DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Thapa, who was arrested in Southern California, faces one count of wire fraud. Prosecutors said Thapa traveled to Italy in July 2019 to sell some of the company's native cryptocurrency without authorization for what turned out to be counterfeit money. Thapa could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the wire fraud charge. Headquartered in New Jersey, Blockparty began as a platform for blockchain-based event ticketing, and launched a marketplace for non-fungible tokens or NFTs in 2020, according to the company's website. NFTs are a blockchain-based asset representing a digital file such as an image, video or item in an online game.

☆ Ex-'socialite heiressblogger' Emily Brill is back — and she's terrorizing the pet industry
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Kate Taylor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Emily Brill might be the most hated woman in the pet industry. Now, Brill — the preppy blond daughter of the media magnate Steven Brill — is reinventing herself as the founder of the dog-centric publication The Canine Review. Courtesy of Emily Brill Show less One reader even threatened to cancel their subscription because of the so-called bird-massacre photo shoot. Courtesy of Emily Brill Show less Brill says the photos reassure readers that "I'm not a stereotypical sort of Manhattan, head-up-my-ass, agenda, PETA person." It isn't a bad start, but "she's got a long way to go to make it really thrive," Steven Brill told Insider.

☆ Real ID deadline for air travel extended another two years
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Colbi Edmonds | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

The Department of Homeland Security announced Monday that it is extending the deadline to require Real ID-compliant identification for air travelers, pushing the start date from May 3, 2023, to May 7, 2025. The extension will give states more time to ensure residents have driver's licenses and identification cards that comply with enhanced security standards under the Real ID Act. The deadline for the new IDs has already been extended previously. Congress passed the new standards as part of the Real ID Act in 2005, based on a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. The enhanced security standards for state-issued identification cards and driver's licenses aim to make IDs harder to counterfeit and allow records checks.

☆ Minneapolis to pay $50,000 each to 12 injured by police during Floyd protests
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 1 (Reuters) - The city of Minneapolis will pay $50,000 each to 12 people injured by police during demonstrations that erupted after a white officer killed George Floyd by pinning the 46-year-old Black man's neck to the ground with a knee, court records show. The settlement requires body cameras worn by Minneapolis police to be recording and unobstructed when they engage with protesters, court records showed. "This agreement is a big step towards keeping peaceful protesters safe from police violence. The 12 plaintiffs suffered injuries including bruising from less-lethal munitions, lingering respiratory issues from tear gas and psychological trauma, the ACLU said. The Minneapolis City Council approved the settlement on Oct. 20 and Mayor Jacob Frey signed it six days later, local media reported.

☆ Feds charge 21 people in global crypto money laundering bust
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A member of the US Secret Service speaks on a cellphone as US President-elect Donald Trump attends meetings at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, November 10, 2016. The charges were unsealed as part of "Operation Crypto Runner," which was established by U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston of the Eastern District of Texas, the Secret Service and the U.S. We are committed to bringing each of the remaining perpetrators to justice," Secret Service Special Agent William Smarr said. "This case proves that we can track these people down and charge them," Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Bill Mack told CNBC's Eamon Javers. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas also shared further details about some of the individuals named in indictments or who had pled guilty.

☆ Nigerians unimpressed with resigned Naira banknotes
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says that the redesigned notes will replace notes currently in circulation by Jan. 2023. But many locals are not impressed, describing the supposedly redesigned banknotes as a mere color revamp, given their similarities to the old notes. “Snapchat filter, waste of time and resources, so a whole CBN cannot employ experts to redesign the naira notes. The Nigerian leader added that replacing the current currency with the redesigned notes will help to combat the hoarding of funds outside of the banking system. Old naira notes will be completely phased away by the end of January next year, the CBN says, as locals scramble to deposit their old notes at commercial banks.

☆ Drake, 21 Savage agree not to use 'Vogue' trademarks to promote No. 1 album
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Rapper Drake arrives on the red carpet for the film "The Carter Effect" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in Toronto, Canada, September 9, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File PhotoNEW YORK, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Drake and 21 Savage have stopped using Vogue trademarks to promote their new No. 1 album "Her Loss," and agreed to a preliminary injunction against resuming their campaign. Drake and 21 Savage did not concede liability or wrongdoing, and agreed to the injunction to avoid unnecessary costs, the filing said. The fake Vogue magazine featured Drake and 21 Savage on the cover, and their campaign included a suggestion that they had support from longtime Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

☆ Parents beware: Dangerous, recalled toys are still on sale
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Parija Kavilanz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The 37th annual “Trouble in Toyland” toy safety report by Washington-based US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) warned parents to be especially mindful of this hidden danger. PIRG said that in October it was able to buy more than 30 recalled toys from several US-based online sellers, noting that it is illegal for retailers and online marketplaces to sell toys that have been recalled. “None of the other sellers flagged, stopped or sent a warning about any of our other purchases of recalled toys,” the report said. Consumer watchdog group US PIRG warns that dangerous recalled toys are still available for purchase online. The recall covered a variety of the plush duck characters, including Accident Duck, Business Duck, Fishing Duck, Police Duck, PGA Duck, One Day Pay Duck, Heisman Duck and Lifeguard Duck.

☆ Adderall users struggle amid ongoing medication shortage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Raenu Charles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A report from data analytics firm Trilliant Health found that nationally, prescriptions for Adderall among people ages 22 to 44 increased 15% between 2020 and 2021. “I’ve had patients call 10,15, 20 pharmacies in order to get their medication,” Goodman said. Clara is headed to her doctor to seek an alternative medication until Adderall is back in stock. It took five days for his pharmacy to fill his prescription in late October, and those days took a toll. Goodman strongly warns against this, offering a reminder that not only is selling your own prescription medication a felony, so is sharing it with others.

☆ Still not sure what crypto is? Join the club
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The original crypto, bitcoin, emerged in 2009, out of the ashes of the worst financial crisis in modern history. The term “crypto” harkens to the way the networks are secured, using cryptographic systems (think: really, really elaborate encryptions) that make the tokens virtually impossible to counterfeit. Once the transaction is verified by the network it is stored — forever — in an immutable “block.”Bottom line: Blockchain is the underlying technology of the crypto world. And like, sure, people are starting to adopt blockchain systems outside the world of crypto, and they do seem to hold promise. The bitcoin network went public in 2009, created by an anonymous developer (or group of developers) using the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

☆ Rappers Drake and 21 Savage could pay millions from their new 'Her Loss' album profits to Vogue in lawsuit over fake magazine cover
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rappers Drake and 21 Savage have been hit with a lawsuit from 'Vogue' magazine publisher Condé Nast. Condé Nast alleges its counsel demanded the pair "cease their infringing activities" as early as Oct. 31, but nothing was done, the suit reads. The duo's fake NPR Tiny Desk concert posted to Twitter was much more well received by its originator. It's unclear whether or not Drake and 21 Savage sold fake Vogue magazines for profit, but copies were distributed in several cities. And none of it has been authorized by Condé Nast," the Vogue publisher said in the lawsuit.

REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File PhotoNEW YORK, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday has blocked the rappers Drake and 21 Savage from using fake copies of Vogue magazine to promote their new album. Conde Nast said Drake and 21 Savage had no permission to create the counterfeit magazine, which features them on the cover, to promote their album "Her Loss," or suggest Vogue's longtime editor-in-chief Anna Wintour supported them. Wednesday's order requires Drake, a Toronto native, and 21 Savage, from Atlanta, to stop distributing the fake magazine and cover, including on social media. Conde Nast said the defendants distributed the bogus Vogue issue in major metropolitan areas, with posters plastered on streets and buildings. The publisher, also known as Advance Magazine Publishers Inc, is seeking at least $4 million in damages.

The publisher of Vogue magazine has sued rappers Drake and 21 Savage for promoting their new album using a fake Vogue cover and the magazine’s name without authorization, according to a lawsuit filed on Monday. And none of it has been authorized by Condé Nast,” the publisher alleges in its lawsuit. “Vogue magazine and its Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour have had no involvement in Her Loss or its promotion, and have not endorsed it in any way.”A representative for Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, declined comment. Their “deceptive campaign” has caused unmistakable confusion over the veracity of the magazine cover and “underscores the tremendous value that a cover feature in Vogue magazine carries,” the lawsuit stated. The distribution of a fake Vogue cover is among several spoofs the rappers rolled out in support of their album release.

REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File PhotoCompanies Conde Nast Publications Inc FollowNEW YORK, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Drake and 21 Savage have been sued by Conde Nast, the publisher of Vogue magazine, for using the Vogue name without permission to promote their new album "Her Loss." And none of it has been authorized by Conde Nast," according to the complaint filed on Monday night in Manhattan federal court. It said the result was "unmistakable" confusion among the public, including media that touted Drake and 21 Savage as Vogue's "new cover stars." Conde Nast, also known as Advance Magazine Publishers Inc, is seeking at least $4 million in damages, or triple the defendants' profits from their album and "counterfeit" magazine. Conde Nast said it had tried repeatedly since Oct. 31 to resolve its differences with Drake, a Toronto native, and 21 Savage, from Atlanta.

☆ U.S. imposes sanctions on oil smuggling network backing Iran's Quds Force, Hezbollah
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Daphne Psaledakis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday issued sanctions against an international oil smuggling network it said supports Hezbollah and Iran's Quds Force, targeting dozens of people, companies and tankers as Washington sought to mount pressure on Tehran. The latest U.S. move against Iranian oil smuggling comes as efforts to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal have stalled and ties between the Islamic Republic and the West are increasingly strained as Iranians keep up anti-government protests. Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The move targeted a Gulf-based network that the Treasury said as of mid-2022 were blending and exporting Iranian oil. The 2015 agreement limited Iran's uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms in return for lifting international sanctions.

☆ Bethenny Frankel: I went from a 'Real Housewife' to a credible businesswoman. It took me a while to realize my success wasn't a fluke.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Eboni Boykin-Patterson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I used to joke and say I'm a beauty influencer. It took a while for me to realize that my success wasn't a fluke and that I wasn't a one hit wonder. Now that I've proven myself in business, I'm actually ready to switch gears. As a mother, I think accountability is what I'm talking about, because these toxic messages are being sent to my daughter. I may not always know what the hell I'm talking about, but we're going to figure it out together.

☆ Youth was no barrier to success for this founder of a multimillion-dollar startup. She shares 3 tips
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But that didn't stop Chrisanti Indiana — who was just 24 years old when she co-founded Social Bella. "You have nothing to lose, that's actually the benefit of starting young," said Chrisanti Indiana, who launched her startup Social Bella when she was 24 years old. Social Bella started out as an e-commerce platform called Sociolla. Social Bella was founded in 2015 by Chrisanti Indiana, her brother and president Christopher Madiam (left) and CEO John Rasjid (right). Social Bella

☆ How Indonesia's counterfeit problem spurred a multi-million dollar beauty business
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow Indonesia's counterfeit problem spurred a multi-million dollar beauty businessChrisanti Indiana co-founded Social Bella in 2015, which started off as an Indonesian e-commerce platform that sells beauty products from global brands. It has since expanded to more than 60 brick-and-mortar shops, offering consumers an "omni-channel" shopping experience. CNBC Make It's Goh Chiew Tong speaks to the 31-year-old to find out how she grew her startup into a multi-million company.

☆ This millennial took a gamble during the pandemic. Now her startup has raised over $225 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Goh Chiew Tong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"A lot of people actually told us that it's a very bold move to actually open an offline presence, while everybody was closing their offline stores [during the pandemic]," she added. But that was a "well-calculated" move for Social Bella, which operates Sociolla. Indiana, the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Social Bella, tells CNBC Make It how she took her Jakarta-based startup to the next level. The makeup junkie realized that in Australia, she had easy access to a wide range of beauty products from international brands. On top of that, the business also operates Soco, which Social Bella says is Indonesia's largest online review service for beauty products.

☆ I'm a pawnbroker. Here's how I deal with shady customers, fakes, and the occasional boa constrictor.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Ingrid Cruz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I've been the president of the Mississippi Pawnbrokers Association for four years, and prior to that, I was a board member. Gas prices are also a common reason why people sell or pawn items now. When setting prices to buy an item, the pawnbroker has to make sure the client doesn't want to return for it. If a person wants to sell an item, we only have to hold onto it for 14 days. You used to have to check newspapers on Sundays to check an item's worth.

☆ Conservationists are using artificial intelligence to map out the best ways for saving threatened wildlife and resources
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AI tools can help with efforts like identifying tracks to better understand animal populations. Using AI can help conservationists more wisely deploy scarce resources. So Jewell, a cofounder of the US nonprofit WildTrack, turned to artificial intelligence to help identify animal tracks using photos. Yet the AI system Jewell and her collaborators developed can so far identify dozens of animal species with more than 90% accuracy. "The things that limit AI can be augmented with that human input," Jewell said, "the AI can definitely learn from the skills of the trackers."

☆ I’ve been following a woman around the internet. Turns out she was created by artificial intelligence.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Evan Ratliff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +31 min

Even in their first efforts, the GAN images were quickly on par with those made by any other, less intelligent software. You can find the results on the Generated Photos site, where you can filter by ethnicity, age, sex, eye color, and other attributes. Generated Photos' GANs tend to match conventional beauty standards, a product of the models that have been fed to the software. I'm not sure anyone would be surprised to find fake images accompanying testimonials on an Estonian bitcoin exchange or an online CBD seller. Are they real people deploying fake images, or fake people deploying fake images?

☆ Los Angeles Angels Employee Who Supplied Deadly Drugs to Tyler Skaggs Sentenced to 22 Years
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Louise Radnofsky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Former Los Angeles Angels communications executive Eric Kay was sentenced Tuesday to 22 years in prison for supplying the opioid drugs that killed Tyler Skaggs, a pitcher on the team, in 2019. Kay was convicted of two felony charges by a federal jury in Fort Worth, Texas in February: providing Skaggs with counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that resulted in his death, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute. Kay, then 47 years old, was facing a minimum sentence of 20 years.

☆ Nike moves to curb automated bots and resale market with penalties
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Nike shoes are displayed on a shelf a Nike factory store on June 28, 2022 in Milpitas, California. Nike is taking steps to curb the proliferation of sneaker-buying bots and resellers. Previous versions of Nike's terms already prohibited buying products for resale. Nike also added that it can decline refunds, charge restocking fees and suspend the accounts of users it suspects of reselling. Earlier this year, Nike took legal action against online resale marketplace StockX for allegedly allowing sales of counterfeit versions of its sneakers.

☆ In one North Carolina community, mental health workers respond to 911 calls
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Nadia Kounang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

As one recent caller to the 911 center in Durham, North Carolina, said: “I feel kind of dangerous to myself. It’s often linked to someone who is unhoused and dealing with substance use and mental health problems. The most significant concern: a lack of training and awareness from police on how to deal with mental health issues. The KFF CNN Mental Health Survey was conducted by SSRS from July 28 through August 9 among a random national sample of 2,004 adults. Mental health already carries a stigma, and the presence of law enforcement officers in marked cars can add to that.

Search resuls for: "Counterfeit"

25 mentions found