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Kelly Osbourne quits E!'s 'Fashion Police'

Written By limadu on Sabtu, 28 Februari 2015 | 21.29

zendaya rancic osbourne Kelly Osbourne (center) has quit E!'s 'Fashion Police.'

E! announced on Friday that Kelly Osbourne will be departing the network's style and red carpet show to "pursue other opportunities."

"We would like to thank her for her many contributions to the series over the past five years during which time the show became a hit with viewers," the network said in a statement.

The departure comes as "Fashion Police" is facing scrutiny over one of its hosts comments.

On Monday's telecast, co-host Giuliana Rancic made a comment about the dreadlocks of actress-singer Zendaya Coleman, saying the hair probably smelled like "weed" or "patchouli oil." Some felt the comment was racially insensitive.

The backlash from Rancic's comment fell onto Osbourne who took to Twitter to convey her displeasure over the situation.

"I DID NOT MAKE THE WEED COMENT [sic]", Osborne tweeted on Tuesday." I DOT NOT CONDONE RACISM SO AS A RSULT [sic] OF THIS IM SEREIOUSLY [sic] QUESTIONONIG [sic] STAYING ON THE SHOW!"

Giuliana Rancic has since apologized for her comments.

E! said that the show would return as scheduled on Friday, March 30 and that no decisions have yet been made on Osbourne's replacement.

The woman who broke into the BBQ 'boys club'

BuzzFeed's newest traffic driver: debate about the color of a dress

'House of Cards' fans that already finished season 3

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 7:32 PM ET


21.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

'House of Cards' fans that already finished season 3

That's 13 episodes. Each episode is about 50 minutes long.

@TanjaBumbar said on twitter (TWTR, Tech30) it was a "Really good season, it was amazing having all 13 episode [sic] available at the same time."

@MurphyOReilly thought it was a great season too. "Fantastic end to an enthralling season," he tweeted.

Sebastian, or @challi1337, said he has "extremely mixed feelings about the ending and a few other scenes."

None gave away any secrets, respectfully. Well, except for this mysterious comment from @TanjaBumbar: "Mrs Underwood you finally made the right decision."

All four Twitter users appear to live in Europe. This makes sense considering Netflix unloaded all the new episodes at 12.pm. PT/3 a.m. ET Friday morning, making it hard for US fans to complete the task. One woman, Olivia Armstrong, however did. Armstrong says she lives in Brooklyn and finished the show in 13 hours and 15 minutes. She even live-blogged her experience. Her latest tweet? "Sleeping forever byeeeee."

It was 8 a.m. in the U.K. when @MurphyOReilly says he started. He didn't go outside ("fresh air is so overrated!") and bought American snacks to keep him in the mood.

He survived on Mike and Ike's, Oreo's and Doritos during his "12 hour 5 mins" binge session.

"House of Cards" is one of Netflix's original shows. The streaming media company has been heavily investing in the production of its own content over the past few years. The shows are also getting praise from critics. Kevin Spacey just won the best actor Golden Globe for his role as Frank Underwood on "House of Cards."

Netflix is also planning to release movies starring Adam Sandler and the sequel for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" later this year.

Netflix has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Related: Nothing stops Frank Underwood...or Netflix

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 5:46 PM ET


21.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

Warren Buffett knows who next Berkshire CEO is

He also said that he knows who will one day replace him. Of course, Buffett did not share that name with the rest of us.

"The board and I believe we now have the right person to succeed me as CEO -- a successor ready to assume the job the day after I die or step down," he wrote in his latest annual letter to investors.

Buffett added that the next Berkshire CEO would be someone that already works at Berkshire and is "relatively young."

This is Buffett's 50th annual shareholder letter since he took control of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA) in 1964. So it's only natural that it's time for Buffett to prepare Berkshire investors for life without him.

Throughout the past five decades, Buffett has had a lot to say about the financial markets, economy and society.

Last year, he even gave travel tips, urging people to consider flying to Kansas City, and then drive a rental to Nebraska, since airlines often have "jacked up prices" on flights to Omaha.

Related: How good is Warren Buffett? Very

But most Buffett fans read the letters for his advice on stocks -- even though Buffett has conceded that the portfolios run by his two investing lieutenants Todd Combs and Ted Weschler have outperformed his own lately.

Buffett is a classic buy and hold investor who has largely shunned pricey technology stocks in favor of blue chips in the financial, industrial and consumer sectors. He has often urged investors to not panic and dump stocks due to fear.

A constant Buffett refrain: Don't bet against America. Better times lie ahead.

That optimistic spirit was once again present in this year's letter. Buffett was particularly confident about the chances of continued success for Berkshire.

He said that "the chance of permanent capital loss for patient Berkshire shareholders is as low as can be found among single-company investments" and added that the there is "essentially zero" risk of Berkshire being hit by any major financial problems.

Buffett even joked that Berkshire would "always be prepared for the thousand-year flood" and "will be selling life jackets to the unprepared." That's a reference to some of the big investments Berkshire made in financial firms in the wake of the 2008 credit crisis.

But he added that Berkshire is now so big, it will be tough to match the performance of the past 50 years.

Buffett also stressed that the company is much more than an investing and insurance giant -- and he hinted at more deals to come.

"Berkshire is now a sprawling conglomerate, constantly trying to sprawl further," he wrote.

Still, some investors have questioned whether Buffett has lost his mojo. Big Berkshire investments IBM (IBM, Tech30), Coca-Cola (KO) and American Express (AXP) have lagged the market lately.

Related: Warren Buffett ditched Big Oil. Dumb move?

However, other Berkshire stocks -- most notably top holding Wells Fargo (WFC) -- have done extremely well.

And Berkshire's own stock has outperformed the S&P 500 over the past five years. The company is now the fourth most valuable in America, trailing only Apple (AAPL, Tech30), Google (GOOGL, Tech30) and Exxon Mobil (XOM).

CNNMoney (New York) February 28, 2015: 8:45 AM ET


21.29 | 0 komentar | Read More

'House of Cards' fans that already finished season 3

That's 13 episodes. Each episode is about 50 minutes long.

@TanjaBumbar said on twitter (TWTR, Tech30) it was a "Really good season, it was amazing having all 13 episode [sic] available at the same time."

@MurphyOReilly thought it was a great season too. "Fantastic end to an enthralling season," he tweeted.

Sebastian, or @challi1337, said he has "extremely mixed feelings about the ending and a few other scenes."

None gave away any secrets, respectfully. Well, except for this mysterious comment from @TanjaBumbar: "Mrs Underwood you finally made the right decision."

All four Twitter users appear to live in Europe. This makes sense considering Netflix unloaded all the new episodes at 12.pm. PT/3 a.m. ET Friday morning, making it hard for US fans to complete the task. One woman, Olivia Armstrong, however did. Armstrong says she lives in Brooklyn and finished the show in 13 hours and 15 minutes. She even live-blogged her experience. Her latest tweet? "Sleeping forever byeeeee."

It was 8 a.m. in the U.K. when @MurphyOReilly says he started. He didn't go outside ("fresh air is so overrated!") and bought American snacks to keep him in the mood.

He survived on Mike and Ike's, Oreo's and Doritos during his "12 hour 5 mins" binge session.

"House of Cards" is one of Netflix's original shows. The streaming media company has been heavily investing in the production of its own content over the past few years. The shows are also getting praise from critics. Kevin Spacey just won the best actor Golden Globe for his role as Frank Underwood on "House of Cards."

Netflix is also planning to release movies starring Adam Sandler and the sequel for "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" later this year.

Netflix has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Related: Nothing stops Frank Underwood...or Netflix

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 5:46 PM ET


19.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Iran hacked an American casino, U.S. says

For the first time, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said the Iranian government was behind a damaging cyberattack on the Sands Las Vegas Corporation (LVS) in 2014. He mentioned it while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee this week.

Sands owns several well-known properties, including The Venetian and Palazzo in Las Vegas and two other resorts in Macao and Singapore.

The attack made headlines, because Las Vegas Sands is a large publicly-traded company. In February 2014, it said unidentified hackers broke into its computer network and stole customer data: credit card data, Social Security numbers and driver's licenses numbers.

las vegas sands casino The U.S. government accuses Iran of hacking the Las Vegas Sands Casino Corporation, which owns The Palazzo and several other resort-hotel-casinos around the world.

At the time, it sounded like just another digital break-in. But the nation's leading intelligence official says it was much worse than that.

On Thursday, Clapper described it as a "destructive cyberattack" on par with North Korea's hack of Sony. In that case, hackers wiped computers, destroyed data and froze the company to a halt.

It's unknown what damage Iranian hackers did to the casino company. Las Vegas Sands declined to comment for this story.

However, the company thinks hackers broke into its casino in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and "certain company data may have been destroyed," according to documents it filed Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Of all targets, why Adelson's company? The businessman is a major donor to Republican politicians. He's staunchly pro-Israel, the ultimate foe of the current Iranian regime. And in the past, Adelson has casually suggested that the U.S. drop nuclear bombs on Iran.

If Clapper's assertion is true, this is the latest example of a frightening trend: governments are hacking private companies.

Chinese hacker spies have stolen business plans from U.S. power plants. Russian hackers have broken into American and European oil and gas companies. And most recently, leaked documents show American and British spies hacked a phone SIM card maker in the Netherlands.

Computer security experts widely agree that companies aren't prepared to handle this threat. It comes down to resources. A government is a predator with billions of dollars at its disposal to amass a formidable cyber army. Its prey is a lean, for-profit company with a small security team.

Clapper told senators that hackers in Iran and North Korea pose less of a threat than China and Russia. But they're still a serious foe.

"These destructive attacks demonstrate that Iran and North Korea are motivated and unpredictable cyber actors," Clapper told senators on Thursday.

Related: Anthem probe looking at China as possible source of hack

Related: NSA tied to super-sneaky malware found in companies worldwide

Related: The NSA failed to hack your phone

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 5:54 PM ET


19.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kelly Osbourne quits E!'s 'Fashion Police'

zendaya rancic osbourne Kelly Osbourne (center) has quit E!'s 'Fashion Police.'

E! announced on Friday that Kelly Osbourne will be departing the network's style and red carpet show to "pursue other opportunities."

"We would like to thank her for her many contributions to the series over the past five years during which time the show became a hit with viewers," the network said in a statement.

The departure comes as "Fashion Police" is facing scrutiny over one of its hosts comments.

On Monday's telecast, co-host Giuliana Rancic made a comment about the dreadlocks of actress-singer Zendaya Coleman, saying the hair probably smelled like "weed" or "patchouli oil." Some felt the comment was racially insensitive.

The backlash from Rancic's comment fell onto Osbourne who took to Twitter to convey her displeasure over the situation.

"I DID NOT MAKE THE WEED COMENT [sic]", Osborne tweeted on Tuesday." I DOT NOT CONDONE RACISM SO AS A RSULT [sic] OF THIS IM SEREIOUSLY [sic] QUESTIONONIG [sic] STAYING ON THE SHOW!"

Giuliana Rancic has since apologized for her comments.

E! said that the show would return as scheduled on Friday, March 30 and that no decisions have yet been made on Osbourne's replacement.

The woman who broke into the BBQ 'boys club'

BuzzFeed's newest traffic driver: debate about the color of a dress

'House of Cards' fans that already finished season 3

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 7:32 PM ET


19.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Apple iPhone import ban sought by suit

Written By limadu on Jumat, 27 Februari 2015 | 21.29

Up until last month, Apple (AAPL, Tech30) had been paying Ericsson patent licensing fees in exchange for using its critical cell phone technology. Ericsson's (ERIC) patents cover crucial cell phone functions, including making and receiving calls, GPS location and some software that controls apps.

The licensing agreement ended in January without a new deal, and Apple simply stopped paying for the patents. Ericsson says it has been trying unsuccessfully to negotiate terms with Apple for the past two years. Apple says that Ericsson is trying to charge the company too much and apply its patents too broadly to cover unrelated Apple technology.

In turn, Ericsson filed seven lawsuits against Apple in the United States in addition to two international lawsuits. Ericsson is seeking unspecified damages and a sales ban for the iPhone and iPad.

As part of the international suits filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, Ericsson is seeking a ban on shipments of iPhones and iPads to the United States. Most Apple products are assembled in China. The ITC has the ability to ban imports of goods deemed to infringe on patents.

Related: Apple ordered to pay $533 million in iTunes patent lawsuit

The lawsuits cover 41 patents, which Ericsson claims include the 2G and 4G radios, processor components, user interface software, location services and even the iOS operating system found within the iPhone and iPad.

"Apple's products benefit from the technology invented and patented by Ericsson's engineers," said Kasim Alfalahi, chief intellectual property officer at Ericsson, in a statement. "Features that consumers now take for granted -- like being able to livestream television shows or access their favorite apps from their phone -- rely on the technology we have developed."

Alfalahi said Ericsson has "acted in good faith to find a fair solution," but Apple "has refused all attempts" to arrive at a licensing deal.

Apple sees the situation differently.

"Ericsson seeks to exploit its patents to take the value of these cutting-edge Apple innovations, which resulted from years of hard work by Apple engineers and designers and billions of dollars of Apple research and development -- and which have nothing to do with Ericsson's patents," Apple said in its complaint filed last month in U.S. District Court in California.

Patent disputes between tech giants are common, particularly when they cover technology used in the lucrative smartphone market. Some rulings have come down for multiple billions of dollars, and the ITC has been known to issue import bans.

But the cases are typically so prolonged and appealed so many times that by the time the bans are actually imposed, the smartphone maker no longer sells the phones in question.

Related: Apple accused of stealing employees from battery maker

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 8:51 AM ET


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Google allows porn on Blogger after backlash

Google (GOOGL, Tech30) said it has received a big backlash after deciding earlier in the week that bloggers will no longer be able to "publicly share images and video that are sexually explicit or show graphic nudity." The ban was to have taken place on March 23.

Instead, Google said that the company would simply double down on its crackdown of bloggers who use their sites to sell porn.

In July, Google stopped porn from appearing in its online ads that appear on Blogger. And in 2013, Google decided to remove blogs from its Blogger network that contained advertisements for online porn sites.

"We've had a ton of feedback, in particular about the introduction of a retroactive change (some people have had accounts for 10+ years), but also about the negative impact on individuals who post sexually explicit content to express their identities," wrote Jessica Pelegio, Google's social product support manager, in a post on Google product forums. "So rather than implement this change, we've decided to step up enforcement around our existing policy prohibiting commercial porn."

Google said blog owners who continue to host adult content should continue to mark their blogs as "adult." Visitors to those Blogger sites will see an "adult content" warning before they can enter.

The company said it was never its intention to completely ban nudity from Blogger.

Even under its now defunct "graphic nudity" ban, Google said it would have allowed nudity "if the content offers a substantial public benefit, for example in artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts."

But that would have put Google in the position of deciding what is art and what is pornography -- a decision that Instagram and other sites have struggled with.

It's unclear how many sites would have been affected by the new rules. A spokeswoman for Google declined to comment.

Related: You want the best flight deal? Google it

Related: Google learns how to beat you at Atari video games

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 8:05 AM ET


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Fashion firm flirts with fame as #TheDress goes viral

Social media was overrun Thursday with comments about #TheDress -- some people were convinced it was black and blue; others saw white and gold.

"I can officially confirm the color is royal blue with black trimming," said Michelle Bastock, fashion director for the clothing company Roman, during a television interview with CNN's Nina dos Santos.

Bastock, who wore the dress during her CNN interview, said she planned to start offering a white and gold version. It would take about six months to make it available.

Roman's website was quickly changed to feature the hotly debated dress on the front of its homepage.

"We were really surprised and really happy... It's just amazing," Bastock said. "We're really busy. All the team on the website are going crazy."

Bastock said the website had been coping well with the surge in sales and online attention, and the company still has more dresses in stock.

"We still have plenty in stock," she said. "Plenty to go around," noting that the dress is available in other colors as well. It currently sells for £50 ($77).

Roman has 132 stores across the U.K. and has been expanding at a breakneck pace, said Bastock. The company is opening one new store each week.

The debate about dress colors was sparked after a Tumblr user named Swiked asked people for help in figuring out the dress's true colors.

CNNMoney (London) February 27, 2015: 8:15 AM ET


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BuzzFeed's newest traffic driver: debate about the color of a dress

dress Some people say this dress is black and blue; others see white and gold.

If you were online on Thursday night, you know what happened: social media services were overrun with comments about the colors of a woman's dress. Some people saw black and blue; others saw white and gold.

It was a debate tailor-made for BuzzFeed -- and in some ways made by BuzzFeed. By midnight Eastern time, the web site said the dress story was a record-breaker: "it drew more visitors to our site at one time than ever before."

The picture of the dress originated from a Tumblr post by a user named Swiked, who asked Tumblr users for help in figuring out the dress's true colors. Once BuzzFeed spotted the story on Tumblr, there was no stopping it.

Cates Holderness, a community growth manager at BuzzFeed, wrote this post, published at 6:14 p.m.: "What Colors Are This Dress?"

Two hours later, she rhetorically asked on Twitter, "what have I done."

The Twitter hashtag #TheDress was still the No. 1 trending topic in the United States after midnight. By then, BuzzFeed had registered 16 million views for Holderness's story, and it was still growing. The next-biggest BuzzFeed story this week has garnered about 6 million views.

BuzzFeed's traffic levels -- and purposefully silly, over-the-top coverage -- had some of the hallmarks of cable news breaking news coverage.

According to BuzzFeed, the story helped bring more than 670,000 people to the site simultaneously as it peaked during prime time.    

Of that number, 500,000 of the people were visiting on mobile devices, and half of those visitors were reading the post about the dress.

There was a poll, of course, and there were a series of followup posts. Dozens of other news and entertainment web sites weighed in (this one included).

The debate was so fervently viral that BuzzFeed apparently became overwhelmed with traffic for a brief period.

"Great work everyone, we broke BuzzFeed," tweeted BuzzFeedBiz editor Tom Gara.

Gara's tweet came along with a screen grab of an email from BuzzFeed's senior project manager Amy Filmore asking the site's editorial staff to hold off on publishing posts due to a "very high traffic load."

The debate engaged fashionistas, color scientists, and A-list celebrities. "I don't understand this odd dress debate and I feel like it's a trick somehow," pop star Taylor Swift wrote on Twitter. "PS it's OBVIOUSLY BLUE AND BLACK."

Kim Kardashian West tweeted, "What color is that dress? I see white & gold. Kanye sees black & blue, who is color blind?"

Holderness tweeted, "I have never been more proud of starting literally millions of arguments."

Strangely, or maybe not, the hotly contested social media debate came just hours after web sites and cable news channels were captivated by escaped llamas running loose in Arizona.

The two stories helped to make February 26, 2015 one of the most viral days in social media history.

"This was the best day of Twitter yet and it was a privilege to share it with you all," tweeted Matt Ford, the national editor for The Atlantic.

CNNMoney (New York) February 27, 2015: 1:01 AM ET


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Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

premarket stocks trading Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

As we approach the final trading day of the month, here are the five things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Fabulous February: The Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 both hit record highs after rising about 6% this month. The Nasdaq rallied by 7.6% in February and is now within spitting distance of 5,000, a number it hasn't reached since March 2000.

U.S. stock futures are looking soft early Friday, while European markets are mixed. Most Asian markets ended the week with gains.

Looking to commodities, oil prices are rising by about 2% to trade just above $49 per barrel.

Gold prices are edging down a touch to trade at $1,205 per ounce.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

2. Keep an eye on U.S. data: At 8:30 a.m. ET, the Bureau of Economic Analysis will release its second estimate for U.S. GDP in the fourth quarter of 2014.

"U.S. GDP is expected to be revised lower in Q4, but not in a way that should worry the rest of the world," said Paul Donovan, a global economist at UBS. "Domestic demand is expected to stay strong -- the U.S. consumer is resolute in their intention to visit the mall."

At 10 a.m. ET, the University Michigan will post a final reading of its monthly consumer sentiment index for February.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

3. Market mover -- International Airlines Group: Shares in International Airlines Group are rising by over 4% in London after investors cheered the company's full year results. The firm, which owns British Airways, is benefiting from lower fuel costs.

4. Netflix in the spotlight: Netflix (NFLX, Tech30) released the latest season of its popular show House of Cards Friday. Many viewers are expected to spend the weekend watching the series, while investors will be watching the company's stock market moves.

Netflix shares are up about 40% this year and are approaching a record high.

The company scored a victory Thursday after the Federal Communications Commission passed a historic measure to regulate the Internet more strictly, ensuring that Netflix shows streaming online don't get slowed down by broadband providers.

5. Germany approves Greek bailout: German lawmakers approved Europe's four-month debt extension for Greece on Friday.

Greece needs financing from its European partners to ensure it can pay its bills and debts. Germany has contributed most to the bailout.

CNNMoney (London) February 27, 2015: 5:29 AM ET


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India looks for economic magic in new budget

The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to reveal its second budget, an event so highly anticipated that TV news channels have doubled their advertising rates around Saturday's presentation.

The budget launch itself will not be scintillating television -- there are no flashy special effects. What you get instead is India's finance minister presenting a long list of fiscal plans and announcements. And yet, Indians have always paid close attention on budget day.

This year, with a reform-minded, single-party government in place, expectations are even higher. The country's stock markets will even hold a special Saturday trading session.

Modi has made ambitious promises: to make India an easier place to do business (the World Bank ranks India 142nd globally), to kick-start a new era of fast growth and to bring the trappings of the developed world to India's towns and cities.

Should the prime minister succeed, India will be in a position to capitalize on its tremendous growth potential. The country is primed for an economic boom, in part because it is starting from such a low base, but also because it has vibrant demographics: two-thirds of Indians are under the age of 30, with their best working years ahead of them.

Can Modi deliver? After failing to impress with last year's document, investors expect the prime minister to deliver a much more ambitious document.

The ghost of 1991

In the Indian media, comparisons are being made with 1991, the year India launched a series of economic reforms that opened up its economy and reversed a dangerous balance of payments crisis.

But if 1991 is the bar, the world may end up being disappointed -- these reforms still have to make it through parliament.

The Modi government may have a majority in the lower house, but it will take immense political will to push serious reforms through the opposition-controlled upper house of parliament.

The reforms

All the talk has been of big reforms. So, what are they?

First of all, there's the Goods and Services Tax. As CNN found out this week, crossing state borders on a goods truck entails reams of paperwork and extreme patience. A uniform tax system would do wonders for efficiency and business. It would also kill state protectionism and unleash national competition.

India needs major investments in infrastructure, health care and education. But to do that, the government needs to figure out a way to boost revenue. India's tax system needs an overhaul. Only around 35 million Indians pay income taxes; China can count on about 300 million taxpayers. Cutting subsidies on fuels like kerosene in favor of cash transfers would help make sure India's poor get the help they need.

Byzantine labor laws in India are a major deterrent to large companies. Most Indian workers continue to work in what is known as the "informal" sector, without legal papers and any form of social security or health care. It may sound counterintuitive, but making it easier to hire and fire workers would make companies more confident to scale up, and give workers the paperwork and job security they need.

And then there's divestment. India's government still controls some of the country's biggest energy providers, which prevents competition and enshrines an inefficient system.

The big changes are always difficult to achieve. India's Finance Ministry is peppered with top academics and economists from around the world. They know what to do. The question is whether politics will get in the way and prevent India from taking off.

Modi -- despite suffering a bloody nose in Delhi's state elections last month -- still has considerable national goodwill and hope riding on his shoulders. Saturday will go some way towards revealing whether he is going to deliver.

Related: India has more billionaires than Russia

Related: India's growth numbers are a total mystery

CNNMoney (New Delhi) February 27, 2015: 6:27 AM ET


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Google learns how to beat you at Atari video games

Written By limadu on Kamis, 26 Februari 2015 | 21.29

google computer video game Google's deep-Q network computer algorithm was able to beat Atari video games like a human.

Google has developed a computer program that can play -- and beat -- the 1980s-era Atari video games.

With an algorithm that Google (GOOGL, Tech30) calls "deep Q-network," a computer was able to achieve human-level proficiency at more than two-dozen Atari games, ranging from side-scrolling shooter games like River Raid to 3-D car racing games like Enduro.

Researchers for Google described the achievement in a paper published in the journal Nature this week.

Google provided the computer with just the basic level of understanding about how to play the game: The computer was able to "see" the pixels on the screen; it was told what actions the virtual buttons performed; and it was told the score.

What makes the program remarkable is that computers shouldn't be good at video games. Humans can draw on real-life experiences when performing game tasks like driving a car or shooting a gun. Computers typically only understand bits and bytes.

But Google's new program played at least as well, if not better, than a professional human player in 29 of the 49 games it tried. In 43 of the 49 games, Google said deep-Q network outperformed existing machine learning algorithms.

In some games, the Google computer was able to learn strategies that would help it maximize its score. For example, after playing the brick-breaking game Breakout 600 times, deep-Q network learned to tunnel through the bricks and bounce the ball off the back of the wall to knock out bricks from behind.

Google says its algorithm was designed to mimic human learning that takes place in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which helps us learn from recent experience. Deep-Q network was designed to learn why it lost a round of a video game and to improve its game-play based on its past performance.

The stunning feat recalls IBM's (IBM, Tech30) Deep Blue chess-playing computer and Watson, the computer that beat the world's best Jeopardy! players. But unlike those two examples, which were designed to beat a specific game, Google's deep-Q network was built to learn how to play any kind of game.

That's why Google has bigger ambitions for deep-Q network's machine learning capabilities. If we want robots to anticipate our needs and cars to drive themselves, computers will have to get better at learning on their own.

Related: Google is building the world's fastest computer

Related: Google wants you to kick this robot puppy

CNNMoney (New York) February 26, 2015: 8:25 AM ET


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From street child in China to Intel mentor

shu ling garver Shu-Ling Garver wants to get kids, especially girls, excited about engineering.

Garver, 52, said she's an example of how a young girl's love for science and technology can open doors.

"I went from the streets to working as an engineer at Intel to becoming a millionaire," she said.

Now she wants to pay it forward.

"I want kids, especially girls, to not be afraid of science and engineering but to see it as an opportunity to be successful in their future," said Garver.

Related: Women take on manufacturing

Garver's been at Intel (INTC, Tech30) for 25 years, and she said her male counterparts have vastly outnumbered women in technical jobs.

The chasm grew wider the higher she rose up the ranks, eventually becoming technical adviser to Intel's data center CTO.

"There are very few women at the higher levels," she said.

Eager to change that trend, Garver joined the Women at Intel (WIN) Network five years ago as a mentor.

ling qin old photo Shu-Ling Garver [left] with her sister in Shanghai in 1969.

"Women aren't as aggressive in their careers as men," said Garver. "WIN's goal at Intel is to inspire women to stay in engineering and achieve their career goals."

Garver has helped hire and guide some of these women. "One of those graduates is now a key engineer at Intel in just four short years," she said.

She also encourages women to maintain a greater work-life balance.

"Lots of engineers live a sedentary life," said Garver. "I pay a lot of attention to exercise, and I emphasize it."

She said Intel is working to increase the number of women in senior technical positions from 10% of its workforce to 17% by 2020.

Related: Black women struggle to fund startups

She recalled growing up in Shanghai under Chairman Mao Zedong's regime.

"My father was a college graduate and an intellectual who was put in a labor camp to dig tunnels," she said. The family subsequently lost their home "and my sister, mom and I set up beds on a street corner for a few weeks."

After her father returned, he made it a point to teach her English. This led her to pursue an undergraduate degree in English Literature and work as a translator at a technical institute in Shanghai.

She eventually moved to Portland, Ore., in 1986, enrolling in a master's program in computer science and engineering at Portland State University. After graduating, she was immediately hired at Intel.

garver_boys Garver with kids from her Engineering for Kids class.

However, this is Garver's last week at Intel. She retires on Friday.

"It's been a very interesting journey for me," she said.

But it's far from over.

Garver became an entrepreneur in 2012 after learning about Engineering for Kids, an after-school program designed to expose students to the basics of science, engineering and math.

She signed on to run its first franchise, and for the past three years, she's been visiting local schools and running engineering and science programs.

"This isn't work for me. I'm planting seeds and acting as a role model with my personal experience," said Garver. "I want to inspire young girls to become engineers."

CNNMoney (New York) February 26, 2015: 8:34 AM ET


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It's official: America has deflation

chart inflation 022615

Prices for goods actually declined -0.1% in January from a year ago, according to the Labor Department. That means it actually cost less to buy things in America this year than it did in January 2014.

It's the first time since October 2009 that the U.S. economy experienced deflation.

As most consumers know, the main driver of falling prices is cheap gas. A year ago, gas was around $3.40 a gallon, on average. For much of January, the national average for a gallon of was around $2.15.

Related: The story behind oil's plunge

Inflation is the only major yardstick of the economy going in the wrong direction. A strong and growing U.S. economy typically has inflation of around 2% a year, so a negative number is far from the mark.

January's deflation could cause the Federal Reserve to hesitate on raising its key interest rate, which many expect them to do later this year. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen and her fellow board members do not want to raise interest rates until the economy shows real momentum.

Overall, the U.S. economy has many signs of improvement. The unemployment rate is dropping, growth is picking up and hiring has been strong. But many Americans haven't seen any real improvement in their paychecks in years.

When Yellen testified before Congress this week, she was pummeled with questions about the lack wage growth and why Main Street isn't feeling the recovery.

Since wages are staying flat, consumers have been thankful for low gas prices, but don't expect it to last for long. Most economists believe the cheap gas and deflation will be short-lived.

Related: Janet Yellen: Too many Americans aren't making it

CNNMoney (New York) February 26, 2015: 9:18 AM ET


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America: The new destination for rich Chinese shoppers

chinese luxury shoppers

These high-spending travelers make most of their trips in Asia, but the U.S. is gaining popularity fast.

HSBC expects Chinese tourists will drive sales of luxury goods in the coming years, and describes America as their "new Eldorado," or golden city.

Visitor numbers are climbing after the U.S. relaxed visa requirements for China last year, making permits valid for a decade, rather than one year. About two million Chinese tourists visit the U.S. each year, and the U.S. government forecasts annual growth of about 20%.

The economic potential is big: Chinese tourists spend more than any other foreigners at an average of $7,200 per visit.

The U.S. is particularly appealing for a number of reasons, including prestige. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, director of the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute, said wealthy Chinese view a trip to America as a social necessity.

"It is part of the confirmation of their status and lifestyle to have visited at least San Francisco, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and New York," he said.

Related: Why Chinese moms want American babies

There's also more choice of products for Chinese shoppers. And they avoid the risk of counterfeit goods prevalent in China. But the main lure is price.

Renee Hartmann, of China Luxury Advisors, said luxury merchandise in the U.S. tends to be around 35% cheaper than in China. The company advises Bergdorf Goodman, as well as brands like Prada (PRDSY) and Tom Ford on how to reach the Chinese consumer.

Still, getting a Chinese tourist in the door won't guarantee sales. Experts say retailers need to pay attention to their product lines and customer service. For clothing, that means making sure it reflects Asian sizes and tastes.

Stores may also need to hire Chinese-speaking staff and train workers to respect the high expectations Chinese shoppers have in terms of welcome, service and interaction, said Nathalie Remy, a partner at McKinsey.

Related: Where the super rich are buying homes

"They like to take their time," Remy said. "Shopping is entertainment. It's not so much about the efficiency of quick checkout, they expect to be entertained."

Right now only a tiny fraction of China's population -- around 4% -- has a passport. As the middle class expands, so too will the number -- and type -- of tourist.

Once confined to group tours, Chinese tourists are getting the taste for independent travel. And as the profile of the Chinese tourist changes, retailers risk losing out if they adopt a one-size fits all approach.

"We're seeing lots of different types of travelers," said China Luxury Advisor's Hartmann. Retailers need to do more direct consumer marketing, rather than just working with tour operators. "It's hard to take on a strategy and apply that to every Chinese tourist," she said.

CNNMoney (London) February 25, 2015: 8:31 PM ET


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Morgan Stanley agrees $2.6 billion settlement

morgan stanley Morgan Stanley agreed to pay $2.6 billion to settle with the Department of Justice.

The U.S. Department of Justice claimed the investment bank was packaging bad loans into mortgage-backed securities, misrepresenting their quality.

In a regulatory filing, Morgan Stanley (AACXX) said the settlement would cut its 2014 profit in half, slashing earnings from continuing operations by $1.35 per share. It had reported EPS of $2.75 in January.

Related: Morgan Stanley insider exposes clients' info

The settlement -- reportedly the biggest Morgan Stanley has made in connection with the financial crisis -- represents an agreement in principle. Final documentation still needs to be agreed.

The preliminary deal follows similar cases brought against other big banks by the Department of Justice. Citigroup (C) agreed to pay $7 billion and Bank of America (BAC) settled for $17 billion. JPMorgan Chase (JPM) paid $13 billion.

Goldman Sachs, is still negotiating its own settlement with the Department of Justice.

Related: Citi inks $7 billion mortgage settlement

CNNMoney (London) February 26, 2015: 6:12 AM ET


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Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

premarket stocks trading Click chart for in-depth premarket data.

U.S. stock futures are edging up, though the gains are small.

Here are the five things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Watch the banks -- Morgan Stanley, Standard Chartered, RBS: Shares in Morgan Stanley (MS) could be on the move Thursday after it agreed to pay $2.6 billion to settle a case over mortgage-backed securities. The bank said the settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice -- reportedly its biggest legal bill from the financial crisis -- will hit earnings for 2014.

Shares in Standard Chartered (SCBFF) were rising in London after the bank, which focuses on emerging markets, said former JPMorgan investment banker Bill Winters will take over as CEO. Meanwhile, shares in Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are dipping after the firm reported another annual loss in 2014.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

2. Earnings and economics: Kohl's (KSS), Taser (TASR) and SeaWorld (SEAS) are among the companies reporting earnings before the opening bell.

J.C. Penney (JCP), Gap (GPS) and Herbalife (HLF) will report after the close.

On the economic side, the U.S. government will report on weekly jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET. It will also update the Consumer Price Index at the same time.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

3. U.S. officials vote on Internet regulations: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to approve new rules Thursday that -- depending on which side you believe -- either ensure a fair Internet or smother it with unnecessary regulation. The decision could have a wide reaching impact on companies ranging from Netflix (NFLX, Tech30) to Comcast (CCV).

The FCC will decide on the rules in secret. Commissioners will make statements, but they probably won't publish the actual rules for weeks.

4. International markets overview: European markets are inching higher in early trading, while Asian markets mostly closed the day with small gains.

5. Wednesday market recap: The Dow Jones industrial average gained 15 points to hit a new closing record. The S&P 500 slid 0.1% and the Nasdaq was essentially unchanged.

CNNMoney (London) February 26, 2015: 7:02 AM ET


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15 startups. One Silicon Valley bed and breakfast.

Written By limadu on Rabu, 25 Februari 2015 | 21.29

blackbox Bishara (center) with his tenth Blackbox cohort at pitch night.

But Blackbox, a Palo Alto accelerator, has been doing it for the past three years. Just without the cameras.

The founders selected to participate are far from your average Silicon Valley entrepreneur. The program is for international startup founders -- the most recent cohort hailed from countries including Pakistan, Uganda, Israel and Ireland.

Blackbox founder Fadi Bishara, who's originally from Syria, developed the idea while visiting European startups in 2009. He noticed a lack of basic resources and thought there was a lot they could learn from Silicon Valley.

So he created a two-week immersive accelerator that provides networking, mentorship, legal insights and a home base. Last year, the program received 1,200 applicants and accepted 48. This year, it will accept 80 startups -- with up to two founders each - in five separate cohorts.

Blackbox works closely with Google for Entrepreneurs, which covers the $15,000 tuition for some participants.

That covers meals and housing as well as the program, which includes speakers from firms like Square, 500 Startups, Kauffman Fellows, and a trip to Google's (GOOG) headquarters.

A key part of Blackbox is the fact that all participants are required to stay at the same bed and breakfast. Bishara said it's essential to the program's success "because of the intimacy it creates."

He said he likes to "mix it up" and split up co-founders when possible.

"The collaboration as a result of diversity is really interesting," Bishara said. "I want to put Israelis and Palestinians in the same room."

cowper inn Palo Alto's Cowper Inn is home to startup founders for two weeks.

Bishara started the program with a few startup founders in his Palo Alto home. As the program developed, in 2012, it moved to a mansion in Atherton -- which they had to vacate in 2013 because it was for residential purposes only. The new home base is Cowper Inn, a Palo Alto bed and breakfast that's exclusive to Blackbox during the program.

Last week, the most recent cohort of Blackbox "graduated" from the program, which culminated in a pitch night at Galvanize in San Francisco. There were 100 attendees, roughly 40 of whom were investors, according to Bishara, as well as alums like Dominik Balogh.

Balogh is from Slovakia and participated in the program in 2012 with his startup M.dot. In 2013, the company was acquired by GoDaddy for an undisclosed amount.

When asked about the program's focus on living with fellow participants, Balogh didn't hold back.

blackbox meals Chefs at the Inn prepare meals for Blackbox participants to eat together.

"Super important. It's like a soft landing for foreigners in the Bay Area," he said. "Building relationships motivates you to push harder."

And while the startups don't compete for any prize -- for many, like Balogh, it's a way to make a home for themselves in the competitive Silicon Valley tech world.

Geert Houben, a Belgian founder of an online platform for the elderly, agrees.

Despite opening an office for his firm, Cubigo, in San Francisco last year, Houben still needed Blackbox's network and support.

blackbox fezah arts Two entrepreneurs from Uganda pitch their startup, Fezah.

"We feel it's very hard as a foreigner to come into the ecosystem," said Houben. "[But] there are very good people all over that world."

Houben was one of 15 startups that had three minutes to pitch his company at Galvanize.

Throughout the pitches, Bishara leaned up against a wall. Like a proud father, he couldn't wipe off the grin on his face.

Related: Is this Richard Branson's next investment?

Related: 5 startups that are reimaging the world

Related: Obama's startup visa alternative

CNNMoney (New York) February 25, 2015: 8:36 AM ET


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Nobel Prize up for sale in rare auction

simon kuznets nobel prize A Nobel Prize in Economics is due to go up for auction on Wednesday. Opening bid: $150,000.

The Nobel Prize given to economist Simon Kuznets in 1971 is going up for auction starting Wednesday. The minimum bid is $150,000 and it's only the sixth Nobel Prize to be auctioned and the first in economics.

The 7.25-ounce, 23 karat gold medal is worth nearly $9,000 just for the value of the gold.

But its rare that Nobel Prizes hit the collector's market -- and that could drive up bidding.

The Nobel Prize given to James Watson in 1962 for his work discovering the structure of DNA fetched $4.76 million in December from an anonymous buyer, and a manuscript of the speech he gave when accepting the award went for another $365,000.

Related: Warren Buffett's Cadillac sells for $122,500

But other recent Nobel prize sales were for considerably less.

The 1936 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Argentina's Foreign Minister Carlos Saavedra Lamas went for $950,000 last March, while the 1935 Nobel for Physics given to James Chadwick for his discovery of a neutron sold for $329,000 in June.

A manuscript of Kuznets' speech is included in the auction of the prize. He won the award for his "interpretation of economic growth which has led to new and deepened insight into the economic and social structure." He died in 1985 at the age of 84. The prize is being sold by his son.

Related: Turing manuscript going up for auction

CNNMoney (New York) February 25, 2015: 8:17 AM ET


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4 reasons small stocks could be studs this year

small stocks underdog

It's starting to look like a little stock kind of year. While the S&P 500 is up 2.3% since late November, the small stock index -- the Russell 2000 -- has gained nearly 4%.

Both indexes hit all-time highs on Tuesday, but analysts project that the S&P 500 will grow about 7% this year while the Russell 2000 will soar 13%, according to Bloomberg Intelligence.

It's important to remember that small stocks, which have market valuations of about $4 billion or less, tend to be quite volatile. Consider that the Russell struck out last fall, shedding 11% over a rough six week period.

Related: Profitless IPOs are all the rage. Bubble alert?

But small caps have recovered since then and could be strong investments this year. Here are four reasons why:

1. Strong dollar isn't a problem: Big companies like Coca-Cola (KO) and Caterpillar (CAT) have been warning that the strong U.S. dollar, global slowdown and oil prices will hurt their businesses. It's a very different tune for small cap stocks.

Most companies in the Russell 2000 only operate in the U.S. and don't depend on oil prices.

"Small caps have less exposure to international markets and energy," says Marc Roberts, senior analyst at Fenimore Asset Management, an independent research firm. "That's part of the reason they've been performing better."

Related: America Inc. warns of turbulence ahead

Low oil prices are a boon for some small stocks, including gas-guzzling trucker companies Knight Transportation (KNX) and Heartland Express (HTLD). They love low oil costs: their shares are up 51% and 25% on the year, respectively.

Small caps beating big caps

2. Investors are hungry for IPOs: Last year's IPO surge -- the highest since the Dot-com era -- showed investors' unquenched thirst for two kinds of high risk, high reward stocks: tech and healthcare. Those two sectors made up half the IPO market in 2014, and many of the companies are considered small caps.

This year isn't any different: small caps like Shake Shack (SHAK) and Box (BOX) already had stellar debuts on opening day.

"What really makes us excited about small caps this year...is the IPO market," says Jordan Stuart, a portfolio manager of the Federated Kaufman Fund. "We had a record year last year in IPOs in the U.S. and we feel that's going to continue."

Related: Burger mania: Shake Shack stock up 120%

3. Easy Money: Finding money isn't a problem for small caps right now. Interest rates are still very low across the market, which means it's easy for companies with lots of promise to get lots of cash up front.

This "easy credit," environment, experts say, is huge for small caps, which tend to burn through cash up front on developing their product, but, hopefully, pay it back.

When the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates in the past, it's generally been bad for small stocks because they were overvalued, says Jim Oberweis, founder of the Oberweis Report, an investing report on small caps.

"This time could be different," says Oberweis. The Fed's expected to raise rates this year, but he argues small caps aren't overvalued this time.

Takeaway: a rate hike this year might not hurt small stocks as previous ones did.

Related: Box jumps 66% in first big IPO of 2015

4. Niche and nimble: Smaller companies typically focus on one product or medicine. The promise is that they'll bring some game-changing innovation to tech, healthcare or cheeseburgers (re: Shake Shack).

Look at Dexcom (DXCM), a company that makes medical devices. They're developing an app for Apple's iWatch that will allow people with diabetes to measure their sugar levels. Its stock is up 37% this year.

"These are companies that are investing and innovating their own growth," says Stuart, whose fund owns Dexcom stock. "It doesn't matter if oil is at $100 or $50."

Related: The 'smart money' is investing in oil now

CNNMoney (New York) February 25, 2015: 9:17 AM ET


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Stocks: 5 things to know before the open

Here are the five things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Stocks sitting at record levels: U.S. stock futures are kicking around the record levels set Tuesday. European markets are mixed in early trading, while Asian markets saw few major moves.

The main index in Shanghai slipped 0.6%, despite a slightly better than expected early reading of Chinese manufacturing activity. Investors continue to worry about prospects for the world's second largest economy.

"Despite today's better-than-expected [manufacturing] reading, economic momentum remains subdued," explained Julian Evans-Pritchard, a China economist at Capital Economics.

On Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average gained 92 points to hit a record close at 18,209.19. The S&P 500 crept up 0.3% to 2,115.48, another all-time closing high. The main market indexes in the United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden also joined the record-setting party.

Gold prices are edging up by 1% to roughly $1,210 per ounce. Oil is down a touch.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

2. HP plunges: Shares in HP (HPQ, Tech30) are falling by about 8% premarket after the tech company reported a slide in quarterly revenue and profit. CEO Meg Whitman noted that the company is struggling with the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar on sales overseas.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

3. Keeping an eye on the Fed: Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen will continue to testify before Congress. This time she's speaking in front of the House. She gave a mostly upbeat report about the economy to the Senate on Tuesday, which gave markets a boost.

4. HSBC in the spotlight: Watch trading in HSBC (HSBC) as the banking giant's chairman and CEO are both expected to speak before members of the U.K. parliament about the company's latest Swiss tax scandal.

A report was published this month saying the bank concealed $100 billion in Swiss accounts and helped clients avoid paying taxes.

Swiss authorities responded by launching a criminal investigation into alleged "aggravated money laundering" at the bank.

Related: Have an investing question? Ask CNNMoney!

5. Earnings and economics: Campbell Soup (CPB), SodaStream (SODA), and Target (TGT) are among the companies reporting earnings before the opening bell.

Salesforce.com (CRM, Tech30) and L Brands (LB), which owns Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, will report after the close.

On the economic front, the U.S. Census Bureau will report data on January sales of new homes at 10 a.m. ET.

CNNMoney (London) February 25, 2015: 7:23 AM ET


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Reddit's stand against revenge porn

n israel bans revenge porn_00023921

The change, which will go into effect March 10, is a departure for the sprawling online community, which has avoided policing non-consensual explicit content.

It's only a first step, but for activists who have been pushing to get the issue of revenge porn taken seriously by tech companies and lawmakers, it's an important victory.

Limits of the law

If you find a nude photo of yourself online, say one taken of you without your knowledge, stolen from your smartphone or texted to an ex in private, your options are limited.

Only a few states have passed revenge porn laws, and they're often largely ineffective against a site like Reddit, which is protected by section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act. The act gives platforms such as Facebook (FB, Tech30), Twitter (TWTR, Tech30) and Reddit immunity when third parties post anything that doesn't violate federal law.

California 'revenge porn' law may miss some victims

That's why activists have been pushing for a federal revenge porn law. California Rep. Jackie Speier is leading efforts to craft such legislation. And even if legislation isn't the best solution, the threat of federal interference could motivate more sites to crack down on the content.

"If tech platforms wanted to step up and tackle this issue, they could do so much more than laws to eradicate this issue over time," said Mary Anne Franks, a law professor at Miami Law School and vice president of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, an anti revenge porn advocacy group.

Tech companies have more resources and expertise than the government to come up with innovative solutions. They could work together on fixes, like they have for suicide prevention and child exploitation. For example, a shared database of flagged images could prevent the same photo from reappearing on other sites.

How Reddit's plan works

Reddit's enforcement plan is low tech.

The policy update says members cannot post or link to unauthorized images and videos of people who are nude or engaged in a sexual act.

If a woman finds a nude image of herself, she must email Reddit and ask that it be taken down. The policy puts the burden of proof on the victim, and the same image could still pop up again elsewhere on the site or the Internet.

"We can't ask that every post prove consent as it would not be sustainable or even very effective," explained Jessica Moreno, Reddit's head of community.

However, moderators are getting additional training on how to handle requests, though Moreno says many are already actively removing unauthorized images upon request, or when something is "obviously posted without consent."

"It does put the burden on the victim but honestly, compared to how things were before, this is still really good," said Franks.

Changing the tech industry

Further industry-wide change will require a shift in how companies think about nude and sexual images.

Most have policies about removing private data such as social security numbers and addresses, but they don't always apply the same strict standards to photos.

Feds take down revenge porn king

Last year's major hack of celebrity photos was a turning point. Scores of stolen images were posted on Reddit, and the company was criticized for being slow to remove them. Even after one of the communities was shut down, the CEO of Reddit at the time -- Yishan Wong -- said there was no plan to change policy.

"We will try not to interfere - not because we don't care, but because we care that you make your choices between right and wrong," Wong said in a blog post.

Then Wong resigned abruptly, Ellen Pao was brought on board as interim CEO, and Reddit had a change of heart. In a blog post announcing the update, Reddit said, "Last year, we missed a chance to be a leader in social media."

"This was something we decided on as a team, because we know how important user privacy has always been to the Reddit userbase," said Moreno.

Whether it's a heartfelt change in culture, fear of being criminally liable in the future, or a savvy business move to help it grow beyond its current 9,000 communities, Reddit's small privacy update is a big deal.

Now the spotlight is on other tech companies to take a similar stand.

CNNMoney (San Francisco) February 25, 2015: 5:43 AM ET


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Is this the worst CFO ever?

supergroup cfo bankruptcy superdry SuperGroup is probably feeling SuperSilly after announcing its now-former CFO went bankrupt this month.

The publicly-traded British retailer SuperGroup announced Wednesday it booted out its chief financial officer after discovering the executive recently went bankrupt.

The company, which operates over 135 Superdry clothing stores across the U.K. and Europe, said the board only became aware of the bankruptcy two weeks after the fact. The exec was kicked out within 24 hours of the discovery.

Shaun Wills was appointed to the CFO position in April 2012. He was previously the chief operating officer at furniture retailer Habitat.

Wills did not return a request for comment from CNNMoney.

Shares in SuperGroup dropped by 3% in London, though the firm was quick to point out that its finances are in order.

"This is a personal matter ... and is wholly unrelated to the financial position of the company," the company said in a statement.

Superdry sells a wide range of casual clothes, including shirts, jackets and knitwear. Japanese imagery and lettering are frequently incorporated into Superdry designs, so the British firm is often incorrectly perceived to be a Japanese company.

CNNMoney (London) February 25, 2015: 6:35 AM ET


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Apple may give Genius Bar major overhaul

Written By limadu on Selasa, 24 Februari 2015 | 21.29

Starting on March 9, help desk appointments at Apple (AAPL, Tech30) Stores will be triaged based on the urgency of a customer's problem, according to 9to5Mac, a website with detailed coverage of the company. A broken iPhone screen would likely take precedence over someone who needs help connecting to iCloud, for example.

Currently, Genius Bar appointments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers walk into a store, request to speak with an expert, and reserve a specific time for an appointment.

Beginning next month, customers will receive a series of text messages prior to their Genius Bar appointment. The first will confirm the appointment and provide an estimated wait time. The second will tell the customer to come to the Apple Store, and the third will notify the customer when the Genius Bar technician is ready to help.

9to5Mac reports that the new Genius Bar system will first be tested exclusively in the United States, and the text message system will apply only to in-store walk-ins. Customers can still make appointments online, and Apple has no immediate plans to change that system.

A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment on the new Genius Bar initiative.

The Genius Bar makeover is part of a larger redesign of Apple Stores under new retail CEO Angela Ahrendts. The former Burberry (BBRYF) CEO has recently overhauled employees' uniforms and shaken up management. In a recent New Yorker article, Apple's design chief, Jonathan Ive, revealed that he and Ahrendts are working together to change the look of the Apple Store. The article was thin on details but noted that the new Apple Watch display areas would be carpeted.

Related: Apple said to be redesigning stores

Related: Here are Apple's new diverse emjoi characters

CNNMoney (New York) February 24, 2015: 8:31 AM ET


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Home prices gain, but recovery is 'faltering'

home prices

The S&P Case/Shiller index of home prices in 20 major U.S. cities released Tuesday showed prices rose 4.5% in 2014. That compares with a 13.4% increase in 2013.

On a month-to-month basis, home prices nationwide edged lower in December from November, extending a slowdown that's been going on for months.

"The housing recovery is faltering," said David M. Blitzer, director of indexes at S&P Dow Jones. "While prices and sales of existing homes are close to normal, construction and new home sales remain weak."

Blitzer added that new homes are being built at a rate of 1 million homes per year, a level normally seen during a recession.

The weakness in home prices comes despite declining unemployment, low interest rates for home buyers and rising levels of consumer confidence.

Prices were still rising sharply in some hot markets. The West Coast, along with Atlanta and Miami, had gains in excess of 5% last year. Prices in the Midwest and Northeast were weak.

CNNMoney (New York) February 24, 2015: 9:01 AM ET


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Will a winter World Cup kill holiday shopping?

christmas shopping FIFA wants to hold the 2022 World Cup in November and December. Could that hurt sales in the crucial shopping season?

Soccer's world governing body FIFA has recommended the Qatar 2022 World Cup be played in November and December. The scheduling is designed to avoid the stifling summer heat the Gulf state experiences during the traditional June and July slot.

The World Cup is the most popular single sporting event in the world. FIFA said 3.2 billion people watched the 2010 tournament held in South Africa. Once all the numbers are counted, it expects even more tuned in for Brazil 2014.

So if nearly half the global population is glued to their screens, who will be out holiday shopping?

Related: Qatar 2022: No Christmas Day final

Retailers rely heavily on sales linked to year-end holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah to make them profitable. The U.K. Centre for Retail Research said many retailers make more than half of their sales and profits in the three months before Dec. 25.

FIFA have ruled out a final on Dec. 24 or Dec. 25. But the month-long tournament could keep shoppers at home and damage sales during the crucial season.

Euromonitor research manager Daniel Latev said moving the event to the end of the year would hurt impulse sales and last minute shopping.

"A big proportion of consumers -- especially men -- shop closer to the holiday and this group is going to be most impacted by the timing of the World Cup," he said.

Other experts are less concerned. Sophie Albizua, co-founder of digital retail consultancy eNova, said men -- who make up the most of the World Cup audience -- would squeeze their holiday shopping in around matches. Even if that means a more frantic spree than usual at the last minute.

"A study by [shopping channel] QVC found one in four men do all their Christmas shopping within an hour," Albizua said. "It's something they have to do and the World Cup won't stop that."

Related: Mayweather vs Pacquiao: Biggest payday in sport

It could even create upside for some retailers. Shopping from the sofa could help Internet outlets gain even more ground over brick-and-mortar stores.

Latev said the opportunity for product placement during live TV broadcasts could help offset the drop in retail foot traffic.

And for those countries that impress on the pitch? Well, that could be good news for retailers too.

"If the mood is particularly cheerful because England or Scotland has done well at the World Cup, then that may impact Christmas sales positively," said Albizua.

CNNMoney (London) February 24, 2015: 9:09 AM ET


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Bill O'Reilly tries to end Falklands controversy: 'I want to stop this now'

bill oreilly stand

O'Reilly's latest rebuttal to a report published by Mother Jones focused on a protest he covered in Buenos Aires for CBS News at the conclusion of the 1982 conflict between Argentina and Britain.

At issue: O'Reilly has made several references over the years to being in a "war zone" and a "combat situation." Since he and most reporters covered the war from Buenos Aires, the question was whether a protest there fit those descriptions.

In previous accounts, O'Reilly has also said "many were killed" in the protest and that he was forced to rescue his photographer, who had been "run down" and bloodied in the mayhem.

Following the Mother Jones report, several former colleagues also in Argentina at the time disputed those claims.

On his Fox News show on Monday, O'Reilly mocked the "far-left zealots" who he said had described the protest as a "day in the park." That was a reference to former CBS News correspondent Eric Engberg, who backed the Mother Jones report and said the Buenos Aires riot was "relatively tame."

O'Reilly showed CBS News footage from the protest, including a report that had been filed by Engberg. CBS News posted the footage on its website earlier on Monday.

Engberg's report, which originally aired in June of 1982, described police officers firing tear gas and plastic bullets at protesters.

"It is not known how many were hurt, but witnesses reported at least some serious injuries," Engberg reported at the time. The report also mentioned arrests and beatings.

Dan Rather introduced the broadcast by noting that "some television crew members were knocked to the ground."

O'Reilly said Monday he stands by his claim that people were killed in the riots. "I saw people hit the ground hard. I saw them hauled off, put into ambulances and police vehicles," O'Reilly said. "And the local reportage was that there were fatalities. We have not been able to say how many, alright? But I believe there were."

After showing the footage, O'Reilly spoke to former NBC News Miami bureau chief Don Browne, who backed O'Reilly's characterization of Buenos Aires. "It was a country at war," Browne said.

On his show, O'Reilly made it clear that he intends to put the whole matter to rest. "I want to stop this now," he said. "I hope we can stop it. I really do."

CNNMoney (New York) February 23, 2015: 11:40 PM ET


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Vine is hiring an office dog

dog vine Video app Vine is expanding its team by hiring an office dog.

The video app is "seeking a dog to join our growing team of humans" in its New York office.

Applicants must have a "computer science degree from an Ivy League school...[with] boundless enthusiasm for staring into the distance at absolutely nothing whatsoever," according to a listing posted on Vine's website.

Job responsibilities include welcoming employees when they arrive, keep staffers from working too hard, and train other dogs in the area. Plus he or she must "smell OK." Desired traits include a dog that doesn't chew on cables or pee on rugs, and looks into the camera on command. After all, the final dog hired must be "Vineable," or cute enough for video clips.

Although the listing doesn't specify a salary, Vine spokesperson Carolyn Penner said that to find an "awesome dog that fulfills the responsibilities, qualifications and desired traits listed in the job posting, we are willing to pay up to six treats per day, with an annual bonus of one rawhide bone."

Vine is a video app platform that allows users to share and post 6-second video clips, and is owned by Twitter (TWTR, Tech30).

Read next: China spends $1.5 billion pampering pets

CNNMoney (Hong Kong) February 24, 2015: 4:31 AM ET


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Stocks: 6 things to know before the open

Markets are looking timid, oil prices are dipping and investors seem uncertain whether to push stocks to more record highs.

Here are the six things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. It's all about the Fed: Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen will give her semi-annual monetary policy report to Congress this week. She will first testify before the Senate on Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET. Then she'll appear before the House on Wednesday at the same time.

Markets will be watching Yellen's comments closely.

The stakes are incredibly high as the Fed debates when to raise interest rates off their historic lows near zero. If the Fed times the increase correctly, the U.S. economy will continue to lift off. If the Fed gets the timing wrong, America could end up in another recession.

Related: The Federal Reserve's 'Game of Thrones'

2. Slippery oil politics: There's been talk that OPEC could hold an emergency meeting to discuss the recent sharp drop in oil prices.

Nigeria's oil minister, who also acts as president of OPEC, told the Financial Times Monday that the crash in crude oil prices could cause the cartel to reconvene.

In theory, this meeting could open the door for a cut in production to push prices higher. But Saudi Arabia -- OPEC's most powerful member -- has been vocal about its opposition to cutting output.

And markets seem to be playing down the chances of a change in OPEC policy. Crude futures are slipping by about 1% Tuesday to trade at $49 per barrel.

3. Greece still in focus: The Greek government has submitted a list of planned economic reforms to its international creditors, which is the latest move required to ensure that Greece continues to get financing to pay its bills and debts.

Now the list will have to be approved by various creditors, including its eurozone partners, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank. Officials will review the proposals later Tuesday.

The Greek government is looking for ways to revive its economy and satisfy voter demands, while also dealing with an enormous debt burden.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

4. Market moves: There's not a lot of movement in the stock market right now.

U.S. stock futures are flat, European markets are slipping in early trading and most Asian markets closed the day with gains.

In London, shares in BHP Billiton (BBL) are surging by 3.5% after the oil and mining group posted a shallower fall in profits than expected.

5. Earnings and economics: Comcast (CCV), Domino's Pizza (DPUKY), Home Depot (HD), Office Depot (ODP) and Macy's (M) are reporting earnings before the opening bell.

First Solar (FSLR), DreamWorks Animation (DWA) and HP (HPQ, Tech30) will report after the close.

On the economic side, the latest S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index will come out at 9 a.m. ET.

The Conference Board's monthly consumer confidence index will be posted at 10 a.m. ET.

Related: CNNMoney's Tech30

6. Monday market recap: The Dow Jones industrial average lost 24 points, while the S&P 500 was flat.

The Nasdaq rose 0.1%, marking it's 9th straight day of gains. This is its longest winning streak since September 2010.

CNNMoney (London) February 24, 2015: 7:23 AM ET


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Oscar winner Patricia Arquette calls for pay equality for women

Written By limadu on Senin, 23 Februari 2015 | 21.29

"It's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America," said Arquette, sparking enthusiastic applause and cheers from many in the audience. Television viewers saw actresses Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez cheering her comments.

Arquette's pay for appearing in the movie "Boyhood," for which she won the best supporting actress award, has not been revealed publicly. But some of the internal documents revealed in the recent hack of Sony (SNE) Pictures indicate that there is a page gap even in the higher ends of Hollywood.

One of the widely-reported hacked e-mails indicated that three male stars of the movie "American Hustle" -- Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and Bradley Cooper -- were each taking home 9% of the movie's profits, while Amy Adams was only receiving 7% and Jennifer Lawrence, who had just won a best actress Oscar and was the star of the box office hit Hunger Games series, was getting only 5%.

Another report citing the hacked e-mails said that actress Charlize Theron was able to negotiate a large raise to more than $10 million after she discovered that her co-star Chris Hemsworth was to be paid significantly more than she was for the film "The Huntsman," which is due out next year.

Related: Oscars' best moments

The most recent Forbes magazine lists of best paid actors and actresses showed that only two actresses would have made the top 10 best paid actors list: Sandra Bullock, who made an estimated $51 million, and Lawrence, with $34 million.

Robert Downey Jr. was number one on the list at $75 million, while No. 2 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson also would have topped Bullock's pay at $52 million. Lawrence would have been No. 10 if the two lists were combined, once again coming in behind Bale.

Mark Wahlberg was the 10th best paid actor earning an estimated $32 million, which tops the estimated $31 million earned by Jennifer Aniston, who was the third best paid actress.

The gender pay gap isn't something that affects only the top dollar actors and actresses in Hollywood. A report by the World Economic Forum estimated that U.S. women earn about 66% of what their male counterparts earn.

Related: The $160,000 Oscars gift bag

CNNMoney (New York) February 23, 2015: 8:16 AM ET


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Obama pushes protections for retirement accounts

It unveiled broad strokes of a proposal Monday that would hold financial advisers handling individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)s to a higher standard than they currently are.

The change means financial advisers would be held to a so-called fiduciary standard. Translation: They would formally have to put the best interests of their clients ahead of their own interests by recommending the best product -- even if that means taking a smaller fee for their services.

The White House acknowledged that many financial advisers already do that, but it wants to extend the standard industrywide.

"[O]utdated regulations, loopholes, and fine print make it hard for working and middle class families to know who they can trust," the White House wrote.

Related: Am I investing in too many funds?

Conflicts of interest can cost investors 1 percentage point off their return each year, the White House estimated. Over time, that can add up to a lot of money.

Nationwide, the potential losses amount to $17 billion lost every year, according to President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers.

The financial industry has been wary of the proposal.

"This proposal would lead to a number of negative consequences for individual investors, including limiting investor choice, limiting investor access to education regarding retirement accounts, and increased costs for saving," said the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, an industry group.

Related: Will I have enough to retire?

The president is expected to speak about the proposal Monday afternoon at the Washington offices of AARP, the retirement association.

The administration said more details would be available in several weeks when the official rulemaking process begins. It first proposed expanding the fiduciary responsibility standard to a broader category of investment professionals in October 2010.

CNNMoney (New York) February 23, 2015: 7:55 AM ET


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Target cuts free shipping minimum to $25

Its previous free-shipping minimum was $50, which placed it in the higher end of the spectrum.

Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) offers free shipping on orders above $35, and offers free two-day delivery for customers who buy a subscription to its Amazon Prime service. Walmart (WMT) offers free shipping on orders of $50 or more.

Many retailers, including Target (TGT), temporally suspend those minimums for the holiday shopping season.

Target.com president Jason Goldberger said that the store "saw an enthusiastic response" to that offer.

The retailer already offers free shipping on most orders placed with its branded credit card.

Target also has a mobile app called Cartwheel for mobile shoppers.

Related: Target loses to Walmart in Canada

Related: Who is winning the price wars? Consumers

CNNMoney (New York) February 23, 2015: 9:16 AM ET


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Facebook's bus drivers set for raises after union vote

tech shuttle bus Anti-gentrification protesters block a bus of tech workers in December 2013.

Most of the 90 drivers who ferry workers to and from the Facebook (FB, Tech30) campus in Silicon Valley voted Saturday in favor of a contract that would boost their wages and address a major scheduling issue, according to the Teamsters.

Some would get an increase of as much as $9 per hour, though the average increase would be about $5 an hour, according to Rome Aloise, a union official who negotiated the contract with Loop Transportation, which was hired by Facebook.

The agreement must still be approved by Facebook, Aloise said.

In San Francisco, the buses used by Facebook -- and similar services used by other Silicon Valley companies -- are seen as an icon of income inequality: Well-paid tech workers boarding coaches in neighborhoods where the less well-off are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing rents.

Related: Tech workers squeezing out renters in San Francisco

The drivers, said Aloise, are currently paid on average of $17.93 an hour. Loop Transportation has previously said its typical wage is between $18 and $20.

Neither Loop Transportation nor Facebook responded to requests for comment on Sunday.

Under the new contract, base wages would increase to between $21 and $25, according to Aloise. In three years, wages would fall between $22.50 and $28.50.

The contract also addresses a scheduling concern of the drivers: split shifts.

Drivers said they work several hours for the morning commute, then return to the bus depot and sit unpaid for several hours before returning to their route for the evening commute. Some have said their schedules meant 12- or 16-hour days, though many hours were unpaid and unproductive.

In the future, drivers who work both the morning and evening commute would receive 10% shift differential pay, and those who work only mornings or evenings would be paid for at least six hours of work per day.

Related: Sex, drugs and Silicon Valley

The contract also includes health benefits, a retirement plan and workplace policies, like a grievance procedure, Aloise said.

And Facebook's drivers may not be the only ones to be covered by a union contract.

The Teamsters said drivers for Compass Transportation -- which has contracts for Apple (AAPL, Tech30), eBay (EBAY, Tech30), Yahoo (YHOO, Tech30) and games maker Zynga (ZNGA) -- will vote Friday on unionizing, the first step toward similar contract negotiations.

Cost of living: How far will my salary go in another city?

CNNMoney (New York) February 22, 2015: 3:49 PM ET


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Stocks: 4 things to know before the open

Here are the four things you need to know before the opening bell rings in New York:

1. Ready for more records? Most major European markets are jumping in early trading as investors welcome a new conditional deal that should see Greece stay in the eurozone, at least for the next four months. Germany's DAX hit a new record high.

Both the Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 closed at all-time highs on Friday as details of the Greek debt deal came out.

But Greece must present a list of economic reforms by the end of the day Monday for the deal to work. The list will need to be fleshed out and agreed with various institutions and creditors by April.

The euro was weaker against the dollar, and U.S. stock futures were looking soft.

2. Market movers -- HSBC, Honda: Shares in HSBC (HSBC) are dropping by about 5% in London, keeping the FTSE 100 in the red, as investors react to a sharp drop in annual profits at the global bank.

HSBC is currently under investigation by Swiss authorities as part of a new criminal inquiry into allegations of money laundering.

Watch shares in Honda (HMC) today after the Japanese automaker said its long-time CEO is being replaced in June. Shares dipped by 1% in Tokyo ahead of the announcement.

Related: Fear & Greed Index

3. Earnings and economics: Dish Network (DISH) will report earnings before the opening bell.

The National Association of Realtors will report January sales and prices of existing homes at 10 a.m. ET.

Related: America Inc warns of turbulence ahead

4. Friday market recap: The Dow Jones industrial average gained 155 points to hit a record Friday. The S&P 500 also reached a record after rising by 0.6%. The Nasdaq jumped by 0.6%.

CNNMoney (London) February 23, 2015: 7:30 AM ET


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Honda CEO steps down

honda ceo Honda CEO Takanobu Ito will resign from his post as of June.

Ito will be succeeded by Takahiro Hachigo, currently Honda's managing officer, the company said in a statement.

Honda (HMC) didn't say whether Ito's resignation had anything to do with the company's recent struggles -- a massive recall over faulty airbags, poor sales, and regulatory fines.

But the surprise announcement comes after Honda recalled millions of vehicles due to faulty airbags produced by another Japanese company, Takata. Other auto manufacturers, including Toyota (TM), have also had to recall vehicles due to the airbags.

Honda issued a profit warning in January, lowering its own annual net profit forecast by 5%. It was also hit last month with a $70 million fine for failing to report all the accident information required under U.S. regulatory rules.

"Going forward, changes will be coming up more and more rapidly, competition will be more severe, so I think now is a good time to change the management to a younger generation so as to revamp our whole operations," Ito said at a news conference.

Outgoing CEO Ito joined Honda in 1978, and climbed the ranks to become head of the company in June 2009. He oversaw changes to Honda's manufacturing structure around the globe, establishing new plants in developing countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and China.

Hachigo is a longtime Honda employee, first joining in 1982, as an engineer. Over the years, he has overseen Honda operations in the U.S., Europe and China.

The management changes are still subject to shareholder approval, but are expected to be effective in June after the company's annual shareholder meeting.

Honda announced Ito's resignation after markets closed in Tokyo on Monday. The shares traded down nearly 1%. The company is also listed in New York.

Related: 2014: Year of recalls

CNNMoney (Hong Kong) February 23, 2015: 6:48 AM ET


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No dogs allowed: San Francisco's pet housing crisis

Written By limadu on Minggu, 22 Februari 2015 | 21.29

san fransisco pet housing boxer

According to San Francisco animal welfare nonprofit SF SPCA, there's been a surge in owners abandoning their pets due to an inability to find pet-friendly housing.

Over the last year, one in four people who left pets with the organization cited problems finding pet-friendly housing. The organization started tracking the numbers this year after staff noticed that housing issues were becoming an increasingly common problem, according to spokesperson Krista Maloney.

An influx of highly-paid tech workers in recent years have pushed out many low- and middle-income renters and driven rents higher. With limited space to build on and tight regulations, the short supply of housing in the city has only made matters worse.

Competition for each apartment is so fierce that landlords can afford to be more selective about tenants, said Mark Campana, president of Anchor Realty, which does not allow pets in any of its roughly 1,000 units.

Related: 10 least affordable rental markets

"Now with the market moving with great speed and with vacant units in high demand, an owner doesn't have the incentive to be pet-friendly," said Campana.

Michael Harrington, president of Pacific Union Property Management, said that while some landlords may be flexible about allowing small dogs, they know they can always find another tenant without an animal.

"We're definitely in what I would call a landlord's market," said Harrington.

san fransisco pet housing chihuahua Sam the chihuahua was left at the SPCA by an owner who couldn't find pet-friendly housing.

Just because a unit is advertised as pet-friendly doesn't mean it will go to a pet owner, said Dr. Emily Weiss, vice president of research and development at ASPCA.

That might explain why data from online rental listing company, Lovely, showed that the percentage of listings that said they allowed "some pets" actually grew from 34% to 39% between 2012 and 2014.

Pet-friendly options also tend to be more out of reach for low-income renters, said Weiss. According to a recent analysis of listings by HotPads, pet-friendly units in San Francisco cost an average of 12% more than those that don't allow pets. That's compared to a national average of 3.5% in major metro areas, the company found. And that doesn't include pet deposits or additional "pet rent," which may be required on top of normal rent.

San Francisco even lags behind New York City, where the share of dog-friendly apartments is almost three times higher and just over half of all landlords allow "some pets," according to Lovely. Yet, pet ownership in the city has long faced the same challenges that the SPCA is seeing in San Francisco, said Sandra DeFeo, executive director of the Humane Society of New York.

"People with more means tend to find places that will accept them with pets," she said.

Jackie Tom, president of leasing company RentalsinSF, said it was hard enough finding an apartment that would accept her Great Dane 15 years ago. Today, the market is even more stressful and more expensive for pet owners, she said.

"There are a lot of wonderful pet owners and not enough affordable housing for them," said Tom, who manages 35 pet-friendly units in the city. "They can keep their pets, but there is a price."

Related: 'Why I have a roommate at my age'

Eric Andresen, president of the San Francisco Apartment Association and Viking Services Corp., which manages about 2,300 housing units in the area, said he would be surprised if the housing crunch really made the city less pet-friendly overall.

He notes that many residents have learned to skirt landlords' pet restrictions by claiming their pets as assistance animals, abusing laws meant to help people with disabilities. The problem has become so widespread in recent years that Andresen recommends landlords simply allow pets so they have some control over the animals in their buildings.

"Then at least you can protect yourself with a pet deposit," said Andresen. "And it certainly puts your relationship with your tenant in a more cooperative place."

CNNMoney (New York) February 20, 2015: 7:54 PM ET


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