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RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The federal government can't require tobacco companies to put large graphic health warnings on cigarette packages to show that smoking can disfigure and even kill people, a divided federal appeals court panel ruled Friday.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Companies marketing the Ab Circle Pro exercise device have agreed to pay as much as $25 million in refunds to customers to settle federal regulators' charges of deceptive advertising.
MENLO PARK (AP) - What's the worst insult you can throw at a fast-moving company like Facebook? Call its iPhone app slow and poky.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The government body that oversees the U.S. Postal Service has approved a plan that gives one of the nation's largest direct marketers a postage discount on advertising flyers known as "junk mail."
WASHINGTON (AP) - The middle class is receiving less of America's total income, declining to its smallest share in decades as median wages stagnate in the economic doldrums and wealth concentrates at the top.
SANTA CLARA (AP) - Hewlett-Packard absorbed the largest quarterly loss in its history as the Silicon Valley pioneer owned up to past mistakes that have left it scrambling to adapt to a shifting technology market.
NEW YORK (AP) - Unlimited wireless data is back. After sliding off the menu of cellphone plans, data plans with no caps are making a comeback at smaller wireless companies trying to compete with AT&T and Verizon.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The recovery of the U.S. housing market is looking steadier and more sustainable, a trend that will likely add to economic growth in 2012 for the first time in seven years.
SAN JOSE (AP) - PayPal is expanding its brick-and-mortar payment services to more than 7 million stores across the U.S. in a partnership with Discover Financial Services.
NEW YORK (AP) - Americans plan to hit the road this Labor Day weekend despite rising gas prices.
SAN JOSE (AP) - A lawyer for Apple said Tuesday that Samsung was having a "crisis of design" after the launch of the iPhone, and executives with the South Korean company were determined to illegally cash in on the success of the revolutionary device.
NEW YORK (AP) - The news just keeps getting worse at Best Buy each day.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - In a few weeks, about 2,800 cars, trucks and buses will start talking to each other on the streets of Ann Arbor, Mich., in a giant experiment that government officials are hoping will lead to safer roads.
NEW YORK (AP) - After seeing high customer demand for layaway during last year's winter holiday season, Wal-Mart is expanding the interest-free pay-over-time program for Christmas.
CUPERTINO (AP) - Apple is Wall Street's all-time MVP -that's Most Valuable Property.
DETROIT (AP) - General Motors Co. said Tuesday that it will resume paying a quarterly dividend for the first time in nearly six years and named a new CFO.
WASHINGTON (AP) - It's an older, costlier crowd that's signing up so far for health insurance under President Barack Obama's law, according to government figures released Monday. Enrollments are lower for the healthy, younger Americans who will be needed to keep premiums from rising.
'NEW YORK (AP) - How do you cope with an exploding world of YouTube video? Starting Tuesday, you can get help by visiting "YouTube Nation."
NEW YORK (AP) - Pizza Hut plans to start offering pizza by the slice for the first time in two locations this week, part of a test to refashion its image and court diners in their 20s and 30s.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Energy-related carbon dioxide pollution grew by 2 percent last year after declining several years in a row, a government report said Monday. The increase was largely due to a small boost in coal consumption by the electric power industry, according to the study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Q: My mother is 60 years old and disabled. She was a stay-at-home mom all her life, so she has no Social Security of her own. She was married to my father for 25 years but he died a long time ago. She remarried, and that marriage lasted 15 years before they got a divorce. Her second husband is 67 years old and retired. He was a lawyer and made a good living. My mom spent many hours filling out disability forms, and has all kinds of documentation from doctors indicating she is disabled. She took them to the Social ...
NEW YORK (AP) - Target said Friday that its massive pre-Christmas security breach affected potentially millions more people than it previously thought.
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court will decide whether a startup company can offer live television broadcasts over the Internet without paying fees to broadcasters.
NEW YORK (AP) - Fallout from Target's pre-Christmas security breach is likely to affect the company's sales and profits well into the new year.
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a move that some fear could compromise care for Medicare recipients, the Obama administration is proposing to remove special protections that guarantee seniors access to a wide selection of three types of prescription drugs.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The future of driving is right around the corner.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Netflix says video streaming of its programming in ultra-high definition will work for buyers of new UHD sets from Sony, LG, Samsung, Vizio and others upon purchase.


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Iconoculture Founders Leave to Launch New Agency
The founders of US-based market research agency Iconoculture have left to launch a new firm which will study consumer trends in those countries that make up the G-20.
Vickie Abrahamson and Mary Meehan, who founded Iconoculture in 1992, have set up Panoramix Global, to provide an ongoing view of the G-20 consumer - tracking lifestyle and life-stage trends, in order to generate insights and solutions for business growth.
The Minneapolis-based firm has already launched a tracking study called 'Foresights: The G-20 Consumer', which the partners say will provide a 'powerful lens' for identifying future short and long-term brand risks and growth opportunities.
Using a cross-category, cross-demographic filter to collect data for consumer insights, the study identifies consumer shifts in consumption patterns, locates the motivators driving emerging consumer behavior and profiles the demographic groups and categories at the centre of change.
'We're looking for major trends that drive people, culture and business,' explained Abrahamson. 'This is a new decade, and Panoramix represents a new consumer that needs to be understood.'
Web site: www.panoramixglobal.com .

domain: news


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In Germany, 200,000 fewer people were on short-time work in March than in February. And that’s not the only good news. The industry in particular seems to have got used to the lockdown well.
Dhe third corona wave is rolling, the state is reporting a record deficit – and short-time working in Germany is declining. What sounds unlikely is actually true if one follows the estimates of the Ifo Institute. In March, the number of Germans on short-time work decreased from 2.9 million in February to 2.7 million, the Munich researchers announced on Wednesday.
This corresponds to 8 percent of employees subject to social security contributions in Germany, previously it was almost 9 percent. “The decline took place in almost all branches of the economy, especially in industry,” said Ifo labor market expert Sebastian Link.
In fact, the export-dependent industry recorded a clear decline in short-time work, the number of employees reduced against state wage compensation fell by 58,000 people (to 436,000, after 494,000 in February). “Since April 2020, the proportion of employees on short-time work has steadily decreased and is below the macroeconomic average,” said the Ifo Institute. Industry is benefiting from the recovery in world trade driven by the world’s two largest economies, America and China.
Unlike industry, the service sector has had a long dry spell. But there was also positive news from there: In March, the area grew again for the first time in six months. The purchasing managers index climbed by 5.8 to 51.5 points, as the IHS Markit institute announced on Wednesday based on its monthly survey of hundreds of companies. This means that it will not shrink any further, but will grow again slightly – values over 50 on the barometer that is currently being observed on the financial markets stand for expansion.
Markit economist Phil Smith attributed this to the loosening of restrictions on the lockdown on the one hand, but also to the “returned confidence of customers”. Markit chief economist Chris Williamson sums it up: “Led by the rapid growth in production in Germany, the industrial sector boomed and the badly battered service sector stabilized.” The vaccination campaigns have made growth expectations more optimistic than they have been for over three years. According to Williamson, the survey suggests that the economy “has weathered the recent lockdowns far better than many expected”.
The positive development in the service sector is also reflected in the number of short-time workers. According to the Ifo Institute, the proportion of short-time employees in retail is 15.8 percent, more than twice as high as in industry, but the industry recorded the sharpest decline in March. The number of employees on short-time work decreased by almost 100,000 to 718,000.
According to Ifo, retailers (20.2 percent) and car dealerships (11.7 percent) in particular still rely heavily on short-time working, while wholesaling is 10 percent. “The slight easing has also led to a decline in trade and the hospitality industry,” said Link expert. However, the proportion of short-time workers in the hospitality industry is “still very, very high” at 50.8 percent.
Despite the signs of improvement in the situation, the German economy is likely to have contracted in the first quarter. The Bundesbank is putting a question mark behind its economic forecast for 2021 due to the resurgent corona infection and the stricter containment measures. The probability has decreased that the forecast of 3 percent economic growth made in December for the current year will still be achieved, said Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann at the request of the Reuters news agency.


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The world’s oldest cigar manufacturer turns 90
Pfeffikon/LU, May 25, 2020 – At the age of 90, Heinrich Villiger is the oldest cigar entrepreneur who is still active – not only in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Villiger Söhne GmbH in Waldshut-Tiengen, the German subsidiary, is celebrating its 110th anniversary. There will be no festivities due to coronavirus.
“I have experienced and accomplished a lot in my life. I have also been spared the coronavirus so far – on my 90th birthday”, says cigar manufacturer Heinrich Villiger. There will be no private birthday party nor a company anniversary party. “We can celebrate at home or later on. At the moment we are strictly observing the government guidelines so as not to endanger employees or family members,” stresses Heinrich Villiger.
For Villiger, the most crucial points of his long career (1950 – 2020) are:
- The internationalization of the company
- The evolution from a manufacturer of machine-made cigars to a global producer of cigarillos and premium cigars
- The holdings in the import of Havana cigars for the countries Germany, Austria, Poland, and Switzerland
132 years of Villiger in Switzerland and 110 years of Villiger in Germany
Villiger is a company that has proven itself in crises, has toughened up after decades of constant struggle against the militant WHO and those that oppose the enjoyment of a good cigar. The reason being, cigars and cigarettes cannot be lumped together. “Despite the demonization of tobacco, we are well-positioned and have opened a new company in 2018 in Brazil to produce handmade cigars. Cigars are age-old cultural assets and sophisticated luxury goods,” emphasizes Heinrich Villiger.
What started as Jean Villiger in Pfeffikon/LU in 1888 with a small cigar factory has now become a long-standing international company with around 1600 employees. The Villiger Group is now one of the top ten in the industry worldwide. It supplies its cigars and cigarillos to more than 80 countries.
The company is now in its third generation. Moreover, it is an essential factor in the international cigar industry thanks to consistent brand management, global focus, and innovative products.
Founded in 1888, the Villiger Group is a Swiss family business in its third and fourth generation, which operates internationally in the tobacco industry. The group employs around 1,600 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of around CHF 200 million. The production in Switzerland is located in Pfeffikon/LU. The manufacturing facilities of the German subsidiary Villiger Söhne GmbH are located in Waldshut-Tiengen (Baden-Württemberg) and Bünde/Dünne (Westphalia). Villiger do Brasil in São Gonçalo dos Campos (Bahia) produces hand-rolled premium cigars. PT. Villiger Tobacco Indonesia on the island of Java processes tobacco wrappers for production in Europe. Villiger North America, Inc. is responsible for distribution in the United States, the world’s largest cigar market.


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The CCI’s battle to keep digital gatekeepers at bay continues to unwrap discreet narcissistic policies of tech moguls. Google Pay is the new target
By Vivek Agarwal
Google Pay is yet another case of ‘antitrust nepotism’ from the Google corporate family where the parent entity’s policy of favouring its own apps got challenged before the Competition Commission of India (CCI). After reflecting upon it for over eight weeks, the CCI decided to order a detailed investigation into Google’s alleged anticompetitive practices. The allegation is that Google has been promoting its own Google Pay to the disadvantage of competing UPI-based payment apps on the Play Store. Google has the ability to do so as a result of its dominance in the Android ecosystem, where it owns Android OS and the Play Store.
This year witnessed many such complaints against Google: first, favouring Google Pay in digital payments, then exclusivity of Android in Smart TVs and, most recently, integration of Google Meet with Gmail. Whilst Android TV and Google Meet complaints continue to be under consideration, on November 9 the CCI opened an investigation into Google Pay. Although Google was denied oral hearing, it was allowed to make written submissions before the decision to investigate was made. On the request of the complainant, the CCI decided to keep its identity confidential (perhaps to protect the complainant from Google’s retribution).
Certain app developers are aggrieved with Google’s alleged mandate of using its own payment systems on Android phones and charging app developers a disproportionate 30% commission on app and in-app purchases (also known as the Google Tax). India is not the first to acknowledge concerns around high commissions charged by the two key app store owners, Google and Apple; the EU, the US, Australia and South Korea are already looking into this issue. This 30% charge imposed by Google and Apple on their app stores is a classic example of a dominant firm raising rivals’ costs in downstream markets (such as music streaming and audio/e-book apps) to promote its own products and squeeze the margins of competing apps. A similar complaint was filed by Spotify against Apple, which is now under investigation by the European Commission. A few days after the CCI’s Google Pay order, Apple announced it would reduce its 30% commission to 15% for small developers (with annual sales less than $1 million) from January 2021.
Google, being an indispensable business partner, could also coerce smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Google Pay on new Android phones, which would disincentivise consumers to download other UPI-based payment apps. Although Google Pay is the leader in UPI-based apps, the NPCI’s recent announcement of capping an app’s total volume share to 30% has brought a twist in the tale. From January 2021, Google Pay would be required to bring its typical 40% market share down to 30% within two years. One gets no points for guessing that Google would use this policy change as a defence before the CCI.
It is fascinating to note that the CCI published the Google Pay order a day before its approval announcement of Google’s Rs 33 crore investment in Jio. Perhaps it was the CCI’s way of sending out a message that no tech magnate could escape ex post scrutiny of actual anticompetitive conduct, despite the challenges to do so under the ex ante combination regime. This message seems to be consistent with the CCI’s earlier order approving the Facebook-Jio combination where it cautioned the parties that any anticompetitive conduct resulting from any data sharing would not escape ex post inquiry.
Although concocting new techniques to alleviate competition issues vexing the digital economy has been at the fore of discussions in the global competition law fraternity in 2020, the CCI has made it clear that it is not afraid of taking these issues head-on. Given that digital India has begun to shape itself, it is indispensable for the CCI to ensure that digital markets develop in a fair and competitive manner, not allowing any gatekeepers to the disadvantage of mavericks and innovators. I would, however, not hesitate to mention that competition law enforcement in hi-tech markets is a fine balancing act and the CCI must be wary of over-intervention not to impede innovation.
(The author is partner (Competition Law) at DMD Advocates. Views are personal.)


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- SoLo Funds has become the first Black-owned financial services company to cross the 1 million customer account mark last month.
- The fintech facilitates P2P loans for consumers living on the margins of financial services. Acquiring more than 1 million users hasn’t come easy for SoLo, though.
Sara Khairi | March 29, 2023
- After an extended waiting period, Apple launched its Apple Pay Later service yesterday.
- Pay Later allows consumers to split up single purchases into 4 payments over 6 weeks.
Zachary Miller | March 29, 2023
- Often banking apps cannot be fully operated through keyboards or alternate keyboards. This bars people who are visually impaired from using these apps.
- FIs like U.S. Bank and Citi and companies like Google, have started to pay more attention to accessibility needs across their digital platforms.
Rabab Ahsan | March 28, 2023
, Member Exclusive
- Two more banks, Credit Suisse and First Republic, faced a crisis in the past week. Where does that leave banks (big and small) now?
- Block stock fell on a Hindenburg Research short-seller report alleging numerous claims against the company. The report claims that Block has allegedly inflated its user metrics and facilitated fraud.
Sara Khairi | March 27, 2023
- Fireblocks is used by banks, fintechs, and businesses around the world to manage digital assets.
- We interview CEO Michael Shaulov on the Tearsheet podcast to get his view on where the market for institutional use cases of blockchain is headed.
Zachary Miller | March 27, 2023


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By Nat Levy as written on geekwire.com
Adobe is in the middle of its big Summit conference, where it is introducing a variety of new technologies, including tie-ins with the Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality headset and Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa.
Many of these new innovations are backed by the company’s artificial intelligence and machine learning platform Adobe Sensei and the company’s catalog of cloud offerings.
Virtual reality is a big part of Adobe’s newest projects. In the advertising realm, the company envisioned a situation where someone could be standing in the middle of Times Square in New York City with a VR headset on. Based on the individual, various Adobe products such as Sensei and the Adobe Experience Cloud would come together to virtually replace the iconic billboards in the neighborhood with advertisements that might better speak to that person.
The HoloLens project visualizes data and layers it on top of the real world. For example, a retailer could use the technology to visualize sales data, so an employee wearing a HoloLens could see how various items are doing and decide to emphasize the more popular ones in the store. Additionally, retailers could place sensors on items, and see which products are generating the most foot traffic.
Here is a look at how Adobe and Microsoft are working together on virtual reality and retail:
Adobe wants to personalize Amazon’s digital brain Alexa. Alexa is open to third party developers, and Adobe wants to tie in its Experience Cloud to make it possible for consumers to ask Alexa for their reward status for a hotel chain or airline, for example.
Alexa would then use their customer profile data and preferences to recommend promotions or activities that take advantage of those rewards. Adobe said it would be able to do this in a way that protects people’s privacy.
March 24, 2017
Outlook 2016 for Mac adds Touch Bar support and now comes with your favorite apps
Outlook 2016 for Mac adds Touch Bar support and now […]LEARN MORE


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Debbie Propst. Photo via Linkedin.com
A furniture maker in the region selected an industry veteran to head up its global retail business.
Zeeland-based Herman Miller President and CEO Andi Owen said this week she appointed Debbie Propst as president, Herman Miller retail, replacing John McPhee, who had led the division since June 2019 after joining Herman Miller via its acquisition of Design Within Reach in 2014.
McPhee will transition out of his day-to-day role over the coming months, and Propst will start her new role in January at the Herman Miller retail headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
“Debbie’s track record for building extraordinary brands, connecting with customers and leading an innovative, global business is second to none,” Owen said. “She will provide great leadership, experience and a fresh customer perspective that will complement and enhance all that we do.”
She added McPhee “was instrumental in positioning Herman Miller to expand its retail offering and make high-quality products accessible to all.
“We thank him for his many contributions and wish him all the best in his next endeavor,” Owen said.
Propst said she is happy to be joining “a world-class organization with a remarkable legacy of design, utility and reinvention.”
“Creating opportunities for our customers to discover, experience and delight in the many aspects of such an iconic family of brands is both a privilege and a tremendously exciting opportunity,” she said.
Propst will lead Herman Miller’s global retail business, digital platforms and customer service experience across the company and its portfolio of brands.
She joins Herman Miller from Bed, Bath & Beyond, where she served most recently as the organization’s chief brand officer, as well as president of One Kings Lane, a predominantly online brand for proprietary, designer and vintage home furnishings.
Propst joined One Kings Lane in 2012 and was named president in 2016.
Before joining One Kings Lane, Propst spent seven years at retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, where she was a head merchant responsible for multiple lines of business.
She holds a B.A. in international business from Loughborough University in England.


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Customs Confiscates N19.2 Million Smuggled Poultry Products In Ogun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has seized 3,563 cartons poultry products in Ogun State. The value of the seized products was put at N19.2 million.
Investigation revealed that the Customs Compliance Team, Ogun State axis, set up by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali made the seizure. The seized products, it was gathered have been destroyed.
This is part of ongoing efforts to sustain its campaign on the nefarious activities of smugglers of banned poultry products.
The team leader, Shittu Almaroof, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, told journalists that the confiscations were effected between 18th and 23rd March, 2016, along the Sagamu-Ijebu Ode Expressway.
According to him, a patrol team led by Chief superintendent of Customs, Aminu Umar, had laid siege on the smugglers through intelligence provided by informants that were contracted to monitor the nefarious activities of some individuals who are experts in smuggling the product in bits and storing same at secret locations before ferrying them to different parts of the country.
He confirmed that the heat is on these unpatriotic Nigerians, hence their attempt to devise unwholesome means to circumvent fiscal policies of the federal government, stressing that there is a compelling need for the service to remain proactive in ensuring enforcement of the federal governments’ fiscal policy as regards frozen poultry products.
Almaroof stated that what is more fundamental is the need to protect the heavy investments of Nigerians in the agro-based industries, in view of their capacity to generate employment for teeming unemployed youths.
He pointed out that these investors need to be encouraged in view of their contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), maintaining that beyond the need to protect the local poultry farmers, there was also the issue of its health implications which he noted is very critical.
“It is on record that NAFDAC had assembled specialists in nutritional enzymologist, food technologists and others to carry out a comprehensive research on the health implications of consumption of these products. Samples were taken from major markets in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Ibadan and Kano. The result revealed that the continuous consumption of these banned products is hazardous to health,” he said.
He further noted that the Nigeria Customs Service as an enforcement agency cannot fold its arms and allow these products into the country.


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iRobot's programmable Create 2 gives tech enthusiasts the chance to experiment with robotics.
The company claims the summer sale will have more deals than Black Friday, though the discounts will only be available to its Prime members.
The big news for iOS 8.4 is Apple Music, but there's a long list of tweaks and fixes to iBooks and more in the latest iOS update.
Technically Incorrect: In Brazil, a religious group creates Facegloria, where instead of "liking," you click "amen."
Technically Incorrect: A walker in Wales is struck by lightning and reports suggest that his metal selfie stick may have attracted the bolt.
Starting July 1, smartphones sold in the state must come with software that lets users lock a stolen phone so it can't be used, making it harder to resell. Crime statistics show the tech is already working.
Create the perfect playlist using Apple Music and share it with the world, or just a few friends. Your choice, really.
Google's chatbot artificial intelligence has some interesting -- and not entirely illogical -- ideas about morality, philosophy and the meaning of life.
Technically Incorrect: Matt Bonner, a free agent who played last season with the San Antonio Spurs, believes that the iPhone 6's bigger size has hurt him and affected his shooting percentage.
The multiplayer online battle arena genre of games is tough to get into, but whether you choose a classic or modern version, the work you do learning them will pay off enormously.


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Love Food Love Preston
A campaign to profile Preston’s eateries in a bid to encourage more custom will return this August, organised by Preston’s Business Improvement District (BID).
Love Food Love Preston, which was launched in 2012 by TV favourite Gino D’Acampo, will see the city centre’s restaurants, grills and eating houses profiled via a huge campaign across the North West.
Preston BID have been working closely with the Chair of Marketing Lancashire Paul Heathcote MBE and owner and Chef Patron of Duk~Pond Andrea Mellon.
Paul who operates two restaurants in Preston city centre, Heathcotes Brasserie & The Olive Press said: “Preston city centre has a great food offering some lovely places to eat, Love Food Love Preston will work to remind people what’s on their doorstep and encourage those who don’t generally eat in Preston to come and have a taste”.
The campaign, which runs throughout August, will see a focus around the August 16th, with the popular Lancashire Market being a key event. Alongside the Market, members of the public who make reservations to eat in the city centre across that weekend will have the chance to ‘Dine with the Stars’. Well know faces from cookery and TV will visit key restaurants in the city centre and enjoy a course of dinner with some lucky customers.
Andrea Mellon, of Duk~Pond said: “I have travelled the world over and I still believe Preston’s food offer rivals any similar sized town or city. We have a breadth of choice and experience when it comes to food and we’re looking forward to showcasing this offer in August”.
BID’s Marketing & Events Manager Mark Whittle said: “this is the third Love Food Love Preston campaign BID has arranged and this year working with key restaurateurs has allowed us to add more elements to our celebration of dining in Preston. We’re looking forward to working with all city centre venues and hope the people of Preston and beyond come to sample their delights. BID’s role is to promote the city centre’s offering and Love Food Love Preston is just one of our annual events that works to improve awareness of our city’s attributes”.
Contact: Mark Whittle on (01772) 653000 or email [email protected]


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NEW YORK -- Carter Hawley Hale Stores is going on the offensive in the competition for cosmetics customers with a frequent-buyer program called Club West.
Club West members who spend $250 on cosmetics and fragrance within a 12-month period will automatically receive a $25 gift certificate.
Members will also receive a newsletter every other month detailing beauty tips, members-only offers and events and advance notice of gift-with-purchase and other promotions. Membership is free.
Margo Scavarda, senior vice president and general merchandise manager for cosmetics at CHH, said she plans to get vendors involved in creating exclusive offers for members.
The store will track members' purchases from Club West ID cards, which can also serve as CHH charge cards. The program applies to the 83 doors of all three CHH divisions: The Broadway, Emporium and Weinstocks.
Club West went into effect Wednesday, and Scavarda said she hopes eventually to sign up one million members. She noted that CHH is using an extensive direct marketing campaign to promote enrollment.
"I want every customer who walks through our doors to sign up," Scavarda said. "It's a way of recognizing the customer base we have, saying thank you to the customers we have and enticing new customers."
John Horvitz, a cosmetics industry consultant, said the club is a good example of "relationship marketing," in which the retailer ingratiates itself with the customer.
"Offering some rewards to customers puts CHH in a position to build market share," Horvitz said.
Peter Kim's Los Angeles-based premium denim line has always had its finger on the pulse of youth. This season, novelty is back in a way reminiscent of early Aughts, with studs, lace-ups, racing waxed denim and more. For more highlights if some of the key brands at the Vegas trade shows, go to WWD.com. #wwdfashion (📷: Patrick Gray; Styles by @thealexbadia; Story by @karihamanaka and @marcy_wwd)
"I was driving back on Saturday afternoon from the beach, and I just saw this sign saying 'Skydiving for $95.' And I was like, I can't not sky dive for $95," says Tom Bateman about a moment in Hawaii while shooting "Snatched." #wwdeye (📷: @vsteves; Interview by @ktauer; Styled by @thealexbadia)


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Shutterstock is on a roll lately when it comes to expanding its business and giving consumers new options at the same time.
We reported earlier this week that Shutterstock landed a pretty big partnership with a sports organization.
Now the platform is partnering up with EZ Texting, one of the largest SMS marketing services on the planet, to provide digital multimedia for campaigns.
VP of Platform Solutions at Shutterstock, Alex Reynolds, says of the integration, “We are thrilled to join forces with EZ Texting, our first-ever partnership with an SMS-based marketing platform. We know that businesses need to think outside-the-box to reach potential customers, including through text messages. Now, EZ Texting customers can easily access our world-class content and create inspiring marketing campaigns that increase engagement and make a meaningful impact.”
As for SMS marketing, it is apparently one of the fastest-growing promotional channels out there and it’s no mystery why EZ Texting would want to partner up with Shutterstock. According to EZ Texting’s CEO Norman Hopp, text messages that include an image are 250% more effective than those that utilize text-only approaches to selling or prompting a specific consumer action.
The press release goes on to report that some 39% of businesses surveyed are utilizing text-messaging marketing in some form and more than half of consumers (54%) said they wanted to receive promotional text messages from companies.
The productivity gains for EZ Texting are outlined by Shutterstock and provide a unique glimpse into the evolving world of digital marketing and stock media:
“EZ Texting customers will now be able to search, select and edit Shutterstock images — as well as their own brand imagery — directly from within the EZ Texting platform, and share across text messaging campaigns.
As part of the integration, they can also take advantage of the Shutterstock Editor, an intuitive design tool that simplifies editing for users of all skill levels.
This saves customers both time and money by eliminating the need to source and edit images from separate platforms.”
We’ve got some other photography news content on Light Stalking you might like. You can check that out at this link right here.


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Netflix Inc. on Oct. 16 reported a hefty third-quarter beat on memberships, driven in large part by better-than-expected international gains.
The company reported net membership additions of 5.3 million, well above guidance of 4.4 million issued during the company's July 17 second-quarter release. International member additions came to 4.45 million, compared to guidance of 3.65 million.
The membership beat translated into outperformance on revenue but lower-than-expected EPS.
Netflix reported total third-quarter revenue of $2.99 billion, up from $2.29 billion in the year-ago quarter and slightly above the $2.97 billion forecast in July.
On profitability, the streaming giant posted third-quarter net income of $129.6 million, or 29 cents per share, compared to $51.5 million, or 12 cents per share, reported a year prior. The EPS result comes in slightly lower than the 32 cents predicted in the July guidance.
The consensus EPS estimate for the third quarter was 32 cents, according to S&P Capital IQ.


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For the longest time, Arm was basically synonymous with chip designs for smartphones and very low-end devices. But more recently, the company launched solutions for laptops, cars, high-powered IoT devices and even servers. Today, ahead of MWC 2019, the company is officially launching two new products for cloud and edge applications, the Neoverse N1 and E1. […]
AiSensum uses AI to help enterprises and startups create additional revenue streams through their existing data AiSensum, an AI and big data analytics company with presence in Singapore, Jakarta, and Bangalore, announced today that it has received a seed funding from 500 Startups. The amount raised is unrevealed. Also Read: Marketing tech startup SilverPush secures US$5M […]
The post AI, big data company AiSensum receives seed funding from 500 Startups appeared first on e27.


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Typically public health officials advise against washing raw chicken or thawing meat improperly, to protect against food-borne illnesses. But the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention issued a surprising new warning: don’t kiss your chickens.
This year, more than 1,000 have become sick with Salmonella from 49 states. The CDC discovered that many people became sick after contact with backyard poultry such as chickens and ducklings, following an investigation. In fact, more than 347 people reported contact with chicks or ducklings purchased from agricultural stores, websites, or hatcheries.
This led to a CDC warning that includes tips for decreasing your risk of Salmonella infection. Most of the advice is pretty ordinary: Wash your hands after touching backyard poultry, keep animals outside only, and avoid eating in the environment where your chickens live. But one tip has caught the media’s attention and gone viral: “Don’t kiss backyard poultry or snuggle them and then touch your face or mouth.”
The advice may seem odd, but cuddling your chicken is no weirder than snuggling with your dog for some poultry owners, NPR reported in 2015. At the time, the CDC issued an alert advising against close chicken contact amid another Salmonella scare.
“If they’re used to humans holding them then you can walk in [to the coop] without worrying about are they going to jump or get scared,” chicken owner Elia Mattke told the outlet. “You want to be able to come into the pen to feed them and water them without them starting to fly all around and go crazy.”
Chances are, you’ll contract Salmonella through eating food–unless you’ve got a coop full of chicks. The bacteria is also found in beef, eggs, fruits, pork, sprouts, vegetables, and processed foods, like nut butters, according to the CDC. Decrease your risk of getting sick by separating raw meat and eggs from other items in your refrigerator, and always wash cutting boards, utensils and plates with warm, soapy water. For more food safety tips, visit the CDC.
Source: Read Full Article


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Ellsworth Adhesives Europe recently confirmed its purchase of TRB Lightweight Structure’s Lord® adhesive business. This transaction reportedly makes Ellsworth Adhesives one of the largest distributors of Lord Corp. materials across Europe, with distribution rights for both Lord’s structural adhesives and electronic materials product ranges.
“We are delighted to have completed the purchase of TRB’s Lord structural adhesives business, a move that will immediately boost our share of the structural bonding market and facilitate future growth in this sector,” said John Henderson, managing director. “As part of the deal struck with TRB, its adhesives manager Kevin Felstead will transfer to our sales force here at Ellsworth, and is a welcome addition to the team.”
Top 5 News that Sticks for January 22-281.Ellsworth Adhesives Europe Completes Purchase of TRB’s Adhesive Business Unit(#3 last week)
2. TiO2 Prices in China Still Booming (#4 last week)
3. Pilot Chemical Expands Leadership Team (#5 last week)


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Dell Smartphone Chinese Release Date: End of 2009
We all love rumours and there has been many of them surrounding the all new Dell smartphone and its release date, yes it looks like Dell is going to enter the smartphone world which many of you may be excited about.
Well now it seems there is a release date for this Dell smartphone and should be releasing in China by the end of 2009, Reuters have been chatting with a few analysts where there has been confirmation of Dell working with Chi Mei Communications.
A Red Office spokeswoman has apparently confirmed that they are indeed working on the OS (Operating System) for the new Dell Smartphone. We do not know at this given time who the Chinese mobile carrier will be but we will keep you posted.
We say Dell is pretty clever launching in China first because they have the largest cellular market by subscribers, obviously this smartphone will be released in Europe and United States soon after.


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California Supreme Court Sides With Firm’s Store Owner Client
August 08th, 2015/By Admin/In Appellate and Writs, Business/Intellectual Property Law, Firm News, General Litigation, Locations, Los Angeles
The California Supreme Court denied a Petition for Review brought by an adversary plaintiff, challenging a California Court of Appeal decision to issue a Peremptory Writ of Mandate directing the Trial Court to set aside its order denying a Motion for Summary Judgment (“MSJ”) filed by the Firm on behalf of a store owner client.
In this case, plaintiff sought to hold the Firm’s store owner client liable in negligence for loss of property as a result of plaintiff’s claim that while shopping at the client’s store, her wallet was stolen by an unidentified Hispanic male and an unidentified Hispanic female accomplice. Read More


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Cryptocurrency platform Binance has confirmed that hackers have stolen 7,000 bitcoin with a value of more than $41 million.
In a statement posted early this morning, the Hong Kong based firm - which runs one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges - said cybercriminals had used phishing, viruses and other attacks to carry out the hack and obtain a “large number” of user API keys, 2FA codes and other information.
Zhao Chanpeng, Binance’s chief executive, said that deposits and withdrawals on the platform would remain suspended for the next week as the company conducts a thorough security review. He said the hack impacted the BTC (Bitcoin) hot wallets only - which contained about two per cent of total BTC holdings - while all of other wallets were secure.
The statement read: “The hackers had the patience to wait, and execute well-orchestrated actions through multiple seemingly independent accounts at the most opportune time. The transaction is structured in a way that passed our existing security checks.
“It was unfortunate that we were not able to block this withdrawal before it was executed. Once executed, the withdrawal triggered various alarms in our system. We stopped all withdrawals immediately after that.”
The hack, which is the latest in a string of high profile thefts from cryptocurrency exchanges, will raise concerns around the security of digital assets as hackers becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods.
In an update posted to Twitter, Zhao Chanpeng said the company would cover the loss from its Secure Asset Fund for Users. He added: “We are hurt, but not broke. We are working hard to resolve the issue, so that everyone can deposit and withdrawal again. Will take some time.”
Commenting on the incident, Ilia Kolochenko, founder and chief executive of web security company ImmuniWeb, said: “Technical details of the breach still remain obscure and it would be premature to make any conclusions at this point of time.
However, he warned that many cryptocurrency businesses “underestimate or ignore digital risks and allocate scant resources for cybersecurity”, adding: “To bring certainty to the cryptocurrency markets clear regulatory standards are required - even if they are not a silver bullet, they greatly reduce both the number and average volume of credit cards theft."
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Samsung Electronics announced today that Vice Chairman Oh-Hyun Kwon plans to resign as the company’s head of the Device Solutions Business and will not seek re-election as a member and chairman of the board when his term ends in March 2018. Kwon will also resign as the chief executive officer of Samsung Display.
His decision to resign comes at a time when the company tries to clean up its reputation amidst bribery case. Lee Jae-Yong, Samsung Group’s de facto leader and vice chairman, was found guilty of bribery in August and sentenced to five years in prison for perjury and other charges relating to payments made to South Korea’s ousted president Park Geun-Hye in return for favors, including government support for Jae-Yong’s succession at Samsung, following a heart attack his father suffered in 2014. Jae-Yong currently is appealing his sentence
In a letter sent to all employees, Kwon said that announcing his retirement was the right time and that he believes his decision is in the best interest of the company. “It is something I had been thinking long and hard about for quite some time. It has not been an easy decision, but I feel I can no longer put it off,” Kwon wrote.
“As we are confronted with unprecedented crisis inside out, I believe that time has now come for the company start anew, with a new spirit and young leadership to better respond to challenges arising from the rapidly changing IT industry.” Kwon added that the company “needs a new leader more than ever.”
Kwon joined the company in 1985 as a researcher of the company’s Semiconductor Research Institute in the United States. He also served as president and head of the System LSI Division and as president and head of the Semiconductor Business before becoming CEO of the company in 2012. He also has served as the CEO of Samsung Display since 2016.


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Tribal government gaming continues to generate important benefits across California’s economy and its economic impact is growing, according to a new study conducted by Beacon Economics, a leading independent economic research firm.
The study was commissioned by the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) and surveyed 17 gaming tribes across the state—or nearly one-third of all tribal government gaming operations statewide. It included a cross section of large and small casinos in urban and rural markets with a range of amenities including hotels, restaurants, retail establishments and entertainment venues.
The 2014 study finds that Indian gaming operations provide benefits throughout California’s economy, with a larger impact on the state’s economic activity than in 2010, the last year studied prior to the new report.
The study serves as both an update and expansion to the previous study by adding expanded research in the areas of non-gaming operations located at tribal casinos, such as hotels, spas, golf courses and concert halls, revenue sharing with non-gaming tribes and charitable contributions. By expanding the report, Beacon Economics was able to measure the totality of benefits generated by tribal government gaming operations.
“California tribal governments are upholding the promise we made to California voters: that we would provide for our people and land, create jobs in local communities, and be good neighbors by supporting the non-profits and public entities that contribute to the quality of life in our regions,” said Daniel J. Tucker, chairman of CNIGA, in a prepared statement. “Tribal government gaming has delivered for our people, our non-tribal neighbors, local and state governments and California taxpayers, as well as providing financial assistance for non-gaming tribes to assist them in building a foundation for economic independence.”
“Our new analysis shows that California tribal government gaming has an $8 billion annual impact and supports more than 56,000 jobs for state residents,” added Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics. “The benefits are broad-based and statewide, reaching far beyond the tribes themselves and generating financial support for local job creation, healthcare, emergency first responders and education, among other essential government services. The analysis also finds that the continuing economic recovery has helped the industry grow.”
The study’s key findings included:
- Tribal gaming operations in California generated an estimated $8 billion in economic output in 2012—$2.9 billion of which represented earnings by California workers—and supported over 56,000 jobs statewide.
- Tribal gaming expenditures totaled roughly $62.8 million per tribe in 2012 and consisted predominantly of advertising, administration, food and drink, and gaming expenditures.
- Tribal non-gaming operations in California generated an estimated $2.3 billion in economic output in 2012, supporting over 14,800 jobs statewide, and adding $1.2 billion in value to the state economy—of which $804.6 million represented income for California workers.
- Statewide revenue sharing for tribes without casinos generated more than $100 million in economic output for California and supported 433 jobs statewide in 2012.
Additional information about the findings and the study in its entirety can be viewed at www.YourTribalEconomy.com.


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After a 5 week delay, AT&T has finally released its Nokia E71x, which is now available via Ma Bell for $99.99 with a $50 mail-in rebate and a 2 year pact. You can also get it for $299.99 off contract if you want. For that price you'll be getting:
The popular Nokia 5800 XpressMusic is on its way to in Brazil, where it will be available via TIM. In addition, Brazilian users will be able to take advantage of the “Comes with Music” service, which allows for free music downloads.
Hopefully there won't be any problems during the launch.
Nokia and Phones 4U have recently announced the Nokia 5800 Star Trek edition that will soon be available in UK. This special edition will be packed with exclusive Star Trek mobile content including thematic screensavers, wallpapers and 8 ringtones. The handset is expected to be released on May 1st.
Italian carrier TIM has set the price for the upcoming and very anticipated Nokia N97. They'll be offering the device for $793.38, which definitely sounds pricey, but not after you compare this amount to the one set by Expansys UK - a mind blowing $980! Are you willing to spend such money on a smartphone?
Nokia has announced its new 6216 classic, the company's third model to support Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, and first to allow operators to integrate NFC services into the SIM card. The handset should be released in Q3 2009, and will retail for €150 ($196) before subsidies (not in the U.S.). Its features include:
According to some sources, the AT&T's long-awaited Nokia E71x will be launched on May 4th. Furthermore, the carrier will be offering the device at a $99.95 pricetag, which will make it the best business smartphone available at an affordable price.For supplementary reading, check out the leaked user manuals for the device.
An unknown dual-sliding CDMA Nokia phone has appeared in the FCC filing yesterday. While we don't know the exact model name of the device, it looks like it will belong to the Nokia's N-series.The handset will feature:
The Nokia E63 may lack such important features like 3G support and GPS, but it doesn't matter that much when you consider Dell's offering. The said retailer is selling the handset for just $198.39 with free shipping. Isn't that a killer deal?


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Starbucks to partner with Google to upgrade Wi-Fi
SEATTLE ó Starbucks says it's reached a deal to partner with Google that will allow it to offer its customers dramatically faster Wi-Fi service.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Starting in August, new U.S. company-operated Starbucks stores will begin to receive up to 10 times faster network and Wi-Fi speeds. And over the next 18 months, Starbucks will convert more than 7,000 U.S. stores to the upgraded service.
Starbucks says the improvements will help ensure that its customers can easily access the internet.
Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. and Mountain View, Calif.-based Google Inc. also plan to work together to co-develop the next generation of Starbucks' digital network.
Level 3 Communications, a telecommunications company, will upgrade existing Wi-Fi devices and manage connectivity in more than 7,000 company-owned stores.
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Security researchers noticed that some cybercriminals attacking online stores are using private Telegram channels to steal credit card information from customers making a purchase on victim sites.
The find is the first public documentation of this trick that makes data extraction more efficient and the entire card skimming operation easier to manage.
Sending cards to Telegram chat
In a thread on Twitter, Kraut explains how the script works, noting that it collects data from any type of input field and sends it to a Telegram channel.
All the information is encrypted using a public key. A Telegram bot then posts the stolen data in a chat as a message.
Kraut notes that while this method is efficient for data exfiltration, it can backfire because anyone with the token for the Telegram bot can take control of the process.
Jérôme Segura, Director of Threat Intelligence at Malwarebytes, also analyzed this script saying that its author applied simple Base64 encoding to the bot ID, Telegram channel, and the API request. Below is an image showing how the entire process works.
The researcher says that data exfiltration begins only “only if the browser’s current URL contains a keyword indicative of a shopping site and when the user validates the purchase.” Payment details will then be sent to both the legitimate payment processor and the cybercriminals.
In an analysis posted today, Segura points out that this mechanism eliminates the need for data exfiltration infrastructure, which could be blocked by security solutions or taken down by law enforcement.
Furthermore, protecting against this skimmer variant is not easy. Blocking Telegram connections is a temporary solution because attackers could pick a different legitimate service that would hide the exfiltration.
Telegram has been used in the past to exfiltrate stolen data. Last year, Juniper Networks published research about an information stealer called Masad Clipper and Stealer using the chat platform to deliver to cybercriminals sensitive data stored in the victim’s web browser (logins, addresses, credit cards).
Segura says that Malwarebytes identified a couple of online stores infected with this variant of payment card skimmer. However, the researcher believes that these are not the only ones and that several more have been infected.
To read the original article:


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The Wichita Eagle
WWR Article Summary (tl;dr) At “Grate Fill”, products are poured into refillable containers and priced by the ounce. For example, hand soap sells for 60 cents per ounce, while laundry detergent will cost you 29 cents.
A zero waste and refill store opened in March in Wichita in what its owner says is a first for Wichita.
Grate Fill, 1807 E. Douglas. offers environmentally friendly and organic products like body wash, laundry detergent and other cleaning supplies, which can be deposited into reusable containers, which can be bought at the store or brought from home.
“Switching to these healthy products is super cost-effective because you’re only paying for the ounces you use, not the packaging,” said Maddie Brown, the owner and founder of Grate Fill.
Already, they’ve refilled more than 600 products for Wichitans, saving those plastic bottles from landfills, according to Brown, who keeps track of their progress on the store’s wall.
Products are priced by the ounce with hand soap selling at 60 cents per ounce, shampoo and body wash at 68 cents and laundry detergent at 29 cents. The laundry detergent is concentrated, and only requires a tablespoon per load, Brown said. Her favorite refillable product is the Coffee Body Scrub, which is 99 cents an ounce.
Hoping to help cultivate the environmentalist community in Wichita, Brown chose a large shop space to host workshops and pop-ups where people can learn about sustainable living, zero waste and the benefits of organic products.
Brown had become concerned about her own health after reading about the bonuses of using natural and organic products that don’t have additives or chemicals and started buying zero waste and sustainable products online.
She started seeing physical stores pop up in places like Los Angeles and Denver and thought it was time to bring the movement back to her home in Wichita, where she was born and raised.
Coming from a “family of entrepreneurs,” where her father and both her sisters own businesses, Brown said she received a lot of familial support to open the business. Her father built all her shelves, including a custom refill station, where customers can sample and smell different soaps, cleaning supplies, skincare, and other products before buying.
“I want to make the sustainability and eco-friendly shopping experience fun for people,” Brown said.
A self-described “makeup lover,” Brown said it was important to find a good quality cosmetic line that she could offer people as a sustainable option.
“I wanted a cosmetic brand so bad, and I almost gave up because I wasn’t finding anything that was checking all the boxes that I wanted,” Brown said. “Then I found Elate, and it blew me out of the water.”
Elate Cosmetics is a sustainable makeup brand, and all of its packaging is made out of recycled materials and is either reusable, compostable or recyclable, according to Brown.
The store is expanding and plans to offer additional products like bamboo bandaids, dry shampoo, and menstrual products. Updates will be posted on the website gratefill.com, Facebook, and Instagram.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


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It has been confirmed through a Tweet on Bloodborne’s Official Twitter account that Sony will have an “update about new enemies” sometime on December 18th.
A screenshot was also posted, in the same Tweet, of a club-wielding overweight enemy which will surely be revealed in the next couple of days. Sony also went on to unveil a new promotional poster which is going to be distributed in stores exclusively in Japan.
Bloodborne is considered by many to be Hidetaka Miyazaki’s spiritual successor to his critically acclaimed RPG title Dark Souls. It is set for release on March 24th 2015 exclusively for the Playstation 4.
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Dental experts are concerned that more people use toothpaste that skips the main ingredient – fluoride – leaving them at greater risk of cavities.
Most toothpaste contains fluoride. While health authorities recognize fluoride as cavity blockers, the Internet is characterized by claims, often from “natural” dental cream marketers and alternative drug advocates, that fluorophilic toothpaste also prevents cavities.
Dentist is disagreeable.
“It’s really important to debunk this idea of brushing your teeth ends due. You must have fluoride,” said Damien Walmsley, a scientific advisor to the British Dental Association and dentist professor at the University of Birmingham.
This view was emphasized this week by an article in the dental drug Gerodontology, which examined the scientific literature on cavities.
The main conclusion is that, without fluorine, oral hygiene efforts have no effect at cavities.
The idea of just brushing teeth does not prevent cavities to a large extent accepted among individual researchers for decades, but not always by the public. Dentists generally recommend fluoride for cavity fighters, but some of them continue to believe that the mechanics of drying teeth on plaques also reduce the cavity. The findings, published Monday, gave a break to at least one dentist.
“It violates certain principles we have learned and as we learn and believe,” says Richard Niederman, a dentist and professor at New York University who saw a advance copy of the study and found the find credible. “What it means to me is that the toothbrush is just a delivery system.”
Few studies of this issue have been done in recent years, since fluoride value has been widely accepted for decades. In the review, the University of Washington searched for high-quality studies since 1
950 and found only three. They were performed in the United States and the United Kingdom and were published in 1977-1981. They covered a total of 743 children aged 10-13 years who flossed and brushed for up to three years.
When the studies were statistically evaluated as a whole, there was no significant cavity reduction from simply brushing or flossing without fluorine.
Dentist J. Leslie Winston, Oral Counselor for Crest Toothpaste Manufacturer Procter & Gamble, said the review “serves as an important reminder.”
“Despite a large amount of scientific evidence, there is a growing number of consumers who believe that all the toothpaste is the same and as long as you clean your teeth effectively with a toothbrush or other device that cleans your teeth, you can prevent decay, “he said in a statement.
The market share for fluorophilic toothpaste is close to business information. Sources of industry estimate it with no more than 5 percent of all toothpaste sold, but with an expected growth of over 5 percent annually. On Monday, Tom’s Maine antiplaque and whitening toothpaste, which is fluor-free, is listed as the second best-selling toothpaste on Amazon’s online purchase platform.
Paul Jessen, a trademark chief of Tom’s of Maine, said “The products that do not contain fluoride we offer do not promise that privilege” to fight cavities. He said that his company’s customers generally understand this.
However, customer reviews on Amazon’s website sometimes indicate otherwise, with many reviews insisting that the company’s fluorine-free toothpaste combates cavities.


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Companies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are concerned by the short- and long-term impacts the ongoing war in Ukraine is having and will have on business, including higher energy and raw materials costs as well as supply chain and logistics disruptions, according to the results of a recent business survey conducted by the German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK).
Carried out this spring, the AHK's annual business survey also specifically examined the economic consequences of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine this year. The results indicate that companies operating in the Baltics are seeing both short- and long-term consequences of the war for their business, according to a press release.
At the top of the list of Baltic businesses' concerns in the short term are higher energy and raw materials costs, which was cited as a major risk by 67 percent of companies surveyed in Estonia, 77 percent in Latvia and 54 percent in Lithuania. 40 percent of Estonian companies also said they were aware of disruptions in the supply chain and logistics.
One third of Estonian companies surveyed cited changes in transport routes as a long-term consequence of Russia's war in Ukraine, and nearly the same number of Estonian companies find that, in the long term, the war will end or limit business relations with certain regions, and that there will be greater diversification of suppliers but also increased economic fragmentation of world regions.
More than half of Baltic companies surveyed also cited a shortage of skilled workers as one of the biggest risks to the future of their business. There is also a high level of concern regarding labor costs — a risk highlighted by half of all Estonian companies surveyed.
Asked what measures businesses have already taken or plan to take to mitigate the consequences of skilled worker shortages, the most common responses by Estonian companies included expanding in-house training (37 percent), making greater use of temporary workers (30 percent) and recruiting skilled workers from abroad (30 percent).
Asked whether the framework conditions for sourcing labor from third countries should be relaxed, nearly 80 percent of Estonian businesses surveyed agreed, 30 percent of which were of the opinion that these framework conditions should definitely be relaxed.
A total of 87 percent of Estonian businesses surveyed considered rising labor costs to be a problem either currently affecting them or that will be affecting them in the near future; 8 percent of respondents considered the problem to be serious enough that they would even consider relocating.
Nonetheless, the vast majority of Estonian companies surveyed would choose Estonia again as a place to invest.
The German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK) conducted its annual business survey of member companies from March 30 through April 22. The survey was carried out simultaneously in 16 Eastern and Central European companies and involved more than 830 companies in total, including 71 from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The AHK is part of the German network of bilateral foreign chambers of commerce, which covers more than 90 countries worldwide. It has been active in the Baltic states for more than 25 years and currently has over 400 members.
Editor: Aili Vahtla


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Challenging times bring out the best in people – but also the worst. As the world deals with COVID-19 and the economic fallout, you can be sure that scammers are looking for ways to capitalize on this crisis. Among their methods includes leveraging current events and news.
“Every year we see tax refund season create a spike in scams targeting people in an effort to steal their money. The same will likely hold true now as we expect to see an uptick in scammers taking advantage of the current COVID-19 pandemic with phishing (Email), vishing (Voice), or smishing (SMS) attacks,” said Quentin Rhoads-Herrera, director of professional services and TEAMARES at CyberOne. “We’re anticipating a spike in online financial scams as the federal government works to stimulate the economy. Ideas such as sending checks to Americans ‘immediately’ to help cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak will surely open the door for online financial scams.”
Being proactive is key in safeguarding your business, as well as keeping the following in mind:
- Be on high alert. Scams come in all flavors. The safest bet is to always direct questions, comments, or concerns directly to the source, be it the IRS, your bank, vendors, partners, customers – anyone.
- Always question offers of unsolicited financial assistance. Go directly to trusted sources instead of blindly trusting emails, phone calls, or even text messages.
- Be proactive – prepare for breaches by ensuring you have a game plan in place. Whether it’s taking advantage of incident retainer services or dusting off your business continuity plan, work to stay ahead of cybercriminals.
Follow us at @TeamAresSec to stay up to date as the situation evolves.


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Truths and Fictions
Then, too, there are times when wireless networks are left open by design. The number of public Wi-Fi hot spots is growing at a rapid pace. For better or for worse, hot-spot operators function on the assumption that users who need the security will open VPN tunnels to their corporate networks once they log on. Its not the best policy, but who can blame them? Public hot spots are cropping up everywhere, from fast-food hamburger stands to truck stops, and its just not practical for folks at the lunch counter to be handing out passwords to customers and reconfiguring their WLANs to accept them. Thats not to say that war-driving reports should be ignored. Even if their statistics exaggerate the case, theres a troubling truth behind them: The best security mechanisms cannot protect anyone who doesnt enable them.And by years end, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is expected to ratify the 802.11i standard, which brings much stronger security to 802.11 devices. Last week at CeBIT, I caught up with Colin McNabb, CEO of wireless chipmaker Atheros Communications Inc., who bravely predicted that "11i is going to solidify security standards once and for all." The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) called for in 802.11i has been approved as the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS)and has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Atheros and other chipmakers have already begun building in AES support. But the vendors who build those chips into their devices typically ship them with security turned off in the default configuration to make them easy to install. Deploying that security is not always tough for users to do but, as Outmesguines friends experience shows, its also not always easy. Click here to read about Intel Corp.s decision to turn off the wireless features by default in its Grantsdale chipset. Also, studies have shown that the preshared key used in WPA will be vulnerable to dictionary attacks if users choose an easily remembered password that can be easily deciphered. (Hint: Instead of a password, use a passphrase that includes numbers and symbols.) It wont be until the industry finds an easy way to ensure that security is implemented in the default configurations of WLAN devices that the war-driving reports will go away. Until then, they serve as a reminder to all of us that we should take the job of wireless security seriously. Good fables usually do contain great truths. Check out eWEEK.coms Mobile & Wireless Center at http://wireless.eweek.com for the latest news, reviews and analysis.
The Wi-Fi Alliances adoption of WPA as a standard for certification last year closed the holes that WEP left open in WLAN security.


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Family says bed bugs at Kissimmee resort ruined vacation
Family files consumer complaint
A family visiting Central Florida says bed bugs brought their vacation to a sudden halt.
The Streble family from Kentucky said they were staying at Oak Plantation Resort in Kissimmee last week and started noticing bites all over their daughters' arms.
The family said when they lifted the mattress, they found the little black bugs.
“The doctor that saw our daughters said that this was the worst case of bed bugs that he had ever seen,” said Christina Streble. “This has been a nightmare.”
The family has filed a consumer complaint with the department of business and professional regulation.
"When we finally got back home, we counted 206 bites on our older daughter and 125 bites on our middle daughter,” Streble said.
State officials confirmed Thursday that beg bugs were found in the room.
The resort said the bed bugs were confined to one room, and that room has now been treated. They called it an isolated incident.
"We are a 242-unit property. Last weekend, we were at 96 percent occupancy, and this is the only complaint that came out of this resort, so we are a great family friendly resort with a great staff close to Disney, so please don't let this scare you off,” resort spokeswoman Grace Velez said.
The resort said at this point the family has not asked for any compensation, but they do plan to reach out to them and offer either a refund or a free week.
According to state records, since 2013, there have been two other complaints filed against the resort for alleged bed bugs, but in both of those cases, the state inspector did not find any.


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Beyond the Footsie: Wed close
SMALLER company shares closed lower, dominated by losses in former flagship biotech Oxford Glycosciences. The FTSE SmallCap fell 3.3 points to 2602.6.
Oxford Glyco plunged 75p, or 18%, to 340p after disclosing it had suspended trials of its treatment for the genetic disorder, Gaucher's disease. A patient in the trials developed neurological problems, fuelling earlier market concerns about the drug, Vescesca.
Rival drug stock Alltracel climbed 3 1/2p to 29p on news that it has been granted a US patent for its over-the-counter spray product that stops bleeding. Maelor climbed 7 1/2p to 59 1/2p. It has secured a UK patent for the technology used in its intravenous anaesthetic agent, Propofol.
Property adviser DTZ slipped 25 1/2p to 125p after warning full-year profits would disappoint due to a slowdown across its markets.
Lloyd's underwriter Wellington Underwriting was in demand on plans to increase its managed capacity to £963m from £625m for 2002. This means it will be able to meet its targeted premium income of £950m for the current year, it said. The shares advanced 7 1/2p to 72 1/2p.
Character Group gained 5 1/2p to 27 1/4p after the firm, which produces toys based on TV programmes and films, returned to a profit in the first half. Restructuring helped the bottom line.
Multimedia broadcast firm Galleon Holdings advanced 1/4p to 1 3/4p on news of a TV advertising agreement with Sky TV for its FIFA-licensed World Cup companion product 'FootballBuddy'. Media group Digital Sport gained 42% to 0.81p ahead of Monday's results.
Investors also bought into shipping firm Ocean Wilsons Holdings, despite lower full-year profits. The shares gained 7 1/2p to 77p after the company boasted an uptick in first-quarter trading, and said the crisis in Argentina had not hurt business.
Smaller companies spotlight
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- New £95k Range Rover unveiled - and will have an EV version


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Infiniti's mid-to-full-size sedan line has been around for a few years now. Since 2011, actually. Except back then, it was known as the M, and now, it's one of the Qs. The Q70, to be exact. And despite having been around the block a while, it's still surprisingly good.
Remember the Infiniti M45? What about the second generation? The 2015 Infiniti Q70 is the third generation of those memorable cars, so that's why Infiniti is trying to give it a new identity: it's the luxury sedan for a lot of tall people.
Infiniti adds new lights, an upgraded interior and a 5.9-inch wheelbase increase to its Q70 executive saloon for those who 'desire more choice and prestige.' If you were curious, this was the M37 before Infinti changed their names to reflect the internal codes for electric toothbrushes.


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By Jennifer Saba
REUTERS - More than 700,000 people use the Financial Times' Web-based mobile application to access news and other content, making it more popular than the version sold in Apple's App Store.
The business newspaper, which is part of British publishing group Pearson Plc, made a gamble in June when it prepared to ditch the App Store with the introduction of its Web-based app.
The FT was one of the first major publishers to reduce its dependence on Apple Inc and go out with an HTML5-based mobile application that can be read by any browser, thus bypassing the App Store.
FT.com Managing Director Rob Grimshaw told Reuters that the new Web-based app was drawing more traffic than the version that was sold through the App Store.
"People who are using the app are spending much more time with the content," he said. "They are consuming about three times as many pages through the app as they are through the desktop in an average visit."
The FT's Web-based mobile app accounts for 15 percent of FT.com subscriptions and 20 percent of total FT.com page views from mobile users, Grimshaw said.
Apple was not immediately available for comment.
Generally, publishers offer custom-made apps for Apple's iPad or other tablet devices such as those run on Google Inc's Android system.
Newspaper and magazine publishers in the United States in and Europe have been at at odds with Apple over apps, citing its strict policies.
For instance, Apple takes a 30 percent cut of subscription revenue from users who sign up for apps in the store.
More problematic is that Apple wants to control subscriber data -- valuable demographic information used by magazines and newspapers to sell advertising -- from people who sign up for the app in the store.
The FT is one of a handful of newspapers that has been successfully charging for digital content through a variety of subscription packages.
For a while, Apple did not have a subscription system in place so the FT was allowed to sell its app in the company's store. Under that arrangement, the FT kept all the revenue and retained full control of subscriber data.
This past summer, Apple made it clear that all subscriptions to apps it hosts must go through its own store after it launched its own subscription service for magazines, newspapers, videos and music.
Many publishers have balked at Apple's terms.
The FT pulled its main iPad and iPhone app from Apple store after both parties failed to reach an agreement after months of negotiations.
"App stores are actually quite strange environments," Grimshaw said. "They are cut off from most of the Web ecosystem."
A simple message on the top of the FT's Web site has been an effective marketing tool, he added.
"The world outside the App Store is not cold and desperate. Discovery is no problem at all."
(Reporting by Jennifer Saba in New York; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)


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Android 7.0 Nougat News & Update: Samsung Galaxy S7, Note 7 To Finally Get Update By January 2017?
Google puts out a new version of Android every year, and this year's Android version, 7.0 Nougat has proven to be a must-get update. However, outside of first-party Google phones and a select few third-party models, it does take forever to get the new OS for the more popular units. This is especially because big manufacturers like Samsung wants to come out with their own versions.
Samsung's Galaxy S7 is arguably the most popular Android phone in the world right now, and it's still waiting for its Android 7.0 Nougat update. The company has traditionally updates its OS at a slow rate, but the recent controversies involving the Galaxy Note 7 suddenly catching fire has put a damper on Samsung's other plans as they have to focus on crisis management. They're still working on the update as they should be. Android Authority predicts that given their previous timeframes, it should take Samsung around five months before the OS's release to create their TouchWiz version. That should make the target date either January or February 2017.
However, it's still unsure as to whether Samsung is actually working on it, given the Note 7 crisis happening right now. The worst-case scenario is that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and/or Note 8 will come out in the second quarter of 2017 with Android 7.0 Nougat already built in, and the Galaxy S7 and Note 7 will get a delayed patch. It's even likely that the 8 series might be running Android 7.1.
Google Nexus and Google Pixel devices already have Android 7.0 Nougat as of August. The OS brings quick toggle, better notifications, a more sensible Doze Mode, more language options, and a bigger range of emojis. Stay tuned to GamenGuide to make sure you get the news about Android 7.0 Nougat coming to Samsung Galaxy S7 and Note 7 first.


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Eastbourne Borough Council has earmarked funding to provide extra support for local businesses as the economic effects of Covid-19 continue to bite.
Councillor David Tutt, Leader of the Council, said: “As long as infection rates continue to fall, we are very much looking forward to the lifting of restrictions this summer and the rejuvenation of the Eastbourne economy which, as a tourism town, has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic.
“But in the meantime, we have been exploring what additional support we can offer to small businesses within the guidelines of the government Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).” Since this part of the country entered tier 4 restrictions on December 26, the borough council has supported more than 350 businesses with £1.2 million under the ARG.
Following a recent review, the council will be expanding the ARG so that it can support more businesses through these schemes:
- Exceptional Hardship Scheme – Aimed at micro, small and medium sized businesses, this will be designed to help businesses that are still currently trading but have suffered a significant downturn in income, as well as businesses that have been mandated to close by the government.
- Business Adaptation Grant – This will allow businesses to access funds to cover expenses such as training or upskilling new staff, expansion of an existing business or costs associated with adaptation as a result of pandemic such as diversification into online retail or making the property Covid-compliant.
- Business Futures Bid Fund – This will allow local trade organisations, CICs and not-for- profit organisations to submit robust business cases for funding to support activities that will help drive the regeneration of a specific business sector.
- Providing support to taxi and private drivers that have seen a decrease in their trade.
Councillor Tutt said: “As we begin to emerge from the lockdown, it is vitally important that we continue to assist Eastbourne businesses through the recovery.
“The impact of the pandemic has in both health and financial terms been devastating, but I remain optimistic that we can and will recover from it.”
For more information visit https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/community/covid-19/businesses/


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Global venture-backed fintech funding reached almost $23 billion in the first quarter of 2021, a 110% quarter-over-quarter increase, according to CB Insights’ latest report and webinar, The State of Fintech. Accounting for the increased investment in fintech companies were 57 mega rounds, or financings, that raised over $100 million. Overall, there were 614 fintech deals completed.
Fintech companies continue to raise capital later in their growth stages, as evidenced by the 150% quarter-over-quarter increase in Series D rounds. According to CB Insights’ analysts, mega rounds made up the majority of the Series D rounds. Fintech exits included 11 IPOs and 67 M&A transactions, a statistic that includes SPAC mergers. While many of these fintech IPOs have been highly anticipated, performance has lagged behind the broader market, according to the report.
Driven by the proximity to the IBOR cessation date, capital markets-tech companies that have been working to replace the long used rate, raised over $8 billion in the first quarter of 2021, across 78 venture-backed deals. Also of note was the payments sector, in which companies raised over $6 billion in 114 deals. Insurtech companies funding rose 12% quarter-over-quarter to $2.3 billion, with mega rounds making up nearly half of its 92 deals in the first quarter.


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Supermarket chain Asda has suffered the worst sales performance in its 50-year history with a 4.7 per cent slide in second-quarter takings.
It marked the fourth consecutive quarter of declines for the Leeds-based grocer, owned by US giant Walmart, and comes after sales fell 3.9 per cent in the previous period.
The figures, for the 11 weeks to 30 June, come as supermarkets are struggling to see off the threat of discounters Aldi and Lidl, with official figures showing the longest stretch of food and drink price deflation on record.
Asda chief executive Andy Clarke said: “We have hit our nadir. We have got positive green shoots as we move into the third quarter.”
He added: “We have led the way through what has been a very challenging storm for the retail market. Although we have hit our nadir, we are on an upward curve.”
Shore Capital analyst Clive Black said the ongoing price wars would play into shoppers’ hands in the run-up to Christmas, adding: “We have been somewhat surprised by the magnitude of Asda’s underperformance in 2015 and, indeed, we continue to scratch our heads on this matter given the magnitude of sales weakness
“Asda is, no doubt like the rest of the superstore trade, bracing itself for the forthcoming autumn trading period. We expect a lively trading environment.”


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McDonald’s (MCD) gave warning earlier this week that the food-safety problems that arose in mid-July in China would have a “significant negative impact” on sales, certain to harm performance in Asia and likely to drag down global numbers for the year. Now it has become clear just how badly the China trouble has damaged the burger giant.
Same-store sales in the Asia, Middle East, and Africa region declined 7.3 percent in July from a year ago—and the food-safety issue at Shanghai Husi Food, the McDonald’s supplier in China, came to light with less than two weeks remaining in the month. The problem could very well prove even more devastating over the full month of August.
Even in places untouched by allegations of expired and unclean meat, McDonald’s sales weakened last month. Sale in the U.S. sank 3.2 percent. Europe posted a gain from a year ago, but it was only 0.5 percent. All this translated to a global drop of 2.5 percent in same-store sales for July. Don Thompson, McDonald’s chief executive, said in a statement that his company will now need to “inspire our customers’ trust and loyalty.”
McDonald’s Asia business is in the food-safety spotlight now, but the company’s entire Asia, Middle East, and Africa region has been teetering for some time as a result of weak sales in Japan. Same-store sales in the region had fallen during nine of the past 12 months. But China had been a strong market for McDonald’s in the region.
McDonald’s American woes are well known. July is the ninth consecutive month that same-store sales in the U.S. have been down or flat.
Europe has been in positive sales territory for 10 of the past 12 months, thanks to the strength of British and French restaurants. “We are seeing some softness in Russia, I think largely due to some of the geopolitical concerns and consumer confidence,” said Thompson on an earnings call last month.
The next few months will continue to be challenging. McDonald’s admitted as much in its latest quarterly report: “As a result of the China supplier issue, the company’s global comparable sales forecast for 2014 is now at risk.”


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The study titled, 'Unlocking India's electric mobility potential' noted that to attain more than 30 per cent EV adoption, India will require approximately 800 GWh of batteries by 2030.
To meet this rising demand, India is accelerating plans to manufacture Lithium-ion cells within the country, anticipating USD 2.3 billion in government subsidies and more than USD 7.5 billion in investment potential, it said.
In terms of investment, given Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflow of nearly USD 6 billion in 2021, India's EV industry could attract further foreign investments of about USD 20 billion by 2030, to fuel the country's economic growth and help achieve required scale in this industry, as per the study.
"Despite the obstacles, India is one of the largest markets for EVs in Asia behind only China and surprisingly, ahead of Japan.
"We can build on this position by acting to support product innovation, create reliable charging infrastructure, and provide subsidies to buyers and additional incentives to startups involved in battery R&D, among others," said Barnik Chitran Maitra, Managing Partner and CEO, India & South Asia at Arthur D Little.
If India achieves its true EV potential of 50 per cent electrification, every 10th EV sold globally could be manufactured in India, making India a global EV powerhouse, he said.
In the recent past, government support and investments made by auto-incumbents in the EV ecosystem have also bolstered private equity (PE) and venture capitalists (VC) confidence in the domestic EV space, as per the study.
The study cites several factors for the low adoption of passenger EVs in the country including higher upfront costs compared to traditional vehicles, lack of models, dearth of charging infrastructure, low consumer confidence in the product driven primarily by range anxiety, exacerbated by product safety mishaps.
It recommends that the private sector and the government should work together to remove the said barriers, and help India lift its EV game.
Given India's massive scale as a market for vehicles in general, there is immense scope for EV demand as well, the study noted, adding, increasing awareness of environmental benefits has further prompted innovation from the private sector and support from the government in the form of its flagship FAME-II policy, which is aimed at boosting EV adoption.
"We believe that India is well-positioned to make this transition. The solutions are evident, and the environment is conducive. With the needed impetus, India can achieve its aspiration of becoming one of the world's leaders in e-mobility," said Fabian Sempf, Principal and India Head of Automotive at Arthur D Little.
The study further noted that besides the benefits of a cleaner environment, India's import bill is also expected to come down by almost USD 14 billion in 2030 itself.
Besides, the adoption of EVs is expected to create 10 million new jobs in India by 2030, in turn boosting economic growth of the country, said the report.
The report was launched in the presence of auto industry veteran and former MD and CEO Mahindra & Mahindra; Pawan Goenka, Mahesh Babu, CEO India and COO, Switch Mobility; Chetan Maini, Co-Founder and Chairman, Sun Mobility; Balbir Singh Dhillon, Head, Audi India; and Mr. Rajan Wadhera, Former President, SIAM, and Senior Advisor, Mahindra & Mahindra.
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Unleashing Creativity: While norms are needed for major companies, smaller players should be allowed to flourish, OpenAI CEO says in a conversation with Times Internet vice chairman Satyan Gajwani.Visa Delays for Chinese Pros Hit India Biz
The government’s strict approval process for granting visas to Chinese nationals and clearing investment plans of Chinese firms is now hurting Indian businesses, with projects getting delayed or even scrapped, multiple industry executives told ET.OECD Raises India’s FY24 Growth Forecast a Jot to 6%
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on Wednesday moved its forecast on India’s economic expansion for this fiscal year higher to 6%, from 5.9%, while citing weak global demand and the effect of monetary policy tightening as factors constraining the growth.
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- Bain Capital Private Equity to acquire Porus Labs
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- India in talks with U.S. on steel, aluminum tariff exemption
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- Web Werks-Iron Mountain to invest Rs 1,400 cr to develop data center in Navi Mumbai
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- Leading basmati rice exporter GRM Overseas looks to make its presence felt in domestic market
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STRICT AGE limits for beef and seasonality in lamb are key aspects of a new quality standard mark for British meat.
Having received EU approval for its Quality Standard, the English Beef and Lamb Executive launched a set of logos and quality standards in London last week (w/e Sept 24), that are aimed at tackling the eating quality issues of tenderness, flavour and succulence.
“The standard sets new requirements above the commercial and legal standards currently applied to beef and lamb,” said Andrew Garvey, head of marketing at EBLEX.
These standards have been based on scientific research and expert advice, added Mr Garvey.
“The EBLEX quality standard will give producers a real point of difference and will provide consumers with reassurance and more consistent eating quality,” he said.
The age restriction on beef will exclude about 30% of cull cows, currently slaughtered in Europe.
And for the first time, the quality standards place an age limit – and additional processing requirements at certain times of the year – on lamb.
Only beef and lamb produced, transported, slaughtered, cut and packaged through a fully assured supply chain (assured and independently audited to EU standards) will be eligible to carry the new EBLEX standard mark.
Multiple retailers and the larger abattoirs, processors and suppliers are likely to already conform to the new ELBEX standards.
“But many independent butchers and a number of smaller to medium-sized abattoirs may have difficulty in meeting the criteria,” said Mr Garvey.
In addition to meeting the quality standards on production and eating quality, the animals would have to be born, raised, slaughtered and processed in England to be eligible for the standard.
However, the significant number of beef and lamb carcasses that cross English borders between Scotland and Wales are not excluded.
“Where produce meets the criteria of the EBLEX quality standard in every respect bar where it is born, raised and slaughtered it can still be embraced by the scheme – but carry a different flag,” said Mr Garvey.
So in the case of lamb or beef crossing borders in Great Britain, the English flag would simply be replaced with the British one.
EBLEX are launching a high-profile campaign next spring, kicking off with TV and radio advertising.
“We‘ll be raising the profile of the EBLEX Quality Standard mark with consumers directly at point of purchase wherever possible,” said Mr Garvey.


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Bullet Witch is releasing on the 25th of April and is another game getting a slight remaster treatment. Bullet Witch is a game that, as a PlayStation owner, I missed back in 2006 when it was initially released for the XBox 360. You take control of Alicia who is armed with her multi purpose “gunrod” ..
Shenmue 1 and 2 are getting remastered later this year. You read that right, Yu Suzuki’s series of open world role playing games are being ported to PC, PlayStation and Xbox One consoles and are expected to be released before the end of the year. Though having not played the games it is a series ..
While a lot of people were oohing and ahhing over the inevitable announcement of Final Fantasy 15 hitting the PC. I was more surprised to see that Fear Effect is getting the remaster/remake/reimagine treatment. Aptly named, Fear Effect Reinvented follows hot on the heels of many other retro console re-releases, such as Wonder Boy and ..
It joins the long list of Square-Enix titles of old hitting current gen hardware. Dubbed “The Zodiac Age” it is announced as a PlayStation 4 only title and set to be released next year – I expect that a PC release will follow shortly after the PS4 release but until they announce it PS4 is all we ..
It’s actually happening, I can’t even really believe it myself. If you remember a few months ago I posted being a bit upset at Square-Enix releasing a PS4 port of one of my favourite games, Final Fantasy 7. It seems that after my initial disapproval Sony at E3 have announced that Final Fantasy 7 is going ..


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Welcome to the future. Robots will soon deliver goods and groceries within a 30 minute radius. At low cost, straight to customers' doors.
Estonia is expected to get a 100-to-one-euro return on investment for its e-Residency program, which lets anybody start a business from afar. It is even planning to launch ‘estcoins,’ its own cryptocurrency.
Estonia has made a name in the field of technology and innovation, and is home to start-ups testing new gadgets. Robots are part of daily life in the capital Tallinn, where they’re popular for take-out deliveries.
The eternal low price war between discount supermarkets has been blamed for stunting the growth of online groceries in Germany. But with their market share under pressure, could Aldi and Lidl finally start to deliver?
Five people have died after an airplane crashed into the car park of a supermarket near the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, according to local media. Reports said that the aircraft exploded in the air, shortly after takeoff.
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