Before the pandemic, many brands and wholesalers kept Amazon at arm's length. Now, consultants that help brands navigate Amazon's marketplace say the company is attracting a broad range of vendors that sold at physical stores.

In a letter sent to Amazon, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a frequent critic of the e-commerce giant, and the eight other senators asked Amazon to provide more information about its policies for firing employees.

ON APRIL 22, 202o, a billion people around the world will mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day — except, this year, likely not together. Ironically, a small forest of trees will be sacrificed for print publications around the globe to analyze the lasting impact of Earth Day, deep-dive into a half-century of environmental activism […]

UNTIL I STARTED working on this week’s story about global challenges that rocked recycling in Washington and beyond, I had no idea what a dirty business it was. People throw all manner of things into their recycling bins: soiled diapers, old blue jeans, hose caddies, leather belts, tubs of spoiled hummus, wadded-up plastic wrap streaked […]

THE DEEPER WE got into our isolation, the more I missed the old routines and simplicities of daily life. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed making the kids’ lunches in the morning, or quiet time in a coffee shop to work alone, or watching baseball, or hands that didn’t crack and bleed from frequent […]

Earlier this year, clients of the Seattle-based online ticket broker — many of them artists and small-business owners — said they haven't been paid for events, some dating back to last year. Some, still unpaid, have been turning to Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson for help.

The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest challenge for Seattle’s independent record stores like Easy Street, but these titans of vinyl continue to rise to the occasion.

This is a stressful, frightening and unprecedented time in American history. Nonfiction books can inform us about past disasters in American history, and help guide us as we navigate the coronavirus pandemic.

The plot in Kristen Millares Young’s new novel centers around a history of storytelling in Neah Bay, with a quiet, powerful narrative that shakes readers like an earthquake.

The Zags are looking like a Final Four team, and a win Saturday will make that a reality.

The Zags lead the country by scoring 88.8 points per game. The Red Raiders have one of the best defenses in the country. Something has to give Saturday.

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — The eastern European nation of Belarus held a full-fledged military parade Saturday to mark Victory Day, shrugging off safety concerns during the coronavirus pandemic that led Russia to curtail its own long-planned 75th anniversary observances. Tens of thousands of spectators lined the parade route as some 3,000 soldiers and 185 military […]

Before there was President Donald Trump there was Bibi Netanyahu. I first covered him in 1996 when he was running for prime minister of Israel. He was in his mid-40s then, a not-yet-proven leader, not considered in the same class with the grand old men of the nation, such as his opponent, Shimon Peres, or […]

The couple, who were married for 23 years, are among the hundreds of people in Washington state who have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Redbooks, published: Thu, 16 Apr 2020

Companies need to migrate data not only when technology needs to be replaced, but also for consolidation, load balancing, and disaster recovery (DR).

Draft Redpaper, last updated: Mon, 20 Apr 2020

This IBM® Redpaper publication provides an overview of the IBM Elastic Storage® Server (ESS) and IBM Elastic Storage System, which are scalable, high-performance data and file management solution, which is built on proven IBM Spectrum® Scale technology.

Blueprint, published: Wed, 6 May 2020

This IBM® Redpaper™ publication is intended as an architecture and configuration guide to set up the IBM System Storage™ for the SAP HANA tailored data center integration (SAP HANA TDI) within a storage area network (SAN) environment.

NEW YORK — Danny Lin cruised his white sports car down Broadway, the bright lights of Times Square gleaming off his sharply detailed Audi R8. He looped through the tourist hot spot again and again, navigating around Corvettes, Mercedes, Mustangs and BMWs — a parade of high-priced vehicles gathered for a rare photo-op. “I never […]

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The woman attacked and killed by an alligator in a gated community along the South Carolina coast was visiting the homeowner to do her nails and was trying to touch the animal when it grabbed her, authorities said. After briefly getting away from the alligator Friday, the woman stood in waist deep […]

Russell Wilson talked to Isaiah Stewart about the demands of leadership and how the 18-year-old freshman could guide a young team through adversity and more.

Benstiti takes over a team that has had six straight winning seasons.

Perspective: The losses aren’t coming just from the drop in stock prices. The effect of the dividend cuts sweeping through the market will hurt, too.

A 23-year-old man who worked as a paraeducator at Glacier Elementary School in Maple Valley has been arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault against a student. The man is now on administrative leave and officials with the Tahoma School District are reviewing his other job assignments.

Editorial page editor Kate Riley explains why The Seattle Times is running a front-page editorial urging Gov. Jay Inslee to veto a bill intended to deny public access to lawmakers’ records.

The immigrants that President Donald Trump would deny entry have stories not so different from the stories of immigrants throughout American history.

Here is why The Seattle Times editorial board did not join other newspapers in denouncing President Donald Trump's attacks on the free press.

Seattle Times editorial page editor Kate Riley explains the editorial board's election endorsement process.

How The Seattle Times editorial board evaluates candidates for endorsements.

By the end of December, snowpack statewide was only half the long-term average The vast and vital frozen reservoir provides water that supports fish, farm irrigation and power generation.

RANT to visitors who don’t clean up after themselves. It’s tulip time in Skagit Valley and while the numbers of tulip seekers are fewer than other years, there are still substantial numbers of people visiting the valley and the town of La Conner. There are about five restaurants and a couple of cafes open for takeout. Overflowing […]

This series of charts provides weekly data on how the Seattle-area economy is doing during the coronavirus crisis.

The 6-foot-9, five-star prospect was also the Star Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

The withdrawal came after the school sought details about his involvement in a months-long police investigation two years ago.

The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee has sent a letter to NCAA leaders, conferences and schools requesting details about how college athletes can be compensated for their names, images and likenesses. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., sent 20 questions to each Power Five conference, dozens of colleges and universities and committees at each of the […]

Mike Storen, a former ABA commissioner and multisport marketing whiz and the father of ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, died Thursday. He was 84. Storm said her father died at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta of complications from cancer. Known for his hearty laugh and creative mind, Storen rose to executive spots in basketball, football, baseball […]

WASHINGTON — Buoyed by his impeachment acquittal and the muddled Democratic primary race, President Donald Trump and his campaign are turning to address his reelection bid’s greatest weaknesses with an aggressive, well-funded but uncertain effort to win back suburban voters turned off by his policies and behavior. His campaign is aiming to regain these voters […]

“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” the president told governors in a conference call. The suggestion surprised some governors, who are increasingly looking to the federal government for help.

The Canadian benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index was holding in positive territory Thursday noon with some key stocks finding solid support at higher levels.

The Canadian stock market was firmly in positive territory Monday noon after a steady start, as investors reacted to news about several countries relaxing shutdown restrictions and opening up some businesses.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had celebrations to mark victory in WWII and a constitutional vote to keep him in power till 2036 planned for this spring. But the pandemic has canceled both events.

Het gaat na de eerste, zware klap van de coronacrisis beter dan verwacht met de sierteelt in Nederland. Maar uit de problemen is de branche allerminst. En dat heeft ook te maken met de impact op de bloemenhandel in maart, toen de veiligheidsmaatregelen wereldwijd van kracht werden.

Michel van Schie, woordvoerder van branchevereniging Royal FloraHolland herinnert het zich nog goed. "Het ging 13 maart in een klap heel erg fout, toen bleef 25 procent onverkocht. De maandag erop zelfs 50 procent."

Met name de export stortte in. Er werden rond een kwart minder bloemen geëxporteerd. Vooral de vraag uit Italië, maar ook de VS en Zwitserland viel enorm terug. Dat blijkt uit cijfers die het CBS vandaag publiceert.

Nederlandse siertelers moeten het juist van de export hebben. "De verhouding voor de verkoop is 15 procent binnenland, 85 export", zegt Van Schie. De exportwaarde bedroeg vorig jaar 9,5 miljard euro: sierteelt is daarmee het meest uitgevoerde landbouwproduct van Nederland.

Inmiddels lijkt de schade enigszins mee te vallen." "De handel is behoorlijk aangetrokken", ziet Marco van Zijverden, directeur van de Dutch Flower Group. Dat is een samenwerking van 33 bedrijven die samen de sierteeltketen bedienen. "Waar we in maart op indexen zaten van min 40 tot 80 procent, is het nu tussen de min 10 en min 20 procent."

"De luchtvracht is wel een probleem", zegt Van Zijverden. "Die is erg duur. Zowel voor de aanvoer van Afrika naar hier, als de export van hier naar bijvoorbeeld de VS."

Michel van Schie van Royal FloraHolland legt uit hoe dat komt. "Normaal gaan veel bloemen mee in het vrachtruim van passagiersvliegtuigen. Maar veel van die vluchten zijn gecanceld. Transport is daardoor relatief duur: soms wel drie of vier keer de normale prijs."

Toch is directeur Van Zijverden over de hele linie optimistisch. "De consument blijft kopen. Ook in Duitsland, Engeland en heel Scandinavië. De pijn is minder dan vooraf gevreesd."

Dat merkt ook rozenkweker Arie van den Berg uit Delfgauw. "Bloemetjes werden bezorgd bij ziekenhuizen en opa en oma. De afzet hier is nog relatief hoog geweest."

En helpt het dat het morgen Moederdag is? "Moederdag is altijd de belangrijkste week van het jaar", zegt Van Schie., "We zitten niet op het niveau van vorig jaar, maar het is wel aangetrokken."

Luxe artikel

"In landen waarvan de grenzen open zijn is de consumptie van bloemen hoger. Ook omdat mensen de tijd hebben om bij hun moeder langs te gaan", constateert rozenkweker Van den Berg. "Overigens zien we hier in Nederland dat de online verkoop is geëxplodeerd. De online winkels hebben nog een uitdaging om alle boeketjes klaar te maken en te bezorgen.

Maar het einde van de zware tijden is nog niet in zicht. "Het viel minder tegen dan we acht weken geleden hadden ingeschat, maar ik ben pessimistisch", zegt de rozenkweker. "Mensen onderschatten hoe belangrijk een goede economie is voor een rozenteler. Wij zijn een luxe artikel, dus we vallen als eerste van het boodschappenlijstje."

Van den Berg heeft nog niet gehoord van collega's die failliet zijn gegaan. "Misschien ook omdat de banken goed meewerken met leningen en aflossingen. Maar er gaan collega's en afnemers sneuvelen als dit langer aanhoudt."

Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen (Infrastructuur en Waterstaat) kijkt "serieus" naar een voorstel om het theorie-examen voor een motorrijbewijs te schrappen voor ervaren automobilisten. Zo moet het laagdrempeliger worden voor mensen om een motor aan te schaffen.

Het gaat in het plan enkel om het A1-motorrijbewijs, waarmee lichte motoren met een cilinderinhoud van maximaal 125 cc bestuurd mogen worden.

'Motor past in anderhalvemetersamenleving'

De RAI Vereniging diende als branchevereniging van auto en motor-importeurs het voorstel in. Vanwege de coronacrisis neemt de behoefte om individueel te reizen toe, zegt RAI Vereniging-voorzitter Steven van Eijck.

"En op het moment dat iedereen massaal in de auto stapt, groeit de druk op ons wegennet", stelt Van Eijck. "De motor sluit goed aan bij de wens voor meer individueel vervoer in de anderhalvemetersamenleving, zonder dat het risico op files te veel toeneemt."

De vereniging geeft verder aan dat in dertien andere Europese landen, waaronder in buurlanden Duitsland en België, de eisen voor het motorrijbewijs eerder al zijn verlaagd voor automobilisten.

De besluiten waren in die landen wel voor de coronacrisis genomen en een woordvoerder van de RAI Vereniging erkent dat importeurs gebaat zijn bij de verkoop van meer motoren. "Maar het maatschappelijk belang staat bij ons voorop", zegt hij. "Met een motor kun je snel en zuinig van A naar B en het biedt mensen meer keuzevrijheid."

Verkeersveiligheid

Minister Van Nieuwenhuizen onderstreept in haar reactie op het voorstel dat motorrijden in de praktijk om andere vaardigheden dan autorijden vraagt.

Of het niet ten koste gaat van de verkeersveiligheid als automobilisten met een motor de weg op mogen, zonder theoretisch te zijn bijgespijkerd?

"Het praktijkexamen mag niet komen te vervallen. Laat dat duidelijk zijn", benadrukt de woordvoerder van de RAI Vereniging. "Maar wij denken dat het schrappen van het theorie-examen niet ten koste gaat van de verkeersveiligheid. Ervaren automobilisten hebben die kennis al. Er valt hoogstens een administratieve last weg."

The Orthodox Church in Ukraine has been under the authority of Moscow since 1686. Until the 2014 war with Russia, that situation bothered few. Now a growing number of congregations, approximately 500 so far, have joined a new independent Ukrainian … More →

The post PBS NewsHour: Russia’s war in Ukraine leads to historic split in the Orthodox Church appeared first on Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has made it mandatory for its employees to wear facial protection equipment at airport screening areas as a coronavirus preventive measure. The decision will be implemented over the coming days. In its announcement Thursday, TSA also urged passengers to wear mask at security screening checkpoints. TSA has made it clear that passengers may be aske

Asian stock markets are in positive territory on Tuesday following the overnight gains on Wall Street as a rally in tech stocks and higher crude oil prices helped ease worries about rising U.S.-China tensions. Investor sentiment was also boosted by news that several countries are planning to ease lockdown restrictions. The markets in Japan, China and South Korea are closed for holidays.

U.S. employers shed a record number of jobs in April, as the unemployment rate climbed to the highest since the Great Depression. The coronavirus crisis has locked down much of the economy.

Early signs from the U.S. Futures Index suggest that Wall Street might open in negative.

Following the mixed performance seen in the previous session, stocks moved mostly higher during trading on Thursday. With the upward move on the day, the tech-heavy Nasdaq returned to positive territory for 2020.

Doctors in the U.S. and Europe are reporting a small wave of cases of what looks like a "shock syndrome" in young people. They have low blood pressure, inflamed hearts and other serious symptoms.

A report released by the Institute for Supply Management on Tuesday showed U.S. service sector activity contracted for the first time since December of 2009 in the month of April. The ISM said its non-manufacturing index tumbled to 41.8 in April from 52.5 in March, with a reading below 50 indicating a contraction in service sector activity.