Latest news with #July14
The Standard
8 hours ago
- General
- The Standard
Indonesia rescues 11 who swam for hours to survive boat capsize
A rescuer uses a torchlight to search for survivors after a boat capsized on July 14 in Indonesia (AP)
CNET
6 days ago
- Business
- CNET
The FTC's 'Click to Cancel' Rule Is Blocked. Here's What That Means for Your Subscriptions
The Click to Cancel rule is supposed to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as it is to sign up for Federal Trade Commission's "click to cancel" rule -- which would have made it easier to cancel unwanted subscriptions -- has been blocked by the US Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The rule was set to take effect on July 14. "Click to cancel" would have required businesses to clearly disclose terms and obtain informed consent before charging for a subscription or membership. It would also have required companies to display when promotional offers or free trials would end and make it as easy to cancel your membership as it is to sign up for one. The appeals court said that the FTC failed to conduct a preliminary regulatory analysis, which is required for rules that could impact the US economy by more than $1 million. "While we certainly do not endorse the use of unfair and deceptive practices in negative option marketing, the procedural deficiencies of the Commission's rulemaking process are fatal here," the court's ruling stated. The court's decision comes after a recent CNET survey found that subscribers are paying an average of $1,080 and wasting $200 per year on unwanted subscriptions. With the FTC rule shot down, it could make it harder for you to cancel unwanted subscriptions. How to cancel unwanted subscriptions Now that the rule is blocked, you may still have to jump through hoops to cancel some of your subscriptions since businesses aren't required to offer clear ways to end a subscription. Pay close attention to your monthly subscriptions and memberships to ensure you aren't paying for unused services. You can identify unwanted subscriptions by combing through your bank account and credit card statements from the past month and looking for recurring charges. If you spot any unwanted subscriptions, log in to your service account and cancel or pause the service. If you're struggling to find an option to cancel, call the service's customer service phone number to end your account. In some cases, like with certain gym memberships, you may be required to cancel in person. If that sounds like too much work, CNET Money editor Kelly Ernst has an easier solution. "The budgeting app I use, Rocket Money, can help you find subscriptions you're not using and cancel them for you. It saved me $400 in 15 minutes." Rocket Money is CNET's pick for best budgeting app, and it comes with both a free and a paid tier. You can have the app look for recurring subscriptions for free. If you'd like it to cancel on your behalf, you'll need to sign up for the paid tier, which starts at just $6 a month.
GSM Arena
06-07-2025
- GSM Arena
Weekly poll results: the vivo X200 FE is a hit
The vivo X200 FE has a big presence for such a small phone – looking at the results from last week's poll, this could be the best mini flagship out there. And yes, it's a mini flagship, less than 5% of voters had issues with the size. Many still haven't made up their minds and are waiting for a review (ours is coming soon). It doesn't help that vivo hasn't confirmed the global pricing yet. That said, the majority of voters are showing strong interest towards the FE. It will compete against the likes of the OnePlus 13s (but the X200 FE wins by default in Europe) and Xiaomi 15 (but that one is certainly the more expensive model). Only around 10% of voters think they can get better value with some other small flagship. That is not to say that the vivo X200 FE didn't have its critics. The 8MP ultra-wide is a letdown for some (the vivo X200 Pro mini has a 50MP UW sensor) as was the USB 2.0 port. The proper launch of the vivo X200 FE (and X Fold5) is scheduled for July 14 for India, so stay tuned for pricing info.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FTC delays enforcement of 'click-to-cancel' for subscriptions by 60 days
May 10 (UPI) -- The Federal Trade Commission has delayed enforcing the Negative Option Rule, which is the "click-to-cancel" option requiring companies to make it as easy to cancel subscriptions and other programs. On Friday, commission members by a 3-0 vote deferred required compliance by 60 days to July 14. "Of course, if that enforcement experience exposes problems with the Rule, the Commission is open to amending the Rule to address any such problems," the commission said in a statement. The rule that went into effect on Jan. 19 that includes physical and digital subscriptions as well marketing, including prenotification plans, continuity plans, automatic renewals and free trial conversion offers. Consumers often found it was difficult to cancel them without a few clicks on a website. The FTC introduced the Negative Option Rule in 1973 to regulate continuity plans, automatic renewals and free trial offers, regardless of whether they appeared online, on the phone or in person. The amendments to the Negative Option Rule strengthen the rule. The amendments "require companies that sign consumers up for recurring charges to clearly and conspicuously disclose all material terms of the transaction and to obtain express informed consent to a negative-option feature. And they prohibit companies from making it any more difficult for consumers to cancel than it was to sign up." Companies also must provide relevant information about cancellation before they collect customers' money. Because of concerns "it would take a substantial amount of time to come into compliance," the agency originally deferred it until May 14, the commission said. After "a fresh assessment of the burdens that forcing compliance by this date would impose," it was delayed another 60 days. The amended rule was first proposed in 2023. The Eighth Circuit is considering a challenge to the rule by industry groups. The court declined to stay the implementation dates in January. That circuit includes seven Plains states.
Shafaq News
14-02-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Baghdad's hidden history: inside Mesopotamia museum
Shafaq News/ The Baghdad Cultural Center, located on Al-Mutanabbi Street, hosts several privately curated collections that showcase Iraq's rich history, preserved through the efforts of individuals without institutional support. One such collection is the Mesopotamia museum, curated by archivist Sabah al-Saadi. Founded in 2019, it offers a variety of exhibits, including paintings, heritage tools, newspapers, manuscripts, and rare documents. "Each piece tells a story of Iraq's past, and it's my mission to ensure these stories are not lost," al-Saadi said. The collection also features artifacts from notable scientific, political, and intellectual figures. The museum is open every Friday and welcomes both local and international visitors free of charge, with the added benefit of allowing photography. Having coordinated with authorities to secure a space within the government-owned cultural center, al-Saadi has gathered over 500 rare items. Among these are possessions once owned by King Faisal I and his son, King Ghazi, as well as a photograph of Gertrude Bell, a key figure in modern Iraq's political formation. "We must preserve these artifacts as they are a testament to Iraq's complex history and its place in the world," he emphasized. The museum also displays rifles from the 1920 revolution, vintage newspapers, and an ancient transport vessel known as a "Kuffa," an early form of transportation made from bitumen. Another significant item is the "Jirjir," a traditional threshing implement once pulled by animals to separate grains from stalks. One particularly unique item is a silk carpet crafted by prisoners during the monarchy era to support their families. Another notable piece is a 30-40 kg bronze artifact commemorating the July 14, 1958 revolution, which was lost after 2003 but later recovered from a scrap metal foundry. "It's miraculous that some items have survived and made it back into the collection," al-Saadi said. His personal collection includes a 1928 Chevrolet once owned by Iraqi merchant Badri Dabash Samir and purchased at a US embassy auction. While he estimates the museum holds over 500 rare items, he keeps many valuable pieces at home for fear of them going missing. "Some treasures are too precious to be left on display," he shared. Al-Saadi's passion for preserving Iraq's heritage stems from his roots in Al-Kadhimiyah, a district rich in historical significance. "Growing up in Al-Kadhimiyah, I witnessed the importance of safeguarding our cultural identity," he reflected. Over the years, he has contributed artifacts to various institutions, including gifting two gold-plated Qurans to the Al-Kadhimiyah Shrine. His efforts were recognized by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who praised his dedication to preserving Iraq's cultural legacy.
