More than 170 arrests in facial recognition trial - Published More than 170 criminals, including a woman wanted for more than 20 years, were arrested during a six-month trial of live facial recognition (LFR) in south London. The Metropolitan Police said crime reduced by 10.5% during the trial on Croydon's high street, which took place from October 2025 to March 2026. There was also a 21% reduction in violence against women and girls. Arrests included a woman, 36, who was wanted for failing to appear at court for an assault in 2004. Other arrests included people wanted for kidnap, rape and serious sexual assault. The Met said the data showed LFR was a "powerful tool", but campaign group Big Brother Watch called for "strict safeguards" for the technology. LFR deployments typically require a dedicated van which houses cameras and computer equipment. During the pilot, cameras were mounted to infrastructure such as lampposts at the north and south ends of Croydon's high street. 'Intelligence-led watchlist' Static cameras were activated and used in 24 separate operations, and officers made 173 arrests, the equivalent of one arrest every 35 minutes, the Met said. The Met said each deployment of the cameras used a "bespoke, intelligence-led watchlist" that was created no more than 24 hours in advance and deleted immediately afterwards. Other arrests linked to the pilot included a 31-year-old man who was wanted for voyeurism for more than six months and a 41-year-old man who was wanted for rape in relation to an incident in November in Croydon. The force said 61% of the offences linked to arrests were committed in Croydon. Lindsey Chiswick, national and Met lead for LFR, said the technology was a "powerful tool when it's used carefully, openly and in the right places". "This technology is helping us find
May 13, 2026 · via bbc.co.uk
Offences involving violence against women and girls fell by a fifth during a Metropolitan Police live facial recognition (LFR) pilot that led to more than 170 arrests. Static LFR cameras were deployed for the first time during a six-month pilot in Croydon, south London, between October 2025 and March 2026. Scotland Yard said crime in the area fell by 10.5 per cent compared with the same period last year. The biggest reduction was seen in violence against women and girls (Vawg) offences, which were down 21 per cent. The cameras, which are mounted to existing infrastructure such as lampposts instead of mobile vans, were used as part of 24 separate operations and officers made 173 arrests — the equivalent of one arrest every 35 minutes. Among those arrested were a 41-year-old man wanted on suspicion of rape and a 36-year-old woman who has been wanted for 20 years after failing to appear at court for an assault in 2004. Other arrests included individuals wanted for kidnap and serious sexual assault. Lindsey Chiswick, the national and Met lead for live facial recognition, said: “These results show why live facial recognition is such a powerful tool when it’s used carefully, openly and in the right places. Crime in this area is down by more than 10 per cent, and the public can see the difference.” In one case during the pilot, static cameras alerted officers to Nilton Darame, 25, who was found to be in breach of tag conditions relating to an intentional strangulation and two counts of assault on an emergency worker. He was arrested in October and sentenced at Croydon crown court to 18 months in prison in January. Body-worn camera footage published by the Met on Wednesday showed a man attempting to flee officers after being stopped for failing
May 13, 2026 · via thetimes.com
Live facial recognition to be used across county - Published A police force is preparing to use live facial recognition (LFR) technology for the first time to identify individuals wanted by the courts and police, as well as those who pose the greatest risk to public safety. Cambridgeshire Police said the cameras would be deployed in Peterborough city centre on 16 May. The system works by scanning faces from a live camera feed and comparing them in real time with a police watch list, which includes individuals with outstanding arrest warrants and high-risk offenders. Assistant Chief Constable John Massey told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's Louise Hulland, that use of LFR demonstrated a commitment to keeping the public safe. The technology maps key facial features into a biometric template to identify potential matches. Any match is then reviewed by an officer, and all images and biometric data are deleted - either immediately or within 24 hours - if no further action is required. ACC Massey added: "It is another tool at our disposal in our drive to reduce crime and create a safer county. "While this capability is new to Cambridgeshire, it has been used across policing and security services for some time and has improved greatly, even outperforming its anticipated accuracy and success rate. "We know the community will have a lot of questions about the use of advanced technology within policing and officers will be on hand to engage with the community and answer any queries they may have." He added that, following a review of the data collected in May, it could be deployed again in June to better understand its effectiveness and determine how it can be used in different locations. Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston said: "I know that officers will be working hard to ensure
May 13, 2026 · via bbc.co.uk
âIncredibleâ pilot of fixed facial recognition cameras leads to arrest of woman wanted for 20 years Live facial recognition cameras scan the biometrics of each person who walks past, comparing them with a list of suspects. The Metropolitan Police could be set to deploy more fixed controversial facial recognition cameras in the capital after a trial saw over 170 arrests in just six months. Listen to this article Among them was a woman who had been wanted for more than two decades. The pilot, which attached the powerful kit to lampposts in Croydon - one of Londonâs crime hotspots â led to an arrest, on average, every 35 minutes. The force says it has seen a 10.5% reduction in crime in the area as a result, with the static cameras making it easier to deploy the technology. They replaced the need for large vans carrying the equipment every time. Read more: The High Court says facial recognition is lawful. That doesn't make it right, writes Dean Dunham Lindsey Chiswick, from the Met, who also leads on the national policy surrounding the technology, told LBC the result was âincredibleâ. âWeâve had some really significant results over the past 24 deployments with over 170 arrests for a whole range of offences. âAnd 20% of those were for violence against women and girls.â Asked if this meant theyâd be rolled out more widely, she added: âThe results are really, really good. Itâs too early to say right now but I expect they are likely to go back on quite soon.â When turned on, live facial recognition cameras scan the biometrics of each person who walks past them. The technology then compares them with a watchlist of suspects, specially compiled for that deployment, and alerts nearby officers to any potential matches. Those officers are
May 13, 2026 · via lbc.co.uk
Security estates could face strict new rules on ID scans and facial recognition Kabous Le Roux 13 May 2026 | 4:19Security estates and office parks may soon face strict new rules on ID scans, facial recognition and visitor data in South Africa. Security estates and office parks across South Africa could soon face stricter rules on how they collect, store and protect visitor information, including ID scans and facial recognition data. (gyn9037/123rf.com) Millions of South Africans who hand over IDs, scan driver’s licences or use facial recognition systems at security estates and office parks could soon be affected by major new privacy rules. The Information Regulator has published a draft code of conduct aimed at gated access areas, including residential estates, business parks and office complexes. The proposed rules focus on how security-controlled sites collect visitor information, how long they keep it, who can access it and how it is protected from data breaches. Regulator signals tighter controls Speaking on 702, Werksmans Attorneys data privacy specialist Ahmore Burger-Smidt said the regulator was effectively warning security estates and office parks to prepare for stricter oversight. “The regulator is saying, wake up, realise what I intend to do,” Burger-Smidt said. She said the draft code was not yet law, but stakeholders were being asked to study it and submit comments before formal rules were introduced. The draft code applies to places where visitors routinely hand over IDs, driver’s licences, vehicle registration details or biometric information before entering. Questions over visitor data storage The discussion comes as many South Africans increasingly rely on gated communities and controlled-access buildings for safety and security. But concerns are growing over what happens to personal information after visitors enter security estates and office parks Burger-Smidt highlighted risks linked to old-style visitor books, digital ID scans and number
May 13, 2026 · via ewn.co.za
Abstract The identification and management of grocery items in retail environments have traditionally relied on barcode-based systems, which require significant human intervention and underutilize existing surveillance infrastructure. Computer vision–based approaches offer a promising alternative for automated product recognition. However, many existing grocery datasets remain relatively homogeneous or limited in scale, geographic diversity, or real-world variability. To support more realistic evaluation settings, we present a large-scale grocery dataset collected from eight stores across multiple states in India. The dataset comprises over 13,000 images spanning 349 product categories and captures practical retail challenges such as dense shelf arrangements, occlusions, viewpoint variations, and visual ambiguity. Rather than claiming novelty in addressing these challenges individually, our contribution lies in systematically integrating them within a unified and diverse dataset framework. We also introduce a lightweight product identification pipeline based on omni-scale feature learning, designed to balance representational capacity and computational efficiency. The proposed model achieves a mAP@0.50 of 58.3, a precision of 72.9%, and a recall of 77.9% on the proposed dataset, demonstrating competitive performance while maintaining a compact architecture. Comprehensive comparisons with established benchmark models further contextualize our contributions within the broader literature. Overall, this work provides a diverse evaluation benchmark and an efficient detection framework for practical retail deployment. Similar content being viewed by others Introduction Object detection has remained a core research area within computer vision, with its progress significantly accelerated by advances in deep learning. Over the past decade, the field has transitioned from traditional handcrafted feature-based techniques, such as SIFT1 and HOG2-to highly optimized deep learning architectures. This shift began with the introduction of two-stage detectors, most notably R-CNN3, and later evolved toward faster and more efficient single-stage detection frameworks including YOLO4, YOLOv35, YOLOv56, YOLOv87, YOLOv98, YOLOv109, YOLOv1110, YOLO2611 and RetinaNet12. More recent developments have introduced transformer-based architectures such as
May 13, 2026 · via nature.com
GamesOnly People With Elite Pattern Recognition Can Solve This Color Puzzle Called HuedokuHuedoku #20! Twenty puzzles in — are you getting better or just more stubborn? 🧩😤Posted 16 hours agocommentFacebookPinterestLinkby Crystal RoBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffHi, I’m Crystal, a Senior Editor based in Los Angeles and creator of BuzzFeed’s “That Got Dark” newsletter. Huedoku is a daily color puzzle with simple rules and a satisfying solve. It's like sudoku, but with colors instead of numbers. Sign up here to get notified every time we publish a new Huedoku! Come back tomorrow for Huedoku #21 — and share your score to challenge a friend! 🌈 New Huedoku drops every weekday at 4:00 a.m. PT / 7:00 a.m. ET. 🧩🗂️ Huedoku Archive — Every past puzzle, all in one place! Comments
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May 13, 2026 · via buzzfeed.com
An award-winning photographer is in focus once more after being recognised on the global stage. Denise Brady, owner of Lowestoft-based Denise Brady Photography, has gained international recognition as one of the top international women entrepreneurs of 2026 at the International Women Awards. She received the award in recognition of her work that has helped businesses elevate their visibility through powerful, story-led imagery. Known across East Anglia for her work in branding, food, events and commercial photography, Mrs Brady established her photography business in Lowestoft in 2013. Having built her business from scratch, she has used photography not just as a creative service, but as a tool for visibility and growth for other local businesses. From what started as wedding photography, Mrs Brady said her business has been built around a simple belief — that strong visuals don’t just look good, they actively drive business growth. She said: “Photography isn’t just about taking pictures. “It’s about helping businesses be seen properly — to connect with their audience and stand out in a crowded market.” This latest recognition for the award-winning photographer comes after she was a customer service finalist in the Suffolk Small Business Awards last year. Now having gained global recognition in the 2026 International Women’s Awards, it highlights not only her creative work, but also Mrs Brady's impact on local businesses - many of whom rely on high-quality imagery to attract customers, secure bookings and build their brand presence. With her journey into photography having been shaped by determination and a passion for storytelling, Mrs Brady continues to work with entrepreneurs, venues and hospitality businesses as she helps them to showcase what they do best through carefully crafted visual content. Visit her website for further details.
May 13, 2026 · via lowestoftjournal.co.uk
Federal prosecutors announced charges Tuesday in the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, accusing the Singapore-based operator of a ship and a key employee of making critical decisions that led to the disaster and the deaths of six people. The indictment names Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd., based in Chennai, India. Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, an Indian national who was technical superintendent for the Dali container ship, was also charged. The Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, killing six construction workers who had been filling potholes. “The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The companies and Nair are charged with conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding and false statements. An FBI investigation into the crash focused on the vessel’s operations and whether the crew knew of critical systems issues before leaving port. The National Transportation Safety Board found last year that two electrical blackouts — one caused by a loose wire aboard the Dali and another by problems with a fuel pump — disabled the controls of the huge cargo ship before it crashed into the bridge. The Dali was leaving Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka when its steering failed because of the power loss. The ship crashed into a supporting column of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Maryland officials estimate it could cost between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion to replace the bridge, which is expected to be open to traffic in late 2030. But the true cost of the collapse was far greater, according to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. It halted shipping at
May 13, 2026 · via fortune.com
Kiwibank has been instructed by the Government to once again look at its options for long-term growth, including revisiting the possibility of partial privatisation. By Corin Dann of RNZ The taxpayer-owned bank had previously looked at raising $500 million in capital from local investors, but ditched that plan last year. The new request is included in a letter of intent to Kiwibank's parent company Kiwi Group Capital (KGC) from State-Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown. "We expect KGC to undertake work on alternative growth scenarios, along with the capital required for these," Brown said. He went on to note in the letter that KGC should now engage with Treasury about how much capital might be required for different growth scenarios. In accompanying Cabinet paper, Brown and Finance Minister Nicola Willis signalled that while the Government wanted Kiwibank to grow into a market disrupter that can boost competition, the Government's coffers were constrained and it was unlikely to be in a position to provide extra capital. "The Crown could continue to be the sole provider, or be one of the contributors, of additional capital," the paper said. "However, this would see Crown funding directed to Kiwibank and away from other priorities. Given the significant constraints we are facing, the Crown is not in a position to support this course of action." The paper also noted that if Kiwibank was to grow and increase competitive pressure, it would need to know in advance that it had access to capital markets. Last year KGC said that the easing of the Reserve Bank's capital settings, combined with Kiwibank's recent $400m Tier 2 capital raise via bonds, meant it could grow without the need for additional equity. The Government had approved the possible partial public listing for Kiwibank to acquire new capital, but had stressed it
May 13, 2026 · via 1news.co.nz
‘Bright Promote’ launches; ATTOM retools data framework Bright’s embedded marketing tool simplifies campaign creation. Plus, Clear Capital acquires Restb.ai; Broker Public Portal adds home valuations to Cribio; more. Editor's note: Technology is a driving force in real estate. From startups to established players, tech companies are constantly innovating, growing and forging partnerships. Here we highlight some of the latest news about the companies that help power the industry. Bright launches integrated listing promotion tool The country's largest MLS has launched Bright Promote, an integrated advertising tool that allows agents to create digital and mail marketing campaigns as soon as a listing goes live, the organization announced this week. The tool is designed to streamline listing promotion by allowing Bright MLS subscribers to manage campaigns from within the same platform they already use for listing management. Bright Promote automatically pulls listing details and photos to generate ads and includes campaign activation for Facebook and Instagram, budget and branding controls, and real-time performance tracking. "Agents should be able to market a new listing quickly and professionally, without adding complexity to their workflow," Brian Donnellan, president and CEO of Bright MLS, said in a news release. The offering, he added, "is another example of how Bright is building practical tools that solve real business needs for real estate professionals." The release follows Bright MLS's Sept. 2025 launch of a suite of technology tools, dubbed "Bright Solutions," developed in-house and made available to other MLSs nationwide. ATTOM unveils new data intelligence framework ATTOM has introduced a new framework designed to structure and deliver property data and analytics for AI-driven applications and workflows more effectively. The product — dubbed ATTOM Intelligence — includes a redesigned digital experience and an updated data framework intended to help users explore datasets, understand how data elements connect and apply
May 13, 2026 · via realestatenews.com
Video: Met Police facial recognition catches man who ignored Sexual Harm Prevention Order
Neville Cohen, 55, was stopped by officers for being wanted for failing to comply with a condition on a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which required him to attend Croydon Police Station in October 2025.
He attempted to flee from officers and was arrested and later sentenced to four months' imprisonment.
May 13, 2026 · via metro.co.uk
A woman wanted for more than 20 years has been arrested during a six-month trial of live facial recognition in south London. In total 173 suspects were arrested for crimes including kidnap, rape and serious sexual assault during the pilot in Croydon, during which static cameras rather than vans were used for the first time. The Metropolitan Police said that crime in the area reduced by 10.5% during the trial, which took place between October 2025 and March 2026, including a 21% reduction in violence against women and girls. The static cameras, placed on Croydon High Street, were used in 24 operations, with arrests including a 36-year-old woman who was wanted for failing to appear at court for an assault in 2004. A 31-year-old man who was wanted for voyeurism for more than six months was also arrested, as well as a 41-year-old man who was wanted in connection with a rape in November in Croydon. Lindsey Chiswick, national and Met lead for live facial recognition, said: “These results show why live facial recognition is such a powerful tool when it’s used carefully, openly and in the right places. “Crime in this area is down by more than 10%, and the public can see the difference. “This technology is helping us find people wanted by the courts, identify serious offenders quickly and focus our resources where they make the biggest impact, all with exceptional accuracy. “We will continue using static cameras in Croydon as part of our regular live facial recognition deployments which play a vital part in keeping London safe.” More than 470,000 people walked past the camera during the pilot, which saw one false alert for which the person was spoken to by officers and then allowed to leave.
May 12, 2026 · via northwaleschronicle.co.uk
News — Met makes one arrest every 35 minutes during live facial recognition pilot More than 170 wanted criminals have been arrested during a live facial recognition pilot in Croydon, which saw static cameras deployed for the first time. New results, released today by the Metropolitan Police, show that during the six-month pilot, crime in the area fell by 10.5 per cent compared to the same period last year, with the biggest reduction seen in violence against women and girls’ offences, which were down by 21 per cent. Those arrested included people wanted for kidnap, rape and serious sexual assault, providing further evidence of the effectiveness of live facial recognition (LFR) at removing dangerous offenders from our streets. LFR deployments typically require the use of a dedicated van which houses both cameras and the computer equipment required to use them. For the duration of the pilot – which ran from October 2025 to March 2026 – cameras were instead mounted to existing infrastructure such as lampposts, allowing officers to run deployments in a more agile way. Officers used the static cameras as part of 24 separate operations and made 173 arrests – the equivalent of one arrest every 35 minutes. Arrests linked to the pilot include: - A 36-year-old woman who had been unlawfully at large for more than 20 years and was wanted for failing to appeal at court for an assault in 2004. - A 31-year-old man who was wanted for voyeurism for more than six months. - A 41-year-old man who was wanted for rape in relation to an incident which took place in November in Croydon. Lindsey Chiswick, national and Met lead for live facial recognition, said: “These results show why live facial recognition is such a powerful tool when it’s used carefully, openly and in
May 12, 2026 · via news.met.police.uk
I review a lot of laptops here at PCWorld, and I’m always surprised when I unbox one without biometric hardware. Fingerprint readers and infrared (IR) cameras for facial recognition are both great—and some laptops even have both! But then you have those that skip the biometric hardware entirely, which is a huge loss these days. I would never give it up if I had the choice. It’s so important that I won’t buy a laptop if it doesn’t have it, and I go out of my way to add it to my desktop PCs. Why? Because Windows 11 has a security feature called Windows Hello that lets me log in with my face or a fingerprint scan. It’s more secure and more convenient. In 2026, you shouldn’t accept any laptop that lacks Windows Hello support. You should avoid typing PINs in public Most laptops—unfortunately, not all laptops—now have built-in biometric hardware. You have two options here: a fingerprint reader (usually somewhere on the keyboard) or an IR camera that’s integrated alongside the normal webcam. Some laptops have both. Chris Hoffman / Foundry With biometrics, you don’t need to type your PIN or password whenever you sit down in front of your laptop. That’s good news because typing your PIN or password in public is a security risk. If someone is “shoulder surfing” and watching what you type, they could pick up on it—and PINs are particularly easy to steal. I can’t stress the security angle enough. Your PIN is the key to device encryption on your PC. With that PIN, a thief or attacker could bypass your PC’s encryption and gain access to all your data. It’s better to skip PIN entry altogether and use biometrics instead. Biometric hardware isn’t just for signing in Windows Hello is best known for
May 12, 2026 · via pcworld.com
📝 Summary Artificial neural networks, a family of ideas developed over 80 years, are the unsung hero behind current AI technologies such as ChatGPT, image generators, and voice assistants. These networks learn patterns from data and have been the core engine behind many AI systems, despite being largely invisible to the public. When people say “AI” today, many of them are thinking about ChatGPT, image generators, voice assistants, translation tools, coding copilots, or systems that can summarise documents in seconds. These tools feel new, powerful and sometimes mysterious. Yet the main engine inside many of them is not a sudden invention from 2022. It is a family of ideas that has been growing, failing, returning and improving for more than 80 years: the artificial neural network. This is why neural networks deserve to be called the unsung heroes of the current artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. The public sees the chatbot. The public sees the generated image. The public sees the smart search result. But behind the screen, the modern AI system usually depends on layers of artificial “neurons” learning patterns from data. Before ChatGPT, “AI” meant many things It is essential to remember that AI did not always refer to neural-network-based systems. Before the ChatGPT phenomenon at the end of 2022, AI was a broad umbrella. It included expert systems that used human-written rules, symbolic programming in languages such as LISP, fuzzy logic, image processing and recognition, search and planning, robotics, and optimisation techniques inspired by nature, such as genetic algorithms, ant colony optimisation, particle swarm optimisation and many others. All of these belonged to the larger story of AI: the attempt to make machines perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. But after ChatGPT became a global sensation, the popular meaning of AI changed. For many people, “AI” now
May 12, 2026 · via news.utm.my
—Amaliya Kartika Putri, LL.M in Law and Technology from Utrecht University, focusing on GDPR, AI regulation, and fundamental rights in emerging technologies The European Union has adopted modern surveillance technology, including drone monitoring and facial recognition technology (FRT) to enhance border security. These technologies raise fundamental rights issues, yet they also have the potential to identify travelers efficiently and detect unauthorized crossings. As to the former point, EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) protect among others fundamental rights to non-discrimination and private life. The Glukhin v. Russia (2023) ECtHR judgment confirms that the implementation of random facial recognition infringes upon privacy protections. Moreover, Murray and other scholars warn that the extensive deployment of facial recognition technology may result in the creation of a “pervasive surveillance state” which would limit personal conduct and threaten democratic institutions. In this blog post I will investigate the impact of drone surveillance and facial recognition technology on privacy and equality rights at EU external borders. The analysis includes an examination of the current legal framework which includes the ECHR, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the GDPR, and the AI Act. Although these instruments offer a crucial basis for safeguarding fundamental rights, this blog argues that more legal clarification and robust protections are required in order to address the intrusive and discriminatory risks presented by these emerging technologies. Surveillance Technologies at the EU Border The technology of facial recognition systems and unmanned aerial drones has transitioned from science fiction to reality at European borders. The EU, together with its Member States, has established pilot programs and systems to automate border control operations through these technological tools. The Horizon 2020 iBorderCtrl project implemented a system that used facial scans, together with “biomarkers of deceit” to analyze micro-expressions for detecting deception in travelers.
May 12, 2026 · via iconnectblog.com
FTC reminds tech platforms of deadline to comply with Take It Down Act The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning major technology companies that they must comply with the Take It Down Act (TIDA) by May 19, when covered platforms are required to have systems in place for removing nonconsensual intimate images from their services. Signed into law on May 19, 2025, TIDA is designed to combat non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. It criminalizes the publication of these images, requires platforms to remove them within 48 hours, and provides victims a legal pathway for removal. FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson sent letters to more than a dozen companies, including Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Automattic, Bumble, Discord, Match Group, Meta, Microsoft, Pinterest, Reddit, SmugMug, Snapchat, TikTok, and X. The letters outline the law’s definitions, compliance obligations, and penalties for violations. TIDA requires covered platforms to provide clear and conspicuous notice of a removal process for victims, including children, whose intimate photos or videos were shared without consent. Platforms must remove the reported content, along with identical copies, within 48 hours after receiving a valid request. The law applies broadly to online services such as social media, messaging, image and video sharing, and gaming platforms, placing responsibility on companies that host or distribute user-generated content. Ferguson said the FTC is prepared to monitor compliance, investigate violations, and enforce the law, framing the measure as part of the agency’s effort to protect children and other victims from online abuse. “We stand ready to monitor compliance, investigate violations, and enforce the Take It Down Act,” said Ferguson. “Protecting the vulnerable – especially children—from this harmful abuse is a top priority for this agency and this administration. The Trump-Vance FTC is grateful for the First Lady’s leadership on the Take It Down Act and on
May 12, 2026 · via biometricupdate.com
Bunnings is set to expand its automotive range in New Zealand by roughly 20%, encroaching on industry stalwarts. The hardware retailer, owned by ASX-listed Wesfarmers, has been operating in New Zealand for 25 years. Last year it reported revenue of $1.74 billion, with a net profit of $69 million forthe year. Bunnings NZ first launched into auto products such as oils and washes in March last year but now it’s making a bigger push off the back of what it sees as growing demand. “We’ve got five million registered vehicles in New Zealand, and a lot of Kiwis are very passionate about maintaining their vehicles,” says Melissa Haines, Bunnings NZ general manager. “When times are tough for the cost of living, having a really convenient offer where you’re normally shopping, that’s of value. “The expansion of product categories is just about how Kiwis are changing. From the front gate to the back fence is how we think about the range in Bunnings.” The business is set to add another 300 products in its auto range from several new brands, taking the total to roughly 1000 products. Haines hinted this would include more automotive tools, towing and recovery gear, lighting and car technology and some marine products for boat cleaning, with more in-store bays dedicated to the category. The auto category in New Zealand already has several competitors but is dominated by Repco (owned by US-based Genuine Parts Company) and Supercheap Auto (owned by Australian company Super Retail Group). In its last full-year financial result, Genuine Parts Company reported total revenue of $568.5m and a profit of $26.9m for New Zealand, although this includes other businesses under its portfolio so the amount earned specifically by Repco is unknown. As for Supercheap Auto, it reported total New Zealand revenue of $191.5m and
May 11, 2026 · via nzherald.co.nz
Estates, gated communities and office parks face sweeping changes to security procedures as the Information Regulator calls for access-controlled areas to collect minimal visitor information and protect privacy.
The regulator has now published the “Own-Initiative Code of Conduct for Gated Access Areas” that will govern how gated-access environments handle personal information to conform to the prescripts of the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia).
The code applies to residential and commercial premises with access control. It is not a guidance note but a code of conduct, which carries much heftier weight than the former.
The regulator in the code of conduct says members of the public have raised concerns that the collection of personal information at gated access entry points is excessive.
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May 11, 2026 · via sowetan.co.za