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EU says Google not doing enough in antitrust case
(AP)—The European Union's competition chief says Google isn't doing enough to overcome concerns that it's stifling competition, and ordered the Internet giant to come up with new ideas.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has been investigating for three years whether Google Inc. is abusing its 90 percent market share in Internet searches in Europe to favor its own services. Google has sought to address the concerns mainly by changing how it displays search results.
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Wednesday that after hearing from other companies and organizations, "I concluded that proposals that Google sent to us months ago are not enough to overcome our concerns."
He said he sent a letter to Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt "asking Google to present better proposals."
In response, Google spokesman Al Verney said says its proposal "clearly addresses" the four areas of concern laid out by EU authorities. "We continue to work with the commission to settle this case," he said.
In addition to Google's dominance of Internet searches in Europe, the Commission has also expressed concern about how Google manages the ads appearing next to its search results, how Google displays content from other websites and how its actions affect advertising on rival networks.
Both sides say they are committed to reaching a settlement. Without one, the Commission could formally file a case against Google, leading to a lengthy process that could result in fines worth 10 percent of Google's annual revenue.
The European Commission has often taken a harder line with U.S. tech companies than its American counterparts, the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department. Google settled a similar antitrust complaint on its search business with the FTC in January without making any major concessions on how it runs its search engine.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.


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Last updated: October 8, 2022, 17:43 UTC+02:00
Samsung has a solid and loyal customer base in its home country of South Korea. Citizens rightly consider it a matter of pride to support this domestic giant, as it is the country’s largest conglomerate and one of the world’s most innovative companies.
However, this still doesn’t give Samsung a chance to get over their customers quickly. A rather interesting video from South Korea shows that the whole GOS controversy that broke out earlier this year has caused many people to switch from a Galaxy device to iPhones.
GOS division caused customers to abandon Galaxy phones for iPhone
First, a refresher on the whole discussion. Samsung’s appeared in March this year. Turn down 10,000+ apps and games on their device through a software called Game Optimization Service. What GOS does is to throttle GPU and CPU performance when it detects that any of the apps or games in the list are running.
The list conveniently left out benchmark apps, meaning Samsung phones will post high performance scores that don’t represent real-world performance. This way Geekbanch bans Samsung Phones with GOS.
Samsung claimed that the main purpose of GOS is: to prevent the device from overheating. when performance-intensive apps and games are used for extended periods of time. Later released a fix Added a button to the Game Booster app this allowed GOS to prioritize maximum performance for all apps and games.
A Korean YouTuber took to the streets in Seoul to ask citizens about the phone they use and whether they would prefer a Galaxy phone over an iPhone. The video also pointed out that the rate of people who have recently switched from Galaxy device to iPhone in their 40s has increased by double digits.
The trend, which raises the device status of the iPhone in the rest of the world, seems to have reached South Korea as well. One person says they’re impressed by memes that say you’re less cool if you’re using a Samsung phone compared to an iPhone. Another preferred the iPhone’s camera features more.
In fact, someone who went to the Apple store highlighted the GOS controversy as the reason they switched from a Galaxy device to an iPhone. Since young South Koreans are largely avid mobile gamers, it’s understandable that the whole division didn’t sit well with them and undermined their trust in Samsung.
It doesn’t matter that Samsung finally offers a fix that should have been from the very beginning. But when what GOS did came to light and significant criticism came in, the company finally decided that it would allow customers to experience the full power of the devices they purchased.
While it’s hard to say for sure how many customers Samsung lost as a result of this discussion, that doesn’t mean the end of its dominance in South Korea. Samsung’s ecosystem is solid in its home country. Its relationships and partnerships with carriers and retailers ensure that the iPhone continues to thrive even in the face of growing popularity.
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Alexandria, VA (April 12, 2017) – The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, and travel industry research authority Phocuswright today announced a partnership to launch the Innovation Series. This multifaceted, interactive program will bring the business travel industry’s most impactful innovators to GBTA Convention 2017, July 15-19 in Boston. The Innovation Series and Innovation Row at Convention are sponsored by Travel Leaders Group.
“We are thrilled to join Phocuswright in launching this Innovation Series, putting a spotlight on the top innovators in our industry at GBTA Convention 2017,” said Christle Johnson, GBTA president. “The Innovation Series will bring together Phocuswright’s legacy of providing platforms for start-ups in the travel industry with GBTA’s audience of influential travel buyers and corporate travel executives.”
“Phocuswright is excited to launch this program for the most promising young companies to showcase solutions for the disruption of the travel space. GBTA is a great partner to help foster innovation,” said Pete Comeau, Phocuswright’s senior vice president, research sales. “We’re thrilled to join forces and provide a platform for building the next successful B2B travel tech brands.”
Nine innovators will compete for the opportunity to showcase their products and services at GBTA Convention 2017. The Innovation Series will kick-off with a series of three webinars beginning on April 25, 2017, where each group of innovators will have the opportunity to present their pitch. Our esteemed panel of technology and industry leaders will interact with the innovators during each session, and Phocuswright and GBTA leadership will address the state of innovation and its role in corporate travel.
The Innovators: Groups360, GlobeChat, Local Measure, Distribusion, Mezi, 30K, Airmule, metaplanner and Waygo.
At the conclusion of each webinar, the business travel community will vote on the winner of each group during their respective webinar who will then go on to be featured on Innovation Row at GBTA Convention 2017. The finalists square off again at Convention during an exclusive Innovation Series education session. The finalists will also be a part of the all-new Innovation Row on the expo floor featuring the industry’s leading pioneers.
Held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, GBTA Convention 2017 will bring together nearly 7,000 business travel professionals from more than 50 countries across the globe. It will feature world-class keynote speakers, more than 80 industry-leading education sessions, the largest business travel expo floor, a wide selection of professional development opportunities and much more, providing attendees the opportunity for professional development and to get business done.
Attendee registration is open now. Register by April 25, 2017 to receive up to $300 in savings off of the regular registration rate. More info on programs and speakers will be unveiled throughout 2017. For the latest developments and more information, please visit gbta.org/convention.
Media registration is complimentary. GBTA’s third annual Media Day on July 16, 2017, will feature back-to-back news announcements throughout the morning from top travel companies around the world, giving media an exclusive pass to the latest travel industry news.
About Phocuswright Inc. (www.phocuswright.com)
Phocuswright is the leading authority in travel research and events. Phocuswright delivers the most trusted information on the impact of digital and innovation to the travel industry. Phocuswright’s market sizing and consumer research are the industry standard around the world, and our conferences are the largest assembly of online travel leaders, investors, CEOs, executives and innovative startups.
The company is headquartered in the United States with Asia Pacific operations based in India and local analysts on five continents.
Phocuswright is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northstar Travel Media, LLC.
CONTACT: Colleen Lerro Gallagher, +1 703-236-1133, [email protected]
About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s 9,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. To learn how business travel drives lasting business growth, gbta.org


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LONDON (Reuters) - British online fashion retailer Boohoo said a report in The Times newspaper alleging poor working conditions at its warehouse in Burnley, northern England, was not reflective of the working environment at the site.
The report highlighted what it said were "gruelling targets, inadequate training and ill-fitting safety equipment."
In response a Boohoo spokesperson said: “Boohoo is taking every claim very seriously, but does not believe the picture painted is reflective of the working environment at our Burnley warehouse."
“Making sure our people are safe and comfortable in their workplace is our highest priority," the spokesperson said, adding that through the firm's employee engagement programme staff "tell us that they are happy with their working environment, feel valued and feel listened to."
The Times report is not the first time Boohoo has faced scrutiny.
In 2020, the retailer, which sells clothing, shoes and accessories aimed at 16 to 40-year-olds, accepted all the recommendations of an independent review that found major failings in its supply chain in England after newspaper allegations about working conditions and low pay in factories in the Leicester area that supplied it.
Boohoo pledged to fix those problems with its "Agenda for Change" programme and in March last year revealed a major consolidation in its list of British suppliers.
In September, Boohoo warned on full year sales and profit, blaming the worsening macro-economic and consumer backdrop as it reported a 58% fall in first-half core earnings.
Shares in Boohoo are down 68% this year.
(Reporting by James Davey; editing by Jason Neely)


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Kanye West claims his valuable catalog of music was being put up for sale behind his back.
“My edition is going on sale without my knowledge,” the artist and clothing designer wrote in all caps in her Instagram story tuesday. “Not to sell.”
The announcement comes amid a Billboard report this suggests that West, who impersonates Ye, has been quietly browsing his catalog for potential buyers, which could lead to a sale of up to $175 million.
The “Donda” rapper went on to compare the situation to that of Taylor Swift where the pop singer-songwriter was embroiled in a tug of war with manager Scooter Braun over the ownership of his first six albums. Swift eventually re-recorded her albums, starting with her 2008 album “Fearless” and then her 2012 album “Red.”
West also shared a screenshot of a text conversation with someone close to Gee Roberson, West’s former manager.
“Can you ask Gee who sells my posts,” West asked.
Roberson’s rep called the report “fake news” and said publishers had just pitched in to buy West’s catalog.
Publishers, music companies and private equity firms have shelled out hundreds of millions of dollars to buy catalogs of music artists in recent years as the success of music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music has grown. the value of recorded music.
Over the past two decades, songwriting catalogs have typically sold for around eight to 12 times the publisher’s net share, or gross profit. Today, some valuations are 25 to 30 times the publisher’s share. Sony Music Entertainment bought Bruce Springsteen’s recordings and songs last year for $500 million. Earlier this year, Warner Chappell Music bought David Bowie’s songwriting catalog for $250 million.
The Billboard report had stated that West was asking for an assessed price of up to 35 times the net publisher’s share.
Billboard has estimated that songs in West’s catalog generate over $13.25 million in publishing royalties annually. West’s share of song ownership, based on songwriting credits, nets about $5 million in profit, according to the report.
The 24-time Grammy winner has four No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Nine of his albums have debuted at No. 1. Overall, West has sold approximately 160 million records, among never sold again for a recording artist.
Meanwhile, he is embroiled in a tussle with Gap after ending his partnership with the clothing retailer last week, in part over a disagreement with sales and what West reps have called the Gap’s failure to meet other obligations in their original 2020 contract.
“Notably, Gap does not dispute that it failed for more than two years to sell a single product in a single Gap store, including one of its 500+ stories in America,” the termination notice said. shared by West on Instagram.
West recently hired Elon Musk’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, to help him with the legal battle, according to reports by the New York Postand also announced the hiring on her Instagram.


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Food quality is in the eye of the beholder
Scientists at Aarhus University have made a closer study of the concept of food quality. They have concluded that quality can be evaluated both objectively and subjectively, and that it mostly depends on the eye of the beholder.
Anyone who has anything to do with food is aware of the concept of food quality, but what exactly is meant by ”quality”? The farmer may mean one thing, the slaughterhouse another, and the consumer yet something else. Scientists from Aarhus University have now published a report that gives a clearer definition of the concepts. The report describes which attributes can be defined as quality parameters and how these parameters can be determined.
If food producers wish to produce quality foods, they need to have an understanding of what quality means for a particular product. This is why the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries asked DCA – Danish Centre for Food and Agriculture – to provide a clearer definition of the “food quality” concept.
- The term ”quality” makes no sense, unless and until we describe the attributes that we base it on, says one of the authors of the report, Associate Professor Ulla Kidmose.
A clearer understanding of the concept of food quality can give agriculture and the food industry a wider field for the development of foods that meet the demands of the consumers for quality and can help producers generate more income – but food quality is a broad concept.
Quality is subjective
The scientists describe in the report the attributes that the different actors use to measure and assess food quality. The descriptions cover the entire chain from farm to fork, which means the primary producer, slaughterhouse, processing sector, retail sector, authorities and consumers.
Take pork for example: the pig farmer will look at the meat content, the slaughterhouse at fluid loss, the processing sector at the water-binding capacity, the retail sector at shelf life, the authorities at food safety and the consumer at flavour and appearance – to mention just a few of the quality aspects in each section.
A number of factors will determine whether a product is liked by consumers. This may be its price, appearance, aroma, expectations, health, and cultural and social factors. Several of the factors are subjective and consumers do not actually have a realistic chance of evaluating the quality of the foods objectively. But the consumer has the last word.
- It is ultimately the subjective assessment of the consumers that determines what good quality is and whether they are willing to buy. It is at the point of sale that the consumer’s trust must be won to ensure survival in a very competitive sector. This is mainly achieved through marketing, product display and similar approaches in the shops, says Ulla Kidmose.
The scientists behind the report point out that real choices are needed if consumers are going to be able to choose between different product qualities. This is often hampered by the focus of the food industry on large-scale productions and uniformity of quality, which leaves little room for differentiated products.
Further information: Associate professor Ulla Kidmose, Department of Food Science, e-mail: email@example.com, telephone: +45 8715 8293, mobile: +45 2424 0083


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Google Cloud joins forces with Dapper Labs to support Flow’s NFT platform. The Flow network already supports over 50 applications, including some of the most popular NFT collections such as NBA Top Shot and CryptoKitties. More than 2,000 developers will be able to connect to Flow access nodes through Google’s suite of cloud services.
Google has made it easier for developers to mine cryptocurrencies on its Flow platform. Developers will be able to choose which regions power their platforms, based on the energy consumption of that region. The move positions Google to go after a chink in Amazon’s armor by acting as a developer-friendly alternative.
Dapper Labs hopes to scale NBA Top Shot and other NFT lines running on Google’s Flow platform. It is the latest in a string of deals Google has struck in the distributed ledgers space. The company recently joined the governing council of enterprise-grade distributed ledger network Hedera Hashgraph.
The tech giant envisions playing an important role in the next stage of the Internet, Web 2.0. “This is just the beginning,” Kennedy says about the future of digital goods and services.
Name of Author: Michael del Castillo, Nina Bambysheva


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By Global Times (26 January 2020) – Despite the optimism surrounding the expected signing of the phase one trade deal between China and the US, there has been growing skepticism over how far the deal could go to ease trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. While some US media outlets have raised questions over whether China will deliver on its commitments, observers from the Chinese side also have their concerns over trusting the US.
It seems hard to believe that the US fondness for reckless unilateralism will really grind to a halt especially when news about new development from the Trump administration targeting China’s tech sector comes out in such an intense way. For instance, last week just saw the US Commerce Department impose new export controls on artificial intelligence software, while this week the Interior Department is reportedly planning to halt nearly 1,000 civilian drones due to the so-called China spying risk.
On the whole, of course, the signing of the phase one trade deal will be a win-win for both China and the US. Even US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had to acknowledge in a recent interview the benefits of the phase one trade deal for the US economy in 2020. “There’s no question that US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the China deal are going to add significantly to growth,” Mnuchin said. By considering the US-China trade deal and the USMCA as a growth factor, the treasury secretary is actually suggesting that trade remains crucial for the US economy.
Nevertheless, it should be made clear that trade itself is mutually beneficial, otherwise no one would like to do business with the other who is only seeking to maximize its gain. So even though the US is already the world’s strongest economic power with the most advanced science and technology and financial hegemony, unilateral pressure and protectionism still won’t help its economy benefit from trade, especially with China. Just look at Boeing’s drag on the US economy, which may affect the US GDP by 50 basis points, according to Mnuchin. While the impact of the 737 Max scandal is huge, the US-China trade war has definitely played a part in hurting the company’s performance.
In this sense, trade is never one-sided. Whether the US can make full use of the trade ceasefire to lift its economy hinges not only on what the US can gain from the trade deal, but also on what it can give to China. It is no longer a question whether the US side can trust China on delivering its promises, but whether the US itself is trustworthy in terms of ending its unilateral behavior, as reckless unilateralism has already undermined its credibility in the global arena.
Now with the phase one trade deal to be signed this week, many are looking forward to the second phase, wondering what kind of orders will be placed during the next phase of talks. Yet, aside from all these superficial details, for China, the essence of the trade talks is always to see to what extent the US can abandon in its unilateral practices. Certainly China will be more than willing to expand trade with a country that truly abandons unilateralism instead of a country that could reverse a trade deal at any moment.


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New programme to drive better reuse of resources and increase recycling
Wide-ranging projects across seven key sectors of the economy to boost better design and reuse of resources whilst creating jobs and growing the economy
New plans setting out the government’s long-term aim to use fewer new resources, drive up the repair and reuse of existing materials, and increase recycling were announced by Environment Minister Rebecca Pow today (28 July).
The programme, called ‘Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste’ brings together a range of measures backed by government funding which will help to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value, including through increasing reuse, repair and remanufacture, helping to grow the economy and boost employment.
The plans include scrapping fees for households to have bulky domestic furniture collected from their homes by retailers by 2025 – saving people money and making it easier for them to recycle furniture so it can be reused, and also helping prevent fly tipping.
Examples of actions also include:
- Developing policy options to tackle fast fashion - keeping textiles out of landfill and in circulation for longer through reuse and recycling;
- Making sure vapes are properly disposed of, by consulting the public on changes to the waste electricals regulations, helping make sure the vape industry pay and strengthening take-back requirements for retailers and online sellers.
- Launching proposals on reforming the batteries regulations 2023, to mitigate the environmental impact of vehicle batteries while also keeping Britain at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
"We mean business when it comes to preventing waste. We’re targeting the sectors responsible for the biggest impacts on the environment, and working with business to take the right steps for better use of our precious resources.
"Today’s announcement sets out a long-term vision to improve our use of resources and protect the environment."
Harriet Lamb, WRAP CEO, said:
"Nearly half of all greenhouse gases come from our own ‘consumption’ - what you and I do every day, how we shop and what we buy. Tackling these emissions from food to clothes, packaging to electronics and more is imperative if we’re to have any chance of limiting the crisis of our changing climate.
"Increasing repair and reuse is key to supporting the move towards more circular living which many people and community groups are embracing and WRAP welcomes more support for such initiatives."
The government pledged to publish this programme in the comprehensive Environmental Improvement Plan earlier this year – and it will play a crucial role in achieving our goals of reusing materials as much as possible, and minimising their impact on the environment.
The programme sets out government’s intentions on waste prevention in:
- three cross-cutting areas: designing out waste, systems and services, and data and information
- across seven key sectors: construction, textiles, furniture, electronics, food, road vehicles, and plastics/packaging.
The approach will be informed by the rigorous analysis into resources and waste which we have been carrying out over previous years. For instance, textiles has been identified as a priority waste stream given the significant quantities of waste produced and its impact on Net Zero goals – which is why we are bringing forward actions such as consulting on collections of textile waste from businesses, and continuing to support voluntary actions taken by industry through Textiles 2030.
The government remains committed to delivering on its commitments to eliminating avoidable waste by 2050 and recycle 65% of municipal waste by 2035. Most recent statistics show 9.5 million tonnes of food and drink, after the farm gate, are wasted annually in the UK. This is worth around £19 billion.
The programme published today builds on other measures to tackle waste and polluting plastics, including the tax on plastic packaging which does not meet a minimum threshold of at least 30% recycled content, which came into force last April, and the upcoming bans on single-use plastic items, including cutlery and plates.
Meanwhile our single-use plastic carrier charge has successfully cut usage by more than 97% in the main supermarkets.


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In a 1993 message posted to CompuServe’s bulletin board, Bitcoin father figure Finney outlined the concept of online cryptographic art — trading cards to be exact — to sell the idea of digital cash.
Despite the sarcastic tone, Finney touched on a number of now-familiar crypto-art elements, including digital signatures, rarity, and the ‘back and forth’ nature of NFT trading.
The NFT market has exploded in recent months, and it’s predicted to get even bigger over the next year.
- In January, $12 million worth of new Ethereum-based art hit the market.
- There’s now an estimated $80 million worth of crypto-art deployed on Ethereum.
- To date, over 60,000 pieces have been sold via about 50 different marketplaces.
Finney probably wasn’t expecting those stats when he penned his throwaway message back in ’93.
But the Bitcoin legend predicted a multi-million dollar crypto industry three decades in advance — with a joke.


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Leading up to their IPOs, Internet sensations Groupon and Facebook could do no wrong. Everyone wanted to ride the public relations wave of exciting news.
But along comes the mundane world of finance, where high-flying Groupon and Facebook are met with dismal ledger sheets and waning stock prices.
Now it seems everyone is jumping off, forcing the PR teams to change direction from managing positive buzz to stopping a crisis of confidence.
Find out how by reading the entire post at Ragan’s PR Daily.


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Marc Jacobs’ Daisy garden is adding a new bloom.
Daisy Dream, the designer’s newest scent with fragrance licensee Coty Prestige, hits counters in July.
“I still have the same reaction every time I see my name on a perfume bottle,” Jacobs told WWD. “I’m always so excited and then I can’t wait to get it out there. We say the best test is the consumer.”
The original Daisy, which launched in 2007, has been a powerhouse pillar for the designer, and has given birth to several editions: 2011’s Daisy Eau So Fresh, 2013’s three-stockkeeping-unit Daisy Sunshine Editions and this year’s three-sku Daisy Delight editions. “The brand has stayed true to the spirit of the original and found new ways to articulate that to the customer,” noted Steve Mormoris, senior vice president of American fragrances for Coty Prestige.
For Daisy Dream, however, Jacobs wanted to create a more “ethereal, sophisticated version while still maintaining Daisy’s playful spirit.”
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Jacobs started with the bottle, creating a silver-toned cap with an overlay of daisies, giving a lacy effect, and added that same pattern to the shoulders of the bottle. Next, he tinted the juice a pale blue, which evokes the sky and freedom, he said.
Next came the fruity floral, which Firmenich’s Alberto Morillas developed in collaboration with Jacobs and Ann Gottlieb. It opens with notes of blackberry, fresh grapefruit and pear; has a heart of jasmine, lychee and blue wisteria, and a base of white woods, musks and coconut water.
Eaux de toilette in three sizes — 1 oz. for $52, 1.7 oz. for $76 and 3.4 oz. for $94 — will be offered, as will a 5-oz. shower gel, $40, and a 5-oz. body lotion, $45. In the U.S., the scent will be available in about 3,000 department and specialty stores, including Bloomingdale’s and Sephora.
Jacobs also tapped longtime pal Sofia Coppola to direct Daisy Dream’s TV campaign, which features a free-spirited model cavorting in a field. “Sofia just gets it,” Jacobs said. “She understands the spirit of Daisy.” Print, which was shot by Juergen Teller, will begin breaking in August fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines.
Coty also plans an extensive digital campaign. The centerpiece is an interactive element the brand calls the Dream Capsule, which allows users to create online collages of their hopes and dreams, said Lori Singer, group vice president of global marketing at Coty Prestige.
While all involved declined to discuss sales projections, industry sources estimated that Daisy Dream could do $100 million at retail globally in its first year on counter.
The designer is also adding to his color cosmetics collection with Sephora, and hopes to eventually branch into skin care, he said. “Designing beauty is very much like designing a collection — it’s just in a different medium,” said Jacobs. In addition to a number of new cosmetic sku’s, Jacobs tapped sixtysomething actress Jessica Lange for his Sephora cosmetics visual, a much-buzzed-about move. “I’m a big fan of [Jessica’s], and ever since I met her, I wanted to work with her again,” said Jacobs. “We did Edie Campbell for the first campaign, and when we started discussing this new campaign, I wanted to do something different. I think it’s important to come to expect what you don’t expect. Don’t get into a formula — you’ve got to be very instinctive. And it wasn’t an age thing [with Jessica] — it was me trusting my instincts about beauty in all forms. That is how we operate. And I’d hate for it to be contrived.”


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Yesterday I sent a letter to the Washington Post challenging Harold Meyerson’s completely misinformed understanding of the state of manufacturing in the United States. Today I sent this other letter challenging another of Meyerson’s misunderstandings:
Protectionist Harold Meyerson asserts that the higher tariffs endorsed by protectionist Sen. Sherrod Brown would inject “some pro-American considerations into our trade policy” (“Just One Word: Factories,” August 12).
Wrong. Higher tariffs would inject only some pro-American producer considerations into our trade policy – and only for some American producers.
The consumers who would pay higher prices in return for fewer and lower-quality goods and services would be Americans. And at least one-third of American imports today are inputs used by American producers to enhance their products’ qualities and their firms’ operating efficiencies. So higher tariffs would harm many American producers.
Does Mr. Meyerson rank as “Americans” only those relatively few producers who stand to gain from monopoly protection which would make the vast majority of the rest of us worse off?
Donald J. Boudreaux


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TORONTO, ON – The Beach Village BIA has announced a promotional event happening later this week at many of its member businesses in Toronto’s east end that will feature beer sampling stations from ten local breweries.
Beach Village Moonlight Madness will be taking place on Friday May 24th from 4:00 to 9:00 PM, and ten businesses will each be hosting a participating brewery, including Beaches, Blood Brothers, Catapult, Common Good, Danforth, Halo, Henderson, Lost Craft, Radical Road, and Woodhouse.
In addition to beer samples, each of the ten establishments will be offering discounts and specials during the event, as will more than 20 other shops, restaurants, and services along Queen Street East between Lockwood & Neville Park.
For more details, including a full list of participating businesses and their promos, see the Beach Village BIA website.
Source & Photo: Beach Village BIA


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The British mudguard brand commits to producing its latest range of OceanX mudguards from 100% recycled fishing nets
The British mudguard brand commits to producing its latest range of OceanX mudguards from 100% recycled fishing nets.
The OceanX range of guards was launched earlier this week on Kickstarter. To bring this project to market, RideGuard has teamed up with Bristol based Ecotribo – specialists in sustainable materials, ecodesign and manufacture. The businesses have been investigating the most sustainable materials, manufacturing, and supply chain processes to deliver the OceanX project.
Rideguard CEO Ben Gaby: “By investing time into product innovation and material exploration we are proud to have been part of the process in developing the OceanX material which we’re using for our new range of mudguards.”
Ecotribo director Tyrone Probert: “This is more than a range of mudguards, it’s about how the cycling industry can be the change we need to see. A commitment to do things differently, making sure that even the smallest things we make create ripples and positive outcomes for people and planet.”
RideGuard already manufacture their products from 100% post industrial plastic waste. The OceanX range includes two new designs, the ‘Vision’ Gravel bike front guard and ‘Gaiter’ Gravel rear saddle guard. The popular PF1 front mountain bike mudguards and rear MTB PF2 saddle mudguards complete the OceanX range.
Fishing related pollution is a major threat to marine life through entanglement, and damages habitats, such as coral reefs. ‘Ghost Fishing Gear’ is estimated to make up 10% of all ocean pollution at around 640,000 tonnes. Left in the ocean it will not degrade and will continue to trap and kill marine life and damage marine habitats indefinitely. By working with coastal communities, and NGOs on the collection and processing of end of life fishing nets RideGuard are giving commercial value to this precious resource and preventing it from being discarded in our oceans in the first place.


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(ORDO NEWS) — Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled a new concept of a “walking drone” – a self-driving mobile platform that can move both on wheels and walking on four “legs.”
Unlike the previous apparatus of this type, the Elevate, the new TIGER X-1 (Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot) is so compact that it can be transported by a drone. The robot was developed in the California division of Hyundai – New Horizons Studio, specializing in unmanned vehicles.
As the head of New Horizons Studio, Jong Soo, told TechCrunch, the company intends to turn the current prototype into a ready-to-sell device in five years. In the next two years, “key technical problems” should be solved and a basic design created, and in 2023 and 2024 the first “beta versions” of the product will already appear.
The TIGER X-1 is based on a modular architecture platform and features a hybrid mobility system that includes “legs” for walking on rough terrain and wheels for moving on smoother surfaces. At the same time, the system can switch to “walking” mode at any moment, simply by encountering an obstacle in its path. The robot can move in any direction, for example, carrying small loads or observing.
Contact us: [email protected]


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Christian Fabre, a leading man’s designer wear brand, has set to step into booming retail business by opening new outlets. The company is geared up to expand its presence across India through franchising with expertise of Francorp. Being part of Franchise India Group, which is Asia’s largest integrated Franchise and Retail Solutions Company that specialises in providing innovative solutions to its global clientele. The stores will house a range of trendy readymade garments viz. T-shirts, jeans, cargos and much more. Despite being a new shopping den, the new Christian Fabre stores will be an ultimate destination for signage players such as in-store media companies and sign makers.
www.onlyragazze.com fine girls discovering true love.


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The U.S. government has sued Google for antitrust violations, ending the suspense over which Big Tech company they would take action against first.
The Economist suggests that four lenses should be used to interpret the issues in the Google anti-trust suit, as well as in the other such suits (against Facebook, for example) that might be on the horizon:
“At stake,” they say, “is who controls the rules of public speech.”
Where’s the harm?
Some say that there is political censorship going on, but there is no actual evidence for that claim.
Others hold that Google (and the other Big Tech targets) are not being vigilant enough about false information, but there’s uncertainty over whether a private company should have control over public speech.
If either or both of these claims were true, they would certainly be in conflict with each other. How can one company reasonably be accused of both censoring content and failing to control content?
The vague and contradictory nature of these complaints has led to some vague and contradictory reporting.
The Department of Justice, however, is not squeamish. They used this headline for their announcement of their decision: “Justice Department Sues Monopolist Google For Violating Antitrust Laws.”
The DOJ says that Google pays to have its search engine installed as the default search engine in computers and phones, thus making it very hard for other search engines to compete. I’ve had computers with Bing installed as the default search engine, and was able to change those settings easily. I was also, in a thought experiment a few minutes ago, able to think of four competing search engines and to find all of them (with the help of Google) in my browser.
It’s hard to see that as a monopoly. It’s also hard to see any harm being done to consumers in this situation. Google may have a lot of data, but that’s not covered by antitrust laws.
Google certainly dominates search. They have 86.86% of global market share. The fact that there are plenty of other search engines in existence doesn’t limit their control over online search. However, just having dominance is not illegal. As Carl Shapiro says in The Journal of Economic Perspectives, “it would be illogical to urge companies to compete and then tell them they have broken the law when they do so successfully.” Google has dominant market share for search because they have the best search engine.
Google says that’s the people’s choice. People don’t have to use any search engine, and they have plenty of options. Can Google help it if it’s the best?
Google also points out that it doesn’t charge for its search engine and that people using the search function aren’t really Google’s customers. Google’s customers are mostly advertisers.
But Congress created a report which said that there is no real alternative to Google… not in its function as a search engine serving people looking for information, but in its function of sending traffic to websites. Certainly, most business and professional websites do rely on Google to send traffic. We cooperate with Google to get that effect.
And we’re certainly not going to block Google’s bots. Start-up search engines, Congress thought, might get blocked. And it would be hard for them to enter the market effectively when Google has so much data. In fact, it’s hard for them to produce any kind of search engine with limited data. Google’s control over vast amounts of information (including how you behave when visiting a given website) is what makes its algorithm so useful.
Back in the heyday of trustbusting, companies did things that were clearly harmful to customers and made it nearly impossible for those customers to change to some other provider. For example, a company might move into a market and lower its prices below cost temporarily to drive competitors out of business. Then, having gotten rid of the competition, that company could raise its prices, and consumers would be forced to buy from the monopoly because they had no other choice. Amazon has been accused of this kind of behavior, but Google doesn’t seem to be doing anything of this kind.
Nothing prevents internet users from switching to DuckDuckGo instead of Google. Nothing keeps them from leaving Facebook for MeWe. Nothing prevents you from giving up Starbucks for your local hospital cafeteria, either, but that doesn’t mean you want to do so.
People who go to Facebook to check in with friends and family or to catch up on news won’t find their friends and family, or their community news, at MeWe. And optimizing for DuckDuckGo won’t give your business the same advantages as optimizing for Google. There is an element of competition there, but neither MeWe nor DuckDuckGo can simply improve their recipe and wait for change. For one thing, they have to use Google to get the attention of prospective customers.
So what’s the solution?
The Economist suggests a completely new business model for Big Tech. “One idea is for people to own their data individually or collectively,” they say. “The social networks would become utilities paid a flat fee, while people or collectives earned the rent from advertisers and set the parameters for what was served up to them. At a stroke that would align the gains from advertising with the burden upon the people being advertised to. If users could port their data to another network, the tech firms would have to compete to provide a good service.”
The Economist recognizes that this would not be a quick fix. And it’s important that the remedy not be worse than the current harm. Senator Elizabeth Warren wants to see Google broken up. She has not been clear on how that would work. Separating Google’s arts and education initiatives from its search would have no clear benefits. Separating its advertising arm from search would clearly be harmful to advertisers — and Google only has about a 30% share in online advertising anyway.
Dividing the search engine among multiple companies, as was done with the phone company, could be done. However, as the Washington Post points out, “Everyone’s searches would probably become less accurate and useful than the ones we’re getting now, because no one company would have enough data to refine those searches as well as Google currently does.”
That certainly would be a solution worse than the current harm.
Does Google have the power to keep new search engine startups from getting into the market before they run out of money? And, in the context of the current lawsuit, is paying to be the default search engine on new MacBooks the method of creating those delays?
Do your own thought experiment. Imagine you got a new computer today and its default search engine was Ecosia. Will you allow the computer to direct you to Ecosia when you want to search, or will you type in Google.com?
If you simply prefer DuckDuckGo or Bing, will you let the default to Google keep you from using your favorite alternative search engine?
You might go with a default browser, especially if you are one of the millions of people who don’t know what a browser is, but you’ll Google information if you like to Google. If you’d rather Bing it, you can easily find Bing by searching at Google.com.
Google Maps could be another example. Google has, for the first time in human history, mapped the entire world. Would alternative cartography providers have to accomplish that before they could really compete? And if so, does it violate antitrust laws to delay competitors’ entry into the marketplace by doing something absolutely awesome?
As Shapiro points out, “Antitrust cannot solve all manner of economic and social problems and should not be expected to do so.”


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Connecticut has joined several other states that are seeking to restrict or forbid credit card marketing activities on campus. Gov. M. Jodi Rell signed legislation that sets strict parameters for credit card companies as to when, where and how they can market to students.
The law also orders the Board of Governors of Higher Education to create a new policy by Jan. 1, 2010, to force credit companies to register with state colleges and universities.
It prevents companies from signing up students for credit cards during orientation and class registration and forces companies to give educational materials on how to retain good credit ratings. The law also bans companies from giveaways at sports events and prevents educational institutions from giving the names and addresses of students to credit card companies.
Read more here.


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Connect with top gaming leaders in Los Angeles at GamesBeat Summit 2023 this May 22-23. Register here.
While Google has not featured heavily in the news these past few weeks, eclipsed by Microsoft’s Xbox One and Apple’s Worldwide Design Conference, the employees of the Mountain View, California based company have not been idle. A new version of Google Groups was announced today that will provide improved moderation abilities and a shared inbox feature that will improve the product’s usability.
For those unfamiliar with Groups, it is a service that creates online and e-mail-based groups where people can engage in discussions on subjects of interest, receive support on products, and organize meetings and events. Users can access posts through the online interface, through e-mail, or both.
New moderation tools include the capability to post canned responses to forum posts, a streamlined options interface, and mobile browsing and moderation abilities.
The new inbox feature enables you to collaboratively share a single e-mail inbox. Now members of a project, company, or club can share a single e-mail address for dealing with external parties and then manage the inbox to share email and assign items to each other.
Readers interested in learning more about starting or joining a group can find out more on Google Support.
Photo credit: Gmail Blog
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Earlier this week, Electroneum (ETN) announced a long-awaited update to their blockchain that, among other things, introduces core network changes that fundamentally shift the maturing cryptocurrency’s roadmap towards a future of increased transparency, as it seeks to scale in the face of growing regulatory concerns in the crypto industry.
There is a lot of attention on the Electroneum team following the recent announcement of the crypto’s upcoming blockchain update. For several months, the blockchain developers behind the scenes have been working on a batch of critical upgrades and improvements that will benefit the cryptocurrency and the community behind the scenes.
With security and interface improvements at the forefront of these changes, the upgrade will enable for greater system extensibility; unlocking integrations that give the ETN-Network flexibility and scalability towards future growth.
While most users of Electroneum will experience no impact from this update, only crypto exchanges and those running nodes will need to take action to ensure no disruptions.
According to Electroneum’s Lead Blockchain Developer, Chris Harrison:
“The goal of the V10 Blockchain release is to make the ETN-Network blockchain as transparent as possible. That permits us to develop in line with the direction of travel of the global cryptocurrency industry as a whole and do business with institutions and whole countries that may otherwise have their doors closed to us. This helps us future-proof our network.”
Harrison also added:
“The new blockchain will permit two types of transactions. The first type will solely be for migrating ETN User’s balances over to the new blockchain … the second type will be the new status quo, which is fully transparent blockchain transactions, [enabling] funds to be sent on to the new version … Migrations will be automatic upon an ETN User opening their ETN Online Wallet.”
The blockchain developer also detailed Block Explorer updates that were made to reflect the new transparency model. These include features like instant wallet balance lookup for any user’s wallet address, more clarity and search options in transactional logs, and an overall interface improvement of the ETN Explorer.
Wallet synchronization is another critical component to this update. Harrison added:
“The technology behind this update will also pave the way to improve the performance of the ETN Online Wallet by speeding up refresh times; an aspect of the system that people have had issues with in the past.”
Found and CEO of Electroneum, Richard Ells said:
“This is the first step that we need to move toward the exciting use cases that smart contracts allow, such as potentially entering the world of DeFi, interacting with other blockchains such as Ethereum or CBDCs, and so much more…In the future, we want to enable the development of smart contracts on our blockchain. [This update] is the first step towards that on our roadmap.”
Ells also believes this update positions Electroneum favorably in the eyes of prospective partners. Further, it gives the crypto all the right tools to expand the development of an extensive set of emerging use cases as they continue to explore these potentials. The Founder added:
“We are reaching out to potential partners to understand their needs and how we can find blockchain solutions for them…we understand they have had concerns with the features that we have now removed with this network update.”
When commenting on this major shift towards added transparency in the Electroneum network, Ells concluded that:
“Removing the limited privacy features also benefits transaction speeds and user interface (UI), and user experience (UX). And it unlocks future collaborations with corporations.”
The blockchain fork will occur at the 1,175,315 block height of the ETN Network which is estimated to be reached on September 30th.
You can learn more about Electroneum by checking out their website.
Their white paper can be downloaded here.
You can download the Electroneum App here.
Disclaimer: The information above does not constitute investment, financial, trading or any other sort of advice and you should not treat any of the content on this site such. We do not recommend the purchase, sale, or holding of any cryptocurrency or other product. None of our content should be deemed as an offer to purchase, sell, or hold a cryptocurrency or other product or service. Please consider doing your own research and prioritize consulting a certified financial professional before making any investment decisions.


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Today, Xiaomi not only launched many consumer electronics products but also uncovered a new humanoid robot that made a stir. The CyberOne is a full-size humanoid bionic robot, which is going to compete with the Tesla Optimus and the likes.
As you remember, last year, the company showed the first Xiaomi bionic quadruped robot dog, namely Cyberdog. The CyberOne is from this family.
This robot has high emotional intelligence, can perceive human emotions, is visually sensitive, can perform three-dimensional virtual reconstruction of the real world, can achieve bipedal movement posture balance, and comes with strong limbs, power peak torque of 300Nm, and other leading capabilities.
CyberOne Technical Characteristics
At 177 cm tall and 52 kg in weight, the CyberOne is a full-size humanoid bionic robot. According to the official introduction, “the intelligence and mechanical capabilities behind the CyberOne are all completed by Xiaomi Robot Lab’s full-stack self-research. Compared with the previous mechanical dog, CyberOne’s research and development are more difficult. Let’s take the upper limb joint motor as an example. Xiaomi has developed a motor with a weight of only 500 grams and a rated output torque of 30Nm to ensure the flexibility of the upper limbs.
The whole body control algorithm part is equipped with 16 joints, has 21 whole body degrees of freedom, and has a maximum speed of 3.6km/h.
In other respects, the CyberOne supports functions such as holding a 1.5kg weight with one hand.
The emotion perception module comes with a display module, auditory sensor, visual sensor, etc. The audio algorithm includes 85 kinds of environmental semantic recognition. Also, there are 45 kinds of human semantic emotion recognition in 6 categories.
Lei Jun said that in the field of intelligent robots, humanoid bionic robots have the highest degree of technical integration and the greatest difficulty.
The CyberOne is Xiaomi’s exploration process of creating a “connecting people and everything” technology ecosystem. This is why Musk said that Tesla would also make a similar product. He even stated that this is the future of technology products.


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German automaker Audi (AUDVF) will use U.S. chipmaker Nvidia‘s (NVDA) artificial intelligence computing platform to bring autonomous vehicles to the road by 2020, the companies announced Wednesday night at CES, the annual consumer electronics show in Las Vegas.
The partnership is just one of a half a dozen announcements Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang made that leverages computing power to apply artificial intelligence to a variety of products, including the home and the car.
Nvidia also announced a partnership with mapping company HERE (HRTE), truck and commercial supplier ZF, and automotive supplier Bosch. ZF and Bosch are adopting Nvidia’s computing platform to bring AI to autonomous vehicles.
Audi and Nvidia have been working together for nearly a decade, although in the beginning the focus was on using Nvidia’s computer graphics chips in Audi’s virtual cockpit and navigation.
Now Audi is working with Nvidia’s AI car computing platform to handle the complexities of real-road conditions and to deliver autonomous vehicles earlier. Audi’s goal is to have production vehicles with Level 4 autonomy, a classification by the Society of Automotive Engineers that means the car can handle all aspects of driving in most conditions or driving modes.
To showcase their progress, Audi and Nvidia developed an Audi Q7 piloted driving concept vehicle to navigate a complex course. The demonstration, which will be showcased at CES, aims to show the power of end-to-end deep learning and how it could be one of many neural networks that can run inside of an artificial intelligence car.
Audi says it will expand testing of its automated vehicles on public roads in California and select states next year.
Since Nvidia began working on autonomous vehicles several years ago, the company has rolled out development platforms and formed partnerships with more than 80 automakers and suppliers as they race to develop self-driving cars.
Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.
In September, Chinese search engine Baidu (BIDU) partnered with Nvidia to focus on using artificial intelligence to develop a computing platform for self-driving cars. The platform will include cloud-based high-definition maps. The partnership brings together two companies that see vast potential in AI.
Nvidia’s original architecture for self-driving cars involved three components: an AI supercomputer called Drive PX that’s powerful enough to process data from the vehicle’s cameras and sensors; an AI algorithm-based operating system; and a cloud-based high-definition 3D map that constantly updates.
Nvidia introduced Drive PX two years ago at CES. Last year, CEO Huang introduced a more powerful next generation computer—called Drive PX 2—as well as a suite of software tools and libraries aimed at accelerating the deployment of self-driving vehicles. Volvo is using the Drive PX 2 computer in a fleet of self-driving test cars.
Nvidia doubled down on self-driving cars in September with the introduction of Xavier, a complete system on chip that’s essentially an AI brain for self-driving cars. The Xavier is designed to meet international functional safety standards for electronics used in cars.


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Universal and streamlined shopping app nate has secured $38 million in capital through a Series A round led by Renegade Partners, along with contributions from Forerunner Ventures and existing investors Canaan Partners and Coatue Management.
nate’s Series A has been finalized a year after the Fintech firm raised a seed round, bringing the total equity secured to date to $51 million.
Company CEO Albert Saniger stated:
“We’re well capitalized and I couldn’t be happier with our choice to work with Roseanne Wincek and the Renegade team. Their people-first mindset and approach to human capital is refreshing and indicative of the type of venture capital that the new generation of founders like myself really value.”
nate’s management claims they offer the first AI-enhanced online shopping tool that “centralizes purchasing onto a single platform,” allowing clients to acquire a product from any digital commerce store with the “click of a button.” The firm’s Fintech app serves as a universal shopping solution that comes with an embedded social side, where “friends can inspire each other.”
nate says that it touches the consumer journey “from inspiration to purchase, and enables the payment.” The Fintech firm recently introduced its own pay later solution, and now plans to expand its line of payment products. Unlike similar products, however, nate claims that it “never compromises consumer privacy or charges merchants a single cent.”
“For the first time in history, shoppers have a seamless, universal, and private way of buying anything online. Everything we do at nate is driven by cherishing what makes us human, from the people we hire to how we design our products.”
As mentioned in the update shared with CI, nate’s customer base has been doubling “every six weeks.” The global digital commerce market size was valued at more than $4 trillion, nearly $1 trillion of which comes from the US.
As noted in the release, nate users have “the ability to purchase from all 2.1 million online stores in the US — representing the long-tail of the non-Amazon economy and 60% of US e-commerce.”
As noted in the update:
“In another step of growth, nate has also expanded its board of directors. In anticipation of this funding round, earlier this year the company appointed Linda Fayne Levinson as its first Independent Director.”
The announcement also mentioned:
“Coming soon, the app will launch new social functions. nate plans to give creators cash-back for any purchases followers make from their lists – an evolution that will power the monetization of the booming creator economy. Also in development is an in-app wallet where list-makers can save and use their rewards.”
As mentioned in the release, nate is a venture-backed AI startup based in New York. It has introduced the first mobile app that allows users “to purchase any item at any online retailer on behalf of a customer.”
With AI tech that navigates the web the way humans would, nate claims to be “the only universal accelerator for mobile checkout.”
Committed to “preserving the human experience of discovery and the path to inspiration,” nate is designed “to facilitate purchases once its user has chosen the product they want to buy – humans decide, machines execute.” The app is currently available for mobile download on the App Store.


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April 9, 2015
There aren't many solo players left delivering TV content recommendation engines, so maybe it's no surprise that one of the big ones is now looking to expand into new markets. Jinni announced this week that it's getting into the ad tech business.
The move by Jinni Media Ltd. doesn't deviate very far from the company's technology roots. Jinni said it will use the same Entertainment Genome powering its recommendation engine to help TV and movie studios target advertising on the web and mobile platforms. The proprietary semantic technology matches content inventory with individual user tastes. Repurposed for the ad business, the technology will provide a Demand Side Platform (DSP) for entertainment advertisers that want to carry their promotions over to an online environment.
Want to learn about targeted advertising in the multiscreen world? Light Reading is hosting a special breakfast seminar, "Targeting Ads in the On-Demand Multiscreen World," at the INTX show on May 5 in Chicago.
In addition to TV and movie studios, Jinni's new solution is designed for programmers looking to promote content in video-on-demand libraries. Jinni said the product has already been tested in commercial pilots with major Hollywood studios, and that the results showed significant improvement over traditional demographic-based ad targeting.
“When it comes to entertainment," declared Jinni Co-Founder and CEO Yosi Glick, "the truth is that totally different demographics often share the same tastes in movies and TV shows. Therefore, online advertising of movies and TV shows needs a fresh approach. With our proprietary moviegoer and TV viewer database and our mature semantic technology to understand user tastes, we can now provide entertainment brands with a much more efficient way to buy their media and target their relevant audiences.”
In the service provider world, Jinni already has an impressive line-up of customers. Big names from the list include AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK), Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE: TWC). (See AT&T Jumps On Board With Jinni.)
— Mari Silbey, special to Light Reading
Senior Editor, Cable/Video
Mari Silbey is a senior editor covering broadband infrastructure, video delivery, smart cities and all things cable. Previously, she worked independently for nearly a decade, contributing to trade publications, authoring custom research reports and consulting for a variety of corporate and association clients. Among her storied (and sometimes dubious) achievements, Mari launched the corporate blog for Motorola's Home division way back in 2007, ran a content development program for Limelight Networks and did her best to entertain the video nerd masses as a long-time columnist for the media blog Zatz Not Funny. She is based in Washington, D.C.
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Breach indicates need for growing caution while operating “Internet of Things” gadgets
LAS VEGAS — A highly unusual hacking attack on a Las Vegas casino fish tank is drawing comparisons to something that would be seen in an Ocean’s Eleven sequel. The ploy, where hackers broke into a casino by utilizing the thermometer in the fish aquarium, might seem like a movie plotline, yet it is a subject boat owners, and everyone who operates smart devices, should approach with care.
Darktrance CEO Nicole Egan discussed a cybersecurity breach on an unnamed casino, Business Insider revealed during a Wall Street Journal CEO Council Conference in London. Hackers were able to access a “high-roller” database through the fish tank thermometer, which they then signed onto the network and sent the information to The Cloud, a wireless network.
“Internet of Things” (IoT) refers to accessories such as phones, home security systems, and other equipment, including devices found on boats, and access products capable of signing on to the internet. These items, such as the fish tank thermostat, have seen increasing cyber attacks.
An article by GB Gearbrain stated, “Hackers have come up with new ways to break into your data — sending attacks through our appliances, locks, blinds and anything that connects to the internet … Attacks are not going to slow down.”
Statista, a company analyzing statistics from more than 25,000 sources, said an estimated 23.14 billion users are currently connected to a smart device. The company predicted smart device users will nearly double by 2022 and more than triple by 2025.
For boaters, potential equipment that could be targeted on their vessels includes Bluetooth stereos, connected navigational equipment and other technology operating through IoT networking systems.
On one hand, technology is better than it has been before. According to an article by Siren Marine, vessel technology is moving along with the rest of the world and trading in outdated modes of navigation for newer forms, which can, in some cases, detect an emergency before it happens.
There is one fix according to a Wired article: If you had a valuable car, you wouldn’t leave the doors unlocked. To minimize hacking attacks, be sure to turn off your wireless-accessible equipment when you’re not using them.


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Scientists estimate that every day, the earth bares witness to the loss and extinction of close to 200 different species of plants, insects, mammals and birds. These are eye-opening statistics that some believe are only the beginning of a mass extinction of life here on Earth. Luckily there are activists and supporters of wildlife preservation, those who volunteer their time, energy and money in order to help prevent the loss of various forms of life.
Darlene Farris-LaBar, an Associate Professor of Art, at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania has taken it upon herself to try and show the public the beauty seen among the native plants in the Pocono Region of her state, by utilizing 3D printing to do so. Using Rhino 3D, she designed individual flowers, that reside in the preserved and protected landscapes of the area.
“I taught myself how to use Rhino this summer to design the leaves and flowers of these special plants, Farris-LaBar told 3DPrint.com. “Each flower and leaf are fully 3D printed from a Stratysys Dimensions Elite 3D printer. Through these works, I hope to reveal what currently exists before it is lost. Some species are threatened by development, pollution, a changing climate and much more. 3D printing has provided me a new way of communicating about a pristine and special world to a busy culture that may be unable to explore such things in their everyday lives.”
It is Farris-LaBar’s hope that her 3D printed flowers can act as “3D field guides”, showing off the flowers’ unique characteristics to onlookers, while also working as an educational tool to create awareness of the dangers that these species of plants are faced with.
Once the flowers have be printed out, Farris-LaBar mounts them into plaster as a way to mimic the ground which they may have come from. “From the high technology of 3D printing to a more traditional form of hand molded plaster, these sculptures introduce the contrast of design skill from extremely different levels, she told us. “In this case, the plaster makes each sculpture an original. As an additional side-twist to the sculptures, inside each plaster base, is a compartment that offers a treasure map that would lead the viewer through these locations.”
Like you can see in the photos, the quality of prints that come off of the Stratasys Dimensions Elite are quite realistic looking, as the modeling that Farris-LaBar did was right on point. This just goes to show yet another great use that this up-and-coming technology of 3D printing is being utilized for, in order to make a difference for the better.
As for Farris-LaBar, she plans to continue to research, design and 3D print more plant species from around the world. She is currently working on creating a library of 3D plant designs that will be able to be downloaded and 3D printed anywhere in the world. “I also hope to use 3D printers with a much larger build for bigger models and finer detail capabilities for delicate features,” she explained. “It is my goal to use 3D printing to promote the natural beauty that exists on this planet.”
What do you think about Farris-LaBar’s use of 3D printing, in an effort to bring awareness to wildlife preservation? Discuss in the 3D Printed Flowers forum thread on 3DBP.com.
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California Assemblyman Damon Connolly has introduced a bill (AB 935) that would prohibit anyone from purchasing a tobacco product who was born on or after January 1, 2007. Essentially it would implement total prohibition of tobacco products for future generations.
Last year, New Zealand passed legislation that will bar the sale and supply of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1st, 2009. This was the first country to implement such a ban on a national level. Now California is attempting to become the first state in the U.S. to implement such a ban.
“We are deeply concerned about AB 935 and any legislation that seeks to restrict the rights of premium cigar smokers,” said Joshua Habursky, Deputy Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association in a press release. “These proposals are not based on scientific evidence, but rather on a political agenda that seeks to demonize adult cigar smokers and restrict their freedom to enjoy a legal product. Clearly it is no longer a hidden agenda of the anti tobacco groups to support full prohibition.”
The Premium Cigar Association has launched a Call to Action opposing AB 935. “CigarAction.org is an important tool for all cigar lovers and consumer freedom advocates,” said Glynn Loope, Director of State Affairs at the Premium Cigar Association “By signing up for CigarAction.org, you can make your voice heard and help us fight what is now, the most significant threat to the premium cigar industry in the nation. This legislation is proof of how bad policy ideas spread.”
Cigar Rights of America has issued its Call to Action. The Cigar Association of America has not issued any statement as of yet around AB 935.
The full text of the AB 935 bill can be found here.
Update: 2/15/22: Added information on Calls to Act


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If I need it, farmers grow it. That’s what I’m thankful for this Thanksgiving
I’m pretty sure it’s a sign that my husband and I are officially a boring married couple when we come home from the grocery store excited about the deal we found on apples.
A few weeks ago, my husband brought home a bag full of Red Delicious apples he found on sale for 99 cents a pound. The next week, I one-upped him and bought Honeycrisp apples for 99 cents per pound.
If you’re a fan of the sweet and crunchy Honeycrisps like we are, then you understand why this was such a steal. Typically, Honeycrisp apples are in such high demand, but low supply, that they cost about $2 per pound at my local grocery store.
“They really are growing more of them now,” remarked my husband, after I told him about my amazing deal.
And he’s right. Over the last four years, Honeycrisp apple production has doubled, according to the U.S. Apple Association.
It’s a good reminder, especially as the Thanksgiving all-you-can-eat-a-thon begins, that if consumers want something, then farmers will find a way to grow it.
For example, farmers in the Western U.S. are growing more pulse crops, such garbanzo beans, because of our ever-increasing appetite for hummus and other healthy snacks.
And as meal kits become more popular, Blue Apron and other food delivery companies are working directly with farmers to ensure a large enough supply of specialty crops for their seasonal menus.
In fact, farmers have always evolved and adapted to supply what we as customers demand. In the 1970s and ‘80s, Americans wanted leaner meats due to concerns about saturated fat in the diet. Now, there are six cuts of pork on the market that meet or exceed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s standard for lean protein.
And in the 1990s, Americans fell in love with foot-long deli sandwiches. So farmers here in Iowa and across the nation started raising turkeys with larger breasts to meet the surging demand for lean, white-meat deli turkey.
Now as consumer demand continues to change, farmers in Iowa – the nation’s top egg-producing state - are building cage-free barns for egg-laying chickens (although, it’s important to note, researchers say cage-free isn’t always better for animal well-being).
Also here in Iowa, pork company Niman Ranch is looking to double the number of farmers in its supply network to fill a niche market for naturally raised pigs.
Yes, if customers demand more garbanzo beans for hummus, avocados for toast, lean turkey for sandwiches or Honeycrisp apples for my family, then American farmers will grow it.
So this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for the farmers who grow the pumpkin for my favorite pie – and for the blessing of becoming a boring married couple who gets excited over grocery bargains.
By Teresa Bjork. Teresa is Iowa Farm Bureau's Senior Features Writer.
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Update: Due to ongoing uncertainty and the announcement from the CDC extending the no sail order, Carnival has canceled cruises departing from Port of Miami and Port Canaveral through November
(Insert your favorite exclamative phrase here): Only Florida cruises in 2020?
Carnival just announced the suspension of cruises through 2020 except for some from of Miami and Port Canaveral. Woah. Seemingly more bad news. Staying positive: Carnival expects to have cruises in 2020, even if they’re just short cruises out of two ports in Florida.
We … have cancelled cruises from all U.S. homeports except Miami and Port Canaveral for November and December 2020. While operations from Miami and Port Canaveral in November and December are still not certain, Carnival is focusing our initial return to service from those two homeports, whenever that might occur.
Many of us here at Carnival are working on protocols and procedures that would allow for the resumption of cruise operations, with a gradual, phased-in approach, designating Miami and Port Canaveral as the first two homeports for embarkations. In light of the CDC’s decision, cruises currently scheduled for November and December from those two homeports will remain in place for the time being while we evaluate options. However, we are providing guests booked on cruises in November and December out of Miami and Port Canaveral the ability to voluntarily cancel their reservation and receive the same offer that all other impacted guests are receiving, which includes a combination future cruise credit and onboard credit, or a full refund.Carnival
Aside from the obvious, that the only cruises available will be Florida cruises in 2020, Carnival’s statement has a lot of information including another confirmation of a “slow return” to cruising; initial cruises will be short; the cancellation policy and incentives are strong; and last but certainly not least, nobody knows when the CDC is going to allow cruises to resume.
Related: What will cruising be like in 2020?
Normally (whatever normal is in 2020), guests have had the option to accept future cruise credit plus on board credit or a refund after the cruises were canceled by Carnival. With today’s announcement, guests booked on cruises which have not been canceled can receive the same offer. This new twist is good news for those who (like me!) are tired of hoping for a vacation and having it canceled or those who are concerned about the safety of cruising.
In either case (whether Carnival just canceled on you or you want to cancel on them), Carnival is offering guests 100% future cruise credit plus on board credit ($600 per stateroom on 6+ day cruises and $300 per stateroom for cruises 5 days or less). Guests may also choose a full refund, giving up the on board credit.
Unlike other cruise lines, guests have to make a decision by using the Carnival online form. If you would like unbiased information, advice, and assistance use the contact form or call me at 844-483-6669.
The full list of impacted sailings is below (take note of which Florida cruises in 2020 are still scheduled):
- Carnival Splendor sailings through and including January 7, 2021
- Mardi Gras sailings November 14, 2020 through and including January 30, 2021
- Carnival Breeze from Ft. Lauderdale sailings November 7, 2020 through and including March 7, 2021
- Carnival Sunrise
- Ft. Lauderdale, New York and Norfolk sailings through and including October 19, 2020
- Miami 7 and 8 day sailings from October 9, 2021 through and including April 30, 2022, excluding the March 5, 2022 sailing
- Miami 5 day sailing January 3, 2022
- Carnival Radiance
- Sailings through and including November 1, 2020
- 9, 12, and 14 day sailings from May 2, 2021 through and including April 29, 2022
- 5 day sailings December 23, 2021 and December 28, 2021
- Carnival Paradise sailings through and including February 22, 2021
- Carnival Magic
- Ft. Lauderdale and Miami sailings through and including March 6, 2021
- Transatlantic & Barcelona sailings April 10, 2021 through and including May 3, 2021
- Carnival Imagination and Carnival Inspiration sailings through and including April 19, 2021
- Carnival Valor sailings through and including April 24, 2021
- Carnival Spirit sailings through and including May 16, 2021
- Carnival Fascination sailings through and including January 9, 2022
- Carnival Sensation sailings March 3, 2022 and March 7, 2022
- Carnival Conquest, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Breeze, Carnival Elation, and Carnival Liberty Miami and Port Canaveral sailings through and including October 31, 2020 Sailings between November 1 and December 31, 2020 from Miami and Port Canaveral have not been canceled. However, guests booked on these sailings may elect to cancel their booking any time prior to departure using this form and will receive the same offers below.
- All Other Ships sailings through and including December 31, 2020


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Uniqlo, Zara and Skechers are facing claims of human rights violations in China, according to a Europe-based Uyghur organization.
The European Uyghur Institute in Paris has launched a lawsuit against Inditex Group and Fast Retailing — the parent companies of Zara and Uniqlo, respectively — along with American footwear brands Skechers over allegations of forced labor by Uyghur workers in China.
The brands are accused of being "involved in the surveillance, the management and the construction of camps, as well as the overall monitoring of the Uyghur region."
Evidence submitted included a video that depicts Uyghur workers manufacturing a Skechers shoe inside of a factory. However, its veracity has yet to be confirmed, according to Nikkei Asia.
The Jing Take
Whether overseas or in China, global brands have had a notably difficult time navigating the Xinjiang cotton controversy which began in 2021.
As geopolitical tensions between the US and China continue to escalate, the row over the use of Xinjiang-produced cotton has left designer labels and fast fashion brands in a major dilemma. Either use cotton allegedly produced by forced Uyghur labor, or face potential backlash and boycotts by Chinese consumers.
The controversy has been a thorny dilemma for many brands given that Xinjiang is a major cotton producer — producing over 20% of the world’s cotton — and accounts for 80% of China’s domestic cotton production.
Activists and human rights groups like the European Uyghur Institute accuse China of detaining up to 1 million Uyghurs in internment camps, where more than half a million people are forced to to pick cotton, according to claims in 2020.
In the US, the implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act has had a major impact on apparel, footwear and textiles imports from China, with almost 49% of imports denied entry into the US in Q3 of 2022, according to Nikkei Asia.
Meanwhile in China, brands have faced backlash and boycotts from local consumers for taking stances on the alleged human rights abuses. In 2021, Adidas, Hamp;M and Nike were among the brands facing boycotts in China, after they spoke out about the use of Xinjiang-produced cotton.
And it seems Chinese consumers weren’t quick to forget this. In a report by global intelligence firm Morning Consult, 33% of Chinese consumers surveyed stated they had boycotted a global brand for generalized unethical behavior which included “perceived prejudice against Chinese consumers.”
Nike’s sales have continued to be impacted by fallout from the controversy. As such, the sports giant is seeking a new way forward through the launch of hyperlocal products.
Despite warming relations between China and Europe — Chinese prime minister Li Qiang visited France and Germany this week to discuss strengthening trade ties and combating climate change — Xinjiang-made cotton continues to be an area that Western brands will need to navigate carefully.
Moving production and supply chains out of China has been one way some brands like Patagonia have chosen to steer through the thorny issue. It is a move that Chinese fast fashion ecommerce brand Shein has also undertaken, although for a different set of geopolitical reasons.
According to the aforementioned Nikkei report, when reached for comment, Fast Retailing, Inditex and Skechers all refuted claims of employing forced labor.
The Jing Take reports on a piece of the leading news and presents our editorial team’s analysis of the key implications for the luxury industry. In the recurring column, we analyze everything from product drops and mergers to heated debate sprouting on Chinese social media.


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Harmonized Skies 2023
Digital aviation: what actually works?
The Global UTM Association presents the flagship event Harmonized Skies. The international conference will be hosted at the International Civil Aviation Organization‘s (ICAO) headquarters. It will take place on December 4 2023 in Montreal, Canada a day before the Drone Enable Symposium.
Harmonized Skies has firmly established itself as a leading platform that brings together key industry and policy stakeholders from the UTM and the broader drone services ecosystem. The event serves as a pivotal forum for advancing discussions, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of UTM on a global scale.
This year’s edition will focus on the global opening of the UTM services market, creating sustainable business models, automation and scalability, and automated testing as a tool for harmonized certification.


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18 January 2023
It has only been a few months since Apple took wraps off the Apple Watch Ultra, its biggest and most feature-rich smartwatch in the market yet. The rumor mill has already begun offering details about its successor. Analyst Jeff Pu has shared some interesting details about the next-gen smartwatch in his research notes for Hong Kong investment firm Haitong International Securities.
Pu has claimed Apple will launch the next-gen Apple Watch Ultra in 2024. The new model will come with a 2.1-inch display which is even bigger than the 1.92-inch display on the current-gen model. It is further rumored to be the first Apple Watch with a mini-LED display panel. The current-gen Ultra comes with an OLED display. The change of panel will result in more brightness on the new model.
The leak does not mention any other details about the extreme edition smartwatch successor. Since the launch is still about two years away, there is plenty of time for other information to surface through leaks. Pu goes on talk about a different product category i.e. truly wireless earbuds. He believes Apple will also release an affordable AirPods Lite sometime in 2024.
It should be noted that the name mentioned in the report is not confirmed as the final product name. It is only for reference purposes for the time being. These will be cheaper than the most affordable AirPods sold by Apple but what will be the difference in features is not known yet. If the leak is correct, we should hear more about these earbuds in the coming months.


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Word is strong that Microsoft may introduce a new Surface tablet later this month at the BUILD developer conference, but the technology titan continues its efforts to boost sales of the existing models.
This time the company is offering a handy discount for Surface RT buyers in the United Kingdom.
The discount, however, is aimed specifically at the education sector. Students and faculty staff in the United Kingdom can now avail a 10 percent discount for all available models of the device, with or without Touch or Type Covers.
The company explains on the official promotion page:
“This academic offer for eligible students, faculty, and staff requires verification of eligibility prior to purchase. Limit five (5) copies of this item per 12-month period.”
This is obviously an effort to not just boost the sale of the first generation device, but also clear room for the second generation Surface tablets that are set to be unveiled at the BUILD developer conference later this month.
If you are eligible for the discount, the 32GB Surface model with a Touch Cover included in the package retails for £431 (which translates to $675), while the 64GB variant can be had for £503 (amounting to $790) with the 10 percent price cut applied.


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Ethoca Announced as Joint Finalist with Barclays for 2015 Card & Payments Award
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada; AUSTIN, TX; and LONDON, UK – January 21, 2015 – Ethoca, the industry standard for collaboration-based technology solutions that help card issuers and online merchants increase transaction acceptance and stop ecommerce fraud, today announced that it has been selected as a joint finalist with Barclays for a 2015 Cards & Payments Award.
Ethoca is a finalist with Barclays in the Best Security or Anti-fraud Development category. Ethoca and Barclays were selected based on fraud loss recovery results made possible through participation in Ethoca’s card issuer and merchant collaboration network.
The Ethoca Network helps card issuers to reduce the cost of fraud loss recovery and improve cardholder experience by putting timely, actionable confirmed fraud alerts into the hands of more than 1,800 merchants around the world. Merchants take action on alerts to stop the fulfilment of goods and services and avoid the costly chargeback process. For card issuers on Ethoca’s network, this significantly reduces the cost of fraud recovery by avoiding the high operational costs associated with the chargeback process, as well as losses on low value and 3D Secure transactions that are routinely written off. Banks also benefit by resolving their cardholders’ reason for dispute much faster, creating a much better customer experience.
Ethoca’s network currently includes 25 card issuers globally, including eight UK issuers (including three of the top five), seven of the top nine U.S. card issuers, five Canadian issuers and a top three card issuer in Australia. Over the last quarter of 2014 alone, new card issuers and data sources for both confirmed fraud and customer disputes – combined with hundreds of new merchants joining the network – have resulted in a 90% increase in the number of fraud and customer dispute alerts Ethoca is sending to merchant customers. This growth is driven by the Ethoca ‘Network Effect’: as more merchants and card issuers join the network, more value is created for all participants, in turn driving greater global participation and financial benefits.
“We are thrilled to be a joint finalist with Barclays for this prestigious award,” said Jamie Byles, Regional Director, Ethoca EMEA. “This is important, gratifying recognition that Ethoca’s network delivers proven results that are helping banks change the face of fraud in the UK.”
The Card & Payments Awards will take place on 5th February, 2015 in London.
About Ethoca – Ethoca is the leading, global provider of collaboration-based technology that enables card issuers, ecommerce merchants and online businesses to increase card acceptance, stop more fraud, recover lost revenue and eliminate chargebacks. Through the Ethoca Network – the first and only of its kind in the industry – we are closing the information gap between card issuers and merchants. This unique capability makes fraud intelligence and card acceptance insight available and actionable in real time. Our suite of services delivers significant revenue growth and cost saving opportunities to our card issuer and merchant customers around the world. Nine of the top ten ecommerce brands, seven of the top nine U.S. card issuers, three of the top five UK card issuers and more than 1,800 ecommerce businesses around the world rely on Ethoca solutions and the network that powers them. To find out more, please visit us online at www.ethoca.com.