‘We’re incredibly grateful to our angel investors and Northstar Ventures for their continued belief in our vision’

A Newcastle marketing tech company is set for expansion after receiving a six-figure investment boost. PolyBox was launched in 2022 by Newcastle University graduates Rojin Yarhmadi and Nikolaus Benopoulos to disrupt the world of automated data analysis, reporting and AI.

Its platform enables marketing agencies to view data from multiple sources in a real-time dashboard, and generating reports for customers that bypass the time and effort involved in collecting and reporting on data, to give access to clear, accurate information.

Founders say the platform provides users with the ability to swiftly move “from in-depth insights to strategic action”.

North East venture capital firm, Northstar Ventures, first invested in PolyBox in 2024 to help the firm develop its technology. It invested £300,000 in PolyBox as part of a total funding round of £500,000, led by the North East Innovation Fund supported by the European Regional Development Fund and managed by Northstar Ventures, alongside Creative UK’s North of Tyne Culture and Creative Investment Programme and angel investors.

Northstar has now followed up with another investment of £150,000 from the North East Innovation Fund, with the support of The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority led by North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness.

A further £250,000 came from angel investors and £300,000 grant funding from Innovate UK. In all, the company has raised £1.5m through investment and grants, including Innovate UK, Creative UK and angel investors since its pre-seed stage.

The latest funding boost will enable the company to focus on integrating AI into its products to automate reporting and generate critical insights for customers. The move will save time and reduce costs for marketing teams, whilst also improving the quality and speed of decision making.

Rojin Yarahmadi, co-founder and CEO of PolyBox said: “With the successful completion of our investment round and the support of the Innovate UK Investor Partnership grant, we’re excited to be entering the next phase of PolyBox’s journey. We’re incredibly grateful to our angel investors and Northstar Ventures for their continued belief in our vision.

“Their investment has not only supported our growth but has also unlocked the Innovate UK Investor Partnership funding, enabling us to accelerate our roadmap. This next phase will focus on delivering even more advanced analytics and AI-powered insights, helping marketing teams make faster, smarter, and more informed decisions through their reporting.”

Tom O’Neill, investment manager, Northstar Ventures, added: “We’re very pleased to complete our latest investment in PolyBox which will help Rojin and the team to significantly grow the business and build on the solid progress made to date.

“As AI continues to significantly disrupt the marketing industry, PolyBox’s automated reporting solution saves time and money for busy marketing teams, whilst also supporting clear, strategic decision making. Congratulations to Rojin, Nick and the wider team.”

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Users searching to find out whether Facebook Messenger is currently down are doing so amid a broader wave of access complaints hitting Meta’s platforms Wednesday morning, though reports specific to Messenger itself remain less clear-cut than those affecting Facebook and Instagram.

According to outage-tracking service Downdetector, user reports of problems with Facebook began climbing at 8:12 a.m. Eastern time Wednesday, followed roughly 13 minutes later by a similar rise in reports concerning Instagram, which began at 8:25 a.m. As of Wednesday morning, Meta had not issued a public statement addressing either set of reports.

What we know about Messenger specifically

As of the most recent available status data, outage-monitoring service Outage.Report listed Facebook Messenger as operating within a typical reporting range, showing no significant spike in complaints over the prior 24 hours and noting the platform’s most recent confirmed incident occurred roughly five weeks earlier, in mid-June. That assessment suggests that, unlike Facebook and Instagram, Messenger may not be experiencing the same level of disruption this morning, though outage data can shift quickly and status trackers do not always update in real time.

Given that Facebook, Instagram and Messenger frequently share underlying infrastructure at Meta, users experiencing problems with Facebook or Instagram this morning should not assume Messenger is automatically unaffected, or automatically working normally. The most reliable way to confirm current status is to check a live outage-tracking site directly or attempt to send a message and note any specific error returned by the app.

A familiar pattern for Meta’s apps

Messenger has a long history of experiencing outages independent of, or alongside, disruptions to Facebook and Instagram. In some previous incidents, Messenger has gone down entirely on its own, with users unable to send or receive messages even as the main Facebook app and website continued functioning normally. In other cases, outages have hit all of Meta’s platforms simultaneously, with Messenger messages left sitting in an unsent state for extended periods before service was restored.

During a large-scale Meta outage in 2019, for instance, Instagram, Messenger and Facebook all went down together, with Messenger conversations failing to send and many users seeing only previously cached content rather than live updates. In other incidents dating back several years, Messenger has experienced standalone problems affecting only its chat function, with users reporting an inability to view or send messages while other Facebook features continued working as expected.

Wednesday’s reports in context

Wednesday’s Facebook and Instagram reports follow a much larger, confirmed outage that struck Meta’s platforms on Sunday, when users across multiple continents were unable to access their Facebook and Instagram accounts. Downdetector recorded more than 23,000 reports of Facebook problems in the United States alone during that earlier incident, along with at least 18,000 additional Instagram-related reports, before complaints declined sharply within roughly one to two hours.

Whether Wednesday’s reports represent a new, separate issue or lingering instability connected to Sunday’s outage has not been confirmed by Meta. The company has a consistent pattern of declining to comment publicly on the specific cause of an outage until after the underlying issue has been identified and resolved internally.

How to check for yourself

For users trying to determine in real time whether Messenger is affected, several practical steps can help clarify the situation. Checking a live outage-tracking site, such as Downdetector or a similar service, offers a snapshot of how many other users are currently reporting problems and can help distinguish a widespread outage from an issue specific to one device or network connection. Attempting to log out and back into the app, restarting the device, or checking whether the issue also affects Facebook or Instagram can further help narrow down whether the problem is isolated or part of a broader Meta-wide disruption.

Users can also check social media platforms such as X, where widespread outages typically generate a noticeable spike in posts using hashtags like #FacebookDown or #MessengerDown, often providing an early signal of a broader problem before it is officially confirmed by outage trackers or the company itself.

What Meta has said in the past

During previous outages, Meta communications director Andy Stone has periodically posted brief updates on X acknowledging that the company was aware users were experiencing access issues and was working to resolve them, followed by a short follow-up once service had been restored. Those past statements have generally attributed disruptions to a “technical issue” without elaborating on the underlying cause, a pattern the company has followed consistently across previous incidents affecting Facebook, Instagram and Messenger.

As of Wednesday morning, no such statement had been issued regarding the current wave of reports, and it remained unclear how long the disruption might last or how widely it was affecting users beyond the initial reports concerning Facebook and Instagram.

Bottom line

Based on the most recent available data, Facebook and Instagram are showing confirmed elevated outage reports as of Wednesday morning, while Messenger’s status remains less clear, with available tracking data not yet showing the same spike seen on the other two platforms. Given how closely linked Meta’s apps are, and how quickly outage conditions can change, users concerned about Messenger specifically are best served by checking a live status tracker directly or testing the app themselves, rather than assuming its status based solely on reports affecting Facebook or Instagram.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the company’s latest vision for artificial intelligence Wednesday, arguing the technology should empower people rather than replace them.

The social media giant released a new video outlining its approach to AI, contrasting it with what it described as a growing “fear” or “dystopian” narrative surrounding the rapidly evolving technology.

The announcement comes as major technology companies race to shape the future of artificial intelligence, with Meta positioning itself as a company that believes AI should benefit everyone.

“Meta has always believed in giving people the power to share, connect, and shape your world in the ways you want,” Zuckerberg said.

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the future of artificial intelligence should empower people rather than replace them as the company unveiled its latest vision for AI. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“As we enter this next wave with AI, we continue to believe the future is for everyone,” he continued. “We’re focused on giving every person the tools to reach your full potential and making sure the benefits of technology are distributed to everyone.”

In the video, Meta pushed back on concerns that artificial intelligence will make people less connected or leave them behind.

“Some people will have you believe AI will make us less connected, that it’s gonna leave us behind,” the video says. “We couldn’t disagree more. Call us optimists, call us dreamers. Just as we’ve always done, we’re betting on people.”

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Meta unveiled a new campaign promoting an optimistic vision for artificial intelligence, saying the technology should help people build, connect and create. (Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Meta said it has connected more than 3.5 billion people and 200 million small businesses across its platforms during its 22-year history.

The company argued AI is simply the next chapter of that mission.

“Because while technology will change, our intention behind it never will,” the video says. “The future we see is one with less barriers and more breakthroughs. More tools designed to unlock your imagination. Bigger engines to drive your ingenuity.”

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined the company’s optimistic vision for artificial intelligence, arguing the technology should benefit everyone. (Getty Images)

Meta said advances in artificial intelligence will help build stronger communities and create more meaningful connections.

“We like those odds,” the company said. “The future is for everyone.”

Olivia Rodrigo, the Grammy-winning singer known for chart-topping breakup anthems, is the subject of fresh dating speculation after being spotted multiple times with a Wall Street financier in Brooklyn, according to a report published by Page Six.

The outlet reported Tuesday that Rodrigo has been linked romantically to Julian Croonenberghs, an investment professional at private equity firm HG Capital, marking a departure from her past relationships with actors and entertainment industry figures. Neither Rodrigo nor Croonenberghs has publicly commented on the reports.

How the rumors emerged

According to multiple entertainment outlets citing Page Six’s reporting, Rodrigo and Croonenberghs have been seen together on several occasions in Brooklyn in recent weeks. The speculation was first fueled by the celebrity gossip account DeuxMoi, which reported a sighting of the pair dining together in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn in mid-June.

Photographs that circulated more recently appeared to show the two traveling together, including images suggesting they had been in Iceland alongside members of Rodrigo’s team before flying back to New York. Additional photos showed the pair at an airport as they made the trip back to New York on July 20, with Rodrigo later photographed arriving in the city.

Fans and entertainment reporters identified Croonenberghs as the man seen with Rodrigo after cross-referencing details from his professional background. According to his listed biography, Croonenberghs works on the Mercury Team at HG Capital and previously worked at Goldman Sachs as part of its Financial Institutions Investment Banking group. He is a graduate of Brown University, where he studied applied mathematics and computer science, and played on the U.S. Men’s National Field Hockey Team from 2018 to 2020. He is also reported to speak both French and Dutch.

A subtle social media clue

While neither party has confirmed the relationship, fans have pointed to a small social media interaction as a potential sign of a connection: Rodrigo reportedly liked an Instagram post shared by Croonenberghs’ sister, Jade. Beyond that gesture, both Rodrigo and Croonenberghs have kept any details of their relationship private, and representatives for Rodrigo have not issued a statement addressing the reports.

A shift from her usual dating pattern

Entertainment reporters have noted that a relationship with Croonenberghs would represent a departure from Rodrigo’s previous public relationships, which have largely involved figures in film, television and music. Rodrigo first drew public attention for her relationship with “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” co-star Joshua Bassett, whom she starred alongside after the two met on set in 2019. The pair reportedly split in 2020, and fans have long speculated that several of Rodrigo’s early songs, including her breakout single “Drivers License,” referenced the relationship’s end, though she has never publicly confirmed the connection.

Rodrigo was later linked to Hollywood producer Adam Faze in 2021, with the two first spotted together at a premiere party for “Space Jam: A New Legacy.” In 2022, she was romantically connected to music executive and DJ Zack Bia, though that relationship also proved short-lived. Her most recent and longest public relationship was with British actor Louis Partridge, known for his role in Netflix’s “Enola Holmes” film series. The two began attracting attention as a couple in late 2023 and made several public appearances together, including a red carpet debut at the Venice Film Festival and a joint appearance at the Grammy Awards, before reportedly ending their roughly two-year relationship in late 2025.

A career built on personal storytelling

Rodrigo, 23, first rose to prominence with the release of her single “drivers license” in January 2021, followed by her debut album “Sour” later that year. The album’s blend of confessional songwriting and pop-punk influences earned her the Grammy Award for best new artist in 2022, along with several other nominations. She followed with a second album, “Guts,” in 2023, and released a third album, “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,” earlier this year.

Much of Rodrigo’s songwriting has drawn heavily from her personal relationships, with fans frequently attempting to trace connections between her lyrics and her real-life romantic history. That pattern has made any new relationship a subject of significant public interest, as was the case following her split from Partridge and now amid the reports connecting her to Croonenberghs.

What remains unconfirmed

As of Wednesday, no formal confirmation of a relationship between Rodrigo and Croonenberghs had been issued by either party, and both have declined to comment when approached by media outlets covering the story. The reports remain based on sightings, photographs and secondhand social media accounts rather than any official statement, a pattern common to early-stage celebrity dating speculation that sometimes proves accurate and sometimes does not.

Representatives for Rodrigo did not immediately respond to requests for comment from outlets reporting on the story, and Croonenberghs, who works in a private-sector finance role rather than public entertainment, has not made any public statement of his own.

Given Rodrigo’s history of addressing past relationships through her music, some fans have speculated that any future confirmation of the relationship, or details about how it developed, could eventually surface through her songwriting, following a pattern established across her three studio albums. For now, the reports remain unconfirmed, with public interest continuing to center on the pair’s recent sightings together in New York and their trip to Iceland rather than any official acknowledgment from either Rodrigo or Croonenberghs themselves.

Fidelity Investments released its 25th annual estimate of retiree healthcare costs, which revealed a significant jump from a year ago as medical care and related expenses become more expensive.

The report estimated that a 65-year-old who retires in 2026 can expect to spend an average of $185,500 on healthcare and medical expenses throughout their retirement. That amount is an increase of 7.5% from last year amid rising healthcare prices, growth in the utilization of medical services and growing costs stemming from chronic conditions.

“Financial planning for retirement is about more than reaching a savings target, especially as retirement itself continues to evolve,” said Shams Talib, head of Fidelity Workplace Consulting.

“Whether Americans fully stop working, phase into their retirement, or pursue new ways to stay engaged, healthcare consistently remains one of the largest expenses they will face,” Talib added. “Providing a benchmark to consider can help them plan with purpose and more confidence.”

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People who are retired or are planning for retirement should account for healthcare expenses not covered by Medicare in their planning. (iStock)

Fidelity’s report has been compiled each year since 2002 and yields an estimate designed as a benchmark for long-term planning around possible healthcare costs a retiree will incur despite standard Medicare coverage.

The estimate assumes enrollment in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), as well as Medicare Part D – which includes premiums, copayments and out-of-pocket costs for medical care and prescription drugs throughout retirement. The figure doesn’t include potential long-term care expenses.

Out of the total estimate of $185,500, Fidelity’s analysis finds that about 45% of that amount goes to monthly premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D.

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Medicare plans don’t cover all healthcare-related expenses, so retirees face some out-of-pocket costs. (iStock)

Another 48% go to covering other medical expenses under Medicare cost-sharing provisions – such as copayments, coinsurance, deductibles for things like hospital visits and outpatient services.

That figure also includes other medical services that aren’t covered by Medicare plans, such as vision and hearing exams.

The final 7% of the total comes from out-of-pocket expenses, like co-payments and amounts that aren’t covered by Medicare Part D and are out-of-pocket expenses for generic, branded or specialty drugs.

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Prescription drug costs can be a significant component of a retiree’s healthcare expenses. (Getty Images)

“Medicare is a critical part of retirement health coverage, but it does not eliminate every healthcare expense,” said Steve Betts, head of Fidelity Health.

“This estimate helps illustrate why both pre-retirees and retirees alike will benefit from carefully considering out-of-pocket expenses and how they will pay for them as they build out their retirement income strategy,” Betts added.

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