• Walt Disney Studios has 12 scheduled movie releases in 2025.
• These include three Marvel films, two live-action remakes, and another "Avatar" movie.
• Here's what we know so far about these releases.

Disney may have slowed down on superhero and live-action remakes in 2024, but it is doubling down on its popular franchises in 2025.

Only two of Disney's 12 releases this year are not sequels or remakes. In the past two years, Disney and other major studios have shifted to focus more on sequels and existing franchises.

That plan seemed to work in 2024, with the top 20 highest-grossing films being sequels, remakes, or adaptations.

Disney now owns the rights to a slate of properties from Pixar, Disney Animation, Searchlight, 20th Century Fox, Lucasfilm, and Marvel. Here are all the movies coming in 2025 from those studios.

"Captain America: Brand New World" — February 14

"Captain America 4" is the first Marvel release of 2025 and follows from the 2021 Disney+ series "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."

Now, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is Captain America, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez) is his Falcon sidekick, and General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (Harrison Ford) has become president of the US.

This time, Wilson is facing three villains. Ross, who has somehow become a red Hulk, The Leader (Tim Blake Nelson), who last appeared in 2008's "The Incredible Hulk," and Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito), a new villain who seems to be leading a new secret society.

Read our roundup of everything we know about "Captain America: Brand New World."

"Snow White" — March 21

"Snow White," which has already received multiple fan backlashes, will arrive in theaters in March.

The live-action remake stars Rachel Zegler as Snow White, who is trying to save herself and the kingdom from the reign of the Evil Queen (Gal Gadot).

The film includes new songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the composers of "The Greatest Showman" and "La La Land."

"The Amateur" — April 11

Rami Malek stars in this espionage thriller as a CIA decoder who goes rogue to find and assassinate a group of terrorists who killed his wife during a terror attack in London.

The film is based on Robert Littell's 1981 novel "The Amateur," which was set in the 1970s during the Cold War, but the film seems to have modernized the story.

Laurence Fishburne, Rachel Brosnahan, and Jon Bernthal also star in the film.

"Thunderbolts*" — May 2

"Thunderbolts*" will be the next Marvel team-up movie, bringing together characters from "Black Widow," "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" and "Ant-Man and the Wasp."

This team is made up of former and current criminals and assassins — Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).

When these individuals are sent on the same mission and encounter another superpowered person, Robert Reynolds (Lewis Pullman), they must work together to survive and save the day.

"Lilo & Stitch" — May 23

"Lilo & Stitch" is the second Disney live-action remake coming in 2025, as the studio uses CGI to bring the blue, furry, deadly alien to life.

The original film focused on an unlikely bond between Stitch, an indestructible lab-created alien, and Lilo, an orphaned child living with her sister.

The plot for the remake has not been revealed yet. Chris Sanders returns as Stitch's voice actor. Maia Kealoha plays Lilo, Sydney Elizabeth Agudong plays Lilo's sister Nani, and Kaipo Dudoit plays David Kawena, Nani's love interest.

"Elio" — June 13

Pixar's only film of 2025 is "Elio," an original film about an 11-year-old boy who becomes Earth's ambassador to a galaxy of aliens.

Adrian Molina, who cowrote and codirected "Coco," will direct "Elio," and the film stars Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldaña, America Ferrera, Jameela Jamil, and Brad Garrett.

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" — July 25

"The Fantastic Four" is getting its second reboot, 20 years after the first live-action adaptation and 10 years after the first reboot.

For the first time, the Fantastic Four will be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though the movie will be set in an alternate universe from the rest of the film.

In "First Steps," The Fantastic Four (played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach) is on a mission to protect Earth from Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a giant world-eating alien, and his herald, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).

The film is directed by Matt Shakman, the director of the "Wandavision" Disney+ series, and will also star Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles, Paul Walter Hauser, and John Malkovich.

Read our roundup of everything we know about "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."

"Freakier Friday" — August 8

Since 2022, Jamie Lee Curtis has been campaigning for a sequel to "Freaky Friday," a 2003 Disney film in which she and Lindsay Lohan play a feuding mother and daughter who magically switch bodies and learn to respect one another.

Curtis finally gets her wish this year, and she and Lohan will return as Tess and Anna Coleman in the sequel "Freakier Friday." In the sequel, Anna (Lohan) now has her own family complications with her daughter, her fiancée and a soon-to-be step-daughter.

The sequel will also star Manny Jacinto, Chad Michael Murray, Mark Harmon, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and Stephen Tobolowsky.

"Tron: Ares" — October 10

While the first two "Tron" films were stories about a human entering a virtual reality world, the upcoming "Tron: Ares" is about an AI entering the real world and causing havoc.

Jared Leto plays the AI, Ares, while Jeff Bridges, who starred in the previous films, reprises his role as programmer Kevin Flynn.

Evan Peters, Greta Lee, Cameron Monaghan, Gillian Andersen, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Hasan Minhaj will also star in the movie.

"Predator: Badlands" — November 7

In 2022, Dan Trachtenberg directed "Prey," a direct-to-streaming "Predator" prequel that garnered critical and fan acclaim and won an Emmy for sound editing. Now, Disney is giving him the reins to lead another "Predator" film that will be in theaters.

Trachtenberg told Empire in November 2024 that "Predator: Badlands" is set in the far future and will have Predator, who is normally the villain in movies, as the protagonist. He also said that Elle Fanning will play more than one character in the film.

"Zootopia 2" — November 26

Disney's "Zootopia" is an Oscar-winning film that grossed a billion dollars when it premiered in 2016.

In the sequel, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a rabbit cop, and her friend Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a con artist fox, team up again to crack a new case in the animal city of Zootopia.

Shakira, Ke Huy Quan, and Fortune Feimster will also star in the movie.

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" — December 19

The first two "Avatar" movies are among the highest-grossing of all time, making over $5 billion.

The film, cowritten and directed by James Cameron, was filmed simultaneously with "Avatar: The Way of the Water" but was delayed until 2025.

The full plot has not been released, but it will likely follow Jake Sully and his family again on a new adventure. It will star the main cast from the previous film, including Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Kate Winslet, Sigourney Weaver, and Stephen Lang.

• Los Angeles is bracing for high winds that could worsen ongoing wildfires.
• The fires have burned 40,000 acres and destroyed 12,300 structures. Authorities reported 24 dead.
• Evacuation orders are in effect for more than 92,000 people as fires threaten more areas.

After nearly a week of wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, the area is bearing down for more high winds on Monday that threaten to spread the flames even further.

The fires have burned through more than 40,000 acres in Los Angeles County, displaced hundreds of thousands of residents, and killed at least 24 people. More than 12,300 structures have been destroyed, local authorities have said.

Firefighters made some progress containing the blazes over the weekend — the Palisades Fire, the largest, is 14% contained, and the Eaton Fire, the second-largest, is 33% contained as of Monday morning, according to Cal Fire, a state agency.

But high winds are forecast to pick up again Monday and Tuesday, with gusts up to 70 miles an hour creating "extremely dangerous fire weather conditions" across coastal southern California, the National Weather Service said.

The NWS issued a "particularly dangerous situation red flag warning" for parts of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties through Wednesday. The red flag warning signals fire danger. Though the winds aren't expected to reach the same highs as last week, they still pose "a high risk for large fires with potential for very rapid spreading of any fires that may develop."

The fires are predicted to become the worst natural disaster in US history, and the death toll will likely rise, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday.

"I think it will be in terms of just the costs associated with it, in terms of the scale and scope," Newsom told NBC's Meet the Press. "I've got search-and-rescue teams out. We've got cadaver dogs out. And there's likely to be a lot more."

Around 92,000 people near the Palisades and Eaton fires are under evacuation orders, and another 89,000 are under evacuation warnings, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a Monday morning press conference.

Palisades Fire

The Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades area north of Santa Monica has burned through over 23,700 acres and was 14% contained as of Monday morning, according to Cal Fire.

The cause of the fire, which started on Tuesday morning, is still under investigation. It threatens to spread into Brentwood, Encino, and Westwood.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has reported eight deaths tied to the Palisades fire so far.

Eaton Fire

The Eaton Fire, which has devastated parts of Pasadena and Altadena since it began on Tuesday, has now burned through more than 14,100 acres, according to Cal Fire. It is 33% contained as of Monday morning.

"In my career, I've never seen the amount of devastation and destruction that exists here. So, a lot of work. It's going to be long-term," Ernie Villa, an operations section chief for the California Interagency Incident Management Team, said at a Sunday press conference.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has reported 16 deaths tied to the Eaton fire so far.

This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.

• A chef shared the red flags she looks out for when ordering a tasting menu at a high-end restaurant.
• It's not a great sign if can't find the price of the food or how long the meal will take.
• If the wine pairings cost as much as the food, it may signify that the meal isn't a great value.

Many high-end restaurants offer curated multicourse tasting menus — elaborate, time-consuming, and often expensive ways of dining out that are about more than just food.

Telly Justice, executive chef and co-owner at fine-dining restaurant HAGS in Manhattan, told Business Insider she was skeptical going into her first tasting-menu experience at a three-star Michelin restaurant.

However, she had an incredible time and said the craftsmanship, care, and artistry were immediately apparent in every aspect of the menu.

Now, Justice holds that experience as a gold standard while both seeking out these experiences as a diner and creating them as a chef.

Here are a few red flags the chef keeps an eye out for when choosing to have a tasting menu at a fine-dining restaurant.

It's unclear how much the meal costs

If you can't find the prices listed for menu items, the restaurant is probably "a space for people that don't need to know the prices," Justice said.

It's kind of a code to let you know that if you need to budget for this meal, it's probably not for you.

The chef said the lack of prices could also mean the place is likely to take you and your wallet for a bit of a ride.

The menu feels overwhelmingly wordy

"Menus that do too much talking and explaining tend to flag to me that this is somebody that has an insecurity with their cuisine that the food itself can't speak and explain the concept on its own," Justice said.

She prefers simple menus over ones packed with complex jargon, industry speak, or technical words.

"If you have to write a paragraph about a dish before I even enter the restaurant, I'm already exhausted," she told BI.

No clear thread or theme connects the courses

Justice said it is "essential" that high-end tasting menus tie each course together somehow, whether through a vague theme or specific thread.

A lack of clear connection in the menu usually signals to her that the chef or investors are just scattering seeds to see what works.

"At that price point and for this kind of style of dining you want somebody that knows exactly what they're good at," she said.

You're not clearly told how long of a time commitment your meal will be

Restaurants should be able to clearly communicate how many courses a meal is or about how long you can expect to spend eating it.

If this isn't clear, she said, the experience could be "all about the ego of the chef" and signify that diners' time isn't a priority.

If you do get an estimated timeframe, the eatery should stick to it.

"A restaurant should be able to keep a promise to its diners," she added. "If you say dinner's gonna be two hours, then I'm gonna plan my life around that."

There's a lot of pressure to pay for extras

Many tasting menus give diners the option to pay for extras like caviar courses, dish upgrades, or wine pairings.

Although these can be a lovely addition to your dining experience, Justice said, you shouldn't feel pressured to pay for extras, and your meal shouldn't feel less-than if you don't.

Wine pairings cost the same as the food

Justice told BI "there should be a gap" between the cost of the wine pairings and the tasting menu itself.

When the two are close in cost, it signals to her that either the food is improperly priced or the wine is too expensive to be used reasonably in that pairing.

"If you want to showcase really boutique, expensive, collectible wines, then it's awesome to have a higher-end tasting available for serious, serious drinkers," she said. "But in reality, most people that go to tasting menus are not exclusively looking to spend $1,000 a meal."

Rather, it's a good sign when an eatery offers multiple tier options and price points for its wine pairings.

The space just doesn't feel comfortable or warm

Tasting menus "tend to be long experiences," so Justice pays attention to whether the restaurant has created a generally comfortable and safe space.

She asks questions, like: "Do the chairs have backs? Do I feel like I can sit here for two to three hours and not leave feeling like I just got run over by a car?"

Justice also observes the vibe of the staff in the dining room, noting her interactions with servers and front-of-house workers. For example, they shouldn't seem scared of their bosses or overly apologetic to diners.

Lastly, she checks to see if the restaurant is ADA-compliant — a diner in a wheelchair, for example, should be able to have as good of an experience as someone who isn't.

Overall, Justice said, these sorts of things speak volumes about the type of hospitality she's about to receive.

• Jeff Bezos says he takes Elon Musk at his word that he will use his newfound power for good.
• Bezos' Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX are among the leading private companies in the new space race.
• Through DOGE, Musk will have a major perch to influence the future of federal spending.

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said Elon Musk's budding relationship with President-elect Donald Trump won't give SpaceX a leg up on its competitors.

"Elon has been very clear that he's doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain," Bezos told Reuters in an interview published on Monday. "And I take him at face value."

Bezos spoke ahead of Blue Origin's launch of its New Glenn rocket, which was ultimately scrubbed due to a need to "troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue."

The Amazon founder has repeatedly downplayed any concerns that Musk's self-described status as Trump's "first buddy" will give any of his companies an advantage.

Last month, Bezos said he was hopeful that Musk's work will remain above board.

"Let's go into it hoping that the statements that have been made are correct, that this is going to be done, you know, above board, in the public interest," Bezos said during The New York Times' Dealbook conference. "If that turns out to be naive, well, then we'll see."

Musk's power has been on full display in recent weeks. He took a leading role in killing a bipartisan government funding bill loaded with unrelated provisions to entice congressional Democrats to support it. Congress eventually averted a government shutdown, but the episode led some Democratic lawmakers to call out "President Musk" and the influence he will wield in Trump's Washington.

Trump and Musk have been virtually inseparable from Trump since Election Day. Musk's role in the Department of Government Efficiency will give him power to call for major cuts to federal spending.

Blue Origin and SpaceX are already part of a joint Pentagon launch contract that could be worth up to $5.6 billion.

Trump has previously said that Musk has "the credibility" to carry out DOGE's mission.

"I think that Elon puts the country long before his company," Trump told Time Magazine last month.                                                       

• Staff at WPP are pushing back against the company's new 4-day RTO mandate.
• A public petition calling for the firm to revoke its policy has gained thousands of signatures.
• Shares in the company have fallen by 8% since the policy was announced.

A public petition criticizing advertising giant WPP over its recently announced four-day per-week return-to-office mandate has garnered thousands of signatures.

In an internal memo sent last week, WPP's CEO Mark Read told the company's workforce of more than 100,000 employees that they would be expected to spend an average of four days a week in the office from April.

"I believe that we do our best work when we are together in person," Read wrote in the memo. Since the policy was announced, WPP shares have fallen by 8%.

In response, a group calling itself "Concerned WPP Employees" has created a petition on Change.org calling for the company to revoke the policy.

"WPP's decision seems to be a step backwards in supporting employee wellbeing and work-life balance, citing anecdotal data that either does not exist or has been misrepresented," the petition states.

It argues that "rigid work regimes" like the WPP mandate can have "extensive" mental and social impacts on employees.

The petition calls on Read and WPP leadership to "reconsider this mandate and adopt a policy that respects and prioritises the well-being and preferences of its employees."

The petition's creators told BI that their goal was to "clearly demonstrate how deeply unpopular this mandate from our CEO, Mark Read, is across the global WPP network."

Avenues to take action internally were limited and associated with substantial risk, they said.

"Whilst no official response has so far been provided, we are aware that the sheer volume of signatories so far received has created substantial internal debate across our C-suite leadership population," the petition creators said.

The petition had received over 7,500 signatures in the four days since it was created.

It is not clear how many signatories are WPP employees, as Change.org is a public forum that allows signatures from people outside the organization.

"We can (and will) validate signatories if necessary should our leadership team take the unfortunate decision to challenge the reliability of thousands of employee voices," the petition's creators told BI.

One WPP employee, speaking with BI on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on company policy, said that there had been "palpable dismay" inside the company at the way the policy has been handled.

'We're in the communications business but this could have been done so much better, a lot of people here think," the employee said. "You pick your moments to do something like this. And with a shaky economy and nervous clients, now is not the time to alienate staff."

When asked about the petition, a WPP spokesperson said the company knew the four-day mandate would not be popular with everyone, but said that WPP believed it was "the right policy for the long-term interests of the company as a whole."

"We will take the time to implement it in a collaborative and pragmatic way with our teams," the spokesperson said.

The company previously told BI that it was not implementing the policy until April to give it time to address office capacity and other concerns.

RTO policies haven't gone without challenges. As major companies have turned away from flexible working, many have been criticized by some staff.

After Deutsche Bank mandated staff come in for three days a week, the company faced a wave of backlash from staff who complained about the lack of office space and bottlenecks.

At the German software giant SAP, thousands of staff signed an internal letter saying that they felt "betrayed" by the company's "radical" RTO policy. There have been no reports that the letter altered the company's policy.

Legal routes against RTO mandates are fairly limited. Unless there's a protected reason under established law, such as a medical circumstance, employees have no recourse to take legal action against RTO mandates, Ron Zambrano, the employment litigation chair at the California law firm West Coast Trial Lawyers, previously told BI.

Workers often have little choice but to accept the RTO push or look for a different company, prompting some employment experts to warn that the wave of return-to-office directives could fuel attrition.

Losing talent is a risk some companies are willing to take to get workers back to the office, Ravin Jesuthasan, a future of work expert and author of "The Skills-Powered Organization," previously told BI.

These companies have calculated that they have the legroom to implement stricter policies and perhaps lose some core talent but essentially be fine, Jesuthasan said.

"Some organizations might say, you know what? We've got a really deep pipeline of talent. There's lots of people who want to come work here, and so this is our culture and this is how we're going to sustain our culture," he said.

• I'm single and 35, and I know that I don't want kids.
• Right now, I'm not looking for a long-term relationship, but I am dating for connections.
• I used to swipe left on men who wanted kids, but I've recently changed my filters.

I'm a single 35-year-old woman who doesn't want to have kids. Among many of the uncertainties of life, knowing that I want to stay child-free has been both clarifying and freeing. I also don't take for granted that I'm in a position to make that decision for myself. Yet I do enjoy romantic company and partnership.

The irony is that, at my age, it seems most people in the dating pool are actively prospecting for a spouse, and many of those people also want to have kids. When I was in my 20s, the connection between dating and mating seemed more distant, but most of the men I've met recently around my age are keen to get married and start a family sooner rather than later.

I've always thought I wanted a lifelong partner, but I became more protective of my freedom ever since I came out of a very involved relationship. It's been over a year, and it still feels too soon for me to commit again, but I'm taking advantage of this time to be more flexible about whom I date.

At first, I avoided men who wanted kids

Dating in my 30s (and dating men in their 30s) has been a much more gratifying experience overall than dating in my 20s. It's been more intentional and less erratic, but those qualities also make it trickier; as much as I know what I want and don't want, other people have also honed in on their intentions and motivations.

After the topic of kids upended my last relationship, I was determined not to date men who wanted them. I mainly wanted to avoid being pursued only for my child-bearing potential and didn't want to feel, again, like a means to an end.

On dating apps, I'd swipe left on people whose profile said outright they wanted to have kids, and right on those who said they were open to it, unsure, or didn't want them. There's a spectrum of desire versus indecision around the topic of starting a family, and I figured I should learn from the mistakes I made in my previous relationship, wherein I ignored when the other person expressed they wanted kids.

Then, I met someone I liked

However, soon after splitting from my ex, I met someone I really liked. It made me hopeful that I could feel that way about someone again. But on our second date, I learned they wanted kids. I was more disheartened than surprised, even though I wasn't looking for a serious relationship yet.

The dating apps make it seemingly simple and straightforward to distinguish between intentions, but somehow, even this filter had failed me. His profile said "open to" rather than "want to," which, to me, communicates a significant distinction.

Connection is the reason I date; it's what I value most. Knowing how hard it is for me to meet people I like, I broke my own rule to see him again.

I decided to adjust my filters and date men who wanted or already had kids

I always knew what we had was temporary, but I was happy to get to know him for the time being. Had I known from the get-go that he wanted kids, I would've swiped left on him and never met him. The relationship showed me that if I want to experience the connections I seek, I shouldn't filter out such a huge chunk of the population because they eventually want kids.

It was on me now to unlearn what had become so ingrained in my past experience, which was the notion that the other person's desire to procreate was my duty to fulfill. As I met new folks out in the world, I had to remember that their inclination for kids didn't implicate me in any way other than informing the likely shorter length of our relationship.

One of the most significant changes I made was widening the age range of men I'm willing to date. I can go out with people 10 years younger or 10 years older than me, which has enabled different types of connections. I'm also open to dating single parents — something I would've never considered before.

Being more flexible works for me, at least for now

I want to be mindful of everyone's time, which is why I'm honest about my intentions and forthcoming about my plan not to have kids. Dating people who potentially want kids works for me now because I'm not yet looking for a long-term commitment, but I know others may be traveling at different speeds.

Once I'm ready to settle down again, I'll have to readjust my approach to prioritize meeting and getting to know someone who also wants to be child-free — or who is already a parent and not looking for any more kids. But being flexible works for now. At this point in time, I only care about quality experiences without discriminating on the type, category, or length of any relationship.

• Kimberly Kelley, a former spiritual leader and musician, moved from the US to Panama in 2023.
• The 71-year-old found that retirement in her home state of Arizona wasn't stimulating enough.
• She dates men 10 years younger than her, saying she doesn't want to look after an "old man."

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Kelley, 71, an ex-pat American living in Panama.

I've always been an adventurous person and couldn't bear the thought of stagnating in my older years.

My military career in the Air Force as a young woman took me to places like England and Germany. I was fascinated by the different points of view, cultural differences, and architecture.

Then, when I came back to the US, I enjoyed traveling across the country. My ex-husband and I were musicians who'd play 160 venues a year. We drove around the state in a motor home and must have clocked up half a million miles.

Then, in 2015, we set up a church in Sedona, Arizona, and I qualified as an ordained minister online. It was a spiritual center that united people of different faiths and religions.

I got divorced in June 2020. But I didn't really have friends. People couldn't seem to get over my "Reverend Kimberly" title. They wouldn't curse around me or drink much — as if I had to be revered.

Soon, I was itching to move away. I'd already been reading magazines about living overseas. But I knew I couldn't leave while my 97-year-old mother and my 19-year-old shitsu were still alive.

They both died in 2022. I realized that, apart from my siblings and cousins, nobody tied me to the US. I considered moving to Bali but was put off by the 15-hour travel time.

I had 2 months to get my affairs in order before leaving the US

Another option was a Spanish-speaking country because I had at least a foundation in the language. Belize and Panama were on my list of possibilities.

In April 2023, I hired Shawna Lum, a relocation coach. She suggested I go on a scouting mission to Central America. I enjoyed Belize, but I also loved the 12 days I spent in Panama that summer.

My handler drove me around the country, and as soon as we visited San Lucas, whose nearest city is Coronado, I felt at home. Before I left, I'd already put a down payment on an ocean-front condo.

The place ticked all the boxes for me — warm weather, a beach, a mix of ex-pats and locals, and a thriving pickleball community.

Shawna walked me through all the paperwork, and I booked my flight for October 25, 2023. I barely had two months to get my affairs in order before leaving Sedona.

Shawna's best advice was to fit all the belongings I wanted to take in just two suitcases. "Sell the rest," she said. I sold the big-box items in my rental apartment, like my recliner, bookcase, convection oven, and beloved Keurig.

I took countless bags of clothing to Goodwill and a women's shelter nearby.

The big day came. I've never felt so free as when I stepped out of the airport in Panama and felt the sun on my face.

Since then, I've fallen back in love with my life. I adore the location of my condo because it's quiet, uncrowded, and unspoiled. The food is much healthier because it's less processed, and fresh fruit and fish are delicious.

The dating pool is small — but large enough

The cost of living is so much cheaper. I used to pay $3.50 for an avocado in Arizona. Here, they're $1 each. My rent is $1,000 monthly for a 2,500-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment with an ocean view.

I've met many people who like pickle ball as much as me. I made contacts on social media who became good friends. More than a dozen of us hang out, meeting for lunch or coffee. I call them my tribe. The local people have been nothing but warm and friendly.

As for love, I never dated in the US after splitting with my ex-husband. I didn't want to. But here, I'm having a lot of fun. I'm very active, so I tend to date men who are at least 10 years younger than me. I don't want an "old man" to care for. I prefer someone who can keep up with my energy level.

Yes, you get the guys who come down here for adventures like hiking but forget to tell their knees. And you get the retired professional who only runs between the golf course and the pool.

The dating pool is small, but there are enough good men to go dancing, sing karaoke, play board games, or pickleball. It isn't serious, but I'm dating a guy who has taken me to the nicest restaurants.

My retirement has become as fun and exciting as I'd hoped. The polar opposite of stagnant.

• The "Donald of Dubai" now ranks in the world's 200 richest people with a net worth of $13 billion.
• Hussain Sajwani joined Trump last week to say he'd invest $20 billion in US data centers.
• Sajwani is a longtime Trump associate and an investor in Elon Musk's SpaceX and xAI.

A real estate tycoon dubbed the "Donald of Dubai" has shot up the ranks of the world's wealthiest people, securing a top-200 spot on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Hussain Sajwani, an associate of both President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, wasn't on the 500-person list at the end of 2024. He now sits in 179th place with a $13.1 billion fortune.

Sajwani joined Trump at a press conference last week to announce he'd invest at least $20 billion in US data centers, and cited the incoming president's pro-business policies for the move. Data centers serve a key role in powering cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

The Emirati billionaire now sits one spot behind financier Charles Schwab, and well ahead of fashion designer Ralph Lauren and Laurene Powell Jobs — the widow of Apple's late cofounder, Steve Jobs.

Sajwani has added $9.8 billion to his wealth in 2025 following Dubai's property boom, according to Bloomberg. That gain is beaten only by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the world's third-richest person, who's up an estimated $10.5 billion this month.

Sajwani is the chairman and founder of Damac Group, a private conglomerate that counts luxury real estate developer Damac Properties and fashion label Roberto Cavalli among the businesses it owns.

The 71-year-old partnered with the next US president to build the first Trump-branded golf course in the Middle East a decade ago. He's also invested in Elon Musk's SpaceX and xAI, press releases show.

Sajwani recently posted a picture on X of himself with Trump and Musk at a New Year's bash at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Trump's business ties have raised concerns of bias and conflicts of interest, especially after Musk emerged as one of his key donors, campaigners, and confidants in the recent presidential election.

• Publishing.com sells $1,995 courses and tools for publishing AI-generated books.
• Public records obtained by Business Insider reveal an FTC investigation into the company.
• It was founded by Rasmus and Christian Mikkelsen and was reported to have made $50 million in 2022.

Public records obtained by Business Insider reveal a Federal Trade Commission investigation into Publishing.com, a company that sells courses on creating AI-generated books.

The company, which was reported to have made nearly $50 million in 2022, charges $1,995 to teach customers how to generate books and e-books with help from ghostwriters and AI software. It's drawn scrutiny for its role in flooding Amazon with AI-generated content and has been the subject of numerous customer complaints alleging high-pressure sales tactics and difficulties getting refunds.

Investigations by the FTC often target companies suspected of deceiving consumers through deceptive marketing, hidden fees, or unfair refund policies. The agency can negotiate settlements and obtain fines and court orders that force businesses to change their practices or return money to consumers.

Business Insider learned about the investigation through a public contracts database that revealed the name of Publishing.com, showing the FTC had hired an expert witness. When BI contacted the FTC, it removed the company's name. A partially redacted scope-of-work statement confirmed the contract was for an investigation, though it offered no details about the investigation itself.

The FTC declined to comment.

When briefed on BI's reporting, two former FTC officials said that it was unusual for the FTC to budget tens of thousands of dollars for an expert witness unless the investigation is seen as viable. "They have to have a pretty good idea of what they want and what they want to establish," one former official said.

In 62 complaints to the agency obtained via the Freedom of Information Act, Publishing.com customers — including some who said they spent over $7,000 on courses and other materials — said the company sold them on the program during high-pressure sales calls, while obscuring how much money it would actually cost to make money from self-publishing books.

"They constantly say to use credit cards, borrow money, put yourself in debt in order to afford this program," one customer wrote in a complaint. Others said that refunds were difficult or impossible to obtain.

Publishing.com was founded in 2019 by twin brothers Christian and Rasmus Mikkelsen. The company and its products have also gone by the names Publishing Life, Audiobook Income Academy, and AI Publishing Academy.

On social media and in news coverage, the 29-year-old Mikkelsens have described themselves as millionaire digital nomads who have cracked the secret to a hidden income stream.

On its website, the company shares positive social-media reviews and interviews with successful students, some of whom claim to have made more than six figures from self-publishing. In a disclaimer, the company says the average income of 1,119 students in a January 2024 survey was $1,801 a month — or $21,612 a year — in gross royalties.

After initially acknowledging BI's request for an interview, Publishing.com's chief operating officer, Michael Ohayon, did not respond to follow-up messages. The Mikkelsens did not respond to emails.

Vox wrote last year that the twins have helped drive an economy of low-value online slop. In 2018, Amazon briefly limited the twins' ability to sell on its platform after it learned they were running books through Google Translate and repackaging them for sale, Inc. Magazine reported in a 2023 feature on the Mikkelsen twins. The story said Publishing.com was one of the fastest-growing companies in America.

• My homemade lentil stew comes together in 20 minutes, and I make it every winter.
• You can add a myriad of different leftover vegetables from your fridge or freezer.
• The stew can be served over noodles or rice or with a side of bread to make a heartier meal.

If you're looking for a comforting, nourishing, and warming winter meal for those dark, frosty nights, my easy lentil stew is the perfect choice.

Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein, and alongside the veggies and a side of carbs, they make for a filling and satiating dinner. Plus, it only takes 20 minutes to make.

I whip up a pot of my family's favorite lentil stew any day I need a nutritious meal on the table quickly, which is at least once a week during the colder months.

Here's my simple recipe that serves four.

The ingredients are customizable.

Vegetable broth and dried lentils make up the base of the meal. You can use chicken broth or bouillon cubes, but I've always liked that this is a vegan-friendly dish.

From there, you can get pretty creative with the rest of the ingredients in this stew.

I typically use carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and kale, but broccoli, peas, spinach, parsnips, or peppers would also be good. Basically, you can clear out whatever leftover produce you have in your fridge or freezer.

Bring 4 cups of broth to a boil in a large pot and add 2 cups of lentils.

The first step is simple: Pour 4 cups of broth into a large pot. Resist the urge to salt it— that will come later.

Once the broth is at a rolling boil, add 2 cups of dried lentils. I use a blend of brown and green, but it's totally up to you and your preferences. You could also add some split peas to the mix.

Reduce the heat to an energetic simmer before moving on.

Chop two medium carrots.

As the lentils begin to cook, peel and chop two carrots.

I like to cut them into coins roughly an eighth of an inch thick, but if you have stockier carrots, you can also split them lengthwise first.

Dice a medium-sized potato.

Peel and dice one medium-sized potato — I usually use russet — and add the pieces to the simmering water.

You can also use a couple of smaller potatoes, like red or Yukon Gold, if that's what you have.

If it suits the palates at your table, double the amount of potato. My family isn't huge on tubers, so I go lighter, but I don't recommend skipping them entirely because they add a nice texture.

Chop two celery stalks.

Rinse and chop two celery stocks (or three if they're on the smaller side) and toss them into the pot.

Pro tip: You can use frozen celery, but if you do, add it later, just before the kale. Freezing celery breaks down some of its cellular structure, so it could overcook if added here.

At this point, roughly 10 minutes into the cooking process, things should be moving and grooving.

Finely dice half of an onion.

Peel and finely chop half an onion for the stew.

You can use a yellow or a white onion, though I find yellow fits the flavor profile better.

The measurement here isn't overly specific. If your onion is quite large, use less than half, and if it's smaller, use more than half. When in doubt, err on the side of adding more.

Chop and add about 2 cups of kale.

Last come the greens. I recommend tearing the kale off its stalks and roughly ripping up the leaves before chopping it up into smaller bits.

Add the kale to the stew and stir it well, incorporating all the pieces of the thick, leafy green into the mix.

Let it all simmer, season as needed, and enjoy.

Give the stew two to three minutes over a low simmer for all of the flavors to coalesce, stirring occasionally. Then taste and add salt and/or pepper to your liking.

I like to dole out portions into pre-chilled bowls (this stuff gets quite hot) before serving my family.

If I want to beef up the meal a little, I'll pair it with homemade bread, noodles, or rice, but it's also great as-is — especially if you went heavy on the potatoes,

• After visiting dozens of US cities, Greenville, South Carolina, is one of my favorites.
• The city has a walkable downtown area and lots of great opportunities to get outside.
• If I could only go back to Greenville for one thing, it would be the food.

The first time I visited Greenville, South Carolina, I was shocked in the best way possible. As someone who has traveled the US extensively, I didn't expect to find a perfect blend of southern charm, big-city amenities, and vibrant art and culture all in one place.

After a few days of exploring the city, I fell in love. With a walkable downtown, incredible food, and endless opportunities for adventure and entertainment, Greenville is a destination that I recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing vacation, a quick trip with friends, or a family getaway.

Here are five reasons Greenville is one of my favorite US cities.

The city has a charming, walkable downtown.

Greenville's downtown is made up of tree-lined streets dotted with boutique shops, great restaurants, and plenty of entertainment options, all connected by pedestrian-friendly sidewalks.

I was immediately impressed by how walkable the city is — no rental car or rideshare is needed if you're staying downtown.

What really makes the city unique is its blend of small-town charm and big-city perks. I love visiting small, southern towns, but I often miss the energy and amenities of big cities. Greenville has the best of both worlds.

One local summed it up perfectly when she told me, "Greenville has enough city to keep me busy and enough country to keep me happy."

Every corner of downtown has something new to discover. I found myself sipping Butterbeer at a Harry Potter-themed pop-up speakeasy hidden inside The Press Room, laughing late into the night at The Comedy Zone, and even testing my aim at an indoor archery range right outside town.

There's no place quite like Falls Park on the Reedy.

Falls Park on the Reedy is a beautiful urban green space in the heart of downtown Greenville.

The Reedy River weaves through the city, flanked by walking paths, gardens for picnicking, and the iconic Liberty Bridge — a curved suspension bridge overlooking the waterfalls below and offering one of the best views in town.

The park is also connected to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, a 28-mile walking and cycling path that stretches beyond the city.

Renting a bike and following the Swamp Rabbit is the perfect way to immerse yourself in nature without having to drive outside town.

Greenville has an unmatched food scene.

If I could only go back to Greenville for one thing, it would be the food.

Every meal I've had in the city has been unforgettable, but the variety is what stands out most. Whether you're craving fine dining, comfort food, good beer, or anything in between, Greenville delivers.

From the mouthwatering tapas and desserts at Camp to the melt-in-your-mouth hot chicken and southern soul food from Rocky's Hot Chicken Shack, the city is bursting with culinary creativity.

The city is a jumping point for outdoor adventure.

Another one of my favorite things about Greenville is its proximity to outdoor adventure. The Blue Ridge Mountains are just a short drive away, offering some of the best hiking and biking in the region.

Within an hour, you can also reach six easily accessible state parks, each with its own unique trails, waterfalls, and outdoor activities.

Greenville is a welcoming community with a rich culture.

Greenville's charm isn't just in its scenery — it's in the people. The locals I met were friendly, welcoming, and excited to share recommendations or just say hello.

Almost everywhere I went, I found myself having wonderful conversations — which isn't always the case as a tourist in a new place. That warmth and friendliness made the city feel approachable in a way that is hard to find.

There's also a big focus on the arts and culture in Greenville, with galleries, live music, and community festivals everywhere you look.

The Greenville Center for Creative Arts quickly became one of my favorite places to visit, and I loved admiring the Native American art collection displayed throughout the Grand Bohemian Lodge.

Whether it's a free concert on Main Street, a jazz performance at a local venue, or a lively street market, Greenville always seems to have something going on. It's a city that feels alive without being overwhelming — the perfect balance of energy and comfort.

• President Joe Biden has proposed new AI-chip export curbs to limit access for China and Russia.
• The restrictions aim to concentrate advanced AI development in US-allied countries.
• About 15% of Nvidia's revenue last quarter came from China and Hong Kong.

President Joe Biden has proposed one more round of export restrictions on AI chips, set to affect those made by Nvidia and AMD, with the goal of limiting China's and Russia's access to chips for training artificial-intelligence models and powering data centers.

A White House announcement on Monday said chip sales to 18 US allies would be free of restrictions and controls would not apply to chip orders below certain computation thresholds.

The proposed rules, which also aim to help businesses around the world align with American standards, are set to take effect 120 days from publication.

Under the restrictions, entities outside close US allies would still be able to purchase up to the equivalent of 50,000 advanced graphics processing units per country.

In a blog post published Monday, Nvidia criticized the plan. Ned Finkle, the company's vice president of government affairs, called the rules "unprecedented and misguided" and said they "threaten to derail innovation and economic growth worldwide."

"While cloaked in the guise of an 'anti-China' measure, these rules would do nothing to enhance US security," Finkle said. "The new rules would control technology worldwide, including technology that is already widely available in mainstream gaming PCs and consumer hardware."

Revenue from China and Hong Kong made up 15% of the company's sales, or $5.4 billion, in the three months ending October 27. Nvidia generated the bulk of its business — 42% — in the US that quarter.

The framework would add to a list of US curbs already in place to prevent adversary countries from using advanced AI to modernize their militaries. In November 2023, the US Department of Commerce implemented the Advanced Computing Chips Rule, which allows Nvidia and others to sell only a less-powerful version of its chip in China.

But that has not stopped access completely.

In August, a New York Times investigation found that a network of companies had found ways around the ban. The group is selling Nvidia's most advanced chips to state-affiliated groups in China, the Times said.

The Biden administration has boosted the industry domestically with tax breaks and subsidies.

It has provided American chipmakers with close to $30 billion in subsidies as part of the 2022 CHIPS Act, a $280 billion package to support semiconductor innovation in the US. Intel, Micron, AMD, and Microchip Technology are among the direct beneficiaries.

President-elect Donald Trump has criticized the CHIPS Act and said that the government should have implemented tariffs instead to motivate overseas chipmakers to build more factories in the US, a move he said would create jobs.

• Khabib Nurmagomedov says he was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight after a dispute.
• The former MMA star said the crew was rude and questioned his seating in the exit row.
• Frontier Airlines said Nurmagomedov ignored questions about whether he would assist in an emergency.

Former Russian mixed martial arts star Khabib Nurmagomedov was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight following a dispute with crew.

The UFC lightweight champion, who retired with a perfect 29-0 record, wrote in an X post on Monday that he resorted to flying with another airline after being deplaned.

In a video widely circulated online, Nurmagomedov is seen sitting in the cabin's emergency exit row and talking to a crew member.

The female crew member can be heard in the video explaining to him that flight attendants were "not comfortable" with him sitting in the exit row. She can then be heard saying he would have to either switch his seat or he would need to get off the plane.

"It's off of their [the flight attendants] judgment," the staff member can be heard saying.

"It's not fair," Nurmagomedov said, per the video, before choosing to be escorted off the plane.

Initial reports suggested that the incident took place on an Alaska Airlines flight, but Nurmagomedov later clarified on X that it occurred on a Frontier plane.

"Lady who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my seat," he said in an X post.

"What was the base for that, racial, national or other one, I'm not sure," Nurmagomedov added.

In the video circulated online, the staff member can be heard saying that the crew's request is "not about the language" after Nurmagomedov says he speaks English.

The 36-year-old fighter said that after two minutes of conversation, the airline staff member called security, and he was "deplaned" from the aircraft.

After an hour and 30 minutes, Nurmagomedov, nicknamed "The Eagle," said he boarded a different flight and flew to his destination.

He wrote that he did his best to "stay calm and respectful," adding, "but those crew members could do better next time and just be nice with clients."

Frontier Airlines said in a statement sent to Business Insider that Nurmagomedov was "asked multiple times if he was willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency. According to the flight attendant, Mr. Nurmagomedov did not respond, despite repeated attempts, which placed him in non-compliance with FAA requirements."

"As a result, he was asked to move to a different upgraded seat which he refused to do. Therefore, in accordance with airline and FAA policy, he was asked to deplane. The decision to deplane the customer was in no way related to his ethnicity and we have refunded him and his traveling companions for their flights."

Frontier said the incident took place on a plane due to fly from Las Vegas to San Francisco. Multiple media reports had previously reported the plane was bound for Los Angeles.

• Richard Lambert is a résumé writer who gets most of his work on Fiverr.
• He charges about $85 for a basic résumé and has made over $1 million yearly since 2020.
• His home and vacation property are paid off, but he works every day.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Richard Lambert, owner of Lambert Resume. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in a middle-class family in a small town. When my mom opened a savings account for me at a local bank, I loved watching my savings go up in my passbook.

I started asking very practical questions, like how much a front door cost. I was shocked by how expensive things were compared to what was in my savings account. That gave me a sense, even as a kid, that I needed to buckle down and keep my nose to the grindstone.

My dad didn't teach me much about finances, but he always taught me to just show up for work. I've certainly done that. I haven't had a day off since 2016.

I started writing résumés on the website Fiverr back in 2014, charging about $45 each. Today I charge about $85 for a basic résumé and more for other services like cover letters. As I did more work, the algorithm rewarded me, especially after I acquired more than 25,000 five-star reviews. In 2022, I grossed $1.1 million by writing résumés. Now, as I approach 40, I'm a multimillionaire with two mortgages paid off.

I paid off my home, although I could have made more investing

Even before I started having seven-figure years, Fiverr was impacting my life. By 2020, I was a millionaire. Although I hate to say it, the pandemic was really good for my business. My net worth has just increased since then, but I still think of myself as a baby millionaire.

In 2017, my wife and I were in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. I worried about what would happen to my wife and daughter — who is now 6 — if I died. Although my wife also works, I feel a strong urge to provide financially for my family. So much falls on mothers when it comes to caregiving, so as a dad, I think, "If I'm not providing financially, what am I doing?"

After the accident, my wife and I decided to pay off our home. At the time, mortgage rates were low, and I could have likely made more money investing in the market. One of my wealthy friends kept reminding me about that. But I liked the peace of mind from knowing that if anything happened to me, or this income stream suddenly disappeared, my wife and daughter wouldn't have to move.

I made a deal with the devil

Work-life balance just doesn't exist for me. I made a deal with the devil: I have a wonderful income, but I have to work every day. I haven't had a day off since 2016, including when I was in the intensive care unit after that motorcycle accident. That's the nature of this business. You need to be responsive to customers.

At the same time, I have some flexibility. I don't have set hours, so I can pick my daughter up from school. I'm at every game or school performance she has. But I'm constantly working outside those times.

I'm willing to spend on my family

I'm conservative with how I spend my money. A huge chunk goes into retirement accounts. I bought two rental properties but sold them (for a small profit) after the motorcycle accident. I found that being a landlord wasn't really passive income.

I drive a 20-year-old Lexus. I bought it because I like its vintage appeal and because it gives me a little dose of fun.

I'm willing to spend money on some things, mostly on my family. My wife drives a new Volvo XC-90, and I like knowing she and our daughter are safe in that. Last summer, we bought a small lake house in my hometown. We briefly had a mortgage, but we paid it off within three months.

I'm not flashy, but I value real connection with my small circle of friends and family. I love summers at the lake with my daughter, tubing, boating, and spending time together. We have a Jet Ski coming for next summer. Summer at the lake wasn't something I was afforded as a kid, and I'm glad I can give it to her. Already, the memories we've made there are invaluable.

• Porsche and BMW are the latest automakers to report sliding sales in China.
• The rapid rise of domestic EV makers such as BYD has put the squeeze on foreign competitors.
• Volkswagen, Toyota, and Honda have suffered, and GM took a $5 billion hit on its Chinese business.

Porsche and BMW have become the latest European carmakers to report sliding sales in China.

The two German automakers on Monday said their respective sales in the world's largest auto market fell by 28% and 13.4% in 2024 compared with the previous year, with Porsche blaming a "continuing challenging economic situation" in China for the slump.

The hit in China was so large that it caused Porsche's global deliveries to fall by 3% despite growth in every other market.

Porsche and BMW aren't the only automakers that have witnessed alarming plunges in their Chinese sales in recent months.

Volkswagen, Porsche's parent company, posted an 8.3% decline in sales in China, its largest market, in 2024. Mercedes reported a 7% annual decline, while their Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda also suffered sizable declines in deliveries.

Once dominant in China, foreign automakers are being increasingly squeezed by local competitors, with the likes of BYD and Xiaomi offering high-tech electric options at low prices.

Known for affordable EVs such as the $10,000 BYD Seagull and the $30,000 Xiaomi SU7, many of these companies are now expanding into the luxury market, putting them in direct competition with European manufacturers such as Porsche and BMW.

BYD has released several luxury models under its Yangwang line, including the pothole-hopping U9 sports car and the drone-carrying U8 SUV, while Xiaomi launched a $114,000 luxury version of its best-selling SU7 sedan in October.

That has put foreign manufacturers like Porsche and BMW, each of which counted China as its second-largest market in 2023, in a bind. Many are now rolling back their investments in the country and tearing up their strategies as a result.

General Motors said in December it would take a hit of more than $5 billion on its business in China, with the Detroit automaker closing factories and cutting costs at its joint venture with China's SAIC Motor after it lost $347 million in the first nine months of 2024.

Other brands have fostered closer ties with Chinese companies. Volkswagen announced last week it would partner with the electric-vehicle maker Xpeng to build a network of superfast charging stations in China.

Porsche and BMW did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

• Jason Oppenheim has accused Los Angeles landlords of illegal rent hikes amid the wildfires.
• California law prohibits rent increases of over 10% after an emergency is declared.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom has extended the price-gouging ban until January 2026.

Jason Oppenheim, star of Netflix's "Selling Sunset," has accused Los Angeles landlords of illegally price gouging rental rates amid the city's devastating fires.

In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Oppenheim, who co-runs the Oppenheim Group with his twin brother, called for the exploitative practice to be exposed.

"We're having landlords taking advantage of the situation," he said.

The LA fires, which began nearly a week ago, have killed at least 24 people, left dozens missing, and destroyed thousands of structures, including homes. The total area burned is now larger than Paris.

Oppenheim shared the example of a client who went to view a rental property that was initially asking for $13,000 a month. He said his client offered $20,000 a month and six months of rent paid upfront, but the landlord responded by asking for $23,000 a month.

"There are price-gouging laws in California that are just being ignored right now," he said. "This isn't the time to be taking advantage of situations, and it's also illegal to take advantage of a natural disaster."

Landlords are "absolutely" breaking the law, Oppenheim added.

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency on January 7, it automatically triggered a California law restricting price gouging for housing, emergency supplies, and other necessities for up to 180 days.

California's price gouging laws make it unlawful to increase the rental price advertised, offered, or charged for housing by more than 10% after an emergency has been declared.

Newsom also signed an executive order on Sunday prohibiting price gouging "in times of emergency" that would remain in effect until January 7, 2026.

A violation of the price-gouging rules is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to a year, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.

On Saturday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said he had seen businesses and landlords "jack up the price."

He said, "It's called price gouging. It is illegal. You cannot do it."

Bonta said that anyone engaging in price gouging would be held accountable.

Displaced residents in LA are scrambling to find rental housing near their schools and workplaces, driving up demand and, in some cases, hiking prices way beyond what is legal. Local publication the LAist spotted a Zillow listing for a home in Bel Air that had its price hiked by 86%.

And with the fires still raging, the situation could get worse.

Although firefighters have made progress in containing the blazes, authorities have warned that dry winds picking up could complicate efforts to control the situation.

Pacific Palisades, home to some of the country's most expensive real estate, has been among the worst-hit areas, and celebrities including Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, and Milo Ventimiglia, have lost their homes.

• China's trade surplus reached a record 7.06 trillion yuan ($990 billion) last year, new data shows.
• President-elect Donald Trump said he is going to put harsher tariffs on China when he takes office.
• China's exports have steadily climbed regardless of prior efforts to rein it in.

China's exports reached record levels in 2024 as it braces for new tariffs President-elect Donald Trump said he'll impose after he takes office next week.

According to Chinese government figures released Monday, its exports grew 7.1% to 25.45 trillion yuan last year ($$3.58 trillion), while imports expanded 2.3% to 18.39 trillion yuan ($2.59 trillion).

The difference between those figures equates to a trade surplus of 7.06 trillion yuan ($990 billion).

Business Insider in December reported that China massively boosted its exports as its domestic economy teetered under the effects of property market inflation and sluggish demand.

Chinese exports have surged, particularly in the so-called "global south" of developing non-Western economies, leading several to impose tariffs to protect domestic industries.

The world's second biggest economy, China is a leading exporter of a huge range of manufactured goods, including textiles and electronics and, more recently, solar panels and electric vehicles.

Trump pledged a 10% increase to all tariffs on China, which could deepen the trade war between the economic superpowers.

Last week, following a Washington Post report that some of his aides favored a milder tariff policy, he said any suggestion his plan would be softened is "wrong."

Reuters reported that Chinese exports surged in December 2024 to $104.8 billion, seemingly to pre-empt the tariffs.

"Trade front-loading became more visible in December as a result of both Chinese New Year effects and Donald Trump's inauguration," Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit, told the outlet.

• Microsoft Word is Microsoft's legacy word-processing software.
• You can access Microsoft Word for free online, or their are paid versions you can download.
• Microsoft Word has a number of handy features and functions to customize your documents.

Microsoft Word came out during Ronald Reagan's first term in the Oval Office, and in the decades that have passed between then and now, it has become one of Microsoft's most important and successful pieces of software and one of the most-used programs on the planet.

A core program in the Microsoft 365 software suite, along with Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Word is used in homes, schools, offices, government agencies, and beyond. But while Word used to be included with Microsoft Windows, today you have to acquire it separately.

How much does Word cost?

If you want to buy Microsoft Word on its own, you can do so from Microsoft's website. The purchase price is $159.99 and you will own the program outright.

But many people opt for a Microsoft 365 subscription, instead. This costs just $6.99 per month and gives you access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive. That pricing comes out to $83.88 for the entire year, meaning you will be nearing the two-year mark before you pass the $159.99 price of outright buying Word on its own.

There is a way to get Word for free, but only for use online. It will not be downloaded on your computer. Go to Microsoft365.com and click on the words "Sign up for the free version of Microsoft 365."

You will be prompted to create a Microsoft account which you can then use to log in and access Word online for free. You must be connected to the internet and online to use Word for free.

How do I download Word?

Whether you choose to buy Word on its own or subscribe to Microsoft 365, you can do so at Microsoft's website. Just make sure you get the right plan if you are going with a subscription. There are Home plans and Business plans, as you'll see.

What are the best Word shortcuts and features?

There are the basics that are all but universal across Windows products and platforms, like Ctrl + C to copy and Ctrl + V to paste, Ctrl + S to save, and Ctrl + K to insert a link, but Microsoft Word has many lesser-known but highly useful shortcuts beyond the basics.

Hotkeys

Ctrl + A, for example, selects all of the text in a document, while Ctrl + Z undoes the last action. But moving beyond those simple shortcuts, there are more complicated quick actions you can take in Word.

Insert custom text

You can insert custom text, such as a greeting or a signature line, by creating text then using the Insert feature. Click "Insert" in the top taskbar, click "AutoText," and then enter your desired copy into the window that appears. Going forward, you can click "Insert" then "AutoText" to quickly drop in your pre-written words.

Watermarks

To add a watermark that helps protect your document from being copied, you can click on the "Design" tab at the top of Word, then click "Watermark" on the top right of the application. Then choose an image or add text that will be faintly imprinted behind your copy.

There are many more fun and useful Word features, of course, so explore more yourself.

Microsoft Word vs. Pages vs. Google Docs

These other common word-processing programs have plenty to offer, though if your primary focus is creating and editing crisp, professional written documents, Word is likely the best bet.

Google Docs offers the same basic word processing features as Word, but it has fewer templates, text editing tools, tables, and other enhancements useful for complex documents. That said, Google Docs is far better for collaborative work, especially when a team is remote, and it's free.

Pages is Apple's primary word processing platform and it is free with a Mac, iPad, or iPhone, and it's easier to use than Word, especially for people who are not highly tech savvy. But it's also more limited in features, and the documents created in Pages don't transfer well to other operating systems or platforms, so they usually need to be converted to Word docs anyway if they will be shared.

• Americans visiting the UK now need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization.
• It's also necessary if you have a layover at an airport in the UK.
• Applying costs about $12 and should only take 10 minutes using the app.

The UK has changed its entry requirements, so most visitors need to apply for permission to travel to the country.

This is also necessary if you have a layover at a UK airport.

It encompasses all parts of the UK — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — as well as British Overseas Territories, which include Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and Turks and Caicos.

As of January 8, US and Canadian citizens are among 48 nationalities who will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

It is similar to systems already used in the US and Canada, as the UK is moving to a digital border system.

You would be exempt if you have a UK visa or legal residency or if you are traveling on an Irish passport.

Otherwise, you must apply for an ETA before you travel to the UK.

How to apply for a UK ETA

It shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes to apply — although there is a fee of £10, or around $12.

The easiest way to apply is through the government's mobile app called "UK ETA." If you can't download the app, you can also apply through the UK government's website.

You first need to take a picture of your passport's photo page.

If you have a biometric passport, shown by the e-passport symbol on the cover, then the app can scan it.

You then scan your face with your phone's camera and take a photo of yourself.

You will also need to answer questions about your address, job, criminal history, and any other nationalities. If you're under 18, you also need to give contact details for someone with parental responsibility for you.

Afterward, you'll get an email confirming your application. Another will arrive when a decision has been made — usually within three working days.

What you can do with an ETA

The ETA is valid for two years, during which time you can travel to the UK as much as you want.

You can stay in the UK for up to six months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or short-term study. You can also transit through a UK airport.

With an ETA, you can't do paid or unpaid work in the UK unless you're doing a permitted paid engagement or have a Creative Worker visa concession.

You can travel to the UK while awaiting a decision as long as you've already applied.

Being approved for an ETA doesn't guarantee entry to the UK, as you'll still need to pass border control.

• A couple moved from the US to Morocco for a better lifestyle and work-life balance.
• They work remotely, allowing them time to enjoy the country's late-night culture and leisure.
• They're expecting a baby, so they value Morocco's safety, healthcare, and family-oriented culture.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Arleevia and Ricoyo Lyles. The couple moved from the US to Tangier, Morocco, in November. Arleevia, 26, works in marketing, and Ricoyo, 40, works in finance. Both work remotely in jobs focused on the US, and they're expecting a baby in April. The couple posts on YouTube about their experience living abroad. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Ricoyo: After spending a few days here during our honeymoon, we fell in love with the culture, the people, and the food. I was joking with Arleevia when I asked her, "Hey, what do you think about moving to Morocco?" I didn't think I would get the response that I did. That sparked us going down the rabbit hole of "What if we actually moved here?"

Arleevia: We work remotely, so we thought it was feasible. We didn't own any property in the US. It was simply a conversation with my employer. They said, "As long as you get your work done." Ricoyo has his own financial firm that he had just started, so he's his own employer. So, for him, working remotely wasn't an issue. He works on US Central Standard Time. He works from about 4 p.m. until about 2 or 3 a.m., and he's up by 11 a.m. the next day.

Ricoyo: We were living in Nashville. We had been there for about three years, and then we relocated back to my hometown of Las Vegas right before moving to Morocco.

My biggest concern was, "Am I going to be falling asleep talking with clients?" But we've adjusted to it. It's almost turned into an evening-type position. It's funny because the culture here is kind of a late-night culture anyway. At night, there are still people in the cafés drinking coffee and going out to restaurants. My schedule almost fits with the vibe of the city.

Arleevia: We're still able to go out, explore the city, and hang out with friends in the afternoon if we want to. I work in the morning and often close out in the evening because I'm not on as many client calls as he is. We've been able to acclimate and socialize.

They have a healthy work-life balance here. Yes, they work very hard, but also they believe in leisure and rest. You see a lot of people out during the day — at cafés drinking tea together. A lot of men will be out, and they'll go back to work. Having that kind of influence has been very helpful for us to be like, "OK, we can take a break from work." We don't have to grind, grind, grind, like we did in the US.

Ricoyo: The priority of family feels like it's so much higher on the list. Even just seeing families out and about is a super-calming thing. We went to a park the other day, and we were thinking, "When was the last time we saw this many kids at a park?"

From the standpoint of raising a child here, that would be a great thing for our daughter.

From a safety and crime standpoint, it's a very low crime rate.

Arleevia: When it comes to gun violence, especially, we don't have to think about that. We just feel a lot safer.

Also, the healthcare is amazing. We had to find a gynecologist. We were not expecting it to be as amazing as it was. I've had the most thorough doctor experience of my life. In the US, my appointments for baby checkups would be five to 15 minutes, on average. Here, we spent 45 minutes to an hour with our doctor. She was so thorough, cared so much, and was deeply invested in answering every question I had.

Ricoyo: I was always conditioned that it doesn't get better than the US, that nowhere else has the luxuries that we have in the US. Yet in terms of the lifestyle, in Morocco the food quality, for example, seems so much better.

Arleevia: Even when it comes to customer service and how they treat people, it's with such respect and care — and they make sure that everybody feels supported. I feel like that comes through in people being able to take time away from work and spending time with their family.

Ricoyo: I set my own schedule, and sometimes Arleevia will be like, "Hey, babe, maybe don't book as many meetings today. Let's go and do something and explore a little bit." So, she kind of keeps me grounded. Otherwise, I'll work the day away.

There are other differences. For example, in terms of race, it's not something that you're thinking about as soon as you meet somebody. Here, they seem to think more in nationality, if anything. They're thinking, "Are you from Senegal? Are you from the US?" Even then, many people seem to love other countries.

Going back to safety: As a Black man, that's something that I always had in the back of my mind. Being here, we don't have to think about that as much, if at all. It's been nice to just interact human-to-human and then try to connect with your experience versus the stereotype behind your skin color.

In the US, when a complete stranger approaches me, it's kind of like I'm on guard. But here, you just meet some of the most amazing people who take time out of their day. They'll be like, "Hey, let me show you something around here." I find myself having to lower my defenses. I will stop and spend time and talk to them and enjoy cups of tea.

When my friends ask me what it's like living here, I think of it as a one-sentence answer: "This reminds me of the good old days." It feels like time has really slowed down. You're really able to take time out of your day and — not to be cheesy — really smell the roses.

Arleevia: There's a heightened level of respect for people here, especially with me being pregnant. There's so much care around that. Men are like, "Hey, take a seat. I can help you with your luggage."

We see often — and this is something very different — if an older person is trying to cross the road, somebody that's much younger will come and assist them. They don't even know them from Adam, but they'll go and walk across the road to make sure that they get across safely. That's something that you see in old movies, but that's a common practice here.

Arleevia: We want to be here for several years because we've moved so much. It'd be ideal to stay for three to five years. Even if it's not in Tangier, we would be open to living in another country. We definitely see this as a long-term living abroad.

Not having a church has probably been the most difficult thing for us to get acclimated to. Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country. There are Christian churches around, but it's tough to find them.

Being away from family is obviously also hard. We miss them dearly. The language barrier has probably been the other tough thing. But outside that, it's been a very easy transition for us.

Ricoyo: The best things in life are often outside our comfort zone. People always talk about how it would be great to travel the world, to see other places, and to experience other cultures. This is making that a reality.