The pandemic has already given the future a distinctly dystopian look. And then there’s this: the burgeoning of the “second drone age.” That’s how experts are describing the international drone market — which ranges from tiny startups selling $1,000-to-$2,000 off-the-shelf technology that can be easily weaponised by terrorist groups, to high-tech unmanned vehicles that can carry laser-guided munitions and ...

Millennials are growing up. After spending years splashing out on everything from skydiving excursions to Instagrammable vacations in Peru, 30-somethings with decent-paying jobs are making lasting purchases, buying cars, houses and everything inside them. The retreat from offices during pandemic has only cemented the urge to settle down and accumulate the trappings of adulthood. While Covid-era disruptions have been the ...

  In recent weeks, Democratic officials in New York and California have proposed legislation granting individual citizens the right to sue manufacturers of assault weapons and ghost guns. More aggressive action to curb gun violence is undoubtedly warranted. Openly subverting the will of federal courts is the wrong way to go about it. First proposed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, ...

  The reason that our initial and instinctive view of, well, all of you was so skewed is that we have a human brain. Cognitively, we’ve evolved to have what’s called a negativity bias. Our ancestors in the savannas had a better chance of surviving and, therefore, of passing on their genes, if they paid disproportionate attention to anything actually ...

  Bloomberg President Joe Biden hailed an accord with AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications Inc to delay by two weeks a new 5G service so airlines and safety officials can take steps to prevent interference with aircraft electronics. The companies issued separate statements agreeing to the delay two days before their planned Jan. 5 launch. The action came after a ...

  Bloomberg Hong Kong is banning flights from eight countries including the US and UK for two weeks from January 8, in a drastic tightening of rules as it rushes to plug holes that have seen the highly infectious Omicron Covid-19 variant break through the city’s defenses. The bans last until Jan. 20 and also apply to flights from Australia, ...

  Bloomberg The National Retail Federation plans to host more than 20,000 people in person at its annual convention in New York City next week despite a surge in Covid cases. The event comes at a critical time for the industry, which is grappling with labor shortages and supply constraints. Organizers say all attendees must be fully vaccinated and will ...

  Bloomberg Much of the UK economy is starting the new year on sick leave. With Covid infections soaring to about 200,000 a day as the Omicron variant spreads, hospitals, restaurants, transport operators and retailers are facing acute levels of staff absenteeism. England’s National Health Service is coming under particular pressure. Matthew Taylor, chief executive officer of the NHS Confederation, ...

  Bloomberg Walmart Inc and Kroger Co are boosting the price of a popular at-home Covid-19 test after a deal with the White House to sell the kits at cost expired. The price of BinaxNOW tests at Walmart is rising to $19.88 this week from $14, the company said in an email Tuesday. Kroger said it reinstated “retail pricing” after ...

  Bloomberg North Korea appears to have launched its first ballistic missile in about two months, after leader Kim Jong-un indicated he was more interested in bolstering his arsenal than returning to stalled nuclear talks with the US. North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile from land into waters off its east coast Wednesday, South Korea’s military ...