Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100(Reuters) - At least 229 people detained in Nicaragua for political reasons have suffered various forms of torture and other "crimes against humanity" at the hands of the government over the past seven years, a human rights NGO said on Tuesday. The Nicaragua Never Again Human Rights Collective said in a report that it had documented the torture of 183 men and 46 women out of some 2,000 people arrested in connection to 2018 anti-government protests. Nicaraguan Vice President and government spokesperson Rosario Murillo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Ortega's government in the past has ignored reports from NGOs, as well as from the UN and the Organization of American States, saying they are part of an international campaign against it. The NGO, which is based in neighboring Costa Rica, said at least 178 of those who testified reported suffering abuse such as beatings, beatings with weapons, rape, death threats and threats or aggression against family members. It said it identified over 40 forms of torture through the testimonies, including 159 cases of beatings, 22 of asphyxiation or strangulation, 17 cases of electric shocks, 21 burns with plastic or iron and 18 fingernail or tooth removals. At least 117 people were deprived of medical attention and 85 kept in isolation for over two weeks, it said. The majority of detentions were violent and arbitrary and detainees were not presented with an arrest warrant, the NGO said, while in 40% of cases they reported "participation of paramilitary agents who have acted as a third armed force." The report accused President Daniel Ortega's Sandinista government of committing crimes against humanity. The U.N. Human Rights Office had on Monday issued a warning in which it said the situation was continuing to deteriorate in Nicaragua, where citizens were subject to a "severe and repressive climate." Nicaragua's government has recently passed a set of reforms that critics say formalize President Ortega's already broad-ranging power over the state. These include an expansion to presidential powers and those of the police and military. (Reporting by Gabriela Selser; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Alistair Bell) Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .
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As Saskatoon’s new city council worked to review and amend the city’s 2025 budget, a list of organizations pleaded their cases for their own budgets. Chief financial officer Clae Hack said population growth and higher building costs mean the city has to invest more in the services it offers. The net budget change going into 2025 would be an increase of $748,900 — including an overall budget decrease of $888,500, overtaken by an increase in the police budget of $1,640,000 — Hack told council. The administration recommended last week that council revise the property tax rate increase to 5.84 per cent, but has since reduced the hike to 5.2 per cent — 0.44 per cent lower than the rate discussed during budget deliberations last year. Expenses for transportation services, police and the fire department account for roughly two-thirds of the higher costs facing the city, primarily from inflation, according to the report. Motions brought forward during Monday’s meeting will be added to a list of considerations to be addressed after reports are discussed. Speakers pressed council to fund improvements to transportation services, tighten the number of city staff, and address increased numbers of fires in the city. North Saskatoon Business Association board member Mike Lawton suggested the city use artificial intelligence for some processes. Speaking on behalf of the Nutrien Wonderhub, Anne Neufeld said many young families are struggling to make ends meet and a small change to the city’s budget regarding its lease agreement could have a long-term impact on the children’s museum. “I want all kids to have that Wonderhub experience,” she said, asking council to reduce its The city administration recommended keeping the original lease but allowing a phased-in approach to give the organization time to adjust its operational requirements. Wonderhub CEO Leah Brodie said that isn’t achievable, telling council the organization was denied a provincial grant in 2020, causing ongoing funding issues. Coun. Kathryn MacDonald proposed an amendment to have the administration to work with the Wonderhub to renew the agreement with full provision for the base rent requirements of $164,900, but the city would cover facility management costs under $5,000 and budget insurance costs, which passed. TCU Place CEO Tammy Sweeney said the venue needs to rethink its model, noting it faces a $538,000 deficit in 2025, which is lower than the deficits seen in both 2024 and 2023. The deficit will be covered by reserves, and Sweeney said TCU Place is not looking for a budget increase at this time. She said the current subsidy of $500,000 from the city does not allow the venue to be competitive in its market; venues in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton receive millions of dollars from their municipalities, she said. “We’ve been in a deficit since 2020.” SaskTel Centre CEO John Howden told council the facility expects $600,908 in net earnings in 2025. A report from Remai Modern indicated it will break even on its budget. The gallery had 15 per cent more visitors in 2024 than 2023, which was a record-setting year. Saskatoon Public Library CEO Carol Shepstone noted households in the city can save money by using library resources. The library is seeking a 2.82 per cent increase to its levy — less than the 3.55 per cent increase projected last year. Proposed police budget increases can be summarized as $28,600 for minor adjustments and $1.6 million for the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Initiative (SCAN), police board chair Shirley Greyeyes told council. The total proposed capital spending budget for police in 2025 is $5,431,000 — $2,523,000 more than the approved capital budget in 2024. Greyeyes said the additional officers outlined in the operating budget would allow the city to get closer to the ratio of officers to population the city had in 2018. The provincial government committed to funding 37 new officers, but the city is on the hook to cover the costs of equipping them. Greyeyes said having additional officers allows for a dedicated warrant enforcement team and more resources for things like patrols. Police Chief Cam McBride said the extra staff and resources in the police budget would allow officers to work in more neighbourhoods and pay attention to aspects of policing that may have been neglected with increased numbers of calls for service. Several city councillors noted crime, safety and homelessness were among the top issues they heard about while door-knocking during the civic election. The fire department asked for money to hire two fire bylaw inspectors — which was granted — adding that additional resources are needed to address shelter spaces like the Pacific Avenue temporary shelter and the Emergency Wellness Centre. Assistant Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer said the fire department has a backlog of more than 1,600 property maintenance complaints.Toronto police say they’ve found evidence of a gun being fired at an Etobicoke school. Officers were called to Silverthorn Collegiate Institute in the Mill and Burnhamthorpe roads area just before 4 p.m. for reports of two people with a gun inside the school. The school was placed in lockdown while police searched and cleared the premises. Investigators say evidence of a firearm discharge was located. FIREARM DISCHARGE: Mill Rd. & Burnhamthorpe Rd. area (Silverthorn Collegiate Institute) 3:59 p.m – Reports of a person w/ a gun inside the school – School in lockdown – Police o/s – Evidence of a firearm discharge located – No reports of injuries #GO2673285 ^vs No injuries have been reported and there’s no word on arrests. It’s not clear if the gunfire took place inside the school at this point. In a follow up social media post, police said they believe the suspects have fled the area. No descriptions were available. More to comeSan Diego Traffic Stop Uncovers Narcotics and Illegal Firearms in Family RV, Multiple Arrests Made
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Fianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majorityCollective bargaining rights for most Wisconsin public employees, which were effectively eliminated under former Gov. Scott Walker's 13-year-old signature law Act 10, were restored Monday following a Dane County judge's order. The order from Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Frost comes nearly six months after he ruled that provisions of Act 10, which was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by Walker in 2011, were unconstitutional because the law treats public safety workers differently from other public employees. Frost earlier this year rejected a motion by the Legislature seeking to dismiss the case and, on Monday, he clarified which provisions of the law are no longer enforceable. His ruling effectively restores collective bargaining powers for all public workers who saw those rights restricted under Act 10's passage. "The judiciary cannot be a check on the Legislature if it cannot, through declaring a statute unconstitutional and void, stop the enforcement of that statute," Frost wrote in the 18-page order. "Instead, to uphold the role of the judicial branch, I must strike unconstitutional statutes and restore the statutes to a constitutional basis. The Legislature may then take up the work of drafting a new, constitutional framework for collective bargaining of public employees, if it so desires." Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, have pledged to appeal Frost's ruling, meaning the case is all but certain to come before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which currently holds a 4-3 liberal majority. One of the court's liberal seats is on the ballot in April, with conservatives hoping to regain control of the state's highest court. “This lawsuit came more than a decade after Act 10 became law and after many courts rejected the same meritless legal challenges," Vos said in a statement. "We look forward to presenting our arguments on appeal.” In his ruling, Frost rejected a request from GOP legislative leaders, submitted in response to his ruling in July, asking him to simply eliminate the definition of "public safety employee" from the law. Frost wrote that doing so would "lack any legislative direction in the statutes as to the intended meaning of the term." "Act 10 as written by the Legislature specifically and narrowly defines 'public safety employee,'" Frost wrote. "It is that definition which is unconstitutional. The Legislature cites no precedent for this bold argument that I should simply strike the unlawful definition but leave it to an agency and the courts to later define as they see fit." "Neither this Court, the Court of Appeals nor the Supreme Court can decide how we believe the Legislature should have, but did not, define the 'public safety employee' group," Frost continued. "We cannot decide who should be included or excluded, absent guidance from the Legislature as to its lawful policy choices." In his order, Frost struck portions of the law that laid out the difference between general and public safety employees, including a provision that required general employees to secure 51% of the votes of all employees in a collective bargaining unit to recertify, while public safety employees only needed a majority of those members who actually voted. "This distinction between general and public safety employees is meaningless without Act 10’s creation of these two categories," Frost noted. The lawsuit was filed last November by several union groups who argued lawmakers violated the state Constitution when they established two separate tiers of public employees: Those subject to the law, including teachers and service workers, and those exempt, including police and firefighters — groups that largely endorsed Walker. Moreover, they said, the differences between the two groups of employees aren't clearly defined. Municipal police and fire and state troopers are allowed to collectively bargain under the law, but not Capitol Police, UW Police and conservation wardens. Act 10 was passed when Republicans held a trifecta in state government as a way to address a projected $3.6 billion budget deficit and delivered a windfall to taxpayers while also altering the relationship between government workers and their employers. The proposal sparked immense pushback, with as many as 100,000 people massing at the Capitol for a nearly monthlong protest and occupation leading up to the measure's passage. Wisconsinites have gotten cheaper government, lower taxes and a way out of the immediate budget crisis, the Wisconsin State Journal found in a 2021 series examining the law's impact on the 10th anniversary of its passage. Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of the state's largest business organization Wisconsin Manufacturers and Business, said Frost's ruling "is wrong on its face and is inconsistent with the law." “Act 10 is not only constitutional, it is a critical tool for policymakers and elected officials to balance budgets and find taxpayer savings," he added. "Thanks to Act 10, the state, local governments and countless school districts have saved billions and billions of dollars — protecting Wisconsinites from massive tax increases over the last decade-plus." The law effectively ended collective bargaining for most public-sector unions by allowing them to bargain solely over base wage increases no greater than inflation. It also ended the automatic withdrawal of union dues, required annual recertification votes for unions, and forced public workers to pay more for health insurance and retirement benefits. "I voted against Act 10 more than 13 years ago, and am thrilled our public servants are able to once again organize and make their voices heard," former state legislator and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Black Earth, wrote in a post on X. Walker, meanwhile, called Frost's ruling "brazen political activism," in a post on X. "Collective bargaining is not a right," Walker added in a second post. "It is an expensive entitlement." The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, wrote in an April report that eliminating Act 10 could have a significant fiscal impact on the state, with school districts facing an estimated $1.6 billion in new annual costs if the law is fully repealed. “For over a decade, liberal activists have attacked reforms that have saved Wisconsin taxpayers tens of billions of dollars," LeMahieu said in a statement. "Despite Act 10 being upheld repeatedly by state and federal courts, an activist Dane County judge decided to issue a ruling suddenly deciding Wisconsin's law is unconstitutional. We will appeal this decision immediately.” Frost had taken criticism earlier this year after it was reported his name appeared on a 2011 petition to recall Walker following Act 10's passage, when Frost was a private practice attorney. Attorneys representing the Legislature in the lawsuit did not request that Frost be removed from the case. The lawsuit was filed by the Abbotsford Education Association, Beaver Dam Education Association, SEIU Wisconsin, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 47 and 1215, Teaching Assistants' Association Local 3220 and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 695, as well AFSCME Local 1215 president Ben Gruber, Beaver Dam teacher Matthew Ziebarth and Racine Unified School District employee Wayne Rasmussen. "Today's decision is personal for me and my coworkers," Gruber said in a statement. "As a conservation warden, having full collective bargaining rights means we will again have a voice on the job to improve our workplace and make sure that Wisconsin is a safe place for everyone. We realize there may still be a fight ahead of us in the courts, but make no mistake, we're ready to keep fighting until we all have a seat at the table again." A decade after the debate and protests over the anti-union law known as Act 10 convulsed the state, Wisconsin remains firmly divided on the law. The most seismic political story of the last decade in Wisconsin began on Feb. 7, 2011, when Republican Gov. Scott Walker informed a gathering... A decade after the controversial legislation became law, state and local governments have saved billions of dollars, but spending on key programs has lagged. Between 2010 and 2017, four major public sector unions in Wisconsin saw significant decreases in their membership. The most seismic political story of the last decade in Wisconsin began on Feb. 7, 2011, when Republican Gov. Scott Walker informed a gathering... A selection of Wisconsin State Journal photographs from the historic protests of February and March 2011 at the state Capitol. The largest pro... A collection of Wisconsin State Journal front pages during the historic Capitol protests of February and March 2011. Gov. Scott Walker's plan ... Video highlights of the fallout over the introduction and passage of what would become Wisconsin 2011 Act 10 in February and March, 2011. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
A leading surgeon left feeling “exhausted and burdened” after working tirelessly for 70 hours per week has revealed the “revolutionary” tool that has changed his life. Dr. Michael Ewing shared a video on LinkedIn earlier this week, detailing how the product has not only given him back precious time with his family and children – but also saved patients’ lives . Like many doctors, the 36-year-old dad spent his residency overworked, l ogging hundreds of hours . Much of Dr Ewing’s workload was actually down to endless charting, rather than focusing on his true passion: patient care. McDonald's fans share secret hack for making famous chicken nuggets extra crispy Home chef shares 'flu bomb' recipe that 'gets rid of illness in just three days' He longed to find a solution to have the capacity to be more present and now, he’s found it, through a “game-changing” tool called SurgeOn Scribe , launching today (10 December). Using AI technology, the feature automates the clinical documentation process – cutting down on mistakes, saving time and also whittling out the likelihood of any legal problems. “Doctors want to help people – that’s why we chose this path – but we are forced to spend so much time charting, when all we really want to do is to talk and listen to our patients,” said Dr Ewing. “I see about 50-60 patients a week and I have to remember small details, regardless of the situation," he said. “But doctors are only human – there’s a lot of mental stress and a lot of time that’s wasted by trying to recount visits. “On top of that, we are constantly being pulled in multiple directions and there’s always another emergency going on." He added “I save at least an hour a day in the clinic now and I can’t tell you how valuable it is for my mental capacity. Not only that, but I now spend 95% of patient visits listening to what patients are saying rather than making mental notes or being distracted by the demands of charting." “Reviewing my own experience, I calculated that saving time on chart notes could allow surgeons to see up to an additional seven people per day in a half-day clinic," he claimed. “This AI tool will save patient’s lives.” Growing up, Dr. Ewing, who is originally from Dallas, Texas, actually wanted to be a professional guitar player. He was working in an ER while studying music at the Dallas Baptist University, when he became fascinated by the medical profession – which led him to switch courses completely. The doctor said: “I had been working as a scribe to make extra money but didn’t expect to be so inspired by how physicians worked with their hands." “Surgery specifically has the ability to cure people in certain situations and this spoke to me," he said. "So I switched college tracts, which was not easy." “Surgical training is exhausting and surgical life as an attending is even more exhausting due to the constant demands of patients, continued Ewing. “It keeps you from your family and there is also a mental strain. “Now, with SurgeOn Scribe, I get home an hour earlier twice a week, allowing me to see my children more," he championed.“I can also take an extra day off every month, which is life-changing for my family." “Time is my most valuable asset and this tool gives it to me in droves.” With burnout becoming more common in the medical field, Dr.Ewing knew there must be a better way of working and found himself wanting to do something to help. His feelings were echoed by three other surgeons in the field; Dr Jeremy Heffner, Dr.Mario Leyba and Dr. Mark Soliman. The trio founded the app SurgeOn, with the aim of putting an end to the “isolation” felt universally among surgeons. It allows medical professionals to share cases and complexities of a job that most non-surgeons have a tough time relating to. But more needed to be done and that’s when Scribe was born. The new feature, which is found within the app and is launching today, hopes to provide a better patient experience. It allows users to transcribe medical notes either straight onto the computer or, if connectivity is low, onto an Apple Watch. Partnering with MedQuill, an AI-powered medical documentation platform that Dr Ewing helped create, this new product will help SurgeOn’s network of over 15,000 surgeons get their lives back. “For surgeons, our work-life balance is dictated by others more than people realize,” added Dr. Heffner, co-founder of SurgeOn. “Note writing and documentation has eaten up a significant portion of our lives. For the first time in years, we can truly connect with patients and have meaningful conversations with them." “I also have more time to be with my family, and maintain my own fitness levels and mental health," he added “As I age I have truly realised the value of time as a commodity, therefore having more time is priceless.” DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.Sims Limited (OTCMKTS:SMSMY) Short Interest Update
Romanian constitutional court validates first round of presidential race after vote recount
LIVERPOOL HEAD COACH Arne Slot was far from happy with his side’s performance in the 1-0 victory at Girona which extended the Champions League leaders’ perfect start to six matches. Mohamed Salah’s 63rd-minute penalty – his 50th goal in the competition – was the difference but it was far from plain sailing with the first half particularly disturbing for Slot. “If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results,” he said. “I’m really pleased with the five games, the way we played. I am far from pleased about the performance tonight.” Asked what had made him so unhappy he added: “A lot. Especially two things. “If you play against a team who has such a good idea about football and know how to bring the ball out from the back like some other teams we faced recently, like (Manchester) City or Real Madrid then you have to be so intense if you want to make it difficult for them. “But if every time you are waiting a few seconds and then if you do press, you are so easily out-played as this team can cause you problems and this is what they showed during the whole Champions League campaign, except for PSV Eindhoven away. “I almost feel sorry for them because they deserve so much more in this campaign than the three points they have now. “And every time we lost the ball we were not aggressive enough, almost every time they just went all the way to our goal. “We had hardly any control in the game, maybe the second half was better – I’m trying to be positive.” The low intensity meant goalkeeper Alisson Becker had a busier night than he would have expected after returning from two months out with a hamstring injury. He made five saves in the first half to help extend the club’s run without conceding for close to nine hours and Slot was indebted to the Brazil international. “We have an incredible goalkeeper. I said as a joke, maybe the players wanted to see how fit he was to give him so much work,” he added. “He showed today he is probably one of the best – in my opinion the best goalkeeper – in the world. “Let’s hope he can continue to keep bringing these performances and hope more he can stay fit.”Imagine a light bulb that has been burning since 1901. Nestled in a quiet Californian fire station, the Centennial Light challenges today’s disposable culture, offering a glimpse into a past where products were built to last. This historical anomaly sets the stage for a broader examination of how planned obsolescence has become embedded in the fabric of our consumer electronics industry, from light bulbs to smartphones. As we explore the evolution from durable goods to disposable gadgets, we uncover this shift’s economic and environmental implications and the legislative pushback it’s now engendering. This narrative takes us from the Centennial Light’s enduring glow to the heated debates in legislative halls worldwide, advocating for a return to durability. The light bulb that outlasted a century A remarkable piece of history illuminates a local fire station in the quiet town of Livermore, California. Known as the Centennial Light, this bulb has been burning for over a century, almost without interruption. Its longevity is so extraordinary that it earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Originally a 60-watt bulb, its carbon filament has gradually dimmed to the equivalent of a 4-watt bulb today due to the natural degradation of its material. The bulb is encased in hand-blown glass, a testament to the craftsmanship of the late 19th century. The Centennial Light’s continuous operation, now surpassing a million hours, starkly contrasts with modern light bulbs. Today’s bulbs predominantly use tungsten filaments, a shift from the carbon filaments of the past. Tungsten, introduced in the early 20th century, has a higher melting point, which allows for brighter and more efficient bulbs. However, despite these advancements, the average modern incandescent bulb does not approach the lifespan of its historic predecessors like the Centennial Light. The Phoebus Cartel and planned obsolescence The phenomenon of short-lived light bulbs can be traced back to a pivotal meeting in 1924. In Geneva, Switzerland, executives from the world’s leading light bulb manufacturers, including Philips, Osram, and General Electric (which had taken over Shelby Electric), convened to address a growing threat to their businesses: bulbs that lasted too long. This meeting marked the formation of the Phoebus Cartel, named after the Greek god of light. The cartel’s goal was straightforward but impactful: to ensure that light bulbs would not last more than 1,000 hours. This strategy, known as planned obsolescence , involved deliberately reducing the lifespan of light bulbs to boost continuous sales. The cartel established standards that artificially limited the durability of bulbs across the global market. Engineers who once sought to extend the lifespan of bulbs were now tasked with finding ways to shorten it, using thinner filaments and altering the bulb design to ensure compliance with the 1,000-hour lifespan. The impact of the Phoebus Cartel’s policies was profound. By limiting bulb life, they increased the frequency of purchases and set a precedent for manufacturing and business practices prioritizing profit over product longevity and consumer value. Although the cartel dissolved in the 1930s due to external pressures and the advent of World War II, its legacy of planned obsolescence has persisted, influencing various industries and shaping consumer products to this day. Similar strategies can be seen in manufacturing appliances with less durable materials, automobiles with inaccessible parts, and batteries designed to degrade over time. Software companies exacerbate this trend by discontinuing support for older versions, forcing costly upgrades. Together, these practices underscore a widespread economic strategy that shapes consumer behavior and impacts environmental sustainability. How LEDs Changed the Spectrum of Lighting The revolution of light-emitting diode (LED) technology marks a significant milestone in the history of lighting. Since their invention in 1907, LEDs initially provided low power and were available only in red. However, by the 1990s, technological advancements introduced high-efficiency, multi-color LEDs that began to surpass incandescent bulbs in efficiency, transforming the lighting industry. This evolution enabled LEDs to emit a wide spectrum of colors and achieve higher luminosity with significantly less energy consumption. The legislative landscape also played a crucial role in the widespread adoption of LED technology. In Europe, stringent regulations phased out less efficient halogen and incandescent bulbs, with bans fully enforced by September 1, 2018, for halogen and earlier for incandescent bulbs on September 1, 2011. These regulations accelerated the shift toward more sustainable lighting solutions, paving the way for LED technology to dominate the market. Today, LED technology is celebrated for its exceptional efficiency and longevity. Modern LED bulbs can provide up to 50,000 hours of light and boast high Color Rendering Index (CRI) values, typically around CRI98, which indicates superior light quality that closely mimics natural sunlight. These attributes have made LEDs the preferred choice not only for residential and commercial use but also for environmental conservation efforts. Despite these advancements and the legal frameworks supporting them, the specter of planned obsolescence still looms over the LED industry. Unfortunately, some LED light bulbs are designed to be intentionally short-lived to encourage consumers to buy new ones. This practice mirrors broader trends across various industries, including controversial strategies like Apple’s battery management, which involved throttling the performance of older iPhones to prompt users to upgrade. These are just some examples of the ongoing challenge of balancing technological innovation with sustainable consumer practices in an industry where the potential for technological durability is often compromised to stimulate continuous consumer spending. The legal battle for longer-lasting products The push for sustainability and consumer empowerment is crystallizing through global Right to Repair legislation, which affects a broad spectrum of industries, from consumer electronics to medical devices. Notable legislation includes New York’s 2022 Digital Fair Repair Act and Colorado’s 2023 Consumer Right To Repair Agricultural Equipment Act, forcing industries to reconsider their design and repair policies. Companies like Apple have become infamous for their planned obsolescence strategies, often necessitating complete device replacements for issues as minor as a cracked screen. Similarly, manufacturers of gaming consoles, such as Sony and Microsoft , design their systems to discourage user repairs, requiring costly services only they can provide. This movement extends beyond electronics, with implications for critical medical devices like pacemakers and insulin pumps, where repair restrictions can impact costs and patient outcomes. By mandating manufacturers to provide repair documentation and parts, legislation in places like the UK, France, and India aims to curb these restrictive practices, ensuring that products are both maintainable and sustainable. The choice stands clear and consequential for both policymakers and the public: maintain the status quo of quick obsolescence or push for a marketplace enriched with durable and repairable products. Such a decision will steer market practices and significantly influence our environmental strategies. The Right to Repair acts are crucial, challenging us to rethink technological practices and prioritize environmental integrity over short-term gains.
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VANCOUVER — The Better Business Bureau in British Columbia is warning Taylor Swift fans of scams ahead of the superstar's Vancouver concerts, highlighting one case in which a social media profile was allegedly hacked and used to sell fake tickets. It says $2,000 was stolen from fans hoping to attend the shows, which will be at BC Place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The warning comes after police in Toronto last month arrested a woman for allegedly selling about $70,000 worth of fake Swift tickets ahead of the concerts there. The Better Business Bureau said in a news release on Monday that the case in B.C. was reported on its Scam Tracker database. It said the complainant, who wasn't identified, reported that scammers took over her social media profile and used its messaging function to trick people into buying "non-existent concert tickets." The bureau said people needed to be vigilant when buying tickets online, especially for major events such as Swift's concerts that could be "a hot spot" for scammers. It advised fans to buy tickets from trusted vendors or reputable brokers while also double-checking with sellers about the tickets' authenticity even if they are a friend or an acquaintance. Using credit cards for the purchase may also grant consumers some protection, the bureau said. "If someone claims to be selling tickets to a sold-out concert just before the date or at an amazing price, think twice," it said. "Scammers love to prey on fans of any artist or sporting event by claiming to have impossible-to-get-tickets for them." Swift's three sold-out shows at Vancouver's B.C. Place end her record-breaking Eras Tour. As the city prepared for thousands of fans to descend, transit operator TransLink said Monday it would provide extra bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus services on all three concert nights. It said the West Coast Express commuter train would also run on Saturday, leaving Mission, B.C. at 4 p.m. to head into the city and then returning from Vancouver's Waterfront Station at midnight. The statement said fans could expect a singalong on the SeaBus and live performances at Stadium–Chinatown SkyTrain Station near B.C. Place, with extra staff working to help manage crowds. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2024. The Canadian PressTechnology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. On Monday: The S&P 500 rose 14.77 points, or 0.2%, to 6,047.15. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128.65 points, or 0.3%, to 44,782. The Nasdaq composite rose 185.78 points, or 1%, to 19,403.95. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.59 points, or less than 0.1%, to 2,434.14. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,277.32 points, or 26.8%. The Dow is up 7,092.46 points, or 18.8%. The Nasdaq is up 4,392.60 points, or 29.3%. The Russell 2000 is up 407.06 points, or 20.1%.
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