Author: The News

Key TakeawaysBurnout Risks: Constant work without breaks can lead to serious burnout, negatively affecting productivity and overall business health.Financial Constraints: Many small business owners feel they can’t afford to take holidays due to ongoing financial pressures and fear of income loss.Customer Retention Concerns: The worry of losing customers or disrupting service leads small business owners to prioritize work over personal time off.Workplace Culture Impact: A culture that emphasizes constant availability can make taking holidays seem like a weakness, perpetuating the cycle of overwork.Health Implications: Neglecting personal time can lead to both mental health issues like anxiety and stress, as well…

A new partnership has been announced between Weavr, the embedded finance solutions provider and Paperchase, the global accounting firm, as the latter looks to eliminate the pain points associated with account payable (AP) processes while simultaneously boosting efficiency. Weavr will integrate its Embedded Payment Run (EPR) solution into Paperchase’s platform. Delivered as a developer toolkit, EPR gives AP software providers everything needed to support real payment execution within their own applications. For bulk payments, this includes onboarding business customers, managing approval flows, and initiating payments – entirely within a seamless user experience.By removing the need for SaaS platforms like Paperchase to…

In Latin America and the Caribbean, 10-15% of school-aged children live with disabilities or learning difficulties, making inclusive education both a moral responsibility and an economic imperative. With 12.5-18.9 million children at risk of being left behind, inclusive education— in which children with and without disabilities learn together—offers a crucial path to ensuring equal opportunities. Despite strong commitments to inclusive education across Latin America and the Caribbean, however, the reality on the ground is uneven, with many students with disabilities still placed in segregated schools or special classes. Legal Frameworks and Policy Commitments—Building the Foundation Countries in Latin America and…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Chinese economy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.China’s top economic officials said the country could do without American farm and energy imports as they vowed to achieve a 5 per cent GDP growth target for the year despite the trade war with the US. Zhao Chenxin, vice chair of the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s state planner, said domestic farm and energy production, along with imports from non-US sources, would be more than enough to satisfy demand.   “Even if we do not purchase feed grains and oilseeds from the United…

When the infamous Prohibition era began in the US on January 17, 1920, it didn’t just mark the rise of speakeasies and organized crime dealing in the illegal liquor trade, it also marked a time when many small businesses were forced to make massive changes to keep up with the times. While this dry era became well known for producing the likes of Elliot Ness and Al Capone, it also serves as a stark reminder of how quickly small businesses must adapt to changing times. Several changes came about due to prohibition that you may not even be aware of. Did…

CSE redefines sustainability by including more terms to support social and environmental projects in the country.Reinforce national goals, including poverty reduction, and access to education and healthcare.The largest stock exchange in Sri Lanka, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE), has launched a new system called the GSS+ Bonds Regulatory Framework in the Sri Lankan capital market.The new rules will guide special types of bonds that fund social and environmental projects.With the announcement of this system, the stock exchange, which previously had only referred to “sustainability bonds,” will now cover a wider range of bonds, such as Green, Blue, Social, Sustainability, and…

It’s been a busy year for TechCrunch events — and it’s about to get even bigger. StrictlyVC, our boutique, highly exclusive event series for VCs and startups, is crossing the Atlantic this May with stops in London and Athens! We’re bringing StrictlyVC’s insider conversations to Europe. On May 8, we’ll dive into Athens’ booming tech momentum with a special appearance by the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Then, on May 13, we’ll head to London to explore the investment and financial strategies shaping Europe’s tech ecosystem. If you’re thinking about expanding globally — or wondering how to start —…

How do Generation Z buy since the pandemic started? One of the measures adopted to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 was social distancing, which we still try to maintain today. During the pandemic, the Internet has been particularly important, as people have increased their online activity for multiple reasons, resulting in, among other things, an extreme growth of online shopping. Only in China (this work’s context) 70% of consumers increased their online purchases during the pandemic. The ease with which members of Generation Z make use of technologies is what has had the most impact on the e-commerce strategies of…

Prepping slides for macro, found these interesting correlations. First, how the strength of the dollar correlates with the Treasury 10 year yield, daily 2015-23 April 2025. Figure 1: Nominal dollar index vs. basket of major country currencies (blue circles), and OLS fit (blue line), and observations for 4/2/2025-4/15/2025 (red circles). Source: Fed and Treasury via FRED, and author’s calculations. In the two weeks around Liberation Day, Treasury 10 year yields rose as the dollar fell (red circles in Figure 1). One obvious place to look for a loss in credibility is in credit ratings; however, those are notoriously sticky. I…

Starting a business can feel overwhelming.With so many decisions, tasks, and unknowns, it’s no wonder aspiring entrepreneurs often say they’ll start a business “in three to five years.” It’s a safe timeline – far enough away that there’s no immediate action required, but close enough to keep the dream alive.But here’s the truth: the difference between staying stuck in dreaming and actually becoming a business owner comes down to one thing: Commitment.After speaking with hundreds of entrepreneurs, I’ve noticed a clear pattern. Those who become successful business owners don’t wait for clarity or confidence to magically appear. Instead, they commit to…