text:
The FAS found that Apple abused its dominant position in the mobile app market by limiting competition and setting unfair conditions for developers.
Specifically, Apple was accused of restricting app developers from using alternative payment services other than Apple’s own system, which allowed Apple to take a 30 percent commission on all sales made through its App Store.
In response to the FAS ruling, Apple has since allowed developers to use alternative payment services. However, the company still requires that developers use Apple’s App Store as their primary distribution platform and that they pay a commission of up to 30 percent on all sales made through the store.
The FAS had previously imposed a fine of 4 billion rubles (approximately $60 million USD).
Apple has taken steps to address the FAS ruling and improve competition in the mobile app market. However, it is still unclear if these measures will be enough to appease the agency or if further action will be needed.


text:
LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) – A market featuring dozens of local businesses has been shut down.
The Mercado Urbano opened shop just a few weeks ago to help local entrepreneurs sell in an open space.
A project meant to help local entrepreneurs sell items and help boost the local economy is no more.
The coordinator for Mercado Urbano says the ending to the event was shocking and devastating.
Earlier this month, less than 20 businesses lined up showcasing their art, food, and handmade crafts at “Mercado Urbano.”
After their first market event, the turnout led to 80 local businesses asking about the next events which were set to happen on November 22nd and December 6th.
Fifty vendors were looking forward to setting up a booth while thirty were on a waiting list.
“A lot of local vendors such as myself, we started from home, we don’t have money to pay rent at a location spot to try to grow, and I was given a platform for all the local small vendors,” said Kike Chapa.
But three days before the event, the coordinator of the market Kike Chapa received an email from the City of Laredo saying their application was denied because of the hospitalization rate increasing.
When we asked the city about why this event was shut down, city officials said it was based on a review.
But Chapa still has questions, saying they were complying with health protocols like temperature checks and designated walking routes.
“I want to postpone it…. I don’t know why the city is cancelling it when there’s a lot of clubs open. The pulga is open. You can go to a club right now with a mask and take it off inside.”
After letting the vendors know, Chapa says they were disappointed to have received the news on such short notice after preparations were made.
“It was upsetting to see everybody else do the handcrafts and create the products firsthand, and then maybe for the vendors that sell food it was hard to make the purchases in advance to make those hard sales,” said Andrew Mata, a fellow vendor.
For many, trying to make this event happen has come a long way.
“It was our fourth attempt trying to be a part of something Laredo needs.”
Chapa says Mercado Urbano is an opportunity for small businesses to thrive and he says he will continue to try to help local entrepreneurs, especially during this difficult time.
Chapa says he hope he’s allowed to open again once the hospitalization rate goes down.
Copyright 2020 KGNS. All rights reserved.

domain: news


text:
Copper futures extended losses today as a rather choppy undertone in equities clubbed with worries about the US auto sector demand hurt the sentiments. COMEX Copper futures have been slipping after testing a three year high and currently trade at $2.99 per pound, down 1.25% on the day. Prices have taken a backseat after the recent Chinese imports data raised plenty of concerns about the near term demand outlook from the economic giant. MCX Copper futures are down nearly 2% at Rs 422.75 per kg.
China’s unwrought copper and copper-fabricated products imports were unchanged in August on a monthly basis, while first-eight month imports recorded a 12% decline.China imported 390,000 tonnes of unwrought copper and copper-fabricated products in August, the same amount as in July, but 11% higher compared with a year ago, according to preliminary Chinese customs data released last week. From January to August, total shipments were 3.01 million tonnes, down 12.7% from a year ago, the data also showed, according to media reports.
The Federal Reserve in its Beige Book last week noted concerns about a prolonged slowdown in the auto industry and said it was too soon to gauge the impact of Hurricane Harvey on the broader economy. Without offering specifics, the Beige Book said Hurricane Harvey created broad disruptions to economic activity along the Gulf Coast in the Dallas and Atlanta Districts.
Powered by Commodity Insights
- Save upto Rs.2.67 lakh with Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ...Know more
- Now Save Rs.3150 on your Demat Account ...Click here
- Now get IIFL Personal Loan in just 8* hours...APPLY NOW!
- Get the most detailed result analysis on the web - Real Fast!
- Actionable & Award-Winning Research on 500 Listed Indian Companies.


text:
The Ryvita Company’s UK sales and marketing director, Debbie Wyatt, has quit after less than nine months in the role.
It is unclear whether Wyatt, who was appointed to the top UK marketing position in January, has a job to go to.
No one at Ryvita was available for comment on Wyatt’s departure as Marketing Week went to press.
Wyatt will be succeeded by export sales and marketing director Philippe Seurre, who will assume responsibility for the UK alongside his other duties.
Seurre will report directly to Ryvita managing director Garth Weston.
Wyatt, a former consumer development manager at Glanbia Foods, oversaw the recent campaign to rebrand rye crispbread Ryvita as a general health product rather than a food for slimmers.
The rebranding programme included a &£1.3m television advertising campaign, which featured former TV-am weathergirl Ulrika Jonsson.
Wyatt’s predecessor, Chris Sebire, left the company in November last year to launch an on-
line health service, called belly-button.com.
Ryvita is part of Associated British Foods, the company which also owns Allied Bakeries, Twinings Tea, Burton’s Biscuits and British Sugar.


text:
Dunzo’s gross merchandise value (GMV), the total value of transactions through the platform including delivery fees, stood at Rs 590 crore in FY21 compared to Rs 360 crore in FY20.
The Bengaluru-based startup said GMV in the first quarter of 2022 grew to Rs 267 crore, a two-fold jump compared to the final quarter of 2021.
Dunzo attributed the 64% increase in its gross sales value in FY21 to organic demand and the behavioural shift in consumer purchasing habits during the pandemic.
It said consumers were opting for frequent, small-sized purchases compared to larger, monthly purchases for everyday products and consumables before the pandemic.
Dunzo has launched its instant delivery service Dunzo Daily and will further scale it to the top 20 cities in India in the next 18 months.
The company, which is in the middle of a fundraise as reported by ET last week, said that in the next few months it will deploy over 300 micro fulfilment centres across 700 neighbourhoods, facilitating deliveries in under 19 minutes.
“We believe competitive pressures will go up but being the team that created the category and led the market allows us to push innovation forward on behalf of our users. We expect folks to mimic what we do, and we will continue to out-innovate on behalf of our consumers as we go forward,” said Kabeer Biswas, cofounder and CEO of Dunzo, in a statement.
On August 19, ET reported that Dunzo’s talks with Tata Digital have been stuck over critical contours of the deal including majority control by the salt-to-steel conglomerate. It is also in talks with multiple financial investors to raise $100-$120 million at a valuation of around $500-$600 million. It was last valued at $300 million.
The organic growth has helped Dunzo drive down advertising and marketing expenses by 86% year-on-year, it said.
Dunzo’s move to introduce Dunzo Daily comes at a time when players like Swiggy, Zomato, and e-grocer Grofers are actively trying to capture the market for quick delivery for groceries.
According to the company, it has increased order frequency with users transacting more than two times per week. It claims that its unit economics has reduced its expenses per rupee of operating revenue earned to about Rs 6 in FY21 from Rs 13 in FY20.
ET reported last month that e-grocer BigBasket was also planning to launch express deliveries.
ET also reported last week that Dunzo was in talks with the Tata-owned e-grocer to power its 30-minute grocery delivery service.
Flipkart has a 90-minute delivery offering, while Amazon India provides a two-hour delivery window through Fresh.
Quick commerce is estimated at $300 million in calendar year 2021 and is expected to grow 10-15x in the next 5 years to touch $5 billion by 2025, according to RedSeer.
About 20 million households are addressable by quick commerce in India with an estimated addressable market size of almost $50 billion in 2020, the management consulting firm said.


text:
It's the end of an era, but don't fret. There are plenty of American-made toys out there.
After 70 years in business — and lengthy bankruptcy proceedings — Toys R Us is officially going out of business. Arguably one of the world’s most recognizable brands in toy retail, the New Jersey-based company will close over 700 stores throughout the country, leading to 33,000 American workers losing their job.
Despite the financial difficulties of the retail corporation, Toys R Us accounted for one-fifth of U.S. toy sales in 2017, and its closure will leave an $11 billion gap in the market.
Toymaking is still a big business, and there are multiple companies that manufacture their products here at home. Below are some companies that are dedicated to supporting American job creation by making toys in the United States — and you can find many of their products online.
Begin Again: The Colorado-based company makes its line of toys from sustainably harvested rubberwood, plant-based plastics that aren’t derived from oil, water based stains and natural rubber, ensuring kids can play safely. Begin Again sells a variety of colorful interactive toys, including a line of John Deere-themed tractors.
BEKA, Inc.: A true “Made in America” original, BEKA provides handmade products including wooden building blocks, art supplies, play structures and handicraft toys. Family-owned and operated for the past 40 years, all of the company's products are meant to inspire imagination and creative play.
Crayola: Many of the iconic handicraft supplies is still produced domestically in Pennsylvania, and the company churns out 650 crayons every minute. Beyond the ubiquitous crayon, the company produces colored pencils, markers, paints, coloring books and Silly Putty. All products are non-toxic and exported from the USA to over 80 countries around the world.
Dirt King USA: Established in 1983 as a division of MCM Manufacturing, Dirt King has provided premier tricycles and wagons to day care centers, catalogue companies and individual buyers, and prioritizes its customer service. Recognized for safety and durability, Dirt King tricycles are the result of 20 years of design and engineering, hand-crafted and assembled by American workers.
Green Toys: Made from 100 percent recycled materials sourced in the United States, Green Toys encourages open play and child development. Dedicated to raising sustainability awareness, while delivering unquestionably safe products, the toy vehicles and active play sets have repurposed over 54 million plastic milk jugs to date.
Little Tikes: The multi-national toy company manufactures hundreds of its popular toddler toys in the USA, emphasizing the country’s history in the heartland of our country. Building blocks, sporting goods, playground equipment and the iconic Cozy Coupe are all among the innovative children’s products that are Made in America.
Did we miss your favorite American-made toymaker? Send us a line at firstname.lastname@example.org. To find additional products that support American job creation, check out our Made in America Directory.
- Made in America


text:
Joe Varner, whose Fergus Falls, Minn., livestock auction barn hosted a major auctioneer championship earlier this month, has been charged with stealing cattle from a Watertown, S.D., auction barn of which he is co-owner.
An attorney for American Indian farmers suing the government over alleged farm loan discrimination says the group continues to prepare for a trial despite statements by the Obama administration indicating a willingness to resolve such disputes.
By Blake Nicholson, The Associated Press
May 23, 2009
Showing 1 - 9 of 9
View your ad here! Cost effective targeted advertising. Contextual advertising starting as low as $79/month. This includes targeted ad delivery and search results! Add your business to the Marketplace »


text:
'Dota 2' tournament prize passes $4m
Fans purchasing a limited edition item, the digital 2014 Compendium, have raised over $4 million as part of a growing prize pot for the game's world championships set for July 18-21.tech reviews Updated: May 14, 2014 13:31 IST
Fans purchasing a limited edition item, the digital 2014 Compendium, have raised over $4 million as part of a growing prize pot for the game's world championships set for July 18-21.
One copy of The 2014 Compendium runs to $10, with $2.50 of the total diverted into a prize pot for The International.
Each purchaser is given access to a variety of prediction-based games, hinging on the progress of real life pro players, as well as a gauntlet of exclusive online match-ups between fellow Compendium owners, and is rewarded for watching online broadcasts of live matches between competitors at The International.
Like a regular crowd-funding campaign, the rising cumulative total unlocks additional rewards for all purchasers.
For example, at $2 million, three additional loading screens were unlocked; $2.6 million meant that participants could vote on who would take part in The International's 8 player Solo Championship; $2.9 million resulted in the funding of a new game mode that will benefit the "Dota 2" community as a whole; while passing the $4 million mark bestows an exclusive Mini-Pudge courier character upon all Compendium owners.
But most importantly, the rising total increases the intensity brought to bear upon competitors in this year's International, with the best teams boasting professional players and coaching staff, and this year's sum already exceeding the $2.8 million reached in 2013.
With the tournament scheduled to start on July 18, and 15 teams already invited to participate, four ten-team regional qualifier events are taking place in the meantime: The Americas (May 12-15), Southeast Asia (May 16-19), China (May 20-23) and Europe (May 24-27), with winners and runners up both seeded into the grand finals in Seattle.


text:
Birthday Harry Lynn Harry Lynn, WWII veteran, celebrated his 98th birthday on May 21st. His family and friends would like to honor him with a card party. Please send best wishes to Harry Lynn at: 1410 Larkspur Drive, Scottsbluff, NE. 69361.
As a leading provider of news, information and advertising in Scottsbluff and Gering, today we are proud to announce the launch of our Local Marketing Grant program. This program offers matching marketing funds to local businesses whose livelihood has been impacted by the outbreak of the COV…
Local businesses are a linchpin of our community, and they need the support of their loyal customers now more than ever. Buy Local is a new partnership connecting us to these vitally important local businesses through an online marketplace: https://localbusiness.lee.net/scottsbluff-star-herald


text:
According to market research firm Packaged Facts, retail sales of green cleaners in 2009 totaled $557 million -made up of $339 million in green household cleaning products and $218 million from green laundry products-representing 3% of the total household and laundry cleaner retail market. The report,"Green" Household Cleaning Products in the U.S., further indicated that retail sales of green cleaners grew 229% between 2005 and 2009, tripling their share of the total household cleaner market in that time.
The Packaged Facts study also showed that the green household cleaners market is riding several key trends, including increased attention in mainstream media, expanded distribution and growing retail and mass-marketer channels. In a survey conducted as part of the Packaged Facts report, 42% of adult consumers, or 48 million households, reported having used a natural, organic, or ecologically friendly household cleaning/laundry product within the previous 12 months compared to 38% of respondents from a similar survey conducted a year earlier. When researchers compared these 48 million homes and the market's $557 million of sales, they found the amount spent on green cleaners equals nearly $12 per customer household.
Report Abusive Comment


text:
Around the world, it is observed that dominant part of the general population spent a great deal of cash on the fast food eateries. A large number of the rumoured foundations revealed the biggest fast food firms expanded benefits in 2009 by cutting costs, urging clients to return for recently presented things and putting resources into showcasing attached to brandishing occasions. Your fast food eatery can enhance benefits utilizing similar procedures.
UK consumer confidence dropped by one point to a score of -7 last December to -13 this year December a significant year-on-year drop according to the long-running GfK Consumer Confidence Index.
The excellence of being made for a little phone. the iPhone 6 cases are, overall, sleeker and far less prominent than their Plus partners. Also, however having a case, in any case, maybe not as much as perfect, these keep up the uprightness of your telephone's frame as much as humanly conceivable.


text:
The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) has inked a partnership with Chinese mobile and online payment platform Alipay, in a move that will support the expansion of its services into Australia’s tourism industry.
The partnership, announced in front of over 400 industry leaders at ATEC’s annual conference held in Perth last week, will seek to educate and up-skill Australian tourism businesses so they can capitalise on Alipay’s 520 million active Chinese users.
As part of the agreement, ATEC members will have access to Alipay workshops in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, where they will learn from China market experts, build industry relationships and hear from tourism operators already successfully tapping into the Chinese economy.
Training will be conducted at a number of workshops throughout the year and members will have access to unique promotions during major shopping festivals, such as Golden Week, a national holiday in China.
In recent years, Alipay has expanded to in-store offline payments both inside and outside of China. In Australia, the number of merchants using Alipay has grown from 1000 to 8000 in the space of a few months.
“Chinese visitors have become Australia’s largest tourist market and their spending potential is expected to be worth up to $13 billion by 2020 so our industry is very aware of the opportunities ahead,” ATEC Managing Director, Peter Shelley said.
“This partnership with Alipay will help educate our members and the industry more broadly on the brand, how it works, and why it is such an integral part of the Chinese consumer experience.”
Alipay Australia and New Zealand Country Manager, George Lawson, said this partnership will help the tourism industry market its offer to the 1.2 million Chinese visitors who travel to Australia every year.
“Australia has a world-class reputation and Chinese consumers want to buy our products and experiences. Alipay is a gateway between Australian merchants and Chinese shoppers, and tourism operators are first in line to reap the benefits.”
“From user reviews to location-based marketing and loyalty rewards, there are countless ways to connect with new Chinese customers and keep them engaged. We look forward to educating the tourism sector on Alipay’s features and how they can tap into a golden opportunity,” Lawson said.


text:
The Natural Mineral Waters Association accused the soft drink giant of "pulling the wool over the public's eyes" by claiming its new bottled water is "pure water" when in fact it is purified mains water from Sidcup.
In a scheme which mirrored the famous episode of Only Fools and Horses in which Del Boy Trotter tried selling tap water as "Peckham Spring", Coca-Cola admitted yesterday that the source for its new designer water, Dasani, is in reality the mains supply to its Kent factory.
The water, which Coca-Cola sells at about 95p for 500ml, is purified and filtered before having trace minerals added to make it taste better.
Thames Water, which supplies the Sidcup area, sells its product for the equivalent of 0.031635p for 500ml.
The Natural Mineral Waters Association said consumers could be misled into thinking Dasani was a natural product.
It has written to the Food Standards Agency demanding an investigation and calling for Coca-Cola to drop its claim that Dasani is "pure still water".
Association chairman Ian Hall said: "We don't think the public should have the wool pulled over their eyes. The label describes this as 'pure water', when in fact we are talking about tap water."
The National Consumer Council said: "We all laughed at the idea when Del Boy bottled Peckham Spring. We did not believe it could happen in real life, yet Coca-Cola seems to think it is perfectly acceptable.
"You can buy filters for tap water if you think that's necessary. However, the reality is that tap water is of very high purity.
"People will think twice about paying as much as 95p for a bottle of water that they have actually already paid for through their household bills."
Coca-Cola is investing £ 7million in the UK launch of Dasani as part of a worldwide expansion of the brand, which is already the second-biggest selling bottled water in the US. The French version of Dasani will be made from a natural mineral water source in Belgium rather than tap water.
Coca-Cola said the water goes through a "highly sophisticated purification process" which meant the product was "as pure as bottled water gets".
The water first goes through three separate filters which remove "particles and organic debris" as well as chlorine.
The next stage, called reverse osmosis, forces the water through a fine membrane, removing "bacteria, viruses, salts, minerals, sugars, proteins and toxin particles". Calcium, magnesium and sodium bicarbonate are then added for taste, according to Coca-Cola.
Barrie Clarke, spokesman for Water UK, which represents suppliers, said the suggestion behind the process seemed to be that tap water was impure.
"We don't think there are any impurities in tap water," he said. "People don't need to buy this stuff to get excellent quality, healthy water.
"If they like the bottle, the convenience, the style, then fine, but I don't think that is the way they are marketing this product."
Thames Water said its tap water passed 99.92 per cent of tests. "If the water regulator thought any more treatment was needed they would ask us to do so," said spokesman Chris Shipway.
Judith Snyder, brand PR manager for Dasani, confirmed they used "municipal" supplies.
"The source of the water is irrelevant - it doesn't affect the end result," she said.Reuse content


text:
According to the data from Germany’s largest e-tailer Mindfactory.de, AMD has been able to sell more processors than Intel since August of last year. However, Intel has managed to exceed once again thanks to their 8th Gen Coffee Lake processors, in particular the Core i7-8700K.
AMD No Longer Dominating Sales at Mindfactory, Coffee Lake CPUs in High Demand
AMD made a comeback in the x86 CPU market with their Ryzen processors that bring plenty of performance to the table at a decent price. The 14nm Zen based processor family has been a success for team red. Indeed, for the first time in over a decade, AMD was able to overtake Intel in terms of CPU sales and revenue at Mindfactory.
Since August 2017, AMD has been dominating the sales figures at Mindfactory, and as recent as November, it had a market share of 58%, clearly ahead of Intel with 42%. To counter the threat from Ryzen, Intel released the Coffee Lake desktop CPUs in late September, but availability has been somewhat limited, causing prices to inflate.
By the end of the year, Intel was able to resolve the availability issues to some extent. With better pricing, the flagship Core i7-8700K became the best-selling processor at Mindfactory, according to the data available for December 2017. Not only this, but Intel regained the ground lost to AMD with 54% CPU share at the e-tailer.
In January 2018, Intel saw an even higher demand for the 8700K, as well as another six-core CPU, the Core i5-8600K. Now, with Intel staying at 58% versus AMD’s 42%, the shares are back to the level of May 2017, though the absolute sales in January are significantly higher.
What we can take from these numbers from Mindfactory is that users are willing to buy Coffee Lake CPUs, if they are readily available and offered at normal prices. Or, it is also possible that AMD customers may prefer to wait a couple of months for the second generation Ryzen CPUs to launch rather than buying a current processor.
The Ryzen 2000 series processors are built on the 12nm Zen+ CPU core, offering lower power with higher frequencies. The processors are scheduled to arrive in April, but you can expect more details at the GDC 2018 in March.


text:
Higher lending rates, steep price gains and exceptionally tight conditions in the market are starting to weigh on consumers and contributing to the pullback in detached sales this month. Sales trended down in all locations except the most affordable North East and East markets in the city, which continue to record sales growth. Slower sales were met with a pullback in new listings which prevented any steep gains in inventory levels. With 2,552 units in inventory and 1,620 sales, the months of supply edged up over last month but continues to favour the seller.
Persistently tight conditions did contribute to further price gains this month, but the pace of growth has eased compared to earlier in the year. Detached benchmark prices reached $648,500 in May, nearly 17 per cent higher than last year. Year-over-year gains have occurred across all districts with the gains ranging from a low of 10 per cent in the City Centre to over 22 per cent in the South East and North East.
Like the detached sector, sales slowed this month for semi-detached properties. However, sales still remain relatively strong and on a year-to-date basis are still higher than levels recorded last year. New listings also slowed, but at a slower pace than sales causing some modest monthly gains in inventory levels and some monthly gains in the months of supply. However, with less than two months of supply, this segment continues to favour the seller.
While prices continued to rise for semi-detached properties, the pace of growth has eased from earlier in the year. In May, the semi-detached benchmark price reached $584,700, nearly 15 per cent higher than the same time last year. Price gains have occurred across all districts with the strongest year-over-year gain occurring in the North district of the city.
Like other property types, sales activity trended down from the March high. However, sales in May were still higher than last year’s levels and reflect a new record high for May. Row properties in the city are generally more affordable than both detached and semi-detached properties. Higher prices in other sectors and rate gains are likely driving more consumers toward row style properties.
While some monthly gains in inventories did help push up the months of supply, with 1.5 months of supply conditions continue to favour the seller. The persistently tight conditions placed further upward pressure on prices, however, the pace of growth is easing. As of May, the benchmark price reached $363,300, nearly 17 per cent higher than last year’s levels.
Recent gains in sales and prices likely encouraged the boost in new listings this month for apartment condominiums. While sales did improve significantly compared to last year, the sales-to-new-listings ratio eased to 67 per cent and inventories edged up over relative to levels seen over the past five months. This rise was enough to push up the months of supply to over two months. While this segment of the market has been more sensitive to supply shifts, conditions still remain relatively tight supporting further price gains.
The benchmark price in May reached $275,300, over one per cent higher than last month and nearly nine per cent higher than last year. Prices trended up in every district helping support price recovery. Despite the growth, prices are still over 10 per cent below the highs set back in 2014.
REGIONAL MARKET FACTS
For the first time in nearly two years, sales in Airdrie eased over last year’s levels. Meanwhile, the new listings in the market remained comparable to last month but were slightly better than last year’s levels. This helped push inventories and the months of supply up compared to last month. However, with the months of supply remaining at one month, the market remains exceptionally tight.
Despite tight market conditions, we did see prices take a pause this month, easing slightly over last month but remaining nearly 25 per cent higher than levels recorded last year. Prices have been trending up monthly for the better part of two years and the growth at the start of this year has far exceeded expectations. As rates continue to rise and the market shifts to more balanced conditions, we expect the pace of the price growth to start to slow.
Sales in Cochrane continued to remain strong in May, supporting a year-to-date annual gain of nearly seven per cent. While we have seen some signs of improvement in new listings, that was not the case this month. The sales-to-new-listings ratio rose to 98 per cent, higher than levels seen over the past four months. With no additions to the inventory in the market, the months of supply remained below one month. This supported persistent sellers’ market conditions.
The tight conditions continue to place upward pressure on prices. However, the pace of growth is starting to slow as May prices were 18 per cent higher than last year’s levels. Price growth remains the strongest for detached and semi-detached properties with year-over-year gains pushing 21 per cent.
Sales remained relatively strong this month, contributing to a year-to-date gain of nearly 17 per cent. This growth was possible as new listings did improve this month. However, with an 87 per cent sales to new listings ratio and a months of supply remaining below one month, conditions continue to remain relatively tight in this market.
The benchmark price reached $560,700 in May. This is a significant jump over last month and 19 per cent higher than last year’s levels. Like most locations, much of the gain is being driven by the detached sector of the market, which saw prices push up to $625,200 this month.


text:
Little Tikes has launched a new pre-school collectable toy line in the shape of Springlings Surprise! – a collection of springy, plush animals that will hit shelves this autumn.
The range has been launched as the pre-school brand continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the toy space this year; a year that has been underpinned with a major marketing push for the brand among consumers and the trade.
In its latest move for the collectables market, Springlings Surprise! boasts a range of ‘soft and cute characters’ that can be unboxed and popped from their special home with the press of a button. No batteries are required to spring the surprise animal time and time again.
With 12 adorable, springy plush characters to collect, including Bubbly Shimmer, Pepper Spike and Tippy Twirl, little ones can use the peek-a-boo eyes to guess which animal will be springing out of their home next. The range aims to combine elements of unboxing with partial blind-packs.
Michelle Lilley, head of UK marketing for Little Tikes, said: “We are delighted to be kicking off the autumn season with the launch of Springlings Surprise! This brand new and adorable collection of springy, plush animals combines a series of loved animals and mythical characters and we’re expecting them to be tremendously popular over the summer holidays and throughout the gifting season.”
Springlings Surprise! will be popping up on TV, YouTube and PopJam, and will be supported through a strong PR and influencer campaign.
Suitable for children aged two years and upwards, the toy line will retail for £8.99 each.


text:
Hudson's Bay Co (TSE:HBC) traded down 6% on Monday following insider selling activity. The company traded as low as C$10.35 and last traded at C$10.37. 503,278 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 39% from the average session volume of 362,966 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$11.03.
Specifically, Director Robert C. Baker sold 13,400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$11.30, for a total transaction of C$151,420.00. Also, insider L&T B. (Cayman) Inc. sold 67,844 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$11.72, for a total value of C$795,131.68. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 672,544 shares of company stock worth $7,550,502.
A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. National Bank Financial upped their price target on Hudson's Bay from C$13.00 to C$14.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. CIBC upped their price target on Hudson's Bay from C$12.50 to C$14.00 in a research report on Wednesday, October 25th. Cowen reduced their price target on Hudson's Bay from C$14.00 to C$12.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Hudson's Bay from C$12.00 to C$11.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets downgraded Hudson's Bay from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating and set a C$11.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, Hudson's Bay currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of C$11.72.
The firm has a market capitalization of $1,900.00, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.33 and a beta of 1.21.
Hudson's Bay (TSE:HBC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, December 6th. The company reported C($1.11) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of C($0.69) by C($0.42). Hudson's Bay had a negative net margin of 7.69% and a negative return on equity of 53.94%.
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 29th were issued a dividend of $0.013 per share. This represents a $0.05 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 28th. Hudson's Bay’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -2.79%.
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY NOTICE: “Hudson's Bay (HBC) Trading Down 6% Following Insider Selling” was originally published by Dispatch Tribunal and is the property of of Dispatch Tribunal. If you are viewing this piece on another publication, it was copied illegally and republished in violation of US and international trademark & copyright legislation. The original version of this piece can be read at https://www.dispatchtribunal.com/2018/01/31/hudsons-bay-hbc-trading-down-6-following-insider-selling.html.
Hudson's Bay Company Profile
Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is a Canada-based department store retailer. The Company is an operator and a consolidator, as well as a real estate developer. The Company’s retail portfolio includes approximately 10 banners, in formats ranging from luxury to better department stores to off price fashion shopping destinations, with over 460 stores.
Receive News & Ratings for Hudson's Bay Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hudson's Bay and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.


text:
Just a few weeks ago, an eggs-traordinary phenomenon occurred. A plain old egg received the most likes on Instagram, currently holding the world record at more than 51.5 million likes. While it may be depressing to see that even an egg can egg-quire more likes than your selfies, there is an explanation behind this phenomenon.
On the fateful day the egg was introduced to Instagram, the post of the egg was captioned: “Let’s set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram. Beating the current world record held by Kylie Jenner (18 million)! We got this ?”
The account that posted the egg is @world_record_egg. However, it is still unknown who the real owner is behind the account, leaving this mystery as another case to crack in the future. Regardless of who actually came up with the idea of setting an egg as a new viral trend, the real question remains: why did an egg, of all things, receive the most likes on Instagram? The answer may be in the caption of the post itself. Whether or not everyone who liked the picture was a fan of Kylie Jenner, some people’s extreme dislike of the Kardashians could have been a factor that played into acquiring more likes for the egg, and therefore exceeding Kylie Jenner’s post of her daughter Stormi by a shocking 33.5 million. If not, the extraordinary amount of likes could have just been nothing more than genuine human curiosity to see if a world record could be attained, leading to the eggs-treme number of likes to an undeserving egg.
Though this incident may further prove the growing speculation that young people have nothing better to do nowadays other than promoting nonsensical things online with a sense of humor that seems to get worse every year—an example of which is promoting grocery products into viral sensations (among them: the egg, the bread, and some can even argue the potato)—on the sunny side of things, this indicates that all hope is not lost for humanity. Because, as it turns out, we can still work together to achieve something if we really put our minds to it—even if that something is as eggs-traneous as giving an egg the most likes on Instagram.
Now think about how great it would be if this same sense of enthusiasm to cooperate could be applied to other, more pressing matters. I wonder then, if truly important issues could be solved, or at least tackled, with the same efficiency as the combined undertaking of liking a mere egg’s picture.
On that eggs-citing note…who’s ready to create a world_record_bread?


text:
In mid-July, Natori will launch Josie, a women’s fragrance aimed at an age 25-plus customer.
Natori said since the first day of her 37-year fashion career, she has had a kinship with fragrance. “The concept of the Natori brand is about making women feel good about indulging themselves,” she said, pointing out the sensual connection between lingerie and fragrance. “We have more right to be in this than someone making jeans.
“We wanted to do something disruptive,” Natori continued. “This addresses a younger demographic with energy and a vibrant spirit, not someone who is being so serious.” She described the fragrance as being “more modern. It has a sensual floral.”
Her licensing partner in this venture is Luxe Brands, a company headed by chief executive officer Tony Bajaj, who bought the Jean Patou license from Procter & Gamble Co. and this spring launched Joy Forever.
“My vision for Luxe Brands is to build an enduring portfolio of global prestige brands that resonates strongly with consumers,” said Bajaj. “The Josie fragrance is the first launch of the long-term partnership that we’re building with the Natori company to develop a series of lifestyle collections.”
Natori had previously launched a signature fragrance with Parlux Fragrances.
This Josie fragrance was developed by Noreen Dodge, who heads the creative arm of Luxe Brands, working with perfumers Frank Voelkl and Honorine Blanc of Firmenich. The formula’s most striking element is Sampaguita, a light and pure form of jasmine that is the national flower of the Philippines. Considered a symbol of love, the ingredient forms a bouquet in the heart of the fragrance with freesia in radiating a feminine point of view, Dodge noted. The scent opens with a vibrant accord of Asian pear and dewy leaves. The structure is finished with sandalwood and white musk to leave a trail of sensuality.
The eau de parfum will be available in two sizes, 1.7 oz. for $75 and 3.4 oz. for $95. A 0.25-oz. rollerball will be priced at $22. There also will be a 6.8-oz. body cream for $58 and a 6.75-oz. body lotion for $45. For holiday, a bento box set will be sold for $105 and a 3.4-oz. edp will be offered in a clutch for $95.
The scent will initially be launched in a tight prestige distribution, including Bloomingdale’s and Dillard’s. In the fall, HSN will be included. In 2015, the fragrance is expected to roll out to Japan and the Philippines. This summer, the Josie fragrance will be sold on a custom microsite on Natori’s Web site.
Executives would not discuss sales projections, but industry sources estimate first-year retail sales of $5 million, due to the extremely tight distribution, and $8 million to $10 million expected in the second year. The advertising and promotional support in the first year is estimated to amount to $2 million to $3 million.
@pantone announced their Color of the Year 2018: Ultra Violet. Nearly 20 months after the musician Prince’s death, fashion is having a purple moment. Varying shades of purple appeared on spring or fall runways, from @christopherkane to @calvinklein. @gucci’s Alessandro Michele bathed his fall runway in ultra violet-colored light at one point. Pantone 18-3838 is meant to “push the boundaries of what inspires us to look upward and outward to the future.” #wwdnews #wwdfashion (📷: @kukukuba)
@badgalriri’s @fentybeauty launch in September was a massive success on social media, powering $72.9 million of earned media value, according to Tribe Dynamics. The brand’s foundation offering sparked conversations about diversity in beauty, launching the growth of emerging influencers and propelling the brand’s support on social media. Today, #fentybeauty won Launch of the Year at the WWD #BeautyIncAwards. (📷: Chema Moya/EPE-EFE)
@marianna_hewitt has become one of the most influential content creators in the beauty space, with almost 800,000 Instagram followers and a newly launched skin care line called @SummerFridays. Today, she was awarded Influencer of the Year at the WWD #BeautyIncAwards. (📸: @sophiachabbott )
As shopping behaviors evolve, the retail experience must follow. Head over to retail experts @colliersinternational’s Knowledge Leader series to read more about the shift in our shopping era. #colliersretail #lovecolliers
@prada opened a pop-up club, called Prada Double Club, in collaboration with German artist Cartsen Höller at @artbasel Miami. Last night, guests – including @youngparis, @ritaora and even Miuccia Prada herself – gathered in a former ice factory where the pop-up is housed for a performance from @wyclefjean. Go to WWD.com for full coverage on all the exhibits, parties and more at #ArtBaselMiami. #wwdeye (📷: @lexieblacklock)
@louboutinworld and @disney are making magic once again, creating a set of shoe designs for the release of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” Louboutin designed a pair of shoes for each of the film’s four female leads: Rey (@daisyridrey), Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (@lauradern), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) and Rose Tico (@kellymarietran). The shoes will debut on Saturday at the L.A. premiere of the latest episode. #wwdfashion
Today at the #BeautyIncAwards 2017, WWD will be joined by beauty leaders from around the world as we honor this year's most innovative people, products, brands and places. Follow along here and on Twitter for live coverage from the exclusive event. #wwdsummits (📷: @elizaflorendo)
Exclusive: Beauty superinfluencer @marianna_hewitt is launching her first-ever skin care brand with her business partner @laurengores. Their new line Summer Fridays, which will be sold exclusively at summerfridays.com starting in January, is launching with just one product – a hydrating cream Jet Lag Mask. “We wanted to focus on one product that was amazing,” said Hewitt. Read the full interview on WWD.com. Link in bio. #wwdbeauty #wwdnews
Michelin star-rated chef PJ Calapa marks his first solo endeavor with today’s opening of @scampinyc –– the new Southern Italian restaurant located in Manhattans’ Flatiron District. The upscale yet welcoming environment matches the menu, which includes two types of scampi: traditional Italian langoustines in butter and the Americanized version with shrimp over pasta 🍤 - pictured here. #wwdeye (📷: George Chinsee)


text:
Shillong, March 2: Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly has said that Canada is imposing additional import restrictions on Russian diamonds.
This ban further builds on Canada’s December 2023 import restrictions on diamonds and diamond-jewellery-related products from Russia by targeting indirect imports of Russian diamonds weighing 1 carat and above, Joly said on Friday in a statement.
It is consistent with the commitments made in February, May and December 2023 by the G7 leaders to reduce the revenues from the export of non-industrial diamonds from Russia, she added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.
According to the statement, Russia is the world’s largest rough diamond producer and also a significant global exporter of diamonds and diamond products.
The value of Russia’s total exports exceeded nearly 5.2 billion Canadian dollars ($3.8 billion) in 2022.
Together, G7 countries represent 70 per cent of the world diamond market, the statement added. (IANS)


text:
Mobile broadband is a key engine of economic growth, with U.S. annual wireless capital investment up 40% over the last four years, the largest increase in the world, and few sectors having more potential to create jobs. In this fast-moving space, of course challenges remain, including the need to unleash even more spectrum for mobile broadband and continuing to promote competition and protect consumers. The Commission will stay focused on these vital goals."-Julius Genachowski, FCC Chairman
MetroPCS stockholders will each receive $4.06 for each share, and will own 26% of the remaining company, which will trade publicly. While we expect that the surviving company will be called T-Mobile, there has been no official word on what the name will be. In addition to the Committee on Foreign Investment saying "yay" or "nay," MetroPCS shareholders will vote on the merger April 12th. To that end, the pre-paid carrier sent a letter to its stockholders this week, requesting that they vote in favor of the deal.
source: FCC via AndroidCentral


text:
Cryptocurrencies: Two Chinese online brokers want to match Robin Hood
BEIJING - Two Chinese competitors of the online trading platform Robinhood view cryptocurrencies as an attempt to compete abroad.
Photo Credits: Marc Bruxelle | iStock
The move comes as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have climbed back into the spotlight in recent months, while Chinese regulators have stepped up efforts to curb market speculation. In recent weeks, authorities have issued new warnings against trading digital currency and combating Bitcoin mining - an energy-intensive computer process that allows participants to earn Bitcoin.
But in the world of financial trading, the demand for cryptocurrencies is high as the price of Bitcoin rose to record levels above $ 60,000, before falling sharply to about $ 35,000.
Robinhood, which launched a Bitcoin and Ethereum trade in the U.S. in early 2018, has gained as many as three million new customers a month for its crypto business this year. In April, the US cryptocurrency trading exchange Coinbase debuted on the Nasdaq.
"We have recognized the great interest of our users around the world in terms of cryptocurrencies. We’re listening to voices from the market,” Arthur Chen, Futu’s chief financial officer, told CNBC last week.
He said the company hopes to offer cryptocurrency-related products as early as the end of this year.
By: Olivia J. - Gossip Whispers


text:
10 days have passed by since the last earnings report for Anthem, Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) and the new quarterly results look set to arrive in 88 days. The shares of ANTM at the moment are trading at a volume of 1.42 million, which compares with its normal daily standard volume of 1.55 million shares. This has led to the shares of the company advancing by 0.62%, currently exchanging hands at $270.75 a share. ANTM stock has been up by $47.24 (-14.86%) ever since it reached its 52-week high of $317.99 back in February 25, 2019. It has progressed above its 50-day moving average of $250.41 and is up 2.92% over the past week. The stock has added 1.1% since the last one arrived so the question here is that will the upbeat trend in that time frame continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is the ANTM share price due for a correction?
Anthem, Inc. (ANTM) Forecasts And Latest Quarter Earnings
Ahead of their fiscal fourth-quarter to be released on Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020, 22 analysts who are covering the company are estimating that it will record a profit of $3.88 per share, with analysts having different outlooks from $3.85 to $4.07. The current agreed outlook, when compared to the profit recorded last year, is at $2.44 a share, thus an increase of 59.02% is expected. The profit view for a complete financial year for Anthem, Inc. is expected to be around $19.42 in current year, a decline of nearly 22.22% from last year which was $15.89.
Let’s now look at their sales section, ANTM’s revenue is estimated to be $23.3B, a figure which is more than the $23.3B recorded for Q4 last year. Their sequential sales though are expected to grow by 1.5% from their Q3’s sales which were $26.69B. Their full-year outlook is pegged at $103.08B, implying that there would be an increase of 12.85% over the $91.34B they recorded last year in revenue. Anthem, Inc. is projected to get sales lifted by 11.61% in the next quarter, with a revenue target of $115.05B.
Analyzing The Earnings History Of Anthem, Inc. (NYSE:ANTM)
In the past few years, the ANTM stock has been known to miss the Wall Street’s earnings projection. The company missed 0% of the time, according to the data pulled on their earnings, was able to meet predictions on 0 occasions and topped expectations 12 times. Looking at the past trend, the price of Anthem, Inc. shares had risen following the release of their earnings in 11 of the last 19 quarters.
The higher number of analysts has assigned a buy or better ratings (21) on the Anthem, Inc. stock, while 4 of them have a rating of a Hold with the 11-year target price suggested by the analysts standing at $329.88. This price target implies potential upside of 21.84 percent over the next 12 months based on the current share price.
Anthem, Inc. (ANTM) Post Earnings Announcement Drift (PEAD)
Back on October 23, 2019, Anthem, Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) released its Q3 results, in which it recorded EPS of $4.87 that exceeded consensus estimates of $4.82. After the earnings were reported, the price of ANTM stock kicked off the session at $251.64 and remained in a range of $252.68 to $272.96 on the first day. The shares were priced at $263.51 at the close with a total volume of shares being 2746075.
On July 24, 2019, the Q2 earnings report was disclosed with EPS of $4.64. This was above the estimation of $4.61 per share. The stock price range of ANTM was between $293.48 and $293.48 on the first-day post announcement, after opening the day at $280.06. The session came to close at $288.91 and there was a total volume of 3389206 shares.
April 24, 2019 was the day when its Q1 results were unveiled. The earnings came in at $6.03, beating the projected $5.81 per share. The very next day, ANTM stock opened at $247.75 while staying in a range of $248.3 to $253.99. At the end, it moved to $251 a total volume of shares been 3264394.
In the year-ago Q4 earnings on January 30, 2019, the company saw profit per share of $2.44. That was better than the $2.2 analysts had expected. Anthem, Inc. share price started at $290.5 on the first full trading day post-earning and then exchanged hands between $291.94 and $305.99 throughout the session. The closing price of $297.56 came on the back of 4477954 shares in volume.


text:
Abercrombie & Fitch has been on a roller coaster of late, working to find its footing in a retail landscape that's rapidly shifting and with a teen audience that's getting much more fickle (they care a lot more about keeping up with the latest tech trends than splurging on clothes). The brand has done the design switches, like allowing black on its shelves for the first time, and the corporate shakeup, removing Mike Jeffries from the CEO role. The latest round of strategic moves? Rethinking who the brand is trying to reach.
"The Abercrombie brand can travel a bit up the age scale. [It's] less able to be a true teen brand," Arthur C. Martinez, chairman of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., told WWD, explaining that the ideal customers are college and graduate students, though "not to the mid-30s necessarily."
"We are creating a new positioning and new imagery to target the customer," he said, noting changes would be fully apparent in the fall. A tour through the offerings on its website already show clothing noticeably different than what you might remember from high school. The jeans and cutoffs are widely the same, but shirts feel as if they're paying closer attention to trends that came down the runway (Martinez reported that bottoms have consistently performed well, while "fashion tops" is the sector that struggles).
This halter crop top, paired with high-waisted trousers, is the sort of chic outfit you'd spot on a street-style star roaming fashion week—in other words, the furthest thing from a hugely logoed baby tee.
Oh, and regarding those logos: They're coming back. Kind of.
"The logo will be subtle and less visible. It won't be splashed across the chest," Martinez said, telling WWD that the company "overreacted" with its earlier decisions to move away from the look. "Logo product has an important place across the company."
The Latest Fashion News:


text:
There’s big news out of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville empire today — the singer, songwriter, and businessman’s brand is rebranding and launching a cruise ship that should already be familiar to Palm Beach residents.
When the Port of Palm Beach’s only cruise ship relaunches on April 30, it will be the world’s first Margaritaville-branded cruise ship.
Which cruise ship is this, you ask? It’s none other than Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Classica, which is known for its short runs between Palm Beach and Freeport, Bahamas.
The vessel will be renamed Margaritaville Paradise, and Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will become Margaritaville at Sea.
The deal was announced on Wednesday at the port, and is a partnership between Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Margaritaville Enterprises LLC.
The Margaritaville lifestyle brand consists of over 25 hotels and resorts, two gaming properties, RV resorts, over 60 food and beverage venues, real estate communities, vacation clubs, and consumer products.
Once it is rebranded, the ship will continue to offer its two-night cruises between Palm Beach and Freeport, with the goal of bringing the laid-back tropical lifestyle and state of mind evoked in Buffett’s songs to the 1,680-passenger ship, according to Bahamas Paradise CEO Oneil Khosa.
“We are not seeing this as a rebranding of just a name, but a rebranding of the concept, basically redefining cruising with whatever Margaritaville has to offer,” said Khosa, who will serve as CEO of Margaritaville at Sea.
Margaritaville CEO John Cohlan said, “Margaritaville at Sea will be a new, exciting and fun way for guests to escape and vacation in Margaritaville. From oceans to lakes, Margaritaville has an organic tie to the water, and with Margaritaville at Sea, we’re able to put our iconic lifestyle, resort experiences and elevated service directly on the sea.”
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line is spending tens of millions of dollars on redesigning, rebranding, and reworking everything on board, from surface-level furnishings to electronics and rebranded venues.
The ship’s bars will be rebranded to the Margaritaville bars, with the Rock bar becoming the 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar. The main dining room, Yellow Elder, will become Fins, and the Admiral’s Steakhouse will be called JWB Prime Steak & Seafood. The sports bar will become LandShark Sports Bar, and the fitness center and spa will become Fins Up! Fitness Center and St. Somewhere Spa.
The cruise line has also said that it plans to create a “beach experience” for passengers in the Bahamas, such as an exclusive Margaritaville Beach Club.
After the cruise industry shutdown, the ship began sailing again in July, resuming its normal schedule of roundtrip cruises to Freeport. Last week, it entered into dry dock for the Margaritaville redesign.
Bahamas Paradise sold its other ship, Grand Celebration, during the cruise industry shutdown.
To book a cruise on the newly rebranded Margaritaville Paradise, visit margaritavilleatsea.com.


text:
A lot of gambling companies have started coming under fire after they released provocative ads that a lot of people consider to be degrading to women. Just this last February, a company released a commercial which tried to parody Fifty Shades of Grey. This ad showed a woman in bed with a greyhound. That betting company was accused of encouraging bestiality after the release of that ad.
The chief executive for the Victorian Gambling Foundation, Serge Sardo, said that ads like that one are proof that we have reached a “new low” in the world of advertisements. “These tactics are a disturbing reflection on how far some gambling companies will go to sell their products.” Sardo told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Advertising Standard Bureau has received around 17 complaints in the past five years about the depiction of women in gambling ads. There was also an ad that included a reference to a woman performing oral sex. Yet another online pokies campaign showed a man pushing his girlfriend’s face to the side so he can continue listening to the horse race.
It seems that this problem is becoming more and more prevalent as companies are willing to try anything in order to raise the awareness surrounding their brand. A lot of government departments are truly worried about this trend and how it might affect the perception of the average gambler.


text:
A groundbreaking security assessment of iOS find my team discovered a new attack surface that allows hackers to tinker with the firmware and load malware onto a Bluetooth chip that runs while the iPhone is turned off.
When adopting a “power reserve” Low Power Mode, the process takes use of the fact that wireless chips connected to Bluetooth, Near-field communication (NFC), and ultra-wideband (UWB) continue to operate when iOS is turned off (LPM).
While this is done to enable features like Find My and facilitate Express Card transactions, academics from the Secure Mobile Networking Lab (SEEMOO) at the Technical University of Darmstadt said in a paper titled “Evil Never Sleeps” that all three wireless chips have direct access to the secure element.
“The Secure Element (SE) in the NFC chip is hardwired to the Bluetooth and UWB chips, holding secrets that should be available in LPM,” the researchers claimed. “LPM support is built into the hardware and cannot be disabled by altering software components.
As a result, wireless components on current iPhones can no longer be trusted to switch off after shutdown. This creates a completely new threat model.” This week, the researchers will report their findings at the ACM Conference on Security and Privacy in Wireless and Mobile Networks (WiSec 2022).
The LPM features, which were introduced with iOS 15 last year, allow users to track missing devices via the Find My network even if they have run out of battery power or have been turned off. The iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13 are among the current devices that support Ultra-wideband.
When you turn off your iPhone, you’ll get the following message: “After powering off, the iPhone can still be found. When this iPhone is lost or stolen, Find My can help you locate it, even if it is in power reserve mode or turned off.”
The researchers described the existing LPM implementation as “opaque,” citing errors when initialising Find My ads during power down, which essentially contradicted the aforementioned statement, as well as the fact that the Bluetooth firmware is neither signed nor encrypted.
An adversary with privileged access can take advantage of this flaw to construct malware that can execute on an iPhone Bluetooth chip even when it is turned off.
However, an attacker must be able to connect with the firmware via the operating system, edit the firmware image, or gain code execution on an LPM-enabled chip over-the-air by exploiting weaknesses like BrakTooth.


text:
HAVANA (Xinhua) – More than 200 classic and vintage cars took over Havana’s famous Malecon seawall avenue as part of a colourful competition that showed locals and foreigners Cuba’s automotive heritage.
Considered living antiques from the first half of the last century, these vehicles are now an indispensable part of the Cuban landscape, whether for sight-seeing or as so-called almendrones, which means vintage taxis used by Cubans for daily transportation.
Showcasing the country’s best exponents was the goal of the First Classic Car Contest 2018 sponsored by Spanish hotel company Iberostar and the local club Amigos de Fangio.
A total of 208 cars were entered in the competition, among which only 15 were given prizes for being the best preserved and original.
The cars were chosen based on their technical condition, originality, external and internal condition, operation of the electrical system and other parameters.
A green 1956 Plymouth, owned since 1983 by local Ramon Ventura, was the winner as the jury estimated that it has preserved 98 per cent of its original condition.
“I am very excited and the main thing of this competition is that it encourages us to keep the car as original as possible within the possibilities we have,” Ventura told Xinhua after winning the prize.
The engineer said his Plymouth only has a different paint colour and upholstery from the original model. The rest are the same as manufactured.
“It’s a hobby that we have to dedicate a lot of time to. Since a few years ago, we can import the pieces from the United States (US), but they are extremely expensive,” he added.
The popularity prize, chosen through online voting on the Iberostar website, was awarded to Gabriel Sanchez, owner of an impressive 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air.
“I spend a lot of my life fixing the car, keeping it in good condition and this award is the greatest satisfaction I can get in an event where there were very nice and competitive vehicles,” said the 27-year-old.
Guided by a 1948 Packard Clipper car, the imposing parade covered almost the entire seawall promenade and then entered the Paseo del Prado avenue reaching the Iberostar Grand Packard Hotel recently opened in the Cuban capital.
Automobiles of US brands such as Buick, Cadillac, Plymouth, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Ford, as well as the ones from emblematic European companies Mercedes Benz, MG and Austin-Healey, among others, were entered in the competition in an attempt to highlight the living and historical memory of the island.


text:
Where unprofessional journalism looks better.
Login with Facebook
Login with Twitter
Everything we think we know about ...
Report: Yahoo board approves $1.1 ...
Win prizes on Windows Phone with M...
Dell: Our corporate customers are ...
Rumor: Is Google going to go after...
Nearly everything about Acer's 8.1...
Team Fortress 2's newest update is...
Rift and Defiance developer Trion ...
Razer Atrox Xbox 360 arcade fighti...
SimCity Amusement Park DLC leaks; ...
Major publishers are quiet about t...
Upcoming EA MOBA game, Dawngate, g...
WinHTTrack Website Copier 3.47.13
AX64 Time Machine 1.1.996
Tabs in Microsoft Word?
Gran Turismo 6 Comes to PS3 for th...
Is Terrorism a Muslim Monopoly?
The unofficial Windows 8 themepack...
BT considering trial of gigabit sp...
what has everyone been up to?
Future blogging adventures ahoy
Now the end is near and so the blo...
The end of something that wasn't r...
One last blog post...
Latest News (Itunes)
Show Software News
Former Groupon CEO making a “business music album”
iTunes 11.0.3 available for download
No iTunes Windows 8 app? Microsoft has way to import playlists into Xbox Music
Microsoft: Don't hold your breath for an iTunes Windows 8 app
iTunes is losing market share to streaming services
Twitter, iTunes and iCloud outages affecting some users today [Update]
iTunes adds 'Buy Now, Download Later' options
Grand Theft Auto radio station playlists now available for iTunes and Spotify
iTunes 11.0.2 available for download
iTunes + Apple accessories now make more money than major phone manufactures
Amazon finds loophole around Apple's walled garden
Study gives high innovation marks to Microsoft's Windows Phone Store
Download iTunes 11
iTunes 11 likely to land today: It's out! [Updated]
Steve Wozniak: iTunes should be released for Windows Phone
Bloomberg: Apple launching online radio in 2013
Apple to shut down Ping on iTunes September 30th
Apple reveals new iTunes design for iOS, Mac and Windows
Bruce Willis's wife denies he is in iTunes legal fight
Yippie ki-yay! Bruce Willis vs Apple over iTunes song sharing?
Trivia Tuesday: Digital music, from Atari to iTunes
Deal of the day: Whatsapp Messenger for iPhone, for free
iTunes could get a big overhaul by end of 2012
Apple plans to give podcasts their own iOS app
My Xbox Live app launches for Android; iOS app gets update
Apple reported to kill Ping in next version of iTunes
Shadowgun update brings retina support to the iPad
UK gang gets jail time for iTunes music royalty scam
Report: Internet film viewing to surpass disc viewing in 2012
iTunes 10.6 Released
More Apple iTunes users report hacked accounts
WTF? iTunes Match bug replacing explicit songs with censored versions
Apple's walled garden cracks, fake Camera+ app found
iTunes Match now available
iTunes Match launch finally getting closer?
Google Music to finally launch next week?
The iPod turns 10
Rumor: Google to launch music store?
Apple prepping movies for iCloud service
Apple AirPort Utility released for iOS 5
iTunes 10.5 Released
New iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle and iPod Touch announced [Update]
iPhone Explorer 0.9.28.0
New Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac adds Mango support
Apple launches developer beta for iTunes Match
Apple removes TV show rentals from iTunes
iTunes 10.4.1 released
Cable TV operators lose record number of subscribers in Q2
Report: iTunes Replay won't debut anytime soon
iOS 5 beta 5 now available
Apple TV update adds streaming iTunes TV show support
iTunes 11 to receive visual overhaul?
Mac OS X Lion downloaded 1 million times in first day
Apple updates iTunes and iWork for OS X, adds 64-bit
Price changes hit the iTunes and Mac App Store
Apple releases iOS, iTunes beta 3, Xcode 4.2 dev preview 3
Rumor: Apple could offer 1080p movie downloads on iTunes
iTunes Match will not be used to track pirates, experts say
Apple reportedly giving refunds to some Final Cut Pro X users
Rumor: Apple to launch iOS-based television?
Load more news


text:
Where are the Clydesdales? Budweiser released its 2017 Super Bowl ad “Born the Hard Way” on Tuesday, January 31. The 60-second commercial, which you can watch above, highlights cofounder Adolphus Busch’s 1876 emigration from Hamburg, Germany, to the United States.
After Busch leaves his homeland and arrives in America, a stranger shouts at him, “You’re not wanted here. Go back home!” He is then seen getting his paperwork stamped before traveling to St. Louis, Missouri, where he meets the man who would later become his business partner, Eberhard Anheuser.
The ad concludes with the tagline “When nothing stops your dream, this is the beer we drink.”
“This commercial shows the start of Budweiser’s journey, and while it is set in the 1800s, it’s a story we believe will resonate with today’s entrepreneurial generation — those who continue strive for their dreams,” Budweiser vice president of marketing Ricardo Marques said in a press release.
Budweiser chief creative officer Mike Byrne added, “When Budweiser told us they wanted to celebrate those who embody the American spirit, we realized the ultimate story lived within their own brand history. Adolphus Busch is the hero of the Anheuser-Busch American dream story, which makes him the perfect protagonist.”
The commercial debuted days after President Donald Trump signed a controversial executive order that indefinitely banned admissions for Syrian refugees, temporarily barred citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries and temporarily suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. A Brooklyn judge ordered an emergency stay after protesters stormed major airports across the U.S. in opposition of the ban.
Watch Budweiser’s 2017 Super Bowl ad above!
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


text:
Whether during the research, production or assembly stage, tech giants expend a lot of resources into making refined products for their billions of customers worldwide.
However, there is increasing concern about the negative impacts of big tech activity to the environment, and Africa is no exception.
Over the weekend, news spread of another environmental disaster when a leaked gas pipeline resulted in an inferno in the gulf of Mexico. This incident has reignited the debate around climate change and the environmental impacts of industrial activity on the biosphere and natural environment.
There is hardly any day that passes by without major headlines about climate issues and the damage being done to the earth by industrial activity. Global warming, plastic contamination in the ocean, oil spillage, are just some of the challenges we face due to the increasing carbon footprint.
Nowadays, traditional industries like oil exploration, mining, factories and shipping are not the only ones that are being blamed for this; there is also raising concern about the activities of certain tech giants.
The carbon footprint of big tech globally
The hyper growth nature of the tech industry means there is always a demand for mineral resources to create and power their products. For example, electric car maker Tesla uses cobalt, a mineral resource that is extremely important to build its lithium-ion batteries.
The electric car industry has become both the largest and potentially fastest growing end user of cobalt. The industry is projected to reach 233.9 million car units by 2027, at a CAGR of 21.7% during the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. The use of lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicle market has become the most important growth driver for cobalt demand and will only increase as the industry grows.
The Congo has the largest cobalt deposits in the world, and news about the unethical practices and exploitative manner in which it is mined has led to calls for sanctions.
One computer, if left on for 24 hours a day will dump an estimated 1,500 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. For context, a tree absorbs between 3-15 pounds of CO2 each year. That means that 100-500 trees would be needed to offset the yearly emissions of one computer left on all the time. Computers are used by billions across and this accumulated number of greenhouse emissions pose a significant risk to the environment.
The smartphones we use everyday manufactured by tech giants like Google and Apple also have a significant carbon footprint. Generally, the carbon footprint of smartphones is broken into two main areas; the manufacturing of the phone and its usage/charging.
Using your phone each day has a bigger impact on the environment than just making it. For instance, there’s a lot of energy needed to run the data centres and infrastructure that let consumers make video calls, post selfies, and stream TV. A one minute mobile-to-mobile call produces 57g of CO2, sending a text message (SMS) produces 0.014g of CO2 and using 1GB of data uses 3 kg of CO2.
People do not tend to realize that the computing device that has become such an important part of our lives is a leading cause of global warming, especially large computer server farms.
E-commerce giant Amazon has one of the largest collection of data centers in the world, and that much computing power comes at the cost of the environment.Recent estimates state that the energy consumption of data centres is set to account for 3.2 percent of the total worldwide carbon emissions by 2025 and they could consume no less than a fifth of global electricity. By 2040, storing digital data is set to create 14 percent of the world’s emissions, around the same proportion as the US does today.
Uber too, has come under increasing scrutiny about its contribution to carbon emissions globally. A recent study by the Union of Concerned Scientists concludes that the ride hailing giant is increasing car travel, climate emissions and traffic congestion, according to a new US study. Ride-hailing trips now result in an estimated 69% more climate pollution, on average, than the trips they displace, it finds.
A solo ride-hailing trip, on average, emits nearly 50% more CO2 than one in a private vehicle, the researchers found. A pooled ride-hailing trip - one which multiple passengers share - emits nearly the same amount as a private car ride. Only 15% of all US ride-hailing trips are shared, according to the report.
Despite ride-hailing vehicles being newer and having greater fuel efficiency than the overall vehicle fleet, the significant time that their drivers spend driving without a passenger means that they increase emissions. For instance, ride-hailing drivers spend 42% of their service time either waiting for or driving towards a ‘pick up’.
As a result, the study found that ride-hailing also emits nearly 70% more than trips that passengers would have otherwise taken by public transport, cycling or walking.
There has also been a lot of scrutiny regarding bitcoin and its carbon footprint, especially bitcoin mining. Bitcoin mining uses about the same amount of energy annually as the Netherlands did in 2019, data from the University of Cambridge and the International Energy Agency shows.
In fact, Bitcoin production is estimated to generate between 22 and 22.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year, or between the levels produced by Jordan and Sri Lanka.
The activities of big tech in Africa
Big tech firms like Tesla, Apple, Dell and Google have come under increasing criticism relating to the environmental crisis around cobalt mining in Africa. Tesla and Apple use cobalt for the lithium-ion batteries that power their cars and devices, and the Congo has the largest lithium deposits in the world.
The soaring demand for cobalt is fulfilled by poor rural workers, including children, who labor in harsh and dangerous conditions. An estimated 100,000 cobalt miners in Congo use hand tools to dig hundreds of feet underground these remote mines, with little oversight and few safety measures, according to workers and government officials.
Deaths and injuries are common. And the mining activity exposes local communities to levels of toxic metals that appear to be linked to ailments that include breathing problems and birth defects, health officials say.
The Enough Project, a Washington-based advocacy organization, released a report in October drawing attention to corruption, transparency issues and human rights abuses in Congo’s cobalt sector. The report highlights child labor and other human rights violations in the Congo mines.
Tech Corporations have long claimed to monitor their supply chains, so as to not allow any “dirty cobalt” be used during the manufacturing and assembly process.
The Washington Post, in a report, traced a cobalt pipeline through the supply chain and showed how cobalt mined in these harsh conditions ends up in popular consumer products like Apple. The report showed how it moved from small-scale Congolese mines to a single Chinese company; Congo DongFang International Mining, that for years has supplied some of the world’s largest battery makers. They, in turn, have produced the batteries found inside products such as Apple’s iPhones.
Apple, in response, acknowledged that this cobalt has made its way into its batteries. The tech giant said that an estimated 20 percent of the cobalt it uses comes from Huayou Cobalt and said the company plans to increase scrutiny of how all its cobalt is obtained. Apple is not the only company facing scrutiny.
Tesla has been coming under heavy fire for its use of cobalt sourced from Congolese mines for its batteries. The electric carmaker recently did little to quell the noise when it signed a new cobalt deal with Glencore, to deliver 6000 tons of cobalt a year. Glencore owns the largest mine for the mineral in the Congo, and it’s exactly where Tesla is going to get the commodity sourced from, to make lithium-ion batteries at its Gigafactories in Berlin and Shanghai.
Big Tech and Stakeholders Respond
One of the studies around the health risks posed to workers in these mines found that residents who live near mines or smelters in southern Congo had urinary concentrations of cobalt that were 43 times as high as that of a control group, lead levels five times as high, and cadmium and uranium levels four times as high. The levels were even higher in children.
Another study, published earlier this year, found elevated levels of metals in the mining region’s fish. Also, a study of soil samples around mine-heavy Lubumbashi concluded the area was “among the ten most polluted areas in the world.”
One study published by doctors in 2012 found preliminary evidence of an increased risk of a baby being born with a visible birth defect if the father worked in Congo’s mining industry.
In light of these developments, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. by the non-profit organization “International Rights Advocates”, on behalf of 13 anonymous plaintiffs from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Apple, Google parent company Alphabet, Microsoft, Dell and Tesla were named as co-defendants.
In the suit, the plaintiff claimed reliefs for “their complicity in the death and maiming of hundreds, if not thousands of African children who mine cobalt”. A Google spokesperson called child labor and endangerment "unacceptable" and said the company's supplier code of conduct "strictly prohibits" it”.
In response to increasing scrutiny, big tech companies have been trying to save face. Apple has announced its commitment to become 100% carbon neutral by 2030. This means that by 2030 all Apple products like phones and computers sold will have a net-zero climate impact.
Tesla has tried to defend its cobalt sourcing in a report on its site, though it did not quell concerns about political instability and the challenges of ethical sourcing in Africa.
Reducing the carbon footprint of data centres is very pivotal to a more sustainable planet. A recent IDC study projects that by 2025, worldwide data traffic will grow by 61 percent to 175 zettabytes, with roughly 75 percent of the population having at least one data interaction every 18 seconds. As global internet penetration rates continue to grow and connected technologies enter the mainstream, it’s clear that the number of data centres worldwide is going to keep on increasing.
With the proliferation of data centres and the need for building more sustainable solutions around data, some data industry experts believe building data centres in cold countries could help reduce emissions. Google tested this theory by opening a data centre in Hamina, Finland in 2009, and also announced it would invest a further €600 million to bring more sustainable data solutions to the world.
Recently, the Congolese government has increased its tax on Cobalt exports by 50% and is considering labeling the metal a strategic resource. This would increase the royalty for Cobalt from 2% to 10%, making it more expensive to use the product for big companies.
Balancing certain stakeholder interests is key to establishing common ground, protecting the livelihood of people and their well-being while ensuring sustainability. A group of NGOs recently cautioned against banning cobalt mining, stating that avoiding cobalt mining, stating that it could have serious consequences for people’s livelihoods.
In response to increasing scrutiny and potential risks to companies’ supply chains, cobalt-mining companies have positioned themselves as able to solve the problems associated with cobalt. Yet, this may prove to be insufficient. A holistic approach to solving this crisis has to involve every stakeholder; government, companies, actors in the supply chain, big tech companies and NGOs to protect the interest of the common man.


text:
Apple's newest iPad, the iPad Pro 9.7 was released over the weekend and the company hopes it will revive its tablet market. Sales of iPads have continued to drop over the past few years and, by some estimates, were expected to plummet almost 40% in 2016.
The new 9.7" iPad Pro features improvements to cameras, microphones, speakers and speed.
The iSight camera, the one you use to take photos and video now shoots photos at 12 megapixels, the best camera of any iPad. It also shoots video in 4k resolution. For creators who shoot video or photos, the iPad Pro is a good choice in that it also has a large enough screen size to do video or photo editing.
The display of the 9.7" iPad Pro is the most advanced display of any Apple device. It has a retina display and screen resolution of 2048x1536, some 256 pixels per inch. Apple also introduced "True Tone" in the newest model which changes the color and intensity on the screen to match the light in the room.
In rooms with warm lighting, the screen adjusts to a warmer picture.
There are now 4 speakers on the iPad to address a common complaint with the devices. Games and videos can now be heard clearly even with other noise in the room. The new iPad Pro has a speedier chip and processor. Apple believes it is fast enough to replace many laptops.
The original size iPad had not been updated since the last iPad Air was released in 2014, making the release of the new iPad Pro 9.7" a good reason for owners of the earliest models to upgrade.


text:
A report into high streets has been welcomed by trade association UKHospitality as it outlines the crucial impact of pubs on the health of our town centres.
The study by the Housing, Communities and Local Government select committee made a number of recommendations, including reforming business rates, which had been suggested by UKHospitality chief Kate Nicholls.
Other suggestions included an online sales tax, a ‘holiday’ for high street retailers from rates increases which result from investments to improvements in property, and a reduction in business rates for retailers in high streets and town centres to balance competition with out of town shopping.
The select committee also pushed for planning changes and for central and local government support to ensure the high street is sustainable in the future and a vibrant place for pubs to thrive.
Nicholls said: “The report gives due recognition to how crucial the sector is to the high street of the future, as they move away from the shopping-focus of the past.
“Policies to drive growth and regenerate high streets must have hospitality at their core and this needs to be recognised by the government and local authorities.”
She also said that it was “the most radical assessment of the state of the rates regime” and a “great starting point” to address the big issue for the hospitality sector.
She said: “Property tax is the chief cause of the decline of the high street and a reduction in the tax burden would be very welcome. Supplementing rates with an online sales tax, something UKHospitality has pushed for, would provide a significant boost and the Government needs to consider this in the design of the Digital Services Tax.”
She also said that a new sales tax or increase in VAT for retail and hospitality would “need to be pitched significantly lower than the current business rates charge to be helpful”.
“Many businesses are also penalised by a rates hike having made a significant financial investment into their property. A tax holiday would be a good way to remove this disincentive to invest, although the 12-month limit is not long enough.” She concluded.


text:
Louisville company offering pop-up classes to connect businesses with people wanting to learn new skills
"Level Up" is a Louisville start up that offers 15 to 20 pop-up classes a month on subjects ranging from cooking to photography to mixology.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville company is connecting creative businesses with people who want to learn new things.
It's called "Level Up" and it's connecting, educating and inspiring people here in the Derby City, while also acting as a marketing tool for small businesses.
On a recent Monday in downtown Louisville, dozens of amateur bakers crowd into "Cooking at Millie's," a demonstration kitchen, anxious to learn the artistry of macarons.
"You learn the basics, we give you a lot of inside tips and tricks as expert pastry bakers," said Nathan Sivitz, co-owner and executive chef of Macaron Bar.
The bakery is new to the Louisville area, so this is a way to connect with the community while building business.
"We have some expert macaron bakers in town and they're now doing some classes here so it is a great way to reach more local folks," said Sivitz.
The creative partnership is brought to life by "Level Up." Natalia Bishop is the founder of the Louisville start up, which offers 15 to 20 pop-up classes a month on subjects ranging from cooking to photography to mixology.
"There's so much talent that we wanted to showcase those makers and those people who are still sort of small time," said Bishop.
Bishop immigrated to Louisville 17 years ago with her family and at times worked three jobs. "It was my entire family. We all immigrated with $400 and a suitcase kind of deal," said Bishop.
She eventually found her way to entrepreneurship founding Chocolate Box Photography and Story Louisville, a co-working space for creatives and small business owners. Then came "Level Up."
"The more we did it, the more we were like 'oh my gosh,' there's so much talent here, so much to share and we decided to make it its own thing," said Bishop.
The side business has now become a full-time gig connecting people with business owners in an intimate atmosphere, which Bishop says can create brand loyalty.
"You go and you have a great time for two hours and you realize how freaking hard it is and you're like 'next time I have a party with 68 people,' I'm going to call Maddie because she's the expert in it," said Bishop.
Students learn a new skill, while the class acts as a marketing tool.
"I think it's really fun to learn from people who have been through it. If they're an expert," said Shannon Kessler, owner of Primp Style Lounge. She's taught several classes on hair and most recently on fall fashion.
"I love a good DIY, but I can't follow a picture. I like to have people interacting and saying 'okay, this is great, but lets try it this way'," said Kessler.
She says this model of a sharing economy is succeeding in the Derby City, because of the supportive community.
"Louisville is a really special market because we really do get behind the local business owner and so being able to share that and connect different people," said Kessler.
That support has helped "Level Up" grow beyond the metro, as it's expanding into Lexington and eventually two more markets in 2018.
For a full list of classes or if you're interested in teaching a pop up class, click here.
Copyright 2017 WDRB News. All rights reserved.


text:
The incoming First Lady wore a pale blue cashmere ensemble.
The candlelight dinner will be held tonight at Union Station.
Market sources say Versace is working on an expansion plan ahead of the listing and that its has recently held discussions with Tisci.
The back-to-school shopping season is right around the corner and with teen spending up, analysts believe the age group will be in the stores well before they hit the books.
Pitted against each other for the past two years in the Federal Court of Australia – and on the front steps of some of the world’s biggest retailers – Australian Wool Innovation and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have reached a…
Frederic Malle has set his sights on Manhattan.
Italy’s Aeffe SpA, which is preparing to go public this summer, has inked a renewal contract for the production and distribution of Jean Paul Gaultier ready-to-wear.


text:
Christmas Bazaar in Rochester offers glance at Russian art
ROCHESTER — Since Marina Forbes came to the United States in 1993, she has continued to share her love of her Russian homeland by opening up the New England Language Center's International Art Gallery for a Russian Christmas Bazaar.
Walk in the door on Saturday and scattered on the table are many traditional Russian items in all shapes and colors including Matryoshka (nested dolls) sets, "Khokhlama" bowls, spoons, candlesticks, hand-painted eggs, Russian holiday greeting cards and carved wooden toys. And with each item, Forbes shared a story about its place in Russian history.
Forbes, who is a Russian artist and educator, said one of the most important things to do when looking at the items was to notice the details.
"Every piece of art deserves at least thirty seconds to see what's there," she said.
Russian art, she said, always has a story to tell. Two such items included a wooden warrior Forbes said was used to protect the home or a drinking vessel in the shape of a swan for six people.
"When you think about it, in order to be czar you had to poison or kill someone," Forbes explained. "They drank out of a vessel to make sure it was not poisoned." Forbes even showcased some her own art at the bazaar including water colors and Russian icons, which take her three years to make and are made from all natural ingredients.
"Some people say it looks like ten or twenty different artists," Forbes said of her art style. "Every art takes a different tradition. I want to show I can do tradition. I want to show I can perfect a tradition, but I also want to show I can have fun with watercolors." Aside from just speaking about the art, Forbes also spoke about how Russians celebrate the Christmas season. One major difference is America's traditional version of Santa Claus versus Russia. In Russia, Forbes said their version is called Grandfather Frost and he is an old man who comes around with his granddaughter Snowflake using public transportation.
"He's described as a Schwarzenegger person," she said. "He is powerful and will protect you." Forbes also explained that Christmas is not a huge celebration in Russia.
"It is very religious and personal," she explained. "We celebrate it on January 7th." The reason for this, Forbes continued, is that the Russian Orthodox Church still uses the Julian calendar, which is two weeks behind the Gregorian calendar adopted by most countries in the world. The holiday highlight of the year for most Russians is actually New Year's, according to Forbes. Some families will event have a New Year's tree and that is also why, Forbes explained, that Russians in the United States will begin to celebrate the New Year earlier. Since Russia is the first country to welcome in the New Year, they continue to celebrate it with their homeland. Forbes hopes that through art and education, more people will become interested in Russia and will one day want to visit.
"It used to be in turmoil, but now it's a wonderful place to be," she said.
But for now, the proceeds from the Christmas Bazaar will go to support Russian artists and artisans and the New England Language Center cultural programs, helping to create a greater awareness for all the different traditions and arts across the world.


text:
CHAGRIN FALLS — Business owner Chris Swanson says he wants village residents to decide if barber shops belong in office buildings and has mounted a petition drive to put the question on the ballot this November.
“I have an attorney who drew up the petition and two people are circulating them now,” he said this week.
Mr. Swanson, a Bainbridge resident, also has a petition in his Mug and Brush barbershop in the Chagrin Falls Shopping Plaza and said he hopes registered village voters will stop in and add their names.
“We need something like 130 signatures, and we’re sure we’ll have them before the filing deadline [Aug. 19].”
He added that he is not using the ballot box to stop a new barbershop from coming into the village, but said it is too early to make sweeping zoning changes to what is a temporary post-pandemic situation.
Mr. Swanson’s action is the latest round in the debate which began earlier this year when the Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance allowing Larry Shibley to lease space in his Bell Street office building to a barbershop.
The village code does not permit retail service businesses such as barbershops to exist in office buildings. The initial philosophy of the zoning rule was that to maintain a vigorous downtown, retail businesses should be discouraged from migrating away from Main Street.
Mr. Shibley argued during hearings that times have changed, and the coronavirus pandemic took its toll on office space. Vacancies had mushroomed, and landlords were feeling the pinch not only in Chagrin Falls but nationwide.
At the time, he told the Zoning Appeals Board that he feared the situation would not resolve itself when the health emergency passed because office employees, forced to work from home, liked the economy and ease of their home offices and were in no rush to return to their cubicles.
The appeals board granted the variance based on information that a retail service business had operated in the space and was therefore a grandfathered use.
That proved not to be the case and the variance was challenged when three Village Council members – Janice Evans, James Newell and Andrew Rockey – used their petitioning power to bring the issue to council for a re-hearing and final decision.
Council overturned that variance. But that was still not the end of the barbers-in-office buildings debate.
The village Planning and Zoning Commission was to review office zoning and, if members saw fit, recommend a zoning change which would provide relief to office building landlords.
On June 28, council voted on those recommendations in an amendment to office zoning which allows 30 percent of gross space in all office building to be used for retail service businesses.
Mr. Shibley said Monday that his office space vacancies are 60 percent and headed north toward 70 percent.
“Times change, the manufacturer’s reps are gone so what are we supposed to do with these buildings?” he asked.
While he has no intention to campaign against a ballot measure opposing the new zoning, Mr. Shibley said he would like voters to take the time to understand what retail service means.
“These are not big clothing stores with a lot of inventory or high foot traffic in and out,” he said.
For example, he has had requests to lease office space from “one-person, by-appointment office-style operations” which could include medical message therapists or weight loss consultants.
“And whose to stay customers coming to town for these services won’t stick around and go shopping or to a restaurant,” Mr. Shibley said.
“Our zoning code is outdated. Every other city allows these kinds of businesses,” he concluded.
But Mr. Swanson disagrees. “The village used to be very conservative about zoning but now that is no longer the case.”
He added that the drive to get the zoning issue before voters is not in reaction to competition from another barbershop.
The Mug and Brush has been a fixture in Chagrin Falls for 60 years, Mr. Swanson pointed out. He has worked there for 20 years and bought the shop 10 years ago.
His barbershop does well because of its longevity, loyal customers and a location in the plaza that provides parking for his customers.
“We are lucky, our business is coming back and I’ve put back some of it away,” he added, referring to savings he was forced to use during the pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 health guidelines which required that he cut his business from a five-chair to two-chair barbershop.
Mr. Swanson also took to the Village Block Club Facebook recently to plead his case.
“An ongoing problem is that many citizens and business owners are simply unaware of what is happening in the Village,” he stated in a post citing the dwindling post-pandemic workforce and the problem businesses have in finding employees.
His conclusion, he noted, is that the village should “focus on the problems retail businesses are having before making big changes to the code.”
He hopes village voters agree.
“If they want to help the existing small businesses catch their breath and see a return of Main Street first [and] believe we should focus on our existing problems and support our existing shops as they struggle to return.”
Former Chagrin Falls Councilman Karl Maersch also chimed in, in response to Mr. Swanson’s post.
“To me, this is actually a good example of one of the weaknesses in village government and that is getting the word out to residents on important pieces of legislation.
“The zoning code is complicated and boring and it takes work to try to convey what is going on, but stuff like this can have a major effect on this town.”