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Use of MSAB digital forensic tools in Myanmar exposes gap between EU tech investment & regulation
"Tools for Repression in Myanmar Expose Gap Between EU Tech Investment and Regulation", 14 June 2021
... [T]he Myanmar military and police have engaged in an increasingly violent crackdown, killing over 860 protesters and bystanders, injuring thousands, and brutally torturing political prisoners. The generals have... used smartphone data as evidence for mass arrests.
... One of the products currently in the possession of Myanmar’s security forces is a digital forensic tool from the Swedish company MSAB. It’s the European equivalent of Cellebrite, the Israeli company known for its phone-hacking devices, which also appears in the leaked documents; MSAB’s technology is able to break mobile phone encryption... MSAB’s products can also extract passwords and login tokens from mobile devices, allowing authorities to remotely enter someone’s online services...
MSAB confirmed that it sold its forensic tools to Myanmar police in 2019, two years after security forces targeted the Rohingya in what the U.N. said could amount to crimes against humanity. According to the leaked budget documents, as well as tender documents found on government websites, MSAB also intended to sell a number of phone extraction products to Myanmar’s Bureau of Special Investigations in 2021 via a third-party distributor called MySpace International... Following the February coup, MSAB called off the deal. Yet the company’s earlier products remain in the hands of Myanmar’s security forces.
... [T]he European Union is investing in MSAB’s growth. Indeed, EU research money has developed technology that feeds into the same products that MSAB sold to Myanmar in 2019.
In response to critical questions about the 2019 sale, MSAB has said that limited technology was sold to police working for a civilian government and that the licenses for these forensic devices were canceled after the 2021 coup. Still, the scenario raises important questions about EU efforts to create tools for the security sector inside and outside the bloc...
Funding for MSAB and others comes from the EU’s flagship technological research program Horizon Europe, previously known as Horizon 2020. MSAB is the lead technology company on the “Formobile” project, a consortium of 19 companies, research institutions, and police departments set up in 2019 to develop technology to unlock mobile devices without user consent and extract and analyze data as evidence in criminal investigations.
... The products that were eventually sold to Myanmar... were “not the most powerful levels of our technology,” explained Mike Dickinson, chief business development officer at MSAB... Yet data analysis and extraction tools can still be used against a person’s will — such as when a detainee is forced to unlock a phone that is then searched.
... Dickinson told The Intercept that MSAB’s sales to Myanmar were licit given the country’s democratic elections in 2015 after decades of military rule. But local analysts say that a short look at Myanmar’s political context would call this reasoning into question...
According to Dickinson... after the February coup the company stopped plans for any future collaboration with Myanmar and revoked the licenses on the forensic technology it sold two years ago. At least, he said, that meant whoever now had the devices wouldn’t be able to update them. Such a distinction means little for Myat and Myanmar’s citizens, who are facing the possibility of life under an increasingly violent and well-equipped military dictatorship. Is MSAB confident that its devices aren’t currently being used in Myanmar?
Dickinson wouldn’t say.


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According to a study created by Acumen Research and Consulting, the global flexible electronics market is expected to reach $87.21 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of over 10.58% during the forecast period. Factors contributing to growth include ruggedness, portability, light-weight, and low-cost of production as compared to rigid substrates.
- The component segment comprises displays, batteries, sensors, and memory. In 2015, the display segment generated the highest revenue and captured over 50% of the market in the same year. The battery segment is estimated to witness moderate growth at CAGR exceeding 15% over the forecast period.
- Healthcare segment is estimated to witness a steady growth at CAGR of over 8% from 2016 to 2024. Increasing usage in x-ray detectors, light therapies, lab-on-chip devices, smart plastics, healthcare photonics and health monitoring devices is anticipated to fuel the segment growth.
- The automotive sector accounted for over 12% of the overall revenue in 2015 and is expected to witness steady growth over the next eight years.
- North America accounted for over 30% of the global revenue in 2015.
- Asia Pacific is expected to witness bullish growth at CAGR exceeding 17% from 2018 to 2026.
- The Europe flexible electronics market was over $5 billion in 2015.
Need more data? Then take a look at the “Flexible Electronics Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends and Forecast, 2018 – 2026” report.
Acumen Research and Consulting

domain: news


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Garcia's guitars fetch record / 'Wolf,' 'Tiger' sold at memorabilia auction for $1.74 million
Two of Jerry Garcia's custom guitars -- fought over in a lawsuit last year between the Grateful Dead and guitarmaker Doug Irwin -- sold for more than $1.74 million to two anonymous buyers at a New York auction last night.
Tiger -- a guitar Garcia played for 11 years -- went for $850,000. The other guitar, called Wolf, sold for $700,000. The buyer's commission pushed the price paid for Tiger to $957,500 and the price of Wolf to $789,500.
Garcia, who died in 1995, left both guitars in his will to guitarmaker Doug Irwin, who settled a lawsuit against the Grateful Dead last November and put the instruments up for sale. The Dead had claimed ownership of the instruments.
The Garcia guitars were the first two items up for bid in a large sale of Grateful Dead memorabilia at Manhattan's Studio 54.
The standing-room-only crowd cheered every bid, as Garcia's guitars zoomed past the previous world record figure for a guitar -- almost $450,000 paid at auction in 1999 for the tobacco-burst Fender Stratocaster called "Brownie" that Eric Clapton used to record "Layla." The white Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock sold for $325,000 in 1990.
Irwin, nearly destitute and still suffering from a hit-and-run car crash about three years ago, attended the sale and was introduced to the crowd. "I'm glad to see all you rock 'n' rollers," Irwin said. After the sale, he was swamped by autograph seekers.
Prices eclipsed many of the pre-auction estimates. A leather jacket that belonged to the Dead guitarist brought $23,000. His passport fetched $10,000. Others did not measure up to projections: A trio of etchings by Garcia, expected to bring between $15,000 and $18,000, went for $10,000. Some items didn't sell at all.
The winning bidder on Tiger, who was seen talking on a cell phone during the auction, refused to identify himself but did say he was acting as agent for another anonymous party.
Garcia bought his first Irwin guitar when he visited the guitarmaker's Sonoma shop in 1972. He ordered Wolf the same day and played the guitar for six years after Irwin delivered the finished instrument to him in May 1973. Garcia paid him $1,500.
Irwin spent six years building Tiger, which Garcia played for the next 11 years, longer than any other guitar he owned. Ironically, the guitar came out of mothballs to serve as a backup for another guitar he was playing on the band's final tour 1995, the same year he died. Garcia played Tiger during the band's last concert at Soldier Field in Chicago.


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Playboi Carti hints at dropping ‘Whole Lotta Red’
The long-awaited album may arrive Friday.
In back-to-back Instagram posts, Playboi Carti alludes to his highly-anticipated album, Whole Lotta Red, arriving this week.
Wednesday (Oct. 16) Carti posted photos of himself to Instagram, captioned, “him <3 red incoming.”
The caption immediately set fans into a frenzy, believing the long-awaited album to be arriving soon. Whole Lotta Red, Carti’s sophomore LP, has never had an official drop date and its release has been impeded by leaks and Carti’s own finalization.
In an interview with The Fader, the Atlanta-born rapper admitted to his own perfectionism drawing out the project’s release date.
“I could be done if I wanted to. I’m just trying to top shit,” he said. “I might make the hardest song ever tomorrow.”
Less than one day later, Carti followed up his tease-worthy post giving fans an actual number, writing, “<48 hours! locked in.”
If all goes well, fans could see Carti’s Whole Lotta Red before the weekend. However, the “Magnolia” rapper has set and missed drop dates in the past. At a concert this July, Carti told the crowd he was aiming to release Whole Lotta Red within the next 60 days. He also reveled the album will contain no features.
“I ain’t gon’ lie. It feels like we worked too hard for this moment,” he told the Milwaukee audience. “So, I’ma do this shit with no features.”
Throughout his career, Carti has suffered persistent leaks, with dozens of unreleased songs appearing online and and found in SoundCloud playlists.
Whole Lotta Red is expected to include production from Pi’erre Bourne, Maaly Raw, Richie Souf, Roark and DJ Don Cannon. According to The Fader, fans can expect to hear more of Baby Voice Carti and will find the rapper being more experimental with his his sounds.
Carti’s girlfriend Iggy Azalea previously told Men’s Health she’s heard Whole Lotta Red, calling it “next-level.”
“I’m never gonna tell you when Whole Lotta Red is dropping, you guys. Nice try,” she said. “I can tell you Whole Lotta Red is amazing and it’s next-level and it’s way better than anything any of the other people I heard doing, for real.”
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In recent weeks, medical-device maker ev3
Based in Plymouth, Minn., ev3 has two primary operating segments. Its cardio peripheral segment, which makes products for the treatment of coronary disease and other heart-related ailments, enjoyed a Q4 net sales increase of 42% over the previous year's comparable quarter. The company's neurovascular segment, whose products are aimed at treating vascular disease and other disorders in the brain, also had a strong showing; its net sales increased by 39% over the prior year's Q4.
Before you get too excited, though, consider the inherent risk associated with any company that has recently gone public and is still working to achieve profitability. This company, which went public in June of 2005, is definitely headed in the right direction -- its financial condition has improved dramatically. However, it still reported a loss of $4.6 million for its 2007 Q4. That's 79% better than its year-ago Q4 loss of $22 million, but it's still a loss. On the upside, ev3 expects its quarterly operating losses to shrink even further in 2007 and is expecting to generate $10 million to $15 million in EBITDA for fiscal 2007, excluding non-cash stock-based compensation.
As for the recent breakthroughs, the company last month announced FDA approval for its Protege Rx Carotid Stent, which is used in the treatment of carotid artery disease. Competition in this market has been heating up -- ev3 management estimates that the carotid stenting market could reach $250 million worldwide in 2007. Meanwhile, Cordis, a Johnson & Johnson
Another key development for ev3 also occurred in January, when it was reported that the company had entered into an agreement with FoxHollow Technologies
Should the company achieve similar growth channels in the upcoming months, ev3 could become a stock to watch as it continues to drive itself into the black.
For high-tech companies with more promising prospects for explosive growth, try a free 30-day subscription to David Gardner's Motley Fool Rule Breakers.
Johnson & Johnson is an Income Investor recommendation.


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It's not like the game has HD graphics so why isn't Capcom releasing Marvel vs. Capcom 2
on the Wii via the WiiWare channel? Well Crious Gamer got a response
from Capcom's Christian Svensson saying that they can't get the game under the WiiWare file size limit. They also don't have the rights to sell it as a retail purchase as well.
Now, a quick search has an interview by IGN
with Nintendo's Tom Prata about a year ago discussing one of the topics being a 43MB size limit for games. He doesn't really say there the limit isn't there but there are many reports of Nintendo refuting the limit to be around 40MB. So, with the recent ability for the Wii to play games off
of an SD card you would think size wouldn't be an issue. Sorry Wii folks, looks like you'll be missing out on this one for now.


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Game News - Tomb Raider Art Exhibition
Yes, you heard right! There is a Tomb Raider art exhibition... kinda. Carry on after the jump to find out how you can check out some sexy art of everyone's favourite sexy adventurer.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:
"Sydney, AUSTRALIA (October 6, 2011) — Crystal Dynamics, is proud to celebrate 15 years of TOMB RAIDER® with an initiative created for fans.
TOMB RAIDER was first unleashed on the world in October 1996, manifested from fantasy to reality by creator Toby Gard and the talented crew at Core Design. Little did they know how successful their adventurer would become; skyrocketed to become a household name within the year and carving a place in history as a pop-culture icon transcending the gaming space.
To celebrate the 15 year anniversary Crystal Dynamics, a Square Enix Group Studio is playing curator to a unique digital art exhibition, commissioning eight original pieces of art to be created by a selection of esteemed artists and released during the month of October.
The pieces will be created to showcase the new vision for Lara Croft in the eagerly anticipated new TOMB RAIDER game, whilst embracing the individual style of each of the selected artists.
The exhibition will begin on October 4thand starts with a piece created by esteemed artist Andy Park, artist on the original TOMBRAIDER comic book series. The month ends with a featured piece by Toby Gard, creator of the TOMB RAIDER series.
All art can be viewed over the course of the month at www.tombraider.com/15
“This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate TOMBRAIDER’s history by looking at Lara’s promising future,” said Karl Stewart, Global Brand Director, Crystal Dynamics. “We can’t wait to share each artist’s unique interpretation of what it means to be Lara Croft.”
During the month a series of events will be held to mark the celebration, including a signing by artists at New York Comic con on October 14th
As a finale to the event, a limited selection of T-shirts and posters will be available for purchase from The Nerd Machine’s website www.thenerdmachine.com with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Child’s Play charity http://www.childsplaycharity.org/
To date, the TOMB RAIDER franchise has sold over 35 million copies worldwide as of Oct 2011 and inspired one of the most successful video game film adaptation in history, grossing over $300 million at the box office worldwide.
TOMB RAIDER is in development for a multi-platform release, and is slated to launch fall 2012.


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If you were wondering what happened to the spring release of NBA Playgrounds 2, you got an answer on Tuesday.
2K announced that they will publish the sequel to last year's old-school arcade-action hoops title created in the spirit of NBA Jam. It has been rebranded as NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 and it will release in the Fall for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. While 2K has taken on publishing duties, the game is still developed by Saber Interactive and will still feature the classic two-on-two basketball experience.
According to the press release, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is intended to "complement" the NBA 2K simulation franchise and to "further expand 2K's footprint in the basketball video game space."
“The original NBA Playgrounds was a fantastic throwback to the glory days of arcade-action sports,” said Greg Thomas, President, Visual Concepts. “The new NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 will step up this energy and attitude big time – with a bit of added NBA 2K flair – giving fans of both franchises an exciting new way to game with friends around the world.”
“No one is more committed to bringing fans a great basketball experience than 2K. We can’t wait to share more on how we’re teaming up to make NBA 2K Playgrounds 2’s incredible arcade action bigger and better than ever for players,” said Saber CEO Matt Karch.
The game was originally supposed to release as NBA Playgrounds 2 on May 22, but it was pulled the day before release and customers who had pre-ordered the game received a refund. Perhaps this deal between Saber and 2K was likely in the works and things became serious just before the scheduled launch.
In any case, 2K has now added a more arcade-based project to its basketball portfolio and it will be interesting to see how or if it works in tandem with the simulation-based NBA 2K franchise.


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Phase out of Esurance brand is expected to reduce the operations expenses for Allstate
Illinois-headquartered insurance company Allstate announced that it plans to phase out its Esurance brand, starting next year.
Allstate stated that the phase out is part of its Tranformative Growth Plan. As per the plan, the company aims to combine the Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial organizations into one business model. The move is expected to lower costs, while offering more competitive prices without reducing profit margins.
The company also stated that it will redesign property-liability products to offer quality, rewarding engagement and community affiliation. The redesigned insurance pricing will use new and sophisticated algorithms including telematics and will reflect the service model that a customer chooses.
Currently, customers access Allstate property-liability products through its agencies, call centers and online but choice was limited by internal business rules.
In 2020, the company will expand the access to enable consumers to select a method of interaction without restrictions.
Customers will be offered with ‘circle of protection’ Leveraging a wide range of products such as home, renters, personal liability and life insurance, product protection plans and identity protection, Allstate intends to provide its customers with ‘circle of protection’.
The company is also expanding centralised customer service to improve consistency, reduce costs and enable its agents to focus on growth and relationships.
Allstate will invest Esurance phase out savings in brand marketing,
The operating expenses that will be saved by Esurance phase out will be invested in marketing of the Allstate brand, the company said.
Allstate chair, president and CEO Tom Wilson said: “Allstate has thrived for 88 years through innovation such as the use of local branded agencies, telematics pricing for auto insurance and settling auto insurance claims with digital photos.
“This plan builds on a history of creating change and will improve our competitive position and accelerate growth. Customers will benefit from additional service options, greater connectivity and higher-value products but the plan requires us to embrace change.
“This reaffirms our commitment to Allstate agents with increased advertising, enhanced new business opportunities and higher new business compensation. This is about leading, not following.”
In 2011, Allstate had acquired Esurance and Answer Financial for nearly $1bn.


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Big Tech expert discusses Elon Musk purchase of Twitter and what it means moving forward
(ABC 6 News) – Monday, billionaire Elon Musk reached an agreement to buy Twitter for about $44 billion. With the purchase, he’s promising a more lenient approach to policing content on the platform.
Betsy Singer spoke with Adam Rizzieri, a digital marketing and big tech expert about Musk’s purchase of Twitter. Specifically, focusing on the immediate impact of Musk buying Twitter, and if it’s a wake-up call for other social media companies.


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Revealed: The 10 ways supermarkets bamboozle us at the checkouts with offers that aren't so special
- Investigation by Which? found ten tactics used by shops to entice buyers
- Included setting prices of seasonal goods high before dropping them
- Some found to be putting offers signs next to good not included in deal
Ten pricing tactics used by the UK’s biggest supermarkets to trick shoppers into spending more money have been exposed following a year-long investigation.
Consumer watchdog Which? said retailers are boosting profits with misleading price labels, confusing multi-buy deals and jumbo packs which are more expensive than buying individual items.
Such ploys have turned the weekly shop into an ‘obstacle course’ for hard-pressed families looking for good value for money, Which? said.
The watchdog analysed data from price comparison website MySupermarket.co.uk from November 2012 to November 2013 and visited the supermarkets between October and November last year.
Chains including Sainsbury’s and Tesco are accused of taking advantage of shoppers by selling products at a higher price out of season so they can claim to offer a saving at peak times.
Customers who bought a Cadbury’s Giant Creme Egg last February in Sainsbury’s were charged £3 more than if they bought the same item closer to Easter.
And Marks & Spencer was found to position full-price fruit near a ‘Two for £4’ sign, meaning shoppers were likely to pick up more expensive packs, thinking they were on special offer.
Meanwhile several supermarkets were criticised for putting £1 price stickers on products that always cost £1.
Richard Lloyd, executive director of Which?, said: ‘With consumers struggling to cope with rising food prices, supermarkets and manufacturers need to make it easier for people to spot the best deal.’
Marks & Spencer said: ‘Our pricing is simple and transparent, and our customers have told us they are happy with our approach. All our products have a shelf edge label next to them that states the price and any promotional details.’
Sainsbury’s said: ‘Sainsbury’s is built on the trust and goodwill of its customers. Of course we would never intentionally mislead them, and we don’t believe we have done so in any of the examples provided by Which?’
Tesco said: ‘We’re the only supermarket to compare prices on branded goods, own-brand and fresh produce bought in-store or online, and automatically issue a voucher for the difference if a customer’s basket would have been cheaper elsewhere.’
Asda said: ‘We would never deliberately mislead customers on price.’
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News from around the counter-culture industry.
The law is set to take effect June 1st
Miguel Martin, CEO of Reliva, called the enterprise “a significant opportunity"
The digital events are each day through May 15th
Content is believed to generate nearly 3 times more leads
Patents on hemp genetics are a new frontier
The skincare brand is hoping to come to store shelves this fall
The council approved the ban despite warnings
Summitt quickly moved to get the batch off of shelves
Grenco Science, maker of G Pen and the leader in advanced technology cannabis vaporization, introduces the G Pen Dash, the new affordable and essential dry herb...
“It’s very hard to tell what the consumer’s going to do"


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Clothing to crow about: Chicken feather suits and dresses
In the future, you may snuggle up in warm, cozy sweats made of chicken feathers or jeans made of wheat, enjoying comfortable, durable new fabrics that are "green" and environmentally friendly. Researchers in Australia are reporting that new advances are paving the way for such exotic new materials — made from agricultural waste or byproducts — to hit store shelves as environmentally-friendly alternatives to the estimated 38 million tons of synthetic fabrics produced worldwide each year.
They review research on the development of these next generation eco-friendly fibers, which will produce fabrics with a conventional feel, in the November 26, 2008 issue of ACS' Biomacromolecules.
In the article, Andrew Poole, Jeffrey Church and Mickey Huson note that scientists first produced commercial fabrics made of nontraditional materials — including milk proteins, peanuts, and corn — almost 50 years ago. Although these so-called "regenerated" fabrics had the look and feel of conventional protein-based fabrics such as wool and silk, they tended to perform poorly when wet. This problem, combined with the advent of petroleum-based synthetic fibers, caused the production of these unusual fabrics to stop, the researchers say.
Amid concerns about the environment and consumer demand for eco-friendly products, renewable fabrics made from nontraditional agricultural materials are now poised to make a comeback, the scientists say. Promising fabric sources include agricultural proteins, such as keratin from scrap chicken feathers and gluten from wheat, they say. The scientists describe advances in nanotechnology and chemical cross-linking that can improve the strength and biodegradability of these fabrics, paving the way for commercial production of eco-friendly clothing, furniture upholstery and other products.
Article: "Environmentally Sustainable Fibers from Regenerated Protein"
pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/p … ll/10.1021/bm8010648


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Breaking Barriers and Building Wealth for Hmong Farmers
Hmong farmers have been transforming the local food economy in the Twin Cities since the first wave of refugees arrived from Laos and Thailand thirty years ago. From their active presence at area farmers markets to introducing new foods like lemongrass and bok choy to Minnesotans’ palates, it’s clear that they have made a big impact on local foods in our state.
Yet, for as much of an impact as Hmong farmers have made on our local growing economy, they historically have not been compensated to the same level as mainstream farmers. Enter the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA). HAFA is a member-based organization located in St. Paul, started and led by Hmong farmers, working to lift up immigrant farmers and build wealth in the Hmong community. HAFA found that on average Hmong farmers made $3,000 less/acre than mainstream Minnesotan farmers.
HAFA takes a multi-generational, holistic approach in their efforts to close this earnings gap. Pakou Hang, HAFA’s executive director, says that HAFA supports its farmers in four important ways. “Most importantly,” she explains, “HAFA farmers are part of a community with similar values and similar goals. In addition, HAFA provides its farmers with access to land and markets, business development trainings, and access to micro and matching loans.” The HAFA Food Hub was created as a way to expand the market for Hmong farmers who traditionally only sold at farmers markets. Through the Food Hub, HAFA farmers can choose to sell their produce to area restaurants and grocers, like Mississippi Market. When in season, Mississippi Market sells HAFA purple sweet potatoes and ground cherries.
HAFA is currently made up of 22 farming families, which breaks down into 128 individual farmers. Each farm is its own autonomous business; farming plots of HAFA land in the Vermillion Township. Between these farmers, they grow over 160 different kinds of produce, from carrots and kale to ground cherries and lemon grass.
When asked how HAFA determines success, Pakou doesn’t hesitate. “When kids are proud of what their parents do and are proud to trace their roots back to the farm.” By building a community around agriculture, tapping into the skills of Hmong farmers, and addressing institutional barriers such as access to affordable land and capital credit, HAFA is ensuring that Hmong farmers will continue to impact the Twin Cities local foods economy for generations to come.
Food, Farmers & Food Justice Panel
Join Pakou Hang from the Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA), Deanna Abbott-Foster from Dayton’s Bluff Community Council, and Elena Gardner from Nexus Community Partners for an evening exploring food justice on the East Side of St. Paul. You’ll hear from these three incredible panelists about community wealth building on the East Side and creating a food economy that works for everyone. Produce samples from HAFA’s farm and light appetizers will be provided. This event is free but due to limited space, registration is required.
When: September 21, 6:00-7:30 pm
Where: East 7th store | 740 East 7th Street, St. Paul 55106


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Roma second coldest in state Monday morning
COMING only behind Dalby at -4.8 degrees, Roma was the second-coldest town in Queensland yesterday, hitting a brisk -3.8 degrees.
While locals had to endure bitterly cold morning temperatures, Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Kimba Wong said the mercury didn't plummet enough to break records like this day last year when a freezing -5.3 degrees was felt.
"We can expect similar temperatures for the rest of the week and, hopefully, warming up by the end of the weekend,” Ms said.
"It's not looking like there will be much rainfall coming up but we can expect very cold temperatures and quite a lot of frost.”
While the rest of us may have been complaining about the chill, owner of ReX, Gen Rogers, said her business sales had increased by a third so far this winter.
"Most people in winter just really want a hot drink to warm up - hot drinks and food sales have definitely increased,” she said.
"We get customers we haven't seen all summer who start coming back in winter.
"It's definitely what you would call our season. We're selling so much coffee and we can tell by how many kilograms of beans we're going through that our coffee sales have increased.”
Ms Wong encouraged people to invest in a thick winter blanket and try to stay inside whenever possible to get through the rest of the colder months.
"Avoid camping trips and layer up if you are going outside,” she said.


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Philips has just announced the Power Rangers Megazord of TVs; its new AmbiLux UHD TV has a projection system stuck in its back. Madness. Wonderful, crazy madness.
Now, before you start planning how you're going to watch Eastenders around the front while projecting Mad Max around the back, note that Philips is using the projectors to beef up its AmbiLight "immersive viewing" TV feature. Rather than dual-viewing, the AmbiLux UHD TV uses nine rear-mounted pico-projectors to extend onscreen images beyond the display and onto the walls behind it. Think more like a watercolour spread of colours behind the main display reflecting what's happening onscreen, rather than a character waving off outside the edge of the telly.
The 65-inch screen running at a full 4K resolution is also powered by Android TV, giving you access to the Google Play Store, which will hopefully eventually be a good repository for ultra-resolution video content. Philips has also made it possible to sync the TV up with Hue lightbulbs, meaning you can turn your living room into a televisual rave, based on what's happening on screen. Just think of the ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey with that set-up. If that isn't part of Philips' demo, then they're seriously missing a trick.
In shops by Christmas, no pricing has been announced yet. Probably best to just stick it at the top of your Christmas wish list and hope for the best – you know it'll cost more pennies than you can sensibly bear to part with.


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It’s no secret that there’s been a flood of international brands arriving on our shores as of late, but why now?
Donald reckons we have our Australian neighbours to thank. He says international brands committing to expansion in Australia means they’re also casting their eye over to New Zealand.
“It’s a natural connection to look at Australia and New Zealand as one market. They’ve already made the commitment to trading in Australia and the overheads of a distribution centre and head office there, they need to grow their branches for critical mass within the Oceania region,” he says.
Deloitte’s 2015 Global Powers of Retailing Report found that 37 (15 percent) of the world’s top 250 retailers now operate in Australia, an increase from 30 in 2014.
Big-name brands like H&M, Uniqlo, Forever 21, Japanese homeware store Muji and French makeup chain Sephora all entered the Australian market in 2014.
With H&M recently announcing it’s opening a store at Sylvia Park in 2016, there seems to be an albeit delayed, but eventual flow-on effect to New Zealand.
Donald says hopefully Swedish furniture store Ikea, Muji, US warehouse club Costco and German supermarket chain Aldi will be next to follow others into the New Zealand market.
“All of these retailers are already established in Australia – the most recent of which was the opening of Muji’s flagship Australian store in Sydney in April this year,” he says.
He says another reason they’ve all come at once could be that once one popular international retailer moves into an area, it can be a catalyst for others to follow.
“We’ve seen this happen with women’s clothing store Topshop which recently opened in Auckland’s Queen Street,” he says. “This has in turn triggered the move of other brands into the CBD with Chanel and Tiffany & Co. due to enter the market. No doubt other retailers will follow.”
Rather than being disadvantaged, he says local retailers can benefit from retailers taking up residence near them.
“Good international retailers, for example Ikea, are excellent traffic generators. A whole shopping centre could be built around a store such as this – generating opportunities for local businesses.”
He says it does mean there’s increased competition, but often there is already “retail leakage” through online shopping before overseas retailers open a store.
There are admittedly hurdles that come with opening stores in New Zealand’s small market.
Donald says the limited market and wide distribution area within that market can mean high costs for retailers when it comes to moving their goods around the country.
“In addition, we don’t enjoy the critical mass of other countries, which can be a barrier to many retailers,” he says.
Auckland is often the testing ground for international brands, he says.
If all goes well, the retailers often then expand into Christchurch and Wellington at the same time before moving into the provinces.
However, there are exceptions to this rule: David Jones, for example, seized an opportunity to buy Kirkcaldie & Stains and entered the market via Wellington first.
Donald says in the end, it’s dependent on the retailer and its demographic.
“For example, a Costco, will want one million people within a 30-minute drive time of each store, while car parts retailer Supercheap Auto might only want 20,000 people within a 30-minute drive time,” he says.
Donald says international retailers coming here is affecting New Zealand shopping centres by increasing demand for individuality.
He says this is leading a resurgence in high street shopping in places like Queen St, Britomart, Teed and Osborne St in Newmarket, and Cuba St in Wellington.
“Some of the most prevalent examples of this are in the food and beverage industry, where there has been a backlash to franchised restaurants. Consumers want something more edgy and original as a dining experience. For example at Auckland’s Depot, celebrated chef Al Brown is often visible and engages with diners,” he says.
So who’s in (or going into) Australia that isn’t in New Zealand yet?
- Forever 21
- Miss Selfridge
- Banana Republic
- T.M. Lewin
- Thomas Pink
- River Island
- Companies rumoured to be looking at Australia include Marks & Spencer, Sports Direct and Ashley Furniture.


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The United States will soon have a global apparel industry, with companies like Hollister and L.L. Bean beginning to offer the U.K. the apparel of the future.
The President of the United States and his advisers are looking for a way to make American-made goods more accessible to the rest of the world.
But while Trump has made the apparel business a focus of his presidency, his administration has struggled to develop a strong, global apparel sector.
In January, the Department of Commerce published its first National Manufacturing Competitiveness Strategy, a document outlining a number of policies aimed at improving the U and U.N. trade agreements and global trade policies.
These include new rules aimed at encouraging U.s. apparel producers to invest in the global supply chain, including tariffs, intellectual property rights, and other incentives.
However, the strategy was largely ignored by Trump, who has largely dismissed the idea of an American apparel industry.
The Trump administration has been very slow to embrace the industry, which has historically been a major part of the American economy.
This year, the Commerce Department announced it would begin developing a strategy on how to create a global, global manufacturing industry, but it hasn’t yet been put into place.
In the meantime, companies like American Apparel and others are exploring ways to expand their presence in the U., including launching in China and Vietnam, where they already have a presence.
Hollinger has partnered with H&M to create an international clothing line in Vietnam.
L.G. Hunt is the founder and CEO of L. L’Oréal, a French cosmetics company, and he is the president of a global retailing business that includes H&M, American Apples, American Express, and Zara.
Lillard is the owner of the L. & M. Company and has been actively involved in the development of the U-Haul, which is based in Houston, Texas.
American Appels, L. G. Hunt, and American Apple are all owned by American Companies Inc.


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More than two years after issuing its draft guidance on the regulation of mobile health apps, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finally released its final guidelines.
By some counts, there are about 40,000 health-related mobile apps available for download on the iPhone, Android devices or other smartphones. The vast majority of these apps exist outside the scope of F.D.A regulation, but mobile health app developers have still been waiting for the agency’s final word on where it plans to focus.
On Monday, the F.D.A. said its oversight will apply to two broad categories of apps:
- Those intended to be used as “an accessory to a regulated medical device” – for example, an app that enables a healthcare provider to diagnose a condition by viewing a medical image from a picture archiving or communication system on a smartphone or tablet; or
- Apps that “transform a mobile platform into a regulated medical device” – for example, apps that turn smartphones into an electrocardiography (ECG) machine that can detect abnormal heart rhythms or determine if a patient is experiencing a heart attack.
Apps that fall into those categories will be evaluated using the same regulatory standards that the F.D.A. applies to other medical devices. The agency also emphasized that it does not regulate the sale or general consumer use of smartphones or tablets and it said it does not regulate mobile app distributors like Apple’s (s AAPL) iTunes App Store or Google’s (s GOOG) Play Store.
Over the past few years, the mobile health app economy has been growing rapidly — by 2017, market research firm Research2Guidance estimates the mobile health market will be worth $26 billion. But some say that the threat of regulation and uncertainty has been impeded innovation. This final guidance should give the industry some of the clarity its been waiting for.


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NEW YORK CITY – As Marissa DeMaio provided a tour of Atalanta Corp.’s event booth at last week’s Specialty Food Association Summer Fancy Food Show, she noted that smoked food products, like cheeses, are “on trend” right now.
DeMaio, vice president of marketing at the largest privately-held food importer in the U.S., also talked about larger industry themes, such as how innovative products are right for companies like Atalanta.
“We want to be able to offer our customers something that they’ve never seen before,” DeMaio told The Food Institute. “Innovation is always at the top of our list for core products and making sure that our customers are confident that those core products are going to go a long way – especially in foodservice – from appetizer to entrée to every menu touchpoint possible, that they can use it four or five times. It’s key.”
DeMaio said her company is also striving to offer cost-effective products as inflation rages on.
“In times like now…we also want to bring that unique item to the table that’s also cost effective,” she said. “We still have to have experiential moments in the store or at a restaurant, but we have to make sure that we’re giving our customers a value right now.
“So, can we bring them an experience that’s at not such a premium price during a difficult time like this? That’s important.”
DeMaio also touched on efforts to help customers with labor costs. She said Atalanta is especially focused on products like pre-sliced cheeses to help its customers be as efficient as possible during a time when staffing is short in retail, foodservice, and most American businesses.
Providing every bit of labor savings possible, DeMaio said, “has been huge for our customers right now. These are core products that you’re going to put on sandwiches. But, if we could take the slicing out of the back of the house and give them something to save them time, it has been a key item for them this year and will continue to be.”


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Fresh and organic. What a perfect pairing. Encompassing meats, salads, produce and the like, the fresh category has always had top billing as the healthiest section in the grocery store. And, of course, the health benefits of all-natural and organic products are universally acknowledged. Put the two together and the result is the very best that a supermarket has to offer.
But the retail landscape continues to evolve, making it imperative that retailers keep up with changes in consumer shopping habits. In particular, migration toward online platforms for packaged goods continues. As a result, retailers are focusing hard on drawing consumers into the store through fresh offerings, including organics.
Read the full article at StoreBrands.com.
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Hong Kong landlords ponder how to fill large retail spaces as consumer slowdown gathers pace
- Veteran property observers urge landlords holding vacant retail space to subdivide and reduce rents
- Potential lease termination by HMV begs the question of what other tenants can fill the vacuum as consumer spending softens
Hong Kong landlords are likely to struggle to find suitable tenants that could fill the three large retail locations currently occupied by troubled music retailer HMV – with floor space as big as 40,000 square feet – in the city’s most prime locations.
The future of the HMV shops in Central, Causeway Bay and Kowloon Bay have been in question after the landlords of the respective spaces filed separate lawsuits over the past two weeks collectively seeking more than HK$5 million (US$639,738) in unpaid rent and other charges.
A potential lease termination by HMV begs the question of what other retail tenants would be in a position to take up such large spaces.
Veteran property observers say the best solution for landlords holding vacant retail space is to subdivide and reduce rents.
“Retailers are not willing to open a new store or expand at this moment,” said Helen Mak, head of retail services at Knight Frank. “One single tenant taking up such a large space would be impossible. Landlords, particularly those holding large empty spaces, just have to cut rent.”
High street retail rentals in Central are likely to drop 10 per cent while Causeway Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mong Kok may see a 5 per cent decline by the end of 2018, according to data from Knight Frank.
And that is not the end of the downward cycle.
In 2019, the property broker expects a further 5 per cent drop in rents in the four shopping districts.
“Most retailers are quite cautious,” said Lawrence Wan, senior director of retail at CBRE Hong Kong. “Landlords holding large empty spaces to lease need to be more flexible in cutting into small units.”
HMV’s flagship store in the Pearl City building on Paterson Street Causeway Bay occupies three and half floors in a layout of more than 40,000 sq ft, while the concept store at Manning House on Queen’s Road Central occupies 9,700 sq ft.
Food and beverage concepts, particularly fast-food canteens or traditional Chinese restaurants might be interested in taking up space during the softening retail market, according to Wan, who urged landlords to think out of the box when it comes to finding new tenants.
“Food and beverage, clinics, barber shops or grooming shops – all could do,” said Wan.
However jewellery or watch stores, which have been a pillar of the retail rental market in recent years, are unlikely to take up the additional space as many have been downsizing in recent times.
Oriental Watch has reduced the amount of leased floor space at its Central location by nearly 70 per cent to 6,500 sq ft, paring back from a previous 20,000 sq ft space.
“A flagship sportswear brand may be the only option for such a large space in Causeway Bay. But under the current market sentiment, which brand would launch such a big store at such an important location hastily?” said chief executive Daniel Wong Hon-Shing of Midland IC&I Group, referring to the Paterson street location occupied by HMV. “No matter whether the landlords subdivide or not, they just have to cut rents at this moment.”
Retail sales in Hong Kong rose 5.9 per cent year in October on year, higher than a 2.4 per cent gain in September.
However, analysts are generally downbeat about the unfolding outlook for the retail sector, expecting retail spending to contract in coming months.
“We believe the seemingly better retail sales figures in October were due in large part to the recently opened high-speed rail and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. However, this temporary rebound is not likely to reverse the structural slowdown in Hong Kong’s retail sales,” said Alan Jin, a property analyst at Mizuho Securities. “We expect a mid-single-digit decline in retail sales in Hong Kong in 2019.”


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NEW YORK, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BYBER, one of the newest social networking apps available, looks to bring exciting changes to what has become a somewhat stagnant arena. Founder Christopher Keir wants to put the social back into social networking, while also reconnecting people to their neighborhoods through an innovative "discovery" feature. The app has been available on the App Store for some time, and an Android version has just recently been released.
"I truly believe that when you create something new, exciting and worthwhile you have the building blocks for success in place," says Keir. "BYBER has these fundamentals. With persistence and dedication, we can only continue to grow."
Keir brings more than 10 years of experience in luxury hotel management to BYBER – his first fully developed mobile app. He believes his knowledge and understanding of what makes people happy has been a huge bonus in the creation of the BYBER app.
BYBER combines stylish design and effortless usability, which has resulted in positive user feedback and rapid adoption. New users can quickly create a profile and enter a brief description of themselves. The app's main page offers instant access to six core features – "My Profile," "Flirt," "Map," "Discover," "BYBER events" and "Share." Google Maps integration helps members navigate their surroundings, and BYBER even allows for sharing on major platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Versatility is one of the major advantages of BYBER. Members can use the app's "flirt" functionality as a dating tool ― showing their interest in other members at a bar, restaurant or anywhere in the neighborhood. Alternatively, the app enables members to easily discover new, local hotspots and special events. Finally, BYBER lets members create events of their own, like birthday parties or casual get-togethers, and invite friends and neighbors to come and mingle.
A plethora of reviews from mobile app and technology publications have given Keir high praise for what he has accomplished with BYBER. According to http://intellectuapp.com/ the app is "One of the best social networking apps on the Apple Store at the moment." Other reviewers have remarked upon BYBER's tremendous versatility and friendliness.
The team behind BYBER will be attending the Collision Conference in New Orleans, which is scheduled for April 26 to 28. The company was chosen to exhibit as an Alpha, a designation given to a select group of early-stage startups from across the globe. Keir and his team anticipate making important new connections as part of this three-day premier event.
While the launch of BYBER for Android is certainly big news, Keir expects to make several more big announcements before the end of 2016. Significant updates for both platforms are in the pipeline, including Uber API integration, POP/Feed picture functionality, a group safety feature and a version for the Apple Watch. In the meantime, BYBER users can keep tabs on company events by following social media feeds on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
BYBER is a brand new app designed to help you meet new people, connect with friends and explore what your neighborhood has to offer. The app was created to bring a whole new level of fun, excitement and adventure back into the social networking world, and just as importantly, we made it extremely easy and simple. BYBER is the only app you will need to connect with old friends and make new ones while enlarging and enhancing your social life every day.
To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/byber-social-networking-and-local-discovery-app-building-on-ios-success-with-launch-of-android-version-300236897.html


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As per the investigation by the Chamber of Digital Commerce, China’s central bank has filed more than 80 official documents around its plans to issue a national digital currency.
These official documents include the ways of issuing currency, processing interbank settlements, creating digital chip cards, and integrating digital wallets with conventional bank accounts. A few of these documents mentioned the methods of ensuring one-to-one privacy of bank transactions. The only drawback of the explained methods it will leave all the transactions exposed to the central bank.
The initiative has led many various countries to a fear of China’s digital currency taking the market power and leadership in technology.
Presently, the United States has started to research and device the procedure of issuing and protecting their digital money.


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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM-(Marketwire - Feb. 13, 2013) - It’s Valentine’s Day, a time for romance…or is it? Recent statistics show that 49.15% of people in a relationship will spend absolutely nothing on their partner this Valentine’s Day. And that’s not all; only 3.53% believe that Valentine’s Day is a good time to propose.
But, don’t despair, romance isn’t dead just yet - more than 35% of those aged 26 and under would like to get engaged during summer. So, instead of proposing with a token heart-shaped chocolate box this Valentine’s Day, perhaps consider whisking your loved one to warmer lands over the coming months. After all, 60% of females hope to be taken on a surprise trip by their partner. In contrast, 67.42% of males would prefer a planned holiday with prior warning. Perhaps a romantic Valentine’s card detailing your plans would set the scene for your blissful summer break?
The Co-operative Travel offer dozens of fantastic city breaks and lavish summer holidays to choose from. Paris is still coming out on top as the most romantic destination at 38.24%, followed by Venice, the chosen city of love by 27.06% of people. But, who says you need to follow tradition? The more adventurous love birds would prefer to visit destinations such as Norway, Iceland, Japan, Fiji and Marrakech.
Any tips for the perfect romantic trip? Well, it looks like women have the most expensive taste, so make sure you book the 4* and above accommodation that 91.67% of them expect! Men are more easily pleased, with half of them opting for 3* and below.
If it’s a woman you’re winning over, then plan a romantic meal as 91.67% enjoy being wined and dined on holiday. Men on the other hand are twice as likely to opt for a day exploring local culture whilst away.
All this said, don’t worry too much about the details. A besotted 4.41% of people believe the most romantic destination is simply the place where their partner is, wherever that may be. Maybe that’s because, regardless of the sights, restaurants and culture on offer, a third of women and 16.67% of men are simply planning some serious time in their hotel room! By the looks of things, romance is still very much alive!


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Xiaomi had introduced Civi smartphone in China last week. The smartphone features a 6.55-inch full HD Plus display and a Snapdragon 778G processor. Now another device of the company has been viewed on the tina website from where some feature information has been received. Speculations are rife that the device may be Xiaomi Civi Pro.
According to the listing of the tina website, the model number of Xiaomi’s upcoming smartphone is 2109119BC. The device can be fitted with a 4,400mAh battery and a 2.4GHz octa-core processor. In addition, the handset can have an OLED screen, 6GB/8GB/12GB/16GB RAM, and internal storage of 64GB/128GB/256GB/512GB.
Xiaomi’s public relations head Wang Hua has denied rumors of Xiaomi Civi Pro. He has reportedly told MyDrivers he has never heard of such a device. It is believed that the company may launch the smartphone available on the tina website in the global market with new names and designs.
For your information, Xiaomi had confirmed some time ago that the Xiaomi Civi smartphone will not be launched in India. The company maintained that the device would remain in its domestic market. The smartphone is priced at 2,599 Chinese yuan (about Rs 29,600) in the Chinese market. This phone is available in Blue, Black, and Pink color options.
Specification of Xiaomi Civi
Xiaomi WORKS on CV MIUI 12.5 operating system. The smartphone has a 6.55 inch HD Plus OLED display. It has a Snapdragon 778G processor. In addition, the smartphone will have a triple rear camera setup, which includes a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. While a 32MP camera is provided for selfies and video calling.


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Today I’ll analyze and compare Mullen Automotive (MULN) and Cenntro Electric Group (CENN) to determine which electriv vehicle stock is currently a better buy.
The electric vehicle (EV) market is growing at a solid pace, with over 6.6 million EVs being sold across the globe in 2021, representing more than a 100% increase compared to 2020. In addition, EV market share soared from 4.11% in 2020 to 8.57% in 2021.
With the ongoing high demand for low emission vehicles and government support via subsidies and tax rebates, the global EV industry is anticipated to hit $802.81 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 22.6%, Allied Market Research reports. Consequently, EV makers should benefit from the industry’s growth in the long term.
Founded in 2014, MULN is a California-based EV company that manufactures and distributes EVs. It also owns a digital platform known as CarHub that provides AI-powered solutions for buying, selling, and owning a car. Based in Freehold, New Jersey, CENN designs and produces electric light and medium-duty commercial vehicles.
Year-To-Date (YTD), shares of Mullen Automotive plunged about 85%, and CENN stock lost around 78% over the same period.
On February 7th, Mullen Automotive announced that it had strengthened its balance sheet with $4 million in funding. It was achieved through a combination of the initial drawdown of $2.5 million under a $30 million equity line from Esousa and debt financing from existing shareholders. As a result, the company has received about $40 million over the past two months due to its EV program. Mullen CEO David Michery said, “This financing represents one of several financial avenues that the company is pursuing to address the growth and demand for our electric vehicles.”
On January 21st, Cenntro Electric announced that it had achieved a major production milestone of 1,623 ECVs for 2021. In addition, the company produced 628 ECVs in December 2021, which is Cenntro’s highest volume in a single month. The company plans to continue expanding its core U.S. operations in 2022.
Recent Financial Performance
On February 14th, Mullen Automotive issued a 10-Q report for the quarter ended December 31st, 2021. The company hasn’t made any material revenues yet as it has not begun commercial operations.
The company’s General & Administrative costs totaled $12.9 million in the three months ended December 31, 2021, up 336.93% year-over-year due to increases in professional services, marketing, and payroll-related expenses. Mullen’s Research and Development expenses stood at $1.16 million versus $0.52 million as of 4Q2020. As a result, its net loss grew to $36.46 million, representing an enormous year-over-year increase of 482.63%.
With cash and cash equivalents of $0.61 million and total debt of $19.1 million, the company has a weak liquidity position, especially considering the cash burn rate of $14.71 million as of three months ended December 31st, 2021.
Cenntro Automotive Group hasn’t issued any earnings report after it was acquired by Naked Brand Group Limited. The company plans to report 2021 financials in early April 2022. However, let’s take a look at the Naked Brand Group Limited 6-K report to assess Cenntro Electric Group’s operating results for the first half of 2021 (page 168). In the first half of 2021, CENN’s total revenue has been reported at $2.46 million, driven by sales of its ECVs in key markets. Besides, the company’s gross margin was improved to 18.3% in 1H2021, compared to 10.4% as of FY2020.
On the expenses side, its total operating expenses came in at $4.98 million in 1H2021 primarily due to higher Research and Development expenses and General & Administrative costs. It translated into CENN’s net loss of $4.55 million.
With the close of the merger, the company ended 2021 with cash on hand of $250 million and no debt, which can support CENN’s growth plans in 2022.
Comparing Options Market Sentiment
Looking at the July 15th, 2022 option chain for both MULN and CENN, we can determine options market sentiment by comparing the calls/puts ratio. In MULN’s instance, the open calls/open puts ratio at the $1.00 strike price comes in at 2.59x, implying a bullish options market sentiment. When it comes to CENN, the open calls/open puts ratio at the $2.50 strike price stands at 5.16x, showing a relatively better market sentiment.
The Bottom Line
I believe CENN is a better investment than MULN at the moment. The company is already in the commercial stage with a broad range of commercial electric vehicles in its portfolio. The company has recently achieved a meaningful production milestone, confirming its intentions to capitalize on the industry’s growth. In addition, CENN’s overall financials and liquidity position look more attractive than MULN. Finally, CENN has a bullish long-term options market sentiment.
MULN shares fell $0.03 (-4.04%) in premarket trading Monday. Year-to-date, MULN has declined -85.85%, versus a -9.35% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.
About the Author: Oleksandr Pylypenko
Oleksandr Pylypenko has more than 5 years of experience as an investment analyst and financial journalist. He has previously been a contributing writer for Seeking Alpha, Talks Market, and Market Realist.
The post Mullen Automotive vs. Cenntro Electric Group: Which Electric Vehicle Stock is a Better Buy? appeared first on StockNews.com


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Gamepressure.com News 20 September 2020
The Witcher 3 HD Reworked 12.0 Ultimate Mod Launches
Bart Woldanski, 20 September 2020, 21:22
As announced, a new version of the well-known visual mod for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been published. We're talking about The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project 12.0 Ultimate, which can already be downloaded from Nexus Mods.
PS5 Will be Huge as Shown by Leaked Photos
Paul Musiolik, 20 September 2020, 21:12
PlayStation 5 will be a powerful piece of hardware. The Taiwanese FCC organization has posted photographs of Sony's console on its website. You can see on them what a giant we're going to be dealing with.
RTX 3090 Only Slightly More Efficient in Games Than 3080
Mikolaj Laszkiewicz, 20 September 2020, 21:05
The latest benchmarks suggest little performance difference in games between the RTX 3090 and 3080.
Footbal Manager 2021 Will Launch on Steam Despite FM2020's Success on EGS
Adrian Werner, 20 September 2020, 20:52
Epic Games Store's giveaway of Football Manager 2020 has been a great success. The devs praise the results, but assure that it doesn't mean the FM2021 won't go to Steam.
Fan-made PS5 Interface Proposition
Paul Musiolik, 20 September 2020, 20:22
Based on Sony's patent application, a fan created a project of PlayStation 5's interface. According to the design, the console's menu will be an extension of the PS4 layout.
Visual Comparison of Demon's Souls on PS5 and PS3
Adrian Werner, 20 September 2020, 20:09
A very interesting video appeared on the web, comparing Demon's Souls remake on PS5 with the original from PS3, emulated in 4K on PC.
We Learned Sizes of Some PS5 Games
Adrian Werner, 20 September 2020, 19:58
We found out how much storage space Demon's Souls and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, two of the console's launch titles, will take up on PlayStation 5.


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Chicago—Mobile paid-search impressions were up significantly in the first quarter, reaching 9.6% of all pay-per-click impressions across all platforms, according to a new study from Performics, a search engine marketing company owned by Publicis Groupe.
First-quarter impressions of mobile paid search ads, measured against Performics' aggregated client base, were up 195% over the same period a year earlier, according to the company.
Meanwhile, mobile video ad impressions also enjoyed strong growth, according to a study from ad network Rhythm NewMedia. Video ad impressions totaled 2.2 billion in the first quarter, up 36% from the last quarter of 2010. Of the various mobile ad units, in-stream units that play as commercial breaks had the highest completion rate, 87%, Rhythm said.


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McLEAN, Va., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Wholesale prices for used cars and light trucks up to eight years in age increased by 3.7% in March, well above February's 2.2% increase, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Used Car Guide in the April edition of Guidelines, a monthly report on new and used vehicle sales trends and price movement.
"Harsh weather in January and February compelled dealers to bid aggressively and play inventory catch-up in preparation for the traditional spring bounce in consumer demand," said Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst of NADA Used Car Guide.
Late-model volume continued to fall while dealer activity was heating up, adding further buoyancy to prices, he added. "These unique factors pushed NADA's seasonally adjusted used vehicle price index to 127.0, a new all-time high," Banks said. The index measures the change in used vehicle prices up to eight-years-old.
Upward price movement was greatest for the segments experiencing the biggest declines in auction volume. The number of auction transactions for compact cars, mid-size cars and mid-size vans fell by respective averages of 4.5%, 4.9% and 9.7%; correspondingly, prices for the three segments improved by an average of 4.4%.
The large pickup truck segment was one of the few mainstream groups to have a sales increase last month, up 5.8%. Following years of price appreciation, first quarter results indicate little waning in demand for the large pickup segment, Banks added.
Luxury utility prices grew by an average of 1.3% and luxury cars recorded a 1.2% lift, which is normal for the month of March over the last five years.
NADA's forecast for April points to prices falling 1.8% to 2.2% compared to March by month's end, which is higher than both the 1.7% drop recorded in April last year and the 1.2% decline averaged for the month of April over the last 10 years.
Prices are expected to be softest for many of the segments that experienced the biggest price increases in March – mid-size cars, SUVs and minivans, and to a lesser extent, compact cars and compact SUVs, NADA predicts. NADA also forecasts luxury car prices to drop at the higher end of the predicted range, while prices for pickups are expected to slip the least during the month.
Click here for the April edition of Guidelines.
About the NADA Used Car Guide
Since 1933, NADA Used Car Guide has earned its reputation as the leading provider of vehicle valuation products, services and information to businesses throughout the United States and worldwide. NADA's editorial team collects and analyzes over one million combined automotive and truck wholesale and retail transactions per month. Its guidebooks, auction data, analysis, and data solutions offer automotive/truck, finance, insurance and government professionals the timely information and reliable solutions they need to make better business decisions. Visit nada.com/b2b to learn more.
NADA represents nearly 16,000 new-car and -truck dealerships with more than 32,000 domestic and international franchises. For more information, visit www.nada.org.
SOURCE NADA Used Car Guide


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Microsoft is not a company known for generating enthusiasm the way that, say, Apple does. But despite an on-stage demo that left some observers yawning, Windows 7’s big debut is making waves across the Web — and generating actual excitement about the company.
“Hey, this looks pretty good!” a write-up on Technologizer said.
“I’m really excited about Windows 7 as a whole,” wrote the Windows Now blog.
“Windows 7 is Windows Vista done right,” said Paul Thurrott on his Windows Supersite.
There was plenty of buzz at the show as well, among third-party developer firms in their showcase booths, and among attendees of the show. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) was giving out lots of “I’m a PC” stickers, and people were sporting them on everything from laptop bags to their laptops.
“Everything here shows they are listening to users, and users are seeing other things here that shows Microsoft is listening in other areas,” said Michael Swindell, vice president of product management and strategy for Embarcadero Technologies, the firm that sells Borland’s old compilers.
As if attendees weren’t getting enough pre-release code, Embarcadero was giving out its own for Delphi Prism, a port of the old Delphi objects for .NET Framework developers. It will be out in 2009.
“Things are looking great for developers,” said Odi Kosmatos, vice president of research and development at Xceed, a maker of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) components. “One of my developers said he’s falling in love with Microsoft again.”
Earlier, during a second-day keynote, Guthrie had announced that the next version of Visual Studio would be built on WPF, making it the first Microsoft product to use that library. For Dan Rigsby, lead software engineer of Interactive Intelligence, it was about time Microsoft itself embraced a technology it was trying to push on developers.
“They pushed WPF for a couple of years now but it never took off. That’s because they never used it,” he told InternetNews.com. “Now that Visual Studio will have WPF, that’s huge. They haven’t had apps to showcase WPF before. Developers use Visual Studio daily. If they see what they can do with it every day, they will be enticed to use it as well.”


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The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is coming in early 2016, but you don’t have to wait until then to buy a gaming PC that will be able to work with the hardware. Earlier this year Oculus revealed the minimum specs for a “full Rift experience,” and now the company has started partnering with PC makers to highlight “Oculus Ready” computers.
All of the first computers to earn that label have starting prices of $999 or less.
Right now, Oculus is saying we can expect Oculus-ready systems from Asus, Dell, and Alienware (which is actually a Dell sub-brand, so we’re just talking two companies so far… but more computer makers will probably be added to the list eventually).
Those computers feature Intel Core i5-4590 or faster processors, NVIDIA GTX 970 or AMD 290 or faster graphics, at least 8GB of RAM, at least two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 1.3 or better output, and Windows 7 SP1 or newer software.
Now that NVIDIA is offering desktop-class graphics for laptops, we could start to see portable systems with Oculus support soon. But don’t expect those to be priced under $1000.


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Decentralisation brings crypto to the world
Many critics still do not see a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin as a good long-term goal or store of value. Though it is hard to ban cryptocurrencies for many reasons, some governments like that of the United States may still try to ban cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin is a decentralised network that never stops and is always running 24/7 with no stop times. Transactions can be broadcasted across the network at any time and at anywhere around the world on the network.
Countries like China and India have both been very brutal on the crackdown on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Such crackdown has not been able to stop the growth of cryptocurrencies in these countries.
Putting a ban on cryptocurrencies in the United States is also impossible as this would be ineffective in its reach. The regulation of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin is mostly focused on the legal situation in the United States. The country has based bitcoin as ‘freedom of speech’ and this has worked in the currencies development, and has somewhat protected the cryptocurrency.
According to Barhydt from Forbes, several courts have deemed the ban on Bitcoin impossible, Stating that:
“You can’t prevent people from holding ones and zeroes on a device in their pockets.”
However, Governments can target the services running on top of bitcoin technology like exchanges. This also includes stablecoins along with different fiat pairs into the crypto market.
Even though the country can not outright ban the cryptocurrency, they can make it harder for it to be traded or acquired.
Many think if the government is to regulate cryptocurrencies, the regulations they will put forth will very similar to the banking industry with its restrictions.
The legal battle over bitcoin and the bitcoin network is expected to become more serious in the coming years.


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Ford Motor Co. to Acquire Rest of Budget Rent a Car
DETROIT (AP) _ Ford Motor Co. said Thursday that it will expand its rental-car empire by acquiring control of Budget Rent A Car Corp. for an undisclosed price.
Ford, which has sold cars and trucks to Budget for 25 years and has owned the company’s nonvoting preferred shares since 1989, will acquire Budget’s common stock from investor John Nevin.
Unlike Big Three competitors Chrysler Corp. and General Motors Corp., which have been reducing their rental car investments, Ford has embraced the highly competitive business. It already owns No. 1 Hertz Corp.
``The rental car business can continue to be a good one for Ford,″ said David N. McCammon, Ford vice president of finance. ``Hertz has posted record profits in each of the last three years and is clearly the industry leader. The steps we’re outlining today will allow Budget to realize its full potential.″
Ford bought part of Hertz in 1987 and took complete control in 1994. Last year, Hertz earned $105 million after taxes.
Budget, based in Lisle, Ill., has 3,200 locations in 120 countries. It is the third largest U.S. rental car company behind Hertz and Avis Inc.
During slow markets, automakers have used their rental units as ready customers for cars and trucks. But the tactic can create problems by glutting the market with nearly new used cars when the rental companies replace them. Profit margins on fleet sales are lower, as well.
As a result, GM, Ford and Chrysler have scaled back their sales to rental fleets in recent years.
The deal announced Thursday is subject to regulatory approval. Ford spokesman Christian Vinyard said no changes were planned at Budget.
``The current management’s in place, doing a great job,″ Vinyard said. ``We look for them to be profitable this year. We expect the investment in time to be as good as our investment in Hertz.″
Ford said it will take an after-tax charge of $437 million in the second quarter to write down the value of loans it has made to Budget and its earlier investment in the rental company.
Ford also plans to record a one-time, after-tax gain of $650 million in the second quarter from its recent public offering of a 19 percent stake in Associates First Capital Corp., its consumer finance unit.
The net result will be a second-quarter gain of $213 million, or 18 cents a share, Ford said.
Ford also said Thursday that it will increase its third-quarter dividend to 38.5 cents a share from 35 cents.
``This is the fifth increase in the dividend since the first quarter of 1994,″ Ford Chairman Alex Trotman said. ``This action reflects continuing improvement in our operations and the strength of our balance sheet.″
Ford’s stock was down 50 cents at $31 in early afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.


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Ports America, the largest stevedoring and terminal operations company in North America, has appointed Peter Stone to the position of Chief Commercial Officer.
Stone joins Ports America after having recently served as the Senior Vice President of Summit Global Logistics and President of Sea Masters Logistics, a subsidiary of that company.
Stone has held key strategic planning and business development roles in the transportation industry and has led a staff of more than 450 individuals in 14 countries for one of the largest container shipping companies in the world. He was also responsible for the profit and loss of 26 trade lanes with a total revenue budget of over $5 billion.
“We look forward to Peter bringing his experience and expertise to Ports America,” said Doug Tilden, CEO.
Ports America provides terminal operations and stevedoring services at ports throughout the U.S., and Mexico and South America. The company is headquartered in Iselin, New Jersey.


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Academics from the School of Design have worked with researchers from Proctor & Gamble to investigate the impact of washing machine cycles on microfibres in clothing.
Former supermodel and fashion businesswoman Caprice Bourret recently visited the School of Design to talk to current students about her experiences of running a business in fashion and textiles.
Former BA Art and Design student Katie Bennett-Rice has won the 2019 FUAM Graduate Art Prize.
The School of Design has launched a new Masters degree in Textile Sustainability and Innovation which will welcome its first students in September 2020.
Professor Andrew Thorpe has been appointed as the next Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, and Professor of Modern History.


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* Dollar, yen gain on safe-haven bid
* U.S. retail sales unexpectedly fall in March
* Investors wary ahead of more U.S. corporate earnings (Recasts, updates prices)
By Nick Olivari
NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - The dollar and yen both gained on Tuesday after disappointing U.S. retail sales data and investor caution about corporate earnings boosted safe-haven flows into the two currencies.
The euro and currencies that carry higher interest rates such as the Australian and New Zealand dollars, which tend to benefit when there is risk appetite in the market, came under pressure as risk aversion rose.
The dollar dropped below 99 yen to its lowest since the beginning of April as U.S. stocks fell on news of an unexpected decline in sales at U.S. retailers in March, damping down recent optimism over apparent signs of economic recovery.
The retail sales data "was a big disappointment and (market) sentiment turned on the back of that and has never really recovered," said Matthew Strauss, senior currency strategist at RBC Capital Markets in Toronto, adding:
"The currency that most benefited from this return of risk aversion was the yen."
Despite a better-than-expected profit from Goldman Sachs (GS.N: Quote,Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), analysts said investors also remained cautious ahead of earnings announcements due this week from Citigroup (C.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), JP Morgan Chase (JPM.N:Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and General Electric (GE.N: Quote,Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).
Strauss said given the expectations that have been built into the markets, "the risk is now more skewed to a sharp market reaction if those results disappoint."
"Disappointing economic data and earnings results would see risk aversion returning, which would provide further support for first the yen and second the U.S. dollar," he added.
In late afternoon New York trade, the euro fell 0.7 percent to $1.3269 <EUR=> and 1.9 percent to 131.17 yen <EURJPY=>, close to the session low against the yen of 131.02 yen.
Traders said technical factors also pressured the euro after it failed to extend gains on Monday that took it close to $1.34 against the dollar, its highest in nearly a week.
The dollar fell as low as 98.75 yen, according to Reuters data, and last traded down 1.2 percent at 98.85 yen <JPY=>.
The Australian dollar fell 1 percent to $0.7231 <AUD=> and the New Zealand dollar lost 1.5 percent to $0.5823 <NZD=>, reversing Monday's gains.
Earlier, a government report showed sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell 1.1 percent in March, snapping two months of increases. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales rising 0.3 percent. For story on data see [ID:nN14419657].
The dismal number further fueled worries about a shaky global economy and helped reverse some of the recent positive sentiment in markets. [ID:nN13538760]
"The data shows that expectations that the U.S. economy has bottomed were overdone," said Omer Esiner, forex market analyst at Ruesch International in Washington. It "reintroduced some risk."
Risk sentiment had improved remarkably in recent sessions, buoyed by a five-week rally in U.S. stocks and growing hopes that the global economy may be past the worst of its decline.
But analysts said that while the Goldman earnings report encouraged sentiment towards the financial sector, the market will need more positive news to continue its rebound.
"The follow-through after the Goldman announcement has been on the disappointing side, providing one hint that the risk revival is in need of some fresh oxygen, something the latest retail sales data will not provide," Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS Greenwich, in Greenwich, Connecticut, wrote in a note.
President Barack Obama said on Tuesday his economic measures were starting to work, with moves to recapitalize banks, strengthen the housing market and rescue the auto sector "necessary pieces of the recovery puzzle." [ID:nN14428395]
Separately, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday the U.S. dollar remained the main currency of reserve holding and international transactions and that this was unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. [ID:nWAT011282] (Additional reporting by Vivianne Rodrigues and Wanfeng Zhou; Editing by James Dalgleish)


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Uber’s self-driving unit, Advanced Technologies Group (ATG), is being sold off. The division will be acquired by start-up competitor Aurora Innovation.
The deal, expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, values ATG at $4 billion. The unit was valued at $7.25 billion in April 2019 when Softbank, Denso, and Toyota took a stake in ATG. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi will join the company’s board of directors as part of the deal. The ride-sharing giant will also invest $400 million into the company.
Overall, Uber, ATG investors, and employees are expected to own a 40% stake in Aurora, according to a regulatory filing accompanying the deal. Uber itself will hold a 26% stake.
Aurora is backed by Hyundai, Amazon and major venture firms such as Greylock and Sequoia. Media reports first emerged in November that the two companies were in talks for ATG. Uber’s co-founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick had viewed self-driving cars as an essential investment. He said back in 2016 that he believed the world would shift to autonomous vehicles eventually.
However, the ATG self-driving vehicle unit brought high costs and safety challenges to Uber. Throughout 2020, Uber has made efforts to stem losses across all of its business ventures. That included major layoffs in the spring, while still growing its delivery business. The sale of ATG is another attempt to cut costs.
Uber has tested self-driving cars in several cities. However, they are still quite far from having autonomous vehicles roaming the streets as robo-taxis. There are also reports that Uber wants to sell of its experimental “air taxi” business.


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- Various eCommerce platforms are venturing into embedded trade finance, offering working capital to businesses.
- Platforms like Home Depot, PayPal, and Shopify are providing trade credit options, virtual cards, and merchant finance products.
For online merchants, having access to working capital is crucial for operations and growth. Several eCommerce platforms have expanded into embedded trade finance, offering capital to businesses and virtual cards as part of their services. Home Depot, for example, is piloting trade credit options, while PayPal provides merchant finance products like PayPal Business Loans. Shopify launched Shopify Credit, a pay-in-full card for its merchants, and offers loans and cash advances. These initiatives aim to support smaller businesses and help them thrive in the digital landscape.
Platforms like Block are also facilitating loans for businesses, demonstrating the growing trend of embedded finance in the eCommerce sector. As more small and medium-sized businesses move online, the demand for financial solutions tailored to their needs is increasing. With a significant percentage of Main Street SMBs transitioning to online operations, platforms offering embedded finance options have the opportunity to capitalize on this market. As more businesses seek financing options, eCommerce platforms are well-positioned to grow their embedded finance businesses in the coming years.


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By TEDDYE SNELL
Chris Nottingham, of Nottingham’s Southside Drive-In, could very well be considered an ice cream guru.
Nottingham is constantly trying out new combinations to serve customers, the latest being a deep-fried brownie fudge sundae.
“I came up with this one in a dream,” said Nottingham. “My dad ordered brownie balls for frying, and I thought, ‘Hey, that would go great with ice cream and hot fudge.’”
For those who love ice cream, the finished product is a thing of beauty. It includes swirls of vanilla soft-serve ice cream, topped with hot fudge, dotted with deep-fried brownies, then finished with whipped cream, Krunch Kote sprinkles and a few cherries, just for good measure.
“We just started making these,” said Nottingham. “I think it will be really popular. I’m always coming up with new things. If people can dream it, I can make it when it comes to ice cream.”
Although temperatures locally have been cooler than normal, July is one of the best times to enjoy frozen treats – including ice cream, gelato and frozen yogurt.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food that is enjoyed by a full 90 percent of the nation’s population. In the proclamation, Reagan called for all people of the United States to observe these events with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
The Twig, downtown in the North End Entertainment District, offers ice cream enthusiasts a new twist: gelato.
According to clerk Lauren Hall, gelato is the Italian term for ice cream.
“But it’s made without air, to give it a more dense consistency,” said Hall. “The gelato we serve is made with all-natural ingredients. It’s also made with more milk and less cream, which means fewer calories and less fat.”
Twig Manager Ken Smith said the shop carries about 18 different gelato flavors at any given time.
“Our flavor varieties change fairly regularly, so it’s always good to keep checking back to see what’s new,” said Smith. “A few of the newer flavors include sea salt and caramel, caramel cookie crunch and Sicilian pistachio.”
Smith indicated gelato has a richer flavor than regular ice cream, which may explain why The Twig only serves cones, cups and shakes.
“The gelato has been pretty well-received here in Tahlequah,” said Smith.
Other new gelato flavors include blood orange, Lisbon lemon and tiramisu.
Heather Winn, Cherokee County Extension Service educator in family and consumer sciences, said her family makes ice cream regularly in the summer.
“Butterfinger ice cream is my favorite flavor,” said Winn. “Now my son, Ross, he likes just plain old vanilla, but the rest of us love Butterfinger. It’s a recipe my mom used to make.”
While Winn remembers the hand-crank variety of home ice cream maker, she opts for a more modern version.
“We are electric all the way,” said Winn. “We just plug that baby in and let it go.”
Winn said the Extension service also has an after-school program that teaches kids to make their own ice cream.
“It used to be we’d make it in cans by shaking the ingredients,” said Winn. “But these days, we use plastic zipper bags. The kids toss the bags around and squish them and get ice cream.”
Most recipes for homemade ice cream call for eggs, but Winn said raw eggs pose a health hazard.
“There are recipes for ice cream that call for cooked eggs and a custard-type base, or you can buy pasteurized egg products. There are also recipes that require no eggs at all,” she said. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends using one of these recipes, rather than raw eggs.”
Those who may be counting calories may want to opt for frozen yogurt or frozen juice bars, said Winn.
“Frozen yogurt is a healthier choice,” said Winn. “I don’t make it at home, but when we go to Braum’s or something like that, I generally get frozen yogurt. Sherbets are also lower in calories than regular ice cream. People really have lots of options, including frozen juice bars or frozen yogurt bars.”
Local resident Bryan Shade is a traditionalist, preferring regular, hand-packed pints, quarts and half-gallons of ice cream to other frozen treats.
“Because ‘I scream, you scream, we all scream for gelato,’ just doesn’t cut it,” said Shade. “Every time I eat vanilla ice cream, it reminds me of back when I was a kid. We’d put the rock salt in the ice and wait for the half-and-half to thicken and freeze. It was a must for the Fourth of July.”
According to Marketline, the U.S. ice cream industry generated total revenues of $10 billion in 2010, with take-home ice cream sales representing the largest section of the market, generating revenues of $6.8 billion or 67.7 percent of the market’s overall value.
About 9 percent of all the milk produced by U.S. dairy farmers is used to produce ice cream, contributing significantly to the economic well-being of the nation’s dairy industry.


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At this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Cupertino-based technology giant Apple unveiled a new feature called AirPlay that allows users to share videos, photos, music, and more from Apple devices to their Apple TV, speakers, and smart TVs.
Now, a new report claims that LG Electronics will be one of the first TV manufacturers to support Apple’s AirPlay extension, which will bring Apple easy access to AirPlay to hotel room TVs. LG said it will introduce LG Pro: Centric Smart Hotel TVs with built-in AirPlay technology later this year, the MacRumors reported.
“This is a major advancement for in-room entertainment in the travel and hospitality industry and underscores how well we listen to the needs of consumers who increasingly want easy access to their personal media options on the largest screen, wherever they are. ” said Michael Kosla, vice president of hospitality, LG Business Solutions.
“Hotels offering this feature will immediately have an edge over travelers using Apple devices, increasing guest satisfaction and truly standing out from the local competition,” Kosla added.
MacRumors’ report suggests that LG has worked with Apple to create an easy-to-use AirPlay solution. iPhone users can scan a QR code to access AirPlay, allowing them to securely play content from an iPhone or iPad on a hotel room TV without the need for any additional equipment.
LG said AirPlay will work on the TVs it’s releasing this year, as well as “last year’s models.”
With Apple AirPlay, your iPhone, iPad, and Mac can learn your preferences using machine learning. This means your devices can understand your favorite content, when you want to listen to it and where you usually enjoy it. Apple also makes it possible to start an AirPlay session to access third-party audio apps from your HomePod with your voice, without having to launch it on your iPhone or iPad.


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The Irish Times
Stripe, the online payments company founded by Limerick brothers Patrick and John Collison, is “ripe for an initial public offering (IPO),” according to Manhattan Venture Research in New York.
While the fast-growing company has repeatedly said it has no plans to seek a market listing, Santosh Rao, head of research at Manhattan, notes that the fintech space “has been buzzing with activity”, with consolidation the name of the game.
In Manhattan’s recent Venture Bytes monthly report, Mr. Rao highlights a number of fintech-focused “megadeals” that have taken place over the past 12 months. These include Fis’s $43 billion (€39 billion) deal for Worldpay, Fiserv’s £22 billion (€26 billion) acquisition of First Data, and Global Payments $21.5 billion purchase of TSYS.
In addition, he notes there also been numerous smaller deals, including PayPal’s $4 billion deal for Honey Science Corporation, and Visa’s $5.3 billion acquisition of Plaid.
Mr. Rao suggests that the rapid acceleration of the digital economy is driving fundamental changes in global commerce. This, he says, is good news for market leaders Stripe, PayPal, Square and Ayden, who between them dominate the lucrative payments sector with 54 percent of the $1.3 trillion market.
Stripe, which was founded in 2010, is valued at $35.3 billion, having raised $1.3 billion across seven funding rounds.


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Greenpeace campaigner Bonnie Tang said: “Hong Kongers love buying clothes and, apparently, throwing them away as well. At the rate they are entering our landfills we have to wonder why they are buying so many outfits only to throw them into trash bins. This level of wasteful consumption is ultimately a heavy burden on the environment.”
A Greenpeace study on the amount of textiles discarded in Hong Kong over the past 10 years found that the weight of discarded clothing averaged 100,000 tonnes annually. Although the amount of clothes being thrown away remains high, the government fails to collect and provide statistics on the environmental costs of public consumption or wastage of clothing.
“The issue of clothing waste has many mini-solutions including recycling, upcycling, and donation, however the thread that is woven throughout this issue is overconsumption,” Tang added. “Overconsumption is fueled by consumer demand and met all too enthusiastically by the fast fashion industry.”
Greenpeace calls on the Hong Kong public to acknowledge the impact that high consumption levels have on the environment. Consumers are urged to reduce unnecessary spending and adopt more environmentally-friendly consumption habits, such as buying clothes made from non-toxic materials, wearing second-hand clothes, repairing worn clothes, and not discarding old clothes.
Pledge to reduce consumption: http://grnpc.org/IgSXI
Bonnie Tang, Toxics Campaigner, Greenpeace Hong Kong
Email: [email protected]
Ray Yeung, Communications Officer, Greenpeace Hong Kong
Email: ra[email protected]


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[ DEARBORN, MICH. ]
Ford to Add 1,000 Jobs
Published: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 11:02 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 11:03 p.m.
Ford Motor Co. is predicting pickup truck sales will bounce back enough for it to add 1,000 workers to its Dearborn F-150 factory in January. The company celebrated the manufacturing launch of a new version of the truck Thursday and announced that it will restore a third shift to the plant. Ford spokeswoman Angie Kozleski said the additional workers will come from those laid off earlier this year at many Ford plants when the company cut production.
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