In the 1940s and '50s, Route 66 was one of America's most popular highways, driving business to small towns from Chicago to Santa Monica. But today, the road and its people have been largely forgotten. Ghost towns, empty motels, and abandoned gas stations line its path. Chief correspondent Abby Narishkin grew up along the road. In celebration of its 100th anniversary, she drove down the old route herself to visit the people and businesses still keeping this Americana legacy alive.

VW investment, creating 4,500 jobs in Georgia, comes amid Trump’s damaging tariffs, intense Chinese competition and costly shift towards EVs

Audi has said it will spend $4bn (£3bn) to build its first factory in the US, as its parent company, Volkswagen, struggles with the impact of steep tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.

The German brand’s chief executive, Gernot Döllner, joined Trump on stage at a campaign rally on Saturday night to announce the factory in Macon, Georgia, in an unusual move by a big European brand just days before the US midterm elections.

KARACHI – A price relief is on cards for millions of Pakistani consumers as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rates are expected to come down by Rs70 to Rs80 per kg with the reopening of the Pakistan-Iran border and the arrival of thousands of tonnes of imported gas at Port Qasim.

The development could bring end to worsening LPG shortage, particularly in Karachi, and parts of KP where disrupted imports had put pressure on supplies and pushed up market prices.

LPG transportation through the Gabd-Rimdan border crossing between Pakistan and Iran has resumed, allowing hundreds of stranded gas bowsers to move towards clearance. More than 200 LPG bowsers are expected to be cleared today, potentially releasing an additional 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes of LPG into Pakistan’s domestic market.

The anticipated influx of Iranian LPG has raised hopes of a sharp correction in prices, with industry sources forecasting a reduction of Rs50 to Rs70 per kilogram once supplies reach local distributors.

The reopening of the Iranian border is not the only positive development for consumers. Two LPG vessels have also arrived at Port Qasim, providing a significant boost to the country’s imported gas supplies. One vessel carrying 4,520 metric tonnes of LPG has already anchored at the port, while another ship transporting 3,083 metric tonnes has completed its cargo discharge and departed, according to a Port Qasim spokesperson.

Together, these shipments are of 7,603 metric tonnes of LPG. With another 3,000 to 4,000 tonnes expected through the Iranian border, Pakistan could receive a combined supply boost of approximately 10,600 to 11,600 metric tonnes of LPG, including the maritime shipments already handled.

LPG vessels have also reached the SSGC terminal operated by PGP Consortium, while cargo-handling operations continue at Port Qasim.

Industry sources believe the combined arrival of Iranian bowsers and imported LPG vessels could improve availability not only in Karachi but also in other major cities facing supply disruptions.

The reopening of the Gabd-Rimdan crossing is particularly significant because it restores a key import route that had been affected by the recent suspension of cross-border trade. As stranded bowsers begin entering Pakistan and additional shipments reach distributors, the pressure on LPG supplies is expected to ease.

LPG Cylinder may soon cost over Rs10,000 as Per Kg Price hits Rs750

The post LPG Price Update: Rs70-80 Per Kg Price Cut expected in Pakistan after Iran Border reopens appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

ISLAMABAD – Sigh of relief for traders as Pakistan reopened its key Gabd-Rimdan border crossing with Iran, allowing return of commercial shipments, LPG and food supplies.

The border reopening follows security measures and operation in which 10 militants were reportedly killed, offering fresh hope of easing LPG shortages and rising prices, although uncertainty continues over trade operations at the Taftan crossing.

Commercial activity resumed at Gabd-Rimdan border crossing, following 7-day suspension that had brought a major part of Pakistan-Iran trade to a standstill. The reopening comes just two days after armed attackers torched dozens of freight vehicles near the border, triggering a security operation in which Pakistan’s military reported killing 10 militants.

Located in Gwadar district of Balochistan, the crossing connects Pakistan with Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province and has emerged as an important route for LPG, food commodities and other commercial shipments since its inauguration in 2020.

Gwadar officials confirmed that commercial vehicles had started crossing the border in both directions, bringing much-needed relief to traders and transporters. However, the resumption is initially restricted to consignments carrying invoices or shipping documents dated October 16 or earlier.

The week-long closure left hundreds of trucks carrying LPG, rice, fruit and other products stranded on both sides of the frontier. For transporters, the reopening means an opportunity to finally deliver goods that had been stuck for days. For businesses, it offers a chance to recover from mounting delays and financial losses.

One of key concerns during the shutdown was its impact on Pakistan’s LPG market. Before the suspension, industry reports suggested that more than 4,000 tonnes of LPG were entering Pakistan daily through the Gabd-Rimdan route, making it a major supply corridor for the country. The sudden interruption squeezed supplies, worsened shortages and contributed to a sharp increase in LPG cylinder prices.

The crisis started after mid-October when Ministry of Commerce suspended commercial trade through two major border crossings, Gabd-Rimdan and Taftan. The decision followed the withdrawal of an earlier government notification issued on October 3, effectively stopping the movement of commercial consignments through both routes.

Pakistani officials later pointed to security threats, smuggling concerns and the need for tighter border controls. Iran, meanwhile, termed interruption as temporary and linked it to technical issues, with officials indicating that consultations were underway to resolve the matter.

On October 22, armed men attacked freight vehicles parked near the closed crossing. Dozens of trucks were reportedly set ablaze, including vehicles transporting fruit, while other commercial vehicles were damaged. The attack sparked fears among drivers and traders who had already been waiting for days to resume their journeys.

Pakistan’s Armed Forces announced that security forces had killed 10 militants, including one woman, during operations in the Gabd and Gwadar areas. One civilian was killed during the incidents, while no security personnel were reported killed. Reports linked the violence to Baloch militant groups, although responsibility for the attacks on the trucks was not independently established.

Although Gabd-Rimdan has reopened, uncertainty remains over the full restoration of commercial operations at Taftan, another important trade crossing between Pakistan and Iran. Both routes were affected by the October 17 suspension, but the latest confirmation of resumed bilateral commercial traffic specifically concerns Gabd-Rimdan.

Islamabad and Tehran continue efforts to strengthen economic cooperation despite regional instability and security challenges along their shared border. Both countries have previously discussed plans to expand bilateral trade to $10 billion, an ambition that depends heavily on reliable transport links and uninterrupted commercial movement.

Over 2,000 Containers stranded as Pakistan shuts Iran Border amid ‘Security Fears’

The post Pakistan-Iran Trade resumes after 7-Day Gabd-Rimdan Shutdown amid Terror Attack appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

• I'm an Airbnb Superhost with an average rating of 4.9 stars from 90 guests.
• Everyone is buzzing about the new rules that limit the chores hosts can ask guests to complete.
• I support the change. Guests are paying to use a space, their last memory shouldn't be a checklist.

The internet has been buzzing about Airbnb's latest policy change over restrictions on what a host can — and cannot — ask a guest to do before they check out.

I've been renting my home in the Hudson Valley for five years, and have been a Superhost since 2023. Currently, I have 90 guest reviews with an average rating of 4.97. That's not an accident. It's something I work hard at.

Though the property management company I work with hasn't always loved it, I've never been big on requiring guests to follow a strict cleanup policy. While we did ask for dishes to be done at one time, that hasn't been part of my guest instructions since 2025. For me, the most important tasks are to turn off the lights and return the key to the lockbox before guests leave. Beyond that, I don't expect much else, though I know that hasn't been the norm for some Airbnb users.

Guests are still guests

Somehow, the B&B part of the nomenclature appears to have gotten lost. I've seen users who fear bad reviews if a place isn't meticulously cleaned, voicing their concerns on Reddit and Facebook. For me, that's not something I think someone should have to worry about when they're paying to use a space.

While there are legitimate stories of guests destroying a place or leaving it in shambles, this hasn't been my experience. I believe the majority are good guests.

There is still a cleanliness rating for hosts to fill out about guests, so I imagine that even without imposed rules, most will do the dishes anyway. Leaving a bag of trash inside the house shouldn't result in a host docking a star or two from their review. It should be part of the stay, especially since hosts can set a cleaning fee for their property upfront.

I am glad the company has intervened on behalf of the guests. They are staying at a vacation rental, not a work exchange.

Hosts like me can have little time between bookings

I understand the rationale behind hosts who have lots of rules. There is often a small window between turnovers, and hosts want to make sure they have enough time to wash and dry everything before the next guests arrive.

It's something I worry about, too. That's why I keep extra linens and dishes on hand. They're there to use just in case there isn't enough time to complete everything between the bookings.

At one point, my property manager and I disagreed over what we wanted guests to do. I felt as if he was taking it personally if someone left dirty dishes in the sink or didn't sweep up. With this rule change, we'll no longer be at odds, and I'm glad.

Most guests have been respectful of the space

I am fortunate. I have rarely had a guest be anything less than tidy, and I have also had hardworking cleaners who have taken linens home to wash because turnovers have been so tight.

None of my guests have complained about my rules directly to me or in the comments they've left online about my property. I intend to keep it that way.

I host because I enjoy it

Everyone has their own reasons for getting into this business. For some, it is purely fiscal, but for me, it has been personal. This is my house, and I take tremendous pride in it and the surrounding area. I vet each potential guest personally and hand-pick a welcome gift for them. I want them to have a lovely stay, leave with fond memories, and maybe even a desire to return one day.

The last thing I want a guest to do is worry about a lengthy checklist of tasks before leaving. I don't want that to be their last memory of their stay.

Soon, a mother and daughter will be staying at my property for the third year in a row. In my emails to them, I wished them a safe journey and said we would take care of the rest — and I meant it.

QP Savills, which has sold property in the Golden Triangle for nearly 30 years, is the exclusive agent, with a dedicated showroom in its Vale do Lobo office. New-build opportunities

The post Works begin at Atlantic Pines, a new collection of 28 villas in Vale do Lobo appeared first on Portugal Resident.