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A pioneering bill to curb the rampant pace of fast fashion won unanimous approval in the lower house of the French Parliament, making France one of the first countries worldwide to target the influx of low-cost, mass-produced garments.

The fashion industry is among the world’s biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions. France is seeking to reduce the allure of fast fashion items, setting a precedent in the fight against the environmental degradation they cause.

Lawmakers on March 14 unanimously approved the bill, greenlighting it for the Senate to consider—either to approve it or to tweak it and send it back to the lower house—before it can become law.

Christophe Bechu, the minister for ecological transition, hailed the vote as a historic step toward reining in the “excesses” of fast fashion. The bill will introduce stringent measures, including banning advertising for the most inexpensive textiles and imposing an environmental levy on these low-cost products.

The bill specifically targets fast fashion giants, calling for companies to disclose their products’ environmental impact. This move seeks to pivot the industry toward more sustainable practices, encouraging transparency and accountability.

It’s a measure that promotes environmental protection and aims to safeguard France’s prized high fashion industry.

Renowned for luxury brands such as LVMH’s Louis Vuitton and Chanel, France has seen its lower-end market sectors suffer due to stiff competition from fast fashion retailers like Zara, H&M, and the emerging Chinese powerhouses Shein and Temu.

By imposing these measures, France aims to level the playing field and promote a more sustainable fashion landscape.

However, producers such as Shein have countered the criticism, long arguing that their business model, albeit fast, effectively keeps the proportion of unsold garments very low. This, they claim, contributes to reducing waste—a crucial aspect of sustainability in fashion.

Luxury giants such as LVMH and Kering regularly face criticism for the billions of dollars of unsold inventory yearly.

French supporters of the bill argue it paves the way for future action, including a proposed EU-wide ban on the export of used clothing to tackle the escalating problem of textile waste.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A judge has denied Apple’s motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit claiming that stalkers are using its AirTag devices to track victims—and that the tech giant hasn’t done enough to prevent them.

Apple’s $29 AirTags have become popular items since their 2021 release, helping users keep tabs on the location of anything from their lost keys to wallets and luggage. But stalkers have also taken advantage of AirTags and similar products to follow individuals without their consent.

In December 2022, Apple was sued by dozens of plaintiffs who said they were stalked by AirTag users. They alleged that Apple failed to mitigate such dangers and should have done more to protect victims—claiming AirTags “revolutionized the scope, breadth, and ease of location-based stalking” and that current safety features are inadequate.

Apple attempted to dismiss the litigation in a filing last year, arguing the company “took proactive steps to try to deter misuse” and that it should not bear liability for injuries caused by third parties. But San Francisco-based U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria dismissed that motion on March 15.

Chhabria ruled that, while most of the class-action plaintiffs’ claims were “inadequately pled,” three can proceed for negligence and strict product liability under California law. The remaining claims were dismissed in a separate order.

Chhabria detailed arguments from both Apple and the plaintiffs in the ruling. Included were accounts from the three remaining claims of victims being stalked by former partners or others through AirTags that were allegedly attached to their cars, resulting in emotional and sometimes financial harm.

All three of these cases involve “purported defects” of AirTags that made it harder for the victims to both understand the tracking and quickly stop it, March 15’s ruling outlines, including unclear or delayed notifications, as well as an inability to disable the devices remotely, which allegedly prolonged stalking.

“Abusive and dangerous location tracking is only becoming more common, so it’s imperative to do everything we can to give voice to the victims, and to push for accountability and change,” Gillian L. Wade, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told The Associated Press via email.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

A horse-riding school in Australia is using cows as animal therapy to help people of all ages. This new type of mental health service is growing rapidly in Australia, but psychologists say national guidelines are necessary for the safety of both humans and animals.

Karl McKeown is from Melbourne, Australia. He was born with cerebral palsy and scoliosis and four years ago he suffered a brain aneurysm. Coming to the Euroa Horse Park in Victoria is helping him recover by taking part in animal-assisted therapy.

“And it does make you think, you have to slow down. They don’t come up to your speed, you’ve got to go back to theirs and it does give you a whole new focus,” says McKeown. “And they become more aware of their body language, their communication, and the trust and respect grows,” explains Vanessa Hawkins of Euroa Horse Park.

Animal-assisted therapy participants say they can feel real mental and physical improvements from being in the presence of animals, but health experts are still on the fence as to the therapy’s clinical benefits.

This sector is growing very fast in Australia and psychologists say there’s an urgent need for national guidelines and regulatory boards.

“The field is really in its infancy, and a lot more research is needed,” says Professor Sue Cotton of Orygen Youth Mental Health. “There are a number of countries in Europe that already have legislation in place that stipulates how many hours of training and that sort of thing,” says psychologist Melanie Jones.

To help regulate this emerging sector, Wendy Coombe started a non-profit organization.

“I think therapy animal, or animal-assisted therapy, has been used across a range of different services that do not always include a therapist,” says Animal Therapies Limited director Wendy Coombe.

Experts say people who are considering using this kind of therapy should do their research on the service provider and also ask for guidance from bodies such as the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

“It’s on us to actually be really, really clear if we are providing therapeutic services so that vulnerable people in the community don’t become misled,” says Jones.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Australian households are still very much feeling the pressure of a higher cost of living.

Some have found ways to get cheaper groceries using unusual methods. One such method which is becoming more and more popular is to become a member of a food co-op that’s managed in person or online.

Eight years ago, Angela Webster became a member of the Veggie Co-op to try to reduce the cost of her groceries.“I'd just been widowed. So, I was a full-time working mom with a five-year-old son. And I really wanted to find ways of connecting to community, and also ways to feed him healthily,” she explains.

The Veggie Co-op started in the 1970s when a group of single Sydney mothers decided to put some of their money into a common pot to buy fresh produce. Today, the 12 families that are part of that group are saving a significant amount of money.

Each week, one of the families is in charge of going to the local Flemington markets to buy 12 boxes of fruit and vegetables wholesale and at a discount. “Then you just pick up from whoever did the shop on that day. And we all contribute exactly the same amount of money. So, $25,” says Veggie Co-op member Anne Jackson.

“If you went and bought that one at the common supermarkets you'd probably pay over 200 bucks,” adds Webster. 

After years of inflation, some retail prices are starting to go down in Australia. But for many households, the shopping bill is still very high. Some consumers are being creative to keep costs low.

Farmer Jayne Travers-Drape created an app that puts consumers and growers directly in touch. “The orders go directly to the farmers once they close off in our app and they're picked and then packed and they arrive at my hub between 24 and 48 hours,” says Box Divvy founder Jayne Travers-Drape.

“This kind of community-based pushback where you unite together with more people so as to have more market power is a mechanism through which consumers can try to actively work against that kind of price gouging,” says Gigi Foster of the University of New South Wales.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Trader Joe’s mini canvas tote is the latest item to cause a stir on social media, so much so that resellers are taking advantage of the hype.

The mini totes are offered in four colors — blue, red, green, and yellow — and they are all in high demand. The bags, retailing for $2.99, are now advertised on platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace for many times their original price.

Offers from third-party sellers range significantly, with listings ranging from about $20 for a single bag to as high as $999 for a set of four.

Videos shared on social media show crowds of customers visiting Trader Joe’s stores hoping to get their hands on one of the highly-coveted mini totes. Beyond the checkout line, TikTokers have gained tens of thousands of views for sharing and customizing their bags with detail paint, buttons, and embroidery designs.

“Our Mini Canvas Tote Bags certainly sold more quickly than we anticipated,” said Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s. “Before we had the opportunity to promote them in any way, customers across the country found them at their neighborhood Trader Joe’s.”

While Trader Joe’s is no stranger to having its products go viral, the Monrovia, California-based grocery chain also said it does not condone the reselling of its products—with Rohde stressing that “our customers, in our stores, are our focus.”

Exclusivity and limited supply are always key factors impacting both prices and consumer behavior. Beyond the added influence of the internet, that’s previously been displayed in demand for products ranging from the scarcity of Huy Fong Foods’ Sriracha to empty toilet paper shelves seen at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We as humans seem to hoard things that social media makes us think is desirable or important,” Jay Zagorsky, a clinical associate professor at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, told The Associated Press via email. He added that such bulk buying—whether it’s Trader Joe’s mini totes or COVID-era toilet paper—can also help consumers feel more secure, as future availability may be uncertain.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Whenever bestselling author Robin Cook releases a new medical thriller, the head of the public library in West Haven knows demand for digital copies will be high. So will the price.

Like many libraries, West Haven has been grappling with the soaring costs of e-books and audiobooks. The digital titles often come with a price tag that’s far higher than what consumers pay. While one hardcover copy of Cook’s latest novel costs the library $18, it costs $55 to lease a digital copy — a price that can't be haggled with publishers.

And for that, the e-book expires after a limited time, usually after one or two years, or after 26 checkouts, whichever comes first. While e-books purchased by consumers can last into perpetuity, libraries need to renew their leased e-materials.

The modestly funded West Haven Library has spent more than $12,000 over the last three years to lease just 276 additional digital titles beyond what patrons can access through a consortium of public libraries. Eighty-four of those books are no longer available. If that same amount had been spent on paper books, it would have covered about 800 titles.

“Imagine if a playground was built at a school with tax dollars, only to be taken down after two years of use,” librarian Colleen Bailie said at a recent public hearing.

Publishers, however, argue the arrangement is fair considering e-book licenses for libraries allow numerous patrons to “borrow” them and the per-reader cost is much less expensive than the per-reader rate.

Librarians in several states have been pushing for legislation to rein in the costs and restrictions on electronic material, which has been growing in popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Patrons are stuck on long waiting lists for audio and e-books, and digital offerings are limited.

This year, lawmakers in states including Connecticut, Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii and New Hampshire have proposed bills aimed at closing the affordability gap. A bill was introduced in Virginia but was tabled in February.

They face strong opposition from the publishing industry, which argues the legislation undermines intellectual property values and will harm the publishing ecosystem.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.