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The signs of Turkey’s disastrous economy are all around. Long lines snake outside discounted bread kiosks. The price of medicine, milk and toilet paper are soaring. Some gas stations have closed after exhausting their stock. Angry outbursts have erupted on the streets.
“Unemployment, high living costs, price increases, and bills are breaking our backs,” the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions said last month.
Even before the coronavirus pandemic and supply chain bottlenecks began walloping the world’s economies nearly two years ago, Turkey was trying to ward off a recession as it struggled with mountainous debt, steep losses in the value of the Turkish lira, and rising inflation. But in recent weeks that slow-moving train wreck has sped up with a ferocious intensity. And the foot that’s pushing hardest on the accelerator belongs to the country’s authoritarian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Why is this happening now?
Turkey’s economic problems have deep roots but the most recent crisis was caused by Mr. Erdogan’s insistence on lowering interest rates in the face of galloping inflation — precisely the opposite tactic of what economists almost universally prescribe.
Mr. Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey for 18 years, has long resisted that particularly painful prescription, but his determination to keep cutting interest rates even as the country’s inflation rate tops a staggering 21 percent appears to be pushing Turkey past a tipping point.
Normally, investors and others look to a nation’s central bank to keep inflation in check and set interest rates. But Mr. Erdogan has repeatedly shown that if Turkey’s central bankers and finance ministers won’t do what he wants, he will get rid of them, having already fired three in two years.
The value of the lira has nose-dived in recent weeks, and on Monday hit a record low — reaching 14.3 to a dollar, from about 7 to the dollar earlier this year — pushing some businesses and households that have borrowed money from abroad into bankruptcy. The currency’s steep decline means prices for imported goods keep rising. Shortages are common and people are struggling to afford food and fuel. The youth unemployment rate is 25 percent. The president’s popularity is sinking and his opponents have become emboldened.
With an election coming up in 18 months, Mr. Erdogan seems convinced that his strategy will enable the Turkish economy to grow out of its problems. Most economists, however, say a crash is more likely.
When did Turkey’s economic problems begin?
Mr. Erdogan’s aggressive pro-growth strategies have worked for him before. Since he began governing Turkey in 2003, he has undertaken expensive infrastructure projects, courted foreign investors and encouraged businesses and consumers to load up on debt. Growth took off.
“Turkey was considered to be an economic miracle” during the first decade of Mr. Erdogan’s rule, said Kadri Tastan, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund based in Brussels. Poverty was sliced in half, millions of people swelled the ranks of the middle class, and foreign investors were eager to lend.
But Mr. Erdogan’s relentless push to expand became unsustainable. Rather than pull back, however, the giddy borrowing continued.
The increasingly unstable economy was caught in a bind. High interest rates attracted foreign investors to accept the risk and keep lending, but they would stunt growth. Mr. Erdogan was unwilling to accept that trade-off, and continued to support cheap borrowing as inflation took off and the currency’s value declined.
And he insists that high interest rates cause inflation — even though it is low interest rates that put more money into circulation, encourage people to borrow and spend more, and tend to drive up the prices.
“Erdogan has his own economic philosophy,” said Henri Barkey, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Dec. 14, 2021, 3:23 p.m. ET
The economy seesawed between these conflicting goals until 2018 when growing political tensions between Turkey and the United States caused the value of the lira to topple.
The political standoff eased, but the underlying economic problems remained. Mr. Erdogan kept pushing state banks to offer cheap loans to households and businesses and the borrowing frenzy continued. “Things never really normalized,” said Selva Demiralp, an economist at Koc University in Istanbul.
When the chief of the central bank resisted pressure from the president to lower the 24 percent interest rate in 2019, Mr. Erdogan fired him, the beginning of a pattern.
To prop up the lira, Turkish banks began selling off their reserves of dollars. Those stocks of dollars are now running low.
The global economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic has added to the strains by limiting the sales of Turkish goods around the world. Tourism, which was one of Turkey’s most dynamic sectors, has also been badly hit.
What is President Erdogan’s approach to interest rates and what do economists say?
By keeping interest rates low, Mr. Erdogan argues that consumers will be more eager to keep shopping and businesses will be more inclined to borrow, invest money in the economy and hire workers.
And if the lira loses value against the dollar, he says, Turkey’s exports will simply become cheaper and foreign consumers will want to buy even more.
That is true to some degree — but it comes at a heavy price. Turkey is quite dependent on imports like automobile parts and medicine, as well as fuel and fertilizer and other raw materials. When the lira depreciates, those products cost more to buy.
At the same time, Mr. Erdogan’s disdain for conventional economic theory has scared off some foreign investors, who had been eager to loan Turkish businesses hundreds of millions of dollars but now are losing faith in the currency.
And the lower rates go, the faster inflation rises. Over the past year, the lira has lost more than 45 percent of its value, and the official inflation rate has surged past 20 percent, although many analysts believe the rate on the streets is much higher.
By comparison, an inflation rate of 6.8 percent so far this year in the United States (the highest in nearly four decades) and a 4.9 percent rate in the eurozone are enough to set off alarms.
In Turkey, skyrocketing prices are causing misery among the poor and impoverishing the middle class.
“We can’t make a living,” said Mihriban Aslan, as she waited on a long line to buy bread in Istanbul’s Sultangazi district. “My husband is 60 years old, he can’t work much now.” He has a small pension of 1,800 lira — which at the moment is worth about $125. “I sometimes do needle work at home to bring in extra money,” she said.
Businesses would rather hoard goods than sell them because they don’t think they will be able to afford to replace them.
Ismail Arslanturk, a 22-year-old cashier at a neighborhood grocery shop, complained that the price of green lentils has nearly doubled. “I don’t believe the economy will be fixed after this point,” said Mr. Arslanturk, who added he was forced to leave high school to help support his family. “I am hopeless.’’
What has Erdogan’s response been to the intensifying crisis?
The president has doubled down on his approach, asserting he will “never compromise” on his opposition to higher interest rates. “Interest rates make the rich richer, the poor poorer,” he said in an interview on national television last month. “We have prevented our country from being crushed in such a way.”
The president has invoked Islamic precepts against usury and referred to interest charges on loans as the “mother and father of all evil,” and blamed foreign interference for rising prices. Analysts like Mr. Barkey of the Council on Foreign Relations said that such comments are primarily aimed at appealing to more conservative religious segments of the country that represent the core of Mr. Erdogan’s support.
Turkey’s fundamental problem, Mr. Barkey maintains, is that it has an overly confident ruler who has been in power for a long time. “He believes in his omnipotence and he’s making mistakes,” Mr. Barkey said, “but he’s so surrounded by yes men that nobody can challenge him.”


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Intel profit drops 27 per cent on slow PC sales
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NEW YORK, N.Y.—Intel Corp., the world’s largest chipmaker, on Thursday said its fourth-quarter net income fell 27 per cent from the previous year, as PC sales continued to weaken.
Net income was $2.47 billion (U.S.), or 48 cents per share, for the October to December period. That was down from $3.36 billion, or 64 cents per share, a year ago.
Intel beat expectations for the quarter. Analysts polled by FactSet were expecting earnings of 45 cents per share.
Revenue fell 3 per cent to $13.5 billion, matching analyst expectations.
Intel is challenged by a shift in consumer spending from PCs — most of which use Intel chips — to smartphones and tablets, which don’t. Research firm Gartner said this week that global PC shipments fell 4.9 per cent in the fourth quarter from a year ago. Households are letting tablets replace their secondary PCs, it said.
Intel had warned that the fourth quarter would be lacklustre, and that the usual holiday bounce in PC shipments would be cut in half, even though Microsoft launched its new operating system, Windows 8, in the quarter.
The Santa Clara, California, company expects about $12.7 billion in first-quarter revenue, below the analyst forecast of $12.9 billion but in line with usual seasonal variations.
Intel shares fell 49 cents, or 2.1 per cent, to $22.19 (U.S.) in afterhours trading, after the release of the results. That nearly wiped out the day’s gain of 57 cents in regular trading.
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CIBC says corporate profit margins hit a 27-year high in the fourth quarter and are likely to remain strong.

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Constant efforts are made by various researchers to find new ways of producing renewable substance so as to decrease the pollution burden of Mother Earth. With the same aim, a research team at the Nile University, Egypt, has developed a method of converting dried shrimp shells into slender films of biodegradable plastic, which would have otherwise discarded. The team desires to use this biodegradable plastic to craft eco-friendly packaging and grocery bags.
After continuous efforts of 6 months, the researchers were able to produce a thin, transparent model with the use of chitosan, a substance present in the shells of various crustaceans. Irene Samy said, “If this biodegradable plastic is commercialized, it can assist in actually lessening our waste, which in turn can aid in improving the food exports as the plastic has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.”
The team bought the shrimps from supermarkets, local fishermen, and restaurants at inexpensive prices. Further, the use of shrimp shells is more feasible as it can substitute the synthetic substances utilized in plastics and thus, slash the quantity of biowaste generated by the food industry.
The shells are initially cleaned, treated chemically, ground, and then suspended in a solution, which dries up to form thin layers of plastic, a method the team believes to have a potential for industrial production on a large scale. Hani Chbib, said, “Around 3,500 metric tons of shrimp are imported by Egypt that generates 1,000 metric tons of shells as a waste. Rather than discarding the shells, they can be utilized to craft biodegradable plastic bags.”
For now, the researchers have produced minute samples and the plan is not yet prepared to go into marketable production but the group is functioning hard to enhance properties, such as durability and thermal stability that can permit the substance to go into extensive use.
This is surely a great step toward reducing the environmental waste burden. Don’t you think so?


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Directors of Microsoft’s emerging markets are in town this week for a meeting, so the company invited a handful of local journalists to dinner for an update on the company’s “Unlimited Potential” program.
Headed by former Windows client boss Will Poole, Unlimited Potential is spreading the PC gospel to developing countries and populations that have yet to embrace computing.
Its goal is to reach an estimated 5 billion people who can’t afford or access computers and the Internet, including 1 billion that it hopes to reach by 2015.
The group is a grab bag of researchers, product people and marketers spread around the world.
They’re working with governments, schools and non-profit groups on projects, including pay-as-you-go computers and special versions of Windows. They’re also testing new systems, such as one for handling money workers abroad can use to send money home, and another that lets multiple students work together on a single computer.
I was surprised by how sympathetic Poole is to the One Laptop Per Child project led by the MIT Media Lab that has developed an inexpensive PC for developing countries. Poole said he’s particularly impressed by the device’s display, which switches from color to grayscale when it’s used in bright light, although he’s still not enthusiastic about its using open-source software.
He suggested people keep their eyes open for new low-cost PCs from vendors such as Asus.
Intel is also planning to talk up new designs for emerging-market computers next week at its fall developer conference in San Francisco.


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FlexiLoans.com, a brand owned by NBFC Epimoney Pvt Ltd, boasts of being a market leader in ecosystem-based digital lending for small businesses in India. ‘Loans at a click’ is the vision with which the founders had embarked upon this journey.
The reasons for that are easy to determine. The excessive requirements of documentation, asset security and other paperwork act as a major roadblock to MSMEs in the country. By digitising the entire process and creating flexible lending products, FlexiLoans.com aims to solve this very problem at its core. It offers SMEs a lending solution which focuses on the three key aspects of technology, products and partnerships. With a CAGR of 543.93%, Epimoney is the third fastest growing company in India at the ETRise Top MSMEs Ranking awards.
To view the entire list of India’s Fastest Growing MSMEs, click here
“Being a digital lender, we can reach the farthest corners of the country, provide loans as small as Rs 50,000 ($700), use surrogate data science led credit underwriting and disburse loans within 48 hours of loan application,” says Manish Lunia, co-founder, FlexiLoans.com.
As of December 2019, FlexiLoans.com has disbursed loans in over 1,400 plus cities and towns with a branchless presence, and their average loan ticket size is Rs 275,000 of over 30,000 MSME loans.
Besides this, the company has devised a proprietary score called ‘True Score,’ which assesses surrogate data of the business and helps in lending to MSMEs. “Lack of a credit/bureau score is another major problem for MSMEs. About 48% of our borrowers are approved by ‘True Score’, but rejected by banks because of insufficient bureau history,” adds Lunia.
To view the entire list of India’s Top Performing MSMEs,
Though the lockdown affected the businesses of their customers in a multitude of ways, the company is of the view that this storm will pass. Lunia says, since a lot of FlexiLoans customers serve essential services like kirana stores and pharmacies, their repayments are unlikely to be impacted.
Post the unlock phases, their e-commerce customers have re-started selling and are finding good traction. “We are getting leads from our ecommerce partners Flipkart & Amazon for lending to their sellers. About 35-40% of our AUM depends on ecommerce players and we have restarted lending in this vertical,” he highlights.
The company is in advanced discussions with a few PE/VC investors for equity infusion. “In the post-Covid world, we intend to grow via the off-balance sheet/co-lending route, which is an asset-light and more sustainable growth model,” he reveals.
And though technology and data led lending is still very nascent to India, the company is of the view that it will do the same thing to credit penetration that microfinance did a decade ago.
Download the Top MSMEs Ranking e-Handbook. Click here


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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) praised AEON’s official announcement that it will phase out all sales of elephant ivory by tenants in all of AEON’s numerous malls across Japan by March 2020.
EIA president Allan Thornton said: “AEON’s decision to end all ivory sales in its malls sends a strong signal to the people of Japan that domestic ivory trade in Japan must end to help protect Africa’s elephants.”
AEON, one of Japan’s largest retail companies with more than 50 malls across Japan, prohibited ivory sales in its directly managed stores starting June 2015, and is now expanding its policy to all mall tenants. There are currently 180 hanko name seal shops in Aeon malls countrywide. The policy change is anticipated to have a broad impact on Japan’s ivory market.
AEON’s environment representative connected AEON’s policy change to the global movement to close ivory markets. In 2016, 180 parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), including Japan, unanimously agreed upon a resolution calling for the closure of domestic ivory markets in countries with legal markets linked to illegal trade or poaching. The United States has already instituted a near-total ban on ivory and China’s ban will be in place by the end of 2017. The Government of Japan claims it is not obliged to abide by the resolution
AEON’s move follows Japanese internet giant Rakuten’s enactment of a comprehensive policy change to end all sales of elephant ivory products, effective August 2017. Other leading e-commerce retailers such as Google, Amazon.com, Alibaba, Tencent, Etsy, and eBay have already banned ivory sales on all their sites globally. Other hanko name seal retailers in Japan have also ceased ivory sales.
Yahoo! Japan continues to sell large quantities of ivory products on its online auction and shopping sites including whole tusks and hanko name seals, which are often associated with ivory tusks of illegal origin. EIA urges Yahoo! Japan, owned by SoftBank, to cease all ivory sales to eliminate Japan’s largest internet ivory marketplace.
EIA investigations have exposed rampant illegal activity via glaring loopholes in Japan’s ivory control system. Japan’s changes to its Law for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LCES) are inadequate and do nothing to address the serious problems in its ineffectual control system. Japan recently announced a nationwide campaign to register whole tusks over a two-year period. EIA considers such a campaign tantamount to enacting a large-scale illegal ivory amnesty that will only serve to promote more ivory trade, counter to international efforts to close markets to protect elephants.
“While the world waits for the Government of Japan to close its domestic ivory market, it’s exciting to see the private sector step up to protect elephants,” said EIA senior policy analyst Danielle Grabiel. “EIA continues to encourage the Government of Japan to urgently close its legal domestic ivory market consistent with the CITES resolution and global efforts to protect elephants from the deadly ivory trade.”
Contact: Amy Zets Croke, Senior Policy Analyst, [email protected]


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The new normal (one of the most overused catchphrases in 2020) has simply become normal. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the F&B space.
There is an increasing trend of adding mayonnaise and cheese to Indian street food recipes. Twitter users expressed their views on it.
Shilpa Shetty and her mother Sunanda Shetty sampled one of the biggest food trends in recent times - the pull-me-up cake.


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Legal & General (L&G) is considering whether to start offering robo-advice as the firm overhauls the way it engages with its customers.
L&G’s managing director for individual annuities, Emma Byron, said the provider did not have firm plans at this stage but did not exclude venturing into robo-advice as it recognised there was a consumer need.
Other options may include partnerships with other providers of advice, she said.
Ms Byron said: "[Robo-advice] is not off the table. We support the need to get people advice. We are always looking for ways to enhance our service."
The provider, which sells its products via intermediaries as well as direct to consumers, is currently revisiting its client literature with a view to simplifying the language used.
L&G recently overhauled its direct annuity product, stripping out complex features that had found little take-up among clients, such as certain tiers of spouse benefits.
But more was needed in the way of innovation, particularly around consumer engagement, Ms Byron said.
Although she added this was not going to come from new products, as called for by the regulator and government in the past.
She said: "We definitely need to innovate in how we engage with people because this is where we have failed.
"Sitting in an insurance company in the ivory tower dreaming up new products is not what customers want. Simplification is [what is] important.
"The FCA is focusing on getting good outcomes for consumers. Have they articulated the solution perfectly for that? Probably not."
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) came up with a five-point plan in April, aimed at engaging consumers with their retirement options far earlier in their life than is currently the case.
The trade body said it was concerned more than half of fully withdrawn pension pots were not spent, but were moved into other savings and investments instead.
The plan includes tailored and phased customer communications throughout a saver's life; a mid-life MOT; prompts for people to use guidance; overhauling retirement risk warnings; and improving in-retirement communications.
The ABI called on the government, regulators, guidance providers, the advice community and consumer bodies to work together to make the interventions a reality.
But other providers recently said the retirement industry needed to take more pride in what it has already achieved.
Speaking at an ABI conference in April Aviva's head of savings and retirement, Alistair McQueen, said there have been a number of big innovations in the marketplace, such as automatic enrolment and pension freedoms so the industry had no reason to be apologetic about not innovating enough.
Despite this, he said Aviva was acutely aware of pressure from the outside from the likes of big tech firms and start ups looking to engage with retirement customers and was gearing up for its next innovation drive as a means of 'self preservation'.


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There are long queues in front of liquor stores and in front of cigarette counters now that the sale ban on alcohol and cigarettes has been lifted.
South Africa moved to lockdown level 2 as from midnight on Monday.
The sale of cigarettes has been banned since the beginning of the national lockdown almost 5 months ago.
The liquor sales ban was lifted in June and reinstated again quickly a few weeks later when coronavirus cases increased.
Many South Africans are relieved with the easing of the lockdown regulations and ready to support the economy.


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} DoubleClick dclk revenue jumps 154% By Khanh T.L. Tran, CBS MarketWatch Last Update:
NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- DoubleClick posted a narrower-than-expected third-quarter loss Thursday on sales 154 percent higher than the year-ago period.
The Internet advertising firm (DCLK) dclk reported a loss of $4.7 million, or 28 cents per share, compared to a loss of $2.1 million, or 19 cents per share, a year ago. DoubleClick beat Wall Street analysts' expectations by a penny.
Moreover, the company said its revenue jumped to $20.8 million from $8.2 million reported in the same period a year ago.
Shares rose 1 3/4, or 10 percent, to 19 15/16.
The company said traffic rose to an average of 108 million ad impressions per day during the month of September, compared with 81 million during the month of June.
"This quarter was particularly notable because we increased our global presence through continued international expansion, added new inventory with highly branded sites, introduced a suite of new products . . .," said Kevin O'Connor, DoubleClick's CEO and co-founder in a statement.
DoubleClick currently represents over 625 international advertisers.


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iTunes to block Palm Pre
The $ 200 Pre began in June as a direct competitor to the iPhone, and became the first Apple device that could connect directly to iTunes. He did that in essence, posing as an iPod or iPhone.
Apple crippled this function by updating their software. To get around it, Palm uses a similar solution to the original method of connection to previous iTunes: Software Updates Pre, so that when connected to a computer’s USB port was given a code provider Apple hardware that was assigned by the USB Implementers Forum, a group of industry standards. ITunes then see the pre as a device from Apple and allows users to transfer content to it. The phone does not work with latest iTunes version, however.
Palm complained to the group in July that Apple is the abuse of his USB vendor code to block competition. But the group disagreed in a letter to both companies on Tuesday.
The letter also warned that if Palm software updates before to include Apple’s supplier code – a move of Palm stated in his complaint that he had planned to restore the function of iTunes – that would violate the rules of group.
The group asked Palm to clarify its intent and respond within one week on the possible violation.
Palm Derick network, said company spokesman contacted the USB group, believing that consumers should be able to decide how to use the media that his property is not subject to copy restrictions. He said that Palm is reviewing the letter and answer if you think appropriate.
Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said the company had no comment.
The dispute over iTunes is part of a larger building rivalry between Apple and Palm, whose president and CEO, Jon Rubinstein, once was an executive at Apple, and oversaw the iPod. Pre includes a “multi-touch screen like the Apple iPhone, which lets users do things like pinch the screen to zoom in and out of photos.


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Almost two thirds of people now admit they ‘need’ the internet to function in everyday life, according to new research. The study of 2,000 people has found that, on average, we only go a maximum of 90 minutes during the day without checking Facebook, Twitter or e-mail.
Staggeringly, one in ten even admit they don’t go longer than ten minutes during the day without logging on to catch up with friends or work.
The study, conducted by domain name specialists Siteopia, also found a surprising shift towards mobile technology, as 10% of people now access the internet primarily on their mobile, with 5% accessing primarily via tablet.
In fact, the average internet user can now get online via three different devices- 10% can access on a massive five separate devices, highlighting the increased reach of web-ready games consoles and smart TVs.
A Siteopia spokesman commented on the findings, saying:
“The internet is now such a big part of our lives that it’s no surprise so many of us rely on it to function day to day, but it’s important to acknowledge the high proportion of people who feel they cannot go without – with many saying 90 minutes is the longest they can be offline.
“Like everything, it’s important to recognize what enhances and benefits our day to day lives, while making sure we focus on quality sites and services that add convenience and enrich our routines rather than simply fill time.”
With such widespread access, it’s not surprising that only 45% of respondents could confidentially say they aren’t addicted to the internet.
In fact, men clock up over 19 hours a week online – more than 42 solid days each year, and over a third longer than women, who only spend 14 hours per week surfing the web.
75% even admit they have already been online before 9am every day, with almost one in five checking their e-mail or catching up on social media during their commute to work.
With all that time spent online, there’s obviously a lot to hide- almost one in five men delete their browser history every day, with a slightly-less-concerned 45% of men deleting their browser history at least once a week.
The dependance on the internet is even stronger for some, as a massive 62% now do all their banking online- a third even admit they do all of their clothes shopping online, with free returns and delivery becoming an ever more common feature.
The survey also looked at the general surfing habits of men and women, with the ladies still more likely to go online for Facebook or online shopping- while men lean towards news, Twitter, and NSFW material.
Interestingly though, the research revealed that men and women now spend the same amount of time searching for gossip about their favorite celebrities.
Men are also twice as likely to take to online gaming, whilst also downloading more music and watching more videos.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, men are four times more likely to access porn or NSFW material, while one in eight women admit to going online to view adult material each week.
The Siteopia spokesman continued:
“The results showed men to be the biggest internet users, spending more time reading the news and show a much bigger tendency for gaming online.
“It’s interesting to see men now consume as much celebrity news as women, while there were also clear patterns between different forms of social media, with women the bigger Facebook users while men devote more time to Twitter on average.”


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Huge industry news to mention this morning! NVIDIA has confirmed they're buying Arm for $40 billion. This news comes after speculation over it for some time, which yesterday was finally announced.
Before getting wild with speculation about what will happen, NVIDIA noted a few keys points about the acquisition. Notably, they will actually keep the headquartered presence in Cambridge, UK and expand the R&D there with "establishing a world-class AI research and education center, and building an Arm/NVIDIA-powered AI supercomputer for groundbreaking research". Additionally, they will be continuing the same open-licensing model that Arm has along with "customer neutrality" and additionally they will be expanding Arm's IP licensing with some of NVIDIA's own tech.
Nothing is actually complete yet though, as these take time to go through all the proper channels. This includes regulatory approvals across the U.K., China, the European Union and the United States which they're estimating to take 18 months. See the full announcement here.
NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang also sent a letter to NVIDIA employees, which was posted officially online as well. In it, Huang mentions "Uniting NVIDIA’s AI computing with the vast reach of Arm’s CPU, we will engage the giant AI opportunity ahead and advance computing from the cloud, smartphones, PCs, self-driving cars, robotics, 5G, and IoT.".
NVIDIA were already a powerhouse, being the most popular desktop GPU brand and now they own Arm. What do you make of this news, what are you expecting to come from it? Let us know in the comments.
Quoting: GuestInteresting but i guess desperate: https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/14/arm-co-founder-starts-save-arm-campaign-to-keep-independence-amid-40b-nvidia-deal/It's kind of amazing when you think about it that, stripped down, what he is saying, and it's being taken somewhat seriously for frankly solid reasons, is that being taken over by an American company could torpedo a business. Even ten years ago, can you imagine the idea that a company becoming American would be the kiss of death commercially being seriously contemplated? And yet here we are--the US picked their trade war with China and the fallout is beginning to filter down.
QuoteThis puts Britain in the invidious position that the decision about who ARM is allowed to sell to will be made in the White House and not in Downing Street,” he writes
His apparent trust in the current UK government's ability to do anything productive let alone efficient is touching.
Quoting: EhvisQuoting: x_wingQuoting: EhvisYou'd think that Linux users, who have been on the receiving end of FUD, would be slightly more careful with what they say. Unfortunately not the first time this has been proven wrong.
So Noveau poor performance is not Nvidia fault? Facts != FUD.
No it's not. It's a consequence of NVIDIA keeping secrets
Bulldust - there is plenty of hardware out there - including niche hardware - that is just as "secret" as Nvidia's GPUs... Yet many of those, dare I say the vast majority, work just as well as they do under Microsoft Windows-based operating systems.
Yes, Nvidia being secretive about their GPUs doesn't help the situation... But it is a very small cog in a very large machine.
See more from me


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Labour availability ‘not meeting demand’, Fruit Focus delegates told
- Credit: Archant
Fruit farmers and vineyard owners are looking forward to a bright future with the advance of technology, in spite of the challenges posed by labour availability, a sector conference heard this month.
Delegates at Fruit Focus, which took place in Kent on July 19, debated Brexit policies with MPs, learnt about crop protection and nutrition and got to see the latest labour-saving machines in action.
“We’re at a bit of a crossroads,” said National Farmers’ Union (NFU) horticulture adviser Amy Gray. “We need 80,000 seasonal workers and 10,000 permanent workers each year, and we’re seeing increasing numbers of people saying labour supply isn’t meeting demand.” In May there was a 16.4% shortfall in worker availability – or about 4,500 jobs across the UK, she said. Without the workforce, over 99% of which was eastern European, the fruit sector would suffer catastrophic losses, she warned.
Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits, said it was essential that the Government establish a new seasonal workers scheme as quickly as possible, or consumers would see soft fruit prices soar by up to 50%.
Farming minister George Eustice, who visited the event, assured visitors that the Government was well aware of the labour issue and was monitoring developments closely.
Mr Eustice also opened the new NIAB EMR Water Efficient Technologies (WET) centre, which showcases the latest developments in irrigation management and moisture sensing technology.


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Google, perhaps the only company with the clout and users to take on the seemingly unassailable Facebook, is reportedly working secretly on "Google Me", a product that would go head-to-head with the social networking giant.
The founder of popular link-sharing site Digg, Kevin Rose, kicked off a round of feverish speculation this week by tweeting that he had heard a "huge rumour" from a "very credible source" that Google was going to launch a Facebook competitor "very soon". Rose has since removed the tweet, saying he was asked to do so.
Adam D'Angelo, former CTO of Facebook and now co-founder of social Q&A site Quora, added fuel to the fire by declaring "This is not a rumour. This is a real project". He claimed to have received information from "reliable sources".
The rumoured new site is expected to move beyond Google Buzz, a Twitter competitor recently launched as an add-on to Gmail that allows users to share links, photos, video and status messages. It has yet to take off after being embroiled in early privacy uproars, which have since been rectified.
Google already has a social networking product, Orkut, which was launched in January 2004 but only became popular in India and Brazil, where it is one of the most popular websites. Google also has a location-sharing social product, Latitude, but it too has been dominated by start-ups, namely Foursquare.
"They realised that Buzz wasn't enough and that they need to build out a full, first-class social network. They are modelling it off of Facebook," wrote D'Angelo, describing it as a "high priority project".
"They had assumed that Facebook's growth would slow as it grew, and that Facebook wouldn't be able to have too much leverage over them, but then it just didn't stop, and now they are really scared."
Facebook has been embroiled in several privacy debacles of late, with users crying foul over attempts by the social networking site to get them to share more information publicly against their will. But these have done little to stall its accelerating growth rate and it is expected to hit the 500 million user milestone shortly.
Pundits are saying that, despite also having hundreds of millions of users, Google would have a much harder time knocking off Facebook than Facebook had dethroning MySpace several years ago.
The site has become entrenched and users may be reluctant to switch to a new social networking site, as they would likely lose all of the photos, videos and other content uploaded to date.
"This is an enormous creative challenge," industry analyst Greg Sterling of Sterling Market Intelligence told IDG, adding that Google would need to take a fresh approach rather than just emulating Facebook.
But despite some social media failures, Google has tremendous clout with its other social products, including video sharing site YouTube, blog publishing site Blogger and photo sharing service Picasa. These could be integrated into any new social networking site.
Google Australia declined to comment on the rumours.


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Volkswagen has acquired 90% of design and development services company Italdesign Giugiaro, subject to regulatory approval.
Announcing the news this morning (25 May) at a joint press conference in Turin, the automaker said it had purchased a 90.1% stake in Italdesign as well as the brand name, rights and patents.
Shares are being acquired by Audi’s Italian subsidiary Lamborghini Holding, with the remainder staying with the Giugiaro family.
“Italdesign is the flagship for creative Italian automobile design and has been instrumental in shaping the face of the automobile industry worldwide,” said VW chairman Martin Winterkorn.
“As the creator of the Golf I, Giorgetto Giugiaro laid a new foundation for Volkswagen design in the 1970s,” he added, noting Giugiaro had also helped with the first Passat, Scirocco and Audi 80 models.
Following a framework agreement sealed in 2008, VW and Italdesign will also collaborate on projects such as the planned Up! model family.
“The Volkswagen Group will be continuing its model initiative during the coming years and will benefit from the capacity and competence of Italdesign,” said Winterkorn, adding: “The company will therefore be making an important contribution to our 2018 global growth strategy.”
Founded in Turin by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani in 1968, Italdesign now has sales of more than EUR100m (US$122m) and a workforce of around 800.


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New proposals would crack down on junk fees across industries and ban fees for essential bank services
Today, President Biden will be joined by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra as they announce new efforts to crack down on junk fees and bring down costs for American consumers. Junk fees are hidden, surprise fees that companies sneak onto customer bills, increasing costs and stifling competition in industries across the economy. Last year, as part of his agenda to increase competition following his Executive Order on Promoting Competition, President Biden called on federal agencies, Congress, and private companies to crack down on junk fees and provide consumers with the full price up front.
Junk fees cost American families tens of billions of dollars each year and inhibit competition, hurting consumers, workers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Research shows that fees charged at the back-end of the buying process make it harder to comparison shop for the best deal and lead to consumers paying upward of twenty percent more. Junk fees also make it hard for honest businesses to compete, stifle innovation, and hurt small businesses.
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing bold, new actions to crack down on junk fees and promote competition:
- The FTC is proposing a rule that, if finalized as proposed, would ban businesses from charging hidden and misleading fees and require them to show the full price up front. The rule would also require companies disclose up front whether fees are refundable. This would mean no more surprise resort fees at check out or unexpected service fees to buy a live event ticket. The rule would apply to industries across the economy, including event tickets, hotels and lodging, apartment rentals, car rentals, and more. Under the proposed rule, companies that fail to comply could face monetary penalties and have to provide refunds to consumers.
- The CFPB is taking action to require large banks and credit unions to provide basic information to consumers without charging fees—meaning no more fees for basic services like checking bank account balances, obtaining a payoff amount for a loan, or getting account information needed for applications.
- Later this month, the CFPB will propose a rule that, if finalized, would require financial companies to allow customers to safely, securely, and reliably send their banking transaction data to other companies and banks. The proposal would make it easier for people to break up with their bank, switch to banks with better offerings, and to manage accounts from multiple providers. This reform will ensure financial companies compete based on service quality and up-front pricing, deterring junk fees.
In addition, CFPB is releasing new findings showing their crack down on junk fees is already saving consumers billions of dollars:
- CFPB finds that bounced check fees are down more than 86 percent since 2021—saving consumers nearly $2 billion—and that nearly two-thirds of large banks have eliminated these fees entirely. Previous CFPB studies have shown that bounced check fees, which can cost $30-40 per transaction, hit low income and minority Americans the hardest. This new finding adds to the $5.5 billion annual reduction in banking junk fees achieved by the Biden-Harris Administration, for a total of an average of $170 in annual savings for the 33 million households that pay these fees.
- CFPB is also announcing that it secured an additional $140 million in consumer refunds from companies that charged illegal junk fees, such as surprise overdraft fees and multiple bounced check fees for the same transaction. Last October, the CFPB issued guidance to financial institutions about these illegal junk fees.
Also today, the White House is reinforcing the Administration’s all-of-government approach to competition:
- The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) is publishing new guidance to help agencies better develop and analyze regulations with competition in mind. Developed in collaboration with the National Economic Council, the Council of Economic Advisers, and other members of the White House Competition Council, this guidance will help agencies design regulations that promote competition while achieving other important policy goals.
Today’s announcements build on important actions the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken to address junk fees:
- The Department of Transportation (DOT) has secured significant commitments by major airlines to improve service. Previously, none of the 10 largest U.S. airlines guaranteed meals or hotels when they caused a cancellation or significant delay and no airline guaranteed that parents can sit with their children for free. Now, thanks to DOT’s efforts, 9 of the 10 largest airlines guarantee hotels, 10 airlines to guarantee meals, and 4 airlines guarantee fee-free family seating. Consumers can see what services airlines offer at FlightRights.gov.
- DOT has issued several proposals that, if finalized, would: (1) require airlines to promptly refund airline tickets when they cancel or significantly change a flight; (2) require refunds for services not delivered (like broken Wi-Fi or delayed bags), and (3) require fees to be disclosed up-front for checking a bag or changing or canceling a flight. DOT is also working on rule proposals that would ban family seating junk fees and would require airlines to compensate flyers when a flight is cancelled or delayed due to the airline’s fault.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) called on industry, housing providers, and state and local governments to adopt policies that promote greater fairness and transparency of fees faced by renters.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finalized a rule that will soon require broadband providers to display “Broadband Nutrition Labels” for consumers—clear labels that provide basic information about the costs and fees of internet service offerings, so people can compare options more easily.
- The FTC proposed a “click to cancel” rule in March of 2023, that, if finalized as proposed, would require sellers to make it as easy for consumers to cancel their enrollment as it was to sign up. This rule would rescue consumers from seemingly never-ending struggles to cancel unwanted subscription payment plans for everything from cosmetics to gym memberships.
- The FCC has proposed a rule that, if finalized as proposed, would require cable providers to display “all-in” prices clearly and prominently, so consumers know what they are getting and at what price.
- CFPB proposed a rule that, if finalized as proposed, would lower credit card late fees from approximately $30 to $8, saving consumers up to $9 billion annually.
- The FTC proposed a rule that, if finalized as proposed, would ban junk fees and bait-and-switch advertising by auto dealers, including prohibiting deceptive advertising, requiring full upfront pricing, requiring consent for charges, and prohibiting the sale of add-ons that have no benefit.
- Following the President’s calls to action, private sector companies in the live event ticketing, lodging, and rental housing sectors have changed how they display prices so that the all-in price is more readily available to consumers.


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Brandon, and area residents, will have the opportunity to pick up some new wheels this weekend when the Kiwanis Club of Brandon hosts their popular spring bike auction.
The Brandon Kiwanis Club has a contractual arrangement with the Brandon Police Service to sell bicycles that they collect through theft, and other means. This year approximately 100-125 bikes are expected be up for auction, and volunteers have been busy servicing the bikes prior to going to auction. Bikes can potentially sell for as low as $10. Miller Auctions will be onsite to auction off the bikes.
The event will take place on the 29th of April, 2017 inside the Keystone Centre’s Manitoba Room. The auction starts at 10:00 AM. People interested in making a bid for a bike at the auction will have a chance to survey the bikes before the event starting at 9:00 AM. All sales are final and no reserve bids will be accepted.


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South Africa Valuations Survey Report 2020
Assessing Impact of COVID-19 Related Lockdown Restrictions on Valuations
December 04, 2020DownloadsDownload Report
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted businesses, caused market volatility and triggered asset devaluations across the globe.
Bill Conerly, a Forbes economist, states that the pandemic hurts economies in four ways:
- Supply chains failures;
- Direct effects of illness in terms of lost work by those who are sick or tending to the sick (currently insignificant impact in South Africa);
- Indirect effect of quarantines, travel restrictions, restaurant and company closures, and so forth; and
- Demand shocks as people’s incomes are limited by job loss and, in the case of small business owners, profit and loss.1
Our team of valuation and deal advisory professionals sought the views of local participants from various sectors to assess their views on how lockdown restrictions had impacted their businesses and value drivers.
We also looked to determine whether valuation metrics and models had been adjusted to incorporate the effects of this unprecedented crisis.
In addition, were participants considering using impairments to account for the impact of the pandemic in current and future financial reporting?
Amongst other questions, the survey investigated whether various stimulus packages put in place by the South African government had been utilised by local businesses to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 and how these were accounted for.
The results of the survey reflect the views of 22 participants, and while these should not be generalised to entire sectors, they provide fascinating insights into the challenges currently faced by businesses.
The participants surveyed are South African entities operating in various sectors as summarised below:
- Financial Services
- Private Equity
1: Source : Bill Conerly , (20 March 2020) , Economic Forecast Update March 20, 2020 For COVID-19, Coronavirus Impacts. Forbes. Available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2020/03/20/economic-forecast-update-march-20-2020-for-covid-19-coronavirus-impacts/#237c51c42f07 (Downloaded: 15 October 2020)


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Rumours hint at Microsoft iPod killer
Microsoft has already demonstrated a device, according to insiders
Microsoft is said to be planning a rival to Apple’s phenomenally successful iPod music player and iTunes music service.
Sources close to the discussions claimed that Microsoft has already demonstrated a device that plays music and video, and has held licensing talks with the music industry to form its own music service, according to a report from Reuters.
Read more: vnunet.com


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, a game where users breed and trade digital kitties using Ethereum-based smart contracts, has emerged as the latest mark of society’s obsession with rising cryptocurrency values.
In some ways, the popularity of the game reflects the skyrocketing values of digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ether.
Total sales on the platform created by Canadian startup Axiom Zen have reportedly hit $12 million, according to as some cats with rare attributes have been sold for upwards of $80,000.
Cryptokitties are generated by code, and bred by spending Ether tokens on smart contracts that use two base cats to create a new one.
Each resulting cat is unique and persistent, recorded on Ethereum’s public ledger.
While the game has proven wildly popular, has also been plagued by network slowdowns, little game progression and automated bots that snipe deals.
It’s also placing a new load on the currency itself.
The game has slowed down the Ethereum network by as much as 11 percent, allowed speculators to make a lot of money if they got in at the right time.
One of those speculators is Todd, who wished to remain anonymous in order to disclose personal financial details.
While we talked, the site dipped in and out of commission.
Todd is a 30-year-old entrepreneur and software designer from Austin, Texas.
He’s also been the owner of 35 cryptokitties, an extension of his broader enthusiasm for cryptocurrencies.


text: Back in 2019, megastar Amitabh Bachchan sold his Rs 3.5 crore worth Rolls Royce Phantom car to a Bengaluru-based scrap dealer Yusuf Shariff. It was the same car that ace filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra had gifted to Big B. However, after using it for a few years, Big B decided to sell it. But, Yusuf Shariff, to whom Big B sold his luxurious car, did not transfer the vehicle in his name after buying it from the superstar. And due to this, the car was even got seized by Bengaluru RTO for road tax evasion. Now, Yusuf, who is once again making news for being the new owner of the Rolls Royce Phantom, has revealed the main reason behind not registering the car in his name after buying it from Big B. According to reports, in an interview, the scrap dealer stated that he was planning to sell the vehicle again, and therefore he refrained from becoming the second owner of the car so that the asking price of the car does not come down in the market. He also said that the insurance money on the Rolls Royce Phantom was pending for three months, and that is why he did not want to own the car for a long time. Notably, in the month of August, transport department officials in Bengaluru seized over 10 luxury cars including one on the name of Amitabh Bachchan. The cars were seized due to insufficient documentation. After the car was seized, Yusuf got summoned, but he failed to submit the original transfer documents. Meanwhile, coming back to the legendary actor, Big B is keeping up too busy with multiple projects. He will next be seen in Ayan Mukerji's much-awaited film 'Brahmastra' co-starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt. He will also be starring in films like 'Jhund', 'Mayday' and 'Goodbye'.


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'Assembled in India' iPhone 11 reached retail stores
Piyush Goyal, the Commerce and Industry Minister has announced that Apple has begun manufacturing its highest-selling model iPhone 11 in India. This move has been a major boost to Make in India initiative.
In a tweet, the minister mentioned, "Significant boost to Make in India! Apple has started manufacturing iPhone 11 in India, bringing a top-of-the-line model for the first time in the country".
As per news source, there are few 'Assembled in India' units of iPhone 11 that have reached the retail stores. According to sources, lockdown delayed the assembled iPhone 11 units to reach the market but now, there has been an increase in the supply.
However, there is no price cut and the MRP on locally assembled iPhone 11s remains the same as earlier, as per sources.
At present, both iPhone XR and iPhone 11 are being assembled by Foxconn at its Chennai manufacturing plant. On the other hand iPhone 7 is being assembled by Wistron in Bengaluru.
Original iPhone SE and iPhone 6s were assembled by Wistron but those were discontinued in 2019.
Apple is also planning to assemble its new iPhone SE in India. The iPhone maker has already asked one of its suppliers in China to start shipping components for the iPhone SE 2020 to its manufacturing partner Wistron in India, as per reports.
Assembling the iPhones under the 'Make in India' initiative will help the company avoid the 22% tax on its imported phones as per local manufacturing norms.
Apple is reportedly seeking to shift roughly a fifth of existing China-based output to India.
Foxconn is also planning to invest up to $1 billion to expand its India operations, similarly, Pegatron, the second-largest iPhone assembler, is also reportedly planning to invest in the country.
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Positive reaction to drought
Latest study by researchers at the University of Arizona shows that Amazon forest has developed very well following the drought. Previous forecasts suggested that because of lack of rain, forests located along the Amazon will begin to dry after only a month.
"Despite fears that trees will be on the ground, forests have responded positively to droughts, at least in the short term," said Scott R. Saleska, author of the study. He added that development of forests is a very interesting and surprising response to supplement heat.
For instance, in 2005, when drought has reached the maximum at the beginning of the dry season from July to September, the trees have become significantly more green, indicating increased photosynthetic activity.
"We've looked at pictures of the mattress, but we used only data from the ground, even during 2005," said Saleska Professor, Department of Ecology and biology of the American University of Sao Paulo.
American and Brazilian researchers say that Amazon jungle had even some advantages from the dry season, because some species have developed better than usual. Research scientists have not examined so far how virgin forest reacts to drought. Previous climate models showed that, in contrast, photosynthesis in the Amazon will cease immediately after the drought. Theoretically, the trees would have absorbed increasingly less carbon dioxide, which would have led to increased global warming.
But forest reaction was fortunately good for us and for the planet.
Amazon jungle is "dried", but will survive global warming
Recent studies have shown that the Amazon is less vulnerable to global warming than was thought until now, because the models used in the simulations did not estimated well the volume of rainfalls. British authors of the studies showed that Brazil was forced to seek help in stopping the phenomenon of drying the eastern area of the Amazon jungle, considered irreversible process caused by global warming, deforestation and forest fires.
In the bulletin of the US National Academy of Sciences, British researchers noted that "the regime of precipitation in eastern Amazonia will help in this century seasonal vegetation development rather than the specific savannahs. Seasonal vegetation component ......


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During a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives of Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (Fumio Kishida) made a speech and said that the Japanese government has “every opportunity to use Web3 technologies” to solve cultural and technological problems.
He emphasized that the use of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) can help the government revitalize local regions and support the country's “Cool Japan” initiative, which aims to showcase Japan's cultural and technological innovations to the world.
“If we consider DAO, then people interested in the same social problems can form a new community. At the same time, NFTs can be used to diversify the income of DAO creators and maintain community loyalty,” Kishida said.
Earlier in his speech to parliamentarians, Kishida said that the Japanese government plans to encourage the digitalization of prefectures.. In his opinion, the use of Web3 tools, including the metaverse, DAO and NFT, will help speed up the work of municipal institutions.
In October 2022, the Japanese national payment system JCB announced the start of work on a new retail product – a bank card that supports payments in the digital yen.


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Africa’s startup ecosystem is a rising force in the global entrepreneurial landscape. With remarkable growth and transformation in recent years, the continent is increasingly recognized as a hotspot for innovation and investment. In this article, we delve deeper into the current state of the African startup ecosystem, exploring its significant milestones, future prospects, what has worked, what hasn’t, the key players and their contributions, and the pivotal role the ecosystem plays in nurturing startups across the diverse African continent.
Milestones in the African Startup Ecosystem
- Rise of Hubs and Incubators: The African startup scene has witnessed a proliferation of tech hubs, incubators, and accelerators. These hubs serve as epicenters of innovation, fostering collaboration, mentorship, and access to resources. They are crucial in providing the nurturing environment startups need to thrive.
- Investment Inflow: Perhaps one of the most striking milestones is the substantial increase in funding for African startups. According to Partech Africa, in 2020, African startups raised a record $2.02 billion in funding. This surge in investment has not only fueled the growth of startups but has also attracted global attention to the continent’s innovation potential.
- Digital Transformation: A growing tech-savvy population and improved internet connectivity across the continent have accelerated the adoption of digital solutions. From e-commerce platforms to digital health services, the African startup ecosystem is at the forefront of driving digital transformation in diverse sectors.
- Fintech Revolution: African fintech startups have garnered significant global recognition. These companies are offering innovative solutions for financial inclusion, digital payments, and lending, effectively reshaping the financial services landscape. The success stories of companies like Flutterwave and Paystack have made international headlines and underscore the ecosystem’s capability to disrupt traditional industries.
What Works in the African Startup Ecosystem
- Local Solutions for Local Challenges: Startups that address pressing local challenges, such as access to healthcare, education, and agriculture, have witnessed substantial success. Jumia, often referred to as the “Amazon of Africa,” has revolutionized e-commerce on the continent, adapting to local market dynamics and customer preferences.
- Collaboration: Collaboration has proven to be a successful strategy in the African ecosystem. Startups, corporations, and governments are increasingly partnering to leverage each other’s strengths. Such collaborations have resulted in innovative initiatives, market expansion, and mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Venture Capital: The presence of venture capital firms and angel investors is pivotal in providing the necessary capital for startups to scale and expand their operations. These investors are not only providing funds but also strategic guidance and mentorship.
Challenges and What Doesn’t Work
- Regulatory Hurdles: Inconsistent regulatory environments across African countries can be a hindrance to startup growth. These inconsistencies can create uncertainty and deter potential investors and entrepreneurs.
- Access to Funding: Despite the increased funding in the ecosystem, many startups still struggle to secure investment, particularly in the early stages of their development. Access to funding remains a critical challenge for startups across Africa.
- Infrastructure: Inadequate physical and digital infrastructure remains a challenge in some regions. This limitation impacts everything from access to reliable internet to logistics and transportation, which are critical for business operations.
Ecosystem Players and Their Inputs
- Startups: At the core of the ecosystem, startups bring innovative ideas and solutions to the market. They are the driving force behind the ecosystem’s growth and dynamism.
- Tech Hubs and Incubators: These organizations provide invaluable support to startups. They offer mentorship, workspace, access to resources, and networking opportunities. In essence, they create the fertile ground for startups to germinate and flourish.
- Investors: Venture capitalists, angel investors, and impact investors play a critical role by providing the much-needed financial backing for startups. Their investments not only fund growth but also signal confidence in the startup’s potential.
- Government: Supportive government policies and initiatives can significantly stimulate startup growth. Tax incentives, entrepreneurship programs, and streamlined regulatory processes can provide a conducive environment for startups to thrive.
- Corporations: Corporations are increasingly recognizing the value of working with startups through corporate innovation programs. These collaborations often lead to groundbreaking solutions and opportunities for both parties.
The Ecosystem’s Role in Nurturing African Startups
The African startup ecosystem plays a multifaceted and pivotal role in nurturing startups:
- Access to Knowledge: Through mentorship programs, networking events, and knowledge-sharing platforms, startups gain insights and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts. This access to knowledge accelerates their learning curve and mitigates common startup pitfalls.
- Funding Opportunities: The ecosystem acts as a bridge between startups and investors. By facilitating introductions and creating opportunities for startups to pitch their ideas, the ecosystem helps secure the vital funding necessary for growth.
- Testing Ground: Startups can test their ideas and solutions in a supportive environment. Early user feedback and market validation are essential steps that the ecosystem supports, enabling startups to refine their products or services before scaling.
- Market Exposure: The ecosystem creates pathways for startups to gain visibility and access to markets. This exposure can be both local and international, expanding the reach and impact of startups.
The Future of African Startups
The future of African startups holds immense promise and potential. As the ecosystem continues to mature, we can anticipate:
- Continued Growth: More startups will emerge, addressing a broader range of challenges across various sectors. From agriculture and healthcare to education and renewable energy, the diversity of startups is set to increase.
- Global Recognition: African startups will gain even greater global recognition, attracting more international investment and partnerships. The ecosystem’s successes will make headlines around the world.
- Sustainability and Impact: Startups will increasingly focus on sustainability and social impact. Many African startups are aligning their goals with the continent’s development objectives, addressing critical issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
The African startup ecosystem has made remarkable strides and achieved significant milestones in recent years. It has not only contributed to economic growth but has also played a vital role in addressing local challenges and fostering innovation. While challenges remain, the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and investment is set to continue driving the ecosystem’s growth and nurturing the next generation of African startups. The future holds immense promise for Africa’s innovators and entrepreneurs, and the world is taking notice of the continent’s rising influence in the global startup landscape.
By James Owino


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Six in 10 Broadband Users Watch Online Video Weekly, Up 36% YOY
Online video consumption is growing rapidly among adult broadband internet users — most now watch video weekly — according to a recently released report, Broadband Content and Services 2007, from Horowitz Associates, reports MarketingCharts (via Micro Persuasion).
Six out of 10 (61 percent) high-speed internet users watch or download online video content at least once a week, and 86 percent do so monthly, compared with the respectively 45 percent and 71 percent who reported doing so in 2006.
News and user-generated/non-professional content are the genres reported viewed most often, followed by movie previews/trailers, music videos, and previews/segments of TV shows:
- Weekly viewing of full episodes of television shows doubled from last year, with 16 percent of high-speed internet users now watching TV online on a weekly basis.
- Some 36 percent watch news video at least weekly, up from 22 percent in 2006.
- Non-professional videos are watched by 30 percent in 2007 - double the 15 percent in 2006.
NBC and ABC are the networks that internet users mention most frequently for watching online TV content, with Grey's Anatomy the most-mentioned TV program viewed online.
While consumption of broadband video has grown, the study shows that television is still the preferred platform for traditional TV content: The vast majority (70 percent) of internet users who watch TV online say do so because they missed the episode on TV.
For more findings related to TV and portable video devices, see the MarketingCharts coverage.


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Diet Tricks that Don't Involve Dieting
Nobody enjoys dieting. If you eat right and work out, you'll look and feel great-so there's no need for extremes. That said, sometimes you want to tone up. That's why we found the 8 best diet tricks that don't involve depriving yourself. Now that's our idea of a diet!
1. Eat More
Yup, you read that right. According to research from Penn State, eating bigger portions of food will help you feel fuller longer. The catch: You want to fill up healthier stuff, like fruits and veggies. So a massive salad is good; Massive steak...not so good.
2. Read Labels
A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that women who read food labels have a lower BMI than those who don't-and the difference ends up being about eight pounds.
3. Get Slice-Happy
An Arizona State University study found that people who cut up their food eat less than those who don't, but feel equally satisfied. So try slicing your meat before you eat it or chopping up your bagel into quarters instead of biting into the whole thing at once.
4. Savor Your Food
A series of studies from the University of Minnesota and Texas A&M University found that focusing on what you're doing when you eat unhealthy foods will help you eat less. Instead of zoning out in front of the TV when you eat dinner, take time to actually think about what you're eating. You'll feel full faster-and, you know, enjoy your meal.
5. Listen to Jazz Music
New research from Cornell University discovered that listening to soft music, like jazz or easy listening, can help you eat less-like 175 fewer calories less per meal. And that can add up.
6. Don't Skip Meals
You've probably heard that skipping a meal is bad, but new research breaks down how bad it can be. According to a new study from Cornell University, people tend to O.D. on high-calorie carbs and starches after skipping a meal, while passing up healthy proteins and veggies. As a result, meal-skippers end up eating 20 percent more calories.
7. Drink Cold Water
J. Lo reportedly only drinks ice-cold water, and Cosmo Radio women's health expert Jennifer Wider, MD, says she might be on to something. Some fitness experts think that cold water can help speed up your metabolism. Why? Your body burns extra calories warming it up before it can process it. It won't make you burn crazy lbs, but it could give your metabolism a slight boost.
8. Don't Look at Junk Food
According to a new study from the University of Southern California, photos of high-calorie foods like cupcakes, sodas, and pizza flip a switch in your brain that makes you crave them. So take a pass at eyeballing the pastry display at Starbucks when you order you latte. Your bod will thank you.
Article courtesy of Cosmopolitan.com


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Back in the early stages of this 2008, the gaming media were unanimous in their belief that the next twelve months would ultimately prove to the year of the PlayStation 3. However, with delays affecting numerous releases including PlayStation Home, the in-game XMB and Killzone 2, many observers found themselves quietly doubting as to whether or not those expectations would be met.
Fast-forward a couple of months to the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, however, and things are looking decidedly more positive for the Sony console – and SCEA’s Vice President of Product Marketing, Scott Steinberg, is confident this is only just the start of what promises to be an auspicious year for the platform holder.
"This is only the beginning of an ongoing software avalanche for PS3 that includes titles such as LittleBigPlanet, SOCOM: Confrontation, MotorStorm Pacific Rift and Resistance 2 that only PS3 owners will be able to exclusively enjoy,” he stated.
On top of this incredible list of exclusive games, Steinberg is also hopeful that MGS4 will facilitate wavering PS2 loyalists into making the next generation transition with the PS3.
With the fact that 75,000 MGS4 PS3 80GB bundles went flying off the shelves on release, Steinberg may not be too far off the mark, as the game – as we found out over the weekend – ultimately proved to be everything one would expect of it.


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Market movers are getting their chance to move up the food chain, with a number of major names set to make a major push into Europe.
The BBC’s Andrew Wilson has picked out the top 20 companies in Europe’s most competitive food sector.
Read moreMarket movers in GermanyThe UK’s largest food retailer has been in the news recently after it was forced to recall about 5.6m of its own products from the shelves.
Lidl has been a top-ten market mover in Germany, with its shares up by 8.8pc since the start of the year.
Loblaw is also in the headlines, as its shares have risen by 12.5pc since December, while its US rival, Wal-Mart, is the top market mopper.
It’s not just supermarkets and retailers making big moves into Europe, either.
Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have also moved into the European market, with Coca-Cola’s shares rising by 14.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, the European Commission says it is investigating whether Coca-cola’s sales growth in Europe in the first quarter was a product of a political decision, and not a product that came from market forces.
The Commission is also investigating whether PepsiCo’s sales are falling as a result of a drop in the value of the euro.


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ALISO VIEJO, CA, March 3rd 2016
Motion Solutions, a manufacturer of electro-mechanical systems, announced it has achieved ISO 13485 certification for the design and manufacture of linear motion, motion control and electro-mechanical assemblies for the medical device industry. This certification builds on Motion Solutions’ existing ISO 9001 certification and its dedication to delivering consistent quality across all aspects of its business.
Bill Huber, President of Motion Solutions, said: “Quality has always, and will continue to be a central focus for Motion Solutions. The ISO 13485 certification reaffirms that focus and demonstrates our commitment to our customers in the medical industry.”
The announcement comes at a time when Motion Solutions recently released new actuator and linear motor products, and expanded its Northern California facility.
“We are proud of our recent achievements and will continue to invest in our company and in our people in order to provide the best service to our customers,” said Chief Operating Officer Scott Depenbrok.
The certification carries with it the EN 13485 designation for meeting harmonized standards with the European medical device directives.
About Motion Solutions
Established as Bearing Engineers, Motion Solutions has over 60 years of experience in solving complex motion control and automation challenges in a variety of end markets. Today, the company distributes products for best-in-class manufacturers of electrical and mechanical components, as well as designs and manufactures custom automation solutions for OEMs.
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656


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Gabriel Diez, president of the organizing committee, stated that visitors will be able to find projects in a wide price range, from less than $35,000 all the way to $120,000 and higher. This is the first time that Capac Expo Habitat is held with a preferential interest limit of $120,000. When asked if this measure will have an impact on a rise in housing prices, Diez said that the new preferential interests create more purchasing options.
"Construction costs have gone up due to increased prices for raw materials and freight. It is an imported issue and that is reflected in the sales prices," he emphasized. In addition to real estate, the Capac Expo Habitat brings together suppliers of the construction industry, which is undergoing constant growth lately. This dynamism can also be noted from the demand for exhibition space. "The fair grounds are too small," lamented Diez.
As a special guest at the opening ceremony, the former administrador of the Panama Canal Authority, Alberto Alemán Zubieta, received an honor by the construction workers union. Also present were José Domingo Arias, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Roberto Roy, Minister of Canal Affairs, and Jaime Ford, Minister of Public Works.


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VIJAYAWADA: The state government through chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the first phase of the joint project with Amul, a flagship programme for the all-round growth of the dairy sector. The scheme is launched on a pilot basis across 400 villages of Prakasam, Chittoor, and Kadapa districts.
The government is set to distribute cattle units to women through YSR Cheyutha and Asara scheme. Around 4.68 lakh women have opted for cows and buffaloes while 2.49 lakh women have opted for sheep and goats. The government has fixed the unit cost at Rs 75,000, which will cover the annual insurance and transportation cost.
The project aims at promoting women-managed Primary Dairy Cooperatives, Dr YSR Rythu Bharosa Mahila Paal Utpathidarula Sahakara Sanghalu at the village level, providing inputs related to medicines, feed, and fodder at an affordable price to members, establishing and operating BMCU in potential villages/ common points which produce more than 2,000 litres of milk per day, processing milk into quality milk products at the existing dairy plants, marketing of milk products to consumers at competitive rates by Amul. The project would also offer better prices to the milk suppliers varying from Rs 5 to Rs 7 per liter.
Speaking to beneficiaries, the CM said that the government started the project to generate permanent recurring income to women for the next 30 to 100 years. “We will ensure that payment for milk pourers to be credited directly into the accounts of women dairy farmers regularly, once in every 10 days. The women will also get a bonus once or twice every year from the profits of the Amul project,” the CM said.
“There has been a consistent increase in milk production over the years, and milk production is the single largest commodity contributing the state’s highest economy,” said Amul MD, RS Sodhi.
Already, about 32 million people in India were driven into poverty by the pandemic last year, according to the Pew Research Center, accounting for a majority of the 54 million who slipped out of the middle class worldwide.
He noted that guidelines and instructions have been issued from time to time for testing, surveillance, isolation, vaccination and Covid appropriate behaviour for the public in general, and people venturing in weekly markets, transporting vehicles, malls, cinemas, religious and social gathering and banquet halls in particular.


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Nov 3, 2011 Armed with business savvy and some insecticide-treated bed nets, philanthropist Ray Chambers is helping bring the death rate from malaria down to zero. Time Magazine's Africa correspondent Alex Perry wrote about his mission in a new book.
Sep 30, 2011 Two Degrees Food funnels part of its proceeds to a breakthrough treatment for malnutrition.
Sep 22, 2011 Following the 9/11 attacks, many Muslim charities in the U.S. were forced to shut down. But others were able to grow and prosper.
Sep 22, 2011 The new nonprofit Venture for America seeks to provide fresh talent for small startup companies in struggling cities. Think of it like a Teach for American program for entrepreneurship.
Sep 22, 2011 We award piggy banks to two young ladies who started their own small business and remain positive even during the recession.
Sep 22, 2011 Venture capitalists are less confident thanks to volatile markets, but the IPO chill probably won't last that long.
Sep 22, 2011 Back in June, everything was looking up for Silicon Valley investors. Now, the shaky markets are making it difficult to invest confidently in new ideas.
Sep 22, 2011 A U.S. organization is turning women in Uganda into entrepreneurs in their rural communities
Sep 22, 2011 Portland, Ore., has a reputation for mobile food carts. But now you'll find trailers and buses selling clothes and fashion accessories.
Sep 22, 2011 Local entrepreneurs are hoping that Groupon's IPO will help build the Windy City into the Silicon Valley of the Midwest.


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By Laura Chesters, Laura Chesters Laura Chesters 2009-11-19T10:12:00
Germany has emerged as the number one target destination for retailers looking to expand their international presence in the Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2010, according to new research from CB Richard Ellis.
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Forces Command also has two self-contained, mobile units that provide four personal computers and a large visual display
to illustrate key conservation messages.
Momentum Medical employs a large visual display
called the MotorMan.
The store will have a sales floor area of 4,100 square meters, where Uniqlo said it would offer local and international customers a huge shopping area and a world-class immersive shopping experience featuring large visual displays
and state-of-the-art design concepts.
Washington, Nov 24 (ANI): Researchers at Purdue and the University of Manitoba in Canada have developed a software that enables people to use large visual displays
and touch screens interactively over the Internet for business and homeland security applications.


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Mobile value-added services company Digivive has signed a content deal with CA Media Digital’s celebrity digital network, Fluence, to create celebrity-led mobile series on its application, NexGTv. The content deal will have Fluence create and produce original content for nexGTv.
Digivive director and chief executive officer G.D. Singh told the Economic Times that the service is looking to create more original content like how Netflix produced House of Cards and added that the company has invested about Rs 25 crore for the production and marketing of the multiple series. To begin with Fluence will co-produce a series of 14 episodes, each 10 minutes long with content company Endemol Shine India.
Fluence is a digital celebrity management network which manages Twitter and Facebook accounts and includes Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan and Karishma Kapoor as its clients.
Operating on a freemium model, nexGTv currently streams over 155 live TV channels with movies, TV shows and videos and claims over 27 million downloads.
French Open exclusive rights: Earlier last month, nexGTv bagged the exclusive mobile and digital rights to stream the French Open 2015. Tennis fans can now stream 128 singles matches and 64 doubles matches on mobile handsets, tablets and PCs for free through the app. In an earlier conversation, Singh told MdiaNama that Digivive, is also looking to partner with other companies to get exclusive content as part of its content strategy.
Our take: More original content through streaming apps or YouTube series seems to be the only way to access more quality entertainment. Let’s be honest, Indian television’s content quality is abysmal at best with mostly interchangeable soaps and carbon copies of reality shows from the West. We hope that this can change the quality of content. There are already some new web-series out there which are trying to change the sad state of affairs. Internet media comapny ScoopWhoop is currently running an original web-series called Baked.
There’s also The Viral Fever’s five-episode long web series Permanent Roommates with over 6 million views and its spoof on the Times Now show Frankly Speaking with Arnab Goswami called Barely Speaking with Arnub. Earlier in January, The Viral Fever Labs Media launched a movie streaming service called TVF Inbox Office. Amit Masurkar directed slacker comedy film Suleimani Keeda is currently the only movie available for streaming on the site. YouTube multi-channel network #fame (earlier Famebox Networks) has also launched a live video streaming app in beta. This app will allow artists/talents to live stream their performances to viewers. The beta app is currently available for both Android and iOS.
There’s also an added advantage to produce web and mobile series as it allows show creators to circumvent the stifling censor boards which ends up bleeping out every other good dialog.
But again the success of these series will depend on the quality of the content and well … the broadband speeds in the country. Here’s hoping for the best.


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The Singapore government will be spending a total of S$6.4 billion to cushion the economic impact of Covid-19 on the country, stabilise the economy, and help Singaporeans with the cost of living.
This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in the Budget 2020 statement on Feb. 18, 2020.
S$800 million to frontline operations
S$800 million will be used to support the frontline agencies who have been fighting the virus.
Bulk of the sum will go to the Ministry of Health, on top of the resources already committed to public health annually.
S$1.6 billion for households
To help Singaporean households to defray the rising costs of living during this period of uncertainty, a Care and Support package amounting to S$1.6 billion will be provided.
Here's what Singaporeans will receive:
- All Singaporeans aged 21 and above will receive a one-time cash payout of S$100, S$200, or S$300, depending on their income.
- The U-Save rebate, which helps to offset utilities cost under the annual GST voucher, will be doubled this year. This will come in the form of a one-off GST voucher for eligible households.
- The Service and Conservancy Charges rebate will be extended for another year. Eligible households will receive rebates of between one-and-a-half and three-and-a-half months.
- Lower-income Singaporeans will receive more help in the form of Workfare Special Payment and Grocery Vouchers.
- Workfare Special Payment: Singaporeans on workfare will receive 20 per cent more for work done in 2019, with a minimum payment of S$100.
- Grocery Vouchers: Needy Singaporeans will receive grocery vouchers worth S$100 in 2020 and 2021. The vouchers can be used at major supermarkets.
S$4 billion to support affected industries
The S$4 billion Support and Stabilisation package addresses the foremost concern of helping workers retain their jobs in this period of economic uncertainty.
This will come in the form of the Jobs Support Scheme, which offsets eight per cent of the wages up to a monthly cap of S$3,600 for three months, as well as the Wage Credit Scheme, which supports wage increases for Singaporeans.
Stabilisation and Support package will also include support for industries hit by virus, including corporate tax rebates and rent waivers.
Five sectors that have been affected directly — tourism, aviation, food services, retail, and point-to-point transport services — will receive additional support.
Top image from Ministry of Heath's Facebook page


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IPEX 2010 will be mainly digital
March 4, 2010 by Gareth
Recent printing trends confirm a growth in the marketplace for digital solutions. This year’s forthcoming event, IPEX 2010, which will take place at the NEC Birmingham on 18th-25th May, will see digital print as the dominant exhibitor.
Trevor Crawford, the IPEX exhibition director, has revealed that 38% of the exhibition floorspace is booked by digital manufacturers and suppliers with just 26% being taken by presses. Mr. Crawford believes that the market is more positive compared to six months ago and speaks of a ‘new air of controlled optimism’
According to Mr. Trevor Dodsworth, head of product marketing at Cannon Business Solutions, who has doubled its space take-up this year, digital is now a larger component of major tradeshows due to advancements in technology. Mr. Dodsworth said:
“Rather than being a ‘new kid on the block’, digital is now an established part of any major event.”
The exhibition is reflective of the increasing mix of traditional and digital solutions for printing companies. Analogue technology is still likely to have a large part to play in the future. Mr. Chas Maloney, director of marketing at Ricoh UK, who will showcase their Pro C720 and C720S production printers at the exhibition, said:
“I still believe that there is room for both in the marketplace. If I’m seeing a balance moving towards digital then it’s just that, a balance. What is important is focusing on the customers’ needs and demands,”
The print industry is moving into an interesting phase. It will be interesting to observe the movements over the next year or two.


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Vail Daily’s View: America’s least known superstar, Lindsey Vonn
Vail, CO, Colorado
It’s tough to be an American these days. Look at Lindsey Vonn.
Here’s someone who is arguably the greatest on earth at what she does. She may even prove to be the best ever.
People in Europe know this. She’s a household name over there. And we in Vail take great pride in calling her one of our own.
Yet in the rest of the United States, a country hell-bent on idol worship and also one of the world’s most fiercely nationalistic when it comes to competing with the rest of the world, this bona fide phenomenon of American athletic ability probably has fewer fans than A-Rod still has in Croatia.
How could this be? What’s to blame for the popularity gap between Europe and the United States when it comes to ski racing?
You can blame geography: The best places to ski in western Europe are a couple of hours from everything. The best places here are in “fly-over country.” Sorry, everyone, but it’s hard for people to get into a sport that they have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to watch or participate in.
You can blame simple economics, at least on the U.S. side: A leather ball full of air costs about 1 percent as much as a decent set of ski gear.
Or just blame that good old nationalistic pride (or independent spirit, if you like): The three most popular sports in the U.S. are thought by many of its citizens to have originated here. (The rest of the world’s most popular sports ” tennis, soccer, etc. ” are all victims of this one.)
In a country whose sports world, amid everything else, is riddled with scandals and a darkened image, let’s hope that Vonn and her honest-to-God achievements are able to garner enough attention to serve both here and abroad as a model of skill, dedication and grace for all Americans.
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text: Not content with just dominating the ride-sharing market, Uber wants to make inroads into virtually every form of transportation it seems. The company is aiming to establish itself as a freight hauler and technology partner for the trucking industry, reports Reuters. The plans comes on the back of Uber acquiring self-driving truck startup Otto earlier this year. Reuters says Uber has already begun pitching its freight services to shippers and that it will also act as a broker to connect truck fleets and shippers. The main goal of Uber, according to Reuters, is to transform the low-margin $700 billion-a-year trucking industry into a highly profitable operation that Uber controls.


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Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 operating system arrived on shelves in China only in December, but it seems that devices are already selling great in this market.
In fact, Greg Sullivan, senior product manager for Windows Phone, told ComputerWorld that WP8 phones were “selling like hot cakes” in China, although he did not unveil specific numbers.
“The sales trends are there for Windows Phone. They are going in the right directly absolutely and strongly,” he said.
Recently, Microsoft unveiled that Windows Phone devices were selling globally five times better in December 2012 than in the last month of 2011.
At the moment, users in China can purchase Windows Phone 8 devices coming from Nokia and HTC, but more companies are expected to launch such handsets soon. Samsung has already launched WP8 phones in other markets around the world.


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#beatSKODAACES – SKODA Motorsport eChallenge continues with next round Rally Australia
The next event of the ŠKODA Motorsport eChallenge is the virtual “Rally Australia” (20/05/–24/05/2020). Mikołaj Marczyk (POL), who won the real-life Polish Rally Championship with a ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, was spontaneously competing in the first round where he finished 10th overall and is already preparing for the virtual “Rally Australia”. Sébastien Bedoret, who finished 2019 third in the Belgium Rally Championship, will take the virtual challenge as well.
The virtual platform for the competition is DiRT Rally 2.0, a video game developed and published by Codemasters for all major gaming consoles like PlayStation®4 and Xbox One®.
Like in the real world, competitors can get advice from the ŠKODA Motorsport engineers in order to prepare their ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo for the virtual competition.
Also, a video covering the course of the virtual rally will be produced and published after the event.
May 19, 2020 at 12:26


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If California voters recall Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 14, homelessness will be a big part of the reason. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness in California rose 40% over the past five years. Though only 12% of the U.S. population lives in California, the Golden State hosts half of the nation’s street population. Certain neighborhoods, such as Los Angeles’s Skid Row, have been notorious for decades. Mr. Newsom’s problem is that under his watch, homelessness has spread to every corner of the state.
Most Californians disapprove of the governor’s handling of the issue. More than half of respondents to a July Inside California Politics/Emerson College poll rated his response to the problem as poor. In some parts of the state, homelessness tops even Covid-19 in surveys of public concern.
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Feb 1, 2013CBC has been named one of the Most Influential Brands in Canada in a study by IPSOS REID. Announced today at FFWD: Advertising & Marketing Week in Canada, the second annual Most Influential Brand study ranked CBC as one of the top 10 brands in Canada for the second year in a row.
"It's an honour to be recognized as one of the most influential brands of the year by IPSOS REID for the second consecutive year," said Bridget Hoffer, Executive Director, Communications, Marketing & Brand, CBC. "Our brand is a reflection of Canadians and Canadian culture, and it's clear that we continue to connect with Canadians across the country in new, meaningful and engaging ways."
"From our content creators to our outstanding Communications team, from our partners to our audience, we have amazing brand ambassadors all across Canada, and we say thanks to you," said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice-President, English Services, CBC.
The Most Influential Brand Study reveals key dimensions that define and determine the most influential brands in Canada, including; Leading Edge, Trustworthy, Presence, Corporate Citizenship, and Engagement. The second annual study was presented by Steve Levy, President, IPSOS REID, at FFWD Advertising & Marketing Week in Canada, on Friday, February 1 in Toronto.
For more information on The Most Influential Brand study, visit http://advertisingweek.ca
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus five languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
About CBC's Brand New In-House Publicity Team
CBC's brand new team of in-house publicists are delivering a comprehensive publicity service for all CBC programming and events. For a complete list of publicity contacts and for more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the new CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre
For more information, please contact:
Erin Richards, Publicist, CBC
Erin.Richards@CBC.CA 416 205 7994 (office) / 416 627 5728 (mobile)


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There's nothing more frustrating than trying to save a photo or file to your phone and getting that annoying pop-up telling you that you're out of storage. We'll show you how to manage space on your Samsung Galaxy phone so you run into this issue less often.
Samsung Galaxy phones have long had some of the best cameras in the smartphone world, and a big part of why comes down to their camera software. We'll show you where to find all of the hidden settings and features to customize your photo experience to your liking.
Samsung aggressively stops background processes on your phone to help it run more smoothly and save battery life. But that can really mess up some apps. Here's how to prevent Samsung from shutting things down on you.
Amazon's early Black Friday deal on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 is now live! You can save $80 off this 10.4-inch tablet's regular price for a limited time when you clip the coupon on its product page at Amazon.
According to a new market research report, Samsung's smartphone market share has reached its all-time high in South Korea. This is cherry-on-the-top as Samsung recently announced its all-time high quarterly revenues in the U.S.
Samsung's One UI offers many software enhancements to Android that its fans love, and one of those is its implementation of an always-on-display. We'll show you how to find this feature in the settings, and how to adjust it to suit your tastes.
Since many of us are generally on Wi-Fi while at home or at work (which are now increasingly becoming the same place), it just makes sense to save on your LTE data plan by utilizing Wi-Fi calling on your device. We'll show you how to enable this feature on your Samsung Galaxy phone.