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COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 7 (UPI) -- FBI Director James Comey said the agency purchased "a tool" from a private party to access data on the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, Calif., shooters.
Comey, in an address at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, said the legal battle between the U.S. government and Apple ended because "the government has purchased, from a private party, a way to get into that phone, 5C, running iOS 9" operating system. He said the same method could be used to help the agency and law enforcement nationwide in the future.
"I can imagine a world, maybe, where a local police department, in a case they can't otherwise solve, can send us a device, with the understanding that we're never going to testify, we're never going to tell you how we opened it, so you're never going to be able to use what's on the phone as evidence, but it might be a lead to something that would be useful," he said.
The FBI and Apple had tangled for months over access to the contents of Syed Farook's iPhone 5C after he and his wife in December allegedly killed 14 people in a San Bernardino office party. The FBI wanted Apple to disable the iPhone's features that reset the device and erased its contents after too many incorrect passcode entries. Apple refused on the grounds it would create security and privacy issues in the future. The issue launched protests worldwide. The FBI dropped its lawsuit once it unlocked the phone.
Comey did not provide details about how the tool worked, but said information would be "closely protected" by the FBI and the private company that established it. He said the technique is "quite perishable," in part because iPhone 5C is a less popular model and Apple is continually changing software.
"The FBI is very good at keeping secrets. The people we bought this from I know a fair amount about them and I have a high degree of confidence" in their ability to keep the technique under wraps, Comey said.


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When (now-former) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant drove away from the team’s Frisco, TX practice facility for the last time recently after parting ways with the team, he was photographed behind the wheel of a Bentley. No surprise there, except that it wasn’t the plush Mulsanne sedan or the sleek Continental Supersports Coupe. It was the Bentayga, the company’s luxury SUV.
What is surprising is how quickly and how widely the Bentayga and its luxury SUV contemporaries have been embraced by the public, famous or not.
The Bentayga was the most expensive (and also the fastest) SUV in the world when it was first introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2015 and started selling the following year. But, that was before the Lamborghini Urus came along. And, the field just got more crowded with the unveiling of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan today and announcements of a utility-type vehicle from both Ferrari and Astin-Martin.
“Overall, the sedan segment is rapidly becoming a withered branch on the automotive evolutionary chart,” says Robb Report automotive consultant Robert Ross. “Across all price points, four-door cars are atrophying at an alarming rate, as evidenced by Ford’s announcement to cease manufacturing its sedans for the North American market. Importantly, SUVs and awkward-looking crossovers have become an accepted style statement, with greater physical presence than conventional sedans. What crawled out of the mud a half-century ago as a truck has evolved into a high-performance conveyance of the most luxurious sort. Today, for the time being, gas is cheap, and drivers want to ‘own the road” with a vehicle that sits high, and offers a greater (if only imagined) degree of safety and versatility on a variety of road and weather conditions.”
And, they’re willing to pay for it. The Bentayga, at an entry price of $229,000, far outpaced its sales forecasts as soon as sales commenced. First orders for the $200,000 Urus aren’t coming until at least December, but the Italian automaker has already sold out the first two years of production on the SUV.
Anticipation has been particularly high for the Rolls-Royce since the company first started teasing the auto; the Cullinan name, which refers to the largest diamond ever found (more than 3,100 carats) was finally confirmed in February. Despite the $325,000 cost, the price tag likely won’t be a deterrent for buyers when deliveries begin for the Rolls-Royce in late 2018 and early 2019.
“The Rolls-Royce Cullinan is aimed squarely at the super-luxury segment, addressing customers who want an SUV with the attributes of a Rolls-Royce,” says Ross. “Of course, the carmaker calls it an ‘all-terrain, high-bodied car,’ but that translates to SUV in anyone’s language. It’s an answer to those for whom a Bentley Bentayga or Range Rover Autobiography is just a little too commonplace. Imagine that!”
The introduction of a Rolls-Royce or Ferrari SUV means “the automakers can address “worldwide demand…not by increasing production runs of sports and luxury cars, but by adding SUVs that broaden the model range within their portfolios,” Ross says. “The simple truth is that every Ferrari or Rolls-Royce owner likely owns one or more SUVs. In the minds of these manufacturers, the opportunity is ripe to sell these marque loyalists an SUV with their favorite badge mounted atop the hood.”
Yet, while the introduction of these vehicles may have been intended, at least in part, to serve a clientele of existing brand enthusiasts, the buyer pool has turned out to be more diverse. Like Tesla turned non-electric car enthusiasts into owners with the new promise of luxury wrapped around eco-friendliness, hyper-luxury SUVs are appealing to those who may never have have gone beyond a Lexus or BMW. Lamborghini CEO Stefano Domenicali told CNBC that, “Seventy percent of Urus buyers have never owned a Lamborghini.”
If the pattern holds, buyers will rapidly absorb any inventory Ferrari makes available when their SUV—referred to as an FUV, or Ferrari Utility Vehicle, by Fiat Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne—debuts in 2019. Marchionne has said that the auto will be the fastest SUV in the world (talking to you, Bentayga) and also stated at this year’s Detroit Motor Show that, “It will look like whatever a Ferrari utility vehicle needs to look like. But it has to drive like a Ferrari.”
That will make the vehicle all the more alluring, says Ross. “In the luxury arena, few buyers are brand-exclusive. It’s expected to see various brands, like Bentley and Ferrari, for example, occupying the same garage. That said, Bentley’s are primarily big, luxurious freeway flyers; Ferraris much more about extreme performance on road and track.”
If Ferrari’s forthcoming car isn’t the answer for seekers of uber-luxury SUVs, perhaps another Italian auto will be. Astin-Martin announced at the Geneva car show in March that they would be reviving their long-shelved Lagonda brand, transforming it into a battery-powered SUV with a projected release date in 2021.
“In reviving one of the most iconic names in motoring we have created a unique opportunity, one that allows us to cast aside an inherited 20th-century approach and instead design cars around 21st-century demands and desires,” states Aston Martin resident and CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer, in a company press release. “The Lagonda SUV is the first of its kind: A spacious, high-performance 4×4 that successfully reconciles a love of technology, luxury and style.”

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by Colin Campbell
ACCORDING to reports the Inverness Business Improvement (BID) organisation has been in discussion with Highland Council to give the “Old Town” in Inverness its own unique identity.
The scheme would involve “welcome” signs being placed at the ends of key thoroughfares, and specially-branded street furniture would “help to create a unique sense of place”.
That’s what’s planned for the Old Town. But most informatively of all, BID now reveals where the Old Town actually is.
This mysterious area surfaced in media reports several years ago. And it is mysterious to many people because it is not a term used in any shape or form by members of the public. No-one I know has ever once said they were going to have a look around the “Old Town”. In common parlance the city centre is the city centre is the city centre, and it stretches from High Street to the bottom of Academy Street and Church Street and everywhere in between. Period.
BID has now helpfully defined Inverness Old Town as the area bounded by Bank Street by the river and Academy Street and includes Queensgate, Union Street and Church Street, as well as Castle Street.
So now, at least, we know.
Bid say: “It is hoped the proposals to officially brand the Old Town will create a better defined character and attract people in a similar way to the New Town in Edinburgh or Glasgow’s vibrant Merchant City. A wider branding exercise could create a unique atmosphere for the whole area that would increase its attractiveness for locals and visitors.”
We can only wish them the best in this new initiative because “vibrant” is not a description that readily applies to Inverness city centre – sorry, “Inverness Old Town” – as of now.
Rundown, decrepit and with a plethora of empty store frontages, there is precious little vibrancy about it.
That doesn’t mean things can’t change but unfortunately it will take a lot more than the introduction of specially branded street furniture to make a difference.
Bid says: “The separate scheme to redevelop part of the historic Victorian Market, which has been described as the jewel in the crown, was approved in November. Plans for the £1.5million revamp will involve alterations to the main hall and fish market hall to create a modern food court.”
So another £1.5million is now being chucked at the Market to try and attract more people there.
Bid say: “Plans for the £1.5million revamp will involve alterations to the main hall and fish market hall to create a modern food court. The project would also involve the removal of the internal shop units and replace them with new retail, food and drink units, and it is hoped the work would create a major asset for the city centre.”
A huge amount of money has been thrown at the Market over the past 30 years from the time when it was a dark, dank, dismal hole of a place with pools of water on the grubby and blackened stone floor as a result of leaks in the roof.
It has now been completely transformed into a bright and welcoming commercial area so far removed from what it was as to be unrecognisable. In its stylish appearance, it looks better than any other part of the “Old Town”.
But nothing has worked in terms of it attracting customers in sufficient numbers.
Maybe this latest very costly scheme will indeed bring about the desired turnaround. Against the odds it may succeed – or it may be throwing yet more good money after bad.


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December 12, 2011
Imagine you have a thriving company website that’s generating a significant amount of traffic and revenue from customers and fans around the world. Next, imagine that a government could take it down, without notice, and that you can’t stop it from happening or get your domain back by going to court. Welcome to the U.S.
Did you know that the U.S. Office of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been seizing the domain names of websites suspected of engaging in copyright infringement or participating in counterfeit goods sales that violate trademarks? The government has even seized a number of linking sites that don’t seem to be hosting illicit materials. Over this past Thanksgiving weekend alone, ICE reportedly seized over 150 domain names.
ICE doesn’t need an injunction or a verified accusation of wrongdoing to seize .com or .org domains, which are registered in the U.S. It talks with a magistrate judge and shows that judge it has “probable cause” to believe that the site is engaging in illegal activities involving intellectual property (IP) rights. On this basis, it can shut the site down without notifying the owner or giving it an opportunity to defend against the allegations. It’s the equivalent of being blackballed from e-commerce and the Internet. But there’s no “day in court.”
The office has, by its own report, used a civil forfeiture statute to seize 350 separate websites suspected of violating U.S. IP rights since 2010. If you visit some of these sites, a notice of seizure and a link to ICE’s anti-piracy video will greet you.
If you have been following Congress’s efforts to reform copyright law and address Internet piracy, you’ve probably heard about the Senate’s Protect IP Act (PIPA) and the House’s companion bill, Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). These bills are designed to give U.S. Customs enforcement additional powers to respond to piracy of protected materials (like copyrighted works), particularly over the Internet. Both bills have already received a fair amount of press and criticism, which I won’t rehash in this post.
These types of provisions—which essentially side-step normal due process protection mechanisms found in other types of enforcement proceedings in the U.S.—sent industry groups, powerful companies, and individual activists into a frenzy. What these groups haven’t focused on is the fact that unilateral domain seizures are already happening under ICE’s direction.
One recent high-profile seizure illustrates the point. Puerto80’s website, Rojadirecta, had more than 800,000 users, some of whom the government alleges linked to some information that infringed copyrights. ICE concluded that the foreign website can be seized and shut down because the owners may be aiding in criminal copyright infringement that occurs on their sites. (While the DMCA protects third party sites in the U.S. from liability for content that they did not post on the site, it does not protect foreign companies.)
Another popular hip hop blog that was seized about a year ago, Dajaz1, has just been returned to the site owner. The owner publicly stated that record companies and artists provided pre-release music available on the site, but it never had a chance to demonstrate that fact to the government before or after its site was taken away. Nor could its lawyer get access to the secret court file held by a judge in Los Angeles related to its seizure.
These types of shut downs affect First-Amendment protected materials, unprotected speech, and a wealth of other information and activities beyond those that are illegal under U.S. IP laws. And this raises significant concerns about whether ICE really has the legal authority to make these seizures and whether the government is taking steps to ensure that it’s not nabbing sites that haven’t acted illegally.
It’s time for the technology community to start paying attention to ICE’s activities.
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Titan Travel has resumed its UK tours and packages, 450 days after its last departure took place in March 2020.
The brand has revealed that its first UK tour set off on June 6, for an itinerary in the Lake District.
Since then, it’s already welcomed back about 300 holidaymakers – and bookings are going from strength to strength. In fact, the company says that it’s already seeing bookings for 2022 departure selling out “earlier than ever before”.
Andy Squirrell, the firm’s Managing Director, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be able to take customers away again on a Titan holiday to destinations all over the UK. Our first UK tours have all departed successfully and we’re pleased to be receiving such lovely feedback from our customers who have already returned home.
“There’s great energy and excitement across the business and we can’t wait to welcome more and more customers on a Titan holiday soon.”
Currently, the brand is looking to offer over 60 short breaks in the UK through to October, with destinations including Devon, York, the Isle of Wight and Durham. You can check out what’s on offer at titantravel.co.uk.
With ongoing uncertainty around travel abroad, it’s not surprising to see that millions of Brits are opting to have a staycation instead. Hotels, campsites and other tourist accommodation have all seen surges in bookings, not to mention there’s been a significant rise in pet-friendly holidays.
If you’re after a UK break, you may want to check out our UK holidays page which includes heaps of top tips, destination and accommodation ideas, and all the sales and deals we think are worth having on your radar.
You may also want to check out our sister site 2Chill where both locals and holidaymakers have been sharing their top tips for getting the most out of a visit to hotspots – and you can of course share your own recommendations too.
As for holidays abroad? Currently the UK has a traffic lights system which determines if you need to self-isolate or quarantine when you return to the UK. The green list is the quarantine-free offering, although only a handful of countries have made the cut – and only three are actually open to Brits for holidays.
However, Matt Hancock recently said that the government is “working on” plans for quarantine-free travel to amber list countries for Brits who are fully vaccinated against Covid. There are already plenty of amber list countries welcoming vaccinated Brits so it could pave the way for those who have been double jabbed to enjoy getaways.
Meanwhile, Brits have already started to look to 2022 and beyond for post-Covid adventures. Skyscanner has seen a steady rise in searches for 2022 to destinations such as the USA, while cruise lines are noting a surge in bookings for once-in-a-lifetime sailings.
Are you booking a staycation, or holding out in case you can abroad this summer? Let us know in the comments below.


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Future Fifty cloud software company eCommera closes $41m Series C funding round
Venture firm-backed deal marks one of the largest raises in its category
Global software-as-a-service (SaaS) business eCommera has completed a $41m Series C funding round led by venture capital group Dawn Capital and leading investment firms; West Coast Capital, Frog Capital, ePlanet Capital, WPP, and its latest partner, Wti.
Founded in 2007, eCommera specialises in cloud software which combines big data analytics, commerce and order management platforms to provide a “decision intelligence solution” which enables retailers from across the world to sell across any channel, store or warehouse.
Since its launch, it has attracted 70 major brands and retailers across 32 countries including House of Fraser, Asda, Clarins and Brooks Brothers, and was recognised in the government-backed Future Fifty programme as one of the UK leading fast-growth firms.
Its latest investment, one of the largest Series C rounds in a cloud-based business, will be used to advance its development internationally and scale its order revenues, having processed more than $3bn online orders in 2013.
With the retail market currently estimated at $15 trillion, eCommera CEO, Andrew McGregor, discussed the company’s plans:
“We see significant global opportunity as retailers adopt new software and systems to command the next generation experiences and operations. We are already one of the largest cloud-software and service companies in the European market and this investment will enable us to accelerate our global growth, with specific focus on the North American market.”
Norman Fiore, managing partner at Dawn Capital, continued: “A fundamental shift is happening as retailers reconfigure to adopt a multi-channel approach that best meets the needs of today's and tomorrow's shoppers.
“We are delighted that this funding will support the next phase of eCommera’s impressive growth.”


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Facebook’s WhatsApp allows users to control who can add them to group chats
Facebook Inc on Wednesday changed the privacy settings on its WhatsApp messaging platform, allowing users to decide who can add them to chat groups.
The company said the setting will be rolled out today for some users and be available worldwide in the coming weeks.
This announcement comes amidst growing discontent over the world’s largest social network’s approach to privacy and user data as well as increasing concerns over its advertising practices.
The user inviting another to a group will be prompted to send a private invite through an individual chat, giving the recipient the choice of joining the group. The request will expire in three days.


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Selwood pump specialists are gearing up for the Pump Centre Conference in Telford as they join industry leaders from across the water and wastewater sector.
The Selwood Pump Solutions team will be at the major one-day event tomorrow (May 3) and showcasing our industry-leading Super Silent pumps, the quietest on the market and renowned for their reliability.
Leading global pump solutions provider Selwood is proud to announce a new partnership with Van der Ende Group to further strengthen its European markets.
Van der Ende Group becomes the pump distributor for Selwood in The Netherlands and Belgium and will be offering the full range of surface and submersible mobile pumps for rental, sales or servicing. Van der Ende Group, based in Maasdijk and Oss, has been a renowned supplier of technical products for the water technology industries for more than 30 years.
Selwood, the UK’s leading pump rental solutions provider, has unveiled its new S160Eco solids handling pump which delivers increased performance and near-silent operation from an environmentally-friendly engine.
The S160Eco was developed by Selwood to complement its market-leading S range of solids handling pumps, in response to market demand for a unit that reduces emissions without sacrificing performance.


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Federal Action Against Payday Advances Is Picking Right On Up
ACE money Express, 1900 Carpenter Ave., in Diverses Moines, is shown on Aug. 12, 2014. ACE money Express had been fined ten dollars million because of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in July for unlawful business collection agencies strategies.
The customer Financial Protection Bureau, which started supervising the pay day loan industry in January 2012, has started rein in punishment, producing a written report critical for the industry and needing two payday organizations to give refunds and pay million-dollar fines. The bureau also is rules that are drafting could offer further defenses for customers.
The bureau, founded by the Dodd Frank Act of 2010, started running in 2011 july. The bureau supervises consumer financial businesses and that can enforce and write guidelines to limit unfair, deceptive or abusive techniques. Customers can deliver complaints about monetary solutions to the bureau.
After overview of commercial collection agency methods at ACE money Express, a loan that is payday, the bureau announced a July 10 enforcement action requiring the organization to pay for $5 million in refunds and a $5 million penalty.
Between 2011 and 2012 ACE utilized unlawful commercial collection agency techniques including harassment and threatening lawsuits or extra fees to pressure borrowers to settle overdue balances by firmly taking down brand brand new loans, in line with the bureau’s findings. Just the duration between 2011 and 2012 had been examined.
Customers who had been subject to these collection techniques making re re payments to ACE between March 7, 2011, and 12, 2012, are potentially eligible for refunds, a bureau spokesperson said in an email to IowaWatch september.
Richard Cordray, manager associated with customer Financial Protection Bureau
At the time of July, ACE money Express had five active licensed storefronts in Iowa, documents through the Iowa Division of Banking show. A 2006 grievance registered against an authorized ACE storefront in Mason City shows strategies much like those criticized because of the bureau, suggesting the tactics stretched beyond the time scale studied by the bureau. A customer said the company told her employer, friends and neighbors about her debts and threatened criminal prosecution in the complaint.
The fine against ACE had been the bureau’s second action against a payday lender. In November, the bureau ordered Cash America to pay for $19 million in refunds and fines after it absolutely was discovered to own:
Matthew Covington, an organizer with Iowa people for Community Improvement, said people of their company and its particular affiliate that is National People’s Action, came across because of the bureau’s manager and staff to talk about ideas for brand new rules for payday lenders currently under development because of the bureau. Three rules the companies recommended are:
Matthew Covington, an organizer with Iowa people for Community Improvement
“They cannot cap interest levels, that will be what we are pressing for in the state level. But this will get a long distance to|way that is long addressing probably the most predatory facets of the industry,” said Covington, who may have worked with towns on ordinances and contains worked into the Iowa legislature to get regulations.
Throughout a press occasion for the bureau’s report on payday lending, Director Richard Cordray stated that while research showed a need when it comes to small-dollar, short term installment loans supplied by payday lenders, “loan payday loans Kansas items which regularly lead consumers into debt traps needs to have room inside their everyday lives.”
Cordray additionally said the agency ended up being “in the late phases of our factors” of brand new guidelines to reform the pay day loan market, based on remarks posted by the bureau.
Covington said the bureau’s rule-making procedure calls for the drafted rule to be reviewed by way of a small company guideline review committee, a three-month procedure, before becoming general public. He stated he hoped to understand general public version of any proposed lending that is payday by very early 2015.
“Lacking state or federal legislation, this is actually the most useful opportunity to simply take,” Covington stated.
He stated getting an all three guidelines passed away will be hard, but stated because the bureau is consumers that are data-driven experienced difficulties with pay day loans may help by publishing complaints.


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According to a report released by the UN, India’s projected economic growth for 2022 has been reduced by more than 2% to 4.6 percent, a decrease attributed to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with New Delhi expected to face restraints on energy access and prices, reactions to trade sanctions, food inflation, tightening policies, and financial instability.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) study reduced its global economic growth forecast for 2022 to 2.6 percent from 3.6 percent owing to shocks from the Ukraine crisis and changes in macroeconomic policies that put poor nations in particular at risk.
While Russia is anticipated to enter a serious recession this year, considerable economic slowdowns are expected in portions of Western Europe, Central, South, and South-East Asia, according to the analysis. UNCTAD has lowered India’s growth outlook to 4.6 percent in 2022 from 6.7% in 2022.
According to the paper, while some other economies in South and Western Asia may profit from the rapid increases in energy demand and pricing, they will be limited by adversities in primary commodities markets, particularly food inflation, and will be further harmed by underlying financial instability.
“India, in particular, will face restraints on several fronts: energy access and prices, primary commodity bottlenecks, reflexes from trade sanctions, food inflation, tightening policies, and financial instability,” it said.
According to the report, the United States’ GDP growth rate has been reduced from 3% to 2.4%. China’s growth rate would also fall to 4.8 percent from 5.7 percent. According to the estimate, Russia will enter a deep recession, with growth slowing from 2.3 percent to -7.3 percent.
According to the report, the sanctions put severe external restraints on the Russian economy. While Russia continues to export oil and gas and will thus experience commensurate gains in revenue owing to high prices, sanctions significantly limit the use of foreign exchange revenues for the purchase of imports or debt servicing.
Russia will face an acute shortage of a wide variety of imported products, rising inflation, and a significantly weakened currency. While the government will most likely try to soften the blow and prevent unemployment and household income declines, its power is limited.
“Trade with China and some other partners will continue, but they will not be able to provide substitutes for the wide range of imported goods that the Russian Federation currently cannot access. Assuming the sanctions remain in place through 2022, even if the fighting in Ukraine ends, Russia will experience a severe recession,” it said.
According to the research, a number of developing-country central banks have also participated in quantitative easing, which is the active purchase of bonds on the open market.


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I just posted the article Sharp announces high-speed light absorbent element, 16x DVD recording.
GristyMcFisty lets us know that some
days ago Sharp Japan posted a press release in which the company announces a new high-speed OPIC light
absorbent element, the GA301TXW1MZ, with which…
Read the full article here: [http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/6801-Sharp-announces-high-speed-light-absorbent-element-16x-DVD-recording.html](http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/6801-Sharp-announces-high-speed-light-absorbent-element-16x-DVD-recording.html) Feel free to add your comments below. Please note that the reactions from the complete site will be synched below.


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Every week, The Sybarite collates its pick of the hottest luxury lifestyle news into bite size chunks. In this week’s edition, we cover The 69th Primetime Emmys, Wringer & Mangle and Hopper’s opening their second restaurants in London and Australian cult doughnut store Doughnut Time announcing the launch of their first UK Store on Shaftesbury Avenue next month.
Hopper’s arrives at St Christopher’s Place
After the success of the SoHo restaurant, Hopper’s have headed to St Christopher’s Place. Head down for traditional Sri Lankan food with a modern twist in this stunning location. Enjoy the short eats and snacking menu, or go all out and head down with a group of friends and indulge in the feasting menu.
Wringer and Mangle open 2nd restaurant
2 years after the opening of the first Wringer and Mangle in Hackney, they have now expanded and moved to Aldgate and are continuing on the legacy of impeccable bottomless prosecco brunches. On Sundays, you will be able to get a roast dinner, which is accompanied by Pigs in Blankets on the side – which is imperative to a classic roast dinner! The mix of retro and mismatched furniture and modern artwork and photography make Wringer and Mangle one of the hottest and most instagrammable breakfast haunts.
Doughnut time announce Shaftesbury Avenue location
Australian cult Doughnut Time has announced the opening of its new London flagship store on Shaftesbury Avenue. With a new menu each week it is certain not to disappoint and withy quirky names such as Oreana Grande (it’s mega sized and comes loaded with Oreos) and the Slim Shady (topped with M&M’s)
The 69th Primetime Emmys
On Sunday, the 96th Primetime Emmys were hosted by Stephen Colbert and led to some big wins from Big Little Lies and The Handmaid’s Tale. Also picking up awards were Donald Glover for his work on Atlanta, Saturday Night Live and Veep


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MONTREAL– Belden has announced that its Telecast Fiber Systems product line will be branded with its Miranda Technologies brand starting Jan. 1, 2013.
Belden acquired Telecast, a provider of fiber-optic camera to control connectivity and remote control capabilities technology in 2009, and Miranda Technologies, a provider of production, playout and delivery systems to the broadcast industry, earlier this year. At IBC, the company announced its future brand integration strategy, announcing that Telecast would become a featured product brand under the Miranda umbrella. The company said the combined product line would provide an all encompassing production and distribution solution for the broadcast and production communities.
“Our rapid integration of Telecast products goes far beyond a simple branding change,” said Marco Lopez, president of Miranda. “Just a few months after our acquisition by Belden, we’re providing our customers with seamless access to Telecast solutions, transitioning not only product development but also sales, customer service and technical support. We’ll leverage our combined resources to continue improving services for our customers.”
Customers can continue to contact existing sales and marketing contacts and access information about Telecast atwww.telecast-fiber.com. All product information will be available at www.miranda.com after Jan. 1, 2013.
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The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals that inflation experienced a decline to 5.6 percent during the 12-month period ending in May. This figure represents a decrease from April’s 6.8 percent and falls below the market’s anticipated rise of 6.1 percent.
This increase occurs just prior to the upcoming decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) regarding interest rates next week. It instills optimism for a potential break in the series of rate hikes, as the cash rate reached 4.1 percent in June.
According to the ABS, notable price increases were observed in categories such as furnishings, household equipment, and services (+6.0 percent), food and non-alcoholic beverages (+7.9 percent), as well as housing (+8.4 percent).
In contrast to those increases, there was an 8 percent drop in the price of automotive fuel, accompanied by marginal upticks across a variety of goods and services.
Michelle Marquardt, the Head of Prices Statistics at the ABS, commented that the 5.6 percent yearly increase represents the lowest level observed since April of the previous year.
“While prices have kept rising for most goods and services, many increases were smaller than we have seen in recent months,” she said.
By excluding items that demonstrate volatile price changes from the headline Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation, a more reliable measure of underlying inflation is obtained.
“When excluding these volatile items, the decline in inflation is more modest,” Ms Marquardt said. “The annual increase for the monthly CPI indicator was 6.4 per cent in May, slightly lower than the rise of 6.5 per cent recorded in April and down from a peak of 7.3 per cent in December 2022.”
Items prone to volatility, such as automotive fuel, fruit and vegetables, and holiday travel, exhibited significant fluctuations on a monthly basis.
According to the ABS, housing costs experienced a notable increase of 8.4 percent in May, although it was slightly lower compared to the April surge of 8.9 percent. However, rents continued to rise during this period. Food and non-alcoholic beverages were yet another sector where prices surged ahead, registering a significant increase of 7.9 percent in the 12-month period ending in May. Bread and cereal products (+12.8 percent) as well as dairy and related products (+15.1 percent) were notable contributors to the substantial price increases observed in the food sector.
According to Ms. Marquardt, the 8 percent decline in the cost of automotive fuel over the past year masked significant price fluctuations.
“The annual movement for automotive fuel remains volatile, partly reflecting price changes from 12 months ago. Annually automotive fuel prices fell 8.0 per cent in May, compared to a rise of 9.5 per cent in April.”
Holiday travel and accommodation experienced a 7.3 percent increase in the 12-month period ending in May, marking a decrease from the April rise of 11.9 percent.
Following the low annual inflation figure, there was a resurgence in shares, with the ASX surging over 1 percent by noon. This development precedes the upcoming RBA board meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, during which the decision on whether to raise rates for the 13th time since last May will be made.


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Vanceburg Police Sgt. Joe Paul Gilbert is investigating the theft of a vehicle from Ideal Wheels Auto Sales when a man pretending to be a car dealer took it for a test drive and never returned it.
“We have a suspect in the case and he apparently has done this a number of times,” said Gilbert. “Each time he leaves the vehicle from the previous theft when he takes one for a test drive and doesn’t return.”
Gilbert said Ideal Wheels owner Kenny McCann reported the suspect drove onto his lot on Ky. Rt. 8 in Vanceburg and stated he was a car dealer from Ohio.
“The suspect reportedly told Mr. McCann he would like to test drive a vehicle and then drove off in a 2008 Ford Edge and didn’t return,” Gilbert said.


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Amazon Prime Day 2018, aka the biggest online sales event of the summer, begins on Monday, July 16, at 3 p.m. and will continue through Tuesday, July 17, for a total of 36 hours. With such a time limit, you'll want to have a game plan before blinding scrolling through the endless pages of products that range from skincare to electronics. Aside from knowing which items you want right now, you'll also want to understand which deals are really worth your money. According to finance and business news site Market Watch, not all deals are as good as they seem.
Due to the success of Amazon Prime Day, other retailers have begun offering discounts during the summer as well, advertising "Black Friday in July" sales promotions. While some may save you money, others won't beat the deals available on actual Black Friday in November or even December, when greater savings are possible near the holidays.
With so many competing deals and potential savings on the table, Market Watch spoke to experts from savings websites RetailMeNot and BestBlackFriday to find out which deals you should prioritize on Amazon Prime Day and which you should avoid. Find out exactly which products to skip and which to seek out on Amazon Prime Day 2018, according to Market Watch.
What Not to Buy
Items From Third-Party Sales on Amazon
What to Buy
Subscription Services From Amazon, Such as Audible
It seems as though Amazon will offer the best deals on their own products, so when in doubt, turn to the retailer's electronics and home décor brands for the most savings. For more information on how the deals stack up, head to Market Watch.


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MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Toyota has long been a name of automotive reliability and excellence. Add to that the concern and caring of the staff at Manhattan Beach Toyota and you have the opportunity to post a “win” on all fronts,
Right now, Manhattan Beach Toyota is offering drivers in the area special discounts and financing on select 2021 Toyota models. All of these models can be found at Manhattan Beach Toyota, and these deals do not last forever. Interested drivers are encouraged to take advantage this weekend and definitely before March 1st.
Manhattan Beach Toyota drivers can find exclusive APR and lease specials on the 2021 Toyota Camry LE, the 2021 Venza LE, and the 2021 Corolla Le.
The 2021 Camry LE is available as a lease for $249 a month for 36 months, with only $1,999 due at signing. Drivers can also get a 1.9% APR for 60 months on the 2021 Toyota Camry LE model.


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Nutritional options that support both physical and emotional wellbeing are thriving
June 8, 2021
There’s a growing emphasis on mental and emotional wellbeing as consumers take a more holistic approach to health. That’s why Innova Market Insights identified “Mood: The Next Occasion,” as one of its Top Trends for 2021.
The new ready to drink beverage is lightly caffeinated with Assam black tea and is naturally sugar free
June 2, 2021
Alchemyze released Adaptogenic Chai Concentrate and ready-to-drink Adaptogenic Chai Latte. Adaptogenic Chai Concentrate Spiced Black is lightly caffeinated with Assam black tea and naturally sugar free.
The recent explosion in consumer interest in health has led to a substantial jump in demand and sales of better-for-you foods and beverages. And, as consumers seek products with ingredients that can deliver added benefits for immune system health, they are expressing their preferences for natural solutions. Plant-based protections and remedies are an undeniable part of this trend.
Ringing in the New Year is a time for reflection and re-evaluation of life choices. Many consumers start by setting goals for self-improvement to make the coming year better than the last. After a tremulous 2020, improving overall health and wellness is at the top of the list.
The new line features whole-plant efficacious herbs to support physical, emotional and mental health
February 24, 2021
Numi Organic Tea announced the launch of its new Stay Healthy Line. Featuring efficacious plants like echinacea, elderberry, dandelion root, kanna leaf and burdock root, the line contains potent herbal blends developed to support immunity, combat common cold symptoms, and help users relax during a time when consumers are increasingly seeking out physical and emotional wellbeing.
Instant beverages are fortified with vitamins, adaptogens and MCTs
February 17, 2021
Inspired by the needs of elite Mount Everest climbers, Adrian Ballinger and Cory Richards, Alpine Start worked closely with both athletes to help formulate the company's newest line of instant beverages fortified with vitamins, adaptogens and MCTs.
As a zero-calorie, zero-sugar sparkling water formulated to suit three separate need occasions, Veryvell targets consumers with wellness in mind, says Truss CBD USA general manager Jane Armstrong Hockman.
Truss CBD USA, a joint venture majority owned by Molson Coors Beverage Company and operated in partnership with HEXO Corp, has launched Veryvell, a new line of non-alcoholic, sparkling CBD beverages, exclusively in Colorado.
AIDP signs sales, distribution agreement for Functional Fungi organic mushroom nutraceuticals
January 13, 2021
AIDP, Inc. is pleased to announce an exclusive sales distribution agreement for Functional Fungi™ organic mushroom nutraceuticals. Functional Fungi offers a full line of certified organic, multi-patented mushroom powders produced in its US-based, large scale indoor growing, drying and manufacturing operation.
Recent events have not only driven consumers to seek ways of staying healthy but pulled the mental health side of mind-body wellness to the forefront. The stress of having lives and routines (and incomes) disrupted, illnesses threatening or even invading the family, and social isolation has led to an unprecedented 40% of US adults reporting that they’re struggling with mental health problems.


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ANTIGA AND BARBUDA AT CHTA MARKETPLACE 2019Thursday 31st January 2019
Antigua and Barbuda Share Positive News of Destination Growth at 2019 CHTA Caribbean Travel Marketplace
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Team, led by Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority CEO, Colin C. James, with Norrell Joseph, US Sales Officer and key suppliers at the 2019 Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Travel Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The event is the region’s largest and most significant marketing forum, and was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre from January 29 – January 31, 2019. The premier annual event, attended by over 1,200 hoteliers, tourist boards, tour operators, suppliers and attractions, offers participants the opportunity to gather for high-impact, one-on-one business meetings, knowledge sharing and networking. The Antigua and Barbuda delegation was able to connect in one place with top airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, OTAs and media houses, and share the positive story of finishing a record-breaking year in arrivals, with increasing airlift, and various property openings. Key stakeholders and tour operators from North America and Europe expressed optimism about the prospects for growth in 2019 and beyond. At a press conference, CEO James shared critical updates with travel and trade media from the US, Canada, UK, Europe and Caribbean.
Click here for all News and Specials for Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority


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Here's a primer and a workout plan for getting your credit union's social media presence in shape.
As far as which social media channel reigns supreme, years later the answer remains it depends.
Mobility Matters is by veteran tech reporter Robert McGarvey. This week's topics include launches in New York, Texas and some thoughts about RDC.
Santa may have left a lot of tablets under Christmas trees last December, and for marketers, that could mean unwrapping a new opportunity.
There’s a special kind of member we’ve heard a lot about recently. They’re the types who come in for a car loan or a credit card or, more recently, move their money from a big bank to a credit union. And after that initial transaction, they go quiet.
SAN ANTONIO —Security expert warns of dangers of TMI on social media, notes that credit unions pay for members' follies.
With an eye out for deals and promotions, a fourth of credit card holders in a recent survey said they have become a friend, fan or follower of their card issuer or brand.
Three years ago, when the financial situations of many Americans began heading for a fall, the New York City-based, $1.6 billion, 320,000-member Municipal Credit Union took the opportunity to advertise how its services could help consumers manage their struggles.
Survey finds Facebook dominant channel and deals and promotions the primary motivator.
WASHINGTON — His predecessor had to lay people off and fight congressional efforts to dramatically increase the regulatory burden on credit unions.


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Remember the Bernard Matthews scandal of 2007 and how imported turkey meat may have brought HN51 into the UK? And the horsemeat burgers of 2013 – which was more likely to give you the trots etc? Well it seems Farming Minister George Eustice has beaten his former DEFRA stablemate Owen Paterson to the post in the debate on food labelling.
Baking a Pie in the UK using processed meat ingredients from several countries will still qualify as ‘Made in Britain’.
Despite Owen’s pledge to impose mandatory ‘country of origin’ labelling it now looks likely that new EU rules in 2015 will be significantly watered-down. The UK initially proposed all meat foodstuffs – unprocessed and processed – should be labelled with their country of origin. But now, after sustained lobbying of DEFRA by food processors it seems likely processed food will be exempted from the new regulations. Processors will not be obliged to say where their meat ingredients originate from, which is just as well as it could be from a dozen or so countries. Baking a Pie in the UK using processed meat ingredients from several countries will still qualify as ‘Made in Britain’ which of course reads much better to consumers than ‘Assembled in Britain’. After a series of meetings with the British Meat Processors Association Mr Eustice has informed the EU that: ‘National labelling….would place an unnecessary financial burden on business’.
Mr Eustice’s change of heart has been hailed as a victory by dodgy EU abattoirs and processors who are heaving a sigh of relief. Not so the advisors to David Cameron who stated in 2007: ‘Food can be imported to Britain, processed here, and subsequently labelled in a way that suggests it’s genuinely British. That is completely wrong.’ He even launched an ‘Honest Food Campaign’ pledging compulsory labelling for food origins. But that was when he was in opposition and 3 years away from leading a coalition government.
Meurig Raymond, the president of the National Farmers Union said: ‘I find this very strange behaviour from our ministers’. Peter Melchett, policy director of the Soil Association, accused DEFRA of allowing business to dictate policy, saying: ‘Owen Paterson and his ministers are saying all the right things, but there is a gap between the rhetoric and what gets done. So who is pulling the strings?’
Who knows – but of course it will still be an offence to inaccurately describe a product e.g. a ‘beef and onion’ pie which actually contains horsemeat. But provided the contents are hygienically-processed and therefore wholesome to eat such mislabelling is only a descriptive failure so unlikely to result in anything more than a slap on the wrist for the producer.
Processed foods comprise a significant part of the estimated 3.4 million tonnes of food wasted every year in the UK food processing, packaging and distribution industries before it even reaches retailers and restaurants.
After it does an additional 400,000 tonnes are discarded by UK retailers whilst still edible.
The ‘All Party Parliamentary inquiry into Hunger and Food Poverty’ chaired by Frank Field MP reported as much last month and showed how many of those 800 million would-be meals are then converted into ‘Biogas’. Fermenting edible food waste into biofuel and hence electricity is encouraged by £30 million of subsidy from the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The Committee then illustrated how non-subsidised organisations such as ‘FareShare’ – distributors of surplus food to Foodbanks – have to charge £100/tonne to collect it from supermarkets, so are losing-out to biogas producers.
Frank called the system ‘Madness on stilts’ and the Committee called for changes to the system of subsidies. That in turn highlighted the incentives offered by HM Government to meet the ‘15% electricity from renewables’ target for 2020. Food waste has now become part of the wider argument for and against subsidising otherwise-uneconomical ‘renewable’ generation such as windfarms.
This shameful waste has been known for a long time but Frank hopes to ramp up the pressure on processors, wholesalers and retailers to produce less waste and then offer what’s left to worthy causes. OK, some retailers do donate to FareShare but industry-wide this represents less than 2% of waste – a token gesture. Tesco have confirmed 68% of it’s bagged salads and 48% of it’s bakery goods are discarded.
He lived solely off the contents of supermarket and restaurant skips during a 3-month, 1,900 mile odyssey.
Meanwhile 25-year old, Bordeaux-born cyclist Baptiste Dubanchet has perfected his skip-diving skills whilst scavenging his way across Europe. To highlight the scandal of food waste he lived solely off the contents of supermarket and restaurant skips during a 3-month, 1,900 mile odyssey pedalling through France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic and Poland. He looks none the worse for it and you can follow his blog: ‘La Faim du Monde’ at www.lafaimdumonde2014.com Monsieur Dubanchet is supported by the likes of Mary McGrath from British charity, FoodCyclewww.foodcycle.org.uk She points out that 4 million of the UK’s 62 million residents now live in ‘food poverty’ which she says: ‘…shouldn’t co-exist in the same community as food waste’.
Good point Mary. It would be interesting to learn in which country Baptiste would most likely starve to death. Probably Germany, because according to EU statistics authority Eurostat Deutchsland is the EU’s top recycler at 65% whilst Britain achieves 43.9% and France recycles just 39%. Baptiste would be far better off in Romania which recycles just 1% of it’s waste. But hang on – isn’t that where all the horsemeat came from?


text: Filson, a U.S. outdoor and outerwear brand founded during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897, has appointed Paolo Corinaldesi as the company’s new CEO, effective immediately. Corinaldesi joins Filson as part of his role at WP Lavori, an international licensee, distributor and retailer of apparel brands that invested in Filson last year. Corinaldesi most recently served as global strategist at WP Lavori, working with Blundstone, Baracuta and Barbour. Before that, he was CEO of Woolrich International, where he led the merger of the brand’s U.S. and European businesses and oversaw the brand’s retail network development. As Filson’s new CEO, he will focus on operations, finance and distribution. Filson expects to further accelerate its recent growth, which it says has been driven by a loyal customer base, e-commerce and dynamic retail spaces. In 2021, the company plans to focus on international expansion and new product offerings.


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Airlines ground hoverboards: Delta, United and American ban devices from check-in AND carry-on baggage over fears they could catch fire mid-flight
- Hoverboards are one of this year's most in-demand Christmas presents
- But dozens of users have filmed the devices catching fire or exploding
- Now three of America's biggest airlines have banned them from planes
- The fourth, Southwest, is believed to be considering similar measures
- Ban will likely disappoint thousands of travelers hoping to take the boards to a loved-one's house over the holidays
They were supposed to be this year's hottest holiday gift - but it seems that hoverboards are making an increasingly bad name for themselves.
Costing anywhere between $200 and $2,000, customers have complained that the boards - which don't actually hover but are propelled by wheels - are prone to catching fire.
Now, U.S. airlines Delta, American and United have all decided to ban the devices from both carry-on and check-in luggage over fears they could burst into flames mid-flight.
American, Delta and United airlines have all announced that passengers are banned from bringing hoverboards on to flight in both check-in and carry-on luggage over fears they could catch fire
United's ban comes into effect today, while Delta's will take effect tomorrow and American will follow suit by Saturday - meaning three of the U.S.'s four largest carriers have outlawed the boards
The announcements today mean that three of America's four largest carriers have now outlawed the boards from being taken on to their aircraft just in time for the holidays.
The fourth airline, Southwest, still allows customers to pack the boards on in carry-on, but is thought to be considering a ban after a spokesman said the company is 'discussing the topic further'.
United said its ban will take effect immediately, while Delta's ban takes effect Friday, and American's on Saturday.
Smaller carriers such as Alaska, Virgin America, Hawaiian, Spirit and Allegiant have already barred customers from taking hoverboards on to their planes.
The news will likely come as a blow to thousands of festive flyers who have the item as a gift and were hoping to take it with them to see relatives.
The boards, which cost between $200 and $2,000, are one of this year's most popular Christmas gifts but have repeatedly been filmed catching fire and exploding
It is believed that a fault with the lithium-ion batteries fitted inside the boards is causing them to overheat and catch fire, possibly because manufacturers have bypassed safety measures or the units were damaged
In some cases, people have reported that their entire houses have been burned down thanks to the boards after they were left on charge while the owners were out
While the exact cause of the fires is not known, users have reported that the boards started burning while on charge or being used.
That suggests the fault lies with their lithium-ion batteries, which can overheat and cause fires.
Millions of devices, from laptops to phones and e-cigarettes, are fitted with the batteries which are preferred to older nickel-cadmium units because they are more powerful, last longer, and do not develop a 'memory' if not fully charged each time.
While the batteries are perfectly safe if undamaged and wired properly, there is concern that some hoverboards are being manufactured incorrectly, leaving them at risk.
Good quality devices have special circuits that prevent the batteries from overheating or being overcharged, dramatically reducing the chance of catastrophic failure.
However, poorly manufactured, non-branded units, often from China, usually do not have these additional safety systems.
Also, if a lithium ion battery is damaged, it can short-circuit and lead to a meltdown. So it is very important that the battery is properly protected.
The problem is not just limited to the U.S. either, after the London Fire Brigade posted this image of a hoverboard which caught fire inside someone's home
While lithium-ion batteries are fitted into millions of electrical devices, from phones to e-cigarettes, they are usually safe unless the device has been wired incorrectly or has been damaged
A poorly manufactured battery can undergo a 'thermal runaway' - where a simple malfunction causes head inside the device to increase exponentially, leading to a meltdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration has urged airlines to tell passengers not to pack spare batteries in checked bags because they can ignite and cause a fire in the cargo compartment.
Once one battery catches fire, that can cause batteries in surrounding devices to overheat and burst into flames as well.
More than a dozen airlines around the world have stopped accepting bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries over fears of fires.
Electrical fires are difficult to extinguish, requiring a blanket or CO2 extinguisher rather than water, and emit toxic fumes which can damage the lungs.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating at least 10 reports of hoverboard fires, some of which were captured on video.
Spokeswoman Patty Davis called it a high-priority investigation because of the scooter's popularity.
'We know consumers are giving it as a gift during the holidays,' she said. 'We are working all across the country to move our investigation into the fires forward as quickly as possible.'
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Hunches, predictions and gut feelings about what’s next from Google.
Pixel season is upon us, as Google prepares to show off next-gen hardware across several categories this coming Wednesday, October 4. It’ll also be the sixth Google fall hardware launch I’ve covered (either in person or remotely), the first being the venerable Samsung Galaxy Nexus back in 2011.
Usually that’d give you a fair bit of perspective — background knowledge to help you see what’s coming next from the company. But Google is also notoriously unpredictable when it comes to hardware, as evidenced by the sudden pivot towards Pixel and the “made by Google” brand in 2016.
Nevertheless, as we approach launch day, there’s just enough time for me to dedicate a Sunday column to what I’m expecting.
So here goes…
New Pixel phones and a new Android version
Because of course.
We’ll get an HTC-made miniature Pixel and an LG-built biggie Pixel, and you can read all about what’s rumoured for both over here. The short version: This year the Pixel 2 XL will be the more interesting of the two, as Google moves away from the design and internal hardware symmetry of the previous generation. The baby Pixel will be a second-class citizen, with a 16:9 screen and chunky bezels.
Google should also push out a new version of Android for the Pixels, and who this may even be exclusive to the new phones until sometime later in the year, a la Android 7.1 last year. A good predictor of future Android versions is traffic to Android Central and our forums, and right now in our analytics we’re seeing small spikes from Android 8.1.0, and nothing from 8.0.1.
In the Android world, a .1 version bump usually means a new API level, which means new stuff for developers to get to grips with. (Though last year the


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What will 2021 bring for the global economy? Projections from the United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Trade Organization (WTO) say the following five things just might happen.
The world is slowly getting older. Longer lifespans combined with falling fertility rates mean the world’s typical person gets a little older each year. In 2021, the global median is expected to hit 31 for the first time in recorded history, according to projections from the United Nations. An older world means a higher share of global spending on health care, and less on child care.
For a good example of how the world’s population is shifting, look no further than Tanzania and Italy. From 1995 to 2020, Tanzania’s population more than doubled from 30 million to 60 million people. In 2021, the UN projects that Tanzania will become the world’s 23rd most populous country, surpassing Italy, where the population has begun to decline due to low birth rates. These countries represent the broader trend of Africa’s population increasing fastest among the world’s continents, while Europe’s remains stagnant.
Global GDP is set to hit $90 trillion, according to estimates from the IMF. The IMF projects that after at after a 4.4% dip in 2020, the global economy will grow by 5.2% in inflation-adjusted terms. The $90 trillion is not adjusted for inflation, but is still a useful number for putting economic metrics in perspective. For example, Microsoft had a $1.6 trillion valuation at the time of writing, meaning it is worth almost 1.8% of all of the money that will be spent next year.
IMF projections suggest that an increasing share of global GDP will move to Asia in 2021. It estimates that “emerging and developing” countries in Asia, like China, India, and Malaysia, will grow by 8%, compared to 3.9% for “advanced economies,” such as the US, Germany, and Japan.
One of the most countries most representative of a rising Asian economy is Bangladesh. It’s the only country in the world expected to grow by more than 2% in both 2020 and 2021. The country’s continued growth is driven by its textile manufacturing industry and will likely result in its GDP per capita to surge past that of Pakistan, the country it declared independence from in 1971.
The WTO expects global trade volumes to fall by 9.2% from 2019 to 2020, but then bounce back with 7.2% growth in 2021. This would still mean an overall fall in trade volumes over the two years. Even before the pandemic, global trade was declining primarily due to a combination of trade tensions between the US and China and falling oil exports.
Vietnam is bucking the trend. The IMF projects that its exports will drop 3% in 2020 and then soar by 15% in 2021, exceeding $300 billion for the first time (before adjusting for inflation). As recently as 2014, Vietnam exported less than Malaysia and Thailand, but it has already far surpassed them and is expected to further expand the gap between them. Vietnam’s trade growth is from exports of electronics and apparel to the US and China.


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KUALA LUMPUR (April 6): Gartner Inc expects end-user device spending to continue to rise and forecasts an increase of 7% in 2018 despite the performance of shipments of devices fluctuating year over year.
In a statement today, Gartner research director Ranjit Atwal said this is driven by better specifications despite increasing costs of average selling prices for devices, which rose by 9.1% in 2017.
"This trend will continue through this year, where we expect prices will increase by 5.6%," said Atwal.
Gartner said that after a decline of 3% in 2017, worldwide shipments of devices such as PCs, tablets and mobile phones are forecast to return to growth (+1.3%) in 2018 and will total 2.3 billion units.
"Despite PC prices increasing 4.6% in 2018, PC market unit demand, driven by business buying, is stabilising through 2018. The traditional PC market will decline 3.9% in units in 2018, and is expected to decline a further 3.6% during 2019," it added.
Meanwhile, Gartner forecasts that global mobile phone shipments will increase 1.6% in 2018, with total mobile phone sales amounting to almost 1.9 billion units.


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Hello Nacho Readers and welcome to another Round up of odd news found on the internet. It is November 9th, so besides making it through Halloween and Midterm elections (for us Americans anyway) we are back and here again! *looks for the open bag of Kitkats*
Colorado voters may approve an amendment to their state’s Constitution that would abolish all forms of slavery. A similar amendment was narrowly defeated two years ago.
CNN has a story about how the state abolished slavery once and for all with a vote. Colorado’s state constitution actually left a loophole saying that slavery and servitude in the state were allowed if it was a punishment for a crime. Voters helped fix that issue. Slavery in all forms is now illegal in the state. Glad they fixed that!
Ryanair says it has sacked six employees for allegedly staging a photo of themselves sleeping on the floor at Malaga Airport in Spain in October.
CNN also has the story of a Ryanair flight clew being fired over a photo they took in the airport. There was an issue and it was going to have the flight staying most of the night, so the crew thought it was a good idea to pose for a picture of them pretending the sleep on the airport floor. The photo was posted and went viral. Ryanair didn’t seem to please with that!
Soranews 24 has the story of a video showing a poor guy just trying to walk to work and he gets attacked by a wild boar! Poor guy is knocked right off his feet and onto the pavement. He seems to be okay but THERE is a story to tell your boss when you punch that clock a little late!
Facebook is wading into the brick and mortar retail world, with shops that will spotlight small businesses using Facebook and Instagram to grow sales.
NBC News has the story that social media website Facebook is now branching into retail. The 100 or so smaller “Pop Up” stores mainly carry smaller items. Most of the items featured in these stores are from small marketers that usually use social media to help their business. That a good idea and hope it goes well!
Most of us wish we’d spent less on things like cars, clothes and dining out in order to save. So why don’t we?
NBC also has this story on overspending and not only do people buy things they probably shouldn’t but ways into getting people to stop! A month or so before Christmas is interesting timing for this article to come out, but there are a lot of things people could cut back on to save some of that money.
“Cagaster of an Insect Cage,” “Trese” and “Yasuke,” featuring the voice of Lakeith Stanfield, round out streamer’s new anime slate
Thewrap has some news Especially interesting if you are an anime fan like me. Netflix announced 5 news original anime projects coming to its service. Japanese Anime fans are usually open to new ideas so This will be met and tried out by someone. With the Japanese Animation business getting a big bite taken out of it by bootlegging and illegal streams, this is an idea I hope has some legs to it and takes off like many of the Netflix originals seen in the states.
Square Enix announces an “extraordinary loss” amid major changes on the Final Fantasy team; get all the details here.
Some bad news from Gamespot for video game fans as it was announced that the planned Downloadable Content for the Final Fantasy 15 game will be cut. It was planned to have four different DLC missions for the game, but 3 of the 4 have been canceled. The parent company behind the game, Square Enix posted a $33 Million loss in its earnings report. The company said it will shift it’s focus to AAA titles.
“They like to cuddle and even sleep together,” a North Carolina caretaker says of a recently rescued emu and donkey. “We can’t separate them.”
And NPR will finish the Round Up this week with a story that an Emu and a small Donkey on a farm have fallen in love! The pair lived on a farm in Kershaw, S.C., Carolina and the Male Donkey and the female Emu bonded during that time and become close. There have been attempts to separate the two so they can be relocated but that only made them upset. It is going to be an issue when you try to figure out what to do with the pair, but they are close and we all could use a little togetherness now that the election has passed.
And with that, we bring to a close another week of interesting news stories for you all to read. Hope things treat you well and remember to keep your eyes open and keep reading!


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Financial assistant Cleo raises $80m to support Gen Z
The money app meets AI chatbot with “roast mode” and pizza cursors has helped more than four million young people manage their finances.
Gen-Z “digital assistant” Cleo has raised $80m Series C to double down on the US market and continue helping young people's financial health and wellbeing.
The money management app is designed to support and empower young people to form better money habits throughout their financial lives, “from their first paycheque to their first home”.
Cleo believes it can change the trajectory of millions of people’s financial lives by reaching them at the start of their journey with clear and simple guidance.
“It’s harder than ever for [Gen Zers] to get ahead – particularly as the price of everything continues to increase – and yet this audience continues to be neglected, or worse, exploited, by the traditional financial services industry,” Cleo founder and CEO Barnaby Hussey-Yeo said.
“We’re here to provide personalised financial support and guidance to these young people, giving them a helping hand as they seek to better manage their finances, build their credit profile and weather the storm caused by the cost-of-living crisis.”
The investment will go towards Cleo’s continued US growth, including expanding its headcount from 140 to more than 220.
Despite being a British startup, the company has focused on the US market since launching there in 2019.
Cleo says it has deliberately gone on a US-first growth strategy to “displace traditional US financial services providers that make excessive profits by charging customers unfair and unnecessary fees”.
It now has more than four million users and annual recurring revenue of $30m.
“The goal is to build an enduring, trusted relationship with this audience – by speaking their language and giving them financial services support tailored to their unique needs and circumstances,” Hussey-Yeo added.
“It’s a huge market opportunity and one that, thanks to this raise, we’re well-placed to capitalise upon.”
The Series C round was led by Belgian investment company Sofina, supported by participation from existing investors including EQT Ventures and Balderton Capital.


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SeaTec’s 24/7 operation centre is open for business
SeaTec has launched a new operations hub providing service to customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Aimed at improving the customer experience, the centre will support SeaTec globally by drawing on the expertise of our subject matter experts located at our sites internationally. The new centre will also see all enquiries directed to a single email address and phone number, meaning customers will have one point of contact going forward. This new streamlined process means that SeaTec can respond faster to enquiries, allowing the organisation to quickly reach a solution that benefits customers, their vessel and their business.
Tino Rizzo, Director of Inspections, Repairs and Maintenance at SeaTec, said of the new centre: “Our new 24/7 centre is a huge step forward for SeaTec as a business. To my knowledge no-one in the market has a similar set-up with the range, extent and footprint of services that we provide, which is recognised by many of our clients.
“We’ve achieved this thanks to the enthusiasm, energy and commitment of a united SeaTec team. I personally feel proud of what we are doing and how we are shaping SeaTec to become a sustainable and scalable business.”
The email address for the new 24/7 operation centre is email@example.com, and the phone number is +65 31305074.
For more information about the centre and how it will operate, contact Tino Rizzo.


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20 Dec 2023
EnergyNest is based in Norway and offers a thermal energy storage technology.
19 May 2023
How Can Smart Packaging Best Add Value?
What is packaging for? From its initial purpose of simply protecting the product to driving sales via consumer engagement, the role of packaging has substantially evolved. Smart/intelligent packaging continues this trend towards greater functionality, employing sensors, printed electronics, and wireless communication to add value in novel ways.
19 May 2023
Smart Packaging Industry Overview
Innovation roadmap for the smart packaging industry.
9 Mar 2023
Avery Dennison (atma.io)
atma.io is a digital product cloud service from Avery Dennison, a global leader in labels and packaging.
13 Oct 2022
PragmatIC is a UK-based company developing flexible integrated circuits on polymer substrates. It has received a total of ~US$150 million in funding and is focused on scaling up its technology, which is already commercially available at a low cost.
23 Mar 2022
PragmatIC Semiconductor Unveils Plans for New UK Site
PragmatIC Semiconductor is proud to unveil PragmatIC Park, Durham, UK as the site for installation of its second FlexLogIC fabrication line producing ultra-low-cost flexible integrated circuits.
15 Mar 2022
Project to Digitise Reusable Packaging
The project code-named TRACE (Technology-enabled Reusable Assets for a Circular Economy) will use PragmatIC's ultra-low-cost NFC technology to give reusable containers unique digital identities so that the packages can be efficiently and effectively returned and reused.
2 Feb 2022
Avery Dennison Acquires TexTrace, an Innovator in Integrated RFID
Avery Dennison Corporation has acquired TexTrace AG, a technology developer that specializes in custom-made woven and knitted RFID products which can be sewn onto or inserted into garments.
24 Jan 2022
Amcor Announces Strategic Investment in PragmatIC Semiconductor
The companies will work together to explore ways to integrate FlexICs into Amcor's portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions
7 Dec 2021
Avery Dennison are a major supplier of labels, RFID tags, along with industrial/healthcare materials. IDTechEx interviewed Jeremy Schenof, VP Strategy at Avery Dennison in Nov. 2021, discussing the firm's recent RFID activities and prospects after COVID-19.
24 Nov 2021
Impinj is a well-established RFID chip, reader IC, reader, gateway, and software supplier. Andy Cobb, Impinj's vice president of strategic finance, spoke with IDTechEx about the company's recent RFID activities.
3 Nov 2021
PragmatIC Semiconductor Appointment to Board of Directors
PragmatIC Semiconductor announces that Birger Steen has joined its Board of Directors. Birger is Board Chair of multiple technology businesses including Internet of Things pioneer and global Bluetooth LE market leader Nordic Semiconductor ASA, business network innovator Pagero AB, and German care technology leader myneva GmbH.


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108k attend two Fullsteam-promoted Ed Sheeran shows in Helsinki, attracting 3k more fans than Finland’s biggest festival, Ruisrock
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The AR mobile game appears to be following in the footsteps of Fortnite and Roblox, which are leading the way for in-game music events
By IQ on 18 Nov 2021
Pokémon Go has announced an exclusive performance from Ed Sheeran, slated to appear in the AR mobile game next week.
Sheeran’s pre-recorded set, which includes hits such as ‘Bad Habits’ and ‘Thinking Out Loud’, will be available in the News section of the app from 22–30 November.
The singer’s favourite Pokémon, Squirtle, will also appear in the game, along with branded ‘=’ sweatshirts that players can dress their avatar in.
In-game events have proved to be big business for Niantic, with this year’s Go Fest event reportedly bringing in $21m
In-game events have proved to be big business for Pokémon Go developer Niantic, with this year’s Go Fest event reportedly bringing in around $21 million in revenue over the course of two days, according to analytics firm Sensor Tower.
With the Ed Sheeran event, Niantic appears to be moving in the same direction as Fortnite and Roblox, which have been leading the way for in-game music events.
Pokémon’s previous in-game music events include a virtual concert headlined by Post Malone, which was part of the franchise’s 25th-anniversary celebrations.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.


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Two food samples on sale in Hong Kong were found to contain melamine over the legal maximum limit on Friday, namely, a vegetable formula cereal produced by Heinz and a steamed potato Wasabi produced by Silang.
The Center for Food Safety said the Heinz DHA+AA Vegetable Formula Cereal was found to contain 1.6 ppm of melamine, compared with the legal limit of 1 ppm for children's food, while the Silang House of Steamed Potato Wasabi contained 18 ppm of melamine, compared with the legal limit of 2.5 ppm for any food for adults.
The samples were among 112 tested for the latest batch.
"We have already informed the trade of the test results and asked them to stop selling the products concerned. We have also sent warning letters to the retailers and importers concerned, andthe importers will recall the affected products," the center said.
"The samples were collected after the commencement of the amendment regulation. The CFS will take out prosecution if there is sufficient evidence," it added.
The center said it had taken another batch of some 40 samples of baby food in the market for testing. Results for these samples will be announced within two days.
So far, the center has more or less completed testing of milk powder available in the local market, including infant formula, milk powder for growth, children, pregnant women and adults. A total of 147 samples were tested and all were satisfactory.
In addition, it has more or less finished testing for milk, milk products and frozen confections produced locally and in the mainland . Ten samples were found unsatisfactory, with the unsatisfactory sample results already published.


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In June 2020, to celebrate World Refugee Day, UNHCR launched on the Revolut Donations in-app portal allowing millions of customers to #standwithrefugees
Since then, Revolut customers have donated over £500,000, including £200,000 raised in August 2021 during an Emergency Appeal for UNHCR’s work in Afghanistan.
We are honoured to support UNHCR’s important work. More than 40,000 Revolut customers have donated over £570,000, helping thousands of refugees globally. We’re delighted to see such a significant impact from our community.
–Christopher Guttridge, General Manager, Lifestyle Products
Revolut’s 20 million customers can donate to UNHCR through three different mechanisms. They can either round up their spare change, set up recurring donations or make a one-time payment to give a set amount to the charity of their choice. There is no minimum donation and customers can donate in any currency from any geographical location.
Donations from Revolut customers go towards UNHCR’s work around the world, wherever the need is greatest. This flexible funding partnership is incredibly valuable to UNHCR and we are deeply grateful to all the Revolut customers globally who donate.


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Payment solutions company Global Payout, Inc. (OTC: GOHE) this morning announced that MoneyTrac Technology, Inc. (“MTRAC”), a company that GOHE holds an 18% ownership in, has joined the National Cannabis Industry Association (“NCIA”) at its highest membership level as a sustaining member. The NCIA connects organizations, builds networks and serves as an advocate for the cannabis industry nationwide. “NCIA truly represents one of the most important and valuable associations in our industry. Their hard work and advocacy over the past 17 years has played a pivotal role in helping to pave the way for the growth and continued legitimacy of this industry as well as in being a crucial resource to the thousands of businesses, such as MoneyTrac, who are committed to conducting business the right way, in an industry that remains highly scrutinized,” MoneyTrac CEO Vanessa Luna stated in the news release.
To view the full press release, visit http://cnw.fm/bCD0N
About Global Payout, Inc.
Since the Company’s inception in 2009, Global Payout, Inc. has been a leading provider of comprehensive and customized prepaid payment solutions for domestic and international organizations distributing money worldwide. In 2014, Global introduced its first online payment platform called the Consolidated Payment Gateway (CPG), which allowed its enterprise clients to transfer money to international bank accounts, mobile accounts, and prepaid card accounts. The development of the CPG became the foundation for the introduction of its new, state of the art FINTECH payment system in 2017, for both online and mobile applications to allow account holders to maximize an expanded suite of financial services and minimize operational costs. Global will continue to offer their FINTECH payment system to many vertical markets for support of foreign currency exchange and digital currency, including ongoing support of the banking industry and international governments. For more information, visit www.GlobalPayout.com.
More from CannabisNewsBreaks
CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge.
For more information please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com


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The company's newly hired head of global PR resigns, reports Bloomberg, adding to a growing list of executives to leave the Taiwanese smartphone maker in recent months.
The device is expected to be shown off in China on October 15 and in Taiwan on October 18.
The device also reportedly comes with a fingerprint scanner and a removable backplate.
Samsung is reported to have engaged the services of the supplier of the HTC One's acclaimed metal body.
HTC has just days to appeal a ban on the HTC One after Nokia edges closer to a legal victory in the British courts.
A judge's ruling in the UK paves the way for Nokia to enforce a sales injunction on infringing HTC devices, including the HTC One.
With the Lumia 1520 just around the corner, we compare the big names in big-screen phones.
The HTC One is finally getting a microSD slot in a new dual-SIM version that'll set you back £494.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and HTC One have been disqualified from performance rankings for apparently cheating benchmark tests.
Android 4.4 is rolling out to the Google Play editions of the hugely popular Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, Google has revealed.


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Australian car safety is at a crossroads.
With production of local models such as the Ford Falcon, Holden Commodore and Toyota Camry set to stop in 2017, the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is also under threat.
The crash testing body does not have federal government funding beyond that date, or strong support from the automotive industry with which it must work.
Drive asked more than a dozen leading car makers three questions surrounding the future of ANCAP. A handful declined to take part in our anonymous survey, while others deferred to the industry bodies such as the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
The results that did come through, however, revealed that several major manufacturers have little faith in Australia's crash body.
Nine car makers answered "no" when asked: "Does your company support ANCAP to continue in its current form?" None said yes.
The second question, "Does Australia need its own crash testing body", found that seven of nine key manufacturers did not support local crash testing, while two say the breadth of Australia's market requires local testing of foreign models that could otherwise fall through gaps in international test regimes.
A third question asked, "Is the ANCAP process and rating system readily understandable for consumers", and found that just one car maker said "yes", with eight others responding in the negative.
A spokeswoman for the FCAI says the time for local crash testing may be over.
"With the globalisation of the automotive industry and the harmonisation of Australian Design Rules? with UN regulations, the FCAI questions the continuing relevance of a separate NCAP in Australia," she says.
ANCAP is a partially government-funded independent organisation that exists to support consumers rather than serving car companies. The organisation has had rocky relationships with manufacturers since it first published crash tests in 1993. Car companies decried its scores as irrelevant in the real world until advertising began to focus on vehicle safety, and Subaru and Renault became the first to advertise five-star scores.
Distilled to their essence, the key problems car makers have with ANCAP are consistency and communication.
The crash body earned the ire of several car makers, none more so than Renault Australia, when it demanded rear airbag protection for all five-star cars that seat more than two people. Introduced from January 1, 2014, the system meant that the Renault Clio and Captur ? twin models that lack rear airbags ? would receive five and four-star scores respectively, simply due to their on-sale date.
Incensed that the Captur would receive a five-star rating under the Euro NCAP program but just four stars locally, Renault Australia boss Justin Hocevar lashed out at the crash body, claiming it was irrelevant following the imminent decline of the Australian car industry.
ANCAP stuck to its guns for one year before adopting European regulations from 2015 that allow cars without rear airbags to receive five-star ratings. Both ANCAP and Euro NCAP will soon require rear airbags to be mandatory in order for a car to be eligible for a five-star crash score.
ANCAP chairman Lauchlan McIntosh dismisses criticism of the organisation's backflip as "a small issue for a small number of cars". "It's surprising that some manufacturers are making such a meal of it," he says.
The Australian body adopts Europe's processes in some areas but not others. BMW Australia was disappointed this month to learn that a five-star Euro NCAP score for its 2 Series Active Tourer hatchback would drop to four stars locally.
While ANCAP requires a minimum frontal impact score of 12.5 along with a minimum combined score of 32.5, the BMW scored 11.34 and 32.34 respectively.
"That the 2 Series Active Tourer, which gains a five-star result in Europe but only a four star in Australia, is disappointing," BMW spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says.
"It does raise questions about the relevance of the program. If it's confusing for the manufacturer I can only imagine how confusing it is for a consumer."
Communication from the crash authority can be difficult to comprehend. While the one to five-star rating system is, in itself, clear, understanding of the criteria used to determine such a result is less so. The organisation tried to simplify its scores in 2014 by adding date stamps to results. Asked at the time how consumers could compare a five-star result from 2010 alongside its 2015 equivalent, McIntosh said at the time that, "You can work it out for yourself".
"Most people don't drill into it too much, they just want to know that the car was tested at this time," he said.
The crash group made headlines in 2014 when it criticised Nissan Australia for failing to offer autonomous emergency braking on local variants of cars that feature the technology overseas.
The local head of Nissan, Richard Emery, defended his company by saying that technology was not available on Nissan Australia's right-hand-drive models and was not a physically possible inclusion for the Australian market. Emery told Drive.com.au at the time that ANCAP "obviously wanted to get their point across, which is fine", but the manufacturer was upset to have been singled out.
Yet McIntosh says ANCAP's relationships with manufacturers are "good".
"We'll have disagreements with manufacturers who don't meet the standard," he says.
"That's always been the case. It's not our job to advocate for manufacturers."
The argument for ANCAP
The outspoken safety spokesman had Ford in his sights at the Bangkok motor show following revelations that the Melbourne-developed Ranger ute would offer first-class features safety in Australia and New Zealand, but remove life-saving equipment such as airbags and stability control from vehicles sold in emerging markets.
It is cost-cutting measures like that, McIntosh says, that ram home ANCAP's role in keeping manufacturers accountable.
"The Ford Ranger, for example, is the reason we need to keep testing," he says.
"We need to make sure we don't get that rubbish here.
"We need to be assured that the quality of vehicles that are sold as new cars are at world's best practice so consumers can see what we're getting."
Associate Professor Stuart Newstead of the Monash University Accident Research Commission says the crash body performed a vital role in putting safety on buyers' shopping lists.
"In the days before ANCAP safety wasn't really on the agenda, it was about the loudness of stereos and shininess of alloy wheels," he says.
"What it has done is help put vehicle safety and safety choices at the top of the agenda."
Hocevar and others argue that the decline of Australia's automotive manufacturing industry will render ANCAP irrelevant. The majority of its scores already come about as a result of overseas testing. Its most recent results featured verdicts for seven new cars. Just one ? the Mitsubishi Triton ute ? was tested locally.
But higher powers support its continued presence.
Jamie Briggs, assistant minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, says ANCAP "is fundamental to the promotion of technological improvements in the road safety sector".
"Following the closure of Australia's vehicle manufacturers, it is likely that some vehicles imported for sale in Australia may continue to be crash tested by ANCAP," Briggs says.
"This would occur in cases where the imported vehicles are not crash tested by Euro NCAP?, as a result of their not being available for sale in Europe or being relatively less popular in other markets."
Australia's position as a right-hand-drive market could be key to ANCAP's future. The vast majority of models crash tested overseas are built in left-hand-drive, with key mechanical differences to cars sold locally. Another argument for local testing is that the Australian new car market is among the most diverse in the world, and that models from developing markets should be held to the same high standards as established brands.
But most car companies remain unconvinced that crash testing needs to take place locally.
A leading car company told Drive that while independent vehicle safety testing should be exhaustive and consistent, "Where this is done is not an imperative ... It would seem sensible that it is carried out in proximity to the vehicle manufacturer".
The argument against ANCAP
The original argument against standardised laboratory crash tests ? that they are irrelevant ? is one still raised today. Having correlated data from more than 4.5 million collisions, looking at injuries sustained in real-world collisions and how they compare with official results, Newstead says ANCAP scores do not necessarily correlate with legitimate crashes.
One explanation may be that manufacturers design cars purely to pass standardised tests rather than taking a holistic approach to improve the outcome of real-world crashes.
"I think there may be some evidence of that, but it's a bit hard to pinpoint," Newstead says.
"It may explain the difference between crash tests and real-world results."
Car companies don't design and manufacture a car, send it off to market and hope that it comes back with a strong score.
Hyundai crashed dozens of pre-production Genesis sedans at its Namyang research and development site in Korea before signing off on a sedan that scored ANCAP's highest-ever result. It's no accident that every Hyundai ? barring commercial vans ? has a five-star safety score.
Worried that standard crash tests may not reflect real-world collisions, the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced a narrow overlap test in 2012.
Institute president Adrian Lund said at the time that "nearly every car performs well in other frontal crash tests ... but we still see more than 10,000 deaths in frontal crashes each year".
"Small overlap crashes are a major source of these fatalities," he said.
Newstead says the narrow offset test results "were astounding".
"[Manufacturers] designed cars for another test and when they become more onerous they didn't perform well," he said.
ANCAP does not conduct narrow overlap, rear-impact or rollover tests, though that may change in the future.
Under ANCAP's rules, a 1000-kilogram city car and two-tonne SUV or limousine can receive the same five-star crash score.
The Suzuki Swift holds a five-star ANCAP safety rating, but sub-par performances in real-world crashes see it saddled with a single star "very poor" mark in MUARC's Used Car Safety Ratings?.
Similarly, Nissan's 2006-2009 Maxima receives four stars from ANCAP and a five-star used rating, while five stars for Holden's superseded VE Commodore drop to four stars on the road.
Real-world physics are reflected in Used Car Safety Ratings results ? no city car receives more than a "marginal" result, while large cars and SUVs are much more likely to receive full marks based on the way they were able to protect occupants in crashes with other vehicles.
Success in the crash lab does not correlate directly with practical collisions.
But Newstead says ANCAP is right not to compare city cars with much larger models.
"We don't want to start an arms race with people buying SUVs to protect themselves from each other," he says.
"I think ANCAP is quite right in emphasising that in their ratings."
Clearly ANCAP must do more than crash test locally-built models from Holden, Ford and Toyota. The organisation is evolving, becoming more closely aligned with global standards led by the benchmark Euro NCAP body.
Cars must already have electronic features such as seatbelt reminders and electronic stability control in order to win a five-star score. The Australian body is set to raise its minimum requirements in coming years to include active safety features such as self-braking and pedestrian detection systems which will be tested locally and abroad.
"We have to keep lifting the bar," McIntosh says.
"We'll be involved more in Euro NCAP's decision-making process than we have in the past.
"We're trying to give consumers the best information they can get."
Newstead says ANCAP is on the right path in pursuing driver aids.
"We need to make sure we are doing a lot of real world validation of those things to make sure they perform in the real world," he says.
"It's pretty pointless if it's not improving safety. I think it is. Hopefully with some open discussion and careful thought we can keep it relevant and effective in the future."
What is ANCAP?
The Australian New Car Assessment Program is part of a network of organisations responsible for crash testing new cars.
Traditionally led by the large and influential Euro NCAP body, satellite members such as ANCAP and Latin NCAP are now part of the Global? NCAP network which aims to harmonise test procedures and results around the world.
Funded by governments, donations and motoring clubs such as the NRMA or RACV, ANCAP does not keep close ties to car companies, but may accept cars submitted for testing as opposed to buying its own test examples.
It runs cars through a strictly controlled test procedure, summarising complicated results into a rating of one to five stars.
Drive sent the following questions to the top 20 most popular car makers in Australia. The companies that officially responded represented more than 40 per cent of all new cars sold in Australia last year.
Does your company support ANCAP to continue in its current form? Yes: 0% No: 100%
Does Australia need its own crash test body? Yes: 22% No: 78%
Is the ANCAP process and rating system easily understandable for consumers? Yes: 11% No: 89%