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Revealed by CEO Adam Selipsky at its AWS re:Invent 2023 event in Las Vegas, Amazon Q is designed specifically for business use, allowing employees to ask complex questions about their specific work tasks and get detailed responses.
The company believes Amazon Q can help workers at every level, in roles from developers to marketing to call center staff, save huge amounts of time and stress by providing exactly the assistance needed.
Speaking at his AWS re:Invent keynote, Selipsky noted that Amazon Q will also be "your business expert,” learning about your business as you connect to it. The platform connects to over 40 popular tools such as Salesforce, Gmail, Slack, Atlassian and Microsoft 365, taking in and indexing all this connected data and content, as well as identifying business-specific aspects such as its organizational structure and even product names.
Trained on 17 years of AWS knowledge, Amazon Q can be specifically tailored and customized to the precise tasks you encounter at work, with conversational prompts and questions resulting in detailed answers provided in nearly real-time.
Selipsky noted that developers and IT workers in particular are being tasked with keeping pace with the rapidly changing and evolving technology industry, with generative AI moving faster than ever before. This innovation may be great for some, but ordinary workers are often catching the brunt of the demand for new features and upgrades, meaning they find it hard to balance new demands with existing workloads.
"I really believe this is going to be transformative," Selipsky said of Amazon Q, "This is just the start of how we're going to revolutionize the future of work."
The Q Architect service can also help you research, troubleshoot and analyze issues across your business, saving time and stress, and provide suggestions on optimizing AWS infrastructure queries, such as EC2 instances.
Amazon Q is also going to be in the IDE for developers, working alongside CodeWhisperer for further code suggestions, helping reduce "hours of work...it'll do all the heavy lifting for you," Selipsky says.
Amazon Q will be available today in preview for existing AWS customers, with a wider release coming sometime in the future.
More from TechRadar Pro
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Mike Moore is Deputy Editor at TechRadar Pro. He has worked as a B2B and B2C tech journalist for nearly a decade, including at one of the UK's leading national newspapers and fellow Future title ITProPortal, and when he's not keeping track of all the latest enterprise and workplace trends, can most likely be found watching, following or taking part in some kind of sport.


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July 1 will mark the start of the summer sales in Belgium, a period favored by consumers to find good deals, but tarnished by a practice that has increased in recent years: fake promotions. Indeed, some traders announce price reductions based on artificially inflated prices. Good news: those days are over! From now on, any price reduction displayed must be applied in relation to the lowest price charged during the previous 30 days, announces the FPS Economy.
“Consumers looking for a bargain need to know exactly what they’re saving over the original price. As a consumer, we are entitled to it. I will therefore ask the Economic Inspectorate to pay particular attention during the next sales period to ensure that this right is respected, both online and offline,” said Eva De Bleeker, State Secretary for Consumer protection. Checks, carried out during the last winter sales, which resulted, out of 171 companies, in 45 violations in 35 of them, or 20% of the stores checked.
From now on, apart from a few exceptions for which the obligation to apply a reference price does not apply, a reduction announced by a trader must be “exact, real and not misleading”. However, have you been the victim of deceptive practices? You can report it via point-of-contact of the FPS Economy, whose Economic Inspectorate will decide whether or not to open an investigation.

domain: news


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Stocks were mixed as Wall Street readies to close out both the month and the quarter. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was close to zero, eking into the red around midday. The S&P 500 gained about 0.2%, while the Nasdaq surged to a record high with gains over half of a percent.
While stocks have clocked steady gains this month, it's on track to be the least volatile September on record. Average daily ranges for the S&P 500 were only about 0.4%. That's the smallest range since reliable data became available in 1970.
Amazon's (AMZN) - Get Free Report Whole Foods Market said Thursday it suffered a credit card security breach at some taprooms, restaurants and other in-store venues. The company said it uses a different point-of-sale system for its roughly 450 U.S. grocery stores. Because of that, grocery customers likely weren't affected. Amazon transactions also weren't involved, the company said.
Roku (ROKU) - Get Free Report is set up for another solid day of gains on Friday in its second day as a public company. Shares increased 21%, adding to a 68% surge on Thursday. The streaming-device company had priced its initial public offering at $14 a share, the high end of an expected range of $12 to $14.
Watch More with TheStreet:
- New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick Inspires Dunkin' Donuts CEO
- Carnival CEO Arnold Donald: The Caribbean Is Still Open
- Kevin O'Leary's Mom Is the Brains Behind the Business
- Jim Cramer Has Some Advice for Consumers Amid the Equifax Hack


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“We are thrilled to partner again with MGM Consumer Products to build a full-scale consumer products program for ‘TKO: Total Knock Out.’” says Ross Misher, chief executive officer, Brand Central. “We are confident the show will be a huge success, with the powerful talents of Kevin Hart and Mark Burnett.”
The series follows one contestant as they race through challenging obstacle courses while another contestant attempt to knock them off using projectiles.
“TKO: Total Knock Out” premiere on CBS and CBS All Access July 11.
Subscribe and receive the latest news from the industry.
Join 62,000+ members. Yes, it’s completely free.


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Google is being taken to British court for secretly snooping on Safari users, it was announced on Thursday. The company has been accused of storing a “cookie” to provide targeted ads to devices, even when they specified in the browser’s settings that they did not consent to this tracking.
“In all my years speaking up for consumers, I’ve rarely seen such a massive abuse of trust where so many people have no way to seek redress on their own,” Richard Lloyd — the former director of the consumer advocacy group Which? and now the leader of the Google You Owe Us group taking the company to court — told the [BBC](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-421660890. “Through this action, we will send a strong message to Google and other tech giants in Silicon Valley that we’re not afraid to fight back.”
Google allegedly bypassed privacy settings between 2011 and 2012. With an estimated 5.4 million iPhone owners in the United Kingdom during that period, there’s a large number of potential claimants. Those affected will be automatically part of the claim unless they take action and opt out. If successful, users could receive several hundred pounds each.
When asked about the court case, a Google spokesperson said: “This is not new - we have defended similar cases before. We don’t believe it has any merit and we will contest it.”
The lawsuit claims that Google’s actions broke the Data Protection Act, a far-reaching piece of legislation that governs how data is handled. It’s the first time such a class action-style lawsuit has been brought against a company for misuse of data in the UK. The High Court is expected to hear the case in the spring.
The company has gone to court over the same issue before in the United States. Back in 2012, Google paid $22.5 million to the Federal Trade Commission. The commission said that the company specifically told users that because Safari blocks third-party tracking cookies by default, it “effectively accomplishes the same thing as [opting out of this particular Google advertising tracking cookie].” It also claimed that as a member of the Network Advertising Initiative, it had to abide by certain practices.


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A serving police constable has been acquitted of two counts of handling stolen goods involving Brompton bikes from Ealing Broadway.
Metropolitan police said PC Tomas Keating, 32, attached to the Specialist Crime and Operations Command, was alleged to have received two stolen Brompton bikes on June 23 and July 2 in 2015.
He was found not guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court on Tuesday (January 17).
Mr Keating had been charged along with two other defendants including Mustafa Dahir, 25, of Somerset Close, Tottenham, who was charged with two counts of theft and two counts of fraud.
Luqman Lemoundi, 29, of Bury Road, Wood Green, was charged with one count of handling stolen goods.
Lemoundi had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of handling stolen goods in relation to one of the stolen bikes.
Dahir changed his plea to guilty of the two thefts and was acquitted of the two fraud charges.
The court heard how Dahir stole the two bikes from a Brompton Bike Hire Ltd docking station in Ealing Broadway on June 19, 2015.
Lemoundi advertised one of the stolen bikes for sale on Gumtree on June 22, and PC Keating responded to the advert and purchased the bike the following day.
Unaware the bike was stolen, PC Keating sold it on after advertising it for sale on Gumtree on June 27.
On July 1, the second stolen bike was advertised for sale by Dahir on Gumtree, which PC Keating responded to and bought on July 2.
Then on July 7, PC Keating advertised the bike for sale on Gumtree.
He was arrested while trying to sell it outside New Southgate Station on July 9.
Metropolitan police said that since criminal proceedings had concluded, a misconduct review will take place.
Dahir and Lemoudni will be sentenced on February 17.
Keep up to date with the latest news in west London via the free getwestlondon app.
You can even set it to receive push notifications for all the breaking news in your area.


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American businesses and consumers are giving the economy a boost by spending more, but the troubled housing market remains an obstacle, new data show.
Consumers bought more from retailers for a seventh straight month in January. The gains came despite snowstorms that limited spending from workers with more money in their paychecks from a Social Security tax cut.
Businesses increased their stockpiles in every month last year, a sign that companies expect sales to remain healthy.
Still, the view of the housing market among homebuilders hasn't changed in four months, suggesting weak home sales will drag on the economy throughout the year.
Chris Christopher, an economist at IHS Global Insight, said consumer spending will likely continue to increase over the next few months. But he predicts it will happen more slowly than at the end of last year, even with workers taking home more pay from the tax cut.
"Winter storms, a poor housing market, rising gasoline and food prices, and lackluster employment growth ... put a damper on things," Christopher said.
Retail sales rose 0.3 percent last month to $318.6 billion, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Sales have risen more than 14 percent from the recession low in December 2008.
People spent more at department stores and on electronics while also paying higher prices for gas. Online sales increased at a healthy pace.
Still, the harsh winter weather — which brought many cities in the Southeast to a standstill for days — slowed traffic at restaurants and building supply stores. Americans also spent less on clothing and furniture.
The snow slowed what was looking to be another strong month for car sales, which ended up rising only 0.5 percent after a 1.5 percent gain in December.
Nine inches of snow fell in Winchester, Tenn., a town normally accustomed to a few inches all winter. That shut down business at Russell Barnett's auto dealership for nearly a week in January. During the other three weeks, he had enough business to match last January's sales.
"If we'd have had another week in there similar to the other three, we'd have been up considerably," Barnett said.
Part of the overall retail sales gain last month reflected higher gasoline prices. Sales at gasoline service stations climbed 1.4 percent. Excluding the rise at gas stations, retail sales would have risen 0.2 percent last month.
January is a time when stores clear out winter goods at deep discounts to make room for spring merchandise. It is the least important month of the year for retailers. Still, last month showed an underlying healthy consumer demand as shoppers took advantage of clearance sales to replenish their wardrobes.
As part of the broader consumer picture, Laura Gurski, a partner at A.T. Kearney, says she believes the January government sales reports showed the Social Security tax cuts are helping to lift sales at grocery stores.
"Consumers are spending (the extra money)on the basics," she said. But she added they're not buying big-ticket items.
Businesses appear to expect consumers will keep spending. Companies added to their stockpiles for a 12th consecutive month in December, the Commerce Department said. That suggests further growth at U.S. factories that could lead to more hiring in the months ahead.
A separate report Tuesday pointed to further strength in factory production. The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed that conditions for New York manufacturers are improving. The survey's index of business conditions rose to an eight-month high.
Economists think inventories will keep rising as long as sales remain strong and businesses have confidence that the demand will continue. That should boost demand at U.S. factories, and ultimately lead to more jobs.
But those jobs are unlikely to come from homebuilders, who remain pessimistic after the worst year for new-home sales in nearly a half-century.
The National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday that its index of builder sentiment remained unchanged in February for the fourth straight month at 16.
Any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the market. The index hasn't been above that level since April 2006.
Retailer Home Depot Inc. expects Americans to start spending more on home and garden projects as the weather improves. The company said Tuesday that it will hire 60,000 temporary workers for the spring shopping season, its busiest time of the year. That's similar to last year's level of seasonal hiring, the company said.


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When Dion Chang refers to the dawn of the female century, he’s talking about a different way of doing things that counters the aggressive, bullish behaviour which gave rise to the recent global meltdown. A number of signifiers are pointing the way to a new world order fuelled by the rise of civil society, the green movement, the evolution of social networks and a decline in conspicuous consumption.
The Consumer Voice
“The consumer has more power today than ever before,” he says. “Across the world we are seeing the rise of civil society and the people’s voice. It’s very much a female energy typified by the rise of social media. Consumers have found freedom online where they can shop comparatively and customise just about anything they want. Interestingly, we are witnessing a disjoint between the online experience and the offline reality. It may be more impactful, for example, to Tweet about bad service from SAA than it is to contact the airline’s call centre.”
Another case in point is Facebook’s focus groups, which have message boards where vocal supporters and dissatisfied customers alike can post messages. Everywhere, consumers are forming their own clusters, whether through Facebook or other networks. It’s a phenomenon that Seth Godin referred to in his book Tribes: We need you to lead us, in which he focuses on the need for people to take charge of their lives, to bring about change and to take the opportunity to become leaders in their own tribes.
Going It Alone
With many of the retrenched being too old to start their careers over or too young to retire, entrepreneurship is set to take off. “Again, it’s about the reassessment of value systems,” Chang says. “A guy who’s been in corporate law will suddenly decide that actually, he wants to be a yoga instructor.”
The shift in value systems, Chang notes, also results from the fact that people are fed up with banks and big business, which have been blamed for precipitating the global financial crisis.
Business in Africa
Turning to our own continent, Dutch entrepreneur Rutger-Jan van Spaandonk’s contribution to The State We’re In homes in on the realities of doing business in Africa. To harness the potential of the continent, he maintains, businesses have to see Africa as a consumer market, an incubator for new ideas and an exporter of things like agriculture and talent. “True entrepreneurs are seeing opportunities,” says Chang. “It’s not easy to do business on this continent, but if it were, it would be less attractive to early movers.”
The New News
Media industry expert Irwin Manoim muses on the oft predicted death of print media and the rise of news. “Thanks to prolific bloggers, people are increasingly able to choose their news,” says Chang. Information that is deemed to be important enough is rapidly shared with others in their interest group.
The Rise of PR
One of the most insightful chapters in the book looks at the rise of PR as the new advertising. “People want experiences, not adverts,” says Chang. “They want to be entertained, not interrupted. Rather than being told or shown, they want to be involved.”
Some of the most successful promotional campaigns are viral and they work because they are so engaging and fun that people send them on to everyone they know.
“The point is that advertisers need to take note of how consumers are living today – they are involved, connected and in search of meaningful experiences. Reinforcing a brand message with big, expensive ads is just not good enough anymore.” It’s a sentiment corroborated by the vast number of brands on the market and the alacrity with which consumers unapologetically move from one to the next. “Talkability” says Chang, is what meaningful advertising is about today.
Talent management specialist Italia Boninelli, in her contribution on the war for talent, points out that one of the dominant trends in SA is in fact the war for experience.
“The lack of institutional memory is a big problem in the South African business world,” says Chang. “Young managers in the workplace grew up in the boom and have never experienced a recession. Management development programmes have tended to focus on technical and managerial skills rather than business acumen and leadership. The number one reason people leave their jobs is because of their relationship with their boss. With that in mind, it’s worthwhile developing the people who are tasked with leading others.”
A sought-after trend analyst and consultant, Dion Chang is an innovator and creative thinker who sources new ideas and gauges their effects on society. He has 15 years’ experience in the magazine and fashion industry. In addition to running his trends analysis company, he is also a freelance journalist.


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Genthe Honda Powersports, a Southgate, Michigan-based dealership, announced that it has donated a 2018 Honda Goldwing Airbag Edition, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to fund pediatric brain cancer research through the ChadTough Foundation, named after Chad Carr, the grandson of legendary Michigan football coach Lloyd Carr, who passed in 2015 due to an inoperable brain tumor.
There will be 1,000 tickets sold nationwide at $100 each, and the winner will be chosen at the second annual Champions for Change Gala on May 19, hosted by the the ChadTough Foundation.
"The Honda Motorcycle Division has for over 30 years been a very active contributor to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Foundation. When we became a Honda Powerhouse dealer a little over two years ago and we discovered this philanthropic outreach we immediately began to research ways in which we could help," said Richard Genthe, preisident, Genthe Honda Powersports. "Being from southeast Michigan the story of Chad Carr and his battle with DIPG is well known, as his grandfather is the legendary coach, Lloyd Carr, of the 1997 National Champion Michigan Wolverines."
For more information or to buy a raffle ticket, visit ChadTough.org.


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XBIZ | Porn News | Adult Video News
Baltimore's Last Porn Theater Sold to Bidder Who Plans to Keep it Running
Oct 11, 2013 12:30 PM PDTBaltimore’s last porn cinema, The Apex, was sold at an auction for $295,000 to a new owner who has indicated that he is willing to allow it to continue operating as an XXX theater.
Dana Vespoli Working on Fresh Projects, Including ‘Lexi Belle Loves Girls’
Oct 11, 2013 12:30 PM PDTDana Vespoli is currently working with Dana DeArmond, Michael Vegas, Natasha Voya and Steve Holmes for her next movie.
Lea Lexis Stars in Evil Angel's 'Ass Wide Open 2'
Oct 11, 2013 12:00 PM PDTLea Lexis is featured in "Ass Wide Open 2," a new release from Evil Angel Video.
Factory Video Responds to AHF Allegations
Oct 11, 2013 11:00 AM PDTFactory Video, which has been fined by Cal/OSHA for occupational safety and health complaints filed by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation over the past two years, has responded to AHF's claims.
Remy LaCroix Wins Galaxy Award
Oct 11, 2013 10:15 AM PDTRemy LaCroix took home the Best New Female Performer America trophy at the Galaxy Awards.
Mass Pleasures Hosts Halloween Ball
Oct 11, 2013 9:45 AM PDTMass Pleasures, Europe’s place for lifestyle/swinger soirees for young couples and single ladies, is hosting a Halloween Ball.
Jessica Drake Hosting Reddit 'AMA' AIDS Walk Fundraiser
Oct 11, 2013 9:30 AM PDTAdult star Jessica Drake will hold a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) Q&A session today to help raise funds for Team Wicked in the 29th Annual AIDS Walk Los Angeles on Oct. 13 in West Hollywood.
Hard X Releases Trailer for 'Big Anal Asses'
Oct 11, 2013 7:00 AM PDTNew studio Hard X has released the trailer for “Big Anal Asses.”
British Show 'Sex Box' Challenges 'Porn' Sex
Oct 10, 2013 4:30 PM PDTWhen planning the location for your next public sex romp, would you consider a box? How about a sex box? The new British show “Sex Box” follows three couples who do just that.
Galaxy Awards Winners Announced
Oct 10, 2013 3:00 PM PDTThe Galaxy Awards were handed out on Oct. 6 at the cabaret theater El Molino in Barcelona.
WEB / TECH NEWS
Sexual Enhancement Market Sees Growth From Couples-Friendly Approach
From cock rings and penis pumps to creams, gels and sprays, male sexual enhancement products have long been a fixture in the pleasure products/sex toys sector. But the marketing of those products has evolved...
Lubes, Lotions and Potions: Manufacturers Talk Gateway Products
Sensual body care products have strong consumer interest and plenty of appeal for customers of all types. With lubes, massage oils, creams, lotions, and sprays all bringing in significant sales, manufacturers...


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Journalism.co.uk wrote a story last week about comments RBI managing director Jim Muttram made to the PPA conference about performance related pay for journalists.
Back on his own blog Jim has posted about the hubbub surrounding the issue.
“If any pay for performance scheme were ever to be implemented in a blanket fashion that very well might be the result – which, for the record, would be a bad thing!
“However, in an online world where attention is firstly more valued and more difficult to get, and secondly increasingly measurable it surely comes as no surprise that questions about how to maximise it arise from time to time.”
I recommend a click through to read the whole post.


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Worldstock.com–the fair trade sister site of surplus retailer Overstock.com–tipped over the $10.5 million mark in revenue this year and actually managed to profit $350,000 this year. That’s unexpected: The outfit is meant to break even. And that profit that is set to triple in 2011.
Worldstock was started by Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne–a former developmental theorist with a PhD in philosophy–who, after years of running Overstock, took a trip to Southeast Asia for some time off. It was there that he realized that local artisans in those countries had the same issues that his clients in the United States were struggling with–access to markets.
That was the birth of Worldstock back in September 2001 and now, amidst a host of other fair trade and pro-social shopping sites such as eBay’s World of Good, BrandAid, and Surevolution, Byrne sees the industry going nowhere but up.
“The American retail system is optimized for everything local artisans aren’t,” Byrne tells Fast Company. He looks at it as Walmart versus craftsmen in huts.
The Worldstock model is simple–they have a small team that scours the world for the best local artisanal crafts, buys them, and sells them with just a slight markup.
Worldstock’s primary differentiator, says Byrne, is its cost structure. Because its goal is to break even, they would buy, for example, an Indonesian mask at $25 and sell at $35, but what he’s seen some NGOs do is actually buy that same $35 item off of Worldstock and sell for upwards of $100. With concerns over financing, NGOs may need to mark up such products, but Byrne’s Worldstock doesn’t have that same requirement. And because Worldstock generally tries to steer clear of NGOs, he says that on average 60-70% of the money goes directly to artisans, as opposed to middlemen organizations.
Byrne calls his model “micro-demand,” having been influenced early on by microfinance and the economist Muhammad Yunus.
So what is Worldstock doing with all that extra money laying around?
Byrne has been independently financing the construction of schools throughout developing Asia and Africa for over a decade and now that Worldstock has this (good) problem of extra funds, the team is getting behind Byrne’s school-financing mission.
Byrne has built 22 schools to date and with Worldstock’s profits expected to reach in the millions in the next couple of years, the number of schools built every year is set to dramatically increase.
From development theory to a tried and true capitalist model in the form of Overstock.com, Byrne has certainly covered a lot of ground and somehow found a happy meeting point along the way.
Follow me, Jenara Nerenberg, on Twitter.


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Customers in Singapore will be able to buy Apple's newest products soon. The products were unveiled in the United States early Wednesday morning.
Telcos M1, StarHub and SingTel said in a media statement that they will offer the new version of the iPad, the iPad Air from Nov 1.
The WiFi-only version will start from $688, while the cellular version starts from $870. The iPad Mini with retina display will be on sale later in November. The telcos said they will offer the new products with attractive data plans that allow customers to connect to 4G and 3G networks.
The iPad Air with a 10-inch display screen will now weigh one pound (450g). The previous version weighed 1.4 pounds. Apple also shaved off almost 2mm off the iPad, making it 20 per cent thinner at 7.5mm thick while the bezel is 43 per cent smaller. It will also run on the latest A7 chip. Apple also added its high-definition "retina display" to the iPad Mini to stay competitive with recent upgrades to the smaller tablets sold by Google and Amazon. It will also be available in November and will go for $548 onwards.


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Vietnam's exports to increase 10%
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which includes Vietnam, is currently being finalised, while five rounds of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) were concluded. Other trade agreements are expected to be concluded this year, reports Viet Nam News.
The opportunities for Vietnamese exporters to increase their market share will increase enormously as the 12 countries involved in the TPP agreement make up 40 percent of global GDP and over 30 percent of the total world export-import revenue, according to the minister of Industry and Trade, Vu Huy Hoang.
Vietnam's Trade Counsellor in Belgium and Luxembourg, Vu Ba Phu, forecast that the EU would remain the biggest market for Vietnamese apparel, leather and agricultural products this year, reports Viet Nam News.
Vietnam's Trade Counsellor in the United States (US), Dao Tran Nhan, noted that the US would continue to be Vietnam's largest market and predicted that exports to the US were likely to expand 10 percent this year.
Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association Pham Xuan Hong said that Vietnam would continue to remain a priority destination for textile and garment importers in light of their trend of reducing production in China and relocating to other countries, including Vietnam, in recent years.
General Secretary of the Vietnam Seafood Exporters and Producers Truong Dinh Hoe forecast that shrimp and tra fish would continue to account for the country's key exports in 2014, reports Viet Nam News.
General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit Association Nguyen Van Ky is optimistic about fruit and vegetable exports this year as well, since global fruit and vegetable consumption is forecast to rise by 5 percent. ■


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Security25 mins ago
546Korean Government: 11 out of 21 Crypto Exchanges Complete Security Measures
The South Korean government has announced the outcome of its inspection of 21 cryptocurrency exchanges. While a number of exchanges have completed implementing both short-term and wallet management measures, many security vulnerabilities remain at most exchanges.
Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space21 Exchanges Inspected
South Korea’s government has announced the result of its mid-term review of 21 cryptocurrency exchanges. The inspection was conducted in June and July by the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology.
KISA security experts visited each exchange to check on the 85 items identified during its previous crypto exchange inspection, conducted between January and March. They focused on 17 items which needed immediate implementation; six were short-term measures and 11 concerned crypto wallet management.
“Intermediate checks were carried out in such a way as to confirm whether improvements had been made, focusing on the 17 security items recommended for quick action,” the government explained. These items include dedicated security and management staff, a password management system, crypto deposit and withdrawal controls, and a system to monitor wallets for abnormalities.
The agencies revealed that 11 out of 21 exchanges have completed the short-term measures. In addition, eight of them have also improved their wallet management systems. The eight are Upbit, Bithumb, Korbit, Coinnest, Coinlink, Coinone, Coinplug, and Huobi Korea, local media detailed. The government reiterated:In the management of virtual currency wallets, most of the vulnerabilities in the business have not yet been improved.
Furthermore, twelve companies have been found to have insufficient security procedures to prevent data leakage and loss of funds from their cold wallets. Ten companies have inadequate systems to monitor hot wallets for suspicious activities. In addition, at least ten businesses lack wallet backup and recovery measures.Further Inspections Planned
The final check on the implementation of recommended measures will be carried out next month, the agencies noted, adding that any new crypto exchanges will also be inspected.
“Because of the weak security of virtual currency exchanges, we should be careful in investing,” Kim Jong-sam, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Information and Communication, commented. “We will continue to check virtual currency exchanges to improve security.”
Referencing the hack ofCoinrail andBithumb in June, KISA described that “the leakage of virtual currency due to the hacking of recent dealers has directly led to the damage of users,” adding that after checking 85 security items, “there are many dealers with low security.”
Emphasizing that they have been asking crypto exchanges to “improve security levels by completing the recommendations for improvement,” the agencies revealed:We plan to support the improvement of the security level of the dealers through continuous inspection of the dealers.
What do you think of the Korean government’s review? Let us know in the comments section below.
Images courtesy of Shutterstock and Kisa.
Need to calculate your bitcoin holdings? Check ourtoolssection.


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Photo by Steven
The Wild Son has been closed for the past few months at 130 First Ave. just south of St. Mark's Place ... and more recently, the sign outside the lunch counter had been removed.
We were unsure if this might be a revamp or a rebrand. However, ownership has confirmed that this is a permanent closure.
Robert Ceraso, owner and creative director of the Endless Hospitality Group, said they made the decision to focus on the company's four EV establishments — Bar Lulu, Good Night Sonny, the Wayland, and the latest, Madeline's Martini (not to mention the newish High Hope Tavern in Westerly, R.I.).
"It was occurring to us that that little location was just taking way too much of our bandwidth," he said.
The Wild Son relocated to the East Village from Little West 12th Street in May 2020. They moved to a smaller space next door in November 2021, offering a daytime service and turning the corner space into Bar Lulu.
"The unfortunate truth is it's just really hard to run a small food-focused business in New York City right now. Especially if your product is supposed to be approachable and cost-conscious," Ceraso said. "Cost of goods are still through the roof. It's not impossible, but it's definitely not easy.
"It was a tough decision because we really loved that little lunch counter and thought we made that space really nice."


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We will proceed to invest in deep tech to remodel each smartphone right right into a nicely being companion for patrons and a name help assistant to all medical docs. We may also be trying to broaden our community throughout India and make our providers available extensively,” said Prasad Kompalli, chief govt officer and co-founder, MFine. SBI Ven Capital is the Venture Capital / Private Equity agency of the SBI Group, a listed financial suppliers group in Japan. On MFine, over 6000 physicians, along with some of India’s best medical medical doctors from over seven hundred revered hospitals, perform all through 35 specialties and serve tens of tens of hundreds of thousands in over a thousand places throughout India. “MFine’s model, coupling AI experience with a strong provider neighborhood, is very efficient in providing healthcare corporations on-demand and altering the means in which in which we take into consideration care provide for hundreds of thousands internationally.
The firm will use the proceeds from the mannequin new spherical to increase its hospital, diagnostics and e-pharmacy group all through the nation, while setting up tech-driven care provide merchandise for every acute and protracted conditions patients. SaaS platform Toplyne has secured $15 million to aggressively ship on the product roadmap, and scale the information science, engineering, product, and design groups. MFine, a Bangalore-based on-demand healthcare platform, raises $48M Collection C co-led by… These nascent blockchains with big growth potential are nonetheless vastly underserved by most stablecoin issuers and fiat ramp providers at present. Evenflow Brands, launched proper now it has raised $5M to hurry up its ambition to scale up over one hundred pawn retailer salem oregon digital-first producers. In October 2018, the company added one other layer to its digital physician consultations by connecting with laboratory and diagnostic services, giving its shoppers access to over seven hundred diagnostic facilities in 400 locations all through India.
Other new merchants included Hard Yaka, Bloccelerate, B21 Capital, Lou Kerner from Blockchain Coinvestors and David Choi from Taureon Capital along with two present customers, BEENEXT and Pay It Forward. CBRE is the world’s largest industrial exact property suppliers firm serving owners, retailers and occupiers. “In the healthcare sector the world has changed to a brand new normal and we are seeing a steep development within the adoption of digital well being in India too. We will continue to spend cash on deep tech to rework every smartphone into a health companion for shoppers and a decision help assistant to all doctors. We may even be trying to broaden our network across India and make our companies obtainable extensively,” said Prasad Kompalli, chief govt officer and co-founder, MFine.
About 6,000 medical medical medical doctors, from over seven hundred hospitals observe all through 35 specialties on MFine’s platform. Further, larger than 6,000 docs from over seven hundred hospitals all through 35 specialities are on MFine and are said to be serving tens of millions in further than 1,000 cities throughout India. MFine is an India-based AI healthcare platform that permits purchasers allglasswares.com glassware to attach and seek the steering of with medical medical doctors … Digital nicely being startup MFine has raised $48m from Series C funding round to construct a digital hospital in India. “In the healthcare sector the world has modified to a mannequin new common and we’re seeing a steep improvement inside the adoption of digital health in India too.
In the approaching months, the corporate is also seeking to bring financial options for users along with insurance companions, as a half of its product offerings. The CB Insights tech market intelligence platform analyzes tens of millions of knowledge points on distributors, merchandise, partnerships, and patents to help your group discover their subsequent know-how answer. SBI Ven Capital is an Asia-focus enterprise capital / Private Equity firm providing development capital to promising companies inside the mid-market sector in Asia, primarily China, India, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore. Also over the next months, the startup, together with insurance coverage protection companions, will convey monetary options for its firm clients, though not so much particulars concerning the forthcoming offering had been disclosed. MFine has a corporate subscription product that gives shoppers’ workers and their families entry to on-line nicely being consultations, psychological properly being counselling, preventive nicely being research and protracted sickness administration.
In the approaching months, the corporate may additionally be attempting to ship monetary solutions for patrons along with insurance companions, as a half of its product decisions. StartupTalky is prime startup media platform for up to date startup information, ideas, trade analysis and stories, inspiring startup stories. The company moreover has a company subscription product which permits companies to offer online physician consultations, preventive properly being checks, psychological well being consultations and continual scenario administration companies to their workers.
An immediate stay chat with a health care provider, blood verify at house, or perhaps a full nicely being verify up at house isn’t going to solely stop time, but as properly as your money. We at Appedus are a bunch of digital nomads aggregating, writing and publishing the best of the tech information within the mobile app ecosystem. About 6,000 medical docs, from over seven hundred hospitals observe throughout 35 specialties on MFine’s platform. The funding round additionally noticed participation from present traders Stellaris Venture Partners, SBI Group Japan, SBI Ven Capital Singapore, Y’S Investment Pte Ltd., Heritas Capital, Prime Venture Partners, and Alteria Capital.


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Late Summer Housing Remains Active
Housing data released this week by the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of REALTORS® (MIBOR) shows continued increases in pending sales, closed sales, new listings and sales prices. While all numbers are up, the pace of increases has slowed as we close out summer in central Indiana.
Pending sales increased 4.7 percent in the monthly comparison of August 2015 to the same period last year. In the quarter ending in August, pending sales climbed 7.8 percent. Closed sales increased by 3.9 percent as well in August and by 12.0 percent in the three-month review. New listings rose 4.7 percent in August after a decline the month before.
Sale prices also saw increases in both the one- and three-month reviews. The average sales price increased by 2.8 percent in August and 4.2 percent in the three-month review. Median sales price had a similar jump of 2.7 percent in August and 5.2 percent rise for the three months ending in August. Months of inventory stands at 4.9 months indicating the length of time it would take to sell all available inventory. A more balanced inventory level benefiting both buyers and sellers is closer to six months.
“Buyers and sellers should be encouraged by August housing activity. We are off the pace of the heavy activity we saw all spring and early summer and that’s to be expected in August,” said Kathy Hall, 2015 MIBOR president. She continued, “An unexpected jump in new listings in August is very encouraging however. We know tight inventory has been an issue all year so late summer optimism by sellers eager to list their homes demonstrates we still have a very active marketplace.”


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It’s been a rough journey for the cryptocurrency market through 2022. By November the market had dropped by more than 70 percent from the previous high on November 20, 2021. And just when things were getting worse and down, the FTX crash turned them even more dire. So, will the crypto market recover in 2023?
Crypto Market Dips are Cyclical
The cryptocurrency market, specifically Bitcoin has experienced its fair share of dips in the past. Each time, it’s bounced back with a huge increase.
For instance, in 2013, Bitcoin reached a peak of $1,160. Then it fell for over a year before reaching a bottom of $150. But, in 2017, it broke the record and reached a new high of $19,600. In 2018, the price was at $3,100. And in the year 2020 it struck through that resistance, and reached a record highest of $68,000 in November 2021. Just like that, we’ve seen another dip. However, the past has proven that following each dip there’s a bull-run.
Every Dip is Followed by a Long Bull Run
As we’ve seen in the past, dips are usually followed by a long bull run that finally overcomes the resistance set by the market’s previous highest price. This pattern is evident in not just Bitcoin but also in other cryptocurrency.
Growing Use of Crypto and Blockchain
Crypto and blockchain technology have progressed a lot in the last few years. With more and more companies and industries adopting the technology, its use and acceptance is rising. From banking to gaming cryptocurrency is being utilized in a myriad of ways. And this growing use case could lead to increasing participation in the crypto market and, in turn, boost prices.
Increased institutional interest in crypto
In the last few years we’ve witnessed a rising demand from investors of institutional scale in cryptocurrency. From hedge funds to banks numerous large institutions are starting to explore the possibilities in crypto currencies. The increasing interest from institutions could bring more stability to the crypto market and lead to higher prices.
As the crypto market grows, governments around the world are beginning to develop more favorable rules for cryptocurrency. This will help draw more investors and boost the mainstream adoption of crypto.
A broader range of blockchain applications
The technology that is the basis of many cryptocurrencies, blockchain, is a broad range of applications that go that go beyond financial transactions. In addition to supply chain management, voting and other systems companies are exploring ways they can utilize blockchain technology. This will drive more investment and interest in crypto.
Advancements in technology
Blockchain and cryptocurrency technology is still in the early stages of development. As advances continue to be made in areas such as security and scalability, potential of cryptocurrency assets will continue to grow. This could result in more adoption and higher prices.
Uncertainty in the global economy
Due to the constant economic uncertainty caused through the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other causes many investors are looking for safe haven assets such as cryptocurrency and gold. Since the economic outlook for the world is uncertain, this could lead to more demand for crypto as well as increased prices.
Interest from retail investors
The institutional investors aren’t alone in people who are interested in crypto. Retail investors, or individual investors, are also starting to participate in the market for crypto. As more and more everyday people are educated about crypto and how to invest in it, this could lead to increased demand and higher prices.
Growing awareness and acceptance of cryptocurrency
As the crypto market is maturing as more and more people are beginning to learn about it and comprehend it. As understanding and acceptance of crypto grows, this could lead to more people purchasing and holding crypto, which could increase prices.
best crypto exchange canada dogecoin
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is a rapidly growing area of the crypto market that enables finance services developed using blockchain technology. As DeFi grows and more platforms and projects become available, this will lead to a rise in adoption and more expensive prices for crypto.
Advances in crypto-based payment methods
As the crypto market grows as more and more businesses are beginning to accept crypto as a form of payment. This could result in increased use of crypto in regular transactions, and a rise in prices.
The increased investment of sovereign wealth funds
Sovereign wealth funds, which are government-owned instruments for investing, are starting to explore cryptocurrency as a possible asset class. As more funds allocate a portion or their entire portfolios to cryptocurrency, this could lead to increased demand and increased prices.
Cryptocurrency is used for cross-border payments
One of the biggest benefits of crypto is its capability to perform fast and cheap cross-border payments. As more and more people and businesses start to utilize crypto for international transactions, this can lead to a rise in demand and higher costs.
Increasing numbers of crypto ATM’s
As the number of crypto ATM’s increase it will be more convenient for consumers to purchase and store cryptocurrency, which can boost demand and increase prices.
Development of security tokens
Security tokens, or digital assets that signify ownership of an asset, such as stocks or real estate is a fast-growing sector of the crypto market. As more security tokens are created and traded, it can lead to a higher demand and consequently higher costs for cryptocurrency.
A greater adoption rate by merchants
With the increasing number of retailers accept crypto as a form of payment, it will make it more convenient for people to utilize and store crypto, which can drive up demand and prices.
So, will crypto increase in 2023? The only way to know is time. However, with these aspects being considered, it’s possible that the cryptocurrency market will be able to see a rebound in 2023. If you’re in it for the long-term, being patient and disciplined is crucial.


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Further complicating matters, guidelines issued last week by the European Union recommended cruise companies cut the duration of voyages to between three and seven days, make fewer port stops, avoid offering buffets and get passengers to maintain 5 feet of social distance.
The guidelines also urged stricter health checks for people over age 65, who account for 30% of all cruise passengers. Onboard shows and activities could also be spread out by age group.
The industry has faced an uncertain timeline for return since the pandemic shutdown began in mid-March.
That’s when all three major cruise lines, including Carnival, voluntarily agreed to suspend services for 30 days, without any specific order from the CDC to do so.
Since then, all three have continued to extend suspensions month to month while the CDC keeps “no-sail” orders in place within U.S. territorial waters.
In order for cruises to ultimately return to the sea, the CDC is requiring the companies to come up with their own plans to deal with COVID-19 with minimal help from federal, state and local governments. The plans must be detailed and specific, and will then be subject to review and approval by the CDC and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The cruise lines said they are prepared for the CDC to implement further health restrictions in the meantime.
“There isn’t a one size fits all answer to this,” said Richard Fain, chief executive of Royal Caribbean, according to Financial Times. “There are different steps that are appropriate at different times and different places.” Fain added: “A lot of people assume that you simply take what happens on land and apply it on to the sea.”
Norwegian and Royal Caribbean have assembled a panel of experts to develop health protocols that are expected by the end of August. Carnival Cruises, which controls 70% of the cruise market, has assembled its own group of experts to take part in a summit on the impact of coronavirus in late July, Financial Times reported.
Norwegian and Royal Caribbean have said cruises would not resume until the new protections are fully in place, according to Financial Times.
Industry officials knew that implementing the measures would take considerable time, and with no other sources of revenue, financial reserves drained and no help from the $2 trillion economic stimulus, cruise lines wound up in more serious trouble than any other industry touched by the economic crisis.
Norwegian, Carnival and Royal Caribbean were locked out from the economic stimulus because they are incorporated outside America, in countries with more lenient tax, labor and safety laws.


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Rogers has presence in many businesses – cable, internet, wireless, home phone, security, magazines, sports teams and soon to be in banking. Apparently Rogers has sent in their application with federal government to open a bank called “Rogers Bank”, or in French “Banque Rogers”.
According to the official filing on September 3rd the application stated that “Notice is hereby given, pursuant to subsection 25(2) of the Bank Act (Canada), that Rogers Communications Inc. intends to apply to the Minister of Finance for the issue of letters patent incorporating a bank under the Bank Act (Canada) primarily focused on credit, payment and charge card services.”
Rogers spokesperson Carly Suppa stated “We have no plans to become a full-service deposit-taking financial institution… The license, if granted, would give us the flexibility to pursue a niche credit card opportunity to our customers should this make sense at a future date”.
In regards to mobile banking, the latest comScore report had 12.3% of Canadian mobile subscribers accessing banking, credit card, insurance or brokerage account information from their device. There’s currently over 24.5 million wireless subscribers in Canada, Rogers has just over 9 million of those.
Most likely the main reason why Rogers would go into the bank business – apart from making money on the transaction fees – is for the mobile banking/payment aspect of it. Mobile banking and payments is being heavily testing in Canada now, various NFC (Near Field Communications) trials are happening throughout the country. Rogers is also rumoured to officially launch NFC mobile-payments in Canada in early 2012. So this addition of Rogers becoming a financial institution would position them as the leader in the “digital wallet” era, essentially making all basic services available through them.
Update: We’ve heard from Rogers and they stated to us that “While they’re not denying an interest in mobile payments, they insisted this application is only related to the possibility of launching a niche credit card business at some point in the future.”
Source: Canada Gazette


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Hawaii product accelerator Mana Up and Bank of Hawaii today announced a partnership designed to fuel the growth and success of Hawaii’s entrepreneurs.
Bank of Hawaii will become the exclusive banking partner at the Mana Up “Founder Level” to effectuate key strategic programs—including a new mentorship program as well as a content collaboration for local entrepreneur stories—as part of a shared vision to diversify the local economy for generations to come.
In addition to supporting the annual accelerator program, Bank of Hawaii will co-create with Mana Up an executive mentorship and training program to propel local companies to the next level. The annual initiative will match 10 Mana Up alumni companies with executive mentors from Bank of Hawaii based on specialized areas of growth.
This critical program will provide leadership and business maturation content to entrepreneurs while offering the executive mentors the opportunity to extend their expertise for the community at large.
Meanwhile, leveraging Bank of Hawaii’s extensive reach in Hawaii and beyond, Mana Up and Bank of Hawaii will co-develop campaigns that highlight Hawaii’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem through deep storytelling. Moreover, a collaborative “Shop Local” feature on the Bank of Hawaii website will offer everyone the benefits of shopping with Hawai’i-based businesses that grow the economy, create jobs, and invest in giveback initiatives of their own.
“Small businesses and the hardworking individuals behind them are the heartbeat of our community,” says Bank of Hawaii Chairman, President and CEO Peter Ho. “We’re excited to support Mana Up and have our executives partner directly with local entrepreneurs to help guide them on their entrepreneurial journey.”
“We all have a stake in Hawaii’s economic future. We are excited and grateful to share a vision with Bank of Hawaii in high-potential industries for Hawaii that are aligned with community values and benefit locals for the long-term,” says Meli James, co-founder of Mana Up.
“Partnering with Bank of Hawaii will be a tremendous leap in accomplishing this vision because they are contributing their expert knowledge to the next generation of the economy.”
Bank of Hawaii will also be recognized as the community partner for Hawaii Rising, a program led by Build Native with Shopify and Mana Up designed to grow e-commerce revenues for indigenous-identifying and Native Hawaiian owned businesses.
About Mana Up
Mana Up is an accelerator and venture fund for Hawaiʻi-based products growing to markets globally, with the mission to increase economic opportunity and jobs for the people of Hawaii. To date, 74 local companies have participated in the six-month accelerator program that provides expansion opportunities and helps solve business challenges.
About Bank of Hawaii
Bank of Hawaii was incorporated on Dec. 17, 1897, and 125 years later the bank and its subsidiaries serve businesses, consumers and governments in Hawaii, Guam, Saipan and Palau, and offers a wide range of financial products and services. Bank of Hawaii remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the communities it serves.


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BOGURA: Farmers of Bogura district are happy growing the early winter cauliflower due to its bumper production and good market prices.
Traders from different districts including Dhaka, Narayanganj are coming to buy it from makeshift markets in Bogura district.
Though production is less compare to previous years, the market price is very high. They are optimistic to make a good profit if the market price remains stable till next month.
In a recent visit this correspondent found a big size of cauliflower is being sold at Tk 40 to 45 in the retail markets while Tk 50 to 50 in the wholesale markers whereas the farmers are to invest only Tk 25 to 30 to produce the same amount of vegetable.
They are expecting to become self-reliant growing the vegetable spending a small capital. The peasants will bring more crops under early winter cauliflowers in the upcoming year, expect the authority concerned.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has taken a target to bring 920 hectares of land under early winter cauliflower cultivation this season. The farmers have already planted the high yielding cauliflower on 1050 hectares of land.
Due to vast profit, the early winter cauliflower farming is increasing in the region, said Md Enamul Haque Additional Deputy Director (Grain) of the district Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). A good job opportunity has been provided among the marginal day-labourers across the area, he added.
Hossain, a farmer of the district, has brought one and half bigha of land under the advanced variety of cauliflower farming spending around Tk 30,000.
“I’m hoping to sell cauliflower worth over Tk 1.5 lakh from my field this season,” said Hossain.
Hundreds of farmers like Shahadat Hossain in the district have become happy after attaining good yield and lucrative market price of the early winter vegetables.
Farmer Emdadul Haque under Shibganj upazila said he has cultivated early cauliflower on 20 decimals of land spending Tk 50,00 hoping for a good profit. He has already started harvesting the vegetable and hopes to sell at Tk 75 thousand this season
If the farmers have been provided all sorts of necessary agri-inputs, the farmers will be more interested to grow early winter cauliflower next year. The farmers show more interest to bring the crop land under cauliflower cultivation as they are getting fair price.
Deputy Director of the DAE Md Dulal Hossain said the extreme poor peasants of the district mostly depend on agriculture-based crops like early winter vegetable. We provide all sorts of logistic support among the eager farmers to boost the vegetable output, he added.


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If you're from the South (or just love Southern-inspired style), chances are good you've heard of Reese Witherspoon's Draper James line. What started out as a Southern lifestyle website has morphed into a clothing and home goods line with a real life Draper James store, and the business only seems to be getting bigger. After a Draper James collab with Net-A-Porter was announced just a few days ago, Nordstrom announced today it'll carrying Draper James at its stores and on its website starting today.
It's big news for the Southern style brand, which has collected fans because of its adorable (and cheeky) t-shirts and totes and its sweet sundresses. Nordstrom is all about getting exclusive styles for its loyal fans, and on an Instagram post from the brand, it announced it'll be carrying Nordstrom-exclusive Draper James items as well.
For now, you can shop the brand's summer collection on the Nordstrom website. Witherspoon described the brand's goals with the collection in a Q&A on the Nordstrom website: "We’re always thinking about what women really want to wear," she says. "During the summer, most of us go to picnics, barbecues, pool parties and weekend getaways with friends, so we created clothing for those occasions."
How adorable is that dress? It's only one of a bunch of cute items from the summer collection that I'm already coveting.
Howdy Stripe Cotton Tee, $55, Nordstrom
How cute is this Howdy tee Witherspoon is wearing above? I love the stripes.
Mary Beth Cotton Sundress, $225, Nordstrom
Southern women are all about sundresses, and I love this checked gingham one for summer.
The Draper James Totes Y'all tote is Instagram-famous by now, and you can now shop it at Nordstrom.
Draper James also carries home goods, and I'm loving this adorable trinket tray.
Visit the Draper James page on the Nordstrom website now to see everything the brand will be carrying — and if we're lucky, these pieces might be included in Nordstrom's upcoming Anniversary Sale.


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The Land Rover LR3 combines go-anywhere off-road capability with responsive on-road performance in a vehicle that is comfortable, safe and...
Land Rover seems intent in changing the definition of "roughing it" with its Defender DC 100 and Defender DC100 Sport concepts.
Read This Article
Land Rover, makers of iconic off-road vehicles like the Defender, is setting out to expand its lineup to 16 models by 2020.
Believe it or not, the Range Rover Evoque convertible is still a possibility, according to one exec at the company.
Land Rover's Halestone plant in the UK produced Land Rover LR2 number 300,000 this week, which is fairly shocking.


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ConocoPhillips announced on Wednesday that it would sell $5 billion to $10 billion of noncore assets in the next two years and use the proceeds to buy back shares and invest in its business.
The move is part of a broader strategy to improve shareholder returns.
In February, the company approved a $13.5 billion capital program, the bulk of which will go toward exploration and production. Only about 9 percent will be devoted to refining and marketing — activities like getting gasoline to the consumers at the pump. The company sells gasoline in Europe and the United States, mainly under the Phillips 66 and Conoco brands.
“This year’s capital budget reflects our emphasis on building the upstream business,” the chief executive, James J. Mulva, said in a statement in February. “We expect competitive returns from our increased investments in North American and Australian unconventional resource projects.” The company is also involved in Canadian oil sands projects.
In a related initiative, the company has been aggressively buying back shares. Last year, ConocoPhillips announced plans to buy back as much as $5 billion worth of shares. With $4 billion repurchased, ConocoPhillips said in February that it would buy back an additional $10 billion of stock.
“We are executing the plan set out last year to improve returns and create value through disciplined capital spending, noncore asset sales and growing production per share,” Mr. Mulva said in a statement on Wednesday. “Our unique approach prioritizes value creation over low margin production growth and is designed to position the company for higher returns and increased shareholder distributions in the future.”
In the last two years, shares of ConocoPhillips have gained more than 80 percent, outperforming rivals like BP, Chevron and Exxon Mobil as well as the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index.


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As we reported to you last week, Microsoft announced that it is buying Nokia's Devices & Services business for $5 billion, plus another $2.2 billion for licensing rights to many of Nokia's patents.
In the wake of the news, there are several interesting questions to explore, starting with these: With Microsoft and Nokia just two years into a strategic partnership, why is Microsoft choosing to own when it can rent? And why now?
There are at least two possibilities. First, buying Nokia is a defensive move. Second, Microsoft has found its next CEO, and that person is Stephen Elop, former CEO of Nokia.
The first possibility makes sense. Nokia accounts for nearly 82 percent of Windows Phone smartphone shipments and Microsoft simply can't afford to let the #1 manufacturer of smartphones using its Windows Phone platform add new platforms or fail, which had been a concern.
The second possibility is intriguing. Elop ran Microsoft's business software division before joining Nokia in 2011 and was the man behind the decision to adopt Windows Phone as the company's sole smartphone platform.
Elop's name was mentioned as a possible successor to Steve Ballmer when his retirement was announced. Other even more interesting names were floated, including Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, AOL CEO Tim Armstrong and even Yahoo's relatively new CEO Marissa Mayer.
But there's another, deeper question to ask around CEO succession: Is Microsoft now too big and too complex to be run by just one person?
In an article published today in Yahoo! Finance, Marty Wolf explores this question in detail and arrives at a provocative conclusion: Microsoft's best hope lies in breaking up into at least two separate operating companies, one focused on its enterprise business and the other on its consumer business.
To read the entire article, click here.


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LEGO Group: A Powerhouse in Toy Industry
H1 2023 Finacial Report: Despite a challenging landscape, LEGO Group’s financial performance for the first half of 2023 has been impressive. With a revenue growth of 1% amounting to DKK 27.4 billion, the company has outperformed the declining toy industry, thanks to its diverse product portfolio.
Key Highlights: LEGO’s H1 2023 Financial Report
Consumer demand for LEGO’s diverse portfolio led to a 3% sales growth compared to H1 2022. This robust performance resulted in significant market share growth. However, operating profit fell from DKK 7.9 billion in H1 2022 to DKK 6.4 billion in H1 2023. This was an anticipated outcome as LEGO accelerated its long-term strategic initiatives in manufacturing, digital, and sustainability.
LEGO’s Commitment to Sustainability
LEGO Group has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 across its entire supply chain. The company has tripled spending on activities aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. This includes the use of more sustainable materials, expanded use of renewable energy, and a target to reduce carbon emissions by 37% by 2032.
Expanding Global Manufacturing Network
LEGO Group is expanding its global manufacturing network, breaking ground on a new factory in Virginia, US, and continuing construction of a new factory in Vietnam. Both sites are USD 1 billion investments and aim to be carbon-neutral once completed in 2025 and 2024 respectively.
LEGO’s Digital Transformation
LEGO Group’s digital transformation includes the introduction of technology that has improved shopper experiences. The company expects to have around 1,800 digital colleagues in four locations by the end of the year.
LEGO’s Global Retail Network Expansion
LEGO Group continues to expand its global network of branded stores, opening 89 new stores during the first half of 2023. This takes the total number of stores globally to 988.
Inspiring Future Generations
LEGO Group believes that learning through play gives children the best opportunity to develop life-long skills. During the first six months of 2023, more than 4.3 million children benefited from product donations and local community engagement activities.
Conclusion: LEGO’s Future Outlook
With its strong financial position, LEGO Group is investing for the long term in areas such as digital, sustainability, and manufacturing. The company’s performance is in line with expectations, after three consecutive years of extraordinary growth!
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(PRWEB) June 1, 2004
FurnitureMedia.com has launched its new website that features news for the furniture, textile and retail markets.
FurnitureMedia.com offers news from some of the largest public furniture companies including Falcon and Furniture Brands International.
It is the goal of the team at FurnitureMedia.com to provide the furniture industry and its customers the latest information and a place to voice their opinions. One feature that FurnitureMedia.com will showcase is it's message forum where consumers can advise what products they are purchasing now, which retail outlet provides the best service and which furniture brands to avoid.
Upgrades to FurnitureMedia.com will continue as more services become available to the company.
All media requests can be addressed to email@example.com. FurnitureMedia.com accepts all furniture manufacturers and retail stores press releases.


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In Japan, paying more than half a million dollars on a single fish is considered good luck for business (and also comes with a round of free publicity).
Kiyoshi Kimura, the owner of the sushi-chain restaurant Sushi Zanmai, did just that at Japan’s famous Tsukiji fish market during its first auction of the year. He paid $614,000 for a 467-pound bluefin tuna. This is his sixth straight year with the highest bid.
The new year auction tradition may be the last at this location, which is considered prime real estate. The Tokyo government plans to move the fish market to a manmade island a few miles away. However, relocation has been delayed due to concerns about toxic pollution at the new site.
Watch our video to get a sense of what it’s like at the world’s largest fish market during the auction.


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The booming world of online shopping is the tiger of the retail market. But, can the delivery market keep up with consumers who demand instant gratification? Malory Davies asks the questions.
The growth in online retail has been driving dramatic change right across the retail market and there is no sign of it slowing down. In the past year the value of online sales rose ten per cent, according to figures from IMRG and Capgemini. And there is no sign of the market running out of steam. Neil Ashworth, chief commercial officer of Yodel and chief executive of CollectPlus, says: “Online shopping has transformed the UK retail sector. Despite its rapid growth showing some signs of slowing the UK consumer continues to embrace the convenience that it offers. Data from the Office for National Statistics recently showed that online sales rose by 15.3 per cent over the past year and now make up a record high of 18.2 per cent of total retail sales. When compared to 2013 when only one pound in every ten was spent online, the growth is markedly clear. “Despite this continued progress, the grocery industry bucks the trend. Online food sales remain stubbornly below ten per cent, as customers continue to seek the satisfaction of choosing their own produce from physical stores. With non-food purchases on the other hand, there is often a greater desire to compare prices, and service options – driving a greater amount of business online “The growth in online retail sales via mobile is especially impressive, as consumers increasingly shop on the move during their morning commute, or in the evening, on the sofa in front of their TV,” says Ashworth. “Therefore, we can expect the demand for online shopping deliveries to align and increase over time., and GlobalData predicts that online retail sales will grow by 34 per cent over the next five years. “While the popularity of key shopping dates like Black Friday and Cyber Monday are well established, Singles Day – a Chinese import to the UK retail calendar – is likely to become the next online shopping phenomenon, and at Yodel and CollectPlus, we’re working with our retail clients to factor this into our preparations this Peak,” says Ashworth. Richard Blown, head of innovation at Hermes, argues that consumer expectation has never been higher when it comes to flexibility and convenient delivery options that place them in control. “But this requires personalisation and a greater understanding of the customer. For us, this also extends to customer returns, as well as receiving parcels, so we’re working on improving our returns process to make it even easier with trackable, instant refunds. We’re also seeing growth of our international footprint and buying and selling from the US and China in particular, so the ability to deliver across these geographies and integrate into a UK carrier network is becoming increasingly important.” Two-person delivery is also growing rapidly. “There are opportunities everywhere and in every market sector. New e-commerce retailers are being created daily and existing retailers are getting smarter,” says Charlie Shiels, chief executive at ArrowXL. And Brian McCarthy, chief operating officer at Panther, says: “Consumers are now much more comfortable in buying heavy and large items online indicative of which is the introduction of Amazon’s Heavy and Large programme of which we are a part. Further the fact that home shopping within the larger sector of the market is now able to provide an immediate solution in terms of next day or nominated day delivery to suit the customer’s requirements – something which often high street retailers are unable to do – is appealing and in turn provides greater flexibility and ease of use making the shopping experience much easier,” says McCarthy. International growth is another area of development. Dave Gladen, group marketing manager at Xpediator points out that traditionally consumers did face barriers to access foreign e-tailers, “but today they can take advantage of online opportunities taking them from domestic to international markets. Xpediator introduced EshopWedrop to meet the under-serviced Eastern European demand for access to UK and Western European markets with affordable delivery costs. “Through overlaying EshopWedrop service on top of the regular groupage services for Xpediator’s freight forwarding division Delamode’s across its international freight network, consumers across Europe can now access a much wider range of goods at greatly reduced delivery rates. For example, a laptop bought from an online UK retailer to Vilnius (Lithuania) through EshopWedrop would only cost a customer €6.99 to be delivered. With significant cross-border online shopping in Western and Northern Europe too, Xpediator is expanding their offering within these markets. “By using our international B2B freight network already in place, our customers across Europe can now afford to buy the products they want at any time. So, customers in Lithuania can buy the car parts they are looking for from Poland and customers in Romania can buy the baby clothes they want from the UK, and now they can do this far more quickly and cheaply than before,” says Gladen. Instant gratification is an important factor in retail and not surprisingly retailers are always looking to offer later cut-offs and faster delivery. “Customers expect speed and convenience when they shop online, especially in the fast fashion sector, and are likely to form a negative opinion of a retailer if they are let down by their delivery experience,” says Ashworth. “Therefore, retailers must be wary of over-promising and under-delivering to preserve customer loyalty. Putting the customer first and prioritising a reliable and convenient service will always win over a ‘speed at any cost’ approach. “As an industry, there is also a need to educate the consumer that there is a cost to delivery. The continual downward pressure on delivery charges is unsustainable when providing a suite of services that balance cost with factors such as environmental impact, efficient operations and fair payment,” says Ashworth. Hermes’ Richard Blown says there’s definitely still an appetite for later cut-off times and faster delivery, thanks to the Amazon effect setting expectations for next and same day. “However, we see that customers would still take the certainty of delivery – ie a convenient time slot – over speed, if this was a cheaper option. We’re always looking to deliver premium services like this that don’t have to cost the earth, as not all customers are prepared to pay a premium for instant delivery, unless the circumstances were very specific – like a crucial emergency order or a very last minute gift.” Andrew Tavener, head of marketing at Descartes Systems, says: “Retailers and transport operators alike are now faced with an intense pressure to satisfy customer expectations of faster, more convenient and ever-more personalised delivery options. For retailers who are struggling to keep up with the demand there is a hefty price to pay, with PCA Predict research revealing that UK small to medium e-commerce retailers are losing a whopping £183,000 a year in costs relating to failed or lost deliveries. “The challenges posed to retailers to fulfil faster, more flexible delivery options at no extra cost are well known within the industry, and organisations of all sizes are under increasing pressure to find greater efficiencies within their supply chain to compete. With a dedicated e-commerce WMS, more organisations can become operationally ready to better fulfil orders, reduce error rates, reduce costs, increase sales and most important meet and exceed customer expectations. “It could be argued that the Amazon effect is truly in action and will continue to gain momentum. Simply stated, the Amazon effect is the on-going evolution and disruption of logistics, supply chains, retail, consumer behaviour, markets, and more since Amazon’s debut in 1994. Take consumer behaviour for example, Amazon habituates consumers to expect a near frictionless shopping process. The e-commerce giant has helped to solidify the expectation for fast delivery, visibility, communication, and straight-forward returns,” says Tavener. The demand for later cut-offs and faster delivery is also a factor in the two-person market. Panther’s Brian McCarthy says: “This will continue as consumer demands drive the market, however as in the case of any premium service it carries a cost which, certainly in the smaller sector of the market, brings up the age old adage of who is going to pick up the tab. This however doesn’t apply within the two-person market. It is a different dynamic and if the consumer has a choice of delivery options they will choose that which best suits their requirement and if that happens to be a premium service then they are prepared to pay for it,” says McCarthy. And ArrowXL’s Charlie Shiels says: “In our two-person delivery space it is normally all about convenience and often speed as a broken washing machine or fridge is all about getting a quick replacement. For Arrow XL, it’s not the final mile but the final five metres that is the key as we deliver to the room of choice, unpacked and/or assembled/installed.” Technology has always played a critical role in parcel delivery – today the idea of keeping track of hundreds of thousands of parcels a day using a pencil and paper seems ludicrous. And as the demands on the network increase, technology is increasingly helping to take the strain. “We’re seeing a lot of augmented reality options when it comes to fashion retail in particular, but also homewares and furniture,” says Richard Blown of Hermes. “IKEA for example uses this to visualise products in the home before purchase. We hosted a Hackathon earlier this year with students from Leeds Beckett University and it was interesting to see how many of their concepts also included virtual assistants and augmented reality, which this demographic is increasingly starting to expect. Smart locks for delivery to safe places both outside and inside the home are also a talking point, but a slightly more comfortable fit would seem to be the use of connected vehicles allowing car boot delivery and in-car commerce. “The use of Google Assistants and Alexa to learn and make personalised shopping recommendations is also something we’re looking at in the Hermes Innovation Lab, building on our existing use of Alexa integration for parcel tracking,” says Blown. Yodel’s Neil Ashworth believes innovation will likely centre around the refinement of existing processes. “Improvements in self-service options, automated collection, and auto-recognition would be among the most recent. “For example, CollectPlus has recently integrated its Print in Store Returns service with Amazon’s Echo devices, meaning customers can make the most of the Alexa voice-activation technology to simplify the returns process. Combined with the growth of AI technologies, similar developments which centre around improving the customer experience are likely to point towards the future of home shopping,” says Ashworth. James Robbins, chief information officer at ArrowXL, highlights augmented reality and improved near field communication, saying they “will both play a vital role in delivering slicker in-store processes in the near future. I enjoy seeing organisations harnessing smart technology to enhance the consumer experience and I am a huge fan of Wagamamago – the restaurant’s ‘walk out and pay’ app. “I was recently discussing how consumer behaviour differed from in-store to online. When shopping in-store, behaviour is largely driven by location whereas this is not a factor online. I think AR could be used to improve the in-store buying process and bring location choices to the online shopping experience. Of course, AI and Robotics are obvious choices, but I like the quirkiness of this technology and its potential impact,” says Robbins. Charlie Shiels, of ArrowXL, adds: “Developments in final mile alternatives to post codes such as Post Tag, W3W are really interesting as they take a driver right to the front door.” The efficiency of delivery operations can be improved with routing software as well a telematics, says Descartes’ Andrew Tavener. He argues that collaborative technology is key to driving developments in home shopping in the future. “Poor delivery can immediately put a consumer off shopping with a particular retailer again, meaning it is crucial for deliveries to be optimised. With real time feedback from telematics systems transport operators can ensure they have real time visibility over their fleet, allowing managers to not only see where a vehicle is, but also to compare this to where it should be.” Panther’s Brian McCarthy says: “Rather than technologies driving developments in home shopping, I see that it will be the introduction of new developments, such as consolidation, ever increasing later cut off times and a greater focus on ensuring the delivery experience.”
This feature first appeared in the October issue of Logistics Manager.


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Keep track of the latest company results and market forecasts at Rethink Wireless, where you can find the latest breaking financial news plus expert commentary.
Rethink Wireless puts flesh on the bones of the companies’ quarterly results statements, adding comment and context based on its analysts’ experience of tracking the key players. As well as tracking the performance of important vendors, carriers and other companies, we offers comprehensive updates on the latest mergers and acquisitions, even when they are just rumours.
Also covered are interesting start-ups and their investors and results, looking ahead to the key players and technologies of the future. As well as individual financial reports, we build on those to analyze economic trends in the industry as a whole, and forecast how the sector will develop over the coming quarters.
We track a wide variety of trends in technology uptake, carrier spending and vendor success factors, drawing on data from ARCchart and Rethink Research.
25 July, 2013
Chip giant beats forecasts for revenue, profit and selling prices, consolidating dominance of handset sector
18 July, 2013
As chip giant suffers fourth quarterly sales drop in a row, the need to offset PC decline is becoming critical
28 June, 2013
CEO Mayer pins growth plans on revamping Yahoo's key services for smartphones, as advertising share drops
15 May, 2013
As Iliad's Free Mobile unit enters its second year of disrupting the mobile sector, Vivendi unit feels the heat
9 May, 2013
Japanese giant back in profit, credits growing success of Xperia line and targets 42m smartphone sales this year
9 May, 2013
Deutsche Telekom rides on German and US upturns, while Telefonica improves profits despite continuing pressures
1 May, 2013
US telecoms market still uncertain as Intel gets behind Softbank in battle for Sprint, and Clearwire accepts more funding
26 April, 2013
Takes one-third of Q1 smartphone market, as iPhone stagnates, and reports 42% leap in earnings, with Galaxy the top driver
25 April, 2013
Chip giant beats Wall Street forecasts with $6.12bn in quarterly sales, but ASPs under pressure until second half of year
24 April, 2013
Long awaited mobile turnaround will be boosted by Optimus G carrier deals, offsetting TV market weakness
- Mobile challenges clear in Intel's Q1 report - 16 April, 2014
- Google buys Titan, in drone clash with Facebook - 14 April, 2014
- Freescale and ALU show off small cell SoC - 11 April, 2014
- Would Softbank dare to bid for Vodafone? - 10 April, 2014


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A serial entrepreneur, Radu Savopol has nearly 20 years of experience in HoReCa and, with the creation of coffee chain 5 to Go, has managed to put a mark on many Romanians’ mornings. Through the expansion of the chain he has managed to successfully transfer the concept to several regions of Romania.
Last year, the coffee chain increased its turnover by 134 percent year-on-year. He successfully juggles several businesses and last year both closed a long-running venue in Old Nick Pub and took on a fresh challenge by opening a new space aligned with the latest market trends.
Among last year’s biggest achievements for the 5 to Go chain, Savopol counts the fact that it exceeded its forecasted turnover. “Moreover, we opened cafes in new cities and strengthened the brand in several areas around the country. In 2017 we also launched 5 to Go plus, a double range of drinks and premium for the food range. We also focused on developing the 5 to Go team.”
“For me, it was a good year, due to the launch of Dialog Social Bar, but also one when I gave up on a staple location in Bucharest, Old Nick Pub Bucuresti,” he acknowledges. “I focused on the team, on strengthening the franchises with potential in the management of own locations, and I created private label products, which meant I had to put in a lot of work and a lot of kilometers.”
At Business Review Awards 2018, Radu Savopol was named Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.


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FARGO-A husband and wife are the new owners of a cellphone repair shop here.
Miranda and Carl Burfeind took over the ownership March 7 of the local Phone-n-Fix franchise, which originally opened in May 2015. The business operates out of a kiosk in West Acres Shopping Center, 3902 13th Ave. S., between The Buckle and LOFT clothing stores.
Miranda Burfeind said she and her husband, who are from Sioux Falls, S.D., started with the Phone-n-Fix franchise in South Dakota and moved up to Fargo a year and a half ago to prepare to take over as owners of the franchise in West Acres. She said they've kept busy in the past two months.
"We buy and sell and fix cellphones, and we sell certified, pre-owned devices," she said.
The kiosk also sells accessories for phones and tablets and offers a warranty on its repair services.
The Phone-n-Fix franchise network is based in Sioux Falls.
The Fargo store is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 on Sundays. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/BPNF2.


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McCormick & Co. Inc., the world's largest maker of spices and food flavorings, reported yesterday record first-quarter sales, net income and earnings per share, but a 50 percent drop in profits from joint ventures kept results below Wall Street forecasts.
The Sparks-based company said net income grew 4 percent to $35.1 million, or 25 cents per diluted share, compared with $33.8 million, or 24 cents, in last year's first quarter. Nine analysts polled by Thomson Financial First Call had expected the company to post 26 cents per diluted share for the quarter.
Sales in the quarter, which ended Feb. 28, rose to $555 million - a 7 percent increase over sales of $518.9 million in the comparable period last year.
McCormick, which sells products to consumers, institutional food service clients and food manufacturers, said that favorable foreign exchange rates accounted for more than half of the total sales increase.
Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, sales rose 4 percent at the company's consumer division, stayed even in its industrial division, and climbed 14 percent in its packaging division, the company said.
The company's bottom line was hurt by a drop in profit at the company's joint venture in Mexico. Its partnership with Grupo Herdez - known as McMex - saw profits erode in the quarter due to aggressive competition, higher raw materials costs and a devalued Mexican peso compared with the U.S. dollar, said Robert J. Lawless, McCormick's chairman, president and chief executive officer.
McCormick has been partnered with Herdez in Mexico since 1947, he said.
"Those who have been on the journey with us the past few years know that we have encountered challenges before," Lawless told analysts during a conference call yesterday. "It appears that ... our joint venture in Mexico is our challenge for 2003."
In a separate interview yesterday, Lawless said it was "incumbent" upon the company to get the Mexican joint venture back to the level of profitability it saw last year.
"It was profitable; we didn't lose money" in the quarter, Lawless said. "We just didn't make our expectations."
The company's profit from unconsolidated operations, including the McMex joint venture, fell 50 percent to $2.8 million, compared with $5.7 million in the year-earlier period, according to a company statement yesterday. The company isn't required to report sales results for its joint ventures, Lawless said.
One of the ways that McCormick fuels steady sales growth is through securing new distribution venues for its products, particularly for its consumer business. Yesterday, Lawless said the company had entered a new niche: the dollar store category.
Lawless said the company will distribute its top 50 items through Dollar General, one of the leading dollar-store competitors with more than 6,000 stores across the country. The company will sell both private label and McCormick-branded products at Dollar General, which already sells spice products from other competitors, Lawless said.
"It's a significantly growing key channel of distribution," Lawless said.
Overall, McCormick's quarterly results were slightly below expectations, but the company always does better in the second half of the year, said Mitchell B. Pinheiro, an equity analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC in Philadelphia.
"The good news in the quarter is the packaging business, which looks like it's recovering. The negative is the joint venture in Mexico."
"It's an interesting company," Pinheiro added. "They have a multichannel strategy that allows the company to increase earnings consistently, despite challenges from time to time in each of their businesses."
Shares of McCormick fell 46 cents to close yesterday at $24.99.


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Last year, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt struck a winning blow for green vehicles everywhere by taking the 2011 North American Car Of The Year (NACOTY) title.
This year, another fuel-efficient vehicle has strode to the title - the 2012 Hyundai Elantra.
It's seen off competition from the Volkswagen Passat, and more importantly for Hyundai, its Ford rival, the Focus. Both Ford and Hyundai offer models that hit 40mpg according to their EPA highway ratings.
Of course, it isn't always that straightforward. To buy a Focus that achieves 40 mpg highway, you'll need to spend a little extra on Ford's SFE package.
Hyundai's 40 mpg rating hasn't all been plain sailing either. Last month, the Consumer Watchdog organization called for the EPA to re-test the Elantra, as several drivers had been struggling to get gas mileage much about the mid-20s. The EPA's original test gave the Elantra a combined rating of 33 mpg.
When we tested a 2011 Hyundai Elantra sedan last April, we managed a combined rating of over 34mpg, and the maker stands by its EPA numbers.
Doubts cast aside, the 2012 Hyundai Elantra was rated by the NACOTY judges for its spacious cabin and impressive economy, whether equipped with manual or automatic transmissions. Hyundai also previewed an electric model at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, with a potential range of over 120 miles.
The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque took the gong for North American Truck Of The Year, beating the Honda CR-V and BMW X3.
For more news from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, head over to our dedicated show page.


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Diesel costs down in several locales
August 9, 2021
•Land Line Staff
Diesel prices, including the national average, are lower this week, according to the weekly report released by the Energy Information Administration on Monday, Aug. 9.
The report showed a national average of $3.364, down from $3.367 last week. This price is 93.6 cents higher than one year ago.
Reporting lower numbers this week were the Gulf Coast, Midwest, East Coast and Lower Atlantic regions. Additionally, the Central Atlantic region had no change in price.
In the California, West Coast and West Coast less California regions, prices increased by 1.7 cents, 1.6 cents and 1.4 cents, respectively.
Average U.S. price for a gallon of diesel on Aug. 9 as reported by the EIA:
- U.S. – $3.364, down three-tenths of a cent.
- East Coast – $3.328, down two-fifths of a cent.
- New England – $3.262, up seven-tenths of a cent.
- Central Atlantic – $3.492, no change.
- Lower Atlantic – $3.23, down four-fifths of a cent.
- Midwest – $3.271, down seven-tenths of a cent.
- Gulf Coast – $3.083, down 1.4 cents.
- Rocky Mountain – $3.675, up nine-tenths of a cent.
- West Coast – $4.009, up 1.6 cents.
- West Coast without California – $3.675, up 1.4 cents.
- California – $4.288, up 1.7 cents.
ProMiles.com reports the average U.S. retail price per gallon for diesel increased by 1.9 cents to $3.301, according to an Aug. 9 report.
A key difference between the EIA and ProMiles reporting is the type and number of fueling stations the company surveys in order to calculate its averages. While EIA surveys 400 truck stops and convenience stores nationwide, ProMiles uses its direct feed from thousands of truck stops to develop its averages.
Prices increased by 7.1 cents from last week in the California region, which was the largest increase nationally. The West Coast region saw an increase of nearly 6 cents and the West Coast less California region had a 4.7-cent surge.
The Gulf Coast continues to feature the lowest price per gallon, at $3.072, this week.
The U.S. average diesel price is 98.6 cents higher than one year ago, ProMiles.com reports.
Here are the average U.S. prices for a gallon of diesel reported for each region by ProMiles.com:
- U.S. – $3.301, up 1.9 cents.
- East Coast – $3.293, up 1.5 cents.
- New England – $3.247, up 1.1 cents.
- Central Atlantic – $3.443, up 1 cent.
- Lower Atlantic – $3.192, up 1.7 cents.
- Midwest – $3.239, up 2.3 cents.
- Gulf Coast – $3.072, up 1 cent.
- Rocky Mountain – $3.718, up nine-tenths of a cent.
- West Coast – $3.849, up 5.6 cents.
- West Coast without California – $3.589, up 4.7 cents.
- California – $4.244, up 7.1 cents.
AAA reported the retail average U.S. price per gallon of diesel at $3.299 for Aug. 9.
A week previous the average retail U.S. price for a gallon of diesel was $3.287 per gallon.
A month previous, AAA reported $3.26 per gallon of diesel, and a year ago $2.427 per gallon.
The highest recorded retail average U.S. diesel price was $4.845 per gallon on July 17, 2008, according to AAA. LL


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Rivian EV SUV.
Adam Jeffery | CNBC
Tesla is suing electric vehicle start-up Rivian, saying in a filing this week that its rival stole trade secrets and poached employees.
“Rivian is knowingly encouraging the misappropriation of Tesla’s trade secret, confidential, and proprietary information by Tesla employees that Rivian hires,” the company said in a lawsuit. The suit also named four former Tesla employees, Tami Pascale, Kim Wong, Jessica Siron and Carrington Bradley, for allegedly taking confidential information.
“In about the past week, Tesla has discovered disturbing pattern of employees who are departing for Rivian surreptitiously stealing Tesla trade secret, confidential, and…


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Mister D: If Miss M does this again tell her Mister D from BLB says “hello” and get an extra smile!
Approximately 400 lucky Bette Midler fans got a priceless treat last night, when the Divine Miss M decided to hold a surprise book signing after her critically-acclaimed production “The Showgirl Must Go On” at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
Bette made the announcement to her audience that evening and was greeted to a massive line when she appeared on The Colosseum steps. From about 10 p.m. until 2 a.m., Midler signed autographs for customers who purchased her book “The Adventures of Baby Divine” (Mister D: Should be “The Saga Of Baby Divine” – good catch Scott) and her new greatest hits CD “Jackpot” among other items available at her stage-side boutique.
“The Showgirl Must Go On” plays five nights per week until July 20. The show resumes on October 9.


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New Android Malware: Time to Educate the End Users
There is a new android malware that hijacks your phone's shutdown process and basically tricks you in thinking that it is shutdown. It can then make calls, take pictures and other various functions without your knowledge. Sound like something out of a spy movie eh?
This is the reality of many mobile users namely in China where the malware was first discovered and spreading at a rapid rate from infected apps from the Chinese app stores. This is why it is very important to install antivirus solutions on your mobile devices. Many users still think viruses are related only to computers, we have to start taking this serious and implementing antivurs solutions as standards for any device connectiing to corporate information (i.e emails etc). By doing this it will raise awareness to the "normal user" that antivius is now needed for their mobile devices. The threats are real time to act.
Full details of this malware can be read here thanks to AVG who can detect this new threat.