Aviva to buy AIG’s UK protection business for £460m

• The deal will see the Aviva acquire the life insurance business of AIG for £460m 

By Daniel Fessahaye

Updated: 05:36 EDT, 25 September 2023

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Before heading to the airport for your next holiday, consider making a pit stop at a hardware store, this flight attendant suggests.

Cici, a TikToker who works as a flight attendant for a ‘major airline’, made a video revealing three surprisingly useful items you can buy from any DIY shop for your travels. 

In the footage, which has so far racked up 596,000 views, the Florida native, 51,  demonstrates how to use the everyday items – bungee cords, shoe covers and carabiners, which are the metal loops often used by rock climbers.  

The shoe covers are handy to use when going through airport security, Cici, who goes by the TikTok handle ‘Cici In The Sky’, reveals. 

Placing a pair of blue plastic shoe covers over her feet, she explains: ‘When you’re going through TSA (Transportation Security Administration), just slip your shoes off, put these on and walk through the security scanner germ-free.’ 

The savvy traveller, who has 374,200 TikTok followers, also suggests using the shoe covers ‘to protect your clothes’ in your suitcase. 

They can also be placed ‘on your feet in your hotel room if you’re worried about germs’, she adds. 

If you don’t have time to pick up shoe covers, shower caps also work, Cici reveals, saying: ‘That’s what I do, I take all the shower caps out the rooms and I use them as well.’

Bungee cords, meanwhile, can be put through the handle of your suitcase to secure all of your bags and travel items in one place, Cici reveals. 

‘Attach your pillow to your luggage,’ she suggests.

‘If your handle breaks for some reason, just attach this here and just drag it,’ she says while threading the cord through a smaller handle on the suitcase and holding it at both ends to pull it along.

But those trying this hack should heed caution, as Cici warns that the springy cords commonly cause eye injuries. 

Turning her attention to carabiners, Cici notes that these devices come in handy once you’ve boarded the plane.

She says: ‘Use these to attach your water bottle to your bag so they don’t fall on people’s heads when you put it in the overhead bin. It’s happened a lot.’ 

Many viewers thanked the cabin crew member for the post and welcomed her tips.

‘Alissa’ wrote: ‘The shoe covers… it’s so smart. I always freak out about that.’

Globetrotter ‘shenanigans305’ said: ‘I travelled via plane two times a week for work and all over Europe and am now learning these tips from you. Travelling for fun now and will use them.’

Fellow airline worker ‘Leisure Lifestyle’ said: ‘I’m a flight attendant and I learned something here.’

Relating to Cici’s advice on carabiners, user ‘Bort’ added: ‘I’ll never forget my bottle falling out and hitting some poor guy in the head. Definitely have a bottle carabiner whenever I travel now.’

Others commenting on the video suggested further DIY items to take on holiday.

User ‘Jefiner’ suggested taking a ‘rubber doorstop for the hotel room’ while ‘Pinky’ commented: ‘Put tea lights in your luggage to put in the hotel bathroom. That way, you don’t have to turn on the bright light [when using the bathroom at night].’

And ‘Melanie’ said: ‘I always wear two pairs of socks through TSA so I can remove the outer pair after.’

In another recent TikTok video, Cici revealed why passengers should never fly on the day of an important event such as a wedding or birthday.

‘I cannot tell you the amount of people on my flights who have missed important engagements because of delays and it’s just not worth it. Fly in the day before, always,’ she says in the clip, which has gained 79,700 views.

To see more of Cici’s videos, visit her TikTok or her Instagram profile.  

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often deemed the future of transport, with titans like Ford and Tesla racing to make them. 

But a new study reveals that ‘more macho’ men may not see this the same way, in the bizarre belief that EVs will harm their image.

Dr Michael Parent, a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), claims that men who prioritise acting ‘like a real man’ are more likely to frown upon electric-powered cars. 

High-performance gasoline vehicles are instead preferred as a marker of masculinity, he says, raising an alarming and unexpected uncertainty for efforts against climate change. 

‘It wouldn’t be a main driver of climate change, but it is one more, preventable, thing that adds to the pile of issues related to climate,’ Dr Parent told MailOnline. 

‘Although the issue could be addressed through advertising, it would probably be better for education to address healthy gender role norms to reduce precarious masculinity in general.

‘That is related to a broad set of negative behaviours including sexism, homophobia, aggression, and others.’

As part of his research, Dr Parent examined the concept of ‘masculine contingency’ among 400 men living in the US.

Masculine contingency refers to the degree to which a person bases their self-worth on cultural standards of masculinity including toughness, status and anti-femininity. 

These perceptions can be real or imagined, with all participants asked to agree or disagree with a series of statements including ‘I can’t respect myself if I don’t live up to what it means to be a “real man”.’

Answers were then compared with car purchasing habits and attitudes, examining whether gas/diesel, hybrid or electric was preferred.

Almost 40 per cent of men ranked EVs as the worst option, with many of these participants also holding the most traditional ‘masculine’ views.

‘Consumer good purchase decisions are made, to a degree, with consideration toward how those purchases reflect personal identities,’ Dr Parent wrote. 

‘The prior literature has suggested that, overall, EVs may be appealing to men in terms of their fast acceleration and appeal as a technological innovation. 

‘However, among men, endorsement of masculinity contingency was linked to lowered preference for EVs.’ 

These startling results come as countless car giants are racing to develop new game-changing EVs amid heightened environmental concern against typical fuel engines.

New movements, like London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), also encourage drivers to go electric, with a £12.50 daily charge for vehicles that don’t meet emission standards.

Psychologist Louise Goddard-Crawley claims the results even have roots in human evolution and long-established ideas of dominance.

‘From an evolutionary perspective, throughout human evolution, traits associated with masculinity, such as physical strength and dominance, were advantageous for survival and reproduction,’ she told MailOnline. 

‘Traditional vehicles, with their loud engines and powerful performance, could symbolise these traits, making them more appealing to some individuals who value traditional masculinity. 

‘Electric cars, being quieter and perhaps perceived as less powerful, may be seen as deviating from these evolutionary ideals, leading to resistance among those who strongly identify with traditional gender norms.’

Despite his findings, Dr Parent acknowledges that his study is limited, suggesting there is no data to show a direct causal link between masculinity and attitudes towards EVs.

Car preferences were also based on hypotheticals and not real purchase decisions, adding to the ambiguity of results. 

‘It is likely that many men are susceptible to masculinity threats without being consciously aware of it and as such experimental research in the precarious masculinity paradigm on the topic of consumer research would be valuable,’ he wrote. 

‘In sum, this study demonstrates a link between masculinity contingency and EV-related attitudes and purchase intentions, contributing to work on masculinities and consumer choices.’

Buy now, pay later giant Klarna ready for float as it posts first monthly profit in three years

By Leah Montebello

Updated: 16:52 EDT, 31 August 2023

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

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BUSINESS LIVE: BAE Systems to buy Ball Aerospace for $5.6bn

By Live Commentary

Published: 02:41 EDT, 17 August 2023 | Updated: 03:09 EDT, 17 August 2023

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John Lewis boss: Customers want to buy now, pay later

By Ruth Sunderland

Published: 16:50 EDT, 12 August 2023 | Updated: 16:57 EDT, 12 August 2023

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

Patients facing long NHS waiting lists for scans and tests are plunging themselves into debt by signing up for loans and ‘buy now, pay later’ deals for private health care.

In exchange for rapid treatment, patients face years of paying off debts on instalment for their medical treatment – including MRI scans, X-rays, routine surgery and hip replacements.

Firms such as MRI Plus, which offers payback deals tells patients ‘Why wait in pain? Slash your waiting time for treatment on the NHS’, and ‘book now and pay later’.

Another loan provider, Chrysalis Finance, offers ‘quick and easy’ loans of between £350 – £25,000 – and allows payments to be spread over five years. 

Scan.com, which offers MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds and X-rays at 150 centres nationally, is offering an interest-free BNPL option via PayPal.

The companies said the BNPL plans are ethical, interest-free options that help people manage their finances.

But debt campaigners and health experts are concerned that NHS backlogs could force people to use the deals in desperation.

David Rowland, director of the Centre for Health and the Public Interest thinktank, said: ‘Policymakers need to be aware of how the underfunding of the NHS is pushing unsustainable healthcare costs back onto individuals, potentially increasing their indebtedness. It’s a slippery slope.

Research by the StepChange debt charity found that nearly half of people with a BNPL loan had trouble keeping up with household bills and credit repayments, while 17 per cent met the charity’s definition of being in severe financial difficulty.

In some cases, customers face late-payment fees and risk damaging their credit rating or being referred to debt collectors. While traditional loans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, interest-free loans repaid in less than 12 months – including BNPL products – are exempt.

For patients, having access to credit amid the current NHS backlogs can be the difference between enduring months of pain and angst or not.

NHS England figures show that as of May 2023, a record 7.47 million people were waiting to start routine hospital treatment, and more than 409,000 had been waiting six weeks or more for key diagnostic tests.

Anusha Stribbling, 25, a charity worker from Peckham, south London, said she paid £760 with Klarna for two scans after suffering abdominal pain and facing challenges accessing diagnostic tests on the NHS. She said the results helped her GP rule out other conditions and led to her being diagnosed with hypermobility and would use it again for treatment in future ‘without question’.

Klarna said BNPL was a fairer, low-cost alternative to credit cards, fewer than 1% of customers did not pay back the money they owed.

MRI Plus said it offered low-cost scans that helped people get ‘timely access’ to potentially life-saving care and customers had passed affordability checks.

A spokesperson for Chrysalis Finance said:

‘As a responsible lender authorised and fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, we only lend to people who can demonstrably afford the monthly repayments.

‘We do not provide any buy now, pay later finance. By contrast, we have worked with regulators and the UK government to abolish unregulated buy now, pay later (BNPL) lending.

‘Every application for our finance undergoes robust checks for creditworthiness and affordability ahead of any loan, in the same way as with other large-scale regulated lenders.

‘Finance allows people to access privately funded treatment by spreading the cost into affordable monthly repayments, often without interest charges. This choice to spread the cost is welcomed by many of our customers and is reflected in our high Trustpilot score and online feedback.’

PayPal said it ‘believes in responsible lending’ and added its ‘pay in three’ deals were interest-free loans ‘designed to offer customers more choice and flexibility’, which carried no late fees or other charges. The firm said it worked to ‘encourage people to not purchase items they cannot afford’.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was working with the independent sector to expand diagnostic capacity across the country ‘quickly, closer to home, and free at the point of need’.

The cheapest places for holidaymakers to buy petrol and diesel in Europe have been revealed – and it’s Andorra that’s the best value across the board.

Travellers renting a car in Andorra will pay £1.23 per litre for unleaded petrol – working out to £187 for 1,000 miles of driving – and £1.10 per litre for diesel (£167 per 1,000 miles).

That’s according to the latest Post Office Travel Money Motoring on the Continent report, which surveyed fuel prices in 17 European countries and created two cost-based rankings – one for unleaded petrol and one for diesel. As part of the research, the Post Office has also revealed some road rules overseas that Britons might not be aware of.

For unleaded petrol, Ireland is the second cheapest (£1.38 per litre/£209 per 1,000 miles), followed by Austria in third place (£1.39 per litre/£210 per 1,000 miles). Moving down the ranking, Spain (£1.40 per litre/£211 per 1,000 miles) is the fourth cheapest for unleaded petrol while Luxembourg (£1.41 per litre/£213 per 1,000 miles) slides into fifth place.

Looking at diesel, it’s Spain – where diesel is 21p less a litre than in the UK at £1.25 per litre (£190 per 1,000 miles) – that’s the second cheapest for drivers, followed by Luxembourg (£1.26 per litre/£191 per 1,000 miles) in third place. Fourth place in the diesel ranking goes to Ireland (£1.28 per litre/£194 per 1,000 miles) while in fifth place it’s Portugal (£1.29 per litre/£196 per 1,000 miles).

The UK sits at 6th in the unleaded petrol table at £1.44 per litre (£217 per 1,000 miles), and it’s 11th in the diesel table at £1.46 (£221 per 1,000 miles). 

Where is costly for motorists? Over one in five (21 per cent) holidaymakers surveyed say they will drive in France but high prices at the pumps make it one of the most expensive countries for fuel – it ranks 12th for unleaded petrol at £1.62 (£245 per 1,000 miles) and 13th for diesel at £1.47 (£223 per 1,000 miles).

The same is true of Italy, where unleaded petrol costs £1.62 a litre (£245 per 1,000 miles) and £1.49 for diesel (£223 per 1,000 miles). As a result, it ranks 13th for unleaded petrol and 14th for diesel in the tables.

Of all the countries surveyed, Switzerland is the priciest for diesel fuel at £1.76 a litre (£266 per 1,000 miles) and similarly expensive (15th overall) for unleaded petrol at £1.66 (£251 per 1,000 miles).

Denmark is the most expensive destination for unleaded petrol, meanwhile, priced at £1.76 per litre, or £266 for 1,000 miles. It ranks 10th in the diesel ranking, however, with diesel priced at £1.46 per litre (£218 per 1,000 miles).

Overall, in 14 of the countries surveyed, motorists driving a diesel car will pay considerably less than for unleaded petrol.

However, although fuel costs across Europe have fallen from the record levels they reached over the past year and sterling is at a 2023 high against the euro, pump prices are higher in almost 90 per cent of the countries surveyed than in 2019, when the Post Office Travel Money last conducted the pricing comparison.

Elsewhere, the report also found that over two-in-five of holiday motorists are unaware of new European road rules and risk big fines.

Post Office research found that 43 per cent of Britons planning trips are unaware of low emission zone restrictions in top destinations like France and Spain where they are most likely to drive.

Over half (52 per cent) were unaware of daily entry fees and permits required in many cities and 58 per cent did not know about the requirement to display windscreen stickers showing the emissions levels of their vehicle.

In France ‘Crit Air’ emission stickers must be displayed and if not could result in fines of £58 (€68) to £116 (€135).

Forty-two per cent of those planning to drive in Europe did not realise that speeding can carry spot fines. Yet almost one in five (19 per cent) admitted having incurred spot fines for speeding or violating other travel regulations on past trips to Europe, Post Office Travel Money reveals.

Similar numbers (18 per cent) said they had been given ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’-style fines for contravening low-emission zone regulations and 47 per cent were unaware that those with a paper driving licence issued before March 31, 2000, will need an international driving permit.

The report found that a third of Britons visiting Europe this year plan to drive while on holiday – either in their own car or in a rental vehicle – with France, Spain and Italy the top choices for holiday motoring.

Commenting on the report, Laura Plunkett, Head of Travel Money at Post Office, said: ‘With flight costs reported to be soaring, it is understandable that so many Britons have decided to drive to Europe this summer. However, it is worrying that many people have not realised that driving laws have changed since their last trip and they could be risking big fines if they don’t learn the rules of the road. Popular destinations like France and Spain have long been operating spot fines so it is crucial for holiday motorists to carry foreign currency with them in case they are stopped for speeding or falling foul of new rules.

‘Our pump price research found that the cost of filling up in Europe can vary by as much as £100 so we advise planning driving routes carefully before setting out to keep costs down. Save money by diverting from the motorway and trunk roads into local towns. Supermarket prices will be cheaper than on the roadside, just as they are here in the UK. Remember to carry some foreign currency as not all petrol stations in rural locations accept plastic.’

A lawyer has revealed the top beauty items she would never buy again due to the growing pile of lawsuits and recalls against them over health concerns.

Harvard graduate and mother-of-two Angela tracks cases and recalls regarding beauty products and shares what she finds to help others steer clear.

Big names like Neutrogena, L’Oreal and Batiste have issued voluntary recalls or had suits filed against them for issues with specific products.

The lawsuits and recalls claim goods like waterproof mascara and dry shampoo, may contain toxic forever chemicals, can cause cancer or may have been developed with hormone-disrupting ingredients.

A study from 2021 warned that more than half of popular cosmetics being sold in the US and Canada are likely to contain high levels of toxic chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Researchers from Notre Dame University tested more than 200 products, including concealers, foundations, eye and eyebrow products and lip products, and found evidence of PFAS in around half (52 percent) of them.

Worryingly, previous research has linked certain PFAS to various health issues, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, hypertension, thyroid disease, low birth weight and immunotoxicity in children. 

Waterproof mascara

The number one product Angela is turning her back on is waterproof mascara.

She said: ‘Turns out, in order to make mascara waterproof, companies often have to add PFAS — toxic forever chemicals linked to impaired immune function, diabetes, obesity, endocrine dysfunction and cancers.

Of 11 waterproof mascaras the Notre Dame University researchers tested, 82 percent had a high fluorine content.

Seeger Weiss LLP listed popular makeup brands that may contain PFAS, including L’Oreal.

A lawsuit filed in 2022 against L’Oreal by Rebecca Vega from Belleville, New Jersey claims the company ‘y fails to disclose to consumers that its popular waterproof mascara products contain Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or ‘PFAS,’ despite the fact that L’Oreal knew or should have known that this information is material to consumers.

However, the case was voluntarily dismissed by Vega that same year. 

Another complaint filed was filed against L’Oréal in the same year by Californian Sumner Davenport, on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, which claims the same as Vega’s suit.

No updates have been shared regarding Davenport’s case, but shortly after she filed the complaint, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law in October that prohibits the manufacture, distribution and sale of textiles and cosmetics containing PFAS beginning in 2025.

L’Oréal told R29 in February 2023 that phase-out and substitution plans are ‘well underway’ and that the company has already removed PFAS from the majority of its products. 

Dry shampoo

Research by Valisure, a laboratory in Connecticut, tested a random sample of 148 different products sold in CVS, Walgreens and by online retailers like Amazon across the country in November 2022.

Some 70 percent were positive for benzene, a known carcinogen that is strongly linked to leukemia and other blood disorders. Among those that contained the chemical were drug-store brand favorites Batiste and Not Your Mother’s — alongside premium brands Pureology and Kerastase.

Contamination may come from inactive petroleum-derived ingredients, a thickening agent, or isobutane, a spray propellant.

Manufacturers, including Church & Dwight — which makes Batiste — refuted the results, saying it had recently ‘confirmed’ with its suppliers that the dry shampoos don’t contain benzene.

Angela said: ‘I wish I never used dry shampoo. I used to use it every other day.’

She showed a list of brands she will steer clear of: DryBar, Redken, IGK, Batiste, Paul Mitchell and Not Your Mother’s.

Angela said: ‘I’ve used many on this list which has been determined to contain benzene in them, a known carcinogen where even low levels can be linked to increased risk of cancer.

‘We’ve seen many recalls and lawsuits brewing,’ she added.

‘Also horrifically, apparently, the benzene stays in the air after you’ve sprayed it, and I used to get ready in the bathroom with my toddlers by my side.

Last year, Unilever recalled over 1.5 million dry shampoo products because they may contain elevated levels of benzene, a human carcinogen strongly linked to leukemia and other blood disorders.

Unilever said it had not received any reports of ‘adverse events’ linked to benzene exposure in the products and insisted the recall was ‘out of an abundance of caution.’

An internal investigation concluded that benzene concentrations in the affected products would not be large enough to cause health issues. 

Chemical hair straightener

Angela said: ‘I would not chemically straighten my hair again. I used to do it, I love the sleek look.

‘But turns out women who chemically straighten their hair at least four times a year more than double their risk of uterine cancer and also ovarian and breast, likely because these things (parabens, bispehnol A, metals and formaldehyde) are absorbed directly into the scalp.’

An official study suggested chemical hair straightening products used by millions of Americans may double the risk of womb cancer.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) researched 33,000 women across the US for over a decade.

The rate of uterine cancer was 4.05 percent in women who used straightening products four or more times a year, compared to 1.64 percent in those who did not.

Spray sunscreen

Angela said she used to use this on her children.

‘As a tired mom, I’d spray these like five times per day on my small kids,’ she said.

‘They’d spray it on each other in their eyeballs, in their mouth.’

‘Major brands such as Neutrogena, Aveeno, Banana Boat, Coppertone, CVS Health and Elta MD, found benzene in their cans,’ she said, referring to recalls in 2022.

She added: ‘While it’s probably not a death sentence, it is a known carcinogen, and no one seems to know exactly how benzene got in there.’

Many companies issued voluntary recalls on their products found to have benzene. 

According to Consumer Reports in 2022, Aveeno and Neutrogena sunscreens had benzene levels ranging from 11.2 to 23.6 ppm, five to 12 times the level advised by the FDA.

On the other hand, Sunscreen lotions were found to not have any, Angela said.

Benzene is a known carcinogen and is strongly linked to leukemia and other blood disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On July 14, 2021, Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall of five specific Aveeno and Neutrogena aerosol sunscreens because lab testing found low levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in the products. 

The five included:  Aveeno Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen; Neutrogena Invisible Daily defense aerosol sunscreen; Neutrogena Beach Defense aerosol sunscreen; Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen; and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer aerosol sunscreen.

Long-lasting makeup

Makeup often claims to be sweatproof and last for upwards of 24 hours. But there is a reason the products do not melt off the face.

Similarly to waterproof mascara, Angela said: ‘Usually, it’s because companies have added PFAS… which I prefer not to be licking and eating all day on my lips.’

Makeup testers in stores

Angela said: ‘While the lawsuits linking them to bad health haven’t succeeded, they have shed light on a bunch of studies which have found all sorts of germs.’

As well as E. coli – which causes stomach cramps and diarrhea and, in severe cases, can be fatal – staphylococcus and streptococcus bacteria were found in studies, which can cause infections. 

One study found germs in 100 percent of the in-store makeup items tested.

‘Clean beauty’ products

Clean beauty describes non-toxic products free from harmful chemicals, such as parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and synthetic fragrances.

Angela said: ‘The next tidal wave in cosmetics litigation is that companies are slapping the label ‘clean’ on their product without actually meeting any reasonable consumer expectation of what clean is.’ 

Neon eyeshadow

Angela said: ‘Multiple companies have settled class actions in the last couple of years because neon color additives are not FDA-approved for use around the eyes.’

The Food & Drug Administration website reads: ‘There are eight fluorescent colors approved for cosmetics, and like other colors, there are limits on how they may be used. None of them are allowed for use near the eyes.’

Eyelash growth serum

Angela said she will not use eyelash growth serum without consulting a doctor. 

She said: ‘Latisse is the only one FDA approved and it has to be prescribed under a doctor’s care. 

‘Other companies started selling these ingredients in their own over-the-counter serum and people are suing.

‘There can be real scary side effects.’

Australian entrepreneur Kasey Giarratana launched her natural eyelash growth serum business in 2021.

She said: ‘Some toxic ingredients used in commercial pharmaceutical lash serums use known carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting ingredients such as Bitmaprost. 

‘This prostaglandin is a chemical compound with hormone-like effects.’

UV gel nails

Angela said: ‘Those gel dryers are literally tanning beds for your hands. You know they’re linked to skin cancer.’

Dermatologists have previously warned that gel manicures could cause lasting damage to the nails and even increase the risk of skin cancer.

A gel manicure uses three coats of a special type of polish from brands such as Shellac or OPI. 

Each coat is set using UV light – and experts say this could have dangerous side effects.

Dr Chris Adigun, from New York University School of Medicine, said the UV lamps damage the skin cells like sunbeds.

‘Women who frequently get gel manicures should consider their skin cancer risk,’ he said.

Writing in the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr Adigun is so concerned about the risk he advises women to slather suncream on their hands before having a gel manicure.

The added worry is that the machines aren’t regulated, meaning consumers don’t know how much exposure they are getting to the rays.

It follows a study in 2009 that found two middle-aged women developed tumors on their hands following exposure to UV nail lights.

Neither had a family history of skin cancer, and both worked indoors and had moderate exposure to sunlight, according to the research published in JAMA Dermatology.

Google has finally removed a controversial mobile game that allowed players to buy, sell and even inflict torture on black characters.

Called ‘Simulador de Escravidão’ (or ‘Slavery Simulator’), the Android game for ‘all ages’ was created by games developer MagnusGames. 

It was released to Google’s Play Store on April 20 and downloaded more than 1,000 times before it was removed on Wednesday following uproar on social media. 

But it still remains available to people who have already downloaded it, according to Brazilian daily newspaper Folha de S Paulo. 

It follows claims that the hugely popular FIFA football video game perpetuates racist myths and stereotypes about black people. 

Brazil’s ministry for racial equality said it had contacted Magnus and Google and those behind Slavery Simulator will be held legally responsible, according to the Guardian.

It’s unclear whether the offensive game was created solely for the Brazilian market or if it was available in other countries too. 

Slavery Simulator lets players ‘accumulate wealth as they exchange, buy and sell slaves’ while keeping them from ‘running away or rebelling’ by hiring guards. 

According to CNN, players choose one of two objectives at the beginning of the game – the Path of the Tyrant or the Path of the Liberator.

As an alternative to becoming ‘a wealthy slave owner’, choosing the ‘Path of the Liberator’ lets them achieve the abolition of slavery’ the game’s description said. 

The Facebook page of Magnus Games still has a screenshot from the gameplay, showing a wealthy white slave owner and a black character behind bars. 

Brazilian figures took to social media to condemn the game and its creators, as well as Google for releasing it. 

In a tweet, Brazilian politician Renata Souza called it ‘blatant racism’, adding: ‘The image illustrating the game has a white man surrounded by black men. 

‘It is absurdly violent. Google and the developer must answer for this crime of hatred and racism.’ 

According to Souza, some of the comments on the app store about the game were ‘great to pass the time, lack more torture options’, and ‘I would like to do it in real life’.

Another comment said: ‘I have a black friend and it was cool to play co-op with him.’ 

Bruno Cândido, a black lawyer based in Rio de Janeiro, posted disturbing screenshots of the game to Twitter, one of which showed a black man in shackles.

Cândido said: ‘At any time your black child could come across a game in which they are reduced to enslavement, and if your child is white, they will be taught through recreational racism to become an enslaver in real life.’ 

Meanwhile, Quilombo Periférico, a collective mandate of black city councillors in São Paulo, said: ‘Racism is not entertainment, it’s a crime!’

Slavery Simulator had no age classification, so it’s possible that even children are still playing it after its removal. 

Brazil’s Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation into why the game was made available on the Play Store, according to CNN.

Prosecutors requested ‘specific information about the game’ from Google, while highlighting the ‘great number of racist comments’ from users.

Regarding the issue, a Google spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘The mentioned apps have been removed from Play. 

‘Google Play has a robust set of policies aimed at keeping users safe and which all developers must follow. 

‘We don’t allow apps that promote violence or incite hatred against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, or that depict or promote gratuitous violence or other dangerous activities. 

‘Anyone who believes they have found an app that violates our rules can report it to Google Play. When violations are found, we take appropriate action.’ 

MagnusGames is yet to respond to MailOnline’s request for comment. 

Racism remains a problem in Brazil, which abolished slavery in 1888, more than 20 years after the US. 

By then Brazil had imported an estimated 4,000,000 slaves from Africa – around 40 per cent of all slaves shipped to the Americas.

The controversy follows a report that found black stereotypes are still rife in the video game FIFA, developed by US company Electronic Arts (EA). 

It found top black players in the game are given greater physical attributes such as sprint speed and jumping, while white ones had higher scores in cognitive and technical areas. 

EA Sports, the division of EA that publishes FIFA, criticised the study, saying there is ‘no correlation between skin tone and skill in our game’. 

The company had to change the name of its successful game after the two-decade-long partnership with the global football governing body ended. 

One of the earlier racist video games was called ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ and was released by Microsoft in early 2002. 

In the first-person shooter, the player controlled a neo-Nazi skinhead and was tasked with killing stereotypical African-American, Latino, and Jewish enemies. 

• An earlier version of this article suggested that Malaysian games developer Magnus Games Studio created the controversial ‘Slavery Simulator’ when, in fact, the game was created by MagnusGames. Magnus Games Studios has no connection or affiliation with the ‘Slavery Simulator’. We are happy to make this clear.