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Research In Motion Ltd. (Nasdaq: RIMM) plunged the most in 11 weeks after saying revenue missed its forecast last quarter amid accelerating market-share losses for BlackBerry smartphones and PlayBook tablets to Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL)
Third-quarter revenue was “slightly lower” than the $5.3 billion to $5.6 billion the company had projected and earnings were “at the low to mid point” of its forecast, according to an unscheduled statement from Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM today. RIM said it doesn’t expect to meet its full-year profit target.
The shortfall — the fourth straight quarter sales missed analysts’ estimates — puts more pressure on co-Chief Executive Officers Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis as they seek to revive a company that once dominated the U.S. smartphone market. RIM’s market-share decline has prompted investors such as Jaguar Financial Corp. to call for a change in leadership and for RIM to divide into separate companies or seek a sale.
“The next question from a management perspective is do they need someone different? They cannot keep going on the same course forever,” said Bahl & Gaynor Investment Counsel’s Matt McCormick, whose firm oversees $4.1 billion. McCormick, speaking from Cincinnati, said he’s “glad” his firm doesn’t own RIM stock.
RIM fell 8.7 percent to $16.97 at 10:16 a.m. New York time after dropping as much as 9.9 percent, the most since its previous sales miss in September. The stock had lost 68 percent this year before today, while Apple advanced 20 percent.
RIM will record a $485 million pretax provision to revalue the inventory for the PlayBook tablet, which has failed to win over users in a market dominated by Apple’s iPad. RIM said more promotions are needed to drive demand for its tablet, whose shipments fell (RIMM) to 150,000 units last quarter, less than a third of the 500,000 tablets RIM shipped in the first quarter after they went on sale in May. In its most recent quarter, Cupertino, California-based Apple sold a record 11.12 million iPads.
“When the PlayBook is supposed to be the savior and it’s not, where do you go,” McCormick said.Research In Motion (Nasdaq: RIMM), the struggling maker of the BlackBerry phones, is writing off much of its inventory of PlayBook tablets, since it has to sell them at a deep discount.
The Canadian company, which operates a research and development office in the Triangle, said that it’s taking a pre-tax charge of $485 million in the just-ended quarter to account for the declining value of the tablets. The model originally priced at $500 now costs $200.
RIM launched the tablet this spring. Reviewers puzzled over the lack of email software, saying the device seemed half-baked. RIM now promises updated software in February.
(Bloomberg and The AP contributed to this report.)
Get the latest news alerts: Follow WRAL Tech Wire at Twitter.


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You may have already heard about the latest Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge leaks that invaded the Internet recently (courtesy of Evan Blass). Perhaps to further increase the buzz for its upcoming flagship devices, Samsung has decided to set up an official launch website for the two smartphones. What should delight Android fans is the fact that the website comes with a new promotional video for the Galaxy S7 Edge that teases about the device’s features. As for the Galaxy S7’s teaser video, it mainly touches on the handset’s Gear VR platform.
In the video called “Get Ready for the #NextGalaxy,” what appears to be the new Galaxy S7 Edge is displayed getting rained on. Based on this teaser, could we expect the Galaxy S7 Edge to have water resistance capabilities. Samsung has actually included water proofing features in earlier Galaxy devices before, especially with the Galaxy S5 released in 2014. But the flagship devices that debuted last year -- the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 Edge -- were not water resistant (officially), with the South Korean phone maker deciding instead to include this capability in the Galaxy S6 Active handset. If the Galaxy S7 Edge does turn out to be water resistant, Android fans (especially those outdoor types) should have more reason to celebrate.
The promotional video also depicts a specific handset strapped to the arm of Indonesian archer Dellie Threesyadinda, and apparently being used with Samsung’s Gear S2 smartwatch in tracking heart rate. We can then assume that the tech giant’s new flagship devices have some interesting health and fitness related features to offer.
Wireless charging capabilities are also hinted at in the video. However, considering that wireless charging has been built into last year’s Galaxy S6 smartphones, this may not be too surprising. But still, there is reason to hope that despite the feature having already existed in earlier Galaxy devices, the one sported by the Galaxy S7 devices should be more polished.
Also, the video finishes with a camera related shot of the incoming handset. This should be connected to the “bring light to the night” tagline seen in one of the teasers, and should no doubt hint at better low light capabilities of the upcoming devices’ cameras.
It is interesting to note though that the teaser never makes mention of any pressure sensitive display screen (as previously rumored). Also, the new flagship devices appear to have about the same designs as the current Galaxy S6 devices. Sure, plenty of cool new features are hinted at, but those expecting new designs might be a tad disappointed. Still, what we have is just a tease, after all. By next week, we should have more knowledge by then of the real McCoy.
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Missie naar Singapore International Agri-Food Week
dinsdag 31 oktober 2023Singapore
OrganisatorNederlandse ambassade in Singapore
Evenement dataVan 31 oktober 2023 09:00 Tot 2 november 2023 21:00
From Monday 30 Oct to Friday 30 Nov, Singapore will organize the third edition of the Singapore International Agri-Food Week (SIAW). As stated on SIAW’s website, “SIAW spotlights the latest innovations in supply chain resilience, urban food systems, sustainable proteins and affordable nutrition. It provides global industry leaders a platform to exchange ideas and supports the building of a vibrant agri-food ecosystem in Asia.” Similar to last year, SIAW will welcome an international audience of tech innovators, producers, manufacturers, food brands, retailers and investors. The 2023 edition will once again be organized by Singaporean state holding company Temasek. The Netherlands Embassy will participate in SIAW at the Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia with a 36 m2 lounge and a two-hour seminar. All Dutch agri-food players are invited to use the lounge for networking and meetings and participate in the seminar as a speaker.


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Three-year-old IT firm set to hit £1.1m in sales
A young entrepreneur who set up a cloud computing company – where hardware and software resources are provided over the internet – in 2009 has seen its turnover rise sixfold since its first full year.
Cloud Business, which counts Vodafone, online fashion retailer Asos and sandwich shop chain Pret A Manger among its clients, is on track to achieve sales of £1.1 million for 2012.
Backed by the Cass Entrepreneurship Fund – a £10 million venture capital fund investing in start-up and earlystage companies – James Butler, 31, set up Cloud Business in Guildford, Surrey, after six years working at Microsoft.
Pret has since used it to move the email system for its 290 shops to a single cloud service and City law firm Clifford Chance has used the company to adopt instant messaging for its staff communications.
In June, Cloud Business won the 2012 Microsoft Office 365 Commercial Partner of the Year Award.
Butler said: ‘In these competitive times I believe we will see a significant uptake in retail customers opting to shift core services to the cloud.’
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|Hardware / design|
SummaryYou're all clear, kid. Let's blow this thing and go home! But with the blast shield down,
Apple iPhone with a smaller screen span is rumored to be available in a bright pink color option. This pink color is said to be close to the pink color options available on the iPod line of devices.
The Mac Otakara site said did not see the iPhone with this color choice directly. However, according to sources quoted by him, the pink color is different from the Rose Gold iPhone model, and is considered an indication that Apple is introducing a new color choice on its smartphone.
iPhone 5se is reported to be available in three color choices, namely Silver, Space Gray and Pink. However, Apple author Mark Gurman expressed his doubts regarding this report. Through his Twitter account, Gurman said Apple would not change the color choices on the new iPhone.
The smaller iPhone will reportedly be called the 6c and will launch in March. This phone is also called the successor of the iPhone 5c, a cellphone with a plastic wrapped body that has been discontinued.
At the event that will be held in March, Apple is rumored to be launching a new iPhone, as well as an Apple Watch with a FaceTime camera and iPad Air 3.


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Get Free Eddie Wu Updates
we are to you myFT Daily Digest Latest email rounding eddy woo News every morning.
When Alibaba co-founder Eddy Wu Yongming went on his own eight years ago, he didn’t stray too far from his mentor Ma.
For the investment fund he set up, he chose an office in the central Hangzhou Wetlands with several ponds where Ma held court and practiced tai chi. Wu also remained a special assistant to Ma and a member of the Alibaba partnership, which serves as the de facto board of directors of the group.
“Jack and Eddie have a close and trusting relationship.” A former Alibaba executive said.
Nearly 20 years after founding Alibaba with Ma and 16 others, the 48-year-old Wu is set to preside over the dismantling of the tech empire they built. Wu takes over as chief executive in the fall, and the group’s vice-president, Joe Tsai, rises to chairman.
Alibaba is betting that slimming down and returning to its e-commerce roots will help it regain market share it has surrendered to fledgling online platforms like Pinduoduo and ByteDance’s Douyin. While e-commerce platforms Taobao and Tmall are set to remain the group’s main wholly-owned businesses, it is spinning off other major lines of business, from food delivery to supermarkets.
“Eddie and Ms. Ma really have a symbiotic relationship,” said a longtime Alibaba employee. “Eddie admires Mr. Ma’s ideas and philosophy and will excel in executing his vision,” he said.
According to group officials, Jack Ma will remain without an official position at Alibaba, but plans to become more involved. On Tuesday, pictures of Jack Ma drinking farewell coffee with outgoing CEO Daniel Zhang at Alibaba headquarters flooded the Chinese Internet.
Ma faces the delicate task of designing Alibaba’s turnaround without raising alarm bells in Beijing. Senior Communist Party officials may worry about his attempts to revive the political clout that precipitated his downfall after crusading speeches in Shanghai more than two years ago.
“Considering the 2020 speech, it’s telling of Jack’s situation that he may not be fully reinstated,” said author Duncan Clarke. Alibaba: The House Ma Built. “Having a proxy makes sense,” he said.
The former Alibaba executive said Ma had no interest in returning to day-to-day work. “Jack is playing the architect. What he knows best is people and how to connect them,” he said. “Jack is trying to bring Alibaba back to its roots. As it grew in scale, the culture was diluted.”
After graduating from college in 1996, Wu joined Ma’s startup, China Pages, as one of the first developers. “My mom told me about the business and the vision. I found him to be witty and inspiring.
Soon China Pages spun off and Ma took some of the team to Beijing to run a website for the Chinese Ministry of Trade. In an interview with the Financial Times, China Pages co-founder He Yibing recalled:
“At one time we imported some computer workstations and servers, and all the manuals were in English. My English was not very good, but to assemble the machine, I checked the words in the dictionary and read the manuals. I jumped in.”
After Ma left Beijing, Wu was one of 18 co-founders who stacked up in his Hangzhou apartment to create his next venture, Alibaba, in 1999. “He was a talented young man who believed in Jack and Jack believed in him,” he said.
A few years later, Ma put him in charge of building Alimama, an advertising engine that would make money for the company’s e-commerce business. Several employees have said that internally she earned the nickname Mama Wu during her time working there.
“Part of the Alimama moniker comes from setting up Alimama, but also because Mama Wu was always looking out for us and fixing bugs or tweaking new architectures,” said a former Alimama team member. “He always finds a way to solve a problem.”
“As a co-founder close to Ma, he was always able to get us the resources we needed,” he added.
Wu then created the Taobao shopping app, which quickly developed into an important part of Chinese consumers’ daily shopping habits. After Alibaba’s New York listing, he became Ma’s special assistant. For a period of time, he followed Jack Ma everywhere, people close to the two said.
In 2015, Wu stepped down from Alibaba to lead the healthcare sector, launching Vision Plus Capital, a venture capital firm set up next to Jack Ma’s personal office in Wetland. The group has helped several Alibaba employees venture out on their own, such as Qiang Hui of Come-Future, a digital healthcare company, and Jerry Wang of Tuya. According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, it currently has more than $1 billion in assets under management.
Several Alibaba employees have suggested that Wu’s investment experience will benefit the group as it transforms into a holding company that manages the revenues from the spin-offs of Taobao and Tmall.
Wu’s first mission is to reverse the platform’s decline. Ma is pushing the group to refocus on small and medium-sized Taobao sellers instead of the big brands dominating Tmall. Last month he told his staff that Alimama, an advertising platform created by Wu, was key to the group’s future.
“The company kept changing its strategy without real results,” said one Alibaba manager. “The main problem lies in management. There hasn’t been a really good leader since Jack Ma,” the man said.
Additional reporting by Nian Liu from Beijing
#Eddie #prepares #run #Alibaba #empire #built #mentor #Jack


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"In the very demanding North American market with many obstacles to overcome in order to foster the performance of the company, Carlos Zarlenga is the best leader among our talent pool to replace Mark Stewart and to drive the change in our business model towards electrification in the region," Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said in a statement.
"Carlos Zarlenga has demonstrated his ability to bring together and unite diverse teams and to deliver the expected results. I would like to thank Mark Stewart for his contribution to this role after a three-year cycle, corresponding to the date of creation of Stellantis and I wish him the best in his new position."
Stewart, who became COO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles North America in 2018, has roots in the area. In 2022, he and Antonio Gamez Galaz bought the Fisher Mansion in Detroit for $4.9 million — the highest price paid for a home in the city's history.
Stewart was named a 2019 Crain's Detroit Business Newsmaker, in large part for his role in seeing through a plan for a new factory to assemble the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and a three-row Jeep SUV.
The executive joined the automaker from Amazon, where he was vice president of operations for Amazon, managing customer fulfillment across 200 facilities with 180,000 employees. Before that, he was at ZF TRW Automotive.
Stewart leaves after a year in which Stellantis was the only major automaker to post lower U.S. sales. The company’s 1.2% decline in 2023 contrasted with a 13% gain for the overall market. Sales fell 6.1% for Jeep — the brand’s fifth consecutive drop after nearly surpassing 1 million sales in 2018 — and 1% for Ram.
His departure also comes only a few months after the company reached a new labor agreement with the UAW that was significantly more costly than anticipated. UAW officials said Stellantis more than doubled the value of its contract offer by the end of the union’s six-week strike against the Detroit 3.
During the contentious negotiations, after union leaders had heavily criticized Stellantis as stubborn and stingy, Stewart held an impromptu news conference “to get the record straight” and defend the automaker’s proposals.
“We've got to have a viable industry for the Big Three,” Stewart said. “At the end of the day, we have to be able to compete against the non-union competitors here in the U.S. — be it Tesla who is already at a much lower cost structure to us, be it the transplants.”
Stewart was praised within the company for supporting its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, which included the creation of the National Black Supplier Development Program in 2021.
"It's an idea that addresses the need to take direct, decisive and intentional actions to bring economic opportunities to our community here, to those that have been denied equal access to the marketplace for far, far too long," Stewart said of the supplier initiative.
Lottie Holland, Stellantis’ director of diversity, inclusion, engagement and Equal Employment Opportunity compliance, said Stewart empowered her to start holding diversity and inclusion town halls, which the company had never done previously.
Zarlenga takes charge as prepares to launch its first electric vehicles in North America this year. Dodge, Jeep and Ram are all looking to stake a claim in the fledgling EV space with a mix of vans, crossovers, performance cars and pickups.


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When it comes to picking top CEOs, Domino’s Pizza Inc.‘s (NYSE: DPZ) former head Patrick Doyle often gets left out of the conversation. This is unfortunate considering his record of accomplishment. In fact, since Doyle took the reins, Domino’s shares have increased by approximately 20-fold (1,960%), significantly higher than Apple and Alphabet at 370% and 550%, respectively.
After starting off 2018 with a blistering 50% gain, shares sold off as investors digested results from the recently reported second quarter. Investors were unnerved that comparable-store sales in the international segment only rose 4%, versus expectations of 5.1%. Patient long-term investors should use this opportunity to buy shares in a well-run company.
Domino’s is well-situated in pizza
Domino’s stock gains were greatly aided by missteps from other large nationwide chains, particularly Yum! Brands‘ (NYSE: YUM) Pizza Hut, the No. 1 pizza restaurant. Last year the company dismissed calls to divest the struggling brand and instead invested $130 million to grow sales. This year the company assumed the title of “Official Pizza of the NFL” after Papa John’s International (NASDAQ: PZZA) and the NFL ended their longtime partnership.
Per data from Pizza Today, Pizza Hut has been the slowest-growing pizza purveyor among the top four over the last six years, growing gross sales approximately 4.2% per year versus 7.8% for Domino’s. This allowed the latter to significantly narrow the gap between the No. 1 and No. 2 pizza chains.
Papa John’s has seen its once-considerable third-place lead shrink under challenge from a resurgent Little Caesars Pizza, which has more than doubled Papa John’s 7.5% growth rate. More recently, Papa John’s has seen revenue and earnings go the wrong way as the company has struggled in the wake of its messy breakup with the NFL and subsequent controversy.
It’s possible Little Caesars will overtake Papa John’s soon; it may be the biggest risk to the others, because of its massive growth rate and hyper-discounting approach to sales.
The biggest risk is not from restaurants
New CEO Richard Allison faces a different risk than Doyle, and it’s likely the competition will become fiercer. Throughout Doyle’s leadership, Domino’s biggest competitive advantage was its heavy investment in technology, particularly in its app. The former CEO’s approach was best summed up by his comments that “we’re as much a technology company as we are a pizza company.”
Mom-and-pop restaurants — pizza and otherwise — simply could not afford to invest in app technology, and Domino’s nationwide competitors initially failed to see its potential. As a result, Dominos first-mover advantage into the space led to strong growth and customer loyalty.
This advantage is being threatened on multiple fronts. First, nationwide pizza chains have spent significant money on technology, building out their app experience.
Domino’s biggest competitor, however, isn’t another restaurant — it’s the rise of delivery apps like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Amazon Restaurants. These technology-first companies have partnered with restaurants to provide an out-of-the-box solution that strikes at the heart of Domino’s competitive advantage.
Domino’s is taking the challenge head-on
What’s notable in that in the face of strong U.S. competition from food delivery apps, particularly in the United States, Domino’s continues to post strong growth rates. While the company’s international segment provided lower-than-expected performance, the company’s U.S. same-store sales increased at a rapid 6.9% clip, on par with analyst expectations.
Even with the recent sell-off, shares remain richly valued via traditional metrics, trading hands at 31 times forward earnings, which is nearly double the greater market’s valuation of 17. However, Domino’s deserves this rich valuation, having grown its top line 24% and net income 17% in the prior quarter.
While the competition will only get more difficult from here, Domino’s is well-situated to withstand competition from app-delivery companies while taking advantage of missteps from other pizza restaurants.
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Paraphrase.biz launches a package of four services that will be offered to customers at one simple price
London, UK 29th November, 2016 - Paraphrase.biz has confirmed that it has launched a new package that includes four services. The package is targeted towards different students and its going to be availed at a very simple cost just to make sure people take advantage of these services.
Paraphrase.biz says that for the last few years many people have really trusted its expertise in paraphrasing. But that is not all; the company has also been a major play in offering summarizing, editing and also proofreading services. In light of this, Paraphrase.biz has decided to combine these services together and the paraphrase expert is confident the package will really work.
Paraphrase.biz has said that it has realized that most students who seek paraphrasing service also go ahead and seek proofreading, summarizing, and even editing. Instead of having to pay for each of these services, now the customers will only pay one flat fee. Complete value for money and customers looking for paraphrase online services will definitely love this.
The most important thing is to make sure that the quality of paraphrasing is high and it seems this cannot happen if proper summarizing is not done. The same also applies with proofreading and editing. It is clear that the company wants to offer the best value for its customers and as many students continue to rely on paraphrasing online, they will definitely love what Paraphrase.biz is offering.
The company notes that it has helped so many students over the years. This is something the experts here take with so much pride and the new package will make it possible for even more students to benefit. You can visit the paraphrase website anytime and order the new package anytime for the full benefits.


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Amidst trade constraints imposed on key commodities like wheat, rice, and sugar, India anticipates a significant dent of approximately $4 billion to $5 billion in its export revenues for the current fiscal year. An informed source disclosed this development on Thursday, attributing the plunge to India's regulatory measures aimed at stabilizing escalating domestic prices.
As the world's second-largest producer of wheat, rice, and sugar, India's recent restrictions on exports have sparked concern about the economic impact both domestically and internationally. Notably, the threats of attacks in the Red Sea region pose an additional risk to basmati rice shipments, potentially exacerbating the export shortfall.
Addressing these challenges, Indian authorities are contemplating an alternative shipping route through Africa for basmati rice deliveries if continuous assaults by Yemen's Houthi group persist. However, this re-routing strategy could potentially elevate prices by a considerable margin, estimated to range between 15% to 20%.
The ramifications of this alternate path might extend beyond basmati rice, affecting India's exports of long-grain rice to key markets such as Egypt and Europe. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to non-authorization, highlighted the potential ripple effects on these established trade channels.
Despite the constraints imposed on the export of specific agricultural commodities like wheat and rice, Rajesh Agarwal, an additional secretary in the trade ministry, remains optimistic about mitigating the export deficit. Agarwal noted, "If we exclude agricultural commodities subjected to export controls, such as wheat and rice, exports showcase a growth rate exceeding 4%."
Furthermore, data compiled by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) illustrates a contrasting trend. It indicates a surge in exports of meat, dairy products, cereal preparations, as well as fruits and vegetables during the April to November period of the ongoing fiscal year.
While the curbs on certain agricultural exports might lead to a substantial shortfall, the upsurge in other farm commodities presents a promising trajectory, hinting at a potential balance that could help India sustain its overall export figures despite the prevailing challenges.
This ongoing situation underscores the delicate balance India must navigate between domestic price control measures and international trade dynamics to maintain its foothold in the global market.


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The rise of crypto-related crime has compelled global regulators to take decisive actions to safeguard investors from exploitative activities. On Friday, the UK-based law enforcement unit National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) suspended 43 domains used in orchestrating fraudulent activities.
According to the report, the NFIB discovered multiple fake emails purporting to work under prominent crypto exchanges such as Blockchain.com. The discovery of the fake emails from Blockchain.com forced the NFIB to intensify its investigation to obtain substantial evidence.
UK Authority Clamping Down Fake Websites
In a subsequent statement, the acting commissioner of the City of London Police, Pete O’Doherty, stated that the suspicious domains were legally registered. The commissioner noted that “actionfraud.info” and “department-fraud.com” were the domains the authority blocked.
He stated that immediately after the NFIB identified the fake domains, the regulators ordered the websites to be blocked. In addition to blocking the suspicious websites, the NFIB implemented preventive measures to protect investors.
The law enforcers urged the fraud victims to report the matter through the NFIB official website. The report demonstrated that the NFIB commenced the investigation of fraudulent schemes last year.
In December, the NFIB suspended around 300,000 fake websites linked to fraudulent schemes. The NFIB report noted that with the advancement in technology criminals devised creative approaches to lure customers into their dubious schemes.
Law enforcers observed that criminals implemented phishing scams to rob customers of their hard-earned money. The hackers claimed the customers won rewards such as Tupperware sets to entice them to their fraudulent schemes.
Rise of Crypto Crime
As customers moan over the loss of substantial amounts, the NFIB has shifted its focus on analyzing fraud-related crimes in the finance and crypto sectors. The NFIB’s ongoing investigations mirror the regulatory approach taken by global regulators to apprehend criminals looming in the crypto industry.
A recent report dated January 20 demonstrated that phishing scams are effective method criminals use to steal from the crypto community. Also, the report illustrated that the hackers launched a phishing link tied to the famous hardware wallet manufacturer Trezor.
The phishing incident on the Trezor platform exposed around 66,000 users to the loss of confidential information. Shortly after the matter was reported, 41 customers confirmed that after clicking the phishing link, they were directed to provide confidential information, including wallet details.
Factors Contributing to Phishing Attacks
Days after the Trezor incident, the crypto community reported a phishing attack linked to prominent Web3 companies. The report demonstrated that the hackers launched around 11,499 phishing links in January.
A review of the phishing link the hackers purported to work with Manta Network, AltLayer, OpenSea, Optimism, zkSync, and SatoshiVM. Furthermore, the crypto community regretted that the hackers used fake token airdrops to defraud investors.
The damages caused by the phishing attacks forced the regulators to take immediate action to address the concern. On January 24, law enforcer noted the hackers compromised the email marketing company MailerLite.
A report from the probing team indicated that the MailerLite employee fell into the hacker trap and clicked the phishing link. The MailerLite employee followed the instructions on the fake link and completed the Google sign-in page. Shortly after the employee completed the registration process, the hackers accessed Web3 accounts to steal customers sensitive data.


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GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — It certainly didn’t feel like Christmas but on Saturday in Greenville, many people gathered at Pitt Street Brewery to celebrate it.
On Saturday, vendors set up shop inside Pitt Street Brewery to partake in the second annual Christmas in July market. The event featured a number of local artists and businesses showcasing their work.
While many people are feeling the summer heat here in Eastern North Carolina, others were focusing on a different season that is just around the corner. Believe it or not, Christmas is six months away, and local vendors were spreading the cheer this weekend with some early holiday shopping.
“Pitt Street in particular has been really supportive of me as an artist and a poet and just in general,” said local artist Gabrielle Brant Freeman. “It’s just been really nice that they make an effort to have shows in the hallway and have these markets.”
Supporting local is one way Pitt Street is giving back this July, offering the opportunity for the community to gather for some early holiday cheer.
“It’s just fun and if you are the type of person that likes to get your shopping done early, shop local,” said Freeman. “The only way to keep artists in Greenville is to actually buy from the artists.”
Adding to the event, Santa made a quick stop in town before the holiday preparations are in full swing later this year. He told 9OYS that he is ready to add some names to his naughty or nice list.
“Well, I’m visiting for this particular event and then on my way to vacation for a little bit and then am going to get started making our list, checking it twice and getting ready to go for the holiday season,” said Santa Claus.
The temperature is quite different here in eastern North Carolina compared to the North Pole.
“It’s a little toasty,” said Claus.
Santa said that although it is a little warm, it’s worth the stop to check in on us all, especially our local vendors.
“It’s not too long until the holiday season, but also it lets people get out and socialize on this warm summer day and it also lets locals vendors show what they have to offer and socialize and connect together.”
This is a one-day event, however many vendors and artists plan to be around the remainder of the summer here in Greenville showcasing their work.
After the past year we have had filled with COVID-19, people tell 9OYS they are thankful for the opportunity to gather together once again, this time with some pre-holiday cheer!


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A new report produced by Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet & Society and its Youth and Media Project in conjunction with Pew Research Center’s Internet and America Life Project explores issues surrounding parents, teens, and online privacy in an increasingly digital world.
The report, “Parents, Teens and Online Privacy,” found that the majority of parents of online teens (81 percent), are concerned about how much information advertisers can learn about their child’s online behavior. Seventy-two percent of parents surveyed are concerned about how their child interacts online with people they do not know, and 69 percent are concerned about how their child’s online activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities.
“There is a growing policy discussion about how government should act in an environment where personal information—about both children and adults—is widely collected, analyzed and shared as a new form of currency in the digital economy,” said Mary Madden, research associate for the project and a co-author of the report.
The data are based on a nationally representative phone survey of 802 parents and their 802 teens ages 12-17, conducted between July 26 and September 30, 2012. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. The margin of error for the full sample is ± 4.5 percentage points.


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MICROSOFT issued a warning regarding a new Windows 10 and 11 issue that fails to delete files even after a factory reset.
Microsoft attributes the error to its cloud storage service OneDrive, saying that files that have been downloaded or synced locally might linger even after the reset option has been employed.
"This issue might be encountered when attempting a manual reset initiated within Windows or a remote reset," the company wrote in their post.
Remote resets include those initiated from Mobile Device Management (MDM) or other management applications (i.e. Microsoft Intune or third-party tools).
However, OneDrive files that are “cloud-only” or have not been downloaded or opened on the device are not affected and will remain unaffected, even after a reset.
Rudy "Microsoft MVP" Ooms was reportedly the first to detect the bug after he found that remote and local wipes of systems running Windows 10 and 11 did not fully remove data and instead left them in the operating system's 'Windows.old' folder, according to Techradar.
The issue affects Windows 11, version 21H2; Windows 10, version 21H2; Windows 10, version 21H1; and Windows 10, version 20H2, according to Microsoft.
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Microsoft also noted that some device manufacturers and some documentation might call the "Remove everything" feature by another name, including "Push Button Reset", "PBR", "Reset This PC", "Reset PC", or "Fresh Start."
How to mitigate this issue
Microsoft detailed some steps that Windows users can take to mitigate this issue, including signing out or unlinking OneDrive before resetting their Windows device.
To see the process for unlinking, turning off, disabling, or uninstalling OneDrive, users can head to Microsoft's support page here.
Users also have the option of working around the issue on devices that have already been reset by deleting the 'Windows.old' folder via the Storage Sense in the Settings app (users can find the complete list of steps here).
Microsoft said that they working on a resolution for an upcoming release and will offer more information as it becomes available.
In other news, the creators of a chilling new horror game say that the title is so disturbing they've been forced to censor it on PlayStation.
Apple has announced updates to AirTags following claims that the coin-sized tracking devices are being used to stalk people.
And TikTok has announced new rules, banning users who deadname or misgender others.


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Back in December, I wrote an article regarding the Microsoft Tech Summit in Toronto, and how “it is an exciting time to be in technology.”
Over the 2-days and 80 amazing sessions, everyone gained insight into the tremendous promise and prosperity of the emerging digital era. Regardless of the industry or sector, you are in, or whether you are part of the government or a budding SMB entrepreneur, the same digital promise holds true across the board.
Given the breadth of its impact which permeates into all areas of our everyday lives, it is no wonder that digital transformation is one of the hottest topics globally. A testimony to this fact is that the World Economic Forum predicts that the digital economy will be worth over $100 trillion by 2025.
However, with the great promise, there is an even greater responsibility for business leaders to be champions of what a recent Harvard Business Review article called “digital reinvention.”
According to a study cited by HBR, only a minority of companies have taken the necessary steps toward reinvention, meaning that in conjunction with restructuring their businesses they are also investing “more money than their peers into an aggressive digital strategy based on new platform business models.”
Based on the HBR reported findings, this means that “most incumbent firms are failing to adjust to the digital era.”
In this context, these businesses would be wise to recognize that digital reinvention is not a case of “if” but rather “when.” Or to put it more succinctly the time is now, and organizations will either transform or be “transformed.”
So what does digital transformation look like in a practical sense?
As part of his presentation, at the Toronto Tech Summit, Arpan Shah spoke with Param Singh, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Mojio. For those unfamiliar with the company, Mojio’s platform provides drivers with simple, snap-in access to the data generated by their car through the company’s app. The app enables you as a driver to plan and record trips, share driving information and better understand the health of your car. Mojio’s ultimate goal is to provide a turnkey aftermarket “connected” car solution for consumers via their business partners, e.g., Mobile operators, Auto OEMs, etc.
While Mojio experienced tremendous success at an early stage, and at a furious pace, the resulting avalanche of incoming data through their app threatened to overwhelm the company’s existing platform within the year.
In Mojio’s case, digital reinvention or transformation came through management’s proactive decision to launch a second-generation platform 50 percent faster than anticipated, while avoiding an additional $1 million in estimated development costs.
The key point that I want to stress here is that digital transformation is not a one-time event, but reflects an attitude of perpetual curiosity, an openness to new ideas, and an unquenchable desire to achieve more.
For Mojio, this mindset has seen the company grow from a bold start-up to becoming the cloud platform of choice for the deployment of secure, connected car apps and services. In fact, Mojio, who is currently live in 5 countries, is now connected to more than 5000 unique vehicle models, with 500,000 paying subscribers who have driven 5,000,0000+ miles making them the leading platform in the aftermarket for connected cars.
Similar to the Microsoft Tech Summit in Toronto, which is what I referred to as being a “great coming together of innovative IT minds and creative solutions,” I am equally excited about sharing how your organization can make digital transformation real at Long View’s ACTIVATEDIGITAL2018 Conference in Guelph on the 27th of February.


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Just nine months ago, most of its members were valued at $1 billion or more. Today the largest market cap in the Internet Consultants/Designers sector is a mere $350 million – and shrinking.
Which doesn’t make Consultants/Designers the worst-performing Internet sector since last March. That dubious honor probably belongs to the E-tailer or Advertising/Marketing sectors.
But at least those two groups, decimated as they are, each contain a company with some kind of demonstrable market advantage. In the e-tail group, that’s Amazon.com, while ad services leader DoubleClick dominates its sector.
In contrast, the Consultants/Designers sector consists almost exclusively of
companies in serious survival mode. With stock prices and market caps dwindling rapidly, and with profits nowhere in sight for most, companies in this sector have been among the most aggressive in reducing expenses by cutting employees. In the past month alone, AGENCY.COM, marchFIRST, Viant, Scient and Organic have announced layoffs, and nearly all of the companies in the sector have issued Q4 warnings.
And there will be more warnings to come, for the sector’s potential revenue base continues to erode as Web-based companies die out and large corporations either cut back on their Internet spending or develop the internal expertise to do the jobs themselves. (Let’s face it; designing and building a Web site is no longer an esoteric art.)
Here’s what faces some of the biggest revenue generators in the sector (all figures are in millions):
Projected Q4 1999 Q4 Revenue Q3 Revenue RevenuemarchFIRST $235 $369 $138Sapient 139 138 82Scient 80 102 43AGENCY.COM 56 57 31Razorfish 50 77 104Viant 28 33 24Organic 25 37 26Digitas N/A 76 53Proxicom N/A 60 30iXL N/A 88 76Luminant N/A 38 30Xpedior N/A 51 41
The companies with fourth-quarter projections have issued warnings, but that doesn’t mean the ones that haven’t yet will have any good news to report.
As the numbers above make clear, demand for Internet consulting and design services continues to fall, and no one can say with any certainty when (or if) overall revenue growth. Until there is some clarity, this is a sector that investors should avoid.


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(Image: Rockstar Games) Take-Two Interactive, parent company to Rockstar Games, makers of the GTA franchise have confirmed that they have been hacked again. Following a monumental leak of early GTA VI footage, a hacker has now managed to infiltrate 2K's customer support database. 2K is Take-Two's publishing unit, and publishes games under the 2K Games, 2K Sports and 2K Play labels. 2K confirmed on September 20, that the hacker had indeed gained access of the customer support system using credentials of a vendor. Hey folks, please read an important message from our Customer Support team. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/yKI18eL7mY — 2K Support (@2KSupport) September 20, 2022 The company also confirmed that the hacker had sent out malicious emails to some of its customers, and suggested that they not act on any emails received from 2K Support. They also told users to change their passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Alternatively, you should also do a full … [Read more...] about Rockstar parent Take-Two Interactive confirms another hack
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Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Joe Bingham, a structural engineer from Ogden, Utah, was looking for a backyard game he could play with his seven kids, instead of driving everyone to a pickleball court 20 minutes away. Unable to find what he was looking for, he invented his own, called PaddleSmash . In the game, which combines elements of pickleball and Roundnet, two to four players use paddles to try to “smash” a ball into a five-sided court that sits on the ground. After tinkering with the game in his yard for a couple of years, Bingham teamed up with serial game-industry entrepreneurs Tim Swindle , who launched Utter Nonsense—which grew into a million-dollar, three-person business—and Scott Brown, who previously founded Marbles: The Brain Store, and Brainmaker Games. “When we got our hands on the prototype, we loved it,” says Brown. “We started showing it to our friends and network. Based on those initial conversations, the immediate … [Read more...] about Hunting For An Exciting Back Yard Family Game, This Dad Invented His Own. Now It’s Taking Off.
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Job hunters are all too familiar with red flags during the interview process, warning them to run away. It doesn’t happen too often, but once in a while, you can catch a break and find a wave of green flags, indicating that this will be the right fit. Here are green flags that you’re doing well, the interviewer is vibing with you and all signs point to a job offer. The Subtle Turning Point From Typical Interview Questions To A Casual Conversation There is a turning point in the interview when you notice a subtle shift in the conversation. The interviewer pivots from asking the traditionally bland, cliché questions, such as “please tell me about yourself,” and starts focusing on you as a human being. They’ll start pointing out your commonalities. You both live in the same town or attended the same college. The connection opens the door to pleasantries and playing a game of trying to think of the people you both … [Read more...] about Green Flags In An Interview That Signal You’ll Get The Job Offer
- A + A NEW DELHI (Sept 26): Apple Inc has begun manufacturing its new iPhone 14 in India, narrowing a technology gap with the device's main manufacturing base of China. Apple made the announcement on Monday, less than three weeks after the iPhone 14's unveiling. The company had worked with suppliers to ramp up manufacturing in India and shorten the lag with China in production from the typical six to nine months for previous launches, Bloomberg News reported in August. "We're excited to be manufacturing iPhone 14 in India," Apple said in an emailed statement on Monday, confirming the move. Apple, which long made most of its iPhones in China, is seeking alternatives as Xi Jinping's administration clashes with the US government and imposes lockdowns across the country that have disrupted economic activity. Foxconn Technology Group, its primary manufacturer of iPhones, studied the process of shipping components from China and assembling the iPhone 14 at its plant … [Read more...] about Apple begins making iPhone 14 in India three weeks after launch
This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on September 19, 2022 - September 25, 2022. An artist’s impression of the entrance of Arena (Photo by IJM Land) - A + A IJM Land Bhd will unveil its latest residential development — Arena — in its Seremban 2 township on Sept 25. The 3,800-acre township, comprising residential and commercial developments, was launched in 1995. Arena has a gross development value (GDV) of RM78.89 million and comprises 96 two-storey link homes. It occupies an eight-acre tract in the centre of Seremban 2. The freehold and individual-titled residential development is expected to be completed in October 2024. In an email interview with City & Country , IJM Land senior general manager (central region) Datuk Hoo Kim See says: “The name Arena itself evokes a sense of activity, where a healthy, active community is encapsulated within an equally lively and vibrant neighbourhood.” Arena comprises … [Read more...] about IJM Land to unveil Arena in Seremban 2 this month
Representative image Homegrown e-commerce marketplace Flipkart on September 20 announced the launch of ‘Medicines’ via its app through Flipkart Health+. Customers across India will now be able to access 83,000+ medicines and healthcare products through Flipkart via the new app-in-app experience powered by Flipkart Health+. Customers, both caregivers and patients, will now be able to order more than 48,000 prescription medicines with easy-to-use features such as “hassle-free upload of doctor prescriptions, effortless checkout process”, multiple payment options, Flipkart Health+ Wallet, etc. Additionally, Flipkart Plus members will also be able to utilise their SuperCoins to redeem offers. The facility will be available to customers spread across 20,000+ pin codes including remote areas, giving “millions access to medicines, wellness products, and healthcare supplies at affordable prices”. A statement released by Flipkart read: “Customers across India can now order a wide … [Read more...] about Flipkart now sells medicines online through Health+ app
A person uses a laptop. [SHUTTERSTOCK] Big-name YouTube channels — including those run by the Korean government, broadcasting companies and a popular hip-hop label — have fallen victim to hackers' attack due primarily to loose security. The YouTube channel of the Korean government was hacked around 3 a.m. on Sept. 3, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The name of the channel switched to SpaceX Invest, broadcasting a cryptocurrency-related video by Elon Musk. On Sept. 1 and 2, YouTube channels of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Korea Tourism Organization were hacked in a similar way. Other big YouTube channels, including those of hip-hop label AOMG, were hacked earlier this year. In July, seven channels under the local broadcaster SBS and magazines, such as Vogue Korea, were attacked. Individual YouTubers are no exception. A popular camping YouTube channel with 560,000 subscribers has been attacked, where a video on … [Read more...] about YouTube sites in Korea being hacked by crypto promoters
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin It’s mid-morning in the medieval town of Sarzana , slowly waking to what will be another hot summer day. I’ve traveled here from Lerici to get to know the southern Riviera countryside better, an area getting more attention from visitors enamored of the nearby coast. (I’ve also heard there’s a great pastry shop to visit, and, as someone who is no stranger to Italian sweets, need to check it out.) A few sight-seers are are out and about and you wonder if it’s too early in the day to gauge the tourist scene, but several minutes later a line of enthusiastic tourists from a just-docked cruise ship in La Spezia (about 10 miles away) suddenly appears, turning a corner. They march off happily, heading to a nearby church, and the streets quickly return to their residents-only calm. One place that’s hopping, though, is Pasticceria Gemmi in Sarzana’s historic center, as much a landmark to visit, for culinary travelers at least, as … [Read more...] about The Under-The-Radar Italian Dessert You Need To Try
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin WORCESTER, MA - JULY 5: A waitress cleans a table at Armsby Abbey, a restaurant in Worcester, Mass., ... [+] July 5, 2016. (Photo by Keith Bedford/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Does the option to leave a gratuity for a waiter or waitress encourage customers to sexually harass these employees? That's the message currently being promoted by the Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) , and echoed in dozens of recent news articles. It's a popular talking point. But it's not worth the paper it's written on. ROC is a controversial labor advocacy organization with its own history of alleged bad behavior; it was even sued by its own employees for illegal firings. But ROC's profile has been rising in recent years, with celebrities such as Jane Fonda and Amy Poehler embracing its cause ( if not the restaurant servers that ROC claims to represent ). ROC bases its argument on tipping and sexual … [Read more...] about Sexual Harassment Is Awful. But It Has Nothing To Do With Tipping.
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin At the close of 2017, Donald Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act , a landmark reform of federal tax code that has already begun to have sweeping effects on the U.S. economy and financial markets. From mid-October to mid-January, during which the legislation was deliberated, passed, and came into effect, the S&P 500 gained 9 %, and real GDP increased dramatically from 2.4 % to 3.1 %, according to the St. Louis Fed’s Real GDP Growth Rate Nowcast Q4 vs. Q2 (it’s adjusted to account for both seasonality and inflation). Among its far-reaching effects on the economy, the tax overhaul is likely to have significant effects on the economics of higher education, and particularly on the budgets of all types of colleges. In this article, I’ll examine how in many cases the Act is likely to generally benefit many campuses’ finances, likely offsetting other new costs it imposes directly or indirectly on colleges. … [Read more...] about The GOP Tax Bill Will Benefit Colleges — Even Those With Endowments It Now Taxes


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On April 4, acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu provided his remarks for the second year in a row at the Just Economy Conference hosted by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. He focused his remarks on the latest developments of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in its continuing efforts to elevate fairness in the financial industry.… Continue Reading
In connection with the petition to ban pre-dispute consumer arbitration agreements pending before the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on “forced arbitration,” Congressman Andy Barr (R-Ky.) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and the American Financial Services Association (AFSA) have voiced their strong opposition to further regulation of consumer arbitration. … Continue Reading
FDIC’s Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg recently gave remarks at the National Community Reinvestment Coalition on the FDIC’s economic inclusion strategy.
FDIC Commitment to Economic Inclusion
Chairman Gruenberg began by outlining the importance of federally insured bank accounts to the ability of individuals and families to participate in and fully benefit from economic opportunities. … Continue Reading
The CFPB issued a new circular advising remittance transfer providers that false advertising about the cost or speed of sending remittance transfers can be considered a violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act even if a provider’s disclosures are in compliance with the CFPB’s Remittance Rule. The circular is intended to address CFPB concerns regarding fees charged on international money transfers and false claims regarding the speed of such transfers. … Continue Reading
The D.C. federal district court has granted PayPal’s motion for summary judgment in its lawsuit challenging the CFPB’s prepaid card rule (Prepaid Rule) and vacated the Prepaid Rule’s short-form disclosure requirement as applied to digital wallets.
In 2016, the CFPB promulgated the Prepaid Rule, which requires a short- form and long- form account disclosure and requires an issuer to disclose its “most important fees” in the short-form disclosure.… Continue Reading
Our special guest is Malini Mithal, Associate Director of the FTC’s Division of Financial Practices. In this episode, which repurposes a recent webinar, we review highlights of FTC regulatory and enforcement activity in 2023 directed at protecting consumers and small businesses and discuss what to expect from the FTC in 2024 and beyond. … Continue Reading
On March 19th, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued an opinion in CFPB v. National Collegiate Master Student Loan Trust et al. (the “Trusts”). The issue before the Third Circuit was whether certain Trusts are “covered persons” subject to the Consumer Financial Protection Act (“CFPA”) and whether the CFPB was required to ratify the underlying action.… Continue Reading
On February 5, 2024, several national and Texas banking and business trade groups (Plaintiffs) filed a lawsuit challenging the final regulations (Final Rules) implementing the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (CRA) that were jointly adopted in October 2023 by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Federal Reserve Board (Agencies).… Continue Reading
The final rule issued in December 2023 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) amending its regulations at 12 CFR Part 328 (“Final Rule“), which address use of the official FDIC sign and banks’ advertising statements as well as misrepresentations of insured status and misuse of the FDIC’s name or logo, will take effect April 1, 2024, with full compliance required by January 1, 2025.… Continue Reading
New Federal Communications Commission TCPA rules will mean big changes for businesses, particularly comparison shopping websites, lead generators, and other companies that regularly contact consumers via phone or text message. This episode repurposes a recent webinar. After reviewing TCPA consent requirements for calls and texts and exceptions, we look at the impact of the U.S.… Continue Reading


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|Navigator promotion to win 200 Apple X iPhones
Navigator is launching a new campaign with its most amazing prize yet: the iPhone X.
The premium office paper brand is taking the campaign to all countries where Navigator products are sold and will run until June 30th 2018.
In order to win a prize, consumers only have to buy a Navigator paper ream and submit the code printed on the back at www.navigator-paper.com Participants will immediately find out if they are amongst the 200 lucky winners.
“When designing the campaign, the main idea was to reinforce the consumer’s perception of Navigator as an always evolving and innovative brand. These unique characteristics play a major part in the Navigator success and help turn this brand into the most recognised leading and premium one in its segment. Navigator chose the iPhone X as the prize as it is the most evolved Smartphone on the market right now” stated Ricardo Ferreira, Navigator’s global brand manager.
Navigator is accustomed to surprising its users with great prizes. Last year’s campaign featured 333 Apple Watches and attracted over 600,000 entries from more than 175,000 players in more than 110 countries.


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Sustainable sneaker brand Allbirds is reportedly set to go public, with a target valuation of £1.6 billion (approximately $2.2 billion USD).
Founded in 2014 by Tim Brown and Joey Zwillinger, Allbirds has become renowned for its eco-friendly approach to footwear in recent years, as well as its minimalist designs.
Now, taking things to the next level, the label is said to be prepared to offer 19.2 million shares, valued between $12 USD and $14 USD each.
This news follows a major 2020 for the brand who after collaborating with adidas in a bid to “lower footwear’s carbon dioxide emissions”, received $100 million USD in a round of Series E funding as it looked to diversify its products and open more physical retail locations.
More information regarding Allbirds’ IPO will be announced in due course.
In other footwear news, Nike has added the Air Max 95 to its “Running Club” collection.
Source: Read Full Article


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CHICAGO, March 8, 2005 —
— Today at National Manufacturing Week 2005, Microsoft Corp. announced its Plant-to-Enterprise Interoperability initiative with the support of ISA-95 standards that will extend its longtime commitment to the OPC standard for the shop floor. ISA-95 is an international standard that defines the terminology and models used in the integration of business systems at the enterprise level with control systems at the plant-floor level. Microsoft also recently joined and accepted a board position with the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA), a not-for-profit organization of manufacturers and information system providers focused on leveraging technology in order to better achieve business goals. MESA promotes the exchange of best practices, strategies and innovation in managing manufacturing operations and quality, and in achieving plant-floor execution excellence.
“Growing market dynamics and increased competition have made it necessary to integrate manufacturing operations into business performance metrics,” said Robert Mick, vice president of emerging technologies at ARC Advisory Group Inc. “Interoperability of business and operations systems is key, and Microsoft’s support of standards such as ISA-95 will accelerate industry adoption as well as hasten the development of implementation standards.”
Today’s announcement follows the unveiling of Microsoft’s Peak Performance Initiative, which recognizes four core areas designed to help manufacturers improve collaboration, improve operational performance, and accelerate insight and innovation across the manufacturing value chain. By improving collaboration and standard-based integration between shop floor applications and manufacturing enterprise systems, Microsoft, along with its industry partners, hopes to enable manufacturers to adapt and respond to changes, increase efficiency, drive down the costs of operations, and improve customer satisfaction.
“Microsoft is committed to helping manufacturers achieve operational excellence, and support for standards such as ISA-95 will help the industry by lowering integration costs and improving productivity across increasingly fragmented value chains,” said Celestine Vettical, worldwide director of Manufacturing Industry Solutions for Microsoft. “In a service-oriented landscape, standards are key to achieving interoperability between systems and applications across manufacturing business processes. Microsoft is well-positioned to deliver new business value and innovative business practices to manufacturers through the proliferation of the Microsoft®
.NET Framework, the extension of Web services infrastructure, and the continued innovation of its partner ecosystem.”
“We welcome Microsoft’s support for the ISA-95 standards,” said Sudipta Bhattacharya, vice president of Manufacturing Solutions Management at SAP AG. “The ISA-95 adoption initiative that SAP launched in June 2004 is further validated by the participation and support of Microsoft. The traction that we are now starting to see around interoperability within the manufacturing space will go a long way in enhancing manufacturing productivity, as well as help customers drive down their total costs of ownership.”
“Microsoft’s pledge toward interoperability is a significant step toward approaching this important issue through a standards-based road map. Several years back we all witnessed Microsoft’s commitment toward OPC, and today it is almost a de-facto standard within shop- floor systems,” said Dr. Ravi Gopinath, vice president of Engineering & Industrial Services for Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. “We believe this commitment will drive standards for shop-floor-to-business-systems interoperability.”
About Microsoft in Manufacturing
Microsoft, in conjunction with industry-leading partners, delivers enterprise solutions to a range of manufacturers including those in vertical industries such as automotive, chemical, consumer packaged goods, high technology, and oil and gas. These industry-specific solutions provide a flexible, scalable and reliable platform that enables businesses to be more agile and connected. As a result, manufacturers are empowered to shorten product development cycles, integrate operations with partners and suppliers, acquire and share intelligence in real time, and more easily communicate with customers. More information about Microsoft in manufacturing can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/manufacturing .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .


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Looking for a lovely pair of underwear for showing off your Boston College spirit? No problem — just cover your behind with a pair of Boston College undies from Victoria’s Secret’s Collegiate Pink line.
However, you might want to keep your undies under wraps (which is usually a good idea anyways). According to the Boston Herald, not everyone at the Catholic college is thrilled that Victoria’s Secret has included Boston College in the list of schools for their new college-themed collection. These new products feature the names of schools emblazoned on sweatpants, T-shirts, shorts, and yes, underwear. Products with the names of about 30 schools — including Boston College — are available. In exchange for this partnership, the schools receive an undisclosed amount.
What’s the fuss? Well, since Boston College is a Catholic and fairly conservative school, some feel that it’s thoroughly inappropriate for the school to partner with Victoria’s Secret. Although the college products themselves are not racy, the company is well known for marketing racy lingerie and other sexy products. As critics have pointed out, the college products have been displayed in the store in full view of not-so-Catholic attire. Read the rest of this entry »


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GlobalTranz is a full-service third-party logistics provider, bringing … U.S., and Inbound Logistics ranked GlobalTranz as #4 on their list of Top 10 3PL …
- Total Distribution, Inc. honoured as First Place Fleet Safety Award Winner by Florida Trucking Association
- ScS move to St. Modwen Liverpool
- CMA CGM to launch largest LNG-powered container ship in the world
- XPO Logistics awarded UK Border Force contract
- Editor’s Blog: Is this the end of Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
Logistics By: Shannon Steede


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VW says 1.23 million diesel cars have been refitted with software update
- Record-setting rally pushes on as S&P ends week up 3 percent
- Trump's Cohn Pick Most Bullish Sign Yet for Banks - Cowen
- Unusual 11 Mid-Day Movers: (IDXG) (INVN) (EBS) Higher; (SCON) (DTEA) (DLTH) Lower (more...)
- 21st Century Fox (FOXA) offers to acquire Sky for GBP10.75/share
- Coca Cola (KO) Announces James Quincey to Succeed Muhtar Kent as CEO; Kent to Continue as Chairman
A Volkswagen logo is pictured at the newly opened Volkswagen factory in Wrzesnia near Poznan, Poland September 9, 2016. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File Photo
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BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen said it has refitted 1.23 million diesel cars with a software update on pollution control systems as it pushes steps to overcome its emissions scandal.
The number of 1.2-litre and 2.0-litre diesel cars repaired has more than doubled within several weeks from 500,000 previously, a Volkswagen (VW) spokesman said.
The refitted cars include models from VW brand, Audi, Skoda, Seat and VW commercial vehicles, he said.
Some 5.6 million vehicles have so far been cleared for repair by Germany's motor vehicle authority KBA. Approval by the KBA is valid for countries throughout Europe where 8.5 million diesel cars are affected by VW's emissions test-cheating scandal. About 11 million cars are implicated globally.
(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; editing by Edward Taylor)
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China launches ID-based rail ticket system
Asia Pacific News.Net Friday 22nd January, 2010 China has launched a new system to issue railway tickets based on passengers' identity, a move aimed at curbing illegal ticket sales during the peak travel season of Chinese New Year.
Join the discussion below, or Read more at Asia Pacific News .Net.
#3 Jan 24, 2010
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“The new owner of Monsanto, synonymous with deadly chemical warfare and genetically modified plants, is ditching the name.”
The name of Monsanto (who developed the deadly herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War), a company who has brazenly modified our food, will lose the name (and stigma) forever. (Too bad the evil they have done won’t likely stop, but increase.)
Bayer said in a statement, “Monsanto will NO longer be a company name. The acquired products will retain their brand names and become part of the Bayer portfolio.”
Last month, Bayer announced it would sell off $9 billion in assets — as required by the U.S. Department of Justice in order to allow the sale to proceed. (This act is supposed to ensure competitiveness.)
This rebranding is nothing new; tobacco maker Philip Morris became Altria and infamous private military contractor Blackwater renamed itself Xe (and then later Academi after it was acquired by private investors).
It’s an attempt to erase our memories of the damage that’s been done.
But we won’t forget its genetically modified seeds, falsely marketed to the world as something that would produce higher crop yields, which are highly resistant to the Roundup herbicide it ALSO sells. (How convenient!)
Bayer says the goal of the merger is to “double its business and spur innovation, drawing from the expertise of both companies,” pledging to use the merger to “produce more new products for farmers, faster, and to leverage its market position to enhance sustainability efforts.” We shall see.
The merger has been described by most of the world as a “marriage made in hell.”
There are still a lot of unknowns but one thing that is known is that we will watch this new company with the same discernment that we watched Monsanto with. Stay alert.
Sources: Healthnutnews.com; NBC, June 4, 2018
via Monsanto Will Ditch Name Completely After Sale to Bayer | Humans Are Free


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Toyota is recalling some 158,500 Tundra pickup trucks for an issue regarding a potential fire risk involving their halogen headlamps.
Related: More Toyota News
Affected trucks are from the 2018-21 model years and were produced between June 2017 and March. The headlights allow the circuits for both the high- and low-beam bulb filaments to be energized at the same time when the high beams are switched on. Under some conditions, Toyota said in a statement that if the high beams are repeatedly left on for an extended period while the truck is idling or driving at low speed, there’s a possibility that the bulb connector could overheat and can result in an increased risk of a fire that can spread to other parts of the vehicle.
To fix the issue, dealers will modify the engine wire harness assembly and inspect the headlight bulb connector, bulb and headlight assembly. If a component is found to be damaged due to overheating, they’ll be replaced with new ones. Toyota will notify owners by Nov. 1, but if you have further questions in the meantime, you can call the automaker at 800-331-4331, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit its website to check their vehicle identification number and learn more.
More From Cars.com:
- Recall Basics: Everything You Need to Know
- My Car Is Recalled, But There’s No Fix Yet: What Do I Do?
- Why Can Dealers Sell Used Cars With Unfixed Recalls?
- More Recall News


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D-Mart on expansion drive, looks to take leased premises route
Mumbai: Supermarket chain D-Mart has chalked out aggressive expansion plans for the next two years at a time when many of its midsize rivals are going through a trough.
The retailer has 29 stores in Maharashtra and Gujarat, and is likely to double that number in the next two years. “The plan is to close financial year 2010 with 35 stores, up from 29," a D-Mart executive said.
A second executive said, on condition of anonymity, D-Mart will add 10-15 large-format stores of 30,000-40,000 sq. ft every year for the next two years. D-Mart did not reply to email queries.
Other midsize retailers either shut stores or reduced their number during the downturn. Chennai-based discount retailer Subhiksha Trading Services Ltd, shut 1,600 stores after defaulting on loans, vendor payments and staff salaries. Wadhawan Group’s retail brands —Spinach and Sabka Bazaar —closed more than one-fourth of their 200-odd stores last year.
Industry observers said D-Mart enjoys an edge due to its combination of large stores and a value platform.
Launched in 2001-02 by Avenue Supermarkets Pvt. Ltd, the chain has stores of 8,000-30,000 sq. ft, compared with up to 4,000 sq. ft for other typical supermarkets.
D-Mart executives credit the chain’s operating model for its smooth sailing. The chain pays its suppliers within 48 hours of delivery, gaining a 1-2% advantage on cost margin over other national retailers, claimed the first company executive mentioned earlier.
Thomas Verghese, chief executive of Aditya Birla Retail Ltd, said D-Mart is a “well-established mini-hypermarket player", but would face its “test" in the next three months as it competes with “hypermarkets, which are larger, offer international experience and strong value positioning".


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South Korean carmaker Hyundai is the second largest carmaker in terms of sales numbers in India. Hyundai’s plans for India will see the carmaker launch a barrage of new cars and SUVs in the coming years. In this post, we’ll take a look at 10 upcoming cars and SUVs that we will see from Hyundai in India over the next few years.
Launch Date: October 23, 2018
Hyundai finally showed off the all-new Santro tall-boy hatchback in an event earlier this month. The new Santro will finally be launched in India today and rival the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R on Indian roads. Hyundai claims to have already received over 14,000 bookings for the Santro in less than two weeks since the car’s unveiling On October 8.
The new Santro mixes the iconic tallboy design with Hyundai Fluidic Design 2.0 styling philosophy. The new Santro is powered by a 1.1-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine with 68 Bhp and 99 Nm of torque which comes paired to either a 5-speed manual or Hyundai’s first-ever AMT automatic gearbox. Expect prices for the new Santro to start at around Rs 3.87 lakhs.
Expected Launch – April 2019
The Hyundai QXi, which could bear the name Styx when it finally arrives on Indian roads in April 2019 is the Korean carmaker’s answer to the Maruti Vitara Brezza. The QXi was previewed by the Carlino concept seen at Auto Expo 2016 but the production SUV is expected to look more like a smaller version of the Creta when it is launched next year, with a few design highlights like the split headlamp design.
The QXi will be the first Hyundai sold in India to feature a turbocharged petrol engine. The unit in question is a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine capable of 110 Bhp and 170 Nm of torque. The diesel powerplant for Hyundai’s first sub-4-metre SUV will be the 1.4-litre engine found on the i20.
Kona Electric SUV
Expected Launch – mid-2019
Hyundai’s push towards electrification worldwide will see it launch fully electric and hybrid vehicles in India as well. The first fully electric vehicles from Hyundai for India will be the Kona electric SUV.
The Kona in all its forms including hybrid and full EV is already on sale in international markets. India is expected to get the Kona EV with the 64 kWh battery pack which has an EPA-rated range of 415 km on a single charge. The Kona is also expected to be assembled locally to help keep prices down.
Expected Launch – mid-2019
The Hyundai Elantra competes with the likes of the Toyota Corolla and the Skoda Octavia in the Indian market. The Korean carmaker unveiled the facelifted version of the Elantra to the world a few months ago in August, which brings with it a radical design makeover. The facelifted Elantra is expected to arrive in India by the middle of 2019.
The facelifted Elantra looks more aggressive thanks to a completely revised front end that features the company’s cascading grille along with sharp triangular headlamps with integrated LED DRLs and a revised front bumper. The taillamps too have been redesigned and look rather cool and the sedan gets a new rear bumper and sits on a set of brand-new alloy wheels and also gets a host of new features including a new 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a host of safety equipment.
All-new Grand i10
Expected Launch – late 2019
The next-generation Hyundai Grand i10 is expected to be unveiled in 2019 and has already been spotted testing in India. The new Grand i10 is expected to arrive in India by around October 2019, just in time for the festive season.
The Grand i10 will feature a revised design with a wider stance and will sport Hyundai’s trademark cascading grille. The hatchback will also sport larger and wider headlamps that like the ones on the Santro sit just above the grille. The rear will also see new wider taillamps as well. The new i10 is expected to retain its current 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engine options, though the current automatic gearbox will make for an AMT unit.
Expected Launch – early 2020
Hyundai is currently working on the next-generation of the Xcent compact sedan and the new car is expected to make its way onto Indian roads by early 2020.
The new Xcent is expected to be different in terms of design to new Grand i10, the hatchback it is currently based on. The new Xcent will also feature more room on the inside for passengers, especially those in the rear seat as it looks to rival the likes of the Maruti Dzire and Honda’s Amaze.
Next-gen Elite i20
Expected Launch – 2020
The next-generation of the Elite i20 premium hatchback is expected to arrive in India by 2020 and will bring with a big change under the bonnet and is expected to feature a big styling makeover.
The new Elite i20 will be powered by the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that will make its debut under the bonnet of the QXi compact SUV in 2019. The engine is rated for around 110 Bhp. There is also a chance that Hyundai could drop the 1.4-litre diesel motor due to stringent new BS-VI emission norms that come into effect on April 1, 2020.
Expected Launch – second half of 2020
Hyundai launched the current generation of the Verna sedan in India last year. The expected mid-life facelift of the new Verna is expected to arrive in India by the second half of 2020 and will bring with it major changes to the Maruti Ciaz and Honda City rival both in terms of design and performance.
The facelifted Verna will see the arrival of new 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines. The new diesel engine will be slightly less powerful than the current 1.6-litre unit but will meet the more stringent BS-VI emission norms that go into effect in 2020. The petrol engine is expected to be future proofed for the arrival of a hybrid setup, which could arrive a few years later down the line.
Expected Launch – late 2020
The Hyundai Creta has been a runaway success for Hyundai in India. The Creta is the second-best selling SUV in India with only the Maruti Brezza selling more units in the country. Hyundai is currently working on the next-gen Creta which will arrive in India sometime in late 2020. A seven-seater version of the Creta is expected to pop up in 2021.
The new Creta will be powered by a set of new 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines that will first be seen on the facelifted Elantra. The new Creta is also expected to feature a design makeover that will see it get a design similar to the one seen on the Kona electric SUV and other global Hyundai SUV models.
Expected Launch – 2021
The next-generation of the Hyundai Tucson is due to be unveiled in 2021 and will replace the Santa Fe in the carmaker’s global lineup. The new Tucson is expected to feature a host of new features to match its more premium placing in Hyundai’s lineup and will go up against the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and Honda CR-V in India.
The new Tucson (codenamed SU2) is larger in every dimension compared to the current SUV and will only be sold in 7-seater guise in India. The next-gen Tucson will feature new powertrain options that will be compliant with stricter Real Driving Emissions Cycle norms that will come into effect in 2023.


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If you're a moderate coffee drinker — that means up to 3.5 cups a day — you may live a longer life, according to a study recently published in Annals of Internal Medicine, an academic medical journal established by the American College of Physicians.
Over a seven-year period, researchers tracked the daily coffee intake and health outcomes of 171,616 participants, who had a mean age of 56 and were both cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) free. Participants who routinely drank between 1.5 and 3.5 daily cups of coffee were about 30% less likely to die than non-coffee drinkers, according to the results.
Within that specific time frame, a total of 3,177 deaths were recorded, including 1,725 cancer deaths and 628 CVD deaths. The specific type of coffee beverage — such as decaffeinated, instant or single origin — didn't impact the final results.
Additionally, researchers found that coffee drinkers enjoyed a longer life span even if their cup(s) of joe were sweetened with sugar. However, the study clarified that "the association between artificially sweetened coffee and mortality was less consistent."
"Previous observational studies have suggested an association between coffee intake and reduced risk for death," lead author Dr. Dan Liu said in a statement to Internal Medicine News, "but they did not distinguish between coffee consumed with sugar or artificial sweeteners and coffee consumed without."
For the record, Dr. Christina C. Wee, deputy editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine, noted that "the average dose of added sugar per cup of sweetened coffee [in the study] was only a little over a teaspoon, or about 4 grams."
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The recent research doesn't prove that coffee, on its own, decreased the overall mortality risk of participants. Other sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical factors, which weren't explicitly outlined, may also impact health outcomes.
The study, however, reminds us of the numerous health benefits of drinking coffee, which include associations with reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart, liver, and neurological disorders, such as depression and Parkinson's disease.
But don't forget: There's such a thing as caffeine toxicity.


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The change comes on the heels of hearings in Congress where insulin costs were held up for scrutiny.
Eli Lilly, under fire for soaring insulin prices, today announced it will introduce an “authorized generic” version of Humalog (insulin lispro), its fast-acting insulin that people with diabetes use to control blood glucose spikes that occur with meals.
The Indianapolis-based drug manufacturer said the price of the new generic will be $137.35 per vial, or 50% of the cost of the branded version. A 5-pack of Kwik pens will be $265.20, with both manufactured in the same facilities as the Humalog branded products through a subsidiary, ImClone Systems. Lilly said in a statement it would work with partners across the supply chain to get the generics to consumers as quickly as possible.
“We’ve engaged in discussions about the price of insulin with many different stakeholders in America’s healthcare system: people living with diabetes, caregivers, advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, payers, wholesalers, lawmakers and leading healthcare scholars,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Solutions that lower the cost of insulin at the pharmacy have been introduced in recent months, but more people need help.”
As Congress and President Donald Trump have vowed to crack down on the rising cost of prescription drugs, insulin has been singled out as the poster child for what’s wrong with the drug pricing system: patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) need the hormone to live, and yet many are rationing it because of rising prices. Insulin manufacturers insist the problem lies with pharmacy benefit managers and the system of rebates that forces ever-higher list prices to ensure that their insulin stays on insurer formularies, and pharmaceutical companies say that payer net prices have actually gone down.
But that’s little comfort to those without insurance, including some young adults with T1D who face difficult choices once they are too old to stay on their parents’ health plans. Reports of more incidents of diabetic ketoacidosis and even deaths have fueled bipartisan anger on Capitol Hill.
Both last week’s hearing in the Senate Finance committee and a January hearing in the House Oversight committee gave insulin costs special scrutiny; House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, cited a Yale study that found patients with diabetes are using less insulin than prescribed because they cannot afford it.
The list price for Humalog has climbed from about $21 per vial in 1996 to about $275 today. People who use it typically need about 2 vials per month. People who use fast-acting insulin often use a long-acting or basal insulin as well.
In its statement, Lilly said offering Insulin Lispro while keeping Humalog available will allow “payers time to renegotiate downstream contracts adjust to new system economics.”
The shift is just one of several steps that have occurred as insulin manufacturers have drawn fire for rising costs for a product first used to treat a patient in 1922, although it has undergone new formulations and improvements in recent decades as analog insulins were introduced. Manufacturers have made older human insulins available, and a recent study in JAMA showed that a Medicare Advantage plan switched some patients back to these insulins without significant increases in glycated hemoglobin.
Lilly also produced Basaglar with Boehringer Ingelheim, a follow-on to Lantus (insulin glargine), the popular basal insulin from Sanofi. In its statement, Lilly said that the introduction of this product in December 2016 brought the net price per prescription of basal insulins down 30%. Sanofi countered by launching a follow-on of insulin lispro, called Admelog.
“While this is a step in the right direction, all of us in the healthcare community must do more to fix the problem of high out-of-pocket costs for Americans living with chronic conditions,” Ricks said.


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By John Vibes
The censorship-free alternative media platform Minds went down temporarily on Thursday, but came back online shortly after. When the site came back online, representatives of Minds say that the outage was a result of over 200,000+ new people signing up for the site one the same day. A large number of sign-ups were from Thailand, where increased internet censorship has forced users from mainstream platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
“Yesterday we saw 200,000+ new users. We are thrilled to provide privacy, internet freedom and digital rights for Thai netizens. This is exactly the reason Minds exists,” Minds CEO Bill Ottman said in a statement. →


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William Senyo - architect of Accra’s start-up hub
Edem Senyo had always known that he was destined for great things. He held on firmly to this belief, and went in search of opportunities to create the success that he knew awaited him.
Senyo is the CEO of Impact Hub Accra which he co-founded at Osu Ako-Ajei 2013. Impact Hub Accra provides young and start-up entrepreneurs workspaces, connection to a global community of entrepreneurs and access to capital.
Five years later, Impact Hub Accra has become the start-up hotspot in Accra. Thanks to the cross-pollination of ideas and dreams of so many diverse entrepreneurs under one roof, it is a critical support system for many of the city’s young entrepreneurs and a hot bed of co-creation and innovation.
In addition to supporting local entrepreneurs, Impact Hub Accra also provides a ‘soft-landing’ for overseas start-ups doing business in Ghana.
Senyo grew up somewhat disadvantaged at Jamestown – old Accra – to an often-unemployed-accountant father and bar-operator mother. The loner and avid reader could never quite fit in at home or in school.
Ghana News Headlines
For latest news in Ghana, visit Graphic Online news headlines page Ghana news page
School was not challenging, his classmates were not engaging and, as is often the case with very bright children, his teachers were way more interesting than the other students.
After the Labone High School and an undergraduate degree in agri-business from the University of Ghana, Senyo first worked in sales at the HFC (now Republic Bank) and Databank then moved into sales and client relations at MTN whereas area manager, he was responsible for managing relationships of the tech giant’s retail customers.
The training in sales and marketing he received must’ve put in him in goodstead for the businesses he has since built.
In the last six years, Senyo has poured his energies and skills into building an institution of lasting impact for the growing community of Accra’s young entrepreneurs who thrive on and draw from the energy of possibilities in the Impact Hub ecosystem.
Senyo started his first (and break through) venture at the Accra Startup Weekend, a hackathon, in 2012.
As project manager in a non-profit organisation before this time, his idealistic self had grown disillusioned with the non-profit world.
“It was, it seems, perpetuating itself instead of finding a way to be out of business”.
When he joined the hackathon, he must’ve seen an opportunity to build something that matched his own sense of how to change the world.
Senyo pitched an idea to build a platform to help startups raise funding for their projects by pooling monies of micro investors who would in exchange for their cash own slices of these early stage businesses.
Senyo’s his team won the competition. As funding for startups is a constant pain, it’s not hard to see why the judges loved his plan.
After this, Senyo became CEO and co-founder of SliceBiz, the business that he built around the idea.
In the months that followed, Senyo’s idea won funding and other competitions from the Rockefeller and Tony Elumelu Foundations, the US State Department’s Apps4Africa challenge, the Impact Economy Innovation Fund amongst others.
SliceBiz’s potential brought it popularity overnight and Senyo who quickly received recognition as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper and Kairos fellow, was travelling the world as a hot-selling poster child of the ‘Africa Rising’ fanfare sitting on panel discussions and speaker engagements.
Impact Hub Accra
In the heat of all this, Senyo found some extra space to co-found the Impact Hub Accra, a shared workspace and startup hotspot.
Impact Hub Accra is a vibrant workspace used by technology entrepreneurs, startups, freelancers and a host of other professionals looking for its unique counter culture attitude to work, life and fixing problems for social impact, international profile and extensive network.
In its five year existence, it’s been home to over 165 companies both local early stage and multinational like: Taxify, Space Turnkey, Chalkboard and among others.
According to Senyo, it has also created on average 120 new jobs each year and done work for some global brands, including the VOA news network and, Merck Pharma – a Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical company.
With some 10 plus companies currently working out of the hub and 200 regular members and growing, Senyo is set to launch the next phase of his vision for an impact creating hub.


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Currently, Chrome is the most popular Internet browser in the world. The current edition of the browser has a lot of features.
Soon a new function will be introduced which will warn users against false and fake URLs. This new function will load the target web page but it will also display a message stating that it is not an official website such as “did you mean …” with a correct address of an alleged target page.
This feature will be introduced in the next release of Google Chrome. For now, it is being under development in the Canary version, an early build, which is the basis for future browser updates. (ns)


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Las Palapas, the popular San Antonio Tex-Mex restaurant that’s been a fixture in the city for 40 years, finally has a North Texas presence.
The company opened a location in Keller on Monday, and it’s the first in a number of stores planned for D-FW, according to area manager Cipriano Morales.
“We’re trying to branch out and develop other restaurants in different cities,” Morales said Wednesday.
With nearly 20 locations spread across the Alamo City — plus two in New Braunfels and one that opened in March in College Station — the chain, known for its cheap (starting at $.79), all-day breakfast tacos, sopes, menudo on the weekends and margaritas that can be ordered from the drive-through, has been a staple of San Antonio cuisine since 1981.
Founder Ron Acosta and his family operated the company until two years ago, when it was purchased by Wayne Detmar, Morales said.
Since then, Las Palapas has had its eye on expansion. The fast-casual chain — of which some stores are corporate-owned and others are franchised — will open in Austin, Houston and Corpus Christi in the near future, Morales said.
But since Monday, the Keller location, open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, might be the busiest of the bunch. Morales said business has been “crazy” since opening the restaurant, which has sit-down service, a full bar and a drive-through.
Curbside margaritas for $2.99, in flavors like mango and chamoy will do that to you, he said.