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Farm owner fined over shearer death in the Wheatbelt

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Farm owner fined over shearer death in the Wheatbelt

A Western Australian farm owner has been fined $22,000 over the death of a shearer who was caught in a decades-old wool press.

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Asian Nations Implement Strategies to Tackle Global Oil Shortage

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Asian Nations Implement Strategies to Tackle Global Oil Shortage

Countries in Asia are implementing various strategies to address potential oil shortages due to global disruptions. Measures include diversifying energy sources, increasing reserves, and enhancing energy efficiency. These actions aim to stabilize economies and ensure energy security in light of uncertain global oil supplies.


Amid a global oil shortage, Asian countries are implementing strategic measures to mitigate economic impacts. Governments are exploring alternative energy sources, boosting renewable energy investments like solar and wind, and encouraging energy conservation among citizens. These efforts aim to reduce dependence on imported oil and stabilize domestic markets amidst fluctuating global prices.

In response to the crisis, countries like India and China are negotiating new trade deals to ensure more reliable oil supplies. Additionally, they are enhancing storage capacities to build strategic reserves. These proactive steps are intended to secure energy security and shield economies from further volatility, ensuring that industries and consumers face minimal disruptions.

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On a regional level, collaboration is increasing as Asian nations form alliances to share resources, technologies, and strategies. Through joint initiatives, they aim to create a more resilient energy network. This cooperative approach not only strengthens energy security but also fosters sustainable development, preparing the region for future challenges in the global energy landscape.

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Coal India arm CMPDI IPO opens for subscription. Check brokerages review, GMP and other details

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Coal India arm CMPDI IPO opens for subscription. Check brokerages review, GMP and other details
Coal India arm Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI) will open its IPO for subscription on March 20, with GMP (grey market premium) indicating a modest listing premium of around 2%, pointing to a steady but not euphoric debut. The IPO, priced in the band of Rs 163-172 per share, is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of Rs 1,842 crore, meaning the company will not receive any proceeds from the issue.

The issue will close on March 24, with listing scheduled for March 30 on the BSE and NSE.

About the company

CMPDI is a leading mining consultancy firm offering end-to-end services across coal and mineral exploration, mine planning, environmental management and geomatics. The company holds a dominant ~61% market share in India’s coal and mineral consultancy segment and is a key partner to Coal India.Financially, the company has shown strong growth, with revenue rising to Rs 2,178 crore in FY25 and net profit at Rs 667 crore, supported by high EBITDA margins of over 42%.

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At the upper price band, the IPO is valued at around 18-21x earnings, which analysts see as reasonable given its profitability profile and asset-light model.
However, the business remains heavily dependent on Coal India and the broader coal ecosystem, which introduces concentration and sectoral risks.

GMP signals

The GMP for the IPO is hovering around 2%, suggesting a limited listing upside. Analysts said the muted premium reflects a balanced risk-reward profile, where strong financials are offset by structural dependence on a single client and the long-term shift toward renewable energy.

Should you subscribe?

Brokerage views remain mixed, with a tilt towards selective participation. Arihant Capital has assigned a “Neutral” rating, noting that while CMPDI benefits from a capital-light model and strong margins, its growth outlook is constrained by high dependence on Coal India and long-term energy transition risks.

Swastika Investmart, on the other hand, has recommended “Subscribe” from a short-to medium-term perspective, citing discounted valuation, consistent earnings growth and a debt-free balance sheet, though it flagged concerns around the 100% OFS structure and client concentration.

Overall, the IPO presents a mix of stable cash flows and sector-linked risks. While the modest GMP suggests a controlled listing, institutional interest and earnings visibility could support the stock in the near term.

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(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

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7 Best AI Construction Scheduling Tools for What-If Recovery Planning

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7 Best AI Construction Scheduling Tools for What-If Recovery Planning

Construction schedules break more often than planners admit. In 2023, the Construction Owners Association of America found that 76 percent of projects finished after their baseline programme.

Each delay triggers the same scramble: duplicate the schedule, juggle dates, and pray the new timeline sticks.

AI-driven scheduling platforms upend that routine. They detect slippage early, run dozens of what-if simulations, and surface the fastest path back on track.

This guide ranks seven tools that turn chaos into clear options—so you can recover time, money, and stakeholder trust before the job veers off schedule.

How we picked the seven tools

We reviewed dozens of AI-branded apps, vendor one-pagers, and Reddit case threads, then kept seven platforms that deliver measurable results on live construction projects.

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First, every tool had to apply AI to core scheduling tasks—building, analysing, or replanning a CPM programme—not just summarising chat transcripts. If the intelligence existed only on a slide deck, the product was excluded.

Next, we asked a tougher question: can the software speed up recovery? We looked for features that test alternate sequences, forecast risk with probability, or suggest resource shifts in minutes rather than days.

We also prioritised proven technology. Case studies, active UK deployments, and sizeable user bases scored higher than stealth-mode promises. Integration sealed the deal; each pick needed to import or export Primavera, MS Project, or open-API feeds without friction.

The outcome is a focused shortlist, ranked by how much and how quickly each platform helps you pull a slipping project back on track.

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1. InEight Schedule: an AI co-planner that learns from every job

Meet InEight Schedule, a CPM engine that starts offering helpful nudges before you finish mapping the first logic string.

While you sketch early activities, its expert-system AI scans a library of past projects and suggests tasks, sequence changes, and realistic durations. It even flags missing risk allowances. Picture a veteran planner at your shoulder, whispering “add weather float to the steel erection” before you hit Save.

The machine-learning layer refines those tips with every project. If your team repeatedly edits a suggested duration, Schedule updates its benchmark for next time. Your historical data becomes a custom reference library, eliminating the habit of reusing shaky templates.

When a submittal stalls or a concrete strike wipes two weeks off the calendar, open a snapshot, adjust the assumptions, and let the AI re-sequence the critical path. Side-by-side views reveal whether adding a weekend crew or resequencing cladding returns more days. Because Schedule sits inside the broader InEight suite, every change flows immediately into cost forecasts and field dashboards. No export gymnastics needed.

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Planners comfortable in Primavera will feel at home. Schedule respects full CPM discipline, supports multi-user editing, and round-trips XER files for partners. The payoff is speed: building a defensible baseline falls from weeks to days, and mid-project recovery planning fits into an afternoon instead of an all-nighter.

If you want a modern CPM workhorse that thinks ahead and grows smarter each month, put InEight Schedule at the top of your shortlist.

2. Oracle Primavera Cloud: the heavyweight standard sharpening its AI edge

Primavera has long been the go-to platform for complex CPM scheduling. Oracle’s cloud version keeps that strength and now layers predictive intelligence from the Construction Intelligence Cloud advisor released in 2024.

Upload your schedule and the AI scans every activity for shaky logic, unrealistic durations, or missing weather buffers. It then adds a risk heat-map to your dashboard, flagging “likely late” milestones weeks before standard CPM math reveals trouble.

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When you need a recovery plan, Primavera’s what-if workspace lets you clone the baseline, adjust calendars or crew counts, and run Monte Carlo simulations in a single session. The new AI overlay speeds the drill by suggesting which tasks return the biggest time gain per extra shift, saving hours of manual scenario building.

Because Primavera sits at the centre of many project tech stacks, those AI alerts appear wherever your data already lives, whether that is cost in Unifier, field progress in Procore, or third-party analytics through open APIs. Teams keep familiar workflows while gaining leading-indicator warnings instead of after-the-fact slippage.

The learning curve is still steep and licences sit at the premium end. Yet for mega-projects that mandate P6 lineage, Primavera Cloud paired with Oracle’s growing AI remains the safest path to predictive power without swapping systems mid-programme.

3. Procore: real-time field data warns you before the schedule slips

Procore is best known as the place where site photos, RFIs, and cost reports live together. In 2024 the company added a Construction Intelligence layer that turns that data into early schedule alerts.

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Each night, the system processes productivity logs, weather feeds, and subcontractor responses. By morning, your dashboard might flag that concrete pours are trending ten percent slower than plan and will push Milestone A beyond the critical path if nothing changes.

That notice arrives while you still have room to act. Open the Schedule tool, test a six-day workweek for the pour crew, watch the forecasted finish pull back into tolerance, and publish the update to every stakeholder’s phone before the daily huddle.

Because Procore reads P6 and MS Project files instead of replacing them, planners keep their preferred CPM engine. Field teams, meanwhile, see a living schedule that updates with their actual progress, not yesterday’s PDF.

The benefit is cultural as well as technical: fewer “We didn’t know we were behind” conversations and faster agreement on the fix. For contractors already using Procore for documents and cost, switching on the AI insights adds forward-looking visibility without rolling out a new platform.

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4. ALICE Technologies: thousands of schedule options in the time it takes to brew coffee

Most tools adjust the plan you already have. ALICE reverses the process; its generative engine creates the plan first, then ranks the smartest version for you.

Feed ALICE your quantities, crew constraints, and a few “must-follow” rules. The platform expands that input into tens of thousands of viable sequences, scores each one for duration and cost, and surfaces the top contenders. On a 2023 hyperscale data-centre build, the winning scenario trimmed 63 days and saved about £8 million in prelims and overheads.

ALICE stands out in rescue mode. If a job is slipping, lock the completed work, tweak the remaining constraints, such as adding a second crane or extending concrete pours to evenings, and hit “generate.” Minutes later you can compare visual 4D simulations of each recovery path, complete with crew histograms and cost deltas. What once took planners a week of P6 cloning now fits between coordination calls.

The chosen sequence exports back to Primavera or MS Project, so field teams track progress in familiar software. You can regenerate mid-construction when conditions change; the engine learns which options your team accepts and tailors the next batch to your risk appetite.

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For contractors chasing design-build megaprojects, ALICE presents owners with a faster, data-backed timeline that rivals struggle to match. Delivery teams gain a rapid brainstorming partner that turns “What if?” into “Here’s how.”

5. nPlan: the schedule risk forecaster that spots trouble months ahead

Most delays creep in quietly; durations drift, hand-offs slip, and optimism masks the evidence until it is too late. nPlan exposes that blind spot early.

Upload your latest Primavera or MS Project file and nPlan’s machine-learning model, trained on more than 600 000 real project schedules as of 2025, predicts the most probable completion date, the tasks most likely to jeopardise it, and the confidence band around every milestone. The output reads like a weather report for your programme: “60 percent chance of finishing after December 12 if the façade package stays on current productivity.”

The insight is immediate. Instead of debating gut feel in the progress meeting, you focus on the few activities the AI flags as high variance. Shift resources there, run a quick what-if in nPlan’s sandbox, and watch the probability curve bend back toward on-time.

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Owners value the independent assurance, and contractors use it as a second opinion before locking a baseline. Either way, the tool replaces hope with statistics. It provides hard numbers to justify overtime, resequencing, or extra float before the risk turns into reality.

6. Nodes & Links: ask your schedule a question and get an instant, data-backed answer

Schedules hide insight in thousands of lines. Nodes & Links surfaces that knowledge through an AI assistant you can chat with, first released to customers in 2023.

Import a P6 or MSP file and the platform runs a deep health check that lists missing logic ties, negative float pockets, and out-of-sequence actuals. Then the interactive work begins. Type, “What happens if the roof steel slips two weeks?” and the AI displays the ripple effect on handover, float consumed, and resources overstretched in under five seconds. No copy-paste scenarios, no wait for recalculation.

During weekly progress reviews, the same chat bot translates planner language for the wider team: “The critical path now runs through façade package 3B; we have four days of float left.” Decisions that once required a scheduler hunched over Gantt charts now arrive in plain English for project directors and site managers.

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Nodes & Links continues learning from every schedule it analyses. If design approvals on hospitals often drag, the AI raises the flag earlier on the next healthcare job. That means collective project memory delivered in real time.

For teams that already rely on a heavyweight CPM tool but need faster insight and clearer communication, this overlay converts the schedule from static contract artifact into a live decision engine.

7. Mastt: portfolio-level radar that keeps owners one step ahead

When you manage a dozen capital projects, individual Gantt charts blur together. Mastt solves that by rolling schedule, cost, and risk data into one AI-driven dashboard designed for owners and client-side PMs.

The platform ingests high-level milestones from each contractor, often straight from Primavera exports, then tracks live progress feeds from field apps and finance systems. Its risk radar compares that flow with benchmarks from similar projects and alerts you when a single delay threatens programme-wide deadlines.

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Picture a transport agency with ten station upgrades. Mastt spots that design approvals on two stations are drifting, shows the likely knock-on to funding drawdowns, and recommends fast-track options before the monthly governance pack is due. Portfolio leaders receive a red-amber-green view of schedule health without scanning thousand-line programmes.

On a single project, Mastt still adds value. Move a milestone bar forward and the AI recalculates cash-flow curves and resource peaks in seconds, so you can test an acceleration scenario during the steering-group meeting instead of afterwards.

Because Mastt runs in the cloud on a SaaS model, teams spin it up without the multi-month rollout common to heavyweight systems. That speed, combined with owner-friendly dashboards, makes it a practical choice when your main pain is visibility across many moving parts rather than deep CPM edits.

Conclusion: How to choose the right tool

Start with the challenge that hurts most. Is it building a believable baseline, spotting hidden risk, or coordinating many jobs at once? Once you name the pain, the shortlist above nearly selects itself.

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If your team needs a full CPM workhorse with AI built in, InEight and Primavera Cloud rise to the top. They bring a deep rules engine, resource levelling, and the audit trail that lenders and auditors require.

Already committed to Primavera but blind to emerging risk? Add nPlan or Nodes & Links. They keep your schedules intact while highlighting weak links and logic gaps before they derail the programme.

Chasing rapid acceleration on a one-off mega-project? ALICE’s generative optioneering often offsets its licence cost the first time it uncovers a sequence no human planner would attempt, and it proves the gain with data.

Need portfolio clarity more than task-level depth? Mastt gives owners a simple red-amber-green overview across dozens of projects, converting scattered contractor updates into a single schedule source of truth.

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Finally, if field teams struggle to grasp why dates move, Procore’s AI closes the gap between site reality and the master plan by pulling live productivity data into schedule forecasts everyone can understand.

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FLEX LNG Stock: Iran Conflict Boosts Rates, But Risks Are Rising Fast (NYSE:FLNG)

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FLEX LNG Stock: Iran Conflict Boosts Rates, But Risks Are Rising Fast (NYSE:FLNG)

This article was written by

I’ve been researching companies in-depth for over a decade, from commodities like oil, natural gas, gold and copper to tech like Google or Nokia and many emerging market stocks, which I believe could help me provide useful content for readers. After writing my own blog for about 3 years, I decided to switch to a value investing-focused YouTube channel, where I researched hundreds of different companies so far. I would say my favorite type of company to cover are metals and mining stocks, but I am comfortable with several other industries, such as consumer discretionary/staples, REITs and utilities.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TRMLF either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Healing, Hope, and a Second Chance: A Transformative Valentine’s Weekend

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Healing, Hope, and a Second Chance: A Transformative Valentine’s Weekend

Over Valentine’s Day weekend, while much of the country focused on flowers and dinner reservations, 20 justice-impacted men and women made a different kind of commitment — a commitment to confront their fears, unpack their trauma, and begin reshaping how they see themselves.

The two-day intensive was curated through a partnership between the Hoffman Institute and Second Chance Services, creating a structured and deeply intentional space for participants to examine the emotional weight of living with a federal conviction: the shame, isolation, identity disruption, and fear that often follow justice system involvement.

Second Chance Services has now worked with over 30 justice-impacted individuals, offering guidance, mentorship, and personal development support to those navigating life after conviction. But this Valentine’s weekend experience represented something especially powerful — an immersive environment focused not just on reentry logistics, but on emotional healing and identity transformation.

Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in facilitated exercises centered on confronting personal history, facing internalized shame, and identifying the patterns that shaped their past decisions. The atmosphere was one of accountability balanced with compassion. Many participants expressed that it was the first time they felt understood not by their case or charges, but as full human beings committed to growth and change.

Adam Levin, Executive Director of Second Chance Services, reflected on why this work matters so deeply to him: “The Hoffman Process changed my life and changed how I viewed myself. So I thought the best thing was to help others who had similar issues — especially as they go through the trauma and shame of having a federal conviction.”

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For participants like Erik, the impact was deeply personal. After the weekend, he shared:

“This weekend allowed me to address my crime, and helped me not to identify myself as my story. It gave me renewed hope.”

That philosophy — that accountability does not have to mean permanent identity — sits at the heart of Second Chance Services. The organization provides ongoing guidance to those impacted by the justice system, helping them navigate not only practical reentry challenges such as employment, relationships, and community reintegration, but also the internal work required to rebuild confidence, purpose, and self-worth.

The success of the first cohort exceeded expectations. Because of the demand and the clear impact of the weekend, Second Chance Services will be announcing its second intensive in the coming weeks. The goal is to expand access and make this opportunity available to as many justice-impacted individuals as possible.

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For those who participated, Valentine’s Day weekend will not be remembered for cards or celebrations. It will be remembered as the moment they chose courage over fear — and healing over shame.

And in that choice, many began to truly embrace what a second chance can mean.

Authorship Statement: This article was written by Eddy Martinez. Editorial assistance was used for formatting purposes only.

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Infographic summarizing the stock market situation in February 2026

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Infographic summarizing the stock market situation in February 2026
Infographic summarizing the stock market situation in February 2026

At the end of February, the SET Index closed at 1,528.26 points, up 21.3% since the beginning of the year and 15.3% from the previous month. Industry groups that have outperformed the SET Index compared to the end of 2025 include technology and resources.

infographics set release 10 2569 th jpg

Source : Infographic summarizing the stock market situation in February 2026

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Zillow denies its ‘interface design systematically deceives consumers’

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Zillow denies its 'interface design systematically deceives consumers'

A University of Pennsylvania Wharton professor published a paper that claims Zillow users don’t know who they’re being connected with when they select an agent, alleging that Zillow-affiliated agents drive users to Zillow’s home mortgages. 

Professor Jerry Wind’s study showed only 0.3% of users understood they would not be connected with the listing agent when selecting the tabs “Contact an agent” or “Request a tour.”

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“This study provides empirical evidence that Zillow’s interface design systematically deceives consumers about a fundamental aspect of the homebuying process,” the conclusion of Wind’s paper states. 

TRUMP-BACKED AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERHAUL CLEARS SENATE, WHILE HOUSE GOP RAISES RED FLAGS

“[Consumers] are not contacting the listing agent. They are being routed to agents who pay Zillow for access to their information, agents who are therefore financially incentivized to steer them toward Zillow’s mortgage products.”

FOX Business sat down with Wind to discuss his findings and what he believes are the biggest takeaways.

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A red and white "for sale" sign in front of a house

Research by professor Jerry Wind found that almost no Zillow users realize they are not contacting the listing agent, raising concerns about transparency and incentives. (iStock/Getty Images Plus / Getty Images)

“My understanding is that the incentive is, one major incentive is that they get the name, and once they get their name and they succeed in selling the house, they have to pay Zillow up to 40% of their commission,” the professor told Fox News Digital. 

“So, that’s what Zillow gets out of this. The agent, obviously, gets a lead.

“And if the agent does not … recommend Zillow’s mortgage to the customers, Zillow, I understand, may basically stop giving them leads,” Wind continued. “So, there is a real carrot and stick here in terms of encouraging the agents to [encourage] their customers to use Zillow’s mortgage.”

Zillow listings page

Zillow maintains that buyers are not steered to its mortgage products and are always free to choose any lender that fits their needs. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Wind joined the Wharton faculty in 1967 and is the Lauder Professor Emeritus and a professor of marketing.

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PAIGE TERRYBERRY: FOREIGNERS ARE SNAPPING UP US HOMES AND STEALING THE AMERICAN DREAM OUT FROM UNDER FAMILIES

“According to recent class action lawsuits filed in federal court, these agents may be required to meet quotas for referring buyers to Zillow Home Loans in order to maintain access to leads,” Wind’s study says. “Agents who fail to meet these quotas risk losing their primary source of business.”

Zillow was quick to deny the professor’s claims that such quotas exist in a statement to FOX Business, discrediting the study and the allegations that it forces Zillow-affiliated buyers to recommend Zillow Home Loans (ZHL).

For sale sign outside of house

Wind’s study claims Zillow’s interface confuses users about which agent they’re contacting, potentially steering them toward agents tied to Zillow’s mortgage business. (Saul Loed/AFP via Getty Images)

“This significantly flawed paper does a lot of gymnastics trying to turn Zillow’s pro-consumer feature into a buy,” a Zillow spokesperson told FOX Business. “When a buyer requests a tour or clicks ‘contact agent,’ Zillow connects them with a local buyer’s agent, someone whose job it is to represent the buyer’s interests and drive the best outcomes for them. A listing agent represents the seller.”

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EXPERT SAYS REAL ESTATE STILL THE SMARTEST INVESTMENT PLAY

Reports and U.S. national data estimate that total home sales in 2025 were approximately 4.74 million units when combining existing and new home sales. 

Zillow’s 2025 Consumer Housing Trends Report showed that roughly 68% of homebuyers use Zillow during their search to purchase a home.

Wind alleged that Zillow’s popularity has created an antitrust issue, with the platform attempting to create a closed loop between searching, purchasing and selecting a mortgage provider for payment.

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Wind told FOX Business “the situation really requires some type of legal intervention here” or “some regulatory involvement.”

Zillow said the claims of a closed loop are false and that it does not steer customers to ZHL. 

Zillow website

The company disputes claims of deception, arguing its “Contact Agent” feature is a pro-consumer tool designed to match buyers with qualified agents. (Stefani Reynolds/AFP / Getty Images)

“Claims that buyers are steered to Zillow Home Loans or any specific mortgage provider are false,” the Zillow spokesperson explained. “We offer choice, not requirements, and buyers are free to work with any lender. Agents are encouraged to help clients evaluate all available financing options.

“We remain confident that our platform delivers transparency, competition and meaningful choice to millions of buyers and sellers.”

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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

As for what Wind hopes to see come out of his study, he told FOX Business he believes consumer awareness and education is important for those looking to make their next home purchase. 

“I think the important aspect here is for consumers to try to be more aware and make sure to look for alternative mortgages, not just buy the first one,” Wind explained. 

“So, consumer education is really key here. Second, I would hope that Zillow will change their incentive systems and business model, basically, and realize they have an amazing platform.”

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Epic Games Offline for v40.00 Update

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iPhone 18 Pro Max

Fortnite players worldwide are currently unable to access the popular battle royale game as Epic Games conducts scheduled maintenance to roll out version 40.00, marking the transition to Chapter 7 Season 2. The downtime, which began at 6:00 UTC on March 19, 2026, has rendered matchmaking and core game services unavailable, with Epic confirming the outage will last until approximately 11:00 UTC.

Epic Games is the developer behind titles such as 'Fortnite' and spinoff 'Lego Fortnite'
AFP

The Epic Games Public Status page lists Fortnite under maintenance, with game services, parties, friends, and messaging features marked as impacted. Matchmaking was disabled about 30 minutes before the scheduled start to prepare for the update rollout. As of mid-morning UTC—aligning with early afternoon in Seoul and other Asian time zones—maintenance remains in progress, and Epic has promised updates as necessary without specifying an exact resolution time beyond the planned five-hour window.

This extended downtime differs from typical patch maintenances, which often last 90 minutes to two hours. The longer period reflects the scale of the v40.00 update, which introduces a new season following the extension of Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break. Originally set to conclude earlier in March, the season was prolonged by two weeks to March 19, allowing Epic additional time to finalize content for the sequel season. Leakers and community trackers had anticipated the change, with data mines showing preparations for fresh maps, weapons, and crossover events.

Downdetector and independent outage trackers show mixed user reports. While some platforms indicate elevated complaints related to game launch and server connections in the past 24 hours, many align with the known scheduled maintenance rather than an unexpected outage. No widespread unplanned disruptions have been reported beyond the planned window, contrasting with earlier issues in March, such as the March 5 login problems tied to the v39.51 patch that affected thousands and prompted Epic to issue statements on X.

Fortnite’s server architecture relies on a global network of data centers, primarily through Amazon Web Services, to handle millions of concurrent players. Maintenance periods like this one allow developers to deploy new assets, balance changes, bug fixes, and security updates while minimizing risks to live gameplay. The v40.00 patch is expected to bring significant additions, including refreshed Battle Pass rewards, new POIs (points of interest), weapon vaults, and potential collaborations—details Epic typically reveals shortly after servers return.

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Players attempting to log in during the window encounter standard error messages indicating servers are offline or under maintenance. Companion apps, the Fortnite Item Shop, and creator tools may remain partially accessible, but core multiplayer modes—including Battle Royale, Zero Build, Reload, and Lego Fortnite—are inaccessible. Epic advises checking the official status page or @FortniteStatus on X for real-time updates.

The timing coincides with a key moment in Fortnite’s lifecycle. Chapter 7 Season 1, themed around Pacific Break, featured tropical environments, vehicle combat enhancements, and events like the South Park Born in Chaos pass and Winterfest holiday celebrations. Its extension provided breathing room amid development delays for Season 2, rumored to emphasize futuristic or high-tech themes with new mobility options and map alterations. Community speculation points to a major visual overhaul and competitive mode tweaks to refresh the meta ahead of major esports tournaments later in 2026.

Epic has faced criticism in the past for communication during outages, but recent seasons show improved transparency via proactive announcements. The March 19 window was flagged in advance on the status page, giving players notice to complete matches or challenges before shutdown. For regions like Asia-Pacific, the 06:00 UTC start translated to afternoon or evening hours, potentially disrupting peak playtimes.

Beyond technical aspects, the update underscores Fortnite’s evolution from a battle royale phenomenon to a metaverse-like platform. With over 500 million registered accounts and integrations across consoles, PC, mobile, and cloud services, even brief downtimes affect a massive global audience. Revenue from V-Bucks purchases, battle passes, and creator economy continues to fuel Epic’s operations, making reliable uptime critical.

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Historical context shows Fortnite maintenances are routine but occasionally extend due to unforeseen issues. The March 5 v39.51 downtime lasted roughly 90 minutes, introducing OG classics and minor balance changes. Earlier in the year, isolated login outages tied to broader Epic services impacted multiple titles, including Rocket League and Fall Guys. No such cascade effects appear tied to the current v40.00 rollout.

As servers remain down, players are turning to alternative activities within the Fortnite ecosystem, such as browsing the locker in offline mode where possible or engaging in community discussions on Reddit, Discord, and X. Content creators are streaming patch breakdowns or reaction videos, building hype for the new season’s reveal.

Epic typically posts a “back online” update once services stabilize, often accompanied by patch notes detailing new features, bug fixes, and known issues. Players should expect a client update prompt upon relaunch to download the new version.

The current maintenance highlights the logistical challenges of managing a live-service game at Fortnite’s scale. With millions dropping into matches daily, coordinated global updates require precise timing to avoid peak-hour disruptions in major regions. The five-hour estimate provides buffer for testing and rollback contingencies if needed.

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For now, Fortnite enthusiasts in Seoul and beyond face a temporary hiatus. The downtime serves as the gateway to Chapter 7 Season 2, promising renewed excitement after a prolonged first season. Once resolved, players can expect a refreshed island, new strategies, and the continued cultural dominance of Epic’s flagship title.

Check status.epicgames.com or follow @FortniteStatus for the latest. As maintenance concludes, the battle bus will once again be ready for boarding.

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Cboe Global Markets Stock: Good Hedge For High Volatility (BATS:CBOE)

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Cboe Global Markets Stock: Good Hedge For High Volatility (BATS:CBOE)

This article was written by

Full-time Equity Analyst and part-time retail investor with a bias for high quality stocks trading at discounted prices. over the past 5 years I’ve been retail investing and learning more about how the stock market works, following the work of Ben Graham and Joel Greenblatt. Equity Markets are fascinating as they give us an analytical overview of how global markets are performing. Seeking Alpha is an incredible platform for me to share my research and analysis with fellow investors and analysts.

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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US Health Department official signals progress on selecting new CDC head

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US Health Department official signals progress on selecting new CDC head


US Health Department official signals progress on selecting new CDC head

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