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By Graham Sharples | Threat Analyst
Internet of things (IoT) devices are now embedded in every part of our lives, with more and more devices becoming connected to the internet each day. This is a trend that can trace its origins back to the start of the 1990s wherein a toaster was created by John Romkey that could be turned on and off over the internet. This demonstrated what could potentially be achieved with everyday household appliances. Today, IoT devices are in nearly every electronic device we use and with IBM’s announcement in 2018 that they had made the smallest computer in the world measuring 1 millimetre by 1 millimetre, there is almost nothing an IoT device can’t fit into.
However, with the huge scale of IoT devices connected to the internet comes a wave of products that are potential targets for malicious actors. Given that many of the devices we use in our homes are now or may soon be IoT enabled, our homes now have a threat landscape all of their own. This is increased more so when multiple IoT devices are connected. In 2019 researchers from the University of Michigan identified that they could use lasers to interact with a variety of voice-activated devices including the Amazon Echo. With multiple devices potentially being connected to an Amazon Echo, an individual with a line of sight would be able to be a distance away from a property and activate any connected features such as opening a garage door. What’s more, a post by the internet security company, Norton , predicts that by 2025, there are estimated to be 21 billion IoT devices connected to the internet, creating a potentially worrying situation for both domestic and business security landscapes.
In this post, we’ll continue to explore how the IoT can be exploited if such enabled technologies fall into the wrong hands, as well as the potential impacts of this exploitation.
Why Are IoT Devices Targeted
IoT devices are a hugely attractive target for hackers because the IoT device industry is too convenient for businesses and individuals not to use. Every day more affordable IoT devices are created that are Wi-Fi compatible with the option to control them from your smartphone.
However, vendors for the longest time have not incorporated adequate IoT device security controls within their products. A lot of IoT devices are created by the cheapest means possible, including the firmware that is installed within the device. These devices are then shipped to the client. By the time the device reaches the customer, little to no security testing has taken place on the device, with ports usually left open to receive updates as required. Couple this with the fact that multiple IoT devices such as IP cameras and smart hubs may be using the same blueprints for the base components/firmware, and a vulnerability that affects one device may affect multiple.
Types of IoT Threat Actors
Botnet: Targeting IoT devices with malware for the purposes of creating an IoT Botnet is big business. With the sheer number of potentially vulnerable devices connected to the internet, a Botnet consisting of IoT devices could be much larger than a Botnet of compromised computers making them much more appealing.
Crypto-miners: In recent years Botnets have been seen attempting to mine cryptocurrencies from IoT devices. While this sounds like a simple effective plan most IoT devices lack the hardware required to adequately mine cryptocurrencies. Botnets such as ‘LiquorBot’, ‘Mirai-variant’ and ‘Linux.MulDrop.14’ have all tried and failed in their attempts.
Ransomware attacks: Many have speculated that the next ransomware attacks may target IoT devices. Rather than holding single companies to ransom, a malicious actor may decide to target for example smart thermostats. One exploit targeting a type of smart thermostat could compromise thousands of devices.
IoT Threat Actors’ Targeted Areas of Interest
There are many ways in which a hacker could exploit an IoT device. Many of these vulnerabilities come as the IoT industry is currently geared towards mass production of IoT devices, mainly for cost benefits. The below bullet points should give a rough idea of what area hackers are interested in when they research IoT devices.
- Weak Passwords: These often need changing by the owner to something more secure but often never get changed.
- Hard-Coded Credentials: Master passwords are sometimes set on devices which can sometimes be identified on the start-up of the device through serial connections.
- Backdoors: Ports left open with simple passwords for manufacturer support and to receive updates.
- Insecure Network Services: Unneeded services exposed to the internet for no purpose.
- Encryption: Or lack of in rest, transit and or during processing.
- Outdated Components/Software: Deprecated software components/libraries.
- Web Interface: Often riddled with XSS and other vulnerabilities.
- Physical Access: Accessibility of UART/JTAG ports to connect via serial connection to the device.
Botnet for Hire
There are multiple reasons a hacker would decide to target IoT devices, such as the creation of a Botnet from which to launch distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against a target or to install ransomware for financial gain. Whatever the reason there is malware/ransomware available online to achieve these aims. BASHLITE is one such malware variant that was used widely in 2014 to exploit the Shellshock vulnerability. Again, in 2019, a similar variant of malware known as Gafgyt was identified as having been updated to target wireless routers such as Huawei’s HG532.
DDoS attacks on their own are not profitable but a new area has been opening up to accommodate a technique within the games industry. With IoT devices controlled by a Botnet once compromised, these botnets are being hired out to individuals under the label ‘Botnet for hire service’. In essence, individuals have the ability to launch DDoS attacks against their gaming opponents’ servers in revenge for gaming sessions lost. While first thoughts of the use of DDoS may have you thinking about a threat actor attempting to hold down the financial services of an organisation or a hacktivist group targeting a website for a cause, the reality is demographics are changing and so is their ease of use. The demographic is now young gamers and the researchers from Unit 42 noted that the Botnet for hire services are being advertised on social media platforms for as little as $8 to hire.
Over the last 5 years ransomware has gained huge traction with hackers. The simplicity and anonymous nature of the risk to reward style of this attack can’t be ignored. Statistics vary but point to an increase in the number of businesses agreeing to pay the ransom in a hope that the malicious actor agrees to unlock their data. After all, this is a business for the malicious actor as well. If the malicious actor gets known for releasing encrypted data then the chances of future payments from other businesses potentially increase. The tricky part is finding a target. But as the WannaCry attack of 2017 showed, one successful attack could be all you need. Infecting more than 200,000 computers in more than 150 countries WannaCry showed the impact ransomware could have.
Now imagine an attack that is successful against IoT devices. You might return home to find your Hive thermostat locked so you cannot activate your heating or hot water. While not the end of the world you could be financially out of pocket and in the winter losing your heating or hot water would be something that needs addressing fast.
In recent years ransomware has been identified as being offered as a service in much the same way as Botnets. Known as ‘Ransomware as a service’, cybercriminals are trying to mitigate the time it takes to understand and compromise a target while increasing profits. This increases the number of potential users as novice cybercriminals will now be able to participate without too much difficulty. Essentially ransomware authors make quick money and crime groups don’t waste time writing malicious code.
To conclude, the IoT industry is changing slowly. Unfortunately, it takes cyber-attacks to make businesses think about how much time and money goes into the development and creation of these devices. With the ever-increasing attack surface, IoT devices potentially provide users should while difficult try to research and understand the IoT device before they purchase it. For example, is the company that provides the device reputable, what does the company do with your data and are firmware updates provided. Further security checks should include:
- Routers 4 to 5 years old should be changed for newer models.
- Change the default admin passwords to meet strong unique criteria.
- Do not leave devices in their standard configuration.
- Ensure you know what features are turned on and in use by the device.
- If you have an IoT device that you don’t use via the internet, turn if Wi-Fi connectivity off.
- Regardless of the device, backup your data!
Hackers have demonstrated in the past that they can leverage IoT devices for their own purposes. Combined with the ever-increasing threat surface and the number of devices becoming connected to the internet and you can be sure that the trend of attacks against IoT devices is sure to increase.
For more guidance on this topic, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team.


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The former glamour model posted on Twitter at the weekend that she wants to sell the customised Vogue model car - which has the registration plate KPII HOT, a diamond encrusted clock worth £25,000, and aluminium wheels, exhaust and pedals - and called for her followers to express their interest in buying the vehicle, which she bought for a reported £100,000 in 2011.
Responding to her message, the BBC Radio 1 DJ said he was ''very interested'' in making the purchase.
However, Nick also faces competition in landing the vehicle from 'Geordie Shore' star Holly Hagan - but only if she can raise the necessary funds.
She tweeted: ''Omg I would love it wish I could afford it (sic)''
Katie - who drove the pink car away from her wedding blessing to Kieran Hayler on Friday (29.03.13) - had tweeted: ''I want to sell my pink range rover anyone interested?? I want to get a new car xx.
''For enquires about my pink range email email@example.com serious enquiries only please. (sic)''

domain: news


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WHISKY distiller BenRiach is on the hunt to buy a blended brand with international credentials as part of plans to expand its business.
Managing director Billy Walker said he was looking for a brand that was no longer a focus for one of the major international whisky producers.
But the brand would need to sell well in one of the company's target regions - such as the Far East or Eastern Europe - to be attractive, he said.
Walker, the former operations director at Burn Stewart Distillers, bought the BenRiach distillery near Elgin from French drinks giant Pernod Ricard in 2004, adding the GlenDronach site near Huntly from the same vendor in 2008.
Later this month Walker will complete a third deal with the French firm to buy its bottling plant at Newbridge, in Midlothian, which will be used to expand production of the single malts from his two distilleries.
About 41 staff will be employed at the bottling plant, taking BenRiach's headcount to about 75. The remaining Newbridge staff will be redeployed by Pernod Ricard.
Walker told Scotland on Sunday: "If a brand comes up that we still believe has heritage and has legs then we will buy it.
"With the big drinks companies focusing more and more on their core brands, I believe there are opportunities with some of the smaller brands, which are very popular in key markets overseas."
Having built the business on malts, Walker said his company's expansion needed to include blended whiskies, which account for about 85 per cent of whisky production by value compared with malts' 15 per cent.
Clan Murray, the firm's existing blend, is selling well in Africa, Walker said, and the new bottling facility would allow him to expand production.
BenRiach has signed contracts with Pernod Ricard to carry on bottling some of the French firm's whiskies at Newbridge.
The acquisition is expected to take turnover from 6 million to 19m this year and Walker said he was confident that the plant would add to profitability as well.
BenRiach has focused on a core range of single malts from its two distilleries alongside a series of limited edition bottling, which have appealed to connoisseurs.
The firm has avoided listing its products in multiple retailers such as Asda and Tesco, instead favouring whisky shops and Oddbins to keep prices and profit margins at workable levels.
Some 95 per cent of the company's sales come from exports, with Sweden, Germany, Taiwan and the United States among its key markets. The company has used a similar model for both UK and overseas sales, targeting independent retailers rather than multiples.
"Countries like Poland are great because the big German and Scandinavian multiple retailers haven't got a big hold over the market yet," said Walker. "We can work with independent wholesale distributors instead." He highlights the Ukraine as a growing market, which would complement his whiskies' popularity in other former Soviet states, including Kazakhstan and Russia itself.
Walker is also keeping his eyes open for a third distillery.
"If you look at our range now then we're obviously missing an Islay whisky," he said pointing to BenRiach's Speyside classification and GlenDronach's Highland pedigree. In the short term, I can't see a distillery on Islay coming up for sale but you never know. We would look elsewhere too. The big companies can only really dedicate time and effort to promoting three or four single malt brands really well and so that presents opportunities for the rest of us."
Yet any hit list of potential acquisitions would have to meet a strict set of requirements for Walker to part with his cash.
"The site would have to be an interesting distillery and would have to have an interesting heritage," he said.
"But what's most important is the stock - if it doesn't have the right stock then we wouldn't be interested."


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It’s hard to guess what President Lincoln might have thought about his namesake toy—Lincoln Logs building sets—being manufactured in China for decades. But Honest Abe would surely relish recent news that K’NEX Brands LP, Pennsylvania-based maker of the small wooden playthings, now produces them in Maine.
The toymaker is not alone. In markets as diverse as hosiery, flooring, refrigerators, grills, and plumbing supplies, companies are reevaluating their offshore supply chains. Sometimes the shift in thinking is prompted by health scares associated with foreign-sourced products; for example, pet food recalls helped to fuel an upsurge in US-made edibles for dogs and cats. During the economic slump, many clothing and furniture customers pressured sellers to support domestic factories by stocking American goods. There are also new sales opportunities: in 2013, Walmart promised to boost its purchases of US-made products for Walmart and Sam’s Club stores by $50 billion over the next decade. The retail behemoth followed up last summer with an unprecedented “open call” for more than 500 American manufacturers to pitch their wares to its executives. “This is a commitment around manufacturing and more economic renewal,” said Walmart US’s former chief merchandising and marketing officer Duncan MacNaughton. “We see it as a critical issue for us in the American economy.”
His view appears to be shared by a large majority of ordinary shoppers. According to a 2013 survey by Consumer Reports National Research Center, 78 percent of Americans preferred to buy a domestically made product over an identical one made elsewhere. Over 80 percent of those committed to buying American cited the importance of retaining jobs and strengthening US manufacturing in the global economy, while 60 percent expressed concern about overseas labor practices or believed that American goods are superior to foreign substitutes. In another shopper survey conducted by Perception Research Services International, four out of five respondents said they notice “Made in the USA” claims on packaging—and 76 percent of those who noticed the claim were more likely to buy the domestically produced product.
A key impetus for the “Made in the USA” resurgence is more about business expenses than survey results. Manufacturing abroad—especially in China—no longer offers the cost advantage that was, until recently, overwhelming. Citing “rising Chinese wages, higher US productivity, a weaker dollar, and other factors,” a 2011 Boston Consulting Group report predicted that the cost gap between the US and China will close within five years, bringing to an end the days of routinely viewing China as “the default option.”
But despite all the good news for devotees of buying American, the wave of companies returning to US factories is still far short of a tsunami. Some firms remain nervous about making long-term investments in stateside plants, equipment, and personnel. According to a recent report in theWall Street Journal, “many US-based designers of consumer products over the past two decades have grown comfortable contracting with overseas manufacturers. Some doubt they can get the same expertise, efficiency and flexibility in the US.” Companies also recognize that the costs of American production, while currently on a downswing, could escalate down the road. Ultimately, the issue for such holdouts boils down to this: does “Made in the USA” have staying power? Can they count on stable—and hopefully growing—consumer preference for domestic products?


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Inside the issue of Total Film magazine, they have a chat with the R.I.P.D. star Ryan Reynolds about the ongoing saga of the Deadpool spin-off movie, which has been mooted ever since he played Wade Wilson in X-Men: Origins – Wolverine.
The latest trailer for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII has premiered at the Japan Expo in Paris, giving more details regarding the games story and what characters will be included in the latest adventure. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will [...]
Read More »
I really hate to be that person, but after giving Man of Steel an 8.5 and getting many opinions on the film, I have to take a second opinion on what I think of this film. Of course spoilers beware.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a new clip and several new stills from their upcoming Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital Download on July 30th
Angela is ready to make her mark on the Marvel Universe.
Are you excited for Kick-Ass 2?
This September, The Joker will once again get the last laugh.
Namco Bandai Europe has announced that Naruto will finally make his way to the PC (for the first time ever) this winter, with the release of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst. We’re very excited to be bringing the incredible Naruto [...]
Read More »
Welcome to AA’s Comic Panel of The Week. We choose our favorite from the new releases that week which stood out the most. Check out this weeks below!


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Only three percent of UK organisations have a fully automated procurement process even though it would save money and offer a greener alternative to paper-based procurement.
A survey by the National Computing Centre, in association with COA Software, also found that 69 percent of companies thought that moving to e-procurement would be more in line with their organisation's environmental policies, although only 25 percent had such a green procurement policy in place.
The term 'totally automated e-procurement' includes e-sourcing of goods such as using online supplier catalogues; the electronic delivery, authorisation, processing, storage and retrieval of all procurement documentation such as purchase orders, invoices and remittances and the eventual electronic payment of suppliers. It also includes the electronic management and payment of procurement cards (credit cards and loyalty cards etc).
"This research highlights that UK organisations are still not taking full advantage of automated procurement, which is surprising because during challenging economic times, cutting costs and streamlining procurement should be at the top of organisations' agendas," said Mark Thompson, MD of COA in a statement.
72 percent of respondents are apparently still relying on manually processing documents such as invoices and proof of deliveries, with 38 percent still manually approving purchase orders.
According to a COA spokeswoman, e-procurement brings about cost savings from less printing, postage and photocopying of documents; the elimination of paper storage; being able to take advantage of early payment discounts and reducing late payment penalties; being able to negotiate better rates with fewer, more reliable (and green) suppliers; reducing maverick spending etc.
"Doing things electronically means reducing paper consumption, printing, document transportation, as well as storing documents (warehouses needs power as well)," she said. The spokeswoman admitted however that there was of course CO2 emissions associated with powering servers, "but taking everything into account including vehicles on road etc, the impact is significantly less."
When asked to prove that, the spokeswoman provided the following statistics. She said a typical HP LaserJet printer, which uses 5.628 kWH (kilowatt hour) per week, emits 13.170 lbs CO2 per week, which equals 684.84 lbs of CO2 per year. Meanwhile a typical photocopier uses 400 watts per hour on standby, which equals 16kWH for a 40 hour working week, which in turn equals 37.44 lbs CO2 per week, or 1,946.88 Ibs of CO2 per year.
"Therefore, by moving to e-procurement and thereby eliminating the printing and photocopying of documents, approximately 2,631 lbs of CO2 are eliminated each year," the spokeswoman said. "As a comparison, one gallon of car petrol produces approximately 19 lbs of carbon dioxide and so in a week a typical photocopier will produce twice the emissions of a gallon of petrol."
She pointed out that emissions are also produced during the production, transport and storage of paper and toner cartridges and so taking all these emissions into account, many thousands of pounds of carbon are eliminated each year by moving to e-procurement.
"Clearly, data centres and PCs produce CO2 emissions - one PC puts approximately 1,000 Ibs of CO2 into the environment every year," she said. "However, staff use PCs as part of their working day and so no additional carbon emissions are being produced by PCs as a result of moving to e-procurement."


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In addition to surfing the Internet and social networking online video craze now in India is growing rapidly. An institution to monitor the digital world, Score’s latest figures indicate that the number of users who watch online videos in March 2013, only 74 per cent was 5.40 million.
In March 2011, the number was 3.10 million. According to comScore now 18 per cent more people than ever before are beginning to see the video.
Due to the interest of the people on the internet are more than 28 per cent.
Online video sites and new users (March 2013)
YouTube—– 3.15 crore
Facebook —– 1.86 million
Yahoo sites —- 80.20 million
Tube Mogul —– 50.50 million


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The electrical industry is suffering from a shortage of chips and other materials. Many manufacturers, for example of televisions, laptops or smartphones, are struggling with supply bottlenecks. This plays into the hands of suppliers of refurbished electrical goods.
Smartphones in particular are products that are all too quickly sidelined, even though they are actually still usable and good. People are too quick to buy the latest devices and give up the old ones. In the worst case, they end up in a drawer; it’s better if they’re given as Refurbished products are given a second life. Because if the display is scratched or the battery quickly dies, you don’t have to buy a new smartphone right away. Often it is enough to replace worn-out parts and thus give the device an extended life.
Suppliers of refurbished devices have seen this for a long time, but they are even happier now. The current shortage of materials, for example chips, is causing production difficulties and delivery bottlenecks for many manufacturers of smartphones, tablets, etc. “Does it really always have to be the latest product? Or can’t it also be a product that is as good as new?” asks Kilian Kaminski, co-founder of the repair platform Refurbed.
Refurbished devices conserve limited resources
In the entrepreneur’s view, the consumer behavior of many customers has changed. “The interest in refurbished products has increased enormously,” Kaminski says. The chip shortage and general raw material shortages are probably also contributing to more people looking at consuming electronics, he says.
“Buying less new and relying more on refurbished products can help make better use of limited resources,” agrees Martin Hügli, head of Germany at Back Market, an online platform for selling refurbished electronic devices. After all, refurbished providers often only replace broken parts of used electrical devices and then offer them for sale again. As a result, companies rarely need large quantities of new materials or chips, explains Augustin Becquet, president of the European Refurbishment Association (EUREFAS). The industry is now benefiting from this, he adds.
For example, Becquet says, the association has noticed a great demand for refurbished, older iPhone models. This could be due, for example, to the shortage of materials that led to production and delivery problems with the most recently released iPhone 13. Instead of buying the latest device, customers have to switch to older, already used models. However, the association does not have any figures on this.
Delivery problems with many new smartphones
“Current sales forecasts for the new iPhone assume that fewer units will be sold due to the chip shortage,” Hügli agrees. Indeed, Apple CEO Tim Cook reported in October that supply chain bottlenecks and Corona failures in production were depressing group sales by six billion dollars. Distributors of refurbished Refurbished goods, on the other hand, often work with older models where enough components are available, explains the back-market boss. “We don’t run out of stock because of that.”
The shortages of new goods may additionally motivate many already Buying refurbished devices is not a good idea, according to Steffen Kahnt, managing director of the German Trade Association for Technology (Handelsverband Technik). However, the association sees refurbished as a niche. Although refurbished devices have long been a relevant alternative for price- and environmentally-conscious consumers, the market is still “very small,” he says.
But the business model has other advantages besides the material aspect, says Niklas Meyer-Breitkreutz of the digital association Bitkom “Customers also save money and even get a warranty back on the devices.” In general, therefore, demand for refurbished electrical appliances has risen in recent years because of “Germans’ environmental awareness,” Meyer-Breitkreutz says. He advocates using appliances for longer, thus minimizing their carbon footprint. After all, there are around 206 million cell phones and smartphones slumbering in the drawers of German citizens that could be refurbished and reused, according to a survey commissioned by Bitkom.
Apple and Samsung take back old devices.
Manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung already offer to take the old device in trade when buying new ones. They are refurbished and sold as Refurbished devices are resold or recycled in order to recover raw materials. According to Apple, 10.4 million devices were refurbished worldwide last year and 39,000 tons of electronic waste were recycled.
Should the shortage of raw materials continue for a longer period of time and have an impact on the prices of electronic devices, Marion Lichti from IT retailer AfB sees this as an advantage for the industry: “Good refurbished used goods are attractively priced and all the more attractive the more the prices of new devices rise.”
When buying However, prospective buyers of refurbished smartphones should not only pay attention to the hardware, but also to the software. It is desirable that a current version of the operating system can run on it. Apple’s latest operating system is iOS 15, which requires an iPhone 6s, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE (1st generation) or newer. The situation with Android is confusing because of the many manufacturers. The current version 12 is sometimes not even installed on new devices. But here, too, the newer the Android version, the better.


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Milk prices: The IFA is to continue to lobby co-op board members
The lobbying effort undertaken in recent days by IFA for March milk prices, which saw its national dairy committee members approach their local co-op board members with a 10-point campaign, will be revised, according to its chair Tom Phelan.
He said that further evidence of strong industry performance and figures showing significantly lower calf and cull cow sale revenues were additional arguments proving that co-ops could, and should, hold the March milk price.
“We have outlined our 10 good reasons why co-ops must hold the March 2019 milk price, and there are further factors which strengthen our case with co-op board members. I can’t emphasise enough just how critical cash flow is on dairy farms this time of year, and co-ops must maximise payout to farmers,” Mr Phelan said.
He said that that much appreciated supports to farmers during 2018 had not prevented a strong industry performance, the Ornua results were published, showing a 14.8% increase in operating profit. Ornua will be paying a €19m year-end operating bonus to member co-ops, up 27% on the previous year.
“This should help co-ops hold milk prices this spring,” he said.
As well as significant feed and fodder cost increases and lower milk prices squeezing margins by over 6cpl, dairy farmers were facing reduced revenue from cull cow and calf sales. Cull cow prices had collapsed 21.6% in the last 12 months, while calf prices were down 21.5% in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same period last year, he said.
“National dairy committee members will this week continue to discuss with the board members of their co-ops the need and justification for them to hold the March milk prices when they meet to make that decision in coming days,” he said.
The IFA 10 good reasons to maintain March milk prices include:
- With milk prices below costs and the persistent impact of 2018 weather events, global supplies are stalling, and with quasi empty SMP intervention stores, milk and dairy products are scarcer
- Dairy returns, as recorded by the EU MMO, have been around 36c/l before processing costs since mid-February. This would allow for up to 1c/l more than co-ops are currently paying
- The last 9 GDT auctions have seen price increases, with the index lifting 27.2% since last November, leading Fonterra to raise their forecast 2018/19 milk price by 30c/kg of MS
- The main European milk purchasers have held their March milk price. Friesland Campina (NL) at €36.50/100kgs, Arla UK at 30.24 ppl (35.4c/l) and Lactalis in France at 33.18c/l.
5. The February Ornua PPI, unchanged at 107.64 points, equivalent to 30.64c/l + VAT (32.3c/l incl VAT) justified co-ops holding their February price. Yet, Glanbia, Kerry, Arrabawn and Dairygold cut by 0.5 to 1c/l, while Lakeland, LacPatrick, Aurivo and Carbery held theirs
- During 2018, co-ops supported farmers through milk price top-ups, favourable merchant credit, input purchase rebates and even fodder imports. This necessary and appreciated assistance was achieved without loss of industry performance, with 326m litres of additional milk enabling the profitable export of €4bn worth of dairy products
- 2018 input costs (unit prices) rose massively. Fertiliser by 4.7%, fuel by 10%, electricity by 8% and feed prices by 5%. Predictions for 2019 is that fertiliser prices could rise a further 16%
- Higher input costs were combined with larger input spend as consumption of feed, fodder, fertiliser and energy increased massively. Dairy feed usage went up 38% in tonnage, and 52% in value. Fertiliser use increase contributed to a 19% lift in forage cost per ha, or 13% per litre of milk. Total production costs rose 11% or 2.5c/l to 25.2c/l – a €12,500 cut on the bottom-line of a 500,000 litre milk producer
- Farmers are still catching up with their 2018 input bills. The March milk cheque is the first significant opportunity to do so. Yet, between Jan ‘18 and Feb ‘19 (13 months), the average milk price has fallen 3.75c/l, reducing farmers’ cash flow and their ability to clear bills
- Brexit chaos and confusion continue. A no-deal crash out cannot be excluded – but this is the one thing the UK parliament agrees it does not want. Outcomes other than a no-deal crash would give rise to two years of transition/negotiation of the future EU/UK relationship during which trading conditions would be unchanged compared to UK membership of the EU.


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Johannesburg - Running a startup in South Africa is not a “glamorous” business, according to a survey released by Ventureburn.
The Ventureburn Startup Survey, which partnered with First National Bank (FNB), investment advisory firm Clifftop Colony and analytics company Qurio, surveyed just under 200 local tech startups to develop better picture of who these businesses are.
Ventureburn said each of the startups was asked 42 questions, ranging from funding to their revenues.
The survey also defined a tech startup as a company with annual revenues of below R20m and staff numbers of between 1 and 100. Ventureburn also said the survey sample size also assumes a population of 5 000 tech startups in South Africa, with a 95% confidence level and a 7% margin of error.
And according to some chief results of the study, startup employees and founders “are often paid below-market salaries, get close to zero benefits and are subject to high-pressure environments”. Other key findings include that the local startup industry has experienced “a surge in black entrepreneurs, more than that recorded by any other startup survey to date”.
“Moreover, just 17% of startups are profitable, with only 3% of startups making it to the sought-after venture capital investment stages,” said a statement regarding the study.
Key motivations for startups, though, include that entrepreneurs are driven by the need to "innovate", "be a pioneer", or for reasons of "personal development".
View some of the survey’s findings in the infographic below:


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Just like the other major tech concerns, e-tailer giant Amazon has also announced massive workforce reductions to cut costs over the past few weeks. Apart from job cuts, Amazon has also started pulling the plug on some of its other online services to prepare for the economic crisis that is predicted to hit across the globe. Recently, the company decided to shut down its online education service, Amazon Academy which will be discontinued in August 2023. Now, the e-commerce major has shared its plans to terminate another online service, Amazon Food. The company’s food delivery service started its journey in May 2020 in India as a pilot project based available only in Bengaluru and will stop working on December 29. Amazon has reportedly told its restaurant partners in India about its decision to discontinue the service.
How Amazon will end the food delivery service According to a report by The Economic Times, a spokesperson mentioned that the decision to discontinue Amazon Food was taken during the company’s annual operating planning review process. The company’s spokesperson also claimed that Amazon will discontinue these programs “in a phased manner to take care of current customers and partners”.
Amazon’s message to its partner restaurants Amazon has sent a mail to its restaurant partners about closing the food delivery business. The mail mentions that the company’s decision to shut down Amazon Food will mean that the restaurants will no longer get orders from customers via Amazon Food after December 29. Amazon also noted that its partners will continue receiving orders until the mentioned date. The company also expects that the restaurants will continue to fulfil the orders until then.
Apart from this, Amazon has also claimed that the company will meet all its payments and other contractual obligations. Restaurants can access Amazon’s tools and reports till January 31, 2023, and support for any compliance-related issues will be addressed till March 31 next year.
Amazon and the Indian market As per the report, the company will continue to invest in other parts of the Indian market including -- smartphones, consumer electronics, grocery, fashion and beauty along with its B2B offerings like Amazon Business.
Amazon India is currently being probed by the Union Labour Ministry for asking several Indian employees to voluntarily resign from the company last week.


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McDonald’s breakfast all day program had some unintended consequences. It was originally hailed as a major success as sales rose in the program’s first year, as did profits, as breakfast ingredients like eggs are cheap.
But McDs found some regular breakfast patrons skipped their morning visit and got their McDonald’s fix in the afternoon or evening and, thus, were spending less overall at McDonald’s. Also, all-day breakfast slowed kitchen production and increased costs.
To improve the situation, McDonald’s is pairing breakfast items with McCoffee drinks and offering new menu products like coffee cakes as well as introducing specials.
But there is more breakfast competition these days as well.
Economic News This Week
- Real gross domestic product increased 3.4 percent on an annual rate in the third quarter of 2018. This is the third estimate from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. While the third quarter GDP is down from the second quarter’s 4.2 increase, economists are pleased with the result.
- Initial-jobless claims totaled 216,000, a decline of 1,000 for the week-ending Dec. 22. The 4-week moving average totaled 218,000, a dip of 4,750.
- The U.S. Department of Labor continues to report more job openings than people looking for work. The JOLT study (Job Openings and Labor Turnover) showed little change in October including hires and separations.
- Personal income rose 0.2 percent in November while personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4 percent.
- The Philadelphia Federal Reserve reported manufacturing activity in the region continued to grow but “remained subdued” in December. The General Activity Index decreased from 12.9 in November to 9.4. This is the lowest reading since August 2016. The New Orders Index rose 5 points to 14.5 but remains below its average reading for the year. The Shipments Index fell 1 point to 10.0, its lowest in 27 months.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 0.8 percent. Transportation equipment orders were up 2.9 percent for the month. Excluding transportation, equipment durable goods orders were down 0.3 percent. Excluding defense, new orders were down 0.1 percent.
- November privately owned housing starts rose 3.2 percent from October but fell 3.6 percent from November 2017. Single family housing starts declined 4.6 percent from October.
- Building permits issued for privately owned housing increased 5.0 percent from October and rose 0.4 percent above November 2017. Permits for single family homes edged up 0.1 percent more than October.
- Sales of new single family homes in October were 544,000 on a seasonally adjusted annual basis. This is down 8.9 percent from September and down 12.0 percent from October 2017.
- Home builder confidence fell 4 points for a December reading of 56. Although still in in positive territory, this is the lowest the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index has been since May of 2015, due to rising home prices. But a spokesperson for the association noted that falling mortgage interest rates should have a positive effect on home sales in the new year.
- Existing home sales rose 1.9 percent in November compared to October, marking the second consecutive month of increasing sales. However, sales declined 7.0 percent from November 2017. The National Association of Realtors also reported median home prices rose for the 81st straight month.
- The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Survey declined in December to 128.1 from 136.4 in November. The Present Situation Index was little changed, falling to 171.6 from the November reading of 172.7. The Expectations Index was down fairly significantly from 112.3 in November to 99.1 in December.
Foodservice News This Week
- Chick-fil-A may have surpassed Burger King and Wendy’s in U.S. Sales in 2018, according to Mark Kalinowski of Kalinowski Equity Research. One forecaster predicted Chick-fil-A sales would be up 15.5 percent in 2018 and traffic up 10 percent. This would make Chick-fil-A the third largest chain in the U.S. behind McDonald’s and Starbucks. And, Chick-fil-A has plenty of potential growth. For example, Kalinowski points out that Chick-fil-A has only 11 restaurants in the state of New York.
- Among the national retailers in New York City, Dunkin’ Donuts ranks No.1 with 624 stores. Also in the top 10 are Subway at No.3 with 330 stores; Starbucks at No.4 with 327 stores; Baskin Robins No. 7 with 227 stores and McDonald’s No. 8 with 207 stores. Most of the chains increased their number of locations in 2018 with the exception of McDonald’s, which had a net decline of 8 restaurants, and Subway, which lost 133 locations.
- Buffalo Wild Wings’ completed its first redesign in six years. The company says the new design takes it back to its roots as a great American sports bar. The design features a more prominent bar, free-flowing and flexible seating areas, VIP spaces, stadium-like A/V technologies with LED modular screens and a fully enclosed patio with rollup doors and skylights. Two redesigned units opened in December 2018 with two more set to open in January.
- Celebrity Chef Mike Isabella will close nearly all of his restaurants. At one time his organization was a $30 million empire with more than a dozen restaurants but following charges of sexual harassment, Isabella filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code. Now the filing has been changed to Chapter 7 for liquidation.
- Taylor Gourmet is in Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and the chain’s assets will be liquidated. There are reports that a number of companies, including Cosi, are interested in acquiring at least some of Taylor’s assets.
- Corporate Stirrings: Applebee’s has purchased 69 restaurants in North and South Carolina. The corporation plans to own and operate these restaurants for the “foreseeable future.” Applebee’s also announced a settlement with its franchisee RMH Franchise Holdings Inc. RMH filed for bankruptcy in May. The settlement calls for Applebee’s to receive all past due royalty and advertising fees as well as termination fees. Boston Market has been sued by an organization that provides lunches to schools in Southern California. The suit claims Boston Market did not supply lunches as required by contract. Alimentation Couche-Tard and CrossAmerica announce asset exchanges. Alimentation Couche-Tard will sell CrossAmerica 192 U.S. company-operated Circle K stores. CrossAmerica will sell Couche-Tard the real estate property for 56 U.S. company-operated convenience and fuel retail stores currently leased and operated by Couche-Tard and 17 company-operated convenience and fuel retail stores in the upper Midwest of the U.S. currently by CrossAmerica. The Fiesta Restaurant Group announced that as the result of the firm’s “Strategic Renewal Plan” the company will close 14 Pollo Tropical locations in Florida and Georgia and 9 Taco Cabana restaurants in Texas.
- Growth Chains: Taco Bell will open three of its Cantina concepts especially designed for the New York market in the New York City area. Black Bear Diner opened 15 locations in 2018.
- Comparable Store Sales Reports: Darden Restaurants (Blended up 2.1 percent, Bahama Breeze down 1.1 percent, Capital Grille up 3.7 percent, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen down 40 percent, Edie V’s up 0.9 percent, LongHorn up 2.9 percent, Olive Garden up 3.5 percent, Seasons 52 down 0.8 percent and Yard House down 11 percent.)
For details and same-store sales of other chains, please click here for the Green Sheet.


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The CityTarget in Westwood is set to open Sunday. It is essentially a smaller… (Lawrence K. Ho, Los Angeles…)
Putting aside their big-box ways, giant retailersWal-Mart Stores Inc.andTarget Corp.are going urban with a new look and a metro-oriented feel as they expand in Southern California, starting this weekend.
Locally grown produce is in plentiful supply. Grab-and-go sandwiches are ready. And many of the shopping carts are smaller. Grand opening signs are in place. Patio furniture is nowhere in sight.
The discount chains are hustling to expand as big-box retailers race to slide smaller stores into dense city neighborhoods, putting them head-to-head against dollar stores and local markets already there. Retailers such asBest Buy Co.are also eyeing urban centers as drivers of growth.
"Retailers once opened a lot of stores in rural areas because that is where people were going," said Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst at research firm NBG Productions in New York. "Now as people move back to the city for higher-paying jobs or lower commuting times, they are trying to get into cities."
On Friday, Huntington Beach residents will see a new grocery-centric Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market opening on Beach Boulevard not far from the ocean. On Sunday, shoppers in Westwood will be able to start browsing at the new CityTarget on Weyburn Avenue near UCLA.
Both retailers plan to open downtown Los Angeles stores in the months to come, CityTarget in October and Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Chinatown early next year.
To penetrate the urban core, Wal-Mart and Target are opting for smaller-than-normal footprints and a carefully selected assortment of goods.
At 31,000 square feet, the Neighborhood Market in Huntington Beach is about one-sixth the size of a Wal-Mart Supercenter and takes over a space formerly occupied by a Rite Aid pharmacy. The supermarket concept carries fresh produce, bread and general merchandise, part of a push by the world's biggest retailer to open 20 such grocery stores in California in the next year.
A day before opening, fresh peaches were stacked in a pyramid and pineapples lined up in neat rows in the produce department. Steaks and chickens glistened under cellophane in the meat section. A pharmacy is tucked to one side, next to the magazines and beauty products.
"Huntington Beach is the first among several Neighborhood Markets announced in California," said Steven Restivo, Wal-Mart's senior director of community affairs. "Similar to the downtown site, it will have a focus on full-line groceries with a limited assortment of health and beauty, cleaning products, pet supplies, pharmacy."
In contrast, CityTarget stores are essentially a smaller version of the standard Target with a heavy emphasis on household basics for urban residents on foot and commuters taking public transportation.
The 92,000-square-foot Westwood store opening Sunday, which sits across the street from a Trader Joe's and underneath a Ralphs supermarket, has the feel of a Target tweaked to maximize efficiency.
Shopping carts are small. There is no children's or patio furniture. Bags of pet food go up to only 17 pounds, unlike the 40-pound packages that can be found at standard Target stores. A digital screen at the entrance updates shoppers on the local weather.
Cary Strouse, the company's vice president of stores for the Western region, said that urban shoppers tend to buy less per trip than their suburban counterparts but frequent their local stores more often on an as-they-need-it basis.
"It's about what the guests can or can't carry home. Often, they ride mass transportation," Strouse said. "So you see a lot of household basics."
Analysts say retail chains are rushing into cities after saturating suburbia throughout the country, following dollar stores that have proved urban cores can be extremely profitable with the right assortment of goods.
"You have retailers like Family Dollar or Dollar General going to urban areas that have been very, very successful," said Britt Beemer, a retail expert at America's Research Group. "What's made Wal-Mart and Target begin to rethink their position has been the success of dollar stores that go into these urban centers. They are their best-performing stores."
Elise Perlmutter, a longtime New York resident who now lives in Westwood, thinks it's about time. Despite the years spent in car-centric Los Angeles, Perlmutter, 42, said she has always pined for an all-purpose store within walking distance from her home, just like in her old neighborhood in Manhattan.
"I have been waiting for this for a long time," said the online ad saleswoman, standing outside the CityTarget a few days before opening. "I'm a regular Target shopper, but I have to drive to the nearest one and take the 405. It's so crowded that I just can't go over the weekends. Now I can just walk here."


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A new study in the British Medical Journal found that red and processed meat consumption cause diseases. To point out, the authors compared the global trade of red meat and processed meat on time frames more than 20 years apart. Specifically, the baseline time frame was between 1993 and 1995. Conversely, the most recent time frame was between 2016 and 2018. It is important to realize that between these two time frames export of red and processed meat went from 10 million tonnes to 24.8 million tonnes. You find a review of the article here.
Details about the study
The authors of the study selected 14 meat items and 6 processed meat items. They traced bilateral meat trade flow across 154 countries. The researchers integrated meat consumption and trade patterns of meat. They developed a risk factor assessment tool for non-communicable diseases. They also found that a country that imported large quantities of red or processed meats showed abrupt increases of non-communicable diseases. The researchers noted significantly increased meat import statistics between 1993 and 2018 for the Caribbean Islands and Oceania. Parallel to this observation the statistics showed an increase in non-communicable diseases and increased mortality figures. The investigators also noted very similar findings in Northern and Eastern Europe. Increased meat imports correlated strongly with increased death rates and disability scores.
Impact of red and processed meat
The World Health Organization stated that red meat is a probable cause of colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer. With respect to processed meat the WHO noted that it is a group 1 carcinogen for humans causing colorectal cancer.
Other diseases like heart disease, diabetes and premature death occur as well from the consumption of red meat and processed meat. Dr. Hu, one of the main investigators said about red meat consumption: “The evidence shows that people with a relatively low intake have lower health risks. A general recommendation is that people should consume no more than two to three servings per week.”
Some key observations of the study
The global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) increased by 89.9% within 25 years. In the same time frame there were 10,898 deaths, an increase of 74.6%, which according to the investigators were due to the increased consumption from imported meat products. This shows what impact the consumption of imported meat has on a population. In this context researchers observed that small island populations were particularly vulnerable to the effects of increased meat consumption. The Bahamas, Tonga, Antigua and Barbuda, the Seychelles, and Singapore are examples where imported red and processed meat skyrocketed and non-communicable diseases and deaths from diet-related diseases increased as well. Too much meat consumption causes heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and various cancers.
In a November 2021 publication of the British Medical Journal a strong association was evident between meat export into a country and consumption of meat by its citizens. Unfortunately, researchers also found direct consequences of overconsumption of red meat and meat products. People develop heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and various cancers. People are healthier when they consume more vegetables and fruit and cut down on their meat consumption.


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Samsung Electronics sold 63 million smartphones in fourth quarter: report
SEOUL (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co, the world's top handset maker, sold 63 million smartphones in the fourth quarter and commanded a 29 percent share of the global smartphone market, a report by research firm Strategy Analytics showed on Friday.
In 2012, Samsung sold 213 million smartphones with a 30 percent market share, followed by Apple Inc, which sold 135.8 million iPhones with a 19 percent market share, the report said.
(Reporting by Miyoung Kim; Editing by Ryan Woo)
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It seems like the Epic Games store is trying to compete with Steam by offering similar mega sales where games are offered with cheap prices or sometimes even free. The latest Epic Games Store “Epic Mega Sales” is raising quite a bit of attention as it offers the massively popular “Grand Theft Auto 5” for absolutely free.
Continue reading “Epic Games Store offering Grand Theft Auto V for free during “Epic Mega Sales 2020””
Forza Street, a free-to-play racing game is now available for iOS and Android globally. The game lets you jump into the game for quick, under-a-minute races where you compete to unlock new cars and upgrade parts to grow your car collection. Continue reading “Forza Street for Android and iOS now available globally”
Supercell, popular Finnish game developer, known for Clash of clans, Clash Royale, and Brawlstars has quietly soft launched Hay Day Pop, a match-and-solve puzzle game. Continue reading “Supercell soft launches match-and-solve puzzle game ‘Hay Day Pop’ for Android and iOS”
Tencent games has released new PUBG Mobile update which brings the version number to 0.17.0. This brings Royale Pass Season 12: 2gether We Play, which will be available from March 9th, Amusement Park Mode in Classic Erangel as a part of 2nd Anniversary, DBS, a double-barreled shotgun that can be obtained through AirDrops, New Arcade Mode: Return of Hardcore Mode, Death Replay, and Brand New Survival Experience Arctic Mode is coming soon. Continue reading “PUBG MOBILE 0.17.0 update with Royale Pass Season 12: 2gether We Play, DBS Shotgun and more released”
Tencent games has released new PUBG Mobile update which brings the version number to 0.16.5. This brings Royale Pass Season 11: Operation Tomorrow, New TDM Arena map, New Domination map: Town and more. Continue reading “PUBG MOBILE 0.16.5 update with Royale Pass Season 11: Operation Tomorrow, Light Snowmobile and more released”
Earlier this month, Apple and Google announced the best apps for 2019. Similarly now, App Annie has released the top apps and games of this decade categorizing it by all-time downloads and all-time consumer spend.
Continue reading “Top apps and games of the decade released; Facebook and Subway Surfers top the list in all-time downloads”
Tencent games has released new PUBG Mobile update which brings the version number to 0.16.0. This brings New EvoGround mode RageGear New Classic Mode Features like Snow Paradise, Healing Updates, Firearm balancing in Classic mode, Improvements to the BRDM-2, Leaning improvements, Performance improvements and more. Continue reading “PUBG MOBILE 0.16.0 update with RageGear Mode, Winter Festival and more released”
PUBG MOBILE has introduced an upgraded anti-cheat system with advanced real-time detection technology to combat in-game cheating and create an enjoyable and fair gameplay experience. PUBG MOBILE’s new detection software is able to scan for suspect software and modified game data by employing a massive and ever-expanding library to cross-reference when detecting suspicious software. Continue reading “PUBG Mobile introduces new anti-cheat detection system to identify and ban in-game cheaters in real time”
Tencent games has released new PUBG Mobile update which brings the version number to 0.15.0. This brings several enhancements that lets characters leap in mid-air to reach previously inaccessible places, new vehicles such as the amphibious BRDM-2 and helicopters, exploding fuel drums for laying traps, Weapons such as M16A4, Vector, UMP45 and MK47Mutant have all been tuned, Desert Eagle has also been added. Continue reading “PUBG MOBILE 0.15.0 update with Helicopters, Survive Till Dawn Halloween Mode, Ledge Grab and more released”
Activision, in collaboration with Tencent, launched Call of Duty: Mobile for Android and iOS globally earlier this week. It has been just 4 days since launch and the game has crossed 35 million downloads on the App Store and Google Play Store.
Continue reading “Call of Duty: Mobile crosses 35 million downloads on App Store and Google Play Store”
Activision, in collaboration with Tencent has launched Call of Duty: Mobile for Android and iOS globally, as it had promised. It was announced back in March this year, after that it started Alpha testing in December. It is a free to play with free updates, and there are in-app purchases like PUBG Mobile. Continue reading “Call of Duty: Mobile free-to-play game for Android and iOS launched globally”
Recently, Tencent games launched PUBG Mobile Lite in India for devices with less than 2GB RAM. Today, the update v0.14.1 of PUBG Mobile Lite brings the new Golden Woods map in India, rewards, games mode and more.
Continue reading “PUBG Mobile Lite v0.14.1 update brings new Golden Woods map in India, rewards, games mode and more”
Activision, in collaboration with Tencent has announced Call of Duty: Mobile back in March this year, after it started Alpha testing in December. Today it has announced that the game will be available for Android and iOS from October 1st globally. It will be free to play with free updates, confirmed the company. Continue reading “Call of Duty: Mobile free-to-play game for Android and iOS launching on October 1”
Tencent games has released new PUBG Mobile update which brings the version number to 0.14.5. This brings all-new Royale Pass Season 9 for exclusive warrior-themed wardrobe, gear and more. Additional challenges, events and rewards, including a chance to win a journey to PUBG MOBILE Club Open (PMCO) 2019 Fall Splits Global Finals, are also part of the update. Continue reading “PUBG Mobile 0.14.5 update with Royale Pass Season 9 released”
Xiaomi introduced MIUI Game Speed Booster back in 2018 and introduced MIUI Game Turbo back in March this year, it is a framework enhancement that results in CPU and GPU smart allocation, and more system resources for games. During the Redmi K20 series launch event in India, Xiaomi unveiled MIUI Game Turbo 2.0 that comes with performance mode 2.0, touch enhancements 2.0, and enhanced visuals 2.0.
Continue reading “MIUI Game Turbo 2.0 Overview”


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KENTUCKY (WEHT) – The Kentucky Distillers Association and the Bourbon Crusaders have joined forces for an online auction to benefit the survivors of the eastern Kentucky flood.
The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit – Eastern Flood Relief Auction is a 10-day option that runs from August 11 to August 21. All proceeds raised from the auction will go directly to the state’s official Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.
According to their website, more than 125 items were pushed on the first day of the auction, and over 160 items will be uploaded by the end of the auction. The partnership raised more than $3 million for a similar auction to benefit victims of the December 10 tornado.


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The 2022 Asian Games recently announced a list of several esports titles. Esports will make its debut at the gaming event this year. The popular battle royale game PUBG Mobile was one of the titles that was announced. However, the game is unavailable in some of the regions, which has left players wondering which version of the game will be played at the Asian games. The 2022 Asian Games will take place in Hangzhou in China.
PUBG Mobile esports game is unavailable in China, however, a version of the game which goes by the name Game for Peace is available only for the Chinese audience. Similarly, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), a game similar to PUBG, is distributed by Krafton. Similarly, region-specific variants of the game are prevalent in Taiwan, Korea/Japan, and Vietnam.
Due to the number of variants available, there was ambiguity about the version that will be played at the Asian Games. Clearing the ambiguity, Krafton released a blog post announcing that they would create a new version of the game, which will be available worldwide, and players from every region can practice on the new version.
Minu Lee, the head of the PUBG Mobile Strategic Marketing Department at Krafton, said “We are pleased to have Battleground Mobile as an official event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, which will be a venue for harmony among Asians. We hope to have one global fan and players through a new version of Battleground Mobile for the Asian Games, which was developed with Battleground IP.”
In the same blog post, the developer also revealed that players in the Indian region can access the Asian Games version via the Battlegrounds Mobile India app.
Amarylisa Gonsalves is a Content Writer at Gutshot Magazine. Advancing from a marketing background, she found her calling in writing. She takes delight in exploring genres and is a curious learner. Patient and ambivert, she believes in letting her work speak for itself. Apart from content writing, she finds solace in writing poetry by manifesting herself through words. Additionally, she adores indulging in drawing and DIY crafts.
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Cuts keep Matalan in shape
Matalan, the cut-price clothing chain, provided another insight into the tough trading conditions on Britain’s high streets this morning, when it reported a 6.4 per cent fall in its first-half sales.
Shares in the company fell following the announcement, as analysts reacted negatively to the report, and dismissed any prospect of the chain becoming a takeover target.
In its statement, Matalan said it was nonetheless in good shape, offsetting the decline with better margins as it carried out measures to improve efficiency and benefited from a more profitable mix of sales.
Among changes, Matalan has tightened stock levels and overhauled its distribution network, following the opening of a new warehouse at Corby, Northamptonshire, while it recently announced the completion of a restructuring that cost 300


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Keeping a 60-year-old brand relevant to consumers while retaining its heritage and sense of identity is no easy task – which may explain why Belgian chocolate maker Chocolaterie Guylian has put off doing it until now.
Brought in with a brief to shake things up is Tom Snick, CEO of the business since February last year.
The Dutchman has plenty of experience in the food industry, having spent 13 years with Italian pasta and sauces maker Barilla after previous stints with yogurt maker Yoplait and consumer goods giant Unilever (albeit on the personal care side of the business).
In Guylian, Snick has joined a company that makes much of its romantic foundations.
The company was established by Belgian chocolatier Guy Foubert in 1958 and, according to company legend, “when Guy married his lover, Liliane, the two immortalised their passion for life’s sweetest pleasures, love and chocolate, by joining their names to one: Chocolaterie Guy-lian”.
The tale continues. “In celebration of love and chocolate, the couple created for the ﬁrst time the Guylian Sea Shell Chocolates.”
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Sixty-odd years later, the chocolate and praline sea shells remain the company’s signature product.
Schmaltzy or not, the story outlined above remains central to the Guylian image and the business, based near Antwerp, has sought to leverage its image of chocolate-making excellence and tradition.
But, while retaining those elements, Snick is taking a harder-nosed approach to the business and is overseeing a root-and-branch overhaul of how it operates.
When asked how to describe his approach, Snick uses the word “pioneering”.
He says: “It was a pre-requisite when I entered the company. I told them to promise me carte blanche or look for another guy. They accepted it.
“There is an enormous amount of potential at the company but it had become dusty. It had not been managed that well on the marketing side.
“I have had 25 years in marketing and sales and I have been given tremendous freedom. We are superbly agile and can take a decision in 30 seconds. We don’t have to ask for the approval of anyone.
“There was a sense of urgency to make this turnaround.”
As with many other companies, that sense of urgency was turbo-charged by the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Guylian has always held a prominent position within airport duty-free shopping areas and the virtual shutdown of international travel when Covid first hit left that part of the company’s business decimated.
“That business was lost in 2020,” Snick says. “It came back to 25% of 2019 levels in 2021 and we hope to get back to 50% in 2022. But we need to find alternatives to duty-free.”
Guylian has been owned by South Korea’s Lotte Confectionery since 2008. Snick says it is an owner that does not interfere on a routine basis in the Belgian firm’s business.
He says: “We define our strategy, our mission and they are fully supportive.”
But he adds: “Of course, it helps if you are successful.”
And successful it still is. Turnover in 2021 was EUR70m (US$77.6m) and Guylian, which employs 230 people across business units in the UK, Germany and Iberia, sells its products across four continents in 120 countries.
But Snick believes it could be doing better and, to that end, has instigated a “thorough modernisation” programme. The headlines are about new packaging – which Snick describes as “a more contemporary and fresh design while retaining the luxurious look” – an upgraded recipe for its product to create a less sweet taste, a marketing push and reinforced ethical trading credentials.
New-look products will be in the shops from April and Guylian also intends to launch themed packaging around key gifting occasions including Mother’s Day, Easter and Christmas.
Snick says: “By changing our design and brand, we also want to introduce a broader target group to the unrivalled taste of our premium Belgian chocolate. The packaging will have a more contemporary and fresh design, while retaining the luxurious look.”
And, perhaps more importantly, Guylian plans to tell people what it is doing.
Snick says: “It had done no advertising for ten years, [there had been] no refurbishment or modernisation. It is an enormous iconic brand with great quality and a beautiful history. We worked with a design agency and we have kept all the iconic elements and just modernised it and made it more significant. We have also moved back to the original recipe from 1958 of 100% roasted hazelnuts.
“We are spending EUR5m in advertising for the UK, Germany, Belgium and Spain and would like to add one or two countries every year. We are also developing a TV commercial with a Swiss agency which is a piece of art.”
But, behind those efforts to revitalise the brand, other changes are afoot. These include SKU rationalisation to focus on a limited range, which will be available all year round and putting new product development on the back burner.
Snick says: “We cleaned our business – 700 SKUs down to 300 – with four key [product lines]. Sea Shells, Sea Horses, Temptations and the tablet.
“We need to see all these SKUs on the shelves before thinking about further innovation. We need to build the brand in the minds of consumers to help us [to develop relationships] with the trade.”
Longer-term, Snick wants to see further geographical growth, a move into channels other than retail and a bigger online presence.
“The UK is by far our largest market and then a number of countries all the same size including Germany, Iberia and Australia.
“We used to do a lot in US but lost it. We are now rebuilding there and it is one of our focus markets. We have found a Belgian guy who is a distributor there.
“There are strong development [opportunities] in Asia – China and Japan. In general, they like products with a strong heritage such as Italian pasta and Belgian chocolate.”
Guylian also does a “small amount” of business with a distributor in Russia. Snick describes its business in Russia as “not significant” but says there are no plans to end the deal despite the current turbulence in that region.
Further out, Snick says: “There’s also potential collaboration with other companies on products and we don’t have a multi-channel approach.”
But that’s all for the future and doesn’t form part of the current revamp.
“At the moment we are focusing on nine countries, duty-free and four ranges,” Snick says.
Sustainability credentials may also help it retain, or attract new, customers. Guylian has ambitions to be an ethical leader in the chocolate industry.
“We are now 100% Fairtrade cocoa, use no palm oil and use 100% recycled packaging. We are moving to become a CO2-neutral company,” Snick says.
“I’m a father of three children. We have chosen to take these huge steps because I feel we should act like this.”
Depending on your view, modernising a traditional brand during a period when food manufacturers are operating under difficult economic conditions may be seen as totally necessary to reinforce a USP or a risky venture eating up costs when inflation is rampant in the supply chain.
Snick takes the point. “Everything is going up. We need to find a way to cover costs without making it [the product] unaffordable,” he says.
The Guylian chief suggests “when you offer a premium product, you may ask a premium price for it” but describes Guylian as “an affordable premium brand” competing with both Ferrero Rocher and Lindt & Sprüngli’s Lindor.
However, he thinks cash-strapped consumers contending with rising household bills face more fundamental choices than whether to buy premium brands or not.
“It’s not that premium brands are suffering but more that the category is suffering and then everyone will feel it to a certain extent. If you have GBP100 (US$77.60) to spend you could [previously] buy 20 products and now you can only buy 15. You have to make a choice,” he says.
While making the point that chocolate is desirable but not a necessity, Snick suggests it may be the middle of the category that gets squeezed.
“The world is moving towards premium or value-for-money. People may choose to have fantastic chocolate once a week rather than something less good five times a week,” he says.
On a more brand-specific note, Snick will be hoping the money spent on the product revamp and advertising campaign will successfully merge together the contemporary and the traditional, retaining its existing customers and attracting new ones.
If that happens, it will help to fuel Guylian’s longer-term ambitions.
“We are a small brand everywhere in the world but we have strong growth plans,” Snick says.


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Some real news and some unreal humor highlight the week in the Wine Webosphere:
• Wine pairing tips for sweet junk food are a seriously iffy proposition. Matchups for fast food might actually have more practical application.
• It’s always fun to see new euphemisms. Instead of saying “Besotted old coots moronically mow down vineyard,” Decanter offers up “Lost pensioners mistakenly destroy vines.” How very British.
• The always-fascinating Wine Market Council report is out. My favorite nugget: Among high-end wine consumers, 54 percent say they’re drinking more wine in the past year. My explanation: They’re largely boomers with cellars who fear their palates are fading with age.
• My buddy the Hosemaster gets off some wicked-funny quips in parroting what a certain presidential candidate would say about reviewing wine.
• Finally, another sign that speaks to me:


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Amazon has rolled out smart shopping carts that are similar to miniature Amazon Go stores: image recognition and scales detect what customers put into their carts and eliminate the need for check-outs.
No need for self-scan
Amazon is attempting to conquer the world of physical supermarkets as well, even with seemingly regular stores with check-outs and staff. However, nothing is as it seems at Jeff Bezos' company: before the year is over, the technology giant will roll out smart shopping carts featuring image recognition and built-in scales.
The smart carts can recognise what products the customers purchase, know how much they cost and charge the customers' accounts accordingly. The new carts remove the need for scanning at a check-out, and even self-scanning is not necessary any more. If the customer has an Alexa account, he or she can even connect the smart cart to the account so it can display the prepared shopping list on its screen.
Pay as you go
Amazon wants to set itself apart from the growing number of retailers that adopt self-scans and contactless payment using smartphones in their stores. "We try to hide that complexity away from customers so you don’t have to learn any new shopping behaviors. Once you’re signed in with your phone, you can put the phone away and your normal way that you shop stays the same", Amazon's technology VP Dilip Kumar told Charged Retail. Customers literally pay as they go, passing the smart cart lane in the check-out area.
The Dash Carts will be put to use in Amazon's new supermarket in Los Angeles, which is currently being built. That store would have a product range ten times as big as the current range of Amazon Go convenience stores. The concept seems rather easy to scale up, because the only thing that is really needed is the smart cart and a special cart lane in the check-out area. This opens perspectives to introduce the concept in Amazon's Whole Foods stores - or even to sell the technology to other retailers.


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MIAMI — Carnival Corp. Chief Executive Micky Arison said Thursday that convalescent basement at ports of call, attention ammunition and animadversion bottomward perceptions that cruises are added alarming than added vacations are some of the challenges adverse the cruise industry.
With teams application added than 100 different apparatuses to barrage annular projectiles a half-mile or more, the 27th ceremony World Championship Punkin Chunkin accident is our aces as November’s Weird Festival of the Month.
Arison, speaking to The Associated Press for Carnival Cruise Lines’ 35th anniversary, additionally bidding optimism about the abiding bloom of the Caribbean cruise bazaar and said Carnival would not appoint its capital competitor, Royal Caribbean International, in a chase to body bigger ships.
Carnival Corp. owns 12 brands as the world’s better cruise operator, with added than 7 actor cartage demography trips on Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and added curve in the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. The aggregation will anon accept 11 brands afterwards announcement Thursday a accord to advertise Windstar Cruises to Ambassadors International Inc. for $100 million, with closing accepted after this year.
Arison acicular out that canoeing continues to be a advance industry. The Cruise Curve International Association predicts that 12.6 actor cartage will booty cruises this year, an access of 500,000 guests from 2006.
Carnival has 20 ships on adjustment through 2011 and, according to its ceremony address filed in November, expects bazaar advance of about 5 percent in North America and 9.5 percent in Europe for the aing three years. The aggregation was alive adamantine to accomplish Europe added of a year-round destination, Arison said.
“We accept the appropriate ships advancing to the appropriate brands at the appropriate time,” Arison said. “Even if I could cancel, I wouldn’t aish an order.”
Arison acclaimed that appraisement is bottomward in the Caribbean — area the industry has apparent a accepted benevolence in appeal — and that was abnormally affecting net acquirement yields. Yields are a key advantage barometer that admeasurement net assets becoming from cartage per day from cruise tickets and onboard sales.
But he said that while Wall Street analysts may not like that yields and prices are down, the customer is benefiting from lower prices. Arison said the key Caribbean bazaar would be accomplished in the continued run, but that the company’s business arm is alive on sparking appeal for Caribbean cruises in the abbreviate term.
“I’m abiding we’re activity to backpack a almanac cardinal of guests to the Caribbean this year … because the industry is growing,” he said.
Another affair affecting the industry is what Arison considers aureate media advantage of abdomen illnesses and crimes on cruise ships. Media outlets should not accomplish such a big accord about outbreaks of norovirus on cruise ships because they appear beneath frequently there than they do in accustomed life, he said.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Carnival’s brands had 15 appear norovirus outbreaks in 2006. But CDC estimates that 23 actor people, or 8 percent of the U.S. population, advance affection of norovirus anniversary year, while beneath than 1 percent of cruise cartage are afflicted by norovirus.
“It is article that is a attempt for us,” Arison said. “There’s no catechism that there’s a acumen out there by X cardinal of bodies that there’s a college accident of accepting ailing on a cruise address than addition anatomy of vacation, which is terrible. It’s adverse and we aloof accept to abide to do what we do and try to abbreviate the impact.”
Arison said Carnival and added companies had been advertisement all crimes afore aftermost year’s aldermanic hearings on cruise assurance that stemmed from the awful publicized dematerialization of a man from a Royal Caribbean cruise. While he supports alive with federal law administration on formalizing abomination advertisement standards, Arison is adjoin the abstraction of announcement those letters on the Internet because no added industry that caters to vacationers — resorts, airplanes, restaurants — is captivated to the aforementioned standard.
“If everybody does the aforementioned thing, we’re happy,” Arison said.
Carnival additionally has put calm a aggregation to advance strategies for befitting ammunition costs down. Among those are award added able means to accomplish lighting, baptize and air conditioning on cruise ships, and aerate itineraries to abate ammunition consumption.
“Captains in the accomplished may not accept been acute to the affair of ammunition and aloof go from one anchorage to addition and not use their engines the best able ways,” Arison said.
Another affair is convalescent basement in and about ports of alarm to board added passengers, and affluence the ache on heavily catholic destinations. Carnival has developed a anchorage in the Turks and Caicos Islands and is discussing a activity in Honduras. Also, Holland America has developed an island in the southern Bahamas alleged Half Moon Cay, which is additionally acclimated by Carnival Cruise Lines.
“As we’re abacus ships of such big size, we’re putting a lot of ache on that and we accept to assignment with destinations and advance in destination to advance that infrastructure,” Arison said.
Along with the basement affair is the trend of architecture huge “superliners” led by Royal Caribbean, which currently has the better cruise address anytime built, the 160,000-ton Freedom of the Seas. Royal Caribbean additionally has appear affairs to body a 220,000-ton address for $1.24 billion.
Carnival will present its new 110,000-ton address Carnival Freedom on March 4 in Italy and has acclimatized its advantage for a 130,000-ton vessel. However, Arison seems agreeable to let his capital cruise adversary own the world’s better cruise ship.
“The absoluteness is that we’re attractive to body the appropriate articles for our brands,” Arison said. “There comes a time area there’s so abounding inherent issues with size, flexibility, ache on infrastructure, we’re putting a lot of ache on ports of call.”
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This actual may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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FoMoCo has just received $159 million in Michigan state tax credit to assist its $440 million investment in its Michigan Assembly plant and a related stamping facility in Wayne, Michigan.
Ford’s Michigan Assembly plant, which previously produced large body-on-frame vehicles like the Ford Expedition and the Lincoln Navigator, is looking to produce smaller vehicles at the plant that will be based on its global platform.
According to Automotive News, officials said that the first model to be produced at the plant will be the next-generation Ford Focus, which could start rolling off the assembly line in 2010.
The new investment is expected to retain the 3,200 current workers and could create another 1,500 jobs over the next five years or so.
– By: Kap Shah


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China’s capital beat the national average for growth in foreign trade in the first half of the year, with the trade deficit widening.
Local customs sources said Tuesday that Beijing generated 185.6 billion U.S. dollars in foreign trade over the past six months, a rise of 28.7 percent from the same period of last year. The growth rate was higher than the national average of 25.8 percent.
The total included 27 billion U.S. dollars of exports, up 4 percent year-on-year, and 158.6 billion dollars of imports, up 34.1 percent. The trade deficit amounted to 131.6 billion dollars, up 42.6 percent.
Between January and June, Beijing’s trade with the European Union stood at 21.72 billion U.S. dollars, up 17.3 percent year-on-year, trade with the United States reached 12.52 billion dollars, up 40.9 percent, and trade with Japan hit 10.05 billion dollars, up 15.5 percent.
In June alone, the city sold 520 million U.S. dollars worth of goods to Japan, up 68.2 percent year-on-year, and bought 1.45 billion dollars worth from it, up 20.5 percent.
The six months saw Beijing export 1.42 billion U.S. dollars worth of rolled steel, up 29.4 percent year-on-year; 630 million dollars worth of farm produce, up 24.6 percent; and 15.63 billion dollars worth of machinery and electronics, down 1 percent.
From January to June, the city imported 36.73 billion U.S. dollars worth of machinery and electronics, up 17.8 percent year-on-year, 75.04 billion dollars worth of crude oil, up 37.2 percent, and 7.7 billion dollars worth of iron ore, up 21.2 percent.


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SHOPPERS, businesses and residents are being urged to make their views known about a pub chain’s plan to move to a high street.
JD Wetherspoon is putting the final touches in place to buy the former Woolworths store in Holywell and has submitted a planning application to Flintshire Council.
But fears have been raised local traders could be put out of business and that there are already enough food and drink outlets in the town.
People with views about the plan are being urged to present them to Flintshire Council’s planning department.
Holywell town centre manager Medwyn Roberts said: “Flintshire Council has announced that it has received a planning application for the change of use of Holywell’s ex-Woolworths store from retail to non-retail to enable it to open as a branch of this rapidly expanding UK national food and drink chain.
“If those who think granting this application will affect their business or affect the viability of Holywell as a shopping centre by duplicating rather than adding to the variety of businesses in the town centre, it is essential they make their views known to Flintshire Council.”
Including Holywell’s three supermarkets, there are 29 outlets in the town centre where food or drink can be bought to eat in or take out.
The pub, which could see a £1m investment in the town, could create up to 40 jobs, including bar and kitchen staff.
Eddie Gershon, a spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, said: “We are at a very early stage but our intentions are to open on the site. People have their views and that is understandable.
“We are keen to develop the site that would otherwise be empty and we are keen to invest more than £1m and create 40 jobs.
“Nationally Woolworths’ stores are large and there is not a long line of companies queuing up to take them on. We think JD Wetherspoon coming to a town adds an asset.”
The plans will be discussed at a meeting of Holywell Town Council tonight before going to Flintshire Council’s planning committee for approval.
Write to Mrs C. Ringrose, Flintshire County Council, County Hall, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 6NF or visit the website.


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Decline in soft drinks halted in Australia as younger market grows, research
The decline in soft drink consumption among Australians has slowed. For young Australians aged under 25 years, soft drink consumption is actually increasing year-on-year, according to new findings from market research organisation Roy Morgan Research.
“Back in 2007, 59 per cent of Australians drank soft drinks in an average seven days. In the ensuing years, this figure decreased dramatically, and now sits at 48 per cent,” said Angela Smith, Group Account Director, Roy Morgan Research.
“Coca-Cola was one of many brands affected by this downturn,” Ms Smith said. “However, between 2013 and 2014, the decline has slowed, with the proportions of soft drink and Coke consumers changing very little,” she said.
The findings showed that consumption of Coca-Cola branded soft drinks saw an increase in young people, despite the brands’ distributor in Australia Coca-Cola Amatil recently reporting its lowest profit in eight years, and a decline of 21.3 per cent in earnings in its beverages business.
More than half of young Australians now drink soft drinks at least weekly
Ms Smith said that in the case of young Australians aged under-25, soft drinks had actually experienced a surge in popularity over the last year.
Roy Morgan Research said the findings showed that in 2014, 56 per cent of Australians aged 14-24 drank at least one soft drink in an average seven-day period, up from 53 per cent in 2013.
“Not only are more under-25s consuming soft drinks, but they are the only age group whose average individual consumption has increased, from 5.7 glasses in an average seven days to 6.2 glasses,” Ms Smith said.
The clear market leader was the Coca-Cola brand including Coca-Cola as well as sub-brands Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke and Coke Zero. Thirty-eight percent of 14-24 year olds drank at least one Coca Cola-branded soft drink in an average seven days (up from 35 per cent in 2013), with year-on-year increases for Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Vanilla Coke.
Soft drink consumption decreases in other age groups
In contrast, Roy Morgan Research found that 25-34 year-olds showed the most marked decreases, both for soft drinks in general and for the Coke brand.
In 2013, 56 per cent consumed at least one soft drink in any given seven days, but in 2014 this figure fell to 53 per cent. The proportion who consumed Coca-Cola soft drinks in an average seven days went from 41 per cent to 37 per cent.
The proportion of Australians aged 35-49 drinking soft drinks in an average week fell fractionally from 55 per cent to 54 per cent (although there was a more noticeable decline in their Coca-Cola drinking: from 37 per cent to 34 per cent).
The 50+ demographic, traditionally the least zealous soft drink consumers, remained stable at 40 per cent. The proportion drinking the Coca-Cola brand barely changed either (20 per cent to 19 per cent year on year).
“It is imperative for soft drink manufacturers to have a detailed understanding of their consumers in order to fully understand and profit from these rapidly changing market trends,” Ms Smith said.
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New Delhi: India’s maize exports are set to crash to 200,000 tonnes in 2008-09 from 3 million tonnes (mt) as a three-month export ban and more attractive shipments from Brazil after its currency weakened hit demand, a top exporter said.
“All Asian buyers, except China and Thailand, which were buying from us have now turned to Brazil, Argentina and even the US due to falling freight,” Amit Takkar, assistant vice-president of Adani Enterprises Ltd, said on Tuesday.
Exports to Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea had risen sharply, as high freight costs made purchases from the US and South America costly, he said in an interview.
Adani is India’s biggest private exporter of farm goods.
Capitalizing on an earlier sharp upturn in freight rates, India captured 3% of the global maize trade of 100mt in 2007-08.
But Takkar said the availability of cheaper transport had reduced the South Asian nation’s cost advantage.
Along with substantially lower exports, falling prices and slowing demand from poultry owners at home would hurt farmers unless government agencies bought large quantities, he said.
“When buyers can get maize at $190-195 (Rs9,443-9,691.5) per tonne, why will they come to India, which will not be able to sell below $200 free-on-board,” Takkar said.
Brazil’s currency real has seen sharper falls than the rupee, he added, increasing to the allure of Brazilian exports.
The government in July banned exports of maize until 15 October to ensure sufficient supplies, as part of a string of measures taken to counter rising food prices.
Traders in Nizamabad, the hub of the domestic maize trade, in Andhra Pradesh said the export ban hurt India’s image.
“Although our supplies had reached even Japan last year, India is not being viewed as a long-term supplier due to the changes in export policies,” Takkar said.
Analysts say a 33% rise in the price the government is paying farmers for this season’s maize has pushed up spot prices, making purchases by poultry firms unviable.
“Industry is not able to absorb that. I see market turning very, very bearish,” Takkar said.
Traders said poultry firms which used to pay immediately now take 75 days to clear their dues, reflecting poor demand for their products.


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Now, as we cover the Olympics, some of you have asked for spoiler alerts, but for this next report that is probably not necessary. NPR's Mike Pesca is taking us inside the world of India's men's field hockey team. We're not too worried about spoilers. Not just because most Americans don't care much about field hockey, but because the Indian squad has done a pretty good job itself of spoiling things. As Mike reports, the team's record tracks with the overall state of the Indian Olympic effort.
MONTAGNE: That's the indicator Fed Chief Ben Bernanke wants to see. Bernanke told a conference of economists last night that despite data pointing to a recovery, many people still feel stressed. He said the economic well-being of Americans is the Fed's ultimate objective - that is, the sense that things are going well.
Best Buy's founder and former chairman is not happy about the way things are going. That's why Richard Schulze said, yesterday, he wants to buy back the shares he does not already own and take the electronics retailer private. Schulze said he decided to publicly announce this offer because the board was taking too much time with it - could be worth nearly $9 billion in cash.
But as NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports, the deal is being met with some skepticism.
As more people around the world get online using an increasing variety of devices, like smart phones and tablets, the browser wars are back and hotter than ever.
Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Google Chrome are battling to be the world's most popular browser. No matter what browser one may use, it's still the primary way through which many people still enter the Internet.
So, to browse the latest in browsers, we're joined by Rich Jaroslovsky. He's a technology columnist with Bloomberg News.
And today's last word in business is a deal with some strings attached. You have no idea yet what a terrible pun that is. The final notes have been played in a criminal case federal prosecutors brought against Gibson Guitar Corporation.
The Justice Department is dropping its charges against the guitar maker for illegally buying and importing exotic wood - specifically, ebony from Madagascar and rosewood and ebony from India. The company will pay a penalty of $300,000 and give another $50,000 for conservation efforts.