Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina KhanSometimes it’s the small tools, the seemingly mundane technology, that can make the big difference. That’s the lesson offered by police in , a rural area with about 26,000 residents. The sheriff’s department there recently deployed new AI-powered dashcams from , a relative newcomer to the government technology space. The cameras not only record crimes but monitor the driving of officers, both activities meant to increase the safety of the public and law enforcement. The use of these cameras comes as — a trend that promises to further shake up gov tech as AI advances and officials and constituents become more comfortable with software designed to think on its own. Hickman County shows that AI will have an impact on even small and relatively out-of-the-way places, and for public agencies with budgets that are “very limited” like the county sheriff’s department, to use the words of Lt. Michael Doddo. As he told , one of the main purposes of the new dashcams is making it much harder for suspects to lie after they are arrested, charged and brought into court. The high-quality pictures offered by the dashcams have resulted in some suspects taking plea deals instead of risking conviction by a jury. One example involves a car that “spun out” and someone from that vehicle tossing “a bag of dope out the window,” Doddo said. The suspect took a plea deal instead of going to trial thanks to the clarity of the video. Such videos — and the dashcams that capture them — are vital to future police work, he said, especially given changing expectations from the public. “Unfortunately, we live in a society where if you didn’t see it happen, it didn’t happen,” Doddo said. “Law enforcement’s word doesn’t mean anything anymore.” It’s not only smaller agencies that are deploying the latest dashcams in this shifting atmosphere. is one of the larger cities upgrading in-car cameras and associated technology, including cloud storage of data. As that happens, more police agencies are setting up what’s commonly called , and other parts of the justice system are using AI not to catch offenders but . The entire public safety industry, in fact, is buzzing with activity that also involves improvements to 911 systems — and making that part of the gov tech world attractive to companies that were outside of it. Motive, for instance, had been selling — and still does — driving safety and fleet management tools for construction, trucking, oil and gas and other industries before “putting our toe” in the public-sector business about two years ago, according to Devin Smith, group product manager for the company. It’s not only video evidence that matters, but driver safety — that goes for school buses and other forms of publicly supported transit that use the company’s products, too. Motive’s AI can detect eight to 15 different “behaviors” — perhaps a driver looking too long at a mobile phone — to keep tabs on safety. Drivers can be scored and coached on their unsafe behavior, with the dashcams also recording the details of accidents for later use in insurance claims and court cases. “It really brings forward a culture of safe driving,” he told , and not just potential “exoneration,” as was the traditional aim of older cameras. He said Motive developed its AI training “in-house” via the work of about 60 machine learning engineers.Burt, the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” and continued to impress visitors with his fiery temper and commanding presence, has died. Burt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia , said. He was at least 90 years old. “Known for his independent nature, Burt was a confirmed bachelor — an attitude he made clear during his earlier years at a crocodile farm,” Crocosaurus Cove wrote in social media posts. “He wasn’t just a crocodile, he was a force of nature and a reminder of the power and majesty of these incredible creatures. While his personality could be challenging, it was also what made him so memorable and beloved by those who worked with him and the thousands who visited him over the years,” the aquarium wrote. A saltwater crocodile , Burt was estimated to be more than 5 meters (16 feet) long. He was captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River and became one of the most well-known crocodiles in the world, according to Crocosaurus Cove. The 1986 movie stars Paul Hogan as the rugged crocodile hunter Mick Dundee. In the movie, American Sue Charlton, played by actress Linda Kozlowski, goes to fill her canteen in a watering hole when she is attacked by a crocodile before being saved by Dundee. Burt is briefly shown lunging out of the water. But the creature shown in more detail as Dundee saves the day is apparently something else. The Internet Movie Database says the movie goofed by depicting an American alligator, which has a blunter snout. The Australian aquarium where Burt had lived since 2008 features a “Cage of Death” which it says is the nation's only crocodile dive. It said it planned to honor Burt's legacy with a commemorative sign “celebrating his extraordinary life and the stories and interactions he shared throughout his time at the park.”CHATSWORTH, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, today announced the final opportunity to own a new home at Verona Estates , an exclusive gated community in Chatsworth, California. Only a few homes remain available for sale in this prestigious community, including the professionally decorated Siena Modern Farmhouse model home. The intimate gated enclave of Verona Estates is a rare find showcasing award-winning architecture and innovative home designs. Nestled in an established Chatsworth neighborhood south of the Santa Susana Mountains and adjacent to the Vineyards at Porter Ranch, this exceptional community offers a serene and relaxed atmosphere with the convenience of nearby shopping and easy access to freeways, entertainment, and recreation. Toll Brothers residents in Verona Estates will enjoy distinctive architecture, quality craftsmanship, luxurious home designs with open floor plans, expansive home sites, and proximity to the future 50-acre Porter Ranch community park. Verona Estates offers generous two-story home designs ranging from 4,700 to 6,000+ square feet, with 5 to 6 bedrooms, 4.5 to 6.5 bathrooms, and 3-car garages. The homes also feature popular floor plan options including prep kitchens, guest suites, floating staircases, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and more. Move-in ready homes in the community are priced from $1,979,995. “We are thrilled to offer the final opportunity to own a home in the exclusive Verona Estates community,” said Nick Norvilas, Division President of Toll Brothers in Los Angeles. “The Siena model home is a showcase of luxury and design, and we encourage interested home buyers to visit and experience this exceptional home along with the final few quick move-in homes remaining in the community firsthand.” The Siena Modern Farmhouse model home features designer upgrades throughout, including fully landscaped and furnished interiors, offering an unparalleled living experience. The professionally decorated model home is priced at $2,999,995. For more information, call 844-700-8655 or visit TollBrothers.com/LA . The Sales Center for Verona Estates is located at 20508 Edgewood Court in Chatsworth and is open by appointment only. About Toll Brothers Toll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 57 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOL.” The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations. In 2024, Toll Brothers marked 10 years in a row being named to the Fortune World’s Most Admired CompaniesTM list and the Company’s Chairman and CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron’s magazine. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit TollBrothers.com . From Fortune, ©2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | ameck@tollbrothers.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cbb8cf4a-a018-4df0-955e-3cf4ab63edeb Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG)
The King is scheduled to attend the show at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday which will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada – based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film. Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet ahead of the performance which showcases an original score by Sir Elton. The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill. Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary. Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde – who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine. Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year’s show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly’s campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection. It comes hours after Camilla insisted the “show must go on” after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. “With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight’s Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned.” A royal source said the Queen was “naturally disappointed to miss the evening’s entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that ‘the show must go on'”. “She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon,” the source added. The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.
HONDA and Nissan are in talks to deepen ties, two people said on Wednesday (Dec 18), including a possible merger, the clearest sign yet of how Japan’s once seemingly unbeatable auto industry is being reshaped by challenges from Tesla and Chinese rivals. A combined Honda and Nissan would create a US$54 billion company with annual output of 7.4 million vehicles, making it the world’s third-largest auto group by vehicle sales after Toyota and Volkswagen. The two firms already forged a strategic partnership in March to cooperate in electric vehicle development, but Nissan’s deepening financial and strategic trouble in recent months has added more urgency for closer cooperation with larger rival Honda. Nissan announced a US$2.6 billion cost savings plan last month that includes cutting 9,000 jobs and 20 per cent of its global production capacity, as slumping sales in China and the US led to an 85 per cent plunge in second-quarter profit. “This deal appears to be more about bailing out Nissan, but Honda itself is not resting on its laurels,” said Sanshiro Fukao, executive fellow at Itochu Research Institute. “Honda’s cash flow is set to deteriorate next year and its EVs (electric vehicles) haven’t been going so well.” Shares of Nissan closed nearly 24 per cent higher in Tokyo trade on Wednesday, while shares of Honda, whose market value of US$43 billion is more than four times bigger than that of Nissan, declined 3 per cent. Shares of Mitsubishi Motors, in which Nissan is the top shareholder with a 24 per cent stake, gained nearly 20 per cent. The automakers have been grappling with challenges from EV makers, particularly in China, where BYD and others have surged ahead. The talks between Honda and Nissan, first reported by the Nikkei newspaper, could allow the companies to cooperate more on technology and help them create a more formidable domestic rival to Toyota. The discussions are focused on finding ways to bolster collaboration and include the possibility of setting up a holding company, said the people, who declined to be identified because the information has not been made public. The companies are also discussing the possibility of a full merger, according to one of the people, as well as looking at ways to cooperate with Mitsubishi. Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi said that no deal had been announced by any of the companies, though Nissan and Mitsubishi noted the three automakers had said previously they were considering opportunities for future collaboration. French automaker Renault, a major Nissan shareholder, said it had no information and declined to comment. Renault shares jumped 6.5 per cent. The three Japanese automakers are expected to hold a joint news conference in Tokyo on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter. Taiwan’s Foxconn, which manufactures Apple’s iPhones and has been seeking to expand its nascent EV contract manufacturing business, approached Nissan about a bid but it was rejected by the Japanese firm, two separate sources familiar with the matter said. Bloomberg News reported earlier on Wednesday that Foxconn had approached Nissan to take a controlling stake. Foxconn did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while a Nissan spokesperson declined to comment on Foxconn. Over the past year, an EV price war launched by Tesla and BYD has intensified pressure on any automakers losing money on the next-generation vehicles. That has put pushed companies like Honda and Nissan to seek ways to cut costs and speed vehicle development, and mergers are a major step in that direction. “In the mid- to long-term, this is good for the Japanese car industry as it creates a second axis against Toyota,” said Seiji Sugiura, a senior analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory. “Constructive rivalry with Toyota is a positive for the rather stagnating Japanese car industry when it must compete with Chinese automakers, Tesla and others.” Any merger would face significant US scrutiny and President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to take a hard line on imported vehicles, including threatening 25 per cent tariffs on vehicles shipped from Canada and Mexico. He could seek concessions from Honda and Nissan to approve any deal, auto industry officials pointed out. Honda and Nissan both produce cars in Mexico for export to the United States. Honda and Nissan would also have to work out how to integrate their different corporate cultures if they proceed with a merger, analysts said. “Honda has a unique, technology-centric culture with strengths in powertrains, so there should be some internal resistance to the merger with Nissan, a competitor with a different culture that is now faltering,” said Tang Jin, a senior researcher at Mizuho Bank. REUTERSThe oil and auto industries’ inconvenient truth
Chris Jackman Launches Personal Blog to Explore Legal Insights and Inspire the Next Generation of Lawyers 12-17-2024 11:46 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Erase Technologies, LLC Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/1734444847.jpg Chris Jackman, Attorney, Seattle Washington. Chris Jackman, esteemed attorney and founder of The Jackman Law Firm, is proud to announce the launch of his personal blog, a platform dedicated to providing unique perspectives on the legal field while offering guidance to aspiring attorneys. The blog will cover a wide range of topics, including the evolving landscape of personal injury law, building client trust, and the importance of empathy in legal practice. Having secured nearly $50 million in settlements since founding his firm in 2014, Chris Jackman brings a wealth of experience and a fresh voice to the legal blogging space. His aim is to make complex legal topics accessible, offer actionable advice for law students and young professionals, and share the lessons he has learned throughout his career. "My hope is that this blog becomes a resource for anyone interested in law-not just those practicing, but also those navigating the legal system or considering a career in it," said Jackman. "I also want to inspire future lawyers by discussing the human side of law and the profound impact empathy and dedication can have on clients." In addition to practical advice, the blog will delve into key themes like resilience, professional growth, and the role of mentorship in the legal profession. It will also spotlight pressing legal issues and provide insights into emerging trends that are shaping the field. To check out Chris Jackman's blog, visit his website here [ https://www.chris-jackman.com/ ]. About Chris Jackman: Chris Jackman is the founder of The Jackman Law Firm, specializing in personal injury, mass torts, and immigration law. Known for his client-centered approach, he has dedicated his career to advocating for individuals facing significant challenges. His new blog aims to share insights from his professional journey and inspire the next generation of lawyers. Media Contact Company Name: Chris Jackman Attorney Contact Person: Chris Jackman Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=chris-jackman-launches-personal-blog-to-explore-legal-insights-and-inspire-the-next-generation-of-lawyers ] City: Seattle State: Washington Country: United States Website: https://chrisjackmanlawyer.com This release was published on openPR.
By MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.
Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trollingMovie Review: Nicole Kidman commands the erotic office drama 'Babygirl'Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90
Two teams headed in opposite directions square off Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City when the Utah Jazz host the New York Knicks. The Jazz come in on a four-game losing streak, having most recently blown a huge lead at San Antonio on Thursday. They entered the weekend last in the Western Conference with just three wins on the season. Conversely, the Knicks bring a four-game winning streak to Utah after kicking off a five-game road trip Wednesday night with a victory at Phoenix. Coach Tom Thibodeau was pleased with how well the Knicks performed together in their 138-122 win over the short-handed Suns, who were missing injured stars Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. "The guys are starting to get used to playing off of each other," Thibodeau said. "Each game you can see they're seeing things. They're reading the game extremely well. I think they're creating good spacing. They're cutting extremely well and what that's doing is it's opening up the floor and we're playing into space. And everyone's unselfish. We had 30 assists. I think that's huge." In the win at Phoenix, Jalen Brunson scored 23 points in the first half and Karl-Anthony Towns poured in 23 in the second half. Brunson finished with 36 points and 10 assists. He hit 12 of 21 field goals overall and drained 7 of 11 3-point attempts. Towns totaled 34 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the floor, adding 10 rebounds to help the Knicks continue their winning ways after two victories over Brooklyn and one against Washington. The Jazz came unraveled Thursday night after taking a 20-point first-half lead at San Antonio. Lauri Markkanen scored 27 and Keyonte George chipped in with 19 against the Spurs, who were playing without injured star center Victor Wembanyama. "I thought the first half, the energy, the tempo, the ball movement, the competitive spirit of the team was as good as we've seen in a while," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. That wasn't the case in the second half, however, as Utah gave up 75 points and was outscored by 12 points in both the third and fourth quarters. Reserve Brice Sensabaugh, who's seen inconsistent playing time, was a highlight for Utah in the first half, when he totaled 13 of his 18 points. "He has not complained. He's not had, like, a ‘woe-is-me' mentality. He's just come to work every day and he's taken some hard coaching," Hardy said. "He understands what's expected of him, but to his credit, he was ready, and he deserves all of the credit for that." Off to a tough start, the Jazz are hoping to find more consistency. The uneven play was evident against the Spurs, and it's been an issue at home, too. Utah returns to the Delta Center, usually a difficult venue for opponents, with just a 1-5 home record. "At the end of the day, you've got to play two halves," Collin Sexton said after scoring 18 for Utah. "We've got to play 48 minutes. You can't allow the first half to get you too high or get you too low, you've got to always stay consistent and just continue to build off of that." --Field Level Media
Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in ‘Baby Driver,’ dies after falling from moving vehicleMonport Laser Unwraps the "Christmas Laser Bonanza" - Spark Your Creativity with Unbeatable Festive Offers
Lots of folks are enjoying their new holiday gifts right now — but some might not love that new sweater. The week following Christmas is the biggest week of returns in the U.S., and this year, some major retailers are making some major changes to their return policies. Outlets including Amazon, REI, and Target are changing who can return items and how they return them. It's to combat fraud, which has cost retailers tens of billions of dollars each year. And while you might not be trying to game the system, the changes will affect you nonetheless. In June, Amazon added processing fees for high-return items. That charge varies, since it's based on an item's popularity and how often it's returned. But shoes and apparel are excepted due to sizing issues — so you can still get rid of those reindeer socks without a penalty. Outdoor retailer REI also announced it could refuse a return — but that's limited to frequent returners. The company says the changes will affect only 0.02% of members who show a pattern of policy abuse. Similar changes are at Target, which announced it reserves the right to also refuse refunds suspected of fraud. RELATED STORY | Get ready for the post-Christmas return frenzy The changes come as cases of fraud have increased in recent years. The National Retail Federation estimates return scams cost retailers over $100 billion in 2023 alone. That's after $743 billion in items were returned. By the end of 2024, the group estimates that number will rise to nearly $900 billion. Online shopping it where most returns occur. According to the software company Elite Extra, the cost of handling a return is roughly 17% of the purchase cost. So for every $100 in accepted returns, a company loses $17. You can thank the "wardrobers" out there who return used items, or the folks who fake receipts for stolen goods. Or those who switch high-value items with knockoffs. And don't forget to thank Dear Aunt Sally for the sweatshirt. She meant well.Victor Boniface suffers fresh muscle injury
By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he was “stupid” not to put his own name on pandemic relief checks in 2021, noting that Donald Trump had done so in 2020 and likely got credit for helping people out through this simple, effective act of branding. Biden did the second-guessing as he delivered a speech at the Brookings Institution defending his economic record and challenging Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television As Biden focused on his legacy with his term ending, he suggested Trump should keep the Democrats’ momentum going and ignore the policies of his allies. The president laid out favorable recent economic data but acknowledged his rare public regret that he had not been more self-promotional in advertising the financial support provided by his administration as the country emerged from the pandemic. “I signed the American Rescue Plan, the most significant economic recovery package in our history, and also learned something from Donald Trump,” Biden said at the Washington-based think tank. “He signed checks for people for 7,400 bucks ... and I didn’t. Stupid.” The decision by the former reality TV star and real estate developer to add his name to the checks sent by the U.S. Treasury to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus marked the first time a president’s name appeared on any IRS payments. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris , who replaced him as the Democratic nominee , largely failed to convince the American public of the strength of the economy. The addition of 16 million jobs, funding for infrastructure, new factories and investments in renewable energy were not enough to overcome public exhaustion over inflation, which spiked in 2022 and left many households coping with elevated grocery, gasoline and housing costs. More than 6 in 10 voters in November’s election described the economy as “poor” or “not so good,” according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. Trump won nearly 7 in 10 of the voters who felt the economy was in bad shape, paving the way for a second term as president after his 2020 loss to Biden. Biden used his speech to argue that Trump was inheriting a strong economy that is the envy of the world. The inflation rate fell without a recession that many economists had viewed as inevitable, while the unemployment rate is a healthy 4.2% and applications to start new businesses are at record levels. Biden called the numbers under his watch “a new set of benchmarks to measure against the next four years.” “President-elect Trump is receiving the strongest economy in modern history,” said Biden, who warned that Trump’s planned tax cuts could lead to massive deficits or deep spending cuts. He also said that Trump’s promise of broad tariffs on foreign imports would be a mistake, part of a broader push Tuesday by the administration to warn against Trump’s threatened action. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also issued a word of caution about them at a summit of The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council. “I think the imposition of broad based tariffs, at least of the type that have been discussed, almost all economists agree this would raise prices on American consumers,” she said. Biden was also critical of Trump allies who have pushed Project 2025 , a policy blueprint from the Heritage Foundation that calls for a complete overhaul of the federal government. Trump has disavowed participation in it, though parts were written by his allies and overlap with his stated views on economics, immigration, education policy and civil rights. “I pray to God the president-elect throws away Project 2025,” Biden said. “I think it would be an economic disaster.” Associated Press writer Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report.Orca carried her dead calf for 17 days. She now has a new babyBurt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90
Burt, the huge Australian crocodile who had a cameo in ‘Crocodile Dundee,’ dies at 90
Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in ‘Baby Driver,’ dies after falling from moving vehicle