レアジョブ英会話 Daily News Article Podcast

Much like nutritional labels on food products, “broadband labels” for internet packages tell you just what is going into the pricing of your service, thanks to new rules adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in April. “If you’ve ever shopped for home or mobile internet, you can understand how hard it can be to understand what you’re actually paying for,” said Jon Donenberg, Deputy Director of the White House National Economic Council, on a call with reporters. “The broadband nutrition label is a tool that can help consumers make sure they have a clear, straightforward explanation of home and mobile services before signing up for anything.” Following the design of FDA food labels, these broadband labels provide easy-to-understand, accurate information about the cost and performance of high-speed internet service to help consumers avoid junk fees (opaque and misleading fee structures), price hikes, and other unexpected costs. Internet service providers selling home access or mobile broadband plans are required to have a label for each plan beginning April 10. The labels are mandated to appear at any point of sale, including online and in stores, and they are required to disclose all pricing information—including introductory rates, data allowances, and speeds. The labels also include links to information about network management practices and privacy policies. Hidden fees and unexpected rate hikes have dogged consumers shopping for internet service for years, and the Biden administration has been cracking down on “junk fees” across industries—including banking, hotel and airline pricing, and utility and phone services—for the past several years. “Fees can make it hard to understand the true cost of an internet plan,” said Donenberg, adding that the agency is “committed to rooting out surprise junk fees that some companies pile on to your bills.” On a call on April 9, a spokesperson for the FCC clarified that the labels “cannot be buried in multiple clicks” or hidden in a way that a consumer might miss. If a provider does not display their labels or post inaccurate information about its fees or service plans, consumers can file a complaint with the FCC Consumer Complaint Center. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A globe in the age of Google Earth? London globemaker Peter Bellerby thinks the human yearning to “find our place in the cosmos” has helped globes survive their original purpose—navigation—and the internet. “You don’t go onto Google Earth to get inspired,” Bellerby says in his airy studio, surrounded by dozens of globes in various languages and states of completion. “A globe is very much something that connects you to the planet that we live on.” But beyond the existential and historical appeal, earthly matters such as cost and geopolitics hover over globemaking. Bellerby’s globes run from about 1,500 British pounds (about 1,900 USD) for the smallest to six figures for the 50-inch Churchill model, and he makes about 600 orbs a year of varying size and ornamentation. Creating them is a complex process. Bellerby says he wrestles often with customs officials in regions with disputed borders, such as India, China, North Africa, and the Middle East. “In India, I can go to prison for six months if we don’t depict the border between India and Pakistan as the Delhi government wants us to. So, we have to get things like that right.” Bellerby doesn’t name clients, but he says they come from more socioeconomic levels than you’d think—from families to businesses and heads of state. Private art collectors come calling. So do movie makers. And yes, some of the planet’s wealthiest people buy them. And there is a real question about whether globes—especially handmade orbs—remain relevant as more than works of art and history for those who can afford them. They are, after all, snapshots of the past—of the way their patrons and makers saw the world at a certain point in time. “Sadly, I think globe usage probably is declining, perhaps particularly in the school setting where digital technologies are taking over,” Joshua Nall, Director of the Whipple Museum of the History of Science in Cambridge, said. “I think now they’re perhaps more becoming items of overt prestige. They’re being bought as display pieces to look beautiful, which of course they always have been.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Fine dining might conjure up images of exotic foods, sourced from far-off lands. But St. Barts in London is on a mission to prove delicious food can be local—and it’s won a coveted Michelin award for its efforts. St. Barts is the only Michelin-starred restaurant in London to also have a Green Michelin Star. While the traditional Michelin star indicates exceptional food, its green sister recognizes restaurants that use industry-leading sustainable practices. From furniture made from fallen trees by a local woodworker to ingredients that are grown in an environmentally responsible way, the ethos is to protect the land and support British suppliers. “Sustainability is for me about making sort of intelligent choices about the food that we use and the way in which we use it. So, a big thing for me is using UK produce. The fact that we can produce everything within the UK gives us a real opportunity to use all of that produce and therefore, help sustain the British farming industry,” says Johnnie Crowe, Executive Head Chef of Restaurant St. Barts. There is a strict policy to only use British ingredients—that means no olive oil, no lemons, no exotic spices. Other restaurants would just throw waste products away, but here they become garums, sauces that can be used in dishes months from now. The idea is that not a single morsel of an animal or fish is wasted. Industry experts say being sustainable is not just about helping the environment, it makes good business sense too. “[...] you can eliminate waste and cost from the business—and many of the green initiatives that people can take do just that, they reduce energy overheads and energy bills, which are a key headache at the moment,” says Kate Nicholls, CEO of the trade organization UK Hospitality. But do diners care? Crowe says he doesn’t think there is any point in “lecturing to people.” “There’s enough of that going on, without us doing it as well. But if 5 percent of diners pick up on it, appreciate it, then that’s kind of enough for me.” It’s a restaurant that wants to prove that fine dining doesn’t have to cost the earth. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A failed Australian taxi industry disruptor told a court that Uber began illegally operating its ride-sharing service in Australia a decade ago to gain an unfair advantage over competitors. Taxi Apps, an Australian startup that developed taxi-hailing app GoCatch, lodged a 196-page statement of claim in the Victoria state Supreme Court in which it alleges Uber knowingly launched UberX illegally in Australia in 2014. The San Francisco-based rideshare giant was also accused of serious misconduct including corporate espionage and hacking of competitors’ systems. The trial is scheduled to last for 10 weeks and comes two weeks after Uber agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars ($178 million) to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by 8,000 Australian taxi and rental car drivers. The drivers have demanded compensation for losses since Uber landed in Australia in 2012, first with the limousine service Uber Black, followed by the taxi service Uber Taxi, and then the rideshare service UberX without professional drivers.  Taxi Apps lawyer Michael Hodge told the court that Uber lawyers agreed to a statement of facts similar to that behind the class-action settlement. Neither statement of facts has yet to be released by the court. Hodge said Uber got a head start of at least 20 months over its competitors in Australia’s emerging transport app market by launching UberX when ride-sharing was illegal in some Australian states.  “Uber is a company that quite deliberately set out to break the law in the hope that they could do it at such mass scale that they would ultimately be able to pressure people to allow them to then operate lawfully, and they did so intending to gain a competitive advantage,” Hodge told the court in opening his case. “They appear to remain completely unrepentant about that and it ought, to pick up the language of exemplary damages, be something that shocks the conscience,” Hodge added. Hodge said if Uber had complied with Australian law, GoCatch would have continued its growth trajectory, accumulated drivers and eventually launched a ride-sharing product when the law allowed. But UberX now dominates the Australian rideshare market and GoCatch, launched in 2014, departed the transport industry in 2021. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Drink it or bin it: That phrase should have become history this summer at all U.K. airports. But it's set to persist for at least another year after the British government said it will grant extensions to several large U.K. airports unable to meet the June 1 deadline to fully install new scanning technology. The airports include London's two biggest, Heathrow and Gatwick. The new scanners use computed tomography, commonly known as a CT scan, to produce clearer images. They are being rolled out globally, including in the U.S. and across Europe, and will allow passengers to go through security with 2 liters (70 ounces) of liquid in their hand luggage—rather than the current paltry 100 milliliters (3.5 ounces). They will also mean laptops and tablets won't need to be removed from bags—saving even more time. The restrictions were introduced around the world in 2006 following a foiled terror plot to blow up planes flying from London to the U.S. with homemade liquid bombs. They were not expected to be in place for 18 years and have been cited as one of, if not, the biggest cause of delays at airport security checks. A deadline for the new technology to be in place at U.K. airports had originally been set for December 2022 but that was delayed to this summer as a result of the huge disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The new deadline comes after airports reported that they were struggling to install the scanners ahead of the busy summer holiday period, largely due to supply chain delays and construction difficulties caused by the weight of the machines. The Department for Transport said the extensions would be granted on a case-by-case basis and that it was exploring how financial penalties could be imposed for further non-compliance. It did not provide a breakdown of the situation for each airport, citing security concerns, but said that by the start of June about half of passengers flying from U.K. airports will be processed by the new scanners. London City Airport, a popular short-haul airport, has already successfully introduced the new scanners, as has Teesside Airport in the northeast of England. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Google has agreed to purge billions of records containing personal information collected from more than 136 million people in the U.S. surfing the internet through its Chrome web browser. The massive housecleaning comes as part of a settlement in a lawsuit accusing the search giant of illegal surveillance. The details of the deal emerged in a court filing, more than three months after Google and the attorneys handling the class-action case disclosed they had resolved a June 2020 lawsuit targeting Chrome's privacy controls. Among other allegations, the lawsuit accused Google of tracking Chrome users' internet activity even when they had switched the browser to the "Incognito" setting that is supposed to shield them from being shadowed by the Mountain View, California, company.  Google vigorously fought the lawsuit until U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers rejected a request to dismiss the case last August, setting up a potential trial. The settlement was negotiated during the next months, culminating in disclosure of the terms, which Rogers still must approve during a hearing scheduled for July 30 in Oakland, California, federal court. The settlement requires Google to expunge billions of personal records stored in its data centers and make more prominent privacy disclosures about Chrome's Incognito option when it is activated. It also imposes other controls designed to limit Google's collection of personal information. "We are pleased to settle this lawsuit, which we always believed was meritless," Google said. The company asserted it is only being required to "delete old personal technical data that was never associated with an individual and was never used for any form of personalization." In court papers, the attorneys representing Chrome users painted a much different picture, depicting the settlement as a major victory for personal privacy in an age of ever-increasing digital surveillance. The lawyers valued the settlement at $4.75 billion to $7.8 billion, relying on calculations based primarily on the potential ad sales that the personal information collected through Chrome could have generated in the past and future without the new restrictions. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The first World Water Library was launched in Switzerland in March, aiming to become a campaigning force for the conservation of water. The library funded by the Swiss Development Agency wants to become a focal point for solutions to water supplies dwindling because of climate change and other factors. Campaigners hope this 17th-century castle on an idyllic spot on the river Rhine will inspire a generation of youth to think about water as our most precious resource. The library aims to become a repository for the best evidence-based information to be made free for all. It will host events to raise awareness about the need to conserve water and it’ll aim to find solutions for people who live where there is none. “The World Water Library Initiative from Graubünden Water is a signal of urgency and a sign of hope because we are facing several crises, but water crisis is one of the bigger ones I think will only continue to increase. We are overutilizing water resources, we are polluting the resources and we have on top of that, climate change that exacerbates water stress in many places,” says Dr. Daniel Maselli, the Senior Water Policy Advisor for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), a branch of government that provides aid for projects in developing countries. “So to better understand the critical role of water is very important for society. We actually are water, our bodies consist of water. So we need to take care of that vital resource and if there’s not an initiative like this World Water Library, then who will care really?” he adds. The library is in the headquarters of the Graubünden Water Association which actively promotes the importance of water with educational programs and workshops. Maselli says the size of environmental problems can be overwhelming, but the Water Library wants to help young people understand that even small individual actions combined can make a difference. The library will have samples of water from all over the world, as well as books, maps, and digital information available to both experts and the public. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Meta sunsetted Facebook News in early April for users in the U.S. and Australia as the platform further deemphasizes news and politics. The feature was shut down in the U.K., France, and Germany last year. Launched in 2019, the News tab curated headlines from national and international news organizations, as well as smaller, local publications. Meta says users can still view links to news articles, and news organizations can still post and promote their stories and websites, as any other individual or organization can on Facebook. The change came as Meta tries to scale back news and political content on its platforms following years of criticism about how it handles misinformation and whether it contributes to political polarization. “This change does not impact posts from accounts people choose to follow; it impacts what the system recommends, and people can control if they want more,” said Dani Lever, a Meta spokesperson. “This announcement expands on years of work on how we approach and treat political content based on what people have told us they wanted.” Meta said the change to the News tab does not affect its fact-checking network and review of misinformation. But misinformation remains a challenge for the company, especially as the U.S. presidential election and other races get underway. “Facebook didn’t envision itself as a political platform. It was run by tech people. And then suddenly it started scaling and they found themselves immersed in politics, and they themselves became the headline,” said Sarah Kreps, director of the Tech Policy Institute in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy who studies tech policy and how new technologies evolve over time. News makes up less than 3% of what users worldwide see in their Facebook feeds, Meta said, adding that the number of people using Facebook News in Australia and the U.S. dropped by over 80% last year. However, according to a 2023 Pew Research study, half of U.S. adults get news at least sometimes from social media. And one platform outpaces the rest: Facebook. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

California-based 99 Cents Only Stores said on April 5 it will close all 371 of its outlets, ending the chain’s 42-year run of selling an assortment of bargain-basement merchandise. The company has stores across California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas that will begin selling off their merchandise, as well as fixtures, furnishings, and equipment. Interim CEO Mike Simoncic said in a statement that the retailer has struggled for years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in consumer demand, inflation, and rising levels of product “shrink”—a measure that encompasses losses from employee theft, shoplifting, damage, administrative errors, and more. “This was an extremely difficult decision and is not the outcome we expected or hoped to achieve,” said Simoncic, who will be stepping down. “Unfortunately, the last several years have presented significant and lasting challenges in the retail environment.” The shuttering of 99 Cents Only Stores comes after fellow discount retailer Dollar Tree said it was closing 1,000 stores. 99 Cents Only Stores was founded in 1982 by Dave Gold, who opened its first store in Los Angeles at the age of 50, according to his 2013 obituary in the Los Angeles Times. Gold, who had been working at a liquor store owned by his father, found that marking down surplus items to 99 cents caused them to sell out “in no time,” fueling his desire to launch a new spin on the dollar store. “I realized it was a magic number,” he told the Times. “I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to have a store where everything was good quality and everything was 99 cents?” Brushing off doubting friends and family members, Gold forged ahead. His idea caught on quickly, even in middle-class and upscale neighborhoods, allowing the company to go public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1996. It was later sold for roughly $1.6 billion in 2011. While the chain initially sold most items priced at 99 cents, in recent decades, that became untenable, although the company kept its trademarked name. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Fencing offers a ray of hope to young people living in Nairobi’s poorest neighborhoods. This is not just a hobby for them: it's a force for good in their lives. Fencing has helped carve a path away from crime, drugs, and other social pressures. "I used to be a gangster," says Mburu Wanyoike, who is now a coach for Kenya's National Fencing team. "I was in crime, and crime makes you feel isolated. It actually puts you in a place where you are isolated, making you feel depressed, having stress. And I chose fencing as a way for me to escape out of the hood and escape that lifestyle." His journey from delinquency to fencing coach and senior athlete in Kenya's national team has been transformative. However, challenges persist, particularly regarding the affordability of fencing equipment. "Sometimes it is tough when it comes to competing with well-equipped international countries that are well organized, so what we do is just to move on with enthusiasm and obsession. The fact that we don't have the equipment, the limited ones we have, we use them. We don't complain that we do not have equipment," says Wanyoike. Tsavora Fencing Mtaani, an initiative under Tsavora Fencing, offers mentorship and training in fencing to the youth of these impoverished neighborhoods, shielding them from the dangers of their environment. With 45 members, most of whom are students, the team serves as a beacon of hope in the community. Participants are required to become disciplined and put on integrity. Steve Okalo, Secretary General of the Kenya Fencing Federation, acknowledges the uphill battle the sport faces in gaining popularity but remains optimistic about its future. "Fencing is not a popular sport like football or athletics, but we are trying our best to see how it is going because when we started, I started with about four people and now I'm seeing that I have good fencers," Okalo remarks. As Tsavora Fencing continues to thrive, fueled by the determination of its members and the support of the community, it stands as a testament to the transformative power of sport in even the most challenging environments. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Conservationists are marking 25 years of crocodile breeding and recovery in Cambodia, with a record release of a critically endangered species. Once believed extinct, Siamese crocodiles were rediscovered in Cambodia in the early 2000s. Conservationists at Fauna & Flora International have worked to save them by breeding them in protected conditions and then releasing them into remote areas of forest to bolster wild populations. International demand for crocodile skins and the boom of the crocodile farming industry has been blamed for pushing the species to extinction in Cambodia. “Twenty-five years ago now, Fauna & Flora rediscovered a population of Siamese Crocodiles in Cambodia,” says Pablo Sinovas, country director of Fauna & Flora International in Cambodia. “The species was thought to be extinct in the wild up until that point. And so, following that discovery, we have been working with the government and with local communities to help bring the species back from the brink of extinction. We are doing that by protecting the habitat, by monitoring populations, and importantly by breeding the species in captivity and taking it back into remote areas in the wild where they are also protected by those local community patrols.” Following the groundbreaking discovery, Fauna & Flora launched the Cambodian Crocodile Conservation Programme with the goal of safeguarding the recovery of the species. “Siamese crocodiles are one of the rarest reptiles in the world,” Sinovas says. “To help with its recovery, we are releasing them in very remote sites in the Cardamom Mountains, a jungle area where the species can be safe. And we are doing this because it is an important species for the ecosystem. As a top predator, it contributes to maintaining ecosystem health. Also in Cambodia, this is a very important species culturally. It is considered to be sacred by Indigenous people in that landscape. And so, the recovery of the species is essential from an ecological, as well as cultural, perspective.” To mark 25 years since the rediscovery of Siamese crocodiles, Fauna & Flora released 50 crocodiles into the Cardamom Mountains last month. They say this is the largest crocodile release on record. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed off on legislation designed to protect songwriters, performers and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. The move makes Tennessee, long known as the birthplace of country music and the launchpad for musical legends, the first state in the U.S. to enact such measures. Supporters say the goal is to ensure that AI tools cannot replicate an artist’s voice without their consent. The bill goes into effect July 1. “We employ more people in Tennessee in the music industry than any other state,” Lee told reporters shortly after signing the bill into law. “Artists have intellectual property. They have gifts. They have a uniqueness that is theirs and theirs alone, certainly not artificial intelligence.” The Volunteer State is just one of three states where name, photographs and likeness are considered a property right rather than a right of publicity. According to the newly signed statute—dubbed the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act or “ELVIS Act”—vocal likeness will now be added to that list. The law also creates a new civil action where people can be held liable if they publish or perform an individual’s voice without permission, as well as use a technology to produce an artist’s name, photographs, voice or likeness without the proper authorization. Yet it remains to be seen how effective the legislation will be for artists looking to shield their art from being scraped and replicated by AI without their permission. Supporters like Lee acknowledged that despite the sweeping support from those inside the music industry and unanimous approval from the Tennessee Statehouse, the legislation is untested. Amid ongoing clashes between the GOP supermajority and a handful of Democrats, this level of bipartisan agreement is a shocking anomaly. Many Tennessee musicians say they don’t have the luxury of waiting for a perfect solution, pointing out that the threats of AI are already showing up on their cellphones and in their recording studios. “Stuff comes in on my phone and I can’t tell it’s not me,” said country star Luke Bryan. “It’s a real deal now and hopefully this will curb it and slow it down.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The theft of sensitive information belonging to millions of AT&T’s current and former customers has been recently discovered online, the telecommunications giant said in March. In a March 30 announcement addressing the data breach, AT&T said that a dataset found on the “dark web” contains information including some Social Security numbers and passcodes for about 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders. Whether the data “originated from AT&T or one of its vendors” is still unknown, the Dallas-based company noted—adding that it had launched an investigation into the incident. AT&T has also begun notifying customers whose personal information was compromised. Consumers impacted by this breach should be receiving an email or letter directly from AT&T about the incident. The email notices began going out on March 30, an AT&T spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press. Beyond these notifications, AT&T said that it had already reset the passcodes of current users. The company added that it would pay for credit monitoring services where applicable. AT&T also said that it “launched a robust investigation” with internal and external cybersecurity experts to investigate the situation further. AT&T has seen several data breaches that range in size and impact over the years. While the company says the data in this latest breach surfaced on a hacking forum several weeks ago, it closely resembles a similar breach that surfaced in 2021 but which AT&T never acknowledged, cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt told the AP. Avoiding data breaches entirely can be tricky in our ever-digitized world, but consumers can take some steps to help protect themselves going forward. The basics include creating hard-to-guess passwords and using multifactor authentication when possible. If you receive a notice about a breach, it's a good idea to change your password and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions. You'll also want to visit a company's official website for reliable contact information—as scammers sometimes try to take advantage of news like data breaches to gain your trust through look-alike phishing emails or phone calls. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The fast-food chain Chick-fil-A backtracked from its decade-old "no antibiotics ever" pledge intended to help prevent human antibiotic resistance linked to the rampant use of the drugs in livestock production. Instead, the company said in a statement that it will embrace a standard known as "no antibiotics important to human medicine," often abbreviated as NAIHM, which entails the avoidance of medications commonly used to treat people and limits the use of animal antibiotics to cases of actual animal illness. Livestock producers have long used antibiotics to boost rapid weight gain in animals such as chickens, pigs, cows and sheep, improving the profitability of their businesses. Over the past decade, however, many nations, including the United States, have begun to restrict the practice as evidence mounted that it was contributing to drug resistance and reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics against disease in humans. Chick-fil-A said it will begin shifting to the new policy in the spring of 2024. A company spokesman added that the move reflects company concerns about its ability to acquire sufficient supplies of antibiotic-free chicken. One of the poultry industry's largest companies, Tyson Foods, said last year that it was reintroducing some antibiotics to its chicken production and removing its “No Antibiotics Ever” package labeling. It began to eliminate antibiotics from some of its poultry production in 2015. In a May 2023 video featured on the Tyson Foods YouTube channel, Tyson's senior director of animal welfare, Karen Christensen, described the shift as "based on scientific research and industry learnings." She noted that Tyson planned to begin using antibiotics known as ionophores, which don't play a role in human medicine, to "improve the overall health and welfare of the birds in our care." Ionophores have long been used to promote growth in livestock. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A Southern California police department has been handcuffed by Lego after the toy company asked the agency to stop adding Lego heads to cover the faces of suspects in images it shares on social media. The Murrieta Police Department has been using Lego heads and emojis to cover people’s faces in posts on social sites since at least early 2023. But the altered photos went viral after the department posted a statement about its policy, prompting several news articles and, later, the request from Lego. “Why the covered faces?” the department wrote on March 18 in an Instagram post that featured five people in a lineup, their faces covered by Lego heads with varying expressions. The post went on to reference a California law that took effect January 1, limiting departments from sharing mugshots on social media. “The Murrieta Police Department prides itself in its transparency with the community, but also honors everyone’s rights and protections as afforded by law; even suspects,” the department wrote. Across the U.S., law enforcement agencies have often posted galleries of photos for “Mugshot Mondays” and “Wanted Wednesdays” to social media in efforts to bolster community engagement. But experts increasingly point to the harmful effects of putting such images online. For people awaiting trial, mugshots can carry a presumption of guilt. And for anyone seeking to move past a criminal conviction, the images can make it hard to get a job and haunt them for the rest of their lives. Murrieta police had an internal discussion about posting photos of arrestees in general and announced a new department policy on Instagram in January 2023. The community had requested more of their “Weekly Roundup” posts, so the department said it started using the Lego heads and emojis to comply with the law while still engaging with Murrieta residents. But on March 19, the toy company reached out and “respectfully asked us to refrain from using their intellectual property in our social media content, which, of course, we understand and will comply with,” Lt. Jeremy Durrant said in a statement. “We are currently exploring other methods to continue publishing our content in a way that is engaging and interesting to our followers.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Garden centers enjoyed a pandemic boom, particularly with millennials, as people looked for outdoor activities during lockdowns. Now, garden centers are hoping to keep that interest up, even as they deal with higher costs, a tough hiring environment, and ever more volatile weather. The Garden Center Group, which tracks sales of about 125 centers, said sales are up by about 25% compared with 2019, but stayed flat between 2022 and 2023. Spending on lawn and gardening activities continued to rise, with an average household spend of $616 in 2022, an increase of $74 from 2021. Younger households in the 18- to 44-year-old age group saw larger increases in spending than older households. The spring season is crucial since garden centers can make about 60% of sales during the 12 weeks of spring. At Flowercraft in San Francisco, houseplants, vegetable starts, and citrus trees are selling well as the spring season, the biggest season by far for garden centers, gets underway. Although spring hasn’t quite kicked into high gear yet in San Francisco, smaller items such as four-inch plants or six plants in a pack are selling better than bigger one-gallon to 15-gallon plants. At the East Coast Garden Center in Millsboro, Delaware, higher costs are another issue. To offset higher costs, the center had to raise prices. For example, a one-gallon flower was around five dollars, now it's more than six dollars. Unpredictable weather has also been a challenge that has affected sales, including droughts in some parts of the country while record-setting rain flooded other areas. And like many industries, garden centers have been hit hard by worker shortages, with many now having to offer higher pay and benefits to attract new employees, further stressing their bottom lines. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

An artificial intelligence robot called Theo is a new high-tech weapon in the battle to root out disease from Dutch tulip fields. The robot, which checks each plant and kills diseased plants, is replacing a dwindling number of human “sickness spotters” who patrol bulb fields on the lookout for diseased flowers. On a spring morning, the robot trundles along rows of yellow and red “goudstuk” tulips, checking each plant and, when necessary, killing diseased bulbs to prevent the spread of the tulip-breaking virus. The dead bulbs are removed from healthy ones in a sorting warehouse after they have been harvested. The virus stunts the growth and development of plants leading to smaller and weaker flowers. It also weakens the bulb itself, eventually leaving it unable to flower. “In every tulip field, there's a certain percentage of sick tulips. And every year, they need to be taken out in order to prevent the sick tulips from infecting other healthy tulips. And, we used to do it always by hand and we could never do everything in one year because it was too much. And now, we have the robot here with us. And, the robot is really amazing. It can work through the day, through the night, through the weekends. It never takes a break. And it does it also better than humans,” says Allan Visser, a third-generation tulip farmer who is using the robot for the second growing season. The robot rolls on caterpillar tracks through fields at one kilometer per hour (0.6 mph) hunting out the telltale red stripes that form on the leaves of infected flowers. Erik de Jong of H2L Robotics, the company that makes the robots, says artificial intelligence helps them identify sick flowers, and very precise GPS coordinates allow them to pinpoint the flowers that need to be destroyed. However, Theo's skills and efficiency come with a hefty price tag. The robot costs 185,000 euros ($200,000). As part of efforts to tackle tulip-breaking virus, there are 45 robots patrolling tulip fields across the Netherlands as the weather warms up and farmers approach peak season.  This article was provided by The Associated Press.

McDonald’s apologized for a global technology outage that shuttered some restaurants for hours on March 15. The company said the outage was caused by a third-party technology provider and was not a cybersecurity issue. It started around 12 a.m. CDT during a configuration change and was close to being resolved about 12 hours later, the Chicago-based company said. “Reliability and stability of our technology are a priority, and I know how frustrating it can be when there are outages. I understand that this impacts you, your restaurant teams and our customers,” Brian Rice, the company’s global chief information officer, said in a statement. “What happened today has been an exception to the norm, and we are working with absolute urgency to resolve it. Thank you for your patience, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused,” the statement added. The company said the outage also wasn’t related to its shift to Google Cloud as a technology provider. In December, McDonald’s announced a multi-year partnership with Google that will move restaurant computations from servers into the cloud. The partnership is designed to speed up tasks like ordering at kiosks and to help managers optimize staffing. Earlier, McDonald’s in Japan posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “operations are temporarily out at many of our stores nationwide,” calling it “a system failure.” In Hong Kong, the chain said on Facebook that a “computer system failure” knocked out orders online and through self-serve kiosks. Downdetector, an outage tracker, also reported a spike in problems with the McDonald’s app over several hours. Some McDonald’s restaurants began operating normally again after the outage at locations in Bangkok, Milan and London. A worker at a restaurant in Bangkok said the system was down for about an hour, making it impossible to take online or credit card payments but allowing it to still accept cash for orders. A worker at a Milan restaurant noted that the system was offline for a couple of hours and a technician walked them through getting it back up and running. Media outlets reported that customers from Australia to the U.K. had complained of issues with ordering. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

As rural hospitals continue to struggle financially, a new type of hospital is slowly taking root, especially in the Southeast. Rural emergency hospitals receive more than $3 million in federal funding a year and higher Medicare reimbursements in exchange for closing all inpatient beds and providing 24/7 emergency care. While that makes it easier for a hospital to keep its doors open, experts say it doesn’t solve all of the challenges facing rural health care. People might have to travel further for treatments for illnesses that require inpatient stays, like pneumonia or COVID-19. In some of the communities where hospitals have converted to the new designation, residents are confused about what kind of care they can receive. Plus, rural hospitals are hesitant to make the switch, because there’s no margin of error. “It’s ironic” that the facilities that might need the most help can’t afford to take the risk, said Carrie Cochran-McClain, chief policy officer at the National Rural Health Association. She pointed to having to give up certain services and benefits, such as a federal discount program for prescription drugs. Nebraska’s first rural emergency hospital opened in February in a city called Friend. Though residents expressed concerns at a September town hall about closing inpatient services, the importance of having emergency care outweighed other worries. “We have farmers and ranchers and people who don’t have the time to drive an hour to get care, so they’ll just go without,” said Ron Te Brink, co-CEO and chief information officer. “Rural health care is so extremely important to a lot of Nebraska communities like ours.” “If my intuition is correct, it will probably work well for some communities and it may not work well for others,” said Hospital CEO Dr. Kenneth Williams. Cochran-McClain said her organization is trying to work with Congress to change regulations that have been a barrier for rural facilities, like closing inpatient behavioral health beds that are already scarce. As Quinten Whitwell, the CEO of Irwin County Hospital, sees it: “As this program evolves, there will be more people that I think will understand the value.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

U.N. agencies warn that electrical waste—everything from discarded refrigerators to TVs to e-scooters to mobile phones—is piling up worldwide, and recycling rates are low and likely to fall even further. Some contain hazardous elements like mercury and rare Earth metals that are prized by tech companies. In Kenya, some businesses are finding ways to recycle discarded electronics in a bid to make money and reduce the environmental impact. Every morning, people flock to the dumpsite to sift through the garbage for anything worth selling. Some collect plastics which can be sold on to recycling plants. At Dandora dumpsite, waste stretches in all directions. But Steve Okoth, a resident, is on the lookout for something else... e-waste. However, the job is not without risks. “When the e-waste comes here, it contains some powder which affects my health. It affects my health in that when it is burnt it releases gases, which when they enter the body you can't come to work because of chest problems. But we have no option really. Some people's health is really bad, like mine. But we are now used to the smoke because if you don't go to work, you will not eat,” he says. 62 million tons of e-waste were produced globally in 2022, according to a new report by the U.N. And it could rise to 82 million tons by 2030, says the UN’s fourth Global E-waste Monitor (GEM). This represents a huge amount of precious resources that just end up in dumps. So recycling plants like Nairobi's WEEE Centre are trying to make a dent in that e-waste mountain. “We use the circular economic principles of repair, refurbish, recycle, repurpose to manage electronic waste and make sure it does not end up in the environment because we know electronic waste has hazardous consequences, and right now it is the fastest growing industry in the world,” says Catherine Wasolia, COO of WEEE Centre. The WEEE Centre has collection points across Kenya where people can deposit old electronics. Currently, only 1 percent of the demand for rare earth elements is met through e-waste recycling. But the UN estimates that there were 91 billion US dollars worth of metals embedded in 2022's e-waste. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A pioneering bill to curb the rampant pace of fast fashion won unanimous approval in the lower house of the French Parliament, making France one of the first countries worldwide to target the influx of low-cost, mass-produced garments. The fashion industry is among the world’s biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions. France is seeking to reduce the allure of fast fashion items, setting a precedent in the fight against the environmental degradation they cause. Lawmakers on March 14 unanimously approved the bill, greenlighting it for the Senate to consider—either to approve it or to tweak it and send it back to the lower house—before it can become law. Christophe Bechu, the minister for ecological transition, hailed the vote as a historic step toward reining in the “excesses” of fast fashion. The bill will introduce stringent measures, including banning advertising for the most inexpensive textiles and imposing an environmental levy on these low-cost products. The bill specifically targets fast fashion giants, calling for companies to disclose their products’ environmental impact. This move seeks to pivot the industry toward more sustainable practices, encouraging transparency and accountability. It’s a measure that promotes environmental protection and aims to safeguard France’s prized high fashion industry. Renowned for luxury brands such as LVMH’s Louis Vuitton and Chanel, France has seen its lower-end market sectors suffer due to stiff competition from fast fashion retailers like Zara, H&M, and the emerging Chinese powerhouses Shein and Temu. By imposing these measures, France aims to level the playing field and promote a more sustainable fashion landscape. However, producers such as Shein have countered the criticism, long arguing that their business model, albeit fast, effectively keeps the proportion of unsold garments very low. This, they claim, contributes to reducing waste—a crucial aspect of sustainability in fashion. Luxury giants such as LVMH and Kering regularly face criticism for the billions of dollars of unsold inventory yearly. French supporters of the bill argue it paves the way for future action, including a proposed EU-wide ban on the export of used clothing to tackle the escalating problem of textile waste. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A judge has denied Apple’s motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit claiming that stalkers are using its AirTag devices to track victims—and that the tech giant hasn’t done enough to prevent them. Apple’s $29 AirTags have become popular items since their 2021 release, helping users keep tabs on the location of anything from their lost keys to wallets and luggage. But stalkers have also taken advantage of AirTags and similar products to follow individuals without their consent. In December 2022, Apple was sued by dozens of plaintiffs who said they were stalked by AirTag users. They alleged that Apple failed to mitigate such dangers and should have done more to protect victims—claiming AirTags “revolutionized the scope, breadth, and ease of location-based stalking” and that current safety features are inadequate. Apple attempted to dismiss the litigation in a filing last year, arguing the company “took proactive steps to try to deter misuse” and that it should not bear liability for injuries caused by third parties. But San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria dismissed that motion on March 15. Chhabria ruled that, while most of the class-action plaintiffs’ claims were “inadequately pled,” three can proceed for negligence and strict product liability under California law. The remaining claims were dismissed in a separate order. Chhabria detailed arguments from both Apple and the plaintiffs in the ruling. Included were accounts from the three remaining claims of victims being stalked by former partners or others through AirTags that were allegedly attached to their cars, resulting in emotional and sometimes financial harm. All three of these cases involve “purported defects” of AirTags that made it harder for the victims to both understand the tracking and quickly stop it, March 15’s ruling outlines, including unclear or delayed notifications, as well as an inability to disable the devices remotely, which allegedly prolonged stalking. “Abusive and dangerous location tracking is only becoming more common, so it’s imperative to do everything we can to give voice to the victims, and to push for accountability and change,” Gillian L. Wade, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told The Associated Press via email. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A horse-riding school in Australia is using cows as animal therapy to help people of all ages. This new type of mental health service is growing rapidly in Australia, but psychologists say national guidelines are necessary for the safety of both humans and animals. Karl McKeown is from Melbourne, Australia. He was born with cerebral palsy and scoliosis and four years ago he suffered a brain aneurysm. Coming to the Euroa Horse Park in Victoria is helping him recover by taking part in animal-assisted therapy. “And it does make you think, you have to slow down. They don’t come up to your speed, you’ve got to go back to theirs and it does give you a whole new focus,” says McKeown. “And they become more aware of their body language, their communication, and the trust and respect grows,” explains Vanessa Hawkins of Euroa Horse Park. Animal-assisted therapy participants say they can feel real mental and physical improvements from being in the presence of animals, but health experts are still on the fence as to the therapy’s clinical benefits. This sector is growing very fast in Australia and psychologists say there’s an urgent need for national guidelines and regulatory boards. “The field is really in its infancy, and a lot more research is needed,” says Professor Sue Cotton of Orygen Youth Mental Health. “There are a number of countries in Europe that already have legislation in place that stipulates how many hours of training and that sort of thing,” says psychologist Melanie Jones. To help regulate this emerging sector, Wendy Coombe started a non-profit organization. “I think therapy animal, or animal-assisted therapy, has been used across a range of different services that do not always include a therapist,” says Animal Therapies Limited director Wendy Coombe. Experts say people who are considering using this kind of therapy should do their research on the service provider and also ask for guidance from bodies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. “It’s on us to actually be really, really clear if we are providing therapeutic services so that vulnerable people in the community don’t become misled,” says Jones. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Australian households are still very much feeling the pressure of a higher cost of living. Some have found ways to get cheaper groceries using unusual methods. One such method which is becoming more and more popular is to become a member of a food co-op that’s managed in person or online. Eight years ago, Angela Webster became a member of the Veggie Co-op to try to reduce the cost of her groceries.“I'd just been widowed. So, I was a full-time working mom with a five-year-old son. And I really wanted to find ways of connecting to community, and also ways to feed him healthily,” she explains. The Veggie Co-op started in the 1970s when a group of single Sydney mothers decided to put some of their money into a common pot to buy fresh produce. Today, the 12 families that are part of that group are saving a significant amount of money. Each week, one of the families is in charge of going to the local Flemington markets to buy 12 boxes of fruit and vegetables wholesale and at a discount. “Then you just pick up from whoever did the shop on that day. And we all contribute exactly the same amount of money. So, $25,” says Veggie Co-op member Anne Jackson. “If you went and bought that one at the common supermarkets you'd probably pay over 200 bucks,” adds Webster.  After years of inflation, some retail prices are starting to go down in Australia. But for many households, the shopping bill is still very high. Some consumers are being creative to keep costs low. Farmer Jayne Travers-Drape created an app that puts consumers and growers directly in touch. “The orders go directly to the farmers once they close off in our app and they're picked and then packed and they arrive at my hub between 24 and 48 hours,” says Box Divvy founder Jayne Travers-Drape. “This kind of community-based pushback where you unite together with more people so as to have more market power is a mechanism through which consumers can try to actively work against that kind of price gouging,” says Gigi Foster of the University of New South Wales. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Trader Joe’s mini canvas tote is the latest item to cause a stir on social media, so much so that resellers are taking advantage of the hype. The mini totes are offered in four colors — blue, red, green, and yellow — and they are all in high demand. The bags, retailing for $2.99, are now advertised on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace for many times their original price. Offers from third-party sellers range significantly, with listings ranging from about $20 for a single bag to as high as $999 for a set of four. Videos shared on social media show crowds of customers visiting Trader Joe’s stores hoping to get their hands on one of the highly-coveted mini totes. Beyond the checkout line, TikTokers have gained tens of thousands of views for sharing and customizing their bags with detail paint, buttons, and embroidery designs. “Our Mini Canvas Tote Bags certainly sold more quickly than we anticipated,” said Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s. “Before we had the opportunity to promote them in any way, customers across the country found them at their neighborhood Trader Joe’s.” While Trader Joe’s is no stranger to having its products go viral, the Monrovia, California-based grocery chain also said it does not condone the reselling of its products—with Rohde stressing that “our customers, in our stores, are our focus.” Exclusivity and limited supply are always key factors impacting both prices and consumer behavior. Beyond the added influence of the internet, that’s previously been displayed in demand for products ranging from the scarcity of Huy Fong Foods’ Sriracha to empty toilet paper shelves seen at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We as humans seem to hoard things that social media makes us think is desirable or important,” Jay Zagorsky, a clinical associate professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, told The Associated Press via email. He added that such bulk buying—whether it’s Trader Joe’s mini totes or COVID-era toilet paper—can also help consumers feel more secure, as future availability may be uncertain. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Whenever bestselling author Robin Cook releases a new medical thriller, the head of the public library in West Haven knows demand for digital copies will be high. So will the price. Like many libraries, West Haven has been grappling with the soaring costs of e-books and audiobooks. The digital titles often come with a price tag that’s far higher than what consumers pay. While one hardcover copy of Cook’s latest novel costs the library $18, it costs $55 to lease a digital copy — a price that can't be haggled with publishers. And for that, the e-book expires after a limited time, usually after one or two years, or after 26 checkouts, whichever comes first. While e-books purchased by consumers can last into perpetuity, libraries need to renew their leased e-materials. The modestly funded West Haven Library has spent more than $12,000 over the last three years to lease just 276 additional digital titles beyond what patrons can access through a consortium of public libraries. Eighty-four of those books are no longer available. If that same amount had been spent on paper books, it would have covered about 800 titles. “Imagine if a playground was built at a school with tax dollars, only to be taken down after two years of use,” librarian Colleen Bailie said at a recent public hearing. Publishers, however, argue the arrangement is fair considering e-book licenses for libraries allow numerous patrons to “borrow” them and the per-reader cost is much less expensive than the per-reader rate. Librarians in several states have been pushing for legislation to rein in the costs and restrictions on electronic material, which has been growing in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrons are stuck on long waiting lists for audio and e-books, and digital offerings are limited. This year, lawmakers in states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii and New Hampshire have proposed bills aimed at closing the affordability gap. A bill was introduced in Virginia but was tabled in February. They face strong opposition from the publishing industry, which argues the legislation undermines intellectual property values and will harm the publishing ecosystem. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

South Korea's government criticized senior doctors at a major hospital for threatening to resign in support of the weekslong walkouts by thousands of medical interns and residents that have disrupted hospital operations. About 12,000 junior doctors in South Korea have been off the job for several weeks to protest a government plan to sharply increase medical school admissions. Officials say the plan is meant to add more doctors to deal with the country's rapidly aging society, but doctors say universities can't handle an abrupt, steep increase in the number of students, and that would eventually hurt the quality of South Korea's medical services. The government began steps several weeks ago to suspend the licenses of the striking doctors after they missed a government-set Feb. 29 deadline for their return. The walkouts now threaten to enter a critical phase as senior doctors at the Seoul National University Hospital and its affiliated hospitals decided to resign en masse if the government doesn't come up with measures that can address the dispute by March 18. Senior doctors at other major university hospitals could take similar steps. “If the government doesn't take steps toward sincere, reasonable measures to resolve the issue, we decided to submit resignations, starting from March 18,” Bang JaeSeung, leader of the Seoul hospital's emergency committee, told reporters. But the committee's decision doesn't make participation mandatory, so it's unclear how many doctors could turn in resignations. There are a total of about 1,480 medical professors at the Seoul National University Hospital and its three affiliated hospitals, most of whom concurrently work as doctors there. Most doctors who submit resignations will likely continue to work to prevent a medical crisis, unless hospital authorities accept their resignations immediately, emergency committee officials said. But by law, they said the doctors' resignations will be automatically processed a month after their submissions. Several weeks ago, the University of Ulsan College of Medicine in the southeast also decided to let its senior doctors submit resignations on a voluntary basis, according to Kim Mi-na, head of the university's emergency committee. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Nissan and Honda announced on March 15 that they will work together in developing electric vehicles and auto intelligence technology, sectors where Japanese automakers have fallen behind. The chief executives of Nissan Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. appeared together at a news conference in Tokyo to announce that Japan’s second and third biggest automakers will look into areas with a potential for collaboration. The details of the non-binding agreement are still being worked out, both sides said. The executives said the companies will develop core technologies together, but their products will remain different. Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida stressed that speed is crucial for the companies in developing technological solutions. Honda President Toshihiro Mibe said the companies share common values and could create “synergies” in facing their formidable rivals. The world’s automakers are rapidly shifting toward electric vehicles, focusing on batteries and motors instead of gas engines, as concerns grow about emissions and climate change. But Japanese automakers have fallen behind rivals such as Tesla of the U.S. and BYD of China in developing EVs, partly because they have historically been so successful with combustion engine vehicles. Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s largest automaker, has often said the world is not ready for a complete shift to EVs, in part because of the lack of a charging infrastructure, and instead has pushed hybrids, which have a gas engine in addition to an electric motor. But Toyota is also expected to aggressively deliver on an EV push in the coming years. Nissan is relatively ahead in EVs among Japanese automakers because it was among the first to come out with an EV with its Leaf, which went on sale in late 2010. High expectations for the Nissan-Honda agreement were reflected in sharp increases in the stock prices of both companies on March 14 after a Japanese media report said such a deal might be in the works. The executives said no mutual capital ownership is involved in the agreement for now, but the companies may look into the possibility down the road. “How we can raise our competitiveness is what we are determined to pursue,” Uchida said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Historic numbers of students from India are studying at foreign universities as a fast-growing, aspirational generation of young people looks for opportunities they can’t find at home. India estimates that 1.5 million students are studying at universities elsewhere—an eightfold increase since 2012—with no country attracting more than the U.S. It represents a loss for India, with many students seeing universities as stepping stones for careers overseas, but a boon for American schools. As record-setting enrollment by students from China has ebbed, U.S. universities have turned to India as a new source of full-price tuition payments.  India’s economy is growing, but joblessness remains persistent even for college graduates. Jobs are being created in fields such as construction and agriculture, but they don’t meet the demands of a newly educated workforce, said Rosa Abraham, an economist at Azim Premji University. “I think many young people today feel like the economy isn’t meeting their potential, their aspirations, and so they want to try their chances abroad if they can,” she said. “We produce engineers whose degrees don’t have value, so people leave the country,” said Lokesh Sangabattula, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in materials science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). India’s own higher education system is also short on capacity. As its population surges, competition for admission to India’s top universities has become frenzied. Acceptance rates at some elite Indian universities have fallen as low as 0.2%, compared to 3% at Harvard University and 4% at MIT. The vast majority are coming for graduate programs, often in science, math, and engineering—fields that have faced persistent labor shortages in the U.S.—though undergraduate numbers also are rising as India’s middle class expands. One selling point is the chance to work in America for up to three years after graduating, a benefit provided by the U.S. government and known as optional practical training. America’s shift toward Indian students is visible on campuses like the University of Texas, Dallas, where enrollment from China fell from about 1,200 to 400 over the past four years. Meantime, enrollment from India grew from about 3,000 to 4,400. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The House of Hype—a digitalized amusement park—is offering an immersive experience for visitors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Guests can navigate the park like a video game, unlocking prizes and scavenger hunts in augmented reality using their smartphones. “We like to call it 'wonderverse.' We are trying to get the most out of the creative people in the industry,” says Abdulrahman Abdulwahid, Supervisor at House of Hype. “We have dancers here. We have, we like to call it icons. Icons, which is dancers. We have public speakers. We have just people trained to interact with our visitors to make them feel happy, ask them random questions, give them challenges. We have also an app called Parks. You can download it. You can do missions, get free stuff, and then you can explore the place much faster with it.” Sixteen distinct worlds take visitors through dazzling neon cities, glowing gardens, melting neighborhoods and robotic light shows. There are four primary areas - Immersive worlds, the Gaming zone, Creator zone, and Snacks and Shopping. “So, basically, we have four primary zones. Every zone have its own inspirations. As we said here, this is District X. District X is inspired by social media, memes, fashion and music. So basically, as you can see in this place, we have plenty of AI experience. Here at You Design, you can design your own tunes with your vocals. You can see what your voice looks like. It's weird. And we like here to bring new stuff. So, people get kind of confused here,” says Abdulwahid. There are around 50 exclusive gaming stations featuring immersive games and arcade experiences. In the creator zone, victors can design their own digital shoes using voice technology. If it's interactive gameplay you're after, head to the Hyper K area. The House of Hype in Saudi Arabia opened in January and is a permanent venue and costs 89 Saudi Riyals to enter (approximately $24). This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) think mass-producing ‘superworm’ guts may be a nature-based solution to Southeast Asia’s plastic waste problem. They are studying the creatures to work out exactly how they digest plastic. They already know that the creatures' gut biomes break down the waste on a molecular level and that they can be altered to degrade plastic even more effectively. Now they want to work out how this natural mechanism can be harnessed on an industrial scale. Previous studies show these nutritious ‘superworms’–the larvae of the darkling beetle, scientifically known as Zophobas atratus–have bacteria in their gut that allow them to break down common plastics. But the worm’s use in plastic processing is impractical. It is hard to maintain large worm populations, they naturally take their time feasting on plastic and quickly mature into non-plastic-eating beetles. That’s why these scientists at NTU’s Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering are trying to cut out the middleman in this process, or in this case, the middle worm. They want to find a way to create their plastic-guzzling guts artificially.  “Once the worms are done feeding with plastics, this is what it looks like. They create holes,” says Sakcham Bairoliya, another research fellow, holding up the perforated styrofoam. “Our study is one of the few studies in this region to look at the microorganisms and plastic interaction in the marine environment. With the ultimate goal to develop novel bioprocesses for us to manage the plastic waste well,” says Cao Bin, an associate professor leading the study. Plastic waste is a leading environmental issue in Southeast Asia, with plastic polluting marine and freshwater ecosystems around the Asia-Pacific region. A 2020 report from the U.N. Center for Regional Development estimated the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean from the Asia-Pacific region would range from 2.3 to 6.4 million tons by 2030. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The Body Shop has ceased its U.S. operations and is closing dozens of locations in Canada amid deepening financial struggles for the British beauty and cosmetics chain. The Body Shop’s U.S. arm ceased operations on March 1, according to a company announcement. And the brand’s Canadian subsidiary commenced liquidation of 33 closing stores as part of wider restructuring proceedings. These closings arrive just weeks after the U.K.-based retailer appointed insolvency administrators set to consider “all options to find a way forward” after years of financial struggles. A spokesperson for FRP, the administrators hired by The Body Shop International, told The Associated Press that they have also announced plans to shutter 82 of 198 stores total in the U.K. Those closings are expected to occur over the coming weeks. FRP does not oversee The Body Shop’s U.S. or Canadian subsidiaries. A spokesperson for The Body Shop North America did not immediately respond to requests for further information. In its March 1 announcement, The Body Shop Canada said it had filed for a notice of intention pursuant to the country’s Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act “to obtain a stay” of its parent’s administration proceedings in the U.K.—and “provide additional breathing room while it evaluates its strategic alternatives and implements certain restructuring initiatives.” At the time, The Body Shop Canada said its total 105 stores were still open—but that the 33 closings, and end of online sales via Canada’s e-commerce platform, were set to arrive “in the near term.” Specifics about the timing of closings and liquidation for U.S. locations were not immediately provided. The Body Shop, which was founded by Anita Roddick and her husband back in 1976, is often hailed as an early champion of ethical practices in business. The retailer of soaps, creams and makeup has promoted fair-trading practices and products that were not tested on animals. The brand became hugely popular in the 1980s, when it was listed on the London Stock Exchange, and grew to have stores in some 80 countries, including many operated through franchises. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

As SAT season kicked off, students across the U.S. for the first time took it with computers and tablets—and not the pencils they’ve used since the college admissions test was introduced nearly a century ago. It’s not unfamiliar territory for today’s digital natives, but some are still warming up to the idea. The digital SAT’s launch comes as its administrator, the College Board, and backers of standardized tests hope to win over schools and critics who are skeptical of its place in college admissions. Many students see upsides to taking the SAT, even if colleges don’t require their scores. “A lot of people are going test-optional now but if you do put your scores in, you most likely will have an advantage,” said Rachel Morrow, a junior at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Birmingham. The SAT also can unlock scholarships, but scoring well enough to qualify often requires intense test prep, which many low-income Americans don’t have access to. The digital test is an hour shorter but set up and scored the same way, with two sections—one math, the other reading and writing—worth up to 800 points each. It adapts to students’ performance, with questions becoming slightly easier or harder as they go. Test-takers can use their own laptops or tablets, but they still have to sit for the test at a monitored testing site or in school, not at home. To prevent cheating, students can’t work in any other program or application while the test is running. Going digital will not resolve the debate around equity. While critics say the SAT and the alternative ACT are biased toward better-resourced, high-income students, supporters say they remain the best tool for predicting success in college and can be considered in the context of socioeconomic factors like where a student lives. Ashley Chávez-Cruz, a junior, said there’s also something less nerve-wracking about taking a test digitally. “With the paper test, especially because you’re in a quiet room with the clock ticking up there silently, it definitely brings in the sense of an exam,” she said. “With the digital SAT, I still knew it was an exam in my mind, but I was less anxious.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Uber Eats is launching a new autonomous robot delivery service on the streets of Tokyo. If you live or work in the busy Nihonbashi district, you can order food on your smartphone and have it delivered by a little green self-driving robot. Uber Eats Japan, collaborating with Mitsubishi Electric and delivery robotics firm Cartken, announced the launch of the autonomous delivery robot service starting March 6. Uber Eats already has an autonomous delivery service in several locations in North America and has chosen Japan as the second country to start its service. Alvin Oo, Director of Market Operations of Uber Eats Japan says that they are testing the service in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. “Robots are just another form of delivery method. So we have bicycles, motorbikes, cars in Japan. Delivery robots would be another form of delivery. Again we are testing. We are finding out which area will be suitable. For now, we are testing in Nihonbashi area. We believe that the sidewalks and everything is going to be suitable.” At a demonstration event, the little green robot whizzed across sidewalks and crosswalks dodging pedestrians. Its mission was to deliver a meal to a demonstrator who had just put in an order on his smartphone. The autonomous vehicles work during the weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting with several partnered restaurants in the Nihonbashi area at first, but they hope to expand the service in the future, says Oo. The robot can move up to the speed of 5.4 kilometers per hour and stop automatically avoiding collisions with people and obstacles using its sensors. Back at HQ, a team of humans is monitoring the robot's activities via cameras embedded in the robot, explains Oo. “The robot is autonomous, so you actually don’t need the operator. It can run by itself. It can know where to go once you upload the map location. It can navigate how to get there. But there’s always human operators in the background, watching the robots to ensure that any events or any emergencies, there’s a quick response. So robots are out there, but human in the back, so it’s very safe operations.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling “Dragon Ball” and other popular anime who influenced Japanese comics, has died, Bird Studio said on March 8. He was 68. Toriyama’s “Dragon Ball” manga series, which started in 1984, has sold millions of copies globally and was adapted into hugely popular animated TV shows, video games, and films. “He was working enthusiastically on many projects, and there was still much he was looking forward to accomplishing,” the studio wrote. A new TV adaptation of Toriyama’s “Sand Land,” a desert adventure story released in 2000 and later adapted into a 2023 anime movie, is due to be released on Disney+ in the spring. Messages of condolences and grief from fellow creators and fans filled social media. Eiichiro Oda, creator of the blockbuster manga “One Piece,” said Toriyama’s presence was like a “big tree” to younger artists. “He showed us all these things manga can do, a dream of going to another world,” Oda said in a statement. His death leaves “a hole too big to fill.” Bird Studio thanked fans for more than 40 years of support. “We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.” Born in Aichi prefecture in central Japan in 1955, Toriyama made his manga debut in 1978 with the adventure comic “Wonder Island,” published in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. His Dr. Slump series, which started in 1980, was his first major hit. It made him a celebrity, but Toriyama avoided the spotlight. In 1982, he told Japanese public broadcaster NHK: “I just want to keep writing manga.” “Dragon Ball,” the story of a boy named Son Goku and his quest for seven magical balls that can make wishes come true, has sold 260 million copies altogether, according to the studio. Toriyama also designed characters for the video game series Dragon Quest. He received awards in the manga industry and beyond, including France’s Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Kate, Princess of Wales, apologized on March 11 for “confusion” caused by her altering of a family photo released by the palace—an image of Kate and her children that was intended to calm concern and speculation about the British royal’s health but had the opposite effect. Several news agencies that initially published the photo, including The Associated Press, withdrew the image over concerns about digital manipulation. Issued by the couple’s Kensington Palace office on March 10 to mark Mother’s Day in Britain, it was the first official photo of 42-year-old Kate since she had abdominal surgery nearly three months ago. The retractions sent the online rumor mill, already rampant with speculation over Kate’s operation and recuperation, into overdrive. The PR disaster is more evidence that the royal family’s long-held mantra—“never complain, never explain”—is impossible in a social media-saturated era. In a post on social media, Kate said that “like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.” Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the mishandled photo release “is damaging for the royals.” “Their challenge is that people will now question whether they can be trusted and believed when they next issue a health update,” he wrote on X. The royal family is under particular scrutiny because King Charles III has also had to cancel public duties while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements, though he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries. Charles’ relative openness about his diagnosis was a departure from the generally secretive royal family. But it has been eclipsed in popular interest by curiosity over Kate’s condition. In the absence of firm information, conspiracy theories have rushed to fill the vacuum. At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: “We’ve seen the madness of social media [...], but the princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that.” “The question is, with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it. And I’m not sure that they will,” said veteran public relations consultant Mark Borkowski. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

New research based on data collected by NASA’s Juno spacecraft suggests there's less oxygen on the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa than thought. Even with little or no oxygen, microbes might still be bustling around in the ocean believed to exist miles (kilometers) beneath Europa’s frozen crust. The study was published on Mar. 4 in Nature Astronomy. The new findings are based on data collected by NASA’s Juno spacecraft during a particularly close flyby of Europa in 2022—a distance of just 219 miles (353 kilometers). A U.S.-European team calculated that between 13 pounds and 39 pounds (6 kilograms and 18 kilograms) of oxygen are produced every second at Europa’s surface. Previous estimates were much higher so the new numbers provide “a narrower range to support habitability,” the researchers wrote. This oxygen is formed, along with hydrogen, as Jupiter’s radiation blasts Europa’s global shell of frozen water. Lead author James Szalay of Princeton University says Juno’s flyby was the first time a spacecraft “directly sniffed” Europa’s surroundings. "We revealed a key piece in the story of Europa's interaction with its environment, how much oxygen gets produced in the ice. Before Juno flew by Europa, there are very broad constraints on how much that was, anywhere from a few kilograms per second to over 1000. We've constrained it to a very narrow range on the order of 12kg per second," he says. "We determine the total amount of oxygen produced in the ice. And this is a really important quantity because that tells us how much oxygen can leave the surface to the atmosphere, how much gets stuck in the ice, and how much goes to the ocean. All of that is... the sum of that has to be the total amount that we found in the current epoch. And so in the sense, our derived amount of oxygen that we found is an upper limit to the total amount that could make its way to the ocean in the current time frame as a source of potential metabolic energy for life," explains Szalay. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

An international group of scientists has discovered more than 100 new species living on seamounts off the coast of Chile. From deep-sea corals to glass sponges, sea urchins, amphipods and squat lobsters, the scientists say these discoveries from a recent Schmidt Ocean expedition could be contributing to new science.  Erin Easton, an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley who was involved in the expedition, explains: "Our expectations and goals for this cruise were to collect representative fauna from the Nazca Ridge and Salas y Gómez Ridge and the Juan Fernandez Ridge. And we want to look to see if we can identify, how those benthic or seafloor communities of animals change with depth and among the different seamounts. And, we were looking to see if there were any, if each community of the seamount was distinct or if they were similar so that we can inform conservation management decisions." Descending into the deep ocean, the scientists used an underwater robot to explore seamounts along the Nazca and Salas y Gómez Ridge. They hope this data could support the designation of an international high-seas marine protected area. "So, on this expedition, we were able to observe over 150 species that have not been reported for the region. And we believe potentially 100 or more of those are new species to science. We observed, these large urchins called cactus urchins. There, they were quite tall, a half a meter sort of tall. And, we saw them in large clusters. We observed forests of corals, so we saw a forest of bamboo corals that were probably thousands of years old. We also saw many other species of corals that were probably on the order of thousands of years old," says Easton. The scientists also mapped 52,777 square kilometers of seafloor. A second expedition set off on 24 February along the Salas y Gómez Ridge. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The Biden administration is proposing to make it easier for the government to fine airlines for damaging or misplacing wheelchairs by making it an automatic violation of a federal law on accessible air travel. The U.S. Transportation Department also called for airlines to provide annual training for employees who handle wheelchairs or lift passengers with disabilities. Damage to wheelchairs and scooters during air travel is a big problem. The Transportation Department said 11,527 of the devices were mishandled by airlines last year, up slightly from 2022. The administration announced the proposed rule during a White House event that included advocates for people with disabilities. There will be a 60-day period for public comment on the proposed rule. It’s not clear, however, when or if the proposal will ever become final. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg declined to provide a timetable when he briefed reporters. Under the proposal, it would be easier for the Transportation Department to fine airlines up to roughly $125,000 if they damage a wheelchair or delay its return to the passenger at the end of a flight. The proposal would give passengers the right to use their preferred vendor to repair or replace a damaged wheelchair—airlines are already required to cover the cost. Buttigieg called the proposal the biggest expansion of rights for passengers who use a wheelchair since 2008. He said airlines need stronger financial incentives to treat disabled passengers with dignity. The large number of damaged wheelchairs “reflects a culture where this is just treated as part of doing business,” he said. “There is going to be this risk that if something happens to your chair, and that’s too bad.” Airlines for America, a trade group for the largest U.S. carriers, said airlines are working with the government and disability groups to reduce barriers to flying, said its member airlines have increased employee training, set up passenger-accessibility advisory groups and supported the development of accessibility improvements since signing a commitment in October 2022. “U.S. airlines are committed to offering a high level of customer service and providing a positive and safe flight experience for passengers with disabilities,” said Hannah Walden, a spokeswoman for the group. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Wendy's says that it has no plans to increase prices during the busiest times at its restaurants. The burger chain clarified its stance on how it will approach pricing after the media picked up on comments by CEO Kirk Tanner that the company would test features like dynamic pricing at restaurants. Companies like Uber have used dynamic pricing, or surge pricing, to moderate use by customers during the busiest days of the year, or when drivers or cars are in short supply during the day. Prices rise and fall with demand using that business model. During a conference call with investors and industry analysts, Tanner said, "Beginning as early as 2025, we will begin testing more enhanced features like dynamic pricing and daypart offerings, along with AI-enabled menu changes and suggestive selling." The company said on Feb. 28, after the story began to circulate, that any features it decides to test in the future “would be designed to benefit our customers and restaurant crew members.” "Wendy's will not implement surge pricing, which is the practice of raising prices when demand is highest. We didn't use that phrase, nor do we plan to implement that practice," the company said in an email to The Associated Press. Wendy's Co. plans to invest about $20 million to launch digital menu boards at all of its U.S. company-run restaurants by the end of 2025. It also plans to invest approximately $10 million over the next two years to support digital menu enhancements globally. Wendy's said that its digital menu boards "could allow us to change the menu offerings at different times of day and offer discounts and value offers to our customers more easily, particularly in the slower times of day." This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Crowds lined up in San Francisco to see—and smell—the blooming of an endangered tropical flower that releases a pungent odor when it opens once every several years. An Amorphophallus titanum, also known as a corpse flower, began blooming at the California Academy of Sciences, a research institution and museum. The plant blooms for one to three days once every seven to 10 years. During the bloom, it releases a powerful smell described by some as rotting food or sweaty socks. “It's kind of imitating the smell of kind of a dead carcass to kind of get all the flies to come and interact with it, pick up pollen, and then take that pollen to another flower that it might investigate due to its smell,” said Lauren Greig, a horticulturist, California Academy of Sciences. It was the first bloom for the corpse flower named Mirage, which was donated to the California Academy of Sciences in 2017. It's been housed in the museum's rainforest exhibit since 2020. Bri Lister, a data scientist who lives in San Francisco, moved some meetings and waited in line for about an hour to catch a whiff of the plant. "In certain directions, I definitely picked up on the sweaty socks, sweaty gym clothes, but probably luckily not full-on rotting meat, but definitely a smellier plant than average," Lister said. Monica Becker took her child out of school to see the flower in person after watching it on the academy's livestream. "When we heard it bloomed, we were like, we got it, we got to go, first thing in the morning when they open. So here we are," Becker said. The Amorphophallus titanum is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with only less than 1,000 individual plants left in the wild. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Senegalese surfers raise doubts about the future of surfing in Africa amidst no qualifiers for the Paris Olympics 2024, low funding, and out-of-reach visas. Instead of training in the waves of his Senegal homeland, Chérif Fall wistfully preferred to be in Puerto Rico, where the last surfing qualifying competition for the Paris Olympics ended on March 2. Senegal had nobody there to try and claim the last 14 spots for men and women. Senegal is on the westernmost tip of Africa on the Atlantic Ocean, and surfing is part of daily life for many, with easy access to good waves including in the capital, Dakar. Yet, once athletes reach a certain level, it’s hard to go further. Travel to compete abroad is expensive, visas can be hard to secure, and there is little government investment, say those in the sport. Even with financial backing from a huge sponsor, 27-year-old Fall still can’t afford proper coaching and doesn’t enter enough competitions to earn points to help his global ranking. Surfers and coaches in Senegal say the athletes have immense potential but the sport needs more investment in training facilities, equipment, and coaching. To compete on the world stage, the surfers say they need the basics such as a daily training environment with a knowledgeable coach and quality equipment. Souley Mbengué, the Secretary-General of the Senegalese Surf Federation, said they were going to “rise to the challenges of 2026, the Youth Olympic Games to be held in Senegal. [...] We have put in place a program based on training, and above all what will enable us to perform well when the time comes.” In an attempt to get surfers on the continent more visibility, for the first time, the African Surfing Federation is launching a surf tour. Starting in April, there will be six competitions beginning in Ghana and ending in Senegal in December. Oumar Seye, the African Surfing Federation President who’s spearheading the initiative, says it’s a chance for athletes to make money, find sponsors, and get valuable ranking points. He adds sponsors in Europe and Africa have expressed interest in funding the event. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was called on during a key regional summit on March 5 to defend an exclusive deal his city-state struck with Taylor Swift that prevents the pop star from taking her current The Eras Tour anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Swift performed six concerts from March 2 to 9 in Singapore under an exclusive deal that has been criticized by some Southeast Asian neighbors who complain they have been deprived of the tourist boom that her concerts have brought elsewhere. In a sign of the international phenomenon that Swift has become, the veteran Singaporean statesman was asked by a journalist to confirm the deal and to comment on whether it undermined the spirit of cooperation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a 10-nation bloc known by the acronym ASEAN of which Singapore is a key member. Lee confirmed that Swift was provided with “certain incentives” from a government fund established to rebuild the tourism industry after COVID-19 disruptions to make Singapore her only Southeast Asian destination. He did not say how much the deal cost. “It has turned out to be a very successful arrangement. I don’t see that as being unfriendly,” Lee said. Lee suggested that if Singapore hadn’t struck an exclusive deal, a neighboring country might have done so. “Sometimes one country makes a deal, sometimes another country does. I don’t explicitly say ‘you will come here only on condition that you’ll not go to other places,’” Lee said. Swift’s representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “If that’s what’s needed to be done to get an outcome which is mutually beneficial and which, from Singapore’s point of view, serves not just to grow the economy but also to bring in visitors and goodwill from all over the region, I don’t see why not,” Lee said. “If we had not made such an arrangement, would she have come to someplace else in Southeast Asia or more places in Southeast Asia? Maybe, maybe not. These are things that she will decide,” Lee added. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

At the Kenya Medical Research Institute, research is underway to create a mobile phone application that uses AI to diagnose tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. In a specially contained quiet room, Dr. Videlis Nduba and his team record coughs from people with respiratory diseases like tuberculosis as well as people without disease. The aim is to create software that can differentiate between the two and make a mobile phone application that can accurately recognize a cough connected to TB and other serious diseases. Natural or forced coughs are collected using three microphones, including a cheap version, a high-definition one and a microphone on a smartphone. The results are sent to the University of Washington which puts them through an existing computer software system called ResNet 18. Nduba believes that if the software can be proven in trials to perform accurately, it can shorten the time before a patient can get a diagnosis and treatment, and that will help curb the spread of TB. "The biggest achievement is reduced time to diagnosis. So, from when someone develops TB symptoms, to when a doctor determines they have TB and they need treatment sometimes the average can run from 3 to 2 months to one year. And when they are in the community they are infectious and they are transmitting TB. The moment they get a cough, if you can just expose them to this software and determine this is TB would reduce TB transmission in the community and a lot of TB is due to transmission," he says. But the software is not yet accurate enough to meet the standard required by the World Health Organization. The WHO says the application must be at least 90% accurate in recognizing a TB infection and it must be at least 80% accurate at detecting if no infection exists. Nduba’s trials so far have shown 80% accuracy at detecting TB and 70% accuracy for detecting there is no TB. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Want to see mobile phones of the future? Then Barcelona is the place to be. At this year’s Mobile World Congress tech show, smaller brands are trying to find novel ways to stand out from the crowd. Foldable phones are old news in Barcelona – here it’s all about really bendy handsets. Motorola and Lenovo’s adaptive display concept mobile phone is so flexible it could wrap around a wrist, or be temporarily bent so that it can stand unsupported. It’s just one of the weird and wacky ideas being floated by the mobile phone industry at Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress tech show. Unsurprisingly, manufacturers are going big on AI – like the Deutsche Telecom concept phone. Instead of using apps, the phone simply has conversations with the user and books them the flights and hotels they need, makes videos of their recorded memories, or gives them recommendations for places they want to visit. And if you’ve ever been annoyed by someone playing loud music on public transport, close your ears now. ZTE is showing off its Nubia Music phone which comes with a high-quality "ultra-loud" built-in speaker. These innovations are attempts to carve out a portion of a market that last year totaled 1.17 billion units, according to the market intelligence company International Data Corporation. But the two top brands account for around 40 percent of those sales between them. "The mobile phone market is particularly challenging right now because it's dominated by two big players, Apple and Samsung. If you're a smaller player with lower volumes, you've got to find some ways to innovate and add some differentiation to your device. And that's one of the themes that we're seeing here at MWC from some of those players," says analyst Ben Wood. Mobile World Congress opened on February 26 and ran until February 29. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

American Airlines is raising the cost of checking bags and it is making other changes to push customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points. The airline said that checking a bag on a domestic flight will rise from $30 now to $35 online and $40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from $40 to $45 both online and at the airport. American last raised bag fees in 2018. American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, introduced bag fees in 2008—$15 back then—to cope with the rising cost of jet fuel. Since then, they have become a steady revenue source for most major U.S. carriers. American easily led the industry by raising $1.4 billion in bag fees in 2022, the last year for which U.S. Transportation Department figures are available. The airline is also raising bag fees by $5 for short international flights including those to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean—now $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second. The airline will generally allow customers to check in at least one bag free if they hold elite status in American’s loyalty program, buy a premium-class ticket or use an American-branded credit card. American will give a break to customers whose bags are slightly overweight or oversized. Instead of being hit with the full extra fee—ranging from $100 to $650—graduated fees will start at $30 for bags that are no more than 3 pounds (1.36 kg) or three linear inches over the limits. At the same time, American announced that starting with tickets issued on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers or from preferred online travel agencies if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty program. The airline said it will list the preferred travel agencies in late April. Corporate travelers won’t be affected.  This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Germany plans to enable underground carbon storage at offshore sites, pushing ahead with a much-discussed technology in an acknowledgment that time is running out to combat climate change, the country's vice chancellor said. Europe's biggest economy is making good progress with expanding renewable energy sources and usage, but a solution is needed for the carbon dioxide emitted by some sectors such as the cement industry that are “hard to abate,” said Robert Habeck, who is also the economy and climate minister. Habeck's proposed “carbon management strategy,” which still needs to be turned into detailed legislation, foresees enabling the transport of carbon dioxide and its storage under the sea in Germany's exclusive economic zone, except in marine conservation areas. It doesn't foresee allowing storage sites on land, but Habeck said that could be considered later if German state governments approve. Opponents maintain that so-called carbon capture and storage is unproven at scale and has been less effective than alternatives such as solar and wind at decarbonizing the energy sector. Habeck, a member of the environmentalist Green party, recalled opposition to carbon storage when it was discussed in the 2000s. But he said, “The technology has been developed further ... and from my point of view it is mature and safe,” and that it is now being used elsewhere, not just in research projects. Neighboring Denmark last year launched an ambitious project that aims to bury vast amounts of carbon dioxide beneath the North Sea. “Time has run out,” Habeck said at a news conference in Berlin. “In the 2000s, you could perhaps say, ‘let’s wait and see what might happen.' Today we see that we haven't found any technological solution for cement and other areas that ensures climate neutrality.” “We are heading toward exceeding 1.5 degrees, which means that we are no longer in a luxury or comfort zone where we can somehow wait,” Habeck added. “We have to use what we have.” He was referencing the international goal of trying to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

In California, a high school teacher complains that students watch Netflix on their phones during class. In Maryland, a chemistry teacher says students use gambling apps to place bets during the school day. The hold that phones have on adolescents in America today is well-documented, but teachers say parents are often not aware to what extent students use them inside the classroom. And increasingly, educators and experts are speaking with one voice on the question of how to handle it: Ban phones during classes. “Students used to have an understanding that you aren't supposed to be on your phone in class. Those days are gone,” said James Granger, who requires students in his science classes at a Los Angeles-area high school to place their phones in “a cellphone cubby” with numbered slots. “The only solution that works is to physically remove the cellphone from the student.” Most schools already have rules regulating student phone use, but they are enforced sporadically. A growing number of leaders at the state and federal levels have begun endorsing school cellphone bans and suggesting new ways to curb access to the devices. The latest state intervention came in Utah, where Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, last January urged all school districts and the state Board of Education to remove cellphones from classrooms. He cited studies that show learning improves, distractions are decreased and students are more likely to talk to each other if phones are taken away. “We just need a space for six or seven hours a day where kids are not tethered to these devices,” Cox told reporters last month. He said his initiative, which is not binding, is part of a legislative push to protect kids in Utah from the harms of social media. Nationally, 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit cellphones at school for non-academic use, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. But that number is misleading. It does not mean students are following those bans or all those schools are enforcing them. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

When FX sent screenwriter Justin Marks a copy of James Clavell’s hit 1975 novel “Shogun” with the idea of turning it into a series, he initially couldn’t put it down. That’s because he was reluctant to pick it up. The book about a British navigator shipwrecked in feudal Japan was massive—over 1,000 pages. And old: “It was the book that was on our parents’ nightstand.” Plus it sounded culturally out of step. He assumed it couldn’t be adapted for 2024. “When you open it and you go through it, it is a remarkably modern story,” he said. “It really does get to the core of what it is to encounter another culture and to encounter oneself in that culture.” Marks and his wife plunged into the fish-out-of-water tale and now are ready for the world to see their 10-episode fictional limited series “Shogun.” Set in Japan in 1600, it’s rooted in the real history of the period, a dangerous time when several warlords jockeyed for ultimate power as European powers warily circled the island nation. The arrival of a shipwrecked Englishman—John Blackthorne—disrupts the balance in Japan and yet offers intriguing possibilities since he knows important global information. A pawn at first, he rises to become a trusted adviser and ally. “It really came down to being the story about agency and this story about characters who are trying to exert control over the path of their own destiny in a very chaotic world where you can literally lose your head at any moment,” said Marks. It also shows the hesitant understanding growing between Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) and Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and a love story between Blackthorne and translator Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai). Sanada says the cast and creators came to the project hoping to respect the novel but also to ground it in historical reality and make the characters believable. “Our North Star was authenticity from the beginning,” he said. The series is riding a wave of new TV offerings that embrace Asian culture, including Max’s “Ninja Kamui,” “Warrior" and “Tokyo Vice,” Paramount+’s “The Tiger’s Apprentice,” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “House of Ninjas,” both on Netflix. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

As the aviation sector tries to make flying more sustainable, some aerospace companies are betting big on a new form of travel—air taxis. For years, electric-powered air taxis have been considered as an option to reduce emissions in cities and the carbon footprint of the aviation industry. However, the limitations of battery life and regulatory hurdles have prevented the technology from taking flight. Big mobility players are, however, now entering the market thanks to falling battery prices and technological advancements. Hyundai’s advanced air mobility unit Supernal and Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility hope to officially launch electric-powered air taxis within the next two to four years. “Ground transportation is also evolving and improving,” says Supernal CEO Shin Jaiwon. “But to support all the mobility demand of that many people in urban areas, ground transportation will not be sufficient. So, we have to open the sky.” Supernal’s S-A2 electric aircraft, equipped with eight rotors, is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers. The battery-powered air taxi will have a range of about 25 to 40 miles and will be able to take off and land vertically. It’s similar to a helicopter but should be significantly quieter and more sustainable, according to Shin. The firm is planning to test a full-scale version of the vehicle this year and is talking to regulators in various countries to discuss policy, processes as well as certification issues. Brazilian firm Eve Air Mobility, a spin-off of the third largest aircraft manufacturer Embraer, is also taking a punt on air taxis. They are testing and developing an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft which the firm hopes to launch by 2026. Like Supernal’s S-A2, the Eve Air Mobility’s aircraft is also expected to carry between four to six passengers with a range of 60 miles, without generating any local carbon emissions. Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve Air Mobility, says that these electric-powered aircraft have potential not just in urban cities that are heavily congested but also in areas where public transport is not as widespread or efficient. Although the technology is advancing rapidly, some experts are warning that the regulatory hurdles haven’t gone away. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Lab-created diamonds come with sparkling claims: that they are ethically made by machines running on renewable energy. But many don't live up to these claims or don't respond to questions about their electricity sources, and lab diamonds require a lot of electricity. They are chemically the same as diamonds found in the ground but cost a fraction of the price. Fans of mined diamonds counter the marketing campaigns, saying natural diamonds hold their value better for longer and are more rare, thus more special. In the U.S., lab-grown diamond sales jumped 16% in 2023 from 2022 and had a market share of 10% out of all diamond jewelry sales. Social media posts show Gen Zs and Millennials proudly explaining the purchase of their lab-grown diamonds for sustainability and ethical reasons. But how sustainable they are is questionable, since making a diamond requires an enormous amount of energy and many big companies that do it are not transparent about their operations. At Bario Neal, a jewelry store in Philadelphia, all of the lab-grown diamonds are either made with renewable energy, captured carbon, or are carbon neutral through credits purchased by the diamond manufacturers. But that's not the norm for lab-grown diamonds. Many of the companies are based in India, where about 75% of electricity comes from burning coal. They use words like “sustainable” and “environmentally-friendly” on their websites, but don't post their environmental impact reports and aren’t certified by third parties. Lab diamonds are often made over several weeks, by subjecting carbon to high pressure and high temperature that mimic the natural conditions that form diamonds beneath the Earth’s surface. The technology has been around since the 1950s, but the diamonds produced were mostly used in industries like stone cutting, mining and dentistry tools. Over time the laboratories, or foundries, have gotten better at growing stones with minimal flaws and production costs have dropped as technology improves. That means diamond growers can manufacture as many stones as they want and choose their size and quality, which is causing prices to fall rapidly. Natural diamonds take billions of years to form and are difficult to find, making their price more stable. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

If you are dreaming of a summer escape in the great outdoors, where everyday is an adventure on the open road, then the UK Caravan Camping and Motorhome Show is full of inspiration. This six-day event is where all of the latest camping equipment, caravans and motorhomes are launched to the public. One of the motorhomes launched at the show is Bailey's new Alora, a four-berth motorhome that weighs 3,500 kg—meaning it can be driven by anybody with a standard UK driving license. The Alora costs around £75,000 depending on the model specifications. Since 1948, Bailey has made half a million leisure vehicles and is one of the most popular UK manufacturers in the sector. Simon Howard, marketing director of Bailey of Bristol says: “I mean, as an industry, we fared very well after the pandemic because obviously a caravan, a motorhome, was a very safe, secure way to go on holiday. You're in your own protective bubble, if you like. But also, there was a big sort of surge in staycations because you couldn't travel abroad. And again, caravans and motorhomes are an ideal way to do that. But people who bought during that period are now finding that the vehicle is very, very flexible. And you needn't just stay in the UK, if you want to go farther abroad, you can do.” During the COVID pandemic, lockdowns and travel restrictions meant many people in the UK were forced to take domestic holidays. Other sectors of the tourism industry suffered a serious decline during the pandemic – for example, the cruise ship sector, where international travel restrictions and guidelines promoting respectful distances saw large fleets anchored at port and unable to operate. However, camping and caravanning could still be enjoyed domestically, and its outdoor nature meant it felt like a safer option for many people. It's a trend the Camping and Caravan Club witnessed, and is now reporting bookings and memberships for 2023 have exceeded figures from 2019. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Katrina Cornish, a professor at Ohio State University who studies rubber alternatives, raises dandelions and the desert shrub guayule in greenhouses at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster, Ohio. She and other researchers harvest the stretchy rubber substances they produce and use special machines to dip them into medical gloves, parts for trachea tubes, and others. And she thinks those products could forever alter the landscape of agriculture in the United States. Most rubber comes from the Hevea tree and processing happens overseas—the U.S. isn’t prepared to process rubber domestically. But Cornish also says the threats of disease, climate change, and international trade tensions also mean that it would be a smart investment to work on growing and processing domestic alternatives. Cornish thinks that just as Tesla opened up the possibility of mainstream electric cars by first marketing the product as a luxury good, premium goods need to be made with dandelion and guayule to inspire producers to grow more meaningful amounts of either of those crops. But while some of the researchers and farmers are optimistic about the potential of these crops, they also say drastic changes would need to happen in markets and processing before we ever see fields full of these out-of-the-box plants. In the meantime, farmers in the U.S. rely on an agricultural economy built on scale, so they farm the crops that allow them options of where to sell, said Curt Covington, senior director of institutional business at AgAmerica Lending. He added that the bankers financing those farmers often don’t want to take the risk of a full switch to a crop that doesn’t have established markets. That, he said, could be a problem for the country as climate change exacerbates threats to crops like cotton and alfalfa, thirsty crops grown in the Southwest, in the future. Though guayule only uses half as much water as cotton and alfalfa, if the economics don’t support it, that doesn’t do the majority of farmers much good. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

It turns out there are lots of sharp elbows in the plush toy business. Build-A-Bear and the makers of Squishmallows are facing off in federal court. Kelly Toys and its Berkshire Hathaway-controlled parent company Jazwares have sued Build-A-Bear, saying its new “Skoosherz” toys copy the look and feel of their mega-popular Squishmallows products. The Skoosherz line, which Build-A-Bear began selling last January, has the “same distinctive trade dress” of Squishmallows, the complaint filed says, pointing to similarities in shape, face style, coloring and fabric. “If a picture is worth a thousand words, comparing the Squishmallows original products to Build-A-Bear’s copycats speaks volumes,” Moez Kaba, an attorney representing Kelly Toys and Jazwares, said in a statement. The companies will “vigorously defend” their intellectual property rights, he added. Jazwares is seeking unspecified damages and for Build-A-Bear to stop selling Skoosherz products. But Build-A-Bear hit back with its own lawsuit, claiming Skoosherz does not infringe on the Squishmallows makers’ rights. It wants a declaratory judgment saying that the Squishmallow maker’s claimed trade dress rights are invalid and unenforceable. The St. Louis-based retailer says Skoosherz products are based on its own original plush animals, “which have been sold for a number of years.” The lawsuit notes that products from other companies using features laid out in Jazwares’ complaint were around long before Squishmallows were created. “If each aspect of the claimed trade dress were in fact protected trade dress, it would be virtually impossible for competitors to create alternative designs,” Build-A-Bear added. It said Squishmallows’ own line has also evolved and is not always consistent. Squishmallows were created in 2016 and have skyrocketed in popularity. According to market research firm Circana, the brand’s 8-inch plush assortment was the top-selling toy in the U.S. last year. The toys also have become an online sensation. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga, for example, have shared images of their collections on social media. In a statement, Jazwares accused Build-A-Bear of going to great lengths to capitalize on Squishmallows’ success. Jazwares’ lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District in California, added that Skoosherz’s look, name and marketing have already confused consumers — causing potential losses in sales. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A medication used to treat asthma can now be used to help people with food allergies avoid severe reactions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. Xolair, the brand name for the drug omalizumab, became the first medication approved to reduce allergic reactions caused by accidental exposure to food triggers. Patients as young as age 1 with allergies can take the drug by injection every two to four weeks, depending on their weight and their body's response to allergens. An estimated 17 million people in the U.S. have the type of food allergies that can cause rapid, serious symptoms, including severe, whole-body reactions that are potentially deadly. People who use Xolair must continue to avoid the foods that cause them reactions, such as peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, milk products and eggs. The medication allows them to tolerate higher amounts of such foods without causing major reactions. Many people with allergies — and their families — live with constant anxiety about exposure to allergens and often avoid dining out and other social situations. “To have this protection is going to be life-changing,” said Dr. Robert Wood, director of the pediatric allergy division at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The FDA decision is based on a study led by Wood and funded by the National Institutes of Health. It showed that Xolair allowed about 68% of participants with peanut allergies to tolerate about 600 milligrams, or about 1/2 teaspoon, of peanut protein, compared with about 6% of those who received dummy injections. The results were similar for other allergens such as tree nuts, milk, egg and wheat, a study abstract reported. Full results were expected to be presented at a meeting and published in a peer-reviewed journal in February. Wood estimated that 25% to 50% of people with food allergies, particularly children and young adults, would elect to use Xolair. The drug has been used “off-label” to treat food allergies, said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research at Northwestern University. She welcomed full approval of the product. The medication is not approved for emergency treatment of allergic reactions. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Lyft shares jumped 62% after the closing bell on February 13 thanks in part to a typo in the ride-hailing company’s earnings release that appears to have sent investors’ auto-trading algorithms—or “bots”—into a buying frenzy. Lyft’s fourth-quarter report initially forecast that an important profit metric was expected to climb by 500 basis points, or 5%, in 2024. However, the company informed investors about five minutes after the original release that there was one zero too many in that number and corrected it to 50 basis points, a much more realistic 0.5%. Shares retreated after the correction but remained more than 37% higher—at $16.69 per share—in early February 14 trading because the company topped most Wall Street expectations for the quarter. Lyft’s gross bookings beat Wall Street forecasts, rising 17% year-over-year to $3.7 billion. Lyft’s guidance for first-quarter bookings between $3.5 and $3.6 billion also came in higher than projections. The San Francisco company earned 19 cents per share in the period, more than doubling the 8 cents that industry analysts were expecting. Lyft has appeared to turn things around since the last quarter of 2022 when it posted a whopping loss of 76 cents per share. In the four subsequent quarters of 2023, Lyft has easily beat profit targets, twice posting profits when Wall Street was expecting losses. The company has long played second fiddle to rival Uber, which softened the pandemic ride demand slump by expanding rapidly into food delivery. The profit metric that contained the typo on February 13 is referred to as adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) margin expansion, which is calculated as a percentage of gross bookings, according to Lyft. With February 14’s boost, Lyft shares are now in the green for 2024, up more than 11% to date. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

John Knox Village was one of 17 senior communities around the country that participated in a recently published Stanford University study that found that a large majority of 245 participants between 65 and 103 years old enjoyed virtual reality, improving both their emotions and their interactions with staff. The study is part of a larger effort to adapt VR so it can be beneficial to seniors’ health and emotional well-being and help lessen the impact dementia has on some of them. During the testing, seniors picked from seven-minute virtual experiences such as parachuting, riding in a tank, watching stage performances, playing with puppies and kittens, or visiting places like Paris or Egypt. The participants wore headsets that gave them 360-degree views and sounds, making it seem like they had been all but dropped into the actual experience. Anne Selby, a 79-year-old retired counselor and artist, found VR “stimulated virtually every area of my brain, all of the senses.” Stanford’s peer-reviewed study, working with the company Mynd Immersive, found that almost 80% of seniors reported having a more positive attitude after their VR session and almost 60% said they felt less isolated socially. The enjoyment lessened somewhat for older respondents whose sight and hearing had deteriorated. Those who found VR less enjoyable were also more likely to dislike technology in general. In addition, almost 75% of caregivers said residents’ moods improved after using VR. More than 80% of residents and almost 95% of caregivers said talking about their VR experience enhanced their relationships with each other. Separate from the study, John Knox Village uses virtual reality in its unit that houses seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. It helps spur memories that lead to conversations with caregivers. Chris Brickler said Mynd Immersive systems will soon attach to Google Earth, so seniors can virtually visit neighborhoods where they lived, schools they attended, and places they have visited, sparking further conversations with caregivers. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Pineapples: beloved by chefs–and cocktail makers–all over the world for bringing a reliable tropical sweetness. Now, an innovative firm in Kenya is gaining fans by turning waste from the fruit’s harvest into footwear. It comes as the fashion industry looks to embrace more eco-friendly materials. Not just a prickly fruit–now also the raw ingredient for a sustainable textile that's being revived by a design house in Kenya. Pineapple farmers are able to generate a second income from leaves that were previously discarded and damaging to the environment. "In the past, we would burn or throw away or replant pineapple suckers. Later on, we met with this company called Pine Kazi. We sell one sucker to them at 15 Kenya shillings each (US $0.092)," says James Kinuthia, a long-time pineapple farmer in fertile Kiambu county. The potential of the discarded leaves–a major part of the pineapple plant which is currently virtually unexploited–is now gaining global attention. Pine Kazi, which converts pineapple leaf and recycles rubber into fashionable footwear, has already attracted the attention of investors and won plaudits for its sustainable credentials. Pineapple fiber, which has a long history of use, is labor-intensive to produce and has until recently lost out in the era of cheap cotton and synthetics. Co-founders Olivia Awuor, Mike Langat and Angela Nzomo say the idea was borne out of a university project. As 24-year-old students, they noticed huge piles of pineapple waste burning carelessly and turned their collective attention toward a solution. "Pine Kazi is a new and innovative social business venture that recycles waste pineapple leaves into a biodegradable textile that is friendly to the environment," explains Awuor, Pine Kazi CEO and co-founder. As a social business venture, Pine Kazi also sources labor from local communities–hence creating employment. “We use these textiles to make eco-friendly fashion products like shoes and bags while creating meaningful and sustainable employment to vulnerable groups in the community," Awuor says. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Take a peek at a night of lavish fantasy in Venice: the city’s masked carnival ball. Il Ballo del Doge (Doge’s Ball) attracts visitors from around the world who want to dress up in stunning costumes and enjoy top-class entertainment. It’s the most sumptuous event of the Venice Carnival. Guests in elegant 18th-century costumes are ready to party at the Doge’s Ball. Performers in towering wigs entertain the crowds. And even the guests dress up for the night, all decked out in elaborate costumes. “This is the third time I’ve come back because it’s a fantastic event, it’s absolutely one of the most beautiful events I’ve ever been to and in my opinion, it makes the Carnival in Venice an unforgettable and fantastic thing. I find it fantastic in every detail,” says Adriana Mele, who is from Naples. Others have traveled even further to be here. “It’s magical. My godmother came because she saw this on the news in America and decided we were coming,” says Julia Pishko from Colorado. Organized by costume designer Antonia Sautter, the Doge’s Ball is a festive all-night masquerade ball attended by guests in extravagant tailored period costumes and wearing typical Venetian masks. “The Doge’s Ball is a dream, it’s a dream where time is suspended, where you can find a little bit of yourself wearing a costume and living your own fairytale,” explains Sautter. With a different theme each year, the party does not come cheap. Guests spend between 800 and 5,000 euros to attend a gala dinner and be entertained by various shows and a fantasy movie set. This year, the title is ‘Carnival Obsession.’ Sautter’s first ball took place 30 years ago in 1994. The Venetian decided to go beyond her job as a costume designer and create a ball that would attract people from all over the world eager to realize their dreams. She wanted the event to promote Venetian arts, culture, and traditions. Sautter works with a staff of around 400 throughout the year to create a show that draws on Italian and Venetian traditions, such as opera and the use of commedia dell‘arte characters, and involves around 100 international performers. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

From Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to Sweet Heat Starburst, America’s snacks are getting spicier. Now, Coca-Cola wants in on the trend. The Atlanta beverage giant introduced Coca-Cola Spiced, the first new permanent offering to its North American portfolio in three years. Coca-Cola Spiced and Coca-Cola Spiced Zero Sugar went on sale in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 19. Coca-Cola Spiced doesn’t have a lot of heat. The main flavor drinkers will notice is a hint of raspberry. Coke won’t name the spices it added – it guards its recipes closely – but they taste like amped-up versions of the spices in regular Coke. “If you go to the aisles, you’ll see the amount of spiciness has gone up because consumers’ taste palates have evolved. We realized that could be an opportunity for us,” Coca-Cola’s North American marketing chief Shakir Moin told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “Can we dial up something which is already part of our formula and bring in a taste profile that is interesting, unique, and brings in the next generation of consumers?” Coke has been exploring ways to get younger drinkers excited about its signature cola. In 2022, it launched Coca-Cola Creations, a series of eight limited-edition Coke flavors in colorful cans and bottles. Coke experimented with adding hints of coconut, strawberry, watermelon and other flavors to the drinks. The latest example, Coca-Cola Happy Tears, contains salt and mineral flavors. It was sold only through TikTok on Feb. 17 in the U.S. and Great Britain. Moin said customer research for Coca-Cola Creations fed into the development of Coca-Cola Spiced. It usually takes Coca-Cola at least a year to develop a new beverage, he said, but Coca-Cola Spiced took just seven weeks. Moin said the company hopes to replicate that speed with future new products. “Consumers are moving faster. The market is moving forward faster. We’ve got to be faster than the speed of the market,” he said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Amid the buzz of anticipation for the 2024 Olympics, organizers and Paris City Hall officials inaugurated on Feb. 11 the first – and only – purpose-built site in the French capital for this summer’s Games, nestled in a multicultural working-class neighborhood. The Adidas Arena at Porte de la Chapelle – among the poorest areas in Paris – is ready and “operational” some five months before the Games, officials said. It is being touted as showcasing the city’s readiness and commitment to both the global sporting community and its residents. This venue is poised to host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events during the 2024 Olympics and is expected to be part of broader efforts to revitalize local communities. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said that she was “proud” that an area that was once described as “a no-go zone” is now beginning to be transformed. “Before, people mocked us,” she said. “Change is possible.” The inauguration represents a milestone, given the problems that dogged its construction. The facility, costing about 138 million euros ($150 million) and requiring 1,500 tons of steel, required organizers to secure materials from alternative sources amid supply issues. Officials say it is also a symbol of the city’s desire to host “sustainable” games, having been built with recycled materials and wood and featuring a green roof. It will also be the first arena of its kind in France to have a “sensory room” for people suffering from cognitive disorders. Christened the Adidas Arena through a lucrative partnership worth approximately 2.8 million euros ($3 million) per year with the sportswear brand, the venue can host up to 8,000 spectators for an array of sports events and live performances. It will also become the future home of the Paris Basketball Club. Two gymnasiums next to the venue will provide sports facilities that are much needed in the neglected community, according to the city hall. In recent years, the location had been home to hundreds of migrants and asylum-seekers living in squalid conditions in makeshift camps that have been regularly cleared by police. Games organizers opted against constructing as many purpose-built buildings as seen in previous Games in other host cities. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Smoking in cars with children is banned in 11 states, and lawmakers are pushing to join them in West Virginia, where more adults use cigarettes than anywhere else in the nation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state Senate passed a bill calling for fines for anyone caught smoking or possessing a lit tobacco product in a vehicle when someone age 16 or under is present. The bill passed on a 25-8 vote and now goes to the House of Delegates, where similar legislation has failed and it faces an uncertain future. Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo, a doctor-turned-lawmaker, made a promise long ago to a patient whose father was a heavy smoker that he would try to ban smoking in vehicles carrying children in West Virginia. Takubo has made it almost an annual effort since 2017 to introduce the legislation, but it didn't gain traction. The Kanawha County Republican and lung doctor said the inspiration for the bill was a patient who was not a smoker but lost half of her lung function. When her father smoked, "she had to climb down to the bottom of the car and put her head underneath the seat," Takubo said.  Violators would face a misdemeanor subject to a maximum fine of $25. But it would be a secondary offense: smoking with children present cannot be the main reason a driver is pulled over. Sen. Mike Azinger, a Wood County Republican, said the state has no right to infringe on parents' freedoms. "The arguments for the bill are essentially emotional arguments," Azinger said. "This is a cut at the fundamental rights of parents making a decision over their children in their vehicle. This is a state going where it has no business going." This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A Washington State Patrol trooper arrested a woman on suspicion of drunken driving when she was actually experiencing a life-threatening brain bleed and booked her into jail where officials mocked her instead of getting her medical attention, according to a civil rights lawsuit. The federal lawsuit filed February 1 in Tacoma says Nicole McClure was booked into Thurston County Jail on March 21, 2022, where she lay on a cell floor for a day before receiving medical attention, The Seattle Times reported. “Nicole suffers from severe traumatic brain injury and remains unable to care for herself or engage with life in meaningful ways,” McClure’s attorney, Anne Vankirk, said in a statement. “Had Nicole received immediate medical attention, her condition would have been significantly easier to treat and the outcome far less severe.” According to the lawsuit, dash-camera video, and arrest reports, Trooper Jonathan Barnes tried to stop McClure after he noticed her driving too slowly and wandering out of her lane. McClure, then 38, had complained of a headache and dizziness and was headed home from work early, according to the lawsuit. Barnes flashed his emergency lights to initiate a stop, but McClure kept slowly driving until she collided with a traffic roundabout, disabling her car, the lawsuit said. Barnes approached with his gun pointed at McClure, yelling for her to get out of the car, dash-camera video shows. The video shows Barnes pushed her onto his vehicle hood to handcuff her while accusing her of eluding police. Barnes arrested McClure on suspicion of intoxicated driving and felony evading. The lawsuit alleges the trooper also didn’t call medics to the scene, despite the vehicle crash, and took her to a hospital for a blood draw. But Barnes didn’t tell the hospital staff that McClure had been in a crash, the filings allege. “Nicole recalls being laughed at and told she should ‘Have another shot,’” which she took as a taunting reference to the belief that she was drunk, not sick, Vankirk said. Tara Tsehlana, a spokesperson for the Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, defends the jail, saying: “While we can’t discuss the specifics of any pending litigation, I can confirm that the safety of inmates, staff, and the general public remains a top priority for the Thurston County Corrections Facility.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

California would ban all plastic shopping bags in 2026 under a new bill announced February 8 in the state Legislature. California already bans thin plastic shopping bags at grocery stores and other shops, but shoppers at checkout can purchase bags made with a thicker plastic that purportedly makes them reusable and recyclable. Democratic state Sen. Catherine Blakespear said people are not reusing or recycling those bags. She points to a state study that found the amount of plastic shopping bags trashed per person grew from 8 pounds per year in 2004 to 11 pounds per year in 2021. “It shows that the plastic bag ban that we passed in this state in 2014 did not reduce the overall use of plastic. It actually resulted in a substantial increase in plastic,” Blakespear, a Democrat from Encinitas, said. “We are literally choking our planet with plastic waste.” Twelve states, including California, already have some type of statewide plastic bag ban in place, according to the environmental advocacy group Environment America Research & Policy Center. Hundreds of cities across 28 states also have their own plastic bag bans in place. The California Legislature passed its statewide ban on plastic bags in 2014. The law was later affirmed by voters in a 2016 referendum. If the Legislature passes this bill, it would be up to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to decide whether to sign it into law. As San Francisco’s mayor in 2007, Newsom signed the nation’s first plastic bag ban. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Art galleries and exhibitions are few and far between in a small Queensland sugar town, but its streets certainly don’t lack color. Power poles in Lucinda have become canvases for an artist who gets his inspiration from local legends. And for him, this outdoor gallery could rival its most famous worldwide counterparts. David Rowe looks like a workman but he is actually an artist and his truck is a mobile studio. Every morning, Rowe stops on the side of a street in the quiet seaside village of Lucinda in northern Queensland and gets to work on a new piece of art. “It's really nice to get down here early in the morning and actually paint, it’s nice, and no one is telling you what to do. I haven't got a boss. It's great,” says Rowe. The town commissioned Rowe to embellish its streets by using power poles as canvases. “You walk in and it’s like the Louvres, you walk around in amongst everybody and have a look at the poles, not quite like the Louvres, but anyway. Just as important!” says Rowe. Rowe first painted the poles 20 years ago and now he’s back to revive them with a new coat of paint. “Some of them you could hardly see the picture and you were looking at them and they just looked horrid. They looked sad,” says Progress Association Secretary Jane Petersen. “It's been Yasi plus a few other cyclones. But the best part about it is none of them has been graffitied, not one of them,” says Rowe. The main topic of the paintings is fishing mixed in with local characters. One of them is Walter Putzka, a mackerel fisherman who died of cancer last year. Putzka’s wife Lisa says his memory is kept alive with this tribute outside the family home. Working outside means Rowe often has to stop painting to chat with locals. “It's funny you paint away and someone turns up, a little old lady turns up, and she decides to tell you all her problems and you say 'yes love, yes love' and, it's a nice community down here,” says Rowe. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A hidden intricate web links hundreds of popular food brands to work done by US prisoners. A two-year Associated Press (AP) investigation found that everything from grains, meat, eggs, and milk had been grown, harvested, or produced by incarcerated people and their labor finds its way into the supply chains of some of the most recognized brands and largest food companies in the world. The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime. AP spoke to prisoners who were working on plantation soil, many were making pennies an hour. Some getting nothing at all. Prisoners can sometimes be punished for refusing to work, even thrown into solitary confinement. And if they are hurt on the job, they often have little recourse. The agriculture sector is just a fraction of the overall prison labor industry, which includes everything from public works to stamping license plates. “What the inmates learn while they’re here, they’re learning a skillset. […] They’re learning to pay back their debt to society,” said Brevard County Sheriff, Wayne Ivey. But prisons and corporations benefit from inmate labor. The goods wind up in the supply chains of giants like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, and Costco just to name a few. Andrea Armstrong, a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans said, “They aren’t eligible for workman’s compensation. Nor are they protected by other worker safety laws because they’re not considered quote-unquote employees.” “We’re gonna have to figure out different ways to make our system a better system instead of just exploiting labor and then calling it crime prevention,” said Curtis Davis, Prison reform advocate, who served more than 25 years at Angola. The AP also found American prison labor linked to the supply chains of multinational companies such as Cargill that export goods all over the world. This is happening even though Washington has banned imports and even seized goods that were produced by prison or forced labor abroad. Several companies told the AP they have policies in place restricting suppliers from using incarcerated workers. Cargill acknowledged buying goods from American prison farms and said it would determine the next steps. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pledging to fast-track more than half a dozen projects by the end of his term to remove or bypass dams that have blocked salmon from returning to the state’s chilly mountain streams and acting as the keystone of a complex ecosystem that sustains both economies and spiritual beliefs for tribes. Newsom — now in his second term and seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate beyond 2024 — has worked hard to stake a claim as the nation’s most environmentally-conscious governor. But his record has been dogged by criticism from environmental groups who say his water policies benefit big agriculture at the expense of salmon and other species of fish in danger of becoming extinct. Millions of salmon once filled California’s rivers and streams each year, bringing with them key nutrients from the ocean that gave the state an abundance of natural resources that were so important to indigenous peoples that they formed the foundation of creation stories central to tribes’ way of life. But last year, there were so few salmon in the state’s rivers that the officials closed the commercial fishing season. Frustrated by the criticism leveled against him and his administration, Newsom released a plan outlining his strategy to protect salmon — a plan that includes a heavy helping of projects that would remove or bypass aging dams that prevent them from returning to the streams of their birth to lay eggs. Newsom’s salmon strategy includes a promise to complete an agreement by the end of the year to remove the Scott Dam and replace the Cape Horn Dam along the Eel River that have blocked salmon access to 288 miles (463 kilometers) of habitat. Once completed, the Eel would be the longest free-flowing river in the state, flowing north through the Coast Ranges before emptying into the Pacific Ocean near the town of Fortuna. These projects have already been announced and are in the early stages of development. Newsom’s plan, however, puts on record his goal to either complete them or have them approved by state regulatory bodies before he leaves office. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Spotify has penned a new multi-year partnership deal with controversial podcast host Joe Rogan, whose enormously popular show will soon also be available on competing platforms, including YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Spotify announced the renewed partnership in a post on the company's corporate blog on February 2. Under a prior multimillion-dollar deal, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” has been a Spotify exclusive since 2020. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the new deal, estimated that the new contract was worth as much as $250 million over its multi-year term. It cited unnamed people familiar with the matter. The pact involves an upfront minimum guarantee, in addition to a revenue-sharing agreement based on ad sales, the newspaper reported. In an email to The Associated Press, Spotify declined to comment on the deal's financial details, including the estimated value. Over the years, Rogan has developed a huge audience who listens to his long, wide-ranging interviews with a variety of guests, including comedians, athletes, scientists, and conspiracy theorists. “There’s no script of what we’re going to talk about, and it all just sort of happens in real-time,” said Rogan on Spotify's blog post. “It’s just an actual organic conversation with people enjoying themselves, which is something we all can relate to, and something we all love to do. These conversations have changed the way I think about life immeasurably and continue to do so.” The show is consistently Spotify's most popular podcast but is also a frequent cause of controversy for the company. Most notably, Spotify came under huge pressure in 2022 to drop Rogan over his anti-coronavirus vaccine comments and use of racial slurs, with some musicians, including Neil Young, pulling their music from the platform in protest. In February 2022, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek denounced the host's racist language but said, "I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer.” Spotify's shares closed up $3.51, or nearly 2% to $222.47 per share on February 2. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

It has been almost two years since Russia started its invasion of Ukraine, and millions of Ukrainians are still living as refugees in other European countries. In the German capital Berlin, some of them meet once a month to recite Ukrainian poetry to each other – a way to stay connected to a homeland in crisis. About a dozen Ukrainians are meeting up to share poetry with each other, and for an hour and a half forget about their lives as refugees in a new country. The event is organized by Nadia Telenchuk, a Ukrainian poet who moved to Germany before the war broke out. “The main goal of these poetry evenings is to make Ukrainian words heard and to keep Ukrainian literature alive,” she says. During war, a nation of course needs weapons, bullets, and provisions. But the culture is also used to rally people to defend the country, says Telenchuk. “It is also important to keep the word and the culture in your heart. It is important to keep the language alive. Because language, and culture, and literature is one of the main pillars which define a nation.” Telenchuk grew up in a small village near the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine. She left the countryside to study and work, but she'd often visit home. But the farm that had been passed down her family's generations is all but gone. To cope with her loss, she writes and performs poetry. And she encourages other Ukrainians in Berlin to do the same. Alisa Poplavskaya is a therapist and artist from the Ukrainian city Mykolaiv which was on the front line at the start of the war. She is exhibiting her paintings in the ARTdespite gallery, where she can share her work with other Ukrainian artists and writers. All of the proceeds from sales of the art are donated to organizations working in Ukraine. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Parisians voted on February 4 to muscle SUVs off the French capital’s streets by making them much more expensive to park starting next September, the latest leg in a drive-by Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo to make the host city for this year’s Olympic Games greener and friendlier for pedestrians and cyclists. More than 54% of the votes cast in the low-turnout election supported the measure to triple parking fees for large SUV drivers from out of town to 18 euros ($19.50) per hour in the city’s center, according to official results from City Hall. Only 5.7% of the 1.3 million eligible voters cast ballots at the 39 voting stations around the city. In get-out-the-vote posts on social media, Hidalgo argued that SUVs take up too much space on narrow Parisian streets, are too polluting, “threaten our health and our planet,” and cause more traffic accidents than smaller cars. The additional fees will come into force from September 1, Hidalgo said. “The time has come to break with this tendency for cars that are always bigger, taller, wider,” she said. “You have the power to take back ownership of our streets.” The cost for non-residents to park SUVs in Paris’ central districts, in the arrondissements numbered 1 through 11, would soar to 18 euros ($19.5) per hour for the first two hours, compared to 6 euros per hour for smaller cars. After that, parking would become increasingly punitive. A six-hour stay with an SUV — enough, say, to take in a show and a restaurant — would cost a whopping 225 euros ($243), compared to 75 euros for smaller vehicles. Away from the heart of the city, in Paris’ outer arrondissements numbered 12 through 20, an out-of-town SUV driver would pay 12 euros per hour for the first two hours, progressively rising to 150 euros for six hours. The mini-referendum was open to Parisians registered to vote. The question they were asked was: “For or against the creation of a specific rate for the parking of heavy, bulky, polluting individual cars?” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Universal Music Group (UMG), which represents artists including Taylor Swift, Drake, Adele, Bad Bunny, and Billie Eilish, says that it will no longer allow its music on TikTok now that a licensing deal between the two parties has expired. UMG said that it had not agreed to the terms of a new deal with TikTok, and plans to stop licensing content from the artists it represents on the social media platform that is owned by ByteDance, as well as TikTok Music services. The licensing agreement between UMG and TikTok has expired as of January 31. In a January 30 letter addressed to artists and songwriters, UMG said that it had been pressing TikTok on three issues: “appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.” UMG said that TikTok proposed paying its artists and songwriters at a rate that’s a fraction of the rate that other major social platforms pay, adding that TikTok makes up only about 1% of its total revenue. “Ultimately, TikTok is trying to build a music-based business, without paying fair value for the music,” UMG said. TikTok pushed back against claims by UMG, saying that it has reached ‘artist-first’ agreements with every other label and publisher. “Clearly, Universal’s self-serving actions are not in the best interests of artists, songwriters and fans,” TikTok said. Yet Universal Music also called new technology a potential threat to artists and said that TikTok is developing tools to enable, promote, and encourage AI music creation. UMG accused the platform of “demanding a contractual right which would allow this content to massively dilute the royalty pool for human artists, in a move that is nothing short of sponsoring artist replacement by AI.” UMG also took issue with what it described as safety issues on TikTok. UMG is unsatisfied with TikTok’s efforts to deal with what it says is hate speech, bigotry, bullying, and harassment. UMG said it proposed that TikTok take steps similar to what some of its other social media platform partners use, but that it was met with indifference at first, and then with intimidation. “As our negotiations continued, TikTok attempted to bully us into accepting a deal worth less than the previous deal, far less than fair market value and not reflective of their exponential growth,” UMG said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

At a café in the Danish city Aarhus, the coffee is to be kept, but the cup? Well, you’ll have to give that back. Authorities in Denmark’s second-largest city are trialing a new deposit scheme, where it’s possible to drink your coffee on-the-go, without the to-go cup turning into waste just minutes later. “When you buy your coffee, you get the possibilities to buy a reusable cup. Then you pay five kroner,” explains Go’ Kaffe manager, Martin Agger. “When you have (drank) your coffee, you can leave it in one of the deposit boxes and get your money back.” “Hopefully we are removing loads of cups from the nature, and thereby helping the environment,” adds Agger. Aarhus, home to about 330,000 people, is thought to be the first city in the world to establish a system of deposit machines for takeaway cups. Around 25 of these automated machines have been dotted across its city center. Each cup has a deposit of five Danish kroner (approx. 73 U.S. cents), which is automatically refunded to a person’s card after they’ve returned their cup to one of the machines. Nicolaj Bang, a local councilor for the municipality, says it’s to tackle the single-use trash piling up on city streets. “Last year, we did a cleaning of the river that runs through the city, and we picked up 100,000 glasses. So, it is an issue.” For now, it’s just a three-year trial, but Bang says, if successful, the scheme could be extended to plates, pizza boxes, and more. Once returned, the washable to-go cups are collected and transported to this cleaning facility, run by the recycling firm TOMRA. Cups are cleaned and inspected for any damage. About 40,000 reusable to-go cups have been produced so far. Aarhus Municipality project manager Simon Rossau says scale is essential for the project to succeed. “Reuse is, as it is now, reuse is more expensive than single use. So, we are kind of simulating a future where we’ve had some legislation that helps the reuse agenda to actually flourish.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

What could be cuter than Hello Kitty, the popular Japanese cartoon character? She’s the star of the show at a new exhibition in London. ‘CUTE’ at Somerset House brings together all kinds of adorable exhibits. From popular culture icons, like everyone’s favorite aliens, E.T. and baby Yoda, to charming children’s toys such as Sylvanian Families figures. There’s even cute fashion, with boots decorated with those classic cuddly characters, the Care Bears. Even exhibition visitors are dressed in the theme. “This is a whole show really asking ‘what is cute?’ What are the many faces of cute which we all know and love? But it’s a huge cultural phenomenon and it permeates every aspect of life and has everything to do with our relationships and our communities and our pets and our children,” says Cliff Lauson, Director of Exhibitions at Somerset House. The exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty. The little white kitten was created by Japanese designer Yuko Shimizu to decorate products made by the brand Sanrio. Originally, the character was marketed towards pre-teen girls, but over the decades she’s become an icon with much broader appeal. Cute is big business. “One of the amazing things about cute is it has this ability to provoke an emotional response, and it can generate an effect in all of us,” says Lauson. “I’m really interested in the cute aesthetic because I think it has this deceptive power to it. It’s something that feels kind of very innocent and very light on the surface, but actually you get kind of the soft power and you get the kind of way it immerses itself into people’s consciousnesses, which I think is a really interesting, unique ability of the cute,” says artist Sian Fan who was inspired by growing up in the early 1990s and watching hyper-cute and hyper-feminine anime television characters. So, does cute melt your heart? Or is it just too sickeningly saccharine-sweet for words? According to art critic Tabish Khan, that’s the whole point of the exhibition. “I think cute actually divides people. When you see something really cutesy, like kittens with rainbows, some people love it and some people find it almost vomit-inducing. They find it a bit too much,” he says. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

One in 11 Americans rely on community health centers to get routine medical care, as well as social services and, in some cases, fresh food. Plaza del Sol is one of two dozen sites run by Urban Health Plan Inc., one of nearly 1,400 federally designated community health centers, which serve as a critical safety net for low-income people of all ages. Nine in 10 health center patients live at or below 200% of the federal poverty line, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. It’s a safety net under stress. “Without us here, there’d be a huge gap and chasm in terms of poor people being able to receive care. And that has ripple effects across the country,” said Dr. Matthew Kusher at Plaza del Sol. Since 2012, community health centers – also called federally qualified health centers – have seen the number of people coming to get care rise by 45%. The health centers have opened more and more service sites, expanding their footprint to more than 15,000 locations in every state and U.S. territory. The centers are there serving people who may have few other options: newly arrived migrants, rural residents, people who lost their job and, with it, their health insurance. “We’re not checking the insurance status or refugee status,” said Dr. Acklema Mohammad at Urban Health Plan’s El Nuevo San Juan location. “My motto is a patient is a patient is a patient. We’re here. Open for everyone. Everyone in the community.” Many centers are short-staffed and struggling to compete for doctors, mental health professionals, nurses and dentists. They’re at the forefront of helping people obtain insurance as millions are booted off. Medicaid leaders also say funding is an ever-present concern, especially with the months-long debate over the federal budget making it all but impossible for the centers to plan and hire for the long term. “We always worry about the budget,” Dr. Kusher said. Despite that, the centers are trying to improve their communities’ health and access to primary care in the face of inequities that start well before a patient steps into an exam room. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The benefits of the Montessori education model have long been discussed in relation to children. Now a project in Australia is looking at the natural interests and activities of the older generation as part of an elderly care rethink. Researchers say it's helping older people to stay active and enjoy the things they love. A program called Living Well Together developed by Monash University is helping people who have dementia to live better lives by being more active and carrying on enjoying the things they love. The project is an all-encompassing care program and even includes a pretend café for residents to make themselves a cup of their favorite hot drink. “It has got better yeah, they give you more to do,” says resident Maureen Nicholls. The CEO of Baptcare, a faith-based not-for-profit residential and community care provider operating across Australia’s southeast, says they wanted to create an environment where the focus was always centered on the person as opposed to the place and routines. “We're already seeing significant impact,” says Geraldine Lannon, Baptcare CEO. The model is based on the Montessori school of thought which has been tried and tested for years on younger people. In an aged care setting, the idea is to focus on the personal interests, preferences, and independence of residents. “It's my idea. My thoughts, my feelings, like a cloud has been taken away,” says resident Joy McMillan. “We're very happy that we are making residents' life meaningful here. They are not just sitting there, they're doing a lot of activities,” says registered nurse Subi Gurung. And because the project has been such a success here, it’s now being put in place in 15 other aged care centers. “It's really easy to demonize residential aged care and to kind of say it's an awful place, but I think we as a society have the collective right to think what could it look like?” says Darshini Ayton, an associate professor at Monash University. And for McMillan, it’s the simple things that bring her the most pleasure, like what’s on the day’s menu. When asked what she enjoys most, she says "dinner" with a smile. "I like chicken," concludes McMillan. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Not everyone is ready for a bold career change at midlife to pursue their passions and dreams, but one Iranian woman did it, and she couldn’t be happier with the results. Maryam Kazemi worked as a financial manager at a Tehran hospital until she was over 40. In 2017, she decided to quit and pursue her childhood dreams of painting and sculpture. When she finally decided to make the switch, she started upcycling scrap metal into stunning portraits and beautiful sculptures. “Creating things and sculpture were among my lifetime passions and I finally started pursuing it,” Kazemi says. “It has been 3 to 4 years since I started my own workshop and I have been doing what I love,” she adds. At her workshop, Kazemi has several assistants and a growing customer base from both Iran and abroad. She uses scrap metal, and car parts such as bolts, nuts and chains. Her quality artwork has garnered her a large number of followers on social media, and her Instagram page has over 83,000 followers. Every week, she loads trucks for the delivery of orders. Kazemi says her love for the art is what gives her the energy to take the long commute to her workshop, some 30km (about 19 miles) southwest of Tehran. During summer, the work becomes more challenging for Kazemi as the metal parts she works with become very hot, and searching through outdoor scrapyards becomes more difficult. However, she says she finds fulfillment and joy in every aspect of her work. “With each piece I create, it feels as though I've gained a new life. When I create something (new), it's like I have been born again. I really love this job,” Kazemi says. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The world's largest cruise ship — the size of almost four city blocks — began its maiden voyage on January 27 as it left from the Port of Miami. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas runs nearly 1,200 feet (365 meters) from bow to stern. The ship, which left South Florida for its first seven-day island-hopping voyage through the tropics, was officially christened on January 23 with help from soccer legend Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates. “Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating, and living our mission — to deliver the world’s best vacation experiences responsibly,” Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said in January. “She is the ultimate multigenerational family vacation, forever changing the status quo in family travel and fulfilling vacation dreams for all ages on board.” The ship set sail as Royal Caribbean’s cruises had a moment online. Since December, the company’s 9-month “Ultimate World Cruise” captivated — and confused — a following of avid watchers on social media. Millions are following the journey through the eyes of the passengers, as they live and post their lives aboard a vessel they’ll be on for nearly a year. If it sounds like a reality show, that’s exactly what some watchers have turned it into. The Icon of the Seas is divided into eight neighborhoods across 20 decks. The ship includes six waterslides, seven swimming pools, an ice skating rink, a theater, and more than 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges. The ship can carry up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity, along with 2,350 crew members. It is powered by six dual-fuel engines, which can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a fuel alternative that the Cruise Lines International Association says reduces sulfur and greenhouse gas emissions. However, some environmentalists worry that LNG-powered ships increase methane emissions. Others say that vacationers generate eight times more carbon on a cruise than they do on land. Royal Caribbean says every kilowatt used on the Icon of the Seas “is scrutinized for energy efficiencies and emission reductions.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

An American scientist has sparked a trans-Atlantic tempest in a teapot by offering Britain advice on its favorite hot beverage. Bryn Mawr College chemistry professor Michelle Francl says one of the keys to a perfect cup of tea is a pinch of salt. The tip is included in Francl’s book “Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea,” published in January by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The salt suggestion drew howls of outrage from tea lovers in Britain, where popular stereotype sees Americans as coffee-swilling boors who make tea, if at all, in the microwave. The U.S. Embassy in London intervened in the brewing storm with a social media post. “Let us unite in our steeped solidarity and show the world that when it comes to tea, we stand as one,” said the tongue-in-cheek post. “The U.S. Embassy will continue to make tea in the proper way — by microwaving it.” The embassy later clarified that its statement was “a lighthearted play on our shared cultural connections” rather than an official press release. “Steeped,” in contrast, is no joke. The product of three years’ research and experimentation, the book explores the more than 100 chemical compounds found in tea and “puts the chemistry to use with advice on how to brew a better cup,” its publisher says. Francl said adding a small amount of salt — not enough to taste — makes tea seem less bitter because “the sodium ions in salt block the bitter receptors in our mouths.” She also advocates making tea in a pre-warmed pot, agitating the bag briefly but vigorously, and serving in a short, stout mug to preserve the heat. And she says milk should be added to the cup after the tea, not before — another issue that often divides tea lovers. Francl has been surprised by the level of reaction to her book in Britain. “I kind of understood that there would hopefully be a lot of interest,” she told The Associated Press. “I didn’t know we’d wade into a diplomatic conversation with the U.S. Embassy.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

High school can be a stressful time in a child's life. One school in Australia's Queensland state is joining a growing trend in offering mindfulness classes to help. Teachers say they're being proactive in supporting students' emotional health. Lunchtime may have finished in Townsville High School, but students aren’t going back to class just yet. Every week, for the whole of last year, these students practiced mindfulness to quieten their minds in a busy environment. “Overwhelmed, anxiety, digital addiction, it is affecting the wellbeing of our next generation,” says Jasmine Healy-Pagan of Youth RESET. Using techniques such as meditation, subtle movements, and deep breathing, the Youth RESET program focuses on giving students the tools to become more resilient. “75 percent of people who struggle with mental health, this has begun under the age of 25. It's essential today more than ever before that we are proactive in the mental and emotional health of our next generation,” adds Healy-Pagan. Teachers say they have noticed students being more attentive and have seen behavior improve. “What we are finding is a much more settled start to the lessons and also just students interacting with each other in a much more positive way which is then de-escalating classrooms and allowing more learning to happen,” adds Bri Clancy of Thuringowa State High School. Most education professionals agree that the impact of trauma on social cohesion and behavior in classrooms is negative. A lot of schools are now taking this issue into account in their daily practices, but experts say more should be done. “Trauma-informed practice helps young people learn how to self-regulate and helps them feel safe and supported in the classroom,” says Dr. Tanya Doyle of James Cook University. And for students, the effects are clearly positive. “It’s made me relaxed, calm, and not stressed a lot,” says one male student. “I feel less anxious in the bones, in the body, in the mind,” adds one female student. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Self-driving cars might have stalled, but now remote or “teledriving” tech is in the fast lane. German teledriving company Vay launched its first commercial service on January 17, letting Las Vegas users order a “teledriven” electric rental car to their location. With the push of an app, users in Las Vegas can now order a rental car, and it’ll be remotely driven to them by a “teledriver.” It’s the first commercial rollout of German teledriving company Vay’s technology, showing the potential for vehicles driven remotely by humans, rather than autonomously by a computer. “You’ll be able to hit a button, get a car delivered to you in a couple minutes, similar to the way that users would be used to with other mobility apps,” explains Vay’s U.S. general manager, Caleb Varner. “When that happens, the car will be delivered to them driverlessly, they’ll pop in, drive the car wherever they want, whether it’s for a couple minutes, a couple hours, or even more. They’ll bring it back, hit the button. The driver that sits in this chair here will take that car back from them and take it to the next user.” Founded in 2018, Berlin-based Vay has spent five years developing its teledriver tech. The company raised $95 million in funding in late 2021. For now, the service is limited to around the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the city’s downtown Arts District. Vay is hoping users will be attracted by the ease of ordering a rental car to their location, and the promise of lower per-minute prices, compared to other rideshare services. Drivers sit at a so-called “teledrive station” with a steering wheel, pedals, and other vehicle controls. The car’s surroundings are reproduced via camera sensors and transmitted to screens. Road traffic sounds, like emergency vehicles and other warning signals, are transmitted via microphones to the teledriver’s headset. “There’s really no difference. It’s just like driving any regular car,” Teledriver Antonella Rosa says. But the rollout of such remote services is reliant on legislation allowing vehicles to drive on public roads without a physical person behind the wheel. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Pets are becoming big business in India as more people choose to get a furry friend. From special festivals to grooming, and food delivery services, owners have lots of ways to pamper their pets. Pet Fed is one of India’s biggest pet festivals. Hundreds of proud owners are showing off their beloved companions. And events like this in Mumbai are predicted to get even bigger. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, India is seeing an expansion of diverse service industries that cater to its cash-rich middle class. The pet care business has witnessed a remarkable rise in its fortunes after the pandemic, with a surge in pet ownership driving an entire ecosystem to meet the demand for pet products and servicing. According to data company Statista, India had 18 million pets in 2016, and the pet population is expected to grow to more than 50 million in 2026. A significant portion of this is made up of dogs. Actor and Pet Fed investor Dino Morea says the pet industry has huge potential to grow in India. “It’s growing, it’s growing huge actually. People are raising a lot of money for pet because it’s a very big industry, and it’s growing massive right now.” “And as pet owners increase, the market is also going to get even better than it is today.” Pet adoption rose during the pandemic-driven lockdown when people were forced to stay indoors, often alone. Rapid urbanization and the changing lifestyles of young professionals have also led to more acceptance of pets as family members and companions. Rising incomes have allowed higher spending on pet care and well-being, with people indulging their pampered dogs and cats with lavish products. A report by Expert Market Research (EMR) estimates the Indian pet care products market is projected to grow at an annual rate of more than 23 percent between 2024 and 2032. A substantial part of this growth is fueled by pet owners moving from homemade pet food to commercially manufactured pet feeds. Pet grooming has become a big business too, with upscale pet salons, pet couture and grooming specialists providing services to maintain pet hygiene and appearance. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon when one of its spacecraft without astronauts successfully made a soft landing on the lunar surface early January 20. However, space officials said they needed more time to analyze whether the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), achieved its mission priority of making a pinpoint landing. They also said the craft’s solar panel had failed to generate power, which could shorten its activity on the moon. Japan follows the United States, the Soviet Union, China, and India in reaching the moon. Hitoshi Kuninaka, head of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, said he believes that Japan’s space program at least achieved “minimum” success. For the mission to be considered fully successful, space officials needed to confirm whether SLIM made a pinpoint landing. Kuninaka said that while more time was needed, he personally thought it was most likely achieved. He said the solar panel is possibly not in the planned angle, but there is still hope. Despite the solar panel issue, “It’s delightful news,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, pledging the government’s continuing backing for the endeavors toward new challenges. SLIM, which was aiming to hit a very small target, is a lightweight spacecraft about the size of a passenger vehicle. It was using “pinpoint landing” technology that promises far greater control than any previous moon landing. A landing of such precision would be a world's first, and would be crucial technology for a sustainable, long-term, and accurate space probe system, said Hiroshi Yamakawa, president of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA. Japan needs the technology to secure its place and contribute to international space projects, Yamakawa said. “It is necessary to show the world that Japan has the appropriate technology in order to be able to properly assert Japan's position in lunar development,” said Takeshi Tsuchiya, an aeronautics professor at the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. “The moon is important from the perspective of explorations of resources, and it can also be used as a base to go to other planets, like Mars,” he said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Standing or stopping is now banned on pedestrian bridges on the Las Vegas Strip where visitors often pause to take photos amid the glittery casino lights or to watch street performers. Violators of the ordinance that took effect January 16 could face up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine. Clark County commissioners voted unanimously last month to approve the measure prohibiting people from “stopping, standing or engaging in an activity that causes another person to stop” on Strip pedestrian bridges. That also includes up to 20 feet (6 meters) surrounding connected stairs, elevators and escalators. The ban doesn't include standing or stopping if a person is waiting to use an elevator, stairway or escalator. Clark County said in a statement that its “pedestrian flow zone ordinance” isn't meant to target street performers or people who stop to take pictures, but rather to increase public safety by ensuring a continuous flow of pedestrian traffic across the bridges. The measure “will help to ensure our world-class tourism destination remains a safe place for people to visit and transverse,” the statement said. But opponents say that the ban violates rights protected by the First Amendment. “That might mean the right to protest. That might mean someone who's sharing expressions of their faith. That might mean a street performer,” Athar Haseebullah, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, said. Those rights, he said, are “protected at their highest level” in public spaces, including pedestrian bridges. The county said it planned to install signs on the Strip identifying locations where stopping or standing is prohibited. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Every year, millions of used car tires are discarded, creating waste, filling landfills, and perhaps emitting harmful pollutants into our atmosphere when burnt. According to a report by the Tire Industry Project, one billion end-of-life tires are generated globally every year. And an estimated four billion are currently in landfills and stockpiles worldwide. But these tires won’t be headed that way. As the world struggles to manage its waste, Nigeria’s FREEE Recycle is transforming old tires into paving bricks, floor tiles, flip-flops, and other goods. Managing Director Ifedolapo Runsewe says it’s not hard to spot the problem on Nigeria’s streets. “I think if you take a five-minute walk or ten-minute walk, and I guarantee you that you will spot at least ten tires, right? Then you find them in drainages, you find them in street corner where they ideally shouldn’t be,” she says. FREEE Recycle started operations in 2018 with about four employees. The workforce has since jumped to over 150 staff on site. The company says it has retrieved over 600,000 tires. Over 400,000 of those have been recycled into new products. The tires are processed and ground into small pieces. They’re then mixed with an adhesive that lets workers shape the waste into all manner of products. The company’s most popular product is its rubber paving stone, which costs about $60 for a set of 40. FREEE products are available in major Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Some recycled products are slightly more expensive than their traditional counterparts, the company attributes this to the extended shelf life of their products. Bolanle Emmanuel, the Oyo state coordinator of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, says one of the challenges will be “getting the raw materials down to these sites.” “This is the only recycling, tire recycling industry that I’ve seen in Nigeria. Getting ingots like these and tires to rubbers like that,” she says. FREEE Recycle believes it has prevented more than 8,100 tons of CO2 emissions since it began. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A Japanese automaker that cheated on safety tests for decades said on January 22 that it doesn’t expect to resume shipping cars any time soon. The Japanese government ordered a subsidiary of Toyota to halt production of its entire lineup after reports of faked safety test results emerged last year. The Daihatsu Motor Co. skipped mandatory safety tests by copying data from testing on one side of cars to the other and used timers to ensure airbags went off in tests, a review found. No major accidents have been reported in connection with the cheating, but the news has raised serious questions about oversight at Daihatsu, as well as its corporate parent Toyota. Japanese regulators approved five of the company’s models on January 19 after more testing, but Daihatsu executives said its factories will remain shuttered as it waits on suppliers. “We face a very tough road ahead in winning back customer trust about safety and security,” corporate manager Keita Ide said on January 22, stressing that customers felt betrayed. He said the company is working on a plan to prevent cheating in the future. Daihatsu is known for kei cars, or light automobiles, including the popular Daihatsu Tanto “kei,” or small, car. It also produces the Toyota Raize hybrid sport-utility vehicle, also sold as the Daihatsu Rocky. An investigation including third-party experts found 174 cases of faked tests affecting dozens of models, including cars sold under the Toyota Motor Corp. nameplate. The review found that cheating went back 30 years. The scandal began after a whistleblower came forward in April last year. Daihatsu has apologized and promised sweeping reforms to its corporate culture. Daihatsu President Soichiro Okudaira has attributed the cheating to pressure on workers to meet tight deadlines. Daihatsu said there may be recalls, although none have been announced yet. Japanese media reports said the recalls are likely to total more than 300,000 vehicles. “The standards of governance at the Toyota group are being questioned,” nationally circulated Sankei newspaper said in an editorial. “Getting to the bottom of this is needed, as consumer trust in the overall Toyota brand is at risk.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Cosplayers are strutting their stuff at MegaCon in London's ExCel exhibition center. The outlandish costumes pay tribute to favorite characters from movies, television and video games. Cosplayers in London say that although it can be an expensive hobby, it is well worth the effort. The Legends of Zelda video game franchise is a popular source of inspiration for cosplayers. Cosplay is the art of dressing up as a character from a specific subculture - typically from science fiction, video games or anime. Typically, it involves making large parts of an outfit with homemade crafting, sewing and modeling. Like many hobbies, cosplay can be an expensive pastime which can require buying large amounts of expensive fabric, sewing machines and even 3D printers. The cost of living crisis is affecting every aspect of modern living in many parts of the world, and the UK is no exception. Cosplayers at MegaCon are reporting the difficulties they are facing from rising costs. In particular, food and energy prices have risen steeply throughout 2023 - partly in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine, but is compounded by global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing military action in Gaza, which is threatening shipping routes. Cosplayer Jess Stiff is at MegaCon in London dressed as Widowmaker from the video game Overwatch. She works nights at a supermarket and says cosplaying is her main social outlet. She admits cosplay can be done cheaply, but if you want the best outfits then it can quickly get expensive. She says: "It's only expensive if you make it expensive, you can keep things very low budget. You can keep things very, very cheap. You don't have to make things expensive. I sometimes do, but that's because I'm OCD and I like the highest of details." Closet cosplaying is when you create the bulk of an outfit from clothes already in your wardrobe. Typically, closet cosplaying is more comfortable for long days at a convention center and often only requires the individual to buy a single prop or a wig to make their character identifiable. MegaCon ran from 13-14 January at London's ExCel exhibition center. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

From gadgets for the elderly to selfie mirrors that can predict the risk of heart attack, health tech is a big trend at this year’s CES tech show. The innovations make monitoring health simpler and more portable than ever — with  AI powering many of the devices. There’s a smart bed designed for older people, with safety rails but also hidden technology such as anti-snore features and biometric sensors to monitor health metrics. There’s also a toilet seat that can measure heart rate and blood oxygenation. And of course, AI has been integrated into several of the devices, including something that looks like a normal weight scale. “We have a device that you can stand on that works much like a weight scale, but it actually can predict whether or not you will have a serious fall in the next 12 months. And we know that for older people, falls is one of the main things that they fear to be able to go through,” explains Jo Ann Jenkins, CEO of AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons). AI also powers a little cube that acts as a companion and personal assistant, prompting its users to remember to take their medications. The Anura Magic Mirror takes a video of the user’s face. It uses reflective light to see blood flow patterns and make estimates about the person’s health. It’s aimed at pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and fitness centers. The device can measure a whole host of health metrics, including blood pressure, pulse and breathing rates, facial skin age, and mental stress. It can also tell users their risk of developing certain health conditions, such as T2 diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes, thanks to the power of AI. Fitness wearables are here to stay and they’re getting smaller and smaller. One of the fitness tracker rings being showcased at CES this year is called the Evie and is aimed exclusively at women. Users can track all the familiar data for wearables but the Evie ring uses AI to put all that information together to spot patterns and tell the user why they might be feeling a particular way and what they can do to feel a bit better. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The world could have its first trillionaire within a decade, anti-poverty organization Oxfam International said in its annual assessment of global inequalities timed to the gathering of political and business elites at the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Oxfam, which for years has been trying to highlight the growing disparities between the super-rich and the bulk of the global population during the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, reckons the gap has been “supercharged” since the coronavirus pandemic. The group said the fortunes of the five richest men — Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault and his family of luxury company LVMH, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Oracle founder Larry Ellison and investment guru Warren Buffett — have spiked by 114% in real terms since 2020, when the world was reeling from the pandemic. Oxfam’s interim executive director said the report showed that the world is entering a “decade of division.” “We have the top five billionaires, they have doubled their wealth. On the other hand, almost 5 billion people have become poorer,” Amitabh Behar said in an interview in Davos, Switzerland, where the forum’s annual meeting took place. “Very soon, Oxfam predicts that we will have a trillionaire within a decade,” Behar said, referring to a person who has a thousand billion dollars. “Whereas to fight poverty, we need more than 200 years.” Currently, Musk is the richest man on the planet, with a personal fortune of just under $250 billion, according to Oxfam, which used figures from Forbes. By contrast, the organization said nearly 5 billion people have been made poorer since the pandemic, with many of the world’s developing nations unable to provide the financial support that richer nations could during lockdowns. With Brazil hosting this year’s Group of 20 summit of leading industrial and developing nations, it was a “good time for Oxfam to raise awareness” about inequalities, said Max Lawson, Oxfam’s head of inequality policy. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has put issues that concern the developing world at the heart of the G20 agenda. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A federal judge issued an order in January temporarily halting enforcement of a pending Ohio law that would require children to get parental consent to use social media apps. U.S. District Court Judge Algenon Marbley’s temporary restraining order came in a lawsuit brought by NetChoice, a trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta, and other major tech companies. The litigation argues that the law unconstitutionally impedes free speech and is overbroad and vague. While calling the intent to protect children “a laudable aim,” Marbley said it is unlikely that Ohio will be able to show the law is “narrowly tailored to any ends that it identifies.” “Foreclosing minors under sixteen from accessing all content on websites that the Act purports to cover, absent affirmative parental consent, is a breathtakingly blunt instrument for reducing social media’s harm to children,” he wrote. Besides requiring social media companies to obtain a parent’s permission for children under 16 to sign up for social media and gaming apps, it also mandates that the companies provide parents with their privacy guidelines so that families can know what content will be censored or moderated on their child’s profile. The Social Media Parental Notification Act was part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill that Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law in July. The administration pushed the measure as a way to protect children’s mental health, with Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted saying at the time that social media was “intentionally addictive” and harmful to kids. “The big-tech companies behind this lawsuit were included in the legislative process to make sure the law was clear and easy to implement, but now they claim the law is unclear,” he said in a statement. “They were disingenuous participants in the process and have no interest in protecting children.” The governor also lamented the decision. “The negative effects that social media sites and apps have on our children’s mental health have been well documented, and this law was one way to empower parents to have a role in their kids’ digital lives,” he said in a statement. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Apple TV and Major League Soccer are expanding their collaboration, announcing that the looming MLS season will be chronicled in a new all-access docuseries similar to the ones that have given fans a deep, different look at golf, auto racing and tennis in recent months. The eight-part series is already in production and will span from the preseason all the way through the MLS Cup final in December. Apple and MLS are teaming up with Box to Box Films to make the new series happen. The league is entering the second year of a 10-year media rights deal with Apple TV, which enjoyed big numbers after the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. Specifics were never released, but Apple CEO Tim Cook credited Messi's arrival as the reason why subscriber targets were surpassed. “This is a critically important project for us, the league providing the right level of access, helping identify the right stories to tell because it's a huge opportunity,” MLS executive vice president of media Seth Bacon said at the league's media day. “If you think about the momentum we have right now with the partnership with Apple, Messi joining the league, launching Leagues Cup, the 2026 World Cup happening in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the momentum is there. We can capture that and use this as another catalyst to attract new fans to tell them what's happening in the league." The new series remains untitled, for now, with no official launch date released. Apple is adding it to a lineup of soccer docuseries that already includes “Messi Meets America,” a six-part documentary with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Messi in his debut season — along with “Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend,” chronicling what he's done with Argentina's national team. Apple was part of the group that pitched Messi during his process of deciding whether to join MLS last year. The streaming service's 10-year deal with the league is worth at least $2.5 billion, a huge jump over its previous deal — one that netted an average of $90 million per season under an eight-year agreement with Fox, ESPN and Univision. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

It’s no joke. A federal agency is discouraging humorous and quirky messages that could distract or confuse drivers on highways and freeways across the country. The Federal Highway Administration recently released an updated 1,100-page manual that spells out how signs and other traffic control devices are regulated. In it, the agency strongly recommends against overhead electronic signs with obscure meanings, references to pop culture, or those intended to be funny. Rather, signs should be “simple, direct, brief, legible, and clear,” when relaying important information like warning drivers of crashes overhead, adverse weather conditions, and traffic delays, the agency said. Seatbelt reminders and warnings about the dangers of speeding or driving impaired are allowed. States around the country have used quirky messaging to draw the attention of drivers. Among them: “Use Yah Blinkah” in Massachusetts; “Visiting in-laws? Slow down, get there late” from Ohio; “Don’t drive Star Spangled Hammered” from Pennsylvania; “Hocus pocus, drive with focus” from New Jersey; and “Hands on the wheel, not your meal” from Arizona. Arizona has more than 300 electronic signs above its highways. For the last seven years, the state Department of Transportation has held a contest to find the funniest and most creative messages. Anyone could submit ideas, drawing more than 3,700 entries last year. The winners were “Seatbelts always pass a vibe check” and “I’m just a sign asking drivers to use turn signals.” “The humor part of it, we kind of like,” said state Rep. David Cook, a Republican from Globe, told Phoenix TV station CBS 5. “I think in Arizona the majority of us do, if not all of us.” He said he didn’t understand the fuss. “Why are you trying to have the federal government come in and tell us what we can do in our own state? Prime example that the federal government is not focusing on what they need to be.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

In Harbin, north-eastern China, the winter tourism economy is thriving thanks to its winter events and activities. Thousands of tourists have flocked to the city to enjoy its ice and snow festival and cultural offerings. Harbin, known for its ice and snow festival, has become one of China’s most sought-after tourist destinations this winter, giving the country a welcome post-pandemic economic boost. Here, an area of 140,000 square meters on the frozen Songhua River has been turned into an ice and snow park, where visitors can enjoy activities from ice skating and sledging, to snowmobile and sleigh rides. According to the local authorities, Harbin, the capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, has welcomed nearly 3.05 million visitors during the 3-day New Year holiday, many drawn by the grand and intricate ice sculptures of its annual Ice and Snow Festival. Both the number of tourists and the amount of tourism revenue surpassed the figures for 2019, marking a historical peak. Data from the city’s commerce department shows a significant growth of 129.4 percent in the accommodation and catering sectors during the period. Many of the tourists here are from southern China, where it rarely snows. “We have experienced the customs and geographical appearances which are very different from where we live,” says Zhu Yandi, a tourist from the country’s capital city of Beijing. “Harbin is like a world of ice and snow, and its temperature is the most attractive to us,” says Gao Yuqing from the east Shandong Province. Various topics related to Harbin have dominated the trending list across different social media platforms too. The city’s tourism department attributed the growth to Harbin’s increasing popularity on social media. The city’s rich Russian-style buildings and the beautiful snow sceneries are two important factors in its appeal. Harbin boasts a great number of Russian, Baroque, and Byzantine-style buildings due to its special history and geographical location. Business is booming in Harbin, with millions of visitors continuing to flock in. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Artificial intelligence was set to dominate the annual Las Vegas technology show CES, with more than 130,000 attendees expected to crowd convention center halls when doors opened on January 9. CES - formerly the Consumer Electronics Show - is held annually in Las Vegas every January. And just days before the Las Vegas Convention Center doors opened on January 9, workers were busily preparing booths, signage and more, for what’s billed as one of the biggest technology shows in the world. Erica Johnson from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) says more than 130,000 attendees were expected to crowd over two million square feet of meeting space. “CES is the most important technology trade show in the world, and CES is also really significant to the Las Vegas convention industry as well. And that's in both size of the footprint of the show and how much space it comprises, but also the number of attendees that it draws,” she says. Organizers, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), said almost 118,000 people attended last year’s gathering. But that was while lingering pandemic restrictions prevented some visitors attending, particularly from Asia. After a 2023 dominated by artificial intelligence chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, AI is expected to be a top CES trend, with machine learning headed to a wide array of consumer electronics, from lighting to cooking grills. “This is going to be the CES of artificial intelligence, whatever that means,” says technology expert and analyst Andrea Nepori. “Because we've seen that artificial intelligence, especially with generative artificial intelligence in 2023, was like every headline. And now this year, we're going to see how companies are going to - let me use the term - milk that cow.” Elsewhere, Japanese automaker Honda is expected to unveil new electric vehicles, and Supernal - part of Hyundai Motor Group - is expected to showcase a flying taxi. There was also the usual swathe of new TVs, robots and other gadgets. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

The average liter of bottled water has nearly a quarter million invisible pieces of ever-so-tiny nanoplastics, detected and categorized for the first time by a microscope using dual lasers. Scientists long figured there were lots of these microscopic plastic pieces, but until researchers at Columbia and Rutgers universities did their calculations, they never knew how many or what kind. Looking at five samples each of three common bottled water brands, researchers found particle levels ranged from 110,000 to 400,000 per liter, averaging at around 240,000 according to a study on January 8’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Previous studies have looked at slightly bigger microplastics that range from the visible 5 millimeters, less than a quarter of an inch, to one micron. About 10 to 100 times more nanoplastics than microplastics were discovered in bottled water, the study found. Much of the plastic seems to be coming from the bottle itself and the reverse osmosis membrane filter used to keep out other contaminants, said study lead author Naixin Qian, a Columbia physical chemist. She wouldn’t reveal the three brands because researchers want more samples before they single out a brand and want to study more brands. Still, she said they were common and bought at a Walmart. Researchers still can’t answer the big question: Are those nanoplastic pieces harmful to health? “That’s currently under review. We don’t know if it’s dangerous or how dangerous,” said study co-author Phoebe Stapleton, a toxicologist at Rutgers. “We do know that they are getting into the tissues (of mammals, including people) … and the current research is looking at what they’re doing in the cells.” The International Bottled Water Association said in a statement: “There currently is both a lack of standardized (measuring) methods and no scientific consensus on the potential health impacts of nano- and microplastic particles. Therefore, media reports about these particles in drinking water do nothing more than unnecessarily scare consumers.” This article was provided by The Associated Press.

England's 1,000-year-old legal system — still steeped in traditions that include wearing wigs and robes — has taken a cautious step into the future by giving judges permission to use artificial intelligence to help produce rulings. The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary last December said AI could help write opinions but stressed it shouldn’t be used for research or legal analyses because the technology can fabricate information and provide misleading, inaccurate and biased information. “Judges do not need to shun the careful use of AI,” said Master of the Rolls Geoffrey Vos, the second-highest ranking judge in England and Wales. “But they must ensure that they protect confidence and take full personal responsibility for everything they produce.” At a time when scholars and legal experts are pondering a future when AI could replace lawyers, help select jurors or even decide cases, the approach spelled out Dec. 11 by the judiciary is restrained. But for a profession slow to embrace technological change, it’s a proactive step as government and industry — and society in general — react to a rapidly advancing technology alternately portrayed as a panacea and a menace. “There’s a vigorous public debate right now about whether and how to regulate artificial intelligence,” said Ryan Abbott, a law professor at the University of Surrey and author of “The Reasonable Robot: Artificial Intelligence and the Law.” “AI and the judiciary is something people are uniquely concerned about, and it’s somewhere where we are particularly cautious about keeping humans in the loop,” he said. “So I do think AI may be slower disrupting judicial activity than it is in other areas and we’ll proceed more cautiously there.” Abbott and other legal experts applauded the judiciary for addressing the latest iterations of AI and said the guidance would be widely viewed by courts and jurists around the world who are eager to use AI or anxious about what it might bring. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A new online application designed to make applying for federal student aid easier went live last month, but not everyone has been able to access it. The FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, typically opens at the beginning of October, but it was delayed three months due to the launch of the new application. Then, a few days before the launch date, the Department of Education announced that a soft launch would continue until all of the bugs in the new application were fixed. As of 6:30 p.m. January 4, the department had received over half a million successful submissions, according to a spokesperson. Every year, more than 17 million students fill out the FAFSA, which uses financial information from students and their families to determine whether they can get financial aid from the federal government to pay for college. When Nancy Dunn of Seven Hills, Ohio, got access to the application through her phone on January 6, she immediately ran to her computer to complete it, only to find it was unavailable again. The beta testing-like process has complicated financial aid advisors’ communication with students, said Helen Faith, director of the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Usually, Faith’s team sends emails to let students know when they should start applying and what they should keep in mind for their application. But that's been challenging this year. The Department of Education did not initially say when or for how long the application would be available. People are using the #fafsa hashtag to share their experiences and frustrations on social media. Katherine Beeman has tried at least 20 times to access the FAFSA application for her daughter. “I just need to get it done because if I have to supplement her aid, I need to plan ahead,” she said. Dunn said the FAFSA process reminded her of Ticketmaster’s issues with concert tickets earlier this year. However, unlike getting tickets to see Taylor Swift, she said, everyone should get access to the FAFSA. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Global supermarket chain Carrefour will stop selling PepsiCo products in its stores in France, Belgium, Spain and Italy over price increases for popular items like Lay's potato chips, Quaker Oats, Lipton Iced Tea and its namesake soda. The French grocery chain said it pulled PepsiCo products from shelves in France and added small signs in stores that say, “We no longer sell this brand due to unacceptable price increases.” It comes as a new French law meant to fight the rising cost of living has supermarkets facing millions in fines if they don't reach a deal with suppliers on prices by the end of January. The ban also will extend to Belgium, Spain and Italy, but Carrefour, which has 12,225 stores in more than 30 countries, didn't say when it would take effect in those countries. PepsiCo products were still on shelves in Rome and Barcelona. Carrefour Italia's press office said information will be posted for customers in their stores in Italy. PepsiCo said in a statement that it has “been in discussion with Carrefour for many months and we will continue to engage in good faith in order to try to ensure that our products are available.” The company behind Cheetos, Mountain Dew and Rice-A-Roni has raised prices by double-digit percentages for seven straight quarters, most recently hiking by 11% in the July-to-September period. Its profits are up, though higher prices have dragged down sales as people trade down to cheaper brands. PepsiCo also has said it's been shrinking package sizes to meet consumer demand for convenience and portion control.  “I do think that we see the consumer right now being more selective,” PepsiCo Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston told investors in October. The Purchase, New York-based company said price increases should ease and largely align with inflation, which has fallen considerably worldwide since crunched supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and then Russia's war in Ukraine sent prices surging. However, the 20 European Union countries that use the euro currency saw consumer prices rise to 2.9% in December from a year earlier, rebounding after seven straight monthly declines, according to numbers released. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

With a deep freeze approaching, an animal shelter in Poland sent out an urgent appeal to people to adopt or at least temporarily shelter some of its dogs until the dangerous cold spell passes. The result of what it called “Operation Frost” took the shelter workers by surprise. Over the weekend, people arrived in droves, waited in lines for hours, and ended up taking home 120 pups, the shelter’s deputy manager Małgorzata Pałetko said on the TVN24 broadcaster. The KTOZ Shelter for Homeless Animals sent out its appeal on January 5 as temperatures were forecast to fall to around minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of southern Poland, where Krakow is located. It said it had about 300 dogs, but not all could fit indoors and some were in outdoor pens. It appealed for temporary help so that all of the furry ones under its care could find space inside. On January 7, the shelter announced that it was suspending the operation because it was able to fit all its dogs safely in the warmth, and asked the public to help other shelters who needed similar assistance. “We are extremely grateful and moved,” it said. City police showed up on January 6 to manage the traffic outside the shelter, according to TVN24. In the end, the officers took an adorable brown pup named Mombaj back to their headquarters, posting on social media that it had been a “beautiful and emotional day.” Pałetko said the shelter did its best to find good matches between the animals and the people. “We are keeping our fingers crossed that at least some of them will stay with people permanently,” she said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A U.S. labor agency has accused SpaceX of unlawfully firing employees who penned an open letter critical of CEO Elon Musk and creating an impression that worker activities were under surveillance by the rocket ship company. A Los Angeles-based regional director for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint on January 3 that consolidates eight unfair labor practice charges against SpaceX. The cases stem from the company’s alleged actions following the circulation of the employees’ letter back in June 2022. The letter, among other workplace concerns, called on executives to condemn Musk’s public behavior on X — the platform then known as Twitter — and hold everyone accountable for unacceptable conduct. “As our CEO and most prominent spokesperson, Elon is seen as the face of SpaceX — every tweet that Elon sends is a de facto public statement by the company,” the open letter said at the time. The letter also referred to Musk’s actions as a “frequent source of distraction and embarrassment.” A total of nine employees were soon terminated for their involvement in the letter, according to a November 2022 filing made on behalf of one of the employees to the NLRB, although only eight are included in January 3’s complaint. In addition to the firings, the complaint accuses SpaceX of interrogating other workers about the letter, announcing that employees were terminated for their participation in the letter, and “inviting employees to quit if they disagreed with the behavior of Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.” The complaint also alleges that some were shown screenshots of communications between employees about the letter, which “created an impression among (SpaceX’s) employees that their protected concerted activities were under surveillance.” Reacting to the board’s complaint, SpaceX sued the NLRB in federal court on January 4. The lawsuit says the NLRB is “unconstitutionally structured” and its action against the company “unlawful.” Addressing the board’s complaint in its lawsuit, SpaceX lawyers say the employees’ letter caused “significant distraction to SpaceX employees across the country.” It said the employees involved in the letter were fired for violating a number of company policies. This article was provided by The Associated Press.