A protester with a sign saying “Federal Employees Don’t Work for Kings” demonstrates in support of federal workers and against recent actions by President Trump and Elon Musk on Presidents Day in Washington, D.C.
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A federal judge in San Francisco will weigh whether to block the Trump administration’s mass firing of probationary employees —typically those in their first or second year in a job.
The plaintiffs have asked the court to not just halt the firings, but to order the government to provide a list of all employees who had been fired and “take all necessary steps” to reinstate them.
Underpinning their argument is the fact that, while OPM handles many human resource functions for the federal workforce, it does not have Congressional authority to hire or fire employees of other agencies.
Tens of thousands of probationary employees across the government have been fired over the past month. The notices often share similar language, despite being sent by different agencies. Often, they cite a performance issue, despite the employee having no record of performance problems. Attorneys for the unions charge agencies fired these employees because OPM directed them to do so.
“Statements from officials at multiple federal agencies admit that the agencies carried out the terminations not at their own discretion, but on the direct orders of OPM,” the unions’ attorneys wrote in a court filing.
Attorneys for the Trump administration denied in their own court filing that OPM had created a “mass termination program” as the plaintiffs allege, or otherwise directed agencies to terminate any particular employees based on performance or misconduct.
“OPM asked agencies to engage in a focused review of probationers based on how their performance was advancing the agencies’ mission, and allowed them at all times to exclude whomever they wanted,” wrote OPM acting director Charles Ezell in a signed declaration to the court.
Other documents submitted to the court suggest otherwise.
An OPM memo to agencies
An OPM memo to human resource officers dated Feb. 14 states, “We have asked that you separate probationary employees that you have not identified as mission-critical no later than end of the day Monday, 2/17. We have attached a template letter.”
The letter also provides guidance on how agencies should measure performance.
“An employee’s performance must be viewed through the current needs and best interest of the government, in light of the President’s directive to dramatically reduce the size of the federal workforce,” the letter reads.
In their court filing, the unions’ attorneys said that guidance “has no basis in law,” writing “Neither OPM nor any agency may lawfully terminate a probationary employee based on performance for reasons that have nothing to do with the employee’s performance.”
The unions also pointed to Congressional testimony given on Tuesday by Tracey Therit, chief human capital officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, to demonstrate that agencies were acting on OPM’s orders when they fired probationary employees.
In answer to a question from Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., about whether anyone had ordered her to carry out the terminations of approximately 1,400 probationary employees at the VA, Therit responded, “There was direction from the Office of Personnel Management.”
Therit also acknowledged that while her signature was on the termination letters that employees received, “the memo was provided,” although she declined to say by whom.
A question of standing
Beyond the issue of who ordered the firings of probationary employees, the Trump administration in court filings put forward two arguments that other judges, weighing other cases involving federal workers, have found compelling.
First, government attorneys argued that the unions and civic organizations that brought the lawsuit lack standing to do so “because their asserted harms are far too speculative and they cannot seek injunctive relief on behalf of third-party federal employees who are not before this Court.”
The civic groups countered that argument by noting the harm their members will suffer as a result of the firings. One veterans group, for example, noted that veterans would have problems getting rides to medical appointments because the VA employee in charge of a transportation program had been fired.
The government’s attorneys also argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear this case, because challenges to federal employee terminations should be handled by the independent federal agencies Congress established to resolve such labor disputes.
In fact, there is a separate complaint winding its way through that system. Earlier this week, the Merit Systems Protection Board ordered six fired federal employees temporarily reinstated pending further investigation of their firings by the Office of Special Counsel.
Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger is exploring ways to seek relief for a broader group of people similarly fired, his office said.
Have information you want to share about ongoing changes across the federal government? NPR’s Andrea Hsu can be contacted through encrypted communications on Signal at andreahsu.08.
The popular Hollywood Hills hiking spot is open for visitors everywhere except the West Trail area, which remains closed “until further notice,” according to an Instagram post from the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks.
Wattles Mansion and Gardens, located at the base of the park near the West Trail area, also remains closed to the public due to fire damage, the agency said.
The 160-acre city park was entirely closed for almost three weeks after parts of it were damaged in the Sunset fire, which tore through the area on Jan. 8, according to the department.
The fire ignited on North Solar Drive just west of the park near the West Trail area, and ultimately burned about 48 acres, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
When Runyon Canyon was first closed, park officials said it would remain so “for your safety and to allow for habit rehabilitation.”
It isn’t clear what additional work or repairs are necessary for the West Trail area to reopen. A city parks spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to questions from The Times on Thursday.
UFC interim 265-pound champion, Tom Aspinall, is widely-considered the second-best heavyweight in the game, right behind reigning division titleholder, Jon Jones. That’s one of many reasons why fight fans want to see Aspinall fight Jones to unify the straps.
But there was a time when Aspinall was not only defeated on the regional scene, but also finished by way of submission. Heavyweight titan Stuart Austin, nicknamed “He-Man” for his imposing frame, was able to outwrestle Aspinall in their 2015 showdown.
Perhaps “Bones” can follow the same blueprint.
“The big thing that hasn’t been tested in the UFC has been his wrestling,” Austin told talkSPORT.com. “If you want to look back at me, I outwrestled him. Obviously he’s got a lot better since then. He’s been doing wrestling classes, he’s better at everything. He’s better with his distance management. He’s better with his MMA in general. You’ve seen moments like when he took down [Andrei] Arlovski, he did a really, really smooth takedown in that fight. But I think clinch and wrestling would probably be the way to go for Jon, because if he strikes with Aspinall, I think there’s only one person going to win that fight.”
Aspinall has connected on all four of his takedown attempts under the UFC banner.
“You put Aspinall in against all these top guys and you’re like, ‘Well, maybe they will go out and test him,’ but they just fall over,” Austin continued. “His power and his speed and accuracy of getting to the target is really, really impressive. So maybe Jon could test the deep waters, try and take him a little bit further. But again, maybe you don’t have that as a choice. I’m sure everyone’s tried to take him a little bit further. He’s an amazing martial artist. You know, he really is the best heavyweight right now.”
Taking part in the right amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity could slash a person’s risk of experiencing dementia, stroke, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders by up to 40%, a study suggests.
Researchers analysed data from more than 73,000 people in the UK who wore accelerometer devices to monitor their movement for seven days.
The devices also measures how much energy they used and how much time they spent sitting down each day.
Physical activity was measured in metabolic equivalents (METs), with moderate to vigorous activities defined as those measuring at least three METs.
For example, walking or cleaning counted as three mets and more intense exercise such as cycling could be six, deepening on the speed.
The analysis found that people who did more moderate to vigorous physical activity were between 14 and 40% less likely to develop one of the three diseases.
People who did not develop any of the diseases had an average daily moderate to vigorous physical activity energy expenditure of 1.22 kilojoules per kilogram, compared to 0.85 for the people who developed dementia, 0.95 for those who developed sleep disorders, 1.02 for stroke, 1.08 for depression and 1.10 for anxiety.
Those who spent the most time sitting were also up to 54% more likely to be diagnosed with one of the conditions.
Study author Dr Jia-Yi Wu, of Fudan University in Shanghai, China, said: “This research highlights the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour as modifiable factors that may enhance brain health and reduce the incidence of these diseases.
“It is promising to think that encouraging people to make these lifestyle changes could potentially lessen the burden of these diseases in the future.”
Dr Wu added: “Some previous studies have relied on people reporting on their own levels of activity.
“With our large number of participants and the use of devices that provide objective measurements of activity levels, these results will have implications for assessing risk factors and developing interventions to prevent the development of these diseases.”
Researchers noted that 96% of study participants were white, which may mean the results do not apply to people from other backgrounds.
The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 77th Annual Meeting in April.
As most of you who follow my content already know, I love to travel with my family. Sadly, travelling with a family of five isn’t cheap (nor is raising one, for that matter).
Everything from grocery bills to dining out, transportation costs, utilities, and beyond is more expensive than it was before I had kids. Also, let’s not forget all the additional costs that come with raising children, like gear and clothing, childcare, school tuition, extracurricular activities, and summer camps, to name a few.
Since there’s no way around many of these expenses, you may as well maximize the benefits you can get from all the spending you do. And if you’re earning the right kinds of points, it can also make travelling more affordable than it otherwise would be.
In this post, I’ll cover my top credit card picks for families who love to travel, with a particular focus on ones without high annual fees.
1. Best Amex Card for Earning and Redeeming: American Express Cobalt Card
The first card that all families should have in their wallets is the highly touted American Express Cobalt Card.
Not only does this card have no minimum income requirement and a low $12.99 (all figures in CAD) monthly fee ($155.88 annually), it also has some of the best earning rates that you’ll find for everyday family spending categories.
The American Express Cobalt Card has excellent earning rates
This family-favourite card earns the valuable Membership Rewards points at the following rates:
5 points per dollar spent on eligible restaurants and groceries (up to $2,500 monthly)
3 points per dollar spent on eligible streaming services
2 points per dollar spent on eligible gas, public transit, and travel purchases
1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
As it stands currently, you can earn a welcome bonus of up to 15,000 MR points upon spending $750 each month in the first year of card membership, earned as 1,250 points for each month in which you spend at least $750. Despite the underwhelming welcome bonus, the powerful earning rates on everyday spending for this card continue to make it an excellent choice.
For many families, spending $750 a month won’t be an issue, with probably half of that being spent on groceries alone. Add on dining out once a week or so, a monthly subscription to Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify, plus gas for driving the kids to and from school and their extracurricular activities, and you’ll hit that spend in no time, with category multipliers boosting your earn along the way.
If you travel in economy and award space is hard to find for the whole family, you can also consider using American Express’s Fixed Points Travel Program, through which you can redeem a fixed number of points to cover the base ticket price of any flight, up to the maximum allowable fare.
American Express Cobalt Card
Earn up to a total of 15,000 MR points upon spending $750 in each of the first 12 months
Earn 5x MR points on groceries, restaurants, bars, and food delivery
Earn 3x MR points on eligible streaming services
Earn 2x MR points on gas and transit purchases
Transfer MR points to Aeroplan, Avios, Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy, and more
Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
Monthly fee: $12.99
2. Best Non-Amex Card for Earning and Redeeming: RBC ION+ Visa Card
Here is a great card to compliment the Amex Cobalt card for all those restaurants or grocery stores that won’t take Amex. Not only does this card offer generous multipliers on range of categories, it also has no minimum income requirement and only charges a $4 monthly fee ($48 annually), making it an affordable option for everyone.
This amazing card earns Avion Premium points at the following rates:
3 Avion points per dollar spent on qualifying grocery, dining, food delivery, gas, rideshare, daily public transit, electric vehicle charging, streaming, digital gaming, and digital subscriptions
1 Avion point per dollar spent spent on all other eligible purchases
With no minimum income requirement and benefits that align with teenagers’ interests in video games, music, and digital streaming services, this makes an excellent first credit card for young adults.
The RBC® ION+ Visa earns up to 3 Avion points per dollar spent†
When it comes to the redemption side of things, Avion Premium points are more restrictive in that they can only be transferred to WestJet Rewards, or cashed out for statement credits and gift cards.
3. Best Card for Fixed-Value Points and No FX Fees: Scotiabank Gold American Express Card
Another card that has great earning rates on everyday family spending and offers flexible redemption options is the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is a great card for families who love to travel
For a reasonable $120 annual fee, you can earn the following with the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card:
6 Scene+ points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, and more†
5 Scene+ points per dollar spent on eligible grocery, dining, and entertainment purchases†
3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on eligible gas, transit, and streaming service purchases†
1 Scene+ point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases†
Scene+ is a flexible points currency that can be applied against any travel purchase at a value of 1 cent per point.†
The current welcome bonus of up to 40,000 Scene+ points† is therefore equivalent to $400 that can be used to offset travel costs on your credit card statement.† This is a great way to redeem for any hotel, vacation rental, tour, excursion, or flight booked with any vendor without needing to worry about award space availability.
With a minimum income requirement of just $12,000,† it also makes it a great starter card for your working teenager, especially if they love going to the movies and sports games, or just staying at home binging on Netflix.
Although the elevated earning rates only apply to spending within Canada, the no foreign exchange fees feature makes this a great card to use outside Canada as well. This feature will save you 2.5% on every transaction you make abroad, which can certainly add up when travelling as a family.
If you’re looking for something with wider merchant acceptance as a non-Amex card, consider getting the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card as an alternative, which also offers no foreign exchange fees.
For an annual fee of $150, you earn 2–3 Scene+ points per dollar spent on categories similar to those above, and you’ll receive six complimentary lounge visits per year through the Visa Airport Companion Program.†
Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card
Earn 20,000 Scene+ points upon spending $2,000 in the first three months
Plus, earn an additional 20,000 Scene+ points upon spending $7,500 in the first year
Earn 6x Scene+ points at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, and more
Plus, earn 5x Scene+ points on groceries, dining, and entertainment
Also, earn 3x Scene+ points on gas, transit, and select streaming services
Redeem points for a statement credit for any travel expense
No foreign transaction fees
Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
Annual fee: $120
4. Best Aeroplan Card for Family Travel: TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card has an annual fee of $139,† which is currently being rebated for the first year.† Until January 3, 2024, the card is offering a welcome bonus of up to 50,000 Aeroplan points, with a minimum spending requirement of $7,500 in the first year.†
The TD Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card is the best Aeroplan card for families
For Aeroplan perks, you’ll get preferred pricing on Aeroplan redemptions with Air Canada,† a free checked bagfor yourself and up to eight other passengers travelling with you on the same reservation,† and travel insurance on Aeroplan bookings.†
Even if your family only flies with Air Canada once per year, the free checked bag alone more than makes up for the annual fee. And if you happen to encounter any turbulence on your trip, you’d be covered by the card’s insurance offerings, too.†
The card doesn’t have 5x category earning multipliers like some of the other cards we’ve looked at already, but you’ll still earn Aeroplan points at the following rates:
1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on eligible gas, grocery, and Air Canada purchases
1 Aeroplan point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
With this card, you’ll also receive a NEXUSapplication fee rebate of up to $100 every 48 months, provided as a statement credit.†
I’ve found having NEXUS to be very beneficial for speeding through customs with my family, and with the $100 credit being almost enough for two applications (currently $50 USD each), it’s also great for helping offset that cost.
TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card
Earn 10,000 Aeroplan points† upon first purchase†
Plus, earn 15,000 Aeroplan points† upon spending $7,500 in the first 180 days of account opening†
Plus, earn an additional 15,000 Aeroplan points† on renewal when you spend $12,000 within 12 months of account opening†
Earn 1.5x Aeroplan points† on eligible gas, groceries, and Air Canada® purchases, including Air Canada Vacations®†
Preferred Aeroplan pricing and free checked bag on Air Canada® flights†
Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
Annual fee: $139 (rebated for the first year)
Offer available for applications approved on or after January 7, 2025.
5. Best Card for WestJet Perks: WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard
Currently, it has an all-time-high welcome bonus of up to $700 WestJet Dollars,† with a $119 annual fee,† and a minimum spending requirement of $5,000 in the first three months.†
If your family flies with WestJet, you should consider the WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercard
With this card, you’ll get a free checked bag for yourself and up to eight other passengers travelling with you on the same reservation,† travel insurance on WestJet Rewards bookings,† and an annual companion voucher.†
The companion voucher allows a second guest on the same itinerary to enjoy a reduced fare of $119, plus taxes and fees, between Canada and the Continental US, or $399, plus taxes, on any other WestJet itinerary.
If your family tends to travel during peak seasons, such as Spring Break or during the summer or winter holidays, the companion voucher can provide a meaningful discount when prices are otherwise high.
For a family of four, you’ll want to make sure your partner picks up one of these cards too – that way, you’ll each get a voucher to use each year.
Also, if you prefer, each companion voucher can be converted into four lounge passes to use at WestJet partner lounges, which is good for a free meal before your next flight.
WestJet RBC® World Elite Mastercardǂ
Earn 250 WestJet dollars upon making your first purchase†
Earn 200 WestJet dollars upon spending $5,000 in the first three months†
Plus, receive an annual companion voucher for discounted travel on WestJet flights, with a co-pay starting at $119 plus taxes and fees†
Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Annual fee: $119
6. Best Card for Family Lounge Access: CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
If you only travel once or twice a year, but would like the comforts of an airport lounge to take advantage of, then get the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card.
With an annual fee of $139 that’s rebated for the first year,† a current welcome bonus of up to 40,000 Aventura Points,† a NEXUS application rebate of up to $100,† and four complimentary lounge visits per year,† this card is a no-brainer for families who love to travel.
The CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card is the best card for lounge access
We mentioned earlier that the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card offers six complimentary lounge visits per year; however, it comes with a $150 annual fee that isn’t rebated in the first year. This is why the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card takes the top spot.
Most other credit cards that provide unlimited lounge access only extend access to the primary cardholder and maybe one or two guests, which often isn’t enough for families. However, both of the above-mentioned cards are exceptions and have more modest annual fees, which is great for families.
For both cards, lounge access is through the Visa Airport Companion Program, which is operated by DragonPass. You’ll need to enrol for the lounge access benefit, either through the Visa Airport Companion App or on the website.
Get four complimentary lounge passes with the CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
CIBC Aventura Points are useful in offsetting travel costs or purchasing extra flight tickets, especially in a situation where there isn’t enough award flight availability for the entire family.
You can redeem your points through Aventura’s Fixed Airline Rewards Chart, which could yield a value as high as 2.29 cents per point. Aventura Points can also be redeemed against any travel purchase made on the card at the elevated rate of 1.25 cents per point until March 31, 2024.
CIBC Aventura® Visa Infinite* Card
Earn 15,000 CIBC Aventura Points after making your first purchase†
Earn 30,000 CIBC Aventura Points after spending $3,000 in the first four monthly statement periods†
Earn 15,000 CIBC Aventura Points after spending $5,000 in the first four monthly statement periods†
Earn 2x CIBC Aventura Points on all purchases through the CIBC Rewards Centre†
Earn 1.5x CIBC Aventura Points on eligible gas, groceries, EV charging, and drugstore purchases†
Four free lounge visits per year with the Visa Airport Companion Program†
Partial NEXUS application fee credit†
Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household†
Annual fee: $139 (rebated for the first year)†
7. Best Card for Travel Insurance: National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard®
This card is great for paying taxes on any award flight redemption, as it’s one of the few cards that allows you to pay for only part of a trip and still be covered by travel insurance.
The National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard® covers your trips with insurance, even if they’re booked with points
Additionally, you can essentially keep the card for free year after year, as the $150 annual travel credit can be redeemed against travel incidentals, offsetting the card’s $150 annual fee.
The earning rates on the card are also pretty decent, and it’s one that offers a 5x earning rate. As a cardholder, you’ll earn the following:
5 À la carte Rewards points per dollar spent on groceries and dining
2 À la carte Rewards points per dollar spent on recurring bill payments and on travel booked through the À la carte Travel Agency
1 À la carte Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
For this card, the multiplier on recurring bill payments is particularly unique. It’s good to know that I can get something extra out of my huge heating, hydro, cellular, and internet bills.
This card is also another good non-Amex option for dining and groceries, given that not all vendors accept American Express.
À la carte Rewards points must be redeemed for travel through the bank’s À la carte Travel Agency at a maximum value of 1 cent per point. This makes them slightly less flexible than Scene+ points, but still a great way to book and offset travel expenses.
National Bank® World Elite® Mastercard®
Earn 5x À la carte Rewards points on grocery and restaurant spend†
Get travel insurance on award travel, as well as medical coverage on longer trips for ages up to 75†
Receive $150 in annual credits for airport parking, baggage fees, seat selection fees, lounge access, and airline ticket upgrades†
Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
Annual fee: $150
Conclusion
Credit cards can really help reduce your family’s travel costs, and can also elevate your travel experiences; however, it’s not always easy to figure out the best cards to have.
In general, I’d suggest holding both an American Express card and a non-American Express card that each have 3x–5x multipliers, a card with no foreign exchange fees, a card that provides great travel insurance on your award flight bookings, and a card that will give you lounge access.
Hopefully this post has helped you clarify which cards best meet the travel needs of your family.
In this post, we covered the cards that give you the biggest bang for your buck, but if you have airline status or higher household or business spends, then you may be able to justify getting a premium credit card with a higher annual fee – but that’s a discussion for another post.
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
If you type a domain name into a browser and it ends with a .com, .net, .org or .info, you’re typing in something called a generic Top Level Domain name. As the owner of a seven-figure dot-com gTLD (vpn.com) and as an avid entrepreneur who’s been involved in countless ultra-premium domain name transactions over the past five years, there is some expert advice I can impart to you that can help you better understand the advantages that these new domain names have to offer.
The evolution of domain names: From .com to now
First came the dot-com, back in the ’90s. Then came all the businesses and brands. Unsurprisingly, the dot-com became scarce, expensive and collectible. Over the course of about a decade, we saw the introduction of the .net extension in February of 2002, which also became scarce as time passed.
As of February 2024, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has 1450 gTLDs which are approved for sale. This growing saturation, though, doesn’t always sit well with consumers, who are still programmatically inclined to trust a .com or a .net domain over the latter due to age and trust.
What it does do, however, is open the doors to businesses that may have missed their chance on owning a three-to-five-letter, ultra-premium .com or .net, which may fetch a larger price tag in today’s domaining world than it once would have.
Why these new generic domains matter for modern businesses
One thing I like about this new batch of domains is that many are designed to align directly with the offerings of a business model. For example, .tech is great for IT-related ventures and software as a service (SaaS), whereas .shop is ideal for ecommerce, and .blog is perfect for blogging.
Even big brands have hopped on board the bandwagon. A great example of this can be found with BWM and its next100.bmw, which celebrates the next 100 years of the brand moving forward. Barclays has followed suit, too, with .barclays and even Google has .eat to reinforce SEO-friendly topics for its search engine.
The advent of these domains not only helps brands better position themselves online but also can aid in SEO due to the new availability of exact keyword match domain names that haven’t yet been gobbled up over the past 25 years of domaining.
There are numerous benefits your business can benefit from by having one:
They give you a lot more branding freedom to really capture your brand’s identity.
They’re fantastic for SEO because you can get exact keyword matches in your URLs, which helps improve trust and SEO optimization.
They offer clarity in the offerings of the brand from the get-go, most often due to the domain name (think cars.com, rent.com or my domain, VPN.com).
These domains help new businesses gain the upper hand with custom brand names that enable them to better compete in the long run; custom domain names that weren’t previously available to them until now.
They’re excellent choices for rebrands or personal brands that are seeking exact-match domain names.
Users have complete control of the domain, including cost and registration.
They’re shifting the industry by enabling businesses to go after new domain sets as the old method of regulating domain names opens doors to the demands of the future.
The challenges and considerations when choosing a new domain like this
If you’re interested in acquiring one of these domains, there are a few things to consider before you purchase:
One issue is that users place far less trust in these names as compared to a .com or a .net.
You want to consider any existing intellectual properties, including trademarks and trade names, even if that domain is available.
Ensure that your investment is future-proof by opting for a popular extension that won’t fade away as time passes.
How to make the most of new domain opportunities
With so many domains available, choosing one can be difficult. After you’ve run your searches and brainstormed, take things to another level: Run a trademark search for peace of mind. In a perfect world, you’d run a lawyer-assisted trademark search to ensure that the domain and brand name you are considering are truly available.
Consider domains that can position your brand as trustworthy.
Avoid spammy-sounding names, long names, jargon or hard-to-spell names.
Find names that align with your unique value proposition and also offer exact keyword matches for an easier time with your early days of SEO.
I have no doubts when I say this: gTLDs are one of the coolest and most exciting things to happen since .net dropped in the early 2000s. They don’t come without their fair share of challenges, though, and just because something is available doesn’t always mean that it will make sense for your brand or business needs.
In reality, these newly available domain names offer a world of untapped potential and opportunity — something that is especially true for brokers like me, who love to buy, collect, trade and sell all sorts of domains daily. From a branding perspective, they are pure gold that can alleviate the costly spend of acquiring an ultra-premium domain instead, albeit at the loss of perceived consumer trust in the process.
In the end, they are a viable expansion of the growing dot-com multiverse that shouldn’t be overlooked!
Teleperformance, the world’s largest call center operator, is relying on artificial intelligence technology to “neutralize” the accents of English-speaking Indian customer service agents in real time — an innovation that the company claims will enhance clarity and improve customer interactions.
The new feature, known as accent translation, is being introduced at call centers in India, where employees provide support for some of Teleperformance’s international clients, according to Bloomberg News.
This AI-driven solution, developed by the Palo Alto-based startup Sanas, works alongside background noise cancellation technology to improve call quality.
Teleperformance, the world’s largest call center operator, is relying on artificial intelligence technology to modify the accents of English-speaking Indian customer service agents in real time. João Macedo – stock.adobe.com
Teleperformance, which serves major corporations such as Apple, TikTok parent company ByteDance and Samsung, has invested $13 million in Sanas and secured exclusive rights to resell the technology.
“When you have an Indian agent on the line, sometimes it’s hard to hear, to understand,” Teleperformance Deputy Chief Executive Officer Thomas Mackenbrock told Bloomberg News.
The technology can “neutralize the accent of the Indian speaker with zero latency,” he explained.
According to Mackenbrock, this adjustment fosters a closer connection between customers and agents, boosts satisfaction, and shortens call durations — creating a “win-win for both parties.”
Teleperformance has not disclosed which of its clients are currently using the technology.
However, the adoption of accent translation is part of a larger corporate strategy to expand AI integration.
The new feature, known as accent translation, is being introduced at call centers in India. Getty Images
The company has committed to investing up to $104 million in AI collaborations this year, as outlined in its latest earnings report.
The rapid advancement of AI-powered chatbots has raised concerns about the future of human-operated call centers.
Last year, Teleperformance’s stock took a hit after Swedish fintech company Klarna Bank announced that its AI assistant, powered by OpenAI, was performing the equivalent work of 700 full-time employees.
In response, Teleperformance has emphasized its approach of using AI to enhance, rather than replace, human employees.
The company employs 490,000 people worldwide as of the end of 2023 and is also leveraging AI to train new hires and monitor call quality.
Sanas, the startup behind the accent-moderation technology, is at the forefront of AI innovations that blur the line between machine-generated enhancements and human interactions.
Teleperformance serves major corporations such as Apple, TikTok parent company ByteDance and Samsung. JHVEPhoto – stock.adobe.com
The software not only modifies speech patterns but also filters out disruptive background noises such as office chatter, sirens, or even crowing roosters.
While the technology may improve efficiency, it raises concerns about its impact on global customer service hubs like the Philippines, which has built a strong industry reputation based on its highly proficient English-speaking workforce.
Critics also argue that accent neutralization could diminish cultural identity and authenticity in customer interactions.
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Sanas asserts that its technology was developed with the goal of “reducing accent-based discrimination.”
Currently available for Indian and Filipino accents, the software is being adjusted to accommodate other regions, including Latin America, where Teleperformance has a significant workforce serving US-based customers.
“AI will be ubiquitous, it is already today,” Mackenbrock noted.
“But in order to build connections, customer experience, branding awareness, the human element will be incredibly important.”
The image above shows employees at a Teleperformance call center in Hyderabad. Teleperformance
Despite skepticism surrounding AI’s role in call centers, Teleperformance’s strategy appears to be bearing fruit.
The company projects revenue growth of 3% to 5% this year.
In the fourth quarter, it reported earnings of $2.68 billion, reflecting a 12% increase from the previous year or 4% on a pro forma basis.
Meanwhile, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski recently weighed in on the debate over AI’s impact on the workforce.
In a post on X, he remarked that his company had a newfound appreciation for human employees, stating that “in a world of AI, nothing will be as valuable as humans.”
While Klarna intends to continue investing in AI-driven support, Siemiatkowski pledged to use cost savings to enhance the company’s human-operated services.
Looking ahead, Teleperformance is expanding its footprint in the AI industry by providing essential services to tech companies developing AI models.
“Whether it is OpenAI, or any AI model in the world, it needs human support for training,” Mackenbrock said, noting that this includes tasks such as data creation, testing, and labeling.
Former CBS investigative reporter Catherine Herridge has gone public with pics showing just how egregious her bosses’ attempted seizure of her files on Hunter Biden’s crimes and COVID-19’s origins was.
Stack upon stack of documents. Four large boxes of files and notebooks and other records.
All emphasizing her status as the paradigmatic example of Biden-era media censorship.
Fired CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge reveals her confiscated investigative files. X/Catherine Herridge
Herridge, a veteran investigative reporter, joined CBS in 2019;in October 2020, after getting access to Hunter Biden’s laptop, she dug up damning details from it including the massive retainer Hunter was paid by a shady Chinese energy firm.
She went to her bosses with the find; in a sane world, they would have been thrilled and rushed to air before they could be scooped.
Instead, CBS never aired her reporting.
And then the network sent Lesley Stahl out to publicly cast doubt on the 100% real and verified laptop material.
Not content with this effort to help Joe win in 2020, CBS later fired Herridge and seized her records in what was clearly a desperate attempt to make sure no one ever saw the goods she’d gotten (and the network had suppressed) on the Biden Mafia.
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Herridge pushed back and won; the incident prompted a congressional hearing on press freedoms and the danger the Biden administration and its media lackeys presented to them.
That she had the courage to fight back is important and should serve as an example to others.
Because it’s clear that CBS has not remotely changed its ways.
Just witness the “60 Minutes” fiasco around Kamala Harris.
The chronically addled then-VP went on the show to do a puffball interview about her presidential campaign; as is her way, she delivered inane, incomprehensible, word-salad answers — which CBS then tried to cover for with painstaking editing, prompting a massive lawsuit from now-President Trump.
There’s some small evidence that lefty media lapdogs have been shamed or scared out of overt political comissarism like that.
But as Trump’s second term unfolds, expect more dirty tricks — larded over with a bit more subterfuge.
The FTSE 250 index is a popular hunting ground for growth investors. What attracts less attention is the index’s ability to provide a solid and growing passive income.
This is a bit of an oversight, in my opinion. After all, at 3.4%, the FTSE 250’s forward dividend yield is roughly in line with the FTSE 100 average of 3.5%.
Today, I’m looking for some of the FTSE 250‘s best high-yield dividend shares to consider. And I’ve come across the following:
As you can see, the dividend yields on these mid-caps sail comfortably past the index average. It means that someone who invested £20,000 equally across them today could — if broker forecasts prove accurate — generate £1,220 in passive income alone.
Green machine
Green energy stocks like Greencoat UK Wind play a critical role in Britain’s long-term energy policy. And the government’s making it easier for stocks like this to do business.
Last Friday (21 February), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero announced further changes to the planning system, this time relaxing planning consent rules for fixed-bottom offshore wind.
This provides added opportunities for the likes of Greencoat by speeding up new wind farm delivery. By 2030, the government hopes to have 70-79 GW of onshore and offshore wind farm capacity. That’s more than double current levels.
Energy producers like Greencoat UK offer significant benefits to dividend investors. Profits and cash flows remain stable across the economic cycle, allowing them to provide a reliable long-term passive income.
Purchasing UK- or European-focused renewable energy shares could be a safer bet than buying those with US operations, given changing energy policy under President Trump. In fact, the likes of Greencoat could benefit from changes in the States by making it cheaper and easier to source wind power technology.
That’s not to say adverse political changes could be coming down the line later on. But until 2029 at least and the next general election, the trading landscape should, in my view, remain largely favourable.
Hear it roar
Lion Finance — which until this month traded as Bank of Georgia — is currently more vulnerable to political conditions at home. Its earnings could be negatively impacted if civil disorder persists in its core Georgian market. On top of this, the government’s choice between pivoting toward Europe or Russia will also have substantial long-term consequences.
But all things considered, I believe Lion can expect profits to continue rising strongly. A blend of Georgia’s booming economy and low product banking product penetration gives the company significant scope to continue growing earnings and dividends.
Latest financials on Tuesday (25 February) showed adjusted profits in Georgia leap 20.6% in 2024, driven by growth of 19.3% in its loan book. This encouraged it to raise the annual dividend by a hefty 12.5% year on year.
With a strong balance sheet, I expect Lion to keep paying large cash rewards in 2025, even in the unlikely event that earnings begin to weaken. Its CET1 capital ratio was 17.1% in December, far ahead of popular UK banking shares like Lloyds and Barclays.
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Spice up your appetizer game with Cajun Crab Dip! Packed with tender crab meat, bold Cajun seasoning, and a luscious, creamy base. This dip is irresistibly rich and full of flavor. Serve this at your next gathering with your favorite crispy crackers!
Reason You’ll Love This Recipe
Bold & Flavorful: You will love the combination of cajun spices, creaminess, and flaky crab for the perfect kick.
Quick & Easy: Simple ingredients and just 5 minutes of prep make this Cajun crab dip a breeze to whip up.
This cajun crab dip recipe is one of the easiest dips you can make! With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep, you can have a creamy, flavorful, perfect appetizer ready in no time. Simply mix everything together and serve! You can even make it ahead of time and let it chill until your event!
Make the Creamy Base: Add the cream cheese, mayo, and sour cream to a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth.
Mix in the Flavorings: Add the green onion, lemon juice, Cajun seasoning, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce and mix until combined.
Stir in the Crab and Serve: Add the drained crab and mix until combined. Taste and add more Cajun seasoning or hot sauce if you want it spicier and to your preference. Transfer to a serving bowl, then serve with your choice of crackers or crusty bread.
Cajun Crab Dip Tips and Variations
This delicious seafood dip is super easy to switch up and make it how you like. Here are some ideas to get you started.
UseRoom Temp Cream Cheese! I highly recommend you use room-temperature cream cheese for the smoothest, creamiest dip. I like to set it on the counter for up to 2 hours before I prepare the dip to allow it to soften.
How well do I need to drain the crab? Drain the crab very well! Otherwise, the dip may end up soupy. I used the lid of the can to press down on the crab while it was still in the can until no more liquid would come out. If it’s still dripping liquid when you squeeze it, it’s not drained well enough!
Can I Use Imitation Crab Meat? You can substitute canned crab for imitation crab if you would like! Shred it well, chop it into fine pieces, and use it in place of the canned crab.
Make it spicy! Add more hot sauce to spice up the cajun crab dip to your liking.
How to Store Leftover Crab Dip
Cajun crab dip stores beautifully, making it perfect for enjoying over several days. The flavors meld together even more over time, so this easy appetizer will taste even better the next day!
In the Refrigerator: Store in the fridge in an airtight container or covered tightly with plastic wrap for up to 5 days.
Make Ahead: You can prepare this cajun crab dip beforehand, as long as it is served and discarded after the 5th day.
More Easy Dip Recipes
If you love how simple and delicious cajun crab dip is, you’ll definitely want to try my other favorite easy dip recipes! These are perfect for parties, game days, or just snacking at home. Here are a few more to try next!
