Tens of thousands of online pharmacies operate illegally, sell fake drugs: Report
A new U.S. government report reveals an overwhelming majority of online pharmacies are violating the law, selling counterfeit and potentially dangerous medications. The U.S. Trade Representative’s annual “Notorious Markets List,” released this week, shines a spotlight on the illegal pharmacy trade, which continues to threaten public health.
According to the 2024 report, 96% of the 35,000 online pharmacies are operating illegally while selling fake drugs to unsuspecting consumers. U.S. officials estimate that 20 new fake pharmacy websites are launched daily, selling medications without proper licenses or prescriptions.
“Counterfeiting and piracy is a shared global concern, harming people not just in the United States but also other countries,” said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a statement.
As digital shopping grows in popularity, many Americans have turned to the internet to purchase prescriptions. The surge in online pharmacy use accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic when home delivery of medications became a vital service. This trend follows the closure of 7,000 physical pharmacies nationwide since 2019.
The report also highlights 19 countries identified as key sources of counterfeit products. They include Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, China and India. These nations are considered hubs for counterfeit goods through physical markets.
Additionally, the report draws attention to popular e-commerce platforms that sell counterfeit products, including clothing, shoes and beauty items. TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, operates a Chinese app called Douyin Mall, which the report claims facilitates significant counterfeit sales.
U.S. officials are calling for stronger enforcement measures from global leaders. They’re urging for enhanced border security and tougher criminal penalties to combat counterfeit drugs.
Tiger Woods’ Sun Day Red apparel brand sued by Puma over logo
Sun Day Red, Tiger Woods’s new apparel company, launched earlier this year and continues to fight legal battles over its logo. Sneaker giant Puma is the latest competitor to file suit against the brand.
The German company says the Sun Day Red logo is too similar to the mark that Puma has been using since 1969.
During a promotional tour last spring, Woods appeared on the “Today Show,” where he explained the stripes on the logo.
“If you look at the stripes, there’s 15 stripes and as you alluded to earlier, I’ve won 15 major championships,” Woods said.
It started with a passion. The passion of competing. Of competing against ourselves. The field. The course. Life. Out of that passion, Sun Day Red rises.
Woods named the brand Sun Day Red to capitalize on his tradition of wearing red while playing on Sundays during the final round of most golf tournaments.
TaylorMade, the golf brand that works with Woods on the apparel line, was sued in September by Tigeraire. The company, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, manufactures cooling products. They claim Sun Day Red “unlawfully hijacked” the design of its branding.
TaylorMade responded to the challenge by arguing in part, “There is no likelihood of consumer confusion between the two companies.”
However, Puma’s filing points out a distinct issue in its complaint. “Due to the confusing similarity of the marks and the closely related nature of the goods and services of the parties, consumer confusion is likely between the Challenged Marks and the Leaping Cat logo,” the complaint says.
Woods has been busy lately. He launched the apparel line and his new indoor TGL Golf league, which debuted on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
The 15-time major winner plans to play in a few PGA Tour events this year, including The Masters in April. He’ll most likely wear his new apparel while the logo challenges are pending in the courts.
California wildfires causing $57 billion in damage as providers canceled insurance
The devastating southern California wildfires could cause between $52 billion and $57 billion in economic losses, according to experts at AccuWeather. But homeowners affected have unique insurance factors in play as they try to put their lives back together. In the months leading up to the disaster, many affected homeowners lost their original insurance coverage.
There are at least five fires covering more than 45 square miles affecting the region. The Palisades Fire is the biggest, burning through nearly 27 square miles and destroying more than 1,000 buildings. As of the morning on Thursday, Jan. 9, it was zero percent contained and being called the most destructive fire in Los Angeles’ history.
“Should a large number of additional structures be burned in the coming days, it may become the worst wildfire in modern California history, based on the number of structures burned and economic loss,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathon Porter said.
In the wake of the devastation, homeowners in the area will face an uphill battle to rebuild. State Farm, a major insurer in the state, reportedly canceled hundreds of policies for homes in the Pacific Palisades over the summer to avoid “financial failure.”
“Insurance is a social good,” said Chuck Nyce, a professor of risk management and insurance at Florida State University. “It is really good at covering a loss that you may have when a bunch of other people who have the same exposure to it don’t have the loss at the same time. For one person who has an auto accident, there are hundreds of people who are insured who don’t have an accident at the same time.”
“When you have these things like wildfires or hurricanes or floods, and the loss affects a large portion of the population, especially in a very small geographical area at the same time, insurance works, but it doesn’t work as well,” Nyce said. “It becomes more expensive and the losses to the insurance company, when they become what they call ‘correlated,’ it makes insurance companies’ cost of capital higher, it makes their losses higher, it makes them more reluctant to do a large volume of business in a specific area.”
Filling the insurance void
Insurers have been backing out of the area as wildfires become more frequent and destructive. But there are options for those who can’t find private coverage in their communities.
“Every state has some type of a residual market called a FAIR plan. In most states, that will enable you to get access to that insurance, even if the private market is not willing to provide it,” Nyce said.
In California, Fair Access to Insurance Requirements “is a syndicated fire insurance pool comprised of all insurers licensed to conduct property/casualty business in California.” The program uses no public or taxpayer funding. But that doesn’t stop the cost from being spread to policyholders throughout the state.
“States have a variety of different ways in which they fund their FAIR plans. Some of them just allocate those policies to insurance companies,” Nyce said. “Other ones, what they’ll do is they will bill the insurance companies for losses that the FAIR plan absorbs. And if that’s the case in many states, what those insurance companies do, they can pass through those additional losses that they’re paying to the FAIR Plan to their current policyholders. So even though the state’s not paying for it, the citizens of that state are paying for it.”
The number of California FAIR policies has doubled between 2020 and 2024, reaching more than 450,000 customers, as insurers dialed back coverage in fire-ravaged regions. Since 2020, FAIR’s insurance exposure has surged from $153.43 billion to more than $458.08 billion, a 200% increase.
Nyce said all of this will eventually result in a secondary problem for people seeking homeowner policies.
“Price, availability, affordability, these are all issues that are going to be on the docket for California, probably for the next 10 or 20 years, with regard to insurance.”
“Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “This home is where we built so many precious memories … My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires.”
Despite the fact that many homeowners in the Palisades Fire have the means to recover, Nyce still says it’s not a good idea to go without insurance.
“These are some of the wealthiest homes in the country, some of the most expensive homes in the country, they can afford it, then they should be able to afford their insurance premiums,” he contended.
What does Trump want with Greenland when US already has military control?
President-elect Donald Trump is threatening military and economic force against Denmark to gain control of Greenland. The autonomous territory is part of the Denmark kingdom, while the U.S. has maintained a military presence there since World War II.
“We need it for national security. That’s for the free world. I’m talking about protecting the free world,” Trump said this week.
He threatened to “tariff Denmark at a very high level” if it acted against him.
“We’re sitting in Denmark and thinking, ‘What’s he talking about? He already has military control,’” said Peter Viggo Jakobsen, a lecturer at the Royal Danish Defence College and expert on U.S.-Danish relations.
What’s he talking about? He already has military control.
Peter Viggo Jakobsen, Royal Danish Defence College
Trump’s threats have stunned the close U.S. ally, which Jakobsen says has Denmark “holding their breath and waiting” until Trump takes office.
“When Trump talks about military control of Greenland, then he probably missed a history lesson or two, because the U.S. already has military control of Greenland,” Jakobsen said.
Since WWII, the U.S. has been allowed to operate military bases in Greenland. Currently, the U.S. has Pituffik Space Base, formerly known as Thule Air Base.
“If you get into a military confrontation with Russia and Russia decides to fire a nuclear missile from Russia towards the United States, then the shortest route for a missile is crossing over Greenland,” Jakobsen explained. “And that is, of course, why the United States, back during the Cold War, established the Thule Air Base where they have this warning radar that will enable the U.S. to get a warning if Russia should decide to fire missiles against the United States.
“So it’s a vital part of the warning chain that the U.S. established during the Cold War to keep the American homeland safe,” he continued. “So, for that reason, it has become increasingly important as the relationship between the United States and Russia has deteriorated after the Russian decision to take Crimea and start the war on Ukraine in 2014.”
Jakobsen said under the current agreement between Denmark, Greenland and the U.S., the U.S. could expand its military presence or add additional military bases in Greenland simply by consulting and informing Copenhagen and Nuuk. With this in mind, Jakobsen said Denmark doesn’t understand what more Trump wants.
“At the moment, he only has to pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey, I would like another installation here. Could you please fix it?’ And that may also be what he has in mind, but we have no clue,” Jakobsen said.
However, should the U.S. gain control of Greenland over Denmark, Jakobsen points out that the U.S. would also have to take over the subsidies Denmark provides.
“In Greenland, they can’t afford to run their own state and they’re getting huge subsidies every year from the Danish state,” he said. “So on the one hand you have the Greenlanders wanting to decide everything themselves, but they still want Denmark to pay for it.”
“They can choose between being subsidized by Denmark or being subsidized by the United States because they cannot generate enough revenue of their own, either from mining or fishing or tourism, to basically pay for the subsidies that they are currently receiving from Copenhagen,” he added.
In the end, Jakobsen said controlling Greenland is not that strategically important from the Danish perspective, though he acknowledged a lot of Danes and politicians would disagree with that statement. He said the most important facet of Greenland is that it gives Denmark special access to the U.S.
“We can offer the United States something they want and we have these meetings in the Arctic Council and so on,” he said. “If Greenland were to go independent, I really don’t see that as a major strategic loss from the Danish perspective. Denmark would still be a valuable ally for the U.S. because we also control the straits that give you access to the Baltic Sea.”
Delta introduces new in-flight perks, announces YouTube partnership
Delta Air Lines has unveiled new perks for those looking to fly. The airline announced innovative updates to its in-flight experience during its 100th-anniversary celebration at CES.
The airline is soon phasing out wired headphones on its flights. The new in-flight entertainment system includes a partnership with YouTube, offering SkyMiles members ad-free access to their favorite creators, music and podcasts while flying.
AI-powered travel assistant
Delta also unveiled its new “assistant” powered by artificial intelligence, Delta Concierge, which is on track to roll out this year. The assistant will provide travel guidance, including passport expiration alerts and visa requirement updates, enhancing the customer experience.
Collaboration with Thales Aviation
The airline is teaming up with aerospace technology company Thales Aviation. This partnership aims to improve air traffic management and elevate in-flight entertainment.
Starting in 2026, Delta plans to roll out hardware and software upgrades, including:
4K HDR QLED displays.
Bluetooth capabilities in all cabins.
96-terabyte storage system for content and streaming.
Recommendation engine to tailor content to customer preferences.
“Do Not Disturb” seat back feature.
“Whether through fast, free Wi-Fi, our industry-leading seat back screens, or other personalized channels in Delta’s digital ecosystem, we’re committed to creating a seamless and enriching experience for our SkyMiles members,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
Earn miles with Uber
Delta’s new partnership with Uber offers SkyMiles members 15% off all Uber rides to and from the airport. Customers can join the waitlist now to receive the latest updates on this feature.
Biden plans final push to limit Nvidia advanced chip exports: Report
President Joe Biden is reportedly planning one last artificial intelligence chip restriction that would hit major companies, including the second most valuable in the world, Nvidia. It’s his final push to control the spread of U.S. made chips to China and Russia before leaving office.
According to Bloomberg, the restrictions are expected to have a broad and expansive impact. The U.S. is trying to restrict advanced chip sales to data centers in entire countries and specific companies.
Bloomberg sources say the goal is to concentrate AI development in allied nations, and urge global businesses to center on American standards. Bloomberg said the regulations could be announced as soon as Friday, Jan. 10, and would come in a three-tier system, granting virtually unlimited access to American chips for key allies, while adversaries would be largely cut off.
Most other countries would face limits on total computing power, though higher caps could be granted if they agree to certain U.S. standards.
Nvidia is naturally at the center of this back and forth. The U.S. previously banned the company from shipping its most high-tech products to China in 2022. After the U.S. expanded those curbs, China hit Nvidia with an antitrust investigation last month. Now, the company tells Bloomberg it objects to Biden’s latest proposal.
“A last-minute rule restricting exports to most of the world would be a major shift in policy that would not reduce the risk of misuse but would threaten economic growth and U.S. leadership,” a spokesperson for Nvidia said.
41% of global companies could cut workforce in favor of AI by 2030: Report
Futuristic sci-fi movies have warned of technology taking over for decades. Now, that technology may actually be replacing humans — with 41% of companies worldwide planning to cut their workforce by 2030 in favor of artificial intelligence.
Out of the hundreds of large global companies surveyed for the report, 77% said they’re planning to reskill or upskill current employees to work better alongside AI.
So, how does one compete with a computer? Know thy enemy.
Postal service clerks, executive secretaries and payroll clerks are among the employees expected to see their numbers drop drastically in the next few years, whether due to the spread of AI, or other trends.
The report also found that, for the first time ever, graphic designers and legal secretaries’ jobs are among the fastest declining job roles. The report said this decline may be an example of AI’s “increasing capacity to complete knowledge work” — like creating original text, images and other content in response to prompts from users.
There are just some things a computer can’t do, however. The report predicts a significant increase in demand for jobs that call for a little human touch, like nursing and teaching.
The United States Maritime Alliance, which represents ship lines and port operators, and union International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) said they’ve agreed on a six-year deal. However, the agreement is not official until ratified by union members.
The ILA represents 50,000 members who fill 25,000 jobs at 14 ports from Maine to Texas. If a deal wasn’t reached, port workers threatened to go on strike next Thursday, Jan. 16.
Details of the agreement have yet to be publicly released, but sources close to the matter said it addresses a key sticking point for workers: automation.
In October, Longshoremen agreed to a wage increase of 62% over six years, and the two sides pushed other issues into 2025 to end a three-day strike.
5 dead, thousands of homes destroyed as fires rip through Los Angeles area
Five wildfires now burn in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, leaving death, destruction and devastation in their paths. And the infernos led President Joe Biden to cancel his final international trip in office. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
5 dead, thousands of homes destroyed as fires rip through Los Angeles area
At least five wildfires were burning in the heavily populated Los Angeles area of California on Thursday, Jan. 9, destroying thousands of homes and putting millions of lives in danger. At least five people died from the blaze and more than 100,000 evacuated their homes.
Dry conditions and strong winds continue to fuel the flames.
The newest fire, the Sunset Fire, sparked Wednesday night in the famous Hollywood Hills region. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department’s latest update at 11:50 p.m. PST on Wednesday, the blaze engulfed 60 acres at 0% contained.
The Palisades Fire remains the biggest threat, covering over 17,000 acres at 0% containment.
Officials said it destroyed at least 1,000 buildings, making it the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history.
The deadly Eaton Fire near Pasadena and Altadena spanned more than 10,000 acres at 0% contained. All five reported deaths were linked to the Eaton Fire.
Fire crews made headway on the Hurst Fire in the San Fernando Valley, containing about 10% of the blaze that spread to almost 900 acres, according to CalFire.
Crews made the most progress in fighting the Lidia Fire in Acton, about 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. That fire scorched about 350 acres, but CalFire said it was 40% contained.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said more than 7,500 firefighters, including crews from Oregon, New Mexico, and Washington state, are battling the flames.
More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California's ongoing historic wildfires.
Southern California residents — please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you're…
While mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for certain areas, officials told everyone in the area to pack a go-bag and be prepared to leave.
Celebrities among victims to lose homes in California wildfires
With tens of thousands of people impacted by the ongoing wildfires in California, come countless personal stories of loss, grief, shock and, in some cases, gratitude. Among those affected in the Los Angeles County and Hollywood area are some famous names.
Celebrities shared their accounts of the devastating scenes, something many said is like out of a movie.
“This Is Us” star Mandy Moore posted videos to her Instagram account of the fiery destruction in Altadena, writing, “I love you, Altadena. Grateful for my family and pets getting out last night before it was too late. Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all, so many have lost, including my family … our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.”
“Seeing our home burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience. The devastation is unimaginable. To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking,” Hilton wrote.
Actor Billy Crystal released a statement with his wife after losing his Pacific Palisades home.
“Janice and I lived in our home since 1979,” Crystal said. “We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”
James Woods, who once starred on the television show “Shark,” openly wept in a CNN interview as he talked about his immense loss and the search for his neighbors.
As the fires spread across the hub of the entertainment world, organizers postponed multiple movie premieres, TV productions and award shows.
The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 12, have been moved to Jan. 26. The Oscar nominations announcement was pushed back two days to Jan. 19.
An NHL hockey game involving the Los Angeles Kings was postponed Wednesday night. The NFL said it is monitoring the conditions as the Los Angeles Rams are slated to host a playoff game Monday night, Jan. 13.
Biden to deliver eulogy at Carter’s funeral, Trump to attend
On Thursday afternoon, President Joe Biden will deliver the eulogy at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral.
President-elect Donald Trump will also attend the funeral. Trump, along with his wife Melania, were among those to pay their respects as the 39th president was lying in state at the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday.
After the funeral, Carter’s body will take one final trip back to his home state of Georgia where he will be buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn.
While in Washington on Wednesday, Trump held a private meeting with Republican senators at the Capitol to discuss a strategy for top priorities heading into his second term. While speaking to reporters, Trump called the wildfires in California “a true tragedy.”
Biden announced Wednesday he canceled his final international trip of his presidency. He said he will remain in Washington, D.C., to monitor the deadly fires in Southern California.
Biden was set to take part in a three-day trip to Rome and the Vatican where he would meet with Pope Francis and the Italian president. His announcement came just hours after meeting his first great-grandchild, born at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Capitol police arrest man who brought machete to Jimmy Carter viewing
As thousands of Americans paid their respects to Carter at the Capitol, authorities arrested a man Wednesday at a security screening for people waiting to view the late president as he lies in state in Washington.
Capitol police said the man, identified as Washington resident Mel Horne, carried a machete and three knives in a bag. Authorities spotted the weapons as the bag went through an X-ray machine. Horne now faces multiple charges of carrying a dangerous weapon.
Capitol police also said officers arrested a Virginia man who lit a bag containing accelerants on fire on top of his car near the Capitol. They do not believe the two incidents were connected.
Port strike averted after tentative deal reached
Longshoremen reached a tentative new contract deal Wednesday with shipping and port companies along the East and Gulf Coasts of the U.S., averting a potentially crippling strike for now.
The United States Maritime Alliance, which represents ship lines and port operators, and union International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) said they’ve agreed on a six-year deal. However, the agreement is not official until ratified by union members.
The ILA represents 50,000 members who fill 25,000 jobs at 14 ports from Maine to Texas. If this deal wasn’t reached, port workers were set to go on strike beginning next Thursday, Jan. 16.
Details of the agreement have not yet been publicly released, but sources close to the matter said it addresses a key sticking point for workers: automation.
In October, Longshoremen agreed to a wage increase of 62% over six years, and the two sides pushed other issues into 2025 to end a three-day strike.
Airbnb.org providing free, temporary housing for displaced California residents
Airbnb.org, the nonprofit founded by Airbnb, is providing free, temporary housing for people displaced by the Los Angeles County fires. The organization partnered with the non-profit 211 LA to connect those who lost their homes or have been forced to evacuate with a free place to stay.
Elon Musk’s expanding Vegas Loop operating with little oversight: Report
Elon Musk‘s experiment in underground, electric vehicle-powered public transportation in Las Vegas is expanding. However, according to a ProPublica report, the Vegas Loop project is flying under the radar with very little government oversight.
The news outlet said because the project is privately operated and gets no federal funding, it’s spared from the typical government vetting and environmental analyses.
The Boring Company, founded by Musk, launched the service in 2021. The project started at the Las Vegas Convention Center with plans for more growth underway in other areas including the Las Vegas Strip and McCarran Airport.
The head of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority called the loop project the only feasible option to ease traffic. The Clark County Commission and Las Vegas City Council granted Boring permission to build and operate the system underground without any public debate.
This approval allowed the transportation to run close to homes and businesses. It also bypassed the normal checks and balances that apply to major public transit projects.
According to records obtained by ProPublica and City Cast Las Vegas, Boring has also gotten around environmental and labor regulations by installing tunnels without work permits on county property twice. The company also dumped untreated water into storm drains and the sewer system.
The county did give Boring cease-and-desist letters, but no fines were issued.
In 2022, Boring successfully requested to no longer need a special permit. The special permit would have required more extensive reporting on safety and accidents.
As a result, the county has significantly reduced its oversight of the project, despite the involvement of taxpayer money from hotel room taxes and convention revenue.
The project is on track to be a 68-mile underground network across much of the city.