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Class destroyed: The rise and ruin of Gaza's revered universities None - Video of the Israel Defense Forces's demolition of Israa’s main building appeared online on Jan. 17. The IDF initially said that the building had been “used by Hamas for military activity” and that there were concerns the group might use it to attack Israeli forces. Later, the IDF said there had been “flaws in the operational process, including in the decision to destroy the entire building,” noting that the commander who ordered the demolition was formally censured and that an investigation was ongoing. The IDF did not respond to a subsequent request for further information. Israa and IUG were not alone — universities across Gaza have been leveled.
FAA investigating flight that came close to tower at LaGuardia Airport None - Federal officials are investigating whether a Southwest Airlines flight veered off course and flew over the air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport last month FAA investigating flight that came close to tower at LaGuardia Airport WASHINGTON -- Federal officials are investigating a Southwest Airlines flight that veered off course and flew close to the air traffic control tower at LaGuardia Airport last month. The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that the plane flew off course due to bad weather as it approached for landing at the busy New York City airport. After circling the airport once, the plane flew as low as 300 feet (90 meters), according to data from Flightradar24.com. An air traffic controller – speaking in an unusually urgent tone – told the pilots to abandon their landing and climb to 2000 feet (600 meters), according to audio captured by LiveATC.net. The controller said the plane was not lined up with the runway; it appeared to be east of the intended landing route. “He was not going to land on the runway,” the controller said. The March 23 flight was diverted to Baltimore, where the plane landed safely. After a brief stop, the plane flew back to New York, Southwest said. “The FAA is investigating and will determine if the aircraft flew over the tower at LaGuardia,” an agency spokesperson said. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was also investigating but did not plan to issue any immediate reports. Dallas-based Southwest said the plane diverted to Baltimore “after encountering turbulence and low visibility at New York LaGuardia Airport.” “We are reviewing the event as part of our safety systems,” an airline spokesperson said. The flight started in Nashville, Tennessee, and there were 150 passengers and crew members on board, the airline said. The incident was reported earlier by CBS News.
Average long-term US mortgage rate rises modestly this week, holding just below 7% None - The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose modestly this week, holding below 7% as it has for much of this year LOS ANGELES -- The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose modestly this week, holding below 7% as it has for much of this year. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose to 6.82% from 6.79% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.28%. When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already out of reach for many Americans. Rates have been drifting higher and lower in recent weeks, often from one week to the next. The average rate for the benchmark 30-year mortgage is now just below where it was two weeks ago. After climbing to a 23-year high of 7.79% in October, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has remained below 7% since early December, though it also hasn't gone below the 6.6% it averaged in January. In late February, it got up as high as 6.94% after stronger-than-expected reports on inflation, the job market and the economy clouded the outlook for when the Federal Reserve may begin lowering its short-term interest rate. Many economists expect that mortgage rates will ease moderately this year, but that’s not likely to happen before the Fed begins cutting its benchmark interest rate. Last month, the central bank signaled again that it expects to make three rate cuts this year, but not before it sees more evidence that inflation is slowing from its current level just above 3%. How the bond market reacts to the Fed’s interest rate policy, as well as other factors can influence mortgage rates. Current indications are mortgage rates will remain higher for a while longer. “While incoming economic signals indicate lower rates of inflation, we do not expect rates will decrease meaningfully in the near-term,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. The U.S. housing market is coming off a deep, 2-year sales slump triggered by a sharp rise in mortgage rates and a dearth of homes on the market. The overall pullback in mortgage rates since their peak last fall has helped provide more financial breathing room for homebuyers. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in February from the previous month to the strongest pace in a year. That followed a month-to-month home sales increase in January. Still, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remains well above where it was just two years ago at 4.72%. That large gap between rates now and then has helped limit the number of previously occupied homes on the market because many homeowners who bought or refinanced more than two years ago are reluctant to sell and give up their fixed-rate mortgages below 3% or 4%. Even so, the pace of new homes hitting the market in the leadup to the spring homebuying season has been stronger than last year. Active listings -- a tally that encompasses all the homes on the market but excludes those pending a finalized sale -- jumped nearly 24% in March from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com. That marks the fifth consecutive month of annual inventory growth. Home shoppers last month still had far fewer options than they did before the pandemic. In March 2019, active listings were nearly 38% higher. Meanwhile, homeowners looking to refinance their home loan got a break this week. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages fell, pulling the average rate to 6.06% from 6.11% last week. A year ago it averaged 5.64%, Freddie Mac said.
Kiss sells catalog, brand name and IP. Gene Simmons assures fans it is a 'collaboration' None - It’s never really the end of the road for Kiss. The hard rock quartet have sold their catalog, brand name and IP to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal estimated to be over $300 million, it was announced Thursday. This isn't the first time Kiss has partnered with Pophouse, which was co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus. When the band's current lineup — founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons as well as guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer — took the stage at the final night of their farewell tour in December at New York City's famed Madison Square Garden, they ended by revealing digitized avatars of themselves. The cutting-edge technology was created by George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, in partnership with Pophouse. The two companies recently teamed up for the “ABBA Voyage” show in London, in which fans could attend a full concert by the Swedish band in their heyday, as performed by their own digital avatars. The ways in which Kiss' avatars will be utilized has yet to be announced, but Pophouse CEO Per Sundin says fans can expect a biopic, a documentary and a Kiss experience on the horizon. An avatar show is scheduled to launch in the second half of 2027 — but don't expect it to look anything like “ABBA Voyage," Sundin told the AP. And fans can expect it to kick off in North America. Sundin says the goal of the purchase is to expose Kiss to new generations — which he believes sets Pophouse apart from other acquisitions of music catalogs. “The record companies, the three big ones that are left, they’re doing a fantastic job, but they have so many catalogs and they can’t focus on everything,” he says. “We work together with Universal (Music Group) and Kiss, even though we will own the artists rights, and we're doing it in conjunction with Kiss. But yes, we bought all rights, and that's not something I've seen that clear before." “I don't like the word acquisition,” Gene Simmons tells the AP over Zoom, assuring the band would never sell their catalog to a company they didn't appreciate. “Collaboration is exactly what it’s about. It would be remiss in our inferred fiduciary duty — see what I just did there? — to the thing that we created to abandon it," he continued. “People might misunderstand and think, ‘OK, now Pophouse is doing that stuff and we’re just in Beverly Hills twiddling our thumbs.’ No, that’s not true. We’re in the trenches with them. We talk all the time. We share ideas. It’s a collaboration. Paul (Stanley) and I especially, with the band, we’ll stay committed to this. It’s our baby." And within that: no more live touring, for real. “We’re not going to tour again as Kiss, period,” he says. “We’re not going to go put the makeup on and go out there.” Kiss are Pophouse's second investment outside of Sweden: In February, Cyndi Lauper entered a partnership with the company which including the sale of the majority share of her music and a new immersive performance project she's calling an “immersive theater piece” that transports audiences to the New York she grew up in. The aim is to develop new ways to bring Lauper’s music to fans and younger audiences through new performances and live experiences. “Most suits, when you tell them an idea, their eyes glaze over, they just want your greatest hits,” Lauper told the AP at the Pophouse headquarters in Stockholm in February. “But these guys are a multimedia company, they’re not looking to just buy my catalog, they want to make something new.”
Fed Chair Jerome Powell pumps brakes on rate cuts None - "We have time to let the incoming data guide our decisions," Powell said. The Federal Reserve will see if inflation moves beyond its current rough patch before imposing highly anticipated interest rate cuts, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday. Addressing a business conference at Stanford University, Powell touted progress in the fight to cool price increases while acknowledging that such headway had stalled in recent months. “On inflation, it’s too soon to say whether the recent readings represent more than just a bump,” Powell said. “Given the strength of the economy and progress on inflation so far, we have time to let the incoming data guide our decisions on policy,” Powell added. Inflation has fallen significantly from a peak of 9.1% but it remains more than a percentage point higher than the Fed's target rate of 2%. At a meeting last month, the Fed opted to keep rates highly elevated. The Fed Funds rate remains between 5.25% and 5.5%, matching its highest level since 2001. The move marked the fifth meeting in a row at which the Fed has left rates unchanged, marking a prolonged pause of the aggressive rate hiking cycle that started in March 2022. The Fed said last month that it still intends to make three interest rate cuts this year. The Fed’s next rate decision will take place at the beginning of May. On Wednesday, Powell said the central bank faces risks whether it cuts interest rates too early or too late. “Reducing rates too soon or too much could result in a reversal in the progress we’ve seen on inflation and ultimately require even tighter policy to get inflation back to 2%,” Powell said. “But easing policy too late or too little could unduly weaken economic activity and employment.” He added, “As conditions evolve, monetary policy is well prepared to confront either of these risks.” Interest rate cuts would lower borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, potentially triggering a burst of economic activity through greater household spending and company investment. But the Fed risks a rebound of inflation if it cuts interest rates too quickly, since stronger consumer demand on top of solid economic activity could lead to an acceleration of price increases. People shop in a supermarket in New York, Jan. 27, 2024. Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images U.S. job gains far exceeded expectations in February, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data earlier this month showed. The U.S. added 275,000 jobs in February, surpassing predictions of about 200,000 jobs added, but marking a substantial decline from the hiring of roughly 350,000 workers in January, according to BLS data. The S &P 500 reached a record high last month. Attitudes about the economy have improved in recent months. Consumer sentiment inched lower in February but preserved much of the large gains achieved in previous months, a University of Michigan survey found. Still, some areas of the economy have cooled. The housing market has slowed substantially due in large part to soaring mortgage rates. The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has soared to 6.79%, rebounding after a steady decline at the end of last year, according to a report from Freddie Mac last Thursday. Speaking on Wednesday, Powell referred to surveys of consumer and business sentiment that suggest inflation is widely expected to return to normal levels. “The public does believe -- and it’s a good thing, because it’s true -- that inflation will go back down to 2%,” Powell said. “That’s very reassuring but that’s partly because of the very strong action we took and also because of our ongoing commitment to actually return inflation to 2% over time.” “And that is our commitment,” Powell added.
One Tech Tip: How to use apps to track and photograph the total solar eclipse None - Monday's total solar eclipse might become one of the year's most filmed and photographed events One Tech Tip: How to use apps to track and photograph the total solar eclipse Monday's total solar eclipse might become one of the most filmed and photographed events of the year. As the moon passes in front of the sun, plunging a swath of North America into a few minutes of darkness, throngs will take pictures or videos of the moment. But powerful solar rays and drastic changes in lighting pose unique challenges in catching that perfect image. Here are some pointers on how to get the best shot: First, get in the right position. You'll want to be as close as possible to the path of totality, which passes over Mexico's Pacific coast and ends in eastern Canada. Fifteen U.S. states get to see the full eclipse. There are online maps to check if you'll be anywhere near the path. NASA's map shows how many minutes of totality there will be if you're inside the path depending on location, and how much of a partial eclipse you'll see if you're outside of it. For spectators in Mexico and Canada, eclipse expert Xavier Jubier's website overlays the eclipse's path on Google Maps, which allows zooming into street level detail. Be ready to adapt to changing weather conditions. Use weather forecast and cloud coverage apps, including ones from the National Weather Service and Astrospheric, on the morning or the day before to find locations with clearer skies. With so many factors in play including cloud cover and the sun's position in the sky, planning is key to getting the best image. There are a host of smartphone apps for eclipse chasers. The American Astronomical Society has compiled a list of useful ones for both iOS and Android devices, including its own Totality app that shows your location on a map of the totality path. The Solar Eclipse Timer uses your phone’s GPS to play an audio countdown to the moment of totality and highlights key moments. The app's maker advises using a separate phone for taking photos. Eclipse Calculator 2 for Android devices uses the phone's camera to depict how the event will look in the sky from your position, using lines overlaid on top of the camera image. For iPhone users, apps like Sky Guide and SkySafari have eclipse simulators. There are other iOS apps that use augmented reality to simulate the eclipse, but they're pricier and not yet on the society's list. Digital SLR cameras will produce the best photos. Their manual exposure controls and ability to add zoom lenses and accessories like remote shutter buttons will let you make great pictures. Associated Press chief photographer Julio Cortez advises using a smaller aperture — f11 or f17 — to keep the focus "a little bit sharper.” When he shot the 2017 total solar eclipse, he used an ISO setting of 1250 and 1/500 shutter speed. The rest of us have our smartphones. NASA published detailed guidelines for smartphone eclipse photography in 2017 with the caveat that “smartphones were never designed to do sun and moon photography." That's because the wide-angle lenses on most devices won’t let you capture close-up detail. But new phones released since then come with sophisticated sensors, multiple lenses and image stabilization software that give a better chance. Some experts suggest HDR, or High Dynamic Range, mode, which takes a series of pictures at different light levels and then blends them into a single shot — ideal for combining an eclipse’s very dark and very bright areas. But don’t use flash. You can spoil the moment by ruining the vision of those around you whose eyes have adapted to darkness. The American Astronomical Society advises using a solar filter to protect cameras against intense sunlight and heat. You can buy a filter that screws onto DSLR lenses, but it will take time to remove when totality happens. Cortez made his own with cardboard, tinted film and fasteners that he can quickly rip off. For smartphones, you can use a spare pair of eclipse glasses and hold it over the lens, or buy a smartphone filter. There's no international standard, but the society's website has a list of models it considers safe. Make sure macro mode is not on. If you plan to shoot for an extended time, use a tripod. To line up his camera after mounting it on a tripod, Cortez uses a solar finder, which helps locate the sun without damaging your eyes or equipment. Cortez also advises bringing a white towel to cover up your gear after setting up to keep it from overheating as you wait for the big moment. It's very tempting to make a TikTok or Instagram-friendly eclipse video. Perhaps you want to selfie video, narrating into the camera while the cosmic ballet between sun and moon plays out over your shoulder. Be careful: While you might think your vision isn't at risk because you're not looking at the sun, your phone's screen could reflect harmful ultraviolet light, eye experts have warned. And if you're using a solar filter on the selfie camera, it will turn the picture dark and you won't show up. ___ Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.
Georgia joins states seeking parental permission before children join social media None - Georgia could join other states in requiring children younger than 16 to have their parents’ explicit permission to create social media accounts ATLANTA -- Georgia could join other states in requiring children younger than 16 to have their parents’ explicit permission to create social media accounts. Lawmakers on Friday gave final approval to Senate Bill 351, which also would ban social media use on school devices and internet services, require porn sites to verify users are 18 or over and mandate additional education by schools on social media and internet use. The House passed the measure 120-45 and the Senate approved it 48-7. The bill, which Republican Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas called “transformative,” now goes to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature or veto. A number of other states including Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Utah passed laws last year requiring parental consent for children to use social media. In Arkansas, a federal judge in August blocked enforcement of a law requiring parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts. Some in Congress also are proposing parental consent for minors. State Rep. Scott Hilton, a Peachtree Corners Republican, argued the state should do more to limit social media use by children, saying it's causing harm. “Every rose has a thorn, and that’s social media in this generation," Hilton said. "It’s great for connectivity and activism, but it has reared its ugly head on mental health.” But opponents warned the bill would cause problems. For example, Rep. David Wilkerson, a Powder Springs Democrat, said that the ban on use of social media in schools could ban teachers from showing educationally valuable YouTube videos. “If we do pass this, we’ll be back fixing this next year, because there are too many issues with this bill," Wilkerson said. The bill says social media services would have to use “commercially reasonable efforts” to verify someone's age by July 1, 2025. Services would have to treat anyone who can't be verified as a minor. Parents of children younger than 16 would have to consent to their children joining a service. Social medial companies would be limited in how they could customize ads for children younger than 16 and how much information they could collect on those children. To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up to their platforms, but children have been shown to easily evade the bans. Up to 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use them “almost constantly,” the Pew Research Center found. The Georgia bill also aims to shut down porn sites by requiring submission of a digitized identification card or some other government-issued identification. Companies could be held liable if minors were found to access the sites, and could face fines of up to $10,000. “It will protect our children," said Rep. Rick Jasperse, a Jasper Republican who argues age verification will lead porn sites to cut off access to Georgians. In March, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Texas law, leading Pornhub to cut off access to Texans. The Free Speech Coalition, which represents adult film makers, says the bill would be ineffective because users could mask their location and because people would be forced to transmit sensitive information. They also argue it's unconstitutional because there are less restrictive ways to keep children out and discriminate against certain types of speech. The coalition has sued multiple states over the laws. The ban on school social media excludes email, news, gaming, online shopping, photograph editing and academic sites. The measure also requires a model program on the effects of social media and for students in grades 6-12, and requires existing anti-bullying programs to be updated. The move comes after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned in May that social media hasn’t been proven to be safe for young people. Murthy called on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take “immediate action to protect kids now" and asked tech companies to share data and increase transparency and for policymakers to regulate social media for safety the way they do car seats and baby formula. Meta, the parent of and Instragram, announced in 2022 it was taking steps to verify ages. Meta says it provides “age-appropriate experiences” for teens 13-17 on Instagram, including preventing unwanted contact from unknown adults. Dozens of U.S. states, including California and New York, also are suing Meta Platforms Inc., claiming the company harms young people and contributes to a youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. Florida recently passed a law banning social media accounts for children under 14 regardless of parental consent and require parental permission for 14- and 15-year-olds.
Key takeaways about the condition of US bridges and their role in the economy None - The collapse of a Baltimore bridge that got struck by a cargo ship has highlighted the important role that bridges play in the daily lives of many Americans Key takeaways about the condition of US bridges and their role in the economy The rapid collapse of a Baltimore bridge that was struck by large cargo ship highlighted the importance that bridges play in the daily lives of many Americans. Six construction workers who were on the bridge are presumed dead. The drivers of more than 30,000 vehicles that crossed the bridge daily must find a new route around or over the Patapsco River. And shipments at the Port of Baltimore will be shut down for some time, forcing numerous businesses to find alternative means of getting their goods in and out of the U.S. Though the Interstate 695 bridge in Baltimore had been in satisfactory condition before the shipping collision, thousands of other bridges stand in poor shape across the U.S. due to aging piers, beams and key structural components. Here are some takeaways from an Associated Press analysis of the more than 621,000 roadway bridges that are more than 20 feet long and are listed in the federal government's National Bridge Inventory. Inspectors rate bridges using a 0-9 scale, with 7 or above considered “good.” A “poor” rating reflects a 4 or below on any portion of a bridge's main components. A mid-range rating is considered “fair.” About 42,400 U.S. bridges are in poor condition, carrying about 167 million vehicles each day, according to the federal government. Those poor bridges are on average 70 years old. Of those poor bridges, four-fifths have problems with their substructures (the legs holding them up) or their superstructures (the arms supporting their load). And more than 15,800 of the poor bridges also were listed in poor shape a decade ago, according to AP's analysis. Iowa has the greatest number of poor bridges, followed by Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri. Though unusual, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was not the first bridge to fall down after being struck by a ship. From 1960 to 2015, there were 35 major bridge collapses worldwide due to ship or barge collisions, with a total of 342 people killed, according to a 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure. Eighteen of those collapses happened in the United States. Though also rare, bad bridges can eventually just collapse. In January 2022, a bridge collapsed over Fern Hollow Creek in Pittsburgh, causing injuries but no deaths to the occupants of several vehicles that were on it. Federal investigators determined the bridge’s steel legs had corroded, creating visible holes, yet inspectors failed to calculate the severity of the problem and the city failed to follow repeated recommendations. “This bridge didn’t collapse just by an act of God. It collapsed because of a lack of maintenance and repair,” National Transportation Safety Board member Michael Graham said. When bridges close or collapse, there are financial consequences. Thirteen people died and 145 others were injured when an Interstate 35 bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis in 2007. A state analysis estimated Minnesota’s economy lost $60 million in 2007-2008 due to increased travel time and operating costs for commuters and businesses. Bridges in Providence, Rhode Island, and Tacoma, Washington, are currently closed because of safety concerns. Nearby businesses have taken a hit because motorists have diverted to other routes. Marco Pacheco, who owns a liquor store along a main road in a Portuguese neighborhood of East Providence, said his business revenue is down 20% since the bridge closed late last year. But he’s even more concerned about the long-term consequences. “That traffic doesn’t instantly come back. Folks have reshaped their patterns, their thought processes and so on,” Pacheco said. Business owners in Washington shared similar concerns about the indefinite closure of the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge in an industrial area near the Port of Tacoma. A nearby Interstate 5 bridge provides a good alternative, but that means many motorists zoom right past an exit ramp without thinking about the nearby businesses, such as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle store. “Is there a peril that exists?” Harley-Davidson store owner Ed Wallace asked. “Yeah, absolutely, a very serious one for me as a business owner.” A massive infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in 2021 directed $40 billion to bridges over five years — the largest dedicated bridge investment in decades. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that law already is funding over 7,800 bridge projects. But even that will make only a dent in an estimated $319 billion of needed bridge repairs nationwide, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. “The bottom line is that America’s bridges need a lot of work,” Buttigieg told the AP after visiting the closed Rhode Island bridge. He added: “The sooner we can address those significant bridges, the less likely they will be abruptly taken out of service, or worse, experience the risk of a collapse.” ___ This story has been corrected to show the bridge that collapsed in Baltimore is on Interstate 695, not 895.
Small UK businesses ‘empowered’ to tackle rogue energy brokers None - Small businesses such as care homes, and enterprises including charities and faith groups, will be granted new protections to guard against rogue energy brokers using rip-off deals to secure hidden commission fees. The measures mark the first big step by the government and the industry regulator to bring unregulated energy brokers to heel after a growing outcry over aggressive sales tactics and undisclosed commissions, which have inflated costs for small businesses. The government said that for the first time companies with fewer than 50 employees would be able to access free redress and support from the energy ombudsman to help resolve disputes with suppliers over rip-off energy deals, without costly court procedures. Amanda Solloway, the minister for affordability and skills, said the change would “empower” small businesses and make sure that “rip-off energy brokers have no place in our market”. The energy regulator, Ofgem, will expand its existing rules to include businesses with more than 10 employees so it can take action, from this summer, against suppliers that do not treat small business customers fairly. By the end of the year Ofgem will force all suppliers to disclose any fees and commissions paid to third-party brokers through their energy deals. Suppliers will also be required to work only with accredited brokers which are signed up to a customer redress scheme. Almost a third of companies with a business energy supply contract use a broker to secure their deal, but – unlike the intermediaries who market mortgages or insurance deals – these energy middlemen are largely unregulated. Tim Jarvis, Ofgem’s director general for markets, said too many businesses had experienced problems with energy suppliers and difficulty getting the right contracts. “These new rules will help ensure businesses get the service they deserve,” he said. The Guardian revealed last year that business groups representing more than a million small businesses had written to Ofgem calling for a crackdown on energy brokers targeting the sector, which employs almost 13 million people across the UK. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to Business Today Free daily newsletter Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Enter your email address Sign up Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy . We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Lawyers at Harcus Parker, and Leigh Day, two firms that have launched class action lawsuits against energy suppliers, believe that small businesses may have the right to claim back up to £2bn in hidden commissions. Jarvis said: “We’ll be speaking to businesses of all sizes as these rules come into force throughout this year to make sure they are being followed by suppliers.”
Disney+ will crack down on password sharing in June None - New York CNN — Disney is curbing password sharing for its Disney+ streaming service as part of a larger effort to boost signups and revenue. CEO Bob Iger, in a CNBC interview on Thursday, said its popular Disney+ streaming service will start cracking down on password sharing in June in some countries and more broadly in September. Although Disney+ and Disney’s other streaming services’ terms of service explicitly prevent customers from impersonating someone else by using their username or password, it hasn’t been broadly enforcing its policy. Hulu, one of Disney’s other streaming services, began limiting how often customers can share account login information outside their households starting on March 14. The crackdown comes as its rival Netflix has attributed a jump in signups from its recent crackdown on password sharing. Shortly after the crackdown went into effect last May, Netflix added 100,000 new accounts on the following two days, according to data from Antenna. Netflix had also achieved a more than 100% increase in sign-ups from the prior 60-day average. A similar boost at Disney could help move the company’s streaming platform toward profitability. Disney+ continues to lose money, although the company said it expects to turn a profit soon. “Netflix is the gold standard in streaming,” Iger said in the interview. “They’ve done a phenomenal job and a lot of different directions. I actually have very, very high regard for what they’ve accomplished. If we can only accomplish what they’ve accomplished, that would be great.” Iger also said Disney+ has also consolidated its streaming business but didn’t elaborate on which departments or roles. The password crackdown had been expected for months. On an earnings call with investors last year, Iger said a looming crackdown would help Disney grow. “We certainly have established this as a real priority,” Iger said on Disney’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call. “We actually think that there’s an opportunity here to help us grow our business.”
Southwest Boeing 737-800 flight from Denver loses engine cover, FAA investigating None - 1. How relevant is this ad to you? Video player was slow to load content Video content never loaded Ad froze or did not finish loading Video content did not start after ad Audio on ad was too loud Other issues
Neal Katyal reveals why he 'strongly suspects' Trump will be convicted in hush money case None - Neal Katyal reveals why he 'strongly suspects' Trump will be convicted in hush money case Neal Katyal and Andrew Weissmann join Jen Psaki to discuss Donald Trump's attempts to further delay the New York hush money trial with his last-ditch effort to remove Judge Merchan from the case. April 7, 2024
Israeli military to withdraw troops from southern Gaza None - The Israeli military announced its plans to withdraw all ground troops in the southern Gaza Strip following the conclusion of its monthslong operation in the city of Khan Younis.April 7, 2024
Rep. Dan Kildee: Speaker Johnson should call Hakeem Jeffries to avoid being ousted None - Congress will be back in session this week after a two-week break. Rep. Dan Kildee (D) Michigan joins The Weekend to discuss what priorities will be once they return and House Speaker Mike Johnson’s future. April 7, 2024
'A strike at the heart of democracy': Why billionaires are flocking back to Trump None - Donald Trump’s campaign is claiming they raised over $50 million at a Saturday night fundraiser in Palm Beach, Florida, nearly double the historic amount raised by President Joe Biden during his Radio City Music Hall event last month, alongside former presidents Obama and Clinton, which brought in over $26 million. Vanity Fair Special correspondent Molly Jong-Fast and Yale University history professor Joanne Freeman join Ali Velshi to discuss whether these numbers are trustworthy, and the alarming trend of billionaires and wealthy donors returning to Trump’s fold after previously disavowing him in 2020.April 7, 2024
‘It’s irresponsible’: Secretary of Labor on economic misinformation None - Acting United States Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su joins The Weekend to discuss Friday’s big jobs report. And Su responds to a letter from Latino Civil Rights and activist organizations about the loss of 6 works in the Francis Scott Key Bridge tragedy in Baltimore.April 7, 2024
Maryland Gov. Moore says he's hopeful Congress can be unified on Baltimore bridge funding None - Maryland Gov. Moore says he's hopeful Congress can be unified on Baltimore bridge funding MSNBC's the Rev. Al Sharpton is joined by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to discuss President Joe Biden's visit the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Friday and the House Freedom Caucus's demands for funding limits.April 6, 2024
Video shows moments aid workers killed in Gaza are identified None - Video shows the moments a World Central Kitchen aid worker identified his colleagues that were killed in an Israeli airstrike moments after the attack on the Gaza strip. April 6, 2024
Key lawmakers float new rules for personal data protection; bill would make privacy a consumer right None - Two lawmakers from opposing parties are floating a new plan to protect the privacy of Americans' personal data WASHINGTON -- Two influential lawmakers from opposing parties have crafted a deal on legislation designed to strengthen privacy protections for Americans' personal data. The sweeping proposal announced Sunday evening would define privacy as a consumer right and create new rules for companies that collect and use personal information. It comes from the offices of Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell and Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, both of Washington state. Cantwell chairs the Senate Commerce Committee while McMorris Rodgers leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee. While the proposal has not been formally introduced and remains in draft form, the bipartisan support suggests the bill could get serious consideration. Congress has long discussed ways to protect the personal data regularly submitted by Americans to a wide range of businesses and services. But partisan disputes over the details have doomed previous proposals. According to a one-page outline released Sunday, the bill worked out by McMorris Rodgers and Cantwell would strengthen rules requiring consumer consent before a company can collect or transfer certain kinds of information. Companies would have to notify consumers about the details of data collection and retention policies and seek consumer permission for significant changes. In addition, companies would have to ensure that any algorithms used to analyze personal data aren't biased, and companies that buy and sell personal data would have to register with the Federal Trade Commission. Consumers would also have greater control over how their data is used under the measure. One provision of the proposal would allow consumers to opt out of targeted ads — i.e., advertisements sent to them based on their personal data. A new bureau focused on data privacy would be created within the FTC, which would have the authority to enact new rules as technology changes. Enforcement of the law would fall to the FTC as well as state attorneys general. If passed, the new standard would preempt most state privacy laws — though it wouldn't impact certain states' laws already on the books that protect financial, health or employee data.
An engine cover on a Southwest Airlines plane rips off, forcing the flight to return to Denver None - The Federal Aviation Administration says a Southwest Airlines jet leaving Denver was forced to land after the engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff An engine cover on a Southwest Airlines plane rips off, forcing the flight to return to Denver By The Associated Press DENVER -- A Southwest Airlines jet returned to Denver Sunday morning after the engine cover fell off and struck the wing flap during takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Boeing 737 landed safely, and the passengers headed to Houston were being put onto another aircraft, Southwest Airlines said in a statement. “We apologize for the inconvenience of their delay, but place our highest priority on ultimate Safety for our Customers and Employees. Our Maintenance teams are reviewing the aircraft,” the statement reads. It’s the second mishap this week for the airline, with a flight from Texas canceled Thursday after a report of an engine fire. The Lubbock, Texas, fire department confirmed online a fire in one of the two engines that needed extinguishing. The FAA is investigating both incidents. Both planes were Boeing 737-800s, an older model than the 737 Max.