Latest news with #AIR
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Panicked Ring users told total strangers ‘logged in' to their doorbells and cameras in major bungle
Read on to find out how to remove unrecognised devices RING IT UP Panicked Ring users told total strangers 'logged in' to their doorbells and cameras in major bungle Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RING users have experienced unauthorised devices logging into their doorbells in a major bug. Panicked customers have reported unusual activity as devices from various locations around the globe tried to log into their accounts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Ring users have reported suspicious logins to their accounts on May 28 Credit: Ring On May 28, a surge of suspicious login attempts have sparked fears amongst Ring doorbell owners that their accounts had been hacked. Some users claim to have seen live view activity when no one in the household had used the app. Others said they did not receive multi-factor authentication prompts or security alerts when they added new devices. Ring's response Ring has denied any hacking speculations and cited a backend update bug as the reason for the mishap. The company said: "We are aware of an issue where information is displaying inaccurately in Control Center. "This is the result of a backend update, and we're working to resolve this. "We have no reason to believe this is the result of unauthorized access to customer accounts." Ring's claim is backed by the fact that all false login entries were made on the same date. Hacking rumours However, customers believe it was a global hacking attack as their Authorised Client Devices list contained strange IP addresses, unknown devices, and countries they have never been to. One customer wrote on X: "Absolute bollocks with your 'bug' I don't even know Derbhille or is she anyway associated with our ring camera or family? "Just admit you've been hacked and yous are gonna amend this." Ring's flying 'spy drone' that monitors your home in the AIR 'coming 2026' – it stalks burglars & even recharges itself Another one added: "I find it interesting that it's just a 'bug' yet one of my several unknown logins from that date was a log in from Spain… "I'm in Texas so doesn't seem like just a bug or log ins on prior devices because I can assure you I have never been to Spain." Hacking rumours have been fuelled by the fact that a backend update should be simple to undo. However, three days later, users continue to receive logins from unfamiliar devices. Ring users should go to Control Center > Authorized Client Devices to check and remove any unrecognised devices. Ring's 'spy drone' launching soon Ring's flying home drone could be launching soon after several years of teasing, according to reports. The Always Home Cam was first announced in 2020 and was slated to hit shelves in 2021 - but it never landed. The gadget is the brainchild of recently returned Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff, who has been testing the indoor flying camera in his office, according to Business Insider. Siminoff may be launching the device soon in "limited quantities", according to sources. Despite a 2021 launch that never really arrived, Ring showed off the flying security cam at CES in 2023. The drone flies automatically around the home, with some obstacle avoidance technology so that it doesn't crash into ceiling light or precious vase. Once it has scouted the perimeter, it flies back into its compact cradle when it recharges. Ring, owned by Amazon, touts the gadget as a way for privacy-hawkish homeowners to be "in two places at once".
Fashion Network
9 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Tax-free tourist shopping return would help economy, create 73,000+ jobs in UK says AIR report
UK retailers and the organisations that represent them continue to campaign for the return of tax-free shopping for tourists in Britain despite a seeming lack of interest from the current Labour government after the previous government abolished it. On Tuesday, a submission to ministers from the Association of International Retail (AIR) claimed that a new tax-free shopping scheme would offer an almost-£3.7 billion ' Brexit benefit' at the bare minimum as it would take advantage of the unique opportunity for the UK to create a valuable new market of EU shoppers. And it also said that such a scheme would create 'at least' 73,000 new jobs serving EU shoppers alone. The Conservative government scrapped VAT rebates for international visitors when Brexit finally came into effect. That was despite the retail industry having been hoping that with Britain no longer in the EU the scheme would be expanded to include hundreds of millions of EU shoppers. It might have made the UK potentially the most attractive shopping major market globally with, as AIR says, the UK being 'the only destination in Europe offering VAT rebates to 450 million EU consumers as well as those from the rest of the world, creating a 'vast new market' and making the UK the global shopping capital'. AIR also said that reintroducing tax-free shopping, which had existed for decades, 'would benefit every region by firing up economic growth'. VAT refunds for visitors to the UK were previously seen as a major driver of tourism and the decision to axe them was controversial and led to it being branded a 'tourist tax' by critics. AIR said 'hundreds of business leaders are now calling for a rethink on the policy, arguing that as well as retailers the entire tourist economy has been affected, whether that be regional tourist centres or manufacturers down the supply chain, hotels and restaurants, taxis, galleries and museums and cafes'. It said those that have called for a new tax-free shopping scheme include: Primark, M&S, Paul Smith, Heathrow, John Lewis, Bicester Village, Mulberry, the Royal Opera House, Shakespeare's Globe, Historic Royal Palaces, Chapel Down, Charlotte Tilbury, Fortnum & Mason, Claridge's, Boodles, Pragnell, Fabergé, The Hippodrome Casino, Elizabeth Gage, Hanover Health Foods, N Peale, David Morris Jewels, The Langham Hotel, Anderson & Sheppard, Berry's Jewellers, Breitling, Clermont Hotel Group, Como Holding, Lumbers, Trotters, Essential Edinburgh Business Improvement District, British Retail Consortium, British Fashion Council, British Beauty Council, Walpole, Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA) and UKInbound. The new submission to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport comes as that department is preparing a new Visitor Economy Growth Plan expected to launch this autumn. UK losing out to European destinations AIR's document also 'warns that international visitors are increasingly being driven into the arms of the UK's rivals thanks to the absence of VAT rebates', using new figures showing that in the UK, the post-Covid tourism recovery has been weaker than elsewhere in Europe. How so? Visitor numbers to the UK had by last year recovered to only 96% of their 2019 levels compared with 101.9% in Spain and 100% in France. And the figures for actual tourist spend are even more worrying. In the UK, spending last year stood at 92% of 2019 levels compared to 106% in Spain and 110% in France. So, in the UK fewer visitors are arriving and those that do are spending less than they used to. In Spain and France, a larger or equal number of visitors are arriving and they're spending more. And some of those visitors to France, Spain (and other countries) are British, attracted by being able to shop VAT-free, which they couldn't do before Brexit, so that's even more spend being lost to UK stores. Back in the UK, Visit Britain estimates that shopping accounts for 25% of all international visitor spending, more than any other single item. And to counter government claims that the VAT-free scheme was costing the country money, it added that for every £1 spent in VAT-free shopping, around £4 was spent on goods and services on which VAT was charged and not refunded. As for the close-to-£3.7 billion figure quoted earlier, AIR said that if spending on VAT-free shopping by new EU shopping-led visitors to the UK was at the same level as British VAT-free spending in the EU in 2024, there would be a total additional spend of at least £3.65bn. This would be on top of an estimated £1.5bn of annual spending by non-EU visitors diverted to France, Spain, Italy and other tax-free destinations when VAT rebates were ended. Derrick Hardman, chair of AIR, said: 'With Britain no longer in the EU, we have the opportunity to become the best place in the world for shopping. While the 26 EU countries offer VAT-free shopping to non-EU visitors, including those from the UK, Britain is now in the unique position of being the only major European country where this attraction could also be offered to all 450m EU residents. 'This would give Britain an unchallengeable competitive advantage within Europe. In addition to levelling the playing field with our EU competitor destinations who all offer VAT refunds to non-EU visitors, Britain would have the unique opportunity to create a whole new, shopping-led, EU tourism market. 'These would be additional visitors, spending additional money in hotels, restaurants, and on travel, culture and entertainment, all of which generate additional VAT for the Exchequer.'
Fashion Network
10 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Tax-free tourist shopping return would help economy, create 73,000+ jobs in UK says AIR report
UK retailers and the organisations that represent them continue to campaign for the return of tax-free shopping for tourists in Britain despite a seeming lack of interest from the current Labour government after the previous government abolished it. On Tuesday, a submission to ministers from the Association of International Retail (AIR) claimed that a new tax-free shopping scheme would offer an almost-£3.7 billion ' Brexit benefit' at the bare minimum as it would take advantage of the unique opportunity for the UK to create a valuable new market of EU shoppers. And it also said that such a scheme would create 'at least' 73,000 new jobs serving EU shoppers alone. The Conservative government scrapped VAT rebates for international visitors when Brexit finally came into effect. That was despite the retail industry having been hoping that with Britain no longer in the EU the scheme would be expanded to include hundreds of millions of EU shoppers. It might have made the UK potentially the most attractive shopping major market globally with, as AIR says, the UK being 'the only destination in Europe offering VAT rebates to 450 million EU consumers as well as those from the rest of the world, creating a 'vast new market' and making the UK the global shopping capital'. AIR also said that reintroducing tax-free shopping, which had existed for decades, 'would benefit every region by firing up economic growth'. VAT refunds for visitors to the UK were previously seen as a major driver of tourism and the decision to axe them was controversial and led to it being branded a 'tourist tax' by critics. AIR said 'hundreds of business leaders are now calling for a rethink on the policy, arguing that as well as retailers the entire tourist economy has been affected, whether that be regional tourist centres or manufacturers down the supply chain, hotels and restaurants, taxis, galleries and museums and cafes'. It said those that have called for a new tax-free shopping scheme include: Primark, M&S, Paul Smith, Heathrow, John Lewis, Bicester Village, Mulberry, the Royal Opera House, Shakespeare's Globe, Historic Royal Palaces, Chapel Down, Charlotte Tilbury, Fortnum & Mason, Claridge's, Boodles, Pragnell, Fabergé, The Hippodrome Casino, Elizabeth Gage, Hanover Health Foods, N Peale, David Morris Jewels, The Langham Hotel, Anderson & Sheppard, Berry's Jewellers, Breitling, Clermont Hotel Group, Como Holding, Lumbers, Trotters, Essential Edinburgh Business Improvement District, British Retail Consortium, British Fashion Council, British Beauty Council, Walpole, Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA) and UKInbound. The new submission to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport comes as that department is preparing a new Visitor Economy Growth Plan expected to launch this autumn. UK losing out to European destinations AIR's document also 'warns that international visitors are increasingly being driven into the arms of the UK's rivals thanks to the absence of VAT rebates', using new figures showing that in the UK, the post-Covid tourism recovery has been weaker than elsewhere in Europe. How so? Visitor numbers to the UK had by last year recovered to only 96% of their 2019 levels compared with 101.9% in Spain and 100% in France. And the figures for actual tourist spend are even more worrying. In the UK, spending last year stood at 92% of 2019 levels compared to 106% in Spain and 110% in France. So, in the UK fewer visitors are arriving and those that do are spending less than they used to. In Spain and France, a larger or equal number of visitors are arriving and they're spending more. And some of those visitors to France, Spain (and other countries) are British, attracted by being able to shop VAT-free, which they couldn't do before Brexit, so that's even more spend being lost to UK stores. Back in the UK, Visit Britain estimates that shopping accounts for 25% of all international visitor spending, more than any other single item. And to counter government claims that the VAT-free scheme was costing the country money, it added that for every £1 spent in VAT-free shopping, around £4 was spent on goods and services on which VAT was charged and not refunded. As for the close-to-£3.7 billion figure quoted earlier, AIR said that if spending on VAT-free shopping by new EU shopping-led visitors to the UK was at the same level as British VAT-free spending in the EU in 2024, there would be a total additional spend of at least £3.65bn. This would be on top of an estimated £1.5bn of annual spending by non-EU visitors diverted to France, Spain, Italy and other tax-free destinations when VAT rebates were ended. Derrick Hardman, chair of AIR, said: 'With Britain no longer in the EU, we have the opportunity to become the best place in the world for shopping. While the 26 EU countries offer VAT-free shopping to non-EU visitors, including those from the UK, Britain is now in the unique position of being the only major European country where this attraction could also be offered to all 450m EU residents. 'This would give Britain an unchallengeable competitive advantage within Europe. In addition to levelling the playing field with our EU competitor destinations who all offer VAT refunds to non-EU visitors, Britain would have the unique opportunity to create a whole new, shopping-led, EU tourism market. 'These would be additional visitors, spending additional money in hotels, restaurants, and on travel, culture and entertainment, all of which generate additional VAT for the Exchequer.'
Fashion Network
11 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Tax-free tourist shopping return would help economy, create 73,000+ jobs in UK says AIR report
UK retailers and the organisations that represent them continue to campaign for the return of tax-free shopping for tourists in Britain despite a seeming lack of interest from the current Labour government after the previous government abolished it. On Tuesday, a submission to ministers from the Association of International Retail (AIR) claimed that a new tax-free shopping scheme would offer an almost-£3.7 billion ' Brexit benefit' at the bare minimum as it would take advantage of the unique opportunity for the UK to create a valuable new market of EU shoppers. And it also said that such a scheme would create 'at least' 73,000 new jobs serving EU shoppers alone. The Conservative government scrapped VAT rebates for international visitors when Brexit finally came into effect. That was despite the retail industry having been hoping that with Britain no longer in the EU the scheme would be expanded to include hundreds of millions of EU shoppers. It might have made the UK potentially the most attractive shopping major market globally with, as AIR says, the UK being 'the only destination in Europe offering VAT rebates to 450 million EU consumers as well as those from the rest of the world, creating a 'vast new market' and making the UK the global shopping capital'. AIR also said that reintroducing tax-free shopping, which had existed for decades, 'would benefit every region by firing up economic growth'. VAT refunds for visitors to the UK were previously seen as a major driver of tourism and the decision to axe them was controversial and led to it being branded a 'tourist tax' by critics. AIR said 'hundreds of business leaders are now calling for a rethink on the policy, arguing that as well as retailers the entire tourist economy has been affected, whether that be regional tourist centres or manufacturers down the supply chain, hotels and restaurants, taxis, galleries and museums and cafes'. It said those that have called for a new tax-free shopping scheme include: Primark, M&S, Paul Smith, Heathrow, John Lewis, Bicester Village, Mulberry, the Royal Opera House, Shakespeare's Globe, Historic Royal Palaces, Chapel Down, Charlotte Tilbury, Fortnum & Mason, Claridge's, Boodles, Pragnell, Fabergé, The Hippodrome Casino, Elizabeth Gage, Hanover Health Foods, N Peale, David Morris Jewels, The Langham Hotel, Anderson & Sheppard, Berry's Jewellers, Breitling, Clermont Hotel Group, Como Holding, Lumbers, Trotters, Essential Edinburgh Business Improvement District, British Retail Consortium, British Fashion Council, British Beauty Council, Walpole, Heart of London Business Alliance (HOLBA) and UKInbound. The new submission to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport comes as that department is preparing a new Visitor Economy Growth Plan expected to launch this autumn. UK losing out to European destinations AIR's document also 'warns that international visitors are increasingly being driven into the arms of the UK's rivals thanks to the absence of VAT rebates', using new figures showing that in the UK, the post-Covid tourism recovery has been weaker than elsewhere in Europe. How so? Visitor numbers to the UK had by last year recovered to only 96% of their 2019 levels compared with 101.9% in Spain and 100% in France. And the figures for actual tourist spend are even more worrying. In the UK, spending last year stood at 92% of 2019 levels compared to 106% in Spain and 110% in France. So, in the UK fewer visitors are arriving and those that do are spending less than they used to. In Spain and France, a larger or equal number of visitors are arriving and they're spending more. And some of those visitors to France, Spain (and other countries) are British, attracted by being able to shop VAT-free, which they couldn't do before Brexit, so that's even more spend being lost to UK stores. Back in the UK, Visit Britain estimates that shopping accounts for 25% of all international visitor spending, more than any other single item. And to counter government claims that the VAT-free scheme was costing the country money, it added that for every £1 spent in VAT-free shopping, around £4 was spent on goods and services on which VAT was charged and not refunded. As for the close-to-£3.7 billion figure quoted earlier, AIR said that if spending on VAT-free shopping by new EU shopping-led visitors to the UK was at the same level as British VAT-free spending in the EU in 2024, there would be a total additional spend of at least £3.65bn. This would be on top of an estimated £1.5bn of annual spending by non-EU visitors diverted to France, Spain, Italy and other tax-free destinations when VAT rebates were ended. Derrick Hardman, chair of AIR, said: 'With Britain no longer in the EU, we have the opportunity to become the best place in the world for shopping. While the 26 EU countries offer VAT-free shopping to non-EU visitors, including those from the UK, Britain is now in the unique position of being the only major European country where this attraction could also be offered to all 450m EU residents. 'This would give Britain an unchallengeable competitive advantage within Europe. In addition to levelling the playing field with our EU competitor destinations who all offer VAT refunds to non-EU visitors, Britain would have the unique opportunity to create a whole new, shopping-led, EU tourism market. 'These would be additional visitors, spending additional money in hotels, restaurants, and on travel, culture and entertainment, all of which generate additional VAT for the Exchequer.'
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Scrapping 'tourist tax' could unlock a £3.7billion Brexit boost, ministers told
Scrapping the 'tourist tax' could unlock a £3.7billion Brexit boost, ministers have been told. More than 400 business leaders have backed a Mail campaign to bring back the VAT refund scheme for foreign visitors, arguing it would encourage tourists to visit the UK. In a fresh plea, the Association of International Retail (AIR) has told the Government that scrapping the levy would make the UK 'the best place in the world for shopping' and support at least 73,000 new jobs in a Brexit victory. Bosses of firms including Boodles and F. Hinds called on Labour to urgently take a second look at the policy. Instead of spending money in Britain, tourists are flocking to Paris, Milan and Berlin, leaving these economies to reap the rewards at the UK's expense. But reinstating the exemption would mean the UK becomes the only European destination to offer rebates to 450 million EU customers, as well as tourists from elsewhere. Before the initiative was axed in 2021, tourists from outside the EU could receive a 20 per cent refund on purchases in the UK. Now the UK has left the EU and its customs union, EU residents would be able to shop tax-free alongside high-spenders from China and the US if the VAT exemption was restored. This would deliver an additional spend of at least £3.7billion, if VAT-free shopping by EU visitors was at the same level as Britons' spending in the EU last year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been urged to prioritise boosting economic growth at this autumn's Budget amid fears last year's tax raid is stifling jobs and investment. Derrick Hardman, chair of AIR, which represents firms including Bicester Village and Heathrow Airport, said: 'With Britain no longer in the EU, we have the opportunity to become the best place in the world for shopping.' Michael Wainwright, chairman of luxury jeweller Boodles, said: 'We would encourage the Government to look at this urgently, as all the independent analysis... shows a new tax-free shopping scheme would more than pay for itself thanks to the extra spending that would be stimulated.' Campaign supporters include luxury brands Burberry, Mulberry and Harrods, as well as Primark and Marks & Spencer. Angela Rayner has clashed with Rachel Reeves over her calls for councils to able to charge tourists for hotel stays, it was claimed last night. The Deputy Prime Minister has argued in Cabinet for town halls to be given powers to raise the levies. But Treasury officials are opposed to the tax amid fears it would be a fresh blow to hospitality businesses already hit by Labour's tax raids in last year's Budget, the Daily Telegraph reported.
