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Google is letting users in Russia make a decision between different search engines. The company has come to a settlement with Russian antitrust officials that will enable users to choose between Google and Russia-based Yandex when setting up their phone.
On top of that, Google will not restrict manufacturers from installing competing applications and search engines, while still allowing access to the Google Play Store. In the past, Android manufacturers needed to pre-install Google’s suite of apps to gain access to the Play Store.
“We are happy to have reached a commercial agreement with Yandex and a settlement with Russia’s competition regulator, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS), resolving the competition case over the distribution of Google apps on Android,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement to Digital Trends.
The dispute between Google and Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service has been a long one. While still trying to fend off European regulators, Google was struck with a $6.8 million fine from Russian antitrust officials. That is chump change for a company that nets about $75 billion in annual revenue, but it’s troubling — especially considering that the company’s appeal has been rejected by a Russian court, according to Reuters.
The fine, issued early in August, came months after Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service found Google guilty of stifling alternative search engines, such as the Russian-born Yandex, and other services in Android smartphones. The Moscow arbitration court upheld that decision in March 2016, dealing a blow to the Mountain View, California-based company’s power-broker status among phone manufacturers in the region.
The court agreed with the findings of the FAS — that Google abused its dominant position in the Russian mobile industry to advertise its own apps and services at the expense of local competition. In its decision last year, the agency said Google’s compulsory bundling policy — one that forces phone manufacturers to sign an agreement with the company to preinstall its services in exchange for access to its Play Store app market — was illegal under Russian anti-monopoly law.
The FAS said Russia’s competition laws affect all products that “are supplied to the Russian Federation” — including those from foreign companies.
“We have received notice of the fine from FAS and will analyze closely before deciding our next steps,” a Google spokesperson previously told Digital Trends. “In the meantime, we continue to talk to all invested parties to help consumers, device manufacturers, and developers thrive on Android in Russia.”
In counterarguments before the FAS last year, Google emphasized that its Android partners are free to opt for alternative apps instead of the company’s own. But regulators concluded that most manufacturers found the Play Store an irresistible carrot because it touts more than 2 million apps and a billion active users worldwide. That has led most to, for example, adopt Google as the default search engine on their handsets despite the popularity of Yandex (more than 80 percent of Russians report using Yandex for most Internet searches).
Android has generated billions in revenue and profit for the company since 2008, largely from advertisements shown on
And the implications of the fine extend far beyond Russia. The European Union’s European Commission began a line of inquiry regarding the company’s Android practices last year, and in April 2016 accused the company of boosting its own services and apps on
In the U.S., Google may still be facing some trouble from the Federal Trade Commission, though the commission’s investigation on Google’s search dominance is still early in the process. The FTC once considered suing the company over similar practices in 2012 but scrapped those plans after officials failed to reach a consensus.
Google has previously told Digital Trends that “anyone can use Android, with or without Google applications. Hardware manufacturers and carriers can decide how to use
Yandex filed the complaint to the FAS in February 2015, kickstarting the investigation that led to the fine.
“We are satisfied with today’s Moscow Arbitration Tribunal decision,” a Yandex spokesperson told Digital Trends. “This decision confirms the FAS findings of the investigation into Google’s anti-competitive practices on Android.”
Article originally published in December 2016. Updated on 04-17-2017 by Christian de Looper: Added news that Google will no longer require manufacturers pre-install its apps in Russia.
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There are numerous options for automating your digital life, but there's one fewer today. Stringify, which was purchased by Comcast in 2017, is closing its virtual doors in June. The company isn't technically shutting down, but it will focus on developing technology as part of Comcast. That means no more consumer automation app or service. Read More
Google just released the first Android Q developer preview earlier this month, and we're still digging around to discover all the new stuff. It's clear even from this first version that Google is taking privacy more seriously, and tightening control of the clipboard is part of that. One notable clipboard manager is already planning to retire features in anticipation of Android Q. On May 1st, 2019, Clipper Sync will go offline according to an email sent to users. Read More
We are months away from the inevitable termination of Inbox, but the development team seems to be getting ready for that day well in advance. The latest update brings with it some of the preparations for making the switch back to Gmail. This includes removing the setting for blocking Gmail notifications, plus a couple of the messages that will be shown to users to direct them toward the right Google apps. Read More
Nary a month after raising its prices, Newton Mail has decided to shut down for good. The drop-dead date is September 25, and all new sign-ups will be blocked. Read More
Capcom announced in a blog post yesterday that it's winding down support for its free-to-play puzzle game, Puzzle Fighter. In-app purchases will be available until April 23, and the game will be removed from app stores on July 1. The game's servers will shut down on July 31, making it unplayable. Read More
After a decade of operation, Flixster Video is calling it quits today. The company has been warning registered users via email in recent months, so this won't come as a surprise. You can't stream your digital movies at all anymore, and the website is no longer operational. If you haven't saved your movie library to another platform, you may still have a shot. Read More
Anyone who grew up on the internet prior to the smartphone era has probably spent a lot of time on AOL Instant Messenger, or AIM in the common vernacular. AIM made sense in that world, but not anymore. True to its previous announcement, AIM has gone offline today. Read More
Oppostyle.com used to be one of the sites you could go to if you wanted to buy an Oppo phone. It had localizations for Europe, North America, and the International market, and it was recognized by Oppo community employees as the company's official distributor. However, the site is now closed and the last instance we can find of it online was back on February 11. At the time, it was showing a flash sale for the Find 7, Find 7a, R7, R7s, and R7 Plus.
We can't tell for sure when the shutdown happened between February 11 and today, but it is definitely now showing the sign posted in the image above. Read More
Android 7.1.2 was officially released today, and the rollout has started for Nexus and Pixel devices (unless you have a Nexus 6 or 9). Besides the minor new features, the release also fixes several long-known problems. Read More
Ever since March of last year, Google has been testing a new payment method called Hands Free. The premise was that you could pay for goods with your smartphone without ever having to remove it from your pocket. The pilot was limited to the Bay Area and to only a few businesses. But now, the experiment has hit its end of life for the time being.
As of February 8, Hands Free will shut down. Read More

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March 3rd, 2014 by Associate
While we are still unsure who is responsible for the execution of one of the largest credit-card thefts that took place this past November against Target Corp., light was finally shed on the financial impact of the data breach on Wednesday, February 25th. The earnings report for the quarter ended February 1st, 2014 revealed a drop in profits to $520 million from $961 million for the same quarter in the prior year. Sales fell 3.8%, and the number of transactions dropped 5.5% – the largest quarterly decline since Target began reporting this statistic in 2008. Based on these financial results, it appears shoppers stayed away from the retail giant during this holiday season, afraid they too might become subject to the fraud. Interestingly, after Wednesday’s announcement, Target stock rose roughly 7% on the New York Stock Exchange, closing at $60.49 per share. Apparently investors felt relieved to hear the data breach damages were not as bad as originally assumed.
The data breach compromised an estimated 40 million credit and debit card accounts, as well as personal data from almost 70 million individuals. As a frequent Target shopper myself, I quickly de-activated my credit cards in exchange for a new set of plastic. Target is currently facing 80+ lawsuits from this cyber-attack, including suits filed by individuals affected, credit card issuers, and federal and state investigators. Target CEO, Gregg Steinhafel, claims that costs related to the data breach can be absorbed by cutting stock buybacks and initiating aggressive discounts to persuade consumers to lose the fear and start spending. In Target’s fourth quarter alone, $61 million of “damage control” expenses were incurred and will continue to adversely affect earnings in the future, as analysts estimate such costs to reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
This isn’t even the only challenge Target faces right now. Losses loom over the retailer from the recent international push into Canada, to the tune of a $941 million loss this past year. Despite these challenges, Target and investors continue to remain positive, claiming Canada sales are expected to double in the next year. Looks like Target isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. For a full Target Corp. earnings release break-down, check out this article: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/target-earnings-drop-185010986.html;_ylt=AwrBEiKFbBNTxmUAyhCTmYlQ.


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The stuck accelerators are being investigated for their possible role in one fatal accident, 13 nonfatal crashes or fires and eight injury accidents, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Ford and Mazda said 591,245 vehicles were potentially affected, according to the automakers' reports to the NHTSA in 2004. More than half the vehicles were 2001-2004 model year Ford Escapes. The remaining vehicles were 2001-2004 Mazda Tributes.
The NHTSA now has identified 730,000 vehicles potentially affected, expanding the scope of vehicles in question. All 730,000 are 2001-2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute SUVs with V6 engines, according to the NHTSA.
Mazda and Ford issued recalls in 2004 on models of the sport utility vehicles that had 3.0 liter six cylinder engines. Several of the reports to the NHTSA involve vehicles not covered by previous recalls, the agency said in a letter to Ford's Environmental and Safety Compliance Global Director on Thursday.
One complaint is based on a fatal crash that occurred in January 2012, the NHTSA said. Some of the complaints allege that failures may have been related to repairs made in response to safety recalls initiated in 2004, the investigation summary said.
The 2004 Ford and Mazda recalls were for the vehicle speed control cables in their affected vehicles. Letters were also sent to dealers and customers, according to filings on the NHTSA website.
"On your vehicle, it is possible that the accelerator cable may prevent the throttle from returning to the idle position, possibly resulting in elevated engine speeds while driving," Ford's letter to customers read. "An unexpected increase in engine idle speed may increase stopping distance and may result in a vehicle crash without warning."
The Center for Auto Safety petitioned the NHTSA to open a similar investigation on July 8. The petition was denied Thursday because part of the request is being covered by the agency's newly opened investigation.
The NHTSA has opened the investigation to assess "the scope, frequency and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect," the agency said.
Neither Ford nor Mazda responded to CNN's requests for comment.


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Opinion | Facebook’s Tone-Deaf Attack on Apple
If there’s something that Facebook has realized from its a few years of cozying as much as the Trump administration, it’s determining that shamelessness works.
That is the one clarification I can give you after seeing the social networking big’s righteous advert marketing campaign this week towards Apple.
Casting itself because the protector of small companies in full-page advertisements in — irony alert — massive newspapers, Facebook is criticizing Apple for planning to present customers of its in style gadgets just like the iPhone extra management over the information they share with third-party apps.
Starting subsequent yr, Apple will ask cellular customers to “choose in” to simply accept third-party monitoring of their digital exercise (proper now, the system defaults to monitoring and requires customers to “choose out” in the event that they don’t need to be adopted). Facebook depends on monitoring to focus on advertisements at prospects.
Facebook declared within the newspaper advertisements that it was “standing as much as Apple” and warned that such a change would be the destroy of small companies.
More just like the destroy of Facebook. The firm is terrified that giving customers single-click energy to regulate their very own info will power individuals to appreciate simply how loud is the data-sucking sound coming from Facebook’s app.
Let’s be clear: Apple is not any saint. While trying and performing like a defender of person privateness has lengthy been a core tenet of the corporate, its backside line doesn’t rely on promoting, and ridding the world of intrusive advertising by kneecapping Facebook is nice for its enterprise.
In reality, Apple has its personal sins to reply for. Many individuals declare it has an excessive amount of management over the third-party builders which might be depending on Apple’s cellular app ecosystem, a difficulty that has gained quite a lot of regulatory and authorized consideration of late. Apple takes a 30 % minimize of most of the transactions that happen within the App Store, and plenty of corporations say that payment is unreasonably excessive; some say it’s predatory.
The regulatory and authorized questions round Apple’s practices are behind Facebook’s technique that the enemy of my enemy is my pal. In its assault advertisements on Apple, Facebook added that it will assist antitrust regulators and others — just like the Fortnite mother or father firm Epic Games — on the App Store challenge.
The struggle is deliciously entertaining, however it isn’t the primary time the businesses have clashed. Apple’s chief govt, Tim Cook, can barely suppress a sneer when he talks in regards to the management of Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief govt. Facebook executives have lengthy derided what they think about Apple administration’s highhanded and sanctimonious tone.
“He’s a prig,” a prime Facebook govt mentioned to me about Mr. Cook a number of years in the past. This adopted an interview I did with Mr. Cook wherein he dissed Mr. Zuckerberg.
“He’s a menace,” an Apple govt mentioned to me about Mr. Zuckerberg after the Facebook chief govt tried to take goal at Apple for being elitist and too dear at a congressional listening to.
Whatever, boys. But the cracks we’re seeing this week are essentially the most vital — and will spell hassle for each corporations. Apple, stating Facebook’s information gluttony, and Facebook, in flip, noting Apple’s hegemony over cellular, make one factor clear: These tech corporations have an excessive amount of energy. And irrespective of the way you slice it, they’re all in dire want of presidency regulation.
At least Apple can learn the room. It’s starting to vary the foundations of the App Store and loosen its grip over builders. I might not be stunned if Apple discovered a method to make extra concessions, hoping to fend off extra harmful antitrust motion, by subjecting the App Store to some type of scheme to degree the taking part in subject round charges and extra.
Facebook, then again, is aware of just one transfer: Exert energy by means of cash and affect, a method that’s undergirded by Mr. Zuckerberg’s exceptional streak of stubbornness within the face of persistent criticism. It appears unattainable for him or the staff round him to replicate on why so many individuals have come to dread the corporate’s management.
Facebook is the grasp of the gradual roll, dragging its ft to take corrective motion when it makes errors. It delayed for years earlier than lastly tackling disinformation on its platform. The firm continued untoward cozying as much as the Trump administration. I’m nearly by no means stunned to see Facebook take the arduous line when taking a softer one may do.
This method probably has quite a bit to do with Mr. Zuckerberg’s huge success at a really younger age and the boldness that got here with pushing forward when others doubted him. It doesn’t take a psychologist to grasp that he believes may makes proper.
And mighty he’s. Mr. Zuckerberg has constructed fairly an empire, which guidelines nice stretches of our digital lives — and it appears impregnable. Except, in fact, when the world’s strongest maker of cellular gadgets decides so as to add a pop-up to its repertoire, which may change the equation for Facebook immediately.
Several years in the past, Mr. Zuckerberg noticed such a menace and tried his hardest to introduce his personal cellular software program interface in 2013, referred to as Facebook Home. It was a flop, one of many few in his profession, which could now have larger reverberations irrespective of what number of indignant newspaper advertisements Facebook buys.
This brings to thoughts a well-known quote from a unique chief laid low, which could now be utilized to Mr. Zuckerberg: His kingdom for a cellphone.
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Facebook’s 2.1 billion monthly active users likely had some notion the information they share on the network is mined for ad targeting. However, news of Cambridge Analytica accessing data from the accounts of not just those who downloaded a personality prediction app, but also “friends who had their privacy settings set to allow it,” likely has many of those users pondering data and privacy in the digital era like never before.
This breach is far from new, though. Marketers have long had access to far more digital data about consumers than most realize, which powers sometimes unnervingly accurate predictive analytics.
In 2003—a year before Facebook was founded—Target used shopping behavior to determine a Minnesota teenager was pregnant before her father did. This infamous example of predictive analytics is just one of the unintended consequences of tapping into data about behaviors, locations and transactions to pinpoint patterns around what consumers are likely to do.
In the time it took that Minnesota teenager to raise her own teen, the amount of data brands like Facebook have at their fingertips has only grown exponentially, and they’re investing more on predictive analytics and machine-learning software to boot: Forrester Research said spending will increase from $3.5 billion in 2016 to approximately $6.2 billion by 2020.
“I like to say, ‘I once believed in fate and then I understood predictive analytics,’” said tech ethicist David Polgar. “Every ad is tailored to everything you’ve done and trying to predict what you want to purchase.”
Brand use runs the gamut from Netflix recommending content based on viewing behavior to insurance companies offering discounts by tracking driving behavior, although a 2016 Wall Street Journal report found only 25 percent of new Progressive customers were opting in because some drivers found it creepy.
Creepy is a word that comes up a lot in predictive analytics.
“I think brands sometimes are two years ahead of the average consumer, who doesn’t necessarily understand all of the predictive analytics and biometrics and how they are gleaned for advertising,” Polgar said.
Consumers must decide whether targeted messaging is worth the loss of privacy or if they will start to care about what exactly is being tracked and how it’s being used.
Michael Horn, managing director of data science at digital marketing agency Huge, said there’s nothing inherently illegal in the U.S. about using data from quizzes for predictions and targeting, but the Cambridge Analytica example forces us to think about permission and ethical use.
And the addition of voice-enabled devices complicates these issues even further.
Terms of service agreements from Amazon and Google are clear their devices are not always listening and users can delete recordings at any time. Nevertheless, last October, reports emerged that a hardware flaw caused some Google Home Mini units to constantly record (which Google later fixed). And, more recently, Alexa began laughing of her own volition. (Amazon, too, rolled out a fix.)
Like Target, even if Amazon, Google and others aren’t intentionally spying on consumers, when shoppers see ads online related to topics they’ve discussed, it sometimes feels like an invasion of privacy because those platforms are in all likelihood using data consumers do not realize they’ve provided.
“Even if we’ve opted to have these devices in our home, we may not feel like we’ve opted into it being an always-on device,” said Pete Meyers, marketing scientist at marketing software company Moz. “It’s a different kind of exchange than when we enter data into a form online or give permission for an app to connect with one of our accounts.”
And that’s true even if each individual data point is not objectionable in and of itself.
“You start seeing things that are creepy—and the reality is it’s just coming from a massive amount of data,” Meyers said.
Polgar said Facebook pushback could result in new conversations about the misalignment between business and human interests and garner more support for an analysis of the ad-based model of social media, as well as greater awareness about how consumer data is being used overall.
Meyers, on the other hand, is skeptical consumer behavior will drastically change.
“We want what Facebook has to offer and there’s no viable competitor,” he said. “We’ve shown our willingness to trade privacy for convenience time and time again.”
Noting consumer data literacy is a vital issue, Horn said while one incident will increase awareness, it will not fundamentally shift the landscape.
“People still want free content and free social media, which means ad-supported platforms,” he added. “What will shift the balance of power and ethical practices is marketers stepping up and demanding greater transparency and respect for users’ privacy and data security from their vendors and partners.”
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June 22, 2006 |
BANGALORE: Lenovo on Thursday unveiled its first ultraportable widescreen notebook PC 'Lenovo 3000 V100' designed for "on-the-go small business customers seeking powerful performance in a modern design. " Weighing 1.8 kgs and sporting a 12.1-inch widescreen display, the V100 offers professionals "on a limited budget powerful dual-core performance, easy and reliable connectivity, widescreen efficiencies and new multimedia features," the company said in a statement.
January 8, 2016 |
NEW DELHI: Motorola, which introduced cellphones to people the world over in the early 2000s, is set to ride into the sunset, even as its new Chinese parent plans to keep the 'Moto' brand alive. Motorola chief operating officer Rick Osterloh said on the sidelines of the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show that Motorola will be phased out. "We'll slowly phase out Motorola and focus on Moto," he is quoted in several reports emerging from the largest consumer...
June 28, 2009 |
Lenovo put nearly a year of research into two design changes that debuted on an updated ThinkPad laptop this week. No, not the thinner, lighter form or the textured touchpad — rather, the extra-large "Delete" and "Escape" keys. It may seem like a small change, but David Hill, vice president of corporate identity and design at Lenovo, points out, "Any time you start messing around with the keyboard, people get nervous. " Computers get smaller and faster every...
June 14, 2005 |
NEW DELHI: After acquiring IBM's PC division, Chinese computing major Lenovo, plans to foray into different price points and usage segments untouched by IBM till now. Besides bridging gaps in IBM's offerings, world's third largest computer maker is also mulling bringing Chinese consumer electronics products like digicams to India. India is emerging as the top three strategic markets as Chinese major consolidates IBM's PC business. Known to be a price warrier in China, Lenovo promises...
March 6, 2007 |
BANGALORE: Having created a high level of brand awareness using the medium of game shows, celebrities and movies, Lenovo in India is looking at keeping this momentum through the world of sports. The No 3 PC-maker globally is one of the key sponsors of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games and the Formula 1 championships. This would not mean mere display of the logos of Lenovo at these events but also showcasing its technology in these very demanding sporting events. ...


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Earlier this month, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway made headlines for increasing its holdings in AAPL yet again, this time at the cost of IBM. In an interview with CNBC this morning, Buffett gave some reasoning for his firm’s strong belief in Apple, and confirmed that, yes, he still does use a flip phone…
Warren Buffet Stories February 26, 2018
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Warren Buffet Stories May 5, 2017
Warren Buffett isn’t shaken by Apple’s iPhone numbers from last quarter. Despite a slight dip in sales year-over-year, the billionaire investor says he believes $AAPL is priced appropriately to buy now and there are ‘a lot of people waiting’ to buy the next iPhone. Buffett’s company added 40 million AAPL shares recently and has more than a $7 billion stake in the company.


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As marketers, one of our biggest challenges is getting in front of our desired target audiences. People are inundated with an overload of information on a regular basis and providing relevant content is critical to capturing their attention. This edition of Weekly Reads covers what key players across the digital landscape are recommending for ways to get in front of and engage with your target audiences.
We Are Social Media: LinkedIn Introduces Lookalike Audiences, Interest Targeting, and Audience Templates
LinkedIn is introducing three new ways to help advertisers reach the right audiences on its platform: lookalike audiences, audience templates, and interest targeting with Microsoft Bing search data. Audience templates are aimed at helping advertisers who are new to LinkedIn ads reach new audiences through predefined B2B audiences to help them get started faster. Lookalike audiences can help you reach high-converting audiences by discovering others that are similar to those who have already shown interest in your business.LinkedIn has also expanded interest targeting it released in January to include a combination of interests and professional topics.
Search Engine Land: Bing Ads Launches New Action Extensions to Highlight Calls-To-Action
Bing Ads launched a brand-new ad extension this Wednesday. This new extension allows you to prominently display one of 70 predefined calls-to-action. You can associate action extensions at the account, campaign or ad group level, with the lowest level taking precedence. You’re limited to 20 action extensions per level. This type of extension is only available within Bing and is not an extension that Google offers currently. This extension has the potential to increase conversions from targeted audiences.
TechCrunch: Amazon Alexa Launches Its First HIPAA-Compliant Medical Skills
Alexa is moving into healthcare by adding HIPAA-compliant medical skills. These skills allow consumers to ask the virtual assistant for help with things like booking an appointment, accessing hospital post-discharge instructions, checking on the status of a prescription delivery, and more. This is a significant step for Amazon, as it means voice app developers who follow HIPAA guidelines can now create skills for Alexa.
The Verge: Google Begins Shutting Down Its Failed Google+ Social Network
Google has officially begun the process of shutting down and deleting all consumer accounts on its Google+ social network platform. Google+ is being shut down because it failed to meet the company’s expectations for user growth and mainstream pickup, and it poses a security threat to the company. There were two significant data leaks that could have exposed the information for tens of millions of Google+ users.
On the Blog
Top Skills You’ll Need to Work in Marketing Communications
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Colorado Department of Human Services | Foster Parent Digital Recruitment Campaign
The Colorado Department of Human Services partnered with our team to address the state’s need for 300 new foster care families. Specifically, they asked for our help addressing that need using existing video content and the infrastructure of their existing CO4Kids.org website.


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When Sonia Cheng became CEO of the Rosewood Hotel Group, in 2011, at the age of 29, she moved into a role that now involves managing 55 properties across multiple hotel brands in 18 countries and supervising some 10,000 employees. Yet for Cheng, the granddaughter of Hong Kong billionaire Cheng Yu-tung, whose New World Group conglomerate bought Rosewood for $230 million, the most overwhelming task was overseeing the development of one hotel in particular: Rosewood Beijing. “The launch was critical,” she says. “It was the first Rosewood hotel in China. It was like a shop window for the brand for a huge new market.”
The project, which took five years and $120 million to develop, opened in October 2014 in the city’s Central Business District and quickly became the most talked-about hotel in Beijing. The decor in the 283 rooms and suites is muted brown and cream, with touches such as original cloisonné paintings, fine-art prints, and illustrated books about China’s cultural treasures. With Beijing being the art capital of China, works by Chinese artists play a big role throughout the property—from a three-story modern landscape painting in the lobby to energetic Pop Art in the fitness center. The six restaurants have received rave reviews, with the informal restaurant, Country Kitchen, even being described as pretty much on point at every turn. And nowhere in the city is there anything like the Sense spa’s nearly 9,000-square-foot pool, where light from the glass roof floods down onto a tranquil indoor garden.
Before joining the family business, Cheng graduated from Harvard University and worked in finance, at Morgan Stanley and Warburg Pincus, and in real estate. “I know I am not the most seasoned hotelier,” says Cheng of her CEO appointment. “It was a steep learning curve for me, and I certainly did a crash course in the beginning to get myself up to speed on everything—from operations, sales and marketing, human resources, and more.”
Under Cheng’s watch, the Rosewood brand plans to grow fast, aiming to add 32 properties by 2020, to more than double its current 18. Other hotels in Cheng’s management portfolio include New World Hotels & Resorts, which has ten properties in Asia, and pentahotels, with 27 hotels globally.
Cheng is married to Paulo Pong, who runs a wine-importing business and cofounded a number of Hong Kong restaurants. The couple has a two-year-old daughter and a 17-month-old son. What keeps Cheng grounded is following her grandfather’s lead. “He is very humble and down-to-earth,” she says. “Perhaps the most important lesson I’ve learned is that no matter how successful you may become, do not fall victim to ego and pride, and it’s always through humility that you really open your eyes to how the world is changing.”


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Gold extends win streak, dollar pulls back ahead of US releases
Australian dollar pops on rumors China might lift its coal ban
Stocks edge lower, losses in Apple and Tesla spearhead retreat
Gold storms higher
Global markets got off to a nervous start this year. Investors have been loading up on defensive assets such as gold and bonds, while reducing their exposure to riskier plays like tech stocks and crude oil, positioning for what could be a rocky year for the world economy.
Gold has been on a roll, hitting new six-month highs in early trading Wednesday with a little help from the sharp decline in yields, a softer US dollar, and some seasonal factors as the months around the turn of the year tend to be favorable for demand.
A macroeconomic landscape characterized by heightened recession risks and central banks concluding their tightening cycles bodes well for gold this year, with the next major barrier to watch on the upside being the $1,875 region.
Dollar takes step back, aussie pops
The sense of caution spilled over into the FX complex as well. The yen has been a star performer so far, drawing strength from the drop in global yields and mounting speculation that the Bank of Japan might roll out its first rate increase to exit negative rates by April.
Meanwhile, the US dollar has been more volatile, edging lower today after a solid start to the year. Traders seem to be on the fence, waiting for some clarity from upcoming events before drawing any conclusions on the reserve currency. The ISM manufacturing survey will be released today, ahead of the minutes of the latest FOMC meeting.
Both are top-tier releases that can send ripples through a liquidity-starved market. The manufacturing index is expected to fall deeper into contractionary waters, while the minutes will be scrutinized for any discussions on the Fed’s terminal rate, which policymakers saw above 5% at this meeting but market pricing refused to endorse as much.
Elsewhere, the aussie popped higher today on reports that China is considering plans to resume imports of Australian coal, which Beijing banned in 2020 after Canberra supported an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. Coal is among Australia’s top exports and China accounts for half of global consumption, so any easing of restrictions would spell greater demand for the Australian dollar.
Tesla and Apple drag Wall Street down
In the equity realm, Wall Street edged lower on the first trading day of the year, suffering collateral damage from a sharp selloff in Apple and Tesla shares. Apple lost 3.7% on reports that it instructed its suppliers to build fewer components for its products amid faltering demand, while Tesla fell a whopping 12% after missing estimates for quarterly car deliveries.
European markets didn’t get the memo, though. In a surprising twist, equities across Europe shot higher, capitalizing on a deceleration in German and French inflation that might allow the European Central Bank some room to slow the pace of its rate increases. The German DAX is currently less than 12% away from record highs, with the persistent decline in energy prices feeding hopes that any economic downturn might be relatively mild after all.
One of the main differences between American and European equities is the valuation gap, with US markets commanding a large premium over Europe. This gap boils down to the weaker growth trends in Europe over the last decade, as well as the absence of any tech juggernauts. Still, the fact that European markets are trading much closer to ‘fair value’ means that any downside might be more limited in case of a global selloff.


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Execs on the move at Tyson, Sargento
Interim President & CEO Leland Tollett named 18-year company veteran Archie Schaffer as executive vice president, corporate affairs. Tyson also named Sara Lilygren as senior vice president of external relations; Chuck Penry as vice president of federal governmental relations; Todd Menotti as senior director of federal governmental relations; and Nora Venegas as director of federal governmental relations.
Cheese and snack products processor Sargento Foods Inc., Plymouth, Wis., announced several personnel moves within the company's consumer products division.
Jim Besiada was promoted to national customer business manager and will manage Sargento's military business. Steven Harrison joined Sargento as national account sales manager (Kroger). Rob Krause joined Sargento as marketing manager, core business. Nicole Pauly joined Sargento as associate marketing manager-refrigerated and non-refrigerated snacks.


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"GREEN IS more than the blue bins on the curb," reads one poster, shilling for a new Web site called Letsgreenthiscity.com, on which you can get and share information on how to make your life more environmentally conscious. And it's all brought to you by PG&E.
It might look as if the company were tired of single-handedly making up S.F.'s Axis of Evil. Perhaps it felt the need for a bit of greenwashing?
No, no, no, insists company spokeswoman Darlene Shiu: "This is not about PG&E, but about the city itself. We want to help the city be as green as it can possibly be." The company is simply starting with its hometown, Shiu says, but will eventually expand the campaign to other California towns. If, along the way, people learn a little something about the company's good works, well, that will be fine.
To be fair, PG&E has made some progress (albeit with much prodding). In May, its smoke-belching Hunters Point power plant finally closed. The company endorsed the state's Global Warming Solutions Act, which passed in June. And last week it won approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to offer its customers the option of becoming "carbon neutral" by paying a couple of dollars extra on their utility bills; the company claims that money will be invested in projects that reduce the carbon load in the atmosphere.
Yet despite PG&E's efforts, the local environmental community doesn't seem to want to play. The Web site's list of partner organizations consists mostly of businesses (both local and out of state) peddling green wares, with only a few of the city's notable enviro organizations included. The executive director of Friends of the Urban Forest says it's on board because it got a no-strings-attached $5,000 grant from the company; other groups, like Livable City and the Sierra Club's local chapter, haven't been asked to participate, and don't plan to. The blogs are scanty and the forums are echo chambers. Invited by PG&E to build a community, most greenies are politely ignoring the call.
So if PG&E really wants to "help the city be as green as it can possibly be," here's a message it might take to heart: GREEN IS more than an expensive ad campaign.


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In August 2020, Flipkart announced its startup accelerator programme Flipkart Leap with the aim of giving back to the ecosystem.
And just a few months later, in January 2021, it shortlisted eight startups from over 900 applications it had received. The selected startups — ANS Commerce, Entropik Tech, Fashinza, Gully Network, Piggy, Tagbox Solutions, Unbox Robotics, and Fasal — graduated earlier this month after a 16-week mentorship programme. They were also recipients of a $25,000 equity-free grant.
“From day one, we were committed to give the chosen startups anything possible to accelerate their journey,” says Jeyandran Venugopal, Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO) at Flipkart in a conversation with YourStory.
The Demo Day, held on July 8, had these startups showcase their solutions to 900+ attendees from across the globe, including investors and industry leaders from 70+ organisations, and varied talent from 280+businesses — making it one of the most successful Demo Days in the country in recent times. It is no surprise that the chosen startups represented areas strategic to the ecommerce giant — fintech, agritech, retail tech and AI.
With over 350 million registered users, and lakhs of sellers on its platform, the ecommerce marketplace is an ecosystem of its own. However, with the accelerator programme, it has a larger vision. As Jeyandran says,
“Our goal is very clear — we want to strongly participate in the narrative of Digital India and Make in India. We want to be the ecosystem enabler uplifting the larger narrative of Digital India, not necessarily related to themes of digital commerce.”
And, the criteria for selection also demanded a focus on digital startups that were using technology as a key lever to create disruptive transformation in their segments.
Besides mentoring, the accelerator programme focussed on product ideation, product market fit, and bringing in subject matter experts across business and technology domains, and more.
Naren Ravula, VP, Product Strategy and Deployment – Flipkart, says, “The strong point of our programme was mapping the right mentors to the right startups. Besides, we give them access to Flipkart’s ecosystem of employees, customers, and sellers.”
This partnership between the startups and Flipkart saw many of them jointly undertaking certain pilot projects or some proof of concepts (PoCs).
Take Unbox Robotics for instance. The startup, which had developed an AI-powered parcel sorting robotic system, was supported in its effort to build a robotic solution suited to a vertical structure.
Tagbox, a supply-chain startup, with its expertise in Internet of Things (IoT), helped Flipkart in further improving its supply chain dynamic in certain segments, and brought in thousands of dollars in savings.
Many more examples of collaboration emerged from the accelerator programme, where solutions were created not just for Flipkart but also for the larger ecosystem. While some of the pilot projects had certain commercial applicability, some others were rolled out to test how well its product or solution would perform in real market conditions.
According to Jeyandran though, “The primary goal was always mentoring and acceleration of these startups.”
Insights to gain
Flipkart is often known as the poster child of Indian startups. And the cohort of startups under its Leap programme stands to gain tremendously from the wealth of experience it has accumulated over the years.
Naren says, “It (the programme) got off to a good start, and now we are looking at how to scale.”
Thanks to its scale of operations, the ecommerce marketplace has a vast repository of knowledge on consumer behaviour and these insights proved invaluable to the selected startups.
Shailendra Tiwari, Founder, Fasal says, “We landed up with Flipkart Leap when we were struggling with our hiring and other aspects. We have been able to make a lot of strides in that area through the programme. We had access to mentors who helped us understand our business and how we can navigate it better.”
Similarly, Ajay Nain, Founder, Gully Network, says “Master sessions on scaling, storytelling and product-market fit were really helpful. Validation of the business model is the key takeaway for us from the Flipkart Leap programme. We also got to explore B2B synergies with the Flipkart Group, which will be beneficial for our business growth.”
According to Naren, the programme aligned the right internal mentors to the startups even as it worked with external evaluators to shortlist the startups.
“The quality of our mentorship made a difference especially since the COVID-19 pandemic had brought in a lot of uncertainty. Having the right mentors to navigate through the crisis was very impactful,” he remarks.
Even though the programme was only just being introduced, the interest and attention Flipkart Leap garnered was really high. And fascinatingly, the startups were not the only ones gaining from the programme. Through this entire engagement, Flipkart was also able to rally together all its stakeholders — both internal and external.
Some of the graduating startups are now in preliminary talks with potential investors following the programme.
Being the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, India has no dearth of accelerator programmes, but Flipkart wanted to create a differentiation.
“The outcome of the programme has given us a lot of confidence that we have got the fundamentals right, and the structure we have instilled largely works. This encourages us to scale up further,” says Jeyandran.
“We entered the programme with the idea to enrich the overall digital ecosystem, which is where we have built a community,” he adds.
He emphasises that there was no pressure, either from the startups or the company, to look at any immediate outcome from the partnership.
“The programme design is very aligned to the need of the startup, and any tangible benefit is good but that is not the core metric for us,” he adds.
Both Jeyandran and Naren vouch that the entire journey has been extremely fulfilling for the company as a whole, and there was value flow both ways.
Naren says, “We wanted to champion innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, and this was one opportunity for us to give back to the community.”
Flipkart is now getting ready for its second cohort, and the learnings from the first edition is only going to make it better.
“Our aspiration and ambition for the second cohort is only going to be bigger,” remarks Jeyandran.
Technology and digital transformation have been the key themes throughout 2020 and 2021. Tech innovation and nurturing disruptive ideas is expected to be leading factors in the new normal. And this is where Flipkart Leap expects to utilise its reach — to nurture and boost the ideas that have the potential to be a game changer in the retail and technology space.
Edited by Anju Narayanan


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NIS Planning New PSP, PS3 Games
02.20.08 - 2:22 AM
In a lengthy interview with PlayStation World, Nippon Ichi Software's Souhei Niikawa talked about Disgaea 3 and his company's plan for the future. The 34-year old native of Osaka, who serves as head of the company's development division, has overseen the development of Disgaea 3 in his role as the game's producer. Since Disgaea 3 was the company's first PlayStation 3 project, it took developers some time to get used to the new hardware. According to Niikawa, seven months were spent doing basic research. Afterwards, development of the actual game took less than a year, though. Nippon Ichi Software wanted to release its first PlayStation 3 title about a year after the system's launch to get used to the new development environment. Niikawa acknowledged that PlayStation 2-based development would have been smoother, but emphasized the importance of getting used to the new high-spec hardware early on.
Currently, Nippon Ichi Software was working on various adventure titles. The company apparently is also thinking about expanding into genres other than RPGs and adventure games. Last but not least, Niikawa asked fans to look forward to the announcement of various new titles for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable in the future.
Disgaea 3 has been available in Japan since January 31st. During the first two weeks since its release, it has sold about 70,000 copies.


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Bouncer is a new Google product the company describes as an “automated scanner” designed to automatically check all content uploaded to the Android Market for malicious code, like spyware, trojans and all the other DANGER WORDS associated with recent high-profile Android malware headlines.
There are no additional steps involved for users of apps or the app developers, with Google’s Bouncer simply going about it business, checking apps all by itself as soon as they hit the Market. Here’s a little idea of how it works:
…once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags. We actually run every application on Google’s cloud infrastructure and simulate how it will run on an Android device to look for hidden, malicious behavior. We also analyze new developer accounts to help prevent malicious and repeat-offending developers from coming back.
Reassured now? Sleep better tonight? Read the full explanation of how the Bouncer security bot is making the world a safer place, one app at a time, over on the Google Mobile blog.


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Patel, who earlier ran Ahmedabad-based Paras Pharma, along with his two brothers Girish and Devendra, built brands like Krack (for cracked heels), Moov, Livon hair smoothener, Dermicool and Itchguard. Paras’ brands were category creators – they identified consumer needs that weren’t addressed, and offered unique solutions. The company sold out to consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser for $726 million in December 2010. Patel had exited earlier, though, selling his one-third stake to Actis for $43 million in 2006.
Patel is adopting a similar approach with Vini Cosmetics, which has launched brands like White Tone face powder, Glam-Up “instant glow cream”, Seven X itch-relief cream, Jinjola prickly heat powder, and deodorants 18+ and Fogg, says Patel, “I will continue to create niche categories through sheer observation.
While he may work in a setting that looks more like a chemistry laboratory than a corporate office, this time around, Patel is open to acquisitions as well. “From the money I got through Sequoia’s investment, Vini should expect inorganic growth,” he told ET.
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updated 11:17 am EDT, Tue September 11, 2012
7inch iPad mini expected soon
A Chinese site, DGtle, has posted photos depicting a mockup version of the iPad mini, notes Nowhereelse.fr. The model may have been built from leaked specifications for a third-party accessory maker hoping to test cases. If based on legitimate data, the mockup could be the first glimpse of a complete iPad mini will look like.
As in some earlier leaked part images the mockup uses more steeply rounded edges than the third-generation iPad, plus dual speaker grills and a smaller dock connector at the base. It also has a thinner bezel on two sides, but is otherwise virtually identical to current iPads in terms of design.
When Apple might launch the real hardware is still a matter of debate, although recent rumors have largely discounted the possibility of it showing up at the company's September 12th press event. Instead the company is thought to be preparing a separate October event, where a new iPad model could get more publicity and have more time to ramp up production.


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It’s lights out and away we go! Crypto.com will join the paddock action as Formula 1’s official Cryptocurrency Sponsor. This is part of the sport’s continuing effort to explore new ways to engage and connect with fans amidst the pandemic.
Scope of Partnership: Formula 1 and Crypto.Com
Formula 1 is the pinnacle of Motorsport. Moreover, in 2020, it showed the greatest increase of any professional sporting entity in engagements across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Formula 1 had a 99% increase. Thus, it is partnering with Crypto.com to continue this momentum in terms of fan engagement.
This year the racing sport is introducing a new sprint qualifying format. Crypto.com will become the inaugural partner of this new 100km qualifying race. In addition, it will have trackside presence at every race for the remainder of the season. To complete the sponsorship, the exchange will also present a brand-new award which will be announced ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Ben Pincus, Formula 1’ Director of Commercial Partnerships, explained that this move is for its avid folllowers. “We will rely heavily on Crypto.com’s expertise as we explore the world of cryptocurrency, an area we are very interested in. This will be the first time as a sport we are able to offer fans the opportunity to explore this exciting world as we further increase our digital presence.”
Crypto.com’s campaign to be a leading sports sponsor
Crypto.com, which currently services over ten million users worldwide, aims to increase its brand value by sponsoring sports franchises. Recently, it announced a separate partnership with with F1 Racing Team Aston Martin. In addition, the exchange also has standing partnerships with Italian football, The Canadian NHL team and International Ice Hockey Federation.
Formula 1 is confident that they can help Crypto.com achieve its vision. The management said “In addition to building the world’s fastest growing crypto platform and the leading app in both the App Store and Google Play. the Crypto.com Visa Card is the world’s most popular crypto card available in 30+ countries world-wide. Partnering with Formula 1 will ensure Crypto.com continue to grow their brand awareness on an international stage.
Clean Crypto Initiative
Crypto.com is serious about this partnership. It is ready to make drastic changes in order to accommodate the partnership. It pledged to be carbon negative within 18 months in order to support Formula 1’ transition as a Net Zero Carbon Sport by 2030.
Crypto.com CEO and co-founder Kris Marszalek told Cointelegraph that the two organizations are ready to push for clean crypto. He said,“We are both, at the core, technology organizations focused on innovation. It is in the DNA of organizations like ours to find smart, technological solutions to hard problems like addressing climate change.”
The partnership will kick off on July 17 at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.


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Kim Kardashian Will Profit $85 Million From Her $200 Million Video Game App
Kim Kardashian is likely to make around $85 million from her new video game application on iPhone which is titled "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood". The new game, which is published by Glu Mobile, is estimated to make around $200 million profits at the end of this year.
Sources told TMZ that the wife of Kanye West would get 45 percent of net profits. Meanwhile, industry sources said that the cost of making the game was only around $10 million. In conclusion, Kim would earn $85.5 million from the video game only.
According to Forbes, Kim made around $28 million from all her combined ventures last year. That means, Kim will make more than three times of her previous profit at the end of this year.
Niccolo de Masi, CEO of Glu Mobile, told Forbes about the reason they chose Kim to become their model, "We identified Kim Kardashian West as arguably the best brand fit in the world and we approached her. Everyone quickly recognized the tremendous business opportunity. The app stands currently at number five on Apple's Top Grossing chart so we are confident in our pricing decisions."
Niccolo added that the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star was actively involved from the beginning until the end of the development process. "In addition to her in-game audio commentary, she provided a significant amount of creative feedback," he continued, "She hand-selected the majority of the outfits, accessories, hairstyles, and other in-game items - and her deep involvement continues as we roll out updates and new content - from the aesthetics to new locations and features."
More Kim Kardashian News
- Donald Trump Tweets Wrong Ivanka. Find Out How She Reacts
- Here's Ben Affleck's Reaction to Viral #SadAffleck Meme
- Ali Fedotowsky on Corinne's Raunchy Acts on 'Bachelor': 'I Find That Truly Sad'
- 'White Men Can't Jump' Remake Is in the Works
- Ed Sheeran Scores First No. 1 Hit on Billboard Hot 100 With 'Shape of You', Makes Chart History
- Nina Dobrev Reveals She Accidentally Exposed Her Genitals During Bikini-Clad Photoshoot
- Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill Apparently Only Fake Their Breakup
- NFL Bans Lady GaGa From Talking About Politics at Super Bowl


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The head of a local group promoting awareness about the dangers of genetically modified foods called California's Nov. 6 rejection of a labeling law a small setback for a movement that refuses to give up.
"It was certainly disappointing, but not unexpected," said Amy Peters, president of the board of directors for the Sustainable Sea Cliff Cooperative. "There was a ton of money spent toward anti-labeling ads."
Peters said efforts to pass the law, which was voted on directly through a state ballot measure, were not enough to offset the $46 million campaign mounted by food producers. She accused those companies of using scare tactics to "make people think that if GMO's had to have labels, it would make people's grocery bills increase by more than $400 per year."
The law would have required food products containing genetically modified organisms to be labeled as such in California. Peters pointed out that the rule exists in 61 other countries, and that some places have harsh attitudes about the scientifically altered crops. Hungary recently destroyed more than 1,100 acres of GMO corn, she said, and in the U.S. there are many local movements to phase out such crops. Boulder County, Colo. is presently working to rid itself of GMO cropland, and 23 states are working on labeling laws.
"There's a lot of forward motion. According to the Non-GMO Project, 92 percent of Americans want GMO's labeled," said Peters. She said awareness is increasing, and mentioned that "a lot of people" at her group's recent potluck dinner did not know about the issue and asked for pamphlets after hearing Peters speak about it.
She said the issue is one she believes is especially relevant to residents on Long Island, which has a "huge contingency of people dealing with autism and food allergies - and a link has been made between those things and GMO's."
She said people are voting with their wallets against products that use GMO ingredients, and the first place a person can make a difference is in their own kitchen.
"It's so vast. You literally can't buy one thing in the cereal aisle that isn't made with GMO corn or soy," Peters said. "I've been sacrificing for a long time. Hellman's mayonnaise is made from GMO soybeans. I love that stuff, but I'm not going to eat it."


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GeoIgnite 2020 Track Announcement: Finding the Right Balance
Finding the Right Balance: Geospatial technologies, Data, Policy and Privacy
Our Committee is solidifying a vast variety of diverse and engaging tracks for GeoIgnite 2020.
Track Chair: Amina Deiab
The evolution and proliferation of geospatial technologies and the increasing usage of geographic information systems has created an exponential growth of geospatial data, and with it, new market and business opportunities. Geo-spatial data and data analytics play a crucial role in economic development with the global geospatial data analytics market foretasted to grow from $69.9 billion in 2018 to $88.3 billion in 2020. However, the increased usage of geographic information systems, geospatial technologies and the individuated characteristics of location data has brought with it an increase in public concern over consumer privacy. With the rise of data breaches, data misuse and sophisticated cyber-attacks, consumers are demanding greater rights over how personal data is collected, used and stored while regulators are increasing the level of scrutiny over companies that manage consumer data.
Critical questions for businesses, policy makers and consumers remain: Can the right balance be struck between enabling business innovation and protecting consumer privacy? Is there a “right” model for Canada? The European Union recently released the General Data Protection Regulation which aims to standardize data privacy laws across the European Union contrasted with a de-centralized approach in the U.S, which uses sectoral regulations to protect consumer privacy while not impeding cross-border data flows.This moderated panel will bring together experts in privacy law, data governance, and information security to discuss how privacy, technology, business innovation, and law intersect. The panel will discuss and explore key opportunities, challenges and potential paths forward for the geospatial sector.


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Coronavirus: Travel industry in line for £4bn support package
The government is set to underwrite cancellation refunds given out by the travel industry as a part of a £4bn relief package.
Ministers are reportedly drawing up plans to guarantee refunds to customers of travel agents and holiday companies that have had their holidays cancelled by the Covid-19 crisis.
Various stories have emerged of travel companies holding off on handing out refunds, much to the anger of consumers, with some in danger of going bust.
The package is being finalised this weekend and is being overseen transport secretary Grant Shapps and business secretary Alok Sharma, with the help of Atol chief Andy Cohen, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
The scheme will reportedly see Atol-protected travel agents give out credit notes that are backed by a government guarantee.
This will ensure that customers get their money back if travel companies go broke in the future.
A Department for Transport spokesperson remain tightlipped on whether a package would be unveiled for the sector.
“The aviation sector is important to the UK economy, and firms can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the chancellor, including schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees,” they said.
“We are continuing to work closely with the sector and are willing to consider the situation of individual firms, so long as all other government schemes have been explored and all commercial options exhausted, including raising capital from existing investors.”
It comes as the Sunday Times reports that airfares may skyrocket as airlines prepare to reduce the number of passengers on their flights.
Carriers such as easyJet, Wizz, Delta and American have all said they would be removing middle seats for sale in an attempt to enforce social distancing on future flights.
This would lead to a 33 per cent decline in available seats for many low budget airlines and would likely lead to much more expensive flights.
John Grant, from aviation analysts OAG, told the Times: “Such a significant cut in capacity per flight will certainly lead to an increase in average fares as demand picks up.
“The operating economics of the airline industry are wafer thin at the best of times so removing 30 per cent of available capacity will have an inevitable consequence.”


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HARTVILLE, Ohio (WKBN) — For Ohio wineries, this year is expected to be a low harvest year, if there are any grapes to harvest at all.
Growers expect temperatures this winter killed buds on the vines for certain varieties of grapes.
Grapevines have three types of buds. The primary bud gives the best grapes, but there also is a secondary and tertiary bud that can produce grapes. If all the buds are damaged, grapes won’t grow on the vine.
“They probably lost their crop this year and the jury is out yet on exactly how big a crop they’re going to have and whether or not it’s going to have long-term damage,” said Bill Bakan, co-owner of Maize Valley Winery in Hartville.
The amount of damage will depend on what variety of grapes are being grown in the vineyards. Some, like Frontenac Gris, are able to handle extreme cold like the area had this winter.
But one popular variety called Vinifera is not so lucky.
“It’s not as cold hardy as this one and its buds are probably smoked for the 2013-14 growing season,” Bakan said.
The Vinifera is used in a variety of wines, including Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay and Rieslings.
Making ice wines later this year also may be a challenge. And Bakan said some damage from the cold may not even show up for two or three years because the stress on the vines could leave some more susceptible to diseases.
Even though there may be some challenges for Ohio wineries this year, it doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be any Ohio wine. It just may be a little bit different.
“Go there, visit them. They’re going to have stuff, it just may be a bit different. And it’s a good opportunity to try something different and expand your horizons,” Bakan said.


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Responsys, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKTG) said it has made three strategic, senior level hires.
Jim Soss, senior vice president and general manager of enterprise business, leads Responsys´ North American account services and agency teams. Dmitry Kroshka, vice president of display operations, is in charge of the company´s display advertising business. Jeff Clayton, vice president of partner strategy and alliances, oversees Responsys´ strategic partnerships and integrations with other marketing technology applications and CRM systems.
Responsys is a leading marketing cloud software and services company. For more information visit: responsys.com.


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Just a quick chat with the person behind the counter at your local bike shop is enough to make it pretty obvious that the sales of bikes and equipment have slowed since the period when COVID-19 pandemic sent rider numbers swelling, however that doesn’t mean the sector as a whole is on the wane. An Australian report this week revealed that the bounce back of cycling tourism has more than taken up the slack.
The WeRide Australia report into the Australian cycling and e-scooter economy has estimated the direct economic contribution of cycling in 2022 at $6.7 billion – in local currency – up from $6.3 billion in 2020. The biggest gain was delivered by a more than 60% increase in the amount spent on cycling tourism, which accounted for $1.9 billion.
The report, put together by Ernst and Young, also concluded that when the indirect output was added the total economic contribution of cycling in Australia could be valued at $16.9 billion. They also said there was another $738 million from e-scooters – which were also wrapped in as part of the study – and a further $954 in health and social benefits from cycling.
“The triple bottom line benefits of the sector are significant, generating thousands of jobs as well as providing health and environmental benefits, making investment in cycling and e-scooters a national imperative,” said WeRide’s Executive Officer Peter Bourke.
“Not only did the sector contribute over $18bn in economic, health and social benefits to Australia in 2022, cycling also avoided the release of 514,096 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions and 2.2 million kilograms of air pollutants into the atmosphere across the year, with bike commuting replacing the equivalent of $3.9bn km’s of motor vehicle travel.”
The number of bikes sold fell by about 8% from 2020 to 2022, to a total of 1.6 million, however with an increase in the average cost of each bike sold to $1,128 the value of those sales actually rose over $200 million to $1.785 billion, however cycling related purchases plunged from $3.1 billion to $2.2 billion.
Electric powered bikes were the only category where sales increased, ballooning from an estimated 54,157 to 193,061, while the biggest decrease came in the children’s category, falling 23 percent to 363,359 bikes. The declines are also expected to continue through this year and next.
“Industry data suggests that there is an oversupply of bikes in the market in 2023,” said the report….


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Sebastian Elmgren, Smart Manufacturing Portfolio Manager at Ericsson, discusses how Industry 4.0 is driving the flexibility, innovation, and efficiencies found in 5G for wireless communications in new technology for manufacturers, from operations and production to logistics and warehousing.
Episode 564: Industry 4.0 Drives 5G Wireless
Mr. Lewis Weiss is Host of Manufacturing Talk Radio and President of All Metals & Forge Group, the principal sponsor of the show. He has 60 years in the metals industry as a manufacturer of open die forgings and seamless rolled rings, running a business that sells forged products globally to OEMs, major manufacturers, mid-size first- and second-tier suppliers, and small metalworking companies. Lewis Weiss puts his experience in manufacturing to good use as an expert consultant on various TV and radio programs nationwide.
Sebastian Elmgren is portfolio manager for smart manufacturing and leads Ericsson’s manufacturing vertical for dedicated 5G networks.
Industry 4.0 is creating significant potential and next-generation wireless communication will truly accelerate the flexibility, efficiency and innovation in industries. Erik’s team is on the edge of industrial digitalization with 5G, IoT and AI for factories, warehouses and mines.
Prior Sebastian has been working 10 years within Ericsson’s supply organization in different positions and driven global improvement and smart manufacturing projects. Sebastian has a passion for new technology and the impact it has on society and has worked in Estonia, China, Spain, Greece and Cyprus.
He holds a Master of Science in Automation and Mechatronics from Chalmers University of Technology.


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In the fast-paced world of financial technology, one stock has caught the attention of investors as a top pick for July. With the continued growth and innovation within the FinTech industry, this stock is poised to offer significant potential for long-term gains and impressive returns. Its robust business model, solid financial performance, and strategic positioning make it an attractive investment opportunity.
Leading the pack is XYZ Inc., a pioneering FinTech company that has consistently proven its mettle in the digital financial landscape. With an impressive track record of disruptive solutions and a commitment to customer-centric services, XYZ Inc. has earned its reputation as a market leader.
XYZ Inc. boasts a diversified portfolio that spans various sectors of the FinTech industry, including digital payments, blockchain technology, and artificial intelligence-driven financial analytics. By staying at the forefront of technological advancements and leveraging its expertise, the company has positioned itself as a key player in the digital revolution reshaping the financial world.
The company’s solid financial performance is reflected in its impressive revenue growth and profitability. With a steady stream of innovative products and services, XYZ Inc. has experienced consistent double-digit revenue growth over the past few years. Moreover, its commitment to cost optimization and operational efficiency has resulted in healthy profit margins, attracting investors looking for sustainable returns.
One of the key catalysts driving XYZ Inc.’s success is its ability to adapt to changing market dynamics. By embracing emerging technologies and capitalizing on shifting consumer behavior, the company has continuously expanded its market reach. Its customer-centric approach and user-friendly interfaces have earned it a loyal customer base, further fueling its growth.
Furthermore, XYZ Inc. has demonstrated its commitment to strategic partnerships and acquisitions. By collaborating with established financial institutions and acquiring promising startups, the company has expanded its capabilities and enhanced its competitive advantage. These strategic moves have not only broadened its product offerings but also reinforced its position as an industry leader.
As the FinTech industry continues to disrupt traditional financial services, XYZ Inc. remains poised to capitalize on this trend. With a strong market presence, robust financials, and a forward-thinking approach, the company is well-positioned to capture new opportunities and sustain its growth trajectory.
Investors looking to dive into the promising world of FinTech should carefully consider XYZ Inc. as a top stock pick for July. Its solid track record, commitment to innovation, and strategic positioning make it a compelling investment choice. However, as with any investment, it is advisable to conduct thorough research and consult with a financial advisor to make informed decisions based on individual risk tolerance and investment objectives.


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Opening Ceremony co-founder Carol Lim knows her retailer’s customers are savvier than ever and that there’s a lot of noise in fashion today. This knowledge guides the collaboration and partnership strategy at Opening Ceremony, which has worked with brands including Columbia Sportswear, Google and the Muppets. Most recently, the retailer launched its third collection designed in partnership with German apparel brand Esprit.
“Our lens is the customer. When we design a collaboration, we ask, ‘What would make this different? Why would someone buy this one, as opposed to something else?’” said Lim. “We have to know that it’s gonna be something that’s appealing because it stands out. That’s our success factor.”
Lim and her co-founder, Opening Ceremony designer Humberto Leon, have been engineering design collaborations since 2012, when they opened Opening Ceremony. She and Leon are also the creative directors of Kenzo, which is no stranger to collaborations, having worked with H&M on a collection in the past.
Now that the retail tactic has surged in popularity as brands and retailers look to give sales a jolt with limited-edition product, Lim shared her ground rules for pulling off a popular collaboration.
Understand the brand you’re working with
Lim said that she and Leon have always been inspired by Esprit, and that she’s been collecting Esprit pieces for years. In the past five years, however, the company lost about 90 percent of its valuation, and pulled out of the Asian and North American markets, selling exclusively in Europe and Australia. When Lim and Leon first decided to work with Esprit last year, the goal was to reintroduce the brand to a new set of customers.
Items from the latest Opening Ceremony x Esprit collection
“We wanted to tap into what the brand was once known for — the attitude, the sensibility, a connection to real people — and infuse it into the categories we know. They thought about the story they wanted to tell to our customers, and we incorporated that into both the product and how it was sold,” said Lim. “We see it as a celebration of the brand, because we want people to go back and rediscover them.”
Form a lasting relationship
Lim said Opening Ceremony collaborations are considered partnerships, because the retailer isn’t interested in flash-in-the-pan one-offs that disappear after the collection sells out. The idea is that the collections can evolve over a few seasons, and customers of Opening Ceremony — which Lim and Leon consider a “democratic” brand — will get multiple chances to score items from the collaborations. This makes the success of collaborations more sustainable, as retailers that have had huge one-off collaborations often have a hard time repeating that same lightning-in-a-bottle magic year over year.
“We have longstanding partnerships that maybe don’t come back every season, but they eventually do come back. It has to feel right for a long time; there’s no set formula, but we don’t do things once,” said Lim. “We want to express [brands’] vision alongside our vision and create some consistency. If customers like a brand, we’ll continue to [sell] it. We’re not interested in the one-time marketing fix of a collaboration.”
Know when to say no
Opening Ceremony has a lot of collaborations under its belt, but Lim said she is highly picky about which she decides to work with. The overall mission is to make collections Opening Ceremony customers respond to, and Lim said her customers can immediately identify when something feels off-brand.
“We do a lot, but there’s more we don’t do. We’re really good about saying to a brand, ‘We don’t know how to tell that story. We’re honored, but we need to know why we’re coming together, and it has to make sense.’ If it’s not personal to us, we won’t do it,” said Lim. “Our customers also need to be excited. Otherwise, in two seconds, they would be like, ‘Um, what is that? Why are you doing that?’ They’re vocal, and they can smell out a bad match, and that’s because we’ve always been able to explain why we do things. What matters, ultimately, is that people want to buy it. It’s successful when I see it sell and people are wearing it on the street. ”
Look for experts
Opening Ceremony’s most successful collaborations capitalize on borrowing areas of expertise from other retailers. Lim and Leon want the answer to, “Why are we doing this?” to be: “Because we can’t do it ourselves.”
“The partners we’re most excited about are the experts in their space. For instance, Columbia is an expert in technical outerwear. They can do something better and with legitimacy that we can’t, and then we add our element to it that can set it apart,” said Lim. “We create something in a new language that’s best of the both sides, and then it’s a win. We make a lot of product, but there are times we know this isn’t our strength, so we partner with someone and put our mark on it.”
Don’t forget to think beyond product
According to Lim, the product itself is only one-fifth of a successful collaboration.
“You have to think about the full 360. How is it hanging in the store? How is it marketed? How are you speaking to the customer on behalf of the two brands working together? These questions come up with everything we’ve done, and the answers are different for every new project,” said Lim. “But inspiring people and bringing them into a new community is as important to a partnership as the product itself.”


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These days, startups don’t have to go it alone. Big business and big brands now take a very active role in identifying startups and providing mentoring or funding (or both) during the early days of the entrepreneur’s journey.
The big company approaches vary widely, but the objectives share many similarities: find and nurture innovative companies with products that can take their global brands to the next level. Interestingly, it is not only the big technology companies that are leading the charge. Here’s what a few non-tech brands are doing to advance the tech ecosystem.
Take L’Oreal for example, the world’s largest cosmetics company. Last year, it became the official sponsor of a beauty accelerator within STATION F, a campus for startups based in Paris. In January, 20 early stage companies focused on innovative beauty products or beauty tech were invited to join the accelerator and take advantage of the mentoring and support offered by L’Oreal executives.
So what types of companies are these beauty startups? Those with new spins on cosmetics, skincare and hair care…or those with digital platforms or diagnostic tools to enable next generation of product sales or customization to different buyer demographic groups, for instance.
What’s in it for each party is plain to see: L’Oreal executives observe next generation technologies or products that can help them stand out in the consumer market, while entrepreneurs get access to industry experience and mentors.
BMW’s Mini Division started an accelerator in Brooklyn in 2016. Every six months, the executives of “Urban-X” select a small group of startup companies and invest $100,000 in each. Managing director Micah Kotch says they look for innovative products or technologies focused on road infrastructure, real estate, construction, transportation, energy and other topics related to living and working in an urban setting. They pair them with Mini’s engineers, product managers, brand specialists and other seasoned executives to help founders hone their products and strategy and groom them for the next round of funding. I recently caught up with Micah, who said there’s no replacement for the learning gained through access to BMW’s specialized experts.
“We believe that entrepreneurs are helping to create the future — and our resources and know-how can contribute to that in a positive way,” he said.
Then there’s Coca-Cola. About three years ago, the company set up a entrepreneurial program dubbed “The Bridge,” in Tel Aviv, where it has has long had a presence. The concept was to create a bridge between global markets and tech startups in Israel. As you might guess, they invite startups with products focused on retail, consumer engagement, supply chain and other themes that align with the marketing of the company’s food and beverage products.
The startups get training, contacts and connections. Coca-Cola executives get to pick innovations from these startups that could help the company’s business interests grow. Thirty companies have been through the program so far. More than 60 pilot programs have resulted and a number of license agreements have materialized.
Here’s four ways startup founders can take advantage of corporate opportunities. Next, do some research to learn what big company initiatives are underway in which you can participate. Read trade journals and industry publications. Examine the news and websites of the major trade associations representing the industry. These are the key sources that are likely to contain information related to the startup community.
Next, prepare a formal or informal your application. Focus on the value you bring to companies in that industry. Learn what process the company has in place to bring startups into their programs. If there’s a competition scheduled for startups like yours, get on the list to pitch. Think of it much like an investor pitch. Focus on the big picture, how you solve a big problem, why your product is better than competitors and how you will win.
Finally, start marketing yourself to the individuals running the initiative. If you can get a personal introduction, all the better. Work your advisers and investors for introductions.
Liz Sara, founder of Best Marketing LLC, teaches business-to-business marketing to MBA students at the University of Maryland. She is an angel investor and a member of the Dingman Center Angels.


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Source from: Antara News
Original News HERE
Indonesia’s digital economy has the potential to reach US$124 billion by 2025 in line with a study by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated.
“From US$44 billion (in 2020), it could increase to US$124 billion. This is a tremendous potential. This means the economic potential can be increased threefolds owing to the digital infrastructure,” the minister remarked during an event titled “Women Driving the Economy in the Pandemic Period” here on Friday.
Indrawati noted that the digital economic potential can be achieved if Indonesia is able to build digital infrastructure and develop its own digital economy.
Hence, the minister emphasized that the government continues to encourage the development of digital infrastructure, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic that prompts the transition of almost all community activities to digital platforms.
According to Indrawati, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a migration of almost all activities to digital platforms.
It happens because the COVID-19 pandemic requires people to maintain their distance, so digital technology is a solution to overcome that problem.
The minister ensured that the government had continued to provide digital infrastructure evenly on account of Indonesia’s large geographical area, so that development is currently focused on underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas.
Indrawati pointed out that 12,377 public service locations in the 3T area currently do not have 4G facilities, so communication access in these areas is still highly unreliable.
“Hence, the government significantly increased the budget for 2021,” she noted.
Moreover, the government has continued to improve digital literacy, including for small and medium enterprises, to boost potential of the digital economy.
The government is also striving to gradually expedite financial and digital inclusion, including in the Family of Hope Program (PKH) for 10 million beneficiary families (KPM) whose payments are currently made through transfers and digitally.
“Will people be able to buy basic food at a digital shop? It will also be conducted in stages. Thereafter, government salary payments and spending money for small and medium enterprises are also done digitally,” she expounded.


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The Chinese online education company Zuoyebang announced the completion of the E+ round of over US$1.6 billion in financing.
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B2B Healthtech Startup ‘Saveo’ Raises $4M Funding Led By Matrix Partners India, RTP Global, Others
B2B eCommerce platform for pharmacies Saveo has raised $4 million in seed funding co-led by Matrix Partners India and RTP Global.
The funding round also saw participation from Incubate Fund and India Quotient.
Angel investors, including Kunal Shah (Founder, Cred), Rajesh Yabaji (Founder, Blackbuck), Amit, Naveen, and RK Misra (Co-founders, Yulu), VS Sudhakar and Vipul (Co-founders, Bigbasket), Revant Bhate (Co-founder, Mosaic Wellness), Asish Mohapatra and Ruchi Kalra (Co-founders, OfBusiness), Sumit Ghorawat (Co-founder, Shopkirana), and Raoul Bajaj (CEO, Trafigura India), among others, also participated in the round.
As per the Bengaluru-based startup, it will use the funds to penetrate deeper into existing geographies, expand to new territories, and upscale its full-stack tech platform.
Started by Amit Kumar, Anurag Savarnya, Shivansh Shrivastava, and Vivek Jaiswal in August 2019, Saveo is a one-stop solution for all pharmacies needs in B2B space with an aim that no prescription shall bounce in India.
The startup provides a single procurement point for all medicines — generics, surgical, OTC, speciality, allopathy, and ayurvedic.
Bringing uniformity in margin and service, Saveo is helping Indian pharmacies digitise their businesses.
Talking about the investment, Vivek Jaiswal, Co-founder of Saveo, said,
“With this round, we aim to go deeper into the Indian healthcare industry, channelise our energy towards the key insights we have (gained), and spend more on technology for building the future of healthcare delivery.”
Currently, the healthtech startup serves over 2,000 pharmacies across Bengaluru and more than 3,000 pharmacies across Karnataka.
Saveo is looking to capture over 1,00,000 pharmacies across India in the next 18 months, spread across 100+ cities in India.
Need legal assistance for your startup? Just contact us.


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Creative Sense of Humor Kenya’s Presidential Debate
Trust a Kenyan’s sense of humor and creativity to turn The First ever Presidential Debate to laughter remedy.
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Looking to make a new purchase from Amazon, Sony, or Xbox? How about making your purchase through a tweet? A new partnership between Twitter and American Express will allow users to connect their American Express credit cards through the Twitter site and then make purchases from select retailers, the Wall Street Journal is reporting.
Items up for sale through Twitter include American Express gift cards, Amazon Kindle Fire tablets, and Donna Karan jewelry, according to the Journal. Twitter has not yet responded with a comment on the partnership, but a press release from American Express explains how the hashtag purchases will work:
“American Express Cardmembers who sync their eligible Cards at sync.americanexpress.com/twitter and tweet special #hashtags can buy American Express Gift Cards and products from Amazon, Sony, Urban Zen and Xbox 360. American Express’ proprietary Card Sync technology powers the experience. Card Sync first launched on Twitter last March to deliver couponless savings to Cardmembers…
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The growth on online channels for customer action is dramatically changing the balance of power between companies and their customers: managing the 'customer experience' is becoming a top priority.
Several major US players in the cloud based contact centre space are expected to enter the Australian market in the next 12-18 months.
Dimension Data's annual global contact centre benchmarking study shows that, worldwide, organisations are struggling to adapt their customer contract practices to match the rapid shift away from the phone call to social media as customers' preferred means of communication.
Just about every business of significant size seems to want a mobile app. But what if was easy to provide deep integration with the contact centre? Would cross-platform compatibility be a bonus? That's what Interactive Intelligence is promising.
New Zealand's 24 hour counselling service, Lifeline Aotearoa has opted for Interactive Intelligence's contact centre software suite Customer Interaction Center (CIC) for use in its Auckland counselling centre, to replace an ageing telephone system.
IPscape - an Australian company that has developed and offers hosted contact centre systems - has had its product adopted by Telstra Global to underpin a virtual contact centre service that will be offered to customers in Asia, and it has scored a $5m investment from Telstra's venture capital subsidiary, Telstra Application and Ventures Group (AVG).
The Commonwealth Bank has awarded Telecom NZ subsidiary Gen-i a five year contract for the provision of contact centre services, following a competitive tender.
Unified IP communications provider, Interactive Intelligence, has launched new, purpose-built training facilities in North Sydney enabling the company's partners and customers to participate in a range of certification courses.
Cloud contact centre provider Global Speech Networks has added SAP Business Communications Management to its portfolio.
Carsguide.com.au - a website for the sale of new and used cars - has implemented IPscape's cloud based contact centre services to improve the handling of phone calls enquiring about cars advertised on the site.
Global provider of unified communications systems, ShoreTel, has entered into a partnership with Telstra to join the company's Business Systems program and to jointly market and support ShoreTel's IP telephony, unified communications (UC), contact centre and mobility solutions in Australia.
Contact centre solutions specialist, Lake, has appointed a head of its newly established business development team with industry veteran, David Wyndham, to take up the role, based in the company's Sydney office.
Alcatel-Lucent's former contact centre software business Genesys has announced its rebirth as an independent company saying its sole focus is "to save the world from bad customer service."
Headset specialist Jabra has announced a pair of entry-level professional wireless headsets. One is intended for use with conventional desk phones, the other with unified communications applications, softphones, and applications such as Skype.
With $725 million in sales and 3400 staff, this may be the biggest success story you've never heard of. Anthony Doesburg reports
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Southwest Airlines Is in Trouble, New Data Shows—Here's Why
On the other hand, customers may benefit from these promos and sales.
Summer travel was a doozy this year—and with fall quickly approaching, many of us are hoping for shorter security lines and diminished crowds when we do have to get from point A to point B. But while travelers are looking forward to this reprieve, the aviation industry, including Southwest Airlines, may not be faring so well in the coming months. Read on to find out why Southwest is in trouble, according to new data.
Southwest reported some concerning trends.
In the filing, the airline noted that capacity is up, but revenue per seat mile is down. On top of that, fuel costs and costs in general are up. While Southwest remains optimistic, the airline lowered its expectations for the current financial quarter because of anticipated higher costs. Southwest expects revenue to drop between 5 to 7 percent when compared with the same period last year, CNBC reported.
"While August 2023 close-in leisure bookings were on the lower-end of the Company's expectations, modestly impacted by seasonal trends, overall leisure demand and yields continue to remain healthy," the carrier said in the filing. "Travel demand during Labor Day weekend was strong and produced a record revenue performance for the holiday weekend."
But as View From the Wing points out, it would have been pretty surprising if Labor Day Weekend didn't see record-breaking numbers thanks to ongoing inflation.
Business travel isn't looking great either.
View From the Wing also points to decreased performance in terms of business travel. In the filing, Southwest wrote that trends "continue to perform in line with expectations, and the Company continues to expect overall corporate travel to have a modest underlying year-over-year sequential trend improvement in third quarter 2023."
However, View From the Wing notes that while business travel may be meeting current expectations, these expectations were already pretty low in light of the evolving business world. It's more difficult to schedule trips when not everyone is back in the office every day, and since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies have also learned that travel isn't essential in every situation.
Southwest isn't alone.
According to CNBC, fuel and labor are the biggest costs for airlines—and jet fuel in major cities like Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York is up over 30 percent since July 5.
For fuel, specifically, Southwest estimated that prices would climb from $2.70 to $2.80 this quarter, which is an increase from its previous estimate that it would go from $2.55 to $2.65.
Of course, it's not the only airline that expects fuel prices to impact profitability. Alaska Airlines anticipates pricier fuel will affect its pretax margin (earnings calculated after operating and non-operating expenses have been deducted, but not taxes), CNBC reported.
And whileUnited Airlines is maintaining the same revenue outlook, the carrier also expects fuel prices to reach as high as $3.05 per gallon (having previously estimated no higher than $2.80 in July).
Airlines' quarterly reports will be released in October, per CNBC.
This may actually be good for customers.
Although airlines may fret about margins and profitability, this situation benefits customers in some ways. Companies often try to pass some higher costs along to customers; however, they need to sell tickets to do so. And if the post-pandemic travel surge has truly peaked, airlines will need to do more to entice customers to fly with them.
According to View From the Wing, Southwest has been showing its hand by offering multiple promotions and deals. The airline is holding a fall sale and offering a promo to accelerate the process of earning a coveted Companion Pass—which allows a second person to travel with you for free, just paying taxes. Last month, Southwest also tried to boost bookings by offering a short-term Companion Pass as a reward.
"They wouldn't be doing this unless they were seeing weakness," View From the Wing reported.


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Yorn is targeted specifically at teenagers, a crucial audience for Telco's. Yorn has been a pioneer brand since it's launch over 15 years ago. But the brand was losing steam and competitors were catching up. It was time for a change.
Grand Union was chosen to relaunch the brand in Portugal. This included a complete redesign and repositioning of the brand. The campaign kicked off in April through a multi-media campaign with a strong focus on digital. Other formats included were TV, Outdoor and Instore.