Into the flame trench Rocket Report: Next Starship flight to reuse booster; FAA clears New Glenn "The first Super Heavy reuse will be a step towards our goal of zero-touch reflight." Eric Berger Apr 4, 2025 7:00 am | 6 SpaceX tests a Super Heavy booster that previously launched in January. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX tests a Super Heavy booster that previously launched in January. Credit: SpaceX Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreWelcome to Edition 7.38 of the Rocket Report! SpaceX test fired a Super Heavy booster that launched in January on Thursday, in South Texas. This sets up the possibility of a reused Super Heavy rocket launching within the next several weeks, and would be an important step forward in the Starship launch program. It's also a bold step given that there is a lot riding on this Starship launch, given that the last two have failed due to propulsion issues with the rocket's upper stage.As always, we welcome reader submissions, and if you don't want to miss an issue, please subscribe using the box below (the form will not appear on AMP-enabled versions of the site). Each report will include information on small-, medium-, and heavy-lift rockets as well as a quick look ahead at the next three launches on the calendar.European commercial launch industry joins the space race. The first flight of Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket didn't last long on Sunday, Ars reports. The booster's nine engines switched off as the rocket cartwheeled upside-down and fell a short distance from its Arctic launch pad in Norway, ending the abbreviated test flight with a spectacular, fiery crash into the sea. However, it marked the beginning of something new in Europe as commercial startups begin launching rockets.Learning to embrace failure ... Isar Aerospace, based in Germany, was the first in a crop of new European rocket companies to attempt an orbital launch. Isar is one of a half-dozen or so European launch startups that could fly their orbital-class rockets in the next couple of years. Of this group, Isar has raised the most money, reporting more than 400 million euros ($430 million) of fundraising, primarily from venture capital sources. We are looking forward to the European launch industry heating up after a long period of development.PLD Space signs launch agreement with D-Orbit. The Spanish launch company, PLD Space, announced an agreement this week with an Italy-based space transportation company, D-Orbit. As part of the agreement, D-Orbit's ION orbital transfer vehicle will launch on PLD Space's forthcoming rocket, the Miura 5. Although the announcement did not specify terms of the agreement, PLD Space said it has now filled "more than 80 percent" of the launch slots on its manifest until 2027.Waiting on the rocket ... The ION vehicle, essentially a dispenser of CubeSats, has previously flown several missions. The real question, therefore, concerns the readiness of the Miura 5 small rocket. PLD Space said it is currently ramping up serial production for the Miura 5 using technology from a prototype rocket, with the aim of starting its test flight campaign by the end of 2025. Commercial flights of Miura 5 could begin in 2026 with the objective of scaling up to 30 launches per year by 2030. We shall see about that. The Ars Technica Rocket Report The easiest way to keep up with Eric Berger's and Stephen Clark's reporting on all things space is to sign up for our newsletter. We'll collect their stories and deliver them straight to your inbox.Sign Me Up!China shooting for record number of launches. Early on Tuesday morning, a Long March 2D rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, Space News reports. The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a state-owned rocket maker, announced the success of the launch, revealing the payload to be a satellite Internet technology test satellite. Tuesdays mission was Chinas 17th orbital launch of 2025, following the launch of the classified TJS-16 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit on March 29 via a Long March 7A rocket.Shooting for a century ... This puts the country on pace to launch 68 rockets for the year. This is in line with China's total orbital launches for each of the last three years (64, 67, and 68 launches respectively). However, Chinese space watcher Andrew Jones believes the country may attempt to go as high as 100 launches this year. This would be driven by growing commercial activity, megaconstellation projects, and new launcher development. A number of new, medium-lift and potentially reusable rockets are targeting debut flights this year, he reports.Falcon 9 launches first crewed polar mission. Four adventurers suited up and embarked on a first-of-a-kind trip to space Monday night, becoming the first humans to fly in polar orbit aboard a SpaceX crew capsule chartered by a Chinese-born cryptocurrency billionaire, Ars reports. Chun Wang, born in China and now a citizen of Malta, paid SpaceX an undisclosed sum for the opportunity to fly to space and bring three hand-picked crewmates along with him. He named his mission Fram2 in honor of the Norwegian exploration ship Fram used for polar expeditions at the turn of the 20th century.Rocket follows an unusual trajectory ... The Falcon 9 rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center. However, instead of heading to the northeast in pursuit of the International Space Station, the Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft departed Launch Complex 39A and arced to the southeast, then turned south on a flight path hugging Florida's east coast. The unusual trajectory aligned the Falcon 9 with a perfectly polar orbit at an inclination of 90 degrees to the equator, bringing the four-person crew directly over the North or South Pole every 45 minutes. They are the first humans to orbit over the poles.Amazon targets April 9 for first Kuiper launch. As soon as next week, Amazon plans to send 27 of its satellites into low Earth orbit on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, Spaceflight Now reports. Launch is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, during a three-hour window that opens at noon EDT (16:00 UTC). "We've done extensive testing on the ground to prepare for this first mission, but there are some things you can only learn in flight, and this will be the first time we've flown our final satellite design and the first time we've deployed so many satellites at once," said Rajeev Badyal, vice president of Project Kuiper.Heaviest mission launched by an Atlas ... This will be the first mission by United Launch Alliance of this year, and the company's first in nearly half a year. But officials say that will change soon. In a February interview with Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs, said that the upcoming launch for Amazon, dubbed Kuiper 1 by ULA and Kuiper Atlas 1 (KA-01) by Amazon, was the first of many planned for the year. "We have quite a few Kuiper Atlases planned this year, as well as Kuiper Vulcans," Wentz said. Atlas can carry 27 Kuiper satellites, and Vulcans can loft 45.SpaceX tests previously flown Super Heavy booster. SpaceX is having trouble with Starship's upper stage after back-to-back failures, but engineers are making remarkable progress with the rocket's enormous booster. The most visible sign of SpaceX making headway with Starship's first stagecalled Super Heavycame at 9:40 am local time (10:40 am EDT; 14:40 UTC) Thursday at the company's Starbase launch site in South Texas. With an unmistakable blast of orange exhaust, SpaceX fired up a Super Heavy booster that has already flown to the edge of space. The burn lasted approximately eight seconds, Ars reports.Rocket will fly on next Starship test ... This was the first time SpaceX has test-fired a "flight-proven" Super Heavy booster, and it paves the way for this particular rocketdesignated Booster 14to fly again soon. A reflight of Booster 14, which previously launched and returned to Earth in January, will happen on the next Starship launch, SpaceX confirmed Thursday. "This booster previously launched and returned on Flight 7 and 29 of its 33 Raptor engines are flight proven," the company said. "The first Super Heavy reuse will be a step towards our goal of zero-touch reflight." It is a legitimately and characteristically bold decision to refly a Starship booster on a test flight that SpaceX really needs to succeed. The next test may come late this month or more likely in May.FAA closes big rocket mishap investigations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closed mishap investigations into both the SpaceX Starship flight and Blue Origin New Glenn debut that both took place on Jan. 16, Via Satellite reports. Although the FAA closed the mishap investigation regarding the January 16 Starship flight, the rocket is still grounded because there is still an open mishap investigation into the following March 7 flight. "There were no public injuries and one confirmed report of minor vehicle damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands," the FAA said in a statement on the January 16 flight.New Glenn closed out as well ... The FAA also completed its mishap investigation of Blue Origins first New Glenn flight, which successfully deployed Blue Origins own space logistics vehicle Blue Ring. Blue Origin failed to recover the first stage booster, which triggered the mishap investigation. The first stage was not able to restart its engines, which prevented the reentry burn from occurring and caused the loss of the stage. Blue Origin has identified seven corrective actions, and the FAA will verify those have been implemented before the second mission. Blue Origin is targeting a return to flight in late spring and will attempt to land the booster again.Artemis II one step closer to launch. The four astronauts who will fly on board NASA's Artemis II mission unveiled the patch for their historic flight on Thursday. The four astronauts who will be the first to fly to the Moon under NASAs Artemis campaignCommander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from Canadahave designed an emblem to represent their mission that references both their distant destination and the home they will return to, the space agency said. It looks great!Here's what it means ... "This patch designates the mission as AII, signifying not only the second major flight of the Artemis campaign, but also an endeavor of discovery that seeks to explore for all and by all. Framed in Apollo 8s famous Earthrise photo, the scene of the Earth and the Moon represents the dual nature of human spaceflight, both equally compelling: The Moon represents our exploration destination, focused on discovery of the unknown. The Earth represents home, focused on the perspective we gain when we look back at our shared planet and learn what it is to be uniquely human. The orbit around Earth highlights the ongoing exploration missions that have enabled Artemis to set sights on a long-term presence on the Moon and soon, Mars."Next three launchesApril 4: Falcon 9 | Starlink 11-13 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. | 01:02 UTCApril 6: Falcon 9 | Starlink 6-72 | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla. | 02:40 UTCApril 7: Falcon 9 | Starlink 11-11 | Vandenberg Space Force Base, California | 21:35 UTCEric BergerSenior Space EditorEric BergerSenior Space Editor Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 6 Comments

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorApril 4, 20255 Min ReadIngram Publishing via Alamy Stock PhotoInnovations arrive at a rapid pace. To stay on top of the latest promising breakthroughs -- and weed out the flops -- IT leaders must create and staff innovation projects. Yet when working with limited resources (and which IT leader isn't?), it's important to find a way to prioritize initiatives.Start by mapping each project to a specific business goal or customer need -- this ensures real impact, advises Rohan Sharma, a former innovation team leader at scientific instrumentation firm Thermo Fisher Scientific and now an independent author and lecturer. "Next, weigh key factors such as ROI, resource availability, and risk tolerance," he recommends in an email interview. "Finally, create a transparent scoring or ranking system so everyone understands why certain projects come first."Sharma says this approach forces discipline. "Instead of running with the coolest idea, youre aligning with strategy and measurable outcomes," he explains. "It also demystifies decision-making for your team, reinforcing trust and focus."Risks and RewardsA reliable way to prioritize innovation projects is to weigh each initiative's risks and rewards, suggests Nick Esposito, founder of NYCServers, which specializes in hosting services for fintech and trading platforms. "It's about looking at the potential impact, how doable the project is, and whether it fits with the companys long-term goals," he says in an online interview.Related:Esposito notes that projects with a potentially high financial or competitive reward are generally worth prioritizing -- just as long as the risks remain manageable. Don't forget to consider the project's time-sensitivity and whether it can be completed on schedule, he adds. "By focusing on projects that offer the biggest benefits with reasonable risks, organizations can get the most out of their innovation efforts."Innovative ApproachesPrateek Shrivastava, advanced analytics manager at engine and power-generation manufacturer Cummins, says his team relies on what he calls "The WIZGIF Method," an abbreviation of "What Is the Goal in Focus?" "This approach ensures that every project is evaluated based on its alignment with the overarching business goal," he explains in an online interview. "By breaking down priorities into clear, actionable criteria -- such as business impact, strategic alignment, feasibility, and required resources -- it creates a structured framework for decision-making."Shrivastava believes that his WIZGIF method is effective, since it forces clarity and alignment from the outset. "By keeping the business goal in sharp focus, it minimizes distractions and ensures that all efforts are contributing to the organizations strategic objectives," he states. "This approach fosters collaboration and transparency while keeping teams agile in responding to evolving needs."Related:Benjamin Atkinson, innovation director at CNA Insurance, takes an alternate position. He feels that project prioritization should be generally avoided. "When we talk of innovation, we're usually talking about problem-solving in a complex adaptive system," he says via email. "We simply can't know in advance which ideas will succeed -- picking winning ideas is a loser's game."If leaders want successful ideas, they must provide their teams with a clear direction, a clearly defined problem space, and known constraints, Atkinson says. "If leaders take the time to do this, they will have created a magnet for good ideas."Seeking SupportSharma says cross-functional peers in areas such as finance, operations, and product teams, are the best innovation allies. "They offer diverse viewpoints on feasibility, budget, and timing," he explains. "Tapping into an executive sponsor can also help keep priorities aligned with the bigger organizational picture."Related:Working closely with cross-functional teams, including business analysts, finance departments, and product managers, can provide a clear understanding of a projects feasibility and potential value, Esposito says. External consultants and other industry experts can also offer valuable insights, especially when exploring new or unfamiliar technologies. "Collaborating with these resources ensures a comprehensive view of market trends, technological advancements, and business needs to inform decisions."Sharma says the biggest mistake project leaders make is spreading resources too thinly or chasing "shiny objects" without any clear business alignment. Meanwhile, trying to focus on everything at once guarantees mediocre results across the board, he adds.Parting ThoughtsDon't consider any new project without first establishing a solid prioritization framework. "A strong prioritization framework is a living process, not a one-off exercise," Sharma says. "Keep refining it based on feedback and results," he advises. "Additionally, by embracing ongoing learning, you'll cultivate a culture that values both innovative thinking and practical execution."Prioritization is not a one-time activity -- it's a continuous process that requires alignment, evaluation, and adaptability, Shrivastava says. "Methods like WIZGIF are valuable because they provide a consistent framework to revisit priorities, make dynamic adjustments, and ensure that resources are always directed toward maximum value creation."About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

Is it time to consider a new IT specialty like automation engineering?Jobs site Indeed defines an automation engineer as someone who will search for ways to simplify activities for employees, consumers and companies by automating specific systems and manufacturing processes, like store checkouts or assembly lines. These individuals work alongside IT and department managers to develop automation plans and then implement automation into business processes.They use programming languages like Java, C# and Python, and they know how to work with machine actuators and sensors. Most importantly, they possess expertise in the application areas they are asked to automate. In other words, a retail automation expert might have skills in how to automate grocery checkout lines in stores, but they might not know much about how to automate a manufacturing company's assembly line.In the area of robotics, many of the skills needed for automation engineers carry over for robotics engineers. A primary difference is that a robotics engineer is working on a robot. The goal is to program the robot with the necessary instructions for it to fit into an existing business process.Examples of how working robots are used include programming a robot so it can enter a nuclear facility to perform maintenance, or activating a warehouse robot that can store, pick, and deliver parts from bins throughout the warehouse while successfully navigating around obstacles on the floor.Related:Robotics engineers use languages like C and C# and they commonly work on Linux platforms and must be familiar with the technologies of the particular robotics vendors they are using.Automation and robotics engineers are in high demand in business, although it costs considerably more to recruit an automation engineer (mid-100,000s salary range) than it is to hire a robotics engineer (the mid-point salary is around $80,000/year).Where Do These Engineers Report?Robotics and automation engineers must have the ability to cross-communicate with different departments when they implement solutions. They also need a thorough understanding of the different enterprise systems where the automation or robotics technologies will be deployed. Its not much of a stretch to see that many of the system knowledge and cross-communicational requirements are exactly what one would find resident with an IT business analyst. The difference is that an automation or robotics engineer would have greater skills in programming, and in working with various mechanical and electronic interfaces.Related:As a CIO, I once had a project that required automation between our engineering CAD design database and the parts inventory, bill of material and work order systems on the manufacturing floor. There were too may disconnects between engineering and manufacturing. We wanted to eliminate this by integrating and automating information flows between the CAD system and the manufacturing systems.Engineering was running a standalone CAD system on an entirely different platform from what manufacturing was using to run its bills of material, inventory, and work orders.The initial decision was for IT to take the lead in this integration-automation project because IT touched all systems (except for engineerings standalone CAD system). However, we found out quickly that engineering didnt want to relinquish any control of its CAD systems for the automation project.We solved this by teaming an engineer from engineering with a programmer-analyst from IT and a manufacturing engineer from, and we got the project done. It wasnt the easiest project that we ever did.Can IT Avoid Getting Involved?That project with engineering, manufacturing and IT came early in my CIO career, and I learned quickly that automation projects have many different pieces, engage many different departments, and can quickly become as politically charged as they are technically challenging.Related:Ive talked to several other CIOs about how to get past politics. Some are more than happy to just have the departments that want to automate retain their own consultants or hire in the people -- and do the work themselves -- but Ive seldom seen this work. Why? Because invariably, the consultant or the engineer that a department brings in has a question about how to integrate with other enterprise systems that IT manages.One way or another, IT will be involved.Is There a Best Approach?From personal experience and from conversations Ive had with other managers, an optimal approach to automation and robotics when IT works with engineering-oriented departments such as manufacturing, is to place the automation or robotics engineer in the engineering or manufacturing areas. Then the engineers can be savvy on the departments business processes as well as on the automation and robotics technologies that are needed. In this scenario, IT would be assisting primarily in system integration.However, if the company is in finance, healthcare, retail, or other non-engineering-oriented businesses, its likely that IT might be the best destination for a robotics or automation engineer, because the user departments wont have the necessary skillset.In all cases, automation and robotics projects require strong collaboration and cooperation between departments and IT. In this way, everyone can be assured that they are moving into each project with a complete and comprehensive knowledge base of the business, the systems, and what they want to automate.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. Trumps tariffs will deliver a big blow to climate tech US president Donald Trumps massive, sweeping tariffs sent global stock markets tumbling yesterday, setting the stage for a worldwide trade war and ratcheting up the dangers of a punishing recession. Experts fear that the US cleantech sector is especially vulnerable to a deep downturn, which would undermine progress on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. Read the full story.James TempleCyberattacks by AI agents are coming Agents are the talk of the AI industrytheyre capable of planning, reasoning, and executing complex tasks like scheduling meetings, ordering groceries, or even taking over your computer to change settings on your behalf. But the same sophisticated abilities that make agents helpful assistants could also make them powerful tools for conducting cyberattacks. They could readily be used to identify vulnerable targets, hijack their systems, and steal valuable data from unsuspecting victims. At present, cybercriminals are not deploying AI agents to hack at scale. But researchers have demonstrated that agents are capable of executing complex attacks, and cybersecurity experts warn that we should expect to start seeing these types of attacks spilling over into the real worldand soon. Read the full story.Rhiannon WilliamsThe must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Did the Trump administration use AI to calculate its new tariffs? It appears to use an oversimplified calculation several major chatbots recommend. (The Verge)+ The economically-flawed formula has shocked analysts. (FT $)+ The severe tariffs may harm Americas data center ambitions. (Reuters)2 The EU is preparing to slap X with major financial penalties Even if it risks provoking Elon Musks ire. (NYT $)3 Googles tech will be used to surveil the US-Mexico border As part of plans to upgrade the virtual wall between the countries. (The Intercept)+ The number of illegal border crossings hit a record low last month. (Semafor)4 Hurricane season is set to be busier than usual Forecasters are predicting at least 17 tropical storms and four major hurricanes. (WP $)+ They arent as confident about this early forecast as they were last year. (CNN)+ Heres what we know about hurricanes and climate change. (MIT Technology Review)5 Myanmars internet shutdown is thwarting aid efforts Aid and rescue workers are struggling to help people caught up in its recent devastating earthquake. (Rest of World)6 Google is yet to publish safety reports for its latest AI modelsIt appears to be launching models faster than it can publicly verify their safety. (TechCrunch) 7 Online influencing has a major gender pay gapAlthough the majority of content creators are female, they earn less per collaboration than their male counterparts. (Fast Company $) + Why cant tech fix its gender problem? (MIT Technology Review)8 How to make solar panels on the moonMoon dust could help to power future lunar bases. (New Scientist $) + Nokia is putting the first cellular network on the moon. (MIT Technology Review) 9 The economy may be collapsing, but at least the memes are good Social media is bringing the lols in uncertain times. (NY Mag $)10 Bonobos communicate in similar ways to humans The great apes combine basic sound into larger structuresjust like us. (Ars Technica)+ How machine learning is helping us probe the secret names of animals. (MIT Technology Review)Quote of the day There will be blood. Bruce Kasman, JPMorgan's chief global economist, is not optimistic about Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy, Insider reports. The big story The weeds are winning October 2024 Since the 1980s, more and more plants have evolved to become immune to the biochemical mechanisms that herbicides leverage to kill them. This herbicidal resistance threatens to decrease yieldsout-of-control weeds can reduce them by 50% or more, and extreme cases can wipe out whole fields. At worst, it can even drive farmers out of business. Its the agricultural equivalent of antibiotic resistance, and it keeps getting worse. Weeds have evolved resistance to 168 different herbicides and 21 of the 31 known modes of action, which means the specific biochemical target or pathway a chemical is designed to disrupt. Agriculture needs to embrace a diversity of weed control practices. But thats much easier said than done. Read the full story. Douglas Main We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.)+ Sweet Moroccan flatbreads sound like a fantastic way to start the day.+ Val Kilmer was more than just a heartthrobhe was a really great actor too.+ Drop everything: theres an uncut version of the White Lotus series three theme.+ All aboard the giant almond car!

The new jobs report released Friday showed employment changes in March. Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 2025-04-04T12:35:44Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The US economy added 228,000 jobs in March, exceeding the forecast.The unemployment rate surprisingly increased to 4.2%.Confidence in the job market and the economy has fallen.The US economy added 228,000 jobs in March, far surpassing the forecast, and unemployment unexpectedly jumped.Job growth was expected to be 137,000, and the unemployment rate was expected to hold steady at 4.1%. Unemployment instead rose to 4.2%, and has consistently been at least 4% for almost a year.Federal government employment fell by 4,000 in March. DOGE and its unofficial leader Elon Musk have pushed for large-scale federal employment cuts, with a wave of terminations for probationary workers, who were in their roles for only a short period of time, coming in February and early March.However, a court ruling put a hold on many of those cuts, and the bulk of those workers remain in legal limbo.Agencies have begun developing more extensive plans to reduce the size of their workforces. Thousands of workers at agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to see their jobs cut; terminations started Tuesday.Workers at other agencies are bracing for what's next. Federal government cuts will likely affect the overall job counts in future releases.Americans have been losing confidence in the US economy, adding to an emerging vibecession amid a cooling but still fairly strong labor market.University of Michigan data shows consumer sentiment has declined for the year's first three months. The Conference Board's Present Situation Index, which is based on what people think about business and job market conditions, took a hit, data up to March shows. Consumers aren't feeling great about what's to come, either."Consumers' expectations were especially gloomy, with pessimism about future business conditions deepening and confidence about future employment prospects falling to a 12-year low," Stephanie Guichard, senior economist for global indicators at The Conference Board, said.The Federal Reserve uses labor market data as a key input for its interest rate decisions. Fed chair Jerome Powell said in a press conference on March 19 after the Federal Open Market Committee decided to hold interest rates steady that unemployment "remains low and has held in a narrow range for the past year," and wage growth is surpassing inflation.The next scheduled interest rate decision is in May, meaning plenty more data about economic activity will be available before the Committee makes its next call. CME FedWatch, which estimates the likelihood of future Fed moves based on market trades, shows the chance of rates holding steady or being cut in May is roughly a coin toss.Powell said in the March press conference after the interest rate decision that the administration is making big changes to trade, immigration, fiscal policy, and regulation and is uncertain about what this will mean for the economy. Trump announced on April 2 his latest tariff plans, which could mean consumers could soon face higher prices."We do not need to be in a hurry to adjust our policy stance, and we are well-positioned to wait for greater clarity," Powell said.This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.Recommended video

I traveled around Europe for a year to find the best European city to live in. Fleurine Tideman 2025-04-04T12:27:01Z SaveSaved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? At the end of 2023, I decided to travel around Europe to find a new place to call home.I visited cities in Spain, Greece, and the UK before settling in the perfect spot.I've now been living in London for a few months, and couldn't be happier with my move.By the time I turned 18, I'd lived in four different countries England, Kuwait, China, and the United Arab Emirates.Sparked by my desire to live in one place and the draw of reasonable university fees I moved to my "home country" of the Netherlands, where my parents were from but I'd never lived before.For almost 10 years, I lived there and ignored the growing sense of restlessness within me. However, I couldn't say I was truly happy.Knowing it was time for a change, I decided to start thinking about moving somewhere else.So, at the end of 2023, I gave up my apartment, stored my belongings in my mom's basement, and decided to travel the world to find my new home.I started my journey in Spain Xbia, Spain, is a beautiful coastal town. Fleurine Tideman My first stop was Xbia, Spain, a coastal town where I spent five weeks petsitting a red lab in a stunning house overlooking the ocean.Here, I saw what it would be like to live somewhere I could spend my weekends at the beach or hiking. I loved being in a place with an abundance of sunshine, but ultimately, it didn't feel like home. So, I decided to move on to my next destination. Next, I spent two weeks in BelfastI had never visited Northern Ireland before, and I immediately fell in love with the country's dynamic energy. I loved the comedy clubs, cozy pubs, and history lining the streets.However, I felt like something was missing, and didn't find enough variety in the restaurant scene to satisfy my cravings. So, I continued my search.I headed to Kythira, an island in Greece I spent two weeks in Kythira, Greece. Gatsi/Getty Images Every year, my friends and I take a two-week vacation to a different Greek island.So, when we traveled to Kythira, I was curious to see if it was a place I'd want to call home.I pictured spending a year on the sandy beaches with the sun shining down on me. After a long day of work, I could even take a dip in the ocean.However, after talking to locals, I learned the island was pretty empty outside the summer season. So, I realized I'd always be chasing that summer holiday feeling.After struggling to find a place that felt like home, I decided to return to the country I was born in I stayed in a small village in Bedfordshire for three weeks. SuxxesPhoto/Shutterstock After several misses, I decided to try England, the place where I was born and lived until I was three. However, I'd only visited a few times in the years since.I spent three weeks dogsitting in a small village in Bedfordshire, which is north of London. The idyllic countryside beckoned me, with long walks in the forest, Sunday roasts in the same pub, and evenings spent reading in the garden.I yearned for this tranquil existence, but recognized it wasn't time for me to live this type of lifestyle yet. With my isolating work and single status, finding my people in such a small village would be hard. Cambridge was beautiful, but it wasn't the right fit for me. Anna Mente/Shutterstock So, I decided to try two weeks in Cambridge, a city I'd heard so much about. I loved working in various cafes, visiting museums on weekends, and meeting people my age.However, Cambridge is a student city at its core, which didn't feel right for where I was at during this part of my life.I finally ended up settling in the perfect city I fell in love with London while watching my sister's dog. Fleurine Tideman Finally, I spent a month in London when my sister asked me to watch her pomsky.I assumed the expensive, busy, and overwhelmingly gray city wasn't for me based on previous short visits. However, during this trip I got to see another side of London.I loved the large parks that made me forget I was in a city, the dazzling theater scene, and the cozy cafs where I could type away without feeling lonely.I grabbed coffee with fellow journalists I met online and recognized a potential community. Because London is a highly populated city, I felt like I had the best chance of finding my tribe something I'd been missing for the past few years.After a few months in London, I couldn't be happierI've been in London for a few months now, and still feel like I'm trying to find my feet. However, I'm slowly building a community and even reached out to high school friends who ended up in London after university.I always visit the same local caf, where I sit with my laptop and a dirty chai at least twice a week. I avoid crowded areas like Soho and Liverpool Street and push myself to visit a large park every weekend.Sometimes, I feel like Carrie from "Sex and the City," and other times, I feel far less glamorous and far more cold.I didn't think I could be happy in such a busy and urban setting, but I've loved carving out my piece of the city, and I plan to keep doing so.Recommended video

President Donald Trumps new tariff chart, which he unveiled Wednesday at the Rose Garden, had a mixture of surprising and predictable countries on the list. A high tariff on China? Not so surprising. But among the top 10 countries on his chart, eight are in Asia.Many close US allies like South Korea and Japan were stunned by the steep rate increases applied to their exports. Since the announcement, markets in Asia have tumbled. Japans chief cabinet secretary has called the tariffs extremely regrettable. South Koreas acting president called an emergency meeting to strategize a response. As stunned as these US allies were at the steep increase in tariffs levied against them, they werent caught totally offguard. Just a few days before Trumps tariff announcement, Japan, China, and South Koreas trade ministers met in Seoul for the first time in five years to discuss coordinating a response. Mike Bird, Wall Street editor at The Economist and a former correspondent based in Asia, talked with Today, Explaineds Noel King how US allies in Asia are responding to the tariffs and how China may be poised to lead new alliances on the continent. Click the link below to hear the whole conversation. The following is a transcript edited for length and clarity.Weve got China, Taiwan, Japan, India, South Korea, Thailand. What are we hearing today from leaders of those countries? Anything notable?Theres a big range of reactions, and I think that reflects the difference in both relationships with the US and some different strategies going on.So the Chinese government reaction, to note that the tariffs are deeply unreasonable, that its a sort of attack on the rest of the world, is probably the least surprising. I think its more interesting to break down the countries that are much closer diplomatically to the US. So Taiwan called the Trump tariffs deeply unreasonable and highly regrettable. South Korea said that they were studying what was happening. The Japanese trade minister called the move extremely regrettable. But a lot of these countries are a little bit more circumspect and a little bit quieter, precisely because they have these very tight security relationships with the US and theyre very, very keen not to upset DC.So when Trump held up his chart, it showed that Vietnam, for example, levies a 90 percent tariff on goods coming from the US. South Korea, 50 percent tariff. Donald Trump is saying these countries put tariffs on American goods and Im going to fix it. Is he right? And if so, why was this going on?So to be clear, we should start by saying there are trade restrictions that other countries put on the US. In some cases, theyre steeper than the ones going in the other direction. That is a reasonable thing for US policymakers to be upset about. But what became very clear in the immediate aftermath of the announcement is that the figures being used werent drawn from any meaningful measure of, for example, the rates that Vietnam tariffs US goods. There was no relationship with that data. What seems to have happened is theres been a reverse engineering of a figure via the trade deficits and surpluses that individual countries have with the US. Basically, theyve taken the trade surplus that Vietnam has with the US and theyve divided it by the figure for Vietnamese exports to the US. Its a sort of Excel spreadsheet job. And it bears almost no relationship to how these countries actually limit US trade. Its a very strange measure to have used to decide which countries have been hit hardest. Trump put big tariffs on Japan and South Korea. Do you think that this move forces them to rethink how they deal with the United States?I think it will change the attitude quite a bit. One thing that the US government has tried to do a lot in the past few years is get cooperation from the Japanese and Korean governments in particular on things like export controls of semiconductors to China. Thats going to be a lot more difficult to execute if you are putting really, really steep tariffs on them. I was reading over the weekend that Japan, South Korea, and China met for the first time in about five years to talk about trade. Do we know what goes on in a meeting like that? Does a meeting like that make America nervous?This question of closer trilateral cooperation between China, Korea, and Japan has been going on for a long time, and its always been frustrated to some degree by the fact that these are three countries where usually, at any given time, someones upset with someone else. Whether thats Japan and South Korea they have a very fractious relationship or whether its South Korea and China, whether its Japan and China, theres usually someone thats upset about something, and its limited the trilateral cooperation. Theres always been discussion of a potential Japan, South Korea, China free trade area, and its never really come to fruition. Now, if you wanted to make it come to fruition, what you would want is an external threat that was common to all of those countries.Huh.Im not sure therell be a trade agreement of that nature, but if I wanted to force one through, these are exactly the circumstances which Id create to try and do that. If China becomes a more trusted trade partner to American allies than America is right now, what? What are the long-term implications of this for China?One thing the Chinese government has really struggled with in the past, and for good reason, is that they dont really have a lot of natural allies or friends, even in Asia. I think the US seriously damaging its own relationships in the region does make things easier on that front. If you listen to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they will tell you, and they have done for decades, that the US is a country that bullies smaller countries it talks a high and mighty game about these lofty ideals of freedom and democracy and human rights, but in reality its just looking out for itself. I think these tariffs make that argument a lot easier to make in large parts of Asia. Its a huge opportunity for them. You couldnt have drafted these conditions better if you were a Chinese diplomat.See More:

At long last, spring has arrived here in New England, with verdant leaves erupting through soil and piles of brown leaves. That means the return of neighbors who pass by my garden and say, I love that rose bush! or What else are you growing this year? It means frequent visits from busy pollinators like bees, butterflies, and funny squirrels who bury their acorns in my raised bed. While it was challenging to accept on cold, overcast days, especially when I needed to feel my hands in the soil, I learned that winter can be good for a garden, providing a dormancy period for rest and while we cant see it growth. In fact, winter is a time when some plants can divert their energy to building strong root systems and soil health can improve. Ah, gardening teaching me yet another lesson I need to apply in my own life.I started digging into my new hobby (pardon the pun) about five years ago, at first tinkering with an indoor herb garden and calamansi tree in my New York City apartment. Two years ago, after my family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, we began tending to an outdoor garden and discovered how mentally and physically healing it could be. The ritualistic acts of weeding, mulching, pruning, and watering gave us not only a reprieve from the stresses of everyday life, but also a chance to connect with each other, nature, and our new community. The good news? Anyone, at any budget, can garden. All you need is a few seeds, good quality soil, and a desire to grow, both literally and metaphorically. RelatedThe indoorsy persons guide to the great outdoorsGardening can alter your brain chemistryA plethora of studies backs up the idea that gardening has numerous benefits: It improves air quality and biodiversity for our environment, reduces stress and increases mindfulness for gardeners, and strengthens our connection to community. In fact, its possible that the friendly bacteria in soil may affect the brain similarly to antidepressants, leading to the production of serotonin. One long-term study even found that gardening daily could reduce dementia incidence by 36 percent. Along with those benefits, many people hope to achieve more food sovereignty, a philosophy and practice based on the belief that people, communities, and countries have the right to control their own food systems. In Providence, theres a delightful Sharing Garden behind the basketball courts at Billy Taylor Park, where in the warmer months, youll notice a garden plot with raised beds growing food like scarlet-red tomatoes, crisp green beans, and hearty kale. In the spring, my kids race down the hill from the swings to see how its doing. One long-term study even found that gardening daily could reduce dementia incidence by 36 percent.Created in 2017 by the Mount Hope Food Security Coalition, the Sharing Garden works toward food sovereignty in communities of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; it hosts cookouts, harvests, and workshops. Dr. Dannie Ritchie, a clinical assistant professor of family medicine at Brown University and the founder of Community Health Innovations of Rhode Island, helped establish the plot and says gardening outdoors can feel like a balm for modern life, connecting you with both nature and your community without having to know all the answers. When youre outside with others pulling weeds, schlepping bags of soil, or listening to the wisdom of a more seasoned gardener, collaboration and respect for one another comes easily. And with so many of us sitting for long stretches of time at our desks, cars, offices and homes, often alone, its life-affirming, Ritchie says. When youre outside gardening, you are breathing and youre listening to animals, youre hearing them, youre seeing them, she adds. Youre in relationship to this living being.How to weave gardening into your lifeBefore I began gardening, I didnt have much experience aside from my childhood chore of watering trees in our front yard and my attempts at keeping indoor plants alive when I lived in New York City. The prospect of learning a new skill was excitingbut also overwhelming. I wanted to know everything all at once, have all the essential tools and equipment, do it perfectly, and be able to grow everything my heart desired, bypassing any failures. I got stuck, riddled with nerves that I wasnt doing it right or that I didnt understand all the ins and outs of plant vocabulary. Reading the back of a seed packet felt intimidating.Nearly three springs ago, I got unstuck by taking my first step: talking to friends who garden and borrowing books from the library. I got a few bags of soil, seeds, a seed starting tray, and some young lavender, eggplant, and bell pepper plants from a local nursery. A friend gave me a couple of heirloom tomato plants along with some sage plants because she had too many. When youre thinking of what youd like to grow, simplify the process by picking veggies or herbs you love to eat, and for plants or flowers, think about the sun exposure you get in your space. Most seed packets include a map of growing zones, a calendar, and instructions. You can find your growing zone by entering your zip code here. The Farmers Almanac can give you a good estimate of frost dates for your region, which are vital to know for any outdoor planting, as planting too early when its too cold out can damage your seeds or plants. If you dont have access to outdoor space, you can find a community garden in your area that needs volunteers. There are also handy apps like PictureThis that can help you identify plants and provide care and maintenance advice. Dont try to be perfect. You wont be, but you will learn and you will probably have some success.My dear friend, Amy Gastelum, who founded Velma Jean Flowers, a small-scale flower farm in Indianapolis that specializes in native plants and offers garden planning consultations, says good soil is the most essential element you need to start growing. You can add seed starting mix to empty yogurt containers (just make sure you create holes in the bottom for drainage) or egg cartons. She also suggests checking out your farmers market for plant starts, which are young plants grown from seeds that are ready to be transplanted.Either way, just start, Gastelum told me in an email. Dont try to be perfect. You wont be, but you will learn and you will probably have some success. Every garden question you have is Googleable and you can find lots of beautiful books on gardening at your local library.Gardenings unruly surprisesIn my first year gardening, I didnt buy anything especially fancy, like grow lights or heat mats, but I learned a lot about sun position, light, and moisture. When the first seeds I planted began to sprout, I screeched with excitement. The delicate green shoot signaled that an entire root system was forming below. There were other surprises, too: My son, who was 2 at the time, accidentally knocked over a tray of shishito seeds I had on the balcony; I gathered the scattered mess and threw it in a soil bag in our mudroom. Weeks later, I opened the bag, and much to my surprise, the mess several shishito seeds sitting in soil had sprouted. Wow, nature really can find its way, I remember thinking.That summer, we built our raised bed, created our own soil mixture, and started a worm compost bin, which was a family and community affair, with several knowledgeable friends offering me advice along the way. One lovely neighbor gave me some of the worms that break down compostable waste the nicest and strangest gift Ive ever received. Weeks later, I opened the bag, and much to my surprise, the mess several shishito seeds sitting in soil had sprouted.To design an outdoor garden in my new home in Providence, Ive consulted Amy on early morning and afternoon walks with my dog, Wally, talking about everything from soil testing (for analyzing nutrients and contaminants like lead) to veggie garden placement to what trees can reduce pollutants from car traffic on a busy street. We talked once about a podcast she listened to where one farmer said that on average, 50 percent of their crops dont end up producing. Thats kind of liberating, right? I said. Just because something doesnt produce something we can see or measure doesnt mean it was a failure.Last holiday season, on a serious budget as a parent with three kids, I wondered how Id express my gratitude to my closest friends and family. Gardening, once again, provided an answer, as I realized how special it might be to harvest some seeds as gifts. I looked at the dried-up marigold plant that had produced gorgeous ombre-orange flowers on the corner of my raised bed, inviting monarch butterflies daily. It was perfect. The whole family got involved. We collected and stored the seeds in little pouches and I hand-drew cards and added a special note for each person. A friend teared up instantly when I handed her my small offering. A neighbor hugged my 6-year-old who had made her own drawing to go with the seeds and said, I cant wait to plant these! I might not have all the answers, but as gardening has taught me, one season cant yield all the outcomes you might want. Hopefully, the unruly surprises along the way will delight, challenge, or teach you. I, for one, cant wait for my loved ones to send photos of the progress of their marigolds or ask any questions about how to start if they feel overwhelmed.As spring arrives in New England, Im much more comfortable starting new seeds and scheming up a garden. Im even hosting a seed, plant, and clothing swap with friends. Some plants may thrive and some might end up wilted or overtaken by (adorable) bunnies or insects. I can accept that. Among the many pleasures of gardening is that it asks us to relinquish control of outcomes, stay grounded in wonder and curiosity, and ask a friend when we get stuck.See More:

How do you follow a game as complete and extensive as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Nintendo is banking on the answer being: go bigger. Double the number of racers to 24. Increase the number of characters (60 in total). More weapons. And, most eye-catchingly, more exploration.Thats not a term youd associate with the closed circuit, three-lap formula that the series has perfected over the last three decades, but in Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title for the forthcoming Switch 2, Nintendo is tearing down the tyre barriers and offering players a Forza Horizon style open world. Its not exactly a total reinvention of the wheel, but its as big a change to the format as any since the series began. Given physical copies of Mario Kart World will retail at 75 though, is it enough?I got a chance to spend time playing the new game and my immediate impression was that its what youd expect from a next-gen Mario Kart title. Its familiar, incredibly polished, plays flawlessly no matter what carnage ensues and it looks awesome. As I hurtled through the courses, the temptation was to slow down and take in all the small, quirky details.Internet-famous the Moo Moo Meadows cow. Photograph: NintendoPresumably there will be an opportunity to do just that in the free roaming element of the game. I didnt get much of a chance to explore this it was essentially the lobby while we waited for 24 players to join. What I did get to experience were two modes. The first was Grand Prix. This is your traditional Mario Kart affair: start, three laps, finish. The slight tweak here is that rather than having closed circuit courses, these are sprints across the world map: youll be in Boos cinema one moment, a prehistoric jungle the next. I opted to play as the cow from Moo Moo Meadows, the internet-famous breakout star of the recent Nintendo Direct, driving a tractor called Big Horn.As a seasoned Mario Kart player (to put it mildly), I found that it plays exactly as youd expect. Muscle memory takes over: you skid (though its less agile than in MK8D, presumably to account for wider tracks); you throw shells at opponents; you scream in frustration when you get struck by lightning just as you were about to use a boost. The level design is beautiful and each track seems packed with alternate routes and little secrets. I cant escape the feeling that the wider roads may mean the game loses some of its claustrophobic carnage, and that the emphasis will be on weapons rather than driving skill in this iteration of the series, but I can live with that. Regardless, I win my first race I want that on record and a glorious crown is bestowed upon my cow.In my time with the game, I also had one race in Knockout Tour mode, Nintendos battle-royale-style take on the series. As you progress along the course youll encounter checkpoints on the horizon; when you cross these, the bottom four racers are blocked from continuing and drop out. This continues until the final stretch of track where the remaining four race to the podium. Not realising I would be racing 23 other journalists in the room with me, I opted for the comedy choice of racing as Wiggler in a pink cruiser, which, from a kart configuration standpoint, is a terrible choice. Had I realised the stakes I would have gone Wario/monster bike, but its my own fault for assuming it was a race that didnt matter. They all matter.Knockout Tour mode is exhilarating. If, like me, you believe youve achieved God-like status at MK8D and can run through each course in your sleep, if youre used to cruising in first place without so much as a single banana to your name, then prepare yourself. In knockout mode you can drop from first to 24th in an instant.skip past newsletter promotionSign up to Pushing ButtonsFree weekly newsletterKeza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gamingPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionThe solution is to embrace the carnage. Weapons feel more significant (I lost count of how many golden mushrooms, bullet bills and star powers I went through), skidding and handling less so, given the greater width of each track. Amid all the frenzied chaos, I had no idea how long the race lasted I think somewhere between three minutes and three hours. Seeing the checkpoints and knowing I was only one horribly timed red shell away from dropping out prompted heart palpitations; clearing the checkpoints brought relief. It was a rush. I finished fifth, failing to qualify for the final section. This mark of shame aside, my initial impressions of knockout mode are that its an exciting reinvention of the format and there is a strong chance its about to become my entire personality.

TechNintendo Switch 2 pre-order is live at EE - but you'll need to be quickAnother retailer has opened pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 this morning - but you'll need to be quick as we expect it to sell out quickly like other UK stores this weekdailystarBookmarkShareTechBySimon HamalienkoSenior Content Editor (Live)Christopher HarperTechnology Affiliates Writer11:02, 4 APR 2025Updated11:03, 4 APR 2025BookmarkYou will need to act fast to get a Switch 2 (Image: Nintendo)If you're on the hunt for a Nintendo Switch 2, act fast as another retailer has just launched pre-orders. EE has thrown open the doors for gaming enthusiasts to secure their console via its website. The Mario Kart bundle is available for pre-order here at 429.99. We're still waiting to spot the standalone console - but rest assured, we'll update you as soon as it surfaces. Be swift though, as we predict it will fly off the shelves in no time. For those eager to pre-order accessories, Very is currently offering all the extras and games for the Switch 2. Gamers can get their hands on all the latest gadgets and games - and might even score a bundle if they're lucky enough to find one in stock. The Nintendo Switch 2 can be purchased with Mario Kart World (Image: (Image: NINTENDO)) Just remember to scroll down a bit to snag them, reports the Mirror. ShopTo also boasts a stock of accessories. Here, customers can snap up the Pro controller for 74.95, and by scrolling down the main page, they can pre-order the games, including the new Mario Kart World. If you've stumbled upon this news a tad late, keep your eyes peeled on certain retailers for any chance to nab the Nintendo Switch 2 console. Argos sold out in a flash, but Very also launched pre-orders that you might be able to catch - although at the time of writing, they too have sold out. Amazon is following in Nintendo's footsteps by offering invites. You can request an invite to purchase the console right here. Nintendo revealed that it would be extending invites to its most loyal Switch owners for pre-orders next week. Currys has also declared that you can pre-order in-store immediately. In the meantime, if you're curious about our gaming team's impressions of the device, you can read Aaron's thoughts right here. This week, we received a precise release date for the Nintendo Switch 2 - June 5, 2025. Nintendo confirmed this in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct earlier this week. The Joy-Con 2 was also revealed, with the mysterious "C" button on the right controller finally explained. In short, you press it and you can experience gaming with friends online as the C means "GameChat" which also lets you chat to mates using a microphone built into the actual console. Basically, think Google Meet but for Switch 2, because you can pin different people, share your screen and interact exactly how you do on most conferencing softwares. And yes, you can share your own camera feed via a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera. However, it will all require a membership to Nintendo's own online subscription service.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.More On