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Barney the dinosaur is joining Elmo, Little People and Rescue Heroes in the Fisher-Price toy chest starting next year.
The East Aurora-headquartered Mattel subsidiary has inked a deal with HIT Entertainment for the exclusive right to develop a comprehensive line of products linked to the popular character. In addition to plush Barney items, Fisher-Price expects to introduce everything from infant and preschool toys to electronic learning aids, to games and puzzles.
Neil Friedman, president of Fisher-Price Brands, said Barney is a great fit with the company's character brands and classic infant and preschool offerings.
"The magic we bring to toys is the same magic Barney brings to kids," Friedman said. "There are so many positives in our association with Barney, the potential is just incredible."
Since arriving on the small fry television scene in 1992, singing his "I love you, you love me" theme song, the chubby purple dino and his friends have found a market among millions of preschoolers. In just over a decade, Barney has spawned sales of 55 million videos, 68 million books and 25 million stuffed animals.
Under the Hasbro label, the peak for Barney items came in 1997, when it was the 18th best-selling character license in the world. The following year was nearly as hot, ranking 19th in sales. But as of last year, the license had tumbled to No. 43.
That dip does not pose a concern for Friedman. "Barney has, in some respects, been neglected," the Fisher-Price chief said. "One of the things we do really well here at Fisher-Price is to tend our portfolio of classic products. We're expecting big things."
Christopher Byrne, a New York-based toy industry expert, said you can never underestimate the power of the perky purple dinosaur. "Not only is Barney a staple, the really cool thing is he has a new audience every 18 months," he said.
Byrne said a change of address to Fisher-Price will further tap that potential. "The thing that has made Fisher-Price so successful is its knack of adding contemporary innovation to staple brands. They have demonstrated that they can make the old new again."
In recent years, the East Aurora-based company has successfully updated such classic playthings as Little People, and several characters in the Sesame Street line. For this year, the toy maker is out with a fresh rendition of Tickle Me Elmo, the must-have plaything of 1996.
Fisher-Price isn't the only company banking on purple potential. London-based HIT Entertainment earlier this month acquired Lyrick Corp., the long-time owner of Barney's video empire, for $275 million. Barney was also recently guaranteed future television exposure through a fresh contract with PBS for 40 new episodes starting in 2002.


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Carriers See Growth for Global Trade, Blockchain Technology, Dedicated
This story appears in the April 17 print edition of Transport Topics.
ORLANDO, Fla. — A panel of top executives from three major fleets emphasized the importance of international trade, the emergence of blockchain technology for freight transactions and the value of dedicated service during a shippers conference here.
“All of our jobs are trade jobs. So we are really concerned about trade, the approach to trade. I think we’ve seen some promising signs lately since Secretary [Wilbur] Ross took command of the Commerce Department,” said Michael Ducker, CEO of FedEx Freight. Ducker, Eric Fuller, CEO of U.S. Xpress Enterprises, and Richard McArdle, president of UPS Freight, spoke during a session at the Nasstrac Shippers Conference and Transportation Exposition on April 9-12.
Ducker, who runs the FedEx less-than-truckload business, added that he welcomed a recent softening in the U.S.-China trade positions. “I think there is a lot that can be done there to solidify our position as a leader in trade, and that’s exactly where we should be,” he said. “To go the other way, back to the 1930s and the era of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act [which raised U.S. tariffs on more than 20,000 imported goods] would just be a regression we can’t afford as a country. We need to embrace trade, make it free and fair. Certainly, there are improvements that can be made.”
Including, updates to NAFTA, McArdle said.
“Maybe it is time to update NAFTA,” he said. “The digital economy wasn’t in place when NAFTA was first negotiated.”
McArdle also noted that customs practices are ripe for review. “Moves to facilitate trade are what these agreements are about,” he said.
The digital economy could bring some needed change to the LTL industry, Ducker said. That industry is “far too paper-intensive,” he said. “We have to get rid of that over time.”
Ducker and McArdle both urged shippers to take advantage of technology to automate back-end operations.
“Let’s go down this paperless journey,” McArdle said. “Let’s get further than we are now, and simplify pricing, pickups, appointments. I think we can find ways to let trusted technology talk back and forth and make it easier for everybody.”
McArdle pointed specifically to blockchain, an emerging database technology that is being tested by banks and others. “If you participate in the supply chain and you don’t know about blockchain, it is probably something you want to get smart on, fast. Start to read about it, look at it.”
He defined blockchain as a secure, distributed digital ledger of complete business flows across a peer-to-peer network that enables smart contracts.
“I truly feel it will be a disrupter; there will be winners and losers. IBM and Wal-Mart are deep into this. They are looking in the supply chain, running some tests right now,” McArdle said. “We have folks in our organization taking a look at it.”
In November, Bloomberg News reported blockchain’s key attribute is its trustworthiness, meaning it is difficult to reverse or change data once it is has been recorded. The blockchain database also can hold much more data than what retailers get today, providing tools for more detailed analysis.
Wal-Mart is using it to track food shipments to better identify where health-related problems occurred, among other uses, according to Bloomberg News.
South of the border, U.S. Xpress is looking to deepen its business in Mexico and expand its dedicated contract carriage as it ascends to the position of North America’s largest privately held truckload carrier, after Schneider’s shift April 6 to a publicly traded company, Fuller said.
Fuller said US Xpress has done 28 acquisitions over about 20 years and now is focused on “making sure we are getting everything we can out of the trucks [including 7,000 tractors] and the business we have.”
About 40% of its revenue is from dedicated arrangements, 15% from brokerage and 25% from over-the-road operations, he said.
“Our long-term plan is to get to 50, 25, 25,” Fuller said. “It’s more of a five-year plan.”
Also, Mexico is a big growth area for the company, he said.
Xpress International Services is its cross-border operation serving Mexico.
It is a seamless operation where the freight stays in the same trailer and is carried by one of its 400 trucks in Mexico, Fuller said.
“As more opportunities grow in Mexico, we think that that is a big growth opportunity for us, as well,” he said.

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Efforts to improve Detroit residents’ access to fresh and healthy groceries were recently bolstered with the news that the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) is reviving the Green Grocer Project
, which first ran from 2010 through 2017. The program will offer a mix of grants, technical assistance, and, later this year, loan financing to entrepreneurs seeking to open small-format grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods throughout the city.
What it is:
The Green Grocer Project (GGP) makes available grants of up to $25,000 for businesses and entrepreneurs looking to open small-format grocery stores in Detroit. Successful applicants will also receive technical assistance in market research, store design, supplier relationships, and digital literacy training. At an unspecified date later this year, loan financing will become available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant.
Why it’s important:
“With food insecurity at 69% in Detroit, and with Detroit having previously been considered a food desert; grocery stores are absolutely vital!” reads a statement from Detroit City Councilman At-Large Coleman A. Young II. “The DEGC Green Grocer Project is the most effective program in moving toward achieving food security and Detroit becoming a food oasis neighborhood by neighborhood, community by community, and block by block until we have achieved food security for all Detroiters.”
What to expect:
Those "registered for-profit business with a Detroit address in good standing with the State of Michigan and City of Detroit" will be considered for the program. Per the DEGC, projects eligible for assistance include “small format specialty stores (1,500 – 5,000 sq. ft.) that increase groceries and fresh foods to over 15% of selling space; mixed market community stores (3,000 – 15,000 sq. ft.) that increase fresh produce, meat, dairy, specialty, organic or other alternatively sourced product; new Construction (over 10,000 sq. ft) with fresh produce, meat and dairy; and alternative format stores with a preponderance of fresh food."
The Green Grocer Project intends to assist at least eight small grocery store projects over the next two years. Applications are currently open and awards will be disbursed on a rolling basis, more information of which is available via the DEGC website
What they’re saying:
“With the Green Grocer Project, we're showing our commitment at the DEGC to growing Detroit's economy equitably,” says DEGC President and CEO Kevin Johnson. “When we assist local entrepreneurs in opening grocery stores right in the neighborhoods they know best, it empowers residents to meet essential needs while creating new jobs. This is one way to drive opportunity that uplifts our whole community.”
Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith.
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The creator of Magic: The Gathering confirmed that a security failure revealed data for hundreds of thousands of players.
Game developers based in Washington Wizards of the Coast, left file to back up a database in a public bucket for Amazon Web Services storage. The database file contains user account information for the online arena of the game. But there was no password in the storage bin, allowing anyone to access the files inside.
The bucket is not believed to have been exposed long ago – since early September – but it was long enough for the UK-based cybersecurity firm Fidus Information Security to find the database.
A review of the database file showed that there were 452 634 player information, including about 470 emails related to Wizards staff. The database includes player names and usernames, email addresses, and the date and time of account creation. The database also had user passwords that were hashed and salted, making it difficult but not impossible to decrypt.
None of the data is encrypted. According to our review of the data, the accounts date back to at least 201
Fidus reached out to Wizards of the Coast but couldn't hear. It wasn't until TechCrunch reached the game maker that it pulled the storage bin offline.
Bruce Dugan, spokesman for the game developer, said in a statement to TechCrunch: "We learned that a database file from a decommissioned website was inadvertently
" We removed the database file from our server and launched an investigation to determine the scope of the incident, "he said. "We believe this was an isolated incident and we have no reason to believe that malicious use of the data was used," but the spokesman did not provide any evidence of this claim.
"However, in abundance of Attention, we notify players whose information is contained in the database and require them to reset their passwords in our current system," he said.
Harriet Lester, Division Director Fidus Research and Development said it was "surprising in this" day and age that misconfigurations and lack of basic security hygiene still exist on this scale, especially when talking about such large companies with a consumer base of over 450,000 accounts. "
" Our research team works and constantly looking for the wrong configurations like the one to alert businesses as quickly as possible to avoid getting data in the wrong hands. This is our small way of helping to make the Internet a safer place, "she told TechCrunch.
The game maker stated that it had informed the US data protection authorities of the exposure, in accordance with the rules for notification of infringements in European GDPR regulations. The Office of the Commissioner for Information of the United Kingdom did not immediately return an email confirming the disclosure.
Companies can be fined up to 4% of their annual turnover for GDPR violations.


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Sears paid the agency, Focus Media, but the agency did not in turn pay the networks, according to the suit, which contends the "reasonable value" of the Sears advertising that was telecast is just over $7 million. That amount plus interest now totals more than $8.3 million, according to the court filing.
Industry custom and practice hold the advertiser ultimately responsible for TV time bought by an agency acting on its behalf, according to the complaint filed Nov. 30 in California Superior Court.
The plaintiffs contend that in April 2000, Sears promised in writing to "make good on the bills to the extent [Time Warner Entertainment] cannot recover from Focus the money Sears remitted to Focus for payment to Warner."
A Sears spokeswoman said the retailer was "in discussions" with the media company about resolving the lawsuit. A spokesman for the TBS cable networks that are party to the suit declined comment.
AOL Time Warner is the world's largest media company. Sears is the nation's 12th largest advertiser.
The suit is related to an earlier lawsuit, filed in March 2000 by Sears against Focus, the agency that acted for and then later was fired by Sears. In the earlier suit, Sears claimed Focus, which received a $500,000-per-month retainer, "abused the trust and confidence of Sears by failing to pay to the Media Outlets the sums that it held on Sears [sic] behalf for that specific purpose."
Focus ceased operations in summer 2000, but legal proceedings have continued against it and its former executives, who include Founder and Chairman Tom Rubin and Chief Financial Officer Tom Sullivan. In October 2000, General Electric Co.'s NBC, Walt Disney Co.'s ABC and Paxson Communications filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Focus.
Mr. Chunovic is a senior editor of Electronic Media.


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NEW YORK – Microsoft’s substantial wager on cloud computing is paying off as the company has surpassed Apple as the realm’s most treasured publicly traded company.
The tool maker’s potentialities seemed bleak enticing just a few years ago, as licenses for the company’s Windows machine fell with a sharp drop in sales of non-public computer techniques.
However below CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has chanced on stability by focusing on tool and products and services over the catch, or the cloud, with long-term alternate contracts.
That 1990s non-public-computing powerhouse is now having a renaissance second, as it eclipses Fb, Google, Amazon and the synthetic tech darlings of the late decade.
Apple had been the realm’s most prosperous firm since claiming the tip build of dwelling from Exxon Mobil earlier this decade. Microsoft surpassed Apple in short just a few cases this week, nonetheless didn’t shut on top unless Friday, with a market price of $851 billion to Apple’s $847 billion. Microsoft hadn’t been at the tip since the tip of the dot-com remark in 2000.
Microsoft changed into a contender again in substantial phase because Apple’s stock fell almost 20 % in November, while Microsoft hasn’t done any worse than the relaxation of the stock market. However the undeniable fact that it hasn’t done poorly is a reflection of its regular focal point on alternate customers right now.
Microsoft lost its luster as folks had been shunning PCs in prefer of smartphones. In 2013, PC sales plunged 10 % to about 315 million, the worst twelve months-to-twelve months drop ever, in line with analyze companies Gartner and IDC. It didn’t relief that Microsoft’s effort to get PCs extra relish telephones, Windows Eight, changed into broadly panned.
However a turnaround began when the Redmond, Washington, company promoted Nadella as CEO in 2014. He succeeded Microsoft’s longtime CEO, Steve Ballmer, who first and important scoffed at the notion that participants would be sharp to pay $500 or extra for Apple’s iPhones.
That wager paid off. Windows is now a dwindling allotment of Microsoft’s alternate. While the company aloof runs consumer-centered companies equivalent to Bing search and Xbox gaming, it has prioritized alternate-oriented products and services equivalent to its Space of job line of electronic mail and other office tool, moreover to more recent additions equivalent to LinkedIn and Skype. However its most attention-grabbing increase has took self-discipline in the cloud, significantly the cloud platform it calls Azure. Cloud computing now accounts for higher than 1 / Four of Microsoft’s revenue, and Microsoft competitors Amazon as a number one provider of such products and services.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives mentioned Azure is aloof in its early days, which draw there’s masses of room for increase, especially pondering the company’s substantial customer atrocious for Space of job and other products.
“While the tech carnage viewed over the final month has been brutal, shares of (Microsoft) continue to take care of up relish the Rock of Gibraltar,” he mentioned.
Being much less reliant on consumer inquire of helped defend Microsoft from holiday season turbulence and U.S.-China alternate battle jitters affecting Apple and other tech companies.
President Donald Trump amplified these tariff considerations when he suggested The Wall Street Journal in a account published late Monday that unusual tariffs would possibly possibly maybe maybe bear an affect on iPhones and laptops imported from China.
The iPhone maker had already viewed its stock fall after reporting a blended win of quarterly finally ends up in early November amid fears about how the technology alternate will fare in the face of such threats as rising hobby charges, increased executive regulation and Trump’s escalating alternate battle with China.
Apple also spooked merchants with an surprising decision to cease disclosing what number of iPhones it sells each quarter. That mosey has been broadly interpreted as a signal that Apple foresees extra declines in iPhone sales and is making an are attempting to conceal that.
While smartphones triggered the downturn in non-public computer techniques years ago, sales of smartphones themselves bear now stalled. That’s partly because with fewer innovations from outdated items, extra folks prefer to take care of on to the devices for longer sessions sooner than upgrading.
Daniel Morgan, senior portfolio manager for Synovus Belief, mentioned Microsoft is outperforming its tech competitors in phase on legend of what it’s now now not. It doesn’t face as indispensable regulatory scrutiny as selling-hungry Google and Fb, which bear attracted controversy over their data-harvesting practices. Not like Netflix, it’s now now not on a hunt for a diminishing amount of international subscribers. And while Amazon also has a accurate cloud alternate, it’s aloof extra dependent on online retail.


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In the late 2000s, HTC blazed trails by bringing a smartphone to market, which was based on the Android operating system. Despite with the Android developer, now it wants to do the same with blockchain too. On Tuesday, this Taiwanese electronics maker unveiled the Exodus smartphone, both – a mobile connecting point to the world of decentralized networks, as well as a storage device for those that want to carry their crypto in their pocket.
According to Phil Chen, who has previously founded the Vive virtual reality product line of HTC and has recently returned to the business company to spearhead the Genesis project, the company wants to start with a distribution of the device in short order. Chen told CoinDesk that they are looking to ship by the end of 2018.
HTC is not the only company working on the blockchain-dedicated smartphone
While HTC is not the only company which is working on a blockchain-dedicated smartphone – Sirin Labs has recently raised $157 million in an ICO (Initial Coin Offering), to build the “Finney” – it is by far the largest company of its kind to undertake such efforts.
The way in which the product has been internally positioned indicated that HTC sees an influential role for decentralized technologies, particularly for putting the power to control the digital identities of consumer firmly in their own hands.
The associate vice president of VP new technology for HTC, Raymond Pao, said that it is going to be building the framework and phone which powers the decentralized web. He also told CoinDesk that he believes smartphones are going to be a critical component for the entire crypto ecosystem. This phone is going to act as the hub, he said, just like the PC did in the early days of the Internet.
He continued with saying that if we take a look at the industry, there are moving in two directions. One of the sides is 100% centralized so that the platform company knows all the details of the users. The value which the platform companies can provide is fully customized service to every single person.
The more the user shares with the platform company, the better-customized service the platform companies will provide. On the opposite side of this, there are the users that care about their private data more every day and want to own their information and identification. As the phone is one of the most personal devices that we use nowadays, he says that they want to work on the decentralized eco-system with the users that care most about their privacy.
Focus on usability
These efforts point to a deepening relationship between mobile devices and blockchains.
From the plethora of smartphone-based wallet apps to the capability to send cryptocurrency by way of SMS, it is a combination which has driven both innovation and, for unfortunate, theft.
But, putting the challenges aside, this Taiwanese electronics maker is pursuing what could be the next big thing for smartphone development.
While speaking to CoinDesk, Chen has explained that the goal was to build a product which would provide high-level security for digital assets that are stored in the device, but one which offers ease of use other crypto-wallets on the market lack.
Mainly, the Genesis is set to include a digital storefront for distributed apps, or dapps, additionally to a built-in-wallet. The idea is that this store is going to be connected to offerings around existing blockchain networks, which also include Ethereum. The phone is also going to have an API built into it so that the developers can create additional apps which are based on the integrated networks.
Indeed, HTC seems to be betting that the ubiquitous nature of the smartphone (some data from Statista indicates that almost 3 billion people today use smartphones worldwide) is a reasonable fit for the new technology, as it relates to greater control over someone’s information.
Chen explained that they really care about this portable identity, as well as users owning their identity and data, and they also believe that the phone is the best place for doing that.
Not doing it alone
One might think that HTC, being a dominant smartphone maker, is looking to jump into the market with guns blazing.
But, according to Chen, the Taiwanese electronics maker is taking a decidedly different approach, in that way reaching out to some projects such as Ethereum and DFinity, as it looks to integrate those protocols into the Genesis phone.
He explained that right now, they are talking to Ethereum, DFinity, and they want to run their clients to optimize for their nodes. They also want to be Switzerland for all protocols, Ethereum and so on, so the phone can do 20-30% of it regarding verifying. He added that at some point, somebody would need to build a mobile-centric protocol.
Chen went on to say that in the months that come, information about the Genesis is going to be slowly released, which includes white papers, specifications, and the like.
Chen told CoinDesk that they are also going to release some more white papers in the July-August time frame which have more of that, can have the phone be a node as opposed to mid-to-high-end savers.
Also, in a nod to the crypto community, a forthcoming pre-sale for the phone is going to accept cryptocurrencies as payment. Chen said that they are going to do a pre-sale, and they will accept Ethereum and Bitcoin for the pre-order.


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GlobalCollect and UnionPay International have entered a partnership that makes GlobalCollect a worldwide acquirer for the UnionPay network.
Ukash has partnered with UK retailer WHSmith to give consumers the ability to buy Ukash vouchers from its stores across the UK.
More than half of UK consumers would use digital wallets to pay for goods online, according to a recent study.
The Paypers. All rights reserved. No part of this site can be reproduced
without explicit permission of The Paypers(V2.3).


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JTI is marking 150 years of its Benson & Hedges tobacco brand with a ‘Great £150 giveaway’, offering 50 retailers the chance to win £150 each.
Winners will be picked every fortnight from 30 June until 11 August. Non-winning entries will be placed into the next draw.
Mark McGuinness, marketing director at JTI UK, said: “We couldn’t be prouder to have reached this extraordinary anniversary and still have such a successful brand that retailers can rely on to provide their customers with great quality cigarettes and rolling tobacco. It’s important for us to celebrate the brand’s heritage, but we know our success is also down to the support of our retailers throughout the years.
“So, in this very special year, we want to shine a light on our trade partners and this prize draw is just one way of giving back and thanking retailers, with other activities to follow later in the year too. We want to continue looking forward for this heritage brand and can’t wait to see what the next 150 years of Benson & Hedges brings.”
Retailers are allowed one entry and prize only. All winners will be selected and contacted by 8 September.
Read more JTI product news and articles


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Powerlan launches new managed services
ASX-listed services group Powerlan has launched a range of managed services targeted at the small business market. Dubbed EasyIT, the package is a combination of hardware, software and services delivered via a tax-deductible monthly payment, starting from as little as $190 per month. The service comes in three varieties to meet different business requirements, but generally provides businesses with hardware, software, broadband Internet connections, tape backup, customer support and remote access. The ambitious strategy is targeting more than 200,000 Australian businesses with five to 200 workstations that currently employ IT staff to support their infrastructure.
Tibco, WebMethods up Web services ante
Tibco Software and WebMethods have detailed new integration products that will be available this month and have a bent toward Web services. Tibco's BusinessWorks is designed to provide back-end integration of legacy systems so that customers' infrastructure can be Web services-enabled. WebMethods will ship version 4.6 of its integration platform for linking business processes, enterprise and legacy systems, and workflows within and across applications later this month. Vendors such as Vitria and SeeBeyond are also working to make their platforms Web services-savvy.
Liberty for AOL
America Online has agreed to join the Liberty Alliance Project, giving a boost to the initiative which hopes to build a user-authentication system for the Internet and provide an option to Microsoft's competing Passport authentication technology. Launched in September by Sun Microsystems and companies such as Nokia and General Motors, the Liberty Alliance is working to build a common technology so that Web users only once have to enter personal information to access password-protected Web sites and perform other online transactions.


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The trio, who are all represented by The Society, was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali, Indonesia in November 2019. On the cover, all three of the models look breathtaking in black swimwear featuring chain-inspired details and accessories. Bock dons a sporty bikini, Sanders wears an itty-bitty string bikini and Culpo slays in a one-piece.
This is the magazine’s first time featuring three women on the cover. Additionally, the publication will sell three additional collectible covers — one for each model! For dutiful SI Swimsuit readers, that means you can scoop up a total of four copies of the magazine!
Sanders freaked out when she found out she made the cover. “I initially dropped to the floor,” the 29-year-old revealed on the July 13 episode of Good Morning America. “I thought it was crazy.”
As for Culpo, scoring the cover was a dream-come-true. The 28-year-old used to get crafty in order to envision herself making fashion history. “I cut out a coffee table book and I put my head on the bodies,” she admitted on the morning show. “I’ve wanted this for my entire life.”
Like SI Swim cover stars of the past, including Tyra Banks and Danielle Herrington, this year’s stars have a history with the magazine. Culpo modeled for the publication for the first time in 2018 as part of its “In Her Own Words” feature and Sanders was the outlet’s Rookie of the Year last year. Bock was SI Swimsuit’s 2013 Rookie of the Year and has now appeared on not one, but two covers!
“These three women who make up the 2020 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue are inherently unique but a solidarity exists among them in terms of their ambitions, goals and what they stand for,” said MJ Day, editor-in-chief of SI Swimsuit in a statement.
This isn’t the only bit of exciting Sports Illustrated Swimsuit news to make headlines recently. On Friday, July 10, Valentina Sampaio was announced as the magazine’s first transgender model. “I am excited and honored to be part of the iconic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue,” the supermodel wrote in an Instagram caption announcing the big news. “The team at SI has created yet another groundbreaking issue by bringing together a diverse set of multitalented, beautiful women in a creative and dignified way.”
The magazine’s 2020 issue was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s been in the works for a while now. Last February, the publication held its annual Model Search during Miami Swim Week. They declared six women finalists and they star alongside Sampaio and this year’s cover stars — for a total of 33 women in the new issue.
The highly anticipated 2020 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue will finally be on newsstands starting Tuesday, July 21. Keep scrolling for a look at this year’s covers!
Listen on Spotify to Get Tressed With Us to get the details of every hair love affair in Hollywood, from the hits and misses on the red carpet to your favorite celebrities’ street style ‘dos (and don’ts!)


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Meizu unveiled the Meizu MX6 flagship earlier today in China. The phone comes with the deca-core Helio X20 chip with 4GB RAM and a powerful 12MP Sony IMX386 CMOS sensor. Soon after the event, the company executive, Bai Yongxiang (CEO) and Li Nan (VP) talked about the company’s future plans with the Chinese media.
In an interview, Meizu’s CEO made it clear that the company currently has no plans for a Notebook PC. This comes at a time when Xiaomi is expected to unveil its first ever laptop on July 27. Considering Meizu and Xiaomi often compete in similar product segments, it was possible that Meizu could be developing its own version of the laptop. But that clearly is not on the cards, at least for now.
At present, he said that the company wants to focus on its smartphone business. Further, he added that a curved screen smartphone from the company is possible in the future. We have been hearing many rumors as well as pictures of the curved screen phone from Meizu and this could be a good indication that such a device is really in the works. When asked about smartwatches, the CEO didn’t completely say that a wearable was out of the question.
As for today’s MX6 release, he believes that the phone will easily sell over a million units.
If the camera with IMX386 sensor is really better than competitors, then MX6 with its 1999 Yuan ($300) can turn out to be a pretty good deal.
What do you think?


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Don't miss this week
As chairman of the Judging Panel for the inaugural Retail Week Hackathon, I can say on behalf of my fellow judges that we’ve witnessed some outstanding examples of innovation from a set of 10 inspiring teams.
Read the Retail Week & Fits.me Ecommerce in fashion supplement as a fully digital edition.
Mothercare will trial two new store designs this autumn as boss Mark Newton-Jones seeks to revive the retailer on the back of a £100m rights issue.
Peacocks owner Edinburgh Woollen Mill group has acquired the intellectual property of value retailer Internacionale, it is understood.
Moss Bros’s revamp has helped attract a younger customer as the retailer ups its multichannel credentials with the launch of delivery service Moss Premier.
Retail news round-up on September 22, 2014: Teenager vies to lead Nisa Retail; Dixons Carphone and EE in talks to acquire Phones4u stores; Brands direct wrath at discounting Asos; M&S Chinese clothing sales on Ali Baba soar; UK high street vacancy rates fall
Formal menswear retailer Moss Bros first half sales increased but profits slipped as it temporarily closed stores to refit them.
Tesco multichannel director Robin Terrell and clothing boss Jason Tarry have stepped in after the grocer suspended senior executives following a shock profit understatement.
Former Asda boss Paul Mason is hoping to put his people skills and overseas prowess to good use at fashion retailer New Look, where he was hired as chairman last week.
According to reports, Alibaba – China’s ecommerce giant – is set to break records with the largest Initial Public Offering (IPO) in history, as it floats its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
With ecommerce becoming increasingly prevalent, luxury retailers must improve their online and delivery service or risk losing their customers.


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Kim, Kourtney and Khloe’s Kardashian are launching their fashion ‘kollection’ in Dorothy Perkins stores, it has been announced.
The reality TV stars revealed the news on Twitter sparking much excitement among UK fans who can finally get their hands on their designs.
On her website, Kim said: ‘This is such an exciting time and we can’t wait to head over to the UK later this year to launch the Kollection and visit all of our amazing fans.’
Dorothy Perkins tweeted: ‘Can’t wait for the Kardashians to bring their amazing range to DP in time for Christmas!’
The range is currently sold in the US in department store chain Sears and features reasonably priced denim, accessories, shoes and homeware.
On Twitter zaynah___x gushed: ‘YESS!!!! I cannot wait for this! When’s the launch date?’
sophiemorrow said: ‘Kardashian Kollection is launching at Dorothy Perkins and there may be a DASH in London, no one understands how excited i am!’
TashaT_ThatsMe posted: ‘I can’t wait to get my Kardashian fashion fix at @Dorothy_Perkins!’
But DanielBeckman1 wasn’t as impressed saying: ‘A Kardashian UK invasion – that’s just what the country needs. Bringing a new collection to Dorothy Perkins (odd choice?). Sorry K-ollection’
Sir Philip Green, who owns Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and BHS, reportedly personally approved the deal.One person who won’t be queuing up for their clothes is Bourne Legacy star Jeremy Renner who reportedly hit out at the sisters.
He told The Guardian: ‘Oh, all those ridiculous people with zero talent who spend their lives making sure everyone knows their name. Those stupid, stupid people.’


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Paymit, the P2P transfer service set up by Switzerland’s SIX, UBS and Zürcher Kantonalbank, has added support from three more banks ahead of its launch as an in-store mobile payment solution in February 2016. Obwalden, St.Gallen and Zug will join the six other financial institutions already supporting the service. Paymit has been downloaded 170,000 times since launching in May 2015.
- Report: EU antitrust investigators are examining Apple Pay
- EBA sets new Strong Customer Authentication deadline
- Samsung begins global rollout of mobile POS app that lets merchants accept payments on standard Android phones
- Facebook loses Libra cryptocurrency backers
- Royal Mint produces solid gold payment card


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Yummy mummy! Gisele Bundchen sizzles in pre-pregnancy photos for her latest lingerie campaign
She's the highest earning model in the world and is looking at becoming the first model billionaire, and it's not hard to see why.
Gisele Bundchen sizzles in her latest campaign for her own lingerie brand 'Brazilian Intimates', in which the super model wears a variety of sexy underwear as she stares sultrily into the camera.
Shot before her pregnancy, the Brazilian beauty shows why she's the queen of lingerie, flaunting her hard rock abs and enviable figure.
Million dollar figure: Gisele Bundchen shows why she's the world's highest paid model in her latest lingerie campaign
Making even shapewear look attractive, the former Victoria's Secret star convincingly models a turquoise set and a push-up bodice.
The 32-year-old pretty blonde is currently six months pregnant with her second child with husband Tom Brady, and the snaps were clearly taken before she showed any sign of a baby bump.
She's already mother to two-year-old Benjamin, who is set to get a sibling playmate early next year.
ABsolutely fabulous: The snaps were taken before her second pregnancy as the model flaunts her enviable stomach
Turquoise babe: The star sizzled in a range of sexy lingerie by her own brand, Brazilian Intimates
The star was spotted relaxing on holiday in Miami last week, and according to Page Six she was seen tucking into desserts like ice cream, tiramisu and a coconut sorbet on the beach.
Despite her sweet tooth pregnancy craving, Gisele still is every inch the yummy mummy and millionaire model.
According to Forbes, her total earnings over the last 10 years have passed the $250 million mark.
Yummy mummy: Gisele is currently six months pregnant with her second child
And recently fashion photographer Mario Testino claimed he had a helping hand in turning Gisele into a household name.
Speaking to The Observer, the royal photographer said: 'Nobody liked her, nobody wanted her.'
'I had to fight to get her into my stories because nobody thought she was right - too this, too that, the nose, the breasts, the waist. But I believe in being obsessed, in getting obsessed.'
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Like many VC firms, Vice Ventures comes to the table with a strategy.
But the New York-based company’s focus has a touch more of an edge than your traditional investment firm.
The company, co-founded by former Walmart exec Catharine Dockery, just raised $25m for its debut fund, where it will focus its cash cannon on the markets less traveled — areas like cannabis, alcohol, “sex-tech,” gambling, tobacco, psychedelics, and more.
Corporate investors are buttoning down
Vice Ventures’ fund was backed by many big name money throwers, including Marc Andreessen and Bradley Tusk, showing that bigwigs are starting to loosen the tie when it comes to vice markets.
But many old school backers still prefer their ties like they prefer their billion-dollar deals: cinched. And that has long kept people like Andreessen from making these investments through his own firm.
Blacklist companies finally have a dark knight
Many VC firms are kept from investing in “bad companies” through prohibitive “vice clauses” that allow backers to choose where their money shouldn’t be invested (When it comes to investments, Andreessen is like a majestic eagle, people. You gotta let him fly!).
Naughty industries have exploded, and Vice Ventures is proving that not even the poorest of the richest prudes are able to abstain from their true weakness: making money. That’s where Vice Ventures comes in.
Providing a platform for ‘dad’ investors to be ‘bad’ investors
According to VentureBeat, the firm said it plans to invest around $500k in each of its portfolio companies, with a number of investments already made, including in companies like the canned CBD beverage brand, Recess, and Bev, which sells California rosé in a can.


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They look like they came straight from Santa's workshop but they actually didn't have to travel far to reach a group of lucky kids!
The Rapid City Woodworkers Association made more than 2,000 toys this year, 750 of which were donated to children at Youth and Family Services in Rapid City Tuesday.
In the last five years, President Bob Buchanan said they have given out more than 5,000 toys, and they aren't slowing down.
"With wooden toys, they can create their own world, they use their imagination, they can come up with all kinds of things, so that's why we keep making them. It's some way we can give back to the community, and it gives us something to do and stay out of trouble too," Buchanan said.
Buchanan said all the toys were made from donated materials.


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China recently hosted its first-ever Hanfu Expo, an event that showcases the traditional clothing style of the Han people. Hanfu, which means “clothing of the Han people,” refers to the traditional attire of China’s majority ethnic group. The event was held in the city of Xi’an, which is considered the birthplace of Han culture.
The popularity of Hanfu has been on the rise in recent years, especially among young people. Hanfu is known for its elegant and intricate designs, which include flowing robes, long tunics, and ornate headpieces. Many young people are drawn to Hanfu because they see it as a way to connect with China’s rich cultural heritage and express their individuality.
The Hanfu Expo featured over 1,000 exhibitors from across China, showcasing a wide range of Hanfu styles and accessories. The event also included a Hanfu fashion show, where models walked the runway in elaborate Hanfu outfits. Visitors to the expo had the opportunity to learn more about Hanfu history and culture, as well as purchase Hanfu clothing and accessories.
The Hanfu trend has not been without controversy, however. Some critics have accused Hanfu enthusiasts of romanticizing China’s imperial past and promoting nationalism. Others have criticized the trend for being exclusionary, as Hanfu is seen as a symbol of Han Chinese identity and is not traditionally worn by China’s ethnic minorities.
Despite these criticisms, the popularity of Hanfu shows no signs of slowing down. Hanfu has become increasingly popular on social media platforms such as Weibo and Douyin, where young people share photos of themselves wearing Hanfu outfits. Some young people even incorporate Hanfu into their daily wardrobes, wearing Hanfu-inspired clothing to school and work.
The rise of Hanfu is part of a larger trend in China towards a rediscovery of traditional culture. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in traditional Chinese music, dance, and art, as well as traditional medicine and philosophy. This trend is driven in part by a desire to reconnect with China’s past and promote Chinese cultural values in the face of globalization.
Overall, the first Hanfu Expo was a testament to the growing popularity of Hanfu in China. While the trend may have its detractors, there is no denying that Hanfu has captured the imagination of many young people in China, who see it as a way to connect with their cultural heritage and express their individuality. As the popularity of Hanfu continues to soar, we will likely see more events like the Hanfu Expo in the years to come.


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The price of the digital currency Bitcoin hit ,045 on Sunday, almost 3.23 times its exchange value early this year. Economic Information Daily commented on Monday:
Over the past three weeks bitcoin, which was worth just 1/1300 of a US dollar when it first hit the market, has doubled in value despite the wobble earlier this month. The issuance of the rival "bitcoin cash" on Aug 1 affected a number of crypto currencies in its first week of trading, but bitcoin held up.
Decentralized and not replicable, bitcoin can be swiftly transferred across borders regardless of the amount, and the transaction costs are normally lower than traditional currency transfers. Investors, therefore, would seem to have good reason to be optimistic about the original crypto currency.
Yet bitcoin also comes with risks despite the fact that it has been thriving against all odds. There is still a substantial divergence of opinion between countries when it comes to what is bitcoin, since only a few countries deem it to be a legitimate currency.
Most countries, including China, tend to see bitcoin as a virtual commodity, because it is not issued by the monetary authorities of any sovereign state and the organizations running bitcoin businesses do not possess authorized currency credentials either.
Decentralization, a big selling point of bitcoin, could be the Achilles' heel of the crypto currency. On the one hand, lax supervision and unclear definition may subject bitcoin to graver risks when transaction security is compromised. On the other hand, the digital currency is far from being irreplaceable, and faces increasing challenges from potent rivals like bitcoin cash.
While only a few retailers accept bitcoins, hackers have been rather keen to exploit the crypto currency for blackmailing. In May, the ransomware virus, WannaCry affected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries and regions, demanding payments of up to 0 in bitcoin to restore access. The craze for crypto currencies, reminiscent of the "Tulip bubble" in the Netherlands in the early 1630s, has to be cooled down before it inflicts damage on real-life finance and public security.


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Look at it now! Home dubbed ‘Australia’s worst house’ back on the market
The property once dubbed ‘Australia’s worst house’ is back on the market, but wait until you see it now. SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER PICS
THE Brisbane property once dubbed ‘Australia’s worst house’ is back.
The original, dilapidated shack in one of the city’s hottest inner-city suburbs has been demolished and replaced with a brand new, five-bedroom home that hits the market for the first time today.
RELATED: Would you buy this ‘sight unseen’?
It’s been nearly four years since the pre-1946 property at 50 Deighton Rd, Dutton Park, made headlines when it sold at auction for a shock $668,000 in 2015 — $168,000 above the reserve price.
Owners, Steven and Rina Zlatkin, say everyone thought they were “crazy” to buy the home considering its crumbling condition, but they are now out to prove the doubters wrong.
Mrs Zlatkin said she saw past the boarded up windows, loose bricks and rusted tin roof.
“I’m very artistic and the location was absolutely perfect,” Mrs Zlatkin said.
“I had a vision of what I wanted to create — and it wasn’t a Queenslander.
“I think it’s about time for something exciting to come to the area to give it a bit of a lift.”
Three years of rigorous inspections, council approvals and an expensive demolition job later and the Zlatkins’ hard work could be about to pay off.
Mrs Zlatkin said she bought the property with the aim of creating their dream, forever home, but a change in circumstances meant a move to Melbourne.
“It’s been a lot of hard work, but worth it,” she said.
“We designed it in mind for a family — it’s very comfortable and very spacious.”
The median house price in Dutton Park is now just over $1 million.
Marketing agent Gunther Behrendt of Ray White Stones Corner, who sold the home in its original state in 2015, said the hovel had undergone a complete transformation.
“New houses are rarely available so close to the city, so this large family home within the Brisbane State High School catchment is very exciting indeed,” Mr Behrendt said.
The new house is Hamptons-inspired, with multiple open-plan, indoor and outdoor living areas.
It comes with three bathrooms, a media room and a landscaped backyard featuring a grassed area and in-ground pool.
The property is scheduled to go to auction at 1pm on March 30.
Originally published as Look at it now! Home dubbed ‘Australia’s worst house’ back on the market


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Korea’s largest smart factory and automatic control exhibition, ‘The Smart Factory + Automation World 2018’ was held from March 28 through 30 for a total of three days in Coex’s halls A, B, and C. This year’s exhibition was the largest in scale yet, having expanded 24 percent from the previous year, and held under
Coffee Expo Seoul 2018 invites you to Coex’s Halls A and B for its annual Coffee festival filled with fresh espresso and sweet desserts this April 5th to 8th 2018. Co-organized by Coex and the Korea Coffee Association, Coffee Expo Seoul, will be celebrating its 7th year with attendance expected to be its highest yet.
Seoul International Sourcing Fair 2018, will celebrate its 28th anniversary as Korea’s top B2B trade show in the premium sales gifts and houseware market from March 22nd to March 25th at Coex Halls A & B1. The Seoul International Sourcing Fair is Korea’s longest-running tradeshow in its industry, and the only of its kind to
One of Coex’s longest running shows, the Seoul International Premium Products Fair (SIPREMIUM), is expanding into three new markets across South East Asia. The Vietnam International Premium Products Fair (VIPREMIUM) will open in Ho Chi Minh on May 31st 2018, the ASEAN International Premium Products Fair (APREMIIUM) will open in Bangkok on October 3rd 2018,
Coex’s President and CEO, Mr. Bo-Kyung Byun, was beaming after receiving the news that the venue won the ‘Outstanding Venue Award’ at the 2017 AFECA (Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations) Awards in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. “We are honored to be selected as an outstanding venue by the AFECA judges,”said Mr. Byun. “This is our


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It offers news on a broad range of technological merchandise including laptop, cellular, pictures, safety, tech culture, tech trade, internet, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and so on. Moreover, Peller factors out that approximately 40% of DXC’s business is in knowledge center management, which can additionally be being affected by the rising shift to the cloud. Another important concern is the consistent decline in DXC’s revenue. While an asset sale of the struggling business lines might serve as a optimistic catalyst, Peller remains skeptical about a positive revenue trajectory within the close to to medium time period.
OpenAI hoped that plugins could be its equal of Apple’s iOS App Store, gaining an advantage over rival chatbots like Google’s Bard. But investors are nervous about these startups’ reliance on companies like OpenAI or Google because this might make them susceptible to being replicated by rivals or by the bigger companies themselves by way of product updates. These releases are designed to attract more builders to pay to entry OpenAI’s model to construct their very own AI software for a variety of makes use of, such as writing assistants or customer service bots. If you utilize the Internet in any capacity, you’ll inevitably run into algorithms. From Google’s search engine to Facebook’s timeline algorithms to the…
Tsmc Third-quarter Profit To Slip 30%, Give Consideration To How Much Development To Return
Genuine financial savings on headphones, laptops, phones, TVs, and gaming—still live and tested by WIRED. The drawback with email newsletters is there are so many good ones. © 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Based on the latest corporate insider activity of forty eight insiders, company insider sentiment is unfavorable on the stock. This means that over the past quarter there was a rise of insiders selling their shares of DXC in relation to earlier this year.
Fintechs have also used API technology to enable their businesses to work, and their success is encouraging competitors to develop their own APIs. Sophisticated cellular banking instruments are a top factor fueling US neobanks’ stratospheric rise—one that’s taken on more importance amid COVID-19. Incumbent monetary institutions, neobanks, and tech firms alike can profit from understanding exactly how leading neobanks are raising the bar for buyer expectations and belief to successfully scale their businesses.
appscrolls.org Is the Best Blog that You must visit and appscrolls.org contain about Technology Information
After a tumultuous 2022 for technology funding and expertise, the first half of 2023 has seen a resurgence of enthusiasm about technology’s potential to catalyze progress in enterprise and society. Generative AI deserves a lot of the credit score for ushering in this revival, but it stands as simply certainly one of many advances on the horizon that would drive sustainable, inclusive growth and remedy complicated global challenges. DXC delivers the technology you need for the business outcomes you want across your entire IT property. James Laird is a technology journalist with 10+ years experience working on some of the world’s biggest web sites. These include TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, Lifehacker, Gizmodo and The Sun, in addition to industry-specific titles corresponding to ITProPortal. His explicit areas of curiosity and expertise are cyber security, VPNs and common hardware.
A main reason for forest restoration project failures is lack of long-term monitoring. Now, satellites, lidar, drones and in-forest sensor networks are bringing detailed, long-term, real-time knowledge to tree-planting initiatives. Finally, Samsung may swap from Google to Bing for its default search engine on units, which is sure to please Microsoft and nearly nobody else. Then again, a more recent report says this gained’t be happening. It’s worth noting that we don’t but know whether or not Samsung will again launch three Galaxy fashions in the S24 line – a vanilla S24, an S24 Plus and an S24 Ultra. By controlling the arrangement of a number of inorganic and organic layers inside crystals using a novel technique, researchers have shown they’ll management the energy ranges of electrons and holes …
The site’s focus is on revolutionary solutions and covering in-depth technical content material. EWeek stays on the slicing edge of technology news and IT developments through interviews and professional evaluation. Gain insight from prime innovators and thought leaders within the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more. The era of COVID-19 has taught the significance of on-line providers and learning.


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The award, for Best First Time CRS Report, aims to highlight the achievement of a firm which shows strong social responsibility in areas such as environment, climate, and social areas. Particular emphasis is placed on reports that detail progress in what the audit body describes as “a credible, understandable and manageable way.”
The firm won the award because there was a “unifying principle between the company’s values and the topics selected for the CSR strategy and the implementation of these in the company’s policies, goals and targets,” according to the judges.
Palsgaard managing director Jakob Thøisen told FoodNavigator.com that the award provided strong business benefits. “I see a CSR report as a qualifying document, when dealing with customers - and potential customers,” he said.
”It benefits us in the way that its shows our commitment to make steady improvements within CSR related issues. It also shows that we work actively and committed with suppliers of raw materials, employees and customers.”
It was important to implement accountability and sustainability procedures through every part of the organisation and the supply chain, he added.
“It is of great importance to us that we can satisfy our customers in their CSR demands and that our development and initiatives within the CSR area are keeping up with the supply chain demands which includes requests from the end-user,” said Thøisen. “Being a player on the global market Palsgaard often faces CSR demands from international companies, and it is our intention to become known for our social responsibility.”
The firm’s next CSR objective was to make continuous improvements in order to meet its CO2 reduction target of zero emissions by 2020. It also plans to cut wastewater emission, by 1 litre per kg of finished product, and raw material consumption by 1kg per 100 kg of finished product.
Charlotte Jepsen, md of audit firm FSR said: “The CSR reports we've seen this year are of a very high quality and the awards aim to highlight the companies that through their way of doing business have shown strong social responsibility.
“The FSR CSR Awards differ from other awards in the area by having weight and substance. The awards are an endorsement of the quality of companies' CSR efforts.”
Palsgaard produces emulsifiers and stabilizers for bakery, confectionery, dairy, ice cream, fine foods and margarine categories.
Meanwhile, the main award for best combined annual and CSR report was given to pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk. Toy firm Lego received an award for best stand alone CSR report.


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In a panel appearance Tuesday at CES in Las Vegas, a pair of top WarnerMedia execs offered a few new insights into HBO Max, the company’s subscription streaming offering set to debut in May.
Chief Technology Officer Jeremy Legg and EVP and GM of Direct-to-Consumer Andy Forssell painted a somewhat more detailed picture of the $15-a-month service than was offered last October at the company’s investor day.
Legg said one of the goals of the new platform’s user experience will be to eliminate what he called the “endless scroll” of many existing streaming, through a mix of tech tools and human curation. Also, the aim is to target mobile devices with an interface that is more “swipey” and less grid-oriented than those of competitors. (“Is that a word?” he joked.)
Moderator Sara Fischer of Axios asked which shows could potentially get an infusion of energy on HBO Max, as You did when it moved from Lifetime to Netflix. “All of them,” Legg quipped.
“I don’t think we should focus just on that one direction,” Forssell said. “If you think about our mission writ large, we have tremendous creative talent at HBO and HBO Max, Warner Bros., the Turner networks. Their job is to find great creative, find the right audience and the right place for it. There are cases where you’ll see things where we’ll decide the right place for it is SVOD and there may be life for it on linear networks or elsewhere. You’ll see the reverse as well. You’re going to see it both directions. I think there is as much synergy there, more so than conflict.”
HBO Max will be the last major entrant into the roiling competition in streaming, a sector that has seen Apple and Disney launch major challenges to Netflix and other established players. NBCUniversal will debut Peacock in April.
One aspect of the HBO Max launch that remains unsettled is its distribution plan. Disney got early traction with Disney+ ahead of its November arrival by setting key bundles — one of them internal, a $13-a-month package with Hulu and ESPN+ — and the other a partnership with Verizon. Both arrangements helped Disney score 10 million sign-ups as of its first day on the market. “We’ll absolutely do that,” Forssell said. “Bundling, when it’s done right, is good for consumers and it’s good for people doing the bundle. It makes things stickier. You can bet that we’ll be aggressive.”
At the investor day, WarnerMedia chief and AT&T COO John Stankey said the company is in discussions with distribution partners, but no deals were announced beyond the existing AT&T pay-TV footprint.
Legg said the company is likely to “ease our way into” features such as interactivity, which Netflix has been starting to deploy more broadly, but those would come online down the road. “Right now, I think Andy and I just want to get it out the door in the spring,” he said.
In terms of subscriber targets, Forssell reaffirmed prior guidance that HBO Max is aiming to reach 50 million households in its first five years, but the executive team is also focusing on more than just the numbers. “The symbology is more important — we need to matter,” he said. “You do that by a count of how many people are obviously paying every month for the service. But you also do it through engagement. … It needs to matter to people and they need to use it, so we have some pretty stringent internal goals there. We’re being entrusted with a huge investment in this service” by WarnerMedia and its parent, AT&T.
In terms of benchmarks, Legg said one important benchmark the company has already cleared is handling 4.7 million concurrent streams of the Game of Thrones finale last spring. That should enable HBO Max to weather the storm once it is up and running — unlikely Disney+, whose successful debut was marred by tech glitches on Day 1.
Fischer began with a non-tech question, checking in on the state of HBO in the wake of former chief Richard Plepler’s departure (with the exec recently surfacing as a producer with a multi-year deal at Apple). Forssell’s characterization of the post-Plepler team: “awesome.”
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asked last week where we can find an American counterpart to Nigel Farage. When Nigel takes the floor of the European parliament, he harpoons all those knuckle-draggers that are blatantly causing the downward economic spiral in the E.U.
Much like watching an old John Wayne movie, Farage tells the bad guys exactly what he thinks of them and that they'll get what's coming to them. Bad guys never win in the long run...at least not in a John Wayne movie. I'd like to see the same outcome for the malaligned governments and crooked bankers of the world. But who is going to take them down?
Well, today's tongue lashing came from none other than our own Repulican from Texas Ron Paul. In a monetary progress report to Congress, Bernanke attempted his usual diatribe regarding how profitable the Federal Reserve has been in the past two years ($125 billion in profits) and how the Fed doesn't "spend" money, it "loans" money. Sounds like "the rich get richer" to me.
Paul points out from the onset that consumer spending makes up 2/3rds of the American GDP but yet the Fed keeps printing money and giving it to the "too big to fail" companies. This doesn't help consumer spending at all. It simply puts more profits back into the pocket of big business (again, rich getting richer).
Paul even points out that if the Fed had wanted to boost consumer spending and spur the economy, the $5 trillion that went to big business could have been giving directly to the citizens of our country to the tune of $17,000 PER CITIZEN. Who in their right mind would argue that the citizens woulnd't have spent the $17k on consumer goods and services? That would have been a HUGE boost for the economy. Instead, we saw minimal job creation and massive bonus increases to CEOs (who also didn't pay corporate taxes: hello General Electric?).
Bernanke, clearly taken aback by Paul's comments as noted by his long pause of silence, let's it be known that he doesn't think gold is money. Really? Perhaps this gives an insight into what Ben thinks money is. Since he can't double or triple the gold supply, therefore devaluing everyone else's gold while causing inflation and printing more gold for himself...gold can't be money...at least in his world.
So I'd like to thank Senator Paul for not only interupting Bernanke at least four times and making Ben look like an ass, but for also standing up to these cretons and letting them know that we are all aware of the shenanigans they are pulling and that their time is coming. I will be donating to Paul's campaign today as a thank you for his efforts.
The answer to 1984...Pilgrim...is 1776.
If you just came out from under a rock, here's a quick comical tutorial on our government:


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theodp writes "A European Parliament committee Tuesday moved toward setting the first pan-European standard for software patents, but outlawed the U.S. practice of patenting business methods, such as Amazon's one-click Internet shopping. 'The European law sets the right benchmark rather than the looser U.S. system,' said the director of public policy for Europe at the Business Software Alliance, which represents 20 software companies including Microsoft and Apple. Amazon representatives in Brussels declined to comment on the new European legislation."
"Today's robots are very primitive, capable of understanding only a few
simple instructions such as 'go left', 'go right', and 'build car'."


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We're getting quite used to celebrity endorsements in the smartphone space. Between Jessica Alba and Windows Phone, BlackBerry 10 and Alicia Keys, or Zoe Deschanel and the iPhone/Siri, it's not at all unusual to see a famous actor or single pushing a specific brand of smartphone or smartphone technology. Unfortunately, Kobe fans looking for a piece of the latest Kobe-approved product may have to wait a while, as it seems this phone might be China-only for now.
Lenovo has recruited basketball legend Kobe Bryant to plug an upcoming device. Engadget points to a new behind-the-scenes spot featuring Bryant that hit the web this week.
The ad sees Kobe bouncing a basketball around set before plugging the Lenovo P780. A commercial for the device (this one from Lenovo's own YouTube channel) suggests that this phone is based on an Intel CPU. Other rumors include a 5-inch display and a 4,000mAh battery.
Check out the official ad below, or head over to Engadget for the behind-the-scenes look at the shoot.


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Netflix, Facebook and YouTube have said that the companies will do their bit to ease the network congestion across India and the globe. The move from the American giants comes at a time when India has gone into a complete lockdown for 21 days and as millions go online to complete their professional work tasks. While Netflix has stressed that users can continue to watch Ultra-High Definition videos, if that is what a user has paid for, one might however see reduced quality on these streams. Similarly, Facebook will be easing the network congestion by reducing the quality of videos on its platform and Instagram.
Netflix and Facebook Would reduce Bitrates
Facebook on Tuesday said that more and more people have started to use its apps as many people across the world are following social distancing and are staying at homes. In the countries that are hit by the virus most, the company noted that the total messaging has increased by over 50% in the last month. Voice and video calls are also said to have doubled during the period especially on the company’s popular apps like WhatsApp and Messenger.
While Facebook stresses that its apps are built to withstand spikes, it would reduce bitrates for videos on Facebook and Instagram for certain regions to ease network traffic.
“To help alleviate potential network congestion, we are temporarily reducing bit rates for videos on Facebook and Instagram in certain regions,” Alex Schultz, VP of Analytics, and Jay Parikh, VP of Engineering said in a statement. “As this global public health crisis advances and more people are physically separated from their communities, we expect that people will continue to rely on our services to stay connected during this time, and we hope these connections make it easier for people to stay home.”
Gadgets 360 in a report said that Facebook's move to reduce bit rates would apply to India and that the company is “working with our partners to manage any bandwidth constraints. Likewise, Netflix on Friday said that the company would aid in reducing its traffic on service providers by 25% across the UK and Europe.
“In Europe, for the next 30 days, within each category we’ve simply removed the highest bandwidth streams,” Ken Florance, VP Content Delivery for Netflix said in a media release. “If you are particularly tuned into video quality you may notice a very slight decrease in quality within each resolution. But you will still get the video quality you paid for.”
TechCrunch on Tuesday said that the move from Netflix would now be extended to India.
YouTube’s Default Video Quality is Standard Definition
Meanwhile, YouTube has announced that the standard definition videos will be the default video quality for users across the world. According to Bloomberg, users will be able to watch high definition videos but that one would have to manually select the streaming quality.
“We continue to work closely with governments and network operators around the globe to do our part to minimize stress on the system during this unprecedented situation,” the company said in a statement to Bloomberg.


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Smallest businesses supported with 100% government guaranteed loans
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday announced support for the smallest businesses with the launch of the Bounce Back Loan scheme.
After coming under increasing pressure, the chancellor yesterday announced the launch of the Bounce Back Loan scheme which will support the UKs smallest businesses with a 100% government guaranteed loan up to 25% of their turnover, up to a maximum of £50,000. The news will be welcomed by new businesses who have struggled to access the original Coronavirus Business Interruption Scheme (CBILS).
On the scheme the Chancellor said 'Our smallest businesses are the backbone of our economy and play a vital role in their communities. Today's new Bounce Back Loans will help ensure they get the finance they need quickly to help survive this crisis.'
The new scheme will be available from 9am next Monday and is intended to be far easier to access. The main points on the new scheme are:
No forward looking test of business viability
No long winded application and approval process
25% of turnover up to a max £50,000
No fees of interest for the first 12 months
UK Gov 100% guarantee on all Bounce Back Loans
Funds available 24hrs after approval
It's worth noting that businesses cannot apply for this scheme if you're already claiming under CBILS
Whilst the news of the new scheme hit it was still unclear how long the approval process would take however it is really positive news that support for small business is increasing and financial institutions should be buoyed by the 100% government guarantee.
If you are a small business and feel you are eligible for the Bounce Back Scheme get in touch with your bank today. There has been no confirmation of information required to access these new loans but one would presume businesses will need to gather the same information as if they were applying for CBILS.


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There’s no better reason to build a new luxury car than to celebrate a brand reaching the one millionth fan mark on its dedicated Faceebook page.
It is for just this reason that Aston Martin has unveiled the bespoke DB9 1M model at its Gaydon Headquarters. For the production of the one-off Aston Martin, the company looked no further than its Facebook fans by creating a series of polls with which fans were asked to select the car’s trim, design and of course name.
While some might argue that the car isn’t the most attractive that Aston Martin has produced it does feature an “Aero” wrap, black brake calipers and 20-inch diamond-turned alloy wheels.
As far as power goes, a 6.0-litre V12 engine produces 470 hp (350 kW / 477 PS) and 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to a six-speed automatic transmission which enables the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds reaching a top speed of 300 km/h.


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5G technology will enable carriers to provide solutions to a greater number of use cases. He said a lot of the work that has been done to date with pre-standards trials of 5G “were really to gain a lot of insights that helped us feed right back into the standards work.”
He added that standardization and openness would be critical to creating the healthy ecosystem that is required to enable 5G to flourish.
The wireless industry prepared to spend an estimated $275 billion to deploy 5G.
The first mass-market 5G smartphones will become commercially available by 2019, according to Qualcomm CEO Steven Mollenkopf, due to increasing demands from the consumer and business segments driving an acceleration of the previous 2020 timeline.
There are already several network operators in the United States, Japan, and South Korea that are preparing for a 5G launch in 2019, and that they would likely be joined by Chinese carriers.


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Google has a new hum-to-search feature for your phone. Here's how it works
This new Google tool for Android phones and iPhones helps you find that song in unconventional ways.
Katie TeagueWriter II
Katie is a writer covering all things how-to at CNET, with a focus on Social Security and notable events. When she's not writing, she enjoys playing in golf scrambles, practicing yoga and spending time on the lake.
ExpertisePersonal Finance: Social Security and taxes
It happens all the time -- you get a song stuck in your head, try to hum it to friends and no one has a clue what you're talking about. You continue thinking about it until you finally hear a snatch of it again -- from a TV show, the radio or in a store. Now, Google has a new way to identify that song for you. You can now hum, sing or whistle the tune into your phone.
The technology to match tones to a database of identified songs through singing, humming and whistling -- instead of from lyrics alone -- has existed for more than a decade, and was a staple in the music app SoundHound as far back as 2009.
To get started using Google's new feature, grab your phone and open the latest version of the Google app or Google Search widget. Then, tap the Microphone icon and say "what's this song?" You can also tap the Search a song button. Finally, start humming, singing or whistling the tune to get your results.
Watch this: Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G spec comparison
If you're using Google Assistant, just say "Hey Google, what's this song?" and then start humming the tune. Google will show you the most likely results based on the tune you hummed. You can select the song to listen to it and see if it's the one that's been stuck in your head.
Google announced the new feature on Thursday and has started rolling it out globally to
and Android users. It's currently available in English for iPhone users and in more than 20 languages on Android. Note that this new tool only works on mobile devices, so at this time, it won't work on your Google Home or Nest speakers.


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About NCSP Group
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Bloomberg: PJSC 'Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port': Rashid Sharipov headed the Board of Directors of PJSC 'Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port
NCSP Group (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NMTP) announces decisions taken at the ordinary meeting of the Board of Directors of PJSC NCSP.
Bloomberg:PJSC NCSP holds an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
NCSP Group (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NMTP) announces the decisions made at the annual general shareholders' meeting, and the publication of the annual report of the Company.
SeaNews:NCSP Group's consolidated cargo turnover for January-April 2019 totaled 47.6 million tons
NCSP Group (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NMTP) hereby reports that NCSP Group's consolidated cargo turnover for January–April 2019 grew by 0.3% year over year and reached 47,636 thousand tons.
Bloomberg:NCSP Group Consolidated Financial Results for Q1 2019
NCSP Group (LSE: NCSP, MoEx: NMTP) hereby announces its consolidated operating and financial results for the three months, ended 31 March 2019, prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
Bloomberg:The Board of Directors of NCSP Group recommended to send 98% of net profit for 2018 to dividends
NCSP Group (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NMTP) hereby announces that on May 21, the Board of Directors of PJSC NCSP, which includes representatives of the controlling shareholder, PJSC Transneft, as well as the Russian Federation and the Company's management, decided to recommend to the Annual General Meeting of shareholders of PJSC "NCSP" to additionally pay dividends for the results of 2018 in the amount of 9,629,907,700 (Nine billion six hundred twenty-nine million nine hundred seven thousand seven hundred) rubles 00 kopecks.
Bloomberg:NCSP Group's consolidated cargo turnover for the first quarter of 2019 rose by 2.7% to 35.95 million tons
NCSP Group (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NMTP) hereby reports that NCSP Group's consolidated cargo turnover for the first three months of 2019 saw an increase of 2.7% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 35,950 thousand tons.
FinanzNachrichten:NCSP: Notice of Annual General Meeting
PJSC NCSP (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NCSP) hereby announces that in a meeting dated 8 May 2019 PJSC NCSP's Board of Directors approved the following decisions
MarketsInsider: NCSP and VTB have closed the deal on the sale of Novorossiysk Grain Terminal
PJSC NCSP (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NCSP) and VTB Bank have announced the closure of the deal on the sale of all PJSC NCSP's shares in Novorossiysk Grain Terminal LLC.
boerse-online:NCSP Group's consolidated cargo turnover for January-February 2019 exceeded 23.4 million tons
NCSP Group (LSE: NCSP, MOEX: NMTP) hereby reports that NCSP Group's consolidated cargo turnover for January-February 2019 saw an increase of 4.9% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 23,401 thousand tons.
PortNews: Standard & Poor's Global increases rating of Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port to “BB”, positive outlook
International Rating Agency Standard & Poor's Global increased rating of PJSC “NCSP” from the level of “BB-” to the level of “BB”, positive outlook, NCSP says in a press release.
ÐortsÅurope:NCSP Group’s Consolidated 2018 financial results
Novorossiysk, Russia (PortSEurope) April 3, 2019 – NCSP Group has announces its consolidated operating and financial results for the 2018 .
Hellenic shipping news 20.03.2019
Hellenic shipping news:NCSP Group’s consolidated cargo turnover for the first month of 2019 exceeded 12 million tons
NCSP Group reports that its consolidated cargo turnover for January 2019 increased by 3.3% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 12,063 thousand tons.
FinanzNachrichten:Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port' Board of Directors decides about AGM Agenda
NCSP Group (LSE: NSCP; MICEX: NMTP) hereby announces that on the 6th of March, 2019 PJSC NCSP's Board of Directors decides to include the following issues to Agenda of Annual General Meeting for 2018
PortNews: VTB acquires 100% of Novorossiysk Grain Terminal from NSCP Group
NSCP Group announces that VTB Bank and Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port reached an agreement and signed legally binding documents on the acquisition by VTB Group of 100% of Novorossiysk Grain Terminal LLC.
Transneft plans to maintain Novorossiisk's diversification strategy
ÐÈÀ Îðåàíäà 22.06.2010
NCSP Group Released Operating Results for January-May 2010
ÑÊÐÈÍ "Ýìèòåíò" 17.06.2010
Novorossiysk Port container throughput up 34.6% in January-May 2010
Energyland.info on-line 07.06.2010
SOCAR exported 294,275 tons of crude oil from the Novorossiysk Port in May 2010
ÐÈÀ Îðåàíäà 02.06.2010
NCSP Announced Acquisition of Additional Land Plots
Regulatory News Service 26.05.2010
PJSC Novorossiysk NCSP Acquires Land for Fuel Oil Terminal
Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port


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Samsung and LG at odds over eye-tracking technology patents
March 19, 2013
LG has accused Samsung of infringing on patents based on the eye-tracking technology featured on the flagship devices of both companies, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the LG Optimus G Pro.
Second U.S. Apple vs Samsung ‘Siri’ patent case not suspended, judge decides
March 9, 2013
A judge decided that the Siri patent Apple vs Samsung case can go forward as initially planned, instead of suspending it until the first case between the two is resolved, an alternative she previously suggested.
Microsoft patent lawsuit could ban Google Maps in Germany
March 8, 2013
Google and Motorola are on the verge of losing a patent lawsuit led by Microsoft that would require Google Maps to be removed from the German region. Could Germans survive merely off of Bing Maps?
Good news for Samsung: Judge Lucy Koh cuts fine for Apple patent infringement from $1B to $599M
March 2, 2013
Judge Lucy Koh has reduced the $1B fine Samsung is supposed to pay Apple to $599M, due to an earlier miscalculation by the jury.
Samsung patent claim against Apple rejected by Japanese court
February 28, 2013
A Tokyo District Court has just rejected Samsung's patent claims against Apple in a recent court ruling which involved the use of 3G wireless technology in certain models of the iPhone.
Second Apple’s lawsuit against Samsung could be put on hold
February 15, 2013
We are all aware of the $1 billion verdict in Apple's favor, and the subsequent request by Apple to have those Samsung products in question banned. There was also a lesser-discussed matter regarding search technology pertaining to Siri.
Court denies Apple’s request to ban the Galaxy Nexus again
February 1, 2013
A U.S. appeals court has just issued a brief order basically telling Apple to take a hike after it tried to request for a revival of last year’s Samsung Galaxy Nexus sales ban as part of an ongoing patent dispute.
Score another one for Samsung as Judge rules their patent infringements against Apple were unintentional
January 30, 2013
Judge Koh has ruled in favor of Samsung once again, stating that their patent infringement was unintentional. What does this mean for Samsung?
HTC-Apple deal to benefit Android maker this year
January 1, 2013
A few weeks ago HTC and Apple surprised the tech-loving crowds by announcing an unexpected settlement that put an end to the legal quarrel between the two, a fight that was largely won by the iPhone maker at the time.
Apple vs Samsung ITC case sanctions could include 88% smartphone value bond paid by Android maker
December 29, 2012
Earlier today we told you that Samsung faces a fine of up to $15 billion in Europe and now we hear there’s even more bad news for the South Korean Android maker coming from the ITC.


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Most People Ignore Data Privacy Until it's Too Late!
Knowing how to protect your customer data can save you thousands of dollars, keep your reputation intact, and put you at a competitive advantage against other businesses that are waiting until it’s too late.
Most People Ignore Data Privacy Until It’s Too Late
Turning a blind eye to a problem might not be so bad if you’re ignoring something like doing the dishes or turning off Netflix to get some much-needed rest. But in the case of data privacy, sticking one’s head in the sand could have much more disastrous results than dirty mugs and bleary eyes.
A lot of people put their data out on the internet without really thinking about it. We share our information freely, and push away that feeling that maybe we should be a bit more careful. We’ve all clicked ‘yes’ faced with a lengthy terms and services page, and many of us have signed up for various online services and platforms without a second thought about how it could impact our data privacy. But for end users, and for businesses, it is well past time to start considering data privacy.
Data Privacy and Your Business
If you have an online presence, and you interact with your clients in any capacity on the web, data privacy should be a concern for your business — now, not later. Data breaches are a major problem that can severely impact your company’s success, reputation, and financial future. If end users are going to give away their data, it’s up to you to protect it when it’s put in your hands.
The Identity Theft Research Centre 2017 annual data breach year-end review says that its tracked data breaches in the USA hit a record high of 1,579 incidents, up by 44.7 per cent from the year prior. Business-related breaches were the number one of all the industries ITRC tracks, for the third year in a row.
Kaspersky says the average annual cumulative loss of a business data breach is $347,603, up to $497,097 for companies with 500+ employees. It’s a costly problem, but becomes less expensive if you are prepared — Ponemon Institute’s 2017 Cost of Data Breach Study shows notification costs are highest in the USA and the United States spends the most on post-data breach response, at $1.56 million. If you can secure your data, you lessen the risk of having to pay out the post-breach notification and response costs.
User data can play an important role in your company, providing analytics, contact information, and more. But given how often businesses are being targeted for data theft, you owe it to your customers to be proactive, instead of waiting to respond until after their information is stolen.
Best Practices for Enterprise Data Privacy
If you are collecting consumer data, bring your clients on board. That should go beyond simply getting their permission to collect the data. Many companies are moving toward empowering consumers to review what has been collected, ensuring transparency and accuracy.
This could also look like providing a privacy statement or disclosure on your website that is written in the type of language an average user would understand, and providing contact information within this notice inviting clients to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have
Your company should have a strong system for data privacy, both technically and legally. The IT department needs to implement and maintain data security, and everyone should adhere to legal regulations and rules regarding how data can be collected, stored, and used.
Your business also needs a plan for what to do in the event that your data is compromised. Depending on what information is lost, and what industry you are in, there are certain regulations to follow and responsibilities to meet, as well as the need to manage your company’s response and reputation in the coming days.
One of the best things your company can do to prepare for a data breach is stop ignoring the inevitable and start budgeting, preparing, and planning. The Ponemon study says that the larger a breach is, the less likely it is that another one will happen in the next two years.
Tellingly, in the Global Information Security Survey (GISS), 76 per cent of respondents said the discovery of a damaging data breach would likely lead to greater resources allocated to security in the future.
Knowing how to protect your customer data can save you thousands of dollars, keep your reputation intact, and put you at a competitive advantage against other businesses that are waiting until it’s too late. We’re here to help you create a data privacy plan that protects your customers and your business.
Don’t be like the people and businesses that ignore data privacy like it’s a pesky household chore. Take ownership of your security and the interests of your clients, and you will end up on the right side of the statistics.
At CloudSkope, our team of experts can help tackle your most critical data privacy and security challenges.
Contact us to learn how you can protect your business.


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Centre's ban on sale of cattle for slaughter to adversely affect public meat products company in Kerala
Amid a public outcry over the Centre's notification banning sale of cattle for slaughter, PSU in Kerala fears that its business will be badly hit.
Kochi: Amid a public outcry over the Centre's notification banning sale of cattle for slaughter, a public sector unit (PSU) in Kerala fears that its business will be badly hit for want of raw materials.
The Meat Products of India Ltd (MPI), a meat and meat products manufacturing company in Ernakulam district, sources materials mainly from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and if the rule is strictly implemented, there would be no movement of livestock including buffaloes, said one of its top officials.
Ironically, the Centre's move has come when MPI enhanced the capacity of its plant spending Rs 31.5 crore, Shaju Jacob, one of the directors of MPI said.
"The new rule will put MPI in a crisis. Sourcing livestock will be a big problem," Jacob said.
The products of MPI are derived from young and healthy livestock and are processed using sophisticated technology to ensure high standards of hygiene, longer storage time and more nutritive value.
He said the Centre's decision will also affect MPI's plans to export the products.
"The MPI products manufactured under strict veterinary supervision from selected animals free from zoonotic disease would have got a huge demand from abroad, particularly the Gulf. Now that door seems to be closed with this decision," Jacob lamented.
Currently, MPI products are available with all leading supermarkets and cold storages throughout Kerala and other states.
He said the MPI was seeking new ways to overcome the crisis.
"Currently, we are running in losses to the tune of Rs 19 crore. We are seeking possibilities of encouraging farmers in local areas to rear the livestock for meeting our demand for the raw materials," Jacob said.
Established in the year 1973, the company holds a category "A" FSSAI licence for the manufacture and marketing of meat and meat products.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
Kerala gold smuggling case: Accused suspected to have links with Dawood Ibrahim’s gang, NIA tells court
Intelligence inputs suggest that proceeds from the gold smuggling were used for anti-national and terror activities, said the Central agency
The hill shrine, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, opened for the monthly puja on Friday evening after staying closed for over six months due to the coronavirus lockdown
KEAM 2020| A total of 56,599 students qualified for admission to the engineering stream and 44,390 students for the pharmacy stream


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The Universal Selection Source: Cosmetics Ingredients
A SpecialChem Client is offering a novel polyurethane chemistry that enables intrinsic self-healing properties. The producer is looking for new applications and partners valuing th...
Smart Coatings: Update on Current & Future Opportunities
Mar 23, 2017
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Sensory Claims in Cosmetics: Supporting Ingredients & Tests
Mar 28, 2017
Bonding Dissimilar Materials: How to Reduce Internal Stress Levels
Mar 30, 2017
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Jun 24, 2016 |
ANGUS Chemical Company announces that AMP™, a multifunctional specialty chemical that is widely used in paint formulations, metalworking fluids and personal care products is no longer classified as...
Jun 20, 2016 |
Revlon and Elizabeth Arden announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Revlon will acquire all of outstanding shares of Elizabeth Arden for $14.00 per share, representing an...
Jun 14, 2016 |
Innollient LO from Innovacos has received Ecocert and Cosmos certification. The certification verifies that raw materials used in innollient LO are 100% natural origin and conform to both Ecocert...
Jun 8, 2016 |
New research from Mintel reveals that whilst the men’s haircare market remained stable in the UK between 2014 and 2015, it is forecast to grow 11% over the next five years to reach £94 million by...
Jun 7, 2016 |
Scientists at RIKEN bioengineered this skin from mouse stem cells, carefully cultivating the cells into hair, oil-producing glands and many of the other appendages found in skin. It looks like skin...
L’Oréal is a partner of the Viva Technology Start Up Connect event, which will be held at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. This event, hosted by Les Echos Group and Publicis, will bring together...
Jun 16, 2016 |
According to a new report by Transparency Market Research, the global aluminum pigments market is anticipated to reach USD 581.9 Mn by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 6.4% between 2016 and 2024...
Jun 15, 2016 |
The Procter & Gamble Company announced that David S. Taylor has been appointed Chairman of the Board, effective July 1, 2016. Taylor assumes the position in addition to his role as President and CEO...
Johnson & Johnson Consumer has agreed to purchase Vogue International from Founder & CEO Todd Christopher and The Carlyle Group for $3.3 billion. The transaction is subject to customary closing...
Jun 2, 2016 |
Researchers at Johns Hopkins say they can confirm a strong association between certain scalp-pulling hairstyles many common among African-Americans and the development of traction alopecia, gradual...
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Export of sewing products to Europe. In September, the sewing enterprises of Kyrgyzstan for the first time took part in the exhibition of garment manufacturers in Paris (Apparel Sourcing Paris). The exhibition is one of the biggest events in the textile and clothing industry of the world.
Representatives of 14 sewing enterprises from Kyrgyzstan were able to meet with experts of retail chains in Europe and receive first-hand information about the European garment industry and global competition among garment manufacturers. During the exhibition, the delegation from Kyrgyzstan held talks on possible cooperation with more than 50 potential customers.
Preferential credit. Kyrgyz exporters will start receive soft loans. According to data of the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic, as of today, agreements have been concluded with 8 commercial banks, and negotiations with representatives of the ninth bank are under way. By the decision of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry will start to provide financial resources this month.
The preferential lending program is primarily aimed at supporting domestic exporters. Under the program, enterprises of the country working for export will receive preferential loans.
Feedback. An automated feedback mechanism has been launched in Kyrgyzstan, which allows receiving and processing feedback from entrepreneurs on on-line inspections. The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic jointly with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on improving the investment climate in Kyrgyzstan, jointly by the state control bodies.
Support to business is particularly important within the implementation of the high-tech Taza Koom program. One of the main objectives of the Program is to build an open and transparent state with the use of modern digital technologies, which requires improving the conditions for doing business.
In order to improve the investment climate, an automated feedback mechanism has been developed in the Kyrgyz Republic, which serves as an instrument for interaction between the business community and state short-term bonds, which is available at www.proverka.gov.kg
A fruitful forum. Within the framework of the state visit of President Almazbek Atambayev to Uzbekistan in Tashkent, a business forum was held with the participation of representatives of business circles of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. As a result, businessmen of the two countries signed contracts worth $ 200 million. The Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic believes that the potential of bilateral trade and economic relations can quickly reach the level of $ 500 million in the coming year.
As a result of bilateral political agreements in Tashkent, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on the opening of cargo transportation along the route Tashkent - Andijan - Osh - Kashgar.
The opening of such a direction is expected to create good conditions for trade between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and China.
In total, 18 agreements, a declaration and memorandums on strategic partnership, strengthening of trust, good-neighborliness and friendship between the two countries were signed in Tashkent between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
President Atambayev's visit to Uzbekistan took place on October 5-6. A month earlier, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Kyrgyzstan for a state visit, which opened a wide road for the establishment and expansion of bilateral political, trade, economic and cultural ties between the two countries.
Kabar News Agency


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Inflation is much worse than the government’s statistics and its not going to be transitory. From the I & I Editorial Board at issuesinsights.com:
Both the out-of-touch Biden administration and our betters at the Federal Reserve Board continue to assert that inflation’s no big thing. They’re right. It’s not, unless you work for a living. Then it’s a very big thing indeed.
We were told by all the best “experts” that inflation is ephemeral, a mere blip. The Fed keeps telling us the recent jump in prices is “transient.” Democrats and many of their media friends continue to insist it’s not an issue. Just keep spending, they say. Stimulus!
But calling the recent burst in inflation “transient” or any other such euphemism to suggest it’s like a brief summer cold is not exactly accurate. In fact, it’s wrong.
The recent surge in inflation isn’t likely to go away anytime soon. Indeed, it’s even worse than the numbers now indicate.
In the most recent Consumer Price Index data, year-over-year inflation hit a tad above 5%. That’s the biggest spurt since 2008. In April, it hit 3.6%, nearly twice the recent average. Meanwhile, core prices (excluding volatile food and energy) are rising at their highest pace since 1992, when then-Fed chief Alan Greenspan was forced to nearly double interest rates to kill what many feared would be a bad bout of inflation.
This is no coincidence. In May, real average hourly earnings fell 2.8%, even as employees worked more hours. Let that sink in: Those earning an hourly wage actually took home less pay for working more.
As inflation rises, real wages — that is, earnings adjusted for inflation — inevitably go down. Just as in the 1970s, low-skilled, less-trained and less-schooled workers can’t keep up. Their wages fall behind. That’s the real danger here.