text:
Rush has already opened five salons for the year so far, this an amazing achievement for the group as the growth continues! 2017 got off to a strong start, Continue reading “Rush Balham, Westbourne Grove & Hackney are now open!”
Rush Wimbledon Village is now open! The stylish salon opened on Saturday 18th March at 37 High Street, Wimbledon, SW19 5BY. The opening was successful, the turnout was great and all columns were fully booked. Continue reading “Rush Wimbledon Village is now open!”
Rush Enfield opened on Saturday 11th of March. The newest salon is a lovely addition to the high street of Enfield, located at 23 Church Street, Enfield, EN2 6AF Continue reading “Rush Enfield is now open!”
The third salon opening of 2017 is Rush Wimbledon Village! The glamorous salon is opening on the 18th March at 37 High Street, Wimbledon, SW19 5BY. Continue reading “Rush is opening in Wimbledon Village!”
Rush Crystal Palace is now open! Operations Manager Fay Stephens was joined by Operations Director, George Phouli & Co-Founders Stell Andrews, Andy Phouli and Vice Chairman Peter Phouli. The salon opened on Saturday 4th March and was the first salon opening of 2017! Continue reading “Rush Crystal Palace is now open!”
Rush Enfield is opening on the 11th of March. The opening event will take place at 23 Church Street, Enfield, EN2 6AF. Continue reading “Rush is opening in Enfield!”
Our first salon opening of 2017 is Rush Crystal Palace! The newest salon is opening on the 4th of March, the event will take place at 22 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, London, SE19 1RX. Continue reading “Rush is opening in Crystal Palace!”
Rush Hair & Beauty have some very exciting news! On Sunday 22nd of January, Andy Phouli announced to the group his amazing news, Rush have secured a £16 million investment from LDC.
The annual Rush Oscars took place on the 22nd of January at the Savoy Theatre, London. The awards are thoroughly looked forward to by each and every staff member. After the awards finished, there was a huge after party at Tiger Tiger! Thank you again to the Savoy Theatre and Tiger Tiger for being so accommodating. Continue reading “Who won at the Rush Oscars 2016?”
Tonight The House of Rush are holding a shopping event to celebrate the Christmas season! Join us at 200 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9HU between 5pm-9pm as we celebrate a fabulous year of hair and beauty. Continue reading “Are you coming to The House of Rush shopping event?”
On Monday 5th December the annual Fellowship Luncheon & Awards took place. The event was held at the Dorchester Hotel in London and over 450 guests attended. It was a chance for the industry to come together and celebrate 70 years of The Fellowship. Continue reading “RUSH attends The Fellowship Luncheon”
On Tuesday 29th November, RUSH Cambridge hosted a bloggers event called ‘Winter at RUSH‘. Franchisee Gentiana and fellow bloggers; Jessica and Karen organised the event. Continue reading “Winter at RUSH Bloggers Event”
RUSH Cambridge turned 1 on Monday 28th November and what a wonderful year it has been for them. We are so proud of our 80+ salons across the UK and are happy to celebrate whenever one of our salons has a birthday!
RUSH Holborn is now open! The salon is being managed by Pamela Murray and she was joined by the Operations Team on Thursday. Operations Director, George Phouli & Operations Manager, Chris Beaumont cut the ribbon! The salon opened on Thursday 1st December. It is the last salon opening of 2016.
On Thursday 24th November, RUSH Birmingham hosted an exclusive bloggers event. Liam & Scott are the new salon managers so the event gave them a chance to get to know the bloggers of Birmingham. It was a nice evening and everyone was getting into the Christmas spirit! Continue reading “RUSH Birmingham host an event for bloggers!”
RUSH Holborn is opening on the 1st December. Holborn is the final salon opening of the year. The opening event will take place at Unit 3 Victoria House, 37-63 Southampton Row, WC1B 4DA. Continue reading “RUSH is opening in Holborn!”
Michael Rackett has entered the British Hairdressing Awards this year! He made it through to the grand final and everyone at RUSH couldn’t be prouder, especially as RUSH have been nominated in three other categories. We sat down and had a chat with Michael to find out more about his collection! Continue reading “Amazonian- a collection by Michael Rackett”
Ashley Haynes and Charlotte Oldfield have entered the British Hairdressing Awards this year! The pair made it through to the grand final and everyone at RUSH couldn’t be prouder, especially as RUSH have been nominated in three other categories. We sat down and had a chat with Ashley & Charlotte to find out more about their collection! Continue reading “Spectrum- a collection by Ashley Haynes & Charlotte Oldfield”
On Monday 28th November the annual British Hairdressing Awards takes place. Schwarzkopf Professional sponsors the event. It is a chance to come together and celebrate British hairdressing. The BHA takes place at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, W1K 7TN. Continue reading “The British Hairdressing Awards 2016”
On Thursday 10th November RUSH Walton turned 10 years old. To celebrate the milestone, the salon hosted an event to celebrate. Continue reading “What did RUSH Walton get up to last week?”
On 27th October, RUSH York hosted an exclusive event for professional stylists. The event took place at 19 Market Street, YO1 8SL, York. Continue reading “Training day with Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year Andy Heasman”
RUSH Nottingham is now open! Aaron Smith, the salon manager, was joined by Operations Team, George Phouli and Fay Stephens. Aaron and the Mayor cut the ribbon on Saturday 22nd October. Continue reading “RUSH Nottingham is now open!”
Salon International took place between the 15th-17th of October. The Creative Team were busy throughout the weekend, and in high demand to appear on stages such as The Fellowship & HJ. The team were hard at work during the three-day event and put on a fantastic show for RUSH Live. Continue reading “What our Creative Team did all weekend”
On Thursday 20th October, RUSH hosted a bloggers event to celebrate the opening of the new Nottingham salon. When the bloggers arrived they were handed a RUSH goodie bag, which included a voucher for a free Blow-dry and a glass of prosecco. Continue reading “RUSH Nottingham blogger event”
Our charity hair show, RUSH Live, took place on the 16th October at Salon International at the London Excel. The event was highly anticipated and all the proceeds went to our charity partner, Great Ormond Street Hospital. Continue reading “RUSH Live was amazing, find out what happened!”
RUSH East Grinstead is opening on the 29th October. The opening event will take place at 18 London Road, East Grinstead, RH19 1AG. Continue reading “RUSH is opening in East Grinstead!”
The world-renowned hairdressing event; Salon International took place between the Saturday 15th-Monday 17th October. There were over 400 brands showcasing their products and services. The event usually has over 38,462 visitors from 80+ countries who attend.
Continue reading “What did RUSH get up to at Salon International?”
RUSH are excited to announce that on the 22nd October, RUSH Nottingham will open its doors at 20 Long Row, NG1 2DH. Continue reading “RUSH is opening in Nottingham!”
Established in 1983, Maletti has become the leading supplier for hairdressing furniture and equipment. The interior of a salon plays a huge part in the process of a successful salon. Continue reading “Have you ever wondered where RUSH get their furniture from?”
KMS California has been around since 1976 and this year celebrates 40 years of style infused with innovation and performance. They are famous for creating many products that have been a first for the industry, just some of which were the first ‘leave in products’, sea salt spray, and modern dry shampoos. Continue reading “Take a trip with KMS California to RUSH Live”
RUSH Manchester is now open! Toby Parrett, the salon manager, was joined by Co-Founder Stell Andrew and Operations director George Phouli to cut the ribbon on Saturday 1st October. Continue reading “RUSH Manchester is now open!”
On Thursday 29th September, RUSH hosted an exclusive bloggers event to celebrate the opening of the new Manchester salon. The salon was full of talented bloggers, who received RUSH goodie bags, a glass of prosecco and canapes as they arrived. Continue reading “RUSH Manchester host a blogger event”
I-salon software are the leading brand for the salon, spa, beauty, and aesthetics sector. The company Launched in 1987, and are the longest standing software company. Over 1,700 salons in more than 10 countries use i-salon. Continue reading “Want to know what booking software RUSH salons use?”
RUSH’s second flagship salon is arriving in Manchester. On Saturday 1st October, RUSH Manchester will be open for business at 69 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BW. Continue reading “RUSH welcomes a second flagship salon”
On Tuesday 20th September an evening with Fellowship Hairdresser of the Year, Andy Heasman, took place. Andy welcomed a sold-out audience to the L’Oréal Academy. Continue reading “What happened at our evening with Andy Heasman”
Hairdressers Journal International are one of the leading magazines for the hair industry. The magazine has been in circulation since 1882. It is currently published in the UK as a monthly magazine specifically for the hair industry. Continue reading “Join HJ Magazine at this years RUSH Live event”
L’Oreal are one of the most iconic beauty brands of our time. The french cosmetics company have taken the world by storm, with head offices in New York, Australia and Paris, the brand is international and consistently growing. Continue reading “Why are L’Oreal a sponsor of RUSH Live 2016?”
Our charity hair show RUSH Live 2016, will be taking place on Sunday 16th October at the London ExCel. RUSH hosts RUSH Live every year and all proceeds from the event go to our charity partner, Great Ormond Street Hospital. Last year we raised over £10,000 so this year we want to exceed our target. The doors are open to the public at 6PM, with the show commencing at 7PM. Continue reading “Why you need to be at RUSH Live 2016”
Salon International is a world renowned hairdressing event. It is spread over three days at ExCel London and features 400 brands showcasing their products. Continue reading “Why are Rush at Salon International this year?”
Rush’s annual awards ceremony, with lots of glitz, glam and some emotional acceptance speeches… it’s The Rush Oscars! Continue reading “And this year the Rush Oscars go to…”
Looking back over 2015, it has been a very busy year for Rush! Opening 12 salons, growing out of London and the South for the first time and winning some big awards. We take a look back at Rush’s 2015 business growth and industry highlights… Continue reading “Rush’s 2015 Business Roundup”
Rush’s International Creative Director Andy Heasman won Hairdresser of the Year at the Fellowship of British Hairdressers on Monday 7th December. Another big win was for Artistic Team member Jamie Benny, who became a 2016 FAME Team member. Continue reading “BIG win for Rush at the British Hairdressers Fellowship”
International Creative Director, Andy Heasman along with Artistic Team members Chris Williams, Tina Farey and Seung-Ki Baek showcased Rush’s latest cutting and colour collection at the Rush Academy on Wednesday 18th November. Continue reading “The New Graphics Collection Launched at the Rush Academy”
Rush Live for the first time came to Salon International, the UK’s largest hair industry exhibition last Sunday. It was an inspirational night showcasing the collections from the leading team members of Rush’s Creative Teams raising £10,000 for Great Ormond Street. Continue reading “Rush Live 2015 Roundup”
Rush are presenting their super stylish annual charity extravaganza, this year hitting London’s ExCeL centre, on Sunday 11th October. Doors open at 6pm and tickets are £25, all proceeds go to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Charity.
Continue reading “Rush Live… Come and join us”
The Hair UK show finished last week and was a great success. Over 27,000 hair and beauty professionals all gathered under one roof alongside the 600 industry professionals at their stands.
Rush co-founder Stell Andrew took to the Style Stage and spoke about Rush’s position in the global hair industry and the future expansion plans for Rush.
Rush are heading to Hair UK at the NEC Birmingham on Sunday 10th – Monday 11th May speaking about career and franchising opportunities. The biggest names in the industry will be showcasing the latest business ventures, training and career opportunities this weekend at the Hair UK exhibition.
March 2015, Rush Hair and Beauty attended their first franchise exhibition at London Olympia. When the doors opened on Friday morning, the Rush team were overwhelmed by the fantastic response from potential investors. As the only Hair and Beauty franchise at the show, significant interest came from existing and current clients of Rush, helping to reinforce the brands powerful image that has continued to grow over the last 20 years.


text:
Our Elephone P9000 has just arrived with all the available Elephone P9000 accessories. Take a look at this Helio P10 phone now and read our first impressions.
Gionee’s latest smartphone has been spied on Geekbench revealing details of the phone, and hinting at a new flagship from the company.
Elephone have shot another hands on video comparing the Elephone P9000 with the new Smartisan T2 smartphone.
Elephone have shot a short video comparing the Elephone P9000’s design to that of the iPhone 6S and OnePlus 2. Elephone are pretty excited about …
A feature of the Elephone P9000 we weren’t aware of until this morning was wireless charging!
The Helio P10 Elephone M3 is up for pre-order on shop.gizchina.com with free shipping at only $199.99.
Blackview will be at MWC 2016 with an all new flagship model called the Blackview R7, here are exclusive images and full specifications of the …
The tech calendar is full of shows, but the first big one for Chinese brands (at least the smaller ones) is MWC in Barcelona. Here are some of the top phones to look out for.
After announcing the Elephone M3 on Friday the phone has now been officially published online revealing a few more details of its features. Measuring in …
Last week Elephone formally launched the Elephone P9000, but there were a few more interesting did bits from the phone maker keep reading for more.
For the first time in their history, Elephone are holding a launch even in China for 4 new products. 3 of them we know, the …
Ulefone show us the Helio P1o powered bezel-less Ulefone Future in a hands on video.
MediaTek’s Helio P10 seems to have gotten a grand reception from phone makers.
We’ve seen lots of phones promise to have narrow or even zero bezel designs but very few lived up to their claims. Ulefone seem to be getting it right for their next flagship with Helio P10 and zero bezel design.
Elephone are testing our some alternate ROMs for their forthcoming Elephone M3 smartphone, this video shows the Helio P10 phone running Vibe UI.
Even with the Elephone Vowney MIA, Elephone are pushing ahead with the launch of the Elephone P9000 with a ‘crowdfunding’ event. Details below. Chinese phone …
Blackview release early details of the 2016 flagship Blackview R7 phone boasting a similar design to the LeTV Le1s and latest Mediatek Helio P10 chipset.
Wickedleak’s new Wammy Note 5 will likely be the first Helio P10 phone to start shipping.
Elephone will be launch 2 versions of their new Elephone M3 phone, with the flagship M3 Pro revealed today to get higher rear camera and …
Has Elephone really made a slim bezel phone with Helio P10 chipset? Well real photos of their new Elephone P9000 Lite say yes.

domain: news


text:
PetSmart is launching its first ever Snapchat Augmented Reality (AR) campaign to promote interactive, educational content about reptiles to customers that are sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to COVID-19, in addition to in-store adoption and seasonal events, PetSmart held an event called “Reptile Roundup.” The event was part of a free summertime educational series designed to teach children about reptiles by offering attendees the opportunity to hold reptiles, ask questions and learn about pet care.
The Snapchat AR campaign aims to continue that educational content in lieu of those in-store reptile events.
The Snapchat “Lens” allows users to answer questions about reptiles in a true/false-style test format. Those who answer the questions correctly will find their own faces slowly morphing into a reptile. In addition, The Lens includes a prompt that Snapchatters can tap through to receive an offer for 40 percent off a reptile with the purchase of a PetSmart Thrive starter kit, which customers can bring into stores to pick out their new pet and learn how to care for it with the help of an associate.
“With families continuing to spend more time at home, there’s been no better time to introduce pets into the household,” PetSmart officials said in a statement.
As quarantine has kept people home these past few months, PetSmart saw 50 percent more pet owners add reptiles to their families, the company reported.


text:
Foxconn is a huge company, but given their affiliation with Apple, many have associated them to be mainly the manufacturers of Apple’s iOS products. Perhaps hoping to break away from that image and reducing their reliance on Apple for business, Foxconn has entered into other ventures, and according to a report by Bloomberg, the Chinese company is looking to start up an investment fund in which it will focus on developing new kinds of wearable technology. Foxconn’s foray into wearable technology is not new as the company has demonstrated their own brand of smartwatch earlier this year.
Foxconn unit, Syntrend Creative Park, will be administering a $6.8 million fund and will be selecting candidates for trial come Q1 2014. It is unclear what sort of products or innovations that would be a result of this investment, so we guess we’ll just have to keep our eyes peeled for more info. This is not the first time Foxconn has reportedly ventured into other areas of business. We had also heard that the company was looking to bid for 4G spectrum in Taiwan, and will also be working with the folks at Mozilla at creating Firefox OS devices.


text:
Digital transfers of money have seen a rise in use during the Covid-19 pandemic, while cash has seen a sharp decline.
This is according to research published by Paysafe, which surveyed 8,000 consumers across the Germany, Bulgaria, Canada, Austria, the US and the UK.
It found that over half of consumers had used digital transfers to give money to friends and family at least once during the first month of lockdown, with 20% doing so more than twice.
Meanwhile, many consumers are increasingly shunning the use of cash, with 43% saying they had cut down on the amount they handled cash over concerns relating to the transmission of the coronavirus.
However, while these behaviours are a reaction to the pandemic, they appear to be turning into long-term behavioural changes.
48% say they will reduce their future use of cash, while 38% will increase their online shopping even after all lockdown measures have lifted.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below formBy GlobalData
Rise in digital money transfers show payments transformed by Covid-19
The research on digital money transfers adds to the growing pile of evidence that the payments landscape has been permanently changed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Covid-19 continues to be a catalyst for change across the whole payments industry,” said Lorenzo Pellegrino, CEO of Skrill, Neteller and Income Access at Paysafe.
“Consumers seem to be switching to digital offerings, signalling a definite shift in consumer preference for truly frictionless payment methods.
“Even as cash-based money transfer options reopen, preferences towards digital options, induced by the pandemic, are unlikely to subside.”
The research follows a number of other studies that have shown similar results.
In June, UK Finance found that 7.4 million people in the UK are now living “almost cashless” lives, while a rise in contactless payment options has led growing numbers of retailers to stop accepting cash entirely.


text:
The Google Pixel 3 XL is starting to get even more attention from the rumor mill, which certainly makes sense as we march ever closer to its expected launch date later this year.
Google is going to announce new smartphones later this year, successors to the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL from last year. And the rumor mill is working diligently to unveil as much about the handsets as possible.
The Google Clock app is preinstalled on Android handsets and is a trusty way to set alarms.
Android has been adopted all over the world, and, seeing as it’s the most popular mobile operating system out there, the Play Store has expanded in size and scope to match.
Google today released the newest developer preview into the wild, bringing Android P one step closer to the public launch later this year, following previous beta releases earlier this year.
The EU has fined Google a record $5 billion (€4.3 billion) for breaking antitrust laws. The body says that since 2011 Google “imposed illegal restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators” so as to acquire a dominant position in the search market.
YouTube subscribers in the United States can now enjoy Picture-in-Picture mode in the YouTube app for Android on their Android device running Oreo or higher.
Renders of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL See the Light of Day, Show Off Dual Front-Facing Cameras
At some point later this year, Google is expected to showcase two new smartphones: The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, successors to last year’s popular handsets.
Google is updating its smart speaker lineup to offer support for a new language, expanding its availability to more devices.
It has been over a month since Google unveiled brand new features for the Google Home and Google Assistant, all in the effort of making conversations with the digital personal assistant easier and more fluent.


text:
Honda to up Indian bike output
Honda Motor Co will spend 1 billion rupees in increasing output in its two-wheeler plant in India but has put off plans for a second plant.autos Updated: Jun 14, 2007 16:01 IST
Honda Motor Co will spend 1 billion rupees in increasing output in its two-wheeler plant in India but has put off plans for a second plant, the Mint paper said on Thursday.
A wholly-owned subsidiary, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (Pvt) Ltd, will also launch a a new scooter and a new 125 cc motorbike next year, the paper said, citing Shinji Aoyama, the chief executive officer of the unit.
Production capacity at its plant near New Delhi will go up to 1.2 million units by 2010 from 900,000 units, Aoyama said.
Honda, which also owns 26 per cent in India's top motorbike maker, Hero Honda Motors Ltd, also plans to develop a 100 cc motorbike, which commands the biggest share of a market of nearly 6 million units a year.
But plans to build a second plant have been put off because it doesn't expect to sell enough to warrant a new factory, the paper said.
First Published: Jun 14, 2007 15:56 IST


text:
By Nancy Smorch
We’re coming up on another milestone in campaign against genetically modified foods. On November 5, 2013, voters in Washington state will have a chance to vote on Initiative I-522.
A "yes" vote on this initiative will require the labeling of foods that are genetically engineered or contain genetically engineered ingredients.
Although California’s Proposition 37 was defeated on November 2nd of last year, it was by a narrow margin. 48.59% of the vote was in favor of Prop. 37 and 51.41% against.
Since then, the American consumer’s level of awareness of GMO's has, in my opinion, increased. It has become a hot topic of debate in our country. Consumers are starting to ask a lot of questions and demanding answers!
We are way behind other countries in terms of labeling, as you can see by the map, but I’m confident it won’t be for too much longer!
If Initiative I-522 passes in Washington, it will obviously be a move in the right direction in terms of creating more awareness about GMO's, and for companies in the food industry to change their ingredients to non-GMO. Food companies are merely producing what consumers want and will pay for. If consumers start demanding foods made with non-GMO ingredients, the food companies will respond. If the food companies respond, they will need the non-GMO ingredients to make that food, and will start demanding it from the farmers. So if the farmers see a need for non-GMO crops, they will start providing them as well.
It’s a food chain, and it all starts with the consumer’s demands.
I received an e-mail today from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company stating that they would donate 50% of sales (until Thursday Oct. 24 at midnight) to the campaign for I-522.
So, if any of you are in the market for some seeds for next year or for some good books (might I recommend The Heirloom Life Gardener) or gardening supplies, place an order before Thursday at midnight at Baker Creek, and you will be contributing to a good cause and getting something tangible in return!


text:
Clearview Ridge residents are within two weeks of sipping a cold brew at their neighbourhood pub.
The Canadian Brewhouse is scheduled to open in Clearview Market Square by mid-January, said Andrew McCready, the Edmonton company’s business development manager.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on the 16,500-square-foot premises at 2 Conway St., and three-quarters of the more than 40 people expected to work at the pub have been hired, said McCready.
The Canadian Brewhouse will not be a nightclub, he said. Operating from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., seven days a week, it’s expected to conduct a busy lunch and dinner trade.
“Most of our places do as much, if not more, food sales as alcohol sales.”
The Red Deer pub will be The Canadian Brewhouse’s ninth location. There are three outlets in Edmonton, plus others in Sherwood Park, Camrose, Grande Prairie, Lloydminster and Spruce Grove.
The concept originated in Edmonton in 2002, said McCready, although most of the growth has occurred in the past five years.
“We’ve been looking at Red Deer for a long time.
“It’s very much an under-served market.”
Clearview Ridge should be a particularly good location, added McCready, noting the rapid residential development in the area.
The pub’s decor and menu will have a distinct Canadian flavour, he said. The former will include a totem pole and inukshuk; the latter Montreal smoked meat sandwiches and poutine.
“It’s a very unique pub concept, focusing on Canadiana.”
The beer selection will include 24 choices of draught, and even more bottled brands.
Customers should feel comfortable whether wearing a tie or blue jeans, said McCready.
But the pub will have a strong sports focus, with large TV monitors throughout.
“Our number 1 mission is to be the best place in town to watch the game.”
Meanwhile, other stores continue to open at Clearview Market Square. The Royal Bank, TD Canada Trust, CIBC and Servus Credit Union have all been operating for some time, with Your Independent Grocer — which includes a liquor store and a gas bar — open since late November.
Also now in business is Subway, Fabutan, The Co-operators, Pita Pit and Pet Planet, with Clearview Medical & Walk-in Clinic scheduled to open next Wednesday.
Other businesses there will include Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks, Body Garage fitness centre, H&R Block, Taco Time, a dentist, a veterinarian and a spa.
Melcor Developments Ltd. is developing Clearview Market Square.


text:
Movie studios and technology companies have joined together to push for digital video that isn’t tied to specific devices but plays across multiple platforms. But the initiative may be less notable for what it’s pushing for than for the fact that Apple, one of the leading digital-media retailers, isn’t part of the effort.
The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) aims to make it easier for consumers to use digital video with a host of devices from different manufacturers. Headed up by Sony Pictures Chief Technology Officer Mitch Singer, DECE intends to promulgate the idea of “buy once, play anywhere” to bring a CD- and DVD-like experience to digital media.
With the use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology, a file purchased from any vendor would theoretically be playable on any device—as long as that device was built by a member of the consortium. In addition, consumers would have the ability to store their files online and stream them to a device from any location.
The DECE counts among its numbers all of the major movie studios—with the exception of Walt Disney Co.—and a host of popular equipment manufacturers—with the exception of Apple.
The omission of Apple is significant. The company’s iTunes Store is the U.S.’s leading music retailer, topping even brick-and-mortar giants like Wal-Mart. While Apple’s efforts to sell digital video haven’t matched its success in digital music, the iTunes Store remains a prominent source of legitimate digital video downloads. And the iPod continues to command a sizeable portion of the digital player market.
Other movers and shakers in the technology industry—including Microsoft, Toshiba, Intel, and Hewlett-Packard—are involved the DECE. So why not Apple? Singer
told Reuters that while the group hadn’t yet approached Apple, it would love to have the company aboard. The DECE has also spoken to Disney about joining, Singer added.
Apple isn’t the only major player in the digital media market to be missing from DECE’s roster. Also absent are Wal-mart, Amazon, and CBS; wireless service providers Verizon and AT&T haven’t yet signed on, either.
Serveral critics have compared DECE to the ill-fated PlaysForSure system that Microsoft created—and subsequently abandoned when it launched its own Zune Marketplace. And, of course, the specter of piracy, which the music industry blames for damaging music sales, hangs over the entire inititiave as well.
DECE plans to issue a specification based on industry standards that will be licensable by hardware and software companies. The organization gave no timetable for the release of the specification, but said that it would seek broader industry support as it progressed.


text:
"In the field of liquid crystal display (LCD), Samsung and LG display have been defeated by China's low-cost offensive." Last September, South Korea's "Central Daily" reluctantly admitted. Now, the new coronavirus epidemic has "made up a knife".After LG display announced in January that it would close its LCD panel factory in South Korea by the end of this year, a spokesman for Samsung display said yesterday (March 31) that it had decided to stop all LCD panel production in South Korea and China by the end of this year.
According to the analysis of cinno research, an industry research organization, Samsung's early closing of the factory means that the global large-scale LCD panel will shift from the accelerated competition between China and South Korea to a dominant situation in China. Chinese manufacturers will account for more than 60% of the global LCD production lines of more than 7 generations.
Advance to the end of the year
According to reports, Li zarong, vice president of Samsung Electronics, made the decision after visiting the Samsung display factory.
On the same day, Cui Zhoushan, the business director of Samsung display large business department, sent a letter to all customers, saying that the company had major changes in its business strategy, because in recent years, the LCD market has been in a serious depression, and the operation of large business departments has a large-scale deficit. In order to get rid of the current business crisis and improve the competitiveness of large businesses, Samsung officially opened in October last year Started QD display investment.
It is worth mentioning that in August last year, observer.com reported that Samsung plans to shut down half of the LCD panel factories in South Korea due to the oversupply of the market.
At that time, Samsung display said in a statement: "due to oversupply and deteriorating profitability, Samsung display has been adjusting production and equipment operation. We have considered suspending the production line, but no decision has been made. "
According to Korean media EBN, Samsung will sell LCD production equipment of its Korean production line after closing its factory in advance. When it shut down part of the production capacity of l7-1 in 2016 and l8-1 in 2019, it sold some equipment to some manufacturers who want to enter the LCD industry quickly.
"But with industry expansion under pressure, Samsung may also find it difficult to find the right buyer to opt for direct disposal. The Suzhou factory is in good condition and may be sold to Chinese companies as a whole. noted in the above report.
According to qixinbao data, Suzhou Samsung Electronic LCD Technology Co., Ltd. holds 60%, 30% and 10% shares respectively by Samsung display, Suzhou Industrial Park state-owned assets holding Development Co., Ltd. and TCL Huaxing Photoelectric Technology Co., Ltd.
Actually, as early as September 2016, Samsung reached a cooperation with TCL on the 11th generation LCD. Samsung monitors invested 9.8 per cent in the 11th-generation panel producer set up by TCL group's Huaxing Optoelectronics and will accept the supply of 11th-generation panels.
It is worth noting that as early as last October, Samsung display announced that it had decided to close some LCD panel production lines in South Korea due to the decline in market demand for LCD and oversupply.
In January, Zheng haorong, President of LG display (LGD), another Korean display company, said in an interview that he would close the LCD panel factory in South Korea for LCD TV production by the end of this year.
So far, the two Korean panel companies will withdraw from the competition in LCD field.
China's mainland panel factory shipped a large number of new production lines in the 10.5 and 11 generation last year, causing panel prices to collapse and television panel prices to plummet by an average of 20-30 per cent throughout the year, the industry and commerce times reported on april 1. A total of 36.6 billion yuan (about 8.54 billion yuan) was lost in Taiwan's panel manufacturer Youda and Group Chuang throughout the year, LGD more than 18 billion yuan.
The coming of "China era"
According to the report of "cinno research", from the end of 2019 to February 2020, the price of large-size LCD panel had a trend of price recovery for several months. And after 2020, the early outbreak in China and South Korea made the industry worried that the LCD display supply gathered in the two countries would be seriously affected, so the downstream started the mode of hoarding.
However, the development of the global epidemic makes the supply chain have to make the fastest response decision. Since March, the epidemic situation in mainland China has been gradually controlled, and production has been resumed actively. South Korea has also taken very strict control measures, and panel supply has not been greatly affected.
However, the surge in the number of infected countries around the world, especially the rapid deterioration of the epidemic in Europe and the United States, exceeded expectations, resulting in the cancellation of many international events and exhibitions, the start of the closure of international routes in many countries, and the obstruction of international trade exchanges, side.
The above report shows that the reversal of supply and demand led to the fall in the price of large-size LCD panels in March, and with the development of the epidemic, the drop is expected to continue to expand, and the price of large-size LCD panels will be explored again. Samsung may decide to shut down LCD production ahead of time just because of this concern.
According to the report, samsung's early closure means that the world's large-size LCD panels will shift from faster competition between china and south korea to a dominant position in mainland china.
According to the forecast of South Korea semiconductor display society in March, the market share of Chinese enterprises in the global panel market will reach 58% in 2023, among which LCD panel will enter the "China era". It also predicts that by 2022, China will set up 19 large panel factories with 8-10.5 generation lines.
The share of large-size LCD panel shipments in mainland China has risen further as South Korean and Taiwan manufacturers sharply cut their rates or shut down some of their capacity starting in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to a new report from research LCD on 24 May.
It is worth noting that in the current month, Samsung's shipping volume share was 7%, lagging behind Huaxing potential's sixth, and its shipping area share was 12.0%, ranking fifth; LGD's shipping volume share was 14.1%, falling from the second in the same period last year to the third, and its shipping area share was 12.9%, also falling from the second to the third.


text:
Photo Credit: pexels
How far do hackers have to take cyber crime before online shoppers refuse to hand over sensitive data to online businesses?
The custom of earning the trust of customers and building a foundation of loyal buyers is at the heart of every online company. Yet marketing endeavors can be swiftly untangled by the increasing threat of cyber criminals.
Jack Dorsey, chief executive of Twitter became the latest high-profile victim to be targeted by hackers. OurMine Security, the hacking group responsible for breaking into Dorsey’s Twitter and Vine accounts, has already compromised Facebook and Google by hacking into the accounts of respective CEOs, Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai.
Although high-profile cyber-attacks are intentionally designed for publicity, they underline that cyber crime is a very real threat to billions of online users.
A recent survey revealed that some companies are losing in excess of $5 million in stolen data. Others have suffered losses that exceed $100 million. Not to mention the millions of consumers that have their credit card and bank account details compromised.
It’s not only consumers that are affected by cyber crimes. Data breaches also have an impact on job losses. The activities of these perpetrators is estimated to harm the global economy to the tune of $2.1 trillion by 2019.
Cyber crime is a high stakes industry and profit margins are far greater than any legitimate business. And each time a company’s security lines are broken, the trust of online shoppers diminishes.
Trust and loyalty is a key area for digital marketers. To maintain the faith of customers, companies should be prioritizing data security.
Reservations about cyber crime is nothing new to online consumers, although most are prepared to take a leap of faith. Over the last decade or so, concerns have dissipated and more consumers have become comfortable making online purchases. According to Mintel, almost two-thirds of Americans shop online at least once a month.
We are now at a point when some consumers are relaxed about handing over personal data, and there is a wealth of information that companies and cyber-criminals can take advantage of. But is the tide beginning to turn?
The US Government recently announced that 45% of Americans have scaled back on their online activity due to fears of security and privacy. As more leading corporations are targeted and concern spreads, the ripple will filter down to small businesses that rely on their online income to survive.
And it is not only online where consumers are at risk. Even buyers of second-hand iPhones can be held to ransom by the previous owner that didn’t unlock their iCloud account. As a result, consumers are increasingly conscious that techno-crime can take place anywhere and are subsequently more cautious with which brands they choose to trust.
Apple is a case-in-point. In some quarters the company is being criticized for refusing to help the Criminal Justice Department to unlock the iPhone 5 that belonged to terrorist Syed Farook, one of the gunmen in the San Bernadino shootings last December.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, took a strong stance, claiming the company’s policies on privacy will be breached if they unlock the device. Apple takes privacy so seriously, the Cupertino-based tech giant has dedicated an entire page on their website that explains how they strive to protect the personal data of their customers because “trust means everything”.
But it is not only the risk of losing the trust of customers Cook is trying to protect. It is a portion of Apple’s entire brand marketing strategy that he feels he is being asked to compromise.
Most CEOs would not want to trade places with Apple’s chief. It seems no matter what he does he will be criticized over his actions. But taking a hard line against an official investigation into a terrorist attack, serves to underline how much the company values the privacy and security of its customers.
The Rise Of Cyber Crime Startups
The activities of publicity hackers are not without good reason. These firms want online businesses to protect their customers and they want companies to pay them to do it. Cyber crime startups are positioned to become one of the fastest growing industries of all time.
With the rise of IoT (Internet of Things), the growth of the connected eco-system provides even more weak links for cyber criminals to exploit. It is not a coincidence that brands have started attending security conventions – perhaps on the off chance of recruiting hackers.
Although companies understand the risks of cyber crime, few take sufficient measures to prevent it. The companies that do – like Apple – are transparent about their efforts to protect sensitive data of their customers.
Banks and credit card companies are most at risk of attacks and have been urged to do more to protect consumers that take advantage of the convenience of online bankers and shoppers.
But brands also have a responsibility to protect their customers. Failing to do so will not only destroy a brands’ reputation and shatter the trust of their customers, it could have a detrimental effect on the entire online shopping environment.
Protecting Against Cyberattacks
With the pronounced risks that comes with cyber crime, it’s easy to feel under attack from all sides, especially if you’re not sure how to stay safe from a threat you can’t see coming. A good approach to network security is a start, but for those facing fraud, these basics are only the tip of the iceberg. Binu Girija, Founder and CEO of Way.com explains, “This development — two-factor or multi-factor verification — is a good place to start, strengthening the ways in which individuals and companies can prove identity without hindering the registration or log-in process significantly.”
Another important step for most companies is awareness. If your team isn’t aware of the threat, they won’t be on the lookout for signs of a security breach. From phishing emails to phony logins, employees need to understand where most threats originate and how to recognize them. Ongoing monitoring, malware checks, and incident management strategies can also assist IT teams to detect malicious behavior before any breaches occur.
And protection seems to be starting early as Dr. William Agresti, a professor at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, says managing cybersecurity in the office is something they make sure their students learn as part of their MBA program. “Business leaders today are responsible for security both online and off, and poor management of this can affect an otherwise great career. We want to make sure our students are prepared as future business leaders.”
In their report Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things, Ernst & Young lays out a five-step readiness plan to help organizations get ahead of cyber crime.
- Design and implement a cyber threat intelligence strategy to support strategic business decisions and leverage the value of security.
- Define and encompass the organizations extended cybersecurity ecosystem, including partners, suppliers, services and business networks.
- Take a cyber economic approach — understanding your vital assets and their value, and investing specifically in their protection.
- Use forensic data analytics and cyber threat intelligence to analyze and anticipate where the likely threats are coming from and when, increasing your readiness.
- Ensure that everyone in the organization understands the need for strong governance, user controls and accountability.
The bottom in all this is all companies – regardless if theirs is an online-only or brick & mortar and online – need to realize that cyber crime is very real and they need to be constantly vigilant in their defense of data – their customer’s data which is in essence the lifeblood of their company.
This article originally appeared on Forbes.


text:
Madonna’s daughter has sparked a debate around body hair.
For many women living in northern countries like ours, the winter season is a well-deserved break from some of the – ahem – grooming that goes on with body hair during the warmer months.
For as long as anyone can remember, long hair has been acceptable in most societies, especially among women. But for body hair, social norms are different. In modern Western societies, women have long been expected to keep their body hair in check by shaving or otherwise removing body hair.
However, a new movement is pushing for a change in perspective, with more and more women leaving their body hair untouched. The latest celebrity to participate in the movement is Madonna’s daughter Lourdes Leon, who was featured Sunday on her mother’s Instagram account. In the photo, Lourdes Leon’s arms are raised to embrace her mother, making her armpit hair clearly visible.
Many of the comments on the post express distaste or disgust with the look, while other are applauding Lourdes Leon’s courage in doing her own thing.
Could women’s hair removal fashion be heading towards a new norm?
What do you think? Do you use winter to take a break from body hair grooming? Would you ever consider going au naturel like Madonna’s daughter did? We want to hear your thoughts, so head back to our Facebook page and let us know in the comments!


text:
Compliance with the adjustment programme, improved budgetary performance, economic stabilization and a more favourable policy environment drive the upgrade; fragile public debt sustainability and economic growth prospects are constraints.
Scope Ratings has today upgraded the Hellenic Republic’s long-term foreign- and local-currency issuer ratings to B+ from B-. The sovereign’s senior unsecured debt in both local and foreign currency was also upgraded to B+ from B-. The agency also affirmed the short-term issuer rating of S-4 in both local and foreign currency. All outlooks were changed to Positive from Stable.
The upgrade is underpinned by the following three rating drivers: (1) Scope’s expectation that Greece will successfully conclude the third adjustment programme, driven by Greece’s stabilising macroeconomic indicators along with the government’s strong reform progress addressing underlying weaknesses in its tax and public administration; (2) structurally improving budgetary performance with fiscal results exceeding targets, backed by a robust public debt profile and ongoing build-up of a large cash buffer which should support Greece’s sustainable return to market funding; (3) reduced policy uncertainties given both the demonstrated support and commitments of official euro area creditors to provide Greece with additional debt relief measures if needed, along with all major political parties supporting Greece’s membership in the euro area, providing for a more stable domestic political outlook. Improvements in the ‘domestic economic risk’ and ‘public finance risk’ categories of Scope´s analysis drive the upgrade.
The outlook change to Positive from Stable reflects Scope’s expectations of further credit-positive developments as a result of the exit from the adjustment programme and negotiations over debt relief. Scope will monitor the exit agreement and assess the extent of potential measures aimed at i) broadening the country’s capital market access, in view of the limited eligibility of Greek government securities for monetary operations; ii) conditionality mechanisms with enhanced monitoring in exchange for possible debt relief measures, including the potential further reprofiling of loans to the EFSF on a yet-to-be defined growth-adjustment mechanism; and iii) the system of incentives to encourage continuity in fiscal consolidation over the long term. Each of these measures, or a combination therefore, could, in Scope’s opinion, materially improve the long-term sustainability of Greek public-debt, increasing confidence and strengthen Hellenic Republic’s ability to handle its debt burden.
The first driver for the upgrade reflects Scope’s view that Greece will successfully complete its third support programme, scheduled to end in August 2018, underpinned by structural improvements in the form of broad reform efforts addressing Greece’s underlying weaknesses of low government tax revenues. This view is underpinned by the recent positive public lenders’ conclusions on Greece’s current programme implementation, acknowledging, including by the IMF, that Greece has implemented a number of politically challenging measures, including pension cuts, changes to labour market laws, reforms of the health system and the establishment of independent tax entities.
Greece’s macroeconomic situation is stabilizing, underpinned by some positive trends in terms of job creation, resulting in decreasing economic risks. After a prolonged depression, the Greek economy returned to 1.4% growth in 2017, the first time that real GDP growth exceeded 1% since 2007. It is Scope’s view that the recovery has been supported by the successful completion of the second EU programme review in June 2017, which buoyed confidence and business activities. However, the labour market keeps improving at a slow pace, with overall unemployment still at 21.5% in 2017 (down from 23.6% in 2016). Scope expects stronger real GDP growth by around 2% in 2018-2019, which will remain below the euro area average. Investment is set to accelerate, but from a low level and, depending on further reform progress, the composition of fiscal adjustments, and relaxation of capital controls.
Financing conditions in the economy also keep improving but remain tight, due to continuing, though easing capital controls. Bank liquidity is progressively normalizing, with an ongoing decrease of the Emergency Liquidity Assistance, reflecting positive private sector deposit flows, resulting in more diversified funding sources. Banks have gradually increased interbank funding and proceeded since last October to covered bond issues for the first time since 2014. The recovery of Greek banks remains burdened by weak asset quality with legacy non-performing exposure (NPE), comprising 43.1% of total exposures according to the Bank of Greece at the end of 2017, the largest percentage in the EU. However, recent EBA stress test results on Greek banks have confirmed the banking sectors’ resilience with none of the banks needing additional capital. Despite these positive results, Scope believes that the recovery in the banking sector is likely to be gradual with the successful reduction of NPE to depend on a supportive economic and political backdrop.
The second driver of the upgrade is Greece’s improvements in fiscal performance and debt structure. Following the effective stabilisation of the economic policy underpinned by reforms of the budgetary framework, Greece over-achieved the primary surplus target of the adjustment programme in 2017 for the third consecutive year. Under the programme, the primary surplus stood at 4.2% of GDP in 2017, overshooting the target of 1.75% by a wide margin. The improvement is also driven by better-than-expected revenue growth which is an additional credit positive development, as initial fiscal consolidation measures at the beginning of the adjustment process were rather focused on one-off discretionary spending cuts. It is Scope’s view that the fiscal improvements will be sustained as the result of structural savings, improved tax collection rates, the continuation of capital controls and the partial clearance of state arrears, which have increased private-sector liquidity as well as indirect tax receipts and corporate income tax. This positive development was confirmed in the first quarter of 2018, when the budgetary surplus (on a modified cash basis) more than doubled year on year, due to higher than expected budget revenues while primary expenditure was in line with targets. In addition, the Greek government has legislated contingent fiscal measures including tax increases and spending cuts that would be automatically applied if needed to achieve the primary surplus target (of 3.5% of GDP) for the years 2019-2022.
Unprecedented support from euro area official creditors has resulted in a robust public debt profile, as reflected by lower interest payments relative to revenues (6.3% in 2017 versus 16.4% in 2011) and a very long weighted average residual maturity (18.1 years in Q1 2018 versus 6.3 years in 2011). An ongoing build-up of a sizable cash buffer, together with moderate refinancing requirements strongly support public-debt sustainability within a 5-year period, easing Greece’s return to the capital markets despite the high debt stock (178.6% in 2017 versus 172.0% in 2011).
The third and final driver of the upgrade reflects Scope’s opinion of reduced policy uncertainties given both the demonstrated support and commitments of official euro area creditors to provide Greece with additional debt relief measures if needed, along with all major political parties supporting Greece’s membership in the euro area, providing for a more stable domestic political outlook.
Scope notes that recent Eurogroup statements have confirmed the growing convergence of interests between the Greek government, the European creditors and the IMF in support of a clean exit from the third adjustment programme without a successor arrangement, and, consequently, the commitment and expectation of all involved parties to ensure Greece‘s return to private market funding at sustainable rates. Consequently, Scope views the risk of a disorderly exit of the current adjustment programme as materially lower.
Finally, Scope notes that the targets under the adjustment programme have been approved by the Greek parliament with cross-parliamentary party support, which indicates broad national consensus for policy continuity. In fact, all major political parties have signed at least one Memorandum of Understanding, limiting the risk of policy reversals beyond the end of the programme.
Core Variable Scorecard (CVS) and qualitative scorecard (QS)
Scope’s Core Variable Scorecard (CVS), which is based on the relative rankings of key sovereign credit fundamentals, signals an indicative (bbb) range for the Republic of Greece. This indicative rating range can be adjusted by the Qualitative Scorecard (QS) by up to three notches, depending on the size of relative credit strengths or weaknesses versus peers based on analysts’ qualitative analysis.
Greece’s credit metrics captured by the CVS result are heavily influenced by the successive assistance programmes that the country has entered since 2010 that cannot be captured by the CVS Scorecard. For Greece, relative credit weaknesses are signaled for 1) growth potential, 2) economic policy framework, 3) macroeconomic stability and sustainability, 4) fiscal policy framework, 5) public debt sustainability, 6) market access and funding sources, 7) perceived willingness to pay, 8) banking sector performance, 9) financial imbalances and financial fragility.
An overall negative adjustment was made to the CVS outcome to B+ to incorporate Greece’s experience as a financial crisis country. As a result, the rating committee implemented a greater adjustment beyond the normal +/- 3 notch to account for the following factors. These are: i) remaining uncertainties regarding official creditors’ measures to ensure more robust long-term public debt sustainability; ii) the limited eligibility of Greek government securities for monetary operations; iii) the ongoing persistence of banking sector challenges and decreased confidence due to capital controls.
The results have been discussed and confirmed by a rating committee.
For further details, please see Appendix 2 in the rating report.
Outlook and rating-change drivers
The Positive Outlook reflects Scope’s view that risks to the ratings are titled to the upside over the next 12 to 18 months and Scope’s expectations of potentially further credit-positive outcome as a result of the exit from the adjustment programme and negotiations over debt relief over the coming months.
The ratings could be upgraded if: i) further debt relief measures were applied by official creditors, basically ensuring more robust public debt sustainability; ii) the country’s access to bond markets were broadened; iii) fiscal consolidation and reform progress were continued; iv) banking sector risks were further eased and/or capital controls eliminated; v) economic growth proved to be more sustained.
Conversely, the outlook could be returned to Stable if: i) further debt relief measures were not applied by official creditors; ii) the country’s access to bond markets and eligibility for monetary operations remained limited; iii) fiscal consolidation and reform progress abated; iv) the envisaged reduction of the high stock of non-performing-exposure notably delayed, thereby intensifying banking sector risks; v) economic growth prospects weakened.
The main points discussed by the rating committee were: i) sustainability of the economic recovery, ii) recent fiscal developments, iii) public debt sustainability analysis, iv) policy uncertainties surrounding debt-relief measures; v) banking sector performance; vi) recent political and institutional developments, vii) peers consideration.
U.S. inauguration turns poet Amanda Gorman into best seller
WASHINGTON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – The president’s poet woke up a superstar on Thursday, after a powerful reading at the U.S. inauguration catapulted 22-year-old Amanda Gorman to the top of Amazon’s best-seller list.
Hours after Gorman’s electric performance at the swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, her two books – neither out yet – topped Amazon.com’s sales list.
“I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY!” Gorman, a Los Angeles resident, wrote on Twitter.
Gorman’s debut poetry collection ‘The Hill We Climb’ won top spot in the online retail giant’s sale charts, closely followed by her upcoming ‘Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem’.
While poetry’s popularity is on the up, it remains a niche market and the overnight adulation clearly caught Gorman short.
“Thank you so much to everyone for supporting me and my words. As Yeats put it: ‘For words alone are certain good: Sing, then’.”
Gorman, the youngest poet in U.S. history to mark the transition of presidential power, offered a hopeful vision for a deeply divided country in Wednesday’s rendition.
“Being American is more than a pride we inherit. It’s the past we step into and how we repair it,” Gorman said on the steps of the U.S. Capitol two weeks after a mob laid siege and following a year of global protests for racial justice.
“We will not march back to what was. We move to what shall be, a country that is bruised, but whole. Benevolent, but bold. Fierce and free.”
The performance stirred instant acclaim, with praise from across the country and political spectrum, from the Republican-backing Lincoln Project to former President Barack Obama.
“Wasn’t @TheAmandaGorman’s poem just stunning? She’s promised to run for president in 2036 and I for one can’t wait,” tweeted former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
A graduate of Harvard University, Gorman says she overcame a speech impediment in her youth and became the first U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017.
She has now joined the ranks of august inaugural poets such as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou.
Her social media reach boomed, with her tens of thousands of followers ballooning into a Twitter fan base of a million-plus.
“I have never been prouder to see another young woman rise! Brava Brava, @TheAmandaGorman! Maya Angelou is cheering—and so am I,” tweeted TV host Oprah Winfrey.
Gorman’s books are both due out in September.
Third on Amazon’s best selling list was another picture book linked to politics and projecting hope: ‘Ambitious Girl’ by Vice-President Kamala Harris’ niece, Meena Harris.
(Reporting by Umberto Bacchi @UmbertoBacchi, Editing by Lyndsay Griffiths. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)
Why brands harnessing the power of digital are winning in this evolving business landscape
By Justin Pike, Founder and Chairman, MYPINPAD
Delivery of intuitive, secure, personalised, and frictionless user experiences has long been table stakes in digital commerce, well before the era of COVID-19. As businesses harness the revolutionary power of digital technologies, they have pursued large-scale change to adapt to evolving consumer preferences (some more successfully than others, but that’s a blog for another day). Digital transformation is a term we hear repeatedly, and it looks different for each organisation, but essentially, it’s about utilising technology and data to digitise, automate, innovate and improve processes and the customer experience across the entire business.
As I said, this was already well underway but then came 2020 and no industry escaped the disruption of the coronavirus outbreak, which has had an indelible impact on businesses performance, operations, and revenue. Regardless of whether the impact of COVID has been very positive or very challenging, it has forced organisations globally to re-evaluate and re-orient strategies to adapt.
As lockdowns and pandemic-related restrictions continue to change daily life, this raises the question of how we can balance a dramatic shift to digital and the benefits it brings, while ensuring business continuity and innovation both during and post-COVID, and protecting everyone against fraud?
Digital is an essential survival tool, and even more so in a COVID world
No one could have predicted the dramatic digital pivot that has taken place over this year. Indeed, within weeks of the COVID outbreak cash usage in the UK dropped by around 50%. Digital solutions including delivery applications, contactless payments, mobile commerce, online and mobile banking have become essential components of a touchless customer experience in the era of social distancing. It’s no longer just about an enhanced and superior customer experience, it’s also about health, safety and survival.
In store, businesses have benefited from contactless payments enabling faster throughput and reduced need for consumers to touch payment terminals (therefore requiring greater cleaning, which degrades the hardware much faster). Mastercard reported a 40% increase in contactless payments – including tap-to-pay and mobile pay – during the first quarter of the year as the global pandemic worsened. Digital has also become an essential sales channel for many B2C brands. Where brick and mortar stores have been required to close, digital commerce enables continuity of customer relationships and revenue. This channel also provides brands with rich customer data, which can be used to enhance and personalise the customer experience and typically results in greater levels of engagement and uplifts in revenue.
Industry forecasts estimate that worldwide spending on the technologies and services enabling digital transformation will reach GBP 1.8 trillion in 2023 – a clear indication that the process represents a long-term investment and a global commitment to digital-first strategy. The key point here is that digital brings significant benefits, and regardless of COVID, is here to stay.
The challenges that rapid digital transformation brings to businesses
Regardless of whether businesses are operating in developed or less-developed economies, these times of crisis have levelled the playing field in the sense that all businesses are facing similar issues. Access to products and supplies, maintaining customer relationships, accelerating sales for some and declining sales for others, health and hygiene are just a few of the unique challenges brought about by COVID.
Many businesses in physical environments have had to swiftly implement changes to significantly reduce safety risks for staff and customers, such as contactless payments, mobile ordering and delivery options. But with these changes come a host of other benefits of digitisation, such as faster transactions, and reduced human error at the point-of-sale.
The reliance on technology, however, can also expose organisations and consumers to certain vulnerabilities. In particular, the risks of fraud and cybercrime have dramatically increased since the onset of the pandemic as scammers have taken advantage of digital technologies to target both businesses and individuals.
As a McKinsey report illustrates, new levels of sophistication in the activities of fraudsters have placed more pressure on companies that have been previously slow to go digital, bringing “into sharp relief how vulnerable companies really are”, and damaging the financial health of small and large businesses. In fact, the Bottomline 2020 Business Payments Barometer reveals that only one in 10 small businesses across the UK report recovering more than 50% of losses due to fraud.
But take these stats with a grain of salt. While it is important to be aware of the risks and challenges this new business landscape brings, it’s equally as important to have a lens firmly across your own business, industry and audience, and to identify the changes you can make internally to mitigate risk as well as improve your customer experience. Where can you make some quick wins? Do you have the right skillsets internally to achieve what you need to achieve? What technology is out there that will enable your business goals? There are tech companies like MYPINPAD that are making huge strides in software development, which will transform businesses globally.
A digital world post-COVID
Almost a year in, the line between business success and failure remains fragile. However, an ongoing transition towards greater digitisation will be the difference between survival and the alternative.
There is a wide range of initiatives businesses can implement to weather this storm. If we look at the space MYPINPAD operates within, secure digital consumer authentication is crucial to the ongoing success and security of not only financial products but also identification and verification across a range of different industry verticals. Shifting the authentication of consumers securely onto mobile devices enables businesses to completely reshape their customer experiences. By bringing together a more seamless, frictionless customer experience, accessibility, privacy, security and access to consumer data, businesses are able to drive digital transformation across day-to-day activities.
Against this backdrop, software with stronger security standards continue to play an ever more vital role in supporting society, protecting consumers and businesses from the increase in risks that rapid digitisation brings. Already, merchants can deploy PIN on Mobile technology from companies like MYPINPAD, onto their smart devices to speed up the digitisation process many are now tackling.
Essentially, opening up universal payments and authentication methods that feel familiar, for both online and face-to-face transactions, will be key to opening up a world of possibilities when it comes to redefining how businesses engage with consumers.
Brexit responsible for food supply problems in Northern Ireland, Ireland says
LONDON (Reuters) – Food supply problems in Northern Ireland are due to Brexit because there are now a certain amount of checks on goods going between Britain and Northern Ireland, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said.
British ministers have sought to play down the disruption of Brexit in recent days.
“The supermarket shelves were full before Christmas and there are some issues now in terms of supply chains and so that’s clearly a Brexit issue,” Coveney told ITV.
The Northern Irish protocol means there are “a certain amount of checks on goods coming from GB into Northern Ireland and that involves some disruption,” he said.
(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Top 8 Tax Scams to Watch Out For
It is tax time and that means finding the best way to file your taxes and to get a refund...
Hisham Itani and Resource Group Recognized in the 2020 Global Banking & Finance Awards®
Global Banking & Finance Review has awarded Hisham Itani the Chairman and CEO of Resource Group, Technology CEO of the...
Euro zone business activity shrank in January as lockdowns hit services
By Jonathan Cable LONDON (Reuters) – Economic activity in the euro zone shrank markedly in January as lockdown restrictions to...
Volkswagen’s profit halves, but deliveries recovering
BERLIN (Reuters) – Volkswagen reported a nearly 50% drop in its 2020 adjusted operating profit on Friday but said car...
Global chip shortage hits China’s bitcoin mining sector
By Samuel Shen and Alun John SHANGHAI/HONG KONG (Reuters) – A global chip shortage is choking the production of machines...
Iran’s oil exports rise ‘significantly’ despite sanctions, minister says
DUBAI/LONDON (Reuters) – Iran’s oil exports have climbed in recent months and its sales of petroleum products to foreign buyers...
Nissan to source more UK batteries as part of Brexit deal ‘opportunity’
By Costas Pitas LONDON (Reuters) – Nissan will source more batteries from Britain to avoid tariffs on electric cars after...
Muted recovery for UK retailers in December ends worst year on record
By David Milliken and Andy Bruce LONDON (Reuters) – British retailers struggled to recover in December from a partial coronavirus...
Chinese phone maker Honor partners with key chip suppliers after Huawei split
By David Kirton SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) – Chinese budget phone maker Honor said on Friday it had signed partnerships with...
Oil down $1 as China COVID-19 cases trigger clampdowns
By Noah Browning LONDON (Reuters) – Oil prices fell on Friday, retreating further from 11-month highs hit last week, weighed...


text:
Hawkins Hints at New Product Announcement in May
PalmAddicts has published a new interview with Palm Founder Jeff Hawkins. In it, Hawkins discusses his work at Numenta and Palm's "secret third business". Tantalisingly, he hints at a talk to come at Walt Mossberg's D Conference in May which he says Palm fans "should keep a close watch on".
"We’re going to be announcing something…but I won’t tell you what it is…we will be launching this year, not in the distant future. I’ll give you a much bigger hint: I’m going to be speaking at Walt Mossberg’s D Conference in May. It’s a high-end industry conference. Anyway, I’m going to be giving a talk there, and that would be something for the Palm fans to keep a close watch on."
Other highlights from the interview include Hawkins' thoughts on Palm's foray into Windows Mobile devices, which he basically describes as a move born out of fears of being shut out of Palm OS. He also states that it takes two years to design new products, hence why it will take a little time for the company's new-found control over its "destiny" to bear fruit.
Finally, he describes why he pays "almost no attention" to the Wall Street side of the business: it's "too distracting". "Why does Palm's stock go up and down every six months? It's a mystery to me." Hey says he feels Palm is in its best position ever, considering its past history, "It’s not like we’re sitting around going Argh! We have competition."
Article Comments(88 comments)
Click here for the full story discussion page...
- RE: Don't we have this already? -Tuckermaclain
- RE: Palm brand will return in 2018, with devices built by TCL -richf
- RE: Palm brand will return in 2018, with devices built by TCL -dmitrygr
- Palm phone on HDblog -palmato
- Palm PVG100 -hgoldner
- RE: Like Deja Vu -PacManFoo
- Like Deja Vu -T_W
- RE: Don't we have this already? -richf


text:
Generation No-Xpense vs the frugal over-55s: New research reveals what opposing tribes want from their UK staycation.
Destinations keen to pocket the new staycation pound need to use pinpoint accuracy in their comms strategy to engage and excite differing age groups with alternative holiday needs and budgets.
A report by PR and marketing agency Democracy has found that the under 45s (Generation No-Xpense) are willing to spend £620 on a UK break, forking out more than £100 per person than the over 55s.
Already disappointed to have to compromise on their traditional summer holiday, Generation No-Xpense are willing to pay more for an experience that will deliver luxury, escapism or adventure and are looking for new experiences that will meet their needs.
Yet, for the younger customer, born between the late 70s and mid 90s, many are still holding on to a last minute hope that changes will allow them to get away to warmer climes, with 34% still hopeful of some last summer sun.
Conversely, the frugal over 55s will spend less, with £510 per person ring fenced for a UK staycation, but they are far less likely to be dazzled by last minute changing legislation, with just 12% believing that they’ll leave the UK for a foreign holiday in the next 12 months.
Jennifer O’Grady, head of agency at Manchester-based Democracy, said: “Both audiences are looking for something very different from their staycation. The over 55s are looking for destinations that take them and their safety seriously before committing to venturing beyond their front door.
“And as a result destinations need to use advanced digital and social marketing to move away from a one size fits all marketing comms plan to a more personalised and tailored strategy.
“There are a raft of new opportunities for brands who can engage with all customers in the right way, in the right place and at the right time, ensuring their questions are answered and desires are met.”
Read the full report
These findings are taken from the Democracy Insights Report – The Home Front – The New Holiday Battleground which is free to download here.
The in-depth study identifies the impact Covid-19 has had on the travel and destination industry and offers practical guidance to help destinations to convert a new wave of holidaymakers into lifelong customers.
Jennifer added: “Covid-19 has the potential to change how we holiday in the UK for a generation. Brits of all ages are open to considering experiences previously off the radar and destinations need to drive interest, provide reassurance and then lock in these behaviour changes to protect future income.
“After months of lockdown and restrictions, the need across the board for a getaway has never been greater. Communicating safe measures is essential, but different audiences have different needs.
“As families expand their bubble to include grandparents, destinations need to be able to meet the needs of the multigenerational family, dialing up messages around experiences that excite everyone.
“Operators within the staycation sector who recognise these different generational needs and pivot their communications approach quickly will be those who gain cut through with new audiences.”
Splashing the cash
To prepare for a UK break, as opposed to a fortnight round the pool in Spain, Brits have been splashing out on new gear, too, with two in five making a purchase. The Democracy research found that 13 per cent of those have bought a tent, 12 percent a caravan, nine per cent a motorhome and eight per cent a campervan.
The traditional summer season is also being extended this year after so many months on ‘pause’ with bookings for domestic breaks spreading far into autumn and up to and including the October half-term.
Download the full report HERE.


text:
Pop superstar Katy Perry makes her fourth appearance as the face of hair products firm ghd
She’s previously dressed up as a mermaid and fairytale princess Snow White in their ads, and now Katy Perry is back in a stripped back black and white campaign for hair products firm ghd.
In her fourth set of adverts for the brand, Katy can be seen in a series of arty shots including staring into a mirror wearing an embellished dress, playing a game of chess with a mystery male companion and swinging from a sparkling chandelier.
The images, which were taken by acclaimed German photographer Ellen von Unwerth in Los Angeles at the end of Katy’s world tour, also demonstrate the versatility of the singer’s hairstyles – think a side ponytail and a side-swept fringe, long locks worn loose with a blunt fringe, and soft retro waves – all created with ghd’s new super-strength Air hairdryer (£99 from the ghd web-store) and the brand’s signature straightening irons.
Katy, who is the company’s first global ambassador, said: ‘It was fun to go a more natural route after playing characters in my last ghd campaign. Ellen von Unwerth captured both the playful and chic looks amazingly well.’
Previous campaigns have seen the pop star dress up as a mermaid, Snow White, a 1950s glamourpuss, a hippy chick and an ’80s-inspired disco queen for the Leeds-based firm.
But what do you think of Katy’s latest ads for ghd? Do you like the pictures? Or do you prefer her previous campaigns? Tell us in the comments box below…


text:
A recent report has found that Amazon’s most productive delivery persons of colour are facing poor customer feedback due to racial bias in the company’s customer feedback system.
According to the report, which was published by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), Amazon’s customer feedback system is biased against workers of colour, particularly those who are highly productive.
The report cites data showing that workers of colour with the highest rates of productivity were more likely to receive negative feedback from customers than their white counterparts, even when their actual performance was the same.
The report also notes that the feedback system is flawed, as it allows customers to rate delivery persons on factors that are often outside of their control, such as the quality of the product or the timeliness of the delivery.
The UFCW is calling on Amazon to reform its customer feedback system to eliminate racial bias and ensure that workers are not unfairly penalized based on factors outside of their control.
The report comes amid growing concerns about racial bias in technology, including in algorithms and other automated systems that are increasingly being used to make decisions about everything from hiring and promotions to criminal justice.
Post Your Comments


text:
Scientist: Junk food creates addiction
Do you belong to those who open a package of biscuits to take a bite, and after a while, empty the whole package? Now there is an explanation for the behavior. Researchers in Canada have shown in a study that junk food kicks in on the reward system.
What happens in the body when the stomach starts to cure and the craving sets in? And what can help us eat just as much as we actually need? The appetite control is largely controlled from the brain, more specifically from the hypothalamus which receives input from the gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue and from the liver
There has been much debate whether saturated fat is good or bad for us. Saturated fat is found in cookies, biscuits, butter, bacon, sausage, cheese, cream, and palm oil.
More wants even more
In a study done at the University of Montreal in Canada, researchers wanted to investigate what saturated and monounsaturated fats did with the weight and behavior of rats. The researchers were able to demonstrate that saturated fat triggers the reward system in the brain that gives you a kick when eating and that you want even more food. The researchers believe that similar mechanisms are triggered for an addict when he has to increase the dose to get the same kick. In their report, they write that saturated fat affects the brain in the same way as heroin, cocaine, and LSD.
Those who ate saturated fat were blunted
In the study, rats were used and divided into three groups. The first rat group acted as a control group. They were given a lean diet containing approximately equal amounts of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids.
The other group received a monounsaturated high fat diet, of which 50 percent of the calories came from olive oil.
The third group received a saturated fat diet, and 50 percent of the calories were from palm oil.
The high-fat diet was the same when it came to sugar, proteins, fat, and calories. The animals were allowed to eat as much or as little as they wanted.
After eight weeks, the weight was unchanged, but the behavioral tests indicated a big difference. The signal substance dopamine, which is responsible for reward systems in the brain, was blunted in the group that had eaten a lot of saturated fat.
Adverse effects on the brain
Study author Cecile Hryhorczuk, at the University of Montreal, believes that a high intake of saturated fat can be compared to drug tolerance.
With time, you have to increase the dose to get the same effect. A cake makes you want more.
Their research shows that regardless of weight gain or not, saturated fat can lead to changes in the brain, which in turn leads to mood swings, overeating, and drug abuse.
The study showed that olive oil, which contains monounsaturated fat, does not affect the reward system of the brain.
The researchers say the study is the first of its kind to show that unrestrained intake of saturated fats has adverse effects on the brain.
The study was published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.


text:
Kiwi company SHOTT Beverages reached a major milestone with the opening of their new factory in Auckland this week. As ERP providers to SHOTT, we were proud to attend their Grand Opening.
The new factory is based in Massey, Auckland. A location chosen for its proximity to fruit growers that supply ingredients for SHOTT’s quality fruit concentrates. Using local suppliers reflects their ethos to maintain a sustainable supply chain. The Massey plant has 300 percent more capacity than SHOTT’s Wellington factory. This will enable them to service a growing international market. The new Auckland factory will manufacture syrups for their South Korean, European and new US markets.
Reaching this milestone has faced its challenges. The pandemic has caused delays with plant and equipment coming from China and from Germany. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was due to officiate at the opening, but unfortunately was called away as New Zealand registered its first Covid-19 community case in more than six months.
SHOTT Beverages have been an Abel customer since June 2019 and we’re always pleased to see our customers grow and succeed.
Jane Mattsen, Business Manager & Executive Director, Abel Software Limited.


text:
Eye-Fi today announced Direct Mode, a combination of new technology in Eye-Fi cards and new Eye-Fi mobile apps, that wirelessly connects the camera to the mobile device to provide a seamless experience between the moment a memory is captured and when consumers want to browse, edit, save and share their memories.
With Direct Mode, photos taken with your digital camera can immediately be sent to your smartphone or tablet. They can be viewed, used with myriad apps on the device, or uploaded and shared.
In addition, photos and videos can automatically and wirelessly be backed up and organized in the consumer’s private Eye-Fi View account. From there, they are accessible for viewing and sharing from any Internet connected device – regardless of which camera they were taken with.
Direct Mode will be available as a free upgrade to all Eye-Fi X2 cards later in 2011.
To see more, Eye-Fi will be demonstrating this new capability at CES at booth #3615 in the “Living in Digital Times” section of the North Hall.


text:
Four American iPhone users have launched a class action suit against Apple over its exclusive deals with carriers in the country and the way it runs the App Store.
Apple partnered with US carrier AT&T when it first brought the Jesus-mobe to stores in 2007, in a five-year exclusivity agreement that tied users to an AT&T SIM card with no option to use another network.
The four plaintiffs* in the case are arguing that the restrictive partnership violates the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, because it didn't give customers the "absolute legal right to modify their phones to use the network of their carrier of choice".
The complaint (23-page PDF/1.2MB) states:
Prior to launch, Apple entered into a secret five-year contract with AT&T that established AT&T as the exclusive provider of cell phone voice and data services for iPhone customers through some time in 2012. As part of the contract, Apple shared in AT&T's revenues and profits with respect to the first generation of iPhones launched, known as the iPhone 2G, which was a unique arrangement in the industry. The Plaintiffs and other class members who purchased iPhones did not agree to use AT&T for five years. Apple's undisclosed five-year Exclusivity Agreement with AT&T, however, effectively locked iPhone users into using AT&T for five years, contrary to those users' knowledge, wishes and expectations.
While the iPhone fanbois knew that their shiny new toy was coming from Apple in partnership with AT&T, they claim that they didn't know that the length of that partnership was five years and they didn't know they wouldn't get the unlock code if they asked for it, something AT&T does give out for other phones bought under contract.
As well as taking issue with being stuck with one carrier, the complainants are also suing over the fruity firm's handling of its App Store.
They want the court to decide that Apple's refusal to approve third-party apps that don't pay the annual fee for the software development kit, or don't hand over 30 per cent of their sales to Apple, is unlawful. If Cupertino doesn't approve an app and iPhone users download it anyway, it voids their phone's warranty – a pretty risky move on such an expensive piece of kit.
The complaint alleges:
Through these actions, Apple has unlawfully stifled competition, reduced output and consumer choice, and artificially increased prices in the aftermarkets for iPhone voice and data services and for iPhone software applications.
The four people bringing the case against Apple say they're not sure how many people could be counted in the suit, but estimate that it is somewhere in the tens of millions.
The lawsuit is seeking a court order that stops Apple from selling locked iPhones unless it makes the terms clear and forces it to hand over the unlock code to everyone who already has a locked Jesus-mobe. The suit also wants the court to end the firm's monopoly in the App Store.
Naturally, the complaint is also looking for attorney's fees and costs, as well as "treble damages for injuries caused by Apple's violations of the federal antitrust laws". (Multiplying the award for damages by three is something the court ordinarily does in the US for wilful violation of antitrust laws.)
Class actions over Apple and AT&T has been knocking around in one form or another since 2007, but this version of the complaint was officially filed in California at the end of December last year and is only being brought against Apple.
Another case (PDF) against both Apple and AT&T for the same antitrust violations, but brought by different plaintiffs, was already filed in 2008 and is currently moving through the courts.
Apple had not replied to a request for comment at the time of publication. ®
* including the intriguingly named Mr "Hayter".


text:
Are you looking for an alternative to Tesla? Good news, the American start-up Lucid will land in Europe next year.
In the United States, Lucid sees itself as the start-up that makes better than Tesla. And on paper, it must be said that the Lucid Air impresses. The 100% electric sedan, the brand’s first model, promises great luxury worthy of European premiums and an announced autonomy up to 832 km. All in a minimalist and futuristic design. After a recent injection of 4.5 billion dollars (3.8 billion euros) and a Initial Public Offering with great pomp, Lucid does not hide his ambitions. And these will soon pass through Europe!
Interviewed by the American specialist Electrive, Roberto Russo, Director of Lucid Germany, announced that Lucid Air deliveries would start in 2022 in the country. Other European markets will then follow, including France. Lucid’s arrival in Europe was long overdue, but the Covid crisis and the semiconductor shortage forced the small manufacturer to postpone the start of production in the United States, initially scheduled for 2020.
Moreover, on the manufacturer’s website, you can already book the Lucid Air. You can book the entry level Lucid Air Pure(480 hp for 653 km of autonomy) for 300 €, against 900 € for higher versions Air Touring (620 hp for 653 km) and Air Grand Touring (800 hp for 832 km). The launch version, the Lucid Air Dream Edition (1080 hp and more than 800 km of autonomy) is no longer available.
The prices for Europe are not yet indicated, but be aware that the Lucid Air Pure (the cheapest) will go on sale in the United States for $ 77,400, or around € 65,000. For information, the Tesla Model 3, in its long range version (with its announced 614 km of autonomy and 440 hp) is offered at € 52,990.
Later, Lucid plans to launch the Gravity, an SUV that will take over the Air platform.
Source : Electrive
Read also :
fbq('init', '1074802596328068'); fbq('init','3856678577721467'); fbq('track', "PageView"); jQuery(document).on("change_item" , function(e, i) if(i == 11) fbq('track', "ViewContent");
Avid reader of the newspaper you are currently reading, a motorist is since January 2019…
Which countries are most affected by car theft? A new study reveals a less reassuring…
HysetCo has just inaugurated the largest hydrogen station in Europe at Porte de Saint-Cloud. It…
Online driving schools are flourishing and seem to be on the rise, especially among young…


text:
08:44 AM - November 3, 2005 by Steve_OS
PC Gameworld has posted their review of NBA Live 06, giving it a 70%.
"Throw in the yin-yang commentary from always excited Marv Albert (“Am I wearing a dress? YES!!) and the incredibly sleep inducing Steve Kerr (whoever told this guy to go into broadcasting anyway? It’s like listening to Ben Stein call a game…except Stein would be more energetic) and you’ve got a basketball title that does some of what it’s supposed to do, a lot of what it shouldn’t, and offers little reason to play if you already have the previous title. NBA Live 06 is mediocre at best and EA can and should be doing a lot better."


text:
"CoinDesk Daily" host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the biggest headlines impacting the crypto industry today, including a Bloomberg analyst's prediction that ether ETFs likely won’t get approved in May.
Will an ETF get approved this year and how much Polygon paid to partner with Starbucks? You're watching Coin Desk Daily. I'm your host, Jen Snay Bloomberg. Analysts predict that Ether ETF S likely won't get approved in May. Analyst James Safer wrote on X that the SEC hasn't engaged with issuers on Ethereum specifics noting that this is the exact opposite of the regulators actions with the spot. Bitcoin ETF seven issuers are hoping to launch an Ether Fund including Blackrock and Fidelity. And while the SEC postponed a decision previously, it will have to make a decision by May 23rd, the final deadline for one of the applicants. Three ac co-founder Kyle Davies was on an episode of the Unchained podcast and said that he won't apologize for the company going bankrupt. He said, quote, am I sorry for a company going bankrupt? No, like companies go bankrupt, almost every company goes bankrupt, right? And quote, Davies and Suzu co-founded three ES capital in 2012 and suffered heavy losses mid 2022 during the crypto market downturn. And according to sources, Polygon paid Starbucks $4 million to host the coffee company's now failed web three project. Starbucks Odyssey, the NFT Powered Loyalty Program that made headlines last year will shutter at the end of the month, the deal was a hallmark of a big and flashy business development strategy for polygon. And while companies usually pay their tech vendors for services rendered, it seems this deal went the other way around. According to sources, the payout ended a competitive hunt by proponents of at least three Blockchain ecosystems who wanted to partner with Starbucks. That's it for coin desk daily, get more updates on coindesk.com and we'll see you next time.