JR赤羽駅に差別落書き 在日朝鮮人中傷か （共同通信）

東京都北区のJR赤羽駅で、ホームに掲示された横断幕に在日朝鮮人を中傷する差別落書きが見つかったことが30日、JR東日本などへの取材で分かった。同社によると、赤羽駅の係員が指摘を受け、既に消した。いつ書かれたかは不明。 落書きの相談を受けた東京純心大の佐野通夫教授によると、赤羽駅を利用す……

青山テルマ、ピンクのボブヘアでデビュー15周年を報告「ずっと応援してる」「髪切ったの正解すぎる」 （ザテレビジョン）

青山テルマが公式Instagramを更新2009年ザテレビジョン撮影 歌手で女優としても活躍中の青山テルマが、9月11日に自身のオフィシャルInstagramを更新。デビュー15周年を報告した。 この日、青山は「9月5日でデビュー15周年を迎えました。こんなにも長い年月を、自分自身が好きな事をしながら過ごせたな……

生見愛瑠、“おすましめるる”…透明感あふれる真っ白コーデに「凛とした表情もイイ」「そんな見つめ… （ザテレビジョン）

“めるる”こと生見愛瑠が自身のInstagramを更新した撮影＝阿部岳人 モデル、女優として活躍する“めるる”こと生見愛瑠が、9月11日にオフィシャルInstagramを更新。透明感あふれるセルフィーショットを投稿し、反響を呼んでいる。 この日、めるるは「珍しく～(リボンの絵文字)」とつづり、写真を投稿……

House, Senate Democrats ask FTC to fight Amazon’s acquisition of iRobot (updated)

Amazon might face some political opposition in its bid to acquire iRobot. Democrats including Senator Elizabeth Warren and House Representatives Jesus Garcia, Pramila Jayapal, Mondaire Jones, Katie Porter and Mark Pocan have asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to oppose the purchase of the Roomba creator. iRobot is a “powerful” incumbent in robot vacuums, according to the politicians’ letter, and Amazon would allegedly reduce competition with the resources it could pour into the market.

The members of Congress pointed to Amazon’s history of technology buyouts to support their case, arguing that the company snaps up competitors to eliminate them. Amazon killed sales of Kiva Systems’ robots after the 2012 acquisition and used them exclusively in its warehouses, for instance. The 2017 and 2018 acquisitions of Blink and Ring reportedly helped Amazon dominate US video doorbell sales, while the internet retailer has also faced multiple accusations of abusing third-party seller data to launch rival products and promote them above others.

We’ve asked Amazon for comment. The online shopping giant frequently denies anti-competitive practices, and has even called for the recusal of FTC chair Lina Khan in Amazon-related cases over claims she’s biased against the company.

The Commission hasn’t said if it will take action against the iRobot deal. Reports circulated that the FTC reviewed Amazon’s purchase of MGM, but didn’t challenge it. Khan didn’t have a party majority at the time, however, and movie studios aren’t the same as robot vacuum makers. iRobot is estimated to have 75 percent of the American robovac market by revenue, according to Statista. It’s already difficult for challenges like Shark and Eufy to thrive, and it wouldn’t get easier with Amazon involved.

Update 9/30 1:40PM ET: An Amazon spokesperson claimed the politicians’ letter had a “number of falsehoods,” and that it would “cooperate” with regulators in a deal it felt would encourage competition. It wouldn’t elaborate the allegedly false claims on-record.