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Although much of the spotlight has been on the legal battle between Apple and Samsung, the iPhone maker is also embroiled in litigation with Motorola Mobility. Now that Google has acquired Motorola Mobility, Apple might quickly form a bitter rivalry with the handset maker akin to its relationship with Samsung.
The International Trade Commission ruled on Tuesday that Apple is violating a 3G wireless technology patent held by Motorola Mobility, but also dismissed three other patents that Motorola had filed against Apple in the patent infringement lawsuit. The ruling is preliminary and seeks approval from the six-member ITC commission.
“We are pleased that the ALJ’s initial determination finds Apple to be in violation of Motorola Mobility’s intellectual property, and look forward to the full commission’s ruling in August,” Motorola said in an e-mailed statement to CNET.
Apple scolded Motorola Mobility for using this patent against them, claiming that it “was a standards-essential patent for GPRS,” and noting that the handset maker failed to comply with “FRAND” or “fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms” for patent usage. Apple plans to appeal the decision in court.
“We’re glad the court ruled in our favor on three of four patents patents being considered,” the company said in a statement. “The fourth covers industry-standard technology which Motorola has refused to license to Apple on reasonable terms. A court in Germany has already ruled that Apple did not infringe on this patent, so we believe we will have a very strong case on appeal.”


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The company expressed optimism about the upcoming ‘5G era’ for its smartphone business.
Xiaomi is sharpening its focus on the fast-growing premium handset segment as the global smartphone market continues to decline
OnePlus 7 tends to get more attention on Wikipedia, and higher reviews from tech websites readers, a study s comparing Huawei P30, Xiaomi Mi 9and Oneplus 7 shows.
Research firm IDC estimated in a report released April 30 that Xiaomi’s smartphone shipment volume for Q1 2019 fell 10.2% to 25.0 million units.
The company will invest more than RMB 10 billion into AIoT development over the next five years.
The revenue from the one-day festival surpassed that of the event last year by RMB 900 million.
Xiaomi’s share price slumped around 20% in the days preceding the expiry of the company’s six-month lockup period.
Xiaomi is weathering a shrinking smartphone market in China by increasing focus on others such as India and Europe.
The investment and cooperation agreement with Xiaomi could streamline TCL’s move away from consumer electronics.
As smartphone market growth slows in China, India has become a battlefield for Chinese smartphone makers.

domain: news


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Well, this is rather interesting.
Back when The War Z was being promoted, the game’s developers were spotted copying images from The Walking Dead and using them for their own promo shots. It appears that the cycle is now more or less repeating itself with Bethesda and Tango Gameworks’ newly revealed “The Evil Within” project.
In one The Evil Within art piece, you can clearly see that a portion of a War Z screenshot has been placed within.
Take a look:
It’s kind of ironic, isn’t it? A few months ago, the War Z had been said to be using The Walking Dead content for promotional material. That very game now appears to be included in a similar situation – the only difference is that the roles have been reversed.


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Venom Release New Video & Detail Record Store Day Special Release
Venom are to release their new album From The Very Depths on red vinyl in celebration of Record Store Day. The announcement will come as great news for vinyl fans as the album was previously released on cd and digital formats only. The band have also unveiled a brand new video for the track Smoke.
The LP version will be available on Record Store Day, and in the spirit of the cause, this isn’t just any run of vinyl but a 2-disc gatefold limited run of just 300 copies for the UK, stained a bloody red.
Go and get your copy from one of the hundreds of independent record stores taking part in RSD up and down the country on April 18th. Check out the list of participating stores, including many in and around Manchester, on the official website here: www.recordstoreday.co.uk
"Venom conjure up another slab of glory; Cronos is in fine and foul voice throughout, sounding increasingly like a returning emperor surveying his kingdom and declaring, 'This is how you fucking do it!' with an imperious snarl. Lay down your souls. Again.’ - Metal Hammer


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Local students and other members of the community worked together over the weekend weekend to increase their business experience and pitch their ideas.
Cal State Bakersfield is hosting an Entrepreneurs Startup Weekend, which started Friday and ran through Sunday. Through the event, participants team up and come up with projects — such as a new business or product — and presented on Sunday to a team of judges for evaluation.
Coaches with experience in starting a business have come in to help the participants with their projects.
“The biggest goal is to really jump-start the startup community — entrepreneurs, the mentors, the judges, investors — and bring them all together for a pure entrepreneurial activity to create more businesses, to create more partnerships and to further stimulate the local economy,” said Navjot Brar, one of the organizers of the event.
The three-day event is sponsored by Bank of America and held in partnership with Techstars, a company that provides guidance and resources to help people successfully start their own business.
The company organizes startup events across the country. This is the first such event held in Bakersfield.
Highland High School student Melissa Duenas said she and her team are working on a project that involves gun safety.
Under this proposed project, schools, hospitals, restaurants and other businesses would be able to purchase a device that would let them know immediately if shots are fired in the vicinity.
“I like (the event) so far. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s something new that I’ve enjoyed,” she said. “I like all my team members, all the networking that’s going on. My main goal is to get to know who’s in the business community.”
For Nolan Byers, who takes classes at the Kern High School District’s Regional Occupational Center, the reason he wanted to participate in the event was to gain some business experience.
“If my project fails, it fails. If it succeeds, it succeeds,” he said. “At this point, I’m willing to see what I can gain from this through experience. I’m just hoping I can get a lot of business background that could be useful for me in the future.”
Byers’s project is a proposal for a new business called Gravity Tattoo Studios. On Saturday, Byers and other members of his team were working on creating a website and doing some market research and analysis.
“I wanted to do a tattoo shop because I have always grown up around people with tattoos, so to me, it feels like home. It’s comfortable for me,” he said.
While Byers said he’s considering a career as an English teacher, he’s keeping his options open for possibly opening his own business in the future.
Fellow ROC student Nate Waldron was working on a proposal for a new mobile application that would allow people to track colleges they’re looking into, scholarships, financial aid and more all through one place.
“It organizes everything so that it’s not so much of a hassle, not so messy,” he said.
Waldron said he wanted to participate in the Entrepreneur Startup Weekend because he’s interested in working for a graphic design company — or even starting his own company — in the future and wants to have a good understanding of how business works.
“I’m looking for more skills toward prototyping, marketing and management,” he said. “I want to be a manager and know how to market and how to design very well.”
Waldron said he enjoys participating in events like this because they give him the opportunity to test his skills.
“I get to express my creativity here and develop my skills. I like using my mind to design stuff,” he said. “I like coming up with ideas with other people and working on them. It’s been a fun experience.”


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It’s Uber vs alles in the taxi world. Alongside resistance from entrenched incumbents and their regulatory cronies, Uber also has to contend with local rivals, many of which are more advanced in their respective territories. Now four of those competitors have formed an alliance to take on Uber worldwide.
US ridesharing app Lyft announced a partnership with Chinese market leader Didi Kuaidi a few months ago, and now India’s Ola and southeast Asia’s GrabTaxi have joined the team. Travellers will be able to hail rides in any of the other firms' countries through their home nation’s app, without having to worry about language barriers or paying in a foreign currency.
Having opponents gang up on you is a disconcerting experience at the best of times and Uber’s rivals may get a boost in ride numbers from tourists and business travellers, but it’s hard to see how that could be decisive.


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- Andrew Cornelia appointed as CEO of Mercedes-Benz HPC North America, LLC.
- Christopher Trainor appointed as Chief Financial Officer of the new unit
- Mercedes-Benz HPC North America aims to build more than 2,500 high-power chargers in North America
Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG announced today the appointments of two top-level executives of Mercedes-Benz HPC North America, LLC: Andrew Cornelia as President and Chief Executive Officer, and Christopher Trainor as Chief Financial Officer, both effective in June 2023.
In their new roles, Andrew and Christopher will be responsible for the launch and operations of the Mercedes-Benz charging network in the U.S. and Canada. Mercedes-Benz HPC North America aims to open approximately 400 charging stations comprising more than 2,500 high-power chargers to customers of all EV brands throughout North America by the end of this decade. Andrew and Christopher will also be recruiting, leading and empowering a new team of employees who will be dedicated to executing the company’s North American ambitions.
“As we continue to move forward with the implementation of our global Mercedes-Benz high-power charging network, I am excited that Andrew and Chris will join us in leading these efforts. Besides many years of experience in this area, Andrew brings to the role a leading vision and a strong sense of purpose for realizing the rapid transition to carbon-neutral transportation. Paired with Chris’ deep experience in the automotive and finance industries, we have a winning combination to begin effectively expanding North America’s charging infrastructure. And we will do it with the unmistakable commitment to quality and customer experience of the Mercedes-Benz brand.”
Franz Reiner, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG
Andrew Cornelia brings over a decade of experience in electric mobility and charging, and has played a pivotal role in shaping and advancing EV charging infrastructure across the US and globally. At Tesla, he led Strategic Finance for the global charging network, influencing its launch, rapid growth, and move towards open access standards. More recently, he was the executive leading Corporate Strategy and Development at Volta Charging, where he helped pioneer an innovative model that redefined the boundaries of both the EV charging business, as well as the EV driver experience.
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to launch and lead the Mercedes-Benz high-power charging network in North America. With our inaugural charging hubs set to open by year’s end, we aim to redefine the charging experience by channeling the renowned quality, reputation, and driver focus that Mercedes-Benz has embodied for well over a century.”
Andrew Cornelia, CEO of Mercedes-Benz HPC North America
Christopher Trainor has more than 30 years of experience in corporate finance, including various senior leadership roles at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA. He joined the Chrysler group in 1994 and has been with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA since 2002.
Mercedes-Benz HPC North America is responsible for the development and operation of the Mercedes-Benz high-power charging network in North America, helping realize the next, essential step forward in Mercedes-Benz’s electrification strategy: Expansion of the overall North American EV charging map to help propel EV adoption to the next levels. The company is part of the Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG family of companies, the financial and mobility services division of Mercedes-Benz Group AG.


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Monthly Archives: January 2015
Family’s ‘Organised Shoplifting Spree’
A grandmother and her two granddaughters have been given suspended sentences for an ‘organised shoplifting spree’.
Sentencing the trio, District Judge Barney McElholm said this was an ‘organised shop lifting ring’ and to suggest otherwise ‘was an insult to everyone’s intelligence’.read more
Postman Sold Stolen Parcels Online
A postman has been jailed for stealing hundreds of packages containing valuables and then making £15,500 by selling them online.
Andrew Barratt, took an estimated 400 items such as satnavs, digital cameras and computer games which his wife, Michelle, then auctioned on ebayread more
Shoplifting ‘Not Taken Seriously’
Sky News reports that businesses complain theft from their shops is viewed as a “victimless” crime by police.
Whilst a survey shows a 36% rise in the money lost in shop thefts – the highest figure for a decade – most shoplifting goes unreported because shopkeepers do not believe the police will respond.read more
Aristocrat Impersonator Jailed
A man who passed himself off as an aristocrat to steal over £115k from antiques dealer HW Harvey has been jailed.
His employer was approached by “His Serene Highness Prince Oliver von Mecklenburg-Schwerin” who had an “impeccable CV” including work at Blenheim Palace.read more
Tesco Security Tags Energy Drinks
Some retailers are slapping security tags on energy drinks. Tesco has reportedly tagged £1.46 cans of Monster Ripper, after a spate of thefts.
One retail source said: “Tagging is going through the roof to keep pace with thefts. Some supermarkets have them on sandwiches and Pot Noodles.”read more
Shoplifter Gave CV To Supermarket
The Telegraph reports that a man who handed his CV into a supermarket looking for a job was caught shoplifting on the way out.
Luke Scott, 29, walked into a branch of Asda in South Shields, gave his resume to staff then picked up an electric shaver and hid it under his coat as left.read more


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Late night web discovery means great new route to extra cash
A single mother of three was this week at the centre of an online earning frenzy over revelations that her earnings from the website she discovered at 2 o'clock in the morning have now topped £1400.
Hayley Chow, from Braintree in Essex, browsed the internet looking for ways to make money as children Emily, 4, Olivia, 3, and Charlie, 6, slept in the next room.
Hayley's discovery, recently launched PaidOffers.co.uk, has left the 28 year old beauty assistant completely stunned.
"I was shocked at first", Hayley told UK Evening News. "You could see money being added to people's accounts live on the page. It's not like we're starving or anything but, with three kids, money's always a bit tight. I've looked at loads of ways to make money online before, but you could see straight away this was dead easy. And it seemed completely straight. It's a great way to earn extra money."
Work at home soars as UK hunts for extra money
Hayley is far from alone. UK Evening News has learned that over twelve hundred men and women looking at how to make money to top up their wages and make ends meet have now focused their efforts on the Paid Offers site.
"There was no let-up in the squeeze on UK household finances during February, as higher living costs and muted wage trends combined to reduce cash availability at the fastest pace since mid-2012," said Tim Moore, Senior Economist at Markit, who monitor trends in the UK economy.
Sunil Shah, 32, an accounts manager from Bolton, has racked up over £970 in little over 2 months using the site. He told UK Evening News he was "Delighted by how easy it is. Instead of watching TV at night sometimes I just sit down and complete offers. Making money couldn't be much simpler."
Experts develop genuine way to make money online
While many websites offering people like Hayley and Sunil opportunities to make money from home have turned out to be scams or failed to deliver, the UK company behind Paid Offers set out to create a genuine model that would put real cash in the accounts of anyone with a few hours to spare.
"Our idea is simple", Paid Offers' Managing Director told UK Evening News. "Anyone can use it to make money working from home. We advertise other companies' products on our system. It works pretty much like all the popular cashback sites. When someone completes their offers we get paid a commission by that company. We just share that commission with people who need to earn some extra money to help make ends meet, and are happy to fill in the offers."
'Exciting move on' in making money at home
Professor Deborah McCann, an expert on wages and personal spending told UK Evening News: "If I wanted some extra cash to ease things at home, or help me pay my bills, I'd say this was well worth trying. It's an exciting move-on from plans for making money online that were impossible to make work. These people appear to have found a genuine way for people who need extra money to make it. Everyone looks to come out of this a winner."
Try out Hayley's money-making discovery yourself.If you'd like to try Paid Offers, the site used by Hayley to earn more than £1400 so far, here are the two simple steps you'll need to take:
Click this link and complete the small sign up form on the Paid Offers website.
Follow the simple instructions you're given. You should be able to start making money immediately.


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Jitendra Kumar Gupta
Swelect Energy Systems wears its smallcap credentials...
Jitendra Kumar Gupta
Swelect Energy Systems wears its smallcap credentials lightly. Yet, the Chennai-based company has been one of the early birds to cash in on the boom in the renewables energy space. In 2011, it forayed into the alternative energy space, building on its 20-year experience in the power business.
The following year, the company sold its inverter or UPS business to France-based Legrand group for Rs 829 crore. Even after paying Rs 135 crore as tax and another Rs 150 crore by way of dividend, Swelect is still sitting on a cash and cash equivalent of over Rs 400 crore on an equity of Rs 700 crore.
Huge Cash but Cautious Deployment
Thankfully, the company is in no hurry to use up its cash. With every intention of deploying the cash judiciously, the company, in 2013, made a small acquisition of Rs 22 crore (49 percent stake with management control) in HHV Solar Technologies, which is a solar module manufacturer based out of Bangalore. Swelect, which was until then present in EPC (or engineering, procurement and construction) business, expanded its offerings to include solar panels. Over the years HHV has reaffirmed its faith in the bet. HHV had an annual installed capacity of 40 MW, which after commissioning the third line of production in Q3FY16, has been expanded to 100 MW.
Foundry Losses on Wane, Solar the Bright Spot
While solar energy systems and services (EPC) account (FY17 revenue Rs 282 crore) for close to 80 percent of the revenue, it is also present in the foundry (iron casting, machines, alloy casting) business. However, the latter is making losses.
While this may be a drag on the business, as an investor, the comfort comes from the fact that this business employs only 10 percent of the total capital employed in the overall business. Moreover, this business is now being restructured and the losses of this business are falling.
In recent times, the company has amalgamated the two different units of the foundry business to leverage business synergies and bring down the overall costs. In the foundry business, as against an EBIT loss of Rs 2.72 crore in FY16, the loss was down to Rs 1.81 crore in FY17.
Moreover, barring foundry business, the solar business is starting to show good results. In Q4FY17, the company reported standalone (87 percent of business) sales of Rs 79 crore, which was up by 95 percent on a year-on-year basis and 180 percent increase compared to its December 2016 quarter. Since the business enjoys huge operating leverage, its profits jumped to Rs 13 crore.
On a conservative basis, even if 80 percent of Q4FY17 profitability of Rs 13 crore is achieved for the next four quarters, the company should be reporting a profit of close to Rs 40 crore in the next fiscal year.
One useful valuation matrix is enterprise value to operating profit or EBITDA. With cash of close to Rs 327 crore (taking conservatively 80 percent of the mutual fund investments of Rs 251 and cash and bank balance of Rs 158 crore reported in FY17) and market capitalisation of Rs 483 crore, the enterprise value works out to Rs 156 crore which is about 5 times its FY17 core operating profit. On a consolidated FY17 sales of Rs 247 crore and net profit of Rs 21.63 crore, this looks like an extremely reasonable valuation for a company that is debt free and operates in a growth industry.
All eyes are now on how the company plans to use its cash. Today, the market is not ascribing any huge value to its core business (trading close to its cash in the books). If the company fails to deploy this cash well, it could turn out to be a huge value trap.
However, it is a relief that its books are audited by one of the large audit firms SR Batliboi. We also take note of the fact that promoters own over 64 percent of the company. Hence, rational use of capital will also be in the interests of the promoter. Amongst the well-known investors who have reposed faith in the company are the likes of Anil Kumar Goel and HDFC Mutual Fund.Follow @jitendra1929


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Senate gives final congressional approval to extend ban on Internet taxes
Friday, November 16th 2001, 12:00 am
By: News On 6
WASHINGTON (AP) _ President Bush will sign legislation that extends a moratorium on Internet-related taxes for two years, although he preferred a longer period of tax relief.
A voice vote in the Senate on Thursday renewed the tax ban that was enacted three years ago but expired Oct. 21.
Senators rejected an amendment that could have led to future collection of state taxes on Internet sales and even Internet access. The proposal would have required a congressional vote to allow sales tax collections after 20 states agreed to collect for each other.
The state compact plan failed when senators voted 57-43 for a procedural motion to kill the measure.
``The administration believes that government should be promoting Internet usage and availability, not discouraging it with access taxes and discriminatory taxes,'' the White House said in a statement supporting the legislature.
``While a five-year extension would be preferable, a two-year extension will provide additional time to analyze the impact of e-commerce on local and state tax receipts.''
Senators favoring a simple extension said they would continue to negotiate with senators backing the state compact. They argued that more study was needed before a system was put in place that could allow a state to impose a direct tax on residents of another state.
Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said a simple extension was the best course for now, because ``The devil is always in the details.'' One problem would be to ensure that state tax rates would remain uniform, he said.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., a co-sponsor of the rejected amendment, said, ``State and local governments are concerned about funding for schools and fairness for Main Street retailers.''
He said states would have been required to dramatically simplify their sales tax systems and then submit the proposal to Congress. He said the issue would not go away.
Uncollected state sales taxes on electronic commerce were estimated at nearly $26 billion in 2000.
States favoring taxes on Internet-related sales are backed by most traditional retailers, including many of the nation's largest chains, who say Internet competitors have an unfair advantage. Companies that rely on Internet sales oppose the taxes.
Unlike brick-and-mortar competitors, businesses engaged in e-commerce have benefited from not having to pay state and federal taxes on money earned from online transactions. The moratorium also has prevented online buyers from possibly paying taxes on their Internet access accounts.
Anti-tax lawmakers said tax collections would drag down a key economic engine when the economy already is suffering.
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who favored the simple extension, said Americans don't want to be taxed when they log on the Internet for their news, weather and sports.
He said there was danger in a ``crazy quilt'' tax system that would ``chew up a vast amount of time for compliance.''


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Lyoness under preliminary investigation in Italy
In what very well could be an early death-knell for Lyoness, Italian authorities have announced a preliminary investigation into the company.
The Italian Antitrust and Consumer Protection Authority (AGCM) published a bulletin on September 24th.
Details of the regulators investigation into Lyoness feature in the PDF version of the bulletin on page 23.
The AGCM state their investigation has been initiated due to a “large number of complaints” about Lyoness.
Specifically, the AGCM is investigating Lyoness for misleading advertising, unfair commercial practices, contractual violation of consumer rights and the use of discriminating or unfair terms and conditions.
Not surprisingly, the finer details of the AGCM’s investigation sounds like your typical Ponzi pyramid affair.
Lyoness, in the exercise of his own activity of promotion and a system of cashback, has put in place an unfair commercial practice that requires significant amount (of money) for access to the Multi Level Marketing.
(The MLM entry fee) and other significant amounts are presented as “advances” with respect to the cash back future earnings.
The methods for presenting the sales scheme created by Lyoness – and by affiliates promoting it – appear to be potentially based on incomplete representations (that are) not transparent and (create a false impression for) consumers who pay money to enter the System.
(i) the terms and conditions of the (Lyoness) Program presented to consumers, which explain the nature of the commitment that the consumer assumes by signing up for (Lyoness) membership;
(ii) the actual probability of obtaining profits by adhering to the scheme proposed by Lyoness;
(iii) to the normatively provided information. (Ozedit: Not sure what (iii) is supposed to mean)
Lyoness affiliates invest funds in shopping units and then set about recruiting others who do the same.
Once enough new investment has been made, Lyoness take a percentage of it and use it to pay existing affiliates a ROI.
The cashback side of the business is used to justify this baked in Ponzi scheme.
What’s never disclosed to consumers, as AGCM will no doubt find out, is that the length of time and raw dollars required to generate similar income, as opposed to straight investment in units, is not comparable.
Lyoness uses cashback to lure unsuspecting consumers into its Ponzi net.
Once they’ve got shopping units under them, they eventually realize they’re not realistically going to see that money unless they invest and then get others to invest.
The exception is individuals who manage to convince thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of shoppers to sign up under them – typically through large groups.
In the past we’ve seen this shamelessly take place through government councils and sporting clubs.
AGCM’s investigation is significant for Lyoness, as for well over a year now Italy has made up the bulk of new investment into the company.
At the time of publication Alexa cite Italy as providing 46% and 32% of traffic to the Lyoness and Lyconet websites respectively.
Lyoness’ business model typically sees the company focus on migrating to a new market when either recruitment collapses or regulators shut it down.
Victims in existing markets are promised riches if they help recruitment efforts in the chosen new country, which also serves to stop them cooperating with authorities and/or filing complaints against the company.
Unsuspecting consumers are targeted in the new country for a set period of time. If Lyoness fails to take off then a new country is targeted.
If, as in the case of Italy, Lyoness takes off, consumers are milked dry until recruitment dries up or regulators step in.
Wash, rinse and repeat.
As of yet a successor country for Lyoness to pillage if Italian recruitment is shut down hasn’t emerged.
Poland, sitting at 13% of traffic to the Lyconet website, could be a contender but it’s still too early to tell.
Update 26th September 2018 – A reader contacted me to let me know they couldn’t find information on the Lyoness preliminary investigation in Italian.
I thought this was odd, seeing as we’d linked to the AGCM source announcement in our article.
Turns out within 24 hours of this article going live AGCM removed any mention of the preliminary investigation from their website.
Here’s a copy of Google cache search results, proving that the announcement was made:
No idea why mention of the investigation was removed. The bulletin document did contain a bunch of other information, so perhaps there was something else in there they weren’t ready to share with the public yet (or it could have been the Lyoness investigation itself).
Update 28th September 2018 – Some time in the last 24 hours AGCM has restored access to the September 24th bulletin.
Update 15th January 2019 – AGCM has concluded Lyoness is a pyramid scheme and fined the company €3.2 million euro.
Article updated with evidence AGCM made the investigation announcement after they removed access to it.
link for the official doc (Lyoness pag 23): (www.)agcm.it/dotcmsdoc/bollettini/2018/35-18.pdf
Ah, it’s back up. Thanks for that.
Opinions Upon opinions.
Once again (like in the last 15 years) – zero countrys closed.
Haters gonna hate.
Norway. Scammers gon’ scam.
There is also number of countries Lyoness did not manage to install the fraudulent system in, which did not prevent some citizens from being ripped-off however.
Paraguay in 2013 for example:
Oz the office it’s still working.
The Cashback program it’s still working.
I already explained to you how the government structure works in Norway once. You still think that the ministry of arts and culture that regulate games have authority to close a company!
Haters gon’ hate
Lyoness shut down it’s AU Ponzi in Italy, I just haven’t put together an article on it yet. Will have one up soon.
As for Norway, fact remains Lyoness is illegal in Norway. The Gaming Board regulate the MLM industry in Norway (at least as far as Ponzi and pyramid schemes go).
You can ignore the facts but they are what they are.
Oz – you might need to read the latest news from Lottstift on Lyoness…
NOLINK – lottstift.no/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Lyoness-beslutning-om-utsatt-iverksetting-av-vedtak-med-p%C3%A5legg-om-stans-jf-532760_5_1.pdf
So – xuxa is somewhat right… Yes – Cashback should still work…
However – what xuxa is leaving out is that…
1) NO new representatives are allowed in the company
2) NO new loyalty companies are allowed in their Ponzi System
3) NO discount coupons are allowed to be sold
4) NO shares in their “ponzi cloud” are allowed to be sold.
This is until their appeal has been handled – however , what xuxa also is leaving out is that…
The Ponzi side of Lyoness is essentially the MLM side of the business being banned.
Nobody cares about the cashback. If you look at companies where the Ponzi has collapsed, once AU recruitment collapses the cashback does not survive on its own.
It still might technically be available but the merchant network collapses and people stop recruiting new shoppers, in favor of recruitment of new investors in whatever the reboot region is (Italy in this case, possible Poland after).
Thank you for your work on this.
Lyoness under preliminary investigation in Germany, too. 🙂
I wrote this: gazzettadiretta.com/lyoness-sotto-accusa-in-germania-per-schema-ponzi/
According to correspondence betwin authorities in norway and italy the italian investigation will come to a conclusion in december.
Where did you get this info?
Lottstift.no (lottery agency website in norway)
Can you provide a link? I can’t find any recent news. Thank you.


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Console launches are emotional times for gamers and for game developers. During tonight’s launch in Seoul, one PlayStation executive broke out in tears.
I am speaking of Shiro Kawauchi, the head of Sony Entertainment Korea. He was speaking in his native Japanese language when he got choked up, he spoke about how PlayStation fans had been waiting for days for the PS4 launch event and he remembers meeting with fans all around the country before the launch event.
“I truly thank you for coming out today in this cold weather,” said Kawauchi. Then, in Korean, Kawauchi added, “I love you all. Please show your love for PlayStation 4 as well. Thank you!”
In a country where PC gaming rules and consoles don’t, after relations between South Korea and Japan have soured. Kawaichi was moved by the PlayStation fans there. Something that you can see even if you don’t speak their language. It can move everyone, to see how emotional and overjoyed even the Sony staff can get over such a thing.


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Kroger (KR) reported better-than-expected results during Q1 2018, aided by its ongoing restock Kroger initiative. Total sales during the quarter rose 3.4% to $37.5 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $37.33 billion. Kroger reported net earnings of $2 billion, or $2.37 per share.
Excluding items, the company reported earnings of $0.73 per share, easily topping analysts estimate of $0.63 per share. Identical supermarket sales, without fuel, was 1.9% during the quarter.
During the pre-market hours, the company’s stock rose 7.52% to $28.15. Kroger, which recently entered into a deal with Ocado, expects identical sales growth, excluding fuel, to range from 2% to 2.5% in 2018.
It raised the lower end of the EPS guidance to $3.64 – $3.79 from $3.59 – $3.79. Kroger also raised the bottom end of its adjusted earnings guidance to $2.00 – $2.15 per share for 2018, from $1.95 – $2.15 announced previously.
“We are on track to generate the free cash flow and incremental FIFO operating profit that we committed to in Restock Kroger. We are confident in our ability to deliver on our plans for the year and our long-term vision to serve America through food inspiration and uplift,” said CEO Rodney McMullen.
Kroger has been aggressively investing in acquiring firms to strengthen its digital business. According to the recent deal with Ocado, Kroger will incorporate the UK retail giant’s technology into its grocery and food distribution business, along with 5% ownership in the company. This will help the Cincinnati-based retailer in fighting back against Amazon (AMZN).
It also acquired a private meal-kit company Home Chef, thereby making its presence in the meal-kit market that is dominated by Blue Apron (APRN).
Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today reported its fourth quarter financial results for the period ended January 31, 2021. Net income for the fourth quarter was $911.3 million, or $4.10 per
Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND), a specialist in plant-based meat substitutes, Thursday reported a wider loss for the fourth quarter, despite an increase in revenues. The numbers also missed the consensus
Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) reported fourth-quarter 2020 financial results after the regular market hours on Thursday. The space tourism company reported zero revenue in the fourth quarter, compared to $529,000


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Move over, Elon Musk and Tim Cook. There is a new name breaking into the list of the highest-paid chief executives: Chad Richison, the founder and CEO of payroll processor Paycom Software Inc.
The Oklahoma City billionaire last year was awarded compensation valued at $211 million by Paycom, the company disclosed in the annual proxy statement it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission last week.
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The automotive industry was brought to its knees by semiconductor scarcity. In 2021, automakers were obliged to cancel plans to build ten million cars. The forecast suggests they will cancel a further seven or eight million in 2022 and four million in 2023, as demand for semiconductors outstrips supply by 10 per cent. What goes for automakers goes for many industrial companies because they too rely on semiconductors in their products. The component shortage has impacted companies large and small, with the biggest impact on smaller companies who don’t have the resources to buy inventory well in advance of demand.
How much time do companies spend with current suppliers? Most owners and directors probably spend next to no time either thinking about or being actively involved in how and where their companies spend their budgets for electronics. That’s a mismatch with potential long term consequences for companies and goes some way towards explaining why so many companies are struggling in the current crisis. We have always pushedback on suppliers to hold inventory and when asked for a forecast, ignore it, as its probably just the sales guy pushing for an order.
Something has to change. I think we need to consider our supply chain strategies moving forwards and how we deal with them. While the world will eventually sort itself out, I think we need to be more aware of where stock comes from and the many routes it can take before it arrives on our PCB.
Companies should look to work more closely with their supply chain partners, identify critical areas and understand the needs and demands of their business. By building better connections and understanding what everyone’s aims and pain points are. By working closer together, suppliers and designers can more easily identify potential issues or find quicker resolutions. By understanding the needs and demands of all parties, it helps ensure boards and projects move ahead smoothly.
Working closer with engineers not on the current design but what their considerations are for the next one, and what the suppliers and manufacturers are developing. Assisting engineering to help make longer term decisions.
Everyone hates forecasting and telling suppliers what they might need. However, now is the time to break this habit, keep the supply chain informed and help them make decisions on stock levels or purchasing requirements. The more companies communicate the quicker they can get back to levels of normality and ensure stock hoarding ends. Some of the silicon costs are frankly appalling, but by creating a new way of working, we can hopefully manage future stock demand much better.


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UPGRADING to the new iPhone or Samsung be very different when phone shops reopen in a week’s time.
Numbers inside will be strictly limited but customers won’t have to queue outside.
They can wait in a virtual queue — popping off to grab a coffee, say, until a text alerts them to their turn.
Often EE, O2 and Vodafone branches are small, which would make it difficult to keep customers two metres apart at busy times.
The firms this week outlined their plans to deal with issues faced by small shops in which goods are handled.
HOAR toured an EE store in Croydon, South London — one of 90 to open initially.
Normally, it has a dozen members of staff and as many as 30 customers browsing.
But from June 15, when it opens, there will be a limit of four customers and five staff — including one at a welcome desk wearing a plastic visor.
Store manager Rachel booked me in. If a member of staff is free, customers will be seen right away or put in the virtual queue. Appointments can be made online or by phone.
There were no phones on display. Instead, I was directed to sit down with a member of staff to talk about phones — with a screen between us.
I was encouraged to look at phones on a tablet. Then Rachel brought one out for me to inspect properly — after it had been cleaned thoroughly.
Being two metres apart when discussing a contract and handing over bank details isn’t ideal, hence the screen. No cash will be taken.
Lee Frankham of BT, EE’s parent company, said: “There is no substitute for personal, local service. We’re ready to reopen.”
O2 will have a similar system in place. Sales director Gareth Turpin said: “Retail has changed in the wake of Covid.
“The result is a more personal service which saves customer waiting time.”
Vodafone is reopening 65 stores on June 15 and 300 more a week later.
Dust down motors and charge ’em up
MOTORISTS firing up cars for work after lockdown face a shock: Flat batteries and tyres.
Some of us have driven for the weekly shop but others have stayed local while furloughed or working from home.
Halfords has solutions for unlucky motorists at its Autocentre repair garages and shops. With its Get Road Ready pledge, it is offering 25,000 free vehicle checks – which normally cost £15 – at its garages.
At its stores and online, Halfords also does the 30-minute Get Road Ready check.
That involves looking at tyre depth, inflating tyres, a battery health test, checks on headlights and brake lights, screen wash, coolant and oil levels.
It is intended to keep motorists in control and give reassurance at this unpredictable time.
Mini jump charger: Like a battery pack for your phone but powerful enough to jumpstart your car up to a 2-litre engine. The £85 charger works for 3-litre motors. Good for smartphones too.
- Halfords advanced lithium jump starter, from £65
Powerful jump charger: So powerful it will start a lorry battery. An industrial starter for totally dead batteries, big SUVs and trucks. Great for builders firing up vans after months.
- SIP Rescue Pac 3000 12v and 24v Booster Pack, £269.99
Charge car battery by mains: Plug into mains and it can charge a battery to full in three hours. The 2-amp is for small cars and up to 10 amps for SUVs. Or buy jump cables for £10.
- Noco Genius battery chargers – 2, 5, 10 amp, £50, £65, £120
Digital tyre inflator: Inflate tyres in minutes, with a sensor you get the pressure correct. Powered by the car cigarette lighter. Fully inflated tyres save money on fuel and cut tyre wear. Version with analogue dial is £19.99.
- Halfords digital inflator, £34.99
Data day habits have changed
MOBILE phones have a new function: Giving insights into how we live differently in lockdown.
We are ordering twice as many takeaway deliveries, for instance.
EE looked at popular apps across fitness, social media, shopping and travel to see how our habits have changed.
At first, with restaurants shut, orders plummeted with services such as Deliveroo.
But by April, orders with the app had soared to an all-time high.
Social media apps such as TikTok no longer experience regular spikes at 8.30am and 4pm – at the start and end of the school day.
Instead, usage has been spread more evenly across the whole day. It was boom time for Zoom, with users of the video-calling service growing fivefold.
Voice calls of longer than five minutes doubled, with spikes on Friday and Saturday evenings to catch up with friends and family.
With gyms shut, demand grew too for fitness apps. MapMyRun usage doubled.
Stevenage and Hereford had the biggest surge in data usage on communications apps, up 120 per cent and 118 per cent respectively. But in central London it fell 58 per cent.


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Ready to Do Business? Goderich Is Waiting
Development and Innovation Goderich is committed to developing their shipping infrastructure to stay one of the largest trading ports in Canada.
Goderich has been a key port in Ontario since it was a trading post. With the only deep-water port on the east side of Lake Huron, expansion plans are paving the way for new businesses and residents to arrive. The Town took control of its port via the federal government’s Port Divestiture Program in 1999, as the largest revenue-generator out of 300 regional ports in Canada. With a $29 million refurbishment over the last 15 years from user fees, the Town continues to become a modern hub.
Now, another $16 million is being put towards an infrastructure program, creating new land to increase shipping activity and add an incentive for businesses to set up shop in the Town.
“The expansion project provides opportunities for relocating or existing industry to enter into leases with the Town and improve access to the St Lawrence Seaway & Hwy H2O, leading to more marine shipping and fewer trucks on the road,” says Larry McCabe, Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Goderich. “With this infrastructure in place, we are ready for industry to come and do business.”
McCabe points out that this is an opportunity for aggregate, potash or other agricultural products to lease the new port lands.
Open for business
Economic Development Officer, Linda Sicoli says, “There is so much opportunity here and by investing wisely in innovation to improve our ability to compete in Canadian and world markets, we are ready to operate at the speed of business.”
Mayor Kevin Morrison indicates “These are exciting times for Goderich and our smart growth strategies will bring investment, newcomers and tourism into the local economy”.
In 2011, a powerful F3 tornado damaged the Town’s downtown core and residential neighbourhoods, all now rebuilt and modernized with high-tech additions. High-speed fibre optic technology is now available throughout the municipality, and new home builds loom on the horizon, further strengthening the local economy and increasing opportunity for growth in Goderich.
“Although we might be known as the ‘prettiest town in Canada’ due to our natural beauty and Victorian-inspired architecture,” says McCabe, “Goderich appeals to those who can work remotely and desire a high quality of life for their family that includes first class recreation and sunset beaches, just a two-and-a-half hour drive from the GTA.”


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Jio Phone Next, which was announced last month at Reliance’s AGM 2021, is all set to go on sale in India on September 10th. The handset is said to be the most affordable 4G smartphone in the country. While the company is mum on Jio Phone Next price in India, a recent leak suggests that it could cost Rs 3,499. As for the Jio Phone Next specifications, it’s tipped to sport a 5.5-inch HD screen, Snapdragon 215 SoC, 13MP rear camera, 8MP selfie camera, Android 11 (Go edition), and a 2,500mAh battery. Here’s a quick specs-based comparison of the upcoming low-cost 4G Jio phone with Redmi 9A, Realme C11 2021, and Samsung Galaxy M12. These are the most affordable smartphones from Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung in India right now.
Redmi 9A specifications
Redmi 9A is a budget-centric smartphone with a 6.53-inch HD+ (1600×720) LCD display and 2GHz MediaTek Helio G25 chipset, which is equipped with HyperEngine technology and IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU. This is paired with up to 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage. The handset runs Android 10-based MIUI 12 out of the box. For photography, the phone packs a single 13MP AI camera with LED flash at the back, while up front, it packs a 5MP snapper for selfies and video calling. The phone is driven by a 5,000mAh battery and sports connectivity options such as 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone jack, and micro USB port for charging.
Overall, the Redmi 9A seems to be a better offering than JioPhone Next; however, it comes at a price. The phone is currently selling on the company’s official website with a Rs 6,999 sticker price, which is almost double the alleged price tag of the JioPhone Next.
Realme C11 2021 specifications
The Realme C11 2021 packs a 6.5-inch LCD that bears HD+ resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a V-shaped notch for the selfie camera at the top. The phone features an 8MP camera at the rear with an LED flash and full-HD video recording option and a 5MP camera at the front with an HD video recording option. It’s driven by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging support and runs Realme UI Go edition atop Android 11 out of the box. The phone is powered by the Unisoc SC9863 chipset, which is a capable chipset in the entry-level segment but needs to be tested against the JioPhone Next-powered Snapdragon 215 SoC.
The Realme C11 2021 price in India is set at Rs 6,999 for the sole 2GB RAM and 32GB storage onboard.
Samsung Galaxy M02 specifications
The Galaxy M02 is the most affordable smartphone from Samsung’s stable at the moment. The handset is listed on the company’s official website with a Rs 7,499 price tag for the 2GB RAM + 32GB storage onboard, while the 3GB RAM + 32GB variant costs Rs 7,999. The handset will take on the JioPhone Next with MediaTek MT6739W chipset under the hood and a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display. In optics, the Samsung Galaxy M02 sports a dual-rear camera setup consisting of a 13MP primary and a 2MP macro unit. Selfies and video calls are handled by a 5MP module. Software-wise, the handset runs Android 10-based One UI 2.0 out of the box.


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News & EventsRead More
Learn about the latest Cuisine Solutions news and events.
My Cuisine Solutions is finally here!
Our dearest foodies, do we have exciting news for you! Have you prepared yourself? Ready? Our new website MyCuisineSolutions.com launched this morning! On MyCuisineSolutions.com you can order our delicious food directly from us and have it at your door in just a few days. MyCuisineSolutions.com is packed ...Read More
Join Us for WTCE 2015!
Cuisine Solutions is the industry-leading provider of high-quality, prepared foods and the recognized worldwide authority on sous-vide. Our premium sous-vide creations help deliver truly memorable dining experiences for first- and business-class passengers of major airlines around the world, as well as railways and cruise lines. Join us for the World ...Read More
ELEVATION BURGER ADDS CUISINE SOLUTIONS ORGANIC CHICKEN TO MENU
Now the Only National Chain to Serve Exclusively Organic Chicken FALLS CHURCH, VA. (March 31, 2015) – Today, Elevation Burger, America’s first and largest organic burger chain, announced they are introducing organic chicken in all 50 domestic and international Elevation Burger restaurants. Elevation Burger is already the nation’s largest ...Read More
Natural Products Expo West
Cuisine Solutions is excited to announce our participation in Natural Products Expo West, the leading trade show in the natural, organic and healthy products industry. The show will be held in Anaheim, CA at the Anaheim Convention Center from March 6 – 8, 2015. All-natural food, free from hormones, GMO’s ...Read More
Plug into the top food news stories around the globe.
Cranberry and Coconut Clusters
I started with cranberries. I wanted to make a cranberry jelly. It eventually evolved into a cranberry thickened puree. I cooked cranberries with apple cider, sugar and salt. I pureed the cooked fruit and added yuzu juice and vanilla paste....Read More
Chewy Ginger Cookies
When the vision and the results harmonize I can say we have achieved perfection. Years Past December 15, 2016 December 15, 2015 December 15, 2014 December 15, 2013 December 15, 2012 December 15, 2011 December 15, 2010 December 15, 2009...Read More
To This Day...for the bullied and beautiful
This one is not about food. It's a Ted talk that everyone should watch, a poem written and performed by Shane Koyczan. Everyone can relate to it because every word is true. Years Past December 14, 2016 December 14, 2015...Read More
Make Marmalade Happen
We started with our Meyer lemon marmalade recipe from Maximum Flavor. It has been a foundational model for our marmalade making. Today I was not in the mood to pull out the pressure cooker for the process. I was also...Read More


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Intel's 6th-generation Core "Skylake" processors have a bug inside, but it's likely that most users will never encounter it. The issue only comes up when a Windows or Linux-based PC with the chip is performing complex mathematical workloads.
PC and tablets with Skylake chips, such as Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 are affected by the bug, which was discovered by mathematicians while working for tor the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS). Ars Technica received a statement from Intel confirming the bug:
"Intel has identified an issue that potentially affects the 6th Gen Intel Core family of products. This issue only occurs under certain complex workload conditions, like those that may be encountered when running applications like Prime95. In those cases, the processor may hang or cause unpredictable system behaviour."
Intel says they have created a fix for this issue, and it will be released as a BIOS update via the company's many hardware partners.
Source: Ars Technica


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Asda's marketing boss returns ad account to his former agency Saatchi & Saatchi
Asda’s recently-installed chief customer officer Andy Murray has opted to part ways with VCCP and Carat and instead work with his former employer Publics Groupe.
The move sees creative and media duties handled by Saatchi & Saatchi and Zenith respectively. A review was on the cards given Murray’s promotion to the role in February and the same goes for his picks given that he spent six years at Publicis Groupe’s shopper marketing outfit Saatchi & Saatchi X.
Murray said: "We’ve made a big commitment within Project Renewal to our brand and we are making changes at pace that will differentiate Asda with our customers both in stores and online. I'm excited about this new partnership with Saatchi & Saatchi and Zenith and I look forward to the leadership, creativity, and effectiveness this new team will bring to our business.
“I’d like to recognise and thank the VCCP and Carat teams for the contribution that they have made to Asda."
It sees the Asda account return to Publicis after it lost the business in 2013 when VCCP took the reins, ending a 20-year relationship with the advertising group. VCCP was responsible for steering the supermarket’s first revamp since 2002, which was most recently developed in its Christmas activity last year. The agency also masterminded campaigns for initiatives such as Asda’s biggest ever rollback offer and the revival of the brand’s ‘pocket tap’ last summer.
Adrian Coleman, founder and group chief executive of VCCP added: “As you can imagine, we are hugely disappointed with the news but understand that global realignments happen. We have enjoyed our time spent working with Asda and are very proud of the work we have produced. We wish them every business success for the future.”
Both Saatchi & Saatchi and Zenith will work with their former colleague to shape the retailer’s customer proposition, which is part of a wider overhaul of the retailer’s offer. That includes pumping an additional £500m in lowering prices on top of the £1bn five-year investment plan it unveiled in 2013. Those changes have not been without their casualties with some marketing roles at risk in a head office cull that could impact hundreds of jobs.
Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide chief executive, Robert Senior, said: “We are delighted to be re-establishing our long standing partnership with Asda, bringing a fully integrated Publicis Groupe offer led by a joint Saatchi & Saatchi and Zenith team. This is a crucial time for UK retail and we relish the opportunity to support Asda in driving a reappraisal of its brand by customers using the latest creative techniques and cutting edge technology.”
Asda and its agencies face a sizeable challenge in a retail market undergoing rapid change. While rivals Tesco, Sainsbury’s and (to some extent) Morrisons have seen greenshoots of recovery in their efforts to ease sales declines, Asda has struggled. The retailer was the worst hit over Easter, with sales sliding 3.9 per cent to £4.2bn, according to Kantar Worldpanel. At Morrisons, sales fell 2.4 per cent to 2.7bn over the period, while Tesco sales dipped 0.2 per cent to £7.2bn. Meanwhile, at Sainsbury’s, sales climbed 1.2 per cent to £3.2bn.


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Akulaku Establishes Partnership with Alipay+ To Make Cross-Border Shopping More Accessible for Consumers
Akulaku (“Akulaku” or “the Company”), a leading banking and digital finance platform in Southeast Asia, today announced the Akulaku PayLater partnership with Alipay+, which will allow Indonesian consumers to use its BNPL solution Akulaku PayLater at Alipay+’s global merchants. Alipay+, a suite of global cross-border digital payments and marketing solutions, will now include Akulaku PayLater among its supported digital payment methods, and merchants will be able to access Akulaku PayLater as a payment method.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220906005671/en/
Akulaku PayLater is the first BNPL wallet in Southeast Asia to partner with Alipay+ (Photo: Business Wire)
Consumers and merchants across Indonesia have quickly adopted Akulaku PayLater since its launch in 2016 (previously called Akucicil). The platform’s BNPL functionality provides individuals who have limited credit history with access to a convenient line of credit as well as manageable installment plans. By meeting the increased demand for flexible payment plans and installment purchasing, Akulaku PayLater promotes consumer purchasing power and ensures previously underserved markets can participate in a convenient digital financial service.
“This partnership will lead to a more advanced and convenient financial landscape for customers in Indonesia and throughout Southeast Asia,” said Fan Zhang, CFO of Akulaku. “Through Alipay+, we will quickly scale the pool of merchants accepting Akulaku PayLater, giving our consumers an enhanced user experience and improving the market competitiveness of BNPL products. The combined resources will reach underserved markets with immediate financial services, fostering growth within these regions across industries.”
According to market research firm eCommerceDB, the Indonesian online commerce market grew 32% in 2021 and is currently the ninth largest in the world. Over the next five years, the Indonesian eCommerce market is projected to grow at a yearly rate of 10%, making this partnership a timely solution to meeting the increased demand from Indonesian consumers for online shopping. More than 4,000 merchants are already online in the Akulaku PayLater system online. Over the next two years, Akulaku aims to serve 10,000 online merchants and over 100,000 offline stores with BNPL.
“As a newly-emerged but rapidly adopted digital payment method, BNPL brings inclusive financial services to the underbanked communities," said Cheng Guoming, General Manager, Global Partnerships, Alipay+," We see BNPL an important part of the digital payment ecosystem, and are excited to reach this partnership with Akulaku PayLater to enable the communities in Indonesia and other potential markets to enjoy seamless and convenient cross-border payment services and enrich their daily lives through global shopping experience."
Introduced in 2020, Alipay+ is designed to enable global businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses, to accept digital payment methods from various countries and reach hundreds of millions of regional and global consumers.
Akulaku and Alipay+ are also exploring opportunities to further extend their partnership to other markets in Southeast Asia.
Akulaku is a leading banking and digital finance platform in Southeast Asia, with a presence in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Akulaku exists to help meet the daily financial needs of underserved customers in emerging markets through digital banking, digital financing, digital investment, and insurance brokerage services. In addition to the Akulaku virtual credit card and ecommerce platform, the company operates Asetku, an online wealth management platform, and Neobank, a mobile digital bank supported by Bank Neo Commerce. Akulaku’s mission is to serve 50 million users across Southeast Asia by the year 2025.
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Strengthening Healthcare Systems to Meet Patients’ Need for Plasma-Derived Therapies29.9.2022 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
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Hoffman Estates, Illinois based retailer Sears has announced additional plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their Private Brand Kenmore by teaming up with Bobby Deen to honor home cooks across America by not only recognizing their best and favorite recipes, but also offering a chance to win amazing prizes.
By submitting a recipe on cookmore.com, now through Aug. 1, home cooks have a chance to win:
- A trip to New York to join Bobby Deen for the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival and have five winning recipes served up along with the nation’s best
- A $5,000 kitchen appliance makeover
- A feature in a limited edition Kenmore 100(th) anniversary cookbook, which will be unveiled at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE
“Growing up with an amazing cook in our home, I know how much heart and soul are put into each dish that’s served up to family and friends,” said Bobby Deen. “I’m thrilled that the Kenmore brand is giving home cooks the recognition they deserve and that they have the opportunity to share their goodness with the military and their families around the world via cookmore.com.”
And for every recipe submission on cookmore.com, $5 will be donated to Heroes at Home up to $10,000. The Heroes at Home program strives to uplift, assist and honor America’s military service members, veterans and their families.
Cook Your Way into Kenmore Brand History
Kicking off the 100(th) anniversary cooking festivities is a Memorial Day weekend event to recognize the commitment and service of U.S. military men and women. The Kenmore brand and Bobby Deen served up free dishes to servicemen and women on the iconic Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum in New York City on Friday, May 24. The dishes served were drawn from cookmore.com recipe submissions as voted by the community. In addition, recipe submissions also help active military service members, veterans and their families thanks to the Heroes at Home donation from the recipe submissions.
“At Kenmore, we’ve listened to our customers for over a century and have evolved kitchen innovations to help home cooks enjoy their time with family and friends,” said Michael Castleman, senior vice president, Sears Holdings and president, Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard. “Our 100(th) anniversary celebration is one way we are thanking the people who trust us enough to be part of their treasured celebrations – large or small.”
The Heat is on this Summer
In addition to the online recipe competition through cookmore.com, Bobby Deen also will be visiting the Wisconsin, Ohio and Iowa state fairs in July and August to find top recipes in these hot beds of home cooking. Winners of the select state fair competitions will win a $5,000 Kenmore appliance makeover, a trip to the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival and an appearance in the Kenmore 100(th) Anniversary cookbook.


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As governments around the world fast-track plans for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, global aviation services group Air Partner is preparing to aid in the quick and efficient delivery of these critical supplies, along with other essential cargo during the anticipated peak season. Drawing on its expertise carrying out hundreds of cargo flights thus far in the fight against COVID-19, the leading freight solutions specialist is available to provide unique charter arrangements at a moment’s notice, even to the world’s most hard-to-reach, remote destinations.
“Careful advance planning is well underway in the air transport industry to ensure that capacity needs can be met for any large-scale delivery of potential COVID-19 vaccines around the world, in addition to the high demand of commodities that surge in the fourth quarter due to the holiday season and end-of-year contracts,” said Jack Burt, vice president of U.S. Freight at Air Partner. “While some vaccines and related materials will be able to be transported by land, air cargo will be vital in reaching international locations without local manufacturing capabilities, and Air Partner is ready to assist in that key role.”
With access to any size cargo aircraft, including those ideally suited for the shipment of pharmaceutical and medical supplies, as well as the most advanced temperature-controlled containers, Air Partner’s global freight team is well-equipped to meet the specific transport needs for sensitive and time-critical items such as COVID-19 vaccine-related supplies, materials and equipment. This includes adhering to highly regulated and temperature-controlled specifications, as evidenced by the company’s recent work in the urgent transportation of more than 5,000 experimental COVID-19 test kits from South Korea to Washington, D.C.
Boasting a global network of offices, such as a recently opened location in South Africa, Air Partner’s freight team can help clients reach any destination in the world – including smaller, more remote and unimproved locations. As experts in meticulous logistics planning for part, full or series air charter scheduling, Air Partner is able to handle all special handling requirements, timely regulatory approvals, diplomatic clearance channels for international routes, permits, airport transfers and ground transportation logistics to ensure complete precision and a smooth operation for timely and efficient transport. Dedicated team members can also be made available to assist on-site with loading and coordination of the aircraft, as well as the provision of a medic to perform temperature check of crew at the airport or COVID-19 tests.
“Since air charter has proven to be a successful method of transport for the urgent demand of COVID-19 test kits and other necessities throughout the pandemic, it has paved a path for us to be perfectly positioned to support this global undertaking with the careful distribution of essential items during this time of urgency,” added Burt. “We can expect limited aircraft availability due to the emergency transport of the vaccine, along with standard items that have been affected, so advanced planning is always advantageous.”


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Emigre magazine, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, has decided to mark this milestone in an intriguing and unique manner. Making expert use of their archives, they’ve created ten digital collages of their covers which are available to buy from them. While the price is certainly hefty ($1,000 a pop) it’s a great piece of art for the man who has more than a few extra coins in his pocket. (Emigre)
Take a look at the rest of the prints after the leap.


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Former US president, who plans to run again in 2024, has just unveiled his NFT collection. A related lottery offers users to play golf, have dinner, or jump on a Zoom call with Trump.
The new collection was posted on Trump’s Truth Social account, available for U.S. users only. The NFTs are sold for “only $99,” the promo claims.
The ex-president wrote:
“Would make a great Christmas gift. Don’t Wait. They will be gone, I believe, very quickly!”Donald Trump on his NFT collection
According to the website hosting the collection, the NFTs will be minted on the Polygon blockchain, and a total of 45,000 will be minted during its initial run.
Every NFT in the collection will contain an entry into a lottery for which winners will receive unique rewards, including a Zoom call with the president or a game of golf with him at Mar-a-Lago.
Dubbed the “Official Donald Trump NFT Collection Sweepstakes,” the lottery will be open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older.
Every Trump digital trading card will come with a special, pre-assigned rarity. Some will be “one of a kind,” meaning only one will exist in the whole world. Others will only be produced in quantities of two, five, seven, or ten. According to the website, there won’t be more than 20 copies of any Trump Digital Trading Card.
Prospective buyers will need to use a credit card or some wrapped ether (wETH) to buy up to 100 of the digital collectibles. Also, they’ll need to complete a “know your customer” (KYC) process before they can buy any of the NFTs.
The website was also careful to emphasize that digital trading cards are meant to be a form of personal entertainment and not an investment.
The new owners will be able to directly trade their NFTs with friends or put them up for sale on any secondary market that accepts Polygon-based NFTs. However, as per the NFT’s terms and conditions, any secondary sale of the collectibles will attract a 10% royalty on the sale price that will be paid back to their creator.
Interestingly, Trump’s newfound dalliance with NFTs may be seen as a contradiction of his widely publicized view on bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies in general. Barely three years ago, the former president took to Twitter to deride crypto, claiming its value was “based on thin air.”
Why Trump launches NFTs
Trump’s announcement of his NFT collection comes in the wake of his declaration to run for president of the United States in 2024. His 2020 reelection bid was unsuccessful and mired in controversy, including accusations of goading rioters to launch an armed attack on the U.S. Capitol, an act many political observers have called treasonable.
Trump, who served as president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, would struggle to secure the Republican Party’s presidential candidacy in light of recent polls and his party’s poor performance in the 2022 midterm elections.
Twitter reacts to Trump’s NFTs
It didn’t take long for the crypto Twitter to react to the NFT design.
Some users anticipating the 2024 election race created cards for Joe Biden.


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New microwave technology for Australia may reduce food safety risk in rare meat
Australians may one day be able to eat rare meat without having to worry about food poisoning thanks to new technology currently under testing.
In addressing a growing trend of eating rare meat, Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) has conducted independent trials of US developed microwave technology that can be used on meat for less than one second to significantly reduce the amount of bacteria.
The technology has be proven to reduce the amount of bacteria in meat like E.coli.
MLA Program Manager – Market Access Science and Technology, Dr Ian Jenson, said undercooking of red meat has become popular, especially in restaurants.
“Government regulations also require meat to be completely free of harmful microorganisms,” Dr Jenson said.
“We have been working towards these outcomes for a number of years and these latest trial results are positive in that we now have a technology that is capable of achieving both of these.
“The results are equivalent to the pasteurisation process for milk, which makes it a better technology than everything except irradiation, which is not acceptable to most consumers.”
Despite initial positive results in the testing process, Dr Jenson said there is considerably more work to do before the technology can be applied to the meat-processing sector.
“This is a significant milestone in our efforts to improve the efficiency of processing, and ensuring acceptability and premium pricing for our product in all markets,” Dr Jenson said.
“Further research and development work will now occur through MLA’s subsidiary company – MLA Donor Company (MDC) – and will utilise funds from technology developers rather than red meat industry levies.
- US gets vegan burger that looks and tastes like rare meat
- Global expert discusses the biggest threats to food safety
- Cooking shows are not great demonstrators of food hygiene
Bulla is now selling a ready-to-decorate ice cream cake base.
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Coca Cola Amatil has launched a Mount Franklin flavoured sparkling water range packaged in cans.
ALDI has won Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers Award in the Supermarket category for 2018.
In a statement responding to the Herald Sun on the 17 January 2019, Australian Food and Grocery Coun...


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Catherine Diamond, Associate Editor08.01.17
The metallic pigments market is expected to grow steadily through at least 2021, due largely to increased global infrastructure projects, competition on the shelves, and consumer preference for innovative product presentation.
Several reports released this year concluded that this market will achieve steady CAGR and increased share in the pigment market overall. Zion Market Research, in a study published in May, determined that the market is expected to reach $1,121.6 million USD in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% between 2016 and 2021.
According to the report, “Global metallic pigments market has been witnessing robust growth over the past few years owing to growth in the paints and coatings industry. The architectural paints and coatings market has grown significantly due to growing infrastructural development and construction activities in emerging countries. Furthermore, growth in the automotive sectors has boosted the market for decorative paints and
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WITHDRAWING a corporate proposal does not mean failure. It simply means the major shareholders have taken note that the market is more important than anything else to see through the corporate proposal.
This was proven right, once again, last Wednesday.
On that day, Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox aborted its proposed takeover of Time Warner in a deal that is estimated to be worth US$71bil. On the same day, Samudera Energy Ltd, an oil and gas company postponed its listing in Singapore.
Samudera deferred its listing because market conditions were bad. It had lined up several high profile names such as Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan and Robert Kuok as investors in its listing that will raise S$276mil.
The reason offered by the company was that market conditions were not suitable for the listing. Considering that two other listings in Singapore did not fare well, Samudera decided it did not want to force the listing of its shares into a market that was not in the mood to welcome new companies.
In Samudera’s case, the postponement only means the investment bankers and existing shareholders of the company will have to wait longer to make their gains.
But in the case of 21st Century Fox and Time Warner, the investment bankers who had set their sights on completing the deal, have lost an opportunity to make some US$420mil because the transaction was aborted.
According to reports, if the US$71bil deal had gone through, the advisory fees alone would be that amount to be shared between at least five investment banking firms.
But the market participants did not like the deal. The shares of Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox went up by 5% after the deal was aborted.
The entertainment industry players also were relieved because it means there is more competition and not one entity dominating some 60% of the movie production market.
The dilemma of high-grade diesel
AN interesting debate is going on among players in the transporation industry, especially those plying their trade to Singapore.
Should the Government extend its subsidies to ultra-low-sulphur (ULS) diesel fuel, or let the market determine its price and availability?
As it is, the cleaner grade diesel fuel is not yet available at local pumps, having missed the end of July deadline for roll-out at certain petrol pump stations in Johor.
Why Johor? Well, it’s due to a ruling by the Singapore government that demands transport and logistic companies driving to that country utilise the cleaner diesel fuel.
Some quarters claimed bureaucratic red-tape for causing the delay in rolling out the availability of the fuel in Johor. The petroleum industry on the other hand is telling the Government that local refineries can only produce ULS diesel fuel grade by 2018.
In the interim, ULS diesel would need to be imported to meet with current demands.
Reports have indicated that the fuel will be sold at a subsidised price of RM2.10 a litre. This is only a 10 sen premium over the current price of diesel fuel at local pumps.
But allowing higher grade diesel fuel to be introduced to the local market at substantially below market price is a risky attempt at manipulating the laws of supply and demand.
The targeted usage of this higher grade fuel are commercial users – namely the businesses and the industries. They utilise the high grade diesel to make money.
So in such circumstances ,shouldn’t ULS diesel for fuel be priced closer to its actual market value.
Watch out for China cars
VIEWERS of the hit BBC series Top Gear will be all too familiar with how the presenters often pan the cars they are testing or reviewing. Generally, supercars are spared much of the negative barbs, while the everyday cars bear the brunt of the criticism.
There was an episode where the reviewers panned the cars from China but with a big caveat: watch out when they get it right.
Well, that time is nearing upon us.
Cars from China have not been big sellers in the past in Malaysia, as people were put off by their styling and had doubts about their build quality despite the appealing selling prices.
Things have changed, as designs and build quality have improved. And now Great Wall Motor Co Ltd has introduced a car with a selling price that is in direct competition with the national cars, and has got or will get the industry worried.
Executives have a lot to fidget about as the China-made car might do what the Korean cars have done to the Japanese makes.
Cars from Japan and South Korea too went through their historical adjustment phases, from just being a means of transportation to one that is increasingly capturing sales globally.
But China is the world’s largest auto market and foreign makes such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW have benefited from growing spending power and a taste for luxury. As the market offers the best economies of scale for any domestic car manufacturer, it will be a matter of time before China uses its enormous scale to beat the competition at its own game.
We are starting to see it with China-branded mobile phones and now the cars are coming.
Improvements to the build quality and the low cost of production will mean that the domestic market in Malaysia will slowly get exposed to China-made cars just like how it was with the Korean marques.
Once the improvements in technology and build quality matches that of Japanese- and Korean-made cars, then the entire industry will feel a market-moving shock, no more so among the national carmakers that tend to zero in on the bread-and-butter market.
How the national makes step up their competitive offering and pricing will be interesting because the game is surely about to change.


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Maryland’s Supreme Court has given the green light to the implementation of the country’s first-ever digital ad tax, despite facing significant opposition. The law, passed during the 2021 General Assembly, aims to target big tech companies by imposing a tax on the revenue generated from selling digital advertising in Maryland. The tax rates vary depending on the annual global gross revenue of the businesses: 2.5 percent for companies making over $100 million, 5 percent for those making $1 billion or more, 7.5 percent for companies making $5 billion or more, and 10 percent for those making $15 billion or more.
Lawmakers supporting the tax argue that it will generate $250 million in revenue, which will be directed towards K-12 education reform. The funds will be used to expand early childhood education, increase teacher salaries, and enhance career readiness programs. Despite initial opposition, the law was eventually enacted after the State Legislature overrode then-Governor Larry Hogan’s veto.
However, opponents of the legislation have filed lawsuits claiming that it violates the 1998 “Internet Freedom Tax Act.” The Chamber of Commerce challenged the law in federal district court, and Verizon and Comcast also took legal action at the state level. In October 2022, a judge from the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court blocked the law, ruling that it violated the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on state interference with interstate commerce.
The legal battles surrounding the digital ad tax led to an appeals process that culminated in the recent decision by the Maryland Supreme Court. The court concluded that the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court lacked jurisdiction over the case because the plaintiffs failed to exhaust their administrative remedies. In response, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce expressed its dissatisfaction, stating that the ruling did not address the substantive arguments or the constitutionality of the law. The Chamber believes that the tax puts Maryland businesses at a competitive disadvantage, making online advertising more expensive in the state compared to other states, potentially leading to a loss of business investment and growth.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, who supported the law, welcomed the court’s order. He emphasized that the digital ad tax would support the state’s goal of transforming schools and providing quality educational opportunities for underserved communities. The tax is seen as a critical funding source for Maryland’s sweeping education reform law, known as the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
The legal arguments presented by both sides focused on procedural matters and constitutional issues. Julia Bernhardt, an assistant attorney general, contended that the plaintiffs were trying to bypass the established administrative procedures for tax-related constitutional claims. On the other hand, Jeffrey Friedman, an attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that a constitutional exception applied in this case due to the law’s violation of federal law.
The digital ad tax in Maryland has faced resistance from major tech companies such as Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Their attorneys argue that the law unfairly targets them and imposes a tax based on global annual gross revenues, which they claim is an unjust burden.
The implementation of Maryland’s digital ad tax marks a significant milestone in the evolving landscape of taxation for digital services. It sets a precedent for other states considering similar measures and raises important questions about the balance between taxation, interstate commerce, and the funding of public services. As legal challenges continue, the fate of the digital ad tax in Maryland will shape the future of online advertising regulation and taxation across the country.


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Press problems cause CJ delivery delays
Because of press production problems, the Friday, Dec. 2, edition of the Courier-Journal and USA TODAY were not delivered to subscribers in parts of the Louisville Metro area.
Newspapers will be delivered to subscribers later on Friday and, with a few exceptions, on Saturday.
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We’re all familiar with the phrase, “Your home is your castle.” In today’s era, millennial buyers are wanting their castles smarter, but they’re not the only ones. In a 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trend report by NAR (National Association of Realtors), millennials have become the largest group of potential homebuyers. A Coldwell Banker survey showed 72% of millennials are willing to pay an average of $1.5k or more, and 44% are inclined to pay $3K or more to have a smart home. As highlighted in a previous post regarding smart homes, this just doesn’t apply to millennials. The trends for wanting homes smarter overall are increasing. In fact, smart home technology has become the most desired feature during the past 5 years.
Within this same survey, its estimated approximately 45% of American homebuyers, and homeowners are expected to either own home with smart home technology or invest in smarter upgrades. What’s remarkable with this survey is 91% of homeowners with smart home devices would recommend it to others to do the same because the expectation is: your home will sell faster. So if this becoming a trend in the mainstream real estate, what precisely is a smart home?
What Is A Smart Home?
Smart home’s comprise of automated lights, video security, programmable thermostats, air purifying sensors, and automated environmentally conscious sprinkler systems (See specific products supporting these features). Each of these features is connected thru mobile apps, or control panels allowing you to control, monitor, and automate.
A primary reason this has become such an upward trend among homebuyers and sellers is due to its ease-of-use to set up. Also, it has become affordable for sellers to install as an added feature. How easy? Take look at some of the companies offering easy-to-install sensors, switches, and cameras such as: SimpliSafe, Smart Things, and Wink.
How Are Smart Homes Impacting Real Estate?
Many homeowners who are considering selling are viewing smart home technology as an easy method to help increase the value of the home, or at least make it more desirable listing. This means smart home technology isn’t just associated with millennials, 33% are aged 35-54, and 24% are 55 and older. These statistics provided by the Coldwell Banker survey show how this has grown to become more-n-more mainstream within real estate. In fact, a recent statistics provided by CES (Consumer Electronics Association) and the National Association of Home Builders, sellers are investing in transforming their home to be smarter which can help boost the closing price by 3-5%.
What all of this translates to is connected homes are not only about adding convenience, it’s becoming a highly sought-after feature that adds real, tangible value to a listing, and moves a home faster. This also means smart homes are changing the type of buyers who are interested in purchasing such a home. This can’t be ignored since the same survey highlights that 81% of smart homeowners are willing to purchase their next home with similar technology in place.
In short smart homes are not only becoming a trend, but it’s here to stay and it’s impacting both sides of real estate: buyers and sellers.
If you want to know if there are any smart homes available, or being newly developed in the Santa Clarita Valley, feel free to contact me.