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Mumbai-based Elixia Inc is in advanced talks to raise funds. One of its goals is to expand to MENA, specifically to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt
Flipkart and logistics SaaS startup Elixia Inc have teamed up to digitise the ecommerce company’s last-mile logistics processes.
The partnership involves maintaining freight masters, automated trip creation, track and trace, freight calculation, and billing compliance.
Separately, the SaaS startup is also looking to raise funds to fuel its expansion goals.
Elixia Inc has been working with Flipkart for over six months and is part of its acceleration programme for innovation startups, Flipkart Leap. In one of the pilot projects to digitise its last-mile logistics process, Elixia Inc was picked from a pool of other vendors. By December last year, the ecommerce platform entered into a commercial agreement and has been in use for all of its delivery hubs, Sanket Sheth, Founder of Elixia Inc, said.
“Working with the Flipkart Team helped Elixia Inc to focus on providing an excellent platform which sets Elixia Inc Inc apart from the competition and creates maximum benefit and value for last mile deliveries. We look forward to working with the Flipkart team on several identified areas and creating continuous value towards digitalization of their supply chain,” he added.
Founded in 2011, the Mumbai-based startup provides software solutions for transportation, logistics, and supply chain management across industries. It raised $1 million in its Pre-Series A funding round led by RVCF (Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund) in September 2021.
Elixia Inc has 300 paying customers, shared the founder, of which 30 have opted for the full Elixia Inc suit. Flipkart’s contribution to revenue is amongst the top 30% of active customers, he added.
“With time, we want the business with Flipkart to grow so that it comes in the range of top 10% revenue-generating customers,” he said.
Before Flipkart, Elixia Inc’s strong point was in mid-mile deliveries with clients such as Sanofi, Licious, Centaur Pharmaceuticals, Pidilite, Shell Petroleum, United Phosphorus Ltd (UPL), Monginis Foods, Pharmeasy, Snowman, and Schneider Electric.
The company registered a revenue of Rs 7.53 crore for FY22, recording a 73% growth from FY21 at Rs 4.5 crore. For this year, Sanketh said Elixia has recorded a growth of 2X revenue as compared to last year. It earns revenue from delivery based model for mid-mile and last-mile deliveries.
With this prime milestone, Elixia Inc has started to digitise last-mile and D2C deliveries.
It claims to have achieved an ARR of 90% this year from its flagship product—the Intelligent Delivery Orchestration Platform. Sheth also said that they would achieve 3X growth in customer base by 2024, shared the founder.
Fundraising and expansion
According to Sheth, Elixia is in advanced talks to raise funds to accelerate expansion plans as well as improve its solutions.
About 35% of the fundraise will be invested in India, the founder said. This would increase the number of paying customers from 300 now to 3,000 in the next two years.
The company also wants to invest 35% of the fresh capital to grow in the US. While some of its clients use the product in the country, the company will focus on penetrating the market and will invest in sales and marketing for the US region as well.
The remaining 30% will be invested to expand to MENA, especially in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
“We have already started acquiring customers. Transworld being one of them. Moreover, there are a lot of them in the pipeline on the verge of conversion as our sales Pipeline grows stronger in the region,” Sheth said.
When it comes to product portfolio expansion, it plans to invest in building AI or big data analytics, which brings in intelligence from data captured in the platform.
In the last nine to 10 months, Elixia Inc has had 3.1 million deliveries take place on its platform. To bring in more insights, Sheth said it has become crucial for them to invest in more value creation.
Apart from this, the company also has plans to add extensions to sea freights which Sheth said will also correlate with the fundraise.
In the future, it has plans to add air, rail, and drone solutions that will also be added to the product with drone extension in pilot due to its demand in the US region.
CIO News, a proprietary of Mercadeo, produces award-winning content and resources for IT leaders across any industry through print articles and recorded video interviews on topics in the technology sector such as Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Cloud, Robotics, Cyber-security, Data, Analytics, SOC, SASE, among other technology topics


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Small business confidence falls to record low amid COVID-19 pandemic, CFIB says
TORONTO -- The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says small business confidence has fallen to a new low amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organization says its latest business barometer has fallen to a record low of 30.8 from a level of 60.5 in February.
It says one in five owners say their business is in a good state, compared with 38 per cent who say it's doing poorly.
Half of business owners say they are planning layoffs in the next three months, while just five per cent say they will be looking to add full-time staff.
The report comes as non-essential businesses shut down in Ontario and Quebec in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The moves have resulted in the layoff of workers across the country as businesses stop work.
The barometer is based on 1,378 responses, collected from a stratified random sample of CFIB members, to an online survey on March 17 and 18.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2020.
The Canadian Press
- Small businesses already seeing drop in sales due to COVID-19: CFIB survey
- Many small business owners concerned about potential second lockdown
- One-third of small business owners feel they aren’t being supported by their community
- The future of business is digital: report
- Less than one-third of small businesses' sales have returned to pre-pandemic levels: survey
- VIDEO: Authorities cleaning up oil spill in the Credit River in Mississauga
- Le Chateau closing all Mississauga locations
- Dufferin-Peel Catholic District schools in Mississauga with reported COVID-19 cases – October 22
- Province increasing video surveillance on Mississauga highway
- Police searching for missing 69-year-old woman from Mississauga

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Savvy Interiors closed after car crashes through store
Savvy Interior staff worked late Monday night decorating for their upcoming open house. The next morning, a woman drove her Lexus through the store destroying all of their work.
The home decor store's open house, originally scheduled for this weekend, has been pushed back to Nov. 13 to 15.
"She made a mess of my store," owner Teresa Plemmons said.
Early Tuesday morning, a car drove through the side of the South Salem Great Clips store and into Savvy Interiors, both part of the shopping center in the 3400 block of Commercial Street SE. The car hit the wall between Savvy and Big Town Hero, but didn't go through it, Plemmons said.
No charges are being filed connected to the crash, Lt. Dave Okada with the Salem Police Department said. The driver hit the curb while backing up, put the car into drive to fix that and must have hit the gas too hard, he said.
Although the car didn't hit any mechanical, electrical or plumbing systems in Great Clips, Savvy didn't fare as well.
In Savvy, walls need to be rebuilt, electrical systems need to be redone, and furniture, merchandise and display cases need to be replaced.
"We had the salon furniture totally carried into our store," Savvy's past co-owner, Jane Martin, said, .
Plemmons said she hopes to reopen the store Saturday, but isn't sure if that will be possible. The open house has been rescheduled for noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 14 and noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 15.
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Over the past couple weeks advertising afficionados across Vancouver have been talking about how a new TELUS campaign smells a lot like Old Spice. But not in a good way.
Well now Vancouverites have a chance to meet the creators of the orginal The Man Your Man Could Smell Like campaign.
On Thursday, September 9th Craig Allen and Eric Kallman from the agency Wieden + Kennedy will be bring their fresh scent to the Lotus Awards Meet the Judges Mingler at 6pm at Opus Bar at the Opus Hotel.
The intimate event will feature a number of high profile judges from the advertising industry. Judges include Michael Borosky from Eleven, Tyson Damman from Big Spaceship, Christian DaBica from Jager Di Paola Kemp and Craig Allen and Eric Kallman from Wieden + Kennedy.
Lotus Awards organizers have been kind enough to offer Techvibes tickets to give away to two lucky readers. If you’re interested in attending the Meet the Judges Mingler comment on this blog post with a question you’d like to ask the minds behind this successful campaign.
We’ll randomly pick two winners on Tuesday, September 7th and announce them here.
BONUS: If you’re already going to this event, you should pick up today’s Groupon that gets you $40 worth of bar snacks and cocktails at the Opus Bar for only $20.


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The future of teen retailer Aeropostale is still unclear, as bidding at a court auction was continuing into the evening hours on Monday.
Raffaele Ilardo will head up creative development and design for the Carolina Herrera New York ready-to-wear and bridal collections.
Brands and retailers have worked with human and labor rights groups to improve safety in Bangladesh’s garment industry.
PVH’s CR program is structured with 10 commitments across three key focus areas: empowering people, preserving the environment and supporting communities.
The new security measures address shopper hesitancy of purchasing online.
Brands and retailers join a growing list of companies committed to supporting and creating gender equality policies.
The new partnership will allow UNIDO and JETRO to develop joint projects and activities aimed at enhancing sustainable industrialization in developing countries.
This concentrated cluster of spenders is purchasing at a frenzied rate.
Revenues dropped 15 percent, despite the “first signs of improving trends in mainland China.”


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Burger King parent Q4 profit beats estimates
RESTAURANT Brands International Inc, the owner of Burger King and Tim Hortons, reported fourth-quarter profit that topped analysts' projections after new menu items helped sales at the burger chain.
Profit was 35 US cents a share, excluding some items, the Oakville, Ontario
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Amazon just had its best Prime day ever.
The company sold more than 100 million products over a 36-hour period, bragging in a press release that it was the “biggest shopping event in Amazon history.” But a massive shopping event like Prime Day is only in possible in part because of Amazon’s Flex program, which recruits everyday people to deliver Amazon packages for a modest wage.
That's because the most expensive part of delivering a package is getting it from a local warehouse to a customer's doorstep. Amazon’s Flex program helps reduce that cost by hiring delivery drivers as independent contractors.
VICE News followed a married couple in Phoenix, AZ, who use Flex as their primary source of income. “[Flex] saved our lives,” Beverly Karpinski, 64, told VICE News. “For three months we had no income except for my husband’s social security check, and one day I was on Craigslist and I saw Amazon was hiring independent delivery drivers.”
Karpinski and her husband, Ed, both signed up for Flex and have been delivering packages for more than a year. In Arizona, the Karpinski’s make about $18 an hour before expenses.
You don’t need any qualifications to drive for Flex: just pass a background check and have a valid driver's license. Due to the driver’s independent contractor status, Amazon doesn’t provide any benefits like healthcare or paid time off. Amazon says Flex drivers across the country make $18-$25 an hour, but that doesn’t include gas or car maintenance.
Amazon declined to provide any details about how many Flex drivers Amazon hires, or how many fulfillment centers across the country support Flex, but an Amazon spokesperson confirmed that the company leverages its malleable Flex workforce in order to compensate for Prime Day. The spokesperson also confirmed that the delivery route given to Flex drivers is generated by an Amazon algorithm.
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It has barely been a few months since the Galaxy S20, Samsung's flagship smartphone for 2020, was launched, and rumours have alread started circulating about what the Galaxy S21 might bring to the table. A new report suggests that Samsung's R&D division is mulling over introducing an under-display selfie camera in the company's flagship smartphone for 2021, which would seemingly make the smartphone stand out from the rest of the devices for the year.
The report seems a bit premature, and it is likely that Samsung is considering an under-display front camera to be one of the options that it may employ in a bid to give a unique feature to its flagship phone. While some OEMs have produced proofs of the under-display selfie camera concept, the technology is yet to mature fully. Technical restraints to using this feature in production include making sure that the display itself does not look inconsistent, the layer of pixels and the pixel density in the screen area covering the camera is consistent with the rest of the panel, and for the camera, that the display does not restrict the amount of light reaching the sensor, and in turn, preserving the potential quality of images taken with such cameras.
The reason why this feature seems plausible is because of Samsung's sheer might — the company is one of the world's largest electronics and technology giants, and also runs one of the world's foremost display manufacturing units under its subsidiary, Samsung Display. It also makes its own image sensors under the Isocell brand, and all of this gives Samsung the required resources to be able to work on a feature like under-display cameras, and attempt to perfect it in future.
However, given the coronavirus pandemic, and expectations that it will take up most of 2020 and global resources in containing it, Samsung may find itself stretched to go about their smartphone technology R&D as per usual schedule. Samsung's 2020 flagship, the Galaxy S20, used a 100x zoom feature to stand out from the crowd, but the feature is still regarded as more gimmicky than truly productive. If Samsung does attempt to use an under-display camera in the Galaxy S21 next year, it will hope that there is some concrete value addition to the device, rather than being a feature for feature's sake.


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The Thailand-Malaysia Air-Travel Bubble (ATB) plan is likely to come to fruition in March 2022, while the Thailand-India plan may materialise "soon".
Thailand is looking to establish Air-Travel Bubble (ATB) plans with Malaysia in March 2022, and with India "soon", according to the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). The travel bubble is the Thai government's approach to boosting the economy, trade and tourism.
For the Thailand-Malaysia ATB, Thailand's Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, has instructed the CCSA, and the tourism & sports emergency operation centre to prepare, and outline pandemic mitigation measures for the reopening of Southern border checkpoints in Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, and Satun.
Once approved, tourists from the neighbouring country, as well as Malaysians, will be allowed to enter Thailand under the 'Test and Go' scheme with no quarantine upon arrival. However, the CCSA reminds that visitors will still need to pass two RT-PCR tests after arriving in Thailand. Further, travellers are to note that travel passes must be applied, and approved for 24 hours before departure.
As for the Thailand-India travel bubble, at the moment, the first objective is to "faciliate commercial flights" between the two nations as CCSA's spokesman, Taweesin Visanuyothin, was cited in Nation Thailand's report. This is because India has "suspended international commercial flights" until 28 February 2022, and "allowed only evacuation flights" to bring its nationals back to the country due to the Omicron variant.
At the moment, Prime Minister Prayut has instructed the relevant government agencies to get this particular ATB plan implemented "as soon as possible" as the proposal for the travel bubble between the two nations is in progress, and will be "submitted to the Cabinet for endorsement".
Image / 123RF


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New Samsung Galaxy Gear rumor claims several models inboundAlex Wagner - Editorial Director of News and Content
We heard a little over a month ago that Samsung is planning to introduce a new version of its Galaxy Gear smartwatch at Mobile World Congress, which officially kicks off next Monday. Today some more details of Samsung's plans have leaked, and if they turn out to be accurate, we could end up with several new smartwatches to slap onto our wrists.
According to a source speaking to The Verge, Samsung will show "multiple" Galaxy Gear devices at MWC. Details of the new devices are still light, but a previous leak suggested that at least one unit will feature a design that's "less bulky" than the original Gear as well as several new health-focused features.
A separate report from USA Today claims that Samsung is planning to announce a Galaxy Gear smartwatch running Tizen rather than Android, which powered the original Gear. The decision to switch to Tizen was reportedly made as part of an effort by Samsung to earn more revenue from its own software and services. It's worth noting that the Tizen Association recently confirmed that some new Tizen-powered devices will be on display at MWC, but there was no mention of exactly what kind of hardware will be shown.
While much of the focus of Samsung's event next week will likely be on the Galaxy S5, it'll also be interesting to see what kind of hardware that the company puts together for its next Galaxy Gear. Whether or not we see multiple Gear models or a Tizen-powered unit is still up in the air for now, but considering that Samsung is one of the biggest supporters of the Tizen platform, there's certainly a chance that it could decide to load the OS onto its smartwatch hardware.
Are you looking forward to Samsung's new Galaxy Gear hardware? If so, would you be interested in a model powered by Tizen or would you prefer another Android-based unit?


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Only a few days to go: We’re raising £25,000 to keep TheyWorkForYou running and make sure people across the UK can hold their elected representatives to account.Donate to our crowdfunder
Mr Speaker, as you know from my application for an urgent question on this subject today, my constituency is severely affected by the announcements from the US last week. Moray is home to 40% of all Scotch whisky distilleries, as well as a sector that has not been mentioned so far: the biscuit industry. Some 50% of biscuits exported to the US are Scottish shortbread. Moray is home to Walkers of Aberlour, and when I spoke to Jim Walker earlier this afternoon, he wanted me to stress that figure. I met Lewis Maclean of Maclean’s Highland bakery in Forres on Friday, who expressed his concerns for his sector as well.
Can the Minister update the House on what steps the Government will take over the next 10 days to try to stop these tariffs taking effect from


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HP posted revenue of $27.6bn for Q3 2014, driven by growth in commercial PCs and the company’s x86 industry standard service business.
In a transcript of the earnings call on the SeekingAlpha financial site, HP CEO Meg Whitman said: "In personal systems, we had an excellent performance, with revenue up 12% from the prior year period. In industry standard servers, we saw 9% growth from the prior year period, which represents our fourth consecutive quarter of revenue growth."
HP’s converged storage grew by 9% while traditional storage declined by 14%. Overall storage revenue fell by 4% year-on-year. "3PAR returned to double-digit growth, and we continue to gain share in the mid-range," said Whitman.
Revenue in networking products grew 4% and Whitman added: "We saw good growth in switching, where we once again outperformed Cisco."
In its services business, outsourcing revenue was $3.5bn, down 8% year-on-year, while applications and business services revenue was $2.1bn, down 4%.
Whitman also discussed HP's public cloud offering. “By the end of October, we expect to deliver commercial versions of HP Helion OpenStack and the HP Helion Development platform, which will help enterprise customers build and deploy OpenStack-based clouds,” she said.
More articles on Server 2003 refresh
- Plan to migrate before Windows Server 2003 end of life
- Why breaking up with Windows Server 2003 is hard to do
- HP looks to drive Windows Server 2003 end-of-life revenue
The HP Helion Network, announced in June, is a global public cloud platform for the enterprise supported by AT&T, British Telecom, Intel, Synapsis and Hong Kong Telecom.
Commenting on the results, analyst firm TBR said: "We believe HP is taking the necessary steps towards performance improvements over the long term. We anticipate HP Services will return to more stable and consistent revenue growth in 2016 as Helion becomes more widely adopted and HP continues to make R&D investments in growing areas of technology – cloud, analytics, security and mobility."
Whitman also discussed new areas of research at HP. "Martin Fink has focused the HP lab researchers on memristors, photonics and a new operating system at the heart of this once-in-a-generation project," she said. "I believe we are clearly demonstrating what I said many times before, that innovation is alive and well at HP. Over the next several months, you can expect to see the introduction of game-changing products in personal systems, servers, cloud and printing, that are going to bring some real excitement to these markets."
The company has benefited from the end of support of Windows XP to drive the replacement of PCs. HP expects server growth to be impacted positively by the end of support of Windows Server 2003 in July 2015.
In the transcript of the earnings call, HP CFO Cathy Lesiak said: "We think the Windows Server 2003 upgrade is an opportunity for us. There is a significant number of servers in the installed base and they are going to have to upgrade. So there is some similarity between the XP upgrade and the server upgrade, and so we’re following the same programme from a marketing perspective."


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I knew VR would come up with the goods! Last week at Gamescom in Germany, Lucasfilm and EA revealed what is in store for Star Wars fans in the Rogue One VR mission for Star Wars Battlefront.
Closely tied into the storyline of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, where the story behind the theft of the Death Star plans in Star Wars: A New Hope are told, the Battlefront VR experience will come in the form of a Rogue One: X-wing VR Mission which is directly linked to the Rogue One film as the game has been created in collaboration with the Lucasfilm story team.
The game will be free to owners of Star Wars Battlefront and a PlayStation VR headset which is released mid-October.
James Svensson of Criterion Games, in an interview with PlayStation.com, explained what to expect from the X-Wing VR experience:
“Being in a fight with a Star Destroyer is not a situation an X-wing pilot wants to find themselves in, but that’s where the player ends up. The player will have to keep their wits about them, with intense battle ensuing from every direction, to keep them and their wingmen alive as they complete a critical mission for the Rebellion.”
For a short intro to what to expect watch some of the panel from Gamescom
The E3 reveal shows what is sure to be an experience that will assault your senses


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Beach Haven West View from a BoatWhat amazes me about the Beach Haven West section of Manahawkin is the view from a boat. When you drive down the streets, you see well-manicured homes
What New Home Buyers Spend On Their Homes After Purchasing
Home buyers who purchased new homes were more likely to make big money splurges after moving in.
In a recent release the National Association of Home Buyers found that new home buyers were likely to spend an average of $3,778 on home furnishings. This is 70% more than home buyers that purchased an existing home and over 5 times as much as owners that did not move. Appliances accounted for an average spent by new homeowners of $3,094, as $1,889 was spent by homeowners buying an existing home and homeowners that stayed put spent $1,182.
Homeowners of existing homes spent $4,085 topping the list for completing alterations & repairs followed by new home purchasers spending $3,729 and owner’s that bought existing hoes spent $2,232.
Must buy features were appliances that accounted for two thirds of new home buyers in 2015 in which homes did not come with a washer/dryer and 36% had no refrigerator.
Couches/Sofas were also a costly purchase for new home buyers spending approximately $700 the first year that they lived in their house. This was 60% more than homeowners that bought an existing home.
What are homeowners buying? Dining rooms and kitchen features averaged $687 on the amount spent including living room chairs & tables. Window coverings although expensive was a popular project with new homeowners spending an average of $215, non-movers spent $21 and existing home buyers spending $78.
Existing homebuyers and non-moving home owners spent money updating and doing repairs while new owners spent money on projects such as installing fences, walkways, and driveways.
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Seven members of the Environmental Committee of the Garden Club of LBI agreed to fight plastic straw pollution on a personal level by visiting 72 restaurants, diners, coffee shops and ice cream


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The “iPhone 14 Pro Max Flip” is Trending – Here’s Why…
What the hell is an iPhone 14 Pro Max Flip? I have no idea but thousands of people are searching for it online…
We now have foldable phones, thanks mostly to Samsung with its never-ending push to get users to ditch their familiar slab-like, non-folding phones. Google too is said to be working on a foldable Pixel phone, although that rumor has been doing the rounds for years now.
Ever since Samsung released its first foldable phone, way back when, people have been waiting for Apple to do the same. A foldable iPhone is certainly a tantalizing prospect, but is there actually any tangible evidence that Apple is actively working on this type of iPhone?
As of 2022, no, not really. The reason people are searching for “iPhone 14 Pro Max Flip” online is that since about 2020 people have been speculating about Apple releasing a foldable iPhone and those that do not follow launches as closely as others – AKA, us tech geeks – are simply checking in to see whether Apple released a foldable model inside its iPhone 14 range.
A Foldable iPhone? The iPhone Flip…
So, is there any actual evidence that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone Flip model?
As it turns out, there is plenty of evidence that Apple is indeed interested in making a foldable iPhone, potentially called the iPhone Flip. But testing has very little to do with actual, full-scale releases. Apple likely has hundreds of projects “in testing” that’ll never see the light of day.
And the evidence isn’t just rumor-based conjecture, some of it actually comes from reliable sources like Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims Apple’s first foldable iPhone will have an 8in display, making it significantly larger than Samsung’s current Galaxy Z Fold 4.
Other reports suggest Apple has tasked LG with creating a 7.5in foldable OLED display for an as-yet-unknown iPhone release.
Kuo also believes that Apple is currently testing a 9in iPhone Flip model inside its headquarters as well. Again, if true, the 9in iPhone Flip would literally dwarf everything else on the market right now, including Apple’s iPad mini. In fact, a phone of this size would be close to Apple’s standard iPad when unfolded.
iPhone Flip Design – What Might It Look Like?
Apple’s a stickler for design and, unlike most tech firms in operation today, it seldom releases something until it is absolutely ready. We saw this with Apple’s delay in bringing 5G to the iPhone, as well as its ultra-conservative approach to the industrial design of its main product lines: the iPhone, Apple Watch, and its AirPods.
This means, if there is to be an iPhone Flip or a foldable iPhone, it will have been in testing for years by now, providing a release is planned for between now and 2024. Apple’s R&D budget is enormous, bolstered by its insanely massive yearly revenue and profit margins, so as soon as Samsung unveiled its first foldable Galaxy phone, you know Apple engineers got to work on Apple’s counterpart.
Similarly, Apple has filed patents for a variety of folding iPhone concepts dating back to 2018. This proves that Apple, despite not releasing anything just yet, has been working diligently on a foldable iPhone since, at least, 2018. The next logical question is, of course, when – or if – the iPhone Flip will ever see the light of day?
Apple has tested two different kinds of iPhone Flip: a fold-out hybrid tablet, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold lineup, and a clamshell flip phone design akin to the Galaxy Z Flip range. Those sources also claim Apple will be going ahead with the clamshell design, though it is still early in the development process and there’s a chance things could change.Source
Is There Demand For Foldable Phones?
How many people have you seen using a foldable phone in the wild? I live in London and, to date, I have yet to see a single foldable phone being used by someone. Not one. And that is very telling. You know how many iPhone 14 Pro Max phones I saw just last week? About 100, and this tells me that perhaps the demand for foldable phones isn’t quite there yet.
Add in the fact that the entire western world is now in the throes of a recession with rising inflation, and the idea of splurging the best part of $2000 on a foldable phone seems even less appealing. Apple is likely VERY aware of this – both the current market woes and the fact that no one really seems to bother with foldable phones – so it is likely holding off on doing anything with its iPhone Flip phone until this changes.
iPhone Flip Price
Similarly, given the cost of Samsung’s foldable phones – they’re basically $1800 to $2000 – it is fairly safe to assume that Apple’s, given that they’re said to be much bigger than Samsung’s, would cost significantly more. How much more? I have no idea. But Apple is never shy about getting crazy with its pricing – just look at its Mac Pro systems.
Having said ALL of that, if one company could potentially popularise the foldable phone concept, it is Apple. Samsung is a massively influential phone brand but it still doesn’t have the same kind of clout with consumers as Apple.
Look what Apple did with its Apple Watch and AirPods. Now, imagine if it released a foldable phone. People would be climbing over one another to buy one, regardless of the price. I think Apple knows this but is likely hesitant to pull the trigger given how popular its normal iPhones currently are – why rock the boat when you don’t need to?
As of right now, Apple’s iPhone lineup has never been stronger. You have the obscenely powerful iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max and the relatively affordable iPhone 14 for users that do not want or need Pro features like LiDAR and the like. And if you want the standard iPhone just with more battery, you now have the iPhone 14 Plus to consider.
Apple is back to innovating again. The iPhone 14 Pro Max is the sharpest, most potent, and, importantly, different-looking iPhone we've seen in years. If you want the absolute best Apple has to offer and you can handle the price, this is 2022's ultimate phone right now...
- New Always-On display
- The new Dynamic Island replaces the Face ID notch
- New 12MP ƒ/1.9 front-facing camera with autofocus
- New triple-lens Pro camera system (48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide, and 12MP Telephoto)
- 4K HDR Cinematic mode at 30fps
- Better low-light photos with Photonic engine
- Faster, more energy-efficient 6nm Qualcomm 5G modem made by TSMC
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Satellite connectivity for SOS messages
- Penta-core GPU
- New deep purple color
- HDR gyro and high-g accelerometer for the new Crash Detection service
Apple’s iPad sales are also pretty strong too, so, again, the question isn’t whether Apple is making a foldable iPhone, it is, multiple designs are now being tested, but rather what would be the point in releasing one? Samsung isn’t exactly selling a lot of its foldable phones and the reason for this is simple: they’re just too bloody expensive. So, again, why would Apple bother with the iPhone Flip when it already has the most profitable phone business on planet earth?


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- Call of Duty gamer introduces NFT into the community of FPS gaming.
- NFT will change the era of the gaming industry.
- Diamongcon NFT will be the first in the COD universe
Diamondcon is one of the best Call of Duty (COD) league players globally and part of the Subliners eSports team. Moreover, he is the first-ever professional eSports player who introduces a non-fungible token (NFT) into the rising community of FPS gaming.
Besides, he established a significant number of followers on Twitch and Twitter. In addition, his followers will soon be able to buy an NFT of Diamondcon and claim bragging rights to that 200 IQ game clip.
Also, many players spend loads of cash on skin game passes and in-game purchases. But, they never owned any of them. Now NFT will change the era of the gaming industry. Before, no one knew about NFTs a year ago, but now it’s a new craze. Best of all, paying money on gaming will no longer be a bad investment.
What is more, the gaming industry will now become a promising career. Imagine how much NFT of your favorite COD player will be worth in a few years. Notably, Diamondcon NFT will be the first in the COD universe.
On the other hand, last year SBI Holding announced the partnership between SBI eSports with VC Trade Co. Limited. Also, SBI eSports explained that its partnership would expand its portfolio in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry.
Alongside the spontaneous support that SBI VC Trade provides, SBI eSports intends to build, and offer a great team that fans will love and attracts the world’s attention to follow this new sports competition.
Based on the innovations mentioned earlier by both parties, SBI eSports aims to be a curated financial hub in the eSports industry, not only to Japan but also to the world.
Also, SBI VC Trade will prioritize issuing a cold wallet, an anonymous and highly privacy-oriented digital wallet, and a mobile app to improve customer convenience. After that, it will launch the Cool X Wallet and VC TRADE SP.
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A US regulatory agency said Tuesday it would review acquisitions made by five Big Tech firms for potential antitrust implications.
The announcement by the US Federal Trade Commission opens the door to possible investigations of deals made by Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet since 2010.
The FTC said in a statement it ordered the five firms "to provide information about prior acquisitions not reported to the antitrust agencies" between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019.
"This initiative will enable the Commission to take a closer look at acquisitions in this important sector, and also to evaluate whether the federal agencies are getting adequate notice of transactions that might harm competition," said FTC chairman Joe Simons.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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This comes after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday held detailed deliberations in respect with legal, procedural & technical aspects of issues related to illegal Loan Apps with officials from finance ministry, corporate affairs, electronics & information technology and RBI.
In a statement the finance ministry noted that it was decided that RBI will monitor the ‘mule/rented’ accounts that may be used for money laundering and to review or cancel dormant non banking finance companies or NBFCs to avoid their misuse.
"RBI will ensure that registration of payment aggregators be completed within a timeframe and no un-registered payment aggregator be allowed to function after that," the statement noted adding that corporate affairs ministry or MCA will identify shell companies and de-register them to prevent their misuse.
Sitharaman expressed concern on increasing instances of illegal loan apps offering loans/micro credits, especially to vulnerable & low-income group people at exorbitantly high interest rates and processing/hidden charges, and predatory recovery practices involving blackmailing, criminal intimidation.
The finance minister also noted the possibility of money laundering, tax evasions, breach/privacy of data, and misuse of unregulated payment aggregators, shell companies, defunct NBFCs for perpetrating such actions.
The finance ministry in its statement noted that it was agreed that steps should be taken to increase cyber awareness for customers, bank employees, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders. "All Ministries/Agencies to take all possible actions to prevent operations of such Illegal Loan Apps," it said adding that the finance ministry will monitor the actionable points for compliance on a regular basis.
Last week, The Enforcement Directorate had conducted raids at six premises of online payment gateways such as Razorpay, Paytm and Cashfree in Bengaluru over alleged irregularities in instant app-based loans "controlled" by Chinese persons.
The ED said this money laundering case was based on at least 18 FIRs filed by the Bengaluru Police cyber crime station against "numerous entities/persons in connection with their involvement in extortion and harassment of the public who had availed small amount of loans through the mobile apps being run by those entities/persons.
Last year, a working Group on digital lending set up by RBI had identified 600 illegal lending apps operating in India. As per RBI, “Sachet”- a portal established by RBI against unregistered entities -received almost 2,562 complaints against digital lending apps between the start of January 2020 to end of March 2021.
Wednesday, 06 Dec, 2023
- Adani Stocks Zoom up to 20% in Best Single-day Show
Adani Group stocks surged on Tuesday, adding ₹1.93 lakh crore to market capitalization and marking their best single-day market performance, following a report by Bloomberg that quoted an unnamed official of the US International Development Finance Corp (DFC) as saying that the allegations by Hindenburg Research were not relevant.Apple Taps Cos in India, Taiwan, S Korea, Japan for Critical Parts
Apple is scouting for new suppliers — Indian, Japanese and South Korean — which can provide crucial components to its contract manufacturers in India, people aware of the matter told ET.Manipal Tech Looks to Raise ₹1,000 cr
Manipal Technologies (MTL), the largest manufacturer of banking and smart cards in India, plans to bring in a financial partner into the eight-decade-old, Pai family-owned business at a valuation of around ₹4,000-4,200 crore ($500 million), multiple people aware of the initiative told ET.
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The registration of all government departments in Haryana under the Goods and Services Tax will start from July 25, a top state official said on Wednesday. The Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of all departments have been directed to get themselves registered under GST, Chief Secretary D S Dhesi said here on Wednesday, while presiding over the first meeting of committee constituted to monitor the implementation of GST.
The state government has decided to depute Administrative Secretaries on duty to review the implementation of GST in all districts, the official said. Twelve sectoral groups, which include banking, financial services and insurance, telecom, IT, e-commerce and logistics, have been formed for he implementation of GST. So far 2,07,838 dealers have successfully enrolled under GST migration and by July 31, all dealers in Haryana would be enrolled.
For the migration of pending dealers, directions have been issued to Excise and Taxation Officers of all districts. Apart from this, 16,495 applications have been received for registration and 12,897 have been generated through Goods and Service Tax Identification Number (GSTIN). In order to sensitise the stakeholders, GST awareness campaigns, refresher training on GST and GSTIN modules and seminars were organised in all districts.


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Jes Hathaway is the editor in chief of National Fisherman magazine and NationalFisherman.com.
Written by Adrianne Madden
Monday, 02 August 2010
At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3, NOAA chief Jane Lubchenco will convene a national law-enforcement summit in Washington.
The one-day event will include representatives from environmental organizations, fishing groups industry lawyers and other interest groups, according to the Gloucester (Mass.) Daily Times. Attendees will discuss, according to Lubchenco, "improving compliance" and "developing forward-looking strategies to advance ... enforcement."
Presumably, this will include lessons learned from the ongoing inspection of the Office of Law Enforcement's misuse of funds, the fallout of which has inspired the gathering.
I suppose it would be difficult to come out of this summit without some positive momentum toward addressing the atrocious behavior of the OLE's agents. But without a single fisherman from Gloucester, the epicenter of this entire investigation, the summit itself has a ring of insincerity.
Ms. Lubchenco, I implore you: If you want to help the industry, talk to the fishermen. And after you hear what they say, take some action (even the tiniest gesture) to show you were listening.
Inviting all the power players you know to get together to solve the problem that slipped under their noses in the first place hardly seems like a big step forward.
I appreciate that this problem did not start under this administration, but it did go on for a year under their watch while fishermen's complaints were repeatedly drowned out.
The summit will be available as a podcast at http://www.iencode.net/Webcast/ListenPage/165/623.
National Fisherman Live: 3/10/15
In this episode, Online Editor Leslie Taylor talks with Mike McLouglin, vice president of Dunlop Industrial and Protective Footwear.
National Fisherman Live: 2/24/15
In this episode:
March date set for disaster aid dispersal
Oregon LNG project could disrupt fishing
NOAA tweaks gear marking requirement
N.C. launches first commercial/recreational dock
Spiny lobster traps limits not well received
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is partnering with restaurants throughout the region for an Out of the Blue promotion of cape shark, also known as dogfish. Starting Friday, July 3 and running until Sunday, July 12, cape shark will be available at each participating restaurant during the 10-day event. Cape shark is abundant and well deserving of a wider market.
As a joint Gulf of Mexico states seafood marketing effort sails into the sunset, the program’s Marketing Director has left for a job in the private seafood sector. Joanne McNeely Zaritsky, the former Marketing Director of the Gulf State Marketing Coalition, has joined St. Petersburg, FL based domestic seafood processor Captain’s Fine Foods as its new business development director to promote its USA shrimp product line.


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According to The Snitch (who previously said they were refusing to broadcast news), “very soon” we’ll hear about a major third-party game from PlayStation.
The Snitch didn’t go as far as to say what the game might be, but Insider Gaming reporters believe it could be a Metal Gear Solid remaster, which has been all but confirmed by numerous leaks circulating the internet.
There’s also the idea that this could lead to a PlayStation State of Play. We last saw one of these windows in September, so it makes sense that we’ll have another one soon.
This could allow Sony to remind gamers that it exists and prevent Xbox from taking all the spotlight with its big Bethesda demo later this month. However, until something is officially confirmed, we can’t get our hopes up too high.


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A recent report from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Foundation said it expects most U.S. manufacturing sectors to see growth this year. MAPI said the latest quarterly U.S. Industrial Outlook report, prepared by its research arm, offered annual projections for 23 of the 27 segments tracked by the group. It said 19 of the business segments should increase this year, primarily in construction, construction machinery, automotive and related industries. The report also said the present strength of the dollar is serving as a handicap to manufacturing growth.
This is good news – increased construction activity results in higher needs for signage.
Why, then, is HP laying off workers?
BBC.com and other news agencies, on September 16, reported Hewlett-Packard as saying it will cut another 25,000-30,000 jobs, or 10% of its worldwide workforce, as it plans to split the company in two. This announcement follows an earlier cut of 55,000 jobs (the company currently has more than 300,000 employees). HP said the cuts, which affect the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) division (that is splitting from the printer and PC business), will save $2.7billion in annual costs.
The company said the overall plan involves the changing nature of the (not its) workforce. The HP press release did not define the workforce or its changing nature.
And, why is UP laying off workers?Advertisement
Almost simultaneously, Union Pacific railroad announced it had temporarily furloughed 2,300 train, equipment and freight workers, which followed a July furloughing of 1,200 workers. The layoffs are part of a company effort to adjust its cost structure to “lower demand levels,” a railroad spokesperson said, adding that shipping volumes were down 4% for the year. The declines are in the chemical, agricultural goods and industrial-goods segments.
This year, Union Pacific has suffered a 7% profit decline, compared to last year, the company said.
Lessening rail shipments indicates less movement of commodities and goods, right?
And, what about those New York State orders?
By subject, the Union Pacific announcement somewhat ties to a September 14 AP report on manufacturing declines in New York State, which, the news agency said, has fallen for two consecutive months, because of a drop in new orders and shipments. The report said this decline is further evidence that U.S. manufacturers are contending with the fallout from lower energy prices and a strong dollar, which causes U.S. exports to be more expensive overseas.
Lower energy prices affect manufacturing costs…?Advertisement
A strong dollar — good or bad news?
Most interesting is that although a strong dollar (it has been up since July, 2014) may affect U.S. manufacturing, it’s an income asset to any American person, family or company that buys foreign-made products, because a stronger dollar effectively lowers the price of goods imported from weaker currency nations.
Further, the strong dollar only affects out-of-country sales for U.S. firms, so it isn’t causing a full-fledged catastrophe. And, in truth, most large corporations have hedge plans that protect it from currency fluctuations.
For example, in his paper, “Hedging versus not hedging: strategies for managing Foreign-exchange transaction exposure,” senior lecturer Scott McCarthy (Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) said foreign-exchange transaction exposure exists only when firms allow their financial dealings to be settled in a foreign currency, which must then be converted into the home-country currency.
To avoid currency disparity and transfer costs, McCarthy said most firms require payment in their own home currency, which eliminates the exposure to the currency differences (it’s passed onto the buyer). This type action, however, raises the price to the buyer and can affect sales, especially if the product is available from another source.
Essentially, the stronger dollar affects America’s competitiveness in a real-world market. To get around this, many corporation create internal and external hedges. The internal ones comprise the use of foreign currency accounts or leading or lagging payments. External hedges include such derivatives as futures, options and swaps. Forward contracts, the most popular get-around system, uses trading systems that countenance exact specifications on dates, amounts and explicit cost, McCarthy said.
He’s saying the strong dollar dilemma is easily correctable.Advertisement
The real question, if there is one, is?
The above summaries create interesting questions regarding the New York State manufacturing decline and the HP and UP layoffs, and (possible) strong-dollar problems for U.S. corporations, and energy costs; and, too vast to be discussed here, the China stock market fluctuations and Federal Reserve’s possible raising of interest rates (more monies for loaning agencies and less for borrowers).
All this supplemental information relates to the above quote from the MAPI Foundation that said it expects most manufacturing sectors to see growth in the U.S. this year.
It apparently hadn’t read about the New York State manufacturers.
To this, add the interesting, but uncredited claim that lower U.S. energy prices have affected manufacturing and overseas sales, and the valid question of whether any reduced rail shipping, layoffs or lessening of manufacturing are truly tied to energy costs, changing natures and currency values – or if, perhaps, other mechanisms are presently affecting now imperceptible, but soon to be obvious proceedings.
Remember the butterfly-effect, i.e., small winds that evolve into a storm?
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New PrimeSafe Board To Ensure Food Safety Standards
Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford, today announced the appointment of a new board for Victoria’s meat and seafood safety regulator PrimeSafe, which for the first time consists of 50 per cent female board members.
Under the Meat Industry Act 1993, PrimeSafe regulates the meat, poultry, seafood, game meat and pet food industries through the supply chain to ensure food safety standards are met for consumers.
The board is made up of eight members who, with the chairperson, are responsible for maintaining regulatory oversight of these industries by administering requirements of the Act and related regulations, licence conditions, industry standards and third party quality assurance.
Each member has been appointed for the period of three years for their wide range of experience and food industry knowledge in fields such as quality assurance, business management, livestock production and meat processing, retail and consumer matters, public health and industrial relations.
The new members include Clamms Seafood Quality Assurance and Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Nelia Varcoe, former Department of Health Assistant Director of Environmental Health and Water Quality, Janette Bowman, and National Union of Workers Lead Organiser, Belinda Jacobi.
They will join returning board members Veterinarian, Dr Caroline Barrett, Dairy Food Safety Victoria board member, Zoe Attwood, Hardwicks Meat Works Founder, Gary Hardwick, Chief Executive of Turifoods, Chris Turner, and Wagyu beef breeder and former retail managing director, Mr Frank Whitford.
Ms Pulford acknowledged departing board members for their commitment to the red meat, poultry and seafood industries and in particular thanked Mr John Carnie for his many years of continuous service with PrimeSafe and the former Victorian Meat Authority Board, and the commitment of Mr Frank Russo and Mr Tim Mirabella.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford
“The appointed board members boast a diverse range of industry, health and governance experience that makes them the perfect choice to lead the regulation of Victoria’s top quality meat and seafood products.”
“Our $11 billion food and fibre is the future of our economy so it’s critical we continue to ensure food safety standards are met and this vital industry protected.”
“I would like to thank all new and returning board members for their dedication and commitment to food safety within Victoria’s world class red meat, poultry and seafood industries.”


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The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150 will be the next year's processor with Android and has recently gone through it GeekBench offers data about its strengthIt is expected that this chip will be announced during the same month of December and will confirm the world its official name Qualcomm will not change the name of its processors,
As PCMag says, the successor to the Snapdragon 845 processor will not be called 8150, it's just a code nameThe company 's existing chip has been labeled as SM8150, but it's just an internal identification name and does not match the name with which it will be marketed.
It is true this is not the first time Qualcomm will change its name to a series of processors, previously comprised of the groups S1, S2, S3 and S4 and S4 in 2013 the series was changed to 200, 400, 600, 700 and 800, Currently, the official name of the new processor is unknown, but is likely to continue with the current numbering, so it could be called Snapdragon 855,
The new processor could start with the new 5 series
Rumors also claim that society could run a completely new sequence of names and start a new series with 5, because it will be the first chip with an integrated 5G modem (X50) and it may end up calling Snapdragon 5000, A change that could also occur due to the unusual configuration of the three central clusters that have recently appeared in certain leaks.
Qualcomm will announce next week a new processor that will be part of the first 5G phones, to the annual three-day event planned for December 4. What is being communicated at this point is the real processor name and its properties, leaving behind code Snapdragon 8150.
At this point we have to wait for the company officially to announce its expected processor to know all its features and official name, but it is clear that Qualcomm will continue or launch a new series of names but will not change them,
Follow us Telegram learn about the most important days and best Android offers!


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The beef between South African popular rappers, AKA and Cassper Nyovest, doesn’t look like one that would been be ending soon. The two notable rappers have been having their beef for several years. Their beef actually started in 2014. This was when the ‘Good For That‘ hit maker, Cassper Nyovest, stated that his hit song, ‘Doc Shebeleza,’ was the biggest song in the Hip Hop industry in South Africa.
The ‘Fela In Versace‘ hit maker, AKA, released a hit song titled, ‘Congratulate.’ His song became popular instantly and it dominated the streets in Mzansi. AKA went ahead to throw shade at Cassper Nyovest about his earlier statement and it is since then that a feud had been ongoing. There is no sign that their long-time feud will end anytime soon.
The award-winning rappers are currently endorsing popular alcoholic brands. While Cassper Nyovest bagged an endorsement deal with Ciroc, AKA bagged an endorsement deal with Cruz Vodka.
A Twitter user recently shared a video of the ‘Fela In Versace‘ hit maker who attended an all-white themed party. The video had gone viral on social media.
In the video, AKA can be seen seaed at his table and the table contained Cruz and Ciroc vodka. The talented rapper can be heard talking to someone as he said:
“Take this one.”
He was referring to the Ciroc brand which has being endorsed by Cassper Nyovest.
The video has become the most talked-about on social media as several Twitters users have been wondering the main reason AKA removed the vodka from his table. Some are of the opinion that he removed the drink because of his beef with Cassper Nyovest while others believe that he removed it because he could not be spotted drinking a brand of his competitor.
Fans have found the video very hilarious, and have since been laughing. They are also highly anticipating a reaction from Cassper Nyovest.
Watch the video below:
— JnzBeats™ (@JnzBeats) February 28, 2020


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According to the International Monetary Fund, removing trade restrictions between African nations will assist 50 million people escape poverty. The removal of trade barriers, according to the IMF, would boost the average amount of products traded between African nations by 53%.
The report also stated that it would rise by 15% for the remainder of the world. It concludes that removing trade barriers would boost average goods trade between African nations by 53% and with the rest of the world by 15%, increase average real per capita GDP in African nations by more than 10%, and assist in bringing an estimated 30–50 million people out of extreme poverty.
“The Washington DC based body said successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement could unlock important benefits in the continent.


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Transat A.T. Inc. says intense competition and a strong Canadian dollar had a negative impact on its latest quarterly financial results. The Montreal-based travel giant saw its net income fall to $6.2 million for the three months ended April 30th, down from $42.2 million in the year-earlier quarter.
Transat’s revenue also fell, but not as dramatically, to just under $1.1 billion – a decline of $69 million from the second quarter of last year.
“Both the quarter and the first six-month period have seen intense competition, which continues to squeeze margins and benefit the consumer. Our operating expenses are under control and our cost-reduction efforts have been successful,” said Jean-Marc Eustache, President and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, we recorded unexpected costs of $4 million as a result of volcanic activity in Iceland.”
Revenues from North American business units, generated by sales in Canada and abroad, decreased by $27.5 million, or 3.0%, compared with the same period in 2009. The decrease is attributable to a decline in average selling prices, partly offset by an increase in the number of travellers. North American business units posted a margin of just 1.5%, compared with 4.2% in 2009.
When you look at the first six months of Transat’s year, margins are even more razor-thin. Transat posted a margin of 0.6%, compared to 2.4% in 2009. The company attributes the decline in margin to lower selling prices resulting from excess supply and intense competition in the marketplace, and the fact that Transat was unable to fully capitalize on the strength of the dollar against the US currency, due to the Corporation’s hedging transactions.


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A popular bookstore in Victoria took to social media after their store was robbed of thousands of dollars in merchandise.
According to an Instagram post by Russell Books, a popular family bookstore on Fort Street, said about $55,000 worth of antiquarian books were stolen in the late hours of Wednesday, February 8th.
Victoria Buzz contacted the owner of Russell Books Victoria who declined to comment on the robbery.
Anyone with information on the theft or the whereabouts of the stolen books are encouraged to contact the VicPD non-emergency line at (250)-995-7645.
More to come.


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A password used to serve as a measure to ensure that your Web account is safe from hacking.
Well, not anymore, according to Google anti-abuse researcher Kurt Thomas.
No Longer A Paradigm
“Passwords are no longer a paradigm that you can no longer trust in,” Thomas told Mashable.
Thomas’s statement comes after researchers of the Internet search giant conducted a year-long study into how hackers filch passwords and expose them.
In conducting the study, Google worked with University of California Berkeley cybersecurity experts to track hacking activities and came out with the results on Thursday.
The study’s abstract said: “In this paper, we present the first longitudinal measurement study of the underground ecosystem fueling credential (username and password) theft and assess the risk it poses to millions of users.”
“Over the course of March 2016–March 2017, we identify 788,000 potential victims of off-the-shelf keyloggers; 12.4 million potential victims of phishing kits; and
1.9 billion usernames and passwords exposed via (third-party) data breaches and
traded on black market forums.”
Thomas explained that with the study, they are “providing solid evidence about how this (referring to password theft) is going on in the wild.”
He said they discovered that most passwords “are obtained through “deceptive e-mail phishing and ‘third-party breaches,’ such as hackers scraping passwords from a massive corporation like Equifax.”
Passwords are attractive to hackers because a Google account password, for example, can allow access to a person’s email and other accounts.
“It’s the key to the kingdom. Accounts are incredibly valuable to hijackers. There’s an incredible effort they’re putting into getting access to your email,” Thomas emphasized in the Mashable interview.
Thomas said to prevent hackers from stealing your password in any of your Web accounts; he suggested using “reputable password managers.”
He also recommended the use of different passwords across all accounts.
Google’s study shows how credential theft is carried out.
What are your thoughts on Google’s study? Share them by commenting below.


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Kanye West gives Kim Kardashian some Adidas stock: here’s why
Kanye West gifted his wife, Kim Kardashian West, hundreds of thousands of dollars in Christmas stock this year, including 995 Adidas stock, which makes up Kanye’s Yeezy shoe line.
So while the inclusion of Adidas shares may have been a bit of self-promotion, it could also turn out to be a wise financial move. As apparel competitors like Nike and Under Armor struggle to grow sales in North America at a sustained pace, Adidas has taken the lead, reporting a 31% year-over-year sales increase in November. .
Adidas attributes its strong performance to the focus on customer demand. As Nike and Under Armor continue to focus on the basketball shoes that have defined their heritage, Adidas has noticed an increase in demand for smaller, more flexible running shoes and changed its strategy to meet that demand. .
The company has also tried to win over consumers by increasing investment in e-commerce, including a new smartphone app launched in November that can be personalized for each user.
Adidas is hoping that by using customer demand to guide production decisions, it can increase brand loyalty, which could make Kim’s Christmas present the one that keeps on giving. His Adidas shares are said to be worth around $ 100,000 at the current price.
She shared a video of the giveaway, which also included Amazon, Apple, Disney and
, in an Instagram story.


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The Brother MFC-L2710DW printer is an exceptional model, known for its sleek appearance and low cost. Brick-and-mortar and online retailers such as 123Ink.ca have found this to be a very high-quality Brother printer that is popular among Canadians, many of whom have found it to be easier to shop for third-party ink toner cartridges, such as those by the popular Canadian brand Moustache, rather than pay the higher manufacturer rates.
Although some companies have chosen to go paperless in a progressive, eco-friendly movement, the vast majority of offices and educational institutions still make use of inkjet laserjet printers. And there are plenty of happy customers: according to Richard Herman, managing director of a telephone recording device company, “the printer had paid for itself after the first couple of years.”
Herman’s story is atypical. Chances are, your printer is not working for you. If you are a small business owner who operates a Brother MFC-L2710DW printer, you are probably familiar with the quality of the technology—but you are likely in the dark about the hidden secrets relating to the industry.
According to Peter Maude, the managing director of CharisCo Printer Labs, the real expenditure involved in operating a printer is unusually high, and the industry prefers to keep people in the dark about that fact. A report released by the Office of Fair Trading indicated that manufacturers control the aftermarkets, and the vast majority of consumers are not aware that the market is monopolized.
Tricks of the Trade
It is believed that dominant printer companies, particularly Lexmark and Hewlett-Packard, have the monopoly on the aftermarket—and continue to monopolize each new printer generation. As technologies evolve, so do major printer companies, with no regard to how it affects actual consumers. The myth of Brother printer ink toner replacement being expensive still prevails, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
Here’s the deal: Manufacturers intentionally sell printers for relatively low costs, knowing full well that they will trap consumers into an endless cycle of ink toner replacement. While many major printer manufacturers fail to see any profit on each printer itself, their profit margin soars with the constant purchase of replacement cartridges. And they intentionally hike up the prices of consumables, the same way razor companies sell razorblades at high costs.
In order to avoid being conned by manufacturers who refuse to be transparent, consumers are advised to shop third-party. Plenty of compatible cartridges exist, and they are typically much less expensive.


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Created: November 15, 2019 06:40 PM
HUNTER - This is the time of year when ski resorts are typically busy making snow.
However, Hunter Mountain says they're ahead of the game this year. They opened for the season on Friday.
Hunter Mountain Resort says the combination of cold temperatures and freshly made snow made conditions absolutely ideal to start their winter season.
Dozens of skiers and riders lined the slopes with excitement for fresh powder on the four mountain terraces.
Over the last year, the resort was purchased by the Vail Resorts family. Since then, the new owners have added a new trail, cleaned up existing ones, and widened many of them.
However, they are most excited to be able to offer customers the chance to purchase what is called an Epic Pass – enabling skiers and riders to visit resorts all around the country, even as far away as Australia.
Right now, the pass is just over $700 for the season. They say this is a great deal compared to the cost of the average lift ticket, which is roughly under $100 a day.
Many of the people NewsChannel 13 spoke with say they look forward to the opening day all summer. Hear from some of them by watching the video of Brooke Selby's story.
Copyright 2019 - WNYT-TV, LLC A Hubbard Broadcasting Company


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This story is the best of January!
For tens of thousands of years, humans used tools made from stone, metal, wood, and shells. Tools like knives to cut and spoons to eat were used for a lifetime if not more.
Then came plastic.
Single-use plastic utensils came about in the 1940s, were mass-produced in the 1950s, and skyrocketed in popularity and usage in the 1960s along with the fast-food explosion.
But the UK took a look at their 1.1 billion single-use plates and 4 billion pieces of plastic cutlery used every year in their country alone, and said enough is enough! The ban will pertain to single-use plastic items mostly related to takeaway food and drink. Plastic waste ends up in our oceans, takes hundreds of years to decompose, and is one of the most littered items in the world.
This story means that large countries around the world are seriously battling the plastic pollution crisis and that someday soon, our land and waters could be plastic-free.
Whether or not it's legal in your country, avoid single-use plastic whenever you can.
Instead, bring and use a reusable water bottle, a porcelain mug, your own metal cutlery, Tupperware containers, cloth tote bags, etc.
While you're at it, support Beyond Plastics, whose mission is to end plastic pollution everywhere.


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Wal-Mart Stores plans to sell the newest iterations of iPhones at a discount, a pricing strategy that Apple has managed to squash for years. The cheaper iPhone 5c will be sold at the world’s largest retailer for $79 along with a standard two-year service contract, 20 percent less than anywhere else in the U.S. The higher-end iPhone 5s will sell for $189, $10 cheaper than its typical sticker price with a service contract.
In the world of smartphone retail, this marks something of a breakthrough. Apple for decades has excelled at making sure the prices for its gadgets were as simple and as stripped down as the products themselves—a level of control achieved through a fairly aggressive combination of carrot and stick known as “price maintenance.”
Share Your Thoughts


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5:29 a.m. Jan. 5, 2017
- By Anne Steele
Sears sells Craftsman brand, unveils plans to close 150 stores to boost liquidity Sears is making a series of moves to improve its financial flexibility as it works through a challenging period for department storesCash-strapped retailer unveils measures to raise cash and increase its financial flexibility.
5:24 a.m. Nov. 27, 2016
- By Quentin Fottrell
Meet the richest person in each of the 50 U.S. statesThey’re not all billionaires, but they’re probably richer than you.
9:40 a.m. Aug. 18, 2016
Valeant again able to loosen debt termsValeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. has again reached a deal with its loan holders to amend its debt terms, giving it more breathing room as it continues to dig out from a year of business and accounting distress.
3:10 a.m. May 17, 2016
Home Depot tops views, raises outlookAmerican shoppers appear more willing to spend on homes than clothes. Home Depot Inc. on Tuesday reported a strong start to the year with more shoppers visiting stores and spending at levels not seen since before the housing bust. Sales at existing stores rose 6.5% in the period. Shoppers spent just over $60 per trip too, the highest level since the first quarter of 2006.
10:54 a.m. May 9, 2016
LendingClub CEO ousted after loan sales reviewThe CEO of the leading company in the burgeoning online-lending industry resigned Monday following a board investigation into what it called improper practices in the lending process. The departure of Renaud Laplanche immediately pushed down LendingClub Corp.'s stock by 26%, a fall that would be its sharpest one-day decline and put the stock at an all-time low.
2:15 a.m. April 21, 2016
Stanley Black & Decker profit up 18%, ups outlookStanley Black & Decker Inc. on Thursday reported a surprise rise in revenue and boosted its outlook for the year, as its first-quarter profit shot up 17% thanks to growth in the tool marker's largest business.
11:35 a.m. March 11, 2016
- By Robert Powell
Retirement news: The week in reviewThe 2016 Guide to Retirement from J.P. Morgan Asset Management provides a range of insights about what financial challenges individuals should expect in retirement, including hard figures on Medicare premiums, long-term care costs and other critical aspects of retiree health care.


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أستراليا تستعد لمراقبة «جوجل» و«فيس بوك»
Australia’s government said on Friday that it plans to tighten regulation of Facebook and Google to address the harm that it said large digital platforms are causing to businesses, consumers and the media.
Among the measures under consideration is the creation of a new digital markets division within the competition regulator to scrutinise algorithms used by both companies, as well as a major overhaul of competition, consumer and privacy legislation.
“Make no mistake, these companies are among the most powerful and valuable in the world,” said Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s treasurer, at the launch of a government commissioned report on the dominance of digital platforms. “They need to be held to account and their activities need to be more transparent.”
Canberra has set a 12-week consultation period with industry and plans to begin preparing legislation by the end of the year.
The Digital Platforms Inquiry by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found Facebook and Google have substantial market power, which has distorted the ability of businesses to compete on their merits in advertising, media and a range of other markets.
Consumers are not adequately informed about how their data are collected and have little control over how it is used to generate revenue, the inquiry concluded. Disinformation and a rising mistrust of news due to the rise of digital platforms has had an impact on society, according to the 620-page report.
Publication of the report comes amid increasing global scrutiny of technology giants, with US regulators fining Facebook a record $5bn over privacy violations and EU regulators fining Google €4.3bn for abusing the dominance of its Android mobile phone operating system.
The ACCC inquiry is one of the world’s most comprehensive studies of the impact that Facebook and Google have on advertising, news media and other sectors.
It pinpoints the dominance of the two biggest digital platforms in Australia, noting that for every A$100 spent by advertisers on online advertising, Google captures A$47, Facebook A$24 and just A$29 goes to other participants in the market. The inquiry also highlights the precipitous decline in classified advertising revenues generated by commercial media, which fell to A$225m in 2016 from A$3.7bn in 2001, when adjusted for inflation.
The report makes 23 recommendations to the government, including forcing Google to unbundle its Chrome internet browser from mobile phones and other devices, to curtailing the company’s near-monopoly position in internet search. It also calls for a new digital platform code of conduct to cover privacy, disinformation, relationships with advertisers and news business.
Rod Sims, the ACCC chairman, said the inquiry team had been shocked at some of the practices uncovered, including a chronic lack of transparency in the advertising technology market, the ineffectiveness of privacy policies and the way customer data are used.
ACCC is continuing to investigate Google and Facebook over five alleged misuses of market power, which could result in enforcement action. It stopped short of recommending the digital giants be broken up to protect consumers, although this could become a focus of future work if there is no change in behaviour.
“At this stage we want to deal with the harms we see,” said Mr Sims. “But if on this journey that I’m talking it turns out that that’s not working and divestiture is a better approach then that can always be recommended down the track.”
Digi, a lobby group that counts Facebook and Google among its members, said it was closely reviewing the recommendations to ensure they do not bring unintended consequences to all digital businesses.
Digital Platforms Inquiry: key recommendations
- Create a specialist digital platforms unit within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to monitor and investigate anti-competitive conduct by digital platforms
- Force Google to provide a choice of internet browsers on devices
- Establish a code of conduct requiring digital platforms to share revenue they generate from traditional media content with newspapers and broadcasters
- Strengthen privacy laws and introduce an enforceable code of conduct that restricts the use of personal information
- Appoint an ombudsman with the power to resolve disputes between consumers/businesses and digital platforms
- Tighten competition laws to ensure digital platforms do not remove future competitive threats by buying innovative start-ups
Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
أقرت أستراليا في أبريل الماضي مشروع قانون يسعى إلى معاقبة الشبكات الاجتماعية عند فشلها في إزالة المحتوى العنيف من برامجها، وتسعى هيئة مكافحة الاحتكار هناك إلى إنشاء وحدة مخصصة لمراقبة أنشطة كل من «جوجل» و«فيس بوك». وبحسب موقع engadget الأميركي فإن إنشاء هذه الوحدة يأتي ضمن أحد المقترحات الـ 23 المكتوبة في تقرير هيئة المنافسة والاحتكار الأسترالية (ACCC) المؤلف من 623 صفحة حول سلوك عمالقة التكنولوجيا المناهضين للمنافسة في البلاد، ووفقاً لوكالة رويترز ستنظر الوحدة المخصصة داخل اللجنة عن كثب في كيفية استخدام الشركات للخوارزميات لمطابقة المستخدمين بالإعلانات. وقد دعت هيئة المنافسة والاحتكار الأسترالية (ACCC) إلى وضع مدونة قواعد سلوك جديدة لعمالقة التكنولوجيا، تسمح «للمستهلكين معرفة والتحكم في البيانات التي يتم جمعها وكيفية استخدامها»، وقد نصحت الحكومة بتعزيز قانون الخصوصية الأسترالي، ووضع خطة لحل شكاوى المستهلكين ضد المنصات الرقمية، كما درست اللجنة الشركتين لمدة 18 شهراً قبل تسليم تقريرها إلى الحكومة، وخلصت إلى أن القانون يسمح للشركات بجمع واستخدام البيانات الشخصية دون موافقة مستنيرة وبطرق لا يفهمها المستخدمون.


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In 2020, fragrance emerged as a star of the pandemic as individuals turned to perfumes, colognes, candles and extra to escape the then-grim reality. A year later on, the class has still to slow down.
Though other attractiveness sectors suffered all over 2020, by August, fragrance sales experienced enhanced calendar year-in excess of-12 months. In the first quarter of 2021, fragrance product sales arrived at $954 million, in accordance to information from the NPD Group, an 82 % maximize from the first quarter of 2020, and a 35 % raise from pre-pandemic 2019.
“Last calendar year, the increase in fragrance product sales was buyers wanting to be transported to a different time. This yr, it’s all about commencing fresh new and new,” claimed Larissa Jensen, vice president and magnificence industry advisor at NPD. “They want to get out there and they want a new fragrance when they do.”
With momentum however strong, brands are keen to spend in the house: Ulta Attractiveness launched more than 70 new fragrances in 2020 and strategies to debut even much more this yr. Elegance giant Coty launched various fragrances this yr, with the company’s luxurious fragrances from Marc Jacobs, Burberry and Gucci “outperforming,” in accordance to the company’s Q3 earnings report.
Lesser organizations see possibilities, much too. Boy Smells, the five-year-aged candle corporation, launched fragrances for the to start with time this year, while Scentbird, the startup that mails consumers fragrance samples, debuted several new scents as a result of its in-home fragrance models Sanctuary and Confessions of a Rebel.
But even as fragrance gross sales soar, the marketplace is altering. Messaging about attraction and sex have mostly been tweaked to aim on self-treatment. Buyers are more and more looking for out businesses that concentration on sustainability and evolving gender norms. And when it arrives to shopping for new scents, in outlets and on the net are both significant channels, and so fragrance firms ought to rethink how they will situation discovery.
Marketing and advertising That Smells New
Inside the industry, the promoting of fragrance has shifted away from hyper-sexualised, rigidly-gendered messages.
Together with the rest of the manner and elegance industries, an growing selection of models are experimenting with gender-neutral scents. The move is particularly important to Gen-Z clients, who are a lot more at ease with gender fluidity than previous generations. Fifty per cent of Gen Z-ers believe gender labels are antiquated, in accordance to a study from promoting insights company Bigeye.
In fragrance, the move toward gender neutrality dates back to 1994 with the start of the initial unisex fragrance, Calvin Klein’s CK One particular, which went on to grow to be a finest-vendor. But though CK 1 and other gender-neutral scents commonly stick to citrus notes, some fragrance corporations are embracing stereotypically feminine fragrances like rose and marketing the scents to everyone. Boy Smells’ newly-debuted fragrances, for example, are gender-neutral, but co-founder Matthew Herman reported the company purposefully utilizes scents that have customarily been connected with one gender, like rose or musk, and often mixes them.
“We want to blend traditionally masculine and female notes and throw absent outdated gender thoughts that males are intended to odor like wood and musk and women scent like bouquets,” he claimed.
Advertising and marketing a fragrance to everybody helps brand names forged a broader web, an significant tactic for smaller models competing with fragrance giants.
“If you say you’re a woman’s fragrance, you pigeonhole you, but if you say practically nothing, you let any individual enjoy it,” explained co-founder Alissa Sullivan, co-founder of new fragrance startup Liis, which released this thirty day period.
Still, in the “very traditional” fragrance field, explained Jensen, lots of consumers choose gendered fragrances. But there is even now an chance to evolve. Penny Coy, vice president of merchandising at Ulta Splendor, said various new Ulta retailers opening this calendar year will exhibit fragrances categorised by brand, somewhat than gender, as its current suppliers do.
“We want to express to the friends that it’s flawlessly wonderful to store both-or,” said Coy.
The tone of promotion around fragrance has also shifted: A historically sexualised industry, perfumes and colognes often relied on gender stereotypes and objectifying women of all ages in their advertising. Instead, brand names are advertising and marketing fragrances as a little something that customers need to get for on their own — an in particular appealing information during the pandemic.
“Fragrance campaigns have been about sexual intercourse and attraction — like how if you use the newest Dolce & Gabanna fragrance, you will then get to have sexual intercourse on a rock on the Amalfi Coast,” explained Herman. “But shoppers are far more emotionally capable nowadays. Fragrance ought to have additional progress and self-reflection [in marketing].”
“If you say you are a woman’s fragrance, you pigeonhole on your own, but if you say practically nothing, you allow everyone recognize it.”
Spritzed With Sustainability
Fragrances are also currently being marketed — and produced — with sustainability in mind, such as the amplified use of upcycled ingredients.
“It’s a vital way to make superior use of the earth’s means to lessen our affect on the environment,” reported Emily Bond, the head of good fragrance North The usa at Givaudan, one of the world’s major fragrance makers, of upcycled fragrances. Givaudan has applied upcycled ingredients for fragrances like the Nue Co.’s Forest Lungs and St. Rose’s Vigilante and expects that buyer fascination in upcycled fragrances will only enhance as the cleanse natural beauty craze continues.
Even so, upcycling offers hurdles: Herman said upcycled components are expensive and that a lot of fragrance providers are ready for the process to grow to be additional accessible. Internet marketing upcycled elements can be tough as well, with shoppers made use of to anticipating “newness” in natural beauty, mentioned Bee Shapiro, founder of the fragrance corporation Ellis Brooklyn, which employs upcycled substances in equally its Salt fragrance and an future fragrance launching in September.
“We talk about upcycling,and people today remark, ‘is this employing rubbish?’” Shapiro reported. “The beauty tale requires to be instructed a very little in different ways.”
Considering About Discovery
With stores shuttered in 2020, several purchasers started acquiring fragrances on the web. Even with store doorways reopened, manufacturers are performing on strategies to preserve that channel and see purchasable samples as the cornerstone to their acquisition system.
“Discovering a new scent is really scarce [online],” Jensen said. “Everyone wants to be creative in conditions of how they market on-line.”
Boy Smells and Liis both of those launched their fragrances with sample sets. Herman claimed although Boy Smells does not make income on the sample sets (4 scents marketed for $16), the marketing and advertising benefit helps make them well worth the value.
“It’s the ideal way to get to the DTC customer and enable them to encounter the entire range of the merchandise,” he said.
Even with an eye on electronic, fragrance labels significant and tiny are however leaning into retail. Boy Smells started wholesaling its fragrances to Nordstrom in March whilst Liis will be bought at notion suppliers like Arielle Shoshana in Fairfax, Va., Rennes in Philadelphia and the Sunroom Boutique in Austin, Tex. Before this thirty day period, Coty debuted a touchless fragrance product for purchasers to odor fragrances, which will roll out at elegance suppliers before long.
“We had been imagining about what the new norm was heading to be, and very quickly, the strategy [became] a connected machine, touchless, to respect the strategy of hygiene and basic safety,” reported Thierry Moliere, senior vice president of sustainability, tech and innovation at Coty. He extra that the unit — which can disperse a solitary droplet for shoppers, which is powerful sufficient to smell, but not overpowering — is also meant to enhance in-store searching, as it will not overwhelm the room with scent.
Continuing to invest in bodily retail experiences will be critical for the future of fragrance, according to Moliere.
“E-commerce is a essential driver, but perfume is an olfactory encounter and the physical level of sale is crucial and important,” Moliere stated.
Can Upcycling Acquire Mainstream Traction in Natural beauty?
Salvatore Ferragamo and Inter Parfums Signal Fragrance Arrangement
StockX Enters the Beauty Current market


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WIND Mobile Chairman Tony Lacavera announced yesterday they filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau about how Rogers new discount carrier Chatr Wireless advertises they have “fewer dropped calls than new wireless carriers”. Lacavera stated that “There is absolutely no solid or objective technical basis for Chatr’s claim to have more network reliability and fewer dropped calls than Wind.”
The battle is heating up as we’ve just received an official statement from Rogers Director of PR Kathy Murphy:
“There’s no question our advertising reflects our competitive advantage and we stand behind it. We feel strongly that customers want and deserve a reliable network experience. Since 2005, we have conducted regular and rigorous testing comparing our network against our competitors’. The testing, which follows industry standard methodology, is independently validated and proves that we have fewer dropped calls. We have fully shared our research with the Competition Bureau and are cooperating with the process. We question Wind’s motives in complaining to the Bureau and the announcement today.”
Will this “fewer dropped calls” debate turn into the familiar fight over who is the largest, who is the fastest and who is the most reliable?


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LMT Communications, Inc. posted a newsbrief
At the recent American Dental Association Annual Session, the ADA House of Delegates passed Resolution 52. This resolution says, "Resolved that in order to enhance dental patient health and safety, the...
Maribeth Marsico wrote an articleCc: 6 peopleAcquafredda Rita
American Dental Association
Custom Milling Center
Darby Dental Laboratory Supply Co., Inc.
It's been more than a year since two of our industry's biggest suppliers - Zahn Dental and Darby Dental...(more)
> It's been more than a year since two of our industry's biggest suppliers - Zahn Dental and Darby Dental Lab Supply - merged into one. LMT visited Zahn's Melville, New York headquarters to hear about the newly integrated company and its plans for 2008. When you hear of a merger or acquisition, it's...
See AllAmerican Dental Association's Recent Activity
- 34% use one other lab/manufacturer - 39% use two other labs/manufacturers - 17% use three other labs/manufacturers - 10% use more than three other labs/manufacturers
LMT Original Research © 2010 - 2013


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Furnishing Malaysia with Exciting Diversity and Unlimited Opportunities:
The furniture sector is one of the few industries in Malaysia that can proudly stand out for its products as truly "Made-in-Malaysia". This is attributable to the fact that the Malaysian timber raw materials, especially rubber wood, are sourced locally by Malaysian furniture producers. Compared to some of our major exports in the form of crude or semi-furnished products, we managed to export our furniture as end-user products.
For more than two decades, the Malaysian furniture industry has our commendably thrived because of its strong downstream sector. Today, Malaysia is among the world's 10 furniture exporters. In the first nine months of last year, furniture manufacturers contributed some RM5.9 billion to the nation's total export earnings.
The global furniture market is expected to grow between 3% and 5% annually over the next five years. With market gravity shifting towards the Asia Pacific region, Malaysian furnitrue manufacturers can look forward to enjoying a much larger slice of the market share. Against such backdrop, the outlook for the Malaysian furniture industry is certainly bright.
The merger of the two national-level organisations -- the Malaysian Furniture Industry Council (MFIC) and the Malaysian Furniture Entrepreneur Association (MFEA) -- last year is a positive development for the industry. Through the merger, a new entity known as the Malaysian Furniture Council (MFC) was set up on 20th September 2014. By consolidating the views and strengths of all industry players, the Council can now embark on a long-term, holistic approach to enhance the future development of the industry.
The Council's founding president and committees see the industry's future direction in a different perspective: that is, going beyond the current state of thriving and prosperity, the real challenge is about how to share the success of the industry with all Malaysians, regardless of ethnic backgrounds and geographical locations. In return, the Council wants the responsibility to safeguard the industry and to improve our global position to be shared by all Malaysians, from both the private and public sectors.
Going forward, we have conceptualized a five-year plan known as Furnishing Malaysia with Exciting Diversity and Unlimited Opportunities (2016 - 2020). The plan should be finalized by the end of this year and will address and focus on the following key aspects:-
- Renewed efforts in traditional markets;
- Coordinated strategies for the emerging markets;
- Promoting diversity as a competitive edge;
- Improving sustainability and variety of raw materials;
- Striking a balance between technology, innovation and human resources skills; and
- Serving small players and society
I strongly believe that with the right mindset and commitment from all furniture industry stakeholders, we will be able to accomplish our goals and take the industry to greater heights in the next five years.
On the note, I urge every member of the MFC to extend their fullest coorperation towards ensuring the successful implementation of the programmes outlined for the five-year plan.
Finally, let's us all take great pride in our contribution to the nation's socio-economic growth and vision towards attaining the developed status by 2020.
Chua Chun Chai
President, Malaysia Furniture Council


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The Game Awards 2023 are over and I'm going over some of the interesting bits that were announced, like SEGA deciding to just go nuts.
SEGA decided to come along in style and blow away all expectations announcing not one, not two — but five new games in development and all are modern takes on some true classics including Jet Set Radio, Shinobi, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, and Crazy Taxi.
“In recent years, Sonic the Hedgehog has forged new paths for SEGA, bringing the franchise to life and reaching new audiences in ways we had only dreamed of in the past. Building off that success, we are digging into our legacy and reimagining several franchises to bring these games to more audiences around the globe,” says Co-COO of SEGA Corporation and CEO of SEGA of America, Shuji Utsumi. “Today's announcement is just the start of our initiative. First and foremost, our ambition will be to create great games with memorable characters and worlds. We hope fans of all ages will look towards our future with anticipation as we release these projects in the coming years.”
Naturally, thanks to Valve's Steam Play Proton, it's likely all of them will be playable on Linux / Steam Deck on or shortly after release in some form.
Are you as excited as I am?


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EC not worried about UK sweetheart deals after Brexit
Q: Are you concerned that there could be a proliferation of sweetheart tax deals in the UK after Brexit?
I don’t see why the situation would change, Vestager replies.
If you don’t have it now, why have it later?
She argues that “political direction and administrative practices” determine what kind of tax system a country runs.
Luxembourg’s statement on Amazon tax ruling
Luxembourg has issued a statement, arguing that Amazon did not benefit from state aid (as the EC claim):
Luxembourg has taken notice of the decision by the European Commission in the Amazon case. Luxembourg will use appropriate due diligence to analyse the decision and reserves all its rights.
The decision of the Commission refers to a period going back to 2006. Over time, both the international and the Luxembourg legal frameworks have substantially evolved. As Amazon has been taxed in accordance with the tax rules applicable at the relevant time, Luxembourg considers that the company has not been granted incompatible State aid, as foreseen by article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Luxembourg has been fully cooperating with the Commission in its investigation and is strongly committed to tax transparency and the fight against harmful tax avoidance. Luxembourg fully adheres to the OECD/G20 BEPS project, which modernizes international tax rules and creates a global level playing field.
Q: Can member states claim some of Amazon’s €250m tax bill for themselves?
Vestager suggests this is unlikely (ie, because the money should have been paid to the Luxembourg tax offices).
Q: Could today’s decisions make member states more worried that the EC is interfering in their tax affairs?
Vestager says she hasn’t heard this sort of complaint. Member States understand the importance of an effective tax system in the world of digital commerce and large multinationals.
Amazon: We didn’t evade tax
Amazon has rejected the EC’s ruling that it illegally avoided paying enough tax in Europe, and may appeal.
In a statement, it says:
We believe that Amazon did not receive any special treatment from Luxembourg and that we paid tax in full accordance with both Luxembourg and international tax law.
We will study the commission’s ruling and consider our legal options, including an appeal.”