Massachusetts Woman to Plead Guilty in $19M Real Estate Loan Fraud Scheme Involving Forged Leases and Falsified Rent Rolls

Boston, MA – April 2025 — A certified public accountant from Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, has agreed to plead guilty in federal court for her role in a wide-ranging bank fraud scheme that led to more than $19 million in losses to lenders through falsified real estate documents. Christine Gendron, 59, has agreed to plead guilty […]

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Beware the Bundle: Companies Are Banking on Becoming Your Police Department’s Favorite “Public Safety Technology” Vendor

When your local police department buys one piece of surveillance equipment, you can easily expect that the company that sold it will try to upsell them on additional tools and upgrades.  Axon has been adding AI to its repertoire, and it now features a whole “AI Era” bundle plan. One recent offering is Draft One, […]

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‘Alarming’ slowdown in human development – could AI provide answers?

For several decades, human development indicators showed a steady, upward curve and UN researchers predicted that by 2030, a high level of development would be enjoyed by the global population. Those hopes have been dashed in recent years following a period of exceptional crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic – and progress has stalled across […]

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China has identified how to fight back against Trump’s tariffs, and is not ready to back down

US ports are now starting to see scheduled shipments from China decline as the result of Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. The port of Los Angeles, the biggest port for Chinese goods in the US, is predicting scheduled shipments in early May to be about a third lower than the same time last […]

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Why Donald Trump’s trade tariffs are a threat to global food security

Donald Trump’s tariffs will make many things more expensive for his fellow US citizens. The price of imported cars, building materials and some tech will go up – and so will the cost of the food on American dining tables. The US currently imports around 16% of its food supply, with a large proportion of […]

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Amazon Expands Manhattan Presence with Acquisition of Iconic 522 Fifth Avenue, NY Office

Amazon has finalized the purchase of 522 Fifth Avenue, a 600,000-square-foot office tower in Midtown Manhattan, from RFR Realty. The acquisition, completed on May 2, 2025, adds to Amazon’s growing footprint in the city, following its $1 billion purchase of the former Lord & Taylor building and a 330,000-square-foot lease at 10 Bryant Park . […]

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How Trump’s tariffs could hit developing economies – even those not involved in the trade war

The world has witnessed a resurgence of protectionism since Donald Trump returned to the White House. So-called “reciprocal” tariffs, imposed on all US trading partners at varying degrees based on the tax they charge on American goods, have been one of the hallmark features of Trump’s economic policy. They aim to correct what he perceives […]

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Ninth Circuit Hands Users A Big Win: Californians Can Sue Out-of-State Corporations That Violate State Privacy Laws

Simple common sense tells us that a corporation’s decision to operate in every state shouldn’t mean it can’t be sued in most of them. Sadly, U.S. law doesn’t always follow common sense. That’s why we were so pleased with a recent holding from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Setting a crucial precedent, the court […]

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Three strategies to help European carmakers regain their edge

Even before US president Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all imported cars, European automakers had been facing a multitude of challenges. Sales have slumped and manufacturers face rising costs, while Chinese rivals have rapidly been gaining market share. The day before the tariffs announcement, the combined market capitalisation of Europe’s five major automakers […]

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World Bank and IMF Confront Uncertainty Caused by Protectionism Policies

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are navigating a turbulent period as the United States, under President Donald Trump, reevaluates its involvement in multilateral institutions. Trump has called for a comprehensive review of all U.S. participation in such organizations by August 2025, casting a shadow over the future of these global financial […]

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