Amazon jumps out ahead of its rivals and raises wages to $15

Amazon, the business that upended the retailing industry and transformed the way we shop for just about everything, is jumping out ahead of the pack again, announcing a minimum wage of $15 an hour for its U.S. employees that could force other big companies to raise their pay. Given Amazon's size and clout, the move Tuesday is a major victory for the $15-an-hour movement, which has organized protests of fast-food, gas station and other low-paid workers.

Amazon Raises Minimum Wage To $15 For All US Workers

The higher minimum wage, which will go into effect on Nov. 1, comes after the company faced criticism over its pay and treatment of employees. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I.-Vermont, for paying wages that he said left its employees relying on public assistance for food and shelter, even as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos now stands as the world's richest man.

Blue Origin will begin manned flights next year

Jeff Bezos confirms Blue Origin space tourism firm will begin manned flights next year and pledges $1 billion further investment for a new spaceship Space tourists could pay an estimated $100,000 to $200,000 each when tickets go on sale sometime in 2019 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has confirmed that his Blue Origin space-tourism venture will launch a crewed mission sometime in 2019. The comments from the 54-year-old multi-billionaire further fuel the commercial space race as several private companies jostle to become the first to send paying customers into space.

Facebook and Instagram Users Remembered Aretha Franklin and John McCain in August

Facebook and Instagram users remembered those who are no longer with us in August, as late singer Aretha Franklin and late Sen. John McCain were among Facebook IQ 's Hot Topics for the month. Former President Barack Obama also cracked Instagram's list in the people topic, while Facebook users chatted about Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos .

Thousands of Amazon workers receive food stamps. Sen. Bernie Sanders wants Amazon to pay up.

In this Jan. 17, 2017, file photo, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will soon introduce legislation that would require large employers like Amazon, Walmart and McDonald's to fully cover the cost of food stamps, public housing, Medicaid and other federal assistance received by their employees.

Has Keith Ellison Repented of His Call for Censorship?

It's good to see that Rep. Keith Ellison's shocking letter to Amazon, calling for blatant censorship, has been removed from his website . But has he publicly renounced his letter, both in spirit and in substance? If not, then Ellison's missive represents just one more example of the radical left's attempt to suppress and silence opposing views.

Lawmakers Call On Amazon and Google To Reconsider Ban On Domain Fronting

An anonymous reader quotes CyberScoop: Amazon and Google face sharp questions from a bipartisan pair of U.S. senators over the tech giants' decisions to ban domain fronting, a technique used to circumvent censorship and surveillance around the world. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., sent a letter on Tuesday to Google CEO Larry Page and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos over decisions by both companies in April to ban domain fronting .

Kavanaugh made a mark on drones and net neutrality. What’s next?

Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump's pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, will have a sweeping impact on American life if he's confirmed for the job. The growing power of technology and internet companies will be one of the issues where he may make his mark.

German authorities arrest suspected Islamic State member

President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un conclude an extraordinary nuclear summit Tuesday with the U.S. president pledging "security guarantees" to the North and Kim recommitting to the "complete... President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un conclude an extraordinary nuclear summit Tuesday with the U.S. president pledging "security guarantees" to the North and Kim recommitting to the "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

Amazon delivery drone may use lights and music when it shows up at your home

If you didn't already know it, Amazon really wants to deliver stuff to your door using unmanned aerial vehicles , commonly known as drones. Amazon boss Jeff Bezos unveiled a prototype of the Prime Air delivery drone in 2013, and several redesigns later, the company is surely coming close to a platform that it hopes will transform its delivery operation.

Seattle to Tax Big Companies to Help the Homeless

Seattle's largest businesses such as Amazon and Starbucks will have to pay a new tax to help fund homeless services and affordable housing under a measure approved by city leaders. The City Council unanimously passed a compromise plan Monday that taxes businesses making at least $20 million in gross revenues about $275 per full-time worker each year - lower than the $500 per worker initially proposed.

Seattle to vote on business tax to fight homelessness

An opponent of a controversial proposal to tax large businesses such as Amazon.com to fund efforts to combat homelessness holds a sign that reads "No Head Tax" while waiting in line Wednesday, May 9, 2018, to attend a Seattle ... A cyber security firm says "a specific attack" was among the possible reasons for the crash of a website that was reporting results in a Tennessee county's primary elections. A cyber security firm says "a specific attack" was among the possible reasons for the crash of a website that was reporting results in a Tennessee county's primary elections.

Cleveland Was Set To Give Amazon At Least $120 Million In Benefits Before Getting Rejected For HQ2

The city of Cleveland offered to give Amazon and its employees at least $120 million in benefits if the tech giant chose them as its location for the highly-anticipated second headquarters. Those incentives include discounted public transit fares for Amazon workers, which could be only part of the offering since Cleveland.com and local station WKYC were only given 27 pages of the full pitch.