Motion Capture Workers at ‘NBA 2K’ Studio Vote to Unionize With IATSECanada's Trudeau survives third no-confidence voteArticle content The rising cost of living has been taking a greater bite out of Canadians’ wallets since the pandemic, with the average price of all goods and services up by about 18 per cent cumulatively over the past four years. But as general inflation has pinched pocketbooks, it has also focused attention on a more insidious problem: hidden, sometimes excessive “ junk fees ,” that have become bane of consumers everywhere. “There are just so many ways that prices are being played with, and it’s a kind of competition to see who can most sneakily get more money out of you,” says Ken Whitehurst, executive director of the non-profit Consumers Council of Canada. “I think people are very justifiably angry. We are evolving into a transaction economy where nobody is making money off of the great product or service they’re delivering, they’re just making money off of how many times they can manipulate the transaction.” It isn’t hard to find examples. Charges labelled as processing fees, administrative fees, service fees or booking fees abound across a variety of major industries. And because many sectors — including airlines, banks, telecom companies and grocery store chains — are controlled by a few big players , experts say Canadians often have limited options for exercising choice and taking their business elsewhere. That combination has attracted the attention of the federal government and various regulatory agencies, which are starting to target pricing agreements that either disguise the real price of an item or potentially trap consumers into paying additional fees for a product or service they already use. Tackling junk fees and drip pricing In the 2023 federal budget , the government vowed to strengthen the Competition Act and target “higher telecom roaming charges, event and concert fees, excessive baggage fees, and unjustified shipping and freight fees.” Earlier this year, Ottawa said it will introduce regulations that require banks to cap non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees at $10 — a fraction of the $45 to $48 currently charged by the Big Five banks. And in October, the CRTC ordered cellphone companies to take “concrete steps” toward making roaming fees more affordable. One specific practice that is under the microscope target has been the use of “drip pricing,” where consumers are lured in by a low advertised price that doesn’t include additional hidden fixed charges for a product or service, a tact that is illegal under the Competition Act. Over the past few years, several headline-making fines have been doled out to companies for misleading pricing. In 2019, Ticketmaster paid a $4.5 million penalty for “allegedly misleading pricing claims in online ticket sales,” where fees piled on an extra 20 per cent to 65 per cent onto advertised prices. Ticket resale website TicketNetwork paid a $825,000 fine for similar misleading advertising in 2023. In September, the Competition Tribunal issued Cineplex a record $38.9-million fine, ruling that the theatre chain committed drip pricing through an $1.50 online booking fee. Cineplex has filed an appeal. In the book The Big Fix: How Companies Capture Markets and Harm Canadians, co-authors Vass Bednar and Denise Hearn call unjustified junk fees “a kind of lazy man’s innovation.” In an interview with the Financial Post, Bednar noted that some fees charged by private businesses and public institutions are legitimately related to the cost of doing business. For example, because credit card processing fees are costly to merchants in Canada, they’re allowed to add an optional surcharge on credit card purchases of up to 2.4 per cent per transaction — it just has to be clearly disclosed to the cardholder before the transaction, and cardholders must also have the option to pay using debit or cash instead. “Sometimes these fees are real, genuine, supplementary and necessary fees,” Bednar says. “Other times, when (fees) are junk, they are just tacked on and inflate the price because a firm can, and that’s where we see firms trying to take advantage of us.” Searching for a solution Within Canada, Whitehurst says Ontario and Quebec have stronger consumer protection laws compared with other provinces. “Quebec consumer protection law is more assertive,” he says. “The Quebec government, directly and indirectly provides some funding to their consumer organizations, and they’re organized a bit differently. There’s kind of a blending, more like what you would see in the U.K., where the consumer organizations are involved in service delivery as well as policy development representation.” Bednar says the United States is “more voracious and a bit more ambitious” on competition-related issues compared with Canada, but she sees an opportunity for Canada to take inspiration and shift its approach. “There’s a U.S.-led campaign around ending junk fees at the state level. But here, probably partially a function of our historically weak consumer protection, it’s not catching on. I think it’s just not as resonant as it should be. Tackling junk fees and banking is actually huge and very provocative, especially since we have a pretty cozy banking sector,” she says. One study, from Alberta based consultancy North Economics Ltd., found that Canada’s Big Five banks are costing Canadians $7.7 billion in extra fees each year, with Canadians paying higher fees for “inferior service and slow innovation” compared with consumers in Australia and the United Kingdom. The study explores fees ranging from chequing account service fees, insufficient funds fees, overdraft fees, bank machine fees. While more competition and choice are often touted as a solution to Canada’s woes, Whitehurst says it’s a multifaceted issue that requires transparency, meaningful consumer representation, collaboration between federal, provincial and territorial governments, and “sufficient courageousness” among the people tasked with enforcing laws to take action. To help reduce or avoid paying extra fees, non-profit advocacy organization Consumer Reports recommends tactics like negotiating, questioning or complaining about fees. But Whitehurst says it’s not fair to treat the issue as a consumer responsibility — there might not be anyone to ask upfront about additional charges, they might not give an honest answer, or consumers might not be offered an agreement to consider in advance, such as an unexpected charge added to a restaurant or hotel bill “Our best suggestion for consumers is to call their members of legislatures and tell them they want more legal protections and more proactive oversight and enforcement of consumer protection law, regulation and standards,” he says. “Don’t vote for those who won’t commit to reform and then demonstrate they will take action.” Bednar also says that it shouldn’t be up to individuals to solve structural issues, but does see value in the power of calling out junk fees on social media, directly asking companies to provide justification for fees, and reporting deceptive marketing tactics to consumer protection authorities like the Competition Bureau . “Citizens need to be a part of reporting or inquiring and starting to build that awareness around what’s a junk fee and what’s not,” she says. “And I don’t see people being engaged in that way yet, so that’s definitely an area of opportunity.” Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the business news you need to know — add financialpost.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
“The View” co-hosts got into another tense political discussion while disagreeing over the validity of President-elect Donald Trump’s new pick for attorney general during Friday’s episode. The co-hosts –– Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin and Alyssa Farah Griffin –– were discussing Trump picking Pam Bondi after Matt Gaetz withdrew amid his controversial sexual misconduct allegations. While Haines, Navarro and Griffin were thankful for the change, Hostin argued that Bondi was just as “dangerous” as Gaetz. “I believe she’s a dangerous pick as well, because she supported Trump’s false election claims,” Hostin said, referring to Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 presidential defeat . “She was involved in the effort to overturn the results, and so that is now the person that is going to be our chief law enforcer?” Behar, 82, and Navarro, 52, quickly interrupted, and Navarro defended Bondi’s record and joked, “What’s a little election denialism between friends? Everything in life is relative!” Hostin, 56, appeared stunned and quipped, “Election denialism is a very big deal, Ana.” “We got to take the wins where we can find them, folks,” Griffin, 35, chimed in, while also adding that Bondi is “also qualified” for the role. Navarro piped up again and asked if she was allowed to “continue saying” her opinion on Bondi being a better choice than Gaetz. “One at a time!” Behar said and clapped, while the rest of the four women continued to talk at the same time. Hostin got the floor next and reminded her co-hosts that they cannot “minimize some of the things” Bondi has done, when she is “supposed to be the people’s attorney.” Haines, 47, began talking before Hostin finished her thoughts and said, “Agree, but I would still take her over Matt Gaetz!” “You can take her over Matt Gaetz, but can’t minimize denying an election,” Hostin argued, to which Haines denied “minimizing” those claims. Griffin then the chance to speak and pointed out that Gaetz had “dreadful character flaws” while also being “deeply unqualified” –– unlike Bondi. “She’s been the Florida attorney general, she’s been a prosecutor, she is going to get confirmed by the senate [and] republicans really like her,” Griffin said. However, Hostin was still adamant to make her point and reiterated that Bondi is an “election denier.” “I know, but no one’s going to be perfect under Donald Trump,” Griffin replied. Behar –– who acted as the moderator with Whoopi Goldberg out –– once again urged the ladies to stop interrupting each other and shouted, “One at a time!” Navarro and Hostin continued to go back and forth for a few more seconds before Behar interjected one final time. The tense argument came just two days after Hostin and Griffin got into a heated debate over school voucher tax credits. Hostin and Griffin spoke over each other several times and made it hard to understand their points, so Goldberg, 69, jumped in and scholed them. “There’s no last thing being said here right now,” Goldberg said before cutting to commercial. “No one can hear what anyone’s saying.”
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Supermarket giant Morrisons is already selling Easter eggs - and it is not even New Year's Eve yet. One shopper has this week snapped Easter eggs on the shelves of Leek Morrisons. It comes as Easter falls even later in 2025. It is not Easter Sunday until April 20, 2025. Now Morrisons shoppers have expressed their dismay at the latest addition to the supermarket shelves. One Morrisons shopper said: "Morrisons very much nailing the spirit of Christmas by launching their Easter eggs on Boxing Day. As one customer muttered on the way past, 'their brains aren't wired properly'." Get daily headlines and breaking news emailed to you - it’s FREEStocks likely to keep up momentum amid expected rate cut KARACHI: Stocks increased sharply and remained the best-performing market based on USD returns during the outgoing week. The market is expected to continue the bullish momentum on the anticipated rate cut by the central bank next week. “We anticipate the market to continue with the positive momentum in the coming week, on the anticipation of a rate cut in the upcoming monetary policy committee meeting on December 16,” said brokerage firm Arif Habib Ltd. The market surged to a record high of 109,478 points, driven by improved inflation data, which dropped to 4.9 per cent (the lowest level since April 18). Saudi Arabia has also extended a $3 billion deposit with Pakistan for another year to support its economy, providing further momentum to the index. The market closed at 109,054 points, up 7,697 points and 7.59 per cent week-on-week (the world’s best-performing market based on USD returns). Moreover, the KSE-100 witnessed the highest-ever average volumes of 1,683 million shares (up 72 per cent WoW) and an average traded value of $198 million (up 49 per cent WoW). Foreigner selling continued this week (Dec 2–Dec 5), clocking in at $12.2 million compared to a net sell of $15.1 million last week. Major selling was witnessed in banks ($3.9 million) followed by fertiliser ($2.5 million). On the local front, buying was reported by funds ($39.6 million) followed by banks/DFIs ($8 million). Sector-wise positive contributions came from fertiliser (1,748 points), commercial banks (1,434 points), oil & gas exploration companies (1,148 points), cement (716 points) and power generation (405 points). Scrip-wise positive contributors were MARI (866 points), Engro (626 points), UBL (570 points), FFC (506 points) and MEBL (402 points). The sector that contributed negatively was leasing companies (0.01 points). Scrip-wise negative contributions came from HBL (131 points), JVDC (20 points), EFUG (19 points), OGDC (10 points), and AKBL (3 points). Analyst Nabeel Haroon at Topline Securities said the gain can be attributed to persistent buying by mutual funds on account of more allocation towards equity on the backdrop of declining yields on fixed-income securities, as inflation numbers continue to decline. Muhammad Waqas Ghani, deputy head at JS Research, said the week started with inflation data for Nov-24 which clocked in at 4.9 per cent YoY, marking the lowest CPI reading in 6.5 years. This decline is mainly due to the base effect from last year’s elevated inflation. Although headline inflation increased 50bps MoM, the overall YoY trend remains on a downward path. The average inflation rate for 5MFY25 is 7.9 per cent, a notable reduction compared to the 28.6 per cent average recorded in 5MFY24. Moreover, trade data released by the PBS revealed a 7.4 per cent YoY reduction in the trade deficit during the first five months of the current fiscal year, which stood at $8.65 billion, compared to $9.3 billion during the same period last year. Banking sector stocks gained momentum as banks continued to work towards meeting ADR targets, the latest data showed a sharp rise in the banking sector’s gross ADR as it reached a 17-month high at 47 per cent. In other news, for the fortnight, the government raised the price of petrol and diesel by Rs3.7 per litre and Rs3.3 per litre, respectively. Also, Saudi Arabia agreed to extend the $3 billion deposit in the SBP for another year, offering vital support to Pakistan’s forex reserves. Pakistan has converted seven out of the 37 MoUs signed with Saudi Arabia into formal contracts worth $560 million. According to the latest data, SBP reserves rose $620 million after ADB inflow, reaching $12 billion, the highest in 2.7 years. During the week, the PSX held an auction of Ijarah Sukuk bonds in which the government raised Rs353 billion against a target of Rs500 billion.Millions of Australians grew up by the beach and spent their summers playing in the surf, never knowing deadly critters could be lurking just below the waves. Keep reading to learn all about the world's most dangerous sea creatures, many of whom call the waters around Australia home. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play . Striped pyjama squid are both venomous and poisonous; their bite contains a potent neurotoxin and their slime is poisonous, which they use as a defense mechanism to deter predators. Despite their names, these toxic little cephalopods are found in the waters around Australia, measure just 8cm in length and are actually not squid at all — they're cuttlefish. It's not yet known whether the slime is harmful to humans but it's probably a good idea to avoid handling or ingesting one anyway. Not only are crown-of-thorns starfish responsible for destroying coral reefs around the world, their venemous spines can also cause humans a world of pain. Growing up to 80 cm in diameter, these huge starfish's spines (which can be up to 4cm long) are covered in dangerous plancitoxins which can cause liver damage. They can also release dangerous saponins compounds when threatened, which destroy red blood cells. Humans stung by these intimidating-looking critters can suffer pain, vomiting, swelling and in rare cases, anaphylactic shock and death. It looks like something you'd find in an Aussie backyard but the bristleworm is actually a venomous sea creature. These little worms are covered in stiff, often venomous bristles which can break off easily when bumped or handled by humans. The venomous species, like the fireworm, can cause rashes, itching, burning pain, and swelling for several days after initial contact. It may not look like an animal but fire coral is actually a collection of colonial marine organisms. They vary in size, shape and colour but all are made up of hard skeletons packed with tiny pores which allow them to stretch stinging tentacles out into the water. Even the slightest brush against fire coral can leave humans in intense pain for days on end. This is because of the fire coral's venom, which can also cause side-effects like skin irritation, stinging or burning pain, redness, fever, and hives. Thankfully the sting is nonlethal to humans. They may be beautiful but lionfish are actually one of the more dangerous fish in the sea. Their tall dorsal spines aren't just for display — they're actually full of potent venom that can cause nausea, breathing difficulties and even paralysis in humans. Fortunately deaths from lionfish stings are very rare and usually only occur when the victim already had other existing medical issues. Sea snakes don't go after humans often but that doesn't mean these ocean predators aren't dangerous. There are more than 70 species of sea snakes in the world, most of which are venomous, including this beaked sea snake which is loaded with venom even more potent than that of a cobra. Symptoms after a bite include headache, a thick-feeling tongue, thirst, sweating, and vomiting. Thankfully, most sea snakes rarely inject their venom when biting so human attacks and fatalities are rare. These killers hide in plain sight in reefs and shallow waters around Australia, though most beach-goers wouldn't notice them until it's too late. Stonefish are very ugly, very venomous creatures that use their expert camouflage to blend into the seafloor and coral so they can catch prey unaware. Unfortunately, they can also catch humans unaware with their sharp dorsal spines that are loaded with venom that only releases under pressure. Say, for example, when a human foot lands on them. Dozens of stonefish stings are recorded in Australia every year, however very few deaths have occurred since an antivenom was developed. Most scholars agree that blue-ringed octopuses have killed at least 11 people, though the true number could be as low as seven or as high as 16. Despite being tiny and fragile-looking, these Australian sea creatures carry enough venom to kill 26 adult humans within minutes. The venom produced in their salivary glands can cause nausea, respiratory arrest, heart failure, severe and sometimes total paralysis, blindness, and even death within minutes of a bite. The worst part is that the bite itself is often painless, so victims may not realise they've been bitten until paralysis begins. It looks like a pretty sea shell but picking this up off the ocean floor could land you in hospital. Cone snails are equipped with venom-filled modified teeth that work like harpoons, shooting out of their shells to paralyse prey with a single jab. Usually they feed on small fish, invertebrates and other cone snails but geography cone snails, which can grow up to 15cm long, are also dangerous to humans. Their venom is packed with an estimated 10,000 active compounds and can cause respiratory paralysis resulting in death. According to a 2016 study, they've killed about 15 people in the last 30 years. It's time for the sharks, starting with bull sharks. Credited with almost 120 known attacks on humans and at least 26 fatalities, bull sharks don't hunt people but encounters can be deadly. They are considered particularly dangerous due to their aggressive natures and ability to survive in both saltwater and freshwater environments. They've been found in rivers and creeks around Australia as well as in our ocean waters and tend to lurk in shallow waters, which increases the risk of run-ins with humans. Tiger sharks have killed about 40 people and are known to have attacked at least 140 humans. These sharks are territorial, aggressive and known to bite into just about anything, including people in some unfortunate circumstances. They often dwell near shallow reefs and in river mouths, bringing them closer to humans than shark species that stick to the open oceans. Though they're fearsome, tiger sharks don't hunt humans on purpose and only a few attacks are recorded each year. With over 350 known attacks and about 60 fatalities on record, the great white shark has long been considered one of the deadliest creatures in the ocean. These huge sea predators can grow to over six metres long and have mouths packed with serrated teeth, but they don't target human prey on purpose. In fact, many attacks on surfers over the years have been put down to cases of mistaken identity, as a human on a surfboard can appear like a seal to a great white shark swimming in the depths below. Even so, these intimidating sharks are best avoided. It's about the size of a fingernail and far less visually intimidating than the sharks and sea snakes on this list, but the most deadly creature in the sea is widely believed to be the box jellyfish. Box jellyfish are estimated to have caused at least 69 deaths since record keeping began in 1883 and one of the most well-known species is the Irukandji, which lives in the waters off Australia's north east. These tiny critters are among the most venomous jellyfish in the world, can cause fatal brain hemorrhages, and send between 50 and 100 people to the hospital every year.
People with ADHD are being warned not to share medication, as the country is affected by a worldwide shortage. ADHD New Zealand spokesman Darrin Bull said some people have had to pick which days they take their medicine, to try to make their prescription last longer. While some had been asking others to lend them some of their medicine, which needs to stop, he said. A worldwide shortage of methylphenidate, prescribed under the brand names Ritalin, Concerta or Teva, has lasted more than a year. And Bull said some New Zealanders who could not get their medication had expressed panic. "The ADHD medication is there for a purpose, and without it people can struggle - and really struggle," Bull said. "Some of the issues has been if they might try alternatives. We certainly on our social media site have got some of our community asking: 'can someone please lend me some medication?'." ADHD is estimated to affect more than 250,000 New Zealanders, and while a recent study found the amount of ADHD medication dispensed between 2006 and 2022 had increased tenfold, only about 20 percent of those with ADHD are thought to be receiving treatment. Medsafe warns that supplying prescription medicine over the internet and via social media - for sale or for free - is illegal, and so is purchasing or possessing it. Bull recommended that people affected by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder talk to a GP and a pharmacist, or find a non-medical alternative such as an ADHD coach, instead. ADHD New Zealand said alternatives to medication include support group discussions and advice, acupuncture, brain gym, counselling, diet, therapy and occupational therapy. The shortage is expected to last until mid-2025. Read more: New medication now funded Funding has been extended to now include an additional ADHD medication. Lisdexamfetamine (known by the brand name Vyvanse) has been available in New Zealand as a private non-funded alternative option to methylphenidate since 2023 , and the country's drug-buying agency Pharmac began subsidising it on 1 December. It has hopes the alternative drug will ease the pressure on the supply of other ADHD medicines. Pharmac noted that some lisdexamfetamine users who had already been buying it privately had previously reported supply problems, but said now that it is publicly funded, suppliers are required "to hold set amounts of stock in New Zealand to minimise risk of a supply issue". However Bull said ADHD New Zealand did not believe funding lisdexamfetamine would immediately help with the current medication shortage. Lisdexamfetamine needs to be prescribed by a psychiatrist, and: "The waiting lists to see a psychiatrist if you're an adult are quite long, and you might also find [there's] a substantial fee if you go private," he said. Pharmac said it expects the new medication will benefit more than 6000 people with ADHD in its first year of being funded, and about 13,000 people after five years. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.After drubbing, San Jose Sharks look for response in South Florida
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NEW YORK — Luigi Nicholas Mangione, the “strong person of interest” arrested in connection to the shooting slay of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is a Maryland native who graduated at the top of his high school class and went on to major in computer science at University of Pennsylvania. Included in an online list of books 26-year-old Mangione read this year is Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski’s “Industrial Society and its Future,” which Mangione rated four out of five stars. Mangione graduated as valedictorian of the private all-boys Gilman School in 2016, according to the Baltimore school’s website. A Gilman classmate, Freddie Leatherbury, told The Baltimore Sun he “almost had a heart attack” from the shock of seeing Mangione was suspected in the shooting. “He would be the last one I would think would do something like this,” Leatherbury said to the newspaper. “He was a nice kid. He was the valedictorian.” Leatherbury said Mangione had joined the private prep school in sixth grade. “He was a brainy kid,” he said. “He was a big math guy” and belonged to a number of academic clubs. In a profile of area high school valedictorians written in the Baltimore Fishbowl in 2016, Mangione said his instructors emphasized learning outside of school and “an excitement to explore academic topics outside of the classroom”. “The teachers at Gilman influenced me especially,” Mangione said before he graduated. In a recap of the Gilman graduation ceremony posted on the school’s site, Mangione is quoted as commending his classmates for their “inventive, pioneering mentality that accompanies a strong commitment to Gilman tradition.” During high school, Mangione learned how to code and when he got to the University of Pennsylvania he co-founded a group to develop video games, according to Penn Today, a publication of the college. University of Pennsylvania Game Research and Development Environment (UPGRADE), then in its second year, was profiled in Penn Today in 2018, and quoted Mangione as saying he was a computer science major. Before starting his freshman year of college, he posted in the class of 2020’s Facebook group asking if classmates wanted to start UPGRADE, he told the publication. “I just really wanted to make games,” said Mangione. According to a Facebook account, Mangione was a UI Programming intern at Maryland-based Firaxis Games in 2016 and 2017, which makes the popular XCOM strategy game series. Take2 Games, which owns Firaxis, declined to speak to the Daily News about Mangione on Monday. “As a practice, we do not comment on former employees,” said spokesman Alan Lewis. Mangione’s cousin is Nino Mangione, a GOP lawmaker who represents a suburban Baltimore district in the state’s House of Delegates, the lawmaker’s office confirmed Monday. In January, Mangione tweeted a post that asked for reactions to a quote from philosopher J. Krishnamurti: “It is no measure of good health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” (John Annese, Chris Sommerfeldt, Rocco Parascandola, Graham Rayman and David Goldiner contributed to this story.) ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
These small cap ASX shares could surge 27% to 38% higherNoneUnfortunately, they’re still out there. While advances in technology bring us many benefits, they also provide new tools for scam artists, and the loss of personal and financial information continues to trend upward. BBB recommends adding the following “resolutions” to your goals for this year to help make your 2025 scam-free. “In this day and age, you can’t afford to make mistakes, “Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas said. “Taking preventive measures is well worth the time and effort to keep from becoming a victim.” BBB offers the following resolutions to help consumers prepare for a safe and scam-free 2025: Resolve to be cautious with email. Be wary of unsolicited emails from a person or a company. Remember, scammers can make emails look like they are from a legitimate business, government agency, or reputable organization (even BBB!). Never click on links or open attachments in unsolicited emails. – Resolve never to send money to strangers. If you haven't met a person face-to-face, don't send them money. This is especially true if the person asks you to transfer funds using a prepaid debit card or CashApp. Money sent to strangers in this way is untraceable, and once it is sent, there's no getting it back. Scammers will try to trick you into acting emotionally, so before making a move, think the situation through. – Resolve to research companies before making online payments, purchases and donations. Research the retailer before entering payment information. Confirm contact details, such as a valid address, web address, and phone number. Use extreme caution when considering businesses which operate solely through social media without credible credentials. – Resolve to use your best judgment when sharing personal information. Sharing sensitive personal information with scammers opens the door to identity theft. Never share financial information, birthdate, address, Social Security number, or Medicare number with an unsolicited caller. – Resolve to create strong, unique passwords for each account. Using strong, varied passwords across accounts makes it harder for fraudsters to access multiple accounts if one is compromised. – Resolve to enable multi-factor authentication. Adding this layer of security to accounts, especially those involving finances or personal data, greatly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. – Resolve to be social media smart. Use privacy settings on social media and only connect with people you know. Be careful about including personal information in your profile, and never reveal your address and other sensitive information. Scammers may use this information to make themselves pass as friends or relatives and earn your trust. Also, be careful when purchasing products you see on social media. BBB Scam Tracker has received thousands of complaints about misleading Facebook and Instagram ads. – Resolve to check your financial statements regularly. Committing to review bank and credit card statements can help catch unauthorized transactions early. – Resolve to educate yourself about the latest scams. Staying informed on emerging scams helps you recognize and avoid new fraud tactics. Stay up on the latest scams by subscribing to BBB Scam Alerts emails. For more information To learn more about scams, go to BBB.org/ScamTips . For more about avoiding scams, check out BBB.org/AvoidScams . If this scam has targeted you, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker . Learn how to spot a scam. See BBB's New Year's guide.
BERKELEY, Calif. , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bamboo Technology , a mental health technology innovation company, is announcing its participation in Batch 19 of the prestigious UC Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for startup acceleration. The company's HereHear AI therapist solution will be the key focus of the program, driven by the vision of revolutionizing mental health with AI-powered virtual solutions. To learn more about HereHear, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngU32WgiWf4 "HereHear is here in the US, and I am truly grateful to the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program for recognizing its potential," noted Lynia Huang , Bamboo Technology's CEO. "As important as mental health has become in recent years, there is a shortage of mental health providers and access to support is low — and HereHear is paving the way for AI to bridge that gap as a first line of defense." A growing case for incorporating AI into mental healthcare With data showing that the US is in a mental health crisis, the CDC recently noted a dire need for public health initiatives that create environments centered around mental health. Specific to the workplace, the Society for Human Resource Management's Employee Mental Health in 2024 Research Series found that 44% of US employees feel burned out at work. The combination of a shortage of mental health providers in the US with the flourishing capabilities of AI builds a strong case for the technology to be deployed in the form of human-guided mental health solutions. HereHear's YangYang: A personalized 3D virtual therapist As organizations seek out ways to empower team members to take better care of their mental health, AI is increasingly emerging as a solution for on-demand, personalized support. Offering a more engaging interaction than chatbots, HereHear's 3D virtual therapist YangYang was launched in January 2024 and offers: YangYang has already been implemented in several therapy clinics and has helped 70% of users improve stress and depression levels by 25% within 3 months. Taking the form of a sheep further distinguishes her — this functions both to provide a 'cute' aspect lending to the warm, healing emotional support she provides, while also helping users who are struggling emotionally to keep in perspective that their interactions are ultimately not with a human. Bringing success in Taiwan to the US market Bamboo Technology's acceptance into the Berkeley Skydeck IPP Program is a major accomplishment as the platform seeks to enter the US market. Batch 19 has only 117 startups out of around 2300 applications, and the program will support HereHear to develop, pilot and launch, as well as to pitch for funding. The company aims to target the app in the human resources space—as a tool for companies to offer staff for on-demand, privacy-first mental health support. Back in Taiwan , the app already has hospitals, mental health clinics, universities, publicly listed companies, and government agencies that use it, similarly spurred by a shortage of mental health workers. About Bamboo Technology Established in November 2018 , the Taipei -based Bamboo Technology is a mental health technology innovation company that focuses on improving public mental health with voice emotion analysis technology. It embraces a belief that a universal, objective, and scientific mental health system can effectively solve the problem of deteriorating mental health in today's society — a core tenet upheld by its many psychologists; social workers; and information management, AI and big data experts. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bamboo-technologys-herehear-virtual-ai-therapist-joins-berkeley-skydeck-ipp-program-302325187.html SOURCE BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY LTD.They have seen him smiling on a hostel security camera, but don’t know his name. They found the backpack he discarded while fleeing, but don’t know where he's gone. As the search for UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ’s killer goes on, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it, though they are confident it was a targeted attack instead of a random act. “The net is tightening,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday. Hours after he spoke, police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any possible clues and found his bag there Friday. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting Wednesday morning outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police provided no updates on the hunt Saturday, but investigators are urging patience — even with a killer on the loose. Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. “This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not going to solve this in 60 minutes," Kenny told reporters Friday. “We’re painstakingly going through every bit of evidence that we can come across.” The shooter paid cash at the hostel, presented what police believe was a fake ID and is believed to have paid cash for taxi rides and other transactions. He didn't speak to others at the hostel and almost always kept his face covered with a mask, only lowering it while eating. But investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment in which he briefly showed his face soon after arriving in New York on Nov. 24. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven't been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. On Friday evening, investigators found a backpack in Central Park that had been worn by the gunman, police said. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. Another potential clue, a fingerprint on an item he purchased at a Starbucks minutes before the shooting, has so far proven useless for identifying him, Kenny said. Aided by surveillance cameras on nearly every building and block, police have been able to retrace the shooter’s movements. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body bore the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by insurance industry critics. Kenny said the fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client. Investigators know from surveillance video that the shooter fled into Central Park on a bicycle and ditched it around 7 a.m. near 85th Street. He then walked a couple blocks and got into a taxi, arriving at 7:30 a.m. at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, which is near the northern tip of Manhattan and offers commuter service to New Jersey and Greyhound routes to Philadelphia, Boston and Washington. Investigators don't know what happened next. They are searching through more surveillance video but have yet to locate video of the shooter getting on a bus or exiting the station. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN on Friday. Police have determined from video that the gunman was in the city for 10 days before the shooting. He arrived at Manhattan’s main bus terminal on a Greyhound bus that originated in Atlanta, though it's not clear whether he embarked there or at one of about a half-dozen stops along the route. Immediately after that, he took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton and was there for about a half hour, Kenny said. At around 11 p.m. on the night he arrived, he went by taxi to the HI New York City Hostel. It was there, while speaking with an employee in the lobby, that he briefly pulled down the mask and smiled, giving investigators the brief glimpse they are now relying on to identify and capture a killer.Unretired two-time Pro Bowl LB Shaquil Barrett signs to resume career with Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Golden Minerals Announces NYSE American Notice to Commence Delisting and Intended Transition to OTCQB MarketEntrepreneurs starting up businesses or looking toward expansions attended the Northwestern Ontario (NWO) Innovation Centre’s Meet the Funders event to learn about attainable funding sources. Funders have been vital to the survival of local businesses, both large and small. Jeff Coull, executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre, says it can be intimidating for organizations looking for funding. “When you start searching to find who does what, what do I need or what are the specific eligibility requirements, it can be quite complicated,” Coull said. “Our goal is to introduce people to the different funding organizations and connect them to have a one-on-one conversation.” The Meet the Funders event, which took place at the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre last month, provided a three-minute profile from each funder and an opportunity to speak with them privately. Each of the funding representatives described their organization and how they provide funding for businesses. Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre The Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre offers several funding programs, including the Next-Level program that provides a grant of up to $5,000 reimbursed at a 50-per cent cost share. Eligible activities must focus on scaling or accelerating the organization and eligible expenses include equipment and software, trade show and travel costs, and late-stage product development. Youth Effect is a summer youth subsidy program for any employer with an innovative new project over 15 weeks. The Executive in Residence program helps to find a senior external resource to support a specific initiative temporarily. The Co-Starter program provides $18,000 over an intense 12-week accelerator course for new businesses with an opportunity at the end to pitch for a $250,000 investment. The centre is the local representative for the Sustainable New Agri-Food Products and Productivity (SNAPP) program for Northern Ontario agriculture and food producers and businesses. The program provides up to $10,000 at a 50-per cent cost-share towards the purchase of equipment and materials that result in creating new food products, enhancing productivity or resource use, and reducing ecological impact. Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) supports community enhancement, infrastructure, and community events through funding and internship programs. The main criteria for organizations to apply is for them to bring jobs to Northern Ontario. Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) FedNor is one of seven regional development agencies established by the Government of Canada to service various regions across the country. Their Northern Ontario Development Program is primarily focused on the private or public sectors and the Regional Economic Growth and Innovation program has funding for both not-for-profits and for the private sector. Thunder Bay Ventures Thunder Bay Ventures offers financial assistance programs for new business starts, maintenance and expansion. The micro-loan program lends up to $25,000, term loans lend a maximum of $150,000 and the Northwestern Ontario investment pool lends larger loan amounts of up to $600,000. Initiatives include the student Enter the Den competitions, the Thunder Bay Area business competence index and a virtual tourism map. Paro Centre for Women’s Enterprise Paro Centre for Women’s Enterprise features peer circles comprised of four to seven women that provide opportunities for peer support and access to peer lending via grants and loans. Paro is also the provider for the Woman’s Entrepreneur Loan Fund with up to $50,000 for startup or expansion. A third grant fund is specific to women entrepreneurs already established in business and looking to expand and scale up into new regions. Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) Entrepreneur Centre Within the CEDC, the Entrepreneur Centre offers programs such as the Starter Company Plus program with a $5,000 grant available for businesses looking to either start up, expand or purchase an existing business or become full-time businesses. The Summer Company Program provides support mentorship and $3,000 in funding for anybody looking to launch a business during the summer. The Miinikaanan-Bakakidoon program is an Indigenous business branch of the Starter Company Plus program with a $5,000 grant for businesses looking to either start, expand or purchase. Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) BDC is a crown corporation that provides funding through financing opportunities. BDC offers loans and advisory services for businesses at a cost or a very good rate of return. Northern Ontario Angels Mary Long-Irwin with Northern Ontario Angels said they are a non-profit group that supports businesses by finding or helping to source an angel investor for your business. They work with you to help launch or grow your business or build your networks. Ontario Centre for Innovation (OCI) The Ontario Centre for Innovation helps to connect Ontario innovators with researchers, industry partners and funding for the next generation of made-in-Ontario academic intellectual property and solutions. eCampus Ontario eCampus Ontario offers funding programs to support the evolution of online and technology-enabled teaching at Ontario colleges and universities. The Ontario Collaborative Innovation Platform is a new matchmaking program that connects Ontario companies with expert researchers at Ontario’s post-secondary institutions to help businesses innovate and get to market more quickly and confidently. It creates opportunities for institutions to bring their vast research capabilities to bear on real-world challenges. Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF) NADF services an area from Timmins to the Manitoba border to finance and support individual or community First Nation-owned businesses through loans and grants. Individuals can tap into $100,000 in grants and the First Nation communities have the opportunity to tap into $250,000 in grants. These grants help to jumpstart startups, help out with expansions or purchase different companies. NADF’s Web program provides loans or grants of up to $20,000 to help women in business build up credit. The E-commerce grant of up to $8,000 is for small businesses that want a jumpstart in website design or to upgrade technology in their business and is a nonrepayable grant that doesn’t require equity. Emergency loans for businesses in the north and winter road access to help with inventory are also available. Futurepreneur Futurepreneur has four main financing mentorship and resource programs. They are the only national non-profit organization specializing in business support, financing and mentorship to young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39. Confederation College Although Confederation College is not a direct funder, they have access to funding to support economic, social or environmental projects that provide benefits to small and medium enterprises.
NoneInsurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad rule BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian opposition war monitor and a pro-government media outlet say government forces have withdrawn from much of the central city of Homs. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. Losing Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Syria’s embattled leader, Bashar Assad. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors returned to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.Belarus' strongman leader pardons 20 more prisoners, but rights groups say repression continues