




Microsoft’s Work Trend Index already hints at this transition, describing organizations moving toward more dynamic, outcome-driven structures where humans and AI collaborate around goals rather than functions. 



From the outside, these companies may not look dramatically different at first. But internally, their operating logic will have shifted. And that shift compounds. 



This is not optional 



It’s tempting to think of this as an opportunity. It is, it may well be. But it’s also something else: a constraint. 



Because once some companies begin to operate this way, the others are not competing against better tools. They are competing against a different kind of system. 



A system that: 




learns faster 



adapts continuously 



coordinates more efficiently 



executes with fewer delays 




That is not something you can match by adding another copilot or deploying another model. It requires redesign. 



The next phase of enterprise AI is organizational 



If the first phase of AI in the enterprise was about experimentation, and the second about realization, the next one will be about transformation. 



Not transformation driven by models, but by structure. We are not moving from “worse AI” to “better AI,” we are moving from companies built for humans, to companies that must operate with machines as part of their core logic. And that requires something many organizations have avoided for decades: rebuilding how they actually work. 



The real question 



So the question is no longer “how do we use AI?” It is: “are we willing to redesign our company so that AI can actually work?” Because if the answer is no, the outcome is already clear: 



AI will not fail. Your processes will. 



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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</item>

<item>
<title>9 of the best business energy suppliers based in the UK</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/9-of-the-best-business-energy-suppliers-based-in-the-uk</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/9-of-the-best-business-energy-suppliers-based-in-the-uk</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post 9 of the best business energy suppliers based in the UK appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>the, best, business, energy, suppliers, based, the</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Small business energy grants – what’s available</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-business-energy-grants-whats-available</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/small-business-energy-grants-whats-available</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Whether you want to install an electric car charging station, replace your old boiler with a heat pump or just replace draughty windows, you can apply for a range of energy grants
The post Small business energy grants – what’s available appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Small, business, energy, grants, –, what’s, available</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Looking to switch? Compare green business energy suppliers</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/looking-to-switch-compare-green-business-energy-suppliers</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/looking-to-switch-compare-green-business-energy-suppliers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Want to make your business greener? Check out green business energy suppliers in the UK
The post Looking to switch? Compare green business energy suppliers appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Looking, switch, Compare, green, business, energy, suppliers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Essential energy&#45;saving tips for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/essential-energy-saving-tips-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/essential-energy-saving-tips-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post Essential energy-saving tips for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/07/Save-energy-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Essential, energy-saving, tips, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Best Business Bank Account and Business Account platforms</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-business-bank-account-and-business-account-platforms</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-business-bank-account-and-business-account-platforms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Lucy Wayment on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Make the right decision about your small business bank account, whether you&#039;re just starting out as a sole trader or you&#039;re more established
The post Best Business Bank Account and Business Account platforms appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/11/best-business-bank-account-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Best, Business, Bank, Account, and, Business, Account, platforms</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Tate &amp;amp; Lyle weighs £2.7bn approach from US rival Ingredion</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tate-lyle-weighs-27bn-approach-from-us-rival-ingredion</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tate-lyle-weighs-27bn-approach-from-us-rival-ingredion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Tate &amp; Lyle confirms £2.7bn takeover talks with Illinois-based Ingredion, with a 615p-a-share bid sending shares up 45% and raising fresh fears over the London market.
Read more: 
Tate &amp; Lyle weighs £2.7bn approach from US rival Ingredion ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tate, Lyle, weighs, £2.7bn, approach, from, rival, Ingredion</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Lidl ropes in Olio and Neighbourly in landmark surplus food trial that could rescue 11.9 million meals a year</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lidl-ropes-in-olio-and-neighbourly-in-landmark-surplus-food-trial-that-could-rescue-119-million-meals-a-year</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lidl-ropes-in-olio-and-neighbourly-in-landmark-surplus-food-trial-that-could-rescue-119-million-meals-a-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Lidl GB has joined forces with Olio and Neighbourly in a 20-store trial designed to redistribute 5,000 tonnes of surplus food a year, the equivalent of 11.9 million meals, as the discounter races to hit its 70% waste reduction target by 2030.
Read more: 
Lidl ropes in Olio and Neighbourly in landmark surplus food trial that could rescue 11.9 million meals a year ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lidl, ropes, Olio, and, Neighbourly, landmark, surplus, food, trial, that, could, rescue, 11.9, million, meals, year</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Treasury orders review into bank branch closures as small firms count the cost</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/treasury-orders-review-into-bank-branch-closures-as-small-firms-count-the-cost</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/treasury-orders-review-into-bank-branch-closures-as-small-firms-count-the-cost</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
The Treasury has ordered an independent review into the impact of 6,700 UK bank branch closures, paving the way for tougher rules on face-to-face banking for small firms and consumers.
Read more: 
Treasury orders review into bank branch closures as small firms count the cost ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Treasury, orders, review, into, bank, branch, closures, small, firms, count, the, cost</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>JCB chairman Lord Bamford warns ministers face public revolt over £333bn welfare bill</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jcb-chairman-lord-bamford-warns-ministers-face-public-revolt-over-333bn-welfare-bill</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jcb-chairman-lord-bamford-warns-ministers-face-public-revolt-over-333bn-welfare-bill</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
JCB chairman Lord Bamford warns ministers risk a public revolt over Britain&#039;s £333bn welfare bill, accusing Westminster of &quot;conning&quot; taxpayers with payouts of up to £60,000 a year.
Read more: 
JCB chairman Lord Bamford warns ministers face public revolt over £333bn welfare bill ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>JCB, chairman, Lord, Bamford, warns, ministers, face, public, revolt, over, £333bn, welfare, bill</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UK business chiefs unite to combat workplace antisemitism as Met chief warns jews ‘not safe’ in London</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-business-chiefs-unite-to-combat-workplace-antisemitism-as-met-chief-warns-jews-not-safe-in-london</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-business-chiefs-unite-to-combat-workplace-antisemitism-as-met-chief-warns-jews-not-safe-in-london</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Forty UK business organisations led by the BCC and CBI sign a joint letter pledging zero tolerance of workplace antisemitism, as Met chief Sir Mark Rowley warns MPs that Jews are ‘not currently safe’ in London.
Read more: 
UK business chiefs unite to combat workplace antisemitism as Met chief warns jews ‘not safe’ in London ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>business, chiefs, unite, combat, workplace, antisemitism, Met, chief, warns, jews, ‘not, safe’, London</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>What the jury will actually decide in the case of Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-the-jury-will-actually-decide-in-the-case-of-elon-musk-vs-sam-altman</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-the-jury-will-actually-decide-in-the-case-of-elon-musk-vs-sam-altman</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Here&#039;s what the biggest tech court case of the year is all about. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, the, jury, will, actually, decide, the, case, Elon, Musk, vs., Sam, Altman</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Indian Uber rival Rapido raises $240M at $3B valuation</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/indian-uber-rival-rapido-raises-240m-at-3b-valuation</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/indian-uber-rival-rapido-raises-240m-at-3b-valuation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rapido has driven its growth by enabling ride-hailing for lower-cost and more flexible modes of transport such as motorbikes and autorickshaws. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Indian, Uber, rival, Rapido, raises, 240M, 3B, valuation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Osaurus brings both local and cloud AI models to your Mac</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/osaurus-brings-both-local-and-cloud-ai-models-to-your-mac</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/osaurus-brings-both-local-and-cloud-ai-models-to-your-mac</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Osaurus￼ combines local and cloud AI models in a Mac app that keeps users’ memory, files, and tools on their own hardware. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Osaurus, brings, both, local, and, cloud, models, your, Mac</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Meridian Ventures launched $35M fund to back MBA&#45;deferred founders</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meridian-ventures-launched-35m-fund-to-back-mba-deferred-founders</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meridian-ventures-launched-35m-fund-to-back-mba-deferred-founders</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Meridian Ventures, the venture firm founded by Devon Gethers and Karlton Haney, announced on Friday the raise of a $35 million second fund to back pre-seed and seed-stage companies founded by those who have deferred MBAs. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Meridian, Ventures, launched, 35M, fund, back, MBA-deferred, founders</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Even GoPro is pivoting to defense</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/even-gopro-is-pivoting-to-defense</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/even-gopro-is-pivoting-to-defense</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The action camera maker, like so many other companies these days, is looking to defense applications as it evaluates a possible sale. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Even, GoPro, pivoting, defense</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The day I stopped following the male idea of power</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-day-i-stopped-following-the-male-idea-of-power</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-day-i-stopped-following-the-male-idea-of-power</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Who are your enemies?”



I was asked this interview question throughout my entire career. And I’d always come up blank. Every time. No enemies.



And when I failed to produce an impressive enemy list, the reaction was always the same: How can you claim to be competent if you haven’t made powerful enemies?



I came to understand this enemy thing was rooted in the male idea of power. That men tend to see winning and power like this: For me to win, you need to lose.



I came to realize that this advice to be powerful enough to have enemies was basically an invitation to turn into an aggressive bully to advance my career.



But here’s the catch. I was bullied as a kid. And it was awful. So, early on, I decided that I was never going to choose to be like the bullies who hurt me. And if that was not good for my career, so be it. I would find another way.



I often wondered if I was limiting my career by being too nice. And worried if I was supposed to feel powerful? Am I supposed to act powerful even if I don’t feel powerful? Am I doing the job of a leader wrong because I don’t feel powerful?



Even when I was in my biggest roles, where I had actual power at my fingertips — thousands of employees under my watch, millions of dollars of budget to manage, billions of dollars of revenue to keep growing — I never felt personally powerful. Mostly, I personally felt crushing responsibility.



I felt insecure about the power thing for years. 



The VP Bully



Then one day, what I needed to do about this idea of acting powerful like the men became very clear to me.



I was at a client’s office on Long Island. Sitting in a small conference room were the VP of technology, who was a large, dominant type, and one of his direct reports, whom I’ll call Seth. The VP told me, “The reason we are having this problem is that Seth makes stupid mistakes. He’s not good at his job. No one listens to Seth. He screws everything up.”



Seth looked small and mortified. I was cringing and heartbroken for him. I knew what it felt like to be bullied like this. “Little Patty,” who had been bullied herself, could feel her childhood insecurities and fears bubble up watching this VP berate Seth.



I had worked with Seth on prior occasions. Seth knew a hundred times more than this VP. The problem was not Seth. This VP was a bully.



But then a really weird, creepy thing happened a bit later, when the VP walked me out, and we ran into his boss in the lobby: this bully instantly became a cowering suck up to his boss. I was appalled. He needed to abuse Seth to feel powerful, but he was afraid to be powerful with his boss.



Watching this scenario, a new thought started to brew: Wait a minute, if I am still the same insecure little kid on the inside, probably so is this jerk.



And once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it.



Forever after leaving that lobby, whenever I see a big, scary man acting like a powerful bully, I see the hurt little boy, as plain as day. I want to reach over, gently squeeze his forearm, and say, “Aw, did somebody steal your ball? Did your father yell at you for crying about it? Poor thing.”



A better way



Seeing the big bullies as fragile little boys was my first step toward understanding that there was a better way to show up as a leader than “powerful.” And with this insight, when I got bullied at work, I could mostly just step aside and let the aggression roll by instead of being crushed by it.



My mom had given me the key to keeping my self-esteem intact with bullies all those years ago. And I have used her advice for the entirety of my career and life: Bullies need to make you feel worse than they feel on the inside. It’s always about them. It’s never about you.



Once I saw these men as their own little version of Kevin or Harold, struggling with their own insecurities, I was no longer worried that they were innately gifted with a kind of power that I didn’t have access to. It made me stop worrying once and for all about feeling or even acting powerful. It just didn’t matter.



I chose to be a leader who was first and foremost kind and respectful to people. People are not productive when they are self-protecting. I focused on making people feel safe. My teams executed on our commitments. We grew the business. My organizations got more capable over time because I invested in and cared about the people.



For me, real power is not personally owned. The aggressive, bullying version of personal power is just insecurity masquerading as strength. Sharing power with others so you can get big, amazing things done together is true power. That was the sort of power I chose to cultivate and the kind of leader I chose to be.



Do aggressive bullies get ahead? Yes, of course they do. But I learned it’s not the only option. You can make a different choice. I made a different choice.



I chose not to model the idea of power that was being shown to me by the men. You might say I chose to stay “too nice”. And you know what? It did not limit my career. If anything, it accelerated it.



I was able to build a highly capable team of people who were productive and motivated because I chose to make them feel powerful. And the idea of being or acting powerful personally didn’t confuse me anymore.



I had no interest in the win-lose version of power. I just let the men duke it out among themselves, and I created my own path forward that was true to my belief that kindness and strength can go hand in hand. Because making people feel respected and safe makes them wildly productive. And on the enemies thing, I just think, if I can win and you can win, why is that not better?



 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, day, stopped, following, the, male, idea, power</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Soccer superstar Messi is bigger than ever thanks Lowe’s 10&#45;foot inflatable  statue</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/soccer-superstar-messi-is-bigger-than-ever-thanks-lowes-10-foot-inflatable-statue</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/soccer-superstar-messi-is-bigger-than-ever-thanks-lowes-10-foot-inflatable-statue</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Dozens of brands are using the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a chance to cash in on themed ads, products, and brand collaborations. But the home goods giant Lowe’s is doing something unique: debuting a 10-foot-tall inflatable of Lionel Messi for fans to put in their front yards.



Lowe’s is running a series of activations for the world’s biggest soccer moment, all of which center on its limited-edition, $99 Messi inflatable, made in collaboration with Messi himself. The inflatable, which will start to pop up in a 20-foot version around several U.S. host cities in mid-May, will be available online to Lowe’s rewards members starting on May 18, followed by a limited release in select stores on May 20.



[Photo: Lowe’s]



According to Jen Wilson, Lowe’s chief marketing officer, the company is planning to release only about 5,200 inflatable Messis—and it expects them all to sell out.



The reason for Wilson’s confidence is twofold: First, she says, while plenty of brands will be planning their own activations for the World Cup, not many others could even attempt a product in this niche. And, second, the move is backed up by company data that yard decor—especially personalized decor—is becoming more popular among consumers, even outside of the typical holiday windows. It’s a trend that, oddly enough, might just trace all the way back to a giant skeleton that stole the internet’s heart in 2020. 



[Photo: Lowe’s]



What in the world is going on with yard decor?



Over the past few years, I’ve been noticing a trend in my Chicago neighborhood. Outside the typical festive months of October through January, I’m seeing more and more holiday decorations left out in people’s yards and stylized for each new season. Oftentimes, that takes the form of a giant skeleton dressed up in a personalized outfit or performing some kind of goofy stunt.



There’s a very real subculture to back this up, and it all stems from a giant Home Depot decoration. In 2020, Home Depot released a 12-foot-tall skeleton decoration that almost instantly went viral, earning the internet moniker “Skelly.” In the years since then, Skelly has become the only Halloween product that Home Depot brings back year after year, consistently selling out to its legion of fans. 



Skelly has amassed a cult-like following, and, in turn, inspired a small but committed group of decorators to keep their skeleton decor up year-round, giving them customized outfits and accessories for events like back to school and arranging them in silly poses like a staged flag football game.



Skelly’s popularity seems to point to a broader shift in how Americans view their yard space. Wilson says that Lowe’s also saw consumers’ interest in out-of-the-box yard decor spike starting back in 2020—and the trend has only grown since then.



“For us it was really this explosion of both all things mini and all things giant,” Wilson says. She believes Lowe’s was one of the first companies experimenting with products like mini buckets or mini toolboxes, which have become huge fan favorites. On the other end of the spectrum, like Home Depot, Lowe’s has begun investing in new giant animatronics, including its popular 10-foot Abominable Snowman, 8-foot Skelly-esque skeleton, and 12-foot-tall Immortal Nightwalker.



Outside of the holidays, the brand has noticed and capitalized on year-round yard trends, like the “porch goose,” a TikTok-viral concept wherein customers buy a concrete goose and dress it up seasonally—just like some Home Depot fans with their beloved Skellies. 



“We do absolutely see a rising trend in outdoor decor and consumers either keeping outdoor decor up longer or participating in trends like the porch goose,” Wilson says. “It’s all really interconnected to expressing your own sense of style and culture and just being a part of something.” 



She attributes the rising consumer interest in these novelty products to something she describes as “similar to the lipstick effect,” or the idea that consumers will increase spending on small luxuries during moments of economic strain. 



“People still want indulgences, even if there’s a pressured economy,” Wilson says. “A larger-than-life item in their front yard is something that just makes them feel joyous, and that’s what people are looking for.”



With the Messi inflatable, Lowe’s is betting that the same theory will apply to World Cup fans who are watching the games from their homes, but want a way to let their whole neighborhood know that they’re part of a larger moment. 



[Photo: Lowe’s]



The Skelly of soccer



Given Lowe’s “affordable indulgences” decor theory, one of the in-house design team’s key considerations when building the inflatable Messi was cost. 



“We wanted it to be under $100, particularly as people are paying attention to their wallets and obviously the rising costs of gas,” Wilson says. “When we know that the consumer is super focused on essentials, if they’re going to make this splurge, we want to make sure that it’s affordable. We typically look at engineering most of our gigantic items somewhere in the under-$300 range.”



That price constraint helped Wilson’s team to determine the actual height of the inflatable, opting for 10 feet rather than 15 or 20 in order to conserve materials and lower costs. Then, to get every detail just right, the team went directly to Messi to determine how the inflatable should look: each aspect, from the length of his hair to his beard, tattoos, and the look of his arms and legs, was given Messi’s final approval. 



“We just wanted it to feel authentic and for him to be proud if he was driving down a neighborhood in Miami and saw himself outside of a home,” Wilson says. “He loved where we landed, and we’re thrilled.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Soccer, superstar, Messi, bigger, than, ever, thanks, Lowe’s, 10-foot, inflatable, statue</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cerebras Systems IPO: Stock price will be closely watched today as AI chipmaker goes public on the Nasdaq</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cerebras-systems-ipo-stock-price-will-be-closely-watched-today-as-ai-chipmaker-goes-public-on-the-nasdaq</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cerebras-systems-ipo-stock-price-will-be-closely-watched-today-as-ai-chipmaker-goes-public-on-the-nasdaq</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Today is an important day in the 2026 IPO landscape: Cerebras Systems Inc. is making its much-anticipated market debut.



While not a household name like Nvidia, Intel, or TSMC, Cerebras is a chipmaker that is rapidly becoming a critical player in the AI semiconductor space. 



And investors will be casting a keen eye on how its stock performs in the early days of trading, looking for hints about how other, even more anticipated AI-related listings may play out later this year. 



Here’s what you need to know about Cerebras and its initial public offering: 



What is Cerebras Systems?



Cerebras Systems is an AI semiconductor company headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. It was founded in 2015 by Andrew Feldman, Gary Lauterbach, Michael James, Sean Lie, and Jean-Philippe Fricker. Feldman is the company’s CEO.



The company specializes in making the largest—quite literally—computer chips in the world, chips that are optimized for running AI tasks.



While most computer chips are made from large wafers that are then divided to make smaller, individual chips, a single Cerebras chip is the entire wafer.



As Fast Company previously reported when it named Cerebras one of the most innovative AI companies of 2026, the large size of its chips means they can perform AI tasks much more quickly—up to 70 times faster than the GPUs that many AI systems run on today.



“The large square chip packs a lot of processing power and memory on one piece of silicon, so almost no time is wasted routing data between separate chips,” Fast Company’s Mark Sullivan previously noted. “That makes it highly effective at processing data from commercial AI applications that require massive throughput and very fast response times.”



Cerebras’s customers include pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as tech firms like G42, IBM, Meta, Mistral, Notion, and Perplexity. 



Most recently, Cerebras inked a $20 billion deal with ChatGPT maker OpenAI.



When is Cerebras Systems’ IPO?



Cerebras Systems priced its shares on Wednesday. It is expected to list on Thursday, May 14, 2026.



What is Cerebras Systems’ stock ticker?



Cerebras Systems’ shares will trade under the stock ticker “CBRS.” The stock will trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.



What is the IPO share price of CBRS?



The initial public offering price for CBRS shares is $185 per share. This final IPO price is remarkably higher than the IPO share price Cerebras said it would pursue just a few weeks earlier.



On May 4, the company announced it would initiate the road show for its upcoming IPO. At that time, Cerebras said that the initial public offering price was expected to be between $115 to $125 per share.



While it is not uncommon for a company to tweak its IPO price in the days leading up to the actual IPO, the final $185 IPO share price is around 60% higher than the low end of the original range. 



This suggests that demand for shares was much greater than initially anticipated.



How many CBRS shares are available in its IPO?



Upon its IPO listing, Cerebras Systems made 30 million shares of its Class A common stock available. 



The company’s underwriters, which include Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Barclays, and UBS Investment Bank, also have a 30-day option to buy an additional 4.5 million shares.



How much did Cerebras Systems raise in its IPO?



Selling 30 million shares at $185 each means Cerebras raised $5.5 billion in its IPO.



As noted by CNBC, that makes this offering one of the largest U.S. tech IPOs in recent memory. It puts Cerebras above the $3.8 billion that Snowflake raised in its 2020 IPO, and behind the roughly $8 billion Uber raised in its 2019 IPO.



How much is Cerebras Systems worth?



At its IPO price, Cerebras is now valued at around $56.4 billion, according to CNBC.



2026 is shaping up to be the year of AI IPOs



Given all the hype and hope around AI, it’s little surprise Cerebras’s IPO shares went for significantly higher than the company had originally forecast. And the successful IPO also bodes well for other AI companies that are likely to go public this year.



Two of the most anticipated AI-related IPOs of 2026 include Claude maker Anthropic and ChatGPT maker OpenAI. Current rumblings point to Anthropic debuting first, followed by OpenAI by the end of the year.



Of course, AI companies aren’t the only tech firms expected to go public in 2026. Another big tech company that will likely IPO this year, perhaps as soon as this summer, is Elon Musk’s SpaceX.



Taken all together, 2026 could be one of the biggest years on record when it comes to the total valuation of all tech IPOs scheduled to go public. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cerebras, Systems, IPO:, Stock, price, will, closely, watched, today, chipmaker, goes, public, the, Nasdaq</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cisco layoffs today: Tech giant slashes thousands of jobs as CEO touts record revenue and urgent focus on AI</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cisco-layoffs-today-tech-giant-slashes-thousands-of-jobs-as-ceo-touts-record-revenue-and-urgent-focus-on-ai</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cisco-layoffs-today-tech-giant-slashes-thousands-of-jobs-as-ceo-touts-record-revenue-and-urgent-focus-on-ai</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On Wednesday, Cisco Systems announced impressive quarterly earnings alongside nearly 4,000 job cuts.



The dichotomy stemmed from the hardware and networking company’s embrace of a rapidly growing trend in tech: openly admitting that layoffs are due to AI adoption rather than poor performance. 



“The companies that will win in the AI era will be those with focus, urgency, and the discipline to continuously shift investment toward the areas where demand and long-term value creation are strongest,” Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins told employees in a publicly shared email. “I’m confident Cisco will be one of those winners. This means making hard decisions—about where we invest, how we’re organized, and how our cost structure reflects the opportunity in front of us.”



With his announcement, Robbins follows in the footsteps of tech leaders including Block CEO Jack Dorsey and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, who made similar moves this year. 



Robbins emphasized that the company will further invest in employees’ AI use throughout their jobs. 



Meanwhile, employees will start getting notifications if they’ve been laid off on Thursday. Cisco says the job cuts make up less than 5% of its total workforce. 



Shares of Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) were up more than 16% on Thursday morning. The stock had already been trading at record highs this month. 



How did Cisco perform during its third quarter? 



Cisco reported $15.8 billion in revenue for the quarter ending on April 25. That figure represents a 12% jump year-over-year (YOY) and beats Wall Street’s predicted $15.56 billion, according to consensus estimates cited by CNBC.



The company also surpassed expectations of $1.04 earnings per share with $1.06 adjusted.  



In a post-earnings call, Robbins highlighted AI-centric business with companies like Nexus and Nvidia, as well as a significant increase in revenue from AI. For instance, this quarter, Cisco shared plans to expand its secure AI factory with Nvidia. 



Cisco’s product revenue rose 17%, something Robbins attributes to “robust demand for our AI infrastructure and campus networking solutions.”



Cisco expects its revenue to reach $16.7 billion to $16.9 billion in quarter four and $62.8 billion to $63 billion for fiscal year 2026. In comparison, it saw $56.7 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2025.  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cisco, layoffs, today:, Tech, giant, slashes, thousands, jobs, CEO, touts, record, revenue, and, urgent, focus</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will have this star&#45;studded halftime show at MetLife Stadium</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-2026-fifa-world-cup-final-will-have-this-star-studded-halftime-show-at-metlife-stadium</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-2026-fifa-world-cup-final-will-have-this-star-studded-halftime-show-at-metlife-stadium</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The World Cup final will feature a star-studded halftime show headlined by Madonna, Shakira and boy-band BTS.FIFA has announced that, for the first time, the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19 will include a Super Bowl-style concert.The governing body said the show would support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which is raising $100 million to help children access education and soccer.FIFA president Gianni Infantino said it would bring together “music and football on the biggest stage in sport for a very special cause.”“Every child should have the opportunity to dream, and together we can help make that possible,” he posted on Instagram.The show will be curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin.The Super Bowl is famed for its halftime show — attracting the world’s biggest stars for spectacular performances. This year featured Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny.Previous headliners included Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Prince, Bruce Springsteen and Rhianna.But halftime shows are not so commonplace in soccer, with events such as the Champions League final featuring a pre-match concert. This year will see the Killers headline European club soccer’s biggest game between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in Budapest.FIFA describes its halftime show as “a singular moment at the intersection of sport, culture and purpose, broadcast live around the world.”This year’s World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and runs through June and July.







AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/05/AP26127658043607.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, 2026, FIFA, World, Cup, final, will, have, this, star-studded, halftime, show, MetLife, Stadium</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The importance of choosing the right web hosting company for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-importance-of-choosing-the-right-web-hosting-company-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-importance-of-choosing-the-right-web-hosting-company-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post The importance of choosing the right web hosting company for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/06/www-751513_1280.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, importance, choosing, the, right, web, hosting, company, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Best challenger bank for a business account</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-challenger-bank-for-a-business-account</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-challenger-bank-for-a-business-account</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Considering a challenger bank over a traditional High Street bank for your business bank account? Check out our review of the top ten providers   
The post Best challenger bank for a business account appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/Piggy-bank-with-rocket-grey-background-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Best, challenger, bank, for, business, account</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Getting and setting up a business domain name</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/getting-and-setting-up-a-business-domain-name</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/getting-and-setting-up-a-business-domain-name</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post Getting and setting up a business domain name appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2019/04/AdobeStock_52469108-e1556196249281.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Getting, and, setting, business, domain, name</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Choosing the right web hosting provider for your small business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/choosing-the-right-web-hosting-provider-for-your-small-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/choosing-the-right-web-hosting-provider-for-your-small-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


The post Choosing the right web hosting provider for your small business appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2017/03/Web-hosting-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Choosing, the, right, web, hosting, provider, for, your, small, business</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Best AI website builders</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-ai-website-builders</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/best-ai-website-builders</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Check out the best AI website builders and learn about how they can support you and your business, even if you have no technical knowledge
The post Best AI website builders appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/29838132_7578209-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Best, website, builders</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Vauxhall turns to China’s Leapmotor in bid to keep British motoring affordable</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/vauxhall-turns-to-chinas-leapmotor-in-bid-to-keep-british-motoring-affordable</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/vauxhall-turns-to-chinas-leapmotor-in-bid-to-keep-british-motoring-affordable</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Vauxhall will fit Chinese-made electric motors and batteries from Leapmotor in its new C-SUV from 2028, as Stellantis bets on a Beijing alliance to undercut surging Chinese EV rivals.
Read more: 
Vauxhall turns to China’s Leapmotor in bid to keep British motoring affordable ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2773176257.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vauxhall, turns, China’s, Leapmotor, bid, keep, British, motoring, affordable</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>ProcurePro lands $11m to drag construction’s $13 trillion supply chain out of the spreadsheet era</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/procurepro-lands-11m-to-drag-constructions-13-trillion-supply-chain-out-of-the-spreadsheet-era</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/procurepro-lands-11m-to-drag-constructions-13-trillion-supply-chain-out-of-the-spreadsheet-era</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Australian construction tech firm ProcurePro raises $11m at an $80m+ valuation, led by QIC Ventures, to scale its AI-driven procurement platform across the UK, Middle East and North America.
Read more: 
ProcurePro lands $11m to drag construction’s $13 trillion supply chain out of the spreadsheet era ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2634669527.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ProcurePro, lands, 11m, drag, construction’s, 13, trillion, supply, chain, out, the, spreadsheet, era</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>SME funded launches one&#45;stop finance platform to plug funding gap for britain’s builders and manufacturers</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sme-funded-launches-one-stop-finance-platform-to-plug-funding-gap-for-britains-builders-and-manufacturers</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sme-funded-launches-one-stop-finance-platform-to-plug-funding-gap-for-britains-builders-and-manufacturers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
New specialist lender SME Funded launches with access to 130+ lenders and its own capital, targeting underserved construction and manufacturing SMEs across the UK.
Read more: 
SME funded launches one-stop finance platform to plug funding gap for britain’s builders and manufacturers ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/shutterstock_2468012977-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>SME, funded, launches, one-stop, finance, platform, plug, funding, gap, for, britain’s, builders, and, manufacturers</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Eon swallows Ovo in £600m deal that crowns Germany’s biggest energy giant as Britain’s largest supplier</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/eon-swallows-ovo-in-600m-deal-that-crowns-germanys-biggest-energy-giant-as-britains-largest-supplier</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/eon-swallows-ovo-in-600m-deal-that-crowns-germanys-biggest-energy-giant-as-britains-largest-supplier</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Germany&#039;s Eon has agreed to acquire Ovo&#039;s retail arm in a deal valued at up to £600m, creating the UK&#039;s largest energy supplier with 9.6 million customers and overtaking Octopus Energy.
Read more: 
Eon swallows Ovo in £600m deal that crowns Germany’s biggest energy giant as Britain’s largest supplier ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_1407088442.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Eon, swallows, Ovo, £600m, deal, that, crowns, Germany’s, biggest, energy, giant, Britain’s, largest, supplier</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>OpenAI mints hundreds of overnight millionaires as staff cash out $6.6bn in share sale</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/openai-mints-hundreds-of-overnight-millionaires-as-staff-cash-out-66bn-in-share-sale</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/openai-mints-hundreds-of-overnight-millionaires-as-staff-cash-out-66bn-in-share-sale</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Around 600 OpenAI staff have shared a $6.6bn (£4.8bn) payout in a secondary share sale, with average proceeds of $11m and the largest sellers banking $30m apiece, as the ChatGPT maker eyes a 2027 IPO at a $1tn valuation.
Read more: 
OpenAI mints hundreds of overnight millionaires as staff cash out $6.6bn in share sale ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_2673979929-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>OpenAI, mints, hundreds, overnight, millionaires, staff, cash, out, 6.6bn, share, sale</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Get ready for the whisper&#45;filled office of the future</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/get-ready-for-the-whisper-filled-office-of-the-future</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/get-ready-for-the-whisper-filled-office-of-the-future</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ How will work setups change if we spend more and more time talking to our computers? ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/GettyImages-84164497.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Get, ready, for, the, whisper-filled, office, the, future</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Korea’s biggest manufacturers back Config, the TSMC of robot data</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/koreas-biggest-manufacturers-back-config-the-tsmc-of-robot-data</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/koreas-biggest-manufacturers-back-config-the-tsmc-of-robot-data</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Samsung, Hyundai and LG just bet on the startup that wants to be robotics&#039; data backbone. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-1680577745.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Korea’s, biggest, manufacturers, back, Config, the, TSMC, robot, data</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Venmo’s biggest makeover in years comes at a very interesting time</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/venmos-biggest-makeover-in-years-comes-at-a-very-interesting-time</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/venmos-biggest-makeover-in-years-comes-at-a-very-interesting-time</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The timing is notable. PayPal, which owns Venmo, is restructuring to spin Venmo off as a standalone business unit — a move widely seen as laying the groundwork for a potential sale. Stripe has reportedly expressed interest in buying PayPal outright. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/venmo-app.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Venmo’s, biggest, makeover, years, comes, very, interesting, time</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>There aren’t enough rockets for space data centers. Cowboy Space raised $275 million to build them.</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/there-arent-enough-rockets-for-space-data-centers-cowboy-space-raised-275-million-to-build-them</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/there-arent-enough-rockets-for-space-data-centers-cowboy-space-raised-275-million-to-build-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cowboy Space Corporation wants to put data centers in orbit. First, it has to build the rockets to get them there. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Cowbow-Space-Company-photo.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>There, aren’t, enough, rockets, for, space, data, centers., Cowboy, Space, raised, 275, million, build, them.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Discord launches Nitro Rewards, giving subscribers access to the base tier of Xbox Game Pass for no extra cost</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/discord-launches-nitro-rewards-giving-subscribers-access-to-the-base-tier-of-xbox-game-pass-for-no-extra-cost</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/discord-launches-nitro-rewards-giving-subscribers-access-to-the-base-tier-of-xbox-game-pass-for-no-extra-cost</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Discord&#039;s Nitro Rewards program will give Nitro subscribers access to Xbox Game Pass, and discounts from Logitech, SteelSeries, and other gaming brands. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Discord, launches, Nitro, Rewards, giving, subscribers, access, the, base, tier, Xbox, Game, Pass, for, extra, cost</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>5 Best Wyoming Registered Agents in 2026</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/5-best-wyoming-registered-agents-in-2026</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/5-best-wyoming-registered-agents-in-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ If you are going to register a company in Wyoming, you will need to appoint a Wyoming registered agent. The Wyoming RA will act on your behalf and able to receive legal documents. There are thousands of companies register every year in Wyoming and all the companies have to appoint the Registered Agents in Wyoming. […]
The post 5 Best Wyoming Registered Agents in 2026 appeared first on Fincyte. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Best, Wyoming, Registered, Agents, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Blockchain Technology Can Transform The Finance Industry?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-blockchain-technology-can-transform-the-finance-industry</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-blockchain-technology-can-transform-the-finance-industry</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A blockchain is a public ledger which holds all Bitcoin transactions which have ever taken place. This ledger is constantly growing as every day completed blocks are added to the blockchain. These blocks also come with a new set of recordings and are added to the blockchain in a linear and chronological order. Computers connected […]
The post How Blockchain Technology Can Transform The Finance Industry? appeared first on Fincyte. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Blockchain, Technology, Can, Transform, The, Finance, Industry</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How to stay calm on a hectic day</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-stay-calm-on-a-hectic-day</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-stay-calm-on-a-hectic-day</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ You are bound to have one of those crazy days (or weeks or months) where your calendar is jammed with meetings, there are looming deadlines, and an emergency has cropped up that absolutely needs to be dealt with right away. Having a few things that hit at the same time can actually be good for you, but eventually, it is going to cause you problems.



In particular, the researchers Yerkes and Dodson published a paper in 1908 (you read that right—over 110 years ago) talking about the optimal level of psychological energy called arousal. They suggested that when people have low levels of energy, they don’t get much done. That shouldn’t be surprising. As your arousal goes up, your performance goes up as well. Again, not so surprising. At some point, though, you reach an optimal level of energy, and beyond that, your performance starts to go down again. You panic, or at least have trouble concentrating. It is that inverted U-shape of the relationship between arousal and performance that is interesting.



And that brings us back to your hectic no-good very-bad day.



Having several meetings and a deadline can be good. It can raise your level of arousal to the point where you’re firing on all cylinders. When you find yourself over-aroused and slipping over the edge of the Yerkes-Dodson curve, it is time to calm down and get yourself back in the sweet spot.



Here are a few things you can do.



Lots of mindfulness exercises and meditation practices are designed to help calm you down when you are overly aroused. Find a practice that works for you. Breathing exercises are a great place to start. A simple process where you breathe in on a four count, hold for four, breathe out on a four count and hold for four is a nice exercise to calm yourself. Doing that for even three minutes can often help you get back to a point where you can focus.



Make sure you’re eating right. On really busy days, you may suck down an extra coffee or another caffeinated beverage and perhaps skip a meal to buy yourself some extra time. There’s nothing wrong with a cup of coffee in the morning, but extra caffeine will raise your arousal level. Try some water instead. Plus, keep some easy meals around your workspace so that when you’re tempted to skip lunch, you have good food close by.



A little physical activity helps as well. If you spend too much time sitting and locked into one position, you will add physical discomfort to the mental arousal, which can keep you too energized. Take a short walk. If you’re in a building with several stories, hop into the stairwell and walk a few flights of stairs. I used to work in a nine-story building and would walk the stairs at lunch time at least once. It didn’t take too long and reenergized me.



Keep a picture of your loved ones close by. When you need a little dose of calm, take a look at the people you care about. It is a great reminder that there is more to life than whatever is going on at work. That little dose of perspective can help you get back to the task at hand.



When the sun is out, there is nothing like five minutes of sunshine (as long as you’re wearing sunscreen). Feel the warmth of the sun, maybe a breeze. If it is way too hot out (and after 28 summers in Austin, Texas, I know there are times when the heat is unbearable), taking a look out a window for a few minutes can have a similar impact.



Finally, keep a few short tasks on your to-do list. When you feel like you’re slammed with lots of never-ending projects, find something you can finish in five to 10 minutes and knock it out. There’s a little joy to be had in crossing at least something off your list—even if you know you manufactured the opportunity. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, stay, calm, hectic, day</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How the rules of getting rich in the U.S. change with every era</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-the-rules-of-getting-rich-in-the-us-change-with-every-era</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-the-rules-of-getting-rich-in-the-us-change-with-every-era</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Below, Joseph Moore shares five key insights from his new book, How to Get Rich in American History: 300 Years of Financial Advice That Worked (&amp; Didn’t).



Moore is a historian who spent more than a decade researching and testing out what Americans were told to do with their money for the past 300 years. His previous work appeared in such outlets as The New York Times and Oxford University Press.



What’s the big idea?



History doesn’t give us fixed rules for getting ahead financially. The “right” way keeps changing, so your best bet is to stay flexible, try a mix of strategies, and not get too excited every time someone claims they’ve cracked the code to wealth. We have an opportunity-rich landscape, but how best to mine it changes in every era.



Listen to the audio version of this Book Bite—read by Moore himself—in the Next Big Idea app, or buy the book.







1. It has never been easier to get ahead than it is today.



In 1676, 100 years before the Revolution, colonists burned the capital of Virginia to the ground because they felt that average people couldn’t get ahead anymore. In the 1800s, big speeches were given saying “the rungs of the ladder to success are sawed off.” Heck, in 1980, there were headlines proclaiming that the Baby Boomers could never afford to retire. How did that turn out?



The same goes for today. Of children born at the bottom, 6 in 10 rise out of poverty, and 4 in 10 become middle class, upper middle class, or rich; 1 in 10 goes all the way to the top. For the privileged born at the top, 64% fall out. Of the top 1%, 90% of their grandkids aren’t particularly wealthy. We may not have perfect mobility in America, but we have a lot more than we think.



Okay, so the Boomer generation was weirdly lucky. Fun historical fact: Working one job for 40 years while saving 10% in stocks would have failed to fund retirement in almost half of historical scenarios. Boomers tend to think that what worked for them must work for everyone. That isn’t historically true.



As for the Doomers—they may have to get ahead the same way most people did for most of time. In the 1700s, if you went broke you went to jail, and so did your entire family: wife and kids. They forgot to put that in Hamilton. 



In the 1870s, the average American owned just one and a half shirts. To afford the other half of that shirt, you had to work on average 60 hours per week. Insurance was in its infancy, so you couldn’t protect your house, spouse, or income. As late as the 1970s, when I was born, the median income was 30% lower than today. Nowadays, we work fewer hours for more money with less risk than ever before.



The first step was to take literal steps. In the 1800s, one in three Americans changed addresses every single year! Keep in mind that just getting to America took 30 days, and traveling across the country took the U.S. Army two months. Today, when it has never been easier to go where the opportunity is, only 1 in 10 Americans moves. You could, if you wanted, put everything you own in a U-Haul and be anywhere in the continental U.S. in less than 48 hours.



Americans are becoming increasingly risk-averse at the very moment the financial world is safer and more accessible than ever. Both sides of politics have a warped view of the past: that it was better “back then,” and that someone else is to blame. Anyone telling you it is harder today than ever before doesn’t know history.



2. What “always worked” was always changing.



In 1835, a runaway slave created money from nothing. Arriving in Michigan broke but determined, William Wells Brown caught a break when a landlord offered him space to start a barbershop—a fabulous idea, save for the fact he owned no scissors, had never cut hair, and everyone in town was short on cash to pay. 



Undeterred, the young man borrowed shears and printed money. He went to the local printer and had about $20 printed in small denominations ranging from 6 cents to 50 cents. He handed these out around town, essentially exchanging haircuts for food and lodging. Eventually, other people started trading the tokens too, and before long, Brown’s bucks were treated as money in Monroe, Michigan. 



Brown eventually was able to trade his tokens for real cash, and that is how he paid to get to freedom in New York. When he left, his money went to $0.



Money itself has changed dramatically. By 1863, there were around 10,000 unique currencies from more than 1,000 issuers. Coins from the Holy Roman Empire lingered in the U.S. for decades after its collapse, because money from a dead empire was better than money from no empire at all. Grandparents taught grandkids to never save money because, like Brown’s self-made funds, it could become worthless overnight. The trick was to spend as quickly as possible.



There was no golden era when everyone was debt-free, saved money, and invested wisely. What works financially is constantly changing. Much of what we consider timeless advice is quite young. Stocks for the long run? Stocks underperformed or were tied with bonds until World War II, making that “truth” younger than either of our last two presidents.



Real estate always goes up, right? But it doesn’t. Adjusted for inflation, houses in Atlanta, Dallas, and Pittsburgh cost the same in 1997 as they had in 1897. Home values in St. Louis did not recover their values until 2003. What has happened in real estate in our lifetimes is entirely new. Home prices going up is historically weird.



Most financial advice is like trying to steer the car by looking in the rearview mirror. That may tell you where the road was, but it doesn’t say much about where it is going.



3. Dual incomes were always normal.



In the 1890s, New York City policeman John Taylor put a small down payment on a brownstone. How could a beat cop afford a brownstone? The answer was his wife, Agnes. The historical record lists her with no occupation, but she was making money. 



To pay down their mortgage, Agnes treated the home as an income-producing property. She rented out the rooms in her home to 10 separate boarders at a time, managing their rent payments, laundry service, and meal preparation. She ran a 19th-century Airbnb. That is how they afforded their mortgage.



The historical record misses this because the money women made was usually classified as “domestic industry.” But for all American history, women’s earnings made up the difference between barely surviving and thriving: In total, they added 15% to 25% to families’ total take-home pay. Women churned butter, gathered eggs, wove hats to wake up early and sell at local markets. At some point in their lives, about half of women who owned a home rented out rooms for money.



Women were also investors in every era. Women were the most common lenders of mortgages in the 1700s. They owned 50% of the shares in AT&amp;T. Every women’s magazine had a financial beat writer, because women were active investors. Heck, Abigail Adams’s lifetime annualized returns were 18%, nearly identical to Warren Buffett’s.



Women’s income was so important that when the stay-at-home-wife movement got started it was men who were writing angry letters to the newspaper complaining that wives needed to be earning, not learning “at home like scholars.” Two-income families were normal for most of history. The view that women started working in the 1960s is just plain wrong.



And it has warped our dialogue about gender. Women working doesn’t undermine men’s economic roles because it never did in the past. Spouses saw themselves as both working to build a future together. Dual incomes powered most people’s pursuit of the American Dream. It still can, today.



4. Retirement happened long before Social Security.



“I wish I had a villa in Florida to retire to” is a sentence from a letter in 1830s Baltimore. By the early 1900s, one in three elderly people was retired, Coral Gables was bursting at the seams with old people, and the day the first Social Security check was cashed, nearly half of 65-year-olds were done working. How was that possible?



Rather than relying on a single government-run system, Americans used multiple strategies in their golden years. Paid-for farmland or rental houses were leased. Businesses were sold to junior partners. Annuities offered retirement plans from the insurance industry.



Some companies offered pensions, though not as many as we often think. Pensions typically covered around 15% of workers, and they never covered more than 40% of the workforce. Another strategy we’ve forgotten is state-run old-age insurance. By 1934, there were 30 of these. Alaska offered its own version of Social Security before it was even a state. The final strategy was raising good kids who would help Mom and Dad as they aged.



Social Security didn’t revolutionize retirement; it standardized it. Social Security, private annuities, pension plans, 401(k)s, rental real estate, paid-for homes, and kids who aren’t screwed up are a pretty potent combo. Most of our retirement anxiety is misplaced. If you combine just a few of these strategies, you will be just fine.



The average 401(k) balance, if it had to fund retirement alone, would run out in less than six years. Social Security offers a menial income, barely enough to survive. But when you combine these various strategies, the most typical scenario, using 150 years of market returns, is to die with more money than you started with. 



The lesson of history is to combine as many strategies as possible into one wonderful retirement. And never forget, your ancestors rarely lived to see so many free years. Worry less. Enjoy them more.



5. The next big thing is usually a bad idea.



Reading history distorts time. It makes everything seem fast. Everyone should have seen “it” coming, whatever “it” was: values that crashed (like tulips or Beanie Babies) and things that went boom (like Bitcoin or Nvidia). But reading history and living history are not the same.



Financial life moves at two speeds: Fast Time and Slow Time. Most of life is lived in Slow Time, but most financial history is written about Fast Time (when all assumptions change at once). The real role of such histories is to give the reader a thrill. It’s a murder movie where we scream at the screen, “Look behind you! It’s the subprime mortgage lender. Run away from the mortgage!”



Mistaking Slow Time for Fast Time changed my town forever and, as a bonus, inspired the Netflix hit series Schitt’s Creek. I live in Braselton, Georgia, a tiny town outside of Atlanta, once owned by superstar actress Kim Basinger. Depending on your generation, you know her as a Bond girl, Viki Vale, Eminem’s mom, or that old femdom in Fifty Shades Darker. She owned the town as an investment.



Her plan was to turn the empty mills into a tourist attraction and build a movie studio . . . in Georgia, in the ’90s. But building a dream happens in Slow Time. Taxes mount. Investors get anxious. Soon, you run out of cash. 



Basinger declared bankruptcy. Actor Eugene Levy found this story, and the rest was pandemic-era comedy gold starring himself as a failed businessman whose final remaining possession is a backwater town with a funny name.



But who gets the last laugh? Today, the fastest growing movie production studios in the world—bigger than New York and soon to overtake California—are in “Y’allywood,” a district just outside Metro Atlanta. The town Basinger bought is home to one of Atlanta’s largest tourist attractions, a winery and resort called Chateau Elan. They sell accessible French luxury on Georgia clay. It’s surrounded by mansions of pro athletes, famous rappers, and C-level reality stars. And it works. It’s profitable. You should visit.



Basinger, bless her heart, just didn’t understand that she couldn’t speed up time. Investing in the future is rarely as profitable as we think because the future rarely arrives tomorrow. It takes its time, and so should we.





Enjoy our full library of Book Bites—read by the authors!—in the Next Big Idea app.



This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission.


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, the, rules, getting, rich, the, U.S., change, with, every, era</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>You can put a data center at your house—but who really pays?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/you-can-put-a-data-center-at-your-housebut-who-really-pays</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/you-can-put-a-data-center-at-your-housebut-who-really-pays</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nvidia has put its name behind a fledgling effort to put mini-data centers beside people’s homes in boxes that look like HVAC units. It’s a “power” play, considering that the main bottleneck to building out more data center capacity is not money or chips, but rather retrofitting the electrical grid to supply the power.



The idea, put forward by a California smart utility box company called Span, is to put the GPUs where the power has already been allocated—at the home. Span says the average household uses only about 42% of the electricity allotted to it, and rarely reaches peak usage. Span’s smart utility boxes detect that, and steer the extra available power over to the GPUs, which live inside a “node” that sits beside the house and looks something like an HVAC unit. The boxes contain 16 Nvidia GPUs, 4 AMD CPUs, 4 terabytes of memory, and a cooling system. When a large number of homes have these, the servers could be connected together in a network and work together on distributed computing jobs (workloads), Span says. 



In exchange for hosting a node, Span pays a big chunk of the homeowner’s electricity and broadband internet bills.



And there may even be advantages for putting the compute power closer to the end users that are using the chatbots or AI services, Span says. 



It’s a cool idea on paper, but it’s almost completely unproven in real-world use. Span has been prototyping the units but has yet to install any of them beside real homes. I asked Span VP Chris Lander if his company has done technical studies showing that its brand of distributed computing will be fast and robust enough to handle real AI workloads. “We’ve done a bunch of technical studies internally [and] a bunch of modeling for different kinds of workloads, both from the business point of view [and] the product point of view and from the technical architecture point of view,” he replies. 



The company is working with a homebuilder, Atlanta-based Pulte Homes, to build the nodes at new homes, but Pulte told CNBC that it’s so far put a Span unit next to exactly one home. “I will say that we’ve been collaborating with Pulte amongst others to test the latest proof of concept design, the latest prototype that we have,” Lander says. Span says it’ll have “upwards of 100” nodes of an advanced version of its prototype in a pilot project “later this year,” but isn’t saying when or where the pilot will be built.  



The main point of resistance to new data centers across the country is the risk that the facilities will result in higher electric bills for everyone in the area. Whether it’s a new central data center or a distributed data center, as Span proposes, that’s drawing more power from the grid, the risk of higher costs—perhaps because of transformers and other infrastructure running hotter and degrading more quickly—could arguably be the same. 



Lander disagrees. “We believe it’s actually going to be the opposite—that it’s actually going to give relief to customers, not just for those direct customers that are hosting, that we’re paying for their energy, but by allaying some of that additional CapEx spend that utilities would have to pay to build out [more] data centers,” he says. 



The existence of Span’s idea, which has gotten a good deal of attention in the press and on social media, is one of the first signs of the market finding ways to address the serious dearth of data center capacity needed to support the expected demand for artificial intelligence services. Data centers take time to build and often face political resistance, and the demand for AI compute is growing now. 



On the political side, crowdsourcing already-provisioned power from households in a community may be easier than talking a city council into issuing a permit for a data center. As Reddit user unicynicist put it: “It’s like Uber, but for turning your house into someone else’s unpermitted data center.”



Still, it says something that Nvidia allowed Span to include its brand in the press release, but the GPU maker’s involvement beyond that has been mostly consultation. “Nvidia’s been a thought partner, and they’ve been helping us from a business point of view to connect us with the right folks.” But Nvidia is not an investor and has so far not donated any GPUs to Span’s initiative.



And the chips are not cheap. In fact, the Span box contains some very expensive hardware. The chips and other technology could be worth $500,000 or more, based on available pricing information for the specific components. The risk of theft then becomes an issue. 



If the home-side server box concept proves out and produces a meaningful amount of compute resources, Nvidia could help Span find potential buyers. In fact, that effort is already underway. “We’ve had conversations with the breadth of potential compute offtakers, whether they’re hyperscalers, neoclouds, neoscalers, and AI service providers,” Lander says. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>You, can, put, data, center, your, house—but, who, really, pays</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>What do mothers really want? Deeper conversations</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-do-mothers-really-want-deeper-conversations</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/what-do-mothers-really-want-deeper-conversations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ You’re at the playground, making small talk with another mom while your kids dig in the sandbox. The conversation follows a predictable script: sleep schedules, daycare waitlists, whether your toddler will eat anything green. It’s pleasant enough, but you’ll forget about it by the time you pile your kids into the car for nap time.



But what you really wanted to ask is: What’s something about birth and postpartum that surprised you? What do you wish your partner understood? How did becoming a mother change your marriage?



Those are the conversations that actually matter, because they deepen relationships and allow mothers to pass their wisdom to one another. But they feel impossible to start without seeming intense or intrusive.



[Photo: Spread the Jelly]



Spread the Jelly, an 18-month-old media platform, wants to help. It has just launched a deck of cards called The Sticky Stuff, meant to prompt mothers to have deeper conversations faster. “Everything we’ve been doing is about like breaking people open, allowing people to be their messiest or their happiest selves at the same time,” says Amrit Tietz, who founded the company with Lauren Levinger in late 2024. 



The Sticky Stuff, which is available on the Spread the Jelly website for $45, joins a growing number of conversation cards that have entered the market, including therapist Esther Perel’s Where Should We Begin? cards that launched in 2021, Tales, which facilitates conversations with kids, and even the fast food chains Chick-fil-A, which gives out cards meant to prompt conversations around the meals.



“The popularity of the cards highlights how we desperately want to talk about deep issues,” says Nicholas Epley, a professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business who has been studying conversation for two decades.



[Photo: Spread the Jelly]



Modern Motherhood



The idea for Spread the Jelly’s conversation cards didn’t start with market research or a business plan. It started with two women in Los Angeles who desperately needed someone to talk to. Lauren Levinger had recently had her son when Amrit Tietz, pregnant and without mom friends in her life, reached out via social media. “From social media, you look like you’re doing motherhood pretty well,” Tietz wrote to her. “Can we connect?” 



When they finally sat down together months later, they were surprised by how good it felt to have an honest conversation. They quickly began to discuss the things that nobody talks about, from how lonely it can be to spend your days with a non-verbal human, to postpartum sexuality. “We realized how starved we were for community,” says Levinger.



This prompted them to launch Spread The Jelly, as an online magazine for radical honesty about modern motherhood. The conversation cards came later, as a natural extension of that mission. Tietz and Levinger began to build out a deck of questions, and tested them out with their partners, families, and friends. They ended up encompassing four different categories: foundation, identity, belonging, and intimacy. They included prompts like, “Describe your childhood in one sentence;” “Describe a moment you’re not proud of,” and “How do you show up for your loved ones?”



Levinger points out that everyday conversations at the dinner table have a way of becoming stagnant. The cards suddenly unlocked a way to venture into new territory with the people in our lives.



[Photo: Spread the Jelly]



Why Cards Work



Deeper conversations are scientifically proven to make us happier. Epley conducted these studies himself. In a 2021 research paper, he brought together thousands of people, pairing strangers up randomly to discuss questions like “Can you tell me about one of the last times you cried in front of another person?” “We typically don’t ask those kinds of questions,” Epley reflects. “We don’t probe into people’s lives like that because we don’t think it’s okay to do so.”



After these conversations, by a very large margin, participants said that they felt better, and they wished more of their conversations were as deep or deeper. The research foud that thing that holds people back is that they believe that other people don’t want to engage with these topics, so it would be intrusive and inappropriate to bring them up. 



“I’ve now done this with almost 5,000 people,” Epley says. “The results are very consistent. People wished they were having deeper conversations.”



A Skill You Can Learn



Conversation cards are having a moment now, but Epley argues that it has always been hard to have deep, meaningful conversations in everyday life: He cites a famous study from 1973 by psychologist Stanley Milgram, who found that nobody spoke to one another on the subway.



But there are now new dynamics at work now. There’s growing awareness about the loneliness epidemic in the United States, thanks to people like Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General who has brought it to the public’s attention. “There cost of social isolation and disconnection is crystal clear,” he says.



Epley also points out that technology and phones have made it harder to connect to other people. While we feel like we have large networks of friends on social media, these connections are very weak and generally don’t involve profound conversations. “For much of human history, connecting with other people just happened in everyday life,” he says. “But now, when everybody on the train is on their phone, we have a lot more independence from strangers.”



The popularity of these card games suggests that people do want to connect more deeply. And Epley says that if they do become more common—and they people use them with their families at dinner time or with their friends at parties—they’ll become better at having deeper conversations in everyday life. “It is something you can practice and get better at,” he says. “You learn how to do it, what to ask, how to ask.”



For new mothers, the benefits could be profound. Postpartum depression and isolation are widespread. Many mothers spend their days physically with other adults—at playgrounds, in parent groups—making meaningless small talk and feeling alone. A deck of conversation cards won’t fix the loneliness epidemic. But they might buy the someone social permission to forge a deeper connection with an acquaintance.



For Tietz and Levinger, the cards are just one part of a larger mission. They want Spread the Jelly to be different from traditional parenting media, which tends to be very prescriptive about what motherhood should look like. Instead, they’re hoping to create a space where women can honestly share their diverse experiences. “There is no blueprint in parenting—everyone’s journey is so radically different,” says Tietz. “And I think people just want to feel less alone in whatever they’re experiencing.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What, mothers, really, want, Deeper, conversations</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Students receive $10,000 prizes from OpenAI for innovative use of artificial intelligence </title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/students-receive-10000prizes-from-openaifor-innovative-use-of-artificial-intelligence</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/students-receive-10000prizes-from-openaifor-innovative-use-of-artificial-intelligence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When University of Pennsylvania student Crystal Yang was in high school, she and her friends were avid players of the trendy online game Wordle. One of Yang’s friends, however, is blind and was unable to join in. 



That inspired Yang, while still a high school student, to work with researchers at Texas A&amp;M University looking at conversational audio interface possibilities for the game. Soon, she founded a nonprofit called Audemy that has developed more than 50 audio-powered games accessible to blind and visually impaired players. The organization is now also at work on an accessible gaming console that will incorporate audio and tactile features and can function without Wi-Fi. 



AI has been important to much of Yang’s work, from coding to management. Over the years, AI has helped her learn to conduct user research and write a formal paper, plug in new game ideas to an existing template, and even use computer-aided design tools and evaluate potential components as Audemy prototypes the console. 



“It’s been a very helpful tool throughout, allowing me to champion the issues I’m passionate about, as well as continue using it to multiply my capabilities,” Yang says. 



Yang is one of 26 students and other young people recently awarded a $10,000 grant by OpenAI as part of a program called ChatGPT Futures, designed to showcase how a rising generation is using the technology for good. As OpenAI notes, the graduating class of 2026 is the first cohort of university students to have ChatGPT, which debuted to the public in fall 2022, available throughout nearly their entire college experience.



“What we’ve seen is that these students are using AI to build things that many wouldn’t have previously thought were possible,” says Leah Belsky, head of education at OpenAI. 



Other honorees of the program are using AI to build space robots to relieve astronauts of routine tasks; develop novel ways to spot disaster survivors through walls and debris using Wi-Fi signals; help older people avoid online scams; and let Latin American street vendors track their finances. Several are working on AI applications in science and medicine, including predicting the functions of proteins in the body; connecting people with local mental health resources; and optimizing drug production.



Ayush Noori, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard University and is now pursuing a doctorate as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, recently worked to develop a graph AI model called Proton that generates hypotheses around neurological disease. Noori says his work is motivated in part by his experiene caring for his late grandmother, who had a rare neurodegenerative disease. 



Already Proton has shown promise in suggesting candidate drugs for bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s disease—results validated, respectively, by experiments on lab-grown brain tissue and an analysis of health records. 



“My mission is to develop AI systems that transform the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological disease and other currently unsolved medical conditions,” says Noori, who has training in both neuroscience and computer science. 



Belsky says she’s seen firsthand how AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and, more recently, its coding tool Codex can enable students to pursue ambitious tasks and projects, whether that involves building websites and apps or creating new businesses and nonprofits.



“AI is giving them confidence,” she says. “It’s giving them agency, and it’s giving them a sense that they can actually learn and do things that they didn’t previously think were possible.” 



OpenAI solicited entries for the program in March, calling for applications from students and recent graduates in the U.S. and Canada ages 18 to 25 who “leverage AI to expand their capacity” and “demonstrate agency” through their work, while holding “a bold, thoughtful vision for the future.” 



“Building a Future for Education”



The ChatGPT Futures awards come as critics increasingly worry that overreliance on AI can hamper rather than help education, with students becoming overly reliant on the technology rather than learning new skills on their own, avoiding the sometimes tedious, iterative processes that are critical to learning. And, of course, educators on both the K-12 and college levels have warned of students using AI to cheat on assignments, skipping opportunities for learning and engendering mistrust between students and faculty. 



But Belsky says that as she’s visited campuses she’s seen more examples of students using AI to pursue new initiatives. In some cases, she says, AI can help expand access to experiences previously limited to students involved in hacker spaces, entrepreneurial classes, and other facilities that haven’t been broadly available.



“Our hope is to work with the entire education ecosystem to start building a future for education, where schools and universities can intentionally work to unlock this type of agency for all students,” Belsky says. 



To be sure, AI hasn’t replaced the role of human collaboration in either education or entrepreneurship. Yang, for instance, is now managing a team of volunteer developers contributing to Audemy games—though AI has helped with the recruitment and onboarding process—and Noori’s papers on Proton and other AI health topics are the product of a lengthy list of human collaborators. Yang and Noori, along with a number of others being awarded, continue to pursue their formal education. 



The ChatGPT Futures honorees are set to visit OpenAI in June, where they’ll meet with employees, share their projects, and receive their awards, Belsky says. 



“We haven’t put a restriction on what they do with these awards,” she says. “But my hope is that they spend part of their efforts both advancing their projects and engaging others and inspiring them to build [projects] the way they have.” 


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Students, receive, 10, 000 prizes, from, OpenAI for, innovative, use, artificial, intelligence </media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why toilets are a hidden revenue stream for UK businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-toilets-are-a-hidden-revenue-stream-for-uk-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-toilets-are-a-hidden-revenue-stream-for-uk-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Jamie Woodhall on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Public toilets are disappearing from high streets, but making your business&#039; toilets available could attract new customers and extra revenue
The post Why toilets are a hidden revenue stream for UK businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/13060.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, toilets, are, hidden, revenue, stream, for, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How to get a business landline number for your mobile</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-get-a-business-landline-number-for-your-mobile</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-get-a-business-landline-number-for-your-mobile</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Henry Williams on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


A business landline number on your mobile phone makes it easier to manage your day-to-day commitments. Here&#039;s how to get one
The post How to get a business landline number for your mobile appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/04/12067.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, get, business, landline, number, for, your, mobile</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Microsoft Teams impersonation attacks and how to spot them</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/microsoft-teams-impersonation-attacks-and-how-to-spot-them</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/microsoft-teams-impersonation-attacks-and-how-to-spot-them</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Impersonation scams are really coming to the fore on Microsoft Teams. To keep your business safe, we&#039;ve flagged some of the worst offenders
The post Microsoft Teams impersonation attacks and how to spot them appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/05/Microsoft_Teams.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Microsoft, Teams, impersonation, attacks, and, how, spot, them</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UK Small Business Events and Exhibitions Calendar</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-small-business-events-and-exhibitions-calendar</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-small-business-events-and-exhibitions-calendar</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Small Business Team on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


A diary of upcoming events of interest for UK SMEs and small business owners. We have listed out each event or exhibition, telling you what each one is about and also where and when all the events are
The post UK Small Business Events and Exhibitions Calendar appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2018/11/AdobeStock_175466970-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Small, Business, Events, and, Exhibitions, Calendar</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Amazon’s drones touch down in Darlington in UK delivery first</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/amazons-drones-touch-down-in-darlington-in-uk-delivery-first</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/amazons-drones-touch-down-in-darlington-in-uk-delivery-first</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Amazon has quietly opened a new front in the battle for ultra-fast delivery, becoming the first retailer in Britain to drop parcels by drone after a limited launch in Darlington, County Durham.
Read more: 
Amazon’s drones touch down in Darlington in UK delivery first ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Amazon_Drones.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Amazon’s, drones, touch, down, Darlington, delivery, first</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>TGJones owner Modella Capital to shut up to 150 former WHSmith high street shops</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tgjones-owner-modella-capital-to-shut-up-to-150-former-whsmith-high-street-shops</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tgjones-owner-modella-capital-to-shut-up-to-150-former-whsmith-high-street-shops</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Modella Capital is to close up to 150 of the 480 former WHSmith high street shops trading as TGJones, putting hundreds of jobs at risk in a fresh restructuring plan.
Read more: 
TGJones owner Modella Capital to shut up to 150 former WHSmith high street shops ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2678305451.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>TGJones, owner, Modella, Capital, shut, 150, former, WHSmith, high, street, shops</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The retired executives swapping the golf course for the boardroom – and charging next to nothing</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-retired-executives-swapping-the-golf-course-for-the-boardroom-and-charging-next-to-nothing</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-retired-executives-swapping-the-golf-course-for-the-boardroom-and-charging-next-to-nothing</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Meet Sapient Foundation, the band of retired British executives offering free or pay-what-you-can consultancy to cash-strapped SMEs and start-ups across the UK.
Read more: 
The retired executives swapping the golf course for the boardroom – and charging next to nothing ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2607531535.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, retired, executives, swapping, the, golf, course, for, the, boardroom, –, and, charging, next, nothing</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Retailers warn Reeves is creating a ‘jobless generation’ as hiring costs spiral</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/retailers-warn-reeves-is-creating-a-jobless-generation-as-hiring-costs-spiral</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/retailers-warn-reeves-is-creating-a-jobless-generation-as-hiring-costs-spiral</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
The British Retail Consortium warns Britain is heading for a jobless generation, with £6.5bn in extra labour costs forcing retailers to freeze hiring and shut young people out of work. Read the full Business Matters analysis.
Read more: 
Retailers warn Reeves is creating a ‘jobless generation’ as hiring costs spiral ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2764905191.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Retailers, warn, Reeves, creating, ‘jobless, generation’, hiring, costs, spiral</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fertiliser shortages set to send global food prices soaring, warns Grosvenor chief</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/fertiliser-shortages-set-to-send-global-food-prices-soaring-warns-grosvenor-chief</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/fertiliser-shortages-set-to-send-global-food-prices-soaring-warns-grosvenor-chief</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Grosvenor Group&#039;s Mark Preston warns Iran war fertiliser shortages have pushed UK farm costs up 70% and will trigger a dramatic spike in global food prices next year.
Read more: 
Fertiliser shortages set to send global food prices soaring, warns Grosvenor chief ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/shutterstock_414636535-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Fertiliser, shortages, set, send, global, food, prices, soaring, warns, Grosvenor, chief</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A 20&#45;minute pitch wins Indian startup Pronto backing from Lachy Groom</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/a-20-minute-pitch-wins-indian-startup-pronto-backing-from-lachy-groom</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/a-20-minute-pitch-wins-indian-startup-pronto-backing-from-lachy-groom</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The investment comes as Pronto scales to 26,000 daily bookings and the market heads toward a potential $18 billion size. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/anjali-sardana-pronto.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>20-minute, pitch, wins, Indian, startup, Pronto, backing, from, Lachy, Groom</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Five architects of the AI economy explain where the wheels are coming off</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/five-architects-of-the-ai-economy-explain-where-the-wheels-are-coming-off</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/five-architects-of-the-ai-economy-explain-where-the-wheels-are-coming-off</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Earlier this week, five people who touch every layer of the AI supply chain sat down at the Milken Global Conference in Beverly Hills, where they talked with TechCrunch about everything from chip shortages to orbital data centers to the possibility that the whole architecture that undergirds the tech is wrong. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/55252231372_4afd845df5_o.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Five, architects, the, economy, explain, where, the, wheels, are, coming, off</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Spotify’s AI DJ now supports French, German, Italian and Brazilian Portuguese</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spotifys-ai-dj-now-supports-french-german-italian-and-brazilian-portuguese</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spotifys-ai-dj-now-supports-french-german-italian-and-brazilian-portuguese</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Spotify&#039;s AI DJ feature now supports French, German, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Spotify-AI-DJ-Header.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Spotify’s, now, supports, French, German, Italian, and, Brazilian, Portuguese</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Spotify wants to become the home for AI&#45;generated personal audio</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spotify-wants-to-become-the-home-for-ai-generated-personal-audio</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/spotify-wants-to-become-the-home-for-ai-generated-personal-audio</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Users will be able to create a podcast from Codex or Claude Code and import it to Spotify ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/spotify-logo-phone-GettyImages-2236404299.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Spotify, wants, become, the, home, for, AI-generated, personal, audio</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>China’s Moonshot AI raises $2B at $20B valuation as demand for open&#45;source AI skyrockets</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/chinas-moonshot-ai-raises-2b-at-20b-valuation-as-demand-for-open-source-ai-skyrockets</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/chinas-moonshot-ai-raises-2b-at-20b-valuation-as-demand-for-open-source-ai-skyrockets</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Moonshot&#039;s annualized recurring revenue topped $200 million in April, driven by rapid growth in paid subscriptions and API usage. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GettyImages-2254580342.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>China’s, Moonshot, raises, 2B, 20B, valuation, demand, for, open-source, skyrockets</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The solopreneur’s guide to saying ‘no’</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-solopreneurs-guide-to-saying-no</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-solopreneurs-guide-to-saying-no</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nearly every solopreneur starts their business saying “yes” to everything. After all, you’re trying to get clients and build a business. Revenue is unpredictable, and your brain treats every opportunity like it might be the last.



But when you work for yourself, every “yes” comes at a cost. Agreeing to one project means declining another—or giving up time you can’t get back. Defaulting to “yes” is how solopreneurs end up overcommitted, underpaid, and working on projects that don’t move their business forward. 



Saying no is a business skill and, like any skill, it gets sharper with practice.





Saying no to bad-fit clients



Not every client who reaches out is a good fit (you’ll quickly realize). Some will cost too much in their demands on your time and energy. The frustration isn’t worth the revenue they bring in. 



In the beginning, the red flags might be hard to spot. But eventually, you’ll learn that a client with a vague scope will morph into a project you can’t control. Or a project outside your core expertise will take twice as long. Or something about the initial conversation makes you feel like your working style won’t match the client’s.



Learning to trust your gut at the earliest stage—and to walk away before signing a contract—is one of the most protective decisions you can make for your business.



If you’re early in your solo career, you might not feel like you can afford to say no yet. That’s completely understandable. But you can start building the muscle now, even if it means being more selective about which red flags you’re willing to tolerate. Over time, client selection becomes more of a core business practice.



Saying no to protect your time



Then there are the smaller yeses—the ones that don’t look like much individually—compound fast. Clients ask for a “quick call” that runs 45 minutes. You agree to an unpaid collaboration for “exposure” that turns into a multi-week commitment. Or you absorb scope creep because it’s easier than pushing back.



Your time is what you’re trading. Every hour spent on low-value obligations is time not spent on billable work or building something for your business (or time spent on life outside of work).



A simple filter can help: Does this serve my priorities right now? What am I giving up to do it? If you can’t answer these questions clearly, that’s a sign to decline.



Saying no to shiny objects



Sometimes, the hardest “no” for many solopreneurs isn’t to a client or a calendar invite… it’s to their own ideas. They think of a new offer for clients or a new product they can create and immediately start building. 



My personal and near-constant brush with “shiny object syndrome” is trying new apps and tools. I’m an incessant tinkerer. But these cost time and are a distraction from other business priorities if I don’t rein myself in. 



The temptation is real, especially if your core work starts to feel routine or mundane. However, chasing every new idea dilutes your focus and splits your energy across too many things. 



Before committing to something new, you might ask yourself: will this move my business forward, or is it merely a distraction?



Saying no creates space



Saying no feels uncomfortable for nearly every solopreneur at some point. Every declined opportunity felt like a missed one. 



But with practice, you’ll start seeing things differently, especially if you can reclaim your time or focus on projects that excite you. Saying no is about trusting that better-aligned opportunities will come—and that you’ll have the bandwidth to take them on when they do. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, solopreneur’s, guide, saying, ‘no’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>We need a Switzerland for the agentic future</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/we-need-a-switzerland-for-the-agentic-future</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/we-need-a-switzerland-for-the-agentic-future</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The conversation is changing. For the first time ever, the person or thing on the other side of an interaction isn’t always human. Every time I talk with other executives, the “agentic future” comes up. It’s a compelling idea: agents replacing old systems to actually solve problems for us without oversight. With more than a billion AI agents poised to handle everything from customer complaints to complex trades by 2029, the hurdle isn’t the tech itself. It’s whether we can actually trust it.



The reality is that most businesses are stuck in the pilot stage. Not for failure of imagination, but because we don’t have the right tools to move from a cool demo to a smart system that works safely at scale.



The old plumbing, or legacy infrastructure, wasn’t built for an agentic future. Workflows break easily. Data is trapped in silos. Trust is bolted on versus being built in. The result: As we deploy more agents, complexity will turn into chaos.



What’s missing is a trusted, neutral middle ground, a Switzerland for the modern tech stack.



As billions of these interactions happen, we need a layer that acts like a nervous system, connecting and coordinating every app and agent. Think of it as a conversational command center that fixes the trust gap by focusing on three things: identity, governance, and visibility.



IDENTITY: VERIFY WHO IS DOING WHAT



Let’s say you task an agent with purchasing an expensive driver that’ll add 20 yards off the tee, or in my case, one with AI to help me find the fairway more often. The retailer needs to know in real time that it was actually you who authorized the purchase, not some bad actor or rogue agent trying to improve their own handicap.



And as agents get more autonomy, the stakes get higher. A several hundred-dollar golf club purchased without approval is a nuisance. An unsanctioned bank transfer or a leaked confidential email is a disaster.



This goes far beyond the traditional machine-to-machine logins and identity tools we’ve used for years. Unlike traditional machines that follow a fixed script, agents use “reasoning” that is fluid and responds to each situation differently. They are built to work around problems and develop new skills. Expecting old school authentication, which is built for systems that react the same every time, to do the job against autonomous agents sets us up for disaster. 



Forget one-time logins. Identity in the agentic era has to be alive, dynamic, and real-time, constantly checking user intent and behavior against specific rules. That’s how you make interactions secure, whether you’re talking about a person or a bot.



GOVERNANCE: DEFINE WHAT IS HAPPENING



Agents are autonomous by design. They’re meant to go off and do things on their own. To do this accurately, they need clear, defined guardrails and policies that say what systems, applications, or data they have permission to access, and for how long.



Let’s revisit the agent buying your driver. Instead of sticking to your budget, it orders a custom TaylorMade for four times as much. Again, this sounds silly when it’s golf, but there’s absolutely no margin for error when agents are making calls on patient care or power grids.



Without strict access controls, scope creep can happen faster than you can say, “I didn’t authorize that.”Since agents from different companies have to work together across thousands of enterprise workflows, governance rules have to apply to everyone, regardless of the AI model they’re using. 



OBSERVABILITY: UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY



As agents start making decisions at the enterprise level, they create more liability. They’ll be roaming through sensitive networks and talking to your customers. We can’t let that be a black box. We have to be able to explain exactly what happened, why it happened, and who gave the green light.



Did that agent skirt its guardrails to spend $1,000 on your driver, or was a precise spend ceiling never initially established? Did it share private data on its own, or did someone on your team tell it to? Without a clear audit trail, businesses will be stuck in a loop with no way to improve.



It’s simple: You can’t manage what you can’t see. Without real observability, we lose accountability over agent behavior, which leads to waste, frustrated customers, and very real legal headaches. Nobody needs more of that.



ORCHESTRATE EVERY INTERACTION



We’re not just hosting conversations anymore; we’re managing a world of humans and AI. The way we run our businesses has to reflect that, starting now. Without continuous identity, governance, and observability, we’re heading for smarter, faster dysfunction. 



No one vendor will own the entire AI ecosystem. To close the trust gap, we need a neutral broker that doesn’t care what cloud, data warehouse, or model you use; a layer that acts as the agentic nervous system, regulating signals, making sure things are secure, and keeping us in control of every single interaction.



Khozema Shipchandler is the CEO of Twilio. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>need, Switzerland, for, the, agentic, future</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The towering sets for Broadway’s ‘The Lost Boys’ have audiences gasping. Here’s how the designer pulled it off</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-towering-sets-for-broadways-the-lost-boys-have-audiences-gasping-heres-how-the-designer-pulled-it-off</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-towering-sets-for-broadways-the-lost-boys-have-audiences-gasping-heres-how-the-designer-pulled-it-off</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When you’re building sets for a musical that’s populated by flying vampires, you have to challenge yourself to think three-dimensionally.



But Dane Laffrey is used to challenging himself. 



Over the course of his decades-long career in theater, the Tony-winning scenic designer has been tasked with bringing to life some of the most memorable sets in recent Broadway history—from a sandy, 360-degree Caribbean archipelago for the 2017 revival of Once on This Island to the futuristic South Korea setting of 2024’s Maybe Happy Ending.       



Now Laffrey’s set designs are literally soaring to new heights—while also sinking to new depths—in The Lost Boys, a dynamic and at times acrobatic musical that opened last month at Broadway’s Palace Theatre. 



Dane Laffrey [Photo: Matthew Murphy]



Based on the 1980s movie about undead teenagers running amok in a California beach town, the musical demanded a head-spinning array of disparate locations: for starters, a seedy arcade, a washed-up boardwalk, a sunken-in mosh pit, a towering railroad trestle, and a postindustrial underground lair where the vampires claim their victims—complete with its own working elevator.



In the vast expanse of the Palace, one of the biggest houses on Broadway, Laffrey’s work astounds as it morphs into all these locations in service of the fast-paced story, sometimes offering the actors multiple levels on which to perform their action-packed sequences, and other times moving out of the way completely so they can take flight. 



You may find yourself anxiously holding your breath as you wait to see if everyone lands on cue, and fortunately, Laffrey’s Rubik’s Cube-like set pieces always slide into their proper place at just the right time. 



Taken in as a whole, the experience is at once intense and hard to describe, which is the point.     



“Hopefully, it feels boundless in a good way,” Laffrey tells Fast Company in an interview from his office in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. “One of the things we’ve tried to do is make the audience unaware of the boundaries of the space. You can’t quite tell where the theater begins and the set ends, or where anything goes, or quite how big anything is.”



[Photo: Matthew Murphy]



Laffrey approached The Lost Boys set design by viewing the story’s central location not just as a backdrop, but as an “important character” in its own right: the rustic old house where the Emerson family, fleeing an abusive patriarch, first arrive in the opening scene. 



“It’s a metaphor for the thing that everybody in the story is yearning for,” he says. “They’re yearning to belong. They’re yearning for a home.”



As the musical faithfully follows the main beats of the movie, the house had to be ready to accommodate key scenes, including quieter moments between the family and a major showdown that involves some effects-laden vampire hunting. That meant a house with multiple levels, rooms, and complex moving parts, Laffrey recalls thinking early on.  



That same house then also had to disappear—quickly. 



“We needed to be able to explode out onto the Santa Carla boardwalk, and have that feeling of scope and mystery and luridness, and find ourselves in the vampires’ lair, and do a lot of magic tricks, and the list goes on,” Laffrey says. “So the challenge of this show was figuring out how to hold all of those quite divergent visual ideas into one container.”



The Lost Boys was nominated for 12 Tony Awards this week, including best musical, with Laffrey picking up a nomination for his scenic design.



[Photo: Matthew Murphy]



Blood, sweat, and fangs



Adapting a movie into a musical always brings with it a delicate balance: how to honor the source material while also pushing it into a direction that justifies the singing and dancing. 



Pleasing the fans can be its own thing entirely, perhaps especially so with The Lost Boys. The movie is, if not quite a cult classic, certainly a Gen X touchstone with its share of pop-culture references. Kiefer Sutherland’s bleached mullet aside, there is also the famous scene of the gang hanging from a bridge—which is restaged brilliantly here.



Laffrey hadn’t seen the movie when he first joined the project, and he confesses that he waited as late in the process as possible to do so, in the interest of developing his own “visual point of view” about the story.    



“Being tabula rasa is an incredibly valuable place to find yourself artistically as a designer or visual artist,” he says. “I was able to confront The Lost Boys for the longest time just as a piece of theater, as it was being written.” 



The production comes about a year after Laffrey, along with George Reeve, took home the Tony Award for best musical scenic design for Maybe Happy Ending, the sleeper hit about two obsolete robots who fall in love. 



Side by side, the two shows are a study in contrasts, with Laffrey remarking how he tries not to repeat himself.



Indeed, the set pieces for Maybe Happy Ending are unabashedly sleek and modern, with bright colors and size-shifting rooms that underscore the intimacy of the storyline and complement its romantic undertones.



[Photo: Matthew Murphy]



The Lost Boys, meanwhile, is awash in brown and rust, a dreary cast-iron portrait of a town that’s long past its prime. “There is a lot of detail in there that hopefully flags that this is something that has some history to it, and some weight and some time on it,” Laffrey says. “And we’re sort of layering 1987 on top of that.”



In contrast to the immersive projections that won such acclaim in Maybe Happy Ending, the only screen we ever see in The Lost Boys is a tube TV set featuring a speech by Ronald Reagan.



“The needs of those shows couldn’t be more different,” Laffrey says.



One thing they share in common is director Michael Arden, Laffrey’s longtime collaborator. The two met in high school in Michigan and have been close friends for 25 years, he says—vital in a business that thrives on relationships. 



“The building blocks of a shared vocabulary are so valuable in making really dynamic art,” Laffrey says.



The Lost Boys marks Laffrey’s and Arden’s seventh Broadway show together. The pair also have a producing interest in the show through their production company, At Rise Creative. Laffrey says the company raised “several million dollars” for the project, though he declined to share a specific figure.



While creatives often serve as producers on movies, this arrangement is less common in theater, Laffrey points out. He says it’s a testament to what he and his producing partners see as the creative and commercial potential of the show.  



“As people who intend to make ambitious theater—which also becomes expensive theater—we want to be conscious of making expensive theater that is also sustainable theater,” he says.



They’ll have their work cut out for them. Profits can be ruthlessly elusive on Broadway, where most shows don’t recoup their full investments and many close under the weight of crushing operating costs and light attendance.



For now, the buzz is on their side. In addition to this week’s Tony nominations, The Lost Boys earned a wave of positive reviews when it opened last month, with Laffrey’s work in particular being praised in The New York Times, Deadline, The New Yorker, Variety, and elsewhere. 



The show is being cited as the one that finally broke Broadway’s notorious “vampire curse,” a reference to early-2000s musical flops such as Dance of the Vampires and Lestat.



But then maybe that’s because, in Laffrey’s mind at least, The Lost Boys is not really about vampires at all. 



“The vampires are a textural element in this world, but this is a story about lost people and a family that’s breaking apart,” he says. “There’s something universal and emotionally resonant about that. Those are the things you need for a musical to really work.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, towering, sets, for, Broadway’s, ‘The, Lost, Boys’, have, audiences, gasping., Here’s, how, the, designer, pulled, off</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Rare Earths Americas IPO: Stock price will be closely watched today as ‘exploration stage’ firm lists on NYSE</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rare-earths-americas-ipo-stock-price-will-be-closely-watched-today-as-exploration-stage-firm-lists-on-nyse</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rare-earths-americas-ipo-stock-price-will-be-closely-watched-today-as-exploration-stage-firm-lists-on-nyse</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rare Earths Americas is expected to make its New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) debut today. 



The company, which focuses on “heavy rare earths” projects in the United States and Brazil, will make its initial public offering at $19 per share. Here’s what you need to know about Rare Earths Americas’s IPO. 



What is Rare Earths Americas?



Calling itself an “exploration stage company,” Rare Earths Americas is a critical minerals company that is positioning itself as key to creating a rare earth supply independent of China. 



It plans to use the money raised in its IPO to fund land acquisition, drilling, and metallurgy, among other developments. 



The company is based in Manchester, Georgia, and also has a field office in Brazil.



Rare earth elements are the backbone of everything from cell phones to wind turbines. At the same time, their extraction is also devastating poor communities around the globe.



When is the IPO for Rare Earths Americas?



The company priced its shares on Tuesday. It expects to start trading today, Wednesday, May 6, and close the offer on Thursday, May 7. 



What is the stock ticker for Rare Earths Americas?



It will trade on the NYSE under the ticker REA.



What is the IPO share price of Rare Earths Americas?



The company’s share price is $19, the higher end of its marketed range. Rare Earths Americas initially estimated each share would be priced between $17 and $19 in its April 28 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to Reuters, the company has a valuation of roughly $368.4 million at that price. 



How many Rare Earths Americas shares are available in its IPO?



Rare Earths Americas is offering 3.3 million common stock shares to the public. The company is also offering its underwriters 30 days to purchase another 499,999 shares. 



How much will Rare Earths Americas raise in its IPO?



The company expects to raise $63.3 million in its IPO. 



What else is there to know about Rare Earths Americas?



In its prospectus filed with the SEC, Rare Earths Americas listed a range of risk factors for potential investors. They include notable—and almost humorous—factors given that the company’s entire aim is wanting to work on rare earth projects. The risks include: 




We have no history of producing rare earth materials 



Mineral exploration is highly speculative and subject to an exceptionally high probability of failure



All of our business activities are now in the exploration stage and there can be no assurance that we will build successful business operations or ever produce minerals from any of our properties



Estimates that guide our development plans and anticipated financing needs with respect to our mineral projects may prove inaccurate or incomplete
 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rare, Earths, Americas, IPO:, Stock, price, will, closely, watched, today, ‘exploration, stage’, firm, lists, NYSE</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>China, ‘deeply distressed,’ calls for an end to the U.S.&#45;Iran war</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/china-deeply-distressed-calls-for-an-end-to-the-us-iran-war</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/china-deeply-distressed-calls-for-an-end-to-the-us-iran-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ China’s foreign minister on Wednesday called for a comprehensive ceasefire in the Iran war, in comments that could inject new energy into stalled efforts to end the two-month conflict between the United States and Iran.Wang Yi said his country was “deeply distressed” by the conflict. He spoke after meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was visiting Beijing for the first time since the war with the U.S. and Israel started Feb. 28.China’s close economic and political ties to Tehran give it a unique position of influence. The Trump administration is pressing China to use that relationship to urge the Islamic Republic to open the Strait of Hormuz.The Chinese minister’s comments followed an earlier statement by U.S. President Donald Trump that he was pausing his short-lived U.S. effort to guide stranded commercial vessels out of the Strait of Hormuz in hopes that a deal could be finalized. A shaky ceasefire has been largely holding, despite exchanges of fire during the U.S. push to reopen the strait on Monday.Iran’s effective closure of the strait, a vital waterway through which major oil and gas supplies, fertilizer and other petroleum products passed before the war, has sent fuel prices skyrocketing, rattled the global economy and put enormous economic pressure on countries, including major powers like China.The spot price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell to around $100 per barrel Wednesday, easing significantly from big price jumps earlier in the week. The prices are still well above the roughly $70 a barrel that crude was selling for before the war began.



Trump also due to visit China



Araghchi’s visit to China comes ahead of a planned visit by Trump to Beijing for a high-profile summit May 14-15 with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip would be Trump’s first to China during his second term and the first by a U.S. president since Trump visited in 2017.“We believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is urgently needed, that a resumption of hostilities is not acceptable, and that it is particularly important to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations,” Wang said, according to a video of the meeting.The Chinese foreign minister said the conflict “has already lasted for more than two months. It has not only caused serious losses to the Iranian people, but also had a severe impact on regional and global peace. China is deeply distressed by this.”In a televised interview with Iran’s state media from Beijing, Araghchi said his visit included discussions of the Strait of Hormuz as well as Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions imposed on Tehran.Iran has attained “an elevated international standing” after the war, having proven its capabilities and strength, Araghchi said.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that Beijing would reiterate the need for Iran to release its chokehold on the strait, which would deny its main leverage as Trump demands a major rollback of Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.“I hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told,” Rubio said during a White House briefing Tuesday. “And that is that what you are doing in the strait is causing you to be globally isolated. You’re the bad guy in this.”China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing has made clear that the relevant sides must act “with prudence” and resolve the conflict through dialogue in order to restore peace. He added that China has been actively promoting peace talks and will continue to do so.In a statement published on the ministry’s website about Wang’s meeting with Araghchi, the foreign ministry said China values Iran’s pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons while affirming its “legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”



Trump pauses effort to guide ships out of strait



Hundreds of merchant ships remain bottled up in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. said it had opened a safe shipping lane Monday and sunk six small Iranian boats that had threatened commercial ships in the strait. Only two merchant ships are known to have passed through the U.S.-guarded route.But Trump announced he was pausing the effort, dubbed Project Freedom, to see whether an agreement with Tehran on ending the war could be reached.In a social media post Tuesday, Trump said the move was based “on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran.”Pakistan has been mediating between the U.S. and Iran, and had hosted peace talks between the two sides.On Wednesday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump for what he described as a timely announcement of a pause in the effort to guide ships out of the strait.In a post on X, Sharif said Trump’s response to requests from Pakistan and other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, would help advance regional peace, stability and reconciliation.“Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy,” Sharif said. “We are very hopeful that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond.”







Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece. Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan, Toqa Ezzidin in Cairo and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia, contributed.



—E. Eduardo Castillo and Elena Becatoros, Associated Press ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>China, ‘deeply, distressed, ’, calls, for, end, the, U.S.-Iran, war</media:keywords>
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<title>How to find the best energy supplier for your small business</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-find-the-best-energy-supplier-for-your-small-business</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-find-the-best-energy-supplier-for-your-small-business</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


With a steep rise in energy prices, we show you how to find the right energy supplier for your small business
The post How to find the best energy supplier for your small business appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2022/01/Energy-shopping-around-scaled-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, find, the, best, energy, supplier, for, your, small, business</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Britain’s green start&#45;ups face ‘triple squeeze’ as early&#45;stage funding crashes to five&#45;year low</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britains-green-start-ups-face-triple-squeeze-as-early-stage-funding-crashes-to-five-year-low</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britains-green-start-ups-face-triple-squeeze-as-early-stage-funding-crashes-to-five-year-low</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Early-stage funding for Britain&#039;s clean tech start-ups halved in 2025, hitting a five-year low. Cleantech for UK warns the innovation pipeline is at risk.
Read more: 
Britain’s green start-ups face ‘triple squeeze’ as early-stage funding crashes to five-year low ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2681456225.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britain’s, green, start-ups, face, ‘triple, squeeze’, early-stage, funding, crashes, five-year, low</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Bristol leads UK innovation jobs boom as the regions close the gap on London</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bristol-leads-uk-innovation-jobs-boom-as-the-regions-close-the-gap-on-london</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bristol-leads-uk-innovation-jobs-boom-as-the-regions-close-the-gap-on-london</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
New research lays bare a striking paradox: workforces at Britain&#039;s most innovative firms are growing fastest outside the south-east, yet eight in every ten venture pounds still pour into the so-called golden triangle.
Read more: 
Bristol leads UK innovation jobs boom as the regions close the gap on London ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2441567381.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bristol, leads, innovation, jobs, boom, the, regions, close, the, gap, London</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Whisky tariffs lifted as Trump hails royal state visit</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/whisky-tariffs-lifted-as-trump-hails-royal-state-visit</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/whisky-tariffs-lifted-as-trump-hails-royal-state-visit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Britain&#039;s distillers have been handed an unexpected fillip after Donald Trump announced the removal of all US tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports, a concession the president attributed directly to the influence of King Charles and Queen Camilla&#039;s four-day state visit to America.
Read more: 
Whisky tariffs lifted as Trump hails royal state visit ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2743637277-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Whisky, tariffs, lifted, Trump, hails, royal, state, visit</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Britain doesn’t have a start&#45;up problem, it has a stay&#45;at&#45;home problem</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britain-doesnt-have-a-start-up-problem-it-has-a-stay-at-home-problem</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britain-doesnt-have-a-start-up-problem-it-has-a-stay-at-home-problem</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Britain launches companies brilliantly. It just can’t keep them. Richard Alvin on why the next British unicorn will probably IPO in New York, and what to do before it does.
Read more: 
Britain doesn’t have a start-up problem, it has a stay-at-home problem ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2389115163.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britain, doesn’t, have, start-up, problem, has, stay-at-home, problem</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Last orders for British hospitality: Are Reeves and Starmer trying to kill the UK restaurant sector?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/last-orders-for-british-hospitality-are-reeves-and-starmer-trying-to-kill-the-uk-restaurant-sector</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/last-orders-for-british-hospitality-are-reeves-and-starmer-trying-to-kill-the-uk-restaurant-sector</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
From a £3.4 billion National Insurance hit to a refusal to cut hospitality VAT, the policies of Reeves and Starmer read like a hit job on Britain&#039;s high streets.
Read more: 
Last orders for British hospitality: Are Reeves and Starmer trying to kill the UK restaurant sector? ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/shutterstock_2635968175.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Last, orders, for, British, hospitality:, Are, Reeves, and, Starmer, trying, kill, the, restaurant, sector</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The best AI dictation apps, tested and ranked</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-best-ai-dictation-apps-tested-and-ranked</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-best-ai-dictation-apps-tested-and-ranked</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ AI-powered dictation apps are useful for replying to emails, taking notes, and even coding through your voice ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GettyImages-1424498694.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, best, dictation, apps, tested, and, ranked</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Netflix delays Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ movie for big theatrical push in 2027</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/netflix-delays-greta-gerwigs-narnia-movie-for-big-theatrical-push-in-2027</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/netflix-delays-greta-gerwigs-narnia-movie-for-big-theatrical-push-in-2027</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;The Magician&#039;s Nephew&quot; looks like a big next step in Netflix&#039;s thawing relationship with movie theaters. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2239723841.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Netflix, delays, Greta, Gerwig’s, ‘Narnia’, movie, for, big, theatrical, push, 2027</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Farewell, Jeeves: Ask.com shuts down</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/farewell-jeeves-askcom-shuts-down</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/farewell-jeeves-askcom-shuts-down</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Owner IAC says it&#039;s discontinuing its search business. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-1231517365.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Farewell, Jeeves:, Ask.com, shuts, down</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>AI&#45;generated actors and scripts are now ineligible for Oscars</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-generated-actors-and-scripts-are-now-ineligible-for-oscars</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/ai-generated-actors-and-scripts-are-now-ineligible-for-oscars</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bad news for Tilly Norwood. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2266014829.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>AI-generated, actors, and, scripts, are, now, ineligible, for, Oscars</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This tiny, magnetic e&#45;reader could stop you from doomscrolling</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-tiny-magnetic-e-reader-could-stop-you-from-doomscrolling</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-tiny-magnetic-e-reader-could-stop-you-from-doomscrolling</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Xteink X3 is a delightfully tiny, MagSafe-compatible e-ink reader that attaches to the back of your phone like a Pop Socket. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_7411-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, tiny, magnetic, e-reader, could, stop, you, from, doomscrolling</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This free website is like Wikipedia meets the CIA</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-free-website-is-like-wikipedia-meets-the-cia</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-free-website-is-like-wikipedia-meets-the-cia</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ You may or may not have ever realized it, but for more than six decades, the CIA published an incredible resource called The World Factbook​. It was a free reference guide to all the countries on Earth, along with several non-state entities such as the European Union, and it was filled with all sorts of eye-opening info.



You might’ve noticed I’m referring to it in the past tense. That’s because after having maintained this project since 1962—first as a printed book and then in more recent years online—the CIA unceremoniously discontinued and deleted The World Factbook earlier this year.



But, as so often happens, the internet has come to the rescue. And now this one-of-a-kind resource and all the wisdom within it is available for anyone to tap into again.



This tip originally appeared in the free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. Get the next issue in your inbox and get ready to discover all sorts of awesome tech treasures!



Your free global field guide



On February 4, the CIA announced​ it was shutting down The World Factbook once and for all. Every single page was deleted simultaneously.



That’s the bad news. The good news: Someone’s already brought it back, and it’s available once more as a free online resource.



➜ The new version is called OpenFactBook​. It’s a community-maintained successor to the original from the CIA.



⌚ You can start browsing it right now, in a matter of seconds.



✅ The simplest way to use OpenFactBook is to pick a country and dive in. Every page starts with a few key statistics, a map, and a brief history. Then, you’ll find a plethora of revealing statistics.



OpenFactBook may look simple on the surface, but it’s filled with mountains of invaluable info.



? Part of the fun is discovering cool or unusual stats. For example: The highest elevation in Vatican City is the Vatican Gardens, which is 78 meters above sea level. The lowest: Saint Peter’s Square, at 19 meters. They use 0% of their land for agriculture.



But there’s so much more here than unexpected stats about microstates.



? One feature I love is the Compare Countries tool​, found in the top menu bar. You can use it to see a quick breakdown of multiple countries, which is great when you’re trying to get a feel for something like the relative size, population, or standard of living between different places.



The ability to perform detailed country comparisons is one of OpenFactBook’s finer features.



Basically, this is the same data the government long offered, only now it’s maintained by dedicated volunteers. The information combines data from the original guide with data from the World Bank Group and a service called REST Countries API.



And now it’ll always be available for anyone to access. All you need to know is where to find it.




OpenFactBook is a good old-fashioned website​—no downloads or installations required.



It’s free, with optional donations to support the hosting and data access expenses.



The site has no cookies, tracking, or personal data collection of any kind.




Treat yourself to all sorts of brain-boosting goodies like this with the free Cool Tools newsletter—starting with an instant introduction to an incredible audio app that’ll tune up your days in truly delightful ways.
 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, free, website, like, Wikipedia, meets, the, CIA</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Stop letting ChatGPT and other AI chatbots train on your data. Here’s why—and how</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stop-letting-chatgpt-and-other-ai-chatbots-train-on-your-data-heres-whyand-how</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/stop-letting-chatgpt-and-other-ai-chatbots-train-on-your-data-heres-whyand-how</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When you interact with a chatbot, there’s a good chance that everything you say, and every prompt you give, isn’t just used to generate replies to your queries. Nearly every chatbot company on the planet also uses the information you provide to train its AI models. This can leave your privacy—and even your employer’s confidential information—exposed. But you can mitigate these privacy risks by telling chatbots not to use your data for training. Here’s how.



What is AI chatbot training?



In order for a chatbot to provide knowledgeable and (hopefully) accurate answers, the underlying large language model (LLM) that powers it needs to assimilate a massive amount of information, which it then uses to help answer your questions. This process of information assimilation is known as “training.”



The more information an LLM trains on, the more intelligent the LLM, ostensibly, gets. LLMs acquire training data from numerous sources, including public websites, social media platforms, encyclopedias, video-sharing sites like YouTube, and, unfortunately, sometimes even without permission from authors, novelists, artists, musicians, and other creatives.



But LLMs also get their training data from you, too. Every time you enter a prompt to give a chatbot information, that information is likely being used by the AI company to further train its models. And that can leave your privacy severely exposed.



Why you shouldn’t let AI chatbots train on your data



It’s generally a good idea not to allow LLMs to train on your data, especially if, in your interactions with a chatbot, you share a lot of sensitive information about yourself. If you talk to a chatbot about your physical or mental health, your finances, or your relationships, you should know that that data is, by default, usually used by the AI company to further train its LLM, which means your most intimate thoughts, worries, and concerns are becoming part of the model.



AI companies say they anonymize the information you provide before using it to train their models—but you really just have to take them at their word. Even if they do anonymize your information, that doesn’t mean a bad actor in the future couldn’t use some technique to link all the prompts about a particular health, relationship, legal, or financial issue back to you.



And if you are using an AI chatbot for work, you could be exposing your employer to legal and regulatory risks if the data you feed it contains confidential user or client information. Even if it doesn’t, you could inadvertently give away your employer’s corporate secrets, such as proprietary code or sales data. The chatbot may give you the answers you’re searching for, but it will also use all the data you give it to further train its models—and retain that data as part of itself.



How to prevent AI chatbots from training on your data



All this means that it’s a very good idea to prohibit a chatbot from training on your data. Doing so will not hinder the quality of the results the chatbot provides to you, but it will ensure, as best as possible, that the data you provide to it won’t be permanently absorbed into the bot’s underlying LLM.



The good news is that most reputable chatbots—including the four most popular ones: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and Perplexity AI’s Perplexity—now offer ways you can opt out of having your data used for training. Here’s how to tell the big four chatbots to stop training on your data:




ChatGPT: Select your profile to access the chatbot’s settings. Select Data Controls. Select “Improve the model for everyone.” Toggle the “Improve the model for everyone” switch off.



Gemini: Go to the Gemini Apps Activity settings page. Select the button that says “On.” From the pop-up, select “Turn off.” Select “Got it” in the confirmation box that appears.



Claude: Select your profile to access the chatbot’s settings. Select the privacy menu. Toggle the “Help improve Claude” switch off.



Perplexity: Select your profile to access the chatbot’s settings. Select the Preferences menu. Toggle the “AI data retention” switch off.




Once you’ve done this, none of the big four AI giants should be able to use the prompts and other information you give their chatbots to further train their LLMs. However, since these firms haven’t provided independent auditors with access to their systems, you have to take the companies’ word that they will stop using your data to train their models.



Also note that even if AI companies agree not to use your data to train their models, they may retain information from your chats and other information you provide for legal or regulatory purposes for a set period of time.



And even with these anti-training orders in place, it’s still a good idea to thoroughly (and correctly) redact sensitive information from any documents before you upload them to an AI chatbot. To get even more privacy when interacting with popular chatbots, consider using proxies like Apple Intelligence on the iPhone or DuckDuckGo’s Duck.ai, which can help better obscure your digital footprint from AI giants. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Stop, letting, ChatGPT, and, other, chatbots, train, your, data., Here’s, why—and, how</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This NASA astronaut has spent years shaping the future of spaceflight. Now he’s finally heading to orbit</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-nasa-astronaut-has-spent-years-shaping-the-future-of-spaceflight-now-hes-finally-heading-to-orbit</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/this-nasa-astronaut-has-spent-years-shaping-the-future-of-spaceflight-now-hes-finally-heading-to-orbit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Anil Menon might have the world’s spaciest resume. After several years as a NASA flight surgeon, he became SpaceX’s medical director in 2018, where he authored research on the effects of space on the human body. In 2021, he was selected as a NASA astronaut and has spent the past several years training for his own journey to space. Along the way, he also supported his wife, Anna Menon, who traveled to space on a private mission in 2024 and was herself selected as a NASA astronaut last year.



Somewhere in the margins, Menon has also served as an Air Force Reserve member and emergency room doctor.



Now, he’s finally heading to space himself. This July, Menon will travel to Kazakhstan, where Russia’s space program conducts launches, and join two cosmonauts on the next mission to the International Space Station. He’ll fly aboard the storied Russian Soyuz crew vehicle, which has been used successfully for decades, and is expected to spend eight months aboard the station.



For years, NASA and Roscosmos, Russia’s space agency, have maintained the practice of placing astronauts and cosmonauts on one another’s missions. One side effect of that arrangement, and of the modern space age more broadly, is that Menon brings an unusually expansive perspective on life in space, with experience spanning NASA, Russia’s space program, and SpaceX, as well as a firsthand view of NASA’s distinct institutional role.



“NASA kind of bridges the gap between some of these different cultures and synthesizes it,” he says. “As we look at the moon, everyone is going to pursue that as well. I think that NASA is this great synergy for all of that.”



Fast Company spoke with Menon about his upcoming mission, the future of commercial space stations, and the biggest unanswered questions surrounding microgravity’s effects on the human body. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.



Can you talk a little bit about the differences between the Soyuz and the Crew Dragon?



The Soyuz was developed for some of the first space flights and it’s got this long heritage tracing back to what we consider the space race. They’ve tried to keep things that work and just keep them working for high-reliability reasons. Some of the computers and screen layouts are things that are push-button… They work. 



The same goes for engines and some of the seats and comfort level. Most of the astronauts during the early Russian space program were shorter in stature, so someone who’s 6’1’’ like me doesn’t fit as well, but I fit… It works, and that’s the interesting thing. The spacesuit has a rubber pressure seal, and you twist it … and then you put a band around it to seal it—two bands—and that’s how you create your seal. It isn’t a zipper. It isn’t some locking mechanism, but it works. And it’s always worked. 



SpaceX, born in this era, is really pushing the frontiers of engineering and developing things. You’ll see more touch displays. It’s automated procedure sequences….you hit a button, and you get that procedure popping up for you with a lot of data flowing in, as you’d see in a sci-fi movie. It also works, and it’s a different way to tackle the problem, and it’s got some advantages. 



The suits: you zip them around and put them on… They look really cool, and they work really well. There are different sorts of engines —[where] the rocket itself lands—which adds usability. I’d say it’s pushing the frontiers of where we want to go with things, which is uniquely cultural to us in terms of the way we look at things.



As a physician, what do you see as the biggest open questions about, like, the impact of space on the human body? We’ve done a lot of studies on through the International Space Station, but what open questions intrigue you as we think about going to the moon, and maybe Mars?



I’ll answer that in a nebulous way and a very specific way. The more general answer is that there’s just so much new stuff. We’ve been flying healthy astronauts to space for a long time. We are going to be flying—and we are starting to fly—the whole spread of humans to space. You know, on Inspiration 4, Hayley Arceneaux had an osteosarcoma [bone cancer].  How does that change things? So there’s just a lot of unknown. 



At this point in time, in medicine, it’s not often you see totally new diseases, but we’re seeing new things in space. I think in the future, we’ll continue to see new things, and that’s probably like the biggest thing. 



If I were to just pick a specific thing for a concrete example, we’re seeing clotting happen in space in unexpected ways. You take a really healthy person, put them in space, there’s three things that increase your chance of a clot: One is injury, and that’s when your body, like closes the wound—[and] that’s normal. The other is stasis, which means if you just keep blood in a static spot, it’s going to clot. The other is like some element of hypercoagulability. If you take oral contraceptives for women, it  makes you a little more prone to clotting. In space, what you’re getting is stasis on some level, so blood isn’t moving the same. You’re getting one cornerstone of that clotting triangle, and it just takes a little bit more to see something else. 



As you send more people up there, a lot of these diseases that are related to that [and] you’re just going to see more of them. That could be deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, strokes, things like that. We’ll have to figure out, like, what do we do about it? 



On the flip side, is there any promise or hope that there are health metrics that seem to improve in space compared to on Earth?



You always see this in sci-fi, but if you have disabilities on Earth, maybe that goes away in space, right? You don’t need your legs in space, and so you can do a lot of things that you couldn’t do on Earth, which opens up the doors for a lot of people for whom that’s an issue. And I watch enough sci-fi movies that I’m hoping that I get a mutant gene while I’m up there and have some new superpower. I’m just kidding!



We’re preparing for the next generation of commercial space stations that will eventually replace the ISS. What do you have in mind for what we could do differently or change? 



ISS is a great stepping stone to leverage to learn about our next step. I think the next step, a commercial space station, will also be a stepping stone to the future. So what are the things we do on ISS that we could do better on those would be really important science. Increase the throughput and make it easier for people to do science. On the ISS, that’s great, but you can always do things better. 



Letting people do real-time feedback on some of the science that they’re doing there. Experimenting with things that could open up the door to going to Mars and staying on the Moon. 



Looking at those things that kick off the orbital economy, like printing and developing those manufacturing processes. They want to make new chips up there, and that stimulates more jobs in space and doing stuff. Focusing on the high-yield things and then kicking them off are going to be transformative…Think about all the things that need to go into a data center that’s in space. Some of these future stations can lean into that and help carry out or fix that technology until it’s like something that you can just deliver and launch. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, NASA, astronaut, has, spent, years, shaping, the, future, spaceflight., Now, he’s, finally, heading, orbit</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Housing market power divide: States where buyers can find the most, and least, inventory right now</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/housing-market-power-divide-states-where-buyers-can-find-the-most-and-least-inventory-right-now</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/housing-market-power-divide-states-where-buyers-can-find-the-most-and-least-inventory-right-now</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter.



When assessing home price momentum, ResiClub believes it’s important to monitor active listings and months of supply. If active listings start to increase rapidly as homes remain on the market for longer periods, it may indicate pricing softness or weakness. Conversely, a rapid decline in active listings beyond seasonality could suggest a market where sellers are gaining power.



Since the national pandemic housing boom fizzled out in 2022, the power dynamic has slowly been shifting directionally from sellers to buyers. Of course, that shift has varied across the country.



Generally speaking, local housing markets where active inventory has jumped above pre-pandemic 2019 levels have experienced softer home price growth (or outright price declines) over the past 47 months. Conversely, local housing markets where active inventory remains far below pre-pandemic 2019 levels have, generally speaking, experienced, relatively speaking, more resilient home price growth over the past 47 months.



Where is national active inventory headed now?



While national active inventory is still up year over year, the pace of growth has slowed in recent months as softening has slowed.



National active listings are up 4.6% on a year-over-year basis from April 30, 2025, to April 30, 2026, according to Realtor.com’s inventory data. But if you go back 12 months, that year-over-year national inventory growth rate was much higher (+30.6%).



After a period in which leverage shifted more toward homebuyers, the supply-demand equilibrium in the nationally aggregated housing market has been more stable in recent months.



Nationally, we’re still below pre-pandemic 2019 inventory levels (-11.8% below April 2019) and some resale markets, in particular chunks of the Midwest and Northeast, still remain tightish, relatively speaking.







April inventory/active listings total, according to Realtor.com:




April 2017 -&gt; 1,198,424



April 2018 -&gt; 1,102,064



April 2019 -&gt; 1,137,198



April 2020 -&gt; 941,733



April 2021 -&gt; 435,663 (pandemic housing boom overheating)



April 2022 -&gt; 379,978 (pandemic housing boom overheating)



April 2023 -&gt; 562,966



April 2024 -&gt; 734,318



April 2025 -&gt; 959,251



April 2026 -&gt; 1,002,935




If we maintain the current year-over-year pace of inventory growth (+43,684 homes for sale), we’d have 1,046,619 active inventory come April 2027. (Note: That’s not a prediction—I’m just showing what the math looks like if that pace continues.)



Below is the year-over-year active inventory percentage change by state.







While active housing inventory is rising in most markets on a year-over-year basis, the pace of growth continues to decelerate across much of the country (see the side-by-side maps below). In fact, Florida—home to many of the weakest regional housing markets over the past two years—is now seeing active inventory edge down a little year over year (-12%).







Above, left: Year-over-year active inventory shift from April 2024 to April 2025



Above, right: Year-over-year active inventory shift from April 2025 to April 2026



And while active housing inventory is rising in most markets on a year-over-year basis, some markets still remain tightish.







As ResiClub has been documenting, both active resale and new homes for sale remain the most limited across huge swaths of the Midwest and Northeast. That’s where home sellers in the spring/summer are likely, relatively speaking, to have more power than their peers in many Southern markets.



Active inventory in April 2026 compared to pre-pandemic April 2019:




Southwest —&gt; +23%



West —&gt; +3%



Southeast —&gt; -2%



Midwest —&gt; -35%



Northeast —&gt; -50%




In contrast, active housing inventory for sale has neared or surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels in many parts of the Sunbelt and Mountain West, including metro area housing markets such as Punta Gorda, Florida, and Austin.



Many of these areas saw major price surges during the pandemic housing boom, with home prices getting stretched compared to local incomes. As pandemic-driven domestic migration slowed and mortgage rates rose, markets like Punta Gorda and Austin faced challenges, relying on local income levels to support frothy home prices.



This softening trend was accelerated further by an abundance of new home supply in the Sunbelt. Builders are often willing to lower prices or offer affordability incentives (if they have the margins to do so) to maintain sales in a shifted market, which also has a cooling effect on the resale market, with some buyers, who would have previously considered existing homes, opting for new homes with more favorable deals over the past couple years. That then puts some additional upward pressure on resale inventory.



Click here to view an interactive version of the map below.







At the end of April 2026, 12 states were above pre-pandemic 2019 active inventory levels: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Washington. (The District of Columbia—which we left out of the table below—is also back above pre-pandemic 2019 active inventory levels.)









The big picture



Over the past several months, the post-boom softening has lost momentum, and inventory growth has decelerated on a year-over-year basis. That said, the nationally aggregated housing market remains soft. While home prices are declining in some parts of the Sunbelt, a large share of Northeast and Midwest markets are still eking out modest year-over-year gains. At the national level, home prices are essentially flat year over year.







Below is another version of the table; this one includes every month since January 2017.







If you’d like to examine the monthly state inventory figures further, use the interactive chart below.



Florida—which has been the epicenter of housing market weakness over the past two years, particularly in Southwest Florida—is no longer seeing the upward burst in inventory. Indeed, the intensity of Florida’s housing market correction is easing across many pockets of the state.



Click here to view a sortable version of the chart below.






 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Housing, market, power, divide:, States, where, buyers, can, find, the, most, and, least, inventory, right, now</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Lululemon needs its ‘Gap’ moment</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lululemon-needs-its-gap-moment</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lululemon-needs-its-gap-moment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Heidi O’Neill is having a tough week. 



In late April, the Lululemon board announced it had ended its monthslong search to replace CEO Calvin McDonald, who left the company abruptly in 2025 after six years at the helm. As soon as the company announced that O’Neill, a 26-year Nike veteran, would be taking on the position, things got messy. Lululemon’s stock took a plunge, suggesting that investors didn’t think O’Neill was the right pick. And many analysts—including myself—argued that following the Nike playbook would not lead Lululemon out of its financial doldrums.



Then, Lululemon founder Chip Wilson weighed in. Wilson launched the company in 1998 as a yoga brand and left in 2005, but he has never stopped trying to stay involved, and he still wields considerable power at the company as its largest shareholder. He had made it clear that he didn’t approve of McDonald’s leadership, and in a LinkedIn post, he went after the board for choosing O’Neill, arguing they should be looking for “passionate, creative renegades who have a vision that will shake up the status quo.”



Wilson’s judgment is not always right. This is someone who once had to apologize for saying that women’s thighs rubbing together was responsible for the pilling on Lululemon leggings—a comment widely perceived to be body shaming. And last year he criticized Lululemon’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies for welcoming customers “you don’t want . . . coming in.” But that doesn’t mean his instincts are always wrong.



What Lululemon needs right now is the kind of revitalization we’re seeing at Gap—and it’s worth paying attention to how that brand pulled it off. The legacy apparel brand, founded in 1969, had gone through several years of declining sales. But these days it’s having a moment.



Over the past two years, it has had hit marketing campaigns every season, tapping stars like Young Miko, Troye Sivan, and, most notably, Katseye. Zac Posen has created a high-fashion version of the Gap label called GapStudio, which has put red-carpet garments on the backs of celebrities like Timothée Chalamet and Anne Hathaway. The brand has also launched collaborations with Béis, Dôen, and, most recently, Victoria Beckham, all huge hits.



While this kind of turnaround is the stuff brands dream of, Mark Breitbard, president and CEO of the global Gap Brand, has made it clear that it’s the result of a lot of hard work. It has also required a deep knowledge of the brand. 



Breitbard is not a Gap outsider. Early in his career, from 2009 to 2013, he worked as the chief merchant at Old Navy and then Gap, and later came back in 2017 to run Banana Republic.



When he took on his current role in 2020, he inherited a mess. The brand had too many stores, many of them unprofitable. It also had too much inventory, which resulted in heavy discounting. The quality of clothing had declined. 



“The business was broken,” Breitbard told me recently. “We had to address each of these issues with discipline. It wasn’t fun, but it laid the foundation for us to bring the brand back into the center of culture.”



Product, he points out, is crucial. Despite its long history as a beloved maker of basics, Gap’s clothes had lost their luster. Breitbard, who is steeped in supply chains and merchandising, worked to improve the quality of the materials and fit. And consumers are responding. 



After the Katseye video, which featured retro denim styles, people rushed to Gap to buy ’90s-style jeans—and they weren’t disappointed. During Coachella, Gap created an activation focused on sweats, and people loved how cozy they were.



This is an important lesson for Lululemon. The brand has always been known for its unique fabrics, developed out of its internal design philosophy, which it calls “the science of feel.” It has had many blockbusters, including its proprietary buttery-soft Nulu fabric, which is in its famous Align pants, which have generated more than $1 billion for the company. Lululemon customers come to the brand for its high quality and reputation for innovation, and its new leader must be laser-focused on product.



Once this pillar is in place, it’s possible to bring the brand back into the cultural conversation. It’s notable that Breitbard didn’t start pushing out these creative campaigns for Gap five years ago; he waited until he believed the foundations of the business were in order. Only then did he turn his attention to launching some of the most exciting marketing campaigns we’ve seen recently.



When I interviewed him for Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies podcast, Breitbard said he empowers his creative team to do what they do best. This includes Fabiola Torres, the CMO he brought on in May 2024.



“If we have amazing creatives, and we put them in a position where we can trust the creatives to keep pushing and driving, and not overburden them with bureaucracy, we will stay in this moment of heat,” he says.



This is exactly the kind of creativity Wilson is hoping for. And it’s unclear whether O’Neill is the right person for the task. In recent years, she has been focused on more technical parts of the business, which is not a bad thing, except she was responsible for helping Nike pivot toward a direct-to-consumer approach that has proved lacking for the company. And when it comes to creative, Nike’s heyday as an engine for brilliant advertising and marketing is long gone.



Gap proved that legacy brands can come roaring back—but only with the right leader at the helm. Whether O’Neill is that person for Lululemon remains to be seen. She’ll have plenty to prove, assuming the board doesn’t have second thoughts.


 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lululemon, needs, its, ‘Gap’, moment</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Businesses investing in AI see limited returns as workforce skills gap holds back impact</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/businesses-investing-in-ai-see-limited-returns-as-workforce-skills-gap-holds-back-impact</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/businesses-investing-in-ai-see-limited-returns-as-workforce-skills-gap-holds-back-impact</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By QA on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


AI training platform, QA, explain the AI skills gap and the effect it has on your business. Find out how their training courses can help
The post Businesses investing in AI see limited returns as workforce skills gap holds back impact appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Businesses, investing, see, limited, returns, workforce, skills, gap, holds, back, impact</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Free Business Bank Accounts for UK Businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/free-business-bank-accounts-for-uk-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/free-business-bank-accounts-for-uk-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Here&#039;s an easy-to-understand guide on the best free business bank accounts in the UK and what to consider before you sign up
The post Free Business Bank Accounts for UK Businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/04/123179.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Free, Business, Bank, Accounts, for, Businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The 8 best business savings accounts</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-8-best-business-savings-accounts</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/the-8-best-business-savings-accounts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Henry Williams on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


If you have surplus funds, why not deposit your business revenue into a dedicated business savings account?
The post The 8 best business savings accounts appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/12/Banking-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, best, business, savings, accounts</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Are You Building a Future&#45;Ready Small Business? Choose Tech That Is Less Visible, Not More Complicated</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/are-you-building-a-future-ready-small-business-choose-tech-that-is-less-visible-not-more-complicated</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/are-you-building-a-future-ready-small-business-choose-tech-that-is-less-visible-not-more-complicated</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
You may have heard the joke: an older fish says to a younger fish, ‘The water’s nice today, huh?’ and the younger fish replies, ‘What the hell is water?’ It works because the things that shape our experience most are often the easiest to overlook.
Read more: 
Are You Building a Future-Ready Small Business? Choose Tech That Is Less Visible, Not More Complicated ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Are, You, Building, Future-Ready, Small, Business, Choose, Tech, That, Less, Visible, Not, More, Complicated</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Britain braces for £35bn energy shock as Iran conflict pushes inflation back above 4%</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britain-braces-for-35bn-energy-shock-as-iran-conflict-pushes-inflation-back-above-4</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/britain-braces-for-35bn-energy-shock-as-iran-conflict-pushes-inflation-back-above-4</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Niesr warns the UK economy will lose £35bn over two years as the Iran conflict pushes inflation above 4% and forces the Bank of England to raise interest rates. SMEs face a fresh squeeze.
Read more: 
Britain braces for £35bn energy shock as Iran conflict pushes inflation back above 4% ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/shutterstock_1007918233-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Britain, braces, for, £35bn, energy, shock, Iran, conflict, pushes, inflation, back, above</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Barclay Brothers swerve bankruptcy with eleventh&#45;hour creditor pact</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/barclay-brothers-swerve-bankruptcy-with-eleventh-hour-creditor-pact</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/barclay-brothers-swerve-bankruptcy-with-eleventh-hour-creditor-pact</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Aidan and Howard Barclay escape bankruptcy as HSBC withdraws its High Court petitions following an Individual Voluntary Arrangement with creditors over the collapse of the family&#039;s £143.5m logistics empire.
Read more: 
Barclay Brothers swerve bankruptcy with eleventh-hour creditor pact ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Barclay, Brothers, swerve, bankruptcy, with, eleventh-hour, creditor, pact</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>John Lewis dragged into High Court over click&#45;and&#45;collect rent at Brent Cross</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/john-lewis-dragged-into-high-court-over-click-and-collect-rent-at-brent-cross</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/john-lewis-dragged-into-high-court-over-click-and-collect-rent-at-brent-cross</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
John Lewis faces a High Court battle as Brent Cross landlords Hammerson and Standard Life argue a 1972 lease entitles them to a cut of click-and-collect sales.
Read more: 
John Lewis dragged into High Court over click-and-collect rent at Brent Cross ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>John, Lewis, dragged, into, High, Court, over, click-and-collect, rent, Brent, Cross</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>JP Morgan reverses Brexit&#45;era Paris move as London beckons trading roles back</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jp-morgan-reverses-brexit-era-paris-move-as-london-beckons-trading-roles-back</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/jp-morgan-reverses-brexit-era-paris-move-as-london-beckons-trading-roles-back</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
JP Morgan is shifting trading roles from Paris back to London after over-estimating EU staffing needs post-Brexit, as it presses ahead with its £10bn Canary Wharf tower.
Read more: 
JP Morgan reverses Brexit-era Paris move as London beckons trading roles back ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Morgan, reverses, Brexit-era, Paris, move, London, beckons, trading, roles, back</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Google Translate now lets you practice pronunciation</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/google-translate-now-lets-you-practice-pronunciation</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/google-translate-now-lets-you-practice-pronunciation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The feature is rolling out in the U.S. and India with support for English, Spanish, and Hindi. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Google, Translate, now, lets, you, practice, pronunciation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Meet Shapes, the app bringing humans and AI into the same group chats</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meet-shapes-the-app-bringing-humans-and-ai-into-the-same-group-chats</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/meet-shapes-the-app-bringing-humans-and-ai-into-the-same-group-chats</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Think Discord chats, but with AI characters in addition to humans.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2270785056.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Meet, Shapes, the, app, bringing, humans, and, into, the, same, group, chats</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>BMW i Ventures has a new $300M fund and AI is riding shotgun</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bmw-i-ventures-has-a-new-300m-fund-and-ai-is-riding-shotgun</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bmw-i-ventures-has-a-new-300m-fund-and-ai-is-riding-shotgun</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ BMW i Ventures is interested in startups working on agentic AI and physical AI, as well as industrial software, advanced materials, and manufacturing and supply chain technologies. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>BMW, Ventures, has, new, 300M, fund, and, riding, shotgun</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Firestorm Labs raises $82M to take drone factories into the field</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/firestorm-labs-raises-82m-to-take-drone-factories-into-the-field</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/firestorm-labs-raises-82m-to-take-drone-factories-into-the-field</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A defense startup just raised $82 million to put drone factories inside shipping containers and bring manufacturing to the front lines. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Firestorm, Labs, raises, 82M, take, drone, factories, into, the, field</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Sri Lanka discloses another missing payment, days after hackers stole $2.5M from its finance ministry</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sri-lanka-discloses-another-missing-payment-days-after-hackers-stole-25m-from-its-finance-ministry</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sri-lanka-discloses-another-missing-payment-days-after-hackers-stole-25m-from-its-finance-ministry</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The government of Sri Lanka has lost more than $3 million in two recent, separate cybersecurity incidents as the country continues to recover from its 2022 debt crisis. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:00:05 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sri, Lanka, discloses, another, missing, payment, days, after, hackers, stole, 2.5M, from, its, finance, ministry</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why people should work together for a cure</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-people-should-work-together-for-a-cure</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-people-should-work-together-for-a-cure</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 



Cancer has a way of touching lives without warning. Nearly everyone in our community has a story—someone they love, someone they’ve lost, or someone still fighting. At MG2, that shared reality is why Swing for the Cure to benefit the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center has become so deeply meaningful to us. It isn’t just a charity event. It’s a collective response to something that has affected so many of us personally.



Swing for the Cure began as a golf tournament, but it quickly became much more. Driven by the loss of his first wife, Patricia, our former CEO Jerry Lee believed that no one should lose a friend, family member, or loved one to breast cancer. That conviction helped our firm shape the heart of the event from the very beginning. Jerry and his wife Charlene, herself a breast cancer survivor for more than 25 years, continue to inspire us through their resilience, optimism, and unwavering commitment to this mission.



What makes Swing for the Cure special is the common bond it creates. People come together not as job titles or companies, but as individuals with shared experiences and deeply personal reasons for being there. Some are survivors. Some are caregivers. Some are honoring those they’ve lost. That sense of connection transforms a day on the golf course into something far more powerful: a community united around a clear goal, which is to support research and move closer to a cure.



A SENSE OF PURPOSE MATTERS



Over the years, MG2 has intentionally worked to make Swing for the Cure bigger, deeper, and broader. What started as a standalone experience has grown into a purposeful annual gathering that reflects our values. We challenged ourselves to think beyond a traditional fundraiser and create something hopeful—an experience where people feel connected, motivated, and part of something meaningful. Clients, partners, and colleagues come together not out of obligation, but because they believe in what the event represents.



That sense of purpose matters. When people gather with intention and when they know why they’re there and what they’re working toward, then good things happen. Energy builds. Conversations deepen. Commitment follows. Swing for the Cure demonstrates that goodwill is not abstract; it’s something that grows when people are aligned around a shared cause. And goodwill, when cultivated thoughtfully, benefits everyone.



IMPACT FROM SHOWING UP CONSISTENTLY



For MG2, this commitment mirrors how we approach our work. Just as strong design is rooted in care, collaboration, and long-term thinking, meaningful community engagement requires the same. Swing for the Cure, going strong for almost a quarter century, has raised more than $2 million to date, and it reminds us that real impact comes from showing up consistently, staying focused on the goal, and inviting others to take part.



Last year was by far our biggest year. Our 2025 Swing for the Cure raised $250,000. Thanks to our close ties with Fred Hutch, we can choose the specific research we want to fund. That adds a personal touch to the entire experience.



This year we awarded the total amount raised to one radiation oncologist, whose upcoming trial will work to improve how physicians deliver concurrent radiation and chemotherapy and enhance outcomes for high-risk patients. Grants like this are important for the larger health community, and it’s an emotional moment for researchers—and for us—to push for cures.



When we come together with purpose, we can honor those we’ve lost, support those still fighting, and move closer to a future where fewer families face this journey alone.



Mitch Smith AIA, LEED AP, is the CEO and chairman of MG2, an affiliate of Colliers Engineering &amp; Design. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
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<media:keywords>Why, people, should, work, together, for, cure</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Otter wants AI agents to mine your meetings for institutional knowledge</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/otter-wants-ai-agents-to-mine-your-meetings-for-institutional-knowledge</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/otter-wants-ai-agents-to-mine-your-meetings-for-institutional-knowledge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Otter wants to turn your work meetings into institutional knowledge. 



The company is known for its audio transcription tool, which has evolved over the years to be able to join and transcribe online meetings in real time and answer questions about them via an AI chat tool. It’s now adding additional AI features to make it easier to integrate knowledge from those recorded meetings with other information, including integrations with other software like Google Drive, Jira, Salesforce, and Notion. Those will let Otter’s AI access live data from those apps, so it can pull data from an email or customer database as needed to best answer a follow-up question from a recorded meeting. 



Otter has also now added server functionality that lets other AI tools, including ChatGPT and Claude, connect to it via the popular model context protocol (MCP), so other AI agents can also access data from Otter with permission. Additionally, enhancements to the AI chat feature itself will make it easier for users to specify when to pull insight from particular meetings, from multiple meetings, and from other data sources to which they have access. 



[Photo: Otter]



The aim is to help unlock knowledge that’s primarily or exclusively shared in meetings and make it available to both human workers and AI agents, says Otter cofounder and CEO Sam Liang. One challenge for corporate knowledge bases, he says, is that information stored in written documents can lag behind reality.  



“People create documents, but documents become obsolete really fast,” he says, with the latest updates presented via meetings. 



But even when that’s known to be the case, and even as research repeatedly shows white-collar workers spend a big portion of their time attending meetings, information from those meetings often isn’t easy to access in a systematic way. Even AI-generated transcripts can end up stored in the accounts of individual users rather than broadly available. Otter has already developed what it calls channels—essentially groups of users who have shared access to meeting recordings and transcripts—and the company suggests its AI agents will be able to surface new insights from collections of meetings, like aggregating trends from multiple sales calls or departmental meetings. 



[Photo: Otter]



An improved Otter desktop client for Mac and Windows will also make it easier to record more meetings from a computer, Liang says, though he says many companies do prefer Otter’s AI agent which can conspicuously join calls on platforms like Zoom, giving everyone clear notice the meeting is being recorded. 



In general, broader recording of meetings and harnessing AI notes may raise privacy and legal concerns at some organizations. But Liang emphasizes that Otter’s channels allow companies to control who has access to meetings internally and that it gives organizations control over how long both audio and transcripts are retained. 



“We provide a data retention mechanism so that enterprises can decide how long they want to keep the audio recording,” he says, and users can also pause recording—and even eject Otter’s AI notetaker entirely—if they want some of a meeting to be off the record. 



The new Otter features come as a growing number of companies vie to become an organization’s central AI hub, with AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic, workplace productivity businesses from Slack to Asana, and office software makers like Google and Microsoft all offering tools to command AI agents and regulate their access to corporate data. Otter also faces no shortage of competition in the meeting transcription market, with comedy website Clickhole noting earlier this month that “all the random AI programs on your computer are desperately fighting for permission to summarize your meeting” and even pasta sauce maker Prego looking to record household dinner table conversations. 



But Liang says Otter still has features that competitors don’t, like the ability for AI to cleanly separate opinions of different speakers in a meeting, and the option to set up custom templates for how meetings are summarized. Additionally, Liang says, Otter’s AI is optimized to be able to reliably answer questions using information from hundreds of meetings, letting users quickly analyze what took place in sales calls they didn’t personally conduct or get up to speed on what’s already been discussed about a particular project. 



“You get intelligence from hundreds or thousands [of] meetings, even though you didn’t attend them,” he says.  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
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</item>

<item>
<title>You’re about to see a lot more alcohol on TikTok—and there’s a reason</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/youre-about-to-see-a-lot-more-alcohol-on-tiktokand-theres-a-reason</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/youre-about-to-see-a-lot-more-alcohol-on-tiktokand-theres-a-reason</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When Malibu launched its “Get Ready With Malibu Pink” campaign this spring, the rum brand had all the necessary ingredients for a modern influencer campaign. Creator partnerships with Sabrina Brier and other influencers, on-trend “get ready with me” style videos, all centered on the debut of a new flavored rum with guava, coconut, and pineapple.



But there was also one element that was surprisingly new terrain for Malibu’s parent company Pernod Ricard: its first major campaign designed specifically for TikTok.



A platform once off-limits



Until very recently, alcohol brands like Malibu were completely absent from TikTok. But over the past two years, TikTok’s stronger age-gating protocols, which help guarantee to marketers like Malibu that the content they publish is only seen by legal-age users, have opened the platform for greater experimentation. The growing, cross-generational popularity of TikTok, with four in ten U.S. adults active on the platform and 80% over the age of 21, was also heralded as a key factor.



“It’s important for us to connect with Zillennials,” Caroline Begley, Pernod Ricard’s vice president of marketing, tells Fast Company of the importance of the microgeneration of younger millennials and older Gen Z. “Malibu has been around for decades, but it’s always important to introduce new consumers to the brand.”



The rush to catch up



Boozy TikTok campaigns have proliferated, including Grey Goose vodka’s “Devil Wears Prada 2” content starring supermodel Heidi Klum, Espolòn Tequila’s “Shot Kings Week” celebration with actor and comedian Ken Jeong, St-Germain liqueur’s spritz-making session with actress Sophie Turner, and a behind-the-scenes look at a commercial for the ready-to-drink brand -196 with content creator Pooja Tripathi.



From left: Heidi Klum, Ken Jeong, Sophie Turner [Photos: Bacardi Limited, Campari Group]



They are now playing catch-up to connect with the highly coveted Gen Z crowd that dominates the cultural conversation and trends on an app that’s already almost a decade old and generates more than $14 billion in U.S. advertising spending annually, according to data from market researcher eMarketer.



How the rules changed



Pernod Ricard and Bacardi were early adopters, launching limited pilots beginning in 2024. At the same time, TikTok was in active discussions with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the liquor trade advocacy group responsible for setting the protocols for advertising across television, print media, out-of-home advertising, and social platforms including Facebook and Instagram.



Liquor brands were allowed to create their own TikTok branded accounts in July 2024, when paid ads were also authorized to target users above 25. Organic brand pages and content were fully “age gated” beginning in July 2025, according to DISCUS, and influencer-related alcohol content began to flow by early 2026. There are still a few restrictions, including most notably that TikTok Shop doesn’t permit the sale of alcohol.



[Photo: Campari Group]



“Social media companies have gotten really good at also identifying when somebody is misreporting their age using signal data,” says Courtney J. Armour, chief legal officer of DISCUS, in an interview with Fast Company. TikTok’s advertising policies for alcohol include never featuring people below the age of 25, avoiding the portrayal of excess drinking or intoxication, stating the alcoholic content level, and carrying a responsible drinking disclaimer.



One sticking point that was recently resolved involved user comments left on a brand’s TikTok page. DISCUS wanted more guardrails to ensure age verification before allowing brands to turn that feature on.



Learning TikTok’s language



While most liquor brands still have minuscule TikTok follower counts, they’re actively setting up pages and developing unique strategies for the platform that they say cannot mirror what works on Instagram.



“It’s more raw, it’s imperfect, and I think that’s what people gravitate to,” Ned Duggan, global CMO and president of Bacardi Global Brands, tells Fast Company. He adds that TikTok users are more motivated to discover new products and be entertained, while Instagram is more curated and polished. “TikTok is more like behind the scenes, whereas Instagram and other platforms are more front-of-stage,” he adds.



TikTok says that 42% of users have discovered a new alcohol brand on the platform. Users over the age of 21 are 1.6 times more likely to buy alcohol or try a new cocktail recipe versus those not using TikTok, the company says.



Speed, volume, and experimentation



Italian liquor maker Campari Group debuted on TikTok in June 2025 and has since rolled out several campaigns for brands including Espolòn Tequila, Wild Turkey bourbon, and the aperitif Aperol.



“When we jumped into TikTok, we quickly learned that it plays by a totally different set of rules than other platforms,” Brian Chang, Campari’s head of consumer marketing and ecommerce, tells Fast Company.



Karrueche Tran [Photo: Campari Group]



Liquor marketing executives have quickly learned the need for speed when it comes to effective TikTok storytelling. “We wanted to make a point where the zoom-in mouth effect will be the first few seconds that people would see on TikTok, so that they’re not consistently doomscrolling past the content,” says Chang, of the “Bring Your Own Courvoisier” content that began with a close-up of actress Karrueche Tran’s mouth.



Last year, Suntory piloted content centered on -196 with STEM-focused videos that explained how the company uses whole fruits that are frozen in liquid nitrogen, then crushed and infused into vodka. “The category as a whole lends itself, I think, to TikTok as a channel, given the Gen Z connectivity with RTDs,” Davin Nugent, president of global RTD at Suntory Global Spirits, tells Fast Company.



Turning views into sales



The benchmarks that Suntory is monitoring include ad recall, a marketing metric that measures how many consumers remember seeing an ad, as well as awareness, favorability, and, of course, sales. “If we have great campaigns, but we aren’t getting new purchase intent, then we’re just creating new work and making people smile,” says Nugent. “It has to result in an uptick in consumer purchases.”



[Photo: Suntory]



The ecommerce platform ReserveBar is one of the key players that helps enable brands like Bacardi and Campari to link campaigns to direct sales, as liquor manufacturers aren’t allowed to directly sell to consumers due to the three-tier system in the U.S. that mandates that alcohol flows from producers, to distributors and then retailers before reaching consumers. ReserveBar’s links are now allowed on TikTok and the brand set up its own organic handle a couple of months ago.



“There’s not a playbook, because everyone in the industry, we’re starting from scratch,” ReserveBar Chief Marketing Officer Kate Zaman tells Fast Company. But she says the industry can take some cues from lessons learned from non-alcoholic consumer product brands that have had more time to cultivate their TikTok strategies. Success on TikTok isn’t just about speed and cultural tie-ins; there’s also a thirst for volume.



“The pure amount of content that you really need to be successful on TikTok is much more than I think what you need on Meta,” says Zaman. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>You’re, about, see, lot, more, alcohol, TikTok—and, there’s, reason</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bed Bath &amp;amp; Beyond to the moon? Why the retailer is getting a major stock boost today, despite a lack of profits</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bed-bath-beyond-to-the-moon-why-the-retailer-is-getting-a-major-stock-boost-today-despite-a-lack-of-profits</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bed-bath-beyond-to-the-moon-why-the-retailer-is-getting-a-major-stock-boost-today-despite-a-lack-of-profits</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Shares of Bed Bath &amp; Beyond Inc (NYSE: BBBY) are surging this morning, a day after the company reported its Q1 2026 results. 



Despite the company reporting a loss for the quarter, BBBY stock is significantly higher, as many investors see evidence that the once-iconic home goods retailer’s turnaround efforts are finally showing results. Here’s what you need to know.



What’s happened?



Yesterday, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond reported first-quarter results for its fiscal year 2026. 



While many will recognize the company due to its “Bed Bath &amp; Beyond” name, the firm actually owns several businesses under its corporate umbrella, including Bed Bath &amp; Beyond, Overstock, buybuy BABY, Kirkland’s, and Kirkland’s Home. It is also in the process of merging with The Container Store.



In the early 2000s, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond was a suburban staple, but in the decades that followed, the company struggled with declining foot traffic as customers shifted their buying habits online. 



The chain ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2023, and its IP was bought by Overstock.com shortly after. 



In early August 2025, the retail partner of Overstock owner Beyond Inc announced that it was reopening the Bed Bath &amp; Beyond chain with a store in Nashville. 



Shortly after, Beyond Inc changed its name to Bed Bath &amp; Beyond Inc, going all-in on the brand as it worked to turn around its fortunes.



Now, it seems that the company’s initiative may be working. In its Q1 earnings report, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond announced that it had achieved its first “significant revenue growth in 19 quarters.” 



The revenue growth signaled “strong brand awareness among customers,” according to the company.



But it also appears to have motivated investors, who have poured money into the company’s shares this morning.



Bed Bath &amp; Beyond still didn’t make a profit



Announcing the company’s surprising Q1 revenue growth, which totaled $248 million, up 6.9% year-over-year, CEO Marcus Lemonis said that its results “show that the work we’ve been doing to stabilize and rebuild the business is taking hold.” 



“We delivered real year-over-year revenue growth, something we haven’t seen meaningfully in several years, while continuing to take costs out of the business and operate more efficiently,” Lemonis continued. “That combination matters.”



However, while the company is right to call out its revenue growth—and investors are clearly buoyed by the results—it’s important to note that Bed Bath &amp; Beyond still racked up losses for the quarter.



The company achieved a net revenue of $248 million, but it had a net loss of $16 million for the quarter. That equated to a loss per share of 24 cents. 



At the same time, losses marked a $24 million improvement over the same period a year ago.



More stores and a larger retail footprint



Despite the better-than-expected Q1 earnings, investors will now likely shift their focus to Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s immediate future, which is expected to usher in a growing retail footprint for the company’s goods.



First up, Bed Bath &amp; Beyond Inc is expected to close its merger with The Container Store this summer. Once that happens, 30% of retail space in Container Store locations will be dedicated to selling Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s wares, expanding the reach and awareness of the once-beloved, Millennial-nostalgic chain.



Additionally, the company will open a dozen combined Container Store and Bed Bath &amp; Beyond locations in California, further expanding its retail footprint, and in a state where the brand once had one of its most loyal customer bases.



Whether these moves will have a material impact on Bed Bath &amp; Beyond’s future earnings remains to be seen.



But as for today, the company’s stock price is surging, thanks to its Q1 results. As of this writing, BBBY stock is currently up nearly 24% to $6.63 in premarket trading. That is a high the company stock price has not seen since January.



As of yesterday’s close at $5.34 per share, BBBY stock had declined by about 2.2% since the year began. But with its nearly 24% jump this morning, the company’s stock price is now significantly in the green for 2026.



Over the past 12 months, as of yesterday’s close, BBBY shares had risen 30%. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bed, Bath, Beyond, the, moon, Why, the, retailer, getting, major, stock, boost, today, despite, lack, profits</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How the Trump administration is responding to Iran’s proposal to end the war</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-the-trump-administration-is-responding-to-irans-proposal-to-end-the-war</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-the-trump-administration-is-responding-to-irans-proposal-to-end-the-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Trump administration seemed unlikely Tuesday to accept Iran’s offer to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the U.S. lifts its blockade on the country.The proposal would postpone discussions on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, something that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to rule out in a Fox News interview Monday.“We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point,” he said of the proposal, which was delivered to the U.S. by Pakistan.The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security team discussed the offer and Trump would address it later.The offer emerged Monday as Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Russia, which has long been a key backer of Tehran. It was unclear what, if any, assistance Moscow might offer now.Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and at least 2,521 people in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group resumed two days after the Iran war started. Another 23 people have been killed in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Sixteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members in the region and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been killed.



—Associated Press ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/04/AP26117545385742.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, the, Trump, administration, responding, Iran’s, proposal, end, the, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Tesla accelerates European comeback as EV sales surge past one&#45;in&#45;five milestone</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tesla-accelerates-european-comeback-as-ev-sales-surge-past-one-in-five-milestone</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tesla-accelerates-european-comeback-as-ev-sales-surge-past-one-in-five-milestone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Tesla sales jump 84% in Europe as electric vehicles now account for more than one in five new cars registered. Germany overtakes UK on EV penetration.
Read more: 
Tesla accelerates European comeback as EV sales surge past one-in-five milestone ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/shutterstock_2482254745-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tesla, accelerates, European, comeback, sales, surge, past, one-in-five, milestone</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UK borrowing slips to four&#45;year low but Middle East tensions threaten Reeves’s fiscal plan</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-borrowing-slips-to-four-year-low-but-middle-east-tensions-threaten-reevess-fiscal-plan</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-borrowing-slips-to-four-year-low-but-middle-east-tensions-threaten-reevess-fiscal-plan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
UK government borrowing dropped to £12.6bn in March, a four-year low, as debt interest payments tumbled. But economists warn the Middle East conflict could wipe out Rachel Reeves&#039;s fiscal headroom.
Read more: 
UK borrowing slips to four-year low but Middle East tensions threaten Reeves’s fiscal plan ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Reeves_Spring_Budget.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>borrowing, slips, four-year, low, but, Middle, East, tensions, threaten, Reeves’s, fiscal, plan</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Employers hit with £28bn National Insurance Shock as rate rise bites harder than treasury forecast</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/employers-hit-with-28bn-national-insurance-shock-as-rate-rise-bites-harder-than-treasury-forecast</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/employers-hit-with-28bn-national-insurance-shock-as-rate-rise-bites-harder-than-treasury-forecast</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Employers&#039; National Insurance Contributions have soared by £28bn in a single year, £4bn above the Government&#039;s own forecast, triggering redundancies in hospitality and retail and slowing hiring across the UK private sector.
Read more: 
Employers hit with £28bn National Insurance Shock as rate rise bites harder than treasury forecast ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shutterstock_2458546307.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Employers, hit, with, £28bn, National, Insurance, Shock, rate, rise, bites, harder, than, treasury, forecast</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>L’Oréal banks on the ‘lipstick effect’ as anxious shoppers reach for affordable luxuries</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/loreal-banks-on-the-lipstick-effect-as-anxious-shoppers-reach-for-affordable-luxuries</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/loreal-banks-on-the-lipstick-effect-as-anxious-shoppers-reach-for-affordable-luxuries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
The world&#039;s largest cosmetics group shrugs off the drag from the Iran war, posting forecast-beating first-quarter sales as European consumers treat themselves to small indulgences and China stirs back into life.
Read more: 
L’Oréal banks on the ‘lipstick effect’ as anxious shoppers reach for affordable luxuries ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shutterstock_1018777936.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>L’Oréal, banks, the, ‘lipstick, effect’, anxious, shoppers, reach, for, affordable, luxuries</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UK employers saddled with sharpest tax rise in developed world, OECD finds</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-employers-saddled-with-sharpest-tax-rise-in-developed-world-oecd-finds</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/uk-employers-saddled-with-sharpest-tax-rise-in-developed-world-oecd-finds</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Britain&#039;s tax wedge jumped 2.45 points in a year — 16 times the OECD average — as Reeves&#039;s employer NI hike and frozen thresholds punish SMEs and shrink payrolls.
Read more: 
UK employers saddled with sharpest tax rise in developed world, OECD finds ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/shutterstock_1565524723.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>employers, saddled, with, sharpest, tax, rise, developed, world, OECD, finds</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Two college kids raise a $5.1 million pre&#45;seed to build an AI social network in iMessage</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/two-college-kids-raise-a-51-million-pre-seed-to-build-an-ai-social-network-in-imessage</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/two-college-kids-raise-a-51-million-pre-seed-to-build-an-ai-social-network-in-imessage</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Series, a social networking app that&#039;s grown popular on college campuses, announced a $5.1 million pre-seed round from some big names in tech. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Nathaneo-Johnson-and-Sean-Hargrow.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Two, college, kids, raise, 5.1, million, pre-seed, build, social, network, iMessage</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cohere acquires, merges with Germany&#45;based startup to create a ‘transatlantic AI powerhouse’</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cohere-acquires-merges-with-germany-based-startup-to-create-a-transatlantic-ai-powerhouse</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cohere-acquires-merges-with-germany-based-startup-to-create-a-transatlantic-ai-powerhouse</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cohere, the Canada-based AI company that makes AI tools for businesses in regulated industries, announced Friday it would merge with Aleph Alpha, a German company that also builds AI systems for businesses and governments.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2157583770.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cohere, acquires, merges, with, Germany-based, startup, create, ‘transatlantic, powerhouse’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Palantir is reportedly helping the IRS investigate financial crimes</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/palantir-is-reportedly-helping-the-irs-investigate-financial-crimes</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/palantir-is-reportedly-helping-the-irs-investigate-financial-crimes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The IRS has used Palantir&#039;s software since at least 2018, The Intercept reports. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GettyImages-2266940912.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Palantir, reportedly, helping, the, IRS, investigate, financial, crimes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Steve Ballmer blasts founder he backed who pleaded guilty to fraud: ‘I was duped and feel silly’</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/steve-ballmer-blasts-founder-he-backed-who-pleaded-guilty-to-fraud-i-was-duped-and-feel-silly</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/steve-ballmer-blasts-founder-he-backed-who-pleaded-guilty-to-fraud-i-was-duped-and-feel-silly</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Steve Ballmer wrote a fiery letter in the sentencing of disgraced founder Joseph Sanberg documenting all the harm that&#039;s befalling him as an investor. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-524085750.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Steve, Ballmer, blasts, founder, backed, who, pleaded, guilty, fraud:, ‘I, was, duped, and, feel, silly’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Lachy Groom to back India startup Pronto at a $200M valuation, sources say</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lachy-groom-to-back-india-startup-pronto-at-a-200m-valuation-sources-say</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/lachy-groom-to-back-india-startup-pronto-at-a-200m-valuation-sources-say</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ This round, should it occur, would double the house-help startup&#039;s valuation in a matter of weeks. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/pronto.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lachy, Groom, back, India, startup, Pronto, 200M, valuation, sources, say</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why brands should ignore Trump’s latest loyalty test</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-brands-should-ignore-trumps-latest-loyalty-test</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/why-brands-should-ignore-trumps-latest-loyalty-test</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Earlier this week, in a live interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, President Donald Trump was asked for his reaction to reports that Apple, Amazon, and some other companies had not filed refund requests for tariffs they paid over the past year—tariffs the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional. 



“I think it’s brilliant if they don’t do that,” Trump replied. “If they don’t do that, I’ll remember them.”



To be clear, this wasn’t negotiation posturing. This was the president openly signaling that companies who forfeit money to which they are entitled will be “remembered” for a symbolic display of loyalty. 



The government has collected a combined $166 billion or so from U.S. importers; an act the Supreme Court ruled an overstep of presidential power. The companies in question are in effect taking the administration’s side despite the court’s ruling. 



Left unspoken but clearly implied is that those who exercise their legal rights may find themselves remembered, too, but certainly not for being “brilliant.”



Given the Iran war, as well as the panoply of controversies and alleged scandals swirling around the administration, this incident was easy to miss. But it’s worth pausing over and paying attention to what companies affected by the illegal tariff scheme ultimately do.



The tariffs, imposed last year and affecting U.S. trade with practically every country on earth, were struck by way of a 6-to-3 Supreme Court ruling in February, resulting in the $166 billion forced refund. 



Despite this lack of ambiguity, it’s not hard to imagine why a company might at least ponder whether it’s worth trying to stay on the president’s good side.



The Trump administration has not been shy about involving itself in the actions of private commerce, taking an unusually active stance over mergers, regulation, even bailouts or direct ownership stakes.



Nevertheless, Trump’s not-so-veiled threat is one that companies should firmly resist. It amounts to betraying shareholders and customers alike. 



For starters, the board members and executives of publicly traded companies obviously have fiduciary obligations to their shareholders. Shrugging off millions (or even billions) of dollars in legally recoverable refunds does not square with those duties.



Moreover, it’s a bad look for a brand. Many companies passed along tariff costs through higher prices. Declining to pursue refunds in effect tells customers: We raised your prices because of costs we are now choosing not to recover, because the president said he’d be impressed if we didn’t.



As a contrast, consider Costco, which has been among those striking an aggressive stance on the refunds. In November 2025, well before the high court’s ruling, the discount club chain filed a federal lawsuit challenging the tariffs as unlawful, asking the courts to order full refunds including interest on all tariffs paid. 



Costco executives have told investors the company would in effect pass along the refunds to its customers through “lower prices and better values.” Admittedly, that sounds a bit vague, but the company has said it will be open about the process. 



And compared to speculation about ignoring the refunds to curry favor with the administration, Costco’s simple clarity about adhering to the rule of law practically sounds like a profile in courage.



Plenty of businesses have shown no hesitation about collecting refunds, particularly smaller enterprises. And shipping businesses FedEx, DHL, and UPS have all indicated they’ll be passing along refunds to customers who were billed to cover tariff fees.



For many others, the process will admittedly be more complex. The payout fund is designed to reimburse entities that paid directly to import the tariffed goods—not the end consumers who may have ultimately absorbed those costs in the form of higher prices. 



Unlike the case of shipping, there’s usually not a clean paper trail to quantify what an individual customer might be owed. (Class action lawsuits are already coming together to challenge how the money is being distributed.)



Still, this seems like a moment for companies to at least make clear their intent. The Costco response is a handy and straightforward example: Collect the refund and be vocal about returning value to customers. Treat this as an opportunity to demonstrate loyalty to shoppers. 



At the very least, signaling a greater interest in pleasing the administration than in pleasing your own shoppers seems like a shortsighted way to treat consumers, particularly in a moment when affordability is in the zeitgeist. “I’ll remember” cuts both ways.


 ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/04/p-91531580-brands-should-avoid-donald-trumps-loyalty-test.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, brands, should, ignore, Trump’s, latest, loyalty, test</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Rising fuel costs are triggering flight cancellations. What to do if your trip is impacted</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rising-fuel-costs-are-triggering-flight-cancellations-what-to-do-if-your-trip-is-impacted</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/rising-fuel-costs-are-triggering-flight-cancellations-what-to-do-if-your-trip-is-impacted</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Airlines worldwide have begun canceling flights as the war in the Middle East strains jet fuel supplies and pushes up prices — but the disruption doesn’t end there.For travelers, it can mean having to navigate a confusing web of passenger protections that vary widely depending on where they’re flying.And the timing is amplifying the impact.“These pressures are arriving at a time when summer travel demand is ramping up, with major events such as the World Cup expected to put additional strain on airports,” said Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, a company that helps travelers secure compensation for flight disruptions and advocates for passenger rights.Here’s what to know if your flight is canceled.



Are these cancellations happening at the last minute?



In most cases, no. At least for now, fuel-related cuts are often being made days or weeks in advance. Lufthansa Group, for example, said this week it is cutting 20,000 short-haul flights across its network through October.That gives you more time to adjust plans than you’d typically get with weather-related disruptions, which tend to trigger last-minute cancellations.



My flight was canceled. What should I do first?



Check your airline’s app or website immediately for rebooking options. If you’re flying on a U.S. carrier, that’s often the fastest and easiest way to secure a new seat, according to Tyler Hosford, security director at International SOS, a global risk management and travel security company.Non-U.S. carriers tend to have fewer digital tools, Hosford said, so it’s worth trying multiple channels, including the airline’s customer service lines or airport desks.



Do I have the right to a refund or a new flight?



In most cases, yes. Airlines typically offer either a refund or a rebooking on the next available flight. The exact rules vary by country, but those are the baseline options you can expect.In the U.S., for example, if your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel, the airline must refund you, regardless of the reason. Airlines may offer travel credits instead, but you’re entitled to a full refund for airfare and any extras you didn’t use, such as baggage fees or seat upgrades.



Are passenger rights the same everywhere?



No, and protections vary widely by region — from the Montreal Convention, which governs airline liability across more than 140 countries, to specific consumer protection laws in the U.S., Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Brazil.Europe has some of the strongest protections, including compensation in certain cases. And they apply to any flight departing from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, as well as to passengers flying on an EU-based carrier into the EU — even if the journey starts outside Europe. The United Kingdom maintains a similar framework.The U.S. and Canada offer more limited protections. Policies vary widely across Asia, and in some cases travelers may need to rely more on airline policies than formal regulations.To get a clearer picture, experts recommend searching the name of the country you’re departing from and “passenger rights” before your trip.



What protections apply?



It depends.Airlines may cite fuel shortages or rising fuel costs as the reason for cancellations. But whether you’re entitled to compensation often comes down to if the disruption is considered within the airline’s control under local laws.Regardless of the cause, Napoli said, airlines in the European Union, for example, still have a “duty of care,” meaning they must provide “necessary support” to travelers, including rebooking.“While airlines are citing fuel shortages as a reason for upcoming cancellations, travelers need to know that this does not automatically waive their rights” under EU laws, Napoli said.



How can I prepare before a trip to avoid headaches?



A few steps can make disruptions easier to manage.Sign up for flight alerts to stay informed, and book directly with the airline when possible — it’s much easier to resolve issues with the carrier directly than through a third-party booking site.Knowing your options ahead of time and having a backup plan can make a significant difference if plans change.



What do I need for a claim or complaint?



Documentation is critical. Save everything: boarding passes, receipts, cancellation notices and any communication from the airline.Take screenshots of app or website updates and any communication taking place online, and jot down key details from phone calls.Napoli also recommends asking the airline for written confirmation of a flight disruption, including the stated reason.



Should I accept the first alternative flight the airline offers?



Not necessarily.Experts say one of the most common mistakes travelers make is taking the first option without checking alternatives. Look at other flights, routes or even nearby airports because you may find a faster or more convenient way to reach your destination.



Can I book a different flight myself?



Yes, but proceed carefully.If the airline’s rebooking option doesn’t meet your needs — especially if your new flight isn’t for several days — you can look for alternatives and request a refund instead.Just be aware you may need to pay any fare difference up front, and you might not be reimbursed later.



Any other tips to avoid getting stuck?



— Book flights earlier in the day so you have more rebooking options if something goes wrong.— Set up flight alerts through tracking apps such as Flighty to get early notice of cancellations or delays. In some cases, Hosford said, notifications arrive before the airline’s.— Consider nearby airports as backup options.— Be kind. Airline agents may be more willing to help when interactions stay calm and respectful.“Ultimately, the shortage is squeezing the entire system, from travelers to airlines, and is something to watch as the industry looks for any relief ahead of the summer travel season,” Napoli said.



—Rio Yamat, AP Airlines and Travel Writer ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rising, fuel, costs, are, triggering, flight, cancellations., What, your, trip, impacted</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Tech layoffs update: Meta, Nike, Snap, and others join the growing list of companies slashing jobs in April 2026</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tech-layoffs-update-meta-nike-snap-and-others-join-the-growing-list-of-companies-slashing-jobs-in-april-2026</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/tech-layoffs-update-meta-nike-snap-and-others-join-the-growing-list-of-companies-slashing-jobs-in-april-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ April is shaping up to be yet another brutal month for job cuts in the technology sector. But the announcements may not have the immediate effect that many companies are hoping for. Here’s the latest on the situation.



Microsoft to offer buyouts to 7% of its US workforce



While Microsoft hasn’t announced another round of layoffs, the Windows giant is planning job reductions of another kind. 



As Fast Company reported yesterday, the Redmond, Washington, company is expected to offer buyouts to 7% of its U.S. workforce by the end of June. A buyout is when a company offers an employee a financial incentive to resign.



Buyout helps companies avoid being forced to choose which employees to let go, while still reducing their workforce and achieving their goal of lowering operational costs. 



An employee who accepts the buyout loses their job, but generally gets a significant financial incentive for the voluntary move. Buyouts typically target employees who are closer to retirement age.



As for the reason for the buyouts, it’s the same reason driving most of the tech industry’s recent layoffs: the drive to cut labor costs so more money can be spent on building out the huge data centers needed for AI training and services.



Meta to lay off 10% of its workforce



While Microsoft is giving some of its employees the option of voluntary buyouts, Meta isn’t providing its employees an option at all. 



Yesterday, the company told its employees that it will lay off about 8,000 of them—roughly 10% of its workforce—on May 20. An additional 6,000 currently open roles will not be filled.



Meta’s latest layoff comes after the company has committed $135 billion in capital expenditure to its latest round of AI initiatives. 



Much of that expenditure will go to building massive data centers that the company needs to run its AI systems. As Fast Company reported yesterday, Meta says the job cuts aim to boost efficiency while also offsetting its “heavy spending on artificial intelligence.”



Nike announces 1,400 tech job layoffs



Also yesterday, shoe giant Nike announced it was laying off around 2% of its workforce, or about 1,400 employees. While the company is primarily known as a maker of apparel and footwear, the job cuts will mostly hit Nike’s technology roles.



But while Nike’s job cuts will primarily target its tech workforce, the company is one of the few to not suggest that AI is behind the layoffs. 



Instead, Nike says the job cuts are part of its “Win Now” strategy, which aims to modernize its manufacturing, merge parts of its supply chain, and reshape its technology division.



Nike’s layoffs will reportedly impact employees globally, including in North America.



Snap to lay off 16% of its global workforce



The trifecta of tech job cuts announced yesterday aren’t the only ones in April. 



On April 14, Snapchat maker Snap Inc. announced it would cut 16% of its global workforce. As CNBC reported, that equates to about 1,000 jobs, while another 300 currently empty roles will remain unfilled.



The primary driver behind the job cuts is the desire to cut costs by leveraging AI instead of a human workforce. 



“We believe that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence enable our teams to reduce repetitive work, increase velocity, and better support our community, partners, and advertisers,” CEO Evan Spiegel wrote in a letter announcing the job cuts.



GoPro to reduce its workforce by 23%



Finally, earlier this month, on April 7, wearable camera maker GoPro announced that it planned to lay off 145 workers. But while that may seem small in comparison to the other companies on this list, it represents a staggering 23% of the company’s workforce.



According to the Wall Street Journal, GoPro’s job cuts come as the company struggles with profitability amid macroeconomic pressures, including increased memory costs as AI demand drives prices higher and tariffs add costs. 



The company reportedly hopes to reduce operating costs in order to help it return to profitability by the end of the year.



Company stock prices react to layoffs



While layoffs are devastating to the affected workers and their families, investors usually cheer the news of job cuts. 



That’s because reducing the workforce is usually the fastest way for a company to cut costs. It’s why share prices tend to increase after a company announces major job cuts.



But this time, investor response has been a mixed bag. 



Since GoPro, Inc. (Nasdaq: GPRO) announced its job cuts, the stock has climbed an impressive 73%. 



Likewise, Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) stock rose immediately after it announced its job cuts. After the announcement, SNAP stock was up about 7%. However, as of yesterday’s close, the stock had given back some of those gains, now up only about 4.3% since the layoffs were announced.



But the other companies’ stock prices have hardly reacted.



Shares in Meta Platforms Inc. (Nasdaq: META) fell more than 2% yesterday, and are barely up half a percent in premarket trading this morning, as of the time of this writing. 



Shares in Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) fell nearly 4% yesterday and are up only about 1.3% in premarket trading today.



Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE) shares fell nearly 2% yesterday and haven’t even recovered half of that this morning.



In other words, announcing major job cuts no longer seems guaranteed to get investors excited about a stock—and that’s something the tech giants are likely taking note of this morning. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tech, layoffs, update:, Meta, Nike, Snap, and, others, join, the, growing, list, companies, slashing, jobs, April, 2026</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>NASA made a typeface using satellite images of the Earth</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/nasa-made-a-typeface-using-satellite-images-of-the-earth</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/nasa-made-a-typeface-using-satellite-images-of-the-earth</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ NASA is looking not to the stars but back to our planet for inspiration. 



In honor of Earth Day, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center shared an interactive digital tool turns satellite images of the planet’s landscapes into a typeface.  



“The planet can spell your name—literally,” the Kennedy Space Center’s X post says.



Using a feature called “Your Name in Landsat,” users can type in whichever word they choose into the generator’s textbox. The site will then generate the phrase using landscapes from Earth, like rivers, lakes, farmland, and more. When hovering over each “letter,” users can learn more about where the landscape is located and even its coordinates.



NASA first unveiled the tool in August of 2024 for Camp Landsat, a virtual summer camp the agency runs. The letters are part of an extensive record of satellite images from Landsat—the longest ongoing series of Earth observing missions—which spans more than 50 years. The Landsat mission was first launched on July 23, 1972 and has since successfully launched eight satellites that have photographed the planet.



The project has not only awarded earthlings with high-resolution imagery for fun visualizations like “Your Name in Landsat”; it has also provided valuable data for scientists and policy makers alike to make decisions regarding the environment and natural resources.



The images that feed into the word generator are part of the satellite program’s Alphabet Image Gallery, with images sourced from the NASA Earth Observatory, NASA Worldview, USGS EarthExplorer, and the ESA Sentinel Hub.



Some letters get more than one iteration depending on how complex and prevalent the shape is in nature. 



Take the “A” which has five different options, with landscapes ranging from Yukon Delta, in Alaska, to Lake Guakhmaz, in Azerbaijan.



The “G” in comparison, is somewhat rarer, with only one option currently available in the gallery: an image from Fonte Boa, a municipality in the Amazonas state of Brazil.



People love the tool. The social media post received over 22 million views and more than 1,300 people posted their creations in the comments. (Even brands like Xbox got in on the fun.) 



“I’m here for this,” one user replied.



Another added, “that’s cool as hell, are you kidding me.” 



Beyond serving as a delightful interactive feature, Your Name in Landsat is also a powerful visualization that reminds us of how vast the world is and why its natural landscapes are worth saving.



 ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/04/p-1-91531474-nasa-landsat-type.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>NASA, made, typeface, using, satellite, images, the, Earth</media:keywords>
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<title>Officials charge a U.S. soldier for using intel on this $400K Polymarket bet</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/officials-charge-a-us-soldier-for-using-intel-on-this-400k-polymarket-bet</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/officials-charge-a-us-soldier-for-using-intel-on-this-400k-polymarket-bet</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A U.S. special forces soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than $400,000 in an online betting market, federal officials announced Thursday.Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part of the operation to capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket, the federal prosecutor’s office in New York said.He has been charged by the Justice Department with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction. He could face years in prison.Van Dyke, 38, was involved in the planning and execution of capturing Maduro for about a month beginning Dec. 8, 2025, according to the federal prosecutor’s office. Even though he signed nondisclosure agreements promising to not divulge “any classified or sensitive information” related to the operations, prosecutors say the Army soldier used this information to make a series of bets related to Maduro being out of power by Jan. 31, 2026.“This involved a U.S. soldier who allegedly took advantage of his position to profit off of a righteous military operation,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post to social media.A telephone number listed for Van Dyke in public records was not in service. There was not yet an attorney listed for him in court documents.Polymarket, one of the largest prediction markets in the world, said it had found someone trading on classified government information, alerted the U.S. Department of Justice and “cooperated with their investigation.”“Insider trading has no place on Polymarket,” the company said in a statement.



Second complaint filed against the soldier



The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal agency that regulates prediction markets, announced Thursday it had filed a parallel complaint against Van Dyke.That complaint alleges that Van Dyke moved $35,000 from his personal bank account into a cryptocurrency exchange account on Dec. 26 — a little over a week before U.S. forces would fly into Caracas and seize Maduro.Van Dyke used more than $32,500 to make a series of bets on when Maduro might be removed from power, according to the complaint. He placed those bets between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2, with the vast majority occurring the night of Jan. 2 — just hours before the first missiles would fall on Caracas.In the early hours of Jan. 3, President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform a photo of the now-captured Venezuelan leader, wearing a gray sweatsuit, headphones and a blindfold.The bets Van Dyke made on Maduro leaving power resulted in “more than $404,000 of profits,” the complaint said. Bets on three other Venezuela-related contracts netted the solider more than $5,000, according to the document.“The defendant was entrusted with confidential information about U.S. operations and yet took action that endangered U.S. national security and put the lives of American service members in harm’s way,” said Michael Selig, the commission’s chairman.The massive profits from the well-timed bets aroused public attention days after the raid and brought bipartisan calls for stricter regulation of the markets where people can wager on just about anything.Officials allege that shortly after the operation, Van Dyke put most of the money he won in a foreign cryptocurrency vault and then into a new brokerage account. He also asked Polymarket to delete his account, saying he had lost access to his email associated with the account, according to the federal prosecutor’s office.Trump, when asked about the case Thursday, drew parallels between the embattled soldier and late professional baseball player Pete Rose, who was banned from the sport amid accusations that he placed bets on his own team.“The whole world, unfortunately, has become somewhat of a casino, and you look at what’s going on all over the world and Europe and every place, they’re doing these betting things,” Trump told reporters.The Trump administration has been a key ally of the growing prediction market industry in a critical legal fight with states seeking to ban the platforms. The president’s eldest son is an adviser for both Polymarket and its competitor Kalshi, and a Polymarket investor. Trump’s social media platform Truth Social is also launching its own cryptocurrency-based prediction market called Truth Predict.



Nearly two decades in the Army



Van Dyke joined the Army in 2008 and, in 2023, was promoted to the rank of master sergeant, the second-highest enlisted rank in the Army, according to the indictment. Federal prosecutors said he was part of the special forces community and was stationed at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, but their indictment offered little other details about his military service.The document said Van Dyke was photographed following the raid on the deck of a ship “wearing U.S. military fatigues, and carrying a rifle, standing alongside three other individuals wearing U.S. military fatigues.”The Pentagon referred questions on the case to the Army and the Justice Department.Army officials declined to provide Van Dyke’s service record. Typically, the military services are reticent to offer details about members of the special forces and take measures to keep their identities secret.



Bets on geopolitical tensions draw scrutiny



The high-profile indictment comes as bipartisan lawmakers are considering legislation to ban prediction markets from allowing bets on war, assassinations or terrorist attacks.Earlier this month, The Associated Press reported that a group of new accounts on Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed bets on whether the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire on April 7, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for the new customers. On the same day the AP published the report, the White House warned staff against using private information to trade on prediction markets.On Wednesday, Kalshi fined and suspended three congressional candidates who the company said wagered on the outcome of their own elections.—Hallie Golden, Konstantin Toropin and Hannah Schoenbaum, Associated Press ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/04/AP26098765914399.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Officials, charge, U.S., soldier, for, using, intel, this, 400K, Polymarket, bet</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Is it worth opening a holiday let?</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-it-worth-opening-a-holiday-let</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/is-it-worth-opening-a-holiday-let</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Even with cheap flights and exotic destinations, holidays in the UK are still popular. If you&#039;re considering a holiday let, read on
The post Is it worth opening a holiday let? appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2026/04/2148258875.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>worth, opening, holiday, let</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Free advertising ideas for small businesses</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/free-advertising-ideas-for-small-businesses</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/free-advertising-ideas-for-small-businesses</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Discover free advertising ideas for your small business that can increase your revenue and brand awareness easily
The post Free advertising ideas for small businesses appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2017/07/AdobeStock_64602834-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Free, advertising, ideas, for, small, businesses</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Sales pipeline management from a small business perspective</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sales-pipeline-management-from-a-small-business-perspective</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/sales-pipeline-management-from-a-small-business-perspective</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


In this guide, you&#039;ll find out what a sales pipeline is, how to set one up and how to manage it – with tips from the experts
The post Sales pipeline management from a small business perspective appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/10/GettyImages-1434012318.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Sales, pipeline, management, from, small, business, perspective</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How to increase profits – without raising prices</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-increase-profits-without-raising-prices</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/how-to-increase-profits-without-raising-prices</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By James Earnshaw on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Profits aren&#039;t just linked to prices – find out how you could increase your profits by reducing costs and boosting revenue 
The post How to increase profits – without raising prices appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://smallbusiness-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2017/09/Business-growth-7917-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, increase, profits, –, without, raising, prices</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Brady bows out: West Ham vice&#45;chair ends 16&#45;year tenure as boardroom pressure mounts</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/brady-bows-out-west-ham-vice-chair-ends-16-year-tenure-as-boardroom-pressure-mounts</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/brady-bows-out-west-ham-vice-chair-ends-16-year-tenure-as-boardroom-pressure-mounts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Baroness Karren Brady has departed West Ham United after 16 years as vice-chair, ending a near four-decade business partnership with David Sullivan amid sustained fan protests.
Read more: 
Brady bows out: West Ham vice-chair ends 16-year tenure as boardroom pressure mounts ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Karren_Brady.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Brady, bows, out:, West, Ham, vice-chair, ends, 16-year, tenure, boardroom, pressure, mounts</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Unemployment dip flatters to deceive as SME hiring freezes amid Iran shock</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/unemployment-dip-flatters-to-deceive-as-sme-hiring-freezes-amid-iran-shock</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/unemployment-dip-flatters-to-deceive-as-sme-hiring-freezes-amid-iran-shock</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
UK unemployment unexpectedly drops to 4.9% in the quarter to February, but vacancies sink to a five-year low and payrolled jobs fall as SMEs feel the squeeze from the £25bn NI hike and the Iran war energy shock.
Read more: 
Unemployment dip flatters to deceive as SME hiring freezes amid Iran shock ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/shutterstock_689496949.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:09 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Unemployment, dip, flatters, deceive, SME, hiring, freezes, amid, Iran, shock</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Bezos’s physical AI lab Prometheus nears $10bn raise at $38bn valuation</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bezoss-physical-ai-lab-prometheus-nears-10bn-raise-at-38bn-valuation</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/bezoss-physical-ai-lab-prometheus-nears-10bn-raise-at-38bn-valuation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Jeff Bezos&#039;s physical AI venture Project Prometheus is closing in on a $10bn funding round at a $38bn valuation, with BlackRock and JPMorgan on board.
Read more: 
Bezos’s physical AI lab Prometheus nears $10bn raise at $38bn valuation ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/shutterstock_1399561367-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bezos’s, physical, lab, Prometheus, nears, 10bn, raise, 38bn, valuation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Barclays and Lloyds join FCA’s second AI sandbox as banks race to prove their tech credentials</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/barclays-and-lloyds-join-fcas-second-ai-sandbox-as-banks-race-to-prove-their-tech-credentials</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/barclays-and-lloyds-join-fcas-second-ai-sandbox-as-banks-race-to-prove-their-tech-credentials</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Barclays and Lloyds have joined the FCA&#039;s second AI live testing cohort alongside Experian, GoCardless and UBS, as UK banks accelerate their artificial intelligence investment.
Read more: 
Barclays and Lloyds join FCA’s second AI sandbox as banks race to prove their tech credentials ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/fca.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Barclays, and, Lloyds, join, FCA’s, second, sandbox, banks, race, prove, their, tech, credentials</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Reeves tightens windfall tax on renewables as ministers move to sever gas&#45;electricity link</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/reeves-tightens-windfall-tax-on-renewables-as-ministers-move-to-sever-gas-electricity-link</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/reeves-tightens-windfall-tax-on-renewables-as-ministers-move-to-sever-gas-electricity-link</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
Chancellor Rachel Reeves lifts the electricity generator levy from 45% to 55% as Ed Miliband unveils market reforms. What the renewables windfall tax means for UK SMEs, energy bills and investment.
Read more: 
Reeves tightens windfall tax on renewables as ministers move to sever gas-electricity link ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://bmmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Reeves_HOC.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Reeves, tightens, windfall, tax, renewables, ministers, move, sever, gas-electricity, link</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>With US spy laws set to expire, lawmakers are split over protecting Americans from warrantless surveillance</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/with-us-spy-laws-set-to-expire-lawmakers-are-split-over-protecting-americans-from-warrantless-surveillance</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/with-us-spy-laws-set-to-expire-lawmakers-are-split-over-protecting-americans-from-warrantless-surveillance</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Some lawmakers are calling for widespread reforms following years of surveillance scandals and abuses across successive U.S. administrations. But even if the spy law known as Section 702 expires on April 30, the government&#039;s spy powers will not automatically lapse. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/nsa-surveillance-525618310.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>With, spy, laws, set, expire, lawmakers, are, split, over, protecting, Americans, from, warrantless, surveillance</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>What’s the key to better vegan cheese? Microbreweries, one startup says</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/whats-the-key-to-better-vegan-cheese-microbreweries-one-startup-says</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/whats-the-key-to-better-vegan-cheese-microbreweries-one-startup-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ AuX Labs says it has found a better way to make vegan cheese that tastes and feels like the real thing — and costs the same. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/aux-labs-grilled-cheese.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>What’s, the, key, better, vegan, cheese, Microbreweries, one, startup, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cash App is targeting a new kind of customer: 6&#45;12 year olds</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cash-app-is-targeting-a-new-kind-of-customer-6-12-year-olds</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/cash-app-is-targeting-a-new-kind-of-customer-6-12-year-olds</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tech companies are constantly on the hunt for new customers, and Cash App, the fintech company owned by Jack Dorsey’s Block, believes it has found a promising new demographic: children. The company, which already offers financial services to teens, said this week that it is expanding its youth-focused services in an effort to build a […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/U13_HeroAlt_9_16.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cash, App, targeting, new, kind, customer:, 6-12, year, olds</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>GRAI believes AI can make music more social, not replace artists</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/grai-believes-ai-can-make-music-more-social-not-replace-artists</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/grai-believes-ai-can-make-music-more-social-not-replace-artists</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ AI music startup GRAI says fans want to remix tracks, not generate songs from scratch. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/listening-to-music-GettyImages-2170179832.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:04 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>GRAI, believes, can, make, music, more, social, not, replace, artists</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Revolut eyes valuation of up to $200B in eventual IPO</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/revolut-eyes-valuation-of-up-to-200b-in-eventual-ipo</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/revolut-eyes-valuation-of-up-to-200b-in-eventual-ipo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Fintech giant Revolut, which secured a full banking license in the U.K. in March after years of waiting, was most recently valued at $75 billion in a secondary share sale. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/PR-lib-office-exterior-4.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Revolut, eyes, valuation, 200B, eventual, IPO</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>U.S. attacks and seizes Iranian ship in Strait of Hormuz, throwing a ceasefire into question</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-attacks-and-seizes-iranian-ship-in-strait-of-hormuz-throwing-a-ceasefire-into-question</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/us-attacks-and-seizes-iranian-ship-in-strait-of-hormuz-throwing-a-ceasefire-into-question</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The United States attacked and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship it said had tried to evade its naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iran’s joint military command vowed to respond, throwing a fragile ceasefire into question days before it expires.It was the first interception since the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports began last week. Iran’s joint military command called the armed boarding an act of piracy and a ceasefire violation, the state broadcaster said.With the U.S.-Iran standoff over the strait sharpening and the ceasefire expiring by Wednesday, it was not clear where President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement on new talks with Iran now stood. He had said U.S. negotiators would head to Pakistan on Monday.The uncertainty sent oil prices rising again. One of the worst global energy crises in decades threatened to deepen.Trump on social media said a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the Gulf of Oman warned the Iranian-flagged ship, the Touska, to stop and then “stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom.” U.S. Marines had custody of the U.S.-sanctioned vessel and were “seeing what’s on board!”It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The U.S. Central Command, which didn’t answer questions, said the destroyer had issued “repeated warnings over a six-hour period.”



Iranian state media suggest new talks won’t take place



There was no comment from Iranian officials directly addressing Trump’s announcement of talks. However, Iranian state media, without citing anyone beyond unnamed sources, issued brief reports suggesting that they would not happen.Minutes after the ship seizure was announced, Iranian state media reported on President Masoud Pezeshkian’s phone conversation with Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, earlier Sunday. U.S. actions, including bullying and unreasonable behavior, have led to increased suspicion that the U.S. will repeat previous patterns and “betray diplomacy,” the reports cited Pezeshkian as saying.Two previous attempts at talks — last June and earlier this year — were interrupted by Israeli and U.S. attacks.On another phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, that recent U.S. actions, rhetoric and contradictions were signs of “bad intentions and lack of seriousness in diplomacy,” Iran’s state broadcaster said.Pakistan did not confirm a second round of talks, but authorities had begun tightening security in Islamabad. A regional official involved in the efforts said mediators were finalizing preparations and U.S. advance security teams were on the ground. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss preparations with the media.The White House had said Vice President JD Vance, who led the first round of historic face-to-face talks over 21 hours last weekend, would lead the U.S. delegation to Pakistan with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.Iran on Saturday said it had received new proposals from the United States. While Iran’s chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, late Saturday said “there will be no retreat in the field of diplomacy,” he acknowledged a wide gap remained between the sides.It was unclear whether either side had shifted stances on issues that derailed the last round of negotiations, including Iran’s nuclear enrichment program, its regional proxies and the Strait of Hormuz.



Trump’s announcement on talks repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure that have drawn widespread criticism and warnings of war crimes. If Iran doesn’t agree to the U.S.-proposed deal, “the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he wrote.



Iran wants to control strait until ‘war fully ends’



Iran early Monday warned it could keep up the global economic pain as ships remained unable to transit the strait, with hundreds of vessels waiting at each end for clearance.Security of the strait is not free and “the choice is clear: either a free oil market for all, or the risk of significant costs for everyone,” Mohammad Reza Aref, first vice president of Iran, said in a social media post calling for a lasting end to military and economic pressure on Tehran.Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait, along with critical supplies of fertilizer for the world’s farmers, natural gas and humanitarian supplies for places in dire need like Afghanistan and Sudan.Iran had announced the strait’s reopening after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon took hold on Friday. But then Trump said the U.S. blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the United States. Iran said it would again enforce restrictions it imposed early in the war. On Saturday, Iran fired at ships trying to transit.For the Islamic Republic, the strait’s closure is perhaps its most powerful weapon, inflicting political pain on Trump. For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy. Each side has accused the other of violating the ceasefire.Since most supplies to U.S. military bases in the Gulf region come through the strait, “Iran is determined to maintain oversight and control over traffic through the strait until the war fully ends,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said late Saturday. That means Iran-designated routes, payment of fees and issuance of transit certificates.The council has recently acted as Iran’s de facto top decision-making body.The war is now in its eighth week after the U.S. and Israel launched it on Feb. 28 during talks over Tehran’s nuclear program. At least 3,000 people have been killed in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 U.S. service members throughout the region have been killed.Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this report.







An earlier version of this story corrected the name of the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson to Esmail Baghaei.



—Michelle L. Price, Samy Magdy and Sam Metz, Associated Press ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/04/AP26108447222186.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>U.S., attacks, and, seizes, Iranian, ship, Strait, Hormuz, throwing, ceasefire, into, question</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>2 new Chase Sapphire airport lounges are coming. Here’s what to expect and when</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/2-new-chase-sapphire-airport-lounges-are-coming-heres-what-to-expect-and-when</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/2-new-chase-sapphire-airport-lounges-are-coming-heres-what-to-expect-and-when</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ For years, premium credit cards competed on points, perks, and airport lounge access. Now the lounge itself is becoming the strategy.



Chase is the latest to double down.



With new Sapphire Lounge locations planned—starting with one at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and another at Los Angeles International Airport—the company is expanding its footprint at a moment when airport lounges have become one of the most competitive battlegrounds in consumer finance. The move follows a wave of recent openings that show how Chase is trying to differentiate not just on access, but on experience.



“We’re really excited,” Dana Pouwels, head of airport lounge benefits at JPMorgan Chase, told Fast Company in an interview. “Dallas is opening this year, and Los Angeles will be opening within the next 12 months.”



Specific details of those lounges are still under wraps, but the broader strategy is already visible, and it’s less about square footage and more about turning the airport into part of the destination.



The Chase Sapphire Lounge at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas [Photo: Chase]



The lounge arms race is splitting in two directions



To understand what Chase is doing, it helps to look at its biggest rival.



American Express, which helped define the modern airport lounge with its Centurion network, is expanding in two directions at once. The company is building larger flagship lounges in key hubs like Boston and Dallas Fort Worth, while also rolling out smaller “Sidecar” spaces designed for travelers with limited time.



That split reflects a simple reality. Not all travelers use lounges the same way. Some want a place to settle in for hours. Others want something closer to a high-end restaurant that they can move through more quickly, such as Capital One’s recently launched LGA lounge with José Andrés.



Chase, at least for now, is leaning harder into the first camp, but with a twist.



Designing for the destination, not just the delay



If there is a defining feature of Chase’s lounges, it’s how much they try to feel like the city in which they’re located.



The Las Vegas lounge, opened at the end of 2025, pushes that idea to its limit, leaning into theatrical design and playful details.



“We went for bold and shimmering finishes, and it’s really just inspired by that city’s nightlife,” Pouwels said.



The lounge includes a champagne parlor, a menu created with Momofuku founder David Chang, and cocktails that nod to the city’s history, like a jet-black libation topped with edible gummy dice.



The Philadelphia lounge takes a different approach. There, Chase built a 20,000-square-foot space centered on the city’s beer culture, complete with a beer garden and a beer flight program that proved so popular it’s already been replicated by Chase in its Boston lounge.



Beyond the food and drink offerings, the Philadelphia lounge also includes sports memorabilia, retro arcade machines, and one of the lounge network’s only TV-equipped spaces, a deliberate nod to local fan culture.



The goal is consistency in quality, but not in sameness.



The Chase Sapphire Lounge at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas [Photo: Chase]



Data decides where to go next



Behind the scenes, Chase’s expansion is driven as much by data as design.



“We’re always looking at the top places where our card members travel to and through, and also where they live,” Pouwels said.



Los Angeles stands out as a priority, ranking as the second-most-booked destination for Chase cardholders in 2025. Dallas checks multiple boxes, serving as both a major travel hub and a city with a large Chase employee base.



Still, demand alone is not enough.



“The location has to be right in terms of the airport, but it also has to be right in terms of the terminal and the amount of space that’s available,” Pouwels said.



That constraint helps explain why lounge growth, across the industry, has been steady but uneven.



The post-pandemic traveler wants something different



What is changing fastest is not where lounges are built, but what travelers expect from them.



According to Pouwels, that shift started during the pandemic, when people grew accustomed to highly personalized environments at home and began expecting the same from travel.



“Our lounges really have evolved to be more personalized experiences,” she said.



That means more than just comfortable seating. Travelers are looking for discovery, whether that is a local chef, a regional drink, or a design element tied to the city.



“They want to see something or learn something different every time they’re on a travel journey,” Pouwels said.



American Express is responding to that demand by segmenting its lounge experience into multiple formats. Chase, meanwhile, is trying to build a sense of discovery into every location.



The Chase Sapphire Lounge at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas [Photo: Chase]



Lounges as a loyalty engine



The bigger play is not the lounge itself. It’s what the lounge represents.



Chase sees these spaces as part of a broader travel ecosystem that starts before a trip is booked and continues through the airport and beyond.



“We’re really focused on the end-to-end travel journey,” Pouwels said.



That includes everything from trip planning to the airport experience itself, which has become a central touchpoint.



“We really want to ensure that we’re bringing the local element of the city into the airport experience. . . . and really, the lounges are a natural extension of that, right? Enhancing every step of the card member’s travel journey,” Pouwels added.



In other words, the airport is no longer just a stop along the way. It’s part of the product.



What comes next



With the Dallas lounge set to open this year and the one at LAX expected within the next 12 months, Chase’s new wave of lounges will test how far that strategy can go.



The competitive pressure is only increasing. American Express continues to scale both larger and smaller formats. Other issuers, like Capital One, are experimenting with their own concepts. Travelers are gaining more access and, in turn, becoming more selective.



For Chase, the bet is that the future of loyalty isn’t just about getting people to travel. It’s about owning more of the journey once they do.



 ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/04/p-91527555-new-chase-sapphire-lounges.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>new, Chase, Sapphire, airport, lounges, are, coming., Here’s, what, expect, and, when</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Gap is dropping a Victoria Beckham collab, bringing her discerning eye to denim</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/gap-is-dropping-a-victoria-beckham-collab-bringing-her-discerning-eye-to-denim</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/gap-is-dropping-a-victoria-beckham-collab-bringing-her-discerning-eye-to-denim</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ I’m not one for binaries, but it’s likely you’re either aware of Gap’s 2025 comeback tour, or you have a healthy amount of screen time. For those of us who aren’t full luddite teen (aspirational), I’m here to tell you that Gap is continuing its play to cement its place among the fashion set—and cultural domination—in 2026.



We’re seeing this with Gap’s announcement today of a new Spring collection kicking off a multi-season partnership with Victoria Beckham, bringing clean lines and refined classics that harken from the designer’s British sensibilities to the eponymous American brand. The 38-piece line of wardrobe staples will be available online and in select global Gap stores beginning April 24 at 9am ET, with prices that range between $34 to $328.



[Photo: Gap]



This isn’t Gap’s first partnership of the year. It previously launched collaborations with Harlem’s Fashion Row and Awake, as well as a keystone campaign for the brand’s sweatpants with rapper Young Mikko. (And let’s not forget last year’s sell-out Sandy Liang collaboration.) The Victoria Beckham collaboration is its latest in an ongoing story of reinvention the brand wants to convey to the public.



“We always are looking for new, interesting, cool, unexpected-for-our-customer collabs, and Victoria Beckham is a real natural for us,” says Gap CEO Mark Breitbard of the pairing, noting that her design sensibilities bring an elevated level of polish and refinement to Gap’s casual everyday wear. 



The partnership was the result of a conversation Breitbard had with celebrity stylist Alastair McKimm, who he considers to be part of the Gap creative team, about his other clients. “When he brought up Victoria, we both just kind of looked at each other and said, ‘Wait, could this be interesting for us?’” Breitbard recalled. And Beckham, for her part, was game.



The design results apply subtle degrees of difference from Gap classics like its Arc denim and matching jacket, pull-over denim quarter zips with a tent-like shape, dark wash capris (having a moment this spring), pleated khaki shorts, white button-downs, jersey tank dresses, and a classic trench coat. The difference from Gap pieces may not be detectable to the non-fashion obsessive’s human eye, but the simplicity of lines and the appeal of the Victoria Beckham brand ID could subconsciously appeal to the same discerning shopper who gets neutral manicures and wears La Ligne.



[Photo: Gap]



“You’ll see really modern lines and elegance that still has Gap casual in it,” says Breitbard. “So it’s very versatile. Dress up, dress down. Look incredibly chic, but also don’t look like you tried too hard. It’s just a really great balance, but clean lines and a fine aesthetic.” 



The cerulean blue pullover anorak adds a bright pop of color to staples like white, khaki, olive, and denim, which have enough wearability that could toss on a piece and head out the door. There is some overlap between the positioning of this line and Gap Studio as an elevated take to Gap classics, but Breitbard splices Gap Studio as more of a play for red carpet caché, with some looks they then commercialize.



[Photo: Gap]



The multi-season partnership also points to the brand’s broader partnerships strategy, which aims to reestablish relevancy through brand partners with caché. Gap is extending these partnerships through marketing that’s less sales-y and more shareable content (“brandtainment” is the linguistic ligature du jour). By doing so, it’s goal is to drive cultural conversation. In short: organically become part of the chatter in the elusive group chat.



At this point, the brand is building on the momentum of the previous year-and-a-half. (Its financial gains are still playing out: net sales were up 2% and store sales up 1% year over year, respectively.)



Where Gap gets luxury fashion bonafides from Beckham, Beckham gets to capitalize on her existing growth and expand her reach. Victoria Beckham posted $170 million in group sales resulting in 19% growth in 2025, which includes fashion and beauty, (Breitbard noted her success in beauty in particular). Beckham told WWD last fall that she plans to open more stores in the U.S., which is the brand’s biggest market—this collab could be a preview for a lot of new consumers.



[Photo: Gap]



Ultimately a collaboration is successful if it’s multidimensional. “[The Victoria Beckham collaboration] is going to hit new consumers who are paying attention to fashion and existing consumers, and consumers who have been with us for a while,” says Breitbard. 



While I can’t say that the Victoria Beckham brand has been in my group chats lately (that’s been dominated by fashion brands like Khaite, the Row, Still Here, and quests for vintage Prada and Manolo Blahniks, and even Gap itself), it does have a major online fan base: 3 million TikTok followers compared to Gap’s one million, and 33.4 million Instagram followers compared to Gap’s 3.7 million.



“One of the things that I think we’re doing well when we do a remix, [is] there might be dimensions that the younger consumer really appreciates, and then there is also just artistry and creative that is very accessible and easy,” says Breitbard, which translates to online traction and cultural interest that are bigger than sales KPIs.



[Photo: Gap]



He points to the Katseye campaign as an example. “They’re young. They have a young demographic. They have a huge fan base, but tens of thousands of people reposted that dance. We had 600 million views, and it wasn’t just from young [people]. It was so accessible and so uplifting to a very broad audience. That’s what we’ve done well,“ he says. “Victoria has younger consumers, but also consumers who have known her and followed her throughout her career and I think that’ll be inspiring very broadly.” 



He adds that Beckham’s cultural impact and personal relationship with her brand also fit with Gap’s story telling sensibilities. The story they plan together was too big for one drop. And a multi-season collaboration has to have a different business strategy.



[Photo: Gap]



“The strategy for us here is to bring in the right amount to have excitement and energy and have it be accessible, but not bought with such depth that it’s meant to live for months and months in the store,” says Breitbard. “These things are meant to be moments of high heat, to draw attention, to have fun, to drive business. And so we are intending to do that for this drop and then another drop later in the year, versus it’s going to launch and it’s going to be in the store.”



Beckham’s designer bonafides are another lens for potential Gap customers who haven’t thought of the brand yet to tap in. “Gap made new,” says Breitbard concisely of the brand’s strategy. “We want to continue to make Gap new and this is a great way to do that.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://images.fastcompany.com/image/upload/w_1280,q_auto,f_auto,fl_lossy/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit/wp-cms-2/2026/04/p-1-91529005-beckham-x-gap.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Gap, dropping, Victoria, Beckham, collab, bringing, her, discerning, eye, denim</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Refunds can now be claimed by businesses impacted by Trump’s unconstitutional tariffs</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/refunds-can-now-be-claimed-by-businesses-impacted-by-trumps-unconstitutional-tariffs</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/refunds-can-now-be-claimed-by-businesses-impacted-by-trumps-unconstitutional-tariffs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump imposed without the constitutional authority to do so is scheduled to launch Monday.Importers and their brokers will be able to begin claiming refunds through an online portal beginning at 8 a.m., according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency administering the system.It’s the first step in a complicated process that also might eventually lead to refunds for consumers who were billed for some or all of the tariffs on products shipped to them from outside the United States.Companies must submit declarations listing the goods on which they collectively put billions of dollars toward the import taxes the court subsequently struck down. If CBP approves a claim, it will take 60-90 days for a refund to be issued, the agency said.The government expects to process refunds in phases, however, focusing first on more recent tariff payments. Any number of technical factors and procedural issues could delay an importer’s application, so any reimbursements businesses plan to make to customers likely would trickled down slowly.In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court on Feb. 20 found that Trump usurped Congress’ tax-setting role last April when he set new import tax rates on products from almost every other country, citing the U.S. trade deficit as a national emergency that warranted his invoking of a 1977 emergency powers law.Although the court majority did not address refunds in its ruling, a judge at the U.S. Court of International Trade determined last month that companies subjected to IEEPA tariffs were entitled to money back.



Not all taxed imports immediately eligible



Customs and Border Protection said in court filings that over 330,000 importers paid a total of about $166 billion on over 53 million shipments.Not all of those orders qualify for the first phase of the refund system’s rollout, which is limited to cases in which tariffs were estimated but not finalized or within 80 days of a final accounting.To receive refunds, importers have to register for the CPB’s electronic payment system. As of April 14, 56,497 importers had completed registration and were eligible for refunds totaling $127 billion, including interest, the agency said.



System requires accuracy



Meghann Supino, a partner at Ice Miller, said the law firm has advised clients to carefully list in their declarations all of the document numbers for forms that went to CBP to describe imported goods and their value.“If there is an entry on that file that does not qualify, it may cause the entire entry to be rejected or that line item might be rejected by Customs,” she said.Supino thinks the portal going live will require composure as well as diligence.“Like any electronic online program that goes live with a lot of interest, I would expect that there might be some hiccups with the program on Monday,” she said. “So we continue to ask everyone to be patient, because we think that patience will pay off.”Nghi Huynh, the partner-in-charge of transfer pricing at accounting and consulting firm Armanino, said most companies claiming refunds will have imported a mix of items, and not all will qualify right away.“It’s about having a clear process in place and keeping track of what’s been submitted and what’s been paid, so nothing falls through the cracks,” she said. “Each file can include thousands of entries, but accuracy is critical, as submissions can be rejected if formatting or data is incorrect.”



Patience with the process



Small businesses have eagerly awaited the chance to apply for refunds. Brad Jackson, co-founder of After Action Cigars in Rochester, Minnesota, said he starting compiling records and preparing to enter information into the system the minute CPB announced the launch date.The company imports cigars and accessories from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Last year, it paid $34,000 in tariffs and absorbed much of the cost instead of raising customer prices, Jackson said.Last spring, he had a two-week delay in a shipment due to a missing document, so he is being more careful with refund documents, he said.“My main concern is the turnaround time,” Jackson said. “A refund process that takes several months to complete doesn’t solve the cash flow problem that it is supposed to fix.”



Will consumers see refunds?



Tariffs are paid by importers, and some companies pass on the tax costs to consumers via higher prices.The system starting up Monday will refund tariffs directly to the businesses that paid them, which are not obligated to share the proceeds with customers. However, class-action lawsuits that aim to force companies, ranging from Costco to Ray-Ban maker Essilor Luxottica, to reimburse shoppers are winding their way through the U.S. legal system.Individuals may be more likely to receive refunds from delivery companies like FedEx and UPS, which collected tariffs on imports directly from consumers. FedEx has said it would return tariff refunds to customers when it receives them from the CPB.“Supporting our customers as they navigate regulatory changes remains our top priority,” FedEx said in a statement. “We are working with our customers as CBP begins processing refunds and plan to begin filing claims on April 20.”



—Mae Anderson, AP Business Writer ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Refunds, can, now, claimed, businesses, impacted, Trump’s, unconstitutional, tariffs</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Elon Musk is summoned to Paris over allegations of child sexual abuse images on X</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/elon-musk-is-summoned-to-paris-over-allegations-of-child-sexual-abuse-images-on-x</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/elon-musk-is-summoned-to-paris-over-allegations-of-child-sexual-abuse-images-on-x</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Elon Musk has been summoned to Paris on Monday, where investigators are looking into allegations of misconduct related to the social media platform X, including the spread of child sexual abuse material and deepfake content.The world’s richest man and Linda Yaccarino — the former CEO of X — have been summoned for “voluntary interviews,” while other employees of the platform are scheduled to be heard as witnesses throughout this week, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.It remains unclear whether Musk and Yaccarino will travel to Paris. A spokesperson for X did not respond to questions from The Associated Press and Yaccarino’s current company, eMed, did not answer a request sent to the press email.French prosecutors also suspect that controversy around the platform’s AI system Grok’s deepfakes was concocted to boost the value of Musk-owned companies ahead of a key market listing, and alerted U.S. authorities. Musk welcomed a report that U.S. justice officials refused to help French investigators, posting on X, “This needs to stop.”



The reason for summoning Musk



Musk was summoned after a search took place in February at the French premises of X as part of an investigation opened in January 2025 by the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office. Musk and Yaccarino have been invited in their capacities as managers of X at the time of the events investigated. Yaccarino was CEO from May 2023 until July 2025.“These voluntary interviews with the executives are intended to allow them to present their position regarding the facts and, where appropriate, the compliance measures they plan to implement,” prosecutors said. “At this stage, the conduct of this investigation is part of a constructive approach, with the ultimate objective of ensuring that platform X complies with French law, insofar as it operates within the national territory.”The Paris prosecutor’s office said Musk and Yaccarino’s potential no-show on Monday “is not an obstacle for investigations to continue.”



What is being investigated



French authorities opened their investigation after reports from a French lawmaker alleging that biased algorithms on X likely distorted the functioning of an automated data processing system. It expanded after the AI system, Grok, generated posts that allegedly denied the Holocaust, a crime in France, and spread sexually explicit deepfakes.It’s looking into alleged “complicity” in possessing and spreading pornographic images of minors, sexually explicit deepfakes, denial of crimes against humanity and manipulation of an automated data processing system as part of an organized group, among other charges.Grok, which was built by xAI and is available through X, sparked global outrage this year after it pumped out a torrent of sexualized nonconsensual deepfake images in response to requests from X users.Grok also wrote in a widely shared post in French that gas chambers at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp were designed for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus” rather than for mass murder — language long associated with Holocaust denial.In later posts on X, the chatbot reversed itself and acknowledged that its earlier reply was wrong, saying it had been deleted, and pointed to historical evidence that Zyklon B was used to kill more than 1 million people in Auschwitz gas chambers.



French prosecutors alert U.S. authorities



In March, the Paris prosecutor’s office alerted the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — the U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating and overseeing financial markets — suggesting “that the controversy surrounding sexually explicit deepfakes generated by Grok may have been deliberately orchestrated to artificially boost the value of the companies X and xAI — potentially constituting criminal offenses,” prosecutors said.The Paris prosecutor’s office said this could have been done “ahead of the planned June 2026 stock market listing of the new entity formed by the merger of Space X and xAI, at a time when company X was clearly losing momentum.”



Justice Department brushes off French call



According to the Wall Street Journal, the Justice Department told French law enforcement authorities it wouldn’t facilitate their efforts to investigate Musk’s X. The newspaper reported that the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, in a two-page letter last week, accused the French of inappropriately using its justice system to interfere with an American business.The letter also said France’s requests for U.S. assistance “constitute an effort to entangle the United States in a politically charged criminal proceeding aimed at wrongfully regulating through prosecution the business activities of a social media platform.”French judicial authorities didn’t respond to requests for comments.



Investigations launched into several internet platforms



The cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office has launched in recent years a series of investigations focusing on internet platforms’ suspected illegal activities.French-language website Coco, which was cited in the landmark trial that turned Gisèle Pelicot into a global icon against sexual violence, closed in 2024 as its manager is accused of complicity in spreading child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes, among other things.Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, was handed preliminary charges and placed under judicial supervision for allegedly allowing criminal activity on the platform, including child sexual abuse material and drug trafficking.The Paris prosecutor’s office opened last year an investigation into TikTok over allegations that the platform allows content promoting suicide and that its algorithms may encourage vulnerable young people to take their own lives.Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said it has lodged a new complaint against X with the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office targeting “the platform’s policies that allow disinformation to flourish.”







Associated Press reporter Kelvin Chan contributed to this story.



—Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Elon, Musk, summoned, Paris, over, allegations, child, sexual, abuse, images</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Getting small business loans with bad credit</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/getting-small-business-loans-with-bad-credit</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/getting-small-business-loans-with-bad-credit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Even a small business owner with bad credit may need to borrow unexpectedly for stock or a sudden car repair. Where can you turn to for a small business loan with bad credit?
The post Getting small business loans with bad credit appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Getting, small, business, loans, with, bad, credit</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fast business funding and loans</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/fast-business-funding-and-loans</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/fast-business-funding-and-loans</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs


Worried about cash flow for your small business? Need cash fast? Find out more about fast business funding and who the key providers are
The post Fast business funding and loans appeared first on Small Business UK. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Fast, business, funding, and, loans</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mastery of Philippines’ San Guillermo Persuade Investors</title>
<link>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/marketing-mastery-of-philippines-san-guillermo-pursuade-investors</link>
<guid>https://thebusinesseconomic.com/marketing-mastery-of-philippines-san-guillermo-pursuade-investors</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:08:49 +0000</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Business Economic Syndicated News</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Noubikko, San Guillermo Shopping Complex, Dantru, RPConnect</media:keywords>
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