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Why Gold Went Up $50 Yesterday
Well surprise, surprise, surprise.
Gold bullion rallied just under $50.00 an ounce yesterday…and nobody expected it. (Okay, maybe just me. In a single day yesterday, my portfolio went up by twice the amount the stock market has risen in all of 2014.)
Going through all the major financial web sites, I read story after story yesterday on why gold was rising so fast. They were all wrong; just reporters grabbing at straws, trying to explain something they know very little about.
As I started writing in these pages in 2014, inflation is becoming a real problem in America. Years ago, I started writing about how all this money the Federal Reserve is creating out of thin air would become inflationary. That’s exactly what is starting to happen now.
Why is the Fed starting to pull back on its money printing operation with the goal of being out of the money printing business by the end of this year? Why is the Fed telling us that after keeping interest rates near zero for years, by the end of next year, the federal funds rate will move up to 1.13% and by the end of the following year, it will move to 2.5%?
In my opinion, we are being told this because the powers that be see inflation in the cards, and they are working on trying to curb rapid inflation before it happens. And if there is something gold thrives on, it is inflation.
Even the manipulated government statistics are now pointing to inflation.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports prices in the U.S. economy increased by 0.4% in May after increasing 0.3% in April. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 17, 2014.) This increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was the biggest since February of 2013.
With this rise in prices, inflation in the past 12 months was 2.1%. If we assume that going forward, the new monthly norm for inflation will be 0.3%–0.4%, then in the next 12 months, we are looking at inflation of 3.6%–4.8%. Gold loves inflation, plain and simple!
The more there is of a currency in a financial system, the higher the chances of inflation; and the velocity of money is a big part of that.
Without getting too technical, the velocity of money is simply how many times one dollar is used in an economy. And the more that dollar is used, the greater the chance of inflation.
As it stands, we see the velocity of money is sitting at its lowest level ever recorded. In the first quarter of 2014, velocity of money in the U.S. economy was 1.4. This means one dollar was used only 1.4 times. Back in the 1980s, the velocity of money was 3.0. (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis web site, last accessed June 17, 2014.)
Why has the velocity of money been so low?
When the Federal Reserve started printing money in 2009 and giving it to the big banks in hopes they would lend it out to customers, the banks (being too worried about the U.S. economy) didn’t lend the money out. Instead, they took the money and bought safe government bonds (as has been well documented in these pages).
But finally, after five years, banks are loosening up and lending again. Last month, commercial and industrial loans at all commercial banks in the U.S. economy stood at $1.69 trillion. This was the highest amount in years. (Source: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis web site, last accessed June 17, 2014.)
As the banks start lending, the velocity of money increases and that just brings more inflation.
I have said it many times before: inflation in the U.S. economy is going to be a major problem. And after roughly five years, inflation is picking up. The perfect inflation storm is brewing as even the velocity of money picks up.
Gold is the best hedge against inflation. That’s why it’s an important part of any investment portfolio. And those gold mining stocks…they are still looking very cheap.


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In an effort to combat distracted driving, Ford is rolling out Sync software updates that can read text messages out loud in more vehicles. “The feature will be offered on the Ford F-150, Fiesta, Flex, Fusion, Mustang and Taurus,” says Edmunds. “It had already debuted as MyFord Touch on the 2011 Ford Edge, Explorer and 2012 Ford Focus.”
Ford notes in a press release that the software update includes Message Access Profile (MAP), which makes it possible to stream text messages from a compatible smartphone. However, not all smartphones are currently compatible with Ford’s latest tech feature.
CNET reports that while some Blackberry, Motorola and HTC devices are compatible, some major players aren’t yet able to stream texts via Bluetooth. “Apple recently joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group board, so perhaps future iPhone versions will get that feature,” writes CNET. “Android phones are technically able to support MAP, but it's up to the handset manufacturer to determine the BT stack for each phone.”
Despite the limited number of compatible phones, Ford is hopeful that cell providers will adopt this technology. “With our initial adoption of MAP for our latest generation of SYNC and our recent efforts to integrate it into our previous variations of the system, we hope we are setting an example that encourages more collaboration between Ford, the phonemakers and the wireless industry to help drivers find smarter alternatives to hand-held texting while on the road,” says Mark Porter, supervisor of SYNC Product Development.
Shopping for a new car? Check out the U.S. News rankings of this year's best cars. Then, look for a great deal on a new car by checking out this month’s best car deals. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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When Karen Steel and her partner Donald started a family, they knew they were going to have to do something different if the family farm was going to support both them and Karen’s parents.
Having previously focused their 78-acre smallholding in Perth on livery work, the family wanted to do something which brought in a more consistent income and used the land more efficiently.
“When Donald came on to the farm, we were at a point where the livery business just wasn’t working for us,” said Karen. “We needed to utilise more of the land.”
The solution came from relief dairyman Donald, whose family also runs a dairy herd in Fife.
Having worked on farms in the area, he saw the potential in rearing dairy bull calves for rose veal and suggested Fiona and her father, Jim, gave it a try.
“We thought it was a good idea, so we did a lot of research into it,” said Karen. “There was only one other person in Scotland producing rose veal at the time, so we knew there was a gap in the market we could fill.”
The family’s first steps into rose veal production four years ago were tentative as they weren’t sure how receptive consumers would be.
Unlike on the continent, where veal is popular, in the UK very little veal is eaten – thanks in part to the stigma attached to traditional veal production.
“In the 1980s veal wasn’t produced in a particularly welfare-friendly way,” said Karen.
Traditional veal involved feeding calves a restricted, low-iron diet to retain the meat’s white colour.
However rose veal production, which is mostly from pure-bred dairy calves aged between six and 10 months, focuses on high-welfare production standards.
Meat can only be labelled as rose veal if calves are reared with ad-lib diets and loose-housed environments, and if producers have been officially approved.
“We started with 15 calves initially in small groups of four or five, which we bought directly from Donald’s family farm,” Karen said.
“We went to farmers markets and food festivals and started selling there. Going in slowly was a good way to test the market, but it also gave us time to get across to consumers that the calves are reared differently to traditional veal.
“Rose veal has to be high welfare – it’s a name that is attached to ethically-reared meat that people can recognise. We’ve found that with repeat custom and talking to people that we’re winning the battle. It’s been a challenge, but we’re really getting somewhere.”
Having built strong local interest the family have increased cattle numbers, and now have 25 calves of varying ages on the farm at any one time which they sell under the Good Life Farming brand.
“We work with four farmers in Ayrshire, bringing in the cattle from 10 days old,” Karen said. “It’s important to us that the calves get colostrum from their mothers.
“We only work with farmers who understand what we are trying to achieve and will do the utmost for the calves as soon as they are born.”
Once the animals reach the farm they are reared on milk and given access to haylage and a supplementary calf feed. At 12-weeks-old they move on to a diet of haylage, wheat, barley and minerals, and have access to grazing when the weather permits.
“We rear them to 10 or 11 months, but nothing later,” said Karen. “Once a calf reaches 12 months the testosterone starts to taint the meat and they can’t be labelled as rose veal.”
In addition to targeting farmers markets and food festivals, the family have also been working with local butchers and chefs to bring veal to restaurant menus.
That created an unexpected challenge, as restaurants tend to want the same cut – the shin – leaving the family with the rest of the carcase to sell.
However thanks to initiatives from Perth and Kinross Council, as well as other local food groups, it’s a problem Karen is confident they can overcome.
“The council works with SRUC, Scotland Food and Drink and other organisations to bring producers and restaurateurs together,” she said.
“We hope that by talking to them about the potential of other cuts of meat that we can encourage them to take a quarter or half a beast. It’s something we’re hoping to crack this year.
“Local groups have been hugely helpful, and it’s something we wish we’d known about sooner. The council helped to find us a mentor and helped us with our website, while Perthshire Chamber of Commerce also has its own mentoring service.
“It’s about people sharing their knowledge to help each other, and it’s been great.”
This year Karen hopes to continue to build relationships with restaurants and farm shops to find new ways to sell to consumers.
The family has also introduced rare-breed pigs and Shetland lamb to the farm to help increase its offering.
“We have started doing Food Assemblies in Glasgow, Stirling, Argyll and Edinburgh, which is a great way to reach a wider customer base,” said Karen.
“It can be a lot of travel, but people indicate what they want to buy beforehand, so if we know sales are limited we can decide not to go. We’ve also started catering, so we’re also looking to develop that side of things this year.”
All of these approaches take a considerable amount of time, Karen admits, especially now she and Donald have daughters Hannah, 4, and 11-month-old Ailidh. However support from parents Jim and Moira mean they are building a profitable business which can provide for the whole family.
“Without my parents’ help it would be a real struggle, but they love going to markets and food festivals,” said Karen.
“My dad also helps out with the cattle, so it’s very much a family business. That’s really important to us, as we want a sustainable business so that our children can grow up on a farm. It’s a great way of life.”


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Walmart Rolling Out Controversial New Shopping Carts: "These Are Terrible"
There's a critical design flaw that Walmart shoppers are complaining about.
Shopping carts are one of those things you only notice when they're working poorly. For every time you seamlessly glide through a store, there's a time you get a cart with a noisy wheel, a dirty basket, or an inability to move in a straight line. So, it's no surprise that retailers regularly swap out their carts to ensure those latter incidents happen less often. Usually, those upgrades are well-received. But recently, Walmart rolled out a cart charge that didn't go over well. Read on to see what shoppers have to say about the new carts, and why they wish their Walmart would revert back to the old ones.
Walmart recently rolled out a new shopping cart design.
The Walmart in Mayfield, Kentucky, recently updated its shopping carts, but the new ones aren't just better-functioning versions of the old ones. They have three major differences: They're taller, and the children's seat at the front now has a cup holder and a place to put your phone.
Some people applauded the action. "Kudos on making improvements to the carts and store! Well done," wrote one commenter on the store's Facebook post announcing the cards. But plenty of other Walmart shoppers had some strong critiques.
Shoppers with kids say there's a key design flaw.
One of the major criticisms of the new carts is that they're too tall. Many folks on the shorter end of the spectrum said this made them difficult to use, but short-statured parents of small children have an extra gripe.
"I had to lift the 9-month-old baby I sit for up over my head to get him in," wrote one shopper on Facebook.
Another wrote, "I can barely pick my 3-year-old up as is, but trying to put him in this buggy the other day was hard."
Shoppers on TikTok have been sharing videos of their experiences. User Maddy Charlson posted a video of herself wheeling her child through the store. Her daughter was at eye level with Charlson when she was seated in the cart. "Why are they so tall??" she captioned the video.
"Walmart did not think about short people before getting these carts," she writes in the video. "I can hardly see around my daughter."
Another comment on Walmart's Facebook post put it more simply: "As a short person, these are terrible."
Shoppers are also nervous about the cart's safety.
People also voiced concerns about the ergonomics of the cart. "Seniors are complaining the handle is too high, and it's hurting their shoulders," wrote one commenter.
People noted that there should be multiple options available.
"I think the ones they just had before they got these should be an option as well. Have the regular ones for the shorter customers and elderly, and the taller ones for the taller folks," explained a shopper on the brand's Facebook post.
Then, there were issues with the phone holder. "In a crime-free and germ-free environment, in theory, it would be a great idea, but no thanks from my perspective," commented a shopper.
"Sweet: Leave your phone accessible to thieves," wrote another.
Other shoppers simply said they wouldn't trust themselves to not forget their phone in the cart.
It's not clear how widespread this rollout will be.
Of course, not everyone dislikes the carts—even people with kids.
"Personally, I love them," wrote one shopper on the brand's Facebook post. "My three-year-old fits perfectly in the seat, and I love that there are the extra spots. Makes it less chaotic for me while I'm trying to shop and wrangle two kids."
Others pointed out that the larger carts could be a subtle way that the store leads you to buy more things.
"Higher carts mean larger carts, which means more space to put more items in," they said. "More money for Walmart."
Whether the carts will become more widespread remains to be seen. Best Life reached out to Walmart to see if the new carts would be introduced nationally, and what the timeline would be for that rollout. We will update this story with their response.


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Europe’s cyber security accelerator program helps entrepreneurs
A new program to support cyber security startups will help develop innovative technical solutions. Start ups who want to offer cyber security solutions will be able to get help, advice and support through the early stage accelerator program to develop their products and services and bring them to market.
The £250,000 program – the first of its kind for the UK cyber security sector – will be run by in partnership by Cyber London and the Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT) at Queen’s University Belfast.
The new program will:
- Increase the rate of new cyber security start-up development in the UK
- Help entrepreneurs develop, test and validate the commercial viability of their ideas and help transform them into viable businesses
- Help identify new business ideas from the UK’s leading cyber security knowledge base
- Provide a space for collaboration with the early stage start ups as they develop.
The program will help ideas which may currently struggle to gain investment funding because they are at an early stage and not yet fully developed.
It is part of the Government’s wider strategy to promote the UK cyber security industry which has grown rapidly in recent years and is now worth £17.6bn – up 70% since 2013 – and employs over 100,000 people. The program will be open to applicants in March.
“CSIT and Cyber London are at the heart of the UK’s cyber security start-up ecosystem and together we bring a strength of cyber capability, a track record of producing and nurturing start-ups, and an ability to leverage significant additional industry and innovation support partnerships from across the globe,” said Stephen Wray, Commercial Director of CSIT.


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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge has fined a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer $1.5 million for stealing trade secrets.
Prosecutors charged Sinovel Wind Group LLC with conspiracy, theft of trade secrets and wire fraud in 2013.
According to prosecutors, Sinovel employees stole software from AMSC, a U.S. company. The employees convinced an AMSC worker in Austria to secretly download source code from AMSC computers in 2011.
U.S. District Judge James Peterson in Madison handed down the fine Friday. He also put Sinovel on probation for a year.
Prosecutors said in a news release that Sinoval paid AMSC $32.5 million this week and plans to pay another $25 million to the U.S. company during its probation year.
Sinoval attorney Alexander Akerman didn’t immediately reply to an email.


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Published Feb. 25, 2013
South Carolina now ranks as the nation’s No. 2 producer of tires, according to Tire Business’ annual ranking of states.
In 2012, the daily production capacity in South Carolina’s tire plants totaled 84,200 units, the trade publication said.
Oklahoma was ranked No. 1 at 89,000 units of daily capacity at two plants.
South Carolina should knock off Oklahoma in the next year or two as new plants and expansions by Bridgestone, Michelin and Continental come on line.
In the past two years, manufacturers have announced the investment of about $2 billion in existing and new tire plants for South Carolina.
With the completion of the tire manufacturing facilities, the daily capacity for tire production in South Carolina should reach 120,000 units.


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With a portfolio of primarily branded full-service hotels, Greenwood Hospitality chooses to make its mark through food-and-beverage concepts.
PHOENIX—For Greenwood Hospitality Principal Aik Hong Tan, it’s all about the food and beverage.
“Management growth is good for us,” he said, of the company’s current growth trajectory. “We want to differentiate ourselves through F&B. I know a lot of companies avoid it, but F&B can be a big differentiator.”
Tan and his company are making that happen by applying their expertise in ownership and third-party management to the creation of F&B concepts that speak to modern tastes but have staying power.
Greenwood Hospitality has 22 hotels in its portfolio—including two set to open in 2018—four of which it has ownership interests in, and the rest it serves as third-party manager for. Growing at the rate of two to three hotels per year—like it will do in 2017—is the right pace, Tan said.
The company’s portfolio is comprised almost entirely of full-service hotels. It has four DoubleTrees, three Renaissance hotels and several independent properties, among other brands from Wyndham Hotel Group, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Carlson.
Independents and soft brands are a growing focus for Greenwood. So far this year, the company added the management of Reikart House in Amherst, New York, part of Marriott International’s Tribute soft brand; Hotel Paso Del Norte in El Paso, Texas, which will open next year as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection; and Glidden House, a historic boutique hotel in Cleveland.
“We would love to be buying more existing hotels and doing repositionings, but we’ve ended up doing a lot of new builds as an operator,” Tan said. “The brands like what we do.”
Focus on F&B
Tan said his company has carved out a niche differentiating F&B operations at its hotels. The fact that most of Greenwood’s properties “are not in big, sexy cities is OK,” he said.
“I don’t care what culture you come from, we all gather around food,” he said. “Food and connecting. F&B allows us to do that. People want that connection, and we want to give them the opportunity to do it.
“For us, it’s experiential. The beautiful thing is that here in America, the diversity in food is so great,” he added.
Greenwood handles all of its F&B operations in-house, and Tan said the company goes through an intense process of conceptualizing what will be the best fit for each hotel based on its location and clientele.
“We first ask, who are our customers—locals and visitors?” he said. “We have to make sure the concept matches who we are as a hotel first. Then we ask whether the team on the ground can execute it.”
This approach has led the company to reach more than 30% revenue contribution from F&B.
“We don’t run away from F&B; we embrace it,” he said. “It also gives us the opportunity to do banquet really well, too.”
He cited one particular concept, 1700 Degrees steakhouse at the Hilton Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, as an example of how Greenwood matches the location with the F&B.
“We did a steakhouse in Harrisburg because it’s the state capital and a lot of people gather there,” he said. “We started a craft cocktail program there. It’s Instagrammable, and now our customers are selling the experience for us.”
Tan said programs like craft cocktails and craft beers will continue their staying power, and the company always is looking for what’s next.
“I want relevant and not faddish,” he said. “A lot of times people chase fads, but I want to be relevant, so it starts with who my customer is. What’s relevant in Louisiana might not be relevant everywhere.”
But when it comes to identifying his biggest challenge, Tan said it has nothing to do with food.
“No one’s talking enough about this, but the biggest challenge for us is talent,” he said. “We’re going to hit a wall as an industry when it comes to labor. We have to keep pushing the fact that we are an attractive industry. This is not a bad place to have an entry-level job and work up.
“We must sell more success stories as an industry. There’s talent everywhere, but we haven’t recognized this.”


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When operators set out to transform the way their businesses operate and the way customers are managed and billed, they usually find themselves playing for high stakes.
At the most basic level, the aim is to create certain efficiencies and cost savings within the business. But most Operations Support Systems (OSS) and Business Support Systems (BSS) transformation projects these days have their sights set a little higher, and have the more ambitious object of fast-tracking a whole new generation of dynamic services that the future of the business will depend. If transformation does not end with delighted customers and enhanced loyalty, can it have been worth it?
Customers may not appreciate the complexities of creating a streamlined technology structure, but they will certainly know when they are being given a better service experience and a more customizable offer to choose from. These twin aims of frictionless efficiency and fully digital customer care underpin just about all of the major OSS and BSS transformation projects currently ongoing around the world.
It is not necessarily in the most developed markets where the most radical changes are being seen. Many consumers in Eastern Europe are only now getting access to 4G LTE services. But many will soon be benefitting from the revolutionary OSS and BSS transformation being conducted by Vimpelcom, now rebranded Veon, in partnership with Swedish vendor Ericsson.
The project was started in the summer of 2016 and had the aim of completely transforming the operator’s global IT infrastructure across 11 countries and 12 time zones, from Europe to Asia Pacific. Veon is starting by digitalising and globalising its billing infrastructure using Ericsson’s software and cloud technologies. The intended result is the accelerated development of products and services, along with the delivery and use of near real-time analytics to allow greater personalisation of services for customers.
Called the Digital Stack, the new BSS arrangement will centralise management of the operator’s diverse empire and bring cost savings in its wake. Through simpler management of IT systems, the company says it will be able to unlock new digital services for customers and fast-track its digital innovation strategy in areas like mobile entertainment, the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile financial services.
“This is a big project in its early stages,” says Jaco Fourie, head of technology management with Ericsson. “We’re replacing the entire core, starting with the BSS side across all 11 operating companies. This is not a project that their management would have embarked on if they just wanted to do more of the same. They are apparently thinking more widely than just traditional telecoms.” Israel-based OSS and BSS vendor Amdocs is the force behind the delivery of a next-generation business and operations support system for NetLink Trust, the Singaporean telecommunications infrastructure provider.
Legacy systems are being phased out and replaced with fully automated order management, service design and service assurance. Amdocs says the solution will accelerate delivery time for fibre connectivity and enable quicker fault repair. The ordering experience for NetLink’s customers will be transformed through the creation of an online portal to manage billing and the orchestration of services. A web-based digital dashboard will enable Netlink’s channel of last-mile broadband service providers to manage customer expectations better, it claims. Amdocs will act as the prime systems integrator of third-party software and hardware.
“This is a very important project for NetLink since it encompasses the core IT functions that support the delivery of fibre connectivity for Singapore’s Next-Generation Nationwide Broadband Network,” said Garry Ng, director of IT at NetLink Trust. “We aim to provide a robust and reliable fibre network to all end-users in Singapore.”
When British incumbent operator BT wanted to establish BT Mobile as an MVNO business in an already crowded market, it knew that getting the billing platform right was crucial. To this end, it adopted an NFV-ready customer billing platform from billing solutions vendor Openet which it says will give customers more control of their services.
The plan is to drive advances in customer experience by delivering real-time insights that can be fed back to users, giving them more control over their mobile service. BT Mobile can provide immediate visibility of account balances, data use notifications and data allowance management, allowing mid-bill cycle contract changes, and letting customers quickly make changes to their bundle plans and add-ons. BT says it can also test and introduce new services more quickly. The BT Mobile service was launched to run on the network of EE, which BT is now buying for £12.5billion. A decision has yet to be made about whether to run Openet’s technology across the EE business
When service providers are considering a partner to help them change operational and billing systems, they can choose a traditional OSS and BSS vendor, or risk an alliance with a newer and more disruptive player. California-based ItsOn in many respects typifies a more recent generation of OSS and BSS solutions developers. ItsOn has developed a cloud-based platform that allows mobile operators to offer highly customisable services to their customers, letting them change what they pay for and how they pay for it at any time, directly from their device. One of the latest operators to switch to this billing model is Saudi Telecom (STC) which last year launched a whole new line of business based around it.
STC, which serves around 160 million subscribers across the Middle East and Africa, is using the ItsOn platform to target a new generation of young tech-savvy customers with the Jawwy sub-brand. By downloading the Jawwy app and purchasing an appropriate SIM, customers can personalise their plan using social networking as a core part of the service experience. Another unique feature of Jawwy is that STC can use feedback to change and improve services continually.
Other choices are available
There is another choice to be made between deploying a solution to use in-house or paying for your OSS and BSS functionality as a managed service. All operators are looking for easier ways to manage their operations and billing behind the scenes, and that increasingly means they want to move away from the potentially high cost of maintaining legacy OSS and BSS systems themselves. In recognition of this trend, China-based vendor Huawei has been popularising the idea of paying for OSS and BSS functionality as a service.
Huawei has been providing managed OSS and BSS services to South African operator MTN Group for over two years. In countries like Ghana, Cameroon, Guinea and Benin, MTN is now paying for processes like network operations and performance management on a managed basis. It says the enhanced efficiency it has gained through the deal has come at a crucial time, allowing it to meet soaring demand for data-heavy services without unnecessary internal overheads.
Preparing for the future
Whichever model is chosen, the aim of any OSS and BSS project will be to get the service provider ready for the future. Three UK, part of CK Hutchison, definitely had one eye on the future when it recently commissioned Nokia to deploy the world’s first fully integrated cloud-native core network. The UK network operator claims the move will enable massive scalability, allowing it to rapidly respond to customers’ dynamic service demands while preparing for IoT and 5G.By applying cloud-native principles into its cloud software design, Nokia says it is enabling Three to leverage the full benefit of the cloud architecture, including massive scalability and better reliability. This will provide the highest quality service experience for Three’s customers, even in the busiest locations, as demand for VoLTE and high-definition video continues to grow. Nokia will begin deployment of Three UK’s new core network in multiple data centre locations during 2017. The scalable cloud platform employed will allow Three to increase efficiencies, while also benefitting from the breadth of Nokia’s technology and services capabilities, including the expertise offered by its Global Cloud Design Centre opened in the UK in September 2016.
Are networks 5G ready?
“This is a significant cloud core network deal with the potential to deliver a wide range of technology and business benefits to Three UK,” says David Snow, principal analyst at Current Analysis. “As carriers gear up for the 5G future it is vital that their core networks are flexible enough to match 5G access network demands, especially regarding latency and scalability.”
Steffen Paulus, head of BSS marketing with Nokia, says the Three deal is a good example of an operator investing in a new billing solution not merely to become a better provider of services but to transition towards becoming a whole new type of business. He said: “With the latest wave of transformations we’re seeing operators move beyond just being a communications service provider and into becoming a more all-encompassing digital service provider, while trying to find new revenue sources to match.” “They often have systems that are already up and running, but are not now able to support this new changed world and new customer expectations.”
There is a process going on within the whole industry, as much as it is going on internally with vendors like Nokia, he says: “It is about creating a new type of digital service provider with an increased focus on the customer. The move to cloud and virtualisation is not in doubt, and the only question from service providers is how can we get there, perhaps living for a period in a hybrid environment.”


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Lottie Moss Embraces 26 in a Hot Pink Bikini
As Lottie Moss turns 26, the half-sister of iconic British supermodel Kate Moss is making waves on the shores of Mexico, showcasing her stunning hourglass figure in a barely-there hot pink bikini. The glamour model has been enjoying a birthday holiday with friends, and her Instagram has been flooded with snapshots of the sun-soaked celebration.
Dressed in a string bikini that left little to the imagination, Lottie flaunted her numerous tattoos, including three birds under her breast, cherries on her side, and Hello Kitty on her bicep. The vibrant hot pink ensemble, adorned with hints of orange, highlighted her radiant personality and confident style.
In a series of mirror selfies, Lottie embraced a makeup-free look, allowing her natural beauty to shine. Her loose braid and carefree demeanor reflected the laid-back atmosphere of her birthday getaway. Lottie’s magnetic charm and captivating poses suggest she thoroughly enjoys every moment of her Mexican adventure.
The celebration didn’t stop with hot pink bikinis; Lottie also turned heads in a racy black bikini during the luxurious holiday. With arms above her head, a cigarette in hand, and a white face mask, she posed on a couch, exuding an effortlessly chic vibe. Later, she shared a selfie in front of a male friend, holding a glass of orange juice, capturing the essence of a carefree tropical retreat.
The birthday festivities extended beyond Mexico, as Lottie recently spent a night partying with Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio at London’s renowned Chiltern Firehouse. Witnesses reported that the two were engaged in lively conversation and laughter, highlighting the glamorous lifestyle that Lottie Moss navigates effortlessly.
As she continues to bask in the sun and enjoy the company of friends, Lottie Moss proves that she knows how to celebrate a milestone birthday in style. Despite a rocky romantic journey in 2023, as she found and lost love on E4 reality show Celebs Go Dating, Lottie remains an undeniably magnetic force in both the fashion and celebrity scenes. Her latest escapades in Mexico further solidify her status as a style icon and a jet-setting trendsetter. We eagerly await more glimpses into Lottie’s birthday revelries and her next adventures in the world of fashion and fame.


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The past two weeks, I’ve chronicled activity by a Tuscaloosa suit store owner and University of Alabama student-athletes that, per a particular NCAA rule, renders those Crimson Tide football players ineligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
(Ingram, Jones Likenesses Featured In Suit Store TV Spot)
That athletic ineligibility is not based on student-athletes receiving benefits from T-Town Menswear owner Tom Al-Betar. Instead, the current and then-current Alabama football players in question relinquished their eligibility by allowing, tacitly or otherwise, Al-Betar to use their likenesses in multiple T-Town Menswear store displays over a period of multiple years.
The applicable NCAA rule, bylaw 18.104.22.168:
“After becoming a student-athlete, an individual shall not be eligible for participation in intercollegiate athletics if the individual accepts any remuneration for or permits the use of his or her name or picture to advertise, recommend or promote directly the sale or use of a commercial product or service of any kind.” (Page 74.)
Al-Betar also used the likenesses of then-current Alabama football players in at least one T-Town Menswear television commercial that aired in the Tuscaloosa market during the summer of 2010.
In a spot uploaded to Tuscaloosa production company Jones Media’s youtube account on June 7, 2010 (screenshot), the helmets of then-current Alabama football players Mark Ingram and Julio Jones could be seen throughout a T-Town Menswear commercial featuring Al-Betar as “Tom.”
Also during the spot while on-camera, suit store owner Al-Betar touted the fact that current Alabama football players patronized his store.
During the commercial, Al-Betar was asked, “Tom I understand that many of the Alabama Crimson Tide football players get clothed here at T-Town Menswear.”
Al-Betar’s response: “Yeah, they (current Alabama football players) wear their uniform at the game and they wear my uniform after the game.”
Al-Betar’s T-Town Menswear Tuscaloosa television market commercial was hardly a one-off production. Jones Media has produced several Al-Betar commercials, with the latest airing in April - after the suit store owner received an official disassociation letter from the University of Alabama for displaying and selling items signed by current Alabama football players. (The aforementioned activities were confirmed by the University of Alabama in two letters.)
The T-Town Menswear spots date back to at least 2009. On April 18, 2009, then-BIRMINGHAM NEWS Alabama football beat reporter Ian Rapoport noted that former Alabama football player Tyrone Prothro had appeared in a commercial for an Al-Betar Tuscaloosa clothing outlet. (I’ve since confirmed with Rapoport personally that Al-Betar’s suit store business was the subject of the spot.)


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Hayman Capital Management is disclosing a stake in J.C. Penney Co. as the retailer's shares trade at their lowest prices in more than a decade.
In a regulatory filing Tuesday, Hayman Capital disclosed ownership of 11.4 million shares, which represents a 5.2-percent stake in JC Penney. According to FactSet, that would make Hayman Penney's fifth-largest shareholder.
The filing states that the shares "were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer," meaning the firm does not aim to have a say in management decisions.
Penney's shares tumbled over the last year and a half as its sales slumped following a shift in strategy instituted by former CEO Ron Johnson. Under Johnson, the company replaced sales and coupons with everyday low prices and tried to target trendier, more affluent shoppers. The moves alienated Penney's customers, and Johnson was replaced in April after 17 months on the job.
The company took more than $1 billion in losses in its latest fiscal year, and it is reversing some of the changes made under Johnson.
Last week, J.C. Penney's largest investor sold his entire 18 percent stake in the company. Bill Ackman and Pershing Square Capital Management paid $25 per share for Penney's stock in 2010, and they disclosed Wednesday that Ackman sold the stock for $12.60 per share. Ackman owned 39.1 million shares, or an 18-percent stake in the company. The sale came after Ackman resigned from Penney's board as part of a deal to resolve an unusually public battle between the activist investor and the struggling department store operator.
J.C. Penney Co. Inc. shares fell on Friday to $12.12, their lowest price since early 2001. The stock closed at $12.48. In morning trading Monday, shares added8 cents to $12.56..


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As Phil Knight continues to transition into a new role after stepping down as CEO and announcing his plans to leave his post as Chairman of Nike, the brand co-founder took some time to sit down with USA Today Sports. In a wide-ranging interview, Knight discussed what his future role in the company will look like, sharing that, "I didn't say I'm walking away. I said I was stepping down as chairman. I won't walk away. I'll be carried away." Knight also shared his thoughts on the rising competition with Under Armour in the footwear market, his vote for the brand's best commercial of all time, and his take on Sonny Vaccaro's role in forming the Jordan Brand. Catch the full video below and read the related article here.
Photo via USA Today


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Mairead McGuinness MEP for the Midlands and first Vice-President of the European Parliament
The EU Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategy just launched by the EU Commission, marks an advance on what many Irish farmers are already doing, but also sets out a range of new targets to be achieved up to 2030, Mairead McGuinness MEP for the Midlands and first Vice-President of the European Parliament said today (Thursday).
At farm level, the plan sees less fertilisers, less pesticides and reduced use of antimicrobials, as well as a significant increase in the area of land under organic farming. Legislation already exists on sustainable use of inputs, strict implementation is required, the MEP says.
“Consumers are to be provided with more nutritional and sustainability information about the foods they buy, to address what the Commission sees as poor dietary choices, with obesity on the increase, while over 30 million Europeans don’t have access to quality food, and 20pc of food is wasted and thrown away,” she said.
The food supply chain has shown remarkable resilience during the corona virus pandemic with few reports of empty supermarket shelves, she said.
“And the Commission recognises that European food is safe, plentiful, nutritious and of high quality. But this comes at an unacceptable cost, with the food chain as one of the key drivers of climate change and environmental degradation.”
She said the Farm to Fork strategy recognises that farmer incomes are around half that of the average worker in the economy as a whole.
“It sees an opportunity for farmers in improving their income position by meeting the demands of some consumers who have concerns around high environmental, health and ethical issues.”
For the processing and retail sectors a code of conduct is proposed for good practice around food.
Ms McGuinness said there is already a lot of work going on in Ireland to address the biodiversity climate and environmental challenge, “including a significant number of farmers who are farming for nature and who can show the way forward.”
A new market is proposed for carbon stored on farms, giving the possibility of a new income stream for farmers with high emitting industries willing to pay for carbon storage. Equally farmers with high emissions could be paying those with a positive carbon balance.
“These new initiatives are all part of the EU Green Deal, which targets climate neutrality by 2050. This target is important to address the climate and environment challenges. It means that all sectors, including agriculture will need to reduce emissions,” she said.
The MEP said the farm to fork strategy aims to achieve fairer economic returns in the food chain. “However, achieving that is going to need a forensic look at food pricing and how value added in the supply chain is distributed.”
She said the food processing and retail sectors are being asked to reduce their overall environmental footprint and to increase the availability and affordability of healthy, sustainable food options
Other measures include significant investment for research and innovation in food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture and environment.
The MEP said the next phase is for the European Parliament and Council to respond to the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. “It is no longer the CAP that will shape EU agriculture, the farm to fork and biodiversity strategies will too,” she said.
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Sony Semiconductor Solutions makes strategic investment in Raspberry Pi
Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (“SSS”) and Raspberry Pi Ltd. (“RPL”) recently announced the agreement by SSS to make a strategic investment in RPL.
The minority investment cements the relationship between the two companies, to provide a development platform for SSS’s edge AI devices to the worldwide community of Raspberry Pi users.
“Our goal is to provide new value to a variety of industries and support them in solving issues using our innovative edge AI sensing technology built around image sensors,” said Terushi Shimizu, President and CEO of Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Raspberry Pi Ltd. to bring our AITRIOS™ platform – which supports the development of unique and diverse solutions utilizing our edge AI devices – to the Raspberry Pi user and developer community, and provide a unique development experience.”
“Sony Group is a longstanding and valued strategic partner. Our pre-existing relationship encompasses contract manufacturing, and the provision of image sensors and other semiconductor products,” said Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi Ltd.
“This transaction will allow us to expand our partnership, bringing Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ line of AI products to the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, and helping our users to build exciting new machine-learning applications at the edge.”


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WELCOME TO The POINT OF SALE REPORT
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Feature market insights and perspectives from top C-Level executives, elite technology influencers and thought leaders from your company here. This signature initiative has garnered immense support...
Waitr Holdings Inc. | December 29, 2021
Waitr Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: WTRH) (“Waitr” or the “Company”), a leader in on-demand food ordering and delivery, today announced the Company has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (“LOI”) to acquire Retail Innovation Labs Inc. dba Cova (“Cova”), a leading point of sale (“POS”), inventory and compliance software business serving cannabis dispensary retailers in North America.
“We believe that t...
Visa | July 16, 2020
Visa and point-of-sale lending technology startup ChargeAfter announced yesterday a pilot of their installment loan solution for select merchants in the United States. “Our collaboration with Visa is a giant leap forward in bringing quick, convenient, accessible, and safe payments to consumers when and where they are ready to purchase — online or in-store,” said ChargeAfter CEO Meidad Sharon in a statement. “By combining ChargeAfter’s financing platform with Visa&rs...
myPOS | July 24, 2020
The European company, myPOS, specialised in offering affordable payments technology to SMEs, has launched a new series of premium cards for its customers: the myPOS Visa Platinum Metal Card and myPOS Visa Platinum Silver & Gold Card. The offering includes a range of benefits such as a LoungeKey pass to over 1000 airport business lounges worldwide, 0.1% cashback on all purchases, 10 or 15% cashback for every purchase in the myPOS online shop and myPOS physical stores in Europe, free ATM withd...
Citizen Systems America | February 17, 2020
Citizen Systems America Corporation, a leading manufacturer of world-class printing technology, is proud to announce the release of the new CT-S601IIR Re-stick, liner-free receipt printer. This efficient and highly sought-after printer technology offers Citizen's North and South American customers the newest addition to the company's point-of-sale category. The CT-S601IIR was previewed at the National Retail Federation trade show in New York City from Jan 12-14th, 2020. The re-stick, lin...
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A “neighborhood tech” business is fixing its sights on Queens as it continues to expand.
1800Fix.com, a chain of stores that repairs, buys, sells and trades electronics, is looking to open up 10 locations in Queens over the next two to three years, according to co-founder Tony Brea.
The company, which already has corporate and franchise locations Brooklyn, the Bronx and Westchester County, is growing with the consumer technology market.
“At the end of the day, the philosophy in this country is buy, buy,” Brea said. “But that costs too much.”
Brea started the business with his brothers, Abel and Luis, around 15 years ago, but it originally developed from a beeper shop about 20 years back, he said.
As technology evolved so did their business. People started coming in with broken cell phones and they had workers who could fix them, he explained.
Today, 1800Fix.com will repair just about any electronic item, even hearing aids and Roomba vacuums, except, as it says multiple times on its website, the company has a strict “no toaster” policy.
The rule comes from a fiery incident that happened years ago.
Once, an elderly woman came into a shop, desperate to fix her broken toaster, Brea said. They tried to help her, but after a half-an-hour of working on the small appliance, it was on fire.
“She was very upset,” Brea said. “We had to buy her another one — so no more toasters.”
Though Brea said 1800Fix.com was one of the first businesses to offer the kind of services its stores do today, they are not the only ones who currently do.
But he believes his business still stands out against the big chains by providing efficient, friendly service.
“We strive to get [your electronics] back to you as soon as possible,” he said.
“We want to be small in the neighborhood,” he said. “We don’t want to be big.”


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Updated: August 7, 2020 12:57:29 pm
FROM AVIATION to automobiles, consumer durables to capital goods, and even alcoholic beverages, India Inc’s move to reduce employee costs to withstand the Covid slump had the deepest impact in non-essential manufacturing and services, according to filings of 40 leading BSE 100 companies that have announced their results for the quarter ended June 2020. Among them, the top five Auto to aviation, employee costs take the biggest hit that witnessed the biggest year-on-year drop in aggregate employee expenditure at a consolidated level across corresponding quarters are: Mahindra Finance (36.7%), Havells India (27%), Tata Motors (26%), HDFC Life Insurance (21%) and Maruti Suzuki India (15%. Close behind are InterGlobe Aviation (14.8%), Bajaj Finserv (13%) and United Spirits (12.9%).
InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, reduced its employee costs by 14.8% during the quarter, compared with the same period last year, while net revenues from operations fell 92% year-on-year during the quarter. Not only did the airline cut salaries and furlough a number of employees, it had to let go 10% (2,700 employees) of its workforce to offset the decline in revenues.
A 38-year old former sales executive with a leading alcoholic beverage company says his employer was in midst of appraisals when the lockdown came into force. “I was among those who were given poor ratings and asked to go. Even for those who managed to retain their jobs, the salaries were cut in the range of 20-30%,” the executive said.
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Companies in labour-dependent sectors, such as manufacturing, industrial goods and real estate, benefitted from the lifting of the lockdown and have even chartered flights to bring workers back. But services establishments continue to struggle, with many opting for hefty salary cuts to save jobs for now.
“We couldn’t pay the staff during the lockdown because there was no work, and we’ve had to cut salaries by 30%. It may even go to 50% if things continue this way. We used to be overbooked and get 100-150 clients a day before the lockdown. Now, it’s a miracle if we get even five. Some of our employees are worried whether they will lose their jobs, but we’ve been trying to stay afloat without letting go of staff,” said Vaishali Raj, who manages a salon in an East Delhi residential suburb.
Restaurants are also red-flagging similar concerns, with staff wanting to come back. For instance, eateries like Wanchai by Kylin that mainly operate in food-courts of malls are bleeding even after the unlockdown because multiplexes and cinema halls, which drive the majority of footfalls, are still shut.
About 90% of staff employed in the brand are from the Northeast and Nepal. During the lockdown, the chain saw around 70% of its staff return to their hometowns. Around half of those who remained were accommodated in rooms above the company’s base kitchen, and delivery kitchens at Chhattarpur in Delhi and Gurugram.
“Those who have started working after the lockdown are getting paid, while those who went home were paid for the days they worked before they left and are now furloughed until they can come back,” said Saurabh Khanijo, managing director of the Kylin chain.
“We are facing a major crunch in labour to get restarted. This is a tsunami kind of situation. It is going to take a lot of time to get everyone back in place and get started, especially with Covid multiplying at a faster pace now…They may take extra time for some of our staff to come back, but we are expecting that they will come back for sure,” he said.
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The Sunday Mail
According to the McKinsey Global Institute, Africa’s population is set to rise by over 50 percent in twelve years, with the continent’s top 18 cities having a combined spending power of $1, 3 trillion.
This highlights the growing need for sustainable competitive advantage.
Zimbabwe’s customer-facing companies and service providers are generally lagging behind in terms of implementing effective customer service strategies.
The 2018 National Customer Satisfaction Index (NCSI) released last month showed that Zimbabwe’s customer satisfaction index ranking for 2018 has declined by 11, 8 percentage points to 63, 7 percent from 75, 5 percent.
This shows that companies are not putting much effort into ensuring customer satisfaction.
Effective customer service is the level to which service meets the customer’s expectations and needs or the extent to which companies surpass customer needs by offering the best customer experience.
To this extent, experts say good customer service is a catalyst for economic and social growth and should always be high on the national agenda.
According to Chartered Institute of Customer Management (CICM) chief executive Dr Ricky Harris, customer satisfaction is now recognised as the single most important factor affecting a company’s profitability.
“It’s critical for foreign investors who need to understand the relationship between a company’s current condition and its future capacity to produce wealth. In capitalistic free markets, sellers that do well by their customers are rewarded by more business from buyers and more capital from investors,” she said.
Global customer service expert Mr Shep Hyken warned of a gap between the service provided by companies and the service expected by customers themselves.
“The first version referred to the gap between you and your competitors. You want the gap to be wide. It means you are putting yourself further ahead of your competition and picking up market share.
“The second version of the gap focused on narrowing the distance between you and your customers. The closer you are to your customers and the more you are meeting their needs, the narrower the gap is between you and your customer. This also puts your competition further away from your customers,” he said.
“Now comes the third version of the gap, which is the difference between how good a company thinks their service is versus what their customers actually believe they receive.
“A number of years ago, I read an interesting report from Bain and Company that found 80 percent of companies saying they were delivering superior customer service, yet only 8 percent of customers agreed. That was a surprising, almost staggering, statistic. Is there that big of a disconnect? Is the gap really this big?”
Perhaps a factor that has contributed to low customer satisfaction in Zimbabwe is weak customer activism. Zimbabwe has for a long time suffered from the challenge of anaemic consumer bodies.
Typically, lobbyists seek to protect the general public or the constituents whom they represent against such concerns as profiteering, disease, unemployment, and market fluctuations, among others.
Goals include making goods and services more readily available to consumers with better quality and in an environmentally friendly manner.
Consumer activist tactics can include boycotts, petitioning the Government, media activism, and organising interest groups.
But this has not been the case in Zimbabwe, with the particular case of the rather ‘toothless’ Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ) being raised as the quintessential example.
A lot of Zimbabwean customers tend to be short-changed by some dubious businesses and yet the offending parties continue unabated.
Despite CCZ’s concerns over unjustified price increases for basic commodities, this trend continues.
Maybe the statutes that gave birth to CCZ did not grant the body requisite powers.
In other countries, effective lobby groups quickly calculate the cost(s) of such behaviour and/or anticipated or actual loss of business and make this well known.
That way, companies cannot afford to take their customers for granted.
When our value proposition improves as a country, the same will happen to our competitiveness.


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Greetings, traveller! Pull up a chair and listen. The year was 2013. Tomb Raider made a triumphant return with a reboot of the ‘96 classic, tabletop players embarked on a journey to protect the world from an Ancient One in Eldritch Horror, The Last of Us hit PlayStation consoles and no one had heard of Pedro Pascal, and it was the first year PAX Aus opened its doors (in the pouring rain… in a tent), welcoming Australian gamers.
Celebrating 10 years of bringing the gaming community together, PAX Aus 2023 is not to be missed! The PAX Aus community will once again be welcomed home on October 6-8th to celebrate everything we love about gaming at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (a far cry from the tent!). As we work to bring you the best, badges for PAX Aus 2023 will be available to purchase from midday AEDT on March 21st here. Early Bird 3-Day badges will be limited and available for $175 and Early Bird Single Day badges for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be available for $70.
With a decade of PAX Aus-ing, this year’s event will be a celebration brimming with panels, concerts, tournaments, esports, special guests, meetups, cosplay and lots more, plus a show floor highlighting the best that the Australian gaming community has to offer.
Event Director, Lauren Luciani, said, “PAX is always special, but this year is particularly meaningful as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of this incredible event. Time flies when you’re having fun and that is certainly true of getting to work on PAX Aus. The whole PAX team is dedicated and passionate about bringing the community a PAX Aus to remember!”
PAX Aus is the show stopping three-day conclusion to Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW), taking over the whole of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and welcoming tens of thousands of gamers to their ultimate celebration.
Whether you’re a DnD wizard, obsessed with Indies or addicted to Battle Royale, there is something that will appeal to every gaming enthusiast at PAX Aus.
So, Happy 10th anniversary to us! RSVP here and we’ll see you there!


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U.S. industry body the Paper & Packaging Board has launched its first animated brand ambassadors to increase consumer connections and to promote the importance and use of paper-based packaging in everyday life.
The two striking animated characters resemble a carton box and a pack of office paper and will be a part of ‘Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds’ campaign, established over the past 3 years, intended to increase demand for paper-based packaging.
“Paper and packaging products are prevalent in our lives. It was our goal to create highly-relatable characters to represent the vital roles that paper and packaging play for each and every one of us,” shares Mary Anne Hansan, president of the Paper & Packaging Board, in the press release.
She adds, “We launched the ‘Paper & Packaging – How Life Unfolds’ campaign in 2015 and we are thrilled to introduce these new characters to help consumers nationwide recognise and remember the value of paper in their everyday lives.”
The animated ambassadors, created by US advertising agency Cramer-Krasselt, are going to be a part of the ads shown on cable television, in digital advertisements and awareness campaigns on social media. The message will be further reinforced through print ads in magazines such as US Weekly, Forbes, Delta Sky, ESPN, HGTV Magazine and Parents Magazine.
Read the full Press Release here.


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The European Commission is launching a formal investigation into whether Google has abused its dominant market position in online searches.
The EU's competition watchdog said the probe follows complaints from other online search providers that Google put them at a disadvantage in both its paid and unpaid search results.
Google's competitors also allege that Google lists its own services above those of its rivals.
The commission's investigation does not imply any wrongdoing by Google.
Google has maintained that it has not broken any competition rules..
If the Commission finds that Google has abused its market position, the company could be fined up to 10% of its revenue - that would put it on the line for a £1.5 billion fine based on 2009 earnings figures.
The Commission has shown resolve in confronting US corporations and only last year concluded a long-running antitrust case involving Microsoft that lead to over £640 million in fines.
Three companies - U.K.-based price-comparison site Foundem, French legal search engine ejustice.fr and Microsoft-owned shopping site Ciao - lodged complaints against Google with the commission in February.
Google controls about 90% of the online search market in Europe, and the investigation shows that the antitrust watchdog is taking the complaints seriously enough to launch an in-depth examination of the company's practices.
Google said: "Since we started Google we have worked hard to do the right thing by our users and our industry - ensuring that ads are always clearly marked, making it easy for users and advertisers to take their data with them when they switch services, and investing heavily in open source projects.
"But there's always going to be room for improvement, and so we'll be working with the Commission to address any concerns."Reuse content


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EU, US to push for trans-Atlantic trade deal
BRUSSELS (AP) - The European Union and the United States announced Wednesday that they have agreed to pursue talks aimed at achieving an overarching trans-Atlantic free trade deal.
The 27-country EU said such an agreement would be the biggest bilateral trade deal ever negotiated and could boost the EU's economic output by 0.5 percent - a highly desirable outcome when the EU and the US are struggling with slow growth, high unemployment and high levels of debt.
"Both of us need growth," said Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, the EU's executive arm. "And both of us have budgetary problems."
Trade between the United States and the European Union is already huge, reaching 2 billion (S$3.3 billion) a day, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said.


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|Less bidding, more buying with eBay rebrand|
|Friday, 14 September 2012 09:42|
At 17 years young, eBay is getting its first-ever makeover. The teenage internet auction house has slimmed down and modernised with a bold rebranding.
The logo has been redesigned to present a contemporary and dynamic front to a company that will be realigning its remit. The rebrand will be promoted beginning in October with a marketing campaign and redesigned website. The company rebranded to alter its stance from a second-hand auction site to a marketplace of new items.
President Devin Wenig has taken to calling the rebrand ‘the new eBay.’ The rebrand will maximise on the popularity of the Buy It Now option that 65 per cent of eBay shoppers prefer by focusing on selling, not auctioning, goods.
“Our refreshed logo is rooted in our proud history and reflects a dynamic future,” Wenig says. “It’s eBay today: a global online marketplace that offers a cleaner, more contemporary and consistent experience, with innovation that makes buying and selling easier and more enjoyable.”
Other digital sector companies are also meeting the move towards a cleaner, more modernist internet by rebranding. Microsoft introduced a new identity last month, featuring an ironed-out logo and a contemporary typeface. Similarly, eBay’s logo will retain the familiar red, blue, yellow and green colouring but with a more modern feel.
To discuss this and other rebrand stories join Communicate magazine's own 'Transform - Discussions on Rebranding' LinkedIn group.


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Louvino has created a new tradition for winos every Tuesday-Friday!
Louvino is ready to serve the new spring menu on its back patio!
Brunch: it's what's for Mother's Day this Sunday, May 10.
These places are killing the game in making it okay to drink in the morning.
It was a great year to be a foodie in Louisville. An epic year, even.
From tapas to wine glasses, from genuine Spanish flare to a mouthwatering Italian aroma, De la Torres restaurant owners are selling their loved restaurant to new owners, Chad and Lauren Coulter.


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The first Windows Phone from Nokia is code-named Sea Ray, comes with an 8-megapixel camera and uses the Mango version of Microsoft's OS,<a href="http://www.technet.hu/telefon/20110624/exkluziv_video_elop_bemutatja_az_elso_windowsos_nokiat/">according...
Nokia said on Wednesday it has finalized an agreement with Accenture to develop the Symbian mobile OS as the company retrenches in a competitive mobile device market.
Nokia has unveiled the N9, its latest flagship smartphone, the first device to run the Meego operating system. Meego has been heralded as Nokia's strategic move against increased competition from rivals Apple and Google.
Nokia unveiled Tuesday its new N9 smartphone that runs the MeeGo operating system, and is being marketed as a "pure touch screen" device without buttons.
Embattled Nokia today unveiled the world's first smartphone running the MeeGo operating system, the Nokia N9, and also revealed that the device would be available in Australia in Q3.
Nokia is infringing on a patent owned by German company IPCom, the U.K. High Court ruled today. IPCom will be seeking damages and an injunction banning the sale of the Finnish company's 3G phones, it said in a statement.
Don't put any dirt on Nokia's coffin just yet--the company still has some life in it. A victory in its patent war with Apple means a new revenue stream for Nokia, and a stronger position to enforce its patent portfolio with other mobile device makers...
Nokia and Apple have settled an almost two-year long legal battle over patents with an agreement that will see Apple pay a lump sum and ongoing royalties to the European cell-phone maker.
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop used his keynote at the Open Mobile Summit in London Thursday to explain, again, why the company chose the Windows Phone OS for its smartphones and insisted during a question-and-answer session that, despite persistent rumors t...
If cell phone maker Nokia rolls out a tablet device one day, it will be late to a game where its competitors have a big head start.
Though signs for IT remain positive this year, worries about the economy sapped investor confidence this week as a wide range of businesses, including big computer industry vendors, suffered a drop in share value.
A trio of Windows Phone software developers say Microsoft's Mango release is ripe and juicy for programmers, and brings new ease and power to mobile enterprise applications.
Nokia has "increased confidence" that the first of its smartphones with Windows Phone will ship in the fourth quarter, the company said on Tuesday.
It takes more than a sleek operating system to make a successful smartphone.
Supporters of the MeeGo open-source platform put tablets, in-car systems and TV in the spotlight at a conference in San Francisco on Monday, saying the technology had broad potential while downplaying its role in smartphones.
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A smarter way to print for busy small business owners, combining speedy printing with scanning and copying, making it easier to produce high quality documents and images at a touch of a button.
I've had a multifunction printer in the office going on 10 years now. It was a neat bit of kit back in the day -- print, copy, scan, fax -- when printing over WiFi felt a bit like magic. It’s seen better days though and an upgrade’s well overdue. This HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 looks like it ticks all the same boxes: print, copy, scan, and fax. (Really? Does anyone fax anything any more? I guess it's good to know the facility’s there, just in case.) Printing over WiFi is more-or- less standard these days.
As a freelance writer who is always on the go, I like my technology to be both efficient and effective so I can do my job well. The HP OfficeJet Pro 8730 Inkjet Printer ticks all the boxes in terms of form factor, performance and user interface.
I’d happily recommend this touchscreen laptop and Windows 10 as a great way to get serious work done at a desk or on the road.
Ultimately, I think the Windows 10 environment is excellent for me as it caters for so many different uses. The inclusion of the Xbox app is also great for when you need some downtime too!
For me, the Xbox Play Anywhere is a great new feature as it allows you to play your current Xbox games with higher resolutions and better graphics without forking out extra cash for another copy. Although available titles are still scarce, but I’m sure it will grow in time.
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The 2021 machine learning, AI, and data landscape
It’s been a hot, hot year in the world of data, machine learning, and AI. Just when you thought it couldn’t grow any more explosively, the data/AI landscape just did: the rapid pace of company creation, exciting new product and project launches, a deluge of VC financings, unicorn creation, IPOs, etc. It has also been a year of multiple threads and stories intertwining. One story has been the maturation of the ecosystem, with market leaders reaching large scale and ramping up their ambitions for global market domination, in particular through increasingly broad product offerings.
Full story : The 2021 machine learning, AI, and data landscape.


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Apple has hired the sales director of TAG Heuer to help with the launch of its new iWatch, the head of LVMH's watch brands told CNBC.
South Korean housewife Kwak Ji-yoon used to be a loyal customer of Louis Vuitton, but these days she prefers Alexander Wang handbags.
Lowe's is launching a simulation room that enables customers to view a 3-D representation of their renovation projects.
Sephora has teamed up with ModiFace on a 3-D augmented reality mirror that allows shoppers to virtually test cosmetics.
Luxury brands are mulling more inflation-busting price rises, in the face of strong foreign exchange headwinds and changing Chinese shopping habits.
The iPhone may lose its luster a few decades from now, LVMH baron Bernard Arnault tells CNBC, but people will still drink Dom Pérignon.
Citigroup analyst Oliver Chen said the accessories company's transformation could take multiple years.
Combined a host of luxury brands into the LVMH conglomerate, along the way distilling a magic elixir of design, production, and above all marketing.
European shares closed lower on Thursday, having fluctuated for much of the day.
As more brands flock to the off-price model, one analyst cautions that outlets could be losing a bit of their luster.
A new report suggests that future growth for luxury will come from a new consumer. They're called YUMMY's—Young Urban Males.
In an industry where stars are commonly impulsive spenders, financial planners advise a simple system to save for the future.
Luxury stocks fell after Russia's invasion of Crimea raised the risk that European governments could impose visa restrictions on Russian shoppers.
Shoppers are visiting fewer stores than they did in the past, increasing the importance of building a loyal customer base.
Coach is making its debut at New York Fashion Week, in an effort to woo shoppers back from its more fashion-forward competitors.
Shares of Michael Kors surged Tuesday after it topped analysts' earnings forecasts, but other retailers will struggle to follow suit.
Luxury goods producers are coming under increasing pressure in emerging markets, but while some are worried, others appear more relaxed.
European equities closed lower on Friday as investor sentiment was weakened by euro zone inflation data that missed expectations..
U.S. stock index futures traded higher on Thursday, on what will be the busiest day of fourth quarter earnings season.
The number of luxury goods buyers is set to rise to 500 million by 2030 as wealth grows in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, a study has found.


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According to Neowin, right after Nvidia’s GPU was released, PCMarket (Hong Kong) media company had access to and experienced the RTX 2060 12GB variant of the Zotac Twin Edge graphics card. The test results show that gamers have reason to be concerned with the new GPU, which is exactly the opposite of cryptocurrency miners.
Zotac Twin Edge Based on Nvidia’s RTX 2060 12GB GPU
The report shows that the 12GB RTX 2060 seems to be doing very well in mining and seems to be the most efficient GPU among other similarly priced graphics cards. The Zotac Twin Edge graphics card demonstrated an efficiency of 379.33kH/J as it was able to mine with a hash rate of 31.65 MH/s by consuming 83.44W of power. Of course, 12GB of VRAM is also something that cryptocurrency miners appreciate.
For the gaming sector, the graphics card from Zotac also performs well at what users expect. However, thanks to its 12GB framebuffer, the card can impress in extremely VRAM demanding situations. For example, in Far Cry 6, when all settings are on, i.e. 4K clarity, the card can produce impressive performance.
In case you already own a 12GB RTX 2060, users should download the GeForce 497.09 WHQL display driver that Nvidia released not long ago for the best possible experience.


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By Chris Stonor
U.S. Zipline, a leading ‘drones for good’ medical delivery service is preparing to expand its work to Israel for 2021, reports haaretz.com. Presently, Zipline is active in Africa and more remote areas of America, flying blood and medical equipment via their specially developed unmanned craft.
Founded in 2014, Zipline has raised around USD230 million to date and has a valuation of more than USD1 billion. It’s considered the most prominent player in this specialised market. The company has operated commercial drone delivery services since 2016 and carried out close to 75,000 deliveries under the banner, “Zipline delivers critical and lifesaving products precisely where and when they are needed, safely and reliably, every day, across multiple countries.”
The company has begun the regulatory process for Israel and is in talks with potential customers with the aim of beginning deliveries next year to remoter parts of the country
For visual presentation
For more information
(News Source: https://www.haaretz.com)


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Austin Carr has the fascinating inside story of Hipstamatic’s struggle over the past year for Fast Company:
Hipstamatic’s journey over the past year has been tumultuous, to say the least. As Fast Company has learned from speaking to more than a dozen players involved, Hipstamatic has wrestled with ever-growing social competition, internal tensions, and a lack of product vision–not to mention juggling acquisition interest and worsening term sheets in a post-Facebook IPO world.
Oddly enough, Hipstamatic is one of the only apps of its kind with a solid, simple business plan. They charge for the app, charge for add-ons, and have past partnerships with a variety of third parties. But the app seems to have entirely stalled. It’s a tool, not a network.
This is a three-part series, the first part of which is available today.


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Nvidia on Tuesday said it would begin licensing its GPU cores and "visual computing" patent portfolio to device manufacturers -- a new business model for the company. The technology could appear in a full range of products from phones to supercomputers, the company said, with products likely emerging in 2015, given design and testing requirements.
"It's not practical to build silicon or systems to address every part of the expanding market," David Shannon, Nvidia executive vice president and general counsel, said in a blog post. "Adopting a new business approach will allow us to address the universe of devices."
The move comes as Nvidia grapples with a slowdown in its core PC market and as it faces tough competition in mobile devices. Popularity of smartphones and tablets, as well as better integrated graphics in PCs, have been hurting long-term prospects for the high-end graphics designed by Nvidia. At the same time,largely because its Tegra processor previously lacked 4G LTE capabilities.
Nvidia has licensed some of its graphics technology in the past, but it hasn't been a big focus for the company or open to a wide range of companies. Sony licensed Nvidia GPU technology for the PlayStation 3, and Intel pays Nvidia more than $250 million a year to license Nvidia's various patents.
The plan unveiled Tuesday will allow it to address a bigger segment of the market and puts it in competition with ARM Holdings and Imagination Technologies, which don't make chips but license their technology to other companies. Nvidia's advanced graphics technology has long been a big selling point for the company's chips. It's not a stretch to believe other companies that make their own processors -- such as Apple and Samsung -- could seek out Nvidia's graphics.
Nvidia said it will first license the GPU core based on its Kepler architecture. The technology is currently used in shipping GeForce PC GPUs, Quadro workstation graphics, and Tesla supercomputing GPUs. Nvidia's next-generation Tegra mobile processor, codenamed Logan, also uses Kepler.
The company noted that licensees "will receive all necessary designs, collateral and support to integrate NVIDIA's powerful graphics cores into their devices." And licensees of its visual computing portfolio will be able to develop their own GPU functionality while "enjoying design freedom."


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Pod Problem: Industry Responds to Concerns about Detergent Poison Risks
Poison control and pediatric groups are sounding the alarm over the rise of laundry detergent pods, small colorful objects that pose a danger to small children. The association that represents cleaning product manufacturers says it's been working to improve packaging.
Laundry detergent pods, which have grown in popularity for their convenience, pose significant poisoning risks for small children, who may mistake them for toys or candy, a recent study notes.
But rather than sit on the sidelines, a key industry group is pushing its members to be proactive on the issue. More details:
About the study: On Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a new study highlighting the risks to children from exposure to the pods. The study, covering data from the National Poison Data System between 2012 and 2013, found that 17,230 children were exposed to the pods, leading to more than 750 hospitalizations and at least one death. “Because children may be enticed by the colorful, candy-like appearance of detergent pods, the study authors conclude that a national safety standard is needed to improve product packaging and labeling,” AAP said in a news release.
More concentrated, more dangerous: Since the products were introduced to the market in 2012, the American Association of Poison Control Centers has warned multiple times of the dangers that the single-pack items can cause for young children. AAPCC notes that the packets appear to be significantly more dangerous than laundry detergent not in pod form, causing serious breathing and eye problems. “Poison centers receive many calls each year about children getting into laundry detergent,” the association said in a recent alert. “Swallowing it often causes mild stomach upset, if there are any symptoms at all, but poison center experts say the new highly concentrated single-load liquid laundry detergent packets seem to be different.” From January through October 2014, 9,935 children under the age of 5 have been exposed to the packets, AAPCC says.
A coordinated response: The American Cleaning Institute this week offered a lengthy response to the study, highlighting the steps that the industry group has taken to ensure consumer safety, including issuing voluntary guidance for manufacturers to improve the products’ packaging and labeling. “The guidance provides best practices for the household laundry products industry in the labeling and design of packaging for liquid laundry packets,” ACI said in its response. “This guidance encourages that safe handling and usage information is clear and prominently placed on the label.”
Last year AAPCC applauded Procter & Gamble for updating the packaging of Tide Pods.
“The Procter & Gamble product had been sold in clear packages in which the colorful packets were easily visible to children,” AAPCC President Marsha Ford said in a July 2013 news release. “Making the packaging opaque hopefully will help reduce the temptation of children to get into the product.”
Procter and Gamble updated its Tide Pods packaging last year over poison control concerns. (press photo)


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Stocks were slightly higher in late-afternoon trading Friday, helped by a rise in consumer spending. Microsoft helped technology companies recover from a week of losses. The market gave back most of its gains from earlier in the day, however. The biotech sector, one of last year's biggest highfliers, took another tumble. "Candy Crush Saga" maker King Digital fell for the third day straight following its initial public offering.
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose seven points, or 0.4%, to 1,857 as of 3:35 p.m. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 42 points, or 0.3%, to 16,307 and the Nasdaq composite rose less than a point to 4,155.
Biotechnology stocks were once again among the biggest decliners. Gilead Sciences, Biogen and Vertex Pharmaceuticals were all down 4%. Biotechnology and technology stocks have been among the hardest hit in the last month, as investors have shifted out of risky names to focus on larger, more mature company stocks.
The biggest gainer in the Dow was Microsoft, which rose 91 cents, or 2%, to $40.25. The company announced Thursday that it was bringing Microsoft Office to the iPad and would shift its focus away from Windows, a move that analysts liked.
"We continue to view (this) as a massive revenue and operating profit opportunity for Microsoft," analysts at Credit Suisse said in a report Thursday. Google and Intel rose about 1%.
Investors were encouraged by news that Americans increased their spending last month, a hopeful sign for an economy that has been slowed by months of severe winter weather. The Commerce Department said consumer spending inched up 0.3%, a hair short of economists' forecasts. Incomes rose at the same pace.
"The economy is now reaching the point where it can shake off the weather-related excuses," Doug Cote, a market strategist for ING Investment Management, wrote in an email.
CBS Outdoor, a major outdoor advertising company, rose $1.76, or 6%, to $29.76 on its first day of trading. CBS decided to spin off CBS Outdoor into a separate publicly traded company because executives believed billboard advertising did not fit well with CBS's primary business of broadcasting.
Electric car maker Tesla Motors rose $4.17, or 2%, to $211. The stock rise followed news that federal safety regulators had closed their investigation into allegations of battery fires without any penalty against Tesla. The company also said it would install more shielding around its battery packs.
King Digital Entertainment sank 86 cents, or 5%, to $17.66. The stock is now 22% below its initial public offering price of $22.50 since making its market debut on Wednesday. Many investors question whether King will be able to repeat the success of "Candy Crush," which has been far more successful than any of its other games.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury note hovered around 2.71%, up from 2.69% Thursday. The price of crude oil edged up 52 cents, or 0.5%, to $101.79 a barrel. Gold was little changed at $1,292.40 an ounce.


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Today we have two property crises running simultaneously: housing and retail. Britain faces the worst housing shortage in decades, while 54 retailers went into administration last year, leaving a blight of empty storefronts on the nation's high streets.
Unintended consequences could have a damaging effect
The government is now looking into a simultaneous solution by allowing the conversion of empty retail units into residential properties. With 7,000 vacant shops in London's high streets alone, these empty properties seem like the perfect solution to the UK's lack of homes.
While this proposal may appear logical, the government will need to consider the unintended consequences. The government's intention is to allow developers to quickly convert and make use of empty offices, but we have already seen numerous proposals for the conversion of fully occupied office stock in high-value residential areas.
Valuable retail space could be sacrificed
In the search for new housing stock, the proposals could sacrifice valuable retail space for the sake of residential. The retail industry makes an enormous contribution to the economic success of a region and the country as a whole, so shrinking the size of it could have a serious impact on areas' economic recoveries.
While the need for new housing is clear, there is also the danger that retail-to-residential conversion would exacerbate the current divide between the north and south of the country. In London, where the values for prime residential properties are higher, there will be greater demand for conversions. Without proper controls and safeguards this could shrink local retail centres. In the north, however, conversions would be less appealing.
Clear strategy over management of conversions is needed
The government needs to clarify how conversions would be managed from a town planning and community development perspective. There must be checks to ensure that retail stores within a town are grouped together to make it easily accessible and convenient for potential customers. Interrupting the flow of a high street with flats and houses will affect the strength of the high street and could damage the remaining retailers.
Unlike disused offices, which have been converted into housing and have contributed new homes and helped breath new life into previously deserted areas, retail outlets pop up in many smaller residential locations where stores perform an important function for the community. This proposal could put many of these locations at risk. Prime retail space in town centres should be protected – even if the shop is currently empty at the time.
This article featured on the the Guardian Housing Network and was written by Adam Mirley, Director of Planning and Development Consultancy at Lambert Smith Hampton.
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Mi Air Charge technology has been unveiled by Xiaomi. The charging technology takes wireless charging to the next level while being truly wireless. It means that devices can be charged without the need for a charging cable or stand.
Xiaomi claims that the new Mi Air Charge Technology can be used to wirelessly charge multiple devices at the same time. “Charge multiple devices simultaneously while you're gaming, walking around or even when something's in the way, no strings attached. Another giant leap forward in wireless charging technology,” the company’s official handle tweeted.
Xiaomi Global CEO Lei Jun further revealed that the charging tech has been developed through the company’s space positioning and energy transmission tech. It has a built-in 5-phase interface antenna, which can accurately detect the position of the device to charge it. The phase control array composed of 144 antennas can emit millimetre waves through beam-forming.
On the smartphone side, Xiaomi has also developed a miniaturised antenna array with built-in “beacon antenna” and “receiving antenna array”. Beacon antenna broadcasts position information with low power consumption. The receiving antenna array composed of 14 antennas converts the millimetre wave signal emitted by the charging pile into electric energy through the rectifier circuit


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While China still ranks top in this year’s Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, supply chain industry executives indicated that China's slowdown and falling oil prices are major concerns for logistics companies. Executives reveal they are bracing for more volatility in the global economy.
This is the seventh year Agility Logistics and research firm Transport Intelligence (Ti) have released the survey. The index offers a snapshot of logistics industry sentiment and ranks the world’s 45 leading emerging markets based on their size, business conditions, infrastructure and other factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and distributors.
Whereas disasters and corruptions are typically the top threats identified by logistics professionals when considering Asia, this time the study found that nearly 55% of respondents pointed to China’s economy and the hurdles it faces over the next two or three years as their top concern. More so, 38% said they are reassessing their China strategy as a result. Sluggishness in the Chinese economy has prompted 22% to re-examine their overall emerging markets strategy.
“The region’s worries about China are understandable,” said Chris Price, chief executive of Agility Asia-Pacific. “Other countries fear a slowing China means a weaker currency that will hurt their competitiveness. At the same time, China’s suppliers – from mines in Africa to component makers in Asia – are concerned that demand for their products could fall significantly.”
Even though China was still the leading emerging market, India, which climbed two places to third, was felt to be the country with the highest growth potential. The United Arab Emirates, which ranked second, was seen as having the best business climate and the best infrastructure and transport connections.
Other top rankings were Malaysia, four; Saudi Arabia, five; Brazil, six; Indonesia, seven; Mexico, eight; Russia, nine; and Turkey, 10, with Malaysia overtaking Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Indonesia in the index.
“Malaysia has shown a sustained commitment to economic diversification and to its drive to develop and upgrade its infrastructure,” said Mr Price. “It has world-class ports, airports, road and rail networks, industrial parks and technology parks. It is going to lead the way as the Asean [Association of South-East Asian Nations] countries continue to work toward economic integration.”