All posts tagged: Reports

Trump trial witness David Pecker targeted by ‘swatting’ at his home, Reuters reports

Trump trial witness David Pecker targeted by ‘swatting’ at his home, Reuters reports

Published by skeptic

Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker speaks from the witness stand during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. April 22, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.  Jane Rosenberg | Reuters Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who testified at Donald Trump’s criminal trial last month, was targeted in a fake emergency the same day he took the stand in New York, according to police records seen by Reuters. The previously unreported April 25 “swatting” incident, or filing of a false report to trigger a potentially dangerous response, is one in a wave of violent threats against U.S. officials and other public figures in recent years. A person using the name “Jamal” claimed in an email to a local newspaper that he had tied up his wife in the basement and killed his wife’s lover. Jamal gave the address of the crime as Pecker’s home in Greenwich, Connecticut. …

Trump Leads Biden By 10 Points In Latest Election Poll: Rasmussen Reports

Trump Leads Biden By 10 Points In Latest Election Poll: Rasmussen Reports

Published by skeptic

Despite the ‘betting’ odds still favoring President Biden in November (according to PredictIt)… …Former President Donald Trump has boosted his lead over President Joe Biden to ten percentage points ahead of the upcoming elections, according to a recent poll. In a three-way contest between President Trump, President Biden, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former president gets the backing of 46 percent of likely U.S. voters, according to results of an April 29–May 1 survey conducted by Rasmussen Reports. This is a 10 percentage point lead over President Biden who only received 36 percent support. Nine percent backed RFK Jr. The 10-point lead is an improvement from the six points President Trump had in April. Additionally, as Naveen Athrappully reports at The Epoch Times, the incumbent president is not faring well in terms of his popularity. His job approval rating for the 13th quarter of his presidency is the lowest of his term and is the worst among all presidents in modern history, according to a recent Gallup poll. According to an April 29 update …

Utah fields nearly 4,000 “bogus” reports in first week of trans bathroom ban

Utah fields nearly 4,000 “bogus” reports in first week of trans bathroom ban

Published by skeptic

A form to report violations of Utah’s transgender bathroom ban has received almost 4,000 entries, none of which were deemed legitimate. The form, launched on Wednesday by the state auditor’s office, allows anyone to file a report on a violation of the “Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-Bullying, and Women’s Opportunities” act with near-total anonymity. The Utah law, passed in January, sets the definition of “female” and “male” to the sex assigned at birth or on their “unamended birth certificate,” restricting transgender individuals from accessing preferred bathrooms and locker rooms in government-owned buildings like public schools. “We didn’t see anything that looks credible,” Utah Auditor John Dougall told the Salt Lake Tribune, adding that reports were “pretty easy” to screen. “For example, if they have my name as a complainant, you know, I’m not complaining.” The form is still accepting responses, and is mandated by the act. The Utah State Auditor was specifically tasked with “establish[ing] a process to receive and investigate alleged violations” and referring violations to the state’s Attorney General, who could fine government …

Second Boeing whistleblower dies after sudden illness: Reports

Second Boeing whistleblower dies after sudden illness: Reports

Published by skeptic

A Boeing whistleblower who raised safety concerns about the carrier’s 737 MAX planes has died after a sudden illness, US media outlets reported on Thursday (May 2). Mr Joshua Dean, 45, died on Tuesday. He had received multiple diagnoses, including flu, pneumonia and a bacterial infection, his attorney Robert Turkewitz said. “He was a healthy individual who ate well and exercised,” Mr Turkewitz told NBC News. “So it just seems odd that he went so fast.” Mr Dean, a former quality inspector at Spirit AeroSystems that builds the bulk of the 737 MAX for Boeing, had been sick for two weeks. He was grappling with breathing difficulties and required ventilator support, according to NBC News. His death comes weeks after another Boeing whistleblower was found dead in an apparent suicide. MISDRILLED HOLES In October 2022, Mr Dean raised concerns about misdrilled holes in a rear section of the MAX plane, which is vital for maintaining cabin pressure during flight, CBS News reported. Less than a year later, he was fired by Spirit. He filed a complaint …

Apple Reports Decline in Sales and Profit Amid iPhone Struggles in China

Apple Reports Decline in Sales and Profit Amid iPhone Struggles in China

Published by skeptic

Difficulties have been piling up for Apple. In recent months, it has been sued by the Justice Department, fined by European regulators and challenged by the resurgence of a Chinese smartphone competitor. On Thursday, the company added to its list of problems, reporting that its business was in a slump. Apple said sales fell 4 percent to $90.8 billion for the three months that ended in March. Revenue from iPhones, iPads and wearables like the Apple Watch declined from the same quarter last year, while sales of software and services rose. Profit fell 2 percent to $23.64 billion, Apple’s first quarterly decline in a year. Apple’s struggles were most worrisome in China, the world’s second-largest smartphone market, where sales fell 8 percent. The iPhone’s popularity there has waned since Huawei, which the Trump administration restricted from working with U.S. technology firms, introduced a new smartphone with 5G abilities last year. Last quarter, Apple’s share of smartphones sold in China fell 4 percent, according to Counterpoint, a technology research firm. Shares of Apple rose 6.5 percent …

Apple Reports 2Q 2024 Results: .6B Profit on .8B Revenue

Apple Reports 2Q 2024 Results: $23.6B Profit on $90.8B Revenue

Published by skeptic

Apple today announced financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2024, which corresponds to the first calendar quarter of the year. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $90.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $23.6 billion, or $1.53 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $94.8 billion and net quarterly profit of $24.1 billion, or $1.52 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Apple set an all-time quarterly record for Services revenue at $23.9 billion, but iPhone revenue dropped by over $5 billion compared to the year-ago quarter. Gross margin for the quarter was 46.6 percent, compared to 44.3 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple’s board of directors also authorized an additional $110 billion for share repurchases and declared an increased dividend payment of $0.25 per share, up from $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable May 16 to shareholders of record as of May 13. “Today Apple is reporting revenue of $90.8 billion for the March quarter, including an all-time revenue record in Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “During the quarter, …

TD Bank Probe Tied to Laundering of Illicit Fentanyl Profits, WSJ Reports

TD Bank Probe Tied to Laundering of Illicit Fentanyl Profits, WSJ Reports

Published by skeptic

(Reuters) -A U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) investigation into TD Bank is focused on how Chinese drug traffickers and crime groups used the Canada’s second-largest lender to launder their money from fentanyl sales, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. The bank disclosed last year that it was cooperating with authorities in an investigation into its anti-money laundering compliance program by the DoJ. The investigation was initiated after agents uncovered an operation in New York and New Jersey that laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in proceeds from illicit narcotics through TD and other banks, the WSJ reported, citing court documents and people familiar with the matter. “Criminals constantly seek to use banks to launder money. Regrettably, our U.S. AML program did not effectively thwart these activities,” a TD Bank spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “As previously disclosed, we have been and continue to cooperate with law enforcement and our regulators. A comprehensive effort is underway to strengthen our AML program, including investments in talent, tools and technology,” the spokesperson added. The …

Apple reports biggest drop in iPhone sales since early months of pandemic – and reveals AI plans | Business News

Apple reports biggest drop in iPhone sales since early months of pandemic – and reveals AI plans | Business News

Published by skeptic

Tech giant Apple has recorded the biggest drop in iPhone sales since the early months of the COVID pandemic. Sales for January to March were down 10% on the same period last year – something not seen since the 2020 iPhone model was delayed due to lockdown factory closures. Overall, Apple earned $90.8bn (£72.4bn) in the latest quarter – down 4% from last year. It was the fifth consecutive three-month period that the company’s revenue dipped from the previous year. Apple’s profit in the past quarter was $23.64bn (£18.85bn) – a 2% dip from last year. It was good news, however, for the overall value of the company as its share price rose nearly 7% after investors had expected a bigger drop in sales. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:12 March: Apple accused of locking out rivals Meanwhile, Apple chief executive Tim Cook has discussed how the company is set to use artificial intelligence (AI). While rival Samsung introduced phones that can feature AI, including generative AI chatbots, Apple has …

Sheriff’s Dept. accused of retaliation after reports on jail fires

Sheriff’s Dept. accused of retaliation after reports on jail fires

Published by skeptic

Oversight commissioners have repeatedly accused the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department of retaliating against inmates at Men’s Central Jail after inspectors called attention to the ongoing problem of fires burning unchecked inside the decrepit downtown lockup. For years, inmates have been using batteries, razors, toilet paper and other items to set blazes when they want to cook food or heat water. But last summer, oversight inspectors — alarmed by three particularly large fires they’d witnessed — drew attention to the issue in commission reports and public meetings. Afterward, a Times investigation found the problem stretched back several decades and was possible in part because the inmate housing areas in the aging facility have no sprinklers to douse blazes or blaring smoke detectors to prompt jailers to respond. Then, in a move Sybil Brand Commission members Eric Miller and Mary Veral told The Times last month was “retaliatory,” jail officials confiscated batteries that high-security inmates in isolation used to listen to their radios. Inmates responded with a hunger strike that department officials said has since ended. …

US prosecutors examining financial transactions at Block, NBC News reports

US prosecutors examining financial transactions at Block, NBC News reports

Published by Sam

:U.S. prosecutors are examining financial transactions at Block, NBC News reported on Wednesday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the matter. NBC reported that federal prosecutors were discussing with a former employee alleged widespread compliance lapses at Square and Cash App, the company’s two main units. Areas under investigation include whether the company failed to gather sufficient information on customers to assess risks, if Square processed transactions involving countries subject to economic sanctions and if Block handled cryptocurrency transactions for terrorist groups. Shares in the company were last down 8.8 per cent. A spokesperson for Block said the company has a “responsible and extensive compliance program” and that it regularly adapts its practices to meet “emerging threats and an evolving sanctions regulatory environment.” “Continually improving the safety and security of our ecosystem is a top priority for Block. We have been and remain committed to building upon this work, as well as continuing to invest significantly in our compliance program,” the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York declined to …