• For most of my life, I never imagined living anywhere but New York City.
• Circumstances changed about two years ago, and I decided to move to Portugal with my two kids.
• We've lived here for about a month, and everything is different. Life is so much better.

I made the choice to leave behind everything familiar.

I was born and raised in New York, and for most of my life I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

But about two years ago, I pulled my kids out of public school after multiple safety incidents, opting to homeschool them instead.

I'm a single mom, and my concern for my kids' safety, combined with the rising costs of rent and groceries, made me begin to imagine what I couldn't before: moving away from NYC.

It wasn't just New York, though; it felt as if the US, in general, was moving in a direction I didn't want to follow, so I dived into research about relocating to another country.

My top priorities were safety, quality of life, and cost of living. After months of searching, I landed on Portugal, which is consistently ranked one of the safest countries in the world.

My two sons and I have been living here for a month, and while I doubted myself in the beginning, I know now it was the right choice.

I was surprised by how open my kids were to moving to another country

When I first decided on Portugal, I expected the hardest part to be telling my children, who were then 11 and 16. I knew it would be difficult for them to leave the only home they'd ever known.

We sat down as a family and had an honest talk. Indeed, they were hesitant to leave friends and family behind, but after weighing the pros and cons I was surprised by how open they were to exploring the idea.

So, to test the waters, about a year ago we took two scouting trips: The first was a two-week trip to Porto, a beautiful city in northern Portugal, and the second was a monthlong stay in the Algarve, the southern region known for its beaches and sunny weather.

We treated the trips seriously, as if we were living there, not like vacations. My homeschooled kids continued their schoolwork during our stay, and we explored the neighborhoods, rode public transportation, and shopped at local stores.

After the second trip, we were sure Portugal was the right move — we were ready for a slower pace of life.

It took us over half a year to move

Back in New York, we spent the next six months preparing. I hired an immigration lawyer and a real estate agent. I sold my car, told family and friends, and started packing and donating what we didn't need.

The visa process, with all the forms and financial statements I had to produce, was harder than I expected, but in March we were on a plane with six suitcases, headed toward our new home.

The morning of our flight, I questioned myself: Was I doing the right thing? After living here for a month, though, I know that I was.

Everything about our lives is different now

Instead of sirens and snow, we wake up to the sound of waves.

We've grown closer as a family. We walk along the beach regularly, cook and eat fresh meals together instead of scarfing down takeout in front of the TV, and take weekend trips to other countries.

My boys have also made new friends and spend more time outdoors than on video games.

My spending, so far, is about half of what it was in the US, partly because the cost of living is lower but also because I no longer feel the need to constantly overconsume, like wasting money on fast fashion and bulk shopping.

It's been only about a month, but we feel at home here

The people of Portugal have been kind and welcoming.

Most people where we live speak English, but my kids and I are taking Portuguese lessons because we've found that locals appreciate it when people make an effort to learn the language and integrate into the culture.

We shop locally, and I've become friends with nearby shopkeepers who now greet me by name.

We feel at home here. I get to live across the street from the ocean, something I once only dreamed of. And I finally have the space, time, and peace to enjoy life. My stress has lifted. I can exhale.

My kids still talk to their friends back home and we stay in touch with family. I do not see myself moving back to the US to live, only to visit. We plan on staying in Portugal for the foreseeable future.

• The gig economy might be a tempting option for workers worried about a recession and losing jobs.
• However, many gig work apps are already competitive and at-capacity, though.
• Workers might look to other forms of gig work if the economy goes south.

Delivering food or taking other gig work might be a tempting fallback for workers worried about losing their jobs in a potential recession.

But earning meaningful money through the gig economy might not be so easy, with average earnings falling and competition among gig workers higher than it was a few years ago.

"It's not worth the money," one driver in Colorado who has worked on ride-hailing apps since 2019 told Business Insider.

Gig work provided a source of income for many workers during previous downturns. Apps like Uber and Instacart got their start and recruited lots of independent contractors in the years after the financial crisis of 2008, for instance.

And while the early months of the coronavirus pandemic ground many parts of the economy to a halt, some forms of gig work, especially delivery, became go-to ways of making money.

This time, if an economic downturn arrives, things could be different, gig workers told BI.

During her first year on Uber, the Colorado driver made about $66,000 in gross earnings, according to documents seen by BI. In 2024, she earned half as much despite working a similar number of hours. The driver asked not to be named in this story, citing worries about having her accounts deactivated.

Today, the driver said that she's looking for alternatives to gig work, including applying to full-time jobs and saving up money to open a food truck.

Many ride-hailing drivers have to cover their own expenses, from gas to car maintenance — costs that have largely risen over the last few years thanks to inflation, the driver said, making many of the trips she is offered through the apps less profitable.

These days, her most profitable rides come during bad weather, when lots of drivers stay home. "We make more when it's snowing," the driver said.

In many cities, getting approved to deliver groceries or drive for a ride-hailing service might take weeks or months.

One gig worker in Washington state told BI that she signed up to deliver for Instacart about a year ago and is still waiting for access. "During the pandemic, a lot of people rushed to sign up on Instacart," the worker said. "I think I'm just stuck behind all of that."

Instacart has acknowledged the wait times. "Our shopper supply is very healthy," CEO Fidji Simo said on an earnings call in February. "In fact, we still continue to have a waitlist in most cities."

Today, gig work in other industries may be more readily available, such as getting paid to stand in line for concert tickets, restaurant reservations, or a celebrity's hot new product.

Robert Padron, chief people and experience officer at Arise, which offers call center and other customer service gig workers to businesses, said that his company continues to hire gig workers.

Gig workers who work for Arise can choose to handle customer service requests from a variety of companies, Padron said.

"If one client doesn't have a need for human capital today, there may be 15 others that do," Padron said.

That's different from many gig delivery and ride-hailing apps, where "the one thing to do is drive for Uber or go shopping for Instacart," he added.

Do you have a story to share about gig work? Contact this reporter at [email protected] or 808-854-4501.

Rome - A second round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks are underway, this time in Rome, with President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi leading the delegations.

Why it matters: The talks are taking place with debate still raging within the Trump administration — and between the U.S. and Israel — over whether diplomacy or military strikes are more likely to prevent Tehran from obtaining a bomb.

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• For now, Trump is holding back the hawks, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and focusing on getting a deal.
• "I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific. But they can't have a nuclear weapon. And if they have a nuclear weapon, you'll all be very unhappy because your life will be in great danger," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday.

State of play: While the first round last weekend in Oman was focused on setting the tone and format of the talks, U.S. officials say their goal for the second round is to produce a framework for how the negotiations will proceed.

On the scene: The talks started shortly before noon local time at the residence of the Omani ambassador in Rome's quiet diplomatic quarter.

• Dozens of reporters gathered in the narrow street in front of the Omani diplomatic compound. Araghchi arrived first after a short drive from the Iranian embassy, which is located 300 feet down the street.
• Witkoff's motorcade which arrived 30 minutes later, missed the driveway and had to reverse and circle back in the narrow street.
• Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi is also attending in the role of chief mediator.

Between the lines: The U.S. had requested the venue shift in part because of the long travel time between Washington and Muscat, but the Iranians wanted Oman — one of the few countries with friendly relations with both sides — to remain as mediator.

• Witkoff traveled to Rome after an undisclosed meeting in Paris on Friday — revealed by Axios — with two senior Israeli officials.
• The officials, strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer and Mossad chief David Barnea, slipped into Paris for the low-profile meeting to try to influence the U.S. position ahead of the talks.

Friction point: U.S. officials said their aim is to get a deal that includes the elimination of Iran's uranium enrichment program, but the Iranians made clear that crosses their red line.

What they're saying: Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader, laid down Iran's principles for a nuclear deal Saturday on X.

• He stressed the Iranian negotiators have "full authority" to reach a deal based on "seriousness and balance," but that such a deal must include guarantees the U.S. won't walk away again, as Trump did in 2018.
• Shamkhani added that a deal must include the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran, and absolutely will not include the full dismantling of Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Netanyahu has urged the U.S. to only accept a deal
• He added that during the talks the U.S. must contain Israel and stop threatening to attack Iran. "Iran has come for a balanced agreement, not surrender," he concluded.

• Drones have seen widespread use by both sides in Russia's war against Ukraine.
• Different types of drones include aerial, ground, and naval, all with specific models and uses.
• Drone operators have been working adapt to the new technology.

Drones are an emerging technology in modern combat. Evolutions in these remotely piloted uncrewed systems have been radically affecting the way war is fought.

Although drones have been used in past conflicts, Russia's war against Ukraine has been marked by a rise in drone warfare, both the employment of uncrewed systems and the development of countermeasures such as electronic warfare.

What are drones?

Drones are vehicles or systems that operate remotely or autonomously without a human being physically on board to drive them. They come in aerial, ground, maritime surface, and undersea varieties, and they are used for civilian, commercial, and military purposes.

They can be used for photography, videography, delivery, inspection and monitoring, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as precision strikes.

While drones have received attention for the role they play in Ukraine, they have also gotten a lot of interest in the civilian world. There was, for instance, a drone scare in New Jersey in December 2024 that turned out to be mostly hysteria, but it fueled a very long-overdue conversation about drones, including about the ones routinely flying around US military bases.

Earlier that month, the Pentagon unveiled a new strategy for dealing with the challenge of drones, particularly small aerial drones that can be easily acquired for both benign and malign purposes.

"These cheap systems are increasingly changing the battlefield, threatening US installations, and wounding or killing our troops," the secretary of defense wrote. And they have been becoming increasingly prolific.

These systems have been doing the jobs of snipers, combat aircraft, naval vessels, and even precision-guided munitions. In the Red Sea, the US Navy and its European allies have battled drone attacks accompanying anti-ship missiles. These attacks have come from air and sea, targeting both military and commercial vessels.

These relatively low-cost systems are widely available, lowering the barrier to entry for capabilities that were once reserved for conventional militaries. Now they are being used by non-state actors and nation-states alike.

The future of war is expected to be robotic, with machines outnumbering human warfighters. A wide range of drones are already being employed in battle.

Many militaries are looking into purchasing a lot of drones that are cheap, attritable, and readily available or able to be mass-produced on a budget so that drones are available even for squad-level operations.

There continues to be interest in larger, more sophisticated systems as well, such as uncrewed naval vessels capable of supporting traditional warships and uncrewed combat aircraft to fight alongside piloted planes.

Militaries are also exploring new technologies to drive these assets, such as artificial intelligence.

Aerial drones

Uncrewed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are drones capable of flight. They are typically launched by a UAV operator, and the ranges and altitudes at which they can fly depend on the model.

Some of the most well-known military UAVs are the large, fixed-wing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles, or UCAVs.

Fixed-wing ISR drones include assets like the US military's Globe Hawk or Russia's Orlan drones.

Combat drones include drone platforms like the US military's Predator and Reaper drones. The latter can not only conduct surveillance but is also armed with Hellfire missiles. There are heavy fixed-wing UCAVs like Russia's Okhotnik, and there are several stealth drones like the RQ-170 or emerging Chinese CH-7.

Among these drones are maritime assets. Several countries, such as Iran, China, and Turkey, have actually built drone carriers. Some argue the US military needs drone carriers, too, though the US is looking into launching drones from traditional flattops.

Other fixed-wing drone assets include collaborative combat aircraft, or "loyal wingmen," that fly alongside piloted aircraft. The Air Force has been working on this technology, as well as exploring the potential of AI-piloted fighter aircraft.

While fixed-wing drones take off like airplanes, there are also vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones. These include classic designs like helicopters, tail-sitters, tilt rotors, etc., as well as innovative engineering such as articulating-wing designs.

Quadcopter drones and related hexacopters and octacopters are common VTOL UAV models that have been everything from Christmas presents to combat platforms.

The small combat quadcopters, sometimes called first-person-view, or FPV, drones are usually flown by an operator wearing a headset or using a screen and can be used for scouting enemies, dropping explosives, or flying into targets and detonating.

Some commercially available models, like DJI Mavic drones, have seen extensive use in Ukraine, where operators strap plastic explosives or RPG warheads to the drones.

These drones can be piloted through various means, including radio frequencies, a fiber-optic cable that prevents jamming, and artificial intelligence, although autonomy in drones is still limited to terminal guidance targeting and hasn't seen widespread adoption yet.

Other types of aerial drones include loitering munitions, which fly high above targets before crashing into them. Some common types of loitering munitions include the Switchblade, Lancets, and the Iranian-made Shaheds. All have been used in Ukraine.

Ground drones

Uncrewed, or unmanned, ground vehicles, or UGVs, are drones that operate on land. They're often used for transporting supplies or weapons, clearing dangerous areas of threats, and executing casualty evacuations.

Most military ground drones are wheeled or tracked, resembling more complicated versions of remote-controlled cars. Via a controller, an operator can drive the drone over various terrains. The US military has prioritized using UGVs for urban combat environments and subterranean places like caves and tunnels, as drones can keep personnel and military dogs out of harm's way.

Some UGVs are referred to as robot dogs. These quadrupedal robots have four legs and resemble a canine. These drones have been developed by the US, China, and Russia. Some robot dogs wield rifles or machine guns, while others feature cameras and sensors for intelligence-gathering. These drones have been employed in combat and security roles.

Other UGVs include things like the Air Force's unusual Throwbot, which is a football-size device that can record video and audio for reconnaissance and intelligence purposes.

Naval drones

Naval drones have a few variations, but they are typically defined as drones that operate in water. They can be used for missions in hard-to-reach areas or waterways that would be difficult to reach via ship, submarine, or divers.

Ones that sail on the surface can vary in size and payload but often look like boats. Ukraine, lacking a proper naval force, has used drone boats to devastate Russia's Black Sea Fleet during the war, sailing them into vessels in one-way explosive attacks.

The US Navy has experimented with drone boats that can conduct surveillance, as well as ones like the Ghost Overlord Fleet that can fire weapons and augment the conventional battle force.

US military leaders have seen these uncrewed naval assets, and others, as critical to building the kind of mass American forces would need against an adversary like China, which has the world's largest navy.

Uncrewed underwater vehicles, or UUVs, are submersible drones that operate underwater. There are a number of different UUVs varying depth, distance, and capability types depending on the model.

One of the larger UUVs being tested is the Manta Ray, built by Northrop Grumman. The drone is effectively submarine-sized and looks like a flat metal manta ray. It has recently completed in-water testing and can act as a torpedo, small submarine, or even work as a naval mine.

UUVs are especially useful for navigating waters with relative stealth to gather information in areas that could be inaccessible or dangerous for people or other maritime assets.

Naval drones are a growing area of interest. The US Navy's Task Force 59, located in Bahrain, is working on naval drones for surveillance around the waters of the Middle East. NATO also has launched a new Task Force X for naval drones aimed at combatting Russian aggression and preventing underwater sabotage.

How the US military uses drones

The US military has long used drones like the Reaper for surveillance operations; it lost one to Russian aggression in the Black Sea and has lost several to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. These platforms have also been key in counterterrorism strike missions.

Some other US military drones serve as unit-level airborne sensor platforms while other products like the pocket-sized Black Hornet drones provide individual and squad-level options.

Developing these uncrewed capabilities has been a priority for the US armed forces, but it's taken on increased urgency. The US military is working quickly to adapt drone technology across its service branches, especially as it takes note of the drones that have been used in the Ukraine war.

Special Operations Forces has been a leader due to its agile acquisition process and close relationships with defense industry partners that allow for faster iterations.

Other elements of the military are pursuing this technology as well. The Marine Corps, for instance, just recently created its new Attack Drone Team focused on drawing lessons from Ukraine.

A Marine general recently said that with the rise of drones, the longstanding adage "every Marine a rifleman" may need to change. It may be that future war demands they be something more, maybe a drone operator.

The US military has been looking at how drones can make operations safer for personnel, how to extend the military's reach, and what future warfare would look like with drones. And it isn't just the US military exploring these capabilities. Drone technology and artificial intelligence are considered critical for future war.

Counter-drone technology

The Pentagon has been pursuing new drone policies and initiatives to quickly adapt drones and counter-drone systems.

Last year, the Department of Defense launched a new strategy for countering drone threats in an effort to create common guidelines for the department amid the growing threat posed by the rise of uncrewed systems.

Earlier in 2024, three US soldiers were killed in a drone attack at a military outpost in Jordan. The Tower 22 attack highlighted the need for a comprehensive and standardized plan for counter-drone capabilities.

The Pentagon also has Replicator initiatives focused on developing and delivering thousands of all-domain attritable autonomous systems. Replicator's goal is to innovate with defense partners on uncrewed systems and integrate those technologies into the services. There is also a counter-drone element as well.

And the US military has its new Joint C-sUAS (Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft System) University, or JCU, which opened in late 2023 at Fort Sill in Oklahoma to teach troops how to combat hostile drones.

With the rise of drones, there has been greater interest in the development of countermeasures and anti-drone weapons. Counter-drone technology has been seen across the Ukraine war. Some is as low-tech as shotguns, while others are electronic warfare systems that can jam radio frequencies and disable drones.

Signal jamming and electronic warfare require constant innovation and adaptation for drone operators.

Drone careers

Militaries around the world are actively recruiting people to serve as combat drone operators. Ukraine's drone units have said technological, engineering, and even video gaming skills are useful for pilots, as they can quickly pick up the controls needed to operate a drone. Others have said musicians make good operators because of their fine motor skills.

Drone operators in the Army's special forces are working on how to make learning different types of drones easier, such as using similar controllers for multiple systems.

There are many drone operator positions in the US military. The Army is hiring tactical UAS operators for reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting missions, and the Air Force is looking for trained remotely piloted aircraft pilots for systems like the MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk. The Marine Corps, too, is looking for small UAS operators. And the Navy has a relatively new Robotic Warfare Specialist position.

To take on one of these roles, an understanding of what capabilities a drone can bring to a fight and what countermeasures an operator will face is crucial.

• When I adopted my third child at 47, I didn't realize I could experience post-adoption depression.
• It took time for me to settle in as a new mom again.
• Getting back into my routine and seeing a therapist helped me deal with my emotions.

"I'm afraid I can't do this," I sobbed on the phone to my caseworker. "What if I made a terrible mistake?"

As a 47-year-old single mom of teens, when I decided to adopt a little girl, I'd assumed that as an experienced parent, I would be fine.

After all, there would be no hormonal changes after an adoption, unlike when I gave birth to my first daughter. I'd had trouble breastfeeding, couldn't soothe her crying, and the days blurred. I felt unmoored and despondent. Slowly, with my husband on night bottle duty, my gloom subsided. And then, when my son was born two years later, I was happy from the moment I brought him home.

By the time the kids were heading off to college, I was divorced and nostalgic for those precious days of swim classes and school plays. My heart longed for another little one, and after two years of home studies and red tape, I was matched with a baby from Vietnam. In mid-September of 2001, the adoption was finalized, and I brought her home.

Yet somehow, during all those visits and checklists, no one had warned me that post-adoption depression was a thing.

When I first came home with Isabella, I was exhausted

The first days with 5-month-old Isabella were a whirlwind of travel to the orphanage, government offices, and doctors. Coming home involved four flights over 12,000 miles and 11 time zones. All were delayed, and I ran out of formula. I thought it would be a relief to be back in my own house. Instead, exhausted and alone, my strength vanished, and I was overcome with sadness.

Maybe I'd gotten my comeuppance: Who was I to think I could handle an infant 24/7 without a partner? Weeping on the sofa, I called my agency caseworker.

"Give yourself time to bond," she advised, "You'll be OK." I wasn't convinced.

Isolated, scared, and helpless, I tried to push away my doubts. Was sleep deprivation playing tricks on my mind?

In time, I started to feel better, and we settled in together

After 72 hours without a shower, change of clothes, a good meal, or adult conversation, I arranged for a babysitter and met a friend at a diner. My stomach was still in knots, but I managed a few bites of French toast. To my surprise, as we chatted, the queasiness subsided. I even smiled. Was it a sugar high from the maple syrup, I wondered?

Still shaky, I resolved to get back to work and arranged to see a therapist. Seeing how getting outside lifted my mood, I forced myself out of my bathrobe, taking Isabella grocery shopping and to the playground.

Two weeks later, my father, an amateur woodworker, came by to install some shutters. To keep Isabella occupied, I sat on the floor and sang silly rhymes to her as she jumped in her bouncer seat. When I first met her, she'd barely managed to hold up her head.

Dad put his tools down, looked at her, and said, "Boy, oh boy, isn't she adorable?" I was filled with love, and it was the beginning of my confidence returning.

It was gradual — about a month — until I truly felt better. Returning to work sooner helped me feel like life was more in control, as was going out with baby and girlfriends for dinner. But it took weeks after I came home to stabilize Isabella's sleeping and eating. Meanwhile, I was sleep-deprived, anxious, and could not eat. I was frightened and ashamed that I felt so inept when I got home.

The caseworker kept in contact with me, assuring me that I'd been through a lot and that I would be OK. She told me not to be hard on myself and that it would take time.Talking to both her and my therapist helped me regain my confidence. When a big group of friends threw me a surprise baby shower Oct 21, filled with so much love and smiles, I knew I was well on my way. As every mother knows, there are ups and downs on every parenting journey, and I was ready to be the mother Isabella needed.

Last year, I opened Instagram and saw that Isabella, now a college student, had posted a photo of us at the orphanage. In the caption, she wrote: "Happy birthday to the most wonderful mother anyone could ask for," with a heart emoji. My spirit soared, and it wasn't because of maple syrup. I was grateful to be the forever parent she deserved.

Russian media reported how the fighter jets can hit ground and air targets as well as infrastructure.

Kittens get adopted more often as people often prefer their playfulness.

Samantha Wynn Greenstone, 38, plans to be open with their children, seeing Jacob's sexuality as just a natural part of their story.

• I took my first adults-only cruise in August 2023 with the luxury cruise line Virgin Voyages.
• The ship was full of surprises, from a tattoo parlor to a playground for grown-ups.
• The biggest surprise of my adults-only cruise was that it made me feel like a kid again.

After my first cruise in 2022, I didn't think the vacation style was for me.

On board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, many offerings were geared toward children, from waterslides to splash pads. With kids running around screaming on the pool deck, it was tough to relax. By the end of the trip, I was ready to give up cruising altogether.

Then, I heard about Virgin Voyages, a luxury, adults-only cruise line that first set sail in 2021. I thought sailing on an upscale ship free of children might change my mind about cruising, so I booked a seven-night Mediterranean cruise in August 2023 on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship. I stayed in a cabin with a balcony, and the starting rate was $5,910, though Business Insider received a media rate for the weeklong cruise.

My trip was far better than my first cruise. I sailed in peaceful luxury from Spain to Italy and France, and the ship was full of surprises I never saw coming.

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
• You can sign up for Business Insider's daily newsletter here.

Welcome back! Guy Fieri, who has a $100 million contract with Food Network, has a rule for his children's inheritance: "If you want this cheese, you got to get two degrees." Find out how one son is trying to negotiate the terms.

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On the agenda:

• Can a clean mouth help you live longer?
• Floral ice cubes and crudités: A BI writer lived like Meghan Markle for a weekend.
• A plastic surgeon shared the cosmetic procedures his male clients are getting.
• Director Ryan Coogler's latest film is also his most personal.

But first: Is that the smell of fresh paint?

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If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.

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This week's dispatch

It's home improvement time (without Tim Allen)

There's something about seeing the early signs of spring — when flowers start to bloom, and trees come back to life — that makes change just a bit easier to bear. It's why it's the perfect time for your home to reflect the change you're seeing around you.

You've already decluttered what Santa Claus left for you under the tree, and have — presumably — started on spring cleaning. Now, it's time for some home improvements. (Renters, this is for you, too!)

Don't worry about tariffs threatening to raise prices. You don't have to spend a lot to transform your space.

Budget-friendly upgrades like a fresh coat of paint, new plants, or a new statement rug in high-traffic areas can do just the trick. For an instant upgrade, try installing new light fixtures or finally moving that old recliner out and getting a statement piece of furniture.

And don't forget about outside of your home, too, when thinking about a refresh. Landscaping can not only breathe new life into your home but also increase your home's property value. That's what's called a win-win.

Ready to roll up your sleeves? Leggo.

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Keep your mouth clean

The oral microbiome might be the next big wellness trend. Growing research suggests dental hygiene could lower the risk of chronic diseases, and some of the loudest voices in the longevity space are spreading the word.

Dentists and scientists told BI how the oral microbiome is related to overall health and recommended a few simple steps to promote good hygiene.

What to know about the oral microbiome.

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The Duchess treatment

Some critics panned Meghan Markle's Netflix series "With Love, Meghan" as unrelatable and amateur. But what if the Duchess of Sussex has something to teach us?

BI's Anneta Konstantinides spent a weekend living like Meghan and, in her words, "It was quite the trip." After cooking and crafting for 48 hours, Anneta learned more than just how to be a good host.

Living like Meghan.

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Men's favorite cosmetic procedures

When Dr. Mark Epstein began his career in plastic surgery, only 2% of his clients were men. That number has since shot up to about 10%.

Men aged 18 to 80 are requesting procedures for anti-aging and weight loss. The most popular treatments are tied to male-pattern baldness, while breast reduction is more common among men than you might think.

Fillers and injectables are on the rise, too.

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Ryan Coogler's next big swing

For BI's latest installment of its "Director's Chair" series, the "Black Panther" director shared how his fifth feature film, "Sinners," starring Michael B. Jordan, came to be.

It's the first time Coogler tackled an original concept — rooted in his family's history and his uncle's love of the blues — with some vampires added to the mix.

And Coogler is set to own the film's rights.

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What we're watching this weekend

• "Companion": After releasing in theaters earlier this year, the sci-fi horror-comedy, starring "Yellowjackets" actor Sophie Thatcher and "The Boys" favorite Jack Quaid, is now streaming on Max.
• "Daredevil: Born Again": Season one of the Marvel series about lawyer-vigilante Matt Murdock came to an end this week with a gory finale.
• "Ransom Canyon": Fans of shows like "Yellowstone" and "Virgin River" can check out Netflix's new romantic drama, starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly.

See the full list

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What to shop

• Travel more with these credit cards: If you've been meaning to start traveling on points and miles, now's a great time — two top travel credit cards are offering welcome bonuses worth $1,000 or more.
• A hands-free purse alternative: Whether you're traveling or just running errands, having your hands free is a game changer. After testing dozens of styles, we've found the best crossbody bags for the job.
• AirPods for non-Apple users: Though AirPods are great for style, convenience, and iPhone integration, there are plenty of more affordable alternatives. Some even offer better audio and Android-friendly features.

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More of this week's top reads:

• Weight loss in a pill? Eli Lilly took a big step closer to making it happen.
• I stayed at two all-inclusive resorts in Central America. I'm still dreaming about one of them a year later.
• Four mistakes you should never make at the grocery store, according to an etiquette expert.
• A busy father and business owner got shredded at 42. He said 3 simple things helped him stay in shape for a decade.
• Melinda French Gates says she no longer cares if people don't like her: 'Maybe that comes with being 60.'
• A top nutritionist explains her alternative '5 a day' food rule, which makes caring for her gut health easy.
• Pedro Pascal's 'Mandalorian' salary information is getting turned over to Gina Carano in her legal fight against Disney.
• This stroller is getting $300 more expensive because of tariffs, a baby store owner tells me.

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The BI Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York City (on paternity leave). Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.

• Jing Gao is the founder and CEO of Sichuan chili crisp company Fly By Jing.
• She told BI that the brand is still committed to sourcing ingredients from her hometown in China.
• The tariffs "rob Americans of an accessible way to connect with and appreciate cultures at a time when we need it most," she said.

"An Update from Jing on Tariffs." This was the subject line of an email from the popular chili crisp brand Fly By Jing. I'd previously purchased the brand as a gift, and the message landed in my inbox on April 11, just a few days into an escalating trade war between the US and China.

Founded in 2018, the small business is best known for its popular Chinese chili crisp varieties, sold in stores like Target and Whole Foods. The email said that, as of when it was sent on April 11, the brand's products were subject to a 160% tariff rate, compared to 15% before President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs announcements.

"These tariffs have a material impact — not just on our business but countless others, and are disproportionately impacting small, independent brands like ours," the email read. "The integrity of our ingredients, their specific terroir, and the craftsmanship of our products are highly local to Sichuan and will continue to be."

I scoped out the brand's Instagram page and saw a video of founder and CEO Jing Gao discussing the tariffs' impact on the business and reached out to hear more. Here is the conversation we had over email, with my questions in bold, and Gao's answers below.

How are the tariffs affecting your business?

Considering the volatility of the current tariff conversations, it's really important for us as a brand to fully assess the landscape before making major, potentially irreversible decisions. Currently, no orders or shipments are on hold, and our priorities are continuing to source the ingredients for our core sauces from the Sichuan province and keeping our pricing as affordable as possible.

The tariff announcements have been on and off, and rates have fluctuated. How did this affect your planning?

The current volatility is disruptive and will prove debilitating to many independent businesses. We are fortunate to have built resilience into our organization over the last six years to be able to weather the storm. We have not yet made any major business decisions as we await stabilization, but these fluctuations are impossible to plan for and disproportionately affect small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Can you talk about why it's important to you and to the business to source your products from Sichuan?

One of our key goals through this all is to maintain the integrity of the ingredients in our core products. Our ingredients come directly from Sichuan — fermented black beans, highly prized Tribute peppers, Erjingtiao chilis, and cold-pressed roasted caiziyou — and simply cannot be grown anywhere else.

Last year, you actually dropped prices. Do you see the tariffs impacting product prices going forward, and if so, do you have a timeline on that?

Price accessibility for our products is a core tenet of our brand at Fly By Jing. Our mission is to expand palates and introduce new flavors nationwide, so we need our products to be affordable. In service of this, we implemented a significant price decrease last year — even amid rising inflation — and are reaching more homes than ever. Due to the current volatility, it's important for us as a brand to fully assess the landscape before making decisions that will have long-term implications. Right now, our priority is to keep prices as affordable as possible while maintaining the integrity of our ingredients.

What has your average day looked like in recent weeks? Are you working longer hours as you navigate the situation?

We're at a pivotal moment as a brand and are very focused on expanding to reach new audiences. This news cycle, and its implications, is clearly very consuming as it requires constant attention at an already very busy time — but we are privileged as a brand to have built resilience into our business, which is allowing us to take a step back and assess the situation before reacting. I am speaking often to peers, fellow business owners, and, of course, my team, to gather insights, strategize, and determine the route forward that will allow us to maintain our core brand values.

Is there anything you're not seeing discussed around tariffs and their impact on small businesses that you think is important for people to know?

Sharing authentic ingredients and flavors is one of the most powerful ways to explore the nuances of other cultures — it sparks curiosity, builds connection, and inspires empathy. These tariffs, which as of today are at least 160%, not only threaten our brand's prosperity, but rob Americans of an accessible way to connect with and appreciate cultures at a time when we need it most. Our success as a brand has proven that bold and diverse international flavors at affordable prices are what Americans want and that they are here to stay.

Sarah Stusek and the Proper Help Foundation have paid off over $10,000 of lunch debt in schools to date, but hit a stumbling block on this occasion.

Sean Keveney, the acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, sent a list of demands to Harvard that escalated the conflict.

• I've been tracking my latest order from Temu. It finally arrived — with no extra fees.
• But starting soon, because of the expected ending of a shipping loophole, there may be new fees.
• Temu and Shein have said they're raising prices.

Sure, the national hardship of price increases tied to tariffs is only getting started. But my personal journey of stressing about a recent Temu order? Phew, that's done! Our nation can breathe a sigh of relief.

To catch you up on my harrowing personal drama: The night before "Liberation Day," I placed a farewell order from Temu, the e-commerce marketplace that ships orders (mostly) directly from China.

Aside from enacting tariffs, Donald Trump has also said he would end the de minimis loophole that has allowed Temu, Shein, and others to ship orders with values under $800 directly from China to customers in the US without paying duty fees. That loophole has been the underpinning of Temu and Shein's astonishingly low prices on clothing and knickknacks.

The details about closing the de minimis rule have been a little unclear at times — not unlike the back-and-forth with Trump's tariffs. Initially, it was unclear when the yanking of the de minimis exception would go into effect, and I worried that when my order arrived, I might get slapped with a hefty $75 fee.

Now it seems that the de minimis loophole closes on May 2, which means that a few last shipments — including my own — have been able to sneak in under the wire.

I got three bubble machine/bubble wand items.

Temu and Shein have both put up statements on their websites addressing customers to warn them that price increases will hit soon.

What's kind of odd is that both sites, which are owned by different parent companies, have the same message, worded exactly the same — only the company name at the end is different. (Temu and Shein did not immediately reply to a question about how they ended up with the same statement.) The statements say:

Dear Customers,

Thank you for your continued support. Since we began serving U.S. shoppers, our goal has been simple: to offer great product at affordable prices while creating positive impact in the communities we serve.

Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustment starting April 25, 2025.

Until April 25, prices will stay the same, so you can shop now at today's rates. We've stocked up and stand ready to make sure your orders arrive smoothly during this time.

We're doing everything we can to keep prices low and minimize the impact on you. Our team is working extra hard to improve efficiency and stay true to our mission: to offer great product at affordable prices for everyone.

Thank you again for being part of the [TEMU/SHEIN] family.

With gratitude,
The [TEMU/SHEIN] Team

So, there we have it. I made out just fine. And if you order in the next few days, you might be fine, too. After that, well, you're screwed — either higher prices or a big duty tax bill, or even both!

Will I enjoy my bubble machine knowing it may be the last sweet, sweet duty-free shipment of bargain-basement plastic junk? Yes, yes I will. But will I feel good about pulling off this last-minute near-heist? No, no I won't. I don't feel good about any of this.

"For me, having a side hustle is what gives me confidence even in a tough job market," the recruiter told Newsweek.

• Qatar Airways enforces strict appearance standards for its cabin crew.
• Western airlines historically imposed appearance norms, but have shifted away from many rules.
• Qatar's grooming rules call for makeup training, specific hairstyles, and men covering bald spots.

Flight attendants — particularly women — were subject to strict appearance standards throughout the beginning of the jet age to the mid-1990s. Many airlines said this lured in high-paying travelers and created an elevated brand.

Stewardesses, as they were called then, couldn't be too tall or too short, too old or too young. They couldn't be heavy-set — and they had to be unmarried and childless. In the 1970s, Southwest Airlines, for example, fitted its flight attendants in hot pants and gogo boots.

Globally, the aviation industry has since shifted to focus its flight attendants more narrowly on safety and service. With that still come appearance standards like skirt and nail length, wearing a tie, and hair style rules, but they are far less demanding compared to past eras.

Some Western carriers today allow female cabin crew to wear tennis shoes instead of heels, or pants instead of skirts and dresses. Most can also choose to wear minimal or no makeup, while some airlines allow men to wear stud earrings.

However, some carriers have yet to ditch the traditional appearance expectations and maintain more conservative guidelines.

Qatar Airways is known in the industry for having strict codes of appearance and other things, likely an effort to maintain its luxury-focused brand and professionalism. The airline, with its exacting standards, has been rated the world's best, as of 2024.

Qatar says the strict rules haven't deterred cabin crew applications: A spokesperson told Business Insider that only 6% to 8% of the tens of thousands of applicants are accepted.

BI spoke with Qatar flight attendants Daina Haughton and Milan Rankovic and style specialist Kristine Odejar to learn more about the airline's appearance regime.

Makeup, skin, and nail requirements

Haughton said Qatar flight attendants learn how to do their hair and makeup in initial training.

This involves working with "grooming officers" like Odejar, who help match flight attendants' makeup to their skin tone and texture and teach them how to apply it best using different brushes and pens.

Haughton said the training wasn't "hard," but the consultants provided tips that cabin crew "can do to correct certain things that you wouldn't just know." She added that she spends two hours getting ready for flights, setting aside one hour for hair and makeup.

During a training session observed by BI, Odejar explained the rules for the basic makeup items required for female cabin crew members.

She said they need "full coverage" foundation and concealer, black mascara that isn't "too clumpy," and matte or sheen blush (no glitter).

Lipstick and nail colors can be deep pink, deep red, or burgundy, while nail polish options also include nude, clear, or French. The burgundy theme is in line with Qatar's brand color.

Odejar gives tips like using long-lasting concealer because it's "bulletproof" and won't come off the face, and using powder to set the makeup. She also said to prioritize skin health.

Qatar also does not allow visible tattoos, a common guideline across most global airlines. However, some carriers like Virgin Atlantic Airways have become more lenient and allow tattoos of various sizes.

Strict hairstyles and clean mustaches for men

Haughton said the acceptable hairstyle for women is a bun situated low enough so that the uniform hat can fit over it. She added that hair can't be too oily and must be a natural color if dyed; no rainbow.

Further, cabin crew must use hair nets to cover the bun, and they can choose to use one or two scrunchies; Haughton prefers two.

Odejar described the grooming guidelines for men's hair, which include properly styling it and using grooming wax or clay to make it look neat and smooth.

"You basically just need to apply a decent amount of product so it doesn't look over-gelled or having that kind of wet look effect," she said.

Rankovic said male cabin crew can have facial hair, but only mustaches, not beards.

He said the mustache needs to be neatly shaven, cannot grow over the upper lip or below the lip line, and must be grown out by the time a trip starts.

"Basically, you need to show up for the flights with [a] fully grown mustache," Rankovic said. "So you need to do it on your days off."

He added that the rest of the face must be clearly shaven; no 5 o'clock shadows. The beard ban helps maintain a clean and professional look.

Qatar told the Daily Telegraph in December that gray hair is also not allowed, and bald spots must be covered.

Uniforms must be neat and exact

Qatar flight attendants are provided with specific uniforms, including skirts, pants, blazers, and plain socks with no logos or designs. Women wear hats, and men wear ties.

Every crew member must carry a spare uniform in case of spills or other messes during the flight. They also have a separate winter jacket when traveling to colder climates.

A Qatar grooming instructor said the only men's accessory allowed is a watch, while women's jewelry is limited to a watch, simple stud earrings, and single-banded rings.

Married women can wear their wedding ring as long as the stone is embedded: "If the stone is protruding, it [creates] a safety issue," the instructor said. "They can injure themselves; they can injure the customers."

Women also wear stockings, but they must be matte and complement their skin color. The instructor said Qatar encourages wearing perfume, but ones with a soft or mild fragrance so as not to irritate customers.

Flight attendants wear different uniform pieces depending on the phase of the flight. For example, Haughton said she wears one jacket on the ground, such as during boarding and walking through airports. During the service, she changes into a blue "dining" jacket.

Each female flight attendant also has a black handbag that can be locked with a personal passcode. Haughton said the code is necessary because the bags are identical and it's easy to mix them up with another crewmember's.

She said the standard bag items are their crew-issued smartphone, a notepad, their passport, and any makeup they may need to reapply throughout the day.

• My now-wife and I wanted a bigger apartment but couldn't afford it on our own.
• When her sister wanted to move to NYC, we jumped at the chance to live with her.
• Some people think it's weird to live with a roommate your first year of marriage, but we love it.

When my now-wife Taryn and I moved to New York City in 2021, we were done with roommates. We had enough roommate horror stories to last a lifetime and swore off the unnecessary stress as we built our lives together. We were able to get a COVID deal on our apartment that made it financially feasible to share a one-bedroom with our two cats.

We had been so excited to move that we didn't really shop around for apartments and snagged the first spot we toured. At first, things were great. We loved the city, our Brooklyn neighborhood with a coffee shop and grocery store within a block radius, and the freedom to walk around our apartment in our underwear. Three years in, we didn't feel the same.

After we got engaged, we decided we needed to find a new apartment

There wasn't enough natural sunlight, and I worked from home then. I spent all my days sitting in this dark, gloomy apartment, which got exponentially worse when the sun started to set at 4 p.m. during the winter. I was ready to move, but we weren't sure we could give up our rent-stabilized deal.

After getting engaged, I was determined for something to change. We were officially starting our lives together, and I couldn't imagine doing that in the apartment we were in.

Taryn's sister Jaeden had started considering moving to the city, and we jumped at the opportunity to get a bigger place — in fact, we practically bullied her to move in with us. Taryn and I had started touring places casually, but as soon as we stepped into this gorgeous apartment with a mint-green kitchen backsplash, windows for days, and an amazing view of the New York skyline, we called her and asked her to fork over the deposit. It was now or never.

It was nerve-racking for me, considering Jaedan would soon be my sister-in-law. I worried about how well we would get along while living together. Even our friends and family thought we were crazy for complicating our first year of marriage with a third roommate, but moving in with my sister-in-law transformed our home life in ways I wasn't even expecting.

Living with Jaeden has been incredible

We had a built-in maid-of-honor. She helped us plan our wedding from the comfort of our shared couch. It brought us closer together and led to the wedding of our dreams. When we returned from our honeymoon to see Jaedan cooking a "welcome back" meal, it felt like returning to the perfect home.

Most people assume that getting married means settling into a cozy, two-person household, but we hadn't realized how comfortable we had grown in our routine as a couple. Jaedan helped us turn tired fights over whose turn it was to cook dinner into lively, communal meals. There was always someone to watch TV with or help settle a minor marital debate, like who should take out the trash. It even pushed Taryn and me to start going on dates again so that we would have time to ourselves. No,w we go out together once a week to spend quality time together without our roommate.

Splitting rent three ways meant we could afford a nicer apartment without breaking the bank, and we'd also get the added bonus of having an ongoing sleepover (but with more wine). With rent prices rising, more and more people are choosing untraditional living arrangements. Three years ago, I would never have thought living with family would be a dream come true, but it is.

We've just hit our first anniversary of living together, and I couldn't imagine ever leaving this apartment — or my sister-in-law.

• Netflix is interested in competition shows starring creators on the heels of Amazon's hit "Beast Games."
• The streaming giant is entertaining riffs on "Survivor" and "The Bachelor."
• It's the latest example of media giants trying to borrow from YouTube's success.

In the wake of Amazon's hit "Beast Games," starring MrBeast, Netflix has been soliciting ideas for competition shows involving digital creators.

The streamer has specifically name-checked the long-running franchises "Survivor" and "The Bachelor" as potential inspirations, four people familiar with the discussions told Business Insider.

Netflix is still in the early stages of its efforts, and while it mentioned those shows by name, it also asked prospective creator partners to riff on the formats, one person said.

"They have mentioned that 'Beast Games' is good and has done well," this person added.

One criticism of big media companies' earlier forays into leveraging the popularity of social-media creators has been that they tried to shoehorn influencers into old-school TV formats, with sometimes awkward results. Netflix seems to be flexible on the format and wants the creator to be active in developing it, three people said.

Netflix already streams some competition shows, including "Squid Game: The Challenge." On the romance front, it's garnered massive success with shows such as "Love Is Blind."

Two people familiar with Netflix's outreach in the creator space also said the streamer is interested in live concepts.

Its most recent foray into the live space, "Pop The Balloon" — an adaptation of a YouTube dating series — was met with lukewarm reviews. Host Yvonne Orji told Today that future installments would be "refined and renewed."

Hollywood is awakening to YouTube's impact

Netflix and other media giants have ramped up efforts to bring YouTubers onto their platforms. Netflix has been making the rounds with creator reps and has done deals with the Sidemen and preschool educator Ms. Rachel. Earlier this month, it premiered the docuseries "Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing," centered on controversial vlogger Piper Rockelle.

At the same time, top execs at Netflix have been making the case — as recently as on Thursday's earnings call — that it can be a better platform for creators than YouTube because it pays talent upfront and can amplify their reach.

"We're looking for the next generation of great creators, and we're looking everywhere," Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said on the Thursday call.

The charm offensive comes as Hollywood is waking up to the fact that young people are increasingly turning to YouTubers over more traditional fare.

The Google-owned platform has led the pack in TV viewership, doubling its share to 12% in March this year from 2021, the year Nielsen first started measuring the whole TV watching pie, including streaming. During the same time period, Netflix's share has increased to about 8% from 6%.

Netflix needs to keep experimenting with new types of shows as its member growth in the US and Canada slows, said Alejandro Rojas, VP of applied analytics at the data firm Parrot Analytics. Competition shows are good at retaining viewers and attracting advertisers thanks to dramatic storylines, repeated formats, and the ability to integrate products.

He added that having a well-known creator at the helm could help bring in and retain new audiences. And if a show is successful in one market, like "Love is Blind," the format can be imported globally.

"Competition shows can be as successful as a major scripted show," Rojas said.

• Melinda French Gates shared wisdom from influential figures in her memoir.
• Her parents and friends, like Warren Buffett, shaped her perspective on business and beyond.
• Here's what her successful friends have to say about life.

Melinda French Gates has picked up nuggets of wisdom and valuable lessons from powerful friends throughout her decades-long work in philanthropy.

The 60-year-old billionaire is an avid learner, and her new memoir, "The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward," has advice from friends, favorite authors, and her parents sprinkled throughout.

As a leader in global health research and advocate for women's rights, French Gates is often looked to for her own expertise. Sometimes, she said, it's the experiences of others that guide her.

These are some pieces of advice she's kept with her over the years.

Her mother

French Gates' parents empowered her to seek out a successful career from a young age. Her father made her attend a business course at the age of 12 to learn about goal setting.

Her mother gave her advice that French Gates relayed in her book.

She told her,"'Set your own agenda or someone else will,'" French Gates wrote in the book. She took her mother's statement to heart and ran with it.

"It became one of my mantras, especially once I got into global health," she said during a live interview with Abby Phillip from CNN.

Warren Buffett

"'You're working on the problems society left behind, and they left them behind for a reason. They are hard, right? So don't be so tough on yourself,'" French Gates recalled Buffett saying in an interview.

The Berkshire Hathaway boss is a longtime friend and philanthropic ally of French Gates and her ex-husband Bill Gates. Buffett has seen the couple through their Microsoft days and their 2021 divorce. He has dropped some knowledge over the years, according to French Gates.

Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King

In 2024, French Gates sat down with best friend duo Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King to discuss aging and transitions in honor of her 60th birthday. They connected on the stages of life and female friendship. Their conversation yielded advice that inspired her enough to be included in "The Next Day."

"Aging is just another word for living," King said.

Winfrey spoke about an inner voice, or intuition, that might be quietly telling you something you need to know. Listening to it and leaning into the discomfort of the unknown, French Gates said, is a sign of growth.

"Catch it in the whisper," Winfrey said. "What is it whispering to you now?"

After researching articles about the condition, Jacob Skidmore, 25, felt "frustrated and misunderstood."