WEATHER ALERT
The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse?
Read full article: The internet is rife with fake reviews. Will AI make it worse?Researchers and watchdog groups say the emergence of generative artificial intelligence tools that allow people to efficiently produce detailed and novel online reviews has put merchants, service providers and consumers in uncharted territory.
Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian village
Read full article: Santa braves the sticky heat of the Amazon jungle to bring gifts to children in Brazilian villageSanta Claus has braved the sticky heat of the Amazon rainforest this weekend, taking two boats to bring gifts to the children of a small village near the Brazilian city of Manaus.
Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it
Read full article: Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with itAmazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract.
Amazon workers are striking at multiple facilities. Here's what you should know
Read full article: Amazon workers are striking at multiple facilities. Here's what you should knowAmazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union are on strike for a second day at seven of the company’s delivery hubs just days before Christmas.
What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?
Read full article: What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January.
Senate report alleges Amazon rejected warehouse safety recommendations due to productivity concerns
Read full article: Senate report alleges Amazon rejected warehouse safety recommendations due to productivity concernsA U.S. Senate committee says at least two internal Amazon studies have found a relationship between worker speed and injuries in the online retailer's warehouses.
Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-elect
Read full article: Trump hosts Apple CEO at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders continue outreach to president-electDonald Trump is hosting Apple CEO Tim Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
Environmental groups condemn new laws threatening soybean restrictions in Brazil's Amazon
Read full article: Environmental groups condemn new laws threatening soybean restrictions in Brazil's AmazonDozens of environmental nonprofits issued a manifesto Thursday condemning new laws in Brazilian states that threaten to dismantle the Amazon soy moratorium.
Brazilian beef and leather companies fall short in tackling deforestation, a study finds
Read full article: Brazilian beef and leather companies fall short in tackling deforestation, a study findsThe next United Nations climate conference will be held in Belem, the capital of an Amazon region where widespread deforestation has turned the surrounding rainforest from a vital carbon sink into a significant carbon source.
Jeff Bezos says he is 'optimistic' about a new Trump term and can help with cutting regulations
Read full article: Jeff Bezos says he is 'optimistic' about a new Trump term and can help with cutting regulationsAmazon founder Jeff Bezos says he is “optimistic” about President-elect Donald Trump’s second term and expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years.
EU pushes back deforestation law by a year after outcry from global producers
Read full article: EU pushes back deforestation law by a year after outcry from global producersThe European Union has agreed to delay by a year the introduction of new rules to ban the sale of products that lead to massive deforestation.
District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes
Read full article: District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codesThe District of Columbia is alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city.
As Amazon expands use of warehouse robots, what will it mean for workers?
Read full article: As Amazon expands use of warehouse robots, what will it mean for workers?Amazon has introduced a handful of robots in its warehouses that the e-commerce giant says will improve efficiency and reduce employee injuries.
These Peruvian women left the Amazon, but their homeland still inspires their songs and crafts
Read full article: These Peruvian women left the Amazon, but their homeland still inspires their songs and craftsMany Shipibo-Konibo craftswomen migrated from their Indigenous communities in the Amazon to Peru's capital, Lima, in the past few decades.
Amazon to invest an additional $4 billion in AI startup Anthropic
Read full article: Amazon to invest an additional $4 billion in AI startup AnthropicAmazon is investing an additional $4 billion in the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic as major technology companies rush to fund generative AI.
Indigenous leaders travel to UK from Peru to draw attention to oil damage and banking
Read full article: Indigenous leaders travel to UK from Peru to draw attention to oil damage and bankingIndigenous leaders from the Wampis Nation in Peru are urging lawmakers at the House of Commons in London to ban international banks’ support for Amazon oil activities they say harm their ancestral rainforests.
WATCH LIVE: Winter Park couple to take another ride with Bezos’ Blue Origin to edge of space
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Winter Park couple to take another ride with Bezos’ Blue Origin to edge of spaceMarc and Sharon Hagle, who in 2022 became the first married couple to launch on a commercial space vehicle, are set to do it again.
Amazon and Elon Musk's SpaceX challenge labor agency's constitutionality in federal court
Read full article: Amazon and Elon Musk's SpaceX challenge labor agency's constitutionality in federal courtAttorneys for Amazon and Elon Musk’s SpaceX have argued in a federal appeals court that the National Labor Relations Board’s structure is unconstitutional.
From the Amazon rainforest, Biden declares nobody can reverse US progress on clean energy
Read full article: From the Amazon rainforest, Biden declares nobody can reverse US progress on clean energyJoe Biden witnessed the devastation of drought up close as the first sitting American president to set foot the Amazon rainforest.
Central Florida man accused of attacking Amazon delivery driver, video shows
Read full article: Central Florida man accused of attacking Amazon delivery driver, video showsThe man told a deputy that he was riding his motorcycle around the property with his son when an Amazon driver sped through the area, detectives said.
Amazon launches an online discount storefront to better compete with Shein and Temu
Read full article: Amazon launches an online discount storefront to better compete with Shein and TemuAmazon has launched a low-cost online storefront featuring electronics, apparel and other products priced at under $20.
Cocoa doesn’t get $47M federal grant to build Brightline station, city to reapply
Read full article: Cocoa doesn’t get $47M federal grant to build Brightline station, city to reapplyA setback for Brevard County’s big plans to welcome a long-anticipated train station for Florida’s fastest railroad - Brightline.
Amazon workers in Alabama will have third labor union vote after judge finds illegal influence
Read full article: Amazon workers in Alabama will have third labor union vote after judge finds illegal influenceAmazon workers in Alabama will have the opportunity decide whether to unionize for the third time in three years.
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon drops by nearly 31% compared to previous year
Read full article: Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon drops by nearly 31% compared to previous yearAccording to official monitoring, Amazon rainforest loss in Brazil dropped by one-third compared to the previous year, according to official monitoring.
Police in Brazil indict Colombian fish trader in high profile killing in Amazon region
Read full article: Police in Brazil indict Colombian fish trader in high profile killing in Amazon regionBrazilian police have indicted a Colombian fish trader as the person who planned the slayings of Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in the Amazon in 2022, they announced Monday.
Many retailers offer 'returnless refunds.' Just don't expect them to talk much about it
Read full article: Many retailers offer 'returnless refunds.' Just don't expect them to talk much about itIt’s one of the most under-publicized policies of some of the biggest U.S. retailers: sometimes they give customers full refunds and let them keep unwanted items too.
Brazilian state law overturns soy moratorium that helped curb Amazon deforestation
Read full article: Brazilian state law overturns soy moratorium that helped curb Amazon deforestationIn 2006, environmental nonprofits and some of the world’s largest soybean traders came together in a landmark “soy moratorium” to stop the sale of soy grown on illegally deforested land in Brazil's Amazon.
Stock market today: Amazon leads Wall Street higher
Read full article: Stock market today: Amazon leads Wall Street higherAmazon led U.S. stock indexes higher, while a surprisingly weak jobs report marred by some unusual occurrences cemented bets on Wall Street for another cut to interest rates next week.
Stock market today: Microsoft, Meta and the burden of expectations knock Wall Street sharply lower
Read full article: Stock market today: Microsoft, Meta and the burden of expectations knock Wall Street sharply lowerDrops for Big Tech companies including Microsoft and Facebook's parent company Meta Platforms led Wall Street lower.
Former NBC anchor Brian Williams is returning to election night and hosting an Amazon special
Read full article: Former NBC anchor Brian Williams is returning to election night and hosting an Amazon specialLongtime NBC News anchor Brian Williams is returning to the screen on election night, only this time he'll be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Judge rules the FTC can proceed with antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, tosses out few state claims
Read full article: Judge rules the FTC can proceed with antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, tosses out few state claimsA federal judge said the Federal Trade Commission can proceed with its landmark antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.
Amazon, Target and other retailers are ramping up hiring for the holiday shopping season
Read full article: Amazon, Target and other retailers are ramping up hiring for the holiday shopping seasonU.S. retailers are ramping up hiring for the holiday season but expect to take on fewer seasonal employees to help customers in stores and assemble online orders in warehouses.
Amazon pulls Kim Porter memoir about Sean 'Diddy' Combs that her children say is fake
Read full article: Amazon pulls Kim Porter memoir about Sean 'Diddy' Combs that her children say is fakeAmazon has removed a memoir from its site that purports to detail an abusive relationship between late actor Kim Porter and hip-hop mogul Sean ”Diddy” An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to removal of “Kim's Lost Words: A journey for justice, from the other side.
Amazon's $4 billion partnership with AI startup Anthropic gets UK competition clearance
Read full article: Amazon's $4 billion partnership with AI startup Anthropic gets UK competition clearanceBritain’s competition watchdog has cleared Amazon’s partnership with artificial intelligence company Anthropic because the $4 billion deal didn’t qualify for further scrutiny.
Brazil court drops a suspect in Amazon slayings of a British journalist and an Indigenous advocate
Read full article: Brazil court drops a suspect in Amazon slayings of a British journalist and an Indigenous advocateA federal court in Brazil has dismissed charges against one of three men arrested in the killings of an Indigenous peoples expert and a British journalist in the Amazon, ruling there wasn’t sufficient evidence to try him.
Kroger and Albertsons make a final pitch for their merger before a judge decides whether to block it
Read full article: Kroger and Albertsons make a final pitch for their merger before a judge decides whether to block itKroger and Albertsons have made their final argument in federal court in support of their proposed merger.
Amazon is requiring workers to be in the office five days a week starting next year
Read full article: Amazon is requiring workers to be in the office five days a week starting next yearAmazon is requiring employees to be in the office five days a week starting next year, reverting to its pre-pandemic policy.
CLIMATE GLIMPSE: Wildfires plague U.S. West and Brazil, Yagi rampages in Vietnam
Read full article: CLIMATE GLIMPSE: Wildfires plague U.S. West and Brazil, Yagi rampages in VietnamExtreme weather is again striking multiple places around the world, including wildfires in California, a hurricane that threatens Louisiana, drought and wildfires in the Amazon and flooding in Nigeria.
Brazil's Lula pledges to finish paving road that experts say could worsen Amazon deforestation
Read full article: Brazil's Lula pledges to finish paving road that experts say could worsen Amazon deforestationBrazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is pledging to finish paving a roadway in the heart of the Amazon that experts and some in his own government say could worsen deforestation.
Severe drought drops water level to historic low on the Paraguay River, a regional lifeline
Read full article: Severe drought drops water level to historic low on the Paraguay River, a regional lifelineA powerful drought in Brazil’s Pantanal region has led to the lowest water levels on the Paraguay River in more than a century, disrupting commerce on the major waterway, creating hazards for local transport and offering a grim warning for other parts of the world.
During Brazil's worst drought, wildfires rage and the Amazon River falls to a record low
Read full article: During Brazil's worst drought, wildfires rage and the Amazon River falls to a record lowBrazil is enduring its worst drought since nationwide measurements began over seven decades ago, with 59% of the country under stress — an area roughly half the size of the U.S. Major Amazon basin rivers are registering historic lows, and uncontrolled manmade wildfires have ravaged protected areas and spread smoke over a vast expanse, plummeting air quality.
Amazon says in a federal lawsuit that the NLRB's structure is unconstitutional
Read full article: Amazon says in a federal lawsuit that the NLRB's structure is unconstitutionalAmazon is challenging the structure of the National Labor Relations Board in a lawsuit that also accuses the agency of improperly influencing the outcome of a union election at a company warehouse more than two years ago.
Ecuador starts dismantling Yasuni National Park oil block two days before court deadline
Read full article: Ecuador starts dismantling Yasuni National Park oil block two days before court deadlineEcuador’s Ministry for Energy and Mines says it has begun to dismantle infrastructure on a controversial oil drilling block in Yasuni National Park, home to the Waorani Indigenous people.
People in Brazil’s Amazon are choking on smoke and feeling the heat from rainforest wildfires
Read full article: People in Brazil’s Amazon are choking on smoke and feeling the heat from rainforest wildfiresSmoke from wildfires in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is causing people in the region to cough, burning their throats and reddening their eyes.
Ecuador's citizens voted to stop oil drilling in heart of Amazon. A year later, it hasn't happened
Read full article: Ecuador's citizens voted to stop oil drilling in heart of Amazon. A year later, it hasn't happenedVoters in Ecuador last year approved a referendum to keep some 700 million barrels of crude oil in the ground in Yasuni National Park.
‘Deadpool’ and ‘Alien’ top charts again as ‘Blink Twice’ sees quiet opening
Read full article: ‘Deadpool’ and ‘Alien’ top charts again as ‘Blink Twice’ sees quiet opening“Deadpool & Wolverine," “Alien: Romulus” and “It Ends With Us” topped the charts again at the box office, outperforming new releases like “Blink Twice” and “The Crow.”.
US labor regulator says Amazon is a joint employer of subcontracted delivery drivers in California
Read full article: US labor regulator says Amazon is a joint employer of subcontracted delivery drivers in CaliforniaProsecutors at a federal labor agency have determined that Amazon is a joint employer of subcontracted drivers who delivered packages for the company in California.
Appeals court says the District of Columbia can proceed with its antitrust lawsuit against Amazon
Read full article: Appeals court says the District of Columbia can proceed with its antitrust lawsuit against AmazonA federal appeals court has revived an antitrust lawsuit the District of Columbia brought against Amazon.
Cost nears $140M for Amazon’s ‘Project Kuiper’ site on Space Coast
Read full article: Cost nears $140M for Amazon’s ‘Project Kuiper’ site on Space CoastAmazon is investing another $19.5 million to build a storage and processing site at Kennedy Space Center for "Project Kuiper," an internet satellite constellation not unlike SpaceX's Starlink.
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest is down to lowest level since 2016, government says
Read full article: Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest is down to lowest level since 2016, government saysThe amount of deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon went down by nearly half in the last year, according to government satellite data released Wednesday.
Reclusive tribe attacks loggers suspected of encroaching on their land in Peru's Amazon
Read full article: Reclusive tribe attacks loggers suspected of encroaching on their land in Peru's AmazonA regional Indigenous organization reports that a reclusive tribe has attacked loggers suspected of operating illegally in its territory in the Peruvian Amazon.
Amazon reports boost in quarterly profits but misses revenue estimates
Read full article: Amazon reports boost in quarterly profits but misses revenue estimatesAmazon has reported a boost in its quarterly profits, but the company missed revenue estimates, sending its stock lower in after-hours trading.
Celebrate 20 years of Peppa Pig at Florida theme park dance party
Read full article: Celebrate 20 years of Peppa Pig at Florida theme park dance partyIn collaboration with Hasbro and Amazon, Peppa’s Dance Party will deliver engaging in-person and virtual play experiences for preschoolers and their families across the globe.
US economic growth increased last quarter to a healthy 2.8% annual rate
Read full article: US economic growth increased last quarter to a healthy 2.8% annual rateThe nation’s economy accelerated last quarter at a strong 2.8% annual pace, with consumers and businesses helping drive growth despite the pressure of continually high interest rates.
NBA says it has signed new 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon
Read full article: NBA says it has signed new 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and AmazonThe NBA signed its 11-year media rights deal with Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday after saying it was not accepting Warner Bros.
Amazon Prime Day is a major cause of injuries for warehouse workers, Senate review says
Read full article: Amazon Prime Day is a major cause of injuries for warehouse workers, Senate review saysA report released by Senator Bernie Sanders says Amazon’s popular Prime Day sales event has been “a major cause of injuries” for warehouse workers who pick and pack customer orders at the company's facilities across the U.S. The report released to coincide with the start of Prime Day on Tuesday says nearly 45 out of 100 workers were injured during the two-day sales event in 2019.
Prime Day is a prime target for package thieves
Read full article: Prime Day is a prime target for package thievesAs Amazon Prime Day approaches, it's not just deals and discounts that are on the rise— so are package thefts. With millions of people expected to be ordering online, security experts warn that the number of stolen packages could surge dramatically.
US senators call out Big Tech's new approach to poaching talent, products from smaller AI startups
Read full article: US senators call out Big Tech's new approach to poaching talent, products from smaller AI startupsThree U.S. Senators are calling for action against a new practice big technology companies are using to swallow up the talent and products of innovative AI startups without formally acquiring them.
Parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue to buy Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion
Read full article: Parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue to buy Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billionThe parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue has signed a deal to buy upscale rival Neiman Marcus Group, which owns Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores, for $2.65 billion, with online behemoth Amazon holding a minority stake.
Amazon is reviewing whether Perplexity AI improperly scraped online content
Read full article: Amazon is reviewing whether Perplexity AI improperly scraped online contentAmazon is reviewing claims that the artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI is scraping content — including from prominent news sites — without approval.
Amazon teams up with Megan Thee Stallion to promote its 10th Prime Day sales event
Read full article: Amazon teams up with Megan Thee Stallion to promote its 10th Prime Day sales eventAmazon is partnering with hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion to boost sales for its 10th annual Prime Day discount event.
So long plastic air pillows: Amazon shifting to recycled paper filling for packages in North America
Read full article: So long plastic air pillows: Amazon shifting to recycled paper filling for packages in North AmericaAmazon is moving from putting plastic air pillows in its packages in North America to using recycled paper filling instead, a move that’s more environmentally friendly and is said to secure items in boxes just the same, if not better.
California fines Amazon nearly $6M, alleging illegal work quotas at 2 warehouses
Read full article: California fines Amazon nearly $6M, alleging illegal work quotas at 2 warehousesCalifornia has fined Amazon a total of $5.9 million, alleging the e-commerce giant worked warehouse employees so hard that it put their safety at risk.
Amazon Labor Union members vote overwhelmingly in favor of an affiliation with the Teamsters
Read full article: Amazon Labor Union members vote overwhelmingly in favor of an affiliation with the TeamstersNew York City warehouse workers who are part of the Amazon Labor Union have overwhelmingly voted to align themselves with the Teamsters as they try to get a contract from the online retailer.
Amazon adds $1.4 billion to affordable housing fund for regions where it has corporate offices
Read full article: Amazon adds $1.4 billion to affordable housing fund for regions where it has corporate officesAmazon is adding $1.4 billion to a fund it established three years ago for preserving or building more affordable housing in the regions where the company has major corporate offices.
Blue Origin launches seventh crewed New Shepard mission from Texas
Read full article: Blue Origin launches seventh crewed New Shepard mission from TexasBlue Origin will attempt a crewed launch of its reusable New Shepard rocket Sunday morning in Texas, marking the company's 25th mission using the launch vehicle and its seventh flight with humans on board.
Amazon's self-driving robotaxi unit Zoox under investigation by US after 2 rear-end crashes
Read full article: Amazon's self-driving robotaxi unit Zoox under investigation by US after 2 rear-end crashesAmazon’s self-driving robotaxi unit is being investigated by the U.S. government’s highway safety agency after two of its vehicles braked suddenly and were rear-ended by motorcyclists.
🧹Bust dust with these Spring Cleaning essentials approved by consumer experts
Read full article: 🧹Bust dust with these Spring Cleaning essentials approved by consumer expertsThat dust that’s been collecting while you were stuck indoors has got to go. But don’t try to brush it away with a feather duster—that will only make things worse. Here are some recommended dusting tools from cleaning pros and the experts at Consumer Reports who share their advice in "How to Clean Practically Anything."
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's comments about unions violated federal law, NLRB judge rules
Read full article: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's comments about unions violated federal law, NLRB judge rulesAn administrative law judge has ruled that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy violated labor law by making certain anti-union comments during media interviews two years ago.
Amazon, Target stop selling weighted baby blankets, sleep sacks and swaddles amid safety concerns
Read full article: Amazon, Target stop selling weighted baby blankets, sleep sacks and swaddles amid safety concernsAmazon and Target are among retailers now ending their sales of weighted baby blankets, sleep sacks and swaddles as calls mount for more research and oversight of the products’ safety, according to Consumer Reports.
FTC sends $5.6 million in refunds to Ring customers as part of video privacy settlement
Read full article: FTC sends $5.6 million in refunds to Ring customers as part of video privacy settlementThe Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $5.6 million in refunds to consumers as part of a settlement with Amazon-owned Ring, which was charged with failing to protect private video footage from outside access.
Amazon cloud computing unit plans to invest $11 billion to build data center in northern Indiana
Read full article: Amazon cloud computing unit plans to invest $11 billion to build data center in northern IndianaAmazon’s cloud computing unit Amazon Web Services plans to invest $11 billion to build a data center in northern Indiana that will create at least 1,000 new jobs.
Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from UK competition watchdog over recent AI deals
Read full article: Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from UK competition watchdog over recent AI dealsBritish competition regulators say they’ll scrutinize recent artificial intelligence deals by Microsoft and Amazon over concerns that the moves could thwart competition in the AI industry.
Publishing spinoff of 'Wednesday' has everything from tarot cards to 'Woeful Waffles'
Read full article: Publishing spinoff of 'Wednesday' has everything from tarot cards to 'Woeful Waffles'Penguin Random House is teaming with Amazon MGM Studios on a series of books based on “Wednesday,” the Emmy-winning Netflix hit about young Wednesday Addams of Addams Family fame.
Stock market today: Asia stocks are mostly lower after Wall St rebound led by Big Tech
Read full article: Stock market today: Asia stocks are mostly lower after Wall St rebound led by Big TechAsia stocks are mostly lower after gains for Big Tech shares helped U.S. stock indexes claw back much of their slide from the day before.
Don’t look up without these: Here’s why you need certified eclipse glasses, where to get them
Read full article: Don’t look up without these: Here’s why you need certified eclipse glasses, where to get themCentral Floridians can catch the phenomenon on Monday afternoon but before you look up, make sure to look through the right pair of glasses.
Cicadas are nature's weirdos. They pee stronger than us and an STD can turn them into zombies
Read full article: Cicadas are nature's weirdos. They pee stronger than us and an STD can turn them into zombiesThe periodical cicadas that are about to infest two parts of the United States aren’t just plentiful, they’re downright weird.
Amazon pours an additional $2.75 billion into AI startup Anthropic
Read full article: Amazon pours an additional $2.75 billion into AI startup AnthropicAmazon says it is pouring an additional $2.75 billion into Anthropic, bringing its total investment in the artificial intelligence startup to $4 billion.
California work safety board approves indoor heat rules, but another state agency raises objections
Read full article: California work safety board approves indoor heat rules, but another state agency raises objectionsAs global warming raises temperatures, a California work safety board has approved standards that would require companies to protect employees from excessive indoor heat, particularly in warehouses.