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The Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Google's top-of-the-line Android phone: $299.
The iPhone 4S, Apple's top-of-the-line phone: $199
The Lumia 900, Nokia's top-of-the-line Windows Phone: $99.
It's official: After weeks of rumors, AT&T has announced that the Nokia Lumia 900 will cost just $99 with a two-year contract and will be released in America on April 8.
The Lumia 900 has a 4.3-inch Clear Black display, an 8-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics and a 1.4GHz single-core processor. The device will run on AT&T's new 4G LTE network.
Nokia execs like to talk about the unique design of the Lumia 900, and the way that it's immediately distinguishable from across the room, because of its sharp cornered edges and rounded back.
The real differentiator for the Lumia 900, however, will likely be Microsoft's Windows Phone OS, which many consumers are likely only somewhat familiar with, or have never seen or heard of at all. Despite solid critical reviews, the Windows Phone mobile operating system -- which emphasizes big, colorful tiles rather than the icons familiar from iPhone and Android -- has never taken off, holding under two percent market share in America and worldwide as of January 2012.
Both Microsoft and Nokia hope to turn this around with the Lumia 900. The two announced a mega-pact in early 2011, with Nokia ditching its own Symbian operating system in favor of the nascent, struggling Windows Phone; Nokia has since pledged $200 million for Lumia advertising (and that's just in America), and it will apparently spend up to $25 million to supply AT&T salespeople with Lumia 900s of their own. (We've heard from a reader that employees at at least one AT&T retail store are already equipped with their new Lumias, showing them off on the sales floor; given the size of the smartphone, and the bright colors, they're hard to miss).
Many (including this publication) have noted that a lack of apps is hurting the appeal of the otherwise enticing Windows Phone operating system: Currently, WP7 sits at about 70,000 apps, compared to about half a million for competitors Android and Windows Phone. Nokia and Microsoft will also be throwing a bunch of money at that, pledging $24 million on Monday morning to a Windows Phone app developer's campus at Finland's Aalto University. That money will go toward supporting developers who write apps for Nokia's smartphone platforms, including the app-hungry Windows Phone.
Speaking of money: At $100 with contract, the Lumia 900 becomes the cheapest flagship smartphone (compared to the iPhone and Galaxy Nexus) available. The Lumia 900 will be available exclusively on AT&T, hitting stores on April 8th, and in-store pre-orders begin on March 30. AT&T also announced that an all-white version of the Lumia 900 will be available on April 22; initially, only the black and cyan models will go on sale.


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London-based fintech Banked, which allows people to pay through their mobile banking app at checkout, has raised US$15mn in an extension to its Series A funding round.
The round extension was led by Insight Partners and supported by Citi, National Australia Bank Ventures and Rapyd, which also recently became a commercial partner of the firm. Banked claims the latest capital injection recognises its “traction and distinct approach to building a pay-by-bank global network”.
The extension comes as a result of Banked’s oversubscribed Series A round earlier this year, which was led by Bank of America. It brings the total amount raised by Banked to more than US$50mn to date, allowing the fintech to embark on ambitious international expansion starting with the US. It has its sights set on the international pay-by-bank market, which is forecast to be worth US$46bn in Europe alone by 2026. Banked has already grown to become a 100-strong team in its endeavour to capitalise on that opportunity.
At the time of the initial Series A raise, Banked CEO and Co-Founder Brad Goodall told FinTech Magazine that it was “testament to the hard work and dedication of the team and what we’ve been able to achieve already”.
Banked ‘couldn’t be happier’ to have new investors aboard
Speaking about the US$15mn Series A extension, Brad Goodall continues: “Pay by Bank is taking off globally. Leading banks recognise the significant opportunity it presents to improve the end-customer experience and merchant value proposition. This is supported by increasing merchant demand driving use cases for Pay by Bank in the enterprise B2B and B2C space. There is a queue forming to be part of the new payment network and to help shape its future with a seat at the table.
“Banked has a unique partnership model which relies on global go-to-market partners in the shape of banks, PSPs and technology platforms. This means we have had to build real depth and capability in areas such as risk and compliance, security, consumer protection, platform scalability and most importantly feature-rich user experiences for our partners and their clients and customers. Banked has been heads down building products and partnerships for four years and it is exciting to be launching markets globally at pace now.”
Byron Lichtenstein, Managing Director at Insight Partners, adds: “Banked has a huge ambition and we believe they have built the team and product to tackle such an exciting opportunity in payments. There are many ways to approach the problem, and Banked's unique strategy in partnering with commercial banks and payment service providers, as well as their product capabilities, stood out to us.”
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Dec. 2, 2003 – Shopping on St. John took on a new dimension when The Safety Zone opened The Phoenix on Monday. The store, tucked in behind Santo's Laundry on Route 104, carries gently used furniture, clothing, accessories and other merchandise.
The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It provides an affordable alternative for shoppers, a tax write-off for folks who donate items and a way to raise money for The Safety Zone.
"It's a win-win situation," The Safety Zone's executive director, Iris Kern, said on Tuesday.
The Phoenix carries merchandise of the sort you'd find in a consignment shop, as opposed to a yard sale, Kern said. The stock includes several evening dresses perfect for holiday parties, she said, as well as a selection of other women's and men's clothing.
The average clothing is priced $20 to $25, Kern said. "The most expensive item is a patterned sequined top for $50," she said, and the inventory also includes raincoats for men and women priced at $20.
Shoppers will find lots of baby and children's items, including clothing, strollers and playpens and toys. "We have hundreds of stuffed animals," Kern said.
Furniture items include a wine cooler and a well-made rattan sleeper sofa, tagged at $200 each, and a glass-top dining table.
Kern said donations may be dropped off at The Safety Zone office, located up the path near St. John Editions and Margarita's Restaurant. For more information, call the office at 693-7233. The Phoenix has no phone.
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The stock opened at Rs 672.6 and touched an intraday high and low of Rs 676.3 and Rs 666.0, respectively, in the session so far. The stock of Amara Raja Batteries Ltd. quoted a 52-week high of Rs 814.0 and a 52-week low of Rs 350.25.
Total market cap of the Amara Raja Batteries Ltd. stood at Rs 11466.64 crore at the time of writing this report.
The company said it has migrated to a new enterprise platform SAP S/4HANA, which will enable it to automate and harmonise business processes. This will also help it seamlessly integrate data across all group companies and 14 business verticals as well as support their future growth plans, it said in a statement.
The net profit for latest quarter stood at Rs 137.3 crore, up 15.3 per cent from the corresponding quarter last year.
As of 31-Mar-2020, domestic institutional investors held 8.21 per cent stake in the firm, while foreign institutional investors held 20.91 per cent and the promoters 28.06 per cent.
According to BSE data, the stock traded at a price-to-earnings multiple of 17.35 and a price-to-book ratio of 3.14. A higher P/E ratio shows investors are willing to pay a higher price because of better future growth expectations. Price-to-book value indicates the inherent value of a company and is the measure of the price that investors are ready to pay even for no growth in the business.
Amara Raja Batteries Ltd. belongs to the Auto Ancl - Batteries industry.
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India is set to emerge as a major hub for iPhone manufacturing as US smartphone giant Apple looks to diversify production units outside China.India may Export Handsets Worth $9 billion in FY23
India is likely to export mobile phones worth about $9 billion in FY23, up from $5.8 billion in the year before, as manufacturers step up production and outward shipments.Russia Biggest Oil Supplier to India for 2nd Month Running
Russia remained the top oil supplier to India in November, the second month in a row, ahead of Iraq and Saudi Arabia, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa.
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Krystal’s “Craver Cruiser tour,” promoting the chain’s new Stacker burgers, is not only a 10-city sampling tour, but also a chance to accelerate the quick-service operator’s plans from turnaround mode back to unit expansion, chief executive Doug Pendergast said. Krystal’s recent gains in unit-level profitability over the past two years, since Argonne Capital Group LLC acquired the brand, helped the chain reverse multiyear declines in traffic and unit ...
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Remember back in the late 1990s when recording companies kept insisting that everyone had to buy an entire album just to get the one or two songs they actually wanted? That didn’t work out so well for them after Napster and other music sharing services made it impossible for them to force consumers to buy CDs. The TV industry is facing a similar situation right now and, like the music industry before it, it’s crawling into a shell and hoping technological progress just goes away.
A recent report in The Wall Street Journal reveals that Time Warner is trying to take away Hulu’s rights to stream TV shows online the day after they air. The reason Time Warner wants this to stop is because it thinks it gives consumers more incentive to cut the cord instead of ponying up lots more money every month for big pay TV bundles.
This is the kind of shortsighted decision-making that I still find surprising even though it is all too common in the TV industry.
If you take away Hulu’s rights to stream shows the day after they air, then you will see a mass subscriber exodus. The major reason I subscribe to Hulu in the first place is so I don’t have to watch my favorite network TV shows right when they air — I can simply catch up with them online whenever I feel like it. Take that away and Hulu is left with a mediocre selection of movies and just one original show (Casual) that I enjoy watching.
What’s particularly baffling about this is Time Warner doesn’t seem to understand that when you don’t offer people legitimate means to get their favorite content online, they will inevitably turn to piracy. Time Warner subsidiary HBO understands this perfectly well, which is why it now lets cord cutters subscribe to its HBO Now service that gives them access to their favorite shows without having to also pay for a cable bundle.
The technology behind TV streaming is out of the bag and Time Warner will not be able to put it back in again. Younger viewers don’t want to be forced to watch traditional linear TV now that Netflix has spoiled them with the joys of binge watching. Media companies like Time Warner should be following Netflix’s lead but instead they’re desperately trying to cling to the past and hope that they can force everyone to stick with the old bundle model.
Good luck with that.


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- China market: LED outdoor lighting valued at CNY14.7 billion in 2014
- MWC 2015: Acer launches its first Windows 8.1 smartphone
- Haier entering tablet OEM business
- TV vendors shifting strategy to prevent panel pricing from increasing
- Samsung intros 128GB UFS storage for smartphones
- China imports about 93 million tonnes of polysilicon in January
- Alibaba to set up venture capital fund in Taiwan
- China LED chip production value in 2014 estimated at CNY12.0 billion, says GLII
- Samsung, LG and Sony to purchase 42% of global TV panel supply in 2015, says IHS
- Lextar Electronics to expand LED epitaxial wafer capacity
- SMIC starts mass production for CMOS image sensors
- Universal Display reports 2014 performance
- Digitimes Research: Tablet AP shipments to China drop 7.7% on year
- Longer blades and new materials are affecting the global wind turbine manufacturing industry, says Navigant
- MWC 2015: Acer showcasing new mobile devices
- CNY1,000 Full HD smartphones a major focus for China vendors in 2015
- MediaTek founds investment arm with US$300 million
- Everlight Electronics reportedly to merge with Edison Opto
- Digitimes Research: Taiwan shipments of touch panels used in handsets and tablets to drop in 1Q15
- Competition increasing between first-tier China, Taiwan solar cell makers
- China releases FDD-LTE licenses to China Telecom, China Unicom
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- China January mobile phone user base grows to 1.290 billion, says MIIT
- AcBel Polytech to deal out cash dividend of NT$1.60
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UPS creates partnership for humanitarian drone service
The UPS Foundation has set up a partnership with robotics company Zipline and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to explore using drones for delivering life-saving medicines across the world. The UPS Foundation has awarded an $800,000 grant to support the initial launch of this initiative in Rwanda – and UPS believes the Rwanda drone network could be a potential model for other countries.
In a statement issued today (9 May), Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer at UPS, said: “Public-private partnerships are the key to solving many of the world’s challenges, with each partner contributing its unique expertise.
“UPS is always exploring innovative ways to enhance humanitarian logistics to help save lives, and we’re proud to partner with Gavi and Zipline as we explore ways to extend the Rwandan government’s innovations at a global scale.”
As previously reported by Post&Parcel, the Rwandan government is set to start using Zipline drones later this year. The drones can make up to 150 deliveries per day of life-saving blood to 21 transfusing facilities located in the western half of the country.
“Our partnership with UPS and Zipline is an exciting step into a new territory for the delivery of medical supplies,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “It is a totally different way of delivering vaccines to remote communities and we are extremely interested to learn if UAVs can provide a safe, effective way to make vaccines available for some of the hardest-to-reach children.”
While Rwanda’s national drone network is initially focused on the delivery of blood supplies, the plan is to expand the initiative to include vaccines, treatments for HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and many other essential and lifesaving medicines.


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Soccer, often referred to as “the beautiful game,” transcends the boundaries of the pitch and permeates various aspects of life, including romance. The world of
In the world of rock music, John Rzeznik has long been a prominent figure as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the Goo Goo Dolls.
As the housing market continues to evolve, individuals seeking rental homes are turning to online platforms for convenience and variety. In the picturesque city of
=In the ever-evolving landscape of journalism, local news outlets play a crucial role in connecting communities and fostering a sense of belonging. One such beacon
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Dodge has announced plans to introduce the 2015 Charger and Challenger at the New York Auto Show.
Details are limited but the company says the Challenger is "new from the inside out" and features a "new powertrain combination that is sure to get enthusiasts abuzz." The latter apparently refers to a new Scat Pack instead of the highly-anticipated Hellcat engine.
The Charger, on the other hand, will receive a "full-body makeover with nearly every single body panel being resculpted." That's not much to go on but Dodge says the model will have a "sleeker, more modern appearance."
Both cars will be unveiled on April 17th, so stay tuned for full details.


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Truth From Texas – Beer Works Like Wine to Improve Your Health
Good news Yakima Valley Hops producers. Raise a glass to a new study on health benefits. Brew is paced with nearly the same health benefits as red wine, according to a recent study at the University of Texas.
Previous research has proven that, on average, those who sip a glass of wine or two live longer than teetotalers. An analysis of alcohol consumers and non-drinkers has discovered that those who have a daily glass or two of beer live just as long as those who enjoy wine.


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- 22 Feb 2011:Eurozone manufacturing and service activity in February 2011 hit levels last seen in July 2006 but inflation, an increasing concern, also jumped sharply, a closely watched survey has shown.
- 18 Feb 2011:The European Parliament has ratified a free-trade pact between the EU and South Korea - clearing the way for the deal to come into effect from July.
- 15 Feb 2011:At its current rate of growth, analysts see China replacing the US as the world's top economy in about a decade.
- 10 Feb 2011:German exports rose 0.5% in December to round out a year of strong growth, increasing 18.5% in 2010, figures show.
- 8 Feb 2011:Japan's economy will emerge from a lull soon and is certain to pull out of deflation over time, a Bank of Japan policymaker said, offering a somewhat upbeat take on the outlook on budding signs of a recovery.
- Taiwan's dollar rose past NT$29 against the greenback for the first time since 1997 on speculation the central bank is letting the currency strengthen as foreign funds buy the island's assets.
- 17 Jan 2011:Singapore's exports rose at a slower pace in December, ending a year in which shipments jumped the most since 2003 as the global economic recovery boosted demand for the island's goods.
- 7 Jan 2011:The monetary authority has been limiting gains in the Taiwan dollar toward the close of trading almost every day since April.
- 3 Jan 2011:Factory output growth eased in India and China in December, but strengthened in South Korea and Taiwan, narrowing a gap in manufacturing activity between much of developing Asia and the region's emerging economic giants.
- 19 Dec 2010:Germany's economy is fueling the euro region's recovery as declining unemployment encourages consumer demand and companies boost investment, helping counter weaker exports.
- 15 Dec 2010:The currency rose as much as 2.3% to NT$29.890 versus the greenback, its highest since October 1997, before trimming its gain to close at NT$30.45.
- 10 Dec 2010:China's exports for November 2010 were up 34.9% versus a year earlier, compared with an expected 25%. In October the increase was only 22.9%.
- 6 Dec 2010:What a long, strange trip it's been for the South Korea-US free trade agreement. The two sides announced this weekend that they've reached a deal on revisions to the draft that was signed in 2007 but never ratified. It comes not a moment too soon, given the boost this will give to a US economy stumbling its way to recovery and with tensions rising on the Korean peninsula.
- 3 Dec 2010:Theoretically, that makes sense: The more dollars in the economy, the less valuable the currency. But from what we've seen - at least so far - the critics are wrong. The greenback's gains have been surprisingly good recently.
- 26 Nov 2010:"Japanese should have the courage to open the county much wider and compete globally, because Japan has no choice but to depend on foreign trade for survival..."
- 16 Nov 2010:October inflation hit a higher-than-expected 4.4%, up from September's 3.6%, the Bureau of Statistics said. It added that the government needed to do more to control price rises.
- 15 Nov 2010:China, the world's largest producer of rare-earth metals, will speed up exports of the minerals after delays disrupted supply, according to Japan's Trade Minister Akihiro Ohata.
- Instead of using China as a production base, Hynix in its early days produced a wide range of high-tech products in South Korea that it then exported to China and other countries.
- 22 Oct 2010:Rare earth metals are sprinkled in a vast number of the things that make the modern world go round - from iPods to windturbines, electric car engines to flat-screen TVs and smart-bombs. The reason you'll hear a lot about them is 1) because China currently controls 93-97% of the world's production and 2) because China is enforcing strict new quotas on the exports of rare earths which is pushing up global prices sharply.
- 14 Oct 2010:The US currency was quoted at 81.21 yen in early Thursday (October 14) trading in Tokyo - losing more ground against the Japanese currency after briefly recovering from a prior 15-year low of 81.37 yen struck in Sydney on Monday.
- 4 Oct 2010:The recent dust-up between China and Japan suggested how neighbours can have incompatible interests. But in business, things are often rather different. In one example, China's emergence as a producer of sophisticated technology is helping strengthen one of the few big microchip businesses left in Japan.
- 27 Sep 2010:Japan's export-led recovery has been constrained by the strong yen, which makes goods sold abroad more expensive and reduces the value of profits repatriated.
- 17 Sep 2010:The world's major industrial economies can't all export their way to prosperity.
- 16 Sep 2010:"China took the very important step in June of signaling that they're going to let the exchange rate start to reflect market forces. But they've done very, very little, they've let it move very, very little in the interim," said US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
- 15 Sep 2010:The central bank stepped in to sell yen and buy dollars, a day after the yen hit a 15-year high against the dollar. It is the first time in six years that the Bank of Japan has intervened.
- 14 Sep 2010:Russia applied to join the WTO's predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or GATT, in June 1993 but remains the biggest economy outside the trade body and has previously accused the US of holding up its bid.
- 9 Sep 2010:The US trade deficit was smaller than expected in July, figures have shown, as exports reached their highest level in almost two years.
- 7 Sep 2010:China's deputy trade envoy, Chong Quan, rejected complaints that Beijing intentionally boosts its trade surplus by promoting exports while holding down imports. Speaking at a trade forum, Chong repeated promises to boost imports of resources and high-tech equipment and to ease costs for importers but announced no new initiatives.
- 1 Sep 2010:Many high-technology companies have run afoul of the US' Export Control System, which regulates the overseas sales of items that can be put to use for military or intelligence-gathering purposes.
- 31 Aug 2010:But analysts called the measures too timid in the face of the problems plaguing Japan's export-oriented economy.
- 18 Aug 2010:Now it's official. Taiwan's legislature on late Tuesday night approved the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, the landmark trade deal between China and Taiwan.
- 11 Aug 2010:The trade surplus for July 2010 grew to US$28.7 billion, well ahead of the US$20bn recorded in June and significantly more than analysts' forecasts. The data reflected a continued strong increase in exports, but the pace of growth in imports slowed sharply.
- 30 Jul 2010:The greenback fell as much as 0.83% against the Japanese yen to 84.73 yen on August 11, before paring back some of those losses to trade around 85.37 yen.
- 12 Jul 2010:There have been a number of positive developments regarding wage growth and government stimulus that will help move China forward towards a more consumption-oriented economy. But keep in mind that China is a save-first economy, so 20-25% wage inflation doesn't instantly equal 20-25% more consumer spending.
- 28 Jun 2010:China has come under increasing international pressure to allow the yuan to appreciate. The US in particular has argued that the weak yuan gives Chinese exporters an unfair competitive advantage.
- But the opposition certainly has reason to be suspicious. While Taiwanese negotiators did not get everything they asked for - PVC and polyethylene, important Taiwanese exports, were left out after months of wrangling.
- 24 Jun 2010:Exporters have eyed Europe cautiously, with the safe-haven yen soaring in recent months on European debt worries, which if sustained will dent exporters' repatriated profits and make their goods more expensive overseas.
- 22 Jun 2010:But analysts said China would still limit the appreciation so as not to damage its export-led economy.
- 21 Jun 2010:Chinese authorities announced plans on June 19 to make the exchange rate more flexible, while ruling out a large, one-off move in the exchange rate.
- 8 Jun 2010:The euro kept falling against the dollar on June 7, after plummeting below US$1.20 and posting fresh four-year lows late last week.
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A Target spokesperson Lee Henderson said that the CPSC also views spinners as "general use products" and not "toys" so that is another loophole. The center circle in the Fidget Wild Premium Spinner Metal contained 1,000 parts per million of lead, according to MASSPIRG.
But, this particular fidget spinner, isn't technically a toy.
Target's website said initially that the specific spinner wasn't available in stores within 100 miles of Cleveland, but Cleveland 19 checked that and went to two stores - not finding one at the first, but finding the spinner in question at the second store.
But one of the fidget spinners with a risky amount of lead - the "Fidget Wild Spinner Premium Brass" - is actually labeled for kids almost half that age. With the holidays coming around parents are bound to buy a few fidget spinners for their kids. New research shows they can also be risky.
The research revealed some of the spinners could contain as much as 300 times the federal limit for lead in children's products. The companies say products marketed to those over the age of 12 have no specific lead-level restrictions. "The buck has to stop with someone".
The popular little toys are already the subject of Consumer Product Safety Commission choking hazard warnings. Now is the time for it to stand up for consumers.
Lead exposure can be extremely harmful for children due to its developmental impacts.
PIRG Education Fund is calling for the toys to be pulled from shelves and wants a recall issued. "We can't sit idly by while children play with these toxic toys - and yes, these are toys". Excess levels of lead can lead to hyperactivity, lack of appetite, behavior problems, and learning disabilities.


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Uber Canada has received a licence to operate in Winnipeg, Manitoba and is now looking for drivers in order to launch its service this summer.
“With our City of Winnipeg license in hand, we’re one step away from launching in Winnipeg this summer!” the company wrote on Twitter.
With our @CityofWinnipeg license in hand, we’re one step away from launching in #Winnipeg this summer!
We’re now signing up drivers! Create your account to drive with Uber → https://t.co/pfe0JGi18y.
— Uber Canada (@Uber_Canada) June 8, 2020
The company planned its entrance into the city for months and has finally received a dispatcher license, and expects to launch within weeks.
Uber has been continuously expanding its operations in Canada, as it launched in Vancouver earlier this year. It’ll be interesting to see if its launch in Winnipeg amid the COVID-19 pandemic will be different since ridership has likely significantly dropped.
On May 18th, Uber implemented mandatory precautionary measures for both riders and drivers. One of the main new measures requires both drivers and riders to wear a face cover or mask.
Riders will only be able to request a ride on the app if they have confirmed that they are wearing a mask. Similarly, drivers can only go online once they have indicated they are wearing a mask.
Uber now requires drivers to take a picture of themselves to verify that they are wearing a mask. This will be done through the app’s AI system, which will be able to detect whether they are wearing one.
Riders are also now asked to sit in the back of the driver’s vehicle and open a window for ventilation if possible. Uber has also reduced the number of passengers for its “UberX” option from four riders to three.
Source: Uber Canada


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Every conference has speakers. So what makes the Post-Advertising Summit’s speaker roster so special? Simon Kelly, Story Worldwide COO, explains that it’s in the diversity.
The world has entered a new age of marketing. On March 29, 2012, in the heart of New York City, the Post-Advertising Summit will bring together the best and brightest in the marketing field to demonstrate how they engage their audiences and shape the future of marketing. Keynotes, panels and interactive workshops will reveal the power of brand storytelling and provide actionable take-aways, including real pieces of content, for the attendees. The Summit will revolutionize the way you think about content and is like no other marketing event in the world.


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In an interview with ZDNet, Richard Lobovsky, vice president, Samsung SDS America was quoted saying-
"We are continuously looking at ways to enhance our platform with different modalities. We felt that behavioral biometrics could be a nice complement to our FIDO platform."
Such levels of security measures are being taken by companies because the average fraudulent transaction is priced at around $130 for mobile and $115 tablets. In addition to that a majority of users tend to use the same login credentials for banking, social media, e-mails, etc so getting access to anyone could pose a potential threat to all the other accounts especially banking related ones.


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More From Sophia Chabbott
"Actually, the photo posted by Alexander Wang is rather deceiving."
The designer turned to Instagram to offer the evidence.
Anna Wintour places the first-ever plus-size model on the magazine's cover.
The pop star was hoisted from the roof of the arena wearing a bedazzled harness.
See here for dates of international fashion weeks, industry events and more important dates.
The musician, designer and all-around auteur has plans to inspire at Amex.
Claire Distenfeld, Pascaline Smets and Princess Deena Al-Juhani Abdulaziz were just some of the big names.
The cult-fitness firm's latest partnership taps into the ath-liesure trend.
The fast fashion retailer re-united the cult-favorite director-actor duo from "The Royal Tenenbaums" for its…
Aha Life's new app texts gifts to friends in real time.
Clearly, the designer takes his Pokemon very seriously.
The e-commerce site gets in formation.
The Democratic presidential nominee turned to the iconic American designer for the big day.


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From foreheads offered as advertising space to Justin Timberlake’s half-eaten French toast, in today’s digitally driven world, it’s obvious that you can buy just about anything online. And with the rise of sell-it-yourself sites like Craigslist and eBay, sellers can post items day and night, and negotiate the best offer.
So why — especially with our Internet obsession — do most home sellers still use real-estate agents? Good question, given that by-owner websites offer all the same digital tools that agents use. In many cases both home buyers and sellers are finding they can save time and money by going straightfrom the Internet to each other, negotiating a price and sale directly — without an agent.
Use of the Internet in the home-search process has increased to 92 percent (from 90 percent in 2012), according to the 2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Of the buyers who used the Internet to search for homes, almost 50 percent first found their new home online.
These Internet-savvy buyers are viewing by-owner listings alongside agent listings, because sites like ForSaleByOwner.com offer sellers the opportunity to use the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), as well as automatically advertise their listing on Trulia and Zillow and other popular real estate sites. That way, their homes will get the same sort of exposure as those represented by a real estate agent.
As the real estate market continues to recover, home sellers reported that they typically sold their home for $25,000 more than they paid or it (up from $20,000 in 2012), according to the NAR report. Yet agent commission fees are still a considerable chunk of the seller’s price gain. As an example, on a $300,000 home a seller can owe up to $18,000 in agent fees. By-owner sales costs amount to a fraction of agent fees. By-owner listing costs amount to a fraction of what traditional sellers end up spending. For comparison, a ForSaleByOwner.com seller may pay as little as $80 to list their home and never owe an agent commission fee.
While NAR claims that “as the market changes and evolves, the need for a professional to help with the transaction has increased,” heavy use of the Internet by consumers suggests just the opposite. As buyers and sellers become more tech savvy, they want more control over the experience and are adept at using online home-selling tools to do it themselves.
Google and NAR recently did a joint study entitled “The Digital House Hunt: Consumer and Market Trends in Real Estate” that concluded:
In today’s complex, rapidly changing and digitally driven media environment,
capturing a home shopper’s attention in order to build a real estate business
and personal REALTOR brand is tougher than ever.
In other words, even NAR acknowledges that these days it’s hard to establish a real-estate practice amid the increased online expertise of the buyers and sellers. The importance of Internet home shopping is illustrated by a whopper of a statistic in the report: Real estate-related searches on Google.com have grown 253 percent over the past four years.
By-owner sellers are feeling the effects of house hunters searching the Internet. After selling her Newport News, VA, home for $282,000 using ForSaleByOwner.com, Donna Smith said: “The listing on the Internet also produced a lot of ‘hits’ from people looking to buy a house. The buyers that ask for a tour are more serious than ones led by a real estate salesperson.”
The speed of the digital marketplace also impresses by-owner sellers. They no longer have to wait days for their ads to appear in the newspaper; online listings reach motivated home buyers immediately. Azad Yepremian sold a house in Westchester, PA, this year for $260,000: “We listed it with little expectation of it selling quickly and were thrilled when we received an offer within five days of listing!”
Eliminating the middleman can provide intangible benefits as well, including more direct communication between the buyer and seller. That’s a very good thing. After all, no one knows your home and your neighborhood better than you do. A real estate agent might not know that there’s a great dog walker just around the corner, or where to take your dry cleaning, or who’s the favorite kindergarten teacher at the local elementary school. Buyers value this insider information.
In addition, if both sides forego a traditional real estate agent, there’s a chance for the home buyer and seller to negotiate a home price directly without the added costs.
The Internet has helped make many things easier and streamlined many processes. It connects people as never before and opens up a world of choices–and savings.
All that power can be yours when selling your home by owner.
We want to know: What digital solutions have made your life easier?


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Parliamentarians are entitled to a good salary and pension benefits, but luxuries have no place in the current economic climate, writes Melanie Verwoerd.
Scattered clouds. Cool.
At least five people were wounded as a massive ship hit the dock and a tourist river boat on Venice's busy Giudecca Canal.
December holidays are fast approaching, and if you haven’t started planning your vacation you might want to consider a cruise ship. It’s affordable and filled with fun activities.
The Ritz Carlton revealed plans for its luxury cruise line, which includes three cruise ships that look like super yachts.
A cruise line says more than 100 passengers have now contracted the highly contagious norovirus as a ship tours California ports.
Cruise ship sailing back to US port after illness outbreak sickens 626 people in Caribbean
In the latest blow to Carnival Cruise Line, a class action lawsuit is claiming that hot tubs on Carnival ships are infested with flesh-eating bacteria.
Dubai will spend another $90 million to refurbish the Queen Elizabeth 2 before it steams out of the emirate to be moored in Asia as a 400-room luxury hotel, its new owners said.
Guards employed by Hapag-Llyod Cruises shot and killed a polar bear on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard archipelago after the animal attacked one of their colleagues.
Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages cruise line released the latest renderings of its maiden vessel christened the Scarlet Lady. The ship is set to enter service in 2020 for Branson's "adults only" cruise line.
About 200 passengers aboard the Dawn Princess, a cruise ship in New Zealand, have been sickened by norovirus.
Norwegian Cruise Line's just-launched ship Norwegian Getaway is serving as a floating hotel for Super Bowl weekend events sponsored by the beer brand Bud Light.
US officials are investigating an illness outbreak that has stricken at least 300 people on a Caribbean cruise ship.
Cruise liners will be able to dock at their own private quay in the Cape Town harbour by next year, Transnet National Port Authority have said.
Poor John. This man just can’t get a break.
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August 18, 2010 | By David Morrison
Credit union members across the country face both the best and the worst in disclosure statements on their CU credit cards, according to survey of credit card disclosures conducted by a consumer and card media site.
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Ebang, a publicly traded company that provides mining hardware for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), has officially announced the launch of its own crypto exchange.
According to a Announcement On Monday, qualified investors will soon be able to register and trade on Ebang’s cryptocurrency exchange called Ebonex.
Dong Hu, CEO and Chairman of Ebang, said: “In recent years we have invested significantly in recruiting R&D talent, as well as in product innovation and iteration. The launch of our cryptocurrency exchange business will not only expand the revenue streams of our cryptocurrency business, but also optimize the development of our blockchain industry chain. ”
Ebonex supports major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ether (ETH), as well as stablecoin Tether (USDTOther supported coins include Litecoin (LTC), Cardano (ADA), Zcash (ZEC), Dash (DASH), Tezos (XTZ EOS and Monero (XMR
The exchange at first launched in mid-March in a beta phase available by invitation only.
The announcement did not specify which jurisdictions are eligible to trade on Ebang’s new crypto exchange. Ebang did not immediately respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment.
As previously reported by Cointelegraph, Ebang was listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker EBON in June 2020, becoming the second Bitcoin miner manufacturer to go public in the United States, after Chinese crypto mining company Canaan.


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Microsoft wins the title of the third largest valuable company in the world with a net worth of $753 leaving behind leading search giant, Google which is valued at $739 billion.
Microsoft and Google have always been trading their positions in terms of market values since last few years. As reported by The Verge, Microsoft has surpassed the Google’s parent company Alphabet from around $14 billion difference. Now, Microsoft has become the third most valuable company in the world behind Apple and Amazon with the net market worth of $923 billion and $782 billion respectively. The Alphabet Inc. is on number four followed by Facebook and China’s Tencent.
Back in 2012, Google surpassed Microsoft in market value. However, since Satya Nadela became the CEO of Microsoft, four years back, Microsoft’s stock price has been doubled. Satya did lots of improvements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud computing technology. He shifted the focus towards new emerging technologies from old software and hardware business.
However, Microsoft is still behind Apple that earns revenue from a wide range of businesses, especially from its mainstream product iPhone. On the contrary, Microsoft earns around 35% through Windows, Surface and gaming segments. Cloud business and Office and Productivity contribute to 60% of the total stock. While Google earns 90% of its revenue from advertisements.
Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon have been engaged in a race to cross the $1 trillion market stock. Several Wall Street analysts believe that Microsoft would soon become the first company to surpass the $1 trillion target leaving behind Apple and Amazon.


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The retail chain Sharper Image has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. The reason they stated is a decline in sales, three years straight with record losses, and legal issues surrounding their Breeze air purifiers.
The San Francisco based company Sharper Image is reported to have about 251.5 million in assets and close to 200 million in debt. After the announcement the stock price dropped 92 cents, which is about 64% of the overall price.
Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Roedell said the company has suffered from increasing competition, legal fees, narrowing margins, poorly performing chains, and lowering consumer market. She also noted that the company’s problems have been compounded over tightening credit from finance markets.
The company has been in the media recently for problems and litigation surrounding its once popular Breeze air filter. In October a federal court denied the approval of a settlement from its class action lawsuit surrounding the actual efficacy of the Breeze Air purifier. Following this ruling Sharper Image’s stock dropped 18%, which lowered their terms from creditors and weakened support from financial backers.
Sharper Image once dealt with around 650 vendors, many of whom began to require cash upon delivery after the legal proceedings.
According to court papers Sharper Image is seeking a $60 million loan from Wells Fargo to continue operations and salvage the company.
Urgent News About The Ionic Breeze Air Purifier By Sharper Image!
According to consumer reports the Ionic Breeze Air Purifier by Sharper Image fails to significantly clean the air and can even be exposing some users to potentially dangerous ozone levels. Consumer Reports also said that during testing of the Ionic Breeze Air Filter that it was ineffective as an air cleaner.
Consumer Reports also mentioned four other models as being ineffective including the Brookstone Pure-Ion, Pro CL-369, IonizAir P4620, and the Surround Air XJ-2000.
The magazine also stated that people with allergies and asthma are especially sensitive to increased ozone levels and that being subjected to them can actually worsen their symptoms and may lead to permanent lung damage.
These reports came out only two months after Sharper Image agreed to pay Consumer’s Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, over $500,000 in legal costs after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit, which alleged Consumer reports printed false information in October 2003 about the Ionic Breeze Air Purifier.
Consumer Reports stands behind its findings about the Ionic Breeze and maintains that there is no bias towards any of their tested products.
Clean Your Air a Better Way
As experts in IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) we recommend that if you have purchased an Ionic Breeze Air Purifier that you return or dispose of it immediately. The best option you could take is to have a look around our website www.aircleaners.com and purchase one of our HEPA certified air cleaners.
Our HEPA approved air purifiers are of the same grade and quality used in hospitals, laboratories, and cleanrooms. They emit NO OZONE contaminants and with greatly improve the air quality in your home or business.


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Google has released a new version of “standard » Android- phone Nexus 5 in bright red body . New colored vestments leaked into the net for a few days before, and now the model is now available for order on display Google Play Store.
Nexus 5 was created in collaboration with LG. The handset features a 4.95 -inch screen with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels ( 445 ppi), has on-board quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 800 2.26GHz , 2GB of RAM , and battery capacity of 2300 mAh.
Red Nexus 5 prepared in models with 16 – and 32 – GB flash drive , offered at the same price as regular communicators in white and black housings : $349 and $399. By the way, it is red , not only plastic housing, but also in the area round insert the earpiece above the screen.
During February 5 new Nexus will be in the U.S. , Canada, parts of Europe , Australia, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea. By the end of the month in the company’s promise to start selling on the growing number of European markets. Perhaps in their number and enter Russia . In the meantime, before we officially got a 32- gigabyte version of the Nexus 5 – the beginning of its sales in Russia LG tit office said in a press release Tuesday .


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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Opponentsof a new law banning the sale of flavored tobacco in California notified the state they intend to seek a referendum to overturn the law.
The notice, signed by Aaron Agenbroad, Jaime Rojas and Beilal Mohamad-Ali Chatila, was filed Monday with the California Attorney General’s Office.
To qualify the referendum, opponents must collect the signatures of 623,212 voters, the amount equal to 5% of the votes cast for all candidates for governor in the last gubernatorial election, according to the California Secretary of State’s Office.
The bill, signed into law Friday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, is something opponents said would devastate small retailers, like convenience stores, when it takes effect on Jan. 1, 2021.
If the referendum is qualified within 90 days of the law’s signing, however, the tobacco ban would be placed on hold until the referendum is put to voters, likely in 2022.
The California Coalition for Fairness is the committee pursuing the referendum to get the law overturned. Beth Miller, the communications director for the group, said the coalition is “sponsored by manufacturers,” but she would not specify who.
“We agree that youth should never have access to any tobacco products, but this can be achieved without imposing a total prohibition on products that millions of adults choose to use,” a statement from the California Coalition for Fairness said. “This law goes too far and is unfair, particularly since lawmakers have exempted hookah, expensive cigars and flavored pipe tobacco from the prohibition. Moreover, a prohibition will hurt small, local businesses and jobs as products are pushed from licensed, conscientious retailers to an underground market, leading to increased youth access, crime and other social or criminal justice concerns for many California residents."
The California Fuels & Convenience Alliance (CFCA), American Petroleum and Convenience Association (APCA) and Neighborhood Market Association (NMA)—which represent more than 20,000 convenience stores statewide—had asked California legislators to table Senate Bill 793, saying it will devastate small retailers.
In places like San Francisco or Sacramento, where similar bans were already in place, c-stores saw sales instantaneously drop double digits or more, James Allison, head of public affairs for CFCA, previously told CSP.
California isn’t the only state to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products.
Massachusetts’ ban on flavored tobacco sales went into effect on June 1, and within the first week of the ban, c-store retailers noticed a drop in tobacco sales. Chicago is also considering an ordinance that would ban all flavored tobacco sales from the city.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.
Theme of This Year’s Kwik Trip Holiday Sweater: Glazers
Matching beanie also among seasonal merchandise from convenience-store chain
2023 Retail Leader of the Year: Forging Her Own Path
Morhous leads RaceTrac into the next generation of convenience retail


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Open digital lifestyle platform Alipay today announced a series of initiatives to support small businesses in Wuhan as the city emerges from lockdown. These initiatives will later expand coverage to support service providers across China as they tap into the power of digital technologies to transform adversity into opportunities.
Alipay has set up a special section, visible from the landing page of the Alipay app, to allow the platform’s 900 million users to locate merchants and their respective products and services in Wuhan. The section allows orders to be placed directly via the Alipay app for local specialty produce, and also enables users to access livestreams of tourist destinations across the city as it emerges from lockdown.
Merchants using the Alipay platform can also apply for loans offered by the “Zero Contact” campaign jointly launched by MYbank, an online bank under Ant Financial with a focus on serving SMEs, and 100 banks in China. MYbank will waive interest rates for 360,000 offline micro-merchants in Wuhan for the first month and cut interest rates by 20% for Hubei merchants outside of the city.
As part of a three-year plan unveiled in March to work with 50,000 Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to support the digital transformation of 40 million service providers, Alipay will also launch a series of incentive programs to encourage 1,000 ISVs to leverage its full suite of digital tool kits, such as digital cashier assistant and smart marketing, to develop sector-specific solutions for 5 million storefronts of multiple chain brands. These programs are expected to generate hundreds of millions of cumulative page views for chain brands conducting business via Alipay’s platform in the next six months.


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Boy, you go on vacation for a bit and a lot of news breaks. I'm assuming you know most of the big news from the last 10 days or so, but here are some of the recent stories that have caught my eye:
- As we know, the iPhone 5 will be unveiled next week on Sept. 12.
- In the long-running Apple v Samsung patent-infringement trial, the jury found against Samsung--to the tune of US$1 billion. The result wasn't nearly as bad as the over $400 billion Apple was asking for, but if the verdict is upheld, it could cost Samsung a lot more to redesign its products and change its business. Samsung will appeal.
- Just because the U.S. trial is over doesn't mean the two companies are done in court: They're set to meet in German court next.
- This week, a hacker group said it had obtained 12 million Apple UDIDs (Unique Device Identifiers, the unique number assigned to some Apple devices) from an FBI laptop. Which, of course, led to the question: What's the FBI doing with millions of UDIDs? Well, if the FBI is to be believed, nothing. The agency said that not only did it not obtain the UDID data, but that there was no security breach. For its part, Apple said it didn't give the FBI any UDIDs.
- Rumor has it that Apple may not be releasing a TV product--either a TV or set-top box--in 2012, according to a new report.


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LinkedIn received a major makeover to its user interface recently. It’s an effort that’s been in A/B testing for some time, but officially rolled out across the professional social network early last week.
Beyond visual adjustments and updates, the new interface streamlines and modernized the news feed, brings a more modern Facebook Messenger-esque functionality to chat on the platform, and even adds some chatbot functionality.
Of course, the big question for marketers is whether or not LinkedIn’s new interface alters its base functionality in any significant way that would affect marketing efforts on the social network. The answer, broadly speaking, no.
“There’s no need for brands to change their approach. Brands should continue using LinkedIn to reach the right professionals with high-quality content marketing,” LinkedIn’s Head of Product for Marketing Solutions Russell Glass said in an email.
Glass expects the UI improvements may indeed drive business for brands on LinkedIn, but not necessarily because of new tools or functionality. “The new interface puts high quality content and the feed front and center. We expect the new interface to help create experiences that members engage with more deeply and return to more often, which will benefit advertisers,” he says.
Chatbots are notably part of creating these new experiences and engagement opportunities. Like many in the marketing world, LinkedIn is closely monitoring the growth of the chatbot market, as well as its efficacy for businesses.
“Chatbots represent an exciting way for LinkedIn to provide automation and value to our members by surfacing insights and helping with collaboration. It is something that we’re thinking about,” Glass said.


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This June 2022, CodeMonkey was an exhibitor at ISTELIVE22, one of the biggest annual EdTech conferences in the USA. Tech & Learning Magazine awarded CodeMonkey as a top company in coding education for kids, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Our team had an amazing time at ISTE and this was the cherry on top!
“Tech & Learning’s Best of Show Awards at ISTELive 22 celebrate the products, and businesses behind each one, who are transforming education in schools around the world.
Tech & Learning’s panel of judges awarded the products and solutions to exhibitors at ISTELive 22 Live who show the greatest promise to the industry, according to the U.S.’s most tech-savvy and knowledgeable educators.”


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The planning and zoning commission Thursday night began deliberating the proposed settlement of a lawsuit that would allow construction of a Home Depot on land just off Exit 67 of I-84.
The settlement agreement - reached between the developers and a subcommittee of the commission with the assistance of a mediator - would allow construction of a store smaller than initially proposed, a smaller parking lot and several other concessions sought by the commission.
Some town residents, however, have expressed anger and frustration that they have no say in a process that could lead to construction of a big box store in an area some consider to be environmentally sensitive.
The commission must decide whether it wants to accept the agreement and add some stipulations, or simply reject it and let the lawsuit that gave rise to the mediated agreement go to trial.
Under the agreement, Home Depot and Diamond 67 LLC would build a 132,973-square-foot store and garden center with 460 parking spaces on a 14.7-acre parcel that was once the New England Sportsplex.
The commission began deliberations but no consensus emerged. The commission plans to take the issue up again at its Dec. 20 meeting.
Contact David Owens at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Please Patronize our Advertisers
Organic Farmers Association Applauds USDA Announcement on Additional Assistance for Dairy Farmers
Washington, D.C. – January 24, 2023 — Organic dairy farmers are in crisis due to drought, market consolidation, and skyrocketing energy and feed costs brought on by unstable global markets and inflation. Organic Farmers Association (OFA) and allies have been calling on Congress to provide emergency financial relief to organic dairy farmers to help offset the high cost of production before more farms go out of business. We were pleased to see report language requiring USDA to find sources of funding to help organic dairy farmers included in the federal spending bill that passed at the end of 2022. USDA’s Farm Service Agency fulfilled the mandate on time, announcing plans to distribute funding on Monday, January 23rd. USDA’s full announcement is posted here.
The newly announced Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) will be administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency and will cover up to 75 percent of projected 2023 marketing costs for eligible organic dairy producers - targeting small and mid-sized operations. “We applaud Congress for prioritizing family farms in crisis and prioritizing this emergency relief. We cannot afford to lose more organic dairy farms. They provide healthy food and environmental stewardship to rural communities across the country,” says Kate Mendenhall, Executive Director of Organic Farmers Association.
OFA appreciates FSA’s efforts to find ways to provide immediate assistance. However, new programs specifically tailored to address increased cost of production for organic dairy are still urgently needed as part of the 2023 Farm Bill.
Liz Bawden, organic dairy farmer in Hammond, New York and Co-President of the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (NODPA) commented, “Organic dairies have had a very difficult two years, and this relief funding will hopefully make it to dairies in time to keep them in business.”
“This funding was urgently needed by dairy farms in California and throughout the Western United States. Our years of drought and low farmer pay price have already pushed many organic dairies out of the market. We need to find better long-term solutions to keep farms out of crisis, and hope Congress will prioritize better longtime solutions in the 2023 farm bill,” says Zach Cahill, Cahill Organic Dairy in Ferndale, California and President of Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (WODPA).
“Midwest organic dairies have struggled with low pay price and high input costs-- organic dairy farms nationwide have been hit hard,” says Andy Olson, Prime Pastures Organic Dairy near Lewiston, MN and board member of Westby Cooperative Creamery. “Organic dairy farmers need better federal support programs that serve the unique needs of the organic dairy industry. Our market has grown to a point where functioning under conventional safety nets doesn’t make sense anymore.”
Organic Farmers Association will make sure to get the word out to certified organic dairies nationwide of this emergency relief funding and will continue working with their organic dairy farmer members and Congress to advocate for better long term solutions for organic dairy farms in the Farm Bill.
Organic Farmers Association
The Organic Farmers Association (OFA) provides a strong and unified national voice for domestic certified organic producers. OFA builds and supports a farmer-led national organic farmer movement and national policy platform by developing and advocating policies that benefit organic farmers; strengthening and supporting the capacity of organic farmers and farm organizations; and supporting collaboration and leadership among state, regional and national organic farmer organizations. Learn more at OrganicFarmersAssociation.org.
Posted: to Industry News on Thu, Jan 26, 2023
Updated: Thu, Jan 26, 2023


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Woolchemy chief executive and co-founder Derelee Potroz-Smith feels her Wellington-based startup is on the precipice of something major; something that could shake up multiple industries, not least New Zealand wool, while helping address the scourge of microplastic pollution.
The big idea at the heart of Woolchemy is that wool can and should replace fossil-fuel-derived synthetic ‘non-woven’ fibres used in an array of everyday disposable items, from nappies to pads to wound dressings and face masks.
Potroz-Smith, who grew up on a sheep farm in Taranaki, says not only will this have massive sustainability pay-offs environmentally, it will help make wool economically sustainable for Kiwi farmers. Currently, prices for strong wool, the stuff carpets are made from which accounts for 85% of New Zealand’s total wool clip, often don’t cover the cost of shearing it, and farmers are stockpiling wool in sheds or even dumping it (it’s good for garden mulching).
Many people are surprised to learn, she says, that right now synthetic textiles used in products like disposable nappies fetch higher per-kg prices than wool sold at auction in this country primarily for woven applications such as carpets. She is confident that replacement non-woven wool textiles will command a premium over synthetics due to the ever-growing consumer appetite for more sustainable products.
The 10-year-old company is pre-revenue and has so far been funded by R&D grants, family money and sweat labour by Potroz-Smith and her co-founder and mother, Angela Potroz. But Potroz-Smith expects Woolchemy will secure its first customer within the next three months, a second soon after, attract some investment, grow staff and turn over its first million dollars in the next 12 months.
“Our grand vision is to be a billion-dollar export company within the next five to 10 years. And we think we can be fairly profitable fairly early on, just because of the sheer volume that we're outputting. We're wanting to replace millions of metres of the synthetic materials out there.”
From longevity to throwaway
The ‘aha’ moment for Woolchemy came in 2008 when she was changing her son’s disposable nappies while her mother, round visiting, was talking about the ailing wool industry’s need for product innovation.
“She made the comment, ‘jeepers, you go through a lot of nappies’, and I said, ‘I know, and what goes into them isn’t good for the environment, something needs to be done’. We looked at each other, and that was the connection.”
She’s always carried a sense of mission for wool. Growing up on a sheep farm in tiny Awakino, north Taranaki, she remembers when wool went from supplying half of the family’s income to barely 10% in the late 1990s. “That spurred me on to go to university and educate myself so eventually I could come back and help them.”
She ended up doing an engineering degree and went into software development, building applications for corporate businesses. When she got pregnant, she decided she wanted to stay at home with her kids (she turned down a job for Rod Drury building what became Xero).
Woolchemy co-founder and CEO Derelee Potroz Smith
Potroz-Smith and her mother toyed with the woollen nappy idea for a couple of years and then in 2010 they decided to apply for an R&D grant from wool levy funds left over from the disestablished Wool Board to develop woollen nappies (Potroz-Smith says the board itself should have put the levies into innovating, searching for the next big thing, instead of channelling it into woollen carpet, which then fell out of favour). With family help, they matched the $90,000 grant and commissioned AgResearch to figure out a way to make wool more absorbent. By the end of 2013, they had made a material that increased wool’s usual absorbency by 10 times, and six months later, that rose to 25 times.
“What we then realised was we had a very versatile material that could go into lots of different other applications. We thought, maybe we’re not the ones to make the nappy, maybe we should supply companies that are trying to make more sustainable products.”
In 2015, she travelled to the US to a non-woven conference and presented the new textile, patented as neweZorb, and was blown away by the interest in what Woolchemy was doing. NeweZorb was best suited to reusable products, but feedback from the international non-wovens community indicated a growing need from consumers for materials that are biodegradable and renewable but also convenient.
“It took us some time to work out which way to go. But that’s where we are now.”
They went back to the drawing board and developed a second wool textile, neweFlex, specifically designed for use in mass-produced, disposable items, using an $80,000 grant from the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.
Trials with overseas nappy manufacturers were scheduled to start in 2020 but were delayed when Covid hit and diverted non-woven factory capacity to face masks and other PPE. The nappies being tested now contain only one layer of neweFlex, which would normally be polyethylene or polypropylene, but Woolchemy is working on developing another layer. The ultimate goal is disposable nappies entirely made of biodegradable materials, which could also include bamboo and cotton textiles.
Non-woven fabrics, created by placing fibres together then using mechanical bonding to combine them into a cohesive webbed material, are in many everyday consumer goods. As well as nappies, Woolchemy will investigate adopting its textiles for use in wet wipes, pads, wound dressings and other healthcare products. The international non-woven textile market is worth US$47 billion; hygiene’s slice of that is US$8b.
It has been a big mental shift for local wool players from prizing and promoting wool’s longevity, particularly in carpet, to valuing its uses in products that last only hours.
Potroz-Smith: “At the beginning, we probably weren't taken too seriously by the New Zealand community, until Allbirds bought out its wool shoes, and people's perceptions completely got obliterated.”
Self-sufficiency and control
For now, Woolchemy’s textiles must be manufactured overseas, as no Kiwi manufacturer has the machinery required. It would cost $50 million to set up a factory in New Zealand, which is what Potroz-Smith wants to do eventually.
Initially, she sees scope for companies interested in developing natural and sustainable materials to collaboratively invest, with government, in building the manufacturing capacity to prototype new products.


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London, UK, 17 September 2012 - MarketKey Ltd announced today that Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will speak at the Product Innovation (PI) 2013 congress. PI 2013 takes place on 19-20 February, 2013, in Berlin.
"This is a rare chance to hear the Apple co-founder speak on the future of technology, innovation and creativity. Question the maestro about what's next for computing and the web, his relationship with Steve Jobs and how he went from geek to cult icon," says MarketKey`s Managing Director, Will Milling. "Say you Woz there!"
About Steve Wozniak
A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple's first line of products, the Apple I and II, and influenced the popular Macintosh.
Wozniak is currently Chief Scientist for Fusion-IO and wrote the New York Times best-selling autobiography iWoz.
About Product Innovation 2013
Product Innovation (PI) 2013 is an event at the nexus between R&D, Engineering and IT, providing insight and inspiration into product information creation, development and management.
PI 2013 builds on the years of success of the PLM Innovation Congress, and brings it together with the exciting developments and applications in CAD, CAE and simulation. In conjunction with 4 world-class keynotes, PI PLM and PI Design will showcase the tools, technologies and processes that enable innovative product development.
About MarketKey Ltd
MarketKey Ltd is a business information company, specialising in the tools and processes that aid product innovation. Through our portfolio of events and online communities, we provide quality end-user led information to help the world's product designers and manufacturers innovate.
Will Milling, Managing Director, MarketKey Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)207 407 5757
Julia Greben, Marketing Manager, MarketKey Ltd
Tel: + 44 (0)207 558 8701


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Pictured above: Mark Watkinson – CEO HSBC Malta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Michel Cordina – Head of Commercial Banking HSBC Malta
A €50 million trade fund launched by HSBC Malta is offering new funding to support business growth in Malta through international trade. This funding, introduced as a part of HSBC’s Malta Trade for Growth initiative, was announced at the MaltaMaritimeMuseum in the presence of The Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, HSBC Bank Malta CEO Mark Watkinson and the Head of Commercial Banking Michel Cordina.
During the presentation of the €50 million trade fund, HSBC Malta also launched two related business tools, the first being a “Why Malta?” video promoting Malta’s and HSBC’s role in supporting businesses, and the second being a detailed country guide, produced in conjunction with PwC, for doing business with Malta.
“This €50 million fund further boosts the Malta Trade for Growth initiative launched by HSBC Malta earlier this year, as it aims at helping Maltese businesses flourish by increasing international trade with growing and emerging markets and, equally importantly, encouraging international investment in Malta,” explained HSBC Malta Head of Commercial Banking Michel Cordina.
“International trade is forecast to bring the most significant growth to Maltese companies and the Malta Trade for Growth Fund is our platform to connect Maltese customers to global opportunities, to help customers grow their business and, in turn, further the prosperity of Malta’s economy. With offices on the ground in 60 markets, and more than 7,000 relationship managers operating worldwide, we are in a unique position to connect potential customers in new markets, provide local insight through people on the ground, and offer the financial support for businesses to expand globally,” Mr Cordina said.
HSBC Malta CEO Mark Watkinson said: “International trade is a critical component of Malta’s history, its economy, and most importantly the country’s future. We believe that Malta can build on its competitive trade advantage and its strategic location that bridges Europe with Africa and the rest of the world. As one of the world’s largest international banks, HSBC can add real value to the Maltese economy. The Bank is already instrumental in helping hundreds of Maltese businesses expand across borders. The addition of a €50 million fund as part of the Malta Trade for Growth initiative offers a significantly higher level of support to Maltese businesses.”
Addressing guests at the launch, Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat said: “It is very positive to have such an established international financial institution like HSBC Malta providing tangible support solutions in the form of a €50 million trade fund as well as important promotional tools like the country guide and video – all aimed at growing and internationalising Malta’s economy. HSBC’s objectives are in complete harmony with my Government’s commitment to make Malta a more important player in global trade. In this respect, we are building upon Malta’s trade legacy by promoting international trade and attracting new inward investment, whilst capitalising on Malta’s strong specialisation in trade finance provided by companies like HSBC.”
Mr Cordina said that to date, more than 500 companies have made enquiries into Malta Trade for Growth as they look to grow their business overseas and take advantage of incentives such as discounts on foreign currency transactions.
Through the Malta Trade for Growth Fund, companies will be eligible for a range of discounts and incentives, including capital to support their international trade, the waiving of administration fees for finance against trade export or import, facilities for trade with emerging markets, and discounts in pricing when upgrading from traditional overdrafts to Structured Trade Finance products, such as export loans or invoice finance. In addition along with the Fund HSBC are also offering a reduction in effective interest rate for Trade and Receivables Finance facilities.
More information about HSBC Malta’s trade initiatives and the newly launched €50 million trade fund is available on HSBC Malta’s website at www.hsbc.com.mt/50million


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Posted Jan 28, 2013By
Kicking off a new year of our monthly roundup of the best photographs of beasts and birds (and one frog).
HAWTHORNE, CALIF. USA — The grand opening VIP party for Eureka! Tasting Kitchen at Hawthorne (Calif.) Airport
Several luxury and exotic car dealerships have opened in the area in the last year or so, including Rolls-Royce in
Just a few years ago Gulf Arab women usually only felt comfortable showing off their fashion sense at ladies-only p
Spectrum Athletic Club South Bay GM Steve Krum right, and co-workers cheer for Toni Brown, a fitness instructor who


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The German Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Brigitte Zypries visited Greenville, SC on a multi-stop U.S. Tour
Minister Brigitte Zypries and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
Coming from Washington, German Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy, Brigitte Zypries and her delegation met with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt and visited two German companies in Greenville on May 24th.
After an early working breakfast, the delegation including Ambassador Peter Wittig and Consul General Detlev Ruenger, visited the German automotive supplier Baier & Michels. The globally operating b&m-group has established a strong position in the field of fastener technology and C-parts-management within the automotive industry.
Enlarge image The delegation in front of Baier & Michels (© Germany.info) Minister Zypries was welcomed by CEO Peter Federolf and senior staff. The tour of the facility gave insights into how b&m develops customized innovative solutions for a wide range of customers. With b&m-logistics, the b&m-group has a specialized company which can optimize the supply chain worldwide through most innovative logistical solutions like RFID. The Greenville location serves as a distribution center to supply most automotive manufactures operating in the United States. During a small reception, the delegation had opportunity to meet with the employees.
Enlarge image (left to right) Consul General Ruenger, BMW plant manager Flor, Minister Zypries and Ambassador Wittig (© BMWi) The next stop was the BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg for a tour of the plant. BMW President and CEO Knudt Flor welcomed the delegation and explained that BMW manufacturing is in the midst of another $1 billion expansion, which includes construction of a new, state-of-the-art body shop, expansion of the X5/X6 Assembly hall, expansion of a logistics warehouse and construction of two new indoor test tracks. This expansion will increase the annual capacity to 450,000 units and add a fifth model to the vehicle lineup – the all-new BMW X7.
Enlarge image Minister Zypries with Ambassador Wittig (left) and Consul General Ruenger and BMW trainees (© BMWi) Currently, BMW Manufacturing produces more than 1,400 vehicles each day. The factory is the exclusive producer of all BMW X3, X4, X5 and X6 SUV’s and coupes, which are exported to more than 140 global markets. Last year, the Spartanburg plant produced 400,904 vehicles, making it the largest BMW plant in the world and BMW the biggest car exporter in the U.S.
Enlarge image BMW plant manager Knudt Flor shows Minister Zypries the final assembly line (© BMWi) Before the factory tour, Minister Zypries met with young BMW apprentices that had finished top of their class. The tour continued into the actual production facility where large robotic arms wield car parts with precision and perform tasks like welding and assembly. Ending the tour at the final assembly lines truly showcased the out-put of this plant when every few minutes a vehicle is driven off the lines.
Enlarge image Minister Zypries and Governor McMaster (© BMWi) After the tour, Minister Zypries was greeted by the Governor of South Carolina Henry McMaster and Secretary of Commerce, Bobby Hitt. In a one hour meeting the discussed transatlantic relations and trade issues. During a TV Fox News interview after the meeting both the Minister and Governor acknowledged the strong bonds between Germany and South Carolina. German companies are the No. 1 foreign investor in the state. To date, BMW has invested over $7.8 billion in its South Carolina operations and has created 8.800 jobs. Another 35.000 jobs have been created at supplier companies. BMW does business with 270 North American and 40 South Carolina suppliers.
At a two hour working luncheon, German industry leaders and investors in South Carolina had the opportunity to discuss with the Minister and Governor the opportunities and challenges German companies enjoy in South Carolina with special focus on workers qualification and the German vocational training system.


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An embroidered fabric from Lebabese company Koskas
PARIS — The mood on the show floor was more upbeat than it has been for several seasons at Texworld and sister events Apparel Sourcing and Avantex.
The exhibitions, which ran from Feb. 6 to 9 at Le Bourget, saw a 6.9 percent uptick in visitor traffic to 13,559, according to organizer Messe Frankfurt France. “It was a strong session for visitors and exhibitors, who felt that it was the most successful edition for some time,” stated Messe Frankfurt France chief executive officer Michael Scherpe.
Hermès is launching a Laundromat pop-up shop in NYC - dubbed Hermèsmatic - where customers can bring their old scarves to be dip-dyed by an expert. Get all the details on WWD.com. #wwdnews (📷: @donstahl)


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Kampala Metropolitan police are investigating a report of fraud at Kenya’s coffee shop chain Java House in Bugolobi, Kampala.
According to police, the suspected crime was reported at around 2.30 p.m. on Monday when distressed Ugandan youth numbering about 100 lost Shillings 900,000 each to the conman for employment.
Eyewitnesses said several people turned up for interviews by 7:00am this morning.
The distressed applicants had been conned by fraudsters who posed as workers from Java House Human Resource department who sent them ‘appointment letters’ that were in the Java House letterheads was signed by Nickson Wakhungu.
The ‘appointment letter’ read;
“Following your application to work at our new branch in Kampala, we are pleased to offer you employment at our branch effective from November 13th 2017. You will undergo, a one week training to learn more about our standards of service delivery. Once the training is complete, you will be posted to your work immediately.’’
Samuel Ekuru, the Head of Security at Java House was accused by the victims of haughtiness and physical assault. Police said the incident is still under investigation.
Java House has been in existence for the last 15 years running several coffee shops in Kenya.
They are also involved in the exportation of coffee in Kenya.
With its expansion into Uganda, the coffee shop chain was looking to tap into the emerging middle class and consumer trends in the country.
Troubled history in Uganda
August 15, 2013. Nairobi Java House files an application to register a trademark in Uganda.
October 24, 2013. Mandela Auto Spares files an objection to the application.
May 21, 2015. The registrar of Trademarks rules in favour of Mandela Auto Spares.
June 4, 2015. Nairobi Java House appeals the decision of the registrar.
February 6, 2016. High Court rules in favour of Nairobi Java House.
November 13, 2017. Ugandans conned with fake job promises at Java House.


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Single-family home sales in Connecticut saw a 10 percent year-over-year increase in May, according to new data from Connecticut Realtors. Last month saw 3,406 total units of homes sold, compared to 3,095 in May 2016. The single-family home median sales price during May was $260,000, a 4 percent increase from the $249,900 level one year earlier.
Connecticut’s townhouse and condominium sales saw a 25.4 percent year-over-year spike in May, with 874 units sold last month versus 697 one year earlier. The median sales price for this housing sector was $170,875, up 3.6 percent increase from $165,000 in that same time period in 2016.
Regionally, Northeast home sales increased 2.6 percent year-over-year in May, with a median sales price of $281,300. Nationwide, total home sales in May – covering single-family homes, townhouses, condominiums and co-ops – were up 2.7 percent in May, with the median national home sales price at $252,800, according to the National Association of Realtors.


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Dutch navigation systems company TomTom (TOM2.AS: Quote, Profile , Research) plans to buy its main map supplier, Tele Atlas (TA.AS: Quote, Profile , Research), for 1.8 billion euros ($2.5 billion), hoping tight integration of maps and products will give it an edge over competitors.
Tele Atlas is ok with the offer, a 32% premium on its stock price. The companies expect to use the in-car devices in consumer vehicles to capture new data (TomTom MapShare-like?) and provide on the order of daily map updates in time.
Tele Atlas could lose some clients in the online market, but some 40% of revenue in the second quarter was from TomTom.
Conference Call - Today 10 am eastern
Seeking Alpha says this move should put NAVTEQ into play with likely buyers including: Microsoft, Google, Nokia. And, the article re-iterates something we’ve said before: "I think TomTom’s aqcuisition of Tele Atlas shows that the navigation device makers have realized that the companies that control the mapping business will control the whole PND business."
The AP notes:
Tele Atlas has deals to provide information to TomTom, Qualcomm Inc. and Nokia Corp., while Garmin, Google Inc., Yahoo Inc. and AOL’s MapQuest use mostly Navteq. But the bigger companies use at least some information from both, and analysts say they have an interest in ensuring neither Navteq nor Tele Atlas becomes too dominant at geo-mapping information.
The Guardian Unlimited notes the recent deal between TomTom and Vodafone to capture data from phone users.
Last month Vodafone and TomTom announced plans to cooperate on a new service that would integrate information from Vodafone’s network with TomTom’s navigation database. Phone signals from Vodafone customers would be used to measure the speed of the cars in which they are travelling and the number of customers on a given road, giving a rough idea of traffic congestion and enabling users to dodge jams. The service is expected to launch next year.


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Bench's new retail concept highlights the hoody as a core product
27 Jan. 2014
Bench unveil new brand direction and retail concept
Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014, Bench has announced a new brand strategy. First, the UK brand has developed a new concept for its fall/winter 2014 collection called Multipurpose City Clothing. The line is part of its Multipurpose City Life range (functional everyday clothing) and Multipurpose City Performance range (active clothing).
“We simply refocused the brand, taking functional and performance technologies, features and constructions and re-appropriated them for everyday city use. We observed how today’s consumers increasingly wear performance clothing product for their everyday life. Bench formalized this process and at its heart is an iconic garment which represents functionality, performance and style: the hoody,” said a Bench spokesperson.
Moreover, Bench has developed a new international retail concept together with Brinkworth, one of leading creative retail design agencies in the UK with references such as All Saints, Converse, Diesel, Nike or Supreme. Brinkworth’s approach revolves around a unique bench enhancing recognition of the brand beyond its logo. This bench is used in-store as a device for defining focus products, window features but also notably as a part of shop-front design. Here it offers passers-by or customers a place to stop, rest and take advantage of free Wi-Fi in stores. The interior concept relies on utilitarian materials such as stained oriented strand board, galvanized steel and clean white powder-coated metal. A shrine to the hoody elevates this product to one of Bench’s definitive product staples.
The new retail concept will be used not only at stores but also within trade show booths and debuted at Bread & Butter Berlin last week.
In stores, the concept will be initially employed at Bench’s new monobrand store at the shopping mall in Leipziger Straße, Berlin, which is due to open in spring 2014.
Bench's new retail concept
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After being refurbished by its owner, the world’s longest car has grown even longer. A mini-golf course, jacuzzi, TV, fridge, and a helipad are all included in the ‘Super Limo.’
After breaking its own Guinness World Record in 1986, the automobile known as “The American Dream” now stands at almost 100 feet (30.52 metres).
Jay Ohrberg built the amazing car for the first time in 1986 in California, USA. The car was almost 60 feet long at the time (18.28 metres).
Jay Ohrberg, a car customizer from Burbank, California, first produced the 60-footer in 1986. (18.28 metres).
Read more: Pakistan registers its most expensive vehicle against Rs 5.3 million tax in Lahore
Micheal Dezer, the automobile’s current owner, purchased the car on eBay and renovated it, breaking the car’s own Guinness World Record set in 1986.
The vehicle has a seating capacity of more than 75 people, 26 wheels, and can be driven from both ends.
Equipped with a swimming pool, golf putting green and a helipad.— Guinness World Records (@GWR) March 10, 2022
To put its enormous size into context, most cars are between 12 and 16 feet long (3.6 to 4.2 metres). The limo can be driven from either end and can accommodate up to 75 people. It has a jacuzzi, mini-golf course, helipad, and even a swimming pool with a diving board, making it more suitable for a king.
When it first arrived on land, ‘The American Dream’ was 60 feet (18.28 metres) long, rolled on 26 wheels, and had a pair of V8 engines in the front and rear.
The remake of the car, according to the Daily Mail, cost over $250,000 and took three years to finish.
The one-of-a-kind car was previously rented out for film appearances and showed up in a number of films.


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Foxconn will kick off production at its Wisconsin plant in May with 1,500 employees, Gov. Tony Evers told CNBC this week. That’s considerably fewer than the 13,000 that Foxconn and President Donald Trump have said the factory would hire since a 2017 announcement at the White House.
The Taiwan-based electronics maker is best known for assembling Apple’s iPhone and providing parts for other tech companies’ gadgets.
Foxconn’s deal with Wisconsin means it must create 1,820 jobs by the end of 2020 to get up to $270 million in tax credits. The company missed its 2018 target of 260 jobs. Ultimately, it must hit a 13,000 goal by 2032 to qualify for subsidies of around $3 billion.
It’s not the first time Evers has tempered expectations for the project, having noted that Foxconn had “shrunk their expectations” back in April. The Democrat inherited the deal from Republican predecessor Scott Walker, who helped woo Foxconn to Wisconsin with the largest incentive in state history. During his election campaign, Evers took a critical stance on Walker’s dealings with the company.
Neither Foxconn nor Evers’ office immediately responded to a request for comment.
First published July 11 at 4:10 a.m. PT.Update, 5 a.m.: Adds more detail.
- Foxconn vows to build Wisconsin plant after talk with Trump
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- South Korean faces trial for swindling $29,000 with job promises
- GM to reopen Indonesia plant, create 800 jobs
- Northern province's thermo-electric plant construction creates jobs
- Local giant beverage maker injects $173 million into a new plant
- Vietnam power plant will drive Jaks profit growth
- Vinachem wants to sell off sinking chemical plant to pay debts
- Electronics giant Foxconn mulls TV screen plant in Vietnam
- Apple assembler Foxconn considering iPhone factory in Vietnam