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Why is this important: An email security firm has published a blog post detailing a phishing attack targeting unsecured American Express and Snapchat sites. The identified exploit uses a known open redirect vulnerability that allows hackers to specify a redirect URL, driving traffic to fraudulent sites designed to steal user information.
Maryland-based security firm Inky Security tracked attack activity related to the vulnerability from mid-May through mid-July. The phishing attack leverages a known open redirect vulnerability (CWE-601) and popular brand recognition to trick and harvest credentials from unsuspecting Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 users.
The attacks targeted unsecured Snapchat and American Express sites. Snapchat-based attacks resulted in over 6,800 attacks over a two-and-a-half-month period. Attacks based on American Express were much more effective, affecting over 2,000 users in just two days.
Malicious actors took advantage of open redirect vulnerabilities affecting AMEX and Snapchat domains to send #Phishing emails targeting Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 users.” https://t.co/bTG2b7dLWY
— INKY (@InkyPhishFence) August 4, 2022
Snapchat-based emails led users to fraudulent DocuSign, FedEx, and Microsoft sites to harvest user credentials. The Snapchat open redirect vulnerability was initially identified by openbugbounty over a year ago. Unfortunately, the exploit still seems unanswered.
American Express appears to have patched the vulnerability, which redirected users to an O365 login page similar to that used by Snapchat-based attacks.
This specific phishing attack uses three main techniques: brand impersonation, credential harvesting, and hacked accounts. Brand recognition relies on recognizable logos and brands to create a sense of trust with the potential victim, which leads to the user’s credentials being captured and collected on the fraudulent site. Once harvested, hackers can sell the stolen information to other criminals for profit or use the information to access and obtain the victim’s personal and financial information.
Open redirect vulnerabilities do not tend to receive the same level of care and attention as other identified exploits. Moreover, most of the risks are exposed to the user rather than the owner of the site. The blog post provides additional information and tips to help users stay safe and keep their data out of the wrong hands. These tips help users identify key terms and characters that can indicate whether a redirect is occurring from a trusted domain.


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As part of National Consumer Fraud Week, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC and Member for Greenway Michelle Rowland were at Blacktown Library today to launch a new booklet to help Australians protect themselves from identity theft.
The Federal Government’s Protecting Your Identity booklet provides practical advice on protecting personal information, real life examples of scams and steps to take to avoid risks of identity theft.
“Identity theft can start with the theft of items left in your mailbox while you’re not at home or from information you post on social media sites about yourself or your family,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“This guide gives Australians the best expertise and advice to guard their identity and what to do if they think it’s been stolen.”
Last year a survey commissioned by the Attorney General’s Department found that 7 per cent of respondents had been victims of identity crime in the previous six months – up from 5 per cent in the 2011 survey.
Half of victims had their identity stolen over the internet through a virus, a scam or social media.
“People need to be aware of what can happen if their identity is stolen and the steps they can take to protect themselves,” Ms Rowland said.
“The stress, financial costs and damage from someone else abusing your identity can last for years so I urge everyone to read this important booklet.”
Australians can reduce their risk of becoming a victim of identity theft by following these simple steps:
- Secure your mailbox with a lock and, when you move, redirect your mail.
- Be cautious about using social media, and limit the amount of personal information you publish online.
- Secure your computer and mobile phone with security software and strong passwords, and avoid using public computers for sensitive activities.
- Secure your personal documents at home and when travelling.
- Learn how to avoid common scams at www.scamwatch.gov.au.
- Be cautious about requests for your personal information over the internet or phone and in person in case it is a scam.
- Investigate the arrival of new credit cards you have not requested or bills for goods and services you have not purchased.
- Be alert for any unusual bank transactions or missing mail.
- If you are a victim of identity theft, report it to the police and any relevant organisations.
- Order a free copy of your credit report from a credit reporting agency on a regular basis, particularly if your identity has been stolen.
Mr Dreyfus said that, in addition to providing practical information for individuals, the Government is moving ahead with new Privacy Alerts to require businesses and government agencies to alert people when a privacy breach occurs.
“The new laws will alert consumers to breaches of their privacy, so that they can change passwords, improve security settings and make other changes as they see fit.”
Further identity security advice and electronic copies of the Protecting Your Identity booklet are available at www.ag.gov.au/identitysecurity.
Media contact: Gia Metherell 0477 366 575; Annie Williams 0428 040 522 (Dreyfus) – Nick Trainor 0407 078 138 (Rowland)

domain: news


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I'm at my local Starbucks, drinking a seasonal concoction. (A no-whip caramel brûlée.) I'm listening to tinkly piano music on Pandora while I work. And I'm charging my iPhone using one of Starbucks' new Duracell Powermat wireless charging "spots."
- Google Chrome password study: 25% users ignored a breached password alert
- ASD tells Australia how to adopt DMARC to fight email spoofing attacks
- BlueKeep-like wormable flaws hit Windows 10: Microsoft urges immediate patch
- Businesses risk becoming “collateral damage” in nation-state cyber wars
- Patch BlueKeep now Australian spy agency warns Windows admins


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AYLESBURY, England — The United Kingdom's National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA), citing a lack of enforcement on existing tire safety regulations, is calling for a complete ban on the sale of partly worn tires throughout the U.K.
The NTDA contends that unless "drastic action" is taken, the U.K. could see the casualty and death toll rise as a result of the increasing use of illegal and defective tires.
The NTDA has started a petition drive to call for the ban.
The association intends to deliver the petition to Greg Clark, member of Parliament for Royal Tunbridges Wells and secretary of state for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Under the U.K.'s Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 (reg.7.) it is an offense for anyone to sell part-worn tires that do not meet a litany of requirements, including: structural integrity intact; free of cuts, bulges or lumps; no plies/cords showing; minimum tread depth of at least 2 mm across the tread and around the circumference; and marked "Part Worn" on the sidewall.
Since December 2013, the NTDA has conducted joint inspections with Trading Standards officers at eight locations throughout the U.K. During those inspections, it was determined that roughly 98 percent of the thousands of partly worn tires inspected were found to be non-compliant with safety regulations.
The NTDA said many of the vendors identified in these investigations have been arrested and prosecuted and many more face enforcement actions.
Recognizing the tangible benefits of the inspection initiative, NTDA members are supporting this campaign by contributing $20 per outlet to keep it active. The NTDA also is urging manufacturers and other industry professionals to join in.


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With an eye to the growing population of St. Thomas, the city planned a 2020 expansion of its transit services. With the longer service hours and new amenities, a new brand was also planned to increase visibility and pride in the new system. A key requirement was to have the brand be closely aligned to the recently upgraded city logo.
amdevries2022-08-03T12:31:33+00:00HD Painting Ltd.amdevries2022-08-03T12:31:33+00:00
A longstanding commercial painting company in St. Thomas, Ontario was looking to invest in a thoughtful marketing approach in order to expand their business and find new clients that fit their business model.


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Plans for Earth Day? Adidas does and it’s sure to be a win for the oceans. Another win – Uber is no longer just a ride-hailing company, they’re expanding their business. Looking to expand yours? Perhaps, it’s time to answer this: Is youth or experience the key to a successful decision-making team? Turns out, it’s a trick question. However, one thing’s for certain, women use their phones for far more than just communicating.
Adidas is gearing up for Earth Day. The brand partnered with Major League Soccer and Parley for the Oceans to create Earth Day soccer jerseys from upcycled plastic ocean waste. See why this partnership represents everything that is beneficial in cause-based collaborations.
The future of work. The biggest barriers blocking multi-generational teams aren’t differences but biases. Research shows Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers make better decisions together.
It’s getting harder to label Uber just a ride-hailing company. Uber launches its own car-sharing service, Uber Rent. But that’s not all. Check out the rest of the new partnerships the company announced this week.
Smartphones are a millennial woman’s constant companion. Alarm clock, news, budgeting, you name it; women use their phone for it. Take a look at the stats that show why you should lean into the disruption these devices can wield.
Meanwhile, back at the RANCH
Should Weight Watchers market to teens? It’s no secret that America has a weight problem. Is it ethical to market diets to kids? Why public health efforts fall short.
THE Topic of conversation
Authenticity. Discover which brands are getting real and how to market authenticity across genders, generations and ethnic groups. Download our free whitepaper “3 Rules to Creating an Authentic Brand.”
SHARING is CARING
Like what you see? Share the Brogan Recap.


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“I’m always on the look out for who is doing strategic planning and making it work for their company.” This news bite was just posted about Jetset Travelworld Group – one of Australia’s largest franchised travel agency networks. CEO Michael Reed clearly explains what strategic planning is and how it will help his company:
The recently appointed CEO of the Jetset Travelworld Group, Michael Reed, has made his mark with a plan to direct the company’s focus on strategic planning. “Many analysts claim the future looks gloomy for traditional travel retailers when compared to the online approach. I couldn’t disagree more,” stated Reed. “We are operating in a world where, increasingly, the internet is king, but service is paramount.”
He has emphasized the need to emphasize the possibilities of traditional travel retailers for providing exceptionally high service standards. He believes that the timing is perfect for the Jetset Travelworld Group to reinvest in the brand.
“I believe there are opportunities to better clarify not what we do, but what we are – what brand equity we have among consumers, and even among our own network.”
Not every company finds itself in such a place – but when it does, what a great time to reassess before moving forward. Good luck to Michael and his team!


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The Los Angeles Police Department is warning the public against buying tickets to the LA Kings' Stanley Cup Final game, or any events like concerts and sporting events, from people on sidewalks near the events.
Several people bought tickets from private vendors on sidewalks near the Staples Center just before Wednesday's NHL game at the Staples Center. But when the buyers tried to enter the game, the tickets turned out to be fraudulent.
Tickets to the Stanley Cup Final games have sold for $2,000. Street sellers were asking $500, then coming down to $200, so buyers thought they were getting a good deal.
"Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware, is a good motto to follow in such purchases," said the LAPD in a statement. "If the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
The LAPD warns that in this age of color scanning and desktop publishing, it's easy for crooks to mock up fake tickets and sell them online or in-person at the venue.
The next possible LA Kings Stanley Cup Final home game could be on Monday, June 11. Police are warning the public not to be duped by scheming ticket sellers.
Further, the LAPD accepts tips on crime. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling into Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD." Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.


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Northern California's Silicon Valley is showing renewed economic vigor, and retailers have taken notice.
Six years after the dot-com bubble burst, three major malls are expanding or beefing up their tenant rosters as competition intensifies in the high-tech center. There also is heightened interest in retail space for freestanding stores of all types catering to the Silicon Valley luxury market and its geek-billionaire mystique.
The mall projects are:
-- A 240,000-square-foot expansion to the 1.4 million-square-foot outdoor Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, which is owned by Stanford University and was leased four years ago to the Simon Property Group. There are 140 stores, and the anchors are Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy's, Macy's Men's Store and Bloomingdale's.
-- Valley Fair, which is located in the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara and was developed by Westfield Group, based in Australia, wants to add 560,000 square feet for 55 stores and two more anchors. The mall now has 1.4 million square feet, 244 stores and three anchors: Nordstrom, Macy's and Macy's Men's Store.
-- San Jose's Santana Row, an outdoor shopping-hotel-condo complex developed by Federal Realty, based in Rockville, Md., has become a magnet for young professionals who pack its restaurants and cafes. Santana Row has announced that Hennes & Mauritz signed a lease to open a 7,900-square-foot store this year, and BCBG Max Azria will expand. Santana Row, which has a Macy's, along with 70 stores and 550,000 square feet of retail space, opened in 2002 and competes directly with Valley Fair across Highway 280.
Silicon Valley — or the Santa Clara Valley — got its moniker more than 35 years ago because of the area's concentration of silicon chip manufacturers, which propelled high-tech growth. The valley, a one-hour drive south of San Francisco, has a population of 2.44 million, including 1 million who live in San Jose. The rest of the region is affluent suburban communities built on former almond, plum, pear and apricot orchards. The valley is spread over 1,200 square miles between two mountain ranges at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay.
Most important to retailers, the region is headquarters to many of the world's most important technology companies, including Apple, eBay, Google, Yahoo, Intel and Hewlett-Packard. About one-third of the valley's 1.2 million workers are employed in high tech."All these high-end retailers want to come here; they look at the demographics and say, 'We have to have a presence,'" said Steve Sauter, senior broker in Palo Alto for real estate investment dealmaker Marcus & Millichap, based in Encino.
However, finding the right retail location is a challenge because of the lack of large parcels of land and/or big commercial buildings, as well as strict local zoning and land-use rules.
Communities are "struggling with the balance between maintaining...character and uniqueness and not just becoming a mall," said Dale Achabal, director of the Retail Management Institute at Santa Clara University in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The strongest indicator of the improved valley economy is recent job growth, said Doug Henton, an economist with Collaborative Economics in Mountain View, Calif., which prepared the 2007 Silicon Valley Index for Joint Venture, a network of local governments and businesses.
Last year, for the first time since the downturn of 2001-2002, more jobs were created in the valley than were lost — the net gain was 31,869. Employment also has become more diversified with growing fields such as bio-tech and environmental technologies.
The increase in employment is reflected in the rising referrals to designer fashion specialty retailer Wilkes-Bashford, said Serita Sangimino, general manager of the regional chain based in San Francisco. Wilkes-Bashford is where Apple chief Steve Jobs buys his trademark, long-sleeved Brunello Cucinelli T-shirts, which Sangimino said cost $165 each at retail.
Even with the improved job creation, employment remains 220,000 below its peak in early 2001 at the height of the speculative Internet market, a deficit economist Henton said wasn't as big as it may seem. Federal employment figures don't take into account thousands of for-hire contractors and independent inventors in engineering and computer-related fields, he said.
Well-known valley innovators include twentysomethings Chad Hurley and Steven Chen, whose YouTube.com video-sharing start-up was bought last fall by Google — also the product of entrepreneurs — for $1.65 billion. There's also Mark Zuckerberg, who three years ago started the social-network Web site Facebook that has been valued at $2 billion.
"There is a lot of money in the area," said Mario Belotti, an economics professor at Santa Clara University, adding that the frenzy of growth more than a decade ago has not been matched. "The economy is growing, but more or less at the same rate as the national economy. Even in terms of IPOs, there are no situations now where you find a company that goes public at $12 and then at the end of the day sells for $80."However, pressures of supply and demand are apparent when it comes to the availability of retail space, according to Marcus & Millichap's 2007 National Retail Report. In the San Jose/Silicon Valley area, the retail vacancy rate this year is forecast at 2.8 percent, down from last year's 3 percent and 3.8 percent in 2005. By comparison, the Los Angeles retail vacancy rate this year is expected to decline to 6.8 percent, from last year's 7.1 percent and 8.1 percent in 2005.
In San Jose, there is such a dearth of shopping that city officials estimate $2 billion a year is spent elsewhere on all consumer goods, including fashion.
"San Jose is 20 percent underretailed," said Nanci Klein, an economic development executive with the city, which is projected to add 400,000 residents by 2030.
"The challenge in San Jose has been adding significant-size parcels to the retail base," Klein said.
San Jose planners have been creative, she said. For example, space to build high-density, open-air shopping districts that include housing has been generated by recasting an old Palm Inc. corporate campus or a former General Electric nuclear reactor research center into mixed-use projects.
The region's median annual household income remains far higher than the national level and is a magnet for retailers. The valley's median income in 2005 was $76,300, compared with $46,326 for the U.S., according to the U.S. Census' latest figures. In early 2001, at the dot-com peak, the median Silicon Valley household income was $83,000.
The income statistics don't reflect the recent wave of employees exercising their hefty stock options, like the $2.6 billion in options that come due this year for some Google employees hired before 2004, when the Internet search engine went public.
Silicon Valley customers are increasingly diverse; 48 percent of the residents speak another language in addition to English, 23 percent are of Asian descent and 19 percent are Hispanic. Statewide, 42 percent of residents speak another language, and nationwide the number is 19 percent, according to Joint Venture. In addition, 55 percent of the scientists and engineers in the valley are foreign born, compared with 20 percent nationally.
At Santana Row on a recent weekend evening, the valley's diversity was apparent as after-work shoppers strolled and diners filled restaurants. Young women were smartly dressed in jeans and trendy tunics, or short blazers. Men wore jeans and sport shirts and soft-looking leather loafers typical of the valley's casual fashion tone."The consumer in Silicon Valley is more a cross-shopper," said Fred Walters, general manager of Santana Row. "They'll buy a Gucci handbag and then shop at Anthropologie or Urban Outfitter. They are not head-to-toe one particular brand."
On a fashion note, economist Belotti observed, "They aren't into, 'Look, look, look at me,'" regardless of income.
However, Christine Campbell, a former technology marketing executive who now owns the women's fashion boutique Crimson Mim in Los Altos, has detected an evolution of fashion savvy. Previously, the attitude was, "If you're smart enough to start your own company, you don't have to dress up for other people,'' she said. "It was a question of credibility."
Campbell's 800-square-foot store is well-stocked with 100 lines, including shoes. For the valley's 100 degree-plus summer temperatures, popular sellers include $295 ethereal peach silk sundresses with a leopard underlay by Claudette, based in Los Angeles. To wear to work, Campbell suggests a casual but crisp, $165 blue-and-white striped blouse by Alara with bishop sleeves and ruching at the torso, paired with $314 lightweight black wool trousers by Tibi and $245 Rachel Comey bejeweled slides.
"People here are wealthy; they travel a lot,'' Campbell said. "They want something different, that's not all over the place."
That wealth keeps Valley Fair mall in the top five performing malls among Westfield's U.S. properties, said Randall Smith, Westfield's vice president for business development in the U.S.
As for Stanford Shopping Center, "There are clearly positive demographic trends in that market," said Rick Sokolov, president and chief operating officer of Simon Properties.
Since 2002, annual sales per square foot at the shopping center doubled to $999, growth that Sokolov said had been achieved by adding higher-price tag retailers such as Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade and Burberry.
Alberta Ferretti's "Rainbow Week" sweaters are back. The designer closed her #MFW show with a few day-of-the-week sweaters, which first debuted on the catwalk last January as part of the pre-fall 2017 collection. #wwdfashion (📷: @delphineachard)


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China's Covid recovery loses momentum as factory output slows and retail sales miss expectations
China's economic boom has hit a stumbling block, as factory output slowed in April and retail sales missed expectations.
Industrial production grew by 9.8 per cent year-on-year, slower than the 14.1 per cent rebound seen in March, according to the country's National Bureau of Statistics.
And retail sales rose by 17.7 per cent – missing expectations of a 24.9 per cent climb, suggesting Chinese consumers are not splashing their cash at the rate which officials in Beijing may have hoped.
Despite being the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, China was the first major economy to recover from the crisis in the third quarter of last year.
China's economy expanded by a record 18.3 per cent in the first quarter of this year, and is widely expected to grow by around 8 per cent for the full year.
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The UK's output, meanwhile, was still lagging 5.9 per cent behind its pre-pandemic level even at the end of March.
But Fu Linghui, a spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, said: 'The foundations for the domestic economic recovery are not yet secure.'
Year-on-year growth in catering sales, which includes restaurant dining, slipped from 91.6 per cent in March to 46.4 per cent in April.
And retail data showed a particularly sharp drop in the growth of home appliance sales between March and April. Consumption has lagged the overall economic recovery in China, as retail sales contracted last year despite the growth in output.
Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, said: 'Sectors related to travel, leisure and entertainment employ a lot of people. The Covid uncertainty still holds these sectors back.'
While business investment in factories and machinery was up 19.9 per cent in the first four months of the year, compared to the same time in 2020, this was down from 25.6 per cent in the first three months of 2021.
Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, said 'momentum in output and consumption was a bit softer' than at the start of the year.
He added: 'We think month-on-month growth will remain modest throughout the rest of this year as activity drops back to its pre-virus trend following the withdrawal in policy support.'
In the UK, the Bank of England is relying on consumer spending to super-charge the coronavirus recovery.
Britons are thought to have squirreled away more than £200billion since the pandemic began, and the Bank's economist Andy Haldane has said the country is like a 'coiled spring' ready to bounce back when restrictions ease.
The economy is expected to grow 7.25 per cent this year, according to the Bank, meaning it will be back at pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2021.
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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva doesn’t want to be lectured about environmental protection by rich industrialized nations. He made this clear at the end of the Amazon Summit in the northern Brazilian port city of Belém.
“Green neo-colonialism, trade barriers and discriminatory measures under the guise of environmental protection cannot be accepted,” Lula said.
Earlier, the summit’s host criticized an additional report requested by Brussels on a planned free trade deal between the EU and South American economic bloc Mercosur.
Lula said such a statement on climate, environment and human rights would interfere in the internal affairs of Mercosur countries and slow down the economic growth of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Lula called on industrialized nations to do their part in climate and environmental protection. “The richest 10 percent of the world’s population own more than 75 percent of the wealth and emit almost half of the CO2 released into the atmosphere. The environmental and ecological benefits of tropical forests must be fairly and equitably rewarded.
The Amazon Rainforest is also known as the “Lungs of the Earth”. Hundreds of billions of trees store about a quarter of all CO2 on Earth. The region therefore has an important function in the international fight against climate change.
“Coffee fanatic. Friendly zombie aficionado. Devoted pop culture practitioner. Evil travel advocate. Typical organizer.”


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If 10 drops, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo forecast, iOS this year, September 23 , then we would be more likely to accept the potential is real. If, however, the legendary singer and actress Barbra Streisand think Apple will update one week after the September 30, its software, then you may not necessarily take this argument seriously. But in the end this is what seems to have happened.
opinion, Barbra Streisand has taken exception to the way Apple’s digital assistant, Siri, and declared her surname.
and part of the National Public Radio interview, and Streisand made to let people know she was not entirely happy with Siri pronunciation of her name and “Z”, and not soft, “S”, it actually should be. Rather than suffer in silence, or through Apple’s long-winded channels, trying to change this, it seems Streisand her fame and influence directly linked to Apple CEO Tim Cook. The phone seems likely to let the rest of us know when Apple plans to launch iOS 10.
The call Tim Cook seems to have had two results; first, presumably Cook apology, the legendary singers, and agreed to an amendment Siri, to ensure correct pronunciation of her name in the future. Secondly, according to Streisand, Cook confirmed that the fix will be added to the iOS, which is confirmed by the next update will arrive on September 30
Given Apple iPhone 7 is rumored media event took place in September 7 and Apple’s next-generation operating system update is exactly i OS 10, from the historical point of view, Apple’s iPhone event of major IOS release versions of iOS as 10 public for a week. So, if you have any say in this interview is standing right, it looks like the new firmware version will be coming later than expected, which seems unlikely, but it will see such a person how to pan it is very interesting.
Apple iPhone 7 expected to be announced on September 7, and Soon began September 9 , shipping is said to begin in September 23
(source: NPR )
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New Delhi: Skype cofounder Janus Friis, along with the rest of the Zeta Project Swiss team, has just launched a new free communications app simply called Wire. The company will soon be launching browser add-ons as well.
Wire is also synced across the platforms it's available on, whether on smartphone, tablet, or desktop. The app is available now on the App Store for iPhones and iPads running iOS 8.0 or later, and on the Mac App Store for Mac computers running OS X 10.9 or later.
Built by a team of more than 50 people from 23 countries, Wire app will allow users to chat, participate in group messages, sync conversations, and make voice calls, apart from share pictures, music and videos across devices.
Wire doesn't support video calling as yet, but its Co-Founder and CEO, Jonathan Christensen, believes that the team is capable of including that functionality as well.


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(Chu Yuan Kim in November 21, 2018)
In recent years, with the bitcoin record highs, a number of symbols, even the highest on the high price of $20 thousand. Appreciation of 4 million times in eight years, the huge temptation to calm, the mystery has encouraged more people to explore the virtual currency, even when all know what illiteracy blockchain on this tall.
Bitcoin approximate irrational appreciation crazy, so many people have blind worship the God of wealth as the virtual digital currency, all fantasy flourishes, and the volatility of the market risk to virtual currency transactions. Bitcoin, so many people crazy about you, hope to become rich mining, people chase the dream of digital currency.
Just in the last year, the production of bitcoin “machine” is hard to find a machine, a new machine has been pushed up to 30 thousand yuan, but also people find the relationship between the trustee, and the amount you buy is very large, can buy. People believe that to buy a machine, you find the golden key to open the door to wealth.
Second, some of the old machine to the retirement age, is pushed to a staggering 20 thousand yuan. Some miners said that even with the old machine to get a couple of years, Shenzhen Huaqiang North mine underground market forecast, the selling price is far more than the price of the new machine was bought.
In China there are people at large capital investment and intensive mining industry, large-scale mining. According to reports, a miner bought 2 million M3 mills, the trouble, and finally to 6000 yuan a price of bulk transactions. 20000 mill Pentium, the magnificence of fascinating scenes. This is where the mining, it is able to perform wonders.
The basic technology application bitcoin blockchain, through mathematical and encryption technology to create a new magic, business logic and financial model. Bitcoin was created to the center of the idea of money, this idea really shines the light of genius, was destined to be by the monetary authorities of the countries encirclement and combat. Some countries have banned domestic virtual currency transactions, strictly limit bitcoin survival soil.
Bitcoin bust is inevitable, it is a kind of digital assets, and even can be regarded as a kind of digital games, does not have the money to become the conditions. Everything is speculation, when the tide receded, naked people will pay the price.
In 2018 years, bitcoin has accelerated the decline process, peak 2 million dollars has become a distant memory, and in the 11 month 21 day, bitcoin transaction price hit a low of $4048.60.
What does this mean? The miners sadly found that mining more losses, digging bitcoin, enough electricity costs, not to mention the price and its cost, and plant and human input. In desperation, the miners not only stop mining, and the mining machine to extermination, when the catty sale of scrap metal. Because no one is more foolish than the miners, and now no one has to offer, bitcoin miners may have become the Swan song.
Go to the center of the crypto currency may not be the currency, bitcoin is a super dream, or a century series? The miners, smashing machine iron change policy, bitcoin sing elegy, heralded the end of a digital myth.


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Rum giant Bacardi close to $2 billion vodka deal
The Wall Street Journal – 06/21/2004
Bacardi Ltd. is close to a deal to buy the Grey Goose high-end vodka business for more than $2 billion, says a person familiar with the situation, significantly broadening Bacardi's presence in the U.S. spirits business.
Grey Goose would give Bacardi a powerful player in the growing vodka market. The vodka currently sells roughly 1.8 million cases in the U.S. market, accounting for about half of superpremium vodka sales. It retails for nearly $30 in some parts of the country, well above the price of Absolut, a leading imported vodka.


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Economic recoveries from the COVID-19 pandemic have been quick and spectacular. This video highlights our views on global economies and how they’ve adjusted given that the start off of 2021.
Master additional about our financial and marketplace views at midyear.
In our 2021 financial and marketplace outlook, Vanguard reviewed the crucial nature of COVID-19 wellness outcomes. We assumed that an successful vaccine would arise, but we emphasised that recovery would change across industries and regions.
Economic recoveries have been quick and spectacular, as we foreshadowed, specifically exactly where vaccinations have attained the most folks.
Our revised comprehensive-year GDP advancement forecasts reflect how far we’ve climbed back from pandemic depths. Several are upgrades from the start off of 2021, and a couple of are downgrades, reflecting the issues ahead and a broad array of likely outcomes.
Need for items and solutions is climbing as economies reopen, specifically in the United


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Shanghai has entered a city-wide lockdown to combat a new Covid-19 outbreak with measures set to disrupt the supply chains around one of China’s major trade hubs.
China’s most populous city began a two-stage, nine-day lockdown on 28 March. All port and airfreight operations in Shanghai have remained operational according to an advisory from Maersk. However, warehouse closures and interruption to inland transport services are expected to create supply chain disruption and push up costs.
'Trucking service in/out Shanghai will be severely impacted by 30 per cent due to a full lockdown on Shanghai's Pudong and Puxi areas in turn until 5 April, Consequently, there will be longer delivery time and a possible rise in transport costs such as detour fee and highway fee,' said Maersk.
“All the warehouses in Shanghai will remain closed from 28 March to 1 April. Air operations in Shanghai for existing cargo in warehouses stay normal. However, new cargo acceptance will be impacted due to the first mile delivery and labour resource constraints.”


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On October 15, 2019, the non-governmental organization the Rethink Plastic Alliance announced the publication of a report titled “Reusable solutions: how governments can help stop single-use plastic pollution.” The report is aimed at informing policymakers at the national level who will be responsible for implementing the EU single use plastics directive beginning in July 2021 (FPF reported). Specifically, it focuses on how “reusable items and systems have been proven to be highly effective and a key solution in shifting away from single-use plastics.” The report identifies a set of conditions necessary for effective reuse systems as well as key policy recommendations.
Conditions identified by the report for an effective reuse system include: system infrastructure and employee training, durable container design, systems at scale, addressing hygiene requirements, having a minimum viable population density, as well as being convenient and easy to use. Key policy recommendations presented in the report include: ensuring single-use plastics are replaced with reusable products and not with other single use materials such as bamboo, enacting legal obligations for reusable tableware for in-store consumption, setting binding consumption reduction targets for beverage and food containers, using deposit return schemes, and taxing single use products.
Meadhbh Bolger, co-author of the report and campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe, commented that “if governments switched to reusable products instead of wasteful single-use plastics, they would slash plastic pollution, save local authorities money for collection and waste cleanup, and create local jobs.”
Rethink Plastic Alliance (October 15, 2019). “New report shows how EU countries can quit single-use plastics and switch to reusables.”
Friends of the Earth Europe (October 15, 2019). “Reusable solutions: how governments can help stop single-use plastic pollution.”


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Demand for Australian bullion products slowed down in 2014, particularly in December, according to the latest numbers from the Perth Mint of Australia.
The Mint’s sales of gold coins and minted bars reached a four-month low in December 2014 while sales of silver coins slipped to an eight-month low, new sales figures show. The annual sales of gold coins declined by about 30%, as a continued price drop kept buyers away.
Sales of bullion were registered amidst the falling prices of precious metals, with gold prices falling 1.5% in 2014. Silver experienced a heavier loss with a 19.5% drop in price.
Gold Still Strong
Despite the figures, gold and silver coins are still a worthwhile investment, as experts see a strong year ahead for these precious metals. Market analysts expect gold to be attractive as a haven, as well as a hedge against currency debasement.
Australia-based provider of gold and silver products and services AGSX.com.au says buying gold coins will stay in style, and will be the reality well into the future.Gold prices are more stable than currency when compared to statistics from the past.
Global investment outlook is bullish for gold. With the uncertainty gripping the European Union, people are expecting the Euro to take a hit, which will have effects worldwide.
Bullion Sales in Australia
Annual sales of gold coins and bars for the Perth Mint reached 516, 709 ounces—a 31.5% drop from 2013’s sales of 8,647,862 ounces. Sales of the same for December 2014 were at 40,211 ounces, down from 49,904 ounces in November 2014. The December figure is the lowest since August of the same year.
Perth Mint sales of silver coins for December 2014, meanwhile, reached 477,731 ounces, its weakest performance since April 2014. It’s also a more than 40% slip from the 807,246 ounces sold in November of the same year. Annual sales dropped 12.5%, from 8,647,862 ounces in 2013 to 7,567,467 ounces in 2014.
Despite the weak showing for 2015, the Perth Mint is still positive that gold and silver products will rebound in the coming months.


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The best creative conference in the world is returning to Cincinnati! On Wednesday, September 30, Héctor Ayuso and Pep Salazar return to Cincinnati to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the OFFF design conference.
OFFF Cincinnati is an event where the entire creative community can engage with artists and designers from around the world through inspirational talks and workshops. What differentiates OFFF from other conferences is the passion and diversity of techniques that the presenters share, from handcraft and analog to cutting edge digital processes.
OFFF features some of the world’s biggest names and brightest minds exploring design and technology at this moment - including coders, illustrators and motion graphic designers.
OFFF Cincinnati 2015 Schedule:
9AM – B-REEL
10AM – LO SIENTO
11AM – FIELD
12PM – Intermission/Lunch Break
1:30PM – MOMENT FACTORY
2:30PM – MUCHO
3:30PM – TERRITORY (OFFF Titles)
4:30PM – LAIKA
This year's edition will once again be held at the Aronoff Center's Jarson-Kaplan Theater (across the street from the CAC). Following three consecutive sold out conferences, expect this year to be no different, so be sure to reserve your tickets before they're gone!
$40 – CAC Member (must be purchased in person at Aronoff box office)
$30 – Students (must be purchased in person at Aronoff box office)


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**Unveiling the Deceptive Practices of Summersale.co: A Scam in Disguise**
In the age of digital convenience, online shopping has become a prevalent trend, offering consumers a plethora of options at their fingertips. However, with this convenience comes the risk of encountering fraudulent websites that aim to deceive unsuspecting shoppers. One such example is Summersale.co, a website that presents itself as an e-commerce platform offering tempting deals on popular products. But beneath its façade lies a web of deceit that savvy shoppers must be cautious of.
Upon a closer look, several red flags emerge regarding the legitimacy of Summersale.co. Various online sources, including reputable forums like MalwareTips and My AntiSpyware, have sounded the alarm about this website. Shoppers have reported that Summersale.co claims to sell items from well-known brands such as Dick's Sporting Goods, but it has been revealed that these claims are far from the truth.
The initial appearance of Summersale.co may trick unsuspecting customers into believing that it's a legitimate e-commerce site. However, multiple sources have uncovered the truth behind this façade. ScamAdviser.com gave a low review to the site, citing data points that suggest its questionable authenticity. Web Paranoid noted that Summersale.co is not visited by many users, which is often a red flag for scam websites that are quickly created and used before being taken down.
Numerous reviews and reports have come forth, indicating that Summersale.co is nothing more than a cleverly designed scam. The website's focus on offering deals on sought-after products like HOKA sneakers from Dick's Sporting Goods is a common tactic used by fraudsters to lure in potential victims. Online Threat Alerts labeled Summersale.co as a fake Dick's Sporting Goods store, urging shoppers to avoid making purchases on the site to avoid potential risks.
In the world of e-commerce, trust is vital. Unfortunately, Summersale.co has shattered this trust through its deceptive practices. The Better Business Bureau has warned about the rise of impersonation or imposter scams, which are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially during periods of high shopping activity such as summer sales. This highlights the need for consumers to be cautious and vigilant when browsing unfamiliar websites.
Despite Summersale.co's attempts to deceive, there are telltale signs that shoppers can look out for to protect themselves. Legitimate e-commerce websites usually have a strong online presence, with user reviews and ratings that provide insights into the quality of their products and services. In the case of Summersale.co, the scarcity of genuine customer reviews and the low trust scores on platforms like Trustpilot should raise suspicion.
In conclusion, Summersale.co is a prime example of the dangers that lurk in the realm of online shopping. Its enticing deals on popular products and deceptive appearance mask its true nature as a scam website. Savvy shoppers must exercise caution, conduct thorough research, and trust their instincts when encountering unfamiliar e-commerce platforms. By staying informed and vigilant, consumers can navigate the digital landscape with confidence and avoid falling victim to deceptive practices like those of Summersale.co.


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Shoppers soon will be able to buy everything from meat to moccasins based on a number that purports to tell them the products' environmental impact.
Manufacturers and retailers across the globe are working to measure their products' carbon footprints for a variety of reasons, and all of the efforts have one thing in common: The results have the appearance of precision.
But all the decimal points in the world can't hide the fact that measuring carbon footprints is inexact. It is clouded by varying methodologies and definitions -- not to mention guesses.
"There are no clear rules for the time being," says Klaus Radunsky, who co-chairs a group within the Geneva-based International Organization for Standardization that is producing a guideline for measuring products' environmental impacts. "It depends very much on how you do the calculations."
Few products demonstrate the messiness of this effort more than a simple carton of milk. Several studies in various countries have already sought to tally the impact of milk from its production on a farm to the disposal of its carton. In between, the studies try to measure such intricacies as the energy used to make the fertilizer to grow feed for the cows, to fuel trucks delivering the milk, and to power refrigerators cooling it in kitchens.
It isn't surprising that each of these studies sizes milk's footprint differently, in large part because each varies in the way it counts one or more of those factors.
Milk is among the first products that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is trying to measure as part of a broad effort by the retailer to assess the environmental impact of the products its sells. It intends to begin labeling certain products with a "sustainability" score -- a single number that would take into account not only carbon emissions, but also water use and waste production. That is doubly complicated because it involves weighing the relative importance of different kinds of environmental impact. Which is worse: that a tomato uses lots of water or lots of pesticide?
Wal-Mart is working with academics and environmentalists to decide both how to tally that score and how to display it. It might be a number from 1 to 10, and it might be a color in a range of hues, says Matt Kistler, the retailer's senior vice president of sustainability. The challenge is to come up with something that is understandable and accurate. "Can we get there overnight? No, because a lot of the information doesn't exist yet," he says. "But I think we can get there."
Among the reasons driving the measurement efforts by manufacturers and retailers are concern for the planet, marketing, to reduce emissions and, in some cases, to avoid being caught flat-footed by any coming climate-change regulation.
Tesco PLC, the big U.K. retailer, began last month labeling milk sold under its store brand. Its studies concluded that a pint of whole milk generates an amount of greenhouse gas equivalent to about two pounds of carbon dioxide. Tesco prints the metric equivalent of that number, 900 grams, on its whole-milk labels.
Another study by the U.S. dairy industry came up with a preliminary footprint that is about 15% lower, when expressed in terms of a comparably sized container of milk.
What may account for some of the difference is another set of dizzying variables in the carbon calculation. Some farms have more energy-efficient machinery. Some cows eat less corn, which typically is grown with petroleum-based fertilizers. And some kinds of feed cause cows to burp more methane, a potent source of carbon. That bovine belching is widely agreed to be the biggest source of carbon emissions in milk production.
But some parts of the equation are subjective. Cows produce multiple sellable goods: milk while they are alive, and, once they are slaughtered, products including beef, leather and bones. So how much of the emissions from the dairy farm should be blamed on the milk, and how much on the making of the steak and shoes?
Tesco attempts to resolve that question by splitting the emissions according to the relative economic value of the milk versus the cow's carcass. If, say, a dairy farm got 90% of its revenue from selling milk and 10% from selling the cow, then 90% of its emissions would be ascribed to the milk and 10% to the other products.
That is the route recommended as most practical by the Carbon Trust, a London-based company established by the British government to help curb carbon emissions in the U.K. The methodology is part of a broader set of carbon-measuring guidelines published last year by the Carbon Trust, the U.K. government and a standard-setting organization called the British Standards Institute.
Euan Murray, who oversees carbon-footprint studies at the Carbon Trust, which Tesco hired to conduct its milk study, says allocating emissions based on economic value makes intuitive sense to most people. But, he adds, "there's no absolutely right way of doing it."
The U.S. dairy industry is updating its own study, and the new version uses a more-complicated calculation preferred by the International Organization for Standardization. It seeks essentially to look inside the cow, separating the portion of the animal's biological functions that go to producing milk from the portion that go to producing the cow itself. Those functions include the cow's eating, burping, flatulence and waste.
"It becomes extremely difficult to do," says Greg Thoma, a chemical-engineering professor at the University of Arkansas. He is one of a team of professors at the university contracted by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, a dairy-industry group, to produce the carbon-footprint study.
The Arkansas researchers see their method as more accurate than the approach used in the U.K. A footprint based on milk's economic value, Mr. Thoma notes, could rise or fall just because the market price of milk changes.
The Carbon Trust recommends updating footprint studies if conditions change significantly. The Trust's Mr. Murray says it makes sense for products that contribute more to a farm's economic activity to be tagged with more of the carbon responsibility.
The U.S. method is open to plenty of uncertainties, too. It requires knowing, for instance, what mix of feed a cow ate on the dairy farm, because each kind of feed -- corn, say, or almond hulls -- brings with it a different carbon footprint. It also requires knowing the weight of each cow when it left the farm to be slaughtered. In reality, researchers don't know those figures for every cow. "So I have to make a guess," Mr. Thoma says. "It's not going to be exact."
Write to Jeffrey Ball at email@example.com


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New healthy cafe opens in Stratford’s East Village
- Credit: Archant
Juice and healthy food lovers, look no further – there’s a new cafe on the block.
Cafe Ginger and Mint has opened a new branch in East Village.
It becomes the latest addition to the collective of 24 shops, bars, restaurants and services in the Stratford-based village.
Jack Cahit Tok, founder of Ginger and Mint said: “We are really excited to be opening our café in East Village.
“As a business that is passionate about promoting health and wellness, the site of the Former London 2012 Games was a natural choice for us and we look forward to seeing people enjoying our food and drink in the area.”
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He originally founded the company in 2004, when he opened their first branch in Covent Garden, since then they’ve opened shops up in Soho and Crouch End.
The cafe has continued to grow every year and now offers more than 90 fresh fruit and vegetable juices, including breakfast smoothies, pure greens and even protein shakes.
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More recently they’ve started serving food that has a variety of options such as porridge, acai bowls, salads, wraps, sandwiches and hot dishes, all made from fresh ingredients.
Neil Young, CEO of Get Living London said: “We are thrilled that Ginger and Mint has chosen East Village as the location to open its newest café.
“At Get Living London, the well-being of our residents is important to us and we were really inspired by Ginger and Mint’s dedication to providing healthy and tasty food.
“They are also committed to helping the local communities by distributing the food waste they don’t sell, and we look forward to working with them to continue this.”
Visit gingerandmint.co.uk/ for more information on the cafe.


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Call centers and interactive voice response systems are notorious for creating customer frustration. But new solutions that leverage artificial intelligence and automation aim to change that by providing customers and call center agents with the information they need more quickly. And that, the providers of these solutions say, will allow for better customer experiences and lower cost for the companies delivering that CX.
None other than IBM, the company that helped pioneer and popularize AI, is among those working to move this kind of thing forward. At its IBM Interconnect event today, the tech giant is introducing the IBM Watson Voice Gateway.
This software-only gateway can act as a cognitive self-service agent, directly interacting with customers over the telephone. In the process, it reduces the requirement for human call center agents, and related costs.
The IBM Watson Voice Gateway also can connect conversations between call center agents and users, and serve up customer details and other relevant information to the agent. IBM notes that it accelerates access to information, allows for more personalization, expedites call center rep training, improves call efficiency and user experience, and results in enhanced workforce optimization.
That’s significant because training and paying call center representatives is costly, and interacting with ineffective or difficult to navigate IVRs can create customer churn. Research indicates that IVRs in general have just a 51 percent customer satisfaction rate and cost 20 cents per call. What’s more, studies suggest that 7.3 percent of customers who use IVRs consider moving to competitors after using them.
The IBM Watson Voice Gateway is just one of the new solutions being unveiled today at IBM Interconnect. NetFoundry today is also introducing the NetFoundry AppWAN solution for IBM Watson. This offering allows for reliable and secure connectivity between businesses and contact centers, and Watson Services. And it integrates with IBM WebSphere Connect Voice Gateway for Watson.
“The Voice Gateway removes the burden of SIP/telephony/Watson integration from the contact center,” Galeal Zino, NetFoundry’s founder and president, explained in this blog. “The NetFoundry AppWAN for Watson connects the contact center to Watson, over any network, with security and reliability. Both products are software based, leveraging horizontally scalable, cloud native sets of microservices, deployable as on-premise[s] Docker containers, virtual machines or appliance, and as cloud images.”
IBM and NetFoundry are working with Fortune 500 companies on implementations of these solutions.
Artificial intelligence will be a key area of focus at Communications 20/20. The event’s Intelligible Interfaces Track will feature such sessions as “Siri, Cortana, Alexa, and Google Walk into a Bar” and “Is Your Virtual Assistant Doing Its Job?.” The full program is available at this link.
Executive Editor, TMC
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Be Seen Drinking Green at All Bar One
A green initiative is brewing at All Bar One with a new eco‐minded and sustainable beer and cider menu.
Following the successful introduction of sustainable wines into their drinks offering, All Bar One has continued its exploration into eco‐friendly drinks by launching its second sustainable range to the public.
Their new green range ‐ "All the Better with Beer" will be rolled out nationwide* and consists of four beers and three ciders that are making headway in improving the health of our planet. These include:
- Brewgooder the award-winning craft ale, who donate 100% of their profits to fund clean drinking water projects with an incredible aim to provide a million people with clean drinking water by 2025.
- The refreshing beer Corona Extra, who have committed to cleaning up one million square metres of the UK coastline, the equivalent of 68 beaches
- British favourite Camden Hells Lager, which not only has an eco‐friendly brewery in North London but also allows the spent grain from the brewing process to be collected by local farmers for their cattle feed.
- Then there's Toast Ale, a unique brand utilising bread waste to create ale, whose profits also all go to charity.
- For the cider lovers, Pip and Wild has made it in their mission to reduce waste with absolutely zero waste going to landfill. Once the ciders are made, all waste materials are recycled to help make more energy.
- British brand, Mortimers Orchid Cider is made from 100% English apples which are grown within 50 miles of the mills, which means far fewer food miles!
- Finally, firm favourite Old Mout Cider only uses 100% recycled packaging and has teamed up with WWF to protect 500k acres of habitats across the globe.
Laura Clarke, Senior Marketing Manager from All Bar One says: "While taste is an incredibly important factor for our customers when choosing a beer or cider, they also want to know where it's come from and how it's been produced. Now more than ever our customers are actively looking for brands that seek to make a positive impact on the world ‐ whether that's finding a way to reduce plastic, decrease waste or provide clean water for communities. With that in mind, we've decided to launch a new dedicated menu of sustainable beers and ciders to help our customers support a more sustainable future."
All Bar One operate over 50 town and city centre bars across the UK, with locations in the likes of Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and London. For more about the campaign visit www.allbarone.co.uk/offers/all-the-better-for-beer or follow #allthebetterwithbeer on social media.
* Camden Hells Lager is not available in Scotland.


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We know that there have been a lot of e-commerce companies out there but the one that has made its mark in the industry and keeps innovating every day is Amazon and we can tell you that the brakes are still not applied at the company after change of CEO in the last few years. Because it has been revealed that this holiday season is extra-special for Amazon as this is the first time that the company is using AI to deliver parcels faster and more efficiently.
Amazon’s Scot Hamilton says that “Cyber Monday is our Super Bowl, and we’ve been training for months”. “AI helps us with everything we do leading up to this day and on the day itself. It is meant to be something you don’t see or feel, but it’s as critical as oxygen. When you don’t realize it’s there, that means it’s working perfectly.” He adds that “Our list shows how AI touches every part of the customer journey, starting from a personalized Amazon homepage to a package sorted by a robot, all the way to the delivery driver dropping it off.”
It is revealed that “Well before a customer clicks to purchase their item, Amazon’s Supply Chain Optimization Technology (SCOT) is already at work. SCOT helps forecast demand for more than 400 million products each day, using deep learning and massive datasets to decide which products to stock in which quantities at which Amazon facility, while coordinating inventory shipments from millions of sellers worldwide.”
Amazon’s chief technologist for robotics says, “There’s a lot of volume that happens during the holiday season, particularly Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and we want to make sure that we’ve dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’ when it comes to meeting customer demand”. It is revealed that “Once items are packaged and labeled, Amazon employees get help from a robot called “Robin.” Robin helps sort packages before they get loaded in a truck and eventually end up at a delivery station—the last stop for a package before it gets to a customer’s doorstep. Robin uses its AI-enhanced vision system to understand what objects are there—different-sized boxes, soft packages, and envelopes on top of each other.”


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Wal-Mart, which has about 1.3 million US workers, has been a target for activists in the contentious national debate over proposals to raise the minimum wage.
Karen Boroff, a professor of management at Seton Hall University, said the NLRB, with a Democrat majority on its five-member board.
Speaking at a briefing for analysts and investors, Greg Foran said the gap in pricing between Wal-Mart and its competitors in some markets was "too small."
The 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a permanent injunction imposed in November by US District Judge Leonard Stark.
Walmart is fighting to keep this and other select proposals off the ballot for its annual meeting in June, filings show.
Starbucks says the decision is part of its commitment to "redefine the role and responsibility of a public company."
Such is the show's impact that in recent years firms have increasingly prepared for shocks by buttering up consumers.
After Walmart and The Gap said they would raise worker pay, this week fast food giant announced a hike for 90,000 of its workers.


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Apple is bringing back one of its most iconic stores in the world with the reopening of the "Cube" in New York.
The iPhone maker announced that its redesigned and reimagined Apple Fifth Avenue is set to open its doors to the public on Friday, Sept. 20. The relaunch of the store will coincide with the debut of Apple's newest product offerings, including the iPhone 11 and the latest version of the Apple Watch.
"Our customers are at the center of everything we do, and Apple Fifth Avenue is for them, to inspire them, and to provide the very best place to discover our newest products," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.
"It's unique among Apple stores, and today it returns even more welcoming, and even more beautiful than ever."
The New Look Apple Cube
Apple's Fifth Avenue retail store was closed in 2017 to undergo renovations. In the meantime, the company moved Cube's operations to a different location next door while the store got fixed. It may have only been a temporary setup, but the store is kept to the Cube's 24/7/365 operating hours.
At an event at the New York store on Thursday, Apple hosted a tour for the media to showcase the Cube's new look. Several architects, designers, and retail staff talked about the store's redesign and the lineup of Today at Apple programs for visitors, among other things.
The renovated store is now almost double the size of the original Cube. It also has a more expansive space than before thanks to its higher ceiling. Apple's goal is to provide the "perfect stage" that would allow customers to discover and try out the brand's latest products.
The company has also doubled the area in the store for Geniuses to help increase the service capacity of its staff. It is still the only Apple store in the world that provides customer support 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
The Cube's Historic Opening
The Apple Cube first opened its doors in 2006, with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs personally welcoming customers to the Fifth Avenue retail store. It has since had more than 57 million people come and visit, which is more annually than other New York landmarks such as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, according to Apple.
The iPhone maker often makes use of the Cube's prime location on one of New York's major thoroughfares to launch its flagship products, starting with the original iPhone back in 2007. It will continue this long-standing tradition with the rollout of the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, and Apple Watch Series 5 on Sept. 20.


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Is Organic Food Really Better for the Environment?
When you walk into any farmers’ market, you’re greeted with signs that say “Certified Organic” in bold letters. Despite being far more expensive than its non-organic counterparts, organic agriculture has become the most popular type of alternative farming, not only in the United States but also globally.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), as of 2012, organic farming accounted for 3 percent of the total sales within the country’s food industry. Even in European countries like Finland, Austria, and Germany, governments have been busy implementing plans and policies that aim to dedicate 20 percent of land area to organic farming. In South Asia, Bhutan has ambitious plans of going 100 percent organic by 2020. Meanwhile, Sikkim, a state in north-eastern India had managed to go 100 percent organic in 2016.
The gradual shift towards organic farming has been mainly because we as consumers have become increasingly concerned about the health impacts of accidentally consuming pesticides and chemical fertilizers. During the 1990s, the USDA first standardized the meaning of the term “organic” — basically, farmers do not use any form of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides to grow their produce.
Organic farming is widely considered to be a far more sustainable alternative when it comes to food production. The lack of pesticides and wider variety of plants enhances biodiversity and results in better soil quality and reduced pollution from fertilizer or pesticide run-off.
Conventional farming has been heavily criticized for causing biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and increased water pollution due to the rampant usage of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. However, despite these glaring cons, scientists are concerned that organic farming has far lower yields as compared to conventional farming, and so requires more land to meet demand.
A polarized debate
Not surprisingly, the debate over organic versus conventional farming is heavily polarized in academic circles. Of late, the conversation about organic farming has shifted from its lack of chemicals to its impact on greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2018, researchers from Chalmers University of Technology published a study in the journal Nature that found that organic peas farmed in Sweden have a bigger climate impact (50 percent higher emissions) as compared to peas that were grown conventionally in the country.
“Organic farming has many advantages but it doesn’t solve all the environmental problems associated with producing food. There is a huge downside because of the extra land that is being used to grow organic crops,” said Stefan Wirsenius, an associate professor at Chalmers. “If we use more land for food, we have less land for carbon sequestration. The total greenhouse gas impact from organic farming is higher than conventional farming.”
Soon after the paper was published and widely covered by various news organizations globally, several researchers criticized the study. Andrew Smith, a chief scientist at the Rodale Institute, lashed out in a post saying that it was “irresponsible to extrapolate a global phenomenon based on two crops grown in one country over three years.”
Smith also added that more data should be included and analyzed before making conclusions. Commenting on this, Wirsenius said, “It is true that we had a small comparison between organic versus conventional farming based on Swedish statistics. This is because Sweden is one of the very few countries that has statistics that include the yields from organic and conventional crops.”
“It would have been better with bigger sample size and that is a valid concern,” he added.
It is estimated that by 2050, the demand for food is going to increase by 59 to 98 percent due to the ever-increasing global population. A major challenge for the agriculture business is not only trying to figure out how to feed a growing population, but also doing so while adapting to climate change and coming up with adequate mitigation measures.
Some scientists continue to be concerned that with limited land areas that will be available for farming, it might not be sustainable for industrialized countries to go 100 percent organic. A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications concludes that the widespread adoption of organic farming practices in England and Wales would lead to increases in greenhouse gas emissions. This is mainly because agricultural yields would be 40 percent lower.
The researchers argued that with fewer crops being grown locally, these two countries would have to import more food supplies. However, if England and Wales did not solely rely on organic farming, and both countries’ farmers used this alternative form of farming on a smaller scale, it could result in a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions.
“For organic farming to be successful, agribusinesses would have to find the balance between the costs involved and also, its carbon footprint, while taking into consideration the overall need to meet the high demands for food,” said Alexander Ruane, a research physical scientist at NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies and an adjunct associate research scientist at the Columbia University Center for Climate Systems Research. “That’s tough because the goal of organic farming in developed countries currently is about meeting the needs of those who can afford the luxury to buy the highest quality food. If the needs of this luxury interfere with the need to feed the entire population, then you have the potential for conflicts.”
The blurry line between “good” and “bad”
Making matters more complicated, some experts worry that the term “organic food” is not always properly regulated. As more large corporations get involved in organic markets, researchers claim that this shift to the mainstream has “led to the weakening of ecologically beneficial standards”. It may also limit organic farming’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
While researchers and the general public remain divided on whether organic farming is more sustainable than conventional farming, Sonali McDermid, an assistant professor at the department of environmental studies at New York University, says that it is very hard to generalize across any farming systems or label conventional or organic farming as “good” or “bad”. “They have very different manifestations, depending upon where you go,” she said.
“An apt example would be the case of a farm involved in the production of organic berries in Central Valley, California. While they are not using additional land area or chemical inputs like in conventional farming, they are using other really strong inputs like sulfur,” explained McDermid. “This can be harmful to farmworkers as they need to wear proper suits and protective gear even though it is not chemically synthetic. Despite that, it is just as powerful in some cases.”
McDermid is also concerned that some agribusinesses can farm uniformly without any biodiversity and still call themselves organic. Whereas in developing or emerging economies — for example in India — farmers tend to follow a far more traditional definition of organic farming.
“In India, organic farms grow lots of different crops at the same time. They grow plants that can naturally keep pests away and don’t use powerful inputs like sulfur. Instead, the farmers use plants and biodiversity to help regulate their cropping systems,” said McDermid.
Indian farmers who grow organic crops also make their fertilizers by filling a field with legumes that they grow in rotations. Once the legumes have fully grown, the farmers manually plow them into the ground. That results in larger quantities of nitrogen being pumped into the soil, as opposed to only using manure or even worse, synthetic fertilizers.
McDermid said that in some areas of the developing world, organic farming can actually boost yields over conventional farming because it doesn’t rely on so much water and chemical inputs. These practices also build soil fertility and lead to less pollution.
Experts maintain that in the heated debate over organic versus conventional farming, there needs to be more information available for consumers when it comes to labeling and even understanding the certification processes in industrialized countries like the U.S.
“A huge fraction, if not the majority of organic goods sold at supermarkets in the U.S. is probably industrial,” added McDermid. For now, in the developed world, the industrialization or commercialization of organic farming has resulted in a lot of difficulty for both consumers and researchers, who are trying to understand what the goals of this booming industry are.
To eat organic or not to eat organic
In the U.S., even sustainability experts continue to be unsure of whether food items like fruits and vegetables with the “certified organic” labels are in fact, genuinely organic or not. McDermid said that even she sometimes feels uncertain about what to buy in the supermarket.
That being said, both Wirsenius and McDermid agree that it is far more environmentally sustainable to eat organic chicken instead of beef that was produced conventionally. Yet, consuming large portions of organically produced meat will still have a bigger environmental impact than eating conventionally produced crops and fruits.
Taking into consideration the high costs involved in going 100 percent organic, especially when it comes to buying fruits and vegetables, McDermid said if you can afford to spend extra, she would recommend buying them.
It might also help to look for organic food that was grown locally. For instance, several community gardens grow organic vegetables that are sold in nearby farmers’ markets.
Keeping that in mind, there’s no need to feel guilty or under pressure to spend extra for organic produce. “I would never put that kind of pressure on anybody. It’s really unfortunate we’re in a situation where agribusinesses focus only on yields, which makes an alternative form of farming comparatively much more expensive,” sighed McDermid.
While the organic versus conventional farming debate rages on, there is one clear way to lower the environmental impact of your food, and it won’t hurt your wallet: reducing the amount of meat in your diet.


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Prices for standard supermarket products such as pasta, canned tomatoes and strawberry jam have risen by about 8% in just one year.
According to new figures, the overall price of 15 standard food baskets has risen by £ 1.32 ($ 1.79).
The data analyzed by the BBC comes from retail research firm Assosia, which tracks the average cost of groceries in Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco.
The company recorded more than 17,000 price increases across major supermarkets in January, more than double the price increase of the same month last year.
However, not all products are increasing. Carrots and mild cheddar cheese have dropped a little.
Kay Staniland, director of Associa, said the findings are the result of choosing popular products that are comparable across a range of values and standards.
She added to the BBC in a comment:
“I think the numbers show that retailers are trying to avoid the maximum increase in value lines as much as possible. However, these value lines are only a small part of the full range. The middle tier range is where the highest sales volumes occur. “
This was after the numbers released by the UK Retail Consortium (BRC) last month discovered that shoppers were facing the highest price increases in almost a decade.
According to the BRC, food inflation rose from 2.4% in December to 2.7% in January, the highest price increase since October 2013.


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Earlier this week, we just reported that the much anticipated Xiaomi Mi4 will be officially announced on July 22nd next week. Today, a tipster named Jay has sent in a product listing of the upcoming Xiaomi Mi4 along with its official render as well.
According to the listing, the Xiaomi Mi4 comes with a price tag of just $499, much cheaper than what we expected to be honest.
The device will sport a 5.5-inch QHD display (similar to that of the LG G3), powered by an incredibly 2.5GHz Snapdragon 805 chipset with 3GB RAM. Other impressive features include the 16MP Sony OIS camera at the back, as well as a 5MP shooter at the front for selfies. This time round, the Xiaomi Mi4 will be supporting the 4G LTE network bringing extra joy to the users. Unlike other Xiaomi smartphones, the Mi4 is equipped with a powerful 3,200mAh battery to increase the fun.
Lastly the tipster also confirmed with us that the Xiaomi Mi4 will be arriving in Singapore and Malaysia somewhere during mid-August, so stay tune for more updates!