USA Update

THREE major grocery retailers have agreed to settle a civil law enforcement complaint.

The grocers involved — Safeway, Albertsons, and Vons — will pay nearly $4 million after being accused of false advertising and unfair competition.

Getty Images - Getty

Getty Images - Getty

Getty Images - Getty

The settlement stems from allegations that the grocers charged customers higher prices than advertised at their California locations.

Safeway, Albertsons, and Vons were found to have inaccurate weights on some of their product labels, according to SupermarketNews.

The lawsuit claims that several products sold by weight, including produce, meats, and baked goods, contained less product than the labels indicated.

These violations, along with overcharging at checkout, prompted legal action from California’s Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office.

“Trusting companies to sell products to consumers that are accurately weighed and priced, especially in today’s economy, is a priority to my office,” said Rodriquez, per the outlet.

MORE TO KNOW

The settlement also includes an injunction preventing the grocers from engaging in false or misleading advertising and banning 14 different unfair practices.

This includes misrepresenting product weights or failing to disclose exclusions in promotional programs.

This includes promos like “Just for U” or club card discounts.

As part of the resolution, the grocery chains must implement a price accuracy program to prevent future overcharging.

The program offers compensation of up to $5 to customers who report discrepancies between the advertised price and the price charged at checkout.

Safeway, Albertsons, and Vons operate 589 stores throughout California.

ON DEFENSE

In a related development, Rodney McMullen, CEO of Kroger, defended the company’s proposed $24.6 billion merger with Albertsons during a federal court hearing last month.

McMullen argued that the merger would help the combined grocery giant lower prices and better compete with large-scale retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Amazon.

The deal has faced legal challenges from the Federal Trade Commission, which is seeking to block the merger with a preliminary injunction.

The FTC argues that the merger could reduce competition and lead to higher prices for consumers.

McMullen, however, remains optimistic, telling the court, “The day that we merge is the day that we will begin lowering prices.”

He also addressed concerns about potential store closures, stating that Kroger has no immediate plans to shut down any branches if the merger is approved.

However, future adjustments may be considered for optimal location management.

The merger, if completed, would combine Kroger’s 2,800 stores across 35 states with Albertsons’ 2,273 locations in 34 states, creating a workforce of approximately 710,000 employees.

This merger is poised to be the largest grocery chain consolidation in US history.

THE Russian arms dealer dubbed ‘The Merchant of Death’ is selling guns to the Houthis, reports claim.

Viktor Bout, the weapons seller who inspired the film Lord of War, has returned to his old trade with UK cargo ships now in the firing line.

Reuters

Weapons dealer Viktor Bout escorted by Thai police in 2010[/caption]

AP

Bout was swapped for WNBA player Brittney Griner[/caption]

EPA

Yemen’s Houthis have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea[/caption]

Reuters

The Houthis are a proxy of Iran and are fighting a brutal civil war[/caption]

The 57-year-old was released by the US in 2022 after he was slapped with a 25-year sentence in 2011 for conspiracy to kill US citizens and officials.

Bout was freed in exchange for US basketball player Brittney Griner, who had been jailed in Russia for nine years due to possession of hash oil.

The Wall Street Journal now reports he is trying to broker the sale of guns to the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

The militants’ officials went to Moscow in August to negotiate the purchase of $10m (£7.7m) worth of weapons and met Bout.

The Houthis have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea, seizing and sinking cargo ships as part of Iran’s wars in the Middle East.

Bout is reportedly looking to sell them small arms weapons such as rifles and grenades, rather than anti-ship missiles or drones.

They are yet to be delivered but could be used when the militants board ships to seize them.

Moscow and Tehran have been growing closer with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Putin has turned to the Ayatollah as he desperately needs more ammunition as the Ukrainians smash his armies.

Since returning to Russia, Bout became a celebrity and was elected as a far-right politician in a regional legislature.

Recent footage shows the Houthis launching an explosive drone and striking a British oil tanker.

The Houthi group shared the clip of a big explosion near the side of the Cordelia Moon, which damaged its port side tank and covered it in clouds of smoke.

Last November, 25 forgotten sailors of the hijacked British-Israeli Galaxy Leader cargo ship were taken captive by the Houthi pirates.

The $50million vessel was hijacked by the Iran-sponsored Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on November 19.

Its entire international crew were taken hostage in what the gunmen clinging to the sides of a helicopter screamed was revenge for Israel’s war in Gaza.

The car carrier was pulled back to Hodeidah in the Houthi-controlled north of Yemen as a trophy to taunt the West and supporters of the militants flocked to the site to share in the spoils of war.

Bout exploited the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s and ran a fleet of planes, shipping ammunition to war-torn countries in Africa.

Like Putin, Bout was an intelligence officer, but he shifted to transporting weapons exploiting the new Russian Federation.

He’s also accused of supplying ammunition to brutal regimes and warlords.

In 2011, Bout was convicted on charges of conspiring to kill American citizens and officers.

He was also found guilty of providing resources in the form of weapons to a foreign terrorist organization.

Attorney Preet Bharara said: “He aimed to sell those weapons to terrorists for the purpose of killing Americans.”

Juan Zarate, who served as the deputy national security advisor for combatting terrorism during the Bush Administration, described Bout as a “singular international criminal”.

Reuters

The Houthis have seized some cargo vessels passing through the Red Sea[/caption]

Reuters

Bout was known as the ‘lord of war’ or ‘merchant of death’[/caption]

AN EV “gas station” is set to open for the first time in the US, boasting a mini grocery store and WiFi lounge, despite slowing demand for electric cars.

The unique site lets drivers enjoy a meal or do their weekly shop while charging up and even features a battery-friendly car wash.

YouTube/ KTLA 5

Rover has set up the nation’s first EV ‘gas station’[/caption]

Rove

It features more than 40 chargers, most of which are rapid chargers[/caption]

Rove

There’s also a Gelson’s grocery store on the site[/caption]

The US-first, Rove, is a service station catering exclusively to electric vehicles.

Sitting near trendy Santa Ana it is handily located in one of the most EV-dense regions in the country – Southern California.

Around a quarter of cars sold in the state last year were electric, rapidly outpacing other EV hotspots like Hawaii, Washington and Nevada.

As a result, Rove CEO Bill Reid made the call to open the brand’s first location in the area.

The idea is to give EV drivers access to the sort of facilities you might expect from a traditional gas station, but which are lacking from many charging points.

There are bathrooms, overnight security, an indoor workspace with WiFi and a Gelson’s mini-market so motorists can refuel alongside their cars.

Inside the store, you can pick up a wide range of snacks, drinks and even meals.

Pre-made sushi, fresh sandwiches and coffee are all available, as well as the usual candy and chips.

There’s even a small grocery section where you can pick up fresh fruit, vegetables and other household staples on your trip.

Outside, there’s a selection of chargers with all three major connector types.

This lets owners of pretty much every EV currently on the market find the right charger for them, with some even having a choice of speeds.

There are 28 Tesla superchargers on the site as well as 12 non-Tesla chargers, which can be accessed through the Rove app.

None of the chargers split power between multiple cars (a common gripe among owners) and all are set up to the cable is easily identifiable and doesn’t overlap with others.

Mr Reid told KTLA: “Despite all the spending and excitement about EV growth and EV infrastructure, there’s much more we need to do.”

With that in mind, Rove reportedly had a further 10 forecourts in the works at locations in the near future.

The Santa Ana location will open on October 15.

It comes after Toyota delayed the production of its EVs in the US, leaving drivers waiting for another year.

YouTube/ KTLA 5

It even has an EV-friendly car wash[/caption]

YouTube/ KTLA 5

The chargers can be used by most EV models on the market[/caption]

Shoppers are racing over to Amazon’s October Prime Day sale to secure a huge saving on an at-home hair removal device.

During the exclusive 48-hour event, Amazon customers can pick up a Ulike Air 10 for just $269 – that’s the lowest price we’ve seen all year.

Amazon

Shoppers are racing to secure a huge saving on the Ulike Laser Hair Removal device[/caption]

Ulike Air 10 Laser Hair Removal, $399 $269 (with code PDULIKEA10) from Amazon

If you’re a beauty fan on the hunt for bargains, then it’s more than likely you’ll be scrolling through Amazon’s Prime Day sale.

As always, we’re on hand to bring you the best deals as they land, including this unbeatable offer on the Ulike Laser Hair Removal device.

Previously priced at $399, you can now shop the Ulike Air 10 for $269.

If you don’t know what the Ulike device is, or how it works, it’s simply an IPL hair removal product that removes stubborn hair and slows hair regrowth.

IPL stands for intense pulsed light technology, which uses strong pulses of broad-spectrum light to target hair at the root.

Unlike traditional hair removal methods, the Ulike Air 10 is equipped with sapphire ice-cooling technology and promises a ”nearly painless” experience.

When the device is in use, it retains a contact temperature below 65°F, which helps to prevent burns and skin irritation – even after a full body treatment.

Furthermore, the device features four different settings – there’s a mode to meet all of your hair removal needs.

Customers can choose between a fast mode, a normal mode, a high mode, and a powerful SHR mode.

The SHR setting has been designed to specifically handle stubborn hair.

This mode is great for removing hair from difficult areas such as the armpits, bikini lines, legs, chest, and more.

Whichever mode you opt for, you can enjoy a full body treatment in just 10 minutes, making this not only a cost-effective option but also a convenient one.

According to Ulike, with consistent use, most users will experience visible hair reduction within just two weeks, and long-lasting results within six weeks.

Shoppers who have already tested out the discounted device have left an array of glittering reviews on the Amazon website.

Alongside a picture of their visible hair loss results, one shopper shared: ”When I first got my Ulike Laser Hair Removal Device, I was a bit nervous but excited to give it a try.

”As soon as I opened the box, I could tell this was a well-made device. Setting it up took a bit of time, but the instructions were super clear and easy to follow. Once I got the hang of it, using it became a breeze (pun intended).

”I’ve tried professional hair removal treatments before, so I was curious to see how this would compare.

”After just a few uses, I started seeing less hair growth and smoother skin. It was a huge relief to find that the process was virtually pain-free – just a slight cool touch which is nothing compared to waxing!

”One thing I really appreciated was how attentive the design is to user needs. The settings are easy to adjust, and the device is comfortable to hold and maneuver.

”Plus, it’s so convenient to do this at home without having to make appointments or drive to a salon.

”I have to admit, patience is key here. You won’t see overnight results, but with consistent use, the hair reduction is definitely noticeable.

The shopper continued: ”A fun bonus was that the device arrived in such sleek packaging – it felt like opening a gift!

”And speaking of gifts, this would make an excellent one for anyone tired of traditional hair removal methods.

”Overall, I’m super impressed with the Ulike Hair Removal Device. It’s effective, easy to use, and a real game-changer for my hair removal routine.”

And a second review read: ”As soon as you hold the box of this Ulike Laster Hair Removal, Air 10 IPL, you know you are getting a high-quality product.

”It comes with everything you need, including a thorough manual and a quick start guide. It has a storage bag, two power cord parts for powering it, a razor, and folding protective glasses.

”It feels substantial in your hand and is easy to use. I’ve had laser hair removal treatments done at a spa in the past and every zap was very painful, but this is not. Not at all.

”It feels cool on your skin and there is no pain at all. It is easy to use and it works. I highly recommend it.”

Looking for more beauty products on a budget?

Amazon has also slashed the cost of the Ulike Air 3 Laser Hair Removal device to less than $190.

All you have to do is add the Prime Day deal to your basket and use the code PDULIKEA3 at the checkout.

Alternatively, visit our Amazon Prime Day topic page to shop all of this year’s best Big Deal Days bargains.

Ulike Air 10 Laser Hair Removal, $399 $269 (with code PDULIKEA10) from Amazon

SHOPPERS are in for early holiday deals with Walmart’s 10-piece cookware set.

The kitchen equipment is now available at a reduced rate in the shop’s latest flash deal sale.

Walmart

Walmart shoppers can pick up a 10-piece stainless steel cookware set at 67% discount[/caption]

Walmart

The 10-piece cookware set is induction compatible and comes with detachable handles[/caption]

Walmart customers can pick up the large stainless steel set for just $49.98.

The white stainless steel version has been reduced by 67%, from $199.99.

Meanwhile the regular stainless steel appliances are currently on sale for $59.98 with the ceramic version clocking in at $59.99.

According to manufacturers, the Carote set is induction compatible, over safe, and rust resistant.

Included in the set are three sauce pans of varying sizes, a saute pan, and a frying pan.

These come with detachable handles and silicone lids and are designed for easy storage.

They are the optimal storage solution and can be stacked or nested in your press.

Each item is dishwasher safe and has been created with three-ply for quick heating.

Walmart describes the technology as “chef used and chef abused” with each pot designed to withstand temperatures of up to 600-degrees-Fahrenheit.

Each set contains a 10-inch frying pan, a 10-inch saute pan, a 4.2-quart stock pot, and a three-quart sauce pan.

The accessories include an eight-inch, nine-inch, and 10-inch silicone lid and two detachable handles.

Walmart shoppers shared their experiences with the set in the review section, where it earned an average rating of 4.5 stars.

“Been using them for months, incredibly practical with detachable handles. This became my favorite set,” wrote one customer.

“Handles function awesome when I need to move a hot pan around.”

“These are heavy duty. I love the idea that they stored in such a small space. They clean amazingly well,” said another person.

“They are nice and heavy weight I would say [they have] thicker bottoms than most pans out there.

“[I] 100% would recommend the quality of these, they were worth it.”

“I can’t believe that I bought such a great stainless steel cookware set [at] this price,” commented a third shopper.

“I searched a lot for new cookware set and finally found it. When I received [it], I was impressed by them, they are so nice but also affordable.”

“Higher quality than I expected for the price and definitely higher quality than what is found at the store for the same price,” wrote another person.

PLAYSTATION appears to be sticking to its guns when it comes to a decision that is widely hated by PC players.

As more and more PlayStation exclusives move over to PC, those with high-end gaming computers love playing these new games.

Sony Interactive Entertainment

Horizon Zero Dawn’s remaster will also require PSN on PC[/caption]

If you have a high-end computer that you can play the latest games on, it feels like a waste of money to go out and buy a PS5 for the few exclusives it has.

That’s why a lot of PC gamers are happy to wait a year or more until the PlayStation exclusives launch on PC.

However, the recent decision by PlayStation has led many PC users to skip out on its games even once they land on their platform.

It started earlier this year when the developer for Helldivers 2 announced that the PC version of the game would require a PSN account.

The PSN requirement was quickly reversed but this wasn’t the last attempt PlayStation would try to force people to sign up for PSN.

While Ghost of Tsushima was already open for pre-orders, PlayStation still decided to add the PSN requirement.

PSN isn’t available in hundreds of countries meaning that thousands of people had to be refunded for the game.

Those who pre-ordered Ghost of Tsushima on PC received a full refund if they didn’t want to or couldn’t sign up for PSN.

God of War Ragnarȍk and the remake of Until Dawn both came to PC recently, and they also required a PSN account despite not being on a PlayStation console.

With every PC release that requires a PSN sign-up to play, more and more people show their disappointment on social media.

Aside from the people who live in the 170 regions where PSN does not exist, many more are concerned about giving out their information.

Despite the constant complaints from fans PlayStation is refusing to drop the requirement for PC players.

The next major PlayStation exclusive that is coming to PC is the remaster of Horizon Zero Dawn.

People were skeptical of the remaster as the game isn’t that old, but it hopes to bring the graphics of Zero Dawn up to the standard of the sequel Forbidden West.

Players soon noticed that the original Horizon Zero Dawn disappeared from an online store front and there were price rises on other platforms.

With the announcement that it will also require PSN, people are hesitant to take the plunge.

If you want to read more about PlayStation, check out how up to 50 PS5 Pro games will be enhanced at launch.

"We would've predicted our famous predictions — we would've predicted our own demise," the showrunner said.

"Cause you have the answer in front of you, don't you?"

On the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, people gathered at the site of the Nova music festival in Reim to pay tribute the victims and hostages at the hands of Hamas. In Tel Avi, demonstrators created “human chains” by holding hands in public places. Vigils for the victims were also...

Not so fast, Diddy.