• Google's AI Overviews links to Wikipedia and LinkedIn more than Reddit, SE Ranking study finds.
• The SEO platform's study analyzed 100,000 keywords and highlighted a shift in linked domains.
• Google's more cautious approach follows viral blunders, such as suggesting people put glue on a pizza.

Google seems to have been making tweaks to AI Overviews.

Its AI-generated summaries now link to Wikipedia and LinkedIn more than Reddit, a new study by SE Ranking showed.

The SEO marketing platform analyzed 100,000 keywords in June and found Reddit was no longer in the top 10 linked domains in Google's AI Overviews.

Google reportedly struck a deal with Reddit earlier this year to train its AI models on its content.

Google appears to be taking a more cautious approach with AI Overviews by prioritizing other websites it links to instead of forums like Reddit. It comes after a series of blunders generated by AI Overviews went viral following its public launch last month.

One incident included when it told a user to put glue on pizza to keep the cheese intact — a suggestion that seems to have been based on a Reddit comment more than a decade ago.

SE Ranking's study also shows that LinkedIn, Wikipedia, and YouTube are in third, fourth, and sixth positions of the top 10 linked domains, respectively.

The SEO tool provider carried out a similar study in February before Google rolled out the AI feature to the public, which found that the overviews included many snippets from forums Reddit and Quora.

Google showed significantly fewer AI Overviews, previously called SGE (Search Generative Experience), in the June study than it did in February.

Less than 9% of keywords had AI Overviews in June, compared with 64% with an SGE answer or a Generate button out of the 1,000 keywords analyzed. SGE linked to Reddit most for keywords related to entertainment and hobbies in February.

Google seems to be continuing to rollout AI Overviews. Liz Reid, the Search VP, addressed the pizza glue fiasco at a recent all-hands meeting, according to audio obtained by CNBC, saying the company would not "hold back features" if there were "occasional problems."

Google didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

• Wyoming, Delaware, and Montana have had the most new businesses per 100,000 residents open this year, per Census Bureau data
• Wyoming leads the nation in number of new businesses with 283 per 100,000 residents
• Small businesses openings are booming, but the viability of lasting in the long term is less certain

Business is booming out West, even in the country's least populated state.

Wyoming leads the nation for most new business openings per 100,000 residents since the start of 2024, according to Census Bureau data and Business Insider's analysis of population data.

Delaware and Montana are second and third in new business openings per 100,000 residents since the start of 2024.

Wyoming has seen 1,657 new businesses open since the start of the year, according to the Census Bureau. In Delaware, 1,583 have opened. And in Montana, 1,207. All of those states are particularly tax-friendly for new entrepreneurs.

The boom in business translates to 283 new businesses per 100,000 residents in Wyoming, 153 in Delaware, and 106 in Montana.

As many Americans face high costs of living and seek out new opportunities, states like Wyoming and Montana have seen a surge in economic activity. Wyoming also led the nation in new business applications per capita in 2023, according to the Chamber of Commerce. And the number of new business applications in Wyoming in 2022 was seven times greater than in 2005, according to data from the St. Louis Fed.

According to Census Bureau data, Wyoming was the least populated state in the nation as of 2023, with 584,057 residents. Yet, Wyoming's population is steadily growing, increasing 1.2% from 2020 to 2023.

In Montana, the population increased by 4.5% from 2020 to 2023, according to Census Bureau data.

It's yet another sign that the economy is heading away from traditional coastal hubs, and more South and West. The pandemic shifted workers and money away from stalwarts like New York City and San Francisco, with many opting for wide open (cheaper) spaces in areas like Wyoming. And while pandemic-era population and job shifts may have slowed, it looks like business is still booming in Wyoming — perhaps showcasing a more permanent trend.

Business is bustling in some states, but many new ones won't make it

While business is booming, it's important to recognize that about a quarter of all new private businesses in the US fail within their first year, according to an April report by LendingTree, a loan service. Within five years, that number climbs to nearly half.

According to the Chamber of Commerce, small businesses make up 99.9% of all businesses in the US. As the Fed holds interest rates at 20-year highs and inflation cools slightly, many new business owners may struggle to find their footing.

But the Bureau of Labor Statistics does have its own measure to approximate just how many new businesses actually came of those applications; BLS splices data on past new businesses with their forecast of new businesses to yield a measure showing what actual formations might look like. And according to that measure, Wyoming and its Western counterparts — along with Delaware — are due to have businesses with some staying power.

In fact, the St. Louis Fed listed Wyoming and Delaware as the two states with the largest growth rates in number of business applications from 2005 to 2022.

Business-friendly taxation

Wyoming, Delaware, and Montana are all particularly attractive to new business owners due to their tax laws. It's a reason that entrepreneurship might stay strong.

Wyoming is one of three states alongside South Dakota and Nevada that does not impose a corporate income tax, according to the Tax Foundation, a Washington D.C. based think tank.

Furthermore, Wyoming does not impose an individual income tax, another appeal for potential business owners.

Delaware is known for its business-friendly tax structure. About 68% of all Fortune 500 companies were incorporated in Delaware as of 2022, according to the state's Division of Corporations.

More recently, the Economic Innovation Group found that as of 2023, a "startup surge" in new businesses has been led by "two clear belts of states in the Mountain West and Southeast." For places like Wyoming and Delaware, EIG attributes the surge in applications partly to favorable state corporate laws.

"The startup suge is both powered and shaped by numerous local forces and policies that will affect its long-term economic impact on communities, as well," EIG found.

And so, if you're looking for a small business to frequent — or have an idea you want to make a reality — you too might want to head West.

Are you a new small-business owner in Wyoming, Delaware, or Montana? Contact these reporters at jtowfighi@businessinsider.com and jkaplan@businessinsider.com.

• Grocery delivery services can save time and energy, and I used to rely on them. 
• But I've mostly stopped using them and now, I shop with my kids instead. 
• I still use online grocery ordering in a pinch, but the added cost isn't worth it to me anymore.

When online grocery ordering became a thing, I quickly became hooked. It was a novelty to be able to shop from the couch and buy back an hour or so of time each weekend. Ordering groceries online suddenly made the unavoidable task of grocery shopping efficient, and I loved it.

After my kids were born, my love for online grocery ordering grew even more. Ordering online meant avoiding schlepping them and their gear into the store and made the process of getting groceries for the family much easier.

My perspective has changed as time has gone by. While I used to use a grocery delivery service nearly every week, I only use it in a pinch now.

Grocery shopping is an activity to do with my kids

Now that my kids are out of the baby phase, I always need weekend activities. Going to the grocery store can easily fill up 1-2 hours, and my girls really enjoy shopping. One store that we frequent offers free cookies to kids, one store has a train that circles the dairy section, and another has shopper-in-training carts that my oldest thinks are the coolest to push around as we shop.

My girls like to help put things into the cart and love suggesting different items to buy. I enjoy talking to them about the various things left on our list while they are securely nestled in the cart. If I want to extend the activity, I'll have them help me scan our items at self-checkout.

The extra cost of online grocery ordering isn't worth it to me anymore

Ordering groceries online often costs more than shopping in the store, sometimes as much as 15% more for online items than in-store items. On top of that, there can be things like pick-up fees, service fees, delivery charges, and tips if you use a grocery delivery service.

Earlier in the pandemic, all these extra costs were worth it to me to avoid going to the store. The extra costs were also worth it when I had a newborn and didn't want to lug her into the store.

But with grocery prices rising, I had to rethink whether the additional costs were worth it. If I'm in a pinch, then I find they are. It's worth it to me to pay the extra cost for grocery delivery when I'm coming back from being out of town, for example, but otherwise, I can't justify the extra spend anymore. The fees can easily add $20-$30 (if not more) to our bill, and I'd rather use that money elsewhere.

Occasional mistakes mean I sometimes have to go grocery shopping anyway

On three occasions, I've shown up to collect my grocery order and found that someone else has claimed it. That's an extreme outcome, but other issues have popped up more frequently than they used to.

I've seen an uptick in the wrong item being selected, like the shopper selecting skin-on chicken breast when I requested boneless skinless chicken breast or selecting severely bruised produce. Shopping online means you need to select a specific item for the shopper to get. If I were shopping in person, I'd just grab an alternative if I couldn't find the exact item, but this doesn't usually happen when someone is shopping for you.

All of this means that I end up having to go to the grocery store anyway, usually stressed because I was counting on the grocery delivery service to save time. It's a wrinkle in my day that I'd rather avoid, which means I'm better off doing the shopping myself.

Using a grocery delivery service can save time and energy, but it also comes with added costs and, oftentimes, frustration. I'll continue to use it sparingly when I'm in a pinch, but otherwise will stick to in-person shopping.

• Ultra-low-cost carriers charge for everything except an unassigned seat and a small personal item.
• Bag size and weight are strict, and paying for extra baggage at booking is cheaper than later.
• Trying TikTok hacks to bring more than allowed is risky, and airlines are cracking down.

Ultra-low-cost carriers, or ULCCs, were a saving grace in college when I had limited fun money. I didn't care about the barebones planes or stuffing everything into a personal item so long as I could travel cheaply.

My limited budget meant I was careful to follow the rules to a T, as I knew the add-on fees would pile up if I got to the airport unprepared.

While I largely avoid ULCCs like Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines these days due to their worsening value and customer experience, there are times when the price is too good to pass up.

However, I see people forking over hundreds of dollars for luggage, seats, snacks, and other add-ons every time because they ignored or misunderstood the a-la-carte business model.

The recent controversy involving Frontier reportedly charging people for bags within the size limits and then taking a commission has not helped the confusion.

Research the no-frills rules before you show up to the airport

The a-la-carte rules of ULCCs are relatively simple: the base fare gets you an unassigned seat and a personal item, but everything else — including even a cup of water — costs extra.

This means parties will only be guaranteed to sit together if they pay for each seat, and I recommend bringing your own snacks and drinks if you don't want to pay for the overpriced options on board.

But I think what surprises new flyers the most is how strict the bag size and weight limits are.

Frontier and Spirit require personal items to be 18 x 14 x 8 inches or smaller and don't allow checked bags bigger than 62 linear inches.

One important detail: Frontier's checked bag weight limit is 40 pounds compared to Spirit's 50 pounds — something I've seen trip people up when the ping-pong between the two carriers.

Further, the carry-on bag restrictions vary slightly at 24 x 16 x 10 inches and 22 x 18 x 10 inches, respectively. These rules are found on the airline's websites, and the same goes for other global ULCCs like Ryanair and Allegiant Air.

The rules may be annoying, but luggage is a lucrative ancillary revenue stream for the company. In 2023, global airlines raked in some $33 billion in bag revenue alone.

If you inadvertently show up at the airport with luggage that is too big or heavy, I recommend downsizing if you have time or taking the loss because gate agents are required to charge you — and arguing likely won't change their minds.

Always book directly through the airline

Frontier and Spirit allow customers to book flights on third-party websites like Priceline or Booking.com. While the base fare is sometimes cheaper, I'd recommend against this.

These websites don't always let you add bags at booking, possibly misleading travelers into thinking some luggage is included. Plus, some charge an extra fee to charge for a bag.

For example, an early August flight on Spirit from New York City to Orlando on Spirit can be purchased on Priceline for the same price as the airline website, but each added bag charges a $7 "convenience fee."

You could add bags to your reservation after booking, but — because of the way Spirit is set up — will cost more than if you did it at booking on its website.

Another third-party website called "TravelGo" offers the same ticket for about $10 cheaper but describes the carry-on allowance as "subject to airlines" for all fares. I can imagine how inexperienced flyers trying to save a few extra dollars could get confused and show up with an unpaid carry-on.

In my experience, the process is much clearer when booking direct, thanks to the clear messages about bags, seats, and other add-ons costing extra unless you "bundle."

If you're unsure, call the airline — but don't let them make the reservation for you. That also costs extra.

Do the math before you book a ULCC

I only pay for an extra bag or a seat when absolutely necessary on a ULCC. However, once you add everything, booking a mainline carrier like American, Delta, or United is sometimes cheaper.

In a previous article, I used the NYC to Orlando example to illustrate how the fees can add up on a ULCC, and I've found the same results on several other routes I've researched.

For instance, a roundtrip flight between Denver and Seattle in August costs $187 for basic economy on United and $267 on Delta.

United's includes a random seat and a personal item. Paying $60 more for regular coach adds a carry-on and a seat selection. Delta's basic fare already includes a carry-on but no pre-assigned seat, but paying up for regular economy with a seat would cost $347.

The base fare for the same route on Frontier with similar departure times on both legs is $197. Once you add the cheapest seat for $39 each way and a carry-on bag for $69 each way, the total price is $413.

Another example I found is between Las Vegas and Chicago, with Spirit costing more than American after adding bags.

Just because it's low cost doesn't mean it's actually the lowest price anymore. Plus, ULCCs will not provide you with a better flight experience due to their no-frills planes and poor customer service and reliability.

Don't bank on TikTok 'hacks'

Frequent flyers and TikTok users have been testing the limits of ULCC rules for years, and many have found ways to bypass the size and weight rules and carry more than their ticket allows.

Some have shown up to the airport wearing everything that couldn't fit in their personal item — think that episode of Joey from the TV show Friends — while others have stuffed extra needs into a pillowcase.

A Business Insider reporter even tested a viral hack in August 2023, in which people stuffed extra items into the pockets of a fishing vest and wore it for the flight.

The vest hack worked for our reporter, and I've seen the pillow trick be successful — but these strategies are risky and could cost you hundreds in unexpected fees if you get caught.

A Frontier gate agent in Orlando recently stopped a Buffalo-bound passenger from bringing a pillowcase full of items, as shown in a viral TikTok video posted on June 4.

Spirit's own website says neck and head pillows can be carried if they fit into your personal item — but one stuffed to the brim with extra clothes could end in you shelling out more money in a carry-on fee than the price of the flight itself.

• A Texas woman is seeking over $1 million in damages after her husband died at a Mexican resort.
• The wrongful-death lawsuit claims that he died after being electrocuted in a jacuzzi and drowned.
• The lawsuit accuses three companies linked to the resort of negligence.

A Texas woman is seeking over $1 million in damages, saying she watched her husband get electrocuted and then drown while in a hot tub during a family vacation in Mexico.

In a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in El Paso County District Court in Texas, first published by Inside Edition, Lizzette Zambrano accused three companies associated with the Sonoran Sea Resort of negligence.

It follows the death of her husband, Jorge Guillen, on June 11, 2024, while they were on holiday at the resort in Sonora, northern Mexico.

According to the lawsuit, Guillen stepped into the hot tub and was immediately "exposed to an electrical current in the water," causing him to keel over and become submerged.

The lawsuit said that Zambrano tried to grab her husband from the water but she was also electrocuted and fell into the jacuzzi.

According to the lawsuit, another guest managed to pull Zambrano out, but attempts to get Guillen, using a shepherd's cross and other items, were unsuccessful.

"The metal from the objects carried the electrical current and began shocking the rescuers," the lawsuit said.

Zambrano claims in the lawsuit that resort staff did not try to engage the emergency shutoff for the jacuzzi or try to rescue her or her husband.

Guillen died of drowning, the lawsuit said, while Zambrano was hospitalized but survived the incident.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants showed negligence by not providing warnings about faulty jacuzzi wiring, and breached their duty of care by failing to keep the resort reasonably safe.

A spokesperson for Casago, the vacation rental company that manages the resort, told BI by email: "We are devastated by what has occurred, and our hearts are with the family and the victims of this terrible incident."

The spokesperson added that the resort is a condo resort, and the homeowners association is responsible for the common areas, including maintenance of the pools and hot tubs.

"Regarding this incident, our involvement ends at the individual condo reservation," they said.

Guillen is described in the lawsuit as "an industrious, affectionate, loving, compassionate, energetic, cooperative, patient, and attentive father."

The couple's family has raised more than $55,000 on a GoFundMe campaign, which says it is fundraising to bring Guillen's body home and to cover Zambrano's medical expenses.

At the time of writing, the Sonoran Sea Resort's website includes a note indicating that the swimming pools and jacuzzis are temporarily closed.

• Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin made sure to show off what seems like a budding bromance on Wednesday.
• Kim lavished Putin with gifts, including art pieces of the Russian leader, while he got a luxury limo.
• Under the smiles and laughs, both leaders hope to lean on each other to fuel their separate agendas.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang on Wednesday, spending a day with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as they seek to bolster cooperation between their nations.

Photos of their day together present a rosy relationship between both leaders, underscoring how heavily Pyongyang and Moscow hope to lean on each other as they grow increasingly isolated from the rest of the world.

Indeed, Putin's Wednesday visit was his first to North Korea since 2000.

Kim, for his part, rolled out the red carpet for Putin, showering him with gifts, a dramatic welcoming ceremony, a banquet, and a concert.

If North Korean and Russian state media had their way, you would think both men had been best buds for decades.

Kim brought Putin to Kim Il Sung Square, where a crowd waited for them

State media reports suggest that North Korea turned out throngs of Pyongyang citizens for the occasion, writing that streets were decorated for "scores of kilometers" along Putin's route and filled with people.

Both men were paraded in a Mercedes Benz as the crowd released balloons.

Similar treatment was given to Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his 2019 visit, when he was presented with children holding balloons.

Hundreds of portraits of Kim and Putin were reported to be hanging throughout Pyongyang.

North Korean state outlet Rodong Sinmun wrote that slogans praising Putin were emblazoned on signposts and street lights throughout Pyongyang.

Russian journalists who arrived 12 hours before Putin reported that some 400 portraits of the Russian leader were set up in the North Korean capital, per The Telegraph.

One of Kim's gifts to Putin appears to be a portrait of the Russian leader.

Nestled among black-and-white fireworks and a representation of the Kremlin, Putin's face is the star of the art piece.

Another is of a bust bearing Putin's likeness

It's unclear whether Putin took the bust or art piece home.

Putin gave Kim some presents, including an admiral's ceremonial blade and a tea set.

Per state media, the above three photos were taken at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse in Pyongyang, a facility used by China's Xi in 2019 — the last state visit hosted by North Korea.

Kim also received a Russian-made Aurus limousine, which both men took turns driving.

Putin's own entourage regularly uses the Aurus Senat, and he gave Kim a similar luxury sedan in February. While it was a gift, sending the car to North Korea violated United Nations sanctions.

Kim is reportedly a luxury car enthusiast, with a Cadillac SUV, a Maybach limousine, and a Rolls Royce Phantom in his collection.

Kim presented Putin with several white horses deployed for the welcoming ceremony.

The leaders gathered at a garden in the Kumsusan Guest House, where both men had been driving the Aurus gifted to Kim.

State media footage showed Kim feeding a carrot to one of the horses.

State media released dozens of photos showing both leaders laughing or smiling

Few photos showed the pair, often flanked only by translators, looking serious or stern.

North Korean state media lavished praise on their personal relationship, writing that both men "shared deep emotion and joy" on their stroll.

Putin was also given a pair of Pungsan hunting dogs.

The same breed was given to South Korea's then-president, Moon Jae-in, in 2018 when ties in the peninsula appeared to be warming.

The Pungsan, sporting a thick, white coat and bred in mountainous regions, is North Korea's national dog and one of its most prized treasures.

Kim and Putin later sat for negotiations with their officials and a one-on-one conversation.

North Korean state media reported that both men spoke personally for about two hours, once again highlighting their conversation as having a "friendly and comradely atmosphere."

Notably, Russian state media agency RIA Novosti reported that Kim "expressed full support" for Moscow's military actions in Ukraine.

Both leaders signed an agreement that mostly reiterated a 1961 agreement between their countries to defend each other if attacked and establish closer military ties.

For Russia, North Korea is becoming a source of vital ammunition and arms for the war in Ukraine.

Putin has been kicking Russia's defense manufacturing industry into full gear, focusing its economy heavily on weapons manufacturing and arms development to sustain its invasion of Ukraine.

NATO officials say Moscow's production capabilities far outweigh the West's in sheer volume despite heavy sanctions imposed by the alliance.

Even so, Russia needs far more shells than the estimated 3 million it produces yearly.

It's been accused by the US of acquiring ammunition from Pyongyang since September 2022, and North Korean munitions have reportedly been found on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Observers say that in return, North Korea is getting food, supplies, and materials.

While it's not certain exactly what North Korea needs from Russia, it's clear that Pyongyang benefits from a strategic partnership with Moscow.

South Korea said in February that North Korea is receiving food and raw materials from Russia, and is working its weapons factories at full capacity while other production facilities stall at about 30%.

With Moscow sending over the materials to make munitions, that would effectively make North Korea a remote factory for Russia.

A United Nations report in August 2023 also said North Korea desperately needs petroleum products, which Russia can provide.

Russia has also reportedly been working closely to advise and boost North Korea's space and nuclear arms development. For example, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported in May that Russian scientists had arrived in Pyongyang last year as North Korea hoped to launch a spy satellite. The satellite exploded just after takeoff.

Talks aside, Kim also brought Putin to a gala concert in the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium.

Per North Korean state media, Putin's face flashed above the stage as the national anthems of Russia and North Korea played and a military band put on a performance.

North Korean singers and a male choir were also featured.

A repeated theme in Putin's day trip was the Korean War, when the Soviet Union provided fighter jets and pilots to North Korea.

Putin received North Korea's highest honor, named after Kim's grandfather.

Kim gave Putin an award of the Order of Kim Il Sung, his grandfather and the first dictator of the ruling party in North Korea.

North Korean state media wrote that Putin had "performed great exploits" in growing ties between the two countries.

A banquet was held in Putin's honor, attended by Russia's top officials.

RIA Novosti wrote that the menu included salads, two cold appetizers, chicken and medicinal pumpkin, stewed cod, fried lamb, boiled seafood, and Korean noodles with beef tenderloin.

For dessert, Putin had a choice of chocolate chip or blueberry ice cream, the state outlet reported.

Putin praised Kim, saying that 'a good neighbor is better than a brother far away.'

In exchanging pleasantries with Kim, the Russian leader also blasted the US and its allies, accusing them of perpetuating "hegemony and neo-colonialist practices," per Rodong Sinmun.

It's a common refrain that North Korean state media uses to criticize the West.

It was time for Kim to say goodbye to Putin by Wednesday evening.

As North Korea's first state visit in five years ended, its state media lauded its ties with Russia again, calling Putin's delegation the country's "closest and most precious friends."

Putin was reported to have invited Kim to visit Russia again. The North Korean leader last arrived in Moscow in September 2023, though his six-day trip lasted much longer than Putin's quick stop.

Waving through his aircraft window, Putin replicated the show of friendship before the cameras.

"We'll be in contact," Putin told Kim, according to RIA Novosti.

Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine rages on, with the Kharkiv front seeing renewed fighting.

As Putin shook hands and supped with Kim, his forces continued to fight in Ukraine.

In Kharkiv, a northeastern region in Ukraine that borders Russia, Kyiv says its troops are pushing back an advance from the Kremlin that started in early May.

Vovchansk, a Ukrainian city near the border, has been central to the fighting in Kharkiv.

Key to the war has been artillery shells — ammunition that Ukraine was starved of for months but has recently been receiving after a resumption of US military aid.

With North Korea aggressively testing devastating weapons, Seoul is aghast at the Putin-Kim meet-up.

South Korea, on edge as Pyongyang steps up intercontinental ballistic missile tests and space launches, has condemned the treaty signed by Kim and Putin on Wednesday.

It called up Russia's ambassador to Seoul on Friday to protest the arrangement and said that Moscow cooperating militarily with Pyongyang would violate international sanctions.

Now, South Korean officials say the revitalized partnership between North Korea and Russia may prompt Seoul to lift its ban on sending weapons to Ukraine. South Korea has a substantial conventional arms manufacturing sector and is the world's 10th biggest arms exporter, per the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Putin sought to assure Seoul that the treaty signed on Wednesday only dealt with either country defending each other, though he did not address South Korea's concerns that Russia was enabling Pyongyang.

"The Republic of Korea does not plan aggression against the DPRK, which means there is no need to be afraid of our cooperation in this area," he said, per RIA Novosti.

Even as he meets with Kim, Putin must keep China top-of-mind.

Although North Korea offers a potential stream of ammunition to Russia, China is clearly Moscow's greater ally by far.

And observers say China's Xi likely isn't a fan of Putin's wartime brotherhood with Kim, especially given Beijing's growing close ties with Moscow.

As China assists Russia with trade and — as accused by the West — electronics and parts for sophisticated weaponry, it also has to balance pressures from the rest of the world to keep its distance from Pyongyang.

Beijing's support for Russia has been so vital to its war that NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg accused it on Thursday of "fuelling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War Two."

Despite the flurry of gifts, warm words, and smiles he's exchanged with Kim, the friendship Putin really needs is the one in Beijing.

• Critical Role's new campaign arc, "Downfall," will be helmed by "Dimension 20's" Brennan Lee Mulligan.
• The three-chapter series is all about the fall of Aeor, an ancient civilization.
• The episodes, part of the CR crew's third campaign, will air on July 11, 18, and 25.

It looks like "Critical Role" is venturing into uncharted nerd world territory again, and it's bringing in the big guns.

The eight-member CR cast is on episode 98 of their third long-running "Dungeons & Dragons" campaign. For the uninitiated, this group has spent nine years creating everything from two Amazon-backed animated series to a board games publishing arm.

"Critical Role" is no stranger to guests taking over for the gang's regular game master, Matthew Mercer. The crew is now doubling down on experimentation and bringing game master Brennan Lee Mulligan to helm a full campaign arc. Mulligan is the regular game master for "Dimension 20," a tabletop role-playing game show that streams on Dropout, formerly CollegeHumor.

Titled "Downfall," the three-part series goes back in time to the fall of an ancient civilization, Aeor. It'll also allow Mulligan to flex his storytelling chops, perhaps reprising some elements of his first "EXU: Calamity" run with Critical Role from 2022.

The three chapters are integrated into "Critical Role's" main campaign as episodes 99 to 101 of the main storyline. Only three members of the regular CR cast — Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, and Ashley Johnson — will be playing in "Downfall." They'll be joined by a new slate of guests, including Abubakar Salim, Noshir Dalal, and Nick Marini.

Mulligan — whose own crew is scheduled to play "Dungeons & Dragons" at a sold-out Madison Square Garden in January — told this writer in May that he was excited about the "delightful" prospect of getting to work with "Critical Role" again. At the time, Mulligan had only been billed as an emcee for "Critical Role's" June live show.

"Without being overly sappy or sentimental about 'Critical Role' and its place in the pantheon of actual play: This was like 2017, and I'd been working at CollegeHumor for a couple of months," Mulligan recalled, referencing "Dimension 20's" beginnings as a CollegeHumor show. "And I came in with this little market research document of people that are doing work in this space that is exceptional and phenomenal, like 'Adventure Zone' and 'Critical Role.'"

"Maybe no one would have taken a chance on "Dimension 20" if the path forward was not paved by the incredible work of Matt Mercer and the whole gang over at CR, and it's just so exceptional," Mulligan added. "I just have so much respect and appreciation to even be a little, tiny part of that incredible world they've built."

The "Downfall" episodes drop on July 11, 18, and 25 on Twitch, YouTube, and CR's in-house subscription service, Beacon.

• Russian President Putin visited Vietnam, where the two countries signed a dozen agreements this week.
• Vietnam's warm welcome of Putin isn't a good look for the US after Washington and Hanoi elevated ties in 2023.
• Vietnam's relationship with Russia dates back to the Soviet era and holds sentimental value.

Wanted by the International Criminal Court, Russian President Vladimir Putin still traveled to Vietnam on a two-day visit, where he was warmly welcomed.

On Thursday, the Russian leader wrapped up his trip to Vietnam. The two countries inked about a dozen cooperation agreements covering a range of subjects, including education and plans for a nuclear science and technology center.

Vietnam is not a member of the ICC, so Putin was safe there. Russia and Vietnam also have a long history going back to the Soviet era, so his visit is also not surprising.

However, Putin's quick trip — which came less than a year after the US upgraded its ties with Vietnam — isn't a good look for Washington or the West, which have imposed sweeping restrictions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Vietnam is a strategic partner for US and its allies

The US is among Vietnam's largest trading partners, accounting for trade worth $111 billion last year. Russia's trade with Vietnam over the same period was just worth $3.6 billion.

Australia and Japan have also elevated their relationships with Vietnam over the past year, underscoring the Southeast Asian nation's strategic role in a changing geopolitical landscape.

Putin's visit could jeopardize these newly-forged partnerships because the optics are so stark, wrote Hoang Thi Ha, a senior fellow at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, on Wednesday.

Western allies may rethink "Vietnam's reliability as a strategic partner in the region," Hoang wrote.

"While Vietnam is not directly aiding Russia's war efforts, its warm reception of Putin could be perceived as ending foreign legitimacy to his regime and undermining US-led international efforts to oppose Russia's war in Ukraine," wrote Hoang, who is also a co-coordinator of the Regional Strategic and Political Studies Programme at ISEAS.

Vietnam is a manufacturing hotspot for many multinational companies diversifying their operations outside China — the world's factory floor for the last 40 years — to diversify their supply chain risks.

The US is playing it cool — but really isn't

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen played it cool, saying on Thursday that America's elevated relationship with Vietnam doesn't mean Hanoi has to break up with Moscow or Beijing.

"Vietnam has a policy and strategy of working collaboratively with many different countries, and it is not a condition of our partnership that they sever their ties to Russia or to China," Yellen told a news conference in Atlanta.

Still, the US embassy in Vietnam issued a sharp criticism of the visit, saying that "no country should give Putin a platform to promote his war of aggression and otherwise allow him to normalize his atrocities."

Hot on the heels of Putin's trip, Washington is sending Daniel Kritenbrink, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs, to Vietnam, the State Department said on Thursday.

Kritenbrink will meet senior Vietnamese officials on Friday and Saturday to underscore "strong US commitment" to Washington and Hanoi's strategic partnership, said the State Department.

Hanoi's sentimental attachment to the past influences pragmatism

While Hanoi has a much-touted "bamboo diplomacy" policy of flexibility and balanced relations with diverse powers, it is still attached to its past.

This sentimentalism can influence the pragmatism that marked Hanoi's foreign policy for the last two decades, wrote Hoang at the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute.

It's also a smart political move, as a segment of Vietnamese still holds "a deep fondness for Russia," wrote Hoang.

"Many still feel nostalgic for the Soviet Union and grateful for its support to Vietnam during the wars against the French and Americans," Hoang added. "Some are extremely enamored with Putin as an anti-Western symbol and a strongman leader, a phenomenon coined locally as 'Putin-mania.'"

• China's 618 shopping festival faced challenges, despite creative strategies to attract shoppers.
• Alibaba, ByteDance, and JD.com offered large discounts amid an uncertain economic environment.
• By one measure, 618 sales — a barometer of consumer health — fell nearly 7% year-on-year.

China's e-commerce platforms worked hard to attract shoppers during the country's annual 618 shopping festival. But economic troubles got in the way of big sales.

The 618 promotion is a weeks-long event from late May to June 18, during which online platforms launch flash sales. This year saw internet companies like Alibaba, ByteDance, and JD.com offering steep discounts to woo Chinese consumers hit by persistent deflation, youth unemployment, and the property crisis.

It's is the second-biggest sale after Singles Day, which takes place in November and is likened to Black Friday in the US. The summer shopping festival is seen as a key indicator of China's general retail temperature — and signs so far this year show that consumer spending is still muted.

In recent weeks, Alibaba offered a 50% discount on Lululemon clothing, JD.com sold some Apple iPhones at discounts as high as 20%, and TikTok's sister company Douyin cut prices aggressively.

Luxury brands, which are seeing a purchase slowdown in China, joined the festival, too. Burberry livestreamed its 618 discounts, while Louis Vuitton offered shoppers a 30-minute virtual personalized shopping experience on WeChat.

After the end of 618, Alibaba and JD.com said sales grew, but neither reported specific figures.

According to figures from Syntun, a Chinese third-party data agency, total sales on Alibaba's Tmall, JD.com, and Pinduoduo fell 6.9% year-on-year. Total sales during the festival were 742.8 billion yuan, or $102.3 billion, the first time sales dropped in the eight years since Syntun started collecting data.

Home appliances, skincare, cosmetics and perfume, and personal care products were the top three categories in terms of sales, according to the data company.

The drop comes amid China's slow post-pandemic recovery, as people exercise caution with their discretionary spending. According to a research note from Dutch bank ING published in May, Chinese consumers are cutting spending on clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry and instead choosing to spend their money on experiences like dining and sports. They are also flocking to safe haven investments like gold and supporting local manufacturers, instead of spending on overseas luxury brands like Gucci, Apple, and Starbucks.

The slowdown may also stem from a plethora of year-round sales and discounts.

"The promotional period is too long, and all the marketing has gotten confusing," said Constance Zhou, a 31-year-old who told the Financial Times she did not buy anything this year. "The platforms are always doing promotions. Regular shoppers don't have any motivation to participate."