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Apple raked in 83.4% of Smartphone Profits in Q1 2017 while Samsung sat in Apple's Shadow at 12.9%
Once again Apple has captured the most share of operating profits generated from global smartphone sales in the first quarter this year.
It was reported late yesterday by market research firm Strategy Analytics that Apple's smartphone business recorded an operating profit of US$10.18 billion in the first quarter. It accounts for 83.4 percent of US$12.21 billion of the total operating profits made by global smartphone manufacturers, up from 79.8 percent at the same period a year ago.
In contrast, Samsung Electronics posted US$1.58 billion in operating profit in the first quarter, taking up 12.9 percent of the total.
Samsung's figure showed a sharp decrease from 21.9 percent in the first quarter a year ago. The company's operating profit ratio in the smartphone business came to 9.7 percent in the first quarter, a third of Apple's.
It is the first time for Samsung Electronics to see its smartphone business' operating profit fall short of 10 percent except for the third quarter last year when the company narrowly escaped running an operating deficit due to the discontinuation of the Galaxy Note 7.
Samsung Electronics' smartphone business operating profit rate has been continuing to fall, decreasing from 22.1 percent in 2013, 16 percent in 2014 and 11.1 percent in 2015, and then ever so slightly increased to 11.6 percent in 2016.
In addition, the market landscape among Chinese smartphone producers has changed. Huawei had higher sales with US$6.47 billion than OPPO with US$5.41 billion in the first quarter, but OPPO had higher operating profits with US$254 million than Huawei with US$226 million. It is the first time for OPPO, which has emerged as a new strong market player, surpassed Huawei, which has the third largest sales in the global market, in terms of operating profit, boosted by the success of its premium phones in the global market, including the R9s. Recently, Huawei has been also strengthening its high-end product lines.
Chinese smartphone makers lag far behind Apple and Samsung in terms of smartphone business operating profit rate in the first quarter – OPPO with 4.7 percent, Huawei with 3.5 percent and Vivo with 4.5 percent.
An official from the electronics industry said, "Only 10 out of 300 smartphone makers make profits. Apple is the sole leader in terms of profitability, while the market polarization has become more serious."
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This year, YMCA Burton’s Easter Campaign focused on raising money for their Foodbank.
Whilst the Foodbank relies on donations made by members of the public, businesses, schools, colleges, churches, and community groups; there are still other costs that need to be met such as buying additional food, storage, carrier bags and utility costs.
Currently, an emergency food parcel contains 28 food items which will feed someone three meals for three days. The food parcel contains food to the value of £24.46 per parcel.
The Foodbank has helped over 1,400 people in the first quarter of this year and with the rising costs of living set to increase further, YMCA Burton believe their service will be in even higher demand.
Their Easter campaign consisted of their annual Apne Curry evening – which was resumed this year after a two-year break due to Covid-19. Diners enjoyed a three-course meal, entertainment from local singer Chris Baldwin and a raffle and auction, which was led by TV’s Richard Winterton.
YMCA Burton also held a fashion and shopping event at Riverside church. Co-hosted by SOS Fashions, they were able to offer an evening with a catwalk show, reduced high street brands and homemade cake too.
Schools in the local area also donated towards the Easter Campaign, with Paget High School holding a non-uniform day which raised £446 after a series of assemblies held by the charity that week. Riverview School also held a non-uniform day and raised £260 following a visit from YMCA Chaplain Grace Evans.
Collating all the contributions from the events, the schools work and private/corporate donations, YMCA Burton are pleased to announce £7318 was raised towards their foodbank service.
This will make such a huge difference to the lives of many local people who are struggling to feed themselves or their families over the coming months as they experience food poverty.
Paul Laffey, CEO of Burton YMCA said “How wonderful to be back hosting in-person events again. The Easter campaign has been brilliant with lots of community support, and we thank everyone for supporting us, from donating prizes to buying tickets to the events. The target was to help towards the foodbank, and we know this amount raised will secure it for the next few months.”
Paula Senior, Fundraising and Partnerships manager said: “We have loved this last month of fundraising and seeing new and familiar faces at our events. We are always interested to hear from people with their ideas for fundraising in the community, schools, or businesses. If you have an idea and would like to raise money for the YMCA, please give us a call on 01283 538802”
As YMCA Burton celebrate their 135-year anniversary this year, keep a look out for other events during the year on their website www.burtonymca.org or social media platforms.

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The California egg law set to go into effect in 2015 is being challenged by Missouri’s Attorney General, Chris Koster.
A law passed in California in 2008 banned the sale of eggs from hens that have spent their entire lives in cages which do not meet certain standards involving quality of life.
The 2010 regulations stipulate that hens’ eggs, beef, and pork all be prohibited from being sold in the state; the law was then furthered in 2010 when lawmakers approved of a new bill stating that, as well as the sale of eggs, the sales of beef and pork products would also be deemed illegal. A five-year time limit was placed on the law, giving the state’s animal producing associates time to organize their farms for compliance.
On Tuesday, Koster filed a motion in a Fresno, California federal court to halt the law’s enactment, evidencing his claim of the negative ways in which the law would impact the economic system in Missouri because of the multitude of farmers relying on the production and sales of eggs for their living; the Midwestern state produces roughly 1.7 billion eggs per year, selling over 33% of those.
The new law would require millions of dollars of farmers’ money to be spent on rebuilding cages which would allow for state-wide compliance with the limits, cited Koster.
Many Missouri citizens agree with Koster’s decision to file a claim against California, if only for the fact that they, like the Attorney General, believe that by allowing California’s law to pass, we would be faced with a new national division, involving the tendency of larger states to overpower the smaller.
However, this sentiment is disagreed upon by other residents of the state, some of whom say that this lawsuit will only end up costing their state more money in the long run – specifically, in the form of farmers’ tax dollars.
Missouri's attorney general is taking aim at California's egg law requiring space for hens http://t.co/CD3aY09nFl
— CBS Sacramento (@CBSSacramento) February 4, 2014
Main image courtesy Lhademmor/U.S.D.A. via Wikimedia Commons.


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Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are reflecting on 15 years of their luxury fashion line, The Row, opening up about their creative process like never before.
In a new, rare interview with i-D magazine, the twin sisters looked back at the origin of their beloved clothing brand and their decision to stay out of the public eye in order to focus on their joint business.
“We were raised to be discreet people,” Mary-Kate said about why she and her sibling have become more elusive in recent years.
“I think that potentially that’s just our aesthetic, our design preference,” Ashley added, explaining that their personalities meld into their design work. “But that doesn’t mean that we don’t also appreciate something truly ornate or maximal. Sometimes a collection even starts quite like that, and then gets pared down. It doesn’t always start from that simplistic place.”
With the debut of The Row more than a decade ago, the sisters made the conscious decision to leave their famous monikers out of the line’s branding for the sake of being taken seriously.
“We didn’t want to be in front of it, we didn’t necessarily even want to let people know it was us,” Ashley said. “It was really about the product, to the point where we were like: Who could we get to front this so that we don’t have to?”
Ultimately, the Olsens saw their brand and their foray into fashion as a way to perfect their design practice and exercise their creativity.
“We’re hard workers and we’ve always been hard workers,” Mary-Kate said. “I think the reason we do fashion is to constantly try to fix our imperfections. And you have next season to do that. But it’s also our job to find every imperfection in there to make sure that we’re constantly pushing ourselves and training our eyes and making sure everyone is served. Just evolving and learning.”
This article originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US.
Related article: All Of The Olsen Twin’s Best Street Style Moments


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LOVE IS IN THE AIR
| Fly away with Victor and Uber this Valentine’s Day
Victor has teamed up with Uber to fly three lucky couples away for a Valentine’s weekend like no other in New York City. Anyone taking an Uber ride in one of 52 East Coast cities between 8am and 8pm on Friday 12th February will be in with a chance of winning an all-expenses paid trip to the Big Apple.
As if private jet travel was not enough, the prize also includes ground transfers in special Uber Upgrade Your Vday vehicles, an overnight stay at the Gansevoort Hotel in the heart of the Meatpacking District, a day of pampering at Exhale Spa, and a $2,500 shopping spree uptown at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Dinner is taken care of on Saturday courtesy of NYC’s premier American eatery, The Chester, before Sunday’s big blowout at legendary chef Mario Batali’s Del Posto, where couples will enjoy a five-course Valentine’s Day Dinner with wine pairings and a private tour. Added romance comes courtesy of flower arrangements from 1800Flowers.com.
“We’re thrilled Uber has invited us to help gift-wrap this ultimate Valentine’s Day prize,” said Victor’s Chief Marketing Officer Dan Northover. “The seamless, on-demand connection between Uber ride and Victor flight will ensure winners are whisked away to their romantic weekends in a quick, convenient, stress-free style like never before. It promises to be an amazing experience.”
To participate, US East Coast users just need to take an Uber trip on Friday, February 12 between 8am and 8pm. Select the Promotions tab from the app menu, and apply the code ‘DREAMDATE’. Set pin, slide over to the special Valentine’s Day “LOVE” view, and request. The three winners will be picked up in special Uber Upgrade Your Vday vehicles, and with the tap of a button, win a stylish private jet flight to the ultimate getaway.
For more information on the Victor and Uber Ultimate Valentine’s Day Getaway, visit http://t.uber.com/dreamdatevictor.
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A German pilot project is now using the app to promote Bavaria.Chinese users can simply scan QR codes at hotels and sights to access information portals or booking sites.
Although the Chinese Communist Party urges its firms to expand into global markets, the party’s intimate relationship with China’s tech sector has made overseas consumers wary.
Tech products from China, such as affordable smartphones, are regularly accused of having security flaws and even claimed to be tools for government spying.
But as long as the party state controls their right to operate in the Chinese market, they will continue to make profit at the cost of users’ freedom of speech.
According to We Chat’s own claims, user data is not monitored or stored by the company, as long as there is no requirement from the Chinese authorities.
To date, We Chat has successfully launched its payment service in 15 countries.
Australia is a popular destination for Chinese tourists and students and it was one of the first offshore markets We Chat Pay targeted.Meg Jing Zeng does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.Queensland University of Technology provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.Most early overseas adopters of this service are duty free shops and Chinese restaurants, but in Australia it is also common to see the We Chat pay option available in pharmacies.Due to the high demand in China for Australian-made baby formula and health supplements, a visit to a pharmacy to stock up is often on a Chinese tourist’s “must do list” when visiting Australia.More recent reports suggest that private conversations on We Chat are sometimes monitored by the Chinese police.Tags: Adult Dating, affair dating, sex dating


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Opening back up
Traffic up and down Main Street in Ardmore was a bit heavier over the weekend as some shoppers got out to support local small business now that restrictions have been relaxed. Starting Friday, May 1 some stores, restaurant dining rooms, movie theaters and gyms were allowed to reopen as long as they adhered to social distancing protocols and sanitation procedures.
Allison Meredith, owner of Moments to Remember, said around 50 customers came though over Friday and Saturday, and the everyone did a good job of maintaining distance from fellow shoppers. Raigan Miller, sales associate at The Stag, agreed with Meredith’s description and she said several customers came in wearing masks and voluntarily kept their distance when waiting in line to check out.
Meredith said she thinks several people came downtown to shop because the large chain retailers remain closed. Miller said many of the customers came to browse their selection without any specific purchases in mind.
“I don’t feel like any one item has been selling better than anything else,” Miller said. “A lot of people were out looking for Mother’s Day gifts, and we’ve also sold a lot of t-shirts and other summer clothes.”
Both stores closed their doors to the public in March and turned to online sales to help make up for the loss of foot traffic. Moments to Remember sold several custom Easter Baskets during the time the store was shut down, and they are currently making custom Mother’s Day and graduation gift baskets. Customers can phone the store with their selections, then opt to pick them up in person or have it delivered right to their house.
“We’re trying to go above and beyond for our customers,” Meredith said. “We’re still doing curbside delivery to your car, and we can also ship items or do a porch delivery. So if people are uncomfortable getting out, they can still shop with us.”
Miller said they also experienced success with online retail. The Stag would post photos of outfits and available sizes to their Instagram page, and then people could contact the store with their order. Staff from the store would then deliver items to the purchaser’s vehicle.


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Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd recorded it highest ever profit after tax (PAT) in its financial year ended Jan 31, 2018 (FY2018), in an environment of declining advertising expenditure.
The group attributed its sterling performance to its increasingly diversified revenue base and relentless cost optimisation through digitalisation initiatives and optimisation of content spend as well as a favourable climate for foreign exchange.
The country’s largest pay-TV operator achieved PAT of RM770.64 million in FY2018, up from RM623.68 million in FY2017, RM615.3 million in FY2016 and RM519.4 million in FY2015.
This translated into a three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.1%, which bagged Astro The Edge BRC award for the highest growth in PAT over three years in the telecommunications and media sector. However, revenue in FY2018 was flat at RM5.53 billion compared with RM5.61 billion in FY2017.
Meanwhile, despite management’s efforts to address digital disruption, investors remained concerned about the company’s prospects, thus putting pressure on its share price last year.
The stock plummeted 50.9% to close at RM1.30 on the last trading day of 2018 and was hovering near RM1.50 at the time of writing. The saving grace, however, was Astro’s consistent dividend payments for every quarter for at least the last five years.
Its dividend yield helped cushion the pain from the fall in profit in FY2019. According to the group’s 2019 annual report, PAT fell 39.9% year on year to RM462.92 million in FY2019 while revenue dipped to RM5.48 billion.
CEO Henry Tan Poh Hock told shareholders that FY2019 was a major sporting year, featuring the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which resulted in higher content costs while the group faced foreign exchange headwinds.
“Our strength remains our reach of 5.7 million Malaysian homes serving 23 million individuals, 16.2 million weekly listeners on radio, 8.3 million average monthly unique visitors to our digital brands and over 1.8 million registered customers on Go Shop, our commerce platform,” he said.
Tan said Astro’s focus in FY2020 is to strengthen its core pay-TV and NJOI businesses with the key priorities being customers, content and customer experience.
In line with Astro’s dividend policy of 75% payout of consolidated profits, it rewarded shareholders with a nine sen dividend per share in FY2019, which translated into 101% of profits and a yield of 5.4%.
Tan said Astro will adopt a two-pronged approach in FY2020 with its branded pay-TV serving a bouquet of premium content for customers while NJOI will be positioned as a recruitment brand for the group to expand its reach across the remaining households in Malaysia.
“We will continue to protect the premium pay-TV segment while we grow and monetise NJOI by featuring a freemium proposition with à la carte, skinny bundles, sachets and event passes with NJOI acting as a gateway for customers to full-fledged pay-TV offerings.”
According to Tan, Astro’s customer reach, alongside key enablers of data and talent, facilitates revenue diversification efforts by allowing the group to expand beyond content to broadband, commerce and adex.
Tan said digital media offers companies access to rich pools of monetisable data and analytics for better decision-making in both the business and marketing spheres. “Our digitalisation efforts over the past few years have given us a better understanding of our online audience, enabling our push into the digidex space.”
At the same time, there is no denying that TV is still the most powerful medium to persuade, he said. “We are exploring how to infuse the ‘intelligence’ of digital analytics into TV’s unparalleled ‘emotional’ persuasive power. Combining these two powerful levers would enable us to create a truly impactful multi-platform advertising experience that moves beyond airtime sales and provides comprehensive solution-oriented offerings to clients,” he said.
Tan said Astro’s market share across the TV, radio, digital and OTT spaces has put it in a position to become the most efficient and effective marketing platform in the country, enabling its adex partners to tap niche markets and gain positive conversions.
“Leveraging our upcoming technology upgrade, we are looking to introduce a new addressable advertising solution in the second half of FY2020, which will allow different advertisements to be simultaneously served to segmentally distinct individuals watching the same type of content,” he added.


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- Emerging market sell-off raises specter of contagion (Reuters)
- China Bank Regulator Said to Issue Alert on Coal Mine Loans (BBG)
- Argentina to Ease FX Controls After Peso Devaluation (BBG)
- Pimco’s Gross problem: who can succeed the ‘Bond King’? (Reuters)
- Ukraine protesters seize building, put up more barricades (Reuters)
- Mideast Turmoil Dominates Gathering of Business Elite (WSJ)
- Central Banks Withdraw Dollar Funding (WSJ) – oh really?
- Samsung warns of weak earnings growth this quarter (FT)
- Three explosions rock Cairo, killing 5 (USA Today)
- Vitol to Trafigura Chasing U.S. NGLs as Traders Cash In (BBG)
- EBay reliance on PayPal for growth lowers chances of spinoff (Reuters)
- Pentagon report faults F-35 on software, reliability (Reuters)
Overnight Media Digest
* Carl Icahn says he’s prepared for a proxy fight to win two seats on the board of eBay Inc and push the company to calve off its PayPal unit.
* Investors dumped currencies in emerging markets, underscoring growing anxiety about the ability of developing nations to prop up their economies as they face uneven growth.
* The turmoil of the Middle East descended on this Swiss Alpine town of Davos, where Iranian, Israeli and American leaders laid out often competing visions of the region’s future during a conference for the world’s business elite.
* Some former securities brokers who lost their licenses have found a creative way to keep selling investments to their clients: by using insurance licenses.
* Hedge fund managers are roiling the clubby art market -seeking ‘distressed’ artists, paying record sums and dumping those who don’t pay off.
* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration took another action against India’s Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd on Thursday, prohibiting it from making or selling drug ingredients from its Toansa, India, plant for the U.S. market.
* Google Inc has been working hard to change its profile as an ally of the Democratic Party, courting Republicans and building alliances with conservatives at a time when regulators and Congress are considering issues affecting its business interests.
* Microsoft Corp, in the midst of major change, said its fiscal second-quarter profit climbed 2.8 percent, bolstered by strong demand for the company’s new Xbox videogame console.
* Microsoft Corp’s foray into making smartphones was dealt a setback as Nokia Corp said sales of its Lumia Windows line posted a sales decline for the fourth quarter.
* International Business Machines Corp has agreed to sell its low-end server business to Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd after talks broke down last spring. Now the companies face a new challenge: convincing U.S. security agencies to bless the transaction.
* Facing competition from rivals offering smartphones with bigger screens, Apple Inc is planning larger displays on a pair of iPhones due for release this year, people familiar with the situation said.
* General Motors Co newly appointed Chief Executive Mary Barra said she intends to accelerate the auto maker’s ongoing push to expand profit margins in North America while increasing its global market share.
* Starbucks Corp reported slightly lower-than-expected revenue and same-store sales growth in its fiscal first quarter due, in part, to consumers’ shift to online shopping during the holidays.
* Under a new policy being formulated, Goldman Sachs Group Inc won’t allow communication over third-party instant-messaging services created by Bloomberg, Yahoo and others in a bid to protect proprietary information.
* The software behind the attack at Neiman Marcus Group lurked in the luxury retailer’s payment system undetected for months, scraping data from as many as 1.1 million accounts and ending its mission before it was discovered.
* The U.S. energy boom is curtailing the country’s demand for imported oil, and Mexico’s Pemex is being forced to look farther afield.
* Samsung Electronics Co forecast a weak first half after releasing fourth-quarter earnings that showed growth slowed sharply.
* Target Corp’s massive data breach piles another weight on Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel, who is already under pressure to stem losses from the chain’s venture into Canada and to keep local-store shoppers from defecting to online rivals.
* Online lender Western Sky Financial LLC has agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine and refund interest payments to borrowers under an agreement reached with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
* Jana Partners LLC owns a big stake in Juniper Networks Inc making it the second major shareholder activist to invest in the networking-gear company recently.
* The Obama administration is set to complete a critical phase of its Keystone XL pipeline review next month, setting the stage for President Barack Obama to make a call on the politically charged decision in the thick of the midterm campaign season.
* The National Transportation Safety Board has issued recommendations to the Department of Transportation asking for a series of actions to address the risks of transporting crude by rail.
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said in an interview to the BBC on Thursday that there was no immediate need to raise interest rates, and that decisions over its unemployment threshold were a matter for the Monetary Policy Committee.
A Goldman Sachs official said about 25 London-listed initial public offerings are expected in the second half of 2014. Alasdair Warren, Goldman Sach’s head of financial sponsors coverage in Europe, said “the desire to increase exposure to equities is accelerating”.
Business Secretary Vince Cable will investigate Labour party’s allegations of unnecessary selling of personal accident insurance to workers by six recruitment firms, namely Blue Arrow, Staffline, Acorn, Taskmaster, Randstad and Meridian.
British department store chain House of Fraser is pushing ahead with a return to the stock market after talks about a sale to its French counterpart Galeries Lafayette ended, according to sources.
Cambridge Satchel Company, which makes leather bags and has 10 stores across the UK, raised $21 million from private equity group Index Ventures.
* In her first extended public comments since taking over General Motors Co, Mary T. Barra vowed to quicken the company’s comeback from bankruptcy with improved products, better brands and consistently profitable operations around the world.
* Whistle-blower lawsuits claim Health Management Associates Inc tried to inflate its Medicare and Medicaid payments by admitting more patients.
* The theft of consumer data from luxury retailer Neiman Marcus Group LLC appears to have involved 1.1 million credit and debit cards.
* Coca-Cola and other corporations are starting to see global warming as an economically disruptive force affecting commodity costs and supply chains.
* Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said that lawful marijuana businesses should have access to the American banking system and that the government would soon offer rules to help them gain it.
* Senator Edward J. Markey asked regulators to look into Herbalife Ltd, the company that has been in the cross hairs of hedge fund manager William A. Ackman.
* Sidney Gilman, the prosecution’s top witness in Mathew Martoma’s insider trial, said F.B.I. agents told him that the government’s true target was Steven A. Cohen, SAC’s billionaire founder.
* William S Simon, chief executive of Walmart for the United States, said on Thursday at the United States Conference of Mayors that the company was providing a $10 million fund to promote manufacturing in a public push to sell more American-made products.
* A year after an embarrassing trading blowup led to millions of dollars being docked from Jamie Dimon’s paycheck, the chairman and chief executive of JPMorgan Chase is getting a raise.
THE GLOBE AND MAIL
* Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived at a massive refugee camp in Jordan just a day after enjoying the comforts of a presidential palace. Harper, on the final day of his visit to Israel and Jordan, was touring the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan, just 12 kilometres from the Syrian border.
* A horrific fire that ripped through a seniors’ home in rural Quebec has left a tiny community reeling from what is feared to be the worst tragedy of its kind in decades. The blaze broke out in the bitter-cold early hours of Thursday in L’Isle-Verte, a Lower St. Lawrence village 230 kilometres downriver from Quebec City. Wind gusts spread it quickly through the 52-unit home. At least five people were killed and as many as 30 are unaccounted for.
Reports in the business section:
* Corporate Canada is beginning to feel the effects of a plunging Canadian dollar, with some businesses raising prices – or making plans to do so – to account for the higher cost of U.S. goods.
* Barrick Gold Corp warned it plans to cut gold reserves, take another impairment charge on its troubled Pascua Lama mine and produce less precious metal this year.
* The first case of a deadly pig virus that has killed millions of baby pigs in the U.S. has been confirmed in Canada, but authorities say there is no risk to human health or food safety. However, there are fears that it could drive up the price of pork.
* When a coalition of Arab nations convinced UNESCO to abruptly quash an exhibition on Jewish history in the Middle East this month, it was Canadian diplomats who led the campaign to have the decision overturned, the Simon Wiesenthal Center revealed this week.
* The Canadian dollar has been a target of debate, and much angst, since it was last above parity with the U.S. currency 11 months ago. Ever since, the Bank of Canada has been under the gun to bring it even closer to Earth to help fire up the economy.
* The deputy chairman at Rogers Communications Inc , Edward Rogers, warned that opening up the telecommunications market fully to foreign ownership could leave Canada as nothing more than a “branch plant” when it comes to investment in innovation and rural coverage.
SHANGHAI SECURITIES NEWS
– China’s retail sales are expected to grow around 13 percent this year, according to Fang Aiqing, vice-head of the commerce ministry.
– China’s state assets watchdog has urged state-owned companies to step up the fight against corruption.
China Securities Journal
– U.S. luxury electric car maker Tesla plans to set up a network of power charging stations in China.
CHINA BUSINESS NEWS
– China’s top five state-owned banks have all set their deposit rates to the maximum allowed by regulators to compete for deposits, according to unidentified sources.
MARK CARNEY: NO NEED FOR AN IMMEDIATE RATE RISE
Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has pledged there will be no “immediate” increase in interest rates as unemployment nudges closer to the 7 percent threshold in an apparent softening of his forward guidance policy.
BANKERS IN DRIVE TO BOOST SME LOAN APPLICATIONS
If all businesses that required finance went ahead with their applications, based on the current approval rates, there would be a significant economic uplift, said the BBA.
“Businesses are more likely to get finance than they think,” said BBA chief executive Anthony Browne.
OUTGOING LLOYDS CHAIRMAN TO HEAD UK ACCOUNTING REGULATOR
The retiring chairman of state-backed Lloyds, Sir Win Bischoff, has been named as the next head of Britain’s accounting regulator, days after being drawn into controversy over the bank’s handling of the proposed sale of more than 600 branches to the Co-op.
INTEREST RATE RISE WOULD UNDERMINE RECOVERY, WARNS MPC MEMBER
A leading Bank of England policymaker, Paul Fisher, a member of the central bank’s monetary policy committee, warned on Thursday that a rise in interest rates risked undermining the recovery and the cost of credit should remain low until living standards begin to rise.
FALLON SET TO HAND OVER THE DEEDS TO THE LAND REGISTRY
Land Registry, which holds the titles to most of the land in England and Wales could be sold or part-privatised in the latest move by the Government to raise billions from state assets. Michael Fallon, the Business Minister, laid out the options for the Land Registry yesterday as he kick-started a consultation on the 150-year-old organisation.
TEMPERATURES SOAR AS ‘CONCERNED’ SSE PREDICTS PROFITS RISE
SSE has been accused of hypocrisy after claiming that bill-payers are “at the heart of the debate” about energy, while it is forecasting a near-9 per cent rise in profits. On Thursday, the company forecast pre-tax profits for the year to the end of March of more than 1.5 billion pounds, an 8.8 per cent rise on the previous year’s profit of 1.4 billion pounds, and will boost the dividend by 3 per cent.
HIGH STREET CHAIN BATHSTORE GROOMED FOR SALE
Sky News understands that Endless, the investment fund that acquired Bathstore in May 2012, has decided to explore a sale of the company, which operates more than 150 shops across the country. Rothschild, the investment bank, has been appointed to sound out interest from potential buyers.
ENERGY BOSS ATTACKS PRICE COMPARISON WEBSITES
The boss of Co-operative Energy has accused price comparison websites of misleading customers and pushing up energy bills. Group General Manager Ramsay Dunning has called on the likes of uSwitch, MoneySupermarket.com and Energy Helpline to disclose how much they charged in commission each time a business or household moves supplier.
Fly On The Wall 7:00 AM Market Snapshot
Domestic economic reports scheduled for today include weekly export sales of various commodities, due at 8:30 am ET.
Alumina (AWC) upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at BofA/Merrill
Angie’s List (ANGI) upgraded to Buy from Neutral at B. Riley
BancorpSouth (BXS) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Wunderlich
Harman (HAR) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays
Jacobs Engineering (JEC) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Jefferies
Juniper (JNPR) upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at William Blair
Juniper (JNPR) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays
Nokia (NOK) upgraded to Buy from Hold at Societe Generale
SVB Financial (SIVB) upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Evercore
Arctic Cat (ACAT) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Raymond James
Autoliv (ALV) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays
Citigroup (C) downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at Atlantic Equities
Cleveland BioLabs (CBLI) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Cantor
Cleveland BioLabs (CBLI) downgraded to Perform from Outperform at Oppenheimer
Coach (COH) downgraded to Hold from Buy at Cantor
Fairchild Semiconductor (FCS) downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at BofA/Merrill
FireEye (FEYE) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays
Mellanox (MLNX) downgraded to Underweight from Equal Weight at Barclays
TRW Automotive (TRW) downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays
Walter Energy (WLT) downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Wells Fargo
CBS (CBS) initiated with a Buy at Topeka
ChannelAdvisor (ECOM) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital
Chipotle (CMG) initiated with an Outperform at Oppenheimer
Commercial Metals (CMC) initiated with a Neutral at Credit Suisse
Corrections Corp. (CXW) initiated with a Fair Value at CRT Capital
Demandware (DWRE) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital
Diana Shipping (DSX) initiated with an Equal Weight at Evercore
Discovery Communications (DISCK) initiated with a Buy at Topeka
Discovery (DISCA) initiated with a Buy at Topeka
Disney (DIS) initiated with a Hold at Topeka
Geo Group (GEO) initiated with a Buy at CRT Capital
Jive Software (JIVE) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital
Navios Maritime Partners (NMM) initiated with an Equal Weight at Evercore
NetSuite (N) initiated with a Market Perform at BMO Capital
Pandora (P) initiated with an Outperform at Oppenheimer
Safe Bulkers (SB) initiated with an Overweight at Evercore
Scorpio Bulkers (SALT) initiated with an Overweight at Evercore
Tangoe (TNGO) initiated with an Outperform at BMO Capital
Tempur Sealy (TPX) initiated with a Buy at BofA/Merrill
Time Warner Cable (TWC) initiated with a Hold at Topeka
Viacom (VIAB) initiated with a Hold at Topeka
Viasystems (VIAS) initiated with a Buy at Canaccord
Qualcomm (QCOM) acquired patent portfolio from Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)
McKesson (MCK) to acquire Celesio for EUR 23.50 per share
Microsoft (MSFT) expects Nokia (NOK) deal to close this quarter
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) received positive CHMP opinion for diabetes drug
Juniper (JNPR) CEO says to announce new operational plan within weeks
Williams (WMB) expects to boost FY dividend by 20% in 2014, 2015
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) committed to returning $1.5B-$2B to stakeholders over two years
Companies that beat consensus earnings expectations last night and today include:
Covidien (COV), Stanley Black & Decker (SWK), Western Alliance (WAL), Celanese (CE), Compuware (CPWR), KLA-Tencor (KLAC), E-Trade (ETFC), Dolby (DLB), ShoreTel (SHOR), Leggett & Platt (LEG), Juniper (JNPR), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), Discover (DFS), Microsoft (MSFT), Starbucks (SBUX)
Companies that missed consensus earnings expectations include:
Matthews (MATW), ResMed (RMD), Delta Apparel (DLA), Synaptics (SYNA), Digi International (DGII), International Game (IGT), TESSCO (TESS)
Companies that matched consensus earnings expectations include:
Cathay General (CATY), Applied Micro Circuits (AMCC), Open Text (OTEX), Hexcel (HXL), Covisint (COVS)
CNN (TWX) says some social media accounts compromised, Bloomberg reports
FBI to retailers: More credit card breaches (TGT) will happen, Reuters reports
Boeing (BA): Dreamliner reliability improving but not satisfactory, Reuters reports
Boeing (BA), General Dynamics (GD) reach $400M settlement with U.S. Navy, Reuters reports
T. Rowe Price (TROW) encourages Time Warner Cable (TWC) to talk to Charter (CHTR), FT reports
Liberty Global (LBTYA), Ziggo talks continue, WSJ reports
Goldman (GS) to limit traders’ use of chat services, WSJ reports
Chrysler (FIATY) plans to expand global Jeep sales, Detroit News reports
American Midstream Partners (AMID) 3.4M share Secondary priced at $26.75
Ashford Hospitality Prime (AHP) 8M share Secondary priced at $16.50
Atossa Genetics (ATOS) files to sell common stock and warrants, no amount given
Care.com (CRCM) 5.35M share IPO priced at $17.00
Derma Sciences (DSCI) files to sell common stock
E2open (EOPN) 4.661M share Secondary priced at $25.0030
Independence Realty Trust (IRT) 7M share Secondary priced at $8.30
Kips Bay Medical (KIPS) 5.25M share Secondary priced at $.70
NanoString (NSTG) 2.88M share Secondary priced at $18.50
Progenics (PGNX) files $150M mixed securities shelf
Rice Energy (RICE) 44M share IPO priced at $21.00
Tonix Pharmaceuticals (TNXP) files to sell common stock
XenoPort (XNPT) 10M share Secondary priced at $6.00


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Your favorite place in the world is about to get really crowded.
The following charts show just how much global tourism impacts the world economy and, more surprising, just how much it is set to grow.
What surprises us most about these projections, especially the first one, is just how much tourism is expected to grow in Europe, and the expected explosion in visits to countries in Asia.
Another interesting thing to note is just how little visits to the Americas are expected to grow.
1. Projected Internation Tourist Arrivals


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Request specific data sets, export tailored directories, and explore the full potential of our Platform. Reach out to our Sales Team
The UAE-based digital authentication startup Nice to Meet You (NTMY), has successfully raised $1M in its latest fundraising round. The seed round saw participation from its existing Saudi investors along with Pure Group.
Founded in 2018 by Mohamad Baydoun, the startup aims to help business owners minimize physical contact within premises. The company initially started off as a business card exchange process. The idea expanded as the company’s founders realized that there was a larger need in the market to fill.
We’ve been busy witnessing MENA-based IT Solutions startups and Enterprise Software solutions providers emerge with new technologies and acquire the growth capital needed to scale their operations. Over this year, MENA-based IT solutions startups observed a 580% YoY growth in Q3 2021, from raising only $30M by Q3 2020 to more than $200M by Q3 2021. As a testament to this, we’ve seen startups from MENAPT raising exceptional rounds. The KSA-based Unifonic, pioneering in cloud communications raised Saudi’s first Mega round this year, and most recently the Egypt-based startup Bexel raised a $560 Seed round as it supports inspection companies to digitize their entire inspection process, to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Currently, NTMY provides its clients with a set of tools to use when authenticating employees, customers, and members. These include organizational IDs, access cards, membership cards, and insurance cards. And it makes digital authentication easy for its customers through three simple steps.
As, 7 out of 10 organizations plan to go digital with their employee IDs, access cards, and business cards, the startup aims to make these processes more convenient for everyone involved. The startup is eager to move forward with its goals, seek new partners and customers and, aims for Series A in the coming year. Mohamad Baydoun hailed the current funding as a milestone achieved, in a social post. Furthering its mission of empowering companies to achieve greater freedom by delivering identity solutions with control over security, Nice To Meet You would be using the current funds to hire new talent and enhance the technology and customer experience.
Catch all the action and the innovation happening in the ecosystem. Access real-time data on 1,600+ IT Solutions startups in EVMs


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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Tallahassee is calling for answers after a third body was found inside a car in less than a month.
Two bodies were found in Walmart parking lots in Tallahassee within two weeks. The other at the Tallahassee International Airport.
While police say "no foul play is suspected," not everyone's buying it.
News of bodies found in local store parking lots came as shock to people like Bob and Jeannette Downes who have used a Walmart parking lot for a break from driving while traveling.
"We've only stopped once overnight," Downes said, "but we really appreciated when we've been in a jam to stop in a Walmart parking lot."
Tallahassee Police Officer Rachelle Denmark says investigating a death, even one that does not seems suspicious, takes time.
"We're really careful to make sure we look at every option," said Denmark.
In some cases it can take 6 to 8 weeks to get toxicology reports back.
"The medical examiner is involved," Denmark said. "There's a lot of moving parts. Just because our violent crimes unit is involved doesn't mean it's a homicide or foul play. They have to determine that it's not."
When investigators say that a body was found, but foul play is not suspected, they're just saying that they believe the death was due to natural causes. Exactly what happened may not be known at that point, but they're ruling out an unlawful demise.
Conversely, if foul play is suspected, that's just a way of saying the person may have been murdered and/or abducted.
Officer Denmark says when it's not foul play, other things are considered. It could have been suicide, a medical emergency, or a even a drug overdose.
"Unfortunately, sometimes people pass away in their car," said Denmark. "As an officer, I've worked those. That they were getting in their car, had a medical event and unfortunately that's what happened."
People in the Capitol continue to speculate on if the deaths are connected, or if more could have been done.
The Downes' say they'll take their chances.
"It's safer than a rest stop," Downes said, "but you know you take your chances anywhere you're at, really."
Walmart currently allows RV customers to park on most of its properties overnight. To do so, people must get permission from a store manager.
In response to those two bodies found in Walmart parking lots, the company sent the following statement:
According to local law enforcement, no foul play was involved in these incidents. The safety and security of our customers and associates is a top priority and we continue to invest in people, programs and technology across our stores and parking lots to deter crime and create a better shopping experience for our customers.


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Eurogamer.net • 3DS DS OnLive Windows Phone • Articles Face-offs Interviews Previews
Friday, 21 November 2014
Friday, 3 October 2014
Friday, 19 September 2014
Monday, 15 September 2014
Thursday, 4 September 2014
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Monday, 26 May 2014
The creators of Towerfall, JS Joust, Spaceteam and Turnover speak out.
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Tuesday, 11 March 2014
We interview its creator Ryozo Tsujimoto to find out.
Saturday, 22 February 2014
Friday, 14 February 2014
And the people who'll do the job for $200.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
The results of your votes, plus your comments - and the final winner revealed.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Plus five top tips that will make you a savvy shopper.
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
How Capybara made Clash of Heroes, the game that changed the studio forever.
Friday, 14 June 2013
The veteran producer on revising Wind Waker, escaping tradition and finding Nintendo's future.
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Nintendo's Wii U is selling terribly, and soon it will face the might of PS4 and Xbox One - can it survive on its own terms, or is it doomed to be another Virtual Boy?
Nintendo 3DS vs. PC and current-gen consoles.
Thursday, 9 May 2013
Choosing the right threads is paramount in Capcom's savage world.
Thursday, 11 April 2013
Can faster broadband connections save gameplay over IP? A new OnLive update lets us put that to the test.


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While Volkswagen is keeping mum on its plans for the eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf, the rumour mill is already starting to crank out "educated guesses" on what the German auto giant has in store for its cornerstone small hatch.
In 2018 the current-generation Golf Mk7 will be six years old, retirement age in the world of passenger cars.
An update for the current car is coming this year (rendered above and below), but an all-new replacement, according to UK mag Auto Express, will arrive later in 2018, potentially as a 2019 model.
Though the magazine doesn't cite a specific source, it says the eight-generation Golf will weigh between 35kg and 70kg less than the current car, be lower and wider, consume less fuel and offer high-tech features like a TFT instrument panel and gesture controls.
Three-cylinder 1.5 diesels are expected to be brought in with power outputs ranging from 55kW to 90kW, based on a modular and scalable engine architecture that will include 2.0 litre four-cylinders and 3.0 litre V6s for bigger VW models.
But the most intriguing rumour of all concerns the next-generation GTI, which, according to Auto Express' sources, would squeeze out 193kW in standard form, 224kW with the Performance Package and a whopping 242kW in top-tier Clubsport trim.
If true, the next-generation Golf GTI Performance will be one of the most powerful front-drive hot hatches ever made, with power equal to the old Ford Focus RS. The GTI Clubsport would pip the supercharged V6 of the TRD Aurion for outright FWD bragging rights by 1kW.
Where does that leave the Golf R? The wick will likely be turned even higher on that car, with the 295kW 2.0 litre turbo four of the Golf R 400 Concept (above) an indication of what's in store for Volkswagen's AWD performance hero - with a production power output of more than 300kW possible.
- Interested in buying VOLKSWAGEN GOLF? Visit our VOLKSWAGEN GOLF showroom for more information.


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Additional time on people’s hands as a result of the pandemic has prompted the average British worker to pick up a range of good habits for their careers, according to a new study by Hitachi Capital Business Finance.
The poll of 1,500 British workers in small businesses, made up of remote, hybrid, outdoor and workplace based respondents from a range of sectors, revealed that three-quarters (74%) have developed new rituals during lockdown, with the average worker picking up at least two new habits.
Asking about their intentions to continue these habits for at least the next 12 months, 91% of respondents said they would.
The most common habit was spending significantly more time developing their online professional network (30% of British workers). This was followed by attending more online conferences and seminars than they ever had previously (27%).
Swotting up – Over a quarter had made use of the time by actively studying – be it through reading business books (27%) or further learning courses (26%). One in five (22%) had spent more time mentoring young people than they had previous to the pandemic.
Trade press – Similarly, almost a quarter spent more time than previously reading trade magazines and websites (23%), or listening to industry relevant podcasts (22%). A further 19% had actively written articles for industry press or their own blogs.
Just over one in six (19%) said they were able to start a side business during lockdown.
The research highlighted distinct advantages remote workers had enjoyed during the past 18 months over those who continued to work from a designated or on site workplace. Almost nine in 10 (86%) remote or hybrid workers said they had made the most of additional time on their hands during lockdown. By contrast, just seven in 10 (71%) of on-site workers said they had done the same.
Specifically, remote workers were significantly more likely to have developed their online network as site-specific workers (26% vs. 16%), attended online courses to further their careers (23% vs. 16%), or spent time mentoring younger members of staff (22% vs. 16%). Interestingly, remote workers were almost twice as likely to have worked on a side business during lockdown (11% vs. 20%).
Similarly, those planning to work either remotely or in a hybrid set up by the end of this year were significantly more likely to say they would continue to these habits for at least the next 12 months, than those who were going back to the office/workplace (86% remote workers vs. 71% work-place based).
Joanna Morris, Head of Insight at Hitachi Capital Business Finance, said: “Today’s figures show us the silver lining of what has been a very bleak time for many businesses, and some good news for the future. While many of us at the start of lockdown may have had well-intentioned aspirations to use the additional time to become, for instance, master bakers or concert pianists, it is fair to say few of us actually succeeded with these aims. The positive that comes from these results is, when it comes to developing business skills and networks, there was an overwhelmingly high proportion of the country who really have made the most of the situation, and used the change circumstances to their benefit. As we enter into the next phase, it is encouraging to see such a high proportion have resolved to maintain their new habits as the world returns to normal.
“We also have the reminder in the research that the challenges associated with the pandemic can vary hugely from one small business to another. One in eight simply did not have additional time on their hands, so the option of using this time to their benefit simply did not apply. This importance of keeping skills sharp, maintaining networks, or staying up to date with the latest developments cannot be understated, and the gap between those that do and those that don’t will widen quickly. For those without a huge amount of time available, having realistic goals picking one or two simple things that can be done well will have benefits in the long term.”


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Applications for new businesses rose 20 percent last year, after languishing for a decade. Many newly minted founders attribute it to the pandemic.
The new accelerator was created from a dedicated fund that included a $5.4 million gift from Eleanor and Michael Pinkert.
Even as the stock market climbs to new highs, the bottom seems to be falling out of many E.V.
Four companies have been accepted into the Desai Accelerator, an accelerator program for early-stage alumni startups at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
In the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009, business applications slumped.
Rashmi Menon, entrepreneur in residence at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, said mentorship exists, but not enough that targets underserved groups.
Past downturns, the New York Times reported, have produced American companies that went on to develop high profiles: Airbnb, Disney, General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Slack, Uber, and Ven
by: Stewart Thornhill, Executive Director at The Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Ross School of Business ranked #3 in the world for its entrepreneurial MBA program.
Erik Gordon, Michigan Ross professor and Wolverine Venture Fund faculty director, discusses the impact of the Google
lawsuit on emerging tech startups with Crain's Detroit Business.


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Going public gives Michael Dell and Silver Lake the option to eventually sell down their stakes.
Dell said on Monday it would pay $21.7 billion in cash and stock to buy back shares tied to its interest in software company VMware, returning the computer maker to the stock market without an initial public offering.
Dell said the agreement values its equity at between $61.1 billion and $70.1 billion, more than twice the value of the $24.9 billion deal that founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael Dell and buyout firm Silver Lake clinched to take the company private in 2013.
The transaction will allow Dell to bypass the traditional IPO process, which would likely have involved grilling by stock market investors over Dell’s $52.7 billion debt pile.
It also means Dell will not have to raise any new money, because it will pay for the deal by issuing new shares and with a $9 billion dividend it will receive from VMware.
Going public gives Michael Dell and Silver Lake the option to eventually sell down their stakes, even as they affirmed on Monday that they had no plans to do so. Following the deal, Michael Dell will own 47 per cent to 54 per cent of the combined company, while Silver Lake will own between 16 per cent and 18 per cent.
A new public security will give Dell currency it can use to pay for acquisitions beyond cash. The security that Dell is buying back is a so-called tracking stock tied to its 81 per cent economic stake in VMware. VMware specializes in virtualisation, which allows multiple systems and applications to run at the same time on the same server, something can cut companies’ IT costs.
Dell hopes the deal will allow investors to value it more easily, because it will remove the complexity of the tracking stock, according to sources familiar with the company’s thinking.
Dell issued the tracking stock in 2016 to buy data storage company EMC Corp for $67 billion because it could not pay for the deal in cash. EMC owned the majority stake in VMware, which Dell inherited.
Such a security “tracks,” or depends, on the financial performance of a specific business unit or operating division of a company rather than the operations of a company as a whole.
Dell will exchange each share of VMware tracking stock for 1.3665 shares of its Class C common stock, or $109 per share in cash, for a total cash consideration of not more than $9 billion.
Dell said it will list its Class C shares on the New York Stock Exchange following the completion of the deal that will eliminate its tracking stock. Following the deal, investors who owned the tracking stock will collectively account for between 20.8 per cent and 31 per cent of Dell’s ownership.
The transaction represents a premium of 28.9 per cent to the closing price of the tracking stock on Friday. The stock ended 9 per cent higher at $92.20 on Monday. VMware shares rose 10.2 per cent to $162.02.
“We believe that this development is positive for VMware shares not only because it avoids the reverse merger scenario, but also because there is the possibility of VMware being taken out by Dell in the future as a ‘second step’ following this transaction,” FBN Securities analyst Shebly Seyrafi wrote in a note.


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Marketing Director Chris Eldridge said the firm – founded more than 150 years ago – recognised the importance of supporting new enterprises, entrepreneurial business people, as well as helping start-ups and small businesses find their feet in a fast-changing economic environment.
“We have been particularly active – and effective – in Stroud where Bruton Knowles Commercial Agent Julian Capewell has helped with a series of key deals.”
Julian sold the former BVM Moto site in London Road - a landmark motorcycle garage, workshop and forecourt on the main A419 road– to national DIY chain Topps Tiles.
He has also helped steer new businesses to the Salmon Springs industrial park on the Painswick Road - now approaching full occupancy with a number of bespoke operators bringing the location very much to life.
Chris Eldridge said: “Although Bruton Knowles now has a network of offices across the country we have never forgotten our Gloucestershire roots”
“Small businesses can’t afford to think small and are very often at the cutting edge in terms of innovation and advancing technologies.”
He concluded: “Commentators might think the small business category was an odd choice for a company which has been around as long as Bruton Knowles. But we regard fresh thinking, can-do start-ups and small businesses as the lifeblood of our economy – and our future.
“With around 5,000 businesses starting up in the county every year the sector plays a crucial role in Gloucestershire’s economy. We have an enviable track record for start-up business success with fewer start-ups failing in Gloucestershire than any other region in the country. The sheer number of new jobs created and maintained by businesses like these is also making an impact.”
The Stroud Life Business Awards have established themselves as the most prestigious event in the local calendar since they were first held six years ago.
For further details go to www.digital-thisis.co.uk/stroudlife/businessawards


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The report from author Sarah Ellison states that the publication has "confirmed" that a Verizon iPhone will be released in early 2011. It noted that the most talked-about phone in America — the Verizon iPhone — is one that doesn't even exist.
The report, which profiles Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg's efforts to build the "nation's most reliable" wireless network, notes that Verizon's network will be "assaulted" in early 2011 with millions of new customers using the bandwidth-heavy iPhone. It was an influx of data consuming iPhone users that caused major problems and a public relations debacle for AT&T.
The report detailed how Verizon passed on the iPhone in 2005 because the wireless carrier felt Apple and its chief executive, Steve Jobs, wanted too much control over the sale of the device, and too large a cut of the monthly service fees. It also stated that Apple was wary of building a CDMA iPhone because the wireless technology is not as popular across the globe as it is in the U.S.
"Seidenberg tried to reassure Jobs that Verizon was quickly building a faster 4G (fourth-generation) network, one that would work globally," Ellison wrote of a meeting between the two in 2007. "He also tried to convince Jobs that Verizon had a superior 3G network to AT&T's. Jobs listened politely, as Seidenberg tells it, and agreed to stay in touch."
The two companies allegedly began talking again in December 2007, as AT&T struggled with dropped calls and network issues for iPhone users. The result: a new version of the iPhone 4, compatible with Verizon's 3G CDMA network, set to launch next year.
Verizon's iPhone is expected to offer special features, like live TV for customers of the company's FiOS cable service. It also, according to Fortune, likely will not work outside of the U.S.
Fortune joins a list of reputable news sources that have also confirmed that the iPhone will launch on Verizon's network in early 2011. Earlier this month, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg all independently reported that Apple would release a CDMA version of its iPhone on the Verizon network next year.
The anticipated partnership has also been foreshadowed this week with the sale of Apple's iPad at Verizon stores. Customers can buy a Wi-Fi iPad bundled with a MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot at the same price as an iPad with integrated 3G connectivity.


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Most people who have experimented with edibles have gotten too high. Here’s some quick tips to...
All five senses come alive when you host a blind bud tasting.
A longtime cannabis farmer looks towards the future.
A cannabis farmer finds guidance from sacred herbs and the passage of time.
A veteran cannabis grower reflects on the lessons of the past decade.
With the prestigious Emerald Cup, the world’s best cannabis is on display.
Vaporizing cannabis flowers helps a seasoned Emerald Cup judge stay on her game.
Longtime cannabis cultivator Nikki Lastreto explains how the experience of getting high is one way to...
Veteran cannabis grower Nikki Lastreto reminisces about the warm sense of community derived from connecting with...
Health issues force a longtime joint smoker to turn to edibles and experiment with flower vaporizers.
Farmer Nikki Lastreto takes us along for the ride on her deeply personal health odyssey.
This cannabis trade show for a new legal era was sleek and brand-oriented — but that...
Farmer Nikki Lastreto sends us her latest in the battle between veteran cannabis farmers and the...
Emerald Triangle farmers grow worried as California bureaucrats fumble their way through legalization — costing growers...
Veteran grower Nikki Lastreto brings tidings from her latest harvest in this dispatch from the farm.
Looking back on the past year in cannabis and setting intentions for the next one.
Things change, but good ganja is a guarantee.
Regulators and farmers are working together to further cannabis commerce in Mendocino.
This year’s cannabis harvest season in California is the first with new regulations in effect.
The autumnal equinox means harvest time is almost here.


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CHICAGO — While the convenience-store supply chain remains sturdy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in-store sales of cannabidiol (CBD) products have fallen, forcing manufacturers to rely on e-commerce operations to keep their businesses afloat.
“When it comes to retail, people are obviously concerned with going out in public and going into convenience stores,” Case Mandel, CEO and co-founder of Cannadips USA, Arcata, Calif., a provider of CBD-infused chewable pouches sold in c-store chains such as Kwik Trip and Yesway, told CSP Daily News. “We're lucky that we provide direct to consumers online.”
In-store sales have dropped for Tauriga Sciences, a producer of CBD-infused chewing gum sold in various Circle K, QuickChek and Flory’s convenience stores, Seth Shaw, CEO of Tauriga Sciences, New York, told CSP Daily News. “We’ve lost momentum on in-person retail sales,” he said.
Despite this hurdle, online sales are not only keeping Tauriga Sciences afloat during the pandemic but are also bringing its operations to a new level. “Our e-commerce business has been surging,” Shaw said. “Our online sales broke $20,000 in March compared to about $5,000 or $6,000 in February.”
Although Tauriga Sciences does not make any medical claims for its CBD-infused gum, consumer demand for products that may ease anxiety could have caused the sudden spike in sales, Shaw said. The company’s supply chain is also doing well because its products are sent through the U.S. Postal Service—which is still functioning—while many suppliers rely on truck routes and direct-to-store delivery, Shaw said.
Operators and consumers are also concerned that the pandemic will stall the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s progress and regulatory action for CBD products, Mandel said. The agency has not released any news or action regarding CBD and cannabis since the first week of March.
“The government has a highly pertinent task at hand—more so than the CBD space right now—so I think there will definitely be some type of slowdown,” he said.
The best Mandel and other suppliers can do, however, is wait patiently and act accordingly. “We're taking it one day at a time,” he said. “It’s up to everyone to come together and support each other across the industries to move forward.”
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.


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June 22 2022 07:50
Twitter’s board of directors unanimously approves billionaire acquisition offer
Elon Musk, owner of electric car maker Tesla, is worth $ 44 billion. The panel unanimously decided to nominate the company’s shareholders to accept the acquisition offer.
The deal, which is expected to close in the current year, will lead to the removal of Twitter shares from the stock market and the conversion of the stock to a private company for $ 54.20 per share.
Earlier this month, Musk threatened to pull out of the deal if the company did not provide him with data on fake and spam accounts on the platform.
“Indeed, in order to facilitate the rating of random and fake accounts on his company’s site, Mr Musk has refused to provide frequently requested information since May 9, 2022,” Musk said in an open letter released by his lawyers on Monday.
The letter stated that in accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement, Twitter was required to provide the data and information requested by Musk in connection with the agreement.
Twitter estimates that less than 5% of its user sites have fake accounts, and CEO Baraj Agarwal confirms that the service blocks more than half a million unwanted accounts every day, before most of them are viewed by users.
Agarwal warned that estimates of the number of fake accounts could not be taken seriously by outsiders.
Source: db a
“Award-winning beer geek. Extreme coffeeaholic. Introvert. Avid travel specialist. Hipster-friendly communicator.”


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Patty Brady looks with pride at a multi-drawer dresser, nearly as tall as she is. The dresser is smooth with a fresh grey coat of paint and stands stoically in the corner of Olde 2 New, Brady’s store.
“It used to be bad, like really bad,” Brady said. “Just ugly and falling apart. But we took some time with it and really put it back together. That’s what reconditioning is all about.”
Olde 2 New is a new antique and reconditioned furniture and decorating consignment shop that has opened at 23 E. Main St., in downtown Lebanon.
Brady and Kathy Crane are the co-owners of Olde 2 New and life-long best friends. The two began assembling and refurbishing older “junked” furniture a couple years ago as a hobby, which soon grew into a business passion.
“We needed something to do and we found refurbishing and re-purposing old furniture to be a lot of fun,” Brady said. “We got a booth at an antique mall for a while, but we always had it in mind to open our own business sooner rather than later.”
Brady said that she and Crane had dreamed of opening a store in Lebanon and believe they had found the perfect spot in Olde 2 New’s new digs.
“We loved the quaint atmosphere of Lebanon and there is a strong market here for what we carry,” Brady said. “I think we both looked around and felt like business was coming back to the area and we could put a store together quickly here.”
Brady and Crane completely redecorated the store in a matter of 10 days, Brady said, adding some new paint and creating the old-time ambiance that suits the classic items they sell.
“We look everywhere for things we can re-purpose and put in the store,” Brady said. “We’re always going to garage and yard sales looking for things. Our families have really helped out in giving us things to work with as well.”
Brady said the best part of owning their own business, besides being able to set their own hours, is the unique people they meet and the stories behind many of the pieces of furniture and decorations they come in contact with.
Crane said the store is always accepting new pieces to sell on consignment. People can either bring the item in or email a picture of the item to firstname.lastname@example.org.
“Please bring it in,” Crane said. “We’ll be happy to help you sell it.”
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text: The high season for holidays is drawing to a close in Europe. And that spells trouble for ailing travel firm Thomas Cook. The historic company – a pioneer of the package tour – had thought a rescue deal was all sorted. Last month it agreed a 1.1 billion dollar recapitalisation plan with banks, bondholders and China’s Fosun Tourism. But now that may not be enough. Thomas Cook’s lenders want to see another 250 million dollars. That’s to tide it through the winter months, when cash flow slows. Shares in the firm fell by more than a quarter following the news, sinking to little more than three pence – about 4 U.S. cents. Thomas Cook has struggled with growing competition and high debts. In 2018 an exceptionally hot summer also hit last-minute bookings. Now it’s in talks to find the extra cash. Many holidaymakers will be anxiously awaiting news on its fate. About 600,000 people are currently on Thomas Cook trips.


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Mario Tennis Aces supports a more streamlined version of tennis matches, which is something many players didn’t want at all.
Consider this a friendly reminder to fire up your Wii U this weekend and download the free trial of Wii U Sports Club. From today through March 23, Wii U owners in Australia, Europe and North America will have access to Bowling, Golf and Tennis. Players who wish to keep playing after March 23 can […]
Wii Sports Club has launched, and today, two offerings are available: Bowling and Tennis. Each are being offered individually via the eShop for €9.99/£8.99 each or through a one-day pass for €1.99/£1.79. Other sports activities such as baseball, boxing, and golf will be offered at a later date.
Nintendo has sent put its release schedule for the eShop, WiiWare and the rest. Get caught up on the offerings below.
EA sent out an email event invite to US press last night confirming that the next edition of Tiger Woods will support Wii MotionPlus.So will the company’s upcoming Tennis game. So will virtually every Wii game coming out at the end of this year, at a guess.More on IGN.
Peter Moore has just announced a new sports title called Tennis, developed by EA Canada.The game will be a Nintendo Wii exclusive and features use of the new Motion Plus technology.Also, the famous British tennis arena Wimbledon will included exclusively, apparently.So that’s wonderful.Remember to keep F5’ing our live blog here.By Mike Bowden


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iPhone maker has leased a seven-building office complex in neighboring Sunnyvale that will house up to 1,450 employees, the Mercury News reports.
The Sunflower Movement of students occupying Taiwan's national assembly have explained their goals in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session.
B&O's latest upscale TV pairs 4K resolution with a fancy motorised stand -- but demands a huge wad of your cash.
Pricing not available
The QuadStick turns to Kickstarter to launch a game controller for people with limited mobility.
If you're committed to using a smartphone for your shooting, here's a few ways to get slick, smooth movement like you'd get from a crane or jib with a bigger camera.
Umoove Experience is the first game on the iTunes app store that tracks your head movement to control your movement in the game.
The Motion Synth Kickstarter project wants to turn your iPhone into a gesture-controlled musical instrument.
A group of protesters tells CNET that they have joined the iPhone line outside Apple's flagship New York City store to decry Apple's labor practices, as well as commercialism and waste.
Protesters who say they are part of the Occupy Wall Street movement are using the iPhone 5 sale to draw attention to what they say is Apple's poor record on labor issues.
Computer graphics can turn dance, or any body motion, into gorgeous artistic patterns, as seen in this vid for CCTV.


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Agile Dynamics releases report detailing current and future state of blockchain technology, including how to leverage tech for cost efficiency and more
Ziina, the Dubai-based, YC-backed fintech start-up on a mission to bring money online for consumers in the Middle East, continues to bring innovation to the world of payments. Its latest invention: a payments keyboard – the first of its kind in the digital wallets space, and for which Ziina has filed a patent.
Mashreq, one of the leading financial institutions in the United Arab Emirates, has taken a stake in NymCard, the only Banking-as-a-Service provider in the Middle East, to help grow the booming FinTech ecosystem in the UAE and support the next generation of innovators. This investment is part of a FinTech fund that Mashreq has created […]


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Win an iPod Shuffle in Grasshopper Twitter Trivia Contest
Apr 20, 2012
April is National Lawn Care Month, and to celebrate, The Grasshopper Company, manufacturer of commercial-grade zero-turn riding mowers and professional grounds maintenance equipment, is hosting a trivia contest on the popular social networking site Twitter.
The contest will begin on Monday, April 23, with a series of tweets about pertinent lawn care issues and information. The contest will conclude with one trivia question Friday, April 27, with the necessary clues to answer the question correctly “scattered” among tweets from Grasshopper throughout the week. Participants will be required to find the clues and piece them together to answer the question. The 10th correct reply tweet from a Grasshopper Twitter follower will win an iPod Shuffle.
"National Lawn Care Month helps increase awareness of issues facing the lawn care industry, as well as the economic and environmental benefits the industry provides," says Ruthanne Stucky, marketing director at Grasshopper. "This contest will not only educate our followers on these issues and benefits, but will also provide some entertainment and friendly competition at the same time."
About Grasshopper The Grasshopper Company is a privately held corporation dedicated solely to the design and production of commercial and large-acreage mowing and grounds maintenance equipment. Grasshopper introduced the first zero-turn radius mower with dual swing-out levers in 1969, and other industry firsts include the first diesel-powered zero-turn radius mower in 1983 and the first electric-actuated fold-up mower deck in 2004. Based in Moundridge, Kan., the company distributes its products worldwide and is committed to lean and clean manufacturing practices reducing impact to the environment.


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DETROIT, July 25 (Reuters) - Chrysler has absorbed higher than expected write-downs on the value of leases from its financing arm, but the issue has not become a problem yet, executives said on Friday on a conference call. Chrysler announced on Friday that its Chrysler Financial financing arm would stop offering leasing options to consumers on Aug. 1. However, the automaker will offer dealers incentives to subsidize consumer leasing programs elsewhere. Chrysler anticipates that some ...
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Irish police have launched an investigation following a burglary at a McDonald’s outlet in Limerick during which considerable damage was caused.
Pictures show a JCB driven into the side of the McDonald’s outlet, with damage caused to the door and windows of the premises. Nothing was taken from the restaurant, but the police are investigating.
The incident happened at a McDonald’s outlet in Castletroy at 2.50am.
Gardaí said that nothing was stolen during the incident but considerable damage was caused to the building.


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BELGIUM: Toyota slowing European output
Toyota is to cutting output at its European factories here in the United Kingdom and Turkey in line with slowing European demand.
Toyota will retain full-time staff but will not renew the contracts of some temporary workers in those countries, an official told Reuters on Friday.
"In response to demand conditions recently in Europe, we are adjusting our production flexibly through such steps as a change to TAKT [process cycle] time," the official said.
Toyota builds the Auris (aka Corolla hachback) and Avensis in the UK and Corolla sedan and Verso variants in Turkey.
It also has a Yaris plant in northern France.
The automaker on Thursday said European first-half sales fell 9.5% to 301,000 units this year while operating income almost halved.
"In reality, however, its actual sales in the core western European market have suffered greater falls than that, but are being offset by good growth in Russia and other eastern countries, such as Ukraine," analysts Global Insight said in an investors note on Friday.
ACEA data shows that the Toyota group (including the luxury Lexus brand) sold 13.3% fewer cars in western Europe in the first six months of the year, compared to last year, equivalent to a loss of over 60,000 units.


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Britain’s ‘imminent’ departure from the European Union may have sparked huge debate across the UK logistics sector, with concerns of significant challenges throughout the international supply chain, but Brexit could also be a catalyst for change for the better for the industry, according to Clugston Distribution director Tim Doggett. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, a potential ‘no-deal’ scenario and the unprecedented defeat of PM Theresa May’s Brexit deal which was the largest ever for a sitting government in history the […]
Trade associations have criticised the no deal Brexit papers published today, accusing the contingency plans of falling far short of what would be required to keep Britain trading.
Switch to unaccompanied freight model to avoid Brexit border delays at Channel Ports, says Peel Ports
Hauliers could avoid Brexit border delays at the Channel Ports by sending freight unaccompanied via other locations, according to Peel Ports.
The government is committed to delivering Brexit on schedule on 31 October with or without a deal, transport secretary Grant Schapps MP told the RHA parliamentary reception last night.


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Day: 9 May 2017
Next Government must prioritise renewables to boost economy, says RenewableUK
As the Conservatives confirmed plans for a price cap for energy bills, RenewableUK has launched its manifesto for the General Election and called on the next Government to embrace renewables and flexible energy to match the needs of the UK economy.
Two-thirds of UK businesses ‘significantly concerned’ over energy-related cyber risks
Energy suppliers have been urged prioritise privacy and transparency and seek third-party assistance in an effort to strengthen cyber security during a period of disruptive technological growth, after a survey revealed that UK businesses would switch suppliers after a cyber breach.
edie Live 2017: Registrations hot up with two weeks until show doors open
The destination event for sustainability and energy managers is set to be more popular than ever: registrations to attend edie Live 2017 are now up by around 10% on last year. And there's still time to get your free ticket to join your peers at the NEC Birmingham on 23-24 May.
Action inspires action. Stay ahead of the curve with sustainability and energy newsletters from edieSubscribe


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Northern Suburbs News
Connecticut DMV launches online check-in service
HARTFORD -- Connecticut drivers can now skip the line at the DMV by checking in online from a laptop, smartphone or tablet computer.
The DMV last week launched a new online portal which enables customers to check in before heading to a local service office in person.
The services available for online check-in include registering a vehicle, obtaining a license or handicap parking permit, getting copies of records, requesting a duplicate title, and making changes to the name on a registration or license.
The site shows waiting times and allows customers to choose which office they want to visit. The DMV says the online times are within 10 minutes of the wait times generated by an automatic computer system in its local offices.
The wait-time link can be accessed at CT.gov/DMV.
connecticut, northern suburbs news
- Person of interest in custody in Flatbush shooting 29 min ago
- AccuWeather: Clear and chilly 11 min ago
- Live: Eyewitness News on 7online streamed live!
- DISH Network signs on for WATCH ABC app
- Chelsea Clinton announces she is pregnant
- NY cabbie accused of not paying $28,000 in tolls
- Fraternity shuts Ole Miss branch after noose tying
- Police investigating East Harlem hit and run
- 8 mumps cases at Stevens Institute in Hoboken
- Cuomo announces deal between MTA and Union
- Bodega worker fatally shot in Brooklyn
- Blind marathoner will run to raise money for guide dog
- Hundreds still missing in South Korea ferry disaster 53 min ago
- Photos: South Korea ferry disaster
- Hundreds still missing in South Korea ferry...
53 min ago
- AccuWeather: Clear and chilly
11 min ago


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Apple, Google are the world’s most valuable brands, report says
Six of the ten most valuable brands are tech companies according to a new report.
Interbrand, a consultancy agency, released its annual report of the world’s most valuable brands Monday with Apple and Google topping the list for the third consecutive year.
Apple earned its first place spot because if its skyrocketing value, up 43 percent over last year to an estimated worth of $170 billion. Google, placing second with $120 billion valuation, which is an increase of 12 percent.
The other four companies placing in the top ten were Microsoft ($67 billion, up 11 percent), IBM ($65 billion, down 10 percent), Samsung ($45 billion, unchanged) and Amazon, which cracked the top ten for the first time, with $38 billion, up 29 percent.
For platforms, Facebook moved up six places to 23, with a 54 percent increase in value to $22 billion. Publishers Thomson Reuters and Discovery both placed in 63rd and 64th place, respectively. The latter gained 6 percent in value to $6.6 billion, while the former dipped 12 percent to $6.5 billion.
Of note, Volkswagen fell four places to 35th place with a 9 percent loss in value to $12.5 billion. The data was compiled before the German auto manufacturer admitted to selling millions of cars equipped with devices that cheat on emission tests, so this will likely have an impact on its ratings next year.
Interbrand decides the rankings and valuations using several factors, including brands’ revenue, how big of a role it plays in a consumer’s life and brand loyalty.
Compared to just five years ago when Coca-Cola placed in first, there’s been a major shift toward technology companies becoming more prominent and important in people’s lives. In fact, 28 of the top 100 companies on the list are technology brands, making it the most dominant sector on the list.
Member Exclusive‘Don’t have the luxury of doing good’: The age of dissonance continues at this year’s ANAs — and beyond
When there’s an on-going global pandemic that’s crippling whole brand categories, it was hard to hear the CMOs speaking at the ANAs.
Twitch emerges as rising platform for beauty brands
Twitch’s over 17.5 million daily active users are gaining growing attention from companies well beyond the traditional gaming world.
‘Show we’re listening’: Why agencies are lending office furniture, offering WiFi stipends to employees as new pandemic-era perks
With a hybrid reality in the offing, rethinking perks to include ways to make working from home better for employees has become a focus for leaders.
SponsoredHow artificial intelligence and machine learning power content-first newsrooms
By Chris Nguyen, executive vice president, marketing at Naviga Digital is no longer just a nice addition to a newspaper’s success, but an imperative. While print remains a key source of revenue — capturing both subscriptions and advertising — spending too much time on designing and managing printed editions has become an obstacle to digital transformation. […]
‘Shopping patterns will feel longer and flatter’: Gap’s CMO on preparing for holiday campaigns
Mary Alderete on the upended marketing calendar and Gap’s plans to lean into the extended holiday season this year.
‘Race to deliver’: Pernod Ricard CMO Pam Forbus on a new anti-hate speech initiative and how the coronavirus changed the company’s marketing
Like many marketers, Forbus had to figure out what to do about the Facebook boycott as well as how to pivot the alcohol giant's marketing amid the coronavirus.


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(Reuters) -The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that drug company Merck & Co. is in advanced talks to buy cancer-focused biotech company Seagen Inc. The deal could be worth about $40 billion or more.
The companies are talking about a price for Seagen above $200 per share, the report said, citing people with knowledge of the situation. (https://on.wsj.com/3uu3tMa)
Refinitiv data shows that Seagen has a market capitalization of $32.24 billion based on the closing price of its shares on Wednesday, which was $175.
Seagen didn’t say anything about the report, and Merck didn’t answer Reuters’ request for a comment right away after business hours.
A report from the WSJ said that Merck and Seagen want to make a deal on or before July 28, when Merck will report its earnings for the second quarter. The deal has been talked about for a while. Last month, the Journal was the first to report on it.
In June, analysts at BMO Capital said there is “little doubt” that Seagen will be good for Merck’s long-term growth, but they were worried about the increased attention from regulators.
Analysts said it was clear that Merck would need to find new ways to make money after its best-selling cancer drug Keytruda lost its exclusivity in late 2028.
The deal talks are happening at a time when several big corporate deals have been put on hold this year. This is because a drop in the stock market hurts the value of companies, and rising borrowing costs make it more expensive and harder to get financing for deals.
After months of talks, Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS), a chain of department stores in the United States, called off its sale to Franchise Group (NASDAQ: FRG) last week, citing falling markets and hard financing conditions.
Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ: WBA) gave up on its plan to sell its UK pharmacy chain Boots in June, saying that the turmoil in the world’s financial markets made it impossible for a third party to make a good offer.
In Britain, the $8.36 billion takeover of supermarket chain Morrisons by U.S. buyout fund CD & R hit a snag because it took longer than expected to get $6.6 billion in debt to pay for the deal.
1 dollar equals 0.8372 pounds.


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Supplies of limes out of Mexico are tight and are anticipated to stay that way for another two weeks. “We’re delayed by about two weeks on the lime crops,” says Dario Torres, procurement manager for Broadview Produce Company Inc. “Usually in September there are plenty of supplies but we’re delayed due to weather.”
Supplies are currently coming out of Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz in Mexico. “This time of year the lime quality has been great. During the rainy season is when we often see quality come down,” he adds.
On top of all of that, farmers are also battling Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening. “It’s been going on for some time and it is increasing. We’re noticing it in the fields,” says Torres.
Of the supplies that are coming through, it’s more scarce on larger fruit--150s and 175s--while available supplies are concentrated on 200s and 230s.
Meanwhile, demand is good and steady for limes. “The pricing right now is a little higher than normal. It has gone up this last week and it’s heading upwards for the next two weeks,” says Torres. “Pricing will cool down by October once there is more volume available.”


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Wetzel’s Pretzels is preparing its biggest store pipeline in company history. These growth plans will expand the chain’s non-traditional footprint via convenience stores, food trucks and large retailers like Walmart and Macy’s. Wetzel’s, which has about 370 units, plans to open its 400th location in 2023.
How Wetzel’s Pretzels Built a Pipeline to Reach 400 Units This Year
Grab your piece of the pretzel.
We’re glad you’re interested in putting success right at your fingertips. Start by completing the form and our development team will contact you.


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What’s making news in media.
- This year was a particularly lucrative year for Lions Gate Entertainment, which includes both the Lionsgate and Summit banners, Mr. Barnes writes, which had a pair of blockbusters, “The Hunger Games” and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 2.” As a result, Lions Gate, a small movie company bolstered by its acquisition of Summit Entertainment, will end the year as North America’s fifth-largest distributor as measured by ticket sales, surpassing 20th Century Fox and Paramount.
A pair of books by the Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly about a pair of presidential assassinations — Lincoln’s and Kennedy’s — sit atop The New York Times hardcover nonfiction best-seller list. He writes them with a researcher, Martin Dugard, Leslie Kaufman reports; Mr. O’Reilly says he does the writing himself, setting a word count for each week. Asked whether 1,000 a day would be a good pace, he replied, “I can write 1,000 words in my sleep.” The day after Christmas, he starts on his next book, part of a three-book deal with Henry Holt. He won’t say what his next topic is, but on his office wall, next to a newspaper announcing the Kennedy news, is one reporting on William McKinley’s assassination at the turn of the last century.
Amazon has been cracking down on users’ rave reviews of books that appear to be less than objective, according to writers who have noticed that their disappearance, David Streitfeld reports. Amazon won’t discuss the purge — including the basis for eliminating reviews and how many have been eliminated — which only adds to the authors’ uncertainty. The move follows a number of highly publicized cases of authors using “sock puppets,” or fake online identities, to increase the number of positive reviews of their work. Critics of the rise of sock puppets have also aimed at a retired librarian from Atlanta who has more than 25,000 reviews, almost all of them granting four or five stars.
The settlement with the government of e-book pricing that was intended to counteract an anticompetitive agreement between the big publishers and Apple hasn’t yet led to more competition, David Streitfeld reports. Amazon, a critic of the pricing agreement, has largely respected the $10 floor for e-books the publishers were seeking. A reason, analysts say, is that the growth in e-book market share is slowing down. “Even retailers like Amazon have to be wondering, how far can we go — or should we go — to make our prices lower than the other guys if it’s not helping us with market share?” said Michael Norris, a Simba Information analyst who follows the publishing industry.
Midge Turk Richardson, a former Roman Catholic nun who later edited Seventeen magazine, died last weekend at age 82, Margolit Fox writes. Her life had a neat symmetry – 18 years in a convent in Los Angeles as Sister Agnes Marie, from the ages of 18 to 36, and 18 years as the editor of Seventeen from 1975 to 1993. While a nun, she taught and became a principal of a school in a largely Latino section of the city; after much soul-searching, she asked to be released from her vows, headed to Greenwich Village and began a career in publishing.


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Money money transactions is Africa is growing at an amazing rate. The likes of M-Pesa (the Kenyan grandfather of mobile money), Mozambique’s mKesh, Easywallet in Nigeria, Kenya’s PesaPal, Ghana’s OzinboPay have recorded significant growth since launch. EcoCash, a mobile money service from Econet Wireless allows Zimbabweans to send and receive money quickly and easily with their mobile phones.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe CEO Mr Douglas Mboweni announced at a press briefing on the company’s half-year financial results to the end of August 2012 that, money transfers made by urban dwellers to rural areas through it’s EcoCash have reached $70 million.
A total $300 million has been transacted since launch, and the service now has an agent network of more than 1,600.
He said EcoCash was now the most successful money transfer service in Africa after M-PESA in Kenya, which has over 14 million users.
The service allows registered members to receive money to their EcoCash wallet. Money received onto the wallet can then be withdrawn from the wallet at the nearest EcoCash Agent. Non-registered members can take the code they receive via SMS to any EcoCash agent to redeem their cash.
EcoCash now has 1,7 million subscribers up from one million when it was launched last year.


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InstallerNet announced last week that it has brought in Josh Brennecke as its new director of key account operations. Brennecke is a 20-year veteran of the mobile electronics industry, and recently ran the AutoTech division for Best Buy’s Geek Squad.
Jeremy Burkhardt to be Inducted as a CEDIA Fellow
Como Audio Intros Embrace Vinyl, Two-Channel Stereo Sound
Klein is CEDIA’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Awardee
New Age to Deliver VR Brand HTC VIVE Products to Enterprise Customers
James Loudspeaker Adds Mavericks Architectural Cinema Division
HTSA’s Next-Level Training: Beyond Products, to Human Interaction


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In the past week, there have been many stocks which have managed to record significant gains despite the volatility in the markets and one of the significant gainers was the Starfleet Innotech Inc (OTCMKTS:SFIO) stock.
On Friday, SFIO stock gained 0.82% to $0.0370 with more than 1.46 million shares, compared to its average volume of 2.61 million shares. The stock moved within a range of $0.0310 – 0.0390 after opening trade at $0.0358.
The global investment holding company experienced a significant surge in interest in the past week and ended up with gains of as much as 50% during the period. The company which has made its name in the food and beverages business, came into focus last month when it made an announcement with regards to its latest initiative in Malaysia.
The company announced back on February 11 that its team in Malaysia had launched the mall kiosk coffee chain named Hungry Dudes. More importantly, the company also noted that that it was going to add additional kiosks later on in 2022. On the other hand, Starfleet is also planning to turn some of these kiosks under the Hungry Dudes kiosks into outlets for Epiphany Café, which is its flagship food and beverage brand.
At this point in time, it may be a good move for investors to perhaps add the stock to their watch lists and watch for further developments.
SFIO stock is above the 20-Day and 50-Day Moving averages of $0.0295 and $0.0271 respectively. The stock is trading in the neutral zone with the RSI at 62.