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The ultimate Drag Race showdown is back for another season. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the new season, including where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and a look at the trailer.

The 10th season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which pulls together the best contestants from the original show, is one for the ages, thanks to a brand new tournament extravaganza. The new format will feature "the most queens in Drag Race herstory," according to the trailer. 18 contestants will compete in three different brackets. The top three from each bracket will face off in the semi-finals. From there, the grand finale will feature a Lip Sync Smackdown for the Crown.

As is tradition, the guest judge line-up is absolutely star-studded. You can expect appearances from celebs like Chappell Roan, Ice Spice, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Colman Domingo, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Kate Beckinsale, among others.

Whether you're a longtime Drag Race fan or you're hoping to get caught up on the past nine seasons, we've got you covered. You can find all the details on how to watch the show below.

• See also: Where to watch Poker Face | How to watch Criminal Minds: Evolution | Where to watch The Valley

Where to watch RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in the US

Unlike the original RuPaul's Drag Race series, All Stars doesn't air on MTV, so you'll need a streaming service in order to watch. The new episodes and the past nine seasons are available on Paramount Plus. New episodes drop weekly on Fridays, typically around 12 a.m. PT / 3 a.m. ET. The new season features 12 episodes.

The streamer offers plans starting at $8/month. If you'd prefer to watch the show ad-free, you can upgrade to the $13/month Paramount Plus with Showtime tier, which also offers CBS live streaming and original Showtime programming. You can also save some money each year by signing up for an annual subscription. New users can usually get a one-week free trial on all plans.

How to watch RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars from anywhere

Those traveling outside the US can still watch the show on their usual streaming platform with the help of a VPN. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are easy-to-use cybersecurity apps that enable you to alter your virtual location. This way, you can access your go-to websites and apps from anywhere in the world. The service we've highlighted requires a US payment method, so this will work best for Americans who are just abroad at the moment.

Not sure where to start when it comes to VPNs? ExpressVPN is our top recommendation for beginners, thanks to its user-friendly interface, 30-day money-back guarantee, and other perks, which you can read about in our ExpressVPN review.

RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars trailer

The official RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars account dropped a trailer for Season 10 on May 1. The promo teases the new tournament extravaganza format and gives a quick look at some of the top-notch guest judges. Check out the full video below:

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

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• Companies continue to cut managers in recent rounds of layoffs.
• Match Group, Amazon, Google, and Meta are thinning out middle managers and flattening org charts.
• Mark Zuckerberg was an early advocate of the "Great Flattening" trend, describing it as a correction to over-hiring and saying he wanted to avoid "managers managing managers."

"How many managers to have — what are the pros and cons of managers?" The question was posed to Mark Zuckerberg nearly two years ago during an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman.

At the time, the Meta CEO — still sporting his shorter "Caesar" haircut — had kicked off the "Great Flattening" trend, culling middle managers amid his "year of efficiency" as a correction to over-hiring during the pandemic.

But as companies beyond Big Tech, the latest being Tinder owner Match Group, pare back managerial roles, Zuckerberg's answer to the podcaster's question in June 2023 remains relevant today — and helps explain why CEOs continue to thin out management ranks.

The Facebook founder began by acknowledging that managers are an important component of a company like Meta.

"I believe a lot in management," he said. "I think there are some people who think that it doesn't matter as much, but look, we have a lot of younger people at the company, for them this is their first job and people need to grow and learn in their career."

Zuckerberg said there was "a mathematical way" he thought about the ratio of employees to managers and making cuts.

Before Meta's layoffs, Zuckerberg said he had asked about the average number of direct reports each manager had at the company and learned it was around three to four. He felt it should be more like seven to eight. The lower numbers made sense at the time, Zuckerberg said, as Meta was hiring a ton and helping newcomers ramp up.

"So, in a world where we're not adding so many people as quickly, is it as valuable to have a lot of managers who have extra capacity waiting for new people? No, right?" Zuckerberg said.

Zuckerberg said he decided to "defragment the organization," thinning out the ranks of middle management, which "decreases the latency on information going up and down the chain and I think empowers people more."

It all added up to a leaner organization that he felt could move faster in both decision-making and execution.

Elsewhere in the interview, Zuckerberg mentioned that the cuts came at a time of uncertainty in the world. As companies navigate geopolitical tensions and Trump's trade war, Zuckerberg's words in 2023 likely ring true to many CEOs today.

"I just feel the external world is quite volatile right now," Zuckerberg said in the interview. "And I wanted to make sure that we had a stable position."

Middle managers have increasingly found a target on their backs in recent years. Massive companies followed Meta's lead over the last year, with Amazon and Google moving to flatten their org charts amid a renewed focus on greater efficiency.

Their CEOs have similarly voiced their reasons for why.

At Amazon, CEO Andy Jassy said in September that the company would increase the ratio of individual contributors to managers by at least 15% by the end of March.

"Having fewer managers will remove layers and flatten organizations more than they are today," he said at the time. Or, in short, as he told employees in a November all-hands, "I hate bureaucracy."

Google is cutting manager, director, and vice president roles by 10%, CEO Sundar Pichai told employees in December.

Pichai said Google had made changes designed to simplify the company and boost its efficiency, two employees who heard the CEO's comments previously told BI. In September 2022, he'd said he wanted Google to be 20% more efficient; months later, the company saw a historic round of layoffs that eliminated 12,000 jobs.

"Over the past two years we've seen periods of dramatic growth," Pichai told staff in an email about those layoffs. "To match and fuel that growth, we hired for a different economic reality than the one we face today."

Salesforce in 2023 slashed some layers of management and turned some managers into individual contributors, with the goal of reducing the "spans" and "layers of control" across the company, BI previously reported. Earlier that year, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff had announced layoffs of 10% of the workforce as part of a cost-cutting restructuring plan. In his memo to staff, he cited pandemic overhiring and a "challenging" economic environment as reasons for the cuts.

Middle managers made up nearly one-third of layoffs among white-collar workers in 2023, according to a data analysis by Live Data Technologies for Bloomberg.

Match Group, the parent company of dating apps like Tinder and Hinge, announced this week a 13% reduction in its workforce, affecting one in five managers.

Beyond tech, the focus on flattening has extended to behemoths of other industries.

Citi in 2023 announced it was paring back its layers of management from 13 to eight; the company later announced cuts affecting 1,500 managerial roles. At the start of 2024, UPS said it was laying off 12,000 of its 85,000 managers.

Some workplace experts have cautioned that the so-called "Great Flattening" targeting middle managers could hurt workforces, as middle managers often carry out vital responsibilities like executing on upper management's goals and boosting employees' morale and performance.

The trend is continuing as companies decide that restructuring to decrease the number of managers is the right move to appease investors who are zeroed in on efficiency, especially after the pandemic hiring boom in tech.

Or, as Zuckerberg previously described it:

"I don't think you want a management structure that's just managers managing managers, managing managers, managing managers, managing the people who are doing the work."

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• Gold prices could rally another 20% even after a recent string of records, Jeff Gundlach says.
• That's because investors are finally treating gold like a true asset class rather than a safe haven.
• The price of bullion is up 25% year-to-date.

Gold's record-setting rally isn't close to being over, according to "Bond King" Jeff Gundlach.

The DoubleLine Capital CEO predicted that the price of the precious metal could climb as high as $4,000 per ounce, a gain of 20% from Friday afternoon's price of around $3,345.

Speaking to CNBC this week, Gundlach said tariff-related volatility is fundamentally changing the way traders view the precious metal, pointing to its 25% rally year-to-date.

"I think that's telling us that we're in a regime where gold is no longer a speculation for short-term traders, or for survivalists as a long-term hold. I think people are viewing gold as an asset class out of fear of the turmoil that's going on geopolitically, with the tariffs and everything else, and just the amount of debt that exists, that people wonder how we're going to deal with this. So gold is sort of the true monetary asset," Gundlach said.

The global market for physically-backed gold ETFs swelled by $11 billion in April to $397 billion, according to data from the World Gold Council.

Meanwhile, 58% of global fund managers in a recent Bank of America survey said they believed gold was the safest asset in a full-blown trade war.

Gundlach added that he believes the backdrop for other risk assets, like stocks, is challenging at the moment. He doubled down on his forecast that stocks could see a "breakdown" in the near term, potentially taking the S&P 500 as low as 4,500. That would imply a 20% drop from current levels.

"I feel like we're in a risk-off market on an intermediate term basis," he said.

Other forecasters have issued bullish calls on gold in recent months, citing uncertainty stemming from Trump's trade policy.

Goldman Sachs lifted its price target for the precious metal last month to $3,700 an ounce, pointing to high levels of policy uncertainty and a potential slowing of the US economy.

UBS and Bank of America have also issued $3,500 price targets on gold, implying 4% upside from current levels.

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Falling asleep on an airplane can mean the difference between a great flight and a terrible flight, especially on long-haul flights when getting good rest is also imperative to overcoming jet lag and starting a trip off right. When you need to sleep on a flight, train, or car ride, the best travel pillows keep your head and neck supported and comfortable.

As an aviation journalist and avid traveler, I find myself on multi-day trips at least once a month and often book early morning and overnight flights when required. As a super light traveler, I know that the best travel pillows need to be comfy and easily packable. If it doesn't fit in my pocket, carry-on bag, or attache' case, I don't bring it with me.

With that in mind, I tested seven travel pillows first-hand to find the best options for all types of sleep situations. Our top pick, the Cushion Lab Cloud Cradle Travel Pillow, has an asymmetrical design for added comfort. With a sturdy feel, the Trtl Pillow Plus is our pick for extra neck support.

Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews home products.

Our top picks for travel pillows

Best overall: Cushion Lab Cloud Cradle Travel Pillow - See at Cushion Lab

Best inflatable: AirComfy Ease Inflatable Travel Pillow - See at Amazon

Best for extra neck support: Trtl Pillow Plus - See at Amazon

Most versatile: Coop Sleep Goods AirJustable Travel Neck Pillow - See at Amazon

Best overall

The Cushion Lab Cloud Cradle travel pillow is a bit large once unfurled, but rolls up so compactly into its handy carrying case that I barely even noticed when it was attached to one of my bags. Unfurling it from its case was no fuss and took less than 30 seconds.

Though at first glance this pillow appears to be a fairly standard travel neck pillow with the classic U-shape design, several key differences help set it apart.

First, the extra dense memory foam is incredibly comfortable. The material of the pillow is super soft and the memory foam made it feel as if I was truly sinking into the pillow instead of just resting my head on top of it.

There's also asymmetrical support with more cushioning on one side more than the other. This is different from the standard, symmetrical neck pillows and meant I had added support for leaning my head.

An adjustable strap also tightens and loosens the pillow's grip to the wearer's desire, another differentiating factor from other travel pillows that increases its appeal and versatility.

When I was done with it, wrapping up the pillow was as simple as wrapping an umbrella.

However, keep in mind this pillow is great primarily for upright sleeping. Though I found it gave me nice neck support, the pillow really can't be propped up against the cabin wall and it won't lend support when laying down across seats either.

Best inflatable

The AirComfy travel pillow comes in a carrying case that includes a carabiner, which makes it easily attachable to a backpack or a carry-on.

Though it didn't look like much at first, a few breaths and about 30 seconds was all it took to inflate the pillow to its proper state. The pillow did a great job of bridging the gap between the headrest of my seat and my head and the soft velvet material was incredibly comfortable.

A strap on the pillow allowed me to affix it to my seat so I could move around without it slipping or falling at all. Adjusting the firmness of the pillow was also just a matter of letting some air out or adding a few extra blows.

An overnight flight was when the pillow really stood out, since I was constantly moving around and adjusting my sleeping position over the six-hour-long flying time. The pillow provided the same amount of comfort regardless of the position I was in.

And, when I had a whole row to myself, the pillow proved even more useful since I could prop it on the armrest when laying down flat. That's something I wouldn't have been able to do with the U-shaped neck pillows. The pillow was equally comfortable propped up against the cabin wall when sitting in the window seat, and I was extremely impressed with its constant versatility.

Once the flight was over, it took seconds to deflate the bag and store it with no fuss.

Best for extra neck support

Like several of the other pillows I tested, this travel pillow also came in a carrying case along with a carabiner that could be used to attach it to a bag. But the case really didn't seem necessary as the pillow was compact and thin enough to slide in a backpack, purse, or even a laptop case.

Its compact size also made it especially easy to unfurl when it was time to use. There was no major assembly required and I had it out of my bag and around my neck in less than 30 seconds. All I had to do was pick a spot on my neck for the pillow to rest and then wrap a cloth around the rest of my neck to keep it in place.

The pillow had an incredibly sturdy feel with plenty of neck support, making it a good choice for head bobbers, and I didn't feel that I had to keep pressure on it to keep it in place.

The cloth that wraps around the pillow is incredibly soft and was comfortable to wear around my head for prolonged periods of time. Adjusting the height of the pillow was as easy as turning a knob. The cloth could also be loosened and tightened as desired for a custom fit.

The only problem I had with the pillow is that it only offered support on one side. I couldn't really move my head much because then I'd have no support. This pillow can also only be used for upright sleeping. I couldn't lay down with this pillow or prop it up against the cabin wall.

That said, it does offer excellent neck support, which can be a serious plus for those who tend to choose aisle seats or have a habit of their head falling forward when sleeping on planes.

Most versatile

I've struggled with trying to find a travel pillow that is comfortable, doesn't take up too much space, by either being able to squish into my bag or dangle from my carry-on, and not a hassle to use.

The Coop Sleep Goods AirJustable Travel Neck Pillow stores in a carrying sack to about the size of a small melon, meaning I can easily toss it into a tote or tie it to my bag. The inflatable pump design takes a few minutes to figure out, but nothing crazy, and it still feels plush, thanks to a combination of an air chamber with microfiber and memory foam fill. The cover is cool, soft, and machine-washable. It has a drawstring with a toggle clasp to keep it in place.

The design follows the typical crescent shape of a travel pillow, with an underside of two soft arches. Coop identified six different ways to wear it to find the support you want, whether you have a window or a middle seat. I like to move it to the side, mountain-side up as I call it, for extra neck-support if I'm sitting against a window. It's equally as comfortable to adjust it to the side, so my shoulder is nicely cradled between the mountains, to provide a side cushion. Either way, my neck feels well supported. You can also wear it front facing to keep you from nodding forward.

Using a valve and pump system, I can adjust the pillow to the fullness I desire. No huffing and puffing here. When I'm ready to deflate, I just switch open the valve and then stuff it back into its bag. — Jaclyn Turner, senior home editor

What to look for

While the best travel pillow for you will depend on your specific preferences, desired sleep position, and usual airplane seat, there are a few constants I looked for across all the travel pillows I tested. These are similar qualities anyone should consider when looking for a solid travel pillow and include:

Packability: As a no-fuss economy flyer, I sought out packability the most as I was often using a backpack or overnight bag for most of my trips. Baggage allowance is minimal for economy flyers so I wanted a pillow that could either fit snugly in a bag or easily be attached to one of my bags.

Comfort: How comfortable the pillows were was the other main factor. Quality of sleep is just as important as the duration of sleep, and if a pillow isn't comfortable, it simply isn't serving its purpose.

Simplicity: Flying in economy is already tight quarters and that's compacted when in a crowded row. I was looking for pillows that I could easy assemble and disassemble while at my seat, without disturbing my neighbors.

Staying power: A travel pillow is only good if it stays connected to one's head. I sought out pillows that wouldn't fall if I moved my head during my sleep and ones that wouldn't fall off of my neck.

How we tested travel pillows

For this guide, I tested seven pillows on flights across the Western Hemisphere for three months.

I tested the pillows on flights in my travels for work and pleasure. The types of flights I took ranged from long-haul international Delta Air Lines flights to short-haul Frontier Airlines flights.

I tested each pillow in a variety of sleeping positions, including upright and in window seats to determine how the pillows performed in tight spaces and if they could be used against the airplane cabin wall. On overnight flights when I had the entire row open, I also tested the pillow's comfort levels when laying fully flat.

Best overall: Cushion Lab Ergonomic Travel Neck Pillow

The Cushion Lab Ergonomic travel pillow is a bit large once unfurled, but rolls up so compactly into its handy carrying case that I barely even noticed when it was attached to one of my bags. Unfurling it from its case was no fuss and took less than 30 seconds.

Though at first glance this pillow appears to be a fairly standard travel neck pillow with the classic U-shape design, several key differences help set it apart.

First, the extra dense memory foam is incredibly comfortable. The material of the pillow is super soft and the memory foam made it feel as if I was truly sinking into the pillow instead of just resting my head on top of it.

There's also asymmetrical support with more cushioning on one side more than the other. This is different from the standard, symmetrical neck pillows and meant I had added support for leaning my head.

An adjustable strap also tightens and loosens the pillow's grip to the wearer's desire, another differentiating factor from other travel pillows that increases its appeal and versatility.

When I was done with it, wrapping up the pillow was as simple as wrapping an umbrella.

However, keep in mind this pillow is great primarily for upright sleeping. Though I found it gave me nice neck support, the pillow really can't be propped up against the cabin wall and it won't lend support when laying down across seats either.

Best inflatable: AirComfy Ease Inflatable Travel Pillow

The AirComfy travel pillow comes in a carrying case that includes a carabiner, which makes it easily attachable to a backpack or a carry-on.

Though it didn't look like much at first, a few breaths and about 30 seconds was all it took to inflate the pillow to its proper state. The pillow did a great job of bridging the gap between the headrest of my seat and my head and the soft velvet material was incredibly comfortable.

A strap on the pillow allowed me to affix it to my seat so I could move around without it slipping or falling at all. Adjusting the firmness of the pillow was also just a matter of letting some air out or adding a few extra blows.

An overnight flight was when the pillow really stood out, since I was constantly moving around and adjusting my sleeping position over the six-hour-long flying time. The pillow provided the same amount of comfort regardless of the position I was in.

And, when I had a whole row to myself, the pillow proved even more useful since I could prop it on the armrest when laying down flat. That's something I wouldn't have been able to do with the U-shaped neck pillows. The pillow was equally comfortable propped up against the cabin wall when sitting in the window seat, and I was extremely impressed with its constant versatility.

Once the flight was over, it took seconds to deflate the bag and store it with no fuss.

Best for extra neck support: Trtl Pillow Plus

Like several of the other pillows I tested, this travel pillow also came in a carrying case along with a carabiner that could be used to attach it to a bag. But the case really didn't seem necessary as the pillow was compact and thin enough to slide in a backpack, purse, or even a laptop case.

Its compact size also made it especially easy to unfurl when it was time to use. There was no major assembly required and I had it out of my bag and around my neck in less than 30 seconds. All I had to do was pick a spot on my neck for the pillow to rest and then wrap a cloth around the rest of my neck to keep it in place.

The pillow had an incredibly sturdy feel with plenty of neck support, making it a good choice for head bobbers, and I didn't feel that I had to keep pressure on it to keep it in place.

The cloth that wraps around the pillow is incredibly soft and was comfortable to wear around my head for prolonged periods of time. Adjusting the height of the pillow was as easy as turning a knob. The cloth could also be loosened and tightened as desired for a custom fit.

The only problem I had with the pillow is that it only offered support on one side. I couldn't really move my head much because then I'd have no support. This pillow can also only be used for upright sleeping. I couldn't lay down with this pillow or prop it up against the cabin wall.

That said, it does offer excellent neck support, which can be a serious plus for those who tend to choose aisle seats or have a habit of their head falling forward when sleeping on planes.

How we tested travel pillows

For this guide, I tested seven pillows on flights across the Western Hemisphere for three months.

I tested the pillows on flights in my travels for work and pleasure. The types of flights I took ranged from long-haul international Delta Air Lines flights to short-haul Frontier Airlines flights.

I tested each pillow in a variety of sleeping positions, including upright and in window seats to determine how the pillows performed in tight spaces and if they could be used against the airplane cabin wall. On overnight flights when I had the entire row open, I also tested the pillow's comfort levels when laying fully flat.

While the best travel pillow for you will depend on your specific preferences, desired sleep position, and usual airplane seat, there are a few constants I looked for across all the travel pillows I tested. These are similar qualities anyone should consider when looking for a solid travel pillow and include:

Packability: As a no-fuss economy flyer, I sought out packability the most as I was often using a backpack or overnight bag for most of my trips. Baggage allowance is minimal for economy flyers so I wanted a pillow that could either fit snugly in a bag or easily be attached to one of my bags.

Comfort: How comfortable the pillows were was the other main factor. Quality of sleep is just as important as the duration of sleep, and if a pillow isn't comfortable, it simply isn't serving its purpose.

Simplicity: Flying in economy is already tight quarters and that's compacted when in a crowded row. I was looking for pillows that I could easy assemble and disassemble while at my seat, without disturbing my neighbors.

Staying power: A travel pillow is only good if it stays connected to one's head. I sought out pillows that wouldn't fall if I moved my head during my sleep and ones that wouldn't fall off of my neck.

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• Our son was a pampered, only child for four years — and then we had twins.
• Keeping jealousy at bay was important to our family, so we used four strategies to keep the peace.
• Involving our eldest in caring for the twins has helped strengthen family bonds.

We have a house full of boys—three of them, to be exact.

Before the twins came along, our eldest had enjoyed four years of undivided attention being a pampered, only child. He was the center of my world, my little shadow.

When the twins arrived, he was genuinely excited to meet his new siblings. He even joked, "It's great we got two babies. One can bowl and the other can field while I bat!"

Behind the smile, however, I sensed a quiet worry in his eyes, and one of our biggest concerns became how he would adjust to sharing us with two newborns. The shift in family dynamics was undoubtedly going to be a challenge, and we knew we had to be attentive, not just to the babies, but, just as importantly, to his emotions.

Over the last 10 years, we've learned a few things and made conscious, thoughtful choices — choices that have helped prevent sibling jealousy, ensure that all three of our children feel equally valued, and that they bond deeply with one another.

The approach wasn't a one-time fix but a series of small, intentional choices that made all the difference. Here's how we navigated the transition.

We make small moments count

With two newborns demanding constant care, we knew how important it was to carve out one-on-one time with our oldest child every day. Whether it was reading his favorite book, playing a quick game, or simply chatting about his day, these small moments helped reassure him that he was still our "little one."

I also made it a point to be available when he got back from school, just sitting with him while he had lunch and talking about his day. Those little routines reminded him that his special place in my life hadn't changed and never would.

We asked him to help care for the twins

We also made sure to involve our eldest in caring for the twins. From the very start, I encouraged him to help with simple, age-appropriate tasks like picking out clothes for them or fetching diapers. This not only made him feel important but also allowed him to develop a bond with his new siblings. He took pride in his big brother role, which helped him feel included and valued.

We made sure to validate his feelings

One of the important parts of the transition was reassuring our eldest that our love hadn't been divided, but multiplied. Sounds cliche? Maybe. But trust me, small — seemingly cliched — actions made a big difference. Even when the twins needed attention, we made sure to check in with him and express our appreciation for his patience.

Still, there were moments when he felt frustrated or left out, and his emotional needs were sometimes unintentionally overlooked. I remember him saying, "They're crying too much… maybe we should just return them to the doctor." I reassured him that babies cry sometimes because they're little and still learning how to behave. I also reminded him of the joys of having siblings, like how they smile at him when they see him, and we talked about the fun they would have playing together and the special bond they would share.

We knew we were playing the long game

Our ultimate goal was to nurture a strong sibling bond. As the twins grew, we emphasized equity and respect in our household. The eldest had responsibilities, but we also gave him the authority that comes with being the oldest. We taught him to love and be kind to his younger brothers, and we made sure the twins learned to respect and love their older brother. When disputes arose, we listened to all sides and made decisions without age discrimination.

Over time, the twins naturally formed a strong bond with each other, but fortunately, they also developed an equally strong bond with their older brother. Now, they talk, share things, play together, have their own secrets, and even manage their little disputes on their own. Watching this has been such a joy, and it fills me with pride to see the special connection they've created.

It's an ongoing journey

The arrival of the twins undoubtedly changed our family dynamic, but it also brought immense joy. Watching my children grow and bond, both as individuals and as siblings, has been an incredible experience.

Preventing sibling jealousy is an ongoing journey, but by making small, intentional choices and fostering equity, I can see that they now share a deep, supportive bond with each other. They are not just siblings, but also friends, and I'm confident that this connection will only grow stronger.

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• I paid $45 for an upgraded seat on a high-speed Italo train from Rome to Florence.
• The upgraded ticket gave me access to extra legroom and delicious free snacks.
• I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and would definitely spend the extra money to do this again.

Living in Italy, I've taken countless train rides across the country, and I firmly believe it's the best way to travel comfortably from region to region.

While looking for a train ticket from Rome to Florence in January, I noticed I could pay an extra 10 euros ($11 USD) to book an upgraded seat with Italo, a high-speed Italian train company.

So, rather than booking a standard, smart-class ticket, I booked a prima-business-class seat for a total of 40 euros ($45 USD). I was excited to enjoy perks like ample legroom and complimentary snacks.

Here's what my experience was like.

The boarding process felt fast and easy

The train arrived on time, and my digital ticket provided clear instructions for finding my assigned coach and seat.

One of the perks of the prima-business-class ticket was that I was able to board before the smart-class ticket passengers. It was nice having extra time to get myself and my belongings situated.

My seat felt extremely comfortable

I enjoyed having extra legroom and a wide seat. The chair was comfortable, and I liked that it reclined and had spacious armrests.

I also had a large tray for drinks and personal items, and access to a small coat hook.

During the ride, I got snacks and a boxed lunch

About 30 minutes into the trip, Italo staff members came by my seat with a trolley of snack options, which were included in the price of my prima-business-class ticket.

The menu (which was available via a link with my digital ticket) included a wide variety of options, including pastries, small gourmet sandwiches, and taralli (wheat-based crackers). Drinks, like water, wine, and Coca-Cola, were also available.

I enjoyed a focaccia with olives, a croissant filled with pistachio cream, some taralli, and a glass of white wine.

Then, halfway through the trip, I was handed a lunch box complete with a cheese and mortadella sandwich, two packs of chocolate cookies, and a bottle of water.

I wasn't expecting to have so many options, and felt very satisfied and full.

Overall, the $11 upgrade made my 2-hour ride a dream

In less than two hours, the train arrived at the station in Florence.

Spending the additional 10 euros ($11 USD) definitely made this trip worth it, thanks to the wider seats, extra legroom, and food service I wouldn't have had access to otherwise.

I'd definitely pay the extra money to gain access to these upgrades again.

Медиа: image / jpeg

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Studies show that a good night's sleep is vital for your physical and mental health and general quality of life. If you're one of the 73% of U.S. adults who sleep in pajamas, it may be time to upgrade or change the material your pajamas are made from to best suit your comfort needs. Over the course of several years, our team has thoroughly tested, worn, and washed many pajamas to find the 12 best brands and our favorite items from each.

Our top pick is Eberjey, for its exceptionally soft pajamas with classic designs and monogramming options. If you're looking for an option to help you stay cool, we recommend Saxx for its DropTemp Cooling Sleep Pants. They use ventilated fabric best suited for hot sleepers.

Regardless of your preferred pajama style, the brands below are the best places to shop for sleepwear. While this guide is geared toward roomier men's sizing, these picks can suit anyone. To complete your cozy outfits for home, also check out the best men's slippers.

Our 3 top picks for the best men's pajamas:

Best overall: Eberjey William Tencel Modal Set

Eberjey is an elevated pajama brand that began as a place for comfortable lingerie, but has since expanded into men's loungewear. The Giselle PJ set was their first claim to fame for its super soft TENCEL Modal cotton blend, so Eberjey created its male counterpart in the form of the William set.

The William features a classic piping trim button-down top and pants with a functional fly closure and back pocket. It comes in eight solid colorways or two printed patterns, and should you want to add a personal touch as a gift, the top can be monogrammed with up to six characters.

Shop all men's pajamas at Eberjey here.

What to buy:

Best silk: Quince Washable Silk

Quince offers machine washable 100% Mulberry silk pajamas at prices that undercut competitors, thanks to their direct-to-consumer business model. They're dyed in facilities that are free of hazardous chemicals, with building efficiency standards meant to minimize the waste of water and energy. You can see the care Quince takes towards sustainability for yourself when these hypoallergenic silk pajamas show up at your door in minimal, recyclable packaging.

Shop all men's loungewear and pajamas at Quince here.

What to buy:

Best cooling: Saxx DropTemp Cooling Sleep Pants

Saxx is best known for its men's underwear, specifically its patented Ballpark Pouch to keep things in place, but the brand also offers an array of loungewear and sleepwear.

Outfitted with the underwear brand's patented BallPark Pouch, the DropTemp Cooling Sleep Pants use ventilated fabric best suited for hot sleepers.

Similar to the brand's underwear, the Sleepwalker bottoms also have the Ballpark Pouch. That means if you want to go commando, you can still keep everything in place. The Snooze pants are roomier than the Sleepwalker and have a drawstring waist and slightly tapered legs, but do not feature the Ballpark Pouch.

Shop all sleepwear at Saxx here.

What to buy:

Best stretch: Tommy John Downtime Set

Tommy John is another underwear brand that has transitioned into all things apparel, including pajamas.

As one of Insider Reviews' most recommended underwear brands (and my own personal favorite), Tommy John succeeds at using different materials for different comfort needs. From traditional cotton blends to the brand's proprietary Second Skin fabric made from a silky smooth modal, these PJs are designed to fit your preferences.

Tommy John's products are expensive, but they're well worth it. It's one of the few brands that I've continued to spend my own money on after receiving sample products for test purposes. — Amir Ismael, style editor, Insider Reviews

Shop all men's pajamas at Tommy John here.

What to buy:

Best cotton: Hanes

Hanes began as a North Carolina mill operation in 1901 that produced men's and children's socks. These days, it's owned by Sara Lee Corporation (yes, the dessert company), and continues to make sturdy, utilitarian basics. While best known for underwear, Hanes also makes classic cotton pajamas for the budget-conscious, among other sleepwear options.

The Hanes 100% Cotton Flannel Plaid Pajama Top and Pet Set is an old-school two-piece sleep set made from brushed cotton flannel. The four-button top has a classic Buffalo check print and breast pocket. The bottoms feature an adjustable, two-button-waistband and a fully functional button fly.

Hanes also makes a lighter-weight traditional pajama bottoms combo. Their Plain Weave 2-Piece Pajama Set is breathable and soft (but not plush) and best for spring and summer. These may be too light for northern winters, unless you prefer to sleep cooler year-round.

What to buy:

Best flannel: L.L.Bean Scotch Plaid Flannel

Founded in 1912 in Freeport, Maine, L.L.Bean is a more-than-a-century-old heritage brand that helped popularize flannel pajamas.

Among the brand's pajama options are the popular Scotch Plaid Pajamas. Made from flannel produced in Portugal, the soft, plush 100% brushed cotton PJs are warm without being stifling and are generously cut for ease of movement while you sleep. I had a pair of flannel pajamas for nearly a decade that continued to look good year after year — no rips or tears, and the colors didn't fade.

If you're looking for something less traditional, L.L.Bean makes the Comfort Stretch Woven Sleep Pants, which are made from soft cotton poplin and a hint of spandex.

Shop all men's pajamas at L.L.Bean here.

What to buy:

Best patterned: Printfresh

The vibrant patterns from Printfresh are hard to miss when browsing the best men's pajamas. This brand is featured in post after post from lifestyle influencers who demonstrate how getting dressed for bedtime is just another opportunity for self expression. Our team has tried their high-end pajama sets and robes and can confirm that their comfort matches their personality.

Printfresh offers many inclusive options that are very clearly made to provide comfort to those of all shapes and sizes. Their men's pajamas come in sizes XS to 3X and feature fun animal themes for those who like their sleepwear to match their mood.

Read our full Printfresh review.

Shop all men's pajamas at Printfresh here.

What to buy:

Best wool: Dagsmejan Stay Warm Longsleeve Top

Dagsmejan uses natural fibers like wool and eco-friendly fabrics derived from eucalyptus to produce sleepwear geared towards how individuals sleep—hot, cold, or somewhere in-between with the promise of a better night's sleep. Its fabrics are custom-made, requiring the "most advanced knitters" only found in Europe, according to Dagsmejan's co-founder Andreas Lenzhofer.

For the Stay Warm collection, Dagsmejan took an already great insulator, merino wool, and combined it with Tencel, made from eucalyptus tree pulp, to create a product that's great at keeping you warm without being bulky. They are really light, yet provide a lot of warmth.

The company also has a line of cooling sleepwear called Stay Cool that's more breathable than cotton and better at wicking away moisture, as well as a Balance collection that helps maintain your body temperature throughout the night.

Shop all men's pajamas at Dagsmejan here.

What to buy:

Best unisex: Jambys

Jambys are a step up from the default sleeping uniform of old boxer shorts and holey, stained T-shirts. Their gender-inclusive boxer-style shorts have pockets and are made of soft, breathable modal French terry. The matching JamTees allow for plenty of ventilation so you don't feel constricted while you sleep.

It's the subtle details that make Jambys make some of the best men's pajamas, but their neutral style can suit anyone.

Read our full Jambys pajamas review.

Shop all Jambys pajamas here.

What to buy:

Best sustainable: MeUndies Modal PJ Set

MeUndies is best known for its fun, colorful, and size- and gender-inclusive underwear, but its collection of pajamas boasts all the same features. Available in long-sleeve and short-sleeve options, MeUndies pajamas are all made from an incredibly soft Modal material, sourced from beechwood fibers spun in a facility using dyes with low environmental impact.

Whether you're interested in classic solids, a plaid or tartan pattern, or a vibrant all-over print, you'll find something you like — and you can get matching sets for all genders if you want to match your family and friends.

MeUndies also makes comfortable lounge pants and joggers that can double as sleepwear. — Amir Ismael, style editor, Insider Reviews

Read our full MeUndies loungewear review.

Shop all MeUndies loungewear here.

What to buy:

Best minimalist: Cariloha Bamboo Sleep

Cariloha is a Utah-based sleepwear and bedding company that prioritizes sustainability in all of its products by using renewable, pesticide-free materials like bamboo and organic cotton.

Cariloha's men's Sleep Pants are made from both bamboo and organic cotton and have a very soft feel. They have an elasticized drawstring waistband but don't have a working fly. Instead, you'll find three decorative buttons down the front. They're also wide through the leg and pool a bit at the ankle. The roominess is welcome when it's time for bed since they don't cling to the body. I found them very breathable, stretchy, and easy to sleep in.

Other great items to wear are the Sleep Crew Shirt and the Sleep Shorts, which both have a similarly loose and roomy fit for comfort.

Shop all men's sleepwear at Cariloha here.

What to buy:

What to look for when shopping for pajamas

Regardless of your budget or the style of pajamas you're interested in, they should always be comfortable. When it comes to pajamas, comfort is based on many factors, including the material and the fit.

If your idea of comfort is to be lightweight and cool for sweat-free sleeping, you'll want to choose airy, breathable materials. If you're looking for warmth and coziness, you'll want to go for heavier materials like flannel.

Style is also another consideration when shopping for pajamas. Many brands offer unique seasonal designs, so you can dress for the holiday season or even coordinate matching sets with your family.

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• Radar screens went dark early Friday at an air traffic facility that guides planes around Newark.
• The outage, which lasted 90 seconds, is the second since April.
• Newark has faced a host of problems in recent weeks, from operational issues to bad weather.

The problems keep piling up at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that an air traffic control equipment outage at the Philadelphia approach control facility, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark, occurred around 3:55 a.m. on Friday morning.

The agency said it affected communications and radar displays for "approximately 90 seconds."

It's the facility's second outage since April 28, when screens went dark for 60 to 90 seconds and prevented controllers from talking to aircraft.

Operational issues, coupled with bad weather and runway construction, have caused hundreds of delays and cancellations at the airport over nearly two weeks.

United CEO Scott Kirby has called on the government to designate Newark as a "level 3" airport, meaning it would run on a slot system that limits the number of planes that could take off and land at certain times to manage capacity.

What is going on at Newark?

In July, some controllers were moved from an approach control facility in New York to one in Philadelphia to address understaffing issues, but the facility is still facing shortages.

Kirby said in a letter to customers in May that the Philadelphia center has been "chronically understaffed for years" and that Newark "cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead."

The airline, which holds the largest market share at Newark, has since axed 35 daily flights, or about 10% of its schedule at the airport, to deal with overcapacity and compounding air traffic problems.

The airport is also grappling with the closure of its main runway, which won't be operational until at least mid-June.

An FAA advisory said that as of 12 p.m. ET on Friday, Newark is facing arrival and departure delays of up to four hours because of overcapacity, runway construction, and bad weather.

United does not fly out of New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, which has not been affected by the Philadelphia control problems, meaning rivals Delta and American have not experienced the same disruptions to flights and customers.

The US has a major ATC problem

Recent air traffic control issues have highlighted the US's ongoing battle to update aging equipment and hire more controllers at facilities around the country.

The FAA said in May 2024 that it was short about 3,000 controllers but was meeting its hiring goals to catch up.

Still, the entire infrastructure needs work, an issue made clear by the recent problems in Newark and the January midair collision over Washington, DC. A preliminary investigation found that the DC airport tower was understaffed at the time of the crash.

The Trump administration announced a "supercharge" program in February to accelerate hiring. This program includes offering bonuses to new hires, reducing the hiring process by months, and creating new opportunities for veteran controllers.

In March, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a plan to upgrade the national airspace system with modernized technology and infrastructure.

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• Taylor Sheridan is one of Hollywood's most prolific screenwriters.
• The "Yellowstone" co-creator has a number of other projects in various stages of production.
• This includes several stand-alone TV series and multiple "Yellowstone" spinoffs.

When " Yellowstone" ended its five-season run, viewers didn't have to say goodbye—they just had to saddle up for more.

Thanks to Hollywood's busiest cowboy, Taylor Sheridan, there's now a whole herd of spinoffs ready to stampede into your watchlist.

Since moving away from acting, Sheridan has become one of the most prolific screenwriters in Hollywood, including with "Yellowstone" spinoffs "1883" and "1923."

The Wall Street Journal reported that Paramount spent more than $500 million producing his shows in 2023. That figure is likely larger now that his slate of "Yellowstone" spinoffs has grown.

Here's what we know about the projects he's working on.

1. 'Y: Marshals'

CBS announced in May that Luke Grimes will reprise his role as Kayce Dutton in a "Yellowstone" spinoff titled "Y: Marshals."

Per its logline, "Y: Marshals" will see the character join an "elite unit of US Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana."

Sheridan will executive produce the drama alongside Grimes.

It's set to premiere in spring 2026.

2. 'The Madison'

While announcing that "Yellowstone" would be drawing to a close in 2023, Paramount bosses promised "expansions of this incredible world" that Sheridan had built.

In February 2024, Puck reported that Matthew McConaughey and Michelle Pfeiffer were in negotiations to lead the cast of a present-day continuation titled "2024."

In August 2024, it was announced that Pfieffer will star in and executive produce the new series, which has been renamed "The Madison."

Sheridan will write the series, which is set to follow a family of New York City natives who live in the Madison River valley of central Montana.

Per Paramount Network, "the series is a heartfelt study of grief and human connection."

Chris McCarthy, the co-CEO of Paramount Global, said of Pfieffer's casting: "She is the perfect anchor to the newest chapter of the 'Yellowstone' universe, 'The Madison,' from the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan."

As of 2025, McConaughey hasn't been cast in the series.

3. '1944'

"1944" is yet another "Yellowstone" spinoff series that has been greenlit by Paramount. It's also the one we know the least about.

It's expected that it will, like the previous prequels "1883" and "1923," take place in the titular year and focus on the difficulties the Duttons faced during the wartime period.

4. '6666'

This long-teased "Yellowstone" spinoff is set to revolve around the history of a real Texas-based ranch that Sheridan purchased in 2022. It was first announced in early 2021 and originally set to debut in 2023.

However, the future of the show remains up in the air. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2023, Sheridan explained the delays in getting "6666" (pronounced "four-sixes") off the ground.

"That, for a number of reasons, needs a unique level of special care because this is a real place with real families working here. You have to respect the lineage," he said, adding that he had told Paramount to "be patient."

5. 'Landman'

Based on the podcast " Boomtown," the series was billed as a "modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs" in Texas, per a synopsis from Paramount+.

Demi Moore and Billy Bob Thornton starred in the first season of the show, which debuted in 2024. A second season was announced in early 2025, with Sam Elliott — who previously appeared in "1883" — joining the cast.

6. 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves'

The first season of the series, on which Sheridan served as an executive producer, told the story of legendary lawman Bass Reeves, one of the first Black US marshals west of the Mississippi River.

David Oyelowo, who starred in the lead role and served as an executive producer, said the series was set up to be an anthology, with each season focusing on " other lawmen in history whose story should be told."

Chad Feehan, the show's creator, showrunner, and executive producer, echoed this in an interview with Deadline shortly after season one finished airing.

"There are several figures in history much like Bass who deserve their day in the sun. As much as it pains me that this marriage is taking a hiatus, that is the reality," he said.

"Lawmen" hasn't been renewed for a second season.

7. 'Special Ops: Lioness'

The first season of the espionage thriller, which Sheridan created, wrote, and executive produced, premiered in the summer of 2023, and a second season began airing in October 2024.

The series was inspired by a real-life US military program focused on bringing down terrorist organizations from within. The first season starred Zoe Saldana, Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman, and Morgan Freeman.

It's unclear whether a third season is on its way, but the ending of season two left the door open for more installments.

8. 'Tulsa King'

"Tulsa King," which featured Sylvester Stallone in a leading role in a scripted television series for the first time, debuted in late 2022.

The series focuses on an aging mafia capo who is released from a 25-year prison sentence and sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to set up a new criminal organization. Sheridan created and executive-produced the series.

A second season premiered in September 2024, while a third went into production in March in Atlanta and Oklahoma.

9. 'Mayor of Kingstown'

"Mayor of Kingstown" was the first series Sheridan created as part of his deal with Paramount. It premiered in late 2021.

Starring Jeremy Renner, the series is set in the fictional town of Kingstown, Michigan, and follows the powerful McLusky family as they attempt to bring justice and order to a community rife with corruption.

The show's fourth season is currently in production.

10. 'The Road'

Sheridan has teamed up with "The Voice" coach and country star Blake Shelton for a new singing competition show for CBS.

"The Road," which will launch as part of the network's fall 2025 schedule, will follow "a headlining superstar on their journey to discover the next big artist," per a press release.

Competitors will perform as opening acts for the headliner's tour at venues across the US and will have to win over local fans to advance to the next location, the press release says.

Sheridan and Shelton will executive produce the series along with "The Voice" producer Lee Metzger and "Yellowstone" producer David Glasser.

11. 'Empire Of The Summer Moon'

As if all of Sheridans' existing commitments weren't enough, it was announced in January 2024 that he and his Bosque Ranch production company had optioned the Pulitzer Prize finalist book "Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History," by S.C. Gwynne.

Sheridan will produce the project alongside Jenny Wood, Deadline reported.

The book recounts the story of Quanah Parker, a chief of the Indian Comanche tribe, and the tribe's forty-year battle against white settlers for control of the American West.

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Choosing the best sensitive stomach cat food depends on what's causing your cat's digestive issues, such as food intolerances, allergies, or inflammatory bowel disease. If food allergies are not an issue, your veterinarian might recommend a sensitive stomach formula with low to moderate fat, easily digestible animal proteins, and few carbohydrates. These formulas often include supplements that help decrease gut inflammation and improve digestion, like probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Certain types of dietary fiber may benefit your cat, too.

To make our picks for this guide, we evaluated many sensitive stomach cat foods with advice from vets, focusing on each food's ingredients and nutritional value. One of our top canned food picks is Royal Canin Digestive Care Thin Slices in Gravy, which contains insoluble fiber to help prevent constipation. For dry food, we recommend Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and Skin Adult Salmon and Yellow Peas Recipe. It includes prebiotic fiber to support healthy digestion.

All of our picks meet the pet food standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and follow the Global Nutrition Guidelines published by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) — two important considerations when shopping for the best cat foods.

Remember, because cats are known to cough up hairballs, it's easy to miss signs of a sensitive stomach, including vomiting and regurgitation, frequent loose stools, or gas. But if your cat vomits material with very little to no hair or vomits more than once a week, they should see their veterinarian, says Dr. Kelly Diehl, a veterinary internist with a subspecialty in gastroenterology. While changing your cat's diet could improve their symptoms, it's important to consult your vet before changing their diet. If your cat has a food allergy, your vet may prescribe a hypoallergenic diet to relieve their symptoms.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and recommends pet products.

Highlights for the best sensitive stomach cat food

Best wet: Royal Canin Digestive Care Thin Slices in Gravy - See at Chewy

Best dry: Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and Skin Adult Salmon and Yellow Peas - See at Chewy

Best for kittens: Royal Canin Kitten Loaf in Sauce - See at Chewy

Best for seniors: Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Prime Plus Ocean Whitefish and Salmon - See at Chewy

Best wet

If your cat regularly experiences digestive issues, your veterinarian might recommend switching to a wet food diet to help relieve their stomach issues and keep them well hydrated. Wet cat foods contain significantly more moisture than kibble, typically 75% to 78% moisture compared to 10% to 12%. This added hydration is important for cats who lose water through vomiting or diarrhea, says Dr. Kelly Fishman, a veterinarian and founder of Strut Animal Mobility Specialists.

The best and healthiest wet cat foods typically have higher protein and lower carbohydrate content than dry food. This can help with weight control and digestion, says Dr. Jamie Richardson, a veterinarian and head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary.

Our best sensitive stomach cat food pick from Royal Canin contains powdered cellulose and omega-3 fatty acids from salmon. Tufts University explains that cellulose is an insoluble fiber that may help relieve constipation by increasing stool volume and bowel movement frequency. Our pick from Merrick is made with limited ingredients, which can help reduce digestive upset in cats by limiting the number of ingredients in the food, says Dr. Korinn Saker, a retired veterinary nutritionist and former associate professor of clinical nutrition at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

To compare the nutritional values of wet and dry cat foods, you'll need to convert wet food values to a dry matter basis. This involves removing the moisture content from the wet food and calculating the nutritional values based on the remaining solids. For the foods in this guide, we contacted the food manufacturers to get the dry matter values. If you want to compare other recipes, you can follow these directions from the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, contact the food manufacturer directly, or ask your vet for help.

Best dry

Wet food isn't always convenient or affordable, and some cats simply don't like it. Fortunately, dry food can be a good alternative for most cats. Kibble has a long shelf life and, once opened, it stays fresh longer than canned foods. You can buy larger quantities of the recipe that works best for your cat, which is often more affordable, especially if it's one of the best budget-friendly cat foods.

However, keep in mind that dry foods typically contain more carbohydrates than wet foods. Because of this, Richardson says some cats with sensitive stomachs may have a harder time digesting kibble. You'll want to look for formulas with complex carbohydrates, like whole wheat, corn, or white potatoes. These carbohydrates provide nutrients, including fiber, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids, according to Tufts University.

Our picks for the best and healthiest dry cat food for sensitive stomachs contain easily digestible animal proteins and healthy extras like dried beet pulp and oats. Beet pulp contains insoluble and soluble fiber sources, and it's highly fermentable by cats, says Ellen Dierenfeld, a comparative animal nutritionist and founder of Zootrition. Fermentable means it feeds the good bacteria in the microbiome, which can support better digestion. Oats, another key ingredient, are a source of soluble fiber that can slow digestion and may help relieve diarrhea.

Best for kittens

Kittens with diarrhea can benefit from a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, says Dr. Debra Zoran, a veterinary nutritionist and professor at Texas A&M University. This is because foods rich in protein and fat provide energy and support the healthy development of a kitten's gastrointestinal tract, she says. While pet food labels don't always list the percentage of carbohydrates, you can look for foods that list whole meats, meat meals, and byproducts among the first ingredients — before carbohydrate sources.

The AAFCO recommendations say that kitten food (labeled for growth or all life stages) must contain at least 30% protein and 9% fat to meet their growth and energy needs. However, Zoran says the best kitten foods for sensitive stomachs should contain at least 40% protein on a dry matter basis. Just keep in mind that kittens could have an upset stomach for several reasons, including intestinal parasites. Before transitioning your kitten to a new diet, it's best to consult your veterinarian to rule out other causes.

Our recommendations for the best sensitive stomach cat food for kittens include four different meat sources among the first five ingredients and exceed 40% protein on a dry matter basis. They also contain beneficial ingredients like fish oil, which contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid that's essential for cognitive growth and development. These foods have undergone feeding trials to ensure they are palatable and digestible and provide adequate nutrition. Royal Canin's Gastrointestinal Kitten food requires a prescription from your vet.

Best for seniors

Older pets may be more likely to have health problems, but getting sick isn't a normal part of aging. That's why it's important to watch your senior cat closely for any signs of gastrointestinal issues. For instance, cats who aren't getting the nutrients they need due to diarrhea or vomiting may lose weight or have dull coats.

Cats are good at hiding when they're ill, Diehl says. But signs like chronic vomiting, loose stool, or very pungent poop can all point to health issues. Your vet can help narrow down the cause and recommend dietary changes that may help. It's essential to get guidance from your vet, since managing a sensitive stomach through diet depends on many factors, including other underlying health conditions, Diehl says.

Because cats are obligate carnivores, the best food for senior cats with sensitive stomachs may be high in protein. However, not all senior cats can eat high-protein diets. For instance, high-protein diets can be harmful to senior cats with health conditions like chronic kidney disease. Our low-protein senior pick from Hill's includes fish oil, which can help improve skin and joint health and ease gastrointestinal inflammation. Our high-protein senior picks from Purina and Wellness contain inulin (commonly derived from chicory root), which is a soluble and insoluble fiber source. While insoluble fibers help keep bowel movements regular, soluble fibers absorb water and form a gel in the stomach. This can help cats maintain a healthy weight by slowing their digestion and keeping them full between feedings.

What to look for in a sensitive stomach cat food

When shopping for the best sensitive stomach cat food, you'll want to consider the following criteria:

AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for growth, adult maintenance, or all life stages: The most basic measure of nutritionally complete kitten and cat food is an AAFCO statement on the label. The AAFCO is a nonprofit organization that recommends nutritional standards for pet food. Recommendations are based on life stages, so food with an AAFCO statement for growth or all life stages is complete and balanced for kittens, while food with an AAFCO statement for maintenance or all life stages is complete and balanced for adult cats. The AAFCO hasn't established specific recommendations for senior cat diets. Foods for senior cats must meet the minimum AAFCO nutritional recommendations for adult or all life stages foods.

Guaranteed analysis and nutrient profiles: The guaranteed analysis on a pet food label shows the percentages of important nutrients, including protein, fat, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Food for kittens must meet the AAFCO's recommended minimum of 30% protein and 9% fat, and food for adult cats, including seniors, must have a minimum of 26% protein and 9% fat.

Our experts say it's important to carefully examine the guaranteed analysis for cat foods. As obligate carnivores, cats can digest high-protein diets more easily than foods with low animal protein and high carbohydrates. For some cats, the best sensitive stomach cat food may be high in protein, but high-protein diets can be harmful to some senior cats with certain health conditions. This is one reason why it's essential to ask your vet before transitioning diets.

Ingredients list: The ingredients on a pet food label appear in order of weight. Dierenfeld says that muscle meat proteins provide the best source of essential amino acids for obligate carnivores like cats. In other words, animal proteins in the form of whole meat, meat meal, or animal byproducts should come first on the ingredients list. When choosing a food, you can also look for ingredients that promote healthy digestion and ease inflammation, like probiotics, prebiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so animal-based proteins should always be listed as the first ingredient in cat food. The best formulas for sensitive stomachs may be higher in protein than other cat foods. Our recommendations include quality protein sources in the form of whole meat, meat meals, and meat byproducts. Saker says that meals and byproducts are concentrated forms of protein that are just as nutritious and digestible — if not more so — than whole protein sources.

Expert formulations: Our picks for sensitive stomach cat food meet quality control standards recommended by WSAVA. This means the brands employ a full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a PhD-level animal nutritionist. These standards help ensure your cat's food meets nutritional recommendations and includes the right ingredients.

Manufacturing standards: Zoran says pet foods can vary slightly from batch to batch, which can trigger digestive upset in cats with sensitive stomachs. When choosing sensitive stomach food for your cat, it's wise to consider the quality control measures and facilities used. Brands that own their manufacturing plants have greater control over the ingredients in their recipes and, therefore, the food your cat consumes. Pet food brands should also be transparent about how they implement quality control measures. In short, they shouldn't just say they conduct quality control.

Calorie content: The calorie content of cat food is listed in kilocalories (kcals). Your cat's calorie needs will depend on their age, activity level, and overall health. For example, kittens grow quickly in their first year and should eat multiple high-calorie meals per day. Your vet can recommend the ideal number of daily calories for adults and senior cats based on the cat's lifestyle and ideal weight. Vets can also teach you how to check your cat's body condition score (BCS) between wellness visits. The BCS is a visual tool that helps you assess your cat's body fat on a scale of 1 to 9. This information can help you understand if they need to lose or gain weight. That said, it's always best to talk to your vet before adjusting your cat's daily portion sizes.

How we selected the best sensitive stomach cat food

To narrow down our picks for the best sensitive stomach cat food, we spoke with three veterinary nutritionists, two small animal veterinarians, and one board-certified veterinary internist. We also consulted guidelines and recommendations from the AAFCO, the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, and other publications and organizations linked in this guide.

You can learn more about our experts below.

Dr. Deb Zoran is a board-certified small animal internist, nutritionist, and small animal clinical sciences professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.

Dr. Korinn Saker is a board-certified veterinarian, a distinguished member of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and a professor of clinical nutrition at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University.

Ellen Dierenfeld is a comparative animal nutritionist with an MS and PhD in Animal Nutrition from Cornell University. She is the founder of Zootrition, a software designed to record and evaluate the diets of animals. She has over 30 years of experience in zoo, wildlife, and companion animal nutrition.

Dr. Kelly Fishman is a small-animal veterinarian and founder of Strut Animal Mobility Specialists. She received her BS at UC Berkeley, conducted veterinary and neuroscience research at UCSF, and earned her DVM at Ross University. She is trained in animal acupuncture, physical rehabilitation, and specialty companion animal diets. She also advises on supplement use.

Dr. Jamie Richardson is a general practice veterinarian and head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Vet. After completing her undergraduate studies, Richardson moved to the UK to pursue a veterinary degree from London's Royal Veterinary College. Following veterinary volunteer and practice positions across South Africa, Hong Kong, and Bermuda, Richardson joined the Small Door Vet team.

Dr. Kelly Diehl is senior director of science and communications at Morris Animal Foundation and a board-certified veterinary internist with a subspecialty in gastroenterology. She is also a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Diehl received her DVM from the University of Tennessee and started her practice career in an emergency clinic in New Jersey before joining the Morris Animal Foundation.

Sensitive stomach cat food FAQs

What is the best sensitive stomach cat food?

The best cat food for a sensitive stomach depends on the individual cat and the cause of the upset stomach. Many sensitive stomach foods include easy-to-digest animal proteins such as byproducts and meals, limited carbohydrates, and healthy extras like fish oil and fermentable fibers like beet pulp. Limited ingredient diets may also lower the chances of a food reaction. However, over-the-counter diets may not be the best solution for every cat with a sensitive stomach. If your cat's upset stomach is caused by food allergies, your vet may recommend switching them to a prescription hydrolyzed diet. Hydrolyzed diets contain proteins that have been broken down into tiny pieces, which are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.

What cat food is easiest on the stomach?

Cats are obligate carnivores, so animal-based proteins are the easiest foods for them to digest. This includes whole-meat protein like deboned chicken, meat meals, and meat byproducts. Cats can eat recipes containing more than one type of animal protein, but they don't require a new recipe every day. In fact, changing recipes daily can affect your cat's appetite and upset their gut microbiome, Dierenfeld says.

What makes sensitive stomach cat food different?

The best cat food for a sensitive stomach typically contains moderate to low levels of fat and protein from sources cats can easily digest and absorb. These foods may also contain supplements that decrease gut inflammation and improve digestion. Examples of these supplements include omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and probiotics. However, the specific ingredients and nutritional profiles of sensitive stomach cat foods can vary between brands. If you have concerns about your cat's digestive health or nutritional needs, your vet can offer more guidance on the best diet and care for your cat's individual needs.

Is wet or dry food better for a cat with an upset stomach?

Dry cat foods generally contain more carbohydrates and less moisture than wet foods. Richardson says this can make dry food difficult for some cats with sensitive stomachs to digest. Wet foods, on the other hand, have more protein and less carbohydrates, which can make them a better choice for cats with sensitive stomachs. When choosing between wet and dry food, Saker says it's also important to consider your cat's preferences and the availability of special diets. Some hydrolyzed diets, which your vet may recommend for severe food allergies, only come in kibble form.

Best wet

If your cat regularly has digestive issues, your vet may recommend switching to a wet food diet to help relieve their stomach issues and keep them hydrated. Wet cat foods contain more moisture than dry foods, typically 75% to 78% moisture compared to 10% to 12%. This is important for cats who lose water through vomiting or diarrhea, says Dr. Kelly Fishman, a veterinarian and founder of Strut Animal Mobility Specialists.

Compared to dry food, the best wet cat foods typically have higher protein and lower carbohydrate content. This can help with weight control and digestion, says Dr. Jamie Richardson, a veterinarian and head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Vet.

Our pick from Royal Canin contains powdered cellulose and omega-3 fatty acids from salmon. According to Tufts University, cellulose is an insoluble fiber that may help relieve constipation by increasing stool volume and bowel movement frequency. Our pick from Merrick is made with limited ingredients. Limited ingredient diets can help reduce digestive upset in cats by limiting the number of ingredients in the food, says Dr. Korinn Saker, a veterinary nutritionist and associate professor of clinical nutrition at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

To compare the nutritional values of wet and dry cat foods, you need to convert wet food values to a dry matter basis. This means you remove all the moisture from the wet food and then calculate the nutritional values based on the remaining solids. We contacted the food manufacturers to get the dry matter values of our recommendations. If you'd like to compare other recipes, you can use these directions from the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, call the food manufacturer, or ask your vet for help.

Best dry

Wet food isn't always convenient or affordable, and some cats simply don't like it — but dry food makes a good alternative for most cats. Dry kibble has a long shelf life and stays fresh longer than canned foods after you open the package. So, you can buy the recipe that works best for your cat in larger quantities, which is often more budget-friendly.

Keep in mind, though, that dry foods typically contain more carbohydrates than wet foods. As a result, Richardson says some cats with sensitive stomachs may have a harder time digesting kibble. Look for recipes with complex carbohydrates, such as whole wheat, corn, or white potatoes. According to Tufts University, these carbohydrates provide nutrients such as fiber, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids.

Our picks for the best dry cat foods are specifically formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs. They contain easily digestible animal-based proteins and healthy extras like dried beet pulp and oats. Beet pulp contains insoluble and soluble fiber sources, and it's highly fermentable by cats, says Ellen Dierenfeld, a comparative animal nutritionist and founder of Zootrition. Fermentable means it feeds the good bacteria in the microbiome, which can improve digestion. Oats are a soluble fiber source that slows digestion and may help ease diarrhea.

Best for kittens

Kittens with diarrhea may benefit from a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, says Dr. Deb Zoran, a veterinary nutritionist and professor at Texas A&M University. This is because foods high in protein and fat provide energy and promote healthy development of a kitten's gastrointestinal tract, she says. Pet food labels don't always list the percentage of carbohydrates in a diet, but you can shop for foods that list whole meats, meat meals, and byproducts as the top ingredients before carbohydrate sources.

According to the AAFCO recommendations, food intended for kittens must contain at least 30% and 9% fat to support their growth and energy needs. However, Zoran says the best kitten foods for sensitive stomachs should be at least 40% protein on a dry matter basis. Just keep in mind that kittens could have an upset stomach for several reasons, including intestinal parasites. Before transitioning your kitten to a new diet, it's best to have their health checked by your vet.

Our picks include four different meat sources in the first five ingredients and exceed 40% protein on a dry matter basis. They also contain healthy additions like fish oil, which contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega fatty acid that's essential for cognitive growth and development. These foods have also undergone feeding trials to ensure they are palatable, digestible, and provide adequate nutrition. Royal Canin's Gastrointestinal Kitten food requires a prescription from your vet.

Best for seniors

Older pets may be more likely to have health problems, but getting sick isn't a normal part of aging. That's why it's important to watch your senior cat closely for any signs of gastrointestinal issues. For instance, cats who aren't getting the nutrients they need due to diarrhea or vomiting may lose weight or have dull coats.

Cats are good at hiding when they're ill, Diehl says. But signs like chronic vomiting, loose stool, or very pungent poop can all point to health issues. Your vet can help narrow down the cause and recommend dietary changes that may help. It's essential to get guidance from your vet, since managing a sensitive stomach through diet depends on many factors, including other underlying health conditions, Diehl says.

Because cats are obligate carnivores, the best senior cat foods for sensitive stomachs may be high in protein. However, not all senior cats can eat high-protein diets. For instance, high-protein diets can be harmful to senior cats with health conditions like chronic kidney disease. Our low-protein senior pick from Hill's includes fish oil, which can help improve skin and joint health and ease gastrointestinal inflammation. Our high-protein senior picks from Purina and Wellness contain inulin (commonly derived from chicory root), which is a soluble and insoluble fiber source. While insoluble fibers help keep bowel movements regular, soluble fibers absorb water and form a gel in the stomach. This can help cats maintain a healthy weight by slowing their digestion and keeping them full between feedings.

What to look for in sensitive stomach cat food

When shopping for the best cat food for a sensitive stomach, you'll want to consider the following criteria:

AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for growth, adult maintenance, or all life stages: The most basic measure of nutritionally complete kitten and cat food is an AAFCO statement on the label. The AAFCO is a nonprofit organization that recommends nutritional standards for pet food. Recommendations are based on life stages, so food with an AAFCO statement for growth or all life stages is complete and balanced for kittens, while food with an AAFCO statement for maintenance or all life stages is complete and balanced for adult cats. The AAFCO hasn't established specific recommendations for senior cat diets. Foods for senior cats must meet the minimum AAFCO nutritional recommendations for adult or all life stages foods.

Guaranteed analysis and nutrient profiles: The guaranteed analysis on a pet food label shows the percentages of important nutrients, including protein, fat, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Food for kittens must meet the AAFCO's recommended minimum of 30% protein and 9% fat, and food for adult cats, including seniors, must have a minimum of 26% protein and 9% fat.

Our experts say it's important to carefully examine the guaranteed analysis for cat foods. As obligate carnivores, cats can digest high-protein diets more easily than foods with low animal protein and high carbohydrates. For some cats, the best cat food for a sensitive stomach may be high in protein, but high-protein diets can be harmful to some senior cats with certain health conditions. This is one reason why it's essential to ask your vet before transitioning diets.

Ingredients list: The ingredients on a pet food label appear in order of weight. Dierenfeld says that muscle meat proteins provide the best source of essential amino acids for obligate carnivores like cats. In other words, animal proteins in the form of whole meat, meat meal, or animal byproducts should come first on the ingredients list. When choosing the best cat food for a sensitive stomach, you can also check for ingredients that promote healthy digestion and ease inflammation, like probiotics, prebiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so animal-based proteins should always be listed as the first ingredient in cat food. The best cat food for a sensitive stomach may be higher in protein than other cat foods. Our recommendations include quality protein sources in the form of whole meat, meat meals, and meat byproducts. Saker says that meals and byproducts are concentrated forms of protein that are just as nutritious and digestible — if not more so — than whole protein sources.

Expert formulations: Our picks for the best cat food for a sensitive stomach meet quality control standards recommended by WSAVA. This means the brands employ a full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a PhD-level animal nutritionist. These standards help ensure your cat's food meets nutritional recommendations and includes the right ingredients.

Manufacturing standards: Zoran says pet foods can vary slightly from batch to batch, which can trigger digestive upset in cats with sensitive stomachs. When choosing the best cat food for a sensitive stomach, it's wise to consider the quality control measures and facilities used. Brands that own their manufacturing plants have greater control over the ingredients in their recipes and, therefore, the food your cat consumes. Pet food brands should also be transparent about how they implement quality control measures. In short, they shouldn't just say they conduct quality control.

Calorie content: The calorie content of cat food is listed in kilocalories (kcals). Your cat's calorie needs will depend on their age, activity level, and overall health. For example, kittens grow quickly in their first year and should eat multiple high-calorie meals per day. Your vet can recommend the ideal number of daily calories for adults and senior cats based on the cat's lifestyle and ideal weight. Vets can also teach you how to check your cat's body condition score (BCS) between wellness visits. The BCS is a visual tool that helps you assess your cat's body fat on a scale of 1 to 9. This information can help you understand if they need to lose or gain weight. That said, it's always best to talk to your vet before adjusting your cat's daily portion sizes.

How we selected the best cat food for sensitive stomachs

To narrow down our picks for the best cat food for a sensitive stomach, we spoke with three veterinary nutritionists, two small animal veterinarians, and one board-certified veterinary internist.

Dr. Deb Zoran is a board-certified small animal internist, nutritionist, and small animal clinical sciences professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University.

Dr. Korinn Saker is a board-certified veterinarian, a distinguished member of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and a professor of clinical nutrition at the College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University.

Ellen Dierenfeld is a comparative animal nutritionist with an MS and PhD in Animal Nutrition from Cornell University. She is the founder of Zootrition, a software designed to record and evaluate the diets of animals. She has over 30 years of experience in zoo, wildlife, and companion animal nutrition.

Dr. Kelly Fishman is a small-animal veterinarian and founder of Strut Animal Mobility Specialists. She received her BS at UC Berkeley, conducted veterinary and neuroscience research at UCSF, and earned her DVM at Ross University. She is trained in animal acupuncture, physical rehabilitation, and specialty companion animal diets. She also advises on supplement use.

Dr. Jamie Richardson is a general practice veterinarian and head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Vet. After completing her undergraduate studies, Richardson moved to the UK to pursue a veterinary degree from London's Royal Veterinary College. Following veterinary volunteer and practice positions across South Africa, Hong Kong, and Bermuda, Richardson joined the Small Door Vet team.

Dr. Kelly Diehl is senior director of science and communications at Morris Animal Foundation and a board-certified veterinary internist with a subspecialty in gastroenterology. She is also a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Diehl received her DVM from the University of Tennessee and started her practice career in an emergency clinic in New Jersey before joining the Morris Animal Foundation.

We also consulted guidelines and recommendations from the AAFCO, the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, and other publications and organizations linked in this guide.

Sensitive stomach cat food FAQs

What is the best food for a cat with a sensitive stomach?

The best cat food for a sensitive stomach depends on the individual cat and the cause of the upset stomach. Many sensitive stomach foods include easy-to-digest animal proteins such as byproducts and meals, limited carbohydrates, and healthy extras like fish oil and fermentable fibers like beet pulp. Limited ingredient diets may also lower the chances of a food reaction. However, over-the-counter diets may not be the best solution for every cat with a sensitive stomach. If your cat's upset stomach is caused by food allergies, your vet may recommend switching them to a prescription hydrolyzed diet. Hydrolyzed diets contain proteins that have been broken down into tiny pieces, which are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction.

What cat food is easiest on the stomach?

Cats are obligate carnivores, so animal-based proteins are the easiest foods for them to digest. This includes whole-meat protein like deboned chicken, meat meals, and meat byproducts. Cats can eat recipes containing more than one type of animal protein, but they don't require a new recipe every day. In fact, changing recipes daily can affect your cat's appetite and upset their gut microbiome, says Dierenfeld.

What makes sensitive stomach cat food different?

The best cat food for a sensitive stomach typically contains moderate to low levels of fat and protein from sources cats can easily digest and absorb. These foods may also contain supplements that decrease gut inflammation and improve digestion. Examples of these supplements include omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and probiotics. However, the specific ingredients and nutritional profiles of sensitive stomach cat foods can vary between brands. If you have concerns about your cat's digestive health or nutritional needs, your vet can offer more guidance on the best diet and care for your cat's individual needs.

Is wet or dry food better for a cat with an upset stomach?

Dry cat foods generally contain more carbohydrates and less moisture than wet foods. Richardson says this can make dry food difficult for some cats with sensitive stomachs to digest. Wet foods, on the other hand, have more protein and less carbohydrates, which can make them a better choice for cats with sensitive stomachs. When choosing between wet and dry food, Saker says it's also important to consider your cat's preferences and the availability of special diets. Some hydrolyzed diets, which your vet may recommend for severe food allergies, only come in kibble form.

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• I went to Cabo in Mexico with my fiance and, looking back, I made a few mistakes.
• Turns out, many resorts, including the one we booked, are on beaches where swimming isn't allowed.
• I wish we'd left the property for some meals, and I'd realized how intense a sailboat ride could be.

"Never have I ever been to Mexico."

For years, this was my go-to kill shot in the quintessential party game, since it seemed like I was the only one among my friends who could say it.

Although we lived in the US, most of them had vacationed in Mexico at some point in their lives. However, I joined the club in late 2023 when I finally had the opportunity to go to Cabo with my fiance.

The all-inclusive property we stayed at was stunning, and we had a good time. However, looking back, I made a few mistakes that could've been easily avoided.

Here are three missteps from my trip that could happen to anyone — and what I'd do differently next time.

I didn't realize we wouldn't be able to swim in the ocean near our beachfront resort

Cabo's beachfront resorts have incredible ocean views — but, at some locations, you'll only be able to look at the water.

During the trip, I learned it's unsafe to go swimming at many of the beaches along the Sea of Cortez due to strong currents, steep drop-offs, and dangerous riptides.

Where we stayed at El Medano Beach at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica turned out to be one of those "lounge-only" spots. Although we were able to walk and sunbathe on the nearby beach, I was disappointed I couldn't go in the water.

Although this is mentioned on the hotel's website, I didn't think to check before booking because I hadn't anticipated not being able to swim in the ocean at a resort that's on a beach.

Luckily, the property had two massive pools where we spent most of our time instead. They were great and I loved sipping cocktails poolside, but I missed the feeling of salt water on my skin.

Looking back, I wish I'd done more research on the location so I could've mentally prepared or made plans to visit one of the area's swimmable sections of beach.

If you plan to visit Los Cabos and want to swim in the ocean, I suggest researching beforehand to see where that's possible.

We should've made plans to dine outside our all-inclusive resort

When staying at an all-inclusive resort with multiple dining options, it's easy to opt for convenience over having to seek out local flavors.

Between breezy poolside brunches at Siempre and upscale dinners at Peninsula or Quivira Steakhouse on the property, I felt pretty well taken care of in the food department.

That said, I'm still kicking myself for not venturing off-site at least once to explore downtown Cabo's vibrant dining scene.

It wouldn't have been difficult to call a cab or take the resort's complimentary shuttle downtown, but I got caught up in the ease of on-site dining and skipped the chance to taste local cuisine.

After learning more about the fresh seafood at Mariscos Las Tres Islas, huge portions at Campestre, and street tacos at Tacos Gardenias, I definitely feel like I missed out.

For a more well-rounded experience, I'd recommend planning ahead to dine where the locals do.

The sailing cruise wasn't what I expected, and I wish I'd known my limits

I've always loved exploring new destinations from the water and have never struggled with motion sickness, so I wasn't worried when my fiance and I booked a sunset cruise during our stay.

The first half of the excursion was amazing. We saw striking rock formations (like the famous "El Arco"), sunbathing sea lions, and mesmerizing views of the coastline.

Then, the crew opened up the sails, and our ride dramatically changed. When the boat became fully dependent on the wind and waves, the unpredictable movement and sudden jerks made me instantly sick to my stomach.

Most sailboats in Cabo are designed to tilt with the wind without capsizing, but the extreme tilting had me clinging to the rails for dear life anyway.

It was on this day that I learned I am not a sailboat girl — at least, not when the sailboat is in choppy Pacific waters.

If I could do it over, I would opt to take a catamaran or sail in the morning when it's less windy and the waters are calmer. I'd also stock up on Dramamine to help with motion sickness.

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• Bank of America's Michael Hartnett expects the stock rally to fade.
• Stock investors are behaving as if there has been more progress on trade negotiations.
• The current setup amounts to "buy the expectation, sell the fact," Hartnett said.

With one US trade deal announced this week, markets are upbeat about more progress to come, but investors should be wary of buying into trade optimism, Bank of America's chief investment strategist wrote.

BofA's Michael Hartnett said the market's bounce since April's historic spasm of volatility suggests that investors are front-running the possibility of lower tariffs and more trade deals this quarter. The S&P 500 is up nearly 14% from April lows, but the rally leaves little room for more gains.

"We expect 'buy the expectation, sell the fact,'" Hartnett and his team wrote. In their view, the rally will fade as more deals are announced.

That's an unsettling prospect for analysts who have increasingly shaped their market outlooks around easing trade tensions. Deutsche Bank said recently that it thinks a meaningful dip in the tariff rate could deliver a sharp rally that pushes the S&P 500 to 6,150 by year-end.

Morgan Stanley, meanwhile, is particularly focused on the US reaching a trade deal with China, which could serve as a key catalyst for the benchmark index.

But Hartnett is more bearish. In predicting that the rally will lose steam regardless of whether tariffs come down, he said he continues to favor international equities over US shares, as well as bonds and gold.

The analysts said that investors are overexposed to the theme of " US exceptionalism." The America-first trade is "clashing with new populist policies of higher tariffs, smaller government, lower immigration, fewer wars," and other policies that will weigh on the country's growth.

In November, Hartnett similarly warned that a long period of outperformance in US markets was nearing the end.

For now, investors should stay invested in five-year Treasurys, at least until news on tax cuts, a China trade deal, and rate cuts.

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• Western militaries are trying to develop drones capable of operating in the Arctic.
• Tough weather conditions can impact a drone's batteries and navigation systems.
• There's growing competition in the region between Western countries, Russia, and China.

Drones are transforming warfare, and Western militaries are now in an intensifying race to develop models capable of operating in one of the harshest environments on Earth: the Arctic.

NATO countries are fast discovering the potential, as well as limits, of drones in the Arctic, where geopolitical competition is intensifying.

Russia and China have increased their military presence in the region, and the Pentagon said last year it will be relying more on unmanned technologies to monitor regional threats.

Military analysts told Business Insider that drones could be crucial in any military confrontation in the region.

However, there are major obstacles to deploying the technology at scale in an area where winter temperatures can drop to -40 degrees.

A new race for Arctic dominance

In Ukraine, drones, both aerial and naval, have been heavily used for surveillance as well as being fitted with explosives to strike targets.

The challenge of using drones in the Arctic comes down to the region's "harsh environment and its lack of connectivity," Nicolas Jouan, a defence and security analyst at RAND Europe, told BI.

Most Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles, or UAVs, are powered by batteries, which are badly affected by cold weather, he said.

Another issue is communication, with most drones directed by controllers using GPS signals. Satellites, though, can provide only "reduced and unreliable" GPS coverage in the Arctic, Jouan added.

In late April, the UK's 30 Commando Information Exploitation Group said it had been testing the limits of drone technology in extreme cold weather training in Norway, as well as testing new models there.

Around the same time, Col. Joshua Glonek, the commander of the US 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division, told reporters that during recent extreme cold-weather training in Germany, drone operations were severely impacted.

"What we found was battery life was significantly degraded in the cold and affected the flight time and the ability of us to employ some of our drones," he said.

Zak Kallenborn, a drone warfare analyst, told BI that the commercial drones that have become ubiquitous in the war in Ukraine struggle to handle the cold.

"Some small drones have been developed to handle cold weather conditions, but I don't know if they can handle as cold as the Arctic," he said.

Russia's advantage

Gregory Falco, an assistant professor at the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University, told BI that the systems used by drones to collect data, such as cameras and lidar — which uses lasers to register distance and chart territory — can also be affected by adverse weather.

The "biggest challenge for developing drones for Arctic warfare is the sensing in a heavily denied environment," he said.

Complicating the situation, at least for Western countries, is the fact that Russia appears to have a drone technology advantage in the region.

The Russian military has deployed UAV models, including the Orlan-10 and Inokhodets, in the Arctic, and is developing a specialized combat drone, the S-70 Okhotnik.

The S-70 is a plane-sized drone that can be deployed for attack missions or surveillance. It has reportedly been tested in Arctic conditions, though its technology is a closely guarded secret; Russia shot one down in 2024 to stop it falling into Ukrainian hands.

Working together

The fears are that Russia could use its Arctic drone strength to expand its regional power.

James Patton Rogers, a drone expert at Cornell University, told Reuters in January that Russia would likely soon be able to monitor the North Sea route, connecting Europe and Asia, with drones.

"We're moving towards a point where Russia will not only have unarmed surveillance drone systems along the Northern Sea Route, but potentially armed systems that are constantly patrolling those areas," he said.

In the race to boost their presence in the Arctic, and integrate new drone technologies, some Western countries are cooperating closely together.

In May 2024, Denmark and Norway announced that they'd be launching joint drone reconnaissance operations in the region, with the MQ-4C Triton among the models being considered.

A report last year for the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that Northrop Grumman's long-range MQ-4C Triton was among the few Western-made drones capable of operating effectively in Arctic conditions.

But they're designed for high altitude surveillance, and would be attractive targets for Russia, it said.

Norway is also set to open a drone surveillance base in Andoya, the hub of its military in the region, The Barents Observer reported.

And some Scandinavian countries are seeking to develop their own drones capable of withstanding Arctic conditions.

"Russia has been working on Arctic-rated drones for longer than the US, but Sweden and Finland have been working on this too," Falco said.

Quantity, not just quality

In its 2024 report, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that, when it comes to the Arctic, drone numbers will count as much as they have in Ukraine, and that Western countries should prioritize scale, not just quality.

"Rather than opting for fewer numbers of expensive drones, which do not capture the military-technological advantages of evolving drone capabilities, the Arctic should choose instead to adopt many less-expensive variations," it suggested.

But, according to Falco, the US will have to work closely with its Arctic region allies if it wants to compete with Russia.

"We need to rely on these partners to be at parity in the Arctic domain," he said.

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• Sam Altman told senators he does not want his son's best friend to be an AI bot.
• More people are forming personal relationships with AI, the OpenAI CEO said Thursday.
• Altman said he thinks kids need "a much higher level of protection" than adults using AI tools.

Sam Altman's friendship goals for his infant son do not include AI.

The OpenAI CEO was asked during a Thursday Senate testimony whether he'd want his child to form a best-friend bond with an AI bot.

"I do not," Altman replied.

The question, from Senator Bernie Moreno, came during a broader discussion about how to shield children from harm in the AI era as people trust them with more personal information.

"These AI systems will get to know you over the course of your life so well — that presents a new challenge and level of importance for how we think about privacy in the world of AI," said Altman, who became a father in February.

Altman said that people are already forming deeply personal relationships with AI.

"It's a newer thing in recent months, and I don't think it's all bad," he said. "But I think we have to understand it and watch it very carefully."

Altman said there should be greater flexibility for adults using AI tools, while children should have "a much higher level of protection."

But, as with other online services, it can be difficult to be certain of the age of users.

"If we could draw a line and if we knew for sure when a user was a child or an adult, we would allow adults to be much more permissive and we'd have tighter rules for children," Altman added.

Altman has previously spoken about what it means to raise a child in the AI era.

"My kid is never gonna grow up being smarter than AI," he said during a January episode of the Re:Thinking podcast with Adam Grant. "Children in the future will only know a world with AI in it."

Last month, Altman said OpenAI was no longer his proudest achievement after his son, who was born prematurely, learned to eat on his own.

On Thursday, Altman said his son is "doing well," adding that it's "the most amazing thing ever."

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The world of VPN providers is one of the most competitive spaces in modern tech, meaning there's often a strong selection of freshly discounted VPN deals and promotions to tempt you over to their side of the digital security world. I've seen the cheapest VPN prices drop as low as $1.99 a month, and you'll even get some extra months thrown into your plan at no extra charge.

These reliable VPNs (short for virtual private network) app services seriously improve your devices' privacy and security and help unlock cheaper, or even free, international streaming opportunities throughout the year.

VPN prices drop to their lowest levels with the longer-term plans. You'll rarely see VPN providers reduce the price on the single-month rolling contracts, but if you sign up for a year or more, the equivalent monthly price comes crashing down. Right now, we're talking discounts as high as 87%.

If you're reading this article from outside the US, VPN sites linked on this page will show you the equivalent discounted price in your local currency.

Because you don't have all day, and I prefer cutting to the chase, I've decided to only cover VPN deals from the best VPN providers I've personally tested. I'm happy to recommend them as excellent products that I and members of my team still use regularly. Some of them are seriously cheap today, too. All come with a 30-day (or longer) money-back guarantee, so you're free to bag a refund if you're not getting what you need or if you just change your mind.

I've listed the lowest per-month US rates above. Below, you'll see the best value total plan prices for the bundles with extra details about what you're getting. Prices are usually displayed as effective 'per month' rates, but just be aware that you'll be charged upfront rather than once a month.

Top 5 best VPN deals in detail

• Surfshark - from $1.99 p/m + 3 free months

• See also: Surfshark review

Of all our favorite tested VPNs, you won't find a better cheap VPN deal this month than Surfshark's. The two-year plan prices start from just $1.99 a month and include an extra three months on top of the initial 24. This cheapest 'Starter' tier is the one I'd recommend for most people, as it has everything I'd expect from a top-tier VPN.

Dipping your toe in with a rolling one-month plan is much more expensive. Prices start at $15.45 a month, which is certainly on the higher end of rolling contracts for VPNs. So I'd advise picking up a two-year deal for the best savings. Remember, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee to get a full refund if the service isn't what you were hoping for.

The middle tier (Surfshark One) packs a few extra features for just a fraction more than the Starter tier at $2.49. But if you look at the feature list above, you'll see that many of the extras are probably already built into your phone or laptop. Also, the masked email generator feature has been very hit-and-miss for me lately - setting up a burner Gmail account is much better, to be honest.

Surfshark One+ is worth considering for data removal services, especially if you're concerned about all the never-ending spam/junk mail making its way into your regular inbox. It's not perfect, but it can certainly help. We've reviewed this service independently, so head to our Incogni review for more details.

• NordVPN - from $3.09 p/m
• See also: NordVPN review

The latest NordVPN deals on two-year plans cut prices by up to 77%. The one-year NordVPN deals are strong, too, with discounts going as high as 70%. Rolling one-month plans don't involve any discounts, though - which is usually the case across the board whenever I'm checking for fresh VPN deals.

The 'Plus' and 'Complete' tiers of NordVPN include a password manager, ad blockers, malware protection, data breach scanners, and more.

The new 'Prime' tier adds a range of NordProtect features, such as identity, SSN and credit monitoring, and identity theft insurance, but even with a discount, the monthly fee jumps to $6.99 a month on a two-year deal.

The cheapest basic tier is plenty for most users who just want to keep their browsing private and do some international streaming. It's the one I'd recommend to most people, as you can get many items on the more expensive tiers as free apps or as features on your phone's operating system or laptop browser.

• ExpressVPN - from $4.99 p/m + 4 months free
• See also: ExpressVPN review

• PIA VPN - from $2.19 p/m + 2 months free
• See also: PIA VPN review

• CyberGhost - from $2.19 p/m + 2 months free
• See also: CyberGhost VPN review

What about a free VPN?

Free VPNs usually have some sort of cost, some much more concerning than others. On the lighter side, I often find free VPNs extremely limited in their feature set and connection types, or come with low data caps, making them useless if you want to do some overseas streaming, as video crunches through data in no time.

Free VPNs can seriously hinder download speeds, often making basic web browsing a slog. Combine this with the already atrocious speeds of some public or cafe WiFi (where you should absolutely use a VPN in this day and age), and you'll struggle to complete even the most basic of online work tasks.

I've also seen plenty riddled with ads, some cluttering the screen and others with lengthy, unskippable videos when you try to switch the VPN on. If you've dabbled in mobile gaming, you'll know how frustrating this can be.

On the security and privacy side of things, I often find free VPNs aren't particularly upfront about their no-logs policy and don't offer up independent audit reports, which means you're at risk of all your data being collected by the free VPN provider to do with as they please, usually selling it to marketers. So, if you're tired of Google and Facebook doing this, a free VPN isn't going to be much better. And if you're really unlucky, they could be much worse.

That's because some particularly malicious VPN apps are basically Trojan horses for all sorts of nasty malware, adware, or even ransomware. These digital nasties can invade your devices to harvest all your personal details and passwords and hack and hijack your personal accounts for everything from social media to banking.

When do the best VPN deals appear?

November and December are the best times of year to grab the best VPN deals. Some begin in early November, but everyone generally seems to have their best price live by the Monday before Black Friday. The discounts usually involve a bit extra off the average monthly price on the longer deals like six, 12, or 24-month subscriptions - plus, you'll often see VPN providers throw in additional months for free.

Take 2024. I saw many discounted monthly rates from Black Friday continue through December - some have extended into January 2025, too. The only thing that's changed over this period for the brands on this page is the number of free months offered.

Prices didn't rise too much once these sales ended, though. You're looking at an extra 30-60 cents more a month at most, or fewer free months offered - nothing substantial enough to make you feel obligated to wait until the end-of-year sales come around again. These VPN services still offer significant discounts on longer plans all year round. I never see the single one-month rolling contract prices go down, though, and they're often more than double the monthly rate of the longer commitments. That's where the 30-45-day money-back guarantees come into play, though, if you're hesitant about signing up for longer subs.

VPN: More than just digital security & privacy

VPNs go well with TV, movies, and live sports. You can access international versions of Netflix, tune into free sports overseas, and much more. Check out our roundup of the best streaming services if you want something to watch. NFL fans armed with a new VPN should take a look at our free NFL live stream guide, too.

If unlocking international streaming is one of your main reasons for picking up a VPN deal, then all of the above VPNs I've selected have solid records for apps like Netflix, Max, Stan, and more. If you're into live sports streaming, I'd give the edge to ExpressVPN over the others as it does a better job with particularly long-distance streaming (like UK to Australia) of live sports events that are shown for free on Australian channels like 9Now and 7+ for cricket and NFL.

The other VPN apps seem to need to buffer more often on those channels for some reason, although Australian on-demand apps like Stan seem to be fine on all of these VPNs - Stan and a VPN is a great way to catch every match of the Champions League live streams by the way.

Looking for the latest offers on movie and TV apps? Take a look at Lillian's roundup of the best streaming deals.

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• Trump said on Friday that the GOP "should probably not" raise taxes on the rich.
• He argued that if they did so, Democrats would use it against them.
• Democrats have long supported raising taxes on the wealthy.

President Donald Trump says he'd be fine raising taxes on rich people like him, but he's still warning his party not to do it.

In a Truth Social post on Friday morning, Trump said that Republicans "should probably not" increase taxes on the wealthy, but said he's "OK if they do!!!"

Trump's missive came one day after multiple outlets reported that he had urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to create a new tax bracket for those making more than $2.5 million per year, raising the rate they pay from 37% to 39.6%.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are currently working on a sweeping bill that will include changes to the tax code and cuts to government spending.

Trump suggested that Democrats would try to make Republicans pay politically for a tax hike on the rich, despite the fact that Democrats have generally long supported increasing taxes on the wealthy.

The president referenced President George H.W. Bush's 1988 pledge not to raise taxes, which he ultimately broke during a budget negotiation with Congress in 1990.

"The Radical Left Democrat Lunatics would go around screaming, 'Read my lips,' the fabled Quote by George Bush the Elder that is said to have cost him the Election," Trump said, adding: "NO, Ross Perot cost him the Election!"

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• Nouriel Roubini sees a shallow US recession hitting by late 2025 because of tariffs.
• He also sees technological advancements in AI and robotics driving a US investment boom.
• Bond market pressures may force Trump to de-escalate tariffs, Roubini said.

Wall Street's Dr. Doom isn't as gloomy about the US economy as he has been in past years.

Nouriel Roubini, the famed economist known for his bearish views on the market, is surprisingly upbeat in the face of tariff-fueled anxieties and broad economic uncertainty, which have been a headwind for stocks.

Speaking with Bloomberg this week, the New York University professor gave his thoughts on various topics, offering up predictions on a recession, the bond market, and artificial intelligence.

Here are four things the renowned economist is thinking about.

A mild US recession by year-end

The US could enter a downturn by the fourth quarter of 2025, which could be brought on by the inflationary impact of tariffs, Roubini said.

Roubini said he thinks it's likely that President Donald Trump will edge back from his harshest tariff threats, with a 10% to 15% universal duty on goods imported from many countries and a 60% tariff on China.

That's the tariff plan Trump proposed on the campaign trail, Roubini noted. Under that plan, he estimated that the core personal consumption expenditures, the Fed's preferred inflation measure, could trend toward 4% by the end of the year, up from 2.6% in March.

"That's a hit to disposable income. You have weakening of consumer and business sentiment," he said of his recession forecast, adding: "It's going to be short and shallow because then the Fed is going to cut rates."

A US investment boom fueled by tech

While some investors have been shifting away from US assets, Roubini sees the US market prospering over the next several years, largely due to optimism stemming from increased productivity.

He pointed to America's edge over other nations in technological advancements such as AI, robotics, and quantum computing.

In his view, growth resulting from those areas could more than offset the negative impact of tariffs. Roubini estimated that tech advancements could raise US yearly growth from 2% to 4% by the end of the decade.

If Trump implemented a 10% universal tariff and a 60% tariff on China, he said, trade policy would likely dent US growth by just half a percentage point over that timeframe.

"What I've recently said is that tech trumps tariffs. And what I mean is that the US is really No. 1 in many of the technologies of the future," Roubini said.

"I think that's why that over the medium term, the fact that the US is very innovative implies that whatever Trump does doesn't matter. So tech trumps tariffs. Tech trumps Trump, too," he added.

Bond market guardrails

Trump could be forced to de-escalate his trade policy over actions by so-called bond vigilantes, traders who stage a sell-off in US Treasurys to force the government to exercise more fiscal restraint or implement more favorable economic policies.

Trump, who has said he wants to lower borrowing costs for Americans during his term, is keeping an eye on the 10-year US Treasury yield, his team has said.

The president also indicated he'd been watching the bond market before announcing the 90-day pause on most tariffs in April, though he later claimed he wasn't worried about the sell-off.

"The most powerful people in the world are the bond vigilantes. So I think he's boxed in. There'll be de-escalation," Roubini said.

Gold will keep shining

Tariff jitters have made gold more attractive to investors, and that trend will likely continue, Roubini said. He also speculated that the US dollar could continue to weaken in the coming years.

Gold will likely reap the largest gains from this trend, Roubini said. For one, traders selling the US dollar and Treasury bonds are unlikely to scoop up other foreign currencies in significant amounts, as that could raise the value of those currencies relative to the dollar, which could upset some political alliances.

Gold, meanwhile, is a reserve asset that cannot be seized, Roubini added, pointing to when Russia's foreign reserve assets were confiscated by the US and the EU shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

"You want to have good relations. So what do you do? The best things you can do is to sell Treasurys and buy gold," he said. "So I would see gold being the biggest winner."

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• My two teenage sons have started lifting weights at the gym.
• I'm worried that they're going to hurt themselves or that it'll develop into an obsession.
• When I spoke with my trainer, I learned I need to stay engaged in their workouts.

Instead of asking, "What's for dinner?" my teenage sons — 16 and 18 — now say, "What protein are we having tonight?"

They recently joined a gym and are focusing their time on strength training.

Since they started, the pull-up bar has been a fixture on the laundry room door, and they challenge one another to see who can do the most reps. They also now flex their "guns" at any opportunity.

When they started, I was concerned about their physical and mental well-being. But I'm now trying to be more open to it.

The idea of my boys lifting weights concerned me

When they started at the gym, the idea made me uncomfortable. It seemed like an adult activity.

I was mostly concerned about the potential impacts of gym culture — being surrounded by guys bulking up and obsessing over their muscles in mirrors as they counted their reps.

While I recognized it was good that they were taking an interest in their health and fitness, I worried about the potential harms of weightlifting on their growing bodies if they used bad technique, used machines incorrectly, or attempted to lift heavier weights than they were able because of peer pressure.

Part of the appeal is the social aspect; they never go alone, always meeting friends at the gym before or after school. It's great to see them out of the house and socializing in real life rather than online, but my mind defaults to the flip side of image-based social media influencers and the teenage need to look a certain way and fit in. What if this interest becomes a preoccupation?

Joining the gym myself and speaking with my trainers helped

After doing some research, I learned that strength training can be beneficial for young people. It can help strengthen their muscles, help them maintain a healthy weight, protect them from sports-related injuries, and keep blood pressure low, the Mayo Clinic says.

To fully understand what my sons are getting into, though, I've joined the gym too — a different one so I don't embarrass them. I started strength training for the first time.

It has been reassuring to speak with a qualified trainer about how to support my sons with strength training and generally living a healthy lifestyle.

My trainers put into context my worry that the move to weightlifting could be about getting the right physique rather than general health and fitness. My sons are teenagers, so, of course, they're going to care about how they look, but I should stay engaged with what they are doing at the gym and how much.

We don't spend every dinner talking about lifting, but I do regularly ask what exercises they're doing, who is guiding them, and how much they're lifting.

My trainers also advised that it's important that strength training is balanced with other activities to give the muscles time to rest and recover, so I've instituted a three-times-a-week rule and insisted they don't quit their team sports.

As for diet, there's no way I'm cooking steaks or pounds of chicken breast each night, no matter what the gym influencers they follow on Instagram suggest. There's a bag of protein powder in the cupboard for after their workouts, but we continue to eat a balanced diet with protein, vegetables, and fruits, as well as carbs, which are essential to fuel their growing bodies.

I'm hoping to instill positive habits

I know strength training and exercise can lead to obsessive behaviors, so I'm trying to teach them how to stay positive as their bodies change.

By informing myself and bringing my own gym experience to the conversation, I'm trying to create a positive narrative about health and strength for people of all ages.

Whenever I get nervous about their gym activities, I remind myself that they're getting off their screens and moving their bodies.

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• Nobody likes Pap smears.
• A new DIY home swab kit for cervical cancer aims to make that part of the procedure more comfortable.
• It's set to be available to Californians in June, with other states to follow.

Pap smears are dreaded, uncomfortable chores at the OB-GYN's office. They're also life-saving procedures.

A new, tampon-shaped do-it-yourself test from Teal Health aims to make the most important part of your Pap smear — the cervical cancer screening — a little more comfortable and private. On Friday, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Teal's at-home cervical cancer screening test, the first of its kind in the US.

The new test can't replace pelvic exams entirely, but it could help close the gap in cervical cancer screenings. In the US, roughly one in four women are behind on their Pap smears for a variety of reasons, including a lack of access.

"It's just a new way of collecting the sample, it's not a new test," Teal Health CEO Kara Egan told Business Insider. "You can actually eliminate cervical cancer in the US, if we actually screen."

A tampon for cancer screening

Teal's test screens for human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the virus that causes more than 99% of cervical cancer cases.

The device is designed like a tampon, with a plastic applicator that guides a squishy, spongy tip that deploys and collects a sample from inside the vagina. In testing of over 600 women at 16 clinical trial sites nationwide, Teal found that 98% of users get an accurate test result on their first try, and 94% of participants preferred it to getting their test in a doctor's office.

After the results are mailed in and processed, Teal asks patients to schedule a follow-up telehealth visit with one of its providers to discuss their results.

"Any method that can actually bring screening to patients and overcome some of the barriers that prevent women from getting appropriate screening will be exciting and important," Dr. Melissa Frey, a gynecologic oncologist who directs the Genetics and Personalized Cancer Prevention Program at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, told Business Insider.

While an HPV test isn't the only component of a Pap smear, Frey said it is the "most important" test.

Home tests still can't do it all.

"Overall, I'm very much in favor of new screening modalities that help meet patients where they are," Dr. Rachel Flink-Bochacki, an academic OB-GYN in New York, told Business Insider. "My one hesitation is that there are so many other things that happen during a healthcare visit, so many other benefits, even just to a routine Pap smear."

An in-office Pap smear can detect other, less common cancers that an HPV screening wouldn't pick up. During a pelvic exam, a doctor may also notice other concerns like abnormal warts or veins, and can spot signs of endometriosis, fibroids, skin issues, abnormal masses, or infection.

She is sensitive to the fact that many women avoid staying up to date on pelvic exams and Pap smears, sometimes because of a past sexual trauma. For this reason, she says some of her patients collect their own HPV test samples in her office during their visit.

"For somebody who can't or isn't comfortable accessing gynecologic care, a test that allows at-home HPV screening could be really impactful," Flink-Bochacki said.

A deadly but preventable cancer

In the 1940s, cervical cancer was a leading cause of cancer death for women in the US. With the widespread adoption of Pap smears in the 1940s and then the first HPV vaccine in 2006, cases and deaths have declined sharply. There are still disparities in who gets screened and treated, with minorities and women living in rural areas often lagging behind.

"Having seen those patients, again, although there are not many of them, each one of those is a really significant loss," Frey said. "These are often very young women who are otherwise healthy, and who should have had a normal lifespan."

With widespread HPV vaccination, plus adequate cancer screening, it is possible to essentially prevent cervical cancer. In Australia, at-home HPV tests, coupled with widespread HPV vaccination, have the country on track to end cervical cancer as a public health issue by 2035, according to Cancer Council NSW.

In areas of the world where screening and HPV vaccination are not as accessible, cervical cancer is still a major concern and a top cause of cancer death for women. According to the American Cancer Society, cervical cancer is still the deadliest cancer for women in 37 countries around the world.

Teal's at-home cervical cancer screening test will be available to patients in California starting in June. The company says it is working with the big health insurers, including Aetna, Cigna, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. There will also be a cash pay option, with details set to be announced in the coming weeks.

"Before the end of the year, you'll see us go to the other states," Egan said.

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• Shipments from China to the US fell sharply last month as the trade war kicked off.
• Chinese exports dropped 21% from a year ago.
• Trade is picking up between China and its neighbors, data shows.

The first hard data to emerge from the US-China trade war shows trade between the world's two biggest economies is already way down.

Chinese exports to the US tanked 21% in April compared to a year ago, according to customs administration data cited by Bloomberg. Imports from the US into China fell nearly 14% year over year.

Trading volumes have dropped as a result of the punitive tariffs both countries have imposed after President Donald Trump ramped up duties on imports from China to 145% last month.

Port authorities have been on the lookout for trade ramifications to bubble up, warning that tariffs could significantly shrink inventories in the US and lead to price hikes.

Last month, Apollo's top economist predicted empty shelves would start appearing in May and the US would fall into a recession by the summertime.

Imports from China in 2024 totaled $438.9 billion, making the country America's second-biggest trading partner.

China has found alternatives to US markets for the time being. Data shows that total Chinese exports surged 8.1% in April, with Asian markets leading the increase.

Volumes to India and the ASEAN trade group, made up of 10 Southeast Asian economies, rose by more than 20%.

US investors and economists hope tensions will ease this weekend as the US and China hold trade negotiations .

President Donald Trump on Friday said that 80% tariffs on China "seems right," which would mark a significant reduction from 145% while still remaining higher than any previous duties.

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• President Donald Trump suggested that tariffs on Chinese goods should be slashed to 80%.
• The rate would still be high but would be a dramatic reduction from the 145% the US has imposed.
• Just two days ago, Trump said "no" when asked whether he would consider lowering tariffs on China.

President Donald Trump made the first move ahead of US-China trade talks this weekend.

In a Friday morning Truth Social post, the president suggested significantly lowering his tariff on Chinese goods to 80% — still high but 65 percentage points lower than the current 145% rate.

The president posted: "80% Tariff on China seems right! Up to Scott B."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and the US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, announced this week that they'd be meeting with their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland this weekend to discuss US-China trade relations as Trump's heavy tariffs remain in effect and the trade war rages on.

"CHINA SHOULD OPEN UP ITS MARKET TO USA — WOULD BE SO GOOD FOR THEM!!! CLOSED MARKETS DON'T WORK ANYMORE!!!" Trump wrote in another Friday morning post.

Just two days ago, while speaking with reporters from the Oval Office, Trump flatly said "no" when asked whether he would consider lowering his tariffs on China to help ease this weekend's talks, though he also recently said that the 145% tariff on China is "very high" and would "come down substantially."

Ahead of the talks, shipments from Chinese ports have slowed. US importers have begun to weigh whether they can afford to do business now that each shipment is subject to the 145% tariff.

"It has gone very fast, so this is the result of customers reacting very, very fast on canceling orders or stopping orders and waiting to see if this is going to resolve itself," Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said on his company's first-quarter earnings call.

Trump previously lashed out at China after Beijing retaliated against his "Liberation Day" tariffs. Since April, the world's two largest economies have remained largely at loggerheads. Starting late last month, the president has said that China is talking to the White House — a claim Beijing has repeatedly denied.

The two sides couldn't even agree on who initiated the high-level talks this weekend, but news of the face-to-face conversation was seen as a serious indication that a deal is in the offing.

The current 145% tariff is so high that many economists have essentially compared it to a trade embargo. The White House did grant a series of exemptions for certain tech items, including Apple's iPhones, but other industries have said that price increases could be coming if relief isn't on the horizon.

Trump said that Americans needed to take some price increases on the chin to pave the way for the reshoring of manufacturing.

"Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls would cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally," he told reporters in April during a Cabinet meeting.

In past talks, Trump has shown he will start with significant bluster before a breakthrough arrives. In his first term, he ratcheted up tensions with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, dismissing him as "little rocket man" before ultimately agreeing to hold historic talks with the nuclear-armed nation.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, another trade advisor, on Thursday lavished praise on the president for his methods.

"He's the closer," Lutnick said, looking over to Trump in the Oval Office. "He gets deals done that we could never get done."

Correction: May 9, 2025 — An earlier version of this story misstated how much lower an 80% tariff on Chinese goods would be from 145%. It would be 45% lower, not 55%.

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If you want to get a new high-quality mattress with minimal hassle and setup, Casper is the place to look. The bed-in-a-box brand delivers mattresses right to your door. Plus, you can get a discount when you use a good Casper promo code at checkout.

Our mattress experts on the Reviews team have thoroughly tested eight Casper beds, and they live up to their popularity. We particularly love the Casper Snow, which has great breathability for hot sleepers.

Read our full Casper mattress review to learn more about our testing process and see all of the Casper mattresses we've reviewed in one place.

Right now, Casper is running its Memorial Day sale, which features mattress discounts up to 30% off. But if you really want the best price possible, using a coupon is your best bet. Some codes can save you an extra 20% on top of other markdowns. Coupons aren't always easy to find, though, so we've rounded them up for you here.

While you look through Casper's ongoing deals, check out the best Casper coupons and promo codes we've tested below to save even more.

Today's best Casper coupons and promo codes

Previous Casper promo codes

Are there any other Casper mattress sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of clearance markdowns on Casper's website anytime. As of the time of writing, Casper is running its Memorial Day Sale, which features the following promotions.

Use Casper coupons on these items

You can use Casper coupons to save extra on Casper mattresses we've featured in our guides. The queen-sized Casper One mattress is already discounted by 20% for the Memorial Day Sale, bringing the price down from $999 to $799. But when you use the code BXBA-P2079190, you can save an extra 20%, lowering the price to just $639.20. Similarly, the queen-sized Casper Snow mattress, one of our favorites for hot sleepers, is already 30% off, bringing the price down from $2,495 to $1,745. When you apply the same promo code, you can lower it another 20% to $1,396, helping you save over $1,000.

• For the latest buying advice updates, join our WhatsApp channel

How to use Casper coupons and promo codes

Casper coupons are pretty easy to use. Copy the code you're planning to apply. Add the product you're buying to your cart, then click "Apply promo code" to open the entry field. Paste your discount code there and click apply.

Can you stack Casper coupon codes?

Casper coupon codes are not stackable, meaning you can only apply one to each purchase. Therefore, it's important to use the best one available.

Luckily, the coupon codes work with any ongoing Casper sales.

Can I use Casper coupons in-store?

Casper coupon codes vary in whether they can be used in-store. Most often, they are limited to online use, but in-store associates can price-match any discounts you have proof of.

What mattress should I buy from Casper?

Casper makes a whole lineup of great beds designed for different types of sleepers. You can learn more in our full Casper mattress guide, or check out these favorites of ours:

Casper coupons: frequently asked questions

Does Casper offer discounts for teachers, students, or the military?

Casper offers exclusive military, education, and even healthcare discounts with verified status. Active-duty service members, veterans, military family members, teachers, students, nurses, healthcare professionals, first responders, and hospital employees can all save 5% on Casper purchases.

If you fall into the education category, be sure to check out our roundups to the best student discounts and best teacher discounts you can score year-round.

Do Casper mattresses have a warranty?

Casper offers a 10-year limited warranty that automatically comes with mattresses purchased on Casper.com. It covers defects, including abnormal deterioration, physical flaws in the foam, and manufacturing errors in the zipper assembly. If you bought your bed from another retailer, you can register your bed here.

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What is Casper's returns/refunds policy?

Casper's return policy aims to be as painless as possible by being free anytime after the 30-night adjustment period. Just reach out to support within the first 100 nights of your purchase to have the brand remove the mattress from your home and provide a full refund.

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Does Casper offer free shipping?

Every mattress order with Casper receives free, no-contact delivery. As the term "bed-in-a-box" suggests, each mattress arrives tightly coiled in a box for you to place on your bed and unfurl.

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Does Casper offer white glove delivery?

Casper offers an in-home delivery and setup service starting at $199. After placing your order, you can schedule a delivery date for two to four weeks in the future. From there, you'll receive a four-hour delivery window the day before to prepare for your new product's arrival.

Will Casper remove my old mattress?

If your order includes in-home delivery and setup, Casper will offer disposal options for your old mattress. If your order does not include in-home delivery, check Casper's website or contact their customer support team for suggestions.

When is the best time to buy a mattress?

Mattress retailers typically offer the best sales and deals during Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Shopping during those times, combined with one of our coupon codes, will ensure you get the best price.

Does Casper only offer mattresses?

In addition to mattresses, you can shop for pillows, bedding, and furniture on Casper's site. You can even purchase dog beds from Casper to show your pets some love.

How does Casper compare to other online mattress companies?

Many online bed-in-a-box companies have risen in popularity in recent years, and each has its own merits and drawbacks. Check out our full guide to the best online mattress companies to see how Casper compares to competitors like Leesa and Purple in criteria like price range, types of mattresses, and delivery offerings.

Are Casper mattresses designed for specific sleep types and positions?

Casper designs their mattresses to provide tailored support no matter which position you sleep in, so you should be covered whether you prefer to sleep on your back, side, or stomach. The brand's patented "Zone Support" technology works to keep your spine aligned in any position for maximum support.

Can I reuse a Casper coupon?

For the most part, Casper promo codes can only be used once per person. However, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific code you want to use.

Check out more great bed discounts in our roundup of the best mattress sales, the best twin mattress deals, and queen mattress sales.

Also, read our guides to the best Purple mattress promo codes, the best Mattress Firm coupons, and the best Big Fig promo codes.

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• Companies such as UPS, Meta, Microsoft, BlackRock, and Block are conducting layoffs.
• Artificial intelligence is reshaping some workforces.
• See the list of companies letting workers go in 2025.

Layoffs and other workforce reductions are continuing in 2025, following two years of significant job cuts across tech, media, finance, manufacturing, retail, and energy.

While the reasons for slimming staff vary, the cost-cutting measures are coming amid a backdrop of technological change. In a recent World Economic Forum survey, some 41% of companies worldwide said they expected to reduce their workforces over the next five years because of the rise of artificial intelligence.

Companies such as CNN, Dropbox, and Block have previously announced job cuts related to AI. Tech jobs in big data, fintech, and AI are meanwhile expected to double by 2030, according to the WEF.

Here are the companies with job cuts planned or already underway in 2025 so far.

Coty is cutting about 700 jobs

Coty, which sells the cosmetics and fragrances under brands including Kylie Cosmetics, Calvin Klein, and Burberry, is cutting about 700 jobs.

The company said on April 24 it aimed to cut costs by $130 million a year. Sue Nabi, the CEO, said it aimed to build a "stronger, more resilient Coty that is well-positioned for sustainable growth."

Adidas plans to cut up to 500 jobs in Germany.

Adidas said in January that it would reduce the size of its workforce at its headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, affecting up to 500 jobs, CNBC reported.

If fully executed, it amounts to a reduction of nearly 9% at the company headquarters, which employs about 5,800 employees, according to the Adidas website.

The news came shortly after the company announced it had outperformed its profit expectations at the end of 2024, touting "better-than-expected" results in the fourth quarter.

An Adidas spokesperson said the company had grown "too complex because of our current operating model."

"To set adidas up for long-term success,we are now starting to look at how we align our operating model with the reality of how we work. This may have an impact on the organizational structure and number of roles based at our HQ in Herzogenaurach."

The company said it is not a cost-cutting measure and could not confirm concrete numbers.

Ally is cutting less than 5% of workers.

The digital-financial-services company Ally is laying off roughly 500 of its 11,000 employees, a spokesperson confirmed to BI.

"As we continue to right-size our company, we made the difficult decision to selectively reduce our workforce in some areas, while continuing to hire in our other areas of our business," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also said the company was offering severance, out-placement support, and the opportunity to apply for openings at Ally.

Ally made a similar level of cuts in October 2023, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Automattic, Tumblr's parent, cuts 16% of staff

Automattic, the parent company of Tumblr and WordPress, said in April it is cutting 16% of its staff globally. The company's website said it has nearly 1,500 employees.

Automattic's CEO, Matt Mullenweg, said in a note to employees posted online that the company has reached an "important crossroads."

"While our revenue continues to grow, Automattic operates in a highly competitive market, and technology is evolving at unprecedented levels," the note read.

"As difficult as this decision has been, the company is restructuring to improve its "productivity, profitability, and capacity to invest," it added.

The company said it was offering severance and job placement resources to affected employees.

BlackRock is cutting 1% of its workforce.

BlackRock told employees it was planning to cut about 200 people of its 21,000-strong workforce, Bloomberg reported in January.

The reductions were more than offset by some 3,750 workers who were added last year and another 2,000 expected to be added in 2025.

BlackRock's president, Rob Kapito, and its chief operating officer, Rob Goldstein, said the cuts would help realign the firm's resources with its strategy, Bloomberg reported.

Block to lay off nearly 1,000 workers

Jack Dorsey's fintech company, Block, is laying off nearly 1,000 employees, according to TechCrunch and The Guardian, in its second major workforce reduction in just over a year.

The company, which operates Square, Afterpay, CashApp, and Tidal, is transitioning nearly 200 managers into non-management roles and closing almost 800 open positions, according to an email obtained by TechCrunch.

Dorsey, who co-founded Block in 2009 after previously leading Twitter, announced the layoffs on Tuesday in an internal email titled "smaller block."

The restructuring is part of a broader effort to streamline operations, though Block maintains the changes are not driven by financial targets or AI replacements.

Blue Origin is laying off one-tenth of its workforce

Jeff Bezos's rocket company, Blue Origin, is laying off about 10% of its workforce, a move that could affect more than 1,000 employees.

In a memo sent to staff in February and obtained by Business Insider, David Limp, the CEO of Blue Origin, said the company's priority going forward was "to scale our manufacturing output and launch cadence with speed, decisiveness and efficiency for our customers."

Limp specifically identified roles in engineering, research and development, and management as targets.

"We grew and hired incredibly fast in the last few years, and with that growth came more bureaucracy and less focus than we needed," Limp wrote. "It also became clear that the makeup of our organization must change to ensure our roles are best aligned with executing these priorities."

The news comes after last month's debut launch of the company's partially reusable rocket — New Glenn.

Boeing cut 400 roles from its moon rocket program

Boeing announced on February 8 it plans to cut 400 roles from its moon rocket program amid delays and rising costs related to NASA's Artemis moon exploration missions.

Artemis 2, a crewed flight to orbit the moon on Boeing's space launch system, has been re-scheduled from late 2024 to September 2025. Artemis 3, intended to be the first astronaut moon landing in the program, was delayed from late 2025 and is now planned for September 2026.

"To align with revisions to the Artemis program and cost expectations, we informed our Space Launch Systems team of the potential for approximately 400 fewer positions by April 2025," a Boeing spokesperson told Business Insider. "We are working with our customer and seeking opportunities to redeploy employees across our company to minimize job losses and retain our talented teammates."

The company will issue 60-day notices of involuntary layoff to impacted employees "in coming weeks," the spokesperson said earlier this month.

Boeing cut 10% of its workforce last year.

BP slashed 7,700 staff and contractor positions worldwide.

BP told Business Insider in January that it planned to cut 4,700 staff and 3,000 contractors, amounting to about 5% of its global workforce.

The cuts were part of a program to "simplify and focus" BP that began last year.

"We are strengthening our competitiveness and building in resilience as we lower our costs, drive performance improvement and play to our distinctive capabilities," the company said.

Bridgewater cut about 90 staff.

Bridgewater Associates cut 7% of its staff in January in an effort to stay lean, a person familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

The layoffs at the world's largest hedge fund bring its head count back to where it was in 2023, the person said.

The company's founder, Ray Dalio, said in a 2019 interview that about 30% of new employees were leaving the firm within 18 months.

Chevron is slashing up to 20% of its global headcount

Oil giant Chevron plans to cull 15% to 20% of its global workforce by the end of 2026, the company said in a statement to Business Insider in February.

Chevron employed 45,600 people as of December 2023, which means the layoff could cut 9,000 jobs.

The move aims to reduce costs and simplify the company's business as it completes its acquisition of oil producer Hess, which is held up in legal limbo. It is expected to save the company $2 billion to $3 billion by the end of 2026, the company said.

"Chevron is taking action to simplify our organizational structure, execute faster and more effectively, and position the company for stronger long-term competitiveness," a Chevron spokesperson said in a statement.

The cuts follow a series of layoffs at other oil and gas companies, including BP and natural gas producer EQT.

CNN plans to cut 200 jobs.

Cable news giant CNN cut about 200 television-focused roles as part of a digital pivot. The cuts amounted to about 6% of the company's workforce.

In a memo sent to staff on January 23, CNN's CEO Mark Thompson said he aimed to "shift CNN's gravity towards the platforms and products where the audience themselves are shifting and, by doing that, to secure CNN's future as one of the world's greatest news organizations."

Estee Lauder will cut as many as 7,000 jobs

Cosmetics giant Estee Lauder said in its second-quarter earnings release on February 4 that it will cut between 5,800 and 7,000 jobs as the company restructures over the next two years.

The cuts will focus on "rightsizing" certain teams, and it will look to outsource certain services. The company says it expects annual gross benefits of between $0.8 billion and $1.0 billion before tax.

GrubHub announced 500 job cuts

Grubhub CEO Howard Migdal announced 500 job cuts on February 28 after selling the company to Wonder Group for $650 million.

With more than 2,200 full time employees, the number of cuts will affect more than 20% of Grubhub's previous workforce.

According to Reuters, Just Eat Takeaway, an Amsterdam-listed company, sold Grubhub at a steep loss compared to the billions it paid a few years prior after grappling with slowing growth and high taxes.

HPE is laying off 2,500 employees

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is cutting 2,500 jobs, or 5% of its employee base, CEO Antonio Neri said on an earnings call on March 6. The cuts are expected take to take place over the next 12 to 18 months.

"Doing so will better align our cost structure to our business mix and long-term strategy," Neri said. The company expects to save $350 million by 2027 because of the reduction.

HPE plummeted about 20% after hours on March 6 after it said business would be affected by recent tariffs, slow server and cloud sales, and "execution issues."

Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University will cut over 2,000 jobs after losing $800 million in funding from USAID.

"This is a difficult day for our entire community," a spokesperson told BI. "The termination of more than $800 million in USAID funding is now forcing us to wind down critical work here in Baltimore and internationally."

The news comes after the Trump administration slashed USAID personnel down from over 10,000 to around 300. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently confirmed that 83% of the agency's programs are now dead.

"We can confirm that the elimination of foreign aid funding has led to the loss of 1,975 positions in 44 countries internationally and 247 in the United States in the affected programs," the Johns Hopkins spokesperson said. "An additional 29 international and 78 domestic employees will be furloughed with a reduced schedule."

The layoffs at Johns Hopkins represent the "largest" in the university's history, CNN reported. They'll primarily affect the schools of medicine and public health, along with the Center for Communication Programs and Jhpiego, a nonprofit with a focus on preventing diseases and bolstering women's health, according to the report.

Kohl's is reducing about 10% of its roles

Department store Kohl's announced on January 28 that it reduced about 10% of its corporate roles to "increase efficiencies" and "improve profitability for the long-term health and benefit of the business," a spokesperson told BI.

"Kohl's reduced approximately 10 percent of the roles that report into its corporate offices," the spokesperson said. "More than half of the total reduction will come from closing open positions while the remainder of the positions were currently held by our associates."

Less than 200 existing employees of the company would be impacted, she added.

This follows the company's announcement on January 9 that it would shutter 27 underperforming stores across 15 states by April.

The retailer has been struggling with declining sales, reporting an 8.8% decline in net sales in the third quarter of 2024.

Its previous CEO, Tom Kingsbury, stepped down on January 15. The company's board appointed Ashley Buchanan, a retail veteran who had held top jobs in The Michaels Companies, Macy's, and Walmart, as the new CEO.

Meta is cutting 5% of its workforce.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told staff he "decided to raise the bar on performance management" and will act quickly to "move out low-performers," according to an internal memo seen by BI in January.

Those cuts started in February, according to records obtained by BI. Teams overseeing Facebook, the Horizon virtual reality platform, as well as logistics were among the hardest hit.

In April, Meta also laid off an undisclosed number of employees on the Reality Labs virtual reality division.

Previously, the company had laid off more than 21,000 workers since 2022.

Microchip Technology is slashing 2,000 jobs

Microchip Technology is cutting its head count across the company by around 2,000 employees, the semiconductor company said on March 3.

The company estimated that it would incur between $30 million and $40 million in costs, including severance, severance benefits, and other restructuring costs.

The cuts would be communicated to employees in the March quarter and fully implemented by the end of the June quarter.

Last year, Microchip announced it was closing its Tempe, Arizona, facility because of slower-than-anticipated orders. The closure begins in May 2025 and is expected to affect 500 jobs.

Microchip's stock had fallen over 33% in the past year.

Microsoft made performance-based job cuts in January

Microsoft cut an unspecified number of jobs in January based on employees' performance.

Workers were told that they wouldn't receive severance and that their benefits, such as medical insurance, would stop immediately, BI reported.

The company also laid off some employees in January at divisions including gaming and sales. A Microsoft spokesperson declined to say how many jobs were cut on the affected teams.

Morgan Stanley plans cuts for the end of March

Morgan Stanley is set to initiate a round of layoffs beginning at the end of March. The firm is eyeing cuts to about 2% to 3% of its global workforce, which would equate to between 1,600 to 2,400 jobs, according to a person familiar with the matter who confirmed the reductions to BI.

The firm's cuts are driven by several imperatives, the person said, pointing to considerations like operational efficiency, evolving business priorities, and individual employees' performance. The person said the cuts are not related to broader market conditions, such as the recent slowdown in mergers and acquisitions that's arrested momentum on Wall Street.

Some MS staffers will be excluded from the cuts, however — namely, the bank's battalion of financial advisors — though some who assist them, such as administrative personnel in its wealth-management unit, could be affected by the layoffs, the person added.

Porsche is cutting 3,900 jobs over the next few years

Porsche said on March 12 that it plans to cut 3,900 jobs in the coming years.

About 2,000 of the reductions will come with the expiration of fixed-term contractor positions, the German automaker said Wednesday. The company will make the other 1,900 reductions by 2029 through natural attrition and limiting hiring, it said.

Porsche said it also plans to discuss more potential changes with labor leaders in the second half of the year. "This will also make Porsche even more efficient in the medium and long term," the company said.

Salesforce is cutting more than 1,000 jobs

Bloomberg reported in February that Salesforce, a cloud-based customer management software company, will slash more than 1,000 jobs from its nearly 73,000-strong workforce.

Affected employees will be eligible to apply to open internal roles, the outlet reported. The company is hiring salespeople focused on the company's new AI-powered products.

The cuts come despite Salesforce reporting a strong financial performance during its third-quarter earnings in December.

Salesforce did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sonos cuts about 200 jobs

Sonos, a California-based audio equipment company, said in a February 5 release that it's cutting about 200 roles.

The announcement came nearly a month after Sonos CEO Patrick Spence stepped down from his position following a disastrous app rollout. The company's interim CEO Tom Conrad said in the statement that the layoff was part of an effort to create a "simpler organization."

"One thing I've observed firsthand is that we've become mired in too many layers that have made collaboration and decision-making harder than it needs to be," Conrad said. "So across the company today we are reorganizing into flatter, smaller, and more focused teams."

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan announced in February that the company is laying off 15% of its corporate staff, or about 1,750 employees.

He said impacted workers will keep their pay, benefits, and bonuses through late April, when the separations will take effect.

The company told investors the cuts would provide a "partial year 2025 savings to be approximately $210 million and full-year 2026 savings to be approximately $300 million."

The move comes as Southwest tries to cut costs amid profitability problems. Jordan said this is the first significant layoff the company has had in its 53-year history.

An activist hedge fund took a stake in Southwest in June and has since helped restructure its board and change its business model to keep up with a changing industry. For example, it plans to end its long-standing open-seating policy to generate more seating revenue.

In recent months, the company has also reduced flight crew positions in Atlanta to cut costs.

Starbucks is laying off 1,100 corporate staff

Starbucks will notify 1,100 corporate employees that they have been laid off on February 25.

CEO Brian Niccol said in a memo that the layoffs will make Starbucks "operate more efficiently, increase accountability, reduce complexity and drive better integration."

The layoffs won't affect employees at Starbucks stores, the company said.

Niccol told employees that layoffs were on the way in a separate memo in January. The company is trying to improve results after sales slid last year.

Workday cut more than 8% of its workforce

Workday, the human-resources software company, said in February that it is cutting 8.5% of its workforce, or around 1,750 employees. The layoffs came as the company focuses more on artificial intelligence.

In a note to employees, CEO Carl Eschenbach said that Workday will focus on hiring in areas related to artificial intelligence and work to expand its global presence.

"The environment we're operating in today demands a new approach, particularly given our size and scale," Eschenbach wrote. He said that affected employees will get at least 12 weeks of pay.

Stripe laid off 300 employees

Payments platform Stripe laid off 300 employees, primarily in product, engineering, and operations, according to a January 20 memo obtained by BI.

Chief People Officer Rob McIntosh said in the memo that the company still planned on growing its head count to about 10,000 employees by the end of the year.

The Washington Post cut 4% of its non-newsroom workforce

The Washington Post eliminated less than 100 employees in an effort to cut costs, Reuters reported in January.

A spokesperson told the wire service that the changes would occur across multiple areas of the business and indicated that the cuts wouldn't affect the newsroom.

"The Washington Post is continuing its transformation to meet the needs of the industry, build a more sustainable future and reach audiences where they are," the spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

UPS is cutting 20,000 jobs

UPS announced on April 29 that it plans to cut 20,000 jobs this year — about 4% of its global workforce — as part of a shift toward automation and a strategic reduction in business with Amazon.

"With our action, we will emerge as an even stronger, more nimble UPS," the company's CEO, Carol Tome, said in a statement on Tuesday.

The move follows a sharp 16% drop in Amazon package volume last quarter and is part of a plan to halve its Amazon business by mid-2026. UPS will also close 73 US buildings by June and automate 400 facilities to reduce labor dependency.

The Teamsters union have said they would fight any layoffs affecting its members.

Wayfair laid off 340 tech employees

Wayfair announced in an SEC filing on March 7 that it would eliminate its Austin Technology Development Center and lay off around 340 tech workers.

The reorg comes as the technology team has accomplished "significant modernization and replatforming milestones," the company said in the filing. Wayfair said it plans to refocus resources and streamline operations to promote its "next phase of growth."

"With the foundation of this transformation now in place, our technology needs have shifted," the company said.

Wayfair expects to take on $33 to $38 million in costs as a result of the reorganization, consisting of severance, cash employee-related costs, benefits, and transitional costs.

Geico has axed tens of thousands of workers

Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chair of Insurance Operations Ajit Jain says Geico has reduced its workforce from about 50,000 to about 20,000. Jain revealed the reductions during Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting on May 3 but did not detail over what time frame they took place. Berkshire Hathaway is one of Geico's parent companies.

Warren Buffett's company reported its 2025 first-quarter earnings on during the May 3 meeting, saying Geico earned nearly $2.2 billion in pre-tax underwriting.

PwC is laying off approximately 2% of its US workforce

The Big Four accounting firm said it's cutting roughly 1,500 jobs in the US because its low attrition rates mean not enough people are leaving by choice.

PwC's layoffs began on May 5 and mostly affect the firm's audit and tax lines, a person familiar with the matter told Business Insider.

"This was a difficult decision, and we made it with care, thoughtfulness, and a deep awareness of its impact on our people, appreciating that historically low levels of attrition over consecutive years have made it necessary to take this step," a PwC spokesperson said.

CrowdStrike is cutting about 500 jobs

CrowdStrike, the Texas-headquartered cybersecurity firm, is cutting about 500 jobs, or 5% of its global workforce, as part of a strategic plan to "yield greater efficiencies."

It expects the layoffs to cost between $36 million and $53 million.

CrowdStrike is aiming to generate $10 billion in annual recurring revenue.

The company reported worse-than-expected annual results in March, signaling that it was yet to fully recover from a widespread tech outage linked to CrowdStrike in July 2024.

Panasonic is cutting 10,000 jobs

Panasonic, the Japanese-headquartered multinational electronics manufacturer, plans to cut 10,000 jobs this financial year, which ends in March 2026. The cuts will affect 5,000 roles in Japan and 5,000 overseas.

In a statement on Friday, May 9, the company said it planned to "thoroughly review operational efficiency … mainly in sales and indirect departments, and reevaluate the numbers of organisations and personnel actually needed."

"Through these measures, the company will optimize our personnel on a global scale," the statement added.

Is your company conducting layoffs? Got a tip?

If you're an employee with a tip about coming job cuts, contact Dominick Reuter via email or text/call/Signal at 646.768.4750. Responses will be kept confidential, and Business Insider strongly recommends using a personal email and a non-work device when reaching out.

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• Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says that Reddit's human-led communities are what set the company apart.
• AI bots, however, are threatening that advantage by taking over forums and comments.
• Reddit has acknowledged the problem and is introducing new checks to ensure its users are human.

Is nothing sacred anymore?

Reddit is one of the last places on the internet where posts and comments don't feel like an endless pit of AI slop. But that is starting to change, and it's threatening what Reddit says is its competitive advantage.

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman says that what keeps people coming back to the site is the information provided by real people, who often give thoughtful answers to questions. As the internet becomes saturated with AI-generated content, Huffman says that Reddit's communities, curated and managed by real people, set it apart from other social media platforms.

"The world needs community and shared knowledge, and that's what we do best," Huffman told investors last week on an earnings call.

Traffic to Reddit has grown considerably over the past year, thanks in part to users Googling specifically for Reddit posts related to their questions.

Reddit's business model has seen increased attention since the company went public in March of last year. Since then, Reddit has amped up advertising on its forums and inked deals with both OpenAI and Google to allow their models to train on Reddit content. In April, Reddit's stock dipped after some analysts shared fears that the company's success could be inextricably tied to Google Search.

"Just a few years ago, adding Reddit to the end of your search query felt novel," Huffman said in a Q3 earnings call in February. "Today, it's a common way for people to find trusted information, recommendations, and advice."

But now, some Reddit users are complaining that the uniquely human communities the site is known for are being infiltrated by AI bots, or users relying on tools like ChatGPT to write their posts, which can often be spotted by the formatting. ChatGPT loves a bulleted list and an em-dash, and these days tends to be effusive in its positivity.

One user in the community r/singularity, which is dedicated to discussion about advancements of AI, recently flagged a post from what they believed was an AI-generated user spreading misinformation about the July 2024 attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.

"AI just took over Reddit's front page," the poster noted. A Reddit spokesperson said the company investigated and found no evidence that the user was AI-generated.

On April 28, Reddit's chief legal officer said the company was sending "formal legal demands" to researchers at the University of Zurich after they flooded one of the site's communities with AI bots for a study. Moderators of the forum r/changemyview said in a post that researchers conducted an "unauthorized experiment" to "study how AI could be used to change views."

The researchers who conducted the experiment said in a Reddit post that 21 of the 34 accounts they used were "shadow-banned" by Reddit, meaning the content they posted would not show up for others. But they said they never received any communication from Reddit regarding Terms of Service violations.

The moderators called the experiment unethical and said that AI targeted some users in the forum "in personal ways that they did not sign up for." The post says the AI went to extreme lengths in some posts, including pretending to be a victim of rape, posing as a black man opposed to Black Lives Matter, and even posing as a person who received substandard care in a foreign hospital, among other claims.

"Psychological manipulation risks posed by LLMs is an extensively studied topic," the community's moderators wrote. "It is not necessary to experiment on non-consenting human subjects."

A spokesperson for the University of Zurich told Business Insider that the school is aware of the study and is investigating. The spokesperson said that the researchers decided not to publish the findings of the study "on their own accord."

"In light of these events, the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences intends to adopt a stricter review process in the future and, in particular, to coordinate with the communities on the platforms prior to experimental studies," the spokesperson said.

For Reddit's business strategy, which is largely focused on advertising and its belief that it provides some of the best research around because it's based on real human reactions, the increased presence of AI on the platform is a threat. And Reddit has noticed.

On Monday, Huffman said in a Reddit post that the company would start using third parties to "keep Reddit human." Huffman said that Reddit's "strength is its people" and that "unwelcome AI in communities is a serious concern."

"I haven't posted in a while — and let's be honest, when I do show up, it usually means something's gone sideways (and if it's not gone sideways, it's probably about to)," Huffman said.

The third-party services will now ask users creating Reddit accounts for more information, like their age, Huffman said. Specifically, "we will need to know whether you are a human," he said.

A spokesperson for Reddit told BI that the Zurich experiment was unethical and that Reddit's automated tools flagged most of the associated accounts before the experiment ended. The spokesperson said that Reddit is always working on detection features and has already further refined its processes since the experiment came to light.

Still, some Reddit users say they are fed up with what they see as a "proliferation of LLM bots in the last 10 months."

"Some of them mimic the most brain-dead of users, providing one-word responses with emojis at the end," one user wrote. "They post with unnatural frequency, largely in subreddits known for upvoting just about anything."

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• Melania Trump has worn neutral basics at recent official events, a departure from her usual style.
• She seemingly hasn't spent much time at the White House after saying she'd also be living in Florida and New York.
• Her subdued wardrobe and infrequent public appearances have helped her keep a low profile.

Melania Trump, the first lady, rarely ventures into public these days. When she does, you may have a hard time spotting her.

Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, her wardrobe has largely consisted of muted basics in neutral tones.

A black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo for the National Governors Association dinner and reception in February. A gray Dior skirt suit for Donald Trump's joint address to Congress in March. A cream-colored Mackage trench coat for the White House Easter Egg Roll in April.

And most recently, on Thursday, a white blazer and black skirt for an event honoring military mothers.

It's a notable departure from her White House style during President Donald Trump's first term, when she made bolder fashion choices.

Back then, she wore vibrant, glittering gowns at state dinners, a $51,500 Dolce & Gabbana floral coat to a G7 summit, and of course, the infamous "I really don't care, do u?" jacket on her way to visit immigrant children at the US-Mexico border.

Melania Trump's involvement in public life this time around has been similarly subdued, which has helped her maintain a low profile.

Citing anonymous officials, The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the first lady had spent fewer than 14 days at the White House since the inauguration on January 20. She has been photographed at the White House about once a month — twice in April.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Ahead of Donald Trump's second term, Melania Trump indicated that she didn't plan to live at the White House full time, an arrangement not typical of modern first ladies. In a rare interview back in January, she told Fox News that she planned to divide her time between Washington, DC, Trump Tower in New York City, and Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida.

"I will be in the White House," she said. "And, you know, when I need to be in New York, I will be in New York. When I need to be in Palm Beach, I will be in Palm Beach."

The shift to safer style choices could indicate a more matter-of-fact approach to a role she's already held, but perhaps the first lady is simply tired of launching a news cycle with every outing and look.

Throughout her memoir, "Melania," she expressed frustration with what she called the "vindictive attitude" of press coverage surrounding her involvement in public life.

"That campaign year would set the tone for my future relationship with the media — they would never treat me fairly," she wrote of campaigning in 2016. "They persisted in fabricating stories, undermining my efforts on behalf of children, and focusing on trivial matters."

A fiercely private first lady, Melania Trump's tempered wardrobe and infrequent appearances have given the media and the public little to talk about, which may have been the goal all along.

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• The 1929 stock market crash marked the beginning of the Great Depression.
• Factors including speculative lending and changing monetary policies contributed to the crash.
• Photos show the panic in the stock exchange, at banks, and on the streets as savings vanished.

The Roaring Twenties — an era of great economic growth in the United States — halted on Thursday, October 24, 1929, when stock prices began plummeting.

Influenced by a variety of factors, from banks' role in speculative stock lending to changing monetary policies, the market crash of 1929 marked the start of the Great Depression that would shape American life for the following decade.

With recent market movements in response to President Donald Trump's tariff announcements sparking fears of an incoming recession, history shows how market crashes have influenced American life in the past.

These 20 vintage photos show how the 1929 market crash, marked by dramatic stock price drops on Black Thursday, Black Monday, and Black Tuesday, unfolded on Wall Street and beyond.

The Roaring Twenties came to a sudden halt in October 1929.

The 1920s were a decade of great economic growth. Industries boomed, and economic optimism led many everyday Americans to invest in the stock market, which had become more accessible thanks to loans offered by banks.

From 1922 to 1929, the value of stocks as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 218.7%, according to the Economic History Association.

Over the decade, many had begun investing in the stock market through margin loans.

At the time, people could buy stocks by paying as little as 10% of the purchase price and financing the rest from brokerage firms through what became known as margin buying, according to Federal Reserve History. This meant that many people who could not afford the up-front expense of investing in the stock market had access to buy and trade stocks.

By 1929, two-fifths of loans issued by banks went toward the purchase of stocks, Time reported.

On October 24, the US markets began to crash.

The crash began on Thursday, October 24. On the day that later became known as Black Thursday, the market opened 11% lower than the previous day, as reported by Barron. Despite moderately picking back up by that afternoon, the drastic drop began sounding the alarms for stockholders.

The crash came after market speculation reached a historic high.

With many Americans investing in the stock market through margin purchases of stocks, the speculation for high prices, which would provide a profit on their loan, reached a historic high. This led to the Federal Reserve making an effort to limit banks' lending to speculative stock purchases, according to Federal Reserve History.

Stock prices peaked right before the crash.

On September 3, 1929, less than two months before the market crash, stock prices had reached a historic peak, with the Dow Jones averaging 381.17, over 27% higher than the previous year.

With many owning stocks through margin loans, fears spread that stock prices had become overvalued, a concern that slowly led to doubts about the stability of the market, the Economic History Association wrote.

On Black Monday, brokers rushed to sell as prices plummeted.

When markets opened on Monday, October 28, 1929, stock prices immediately began to plummet as stockholders rushed to sell based on the panic that had begun the previous week.

As mass panic spread, sell transactions overwhelmed the markets, leading to the crash.

By the end of the day on Black Monday, the Dow Jones had dropped nearly 13% and showed no signs of slowing down, as reported by Time.

Outside the New York Stock Exchange, crowds tried to get updates on prices.

In New York, people rushed to the Stock Exchange building in an effort to get updates on the stocks to ensure their investments remained safe.

"For so many months so many people had saved money and borrowed money and borrowed on their borrowings to possess themselves of the little pieces of paper by virtue of which they became partners with the US industry," Time reported in November 1929. "Now they were trying to get rid of them even more frantically than they had tried to get them."

Without access to real-time information, many relied on the newspapers to inform them.

As the crowds tried to get an image of what was going on inside Wall Street, newspapers became a hot commodity, with many flocking to buy the most updated information as it came out.

Meanwhile, brokers' offices were overwhelmed trying to complete sell orders.

As prices plummeted on Black Monday and Black Tuesday, stock brokers witnessed sell orders coming in at rates they knew wouldn't be replicated in their lifetime.

"Wall Street was a street of vanished hopes, of curiously silent apprehension and of a sort of paralyzed hypnosis yesterday. Men and women crowded the brokerage offices, even those who have been long since wiped out, and followed the figures on the tape," The New York Times reported on October 30, 1929. "It was the consensus of bankers and brokers alike that no such scenes ever again will be witnessed by this generation."

The dissemination of information was limited by the technologies of the time.

As chaos unfolded on Wall Street, communication to outlets across the country relied on telegrams and ticker tape, which could not keep up with the sheer volume of transactions being made as prices continued to plummet. As Time reported, "although people knew they were losing money, they didn't know how much."

Stock brokers worked around the clock during the critical hours of the market crash.

To keep up with the mass volume of transactions, stock traders worked through the night, catching up on sleep in the area near Wall Street, turning offices or school gyms into sleeping quarters in preparation for the chaos that was all but certain to come on Tuesday, October 29, 1929.

Abroad, businessmen closely monitored the situation unfolding in the New York markets.

The crash spread to international markets as US consumers rushed to withdraw their capital from investments abroad, according to the International Monetary Fund. In the following months and years, the financial depression that shook American markets spread to other countries, leading to a worldwide financial downturn in which each country's domestic markets aimed to regulate themselves.

As the news about the crash spread, panic grew even more, peaking on Black Tuesday.

By 1932, when the Great Depression ended, stocks had lost nearly 90% of their pre-crash value, per the Economic History Association.

Hearing of the chaos on Wall Street, thousands rushed to withdraw their accounts from the banks.

On Black Tuesday, as the news spread, people rushed to their banks to withdraw their savings, as panic and financial uncertainty influenced mass decisions.

Banks across the nation began failing, causing people to lose their savings.

The crash showed the fragility of economic systems, as banks, which used deposited money to issue loans, started failing. As people in the midst of the panic rushed the banks to withdraw their savings, banks ran out of money to cover the transactions.

The Social Security Administration reported that 9,000 banks failed after the crash, virtually disappearing $7 billion in assets for those who had stored their capital in them.

People's savings virtually disappeared overnight.

As the market crash led to banks failing, a distrust in financial institutions began to rise, leading to the popularity of practices like stashing cash under mattresses or buying gold as an investment.

Following the crash, banks decreased lending, affecting businesses across the country.

In response to the market crash and the droves of people rushing to the banks to withdraw their capital, many banks stopped or decreased their lending, which greatly affected businesses.

Americans soon began to feel the economic downturn.

The effects of the Great Depression were felt soon after the crash. Americans faced the sudden loss of savings and investments. Banks failed and lending stopped, so businesses had to cut costs by lowering production and laying off employees, which led to a drastic rise in unemployment, reaching a high of 24.9% in 1933, according to the National Archives.

The Great Depression lasted for the next decade.

While the market crash didn't singlehandedly cause the recession, it was a sign of the crumbling economy that would greatly impact people for the decade after.

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• Get ready for more AI tools shaping how you professionally network.
• As big platforms like LinkedIn launch more AI tools, a new wave of startups is cropping up.
• Startups like Series and Boardy have recently stirred buzz and raised millions in venture capital.

Can AI make professional networking more efficient and perhaps less … awkward?

Power players and startups alike are racing to implement AI features they say will take your networking to the next level.

This month, LinkedIn unveiled an AI-powered job search tool where users describe their dream role, as well as an AI coaching tool for paying users. These joined other AI tools that the Microsoft-owned platform introduced last year for finding new people to connect with and writing the first direct message to someone.

But while LinkedIn is betting artificial intelligence can enhance its dominance, some investors see an opportunity to disrupt the market leader.

"How can we use breakthrough technology to help people find and do their best work?" Obvious Ventures' James Joaquin said. "That sounds simple, but there's actually a lot of layers to that layer cake — there's job seeking, job searching, job matching."

Here are three opportunities in the professional networking space that investors told Business Insider they're watching:

1. Better matchmaking

AI can change how people search for professional connections, Anne Lee Skates, an investor, told BI. While generative AI improves the search experience, agentic AI will begin to automate that process, she added.

Skates led a $3.1 million pre-seed round of funding for Series that was announced in April. The startup connects users (primarily college students) over text messages with professional peers like prospective cofounders, mentors, or investors.

Another example is Boardy, a voice-powered AI service that introduces users over email. It has raised a total of $11 million since launching in October.

CEO Andrew D'Souza describes Boardy — the AI character users speak with over the phone — as an "AI super connector."

Voice AI tools, like Boardy's, are also of interest to investors like Andrew Yeung, who participated in Boardy's seed round earlier this year.

"I believe voice-first as input is the next big social platform," Yeung said.

2. Niche, verticalized job marketplaces

"There's an opportunity to find these vertical slices that don't fit well for a LinkedIn or an Indeed where a startup could actually build a network or a labor marketplace and better match employers and employees," Joaquin told BI.

His firm is an investor in Incredible Health, an AI-powered healthcare jobs marketplace.

"Healthcare is different," Joaquin said. "It's so specialized that it requires a different kind of professional network to match employers and employees."

3. More tools for career growth beyond networking

Joaquin also sees a role for AI in helping people develop professional skills that can influence their careers.

"How do people develop their careers through coaching, mentoring, and upskilling to move up that ladder?" he said.

Advancements in AI, specifically generative AI and large language models, provide startups with "a much richer dataset on user behavior, motivation, goals that we did not have before," Skates said.

Beyond professional networking, AI has broadly rekindled interest in consumer tech startups, particularly in how it can be used to better match people in dating or even friendship.

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Whether you're upgrading your laptop, desktop, printer, or gaming setup, HP is a great place to start. But like any tech purchase, it can quickly get expensive. That's why having a good HP coupon code to use at checkout is key.

HP offers more than just the basics. You can also shop for all the tech accessories you need on the site, including mice, keyboards, power adapters, webcams, and more. While there are always markdowns scattered around the site, using a coupon is the best way to save, with some codes helping you save an extra 20% on your entire order.

While checking out HP's ongoing deals, try the best HP coupon and discount codes we've tested below to score more savings.

Today's best HP coupon and discount codes

Previous HP coupon and discount codes

Are there any other HP sales running at the moment?

You can view a full list of current sales and promotions on HP's website anytime. As of the time of writing, HP is running the following promotions, including deals on printers we recommend.

Use HP discount codes on these items

You can use HP coupon codes to save extra on products we love. Try using the promo code 20OFFW24 to save 20% on accessories like the HP 920 Ergonomic Vertical Mouse. The mouse is typically $114.99, but applying the promo code will bring it down 20% to $91.99. You can also add on a keyboard, like the HP 960 Ergonomic Wireless Keyboard, which is typically $134.99. Applying the coupon will bring the keyboard down to just $107.99.

• Follow our WhatsApp channel for more deals and buying guides

How to use HP promo codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. Once you're on the "Your Cart" page, you can apply a coupon by clicking the "Use a promo code" dropdown, pasting the code into the "Enter a promo code" text box, and clicking "Apply." From there, continue to checkout to enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack HP coupon codes?

HP does not allow promo codes to be stacked together. Only one coupon code may be applied per purchase.

HP discount code frequently asked questions

Does HP offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

HP offers students and teachers a discount of up to 40% on their merchandise when they create an account. No student ID is required to join.

Military members can also receive a discount of up to 40% when they verify their status at checkout.

If you're a student or teacher, check out our roundups of the best student discounts and best teacher discounts for more opportunities to save from your favorite brands.

Do HP products have a warranty?

HP offers a warranty for its products, but the specific warranty status varies by product. You can check the warranty terms of your items by entering the serial number and country of purchase on HP's website.

Does HP offer free shipping?

As of the time of writing, HP does not offer free shipping outside of special promotions. Shipping rates are calculated based on the weight of your order, shipping speed, and delivery location. Learn more about shipping rates and times on HP's website.

What is HP's return policy?

HP allows most items to be returned for a refund within 30 days of the original delivery date. That said, there are some exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for your specific product. Learn more about returns and exchanges on HP's website.

Can I reuse an HP coupon code?

HP does not allow coupons to be reused multiple times for different qualifying orders. Each coupon may only be redeemed once per person. There may occasionally be exceptions, though, so be sure to get the terms and conditions for the specific code you want to use.

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• Companies are describing economic conditions as "volatile" and "impossible to predict."
• Firms like GM and UPS are overhauling earnings forecasts amid uncertainty caused by Trump's tariffs.
• Here's a list of companies that have lowered or pulled their guidance as a result.

Volatile. Challenging. Uncertain.

This is the language of corporate earnings calls amid President Donald Trump's tariffs.

As a result of the uncertainty, companies are lowering or outright scrapping their earnings forecasts.

Here's a look at the big brands that have made adjustments to their guidance in recent earnings reports.

GM

GM said it would suspend earnings guidance for 2025 and freeze a $4 billion share buyback as it assesses the impact of Trump's tariffs on imported cars.

Two days later, after the White House announced measures to ease the blow of the tariffs, GM said it had slashed its guidance for this year and had a current tariff exposure of between $4 billion and $5 billion.

Like other Detroit automakers, GM, which builds several models for the US market in Mexico and Canada, is highly exposed to the tariffs. Barclays analysts previously warned that the levies could wipe out "effectively all" of GM, Ford, and Jeep and RAM owner Stellantis' profits.

UPS

Parcel giant UPS said it would pull its financial guidance in its first quarter earnings release, as well as announcing plans to cut 20,000 jobs throughout 2025.

"Given the current macro-economic uncertainty, the company is not providing any updates to its previously issued consolidated full-year outlook," the company said.

It reported virtually flat revenues of $21.5 billion, a drop of 0.7% compared to the same period in 2024.

P&G

Procter & Gamble now forecasts flat sales growth in fiscal year 2025, compared to a previous projection of a 2% to 4% increase. The consumer goods conglomerate, which owns brands like Tide and Charmin, also cut its core EPS outlook to $6.72 to $6.82, down from $6.91 to $7.05.

"We will have to pull every lever we have in our arsenal to mitigate the impact of tariffs within our cost structure and P&L," P&G's CFO, Andre Schulten, said on a call with reporters.

In the company's earnings release, CEO Jon Moeller pointed to a "challenging and volatile consumer and geopolitical environment."

"We're making appropriate adjustments to our near-term outlook to reflect underlying market conditions while remaining confident in the longer-term growth prospects for our brands and the markets where we compete," he said.

PepsiCo

The food and beverage giant warned of higher production costs and lower consumer spending amid "increasingly dynamic and complex geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions."

"As we look ahead, we expect more volatility and uncertainty, particularly related to global trade developments, which we expect will increase our supply chain costs," CEO Ramon Laguarta said in the company's earnings release. "At the same time, consumer conditions in many markets remain subdued and similarly have an uncertain outlook."

PepsiCo lowered its core EPS forecast for the year to a 3% decline, where it previously forecast a single-digit increase.

"Relative to where we were three months ago, we probably are not feeling as good about the consumer," PepsiCo's CFO, Jamie Caulfield, said in a post-earnings call.

Chipotle

Chipotle lowered its guidance for the fiscal year and now forecasts a sales increase in the low single digits, compared to low- to mid-single digits previously forecasted.

"In February, we began to see that the elevated level of uncertainty felt by consumers are starting to impact their spending habits," interim CEO Scott Boatwright said on the company's earnings call. "We could see this in our visitation study where saving money because of concerns around the economy was the overwhelming reason consumers were reducing the frequency of restaurant visits."

United Airlines

United Airlines took the rare step of offering two sets of outlooks: one for a stable macroeconomic environment and one for a recessionary environment.

"The Company's guidance is based on consensus market macroeconomic expectations," it said in a securities filing. "However, a single consensus no longer exists, and therefore the Company's expectation has become bimodal — either the U.S. economy will remain weaker but stable, or the U.S. may enter into a recession. The Company is therefore providing two separate guidance benchmarks based on these two different macroeconomic views."

The filing added that the macro environment "is impossible to predict this year with any degree of confidence."

Delta Air Lines

Delta was one of the first airlines to pull its guidance when announcing Q1 earnings.

"Given current uncertainty, Delta is not reaffirming full year 2025 financial guidance and will provide an update later in the year as visibility improves," the carrier said in an earnings release.

CEO Ed Bastian said in the company's earnings call that it would be "premature" to project the year "given the broad macro uncertainty."

American Airlines

American Airlines also withdrew its full-year guidance, noting that it plans to provide an update "as the economic outlook becomes clearer."

"Aircraft cost too much already," CEO Robert Isom said on the earnings call when asked about tariffs. "I don't want to pay any more for aircraft. It doesn't make sense."

He added, "And certainly, we're pulling guidance. Certainly, it's not something we would intend to absorb. And I'll tell you, it's not something that I would expect our customers to welcome. So we've got to work on this."

In an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Isom said "uncertainty" was the reason American pulled their guidance.

Southwest Airlines

The airline has withdrawn its guidance on full-year 2025 and 2026 earnings before interest and taxes.

"Amid the current macroeconomic uncertainty, it is difficult to forecast given recent and short-lived booking trends," it said in an earnings release.

JetBlue

JetBlue joined many of the country's airlines by pulling its financial forecast for the year in earnings on April 29.

CEO Joanna Geraghty cited "the macroeconomic uncertainty," and said the firm was looking at further capacity reductions due to lower demand, as well as evaluating its schedule for retiring planes.

Like for Southwest, the uncertainty comes at a challenging time, with both airlines working to turn around their lack of profitability.

Air Canada

In early May, Air Canada lowered its annual profit forecast for 2025 amid the impact of tariffs and slowing demand for travel to the US.

"The noise around tariffs and trade disputes definitely had an impact, but also we believe some travellers avoided the US simply because it was expensive, with the Canadian dollar trading at levels not seen since 2020," Michael Rousseau, Air Canada's president and CEO, said on an earnings call.

Air Canada lowered its annual earnings outlook to between C$3.2 billion and C$3.6 billion, equivalent to between $2.6 billion and $2.3 billion. This is roughly C$200 million, or $144 million, lower than earlier estimates.

Thermo Fisher

CEO Mark Casper said on a recent earnings call that the updated guidance "incorporates the expected net impact of current tariffs and the changes driven by the current policy focus of the US."

Thermo Fisher said it expects a $400 million revenue headwind as tariffs hit the sales of products made in the US and sold in China. It also expects tariffs to raise the cost of parts it sources in China.

Snap

Snap, the company behind Snapchat, declined to issue guidance for Q2 in its first-quarter earnings report on April 29.

"Given?? the?? uncertainty?? with?? respect?? to?? how?? macro?? economic?? conditions?? may?? evolve?? in?? the?? months?? ahead,?? and?? how?? this?? may? impact?? advertising?? demand?? more?? broadly,?? we?? do?? not?? intend?? to?? share?? formal?? financial?? guidance?? for?? Q2," the company said in a letter to investors.

Snap also said that while the company's revenue has continued to grow, it has "experienced? headwinds?? to?? start?? the?? current?? quarter."

Stellantis

The auto giant, which owns companies including Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, Chrysler, and Peugeot, said on April 30 it was suspending its financial guidance. Stellantis said it was rolling back the guidance because of the uncertainty tariffs are causing.

"The company is highly engaged with policymakers on tariff policies, while taking action to reduce impacts," the carmaker said in a statement.

Mercedes

Mercedes-Benz joined the list of automakers that have withdrawn their full-year guidance amid tariff-related uncertainty. The German luxury car brand said on April 30 that it can't offer reliable estimates in the current environment.

On a call after the announcement, Mercedes' chief financial officer said its previous guidance wouldn't have changed without the tariffs.

Ford

Ford is the latest auto giant to suspend guidance and outline how tariffs will impact its bottom line.

In its first-quarter earnings release on May 5, the American carmaker said it would suspend its full-year financial guidance because of supply chain disruptions and the possibility of increased tariffs in the US. The company said that retaliatory tariffs and other restrictions from foreign governments also pose risks.

Ford estimated that full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes will take a $1.5 billion hit because of tariffs.

"These are substantial industry risks, which could have significant impacts on financial results, and that make updating full year guidance challenging right now," Ford wrote in the earnings release.

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• I'm a huge Costco fan who's been shopping at the store for over 20 years.
• On a recent trip to the store, I saw lots of great items for summer entertaining.
• I really enjoyed some of the snacks I found, including the Fruit Riot sour grapes.

Summer prep is in full swing at Costco, with delicious snacks and essentials for outdoor entertaining hitting the shelves.

As a diehard Costco fan of over 20 years, a few items caught my eye during a recent visit to the warehouse. Here are nine items I recommend checking out this month.

The Sonoma Creamery pepperoni pizza crisps look delicious.

I'm always on the lookout for a new snack to add to my rotation, so as a pizza lover, these Sonoma Creamery crisps caught my eye.

Their crispy, cheesy edges look like they'd give the perfect satisfying crunch, and I'm very excited to try them.

I grabbed a box of Titan ice packs to prepare for warm summer days.

For those gearing up to spend the summer outside, I highly recommend checking out the Titan high-performance ice packs. These are ideal for keeping your beverages cool during long days in the sun.

I snagged the multi-pack for my family, and thankfully, they don't take up much freezer space since they're foldable.

The Fruit Riot sour grapes are my new favorite snack.

I've been seeing lots of buzz about Fruit Riot on social media, so I was very excited to find the brand's sour grapes at my local Costco.

Each bag contains frozen grapes covered in lemon juice and a sour candy coating. Although it may sound odd, believe me when I say these are worth the hype.

I'll definitely be snacking on these treats by the pool all summer long.

The Core FlexRail folding table is perfect for outdoor gatherings.

As the days get longer, I'm looking for any excuse to gather friends and enjoy a meal outside. Although the Core FlexRail folding table is on the heavier side, it's extremely versatile.

Half the table can be used for meal prep, while the other half has a heat-resistant surface, perfect for placing a portable grill. It also has a paper towel holder, cupholders, and a space to hang a garbage bag.

In my opinion, it seems like the perfect option for barbecues and tailgates.

I'm excited to try the Sun Tropics dragon fruit and guava juice.

I seriously cannot wait to try the Sun Tropics 100% dragon fruit and guava juice. When I was at Costco, I saw lots of people grabbing it, and I was intrigued by the unique flavor combination.

I'd love to pour it into a Popsicle mold for a cooling summer treat.

The Igloo MaxCold cooler is perfect for outdoor activities.

Igloo's MaxCold foam-insulated roller cooler is the ideal size for a camping trip or beach day. With easy-to-navigate wheels, it looks like it would make transporting beverages simple.

The Solely fruit jerky is like an adult version of a Fruit Roll-Up.

I first fell in love with Solely fruit jerky when I discovered that each flavor is made with just one ingredient. So, when I saw Costco's newest variety pack with mango and pineapple strips, I knew I had to pick up a box.

These are like the adult version of Fruit Roll-Ups: chewy, light, and packed with a ton of fruit. Honestly, I could probably eat the entire pack in one sitting.

I loved the Brentwood Originals indoor/outdoor pillows.

I was immediately drawn to the Brentwood Originals pillows, which can be used either inside or outside.

These versatile pillows come in four different designs and are UV- and weather-resistant, making them perfect for porches, patios, and everything in between. My family is already planning to grab a few on our next Costco run.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Pho'nomenal Foods ripened jackfruit chips.

During my last trip to Costco, I picked up a bag of the Pho'nomenal Foods freeze-dried ripened jackfruit chips. I wasn't sure what to expect, but they surprised me in the best way.

They have a bright tropical flavor but aren't overly sweet, and the light crunch makes them super snackable.

Click to keep reading Costco diaries like this one.

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• Tesla canceled its range extender — and it's one of many Cybertruck promises the company hasn't delivered.
• The EV truck is also more expensive, with the cheapest version of the Cybertruck starting at $69,990.
• Other features that didn't make it into the final vehicle include crab walking and floating.

The Cybertruck has changed a lot since Elon Musk first unveiled it in 2019.

Tesla's first pickup, which finally launched in November 2023, has had a rocky rollout, with multiple recalls and early challenges in scaling up production.

The Cybertrucks for sale right now have less range and a far higher price tag than Musk initially predicted, with the cheapest model available costing nearly $70,000, compared to the $39,900 that Musk promised.

Here are some of the Cybertruck features that Musk has talked about over the years that failed to materialize.

1. A $39,900 price tag

When Musk first unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019, he said the cheapest version would cost $39,900, with more advanced variants costing $49,900 and $77,000.

But that didn't work out. In 2023, Tesla shipped a $120,000 Foundation Series version of the Cybertruck and said its cheapest model would actually cost $60,990 and would arrive in 2025. Tesla recently released its Long Range version of the Cybertruck, which has a $69,990 price tag. The Cyberbeast, its most expensive version, cost around $100,000.

The price hike disappointed many Tesla fans, and made the Cybertruck something of a status car when it first arrived. Now that the market has become more saturated and the truck has been targeted by political backlash, some consider the EV overpriced.

2. 500-mile range

Musk also said in 2019 that the most advanced tri-motor version of the Cybertruck would have a 500-mile range.

That would have made it one of the longest-range EVs on the market, but it was a promise Tesla didn't deliver on.

The automaker advertises the $69,990 Long Range Cybertruck as having an estimated 350 miles of range, with the roughly $100,000 "Cyberbeast" clocking in at 301 miles.

Tesla previously had plans to offer a $16,000 "range extender." The battery pack would sit in the truck bed of the vehicle and increase the vehicle's range to over 470 miles. In October, Tesla reduced the range to 445 miles and delayed it from early to mid-2025.

In early May, Tesla canceled the product and refunded pre-orders.

3. Cyberquad

Musk ended the 2019 Cybertruck event with a surprise unveiling of the "Cyberquad," a Tesla quad bike.

The billionaire wrote at the time on X that the Cyberquad would be a two-seater ATV that would be released at the same time as the truck.

Tesla did release a $1,900 kids version of the Cyberquad, which now costs $1,650 and previously faced a recall, but the full-size quad bike is yet to materialize.

4. The Cybertruck functioning as a boat

One of the most eye-catching promises Musk made about the Cybertruck is that it would be able to float and serve as a boat for short periods.

The Tesla CEO wrote on X that the pickup would be waterproof enough to "cross rivers, lakes, & even seas that aren't too choppy."

Although the Cybertruck has a "wade mode" that allows drivers to drive through 30 inches of water for a limited time, it's far from sea-worthy.

Musk appears to have not given up on this feature, however, posting on X last December that Tesla would release another upgrade that would allow the Cybertruck to "traverse at least 100m of water as a boat."

He reiterated its potential in April when responding to a video on X of a Cybertruck driving in a lake.

5. Crab walking

In 2021, Musk wrote on X that the initial production run of Cybertrucks would have four motors, one for each wheel, allowing it to turn 360 degrees like a tank and move diagonally like a crab.

But this feature never made it off the Tesla drawing board. Cybertruck lead engineer Wes Morrill said in April that Tesla experimented with the feature but couldn't find a practical use for it.

"We played with this in development, but no matter what we tried, it was a clunky/awkward experience with no real use case," he wrote in a post on X.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside normal working hours.

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When it comes to activewear, quality and comfort matter just as much as style, and Athleta has the full package. But the retailer offers more than just activewear; it's also home to some of our favorite workwear, though it can be expensive. That's why having a good Athleta coupon to use at checkout is key.

Athleta's sale section always has some markdowns, but using a coupon is the best way to score a deal. Some codes can save you an extra 20% on top of other existing discounts to get you the best price possible. They can be hard to dig up, though, which is why we've rounded them up right here.

If you're not sure what to buy, our style experts on the Reviews Team can help. They've tested a wide variety of Athleta apparel, and the brand has plenty of range. While the Elation V-Neck Longline Bra and Ultra High Rise Elation Legging make up one of our favorite matching workout sets for women, the Endless High Rise Pants are our favorite stretchy work pants we've ever tested.

In addition to checking out the retailer's ongoing deals, try the best Athleta coupon codes we've tested below to save even more.

Today's best Athleta coupons

Previous Athleta coupons

Are there any other Athleta sales running at the moment?

You can find a full list of all current markdowns at any time on the sale pages of Athleta's website, which we've compiled for you below. As of the time of writing, Athleta is running the following promotions.

Use Athleta coupon codes on these items

You can use Athleta coupons to save on styles we've recommended in our guides, including one of our favorite matching workout sets for women. The Elation V-Neck Longline Bra is already on sale, bringing the price down from $54 to $24.97, and the Ultra High Rise Elation Legging is currently $89, bringing the price of both pieces to $113.97. But when you apply the coupon code 14DAYPASS, you can bring the price down another 20% to just $91.18. Or, use the same code to bring the price of our favorite stretchy work pants, the Endless High Rise Pants, down from $109 to $87.20.

• Follow our WhatsApp channel on mobile for more deals and shopping news

How to use Athleta coupon codes

Start by adding coupon-eligible items to your cart. Once you're on the "Shopping Bag" page, you can apply a coupon by pasting the coupon code into the text box under "Promos" that says "Enter Promo Code" and clicking "Apply." From there, continue to checkout and enter your shipping and billing information.

Can you stack Athleta coupons?

Athleta does allow coupon codes to be stacked together. However, there may be exceptions, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific codes you want to stack.

Athleta coupons: frequently asked questions

Does Athleta offer discounts for students, teachers, and the military?

As of the time of writing, Athleta does not offer special discounts for students, teachers, or military members, so your best bet is to take advantage of their other coupons and promotions.

If you're a student or teacher, check out our roundups of the best student discounts and teacher discounts for more offers from your favorite brands.

Does Athleta offer free shipping?

Athleta offers free shipping on all orders over $50 to members of its rewards program. For non-members, shipping fees will be calculated at checkout based on your delivery location and order cost. Learn more about the rewards program and sign up on Athleta's website.

What is Athleta's return policy?

Athleta allows you to return items for a full refund up to 30 days after the original delivery date or in-store purchase.

Can I use Athleta coupon codes in-store?

Some Athleta coupons can be used both online and in-store. However, many coupons are online-exclusive, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific code you want to use.

Can I reuse an Athleta coupon?

Some Athleta coupon codes can be used multiple times. However, there are certain codes that can only be used once, so be sure to check the terms and conditions for the specific code you want to use.

Looking for more activewear? Check out our roundups of the best Vuori discount codes, the best Alo discount codes, and the best Spanx coupons.

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• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook have criticized each other's companies for years.
• They've traded barbs over Apple's prices and Facebook's privacy scandals.
• The latest exchange is Zuckerberg snubbing Cook and saying the Apple CEO "had a bad week" so he wouldn't "pile on."

Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Tim Cook have a long-standing feud.

The two tech titans have been bickering since at least 2014, trading barbs over each other's products and business models. Over the years, their battle has escalated to include public jabs, pointed ad campaigns, and even a legal dispute.

In May, Zuckerberg, asked about Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai at the Stripe Sessions conference, said "Tim's had a bad week" — a reference to Apple's legal setback in a legal dispute about the App Store — and appeared to snub Cook by saying, "I like Sundar. Sundar's cool."

Here's when the rivalry began, and what's happened since.

The feud between Zuckerberg and Cook became public in 2014, when Cook lambasted Facebook's business model.

In September 2014, Cook gave an in-depth interview with Charlie Rose that touched on a range of topics, including privacy.

During the interview — which took place in the weeks following the infamous leaks of multiple female celebrities' nude photos stored on their iCloud accounts — Cook espoused Apple's commitment to privacy while denouncing the business models of companies like Google and Facebook.

"I think everyone has to ask, how do companies make their money? Follow the money," Cook said. "And if they're making money mainly by collecting gobs of personal data, I think you have a right to be worried. And you should really understand what's happening to that data."

Shortly after, Cook reiterated his stance in an open letter on Apple's dedicated privacy site.

"A few years ago, users of internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you're not the customer. You're the product," Cook wrote.

Cook's comments rankled Zuckerberg, who called the claims "ridiculous" and blasted Apple products as being expensive.

In an interview with Time later that year, Zuckerberg was reportedly visibly irritated by Cook's assertions.

"A frustration I have is that a lot of people increasingly seem to equate an advertising business model with somehow being out of alignment with your customers," Zuckerberg told Time's Lev Grossman. "I think it's the most ridiculous concept. What, you think because you're paying Apple that you're somehow in alignment with them? If you were in alignment with them, then they'd make their products a lot cheaper!"

Their squabble came to a head following the Cambridge Analytica scandal when Cook criticized Facebook's actions.

In 2018, a whistleblower revealed that consulting firm Cambridge Analytica harvested user data without consent from 50 million users.

During an interview with Kara Swisher and Chris Hayes in the months following, Cook was asked what he would do if he was in Zuckerberg's shoes.

Cook responded: "What would I do? I wouldn't be in this situation."

Cook said that Facebook should have regulated itself when it came to user data, but that "I think we're beyond that here." He also doubled down on his stance that Facebook considers its users its product.

"The truth is, we could make a ton of money if we monetized our customer — if our customer was our product," Cook said. "We've elected not to do that."

Zuckerberg hit back, calling Cook's comments "extremely glib."

"You know, I find that argument, that if you're not paying that somehow we can't care about you, to be extremely glib. And not at all aligned with the truth," Zuckerberg said during an interview on The Ezra Klein Show podcast.

He refuted the idea that Facebook isn't focused on serving people and once again criticized the premium Apple places on its products.

"I think it's important that we don't all get Stockholm Syndrome and let the companies that work hard to charge you more convince you that they actually care more about you," he said. "Because that sounds ridiculous to me."

Privately, Zuckerberg was reportedly outraged by Cook's remarks — so much so that he ordered his employees to switch to Android devices.

In November 2018, The New York Times published a blockbuster report detailing the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The Times reported that Cook's comments had "infuriated" Zuckerberg, who ordered employees on his management team who used iPhones to switch to Android.

Soon after the report published, Facebook wrote a blog post refuting some of the reporting by The Times — but not the Zuckerberg-Cook feud.

"Tim Cook has consistently criticized our business model and Mark has been equally clear he disagrees. So there's been no need to employ anyone else to do this for us," Facebook wrote. "And we've long encouraged our employees and executives to use Android because it is the most popular operating system in the world."

In 2019, Zuckerberg and Cook had a meeting at the annual Sun Valley retreat in Idaho that went poorly, according to The New York Times.

According to The Times, Zuckerberg asked Cook for his advice following the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Cook told Zuckerberg Facebook should delete the user data his company collects from outside of its family of apps, which "stunned" Zuckerberg and was akin to Cook saying Facebook's business was "untenable," The Times reported.

In August 2020, Zuckerberg jumped in the fray as Apple faced criticism over its App Store policies.

During a company-wide meeting, Zuckerberg openly criticized Apple, saying it has a "unique stranglehold as a gatekeeper on what gets on phones," according to a report from BuzzFeed News.

Zuckerberg also said that the App Store blocks innovation and competition and "allows Apple to charge monopoly rents," BuzzFeed reported.

Apple has been facing antitrust scrutiny from Congress and has been strongly criticized by developers — most notably "Fortnite" creator Epic Games — for the 30% fee it takes from App Store purchases. In 2020, Facebook said Apple blocked an update to Facebook's iOS app that would have informed users about the fee Apple charges.

Apple's iOS 14.5 software update angered Facebook, which says the privacy features could destroy part of its business.

That version of Apple's smartphone operating system, iOS, made it so that iPhone app developers would need permission from users to collect and track their data. While this affects any company that makes iOS apps, it also has a direct impact on Facebook's advertising business: It uses data tracking to dictate which ads are served to users.

In an August 2020 blog post, Facebook said it may be forced to shut down Audience Network for iOS, a tool that personalizes ads in third-party apps.

"This is not a change we want to make, but unfortunately, Apple's updates to iOS 14 have forced this decision," Facebook said.

The complaints from Facebook and other developers led Apple to temporarily delay the new privacy tools, saying it wanted to "give developers the time they need to make the necessary changes."

Facebook escalated the feud to a full-page ad in The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal.

—Dave Stangis (@DaveStangis) December 16, 2020

In the ads, Facebook argued that the changes would hurt small businesses that advertise on Facebook's platform.

"Without personalized ads, Facebook data shows that the average small business advertiser stands to see a cut of over 60% in their sales for every dollar they spend," the ad reads, which was posted by Twitter user Dave Stangis.

Apple hit back, telling Business Insider that it was "standing up for our users."

"Users should know when their data is being collected and shared across other apps and websites — and they should have the choice to allow that or not," an Apple spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, Facebook also said it would help Epic Games, the company behind "Fortnite," in its legal battle against Apple.

Epic Games had accused Apple of violating antitrust laws and engaging in anticompetitive behavior regarding the App Store's fees and policies.

Facebook said it planned to help Epic with discovery for the trial.

Zuckerberg also lashed out at Apple during an earnings call in 2021, saying the company frequently interferes with how Facebook's apps work.

When discussing Facebook's suite of messaging apps during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call, Zuckerberg made a clear dig at Apple, saying the iPhone maker made "misleading" privacy claims.

"Now Apple recently released so-called nutrition labels, which focused largely on metadata that apps collect rather than the privacy and security of people's actual messages, but iMessage stores non-end-to-end encrypted backups of your messages by default unless you disable iCloud," Zuckerberg said.

Zuckerberg went on to describe Apple as "one of our biggest competitors" and said that because Apple is increasingly relying on services to fuel its business, it "has every incentive to use their dominant platform position to interfere with how our apps and other apps work, which they regularly do to preference their own."

"This impacts the growth of millions of businesses around the world," he added.

But Cook hasn't backed down from his view that Facebook's business model of harvesting user data and selling it to advertisers is harmful to consumers.

During a speech at the European Computers, Privacy and Data Protection Conference the same week, Cook discussed business models that prioritize user engagement and rely on user data to make money. Though he didn't mention Facebook by name, Cook made several references that alluded to the platform.

"At a moment of rampant disinformation and conspiracy theories juiced by algorithms, we can no longer turn a blind eye to a theory of technology that says all engagement is good engagement — the longer the better — and all with the goal of collecting as much data as possible," Cook said.

Facebook launched another ad campaign in 2021 aimed at proving the need for personalized advertising amid its ongoing battle with Apple.

The initiative, titled "Good Ideas Deserve to be Found," makes the case that personalized ads help Facebook users discover small businesses, particularly during the pandemic.

"Every business starts with an idea, and being able to share that idea through personalized ads is a game changer for small businesses," Facebook said in a blog post announcing the theme. "Limiting the use of personalized ads would take away a vital growth engine for businesses."

Cook called Facebook's objections to the privacy update "flimsy arguments" during an interview with The New York Times.

During a podcast interview with Kara Swisher, Cook said that he believes society is in a privacy crisis and that he's been "shocked" that there's been pushback to the new feature to this degree.

"We know these things are flimsy arguments," Cook told The Times. "I think that you can do digital advertising and make money from digital advertising without tracking people when they don't know they're being tracked."

Cook also said he doesn't view Facebook as a competitor, contrary to what Zuckerberg has said.

"Oh, I think that we compete in some things," Cook said. "But no, if I may ask who our biggest competitor are, they would not be listed. We're not in the social networking business."

Apple's iOS 14.5 update finally rolled out in April 2021, and Facebook paid steeply for it.

"The impact of iOS overall as a headwind on our business in 2022 is on the order of $10 billion," then-Meta CFO David Wehner estimated in an earnings call that year.

In March 2024, Meta, Microsoft, X, and Match Group joined Epic Games in arguing that Apple has been flouting a 2021 court-ordered injunction that required the company to let developers show users links to alternative payment systems beyond the App Store.

Apple, for its part, said in January 2024 that it had "fully complied" with the injunction.

One of the latest battlegrounds in Apple and Meta's feud is their work on virtual and augmented reality.

Apple released its Vision Pro headset in February 2024, and Zuckerberg was quick to offer his critique of the competitor to Meta's Quest headsets.

"I have to say that before this, I expected that Quest would be the better value for most people since it's really good and like seven times less expensive, but after using [Vision Pro] I don't just think that Quest is the better value, it's the better product, period," Zuckerberg said in a video on Threads. "They have different strengths, but overall Quest is better for the vast majority of things that people use mixed reality for."

Zuckerberg says many people "assumed that Vision Pro would be higher quality because it's Apple and it costs $3,000 more."

"I know that some fanboys get upset whenever anyone dares to question if Apple's going to be the leader in a new category," he said. "But the reality is that every generation of computing has an open and a closed model. And yeah, in mobile, Apple's closed model won, but it's not always that way."

In Meta's Q1 2024 earnings call, Zuckerberg said he didn't think AR glasses would find mainstream success without "full holographic displays."

"I still think that that's going to be awesome and is the long-term mature state for the product," he said. "But now, it seems pretty clear that there's also a meaningful market for fashionable AI glasses without a display."

Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has also taken shots at Apple over its Vision Pro.

"As soon as I put the headset on, I can see what trade-offs they made and why they made them. And, perhaps definitionally, those aren't the trade-offs I would have made," he said.

Bosworth called the Vision Pro's motion blur "really distracting" and said the headset was "very uncomfortable to use."

The companies also reportedly had a disagreement over a potential AI partnership.

Apple had rejected the possibility of integrating Meta's Llama AI chatbot into the iPhone because it doesn't consider Meta's privacy practices up to par, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in June 2024, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Apple has since launched iOS 18, which includes a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into the iPhone's software.

Zuckerberg says Apple has been lagging lately when it comes to innovation.

In an episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast released in January 2025, he said Apple hasn't "really invented anything great in a while" since the iPhone.

"It's like Steve Jobs invented the iPhone and now they're just kind of sitting on it 20 years later," he said on the podcast.

Zuckerberg added that Apple has been "squeezing people" for money with the 30% commission the company charges developers for selling paid apps through the App Store.

"They build stuff like Airpods, which are cool, but they've just thoroughly hamstrung the ability for anyone else to build something that can connect to the iPhone in the same way," he said.

Most recently, Zuckerberg took a dig at Cook while speaking at a conference.

At the Stripe Sessions conference in May 2025, Zuckerberg said it was "complicated" and "awkward" that Meta delivers its services through its competitors, going on to name Apple and Google.

"There are all these things over time that Google, but especially Apple, have just been like 'You can't do these things' that I think are good consumer things to do," he said. Zuckerberg estimated Meta could be twice as profitable as it is now if not for that.

Asked if it was awkward running into Cook or Pichai, Zuckerberg joked, "I'm going to dodge the Apple thing again. You're really trying to drag me in here. Tim's had a bad week. I'm not going to pile on. But Sundar is cool. I like Sundar."

Zuckerberg touched on Meta's big spending to try to edge out those competitors.

"We're not a company that has built operating systems and computing platforms, so my general assumption is if we show up the same year as Apple, or Google with Android, or even Microsoft with with Windows — if they build the same kind of AR glasses the same year, I kind of assume the tie goes to them because they have like they have a bigger kind of base of of stuff built out," he said.

"So my view is that we have to be better and earlier, and maybe that will mean that we need to invest a lot in advance of when the market is ready for prime time, but, I mean, look, we're doing it," he added. "Our VR products, I think, are better and 10 times cheaper than Apple's."

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• My husband and I met when he was 44 and I was 38.
• I placed a personal ad in a newspaper, and he replied with a flyer about himself.
• We didn't want kids and wanted to travel the world instead, and we've been doing it for 35 years.

In 1991, when I was 38, I placed a personal ad in a newspaper — this was before computers and cellphones — looking for a boyfriend.

Around a month later, I received a large envelope in the mail with interesting responses. There was one that really stood out.

Carefully designed like a humor-infused brochure, the title across the top said, "YOUR NEXT BOYFRIEND?" It included a picture, bullet points listing his attributes and interests, and lots of adorable graphics, including his drawing of a couple hugging that said, "Could this be us?" It was clever, creative, honest, and funny. In fact, it was so hilarious that I laughed out loud and thought to myself, "I have to meet this guy!"

My husband Jim and I have been married for almost 33 years.

We had lots of things in common

On our first date, we discovered we had many interests and ethics in common, and I could tell that he was genuine, sweet, funny, and a real gentleman.

He told me he lived on a boat (?), loved to ride his bicycle and motorcycle (?), and liked to travel to tropical places and scuba dive (??). Also, he told me he had done a lot of solo adventures, traveling on his bicycle for months at a time in places like Australia and New Zealand. That really excited me — I had always wanted to travel like that. Also, neither of us wanted to have kids.

Our next date was a scenic bicycle ride along the water. On our third date, he took me for a ride on his motorcycle to a beautiful beach, and we shared our first kiss. On the way back, I had butterflies in my stomach, I knew something really wonderful was up. Now, almost 35 years later, I still swoon with every kiss.

After three months of dating, we took a trip to Belize to go scuba diving, which was fantastic. After 10 months, we moved in together, and a month later, he proposed to me on Christmas Eve as we sat beside our colorful, twinkling tree and warm, cozy fireplace.

We haven't stopped traveling

Eleven months later, we got married, and the day after, we took a walk on the beach and agreed that after tasting adventure together in Belize, we wanted to take a much longer trip and officially become vagabonds.

Six months later, we quit our jobs, sold our cars, put everything else into storage, bought two backpacks, and flew to Bangkok.

We traveled with just a Lonely Planet guidebook as we made our way through Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Bali. Four glorious months of nothing but adventures. We learned early on how to overcome difficulties and cope with constant change together.

Eighteen years after our first big adventure trip, we lost our jobs due to an economic downturn, so we took off again for a six-month trip to Bali, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India. Then, after a year back home, we sold our house and embarked on a seven-month trip that included the Greek Islands, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Laos, and back to Thailand and India.

We are a really good team

Traveling to all these amazing places changed our lives forever and gave us an important perspective on how other cultures live. We also discovered that we are a really good team, each with a different set of skills that match up well, and that we can trust each other to get things done right. This experience also helped us develop a seemingly unbreakable and lasting bond.

Delightfully, on a day-to-day basis, we are extremely demonstrative. We hug and kiss often and thank each other constantly for such a loving relationship. We also have many absurd running comedy routines and dialogues that keep us laughing. People are often amazed by our obvious affection for each other and tell us how rare it is.

Like every other couple, we have had to deal with stressful and difficult situations. But we are able to handle them well because we always try to be kind to each other and put the relationship first. We both truly believe that love is the most precious and wonderful thing in the world.

To this day, every night when we get into bed and snuggle (his response to my ad did include, "likes to snuggle"), we happily melt into each other's arms and feel so grateful that we were lucky enough to find each other.

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• Splurging on a five-star hotel stay is typically saved for special occasions.
• I've, fortunately, slept in plenty of luxury hotels where I've watched travelers make mistakes.
• Some people book stays that are too short, while others don't take advantage of the concierge.

From sipping an iced vanilla latte on a private beach to watching snowfall from the comfort of a sauna, I've stayed in luxury, five-star hotels around the world as a travel reporter.

It's a drastic shift from my personal trips and vacations, which tend to involve budget hotels and cheap vacation rentals. When I'm at a lavish hotel, I'm soaking in every minute and every amenity.

From personal experience and conversations with other travelers, I've spotted mistakes that diminish the luxury experience.

A single night is not nearly enough in a five-star hotel.

With a typical 4 p.m. check-in and 11 a.m. check-out, one night in any hotel isn't very long to explore — especially when you're splurging on the accommodation.

I made this mistake while staying at my first five-star hotel, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Canada's Banff National Park.

My friend and I checked into the glorious property just as the sun was setting. We explored the hotel's dining scene and joined a free s'mores and bonfire event. The next day, we set our alarms early to enjoy why we were at Lake Louise in the first place — the nature.

We didn't have nearly long enough. We were rushing to get up early, hike around the lake, and make it back in time to check out of the lodge. We enjoyed our stay, but it wasn't the relaxing trip we had hoped for.

Since then, I've talked to dozens of other guests who shared similar sentiments.

At a five-star hotel in Sydney, guests told me they couldn't decide how to split time between exploring the city and the hotel's amenities. At a luxe spot on the island of Zanzibar, guests raced around the property to enjoy every detail during a short stay.

While booking a luxury hotel might already be a splurge, finding a place that allows you more than one night helps maximize the entire experience.

Not researching the destination beforehand is another common mistake.

Some five-star hotels are in the heart of a city, offering easy access to museums, shopping, and nightlife.

Other luxury hotels are in the middle of nowhere. A stay here means that your vacation is limited to the resort itself.

I've spoken to travelers who weren't aware of how remote the accommodations were, leaving them frustrated that activities were far away, dining outside the hotel was inaccessible, and entire days had to be spent at the property.

Researching where you're heading is key to making the most of a luxe hotel stay. Whether that's speaking to a hotel representative, a travel agent, or Googling, research will give you a better sense of how you'll be spending your precious vacation days.

Some guests don't take advantage of the hotel's concierge.

A concierge at a five-star hotel is a major perk of sleeping in luxury.

They can secure hard-to-get dining reservations, share lesser-known property amenities, and make personal recommendations for the area you're visiting.

I've watched travelers miss out on restaurant visits because they didn't know the concierge might be able to help. I've also seen people fail to use water kayaks and paddleboards in fear that they cost money — a simple question for the concierge.

The concierge is also there in case an emergency arises. They can provide information on the nearest doctor, call transportation services, and help you find anything you may have forgotten to pack.

They're a resource, so failing to use them is a big mistake.

Similar to not using the concierge, I've watched travelers not take advantage of free amenities.

Since every hotel works differently, knowing what's included and what's not when you arrive is important.

I've visited hotels where the spa is accessible regardless of whether you book a service. Other hotels keep the spa off-limits unless you arrive for a massage or facial.

In casual conversations with guests, I've raved about a visit to a private beach and watched as they were shocked to learn that access to a second beach was included in their stay. I've also highlighted the free minibar — another perk people have said they were unaware of.

The high costs of visiting a five-star hotel tend to include much more than just your hotel room, so take advantage of those perks.

Others fail to explore the hotel's food scene.

Finding an award-winning chef stationed at a luxury hotel shouldn't come as a surprise.

On a recent visit to the Four Seasons Tamarindo, I dined on meals influenced and created by well-known chefs. At Coyul, a restaurant on the property, the menu was created in partnership with Elena Reygadas, who was named the best female chef in the world in 2023 by The World's 50 Best Restaurants. The meal of risotto and soft shell crab was a highlight of a weeklong trip to Costalegre, Mexico.

I'm always shocked when I chat with guests and learn they haven't had a single meal at the hotel. While I'm all for exploring a range of restaurants on a trip, guests might miss out by skipping the hotel's dining scene.

Finally, they overpack for the trip.

I still laugh when I think about packing for my first five-star vacation to a tropical destination.

I sat staring at my suitcase, debating how I could save space. Removing a beach towel was my solution, and thank goodness I did. When I arrived, beach towels were piled high at every corner of the pool.

If you're heading to a luxury spot, there are a handful of things you can skip packing. There's no need for shampoo, conditioner, lotion, or body wash. Robes and slippers are a guarantee. I've always found a hair dryer.

While some of those are expected, I've also watched guests waste precious space packing extra tote bags and umbrellas, which will typically be available at a five-star hotel.

Again, a quick conversation with the hotel can help save precious space in a carry-on.

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• Jony Ive was known for delivering simple designs at Apple.
• Ive said in a fireside chat that his design mantra at his new agency, LoveFrom, could be different.
• His new chapter is shaping up to be his "ornament era."

Jony Ive is embracing his "ornament era."

The former chief design officer at Apple spent the better part of 27 years designing products that were defined by simplicity and minimalism: the iPod, iPhone, MacBook, and iPad all had the British-born designer's hand in them.

But he's taking a different approach now.

In a fireside chat with Stripe CEO Patrick Collison this week, Ive, who has been busy working on an independent design agency called LoveFrom since leaving Apple in 2019, said his more recent work could be seen as "Jony's ornament era."

"I think that's a lovely observation," Ive said in response to Collison, who described his work at Apple as "so stripped down" and "reduced to the essence."

Ive's ideas and work at Apple were often inspired by Dieter Rams, the German industrial designer who had a "less but better" approach that informed his work at consumer products businesses like Braun.

In the fireside chat, Ive said that his work at LoveFrom is informed by a diverse team of industrial, graphic, and sound designers, as well as architects, typographers, and musicians, as opposed to at Apple, where his team had "clear criteria for what we were doing."

Ive has shared few details about the projects LoveFrom was working on, with his design agency's website maintaining a barebones display that has shrouded the storied designer's future work in secrecy.

But a few public projects have indicated a shift in direction in his design, with Ive notably creating an ornament logo for the coronation of King Charles III, as well as work for Airbnb.

"If you're working for the king on his coronation identity, that of course, would demand a very different approach than the one we would have taken if we were designing instructional products for how to use an iMac," Ive said.

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• This post originally appeared in the Business Insider Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Happy Friday! We've got a new pope and he's an American! Cardinal Robert Prevost, who hails from Chicago, will be known as Pope Leo XIV. Here's everything you need to know about him. To be fair, we probably should have seen this coming with Gen Z's obsession with "Conclave."

In today's big story, a trade agreement with the UK has Wall Street excited, but not everyone is convinced things are heading in the right direction.

You still have time to sign up for Tech Memo. It's our new weekly BI newsletter from Alistair Barr on what's happening inside the world's most powerful tech companies.

What's on deck

Markets: At Milken, billionaire and CEO concerns about the economy didn't stop the party.

Tech: Google pushes back on claims it's losing search to AI.

Business: Panasonic is cutting 10,000 jobs in a bid to boost efficiency.

But first, wheeling and dealing.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here.

The big story

The art of the trade deal

President Donald Trump seems to be entering the next stage of his wide-reaching trade war, and investors are loving it.

On Thursday, Trump announced a trade agreement with the UK that his administration said would bring opportunities worth $5 billion to US exporters.

The first deal made since Trump's Liberation Day — when tariffs were widely implemented — was reason enough for investors to celebrate, sending major indexes rising.

But it wasn't just the UK deal that had Wall Street excited. In announcing the agreement on Truth Social, Trump made clear he wasn't done resolving trade disputes.

"This Deal shows that if you respect America, and bring serious proposals to the table, America is OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Many more to come — STAY TUNED!" Trump said on the social media platform.

Trump's post seemed to confirm what many had long believed: The threat of tariffs was merely a Trump negotiation tactic to secure better trade terms.

(BI's Alice Tecotzky previously read Trump's "The Art of the Deal" to see how they compared to his approach to tariffs. There were plenty of takeaways.)

One trade agreement is still far from solving the whole trade war.

Investors have been eager to find any signs of reprieve from tariffs, with some even pricing in a win for the US ahead of the UK announcement.

Still, there's no guarantee other countries will be as willing to come to the table. Relations with one of the biggest trade partners — China — are still strained. Discussions between the two sides are supposedly coming this weekend.

In the meantime, the risk of a recession is looming. Despite strong recent economic data, some experts warn the worst is yet to come thanks to the ongoing uncertainty, writes BI's Catherine Boudreau.

The unknowns are also stressing anyone involved in global trade, which is already a pretty complex industry to begin with, writes BI's Madeline Stone.

Even Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged that the true impact of tariffs on the economy is still unclear while holding interest rates firm on Wednesday, much to Trump's displeasure.

But for now, Wall Street is happy to take the win. A trade agreement with the UK is better than a trade agreement with no one.

3 things in markets

1. Bitcoin hit $100,000 for the first time in three months. The world's largest crypto saw gains after the White House's trade agreement with the UK. Bitcoin is moving in line with other risk assets as the markets settle down.

2. A benefactor from the Trump bump is going bust. The secondhand market had a record number of deals last year, and uncertainty around President Trump's policies means demand for the once-niche market is expected to ratchet up again. Here's what it's like to work as a secondaries investor.

3. Hanging with the bigwigs and billionaires at Milken. Onstage at the Beverly Hills conference, concerns about the economy were almost as ubiquitous as the viral Saratoga water bottle. Recession woes didn't stop the rich from partying it up in private, however.

3 things in tech

1. Things aren't looking good for Google. Google disputed an Apple exec's statement that AI is cutting into its search. It's possible that both companies are right — but a recent filing reveals there's another reason to worry about Google's search dominance.

2. Tariffs sparked a wave of iPhone upgrades, not AI. Wall Street thought Apple's generative AI would kick-start an upgrade cycle, but Consumer Intelligence Research Partners found concerns over higher prices actually did the trick.

3. Millennials had the mall; Gen Z has Pinterest. That's according to Pinterest CEO Bill Ready, who said the platform is where "Gen Z goes to shop" during its Q1 earnings call. Pinterest's stock jumped as much as 18% after-hours on Thursday.

3 things in business

1. Panasonic plans to cut 10,000 jobs. The Japanese company, which supplies batteries to Tesla through a subsidiary company, plans to cut 5,000 roles in Japan and 5,000 overseas by March 2026, which amounts to about 4% of its global workforce.

2. Bill Gates ramps up giving away his billions. The Microsoft cofounder told the New York Times he plans to shut down his foundation in 2045 — decades earlier than initially intended. He also criticized Elon Musk, saying he was "involved in the deaths of the world's poorest children" by cutting USAID as part of his DOGE initiative.

3. Shopify wants to help sellers navigate tariffs. The company just launched new tools to help merchants calculate duties and consider other tariff impacts, including a new website that uses AI to give guidance. See how it's assisting sellers.

In other news

• Here's how much Trump's policies could cost Wall Street in bonus money.
• Trump's deal with Paul Weiss is throwing a wrench into his war on Big Law.
• Warren Buffett delivered a masterclass in succession planning — and a lesson in high drama.
• Temu sent my last shipment with no extra tariff fees. What happens the next time I want to place an order?
• The new face of professional networking isn't human.
• Liam Payne died without a will. Here's why his ex will manage his $32.2 million fortune, even though they weren't married.

What's happening today

• Hoover Institution Monetary Conference begins, with speakers including institution director Condoleezza Rice.

• Court hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez as push to free them continues.

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The Business Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

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• Boeing may deliver the new Air Force One jets by 2027, two years earlier than projected.
• The company has faced cost overruns and operational challenges, with the program $2 billion over budget.
• That timescale would allow Donald Trump to fly on the jets while he's still president.

Boeing could now deliver the next-generation Air Force One aircraft while President Donald Trump is still in office, a US Air Force official said.

The planes could be delivered by 2027 — two years earlier than previously expected, but still five years behind the original schedule.

Darlene Costello, the acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, revealed the update during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

"We are looking at the requirements that are being potentially traded off to get to that date, and so I would not necessarily guarantee that date, but they're proposing to bring it into '27," she said.

One major change already agreed is the relaxation of a requirement that Boeing staff working on the project hold top-level security clearances, which had contributed to previous delays. Additional holdups were caused by supplier changes, engineering challenges, and pandemic-related workforce constraints.

"We are absolutely committed to delivering an aircraft with the communications and defensive capabilities required for presidential transport," Costello told the hearing.

The revised timeline comes as Boeing works with the Air Force to streamline requirements for the new VC-25B jets — modified 747 aircraft that will replace the ageing VC-25As. The updates aim to reduce production delays that have plagued the $3.9 billion program.

During his first term in office, Trump struck a deal with Boeing to acquire two new 747-8 aircraft, with initial delivery scheduled for 2024.

The two planes had been ordered by Transaero, a Russian airline that filed for bankruptcy before they were delivered.

Both planes, which first flew in 2016, have logged fewer than 20 hours in the air and have been at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio since 2019 for conversion.

Since taking on the fixed-price contract, Boeing has struggled with cost overruns and operational disruptions.

The aerospace giant recently acknowledged that the program is now $2 billion over budget.

If Boeing manages to meet the 2027 target, Trump could fly on the new aircraft while still in office.

The president has previously criticized delays in the project, prompting renewed pressure on Boeing from both the Air Force and political leaders.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

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• HSBC has created a loan designed to help businesses handle the cost of tariffs.
• HSBC TradePay for Import Duties is an extension of an already existing program.
• Businesses have been scrambling to work out how to deal with the cost of tariffs.

Banking giant HSBC has launched a new financing service to help its customers manage the extra costs caused by the trade war triggered by President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

HSBC TradePay for Import Duties allows businesses to access credit and make payments. It adds to an already existing program launched in 2023 to help businesses deal with the costs of international trade.

The London-headquartered bank and financial services firm said the platform could be used to cover the cost of import duties, helping address the extra costs associated with tariffs.

According to HSBC, since launching TradePay, it has made $2.3 billion of trade finance accessible worldwide.

"By settling import duties directly and frictionlessly through HSBC TradePay, our US clients have more visibility and control over their working capital at the time they need it most," Vivek Ramachandran, head of global trade solutions, said in a statement.

Since Trump announced his so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs in April, US businesses have been scrambling to address the cost of the increased levies on goods. Some have said they will absorb costs, while many have passed these costs onto customers.

Last week, HSBC posted a profit before tax of $9.5 billion, compared to forecasts of $7.8 billion, in its first quarter of 2025. It surpassed expectations of revenue by $980 million and announced a share buyback of up to $3 billion.

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• X said it was ordered to restrict thousands of accounts in India.
• The company said its staff in India faced "significant fines and imprisonment" if it didn't comply.
• The takedown demand follows a Kashmir terror attack that has reignited India-Pakistan tensions.

Elon Musk's X says India's government has ordered it to block more than 8,000 accounts in the country or face "significant fines and imprisonment" for local X staff.

The company's global government affairs team said Thursday that it had begun restricting access to the flagged accounts in India.

"X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees," the team's account wrote in an X post.

The company said the order, which comes as tensions escalate between India and Pakistan, includes demands to block international news organizations and high-profile users.

X added that it disagreed with the demands, which it said amounted to "censorship of existing and future content," but that it would "withhold the specified accounts in India alone."

The directive appears to be part of a wider crackdown targeting social media accounts tied to Pakistani politicians, media outlets, and celebrities.

India has also blocked more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels in recent weeks, accusing them of spreading "provocative" content. Several of the blocked channels belong to Pakistani news outlets.

Meta blocked access to a prominent Muslim news page on Instagram in India at the government's request, the page's founder said Wednesday.

Military clashes between India and Pakistan have ramped up in recent days following an attack on tourists last month in Kashmir, a contested region between the two countries, that killed 26 people.

"In most cases, the Indian government has not specified which posts from an account have violated India's local laws," X's global affairs team said. "For a significant number of accounts, we did not receive any evidence or justification to block the accounts."

The takedown demand could add tension to Musk's expanding business interests in India. India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, spoke with Musk in April about increasing tech collaboration. Tesla is planning to open showroom locations in Delhi and Mumbai, and Musk's satellite company, Starlink, is seeking final approval to launch internet in the country.

An X spokesperson and India's government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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• As a local, there are a lot of Connecticut beach towns I'd choose over the Hamptons in New York.
• Greenwich feels exclusive and filled with activities, and Fairfield is wonderfully laid-back.
• Old Saybrook feels like it's out of a movie, and Mystic is a coastal gem filled with history.

There's nothing like a summer along the Long Island Sound — although it touches New York and Connecticut, I've found most of my favorite spots are actually in the latter.

I lived in New York City for years and loved it, but something has always drawn me back to my Connecticut roots.

And sure, I enjoy a good trip to the Hamptons, but I'd choose these coastal Connecticut towns over the former every time.

Here are some of my favorite picks — as a bonus, most of them are less than three hours from NYC.

Fairfield feels like a laid-back, Hamptons-esque escape.

Vacationers in Fairfield can feel like locals as they head out for a morning run, hit up the farmers market for a bouquet, grab coffee at one of the many cafes downtown, or simply relax in the sunshine.

I like the town's larger beaches, Jennings and Penfield, which have pavilions serving up classic beachside eats. If I want a more secluded feel, I head to the smaller Sasco Beach.

I love feeling pampered on a weekend getaway here. My favorite "treat myself" spot is Wine N Cheese Day Spa. I'll typically head there for a facial, fine wine, and an aesthetically pleasing charcuterie board.

If I'm looking for a fresh pasta diner to go, I stop by Centro. For a night out, Sinclair is the place to order dirty martinis (with generously stuffed blue-cheese olives) and a pot of mussels.

And, of course, a nightcap at J.B. Percival Co. Craft Cocktail Lounge and Speakeasy is a must.

Fairfield is about an hour away by train from NYC.

Greenwich captures the fun "see and be seen" Hamptons mindset.

I absolutely love Greenwich — it's a wealthy city, which means many celebrities and pro athletes have houses here. It's fun to keep an eye out for stars while admiring impressively grand local architecture.

The town feels exclusive and cool and has tons of activities, whether you're heading to Tod's Point to explore 147 acres of scenic walking trails, chartering a yacht from the Delamar Hotel for an outing, bird watching at the Greenwich Audubon Center, or shopping the Avenue.

Either way, at sunset, there's nothing like kicking back in an Adirondack chair at the Point and looking at distant views of Manhattan.

And, of course, I complete my Hampton-esque getaways here with dirty martinis at Elm Street Oyster House and live music at OG Social.

Greenwich is about 45 minutes from NYC by train.

Old Saybrook resembles a dreamy seaside out of a Hallmark movie.

I think downtown Old Saybrook offers historic Sag Harbor charm. Think: idyllic book shops, antique stores, bed and breakfasts, and art galleries.

However, I think this small beach town feels like more of a hideaway from a Hallmark movie than the popular Long Island village.

Guests can stay at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, where they can rent a bike and pedal into town for shopping before heading back to watch boats from the pool.

I also suggest a stop at Harvey's Beach — an excellent spot for boating, seashell collecting, or simply kicking back.

While there, I suggest enjoying Fresh Salt's waterfront dining and picturesque bar at sunset or stopping by Connecticut's beloved Little Pub for fish and chips and brews.

To end their night, visitors can catch one of many shows at the local Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center,

Old Saybrook is about two hours from NYC by train.

Mystic is a lovely coastal village in Connecticut.

Mystic has charming seafood spots, ice-cream parlors, boutiques, and a nautical history museum.

In addition, the nearby vineyards — like Jonathan Edwards Winery and Saltwater Farm Vineyard — have a Hamptons-style ambiance.

When I'm not sunbathing or sipping wine here, you'll find me shopping for natural handmade soaps, essential oils, or braided rugs in Olde Mystic Village.

The town's many nearby beaches don't disappoint, either, from Esker Point to Williams Beach to Bluff Point State Park. If I want to get some steps in, I walk down a scenic trail to Bluff Point.

To cap off my nights, I'll usually head to the Treehouse at Oyster Club, an outdoor dining deck nestled among the foliage with sweeping views of downtown Mystic.

Mystic is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from NYC.

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• Jordon Hudson, 24, is dating the former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
• The Maine native is competing in the Miss Maine pageant this weekend.
• If Hudson wins the competition, she will compete at Miss USA later this year.

Jordon Hudson describes herself as a founder, CEO, and avid "bird-er," though you most likely know her as the 24-year-old girlfriend of NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick.

But Hudson soon hopes to be known by another title — Miss USA.

The pageant queen is set to compete at Miss Maine this weekend and, if she wins the state crown, will head to the national stage.

Here's everything you need to know about Hudson, from her family's fisherman roots to why she believes beauty queens are the modern suffragettes.

Jordon Hudson is a Maine native who advocates for fishermen

Hudson wrote in a recent Instagram post that she was "practically born on the waters of Hancock Point" in Maine, just as her father had been, "and his father, and his father… since before the American Revolutionary War."

"Daughter of Maine fishermen" is the first thing listed in Hudson's Instagram bio, and the pageant queen frequently uses her platform to advocate for the profession.

In March, Hudson wrote an Instagram plea to President Donald Trump after it was announced that his administration planned to cut the Maine Sea Grant, a federal funding program that supports research and outreach for the state's marine economy.

"It was the reckless regulatory decisions by government officials with no stake in those decisions that forced my 9th generation fishermen father out of this industry more than 15 years ago," Hudson said. "Please do not put others through what we have been through."

Days later, Hudson posted an Instagram picture of herself with Susan Collins and praised the Maine senator following the news that Trump's administration had agreed to renegotiate the grant's funding. On May 2, it was announced that funding had been restored.

Hudson was a national cheerleading champion in college

Hudson was a cheerleader at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts. In 2021, her team won a National Cheerleaders Association collegiate championship, the famous Daytona, Florida, competition at the center of the Netflix documentary "Cheer."

According to her Instagram, Hudson was also a model for Rebel Athletic, a cheer and dance apparel brand, and toured with the "Cheer" star Gabi Butler around New England.

Hudson joined the East Celebrity Elite cheer squad after graduating from college and proudly calls herself a "geriatric cheerleader" on Instagram. In a February 2024 post, Hudson praised the sport for keeping her "anchored through difficult seasons of adolescence and young adulthood" and those who helped with the "neurological damage rehabilitation" she required after repetitive concussions from the sport.

The 24-year-old is also a licensed cosmetologist

According to her LinkedIn, Hudson received her cosmetology professional licensure from the New England Hair Academy in November 2019 while enrolled at Bridgewater, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy in May 2022.

In a lengthy Instagram post from November 2019, Hudson shared that balancing cosmetology school with college, cheerleading, and a job as a henna tattoo artist had been an "intense chapter" of her life.

Hudson has been competing in pageants for years

Hudson placed third runner-up at the Miss Massachusetts Teen USA competition in 2020 and placed first runner-up at Miss Maine USA 2024.

She's representing her hometown of Hancock at the Miss Maine USA 2025 competition on Saturday and Sunday. The winner will go on to compete at Miss USA, which has never crowned a Miss Maine in its 73-year history.

In January, Hudson shared a picture of herself attending the Miss America 2025 pageant and explained why she believed "beauty queens are the contemporary suffragettes."

"Like feminism, pageantry is malleable & looks a lot different now than it did 104 years ago, however, the essence and mission to perpetuate Women's Rights and Empowerment is never-changing," she wrote on Instagram.

"Sure, both 'feminism' & 'pageantry' have flaws and connotative aspects (as does every other 'industry'), but we are all dedicated to finding the solutions to all of these issues," she continued. "Let it not be mistaken that our intentions are anything aside from deep and pure."

Hudson and Belichick announced their relationship in June

The pageant queen and former New England Patriots coach have said they met on a flight in 2021, where they bonded over Hudson's philosophy studies. Hudson posted a video of her textbook with Belichick's signature in a February Instagram post celebrating their "four-year meetiversary."

Hudson seemed to hit back at critics of the couple's 49-year age gap with a Valentine's Day post in which she wrote that "we do not need to justify 'why' we love a particular person."

"Love is not to be judged," she added. "It is never okay to harass or abuse a person based upon who they love."

Hudson is now involved with Belichick's business dealings

Belichick, now the head football coach for the University of North Carolina, requested that Hudson be copied on emails between him and the university in March, The Athletic reported.

In his new memoir, which was released Tuesday, he also calls Hudson his "creative muse," and he's said they share "both a personal and professional relationship."

Ahead of his memoir's release, Belichick sat down for a "CBS Sunday Morning" interview, in which the journalist Tony Dokoupil called Hudson a "constant presence." Belichick later defended her in a statement, saying she was "simply doing her job to ensure the interview stayed on track."

According to her LinkedIn, Hudson is the founder and CEO of Trouble Cub Enterprises. An active job listing for Trouble Cub Enterprises describes it as an "East Coast-based holding company for a complex portfolio of businesses across a wide range of industries, including cosmetics, real estate, media production, merchandising, creative consultation, business strategy, and investment."

In April, the company filed for 14 trademarks related to Belichick's iconic coach catchphrases, which are owned by the New England Patriots and its owner, Robert Kraft, People reported.

The trademark request included Belichick quotes such as "Do your job," "Ignore the noise," and "No days off." The request would add "(Bill's version)" to the end of each quote, similar to how Taylor Swift titled her rereleased music after losing her original discography to Scooter Braun.

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• A microplastics and toxic chemicals expert says her family doesn't wear shoes at home.
• Microplastics from car tires and garbage, as well as street runoff, can be tracked indoors on shoes.
• The researcher thinks her kids' Japanese heritage helped them adopt the habit.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Tracey Woodruff, the director of the Program on Reproductive Health & the Environment at the University of California, San Francisco. She studies how microplastics and toxic chemicals impact fertility and child development. The below has been edited for length and clarity.

I did not grow up removing shoes when entering the house.

My husband and I started getting into the habit when we had kids, and I got more immersed in my research and how to lower exposures to toxic chemicals.

One of the things that can help reduce exposure to microplastics and other toxic chemicals is taking your shoes off before coming into the house to avoid tracking things in from outside.

What's on your shoes

One contributor to microplastic pollution is car tires, so that's going to be outside, and you can track them around on your feet. Degrading plastic from garbage and vehicle runoff can also get on your shoes.

Microplastics are in the air, they're in food, and they're in water. You can breathe them, eat them, and chemicals on them can also absorb into your skin.

I co-authored a systematic review of studies on microplastics last year. We found they may increase the risk of reproductive health effects, particularly for effects on sperm, as well as chronic inflammation and the potential to increase the risk of lung and colon cancer.

Then there are the chemicals used in plastic — like phthalates, which can disrupt testosterone levels and affect fetal development.

It just became a habit

I would say leaving shoes at the door gradually happened over time. It wasn't too hard. It just became a habit.

We have a closet, a bench, and a cabinet for shoes.

One of my sons is very diligent about taking off his shoes when he goes in the house now. He lived in Japan for a couple months. He's got his house slippers.

My other kids also take their shoes off when they come in the house. It's a part of their cultural heritage. My husband's parents came from Japan, and they took their shoes off when they were in the house. We took the kids to Japan to visit relatives when they were small and almost everyone does it there. They identify with their Japanese heritage.

My daughter does it too in her townhouse with her roommates. They have one of those giant shelves with shoes on it.

At my home we have dogs, which I admit is a complicating factor because they're tracking stuff in all the time. I don't have a good solution to that at this point in time.

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• Season one of Amazon's "Fallout" ended on a cliffhanger, teasing an iconic location from the games.
• Aaron Moten, who plays Maximus, said season two should be released in 2025.
• Here's what to know about the future of "Fallout."

" Fallout" brings the postapocalyptic world of the award-winning video games to life, and Amazon renewed the show for a second season just nine days after it was released.

It takes place 200 years after a nuclear war decimated the US and revolves around Lucy MacLean ( Ella Purnell), who was raised in an underground bunker that protected her ancestors from radiation.

When her father, Hank MacLean ( Kyle MacLachlan), is kidnapped by invaders from the outside world, Lucy leaves the safety of the shelter to try to save him.

In the last five years, Amazon has found success by adapting well-known properties into TV shows, including " The Boys," "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power," " Reacher," "Good Omens," and "Invincible."

But "Fallout" marks the first time the company has adapted a video game into a live-action series, and judging by the hugely positive critical reaction, the gamble has paid off.

Here's what to know about "Fallout" season two.

Aaron Moten said "Fallout" season 2 should be released in 2025.

Amazon is yet to confirm a release date for "Fallout" season two.

But Aaron Moten, who plays the Brotherhood of Steel knight, Maximus, suggested the show will return sooner than fans might expect.

"We don't have a release date that I could give out, but I could tell you that because we worked so hard and so quickly, it should be out this year," he told Comic Con Liverpool, which ran from May 3 to 4.

Representatives for Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

On Thursday, Amazon confirmed on social media that season two had wrapped production.

Last April, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that Amazon had moved production of season two from New York to Los Angeles to receive a $25 million tax credit.

The show briefly paused production in January when the Pacific Palisades wildfire damaged Los Angeles, but filming later resumed.

In February, Walton Goggins, who plays the Ghoul/Cooper Howard in the show, told Deadline: "We're in the middle of filming it right now, we've been at it since November, and I can tell you that I thought season one was extraordinary. Personally, I was very pleased with it.

"This blows it out of the water, what these writers have done and the artisans that have come together to tell this story. It's really going to be something, I can't wait for people to see it. We're working really hard to make that happen."

'Fallout' season 2 will visit a classic location from a beloved game

The end of season one revealed that Hank is actually employed by Vault-Tec, the company that built all the Vaults. He's still working to ensure that the company is successful in the post-apocalypse world. This is a bitter pill to swallow for Lucy now that she's seen how the world was devastated by the war.

Hank leaves Lucy and Maximus (Aaron Moten) by flying away in a damaged set of power armor. But in the closing moments of the season, audiences see him stomping through the desert toward an iconic location from the games: New Vegas.

The 2010 game, " Fallout: New Vegas," takes place in and around the city, which has been rebuilt following the nuclear war. Photos and videos of the New Vegas set surfaced on X in early March. They showed key locations from the game, including The Tops Hotel and The Lucky 38 Resort.

When speaking to BI ahead of "Fallout" season one, showrunner Graham Wagner said there's a lot the makers didn't do in the series (like introducing a deathclaw) in the hopes that they got a second season.

"We took the philosophy of: if you do everything right out of the gates, you're going to do it all but less well, and it'll just be a confusing barrage of noise. So we bet on ourselves," he said.

"We bet on Amazon, and the show, in the hopes of creating a show that irrefutably gets a second season. We're in an uncertain time with television. We never know. It is a very expensive show. It's a big ask," Wagner added.

"So we're hoping that if fans coalesce around this thing, it becomes undeniable. We have fingers crossed. We have so much more we hope to do," he said.

Macaulay Culkin will reportedly join Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, and Ella Purnell in 'Fallout' season 2.

In November, Deadline reported, citing unnamed sources, that Macaulay Culkin would be joining the cast as a "crazy genius-type character."

"Fallout" fans will know that description could fit plenty of characters in the games.

Many online were quick to comment that it would be funny if he played a character living alone in one of the vaults, in a nod to "Home Alone."

Others speculated that he will play Arcade Gannon, a scientist from the "New Vegas" game who experiments with medicine.

Amazon and Culkin's representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

In April 2024, Amazon announced the second season of the series with a poster of Maximus, The Ghoul, and Lucy, so it seems very likely that all three actors will return to reprise their roles when the show eventually returns.

Fans can also expect to see MacLachlan return as Hank, considering the tease that the former Overseer of Vault 33 is heading to New Vegas.

In fact, it's probable that all the cast will return for season two because several plot threads have been left open for future stories.

How will Moldaver's Cold Fusion device change the Wasteland? Will Norm (Mois?s Arias) escape Vault 31? Will Thaddeus (Johnny Pemberton) turn into a ghoul?

Hopefully, the next batch of episodes will answer these questions and more.

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• Frich CEO Katrin Kaurov highlights the common financial pitfalls many Gen Zers face.
• Her experience as a young model taught her financial independence early.
• Kaurov says common errors include relying on buy-now-pay-later apps, and waiting too long to start investing.

Money mistakes can start early, and Gen Zers are at risk of making some big errors, according to Katrin Kaurov, the CEO and cofounder of social financial platform Frich.

She says modeling between the ages of 14 and 24 taught her to manage her money in a way many that age do not have to.

"I would spend three months in Milan, three months in London, and three months in Hong Kong," Kaurov told Business Insider. "So I basically had to become financially independent and be an adult at the age of 14, 15, 16 when everyone else was going to parties."

When she moved to New York in her 20s, Kaurov realized this wasn't the norm. She saw her friends flounder when it came to their finances. They had no clue how to manage their money, yet seemed to be living lavish lives on social media.

Kaurov and her friend Aleksandra Medina founded Frich in response to what they saw, aiming to help young people learn "radical transparency and honesty" around money.

"Money shouldn't be lonely and sad and anxiety-inducing," Kaurov said. "We know that money is behind every decision that you make in life, and it doesn't have to be scary."

Here are some of the biggest mistakes Kaurov thinks Gen Zers are making, and what they can do to fix them.

1. Believing everything on social media

Social media, especially TikTok, is full of financial advice. Not all of it is good.

Kaurov said that while TikToks and Instagram Reels are great for opening up the conversation about money, much is "not really verified."

"You see a 17-year-old TikTok who is like, this is how I built a seven-figure business overnight, I'm 17 and I'm already retired. I think it creates very unrealistic portrayals of how people are managing money," she said. "It creates an idea that Gen Z has it together with money, when in reality, most people don't."

Young people shouldn't compare themselves to these posts, Kaurov said, and instead think about their own goals and aspirations.

2. Not getting real about credit card debt

Gen Zers are racking up a lot of credit card debt. They need to get real about this if they're going to face all of their challenges, Kaurov said, such as saving enough for a down payment on a house.

Social media, again, plays a part here. "Especially in cities like New York or London, it just seems like everyone is having dinners out every night and they go on these amazing trips," she said. "It just makes you wonder, wait, why am I always broke? Am I doing something wrong?"

You never see whether your peers are in debt, "which most of them are," Kaurov said.

"You never really see the truth. Maybe their card is getting declined at the restaurant."

3. Making budgets too restrictive

Kaurov said people can create budgets with too much enthusiasm and optimism for how little money they will spend from month to month.

She said a budget should be about creating a realistic guideline for spending and saving — and if it's too restrictive, then rethink it. "Trial and error is crucial and will allow people to find what kind of budget works best for them."

4. Not setting aside enough time

Kaurov recommends young people set aside about 30 minutes a week for a "money date."

"The same way we review our fitness goals and our career goals," she said. "Review what you're doing with money, what are your goals, where are you going?

"Having a money date when you actually review what you're spending on, and go step by step."

5. Reliance on BNPL apps

Buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services such as Klarna and Affirm have made it easier than ever to spend.

Kaurov warned that relying on them can be catastrophic. "Recently, I went to a bar and I saw that you could pay for your drink with Afterpay," she said. "I was essentially taking a micro loan to have a drink."

It's a sign that things have gone too far, Kaurov said. "That is one thing that I would really highlight for people to be careful."

6. Waiting too long to start investing

When it comes to investing, "You just need to get started," Kaurov advised.

She waited years to start investing, but said it doesn't have to be daunting.

Kaurov said she started micro-investing — setting up automatic investments every week — and it only took about five minutes.

"Things are not as hard and scary as they look," she said.

Kaurov added that being in your 20s really works in your favor because even small contributions, like $50 a month, add up over time.

"I always like to compare that to running a marathon. You're never going to do it on day one."

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The clock is ticking on the high interest rates for deposits that we've come to expect. How can you be sure that you're getting the best interest rate to earn money on your savings?

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How Much Interest Can You Earn With High-Yield Savings?

The average interest rate on a savings account is 0.41% APY, so any account that pays more than that may be worth considering. It's not unusual to find high-yield savings, CDs, or even high-yield checking accounts that pay up to eight times as much.

Here's how it works: Let's say your savings account pays that average rate, 0.41% APY, and compounds daily. You put $1,500 in that account, and don't contribute any more for a year. At the end of the year, you have $1,506.16 — you earned a whopping $6.16 in interest.

Now, let's pretend everything remains the same except the savings account you choose. This time, you open a high-yield savings account that pays 4% APY. At the end of that same year, you should have $1,561.21, thanks to earning $61.21 in interest.

Is it a fortune? Maybe not. But it's still about 10 times as much as you would have gotten in a typical savings account, with no effort on your part. If you had continued contributing throughout the year, the difference would be even more stark.

About High-Yield Accounts

High-yield savings accounts aren't the only accounts paying favorable rates right now. You'll typically see the highest rates at online or lower-profile institutions rather than national brands with a significant brick-and-mortar presence. This is normal; online banks have lower overhead costs and are willing to pay high rates to attract new customers.

High-Yield Savings Accounts

The best high-yield savings accounts provide the security of a savings account with the added bonus of a high APY. Savings accounts are held at a bank or credit union — not invested through a brokerage account — and are best for saving cash in pursuit of shorter-term goals, like a vacation or big purchase.

High-Yield Checking Accounts

The best high-yield checking accounts tend to pay slightly lower rates than high-yield savings, but even they are strong in today's rate environment. A checking account is like a hub for your money: If your paycheck is direct deposited, it's typically to a checking account. If you transfer money to pay a bill, you typically do it from a checking account. Checking accounts are used for everyday spending and usually come with checks and/or debit cards to make that easy.

Money Market Accounts

The best money market accounts could be considered a middle ground between checking and savings: They are used for saving money but typically provide easy access to your account through checks or a debit card. They usually offer a tiered interest rate depending on your balance.

Cash Management Accounts

A cash management account is also like a savings/checking hybrid. You'll generally see them offered by online banks, and, unlike a checking account, they usually offer unlimited transfers. A savings account often limits the number of monthly transfers, while a checking account doesn't. Cash management accounts typically come with a debit card for easy access, but you may have to pay a fee if you want to deposit cash.

Certificates of Deposit

The best CD rates may outpace any of the other accounts we've described above. That's because a certificate of deposit requires you to "lock in" your money for a predetermined amount of time ranging from three months to five years. To retrieve it before then, you'll pay a penalty (unless you opt for one of the best no-penalty CDs). The longer you'll let the bank hold your money, the higher rate you'll get. CD rates aren't variable; the rate you get upon depositing your money is the rate you'll get for the length of your term.

About CD Terms

Locking your money into an account in exchange for a higher interest rate can be a big decision. Here's what you need to know about common CD terms.

No-Penalty CDs

Most CDs charge you a fee if you need to withdraw money from your account before the term ends. But with a no-penalty CD, you won't have to pay an early withdrawal penalty. The best no-penalty CDs will offer rates slightly higher than the best high-yield savings accounts, and can offer a substantially improved interest rate over traditional brick-and-mortar savings accounts.

6-Month CDs

The best 6-month CDs are offering interest rates in the mid-5% range. Six-month CDs are best for those who are looking for elevated rates on their savings for short-term gains, but are uncomfortable having limited access to their cash in the long term. These can be a good option for those who may just be getting started with saving, or who don't have a large emergency fund for unexpected expenses.

1-Year CDs

The best 1-year CDs tend to offer some of the top CD rates, and are a popular option for many investors. A 1-year term can be an attractive option for someone building a CD ladder, or for someone who has a reasonable cash safety net but is still concerned about long-term expenses.

2-Year CDs

The best 2-year CD rates will be slightly lower than 1-year and no-penalty CD rates. In exchange for a longer lock-in period, investors receive a long-term commitment for a specific rate. These are best used as part of a CD ladder strategy, or for those worried about a declining rate market in the foreseeable future.

3-Year CDs

The best 3-year CDs tend to have rates that are comparable to 2-year CDs. These are usually less popular for your average investor, but can be an important lever when diversifying investments and hedging against the risk of unfavorable rate markets in the long term.

5-Year CDs

The best 5-year CDs will offer lower rates than the other terms on our list, but are still popular options for investors. These CDs are best for those looking to lock in high rates for the long term. CDs are generally viewed as safe investment vehicles, and securing a favorable rate can yield considerable earnings in year three and beyond — even if rates fall elsewhere.

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The offers and details on this page may have updated or changed since the time of publication. See our article on Business Insider for current information.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate personal loans to write unbiased product reviews.

Personal loan rates depend a lot on the borrower: The rates for the best personal loans tend to be around 6%, and right now, people with good or excellent credit may be eligible for an even better deal.

We monitor rates from lenders daily to help you feel confident before you apply for a loan. Here are the leading rates for personal loans on Friday, May 9.

Today's Online Personal Loan Rates

Leading Personal Loan Rates

Personal loan rates vary depending on the lender and on the credit profile of the person applying to borrow money, but many lenders are advertising strong rates right now for the right borrower. Here are the lenders offering the lowest rates today:

• Reach Financial Personal Loan: starting at 5.99%*
• LightStream Personal Loan: starting at 6.49%**

• American Express Personal Loan: starting at 6.90%***

About Personal Loans

Personal loans are a flexible way to borrow money because they can be used for most needs: to consolidate debt, to finance home projects — even to pay taxes. Their appeal is in their availability, and the ease of being approved (especially with a good or excellent credit score). They are not always the cheapest option, though, and your rate will depend on your credit and the lender you choose.

Debt Consolidation Loans

The best debt consolidation loans are good options for consolidating multiple loans into a single loan, cleaning up your record-keeping, and (hopefully) improving your APR or lowering your payments.

You can use these loans to consolidate different types of consumer debt, like credit card debt, into a single monthly payment. However, consolidating your debt may extend your loan term and mean you ultimately pay more over time. Many personal loans allow debt consolidation, but not all of them — so be sure you know going in.

Emergency Loans

The best emergency loans can be used to get money quickly when you need it. To make that happen, these loans tend to require lower credit scores than other options and provide quick funding to get money in your hands sooner. There is a huge range available in emergency loans: Some lenders offer a few hundred dollars to tide you over, while others will lend you hundreds of thousands for larger-scale crises.

Personal Loans for Bad Credit

The best personal loans for bad credit will typically have a higher APR than loans for people with higher credit scores simply because lenders see your credit score as a representation of your history with borrowing money and, therefore, their likelihood of getting theirs back. In fact, terms offered to lenders with bad credit can be so unfavorable that you may also want to consider other options that are often cautioned against, like credit cards for bad credit.

Personal Loans With No Origination Fee

The best personal loans with no origination fee operate like any other loan, minus one thing: the upfront fee that could add 1% to 7% of your loan amount onto your bill. Typically, a given lender will make this choice across its loan products, rather than charging an origination fee for one loan and not another.

It may be possible to negotiate a waived origination fee with your lender — but choosing one you already know doesn't charge origination fees is a safer bet.

Get Personalized Loan Offers Online

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• My wife and I wanted to travel more but didn't have the budget for it.
• We learned about house-sitting from a friend, gave it a try, and loved it.
• We saved over $1,000 on our first gig and have since traveled to the UK, Italy, and more, for free.

My wife and I dreamt of traveling the world, but doing it without racking up a huge amount of debt seemed like a fantasy.

So, to realize a semblance of this dream, we worked hard and saved throughout the year to afford one annual Christmas vacation. We did this for about five years but were never satisfied.

Putting money aside for more vacations was a struggle due to bills and our mortgage, though, and we never thought our reality would change.

Then, in 2021, we met up with an old friend who told us intriguing travel stories and showed us pictures of all the different places he had been to, like Bali, India, and Prague.

We thought the only way he could afford to travel so much was if he won the lottery or came into a grand inheritance, but he hadn't. He let us in on his secret that changed everything: house sitting.

We saved over $1,000 on just our first house-sitting gig

After passing an initial background check, we set up a profile, got verified, and immediately started applying to open listings. We landed our first house-sitting gig a month later.

Our first listing was in Canada, where the house owners left for a week-long vacation. We cared for a rottweiler named Rocket, watered houseplants, and spent time swimming and sunbathing around the pool.

We had an incredible vacation without spending a dime on accommodation or flights. It saved us about $1,600 — $1,300 for two round-trip economy flights and $300 a week for a car rental, which the homeowners agreed to pay.

Some homeowners will pay for these types of expenses, like travel and transportation, while most others won't — we only opt for opportunities that pay.

We also kept costs down on the trip by enjoying low-cost day trips, chatting with locals, and visiting Niagara Falls, which is free to see from the Canadian side, aside from a small parking fee.

Plus, the homeowners were also kind enough to pay us $100 a day for grooming and walking the dog and coordinating mail packages. This was one of the few paying gigs we got — most just offered us free travel and accommodation.

House sitting has been a great way for us to travel on a budget

We treat house sitting as a side gig and work the job into our vacation schedules. So far, we've landed over fourteen house-sitting gigs in two years.

We use a few different sites and typically pick stays that last anywhere from two to 10 nights. We've even got some repeat gigs along the way.

Locally, within the US, we've been to Portland, Santa Fe, Charleston, and upstate New York. Our international house-sitting gigs, though, have been the most exciting, by far.

Some memorable countries we've visited include London, for a quick three-day experience with a house cat. We made it to the London Bridge.

We've also traveled to a rustic villa in Tuscany, spent two weeks in Sydney, Australia, and lived in a colorful colonial home for seven nights in Merida, Mexico.

We still yearn for the local Yucatan life, with quesadilla stalls, fresh produce markets all around, and Cafe Riquez — a wonderful hidden gem with Mexican delicacies and beautiful art for sale, a few pieces we took home.

House sitting has been challenging for us at times

We've met difficult homeowners along the way.

Some have strict rules about pets not entering their master bedrooms or cleaning the house twice or thrice a day, which requires us to be more proactive and go out of our way to get it all done to their liking.

We've also interacted with pets that have taken time to warm up to us. Some memorable experiences include running into three house snakes (which the homeowner did not warn us about) and a pair of macaws that would retreat to their cages and fluff up their feathers when they heard us approaching.

We've had to practice patience to see some of the jobs through. However, house-sitting has been a great opportunity to travel more on a budget.

Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for us, and we plan to continue house sitting for the foreseeable future. We don't know where our next trip will take us, but we're looking forward to it.

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• Mark Zuckerberg has an impressive watch collection, which he often shows off at public appearances.
• He's worn luxury designs from Rolex, Patek Philippe, De Bethune, and more.
• One of his most expensive timepieces came from Greubel Forsey and was valued at $900,000.

Mark Zuckerberg is the king of the quiet glow up — but his luxury watch collection reminds us that in fact, he's worth billions.

The 40-year-old Meta founder, who is estimated to be worth over $207 billion, has taken to flaunting his wealth via wrist candy in recent years.

From a flashy Rolex to a $900,000 Greubel Forsey creation, here's a look at some of his standout timepieces.

Anant Ambani seemingly sparked Mark Zuckerberg's interest in watches.

While attending Ambani's pre-wedding party in March 2024, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were seen admiring a Richard Mille watch worn by the Reliance Industries heir.

"You know, I never really wanted to get a watch, but after seeing that, I was like, watches are cool," Zuckerberg is heard saying in a video of the interaction.

While he clarified to Chan that he wasn't interested in buying the same watch, he said he'd consider similar options.

Six months later, he was seen wearing a coveted Patek Philippe design.

On September 1, 2024, Zuckerberg shared an Instagram photo of himself embracing his wife. In the image, his wrist was adorned with a large watch featuring a gold face and a brown strap.

Zuckerberg indulged watch fanatics who asked for details, sharing that the watch was a "5236P," or a Grand Complications In-Line Perpetual Calendar watch from Patek Philippe.

The timepiece is crafted with a platinum case and an alligator-leather band. In terms of functionality, it displays the current day, date, and month. It also indicates leap years, moon phases, and whether it's day or nighttime.

It retails for $141,400, according to the brand's website.

He then displayed a rare watch he'd acquired from De Bethune.

Zuckerberg appeared at an "Acquired" podcast event on September 10, 2024. While onstage, he was photographed wearing another flashy watch: a DB25 Starry Varius from the Swiss watch brand De Bethune.

He seemed to be wearing its rose-gold model, which can cost over $80,000 from independent watch sellers. As watch specialist Bryan Li previously told Business Insider, only 20 of the watches are made annually.

Other variants — like one made from titanium and another encrusted with 273 diamonds — can cost between $75,000 and $127,000.

There's also the Aerolite version of the watch, which features a dial made from a meteorite and usually costs $260,000.

This De Bethune piece — and Zuckerberg's Patek Philippe watch — showed a significant shift in the Facebook founder's style, taking his outfits from basic to luxe almost overnight.

Zuckerberg also began wearing an F.P. Journe design in September 2024.

He was photographed wearing a chunky silver watch onstage at the 2024 Meta Connect conference. It appears to have been a variant of a watch from the Swiss brand F.P. Journe's Souveraine collection.

The specific one Zuckerberg wore featured a thick band and large black buttons on its side. Sotheby's listed what appears to be the same watch for auction in March, and said it was made entirely from aluminum.

The auction company also said the watch style was produced between 2011 and 2014. The piece was estimated to sell for between $30,000 and $54,000, though it's unclear what it actually sold for.

The same watch in a darker gray colorway is now available to purchase online for $135,000.

At the beginning of 2025, the tech mogul debuted what appears to be one of the most expensive watches in his collection.

On January 8, Zuckerberg posted a video to announce the end of Meta's fact-checking partnerships in the US. In the clip, he's seen wearing a Greubel Forsey watch that retails for over $900,000.

According to the brand's website, the watch is assembled entirely by hand, and only two or three are crafted each year. It's made with white gold and contains 281 pieces.

Michel Nydegger, the CEO of Greubel Forsey, told Bloomberg at the time that Zuckerberg showed "true appreciation for the most traditional approach to fine watchmaking" by wearing the piece.

He then sported a Rolex at a UFC event in March.

Zuckerberg posted a handful of photos and videos from the mixed martial arts event, which showed a thick gold watch on his wrist.

BI spoke with four watch experts at the time, who all said the timepiece was likely a yellow-gold Rolex Daytona Le Mans.

Though Rolex has never confirmed how many exist, collectors and sellers say the watch style is rare.

That's partially why it had a resale value of up to $300,000, as Ng Yong Shen, a vice president at the Dubai-based secondhand retailer Re-Loved Luxury, told BI.

His watch collection isn't entirely luxurious.

In April, Zuckerberg appeared on The Colin and Samir Show wearing a white timepiece with a vibrant blue face.

Watch fanatics quickly pointed it out as the GA2100WS-7A from Casio's G-Shock line. Made from resin and mineral glass, the watch retails for $120.

So far, it's the least expensive watch Zuckerberg has worn in public.

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