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Travel agent publishes booking figures
Isle of Man travel agency Richmond and Mann Link Travel has revealed the top 10 most popular holiday destinations Island residents travelled to in 2016, based on booking figures.
The UK tops the list, followed by Spain, Italy, Portugal, USA, Greece, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, and France.
This mirrors the UK where Spain was the most popular destination with over 4.2m UK passengers last year according to industry figures, followed by the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands and Greece.
Mann Link and Richmond Travel says it's predicting a rise in bookings to longer haul destinations St Lucia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Indonesia in 2017.
It also expects more people to head to the Costa Almeria in Spain, which was added as a new destination by Jet2 airlines last year.
Areas such as the Black Sea and North Africa which were once popular holiday destinations are no longer feasible, which has contributed to the demise of a number of smaller operators.
Following recent news of the collapse of Lowcostholidays and cruise operator All Leisure Group, which owns Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic, there is an emerging risk amongst smaller niche operators in the travel sector.
Richmond and Mann Link Travel says many have struggled against the fall in the value of the pound, exchange rates, operating cost increases and geopolitical issues.


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TALLINN – The Estonian state is coming to the aid of vulnerable groups in the energy war, including by paying a cost of living allowance of 50 euros to elderly residents and families with children in November, Reform Party MP Onne Pillak said during a debate on energy subsidies in the Riigikogu on Monday.
"In November, the groups most at risk of poverty, namely pensioners and families with children, will receive targeted assistance. The 50-euro cost of living allowance was paid automatically to pensioners together with this month's pension, and families with children will get the same amount with the family allowance for November," Pillak said.
"We, with all our people, are in an energy war. This is not specific for Estonia. The skyrocketing energy prices and accompanying dissatisfaction have hit the whole of Europe," Pillak said.
She explained that the cost of living allowance of 50 euros comes as part of the government's ambitious package of measures, which also includes the option to buy electricity as a universal service, compensating household consumers for 50 euros per megawatt of the price of electricity, reimbursing household consumers of gas 80 percent of the gas price exceeding 80 euros, up to a consumption of 2,600 kilowatt-hours per month, and reimbursing household consumers of district heating 80 percent of the price exceeding 80 euros per megawatt-hour.
On top of that come measures such as the increase in the average pension to 704 euros a month next year, exempting the average pension from income tax and raising the basic exemption to 654 euros a month.

domain: news


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Hapag-Lloyd, DB Schenker ink biofuel-powered transport deal
German liner major Hapag-Lloyd has entered into a partnership with compatriot logistics provider DB Schenker for emission-reduced container transports with waste- and residue-based biofuel.
The deal follows the launch of Hapag-Lloyd’s “Ship Green” product in May enabling customers to transport their cargo on biofuel blends to cut emissions. The product offers three different options, representing different levels of CO2e emission reduction for the ocean leg of the shipment: 100%, 50% or 25%.
By the end of 2023, DB Schenker plans to claim approximately 3,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions avoidance. This is based on at least 1,000 tonnes of pure biofuel.
“We are excited about this new partnership with DB Schenker as we share the common goal of making logistics more sustainable. Collaborations like these set a clear signal in the industry and are another example of a step-by-step approach to further decarbonise supply chains”, said Henrik Schilling, Managing Director Global Commercial Development at Hapag-Lloyd.
“I am very pleased that together with Hapag-Lloyd we are setting another example for sustainability in our industry. This partnership further enlarges our global biofuel offer in ocean freight. With this commitment we are one step closer to our goal of becoming carbon-neutral,” said Thorsten Meincke, Global Board Member for Air & Ocean Freight at DB Schenker.
Biofuel is an important part of Hapag-Lloyd’s sustainability journey as biofuel blends can give a meaningful contribution to decarbonization as a drop in fuel. The ‘drop in’ quality of the solution means that little or no modifications are needed to the existing vessel’s infrastructure to switch to biofuel.
In 2022, the company used more than 120,000 tons of biofuel on more or less all of its ships.
Ship Green is available for all shipments containing standard, hardtop or tank equipment, and the product is an important part of the company’s path towards achieving climate-neutral fleet operations by 2045.
In addition, while LNG has been a significant focus for the company, Hapag-Lloyd is actively looking into the potential of methanol and ammonia.
Last month, the company together with Hong Kong-based containership owner Seaspan hired MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES) to deliver engine retrofit solutions for their vessels to be able to run on green methanol.
Under the terms of the deal, MAN will deliver 15 engine retrofit solutions and the deal includes 45 optional engine retrofit solutions. Each conversion could provide a CO2 reduction of 50.000–70.000 tonnes each year, when operating on green methanol.


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MONTREAL (Reuters) - Canada’s Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO) is the front-runner to win a New Jersey Transit (NJT) rail car contract, two sources familiar with the matter said, in a boost for the plane-and-train-maker’s North American business which has wrestled with delivery delays and has lost orders to rivals.
PARIS/TOKYO (Reuters) - French carmaker Renault tapped its chief operating officer and a senior board member to fill in for embattled boss Carlos Ghosn, after an investigation by alliance partner Nissan led to his arrest on suspicion of financial misconduct.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks sold off for a second day on Tuesday as energy shares dropped with oil prices, and retailers including Target and Kohl’s sank after weak earnings and forecasts, fueling worries about economic growth.
(Reuters) - The U.S. space agency said on Tuesday it would review the workplace culture at SpaceX and Boeing Co (BA.N), as the two companies gear up to fly astronauts to the International Space Station.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Tuesday said that China has failed to alter its “unfair” practices at the heart of the U.S.-China trade conflict, adding to tensions ahead of a high-stakes meeting later this month between U.S.


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Ride-away, one of the UK’s top retailers for horse-riding equipment and supplies, has announced a full re-branding of its business - a task which includes the showroom in York, its bi-annual catalogue and the website.
Expedia.com is the most visible web site in Google US organic search results for air travel related searches, while Cheapoair.com is most visible in Google’s paid search results according to a new study.
Web hosting provider and digital agency, NuBlue, is reminding the 68 million Wordpress website owners worldwide that their website can be more than an online brochure and blog through the addition of an e-commerce shop.
Amazon has announced the launch of digital downloads for software and video games at Amazon.co.uk, enabling customers to download blockbuster and classic video games and popular software from major publishers directly to their PC or Mac.
Marking two years of partnership with eBay, BMW is now driving change in the aftersales market with the launch of a Value Service page.
Sports Direct, UK sports retailer, has terminated its relationship with Rakuten Linkshare to exclusively partner with global performance network, Affiliate Window.
The bmi regional website is the easiest airline to book according to research undertaken by the editorial team of Daily Telegraph, based on the number of mouse clicks and time taken to book a flight.
UK arts and crafts retailer, HobbyCraft, has exclusively appointed global performance network, Affiliate Window for the launch of its first ever performance marketing programme.
Savvy Internet shoppers collecting cashback via websites such as Quidco, have pocketed an incredible £24m in the first half of 2013 new figures out today show.
Almost one in three of those UK adults who are online (31%) are selling their unwanted belongings through the likes of ebay and gumtree to bolster finances, according to research from Standard Life.
Amazon.co.uk has announced the launch of its MP3 Store optimised specifically for iPhone and iPod touch.
Man of Steel inspires a nation to reminisce over the best superheroes of our time as sales of retro comics soar on eBay.co.uk.
GE Cigarette, the E-cig provider, has launched an affiliate scheme which will enable bloggers and site-owners to profit in various ways.
UK web hosting provider and e-commerce hosting specialist, NuBlue, is offering guidance on different e-commerce application options, to steer online retailers through the maze of choices and allow anyone selling online to select the right application for their needs.
Amazon has announced that it will open a new office at 60 Holborn Viaduct later this year.
16 to 30 of 537 for Retail


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Rumor: 'Space Siege' May Head To Consoles
Shawn Green, the associate producer of Space Siege , apparently told VG247 that the game may be under consideration for console versions. The game is currently published by Sega and developed by Gas Powered Games. The action RPG will be released for the PC sometime in September, 2008.
“We’re talking with them about it,” said Green. “We don’t want to let any cats out of the bag too early but definitely a console version is something that’s being considered right now. But currently it’s not confirmed.”


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Renault's new Alpine concept is here at last, courtesy of a leaked gallery of images that have surfaced online today.
Set for its official world debut at this weekend's Monaco F1 Grand Prix, the so-called A110-50 concept marks the 50th anniversary of the original Alpine A110.
While the new concept's styling is largely drawn from the look of the 2010 DeZir concept, Renault has added more than a few styling tweaks and enhancements.
The standout changes at the front include the circular intakes in the bonnet and bumper - a clear nod to the A110's fog lights - a slim new headlight and 'grille' design, and a huge air dam and bonnet vent combo.
The concept's rear is dominated by a long and tall louvered grille and a massive diffuser.
Unlike the ultra-green all-electric DeZir, the new Alpina flies full-throttle in the opposite direction, its petrol engine producing around 300kW.
With the new concept still to be official revealed, full technical details have yet to surface. Some reports describe a boosted and mid-mounted version of Nissan's 3.5 litre V6 as the car's power source.
We'll know more in the coming days.
- Related News & Reviews at TMR ▼
- Click here for earlier Renault Alpine reports
- Renault news and reviews | Enthusiast | Concepts
[via Motorsport Magazine]
- Interested in buying RENAULT ? Visit our RENAULT showroom for more information.


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More and more analysts are sure Brent oil will surpass $100 a barrel. So how heavily will oil move the markets, and what will the direction of the movement be? Let's find out!
Stock market: the earnings of Cisco and NVIDIA
2020-03-13 • Updated
The earnings season in the United States is still on. This means stocks of the largest American companies will likely make big moves. You can trade these stocks with FBS (learn more) and make money!
Wednesday, August 14
EPS forecast: $0.81
Revenue forecast: $13.39B
Cisco Systems is an American multinational technology conglomerate which develops, manufactures and sells networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and other high-technology services and products. In simple terms, Cisco provides connectivity to end-users, workstations, IP phones, access points, and servers. All in all, its business looks good: the firm isn’t very exposed to China, occupies a strong market position and makes efforts to improve it further by conquering security market and partnering up with the world’s top technological firms.
According to analysts’ expectations, the company’s earnings have increased by 17%, while revenue has risen by 4% y/y. The only question is whether the company lives up to the good forecasts. If the actual figures top the estimates, the stock will turn up. On the contrary, if Cisco’s financial results disappoint, the price will test support.
After meeting resistance in the area of 58.00, Cisco’s stock turned down and survived a substantial decline before finding support in the 51.00 area (May low, 200-day MA). Still, the price remains within the long-term uptrend, so the price action of the recent months was only a consolidation. Support is at 50.30 (50-week MA) and 49.00. Resistance is at 54.00.
Thursday, August 15
EPS forecast: $1.14
Revenue forecast: $2.55B
According to the forecasts, Nvidia’s earnings have declined by more than 40% y/y, while revenue has contracted by 18.5%. Revenue from gaming, the company’s largest business, is expected to decline nearly 29% to $1.29 billion as more and more gamers switch from PCs to consoles and Nvidia’s products are not incorporated in the latter.
Moreover, in the competitive graphics card market, Nvidia is facing tough competition from AMD. The firm has launched a new version of its flagship chip as an alternative to AMD’s new products. However, Nvidia has to sell its chips at low prices and this can’t be good for the company. To sum up, it seems that Nvidia has plenty of challenges ahead and its future looks uncertain.
Technically the stock has been consolidating after a sharp decline at the end of 2018. Resistance line connecting April and July highs provides resistance around 175.00. Support line connecting December and June lows is in the 136.00 area. The decline below 148.00 should open the way to the 200-week MA at 140.95.
About PayPal PayPal is an electronic commerce company that facilitates payments between parties through online transfers…
Institutional investors speak about further growth in the stock market. In the exact market that has doubled since COVID-19 and doesn’t plan to stop. Is it possible?
In today's article, we will be performing an interesting analytical experiment - Correlation! To start, I have chosen a few indices that we will be observing. It's just like we're analyzing...
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Futures for Canada's main stock index rose on Monday, following positive global markets and gains in crude oil prices. First Citizens BancShares Inc's announcement of purchasing the loans and deposits of failed Silicon Valley Bank also boosted investor confidence in the global financial system...


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Appetite-suppression by oral consumption is realistic, latest research
Australian and U.S. scientists claim to have demonstrated for the first time that a hormone that helps people feel “full” after eating can be delivered into the bloodstream orally.
Scientists at Syracuse University, in New York, and Murdoch University, in Perth, Western Australia, led by chemist Dr Robert Doyle had their study published this week in the American Chemical Society’s ‘Journal of Medicinal Chemistry’.
The scientists are now hoping to find an application for the hormone as an ingredient, perhaps in chewing gum.
The hormone in question, called ‘PYY’, is part of a chemical system that regulates appetite and energy. When people eat or exercise, PYY is released into the bloodstream. The amount of PYY released increases with the number of calories consumed.
Dr Doyle said that PYY is an appetite-suppressing hormone. But, when taken orally, the hormone is destroyed in the stomach. That which is not destroyed has difficulty crossing into the bloodstream through the intestines.
He said, “What was needed was a way to disguise the PYY, allowing it to travel through the digestive system relatively unharmed.”
Several years ago, Dr Doyle developed a way to use vitamin B12 as a vehicle for the oral delivery of the hormone insulin. B12 is able to pass through the digestive system with relative ease and carry with it insulin, or other substances, into the bloodstream. Similarly, his research team attached the PYY hormone to his patent-pending vitamin B12 system successfully.
Dr Doyle said, “The next step involves finding ways to insert the B12-PYY system into such things as chewing gum or an oral tablet to create a nutritional supplement to assist individuals in losing weight in much the same way as nicotine-laced gum is used to help people stop smoking.”
Dairy processing giant Murray Goulburn (MG) this week rattled its farmers again by declaring another...
THE first Australian hospital to ban fatty and sugary food and drink from its cafeteria is leading t...
Australian steakhouse, Hog’s Breath, has won an award from animal advocacy group, PETA.
COULD genetic mapping allow allergy sufferers to enjoy peanuts without risk of anaphylaxis?
McCain Foods has completed stage one of the $57 million upgrade of its Ballarat potato plant.
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A television advertisement for coffee chain Muzz Buzz has been removed from the air after receiving ...
Westward American Single Malt Pinot Noir Cask Finish, a truly elegant expression of Westward Whiske...


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The Motorcycle Action Group is co-ordinating a campaign to retain the Isle of Wight motorcycle test centre.
Motorcyclists on the Isle of Wight will face a long and expensive journey to the mainland in order to take their motorcycle licence test under plans to abolish the islands only motorcycle test centre.
This has come about due to the new motorcycle riding test which comes into force in October 2008 which will require purpose built off road test centres.
A total of 65 new, off road purpose built test centres are being built to accommodate the new test which includes manoeuvres at speeds up to 50 kilometres per hour.
These purpose built centres require a tarmac area of 2.5 acres and cost in the region of ?1.5m per centre. The new motorcycle test will result in better trained riders which will have a positive benefit for the safety of the individual motorcyclist and overall road casualty reduction.
The Driving Standards Agency says that the number of riders taking the test in the Isle of Wight, together with the cost of developing a centre on the island would not be financially viable.
Motorcyclists, motorcycle dealers and trainers on the island are very worried that the loss of a test centre would suppress demand for motorcycling which in turn would add to traffic congestion and environmental damage as would be motorcyclists turn instead to cars.
Allan Thornton the Isle of Wight MAG representative says, ?There are a number of sites which could be developed and the islands motorcycle community is prepared to work with anyone who can help retain our testing centre on the island. Having to go to the mainland, enduring an expensive 1 hour journey, plus check in times together with having to pay for your trainer to go would have a negative impact on motorcycling on the island. I am worried that people might ride without taking their test with all the consequences that might bring?.
The campaign is being co-ordinated by MAG’s Campaigns Manager David Short who says, “The loss of a motorcycle test centre on the Isle of Wight is in itself an issue but it also highlights a national problem where the reduction from the current 225 sites to a proposed 65 super test centres will mean riders in remote parts of the country will have to undergo long journeys at great expense just to take the test.”
“I am encouraged that talks with ministers, the DSA, motorcycle trainers and the Motorcycle Rider Training Association, (MRTA) have proved very positive and an agreement has been reached that all parties will meet to discuss the way forward and to consider the possibility of the Isle of Wight retaining a motorcycle test facility.”
Visit the MAG campaigns web site for progress on the campaign and how you can get involved.
Mike Owen the head of the MRTA said, “I am delighted that this issue is being addressed. The MRTA will do everything possible to help resolve the question of the Isle of Wight test centre and the wider national problem it represents”.
Campaign details are Here
For further information contact: David Short
Tel: +44 (0) 1347 822214
Mobile: +44 (0) 7738 948080
General Secretary (MAG UK)
Tel: +44 (0)1788 570065
Fax: +44 (0)1788 570052
The UK’s Leading Riders’ Rights Organisation


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Gump’s Survived the San Francisco Earthquake – But Not E-Commerce
Gump’s Holdings LLC,, the San Francisco retail landmark that survived the 1906 earthquake, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after succumbing to the rise of online shopping and shifting consumer habits.
After years of losses, the 157-year-old Bay Area department store had been trying to find a buyer, or additional financing since May, to no avail. The closely held company and its affiliates had assets of $61 million and liabilities of $64 million, according to filings late Friday in Nevada. Bloomberg reported late last month that the retailer was on the brink.
Gump’s is the latest U.S. department store operator to be hit hard by an aging customer base, expensive rents and growing competition from e-commerce. Two regional chains, Gordmans and Bon-Ton, recently filed for bankruptcy and closed their doors.
The company plans to ask the court to approve financing to support it during bankruptcy, according to the filing. Gump’s will keep trying to find a buyer, but it has also hired liquidators to sell off its merchandise to repay creditors.
Gump’s, which dates to 1861, evolved into a purveyor of luxury goods to cater to the winners of the California gold rush. That included scouring the globe for unique items, such as silks and jade from China and Japan.
Besides its store in San Francisco’s Union Square shopping district, the company has a direct-to-consumer division, including a website and catalog, that provides 75 percent of its revenue.
Source: Read Full Article


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Ontario, where 142 of 337 LPs are located, included REC retail and cannabis producers among its (long) list of essential services exempt from a provincial 14-day shutdown order. (The province is also temporarily loosening laws to support alcohol providers.)
MJ Biz Daily, BNN Bloomberg, the Star
- Lawyer Trina Fraser said the breadth of activities named “essential” in Ontario indicates the province expects it will be locked down a great deal longer than its initially stated 14 days.
- Meanwhile, as demand has surged, the Ontario Cannabis Store is approaching its annual inventory review, and warned consumers orders received between Sunday and Wednesday of this week to expect delays.
Quebec also designated alcohol, REC retail, and cannabis production “priority enterprises” and kept stores open–though the province will begin closing many essential stores on Sundays for cleaning and to give staff a break.
MJ Biz Daily, CTV News
- The SQDC (as well as the SAQ) asked consumers to shop online when possible and respect physical distancing when shopping in physical stores.
- The provincial agency plans to go ahead with its plans to open two new stores next week.
If cannabis is being viewed as an essential service, the government needs to address excise taxes on medical cannabis, onerous licensing processes, ALR restrictions, lack of social consumption spaces ("lounges"), public possession limits, and other useless, arbitrary regulations.
— Buzz @???? — There no place like 127.0.0.1 (@BuzzDankyear) March 27, 2020


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It's time to talk Nokia codenames, and two separate leaks point to the fact that Nokia's debut 1080p Windows Phone will be a 6in phablet currently known by the codename Bandit.
The Verge namechecked the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 handset courtesy of the usual “sources familiar with Nokia's plans” route, before it was included separately in a longer list of Nokia codenames tweeted by @evleaks.
There has been plenty of noise lately surrounding big-screened Nokia Windows Phones, particularly with GDR3's release expected over the next few months – it being the update to WP8 that will bring support for both 1080p display resolutions and quad-core processors.
According to The Verge's sources the Bandit will be “the first of many” Nokia smartphones to tick both those boxes, but will have a few other tricks up its sleeve too.
It will reportedly come with a rear camera boasting “at least 20 megapixels” of shooting power, which will see it sporting a Lumia 925-like bulge in its polycarbonate shell, though the handset is otherwise described as being “thin and lightweight”.
The site claims the Bandit is currently under testing with AT&T, and is likely to go on sale in the US before the end of the year. Rumours have surfaced recently that Nokia's debut quad-core Snapdragon full HD smartphone will be announced at a two-day event in New York at the end of September, which could fit in with this latest news – time will tell.
The @evleaks list of codenames put out today doesn't go into any details, but refers to the Bandit alongside the names Lanai, Orion, Pegasus, Rivendell, Shorty and Siruis (surely Sirius) as titles of upcoming Nokia handsets.
Given previous form we can assume some of these are cheaper Asha feature phones, and there could be carrier-specific variants of the same device among the model names too, so it may be best simply to file this away for future reference for the time being.


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With the strong increase in the COVID-19 vaccination rate amongst residents in Singapore, the island-state is progressing steadily into the endemic phase. With the resumption of many social activities and increase in group gathering size for most of the year, residents looked to host more events at home, such as small dinner parties, or gatherings at food and beverage establishments.
The pandemic encouraged more consumers to purchase daily necessities via e-commerce. Some of the reasons cited by consumers for online shopping are convenience, keeping safe from COVID-19, and a greater ability to compare prices between brands and companies.
Despite the more positive outlook in the fight against COVID-19, in 2021 residents were still constantly reminded that the fight against the virus was far from over. Safety precautions were still largely in place in many public spaces, as new variants such as Delta and Omicron disrupted the country’s progress towards being an endemic state.
The pandemic led hygiene standards to increase in public spaces and at home, and this is expected to remain, especially in the early forecast period. The World Health Oganization (WHO) has rolled out a list of advice for the public to better protect themselves and prevent the spread of the virus.
More local players, such as FairPrice, expanded the presence of their private label lines and sold them at a lower price point. In 2021, FairPrice carried 2,000 private label products.
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This report originates from Passport, our Retail Tissue research and analysis database.
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It has been a long time coming, but yesterday Motorola officially announced the Moto X. The device, which has leaked over several months leading to its announcement, will go on sale at the end of this month from all major US carriers with AT&T getting some exclusives yet again. The Moto X is also set…
Just a day before Motorola, now a Google company, is set to launch the illustrious Moto X in New York City, a new feature has been unraveled, something that may upset some prospective buyers; the upcoming uber customizable Moto X will feature support only for nano SIMs, becoming the third ever smartphone to do so….
Motorola’s upcoming ultra customizable smartphone, the illustrious Moto X has been caught once again, this time showing its curvy white profile, but that’s not all. The Moto X has also been caught showing off its feature-set in some AnTuTu & 3DMark tests, suggesting that it’s a midrange device.
Even with a set date provided for the world to finally capture an official glimpse of the illustrious Moto X, the leaks still ensue. On August 1 we will see the first official products from Motorola under Google’s guidance and as ‘a Google company,’ and boy are we in for a treat thanks to the…
The illustrious Moto X has been caught in the wild again, this time confirming the use of the Verizon network thanks to leaks supplied to Android Central. In addition to the leak, EVLeaks has revealed a launch date for itself and its siblings.
Finding the US summers too warm in Silicon Valley, Google’s Chairman and former CEO, Eric Schmidt, dropped in to Sun Valley, famous for its skiing facilities, and of course the annual Allen and Co media conference, bringing along a new toy.
The Moto X is back, and by now taking the crown for the most overhyped device of this year. The Moto X which will supposedly have customization options second to none and has had some of its housings leak for all to see.
After months and months of rumors and leaks, Motorola has finally released the first advertisement/teaser for the Moto X, adding that “The first smartphone designed, engineered and assembled in the USA is coming.”
The illustrious Moto X is back, this time sporting Sprint LTE. After passing the FCC just a while ago, it’s back and this time it has a rumoured release date, August 1.
The illustrious Motorola X Phone has made the rounds again after almost a year in rumourville, the latest supposed leak may shed some light on what exactly the device will look like when it is launched later this year and what will make it tick.


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Business strategies in the U.S. communications and entertainment have recently been shaped profoundly by spectrum issues.
Dish Network once hoped to turn Blockbuster and some new re-purposed satellite spectrum into a mobile video service. The plan, in April 2011, was to retain some of the Blockbuster retail locations to sell mobile devices supporting the new proposed service.
Those plans floundered when the Federal Communications Commission didn’t quickly approve a waiver allowing Dish to use its satellite spectrum for terrestrial data and voice transmission.
Image via Shutterstock
LightSquared has been unable to launch its proposed wholesale Long Term Evolution network, and might declare bankruptcy, because it has not been able to convince regulators of the merits of its plan to re-purpose satellite spectrum for use as an LTE network.
And though it is not the sole reason, desire to acquire spectrum assets is driving merger and acquisition efforts in the U.S. mobile business.
Even the fixed network business now is starting to be shaped by wireless access, as most fixed broadband connections now terminate using Wi-Fi, and support devices capable of using Wi-Fi networks. And the amount of such usage is important.
About 68 percent of consumer mobile phone use, for example, now occurs in the home, a study sponsored by AOL and BBDO has found. That, as much as anything, shows the growing importance of “untethered” access for mobile devices.
The study, conducted by research firm InsightsNow, shows that a focus on “mobile” devices actually requires understanding the role of untethered access, which in fact might already represent as much as half of all mobile operations on a smartphone.
“Me Time,” activities that involve “seeking relaxation and entertainment in order to indulge oneself or pass the time” accounted for about 46 percent of all smartphone app and website activities, averaging 864 minutes per month per user. About 70 percent of those activities are “lean-back” experiences.
The need for more spectrum is driving strategy elsewhere as well.
AT&T wanted to buy T-Mobile USA in large part for its spectrum assets. Sprint's board considered, then rejected, an early 2012 bid to buy MetroPCS.
T-Mobile USA now wants to buy MetroPCS in part for its spectrum assets.
Verizon has gotten approval to buy mobile frequencies from Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks.
AT&T is waiting for clearance of its purchase of more spectrum from NextWave.
The FCC now is trying to entice U.S. broadcasters to part with abandoned TV broadcast spectrum so it can be auctioned off to support U.S. Long Term Evolution networks.
And a rollout of "white spaces" spectrum might start in 2013 as commercial radios become available as well.
This last week I was at the Intel Skylake for business launch in San Francisco, and I moderated a panel on security which pretty much convinced me to …
At CES last week, Corning led with a glass-forward vision that was picked up by companies like Panasonic and Samsung showcasing a number of active dis…
I'm at IBM Connect this week, and as with all IBM events since the IBM/Apple partnership, this is as much a showcase for IBM software as it is a showc…
With the big game coming up on Sunday, let's not forget what the Super Bowl is really about: commercials. Sure, some brutes in jerseys are going to co…
For two firms that have had somewhat of a contentious relationship, seeing Verizon in late-stage talks to purchase XO Communications is certainly an i…


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Police this afternoon (Tuesday) arrested a 36-year-old man after R3 million worth of suspected stolen goods were found in his Point appartment. He will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court tomorrow.
The man was found with 19 brand new plasma TV sets, 60 laptops, 20 old plasma TV sets and 15 desktop computers, said SA police spokesman Lt Col Vincent Mdunge. They have an estimated value of R3m.
“All this was found at a flat in the Point area, where the man resides. Police investigations revealed that some of these goods were stolen during house breakings, house robberies, theft out of motor vehicles and containers from the harbour,” Mdunge said.
It is also believed that the man does business in other African counties.


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The head of Korea’s leading blockchain association has publicly stated that government should allow ICOs for economic growth of the country.
“Put Regulations in Place,” Says Blockchain Champion
Chin Dae-je, the chairman of the Korea Blockchain Association, has urged the government to roll back the ban on ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings), arguing that doing so will help create more jobs and boost economic growth. He made these remarks while speaking at a blockchain conference at COEX in Gangnam district, southern Seoul in late September. Chin has previously served as the minister of Information and Communication and as the head of Samsung’s media division.
Speaking at the conference, Chin said:
The government should implement guidelines to nurture the domestic blockchain industry, which will help Korea emerge as a global industry leader.
The Korean government last year imposed a ban on ICOs, citing safeguarding the interest of investors as the reason behind the move. However, the citizens are free to participate in ICOs being launched from other venues. The action has caused a lot of start-up entrepreneurs to set up their businesses in neighboring countries like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, and Thailand.
Presenting proposed guidelines prepared by his association Chin added, “Start-ups who comply with guidelines should be allowed to launch ICOs.”
He further stated:
By regulating and allowing ICOs, we can nurture start-ups with high potential, create jobs and reduce youth unemployment. […] We can designate public or private organizations like the Korean Blockchain Association to look over the ICO white papers and verify the purpose of their fundraising.
The Preferred ICO Destinations
ICOs have become a popular method among blockchain start-ups for raising funds for their projects. Projects issue native tokens in exchange for the funds collected in either Bitcoins or Ethereum. The native coins can either be used on the project’s platform post-launch or traded on the cryptocurrency exchanges.
Last year, investors made good gains from the rise in prices of the ICO tokens. However, this year, while more money has been raised through ICOs, most tokens are currently trading below their launch price.
Venues like Switzerland, Singapore, Malta, Gibraltar, Estonia, and Dubai have emerged as favorite destinations to launch ICOs due to their crypto-friendly regulations.
Many blockchain supporters in Korea feel that the country may miss out on the potential opportunity of growth that exists by taking a hostile approach towards blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
The Chairman Bats for Crypto Exchanges
Chin also urged the government to make it easier for exchanges to be able to issue new user accounts for deposits and withdrawals in Won, the local fiat currency. In January of this year, the country’s financial regulator – Financial Services Commission – pushed the exchanges to strengthen the customer verification process.
Addressing the issue, Chin stated:
The government should allow currency exchanges that verify customer identity and have appropriate security measures to be allowed to issue new virtual accounts. […] Korean exchanges that were ranked as the fourth or sixth-largest in the world before are dropping to below 20th place now.
He also noted:
If domestic currency exchanges disappear, it will be more difficult and financially challenging for Korean start-ups to issue ICOs as they would have to list their coins on non-Korean exchanges.
As pro-crypto voices get louder, the government now seems eager to soften its hard-line stance on digital currencies. It is expected that the ban would be reversed either by the year-end or by mid-2019.
Do you agree that countries that are taking a hard-line position and banning cryptocurrencies and ICOs are missing out on a big opportunity for economic growth? Let us know in the comments below.
Images courtesy of YONHAP, Shutterstock


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The UK Digital Retail Innovation Centre (UK:DRIC) will be officially opened on 30 May 2019 by the Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries Margot James MP, and the Chair of GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership, Dr Diane Savory OBE. Richard Graham MP will also be in attendance. The launch of the new national centre for the future of the high street, city and town centres will also be attended by tech giants Google and IBM.
Attendees of the launch event will be able see a number of retail innovation projects being showcased in partnership with the UK:DRIC, and will also be able to take part in Google Digital Garage workshops to learn new skills in data, tech and digital marketing.
Margot James MP, Minister DCMS
The UK:DRIC will be working with retailers large and independent to help them develop and apply best practice and upskill. It has been based in Gloucester as the city provides an exemplar location where solutions have been tested and resolved quickly. The GL Card was one of these solutions and in June 2018, won the hotly-contested ATCM (Association of Town and City Management) award for “Best Digital High Street Project”, beating off 40 other destinations.
As many towns and centres have suffered a decline over the years from the combined effects of out of town retail parks, internet shopping and a change in consumer behaviour, it has become increasingly crucial for retailers and place managers to examine technologies and solutions that will help shape the future of our town and city environments. Understanding the urgency of the situation Gfirst LEP has granted UK Government funding of £400,000 to the place making organisation Marketing Gloucester to launch the UK:DRIC to help develop innovative solutions to the challenges faced by the high street that can be replicated and scaled up across the UK.
Over the past five years the Gloucester has shown that it is proving to be a testbed and pathfinder for future city solutions and the ideal place to locate this national centre. Its successes in innovation include:
- Gloucester was one of the first in the world and the first city in the UK to adopt a three-in-one integrated solution with CCTV over IP, free high-speed WIFI across the whole city and 4G being installed simultaneously, winning the city prestigious Gordon McLanaghan Security Innovation Award. The approach has since been adopted by Cardiff, Glasgow, Nottingham, Leicester and Newcastle.
- Gloucester became the second destination in the world and the first in the UK to partner with Niantic Labs on the Google FieldTrip™ app, which allows virtual, location-based tourism information through smartphones, tablets and wearables. When Niantic was acquired by Nintendo they went on to develop Pokemon Go, the relationship with Marketing Gloucester began to pay real dividends to the city as much of the location data for Pokestops and Gyms was based on existing information uploaded for Fieldtrip™ and Niantic’s app Ingress™. Gloucester has an especially rich environment for Pokemon Go™ players which has attracted players from around the region, encouraging local businesses to purchase lures for outside their premises and boosting the local economy.
Two projects currently being implemented are those being developed by Rewarding Visits, which was granted £1 million from the UK Government, Innovate UK funding, and Maybetech, a solution that is being delivered as part of the DCLG, Great British High Street Project. Both of these are operating within the digital high street environment with the aim of encouraging purchasing to be made in bricks and mortar business rather than online.
Guy Chatburn of Rewarding Visits, comments “We chose Gloucester as the partner location for the third phase of the role out of our technology, primarily because alongside a great digital infrastructure, the city had a “can do” organisation like Marketing Gloucester that already had the trust of a wide range number of partners throughout the city which it could rally together relatively easily in order to enable our project to happen. They were especially good at helping us work with other organisations operating in complimentary areas such as Stagecoach and Trinity Mirror. There was also a much lower learning curve as Gloucester has a team with a understanding of the tech and the issues facing towns and cities, and that has definitely lead to us having a much stronger offering in a shorter period of time”.
Prof. Richard Cuthbertson of Said Business School, University of Oxford, examining Gloucester’s example as part of a Europe-wide study “In our research of European cities with a positive focus towards digital technologies, especially those involving small retailers, Gloucester is an excellent example. This city recognises the need for an independent, third party enabler… providing a long-term, single point of contact, developing the relevant digital and physical infrastructure with multiple means of access for customers and retailers, while utilising simple tools, all within a strategy for “place” that encompasses the individual flavour provided by local retailers and services.”
Thursday 30 May 2019
The Promenade, First Floor Eastgate Shopping Centre, Gloucester GL1 1AG
11am Event starts
11:30am Talks start in CONFERENCE ROOM:
Diane Savory OBE – GFirstLEP – Introduction
Jason Smith – Marketing Gloucester – Why Gloucester.
Jayden Halliday – Leading Edge Only (LEO)
Steve Weston – Localy (new project to be launched in Gloucester)
Polly Barnfield OBE – Maybe*
Oliver Banks – Retail Transformation Show
Revealing the Top 5 Retail Challenges – What next?
12.15pm Guests free to network and view exhibitions
EXHIBITION SPACE: ACP – Wearable Art, OhBOT, UoG Interior Design Screen, ELOTouch, Gamar, IDScan
POD1: Innovation Lab – Gloucestershire Libraries
POD2: THEIA and Smile Reader
POD3: HR Department
POD4: The Growth Hub and Retail Rocks
CO-WORKING SPACE: IBM, LEO, Nettl, ShopAppy, ELOtouch
CONFERENCE SPACE: UoG School of Business and Technology, Smart World Connect, GfirstLEP, Maybe*
2pm-3.30pm Google Digital Garage
4.30pm Minister for Digital & the Creative Industries Margot James MP arrives
5.00pm DEMONSTRATIONS: Gamar, IDScan, Gloucester360, ELO
6.00pm Event Ends


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Alabama Governor Signs Data Breach Notification Law
Many states are considering toughening consumer data breach protection laws after last year’s huge Equifax breach that compromised the personal information of nearly 148 million Americans.
Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a bill that makes her state the 50th and final one to enact a consumer data breach notification law.
The measure requires that residents be notified within 45 days after a breach has been discovered if it is reasonably likely to cause substantial harm. The notification could be delayed if it would interfere with a law enforcement investigation.
Until recently, Alabama and South Dakota were the only states that didn’t have data breach notification laws.
Last month, South Dakota Gov. Gov. Dennis Daugaard, a Republican, signed a measure into law that would require affected residents to be notified within 60 days of a data breach’s discovery.
Legislators in a number of states have been trying to toughen consumer protections, in the wake of law year’s massive Equifax breach that exposed the personal data of nearly 148 million Americans.
Last year, there were a record 1,579 data breaches in the United States, a nearly 45 percent hike over the previous year, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit that helps victims of identity theft and promotes public awareness.
Yesterday, retail company Hudson’s Bay, which owns Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue, announced that it had been the victim of hacking by cybercriminals. A cybersecurity research firm said the hackers had obtained more than 5 million customer credit and debit card numbers.
At least 29 states are taking up consumer security breach notification bills this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In more than a dozen states, measures would require residents to be notified within a given time, from 48 hours up to 60 days.
State laws dealing with security breach notification vary considerably, from when affected victims must be notified to what is considered personal information.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.


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‘No need to discount wine during lockdown’ says CyT
In a webinar hosted by the UK arm of Concha y Toro (CyT) on Tuesday this week, the major global wine business stressed that such is the strength of wine demand during the coronavirus lockdown, there’s no need for extensive discounting, citing an opportunity to add value to the category during the crisis.
The group, which owns leading wine brands Casillero del Diablo and Cono Sur from Chile along with Trivento from Argentina, pointed out that Nielsen data that tracks wine sales in UK retailers had already shown a sharp rise in turnover since the coronavirus lockdowns began, which CyT attributed to a sudden switch to at-home consumption, but also a huge drop off in the amount of promotions in retailers – both because consumers no longer require price-cutting as a reason to stock up on drinks, and supermarkets are attempting to manage supply.
Speaking on Tuesday, CyT UK commercial director Clare Griffiths said, “In the current situation there is no need to discount heavily, because the demand is there.”
Continuing she stressed, “There is an opportunity to add value, particularly with brands with equity and awareness.”
Indeed, her colleague, CyT UK’s category and insights controller, Alexandra Price, recorded that promotional levels in UK retailers had dipped to their lowest level for the past five years.
“The average is 40% in grocery [for the amount of goods sold on promotion], and now it is around 25%,” she said, adding, “It has taken a tumble as retailers look to manage supply, and don’t need to promote at the moment.”
Commenting specifically on wine, she said that the latest Nielsen figures showed that 33% of wine is sold on some form of discount, compared to 55% at the same time last year.
“Retailers and wine brands don’t need to do deep discounting,” she stated.
However, Griffiths commented that there may be a greater benefit to multi-buy promotional offers on wine than in the recent past as shoppers choose to make fewer trips to supermarkets – because of “the risk” of catching Covid-19 – but purchase more wine they do go to major grocery retailers.
Comparing the situation to the recessionary period in 2008 and 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis, Griffiths said that there had been a reduction in “multi-buy activities to manage budgets”, but currently, with shoppers “making fewer trips but buying more, then a multi buy could do more”.
In other words, as people remain fearful of catching Covid-19, and therefore continue to choose to dine at home, and make infrequent shopping trips, the drinks trade could benefit from shallower price cuts on wine, but more multi-buy promotions.
Highlighting the fact that strong brands perform best during anxious times, and when promotional price offers are reduced, Griffiths showed that CyT brands were outperforming the total UK retail wine market at the moment – see bar graph below.
Explaining why this might be the case, head of marketing for CyT UK, Emma Ashton, said that brands provide comfort for consumers.
“During the 2008 recession we saw that branded wine sales were sustained and stable, and it’s the same pattern now,” she said.
Continuing she said, “The key reason for buying brands during a crisis is stability; people look for reassurance… and a study in 2007 showed that if you remove brands, it removes a sense of stability.”


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Inflation in the UK has remained around 10%, according to the latest government figures, after the price of petrol fell but clothing prices rose.
The Office for National Statistics has reported that the consumer price index (CPI) fell slightly from 10.1% in July to 9.9% in August. It was kept steady by petrol prices dropping by more than 14p a litre in August which benefited running costs for trucks, vans and cars.
Clothing and footwear prices rose by 1.1% between July and August after the end of summer sales but this was higher compared with a 0.2% rise in the same period last year.
Food price inflation rose for a 13th month in a row, hitting a 14-year high of 13.1% in August, after the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 1.5%.
Further increases in the annual inflation rate are predicted over the coming months as businesses and households face rising energy bills.
Analyst Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said: “Despite CPI inflation easing from 10.1% in July to 9.9% in August, inflation has not peaked yet.
“We think CPI inflation will rise to 11% later this year and that the tight labour market will keep underlying inflationary pressures strong until early next year.”
The ONS also released its producer prices data, which showed that the cost of fuel and raw materials rose by 20.5% in the year to August and the cost of goods leaving factories rose by 16.1% over the year.


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A Pennsylvania man has been charged with flying an unregistered drone and the illegal use of a drone after he tried to drop explosives from it in March. In June, police raided Jason Muzzicato’s house, finding seven homemade explosives and 10 guns.
Man charged after allegedly dropping explosives from drone on ex-girlfriend’s property
Jason Muzzicato, 43, allegedly dropped explosives from his drone on his ex-girlfriend’s property along with nails, according to a neighbor’s statement.
The FAA has previously urged anyone with drones to not attach weapons of any sort to them, as it is illegal. Flying with weapons mean you will face penalties of $25,000 per offense as well as being charged with a federal crime.
Jason has been charged for the “unlawful operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle” along with flying an unregistered drone. Police later raided his home, finding homemade explosives and guns which breaches his Protection From Abuse order.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Jason could face up to 33 years if a plea deal isn’t negotiated. The man will also face three years of supervised release, a fine of $760,000, and $400 for a special assessment.
The drone used in the incident was DJI‘s Phantom 3. The US Attorney stated the combination of weapons, explosives, and a drone can lead to dire consequences. Further, the use of methamphetamine and ignoring court orders made the situation worse.
It does not take much imagination to conjure up the enormous harm that can result from the combination of illegal firearms, explosives, and drones. Adding methamphetamine and a disregard of court orders to the mix only serves to heighten the risk. Here the defendant’s alleged behavior violated the law and threatened public safety. — US Attorney William McSwain
A few other not-so-smart things people are doing with their drones:
- Boys flying drone disturb endangered dotterels in Whangamatā estuary
- Judge orders Severn bridge climber’s drone to be destroyed
- Incredible (and illegal) shot of Drone in front of Lava Spout in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
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ISLAMABAD: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Islamabad has seized a container of Viscos Yarn Clothes and registered FIR against Saleem Silk Center Rawalpindi on their attempt to clear the consignment by mis-declaration.
As per details, the payable duty on the consignment was Rs 4.8 million but importer paid only Rs 1.8 million duty, usually payable for Fabric cotton and not for Viscos Yarn. The duty on cotton fabric is $3, but it is $ 4.61 on Viscos Yarn which was mis-declared using wrong PCT.
Customs Investigation Officer Raja Bashir has seized the container on which Saleem Silk Centre moved to court and get stay order from Islamabad High Court. Customs has challenged the stay order in Supreme Court.
It is important to mention here that 25 percent less duty was being collected from cloth as compared to new duty as the duty was not fixed and that’s why, fabric importers were causing loss worth billions of rupees to national kitty.
The new duty on Viscos Yarn clothes has been fixed due to special efforts of DG customs Intelligence and Investigation Lutf Ullah. Customs authorities had brought in his knowledge that importers were saving hundreds of rupees duty by declaring the fabric as cheap one.
Moreover, DG customs Intelligence and Investigation Lutf Ullah wrote a letter FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa and suggested him that duty should not be issued of any fabric sans laboratory test and duty should be imposed only after lab testing of the fabric. The FBR chairman has not responded to his letter. However, FBR is planning to adopt constant policy in this regard.


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- News & Education
The Reserve Bank of Australia, (RBA) has increased the Country’s cash rate by half a percent to combat the rising inflation in its latest cash rate change. The increase was in line with most analyst’s expectations as the RBA continues to fight inflation and bring it back into the 2-3% range. The current forecast from the RBA suggests that CPI inflation will peak near 7.75% over 2022, before falling to 4% during 2023, and then settling at 3% in 2024.
A key source of concern for the RBA was and continues to be the current spending habits of Australian households. Importantly, as the cost of goods has risen due to inflation, pressure has built on household budgets and their spending habits. This has been caused by both the supply chain issues and the increased cash rate. Furthermore, consumer confidence has fallen, and “housing prices are declining after the large increases in recent years.” This shows how interest rate hikes are impacting the lives of Australians and their spending habits.
Another important factor at play is the tightening of the job market. The unemployment rate dropped in June to 3.5%, the lowest rate in 50 years, and job vacancies and job advertisements continue to be at high levels. However, the bank does not expect to be able to hold these levels and predict the rate of unemployment will reach 4% by the end of 2024 as a result of the current slowing economic growth.
In response to the announcement, the ASX200 responded positively as investors saw the announcement as bullish, shooting up 0.38% in the 30 minutes after the announcement. Conversely, the AUDUSD dropped back below $0.70 dropping to $0.6970 in the 30 minutes immediately after the announcement.
The RBA will later this week further update the market with its monetary policy statement which will provide further clarity on its decision-making and the current sentiment.
Disclaimer: Articles are from GO Markets analysts and contributors and are based on their independent analysis or personal experiences. Views, opinions or trading styles expressed are their own, and should not be taken as either representative of or shared by GO Markets. Advice, if any, is of a ‘general’ nature and not based on your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider how appropriate the advice, if any, is to your objectives, financial situation and needs, before acting on the advice.
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Stryker recalls hip replacement devices
There have been at least 45 adverse event reports from patients who say the devices caused pain and/or tissue swelling.
Michigan-based Stryker, which has its biotech division in Hopkinton, Mass., said this week it would remove Rejuvenate and ABG II modular-neck stems, which attach to artificial hips, from the market and cease global distribution. The company said the incidence of complications is extremely low, but patients who experience symptoms of pain and/or swelling at the local joint site not attributable to other conditions, should speak to their surgeon.
“While modular-neck stems provide surgeons with an option to correct certain aspects of a patient’s anatomy and hip biomechanics, given the potential risks associated with fretting and corrosion at the modular neck junction, Stryker Orthopaedics decided to take this voluntary action,” Stryker Vice President and General Manager of Hip Reconstruction Stuart Simpson said in a statement.
Simpson said the company would work with the medical community to better understand the problems with the devices as the company continues to evaluate the adverse event data. This includes at least 45 reports of injuries, using the Rejuvenate modular-neck stem, since the beginning of 2012, according to the FDA.
The company is encouraging patients who received a Rejuvenate Modular or ABG II modular-neck stem to contact their surgeon. A dedicated patient call center can be reached at 1-888-317-0200 and additional information can be found at www.AboutStryker.com/ModularNeckStems3.
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Standard Bank has highlighted the considerable challenges facing intra-Africa trade in 10 prominent African markets, emphasizing the persisting difficulties due to currency shortages and inadequate infrastructure. The scarcity of foreign currency, especially the US dollar essential for imports, is exacerbated by currency volatility and international capital flight, according to the 2023 Standard Bank Africa Trade Barometer.
Based on a survey of approximately 2,600 businesses, 68% of which are categorized as small, across ten countries—Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia—the annual barometer reveals that the ease of intra-continental trade remains below the neutral score of 50. The average score for trade across these key markets is 43, indicating the prevailing difficulties faced by most businesses engaged in trade with other African nations. The survey cited poor infrastructure, complex policies, and burdensome import and export duties as primary factors contributing to the constrained trade within the continent.
Philip Myburgh, head of trade for Africa-China banking at Standard Bank’s business and commercial banking unit, highlighted the varied macroeconomic conditions across the featured countries, pointing out significant downside risks that negatively impact the trade attractiveness of these nations. Myburgh stressed that the ease of trading across borders is rated at 43 points, below the neutral score of 50, signifying the ongoing challenges in cross-border trade.
These ten countries are among the 54 signatories of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), aiming to facilitate the movement of capital and people, enhance market access, and encourage industrial development across the African continent. Despite increased awareness of AfCFTA among surveyed businesses—up from 18% in 2022 to 44% in the latest Africa Trade Barometer—intra-continental trade is still hindered by negative perceptions of infrastructure, complex policies, and high import and export duties.
The report highlighted that seven out of ten countries experienced local currency depreciation against the US dollar between 2021 and 2022, with further declines expected in 2023. Coupled with rising borrowing costs and an uncertain global economic environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this has amplified the sovereign debt burdens of several African nations, adversely affecting investor confidence and impeding cross-border trade.
Despite the challenging macroeconomic backdrop, general business confidence has improved across most of the surveyed markets, with only South Africa and Zambia experiencing a decline. Ongoing power cuts in South Africa and slow progress in debt restructuring talks in Zambia were identified as factors affecting confidence levels.
In terms of overall country rankings for 2023, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, and Nigeria all improved their positions, while Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda declined. Nigeria notably saw a 10-point rise in business confidence, primarily attributed to positive impacts resulting from planned and implemented pro-business policies by the new government elected in 2023. Businesses in Nigeria noted improved ease of trading with other African countries due to less restrictive trading procedures, lower trading taxes, and growing trade relations between countries.
Standard Bank’s data collection for the 2023 Africa Trade Barometer index rankings involved evaluating seven thematic categories, including trade openness, access to finance, macroeconomic stability, infrastructure, foreign trade, governance and economy, and traders’ financial behavior. Notable improvements were seen in the rankings of Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, and Nigeria, while Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda saw a decline in their standings. Angola, South Africa, and Zambia maintained their positions from the previous year.
Myburgh underscored ongoing infrastructure projects across all the surveyed markets aimed at addressing infrastructure challenges. If successful, these initiatives will significantly contribute to the realization of the ambitious trade pact—the African Continental Free Trade Agreement—creating the world’s largest free trade area and fostering economic integration for almost 1.3 billion people across the African continent.


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Overturn: Rising Sands has been one of the most hyped board game projects on Kickstarter this past month, blowing past its funding goal and exciting players with its miniatures (and cheap prices). But it’s now dead in the water, having had its funding suspended by Kickstarter after allegations of, among other things,…
A Kickstarter for a board game adaptation of Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog had looked to be going very well earlier this week, going 4x past its stretch goal in just a matter of days. Slight problem though: the game never had the Dr. Horrible license.
Gerrymandering—“a practice intended to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries”—is a problem in a lot of places, but few are as badly affected as the USA. So a group of young Texans decided to make a board game about it to highlight the issue.
Jeff Kornberg’s YouTube channel, The Dragon’s Tomb, does not stand out from the throng of other channels hosting tutorials for board games. Like his peers, Kornberg explains the rules in a slow, gentle voice with frequent cutaways to each game’s pieces, cards, and setup. The difference between Kornberg’s channel and…
Mars is inhospitable. Let’s change that.
Scythe, one of the best board games in years, is now in Early Access on Steam. It’s a very bare-bones port, though, so you might be better off playing the Tabletopia version instead, at least for now.
Your “port everything to the Switch” jokes might soon extend to board games as well, with publishing giant Asmodee announcing that the classic Carcassonne is headed to Nintendo’s latest console.
I’ve played plenty of board games that are better than GKR, but I don’t think I’ve ever played one that’s cooler than GKR.
Paper? Cardboard? Plastic models? That’s some 20th century D&D shit. The adventures of the future look like this.
Crusader Kings II, a sprawling PC game with around 17,534 buttons and menus, is coming to tabletops, and has been condensed so much that it’ll be playable in 2-3 hours.
I reviewed V-Commandos last year and absolutely loved it, but 12 months later I’m somehow finding space in my heart to enjoy it even more.
Polish studio Acram Digital, who have released games like Steam: Rails to Riches and Eight-Minute Empire, have had all their content scrubbed from Steam after Valve caught them posting fake reviews of their own games.
Darwin’s Choice, a card game where you build your own animals and have to guide them through millions of years of evolution, is now up on Kickstarter. I’ve actually played a bit of it and it’s great fun. Plus the hand-painted art is gorgeous.
I’m a sucker for board games with an interesting premise and cool art, so I’m very interested in Brook City, an upcoming release by the same guys behind Street Masters.
Fantasy Flight’s money-printing X-Wing, which has been killing it for a few years now, is getting a reboot with a new Second Edition of the game.
CIA Senior Collection Analyst David Clopper has, since 2008, created three complex board games designed to test employees. They used to be a secret, but a recent public showing, along with a Freedom of Information request, has resulted in the necessary rules and paperwork being released so anyone can play.
A miniatures board game based on Hellboy—the comic, mercifully, not the movies—has launched on Kickstarter, and is already 6x over its funding target.
Games publisher Wonder Dice has been accused of stealing a designer’s ideas for its upcoming board game Alien: USCSS Nostromo.


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In a new ad commercial, Pepsi appointed supermodel Kendall Jenner as its face. The ad features Jenner striking some sizzling poses for a photoshoot when she witnesses a bunch of protesters going by, calling for love and peace. The model abandons her shoot, switches from top-notch glam gear to everyday denims in the blink of an eye, and goes on to hand one of the police offers a can of Pepsi. The officer then breaks into a wide smile and the crowd cheers on. Pretty sweet, right? Apparently, that’s not what most of the critics thought.
According to the critics, the ad has allegedly been based on recent protests over police brutality against black people in America. And with that in mind, they have deemed the commercial insensitive and have condemned it for painting a “privileged, white” supermodel as a peacemaker between civil rights activists and police.
After Pepsi uploaded the ad on their YouTube channel, people took to Twitter to voice their opinion. Some even pointing out the uncanny similarity between Jenner and a picture of Ieshia Evans who was charged by riot police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2016. Take a look.
Kendall Jenner: Can I copy off of you?
Iesha Evans: No.
Kendall:* Looks over shoulder anyway*
Damn that. I'm getting this Pepsi money. pic.twitter.com/NUXwCZnM7p
— C I L L My Landlord (@GuruBluXVIII) April 4, 2017
Daaaaamn. I forgot my Pepsi at home pic.twitter.com/M3Up1eRa37
— Luisa Haynes (@wokeluisa) April 5, 2017
I can't believe Kendall Jenner stopped police brutality with PEPSI! We have achieved world peace, guys!
— SPUTNIK (@ponybon) April 4, 2017
"Kendall please! Give him a Pepsi!" pic.twitter.com/VzJfSha5Mw
— E (@esheikh_) April 5, 2017
In a statement, Pepsi said: “This is a global ad that reflects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony. We think that’s an important message to convey.”
Published by Hungry Forever


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At least one Chinese tracking device was discovered inside a UK government car during a bug sweep of government vehicles.
The tracker, which contained a SIM card capable of transmitting location data, was found inside a sealed part that had been imported from China. This revelation has caused serious concerns among senior MPs as there are more and more calls for China to be treated as an official threat and for goods that have been manufactured in China to be treated with more care as they could contain bugs.
Security sources have said that Chinese car part manufacturers are using sealed parts to smuggle tracking devices into the cars which are used to transport diplomats and senior government officials, including ministers.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former conservative leader and foreign secretary, said ‘I don’t know how much more the UK needs to know about the threat China poses to us all’ he then added that ‘Surely it is time to change the integrated review and refer to China as a systematic threat.’
This discovery highlights the importance that TSCM inspections have in the security sector and the ever-developing threat of eavesdropping devices. This threat exists in both commercial and government sectors and clearly consists of eavesdropping attacks in both vehicles and buildings, however as the world’s largest and most advanced counter eavesdropping company QCC provide multiple services which includes the inspections of all types of buildings and vehicles.


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The Next Earth project is a big deal. It’s not just another blockchain startup. It’s a new NFT-based replica of Earth that aims to disrupt the centralized status quo. Currently, over 25 million “tiles” on this virtual Earth have been sold (the digital planet has only been live for about one and a half months).
This metaverse project is gaining interest around the world, with videos and articles in Arabic, Korean, Russian, Indian, Polish, Serbian, and more. This is because the project is focused on providing something that hasn’t been done before: a metaverse where anyone can buy virtual properties of anything they want without relying on centralized servers.
The idea behind this is simple: if you can’t truly trust anyone with your data when you’re online today, then how do you expect to be able to trust them with your identity or assets when you’re interacting with an entire planet?
The Power of an International Community
One of the most interesting aspects of this project is that it’s a global community. The Next Earth team has been very active in creating an international community, with thousands of members in its Discord, featuring international lobbies in German, Hungarian, French, Korean, Serbian and far more. They have created a community where people can come together and discuss ideas and strategies for building the metaverse.
This is important because it shows that there is a real desire for something new in the metaverse space. People want to be able to interact with each other on their own terms, not just through centralized services like Facebook or Twitter.
This brings us to what’s next for this project. In order to succeed, this new virtual world needs to provide something that hasn’t been done before: truly decentralized ownership of virtual land and assets without relying on centralized platforms controlled by someone else (like Amazon Web Services).
To do this they will build out more features than just owning land: Users will be able to buy virtual property from other users, all while being able to trust that no one will ever be able to take those items away from them again without permission. This is where things get really interesting!
The Next Earth project is launching a marketplace where users can buy and sell their virtual property NFTs, which is planned to release on September 27th. This will help fuel the long-term vision of creating a “metaverse nation” where people will be able to create their own virtual cities and towns.
This is an exciting time for the metaverse space because we are finally starting to see some real innovation in this area. It’s important to remember that the metaverse isn’t just about owning land or assets; it’s about building communities.
Spreading Creativity Globally
Next Earth has a number of other exciting innovations in the pipeline, including tile-based pixel art.
Tile-based pixel art will be a new way of creating virtual art that is also non-fungible (meaning that each one can be identified as unique). This means that when you buy virtual land on Next Earth, you can create unique pixel artwork on top of it.
Ultimately, it makes sense that an Earth-based metaverse is catching the attention of people around the world. Everyone even dreams of owning a piece of Disney World or sunny beaches, and now it can be yours in the virtual metaverse.
Photo by Sebastian Svenson on Unsplash


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NEW YORK (Reuters) - AT&T Inc. has sold its U-verse video service to more than 10,000 customers after sales rose dramatically in the past several weeks, said Ralph de la Vega, group president of AT&T’s regional wireline operations.
His comments come amid some concerns that the top U.S. phone company may be having difficulty expanding U-verse, which is delivered over a high-speed, fiber-optic network and aims to lure customers away from cable companies’ all-in-one packages of video, voice and Internet.
The U-verse network expansion had previously shown signs of running behind schedule, with the service launched in 11 markets by the end of 2006, rather than an originally planned 15 markets. U-verse had 3,000 customers at the end of 2006.
“In terms of U-verse, I am really pleased with what I’ve seen in the last few weeks,” de la Vega said at a Bank of America conference in New York on Wednesday.
“Our sales have dramatically increased over the last several weeks,” he said, adding that AT&T now had more than 10,000 U-verse video customers.
The company is aiming to make the U-verse service available to 8 million consumers by the end of the year. AT&T has not given an end-year target for subscribers.
Verizon Communications Inc., the second-biggest U.S. phone company, is also selling its own Internet-based video service, called FiOS. It has shown more progress than U-verse, with 207,000 customers at the end of 2006.
AT&T shares were down 32 cents at $38.12, while Verizon shares were down 45 cents at $37.24.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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June 13, 2012 7:10 PM
In the field of education, Marc Prensky used the phrase ‘digital native’ in an article that he wrote at the turn of this century. He used this phrase in reference to students who were born in a digital world and who have grown up not knowing anything different. Digital natives have spent their entire lives immersed in computers, MP3 players, video games, cell phones, and a host of other technological gadgets. [More]
September 20, 2011 11:10 AM
Inside Self Storage recently conducted an opinion poll among storage facility owners and operators around the world. Over 1,000 people participated in the Best-of Business campaign providing their feedback on various software programs. Over 45 different software programs were compared and SiteLink Web Edition won the award in the software category of Best-of-Business Award. [More]
September 2, 2011 10:58 AM
SiteLink, a developer of software for self storage facilities, announced that they have released the next version of their free online training tools. SiteLink is a powerful program that single- and multi-facility owners use to manage and track their business.
The updated online training tools have an improved user interface and navigation that uses icons and is based on online program. The icons are linked to over 200 training videos and cover features such as move-ins and move-outs, payments, in-store merchandise purchased, walk-ins, daily close-out, and billing. [More]


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Brookfield-based Fiserv Inc. reported a mixed third quarter performance Wednesday.
The company, which provides technology solutions for financial institutions, reported net income of $214 million, or 96 cents per diluted share, down from $218 million, or 92 cents per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2015.
Revenue was $1.4 billion in the quarter, up from $1.3 billion in the same period a year ago. But expenses, product costs and selling, general and administrative expenses all increased year-over-year.
Fiserv’s Payments segment was up 8 percent and its Financial segment was up 2 percent year-over-year. Operating income was $369 million, up from $342 million in the third quarter of 2015.
Jeffery Yabuki, president and chief executive officer of Fiserv, said the results were generally in line with the company’s expectations, but that implementation delays and lower termination fees have forced the company to reduce its full-year revenue expectations.
“Strong operating performance in the quarter drove double-digit adjusted earnings per share growth and excellent free cash flow,” said Yabuki. “Outstanding sales results in the quarter should provide additional market momentum and growth.”


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REGINA — Hundreds of Prairie farmers left their fields Monday and some picked up placards that read “Single desk is the best” and “Our board, our business.”
They went to a meeting in Regina on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board.
The federal government plans to introduce legislation this fall to pave the way for the removal of the board’s single-desk selling system next year. Board chairman Allen Oberg said the meeting is to make farmers aware of what’s at stake.
“Those functions currently carried out by the CWB, they may be at risk because no one knows going forward who’s going to take care of those functions,” said Oberg.
“There’s a tremendous of amount of uncertainty in the system and that’s been created by an artificially short timeline of August 1, 2012.”
Since the 1940s, Prairies farmers have had to sell their wheat and barley to the board, which exports it to foreign markets. It is the largest marketer of wheat and barley in the world and the last remaining board of its kind.
Those who like the board argue its monopoly insulates farmers from selling at a loss when markets are low.
But opposers say the monopoly is unfair and restricts farmers from marketing their grain to the highest bidder.
Edward Sagan, who has been farming in Melville, Sask., for about 50 years, said ending the board’s monopoly will hurt his bottom line.
“I will have less and less money in my pocket,” he said.
Sagan noted that the wheat board sells to 70 different countries.
He said he would rather focus on growing crops instead of trying to figure out where to market his grain.
“I don’t have to sit beside a computer and decide who pays me the most money and all that. I sell my grain to the wheat board and they do the rest. They do the marketing for me.”
It was standing room only for the meeting in a venue that holds about 400 people.


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Delivery drones are making their way to Wisconsin after passage of a new law clearing the bots for sidewalk and crosswalk travel.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation Tuesday that makes his state the third, following Idaho and Virginia, to have explicitly permitted operation of the technology in public spaces. Starship Technologies, a startup based in Redwood City, California, and preeminent provider in the market, has lobbied in all three of the states, setting the stage for a larger rollout of its delivery services after completing early phases of research and development. Starship has held off on providing service in all three states as it continues testing.
Among the Wisconsin law’s key provisions is a requirement that delivery bots to weigh less than 80 pounds, excluding cargo, and maintain connection with a human operator who can control it remotely if problems arise. The requirements are similar to those penned in Virginia and Idaho. Keeping the weight of the machines down enables them to avoid classification as vehicles, which would open a whole new set of requirements via each state’s respective Department of Transportation.
The company’s push for early approvals could streamline service deployment. Controversies between cities and ride-hailing companies like Uber and automakers testing self-driving technology have in some cases resulted in temporary service bans. And for once-popular parking startups — like Freetch, MonkeyParking and ParkModo — that allowed people to auction public parking spaces for cash, stirred San Francisco to threaten legal action and fines.
Yet Startship Technologies and its investors see an opening for delivery drones. Co-founders Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis have said they envision robot delivery services as a next generation tool for supermarkets, laundromats, convenience stores and other businesses selling small consumer goods. The drones, which navigate autonomously and can be tracked by GPS, would operate through check-in stations that could charge and release the machines within an three-mile radius. Security is ensured with notifications and passwords to open the bot and receive packages.
Starship claims that the cooler-sized, six-wheeled machines can cut average costs on last-mile deliveries from $10 to just one dollar. The startup hopes to capitalize on this cut-rate price, trailblazing a path for future robot delivery systems while gaining market share in a goods industry that represents 20 billion deliveries each year.
Locations where the company is now testing include:
- Redwood City, California
- Sunnyvale, California
- San Carlos, California
- Washington D.C.
- Hamburg, Germany
- Tallinn, Estonia
- Bern, Switzerland
With 17.2 million in funding, Starship spokesperson Allan Martinson told StateScoop in January that companies ambitions see delivery drones becoming an ubiquitous part of life in the coming years.
“We think there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of robots on the ground eventually around the world,” Martinson said.


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Xiaomi, the Chinese giant seems to be arriving with their latest high-end handset – the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 this year. According to the recent reports, Xiaomi is expected to launch the successor of Mi Note i.e. the Mi Note 2 on November 5th and indeed the device will boost some impressive specs. Though Xiaomi has unveiled its first metal smartphone – the Mi 4 last year, but this time it seems that they are planning to launch an all-metal smartphone and leaks suggest that it must be the Mi Note 2. Continue reading Xiaomi To Launch Mi Note 2 On November 5th?
If you are a gamer and you like playing first-person shooter game, then you must haven’t missed the Ubisoft’s Far Cry series. However, its been two years for now since the last installment of Far Cry released, but it seems that another installment is all set to arrive this year. Well, Ubisoft will be releasing the new installment of their popular franchises Far Cry, the Far Cry 4 on 18th of November this year. The game will be making its way first on the United States and then two days later in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Continue reading Ubisoft To Release Far Cry 4 on November 18
Well, gamers all across the world are waiting for the release of one of the highly-anticipated game of the year, Watch Dogs by Ubisoft. Though the game will be finally arriving on this May 27th 2014, but the trailer released earlier for this game didn’t convinced many gamers because of its downgrade in graphics quality. The Watch Dogs-Story trailer released earlier didn’t delighted the eyes of some gamers and at that time, even Ubisoft’s Creative Director Jonathan Morin said that the trailer “wasn’t a good reference”. Check the Watch Dogs-Story trailer below: Continue reading Watch Dogs New Trailer Shows Better Graphics
If you are a Battlefield fan, then you may be pleased to know that DICE has this week announced a new gameplay trailer of its upcoming game, the Battlefield 4 Naval Strike expansion. The new Battlefield 4 Naval Strike expansion comes with the Carrier Assault game mode, created as a re-imagining of the Titan mode from the previous Battlefield 2142 game. Continue reading Battlefield 4 Naval Strike Gameplay Trailer And Released Date


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To highlight North Print & Pack 2013, a series of short interviews with speakers who will be presenting at the event has been developed. The second of these is with IoPP UK's managing director Kevin Vyse...
Design accountability in the packaging market seems to be a hot topic at the moment. Can you explain what this is about?
Design accountability has emerged as clients demand clearer KPIs and an outline of the exact deliverables they’d expect to see from their design agencies.
Often design briefs are too vague, sometimes not even including details of what’s expected for the agreed fee or guidelines on the deliverables required to determine success. This is not productive for either the agency or its clients and, in a time of recession, it’s not surprising that accountability has been prioritised.
Purchasing groups are now looking for design agencies to put far more detail into their proposals, with every brief expected to include the agreed deliverables before starting work to help manage expectations.
What are the latest innovations in packaging that the industry should know about?
With food security now under the microscope because of the horsemeat and fish substitute issues, food traceability and security will become the next red-hot topic. For example, packaging that helps authenticate supply sources through smart chips in consumer’s phones will soon be on trial.
Another area of interest will be ‘use up cues’. Food waste is a huge expense for both retailers and brands, so intelligent packaging that provides a warning only when food becomes dangerous to consume will see trial in greater numbers.
Finally, over the next five years we will see the first trials of 'printed packaging' made to order, as production teams look to maximise savings in stock and waste.
How do you think the packaging industry is changing?
Slowly! In the recession it seems that retailers are still dictating the demand. The packaging industry seems to be cautious of step change innovation, primarily due to the complexities of securing funding in the current economic landscape. The threat of innovations being copied before good profits can be realised also looms.
Brands still have the opportunity to lead on this but, once again, in a recessionary climate purchasing departments are reluctant to release the funding required to make innovation happen on a scale that will change things.
SMEs, with their greater flexibility and specialised focus, should look to pick the ball up and run with it here, with work on more sustainable packaging options and designs to reduce waste a priority.
More information about the exhibition is available from the North Print & Pack 2013 website at www.printandpack.co.uk


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1Chicken chain Nando's have launched a spicy new 'secret menu' item, but for those keen to try it, there's a catch.
The decadent new 'Loaded Chips', $9, combines Nando's signature peri-peri chips, grilled capsicum, tomato and onion in your choice of basting, followed by a dollop of creamy aioli, smoky capsicum relish and feta cheese.
The dish came about after some "experimenting" and collaborating with Nando's fans.
"Knowing our fans can't get enough of our Peri-Peri Chips, we put the call out on Instagram to get people's opinions on toppings, which was great fun and helped solidify the mix of flavours we chose," said Nando's head of food, Mario Manabe.
"The richness of the aioli and feta paired with the smokiness of our capsicum relish really elevates this dish to something special. "
Customers can turn the indulgent side into a main meal by adding their choice of protein, he added.
"Throw in some grilled Peri-Peri Chicken Tenders, a Great Pretender or Superfood Veggie Patty."
But fast food fans keen to get their hands on the dish will need to join the chain's rewards program, called the Peri-Perks club.
The program is free to join and the membership unlocks access to members-only menu offers, birthday freebies and a points scheme.
Members can order the loaded chips via the Nando's app, online or in store until November 1.
They're not the only fast food chain in town flogging 'secret menu' items.
KFC Australia took the concept to the next level by making their secret menu available via the KFC app. Users can hold down the menu screen for a few seconds to unlock a new 'Secret Menu' box, featuring such overloaded items as the Zinger Chipster (a wrap with a Zinger fillet, cheese, chips and a 'supercharged' sauce) and the Triple Stacker Burger (featuring three Zinger fillets, three cheese slices, bacon, chill relish and 'supercharged' sauce).
The savvy fast-food chain used the secret menu to launch the limited-edition Zinger Double two months ago, creating a grassroots TikTok campaign featuring social media stars Chebbo and Kane Foster.


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US, Chinese trade officials hold virtual meeting, discuss ‘Phase 1’ deal
U.S. and Chinese trade officials held a virtual meeting on Saturday where they discussed the “Phase 1” deal made between the countries when former President Trump was in office.
China’s Commerce Ministry said in a statement that the country’s top trade negotiator Liu He and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai participated in a call discussing economic concerns and the Phase 1 deal, The Associated Press reported.
The trade deal was made under Trump following amid tensions between the two nations following a number of moves Trump made while in office. Trump significantly raised tariffs on China, and China reciprocated on some U.S. products.
The Biden administration has kept Trump’s high tariffs on China but has expressed a willingness to negotiate.
China’s statement says the officials “conducted pragmatic, candid and constructive exchanges,” according to the AP.
Liu, a vice premier and member of the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo, has pushed for the tariffs to be abolished and talked to Tai about the country’s economic development.
China has bounced back relatively quickly from the coronavirus pandemic but is facing issues from local government debt, the AP noted.
The talk between the officials comes amid tensions between the countries in other areas such as Taiwan and human rights.
The Hill has reached out to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for comment.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Last weekend, the X018 conference was held in Mexico City and a rather important bit of information was revealed by the folks at Microsoft and Chainsawesome Games.
When Aftercharge launches in January 2019 it will also release directly into the Xbox Game Pass catalog.
This is HUGE news. Aftercharge is going to be cross-play between PC and Xbox, and as any mulitplayer game creator can tell you, player volume is a big deal for multiplayer games. With Aftercharge’s inclusion in the Xbox Game Pass, that’s a much larger pool of potential players jumping into the 3V3 action, which can only help the game’s longevity.
If you’re interested, there’s another test weekend for Aftercharge starting tomorrow, November 17th at 10:00am EST, though it is PC only. If you’re interested in getting a key, head to www.afterchargekeys.com


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Palo Alto, Calif.-based Danger announced on Monday that it is teaming with Yahoo to add to its Hiptop software platform. are all-in-one wireless keyboard gadgets that let consumers make cell phone calls and access e-mail and the Web.
The Messenger-equipped Hiptop platform will first be installed in Hiptop devices used with wireless service from Singaporean carrier StarHub. StarHub is Danger's first Asian carrier partner and sells Hiptop devices for $288 with a two-year cellular plan. Other carriers are expected to offer the Yahoo Messenger-equipped Hiptop platform in the coming months.
Instant messaging has become a significant feature for consumers using devices based on Danger's software. Unlike other wireless-software developers, such as Research In Motion and Good Technology, that are focusing on business customers, Danger is targeting consumers, many of whom have taken to instant-messaging capabilities.
"IM is American SMS, and it makes sense to offer that popular feature to your core audience," said Kevin Burden, an analyst at research firm IDC. SMS, or Short Message System, is a form of wireless communications over cell phones that's popular in Europe and Asia. "(Yahoo Messenger) isn't available on any other device, so there is a base of users who have no way to get it from a mobile device."
Danger has been offering AOL's Instant Messenger service in Hiptop devices and has gotten a positive response, causing the two companies to T-Mobile's Sidekick device, which uses Danger's software, comes with AOL Instant Messenger.. Last year, Danger and AOL gave AOL subscribers wireless access to their e-mail accounts via devices running Danger's software and services.
"Instant messaging is really the 'killer application' on the Hiptop device," Danger chief executive Hank Nothhaft said in a release.


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Fast-growing HandyPro specializes in residential, commercial and aging-in-place
March 1, 2021
On this week’s SBAM Weekly Podcast, Michael Rogers talks with Keith Paul, the founder and CEO of HandyPro Handyman Services and a member of the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch. One of their specialties is modifying homes for aging-in-place. “It’s so much cheaper to stay in a house rather than go into assisted living, if you can avoid that,” he says. “It’s where my mom and dad want to live, they don’t want to leave, so they’re glad we’re in this business.”
The Small Business Association of Michigan’s weekly podcast presents a dynamic audio interview from a top-notch expert on entrepreneurial success. Hear great tips and advice on how to be a more effective small business owner. Get a new episode every week by subscribing via iTunes.