• A Malaysia Airlines Boeing flight bound for Kuala Lumpur had to turn back after takeoff. 
• A video of the incident showed the engine on fire.
• The plane turned around and made an emergency landing back in Hyderabad. 

A Malaysia Airlines flight from Hyderabad, India, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had to return shortly after takeoff on Thursday night.

A video taken from inside the aircraft, posted by The Straits Times, showed its engine on fire with sparks flying out behind it.

The fire broke out 15 minutes after the plane took off, per The Straits Times.

The Boeing 738 aircraft had to turn back and make an emergency landing at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

In a statement to The Straits Times, Malaysia Airlines said that the affected plane arrived safely in Hyderabad with no injuries reported.

"All passengers and crew disembarked safely. Affected passengers will be reallocated to other flights for their continued journey," Malaysia Airlines said in its statement.

This is the latest addition to the long list of Boeing mishaps that have happened this year. During a January Alaska Airlines flight, a door plug came off a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet at an altitude of 16,000 feet. Separately, a United Airlines flight lost its tire shortly after takeoff in March.

Several Boeing whistleblowers have also come forward, alleging in testimonies and statements that the company has been lax with quality control. Most recently, Sam Mohawk, a quality assurance inspector for Boeing, alleged that the company lost track of hundreds of faulty 737 parts and ordered staff to hide improperly stored plane parts from FAA inspectors.

Boeing CEO David Calhoun has defended the aviation company, saying on Capitol Hill this week that he's "proud" of its safety record.

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

• When Aolin Xu's parents offered to pay her tuition if she moved to Australia, she obliged.
• Xu has noticed that Australians are more open to travel, but are less political. 
• She also says she's benefitted from Australia's job market, which is less competitive than the US.

This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Aolin Xu, 22, about moving to Australia for college. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I was born in Australia but grew up in Washington. When I was five, my parents moved our family to Canada and then to America.

My older brother moved back to Australia in 2013 for university. The fees were much cheaper for him than for an international student because of our dual citizenship.

My parents, who still live in the US, always talked about how much we could save if I went to university in Australia. They even offered to pay my tuition fees, which was a huge motivator for me as it would allow me to graduate debt-free.

In Australia, I've benefited from financial support from my parents and partner. I've secured a job at a big four firm starting next year. I've found opportunities to be successful in Australia, with less competition than I'd have in America.

I'm graduating debt-free because of my parents' support

I moved to Australia in January 2020 to study a four-year course in education and science at the University of New South Wales. I switched subjects to computer science and am on track to graduate next year.

US tuition currently averages around $11,000 a year for in-state and $24,000 for out-of-state fees, while private university fees jump to $42,000. Meanwhile, my parents paid around 6,530 AUD, in 2023 for me to study at UNSW on domestic fees, which is around $4,345.

The Australian government partially subsidizes my fees, on what is called a Commonwealth Supported Place. Most domestic undergrad students at public universities are entitled to this subsidy.

In the US, people are expected to live on campus their first year of college. In Sydney, domestic students mainly live at home, so there are no boarding costs.

I'm grateful for my parents and my situation. Because they pay my fees, I get to graduate debt-free.

If I went to college in the US and had to pay my own fees, I would probably have to rely on student loans. I have friends in the US who are tens of thousands of dollars in debt, and for many people, they're in debt until middle age.

Sydney is expensive, but I still think I'm saving money

Another motivator for me to study in Australia was that my parents owned an apartment in Sydney where I could stay for free. I don't pay rent or utilities except for WiFi.

When I first came to Australia, I worked a couple of minimum wage jobs to earn some extra spending money. I've now accumulated savings that I can chip away at, and I live with my partner, who supports me financially, too. I acknowledge that not everyone has the same kind of support I've had, and without it, I think I'd struggle a lot more.

Sydney is an expensive city to live in, but I personally feel I'm spending less on certain things compared to the US, like food and my phone bill.

Growing up in my parent's house in the US, I didn't pay bills, but they both complained about excruciatingly expensive healthcare. Australia has a universal healthcare system called Medicare. Many services are subsidized and I don't have to pay out of pocket for any of my health bills.

Australians can sometimes be too chill

Australian culture can be very chill, but at times, it's a little too chill. There's a phrase here, "tall poppy syndrome," when people with driven, strong personalities are looked down on.

When I first came here, my American personality shone through. I'm very talkative, opinionated, and political, and this made me feel like a bit of an outsider.

In Australia, some people pride themselves on being non-political. Australian culture as I've experienced it is rooted in being humble and neutral – which is mostly positive – but there are things you need to take a strong stance on.

I've noticed other cultural differences between the US and Australia

In the US, most people drove, and our public transport system wasn't efficient. In Sydney, public transport is part of my daily life, and I enjoy taking the trains.

The weather here is much better than in Washington, and the beaches are beautiful.

I've found people here are more open to traveling overseas than in the US. I don't have many friends back in the US who've been overseas, but in Australia, my friends and I spend most of our money on travel. I've been to Bali and Malaysia since living here because they're really close.

Gun laws are very different in Australia compared to the US. When I was in high school, shootings were happening around the country. I was anxious in class. Living in Australia, I have almost no fear of guns.

One hesitation about moving to Australia was that I'd feel FOMO by missing out on the US college experience. Growing up, my friends and I were excited by the idea of these extravagant parties and sororities.

Australia doesn't have as many crazy parties, but you're allowed to go clubs at 18. Being in a controlled environment means things don't tend to get as wild, but you can still have fun.

I also think that this culture has allowed me to feel less pressure to go out and I've performed better academically.

I've been able to secure a good job and think it's easier to get into the Australian job market

Next year, I have a job at Ernst & Young as a technical consultant lined up. It pays 73,500 AUD a year. I got the job after doing an internship there in December 2023.

I have some high school friends in the US who are also at EY now. I considered them to be really, really, smart, but I wouldn't have considered myself to be as smart.

I don't think my job outcome would have been as good if I were in the US. America is filled with opportunities but also with fierce competition. Lots of Americans are driven by hustle culture, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee success.

Australia isn't the hub for the FAANG companies or Hollywood, but it's an amazing place to live for many people who want to live a good life with good pay. I personally feel it's easier to get into the job market here than in the US.

I miss my family and friends in the US a lot. My parents plan on coming back to Australia when they retire, so I am very much looking forward to that. I could see myself settling in Australia, but I also want to explore the world, so I don't have any concrete plans yet.

• A basic income pilot in Marin County is helping moms secure housing, buy food, and pay off debt. 
• The pilot gave $1,000 a month to 125 low-income mothers of color.
• A growing number of GBI pilots are targeting parents, aimed at reducing childhood poverty. 

Basic income allowed Claudia Muralles to finish her undergraduate degree.

A resident of Marin County, California — located just north of San Francisco Bay — Muralles said she often struggled to afford basic necessities for herself and her young children. She had to decide which bills to pay and which to delay for the following month: car payments, gas, or utilities. For meals, she could rarely afford meat with her rice and beans.

That changed two years ago when Muralles began receiving $1,000 a month through MOMentum, a guaranteed basic income pilot serving low-income moms of color administered by UpTogether, a national nonprofit that has sponsored a series of GBI programs.

For Muralles' family, basic income meant being able to pay bills and becoming more financially secure. With her new college degree, she feels "unstoppable" and optimistic about her future career.

"To me, the empowerment that came through the funds had no price," Muralles told UpTogether. "That sense of control over my money and sense I could do other things is priceless."

First launched in 2021, the program selected 125 mothers with children under 18 to receive no-strings-attached cash for two years. Participants like Muralles had an average annual income of $29,000 — which is nearly equivalent to the federal poverty line for a family of four. A third-year extension provided families an additional $7,500, with the last payment in June.

After two years of receiving funds through MOMentum, participants' housing stability improved by 15 percentage points, meaning those families were able to secure fixed and safe living conditions. Almost a quarter moved into new housing during the program. Over three-quarters of participants said their debt was more manageable, had enough food for their family, and spent more time with their children. Meanwhile, two-thirds of participants worked either the same or more hours.

The pilot was a $3 million initiative by the Marin Community Foundation and UpTogether. Like other basic income pilots, participants could spend the money wherever they needed it most, though this program specifically focused on low-income mothers.

Marin County is one of the wealthiest counties in the US — the median family of four brings in about $186,600, according to Marin Housing. It is also one of the nation's most racially disparate areas, per the local nonprofit Community Action Marin.

With basic income, families had more housing and food security

UpTogether reported that basic income positively impacted participants' financial stability, well-being, and food and housing security.

Of the 125 participants, 24 moved into new housing situations, most in safer neighborhoods or with better amenities. The percentage of participants with housing stability rose from 45% to 60%, while the participants reported an 8% decline in homelessness.

The average home value in Marin County, per Zillow, is slightly over $1.5 million, while RentHop estimates the average one-bedroom apartment to rent is over $2,600 a month.

The report found participants used funds to pay down debt and save for the future, such as attending college — nearly half reported being enrolled in an education or training program since the program's start. They also reported less stress regarding unexpected expenses.

Since starting the program, a third of the participants have begun a new job, while 58% have maintained their work hours. Over two-thirds said the program led them to pursue different employment opportunities.

Participants also reported improved health outcomes, partly due to decreased financial stress. More than three-quarters of moms said they worried less about sufficiently feeding their family, and were able to buy more nutritious food items.

Participants were also more equipped to purchase things their kids wanted but weren't essential. About 70% of participants spent more time with their families.

Most participants didn't lose access to government benefits, though the increased income may have contributed to some families losing specific benefits like like CalFresh, a state-level food assistance program that helps low-income residents purchase groceries.

More basic income programs are aimed at parents

Marin County's pilot isn't the only basic program to focus on low-income mothers.

It costs an average of $26,000 a year to raise one child in America. And, per United Way, infants and children living in poverty are also more likely to experience homelessness, food insecurity, and low-educational attainment later in life.

In Flint, Michigan, the Rx Kids program is offering about 1,200 pregnant mothers a $1,500 lump sum and then $500 monthly for their baby's first year. A basic income program in New Mexico also gave $500 a month to mixed-citizenship status immigrant families with children.

Some federal safety nets are also aimed at low-income parents. Women, Infants and Children (WIC), the Child Tax Credit, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are programs that provide financial assistance or tax breaks to caregivers of young children. Flint even used TANF dollars to fund Rx Kids.

Local leaders and economic security experts are increasingly turning toward GBI as a poverty solution. Compared to federal safety nets like SNAP, Medicaid, or rental vouchers, basic income allows families more flexible spending.

UpTogether CEO Jesús Gerena said in a press release that Marin County chose the basic income model because participants "need cash, not another program."

"The powerful results show that investing in moms and their children has big returns," Gerena said, "Mothers know best and can be trusted to make the decisions that are best for their families."

Have you benefited from a guaranteed basic income program? Are you willing to share how you spent the money? Reach out to these reporters at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com and nsheidlower@businessinsider.com

• 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.